That's a rope

"If the guru says, that's a rope, pick it up".....and the disciple says back to Sri guru," gurudev, that is not a rope lying on the ground, it is a snake, and its bite could hurt you or I very much"...truly the guru would be so appreciative . He would be so happy that he had a disciple who understood his heart.....a disciple who was willing to take the risk of not following blindly, to be able to consider, with deepest repsect, what is in my gurus best interest. - Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaj

Temple of my heart

Mama Mana Mandire

By Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

mama mana mandire raha nisi-din
krishna murari sri krishna murari

O Krishna Murari, day and night You dwell in the temple of my heart, Sri Krishna Murari.

bhakti priti mala candana
tumi nio he nio cita-nandana

Devotion, love, flower garlands, and sandalwood; please accept,
O please accept them, delighter of my heart!

jivana marana tava puja nivedana
sundara he mana-hari

In life or in death I worship You with these offerings, beautiful one,
O enchanter of the heart!

eso nanda-kumar ara nanda-kumar
habe prema-pradipe arati tomar

Come, son of Nanda Baba! O son of Nanda Baba,
I will offer You an arati ceremony with the lamplight of my love.

nayana yamuna jhare anibara
tomara virahe giridhari

In Your separation, the waters of the Yamuna River flow incessantly from my eyes,
O holder of Govardhan Hill!

vandana gane tava bajuka jivana
krishna murari sri krishna murari

May I pass my life absorbed only in singing Your praises,
O Krishna Murari, Sri Krishna Murari!

Become free

"In this material world someone is enjoying and someone is not enjoying, but actually everyone is suffering, although some people think that they are enjoying, whereas others realize that they are suffering. Actually everyone is suffering.

Who in this material world does not suffer disease?
Who does not suffer from old age?
Who does not die?
No one wants to grow old or suffer from disease, but everyone must do so. Where then is the enjoyment?

This enjoyment is all nonsense because within this material world there is no enjoyment. It is simply our imagination. One should not think, "This is enjoyment, and this is suffering." Everything is suffering! Therefore, it is stated in the Caitanya-caritamrta, The principles of eating, sleeping, mating and defending will always exist, but they will exist in different standards.

For example, the Americans have taken birth in America as a result of pious activities performed in previous lifetimes. In India the people are poverty-stricken and are suffering, but although the Americans are eating very nicely buttered bread and the Indians are eating without butter, they are both eating nevertheless. The fact that India is poverty-stricken has not caused the whole population to die for want of food.

The four principal bodily demands--eating, sleeping, mating and defending--can be satisfied under any circumstances, whether one is born in an impious condition or in a pious condition. The problem, however, is how to become free from the four principles of birth, death, old age and disease.

Excerpt from the book "Easy Journey to other planets" by ACBSP

He will be given samadhi

At about 4:30am today, 27 March 2010, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj passed away from our vision by his own sweet will and surrounded by sannyasis and servitors chanting softly. His holy form was presently taken with a convoy of vehicles from our Dum Dum Park Temple, Kolkata, to Nabadwip where this afternoon he will be given samadhi close to the Samadhi Mandir of his beloved Srila Guru Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

2pm Nabadwip: Srila Gurudev's holy body was brought before the Deities here at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. Accompanied by continuous kirttan, devotees garlanded His Divine Grace and offered flowers and prayers. Bathing took place just now on the plinth of the 'Temple of Union in Separation' where chanting continues. SCSM

.................................

All Glory to
Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj
.............................................................

Note:

As everyone knows, Srila Govinda Maharaj was very affectionate toward His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj. Prabhupad was also very affection toward him as well. When Govinda Maharaj was young Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev Goswami sent him to A.C Bhaktivedanta to study Bhagavad Gita. Prabhupad would practice giving English classes in front of him. When Prabhupad came to the west he asked Govinda Maharaj to join him but he refused becase of his direct SEVA to Srila Sridhar Maharaj. Prabhupad said he would make him the President of Iskcon but he refused. The relationship between Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev Goswami, A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami and Govinda Maharaj was very intimate.

His devotion toward his Guru Maharaj, Sri Caitanya, Sri Radha Krishna and all the devotees was very intense. He nourished all the devotees with sweet Hari Katha. A pure heart regardless of what camp could at once experience his pure devotion.

Let me now fold my hands, bowing my head toward the great stalwart devotee of the lord. Like in the previous post, the attention of a pure hearted soul is immediately drawn toward Krishna when he calls.

..... Radhe Radhe ..... Gaur Hari Bol ...... Hare Krishna

Ajd

Run to Him

Krishna's pet cows

When Sri Krishna herds his cows he will call each and every one by name. Upon hearing Krishna's sweet voice they immediately feel great affection and happily run to him.

Like a stunted ignorant

Katham alakshitah pouroih sampraptah kurujangalan
unmatta muka jada bat vicharan gojasahvaye

Translation

His (Vyasdev's) son was a great devotee equi-balanced monist and was always fixed up by his mind in monism. He was transcendental to the mundane activities without being exposed like a stunted ignorant.

