:-) Conversation with God (-:

Mortal: What is a million years like to you?

God: Like one second.

Mortal: What is a million dollars like to you?

God: Like one penny.

Mortal: Can I have a penny?

God: Just a second

Time Measurements "Explained".

Vrshabanu-nandini-Sri Radha

Radha Krishna

Radharani has many names that reflect her personal relationships and also the mood of that relationship (Rasa). Some of the names Srimati Radharani is known by include :

• Govinda-anandini - She who gives pleasure to Govinda (Krishna)

• Govinda-mohini - She who mystifies Govinda

• Govinda-sarvasva - the all-in-all of Lord Govinda

• Shiromani Sarva-kanta - the crown jewel of all the Lord's consorts

• Krishnamayi - the one who sees Krishna both within and without

• Radhika - Her worship of the Lord consists of fulfilling His desires

• Aradhana - The root name of Radharani, meaning one who excels in worshiping the Lord

• Sarva-lakshmi - The original source of all the goddesses of fortune

• Sarva-kanti - all beauty and luster rest in Her body & all the desires of Lord Krishna rest in Her.

• Madan-Mohan-Mohini - the enchanter of the enchanter of Cupid. Krishna is said to be the enchanter of, and more beautiful than Cupid, the master enchanter. But Radha is the enchanter of Krishna, Madan-Mohan-Mohini.

• Vrshabanu-nandini - daughter of Vrshabanu

• Vrndavaneshvari - Queen of Vrndavana

• Lalita-Sakhi - friend of the gopi (cowherdgirl) Lalita

• Gokula-Taruni - She whom all young girls of Gokula (Vrndavana) worship

• Damodara Rati - She who dresses herself to please Damodara [Krishna]

Krishna's bellicose activities

Devotees of Krsna are always anxious to hear about the transcendental activities of the Lord. His activities of fighting, kidnapping and running away from the battlefield are all transcendental, being on the absolute platform, and devotees take a transcendental interest in hearing of them. The pure devotee does not make the distinction that some activities of the Lord should be heard and others should be avoided. There is, however, a class of so-called devotees known as prakrta sahajiya who are very interested in hearing about Krsna's rasa-lila with the gopis but not about His fighting activities with His enemies. They do not know that His bellicose activities and His friendly activities with the gopis are equally transcendental, being on the absolute platform. The transcendental pastimes of Krsna described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam are relished by pure devotees through submissive aural reception. They do not reject even a drop.

ACBSP

Dosa Pancakes

Ingredients

• 1 Cup raw white rice
  
• 1/2 Cup urad or mung dhal (split)
  
• 1/2 Cup yogurt
  
• Water
  
• 2 Teaspoon salt
  
• 1/2 Teaspoon cayenne

**********************************************

Instructions on how to prepare Dosa.

1. Soak the dhal and rice overnight.
   
2. Drain and blend in an electric blender, adding salt and cayenne, with just enough water to help the blending process.
   
3. Pour into a bowl and add the yogurt. Mix well. The batter should be like any pancake batter.
   
4. Lightly grease a skillet. Pour batter into nice circles.
5. The bottom is done while the top is still bubbling. Turn over and brown the other side.
   

This may be served plain, or with tender fried potatoes in spices with a little water. It can be served with potatoes and cabbages or any variety of chutneys.

Non Sectarian

A Muslim woman carries her son,dressed as Lord Krishna,
on the occasion of Janamashtami.

This reminded me of the situation in which the Gopis of Vrndavan found themselves. Even though cultural, social and even religious constraints we forced upon them, they (pure spirit souls) called out with love for Sri Krishna and he responded. -AJD

Everyone can love Sri Krishna
because Sri Krishna loves everyone !

Related article:

Cowherd boys

Water Street
* * *

Just like Krsna and the cowherd boys
in Santa Fe New Mexico
By Harer Nama Das (ACBSP 67)

In 1969 Srila Prabhupada visited the temple in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was located in a storefront on West Water Street, about one mile from the center of town.

I drove Srila Prabhupada from the airport in Albuquerque to the temple in Santa Fe. Inside the storefront, Srila Prabhupada paid obeisances to the Jagannath deities. He sat down on the carpet near the alter. Toshan Krishna gave him an orange and apple. Srila Prabhupada reached inside the lunch bag he had with him. Five or six devotees sat with him in a circle. S.P. took out some laddus which were originally small balls but lumped into one big ball. He gave us with his own hand some laddhu paste. He gave me some pressing the paste in my palm. He said, “Here, Harer Nama. Take.” One guest said, “This is the best peanut butter I ever tasted” (Actually laddus are not peanut butters. They are made from chick pea flour, butter and powdered sugar.)

