Mercy of Lord Nityananda

Nityananda ! Gauranga ! Hare Krishna !

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

My humble obeisances to Swami Gaurangapada and all the vaishnavs.

I would like to share one of my favourite stories from the pasttimes of Lord Nityananda and Lord Gauranga.

Nityananda Prabhu has said it very beautifully Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda forgives all offenses. I will copy a small story that shows their greatness. I am copying this from the beginning of Srimad Bhagavatam where Srila Prabhupada has given a short summary of the past times of Lord Chaitanya.

Once Nityananda Prabhu and Srila Haridasa Thakura were walking down a
main road, and on the way they saw a roaring crowd assembled. Upon
inquiring from passers-by, they understood that two brothers, named Jagai
and Madhai, were creating a public disturbance in a drunken state. They
also heard that these two brothers were born in a respectable brahmana
family, but because of low association they had turned into debauchees of
the worst type. They were not only drunkards but also meat-eaters, woman-
hunters, dacoits and sinners of all description. Srila Nityananda Prabhu
heard all of these stories and decided that these two fallen souls must
be the first to be delivered. If they were delivered from their sinful
life, then the good name of Lord Caitanya would be even still more
glorified. Thinking in this way, Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa pushed
their way through the crowd and asked the two brothers to chant the holy
name of Lord Hari. The drunken brothers became enraged upon this request
and attacked Nityananda Prabhu with filthy language. Both brothers chased
them a considerable distance. In the evening the report of the preaching
work was submitted to the Lord, and He was glad to learn that Nityananda
and Haridasa had attempted to deliver such a stupid pair of fellows.

The next day Nityananda Prabhu went to see the brothers, and as soon
as He approached them one of them threw a piece of earthen pot at Him.
This struck Him on the forehead, and immediately blood began to flow. But
Nityananda Prabhu was so kind that instead of protesting this heinous
act, He said, "It does not matter that you have thrown this stone at Me.
I still request you to chant the holy name of Lord Hari."

One of the brothers, Jagai, was astonished to see this behavior of
Nityananda Prabhu, and he at once fell down at His feet and asked Him to
pardon his sinful brother. When Madhai again attempted to hurt Nityananda
Prabhu, Jagai stopped him and implored him to fall down at His feet. In
the meantime the news of Nityananda's injury reached the Lord, who at
once hurried to the spot in a fiery and angry mood. The Lord immediately
invoked His Sudarsana cakra (the Lord's ultimate weapon, shaped like a
wheel) to kill the sinners, but Nityananda Prabhu reminded Him of His
mission. The mission of the Lord was to deliver the hopelessly fallen
souls of Kali-yuga, and the brothers Jagai and Madhai were typical
examples of these fallen souls. Ninety percent of the population of this
age resembles these brothers, despite high birth and mundane
respectability. According to the verdict of the revealed scriptures, the
total population of the world in this age will be of the lowest sudra
quality, or even lower. It should be noted that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
never acknowledged the stereotyped caste system by birthright; rather, He
strictly followed the verdict of the sastras in the matter of one's
svarupa, or real identity.

When the Lord was invoking His Sudarsana cakra and Srila Nityananda
Prabhu was imploring Him to forgive the two brothers, both the brothers

fell down at the lotus feet of the Lord and begged His pardon for their
gross behavior. The Lord was also asked by Nityananda Prabhu to accept
these repenting souls, and the Lord agreed to accept them on one
condition, that they henceforward completely give up all their sinful
activities and habits of debauchery. both the brothers agreed and
promised to give up all their sinful habits, and the kind Lord accepted
them and did not again refer to their past misdeeds.

This is the specific kindness of Lord Caitanya. In this age no one can
say that he is free from sin. It is impossible for anyone to say this.
But Lord Caitanya accepts all kinds of sinful persons on the one
condition that they promise not to indulge in sinful habits after being
spiritually initiated by the bona fide spiritual master.

