Thursday 28 June 2018

Snana Yatra/ Devsnana Purnima

 

On this auspicious day the Suaras and Mahasuaras go in a ceremonial procession to fetch 108 pots of water from the Golden well (called 'Suna Kua' in local language). The holy water drawn from this well once a year. During the entire process all of them cover their mouths with a piece of cloth so as not to contaminate it even with their breath. Then all the pots filled with water are preserved in the Bhoga Mandap. Then the priests purify the water with Haladi (turmeric), Java (whole rice), Sandal (Chandan), flowers and perfumes. The filled and purified water pots then carried from Bhoga Mandap to the bathing platform by the Suaras in a long single line queue. This ritual is called 'Jalabhisheka'. 'Jalabhishek' consists of two words 'Jala' and 'Abhisheka'. In local language 'Jala' means water and 'Abhishek' means Bath. This Abhiseka is accompanied by chanting of vedic mantras by the priests, kirtana and blowing of conch shells.

At evening, after the bath ritual, the Deities assume the special elephant form which is otherwise known as 'Hati Vesha'. Lord Jagannatha and Lord Balaram dressed like elephant, and Goddess Subhadra wears a lotus flower vesha.
After Snana Yatra, the deities are supposed to fall ill (fever) and do not return to their pedestal. The Deities are kept on a special sick room called the 'Ratan vedi' inside the temple. They stay away from the public view for a period of 15 days. This period is known as 'Anasara'. During Anasara the Deities offered only fruits and water mixed with cheese and Dasamula medicines to cure from fever. The Deities are treated by the Raj Vaidya (the King's physician) with specific medicines (Dasamulas). During all these days the daily rites of the temple remain suspended. Due to the sacred bath with 108 pitchers of water, the colours painted on the images fade out. The Daitas repaint the images with new colors and on the 16th day the Deities appear in their new forms after colouration become ready for the public view. The festival of the first appearance of the Lord Jagannath to his devotees is called 'Netrotsava' (festival for the eyes) or 'Nava Yauvanotsava' (festival of the ever new youth).

Courtesy: Shreekhetra.com

Wednesday 27 June 2018

A Day in the Life of Srila Prabhupada-June 27

"We want to distribute our literature and books within as well as our prasadam, and injecting our Hare Krishna medicine within the ear. So, reading of the literature and hearing of the chanting is the medicine, and prasadam is the diet."

- Letter to Satsvarupa written from Montreal June 27 1968

Tuesday 26 June 2018

”How can one remain humble?”


Paramahaṁsa: Śrīla Prabhupāda, how can one remain humble?

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Paramahaṁsa: How can one remain humble in executing his devotional service?

Prabhupāda: Yes. If he thinks himself that "I am non-entity, helpless," then he can remain. If he thinks "I can do something. I have got so much intelligence," then he cannot become humble. Just like... (aside:) Don't come very near. Just like child is humble always because he knows that "I am completely helpless. Unless mother helps me, I am complete..." Therefore, whenever he's in need of something, he cries, "Mother, help me." This is helplessness. Helplessness. 
Always. Kārpaṇye. 

This is one of the items of surrender. Unless you think yourself helpless, you cannot surrender. Surrender is complete when you think yourself that you are helpless. "I am helpless, but because I am surrendered to Kṛṣṇa, He'll save me." This faith also must be there, that "Although I am helpless... Not although I am factually helpless but because I am surrendered to Kṛṣṇa, I have no danger. He'll help me, protect me.

-Morning Walk, June 11, 1974, Paris

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Sunday 24 June 2018

A Day in the Life of Śrīla Prabhupāda - June 24

“Muhammad says he is servant of God. Christ says he is son of God. And Kṛṣṇa says, "I am God." So where is the difference? The son will say the same thing, the servant will say the same thing, and the father also will say the same thing.”
- Conversation - Los Angeles, June 24 1974

Thursday 21 June 2018

A Day in the Life of Śrīla Prabhupāda - June 21

“Although I had immense opportunities to indulge in the four principles of sinful life because I was connected with a very aristocratic family, Kṛṣṇa always saved me, and throughout my whole life I do not know what is illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating or gambling. So far my present life is concerned, I do not remember any part of my life when I was forgetful of Kṛṣṇa.”

