Kids Blissful Sadhana

After writing a post on Blissful Sadhana for grown-ups, I thought, "What about the children? Don't leave them out!" :) So below are some fun spiritual activities for kids.

I can not take credit for these. Found them on various devotee web sites. 

Be thoughtful of God and do not place any Krishna items in bathrooms or places people undress, etc. But do enjoy them anywhere else in the house! :)

Important: Supervision, get involved, and keep on eye on their safety in cases where scissors etc are involved! 


* VRINDAVANA GAME: 

AGE: Toddlers.

Material Needed:
-Large piece of cardboard or chart paper
-Printouts of photos various places in Vrindavan like Govardhan, Yamuna, different Kundas, Nandagram etc 

-Krishna picture or figurine

Stick all the photos on the cardboard to create a Vrindavan picture map.

Place the Krishna picture or figurine on any one place and ask your child -

"Where is Krishna?" "Krishna is on Govardhan!"
Initially, you will have to say the answers. But once your child gets the hang of it, he/she will start answering your questions. Your child can also keep the picture on different places and ask you the question.

It's such a simple, fun and Vrindavan meditation game. It is also a great way to practice prepositions like on, under, in, around, beside etc.

E.g. if your child puts the Krishna image next to a place, you can say - "Krishna is beside Govardhan."


* Print the following game and play it with children or grandchildren:

* Shadow Puppet Theater -
Make your own! Video. Its short. Puppets are a great creative learning game for children.You can make your own Shadow Puppet theatre out of a cardboard box and help your kids put on their own puppet show, from Krishna Book, etc. Video here.


                                    DECORATION:

This is a simple branch one can find outside or make out of papermache. Then dovetail. :) Use playdoh etc to make simple figures of Gopis, Krishna, Deer, Peacock, etc.


* PAPER JAGANNATHA, SUBHADRA, BALARAMA:
Using this as a guide, draw your own patterns:

[Apparently they removed their pic. I will try to find it online and come back to add.] 

 Update - Close enough:

Help kids / grandkids, trace, cut out, and glue the face you both made patterns for. When done, can lean against a clean cardboard box or shelf...or make an extra bottom piece to hold them up [cardboard with a slot at each end & bend - or use clay]. Then offer paper flower, paper incense hehe.  Let kids have fun with this project.

* Here is one of my pages that explains how to make cut out paper dolls of Jaganatha, Subhadra, Balarama.
 

* PLAY-DOH Jagannatha Deities. Then have your own RathaYatra at home. Invite other kids. How cute is that! :)

[UPDATE: They also removed this pic. I will try to find it online too, and come back to add. Use your imagination,  It's easy-peasy play doh after all.]

Here is one that runs a close second in appearance, tho it is fantastic as it is for older children. However, if yours are younger, just watch the video to get the gist of it, then simplify for a younger child. Either way, good for many age groups.

Lord Jagannatha, Subhadra, Balarama, MAGNETS. Made from dough.

How to DRAW Lords Jagannatha, Subhadra, Balarama. As much as many of these are for kids, some like this for older children, are also good for adults sadhana too. :) Have a little transcendental fun with Jagannatha etc. 

* Combo SCRAPBOOK with a devotee reading or telling the story of the BHAGAVATAM. Very sweet, with a few songs too. I use to hold my kids in my lap and read it to them, but not a scrapbook - which I think is a great idea.Tho either way works, but hey, this lady can even read Bhagavatam to you via her videos. hehe Adorable.

* MANDALAS for children: Cut out a pic of Krishna, Lord Chaitanya, etc to place in the center. Then make this sweet mandala - instructions included. Can gently explain how Krishna/God is the center of all.

* I could not resist the following site. It offers some ANIMATION, STORIES about Lord Vishnu, Rama, etc. Choose from various online ACTIVITIES Festival Mini Movies (Krsna Janmastami), matching Games (# 4 best), Ramayana story, View moving arotika, etc! Of course, some things may not be so bonafide while others are, so supervision & guidance may be needed. Cute site. ...We are not Hindus. We do not practice Hinduism. Tho some Hindus practice Krishna Consciousness. For those who need to figure out how to tell the difference, go here.

* Learn How To Draw Baby Krishna:

 Easy lessons, here.
 
* VIDEO'S, BOOKS, BHAJANAS, ACTIVITIES for Children, MUSIC - lots here! Check it out. Beautiful site!

* Cow MASK: Activities for children and grandchildren.
In addition, Scroll down to other projects, such as Cool Cows, Cow Puppets, Cows out to Pasture, One Very Cool Cow, etc. AND click on side link "Browse All Crafts," as they have a large selection.First: Cows mask, cow puppets, cows out to pasture, here.


* LITTLE VAISNAVA'S - Songs, coloring books and more. This is done by my dear Godsister who has been doing this decades! Did it for her own children [and of course godsiblings children], now for her grandchildren [and others grandchildren]. She knows her stuff. Check out her site. 

