Who is the owner of our body? - HG Shudha Nitai Prabhu

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad.

On Saturday 18th, March 17, spiritual program was organized by HG Akhil Guru Das Prabhuji at his home. HG Shudha Nitai Prabhuji lead the kirtan and lecture. Started the lecture with question that who I am and who is the owner of our body? He asked to everyone and one by one everybody explained​  about the owner of the body. Few devotees told that nature is the owner and others said Krishna is the owner and someone said that the Soul is the owner of our body. After listening to everybody's thoughts, HG Shudha Nitai prabhuji explained. 

Life we're living now is not our only one. We've been through many. The spark of awareness within us– the self, or soul, or whatever you want to call it– has no beginning and no end. But that spark of life keeps moving on from one body to the next. At one time you have the body of a child. Then you move on to a young person's body. Then to a middle-aged body and then to the body of an old person. Yet in all those bodies you feel yourself to be the same you. Because you are the same you. Only your body has changed. You are not your body. The final change of body is what we call “death”. But it's not really final. It's only another transition, another move.

We are the soul (Nitya Jiv) and came from the Bhagavad Dham because of our desire and according to shree Chaitainya Mahaprabhu we are eternal servent of the Lord Krishna but God has given us the freewill to do any type of Karma. Krishna has provided the 84 lakhs yoniya's for the soul that to live the life on the earth. Just like we change our cloths time to time, our soul also change the bodies based on the karma. Krishna has given the body(uniform for soul) on rent to us for some time to live in material world. Till back to Godhead, we are bound to change our body according to our karma Bandhan again and again. As far as, Karma is applicable on Humans only, animals and other species are not bound by karma because they live their life according to the nature's law and they will get the higher body everytime after death. But God has given the special privilege to humans, only humans can understand the God through the transcendental knowledge of spirituality. If not used the body in service of God, then we might get down graded our body to other species.

God has given us the opportunity to realize oneself that who I am and what is the purpose of our life. If we understand the Krishna as the supreme personality of Godhead through our scriptures and Acharyas than we can go Back to Godhead by doing the Bhakti shadhana. 

We wear the Tilak to establish Krishna in our body just like in a temple. Our body is a temple and we should take care our body very seriously because this is the only body through which we can enlighten our spiritual knowledge. If we have any type of attachment or desire of the material world while leaving this body, then we have to come again to this world, so leave as much as attachments or desires and should do everything according to the scriptures like to eat only Krishna Prasad, listen Krishna Katha, speak about the Krishna Lila and take the Darshan of Krishna deities and follow the Acharyas and Vaishnav etiquettes. All initiated devotees of the Hare Krishna movement vow to follow four rules: No gambling, No intoxication, No meat-eating and No illicit sex. 

Do the chanting and kirtan of HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA, KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE, HARE RAMA HARE RAMA, RAMA RAMA HARE HARE and be happy!

Thank you HG Akhil Guru Das prabhuji and Mataji for a wonderful program and deliciuos prasadam.

Hare Krishna! Your feedback will be valuable to me for advancement of my Krishna consciousness.
-Rajeev Kag 

Teachings of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu- HG Shudha Nitai Prabhuji

On Saturday 4th, March 17, spiritual program was organized by Dheeraj Prabhuji at his home. HG Shudha Nitai Prabhuji lead the kirtan and lecture. The Kirtan was very soothing to our mind and soul. Lecture more like a discussion about the upcoming Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's birth anniversary (Gaura-purnima on 12th March) and Past-times Lila and teachings. HG Shudha Nitai prabhiji given the chance to everyone to tell about the Gour Nitai. Started from HG Kapil Avatar prabhu, HG Padmanayan Prabhu, HG Akhil Prabhu, HG Haripad prabhu and Varsha mataji. Everyone very nice explained and told about the Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. From time to time (yuga) whenever Adharma increases in the society, Lord come to kill the evils like  Ravan, Kans, Putna, Bakasur, Aghasur... to save the Dharma. In Kaliyuga, evil is everybody's inside, in the form of Kaam, Krodha, Lobh, Moh and Ahankar. HG Shudha Nitai prabhu, motivated us to leave the any one attachement to the material world by the teachings of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Around 500 years ago, God took the avatar of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to give the mercy of Prema Bhakti and to teach us how to get rid from inside evil. The Lord himself is in the Bhav of Shrimati Radharani. First, he gave the theoretical knowledge of Bhakti yoga and then he taught us how to do the perfectly Bhakti.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, founded Gaudiya Vaishnavism. He is Krishna himself, who appeared in the form of His own devotee in order to teach The people of this world the process of Bhakti and how to attain the perfection in life. He is considered as the most merciful manifestation of Krishna. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was the proponent of the Vaishnava school of Bhakti yoga, based on Bhagavata Purana and Bhagavad Gita. Of various incarnations of Vishnu, he is revered as Krishna, popularized the chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra and composed the Siksastakam in Sanskrit. His birthday is celebrated as Gaura-purnima.

