Sharing and listening to the greatness of the Lord's Name

. By listening to the glories, one can become interested in the Name of the Lord, but its real greatness is known only by "japa" - repeating of the Lord's name. By sharing and listening to the greatness of the Lord's Name, one develops interest in it and by "japa" (repeating the Lord's name ) one actually experiences, therefore it is invaluable. The truth about it is known only by doing "japa". Complete understanding is simply by doing japa. Just as when discussing about food with a hungry man, then his attention and engrossment is significant. But without hunger, one is not that much attentive or interested in the food. When there is immense hunger then one is fully aware of how delicious the meal is! That meal of the hungry man is much relished, devoured, and easily digested. It is savored and the hungry man gains a lot of energy from it. Similarly, by reciting the name of the Lord with much interest, one comprehends its true greatness. Therefore the more one repeats the name of the Lord, the more he benefits.

Just as when there is a lot of money hoarded, then the greed for money increases even more. But in the end it leads to downfall, because the money is perishable and destructible. Let us say that an ordinary man feels less deficiency of money, whereas a rich man feels more scarcity of money. An ordinary man feels the shortage in hundreds, whereas a rich man in thousands, and even more wealthy person, in the millions. And some of the richest men feel the deficiency in billions. Similarly even those that are engaged in "bhajan" (devotion and worship of the Lord), they too have a need for "bhajan". Those who understand the greatness of "bhajan," experience a great need for it, feeling that they have not been able to do as much bhajan. However, those people who do not do Bhajan, they do not know this at all. They do not know its greatness. But as they feel something lacking within themselves, they begin to understand the greatness of "bhajan". It has been said about those that recognize the greatness of bhajan, that simply by articulation and vocalization of the Divine Name, one attains salvation.

There is a holy book by the name of "Bhagvannaam-Koumudi". In it there is detailed elaboration of the edicts of the scriptures. Those who recite the name of the Lord, become eligible to that Name. Just as Gajendra called out the Name of the Lord with deep distress, then the Lord manifested immediately. Calling out the Name of the Lord, loudy, hollering in distress, you will see the greatness very quickly. Similarly with deep sentiments if one takes the name of the Lord then it has extraordinary affect. It is said in a couplet -

Krishna naam jab shravan sune ri mein aali


Bhooli ri bhavan houn to baavari bhai ri

The hearts of those gopikas (cowherd girls) that were filled with love for the Lord, were overwhelmed and crazy simply by listening to the Lord's name. They used to lose consciousness and not know who they were, where they were! One's state likewise becomes the same on reciting the name of the Lord. The editor of "Kalyan" brother Shri Hanumanprasadji Poddar had steadfast loyalty towards the Lord's name. This incident is even before Kalyan had started. Someone said – "What can come about by repeating the name of the Lord? He replied - you will attain "kalyaan" (salvation). They said, what is the point without knowing its meaning? The name Ram in English can mean multiple things… it can mean slamming or it can mean a kind of animal. At that time with great passion he said that with the divine name Ram one can surely attain salvation. He said it with such zeal, that he lost consciousness for the next 24 hours. No food, drink, visits to the bathroom or anything . His mother was deeply sad and distressed thinking what could have happened to my son? In the same way, he who takes the name of the Lord they become remarkable and extra-ordinary.

From "Manas mein Naam Vandana"

Chanting Hare Krishna Works!

"This chanting of Hare Krishna, even if someone does not know what it is, it still works. Once in Hyderabad in South India one man came up to me and said: "Every religious sect have blind faith, blind faith, this is true of any religion without any faith it will still work". This is a post office. This is India you know. People are always asking philosophical questions. Never happened in an American post office. But I was thinking, wow what a question! But I remember I said, no, there is a process, even if you chant without faith the names of God, even if you don't know what it means it still works.

Just like Ratnakar he was chanting murder! Murder! Murder! Kill kill kill in Sanskrit which was Mara! Mara! Mara! Chanting a word which, he was a murderer, he was a robber. When you chant it in sequence mara mara mara it becomes Rama Rama Rama. Chanting Rama even when he was thinking something else it still worked.
So the chanting, like Prabhupada said, it is like fire when you put your hand in the fire whether you believe it or not you get affected, somebody does chant somehow with an open mind if they just chant they will feel some difference from the chanting. So I hope that the devotees here they know about the chanting. If you know about chanting take advantage of chanting. If we know and we don't chant then that is a very great failure on our part to take this opportunity to perfect our human form of life."

HH Jayapataka Swami
Lecture BG 2.14
1st November 2005

Taste the Highest Bliss

You are not meant to suffer. So there's no need to suffer a moment longer in this material existence. All you have to do is fix yourself solidly in Krishna consciousness seeing everything as His arrangement and offering everything to Him in all times, places, and circumstances. Why be miserable when you can taste unlimited bliss at every minute? This is real intelligence. Taste the highest bliss and share the highest bliss at every minute with everyone you meet. What could be more divine, more sublime, more refined?

