How great is Srila Prabhupada?

By: Nandagopal Jivan das
(Narender Nolakha)

tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet
samit-panih srotriyam brahma-nistham

"In order to learn the transcendental science, one must approach the bonafide spiritual master in disciplic succession, who is fixed in the Absolute Truth."

The Vedic knowledge is sometimes compared to a 'jungle of knowledge'. Not just an ordinary jungle but a very dense jungle. In the Vedic literature there are various opinions. In the Visnu Purana it says that Visnu is Supreme. In the Siva Purana it says Siva is the Supreme. In the Markandeya Purana it says that Durga is Supreme. And in the Upanisads it is mentioned 'aham brahmasmi' - 'I am Brahman'. So one may think that there are many Gods, or that there are so many Gods that there is no God at all. We may think that what the Vedas say cannot be true because there are too many apparent contradictions. Or we may take 'aham brahmasmi' as the ultimate conclusion and then conclude that we are all God. This is what happens to persons who study the Vedas without the help of the bona-fide guru.

Srila Vyasadeva after dividing Vedas into four and compiling the Upanishads, Puranas and other literatures, he wrote Vedanta-sutra. Vedanta means the end of knowledge. After he completed Vedanta-sutra however Vyasa still did not feel satisfied. He was not satisfied within himself. He crossed the ocean of knowledge but still he was not satisfied. Then the guru of Vyasadeva, Narada Muni, came and Vyasadeva inquired from his guru why he did not feel satisfied. Then Narada Muni said, "Without directly coming to describe the Lila of Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead you have not done justice to truth. Now you have to give the meaning of all these things in one book." Then Vyasadeva wrote the Bhagavata Purana, Srimad Bhagavatam.

Bhagavatam is the natural commentary on Vedanta-sutra (bhasyam brahmasutranam). The message of the Bhagavatam is summarized in the beginning, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam (SB 1.3.28). So that is the meaning. Of all the Devas, of all the incarnations of the Supreme Lord, Krsna is the Supreme and original. Vyasadeva revealed in Bhagavatam that Krsna is the Supreme asraya-tattva. In other Vedic literatures Vyasadeva only revealed the asraya-tattva in part, not in full. If you are a ghost then Siva, who is known as Bhutanatha, is your asraya (shelter). If you are a materialist then Durga is your asraya. But when we are ready for the perfection of life, Vyasadeva revealed, "Narayana is the asraya-tattva, because Narayana resides in Vaikuntha, which is above this material world".

But in Srimad Bhagavatam, Vyasadeva revealed that the highest plane is called Goloka. Goloka Vrndavana is above Vaikuntha and in that place Krsna is the Supreme. Vyasadeva therefore described that the lotus feet of Krsna are the Supreme shelter of all living beings.

So the dearmost representative of Krsna comes to the world to represent this message of Vyasadeva –‘Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.’ There have been many gurus in the world since the time of Vyasadeva, but all of them did not represent the ultimate conclusion of Vyasadeva. Someone may ask, "Is there any thing special about your Prabhupada?" Naturally we will say, "Oh of course, about Srila Prabhupada there are many special things".

The common point we will find between all bona fide gurus and bona fide disciples is:

om ajnana-trimirandhasya
jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena
tasmai sri-gurave namah

Without guru our eyes are sealed in darkness. We are born into darkness, into ignorance, but our guru opens our eyes with the torch light of knowledge.

But about Srila Prabhupada, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, we must say that there is a special characteristic found in him that is very rare and to this day we have not seen that it has been duplicated. And what is that? It is that previously what was only known in India and that too only in the most cultured spiritual sections of society -that thing which was only known there, he took that out of India to every town and village in the whole world.

Bhakti is meant for anyone and everyone. In the Srimad Bhagavatam, it has been pointed out that lowest classes of people are also eligible for devotion. Irrespective of one's background, when one accepts devotional service and becomes a devotee of Sri Krsna, he becomes the highest class person, the best of all. Devotion to Krsna was limited only to India but Srila Prabhupada took this devotion out of India and distributed it to anyone and everyone all over the world. That's why today we can see that people from all over the world are accepting devotional service and becoming devotees of Krsna. In this way, they are becoming the best of humans.
The river Ganga is famous for her purifying effect. At one time, however, this Ganga did not flow through the earth planet. It is Bhagiratha who brought the Ganga from the celestial planets down to the earth planet. That is why Bhagiratha is celebrated. Srila Prabhupada, like Bhagiratha, spread this devotion, the bhakti-ganga, all over the world. In this way, Srila Prabhupada has done something which is much better than what Bhagiratha had done.