Commentary by A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami

Shrila Sukadeva Goswami was a liberated soul and as such he remained always alert not to be trapped by the illusory energy. In the Bhagwat Geeta this alertness of the liberated soul is very lucidly explained. The liberated soul and the conditioned souls have different engagements. The liberated soul is always engaged in the progressive path of spiritual attainment which is something like a dream for the condition soul. The conditioned soul cannot imagine what may be actually the engagement of the liberated soul. While the condition soul thus dreams about spiritual engagements the liberated soul is awake. Similarly the engagement of a conditioned soul appears to be a dream for the liberated soul. Apparently a conditioned soul and a liberated soul may seem to be on the same platform but factually they are differently engaged and their attention is always alert either in the matter of sense enjoyment or in the matter of self realization respectfully. The conditioned soul is completely indifferent in the details of the matter. How they are so different is explained as follows.

Srimad Bhawatam 1.4.4

Daughter of the Sun God

Sri Yamuna Devi

The rivers Ganga and Yamuna along with the now dried Saraswati, are the most sacred rivers in all of India. The Yamuna, according to the legends, is the daughter of the Sun God, Surya and the sister of Yama, the God of Death. The Goddess is believed to have come down from the heavens to sanctify the world. As she first came to rest on the peaks of the mountain Kalinda (in the Himalayas), she is also referred to as Kalindini. According to ancient beliefs it is said that those who take a dip in the holy waters of the river will not fear death.

A bath in Yamuna river is said to be one hundred times more purifying than a bath in the Ganges, because the Ganges was once touched by the feet of Lord Vishnu, it was the Yamuna where Lord Krishna Himself played and swam with His cowherd boyfriends and with the beautiful gopi damsels of Vraja.

Post and Personality

Lord Shiva and Parvati
traveling on the back of Nandi.

Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar dev Goswami .... seated far left
Srila A.C Bhativedanta Swami Maharaj ... seated far right
This conversation that took place at the Sree Caitanya Sarasvat Math and was in relation to the Identity
of Lord Shiva i.e the post and personality.Following are one thousand names of Lord Shiva
from the Shiva purana.