In Jagai Madhai story, Once while chanting the name of Krishna in the streets, Nitai was attacked by Jagai and Madhai. Madhai threw an earthen pot which cut his forehead. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu heard of the episode, and wanted to kill the brothers with his divine Chakra. Nitai begged him to pardon them and they became Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's disciples, converted by Nitai's compassion. Even though, he is in prema avtar, but if any wrong things happen to his devotees then lord saved his devotees with aggression.

Teachings - Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has given us the Siksastakam. Below few points -

1. Krishna is the Supreme Absolute Truth.
2. Krishna is endowed with all energies.
3. Krishna is the ocean of rasa (theology).
4. The jivas (individual souls) are all separated parts of the Lord.
5. In bound state the jivas are under the influence of matter, due to their tatastha nature.
6. In the liberated state the jivas are free from the influence of matter, due to their tatastha nature.
7. The jivas and the material world are both different from and identical to the Lord.
8. Pure devotion is the practice of the jivas.
9. Pure love of Krishna is the ultimate goal.
10. Krishna is the only lovable blessing to be received.   

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu selected Six Gosvamis of Vrindavan to systematically present the theology of bhakti he had taught to them in their own writings. The six saints and theologians were Rupa Goswami, Sanatana Goswami, Gopala Bhatta Goswami, Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami, Raghunatha dasa Goswami and Jiva Goswami, a nephew of brothers Rupa and Sanatana. These individuals were responsible for systematising Gaudiya Vaishnava theology.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu announced that,

prithivite ache yato nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara hoibe mora nama
[Caitanya Bhagavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.126]

In every corner of the world, every village of the world will be nama-sankirtan. HDG Srila Prabhupad  started the Hare Krishna Sankirtan movement and now almost all over the world movement is going on with its full potential.

Hare Krishna!
Rajeev Kag

Importance of Kartik Month (Damodar Mass)

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

On Saturday 15th Oct'16, a spiritual program held at HG Suddha Nitai Prabhu's home in the evening and lecture given by HG Anand Murari Prabhu on the importance of Kartik month (Damodar mass) in our life. The Kartik month festival starts on the 16th of October 2016 and runs for four weeks till 14th of November 2016. The Damodarastakam, a series of eight beautiful verses by the great sage Satyavrata Muni is sing and offer a candle to Mother Yasoda and Lord Krishna every day.

Kartik (Damodar) is the best, the purest of purifiers, and most glorious of all months. Kartik month is particularly dear to Lord Sri Krishna. This month is full of bhakta vatsalya. Any vrata, even the smallest, will yield huge results. The effect of performing a Kartik Vrata lasts for one hundred lifetimes, Kartik or the festival of offering lamps to Lord Krishna, glorifies Lord Krishna’s pastime of being bound with ropes by Mother Yashoda.

In the lecture, Prabhuji told, the lord has given us the body as a vehicle and by that our soul can go to Bhagvad Dham, but need to use the body and mind in the Krishna Bhakti and get the best opportunity to go back to Godhead. According to Puranas (Vedic Scriptures), there are 12 months calender and every month controlled by each avatar of lord Vishnu, months sequence is based on the Nakshatra pattern, Kartik month is one of them and managed by Damodar Bhagvan and there Nakshatra pattern is Kirtika (another name of Radharani as on her mother's name Kirtida). Radharani likes the Kartik month, so Krishna also like this month because he is Bhakt-Vatsal (near to the heart).

Many festivals related to Krishna’s or His devotees pastimes occur during this month: Rasa-lila, Damodar lila, Diwali, Govardhan puja, Appearance of Radha-kund and the Disappearance of Srila Prabhupada. Damodara-lila is a sweet pastime of the Lord showing us how He could be bound by the love and affection of His devotees. Another pastime is Lord krishna went to jungle for guo (cow) charane first time.