In this material world the conditioned soul is very much distracted from his original all-knowing, all-blissful nature as Krishna's eternal servant because he is carried away by the so-called taste of material sense gratification. This artificial taste is encouraged and exploited by the materialistic propaganda mongers who make a handsome profit by misguiding the people in general promoting cigarettes, liquor, prostitution, meat eating, etc. The foolish sense enjoyer tries to become happy by squeezing as much pleasure as possible out of these things, but because there is no factual pleasure in sense gratification, the poor soul is ultimately left in a state of frustration and bewilderment. If, however, he will reconnect with his original transcendental nature diving deep into his eternal identity as the servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he will taste a pleasure that is unlimitedly sublime and will go on increasing forever.
Chant:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare

God's Gift to this world

All Pervading Sri Krishna

The ring, the bracelet and the earrings are made of gold. If you look at their external shapes you only see these shapes, if you look deeper you can see the gold that is the substratum within all of them. Remove the boundary between two fields, and there is only one field. Boundaries and divisions are artificial, and created by man.

When we stop fanning ourselves with a handheld fan, the flow of air stops. But it doesn't mean there is no air. When a light bulb burns out or a fan stops turning, it doesn't mean that there is no electricity. God is everywhere as Nirakara Brahman . He is both formless ( Nirakar) and with form ( Saguna Brahman or Bhagavan Sri Krishna) .

It is difficult for a person to connect with the formless "Nirguna Brahman" through Hatha-yoga and meditation , which need to be taught by God realized Rishis . It takes many years to attain these skills . Moreover, in this Kali-yuga , Rishis are not readily available .

Knowing these difficulties, the Supreme God has made Himself available as Sri Krishna . Bhagavan Sri Krishna is God's gift to this world . Just by surrendering to Bhagavan ( SaranAgati) and chanting His names ( Nama-japa) , a Bhakta can easily attain Sri Krishna .

Krishna Experience

Will you get any milk by pressing the ears of a cow? Can you say there is milk in all parts of her body? Only her udder contains milk for us to drink, and we will get that only if we milk her. It's true that Bhagavan Krishna is everywhere, but to actually experience Him we have to connect to Him through Deity worship and Nama-japa .

"Worldly pleasures are like a candy that gives sweetness now, but ruins your teeth later. If you know Sri Krishna , you can enjoy sweetness all the time – and it is most beneficial to your body ,soul and your family .

Surrendering

Sri Krishna is the one who purifies your mind. Take refuge in Him and chant His names with faith . The names of Krishna will clean the dirt of your mind. Only Nama-japa can cleanse you.

Once we board a train, do we continue to carry our load and complain about how heavy it is? Take refuge in Sri Krishna and surrender everything to Bhagavan .

Please chant :

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

And be happy !!!

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!! !

Result of failing to know Bhagavan Sri Krishna

Hare Krishna ! Pranams to Bhagavan Sri Krishna and Bhaktas,

Failing to have enough faith in Bhagavan Sri Krishna, or in getting to know Him, is not quite the same as you might find in some other faiths or religions wherein they say you will go to eternal hell if you are a non-believer, or you are an infidel worthy of death, or whatever. But failing to investigate Him and realize what is our final destination is considered a waste of this particular life. Bhagavan Krishna Himself explains:

· "One may be well versed in all the transcendental literature of the Vedas, but if he fails to be acquainted with the Supreme, then it must be concluded that all of his education is like the burden of a beast or like one's keeping a cow without milking capacity." (Bhagavatam. 11.11.18) .

· "Those who worship the Devas will take birth among the Devas ; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings; those who worship ancestors go to the ancestors; and those who worship Me will live with Me." (Gita .9.25)

In this way we can begin to see the futility of following some materialistic path or a secondary spiritual method without the process for reaching an understanding of Bhagavan Krishna. "Among all the eternal, conscious beings, there is One who supplies the needs of everyone else. The wise who worship Him in His abode attain everlasting peace. Others cannot." (Katha Upanishad 2.2.13).

In this way, a person is allowed to proceed through life in the way he or she wants. Bhagavan Krishna allows each person to develop in their own way, and to continue wandering throughout the universe and through various activities until they begin to wonder about the purpose of life, or become ready for a deep spiritual path. Materialistic activities are not the way to find everlasting peace, and most of us need to discover that for ourselves. However, a person cannot be helped until he or she is ready. So, until then, they may be offered the spiritual knowledge they need, but they must decide for themselves how much of it they wish to utilize. Just as when Sri Krishna spoke the whole Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna, at the end of it He asked Arjuna what he wished to do. He had to make up his own mind. He was not forced to do anything. In the same way, we can only offer this knowledge for the benefit of humanity, and they can decide what they wish to do, or how long they wish to continue their existence in the material worlds.

