Grateful to Krishna

In the Bible God warns against the dangers of wealth in leading us to trust in ourselves and things in the world instead of God (1 Timothy 6:6-10, Mark 10:23-31). We’re also encouraged to thank God for the things we have now and to be content rather than seeking after other things continually.  

Care for Cows

http://careforcows.org

The whole principle of Krsna consciousness is to minimize sense gratification.

As Krsna devotees we are encouraged to gradually learn how to eat less, sleep less, worry less about defense, learning to be fear-less and depend on Krsna for our security, as well as to regulate, or eliminate sex-life altogether.

Their Divine Graces Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Dev Goswami and A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada 

Srila Prabhupada: “I want very much, Maharaja, that you come and stay at Mayapur. Because Prabhupada [Bhaktisiddhanta] always desired that you preach. He told me quite a few times, “Why don’t you pull him out?” [They both laugh.] You know, I also tried to some extent before, but somehow or other it did not work out. Now, why don’t you come and stay at Mayapur? Srila Prabhupada told me also, “Sridhara Maharaja is one of the finest preachers.” I want to take you everywhere. At least at the place we have in Mayapur, people are coming from all over the world. If you just agree, then whatever kind of building you want, I will arrange it for you. They are trying to build a house for me. So both of us will stay there. And whenever you want, you can come here to your matha.”

“This is my earnest desire. Since you could not go around the world and preach, at least stay there and people will come to you. I shall make that arrangement. If you stay, then it will be helpful to me also. Sometimes I need to consult with someone and there is no one. There is no one that I can consult with. I feel this deficiency very greatly. . . . And in that house I will make arrangements for an elevator so that you won’t have to go through the difficulty of walking up and down the stairs. You won’t even have to move a step yourself. I’ll make arrangements for a car and an elevator. My disciples are telling me that they will build a house for me. So, both of us will stay in that house. Most of the time I am traveling around, so if you are there, they can get some guidance. So, Maharaja, please, give me the order and I will make all the arrangements for you. That planetarium [The Temple of Understanding] also will be built under your direction.”

Srila Sridhara Maharaja: “Yes, as long as I am alive to fulfill [Bhaktisiddhanta] Prabhupada’s desire.”

World of Hare Krishna

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lFfWL2bQeCs

Śrī Jagad-bandhu Bhakti Rañjana

https://www.visuddhacaitanyavani.com/single-post/2017/06/30/Sri-jagad-bandhu-bhakti-ranjana

The Glories Of Giriraja Govardhana

http://www.purebhakti.com/teachers/bhakti-yoga-teachers/20-by-srila-bhaktivedanta-narayana-gosvami-maharaja/discourses-2001/77-the-glories-of-giriraja-govardhana.html

Aerial View of Sri Govardhana

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4tyYZ9gy2-U

Today is Radhastami, The Appearance Day of Srimati Radharani

   The following are just a few of the many quotes from Srila Prabhupada (compiled by Padmapani das) which encourage us to approach Krishna through the mercy of Srimati Radharani, Krishna's eternal consort. For those of us who feel that there is no hope of making spiritual progress in this lifetime, Srimati Radharani, Who is compassion personified, kindly comes to our rescue if we can humbly invoke Her divine blessings.

tapta-kancana-gaurangi radhe vrndavanesvari
vrsabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye

"I offer my respects to Radharani whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Vrndavana. You are the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and You are very dear to Lord Krishna."

(Sri Radha Pranama)

"Actually, because Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is very difficult to approach Him. But the devotees, taking advantage of His compassionate nature, which is represented by Radharani, always pray to Radharani for Krishna's compassion."

(Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 22)

"Krishna, everyone is trying to love Krishna, but Krishna is trying to love somebody. Now how great She is. Just try to understand. Everyone, the whole world, the whole universe, all living entities, they are trying to love Krishna, krsna-prema. Lord Caitanya describes, prema-pumartho mahan. And Rupa Gosvami described that 'You are distributing krsna-prema.' So krsna-prema is so valuable, but Krishna is after Radharani. Just see how Radharani is great. Just try to understand the greatness of Radharani. Therefore She is so great, and we have to offer our respect."

(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, August 30, 1968)

"Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami offers his respectful obeisances to Srimati Radharani, taking a straw in his mouth. Indeed, he prays, 'O Gandharvika, Srimati Radharani, just as Lord Krishna never rejects a surrendered soul, please don't reject me.'"

(Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 8.166, Purport)

"Radharani can deliver Krishna. She is so great a devotee, the emblem of maha-bhagavata. Even Krishna cannot understand the quality of Radharani's devotion. Although Krishna says vedaham samatitani -- 'I know everything' -- He fails to understand Radharani. Radharani is so great."

(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, September 18, 1969)

"I am very much indebted to my father, for he took care of me in such a way that I became perfectly Krishna conscious. My father used to receive many saintly persons at our home, and to every one of them he used to say, 'Kindly bless my son so that he may become a servant of Radharani.' That was his only ambition."

(Srila Prabhupada Conversation, October, 1973)

"I emphatically say to you, O brothers, you will obtain your good fortune from the Supreme Lord Krishna only when Srimati Radharani becomes pleased with you."

(Prayer to the Lotus Feet of Krishna, September 13, 1965)

"Of all the young girls, Radha is the most beautiful. She always dresses so nicely that Damodara is attracted by Her beauty. If you go to Vrindavan you will find everyone worshiping Radharani. All the devotees in Vrindavan worship Radharani. The pure devotees pray to Radharani, 'O my worshipable Radharani! You are so full of mercy. I am begging for Your mercy.'"

(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, September 18, 1969)

"Yes, the bumblebee is very much favored by Krishna and Radharani. Sometimes the bumblebee is taken as a messenger by Radharani and she rebukes the bumblebee because the bumblebee is blackish and Krishna is also blackish. Still, in spite of all rebuking, the bumblebee tried always to touch the Lotus Feet of Radharani. Therefore the bumblebee is to be offered our all reverence and respect."

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, June 15, 1971)

"Radharani is hari-priya, 'very dear to Krishna.' Through the mercy of Radharani we can easily approach Krishna. If Radharani recommends, 'This devotee is very nice,' then Krishna immediately accepts me, however great a fool I may be. Because I am recommended by Radharani, Krishna accepts me. Therefore in Vrndavana you'll find all the devotees chanting Radharani's name more than Krishna's. Wherever you'll go, you'll find the devotees greeting one another, 'Jaya Radhe!' You'll find this still in Vrndavana. The devotees are glorifying Radharani. If you go by the speculative process to understand Krishna, it will take many, many lives. But if you take to devotional service and just try to please Radharani, Krishna will be gotten very easily."

(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, September 18, 1969)

"Radha is one who gives pleasure to Govinda, and She is also the enchantress of Govinda. She is the be-all and end-all of Govinda, and the crest jewel of all His consorts."

(Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 4.82)

"Srimati Radharani is the center of all Vrindavana's activities. In Vrindavana, Krishna is the instrument of Srimati Radharani; therefore all the inhabitants of Vrindavana still chant 'Jaya Radhe!' From Krishna's own statement given herein, it appears that Radharani is the Queen of Vrindavana and that Krishna is simply Her decoration."

(Caitanya-caritamrita Madhya 13.150, Purport)

"Radharani is presented, the original pleasure potency, always absorbed in thought of Krishna. So anyone who comes before Radharani to serve Krishna, oh, She becomes so pleased, 'Oh, here is a devotee of Krishna.' She immediately recommends, 'Krishna, oh, here is a devotee. He is better than Me.' This is Radharani. I may be a, not devotee. I may be most fallen rascal. But if I try to reach Krishna through Radharani, then my business is successful. Therefore we should worship Radharani first. That is our business. Instead of offering directly one flower to Krishna, you just put it in the hands of Radharani: 'My mother Radharani, Jagan-mata, if you kindly take this flower and offer it to Krishna.' 'Oh,' Radharani says, 'Oh, you have brought a flower?' Krishna said, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayaccati (Bg. 9.26), but don't try to offer Krishna directly. Just offer through Radharani. It will be very much appreciated by Radharani."

(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, September 5, 1973)

"Krishna attracts everyone, but devotional service attracts even Krishna. The symbol of devotional service in the highest degree is Radharani. Krishna is called Madana-mohana, which means that He is so attractive that He can defeat the attraction of thousands of Cupids. But Radharani is still more attractive, for She can even attract Krishna. Therefore devotees call Her Madana-mohana-mohani -- the attractor of the attractor of Cupid."

(Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 1)

"The word Hare is a form of addressing the energy of the Lord, and the words Krishna and Rama are forms of directly addressing the Lord Himself. Both Krishna and Rama mean 'the highest pleasure.' Hara is the supreme pleasure potency of the Lord. This potency, addressed as Hare, helps us in reaching the Supreme Lord."

(On Chanting Hare Krishna)

"O Radha! O beloved of Madhava! O you are worshiped by all the young girls of Gokula! All glories unto You! All glories unto You!"

(Sri Radhika-stava chorus by Srila Rupa Gosvami)

"Among the gopis, Srimati Radhika is the foremost. She surpasses all in beauty, good qualities, in good fortune, and, above all, in love."

(Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 4.214)

"Without energy, there is no meaning to the energetic, and without the energetic there is no meaning to the energy. Similarly, without Radha there is no meaning to Krishna and without Krishna there is no meaning to Radha. Because of this, the Vaisnava philosophy first of all pays obeisances to and worships the internal pleasure potency of the Supreme Lord. Thus the Lord and His potency are always referred to as Radha-Krishna. Similarly those who worship Narayana first utter the name of Laksmi, as Laksmi-Narayana. Similarly those who worship Lord Rama first utter the name of Sita. In any case -- Sita-Rama, Radha-Krishna, Laksmi-Narayana-- the potency always comes first."

(Caitanya-caritamrta, Introduction)

"The transcendental goddess Srimati Radharani is the direct counter-part of Lord Sri Krishna. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all the attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord."

(Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 4.83)

"It is very simple. Hare means, 'O energy of the Lord,' and Krishna means, 'O Lord Krishna.' Just as there are males and females in the material world, similarly, God is the original male (purusa), and His energy (prakriti) is the original female. So, when we chant Hare Krishna, we are saying, 'O Lord Krishna, O energy of Krishna, kindly engage me in Your service.'"

(Science of Self-Realization, Chapter 1)

"Spiritual happiness is anandambudhi-vardhanam, or the ocean of happiness which increases. The material ocean is stagnant, but the spiritual ocean is dynamic. In the Caitanya-caritamrta, (Adi-lila, Fourth Chapter) Kaviraja Gosvami has very nicely described this dynamic increment of the ocean of spiritual happiness in the transcendental person of Srimati Radharani, the pleasure potency of Lord Krishna."

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.6.36, Purport)

"Lord Krishna enchants the world, but Sri Radha enchants even Him. Therefore She is the supreme goddess of all.

"Sri Radha is the full power, and Lord Krishna is the possessor of full power. The two are not different, as evidenced by the revealed scriptures.

"They are indeed the same, just as musk and its scent are inseparable, or as fire and its heat are nondifferent.

"Thus Radha and Lord Krishna are one, yet They have taken two forms to enjoy the mellows of pastimes."

(Caitanya Caritamrita Adi 4.95-98)

"Srila Bilvamangala Thakur has prayed in his book as follows: 'Let Srimati Radharani purify the whole world, because She has surrendered Herself completely unto Krishna.'"

(Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 29)

"Sri Krishna continued: 'All the inhabitants of Vrindavana-dhama -- My mother, father, cowherd boy friends and everything else -- are like My life and soul. And among all the inhabitants of Vrindavana, the gopis are My very life and soul. Among the gopis, You, Srimati Radharani, are the chief. Therefore You are the very life of My life.'"

(Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 13.150)

"In Radharani is found the science of ujjala, or the brightest jewel of love of God."

(Krishna Book, Chapter 47)

"Krishna is the energetic, and Radharani is the energy. Just like energy and energetic, you cannot separate. Fire and the heat you cannot separate. Wherever there is fire there is heat, and wherever there is heat there is fire. Similarly, wherever there is Krishna there is Radha. And wherever there is Radha there is Krishna. They are inseparable."

(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, August 30, 1968)

"Among all the gopis, Srimati Radharani is the most exalted. She is the most beautiful, the most qualified and, above all, the greatest lover of Krishna."

(Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 4.214, Purport)

"Radharani is the best, topmost servitor of Krishna, and the printing machine is the biggest medium at the present moment for serving Krishna. Therefore it is really a representative of Srimati Radharani."

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, August 13, 1969)

"Srimati Radharani is the most beautiful, and She always enchants Krishna, but at the same time, Krishna is always the Enchanter of Radharani. This reciprocal attraction of Radharani and Krishna is the basic principal of Lord Caitanya's philosophy."

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, May 22, 1969)

"Radha-Krishna. Radha's name is first. Why? Nobody can be better devotee than Radharani. As soon as Radha's name is there, Krishna is more pleased. That is the way. If we glorify the devotees, the character of the devotees, before the Lord, He's more pleased than to glorify Himself, He directly."

(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, March 24, 1969)

"Lord Krishna's Pleasure Potency is called Hladini, so this spiritual energy of Krishna's pleasure potency, Hladini, is Srimati Radharani Who is always increasing the transcendental pleasure of Krishna by Her super-excellent loving devotional service."

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, March 29, 1970)

"Yes, you are certainly right when you say Radharani cooks prasadam for Lord Krishna. Whenever He returns in the evening from herding cows with His cowherd boy friends, Radharani has a nice preparation waiting for Lord Krishna."

