Red Lentils-Carrots-Garlic-Onions

In Satya-yuga, the rsis performed gomedha (cow) and asvamedha (horse) sacrifices for the welfare of the whole universe. [This proved the efficacy of the recitation of the Vedic mantras uttered during the sacrifice.] A very old cow or a horse would be sacrificed by being cut into pieces and placed in the fire. Afterwards, the rsis would utter mantras and the same animal would come alive in a beautiful young body.

The wife of a rsi who was about to perform a gomedha sacrifice was once pregnant. She had a very strong desire to eat, and she had heard that if, during pregnancy, one has a desire to eat and does not fulfill it, the newly born child will always have saliva coming from its mouth. This will be troublesome, both for the mother and the child. She had a strong desire to eat meat, and thus she stealthily took one piece of meat from the body of the cow that was offered in sacrifice. She hid it and was planing to eat it very soon. At that time, the rsi was finishing the sacrifice and uttered all the mantras for the cow to come to life. However, when he then saw the new cow, he noticed that there was a small part missing from her left side. He was surprised because this had never happened to him before. He went into meditation and realized that his wife had taken away a piece of meat during the sacrifice. Due to the effect of the mantras uttered by the rsi, there was now life in this small piece of meat. The wife now also understood what happened, and she quickly threw the meat far away. Shortly afterwards, red lentils sprouted from the blood of this meat, garlic sprouted from the bones (both garlic and the bones of a cow are white), and onions and carrots sprouted from the flesh. Thus, these foods should never be eaten by any Vaisnava, because they are in the mode of ignorance. -NM

Mother of trees and bushes

Then a golden egg (anda) appeared. Vishnu(MahaVishnu) was inside the egg. He expanded himself and adopted a form (Garbhodaksayi Vishnu ) so as to create. From Vishnu was created Brahma, the one with four faces. All material ingredients were with in the egg. Brahma is the creator, Visnu (Ksirodaksayi Vishnu) the preserver and Shiva the destroyer. But it is Vishnu that empowers these different forms.

At first, Brahma created four types of beings. These are devas (gods), asuras (demons), pitris (ancestors) and manavas (humans). The gods are stronger during the day and the demons are stronger at night. Later, Brahma created two other types of beings. These were the rakshasas (demons) and yakshas (demi-gods). He also created the gandharvas (singers of heaven).

Snakes were created from Brahma’s hair, sheep from the chest, goats from the mouth, cows from the stomach, and horses, elephants, donkeys and camels from the feet. The hair on Brahma’s body became herbs. The brahmanas emerged from Brahma’s mouth and the kshatriyas from his arms. The third of the four classes consists of vaishyas. Agriculture and trade are the duties of vaishyas. The vaishyas came out of Brahma’s thighs. The last of the four classes consists of shudras. It is the duty of shudras to serve the other three classes. The shudras emerged from Brahma’s feet.

The four Vedas came out of Brahma’s four mouths. Brahma first created sons through his mental powers. Their names were Dharma, Rudra, Manu, Sanaka, Sanatana, Bhrigu, Sanatkumar, Ruchi, Shuddha, Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Vashishtha and Narada. Then Daksha was created from Brahma’s right thumb and Daksha’s wife from Brahma’s left thumb, Daksha and his wife had several daughters.

From his own body Brahma also created a man named Svayambhuva Manu and a woman named Shatarupa. Manu and Shatarupa had two sons named Priyavrata and Uttanapada and three daughters named Prasuti, Akuti and Devahuti.

The sage Kashyapa was born from Brahma. He married thirteen of Daksha’s daughters. Their names were Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kala, Anayu, Muni, Kadru, Prabha, Ira, Krodha, Vinata, Surabhi and Khaga. The sons of Aditi were the adityas or gods and the sons of Diti were the daityas or demons. Two of Diti’s sons were Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu. Danu’s sons were the danavas or demons. Vinata had two sons, Aruna and Garuda, the same Garuda who composed the Garuda Purana. Kadru’s sons were the snakes. Kroudha’s sons were the pishachas (cannibalistic demons). Surabhi gave birth to cows and buffaloes. Ira was the mother of all trees and bushes. Kahaga gave birth to rakshasas and yakshas and muni to apsaras (dancers of heaven). - Garuda Purana

Glorifying Krishna by Adi Shankara

Vishnu Shatpadi Stotra - In the fourth verse, starting as 'uddhrta naga...'the lifter of Mount Govardhana is glorified.The story of Govardhana hill revealed in that book is very interesting.Govardhana hill was a peak of the mountain range originally belonged to Mount Sumeru.

In Treta yuga, when Lord Ramachandra was building the bridge across the ocean to fight a war with Ravana, Hanuman ji was bringing the Sumeru mountain to be used in the construction. As he reached Vraja (Vrindavan) he learned that construction of the bridge was completed and there was no need for the Sumeru. So Hanumanji felt dropping down the Sumeru right at Vraja but the mounain lamented for being separated from its original family and loved ones. So even this separation and pain was in vain. Sumeru could not be used in the great cause and felt devoid of divine service to Lord Rama in spite of Hanuman ji's effort by carrying it so far. Now its destiny seemed bad since it was left some where far away from its own family and the Lord. Hanumanji was concerned about the fate of this Sumeru and asked Lord Rama for advice.

The Lord had told Hanumanji that after the pastimes of Rama's Incarnation in Treta yuga, He would return as Lord Krishna and sport on the same mountain in the Land of Vraja. If the Lord had used the mountain in building the bridge across the ocean, He could simply tread upon it and its divine service, Seva, would thus be of limited importance. On the other hand, in Dwapara yuga, He as Lord Krishna would come back to play on the mountain itself day and night, He would engage in His confidential pastimes in its caves and groves along with His playmates. He and His cattle would be bathing in its streams and nourished by its trees with their produce. It would become very famous as a central stage for His cowherd-leela. In course of time He would also lift up by hand the whole mountain over His own head as an umbrella to protect the inhabitants of Vraja saving them from the torrential rain storm sent by Indra, the king of heaven. Not only He would simply be treading upon the mountain as if it were just a bridge but also it would be given a great honor as the majestic crown held upon the Lord's head!

The peak of Mount Sumeru became happy and satisfied, remained therein Vraja for a long time awaiting the Lord's return so Later on he became known as Govardhana hill.

Each stone is a living entity

Masculine and Feminine Stones

Different stones are either male or female or even neuter, according to V. Ganapati Sthapati, the chief temple architect in Hawaii. Male stones give a bell-like sound when struck. Female stones give a softer sound. To test a stone, a 6-inch by 6-inch by 3-feet or longer stone is placed on two wooden blocks and struck. Each quarry usually contains one gender, with few exceptions.

In Deity carving, Gods are made with male stones and Goddesses with female stones. In temple construction all load bearing stones, such as beams and pillars, should be male for their strength and density. Each stone is a living entity with its own sound, said Sthapati, and sound is life. When a stone is quarried using dynamite, the molecular structure is shattered, making the stone weak and destroying its life and sound.

The Holy Land

(Jaganath misra pur)

An interesting perspective worth seeing.

Humility

My path is very difficult. I am blind, and my feet are slipping again and again.

Therefore, may the saints help me by granting me the stick of their mercy as my support.

- Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami

Vaishnava-sangete mon,

anandita-anukshan,

jate hoy krishna-parasanga.

"My mind finds constant joy in Vaishnava sanga, because there we only discuss things related to Krishna."

Narottama Das