Re: Request for different names

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! Welcome to NITAAI.com. Please search on Google and you will find them. For eg. here.

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: What is Ekadashi bhava?

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! It is not Ekadashi bhaava. It is Ekaadasha Bhaava or the 11 characteristics of our eternal spiritual body (siddha deha) and is a very advanced topic of discussion. Some references are below:

In Jaiva Dharma Chp 39:
Vijaya: Kindly explain these ekadasa-bhavas to me thoroughly once again.

Gosvami: The ekadasa-bhavas are: 1) sambandha (relationship), 2) vayasa (age), 3) nama (name), 4) rupa (personal form and beauty), 5) yutha (group), 6) vesa (dress), 7) ajna (specific instruction), 8) vasa (residence), 9) seva (exclusive service); 10) parakastha-svasa (the highest summit of emotion, which is the aspirant's very life breath), and 11) palya-dasi-bhava (the sentiment of a maidservant under the protection of Shri Radha).

Shri Hari Naama Chintamani, Chp 15:

"A devotee who aspires to attain the ujjvala-rasa must follow the gopis of Vraja. A soul who thinks of himself as male is not qualified to enter the shringara-rasa. The soul must first attain the form of a gopi in Vraja. Then the soul may worship Lord Krishna in the shringara-rasa. The soul must attain the nature of a vraja-gopi in relation to eleven items described here. There eleven items are: 1. one's relationship, 2. age, 3. name, 4. form, 5. group, 6. garments, 7. command, 8. home, 9. service, 10. highest aspiration, and 11. gopi patroness. The aspiring devotee not attain this form even while he resides in the material world. Why not? In meditation considering himself a gopi according to these eleven items, he may worship Lord Krishna in his heart.

"(28) In striving to attain these eleven items the aspiring devotee passes through five stages. These five stages are: shravana-dasha (the stage of hearing), varana-dasha (the stage of accepting), smarana-dasha (the stage of meditating), apana-dasha (the stage of attaining), and sampatti-dasha (the stage of good fortune)."

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: Mantras of Gaura Nitai

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! Dear Mihir, Please read the topics in the Nityaananda Gauraanga Naama for all the scriptural references about the Nityaananda and Gauraanga Mantraraajas.

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: Lila Smarana

Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada in his commentary on Shri Shiksashtakam Verse 5:

"After anartha-nivritti comes nairantarya, or an undeviating steadiness in serving; followed by sveccha-purvika, or voluntary invocation of Lord Krishna's pastimes in meditation and thereby developing spontaneous taste. The next stage is svarasiki, or the spontaneous manifestation of Krishna's unmanifested pastimes without voluntarily desiring it. Only after these three stages, comes the final perfection, that of krishna-prema."

So a little bit of force to voluntary remember the eternal pastimes of Lord Gaura and Lord Krishna is certainly very favorable to Naama Bhajana until we attain the stage when the pastimes arise simultaneously while chanting.

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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The Advent Of Lord Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

The Advent Of Lord Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
By Shrila Gour Govinda Swami

Lecture given on the Auspicious Appearance Day of
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ( Gaura Purnima ), in Bhubaneswar, India, March 17, 1992,
original transcript with English translations added

Desiring to understand the glory of Radharani's love, the wonderful
qualities in Him that She alone relishes through Her love, and the happiness
She feels when She realizes the sweetness of His love, the Supreme Lord
Hari, richly endowed with Her emotions, appears from the womb of Srimati
Sacidevi as the moon appears from the ocean.

When we speak of the advent of Gauranga Mahaprabhu we should understand what
is the cause of the appearance of Gauranga Mahaprabhu. There are two types
of causes, external cause and internal cause. The external cause is to
spread nama-prema, love of God through the chanting of the holy name,
harinama-sankirtan, pracare-yuga dharma-pracara.

kali-yuga dharma haya hari-sankirtana
etad arthe avatirna Sri Sacinandana

(Caitanya-bhagavat, Adi, 2.22)

"The religious principle for the age of Kali is the congregational chanting
of the holy names of the Lord. Sri Sacinandana incarnates to establish this
principle." (Caitanya-bhagavat, Adi, 2.22)

To fulfill this purpose, Sacinandana appears:

ei kaye bhagavate sarva-tattva-sara
kirtana-nimitta gauracandra-avatara

"It is stated in the Srimad Bhagavatam that the Supreme Absolute Truth, Lord
Gauracandra, incarnates to propagate the chanting of the holy names."
(Caitanya-bhagavat, Adi, 2.23)

He is the father of hari-sankirtan,sankirtana-ike janakau . He is Gauranga
Mahaprabhu:

kali-yuga sarva-dharma hari-sankirtana
sarva prakacilena caitanya-narayana

"Lord Caitanya inaugurated the congregational chanting of the holy names as
the essence of all religious principles for the age of Kali."
(Caitanya-bhagavat, Adi, 2.26)

This is a quotation from Caitanya Bhagavata:

kali-yuge sankirtana-dharma palibare
avatirna hoila prabhu sarva-parikare

"In Kali-yuga the Lord incarnates with His associates in order to maintain
the religious principle of sankirtana." (Caitanya-bhagavat, Adi, 2.27)