"They are truly ignorant who, while imprisoned within the ceaseless flow of this world's material qualities, fail to know You (Sri Krishna) , the Supreme Soul of all that be, as their ultimate, sublime destination. Because of their ignorance, the entanglement of material work forces such souls to wander in the cycle of birth and death." (Bhagavatam. 10.85.15)

Therefore, regardless of what else we do, we should recognize how advantageous it is to add the process of engaging in devotional service to Bhagavan Krishna in this lifetime. We may not even be able to become perfect at it, but it nonetheless accelerates our spiritual development. Otherwise, regardless of what else we have accomplished materially, our life remains incomplete. "Caught in the grip of ignorance, self-proclaimed experts consider themselves learned authorities. They wander about this world befooled, like the blind leading the blind." (Katha Upanishad 1.2.5)

It is only through this spiritual education that we can understand our real identity and transcendental nature beyond the body and all material activities. Without that, we remain ignorant of our true potential and the final shelter that is awaiting us in the spiritual domain.

Please chant :

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna , Hare Hare

and be happy !!!

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya !!!

By Siva’s Benediction

A brahmana in Kasi Varanasi once prayed to Lord Siva, “I want to give my daughter in marriage, but I have no money. Please give me money.” Lord Siva told him, “Go to Vrndavana and meet with Srila Sanatana Gosvami. You can ask him to give you some wealth for your daughter’s marriage.” The brahmana went to Vrndavana, by foot, and there he asked the villagers there for the whereabouts of a person named Sanatana Gosvami. As they all knew him, they pointed out his residence.

Srila Sanatana Gosvami was practicing bhajana near the Yamuna River at Kaliya-hrada, the former abode of the very poisonous snake named Kaliya. Kaliya-hrada was close to the Yamuna, and therefore its surrounding area was full of sand. Srila Sanatana Gosvami wore only a loincloth. He used to go begging door-to-door for a small amount of prasada (Krsna’s food remnants), and would take as his meal only one dry chapatti (flat bread), with no salt.

The brahmana arrived at his cottage and told him, “I went to Sankara Mahadeva, Lord Siva, and he told me to meet you. He said you will give me some wealth for my daughter’s marriage.” Sanatana Gosvami replied, “I have no possessions. You can see that I have nothing but a loincloth.” Then he thought, “Oh, Siva cannot tell a lie. He is my bosom friend.” Thinking of Lord Siva and contemplating further, he remembered a touchstone he had once disgarded and then forgotten. Now he told the brahmana, “Go to the Yamuna and remove some of the sand, and there you will find a touchstone. It is somewhere in the sand, though I don’t remember where.”

The brahmana found the jewel, touched it to iron, and the iron turned into gold. He was very, very happy that Lord Siva had told him to come to Vrndavana, and thought with gratitude, “My prayer has been answered by him.” On the way home, however, his greed for money increased and he began thinking, “Why did Sanatana Gosvami keep the touchstone in the sand? It had no use there. He must have still more valuable jewels.”

He thus returned, and Sanatana Gosvami asked him, “Why have you come back?” He replied, “I’ve come because I know that you have more valuable jewels than this.” Sanatana Gosvami then said, “Go and throw the touchstone in the Yamuna. The brahmana did so with all his power, and then Sanatana Gosvami told him, “Come here. Come here.” He gave him the mantra, “Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare” and said, “I do not have worldly jewels, but I have transcendental jewels. The jewel of Lord Krsna and Sri Radha will come to you in a very short time. So remain here. Your daughter’s marriage will take place automatically. Stay here and chant Hare Krsna.” That brahmana followed his instruction and became a very elevated saint.

Why Nama Kirtan?

Sanathana Dharma is the oldest faith in the world. The Vedas, which are the foundation of our Dharma and is supposedly the intellect of the Lord Almighty Himself, have all the wealth of knowledge to guide is in leading a happy and prosperous life in this world as well as beyond.

Srimad Bhagavad Gita, which is considered as the concise extract of the Vedas and the Supreme advice of God to mankind, speaks of four broad 'Yogas' (paths) to reach Him - namely Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Raja Yoga. While all of these Yogas are equally powerful in giving the same merit, each of them enforces a specific way of life and expects the Sadhak to abide by the rules and regulations laid down for the Yoga.

Today, it is a busy world. We have no time to think about God, religion and spirituality. Even if we do, we do not have the time and inclination to carry out the prescribed tasks for the path that we care to adopt. Even if we do, the environment and society is not conducive enough. Over and above this, we are surmounted by pressures of work, family, children, business, health, relatives and society. It seems just next to impossible to allot time in our everyday schedule for Sadhana. Sadly, there is no one to blame! That is how Kali Yuga is!

