Gita 7.13

Deluded by the three modes [goodness, passion and ignorance], the whole world does not know Me, who am above the modes and inexhaustible.     SP2

Oprah Winfrey visits ISKCON Vrindavan

This is from January 2012: The Jaya Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundar web site is reporting that Oprah Winfrey visited ISKCON Vrindavan earlier today. Oprah is a major celebrity and has a lot of influence. In recent times she has espoused benefits of a plant based diet and done shows on being Vegetarian/Vegan. She got into a fight with the cattle industry and even recently did a Vegan show showing the grotesque method cow slaughter to the public. So nice to see her visit the land of Krishna and His cows. -From brihadmridanga.com 

Lord Nityananda is Never Angry

THREE HOLY DAYS

 January 31, 2015 is Varaha Dvadasi, the appearance day of Lord Varaha, Sri Krsna's Boar incarnation. February 1^st (in India) is Nityananda Trayodasi, the appearance day of Lord Nityananda.

 Srila Narayana Maharaja recommends that these three holy days be observed in the following manner: The first day is observed as a regular Ekadasi. Regarding the second day, although generally the appearance day of any of the Lord's incarnations is observed as Ekadasi, Lord Varaha's appearance day will be observed as Dvadasi. That is, one should break the fast with grains (paran) as usually done on the day after Ekadasi. [If you do not know the time of breaking fast for your area of the world, you may log on to: http://www.purebhakti.com/calendar/calendar.php.] Grains may also be taken later in the day. Glorification of Lord Varaha shall be celebrated in the morning, before taking paran. Then, on the next day, Nityananda Trayodasi, Ekadasi fasting is again observed, and Lord Nityananda can be glorified any time of the day or night.

[February 1, 2015 (in India) is the appearance day of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. The following is a class given by our worshipful Gurudeva Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja on this auspicious day, in Teresopolis, Brazil, Feb 14, 2003:]

Nityananda Prabhu served Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Navadvipa, and performed His Vyasa-puja there. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Lord Sri Krsna Himself. If one worships Krsna, Vyasa-puja is automatically done.

After Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa, He wanted to go to Vrndavana, but Nityananda Prabhu kindly, by trick, changed His direction and took Him to Santipura, the village of Sri Advaita Acarya. Nityananda Prabhu called all the people of Nadia, especially Mahaprabhu's mother Saci-maiya, to come and meet Him. There, Saci-maiya met with Him when He was in sannyasa dress.

After that, Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Puri, and Nityananda Prabhu followed Him there. Nityananda Prabhu wanted to always serve Mahaprabhu, but because he had been initiated by Sri Laksmipati-tirtha, Mahaprabhu honored Him as a guru. Laksmipati-tirtha was the diksa-guru of Madhavendra Puri, Sri Madhavendra Puri's disciple was Sri Isvara Puri, and Isvara Puri's disciple was Mahaprabhu. In this way Mahaprabhu is in the disciplic succession two generations after Nityananda Prabhu, and He therefore used to show him great respect.

Nityananda Prabhu served in so many ways at the Ratha-yatra Festival, and after the festival Mahaprabhu ordered him to return to Bengal and preach His mission there. He preached without care for caste or creed, and he especially preached to those who were inferior in caste and very poor.

In the course of his preaching, he once came to the village of Ramacandra Khan, who had previously sent a prostitute to Srila Haridasa Thakura and who was always against Caitanya Mahaprabhu and bhakti. Ramacandra Khan could not understand the glory of Haridasa Thakura and had wondered, "Even though I am king of the state, nobody honors me. Instead they honor Haridasa Thakura, even though he is a Muslim." He had committed grievous offenses against Haridasa Thakura, and now Nityananda Prabhu wanted to liberate him from his sinful body.

Nityananda Prabhu went to Ramacandra Khan's village at night, with hundreds of His devotees. As it was nighttime, he requested Ramacandra Khan's servant to tell him, "Today we want to take rest in your Durga Mandapa. Hearing this, Ramacandra Khan ordered his servant to tell Nityananda Prabhu there is no place for Him in the temple, but he and his disciples could go to the goshala (cowshed), and remain in that very sacred place. Again he committed an offense.

Nityananda Prabhu began to laugh very loudly, and while laughing he told the king's servant, "Certainly your place is not pure enough for me. A cowshed is superior. You should tell the king, "Many Muslim generals and soldiers will come to your house. They will destroy you, your entire family, your cows and everything you possess; and they will

eat meat here. You have no place for me, but you will have to make a place for them." After saying this, he left the village and went to another.

The next day many Muslim soldiers came, killed the king's family, slaughtered cows and cooked them there, and then they set the entire village on fire. Those who were in favor of that king were destroyed, and thus, what Nityananda Prabhu had told was proven true.

There are many pastimes, but I am only touching some.

akrodha paramananda nityananda raya abhimana sunya nitai nagare bedaya

["The noble Nityananda Prabhu is never angry, for he is the personification of supreme transcendental bliss. Devoid of all false ego, Nitai wanders about the town." (Akrodha Paramanda by Locana dasa Thakura, verse 1)]

The meaning is very important. Akrodha means 'not angry'. We should try to give up anger, which is the root of all kinds of evil. Even if there is a reason to be angry, we should not be angry. Nityananda Prabhu is telling us this, through the medium of this song. He is saying, "You should be like me." When Jagai and Madhai hit him and he was bleeding, he prayed to Mahaprabhu, "In this incarnation, You should forgive them, and give them krsna-prema." Thus, by the request of Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave the brothers krsna-prema.

Mahaprabhu and all our Gosvamis have told us that even if there is a cause to be angry, we should not be angry. We should control our anger. If there is need, however, if someone is criticizing one's Gurudeva, or any pure devotee, or Krsna, Mahaprabhu, or Nityananda Prabhu, then we can use our anger. At that time we should be like Hanuman, who burned all of Lanka into ashes.

