Every Saint has a Past

&

Every Sinner has a Future

We have waited a long time

The human form of life is so rare that demigods (such as Agni, Vayu, Indra) that we hold in high regard and to whom oblations are offered in the yagna, desire to be born human themselves. Everyone knows that the body of a demigod is the topmost out of the 8.400.000 million bodies. Their body exudes fragrance; it is very effulgent and attractive. However, the celestial beings merely reap fruits of previous actions. They do not have the right to perform fruit-bearing actions. God has given the privilege of performing fruit-yielding actions only to humans. Such is the value of the human birth. What this means is that we have waited a long time to become human, and we have undergone great suffering before attaining the human birth through God’s grace.

My Love

In the book of Sri Vrindavana Das Thakur ( Chaitanya Bhagavat), one discovers many detailed descriptions of Nityananda Prabhu and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that do not seem to be elaborately depicted elsewhere.

Here is one such story.

"My love for kadamba flowers is very great. I always reside in a forest of kadamba flowers". CB 278

One day Nityananda Prabhu asked Raghava Pandit for a garland of kadamba flowers. Sorrowfully, Raghava folded his hands and replied, "This is not the season. There are no kadamba flowers to be found anywhere!" Nitai smiled and said, "Just search carefully around the house. Perhaps you will find some blooming somewhere!"

Raghava Pandit began to search. To his amazement, the lime tree in his courtyard was covered with freshly-blossomed kadamba flowers! When he saw those flowers, Raghava was filled with joy and lost external consciousness. Then, collecting himself, he gathered some of those kadamba flowers and strung a beautiful garland. As he presented that miraculous garland to Nitai Chand, everyone swam in bliss.

The Holy Fig Tree

The concept of divinity even in vegetation, trees etc has been prevalent in Vedic civilization since time immemorial and have been accepted as a tradition.

Lord Sri Krishna said to Arjuna: "Of all trees I am the holy fig tree, and among sages and demigods I am Narada. Of the singers of the gods [Gandharvas] I am Citraratha, and among perfected beings I am the sage Kapila". Geeta 10.26

The five-trees (Pancha-vat) are considered as very sacred in India, they are:

1. Fig tree,
2. A wild fig (Sycamore) tree (Gular),
3. Banyan tree,
4. Pakar (citron-leaved), Indian fig tree,
5. Mango tree.

Among these the holy fig tree is considered as the most sacred.

A man who plants this tree goes to the abode of almighty God after his death. He can neither be tormented by the miseries of 'Yama-loka' nor has to face miseries in this world.

Lord Vishnu dwells in the roots of this tree, 'Keshav' (Krishna) in the trunk, Narayana dwells in the branches, Lord Shri Hari in the leaves and all the deities dwell in the fruits of the holy fig tree. This tree is the personification of Lord Vishnu. Great men serve the 'Virtuous roots of this tree.

Protection of this tree liberates a man from all his sins and help in the accomplishment of every desire.The cutting of a holy fig tree without a proper reason is similar to cutting one's own ancestors. By doing this, one destroys his descent. But cutting of this tree for sacred activities like 'Yagya' (sacrificial fire) is not sinful, on the contrary it helps in the attainment of Heaven. The mere worship of this tree is worship of all the deities. (Parikrama) moving around a holy fig tree is reverence and pouring water on it daily destroy all kinds of inauspiciousness. Pouring water on the roots of this tree in the month of May (Vaishakh) gives immense virtues, thus worshipping it with devotion gives long life.There is a rule of making three circumambulations of a holy fig tree. Planting this tree on any auspicious day one should nurture it with water for eight years, just like his own son. After that, performing the sacred-thread (yagyopavita) ceremony of this tree and worshipping it with proper methods give undiminishing wealth and fortune, the lineage continues without any hitch, gives long life, and the dead ancestors attain salvation by getting liberation from hell. Hindu girls perform many fasts connected with this tree right from their childhood. A girl who has a probability of becoming a widow according to the inauspicious combination of planets in her horoscope must worship the holy fig tree. After taking bath she should purify the soil around the holy fig tree by cow dung paste, decorate the tree with threads and Ochre and worship it with the help of a Brahmin. She should invocate Lord Vishnu and Laxmi who dwell in the holy fig tree and worship them by chanting 'Purusukta' Mantras and by performing "Havana' and 'Tarpana'. After that she should circumambulate the holy fig tree for 108 times and tie a white thread around it.

