Don’t Miss the Magha Month Vrata!

Mahanidhi Swami

#MaghaMas #MaghaSnana #BathingInMagha
* What is it? 

Extensively described in the Puranas, the magha month vrata is a one month long penance, vow or vrata observed from pausa purnima until magha purnima to please Bhagavan Sri Krishna worshiped as Lord Madhava, the presiding Deity of the month of January 15 to February 15. 

The vrata involves mainly taking a bath daily before sunrise in a holy river like Ganga, Yamuna, especially in a holy place like Radha-kunda, Vrndavana, Navadvipa, Jagannatha Puri, Prayaga Triveni (Allahabad)

* Is the magha month vrata for Gaudiya Vaisnavas? 
Yes, definitely for Srila Rupa Gosvamipada mentions it in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.260), “bathing in the Ganga or Yamuna in magha month is part of hari-bhakti, pure devotion to Sri Krishna.” In Hari-bhakti-vilasa,  Srila Sanatana Gosvami gives a 40 page description of this vrata, which is summarized herein with reference verses in brackets. 

* Who observed the magha month vrata? 
In Chamatkara Chandrika, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura describes a wonderful pastime of how Sri Krishna, on the pretext of observing a magha month vrata, secretly met Srimati Radharani and the Vraja-gopis early in the morning in the keli-kunjas near Keshi Ghata beside the Yamuna river in Vrndavana. At that time, Kutila devi, the crooked, inane and suspicious sister-in-law of Sri Radha, came to spy on Radha in hopes of catching Her with Syamasundara. 

However, Sri Krishna cleverly fooled Kutila by disguising Himself as Sri Radha’s alleged husband Abhimanyu, the brother of Kutila. Then after tricking Kutila, Sri Krishna went to Yavat, and enacted even more hilarious and satisfying conjugal pastimes with Srimati Radharani right inside the home of Kutila and her nasty mother Jatila.

 Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed ten days in Prayaga bathing daily at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna (Triveni) during the yearly magha-mela, the magha month vrata (Cc. 2.18.222). 

All the pious demigods and their chaste wives like Aditi, Anasuya, Arundhati, Rohini and Saci observed the magha month vrata. In 1971, Srila Prabhupada and 40 disciples attended the Kumbha Mela in Allahabad to honor the magha month vrata and preach pure Krishna consciousness. 

* What benefits does it give? 
Like most of the austerities and vratas mentioned in the Puranas, the magha month vrata gives good health, beauty, good qualities, wealth and long life. Bathing outdoors in any body of water during Magha month is very pleasing to Bhagavan Sri Krishna.

It also destroys unlimited sins because the demigods place all their individual potencies in outside bodies of water (163) during this month. Magha snana in a holy place instantly destroys all sinful reactions (115), and grants residence in Vaikuntha (78, 154, 164).

* When to observe the vrata?  
Start on Pausa Purnima and end on Magha Purnima. (67) 

* How to observe the vrata? 
Admittedly, most devotees do not observe this vow, but everyone should be familiar with it and then decide accordingly what is best for your devotional advancement. At least, this most beneficial magha month vrata gives one a good reason to spend a few days in a holy dhama to bathe in Radha kunda, Yamuna or Ganga. 

And do not think this vrata is only for neophytes, because I have personally seen one of the biggest Bengali preachers at Radha kunda observing the magha month vrata with a daily pre-sunrise bath. 
 
Like any vow or vrata, this vrata also includes many details concerning diet, prayers, pujas, personal restrictions, chanting astakams etc. but specifically in relation to this vrata, the Hari-Bhakti Vilasa stipulates, “You don’t have to follow any other vow except bathing in a holy place (88). Thus the main vrata or activity is to bathe before sunrise (90, 138) in an outside body of water, preferably Radha-kunda, Yamuna or Ganga (or a bucket of water left outside over night to collect the celestial nectar). 

