Re: How do we digest this

Dear Lowerthanarat,

     Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna! Jaya Jaya Guru Parampara! Please accept my respectful obeisances!

     A vaisnava need not formally initiate disciples to testify to his touchstone abilities. Thakur Bhaktivinode's statement must be seen from the Absolute viewpoint and not from the relative viewpoint. Simply by seeing Vaisnavas, millions of living entities are delivered. Haridasa Thakura for one did not initiate many disciples. But simply by hearing his chanting many people were delivered and became devotees eventually. Not only people, the trees, plants, insects, animals, birds, reptiles, even the microorganisms invisible to the eye and created beings all over the universe are delivered by the presence of the Vaisnavas.

     Often in our sampradaya we see that one bhajanandi guru is always accompanied by one disciple who goes on to become a very great preacher, gosthyanandi. Like Lokanatha Gosvami --- Narottama Dasa Thakura, Jagannatha Dasa Babaji --- Thakur Bhaktivinode, Gour Kisore Dasa Babaji -- Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, Bhaktishastri Paramapada Dasa Maharaja --- Swami Gaurangapada, etc.....  They did not keep many disciples, but those one or two disciples were more than enough to make Vaisnavas out of innumerable entities.

     So the acaryas even if they don't appear to be preaching are responsible for the preaching movement behind the scenes while their disciples become responsible for the preaching movement on the 'stage', if I am allowed to make that comparison. Our Swami Gaurangapada's spiritual master gave him fully mercy and blessed his preaching mission to be successful which is the core inspiration that keeps this preaching going on so well. The parampara is a team and works together according to the will of the Lord and so different acaryas do different things. But actually it is one guru tattva working in the form of many acaryas. Every Vaisnava acarya is preaching by making their contribution to the movement in one way or another and with our limited senses we cannot understand how things work. To make just one movie thousands of people are involved behind the scenes putting in so much time and effort, so if that is just for a mundane thing, we can just imagine how devotees are working towards the spiritual work of delivering all the living entities.

      Factually a Vaisnava has no reason to stay in this world except for preaching. The acaryas who come down to earth do not have any other thing on their plans except preaching and if it weren't for the chance to preach and deliver the fallen souls, the whole purpose of this material world would be defeated as the souls can never be delivered without the help of the Vaisnavas. So you can digest your observation with great pleasure when you see what's going on behind the scenes. I hope that helps. Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!

Your servant,

Srinath

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Re: How do we digest this

Dear lowerthanarat, Here Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura is talking about the parameter to see a Goshtyaanandi Preacher Vaishnava. Pure Bhajanaanandi Bhajana Paraayana Vaishnavas also help great number of souls to become devotees by sending out the pure vibrations of their Naama Bhajana from wherever they practice it but this is not in a tangibly visible form for one and all. So the universal parameter to understand both these kind of Vaishnavas remains the one given by Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Shrila Haridasa Thakura in Hari Naama Chintamani...jaara jata naame ruchi, taara tata vaishnava..."The ultimate definition of a Vaishnava is that to that extent one has taste and attachment for chanting the Holy Names, to that extent one is a Vaishnava (be him or her a Goshtyaanandi or a Bhajanaanandi)." Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna!

Daaso'smi, BR Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada.

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Virabhadra Goswami's mercy of Nityananda Gauranga Naam

Note to the devotee who sent this post: Please email this post to us again or post  it directly. We have not received the text of this post in a readable form. Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna!

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How do we digest this

Madhya 24.277
TEXT 277
TEXT
dekhiya vyadhera prema parvata-mahamuni
naradere kahe,��tumi hao sparsa-ma�i


�When Parvata Muni saw the ecstatic loving symptoms of the hunter, he told Narada, �Certainly you are a touchstone.�
PURPORT
When a touchstone touches iron, it turns the iron to gold. Parvata Muni called Narada Muni a touchstone because by his touch the hunter, who was lowest among men, became an elevated and perfect Vaisnaava. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura said that the position of a Vaisnava can be tested by seeing how good a touchstone he is�that is, by seeing how many Vaisnavas he has made during his life. A Vaisnava should be a touchstone so that he can convert others to Vaisnavism by his preaching, even though people may be fallen like the hunter. There are many so-called advanced devotees who sit in a secluded place for their personal benefit. They do not go out to preach and convert others into Vaisnavas, and therefore they certainly cannot be called sparsa-ma�i, advanced devotees. Kanistha-adhikari devotees cannot turn others into Vaisnavas, but a madhyama-adhikari Vaisnava can do so by preaching. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised His followers to increase the numbers of Vaisnavas.


Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura said that the position of a Vaisnava can be tested by seeing how good a touchstone he is�that is, by seeing how many Vaisnavas he has made during his life.