The holy fig tree has medicinal properties too. According to Ayurveda this tree has both sweet and bitter taste and has a cool property. Intaking the bark, fruit and buds with different Combination of things cures the diseases related with Phlegm, bile, inflammation swelling and indisposition etc. The soft bark and the bud of this tree cures 'Prameha' (a disease in which sperms emanate through urine).The powdered form of the fruit of this tree increases appetite and cures numerous diseases. So the holy fig tree holds a very important place in Vedic civilization i.e. religious point of view, medicinal and social point of views, and hence it is worth being worshipped.

Krishna said to Arjuna

"Foods in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one's existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction. Such nourishing foods are sweet, juicy, fattening and palatable. Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, pungent, dry and hot, are liked by people in the modes of passion. Such foods cause pain, distress, and disease. Food cooked more than three hours before being eaten, which is tasteless, stale, putrid, decomposed and unclean, is food liked by people in the mode of ignorance".

"Knowledge which is not firmly rooted is lost, hearing is lost when one is inattentive, advise is lost by doubting it, and japa is lost through a restless mind." -Padma purana

Kunjera-leela

The gopis arranged themselves in the form of an elephant at this location (kunjera), and Krishna climbed upon them. This place is also known as Kunjera on account of this playful event ( Kunjera-leela )

This pastime was performed south west of Radha Kund at Navagram. The boundary of the kunjas of Radha kund begin here. Navagram also received its name "Kunjera" because of its many kunjas.

Mother Yasoda's Morning Program

When Gokulananda (Krsna) went to the meadows, Queen Yasoda became eager to prepare His meal, so she engaged everyone in the house. Although all the people in her house were busily engaged in their duties and were all excited with love for Krsna, still Yasoda, bathed by the nectar of affection for her son, directed them all. She told her maidservants: “0 Girls! My boy will now return from the barn with Balarama, skinny and hungry, so quickly start cooking! Bring spinach, radish, golden flowers, mung dal, fruits, leaves, ginger, ground nuts, sour spices, turmeric, pepper, camphor, sugar, cumin seeds, cream, tamarind, hing, honey, Jati fruits, cassia leaves, liquorice, cane sugar, ingredients for puddings, sea salt, coconut pulp, whole wheat, ghee, yoghurt, Tulasi-rice and whole rice, and bring milk from a cow that was sent here this morning by Nanda Maharaja. Bring all these items to the kitchen for preparation!”

Being more affectionate than billions of mothers, Yasoda happily smelled Radhika’s head and kissed Her, while tears flowed from her eyes. She also embraced each of Radhika’s girlfriends and freely inquired from Radhika about Her welfare. Overwhelmed by affection for her son and eager to quickly arrange for His meal, she said: “O Girls! You are famous in Vraja for your expertise in making many sweet preparations! Cook nice food that will give appetite even to a small eater like my boy! 0 Girls! One of you must prepare salty dishes, someone must make a yoghurt-dressed dish, someone should cook in ghee and someone should cook in sugar!”

“ Dear Radhe! You are expert in cooking tasty dishes, so please go to my kitchen with Rohini and carefully prepare the best sweets and vegetables with her! O my daughter! Carefully prepare soft Amrta keli and Karpura keli pies that are millions of times sweeter and tastier than nectar! Who else in the three worlds but You knows how to prepare such things that makes Krsna eager to eat?”

“ Dear Girl! Prepare that Piyusa granthi pie that Krsna likes so much and carefully put this in five kinds of nectar with a drink of cardamom and camphor!”

“ Mother Lalite! Make condensed milk with sugar and camphor!

Visakhe! Quickly make lemonade!

Sasilekhe! Make Sikharini (a yoghurt drink)!

Daughter Campakalate! Make buttermilk!

0h Tungavidye! Daughter! Make Amliksa (milk drink) mixed with all suitable ingredients of different varieties!

Mother Citre! Make Matsyandira (a sugar candy drink)!