With all His associates, paraphernalia, His dharma, Gauranga Mahaprabhu
appears in Kali-yuga, especially this Kali-yuga, to fulfill this purpose ?
yuga-dharma, nama-prema-pracara, (Cc Adi 3.40) and prema-dharma, the chief
result of this harinama-sankirtan is to achieve Krsna-prema and to get
Krsna. He is offering and distributing this Krsna-prema freely,
indiscriminately, apamaram yo vitatara. "The most munificent Supreme
Personality of Godhead, known as Gaurakrsna, distributed to everyone"even
the lowest of men." (Cc Madhya, 23.1)

brahmar durlabha prema saba kare sache
dina hina patita pamara nahi bache

(Srila Locan Dasa Thakura)

It is very difficult even on the part of Brahma to get such prem but
Mahaprabhu gives it freely, indiscriminately. Even patita-pamaras, Jagai and
Madhais, most degraded, most sinful persons also get it. Therefore He is
known as Prema Purusottama Sacinandana Gauranga.

Five thousand years ago Krsna came in His own svarupa and in His
Kuruksetra-lila He gave His message in the form of Bhagavad-gita through
Arjuna to all mankind. There He gave confidential, more confidential and
most confidential instruction. His most confidential instruction is man-mana
bhava mad-bhakto, mad-yaji mam namaskuru : "Engage your mind always in
thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me.
Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me." (Bg. 9.34)
That is His most confidential instruction. The concluding instruction is,
sarva dharman parityajya, mam-ekam saranam vraja, giving up all varieties of
dharma, just surrender unto Me. (Bg 18.66) He only said this theoretically,
He never taught how to surrender practically.

"I Have To Go Again"

So after winding up His lila after Dvapara-yuga, He went to His own abode,
Goloka Vrndavan and because He's the only well-wishing friend of all living
entities, suhrdam sarva-bhutanam, therefore He is thinking, "I have given
confidential, more confidential and most confidential instruction to Arjuna
for all mankind, but after Dvarpara-yuga there is Kali-yuga, the most sinful
age. Due to an increase of sinful activities the consciousness of the people
is most polluted consciousness. All are engaged in sinful activities. They
cannot understand what I said, they cannot understand this saranagati-tattva
and I have only said theoretically, I have not demonstrated it practically
how to surrender. Therefore I have to go again." So He came again as
Gauranga Mahaprabhu. This is the purpose, this is the reason why He comes.

yuga dharma pravartaimu nama-sankirtana
cari bhava-bhakti diya nacamu bhuvana

"I shall personally inaugurate the religion of the age" nama-sankirtana, the
congregational chanting of the holy name. I shall make the world dance in
ecstasy, realizing the four mellows of loving devotional service." (Cc. Adi
3.19)

I'll go and preach this yuga-dharma, nama-sankirtan and I'll give the four
forms of bhakti: dasya (sevitorship), sakhya (friendship), vatsalya
(parenthood), madhurya, (conjugal love) (santa, neutrality, is discarded in
Sriman Mahaprabhu's line), and make the whole world dance with that
bhava-bhakti.

apani karimu bhakta-bhava angikare
apani acari bhakti sikhaimu sabare

I'll accept bhakta-bhava, the mood of a bhakta and I'll teach bhakti .
Unless I practice it Myself I cannot teach.

apane na kaila dharma sikhana na yaya
ei ta' siddhanta gita-bhagavate gaya

(Cc Adi, 3.20-21)

If I don't practice bhakti,sarangati (surrender) in My own life, I cannot
teach it. So His mood is bhakti-bhava, the mood of a bhakta . This is the
purpose and this is the external cause (bahiranga karanam). Then there is
the internal cause (antaranga karanam). The external cause is for others, it
is for the people of Kali-yuga, kali-yuga jiva. Therefore it is bahiranga,
or external. Antaranga is mean for Himself. These two causes are there and
then that calling of Advaita Acarya which I'll speak about tomorrow morning,
is there. That is also one of the causes, but the most internal cause is to
fulfill the three desires.

radhayah pranaya-mahima kidrso vanayaiva
svadyo yenadbhuta-madhurima kidrso va madiyah
saukhyam casya mad-anubhavatah kidrsam veti lobhat
tad bhavadhyah samajami saci-garbha-sindhau harinduh

"Desiring to understand the glory of Radharani's love, the wonderful
qualities in Him that She alone relishes through Her love, and the happiness
She feels when She realizes the sweetness of His love, the Supreme Lord
Hari, richly endowed with Her emotions, appears from the womb of Srimati
Sacidevi as the moon appears from the ocean." (Cc. Adi. 1.6)

Svarup Damodara Gosvami has said this and this quotation is mentioned by
Rupa Gosvami in Lalita-Madhava . Three types of desires remain unfulfilled
in Krsna-lila. What is radhayah pranaya-mahima kidrso vanayarva, what is
Radharani's love? Svadyo yenadbhuta madhurima kidrso va madiyah, what is my
rupa-madhuri, excellent beauty, My beauty that Radharani relishes? What is
My extra-excellent beauty and how can I relish it? In other words this veti
lobhat, three desires, three types of greed developed in the Supreme Lord
Krsna. Therefore, saci garbha-sindhau harinduh, to fulfill these three
desires, these three types of greed, He appeared from the womb of Sacimata,
that is Gaura-avatara.