Sri Vrndavana dasa Thakura has declared: "Ati parihare jei papi nindakara tabe / lati marun tera sirera upare." Do not disobey or dishonor Nityananda Prabhu. If you do so, I will kick you on your head." Only in the highest stage of bhakti are you allowed to be angry. You should control your anger; not be controlled by it. If you are so controlled, you will be destroyed.

kama esa krodha esa rajo-guna-samudbhavah mahasano maha-papma viddhy enam iha vairinam

["The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring sinful enemy of this world." (Bhagavad-gita 3.37)]

Those who have worldly desires for position and so on, and who have a false ego in this regard, will lose everything. If you cannot control your mind, you may also disobey your Guru, and you may even give up your Guru. That is why Lord Sri Krsna has told us not to be angry. Keep the anger finger out of your bead bag. Do not use this (pointer) finger in chanting, because it denotes anger. It says, "I will punish you! I will shoot you!

Do you not know who I am?! I will break your legs!" Be careful.

adhama patita jivera dvare dvare giay hari-nama maha-mantra dicchena bilaiya

["Going from door to door, to the houses of the most fallen and wretched souls, He freely distributes the gift of the harinama maha-mantra." (Akrodha Paramananda verse 2)]

Taking the flood of krsna-prema, Nityananda Prabhu went door to door, to give that love and affection.

Gaura-Nityananda Prabhu Ki Jaya!

Gaura premanande   -From Harikatha Newsletter

Boro Sukher Khabor Gai

Sri Ramanujacarya

Mathura, India: April 9, 2000
Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

---

[January 29, 2015 is the divine disappearance day of Sri Ramanujacarya. Kindly accept this lecture, given by Srila Narayana Maharaja a few years ago, as the information is eternal.] 
(Audio of another Class  Feb 16 2008)

Today is the avirbhava, birthday, of Sri Ramanujacarya. Rama-Navami, the birthday of Lord Rama, is also coming very soon, Throughout Their entire lives, Rama and Sita-devi always had problems, even though Rama is God and Sita-devi is his svarupa-sakti, internal potency. They showed by example that in this world, even if you are a king and have a very strong personality, you will still have to suffer. So try to be like Rama, Sita, and Hanuman. Dont be worried. There are many stories of the lives of great personalities that illustrate this, such as the life of Sri Ramanujacarya.

Sri Ramanujacarya is an incarnation of Laksmana (Lord Ramas youn ger brother), and he accepted the Sri Sampradaya. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada took many teachings from him, such as the duties of sannyasis, the duties of disciples, and the etiquette of the Vaisnava. He utilized 108 teachings. We follow these teachings, and we have also published them in our Bhagavata Patrika and Gaudiya Patrika (Hindi and Bengali Magazines).

Correcting His Guru

Sri Ramanujacarya took birth in a simple family. His mother and father were not very wealthy, but they were of a high brahmana caste and they were very learned. Ramanuja was an outstanding boy from his childhood. While under the guidance of a Mayavadi guru named Yadavacarya, he was very careful in his studies. One day, when his guru was giving an impersonal explanation of a verse that contained the word taptyasana, he compared the lotus-eyes of the Lord to the hind part of a monkey which is reddish near its tail. Hearing this from his gurudevas mouth, Ramanuja began to cry in great pain. He felt grief in his heart that his gurudeva had used such a bad analogy for describing the lotus-eyes of the Lord. After collecting himself, he very politely asked if he could say something about the verse. Yadavacarya assented, and Ramanuja very nicely gave many explanations according to Sanskrit grammar. He said that the term taptyasana actually means one who bring s water, and that is the sun. The lotus blossoms by the potency of the sun, and therefore the Lords eyes are compared to the lotus, not the monkey. 

When Yadavacarya heard this, he thought, This boy is dangerous. He is very expert and is giving such nice explanations. In the future he might uproot all the impersonal teachings from the Vedas, and so I must kill him. 

Protected by the Lord

Fearing in this way, he announced to the boys that they would be going on an outing on a particular day. He also very confidentially told a few of his disciples of his plan to kill Ramanuja on that day. Within the group of these disciples, one boy was a cousin-brother of Ramanuja named Govinda. He discreetly came to Ramanuja and quietly informed him of their teachers intention. 

He said, O brother, you should be very careful, for our teacher is planning to kill yo u tonight when we are all out together. 

Hearing this from Govinda, Ramanuja immediately left that place. 

Throughout the day and night, he passed through the dense forest, and it was difficult for him to discern his way, especially at night. Seeing His dear devotee in such a state, the Lord appeared in the form of Bharadvaja and, holding a conch in His hand, showed Ramanuja the way. Thus, within no time at all Ramanuja crossed the entire distance of the forest, and he found himself standing outside a village. After some days, out of compassion for Yadavacarya and with a desire to deliver him, he again began studying under his guidance. 

After some years, Ramanuja converted Yadavacarya to Vaisnava philosophy, whereupon his teacher became his disciple. At one point thereafter, Ramanuja began hearing of the qualities of a great Vaisnava guru in South India by the name of Sri Yamunacarya, and he eventually became Sri Yamunacaryas d isciple. 

The Quarrelsome Wife

Later on he married, and his wife was very quarrelsome. Her behavior was discourteous and uncooperative, and incidents would often take place, which he would have to somehow tolerate. 

A disciple of Sri Yamunacarya and elder god-brother of Ramanuja named Kancipurna came to Ramanujas village along with his wife. Ramanuja accepted Kancipurna as a siksa-guru. One day, when Kancipurnas wife was taking some water from a well, she met Ramanujas wife, who had also come to the well for drawing water. It so happened that while taking the water out of the well, some water from the pot of Kancipurnas wife spilled into the pot of Ramanujas wife. Although this was a small accident, Ramanujas wife became furious and insulted Kancipurnas wife with abusive language. Kancipurna became hurt when he later on heard about this and, wi thout informing Ramanuja, he and his wife left that place and went to Sri Rangam.

When Sri Ramanuja came to know that his wifes behavior had offended a Vaisnava, he felt very bad and thought, She is committing vaisnava-aparadha; she has such an offensive mentality. I must do something about it. 