Vasanti! Make white sugar cake!

Mangale! Make Jilepis (sweets)!

Kadambari! Make camphor pie!

Sudevi! Make sweet rice!

Rangadevi! Make cane sugar-pie!

Lasike! Make laddus of sugar; ground rice and grapes!

Kaumudi! Make many kinds of puns!

Mother Madalase! Make moon white cakes!

Sasimukhi! Carefully make sweet rice with curd!

Sumukhi! You make tasty sweet pie!

Manimati! Make different cakes of ground rice!

Daughter Kancana valli! Make laddus of whole wheat in ghee!

Manorame! Make Manohara-laddus!

Ratnamale! Make Moticura laddus!

Madhavi! Make sesame sweets by frying huskless sesame-seeds! Then you can cut a square sesame-pie!

Vindhye! Make a basket shaped sweet pie by frying whole wheat and barley first in ghee and then in sugarwater! Then you can make a split pea pie!

Rambhe! You make Karambha (cornmeal mixed with yoghurt) with banana?s cooked in sugar, on a golden plate!

Manojne! Squeeze out ripe mangoes and keep them in condensed milk with sugar!

0 Kilimbe! Make ghee from the milk which was taken from the cow named Sugandha this morning and from which I churned yoghurt!

Ambike! Slowly stir the milk that King Nanda personally milked from the cow named Dhavala and which he sent here for Krsna and Balarama’s consumption!”

Dear Girls! Swiftly go to my milk-storehouse, which is filled with big sifting spoons, clay pots and wooden bowls!

Dhanisthe! Take all these items from the storerooms and put them in suitable vessels for preparation!

Rangana Malike! Go to the storehouse with Tulasi and quickly get all the required ingredients and place them before your maidservants where they are going to be prepared!

lndumukhi! Take the plums, mangoes, pomegranates, Karira, Amalaki, Limpaka lemons, Badari and Rucaka fruits, and roots like ginger, that have been kept in salt and oil for many days and make them into very tasty pickles, as well as the Tamarind, mangoes, Amalaki, Badari and berries that have been kept in candy water for many days, out of the storeroom and put them on golden plates!

Dear Sande, Subhe, Bharani, Pibari and Mistahaste! Please Girls! Quickly take the best milk, which was taken from the meadows by the servants, on the stoves and start stirring it!”

Sri Gandharvika (Radhika) took off Her veil, rings and ornaments and handed them to Tulasi. She washed Her hands and feet with water handed by Dhanistha. Then she bowed down to Rohini, who lovingly embraced Her as if she was her own daughter-in-law, and entered the kitchen.

When all the gopis thus bloomed with joy and went to work, Mother Yasoda anxiously told her servants: “ Dear Payoda! Place the water, which was brought from the Yamuna yesterday evening and which has been kept in new pots covered with sheets and that is scented with kunkuma, aguru, camphor and sandal, kept cool with soft breezes and moonbeams, and kept in special potholders, around the moonstone bathing dais which is sprinkled with water! 0 Varida! Scent Krsna and Balarama’s drinking water pots with aguru-smoke, jasmine, camphor, cloves and roses!”

“ Young Barber boy Sugandha! Bring the Narayana oil which cures innumerable diseases and nourishes the body, and which has been used by the physician Kalyanada, from my room, for massaging Krsna.”

“Subandha and Karpuraka! Quickly get the cool and fragrant Udvartana unguent and the Kalka unguent made of ground Amalaki for the hair!”

“Saranga! Quickly press the thin, white overclothes for bathing and the fresh, silken golden clothes scented with fragrant powder for wearing after bathing!”

“Bakula! Bring the red turban, the golden shirt, red underwear and the multicoloured sash, the four kinds of traditional dress in Vraja, here, and press the Raucika-dresses, that are fit for dancing and were expertly sewn in different colours with broken and unbroken threads!”

“Dear Sugandha Vilasa Gandhini! Carefully fill up the pearl gem-studded boxes with unguents such as catuh sama, that consists of vermilion, aloe, sandal and camphor!”

