Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir, India Heritage Foundation

kma prayhi jahi viravaso ’vameha trailokya-rvaam avpnuhi vra patnm badhnhi setum iha te yaaso vitatyai gyanti dig-vijayino yam upetya bhp... TRANSLATION My Lord, You may use my water as You like. Indeed, You may cross it and go to the abode of Rvaa, who is the great source of disturbance and crying for the three worlds. He is the son of Virav, but is condemned like urine. Please go kill him and thus regain Your wife, Stdev. O great hero, although my water presents no impediment to Your going to Lak, please construct a bridge over it to spread Your transcendental fame. Upon seeing this wonderfully uncommon deed of Your Lordship, all the great heroes and kings in the future will glorify You. PURPORT It is said that a son and urine emanate from the same sourcethe genitals. When a son is a devotee or a great learned person, the seminal discharge for begetting a son is successful, but if the son is unqualified and brings no glory to his family, he is no better than urine. Here Rvaa is compared to urine because he was a cause of disturbances to the three worlds. Thus the ocean personified wanted him killed by Lord Rmacandra. One feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Rmacandra is omnipotence. The Lord can act without regard to material impediments or inconveniences, but to prove that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and was not merely advertised as Godhead or elected by popular vote, He constructed a wonderful bridge over the ocean. Nowadays it has become fashionable to create some artificial God who performs no uncommon activities; a little magic will bewilder a foolish person into selecting an artificial God because he does not understand how powerful God is. Lord Rmacandra, however, constructed a bridge over the water with stone by making the stone float. This is proof of God’s uncommonly wonderful power. Why should someone be accepted as God without displaying extraordinary potency by doing something never to be done by any common man? We accept Lord Rmacandra as the Supreme Personality of Godhead because He constructed this bridge, and we accept Lord Ka as the Supreme Personality of Godhead because He lifted Govardhana Hill when He was only seven years old. We should not accept any rascal as God or an incarnation of God, for God displays special features in His various activities. Therefore, the Lord Himself says in Bhagavad-gt (4.9): janma karma ca me divyam eva yo vetti tattvata tyaktv deha punar janma naiti mm eti so ’rjuna One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna. The activities of the Lord are not common; they are all transcendentally wonderful and not able to be performed by any other living being. The symptoms of the Lord’s activities are all mentioned in the stras, and after one understands them one can accept the Lord as He is.

Darshan of their lordships

Gaura Purnima darshan of their lordships.

kathañcana smte yasmin dukara sukara bhavet vismte viparta syt r-caitanya nammi tam... TRANSLATION Things that are very difficult to do become easy to execute if one somehow or other simply remembers Lord Caitanya Mahprabhu. But if one does not remember Him, even easy things become very difficult. To this Lord Caitanya Mahprabhu I offer my respectful obeisances. PURPORT In his book Caitanya-candrmta rla Prabodhnanda Sarasvat says: "One who receives a little favor from the Lord becomes so exalted that he does not care even for liberation, which is sought after by many great scholars and philosophers. Similarly, a devotee of Lord Caitanya considers residence in the heavenly planets a will-o'-the-wisp. He surpasses the perfection of mystic yoga power because for him the senses are like snakes with broken fangs." A snake is a very fearful and dangerous animal because of his poison fangs, but if these fangs are broken the appearance of a snake is no cause for fear. The yoga principles are meant to control the senses, but there is no scope for the senses of one engaged in the service of the Lord to be dangerous like snakes. These are the gifts of r Caitanya Mahprabhu. The Hari-bhakti-vilsa confirms that difficult things become easy to understand if one remembers r Caitanya Mahprabhu and easy things become very difficult to understand if one forgets Him. We actually see that even those who are very great scientists in the eyes of the general public cannot understand the very simple idea that life comes from life because they do not have the mercy of Caitanya Mahprabhu. They defend the false understanding that life comes from matter, although they cannot prove that this is a fact. Modern civilization, therefore, progressing on the basis of this false scientific theory, is simply creating problems to be solved by the so-called scientists. The author of Caitanya-caritmta takes shelter of Lord Caitanya Mahprabhu to describe the pastimes of His appearance as a child because one cannot write such transcendental literature by mental speculation. One who writes about the Supreme Personality of Godhead must be especially favored by the Lord. Simply by academic qualifications it is not possible to write such literature.

