Devotees CAN go BTG

DEVOTEES IN KALI YUGA "CAN" GO BACK TO HOME, BACK TO GODHEAD - STOP DOUBTING

I was under the impression as the only one who noticed this particular problem and found it as significantly wrong, until reading the post of another. That was all I needed. This is an issue that needs to be addressed. And what is that problem?

For some reason we, the kali-yuga devotees, collectively or individually, do not believe "we" can go back to Godhead. It seems our belief is only for those great saints and sages of the past -- that rarely if ever can we "become" worthy ourselves, and seldom if ever be granted "mercy." In some devotees eyes we are never quite good enough, never really pure enough or can't achieve this.

Though of the above, more are inclined to accept mercy as slightly possible, yet have little faith that we can ever become pure enough to return to the Lord.

Or some don't want to "speculate," and therefore say this or that devotee did 'not' return Home even though they died in a Holy Place or chanted at the time of death. However, this is also speculation, and it is speculation toward the negative.

Not suggesting it's ok to speculate. We don't have to say 100% for certain that a devotee has gone back.... 99% is sufficient! Additionally, we have to go by shastra, not our personal opinions. Guru and shastra. Guru may have given someone a benediction we don't know about. Shastra may say something we forgot about, minimized or even misunderstood. Especially that shastra says: you chant, you go back, immediately. It doesn't say, "except in the case of so-and-so because they did yada yada." :-) No.

Once in the early days devotees were criticizing Brahmananda, who was senior to them, and Prabhupada told them even if Brahmananda were standing on a street corner smoking a cigarette, they should offer him all respects. -- Let us not judge but offer all respects to all who die of course, but especially let us not minimize those who have died under wonderful circumstances but some devotees cast shadows of doubt whether they could have been successful in returning to Krishna or not.

Yes, we have to do our work, our end of the deal. However, what I am referring to here are the many devotees that I, or godsiblings, have heard about who all ready left their body and succeeded in some way, yet devotees say, "they did not go back," or at best, "they are in a better place (just not Krishna's place is the hint)," or "On their way back."

For example, I attended the funeral of a young gurukuli boy, about 11 or so in age, who suddenly died due to an accident. Those who were present said this boy was chanting the Holy Name as he left his body. However, the speaker at the funeral stated that the boy did not go back to Godhead. Not only did I find this to be an insensitivity in the presence of his parents and siblings, but it also was not based in shastra - so how could it be true?

Over time I began to hear other stories from godsisters or brothers who had similar experiences.

Lets clear something, or bring it into the light really, because many are hiding it in the dark or under some sort of philosophy. Prabhupada did not give us something that we, the kali-yuga devotees, could not achieve in this one lifetime. Srila Prabhupada called our process the "Science of Bhakti Yoga." Do this, and that will happen. Not a material sentiment or emotion, not an opinion nor a judgment, etc. A science.

When Prabhupada told us that yes, even us, the fallen kali-yuga, less-than-perfect devotee can go back to home, back to Godhead in this one life, it was not simply a PR campaign. :-) He was telling us the truth. To doubt it is to doubt his process. And to doubt it is to doubt him.

Nor did Srila Prabhupada give us something that only a few of us can do. He did not go out of his way to travel from India, go through all that trouble to create temples all over the world, encourage Hari Nama sankirtana or teach us about the mercy of Lord Chaitanya, and yet only aim for a handful of us to be saved, as to save only a few was not his goal, so we should stop making it ours, therefore instead speak highly of those who were able to leave their body under such wonderful and special circumstances.

It appears education is in order. After all, we all become forgetful over time, and in this age of kali. We need to read more, or reread.

What I would like to present here are some quotes from Srila Prabhupada which make it very clear that even we, the fallen kali yuga devotee, can achieve the goal of Godhead in one life, that it is not just for the sages of yesteryear but for everyone. We are all Krishna's children, regardless of what yuga we were born in. We are His, and like any parent who has, and maintains, a connection, He wants us back.

Krishna does not love some more than others. Even when we read the story of the war between the demons and demigods (S.B. Mohini Murti), it is pointed out that Krishna loves them all equally. Therefore as long as we sincerely try, we can go back, in this one life, to Krishna who loves us all.

Don't those who make such negative comments think Krishna wants us back? Of course He does! :-) And Krishna knows what yuga this is, what we can handle as well as what we are doing. He understands all the complications that come along with it. Instead of making it harder for us (as we do for ourselves), instead He makes it easier:
"For My devotee I carry what they lack and preserve what they have." BG 9.22
"Without much bother, if one simply keeps a picture of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at home and chants Hare Krsna, then one will realize God. Anyone can adopt this simple method. There is no expenditure, there is no tax, nor is there any need to build a very big church or temple. Anyone, anywhere, can sit down on the road or beneath a tree and chant the Hare Krsna mantra and worship God. Therefore it is a great opportunity." Science of Self-Realization, p.134

So we can see, it's not so hard to go back Home. Ours is a simple process -- if we don't complicate it.

For example, it is not that when we are alive in this world, we utilize chanting because we believe its purifying yet at the time of death we discredit the devotee who chants Hare Krishna or dies in a Holy Place, etc., because they were less than perfect in life, and did this or that. They smoked, they mentioned a female relative while amidst the dying process in Vrndavana. Nonsense. Coupled with speculation. (Even the monkeys and various other animals go back to Godhead in Vrndavana!)

Its all right if some need to say they don't know. Yet why are we always leaning toward the negative? So that must be looked at.

Lets remember, there are different types of "going back to Godhead." Prabhupada explains:

"The fact is, those who are always engaged in Krsna consciousness and mature, pure devotional service are given the chance, after death, to gain Krsna's association in the universes within the material world. Krsna's pastimes are continually going on, either in this universe or in another universe. Just as the sun globe is passing through many places across this earthly planet, so Krsna-lila, or the transcendental advent and pastimes of Krsna, are also going on continually, either in this or another universe. The mature devotees, who have completely executed Krsna consciousness, are immediately transferred to the universe where Krsna is appearing. In that universe the devotees get their first opportunity to associate with Krsna personally and directly. The training goes on, as we see in the Vrndavana lila of Krsna within this planet. Krsna therefore revealed the actual feature of the Vaikuntha planets so that the inhabitants of Vrndavana could know their destination." ~ KB 28 Releasing Nanda Maharaja from the Clutches of Varuna

"In the spiritual world there are many Vaikuntha planets, and the topmost planet is Krsnaloka, Goloka Vrndavana." SB 4.29.28 P

"In the highest region of the spiritual sky is the planet called Krsnaloka, which has three divisions, namely Dvaraka, Mathura and Goloka." Adi 5.14 Pur

"There are five stages of liberation, already explained as being (1) to become one with the Lord, (2) to live on the same planet as the Lord, (3) to obtain the same bodily features as the Lord, (4) to have the same opulences as the Lord and (5) to have constant association with the Lord. Out of these five liberated stages, the one which is known as sayujya, or to merge into the existence of the Lord, is the last to be accepted by a devotee. The other four liberations, although not desired by devotees, still are not against the devotional ideals. Some of the liberated persons who have achieved these four stages of liberation may also develop affection for Krsna and be promoted to the Goloka Vrndavana planet in the spiritual sky. In other words, those who are already promoted to the Vaikuntha planets and who possess the four kinds of liberation may also sometimes develop affection for Krsna and become promoted to Krsnaloka..

"So those who are in the four liberated states may still be going through different stages of existence. In the beginning they may want the oppulences of Krsna, but at the mature stage the dormant love for Krsna exhibited in Vrndavana becomes prominent in their hearts. As such, the pure devotees never accept the liberation of sayujya, to become one with the Supreme, though sometimes they may accept as favorable the other four liberated states." ~ NOD 4

Also need to take this point into consideration:

"Answering your puzzle, it may be said that a pure devotee is he who loves Krishna, without any material desire. People are generally engaged in karma. Karma means work and get the result and enjoy life. And jnana, jnana means speculating process to understand the Absolute Truth. So one who does not indulge in speculating habit, neither tries to gain something by his work, but simply engages himself in the service of the Lord, he is called a pure devotee. Such pure devotees are very rare. But by the Grace of Krishna, practically all the devotees and disciples who have kindly joined me, they are, their symptoms are pure devotees. Even if they have got some ulterior desire, that will be removed very soon, because they have taken to the pure process of Krishna Consciousness." SP Letter to Janaki dd, Seattle Oct 13, 1968 .

and....

"All of my disciples, as soon as they surrender themselves to Krsna, they become pure devotees actually." Dec29, 1972 SP letter to Madhavisa dasa

This may be hard to understand, nevertheless it is there. Of course, whether or not devotees have kept up with their responsibilities as an initiated disciple has much to do with this, but that is another topic, for another post.:) For this, focusing on death, we need to try to be careful and avoid offenses, which is easier when we are based in kindness rather than fanaticism which is often a form of fault finding. And lets start to be more encouraging about who goes where, when they leave their body. Not artificially, but based in truth, because it *is* the truth. When someone has chanted at the time of death, or died in a Holy place, etc., let us stop telling family and friends, "They did not go back." or even "They now get a higher birth." Let us stop telling ourselves that. Because in 99% of the cases, it simply is not true!