The Sages, Rishis, Munis and Mahans have been people of foresight. With boundless compassion, they have pitied about our plight, long back --

prAyENaAlpAyusHa: sabhya kalAvasminyugE janA: |
mandA: sumandamathayO mandabhAgyAhyupadru tA: ||

In Kali Yuga, man will possess shorter lifespan, qualities of laziness, weak mind and easily susceptible to negative qualities and ills.

Thus, the modern day man needs an easier path -- something that can be accommodated in his busy life. That path should be such, that it does not involve a lot of rules and restrictions. it should not have time-bound restrictions; it should not involve much expenditure; it should be something which can be easily followed – In short, it should be perfectly relevant in the current day context, and absolutely practical; and yet yield us to the same goal.

The Sages prescribe the solution, which is advocated verily by the Vedas, and yet tailor made for our times.

dhyAyan krutE yajan yajnaihi trEtAyAm dwAparE archayan |
yadApnoti tadApnoti kalau sankIrtya kesavam ||

That supreme good which could be attained by the performance of meditation in the Age of Kruta, sacrifices in the Age of Treta and worship of the Lord in the Age of Dwapara can verily be attained, in the Age of Kali, by the mere chanting of the Divine Names of the Lord!

Further, our scriptures go to say,

kalau kalmasHa chittAnAm pApadravyOpa jIvinAm |
vidhikriyA vihInAnAm gathir gOvinda kIrtanam ||

In this Age of Kali, where the mind is impure and the living is earned through sinful means and where living by prescribed rules is difficult, the only way to liberation is singing the Holy Name of God!

Srimad Bhagavatam, in Ajamila charitra, explains that while expiation for sins fails to eradicate the `vasanas' (lateral impressions) that are the root cause for instigating a person to commit unrighteous acts, chanting the Divine Name uproots the very `vasanas' that are the basis for committing sins and leaves no alternative for the Lord but to receive us into His wide open arms!

All the great Saints right from the Azhwars and the Nayanmars to Thiagaraja Swami, Panduranga Bhaktas, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa have all shown that one CAN attain liberation through mere chanting of the Divine Name. Even today we find Sadhus who have attained the highest state through mere chanting of the Divine Name. This is the glory of 'Nama Kirtan' -- An absolutely easy, simple path suited to the Age of Kali. The chanting of Divine Names is a free path. It has no `binding' of rules and regulations. Namasankirtan can be done by anybody, anytime and anywhere. It involves no cost. It is a path that requires no paraphernalia but leads one to the very Lotus Feet of the Lord.

While mental repetition of the Divine Names leads to the good of the individual, chanting the Divine Names loudly purifies the singer the listener (the scriptures say "Shrotrunapi punati cha") and the very place where the chanting is done.

It is verily for this reason that Sri Sri Swamiji advocates group chanting of a single Divine Name - The Maha Mantra. Chanting a single Divine Name of the Lord (`eka Nama') helps the chanter deepen his concentration and also helps in sustaining the chanting for long hours effortlessly.

The Satsang members at Nama Dwaar inspired by Sri Sri Swamiji's loving spiritual guidance, with unwavering faith in the power of Nama Kirtan, inextinguishable zest to spread Nama Kirtan for the well being of the world at large and the ever growing taste for singing the Lord's Divine Names, go from place to place knocking at every door to securely fix the Divine Name in the hearts of people, for, this is the only way to world peace at large and liberation of each and every individual, in this Age of Kali .

Please chant :

"HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE!
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE!"

and be happy !!!

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!! !

Shortcut to escape from Past Sins and Succeed in life

It is true that whatever good or bad a person experiences in this life is, the result of his past *karma* ( activity) .

*karma* is a complex word . Every selfish *Karma* has a side effect . For example when a lady does cooking , it is for feeding her family . However, while operating it's flame, she is unknowingly causing the death of several creatures . It results in a negative reaction .

It is due to this reason that , Bhagavan Sri Krishna advises in His Bhagavat Gita to perform all *Karma* selflessly as an offering to Him .

The first vow one should take is * SaranAgathi* . (Seeking total and unconditional refuge at the lotus feet of Sri Krishna) . One should perform every *Karma* selflessly , without desiring it's fruits ( dedicating it to Bhagavan) . If so, the negative reactions of *Karma* does not affect him . Bhagavan shall return the fruits of those Karma to His bhakta with a blessing . Such a Bhakta will succeed in life . And he automatically escapes from all sins of his past *Karma* .

Daily bath is required to remove dirt from the body . Similarly , daily Nama-Japa is required to remove the dirt from heart . Sri Krishna's names are immensely powerful . When a bhakta chants Krishna-nama with faith , it automatically invokes Bhagavan whose presence automatically burns off all sins and dirt .

In the case of such a devout Bhakta , Bhagavan Himself will reveal through a medium of His choice if any *prayachit*( atonement) needs to be done for major past sins . Jyothisha is the means to know about past sins . However, accuracy of Jyothisha depends heavily on the seeker's Bhakti and resulting grace from Ishta-deva . There is no point in approaching a Jyothishi without any Bhakti and getting exploited by him .

