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.

Power of Recollection

"Personally, I have no hope for any direct service for the coming crores of births of the sojourn of my life, but I am confident that some day or other I shall be delivered from this mire of delusion in which I am at present so deeply sunk. Therefore, let me with all my earnestness pray at the Lotus feet of my Divine Master to allow me to suffer the lot for which I am destined due to my past misdoings, but to let me have this power of recollection; that I am nothing but a tiny servant of the Almighty Absolute Godhead, realized through the unflinching Mercy of my Divine Master. Let me therefore bow down at His Lotus Feet with all the humility at my command."

(Excerpted from a speech given by Abhay Charan Das - Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada in February 1936, before the members of the Sri Gaudiya Math in Bombay, on the Occasion of the Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur)

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