The Appearance Day Of Lord Nrsimhadeva
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What class of person was Hiranyakasipu? Was he a theist or an atheist? He was a theist. From sastra it appears that he believed in God, but he was against Him, he wanted to kill Him, and he had no honor for any of His devotees. He wanted to conquer Him and defeat Him ─ because it was natural for him. How was it natural? It was natural because he was Vijaya, the associate of Narayana...
Who is Lord Nrsimhadeva?
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Today is the auspicious appearance day of Lord Nrsimhadeva. Who is Nrsimhadeva? He is Krsna Himself - "Kesava dhrta narahari rupa." Krsna Kesava - He is the same Kesava (a name of Krsna meaning that He has fine hair), but not directly. He is none other than Cakra. Krsna's cakra (wheel-shaped weapon) becomes Nrsimhadeva. When there is a temple installation of Cakra, the prayers are offered to Nrsimhadeva.
A Sidewalk Darsana
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[Question:] Gurudeva, I love to hear your classes on Srimad-Bhagavatam. But for some reason, every time you speak on this verse my mind turns away and I refuse to listen to it attentively...
How to Observe Nrsimha Caturdasi
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Before I begin my class, I want to announce that tomorrow is Nrsimha Caturdasi vrata. Out of mercy Nrsimhadeva came, saved Prahlada Maharaja, and killed the big demon Hiranyakasipu on this very day - on caturdasi of this month. We should try to observe this vrata. It is better if we follow nirjala, a full fast, and not even drink water. In India almost all devotees do nirjala, but for you Western devotees we give concession...
Mātsarya - Envy
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by Śrīla Saccidānanda Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura
The word mātsarya is used with different meanings in different contexts. Among its various meanings we find ‘enviousness of others’ good-fortune’, ‘distressed because of their success’, ‘malice’ and ‘jealousy’. Wherever the word mātsarya has been used in the Vaiṣṇava scriptures, it refers to that mood which is adverse to prema (pure love).
You Should Tell Your Mind
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We must have some moods at the time of arati. It should not be performed without mood. When you are making an offering, you will also have to have mood. It may be the mood of Yasoda Ma, who is offering everything to Krsna and then distributing to all others. Or, if your svarupa (constitutional position) has the mood of the gopis and you are very qualified for that, if you have some greed for that, then you can see that Srimati Radhika is giving the preparations to Krsna...
Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja In Mexico - Two Reports
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"Last night you heard about Prahlada Maharaja, how he was born, how he was a strong devotee, and how he had a spiritual guru like Narada Muni. I want you all to be like Prahlada Maharaja. How is this possible? You must know the process of how to chant, how to remember. You should especially know jiva-tattva, krsna-tattva, radha-tattva, maya-tattva, and bhakti-tattva...
Is God Bad?
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The question of how to reconcile the notion of a loving God with the bad things that happen in the world is a challenge to many of us. The teachings of karma – that actions in one life may result in reactions in another life – are never given as a justification for judging others, or for cruelty to others, but as a means for self-assessment and reflection. The law of karma is taught to make us mindful that we should be non-violent (ahimsic) in our actions.
The Abandoned Dog
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Today I went to the seashore for a walk. I was chanting and remembering some pastimes of Sri Krsna, and I was especially chanting this verse...
The Vow of Ekadasi
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You are all observing Ekadasi today. We should surely observe Ekadasi – strictly avoiding grains, or anything prepared with any kind of grains, such as wheat, barley, corn, and so on. If you observe Ekadasi, chant the holy name, hear hari-katha in high-class association, always remain with elevated devotees, and perform any of the nine limbs of bhakti, you will never fall down...
This Very, Very Critical Time
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A question is raised, and intelligent devotees should think it over. Why did so many devotees leave Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja's line? Why did they become weak? They took harinama initiation and diksa initiation, they rendered services to him, they remained with him in the brahmacarya asrama, and some even took sannyasa. They served in numerous ways, distributing thousands of books and becoming the 'number one' or 'number two' distributors in the entire world...
Publication of Sri Gita Govinda
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Sri Jayadeva Gosvami was a very high class of maha-bhagavata, and he wrote a book called "Gita Govinda", "The Glories of Govinda". When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw this book, He made a copy and instructed His followers to also obtain one. At that time there was no press, the books were reproduced by hand, so Mahaprabhu ordered His followers to write it down and then preach. In Jagannatha Puri, all the Vaisnavas and associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wrote down that book and made a necklace for themselves of the beautiful songs therein...
How To Deeply Perform Arati
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You will have to add something in your sadhana-bhajana. Try to follow the instructions given in the book Hari-bhakti-vilasa, for all rules and regulations can be found there. Also, for arcana (formal deity worship), there is a book coming from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu through Sri Vakresvara Pandita and Sri Gopala-guru Gosvami, and after that through Gopala-guru Gosvami's disciple Sri Dhyanacandra Gosvami. This book is called Arcana Padhati...
Book Distribution and Other Topics
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During the evening class that preceded this morning walk of May 12, 2003 in Venice Beach, Los Angeles, Srila Gurudeva corrected the misunderstanding that book distribution is not bhakti. He clarified this by his statement of reconciliation: "If book distribution is performed...
An Amazing Darsana
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I want you to preach my mission, just as the disciples of Parama-pujyapada Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja preached. His disciples preached everywhere and distributed his books. I also want you to preach everywhere through books. Distribute his books and my books. Go to airports, seaports, schools, colleges, street to street, house-to-house – and broadcast the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Chant harinama and be happy...
A Radio Interview
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These names are more powerful than fire. If you put your finger in fire, knowingly or unknowingly, the fire will burn you. Similarly, whether or not you are aware of the power of His names, your chanting will burn all your unfavorable moods – your ignorance and offenses. He will give you His love and affection, and soon you will be happy forever...
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