Every step one takes to go outside for bathing pleases Yamaraja, and burns up the reactions of sins that have not yet fructified. 

a. Daily Sankalpa Mantra 
(affirms your determination or vow)
Upon waking, recite: “O Supreme Lord Madhava! I will bathe every morning without fail during Magha masa.”

b. Before bath, chant this mantra: 
“O Acyuta, O Govinda, O Madhava! I am bathing in the month of Magha when the sun travels to the Makara rasi. O Govinda, Madhava kindly bestow upon me the appropriate fruit of this vow.”

c. Puja: 
Offer your Thakurji lots of tulasi leaves, manjaris, kitri, kheer, sesame seed preps, fried items and dry fruits.

d. Charity: 
Magha, Vaisakha, and Kartika are the most auspicious and beneficial months of the year to observe vratas and give charity. Hari-bhakti-vilasa says Bhagavan Sri Kåñëa becomes very pleased if one donates blankets, quilts, warm clothes, shoes, rice, ghee, oil, wood, ghee lamps and kumkuma (47). 

e. Breaking the vrata: On magha purnima, feed Vaisnava Brahmins and give them money and gifts. At the end of the Purnima tithi, break your fast if you fasted. 

Concluding prayer:
“O Acyuta, O Govinda, O Madhava! Please give me the fruit of this magha vrata and grant me the eternal service of the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani in the groves of Vrndavana as Her eternal maid in attendance.” (Note: this article is streamlined. Want full version? Give e-mail, we’ll send.
Magha Month Pre Sunrise Radha Kunda Snana ki jai!
Jai Jai Sri Radhe!  