"So that has to be practiced. Sada tad-bhava-bhavitah. If you always chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, that means you remember Krsna always. So there is chance, ninety-nine percent chance, that at the time of your death, you will think of Krsna and your life is successful." SP Lectures SB 1.6.13 Dec 31, 1973 LA

Let us remember that this page is about those who were all ready chanting upon the time of death or similar. No sense in getting lost evaluating whether they chanted "always," in life or something else about their life, because if they chanted at death it no longer matters (to us) what they did previously which materially might be labeled as less than perfect. They passed the final exam and that is a large part of what all these practices are about anyway. That and daily purification and love of God. But if they chanted upon death, who are we to decide how pure they were? With that said......99% chance! Pretty good!

PRABHUPADA QUOTES: HOW TO MAKE IT BACK TO GODHEAD

"By the grace of the Lord, if a devotee, at the time of death, can simply chant His holy name--Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama,... Rama, Hare Hare--simply by chanting this maha-mantra, he immediately surpasses the great ocean of the material sky and enters the spiritual sky. He never has to come back for repetition of birth and death." SB 4.10.30

"When a man dies, he is generally overpowered by mucus and bile, and thus he chokes. Since it is very difficult to vibrate any sound while choking, it is simply by Krsna's grace that one can chant Hare Krsna at the time of death." SB 4. 23. 14 Purport

Note From Me: I just wish to point out, again to those who claim someone did not go back even though they were chanting at the time of death, we see it is simply by Krishna's grace that they chanted in the first place, though of course sincere endeavor is needed. However, Krishna allowed or helped them to chant, so how can we say He did not take them in to Vaikuntha? We cannot. Please read the following verse:

"Revival of the dormant affection or love of Godhead does not depend on the mechanical system of hearing and chanting, but it solely and wholly depends on the causeless mercy of the Lord. When the Lord is satisfied with the sincere efforts of the devotee, He may endow him with His loving transcendental service. But even with the prescribed forms of hearing and chanting, there is at once a mitigation of the superfluous and unwanted miseries of material existence.' SB 1.7.6 P

"The Lord says that at the time of death, whoever thinks of Him, either as Brahman or Paramatma or the Personality of Godhead, certainly he enters into the spiritual sky and there is no doubt about it. One should not disbelieve it. And the process is, general rule is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita, how one can, how it is possible to get into the spiritual kingdom simply by thinking of the Supreme at the time of death." BG Introduction

"The pure devotees hear from the authorities and chant, sing and write of the glories of the Lord. Mahamuni Vyasadeva heard from Narada, and then he chanted in writing; Sukadeva Gosvami studied from his father, and he described it to Pariksit; that is the way of Srimad-Bhagavatam.” (Bhag. 1.13.10)

“Furthermore, ones physiological condition is completely disturbed at the time of death, and in such awkward condition, it would certainly would have been very difficult for Ajamila to have chanted clearly. Nevertheless, Ajamila achieved liberation simply by chanting the Holy Names of the Lord.” S.B. 6.3.24 P

"Is it very difficult to constantly remember Krishna? You can do it. You are remembering something. A mind is occupied always with something. Just practice to occupy the mind with Krishna, that’s all. “ SP Lecture, Hyderbad, April 15, 1975. SB 5.5.3

“At the time of death, the mind and intelligence of living entity create a subtle form of a certain type of body for the next life. If the mind suddenly thinks of something not very congenial, one has to take a corresponding birth in the next life. On the other hand, if one can think of Krishna at the time of death, he can be transferred to the spiritual world, Goloka Vrndavana. SP Nectar of Instruction, Text 8 Purport.

"Paramam purusa, that Supreme Personality of Godhead in the spiritual kingdom, in the spiritual sky, one can approach, anucintayan, constantly thinking. So these processes, the ways and means, all are stated in the Bhagavad-gita and there is no bar for anyone. Thinking of Lord Krsna is possible, hearing of Lord Krsna is possible by everyone." BG Introduction

"And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt. He who meditates on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his mind constantly engaged in remembering Me, undeviated from the path, he, O Partha [Arjuna], is sure to reach Me." (Bg. 8.5, 8.8)

“Now, if at the ultimate end of this body, if we can remember Krishna, then our life is successful. Why? How is that? Now as soon as we remember Krishna, immediately we are transferred to the spiritual world, the abode of Krishna or Goloka Vrndavana. It does not take even a second's time.” SP Lecture, LA, 1972 0813

"Regarding your second question: what determines whether a devotee goes to a Vaikuntha planet or to Goloka Vrndavana?--Those devotees who are following viddhi marg are meant for going to Vaikuntha planets and those who are following raga marg are meant for going to Krsnaloka. It is generally that the followers of Lord Caitanya are going to Goloka Vrndavana. There is no difference between the Vaikuntha planets and Krsnaloka, it is a matter of personal taste only." Letter to Tamala Krsna, LA, June 21, 70

"In Krsna consciousness, or devotional service, there are nine processes: hearing about the transcendental name, form, qualities, and pastimes of the Lord, chanting about these, remembering these, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering Him respectful worship, offering Him prayers, becoming His servant, considering Him one's friend, and surrendering everything to Him. One who practices one or more of these processes of devotional service throughout his life is sure to remember Krsna at the time of death. That is the art of Krsna consciousness. We cannot abandon all activities and simply chant Hare Krsna; therefore we keep ourselves constantly engaged in practical devotional service so that our mind is fixed upon Krsna. Then, at the time of death, we are sure to attain total liberation from material existence." SC 16

"Krsna is so magnanimous that He is present before us by the transcendental vibration of His name, which has all the potencies of Krsna Himself, and if we remain in contact with that name we shall get all the benefits of Krsna's benedictions." Teachings of Queen Kunti, p. 47

"As a result of chanting the Hare Krsna mahamantra, one makes such great advancement in spiritual life that simultaneously his material existence terminates and he received love of Godhead. The holy name of Krsna is so powerful that by chanting even one name, one very easily achieves these transcendental riches." CC, Adi, Pur

“So by their actions the pure devotees of the Lord can render any place into a place of pilgrimage, and the holy places are worth the name only on their account. Such pure devotees are able to rectify the polluted atmosphere of any place, and what to speak of a holy place rendered unholy by the questionable actions of interested persons who try to adopt a professional life at the cost of the reputation of a holy place." (Bhag. 1.13.10)

“There are nine different proceses of bhakti yoga. Any one of them you adopt, you become perfect, not that you have to adopt all nine. If you can, it is very ncie. So nice, eight, seven, six, five… “ SP Lecutre on SB, Tokoyo 1972

“There are nine processes of devotional service, they are all the same. Different processes. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam arcanam vandanam dasyam. Vandanam, this vandanam is prayer.” 1976, Room Conversation, Detroit, Mi.

api cet su-duracaro
bhajate mam ananya-bhak
sadhur eva sa mantavyah
samyag vyavasito hi sah



SYNONYMS

api--in spite of; cet--although; su-duracarah--one committing the most abominable actions; bhajate--engaged in devotional service; mam--unto Me; ananya-bhak--without deviation; sadhuh--saint; eva--certainly; sah--he; mantavyah--to be considered; samyak--completely; vyavasitah--situated; hi--certainly; sah--he.

TRANSLATION

Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.

PURPORT

The word suduracaro used in this verse is very significant, and we should understand it properly. When a living entity is conditioned, he has two kinds of activities: one is conditional, and the other is constitutional. As for protecting the body or abiding by the rules of society and state, certainly there are different activities, even for the devotees, in connection with the conditional life, and such activities are called conditional. Besides these, the living entity who is fully conscious of his spiritual nature and is engaged in Krsna consciousness, or the devotional service of the Lord, has activities which are called transcendental. Such activities are performed in his constitutional position, and they are technically called devotional service. Now, in the conditioned state, sometimes devotional service and the conditional service in relation to the body will parallel one another. But then again, sometimes these activities become opposed to one another. As far as possible, a devotee is very cautious so that he does not do anything that could disrupt his wholesome condition. He knows that perfection in his activities depends on his progressive realization of Krsna consciousness. Sometimes, however, it may be seen that a person in Krsna consciousness commits some act which may be taken as most abominable socially or politically. But such a temporary falldown does not disqualify him. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that if a person falls down but is wholeheartedly engaged in the transcendental service of the Supreme Lord, the Lord, being situated within his heart, beautifies him and excuses him from that abomination. The material contamination is so strong that even a yogi fully engaged in the service of the Lord sometimes becomes ensnared; but Krishna consciousness is so strong that such an occassional falldown is at once rectified. Therefore the process of devotional service is always success. No one should deride a devotee for some accidetnal falldown from the ideal path, for, as is explained in the next verse, such occasional falldowns will be stopped in due course, as soon as a devotee is completely situated in Krsna consciousness.


Therefore a person who is situated in Krsna consciousness and is engaged with determination in the process of chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare should be considered to be in the transcendental position, even if by chance or accident he is found to have fallen. The words sadhur eva, "he is saintly," are very emphatic. They are a warning to the nondevotees that because of an accidental falldown a devotee should not be derided; he should still be considered saintly even if he has fallen down accidentally. And the word mantavyah is still more emphatic. If one does not follow this rule, and derides a devotee for his accidental falldown, then he is disobeying the order of the Supreme Lord. The only qualification of a devotee is to be unflinchingly and exclusively engaged in devotional service.