The Trick

One day, a hungry brahmana came to Ramanuja, asking for some food. Ramanuja sent this brahmana to his wife, telling him, Go to my home and tell my wife that I sent you. She will give you some food. 

When that brahmana came to Ramanujas wife, she boldly insulted him again and again. She told him he should get out of there, and that there was no food for him.

Returning to Ramanuja, the brahmana reported what had happened, and Ramanuja replied, Wait here for a few minutes. 

He left and wrote a letter to his wife, as though it was written by her father, stating, O my dear daughter, I am arranging the marriage of my son, your brother. So you should come. Please bring your husband with you. 
Writing these words very nicely, he folded that letter and tied it with colorful threads. And, along with that, he sent a coconut and other auspicious items. He then gave that letter to the brahmana and said, Now go again to my wife. She will welcome you nicely this time. The brahmana went again. After reading the letter, Ramanujas wifes behavior completely changed. This time she welcomed him warmly and sweetly, and offered him all kinds of palatable food and sweets. When Ramanuja came home, his wife told him about the marriage. She cited her fathers request for both of them to come and requested him to please come along. 

Ramanuja said, No, I cannot come, for I am very busy; you may go now with this brahmana. Dont be lat e. 

Accepting Sannyasa

After his wife left with that brahmana, Ramanuja locked the door of his house and went to Sri Rangam to meet his Gurudeva, Sri Yamunacarya. He wanted to take sannyasa from him, but when he reached Sri Rangam, he found that Sri Yamunacarya had just passed away and his disciples were walking in a funeral procession with his divine body. Ramanuja felt very disheartened and sad. He asked them to stop for a moment. He wanted them to uncover the transcendental body so that he could take darsana of his Gurudevas divine form. He observed that all the fingers on one of his Gurudevas hands were open, and on the other, three fingers were closed. He inquired from the disciples all around as to why this was, and he wanted to know when it happened. 

No one could answer. They said, We didnt notice it before; it must have happened just now. 

Ramanuja became silent, and after some time he spoke, addressing Sri Yamunacaryas transcendental body. He said, Now, I will first of all write a Vaisnava commentary on Vedanta, and I will preach that Vaisnava commentary throughout India. One finger opened, and Ramanuja spoke further, I will take tridandi-sannyasa right now, and I will preach the message of vaisnava-dharma and your teachings. 

When Sri Yamunacarya heard that, his second finger opened. Ramanuja then said, I will systematically write about Vaisnava etiquette, explaining the behavior required to execute pure devotional service, and what precautions should be taken. I will also preach this throughout India. 

After uttering this third statement, Sri Ramanujacarya observed, along with all present, that three of Yamunacaryas fingers had now opened. Then and there, Sri Ramanujacarya formally accepted tridandi sannyasa from Sri Yamu nacarya.

The Ideal Disciple

What is the duty of an ideal disciple? He should not merely stay with gurudeva; he should try to give his energy by body, mind and words, and try to serve him according to his desires. He should not just be present physically, thinking something exciting is going to happen, while remaining unenthusiastic to serve. That is not a disciple, but rather something quite opposite. A true disciple always desires, with heart and mind, to better serve his gurudeva. 

Sri Ramanujacarya had now formally taken initiation from Sri Yamunacarya. Afterwards, all the disciples of Sri Yamunacarya, who were great scholars and who had served their Gurudeva for so many years, came together. Having seen the extraordinary characteristics and personality of Sri Ramanujacarya, they collectively decided that he should be appointed as the next acarya after their Guru, and they honored him with the acarya seat in Sri Rangam. Sri Ramanujacarya accepted the orders of his god-brothers, but before sitting and acting as the acarya, he went to each of his god-brothers, for two months, four months, six months, or one year, and served each of them. He thus formally endeavored to understand the teachings of Sri Yamunacarya since he had not gotten the opportunity to spend much time with him. After serving and satisfying them, Sri Ramanujacarya commenced his role as acarya of the Sri Sampradaya in Sri Rangam

Sampradaya in Sri Rangam

We should carefully follow Sri Ramanujacaryas example. Not only should we intimately serve our Gurudeva, we shoul d also respect and properly honor our god-brothers and god-sisters. If someone is senior to us, having served our gurudeva longer, we should show that person great honor. If someone is equal to us, we should give friendly honor to him, and if we encounter someone in an inferior position and who is serious about learning, we should always be merciful. We should try to perform devotional service in a very harmonious way. 

Refuting the Impersonalists

When Sri Ramanujacarya officially became the acarya, he began preaching the cult of Sri Yamunacarya very strongly. In South India, two impersonalist sects are very prominent: Saiva and Sankaracarya. Sankaracaryas followers subscribe to the vedanta-sutras like "sarvam kalvidam brahma" and "tat tvam asi." They think themselves impersonal brahma, and they think everything comes from brahma. The Saiva School considers Lord Siva to be the ultimate truth, and they want to merge into him. This is the basic difference between the two. Sri Ramanujacarya refuted and defeated all impersonalism by his very strong and effective preaching. -From Harikatha Newsletter

Praise to Sri-krsna-sankirtana!

by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Gosvami Maharaja

A short English class delivered in Varsana during Kartika, 1996

 Srila Narayana Maharaja and Srila Trivikrama Maharaja

What was Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s special gift to us? This is stated in the first of His Siksastaka slokas, wherein He has explained:

ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam
sreyah-kairava-candrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam
anandambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamrtasvadanam
sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam

Siksastakam (1)

[Let there be supreme victory for the chanting of the holy name of Sri Krsna, which cleanses the mirror of the heart and completely extinguishes the blazing forest fire of material existence. Sri-krsna-sankirtanam diffuses the soothing moon rays of bhavawhich cause the while lotus of good fortune for the jivas to bloom. The holy name is the life and soul of transcendental knowledge, since Vidya (Divya Sarasvati-devi, who awards divine knowlege) is Sri Nama Prabhu’s consort. It continuously increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, enabling one to taste complete nectar at every step. The holy name thoroughly bathes and cools the body, mind and soul.]