Greed

Here this word lobha ? greed, is very, very significant. The Lord has greed.
It is quite natural that we have greed. We are greed persons, materially
greedy. This greed of the material world is condemned, it is considered as
one of the enemies. In the 16 th chapter, 21 st verse of Bhagavad-gita
you'll find Lord Krsna has said:

tri-vidham narakasyedam
dvaram nasanam atmanah
kamah krodhas tatha lobhas
tasmad etat trayam tyajey

(Bg. 16.21)

Lord Krsna says, give up these three, kama, krodha, lobha - lust, anger and
greed. If you become influenced or affected by these three then you will
open your door towards hell, so give up these things. This lobha (greed) is
very bad. Those persons who are materially greedy, definitely they suffer.
For example, one very small story is there.

A greedy boy was in his house when his mother put some nice berries into an
earthen pot, like a water pot that has a very narrow opening. The boy
developed greed to get some of those berries so he put his hand into the pot
and grasped a handful of those berries. When he tried to get his hand out of
the pot, it got caught because the opening was so narrow and caused some
pain as he pulled but it wouldn't come out so he was crying. This is
suffering out of greed. Though he's suffering, he's not allowing any berries
to get out. A simple story showing the consequence of greed is suffering.
Therefore Bhagavan Krsna in Gita says to give up this greed.

But this greed can be utilised in Krsna's service. This word lobha is a very
ancient word, it is not a modern word. The seed of this greed is also there
in Bhagavan and in bhakta also. So in respect of Bhagavat-bhakta, the
devotee of the Lord will say, lobha sadhu-sange hari-katha . How can you
utilise this greed? Develop this greed to have more and more sadhu-sanga,
association of sadhus and hear more and more Krsna-katha . Develop this
greed, this is very nice greed, this is spiritual greed, transcendental
greed. One should not give up this greed. One should develop this greed more
and more. The more you develop this greed the more you get spiritual
relishment and spiritual advancement. One who is not greedy he cannot make
advancement in the spiritual path in this respect. But material greed should
be given up, whereas spiritual greed should be developed.

Again it is said:

Krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matih
kriyatam jadi kuto pi labhyate,
tatra laulyam api mulyam-ekalam
janma-koti-sukrtair na labhyate

"Pure devotional service in Krsna consciousness cannot be had even by pious
activity in hundreds and thousands of lives. It can be attained only by
paying one price ? that is intense greed to obtain it. If it is available
somewhere, one must purchase it without delay." (Padyavali 14)

Laulya means lobha (greed). That means from this verse you can understand
how the seed of greed is there. The purport is that if you have such
spiritual greed you can achieve krsna-bhakti-rasa, mellow of Krsna-bhakti,
otherwise if you are devoid of this greed you cannot have it, cannot achieve
it. Sadhu sange hari katha . One should develop this greed of having more
and more sadhu-sanga and hearing more and more hari-kirtan, hari-katha, than
you will make advancement in bhajan-sadhana . Materialistic people don't
know the use of this greed, they abuse it, utilising it for material
enjoyment, material possessions, they suffer. So when you speak about the
advent of Sacinandana Gaura Hari, the Appearance of Gauranga Mahaprabhu,
this greed is there.

This is Very Wonderful

In the beginning I explained that Krsna developed three types of greed that
could not be fulfilled Krsna-lila, therefore Gaura-avatara. In Gaura-lila
those three types of greed are fulfilled. This is very wonderful using this
word greed. Has anybody used such word previously? No one has used such word
previously. Svarupa Damodara Goswami has used it. Therefore,
Vrajaraja-nandana Krsna became Sacinandana Gaura Hari because of the
development of this greed. One who is purna-brahma, one who has no
deficiency, no wanting anything, still He develops greed. Wonderful!
Wonderful! He has no deficiency, He is purna-brahma, He is self-satisfied,
He doesn't want anything, there is no lacking there. Why such greed?
Wonderful, so wonderful! One should understand its mystery, what is the
tattva behind it? He who is aptakama (self-satisfied), atmarama, who is
rasa-svarupa-purna-brahma, who is paramananda-maya, supremely blissful
sacidananda-maya, He develops greed. What type of greed and to get what?
Very wonderful! Very wonderful! Now you can understand how the seed of this
greed gradually develops and the culmination is there in Gauranga svarupa.
I'll give you an example.

The Greed of Lord Visnu

Vaikuntha-dhipati Visnu, He develops some greed. He develops the desire for
fighting. He cherishes that, I'll fight. When He is Bhagavan the six types
of opulences are there completely in Him and one of the opulences is
strength or bala . Incomparable strength is there, therefore it is quite
natural to develop such desire that, I'll fight and fulfill this desire,
this greed. Whenever Bhagavan wants to fulfill some desire, His internal
energy, potency, Yogamaya creates such an atmosphere. So when this desire
developed in Vaikuntha-dhipati Narayan to fight, Yogamaya, the internal
potency created the circumstances to fulfill that desire.

Another point is that the opponent should be equally strong otherwise one
cannot get pleasure in fighting. So who is there? With whom will the Lord
fight? Then the question of Jaya and Vijaya, the two doorkeepers, who were
very strong came. By the desire or will of the Supreme Lord those two
doorkeepers were cursed by the four Kumaras to become demons for three
lives. Yogamaya did it. The first is Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu, the the
second is Ravana and Kumbhakana and the third is Sisupala and Dantavakra.
Three incarnations are there and Lord Visnu, Narayana fought with them and
got pleasure in fighting. This is the greed of Narayana, Visnu, this is in
Srimad Bhagavatam . So this is lobha .