The Pastime of Damodar-Krishna

On Diwali Day Mother Yasoda, while feeding Krishna her breast milk, was forced to put Him down to attend to the milk pan boiling over on the stove. Krishna was very upset and after breaking His mother’s butter pots, He distributed the contents to the monkeys. Upon seeing Krishna’s naughty behaviour Mother Yashoda decided to punish Him by binding him with a rope, to a large grinding mortar in the courtyard. She tried to tie the rope around Krishna’s waist but the rope was short by two fingers. Adding more and more ropes, she tried again and again but the ropes always remained short. Then, by His compassion for His tired Mother, Krishna allowed Himself to be tied. When alone, Krishna pulled the mortar between two yamala-arjuna trees bringing them crashing to the ground. Imprisoned in these trees were Nalakuvera and Manigriva, sons of Kuber, who had been cursed by Narada Muni. They were now liberated.

Everybody should follow following practices in Kartik (Damodar) month:
1. Daily offer a ghee lamp to Krishna and sing the Damodarastakam, meditating on meaning.
2. One should always remember Supreme Lord Hari. Devotees should try to do more Harinam Chanting. Do extra rounds and more kirtana.
3. Hear Srimad Bhagavatam, daily in association of exalted Vaisnavas, if possible.
4. Eat only prasadam.
5. Everyone should do the Yagya(chant mahamantra), Dan and Tap (vrat and dham vas).
6. Daily offer lamp to Tulsi devi and pray for eternal residence in Vrndavana and eternal service of the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna. Do 4 parikrama (circumbulation) of Tulasi.
7. Make nice offerings for Krishna. Devotees should observe the festival of Annakuta, Giriraj Govardhan Puja.
8. Associate more with devotees.
9. Practice brahmacharya – celibacy.
10. Perform austerities.

Source:
http://www.iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/kartik-damodarthe-holiest
http://www.iskcon-london.org/31-festivals/664-kartik-month.html
http://www.iskconmauritius.com/node/55
http://www.iskconvrindavan.com/festivals/kartika/

Hare Krishna!

Garbh Sanskar ceremony and Kirtan Sandhya at HG Suddha Nitai Prabhu's home

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

On 8th Oct'16, Garbh Sanskar ceremony and Kirtan sandhya was held at HG Suddha Nitai Prabhu's home. Aprox. 50-60 devotees gathered and did the Kirtan and Garba, it was amazing and very joyful evening. Varsha mataji gave the lecture on garbh sanskar by telling the story of Indra and Diti from Shrimad Bhagavatam canto-6 (Diti_vows_to_kill_Indra). According to Vedic Scriptures, 16 sanskars are there for human being's and from them initial three most important sanskars are GARBHADHAN,PUNSVAN and SEEMANTHONAYAN which will perform before the child birth.

The literal meaning of garbh sanskar is educating the fetus in the womb. In Indian culture it is believed that education of real and traditional values and parenting starts right from the time the fetus is confirmed in the womb. This is why when anyone gets pregnant in home, the elder people advice to have positive thoughts and emotions to the pregnant woman.

When anyone gets the pregnant, needs to follow the vedic instructions to educate and initiate the Krishna Consciences into the child before taking the birth. Try to remember krishna all time and chant Hare Krishna Mahamantra as much as possible and do the kirtan at home and visit the temple if possible and do the associations of devotees. Take the healthy and nutritious diet(prasadam) and good night sleep. Prabhuji needs to help in making the possitive and joyful enviorment at home.

In the Hindu epic, Mahabharata, there was a warrior named Abhimanyu who is said to have learnt a war skill when he was in the womb of her mother. He could only learn to decode and enter the trap because by that time her mother felt asleep. This was one of the reasons why he was killed because he did not know how to come out of the trap.

1. GARBHADHAN SANSKAAR

In this sanskaar, the Acharya , husband – wife, parents, followers of learned guru along with as many people having faith in God and Vedas, sit in yajshala to offer aahutis in pious fire of Yajyen. All such prayers are showered with pious and beneficial result of such offerings. In this connection Saamveda mantra 104 says that he who offersaahuti in vedi (burning fire in havan kund) he is escaped from illusion and enemies etc. All this puts excellent effect on the child who is to take birth. Valmiki Ramayan and Tulsikrit Ramayan prove the fact that king Dashrath got garbhadhan sanskaar done of his wives with the blessings of Shringi rishi and was blessed with 4 sons

2. PUNSVAN SANSKAR

This sanskaar is performed after garbhadhan sanskaar when a women becomes pregnant. In this sanskaar offerings are made to pious fire of Yajyen and is performed in second or third month to ensure the stability of pregnancy.

3. SEEMANTHONAYAN SANSKAAR

It is performed in fourth, sixth or eighth month of pregnancy. In this sanskaar offerings of khichdi i.e., a dish prepared by boiling of rice and dal together are also added along with other offerings of ghee and samagri.