Please chant this all purifying *Shodakshari Mantra* :

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

The Shield of the Holy Name (Maha Mantra)

"If you don't chant your sixteen rounds, it's like you've left the door open to your place. So when it's your turn for Maya to attack, when it's your turn to get bombarded by the modes of material nature, if you haven't closed your door properly, Maya will just walk right in and you'll be finished. And if you do chant your sixteen rounds, you have that protection, you have that shield. It's like you locked your door against Maya. So when it's your turn to get hit up by Maya, she'll say, ‘Forget this one; it's too much trouble,' and she'll move on to somebody weaker."

That made me chant all my rounds all these years. That lecture made me realize how important chanting sixteen rounds is. You have that shield that wards off Maya.

Breakdown Of The Maha Mantra

• O Krsna! Please attract my mind by pulling it to You.
• O Hari! Please capture my mind by Your unsurpassed sweetness.
• O Krsna! Please purify my mind with knowledge about devotional service given to me by Your own devotee.
• O Krsna! Please make me able to relish Your transcendental name, form, qualities, pastimes, etc.
• O Krsna! Please make me able to relish Your transcendental name, form, qualities, pastimes, etc.
• O Hari! Please make me fit to serve You.
• O Hari! Please make me able to relish Your transcendental name, form, qualities, pastimes, etc.
• O Hari! Please direct me to do some particular service for You.
• O Rama! Let me hear about Your most cherished pastimes in the company of Your dearest devotee.
• O Hara (Radha)! Please reveal to me Your most cherished pastimes with Your beloved Sri Krsna.
• O Rama! Please reveal to me Your most cherished pastimes with Your beloved Sri Radha.
• O Rama! Please engage me in remembering Your transcendental name, form, qualities, pastimes, etc.
• O Rama! Please make me fit to serve You while remembering Your transcendental name, form, qualities, pastimes, etc.
• O Hari! Having accepted me as one of Your own servitors, please enjoy me as You please.
• O Hari! Please enjoy with me in Your transcendental way.

At the present moment our minds are polluted with the dirt accumulated over millions and millions of lifetimes of sense gratification. Even though our original pure nature is eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss, due to our mental contamination we are presently suffering in the realm of temporality, ignorance, and misery. By the purificatory process of chanting the holy names of God we can revive our original, pure nature and thus relish the sweetest happiness at every minute.
Chant:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare

Why Chant Hare Krishna

I thought I better share this with others.

Based on various scriptures:

• Chanting Hare Krishna awakens love of God.
• Chanting Hare Krishna brings liberation as a side benefit along the way.
• When you chant Hare Krishna, you automatically develop knowledge and detachment.
• Chanting Hare Krishna gets you out of the endless cycle of birth and death.
• It is the most effective means of self-realization in the present age of quarrel. Nothing else works nearly as well.
• Chanting Hare Krishna cleanses the heart of all the illusions and misunderstandings.
• By chanting Hare Krishna, you become free from all anxieties.
• Chanting Hare Krishna brings you to self-realization and show you how to act as a self-realized soul.
• It keeps you ever mindful of Krishna, the reservoir of pleasure.
• There are no hard and fast rules for chanting. You can chant anywhere, any time, under any circumstances. Krishna Himself is fully present in transcendental sound of His name, and the more you chant, the more you realize it.
• All over Vedic mantras are included in the chanting of Hare Krishna. So, just by chanting this Mantra, you get the benefits of all others.
• Chanting Hare Krishna purifies not only you but every living entity around you. Whoever hears the chanting, gets the spiritual benefit.
• A person who chants Hare Krishna develops all good qualities.
• You can chant Hare Krishna softly for personal mediation or loudly with your family or friends. Both ways work.
• Srila Prabhupada chanted Hare Krishna, and so did great souls in the past. So why not you?
• Its free, chanting Hare Krishna never costs you money!
• Chanting Hare Krishna brings the highest stage of ecstasy.
• There are no previous qualifications needed for chanting Hare Krishna. Young or old any one can chant from any race any religion or any country of the world.
• Even if you don't understand the language of the Mantra, it works any way.
• Chanting Hare Krishna is easy. When the best way is also the easiest, why make life hard for yourself?
• Chanting Hare Krishna invokes spiritual peace for you and for those around you.
• When you chant Hare Krishna, Krishna Himself becomes pleased.
• When you chant Hare Krishna, Krishna dances in your tongue.
• By chanting Hare Krishna, you can return to Krishna's world, the internal abode of full happiness and knowledge.
• Chanting Hare Krishna frees you from the reaction of all past Karma.
• Chanting Hare Krishna's names even once, purely and sincerely, can free you from the reaction of more Karma than you possibly incur.
• Chanting Hare Krishna counteracts the sinful atmosphere of Kali-yuga, the present age of hypocirsy and quarrel.
• By chanting Hare Krishna, you can relish at every step, the full nectar. That's the real thirst of the soul.
• The more you chant Hare Krishna, the better it gets.
• If you look through all the Vedic Scriptures, you will find nothing higher than the chanting of Hare Krishna.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

