Srimati Radharani: Most Beloved Worshipable Diety of Gaudiya Vaishnavas

By: Nandgopal Jivan das

(Narender Nolakha)

durad apasya svajanam sukham-artha-kotim
sarveshu sadhana-varesu ciram nirasah
varsantam eva sahajadbhuta-saukhya-dharam
sri radhika carana renu aham bhajami

“Abandoning Family and Friends, Material Pleasures, Wealth and all other Spiritual paths, finding them distasteful. I take on my head and worship the Dust of the Lotus Feet of Sri Radhika, which is shower of Wonderful Transcendental Bliss!!”

Sri Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is stated in the Svetasvatara Upanishad (6.8) "The Supreme Lord has multipotencies, which act so perfectly that all consciousness, strength and activity are being directed solely by His will". The material world, where we are now living, is called bahir-anga-sakti, the external energy of Krishna. Apart from the material, external energy, there is another energy - the internal energy. As the material world is manipulated under the external energy, the spiritual world is conducted by the internal potency. That internal potency, called the Hladini Sakti, is Srimati Radharani.

In CC Adi-lila 1.5 it is said "The loving affairs of Sri Radha and Krishna are transcendental manifestations of the Lord's internal pleasure-giving potency. Although Radha and Krishna are one in Their identity, They separated Themselves eternally". Srimati Radharani, as the highest devotee of Sri Krishna, derives the greatest pleasure in serving Him.

The Hare Krishna maha-mantra is in fact a prayer to Srimati Radharani. The word 'Hare' is derived from 'Hara' which denotes the internal energy or Hladini Sakti of Krishna. This is none other that Srimati Radharani. When one is chanting the maha-mantra, one is saying: "O Krishna ! O Radha !! Please engage me in your devotional service". Krishna is difficult to approach directly, but He is bhakta-vatsala, always eager to please His devotees. Thus the mood of a devotee is to invoke the compassion of Srimati Radharani Who then recommends the devotee to Sri Krishna. Since Krishna is easily pleased by Srimati Radharani, He then readily accepts the devotee in His service.

Lord Krishna appeared on this planet on the Astami of bhadra month in Dvapura-Yuga, in the 28th millennium of Vaivasavat Manvantra. After 15 days Srimati Radharani appears on the Astami Day which is known as Radha Astami. Radharani is not an ordinary girl or woman. She is fully transcendental in nature. Lord Krishna is the energetic and Radharani is the energy. They cannot be separated just like the sun and sunlight.

Understanding the mellows of the relationship between Krishna and Radha is impossible from the mundane perspective. Understanding madhurya-rasa (devotion at the platform of intimacy), which is the highest level of relationship of a devotee with Krishna, is only possible in the most elevated stages of bhakti where there is not even a tinge of material contamination. Therefore Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami has written: "The loving affairs of Radha and Krishna are not ordinary, material loving affairs, although they appear like that. Rascals and fools misunderstand Krishna to be an ordinary man. They do not know Krishna's transcendental nature. They try to imitate Krishna's rasa-lila, His dancing with the Gopis". There is no offense greater than this. Devotees starting on the path of bhakti must carefully avoid such offenses. They must simply pray to Srimati Radharani, as their most compassionate Mother, for mercy, for bhakti and for an opportunity to serve Sri Krishna.

One has to be regulated in spiritual practices and become free from material contamination to understand Radha and Krishna. Krishna is the enjoyer and He wants to enjoy. Just try to understand. Krishna hasn’t got to seek external things for His pleasure. Radharani is the expansionof His pleasure potency. Millions of Devotees are trying to achieve that Brahman pleasure and in order to achieve that Brahman pleasure they are neglecting and kicking off all this material pleasure. Do you think that Brahman pleasure is ordinary? So if, for tasting a little Brahman pleasure, all materialistic pleasures are to be given up, do you think that the Supreme Brahman, Lord Sri Krishna, is enjoying this material pleasure?? Hundreds and thousands of goddesses of fortune (gopis) are engaged in His service. Do you think that these lakshmis are material women? How Krishna can take pleasure in the material women? No. …Don’t take that Radharani is an ordinary women like we have our wife or sister or mother. No. She is the pleasure potency of Krishna. And the birth of Radharani was not from the womb of any human being. Her father found Her in a field. So, Radharani is an expansion of Krishna.

Srimati Radharani is known as the Queen of Vrindavan, Vrindavaneshvari. Everyone chants her name in Vrindavan. Devotees beg Her for mercy. Sri Radha is the original form of Ganges River. She is the original form of the holy Tulasi plant. She is the original form of Yamuna River. She is the original form of Saraswati River. She is the original form of the Bhogwati river (the Ganges flowing in the Patal region.). She is the absolute manifestation of total beauty. She is humbly bowed to by all the Lord Brahmas and Lord Sivas in the countless millions of universes created by Lord Vishnu. Her toe nails glow with the radiance of boundless mystic perfection and opulent prosperities.

She is the Goddess of Vedic sacrifices, all pious activities, all that is natural and spontaneous, of all the demigods and goddesses, of all the knowledge of three Vedas, of the enforcement of universal law, of fortune, of forgiveness, of the most pleasurable forest of Vrindavan. She is situated at the topmost level of ecstatic love. The above transcendental qualities attract Krishna fully. Her spiritual body is molten gold complexion. Laxmi and Durga are Her expansions. Brhad-gautamiya-tantra also says (as quoted in CC, Adi-lila 4.83): “The transcendental goddess Srimati Radharani is the direct counterpart of Lord Sri Krishna. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all the attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord.”

Thus sings Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati:

“Essence of Beauty and Relationship, Quintessence of Bliss and Compassion, Embodiment of Sweetness and Brilliance, Epitome of artfulness, Graceful in Love: May my mind take refuge in Radharani, Quintessence of all essences.”

As explained in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (Nectar of Devotion), Krishna possesses sixty-four transcendental qualities. Srimati Radharani has twenty-five transcendental qualities, but She can control even Krishna by them. Her transcendental qualities are as follows: (1) She is sweetness personified; (2) She is a fresh young girl; (3) Her eyes are always moving; (4) She is always brightly smiling; (5) She possesses all auspicious marks on Her body; (6) She can agitate Krishna by the flavor of Her person; (7) She is expert in the art of singing; (8) She can speak very nicely and sweetly; (9) She is expert in presenting feminine attractions; (10) She is modest and gentle; (11) She is always very merciful; (12) She is transcendentally cunning; (13) She knows how to dress nicely; (14) She is always shy; (15) She is always respectful; (16) She is always patient; (17) She is very grave; (18) She is enjoyed by Krishna; (19) She is always situated on the highest devotional platform; (20) She is the abode of love of the residents of Gokula; (21) She can give shelter to all kinds of devotees; (22) She is always affectionate to superiors and inferiors; (23) She is always obliged by the dealings of Her associates, (24) She is the greatest amongst Krishna's girl friends; (25) She always keeps Krishna under Her control.