The mark of a spot which may be seen on the moon does not become an impediment to the moonlight. Similarly, the accidental falldown of a devotee from the path of a saintly character does not make him abominable. On the other hand, one should not misunderstand that a devotee in transcendental devotional service can act in all kinds of abominable ways; this verse only refers to an accident due to the strong power of materail connections. Devotional service is more or less a declaration of war against the illusory energy. As long as one is not strong enough to fight the illusory energy, there may be accidental falldowns. But when one is strong enough, he is no longer subjected to such falldowns, as previously explained. No one should take advantage of this verse and commit nonsense and think that he is still a devotee. If he does not improve in his character by devotional service, then it is to be understood that he is not a high devotee."
Bhagavad-Gita As It Is 9.30

The verse above and most of the quotes that follow are NOT meant as an excuse to cheat with the 4 regulative principles, but simply to understand that sincerity must be there. We can't take any risks by minimizing the 4 regs, as we may not be the exception, etc., but we also don't want to develop feelings of hopelessness. Thus, these verses.

Also, as previously stated, this site is about those who have all ready passed while chanting the Maha Mantra, in a Holy Dhama or something else shastric and wonderful, thus by reading these we can gain in faith, *real* faith - based on knowledge, regarding their destination.

Of course, it can also benefit us as well, as long as long as we remain sincere, truthful and put in a good effort. Lets do it in one life! And not give up. It *does* work. ~ Y.S. Prtha dd

"Even if a devotee sometimes seems to engage in abominable activities, he should be considered a sadhu, a saintly person, because his actual identity is that of one engaged in the loving service of the Lord. In other words, he is not to be considered an ordinary human being." NoI 6

"Ajamila was a brahmana by birth, but on account of sinful activities caused by bad reactions from his past life, he began performing abominable activities. At the end of his life, however, his remembrance of the Supreme Lord absolved him of all sins. But deliverance is possible for everyone, not just those of high birth. Even the lowest people, who are naturally given to base activities, can reach the spiritual abode of Lord Krsna if they simply surrender at His lotus feet. .........

"Ajamila thought, 'Because I failed to be self-controlled, I was degraded to an abominable life and all my brahminical qualifications were nullified.' This is the mentality of one who is becoming a pure devotee. When one is elevated to the platform of devotional service by the grace of the Lord and the spiritual master, one first regrets past sinful activities. This helps one advance in spiritual life. The Visnudutas had given Ajamila the chance to become a pure devotee, and the first duty of a devotee is to regret his past sinful activities in illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating, and gambling. Not only should a devotee give up his past bad habits, but he must always regret his past sinful acts. This is the standard of pure devotion." Second Chance, 17.

"The question remains, then, How can a person engaged in abominable activities either by accident or intention, be a pure devotee? This question may justly be raised. The miscreants, as stated in the Seventh Chapter, who never come to the devotional service of the Lord, have no good qualifications, as is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Generally, a devotee who is engaged in nine kinds of devotional activities is engaged in the process of cleansing all material contamination from the heart. He puts the Supreme Personality of Godhead within his heart, and all sinful contaminations are naturally washed away. Continuous thinking of the Supreme Lord makes him pure by nature. According to the Veda, there is a certain regulation that if one falls down from his exalted position, he has to undergo certain ritualistic processes to purify himself. But here there is no such condition, because the purifying process is already in the of the devotee due to his remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead constantly. Therefore the chanting of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare should be continued without stoppage. This will protect a devotee from all accidental falldowns. He will thus remain perpetually free from all material contaminations." Room Conversation, Bombay India, March 27, 77

TRANSLATION

If a demigod, demon, human being, Yaksa, Gandharva or anyone within this universe renders service to the lotus feet of Mukunda, who can deliver liberation, he is actually situated in the most auspicious condition of life, exactly like us [the mahajanas, headed by Prahlada Maharaja]. SB 7.7.50

..."My dear friends, O sons of the demons, you cannot please the Supreme Personality of Godhead by becoming perfect brahmanas, demigods or great saints or by becoming perfectly good in etiquette or vast learning. None of these qualifications can awaken the pleasure of the Lord. Nor by charity, austerity, sacrifice, cleanliness or vows can one satisfy the Lord. The Lord is pleased only if one has unflinching, unalloyed devotion to Him." SB 7.7.50 P

"Those who have taken to this atheistic view, asuri-bhavam asritah... Asuri... Just like we have got examples in our Vedic science, Vedic knowledge. There were many atheistic persons like Kamsa, Ravana, Hiranyakasipu, Dantavakra, they never accepted existence of God. But they had to accept the existence of God at the time of death. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, mrtyuh sarva-haras ca aham, that "Death, which takes away everything from everyone, that is... That death I am." So if we don't try to see God during our lifetime, then there will be an incidence which is sure--"As sure as death." That death is God. So to the atheistic person death is God. And to the theistic person, they can see, premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti. Those who have developed love of God, oh, they are enjoying the transcendental pleasure in every moment by seeing the artistic work of Krsna. So that is the position of a devotee." Lecture at art gallery, Ap 26, 72

The Lord says, "It is not necessary that one become very expert in Vedic knowledge before he can become My bhakta, or devotee. Even if one is born in a family of dog-eaters, he can become My devotee and be very dear to Me, in spite of having taken birth in such a family." S.B. 7.15.4

Prahlada Maharaja concludes that one can become perfect by serving the Supreme Lord sincerely by all means. Material elevation to life as a brahmana, demigod, rsi and so on are not causes for developing love of Godhead, but if one sincerely engages in the service of the Lord, his Krsna consciousness is complete. SB 7.7.51-42 P.

TRANSLATION

"One who offers Me respect but is envious of the bodies of others and is therefore a separatist never attains peace of mind, because of his inimical behavior towards other living entities."

"...One who is envious of or inimical towards others never experiences any happiness. A devotee's vision, therefore, must be perfect. He should ignore bodily distinctions and should only see the presence of the part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, and the Lord Himself in His plenary expansion as Supersoul. That is the vision of a pure devotee. The bodily expressions of a particular type of living entity is always ignored by the devotee.

It is expressed herein that the Lord is always eager to deliver the conditioned souls, who have been encaged within material bodies. Devotees are expected to carry the message or desire of the Lord to such conditioned souls and enlighten them with Krsna consciousness. Of course this is not possible for living entities who are lower than human beings, but in human society it is feasible that all living entities can be enlightened with Krsna consciousness. Even living entities who are lower than human can be raised to Krsna consciousness by other methods. For example, Shivananda Sena, a great devotee of Lord Caitanya, delivered a dog by feeding him prasadam.... Factually it happened that the same dog, when met by Lord Caitanya at Puri, was liberated from the material condition.

It is especially mentioned here that a devotee must be free from all violence.. Lord Caitanya has recommended that a devotee not commit violence to any living entity...... A devotee has to execute the principles of devotional service exactly as they are, and he must know that however insignificant a living entity may be, the Lord is present within him. A devotee must realize this universal presence of the Lord." ~ Srimad-Bhagavatam 3-29-23 Lord Kapiladeva's Explanation of Devotional Service

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DOM - DIRECTION OF MANAGEMENT

Long before it became the "in thing" on the net to make the D.O.M. public, my godsister told me about a day at the ashrama, when she stumbled upon something stuffed in a draw at the temple.

It was this 'Direction Of Management' written By Srila Prabhupada. She read it, was impressed by it, but often wondered why this was not being observed. After all, in the past, and she recalls this as clearly as myself, we never ignored an instruction from Prabhupada. Even made sure to follow it more-so when it was typed on letterhead with very specific instructions.

Further she wondered, why no one talks about it?

That was years ago, and I had actually published it on the web years ago. Due to geocities and yahoo messing up my sites, it went down. It's okay, that's over. Now I can re-post it here. :-)

And these days some do talk about it, although it's still kept brushed under the carpet by too many. Prabhupada did not want it hidden, as its an instruction clarifying the way he wanted all temples run, world wide. Thus, here it is, in Srila Prabhupada's own words:

---

DIRECTION OF MANAGEMENT (1970)

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, INCORPORATED

FOUNDER-ACHARYA:

HIS DIVINE GRACE A.C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI PRABHUPADA

DIRECTION OF MANAGEMENT

I, the undersigned, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, disciple of Om Visnupad Paramhansa 108 Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaj Prabhupada, came in the United States in 1965 on September 18th for the purpose of starting Krishna Consciousness Movement. For one year I had no shelter. I was travelling in many parts of this country. Then in 1966, July, I incorporated the Society under the name and style the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, briefly ISKCON. The lawyer was Mr. J. Goldsmith. Gradually the Society increased, and one after another branches were opened. Now we have got thirty-four (34) branches enlisted herewith:

* Amsterdam, Holland
* Atlanta, Georgia.........1476 Oxford Rd. N.E. 30322
* Baltimore, Maryland.........1300 N. Calvert St.
* Berkeley, California.........2710 Durant Avenue 94704
* Berlin, West Germany
* Boston, Massachusetts...... 40 N. Beacon St. 02134
* Boulder, Colorado.........623 Concord St.
* Buffalo, New York.........40 Englewood Ave. 14214
* Chicago, Illinois.........2210 N. Halstead St.
* Columbus,Ohio.........318East20thAve.43201
* Detroit, Michigan.........74 West Forest St. 48201
* Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.
* Hamburg, West Germany......2000 Hamburg 6, Bartelstrasse 65
* Honolulu, Hawaii.........2016 McKinley St. 96822
* Laguna Beach, California......130 Woodland Drive 92651
* London, England.........7 Bury Place, Bloomsbury, W..C. 1
* Los Angeles, California......3764 Watseka Ave. 90034
* Montreal, Canada.........3720 Park Ave.
* New Vrndavana, W. Virginia...RD 3 Moundsville 26041
* New York City, New York...... 61 Second Ave. 10003
* Paris, France............c/o Serge Elbeze, BO 113 Paris 14
* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania......416 South 10th St. 19147
* Provincetown, Massachusetts...104 Bradford St.
* San Diego, California......3689 Park Blvd.
* San Francisco, California......618 Frederick St. 94117
* San Jose, California.........70 Hawthorne Way
* Santa Barbara, California ......6654 del Playa, Goleta 93017
* Seattle, Washington.........n5516 Roosevelt Way N.E. 98105
* St. Louis, Missouri.........4544 LaClede Ave. 63110
* Sydney, Australia.........298 Birrell St. Bondi, N.S.W. 2026
* Tokyo, Japan............6-16, 2 Chome Ohhashi, Meguro-Ku
* Toronto, Canada.........40 Beverly St., Ontario
* Vancouver, Canada.........260 Raymur St., No. 305, B.C.
* Washington, D.C..........2015 Q Street N.W. 20009

As we have increased our volume of activities, now I think a Governing Body Commission (hereinafter referred to as the GBC) should be established. I am getting old, 75 years old, therefore at any time I may be out of the scene, therefore I think it is necessary to give instruction to my disciples how they shall manage the whole institution. They are already managing individual centers represented by one president, one secretary and one treasurer, and in my opinion they are doing nice. But we want still more improvement in the standard of Temple management, propaganda for Krishna Consciousness, distribution of books and literatures, opening of new centers and educating devotees to the right standard.

Therefore, I have decided to adopt the following principles and I hope my beloved disciples will kindly accept them. There was a meeting in San Francisco during the Ratha Yatra festival 1970 and many presidents of the centers were present. In that meeting it was resolved that an ad hoc committee be set up to form the constitution which is taken into consideration. My duty was to first appoint twelve (12) persons to my free choice amongst my disciples and I do it now and their names are as follows:

1. Sriman Rupanuga Das Adhikary
2. Sriman Bhagavandas Adhikary
3. Sriman Syamsundar Das Adhikary
4. Sriman Satsvarupa Das Adhikary
5. Sriman Karandhar Das Adhikary
6. Sriman Hansadutta Das Adhikary
7. Sriman Tamala Krsna Das Adhikary
8. Sriman Sudama Das Adhikary
9. Sriman Bali Mardan Das Brahmacary
10. Sriman Jagadisa Das Adhikary
11. Sriman Hayagriva Das Adhikary
12. Sriman Krsnadas Adhikary

These personalities are now considered as my direct representatives. While I am living they will act as my zonal secretaries and after my demise they will be known as Executors.

I have already awarded Sannyas or the renounced order of life to some of my students and they have also got very important duties to perform in this connection. The Sannyasis will travel to our different centers for preaching purpose as well as enlightening the members of the center for spiritual advancement. The Sannyasis will suggest for opening new centers in suitable places and the GBC will take action on it.

As was stipulated by the ad hoc committee, the function of the GBC will be as follows with particulars:

PARTICULARS OF THE GOVERNING BODY COMMISSION

"The purpose of the Governing Body Commission is to act as the instrument for the execution of the Will of His Divine Grace. And further,

1. The GBC oversees all operations and management of ISKCON, as it receives direction from Srila Prabhupada and His Divine Grace has the final approval in all matters.

2. His Divine Grace will select the initial 12 members of the GBC. In the succeeding years the GBC will be elected by a vote of all Temple presidents who will vote for 8 from a ballot of all Temple presidents, which may also include any secretary who is in charge of a Temple. Those 8 with the greatest number of votes will be members for the next term of GBC. Srila Prabhupada will choose to retain four commissioners. In the event of Srila Prabhupada's absence, the retiring members will decide which four will remain.

3. The commissioners will serve for a period of 3 years, and they may be re-elected at the end of this period.

4. The chairman is elected by the GBC for each meeting. He has no veto power, but in even of a vote tie, his vote will decide. The same will apply for votes cast by mail between regular meetings.

5. Throughout the year, each of the commissioners will stay with His Divine Grace for one month at a time and keep the other commissioners informed of His Divine Grace's instructions.

6. The primary objective of the GBC is to organize the opening of new Temples and to maintain the established Temples.

7. Advice will be given by the GBC in cases of real property purchases, which will be in the name of ISKCON, INC. (Trucks or other vehicles will be purchased in the name of the local president).

8. Removal of a Temple president by the GBC requires support by the local Temple members.

9. The GBC has no jurisdiction in the publication of manuscripts, which will be handled by a separate committee; profits to be returned to Srila Prabhupada."

So far my books are concerned, I am setting up a different body of management known as the BHAKTIVEDANTA BOOK TRUST. The trustees of this body are also members of the GBC, but their function is not dependent on the GBC.

ISKCON Press was created for the exclusive publication of my books and literatures and should be continued in that way.

During my absence no one shall live in my apartment.

ACB

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Witnessed by:
Date July 28th 1970
(Robert F. Corens)
Rupanuga das Adhikary
(William R. Ehrlichman)
Bhagavan das Adhikary
(Kelly Gifford Smith)
Karandhar das Adhikary
Date July 28th, 1970

At the World Head Quarters
3764, Watseka Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90034

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

One URL:
http://iskcon.krishna.org/Articles/2001/01/00249.html

See original letter at: http://www.krishnaconsciousnessmovement.com/direction.html

~~~**~~~

[The DOM was so important that four years later Prabhupada wrote an “amendment," which is directly below. We should not forget all of this, as it appears Prabhupada did not want us to, and that it was the way he wanted the Movement run.]

~~~**~~~

[Typed On Original ISKCON letterhead, composed by Srila Prabhupada]

TOPMOST URGENCY

AMMENDMENT TO BE IMMEDIATELY ADDED TO ALL OFFICIAL REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS, CONSTITUTIONS, INCORPORATIONS, ETC.

1.) It is declared that His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad is the Founder-Acarya of (ISKCON) International Society for Krishna Consciousness. His mission cannot be occupied by anyone else, and his name and title must appear on all documents, letterheads, publications, and buildings of the Society.

In particular it shall be clearly understood that no real estate may be purchased or sold by any officer of the Society without the express permission of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedatna Swami Prabhupad, the founder-acarya of ISKCON.

2.) There shall be a Governing Board Committee of trustees appointed by the Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad according to the document: Direction of Management dated July 28, 1970. The GBC is to act as the instrument for the execution of the will of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.

Dated at New York, July 22, 1974

Approved: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (His signature)
Founder-Acarya

Signed: Brahmananda Swami
GBC, Zonal Secretary

Balimardan das Goswami
GBC, Zonal Secretary

Radhastami

Late, so late, for a very important date. :) Actually I was not late in honoring it, just in posting about Radhastami. Folks, sometimes that's going to happen, for a variety of reasons not worth wasting time going into. Simply, be prepared, I may be late on reporting in. :)

For those who do not know, & those who have the basic idea but would appreciate further understanding, lets start out with: "Who is that girl with Krishna?"

Her name is Radha or Radharani.

[Pronounced Rahd-ha, or pronounced Radha-rahNee. The word you will next see is Srimati, pronounced ShreeMahtee.]

Srimati Radharani is not an ordinary girl, and no one should view her as such.

Spiritually there is never a beginning to God, as God is eternal and superior to time as well. For our understanding we sometimes relate better, at first, when we speak "in the beginning."

Put simply, once Radha and Krishna were One. One Being, One [transcendental] body. To enjoy each other as male and female counterparts, They divided.

Some misunderstand, thinking if there is a body, it must be material. Try to understand, our body and experiences are different from God's. God's body is fully 100% transcendental. God can eat with His or Her ears, as is done daily thru mantras offerings of food. The Lord can use His/Her body in any way desired, as is done with expansions and incarnations.

Next, regarding Radha and Krishna originally one, some also may have a little trouble with this. After it was explained to me, I did not. The simple but very effective explanation is: God is God, thus unlimited and able to do anything God feels like doing.

Srila Prabhupada has referred to Srimati Radharani as our Divine Mother. Spend time in worship and glorification of Her and watch your life change!

Krishna can sometimes be more strict, more difficult to approach. However Radha sometimes asks Him to please show His mercy to us.

“Instead of offering obeisances to Krishna, devotees offer obeisances to His compassionate nature. Actually , because Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is very difficult to approach Him. But the devotees, taking advantage of His compassionate nature, which is represented by Radharani, always pray to Radharani for Krishna’s compassion.” ~Nectar Of Devotion, pg. 176

Radhastami is the appearance day of the Supreme Goddess, and God Herself, Srimati Radharani. Most readers by now may know, we tend to do things on appearance days. :)

Temples hold festivals, and many attend, some worship at home. This blog includes both, but focuses more on those who can't go to a temple, maybe live too far, maybe have personal reasons, whatever. That's not so important, as long as one honors holy days on their own. Here are some basics regarding what you can do yourself.