UTTHANA EKADASI by Mahanidhi Swami

Utthana Ekadasi is a major fast day for three reasons. Today all the demigods wake up and get up (Utthana) from bed after resting for 8 hours of their time, which encompasses four months of earth time i.e. Caturmasya. This day commemorates the day Baby Krsna Gopala rolled over (Utthana) on His belly after lying on His back for three months after taking birth, and also on this day, Krsna killed the Sakata(cart) demon described in the Srimad Bhagavatam 10th Canto , Chapter 7. Yasoda Maiya observed a special ceremony to celebrate the auspicious occasion of Krsna’s leaving home for the first time to crawl about on His hands and knees due to His intense eagerness to meet Radhika. Splendidly dressed and decorated, all the Vrajavasis rushed to Yasoda Maiya’s house to witness the wonderful event. Melodious music from rumbling mrdangas, kettledrums and other instruments filled the air. Mother Yasoda put Krsna to rest on a bed which was more like a swing or hammock. It was suspended below a hand cart as big as a house. Visnu Dharma says the cart was as tall as a palm tree (30 m), very heavy, long and white. Amidst all the festivities, Baby Krsna started crying due to hunger. But the Vrajavasis could not hear Krsna due to the din of music, singing and merry- making. Meanwhile, a demon named Sakata sent by Kamsa to kill newborns in Vrndavana invisibly entered that huge hand cart. Fully aware of this, Baby Krsna just playfully kicked His tender feet. Simultaneously the cart was demolished and the demon was killed. Although he was three months old, from the force of Krsna’s kick, the whees split from the axle, the hubs and spokes fell apart and the hand cart collapsed. The big brass pots on the cart made a tremendous sound as they tumbled on the ground. Upon hearing that shattering sound, the Vrajavasis anxiously ran to the spot. Mother Yasoda was relieved to see Krsna smiling and playfully rubbing his fingers along the cloth of the hammock. The Vrajavasis thought the cart had fallen apart due to some unknown cause. However, the children who were attending Krsna described the whole event in broken language. They said, “It’s not Krsna’s fault that the Krsna’s heroic cart was destroyed. Krsna felt hungry and started crying loudly for His mother’s milk. When Krsna did not get any, He just kicked His little legs while crying and the cart collapsed.” Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains the Sakata bhanjana lila (Krsna’s breaking the cart) represents smashing of old and new bad habits and the destruction of laziness and vanity. By reading this pastime and praying to Sri Krsna for His mercy the Lord will personally kick these obstacles far away. In Caitanya Siksamrta , Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes that the twenty one demons killed by Krsna in His Vrndavana lila represent specific anarthas or unwanted material contaminations.These create obstacles to serving Sri Krsna in the pure loving mellows of Vraja. One should read the various chapters of the 10th canto describing Sri Krsna’s vanquishing these demons. And one should pray to Sri Krsna to give one the strength and determination to cast away all these obstacles to progress in pure Krsna bhakti. One can find the list of the 21 demons and the anarthas they represent in my book Appreciating Vrndavana Dhama available onamazon.com. In addition on this day of Utthana Ekadasi, most Gaudiya Vaisnavas end their Caturmasya or Karttika Niyam Seva Vrata. In Hari Bhakti Vilasa, Srila Sanatana Gosvami gave specific details on observing this vow and encourages everyone to follow it in order to please Radha Damodara. Here, we will give the main points.I. BENEFITS OF UTTHANA EKADASIAll Vedic sastras highly emphasise the need to fast completely even from water and stay awake all night on this most important day of Utthana Ekadasi. Observing jagarana (remaining awake all night) gives great pleasure to Sri Krsna and host of other benefits including liberation: destruction of all one’s mental, physical and vocal sins for 1000 lives; important benefits (akshaya phala) from any act of Deity worship , charity, austerity or sacred bathing.II. DEITY WORSHIP Beginning with bath at sunrise, one should recite the Srimad Bhagavatam especially the Gajendra Moksa chapter and offer fruits and give gifts to the Deity and brahmanas during the day. Circumambulate Deity and offer obeisances. Besides worshipping the Deity one should also worship Tulasi-devi by offering them aratika and offering a row of ghee lamps before them. In addition, the Deity should be offered flowers, fruits, camphor lamps, sandalwood pulp and water in a conch as arghya , kumkuma and aratika every three hours throughout the night.III. PERSONAL ACTIONSOne should give up all laziness and enthusiastically worship the Supreme Lord in a joyful mood throughout the day and night and onto the sunrise. Jai Ho! Pass the night singing, dancing and playing musical instruments for the pleasure of Radha and Krsna. Keep an akhanda ghee lamp burning all day and night. The above details of the Utthana Ekadasi vrata are taken from Haribhakti vilasa by Srila Sanatana Gosvami . I may make a humble suggestion, I recommend devotees gather together and perform akhanda Sri Hari Nama Sankirtana from sunrise of Utthana Ekadasi to sunrise of Dvadasi. In addition, the Hari Nama Sankirtana can be sweetly nourished by periodic reading of Radha Krsna Astakaliya Vraja lilas as depicted in Govinda Lilamrta,Bhavana Sara Sangraha, Krsna Bhavnamita and Krsnahnika Kaumudi.May Radha Giridhari bless all the devotees with success in performing the Utthana Ekadasi Vrata, which is like the sweet icing on the bliss cake of the Karttika Niyama Seva Vrata.Jai Jai Sri Radhe!!Radhakunda DhamaMahanidhi Swami

Prabhupada’s Karttika Vrata

Mahanidhi Swami

In every possible way, our Srila Prabhupada was a strict disciple and follower of his beloved Gurudeva, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada. On two different occasions Srila Prabhupada’s Guru observed a Karttika Vrata in Vraja Mandala. “In October 1934, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada and many disciples stayed in Mathura strictly executing the Kartika Vrata. During this time, he spoke on the topics of Radha-Krishna’s asta-kaliya-lila in Vrindavana.” (Ray of Vishnu) In 1935, Sarasvati Prabhupada observed Karttika-vrata in Sri Radha-kunda.

Perfectly following the example of his Gurudeva, Srila Prabhupada came to Vrindavana to observe the Karttika Vrata in 1972. In August of 1972, Prabhupada wrote a letter to the T.P. of Krishna-Balarama Mandira: “My plan is to come to Vrindavana for the Karttika Vrata, and I want to sit down there in the Sri Sri Radha-Damodara temple until sometime near the end of November. I will lecture daily in the courtyard on Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, especially for the benefit of the devotees.”