Krishna means 'all attractive', since He attracts every one to Him. But Srimati Radharani attracts even Krishna. Although Krishna says vedaham samatitani - "I know everything" - He fails to understand Radharani. Krishna is acyuta (inconceivable), but for Him Radharani is inconceivable. Radharani is so great. Krishna thought, "I am full. I am complete in every respect, but still I want to understand Radharani." This question obliged Krishna to accept the propensities of Radharani to understand Himself. So five hundred years ago Krishna appeared as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in the mood of Srimati Radharani and with Her golden complexion, as His own greatest devotee. Krishna did this to understand the depth of devotion of Srimati Radharani.

The mahabhava (ecstasy of love) experienced by the other gopis cannot be compared to that of Sri Radha. Radharani is the very form of ecstatic love for Sri Krsna who says: “The happiness I feel when meeting Radharani is a hundred times greater than the happiness I get from meeting others”. (CC Adi 4.258) “Srimati Radharani is the beloved consort of Krsna, and She is the wealth of Krsna’s life.” (CC Adi 4.214)

Srimati Radharani is the ideal maha-bhagvat. As the greatest devotee, She is also the most compassionate. She is unable to bear the suffering of the souls trapped in the material world. The word "aradhaya" (prayers) is derived from "Radha" and means "worshippable". Similarly the word "aparadha" (offenses) means "against Radha". When one performs devotional service, one is pleasing Srimati Radharani and when commits Vaishnava aparadha against Krishna or His devotees, one is offending Radharani. Srimati Radharani is the guardian, the mentor and the benefactor of all aspiring devotees. When a soul starts to inquire about Krishna, Srimati Radharani is most pleased and takes charge of his devotional advancements. As one makes progress, one continues to invoke the mercy of Srimati Radharani and when She is pleased, Krishna is automatically pleased.

Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode Thakur Sings:

atapa-rahita suraja nahi jani
radha-virahita krsna nahi mani

"Just as there is no such thing as sun without heat or light, i do not accept a krsna who is without Sri Radha!!"

So, We should always pray for Her mercy for without Her Merciful glance over all of us, its impossible for us to attain the goal of our life- Krishna prema! We must pray to Her:

"O Radharani, I have fallen into the horrible ocean of birth and death and am frightened, but I am seeking Your shelter. O queen of the demigods, please free me from all fears."

"O Radhike, please give me transcendental devotional service to Your lotus feet, which are worshiped by Lord Brahma and Lakshmi, and which are served even by Lord Krishna."

"O Srimati Radharani, You are the exalted form of mahabhava, therefore You are the most dear to Krishna. O Goddess, You alone are able to bestow pure love for the Supreme Lord; therefore I offer my humble obeisances unto You."

Srimati Radharani is so glorious that Lord Siva also sings Her glories in the Urdhvamnaya-tantra as follows:


Before whom Laksmi, the goddess of millions of unlimited Vaikunthas, stoops to bow with all humility; from whom Sati, Saci and Sarasvati receive favours; endless riches, supernatural powers, perfection and liberation are attained within the light of Her small toenail. O when will She shower upon me Her sidelong glance of over flowing grace?

O Goddess Supreme, who presides over all sacrifices, rites and oblations and over the hosts of demigods and saintly persons. O Goddess Supreme, who provides the force to the Vedic utterances and to all arguments of law and logic; O Supreme Mistress of Laksmi and Bhu; O Queen of the celestial gardens of delight; Queen of Vraja, O Sovereign Mistress of Vrndavana, Srimati Radhika, I prostrate before Thee!

May the Daughter of King Vrsabhanu, thus, on hearing this wonderful hymn of Her glories, be pleased to always shower on Me Her sidelong glance of over-flowing grace. Then may the threefold forms of karma, accumulated over many births, be immediately annihilated and may I be granted entrance into the eternal realm of King Nanda's divine son.

All glories to Srimati Radharani !!

Ambassador of the Spiritual World

By Nandagopal Jivan das
(Narender Nolakha)

In the Brahma-vaivarta Purana, in a conversation with Ganga Devi, Lord Krishna describes that after 5,000 years of Kali-yuga have passed, His mantra upasaka, the great sage and worshiper of Krishna's holy names, will appear and spread the chanting of Krishna's names (in the form of the Hare Krishna mantra) not only in India but throughout the world. Lord Krishna explains that by the chanting of His holy names the world will become spiritualized and everyone will be hari-bhaktas, engaged in the process of devotion to the Supreme. The purified devotees will visit the holy places and holy rivers of India and will purify them. They will also purify those with whom they come in contact.

Lord Caitanya predicted that:

prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama

“In every town and village, the chanting of my name will be heard.”

Lord Caitanya also foretold in Sri Caitanya Mangala:

"I want to flood the whole world with the chanting of the holy names. I will personally preach and flood India with harinama sankirtana. And My senapati bhakta (great devotee commander) will come, preach in different countries and flood the world with the chanting of Hare Krishna.”

Later, in the 1896, Bhaktivinode Thakura predicted that “A great personality will soon appear to preach the Holy Names of Hari all over the whole world.”

Recently, it is found that a hint of the appearance of such great personality is also given in the Yajur-Veda and the Holy Bible too!!!!!

As an answer to these predictions, on Nandotsava, the annual festival day celebrating Krishna's birth, Srila Prabhupada blessed this planet with his presence on Sept. 1, 1896. His horoscope predicted that, “At seventy this man will go outside India and establish so many temples.” It was Srila Prabhupada who grew up as a pure devotee of Krishna who took the chanting of "Hare Krishna" around the world and made it a household word.

His father was also a pure devotee of Lord Krishna. He would always invite sadhus, to his house for meals and always asked them to bless his son to become a great devotee of Radharani, Lord Krishna's most beloved devotee and consort. He also bought him a small cart to pull the Deity of Lord Jagannatha; So Prabhupada would organize little Rathayatra festivals in his neighborhood. Prabhupada's father also taught him how to play mridunga. But nobody knew that his mridunga playing, that he would use to accompany his public chanting, would become famous around the world!!