Why did Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu praise this krsna-sankirtanam? Sri-krsna-sankirtanam is the best teaching He delivered. There is no parallel to this sri-krsna-sankirtanam. Let it be most successful. In the state of viraha (separation) there is no consolation other than sri-krsna-sankirtanam. It is the only thing.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appreciated this and instructed the human beings that this is the best of all good things, of all devotions – sri-krsna-sankirtanam param vijayate. And He remarked, “It is suitable for all classes of devotees. From the worst to the best, it is suitable. The best position can be had by thissri-krsna-sankirtanam only. It is complete sadhana, it is easily performed and it bestows the highest perfection. It will give one the best position in the spiritual world. This sri-krsna-sankirtanam will also give the best position in this world.

By this chanting, by this kirtana of the name and glories of Sri Krsna, we can possess the highest position. For the lowest devotees, whose minds are always thinking of worldly pleasures, what is stated? It is stated that the desire for worldly pleasures should first be removed. For this reason, Mahaprabhu said, “ceto-darpana-marjanam –the mirror of the heart is to be cleansed.” This is to be done first. Citta-darpana, the mirror of the heart should be scrubbed clean.

By which process will it be cleaned? By this kirtana. Kirtana is enough; it is more than enough to clean the citta-darpana, the mirror of my citta. Manah(mind), buddhih (intelligence), ahankara (false-ego) and citta (the heart) are the four sections of the subtle body. The citta should be cleaned first. Without cleaning our heart, we cannot accept the highest prema, we cannot understand it and we cannot be in the position to attain it. It is not at all possible.

We are always thinking of the pleasure of our senses. How can the pleasure of our divine masters and the pleasure of Lord Krsna and His consorts – the gopisand Srimati Radharani – be secured in such a citta? No, it cannot be. First of all it should be cleaned by the process of sri-krsna-sankirtanam. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has very carefully explained this process from beginning to end:

aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam
adarsanan marma-hatam karotu va
yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato
mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparah

Siksastakam (8)

[Let Krsna tightly embrace this maidservant who is attached to the service of His lotus feet, and thus make Me His very own. Or let Him break My heart by not being present before Me. He is a debauchee and can do whatever He likes. Even if He cavorts with other lovers directly in front of Me. His is still My prananatha. I have no one other than Him.]

This is the conclusion. Who can attain this stage without cleaning his citta? First of all it is necessary to clean this citta, but only this sankirtanam will do that. It is the best and only suitable process to clean the heart, to get rid of this worldly thinking, this worldly enjoyment – the material enjoyment of our senses.

When will prema-bhakti be attainable? Will it be possible to attain it when the mind is engaged in material happiness, in material pleasures? In that mind can we understand anything of prema? So while we are in this class we should not try to understand prema. It is useless as long as we are in that position. Moreover, we think imitating the situation and behaviour of the premi-bhaktaswill make our citta clean, but it is not prescribed. It is not mentioned in these teachings. Our hearts will become clean by krsna-sankirtanam only.

Second it is said, “bhava maha davagni… (the blazing fire of material existence).” Do we feel material existence to be a fire? Unless and until we feel it to be a fire, we will think, “Why should I try to get out of it?” We are burning in this fire and dying in this world. Are we really aware of this? Do we have such realization? We think that we are in a good situation here. We have money, a home and nice things to eat, so who will endeavour for Bhagavan, forprema-bhakti to Him? First of all let us understand and realize that we are burning in the birth and death system. We are suffering perpetually. But as long as we think this world to be very fine and full of happiness, why should we try to leave it? Why should we give up that habit?

“Bhava maha davagni nirvapanam.” Who is realizing that we are suffering in this davagni, this blazing fire? It is so dangerous for us to take birth in this world. Bhava maha davagni – when we will realize that we are burning in this world, then only will we try to get out of that fire. But by what means can we relieve ourselves? Sri-krsna-sankirtanam can rescue us from this davagni, from this fire. We can then understand that relief will come by this sri-krsna sankirtanam only.

When we are free from this bondage of maya, free from davagni, and rescued from it by this chanting, this chanting will reveal His joyful, all-pleasing feature to us. This sankirtana will appear like the very sweet and soothing rays of the moon – sreyah kairava-candrika-vitaranam. Those rays belong to parama-mangala, our highest good. Our highest good is compared with the moon. The moon of krsna-sankirtana is so smooth and pleasing that our supreme auspiciousness will be realized then.

“Vidya-vadhu-jivanam.” Wisdom is vidya (transcendental knowledge), and that is the true result of krsna-sankirtana. That krsna-sankirtana is the life of transcendental knowledge, who is His consort – vidya-vadhu-jivanam. By that knowledge we can understand that sri-krsna sankirtanam is the best. If by some knowledge we do not understand that sri-krsna sankirtanam is the best result, then that knowledge is not knowledge. It is not admirable knowledge.

“Sarvatma-snapanam.” One’s self will become thoroughly immersed in thatkrsna-sankirtanam, or in the ocean of joy. One will sink in that ocean by thissankirtanam. “Anandambudhi-vardhanam – the ocean of pleasure, or joy, is increased by this sankirtanam.” Anandambudhi – the ocean of bliss swells. Whose bliss? My gurudeva once said, “it is Krsna’s bliss that swells.”Anandambudhi-vardhanam. “Prati-padam purnamrtasvadanam – in every stage one can realize purna-amrta (complete divine nectar).” The sweetness ofsankirtana is tasted at every step.

Let this sri-krsna sankirtanam be praised in the highest way.

vanca kalpatarubhyas ca krpa sindhubhya eva ca
patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah

[I pray to the Vaisnavas: you are like wish-fulfilling trees, you are oceans of mercy and you are the salvation for the most fallen; please accept this surrendered soul.]

Srila Prabhupada

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). From 1966 to 1977 he created Iskcon;  produced dozens of books including translations and commentary on Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Sri Isopanisad, Sri Upadesamrta; opened over 100 temples around the world; initiated thousands of disciples, converting almost all of them from outside Vaishnavism; established the Bhaktivedanta Institute to counter atheistic scientists; inaugurated annual Ratha Yatra festivals in many major cities of the world, introduced ISKCON Food for Life food distribution; and much much more. I invite everyone to take advantage of the above mentioned gifts of Srila Prabhupada for their genuine eternal spiritual benefit!