The Greed of Lord Nrsimhadeva

Then came the greed of Nrsimhadev. Nrsimhadev has two types of forms, ugra
(fearsome) and anugra (peaceful). One is a very fearful form and another is
a very peaceful form. After killing Hirasnyakasipu, Nrsimhadev is very, very
fearful, an extremely fearful form and He was dancing, like the
tandava-nrtya of Siva at the time of annihilation. The whole world was
trembling seeing such dancing and anger of the fearful form of Nrsimhadev.
All the demigods are offering prayers to pacify Him, but it was all null and
void. Then they requested Bhakta Prahlad, "You please go and calm down the
anger of Lord Nrsimhadev." Prahlad Maharaja is a very dear devotee of the
Lord, so Prahlad went there to offer prayers and Lord Nrsimhadev became calm
and then His form is a very peaceful form. Then Nrsimhadev put His dear
devotee Prahlad, like a son, on His lap. At that time vatsalya-prem,
parental love and affection developed in Nrsimhadev.

Both father and son relish this rasa, mellow. Father relishes, son also
relishes by sitting in the lap of the father, so it is reciprocal but the
relishing if this mellow of the son is greater than that of the father. One
should understand this. So Nrsimhadev developed that greed, "How can I sit
in the lap of My father and relish that rasa? In this incarnation My father
is a stone pillar, I cannot have it." So He developed that greed. Then all
the incarnations after Nrsimhadeva came accepting father and mother, to
fulfill that greed.

The Greed of Lord Rama

Lord Ram also developed greed, very nice topic you see. Vibhisana and
Sugriva are friends of Lord Ram. That means sakhya-rasa is there in Ram
avatara. But there are two types of sakhya-rasa,visrambha and sambhrama
sakhya. Sambhrama means with awe and reverence and visrambha and sambhrama
is without awe and reverence - equal. So the sakhya-rasa in Ram avatara is
the sambhrama sakhya, with awe and reverence. There is no question of
visrambha sakhya or equality. In Ram-avatara His friends Sugriva and
Vibhisana cannot climb onto the shoulders of Lord Ram. They cannot snatch
away the food from the mouth of Lord Ram, what to speak of climbing onto the
shoulders of Lord Ram. They are afraid if even their leg will touch Lord
Ram's body. They are afraid and it will be offensive. This is sambhrama
sakhya . That means sakhya-rasa with awe and reverence.

But affection that the friends think themselves equal with the Lord. There
is no question of awe and reverence. If your own leg will touch your own
body, is there nay agitation? There is no agitation at all because it's your
own leg touching your own body, not the leg of a different person. A
different person is very cautious. If he comes near, he very cautiously
moves. In Krsna-lila you will find this visrambha sakhya . The cowherd boys
climb up to the shoulders of Krsna and they snatch away the food from the
mouth of Krsna and Krsna snatches away the food from the mouth of the
cowherd boys as if equal. The legs of the cowherd boys touch Krsna's body
and there is no agitation in Krsna because it's as if it is His own leg,
because priya-syasakha, is very dear. Therefore, there is equality and
abhinnam (non-difference). But in Ram-avatara this sakhya-rasa is not
relished. Therefore Lord Ram develops greed for it, how can I relish it?
Then it was fulfilled in Krsna avatara.

The Essence of Conjugal Mellow

Also another rasa is there, ie. conjugal mellow, madhurya-rasa. In Ram
avatara, Lord Ram is maryada-purusottama, who very strictly follows Vedic
rules and regulations. Never transgresses them at all, eka-patni-dhara . He
accepts only one wife, not more than one wife. Very strictly follows. In
Ram-lila, mahurya-rasa, the conjugal mellow is not relished there because
when there is a question of union milan and separation, biraha between lover
and beloved, the essence of that conjugal rasa is relished in the highest
degree. We will find also in Ram-lila is union and separation of Rama and
Sita. Ravana kidnapped Sita, took her away so there is separation and also
to give pleasure and happiness to His citizens He, (Lord Ram) banished Sita,
separation is there also, but there is no variegatedness in this type of
separation, it is not natural, it is forced, so there is no question of
relishing the essence of that conjugal mellow.

Rupa Gosvami has mentioned all these things (i.e. different types of virahas
(separation) in Ujjvala Nilamani . There are many types of virahas:
purava-raga viraha, mana viraha, prema -vaicitya viraha, and these virahas
or separations are not there in Ram-lila, no. One type of viraha is there,
pravasa viraha . You cannot understand but just hear this. This is in
Ujjvala Nilamani. It is a big topic and very, very confidential and subtle
point. I am not going to explain it but when some occasion will arise I'll
tell you. All these virahas are there Krsna-lila, this prema vaicitya
viraha, purva-raga viraha, mana viraha . Therefore Lord Ram develops this
greed, how to relish these types of viraha . In Krsna-avatara this greed is
filled. The viraha, the separation between lover and beloved is highest
platform of prema . On that platform both the nayaka nd nayika, lover and
beloved, relish that mellow in their heart. Therefore in Krsna-lila, Krsna
is Radha-kanta (the husband of Radha) Radha is His own wife, Gopi-kanta,
(the husband of gopis), He's the husband of gopis, He made them the wives of
others to relish parakiya-rasa .