A guru or a great acarya may spread Krsna Consciousness in a village or even in a state or a country but to spread Krsna consciousness throughout the whole world that indeed is very rare. For example, Sripad Ramanujacarya, a very great Vaisnava saint, spread Visnu-bhakti in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra. When Ramanuja went to Kerala he tried to start there but they told him to leave. Ramanuja is considered to be the sakti of Ananta, still when he preached in Kerala they did not accept, they told him to go. Who can speak better than Ananta, who has a thousand mouths, and knows all the Vedas? But still Ramanuja was not successful in Kerala. So Ramanuja was indeed a very great personality, yet he could only spread his mission successfully in three states, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra.

Another very great saint in India was Srila Madhvacarya. He is considered to have been an incarnation of Bhima and Vayu. He was a very great philosopher, very learned and highly elevated spiritually. But Madhvacarya was only able to spread his mission successfully in Karnataka. Practically speaking, outside of Karnataka nobody has heard of Madhvacarya. Of course, on occasion he preached in Varanasi, but the people of Varanasi never became the followers of Madhvacarya. Varanasi remained what it had always been, a place of Mayavadi philosophers.

When the mission of Ramanuja, who held the sakti of Ananta, was successful in only three states and the mission of Madhvacarya, who is Bhima and Vayu combined, was successful in only one state then what is the power and greatness of that person who spread Krsna Consciousness throughout the whole world? How great is Srila Prabhupada?

Both Ramanuja and Madhvacarya were indeed very great personalities, but their spiritual influence was more or less regional. However, in the time of Srila Prabhupada he not only had an influence in a few states in India but he traveled around the world fourteen times, visiting twenty-four countries, preaching, inspiring his followers. He successfully spread his mission very widely simply through letters and personal meetings, virtually without the use of a telephone and Because of his preaching work the name of Krsna and Vaisnavism is known in almost every country in the world. With this consideration we may ask, "How great is Srila Prabhupada?"

Ramanuja and Madhvacarya had to contend with the opposing elements of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, the materialists, and the Mayavadi's. But when Srila Prabhupada went out into the world to spread Krsna consciousness he had to contend with all of the above and more. Especially the scientists, who hold a grip on the whole world, were a formidable opposition to Krsna consciousness, but Srila Prabhupada defeated them and many of them surrendered and became his disciples.

Nowadays we may meet a big svami or a guru (especially in India) who has many disciples and when asked, "Who are you?" he will say, "I am Bhagavan, I am God!" or he may say "I am the Jagat-guru (the spiritual master of the universe), even if they never went outside the village in which they were born." But Srila Prabhupada is Jagat Guru in its real sense. But when Srila Prabhupada was asked "Who are you?" he would say, "I am the humble servant of my gurudeva. My only credit is that I am the obedient servant to the order of my guru. All the success that I have is due to the grace of my guru."

Although it is the opinion of many great devotees that our Srila Prabhupada was a saktyavesa-avatara, Which means that he was empowered with the sakti of the Lord to spread Krsna consciousness throughout the world, still by his own words he considered himself to be the humble servant of his guru. Srila Prabhupada had such a vision that he could see that the whole world could become God conscious, Krsna conscious, but still he considered himself the humble servant of his guru.

Even Lord Nityananda himself, during his appearance in India 500 years ago, didn’t saved as many souls or didn’t preached in so degraded places of the world as Srila Prabhupada but he was now doing it through his representative, his dearmost servitor, Srila Prabhupada!!!

If we have love for someone then we may naturally exaggerate their qualities, because that is the natural way of love. But even without any exaggeration due to our love for Srila Prabhupada if we say that Srila Prabhupada was one of the greatest saints to have ever come to this Earth, it cannot be taken as an exaggeration - his life and achievements stand as evidence for his greatness.

Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!!