Siva, Hara, Mrida, Rudra, Pushkara, Pushpalochana, Arthigamya, Sadachara, Sharva, Shambhu, Maheshvara, Chandrapida, Chandramouli, Vishva, Vishvamareshvara, Vedantasarasandoha, Kapali, Nilalohita, Dhyanadhara, Aparicchedya, Gauribharata, Ganeshvara, Ashtamurti, Vishvamurti, Trivargasvargasadhana, Jnanagamya, Dridaprajna, Devadeva, Trilochana, Vamadeva, Mahadeva, Patu, Parivrida, Drida, Vishvarupa, Virupaksha, Vagisha, Shuchisattama, Sarvapramanasamvadi, Vrishanka, Vrishavahana, Isha, Pinaki, Khatvanga, Chitravesha, Chirantana, Tamohara, Mahayogi, Gupta, Brahma, Dhurjati, Kalakala, Krittivasah, Subhaga, Pranavatmaka, Unnadhra, Purusha, Jushya, Durvasa, Purashasana, Divyayudha, Skandaguru, Parameshthi, Paratpara, Anadimadhyanidhana, Girisha, Girijadhava, Kuverabandhu, Shrikantha, Lokavarnottama, Mridu, Samadhivedya, Kodandi, Nilakantha, Parashvadhi, Vishalaksha, Mrigavyadha, Suresha, Suryatapana, Dharmadhama, Kshamakshetra, Bhagavana, Bhaganetrabhida, Ugra, Pashupati, Tarkshya, Priyabhakta, Parantapa, Datta, Dayakara, Daksha, Karmandi, Kamashasana, Shmashananilaya, Suksha, Shmashanastha, Maheshvara, Lokakarta, Mrigapati, Mahakarta, Mahaushadhi, Uttara, Gopati, Gopta, Jnanagamya, Puratana, Niti, Suniti, Shuddhatma, Soma, Somarata, Sukhi, Somapa, Amritapa, Sunya, Mahatejah, Mahadyuti, Tejomaya, Amritamaya, Annamaya, Sudhapati, Ajatashatru, Aloka, Sambhavya, Havyavahana, Lokakara, Vedakara, Sutrakara, Sanatana, Maharishi, Kapilacharya, Vishvadipti, Vilochana, Pinakapani, Bhudeva, Svastida, Svastikrita, Sudhi, Dhatridhama, Dhamakara, Sarvaga, Sarvagochara, Brahmasrika, Vishvasrika, Sarga, Karnikara, Priya, Kavi, Shakha, Vishakha, Goshakha, Siva, Bhishaka, Anuttama, Gangaplavodaka, Bhavya, Pushkala, Sthapati, Sthira, Vijitatma, Vishayatma, Bhutavahana, Sarathi, Sagana, Ganakaya, Sukirti, Chinnasamshaya, Kamadeva, Kamapala, Bhasmoddhulita-vigraha, Bhasmapriya, Bhasmashayi, Kami, Kanta, Kritagama, Samavarta, Nivritatma, Dharmapunja, Sadashiva, Akalmasha, Chaturvahu, Durvasa, Durasada, Durlabha, Durgama, Durga, Sarvayudhavisharada, Adhyatmayoganilaya, Sutantu, Tantuvardhana, Shubhanga, Lokasaranga, Jagadisha, Janardana, Bhasmashuddhikara, Meru, Ojasvi, Shuddhavigraha, Asadhya, Sadhusadhya, Bhrityamarkatarupadhrika, Hiranyareta, Purana, Ripujivahara, Bala, Mahahrada, Mahagarta, Vyali, Siddhavrindaravandita, Vyaghracharmambara, Mahabhuta, Mahanidhi, Amritasha, Amritavapu, Panchajanya, Prabhanjana, Panchavimshatitattvastha, Parijata, Paravara, Sulabha, Suvrata, Shura, Brahmavedanidhi, Nidhi, Varnashramaguru, Varni, Shatrujita, Shatrutapana, Ashrama, Kshapana, Kshama, Jnanavana, Achaleshvara, Pramanabhuta, Durjneya, Suparna, Vayuvahana, Dhanurdhara, Dhanurveda, Gunarishi, Gunakara, Satyasatyapara, Dina, Dharmaga, Ananda, Dharmasadhana, Anantadrishti, Danda, Damayita, Dama, Abhivadya, Mahamaya, Vishvakarma, Visharada, Vitaraga, Vinitatma, Tapasvi, Bhutabhavana, Unmattavesha, Pracchanna, Jitakama, Ajitapriya, Kalyanaprakriti, Kalpa, Sarvalokaprajapati, Tarasvi, Tavaka, Dhimana, Pradhanaprabhu, Avyaya, Lokapala, Antarhitatma, Kalpadi, Kamalakshana, Vedashastrarthatattvajna, Aniyama, Niyatashraya, Chandra, Surya, Shani, Ketu, Varanga, Vidrumacchavi, Bhaktivashya, Anagha, Parabrahmamrigavanarpana, Adri, Adryalaya, Kanta, Paramatma, Jagadguru, Sarvakarmalaya, Tushta, Mangalya, Mangalavrita, Mahatapa, Drighatapa, Sthavishtha, Sthavira, Dhruva, Aha, Samvatsara, Vyapti, Pramana, Paramatapa, Samvatsarakara, Mantrapratyayakara, Sarvadarshana, Aja, Sarveshvara, Siddha, Mahareta, Mahabala, Yogi, Yogya, Siddhi, Mahateja, Sarvadi, Agraha, Vasu, Vasumana, Satya, Sarvapapahara, Sukirti, Shobhana, Shrimana, Avanmanasagochara, Amritashashvata, Shanta, Vanahasta, Pratapavana, Kamandalundhara, Dhanvi, Vedanga, Vedavita, Muni, Bhrajishnu, Bhojana, Bhokta, Lokanatha, Duradhara, Atindriya, Mahamaya, Sarvavasa, Chatushpatha, Kalayogi, Mahanada, Mahatsaha, Mahabala, Mahabuddhi, Mahavirya, Bhutachari, Purandara, Nishachara, Pretachari, Mahashakti, Mahadyuti, Ahirdeshyavapu, Shrimana, Sarvacharyamanogati, Vahushruta, Niyatatma, Dhruva, Adhruva, Sarvashaska, Ojastejodyutidhara, Nartaka, Nrityapriya, Nrityanitya, Prakashatma, Prakashaka, Spashtakshara, Budha, Mantra, Samana, Sarasamplava, Yugadikrida, Yugavarta, Gambhira, Vrishavahana, Ishta, Vishishta, Shishteshta, Shalabha, Sharabha, Dhanu, Tirtharupa, Tirthanama, Tirthadrishya, Stuta, Arthada, Apamnidhi, Adhishthana, Vijaya, Jayakalavita, Pratishthita, Pramanajna, Hiranyakavacha, Hari, Vimlochana, Suragana, Vidyesha, Vindusamshraya, Balarupa, Vikarta, Balaunmatta, Gahana, Guha, Karana, Karta, Sarvabandhavimochana, Vyavasaya, Vyavasthana, Sthanada, Jagadadija, Garuda, Lalita, Abheda, Bhavatmatmasamsthita, Vireshvara, Virabhadra, Virasanavidhi, Virata, Virachudamani, Vetta, Tivrananda, Nadidhara, Ajnadhara, Trishuli, Shipivishta, Sivalaya, Balakhilya, Mahachapa, Tigmamshu, Badhira, Khaga, Adhirama, Susharana, Subrahmanya, Sudhapati, Maghavana, Kushika, Gaumana, Virama, Sarvasadhana, Lalataksha, Vishvadeha, Sara, Samsarachakrabhrita, Amoghadanda, Madhyastha, Hiranya, Brahmavarchasi, Paramartha, Para, Mayi, Shambara, Vyaghralochana, Ruchi, Virinchi, Svarbandhu, Vachaspati, Aharpati, Ravi, Virochana, Skanda, Shasta, Vaivasvata, Yama, Yukti, Unnatakirti, Sanuraga, Paranjaya, Kailashadhipati, Kanta, Savita, Ravilochana, Vidvattama, Vitabhaya, Vishvabharata, Anivarita, Nitya, Niyatakalyana, Punyashravanakirtana, Durashrava, Vishvasaha, Dhyeya, Duhsvapnanashana, Uttarana, Dushkritiha, Vijneya, Duhsaha, Bhava, Anadi, Bhurbhuvakshi, Kiriti, Ruchirangada, Janana, Janajanmadi, Pritimana, Nitimana, Dhava, Vasishtha, Kashyapa, Bhanu, Bhima, Bhimaparakrama, Pranava, Satpatchachara, Mahakasha, Mahaghana, Janmadhipa, Mahadeva, Sakalagamaparaga, Tattva, Tattavit, Ekatma, Vibhu, Vishvavibhushana, Rishi, Brahmana, Aishvaryajanmamrityujaratiga, Panchayajnasamutpatti, Vishvesha, Vimalodaya, Atmayoni, Anadyanta, Vatsala, Bhaktalokadhrika, Gayatrivallabha, Pramshu, Vishvavasa, Prabhakara, Shishu, Girirata, Samrata, Sushena, Surashatruha, Amogha, Arishtanemi, Kumuda, Vigatajvara, Svayamjyoti, Tanujyoti, Achanchala, Atmajyoti, Pingala, Kapilashmashru, Bhalanetra, Trayitanu, Jnanaskandamahaniti, Vishvutpatti, Upaplava, Bhaga, Vivasvana, Aditya, Yogapara, Divaspati, Kalyanagunanama, Papaha, Punyadarshana, Udarakirti, Udyogi, Sadyogi, Sadasanmaya, Nakshatramali, Nakesha, Svadhishthanapadashraya, Pavitra, Papahari, Manipura, Nabhogati, Hrit, Pundarikasina, Shatru, Shranta, Vrishakapi, Ushna, Grihapati, Krishna, Paramartha, Anarthanashana, Adharmashatru, Ajneya, Purohita, Purushrita, Brahmagarbha, Vrihadgarbha, Dharmadhenu, Dhanagama, Jagaddhitaishi, Sugata, Kumara, Kushalagama, Hiranyavarna, Jyotishmana, Nanabhutarata, Dhvani, Araga, Niyamadhyaksha, Vishvamitra, Dhaneshvara, Brahmajyoti, Vasudhama, Mahajyotianuttama, Matamaha, Matarishva, Nabhasvana, Nagaharadhrika, Pulastya, Pulaha, Agastya, Jatukarnya, Parashara, Niravarananirvara, Vairanchya, Vishtarashrava, Atmabhu, Aniruddha, Atri, Jnanamurti, Mahayasha, Lokaviragrani, Vira, Chanda, Satyaparakrama, Vyalakalpa, Mahakalpa, Kalpavriksha, Kaladhara, Alankarishnu, Achala, Ruchishnu, Vikramonnata, Ayuhshabdapati, Vegi, Plavana, Shikhisarathi, Asamsrishta, Atithi, Shatrupreamathi, Padapashana, Vasushrava, Pratapa, Havyavaha, Vishvabhojana, Japaya, Jaradishamana, Lohitatma, Tanunapata, Vrihadashva, Nabhoyoni, Supratika, Tamasraha, Nidagha, Tapana, Megha, Svaksha, Parapuranjaya, Sukhanila, Sunishpanna, Surabhi, Shishiratmaka, Vasanta, Madhava, Grishma, Nabhasya, Vijavahana, Angira, Guru, Atreya, Vimala, Vishvavahana, Pavana, Sumati, Vidvana, Travidya, Naravahana, Manobuddhi, Ahamkara, Kshetrajna, Kshetrapalaka, Jamadagni, Balanidhi, Vigala, Vishvagalava, Aghora, Anuttara, Yajna, Shreya, Nihshreyahpatha, Shaila, Gaganakundabha, Danavari, Arindama, Rajanijanaka, Charuvishaiya, Lokakalpadhrika, Chaturveda, Chaturbhava, Chatura, Chaturapriya, Amlaya, Samamlaya, Tirthavedashivalaya, Vahurupa, Maharupa, Sarvarupa, Charachara, Nyayanirmayaka, Nyayi, Nyayagamya, Nirantara, Sahasramariddha, Devendra, Sarvashastraprabhanjana, Munda, Virupa, Vikranta, Dandi, Danta, Gunottama, Pingalaksha, Janadhyaksha, Nilagriva, Niramaya, Sahasravahu, Sarvesha, Sharanya, Sarvalokadhrika, Padmasana, Paramjyoti, Parampara, Paramsala, Padmagarbha, Mahagarbha, Vishvagarbha, Vichakshana, Characharajna, Varada, Varesha, Mahabala, Devasuraguru, Deva, Devasuramahashraya, Devadideva, Devagni, Devagnisukhada, Prabhu, Devasureshvara, Divya, Devasuramaheshvara, Devadevamaya, Achintya, Devadevatmasambhava, Sadyoni, Asuravyaghra, Devasimha, Divakara, Vibudhagravara, Shreshtha, Sarvadevottamottama, Sivajnanarata, Shrimana, Shikhi-shriparvatapriya, Vajrahasta, Siddhakhadgi, Narasimhanipatana, Brahmachari, Lokachari, Dharmachari, Dhanadhipa, Nandi, Nandishvara, Ananta, Nagnavratadhara, Shuchi, Lingadhyaksha, Suradhyaksha, Yogadhyaksha, Yugavaha, Svadharma, Svargata, Svargakhara, Svaramayasvana, Vanadhyaksha, Vijakarta, Dharmakrita, Dharmasambhava, Dambha, Alobha, Arthavita, Shambhu, Sarvabhutamaheshvara, Shmashananilaya, Tryksha, Setu, Apratimakriti, Lokottaras-putaloka, Trymbaka, Nagabhushana, Andhakari, Makhadveshi, Vishnukandharapatana, Hinadosha, Akshayaguna, Dakshari, Pushadantabhit, Dhurjati, Khandaparashu, Sakala, Nishkala, Anagha, Akala, Sakaladhara, Pandurabha, Mrida, Nata, Purna, Purayita, Punya, Sukumara, Sulochana, Samagayapriya, Akrura, Punyakirti, Anamaya, Manojava, Tirthakara, Jatila, Jiviteshvara, Jivitantakara, Nitya, Vasureta, Vasuprada, Sadgati, Satkriti, Siddhi, Sajjati, Kalakantaka, Kaladhara, Mahakala, Bhutasatyaparayana, Lokalavanyakarta, Lokottarasukhalaya, Chandrasanjivana, Shasta, Lokaguda, Mahadhipa, Lokabandhu, Lokanatha, Kritajna, Krittibhushana, Anapaya, Akshara, Kantha, Sarvashastrabhudvara, Tejomaya, Dyutidhara, Lokagrani, Anu, Shuchismita, Prasamnyatma, Durjjeya, Duratikrama, Jyotirmaya, Jagannatha, Nirakara, Jaleshvara, Tumbavina, Mahakopa, Vishoka, Shokanashana, Trilokapa, Trilokesha, Sarvashuddhi, Adhokshaja, Avyaktalakshana, Deva, Vyaktavyakta, Vishampati, Varashila, Varaguna, Saramanadhana, Maya, Brahma, Vishnu, Prajapati, Hamsa, Hamsagati, Vaya, Vedha, Vidhata, Dhata, Srashta, Harta, Chaturmukha, Kailasashikharavasi, Sarvavasi, Sadagati, Hiranyagarbha, Druhina, Bhutapala, Bhupati, Sadyogi, Yogavit, Yogi, Varada, Brahmanapriya, Devapriya, Devanatha, Devajna, Devachintaka, Vishamaksha, Vishalaksha, Vrishada, Vrishavardhana, Nirmama, Nirahamkara, Nirmoha, Nirupadrava, Darpaha, Darpada, Dripta, Sarvabhutaparivartaka, Sahasrajit, Sahasrarchi, Prabhava, Snigddhaprakritidakshina, Bhutabhavyabhavannatha, Bhutinashana, Artha, Anartha, Mahakosha, Parakaiyaikapandita, Nishkantaka, Kritananda, Nirvyaja, Vyajamardana, Sattvavana, Sattvika, Satyakirti, Snehakritagama, Akampita, Gunagrahi, Naikatma, Naikakarmakrita, Suprita, Sumukha, Suksha, Sukara, Dakshinanila, Nandiskandhadhara, Dhurya, Prakata, Pritivardhana, Aparajita, Sarvasattva, Govinda, Adhrita, Sattvavahana, Svadhrita, Siddha, Putamurti, Yashodhana, Varahabhringadhrika, Bhringi, Balavana, Ekanayaka, Shrutiprakasha, Shrutimana, Ekabandhu, Anekakrita, Shrivatsalashivarambha, Shantabhadra, Sama, Yasha, Bhushaya, Bhushana, Bhuti, Bhutakrita, Bhutabhavana, Akampa, Bhaktikaya, Kalaha, Nilalohita, Satyavrata, Mahatyagi, Nityashantiparayana, Pararthavritti, Vibikshu, Visharada, Shubhada, Shubhakarta, Shubhanama, Shubha, Anarthita, Aguna, Sakshi, Akarta.