How do we digest this statement. When we know the are many Acharryas in our line had only one or two disciples

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Nava's Lords pics

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna!

Dear Swami Gaurangapada and assembled devotees
please accept my prayers and well wishes.

Today I finished assembling Their Lordships long awaited home. Here are two pics, sorry about the picture quality, I do not have a digital camera. These are from my eeepc laptop so quality is poor.

Their Lordships are very happy in Their new home, and can now take rest. They look wonderful.

y.s. Nava.

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Re: Mysterious pastimes in Linga Purana and others

Dear Guruji,

       Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna! Jaya Guru Parampara! My humble pranams!

       To append to what you said, I have found the quote from the Tattva Sandarbha by Jiva Gosvami. Thank you so much for having cleared up those nagging knots.

"      16)                          skande
vyasacittasthitakasad avacchinnani kanicit /
anye vyavaharanty etany urikrtya grhad iva // iti /
tathaiva drstam shrivisnupurane parasaravakyam
tato 'tra matsuto vyasah astavimsatime 'ntare /
vedam ekam catuspadam caturdha vyabhajat prabhuh //
yathatra tena vai vyasta vedavyasena dhimata /
vedas tatha samastais tair vyasair anyais tatha maya //
tad anenaiva vyasanam sakhabhedan dvijottama /
caturyugesu racitan samastesv avadharaya //
krishnadvaipayanam vyasam viddhi narayanam prabhum /   ko 'nyo hi bhuvi maitreya mahabharatakrd bhavet // iti /
skanda eva
narayanad vinispannam jnanam krtayuge sthitam /
kincit tad anyatha jatam tretayam dvapare 'khilam //
gautamasya rseh sapaj jnane tv ajnanatam gate /
sankirnabuddhayo deva brahmarudrapurahsarah //
saranyam saranam jagmur narayanam anamayam /
tair vijnapitakaryas tu bhagavan purusottamah //
avatirno mahayogi satyavatyam parasarat /
utsannan bhagavan vedan ujjahara harih svayam // iti /
vedasabdenatra puranadidvayam api grhyate / tad evam itihasa-
puranavicara eva sreyan iti siddham / tatrapi puranasyaiva
garima drsyate / uktam hi naradiye
vedarthad adhikam manye puranartham varanane /
vedah pratisthitah sarve purane natra samsayah //
puranam anyatha krtva tiryagyonim avapnuyat /
sudanto 'pi susanto 'pi na gatim kvacid apnuyat // iti /

16)                          As stated in the Skanda Purana: " Others have borrowed bits and pieces from the ethereal realm of Vyasa's mind for their own use, just as one would remove objects from a house and use them.
The same idea is found in the Vishnu Purana, in the words of Vyasa's father, Parasara: "Then, in this twenty-eighth Manvantara, my son, the Lord Vyasa, took the one Veda, consisting of four parts, and divided it into four. All the other 'Vyasas', and myself as well; also arrange the Vedas just as the wise Vedavyasa had arranged them. Therefore, know for certain that the different branches of the 'Vyasas'in the four yugas were created for this reason alone. O Maitreya, know that Krishnadvapayana (Vyasa) is the Lord Narayana Himself; for who on earth but He could have composed the Mabharata?" (Vi. P. 3/4/2-5)
And in the Skanda Purana: "In the Krta Yuga, the knowledge which  had issued forth from Narayana remained intact. It became somewhat distorted in the Treta Yuga, and completely so in the Dvapara Yuga. When, due to the curse of the sage Gautama, know- ledge turned into ignorance, the bewildered demigods led by Brahma and Rudra, sought shelter with the benignant, refuge- giving Narayana, and informed Bhagavan Purusottama of their purpose in coming. And the great Yogin, the Lord Hari Himself, descended, taking birth as the son of Satyavati and Parasara, and rescued the fallen Vedas." The word "Vedas" in the preceding verse indicates both Itihasa and Puranas as well. It is thus established that the study of Itihasa and Puranas alone leads to the highest good. And of these, it is the importance of Puranas alone which is seen; for it is stated in the Narada Purana: "O Fair One (Parvati), I consider the significance of the Puranas to outweigh that even of the Vedas. The Vedas all find a firm resting place in the Puranas-about this there is no doubt. He who looks down on the Puranas will take birth in the womb of an animal, and even if well-behaved and peaceful, will find no refuge anywhere."