The Scientific Preacher Departs...

As we already heard the sad news about the disappearance of H.H. Bhakti Svarupa Damodara Goswami, one of ISKCON's initiating spiritual master. Although Maharaja had left his body on 2nd of October at around 12:15 AM, We are very sorry that we could not upgrade the blog instantly due to some technical and upgradation problems.

Before Bhakti Svarupa Damodara Maharaj met Srila Prabhupada, he was undertaking a pHD in Southern California, USA. Srila Prabhupada use to counteract all of the scientific arguments given by Bhakti Svarupa Damodara Maharaj. Bhakti Svarupa Damodara Maharaja then decided to surrender to and follow Srila Prabhupada and was given the duty of preaching to the scientists by Srila Prabhupada.

According to Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja, he was "the scientific preacher" of ISKCON and has written many wonderful books meant for the academic world. His leaving is a great loss to the world.

Soon, There will be a time when there will no longer be any Srila Prabhupada's direct disciples on this planet. So we must take the opportunity as much as possible to serve and associate with such exalted devotees. Here is a memorable verse which comes to mind:

'sadhu-sanga, sadhu-sanga-sarva-sastre kaya

lava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya'

"The verdict of all revealed scriptures is thatby

even a moment's association with a pure

devotee, one can attain all success."

{Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 22.54}

The Life of Srila Prabhupada

By: Vrindavana Vinode das

Abhay Caran, later know as A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was born in 1896 in Calcutta. His father paid great attention to Abhay’s spiritual and material education. While Abhay attended university, the independence movement in India gained strength, and he considered himself a follower of Gandhi.

He met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, in 1922. Abhay was asked at their first meeting to help spread the mission of Lord Caitanya in the English language. His Spiritual master convinced him that the greatest needs in society are self-realization and Krishna Consciousness, no matter what social force or government rules. Krsna consciousness, he said has so much spiritual potency that it can unite the world in loving devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. From that time on Abhay beagan to prepare for this extraordinary work.

Since he already had a small family and a pharmaceutical business, he used his extra time to study and plan the spreading of these teaching as his spiritual master had requested. In the 1950s, he lived in Vrindavana and accepted the renounced order of life. He began translating the most important Vedic scripture from Sanskrit into English and writing commentaries on it.

He felt that his real mission could be accomplished only outside India, so in August 1965 he took the instruction of his beloved spiritual master to heart and left for America to teach Krsna consciousness. He traveled on a complimentary ticket as the only passenger on the freighter Jaladuta. He carried a suitcase, an umbrella, a supply of dry cereal, seven dollars’ worth of just fourty Indian rupees and a few trunks of his books. During the journey he suffered two severe heart attacks. After thirty-seven days the jaladuta arrived in New York , where Bhaktivedanta Swami had only on or two connections. He had no followers yet, and no guarantee that he would fulfill his Guru’s instruction to preach in the West. Despite fragile health, a foreign culture,a dn a materialistic audience, he persevered with resolute purpose, and soon Krsna Rewarded him with astonishing success.

He found the younger generation of Americans disappointed with the establishment and frustrated with life. Searching for solutions, many young people had taken to drugn and pseudo-spiritual processes . they were both challenging and receptive. Srila Prabhupada lived simply and gave talks wherever he had an opportunity. His first followers came from the regular visitors to his classes on the Lower East Side. In july 1966 he founded ISKCON, International Society For Krishna Consciousness. Beginning in January 1967, he opened more branches of ISKCON in North America and by this intense preaching soon started centers in Euorpe.

Srila Prabhupada’s effect on his disciples was certain. His patience, peacefulness, kind severity, humor, and philosophical knowledge enthralled them. They were not blind followers but thoughtful young people who appreciated Prabhupada’s deeply satisfying explanations to questions that others could not answer. Is there life after death? What is the purpose of life? Can we know God? Among thousands of Srila Prabhupada’s supporters and admirers were Allen Ginsberg and George Harrison.

In his preaching, Srila Prabhupada neither emphasized the difference between religions not tried to merge them. He taught that every living entity’s nature is to be the servant of God and as long as they serve others instead, they cannot be happy nor satisfy anyone else. Krsna consciousness however is more that philosophy. It is a way of life and it spiritualize all aspects of life. It has special ceremonies and rituals, its own style of clothing, music and cuisine, even its own particular fragrances. Anyone visiting a Hare Krsna temple and smells the aromas of sandalwood incense or vegetables fried in ghee experiences this ancient culture.