Most fast only half a day, which isn't so hard after reading about some other fasts. lol Tho please recognize: pregnant ladies, children, the elderly, and those with Diabetes and other such issues, should NOT fast. Speak to your doctor.

With that said, those who can fast, understand the reason for it: One being, to help us get off the bodily concept of life for even a little while. Because at the end of life our bodies will be screaming for all sorts of things and we need to have practiced how to ignore it, or tone it down a bit.

Of course that is not the only reason, and really, it is secondary. As we fast we can feel bliss, more time etcetera, to place thoughts focus on God. When we do that, God reciprocates. In this case, Srimati Radharani.

During that time, we preform various spiritual activities, devotional service. Like reading about Her, chanting Her glories, offering incense etc to a picture or home-altar with Her pic on it for the day [or for good if you have room]. Since we have many holidays, it is a common practice to put up a pic just for that day. :) Later save it in a special box or place it will remain clean.

“Krishna attracts everyone, but devotional service attracts Krishna. The symbol of devotional service in the highest degree is Radharani. Krishna is called Madana Mohana, which means He is so attractive that He can defeat the attraction of thousands of Cupids. But Radharani is still more attractive, for She can attract Krishna. Therefore devotees call Her Madana Mohana Mohini, the attractor of the attractor of Cupid.” ~ Nectar Of Devotion, 16

When preforming even a small arotika, one can offer incense of course, but also fresh flowers, [pure] water, essential oils [on a cotton balls or q-tips IF they are not kept in the bathroom, not shared by us humans ha, and kept in a sacred place with the intent to use them only for this spiritual purpose]. Of course, food on little plates can be offered, etc.

After a rip-roaring very fun kirtana [during the arotika], all done at noon, we next break fast with a feast in honor of sublime, eternal, Srimati Radharani.

Read a lovely spiritual lecture by the pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada, about Srimati Radharani, on her Appearance day, here.

And below is the beaituful 108 Names of Sri Radhika [Radha] - said to have been uttered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If you don't know Sanskrit, don't make a big deal out of that, because understanding what's said. is needed first and foremost. So just go with the English. Read these nectar words about Radha:

Sri Radhika-Astottara-Sata-Nama-Stotram

srimad-radha rasa-mayi, rasa-jna rasika tatha rasesvari rasa-bhakti, rasa-purna rasa-prada (1)

“Sri Radha is endowed with all the most splendiferous opulences and is completely pervaded with ever-flowing transcendental mellows. She fully understands the subtleties of these mellows. Radha is adept in relishing mellows. Radhika is the Queen of the nightly rasa dance. She is totally devoted to expressing divine mellows. Sri Radha is full to overflowing with pure mellows. She bestows these exquisite mellows unto everyone.”

rangini rasa-lubdha ca, rasa-mandala-karini rasa-vilasini radha, radhika rasa-purnada (2)

“Radha is always very playful. She is greedy to taste newer and newer aspects of mellows. Radha is the designer of the circular arenas for rasa dancing. She enjoys sporting the rasa dance to Her heart’s content. Radha is the best worshiper of Syama. Radhika, the best worshiper, is adorned intimately by Her friends. She bestows mellows unto others in the most completely fulfilling way.”

rama-ratna ratna-mayi, ratna-mala su-sobhana raktosthi rakta-nayana, raktotpala-vidharini (3)

“Sri Radha is the topmost jewel among all the many forms of laksmi-devi. All of Her ornaments and paraphernalia are studded with precious jewels. Radhika likes to wear gemstone necklaces. Radha radiates the nicest, purely sublime splendor. Her lips are naturally hued with a charming redness. The corners of Sri Radhika’s eyes are hued with reddish tints. She especially likes to hold a red lotus flower in Her hand.”

ramani raamani gopi, vrndavana-vilasini nana-ratna vicitrangi, nana-sukha-mayi sada (4)

“Radharani is a charming young mistress. Her loveliness is especially pleasing to behold. Radha is a cowherd girl. She likes to frolic in the forest of Vrndavana. Radha is fond of wearing different types of gemstones. The shapes od Radharani’s limbs are astonishingly lovely to behold. She abounds in various forms of happiness.”

samsara-para-tarani, venu-gita-vinodini krsna-priya krsna-mayi, krsna-dhyana-parayani (5)

“Radharani delivers souls out of the material world. She takes great pleasure in listening to flute songs. Radha is very dear to Krsna. She is Lord Krsna’s exact conterpart. Radha is fond of meditating upon Sri Krsna.”

sadananda ksina-madhya, krsna krsnalaya subha candravali candra-mukhi, candra ca krsna-vallabha (6)

“Radhika is always full of bliss. Her waist is very slim. Radha is the female form of Krsna Himself. She is the refuge of Her beloved Krsna. Radharani is the embodiment of auspiciousness. She is beautiful as a series of full moons. Radha’s face is round and radiantly soothing like a full moon. She is the very personification of the moon itself. Radha is the dearmost beloved of Lord Krsna.”

vrndavanesvari devi, krsna-rangi para-gatih dhyanatita dhyana-magna, sada-krsna-kutuhali (7)

“Radharani is the Queen of Vrndas forest. She is the Supreme Goddess of the entire creation. Radha enjoys playing fun games with Krsna. Srimati Radharani is the final transcendental goal. She is naturally situated far, far beyond anyone’s meditation. Radha is very meditative by nature. She is always playing mischievous pranks on Krsna.”

prema-mayi prema-rupa, prema prema-vinodini krsna-priya sadanandi, gopi-mandala-vasini (8)

“Radhika is effused with the purest ecstatic love. She is the embodiment of love’s most beautiful form. Her every thought, action, word and deed is totally saturated with love. She revels in the delightful sports of pure love. Radha is the favorite of Lord Krsna. She is perpetually absorbed in the greatest happiness. Radharani resides within the circle of Her cowherd girlfriends.”

sundarangi ca svarnabha, nila-patta-vidharini krsnanuragini caiva, krsna-prema-su-laksana (9)

“Radha’s bodily limbs are all very attractive. Her complexion is radiantly golden. Radha especially likes to wear blue silken garments. She is very contented in Her attachment to Krsna. Srimati Radharani is nicely marked by Her obvious love for Krsna.”

nigudha-rasa-sarangi, mrgaksi mrga-locana asesa-guna-para ca, krsna-pranesvari sama (10)

“Radha embodies variegated forms of confidential mellows. Her eyes are just like those of a dear. Radha views things innocently like a dear. She excels even beyond limitless good qualities. Radharani is the mistress of the very-breath of Krsna. She is equal in Her dealings with all.

rasa-mandala-madhyastha, krsna-rangi sada sucih vrajesvari vraja-rupa, vraja-bhumi-sukha-prada (11)

“Radha dances in the center of circular rasa dance. She enjoys frolicking with Lord Krsna. Radharani always has immaculate manners. Srimati Radharani is the Queen of Vrajadhama. Aspects of Her form are visible in all the featrues throughout Vraja. Sri Radha is the grantor of happiness to all beings in Vraja-bhumi.”

rasollasa madonmatta, lalita rasa-sundari sarva-gopi-mayi-nitya, nana-sastra-visarada (12)

“Radha especially blossoms with delight during the rasa dance. She becomes wildly intoxicated by drinking honey-wine. Radha embodies the most charming loveliness. She is the truly beautiful expression of divine loving mellows. She expands Herself into multiple forms as all the cowherd girls. Radha is the essence of eternity. She is greatly learned in various scriptures.”

kamesvari kama-rupa, sada krsna-parayana para-sakti-svarupa ca, srsti-sthiti-vinasini (13)

“Radha is the Queen of transcendental lust. She is the personification of divine potency. Radha is the essence of eternity. She is greatly learned in various scriptures.”

saumya saumya-mayi radha, radhika sarva-kamada ganga ca tulasi caiva, yamuna ca sarasvati (14)

“Radha is pleasing like the moon. All of Her dealings are soft and gentle. She is endowed with all prosperity and success. Radha fully satisfies Her beloved by Her intimate worship. She fulfills the aspirations of all beings. Sri Radha is the original form of the Ganges River. She is the original form of the holy basil plant. She is the original form of the Yamuna River. Radha is the original form of the Sarasvati River.”

bhogavati bhagavati, bhagavac-citta-rupini prema-bhakti-sada-sangi, premananda-vilasini (15)

“Srimati Radharani is the original form of the Bhogavati river (the Ganges flowing in the Patala region). She is the Supreme female divinity. Radha is the embodiment of Bhagavans very heart. She is continuously associated with ecstatic loving devotion. Radha cavorts in the ecstatic bliss of pure love.”

sadananda-mayi nitya, nitya-dharma-parayani trailokyakarsani adya, sundari krsna-rupini (16)

“Radhika is perpetually permeated with exhilaration. She is the incarnation of agelessness. Radha is devoted to performing auspicious daily rituals. She is the attractor of the three worlds. Sri Radha is the original source of all that is. She is the absolute manifestation of total beauty. Radharani expresses Herself as the form of Lord Krsna.”

satam-astottaram nama, yah pathet prayatah sucih pratah-kale ca madhyane, sandhyayam madhya-ratrike yatra tatra bhavet tasya, krsnah prema-yuto bhavet (17)

“If a pious and clean devotee recites these 108 holy names od Sri Radhika - either in the morning (06:00-08:24), evening (18:00-20:24) or in the middle of the night (22:48-03:36), wherever and however that person lives, they become endowed with ecstatic love for Lord Krsna.”