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, August 5, 1970)

"Krishna likes Radharani. Therefore all the gopis, they are trying to push Radharani to Krishna. 'Krishna likes this gopi. All right, push Her.' That is Krishna consciousness. To satisfy the senses of Krishna, not to satisfy my senses. That is bhakti. That is called prema, love for Krishna. 'Ah, Krishna likes this. I must give Him this.'"

(Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, Chapter 6)

"The beauty of Srimati Radharani's eyes forcibly devours the beauty of newly grown blue lotus flowers, and the beauty of Her face surpasses that of an entire forest of fully blossomed lotuses. Her bodily luster seems to place even gold into a painful situation. Thus the wonderful, unprecedented beauty of Srimati Radharani is awakening in Vrindavana."

(Caitanya-caritamrita Antya 1.169)

"In Vrindavana all the pure devotees pray for the mercy of Srimati Radharani, the pleasure potency of Lord Krishna. Srimati Radharani is a tenderhearted feminine counterpart of the supreme whole, resembling the perfectional stage of the worldly feminine nature. Therefore, the mercy of Radharani is available very readily to the sincere devotees, and once She recommends such a devotee to Lord Krishna, the Lord at once accepts the devotee's admittance into His association. The conclusion is, therefore, that one should be more serious about seeking the mercy of the devotee than that of the Lord directly, and by one's doing so (by the good will of the devotee) the natural attraction for the service of the Lord will be revived."

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23, Purport)

"You'll find in Vrindavan, if you go to Vrindavan, everyone is worshiping Radharani. Rani means queen. They are always speaking, 'Jaya Radhe!' Radharani. All the devotees in Vrindavan, they are worshiper of Radharani. Hari-niskuta-vrnda-vipinese. Vrsabhanu-dadhi-nava-sasi-lekhe. And She appeared as the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and Her companion, Lalita-sakhi and Visakha-sakhi, and the devotees... So on behalf of the pure devotees of Krishna, Rupa Gosvami is praying, karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite. 'Oh, my worshipable Radharani, You are full of mercy. So I am begging of Your mercy because You are so merciful, very easily You offer, bestow Your mercy. So I am begging Your mercy.'"

(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, August 30, 1968)

"There is a supreme symptom of ecstatic love which is called maha-bhava. This mahabhava expression was possible only in Radharani, but later on when Sri Krishna Caitanya appeared to feel the mode of love of Radharani, He also expressed all the symptoms of maha-bhava. Sri Rupa Gosvami says in this connection that when the symptoms of ecstatic love become the most bright, that stage is accepted as mahabhava."

(Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 28)

"The beauty of Srimati Radharani is described as follows: 'Her eyes defeat the attractive features of the eyes of the cakori bird. When one sees the face of Radharani, he immediately hates the beauty of the moon. Her bodily complexion defeats the beauty of gold. Thus, let us all look upon the transcendental beauty of Srimati Radharani.'"

(Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 44)

"The photos are very nice, and Radharani looks very satisfied, as I see in the features of Her face in the photo. If She is pleased, then Krishna is pleased, and all living entities are pleased."

(Srila Prabhupada Letter, November 11, 1973)

"There is no comparison to Radharani's beauty and the luster of Her transcendental body. The so-called beauty of the moon has fallen on the ground in the presence of Radharani's beauty."

(From Vrindavana by Srila Narottama das Thakura)

"Therefore Radha is parama-devata, the supreme goddess, and She is worshipable for everyone. She is the protectress of all, and She is the mother of the entire universe."

(Caitanya-caritamrita Adi 4.89)

"So this is our philosophy, to please Krishna through Radharani, and just today is the auspicious day of Radharani appearance. So we should offer puspanjali and pray to Radharani that 'Radharani, kindly be merciful and tell about me to Your Krishna. To Your Krishna. Krishna is Yours.' Krishna, Radha-Krishna. Krishna is not independent. Krishna is Radharani's property. So you have to approach Krishna through Radharani. That is, today is the auspicious day. Worship Radharani very nicely and be happy."

(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, September 5, 1973)

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Krishna Is The Enjoyer

"God became many for His enjoyment because He is the enjoyer. We are not enjoyer; we are enjoyed. So we must know our constitutional position, that we are not enjoyer; we are enjoyed".  -From a lecture by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

The Guru

   

One who plays the role of Guru should be Guru in true sense. Not a pretender, not a cheater. a real teacher. He should be conscious of his capacity, yes. what capacity I have. If I can carry one tonne load, so I can carry one tonne, if you have no capacity to carry two tonne then why shall I accept two tonne. Then? ha? Do you follow my point? ha? He should be conscious of his capacity. yes. This is my capacity, only one tonne of load, or fifty pounds I can carry why shall I accept more? Then he’ll be crushed. Degraded. That is greed. Why develop such greed? ha? One should be conscious of his capacity. I have no capacity. I have no capacity. I cannot deliver a soul. I am not delivered why shall I accept? ha? isn’t it? That is cheating only and hypercracy only, nothing else. Do you follow my point? I am not completely free from my anarthas how can I make him free? Then? Guru means heavy. It is a heavy responsibility I say, it is not an easy affair to deliver one soul from the clutches of maya, from the fort of Durga. Not an easy affair. Very difficult task. Very, very difficult task. Guru has to spend gallons, gallons of spiritual blood. Not easy affair. it is not a childs play. -Srila Gour Govinda Swami

Chaitanya Charitamrta Adi-Lila 7.24

"Although the members of the Pañca-tattva plundered the storehouse of love of Godhead and ate and distributed its contents, there was no scarcity, for this wonderful storehouse is so complete that as the love is distributed, the supply increases hundreds of times." (English translation by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.)

The Specialty of Sriman Mahaprabhu’s Dance at Rathayatra

Excerpts from a lecture delivered by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Gosvami Maharaja on 17th July 1988 at Sri Uddharana Gaudiya Matha, Chunchura

sa jiyat krsna-caitanyah
sri-rathagre nanarta yah
yenasij jagatam citram
jagannatho ’pi vismitah

All glories to Sri Krsna Caitanya, who danced in front of the chariot of Sri Jagannatha. Seeing Him dance, not only was the whole universe astonished, but Lord Jagannatha Himself became amazed. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 13.1)
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s dance in front of Lord Jagannatha’s chariot was so ecstatic it astonished all who saw it. What was the nature of that dance? This is described in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Chapter Thirteen.

Our attempt to fathom the essential quality of His dance is based on our experience of worldly dances – Indian dance, Manipuri dance, South Indian dance, Russian ballet and so forth. These dances are astounding to behold. The dancers’ movements are so swift and dexterous that they appear to have no bones! They can manipulate their bodies as they please.

