Re: My Video Reply to the Puri Incident Regarding Shrila Prabhupada

Respected Swamiji,

    Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna! Please accept my respectful obeisances!

    Thank you so much for having edited the text of the post. You see I had written it in a rather incensed mood as I had been quite disturbed by what I saw and so I had made some remarks which I still regret doing. What goes for one goes for us all and henceforth I will never write in that manner.

      Only one correction : "So in the interests of everyone's devotion, we should compromise our standards." This is a typographical error. It should be "....we should never compromise our standards!" I hope the readers were not offended, I really had written that the standard must not be reduced.

       In case my previous harsh writing had hurt your heart Swamiji, or anyone else's heart, I am deeply sorry and I fall at your feet and request you to forgive me. Henceforth I will not lose my temper and my brains along with it.

My request be forgiven,
Daasadaaso'smi,

Srinath

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Re: What is the specified meaning of the dhamas?

Welcome to NITAAI.com Fabian. Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna!  Thank you for your wonderful questions and sorry for the belated reply. If you come to Puri, I can answer these questions in much more detail.

As far as I have heard Navadvip is Vrindavana from a little different perspective. All the lilas in Vrindavana can also be seen in the mood of Navadvip. There is the Gaur-Govinda Arati where Bhaktivinoda Thakur sings how the worship of gaur gadhadar becomes the worship of Radha Krishna. Could you please explain the right understanding of this point and how the mood of the dhamas differ from each other in the worship gaur gadhadar and Radha Krishna?

I have already explained this Tattva in many places. Please make a search. Shri Shri Gaura Gadadhara Pastimes are considered the climax of the Pastimes of Shri Shri Radha Krishna because even though Shri Shri Gaura Gadadhara are Shri Shri Radha Krishna Themselves, They do not imitate the Braja Pastimes in Navadvipa. They simply relish by dancing together in Sankirtana. This leads to Separation (Vipralambha) even during Union (which happens only occasionally in the Braja Lila of Shri Shri Radha Krishna like for example Prema Sarovara) which takes Shri Shri Gaura Gadadhara's Pastimes to the climax known as Prema Vaichitra as described by Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada.

I have heard that in Navadvip more audaria is present, what does audaria mean within the lila?

Audarya Pastimes means that Lord Gaura Krishna freely gives the entry to even non-perfected souls in His topmost Pastimes which are even rare for His own Associates. It means the mood of distribution along with relishing it Himself.

It is sayed, when Mahaprabhu stayed in Puri he saw Vrindavana. Does this mean Puri is part of Goloka and just like Navadvip a different perspective of the Vrindavana Lilas. Or does Puri more refer to Dvarka, because Jagannath has a form of more opulence?

Yes, Puri is an eternal part of Goloka as described in Hari Vamsha. This is confirmed by none other than Shrimati Shachidevi herself, who said that Navadvipa and Puri are two different rooms of the same house. Puri is a part of the Navdvipa Partition of Goloka just like Gokula, Vrindavana and Govardhana are parts of the Braja partition. Puri is certainly not only Dvaraka. Dvaraka, Vaikuntha and other abodes are present inside Puri but Puri is not only that as confirmed in Vaishnava Tantra.. madhura dvaraka lilaa yah karoti cha gokule... Lord Gauraanga Mahaprabhu, Shrila Namacharya Haridasa Thakura, Gopkumara (Lord Jagannatha showed him the hidden Braja in Puri), Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada etc. would have never resided in Puri and performed Their Bhajana here if Puri was only Dvaraka or Vaikuntha or Kurukshetra etc.

Is there in the Nitya Lila of Puri Mahaprabhu present?

Yes. The nitya lila (eternal pastimes) of Jagannatha Puri were witnessed by Shrila Shrinivasa Acharya Thakura when he was resting in the house of Shrila Gopinatha Acharya. They are described in Bhakti Ratnakara.

How does the dhamas refer to each other in the nitya sphere?

Already described above. Puri is a part of Gauda Mandala Bhumi or the Gauranga's Partition in Goloka.