A CELEBRATION OF FOUR HOLY DAYS

Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja lecture on the topics of

1) Vasanta-Pancami

2) The Appearance Day of Visnu-priya devi

3) The Appearance Day of Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami

[This year, 2015, the anniversary of the holiday celebrating Vasanta-Pancami, the appearance days of Srimati Visnu-priya devi and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, and the disappearance day of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura takes place on January 24th (in India). Please enjoy the following timeless lecture, given in Murwillumbah, Australia, on February 17, 2002, in honor of this holy day.]

Vasanta Pancami

In India, there are many festivals held for the worship of Lord Krsna. There the year is divided into six seasons, each lasting two months.  Among the six seasons, the most glorious is Vasanta, Spring. The Vasanta season is very pleasant, for the weather is neither too hot nor too cold at that time. An abundance of fragrant flowers, like beli, cameli, jui and others bloom everywhere, and flowers such as ratkerani (night queen) bloom even at night. Rivers like Ganges and Yamuna are especially clean and pure at that time, looking as though they are simply waiting for Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, and the lands in many places look like yellow carpets because they are full with varieties of yellow flowers. Krsna's garments are also yellow, because His most beloved Srimati Radhika has a yellowish-golden complexion and He wants to be always embraced by Her.

Today is Vasanta-Pancami, the beginning of the Vasanta season, at which time the Rasa Dance of Krsna was performed in Govardhana, in the village of Parasauli, by the lake known as Candra Sarovara. At that time the gopis were dancing with Krsna for the duration of a night that became billions of years; it became as long as one entire day of Brahma. On that night the moon stood still, not moving from its best view of the sight of the dancing of Radhika and all Her sakhis with Lord Krsna. Such beautiful pastimes were born from an ocean of rasas (sweet, transcendental mellow tastes), saturated with unlimited happiness.

In Saradiya, the autumn season, the Rasa Dance was performed in Vrndavana, under the shade of the Vamsivata tree, in the beginning of Kartika month. All classes of gopis participated in that Saradiya rasa-yatra, whereas in this Govardhana Vasanti-rasa, only the highest class of gopis were allowed to participate. In this Spring Rasa Dance, Lord Krsna openly demonstrated the prominence and superiority of Srimati Radhika. 

Krsna disappeared in the midst of this Vasanti Rasa Dance, and all the gopis were bitterly crying, "Where is Krsna? Where is Krsna?"  The gopis searched for Him everywhere, and after some time they saw Him in His four-handed form, standing like a statue. Coming nearer, they said, "Oh, He looks like Krsna, but at the same time He is not Krsna. Our Krsna is not four-handed. Where is His flute, His peacock feather, and all His other apparel gone? He now carries a conch shell, disc, club, and lotus flower – in four hands!"  They prayed to him, "We are very attached to Krsna, and we are searching for Him. We will die without Him. If you are Narayana, please be merciful and tell us which way He went. Be merciful so that we may find Him." Then, after praying in this way, they left and went on their way. 

When Srimati Radhika was arriving after the other gopis had left that place, the breeze that had just touched Her veil carried so much fragrance from Her body that it entered the nostril of Krsna and He thought, "Oh, My most beloved is near."  He forgot that He was supposed to maintain His four-handed form, and He could no longer hide His original form. Two hands disappeared at once, entering His body, and His original two-armed form reappeared – with His flute in His hands and His peacock feather atop His head. 

rasarambha-vidhau niliya vasata kunje mrgaksi-ganair

drstam gopayitum svam uddhura-dhiya ya susthu sandarsita

radhayah pranayasya hanta mahima yasya sriya raksitum

sa sakya prabhavisnunapi harina nasic catur-bahuta

["At the beginning of the Rasa Dance, Lord Krsna hid Himself in a grove just to have fun. When the gopis came, their eyes resembling those of deer, by His sharp intelligence He exhibited His beautiful four-armed form to hide Himself. But when Srimati Radharani came there, He could not maintain His four arms. This is the wonderful glory of Her love." (a quotation from the Ujjvala-nilamani by Srila Rupa Gosvami, as quoted in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 17.293)]

When Krsna sees Radhika, His most beloved and the embodiment of all love and affection, He forgets everything else. She is no one other than Krsna. She is Krsna Himself, but in the body of Radhika.

In this way, Krsna returned to His own form and quickly embraced Her.  This occurred in vasanti-rasa-lila.

In the chapter of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta called Raya Ramananda Samvad, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu questioned Sri Raya Ramananda Prabhu, "What is our sadhya (perfection) and our sadhana (the process to achieve that perfection)?" Raya Ramananda replied, beginning from varnasrama-dharma. He told Mahaprabhu, "According to the adherents of varnasrama-dharma, to be in family life and pursue varnasrama-dharma (the execution of the religious duties of the different castes and statuses of life), in order to please Krsna, is the best process to please Him." Mahaprabhu rejected this and said, "In varnasrama there is no pure relationship between the soul and Krsna." After that, Raya Ramananda suggested, "One should offer the fruits of all his activities to the lotus feet of Krsna," but Mahaprabhu rejected this also, and said, “This is external; go further." 

After that Raya Ramananda said, "One should take shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna," and he quoted a verse from Bhagavad-gita: "Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear." (Bhagavad-gita 18.66)] Krsna is saying here, "If you take the shelter of My lotus feet, you will be happy forever."  People all over the world think that this is the essence of the Bhagavad-gita, but Mahaprabhu rejected it as external and therefore not the ultimate goal of life, and He told Raya Ramananda, "Go on; continue further.