Srila Prabhupada came to the Radha Damodara temple, the place of Sri Rupa Goswami and the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Damodara—the source of the nectar of devotion. The time was Karttika 1972 and the audience was filled with fledgling disciples eager for nourishment. So it was the natural choice, according to time, place and circumstance for Srila Prabhupada to deliver the “Nectar of Devotion”.

What follows are excerpts from my book Prabhupada at Radha-Damodara, wherein various devotees told me their memories of that astonishing time:
Ganga Mayidasi: “Every morning the devotees who were staying at KeshiGhat would assemble outside Prabhupada’s room in the Radha-Damodara courtyard. Thirty devotees would have these real far-out, rip-roaring kirtanas. The sannyasis Subala, Parivrajakacharya, Paramahamsa and Tushta Krishna used to jump up and down with their dandas whirling about. And they would leap into the air, pole vaulting with their dandas. Those kirtanas were pretty amazing, come to think about it. They were very ecstatic. I remember thinking to record one of those kirtanas. But it was so wild I couldn’t figure out where to put the tape recorder. They were leaping around the courtyard like anything in ecstasy.”

Gopala Ghosh: “Prabhupadaji would come out of his room with his stick, and his chaddar wrapped over his shoulder. Two devotees would accompany him, waving camara and peacock fans. First he would do pranams to Radha-Damodaraji, then JivaGoswami, RupaGoswami and then sit down to lecture. During his lectures, he often paused and asked Hari Charan Goswami, famous pandit who would attend, if he had any questions. Prabhupada invited him many times to come to New York or London and preach the glories of his Deity, Radha-Raman and the aims of GopalBhattaGoswami.”

Ganga Mayi: “Prabhupada spoke from a small asana facing north, between RupaGoswami’s bhajana kutira and samadhi. It was a tight cluster of fifty disciples sitting in the courtyard, which was just dirt and clumps of grass. The public didn’t pay attention, they just walked around us. During the talks, the monkeys would be jumping about in the trees, dangling on loose wires, or occasionally bounding amongst the devotees.”

Next we have some very enlightening quotes from Prabhupada’s 1972 KarttikaNectar of Devotion lectures. Gurudeva’s classes focused on four main topics: Guru, devotees, Goloka and living in Vrindavana. By reading these entries one can appreciate the special flavor of SrilaPrabhupada’s intimate preaching to his disciples within the sanctified setting of SevaKunja, Vrindavana.

SPIRITUAL MASTER
SrilaPrabhupada: “A spiritual master does not think of himself as Hari, although he is offered the respect of Hari. He thinks of himself as the humble servant of Hari and all others. He takes his own disciples as his spiritual masters, and thinks himself to be their servant. They have to be trained, and Krishna has appointed me to train them.”

HUMILITY
SrilaPrabhupada: “We should always be ready to offer respects, not only to devotees but to everyone.”

DANCING IN GOLOKA
SrilaPrabhupada: “Once we go to the spiritual world, we stay with Krishna, dance with Him and play with Krishna. Or we serve Krishna as a tree, a plant, water, cow, land, as cowherd boys, as father or mother, or as gopis. When we go to Krishna, we live forever with Krishna in either of these capacities. Let me live at Vrindavana in any of these capacities, it doesn’t matter, but live there.”

VRAJA VASA
SrilaPrabhupada: We should be very much respectful toward VrindavanaDhama. If we remain here in Vrindavana, we should know that we are living with Krishna. How much we should be cautious, how much we should be careful, if we actually understand what the dhama is. The Holy Dhama is also Krishna. If You actually live in Vrindavan carefully without committing any offense or sinful life, then in this life you are going to Krishna.”

CORRECT VISION
SrilaPrabhupada: “Cupid is one of the agents of this illusory material energy. There may be thousands of beautiful girls before a devotee, but that does not disturb his mind. He sees that they are all energies of Krishna. They are gopis of Krishna. They are enjoyable by Krishna. I have to serve them, they are gopis, because I am a servant of the servant: gopibhartuhpadakamalayor das anudasanudasa.

RADHARANI
SrilaPrabhupada: “Just like in Vrindavana, they always speak of Radharani, because the Vrajavasis have taken shelter of Radharani to approach Krishna very easily. The facility of Vrindavana is that you take shelter of Radharani directly, and Radharani will help you to approach Krishna very soon. This is the idea of coming to Vrindavana.”