In Ram-lila only svakiya-rasa is relished. Svakiya means ones own wife, not
the relishment of parakiya-rasa . Therefore Ram developed that greed. So
Krsna made His own wives of others to relish parakiya -rasa. Therefore that
greed is fulfilled in Krsna-lila but remained unfulfilled in Ram-lila;
therefore Krsna-avatara. In this way, this is how the development of greed
gradually turned into incarnation after incarnation of the Lord.

The Abode of Love

Now in Krsna-lila these three types of greed are there:

sri radhayah pranaya-mahima kidrso vanayaiva
svadyo yenadbhuta-madhurima kidrso va madiyah
saukhyam casya mad-anubhavatah kidrsam veti lobhat
tad bhavadhyah samajami saci-garbha-sindhau harinduh

"Desiring to understand the glory of Radharani's love, the wonderful
qualities in Him that She alone relishes through Her love, and the happiness
She feels when She realises the sweetness of His love, the Supreme Lord
Hari, richly endowed with Her emotions, appears from the womb of Srimati
Sacidevi as the moon appears from the ocean." (Cc Adi, 1.6)

Krsna developed these three types of greed, as I previously mentioned. The
first desire (or greed): What is the love of Radharani and how can I relish
it? Second desire (or greed): What is My excellent all-attractive beauty? I
cannot relish Myself. So how can I have it? And the third desire (or greed):
What pleasure and happiness does Radharani get by relishing My
all-attractive excellent beauty? How can I have it? These three greeds,
these three desires remain unfulfilled in Krsna-lila, therefore
Gaura-avatara. The fulfillment of three types of desires and greed is
antaranga karanam, internal cause. Svarupa Damodara Goswami has used this
word lobhat meaning, from greed. This word is so significant.

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Gauranga Proclaims that Sankirtana is the Best Religion

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Dandavats and obeissances!

Here is an excerpt from Caitanya Mangala, Madhya Khanda chapter 10:

Sankirtana is the Best Religion

     Harboring some doubts within his mind, Shrivasa Pandita once asked Lord Gauranga, "Prabhu, why is it said that by doing Hari-nama sankirtana in Kali-yuga, one will get the supreme result?

    Mahaprabhu said, "You've asked a good question. In Satya-yuga, meditation was the dharma; in Treta-yuga it was sacrifice and in Dvapara it was the worship of Krishna. In Kali-yuga no one can do these things. So, the Supreme Lord came down as His name. Therefore, in Kaliyuga, Hari-narna sankirtana is the most powerful form of religion.

    "In the previous yugas the rnahajanas served Lord Narayana by dhyana, yajna or arcana [meditation, sacrifice, worship. In Kali-yuga, people are sinful miscreants. So, the compassionate Lord gave them an easy method to attain spiritual perfection. Simply by performing the yajna of Hari-nama one can easily obtain all perfection. What one achieved in previous 'ages with great austerities, can effortlessly be obtained in Kali-yuga."

    Placing the lotus feet of Narahari on my head, I, Locana Dasa, happily describe the nectarean pastimes of Shriman Mahaprabhu.

Jagannatha Gauranga dasa

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Haribol Tones

At one time I had an actual ringtone business.  That's not happening much these days but one thing I did  was set up a site where you can download for FREE 3 different ringtones: Prabhupada chanting japa, VJSwami, and one other.  If you have a cellphone and you are internet enabled (and in America), this might be something you would enjoy.  Just go to www.cedarpost.com and find the button for LINKS and there you will see what to do.  Hope this works for you.  rsd

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Re: bila swarga

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! I am sorry for this delay in replying to this question. I think it will take some more time for me to reply to it. The sources which give quite authentic and detailed answer to your question are: Vedic Cosmology Book and the ysteries of the Sacred Universe CDM by Sadaputa dasa prabhu.

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: Not madhurya, not Radha-Krishna's Lila, and yet understanding...

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! In such cases, Lord Gauraanga imparts them a constitutional form in Shr Shri Radha Krishna's Pastimes even if they did not originally have one. Lord Gaura's incarnation so inconceivable and unlimitedly merciful.

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: Chanting of other songs and mantras

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Dandavats and obeissances!

Here is part of chapter 4 of A Ray of Vishnu, the biography of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, which is a perfect example for this question.

At that time the Maharaja of Kasimbazar was camped nearby, and he came regularly to hear from Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Siddhanta Sarasvati. Siddhanta Sarasvati was giving regular classes from the Chaitanya-caritamrita in the presence of his father, and many listeners were assembling just to hear it. The famous Radharamanacarana Dasa Babaji used to come at that time to hear the discourses.

Later relations with the Babaji were broken because of two deviations by him:

1. He introduced the chanting of Bhaja Nitai Gaura Radhe Syama Japa Hare Krishna Hare Rama. This was introduced with the idea of stopping the audible chanting of the maha-mantra. The first problem with this was that the concocted mantra had the faults of siddhanta-virodha-an opposing conclusion and rasabhasa-conflicting rasas. The second problem was that trying to suppress the audible vibration of the maha-mantra was against the desire of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, as established by His activities and teaching, as well as by the teachings of the Gosvamis. Rupa Gosvami had written in the Prathama Chaitanyashtaka, text five: hare krishnty ucchaih-"Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu chants the Hare Krishna mantra in a loud voice ..." Therefore, Rupa Gosvami, an eyewitness to the activities of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and recipient of His full blessings and empowerment for establishing His mission, personally testifies here that Lord Chaitanya did not confine the maha-mantra to inaudible muttering, but loudly proclaimed it to all.