Raya Ramananda then suggested karma-jnana-misra-bhakti (devotion contaminated by mental speculation and the desire to enjoy the fruits of one's actions), and he uttered the verse: "One who is transcendentally situated by realizing the impersonal brahma never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. He has the opportunity to realize the Supreme Brahman and become fully joyful if he attains pure devotional service unto Me."(Bhagavad-gita 18.54)]

Sriman Mahaprabhu also rejected both concepts – karma-jnana-misra-bhakti and brahma-bhutah – because they are devoid of pure devotion, and after that Raya Ramananda gradually came to the topic of prema-bhakti. Mahaprabhu replied to this, "This may be the stage of perfection, but please go further." Raya Ramananda then discussed dasya, sakya, and vatsalya-prema (love for Krsna in the moods of servant, friend, and parent) and Mahaprabhu said, "Oh, very good, very good! But please continue further." In bhakti-rasa (intimate devotion to Krsna while thinking oneself in a relationship with Him as an ordinary cowherd boy), Krsna is not anyone's father or mother. In the understanding of pure bhakti, the Supreme Lord cannot be anyone's father or a mother – He may only be a son. We can serve Krsna in any of four relationships, but if we think that He is our father or mother, we cannot serve Him, because fathers and mothers serve their children.

After hearing about these relationships, Caitanya Mahaprabhu told Raya Ramananda, "Please speak further," and Raya Ramananda then said, "Gopi-prema (serving Krsna as a beloved) is the highest attainment, and among the gopis Srimati Radhika is the best. When Mahaprabhu asked Raya Ramananda to give an example of a pastime that reveals Radhika's supremacy, Raya Ramananda first gave the example of Saradiya rasa-lila. He said, "All the gopis were dancing with Krsna, and it appeared that one gopi danced between each two Krsna’s and one Krsna danced between each two gopis.  Billions of gopis were dancing together with Krsna, but all of a sudden He disappeared.  Why did He disappear?  He did so to please Radhika. He took Her with Him, and no one knew where He or His beloved had gone." 

Mahaprabhu then expressed His doubt: "Because Krsna met with Radhika after His disappearance from the Rasa Dance, it seems that He was fearing all the other gopis. If He openly gives up all the gopis, leaving with Radhika in front of them all, then only it will be shown that the love of Radhika is the highest."

Sri Raya Ramananda then explained about this vasanti-rasa. He said, "Krsna was dancing with billions of gopis, and meanwhile Radhika thought, 'Krsna always promises: “You are My most beloved.” But I see that He is dancing with Me and all the other gopis as well; so perhaps we are all equal in His eyes.' At that time Radhika adopted a sulky mood and became somewhat angry. She thus left the Rasa Dance in front of all the other gopis, and Krsna followed Her. 

"Krsna was thinking, 'If Radhika is not here, there can be no Rasa. There can be no meaning to the Rasa. I am performing rasa-lila only for Radhika. She is My half, My whole, My guru and My servant; She is everything to Me. She is My life and soul. In vasanti-rasa, Krsna declared this openly."

Mahaprabhu then said, "Oh, this is good!" and He questioned further, "I want to know about krsna-tattva, radha-tattva, prema-tattva, and rasa-tattva from you."  When Raya Ramananda began to deeply describe these topics, however, Mahaprabhu stopped him and said, "Don’t say anymore. These subject matters are so elevated that there is no one in this world qualified to hear them.  If you continue to speak about them, I will at once enter the mood of Krsna and I will have to give up this form of Sacinandana Gaurahari." Raya Ramananda then stopped speaking. 

For us, today is the observance of the anniversary celebration of that very same vasanti-rasa, and for Krsna this rasa is going on eternally. All of His pastimes are eternally manifest in Goloka Vrndavana, and He also displays them throughout innumerable universes as He appears in one universe after another. Here in vasanti-rasa, Krsna declared openly, "My super-most beloved is Srimati Radhika."

There is no difference between Srimati Radhika and Lord Krsna. Krsna manifested Radhika from His left side.  If we can make Radhika happy, then Krsna will be happy and He will be controlled quite easily; and this is the purpose of our observance of vasanti-rasa.

The Appearance Day of Srimati Visnupriya-devi

Today is also the birthday of Visnu-priya devi – the wife – the power – the energy – of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. She is one of the manifestations of Srimati Radhika, she is especially a manifestation of Satyabhama, and she is the Supreme Lord’s Bhu-sakti.* [See Endnote] She had great love and affection for Sacinandana Gaurahari and was married to Him for many years; but Mahaprabhu was always absorbed in Radha's mood, calling out, "Alas, Krsna! Alas, Krsna!" and He had no time to talk with her. Though they were in one family, in one house, He was always absorbed in the ecstasies of Srimati Radhika. Thus, He was sometimes falling down and rolling on the earth, sometimes crying, and sometimes singing loudly like a mad person.

"In the stage of love of Godhead, the devotee is fixed in his vow as an eternal servant of the Lord, and he becomes very much attached to a particular name and form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As his heart melts with ecstatic love, he laughs very loudly or cries or shouts. Sometimes he sings and dances like a madman, for he is indifferent to public opinion." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.40)]

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was always acting in this way, and continually weeping.  If you want to develop love for Krsna, you will have to follow Caitanya Mahaprabhu and always weep for Krsna.   We see that He was weeping throughout His life, from the beginning. This increased further when He took sannyasa and left everything to go to Jagannatha Puri, and it increased still further after He met with Raya Ramananda.

Although Visnu-priya devi was married to Mahaprabhu in His family life, He hardly ever spoke with her, especially when He returned from Gaya, where He took harinama and diksa initiation from His Gurudeva, Sri Isvara-puripada. His personality changed at that time. He was no longer known as Nimai Pandita. Now He became known as Bhavuka Nimai, Nimai who is always absorbed in His ecstatic moods of krsna-prema.

At this time, however, some of the inhabitants of Navadvipa, especially the students and His former teachers in the schools, became somewhat unfavorable towards Him and wanted to control Him. Mahaprabhu thought, "I came to give the supreme medicine for everyone's material disease, but these persons quarrel with Me and insult Me. I should take sannyasa, the renounced order of life, for then they will weep for Me* [See Endnote 2], and thus I will immerse the whole world – including mayavadis like Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and Prakasananda Sarasvati – in krsna-prema." This is one of the reasons Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa.

