”
Vraja and Nitai wake up Gaura Nitai in the morning.
Dallas, TX
2007-12-25
Hootenanny Ratha Yatra Festival Chariot Construction
&rel=1″
Nityananda Chandra interviews Govardhan das who is building a Rathayatra Chariot that will be used as a float in all the parades in Texas and surrounding areas.
The website for the festival is at www.hootenannyfestival.com.
Caturatma Prabhu – Lecture – SB 7.8.2 and Marriage of Jayadev Goswami
/
RSS Feed
Caturatma Prabhu spoke on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7, Chapter 8, Text 2. This verse describes the fear that Sanda and Amarka were experiencing when they realized they had to inform the King of the Demons that their students were becoming devotees through the teachings of Prahlad Maharaj.
He also tells the story of how Jayadev Goswami came to be married.
Click below (continue reading…) for the full verse, translation and purport.
Again, audio only. Sorry no video.
Dallas, TX
2008-01-27
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 7.8.2
athacarya-sutas tesham
buddhim ekanta-samsthitam
alakshya bhitas tvarito
rajna avedayad yatha
buddhim ekanta-samsthitam
alakshya bhitas tvarito
rajna avedayad yatha
TRANSLATION
When Shanda and Amarka, the sons of Sukracarya, observed that all the students, the sons of the demons, were becoming advanced in Krishna consciousness because of the association of Prahlada Maharaja, they were afraid. They approached the King of the demons and described the situation as it was.
PURPORT
The words buddhim ekanta-samsthitam indicate that as an effect of Prahlada Maharaja’s preaching, the students who listened to him became fixed in the conclusion that Krishna consciousness is the only object of human life. The fact is that anyone who associates with a pure devotee and follows his instructions becomes fixed in Krishna consciousness and is not disturbed by materialistic consciousness. The teachers particularly observed this in their students, and therefore they were afraid because the whole community of students was gradually becoming Krishna conscious.
Anuttama Prabhu – Lecture – SB 7.8.1
/
RSS Feed
Anuttama Prabhu spoke today on Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 7, Chapter 8, Text 1. This also includes the introduction to the chapter which is a nice short summary of the story of Prahlad Maharaj and the appearance of Lord Nrsimhadev.
Click below for the summary and full verse translation and purport.
This is audio only, no video. Sorry.
Dallas, TX
2008-01-26
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 7.8 Summary
As described in this chapter, Hiranyakasipu was ready to kill his own son Prahlada Maharaja, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared in front of the demon as Sri Nrikesari, half lion and half man, and killed him.
Following the instructions of Prahlada Maharaja, all the sons of the demons became attached to Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When this attachment became pronounced, their teachers, Shanda and Amarka, were very much afraid that the boys would become more and more devoted to the Lord. In a helpless condition, they approached Hiranyakasipu and described in detail the effect of Prahlada’s preaching. After hearing of this, Hiranyakasipu decided to kill his son Prahlada. Hiranyakasipu was so angry that Prahlada Maharaja fell down at his feet and said many things just to pacify him, but he was unsuccessful in satisfying his demoniac father. Hiranyakasipu, as a typical demon, began to advertise himself as being greater than the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but Prahlada Maharaja challenged him, saying that Hiranyakasipu was not God, and began to glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead, declaring that the Lord is all-pervading, that everything is under Him, and that no one is equal to or greater than Him. Thus he requested his father to be submissive to the omnipotent Supreme Lord.
The more Prahlada Maharaja glorified the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the more angry and agitated the demon became. Hiranyakasipu asked his Vaishnava son whether his God existed within the columns of the palace, and Prahlada Maharaja immediately accepted that since the Lord is present everywhere, He was also present within the columns. When Hiranyakasipu heard this philosophy from his young son, he derided the boy’s statement as just the talk of a child and forcefully struck the pillar with his fist.
As soon as Hiranyakasipu struck the column, there issued forth a tumultuous sound. At first Hiranyakasipu, the King of the demons, could not see anything but the pillar, but to substantiate Prahlada’s statements, the Lord came out of the pillar in His wonderful incarnation as Narasimha, half lion and half man. Hiranyakasipu could immediately understand that the extraordinarily wonderful form of the Lord was surely meant for his death, and thus he prepared to fight with the form of half lion and half man. The Lord performed His pastimes by fighting with the demon for some time, and in the evening, on the border between day and night, the Lord captured the demon, threw him on His lap, and killed him by piercing his abdomen with His nails. The Lord not only killed Hiranyakasipu, the King of the demons, but also killed many of his followers. When there was no one else to fight, the Lord, roaring with anger, sat down on Hiranyakasipu’s throne.
The entire universe was thus relieved of the rule of Hiranyakasipu, and everyone was jubilant in transcendental bliss. Then all the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, approached the Lord. These included the great saintly persons, the Pitas, the Siddhas, the Vidyadharas, the Nagas, the Manus, the prajapatis, the Gandharvas, the Caranas, the Yakshas, the Kimpurushas, the Vaitalikas, the Kinnaras and also many other varieties of beings in human form. All of them stood not far from the Supreme Personality of Godhead and began offering their prayers unto the Lord, whose spiritual effulgence was brilliant as He sat on the throne.
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 7.8.1
sri-narada uvaca
atha daitya-sutah sarve
srutva tad-anuvarnitam
jagrihur niravadyatvan
naiva gurv-anusikshitam
atha daitya-sutah sarve
srutva tad-anuvarnitam
jagrihur niravadyatvan
naiva gurv-anusikshitam
TRANSLATION
Narada Muni continued: All the sons of the demons appreciated the transcendental instructions of Prahlada Maharaja and took them very seriously. They rejected the materialistic instructions given by their teachers, Shanda and Amarka.
PURPORT
This is the effect of the preaching of a pure devotee like Prahlada Maharaja. If a devotee is qualified, sincere and serious about Krishna consciousness and if he follows the instructions of a bona fide spiritual master, as Prahlada Maharaja did when preaching the instructions he had received from Narada Muni, his preaching is effective. As it is said in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.25.25):
satam prasangan mama virya-samvido
bhavanti hrit-karna-rasayanah kathah
If one tries to understand the discourses given by the sat, or pure devotees, those instructions will be very pleasing to the ear and appealing to the heart. Thus if one is inspired to take to Krishna consciousness and if one practices the process in his life, he is surely successful in returning home, back to Godhead. By the grace of Prahlada Maharaja, all his class friends, the sons of the demons, became Vaishnavas. They did not like hearing from their so-called teachers Shanda and Amarka, who were interested only in teaching them about diplomacy, politics, economic development and similar topics meant exclusively for sense gratification.
Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu – Lecture – God is a Person – SB 7.7.55
/
RSS Feed
”
Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu spoke on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7, Chapter 7, Verse 55. This is the last verse in this chapter. The Lecture is about the Personal understanding of God.
Click below for the full translation and purport.
Dallas, TX
2008-01-25
From vedabase.net:
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 7.7.55
etavan eva loke ‘smin
pumsah svarthah parah smritah
ekanta-bhaktir govinde
yat sarvatra tad-ikshanam
pumsah svarthah parah smritah
ekanta-bhaktir govinde
yat sarvatra tad-ikshanam
TRANSLATION
In this material world, to render service to the lotus feet of Govinda, the cause of all causes, and to see Him everywhere, is the only goal of life. This much alone is the ultimate goal of human life, as explained by all the revealed scriptures.
PURPORT
In this verse the words sarvatra tad-ikshanam describe the highest perfection of devotional service, in which one sees everything with reference to Govinda’s activities. The highly elevated devotee never sees anything unrelated to Govinda.
sthavara-jangama dekhe, na dekhe tara murti
sarvatra haya nija ishta-deva-sphurti
“The maha-bhagavata, the advanced devotee, certainly sees everything mobile and immobile, but he does not exactly see their forms. Rather, everywhere he immediately sees manifest the form of the Supreme Lord.” (Cc. Madhya 8.274) Even in this material world, a devotee does not see materially manifested things; instead he sees Govinda in everything. When he sees a tree or a human being, a devotee sees them in relation to Govinda. Govindam adi-purusham: Govinda is the original source of everything.
isvarah paramah krishnah
sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah
anadir adir govindah
sarva-karana-karanam
“Krishna, who is known as Govinda, is the supreme controller. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin, for He is the prime cause of all causes.” (Brahma-samhita 5.1) The test of a perfect devotee is that he sees Govinda everywhere in this universe, even in every atomic particle (anda-ntara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham). This is the perfect vision of a devotee. It is therefore said:
narayanam ayam dhirah
pasyanti paramarthinah
jagad dhananmayam lubdhah
kamukah kaminimayam
A devotee sees everyone and everything in relationship with Narayana (narayanam ayam). Everything is an expansion of Narayana’s energy. Just as those who are greedy see everything as a source of money-making and those who are lusty see everything as being conducive to sex, the most perfect devotee, Prahlada Maharaja, saw Narayana even within a stone column. This does not mean, however, that we must accept the words daridra-narayana, which have been manufactured by some unscrupulous person. One who actually envisions Narayana everywhere makes no distinction between the poor and the rich. To single out the daridra-narayanas, or poor Narayana, and reject the dhani-narayana, or rich Narayana, is not the vision of a devotee. Rather, that is the imperfect vision of materialistic persons.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Seventh Canto, Seventh Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “What Prahlada Learned in the Womb.”
Romapada Swami – Lecture – SB 7.7.54
/
RSS Feed
”
Romapada Swami gave today’s lecture. This lecture is about how anyone, no matter how fallen, can attain one’s eternal position. The lecture is on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7, Chapter 7, Verse 54. Click below for the full translation and purport.
Dallas, TX
2008-01-24
From vedabase.net:
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 7.7.54
daiteya yaksha-rakshamsi
striyah sudra vrajaukasah
khaga mrigah papa-jivah
santi hy acyutatam gatah
striyah sudra vrajaukasah
khaga mrigah papa-jivah
santi hy acyutatam gatah
TRANSLATION
O my friends, O sons of demons, everyone, including you (the Yakshas and Rakshasas), the unintelligent women, sudras and cowherd men, the birds, the lower animals and the sinful living entities, can revive his original, eternal spiritual life and exist forever simply by accepting the principles of bhakti-yoga.
PURPORT
The devotees are referred to as acyuta-gotra, or the dynasty of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord is called Acyuta, as indicated in Bhagavad-gita (senayor ubhayor madhye ratham sthapaya me ‘cyuta). The Lord is infallible in the material world because He is the supreme spiritual person. Similarly, the jivas, who are part and parcel of the Lord, can also become infallible. Although Prahlada’s mother was in the conditional state and was the wife of a demon, even Yakshas, Rakshasas, women, sudras and even birds and other lower living entities can be elevated to the acyuta-gotra, the family of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the highest perfection. As Krishna never falls, when we revive our spiritual consciousness, Krishna consciousness, we never fall again to material existence. One should understand the position of the supreme Acyuta, Krishna, who says in Bhagavad-gita (4.9):
janma karma ca me divyam
evam yo vetti tattvatah
tyaktva deham punar janma
naiti mam eti so ‘rjuna
“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.” One should understand Acyuta, the supreme infallible, and how we are related with Him, and one should take to the service of the Lord. This is the perfection of life. Srila Madhvacarya says, acyutatam cyuti-varjanam. The word acyutatam refers to one who never falls to this material world but always remains in the Vaikuntha world, fully engaged in the service of the Lord.
Bir Krishna Goswami – Lecture – Compassion and Empathy
/
RSS Feed
”
Bir Krishna Goswami gave this morning’s lecture on Compassion and Empathy. He spoke from Srimad Bhagavatam 7.7.53.
Click below to read the full verse and purport.
Dallas, TX
2008-01-23
From vedabase.net:
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 7.7.53
tato harau bhagavati
bhaktim kuruta danavah
atmaupamyena sarvatra
sarva-bhutatmanisvare
bhaktim kuruta danavah
atmaupamyena sarvatra
sarva-bhutatmanisvare
TRANSLATION
My dear friends, O sons of the demons, in the same favorable way that one sees himself and takes care of himself, take to devotional service to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present everywhere as the Supersoul of all living entities.
PURPORT
The word atmaupamyena refers to thinking others to be like oneself. One can very intelligently conclude that without devotional service, without becoming Krishna conscious, one cannot be happy. Therefore the duty of all devotees is to preach Krishna consciousness everywhere all over the world, because all living entities without Krishna consciousness are suffering the pangs of material existence. To preach Krishna consciousness is the best welfare activity. Indeed, it is described by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as para-upakara, work for the true benefit of others. The activities of para-upakara have been especially entrusted to those who have taken birth in India as human beings.
bharata-bhumite haila manushya-janma yara
janma sarthaka kari’ kara para-upakara(Cc. Adi 9.41)
The entire world is suffering for want of Krishna consciousness. Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised all human beings born in India to make their lives perfect by Krishna consciousness and then preach the gospel of Krishna consciousness all over the world so that others may become happy by executing the principles of Krishna consciousness.
NY Eve Bhajan – Mukunda Datta das – Mangala Arati – 16/16
/
RSS Feed
”
Mukunda Datta das leading Mangala Arati after our 12 hour bhajan marathon.
This is sixteenth of a series of bhajans and kirtans sung during our New Year’s 12 hour bhajan.
Click below for full lyrics / translation.
2008-01-01
Dallas, TX
from kksongs.org:
Song Name: Samsara Davanala Lidha Loka
Official Name: Sri Guru Devastakam;
Sri Gurvastakam
Author: Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
Book Name: Stavamrta Lahari
Language: Sanskrit
(1)
saḿsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka–
trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam
prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
mahāprabhoḥ
kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta–
vāditra-mādyan-manaso rasena
romāñca –kampāśru-tarańga-bhājo
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
(3)
śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā–
śṛńgāra-tan-mandira-mārjanādau
yuktasya bhaktāḿś
ca niyuñjato ‘pi
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
(4)
catur-vidha-śrī-bhagavat-prasāda–
svādv-anna-tṛptān hari-bhakta-sańghān
kṛtvaiva tṛptiḿ
bhajataḥ sadaiva
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor apāra–
mādhurya-līlā guṇa-rūpa-nāmnām
prati-kṣaṇāsvādana-lolupasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
nikuñja-yūno
rati-keli-siddhyai
yā yālibhir yuktir apekṣaṇīyā
tatrāti-dākṣyād ati-vallabhasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair
uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ
kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
(8)
yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na
gatiḥ kuto ‘pi
dhyāyan stuvaḿs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaḿ
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
(9)
śrīmad-guror aṣṭakam etad
uccair
brāhme muhūrte paṭhati prayatnāt
yas tena vṛndāvana-nātha
sākṣāt
sevaiva labhyā juṣaṇo’nta
eva
TRANSLATION
1)
The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as
a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master
delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of
material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances
unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious
qualities.
2)
Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical
instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the sańkīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya
Mahāprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows
of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels
quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my
respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a
spiritual master.
3)
The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Srī Srī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in
beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple,
and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
4)
The spiritual master is always offering Kṛṣṇa
four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk,
and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by
eating bhagavat-prasāda, he is satisfied. I
offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of
such a spiritual master.
5)
The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited
conjugal pastimes of Rādhikā and Mādhava, and Their qualities,
names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment.
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet
of such a spiritual master.
6)
The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopīs, who at different times make different tasteful
arrangements for the perfection of Rādhā
and Kṛṣṇa’s conjugal loving affairs
within the groves of Vṛndāvana. I offer my
most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a
spiritual master.
7)
The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he
is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all
revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my
respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a
spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Srī
Hari [Kṛṣṇa].
8)
By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kṛṣṇa. Without the grace of the spiritual
master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember
and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my
respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my
spiritual master.
9)
One who, with great care and alteration, loudly recites this beautiful prayer
to the spiritual master during the Brahma-muhurta
obtains direct service to Krsna, the Lord of Vrndavana, at the time of his death.
Remarks/
Extra Information:
This is the song sung in Mangala
Arotik in Gauidya Vaisnava organizations. It is sung in Kaherva
Tala in the morning Bengali raga.
NY Eve Bhajan – Mukunda Datta das – Hare Krishna – 15/16
/
RSS Feed
”
Mukunda Datta das singing a Hare Krishna bhajan.
This is fifteenth of a series of bhajans sung during our New Year’s 12 hour bhajan.
2008-01-01
Dallas, TX
NY Eve Bhajan – Mukunda Datta das – Sri Siksastakam – 14/16
/
RSS Feed
”
Mukunda Datta das singing the Sri Siksastakam prayers and then a Hare Krishna bhajan.
This is fourteenth of a series of bhajans sung during our New Year’s 12 hour bhajan.
2008-01-01
Dallas, TX