Glories of Amalaki Ekadashi King Mandhata once said to Vasishtha Muni, O great sage, kindly be merciful to me and tell me of a fast that will benefit me eternally. Vasishtha Muni said,...Continue reading

Teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu preached the Srimad-Bhagavatam and propagated the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita in the most practical way. The essence of His teachings is recorded in Chaitanya Manjusha as follows: Lord Sri Krishna, who appeared as the son of the King of Vraja (Nanda Maharaja), is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is worshipable by all.... Vrindavana-dhama is non-different from the Lord and hence is as worshipable as the Lord. The highest form of transcendental worship of the Lord was exhibited by the damsels of Vrajabhumi. Srimad-Bhagavata Purana is the spotless literature for understanding the Lord. The ultimate goal of human life is to attain the stage of prema or love of God. His instructions to Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami, His discussions with Ramananda Raya, the debate with the Mayavadi sannyasi Prakashananda Sarasvati and the Vedanta Sutra, the discussion between Him and Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya are excellent sources through which we understand His teachings in detail. The Lord left only eight slokas of His instructions in writing, and they are known as the Siksastaka. All other literatures based on His teachings were extensively written by the Lord’s principal followers, the six Gosvamis of Vrindavana, and their followers.

There are some rascals who dare to speak against the mission of Lord Caitanya by criticizing the Ka consciousness movement for accepting Europeans and Americans as brhmaas and offering them sannysa. But here is an authoritative statement that in distributing love of Godhead one should not consider whether the recipients are Europeans, Americans, Hindus, Muslims, etc. The Ka consciousness movement should be spread wherever possible, and one should accept those who thu...s become Vaiavas as being greater than brhmaas, Hindus or Indians. r Caitanya Mahprabhu desired that His name be spread in each and every town and village on the surface of the globe. Therefore, when the cult of Caitanya Mahprabhu is spread all over the world, should those who embrace it not be accepted as Vaiavas, brhmaas and sannyss? These foolish arguments are sometimes raised by envious rascals, but Ka conscious devotees do not care about them. We strictly follow the principles set down by the Pañca-tattva. See more

Darshan of lordship

Who is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu? The word Chaitanya means living force. As indicated in the revealed scriptures, Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is Kiha Himself, the supreme living entity. As the Supreme, He is full in six opulences: wealth, fame, strength, beauty, knowledge and renunciation. Lord as the Cause of all Causes and all Incarnations... As the Personality of Godhead, Lord is the reservoir of all spiritual and cosmic manifestation (animate and inanimate). He is the fountainhead of all incarnations. He is the complete form of sac-cid-ananda (full life, knowledge, and bliss). He is also known as the Absolute Truth. The Lord is not directly attached to the creation, maintenance, and destruction of the material world, for He is eternally busy in the enjoyment of transcendental bliss with His internal potential paraphernalia. Yet as the initiator of the material energy as well as the marginal potency (the living beings), He expands Himself as the purua-avataras, who are invested with potencies similar to His. All the incarnations of Godhead are plenary portions or parts of the plenary portions of the purua-avataras, but the primeval Lord is Sri Krishna.

Why Maha Shivaratri is celebrated? Maha Shivaratri, just like many other Indian festivals doesn’t have one single reason for its celebration. The ancient texts contain many stories and legends describing the origin of this festival. One of the most well-known is the story of the Samudra Manthan (churning of the milk ocean). During the churning of the milk ocean, a poison called halahala/kalakuta emerged from the ocean capable enough to destroy the entire existence. When that... uncontrollable poison was forcefully spreading up and down in all directions, all the devatas approached Lord Shiva [Sadashiva]. Feeling unsheltered and very much afraid, they sought the shelter from him. Lord Shiva is always benevolent toward all living entities. When he saw that the living entities were very much disturbed by the poison, which was spreading everywhere, he was very compassionate. People in general, being bewildered by the Maya, are always engaged in animosity toward one another. However, devotees, even at the risk of their own lives, try to save them. This is the characteristic of a Vaishnava. Para-dukha-dukh: a Vaishnava is always unhappy to see the conditioned souls unhappy. Lord Shiva (Rudra) is the best of the Vaishnavas (vaiavn yath ambhu). Hence, Lord Shiva, who is dedicated to auspicious, benevolent work for humanity, compassionately took the whole quantity of poison. Although there was such a great quantity of poison that it spread all over the universe, Lord Shiva had such great power that he reduced the poison to a small quantity so that he could hold it in his palm and drank it all. The poison born from the ocean of milk manifested its potency by marking Lord Shiva’s neck with a bluish line. That line, however, is now accepted as an ornament of the Lord. The night when Lord Shiva drank the poison and held it in his throat is called the Maha Shivaratri, and the devotees observe fast and stay awake for the whole night and worship the Lord, glorifying his merciful act of saving the world by drinking poison and holding it in his throat. Some also celebrate this festival in honor of the marriage of Lord Shiva, with Mother Parvati (Mother Durga / Mother Gauri) on this day. Others celebrate Maha Shivaratri as the night when Lord Shiva performed the Tandav, the cosmic dance. Immediately after Maha Shivaratri, the spring begins and the trees are full of flowers announcing that after winter the fertility of the earth has been rejuvenated.

ya para rahasa skt tri-guj jva-sajñitt bhagavanta vsudeva prapanna sa priyo hi me...Continue reading

S R Vs Sri Ramacandra Vijayotsava, or Vijaya Dasami is a festival commemorating Lord Ramacandra’s victory over King Ravana. When Ravana kidnapped Sita Devi, Ramacandra set out to Lanka to punish Ravana and rescue His beloved wife Sita, and this day marks the occasion of Ravana’s defeat.

rako-’dhamena vkavad vipine ’samaka vaideha-rja-duhitary apaypitym bhrtr vane kpaavat priyay viyukta str-sagin gatim iti prathaya cacra

Join us online for virtual Dussehra celebrations tomorrow, Sunday, Oct 25th at www.youtube.com/kbmandir. Schedule and details are in the flyer. For more details & to sponsor sevas please visit: www.kbmandir.org/home/dussehra2020

st-kath-ravaa-dpita-hc-chayena sa vilokya npate daa-kandharea jaghne ’dbhutaia-vapuramato ’pako mrcam u viikhena yath kam ugra... TRANSLATION O King Parkit, when Rvaa, who had ten heads on his shoulders, heard about the beautiful and attractive features of St, his mind was agitated by lusty desires, and he went to kidnap her. To distract Lord Rmacandra from His rama, Rvaa sent Mrca in the form of a golden deer, and when Lord Rmacandra saw that wonderful deer, He left His residence and followed it and finally killed it with a sharp arrow, just as Lord iva killed Daka. (Srimad Bhagavatam 9.10.10)

raka-svasur vyakta rpam auddha-buddhes tasy khara-triira-daa-mukhya-bandhn jaghne caturdaa-sahasram apraya- kodaa-pir aamna uvsa kcchram... (Srimad-Bhagvatam 9.10.9)

Join us for Navaratri & Dussehra Celebrations on Oct 23rd, 24th & 25th. Take advantage of this auspicious time of the year to perform Anna Prasana (first grains ceremony) and Vidyarambha (start of child's education) in person at the temple on 23rd & 24th. Based on county guidelines, the Dussehra celebrations on Sunday, 25th will be Virtual Celebrations. Join us live for the festivities online at www.youtube.com/kbmandir. For more details and to sponsor sevas, please visit: www.kbmandir.org/home/dussehra2020

ya satya-pa-parivta-pitur nidea straiasya cpi iras jaghe sabhrya rjya riya praayina suhdo nivsa tyaktv yayau vanam asn iva mukta-saga... Carrying out the order of His father, who was bound by a promise to his wife, Lord Rmacandra left behind His kingdom, opulence, friends, well-wishers, residence and everything else, just as a liberated soul gives up his life, and went to the forest with St. PURPORT Mahrja Daaratha had three wives. One of them, Kaikey, served him very pleasingly, and he therefore wanted to give her a benediction. Kaikey, however, said that she would ask for the benediction when it was necessary. At the time of the coronation of Prince Rmacandra, Kaikey requested her husband to enthrone her son Bharata and send Rmacandra to the forest. Mahrja Daaratha, being bound by his promise, ordered Rmacandra to go to the forest, according to the dictation of his beloved. And the Lord, as an obedient son, accepted the order immediately. He left everything without hesitation, just as a liberated soul or great yog gives up his life without material attraction. (SB9.10.8)

yo loka-vra-samitau dhanur aiam ugra st-svayavara-ghe triatopantam dya bla-gaja-lla iveku-yai sajjy-kta npa vikya babhañja madhye jitvnurpa-gua-la-vayo ’ga-rp... stbhidh riyam urasy abhilabdhamnm mrge vrajan bhgupater vyanayat prarha darpa mahm akta yas trir arja-bjm O King, the pastimes of Lord Rmacandra were wonderful, like those of a baby elephant. In the assembly where mother St was to choose her husband, in the midst of the heroes of this world, He broke the bow belonging to Lord iva. This bow was so heavy that it was carried by three hundred men, but Lord Rmacandra bent and strung it and broke it in the middle, just as a baby elephant breaks a stick of sugarcane. Thus the Lord achieved the hand of mother St, who was equally as endowed with transcendental qualities of form, beauty, behavior, age and nature. Indeed, she was the goddess of fortune who constantly rests on the chest of the Lord. While returning from St’s home after gaining her at the assembly of competitors, Lord Rmacandra met Paraurma. Although Paraurma was very proud, having rid the earth of the royal order twenty-one times, he was defeated by the Lord, who appeared to be a katriya of the royal order. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.10.6-7)

vivmitrdhvare yena mrcdy ni-car payato lakmaasyaiva hat nairta-pugav... --- Srimada-bhagavatam 9.10.5

gurv-arthe tyakta-rjyo vyacarad anuvana padma-padbhy priyy pi-sparkambhy mjita-patha-rujo yo harndrnujbhym vairpyc chrpaakhy priya-viraha-ruropita-bhr-vijmbha- trastbdhir baddha-setu khala-dava-dahana kosalendro ’vatn na... TRANSLATION To keep the promise of His father intact, Lord Rmacandra immediately gave up the position of king and, accompanied by His wife, mother St, wandered from one forest to another on His lotus feet, which were so delicate that they were unable to bear even the touch of St’s palms. The Lord was also accompanied by Hanumn [or by another monkey, Sugrva], king of the monkeys, and by His own younger brother Lord Lakmaa, both of whom gave Him relief from the fatigue of wandering in the forest. Having cut off the nose and ears of rpaakh, thus disfiguring her, the Lord was separated from mother St. He therefore became angry, moving His eyebrows and thus frightening the ocean, who then allowed the Lord to construct a bridge to cross the ocean. Subsequently, the Lord entered the kingdom of Rvaa to kill him, like a fire devouring a forest. May that Supreme Lord, Rmacandra, give us all protection. (SB 9.10.4)

TEXT 2 tasypi bhagavn ea skd brahmamayo hari aena caturdhgt... putratva prrthita surai rma-lakmaa-bharata- atrughn iti sajñay TRANSLATION Being prayed for by the demigods, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth Himself, directly appeared with His expansion and expansions of the expansion. Their holy names were Rma, Lakmaa, Bharata and atrughna. These celebrated incarnations thus appeared in four forms as the sons of Mahrja Daaratha. PURPORT Lord Rmacandra and His brothers, Lakmaa, Bharata and atrughna, are all viu-tattva, not jva-tattva. The Supreme Personality of Godhead expands into many, many forms. Advaitam acyutam andim ananta-rpam [Bs 5.33]. Although they are one and the same, viu-tattva has many forms and incarnations. As confirmed in the Brahma-sahit (5.39), rmdi-mrtiu kal-niyamena tihan. The Lord is situated in many forms, such as Rma, Lakmaa, Bharata and atrughna, and these forms may exist in any part of His creation. All these forms exist permanently, eternally, as individual Personalities of Godhead, and they resemble many candles, all equally powerful. Lord Rmacandra, Lakmaa, Bharata and atrughna, who, being viu-tattva, are all equally powerful, became the sons of Mahrja Daaratha in response to prayers by the demigods. ( Srimad-bhagvatam 9.10.2)