Even in 1922 when Srila Prabhupada met Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, his to be Spiritual Master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta told Srila Prabhupada that, "You are a nice young man, you know English; therefore, you should preach this mission of Lord Caitanya specifically to the English-speaking countries in the Western world." Srila Prabhupada always remembered this. In 1933, Srila Prabhupada took formal initiation from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, accepting him as his spiritual master. Then, just two weeks before Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati left this world on December 31, 1936, he sent one letter to Srila Prabhupada, instructing him again to take this message and spread it to the Western countries.

Following the desire of his spiritual master, Prabhupada began publishing his Back to Godhead magazine in 1944. It was difficult in the beginning. He wrote them himself, edited them, had them printed, and even road into town on the bus to distribute these one page sheets. But he never stopped. He had also started his League of Devotees, a small organization of Krishna conscious people. This was a forerunner of what was to be The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which he founded after he came to America.

Prabhupada showed extreme patience and steadfastness, with only one goal to achieve, the mission given to him by his Guru Maharaj. Srila Prabhupada came to America in 1965 on the steamship Jaladuta with only 40 rupees, a pair of hand cymbals, a few books and his invincible bravery and will to carry out his guru's desire to bring the message of Lord Chaitanyadev to these Western countries, without knowing anyone and with complete dependence on Krishna. He faced the severe obstacles of two heart attacks while crossing the ocean on the Jaladuta, but his compassion for the suffering of humanity, and his guru's blessings gave him the courage to reach the American shore.

He maintained himself by selling just enough books to get by, and staying here and there. It was finally in 1966 when Prabhupada officially founded The International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Srila Prabhupada had to fight with many opposing elements and in countries where the culture was not at all favorable for spiritual advancement in Krsna consciousness. Yet he established over one hundred temples, asramas, and Krsna conscious communities throughout the world. He inaugurated the Rathayatra Festival of Lord Jagannatha in major cities around the globe, in effect, bringing the temple to the people.

With our mind we might try to imagine who he was, what power stood behind him, what is his eternal spiritual identity? Prabhupada is also much more than just a great man, he is the shaktyavesa avatar sent to save the whole world from impersonalism and voidism and to revive the world's Krishna consciousness. He is the ambassador of the spiritual world. He is more than just a saint or sadhu; he is Jagat Guru, the one at who's feet all gurus and saints are sitting.
Indeed, Srila Prabhupada was this planets true guardian, the real compassionate refuge and spiritual strength for all of earth's creatures. But due to the modes of passion and ignorance, so many did not recognize him. Those who were fortunate to recognize him could not keep themselves from loving him and wanting to selflessly follow his teachings. The day his lotus feet stepped down upon this planet, everyone became immediately spiritually benefited whether they knew it or not. And that is the shakti (power) of the pure devotee of Radharani. That is the inconceivable achintya shakti of Lord Krishna's beloved emissary, Srila Prabhupada.

Today Srila Prabhupada may not be present between us physically but his blessings are experienced even by people who never met Prabhupada personally (like me). Therefore people need not think they are missing out on his mercy. They should know also that Prabhupada's vani is the transcendental vibration that is meant for them personally, and when they hear it on CD's or tapes, or read his words from his books, that he is directly talking to them. He is still with us and we can feel his presence through his representative, Sri Guru. He came to save everyone, past, present or future, not just a few thousand souls that happened to be here and get initiated while he was here in his physical body. This is the amazing spiritual potency of the pure devotee.

No one can ever take his place as the Founder Acharya of ISKCON and the one and original initiator of the pure chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra around the world! No one had ever before on such a grand scale delivered the mercy of Sri Chaitanya and Sri Krishna to the entire world through books, his harinama sankirtan movement, profuse prasadam distribution, deity worship and the establishment of hundreds of beautiful temples worldwide! He was the first in all these transcendental aspects.

Any one of the feats mentioned above would be a significant feather in anyone's cap, even if it were the only thing a person accomplished in a lifetime. That Srila Prabhupada did all these things in just ten years, and fulfilled so many predictions of sastras, great devotees, acaryas and astrologers, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, is patent validation of his inimitable role in Vaisnava history. By his efforts, uncountable millions have read about Krsna, honored Krsna prasadam, and heard and chanted the maha mantra. Through his teachings, he continues to relieve humanity from the maladies spawned by doctrines of monism and voidism, while holding open the door of Krsna bhakti for many generations to come. Let us recognize and remember his unprecedented contributions and strive to bring him honor throughout the world.

Although he got millions of dollars and many opulent properties but he always kept the spirit of vairagya. Everything belonged to his guru maharaj and to Krishna, including his own self. He saw everything as Krishna’s Property and used everything in Krishna’s Service.

Prabhupada continues to dispel the darkness around us with his torch light of pure bhakti.

“cakhu-dan dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei, divya jnan hrde prakasito"

Prabhupada, you opened our darkened eyes and fill our hearts with transcendental knowledge. You are our lord and master for all our births to come.

Thank you very much Srila Prabhupada for all your gifts. Your mercy is an unfathomable ocean and we are so fortunate to obtain even a drop of that ocean. Thank you again and again.

All glories to Om Visnu-pada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya Astottara-Sata Sri Srimad
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada!

Janmastami: When Unborn Was Born!!

By: Nandagopal Jivan das
(Narender Nolakha)


About 5,000 years ago, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Cause of all Causes, Adi Purusa Lord Sri Krsna Chandra made His divine appearance on this planet earth on the eighth day of the waning moon in the month of Hrsikesa or Bhadra-pad (this day varies between months of July- September). Since then it is being celebrated as Janmastami throughout the country and now, by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, in the whole world with lots of enthusiasm and millions of people visit the temples of Krsna on this auspicious day to get the special blessings of the Lord on this special day.

Janma means “birth”, but Vedic Scriptures tells us that Krsna is ajam which means one who is unborn. He is neither born nor does He die at any moment. Although, He appears and then also disappears but it is all due to His Supreme Will which no one can change. These appearances, disappearances and activities are known as Pastimes (Lila) because they are not forced on Him by any other person. Krsna is not born like us. We are conditioned souls in this material world and we are forced by our own deeds and desires to take repeated births here. But Krsna is above the workings of the material energy. He is the master of this energy and He comes and goes by His own sweet will. He only seems to be born like us.