Mahaprabhu’s dance excelled these dances by far, and the mood of His dance astonished the entire world. We imagine His dance to resemble these worldly dances, but the subject of it bears no such similarity. Also, the dancing of females is generally considered more attractive than that of males, but Mahaprabhu is male. What was the amazing feature of His dance?

What Was the Subject of His Dance?

Most people think that Mahaprabhu’s devotees exaggerate and overly praise the extraordinary nature of His dance. Srila Kaviraja Gosvami describes how Mahaprabhu’s dance around Lord Jagannatha’s chariot resembled a single firebrand that is rotated so swiftly it appears to be a circle of fire. Mahaprabhu moved with such speed, that He appeared to be simultaneously present at every point of His circumambulation.

Such a sight is certainly astonishing, but our amazement should not stop there. What bhava was manifesting in Sriman Mahaprabhu at a given moment, and what internal transformations was He undergoing as a result? This was the foundation of His dance. Ordinary conditioned souls have a superficial conception of His moods. Only when we become bhavuka, that is, when we deeply understand these moods, will we be able to understand His internal moods and how they stimulated His dance.

We perceive His dance to resemble people’s joyful dancing at a festival. We may even think it is like the dancing of boys and girls in modern times, the sight of which pollutes the mind and stimulates lusty desires. Sriman Mahaprabhu’s dance at Ratha-yatra is not to be compared to the dancing of persons in this material world, because the subject of His dance is not lust, but transcendental love.

Lust and Love

In this world everything is composed of lust. What is lust?

atmendriya-priti-vancha – tare bali ‘kama’
krsnendriya-priti-iccha dhare ‘prema’ nama

The desire to gratify one’s own senses is called kama (lust), but the desire to satisfy the senses of Sri Krsna is known as prema (transcendental love). (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 4.165)
Sastra thus reveals the true conceptions of lust and love. Any endeavour conditioned souls like us make to indulge the senses – the eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin – is lust. We think that we will be happy by seeing beautiful objects, smelling fragrant scents, tasting delicious foodstuffs or hearing pleasant sounds, such as a piano, or especially, a lady’s sweet voice. All of our activities aim to satisfy our senses and we consider it good for us. But it is merely lust.

In this world we speak of marital love or brotherly love, but neither is true love because the sole purpose of such ‘love’ is to satiate our own senses. Why does a husband love his wife? Because through her, he can gratify his senses. In the same way, a wife satisfies her senses through her husband. Their mutual act of sense gratification cannot be called love.

Atmendriya-priti-vancha – tare bali ‘kama’. It is all lust. Patriotism is also lust. Why do we love our country? We think, “I was born in this country, and its trees, environment, rivers, mountains and so forth delight my mind and body.” Our love is based on our own pleasure. We love everything that delights our senses and gives pleasure to our mind.

What, then, is love? What is the love between Bhagavan and the gopis or between other devotees and their beloved Lord? “Krsnendriya-priti-iccha dhare ‘prema’ nama – the desire to give pleasure to Krsna’s senses is called love.” Acts of sacrifice in brotherly or marital love are not meant for the Lord’s pleasure and are therefore classified as lust. Only acts for the Lord’s pleasure can really be called love.

Faultless Lust

We see that the behaviour of Krsna and the gopis resembles the behaviour of men and women in this world. Krsna became happy by enjoying the gopis through His senses, and the gopis’ senses were also gratified, so how is it love? Atmendriya-priti-vancha tare bali ‘kama’. Why isn’t it called lust?

The gopis are never motivated by a desire to enjoy their own senses; their only desire is to give pleasure to Krsna’s senses. Now, you may argue that since Krsna enjoyed with them, isn’t it lust? But the fact is that Krsna is such an Entity that His lust is love. Our lust certainly is not.

Krsna’s lust is faultless. The type of auspiciousness He can bestow upon one whose service He has enjoyed is incomparable. We cannot bestow that kind of favour upon anyone we enjoy. What kind of auspiciousness can a husband bestow upon his wife by enjoying her? But what can Krsna not do for one whose slightest service He has accepted? Putana, for example, applied poison to her breast and went out to kill Him. She shrewdly displayed maternal affection, saying, “O Baba, O my darling boy, come, have some breast milk.” Although her ‘affection’ was full of duplicity, Krsna reciprocated and gave her the position of a mother in Vaikuntha.

Is this possible for us? Any of us? We can’t liberate even ourselves from this material world, what to speak of liberating someone else from it and granting them the happiness of service in Vaikuntha. If Krsna can liberate a deceitful person like Putana from this material world and instate her as “mother” in Vaikuntha, what will He not give to His dearest beloveds? They truly serve Him with senses that give Him more pleasure than the pleasure He receives from being fed breast milk. What will they not achieve?

Unmotivated Service Yields the Highest Reward

It is for this reason that Krsna said to the gopis, “I will never be able to repay My debt to you.” The gopis’ desire to please Krsna was unconditional. They did not want repayment; furthermore, He was unable to give any. In Srimad Bhagavad-gita (4.11) He promised, “ye yatha mam prapadyante, tams tathaiva bhajamy aham – O Partha! In whichever way a person renders service to Me, I in turn serve him in that very same way.”

Krsna says, “I always repay those who serve Me; I never live in debt.” But to the gopis He said, “na paraye ’ham niravadya – I’ll never be able to repay you. I’ll always remain indebted to you.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.32.22). Why did Krsna say this? “Since you always desire My happiness without a trace of desire for your own, what could I possibly give you that would make you happy?”

The gopis replied, “Our pleasure will come from Your happiness.”

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya-lila 20.52) quotes Srimati Radhika: “Na gani apana-duhkha, sabe vanchi tanra sukha, tanra sukha – amara tatparya – I do not consider My personal distress; I only desire to make Krsna joyful. Indeed, giving Him delight is the very purpose of My life.” The gopis know nothing other than desiring Krsna’s happiness. This is the purpose of their every action. They even dress with Krsna’s pleasure in mind.

We feel pleased when we dress and decorate ourselves nicely. The gopis also like to look attractive. They don necklaces and other beautiful ornaments, decorate their hair and apply makeup. It may seem that their happiness is derived from beautifying themselves, but this is not the case. The gopis know that upon seeing them, Krsna will feel happy at heart, and for that reason alone they adorn themselves. They don’t aspire for their own pleasure. The little they eat is simply to maintain their charm for Krsna’s pleasure. Their entire range of activities is solely to give pleasure to Sri Krsna. This full dedication to His pleasure is the nature of His devotees.

Externally there may be similarities between the activities of a devotee and those of a non-devotee, but internally they are at opposite poles. Devotees do not desire their own sense gratification; everything they do is for Krsna’s happiness. That is why sastra states that harming a devotee warrants an unlimitedly greater reaction than harming any other living being.