* QUILLING for KIDS: 

Once I read that long before the internet existed, or tv, or etc, nuns used quilling to bring a smile to the face of their school children. Often it was used to mark or decorate Bible verses. Also to decorate a paper the child worked hard on. Similarly, they can be used to decorate a younger child's paper after writing the Maha Mantra in cursive, or for an older child [teenager] to quill the Maha mantra themself! :) 

I found two lovely places that give simple, SIMPLE lessons on how to quill. I could not decide between the two so am putting both here for the reader to pick from. 

* TEMPLE IN A BOX - or any box:


This is so sweet I nearly wish my children were kids again just so I could do this. ha But you can! :)  [It did not come with instructions but will do my best and you can be creative from there.]  Make sure to cut windows, doors, etc in the box.

The children in the temple room were made out of play-dou. Remember to add little girl children too. :)

Cut out various pics to be used as the altar, combine with construction paper or color the backgrounds or leave - whatever you wish. And you along with the children can hang decorations from the ceiling or walls etc in the little temple room. Hang a small Christmas etc bell in its doorway, use ribbons, paper doilies, just anything you wish to help your children have fun with Krishna.

* RANGOLI for KIDS:

Patterns for all ages, from simple to complex. This art is often drawn outside the temple, thus outside the temple shoe-box. :) Or on paper, Or outside your house if you have steps or a patio and chalk. Many here, along with instructions.

* AND A CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM:
Even a small little boy or little girl can lead a kirtana! Encourage your kids to sing their hearts out. So many videos to pick from that I have included more than one:

MahaMantra by girl, so sweet. 

GaruaVanis's daughter, Revati, leads.

Its so much fun to chant "Jaya Rama!"

And this one just brought a smile to my face. He is singing Jaya Radha Madhava. Too cute! 


Unique. Children chanting Hare Krishna. 

* A little something FOR PARENTS, grandparents, adults in the life of kids. Especially if new to Krishna Consciousness and wonder about that VEGETARIAN thing. :) Read about intelligence and vegetarian kids. 
 

                        RELATED POST:

For Kids - Krishna Conscious Fun! :) Jagannatha cut out paper dolls. 

Sadhana-Siddha vs Nitya-Siddha

Recently I ran into a conversation where devotees were discussing whether Srila Prabhupada was Sadhana-siddha [became a pure devotee thru the act of sadhana], or Nitya-Siddha [born a pure devotee.] 

If you told me 40 years ago, someone would even 'think' Srila Prabhupada had to earn his purity - I would never have believed you.

My expectation within the conversation was, most would point to him as NityaSiddha. But to my surprised, more pointed to him as SadhanaSiddha! 

They claim he says it in shastra. But he says many things in shastra, and it seems since a big name was involved in the conversation, more worried about offending him, than Prabhupada. 

Others simply may not have connected dots, or did not want to rock the boat, or some other reason. I'm not about to judge them. I don't walk in their shoes of their daily life. But what I will do is give the shastric evidence that he is indeed, a Nitya Siddha.

Some said why should it matter, since either way he is a pure devotee. I thought about that. Yet, it got under my skin. But why? 

My conclusion: If he's Sadhana-Siddha instead of Nitya-Siddha, I've been living a lie all these decades, and so have countless others. Plus it might mean he is not 'quite' as pure as we thought [tho it might not, cuz Krishna can zap anyone and make them as pure as He wishes]. Most of all, it just felt WRONG. However, I must find it in scripture. Thus the following. :)

~~*~~

"So the nitya-siddha maha-bhagavata, they come from the spiritual world on the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and they, by example, they preach Krsna Consciousness. This is maha-bhagavata. By suffering, by example, everything, they look like ordinary men, but maha-bhagavata. How it is tested? Never forgets Krsna. This is maha-bhagavata nitya-siddha. And sadhana-siddha means those who are put into this material world, by the association of maha-bhagavata, if he tries, follows, then he can also become maha-bhagavata or nitya-siddha, because originally everyone is nitya-siddha." (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Mayapur, February 11, 1976)

[NOTATION: There is a quote where Prabhupada said he never forgot Krishna not even in childhood. When I locate the exact words, and date, etc, I'll put it here. But it's a fact.]

~*~

Guest (1): Prabhupāda, did Christ return to the spiritual planets then, when he left the earth, to be with Kṛṣṇa?

Prabhupāda: He is coming from spiritual planets. He is authorized representative of Kṛṣṇa, we accept him as śaktyāveśa-avatāra. " SP,  Evening Darsana -- July 11, 1976, New York


[So let me see, Jesus has come from spiritual planets, but some initiated disciples think Prabhupada has not? Jiv Jago.]

