Kitchari - Food of the Sages

This is a mung dal kitchari which balances all three doshas. It is particularly beneficial for the stomach, lungs, liver, and large intestine. Mung beans are also revered for their detoxification properties.

Serves 4-5

1 cup yellow mung dal (split or whole)
1 cup basmati rice
1 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped fine
2 tablespoons shredded, unsweetened coconut
1 small handful fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons ghee (purified butter)
1 1/2 inch piece of cinnamon bark
5 whole cloves
4-5 crushed cardamom pods
10 black peppercorns
3 bay leaves
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 cups water

Wash the mung dal and rice until water is clear. Soaking the dal for a few hours or overnight helps with digestibility.

In a blender, put the ginger, coconut, cilantro and 1/2 cup water and blend until liquefied.

Heat a large saucepan on medium heat and add the ghee, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, peppercorns and bay leaves. Stir for a moment until fragrant. Add the blended items to the spices, then the turmeric and salt. Stir until lightly browned.

Stir in the mung dal and rice and mix very well.

Pour in the 6 cups of water, cover and bring to a boil. Let boil for 5 minutes, then turn down the heat to very low and cook, lightly covered, until the dal and rice are soft, about 25-30 minutes if mung beans are split, and 1 hour if whole. Add water if needed.

General AyurVedic info - Doshas in the human body

"Kapha dosha" is the the term used to describe an excess of the water and earth elements. As such, it is a problem rather than a constitutional type, but people who are low in fire would have a tendency towards this condition, one that is characterized by slow digestion and excess ama, a word that can be broadly interpreted to mean phlegm or mucus.

"Vata dosha" is an Ayurvedic term referring to the aggravation of the "wind element," what in astrology is called the air element; but it generally involves a mixture of the air and ether elements. "Derangement" is another Ayurvedic term; it implies that a "dosha" or "fault" has occurred that is affecting constitutional balance and harmony.

"Pitta dosha" is made up of the two elements fire and water. Characteristics of Pitta dosha: hot and a little unctuous (sahasnehamushnam); sharp, burning (tikshnam); liquid and acidic (dravamlam); always flowing in an unbounded manner (saram); pungent and sharp (katuhu). Pitta contains fire, but it also contains water. It is the source of the flame, but not the flame itself. Compare Pitta to gasoline--it is not hot to the touch, but it can be the source of flames.

We should take care of this valuable human body and continue our search for Sri Krishna.

Properly follow

"The Hare Krishna Mahamantra has spread all over the world. No doubt this knowledge is transcendental, but it is necessary to properly follow the line of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Otherwise, after a few years, or fifty or a hundred years, all will fall into the pit of 'sahajiyaism' (imitation)."

- Srila Govinda Maharaj

Quiz on Dharma by Yamaraj

When arriving at the scene, a loud voice explained to Maharaj Yudhisthira's why his brothers had died, then asked him to answer a series of questions before drinking the water, if not he would die like his brothers.

Maharaj Yudhisthira said; "please ask"
The voice then put questions rapidly one after another.

What makes the sun shine everyday ?
Yudhisthira replies: The power of Brahman.

What rescues man in danger?
Courage is mans salvation in danger.

By the study of what science does man become wise?
Not by studying any sastra does man become wise. It is by the association with the wise that he gets wisdom.

The voice asked: What is more nobly sustaining than the earth?
Yudhisthira replied: "The mother who brings up the children she has borne is nobler and more sustaining than the earth.

What is higher than the sky?
The father.

What is more swift than the wind?
The Mind .

What is more blighted than witherd straw?
A sorrow stricken heart

What befriends a traveler?
Learning

Who is the friend of one who stays at home?
The wife

Who accompanies a man at death?
Dharma alone accompanies the soul in its solitary journey after death.

Which is the biggest vessel?
The earth, which contains all within itself is the greatest vessel.

What is happiness?
Happiness is the result of good conduct.

What is that,abandoning which man becomes loved by all.
Pride- for abandoning that man will be loved by all.