ALL GLORIES TO SRIMATI RADHARANI!  Related Post: Becoming Free! 

Vyasa Puja

Vyasa Puja

Today is VyasaPuja or the Appearance Day of our spiritual master Srila Prabhupada.

Each year our holidays fall on different dates from the Western calendar, as they are figured mathematically through ancient Vedic Astrological calculations. [Different from Western, Chinese, etc.] The number date may vary, but always Janmastimi and VyasaPuja are one after the other.

Since before I joined the Hare Krishna Movement, there were guru's all over the place. At that time it was especially popular. Before making glolrifications, its important to know how to recognize who is guru. This is summarized here.

How do the devotees celebrate the birth or appearance day of the pure devotee Srila Prabhupada?

First, yearly everyone is asked to compose an offering of gratitude, writings to glorify Jagat Guru Srila Prabhupada. Now, not everyone is a great writer, tho that is not required. Sincerity of heart, and some basic 101 grammar skills even a child possesses. And they too, have sometimes written an offering. Though less often, but it has been done. These children are so sweet.

If one does not feel comfortable composing a written offering, that's all right, so long as they have their heart and mind in the right places. [Tho you'd be surprised at what comes out if you just sit down and try. Practice starts the creative juices flowing. :) ]

What else is therefore done on this day to celebrate?

Well, we do fast again, but only until noon. And to be honest, after staying up past midnight just yesterday :) most of us are not even thinking of hunger for that long. Its an easier fast. As with Janmastami, the purpose of fasting is not to suffer, no, but to spend less time on the bodily concept and more time in worship or glorification or something else spiritual. If, on the other hand, fasting gets in the way, then better to eat a something, like Ekadasi diets [no grains]. Remember, children, pregnant women, those with an illness, and sometimes the elderly, should not fast. Just eat light & sensibly.

Next, everyone attends a ceremony, or preforms one in front of their home Altar. At the temple there is a Pushpanjali, mantras with flowers showered upon the pure devotee, lovely incense burning, etc. At home, since most don't know the mantras, don't worry, the main mantra needed is the Hare Krishna mantra. That will certainly please Srila Prabhupada. A little "Jaya Prabhupada!" would be a simple addition too. Now flowers are nice if you can get them, but if not, again don't worry. Just try to find something to offer, even essential oils on a Q-tip [which has never been taken into the bathroom but bought specific for offerings & kept clean], or incense.

Next, an arotika is offered directly to Srila Prabhupada. Part of that arotika is the offering of foodstuffs. Therefore, most devotees cook something ahead of time. Then offer it. At the temple there are big elaborate offerings [and if your temple is not doing so, they should be.] At home, make what you can and feel good about it!!

We also dance and chant and feel happiness during the kirtana of the arotika.

If alone this may initially sound confusing in how to offer the arotika yet how to be the congregation. :) Simple. Most just chant while offering to the altar, or in this case, murti or pic of Prabhupada. Then when the offering steps are completed, they just keep chanting but walk away from the altar/pic and start to add dancing! Bliss.

Then soon follows a feast, remnants which were offered. But first, there are readings of Vyasa Puja Homage, writings by devotees. Everyone sits and listens with rapt attention, at the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, the intimate associate of Lord Sri Krishna, Srimati Radharani, & Lord Nityananda [mercy incarnation of Krishna.]

Those who have composed something often read it aloud for all to hear. Other times someone else may read from the VyasaPuja book.

Oh, speaking of that, almost forgot to mention, a special edition of Vyasa Puja books are published every year. Devotees who submit their praise of the guru, thus will have it published there as well, so we can all remember Prabhupada's various unique activities, qualities, and so on.

Probably I am in the category of those who feel a bit uncertain about composing.... anything. I have not written very many offerings, tho have some. This year I was encouraged by a devotee in Bangalore India that I could do it. Then they wanted to put it in their Vyasa Puja book with the written offerings of many sincere devotees.

For days I had writers block :) but remained determined. Each day writing a little. Even if it didn't come out the way which made me feel satisfied, I kept at it. Finally my offering below is what came out. I have no special traits, believe me. LOL Anyone can do it who endeavors. You can do this too.

Dear Eternal Srila Prabhupada,

nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine

All glories to Your lotus feet, beloved Srila Prabhupada who crossed oceans, tolerated heart attacks, just to save those of us in the various towns and villages world-wide. Without you how would I have heard about Krishna? How would many of us ever discovered "Who Is
God?" Unknowing, left with only our family churches, collegiate off-beat changes of religion, or popular New Age beliefs. The eternal words from the Highest Vedic literatures, was put into our hand by a Sankirtana devotee, or we may have visited a temple, seen a HariNama party, blessed with prasadam, or something else, which awakened us enough to discover Krishna. Without you, this could not have happened.

Your mercy, to the many fallen souls, is that of jagad, universal, available to all simply for the taking. No one can repay the debt to the spiritual master. It too, is eternal. Thankfully so. To be in your service forever is a blessing. Let us never forget our connection with you, let us always behave like devotees. May your lotus feet always be worshiped.

There are not enough praises I can give you, to thank and appreciate all you have done for myself, my family, and godsiblings as friends. Never would I have thought to have friends of such unique spiritual nature. You have picked me up out of this ocean of nescience, which I doubt I would have recognized needed to be done, thinking myself well with practices of Hatha Yoga or related philosophies. Steps, but also Illusions. Without you, I am nothing. With you, I may struggle, but I am determined.

When you left this world, disappeared from our sight, we cried and lamented deeply. The loss of the pure devotee, is something never to be forgotten. You are now up there with Krishna, and blissful. We are down here, needing to remember you are relishing activities with the Lord, and that we may achieve that ultimate goal by following your instructions to engage in devotional service. You explained to us the method, now we simply need to apply it more and more. I am everlastingly thankful to have somehow or other, found you.

"O Krsna, beloved son of Nanda Maharaja, I am Your eternal servant,
but somehow or other I have fallen into this ocean of nescience, and
although I am struggling very hard, there is no way I can save myself.
If You kindly pick me up and fix me as one of the particles of dust at
Your lotus feet, that will save me." ~ SB 6.1.50

All glories unto our savior Srila Prabhupada - Jagat guru ki jai!

Your Servant,
Priitaa devi dasi

Janmastami-KrishnasAppearanceDay

JANMASTAMI also known as the 'transcendental' birthday of our dear Lord Sri Krishna. Some may understand better when we explain it is our Christmas.

Simultaneously different from Christmas, simply it makes the point. It is the day the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, decided to make His appearance in this world, on our earth planet, as if He were one of us.

However, He is not one of us, and is very different being God. That'll do it. :-) But God can do whatever He wants. This is one of the attributes of being God, so if He wants to visit as if one of us, so be it.

Now, what does the devotee do in celebration? Many things.

First, many of us fast, tho this is not expected of everyone. The idea is to be on the spiritual level, using time for eating, instead chanting, reading, serving BUT if one is constantly thinking "where is food," lol than better to go eat. After that, its easier to serve anyway.

Some who can't fast [pregnant women, those with Diabetes "etc," and certainly children should not fast], often do well eating a 'no-grain' diet for the day.

Next thing we do, as touched on, would be to spend extra time in singing Gods Holy Names [Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare; Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.] Belt it out! :) Sing His praises with joy! Feel yourself as light as a feather.

Another thing we do is use time reading shastra, Vedic literatures translated by the pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada. There are many translations, but unless one is a pure devotee, it is risky business to take shelter of them. So read Prabhupada's original, unchanged books and feel the bliss! And often we read them aloud in front of the Deities or a spiritual picture of Krishna, for His pleasure.

Cleanliness is said to be next to Godliness. In any case, we do spend a lot of time washing hands, taking showers, changing clothes, so that when we touch a transcendental book, or make a garland which really goes on the Lord, etc, everything's as clean as humanly possible. But no big deal if you touch hair or dustpan etc. Just wash hands or keep a moist napkin nearby. Spray bottles work fast too. :)

So, we also cook very special meals for the Lord. Make Him a Birthday cake and His favorite foods, which we offer in a midnight arotika. Yes, it is an all day celebration. :)

Many also do things like decorate the altar. If they know how to sew they may have sewn the Deity new outfits not to be revealed until His actual birthday. :) This can also be done for a Murti. [This is like a Deity but not installed, less chance of making offenses.] If a devotee has none of the above available, there are always pictures. Krishna is nondifferent from His form, it being transcendental, so garlands can be strung from flowers or cloth or anything one can think up to help them find ways to preform devotional service. [Of course, garlands are for Deities and Murtis too.]

The entire day is used in some form, or another form, of devotional service. From chanting and dancing, to reading and artistic decorating, offering incense, making nice flower vases and arrangements for the altar, "ETC."