“Talika! Grind Gorocana (a yellow pigment) for applying Krsna’s tilaka! Sucitra! Grind minerals from Govardhana Hill for drawing pictures on Krsna’s face! Puspahasa, Sumanah and Makaranda! Quickly make a garland of Naga Kesara, Vasanti, golden Yuthi and other flowers and scent it with black aloe and camphor!”

“Sairindhra, MaIm, Makaranda and Bhrngin! Take all the golden jewel studded ornaments that the goldsmiths Rangana and Tankana have lovingly made after many days of hard work, following my great zeal, and have handed me last evening, out of the storeroom! Today Sunday is in the Pusya-constellation, so they will bring amrta (nectar or immortality), so ornament my boys with them!”

“Dear Boy Salika! Make a crest of fresh peacock feathers! Mallika! Make different nice strings of red and white gunja-berries! Jambula! Quickly cut the bad piece from this golden betel leaf with scissors and clean the good piece with a fine cloth! Suvilasini! Quickly scent fresh betel nuts with camphor after crushing them with a nutcracker and moistening them with milk, flaking them like Dhatri-leaves! Rasala and Visalakhya! Make pan with ground cardamom, catechu and cloves that are cleansed with a cloth!”

Hearing mother Yasoda’s order, the servants went to their work and mother, casting her eyes down the road to see if her sons were coming back, asked a carrier coming back from the meadows: “Is Krsna coming? Why is He so late?”

The perfection of this devotees Archana is to one day be allowed to assist Mother Yasoda in Her service to Krsna

Caitanya's Birthplace

While at Krishnagar, one night, Bhakti Vinode was thinking deeply on the site of birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu on the roof of his residence in Navadvipa he is said to have seen in a vision a luminous building towards the north east. He was filled with wonder. The next moming he asked for the particulars of the place from which the vision had appeared to him. He was told that the ruins of the Ballal's palace are to be found there. He went to the place with such topographical accounts old maps and other data, as he could gather for his investigations. On enquiry he leamt from the local people that it was the Birth place of Sri Chaitanya. They pointed out an extensive mound covered with Tulasi plants as the actual site of the house of Sri Chaitanya. They added that they used to point out from generation to generation. It was a blissful moment when he realised that he had at last succeeded in his attempt which had cost him so much anxiety. Thakura Bhakti Vinode then composed his famous Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya in praise of every place within the circle of Navadvipa. - BVTM

Pani Gaon

At Pani Gaon or Pani Ghat the Gopis crossed the Yamuna to get the benediction of Durvasa Muni , that they would always have the association of Krishna. The Gopis cooked a sumptuous feast for Durvasa Muni and his disciples.

Going Separate Ways

Feb 21 2008 - Vrindavan

After chatting with old friends in Vrindavan India and the USA, I have come to the conclusion that they all have their own accurate or distorted view of history, the pastimes of AC Bhaktivendanta Swami , his purpose and preaching methods. I was able to harmonize this by contemplation on the words found in Jaiva Dharma that clearly describe Sukriti.

Even though hundreds, and thousands of searching souls come in connection with the divine energy not all have the same amount of accumulated spiritual merit (sukriti). That is why they perceive events differently. When like minds meet they work together for sometime, maybe one hour, one day or hundreds of lifetimes, then again they go their separate ways. Not everyone was able to see reality as it was. The modes of nature also influences one vision,desires etc. that is why it is absolutely necessary for young devotees to be chaste toward their living guru as to not be misled by illusion . The Guru most be free himself from illusion otherwise he is useless.

The point is that the souls individually must search out Sri Radha and Krishna within their heart and when bhava is aroused by good association Sri Krishna will manifest himself and his leelas to his pure devotee.

Modaka Candies

Riding on a chariot with his brother Balaram, and accompanied by his Mother, who rode on a palanquin, Lord Hari (Krishna) would sometimes travel to the forest to serve the great devotee-sages at their hermitages in the forest. When the Lord offered them yogurt Modaka candies[steamed rice-flour dumplings filled with sweet coconut and sugar], and other palatable foodstuffs, the intelligent sages felt great bliss. -Baladev vidyabhusana

Modaka Recipe

Ingredients:

For Dough:
2 cups rice flour
4 cups water
2 tsp. oilFor Filling:
2 tbsp. ghee
2 cups coconut, grated
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk
2 tbsp. dry nuts, chopped (Cashews, Raisins)

Method:

For Dough: In a pan boil water, when it's boiling add 2 tsp. oil.and remove from heat. Add rice flour, stir constantly so that it becomes thick. Cover and allow it to cool. Later, knead well and keep aside

For Filling: In a pan heat ghee, fry dry nuts till golden color. Add coconut, sugar and cook them on a medium heat. Add milk and stir constantly until it comes as a paste. Remove from the heat. Make small balls out of rice dough with the greased hand. Make a small hollow in the center and place spoonful of filling in the middle.