17)                          skandaprabhasakhande
vedavan niscalam manye puranartham dvijottamah /
vedah pratisthitah sarve purane natra samsayah // bibhety alpasrutad vedo mam ayam calayisyati /
itihasapuranais tu niscalo 'yam krtah pura //
yan na drstam hi vedasu tad drstam smrtisu dvijah /
ubhayor yan na drstam hi tat puranaih pragiyate //
yo veda caturo vedan sangopanisado dvijah /
puranam naiva janati na ca sa syad vicaksanah //
atha purananam evam pramanye sthite 'pi tesam api samastyena-
pracaradrupatvan nanadevatapratipadakaprayatvad arvacinaih
ksudrabuddhibhir artho duradhigama iti tadavastha eva sam-
sayah/ yad uktam matsye
pancangam ca puranam syad akhyanam itarat smrtam /
sattvikesu ca kalpesu mahatmyam adhikam hareh //
rajasesu ca mahatmyam adhikam brahmano viduh /
tadvad agnes ca mahatmyam tamasesu sivasya ca /
sankirnesu sarasvatyah pitrnam ca nigadyate // iti /
atragnes tattadagnau pratipadyasya tattadyajnasyetyarthah /
sivasya ceti cakarac chivayas ca / sankirnesu sattvarajastamo-
mayesu kalpesu bahusu / sarasvatyah nanavanyatmakatad-
upalaksitaya nanadevataya ityarthah / pitrnam karmana pitr-
lokah iti srutes tatprapakakarmanam ityarthah //

17)  As stated in the Prabhasa Khanda of the Skanda Purana: "O Best of the Twice-born, I consider the significance of the Puranas to be unchanging, like that of the Vedas. The Vedas all find a firm resting place in the Puranas-about this there is no doubt. The Veda is afraid of those of little knowledge, thinking 'They will twist my meaning'; and so the meaning of the Veda was fixed in ancient times by means of Itihasa and Puranas. For what is not found in the Vedas, O Twice-born, is found in Smrti; and what is not found in either, is related in the Puranas. He who know the four Vedas, together with the Vedangas and Upanisads, without knowing the Puranas, is not to be thought of as wise." (Sk.P.2/90-93)
But now, even though the authoritative nature of Puranas has been thus established, the same doubt still remains i-e. Since the Puranas are also not avaible in their entirety, and since they are chiefly concerned with establishing the superiority of various deities, their meaning is also difficult to comprehend for modern man of meagre intelligence. As stated in the Matsya Purana:"A Purana should consist of five parts, as apposed to an Akhyana. The glory of Hari is greater in sattvika scripture; the glory of Brahma is greater in rajasika scriptures; and that of Agni and Siva greater in tamasika scriptures. In mixed scriptures the glory of Sarasvati and the pitrs is said to be greater." (Ma.P. 190/13-14)
The name "Agni" in the preceding verse refers to the various yajnas which are offered in the different fires. The conjunction ca in the phrase sivasya ca indicates that Siva's consort, Parvati is also meant. The term "mixed kalpas" refers to the many scriptures composed of sattva, rajas, and tamas. "Sarasvati" refers to various deities indicated by Sarasvati, who is the embodiment of various words. And the pitrs refers to the sacrificial acts which lead to the attainment of the world of the forefathersm, as declared in Sruti :"Through karman one attains Pitrloka." (Br.U.1/5/16)
18)  tad evam sati tattatkalpakathamayatvenaiva matsya eva
prasiddhanam tattatpurananam vyavastha jnapita taratamyam
tu katham syat yenetaranirnayah kriyeta / sattvaditaratamye-
naiveti cet sattvat samjayate jnanam iti sattvam yad brahma-
darsanam iti nyayat sattvikam eva puranadikam paramartha-
jnanaya prabalam ity ayatam/ tathapi paramarthe 'pi nana-
bhangya vipratipadyamananam samadhanaya kim syat / yadi
sarvasyapi vedasya puranasya carthanirnayaya tenaiva shribhaga-
vata vyasena brahmasutram krtam tadavalokanenaiva sarvo
'rtho nirneya ity ucyate tarhi nanyasutrakaramunyanugatair
manyeta / kincatyantagudharthanam alpaksaranam tatsutra-
nam anyarthatvam kascid acaksita tatah katarad ivatra sama-
dhanam / tad eva samadheyam yady ekatamam eva purana-
laksanam apauruseyam sastram sarvavedetihasapurananam
arthasaram brahmasutropajivyam ca bhavad bhuvi sampurnam
pracaradrupam syat/ satyam uktam yata eva ca sarvapramana-
nam cakravartibhutam asmadabhimatam shrimadbhabavatam
evodbhavitam bhavata //