On the day He decided to take sannyasa, Visnu-priya devi went to bathe in the Ganges.  While she was on the way there, she accidentally stubbed her toe on a stone, and it was injured and bled. Then, while she was in the midst of bathing there, the nose-ring she had received on her marriage day and which is very auspicious for a wife, fell in the Ganges. Although she searched for it with great endeavor, She could not find it.  She began to weep bitterly, "Why are all these things happening today?" Later, when She returned home, Saci Mata asked her, "Oh my daughter, why you are weeping so?"  She replied, "Today I went to bathe in the Ganges. My foot was injured and I lost the nose-ring of my marriage day. I don’t know what is to be my fate." Her mother tried to console her.

Although Caitanya Mahaprabhu had previously paid practically no attention to her, that night, after taking some prasadam, He decorated her hair and placed betel nuts in her mouth. That morning He had gone to visit and meet with all His associates. He had procured some milk and He had also gotten a loki vegetable from Sridhara, with whom He would always jokingly quarrel. When He returned home in the evening He told Saci Mata, "Mother, please make a lak-laki preparation from these, adding sugar, ghee, camphor and other ingredients, and offer it to Lord Krsna." He later honored that prasada, after which He entered the room of Visnu-priya devi like a luxurious person, in royal dress, as one would dress for a wedding ceremony. Then, with love and affection He asked her, "O, how are you?" He decorated her, gave her a beautiful garland, placed betel nuts in her mouth, and engaged in loving conversation with her.

Visnu-priya began thinking, “What am I seeing? A hurricane light, which burns with kerosene oil, burns brightly when it is just about to be extinguished. It makes the sounds 'buk buk', then 'tuk', and then it becomes dark; it's finished.  I see now that my fate may be like this. Considering what happened this morning, and seeing how He is decorating me so lavishly, giving me betel nuts and saying with flattering words, 'My dear-most beloved', I wonder what is my fate. Why is He doing this?"

In the meantime, Yogamaya came and entered Visnu-priya’s eyes in the form of sleepiness. She did not want to fall asleep, but by the power of Yogamaya she was forced to do so. Caitanya Mahaprabhu glanced at her once, and then stood up to leave home and take sannyasa.

Without giving up everything in this world, how can one love Lord Krsna totally?  If your love and affection is divided between many persons, situations and objects, how you can you love Krsna? We have seen that in India, exalted devotees like Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami and Srila Rupa Gosvami, and also Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself, quickly gave up their positions, wealth, reputation, father, mother, wife and children. Weeping for Krsna, they left their homes and took sannyasa, not remembering their homes or families at all, and always remembering, "Krsna! Krsna! Krsna!" 

When Mahaprabhu was coming out of His home, He saw His mother standing like a dried-up statue, with no tears in her eyes. She couldn't even think of what to do. Air was coming and going from her nostrils, but she had no external consciousness at all – for Mahaprabhu, by His power of Yogamaya, was controlling her. Mahaprabhu did parikrama of His mother three or four times, touched her lotus feet, and told her, "Mother I am going to search for My beloved Krsna."  Then, in the middle of that cold and dark night, He jumped in the Ganges, calling out "Oh Krsna!" He came out on the other side of the river, in Kantaka Nagari, and there He went to see Kesava Bharati to take sannyasa from him. 

After accepting the sannyasa order, Mahaprabhu went to Jagannatha Puri, and from Puri He returned to Navadvipa on the way to Vrndavana. While there, all the residents came from here and there by boat and other conveyances to see Sacinandana Gaurahari. Even dogs and blind persons came, and Saci Mata also came.

Everyone was present except Visnu-priya. Why was she not allowed to come?  This is the symptom of love and affection for Krsna. If you will give up your dear-most object for Krsna, this is the symptom that you have some love and affection for Him. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught this by His own example, and for this reason Visnu-priya was not there. Everyone else was allowed to come, but she was not.

What was she doing? She was weeping continuously. She was more attached to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu than anyone else was, and she was more detached from worldly things than even Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself. She maintained her life by taking some grains of rice, one by one, and using them as counting beads as she continually chanted, "Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare." Every time she completed the utterance of these sixteen words, she picked up one grain of rice and placed it on a pile. She would wash the rice grains, one by one, with the water of her tears as she chanted until midday, and then she would cook that rice with some vegetables.  She would then give the bhoga to Mother Saci, who would offer it to her Deity, Narayana. After that she would eat very little of it, remembering the pastimes of Sacinandana. Her life was totally absorbed in Lord Krsna and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and she chanted Hare Krsna day and night.  After some time Mahaprabhu somehow gave her a Deity of Himself, made from neem wood, and that Deity is being worshiped in Navadvipa up to the present day. Visnu-priya used to worship that Deity, weeping bitterly and talking with Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and He would also speak to her in the form of that Deity.

Saci Mata also remembered Caitanya Mahaprabhu always. She used to offer Him prasadam, and He used to come to her house and eat it – although she thought His coming was only her imagination or only a vision. He was bound to come – bound by the love and affection of Saci Mata and Visnu-priya devi.

If one wants to serve Mahaprabhu or Radha-Krsna, he must be like Visnu-priya.  She was much more renounced than anyone else, including Mahaprabhu.  He was renounced, but not like her.  Also, He was always surrounded by so many bhaktas who consoled Him, but she had none to console her.

Today is birthday of Visnu-priya, who is the embodiment of prema-bhakti. She is prema-bhakti itself.

Visnu-priya devi ki Jaya!

Question: Gurudeva, you said Visnu-priya devi is Bhu-sakti. So is she like Laxmi?

Srila Gurudeva: No, she is like Satyabhama.

Question: But we hear that Navadvipa-dhama is non-different from Vraja.

Srila Gurudeva: Yes

Question: How can Satyabhama be in Vraja-lila?

Srila Gurudeva: Radhika has come as Gadadhara Pandita, and Sri Svarupa Damodara and Sri Raya Ramananda have come as Lalita and Visakha.  The associates of Nrsimhadeva, Ramacandra, and all other incarnations have also come to Navadvipa, because Sacinandana Gaurahari includes all incarnations. All incarnations are within Him. So Satyabhama may also come to Navadvipa-lila and have the association of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. 