2. Radharamanacarana Dasa Babaji also introduced the Sakhibheki doctrine by dressing his follower Shri Jayagopala Bhattacarya as Lalita Sakhi. This was against Mahaprabhu's teaching as well, as an ordinary jiva was being worshipped as though he were an expansion of Shrimati Radharani.

Both Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Siddhanta Sarasvati instructed the Babaji to give up these fallacious practices, but he refused. Siddhanta Sarasvati began to preach publicly and strongly against these misconceived teachings, proclaiming that the maha-mantra is for both japa and kirtana, and that kirtana is ultimately superior to japa. This created quite a controversy in Puri with many taking the side of the Babaji out of misplaced sentiment and others siding with Siddhanta Sarasvati.

During this period Siddhanta Sarasvati was engaged in the compilation of a Vaishnava encyclopedia which contained an explanation of Vaishnava terminology, brief biographies of great Vaishnavas, an introduction to the books of the Vaishnava acaryas, a description of the Vaishnava tirthas, the various conclusions of Vaishnava sects. etc. He called it Vaishnava-Manjusha-Samahriiti, and it was later published in four volumes. A Vaishnava scholar commented on it by saying, "This work is only possible for a supra-mortal, a great personality like Prabhupada Shrila Sarasvati Thakura. Even if 25 to 30 scholars and 10 to 15 men taking the treasury of a king began the work, they would be unable to edit it." The work of compilation was begun in Puri and continued as Siddhanta Sarasvati made his preaching rounds of Shri Mayapur-dhama, Shri Jagannatha Puri-dhama and Shri Vraja-dhama. He also studied the books of Shrila Madhvacarya and Shrila Ramanujacarya and published some of them in Bengali. He also published biographies of these and other Vaishnava saints in the Sajjana-Toshani magazine of Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

He toured South India in 1904 and again in 1905-places like Tirupati, Shrirangam, Singhachal, Raj Mahendry, Madras, Perambadur, Conjeveram, Kumbhakonam and Madurai. While on tour he collected all the information about the rites and rules of Vedic tridanda Vaishnava sannyasa from a Ramanuja tridandi swami at Perambadur. Wherever he would go in his travels he would lecture, write and debate the learned panditas of the day. He soon acquired such a reputation that his name would strike fear in the hearts of his philosophical adversaries. All bogus cults and sects were doomed in his presence.

However, in Puri, Siddhanta Sarasvati experienced such severe oppression and censure due to his preaching against the rhyming kirtana and sakhibheki doctrine of the popular Radharamanacarana Dasa Babaji that finally Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura instructed him to go and perform bhajana near the Yogapitha, the birthsite of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Jagannatha Gauranga dasa

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Re: raga-marga & viddhi-marga

> To what extent is the pancharatriki-viddhi necessary for a practitioner and how shoud he/she assess its necessity in his/her personal bhajan?

If one is fully attached to engage in constant Naama Bhajana, then Deity Worship is not necessary. The Deity of the Holy Names can be worshiped by anyone even a non-brahamana constantly even while talking, walking, eating, sleeping etc. which is not possible in the case of Temple Deities.

Shrila Sacchidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes in Hari Naama Chintamani:

ekati arcana-pravritti, ekati smarana-kirtana-pravritti.
ubhayei samicina haileo smarana-kirtana-pravritti aikantika
bhakta-digera madhye prabala.

"There are two processes in God-realization. One is Deity worship and other is the process of chanting and remembering the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Though both are powerful, the path of chanting and remembering the Holy Names is exclusively preferred as the most powerful by serious and advanced spiritual aspirants."

There is a pastime in which Shrila Gaura Kishore Dasa Babaji sees a devotee who was previously trying to chant constantly take to Deity worship at an old age. On seeing him, Shrila Gaura Kishore told Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta to see how this devotee has deprived himself of the highest form of Bhajana and taken to Deity worship instead.

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: Restrictions on Pancha-tattva mantra

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! Since there is no precedent in the lives of our previous Acharyas and Associates of Lord Gaura that the Pancha Tattva Mantra has been specifically chanted as japa on Tulasi beads, Shrila Prabhupada did not recommend it. But the 4-syllable Gaura Gopaala Mantra "Gauraanga" has been chanted on beads by great Rasika Acharyas like Shrila Shivaananda Sena so it is fully authorized.

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: Worshiping Lord Nityananda with His eternal associates

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! Yes, the worship of Lord Nityaananda Raama along with 12 cowherd Associates is certainly a very merciful, confidential and rare form of worship. We don't know of any Deities of all of them together though many of these 12 eternal associates of Lord Nitaai have worshiped their own Deities of Shri Shri Nitaai Gaura.

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: Spiritual realization or mental speculation?