Honor Thy Mother and Father

“How can we worship our deities, who are not manifest before us, if we neglect the worship of our parents, who stand right before our very eyes?”

(Lord Rama speaking to Sita Devi,
Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, Sec 30)

a clean heart

"Without the atmosphere of a clean heart and a surrendered mood of prayer and devotion the, divine vibration form of the Holy Name will not be attracted to manifest Himself." - Srila Govinda Maharaj

purification of skin disease

This following example came to mind when reading Bhakta das's article (Fall or Not?). I too was present on many occasions when the origin of the soul questions were put before Srila Prabhupad and can attest to the fact that Prabhupad would in most conversations redirect the audience toward the subject of "purification of skin disease" focusing on the importance of chanting the holy name and pure devotional service.

Suppose I were walking down the street and was shot by an arrow and started to bleed profusely. Would I debate as to whom the maker of the arrow was or should I be more interested in seeking medical attention? If I survived I should definitely avoid the dangerous path I previously had traveled.

Asking about the manufacturer of the arrow or as to what kind of wood was used is not really necessary for ones survival. A sane man should accept the fact that he is bleeding and requires immediate medical attention knowing perfectly well that at one time he was healthy and by some faith (in the medical practitioner and the process prescribed ) he can regain his vitality.

well-wisher

namo brahmanya-devaya

go-brahmana-hitaya ca
jagad-hitaya krishnaya
govindaya namo namah

"I offer my respectful obeisance’s unto Sri Krishna, who is worshipped by all the demigods and the highly learned brahmanas. He especially favors his devotees and his cows and is the well-wisher of the entire universe. Let me offer my repeated obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, known as Govinda.” (Vishnu Purana 1.19.65)

Following the fast

The Festival of Jagannath Mishra is an observance of the Jata karma samskara for baby Nimai (Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu). Following the fast for Gaura Purnima, which is broken upon the rising of the moon, the next day is held for feasting. On Jagannath Mishra festival day, the devotees meditate upon the Jata karman ceremony. The festival is also known as Anandotsava amongst the gaudiya devotees.

Srila Jagannath Mishra

Jagannath Mishra was born in the village of South Dhaka in Sylhet (Sylhet). His grandfather, Madhu Mishra, had four sons: Upendra, Rangada, Kirtida, and Kirtivasa. His father and mother, Upendra Mishra and Kalavati, had seven sons: Kamsari, Paramananda, Padmanabha, Sarveshvara, Jagannath Mishra, Janardana and Trailokyanath. (Prema-vilasa, 24). According to the Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika, Upendra was Krishna's grandfather, the cowherd Parjanya, while Jagannath was Nanda Maharaj in Krishna's Vraja pastimes (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 37). Nanda or Jagannath were, in Krishna's various appearances, Kashyapa, Dasharath, Sutapa and Vasudeva.

pura yashoda-vrajarajanandau
vrindavane premarasakarau yau
shaci-Jagannath-purandarabhidhau
babhuvatus tau na ca samshayo'tra

amu avishatam eva devavaditikashyapau
shrikaushalya-dasharathau tatha shriprishni-tatpati

The king of Vraja has become Chaitanya's father, Jagannath; the queen of Vraja is his mother Sachi. The son of Nanda is Chaitanya Gosai, and Baladeva is his brother Nityananda.
(Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.17.294-295).

The birth of Mahaprabhu

In the Chaitanya Charitamrita, it is also stated that Jagannath Mishra was also known by his title Purandara, which is an epithet of Indra. His wife's name was Sachidevi. Sachi's father was Nilambara Cakravarti.
(Chaitanya Charitamrita Adi, 13.59-60)

At first, eight baby girls were born to Jagannath and Sachi, but each of them died at birth. Jagannath then performed a special ceremony to have a son, and not long afterward a boy, Vishvarupa, was born. Vishvarupa is a manifestation of Baladeva and belongs to the same ontological category that is named Sankarshan in the spiritual world. At the age of 12, Vishvarupa took sannyasa, adopting the name Shankararanya. He died in the year 1509 in Pandharpur, in the Solapur district of Maharashtra.

Jagannath Mishra and Sachidevi are eternally liberated companions of Krishna; thus, it is clear that their heart and body are made of pure goodness or the shuddha-sattva. Another name for pure goodness is vasudeva. Krishna is named Vasudeva because he takes pleasure in the spiritual nature and makes his appearance through pure goodness or vasudeva.

In 1486, at sundown on the full moon day of the month of Phalguna, at the auspicious moment of a lunar eclipse, in the midst of an ecstatic hubbub made by the townspeople filling the sky with the joyful sound of Hari! and Krishna!, the women making their uludhvani, and the gods playing on their divine instruments, Gauranga Mahaprabhu accepted Jagannath Mishra and Sachidevi as his father and mother and appeared in the holy dham of Sri Mayapur. It is said that witches, evil female spirits and other powerful demonic specters cannot go near a neem tree. Out of their feelings of maternal love, Sachi and the other women named him Nimai in order that he be protected from any inauspiciousness. Later, when Nimai took the renounced order of life, he was given the name Sri Krishna Chaitanya. Some of the other names by which he is known are Vishvambhara, Nabadwipa-chandra, Gaurahari, Gauranga and Mahaprabhu.