This is just like a King visiting a jail in His Kingdom but not coming under its rules and regulations because all the rules and regulations are made by the King Himself. Similarly, all the rules and regulations of this material world are made by Krsna Himself but When He Himself visits this material world, He is not impelled to follow the rules and regulations. Although, sometimes His activities seems to be that of an ordinary person but He do this just to confuse and deceive the non-devotees. Both His Birth and Activities are divyam, transcendental (BG4.9). But reward of seeing this truth is only gained by those who are not envious of Him, like His pure devotees.

Queen Kunti, Mother of Pandavas and a great devotee of Lord Krsna, who appeared with Him around 5,000 years ago, prays to Lord Krsna (SB 1.8.32-36) as follows:

Some say that the Unborn is born for the glorification of pious kings, and others say that He is born to please King Yadu, one of Your dearest devotees. You appear in his family as sandalwood appears in the Malaya hills.

Others say that since both Vasudeva and Devaki prayed for You, You have taken Your birth as their son. Undoubtedly You are unborn, yet You take Your birth for their welfare and to kill those who are envious of the demigods.

Others say that the world, being overburdened like a boat at sea, is much aggrieved, Brahma, who is Your son, prayed for You, and so You have appeared to diminish the trouble.

And yet others say that You appeared to rejuvenate the devotional service of hearing, remembering, worshiping and so on in order that the conditioned souls suffering from material pangs might take advantage and gain liberation.

O Krsna, those who continuously hear, chant and repeat Your transcendental activities, or take pleasure in others' doing so, certainly see Your lotus feet, which alone can stop the repetition of birth and death.


So, Krsna comes here to attract the mind of the fallen and conditioned souls (i.e. we) by manifesting His divine and transcendental pastimes and giving them a chance to Go back home, Back to Godhead.

Thus sings His Divine Grace Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinode Thakura:

gopinath, tumi krpa-parabara
jivera karane, asiya prapance,
lila koile subistara

“O Gopinath, You are the ocean of mercy. Having come into this phenomenal world, You expand Your divine pastimes for the sake of the fallen souls.”

So, even if only one soul understands the transcendental and divine nature of Krsna’s appearance and pastimes by hearing it from an authorized Spiritual Master, who is coming in the line of disciplic succession starting from the Lord Himself, then Lord Krsna’s Mission or the mission of His pure devotee is fulfilled. When Sri Jesus Christ said that I and My father are one then He actually meant that His own purpose, i.e. to help the fallen souls to go back to Godhead, and the purpose of His father, i.e. God is one.

Similarly, HDG Srila Bhaktisiddantha Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada used to say that on the cost of all the Temples and Maths I have, if I am able to create just one soul a pure devotee of Krsna then my mission will be successful. Because just one pure devotee of the Lord is enough to change the face of the world and turn the most fallen souls into the pure devotees of the Lord. It is seen in the life of Srila Prabhupada-- How he single handedly went to the western countries, where He didn’t even knew whether to turn right or left, and turned the most fallen souls in so many rejected parts of the world into pure Vaishnavas. Such is the power of a pure devotee.

Lord Krsna Himself declares in Bhagavad- Gita 4.9 that:

“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving this body, takes his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.”

So, to attain Krsna, we have to know Him in truth, and that correct understanding can be achieved only under the guidance of scriptures, as well as Krsna Himself and His pure representative. Lord Krsna appeared in a Jail which was full of darkness. Similarly, our heart is also in darkness due to its contact with the material nature from the time immemorial. If we take advantage of His message and the teachings of His Pure devotees then it will help us to attain the highest goal of life—pure love for Him. As a ISKCONIST, if we follow the teachings of Srila Prabhupada then gradually all our doubts will be cleared and our natural love for Him will shine through. So, on this most auspicious day, Janmastami, we pray to the Lord that He may remove our darkness and enter our heart, so that we may clearly see who we are?, Who is Krsna? And what is our relationship with Him? Hare Krishna!!

Krishna's Arrangement- True Story

By Avayanga Das

We all are fortunate and blessed to be a part of International Society for Krishna Consciousness “Family of Srila Prabhupada”. We keep immense faith in mercy of Lord Krishna and his arrangements for his devotees. Of and on we get to know about the real life experiences of devotees, and today I am taking an opportunity to share such an experience with you. It was experienced by a devotee recently. It was a usual Sunday for Madhava (name has been changed on request). After meeting his weekend chores, he headed for Iskcon, East of Kailash, New Delhi on his bike. He could feel some mechanical problem with his bike but careless for such an issue he continued his ride to meet Sri Sri Radha Parthasarthy. After darshans he attended IYF Class, Gaura Aarti and Bhakti Vriksha. The day was about to end for Madhava and he walked towards parking area. To the heights of his surprise he found a mechanical glitch in his bike. He couldn’t start his bike even after putting many efforts. First he thanked god for not letting this glitch interrupt his ride from home to temple, otherwise he would miss his IYF class. It was 9:30 p.m. and he had to travel a long distance, so he decided to park his bike inside the temple and go home by bus. Monday was a working day for him and he could not think of a possible situation to visit temple and get his bike repaired. It was also difficult for him to leave his bike till next weekend. He decided to look for a mechanic around and started to drag his bike. Generally he takes the way that goes to Okhla flyover but his inner conscious asked him to take the other way that goes to Greater Kailash. Unaware of the way and possibility of finding a mechanic he continued dragging his bike. After going little further, he was glad to find a bike mechanic in his workshop. The mechanic (Abdul Khan) was about to close the shop but agreed to attend Madhava’s call. Abdul said “I close my shop by 8:30 p.m. but today I stayed back for some work”. Later he found that Magnetic ignition coil was damaged and had to be changed. It was late night and not possible to arrange that spare part to repair the bike. Madhava decided to leave his bike with the mechanic for repair and will collect it the next day. All of a sudden Abdul realized that he had a spare coil kept for one of his customers who was supposed to come for his bike repair. Because he did not turn up during the day, the unused coil kept safe with him. He asked his helper to get the new coil and change it with the damaged one. Abdul asked for Rs. 200 from Madhava for repair. Madhava put his hand into his pocket to get the money and realized that his wallet was missing. He was in such a position where he didn’t know what to do. He informed Abdul that he didn’t have money. Abdul asked him to call someone and arrange for money if possible, but nothing worked. Helpless Madhava was upset and opened the front zipper of his jacket, which would reveal his bead bag hung in his neck. Abdul looked at that and asked if he belonged to Iskcon. Madhava replied positively. Abdul took over the charge of this conversation and started telling him about one of his very good customers who is an Iskcon devotee. He said his name was “Amit Ghosh”. Madhav’s eyes shined and said “I know Amit Ghosh Prabhu, he is my dear friend”. Abdul asked him few things about Amit Ghosh Prabhu. After Madhava confirmed and gave details about Amit Ghosh Prabhu, Abdul was very happy. He offered him a chair to sit and said “Now you don’t worry about the money, you have given reference of such a person that I need not to worry about my money”. Please take your bike and pay me when you visit Iskcon next time. Madhava couldn’t say anything but thanked him many times and started for home. He had no words to express his gratitude for Krishna. He offered his heartiest obeisance to his beloved lord many times. His was simply amazed by experiencing Krishna’s Arrangement.