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! If those thoughts and realizations are according to the scriptures and the teachings of Guru and the Acharyas, then they are certainly real and conducive for Bhajana. Shrila Rupa Goswami states in Shri Namashtakam that the Lord and His Holy Name does give glimpses of the ultimate attainment of Prema Bhakti, to the praciticing devotees in order to encourage them on the path. Shrila Prabhupada states that it is mandatory that one should think of the Form or Qualities or the Pastimes of the Lord while chanting the Holy Names so that our mind is properly absorbed in the Mantra.

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: Forcing the mind to chant!!!

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! If one cannot chant, one should force oneself to chant. If one has no desire to chant, one should force oneself to develop the desire to desire to chant. It is just like the sick patient who has to be forced to take the bitter medicine for his own benefit. And as he begins to recover, he realizes how beneficial the medicine actually is.

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: Chanting of other songs and mantras

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! Dear Sarvabhauma dasa, The verses in Shri Ananta Samhita quoted above specifically speak of chanting other Names while abondoning or minimizing the Hare Krishna Mahaamantra. We can certainly sing the principle Holy Names of Lord which do not contain any improper overlapping of mellows (rasaabhaasa) in addition to our regular chanting of the Mahaamantra if we are faithful in the chanting of the Mahaamantra and do not replace it at any time with other Names. Lord Gaura states that the Lord has invested all His energies into all His primary Names so we should not make any discrimination among His primary Holy Names which pertain to His pastimes in Goloka. If one gives up the japa and kirtana of the Hare Krishna Mahaamantra while chanting these other Names, then it is langhanah or not right. But if one is singing Them along with the Hare Krishna Mahaamantra, it is a wonderful addition.

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

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: Why do we need Guru?

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! Dear Mihir, I have still not been able to find a verse in the scriptures which states that the Guru takes the material sins of the disciple. At the time of initiation, Guru imparts Naama to the disciple. Chanting of one Naama is capable of washing away sins of unlimited past lives. So that is already taken care of. What the Guru has to accept is the reaction for the ten offenses against the Holy Names committed by his disciples...naama peye shishya kare naama aparaadha, gurura haya bhakti rasa baadha. But if both the Disciple and Guru are regularly chanting Nityaananda Gauraanga Naama along with Hari Naama, then the 10 offenses are also removed by Nityaananda Gauraanga Naama. That is why I personally humbly do not accept disciples who are unwilling to chant Nityaananda Gauraanga Naama along with the Hare Krishna Mahaamantra.  The disciple should specifically try to avoid criticizing Vaishnavas, not eat grains on Ekadashi and endeavor to follow the other four regulative principles.

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

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! Wonderful 9 points Nava. I can see these came from your heart directly. Please keep it up. Thanks for your kind words too.

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: Trust in God

>Sometimes I think since God is all powerful, we are no one to question Him or whatever He does.

You are certainly right. We are such insignificant creations of God, then we don't have any right to question Him about whatever He does nor are we capable to fully understand any of His transcendental activities or comprehend them. We can only understand in our heart that whatever God does is fully pure, right and most auspicious for everyone in creation. There are no dualities for Him. He is always right. He is always the Truth. We will realize this one day when we see Him face to face. But till then, we have to accept this from the scriptures.

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: Greatest Vaishnava

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! As far as I read, Shrila Prabhupada did not say that it should be instead worshiping Lord Krishna. He was just repeating the words of the Bhagavad Gita, that the faith of demigod worshipers should not forcibly disturbed as they are also slowly moving towards the worship Lord Gaura Krishna. And if some one already has faith in Lord Gaura Krishna as the Supreme Lord and sincerely worships Lord Shiva as a devotee, Lord Shiva will quickly inspire him or her to fully surrender to Lord Gaura Krishna. So we should let Lord Shiva guide him at the proper time.

The understanding is that when the bhoga or good offered to Lord Gaura Krishna (mahaprasadam) is offered to Lord Shiva it becomes (maha mahaprasadam) because when mahaprasadam is touched by the lips of a pure devotee is becomes even more potent is giving us pure love for the Lord. It is same principle, that devotees of the Lord are worshoped even more than the Lord. Of course, if food is directly offered to Lord Shiva (thinking Lord Shiva as God Himself) without first offering that food to His Master and Lord Gaura Krishna, then it not even prasadam as Lord Shiva does not accept it or he may act as  a demigod and accept it but he is not pleased by such an offering.

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: Live Chat with Swami Gaurangapada

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! Pranaams Vishnu Bhakta, Thank you for your post. I feel for your situation. I suggest you first separate yourself from the false and wrong association, by force if required. Without fully separating oneself from the wrong things, one cannot even begin to come out of it. Don't let wrong things happen through your hands. It is in your hands to avoid it. Loudly chant Nityaananda, Gauraanga, and the Hare Krishna Mahaamantra, when these thoughts or things attack you, and they will leave you. We must find the strength to say no to them with the strength of our loud chanting.  Every time we can say no to them, we come closer to the Lord, succeed in His tests for us and our determination to serve Lord Gaura Krishna increases.

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

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: Euthanize of pet question

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! Dear Ron, I will offer prayers for the soul of your dog. I understand your predicament in taking care of him at your age. Euthanization is ruled out because as you said we cannot take the law in our hands. If you are having great trouble taking care of him, you can consider giving him to some reasonable animal home where they can take care of him until death. He has received spiritual sukriti (pious credits) by staying with a devotee like you and I am sure a good destination for his soul is ensured where he can continue his devotional service and association possibly directly as a human being. Thanks Nava for your advice.