~*~

"This word nitya-siddha is significant. Nitya-siddha and nitya-baddha. There are two kinds of living entities. Nitya-baddha means ever-conditioned. Ever-conditioned means those who are in this material world, they do not know when they came in touch with this material world. Neither they do know when they will be liberated. They are called nitya-baddha, ever-conditioned. 

And similarly, there are nitya-siddhas. Nitya-siddhas means they never come in contact with this material world, and even they come here for some business, they do not forget their position. That is nitya-siddha. Try to understand.

There are two kinds of living entities: nitya-siddha, nitya-baddha. Nitya-baddhas are within this material world. Beginning from Brahma down to a small ant, insignificant ant, they are all nitya-baddha. Anyone who is in this material world -- nitya-baddha.

And nitya-siddhas, they belong to the spiritual world. They never come in contact with this material world, and even they come for some business under the order of the Supreme Lord, they do not touch these material qualities. They remain always transcendental.

As Krsna remains always transcendental, even though He is in this material world, similarly, Krsna's nitya-siddha associates, they are also transcendental. They never touch this material world."  ~ Srila Prabhupada lecture, July 14, 1973

~*~ 

"Nitya-siddha devotees come from Vaikuntha to this material world to teach, by their personal example, how to become a devotee. The living entities in this material world can take lessons from such nitya-siddha devotees and thus become inclined to return home, back to Godhead. A nitya-siddha devotee comes from Vaikuntha upon the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and shows by his example how to become a pure devotee (anyabhilasita-
sunyam). In spite of coming to this material world, the nitya-siddha devotee is never attracted by the allurements of material enjoyment." (S.B. 7.10.3, Purport)

~*~ 
 
"A nitya-siddha never forgets the service of the Lord. He is always engaged, even from childhood, in worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead." (CC Madhya 3.167, Purport)

~*~ 

 "All nitya-siddhas within this material world may appear to toil like ordinary men, but they never forget their position as servants of the Lord." (CC Madhya 5.113, Purport)

[Yet some of us conditioned souls think they can recognize. Too risky imho. Karmic.]

~*~ 

"In all the ancient scriptures of devotional service and in the more recent songs of Srila Narottama dasa Thakura, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and other unalloyed Vaisnavas, the spiritual master is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Srimati Radharani or a manifested representation of Srila Nityananda Prabhu." (CC. Adi 1.46, Purport)

~*~

ME: The question arises, as it did in that discussion, if Prabhupada is NityaSiddha he would have said that; and why did he call himself a SadhanaSiddha?

We must understand thru the eyes of shastra. First, one can be a SadhanaSiddha AND a NityaSiddha at the same time [as the pure devotee still preforms saddhana], but not to "assume" it is the other way around. It sometimes could be, but we must not speculate. 

Second, it's highly important to understand the pure devotee is humble. He does not like to show off his level of purity, and rather say he is Sadhana-Siddha than Nitya-Siddha.
 
"It is characteristic of advanced Vaisnavas following the principles of bhakti that they think themselves ordinary human beings. This is not an artificial exhibition of humility; a Vaisnava sincerely thinks this way and therefore never admits his exalted position."  (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.24.26, Purport)

~*~
 
"The activities of these elevated souls are not to be questioned by us. They have a higher purpose which we cannot determine; therefore do not try to imitate the actions of the very powerful, but one should simply follow their instructions."  Prabhupada Letter, July 25, 1970

~*~

UPDATE: Found the quote where Prabhupada says he never forgot Krishna:

"So far my present life is concerned, I do not remember any part of my life when I was forgetful of Krsna."  SPL to Tamal Krsna, Los Angeles, 21 June, 1970

~*~

Poem on the Passing of Thakur Haridas
Author : Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur

"He reasons ill who says that Vaishnavas die
When thou art living still in Sound!
The Vaishnavas die to live and living try
To spread the holy life around!"

FEEDBACK: 

[The comment box is turned off because I want this to be a place I can speak my mind without it turned into a debate. However, someone sent me a positive message. If anyone I know has supportive feedback, they are welcome to email or message me with it. The following is what a devotee wrote relating to this particular blog posting.]

"Hare Krsna!  I'm afraid I stirred this pot, as I was the one that posted the original post, regarding Guru Krpa. 😃  I'm with you - I have always felt that Srila Prabhupada was nitya-siddha.

This is not very helpful if I can't find the evidence, but there was a story, I believe told by Daivi Shakti. Gita Devi Saraf, who donated the land for Krsna Balaram mandir, once had a private meeting with Srila Prabhupada toward the end of his manifest pastimes. In that meeting, Srila Prabhupada told her that he had come from Goloka and would soon be returning.  Gita Devi confided this to (I believe) Daivi Shakti, before her own passing.

As far as I'm concerned, there is plenty of evidence that Srila Prabhupada was not only nitya-siddha, but far beyond anything we can imagine! \o/ 
YS
Aja dasa"

Related post: Is Srila Prabhupada a ShaktaveshAvatara?