Now join the open edges together and give it a shape like a whole ball. Place these modaka's in a greased plate and steam it for 10-12 minutes.

Serve hot or cold.

Miss Maya

“Miss Maya is so strong,” Swamiji tells us, “that when she sees you trying to become Krishna conscious, she’ll knock you down.” He shakes his head and smiles, as if facing an unconquerable foe.

“She is so strong, and we are so weak. Like fire and butter. We should never think that we are stronger than Maya. We have only one recourse Hare Krishna. When Mayadevi attacks, we must cry, ‘Krishna! Krishna! Please save me!’ Since only Krishna is stronger than maya, only Krishna can protect us. When the pure devotee conquers Krishna through love, then Mayadevi stands before the devotee and says, ‘How may I serve you?’ Only then does maya cease to be a foe. Only then is maya seen as Krishna’s smile.“ - Hayagriva Das

Loud Cheers of "Hari Hari Bol"

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born in Mayapur in the town of Nadia, just after sunset on the evening of the 23rd Falgun, 1407 Advent of Sakabda (Feb/18/1486) . The moon was eclipsed at the time of His birth and people of Nadia were all engaged, as usual on such occasions, in bathing in the Bhagirathi with loud cheers of Hari Hari bol.

His father Jagannath Misra was a poor Brahmin of the Vedic order, and His mother Sachi Devi was a very devoted woman, both descended from Brahmin families originally residing in Sylhet. Mahaprabhu was a beautiful Child and the ladies of the town came to see Him with presents. His mother's father (Pandit Nilambar Chakravarti ) a renowned astrologer, foretold that the Child -would be a great Personage in time ; and he therefore, gave Him the name Visvambhar. The ladies of the neighborhood would refer to Chaitanya as Gaur Hari on account of His golden complexion, and His mother called Him Nimai on account of the Nim tree near the place of his appearance. Beautiful as the child was every one heartily loved to see Him everyday. As He grew up. He became very carefree and playful . At five years of age his education begins. read more

What is important is that the pictures are of Krishna and consistent with scriptural descriptions. Although they may be imperfectly drawn, they are beautiful for the devotee because they remind him of Krishna.

He taught Krishna to dance expertly

Tos Gopa, an expert dancer, lived in this village. He taught Krishna to dance expertly, by which Sri Krishna felt great satisfaction ( tos ). Krishna , Balarama, the Cows and Cowherd boys also felt very satisfied when they drank the sweet water from Tos Kund, located here.

To say "God is love" and to deny His personality is a gross contradiction.

Love is actually an intimate feeling which one person feels for another.

Love is not just a vague impersonal force which floats around bestowing itself on people.

O Gopinatha, please sit within the core of my heart and subdue this mind, and thus take me to You. Only then will the terrible dangers of this world disappear.

Despite their marriages

"Radharani is fifteen days younger than Krishna. When Krishna was a boy, He played with the children of the countryside, and because He was so beautiful, all the girls prayed that someday He would be their husband. Since Radha loved Krishna the most, She is the symbol of greatest worship. Krishna and the gopis, the cowherd girls, were the same age, but because girls are married earlier than boys, they were all married before Krishna. Yet, despite their marriages, they all loved Krishna so much that whenever He would play His flute, they would leave their homes and go to Him. This continued until Krishna was sixteen; then He left His friends and went to live with His real father in Mathura, and all His friends spent the rest of their lives weeping and longing for Him. Radha and Krishna met again during a solar eclipse at Kurukshetra, and it was a meeting of love, but then They were again separated. Radha is Krishna’s beloved, and by Her blessings Krishna will accept us. ‘Hare’ means Radha, so when we chant Hare Krishna, we are chanting Radha Krishna. We say Radha’s name first because Krishna loves Her.” ACBSP

Thorns are Savory

We are all trying to squeeze some enjoyment out of these material bodies, but instead of enjoying, we’re suffering like a camel.