Daaso'smi, BR Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: Paramatma and Lord"s Form and Pastimes in the heart

There is a connection link (kind of a divine tunnel) between the Supersoul Paramatma and the spiritual world even though the Supersoul is only manifested in this material creation in the hearts of each living entity. It is as follows. Paramatma -> Kshirodakashayi Vishnu -> Garbhodakashayi Vaishnu -> Karanodakashayi Vishnu -> Maha Sankarshana -> Mula Sankarshana -> Nityaananda Balaraama -> Gauraanga Krishna. Thus is the practicing stages of Bhakti, we are given this glimpse of the Name, Form, Pastimes and Abodes of the Lord in our heart via this link. Meaning the Paramatma shows Them to us by granting us the limited spiritual vision according to our purification. In the perfected stage of Bhakti, the original Lords Nitaai Balaraama and Lord Gaura Krishna directly manifest in our hearts according to the mood of the devotee and this the whole original spiritual Abode of Goloka descends in our heart. So Hadai is right. ome things about this are described in Madhurya Kadambini by Shrila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura. Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna!

Daaso'smi, BR Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: How to chant extra rounds ?

Dear Mihir, Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna! You can chant extra rounds of any of the three Mantras. Thank you.

Daaso'smi, BR Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: Ramayan 3392 A.D.

I agree with Srinath that for it to be the fully spiritual effective and purifying, they should stick to the pure pastimes from the original Ramayana of Shrila Valmiki and consult an advanced devotee for guidance and most importantly select devotees of Lord Gaura Krishna  to act in it. Anyway, I don't think any of these may be implemented. In such a case, it will simply give entertainment to the people though they will certainly get some agyata sukriti or advancement by hearing the name of Rama and seeing something like His pastimes. Though, there may also be a danger of seeing some offensive things against Lord Rama or His Pure Associates if they add imaginary speculative things to spice up the movie, which may not originally be from the pure Ramayana. They should understand and present the original Valmiki Ramayana under the guidance of a pure Gaudiya Vaishnava...yaha bhagavata pada tumi bhagavata sthane... If they make the movie thinking that Lord Rama is mythology, then it will have limited spiritual effect. Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna!

Daaso'smi, BR Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada.

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Re: My Video Reply to the Puri Incident Regarding Shrila Prabhupada

dandavats maharaj

It was a sad day to read about my diksa Guru Om Visnupada Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada being treated this way.

�Servitors burnt effigy of Srila Prabhupad, the founder acharyya of ISKCON. Shouting slogans against the organisers�

But if the ISKCON organiser had taken notice of last year objection then the Puri servitors would not have done this travesty of unjustly against my Gurudev. The organiser knowing full well the consequence of their action would put my Gurudev and them seleve in jeopardy.

As our vaisnava friends may know elevated devotees would never cerate conflict with no one, as mentioned when they already know the reaction of holding the cart festival, and celebrating Ratha Yatra on an unscheduled is not done. If Srila Prabhupada was here he follow tradition and not disturb the local Hindus

�Despite the protest last year, ISKCON had celebrated the car festival in New Delhi. It had evoked sharp reactions among servitors and other die-hard followers of Jagannath cult�

In Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu�s time there was only one Ratha Yatra and all the Vaisnavas came from all over India for this special festival.

Sri Gauranga travelled all over India but he never ever encourage no one to start the cart festival.  In fact some of the great devotees like Srila Hari Das Thakura, Srila Sanatana Goswami avoided disturbing the local brahmanas.

From Srila Prabhupada�s media

Cc Adi lila 10.84 purport
Sanatana Gosvami later described the glories of Haridasa Thakura. Sanatana observed the etiquette of Jagannatha�s temple by going along the beach to visit Lord Chaitanya, although it was extremely hot due to the sun. He requested Jagadananda Pandita to give him permission to return to Vrindavana. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu praised the character of Sanatana Gosvami, and He embraced Sanatana, accepting his body as spiritual. Sanatana Gosvami was ordered by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to live at Jagannatha Puri for one year. When he returned to Vrindavana after that time, he again met Rupa Gosvami, and both brothers remained in Vrindavana to execute the orders of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Cc Antya lila 4.122 to 132

TEXT 131
maryada-langhane loka kare upahasa iha-loka, para-loka�dui haya nasa

TRANSLATION
�If one transgresses the laws of etiquette, people make fun of him, and thus he is vanquished in both this world and the next.