--
At the present moment our minds are polluted with the dirt accumulated over millions and millions of lifetimes of sense gratification. Even though our original pure nature is eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss, due to our mental contamination we are presently suffering in the realm of temporality, ignorance, and misery. By the purificatory process of chanting the holy names of God we can revive our original, pure nature and thus relish the sweetest happiness at every minute.
Chant:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare

Greatness of Sri Rama

Sri Rama is the role model of Vedic faith . The very purpose of Maha-Vishnu' s Rama-avatar was to illustrate by personal example , how to lead a *Dharmic* life , according to the injunctions of the Vedas .

Let us observe Sri Rama's roles from the beginning :

1. Sri Rama as a son obeyed his father's wishes without any question. As per the Vedic law of the Land at that time, Rama has got every right to acquire the kingdom as First Son of King Dasaratha. Even the entire people of Ayodhya wanted Rama to be the king. Rama has sacrificed this right. He accepted gracefully the order of his father with smile.

Sri Rama could have easily exposed His father Dasa-ratha and seized power . The act of Rama's father Dasa-ratha in making a rash promise to one of his three queens, was not in accordance with Raja-Dhrama. No queen had any right to interfere with the matters of state to promote her own interest. A seeker of a boon has limitations. One may seek all well being for self but cannot seek a grant to harm others. Kaikyee and Kaushalya both were equally wives of the king. Asking the kingdom for one's won son is reasonable wish of any mother but seeking other's son to be sent to the forest for a life term ( of 14 years) was clearly *Adharma*. Asking such a boon is *Adhrama* and granting such a boon too was *Adhrama*. However, Sri Rama ignored all these aspects and devotedly adhered to His *Dharma* which was to fulfill the order of His father without raising any question .

2. Sri Rama as husband with tremendous love to his spouse Sita. Throughout his period in forest after losing Sita, Rama has searched her and see that Ravana who has taken away Sita was killed with the help of his friends and regained her.

3.Sri Rama as Good Disciple of his Gurus Vasishta and Vishvamithra . Risking own life , He with the lone support of Lakshmana fought against the immensely powerful armies of Rakshasas to protect the yagnas and Rishis in Forest.

4. Sri Rama as Good Brother asked his brother Bharatha not to accompany him and take care of the kingdom till he comes back as per the wishes of his father. Rama did His level best to discourage Lakshmana too from following Him and finally agreed only to avoid Lakshmana's suicide .

5. Sri Rama as a good friend helped Sugriva to acquire his kingdom after killing Vali. Before dying, Vali asked Rama as to why he attacked from behind and un-announced when he had no enemity with him and was it not against Kshtriya Dharma. Rama replied " if you answer my question why did you entertain a desire for your brother's wife, who is like a mother to you, you will find my reply in it ". Vali said being Raakshasa the relationships mentioned by Rama were not known much less followed in their society. Rama smiled and said, " If so , the benefits of Kshatriay Dharma too is not applicable to Raakshasas and therefore He has every right to eliminate such a sinful Rakshasa at the first opportunity without giving him any benefits of *Dharma*. ( Had the Indian rulers like Nehru , the so-called followers of Rama-rajya exponent Gandhiji , followed this personal example of Sri Rama, Kashmir trajedy would never have destroyed India.)

6 Sri Rama as a good protector of Dharma has handed over Lanka to Vibhishana who is real successor to Ravana. He has not claimed even an inch of land even through he has killed Ravana in a war.

7 Rama as a king who has to rule the land without any grievance for his people, having heard a complaint from Dhobi who has doubted his morality has conducted the Agnipariksha. Present day, can you expect any minister do such *prayachitha* ( atonement) for any of his immoral and illegal and criminal activities if they are pointed out ordinary resident like "Dhobi of Ramayana"?

Sri Rama is right in His approach to play his role as an ideal man in various capacities as mentioned above.

Please chant :

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama , Hare Hare,

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna , Hare Hare

and , be happy !!!!

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!! !!

Teachings of Lord Caitanya

Lord Caitanya taught this philosophy through the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. He taught that the holy name of the Lord is the sound incarnation of the Lord and that since the Lord is the absolute whole, there is no difference between His holy name and His transcendental form. Thus by chanting the holy name of the Lord one can directly associate with the Supreme Lord by sound vibration.


At His birth, in His childhood and in His early and later boyhood, as well as in His youth, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, under different pleas, induced people to chant the holy name of Hari [the Hare Krsna maha-mantra] .