Hare Krishna!

Real Sanatana Dharma

By Nandagopal Jivana das
(Narender Nolakha)

I first pray to the divine lotus feet of my eternal father, my spiritual master, His Holiness Gopal Krsna Goswami Srila Bhagavatpada Maharaja; My eternal Grandpa, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and the Most Merciful personality of Godhead, Sriman Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu to bestow their blessings on this most fallen soul like me so that I can repeat what little bit I learned about Sanatana Dharma from Lord Caitanya’s Teachings.

Srila Prabhupada explains in his Introduction to Bhagavad Gita As It Is: “The English Word religion is a little different from sanatana-dharma. Religion conveys the idea of faith, and faith may change. One may have faith in a particular process, and he may change this faith and adopt another, but sanatana-dharma refers to that activity which cannot be changed. For instance, liquidity cannot be taken from water, nor can heat be taken from fire. Similarly, the eternal function of the eternal living entity cannot be taken from the living entity. Sanatana-dharma is eternally integral with the living entity. When we speak of sanatana-dharma, therefore, we must take it for granted on the authority of Sripada Ramanujacarya that it has neither beginning nor end. That which has neither end nor beginning must not be sectarian, for it cannot be limited by any boundaries. Those belonging to some sectarian faith will wrongly consider that sanatana-dharma is also sectarian, but if we go deeply into the matter and consider it in the light of modern science, it is possible for us to see that sanatana-dharma is the business of all the people of the world-nay, of all the living entities of the universe.”

Now, some personalities are claiming that serving humanity is the top most Sanatana Dharma. They Claim “Manav Seva- Madhav Seva” or “Nar Seva- Narayana Seva”. They believe that serving Humanity is equivalent to serving God. There is no need to Serve God separately, keep on serving Man. That’s it! That is summum bonum of life’s purpose. If human service is topmost then why do people burn the human body after it dies? They should keep it in their house and continue serving as before. Give him eatables, bathe and sleep with him. Why don’t they do this? Is this Sanatana Dharma which ends after sometime?

The dharma between two Sanatanas {eternals} is Sanatana Dharma. One Jivatma is Sanatana and second Paramatma is Sanatana. Upanishads informs us that on this tree like body, two birds are sitting-one jivatma and second Paramatma. There are innumerable jivatmas but Paramatma is only one but inspite of this fact, he is present in each and every body with each and every jivatma. We are jivatma sitting in our heart but then who is Paramatma? That Paramatma is Sri Krsna. Scriptures says “ete camsa kalah pumsah krsnas tu bhagavan svayam”-Krsna is svayam bhagavan, source of all other incarnations and expansions. Krsna is eternal God. Jivatma is also eternal but they are Krsna’s part and parcel. “mamaivamso jiva loke jiva bhuta sanatanah.” And our dharma towards Krsna is in reality the topmost dharma. Each and every sastra says that:
sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata
yayatma suprasidati

The supreme occupation {dharma} for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self. {SB 1.2.6}

Our love towards Krsna is param dharma. God is Love and Love is God. And this is true only with the personality of Brajendranandana Sri Krsna, and not with any other avatars. It’s not for Nrisimhadeva or for Buddha and nor for Lord Ramachandra too. Just imagine a girl approaching Lord Ramachandra or Lord Nrisimha and saying that she wants to marry him. Just imagine the scene. It’s not possible. But anyone can approach Krsna with any sort of desire, it will be fulfilled. That’s why his name is “Rasa raja Sri Krsna”.

There were 16,100 beautiful girls who were daughters of many kings and were forcibly stolen by Bhaumasura, who kept them captive for his carnal desire. These girls prayed piteously to Lord Krsna for their deliverance, and the merciful Lord, called by their fervent prayers, released them all by killing Bhaumasura. All these captive princesses were then accepted by the Lord as His wives, although in the estimation of society they were all fallen girls. The all-powerful Lord Krsna accepted the humble prayers of these girls and married them with the adoration of queens. Who can do this? Even Lord Visnu can’t do this then what to speak of others.

Can Lord Ramachandra bow his head at Sita Devi’s feet? Can Nrisimhadeva bow in front of His Laksmi? And what does Krsna do? He bows his head at the lotus feet of gopis, at the lotus feet of Srimati Radhika rani. She makes him dance on her finger. Just imagine. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is dancing like a normal cowherd boy for a little piece of butter inspite of the fact that He is the source of all. Only Krsna can do this. Nor Nrisimhadeva can do this nor Ramachandra nor any other avatar. Why? Because they are acting under different functional responsibilities being different manifestations of the same Supreme Godhead-Krsna. Just imagine Lord Nrisimhadeva dancing with damsels of vraja in rasa dance. Everybody will run away and only Nrisimhadeva will be dancing.
Hari Bol…it was just a joke!!!!!

Inspite of being Supreme Lord of all that exist, inspite of being atmaram, Krsna performs these pastimes just to give pleasure to His pure and unalloyed devotees. What does Krsna says to Gopis? He says that I can’t repay your debt even in a lifetime of Brahma. That’s why there is no para-tattva other than Krsna. And what is the responsibility of jivatma towards Krsna? To love him. This is real Sanatana Dharma. We say Social Service or Serving the parents, etc. Yes, its sanatana dharma but of the lowest level. The topmost and supreme Sanatana Dharma is to serve Krsna. By serving Krsna, we serve everyone. If we satisfy Krsna, everyone will be satisfied. This is Sanatana Dharma. Our scriptures say “sarve sukhina bhavantu”—everyone should be happy! Because we are not happy that’s why scriptures pray to Lord that everyone should remain happy. But how can we remain happy? Only by serving Krsna and not by any other way. Why? Because Krsna is “anandamaya abhyasat”. He is saccidananda svarupa; prem svarupa. That’s why by worshiping him we’ll also become blissful and happy. That’s why it is said: “harer naam harer naam harer naam kevalam/ kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha.”-- Only by Chanting Harinaam, we can be happy. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.