What is the loss which yields joy and not sorrow?
Anger- by giving it up, we will no longer be subject to sorrow.

What is that by giving up man becomes rich?
Desire-getting rid of it man becomes wealthy.

What makes one a real brahman, is it birth, good conduct or learning?
Birth and learning do not make one a brahmana, Good conduct alone does. However learned a
person may be he will not be a brahmana if he is slave to bad habits. Even though he may be
learned in the four Vedas, a man of bad conduct fall to a lower class.

What is the greatest wonder in the world?
Every day, men see creatures depart to Yama's abode and yet, those who remain seek to live forever. This verily is the greatest wonder.

Thus the loud voice posed many more questions to Maharaj Yudhisthira and he answered them all. It was in fact Yamaraj who was quizzing Yudhithira with the inner desire to see the righteous King who was his own son born by Kunti. Yamaraj was please with Yudhisthir's adherence to dharma that he revived his brothers and blessed them saying you will have victory over those who consider you their enemy.

From the Mahabharata of Vyasa

55 Sq ft of forest needed for 1 hamburger

Q. How does meat consumption contribute to rain forest depletion?
A. The United States imports roughly 200 million pounds of beef from Central America every year. Aside from the fuel used in transport, grazing land is needed for all of these animals.

Q. Where does all that land come from in a densely forested region?
The answer: from clear-cutting forests and rain forest. A Smithsonian study estimates that the necessity for more grazing land means that every minute of every day, a land area equivalent to seven football fields is destroyed in the Amazon basin.

For each hamburger that originated from animals raised on rain forest land, approximately 55 square feet of forest have been destroyed. And its not just the rain forest. In the United States, more than 260 million acres of forest have been clear-cut for animal agriculture. With increased per capita meat consumption, and an ever growing population, we can only expect to see more deforestation in the future. No forest No rain.

Q. How does eating meat affect water usage, water pollution and the ocean?
A. The global effects of meat consumption don’t stop on land. Agriculture also requires water consumption, and animal agriculture is no exception. Animal production consumes an amount of water roughly equivalent to all other uses of water in the United States combined. Besides grains, animals need water to survive and grow until they are slaughtered. One pound of beef requires an input of approximately 2500 gallons of water, whereas a pound of soy requires 250 gallons of water and a pound of wheat only 25 gallons. Meat production is inefficient as it requires the consumption of an extensive amount of resources over many months and years before becoming a usable food product. With the water used to produce a single hamburger, you could take a luxurious shower every day for two and a half weeks.

Even the EPA identifies agriculture as a major water pollutant.

Agricultural pesticides and nitrates used in fertilizers and manures seep into our groundwater, eventually spilling out into the oceans creating so-called “dead zones” (expansive areas so toxic that neither plant nor animal life can survive) viewable from space in places like the Gulf of Mexico where the Mississippi spills out into the sea. Besides the chemicals used in cultivation, accidental pollution though chemical spills and manure dumps are an ongoing source of water pollution from feedlots. The manure created from the billions of animals killed for food has to go somewhere, and often, it ends up in rivers and streams, killing millions of fish in one fell swoop.

Help your environment ,your fellow human beings, animals, plants, lakes and oceans by not eating meat.

A warning

Vidura pointedly warned Yudhishthira in words intelligible only to the prince:

"He alone will escape from danger who forestalls the intentions of an astute enemy. There are weapons sharper than those made of steel. And the wise man who would escape destruction must know the means to guard against them. A large disastrous fire that devastates a forest cannot hurt a rat which shelters itself in a hole or a porcupine which burrows in the earth. The wise man knows his bearings by looking at the stars."

From the Mahabharata of Vyasa

Words of the wise

To not offer respect where it is rightly due and to render it where it is not merited are both equally grave offenses.

- Mahabharata of Vyasa Ch-11


It is an ill bird who fouls his own nest.