Sometimes the camel eats thorny branches, and his mouth bleeds. Tasting his own blood, he thinks that the thorns are very savory, and so he just keeps on chewing. Material pleasure is like that. We think we are enjoying, but actually we’re drinking our own blood. This is due to ignorance.

Grace

Guru and Krishna are like two rails of the same track, always side by side. By the grace of Krishna, you get guru. And by the grace of guru, you get Krishna.

Living in a faraway place

Excerpt from Sri Bhaktivinoda Vani Vaibhava, compiled under the direct order of His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur by Sripada Sundarananda Vidyavinoda .

Today we are sitting inside a bhajana-kutir at Sri Purushottama-kshetra. Why are we living in this faraway place, leaving the great city of Calcutta, which is full of people and learned communities?

A long time ago, when we published this magazine Sajjana-toshani, I had a desire in my heart. I thought that the more this pure Vaishnava religion is spread through this magazine, the more the people of the world would benefit. We began to work with a free mind. Many educated gosvamis and babajis of Bengal came and pledged to help us. Some learned impersonalists joined us, and being overwhelmed by the beauty of devotional service, they began to help spread pure Vaishnavism. After hearing nice instructions regarding Vaishnavism, materialists also became attracted. Professional singers and players floated in the waves of pure hari-kirtan and considered themselves fully satisfied. Gradually many assemblies for chanting the holy names of Hari were established in villages and cities. In this way, the glories of pure Vaishnavism filled the hearts of the inhabitants of Bengal and overwhelmed everyone by their beauty and sweetness. On seeing such an unexpected response from the people of Bengal, we began to preach pure Vaishnavism with more and more enthusiasm.

Then by the influence of time, a sudden change took place. The glow-wormlike superstitions that were hidden in the scorching heat of the sun of Vaishnavism suddenly took various forms and came from four directions. The demoniac religious principle in the form of Mayavada, which was immersed within the deep water of forgetfulness for some time, again surfaced in the form of discourses, taking shelter of the boat of the smarta teachers. At the same time, some Indian and foreign yogis appeared as supporters of the smartas and created a revolution in the world of religion. Moreover, some useless people, who were fond of sense gratification, took shelter of unauthorized religious practices and began to create disturbance in society, identifying themselves as sahajiyas and baulas. Displaying the limit of their sinful propensity, a few wormlike people, who take pleasure in the stool of fame, began to advertise themselves as "the incarnation of the Lord" in the society of fools. Some other people even accepted names befitting a Vaishnava, acted as acharyas, and began to spread ideas that were opposed to Vaishnavism as if they were the religious principles of Vaishnavas.

After seeing all such unimaginable activities, our hearts began to shatter. When we try to search for the cause of such a change, we suddenly remember the following verse written by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvatipada, "The age of Kali is formidable and the senses of the human beings are very powerful. Now the path of devotional service is full of millions of thorns.

Where shall I go? What shall I do? I am completely helpless without the mercy of Gaurachandra."While crying and speaking in this way, I went to the birthplace of the Lord at Sri Mayapura. Still my mind did not become peaceful. Thereafter I left my place in search of the Lord and after arriving at Puri, I began to roll on the goldlike sand.

At that time, the Lord informed me in my heart, "O well-wisher of the devotees. May you obtain peace! The nature that the living entities have developed, according to their respective karma from birth after birth in this world, influences them to engage in fruitive activities. Until desires opposed to devotional service are destroyed from the heart, no amount of good instruction can bring any auspiciousness. Such instructions will simply come out of the ear-holes and will not enter into the heart. No amount of preaching to them or discussing devotional service will produce a good result because of their bad karma. Your discourses and discussions will therefore not yield any result.

My order to you is that you should live at the place where I kept My dear Haridasa and where I loudly chanted the holy names of the Lord. You should constantly sing the glories of the holy names for the benefit of the fallen souls. As a result of the piety that people will achieve by hearing from you, and the faith they will develop, they will attain unduplicitious faith in pure devotional service in a future lifetime.