Question: Is this also true in Svetadvipa (Navadvipa in Goloka Vrndavana?* [See Endnote 3] 

Srila Gurudeva: Yes, they all can be there also. Everything exists in Krsna, as stated in the Vedanta Sutra: Viruddha dharmam tasmin na cittram – all mutually contradictory characteristics exist harmoniously in Lord Krsna's pastimes, and Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself.

Question: So we worship Visnu-priya devi and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the path of arcana – following the principles of sravanam kirtanam, visnu-smaranam, pada sevanam (hearing, chanting, remembering and praying, etc.) in a regulative way, in awe and reverence?

Srila Gurudeva: Yes, one serves Visnu-priya devi and Mahaprabhu in arcana-marga (the path of regulative worship), and he serves Gaura-Gadadhara in bhava-marga, that is hearing, chanting, etc. in spontaneous love, following in the footsteps of the gopis. 

The Appearance Day of Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami

Today is also the birthday of Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. If you want to become pure devotees, you will have to follow Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. You want to follow, but you are weak – as Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja says, "Mr. Dog, Mr. Hog, Mr. Pig" – and some are like camels, tigers or bears. We must try to follow Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.  He was wealthy and he was situated in a high position, but he left everything for Krsna and continually cried, "O Krsna, O Sacinandana Gaurahari."  By the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu he quickly received the shelter of Mahaprabhu. Hardly eating anything but somehow maintained his life, He went to Vrndavana after Mahaprabhu departed, and he lived at Radha-kunda.

Without the mercy of the guru you cannot have love and affection for Krsna or Caitanya Mahaprabhu.  Guru-krpa (guru's mercy) is essential, and guru-nistha (faith in guru) is the backbone of all kinds of bhakti.  When Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami received the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, all his problems and obstacles quickly disappeared, and he was able to leave home to be with Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Performance of bhajana in one's house, while still living with one's father, mother, wife, and husband, is one kind of bhajana, but that kind of bhajana cannot give the fruit of love and affection for Krsna.  One day you will have to thoroughly give this up. 

The first symptom of real bhakti, achieved by the austerities of chanting and remembering Krsna, is causeless knowledge and detachment from this world. You will surely become renounced, whether you are in worldly life or in the renounced order. If you are chanting seriously and perfectly, renunciation is bound to come.  We have heard that when Guru Nanak (the saint in India who founded the Sikh religion) was young, his father told him, "Go to the market and bring back the ingredients we need to sell at our shop." On the way to the market he came upon many Vaisnavas and sadhus. Seeing that there was no management of prasadam for them, he quickly went to the market and bought all the paraphernalia needed to make a festival for them, and for that purpose he spent all of his father's money.  He later returned home empty-handed, and his father asked, "Where are the ingredients I told you to buy – the rice, dahl, ghee and other things?" 

Guru Nanak replied, "I did the shopping, but I have given all the goods for the service of Vaisnavas. In this way I have done some very good shopping for my future life and for the benefit of my whole dynasty."  He had so much strong belief in Krsna; he knew that if one serves Krsna, Krsna will give him everything he needs.  We do not have this same belief, and therefore it is even very hard for us to give a penny. Some persons can give some of their wealth, but he gave everything.

Because Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was chanting and remembering Krsna, having been spiritually brought up by Srila Haridasa Thakura and initiated by Sri Yadunandana Acarya, some good effect was bound to come. He became detached from the world, and he considered Krsna to be his father, his mother, and his everything. All tattvas (established philosophical truths) came in his heart, and he quickly left his home and beautiful wife. He was the only son of his father, who was as wealthy as a king, and his wife was as beautiful as Miss Universe. It would have been very hard for an ordinary person to give up such luxuries.

After leaving home, Raghunatha dasa did not travel on the main road. Hiding, he went on the village route, not eating anything except some puffed rice and some milk, and a journey of one month passed quickly in 12 days.  At that time there were no trains or cars, but he ran quickly, without taking any time to bathe.

When he came in Jagannatha Puri he did not go to see Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra.  He came directly to the assembly of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who was surrounded by many associates like Svarupa Damodara and Raya Ramananda.  Someone told Mahaprabhu, "Raghunatha has come," and Mahaprabhu quickly embraced him and said, "O Raghunatha, you have just come from the ditch of stool." Some time before, Mahaprabhu had told him to return home, but now He said, "All worldly life is like stool, and Krsna is so merciful that He delivered you and you have come out from that house." Mahaprabhu then placed him in the hands of Sri Svarupa Damodara, and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami thus began a transcendental life; always hearing from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Svarupa Damodara, Srila Rupa Gosvami, Sri Pundarika Vidyanidhi, Sri Vakresvara Pandita, Sri Gopal Guru, and Srila Haridasa Thakura. 

The life history of Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami is one of the jewels in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, and moreover, much of what Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja wrote in Caitanya-caritamrta he had heard from the lotus mouth of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.  Try to remember his life and character. If you do, a power will enter within you and you will be able to become a devotee like him – whether you are in worldly life or renounced life.  Try to be like him.  We cannot be like him without help, and therefore we pray to Nityananda Prabhu to help us.

Gaura premanande.

[Endnote 1– Bhagavan has three potencies – Sri (Laksmi), Bhu (the Goddess of the Earth), and Lila (the Goddess of pastimes). Bhu is the energy that creates the cosmic manifestation (Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 5.27-28 purp.). Bhu-sakti also assists in manifesting Krsna's pastimes in Bhauma-Vrndavana, the place of His pastimes as they are displayed on the Earth planet in this universe and innumerable other universes. The goddess of this Earth, Pritivi devi, is also included within this potency. Without this Bhu potency, Krsna will have no place in which to perform His pastimes.]

[Endnote 2 – In Vedic culture, sannyasis are given honor]

[Endnote 3 – The confidential, innermost region of Goloka, Krsna's own transcendental planet, is divided into two sections: Vrndavana (also known as Vraja and Gokula) and Navadvipa (also known as Svetadvipa).   -From Harikatha Newsletter