Sense gratification can be found in any form of life but Krsna- Bhakti can be achieved only in human life. So, from today onwards set a goal for your life. One who does not have any goal for his life is no better then an animal! Which animal? In a slaughter house, one animal is slaughtered in front of other animals but still other animals are busy in eating grass. They don’t know that next is their number to be slaughtered. They’ll fight for little grass but won’t do anything to escape from being slaughtered. The same position is ours. We also fight over small small issues every now and then forgetting that we can be slaughtered at any moment. We see our relatives suffering so much at the time of death but we think that we’ll not die. Even if we understand theoretically that we’ve to die one day then also we don’t do anything. Just think- are we better then those animals that are going to be slaughtered at any moment?

Vedanta says: “athato brahma jijnasa”—now, you’ve got this human life; you should utilize it for enquiring about the absolute truth and your relation ship with him. First of all find a guru and surrender to him. Guru should also be a person who knows absolute truth, who can remove all our doubts, who’ve interest in Harinaam Sankirtana and detached from the material world. If we find such a great soul then surrender to him at once and become his disciple. Then all our doubts will be cleared and if we follow guru’s instructions then our car like life will go on smoothly. The more we practice more our car will run smoothly otherwise it’ll run very slow like bullock-cart. It’ll run, no doubt but it’ll take more time to reach are goal.

Srila Vyasadeva, an incarnation of God, even after dividing the Vedas into four, writing all Upanishads, Samhita, Puranas (Histories), Mahabharata and Brahma Sutra, was not satisfied. Sitting at the bank of Ganges, he was thinking what He has left that still He is not satisfied from within. At that time, Narada Muni, his spiritual master came. Naradaji asked “Why are you still unhappy even after writing so many scriptures.” Vyasadeva told him that he don’t know the reason for this. He asked Naradaji, “Can you tell me what mistake I’ve committed- I’ve described everything. I don’t understand what I’ve left? ”

Naradaji then told him that “You’ve described dharma, artha, kama, moksa; Do you think God will be happy by this only? After performing so many sacrifices, people used to go to heavenly planets or get the post of Indra or even Brahma. Is these sacrifices real dharma? write that nothing will happen by performing these sacrifices, they are all temporary. One may go to Brahma loka but then also he’ll have to return to this planet. That’s why now you describe those activities by performing which one doesn’t have to come back to this world again.”

"Those words which do not describe the glories of the Lord, who alone can sanctify the atmosphere of the whole universe, are considered by saintly persons to be like unto a place of pilgrimage for crows. Since the all-perfect persons are inhabitants of the transcendental abode, they do not derive any pleasure there." (SB 1.5.10)

"On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world's misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest." (SB 1.5.11)

"Knowledge of self-realization, even though free from all material affinity, does not look well if devoid of a conception of the Infallible [God]. What, then, is the use of fruitive activities, which are naturally painful from the very beginning and transient by nature, if they are not utilized for the devotional service of the Lord?" (SB 1.5.12)

This incident proves that Krsna-Bhakti is the topmost Sanatana Dharma. Now we’ll try to understand it a little deeper. Attaining Krsna-Prem is the highest goal of Krsna Bhakti. First stage of prem is rati. Bhava and Rati are synonyms. Starting from Shradhha, Sadhu sang and Bhajan Kriya, when we progress in devotional service then there is anartha nivritti i.e. all our anarthas will be removed. Then if we continue our Sadhana, we’ll reach the stage of Nistha (steadiness). After Nistha, Ruchi (interest) comes. When one attains the stage of ruchi, he shows ruchi in chanting the holy names, ruchi in serving the guru, ruchi in hearing Hari Katha.

Then Asakti. When one cannot live without Harinaam, without any Seva, etc. it is known as Asakti in devotional service. And above this stage, comes Bhava or Rati. Our existence is called Sattva. Krsna and His abode is Visuddha-Sattva. Another is Misra-Sattva i.e. our conditioned state. We are spirit but right now we are attached to this material world. That is conditioned state. When all this material attachment will be removed then we’ll attain the stage of Suddha-Sattva. Then by the grace of Lord’s Devotional Service, we get to know about our original Bhava. This is called Rati. And this Rati is of five types: Santa (neutral), Dasya (servitor ship), Sakhya (as a friend), Vatsalya (Parental affection) and Madhurya (conjugal-love). Then this Rati fructifies into Prema—Santa Prema, Dasya Prema, Sakhya Prema, Vatsalya Prema and Madhurya Prema. Now, we’ll explain them briefly with examples.

Four Kumars are in Santa Rasa. They see God everywhere and within everyone. They see Krsna as the basis of the universe. They think that Krsna is not hungry or thirsty and He (Krsna) remains untouched by these material things. That’s why they can’t do any service. This is Santa Nistha.


Dasya- Hanumanji Serve the Lord in Dasya Rasa. He serves the Lord with awe and reverence. When Ravana kidnaps the wife of His Lord then he crosses the ocean angrily, burns the whole Lanka, beats Ravana also and when Rama is hungry then he supplies Him (Rama) with varieties of fruits and food. He serves the Lord with different techniques. Without Service, there is no Hanuman. That’s why Dasya Rasa is higher that Santa Rasa.

Still Sakhya Prema is better than Dasya Prema. Krsna wanders in forests with Rama, Sridama, Subala and many other friends. These friends cannot live without Krsna. Krsna plays varieties of games with his friends. Krsna who killed Kamsa within few seconds and killed so many demons single handedly, that Krsna is now being defeated by Sridama. And Krsna becomes very happy. That’s why there is a bit of Mamta in Sakhya Prema.


Mamta means Krsna is mine. This type of Mamta we need if we want to attain Krsna. Where is this Mamta? It is present in Krsna’s friends to some extent but to fullest extent it is found in Maiya. Friends cannot bind Krsna but Yasoda Maiya binds Krsna. There was strength of 60,000 elephants in Putana. She came to feed her breast, which was smeared with poison, to Krsna. And Krsna drank her very life with the Milk. Putana was screaming and trying to remove Krsna from her chest but Krsna didn’t moved even an inch. But Yasoda Maiya put Krsna on the floor when she saw that the milk was boiling on the stove. Yasoda Maiya at once made him sit on the floor. This is Prema.


Even higher than this is Madhurya Prema. It is found in its highest possible level in the damsels of vraja- gopis. They serve Krsna with all their resources. And in those gopis, Srimati Radharani is the greatest. Her love for Krsna is the top-most. There cannot be anyone greater than Her in the whole creation. And a desire to become the maid servant of the servant of the servant of the divine lotus feet of Sri Radhika is the topmost thing. Serving Krsna with this Bhava is the topmost level of Sanatana Dharma. Hare Krsna!