"Following these instructions of our beloved Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya, we built our bhajan-kutir in the tract of land surrounded by huge waves. - Bhaktivinod Thakur

From the life of Sir Isaac Newton.

Among Newton's acquaintances and fellow scientists was an atheist, with whom he would sometimes debate. One morning this man paid Sir Isaac Newton a visit. When he entered Newton's study, he noted a remarkably well-made replica of the universe sitting on his desk. The model was complete with rotating planets, and Newton's associate was quite impressed by its detail and authentic nature.

"This is wonderful!" he exclaimed. "Who made it?" 'Nobody' replied Newton. His friend repeated the question and again Sir Isaac replied, "Nobody made it. It just appeared this morning by itself."

"Stop kidding me. Obviously someone made this. Someone possessed of great intelligence! I'd like to meet the person who made this." "Where is your logic!' Newton exclaimed. 'You and your atheistic colleagues try to tell me that thereis no Supreme Being. You say that the vast and wonderfully intricate universe, of which this tiny model is but a replica, has created itself, whereas you adamantly deny the same possibility with this model! You say an intelligent person must have created this model, but you deny the Supreme Person behind the universe!"

Discovered In Italy

This is the Hindu deity Shiva ( Shiva Lingum ). This piece is at present on view in the Etruscan Museum at the Vatican in Rome. Encyclopedia Britannica mentions under the headings "Etruria" and "Etruscan" that between the 2nd and 7th centuries BC, northern Italy was known as Etruria.

During excavations many such "meteoric stones mounted on carved pedestals" are discovered in Italy. Obviously, therefore, this one was dug up from the Vatican itself. Many more must be lying buried in the Vatican's massive walls and numerous cellars.

Vatican is itself the Sanskrit word "Vatica" applied to Hindu cultural-cum-religious centers as in "Ashrama-Vatica" or "Dharma-Vatica" or "Ananda-Vatica." Therefore, the Vatican was obviously a Hindu religious seat before its incumbent was forced to accept Christianity.

It is said

We all are servants of servants of servants of Srilla Bhaktivinoda Thakura and all our knowledge and understanding is uprising from his teachings and books. We are members of the glorious transcendental family of Srilla Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Bhaktivinoda parivara and therefore, we take his words as supreme guidance and shelter.

Here is interesting text written about Srilla Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Gaura Kaisora das Babaji by Srila BR Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja in his book Follow the Angels:"Now, suddenly, these two personalities have come to the surface, Gadadhara Pandita and Svarupa Damodara. Both have come. Svarupa Damodara came as Gaura-kisora and Gadadhara Pandita came as Bhaktivinoda Thakura".

"The position of Bhaktivinoda Thakura is so exulted that at the end of his commentary on Caitanya-caritamrta, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta wrote that he saw Bhaktivinoda as Gadadhara Pandita".

Grandmother of Sri Radha

Simple rules - 1968

The main thing is that whenever prasadam is offered to the Lord, everything should be very respectfully and cleanly presented and prepared.

In Jagannatha Puri, the Lord eats 56 times. So the Lord can eat as many times as you can offer. But only thing is whatever is offered must be with respect and devotion. He is neither hungry nor poor, nor unable to eat, but He accepts everything, when such eatable is within the groups of vegetables, fruits, flours, milk, water, etc. is offered to Him with love and devotion, and faith. He wants our love only, and that makes Him hungry for eating as many times as you may offer.

He is absolute, therefore, all contradictory points coincide in Him. He is hungry and satisfied simultaneously. So the purport is that everything should be offered very cleanly and pure things should be given. If a preparation is cooked all together, then offer all together. But if it is prepared separately, then the milk, the sugar and the cereal should be offered separately. But if the milk, sugar and grains are all cooked together, that can be done. Everything should be prepared very carefully and cleanly within the groups of foods listed. And nothing should ever be eaten before offering to the Lord.

Best thing is to prepare separately each preparation. No, food which has been offered should never be put back into the refrigerator with the unoffered foods, or brought back into the kitchen.