The Pastime that Astonished the Universe

No one has ever relished Ratha-yatra like Sriman Mahaprabhu did. No one else can. His dancing before the chariot astonished not only the entire universe, but Lord Jagannatha Himself. Not only humans, but the moveable and immoveable living beings throughout the universe – the trees, plants, animals, birds and insects – were all astonished. Jagat means that the entire universe was included. How could this be?

We consider these descriptions to be exaggerated or that someone has simply made them up. But the writers of these narrations are not the type of people to deceive us for their own profit, adoration or fame. They are seers of the Truth and they reveal the Truth for our welfare. The writer of this pastime became astonished to behold Mahaprabhu’s incredible dance, and for this reason he explains it with much joy. He directly perceived the universe becoming astonished.

How could all beings understand the greatness of His dance? Why isn’t it said that only those who directly witnessed His dance became astonished? Rather it says “yenasij jagatam citram – the entire universe was astonished.” What is the meaning of jagad here? The soul exists inside every living entity, whether the body encasing it is human or insect. The quality of the soul is the same in all bodies; no soul is greater or lesser than another. The bodies and minds of the various living entities may differ in quality – the human body and mind are certainly superior to the bodies and minds of other living beings – but there is no difference in the quality of their souls. All are the same.

Mahaprabhu demonstrated this when He journeyed through the Jharikhanda jungle. At that time wild creatures, such as elephants, tigers, birds and boars, shed tears of love, and trees and creepers oozed honey out of love. The enmity between the animals dissipated because they were chanting the holy name, and all danced and embraced each other. Prema overwhelms Sriman Mahaprabhu, the personification of prema, and so naturally, it overwhelms all living entities.

Mahaprabhu melted even stones with His love. He went to Alalanatha and displayed such love that the stone melted. He leaned on the wall of the Jagannatha temple in Puri with His hand, and the wall melted. Impressions of His fingers still remain. It is no exaggeration, no fabrication. We cannot melt stone, but does that mean the Lord cannot? He is the master of unlimited universes. His pastimes are astonishing, and He mercifully performs such pastimes to attract us to Him. Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.7.10) states, “ittham-bhuta-guno harih – Sri Hari possesses all transcendental qualities and can attract all beings, including liberated souls.”

We are absorbed in various objects and entities, but do their qualities have this potency? Mahaprabhu Himself revealed His qualities to attract and then benefit us. His appearance alone benefited all the living beings of His time. And the magnanimous conception He instigated – as revealed in the verse anarpita-carim cirat – has continued to this day. We are also trying to imbibe this conception.

What if He had not appeared? We should try to realise the greatness of His compassion. Previously, our wife, children, family, house and so forth were our all in all. What kind of happiness do such attachments bring? Although we constantly bear witness to the misery of the world, we consider it the best possible place for us, being bewildered by powerful illusion. We believe in Bhagavan and chant His names, but we hanker to receive material benedictions from Him.

Ideally, we should deem this world and the objects of enjoyment in it to be most insignificant, yet we cannot relinquish our search for happiness here. We find ourselves becoming increasingly allured by this world instead of becoming attracted to the Lord’s qualities and glories. Such is our misfortune. Yet in His time, Mahaprabhu, the prema-surya, or brilliant sun of pure love, mercifully attracted all the inhabitants of the universe and satiated them with His rays. Deer walked in the jungle uttering the holy name “Krsna, Krsna”. The tiger, wild boar, elephant, snake, peacock, bird – everyone uttered this name. Honey flowed from the trees and creepers due to love, exactly as it flowed from the trees and plants during Sri Krsna’s pastimes in Vraja. Sriman Mahaprabhu is Himself that same tattva, Krsna, and therefore, with the manifestation of that very same prema, identical circumstances occurred.

What is the Real Glory of His Dance?

Essentially, we think that it was the fascinating, external aspect of Sriman Mahaprabhu’s dance that captivated the entire world. But what was the spirit, or life, of that dance? This is what attracted the whole world. As Mahaprabhu danced, what mood absorbed and overwhelmed Him?

Are the artistic movements of a cinema artist or professional dancer inferior to Mahaprabhu’s dance? Russian dance and other dances can amaze us. How attractive these dances are, lifting their legs so high and spinning around! They dance as if their bodies have no bones, and so we compare their dance to Mahaprabhu’s. Has Mahaprabhu showed a greater skill than this? We cannot imagine anything more wonderful. “Oh! Mahaprabhu’s dance is like these dances.” Like what? He is spinning so fast, like a firebrand tied to a swiftly rotating rope, thus appearing to be a single circle of fire. We can understand that this is certainly an incredible feature of His dance.

Now, is Sriman Mahaprabhu’s ability to dance like this a small matter? How can someone spin as fast as a quickly turning wheel where the individual spokes are not discernible? This is our conception of the glory of His dance. What, however, is its real glory that attracted the entire universe?

The soul within all living entities is qualitatively equal. Mahaprabhu’s merciful potency is such that it cleanses the dust from the hearts of all souls, regardless of their body, or external covering. In this way, the function of the soul in the tiger, bear and all others in the Jharikhanda forest was awakened. Trees oozed honey. All became astounded and danced in prema, forgetting all enmity. The entire universe became overwhelmed by the love of Mahaprabhu.

In the same way Mahaprabhu’s flood of love came to Puri Ratha-yatra and as a result, each soul attained his constitutional perfection. Not only the universe became overwhelmed by His prema, but Lord Jagannatha, the supreme, complete Soul, was also overwhelmed by it as He sat on His chariot. We are partial, atomic spirit, and therefore it is not surprising that the glorious pastimes of the Absolute Spirit astound us. But Lord Jagannatha Himself is that Supreme Spirit! How can He be amazed? Maybe that is also an exaggeration. But it is not.

In tattva, both Mahaprabhu and Jagannatha are the same Absolute Truth. Here, it is appropriate to refer to Krsna as Jagannatha because Jagannatha is Dvarakadhisa, the King of Dvaraka city. He who manifests His aisvarya-prema (love in a mood of awe and reverence) to Rukmini, Satyabhama and His other queens is Jagannatha. The Krsna of Vraja never leaves Vraja. He doesn’t even go to Puri or Mayapura. If anyone goes to those places it is Mahaprabhu, who is “radha-bhava-dyuti-suvalitam – that same Krsna replete with the loving moods of Srimati Radharani” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 1.5).

Therefore, when Jagannatha-deva saw Krsna as Mahaprabhu in this dancing pastime, He was astonished and overwhelmed with krsna-prema. This account of Mahaprabhu’s dance is unquestionably an accurate description of what took place and is devoid of a drop of exaggeration.

We Can Never Dance Like Him

We wonder how Jagannatha sitting on His chariot can be bewildered, and think that we also can charm Him in this way. We then dance and circumambulate the chariot of Lord Jagannatha, thus imitating Mahaprabhu. Will we ever be qualified to even come close to the mood of Mahaprabhu in any lifetime?