Antya 4.132
maryada rakhile, tushta kaile mora mana tumi aiche na karile kare kon jana?�

TRANSLATION
�By observing the etiquette, you have satisfied My mind. Who else but you could show this example?�

�����������������������..
I do not wish to disturb the position of the sevaits of Radha Damodara Temple, but simply if I am given the facility to live there with my disciples, it will be my pleasure to serve Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Damodara to my best capacity. Now it is up to you all sevaits to decide on this fact.
Yours sincerely,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
����������������������

May 27 1970
Boston
My Dear Satsvarupa,
In India there is already a party who are prepared to criticize my activities in the matter of offering sacred thread to the so-called mlecchas according to their calculation. But actually whatever I am doing here, of course giving consideration to the local situation, all of them are strictly in the line of our predecessors and direction of Sanatana Goswami. Therefore my request is that all of you be determined to maintain this standard which is not very difficult to follow that I have introduced.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
����������������������������..
Lecture june 27 1971
So this Ratha-yatra ceremony is performed in commemoration of Krishna's visiting Kurukshetra with His brother and sister. So Lord Jagannatha, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He was in ecstasy. He was in the mood of loving spirit like Radharani, so He was thinking, "Krishna, please come back again to Vrindavana.'' So He was dancing before the Ratha-yatra, and you will understand, if you read some of the books published by you..., published by our society. One of the book is known as Teachings of Lord Caitanya.

June 27 1971
I have already explained what is this Ratha-yatra festival. It is in commemoration of a grand visit by Lord Krishna along with His elder brother, Balarama, and His younger sister, Subhadra, in a solar eclipse ceremony at Kurukshetra.
��������������������������..
Jagannatha Puri, January 26, 1977
And next we introduced Ratha-yatra in London, in the London, Trafalgar Square. That is the most famous square within the city. And there is a big column. It is called Nelson Column. So our ratha was so high that the Guardian paper, they criticized that "This Ratha-yatra is rival to Nelson Column." Next we introduced Ratha-yatra in Philadelphia, and this year we have introduced Ratha-yatra in New York and...
Hari-sauri: Melbourne.
Prabhupada: Melbourne, Sydney.
Hari-sauri: Paris.
Prabhupada: Paris. So in the Western countries Ratha-yatra is being introduced one after another, and Jagannatha Swami is attracting the attention of the Western people.
�������������������������������
Regarding eating meat: another example if you see some one jumping out of an aeroplane you don�t have to follow.

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Re: My Video Reply to the Puri Incident Regarding Shrila Prabhupada

Dear lowerthanarat,

           Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna! Please accept my respectful obeisances!

           What is exactly meant by saying, "This is not a Vaisnava aparadha" or "not disturbing other people"? The offense that has been committed to Srila Prabhupada isnot justifiable by any means. Today it is for Jagannatha's yatra, tomorrow will it be for the sankirtana? What if tomorrow a group of blasphemers get angry with us for chanting Nityananda Gauranga and not eating meat, avoiding illicit sex, etc., and put a case in court and publish it in the newspapers or do something blasphemous like what has been done to Srila Prabhupada? Will we stick to the principles or will we give up our devotional principles because it is disturbing the non-devotees? People and the media may take their own opinions and say what they like. But why should we take their opinion? Are they great devotees?

           The verse from Sikshastaka may be out of context here. Humility is different from toeing the line of modern society. No devotee preaches to gain public following and respect or quits their principles if they don't get that.

           While we can make some adjustments to avoid trouble, that is only so far as the bhakti principles remain unaffected. We cannot adjust so much that the devotion gets compromised. I agree with Swamiji's suggestion to call it Shoba Yatra. Anyhow non-devotees are never going to be satisfied by any adjustment. They just want the devotees out. Either we live for the Lord's opinion and the Vaisnava's opinion or we may go after public opinion. But just remember that we are responsible for whatever consequences come by going after the public.