- Mahabharata of Vyasa Ch-14

The messegers of Yama will flee

In Garud Purana it is stated: Those people of evil argumentative mentality who ask why wear Tulsi beads, what results are attained by wearing them ? Who don't wear them around their neck, burn in the fire of anger of Sri Hari and will never be liberated. Sri Krishna will grant the fruit of being a resident of Dvarka immediately to those who wear Tulsi beads with devotion.

Sins of person who wears neck beads made of Tulsi with devotion after offering them to Sri Vishnu will be removed and Devakinandan, Sri Krishna will always remain pleased with them, he does not need to undergo further atonement, sins will no longer remain in his body.

In Kaliyuga, one, who is bedecked with the beads made of Tulsi, performs ritualistic activities and activities pertaining to ancestors and demigods will obtain a far greater result.

The messengers of Yama will flee away by the sight of the Tulsi beads just as leaves are blown off by wind.

In Skanda-puran it is stated : Those who wear neck beads made of Tulsi after offering them to Sri Hari are definitely foremost among the devotees of Lord.

Those fools who wear Tulsi beads without offering them to Hari will definitely go to hell.

After presenting the mala, it should be purified with panca-gavya ; after that the mula -mantra should be recited followed by the recitation of the gayatri mantra eight times. Touching them with incense, worship with this Sadyojata-mantra with utmost devotion: Om sadyojatah prapadyami sadyojataya vai namo namah Bhave tave nadi bhave bhajeswamam bhavod-bhavaya namah After that, this prayer should be made, "Oh! Mala ! You are made of Tulsi and are dear to Vaisnavas . I wear you around my neck; you make me dear to Sri Krishna. 'Ma' means 'me', 'La' means 'to give'. Oh Hari-Vallabhe ! You have given me to the Vaisnava devotees, hence you are known as mala .

Those Vaisnavas who pray in this manner and first offer the mala to Sri Krishna should then put them around ones neck and will attain the Lotus feet of Sri Vishnu."

It is stated in Padma Purana : either during morning ablutions, bathing, eating or at any state which is clean or unclean, Tulsi must be worn; this means mala should not be removed under any circumstance.

Shastras say: Tulsi mala should always be worn as yajna-sutra or like the sacred thread. Those who remove Tulsi mala even for a moment are considered to be Vishnu-drohi .

Think before you speak - please

The wounds inflicted by weapons may close in time; burns may heal gradually; but wounds inflicted by words remain painful as long as one lives.

Mahabharata Chapter V

Flutes used by Krishna

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, and Krishna was thus challenging Cupid by advertising His transcendental glories all over the world.

There are three kinds of flutes used by Krishna;

One is called venu, one is called murali, and the third is called vamsi.

Venu is very small, not more than six inches long, with six holes for whistling. Murali is about eighteen inches long with a hole at the end and four holes on the body of the flute. This kind of flute produces a very enchanting sound.

The vamsi flute is about fifteen inches long, with nine holes on its body. Krishna used to play on these three flutes occasionally when they were needed. Krishna has a longer vamsi, which is called mahananda, or sanmohini. When it is still longer it is called akarsini. When it is even longer it is called anandini. The anandini flute is very pleasing to the cowherd boys and is technically named vamsuli.These flutes were sometimes bedecked with jewels. Sometimes they were made of marble and sometimes of hollow bamboo. When the flute is made of jewels it is called sanmohini. When made of gold, it is called akarsini.

The ultimate statement is this --

Ajna TahalAjna Tahal

“Patrolling on the Lord's Command"

text 4
by Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Living in Krishna's world, perform all your actions by dovetailing your senses and mind with topics of Krishna, and with a heart purified of envious aversion pass the journey of life.

The supreme nectar (paramamrita) of favorable service rendered unto Lord Krishna will gradually become thickened until it breaks through your two bodies -- the gross (sthula) and the subtle (linga) -- and will finally cause your eternal spiritual form (aprakrita svarupa) to again awaken.

All the following things come under the heading of unfavorable actions, performed either by oneself or by society: theft, speaking lies, cheating, hostility, lust, inflicting bodily harm, duplicitous politics, and so forth. Abandoning all these, just resort to pious means and spend your life in Krishna's world.