Gauracandra is radha-bhava-dyuti-suvalitam – Krsnacandra adorned with the bodily lustre of Srimati Radharani and overwhelmed by Her mood. Only He can amaze Jagannatha like this. We are unable to even approach the path leading to Mahaprabhu’s mood. Even if we pass through anartha-nivrtti, in which we become free from desires that hinder our progress in bhakti, and attain liberation or even bhava, we will always remain a partial atomic spirit. We will never be equal to the whole. We may attain the pinnacle of perfection possible for an atomic soul, but we will never be able to dance like Him.

The Sweetness of the Dance of the all Glorious Lord

How unique was the mercy of Mahaprabhu! He blessed the entire world by bestowing nama-sankirtana, the greatest gift from Goloka. He demonstrated the highest service to Krsna imbued to the fullest extent with Srimati Radharani’s absorption in deep feelings of separation from Him. Mahaprabhu’s dance at Ratha-yatra was in this mood. Do we actually even care to know about the bhava He was experiencing? Even if we were to personally witness Mahaprabhu’s dance, we would not understand the first thing about it without receiving His blessings. We would simply observe its external features and wonder, “Oh, what special dance is this?”

Those who are rasika, whom Mahaprabhu has blessed with certain conceptions and emotions, can relish the sweetness of this dancing pastime and of Jagannatha-deva relishing it. Just see how this one sloka describes the pastime in full. How wonderful! How scholarly!

Sa jiyat means, “All glories to Him, all glories to Him!” Simply chanting this, however, does not mean that we can actually glorify Him. But what else shall we say to Him? When we become endowed with a service attitude toward Him, what else can we desire but to sing His glories? We may or may not be successful in spreading them, but at least we desire to. We always desire the victory and welfare of the one we love. Mahaprabhu is always glorious and should be glorified. Our propensity to glorify Him should increase.

“Jagannatho ’pi vismitah – Lord Jagannatha Himself became astonished.” The chariot stopped moving. It was stuck and Lord Jagannatha watched the dance in amazement. Where else will He find a Krsna such as this, who is overwhelmed by the mood of Srimati Radharani? Just see the condition of this Krsna!

jaya jaya sri-krsna-caitanya nityananda
jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda
jaya srota-gana, suna, kari’ eka mana
ratha-yatraya nrtya prabhura parama mohana

All glories to Sri Krsna Caitanya and Prabhu Nityananda! All glories to Advaita-candra! And all glories to the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to the listeners of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta! Please now give your one-pointed attention to hearing the narration of the Ratha-yatra festival in which Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced enchantingly. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 13.2–3)

We Alone Remain Unmoved by His Dance

It is the proclivity of the body and mind to be attracted to worldly dances because we are still in the bodily conception of life. We wonder what is so unique about Mahaprabhu’s dance because the constitutional function of our soul has not been awakened.

atmaramas ca munayo nirgrantha apy urukrame
kurvanty ahaitukim bhaktim ittham-bhuta-guno harih

All variety of those who are atmarama, who take pleasure in their atma, as well as munis, who are absorbed in contemplating the self, are free from anger, false ego and other anarthas. Still they render selfless, unmotivated loving service, or bhakti, to Sri Hari who performs awesome activities. He possesses such wonderful qualities that He can attract everyone, even those who are already liberated. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.10)
Such are the qualities of Sri Hari. Even those who fully identify with their atma, not with their bodies and minds, become attracted by the qualities of Sri Hari. Nirgrantha refers to those who have no need or attraction for worldly objects. They are not bound in attachment to their mind and body, or to what is related to their body, such as their father, mother, children, wife, brother, sister, house, property and so forth. Even those who have attained the last limit of liberation are always eager to serve Krsna, just as we are extremely eager to serve our wives and children. Although we should unconditionally endeavour for His happiness and pleasure, our performance of bhakti is filled with prayers like, “O Lord, please grant me health”, “Keep my son well” or “Award me with wealth”.

In how many ways do we try to serve our family members! This needs no explanation. We think ourselves highly blessed to be able to serve them, to supply our wife with cloth, jewellery or any of her favorite items. But the soul has no connection with persons and objects of this world. Sages, therefore, are not inclined to develop such relationships.

Kurvanty ahaitukim bhaktim means “they love”. Bhakti means “to love purely”, and it is a higher stage than liberation. The sages are established in the eternal occupation of the soul, and therefore their abhimana, or identification, is with their atma. Even personalities on this platform love Sri Hari.

The sages’ love comes from the natural propensity of the soul. For those who are conditioned, love is expressed through the body and mind. A magnet’s intrinsic quality is to attract iron; and iron’s inherent quality is to be attracted to a magnet. If another element comes between them, their natural mutual attraction does not manifest until the obstruction is removed.

Similarly, the soul is naturally attracted and related to the Supersoul. The covering of material energy over the soul is the foreign element that blocks the soul’s innate attraction. By eliminating this obstruction, the atomic conscious soul will become fully attracted to the complete conscious Supersoul. That is why this verse emphasises such personalities who, although self-satisfied, are attracted to that Supreme Soul through the natural serving propensity of their atma.

Why do such self-satisfied persons perform bhakti without any material cause? Why does the magnet attract and the iron become attracted? It is their propensity, their nature. In the same way, the constitutional occupation of each and every soul is to engage in bhakti to Bhagavan. Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.6) states “sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje – to love, to perform uninterrupted and causeless bhakti to Sri Hari, is the natural tendency of us all.” Such is the relationship between the soul and the Supersoul.

The four Kumaras (Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana and Sanat-kumara) were liberated souls who also became devotees after smelling the fragrance of the tulasi leaves offered at the lotus feet of the Lord. Although they were liberated, they were not yet acting according to the natural propensity of the soul. Sri Hari’s unique quality is that He can attract such persons and make them His devotees.

Sri Hari can attract all, but He is unable to attract us, despite His substantial endeavour to do so. This is our incalculable misfortune. The dance of Mahaprabhu charmed the whole universe, but we remain unmoved. We reason, “It would be senseless to leave our present situation. He will never successfully attract us, no matter what trickery He employs. We are fine just as we are.”

Transcribed and Edited by the Rays of the Harmonist team
Originally Published in Rays of The Harmonist Number 16, Karttika 2006

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Developing the eye of love by Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Maharaj

https://youtu.be/S_EDKevjrpc

Please Your Gurudeva

There are two conceptions. The first conception is, "I will serve all the devotees, to please my Gurudeva." The other conception is, "I will please all the devotees, to serve my Gurudeva." The motive should be, "I want to please my Gurudeva." It should not be to please all. Whatever we do should be to please Gurudeva—not to please all. You can never please all. -Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja]

Brief Description of Bhakti Yoga.

The Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama
Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

No one lives forever

Every living creature is subjected to four basic miseries, beginning with birth, continuing into old age and disease, and ending in death. No one wants to be miserable—everyone wants to be happy—but material nature functions in such a way that no one can be happy.
Ignoring this basic truth, modern thinkers, politicians, scientists, educators and artists are all struggling against the stringent laws of nature. They think that by material adjustments they will find the happiness they hanker for. In spite of all comforts and the advancement of science, economics and politics, no one is happy—if for no other reason than life is temporary.

Time and energy dedicated to God

The Hare Krishna movement offers a program to get out of the material world altogether. We accept the statements of the scriptures that beyond this temporary manifestation of material creation there is another permanent creation. In this temporary life, a human being should do everything possible to promote himself to that permanent life, which is eternal, spiritual life. This is man’s only duty in life. Science, medicine, education, art, music and poetry should all be applied for achieving this end, rather than for improving an illusory life of material enjoyment, which may be immediately pleasing, but is only temporary.

Living by the laws of God

The highest authority is God Himself. God speaks through shastras, or scriptures.  There are a number of authorized scriptures in the world in different communities, but the principles of all scriptural injunctions are the same. According to time, place and circumstance, there may be different scriptures, different languages and different customs, but the principles of religion are the same. The teacher may be different, the school may be different, the language may be different and the teaching technique may be different, but the conclusion is the same.

Hare Krishna Movement is genuine and authorized, not a newly invented religion or cult

Krishna consciousness is a science. Religion is not a sentiment meant for a section of the population to believe. Religion is based on the authority of shastras, or scriptures, and the conclusions of the shastras are perfect. The Hare Krishna movement is based on the teachings of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, which are Vedic literatures written more than 5,000 years ago. This movement has come down through the line of disciplic succession, or the line of spiritual masters, beginning with Krishna and continuing down to the present day.

What is the Hare Krishna program for self-realization?

Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

Five hundred years ago, Krishna appeared again as Lord Chaitanya. The Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Vedic literatures predicted that Lord Chaitanya would be the Yuga Avatar, or the incarnation of Godhead for Kali-yuga, the age of darkness, quarrel, hypocrisy and dissension. Lord Chaitanya especially stressed the process of sankirtan, or congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord. Although there are many paths of spiritual realization, and the body of Vedic literatures is vast, Lord Chaitanya taught that in this age the general mass of people would not be able to practice these various paths of spiritual discipline. Therefore He recommended that people in this age should practice chanting the holy names: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. This movement is primarily spreading the teachings of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam and the chanting of the holy names.

Rama Navami, the Appearance Day of Lord Rama

Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja

GLORIFICATION OF SRI SITA-RAMA

Mathura, April 13, 2000

[This year, 2017, April 4 is the appearance day of Lord Rama. In honor of this day, we are sending out Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja’s lecture in glorification of Sri Sri Sita-Rama:]

Listen 
After Ravana was killed, Sita devi had to undergo the agni pariksa, fire test. Of course, Maya-Sita entered the fire, and the real Sita devi remained unharmed – proving that she was completely pure and chaste. Rama then gave the kingdom of Ravana to Vivisana, Ravana's brother, and after that he took Sita devi and all their associates to Ayodhya on a mystic airplane. There were millions and billions of associates, but this airplane was able to expand so that they could all fit on it.

On their journey, Rama pointed out to Sita all the places where they had enjoyed pastimes together, or where He and Laksmana had killed various demons. For example, Rama would say, "Oh look, here is where we built the bridge to Lanka. Do you remember?" When they reached Kishkinda, where all of Rama's monkey associates lived, they stopped. Sita devi then invited all the wives of the monkeys to come aboard the airplane, as they were also very interested to see Rama's coronation.

The party stayed one night and then went to Citrakut. Hanuman took the form of a brahmana and went to the place where Bharata was staying in Nandigram. Bharata was living the life of a renunciate, wearing simple cloth, with matted hair and living on fruits and roots; and all of his ministers lived in the same way. In the guise of a brahmana, Hanuman approached Bharata and said, "Oh Bharata Maharaja, Rama has come. Prepare to welcome him!" Upon hearing that his dear brother had finally returned, he was overjoyed and fainted. When he came to consciousness he said, "I want to give you many gifts. So please accept 18,000 cows, as many beautiful women as you desire, horses and other wealth. Still I cannot give you anything equal in value to the news you have given me." Hanuman then returned to his original form, and Bharata said, "Oh, you are Hanuman!"

After Rama’s abhiseka ceremony, he wanted to give many gifts to everyone. Sita devi thought of a very nice gift to give Hanuman, so she gave him her most beautiful pearl necklace. Hanuman took it, examined it and broke it, and the pearls scattered all over the floor. Sita devi was surprised and asked, "What are you doing?" Hanuman replied, "Oh, I was just seeing if 'Rama' is written anywhere here." "But don't you know Rama is in your heart?" she said. Then Hanuman tore open his chest. In this way, Rama’s associates teach us that whatever is given to others should be in connection with Krsna.

Lord Rama and Sita devi stayed together for many years, and everyone was very happy within their kingdom. Some people, however, criticized Rama for accepting Sita back after she had been in the palace of Ravana. According to Vedic principles, it is unacceptable to accept one's wife after her being away for one night – what to speak of one year. One evening, the wife of a washer-man came home late. Her husband immediately told her that she could not enter the house. He threw her out saying, "I am not like Rama, who accepted his wife back after she'd been with another man."

This news spread and the story got back to Rama. He was most disturbed, and realized that he had to do something. How could he rule a kingdom in which some of the people did not have faith in him? He called a meeting, asking all his brothers to come; but none of them could give him any advice. He himself then realized what to do. He remembered that Sita had desired to visit all the sages in the forest and shower them with gifts. He asked Laksmana to take her to the asrama of those sages, deliver his sorrowful message to her, and then leave her in the forest. Laksmana was devastated that he was called upon to do this, but he could not say anything, as he was Rama's younger brother. He therefore had to accept that responsibility.

Sumanta was Laksmana's chariot driver, and moreover a very great minister of Rama. Laksmana told everything about Rama's order to Sumanta and said, "My life is full of miseries. Now, today is the biggest misery of my life!" They passed Prayag and went across a river. "Valmiki's asrama is here," Laksmana told Sita. Then, with a heavy heart he told her, "Everyone is accusing Rama of accepting an unchaste wife. Many people don't have full faith in him now; so how is it possible for him to rule the kingdom and guide the citizens properly?"

When Sita devi heard this she fainted, and when she revived she said, "I don't want to create any difficulties for him. I do not want him to be disturbed by the public. Please pay my obeisances to all. Laksmana, I want to pray at your lotus feet, as I have offended you twice. The first night in Ayodhya, after our marriage ceremony, I stopped you from massaging Rama's lotus feet. Though this had been your cherished duty for many years, I took this away from you. When you asked Rama about this, he could not answer. Then we asked the great sage Vasistha and he said, 'The duties now have to be divided. So Laksmana, all the duties outside of the house should be taken by you. Sita devi should now perform all the duties inside of the house.' In this way it was decided.