Canto-6 (Diti_vows_to_kill_Indra)

Diti want to take revenge from Indra anyhow for that she gratified her husband, Kashyapa by her pleasing behavior and asked how to get the immortal son to which will be capable to kill the Indra and fulfill my wish. After thinking, Kashyapa decided to train his wife in Vaishnava behavior so that her unclean heart would become purified, and she would thus give up the desire to kill Indra. For this purpose, he said,  “My dear wife, if you follow my instructions regarding a particular vow for one year, then you will surely receive a son who is able to kill Indra. However, if you deviate from this vow, you will get a son who is favorable to Indra.”

Diti replied, “My dear brahmana, I will certainly act according to your direction. She assured Kashyapa that she would do everything according to his instructions, and thereafter, she became pregnant upon jubilantly receiving his semen. She followed all the instructions.

If one worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead even once, he can receive the benefit of being promoted to the spiritual world, and possess the same bodily features as Lord Vishnu. Diti worshiped Lord Vishnu for almost one year, and so what is astonishing about the fact that the Maruts, although born from her womb, became elevated to the status of demigods by His mercy.

Because of having worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Diti became completely purified at heart. Therefore, when she awoke, she was pleased to see that her 49 sons, who were brilliant like fire, were dealing with Indra in a friendly relationship. She told Indra, “My dear son, I had adhered to this difficult vow, just to get a child who would be able to kill you twelve Adityas. I had prayed for one son, but now I see that there are 49. How did this happen? My dear Indra, if you know the reason, please tell me truthfully, without speaking lies.”

Source : -
http://nitaaiveda.com/Compiled_and_Imp_Scriptures/Shrimad_Bhagavatam/Canto-6/Diti_vows_to_kill_Indra.htm
http://www.dandavats.com/?p=9732

Hare Krishna!

My Spiritual Journey towards Krishna Consciousness

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I'm going to tell you about my spiritual journey initiation in Krishna Consciousness. When I was in Bengaluru, first time I heard about the ISKCON temple and visited near by beautiful ISKCON temple with my friend, that time I was not aware of term 'ISKCON' and their preachings about the Krishna consciousness. Just seen the beauty of temple and have snacks (kachori, smosha and sweets) than returned to home.

After few months, I took transfer to Pune for my job in TCS (TATA Consultancy Services Ltd.). I had joined the project in TCS Cerebrum IT Park and started working as usual but one day I met with Prem Solanki (Padmanayan das prabhu) in my project. As time passed I had a very good personal bonding with Prem because we are sharing the same native place near by Indore. I had shared my experience with him regarding ISCKON temple and that was not good because I have heard lots of wrong things about the temple. He insists to visit the temple once again but in Pune to elucidate my doubts. I thought let's visit again with him, that might give different notion then previous one.

One day before, Prem Prabhu told me that, will go to the temple next early morning (around 3.45 AM) to attend the Mangla Aarti along with Santosh Biradar Prabhu to Camp Pune. I slept early at night and woke up early in the morning and took a bath and got ready to go the temple. We reached to temple before mangla aarti. The priest opened the temple door, and start the Aarti at 4.30 AM and it was a never before experience for me and we danced so much. Tulsi Aarti started after finishing the Guru Aarti (Mangla Aarti). At 5.30, all are started the chanting holy mahamantra “HARE KRSIHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE” till two hours (to 7.30 AM). I also started the chanting Hare Krishna with devotees in the temple hall, but I was not aware the importance of Hare Krishna Mahamantra that time and used to manage the chanting Om Namaha Shivaya and Hare Krishna together. Instead of that, I had felt the positive vibes and energy around me. At 7.30, Guru (Srila Prabhupad) Aarti started and in that we danced to much. After finishing this Aarti, the time had come for the Shringar Darshan (divine) of Radha Kunjbihari and Gour Nitai bhagvan.

This is the actual start of my spiritual journey. After that I have used to go Mangla Aarti in fortnight or monthly and attended the spiritual lectures at Temple and H.G. Suddha Nitai Prabhu's (Councillor) home to know about the transcendental knowledge of Bhakti yoga.

Thanks to my Gurus Prem Prabhu, Santosh Prabhu and H.G. Suddha Nitai Prabhu for such a wonderful gift given to me  and guide me in understanding the Krishna as supreme Lord and given the opportunity to serve the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord with devotion. Nowadays, because of only your blessings and kind support to me, able to chant 16 rounds of Mala and wore the Tulsi Kanti. I will never ever forget the mercy which you have showered on me.

"Unless and until we surrender to Krishna,
Krishna is not going to take our responsibility" 

Hare Krishna!