Srila Prabhupada said, “This is what Krishna and the cowherd boys eat for a snack when they herd the cows.” One guest asked, “Who is Krishna?” S.P. said, “Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead who herds the cows and plays with the cowherd boys.” All the devotees felt happy to have Srila Prabhupada with them.

In few days later, S.P. gave a class in the evening. He said the guests were very intelligent. He pointed to a painting of Radha and Krishna. He said Radha and Krishna engage in spiritual sex life.

After the class, I drove S.P. to his apartment. Someone asked him to explain more about the spiritual sex life of Radha and Krishna. He didn’t say anything but just sat very straight. The devotees enjoyed S.P.’s visit to Santa Fe very much.

A letter by SP dated 1969

So, by the grace of Lord Caitanya, this movement is already introduced in the Western countries beginning from New York. Our first movement, the sankirtana movement was introduced in New York. I came to New York first. I began to chant this Hare Krishna mantra in Tompkins Square park. So I was chanting there for three hours with a small mrdunga and these boys, American boys, they assembled and gradually they joined and it is increasing. First of all it was started in New York in a store front, 26 2nd. Avenue. Then we started our branch in San Fransisco, in Los Angeles, in Santa Fe, in Buffalo, then here.

A related article can be read here

Ancient Vaishnava Art

Sanjhi Art

Sanjhi, an ancient Vaishnava art, involves cutting paper to form intricate stencils depicting the life of Krishna and Radha. The stencils are used in different ways. Some are placed on freshly plastered mud walls and filled with coloured powder. Some are placed on plates smeared with mustard oil. After filling the stencil with various powders, the stencil is lifted gently and the plate made to float on the river. The heavy plate is then taken out as it goes down leaving only the beautiful Sanjhi floating on a bed of oil! Folklore has it that since the artists started working in the morning but displayed the creation only in the evening, the art got named Sanjhi, Hindi for evening. In modern times, the stencils are made on rice paper and other strong materials to be made into lamp shades and other utility products. The art has also found acceptance as bindis to adorn foreheads.

Mahaprabhu Diety

“After taking sannyasa he ( A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj )went to Agra for preaching, and then to Jhansi. He wanted to establish a preaching center there in Jhansi. He called my Gurudeva, after which about twenty brahmacharis and sannyasis went there. He wanted to establish this Mahaprabhu (who is here now at Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha, on the altar), and by chance this was not done. So, he gave that Deity to Gurudeva and he brought Mahaprabhu here. So this Mahaprabhu is the ‘sign’ of Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja.

After that, he went to the western countries. He had not a penny with him. He requested Scindia Navigation to bring him across the ocean, and they promised to do so. It took about a month to reach America by steamship, and on the way he became very, very sick. He did not take any medicine, but simply depended on Krsna. He wrote a poem to Krsna, and after that his health improved.

He established preaching centers in the middle of oceans, on the top of hills, and everywhere – in America, England, Africa, Australia, and so many countries, and his books were distributed throughout the world. Thus, he brought about a spiritual revolution." - BV Narayana Maharaj

An Ancient Text

Gour-pada Tarangini, an ancient Vaishnav text has described Sri Gouranga-sundar as being full of sweet mellows.

There it is said –

“Gourânga’s complexion is like a mass of extremely hot pure gold – every part of His body is so tremendously handsome! The soles of His feet are beautiful like a host of blood red lotuses, on which ten toes dazzle with incomparable beauty. His toe-nails are as radiant as the moon of the Sharad season, while His knees, heels, thighs – all are heart-stealing. He looks like a casket of gold, with His legs being the repose of all beauty. His thighs are like plantain trunks – they are so masculine!

Silk robe adorns His broad hips, while His waist is thin like the stamen of a flower. His belly is like a peepul leaf, His chest is muscular and raised, His legs are long, and His very strong arms ooze gold. His arms are adorned with bangles, His palms are rosier than Hibiscus, and His sweetness weaves magic on Kandarpa dev.

His nails are shaped like half-moons, and they are so brilliant, that on seeing them, gem-mirrors run away in shame. His neck is like that of a lion, and sport three lines, upon which His lips rest beautifully like a bândhuli flower. His cheeks shine like gold mirrors, His teeth are like rows of pearls, His nose is like the sesame flower, His eyebrows are like the bows of Kâmdev, and His hair arranges in handsome curls around His face.