You should prepare as much as can be consumed, and after offering, nothing should be put back in the refrigerator, or kitchen. Refrigerator should always be very cleansed and pure. Everyone should be careful to make only as much as they can eat; they cannot keep any leftovers in refrigerator. I know this is a practice in your country, but in the temples or at homes of any Krishna Consciousness persons, a person should not indulge in such unclean habits. If there is any food extra, that should be kept separately; and if there is a separate refrigerator, not within the kitchen and not having in it any unoffered foods, then you may have such special refrigerator for leftover prasadam. But it cannot be kept within the same refrigerator as the unoffered, unprepared foods. That cannot be.

One should never eat within the kitchen, there is ample place to eat so why should one eat in the kitchen? Kitchen should be considered as good as the Lord's room, and nobody should wear shoes in the kitchen, smelling and tasting of foods being prepared for the Lord should never be done, talking within the kitchen should be only what is necessary for preparing the prasadam, or about the Lord.

Dirty dishes (those taken from kitchen and eaten from) should not be brought back into the kitchen (but if there is no other place to wash them, then they should be put into sink and washed immediately.), hands should always be washed when preparing prasadam, and in this way, everything shall be prepared very cleanly and pure.)

What is the difficulty of enforcing these rules? They are rules, and they are simple rules, and must be followed. One must be prepared to follow the rules for Krishna. Otherwise where is the proof that he loves Krishna. And they are not very difficult to follow. ACBSP

Astonished and Impressed

The Parrot of Sri - In the Srimad' Bhagavatam it is often stated, sri sukadeva uvaca. Sri means sriya sukadeva, or the suka, parrot of Sri - Srimati Radharani.

Jlva Goswami, in Golpal Campu, explains that this suka originally was Srimati Radhika's and used to sit on Srimati Radhika's left hand while She would affectionately feed him the seeds from a pomegranate fruit. She would pet him affectionately telling him, "Bolo Krishna! Krishna! This parrot would then sweetly utter the names of Krishna.

One day that suka flew away to Nandagram to Krishna who was sitting within a kunja (garden) with His friend Madhu Mangala and others. The suka sat on a branch of a pomegranate tree and very sweetly began to utter Krishna's name, "Krishna, Krishna." Krishna looked toward the suka and was moved.

The parrot spoke again, "Oh, I am very wretched and unfortunate. I am kritghna - ungrateful and do not recognize the good qualities of anyone. For I have left my mistress and have come here." He uttered this In such a pitiable manner that Krishna was both astonished and Impressed. He at once took the parrot, who was Srimati Radhika's own, in His hand and began to comfort him.

He took my Sikha and dragged me

Our Guru Maharaja ( Kesava Maharaj ) realized the glories of Guru. After taking diksa from Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he never could say “Prabhupada”; when he did, he began to weep loudly. He wanted to glorify him, but his mood became so high that he couldn’t. He used to say, “Krsna came to this world, but He didn’t save me. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu also came here, and They saw me here. Narada and others were here, but they also did not save me. My Gurudeva, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, took my sikha and dragged me from the well of hell. He took me under his shelter and gave me Krsna.”

- Srila Narayan Maharaj

Nanda's Cow

Radha's Pauganda pastimes

Green Grass

Four miles from Vrindavan on the Delhi \ Mathura Highway is the town of Chattikara also known as Sakatikara. At the time of Sri Krishna's childhood leelas this area as well as Vrindavan was all green with grass and forest. There was no village or town.

Nanda Maharaj became concerned about the safety of child Krishna when demons dispatched by Kamsa created and very difficult situation for everyone, so He decided to leave Gokul-Mahavan and take his cows, calves, bulls and all the residents to a place where the grass was green, plentiful and the atmosphere was safe. Having reached this area, Nanda assembled his thousands of bullock carts in a half moon shape to protect Sri Krishna and his cowherd community. Thus the name Sakatikara meaning "Bullock Carts" was given.

Through out this area Sri Krishna revealed his childhood "Braj Leelas". As he grew older being put in charge of Nanda's calves he and his brother Balaram would walk them to Vrindavan for grazing . The grass was very good and the trees provided wonderful fruits and flowers. A wonderful playground for Sri Krishna, Balaram and all his associates.