The ultimate statement is this -- showing mercy to all living beings, living a pure lifestyle, just chant the holy name of Krishna. There is no difference whatsoever between Krishna-nam and Lord Krishna Himself. By the mercy of the holy name, Krishna in the form of His names, forms, attributes and pastimes (nam, rupa, guna, and lila) will personally reveal Himself to the vision of the eyes of your siddha-svarupa (spiritual body).

Truly your chit-svarupa will awaken and will remain floating in the ocean of eternally sweet Krishna-prema.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura's bhajan kutir (meditation center)

Her love is Supreme

Srimad-Bhagavatam is actually an explanation of the glory of Radhika’s love. Her love is supreme, and it is the goal of all living beings. We can never grasp its breadth, but we can taste a drop of it, and even that one drop can drown the entire universe.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave Srila Rupa Gosvami that drop of the endless ocean of nectar, bhakti-rasa.

If we can serve the gopis, and especially Radhika, we can also have love and affection for Krsna, and then we can feel separation. Otherwise, it will never be possible. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Six Gosvamis, Srimad- Bhagavatam, and Sukadeva Gosvami have proclaimed this conclusion: our goal is krsna-prema.

Beauty and substance

yam labdhva caparam labham
manyate nadhikam tatah
yasmin sthhito na duhkhena
gurnapi vicalyate

"Krishna consciousness is that thing that when you obtain it, you know there is nothing better to be had and at that time, not even the greatest calamity can shake you."

Always reflecting on the beauty and substance of Krishna consciousness, Srila Govinda Maharaj mercifully distributes wonderful explanations.

I am crying aloud but nobody hears me

In former times, the great Rishi Vyasa, having composed Mahabharata, instructed his son Suka Dev to read these four Verses with him:
1. Thousands of mothers and fathers, and hundreds of sons and wives arise in the world and depart from it.
2. Others will (arise and) similarly depart.
3. There are thousands of occasions for joy and hundreds of occasions for fear.
4. These affect only the ignorant but never the wise.

With uplifted arms I am crying aloud but nobody hears me.
From Righteousness is Wealth as also Pleasure. Why shouldn't Righteousness, therefore, be courted? For the sake of neither pleasure, nor out of fear, nor of excessive desire for wealth should any one cast off Righteousness. Indeed, for the sake of even life itself one should not cast off Righteousness. Righteousness is eternal. Pleasure and Pain are not eternal. The Jiva (Individual Soul) is eternal. The cause, however, of the Jiva’s taking birth after birth is not.
Mahabharata - Swargarohana Parva

Note:
Righteousness = Dharma i.e activities that lead an individual soul and society toward self realization as mentioned in the Vedic literature and its supplements.
Righteousness also = Sanatan Dharma or the eternal activities of the self realized soul in relationship to the personality of Godhead.

4 Vedas stored in four syllables

Sri Krishna extracted the essence of the 4 Vedas and stored them in the 4 syllables of the word Narayana.

Therefore by vibrating off the tip of your tongue the name Na Ra Ya Na Sri Krishna will be pleased. It is equal to chanting all the hymns and prayers of the Vedas.

Love and affection

If you are fully initiated but you do not have love and affection for Krsna, then even if you offer something by mantra and 16 kinds of paraphernalia, Krsna will not accept your offering.

On the other hand, if you have prema ( Loving affection ), Krsna will have so much hunger for taking whatever you offer.

Krsna thinks, "When My devotee offers anything to Me, I will take it. I will accept it, because he has prema. If that pure devotee is bringing something to Krsna and he has not yet offered it, Krsna will run after him to take it.

- B.V Narayan Maharaj -

Bits and pieces

As much as the circumstances appear to oppose us, it is really not so. If only we can develop the right vision, the smiling face of the Absolute Good (Krishna) will appear from behind the screen.

Slow and steady wins the race. Our march towards the infinite is a long journey, not to be finished within a few hours, a few days, or a few years.

- Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj -

Virtue

And that virtue, O king, which tortureth one's own self and friends, is really no virtue. It is rather vice, producing calamities.