His eyes are like fresh and pure lotus, and the pupils resemble black bees. His eyes are always pink and full of tears. His ears are handsome like the bow-strings of the Love-god, and gem-earrings dangle from them. His hair is soft, smooth, pitch black, glossy and extremely sparkling. Moreover it is well-decorated with various flowers. His face is smiling like a fully bloomed lotus, it is the source of millions of precious excellences, and His teeth flash so brightly that they put kunda-flowers to shame.

As it is, He is so gorgeous that He mesmerizes the universe, in addition He resembles a great dancer who is an expert is inventing new songs and dances everyday! When He raises both His arms and gyrates in bhâv, He looks like countless flashes of lightning. Whosoever sees His beauty at that moment, will forget all dharma and adharma. He will only float in the ras of bliss! Poet Premdâs (Chandi das) says that he is but a mere mortal, therefore he too has discarded all dharma and adharma, and surrendered at the lotus feet of Gourânga. “

Sridham's charming younger sister

" It is Sri Radha Herself- The golden beauty, the beautiful banner of fame for King Vrsabhanu's dynasty, a wave of luster that came from mother Kirtida's jewel-like womb, Sridham's charming younger sister, the most beautiful moonlight that delights Her lily-like girlfriends and the sitting place for the peacock of my heart!"

Sri Sri Dana Keli Cintamani (21)
by Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami

One drop of nectar

Sri Brahma-vaivarta Purana

Chapter One

Sri Krsna-pada-padma-prapti-sopanam
The Stairway to Sri Krsna’s Lotus Feet

Sri Narada said: O brahmana, first I heard the beautiful and very wonderful Brahma-khanda from Brahma’s mouth. Then, by his command, I came to you and heard the Prakrti-khanda, which is sweeter than nectar.

Now, unsatisfied even by hearing the Ganapati-khanda, which breaks the cycle of repeated birth, my heart yearns to hear a certain thing. To me, a devotee and your surrendered disciple, please elaborately narrate the Sri Krsna-janma-khanda, which breaks the cycle of birth and death for all who are truthful, which ends fruitive work, brings devotional service to Lord Hari, at once creates renunciation, cures the disease of repeated birth and death, plants the seed of liberation, is a boat to cross the ocean of repeated birth and death, is a medicine to cure the disease of trying to enjoy the fruits of work, is a stairway leading to Sri Krsna’s lotus feet, and is the life of the Vaisnavas and the purifier of the worlds.

By whose request did Lord Krsna, the most perfect and complete original Supreme Personality of Godhead come, accompanied by all His amsa incarnations, to the surface of the earth?

In what yuga, for what reason, and in what place did He appear? Who is His father, Vasudeva? Who is Devaki?

Please tell in what family, with Yogamaya’s aid expertly imitating the actions of ordinary men, He took birth? When He came what did He do? In what form did Lord Hari appear?

Afraid of Kamsa, He left the maternity room and went to Gokula. O sage, why was the fearless Supreme Person afraid of Kamsa, who was insignificant as a worm or an insect?

Dressed as a cowherd boy, what did Lord Hari do in Gokula? Why did the master of the universes enjoy pastimes with cowherd girls?

Who were these cowherd girls? Who were these cowherd boys? Who was Yasoda? Who was Nanda? What pious deeds had they performed?

Why did the saintly goddess Radha, who lives in Goloka and is Lord Hari’s dearest lover, come to Vraja and become a girl of Vraja? How did these cowherd girls attain the unattainable Supreme Personality of Godhead? Why did He leave them and go to Mathura?

After removing the earth’s burden where did He go and what did He do? O very fortunate one, please tell the story of the Lord, hearing and chanting whose glories are the greatest of pious deeds.

O ocean of mercy, to me, who am your devoted disciple, please teach the rarely heard stories of Lord Hari, which are a boat to cross the ocean of repeated birth and death, a sword to cut the painful chains of material pleasures, blazing flames to burn the fuel of hosts of sins, the destroyer of sins for they who hear, the giver of liberation, nectar for the ears, and the destroyer of an ocean of grief.

By performing austerities, chanting mantras, giving great charity, seeing the holy places of the earth, studying the Vedas, fasting, following vows, worshipping the demigods, and being initiated to perform all yajnas, one does not attain even on sixteenth the benefit of hearing the glories of Lord Hari.

My father sent me here to learn from you. Who, approaching an ocean of nectar, would not wish to drink from it?