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

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: Euthanize of pet question

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna!

Hi Bhakta Ron,

It's nice to hear from you. I wish I had a solution to your problem, but I do not. I understand the love you have for your pet, I am also a dog owner, a six year old Jack Russel Terrier. Goodness he is naughty and loving!!!

I know there are some agencies in Australia at least that will care for old dogs, I am not sure in the U.S. But the difficult things is letting go of an old friend, isn't it. I take comfort in the thought that an animal is also a spirit soul and will take another body at the time of death. There must be a time of letting go of all things in this world, as you know. The only solution I have personally with this attachment, is to seek God daily to grant me strength and wisdom to make the right choices and decisions. I am in the process of finding a home for my dog, so that I may be free to go away occasionally to seek association of devotees. There are no devotees where I live and my income is too low to put the dog in a shelter. Its difficult for me too.

My main consideration is that my pet dog goes to a good home. To a home where people are not cruel. If the dog is treated kindly it will feel that affection and adapt and respond to it, just like we would.

I have asked devotees over the internet advice occasionally about being a dog owner. Some has been good advice and to be honest some advice has been terrible. I remember one devotee suggesting things which were very cruel, using examples of a dog who lives on the streets in India, in regards to being detached. Quite fanatical. I personally feel that if we have accepted animals into our household we need to be responsible, and practice ahimsa to the best of our ability with our choices. As you would know the animals and especially dogs have many faculties and emotions just like humans.

I am sorry I have no practical solutions for you. Simply when you look at your dog and feel affection, see the Supersoul within it's heart. And show it kindness as if you were serving the Lord. Maybe that is best Ron, I dont know. Just simply try to be aware of Krsna in all things. And perform your duty. When the dog eventually leaves it's body your conscience and memories will sit well with you. And then when the dog is gone you may focus your spare time and freedoms in service for your own eternal destiny, in service to the spiritual dimension, the loving pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna and Their Associates.

in service...Nava Gauranga dasa.

*please visit often at Nitaai Sangha Ron, I would love to hear your Krsna Katha.

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Re: Faith in Gauranga, that is costly

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!

Sorry, that link to the original audio file doesn't work anymore. This is the correct one: http://www.archive.org/download/bhakti- … uranga.mp3

Yours, Matus

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Euthanize of pet question

Nityananda, Gauranga, Hare Krishna
I have had this dog for a very long time, and although I realize that some do not care much for having a pet, this dog has been a good thing for me. He is now old and very, very heavy in weight. I have to bring him food and water, lift him so he can go outdoors to relieve himself of his "business", let him down so he does not hurt himself. His hips are not in good condition. He falls two or three times a day. This lifting and taking care of him is like a nursing home, but for a dog. I have considered having him euthanized, but to take the life of any living being is so bad. I certainly do not want to cause this dog to have to live his life over as a dog - due to my having him euthanized. Most of all, it would be so very offensive the Lord. This care that I need to provide is very difficult for me lately. I have health problems myself and this is all causing me some added difficulties.
Still, I know that Krishna must make the choice of life and death, not me. I know I will miss his being around when the dog does leave his body, but that is coming at some time. I have been praying that the Lord take care of this problem for me, but no such results yet. I guess that no answer is still and answer.
I ask for your prayers that this difficulty will soon be taken care of.

your unworthy servant,
Ronald McCarthy

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Re: Devotee saved from death

Hare Krishna,  Thank you.  I also have a few Christian stories on my website.  The story of John Traynor (URL below) is expecially moving.  Of course, this involves the famous events that took place in Lourdes, France and the young girl, Bernadette Soubirous.  Hollywood even made a famous movie about her in 1943.  If you are unaware of these events, you should take a few minutes and read about them.  I also have another link (see below) that gives a brief glimps into Bernadette Soubirous life.  I have also installed a webcam button at the top of the page and you can look at the actual grotto where the miracle took place.

Rohini-suta dasa
http://www.cedarpost.com/Story.htm

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Re: Live Chat with Swami Gaurangapada

My respected Vaishnavji,

I am feeling surrounded by false things ,,which are materialistic ,, I am getting involved in them ,, but i know i am not doing right,,but still things are happening thru my hands,,,  I need your words of guidence

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Re: Chanting of other songs and mantras

Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu chanted many poems and verses while He was performing His Sankirtana. Few examples:

1. Lord Chaitanya Himself chanted hari haraye namah krsna yadavaya namah. It is described in Caitanya Caritamrta.

2.At the temple of Jiyada-nrsimha He offered prayers:

sri nrsimha, jaya nrsimha, jaya jaya nrsimha
prahladesa jaya padma-mukha-padma-bhrnga

�All glories to Nrsimhadeva! All glories to Nrsimhadeva, who is the Lord of Prahlada Maharaja and, like a honeybee, is always engaged in beholding the lotuslike face of the goddess of fortune.�

3.We also know that Lord Gauranga chanted song:

krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna he
krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna he
krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna raksa mam
krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna krsna pahi mam
rama raghava rama raghava rama raghava raksa mam
krsna kesava krsna kesava krsna kesava pahi mam

So Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave us example that there is no harm if we chant other songs that containing principle names of the Lord. I just wanted to give these examples. 

Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna
Dasso�smi
Bhakta Igor

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