"Secondly, I was once allured by a deer in the forest when we were in exile. I heard Marici call out, 'Alas, Laksmana!' Assuming it was Rama's voice, I told you to go immediately to help Him. You said, 'No Sita, it is an illusion created by a demon.' I insisted and told you, 'I know. You are a spy of Bharata, and you have lusty feelings for me. That is why you don't want to save your brother!' These words pierced your heart. You replied that you always saw me as your mother and had never even seen my face; you had only seen my feet. You could not bear these harsh words. Then, when you went to see Rama, he chastised you saying, 'Why did you take heed of the words of that woman?' Then Ravana came here and begged, 'biksana dehi' three times. When I did not want to come outside of your circle of protection he threatened me, 'I curse you that your husband will die if you do not give anything to me here!' So please forgive me for these offenses."

After leaving Sita devi in the forest Laksmana lamented, "Oh, alas! I will surely give up my life!" Sumanta tried to pacify him, and told him the truth of the matter. "Once I was with Dasaratha Maharaja, and at that time two sages, Vasistha Rsi and Durvasa Muni, came to visit him. Maharaja Dasaratha served them very nicely and then asked them to kindly tell him about the future of his four children. Vasistha Rsi remained silent and Durvasa Muni responded by saying, ‘Oh, you have four sons. Very good." Dasaratha Maharaja said, "Yes, first tell me about Rama's future." Durvasa said, "Rama's future will undoubtedly be full of miseries. He will have to leave Ayodhya, and everyone there will feel unbearable separation from Him. You will not be able to bear His absence, and you will die in separation. Rama will later have to be separated from his wife, and after suffering immensely they will become reunited. Then again they will have to be apart; and Rama will rule the kingdom alone without his wife. Do not tell this to anyone." Dasaratha Maharaja was in complete shock, but he promised that he would not speak what he had heard to anyone. He said, "From today, I am your disciple."

Having heard this from Sumanta, Laksmana realized that his brother Rama is in fact the Supreme Lord Visnu. Sumanta continued telling Laksmana the story that Durvasa Muni had told to Dasaratha Maharaja: "Once, a very big battle ensued between the demigods and the demons. The demons were defeated and went to the wife of Brghu Maharaja to take shelter; and, being very merciful, she gave them shelter. The demigods went to Lord Vamanadeva and told him the situation. He then took His cakra and beheaded Brghu Maharaja's wife. Brghu Maharaja was very upset and cursed Vamanadeva saying, "You are responsible for my wife's death. I loved her very much. Now I will have to suffer so much in separation from her. For this I curse you that you will have to suffer in the same way in the future. You will have a very beautiful wife who will serve you in every way. You will be fully satisfied and completely enamored with her feminine grace and charm, and her saintly qualities. You will then be separated from her, and you will always suffer immensely from that pain of separation." Hearing this, Vamanadeva happily accepted the curse. He knew that in the future the whole world would be benefited by this. Also, this was but a pretext, as separation naturally increases the happiness of meeting.

Sita devi was walking towards the asrama of Valmiki Rsi, when some of his brahmacaris spotted her. They informed Valmiki that a lady looking like a demigoddess was coming. Valmiki came out to greet her, and immediately recognized who she was. He said, "Oh, you are Sita devi, the wife of Lord Rama. I know this because I have written the Ramayana. Please come in." The ladies there were very pleased to see Sita devi and said, "Oh, please allow us to serve you." Valmiki instructed them how to serve her in every way.

When Rama sent Satrughna to Mathura, he happened to come near to Valmiki's asrama on the way. He paid obeisance to Sita devi and her sons, Luv and Kush, from a distance. Luv and Kush were very intelligent children. Valmiki was very expert in archery, singing and music, and he taught Luv and Kush these arts. They could thus sing in all ragas very sweetly. Valmiki also taught them the Ramayana.

No one in the entire kingdom was there to console Rama. However, the ladies were there to console Sita devi in the asrama of Valmiki. One day Rama turned to Vasistha Rsi and said, "Will you please perform a sacrifice?" Vasistha replied, "Then you must call your wife back." "Oh, I cannot do that." "Then you must remarry," he insisted. Rama said, "It is not possible." "Then you will have to make a golden deity of Sita devi." Vasistha then performed the sacrifice. In fact, every year he performed a very big sacrificial ceremony for Rama, near Naimisaranya on the bank of Gomati, with a new golden deity of Sita devi each year.

One year many kings and sages were called, and Valmiki came with Luv and Kush. The boys were extremely beautiful, with very broad chests and slender waists. During a rest period, Valmiki asked them to sing Ramayana. They had melodious voices, and they sang in such a heart-rendering way that they captured everyone's hearts. Rama was especially touched, and tears came to His eyes. Valmiki had previously warned the boys, “If anyone asks you who you are, tell them, 'I am a disciple of Valmiki'”. Rama ordered Laksmana, "Go and give them eighteen thousand gold coins and many, many beautiful clothes and gifts. Then ask them who they are."

When they were presented with these gold coins, clothes, and gifts, they said, "What will we do with all these things? We are brahmacaris." Then Laksmana asked which dynasty they belonged to, and they replied, "You seem very learned. Why ask this? Why not ask who is our Gurudeva? We are disciples of Valmiki Rsi." For five or seven days they came and recited the Ramayana, and after many days Rama and others came to know who they were.

Rama then called Valmiki and requested that Sita devi come and prove Her chastity so that he could call her back. Valmiki said, "I have never spoken a lie in my life. I can assure you that Sita is completely pure and chaste." Rama said, "I know that. I'm quite confident of this, but I want proof for my citizens. So please bring Her here. Then we'll see what we can do."

At this time Brahma, Sankara, and many demigods and goddesses came, curious to see this event. Sita devi sent Luv and Kusa ahead to their father. She arrived thereafter, and Valmiki spoke gently to her, "O daughter, Sita devi. Come forward and prove your chastity." Sita devi said, "Mother, please prove this to one and all, that I have never served any other man. I have never even had thoughts of any man other than Rama in my whole life. Please accept me, mother." Pritivi-devi appeared from the earth and Sita sat on her lap on a golden throne. In a moment, Prthivi-devi completely covered Her. In other words, she took Sita devi with her, back under the Earth. Rama couldn't bear to see Sita leave him like this, and he fainted. Then, when he returned to consciousness, he prayed to Prthivi-devi, requesting her to bring back Sita. He told her, "One time I went with a bow to the ocean and he was very much afraid. So I can turn you into dust in a moment." Just then Brahma came and told Rama, "No. Don't do it! This is the last time. Sitaji has gone to your own abode, so you should very quickly wind up your pastimes and go there."

Gaura premanande!