In His childhood, when the Lord was crying He would stop immediately upon hearing the holy names Krsna and Hari. During His pauganda age He became a serious student and also taught disciples. In this way He used to explain the holy name of Krsna everywhere. When Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a student, He asked whomever He met to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. In this way He inundated the whole town of Navadvipa with the chanting of Hare Krsna.

Just prior to His youthful life, He began the sankirtana movement. Day and night He used to dance in ecstasy with His devotees. The sankirtana movement went on from one part of the town to another, as the Lord wandered everywhere performing kirtana. In this way He inundated the whole world by distributing love of Godhead.

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu lived in the Navadvipa area for twenty-four years, and He induced every person to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and thus merge in love of Krsna. For His remaining twenty-four years, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, after accepting the renounced order of life, stayed at Jagganatha Puri with His devotees. For six of these twenty-four years in Jagganatha Puri He distributed love of Godhead by always chanting and dancing. Beginning from Cape Comorin and extending through Bengal to Vrndavana, during these six years He toured all of India , chanting, dancing and distributing love of Krsna.

The activities of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His travels after He accepted sannyasa are His principal pastimes. His activities during His remaining eighteen years are called the antya-lila, or the final portion of His pastimes. For six of the eighteen years He continuously stayed in Jagganatha Puri, He regularly performed kirtana, inducing all the devotees to love Krsna simply by chanting and dancing. For the remaining twelve years He stayed in Jagganatha Puri, He taught everyone how to taste the transcendental mellow ecstasy of love of Krsna by tasting it Himself.

One may raise the question how all three worlds became inundated with love of Krsna, since Caitanya Mahaprabhu performed kirtana only in the Navadvipa area. The answer is that Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself. The entire cosmic manifestation results from the Lord’s first setting it in motion. Similarly, since the sankirtana movement was first set in motion five hundred years ago by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s desire that it spread all over the universe, the Krsna consciousness movement, in continuity of that same motion, is now spreading all over the world, and in this way it will gradually spread all over the universe. With the spread of the Krsna consciousness movement, everyone will merge in an ocean of love of Krsna. (CC Adi-lila 13:22-38)

O most munificent incarnation! You are Krsna Himself appearing as Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You have assumed the golden color of Srimati Radharani, and You are widely distributing pure love of Krsna. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You. (Rupa Goswami CC Madhya-lila 19.54)


Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare,

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Power of Rama Naam !!!

"A story in Srimad Bhagavata Puranas goes thus—

An elephant named Gajendran was struck in the mouth of a crocodile as it went to drink water. In spite of help from several other elephants, it could not get relieved. It was then that Gajendran remembered about Bhagavan MahaVishnu . Immediately , he called out to Bhagavan who then came down to help.

In Tiruvannamalai lived a Mahatma by name Yogiramsuratkumar. He was then in Tirukkovilur where is located the `Tapovanam' of Swami Gnanananda. River Pennaiyar flows through this town. Next to the river is the Samadhi of another Mahan called Ragottama Swami. It was his Aradhana day and thousands of devotees were gathered there.

A little boy who went to take bath in the Pennaiyar river, got struck in between two huge rocks in the river. The river was flooded and no one could save him. Panicked, people rushed to Swami Gnanananda and surrendered unto him, requesting him to save the boy.

Saying that there was another powerful person carry out that task, Swami Gnanananda summoned Yogiramsuratkumar to save him.

Yogiramsuratkumar went to the banks of the river, and swaying his hand-fan, uttered `Sri Ram, Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram!' and behold! The rock broke into a thousand pieces!

Later, Yogi used to live under a peepul tree in Tiruvannamalai. One night he was sleeping under the tree with other devotees. At about midnight, suddenly Yogi arose saying, `this beggar has an important job' and started walking as others followed him. A mile or two away, there was a large farm land, and in the center was a huge well that irrigated the land. The well did not have walls, and a horse had fallen into it.

We need to save the horse, said Yogi. Looking at the sheer size of the fallen horse, the people around said, `Let us call the fire station'.

Yogi replied, `If you can save the horse, go ahead. Otherwise, leave it to this beggar.'
Puranas say that the elephant Gajendran who was in pain, cried out to Bhagavan Vishnu and Bhagavan arrived from Vaikunta to save it. Now, it was this horse, and no one knew how it cried out, and Yogi was there to save it !

Yogi went around the well twice and then, swaying his hand-fan, chanted, `Om Sri Ram! Jai Ram! Jai Jai Ram!' and then, just as we watch it in a movie, the horse gently jumped out and ran away!

This is not a built-up story! Even today, there are people who have witnessed this event.
People asked Yogi, 'Bhagavan! you are capable of doing such miracles!'

Yogi replied, `No No! This beggar is not capable of doing any miracles. Only Ram Naam is doing miracles!'