There are a number of instructive points to he observed in this
incident of the two brothers. In this Kali-yuga practically all people
are of the quality of Jagai and Madhai. If they want to be relieved from
the reactions of their misdeeds, they must take shelter of Lord Caitanya
Mahaprabhu and after spiritual initiation thus refrain from those things
which are prohibited in the sastras. The prohibitory rules are dealt with
in the Lord's teachings to Srila Rupa Gosvami.

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Re: Internet Writing vs Travelling

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!

Please accept my humble pranams. I just wanted to say that not a lot of people have access to the internet. I don't know the actual statistic but I would guess that it is probably less than one percent of the world population. I feel this is one of the real drawbacks of internet preaching.

Also, sitting in front of a computer screen and calling it devotee association feels lacklustre and impersonal. Who amongst us can say that vani association ever came close to meeting devotees in person? There comes a point where you just feel that you're just staring at a screen of many coloured lights.

Saying that, the vani base, the numerous websites and e-books, videos and mp3s we have access to is truly amazing. Who has ever served or even thought to serve humanity in such a far reaching and ingenious way? Srila Gurudeva is surely guided by Lord Nityananda and Gaurahari to have done so much in so short a space of time. Considering this, we have to conclude that only an ignorant person would think to criticise Srila Gurudeva on such a point.

Your servant,

Amiya Gauranga dasi.

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Re: Devotee saved from death

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Dandavats and obeissances!

Thanks for sharing these very inspiring stories. It seems that Ananda Vrndavanda devi dasi is a very special fortunate devotee with a natural devotional inclination. It also shows that the Lord is willing to perform miracles to help one who wants to engage in his service and their reciprocation is very touching indeed.

Aspiring for the foot dust of the Vaisnavas
Jagannatha Gauranga dasa

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Re: Trust in God

Nityanaanda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! Jaya Srila Prabhupada and Sri Guru Parampara!

Thank you truthseeker for the thoughtful question. Thank you Nava Gauranga dasa prabhu for your beautifully written answer.

Why should we trust God? Yes, this very important question we should ask. Krishna says:

sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaḿ śaraṇaḿ vraja

�Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me.�

Naturally our first reaction to such a heavy statement is to protest: �But who are You? Why should I trust You?�

In the beginning of Bhagavad Gita Arjuna was in a very difficult situation (how difficult we could not even imagine). So, first of all he realized: �My friendly relationship with Krishna is not going to help me overcome this unusual weakness and confusion that I am confronted.� Therefore he �gave up� his friendship with the Lord and surrendered to Him as a disciple to spiritual master and started inquiring about his duty. (BG 2.7)

kārpaṇya-doṣopahata-svabhāvaḥ
pṛcchāmi tvāḿ dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ
yac chreyaḥ syān niścitaḿ brūhi tan me
śiṣyas te 'haḿ śādhi māḿ tvāḿ prapannam

TRANSLATION
�Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.�


Later on, when Shri Krishna gradually revealed to him transcendental knowledge which drove away all ignorance from his heart, Arjuna realized that Krishna is not an ordinary person but God Himself, the original transcendental personality, the purest,  the ultimate abode, the unborn and eternal, the most powerful Lord of all Lords. He remembered also how great sages like Narada, Vyasa, Asita and Devala glorify Lord Krishna as the Supreme Brahman. Thus Arjuna prayed (BG 10.12-13)

arjuna uvāca
paraḿ brahma paraḿ dhāma
pavitraḿ paramaḿ bhavān
puruṣaḿ śāśvataḿ divyam
ādi-devam ajaḿ vibhum
āhus tvām ṛṣayaḥ sarve
devarṣir nāradas tathā
asito devalo vyāsaḥ
svayaḿ caiva bravīṣi me

So, then as Srila Prabhupada points out in the purport, one may think that Arjuna is eulogizing Krishna on the basis of their friendship. But it is not so. Later on Krishna gives detailed knowledge of His divine opulences and in the XI-th Chapter He reveals His all-pervading Universal Form to the filled with amazement Arjuna.

What I am trying to say is that to come to the point of asking us to surrender to Him completely (BG 18.66) the Lord has revealed and proven His supreme position and dominion over everything that be. In other words, He is not asking us to blindly accept Him as God, although of course He has the power to do so. On the contrary He has created us with the purpose to exchange loving relationship with Him and has granted us the free will whether to love Him or leave Him. It is all up to us. He will not force us in both choices. But the results of our choices will be different. We can either feel His love for us and get spiritually nourished by it while acting according to His desire, or we can disconnect ourselves and fade away in forgetfulness of our relationship with Him, in other words drown in the illusion of Maya.

Yes, God is all-powerful and therefore we should trust him. But this trust or faith is strengthened by knowledge and devotion as revealed in BG 10.8 where Krishna says.
ahaḿ sarvasya prabhavo
mattaḥ sarvaḿ pravartate
iti matvā bhajante māḿ
budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ

�I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.�

Still this does not limit us in any way, because as He promises in  BG 4.11: ye yathā māḿ prapadyante tāḿs tathaiva bhajāmy aham

�As all surrender unto Me I reward them accordingly.�

But then you can ask: �What if God lies to us? After all this tendency of lying also originates from Him.� Yes, He sometimes lies or breaks His promise for different reasons but He always makes sure that the words of His pure devotees will never go in vain. Therefore He asks Arjuna to declare it boldly that His devotee will never perish. kaunteya pratijānīhi
na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati (BG 9.31)

So, the conclusion is that we can fully put our trust in God, along with our mind, intelligence and refuge. And what will be the result. Shri Krishna explains this very nicely in the BG 5.17:

tad-buddhayas tad-ātmānas
tan-niṣṭhās tat-parāyaṇāḥ
gacchanty apunar-āvṛttiḿ
j�āna-nirdhūta-kalmaṣāḥ

�When one's intelligence, mind, faith and refuge are all fixed in the Supreme, then one becomes fully cleansed of misgivings through complete knowledge and thus proceeds straight on the path of liberation.�

Your servant: Sarvabhauma das

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Re: How to avoid liberationism in our devotional service?

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna!

Dear Swami Gaurangapada,

I just saw that in your answer to bhakta Brett about preaching and chanting you have pretty much answered already my second question about constant chanting. So, there is no need to answer unless you want to share something which may give additional value to this topic.
Thank you.
Your servant: Sarvabhauma das

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Re: How to avoid liberationism in our devotional service?

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna!

Thank you very much, dear Swami Gaurangapada, for the authoritative answer. You have stressed the association of pure unalloyed devotees of Their Lordships Nityaananda and Gauraanga for overcoming this obstacle on our progressive path to the spiritual world.
You also mentioned chanting of the pure Name as a means to overcome the desire for liberation. I fully agree  and I have one further inquiry in this connection.
Let's suppose I am not on that platform of chanting the holy name of the Lord purely. This position  is attained by someone who has developed his love of Godhead. Thus it is possible for him/her to chant the holy name constantly due to his/her great taste and attachment.
But if we in our neophyte state of trying to get rid of the anarthas and bad habits attempt to chant constantly in order to become purified will this desire for constant chanting be tinged with "liberationism" and thus making it impossible to actually chant constantly?

In short words: Is constant chanting recommended for us?

Thank you very much!

Your servant: Sarvabhauma das

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Re: peaching or chanting

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! Pranaams Brett, I happy to hear of your question about chanting Laksha Naama and your fully devotional daily program. If you have the taste and can possibly chant 100,000 Names daily with consistency then that is very wonderful. I would suggest you fix a quota of chanting which you can be very steady at doing it daily inspite of any future changes in your life. Shrila Prabhupada would certainly be happy if you can do Sankirtana for 6 hours instead of 8 hours to accomodate the completion of your Laksha Naama. Shrila Prabhupada stated that the final goal is to chant constantly but since we cannot do that we have perform devotional services to purify ourselves to gradually attain that stage. Of course Sankirtana is non-different from Chanting but it is also a fact that the prescribed amount of ideal daily chanting by Lord Gaura is 100,000 Names. So every devotee should also try to attain that goal at some stage in life.

Another option is you reduce your daily chanting vow to 58 rounds which will give you one hour more for other devotional activities. 58 rounds equals 100,000 Names exactly so even that vow and instruction of the Lord is fulfilled.

Another option is that you reduce your chanting to 75,000 or 50,000 Names daily if you can do it more consistently, meditatively and steadily for a longer period of time without missing it. Reading and hearing daily is quite important and even more important is the daily Naama Sankirtana which Shrila Prabhupada gave us via the daily programs. So those should not be compromised. Also at your age, sleep of 6-7 hours would help you to remain more attentive during chanting and all devotional activities during the day. So there is no need to artifically reduce sleep also.

I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: 64 Rounds of Nityananda and Gauranga Naam

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna!

Dear Jagannatha and Igor,

I think the key to my joy lately is the wonderful heart of Gurudeva. He just accepts me as I am, his faith in Naam is deep, a love like God's. This is what draws me closer to the Lotus Feet of the Divine. Believe me there are times when I have thought, 'Oh I am not pure enough, Oh I am not good enough'. But God just waits and smiles, unattached in perfect love. That is the mystery! That is the silence of the teacher.

One day, the day will come when we can see Sri Sri Radha-Krishna's love. Their joy as the Divine Couple. Their presence purifies everything instantly. This is suddha sattva. That day will come by Nitaai-Gaura Naam bhajan. I have full faith in that. I have full faith of our Gaudiya Sampradaya's teaching of Gaura Naam, and how Gurudeva out of his freedom, has chosen to implement it.

your simple servant in love and compassion....Nava.

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Re: How to avoid liberationism in our devotional service?

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! There is one way which Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura described in Maanasa Deho Geho song:

bhukti-mukti-sprha vihina je bhakta
labhaite tako sanga anurakta

"When will I become devotedly attached to the association fo those devotees who are devoid of the desires for liberation and sense enjoyment."

This is the way to become free from even the desire of liberation which is an impediment for us to attain the spiritual world. Of course the other ways are to chant Shuddha Naama and read and hear the Pastimes of Lords Nityaananda Gauraanga and Their Associates who are fully devoid of these desires.

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Devotee saved from death

After speaking on the phone last night with Ananda Vrndavana d.d., I have just posted the content of our conversation on my website http://www.cedarpost.com/AnandaVrndd.htm  under "Beautiful Stories of the Lord. " Only trying to confirm a specific incident that happend to her in 2006, she ended up telling me about two more; each one an amazing miracle.  Rohini-suta dasa/founder, Krishna Disaster Relief

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How to avoid liberationism in our devotional service?

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna!

Dandavats. All glories to Shri Guru Parampara and all the devotees of Lord Gauranga Krishna!

Sometimes when realizing how fallen, sinful and offensive we are there is a mood or should I say a desire which cripples within our hearts to become liberated or freed from our sinful reactions by the process of chanting or devotional service. But this desire for salvation is not within the scope of pure devotional service.

So can you suggest how to avoid this "liberationism" mood in our neophyte state of practicing devotional service?

Your servant: Sarvabhauma das

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Alu Gauranga

Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna
While we are chanting Gauranga Naam, it is time to learn how to make excellent vaishnava dish � Alu Gauranga!

Alu Gauranga

Potato slices (10 potatoes)
Asafetida (1/2 tsp)
Salt (3 tsp)
Pepper (1 tsp)
Fresh Coriander (3tbs) optional
Ground Coriander (3tbs)
Paneer, crumbled (450 g)
Cream (3 c.) mixed with one tsp Turmeric
Butter (1.25 c.)

In this order, cover a greased casserole with one third of the ingredients above three times (three rounds). Then, let the oven take care for 45 minutes (200 degr.C), covered with an aluminium foil until the last 10 minutes (letting the top brown).  �Alu Gauranga� is excellent with rice, or green vegetable dishes.

And for inspiration � Prabhupada, cooking and lazy man story:
�Today, Prabhupada was master of the kitchen. We had no brains, no common sense, but our merciful master still took the time to instruct us. When Prabhupada saw the amount of vegetables cut up for cooking, he said it was enough for fifty men, not eight. Prabhupada sat on a chair and directed all the cooking. He tested the rice and the dal, to see if they were soft. Then he cooked chapatis. Prabhupada commented that only a lazy man could not cook. He told the story of a lazy man. There was a king who decided that all lazy men in his kingdom could come to the charity house and be fed. Many people came and they all said, �I am a lazy man.� When the king told his minister to set fire to the charity house, everybody but two men ran out of the burning building. One of the two said, �My back is becoming very hot from the fire.� The other man advised, �Just turn over to the other side.� The king then said, �These are actually lazy men. Feed them!�

- From the TKG�s Diary by HH Tamal Krishna Goswami

Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna
Dasso'smi
bhakta Igor

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Re: 64 Rounds of Nityananda and Gauranga Naam

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Dandavats and obeissances!

Thanks for sharing these realizations with us, it is really nice to hear that you are so determined and steady in your bhajana and really becoming deeply absorbed in the holy names and their meanings. You seem like you have the perfect attitude for advancing in Bhakti yoga and are already well on your way back to home, back to Godhead. It is nice to hear of one who  chants with real feeling and attachment which sheds light on the glorious potencies of the holy names.

Aspiring to be an insignificant dust particle at the lotus feet of the Vaisnavas
Jagannatha Gauranga dasa

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Re: 64 Rounds of Nityananda and Gauranga Naam

Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna
Such deep and wonderful realizations dear Nava Gauranga Prabhu das. You have sradha in chanting Nitaai and Gaura Naam and I am so happy that I am able to associate with you! Please, give me your blessings, dear brother, so that one day I may also dive in the ocean of Naam and sincerely serve our Gurudeva.
Naam is our shelter. We are so fortunate to be here, in association of our Gurudeva. Please bless me, so that some day I may also have some faith in  Gurudeva and chanting Nitaai and Gaura Naam.
Wonderfull realisations. They touched my hearth. Thank you.
Dasso'smi
Bhakta Igor

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Re: Lord Nrsimhadeva - destroyer of material desires

yes Its true we may be ditratted from Lord krsna, thats why we have the lucky cance in this iron age to worship Sri Nitai Gauranga. The people who know and have seen deitys of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvva Govinda Sundara in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Nabadwip will understanda its in the mood of madhurya rasa.
Gauranga is radha krsna combind. sb. 11.5.31  krsna varnam tvisa krsnam means black colour . The golden volcano of divine love B.R.Sridhara Mamaraj.
  As I said if we have full faith in Gauranga , krsna, then we dont need another candle to worship..

dandavats to the vaisnavas

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Re: Mridanga and Karataala in Sankirtana

One can read the book religion of the heart by Srila Govinda Maharaj Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math to understand.

bhubhi militva yat kirttan
tad eva sankirttanam.tad eva

sankirttanam means: when a group of devotees gather together for kirttan,what come from their melted hearts, that is sankirttan. Sankirttan is congregational chanting with the mood of tolerance, humility and giving honor to others.

kirttan means when one person is glorifying the Lord.

I am only a fool who has been inlightened by my divine masters

Srila  Bhaktivedanta Swami prabhupada     and
Srila Bhakti Sundara Govinda DevGoswami Maharaj

I beg forgiveness of the vaisnavas if I have offened them

lowerthanarat

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