Srila Gurudeva listens – A true story

By A v y a n g a D a s


Hare Krishna to you all devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisance,

All glories to Sri Guru & Sri Gauranga,

I am taking an opportunity to share an incident that happened to one of our devotees today. I feel that sharing such experiences strengthen our faith in Lord Krishna and also prove our intimate relation with Him…

It was the auspicious day of Pandava Nirjala Ekadashi, a special day for Madhava (name has been changed on request) and all vaisnava devotees who engage in spiritual services for the pleasure of their Gurus to get mercy of Sri Sri Radha Krishna. Like all other devotees, Madhava was observing total fasting (nirjala fasting) on this day. He spent the major part of the day in best of his moods, serving deities, chanting and reading Prabhupada's vani. It was evening when he started to think about leaving his office for the day and visiting Iskcon temple on the way back home. "When there is a desire (spiritual), goal is not far…"

After winding up for the day he reached Iskcon temple in late evening and had darshans of the presiding deities. He was very happy to enjoy the bliss of his beloved lord who made his visit possible. He started to enjoy ecstatic kirtan and vaisnava bhajans in the temple room. Unaware of hunger and thirst all devotees were enthusiastically participating in kirtan and dance in front of the deities which made him feel immense satisfaction. His desire of visit temple, despite of his busy schedule was fulfilled by the mercy of vaisnavas.

After spending good time at temple he decided to get back home. On his way to temple gate he caught attracted towards a beautiful picture of his Guru Maharaj holding a beautiful deity of Lord Krishna. It was a small size poster pasted on a wall near book shop. This picture was highly appealing, which made him stand for a while and appreciate transcendental glow on the face of his Guru Maharaj (H.H. Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj). He shared a few words of compliment for the pictures with one of his devotee friends standing nearby. He desired to have same picture, little bigger in size to be framed and hung on a wall in his house. With this thought he left for his home.

Next morning, after daily worship he thanked his Guru Maharaj for blessing him with energy to complete fasting. After he had his break-fast he reached his office and started his routine job. Around 11:00 a.m. he received a call from one of his colleague who is also a follower of Mahaprabhu's mission (Iskcon). She wanted to meet him urgently and discuss about something. He went downstairs to meet her, where he found her waiting for him with another friend. They had something placed on the table, which was covered with a paper. After meeting, they handed over that covered object to him and said "It is a surprise spiritual gift for you. We were planning to gift you something for long but today we found a thing which is eye-catching". Madhava was hesitant but he had to accept this gift from these devotee friends.

After he unwrapped the gift, we was stunned for a while and had nothing to say but to accept it readily without any hesitation because it was the same picture of his Guru Maharaj, which he admired the previous day and wished to have one placed in his house. He was overwhelmed to experience that his Gurudeva took no time in fulfilling his spiritual desire. This picture was much bigger in size than the one he saw and also beautifully framed. What else he wanted except this in his life (like a blind man got eye-sight).

chakhu-dan dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei
divya-jnan hride prokashito
prema-bhakti jaha hoite, avidya vinasha jate
vede gay jahara chariot

(Meaning: He (Guru Maharaj) opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He is my Lord birth after birth. From him ecstatic prema emanates; by him ignorance is destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character.)

He thanked his friends many times and came back to his cabin with this transcendental picture in his hands and few drops in his eyes. He was simple moved by the causeless mercy showered by his Guru Maharaj. He paid many heartiest obeisances to his spiritual master and said "My beloved Gurudeva, you listen to your disciple's unspoken desires...you are the best!!!"

This transcendental incident added another milestone to his faith on his surrender to his spiritual master towards the journey back home – back to godhead.

Jai Srila Prabhupada… Jai Srila Bhagvatpada…

Above was a small effort to explain the experience. I fall short with words to explain such an incident. Please forgive me for my errors.

Naughty Nimai

By Nandagopal Jivana das
(Narender Nolakha)

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna appeared as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in Mayapur on the full-moon night of the month of Phalguna in the year 1407 Sakabda (18 February 1486 AD). Because he was born under a neem tree, he was named Nimai.

As Nimai grew up He became exceedingly mischievous, just as Krishna had been in His childhood. One Name of Krishna is Dusta Mohana, which means “naughty young boy.” He is dusta (naughty) but at the same time His charming behavior enchants the mind (mohana). Nimai also had this quality.

Baby Nimai would play a game with the doting neighborhood women who regularly came to see Him. Nimai would start crying and would stop only when the ladies chanted “Hari! Hari!” In this way he induced them to chant all day long, and the home of Jagannatha Misra continuously resounded with the names of Krishna.

One day Jagannatha Misra gave a slate in Visvambhara’s Hands. Visvambhara then at once wrote all the letters on it and that too without any mistake!! Everybody was astonished to se this. He learned all the letters within few days and started writing “Krishna” again and again. Day and Night, he chanted the holy names of Lord like Ram, Krishna, Murari, Mukunda, etc, loudly. To this time, sometimes Nimai would try to catch the birds flying high in the sky and after failing to do so, he would cry very loudly. Sometimes He would try to catch the Moon and stars in the sky but failing in this too, He would show his transcendental anger. Everyone would try to pacify the Lord but He would not. Only when they would start Harinaam Sankirtana, only then He would stop crying.

One day even after chanting “Hari! Hari! ” many times, Lotus-eyed Nimai didn’t stop Crying. Seeing this, everyone asked, “O Nimai, please tell us what is the reason for your crying? We’ll give you whatever you want but please don’t cry.” To this, Nimai answered, “If you want to save My life, then at once go to the House of two great devotees, Jagadish Pandita and Hiranya Pandita. Today is Ekadashi and they have prepared many delectable foodstuffs for the pleasure of Lord Visnu. Only if I get that food then I’ll be pacified and stop crying!” Hearing this impossible demand, Mother Saci became sad. She said that, “Nimai, what You are asking is not as per the Vedas and not in social principles too.” Another person said, “We’ll do whatever You says but first you stop crying.” Hiranya and Jagadish were surprised that the child could have known about their special offering, yet they happily gave Him the food thinking that Lord Visnu

is speaking through child’s mouth. But little they knew that the same child is even the source of Lord Visnu himself!!

When He was just a small child, to a pious Brahmana, He manifested His beautiful eight-arm form. Four of His arms were carrying a Lotus, a Club, Disc and a Conch. He was playing his Flute by the other two hands and was carrying butter in one hand and eating butter from another.

His form was dark like the Tamala Tree with beautiful Lotus like eyes, standing on the bank of Yamuna in front of Kadamba Trees with gopis offering him flowers and prayers for His pleasure.

His mother once found Him eating dirt. “Why are you eating dirt?” she asked. “I just gave you so many nice sweets.” Nimai replied, “What’s the difference? It’s all one. Sweets are produced from earth, so whether I eat sweets or dirt, it’s all the same.” Sacimata, being a wife of a learned Vaisnava Brahmana, could understand that Nimai was expounding Advaita-vada, the erroneous philosophy of absolute monism. Sacimata gave the example that although a clay pot is nothing but a transformation of earth, a lump of clay cannot be used as a pot; only when earth is transformed into a pot can it hold water. Similarly, even though sweets are produced from earth, crude earth cannot nourish the body as do sweets. Accepting the impracticality of monism, Visvambhara proposed, “From now on give Me sweets and I’ll no longer eat dirt.”

When the Lord was a young child, His elder brother Visvarupa had taken Sannyasa. From that point His father Jagannatha Misra declared to his Saci Devi that Nimai has too much absorbed in studying the scriptures, if He understands the scriptures properly, He’ll realize that all material efforts are useless, they are fatal and he’ll renounce this world just like his Brother Visvarupa. So, we must keep Him at home, therefore He would not be allowed to read the Scriptures

anymore. So, they gave this ultimatum to the Lord: Nimai, to this day no more studies; you can do anything else you like. So, He did!!!

He became very mischievous, exceedingly mischievous. He and his friend would go out in the day to look to see what mischief they can do at night. Sometimes they would go to people that they wanted to inconvenience and would tie the doors and windows from outside! And in those days, in Vedic Cultures, there were not bathrooms in doors, like we’ve now, they were considered very low class things. They would go outside unto the field with lotta and like that. So, the Lord would tie the doors and windows and at middle of the night when they had to respond to the calls of nature, they would try every possible thing to open the doors but to no relief. So, what would happen then??

First Nature was calling, then nature was yawing, and finally nature was screaming…aaaahhh….aaaahhh….let me out of here…. Aaaahhh!!!!!!!

You all know what it likes…..right????

Nimai and his friends would be laughing, laughing and running away!!

Often at midday, when local brahmanas would stand in Ganga to recite prayers and chant Gayatri, mischievous Nimai would splash them, dive underwater and catch their legs to make them lose their balance, or spit on their bodies, forcing them to bathe repeatedly. He would

throw sand on those who had finished bathing and mix up the men’s and women’s clothing on the riverbank, causing considerable embarrassment to all.

Once, a brahmana put a throne, little flowers, durva grass, Prasada and sandalwood paste on the bank of Ganga for worshiping Visnu and went to bathe in Ganges. To his Surprise when he returned, He found Nimai sitting on the throne meant for Lord Visnu with sandalwood paste all over his body. He used the flower and ate the Prasadam meant for Visnu worship. Brahmana was about to say something but Nimai said to him “Why are you so angry? If the person for whom you have done all these preparations have eaten it, what there in it to become angry?”

He would disturb the people’s meditations and claim, “On whom you are meditating? Iam Narayana, in front of you and I’ve appeared myself in Kaliyuga!”

Sometimes, the Lord would sit on the shoulders of Sadhus and would shout, “Iam Shankar, Iam Shankar!”

At other times, he would joke with young girls who would worship Lord Siva, supplicating his

benediction to get good husbands. Nimai would sit among them and demand all the nice articles and foodstuffs meant for Lord Siva. Nimai would tell them, “Worship Me, and I shall give you good husbands. Goddesses Ganga and Durga are my maidservants. What to speak of other devas, even Lord Siva is my servant.” Nimai warned the girls that if they didn’t comply, he would curse them to get old husbands who already had several wives and children.

Often, he would tell the young damsels that He wants to marry them. On this, girls would become angry and tell Him, ‘What do you think of yourself? Are you a son of any King? We’ve heard about Nanda Maharaja’s Son but you are talking in a way as if you are the son of Nanda Maharaja!!

Everybody would outwardly scold Nimai, as if angry, but actually relished his teasing them. Once when Nimai understood that the brahmanas and girls were going to complaint about Him to Jagannatha Misra and Saci Devi, He quickly jumped out of the water, got dressed, put ink on His fingers, and went home. When His parents informed Him of the peoples’ grievances, He responded, “Look father, look mother, I’ve just come from school! Just see My fingers. I’ve not been to Ganga at all. They are making false accusations.”

One day Sacidevi found Nimai sitting on a heap of discarded clay cooking pots that were used in offerings, and admonished Him for sitting in that contaminated place. She told the Lord, “Don’t you have knowledge? Don’t you’ve any discrimination? Everybody knows that sitting on these dirty pots is contaminated, you’ve to go and you’ve to take your bathe. Why are you doing this?”

Nimai politely and innocently answered, “Well, if you don’t allow Me to Study, how will I understand what is wrong and what is right?

“Besides that My mother, that this is pure and this is impure is surely a worldly sentiment with no basis in fact. You’ve cooked food for Lord Visnu within these pots and offered the food to Him. How then can these pots be untouchable? Everything in relation with Visnu is to be considered an expansion of Visnu’s energy. Visnu is eternal and uncontaminated. So why should these pots be considered pure or impure?

“Wherever Iam, that place is always supremely pure because Iam the Supreme Master of all that exists. Wherever Iam, Ganga always resides there and wherever there is Ganga, that place cannot be impure.”

When Nimai was talking like that, Sacimata could not understand anything He was speaking under the spell of Lord’s Yogamaya Sakti but nevertheless pragmatically had Him come down from the pots to bathe.

After this incidence, all the neighborhood ladies asked Sacimata, “What enemy has stopped you from giving your child the chance to study? Our children hate to study; we’ve to force them to study. Your child loves to study and still you are stopping him to study.”

Sacimata brought Him home and told Jagannatha Misra. So, Jagannatha Misra had no other way but to resume his studies and at that time he gave Him the ceremony of sacred thread. Sri Gaurasunder spent six hours in school and that time was seem to be millenniums to His parents.

Like this, Naughty Nimai would do many Lilas but being illusioned by his Maya, people could not understand who He is?

May that Naughty Nimai always remain the object of our meditation and May that Naughty Nimai make us the eternal objects in his hands.

Sri Sri Gaura Hari Arpanam Astu