-Letter to Tamāla Kṛṣṇa-- Los Angeles 21 June, 1970
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Wednesday 20 June 2018

A Day in the Life of Śrīla Prabhupāda - June 20



"I consider this Gurukula school to be one of our most important aspects of this movement and it should be given all serious consideration by the members. If we are able to make a whole generation of our children into fine Krsna Conscious preachers, that will be the glory of our movement and the glory of your country as well. But if we neglect somehow or other and if we lose even one Vaisnava, that is very great loss.”
-Letter to Stokakrsna -- Los Angeles 20 June, 1972

Tuesday 19 June 2018

A Day in the Life of Śrīla Prabhupāda - June 19


“...another passage is there in Prema-vivarta, janame janame sabe pitā mātā pāya: "In every life, one can get father and mother." Kṛṣṇa guru nahi mile bhajahun re bhāi(?): "But Kṛṣṇa and guru cannot be had in every life." That is only in human life. Otherwise, as soon as there is birth, there is father and mother. Either you become human being or tiger or snake or bird, the father-mother is there. But the spiritual father and Kṛṣṇa, that can be obtained in human life, not in every life.”

-Morning Walk - Honolulu, June 19 1975

Friday 15 June 2018

A Day in the Life of Śrīla Prabhupāda - June 15

Makhanlāl: In the Upadeśāmṛta, in the eleventh verse, it says that if one takes his bath even once in the Rādhākuṇḍa he immediately awakens his love for Kṛṣṇa. I was wondering, some of those who have had the opportunity to take bath in Rādhākuṇḍa, it seems though it may take some time. I was wondering, is that because we don't see time in the proper perspective?
Prabhupāda: Why do you go to Rādhākuṇḍa, unless there is some awakening of Kṛṣṇa consciousness?
-Morning walk, DETROIT - June 15, 1976

Wednesday 13 June 2018

A Day in the Life of Śrīla Prabhupāda - June 13


“If we are Krishna Conscious, any type of occupation will suit me and we shall always be satisfied. Therefore, I recommend you to read books more and more and try to understand the subject matter from different angles of vision and be always discussing it with your godbrothers even while you are working at the press, and when you are working and you cannot read, then listen to the tapes of my lectures and hear in that way. And never neglect to chant your 16 rounds of beads daily, rise early without fail, attend mangal arati, take bath, and follow the other regulative principles, and everything will come out very successfully, you can rest assured of that.”
-Letter to Bhargava -- Los Angeles 13 June, 1972

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Tuesday 12 June 2018

A Day in the Life of Śrīla Prabhupāda - June 12

“Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means to teach Kṛṣṇa science, science of Kṛṣṇa, science of God. So the government should take up, American government, and cooperate with us. Teach the people the science of God. Then it will be a great, benevolent welfare activity. Simply giving their money to the poor, to the needy, will not help them.”
-Interview with Jackie Vaughn (Black Congressman) -- June 12, 1976, Detroit

Saturday 9 June 2018

"O Devotee of the Lord"




akṣṇoḥ phalaṁ tvādṛśa-darśanaṁ hi

tanoḥ phalaṁ tvādṛśa-gātra-saṅgaḥ
jihvā-phalaṁ tvādṛśa-kīrtanaṁ hi
sudurlabhā bhāgavatā hi loke
“O devotee of the Lord, the purpose of the visual sense is fulfilled simply by seeing you, and to touch your body is the fulfillment of bodily touch. The tongue is meant for glorifying your qualities because in this world a pure devotee of the Lord is very difficult to find.”
Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya 13.2

Friday 8 June 2018

A Day in the Life of Śrīla Prabhupāda - June 8


“There is a Sanskrit proverb, sati shatyam samacharit, and this means if somebody is cunning, we must also become cunning. To a cunning person we must not be a simpleton. Krishna Conscious devotees are expected to be very intelligent, so we have to work very intelligently to prove our advancement in Krishna Consciousness.”

-Letter to Hansadutta written from New Vrindaban, USA, June 08 1969

Thursday 7 June 2018

A Day in the Life of Śrīla Prabhupāda - June 7

“If you simply follow the simple program that I have initiated you will be happy in this life time and in the end you will go back to home, back to Godhead.”
-Letter to Bhurijana and Jagattarini written from Los Angeles, June 07, 1976

Monday 4 June 2018

A Day in the Life of Śrīla Prabhupāda - June 4


Man: Why did Kṛṣṇa create the universe?

Prabhupāda: Because He is creator. God, He is known as creator. He is creating so many, He has created you also. You are also creating. You scientists, you are creating so many things. You have got the creative energy. The electrician is creating the electric fan, electric light, heater, electric, so many things. Electrician, that is nature. And God is the Supreme. He has the power to create, create, create. He is becoming many by creation. Many, when there is variety, many, that means creation. So this is also one of His creations. When there was necessity of creation, therefore He has created. The necessity was that some of the living entities they wanted to enjoy. They did not want to serve Kṛṣṇa. So for them, enjoy here in this material world.

 -Conversation - Mexico, 4 June 1972