18)  This being the case, the categories into which the various well-known Puranas fall are described in the Matsya Purana itself, based solely on stories concerning the different kalpas; but what means can be adopted by which the relative importance of these Puranas can be determined ? If we base our decision on the relative importance of the three gunas, sattva,rajas and tamas, then, on the strength of such statements as "From sattva comes knowledge" (Bh. G. 14/17) and "Sattva is the basis for the realization of brahman", we will have to conclude that only sattvika Puranas etc. are capable of leading us to the highest truth.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
But then (it might be asked), how can you reconcile the diver- gent views which are propounded by means of various specious arguments  with regard even to the highest truth? If you propose that the entire significance can be determined merely by studyin the Brahmasutra, composed by the Lord Vyasa himself in order to fix the meaning of all the Vedas and Puranas, the followers of the other sages who wrote sutra texts will not accept your proposal. Furthermore, someone might interpret the significance of these cryptic and terse sutras in a distorted manner; how then can one know which one represents the correct interpretation? This issue could be settled once and for all if only you could point to one among the many scriptures, which exhibits the characteristics of a Purana, is divinely composed, represents the essence of all the Vedas, Itihasa, and Puranas, is based on the Brahmasutra, and is available throughout the land in its complete form.
Well said! (we reply), for you have just described the very Bhagavata Purana which we consider to be the sovereign ruler of all
pramanas."

Sincerely,
Srinath

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Re: Are those who worship Sri Nrisimhadev Dasya-rasa

Yes. Lord Nrisinghadeva is present as the four-handed presiding Deity of a Vaikuntha planet where a soul can attain shanta (neutrality), dasya (servitorship) and maximum of aishvarya-mishrita sakhya (friendship mixed with awe and reverence) i.e. the two and a half mellows. The other higher two and a half melllows (of equal friendship, parenthood, and lover) are only present in Goloka.

Daaso'smi, BR Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada.

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Nitaai vs Nityananda

Nityananda ! Gauranga ! Hare Krishna !
 
There is no difference between Nityananda and Nitaai.
 
Nityananda and Gauranga are authorised scriptural mantras
Devotee : In Praana Kriya I say Nitaai and not the authothorised mantra Nityananda
  then why do you say Nitaai Praana Kriya is also as powerful as chanting ?
    Swamiji: Nitaai is also an authorized two syllable Namatmaka Mantra, all Mantras are not specifically mentioned in the scriptures. But each bonafide principal Name of God is a Mantra

  Like it is mentioned in the Puranas that the name "Krishna" is itself a Mantra

  2-syllable Mantra
    Devotee : ohh wow
    Swamiji: Similarly for Nitaai and Gaura
     Devotee : you mean Nitaai Praana Kriya is also as powerful as Nityananda chanted on beads?

     Swamiji: Each Principal Name of God has full potency of the Lord whether it is big or small

   Yes, certainly
  No one in this world can say Nitaai is less powerful than Nityaananda
   The Lord behind both the Names is the same, so both the Names are equally powerful

      Devotee : wonderful
    ok, then lets say if I am watching television or at office doing some work then what would have a greater effect on me,        Nityananda chanted mentally very fast or Nitaai Praana Kriya ?

     Any one , which ever you feel convenient
    Devotee : still I want to work only under your order

  which one would you tell me to do ?
     Swamiji: For chanting of Tulasi beads, we chant the Mantras Nityaananda and Gauraangha
    
    Swamiji : but there is no such restriction while chanting anywhere and everywhere

    Devotee: no I mean not on Tulasi beads
  if I wanted to chant just in my mind
  without any beads
    Swamiji: Yes, you can chant in any one of the both
     Devotee: which one do you do Gurudev ?
  like right now what are you doing ?
     Swamiji: Both
  
     Devotee  : right now you are chanting Nitaai and Nityananda on beads u mean ?

    Swamiji: I am chanting Praana Kriyaa while sleeping
  No
      Devotee : then right nown while chatting with me are you doing Praana Kriya ?

     Swamiji: Yes
I sometimes meditate on the Sanskrit syllables of the Mantras also
  Lekhana Kriyaa
      Devotee : ohh ok
    Swamiji: while breathing Praana Kriyaa
     Devotee : ohh
  actually I am very confused right now for myself
 like right now both my hands are busy in typing
  then should I do Praana Kriya or mentally chant Nityananda
  this is waht I don't understand
    Swamiji: Yes, Praana Kriyaa will also be beneficial for you since it clam your mind with the Mantras
     Devotee : great
  then that is fixed
  I am going to make it my life and soul now

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Did your Parents tell you about the Flies and Bees?

Did your Parents tell you about the Flies and Bees?

Srila A.C. Bhakti vedanta Swami Prabhupadas quotes
SB 1.5: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.9-11


Bees look for honey, whereas flies look for open sores. Some people are like flies. If they see the slightest fault, they magnify it out of proportion. But we should not be like flies; we should be like buzzing bees and see all the good qualities of a devotee.
Just like flies. They'll sit down on the stool Maksikam bhramara icchanti. . And the bees, they will try to take honey.
Just like the flies, they are finding out where is sore, and the bees, they are finding out where there is honey. So two insects, they have got two business: fault-finding and collecting the good things.

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