When Sachi and Jagannath saw their child's face, they forgot themselves in their excitement. Nilambara Chakravarti was a great astrologer and when he examined the constellations at the baby's birth, he divined that he was to be a king among kings, that he was to possess all virtues, indeed that he was Narayan himself. Jagannath and his entire household were immersed in the ocean of ecstasy upon hearing these predictions. This ocean only increased in fullness as the baby Nimai began to display his childhood pastimes. Whenever Nimai cried, the adults would sing the Holy Names in order to pacify him. When he was only four months old, he started throwing various household articles about, but would only do this until he saw his mother when would lie down and start to cry. Sachi would sing the Holy Names to stop Nimai from crying, and only when he had stopped would she notice the disorder into which the child had put the room. Never suspecting him, she though that it must be some evil spirit whose efforts to harm the baby had failed due to the protective incantations she was always making over him.

When the time came for Nimai's name-giving ceremony, Nilambara Chakravarti and other learned men in the community called him Vishvambhara, which is thus his principal name, while the women gave him the name Nimai. This latter name was given because neem leaves have a bitter taste and are said to keep death away, and they wished to bless Nimai with a long life. The name-giving ceremony is also the occasion when a child's tastes and tendencies are tested. Jagannath placed rice, puffed rice, gold, silver and a manuscript of the Srimad Bhagavatam before the child, who ignored everything to reach out for the Bhagavatam. All were delighted by Nimai's choice. The philosophers amongst them began to say, "Nimai will be a great scholar." In fact, Nimai wished to show, even at this young age, that the Bhagavatam is the supreme authority in spiritual matters. This is the teaching hidden within this lila.

Nimai's childhood

As Nimai grew, he began to crawl, giving pleasure to his mother and father and all their neighbors. One day, the child saw the god Sesha in the form of a cobra in the garden. He played with him for a while in the mood of a golden Narayan, and then, like Narayan, he curled up on the coiled snake and fell asleep. When Jagannath Mishra came upon the scene, he feared the worst for the child and started to shout and cry, frightening the beast that slithered away. Nevertheless, Sachi and Jagannath had seen the wondrous form that the child had displayed and became convinced that he was a divine personality.

The neighborhood women found that whenever they loudly chanted the names of the Lord, Nimai would stop crying and start dancing in ecstasy, even rolling about in the dust. So every morning they would surround him and sing the Holy Names. Whether they knew him or not, people would be attracted by his beautiful appearance and would affectionately give him sandesha sweets or bananas. Nimai would take all these sweets and fruits and give them as prasad to the women who sang for him.

When Nimai was able to walk, he would go into the neighbors' houses and take milk and rice, and if he found nothing to eat, he would break various household items. This naughty behavior is a source of delight for his devotees. On one occasion, as Nimai was playing in front of Jagannath Mishra's house, two thieves saw that he was wearing valuable ornaments and became greedy. They charmed the child by offering him a ride on their shoulders and then started to carry him away. However, they were bewildered by Vishnu's illusory power and shortly they found themselves back in front of Nimai's own home. Frightened by this unexpected turn of events, the two rascals ran away. Meanwhile, Jagannath had been searching anxiously for Nimai. When he saw that his child had returned, he held him tightly to his heart and felt as though his life had also been returned to him.

One day, Jagannath Mishra asked Nimai to bring him a book from inside the house. When Nimai ran to fetch it, Sachi was surprised to hear the wondrous jingling of ankle bells. After Nimai had given his father the book and gone off to play, Sachi was amazed to see that his footprints held the auspicious signs of the flag, the lightning bolt, the elephant rod and the banner. Under the influence of their parental love, Jagannath and Sachi were not able to accept that these were Nimai's footprints, but took them rather to be the traces of Damodar, their household Shalagrama-shila deity and so they did a special ceremony for him, bathing him, peforming the puja and offering food.

On another day, a Brahmin pilgrim passed through Nabadwip with his deity of the baby Krishna. Jagannath offered him a place to his puja as well as food to cook for an offering. When the pilgrim had finished cooking, he sat down to offer the bhoga to his deity. But as soon as he started meditation on his mantra, Nimai came and began eating the offering. The Brahmin saw this and started to shout in distress. Jagannath Mishra was extremely disturbed by the incident and the Brahmin had to intercede to stop him from giving the child a spanking.

Although the Brahmin did not want to cook again, Jagannath begged him to do so. Before he recommenced preparing the offering. Jagannath took Nimai to a neighbor's house so that he would not do any more mischief. Once again, however, when the Brahmin sat down to meditate on his Bala Gopal mantra to make his offering, Gaura Gopal appeared out of nowhere and started to enjoy the foodstuffs. The Brahmin again began to shout in frustration, "It's been ruined. It's been ruined!" Jagannath was devastated a second time and again wished to punish the child, only to be stopped by his guest. The Brahmin said, "He's only a child and doesn't understand anything. It's not his fault. It seems that it is not my destiny to eat today."