Twelve years after arriving in America, Bhaktivedanta Swami left this world (on November 14th, 1977) at the age on 81. His sincere efforts wer crowned with extraordinary success. The message of Lord Caitanya was established in the West and throughout the world beyond his expectations. Srila Prabhupada spread the teachings of Krsna consciousness in most major cities of the world. He initiated several thousand disciples, started 108 temples, farm communities & gurukulas and traveled around the globe fourteen times, guiding the members of his movement. He authored more that eighty volumes of translations with commentaries, now published in every major language of the world.

He was respected by prominent academics and well known people, who expressed their appreaciation for his achievements in the culture. Harvey cox, the world famour professor of religion at Harvard Described how th gradually recognized the importance of Srila Prabhupada:
“ I remember I was quite astonished when I first met the devotees. I was wondering who they were. Their clothes, their singing, and their shaved heads were somewhat strange to me. Later, when I got to know the movement, I realized that essence of its teachings and the original roots of Christianity bear some striking resemblances. These are simple living, not collecting too many mundane goods and acting our of compassion and love for all living entities. I think what Srila Prabhupada wrote and did was important and lasting.”

TAJ MAHAL: AN ETERNAL MEMORIAL OF LOVE???

By: Nandagopal Jivana das
(Narender Nolakha)

I born in India, grew up in India but I visited the Taj Mahal only once and that too on a school trip. So, I remember a little bit about it. Shortly after the schooling, I was lucky enough to come in touch with the ISKCON and got connected to ISKCON YOUTH FORUM. So, I never desired to visit it again. I was always thinking that how people can like it so much? I wanted to share a bit about the same.

At first sight, I thought of Taj Mahal as very ‘astonishing’ but the more I went closer to it, the more I was realizing that it was not that much astonishing as I was thinking earlier. This time the famous saying: “First impression is the last impression” didn’t apply. Although, it seems to be very big and great in the Picture but in reality it is a very small place. The marble work inside it is very clear- its walls are so finely worked upon and there are flowers engraved in the stone too, but at end you see the signs of Mughals again and again. Once you’ve seen, you’ve seen.

So, what to say about this “Eternal Memorial of Love”? It was full in itself! Full in show-off and full in sadness too!!!

This is the nature of Love. Whole world is singing its glories, poets and writers are building bridges of its appreciation, psychos are taking it seriously and girls & boys are dreaming of it. Moreover, advertisers are selling it and kings and queens, even sweeper on the road is looking after it.

But what we get at the end? Only sadness!!

This is the topmost secret of this love. Either you don’t get it or even if you get it then it is just opposite to your wishes or it turns into a bad dream. Or if you think like Shahjahan that you’ve got it then it slips from your hands.

My dear friends, this is just a show-off, a cheating, a sought of dream. This is not reality!! It is false because all its work runs behind the body which is nothing but a bag of blood, stools, bones, etc that’s why it seems so good at first sight just out of illusion. If you join two of these bags and add some hormones, you’ll get love!

In this way, TAJ MAHAL was full in itself. Gardens, marbles, lightings, lamps, and what is there in between these?? Two dead bodies!!! At last Taj- a memorial of ideal love- is a place where two dead bodies are buried and if the love, of which it is a memorial, would have been eternal and ideal then it would not have met death at end.

If you want something better then you should love something which is eternal and not that which is destroyed at the end. That which is eternal is the Soul which makes this body living which is distinguished from a dead body. By soul, I mean to say the living energy which is near to every one of us and that energy which keeps this machine like body running.

Soul is the part and parcel of the super soul and that super soul is nothing but a partial expansion of Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna Himself.

So, real love means eternal love between an individual soul and the super soul; eternal loving relationship between you and the Supreme Personality of Godhead or between you and Lord Sri Krsna.

To re-establish that loving relationship between you and Lord Sri Krsna, which is much beyond the Taj Mahal, is the aim of ISKCON YOUTH FORUM.
Hare Krishna!

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!!