Sri Narayana Rsi said: I know that you are very fortunate, pious, and glorious. O purifier of the people, you wander here and there to purify the worlds. As you hear their words, the people’s hearts are quickly revealed to you. You know how people’s hearts are disposed to their disciple, wife, daughter, granddaughter, relatives, son, and grandson, and how their hearts have glory, beauty, intelligence, eloquence and knowledge. You are liberated, even while living in this world. You are completely pure. You are a pure devotee of Lord Krsna. With the dust of your feet you purify this earth, the maintainer of all.

King Kamsa

It appears that King Kamsa is at it again. He cannot tolerate that Sri Krsna or anything to do with him remains in tact. Sri Krsna is the life and soul of Vrindavan and these holy monuments have attracted devotees through-out the universe since time immemorial. Now Kamsa wants to get rid of the monument and build a bridge, he will then tax the pilgrims who use it. What a bum!! -AJD

New Bridge threatens Vrindavan’s Heritage Ghat.

Aug 15, AGRA, INDIA — A new bridge being constructed in Vrindavan has come in for criticism from local environmental activists, who term it a threat to Kesi Ghat - the only remaining ghat in Vrindavan. They also contend it will obscure the magnificent panoramic view of the Yamuna river and affect its flow.

“Kesi Ghat, which happens to be the last ghat of Vrindavan from where river Yamuna flows through, is being endangered,” said Sri Vatsa Goswami of Friends of Vrindavan.

Mathura-Vrindavan Development Authority’s plan to link the disconnected portions of Vrindavan Parikrama Marg (circumference road) by constructing a bridge across the Yamuna would seriously affect the river’s flow along Vrindavan’s banks, local residents claim.

They also say the livelihood of hundreds of boatmen will be endangered as the free passage of boats across the Yamuna would get hindered. Kesri Ghat, constructed by Rani Laxmi of Bharatpur, remains the only boating spot in Vrindavan.

“They are destroying nature and culture. Ordinary folks in Vrindavan have no voice while the ‘developmentalists’ are out to murder a rich heritage,” environmentalist Swami Sewak Sharan said.

However, the Mathura-Vrindavan Development Authority Vice Chairman R.K. Singh denied the charges and claimed these had been raised by people who do not understand development or environment.

“They are just obstructing. We have got proper studies done. The Kesri Ghat was any way crumbling. The bridge is a little distance away from the ghat. Pointless controversies are being raised,” he added.

PWD Chief Engineer C.D. Rai told IANS that it was only “vested land owning interests” who were raising the objections.

“The bridge on the river does not affect environment in any manner, nor does it obstruct the flow of the river. We will later take up the renovation of the Kesi Ghat,” he said.

Mode of Judgement

Braj Ras

"There are different ways in which different persons whose faculty of spiritual consciousness has been aroused judge about their own requirements. Every enlightened person is privileged to have a sight of Sri Gurudev in accordance with his particular mode of judgment. Sri Gurudev is that real entity who thus reveals himself to the view of enlightened souls in a variety of ways.

Sri Gurudev is the daughter of Vrishabhanu (Sri Radha) in the madhurya-rasa (the spiritual humor of the sweetness of divine amour). Realized by the method of the rasa of parental affection, Sri Gurudev reveals himself as Nanda-Yashoda. In the rasa of friendly affection he is Sridama-Sudama. In the rasa of the devotion of servants to the master, the lotus feet of Sri Guru act as Chitrak-Patrak. The consideration of all these asrayas, devotees, about the visaya, Krishna rises naturally in the heart as one progresses in the service of Sri Guru. These subjects do not manifest themselves in the course of any artificial process. They are aroused spontaneously in the consciousness of fortunate souls on the appearance of the disposition for spiritual service of the divinity. We have no other function than the service of Sri Guru. By means of the adulterated consciousness of the material world it is not possible to discuss the eternal pastimes of Godhead that are inaccessible even to Shesha, Shiva, Brahma, and similar great personalities.

I have been asked sometimes by different people why we do not give away the realized method of service to all. As for myself, I cannot understand how the condition of self-realized souls and that of novices may be supposed to be identical. It passes our judgment to understand how the service and realization of souls free from all defects can be practiced during the period of novitiate, which is full of many defects. If any person happens to belong to the order of self-realized souls he may kindly intimate to me the fact. I can then know about the specific nature of his realized self."

Sri Chaitanya’s Teachings. Madras. 1989. p 266
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada

Hankering for pure love

Lord GaurangaLalasamayi Prarthana

- by Narottama das Thakur

1) When will that opportune moment come to us when there will be shivering of the body as soon as we chant Lord Gauranga's name? While chanting Hare Krsna, when will there be tears in the eyes?

2) When will I obtain the mercy of Lord Nityanandacandra? When, by His mercy will the desire for material enjoyment become very insignificant?