Virtue is sometimes also the weakness of men. And though such a man might ever be engaged in the practice of virtue, yet both virtue and profit forsake him, like pleasure and pain forsaking a person that is dead.

He that practiseth virtue for virtue's sake always suffereth. He can scarcely be called a wise man, for he knoweth not the purposes of virtue like a blind man incapable of perceiving the solar light.

He that regardeth his wealth to exist for himself alone, scarcely understandeth the purposes of wealth. He is really like a servant that tendeth kine in a forest. He again that pursueth wealth too much without pursuing virtue and enjoyments, deserveth to be censured and avoided by all men.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
BOOK 3 - VANA PARVA ARJUNABHIGAMANA PARVA - Section 33

Mango Rice with Peanuts

As you know the Mango is King of all fruit, both sweet and sour. When a sweet mango is used with this rice recipe it will provide a sweet flavor and fragrance, if sour mango is used, it will have a tart taste with sweet fragrance.

What follows is really a simple recipe but so versatile in its taste, fragrance and appearance. Everyone I know loves it and there is never any left over. It will quickly disappear after being offered to Sri Krishna as if by magic.

Ingredients:
1 cup Basmati rice (uncooked)
1 large green mango (grated)
4-8 green chillies
2 curry leaves
Mustard seeds
A sprinkle of cilantro
Peanuts (quantity as desired)
Salt
Ghee or Olive Oil
Chana dal
Urad dal
Asafetida - a pinch

Procedure:
1. Cook the rice with two cups of water. Remove the lid and let the rice dry. Or simply use a rice cooker.
2. Grate the mango.
3. In a pan put some oil ( Ghee or Olive Oil ) and fry the peanuts till they become crisp. Once done, remove and save them for later.
4. In the same pan add few more tsps of oil and prepare the cooked spices( few mustard seeds, 1 tsp chana dal, 1/2 tsp urad dal, few curry leaves and three pinches of Asafetida ).
5. Add the green chillies. once the chillies are fried add the grated mango , cook just for a minute and turn off the heat.
6. Now add the peanuts, cooked rice, cilantro and salt to the above mixture and serve.
Lemon juice can be added to the mixture as desired.


Below is a narration by Govinda Dasi that mentions A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj and the quality of first class rice.
One day Srila Prabhupada was talking about his life as a gentleman householder in Calcutta. He described the various types of rice, eaten by different types of people, saying that the aristocratic class preferred the long-grain basmati rice and the servant-class preferred the short grained, cheaper type of rice. Basmati was new to us and Srila Prabhupada was expressing his appreciation of it. Srila Prabhupada said: "They like according to their nature", he explained, 'everyone has taste according to his nature.

If you give a tiger milk he will not take. He desires blood to drink. That is his nature". Srila Prabhupada began to talk about his own experiences. When he was a householder he had a few servants, as was the custom in colonial and post-colonial India. "Because we were eating a very fine quality Basmati rice, which is long-grained and very flavorful, so I wanted to give the best rice to my servants also. I wanted to offer them the best prasadam and care, as it is said that even though one pays his servants, still one becomes indebted to them as they are rendering so much service". Accepting service is such a serious thing, he explained, as it can be very much implicating.

"So for some time the servants were eating this very nice Basmati rice". Then, one day, Srila Prabhupada described, one servant came to me very humbly and requested 'Sir, you are very kind and respectable and I have no complaints in your service. I am very satisfied serving here in your household but only one thing, sir, this rice which you are giving us to eat, is very difficult for us to eat. We are not accustomed. Is it possible we may have to eat that short grain variety". Srila Prabhupada burst into smiles, chuckling and shaking his head from side to side, eyebrows raised, his eyes half-closed he said; "Just see, I am giving him first class rice, but he is unable to tolerate. He desires third class rice, cheaper quality because his taste is for that. These are the modes of nature, such a subtle thing. So I gave them as they wanted".

Note: A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj was addressed as Srila Prabhupada by his loving students.