Than at midnight, after a rip-roaring :) fun kirtana, we honor prasadam. That means, we eat! lol We eat the remnants of the Lord. It was first offered on the altar to God/Krishna, in small portions of course, but He knows many must be fed, so He also accepts the same prep in the large buckets. :) What He accepts directly on the altar is called "Maha" prasadam. We get a little of that, and a lot of the other.

Now, read about how the Lord made His appearance into this world. This is from Krishna Book, but it should be recognized, it is Srimad Bhagavatam in story format. Can print it out and read aloud in front of your Home Altar, to your children, spouse, etc.

BIRTH OF LORD KRISHNA - Krishna Book, ch3

As stated in the Bhagavad-gita, the Lord says that His appearance, birth, and activities, are all transcendental, and one who understands them factually becomes immediately eligible to be transferred to the spiritual world. The Lord's appearance or birth is not like that of an ordinary man who is forced to accept a material body according to his past deeds. The Lord's appearance is explained in the Second Chapter: He appears out of His own sweet pleasure. When the time was mature for the appearance of the Lord, the constellations became very auspicious. The astrological influence of the star known as Rohini was also predominant because this star is considered to be very auspicious. Rohini is under the direct supervision of Brahma. According to the astrological conclusion, besides the proper situation of the stars, there are auspicious and inauspicious moments due to the different situations of the different planetary systems. At the time of Krsna's birth, the planetary systems were automatically adjusted so that everything became auspicious.

At that time, in all directions, east, west, south, north, everywhere, there was an atmosphere of peace and prosperity. There were auspicious stars visible in the sky, and on the surface in all towns and villages or pasturing grounds and within the minds of everyone there were signs of good fortune. The rivers were flowing full of waters, and lakes were beautifully decorated with lotus flowers. The forests were full with beautiful birds and peacocks. All the birds within the forests began to sing with sweet voices, and the peacocks began to dance along with their consorts. The wind blew very pleasantly, carrying the aroma of different flowers, and the sensation of bodily touch was very pleasing. At home, the brahmanas, who were accustomed to offer sacrifices in the fire, found their homes very pleasant for offerings. Due to disturbances created by the demoniac kings, the sacrificial fire alter had been almost stopped in the houses of brahmanas, but now they could find the opportunity to start the fire peacefully. Being forbidden to offer sacrifices, the brahmanas were very distressed in mind, intelligence and activities, but just on the point of Krsna's appearance, automatically their minds became full of joy because they could hear loud vibrations in the sky of transcendental sounds proclaiming the appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The denizens of the Gandharva and Kinnara planets began to sing, and the denizens of Siddhaloka and the planets of the Caranas began to offer prayers in the service of the Personality of Godhead. In the heavenly planets, the angels along with their wives, accompanied by the Apsaras, began to dance.

The great sages and the demigods, being pleased, began to shower flowers. At the seashore, there was the sound of mild waves, and above the sea there were clouds in the sky which began to thunder very pleasingly.

When things were adjusted like this, Lord Visnu, who is residing within the heart of every living entity, appeared in the darkness of night as the Supreme Personality of Godhead before Devaki, who also appeared as one of the demigoddesses. The appearance of Lord Visnu at that time could be compared with the full moon in the sky as it rises on the eastern horizon. The objection may be raised that, since Lord Krsna appeared on the eighth day of the waning moon, there could be no rising of the full moon. In answer to this it may be said that Lord Krsna appeared in the dynasty which is in the hierarchy of the moon; therefore, although the moon was incomplete on that night, because of the Lord's appearance in the dynasty wherein the moon is himself the original person, the moon was in an overjoyous condition, so by the grace of Krsna he could appear just as a full moon.

In an astronomical treatise by the name Khamanikya, the constellations at the time of the appearance of Lord Krsna are very nicely described. It is confirmed that the child born at that auspicious moment was the Supreme Brahman or the Absolute Truth.

Vasudeva saw that wonderful child born as a baby with four hands, holding conchshell, club, disc, and lotus flower, decorated with the mark of Srivatsa, wearing the jeweled necklace of kaustubha stone, dressed in yellow silk, appearing dazzling like a bright blackish cloud, wearing a helmet bedecked with the vaidurya stone, valuable bracelets, earrings and similar other ornaments all over His body and an abundance of hair on His head. Due to the extraordinary features of the child, Vasudeva was struck with wonder. How could a newly born child be so decorated? He could therefore understand that Lord Krsna had now appeared, and he became overpowered by the occasion. Vasudeva very humbly wondered that although he was an ordinary living entity conditioned by material nature and was externally imprisoned by Kamsa, the all-pervading Personality of Godhead, Visnu or Krsna, was appearing as a child in his home, exactly in His original position. No earthly child is born with four hands decorated with ornaments and nice clothing, fully equipped with all the signs of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Over and over again, Vasudeva glanced at his child, and he considered how to celebrate this auspicious moment: "Generally, when a male child is born," he thought, "people observe the occasion with jubilant celebrations, and in my home, although I am imprisoned, the Supreme Personality of Godhead has taken birth. How many millions of millions of times should I be prepared to observe this auspicious ceremony!"

When Vasudeva, who is also called Anakadundubhi, was looking at his newborn baby, he was so happy that he wanted to give many thousands of cows in charity to the brahmanas. According to the Vedic system, whenever there is an auspicious ceremony in the ksatriya king's palace, the king gives many things in charity. Cows decorated with golden ornaments are delivered to the brahmanas and sages. Vasudeva wanted to perform a charitable ceremony to celebrate Krsna's appearance, but because he was shackled within the walls of Kamsa's prison, this was not possible. Instead, within his mind he gave thousands of cows to the brahmanas.

When Vasudeva was convinced that the newborn child was the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, he bowed down with folded hands and began to offer Him prayers. At that time Vasudeva was in the transcendental position, and he became completely free from all fear of Kamsa. The newborn baby was also flashing His effulgence within the room in which He appeared.

Vasudeva then began to offer his prayers. "My dear Lord, I can understand who You are. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul of all living entities and the Absolute Truth. You have appeared in Your own eternal form which is directly perceived by us. I understand that because I am afraid of Kamsa, You have appeared just to deliver me from that fear. You do not belong to this material world; You are the same person who brings about the cosmic manifestation simply by glancing over material nature."

One may argue that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who creates the whole cosmic manifestation simply by His glance, cannot come within the womb of Devaki, the wife of Vasudeva. To eradicate this argument, Vasudeva said, "My dear Lord, it is not a very wonderful thing that You appear within the womb of Devaki because the creation was also made in that way. You were lying in the Causal Ocean as Maha-Visnu, and by Your breathing process, innumerable universes came into existence. Then You entered into each of the universes as Garbhodakasayi Visnu. Then again You expanded Yourself as Ksirodakasayi Visnu and entered into the hearts of all living entities and entered even within the atoms. Therefore Your entrance in the womb of Devaki is understandable in the same way. You appear to have entered, but You are simultaneously all-pervading. We can understand Your entrance and nonentrance from material examples. The total material energy remains intact even after being divided into sixteen elements. The material body is nothing but the combination of the five gross elements--namely earth, water, fire, air and ether. Whenever there is a material body, it appears that such elements are newly created, but actually the elements are always existing outside of the body. Similarly, although You appear as a child in the womb of Devaki, You are also existing outside. You are always in Your abode, but still You can simultaneously expand Yourself into millions of forms.

"One has to understand Your appearance with great intelligence because the material energy is also emanating from You. You are the original source of the material energy, just as the sun is the source of the sunshine. The sunshine cannot cover the sun globe, nor can the material energy--being an emanation from You--cover You. You appear to be in the three modes of material energy, but actually the three modes of material energy cannot cover You. This is understood by the highly intellectual philosophers. In other words, although You appear to be within the material energy, You are never covered by it."

We hear from the Vedic version that the Supreme Brahman exhibits His effulgence, and therefore everything becomes illuminated. We can understand from Brahma-samhita that the brahmajyoti, or the Brahman effulgence, emanates from the body of the Supreme Lord. And from the Brahman effulgence, all creation takes place. It is further stated in the Bhagavad-gita that the Lord is also the support of the Brahman effulgence. Originally He is the root cause of everything. But persons who are less intelligent think that when the Supreme Personality of Godhead comes within this material world, He accepts the material qualities. Such conclusions are not very mature, but are made by the less intelligent.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is directly and indirectly existing everywhere; He is outside this material creation, and He is also within it. He is within this material creation not only as Garbhodakasayi Visnu; He is also within the atom. Existence is due to His presence. Nothing can be separated from His existence. In the Vedic injunction we find that the Supreme Soul or the root cause of everything has to be searched out because nothing exists independent of the Supreme Soul. Therefore the material manifestation is also a transformation of His potency. Both inert matter and the living force--soul--are emanations from Him. Only the foolish conclude that when the Supreme Lord appears He accepts the conditions of matter. Even if He appears to have accepted the material body, He is still not subjected to any material condition. Krsna has therefore appeared and defeated all imperfect conclusions about the appearance and disappearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

"My Lord, Your appearance, existence and disappearance are beyond the influence of the material qualities. Because Your Lordship is the controller of everything and the resting place of the Supreme Brahman, there is nothing inconceivable or contradictory in You. As You have said, material nature works under Your superintendence. It is just like government officers working under the orders of the chief executive. The influence of subordinate activities cannot affect You. The Supreme Brahman and all phenomena are existing within You, and all the activities of material nature are controlled by Your Lordship.

"You are called suklam. Suklam, or 'whiteness' is the symbolic representation of the Absolute Truth because it is unaffected by the material qualities. Lord Brahma is called rakta, or red, because Brahma represents the qualities of passion for creation. Darkness is entrusted to Lord Siva because he annihilates the cosmos. The creation, annihilation and maintenance of this cosmic manifestation is conducted by Your potencies, yet You are always unaffected by those qualities. As confirmed in the Vedas, harir hi nirgunah saksat: the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always free from all material qualities. It is also said that the qualities of passion and ignorance are nonexistent in the person of the Supreme Lord.

"My Lord, You are the supreme controller, the Personality of Godhead, the supreme great, maintaining the order of this cosmic manifestation. And in spite of Your being the supreme controller, You have so kindly appeared in my home. The purpose of Your appearance is to kill the followers of the demoniac rulers of the world who are in the dress of royal princes but are actually demons. I am sure that You will kill all of them and their followers and soldiers.

"I understand that You have appeared to kill the uncivilized Kamsa and his followers. But knowing that You were to appear to kill him and his followers, he has already killed so many of Your predecessors, elder brothers. Now he is simply awaiting the news of Your birth. As soon as he hears about it, he will immediately appear with all kinds of weapons to kill You."

After this prayer of Vasudeva, Devaki, the mother of Krsna, offered her prayers. She was very frightened because of her brother's atrocities. Devaki said, "My dear Lord, Your eternal forms, like Narayana, Lord Rama, Sesa, Varaha, Nrsimha, Vamana, Baladeva, and millions of similar incarnations emanating from Visnu, are described in the Vedic literature as original. You are original because all Your forms as incarnations are outside of this material creation. Your form was existing before this cosmic manifestation was created. Your forms are eternal and all-pervading. They are self-effulgent, changeless and uncontaminated by the material qualities. Such eternal forms are ever-cognizant and full of bliss; they are situated in transcendental goodness and are always engaged in different pastimes. You are not limited to a particular form only; all such transcendental eternal forms are self-sufficient. I can understand that You are the Supreme Lord Visnu.

"After many millions of years, when Lord Brahma comes to the end of his life, the annihilation of the cosmic manifestation takes place. At that time the five elements--namely earth, water, fire, air and ether--enter into the mahat-tattva. The mahat-tattva again enters, by the force of time, into the nonmanifested total material energy; the total material energy enters into the energetic pradhana, and the pradhana enters into You. Therefore after the annihilation of the whole cosmic manifestation, You alone remain with Your transcendental name, form, quality and paraphernalia.

"My Lord, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You because You are the director of the unmanifested total energy, and the ultimate reservoir of the material nature. My Lord, the whole cosmic manifestation is under the influence of time, beginning from the moment up to the duration of the year. All act under Your direction. You are the original director of everything and the reservoir of all potent energies.

"Therefore my Lord, I request You to save me from the cruel hands of the son of Ugrasena, Kamsa. I am praying to Your Lordship to please rescue me from this fearful condition because You are always ready to give protection to Your servitors." The Lord has confirmed this statement in the Bhagavad-gita by assuring Arjuna, "You may declare to the world, My devotee shall never be vanquished."

While thus praying to the Lord for rescue, mother Devaki expressed her motherly affection: "I understand that this transcendental form is generally perceived in meditation by the great sages, but I am still afraid because as soon as Kamsa understands that You have appeared, he might harm You. So I request that for the time being You become invisible to our material eyes." In other words, she requested the Lord to assume the form of an ordinary child. "My only cause of fear from my brother Kamsa is due to Your appearance. My Lord Madhusudana, Kamsa may know that You are already born. Therefore I request You to conceal this four-armed form of Your Lordship which holds the four symbols of Visnu--namely the conchshell, the disc, the club and the lotus flower. My dear Lord, at the end of the annihilation of the cosmic manifestation, You put the whole universe within Your abdomen; still by Your unalloyed mercy You have appeared in my womb. I am surprised that You imitate the activities of ordinary human beings just to please Your devotee."

On hearing the prayers of Devaki, the Lord replied, "My dear mother, in the millennium of Svayambhuva Manu, My father Vasudeva was living as one of the Prajapatis, and his name at that time was Sutapa, and you were his wife named Prsni. At that time, when Lord Brahma was desiring to increase the population, he requested you to generate offspring. You controlled your senses and performed severe austerities. By practicing the breathing exercise of the yoga system, both you and your husband could tolerate all the influences of the material laws: the rainy season, the onslaught of the wind, and the scorching heat of the sunshine. You also executed all religious principles. In this way you were able to cleanse your heart and control the influence of material law. In executing your austerity, you used to eat only the leaves of the trees which fell to the ground. Then with steady mind and controlled sex drive, you worshiped Me, desiring some wonderful benediction from Me. Both of you practiced severe austerities for twelve thousand years, by the calculation of the demigods. During that time, your mind was always absorbed in Me. When you were executing devotional service and always thinking of Me within your heart, I was very much pleased with you. O sinless mother, your heart is therefore always pure. At that time also I appeared before you in this form just to fulfill your desire, and I asked you to ask whatever you desired. At that time you wished to have Me born as your son. Although you saw Me personally, instead of asking for your complete liberation from the material bondage, under the influence of My energy, you asked Me to become your son."

In other words, the Lord selected His mother and father--namely Prsni and Sutapa--specifically to appear in the material world. Whenever the Lord comes as a human being, He must have someone as a mother and father, so He selected Prsni and Sutapa perpetually as His mother and father. And on account of this, both Prsni and Sutapa could not ask the Lord for liberation. Liberation is not so important as the transcendental loving service of the Lord. The Lord could have awarded Prsni and Sutapa immediate liberation, but He preferred to keep them within this material world for His different appearances, as will be explained in the following verses. On receiving the benediction from the Lord to become His father and mother, both Prsni and Sutapa returned from the activities of austerity and lived as husband and wife in order to beget a child who was the Supreme Lord Himself.

In due course of time Prsni became pregnant and gave birth to the child. The Lord spoke to Devaki and Vasudeva: "At that time My name was Prsnigarbha. In the next millennium also you took birth as Aditi and Kasyapa, and I became your child of the name Upendra. At that time My form was just like a dwarf, and for this reason I was known as Vamanadeva. I gave you the benediction that I would take birth as your son three times. The first time I was known as Prsnigarbha, born of Prsni and Sutapa, the next birth I was Upendra born of Aditi and Kasyapa, and now for the third time I am born as Krsna from you, Devaki and Vasudeva. I appeared in this Visnu form just to convince you that I am the same Supreme Personality of Godhead again taken birth. I could have appeared just like an ordinary child, but in that way you would not believe that I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, have taken birth in your womb. My dear father and mother, you have therefore raised Me many times as your child, with great affection and love, and I am therefore very pleased and obliged to you. And I assure you that this time you shall go back to home, back to Godhead, on account of your perfection in your mission. I know you are very concerned about Me and afraid of Kamsa. Therefore I order you to take Me immediately to Gokula and replace Me with the daughter who has just been born to Yasoda."

Having spoken thus in the presence of His father and mother, the Lord turned Himself into an ordinary child and remained silent.

Being ordered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva attempted to take his son from the delivery room, and exactly at that time, a daughter was born of Nanda and Yasoda. She was Yogamaya, the internal potency of the Lord. By the influence of this internal potency, Yogamaya, all the residents of Kamsa's palace, especially the doorkeepers, were overwhelmed with deep sleep, and all the palace doors opened, although they were barred and shackled with iron chains. The night was very dark, but as soon as Vasudeva took Krsna on his lap and went out, he could see everything just as in the sunlight.

In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is said that Krsna is just like sunlight, and wherever there is Krsna, the illusory energy, which is compared to darkness, cannot remain. When Vasudeva was carrying Krsna, the darkness of the night disappeared. All the prison doors automatically opened. At the same time there was a thunder in the sky and severe rainfall. While Vasudeva was carrying his son Krsna in the falling rain, Lord Sesa in the shape of a serpent spread His hood over the head of Vasudeva so that he would not be hampered by the rainfall. Vasudeva came onto the bank of the Yamuna and saw that the water of the Yamuna was roaring with waves and that the whole span was full of foam. Still, in that furious feature, the river gave passage to Vasudeva to cross, just as the great Indian Ocean gave a path to Lord Rama when He was bridging over the gulf. In this way Vasudeva crossed the river Yamuna. On the other side, he went to the place of Nanda Maharaja situated in Gokula, where he saw that all the cowherd men were fast asleep. He took the opportunity of silently entering into the house of Yasoda, and without difficulty he replaced his son, taking away the baby girl newly born in the house of Yasoda. Then, after entering the house very silently and exchanging the boy with the girl, he again returned to the prison of Kamsa and silently put the girl on the lap of Devaki. He again clamped the shackles on himself so that Kamsa could not recognize that so many things had happened.

Mother Yasoda understood that a child was born of her, but because she was very tired from the labor of childbirth, she was fast asleep. When she awoke, she could not remember whether she had given birth to a male or a female child.

Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Third Chapter of Krsna, "Birth of Lord Krsna."