            Or for that matter, what about the rest of us? We should have the courage to continue what we know is right despite whatever some people faithless about our Guru Parampara may howl and shout. Not doing so may be a sign that our faith is weakening. We are in Kali Yuga and we have to expect that even 99.9% of the population may object to the real principles. That is a problem which has been rearing its ugly head since the sankirtana movement was launched. If you are in India and are familiar with the history of the sankirtana movement, I can guarantee you that Gaudiya Vaisnava dharma has been the most criticised and most challenged by the public. It is looked at with skepticism even by some people from other Vaisnava sampradayas.

            Very importantly, even Lord Gauranga's sankirtana was criticised by many fools and they put a case before the authorities, what did the devotees do then? Read the Chaitanya Bhagavata. Which human can stop the Lord? Srila Prabhupada and the acaryas have faced such serious challenges which no one but the Lord knows in full. If they had stopped their preaching because it was 'disturbing the public', where would all of us be? Where would you or I be today? I think it's not fair to argue like this. No devotee goes out of their way to trouble others. If some minds are envious of devotees that is their fault, not the fault of the devotees or the devotional principles.

             Your quote from Upadesamrta that non-believers will remain non-believers. Quite right, but devotees must remain devotees too. Anyhow whatever the issues that may exist between ISKCON and the Jagannatha temple group, the main thing was the offense committed to the spiritual master. That is inexcusable no matter what the circumstances. Whatever be anyone's misgivings, no one has the right to offend the acaryas and dear devotees of the Lord and those who do so will certainly have to face the consequences.

             I will share with you some of and my friends' and my own realizations. To highlight another issue that is internal to many practitioners, why should we feel ashamed or fearful about public opinion to what we are following? These days even those who act like beasts and patronize all the most shameful evils in Kali are glorified in the papers or other media and even they're not ashamed. Why should we be?  If we are, then that means we don't like what we are doing, we don't like being a devotee and we internally consider it to be wrong. What are we doing wrong? This may actually not be favorable to the Supreme Lord and his devotees. They show so much mercy and we are feeling ashamed of it. I should thank my friend Vignesh for having pointed it out. His instruction I keep it on my head. It is by his mercy that we saw our mistake in time. It is the most subtle and major cause of falldown. First it was like, "My friends are teasing and bullying me for being very principled.", then it will be like, "Won't I look stupid before my friends if I say that I chant and refuse movies and trash food?" and one fine day it may become, "I don't think there is anything wrong in eating meat and in illicit sex for my friends' sake as long as I chant my rounds."

             So in the interests of everyone's devotion, we should compromise our standards. It is my humble request. In the name of bravery I don't mean go out and cause a riot or do something reckless or stoop to the level of the non-believers in our Guru Parampara. We may not be able to stop those who offend our Acharyas from where we are, but atleast we must not write things that will encourage further offenses in them. We must never consider a Vaisnava aparadha to be something mild, excusable or justifiable. We must know the difference between faith and sentiment. It is out of geniune concern that I have written strong language and not with any intention to criticize or hurt anyone's heart. If I have I fall at your feet a hundred times, but I beg all, let us follow the pure path. Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!

Your unworthy servant,

Srinath

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Re: Diary of chanting aspirant

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna!

Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Swami Gaurangapada,

With material eyes we may see distress and difficulties. 
By Nityanandas mercy we come to see that actually all is serving us like a specially soft bed prepared special for each of us.

Your servant,
bhaktatommy

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What is the childhood name of Lord Nityananda ?

Hare Krishna all. Please advise what the childhood name of Lord Nityananda is (the name given by His parents). Thank you

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Re: Absorption in Naama Bhajana

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
please accept my respectful obeisance, Maharaj.
i wish i could be like that absorbed in the Holy Name...
for me its such s struggle to chant, i sometimes (like today) have to really force myself to chant the few rounds i use to chant daily, and i have no taste at all. i cry a lot of tears, realizing how fallen and how much entangeld in the material world i am. please pray for me and bestow Your blessings upon me, without them i will have no chance to have the slightest taste in chanting. thank You very much.
your most fallen servant

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