This time, Nimai's older brother Vishvarupa begged the Brahmin to try a third time, and so finally, on his insistence, he began to cook again. This time it was quite late at night and Nimai was fast asleep in his room so no one suspected any trouble. The Brahmin waited until the entire household had gone to bed before making his offering, but once again, contrary to all expectation, Gaura Gopal came to consume it. This time, however, he gave the Brahmin a vision of an astonishing eight-armed form, holding not only the conch, discus, mace and lotus in four of his hands, but a lump of butter from which he was taking pieces and a flute which he was playing with the others. When he saw this wonderful vision, the Brahmin fainted.

Mahaprabhu told him not to reveal this lila to anyone. But from then on, the Brahmin remained in Nabadwip and though he engaged in his daily activities as was his wont, would return each evening to Nimai's house to behold his worshipable lord. Nimai told him, "You have been my servant for many, many births. This very same lila also took place at Nanda's house in Gokula."

Nimai's education

Jagannath Mishra completed the three rituals (samskaras) in which the child's ears are pierced, his hair is shorn and his education is begun. It took Nimai only three days to learn the entire alphabet and he started to read and write all of Krishna's names.

The little Gaura Gopal would often ask his parents to bring him birds, even the stars or the moon, and would cry if they could not do so. When they chanted the Holy Names, he would stop crying, otherwise there was no way to quiet him. One day, however, though they repeatedly sang the names of Hari, the child's tears did not stop flowing. When pressed to tell why he was crying so insistently, Nimai said that though it was Ekadasi, he wanted to eat the offerings which the Brahmins Jagadisa and Hiranya had made to their Vishnu deity. Jagannath was astonished to hear this unusual request, but went to the house of his two friends. He told them the whole story, and they were delighted to give him the offering. When Jagannath brought the prasad home and gave it to Nimai, he finally stopped crying.

Nimai continued his naughty behavior and the males in the community reported it to his father while the girls and women would complain to Sachi. Though Jagannath would be angry and want to punish his child, he would be quite astonished to see him completely calm and free from any guilty demeanor. Both his parents wondered, "Who is this child? Has Krishna secretly appeared here as our son?"

Vishvambhara's older brother Vishvarupa had been indifferent to material life since his childhood. After studying at Advaita Acharya's school, or tol, he came to understand that the ultimate conclusion of the scriptures was devotion to Krishna. When he was twelve years old, his parents started making arrangements for his marriage, he left home and took sannyasa, taking the name Shankararanya. This event traumatized Sachi and Jagannath, who were greatly pained by their separation from their oldest son. Jagannath was afraid that Nimai too would become indifferent to family life through studying the scriptures, so he stopped his education. Rather that the boy should remain a fool at home than become a scholar only to leave the household! But after this, Nimai started to misbehave again. One day, he went to a place where used and contaminated pottery was thrown and sat down. When Sachi saw this she became angry and told him several times to leave the dirty spot. Nimai answered her in the spirit of the divine philosopher Dattatreya, "How can a fool tell the difference between that which is pure and that which is not? How can the pots that have been used to cook for Vishnu possibly be contaminated? What is more, how can any place be impure if I am there? Ideas of purity and impurity from the karma-kanda have no place in devotion to the Lord. It is just the imagination of people who know nothing but the material world."

Seeing that the boy would in no way heed her order to leave the unclean spot, Sachi finally dragged him away and made him bathe and herself took a bath. After this she and other members of the community approached Jagannath and entreated him to allow Nimai to resume his studies, which he did.

Some time after this, Nimai's sacred thread ceremony was held, after which Nimai went out to beg, just as Vamana did. Afterward, Jagannath entrusted him to Ganga Das Pandit, who is none other than the same Sandipani Muni who taught Krishna. Ganga Das Pandit was overjoyed to accept the handsome and virtuous boy Nimai as his student. Nimai would ask him and his fellow students trick questions based on Nyaya and the ensuing arguments would be a source of amazement to everyone.

Jagannath was pleased to see his son take up a disciplined life in which he would bathe daily in the Ganges, perform puja to Vishnu strictly according to the regulations, and offer water to the sacred tulasi plant before finally taking prasad. Nimai would then go to a place where he could be undisturbed and would study alone. Jagannath prayed to Krishna for Nimai's continued welfare, but at the same time was always afraid that he would come to understand the emptiness of the cycle of samsara and eventually leave home. One day, he had a dream in which he saw Mahaprabhu's beautiful form as a sannyasi, performing sankirtan while surrounded by his devotees, dancing, singing, laughing, crying. After this he came to believe that it was inevitable that Nimai would one day leave home. Sachi Devi tried to convince him that because he had become so attached to his studies, he would never leave home, but she could not convince him. Jagannath disappeared before Nimai became a sannyasi. On the death of his father, Gaurasundara lamented just like Ramachandra did upon hearing of the death of Dasharath, but at the same time consoled his heartbroken mother.

"Sri Chaitanya: His Life & Associates" by Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj