Do I have to give up my occupation to serve Krishna?

Krishna-Balaram-and-Cowherd-Boys-return-with-the-cows

Krishna does not suggest anything impractical

So Krishna is not advising Arjuna to simply remember Him and give up his occupation. No. Krishna never suggests anything impractical. In this material world, in order to maintain the body, one has to work.

Human society is divided into four divisions of social order: brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra. The brahmana class, or intelligent class, is working in one way, the ksatriya class or administrative class is working in another way and the mercantile class and laborers are all tending to their specific duties.

In human society, whether one is a laborer, merchant, warrior, administrator or farmer, or even if one belongs to the highest class and is a literary man, a scientist or a theologian, he has to work in order to maintain his existence.

Krishna advises Arjuna not to give up his occupation

Krishna, therefore tells Arjuna that he need not give up his occupation, but while he is engaged in his occupation, he should remember Krishna. If he doesn’t practice remembering Krishna when he is struggling for existence, then it will not be possible for him to remember Krishna at the time of death.

Lord Caitanya also advises this. He says that one should practice remembering the Lord by chanting the names of the Lord always. The names of the Lord and the Lord are nondifferent. So Lord Krishna’s instruction to Arjuna to “remember Me” and Lord Caitanya’s injunction to always “chant the names of Lord Krishna” are the same instruction. There is no difference, because Krishna and Krishna’s name are nondifferent.

Remembering Krishna while working

Therefore we have to practice remembering Krishna always, twenty-four hours a day, by chanting His names and moulding our life’s activities in such a way that we can remember Him always.

How is this possible? The acharyas give the following example. If a married woman is attached to another man, or if a man has an attachment for a women other than his wife, then the attachment is to be considered very strong. One with such an attachment is always thinking of the loved one. The wife who is thinking of her lover is always thinking of meeting him, even while she is carrying out her household chores. In fact she carries out her household work even more carefully so her husband will not suspect her attachment.

In the same way as the married woman who is attached to another man is remembering her lover constantly but she is still carrying out her duties in her husband’s house, we should constantly remember the supreme lover, Sri Krishna, and at the same time perform our material duties very nicely.

A strong sense of love is required here. If we have a strong sense of love for the Supreme Lord then we can discharge our duty and at the same time remember Him. But we have to develop that sense of love for Krishna.

Arjuna, for instance, was always thinking of Krishna; he was the constant companion of Krishna, and at the same time he was a warrior. Krishna did not advise Arjuna to go to the forest and meditate. When Lord Krishna explained the meditational yoga system to Arjuna he says that the practice of this system is not possible for him.

“Arjuna said, O Madhusudana, the system of yoga which you have summarized appears impracticle and unendurable to me. For the mind is restless and unsteady.” (Bhagavad Gita 6.33)

The best yogi

However, Krishna replies to Arjuna, encouraging him:

“Of all yogis, he who abides in Me with great faith, worshipping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimatily united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all.” (Bhagavad Gita 6.47)

So one who is always thinking of the Supreme Lord, Krishna, is the greatest yogi, the supermost jnani and the greatest devotee at the same time.

Krishna goes on to tell Arjuna that, as a ksatriya, he can not give up fighting, but that if he fights remembering Krishna, then he will be able to remember Krishna at the time of  death. However to do this one must be completely surrendered to Krishna in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

We actually work with our mind and intelligence, not with our body.  So if our intelligence and mind is always engaged in the thoughts of the Supreme Lord, Krishna then naturally the senses are also engaged in His service.

Superficially it may appear that the activities of our senses remain the same performing devotional service to our activities in sense gratification, however the consciousness is changed. The Bhagavad Gita teaches us how we can absorb our minds and intelligence in the thought of Krishna. Such absorbtion will enable one to transfer himself to the kingdom of the Lord. If the mind is engaged in Krishna’s service, then the senses are automatically engaged in His service. This is the art, and this is also the secret of Bhagavad Gita: total absorbtion in the thought of Sri Krishna.

Try to advance spiritually

Modern man has struggled very hard to reach the moon, but he has not tried very hard to elevate himself spiritually. If one has fifty years of life ahead of him, he should engage that brief time in cultivating this practice of remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The easiest way

The easiest way to remember Krishna is hearing Bhagavad Gita from the realized person, this will turn one’s thoughts to the Supreme Being. This will lead toremembering the Supreme Lord, and will enable one, upon leaving the body, to attain a spiritual body which is just fit for association with Krishna in the spiritual world. Krishna says:

“By practising this remembering, without being deviated, thinking ever of the Supreme Godhead, one is sure to achieve the planet of the Divine, the Supreme Personality, O son of Kunti.” (Bhagavad Gita 8.8)
This is not a very difficult process. However, one must learn it from an experienced person, from one who is already in the practice. The mind is always flying to this and that, but one must always practice concentrating the mind on the form of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna or on the sound of His name.
Controlling the restless mind

The mind is naturally restless, going hither and thither, but it can rest in the sound vibration of Krishna. One must thus meditate onthe Supreme Person; and thus attain Him. The ways and the means for ultimate realization, ultimate attainment, are stated in the Bhagavad Gita, and the doors of this knowledge are open for everyone. No one is barred out. Everyone can approach Krishna by thinking of Him, for hearing and thinking of Him is possible for everyone.

Even human beings in the lower statuses of life can attain the Supreme. One does not need highly developed intelligence. The point is that anyone who accepts the principle of bhakti-yoga and accepts the Supreme Lord as the summum bonum of life, as the highest target, the ultimate goal, can approach the Lord in the spiritual sky. If one adopts the principles enunciated in Bhagavad Gita, he can make his life perfect and make a perfect solution to all the problems of life which arise out of the transient nature of material existence. This is the sum and substance of the entire Bhagavad Gita.
Conclusion

In conclusion, Bhagavad Gita is a transcendental literature which one should read very carefully. It is capable of saving one from all fear.

“In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.” (Bg. 2.40) If one reads Bhagavad Gita sincerely and seriously, then all of the reactions of his past misdeeds will not react upon him. In the last portion of Bhagavad Gita, Lord Sri Krishna proclaims:

“Give up all varieties of religiousness, and just surrender unto Me; and in return I shall protect you from all sinful reactions. Therefore, you have nothing to fear.” (Bg. 18.66) Thus the Lord takes all responsibility for one who surrenders unto Him, and He indemnifies all the reactions of sin.We are very busy… Reading Gita is enough…

One cleanses himself daily by taking a bath in water, but one who takes his bath only once in the sacred Ganges water of the Bhagavad Gita cleanses away all the dirt of material life. Because Bhagavad Gita is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one need not read any other Vedic literature. One need only attentively and regularly hear and read Bhagavad Gita. In the present age, mankind is so absorbed with mundane activities that it is not possible to read all of the Vedic literatures. But this is not necessary. This one book, Bhagavad-gita, will suffice because it is the essence of all Vedic literatures and because it is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Bhagavad Gita — More important than the Ganges river

It is said that one who drinks the water of the Ganges certainly gets salvation, but what to speak of one who drinks the waters of Bhagavad Gita? Gita is the very nectar of the Mahabharata spoken by Visnu Himself, for Lord Krishna is the original Visnu. It is nectar emanating from the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the Ganges is said to be emanating from the lotus feet of the Lord. Of course there is no difference between the mouth and the feet of the Supreme Lord, but in our position we can appreciate that the Bhagavad Gita is even more important than the Ganges.

The Bhagavad Gita is just like a cow, and Lord Krishna, who is a cowherd boy, is milking this cow. The milk is the essence of the Vedas, and Arjuna is just like a calf. The wise men, the great sages and pure devotees, are to drink the nectarean milk of Bhagavad Gita.
One Scripture, One God, One Religion

In this present day, man is very eager to have one scripture, one God, one religion, and one occupation. So let there be one common scripture for the whole world--Bhagavad Gita. And let there be one God only for the whole world-Sri Krishna. And one mantra only-Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. And let there be one work only–the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Thank you for reading this newsletter. The next one will be called “The importance of the Disciplic Succession.”
First exam is coming!

Following that we will be having a little exam on “Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita“. So please read the newsletters carefully and if you have not read any of them please go back and read. I think you will enjoy the “exam,” I hope you will look forward to it and try your best to get the highest marks!

Author: Madhudvisa dasa

Seeing The Supreme Lord

Once, Sri Madhavendra Puri traveled to Vrndavana, the holy place where Lord Krishna spent His childhood. There he came upon the hill known as Govardhana. This hill was very important to Krishna and the cowherd boys because it provided such nice grass for their cows.

When Madhavendra Puri saw Govardhana hill it reminded him of Krishna and His pastimes and he became almost mad in his ecstasy of love of Godhead, and he did not know whether it was day or night. Sometimes he stood up, and sometimes he fell on the ground. He could not discriminate whether he was in a proper place or not.

After walking around the hill, Madhavendra Puri went to Govinda-kunda and took his bath. He then sat beneath a tree to take his evening rest. While he was sitting beneath the tree an unknown cowherd boy came with a pot of milk. He placed it before Madhavendra Puri and smilingly addressed him as follows: “Please drink the milk I have brought. Why don’t you beg some food to eat? What kind of meditation are you undergoing?” When he saw the beauty of that boy Madhavendra Puri became very satisfied. Hearing His sweet words, he forgot all hunger and thirst. Madhavendra Puri said: “Who are You? Where do You reside? And how did You know that I was fasting?” The boy replied, “Sir, I am a cowherd boy, and I reside in this village. In My village no one fasts. In this village a person can beg food from others and thus eat. Some people drink only milk, but if a person does not ask anyone for food I supply him all his eatables. The women who come here to take water saw you, and they supplied Me with this milk and sent Me to you.” The boy continued: “I must go very soon to milk the cows, but I shall return and take back this milk pot from you.” Saying this the boy left the place. Indeed, He suddenly could be seen no more, and Madhavendra Puri’s heart was filled with wonder.

After drinking the milk, Madhavendra Puri washed the pot and put it aside. He looked toward the path, but the boy never returned. Madhavendra Puri could not sleep. He sat and chanted the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and at the end of the night he dozed a little, and his external activities stopped. In a dream he saw the very same boy. The boy came before him and, holding his hand, took him to a bush in the jungle. The boy showed Madhavendra Puri the bush and said: “I reside in this bush, and because of this I suffer very much from severe cold, rain showers, winds and scorching heat. Please bring the people of the village and get them to take me out of this bush. Then have them situate me nicely on the top of the hill. Please construct a temple on the top of the hill,” the boy continued, “and install Me in that temple. After this wash Me with large quantities of cold water so that My body may be cleansed.

For many days I have been observing you, and I have been wondering, ‘When will Madhavendra Puri come here to serve Me?’ I have accepted your service due to your ecstatic love for Me. Thus I shall appear, and by My audience all fallen souls will be delivered. My name is Gopala. I am the lifter of Govardhana Hill. I was installed by Vajra and here I am the authority. When the Mohammedans attacked, the priest who was serving Me hid Me in this bush in the jungle. Then he ran away out of fear of the attack. Since the priest went away I have been staying in this bush. It is very good that you have come here. Now just remove Me with care.” After saying this the boy disappeared. Then Madhavendra Puri woke up and began to consider his dream. He began to lament: “I saw Lord Krishna directly but I could not recognise Him!” Thus he fell down on the ground in ecstatic love. Madhavendra Puri cried for some time but then he fixed his mind on executing the order of Gopala thus he became tranquil.

After taking his morning bath Madhavendra Puri entered the village and assembled all the people. Then he said: “The proprietor of this village, Govardhana-dhari, is lying in the bushes. Let us go there and rescue Him from that place. The bushes are very dense and we will not be able to enter the jungle. Therefore take choppers and spades to clear the way.

After hearing this all the people accompanied Madhavendra Puri with great pleasure. According to his directions they cut down bushes, cleared a path and entered the jungle. When they saw the Deity covered with dirt and grass they were all struck with wonder and pleasure. After they cleansed the body of the Deity some of them said: “The Deity is very heavy. No one person can move Him.” Therefore some of the stronger men assembled there to carry Him to the top of the hill.

A big stone was made into a throne and the Deity was installed upon it. Another big stone was placed behind the Deity for support. All the brahmana priests of the village gathered together with nine waterpots and water from Govinda-kunda lake was brought there and filtered. When the Deity was being installed nine hundred pots of water were brought from Govinda-kunda. There were musical sounds of bugles and drums and the singing of women.

During the festival at the installation ceremony some people sang and some danced. All the milk, yogurt and clarified butter in the village was brought to the festival. Various foods and sweets as well as other kinds of presentations were brought there. I am unable to describe all these. The villagers brought a large quantity of tulasi leaves, flowers and various kinds of garments. Then Sri Madhavendra Puri personally began the abihiseka [bathing ceremony]. After all inauspicious things were driven away by the chanting of the mantra the Deity’s bathing ceremony started. First the Deity was massaged with a large quantity of oil so that His body became very glossy. After the body of the Deity was cleansed He was dressed very nicely with new garments. Then sandalwood pulp, tulasi garlands and other fragrant flower garlands were placed upon the body of the Deity. After the bathing ceremony was finished incense and lamps were burned and all kinds of food offered before the Deity. These foods included yogurt, milk and as many sweets as were received. The Deity was first offered many varieties of food, then scented drinking water in new pots and then water for washing the mouth. Finally pan mixed with a variety of spices was offered. After the last offering boga-aratrika was performed. Finally everyone offered various prayers and then obeisances, falling flat before the Deity in full surrender.

As soon as the people of the village had understood that the Deity was going to be installed they had brought their entire stock of rice, dhal and wheat flower. They brought such large quantities that the entire surface of the top of the hill was filled. The potters of the village brought all kinds of cooking pots and in the morning the cooking began. Ten brahmans cooked the food grains and five brahmans cooked both dry and liquid vegetables. The vegetable preparations were made from various kinds of spinach and roots and fruits collected from the forest. Someone had made bada and badi by mashing dhal. In this way all the brahmanas prepared all kinds of food. Five to seven men prepared a huge quantity of chappatis [flat bread] which were sufficiently covered with ghee [clarified butter], as were all the vegetables, rice and dhal.

All the cooked rice was stacked on palasa leaves which were on new cloths spread over the ground. Around the stack of cooked rice were stacks of chappatis and all the vegetables and liquid vegetable preparations were placed in different pots and put around them. Pots of yogurt, milk, buttermilk and sikharini, sweet rice, cream and solid cream were placed alongside the vegetables. In this way the Annakuta ceremony was performed and Madhavendra Puri Gosvami personally offered everything to Gopala. Many water pots were filled with scented water for drinking and Lord Sri Gopala, who had been hungry for many days, ate everything offered to Him. Although Sri Gopala ate everything offered, still, by the touch of His transcendental hand, everything remained as before. How Gopala ate everything while the food remained the same was transcendentally perceived by Madhavendra Puri Gosvami; nothing remains a secret to the devotees of the Lord.

The wonderful festival and installation of Sri Gopalaji was arranged in one day. Certainly all this was accomplished by the potency of Gopala. No one but a devotee can understand this.

Madhavendra Puri offered water to Gopala for washing His mouth and he gave Him betel nuts to chew. Then, while arati was performed, all the people chanted, “Jaya, jaya!” [All glories to Gopala]. To arrange for the Lord’s rest Sri Madhavendra Puri brought a new cot and over this he spread a new bedspread and thus made the bed ready. A temporary temple was constructed by covering the bed all around with a straw mattress. Thus there was a bed and a straw mattress to cover it. After the Lord was laid down to rest on the bed Madhavendra Puri gathered all the brahmanas who had prepared the prasada and said to them: “Now feed everyone sumptuously from the children up to the old-aged!” All the people gathered there sat down to honour the prasada, and by and by they took food. All the brahmans and their wives were fed first. Not only did the people of Govardhana Village take prasada, but also those who came from other villages. They also saw the Deity of Gopala and were offered prasada to eat.

Seeing the influence of Madhavendra Puri all the people gathered there were struck with wonder. They saw the Annakuta ceremony, which had been performed during the time of Krishna, was now taking place again by the mercy of Sri Madhavendra Puri.

All the brahmanas present on that occasion were initiated by Madhavendra Puri as Vaisnavas and he engaged them in different types of service.

When it was advertised throughout the country that Lord Gopala had appeared atop Govardhana Hill all the people from neighbouring villages came to see the Deity. One village after another was pleased to beg Madhavendra Puri to allot them one day to perform the Annakuta ceremony. Thus day after day the Annakuta ceremony was performed for some time.

The ideal place to execute Krishna consciousness is Vrajabhumi, or Vrndavana, where people are naturally inclined to love Krishna and Krishna is naturally inclined to love them. Throngs of people came from different villages to see the Deity of Gopala and they took maha-prasada sumptuously. When they saw the superexcellent form of Lord Gopala all their lamentation and unhappiness disappeared. All the villagers in the neighbouring Vrajabhumi [Vrndavana] became aware of the appearance of Gopala, and all the people from these villages came to see Him. Day after day they performed the Annakuta ceremony. In this way not only the neighbouring villages but all the other provinces came to know of Gopala’s appearance.

Thus people came from all over bringing a variety of presentations. The people of Mathura, who are very big capitalists, also brought various presentations and offered them before the Deity in devotional service. Thus countless presentations of gold, silver, garments, scented articles and eatables arrived. The store of Gopala increased daily. One very rich ksatriya of the royal order constructed a temple, someone made cooking utensils and someone constructed boundary walls. Each and every family residing in the land of Vrajabhumi contributed one cow. In this way thousands of cows became the property of Gopala. Eventually two brahmanas in the renounced order arrived from Bengal and Madhavendra Puri, who liked them very much, kept them in Vrndavana and gave them all comforts. These two were then initiated by Madhavendra Puri and he entrusted them with the daily service of the Lord. This service was performed continuously and the worship of the Deity became very gorgeous. Thus Madhavendra Puri was very pleased.

This is the way to install the Deity, construct the temple and increase the property of the temple. Everyone should be enthusiastic to contribute to the construction of the temple for the Deity, and everyone should also contribute food for the distribution of prasada. The devotees should preach the gospel of devotional service and thus engage the people in practical service to the Deity. Wealthy people can also be attracted to take part in these activities. In this way everyone will become spiritually inclined, and the entire society will be converted to Krishna consciousness. The desire to satisfy the material senses will automatically diminish and the senses will become so purified that they will be able to engage in bhakti [devotional service to the Lord] Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate. By serving the Lord one’s senses are gradually purified. The engagement of one’s purified senses in the service of Lord Hrsikesa is called bhakti. When the dormant propensity for bhakti is awakened one can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is. Bhaktya mam abijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah. (Bg. 18.55) This is the process of giving humanity the chance to awaken Krishna consciousness. Thus people can perfect their lives in all respects.

One who hears this narration with faith and devotion attains the treasure of love of Godhead at the lotus feet of Sri Krishna. Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always desiring their mercy, I, Krishnadasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, following in their footsteps.

(from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila, Forth Chapter)

What is Action and what is Inaction?

Devotees

“One who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is intelligent among men, and he is in the transcendental position, although engaged in all sorts of activities.” (Bhagavad Gita 4.18)

There is a general understanding that spiritual life means giving up activities, giving up work, giving up material purists, etc. There is truth to this in the sense that a transcendentalist gives up all actions that are not meant for the service and pleasure of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead however people generally become confused when trying to determine what is action and what is inaction.

A person in Krishna consciousness is not inactive but his activities are all performed for Krishna therefore he does not enjoy or suffer any of the effects of his work and he is naturally free from the bondage of karma. Therefore the devotee is intelligent in human society even though he is engaged in all sorts of activities for Krishna. In this way the devotees achieve the platform of akarma or freedom from the reactions to work.

The impersonalists are also trying to achieve this platform of akarma or freedom from the reactions of work but they have no information about Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and no inclination to work for Him. Therefore the impersonalists try to stop all fruitive activities because of fear of the reactions to these activities, they understand that such reactions would be stumbling blocks on their path of self-realization. This is a very difficult path to follow as the impersonalists have no positive actions to perform, they have no service to Krishna, thy are simply trying to stop all material activities so the reactions to these material activities will not become a problem for their advancement in spiritual life. However for the living entity to be in a position of not performing any activities is very unnatural and a very difficult.

The devotees know their position correctly and realize they are eternal servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead therefore they engage themselves in the activities of Krishna consciousness. Because they do everything for Krishna they enjoy only transcendental happiness in their execution of devotional service. Devotees who are engaged in this process of devotional service are known to be without any desire for personal sense gratification. This sense of eternal service to Krishna makes one immune to all reactions to work.

“One is understood to be in full knowledge whose every act is devoid of desire for sense gratification. He is said by sages to be a worker whose fruitive action is burned up in the fire of perfect knowledge. Abandoning all attachment to the results of his activities, ever satisfied and independent, he performs no fruitive action, although engaged in all kinds of undertakings.” (Bhagavad Gita 4.19-20)

Only a person in full knowledge can understand the activities of a person in Krishna consciousness. Because the person in Krishna consciousness has no interest in performing any activity for his own sense gratification it is to be understood that he has burned up the reactions of his work by the perfect knowledge of his constitutional position as the eternal servant of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One is actually learned when he comes to this platform. Development of this knowledge of the eternal service of Krishna is compared to fire. Such a fire, once kindled, can burn up all kinds of reactions to work.

This freedom from the bondage of actions is only possible in Krishna consciousness when one is doing everything for Krishna. A Krishna conscious person acts only out of love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore he has no attraction for the results of his actions. He is not even attached to his personal maintenance for he leaves everything to Krishna. He is also not anxious to get things he does not have nor is he anxious to protect things he already possesses. He simply does his duty to his best ability and leaves everything to Krishna.

Such a devotee is always free from the reactions of good and bad; it is as though he was not doing anything. This is the sign of akarma, or actions without fruitive reactions. Therefore even though a devotee is performing many activities in the service of Krishna because these activities have no reaction this is “inaction in action.” Although he is acting for Krishna there is no reaction so it is as if he was not acting at all because his actions are spiritual there is no material reaction to such actions.

Any other action however, which is not performed as service to the Supreme Lord Krishna, which is not meant to please Krishna, which is devoid of Krishna consciousness is binding on the performer of this action. He will have to either suffer the bad reactions from this action or enjoy the good reactions and this will keep him firmly bound in the material world.

“Such a man of understanding acts with mind and intelligence perfectly controlled, gives up all sense of proprietorship over his possessions and acts only for the bare necessities of life. Thus working he is not affected by sinful reactions.” (Bhagavad Gita 4.21)

A Krishna conscious person does not expect good or bad results from his activities. His mind and his intelligence are fully controlled. He knows that he is part and parcel of the Supreme, and therefore the part played by him, as part and parcel of the whole, is not by his choice but is chosen for him by the Supreme and is done only through His agency.

When the hand moves it does not move by itself but only by the endeavor of the whole body. A Krishna conscious person is always dovetailed with the supreme desire, for he has no desire for his own personal sense gratification. The devotee moves exactly like the part of a machine.  As a machine part rrequires oiling and cleaning for maintenance, similarly, a Krishna conscious man maintains himself by his work just to remain fit for action in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. He is therefore immune to all the reactions of his endeavors.

A Krishna conscious person, fully engaged in self-realization, has very little time to falsely posses any material object. For maintaining his body and soul he does not require any unfair means of accumulating money. He does not therefore become contaminated by such material sins. He is free from all reactions to his actions.

Therefore in a devotee of Krishna we can see that he is always busy acting in the service of Krishna but because all his activities are for the pleasure of Krishna there is no material reaction to his activities therefore from the material point of view it is as if he was doing nothing. This is inaction in action.

Love, Ego, Truth, Knowledge

LOVE

Our desire to love someone here in this earthly planet is a reflection of our original desire to love Krishna. Krishna is so kind; He has no reason to be hungry, He has everything and is everything, but based on our desire to serve Him, He becomes hungry. To awaken this desire we have the opportunity to serve Krishna always by preparing food for Him, dressing Him, offering flowers to Him and chanting His names constantly.

“You are what your deep driving desire is, as your desire is so, so is your will, as your will is so, so is your deed, as your deed is so, so is your destiny.”

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad IV.4.5:

‘Pure you’ = ‘pure truth’

The body, the mind, the intelligence, the ego: use your mind to control your body, use your intelligence to control your mind, and use “the ego” to control your intelligence. “Ego” is the real you, the eternal living spirit soul. True ego is: “knowing who you are and what your position is in the world around you.” ‘Pure you’ = ‘pure truth’. The false conception of ego is: “I am a man, I control all that I see, I can do this, I can do that” This is a false identification with the ego and this is “not” the true self. When you identify with your true self and you know who you are, then you know the real truth. The true ego is: knowing who you are = “you are Krishna’s eternal servant.” Not everyone is Krishna’s servant, but everyone is Krishna’s “eternal” servant. Those who deny the existence of God are trying to become God by default, but that is the one very constant impossibility.

There is always someone that controls something because that is how things get done. That’s how everything runs. A businessman owns a car factory, he has his general manager serve him to manage his business, supervisors serve the general manager, and workers work on the assembly line to get the job done. Everyone is serving someone: the factory has light bulbs, someone bought them at the store, a store merchant purchased them to sell, a manufacturer had them made, someone came up with the idea of a light bulb and consumers demanded supply, and finally the light bulb was made with supplies like tungsten, medal and glass. Someone used their intelligence to put these materials together in the right way to make the light bulb. The question is who gave the intelligence to this person? Who gave the intelligence to the businessman? The intelligence comes from the life force, the true ego. Where does life come from? Life comes from life. God controls everything by default and by definition that’s what God is. Just as a huge tree comes from a small seed, our small “true self” comes from Krishna’s infinite supreme self. In the Brahma-samhita it is said,

isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda vigrahah anadir adir govindah sarva-karana-karanam

Karana means cause, cause of all causes, seed of all seeds. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada says, “This is confirmed in the Seventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gita where para and apara prakrti are discussed (Bg. 7.4-5). The elements of nature–earth, fire, water, air, ether, mind, intelligence and ego–all belong to the inferior or material energy of the Lord, whereas the living being, the organic energy, is the para prakrti (superior energy) of the Lord. Both of the prakrtis, or energies, are emanations from the Lord, and ultimately He is the controller of everything that exists. There is nothing in the universe that does not belong either to the para or the apara prakrti; therefore everything is the property of the Supreme Being.” (Isopanishad, txt 1, purport, page 1)

What is real love? First there must be two egos in the equation to conclude the word love. You can love your self, but that is still two egos because it is the real you in love with your ideal ego: that is, your real ego in love with your conception of your ideal “false” ego. That, of coarse is not real love. You can be in love with another person, or so you think, but that’s not real love either because you are also in love with a false conception of the other’s ego: you think they are a type of person who looks a certain way, acts a certain way, moves a certain way, talks a certain way, and thinks a certain way. You are not in love with them; you are in love with a false notion. They are not their false ego, they “are” their true ego. They are not their body. Real love is love of the ultimate lover: Krishna. He is the ultimate Supreme Being. Everyone in this material world is infatuated with lifeless mater. I love this beautiful girl or this beautiful boy. A natural attraction is there because everything on material planet is a perverted refection of the life we have had in the perfect spiritual sky where Krishna resides in His supreme personal form. The Jewish philosopher Martin Buber called it the “I-Thou relation,” where the human being goes into a certain relationship with his innermost ego and whole being, in a encounter, in a real dialogue this is what both of the partners do. For Buber, interhuman encounters are only a reflection of the human meeting with God. But to really understand this is to know that true love is love in the purest form: love of the perfect being, Krishna and anything else is a perverted reflection of this. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada says in the Brahma-samhita, “Krishna is the exalted Supreme entity having His eternal name, eternal form, eternal attribution and eternal pastimes. The very name “Krishna” implies His love-attracting designation, expressing by His eternal nomenclature the acme of entity. His eternal beautiful heavenly blue-tinged body glowing with the intensity of ever-existing knowledge has a flute in both His hands. As His inconceivable spiritual energy is all-extending, still He maintains His all-charming medium size by His qualifying spiritual instrumentals. His all-accommodating supreme subjectivity is nicely manifested in His eternal form. The concentrated all-time presence, uncovered knowledge and inebriating felicity have their beauty in Him. The mundane manifestive portion of His own Self is known as all-pervading Paramatma, Isvara (Superior Lord) or Visnu (All-fostering). Hence it is evident that Krishna is sole Supreme Godhead. His unrivaled or unique spiritual body of superexcellent charm is eternally unveiled with innumerable spiritual instrumentals (senses) and unreckonable attributes keeping their signifying location properly, adjusting at the same time by His inconceivable conciliative powers. This beautiful spiritual figure is identical with Krishna and the spiritual entity of Krishna is identical with His own figure. (Brahma-samhita, txt 1, prt 1, page 1)

Our desire to love someone here in this earthly planet is a reflection of our original desire to love Krishna. Krishna is so kind; He has no reason to be hungry, He has everything and is everything, but based on our desire to serve Him, He becomes hungry. To awaken this desire, which we have always had but have forgotten because we are infatuated with material life, we have the opportunity to serve Krishna always by preparing food for Him, dressing Him, offering flowers to Him and chanting His names constantly. Just as you may have a burning desire to be the best businessman on earth, if you understand your desire, you will attain that small position of best businessman on earth. If you desire to love Krishna, with a burning desire, so you will attain His love. This is not a false notion. This is a real notion because Krishna is the epitome of Truth. A falsity is putting your faith in something that will change, as if it would last forever. Krishna is the constant. You may say you love all those material possessions, but they will cease to be in the future. That beautiful girl in her next life will look different according to her karma. If she has good karma and a burning desire to love Krishna, she will remember Him in her next life and have the opportunity to be with Him in His abode, maybe even in this life. To love real truth is “true love” and you must have a burning desire for the truth in order to attain it.

Ego=Real Knowledge

The famous philosopher Socrates, when he discusses the different types of love in “Plato’s Symposium,” says that the greatest type of “love” is Philosophy because it concludes an eternal truth. The truth is: “knowing what your constitutional position is: your relationship with the Universe and of coarse God- who is the controller of the Universe.” There are different types of knowledge. One might know, for instance, that he has the body of a man or that she has that body of a woman. That is general knowledge or “Dead Truth:” something that you can see with the material eyes to make a certain judgment and then use that judgment to make a certain truth. For example, I see a tree, a rock, a stream, a woman, a man, a house. This is a type of false knowledge because when the body, which is operated by the soul, dies by disease or old age everything is forgotten, when the entity is under the conception that he or she is part of this material world: that he or she is the body. That type of truth that existed to that person when he or she was alive in that old body is irrelevant. That knowledge doesn’t cease to exist when the person’s body ceases to exist, but it ceases to exist to that person when he or she leaves the body and takes a new body on earth. “Real Knowledge” is: “knowing” what the position of the tree, rock, stream, woman, man, and house is. They are temporary in the big picture. In the “Real Truth” they are what scientist call “matter,” temporary material dead “lifeless” things. The body will get old and wither, the rock will become a mountain or get corroded by rain, and the house will fall apart and become dust. In the future they will become other material things and they never really exist, because to “exist” is to have consciousness, to understand, to know to be able to feel, to love, comprehend, discover, to live. You, the eternal living spirit soul, other eternal living spirit souls, and God will always exist. You are in one body in one lifetime and then another body in the next life. So “Real Truth” is Truth that exists eternally and the real you, the ego, is “understanding who you are.”

You “are” what your deep driving “desire” is. If you really desire Krishna and you “understand” it, then you will go to Him in the spiritual sky. If you desire to be the greatest businessman on earth and you really understand it, then that is who you think you are and that is what you will become. That conception of “businessman” is a false truth because if you attain the position of best businessman on earth, Krishna is the best businessman is the universe (always) and you can not top that. If you understand that these designations: businessman, Man, Woman, Animal, Rich, Poor, they are all false truths because you can never be “businessman, Man, Woman, Animal, Rich, Poor,” forever. Truth is the Truth that is always True, forever. The one constant that is always true: there is only one Supreme Personality of Godhead. If you understand truth, understand YOU, understand who Krishna is and you have understood everything.



By: Gadadhara das

Combination of Male & Female through Marriage

Krishna Plays on His Flute in the Forrest of Vrindavan and the Gopis are Attracted

In whole world there is combination of male and female, either… Any society, human society, or bird society or dog society or animal society. Why this male and female? Why? Female is the energy, energy of the male. Why a man takes, marries a woman and takes responsibility…? Of course, in your country they marry as a matter of joke, immediately divorce after week or after seven days. But marriage means to take full responsibility of a woman. That is real marriage, Vedic marriage.

Room Conversation
–
October 20, 1968, Seattle

Prabhupada: …the whole atmosphere, you should come and disturb. You are making… You cannot understand? And the whole attention is diverted to you. So hara, hara is the form of the word… Hare is the form of the word hara when address, when She is addressed. And Krsna, when He’s addressed, the form does not change. This is grammatical rule. So Hare Krsna means, “Oh, the energy of Krsna, or energy of the Lord,” and Krsna, “the Lord.” So Hare Krsna. Hare Krsna means I am praying not only to the Lord, but to the energy also. This is natural.

Just like a man and woman. In whole world there is combination of male and female, either… Any society, human society, or bird society or dog society or animal society. Why this male and female? Why? Female is the energy, energy of the male. Why a man takes, marries a woman and takes responsibility…? Of course, in your country they marry as a matter of joke, immediately divorce after week or after seven days. But marriage means to take full responsibility of a woman. That is real marriage, Vedic marriage.

We, when I get married our boys and girls, the boy takes this vow that “I take responsibility of your maintenance throughout your whole life,” and the girl promises that “I desire to serve you throughout my whole life.” So the woman, the female, is the energy. When a man comes at home, he sees that everything is nicely decorated, my wife is well-dressed and foodstuff is nicely prepared, he becomes encouraged. He can work more nicely. Therefore woman is the energy. The woman gives the energy and he can work. Wherefrom this idea came?

The idea came because it is originally here, janmady asya yatah [Bhag. 1.1.1]. Everything is coming from the Supreme; otherwise where do you get this idea? Sarvam khalv idam brahma. Without being in the origin? Bijo ‘ham sarva-bhutanam, Krsna says that “I am the root of everything.” So if this energy, male and female combination, is a necessity, so wherefrom this necessity came into existence unless it is there in the origin?

Therefore it is to be understood that the Absolute has energy. He has got different energies. By His energies He is acting, and that is confirmed in the Vedic sutra, parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate. The Supreme Absolute Truth has multi-energies. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate, multi-energies. And svabhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca, and by His energies he’s working in such a nice way that it appears that it is being automatically done. Just like this tape recorder is working. How it is working? The electric energy is there. By the electric energy the machine is so nicely working that when it is replayed exactly I am speaking.

So energy is working. I am speaking, my speaking energy is acting, electric energy is helping. This machine energy is accepting and a nice thing is coming. Similarly, the whole cosmic manifestation is the manifestation of the energies. The rascals, they do not understand. And when it is stated that everything is Brahman, that is to be understood that everything is working under the energy of the Supreme Brahman. That is real meaning. But this is simultaneously one and different. When this tape recorder will play, it will play exactly I am speaking to you. There will be no difference of voice.

If somebody hears from other room, he’ll understand that Swamiji’s speaking, but still, that speaking is
different from me. Because my energy is working there. Similarly, there are two kinds of energies. Just like when I am speaking, this is my real energy, and when this tape recorder will speak, that is also my energy, but that is separated energy. Similarly, this material manifestation is separated energy, and there is direct energy. The direct… This material energy, separated energy, is the reflection of the direct energy. Just like when this tape recorder will be replayed it is the reflection of my original speech. Similarly, this material manifestation is a reflection of the original energy, internal energy. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita it is stated that perverted reflection. urdhva-mulam adhah-sakham [Bg. 15.1], perverted, a tree. This cosmic manifestation is compared just like a tree with root upwards. That means perverted. Have you seen a tree upwards, root?

Jahnava: I’ve heard an analogy to that before.

Prabhupada: Yes. So this material world is perverted reflection of the original energy. So this “Hare” means we are directly approaching the original energy of the Supreme Lord. “Please accept me, under You. Now I am under reflection. I am trying to get substance from the reflection.” Suppose a tree is reflected by the bank of a river, the exact. So if somebody dives into the river and tries to take fruit from that tree, it will not be possible because that is reflection. One has to go to the real tree. So we are hankering after life, we are hankering after pleasure, but we are seeking pleasure in the reflection, maya.

Therefore we are frustrated, confused. Therefore this prayer is to the original energy. Without energy, without energy the Lord is not without energy. Radha-Krsna, Laksmi-Narayana, Sita-Rama. So God is always with energy. Without energy, he is incomplete. Sun without sunshine is incomplete. Is it possible? Can one think of sun without sunshine? Similarly, the Mayavada theory that the absolute is without energy, there is no energy, absolute is… They have misunderstood. The energy is not different from the energetic. Just like sunshine is not different from the sun, neither the sunshine has got any existence without the sun, nor the sun can exist without sunshine.

They are so intimately related. Similarly, the Lord and the energies are so intimately related, they cannot be separated, but they are not one. This is the whole philosophy. So we are praying to the original energy, Hare Krsna. Because energy and the energetic, Radha-Krsna. Radha-Krsna, They are not separate, but it is pleasure. When They are separated, Radha and Krsna, that is energetic, that is giving impetus. Just like the man and the woman, they come from the same source, but one body is energetic to the other. Man is energy to the woman. Woman is the energy to the man. Why the creation is not one kind of? Why there is fair sex? They’re coming from the same womb of the mother. Why not one, boy only? Why girl? Why nature has provided like that? Let simply boys come. No. It is required.

But the whole thing is perverted reflection. Here the man, woman, the energy… It is simply… But by this, one can understand the reality. Just like the shadow, the five fingers. One person who is not misled, he can understand that the original palm has five fingers, although he cannot see it. From the shadow. Similarly, from this energy, work of the energy in this material perverted reflection, one can understand that there is a reality.

In the reality, in the abode of Krsna, the same things are there, the same trees are there, the same things are there, but they are original, personal energy. And here, they are simply imitation or perverted reflection. Not imitation. The exact word is perverted reflection. The same example. Just like a tree on the bank of a river is reflected obverted, the root upwards and the branches downwards. So this world is like that, and that is described in the Fifteenth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita. So one has to learn all these things. Everything is there. (end)





Source: krishna.org

What is '' Makar Sankranti ''Festival ?

The Sanskrit term “Shankramana” means “to begin to move”. The day on which the sun begins to move northwards is called Makara Sankranti. It usually falls in the middle of January. Makara literally means 'Capricorn' and Sankranti is the day when the sun passes from one sign of the zodiac to the next. The Sankranti of any month is considered auspicious as it signifies afresh start. However Makara Sankranti is celebrated in the month of Magha when the sun passes through the winter solstice, from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn. According to Hindu mythology, one 'human' year of 365 days is equivalent to one day and night of the gods. Makara Sankranti marks the beginning of the day of the gods, which is equivalent to six solar months and is believed to be the auspicious part of the year. The previous six months, considered the night and therefore symbolic of darkness and evil, are inauspicious. Makara Sankranti is believed to be the time when Surya rides his chariot, drawn by seven horses, from the southern skies to the north.

For the pastoral people therefore, it is of prime importance for it signifies the end of the winter and the 'turning back' of the sun to the north. The festival of Makar Sankrant traditionally coincides with the beginning of the Sun's northward journey (the Uttarayan) when it enters the sign of Makar (the Capricon). 

Significance
The evidence of this festival being lucky is found in our great epic Mahabharat wherein it is told that the great warrior-hero, Bhishma Pitamaha even after being wounded and lying on the bed of arrows, lingered on till Uttarayan set in, to breathe his last. It is believed that the person who dies on this auspicious day of Sankrant escapes the cycle of birth and re-birth and that his soul mingles with the Almighty.

This festival has been celebrated for thousands of years. Initially, this was probably a festival celebrated in the cold climate, when people prayed for the warmth of the sun. In all likelihood, the Aryans celebrated it, and continued to do so after migrating to India.

Celebrations
>on the Sankranti day people exchange multi-coloured tilguds made from til (sesame seeds) and sugar and til-laddus made from til and jaggery. Til-polis are offered for lunch. While exchanging tilguls as tokens of goodwill people greet each other saying - "til-gul ghya, god god bola" (take the tilguls and talk sweetly). The under-lying thought in the exchange of tilguls is to forget the past ill-feelings and hostilities and resolve to speak sweetly and remain friends. This is a special day,  married women are invited for a get-together called "Haldi-Kumkoo" where they apply haldi and kumkoo on each others forehead and give gifts of any utensil, which the woman of the house purchases on that day, channas or moong dal beetal leaves and banans are also offered along with the utensil.

There is family re-union in all homes. Brothers renew their contacts with their married sisters by giving them presents. On the next day, the herds of cows are adorned beautifully, fed and worshipped. It is a great day for the cattle.

On the same day, young girls prepare various special dishes—sweet rice, sour rice, rice with coconut—and take them to the bank of a river or tank. They lay some leaves on the ground and place on them balls of the various preparations for the fish, birds, and other creatures. It is an extremely colorful ceremony.  Both these days are regarded as being inauspicious for travel. This is to prevent us from going away from home on those days.

Celebrations in the India
This festival is celebrated differently in different parts of the country yet the use of til that is sesame is found everywhere. Til or sesame seed contain lot of oil and they therefore have a quality of softness in them. People are encouraged to emulate themselves like the Til which holds people together and sticks to them with the bondage of love. Therefore, firstly the use of til in sweets is good for health and secondly being soft means exchange of love and tender feelings.

In Gujarat Sankrant is observed more or less in the same manner as in Maharashtra but with a difference that in Gujarat there is a custom of giving gifts to relatives. The elders in the family give gifts to the younger members of the family.   

In Punjab huge bonfires are lit on the eve of Sankrant and which is celebrated as "LOHARI".  The following day, which is Sankrant is celebrated as MAGHI. The Punjabi's dance their famous Bhangra dance till they get exhausted. Then they sit down and eat the sumptuous food that is specially prepared for the occasion. 

In Madhya Pradesh this festival of Sankrant is known by the name "SUKARAT" or "SAKARAT" and is celebrated with great pomp merriment accompanied by lot of sweets. 

In South Sankrant is known by the name of "PONGAL", which takes its name from the surging of rice boiled in a pot of milk, and this festival has more significance than even Diwali. It is very popular particularly amongst farmers.  

In Uttar Pradesh, Sankrant is called "KICHERI". Having bath on this day is regarded as most important. Uttar Pradesh, one who does not bathe on Makara Sankranti is born a donkey in his next birth. The belief probably originated in cold climates to compel some of the more reluctant people to observe certain rules of hygiene. 

In Bengal every year a Mela is held at Ganga Sagar.
The day prior to the Makara Sankranti is called the Bhogi festival. On this day, old, worn-out and dirty things are discarded and burnt. Homes are cleaned and white-washed. Even the roads are swept clean and lovely designs are drawn with rice-flour. These practices have their own significance from the point of view of health. Cleaning the mind of its old dirty habits of thought and feeling is more urgently needed. 

MAKAR SANKRANTI
The festival associated with this date is one of exchange of goodwill.

Things Required:
Sesame seeds (Til)
Jaggery
Groundnuts
Dried coconut
Chana/Moong dal fried
Sugarcane
Bananas
Idols made of sugar
New clothes for all Various kinds of pongal
The family bathes early in the morning and wears new clothes. Rangoli designs decorate the threshold and pooja room. After the regular family pooja each according to practice visits are made and visitors received. 

The special preparation of the day is Yellu made of the mixture of sesame seeds, pieces of jaggery, halved grountnut seeds, dried coconut pieces and fried dal. This is given to visitors and carried to all familiars, friends and relatives in a gesture of goodwill. In all familes, sugarcane is cut up into pieces and distributed to friends and relatives. Sugar idols are offered.

Newly-weds give bunches of bananas to women and continue to do so for the first five years of marriage, increasing the number of bunches in multiples of 5 each year. If there is a new-born male child, then silver cups filled with fried savories are gifted to five or seven women.

There are delicacies cooked on this day. Favorites are different kinds of pongal and vada. Salted pongal is served with avial, a mixed vegetable curry.

168 YEARS OLD - HANUMAN DAS BABA JI of VRINDAVAN IN INDIA

Hanuman Das baba

Mathurabihari Of this baba's name is Hanuman Das baba lives in vrindavan he is More then 170 years old while doing vrindavan parikrama HH Indradyumna Swami having blessing that baba was born in jhansi in India around 1850 and leaved his home and came to vridavan Became devotee. he founded a wonderful Gosala of 1000 where cows are being served there. his Mother was serving the queen of jhansi who died in 1857 at que team he was present.

Jahnava Nitai Das : Once I asked this Baba how old he was. He Replied he could not remember his age, but Recalled he was 12 years old When Jhansi Rani fought the British. You can deduce his age from that. He would be around 168 years old. Also he has grown a second set of teeth, que something happens to some people after 100 years. I have seen and heard of many other babas who grew second sets of teeth after 100 years

FASTING in HINDUISM

Many people of various faiths, from all over the world have observed a period of fasting in their lifetime, for example, Lent in Christianity and Ramadan in Islam. In the same way, many Hindus will observe a period of fasting during the month of ‘Shravan’(July/August). This is a very popular holy month with religious festivals such as ‘Janmastami’ (Lord Krishna’s birthday), ‘Rakshabandhan’ (when sisters tie a ‘rakhi’ on their brothers) and ‘Sitla Satam’ (when there is no cooking or heating –only food cooked the day before can be eaten cold and baths have to be cold). Lord Shiva Statue is worshipped more so over the month of Shravan than any other month.

Temples are decorated with lights, there is continuous chanting, ‘Aartis/Bhajans’(hymns) are sung and people listen to holy scriptures being read out. Even in small villages, someone will read these scriptures in the evening, when other villagers will gather to listen. Many Hindus will also go on group pilgrimage tours around India and visit popular religious temples and places. Some Hindus will not cut their hair or shave over the month of Shravan. They will spend time reading holy books such as the Ramayan, Mahabharat or Shrimad Bhagvad Gita.

People make generous donations to charities, temples, the poor, beggars and other worthy causes. They will cook for the poor and hungry even though they are fasting themselves. By doing these good deeds they feel that they will be rewarded, if not in this life then in the next life. There are some variations in the way people observe the fast. Some might only eat one vegetarian meal in the evening whilst others will not eat any food at all other than fruit/nuts and milk. Many Hindus will also fast all year round on certain days of the week, depending on their beliefs.

On Monday, they will fast for Lord Shiva and his wife Goddess Durga Statue. Some people will only have milk and lumps of crystalised sugar. In the morning, unmarried women will go to Lord Shiva’s temple with offerings of flowers, ghee, incense, special leaves, milk, honey, sugar and Tulsi leaves. They will gently pour lots of milk over Lord Shiva’s Lingam. It is believed that by offering these things to Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga, they will find their dream husband. Goddess Parvati (Durga) herself, is said to have done a lot of ‘tap’ (deep meditation) in the Himalayas to win the affections of Lord Shiva. Therefore, many unmarried women believe that by following Goddess Parvati’s example, they will also be rewarded in the same way.

On Tuesday, Hindus will fast for ‘Ambe Maa’ (also known as ‘Durga’) and ‘Hanuman Ji’(The Monkey God, Lord Ram’s devotee). They will read Ambe Maa’s Aarti and visit temples to offer their prayers.

On Wednesday, Hindus will fast for ‘Bahuchara Mataji’and similarly read the Aarti and visit temples to offer their prayers.

On Thursday, Maha Laskshmi (Lord Vishnu’s wife), Gayatri Mata, or Bhuvneshvari Mata is worshipped. Many people will fast on this day so that it will bring good health, wealth and help to achieve your aims in life. People will read prayer/story books and carry out joint family prayers in the morning and evening.

On Friday, people will fast for Santoshi Ma. Many women will not eat any food that is sour. They will fast for a minimum of sixteen Fridays. Then, at the end, they will invite many girls (an odd number) under the age of sixteen to share food with them as well as giving gifts, so that their fasting bears fruit. They will offer their prayers, chanting to Santoshi Maa in the hope that contentment and happiness will come about in their family.

On Saturday, Hindus will fast for Hanuman Ji and Sunny Dev. They will read the Hanuman Chalisa and go to Hanuman Ji’s temple offering special flowers and oil. They will pour oil all over a ‘murti’(statue) of Hanuman Ji’s head. They will read stories about Hanuman Ji and the Ramayan. Fasting on Saturdays is usually observed by men (on Tuesdays and Thursdays men will fast as well as women).

On Sunday, Hindus will fast for all ‘Mata Jis’(goddesses). People will fast to keep all the Mata Jis happy. They will visit Mataji’s temple. By fasting on Sunday, it is believed that you will get cosmic energies from the goddesses (known as ‘Shakti’).

In addition to weekly fasting, people might also fast on particular religious days/festivals. Hindus fast for a variety of reasons. One is from an astrological perspective. Some people believe that certain stars in the galaxy at certain times of the year can be harmful to individual families. They might bring bad health, misfortune and other evil spirits on earth. To ease the effect of these stars, people will fast and offer their prayers, to make them psychologically stronger and able to cope with such misfortunes. Another reason for fasting is based on what their stars say (from their birth). This is recorded in the Janma Patrika (a book that records the position of the galaxy’s stars at the time of birth). Many people will fast as guided by the astrologer/priest.

There are many advantages to fasting. From a health point of view, by giving your body (stomach) a rest, your indigestion system improves and generally you will become healthier. Sleeping is improved by having a lighter stomach. Fasting also brings about a ‘feel good’ factor. The second advantage is that it helps you save on time. The time saved can be offered for charity work or doing good deeds for others. It saves money by not having to shop for food or cook. Any money saved can be donated to good causes. Fasting can be good for your health as long as it is not too excessive.

Names and technical terms may vary according to the Indian dialect and Hindu tradition. For example, ‘Laskshmi’ may be more familiar to some readers as ‘Lakshmi’, ‘Ramayan’ as ‘Ramayana’, ‘Mahabharat’ as ‘Mahabharata’, and ‘Bhagvad Gita’ as ‘Bhagavad Gita’.

Fasting in Hinduism by Manisha Sharma & Natu Patel

TRUE FACTS ABOUT Mr. Steve Jobs who EMBRACED HINDUISM

Mr. Steve Jobs had revolutionized the world of computers and e based communications through his Apple computers. Here are some facts about Mr. Steve Jobs. 

• He used to “walk 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna Hindu Temple”.

• He said in his Stanford University lecture “you have to trust in your gut, destiny, life and Karma. He was a staunch believer of karma yoga.

• He visited many Ashrams in Risheekesh particularly Neem Karoli Baba ashram, a devotee of Hanuman. After visiting for the first time he returned from India to US with a shaved head and in traditional Indian robes.

• He used to walk in his company bare footed like a Hindu sanyaasee..

• He used to do Yoga daily and he was a perfect vegetarian till his last breath.

• He visits many ashrams in north India and used to do yoga in the holy places.

• He started touring India from 1970 onwards and he is a great lover of animals.

• He has not requested money from his parents even when he was jobless and generally took food from 
Hindu temples wherever he goes.


• He religiously followed and spread the ‘amazing Hindu dharma’ and Vedic messages.

• He did not complete his studies in the university but remained in university for discussing with his friends.

• He was removed from his own company by the management and latter on those management people were removed from their chair and Mr. Steve was brought back

• It is said that in Himalayas, one of the Hindu swamijies gave him a green apple and told him to bite it. He did and looked into the apple after biting a piece from that.

• That apple has come as the emblem of the Apple computers.

•He did not have a great university degree, still he could do the best for the world. One need not have to have highest degree for become great and good.

•It is said that he was a drop out from university. Remember, one need not think that only those who get good college, good subject, good education, can survive in this world.

•He was a pure vegetarian. One need not eat the dead body of the animals, blood oozing flesh for becoming healthy and do the work. Steve was a pure vegetarian.

•He used to walk bare footed in his office and also used to walk a long distance to Hare Krishna temple even when he had enough money. It is wrong to believe that for a scientist there should be perfect suits, tie, cap, over coat and super specialty moustache and beard etc for showing that ‘ I am a great scientist’.

•One can be ordinary when he does extraordinary work/thing also. That means become simple and humble always

•He used to visit Himalayas and Hindu gurus for the last many years. You should also visit through pilgrimage, the Himalayas and spend few days when you grow up or now with your parents. Whether you are Christian, Muslim or Hindu, it is immaterial.

•Steve Jobs proved that even when cancer conquered his body. He loved India and Indians with all the amazing cultural specialty of Hindu dharma

•Even though Steve Jobs was born as a Christian and an American, He lived a Hindu life and like an Indian, even when he reached the topmost position in his profession and karma.

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

While other forms of the Lord descended with various paraphernalia to deal with the demoniac and irreligious influences of the time, Lord Sri Caitanya was equipped with the most powerful weapon against irreligion, the Maha Mantra. The chanting of the holy name of Lord Sri Krishna is the sublime and recommended process in this age for the deliverance of all souls from the clutches of maya (illusion) and irreligion.

INTRODUCTION

Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 4:7 “Whenever and wherever there is a

decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion-at that time I descend Myself.” In past ages Lord Krishna has appeared in various forms. Over 5000 years ago He appeared as Himself in His original form as Bhagavan, Sri Krishna. In this present age of Kali Yuga, He appears in His most merciful form as Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. While other forms of the Lord descended with various paraphernalia to deal with the demoniac and irreligious influences of the time, Lord Sri Caitanya was equipped with the most powerful weapon against irreligion, the Maha Mantra. The chanting of the holy name of Lord Sri Krishna is the sublime and recommended process in this age for the deliverance of all souls from the clutches of maya (illusion) and irreligion

Lord Caitanya is Lord Krishna’s devotional form and is mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.29 “In this age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of sankirtana-yajna”, (chanting the Maha Mantra). Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Lord Krishna’s most merciful form who comes under the guise of a devotee. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was setting the perfect example of the “pure devotee of God”, yet, He is God Himself! He is the devotional form of Lord Sri Krishna. The purpose of Lord Caitanya’s appearance was to spread the sankirtan movement of chanting the holy names of the Lord to every town and village worldwide as the main means of God realization for this present age of Kali Yuga. He encouraged His followers to write books on Vaishnava sastra and to defeat the present infection of mayavadi impersonalism that is present everywhere and establish within the hearts of all, the practice of bhakti (love and devotion) to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna.

Whenever the Lord descends to earth to fulfill a particular mission, He is accompanied by an entourage of His most exalted devotees who descend with Him from the spiritual realm. They appear as parents, friends, relatives, etc. and they are His liberated sincere devotees who have come to facilitate in the advancement of His mission. God does not need help in any way, but just as His pure devotees relish His association, so too does Lord Krishna relish in the association of His pure devotees. Lord Caitanya’s teachings are the same as Lord Krishna’s teachings in Bhagavad Gita. They are one and the same, but Lord Caitanya’s life is a practical example for all to follow. I stress the word “follow” since it may be the incentive of some to try to imitate Lord Sri Caitanya. That is not endorsed, or even possible. God cannot be imitated, but His teachings can be followed and applied to cleanse the heart and advance in a spiritual and Godly life. Lord Caitanya is God Himself showing the way of how we can apply the message of Lord Sri Krishna in Bhagavad Gita to make our lives perfect and complete.

            CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU’S APPEARANCE

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in Mayapur, India during an eclipsed moon on the evening of February 18th, 1486. Caitanya’s father was Jagannath Misra, a poor Brahman and his mother was Sachi Devi. The people of the area were engaged in bathing in the holy Bhagirathi, as was customary during such occassions. With loud bursts of Haribol! Lord Sri Caitanya makes His appearance into this age known as Kali Yuga

Lord Caitanya’s appearance was foretold in sastra (scripture) and the manifestation of His greatness was unfolding. Caitanya was a beautiful child with a golden complexion. The ladies of Mayapur would come to see Him with presents and they would call Him “Gaurahari” because of the golden color of His complexion. Like golden sunshine He was radiant. His mother referred to Him as “Nimai” because He was born near a Nim tree. People from all around the area would come to visit Him every day.

He entered school in His fifth year and easily learned to speak Bengali in a very brief time. Whenever the baby aitanya would cry continuously the neighbor women and His mother would yell Haribol! At this sound He would immediatly stop. There were always echos of “Haribol” within His home. Once a Brahmin came to His house and was a guest for a short time. The Brahmin cooked some rice and during the Brahmins offering prayers with meditation on Lord Sri Krishna, the small Caitanya ate his rice. The Brahmin in turn, cooked more rice and while offering prayers and meditating on Lord Krishna, the boy ate the Brahmin’s rice again. While everyone in the house was asleep the Brahmin cooked rice for the third time and this time Caitanya showed His form as Lord Sri Krishna and blessed the Brahmin guest. The Brahmin realizing that this boy was Lord Sri Krishna in another form, became lost in extreme joy and ecstasy. His joy was extreme due to the appearance of the Supreme Object of his worship, Lord Sri Krishna Himself.

Once Caitanya was stolen by thieves who were out to plunder jewels and the boy Caitanya was lured with sweet treats. Caitanya exercised His powers as illusory energy and the thieves were made to go back towards His own house. The thieves thought they were going the other way, but Caitanya had tricked them. Leaving the boy at His own doorstep, with fear of being caught, they ran. At the age of eight years old, He was instructed by Gangadas Pandit and within two years He had become well prepared with a knowledge of Sanskrit grammar. His father Jagannath Misra was a pandit himself and young Caitanya would study His father’s books. After Caitanya had reached His tenth year, His brother had accepted the order of sannyasa and had left home. Not long after that incident His father left this world and just as young Caitanya had consoled His mother when His brother had left to take sannyasa, so too did He console her after His father’s departure.

During His teens, He was considered an expert scholar and His expertise in Sanskrit and Nyaya philosophy was intimidating to the other pandits who would avoid confronting Him in discussions. Caitanya would preach the principles of Vaishnava Tradition and He was expert in debunking the speculative and impersonal philosophies of some pandits. At the age of 16 Caitanya travelled to Gaya with a following of His students and it was there that He took spiritual initiation from Iswara Puri. Iswara was a Vaishnava sannyasi and his guru was Madhavendra Puri. After His initiation He became an even more dedicated preacher of the Vaishnava tradition and He was absorbed in the name and service to Lord Sri Krishna.

His mission was to spread the glories of the holy names of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna and thus spiritualize mankind with the chanting of these holy names. The Vaishnava devotional creed of bhakti represents love and devotion to God, Lord Krishna, on a personal level. Sri Caitanya was expert in defeating so called scholars promoting an impersonal concept of the absolute without regard to sastric revelation. The assertation of the Lord as the Supreme Personality of Godhead was formost and the presentation of Krishna as chanted in kirtan (congregational chanting of Hare Krishna) was a prime benediction that Caitanya was bestowing upon all humanity at large.

At the house of Srivasa Pandit He would sing, dance, and chant the names of Lord Krishna and express religious inspiration to all. Many sincere followers were in attendance at these gatherings. Nityananda Prabhu had at this time completed a tour of India and joined Caitanya and a host of other Vaishnava acharyas in the goal of spiritualizing mankind with the highest transmission of the Vaishnava devotional creed. Caitanya instructed His close associates Nityananda and Haridas Thakur by saying “Go friends, go through the streets of the towns, meet every man at his door and ask him to sing the name of Hari (Krishna) with a holy life and you then come and report to Me every evening the result of your preaching.” On that order the two would go out and with the blessings of Sri Caitanya many were converted to bhakti (love and devotion) to God. Even the two sinful characters of Jagai and Madhai were inspired to give up their wrong ways and change their hearts. Soon sankirtan parties (large groups chanting God’s name) flooded the streets to chant the names of Krishna.

All were surprised with the great power of Sri Caitanya. Envious smarta Brahmins became jealous of Nimai Pandit’s (Caitanya) success and complained to the Kazi. The Kazi was a non-Hindu political enforcer at that time. The Kazi went to Srivasa Pandit’s house and broke a mridanga drum (drum used for loud congregational chanting). The Kazi also ordered that unless Caitanya cease the public display of amassing crowds to chant the name of God (Krishna), he would be forced to apply Mohammedan law against Him and His followers. When word of this threat reached Caitanya, He ordered the towns people to appear in the evening, each carrying a torch. They did this and He organized them into 14 groups. They all marched, led by Nimai (Caitanya) to the house of the Kazi. At the Kazi’s house Caitanya engaged in a long conversation with the Kazi. He spoke of the Vaishnava tradition and communicated into the heart of the Kazi His Vaishnava influence by touching his body. The Kazi broke into tears and admitted that he had felt a great spiritual presence and was deeply influenced by Caitanya’s message. The Kazi experienced a higher ecstasy that cleared all doubts and gave him a religious conviction like never before. The Kazi joined Caitanya’s samkirtan party and he too took part in the mass congregational chanting spreading in India. The great spiritual power of the Supreme Lord astonished all as hundreds upon hundreds were converted and joined under the banner of Vaishnava love of God. The names of Lord Krishna echoed in the streets.

In His 24th year, Caitanya took the vow of sannyasa and upon renouncing material ties, He embraced a greater wealth of the world of Lord Krishna and a life exemplified as a perfect devotee of God. He radiated love for Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. After His taking of the vows of sannyasa, He traveled to Santipur to the house of Advaitacharya. Advaita invited many friends and admirers of Caitanya and even brought Saci Devi to see her son. As a sannyasi, Sri Krishna Caitanya wore only an outer covering. His head was shaved and he carried a danda and a kamandalu. Upon seeing His mother Caitanya fell at her feet and exclaimed “Mother! this body is yours and I must obey your orders. Permit me to go to Vrindavan for My spiritual attainments.” After a consultation with Advaita and others present, she asked Him to reside in Jagannatha Puri, so that she could obtain information from Him from time to time. This He agreed to.

After taking sannyasa He became known to many as “Krishna Caitanya”. On His way to Jagannath Puri He passed the Bhubaneswar temple and upon His arrival in Puri He saw Lord Jagannath in the temple there. A very renouned pandit of that time was Sarvabhauma. Saravabhauma was known as the most educated scholar of Vedanta in the school of Sankaracharya at that time. Gopinath Misra introduced Caitanya to Sarvabhauma. Sarvabhauma was informed that this was no ordinary pandit. After a hot discussion with Gopinath, Sarvabhauma requested Caitanya to hear his recitation of the Vedanta Sutras. This Caitanya listened to with great patience and silence for seven days. At the end of the recitation, Sarvabhauma said “Caitanya! I think You do not understand the Vedanta, as You do not say anything after hearing my recitation and explanation.” Caitanya replied that He understood the sutras very well, but could not make out what Sankaracharya had meant. Sarvabhauma was astonished and asked Caitanya to explain. Caitanya in turn explained the sutras perfectly without regard to the pantheistic commentary of Sankaracharya. With keen understanding and a vision for the truth, harmony, and beauty of what Caitanya had explained, Sarvabhauma was humbled. Sarvabhauma admitted that he had never heard such a clear manner of commentary on the Vedanta Sutras. He made known that the commentaries of Sankaracharya were not the natural and profound commentaries that Sri Caitanya had given. Another thing that was clear to Sarvabhauma was that to not submit himself to be a follower and devotee of Sri Krishna Caitanya would be the greatest mistake. He did just that and became one of the greatest Vaishnava devotees of the Lord at that time.

All of Orisa praised Sri Krishna Caitanya and his glories were spreading, just as He was spreading the glories of Lord Sri Krishna through the congregational chanting of His Holy Name “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”. Caitanya travelled to southern India along with Krishnadas Brahmin. In Kurmaksetra He peformed a miracle by curing a leper named Vasudev. He had conversations with many and many were converted to the great mission of love of God and they became devotees of Lord Krishna and supporters of Sri Krishna Caitanya in the advancment of His mission. Everywhere the names of Sri Krishna were chanted with ecstatic joy. He performed another miracle by touching the seven trees that Ramachandra , the son of Dasarath, had shot arrows through and by His touch the trees disappeared. He stayed four months at the home of Venkata Bhatta and the whole family was delivered from Ramanuja Vaishnavaism into Krishna bhakti. The boy in that family, named Gopal, later became one of the six Goswamis of Vrindavan under the leadership of Sri Krishna Caitanya. He had many discussions and even many Mayavadis surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Wherever He travelled His mercy was an endless ocean for all and He displayed miracles everywhere to the amazement of all. His deep love and devotion to the Supreme Lord Krishna and His perfect example of pure Vaishnava bhakti (love and devotion) was contagious. On a trip with Balabhadra around India, Caitanya was passing by the jungle, enroute to Puri. Balabhadra reported that Sri Caitanya had shown a great many miracles during this trip, such as making tigers and elephants dance after hearing the name of Krishna. Just as an iron rod is made hot by association with fire, so too is love for the Supreme Lord made possible by the proper contact and association with Vaishnava devotees. Rupa Goswami was trained in spirituality by Caitanya and was given directions to write theological books on the subject of pure bhakti and prema, devotional service, and love of Godhead. Rupa Goswami’s second mission was to revive the places where the Lord Krishna Himself had at the end of Dvapara Yuga ( the previous age) exhibited His lilas, or Pastimes that were for the benefit of the all.

Throughout His life Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya preached the principles of pure love of God to the masses. He would many times perform a miracle to attract pandits, sannyasis, and the inquisitive to Him. He would fall at the lotus feet of the Deity of Sri Sri Radha Krishna in ecstacy and weep with love and devotion. By His association, He could touch the hearts of those around Him and make them weep for His mercy to help their spiritual advancement. Lord Sri Caitanya is Lord Krishna and Radharani combined in the form of the “Golden Avatar”. Sri Caitanya preached pure bhakti (love and devotion) for God. He instilled into the heart great spiritual love for Krishna and inspired many to give up sectarian connections. God is not sectarian, nor is His word, or followers. The platform of pure bhakti (love and devotion to the Lord) is above sectarian and other material “isms” and labels. Sri Caitanya defied caste distinction and unified everyone in spiritual brotherhood and love of the Supreme Lord Krishna.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spent the last 18 years of His appearance in this world in Puri at the home of Kasi Misra. His disappearance in the 48th year was at the time of sankirtan (congregational chanting of God’s names) in the temple of Tota Gopinath. He was surrounded by Vaishnavas with the purest character, learning and firm spiritual love for Sri Krishna. All who came in contact with Him knew Him as the all-beautiful God appearing in this world for the benefit of all mankind. Humility was personified in Him. The six Goswamis of Vrindavan are His eternal servitors who preached love on His behalf. He never lacked proper instruction for those who approached Him and would always chastise those who deviated from a holy life. He is still the way and light for those in this age of Kali Yuga who wish to make their lives perfect and bask in the light of love of God. In Lord Sri Caitanya’s “Sikshastaka” verse 1, Caitanya says: “Glory to the Sri Krishna Sankirtan which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediciton for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious”. (This ends my summary of the life and precepts of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabh)

                         KRISHNADAS KAVIRAJ

Krishnadas Kaviraj was a great writer who has given many details on Sri Caitanya’s life and teachings. Much of the information he gathered originated from the six Goswamis of Vrindavan themselves. Jiva Goswami also left a valuable work on the precepts of Sri Caitanya, called, Sad-sandarbha. The multivolume presentation of Sri Caitanya Caritamrita is an emense biography of Sri Caitanya. A. C. Bhaktivedanta’s translation is recommended for all interested in advancing in both knowledge and love of God. While my efforts were made here to convey some understanding of Lord Caitanya, it is but a particle summary of those precepts. It is clear that the vast appearance and teachings of Sri Caitanya go beyond anything that I can transmit. I therefore urge a more complete study of Sri Krishna Caitanya to fully reap the nectarian fruit of spiritual consciousness that He radiates. I pay obeisances and express great gratitude to A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It is by his mercy that the mercy of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya is so available to all, around the world outside of India. Srila Prabhupada’s translations of Srimad Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Bhagavad Gita, Sri Isopanisad, Srila Rupa Goswami’s Bhaktamrita Sindu (Nectar of Devotion), and other great Vaishnava scriptures has saved so many from the darkness of maya and impersonalism throughout the world. I can not recommend enough that everyone who is interested in the subject of spiritual life, read his books and apply them in their own life daily. He is teaching purely the message of Lord Krishna and the benefit of hearing and acting on Lord Krishna’s instructions is an endless ocean of mercy for all souls.

                                        CREDITS

Those interested in deeper study of Lord Sri Caitanya’s life are urged to refer to “The Teachings of Lord Caitanya” printed by Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. This book is recommended as well as “Sri Caitanya Caritamrita”, which is a multivolume account of the precepts and pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya, as described by the great Gaudiya Vaishnava saint Krishnadas Kaviraja and translated by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. In this connection, I quote Krishnadas Kaviraja as saying “By the mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu a dumb man can recite perfect poetry, a lame man can cross over mountains, and a blind man can see the stars.” In presenting this particle account of the unlimited greatness of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, I can attest to His mercy and guidance in my life, and the mercy of His pure devotee, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Haribol!

Written by Dharmaksetra das