3) When the mind is completely purfied, being freed from material anxieties and desires, then I shall be able to understand Vrndavana and the conjugal love of Radha and Krsna, and then my spiritual life will be successful.

4) When shall I be very much eager to study the books left by the Six Gosvami's, headed by Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami? By their instruction I shall be able to properly understand the loving affairs of Radha and Krsna.

5) My only aspiration is to attain the lotus feet of the Six Gosvamis headed by Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. Narottama dasa constantly prays to attain their lotus feet.

(1)
'gaurāńga' bolite habe pulaka-śarīra
'hari hari' bolite nayane ba' be nīra

(2)
āra kabe nitāi-cānder koruṇā hoibe
saḿsāra-bāsanā mora kabe tuccha ha'be

(3)
viṣaya chāriyā kabe śuddha ha 'be mana
kabe hāma herabo śrī-bṛndābana

(4)
rūpa-raghunātha-pade hoibe ākuti
kabe hāma bujhabo se jugala-pīriti

(5)
rūpa-raghunātha-pade rahu mora āśa
prārthanā koroye sadā narottama-dāsa

Unmilked utters

A parrot named Daksa, who was the teacher of hundreds and thousands of other parrots and who was expert in describing Krsna's pastimes, came at the gate of the kunja and began to sing, with His wings flapping out of love for Krsna:

"Krsna! Your mother has risen and is approaching Your bedroom, saying: "0 Maidservants! Krsna is tired of wandering in the forest and is now enjoying His happy sleep, so churn the yogurt quietly!", so quickly return to Your solitary bedroom! 0 Govinda, You must surely know that Your cows like Kalindi are all staring down the road, eager to see You. With raised ears and faces they moo to call their calves, being afflicted by the overweight of their unmilked udders! Being very eager to see You, Holy Paurnamasi finishes her morning duties and is coming to Your bedroom with Your mother to see You. Before she gets there, quickly get up from this bed made of forest flowers and return to Your room!"

(Govinda lilamrta 41-44)

Give me shelter

Srila Rupa Goswami PrabhupadBirth: 1493 (Christian calendar), 1415 (Sakabda).
Disapearance: 1564 (Christian calendar), 1486 (Sakabda) 12th day of the bright fortnight of Sravan.
Srila Rupa resided in Braja for 51 years.

Rupa Goswami (Rupa Manjari) was 71 when entering Nitya Leela.

Sri Rupa Pranama

sri-caitanya-mano-'bhistam sthapitum yena bhtu-tale
svayam rupah kada mahyam dadati sva-padantikam

When will Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet?

Rupa Katha

Srila Rupa Gosvami is known as bhakti-rasacarya, the expert in the tastes of pure devotional service and was extremely dear to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He and his elder brother, Srila Sanatana Gosvami left high posts in the government of Nawab Hussein Shah to join Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and through them Mahaprabhu disseminated His own teachings, the essential conclusions of all the scriptures. Amongst the devotees of Mahaprabhu these two were known as His generals.

When Srila Rupa Gosvami noticed that Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was grievously weeping and feeling separation for Srimati Radharani, day and night. He therefore gave him his book Sri Lalita-madhava to read. Reading that book, Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, (author of Sri Dana-keli-cintamani) became like a mad person, weeping even more continuously, so much so that the book became wet and began to be ruined. Srila Rupa Gosvami therefore told him, "Give me back the book, because I will have to make corrections;" but Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami replied, "Oh, I will not give it back." Then Rupa Gosvami wrote Dana-keli-kaumudi – for him only – describing how Sri Krsna checked all the gopis at Dan Ghati.

The gopis asked Krsna questions like, "Did You receive this forest from Your father, or, from where have You gotten it, why should we pay tax to you?"

yatraiva krsno vrsabhanu-putrya
danam grhitum kalaham vitene
sruteh sprha hyatra mahaty atah sri
govardhano me disatam abhistam

Demanding a road tax, Krsna quarrelled for several hours with the daughter of Vrsabhanu Maharaja. Rasika-bhaktas (Personified Vedas) visiting Govardhana are eager to listen to that sweet prema quarrel. May that Govardhana fulfil my desire that I also can hear that verbal battle. (Sri Govardhanastakam, verse 3- Viswanath)

True followers

Sri Krsna Chaitanya
* * *

In a poem describing the descending divine succession of the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad wrote: sri krsna caitanya -- radha-krsna nahe anya, rupanuga janera jivana. "Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is none other than Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, the life and soul of the true followers of Srila Rupa Goswami."