TRUE DEVOTE
SrilaPrabhupada: “This is the sign of a devotee, appreciation. The devotee always appreciates the qualities of the other devotees. A devotee who is actually freed from all contaminations does not find any fault with other devotees. He does not think that he’s a bigger devotee or greater devotee than others. He thinks himself as the lowest of all.”

The Dancing Lions
All narrations and dramatic performances should end on a sweet note, madhureëasamäpayet.
Thus we are concluding this Karttika article with a very funny true story that happened in Vrindavana during Karttika 1972.
A great VrajavasiGaudiyaVaisnava named Shri Gopala Chandra Ghosh, who has now gone serve his beloved Gopala, personally told me the following anecdote revealed in a conversation SrilaPrabhupada had with VishvambharaGoswami during Karttika in 1972.

VisvambharaGoswami: “Prabhupada, are you doing a circus in Vrindavana?”
SrilaPrabhupada: “Circus? I am not doing a circus.”
VisvambharaGoswami: “Yes you are. You have caught many lions, and you have thrown them in the Vrindavana market. Many lions are now dancing there.”
SrilaPrabhupada: “Lions dancing….Goswamiji, you are an advocate, a big, big scholar and a leading person of Vrindavana. And you are my friend. So why are you saying this?”
VisvambharaGoswami: “Swamiji, with my own eyes I have seen five of your disciples riding on rickshaws, snatching from the shopkeepers and eating. The shopkeepers asked me, ‘Goswamiji, will you please save us! These Englishmen are snatching our yogurt, and snatching our pera, our sweets and our fruits. And as they do it they just say, ‘HariBol and Hare Krishna!’ This is very bad. Will you please go tell Prabhupada.’”
SrilaPrabhupada: “Who has done this work?”

A short time later, five errant disciples came into Prabhupada’s quarters to plead their case.
Disciples: “Prabhupada, Lord Krishna stole yogurt and butter, so why can’t we? We are also following Him?”
SrilaPrabhupada: “Lord Krishna played flute and performed rasa lila. So you do maha-rasa lila? And Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill, so you will lift Govardhana Hill? And Krishna danced on a serpent, can you do? Therefore, first of all you obey our Vaisnava order: trnadapisunicenatarorivasahisnuna; be humble and always chant Hare Krishna. When you go out on the road and see the Vaisnavas, you say Hare Krishna and bow your head.
“And when you go to the market, you can simply beg the shopkeeper to give you a sample of his sweets and then you can purchase. And if you have no money, then ask a Vrajavasi and he will surely give you some yogurt, sweets or anything you want. But you have snatched, this is very shameful.”

Karttika Vratotsavaki jai!
Srila Prabhupada ki jai!

Gems of Cakravartipada 002

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das
ArrayhagavatKatha ArrayrimadBhagavatam ArrayukadevaGosvami ArrayararthaDarsini Arrayrishna

From the sweet ocean of Srila Visvanatha Cakravartipada’s tikas on Srimad Bhagavatam, we have collected some of the most rare and incredibly amazing jewels—each one glittering with a uniquely soothing and enlightening effulgence. So now please bask in their beneficial rays and rejuvenate your soul! For easier understanding and reference the gems are presented by category.

“What is the meaning of the Srimad Bhagavatam (1.1.3) phrase: rasikā bhuvi bhāvukāḥ?
Bhuvi means Vraja-bhumi. Bhāvukāḥ and rasikāḥ means the beloved gopis.
So dear readers and relishers of Krishna’s rasa, become just like the Vraja-gopis and drink and relish the sweetness of the rasa arising from Krishna in the form of the Bhagavata up to the point of embracing (alayam) Krishna, pibata bhāgavatam rasam ālayam.

“Srimad Bhagavatam is also glorified here as the mature fruit of the desire tree of the Vedas, nigama-kalpa-taror galitaṁ phalaṁ.

“The phrase nigama-kalpa-taror galitaṁ phalam means that rāgānuga-bhakti is the fully ripened fruit on the tree of the Vedas, because raganuga bhaktas follow the loving sentiments of the Vraja-gopis, which is the fully ripened, prema-phala revealed in the Tenth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam!”
Srimad Bhagavatam ki jai! Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti ki jai! Raganuga-bhakti ki jai!

Where to Live—Radha Kunda or Vrindavana

?

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

ArrayrajaVasa ArrayesidenceInVrindavana ArrayadhaKunda Arrayrindavana ArrayadhaKrishna ArrayrilaPrabhupadaSaid

By the blessings of Sri Guru and Radha and Krishna, some extremely fortunate Gaudiya Vaisnavas can choose to live either in Radha-kunda or Vrindavana.”

This post will cite the teachings of the Gaudiya Vaisnava purvacharyas to answer the question: “Which is the best place to live and practice Radha-Krishna bhakti bhajana to attain life’s perfection of Krishna prema seva—Radha Kunda or Vrindavana?”

To start, I hope we all agree that a Gaudiya Vaisnava is one who accepts and follows the teachings of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavana who received all their knowledge directly from Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Srila Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of ISKCON, confirms this point: “To follow Caitanya Mahaprabhu means to follow the six Goswamis, because these six Goswamis were directly instructed by Caitanya Mahaprabhu to spread this [Krishna consciousness] movement.” (folio 730105ND.BOM)

Not only Srila Prabhupada, but all Gaudiya Vaisnava Gurus teach their disciples to follow the six Gosvamis of Vrindavana, and especially learn and adhere to the teachings of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswamis because they described all the details of rasa, prema and the practices of raganuga bhakti to attain Radha Govinda Yugala in the groves of Vrindavana.

“Our [Gaudiya Vaisnava] goal is to become fully Krishna conscious. And to attain this goal, we follow the six original gosvamis.” (Srila Prabhupada: folio BTG Array5 1974)

Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja ends each chapter of Chaitanya-caritamrita, by praying, “My only hope and aspiration is the lotus feet of Sri Rupa Goswami and Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami:
sri rupa raghunatha pade vara asha.”

Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura prays, “When will I understand the love of Radha and Krishna by eagerly following in the footsteps of Sri Rupa Gosvami and Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami:
rupa raghunatha pade, hoibe akuti
kabe hama bujhabo, se jugala piriti?”
Although Srila Prabhupada and our Gaudiya Vaisnava purvacharyas encourage everyone to follow the Goswamis, most devotees today don’t study, know or follow their actual teachings, or even those of Srila Prabhupada for that matter.

Unfortunately, Kali prabhava is far reaching, deep and pervasive—in everyone’s palm disguising himself with the name “Mobile”! Thus no one has any time or desire to go deep, below the surface to discover what the Goswamis actually taught, and what did Srila Prabhupada REALLY SAY.

During my last 43 years of practicing Krishna consciousness, I have heard hundreds of devotees, old and new, saying thousands of things that Srila Prabhupada never, never said, thought or even dreamt of saying. Such is the plight of ignorance among the masses—blind following the blind.

The Srutis confirm: “Caught in the grip of ignorance, self-proclaimed experts consider themselves learned authorities. They wander about this world be fooled, like the blind leading the blind.” (Katha Upanishad 1.2.5):
avidyāyām antare vartamānāḥ
svayaṁ dhīrāḥ paṇḍitam manya mānāḥ
jaṅghan yamānāḥ pariyanti mūḍhā
andhenaiva nīyamānā yathāndhāḥ

So now we will quote the Six Goswamis and Srila Prabhupada to prove that Sri Radha Kunda is the best place to live in for practicing Krishna consciousness and attaining the coveted goal of Radha-Krishna’s prema seva. 

Sri Rupa Gosvami said:
1. “Mathura is superior to Vaikuntha because Bhagavan Sri Krishna appeared there. Better than Mathura, however, is the forest of Vrindavana where Sri Krishna performs His rasa lila. Better than Vrindavana is Govardhana Hill. And better than Govardhana is Radha-kunda because it is overflowing with prema amrita. Therefore, anyone who is intelligent will live at Radha-kunda!” (Upadeshamrita v. 9)

2. “Anyone who is fortunate will take shelter and live at Radha-kunda.” (Upadeshamrita v. 10)

Raghunatha Dasa Goswami said:
3. The delightful forest of Vṛndāvana, the nectarean arena of the Rāsa-dance, and the beautiful Govardhana Hill, what to speak of other places, are not equal to even a single particle of one of the atoms of Śrī Rādhā kuṇḍa. I take shelter of that divine lake, which is dearer to Mukunda than His own life breath. (Vraja Vilasa Stava 53)

4. “O restless-eyed Radhika! Your lake of Radha-kunda is the eternal home of You and Your beloved. Here only I will live and here only I will stay! (Vilapa Kusumanjali 98).

5. O sakhi Sri Rupa Manjari! Please arrange that I can always stay at Śrī Rādhākuṇḍa! (Stavavali, IV.3)

Srila Prabhupada:
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has given much stress to Rādhā-kuṇḍa, so who would give up Rādhā-kuṇḍa and try to reside elsewhere? No person with transcendental intelligence would do so. (Upadeshamrita v. 9 pur.)

“One should live at Rādhā-kuṇḍa, take shelter of the confidential serving maids [the manjaris] of Śrī Rādhā, and under their direction engage constantly in Radharani’s service.” (Upadeshamrita v. 11 pur.)

“If one is thus constantly engaged during his lifetime, after giving up the body he will return back to Godhead to serve Śrī Rādhā in the same way as he contemplated during his life on the banks of Rādhā-kuṇḍa.

Srila Prabhupada continues, “The conclusion is that to live on the banks of the Rādhā-kuṇḍa and to bathe there daily constitute the highest perfection of devotional service. Thus there is no limit to the glory of Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa. (Upadeshamrita v. 11 pur.)

It is very very sad to see that most devotees, however, because of various social, financial, educational, or personal comfort considerations, ignore all the teachings above and choose to live in Vrindavana.

Now I hope everyone will clearly understand that for Gaudiya Vaisnavas, Radha-kunda is the best place to live and serve Radha-Krishna in order to attain the perfection of human life.
Radha-kunda vasa ki jai! Six Goswamis ki jai! Srila Prabhupada ki jai!

Gita: Essence of Essence

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

ArrayhagavadGita ArrayrishnaBhakti Arrayeditation ArrayhaktiSadhana ArrayitaSlokas

In two tikas, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti describes the essence of Bhagavad-gita.
While describing the first essence, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti gives a beautiful blessing by saying, “These four famous verses (Bg.10.8-11), which are the essence of all topics in the Gita, will remove misery and saturate the jivas with bliss!”

Bhagavan Sri Krishna said, “I am the source of everything and cause everything to function. Realizing this, an intelligent person will worship Me with love. (8)
“Devotees who have absorbed their minds and hearts in Me attain bliss and satisfaction by enlightening one another with Hari-katha. (9)
“To My constantly devoted worshipers, I give the discriminative intelligence to guide them to Me. (9)
“I favor My devotees by sitting within their minds and hearts to destroy the darkness of ignorance with the light of transcendental knowledge.” (10)

Then at the very end of Bhagavad-gita, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti mentions its second essence, which is truly the quintessence of all Gita’s teachings and the essence of all Upanisads.

In his tika to (18.64), Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti writes, “Here Bhagavan Sri Krishna is saying, ‘O My Priya Bandhu Arjuna! Now I will speak the essence of the entire Gita in eight verses.’” (18.64-71)

We have arranged these eight essence verses by topic to provide clear understanding. Please deeply consider the import of the fourth and fifth essences which reveal some surprising and unknown truths regarding Gita propagation.

Misunderstanding these points often leads to committing nama-aparadha to Sri Krishna’s Divine Names, because one innocently or knowingly, “Preaches to the faithless”, which is the ninth offense to Sri Krishna’s Divine Names.

First Essence: THE SUPREME SPIRITUAL SECRET
With His heart melting like butter due to His mercy, Sri Krishna told Arjuna the deepest meaning of the Bhagavad-gita.

Bhagavan Sri Krishna said, “Now hear My most elevated words describing the supreme secret of all secrets. Since you are very dear to Me, I will tell you what is best for you. (18.64)
sarva-guhyatamaṁ bhūyaḥ, śṛṇu me paramaṁ vacaḥ
iṣṭo si me dṛḍham iti,  tato vakṣyāmi te hitam

Second Essence: ESSENCE OF BHAKTI SADHANA
Bhagavan Sri Krishna said, “Fix your mind on Me and be My devotee! Worship Me and offer respects to Me. By doing this, you will surely come to Me. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend. (18.65)
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto,  mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te,  pratijāne priyo ’si me

Third Essence: SURRENDER ALL TO ME!
Bhagavan Sri Krishna said, Give up all religious injunctions and take full shelter in Me. Don’t worry, I will deliver you from all sinful reactions. (18.66)
sarva-dharmān parityajya, mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo, mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ

Fourth Essence: DO NOT PREACH HERE!
Bhagavan Sri Krishna said, “Arjuna, DO NOT SPEAK THE GITA TO ANYONE WHO IS:
1. Not austere;
2. Not My devotee;
3. Does not want to hear it;
4. Envious of Me.” (18.67)
idaṁ te nātapaskāya,  nābhaktāya kadācana
na cāśuśrūṣave vācyaṁ,  na ca māṁ yo ’bhyasūyati

Fifth Essence: YES—PREACH HERE!
Bhagavan Sri Krishna said, “One who explains this supreme secret to My devotees attains the highest bhakti. And without a doubt, he will come to Me! (18.68)
ya idaṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ, mad-bhakteṣv abhidhāsyati
bhaktiṁ mayi parāṁ kṛtvā, mām evaiṣyaty asaṁśayaḥ

Sixth Essence: KRISHNA LOVES PREACHERS
Bhagavan Sri Krishna said, “No one in this world is dearer to Me than one who PREACHES TO DEVOTEES!” (18.69)
na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu, kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ
bhavitā na ca me tasmād, anyaḥ priyataro bhuvi

Seventh Essence: GITA STUDY IS KRISHNA WORSHIP
Bhagavan Sri Krishna said, “I am firmly convinced that whoever studies this sacred dialogue of ours [Bhagavad-gita] worships Me through the sacrifice of knowledge.” (18.70)
adhyeṣyate ca ya imaṁ, dharmyaṁ saṁvādam āvayoḥ, jñāna-yajñena tenāham, iṣṭaḥ syām iti me matiḥ

Eighth Essence: BENEFIT OF HEARING GITA
Bhagavan Sri Krishna said, “If a non-envious person just faithfully hears the Bhagavad-gita, he/she will become liberated and attain the higher auspicious planets. (18.71)
śraddhāvān anasūyaś ca, śṛṇuyād api yo naraḥ
so pi muktaḥ śubhāl lokān, prāpnuyāt puṇya-karmaṇām
Sri Gita Upanisad ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

THE BEST FORM OF CHARITY

By Mahanidhi Swami

Pious people are always interested in giving charity to worthy individuals and institutes because it makes them feel good and improves their own position. Of all forms of charity, which is the best and most beneficial? Vedic scriptures like Bhagavad Gita and the Puranas states that giving transcendental knowledge is the best of charity. In Hari Bhakti Vilasa, Sanatana Gosvami quotes Skanda Purana, where Brahma told Narada, danam vidya danam param “Giving transcendental knowledge is the greatest form of charity. By giving transcendental knowledge, one attains good qualities, wealth, happiness, freedom from sins and kingdom of God.” (HBV 2.250-253)One can easily obtain all these wonderful benefits by following Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s request to, “Tell everyone you meet about Krsna.” You can also give a Bhagavad Gita or some small spiritual books to people, and encourage them to read and follow the teachings to attain a life full of love, happiness and perfection. There is no better form of charity than this.Om Tat Sat!Jai Jai Sri Radhe!!