In our life we enjoy or suffer depending on our 'paapa' and 'punya'. The imprints of our past deeds (`prarabda') follow us. No one's life is filled with just happiness or just sorrow. Life is a mix of both happiness and sorrow. In such a life, when we encounter misery, instead of wailing, if we cry out the name of Bhagavan Narayana, irrespective of the condition and situation, He comes down to help us.

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

The meaning of Hare Krishna Mantra

This mantra is made up of only three words : 'Hare', Krishna and 'Rama'. 'Krishna' and 'Rama' are the name of Lord Vishnu - one of the mythological God in the trinity of Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. It is said that in every yug (era) Vishnu takes incarnation on earth to establish the law of truth and righteousness.

Ram is the name of the incarnation of Vishnu in the Treta yug ( you must have heard the famous story of Ramayana - the popular Indian epic. Rama is the hero of that epic.

Krishna is the name of the incarnation of Vishnu in the 'Dwaper yug'. He is the central character in the Mahabharata (pronounced approximately as Ma-haa-BHAAR-a-ta ) -the another popular epic of India (which incidentally is the longest epic of the world). Krishna is the most popular God of Hindu religion. The Bhagawad Gita - the highly spiritual and mesmerizing conversation between Krishna and Arjuna( one of the bravest and famous character of Mahabharata ) on the battle ground of Kurukshetra is one of the most popular and respected religious books of World.

Both these words 'Rama' and 'Krishna' have become powerful and effective for the simple reason that for thousand of years millions of Hindus have been praying to God by chanting these two names. The faith, devotion and a pure spiritual feeling with which these two names have been chanted by all these devotees for so many years have made these words electrifying- charged with energy. Just repeating these names can take anyone into meditation quickly.

The word Hare has come from 'Haran' which means to take way or to end. So when one says hare Krishna, he requests the God (the supreme consciousness) to take away his sorrows , his shortcomings, his failures and pains. This Hare Krishna Mantra is actually a little prayer to God for taking away all the sorrows, pains and shortcomings of the chanter and provide him bliss and joy.

"Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare"

Whenever you chant this mantra, always keep its meaning in mind. Chant this mantra with devotion and faith . While repeating his mantra request the God almighty to take away all your sorrows, pains and failures and give you joy and bliss.

It is the experience of many that when one repeat this mantra with full faith and with full awareness of its meaning, his/her whole being gets filled with Krishna Consciousness ( which is a name given to the feeling of bliss and joy one gets in repeating this mantra.)

This mantra is a very easy mantra. You can chant it anytime, anywhere. Give at least 15 minutes per day for this mantra repetition. Sit quietly in a comfortable position. Then either chant it silently or loudly. Repeat it with full awareness of its meaning which is " O lord, take away all my sorrows, pains and shortcomings and give me bliss and joy".

This mantra is a simple and effective meditation technique. Slowly you will start enjoying it as its repetition will give you a sense of calm and bliss.

Meaning of the Mantra

Once someone asked about the meaning of the holy names and Srila Prabhupada said its like a prayer to Krsna saying "Oh Lord please engage me in your devotional service". This is so powerful and if we think of the meaning of these words we may understand that means surrender, means we are thinking of the Lord and not in our own sense gratification, our own material desires and personal needs - we are thinking of how we could improve our service in order to satisfy the Lord, also we are accepting more and more service to His lotus feet.
We sometimes maybe offer to Krsna many prayers but we need to mean them, to really make them with our hearts and engage our senses on that too. Here is a prayer asking for service from the Sri Sanatkumar Samhita:


"O Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, you are like two great oceans of mercy. Please be merciful to me. I take shelter of you. I surrender to you. Please engage me, a sinner and offender, in your service."

Sri Sanatkumar Samhita 5

Chanting is a great service, when we chant we invite Krsna and Radha to our hearts and offer Them our service, our senses, our time, our voice and our love so They can take care of our whole life and engage us like They want to. This means we are surrended and we have complete faith the Lord will be there for us, to protect us any time in any situation we are in and we accept anything They give us. When we achieve this stage of complete faith we may understand our position as eternal servants and advance to pure chanting as our goal of life.

I pray so I can be blessed by the vaisnavas to be able to achieve this level and through strong faith I maybe serve the Lord much better than I do now.


In this material world the conditioned soul is very much distracted from his original all-knowing, all-blissful nature as Krishna's eternal servant because he is carried away by the so-called taste of material sense gratification. This artificial taste is encouraged and exploited by the materialistic propaganda mongers who make a handsome profit by misguiding the people in general promoting cigarettes, liquor, prostitution, meat eating, etc. The foolish sense enjoyer tries to become happy by squeezing as much pleasure as possible out of these things, but because there is no factual pleasure in sense gratification, the poor soul is ultimately left in a state of frustration and bewilderment. If, however, he will reconnect with his original transcendental nature diving deep into his eternal identity as the servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he will taste a pleasure that is unlimitedly sublime and will go on increasing forever.
Chant:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare