Category: Articles

Bhakti Yoga vs Ashtanga Yoga | Types of yoga

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 26, 2020

bhakti ashtanga soul yoga

(The below is adapted from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s ‘Prema Pradipa’ and talks in length about the two Types of Yoga – Bhakti Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga. The following is an excerpt of the enlightening conversation between Sri Premadasa babaji and an Ashtanga Yogi)

yamadaibhir yoga pathaih
kama-lobha hato muhuh
mukunda-sevaya yadvat
tathatmaddha na samyati
(Srimad Bhagavatam, 1.6.35)
–
Though it is true that by exercising restraint of the senses by the yoga system one can get respite from the disturbances of desire and lust, yet this is not sufficient to give satisfaction to the soul, for this is derived from devotional service unto the Supreme Lord.

Citing the above verse, Sri Premadasa Babaji added that Yama, Niyama, asana, Pranayama, pratyahara, dhyana, Dharana, and samadhi constitute the process of Ashtanga Yoga. It is true that by practicing them one achieves peace. However in certain circumstances, the practitioner, being overwhelmed with lust and greed, may indulge himself in relishing some trivial intermediary results. Thus instead of persevering for the ultimate objective of peace, he may fall down and get derailed from his Yogic practice. But in the process of rendering devotional service unto Sri Krishna, there is no chance of receiving any intermediary results. Hence a servant of Lord Krishna, definitely obtains his desired peace.

Pastimes of Chaitanya

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu delivers a dog | Magnanimous Nimai

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 25, 2020

nimai and His puppy

Nimai exhibited His wonderful childhood pastimes along with His mischievous friends. Absorbing Himself in various frivolous games, the Lord spent His days blissfully. One such day, the Lord and His friends stumbled upon a litter of puppies. The Lord picked up one of the pups. His friends protested that Nimai had selected the best-looking pup leaving the rest for everyone else. Nimai replied that the puppy that He had picked up was not only for Himself but instead was for everyone to play with. He continued that He would provide shelter to the puppy in His home.

Tabe Viswambhara kahila uttara, ei shan sabakara
Sabe ek haiya, khelo iha laiya, thakibe amara ghara
(Chaitanya Mangala, Adi, 2.285)
–
Then Viswambhara answered ,”This puppy belongs to everyone. Get together all of you and play with it. The puppy would stay at my home”.

What is Spirituality

Fasting on Ekadasi | How to observe Ekadasi | Ekadasi and Mahaprasada

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 15, 2020

What are the rules for fasting on Ekadasi? How to observe Ekadasi? Can we accept Mahaprasada on an Ekadasi. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu answers all these questions and teaches us by His own example.

(The Following is an excerpt from Srila Jagadananda Pandita’s ‘Sri Prema Vivarta‘)

How to Observe Ekadasi?

One day Lord Gaurahari left the Gundicha temple to sit in the Jagannatha Vallabha gardens. It was the auspicious day of Ekadasi. He spent the whole day and night chanting the holy name of Krishna.
Accompanying the Lord were Swaroop Damodara, Ramananda Raya, Vakreshwar Pandita and other residents of Sri Kshetra (Jagannatha Puri). The Lord instructed them on how to observe Ekadasi. He said, “Avoid sleeping and eating. Chant the holy name of Krishna with an undeviating mind.
Some of you should chant Japa (chant holy name on beads), some of you offer your prostrated obeisances (unto the deities), while some of you recite the glorious pastimes of Krishna and Balarama”. The devotees fell wherever they were and chanted “Govinda! Govinda!”. They were overwhelmed with divine love.
Just at that moment, Gopinatha Acharya, Tulasi Padicha and Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya brought Maha-Prasada from the Gundicha temple. They brought rice, vegetables, pitha (pancakes), panna (lassi), sweet rice, yogurt, curd and placed it before Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
On the Lord’s order, all of them offered their prostrated obeisances and offered prayers unto the Mahaprasada. They passed the entire night, chanting the Lord’s holy name and being overwhelmed with divine love.
Placing the Lord’s instructions on their heads, after having completed their morning bath, the devotees broke their ekadasi fast by honoring (eating) the Mahaprasada. With blissful hearts and folded hands, the devotees then made the following appeal at the feet of the Lord (Chaitanya Mahaprabhu).

Hare Krishna Mahamantra

Glories of Hare Krishna Maha Mantra | Fearlessness, Liberation and more

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 14, 2020

Glories of Hare Krishna Maha Mantra – An excerpt from Srila Jagadananda Pandita’s ‘Sri Prema Vivarta‘

Why chant Hare Krishna? What are the Glories of Hare Krishna Maha Mantra? – Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu quotes from the scriptures to explain the glories of chanting the Holy name of Krishna.

Glories of chanting Hare Krishna

Diseases, Anxieties & Calamities

The Fear of terrible diseases or the fear of being punished by the King is driven away by chanting the Holy Name of Narayana.

mahavyadhi-samach-chhanno
raja-vadhopapiditah
narayaneti sankirtya
niratanko bhaven narah
(Vahni Purana)
–
Living beings who are troubled with terrible diseases or oppressed by kings grow fearless by chanting the Holy Name of Narayana.

All kinds of diseases, sufferings, along with troubles and calamities are destroyed by chanting the Holy Name of Lord Hari.

sarva-roga-upasamanam sarvopadrava-nasanam
santidam sarva aristanam harer nama anukirtanam
(Brhad Vishnu Purana)
–
Chanting the Holy Name of the Supreme Lord Hari heals all diseases, ends all troubles and subdues all disasters.

Glories of chanting Hare Krishna

Just as the mighty wind scatters the clouds, and the rising sun certainly dissipates the darkness – similarly the Holy Name of the Lord drives away the calamities that torment the living beings on the strength of its potency. These are the words of Vyasadeva.

sankirtyamano bhagavan anantah
srutanubhavo vyasanam hi pumsam
pravisya cittam vidhunoty asesam
yatha tamo ’rko ’bhram ivati vatah
(Srimad Bhagavatm, 12.12.48)
–
When a living entity chants about the Infinite Supreme Personality of Godhead, or hears about His prowess, the Lord enters their hearts and cleanses away their misfortunes, just as the sun dispels the darkness or as a powerful wind scatters the clouds.

Pastimes of Chaitanya

Jagannatha Misra’s Disappearance | One who reads this achieves Vaikuntha

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 12, 2020

The pastime of Sri Jagannatha Misra’s disappearance is very painful for the Gaudiya Vaishnavas. Though both the appearance and the disappearance of a Vaishnava is considered to be auspicious, yet the apparent misery of our beloved Gauranga and Mother Saci are very difficult to overlook. It is exactly for this reason that not much is written about it in Sri Chaitanya Bhagavata, where Sri Vrindavana das Thakura mentions –

Dukha bada – e shakala vistara karite
Dukkha haya – ataeb kahiluun sankhepe
(Chaitanya Bhagavata , Adi, 8.112)
–
It is very painful for me to describe all of this in detail. It hurts a lot and hence I am describing it in brief.

Hare Krishna Mahamantra

Chanting the holy name of Krishna – Insights from Vedic scriptures | Ultimate cure to all material problems

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 9, 2020

(The following is an excerpt from Srila Jagadananda Pandita’s ‘Prema Vivarta‘)

The Glories of the holy name of Krishna are endless

One day at the house of Kasi Mishra, a devotee named Krishnadasa revealed some of his personal feelings to Lord Chaitanya.
He said, ‘If I am allowed to ask, please enlighten me about the glories of the holy name of Lord Krishna, the depths of which even the likes of Brahma and Shiva cannot comprehend’.

Lord Chaitanya replied, ‘The Glories of the holy name of Krishna are endless. Even Lord Krishna does not know the limits of it. So what to speak of an ordinary living entity?
I can tell you whatever I have heard from the scriptures. Listen with faith, and you shall be delivered from this material world.
The Holy Name of Krishna eradicates all sins, heals all diseases, relieves one of all miseries, and eliminates obstacles posed by Kali Yuga.
The Holy Name of Krishna even delivers the residents of Hell and nullifies reactions to all kinds of sins and offenses.
The accomplishment of all pious activities is simply a pastime of the Holy Name.
The Sun-like Holy Name shines more radiantly than the Vedic scriptures.
All the Vedic scriptures declare that chanting the Holy Name of the Lord is superior to visiting the Holy places or performing any pious activity.
The Holy Name of the Supreme Lord is the bestower of the ultimate desire (of liberation). It is all-powerful and blesses the world with joy. Such is its wonderful nature.
One who chants the holy Name becomes worshipable to the entire world. The Holy Name is the shelter of the hopeless and the redeemer of the fallen.
The Holy Name of the Supreme Lord is worshipable at all places and always. It bestows all kinds of liberation, entrance unto Vaikuntha (Spiritual world) and love of Sri Hari, the Supreme Lord.
The Sruti and the Smriti scriptures contain numerous proofs that Chanting the Holy Name of the Supreme Lord is the sole purpose of human life and the principal means of attaining devotion (bhakti)’.

Glorifications of Sri Chaitanya Pastimes of Chaitanya

Sri Jagadananda Pandita & Lord Chaitanya | Navadvipa Pastimes | Sri Prema Vivarta

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 9, 2020

(The Following is an excerpt from Srila Jagadananda Pandita’s ‘Sri Prema Vivarta‘)

(Srila Jagadananda Pandita remembers)

aha se chaitanya pada bhajanera sampada
kotha ebe gelo ama chhadi
amake feliya gela mrityu mor na haila
shoke ami yai gadagadi
(Sri Prema Vivarta, 2.17)
–
O! the feet of Lord Chaitanya are the wealth of one’s devotion. Where have they gone now abandoning me? They have left me alone; and yet I continue to live. I roll about in the ground suffering this intense agony of separation.

Once in my childhood, I quarreled at school and fought with Sri Chaitanya. After this, I became filled with sadness and cried day and night, sitting on the bank of the Ganges at Mayapur.
Feeling compassionate, the Lord came to me before dawn along with Gadadhara Pandita, and called out, ‘Jagadananda! Such anger is not good at all. Give up your stubbornness and speak to Me’.
Seeing the Lord’s face my anger melted away and I asked, ‘Why have you come here so late at night? It must have caused You great pain to walk upon the hard roads of Nadia. Have You undertaken this difficulty just for my sake ?’
The Lord said, ‘Let’s go! The night has ended. Go to your house and eat. Understanding your sadness, even I had been fasting till now. I had left my bed and slept on the floor.
At that time Gadadhara came to my house and we together came here searching for you. It is good that you have abandoned your anger. Now go to your house and tomorrow we can joyfully play together’.
Holding onto the feet of Gadadhara, I slowly raised myself. I could not disobey the orders of Lord Chaitanya. Thereafter, I went to the Lord’s house. There I ate something and drank some water and laid down to rest for a few hours.
In the morning, mother Saci and Jagannatha Misra fed me milk and rice and sent me to school with the Lord. After returning from school, the Lord came over to my house and we ate together.
Love after a quarrel is like pure gold. I felt so blissful in my heart. The Lord said, ‘It is because of our love for each other that we get angry with each other. Each quarrel strengthens our love for each other’.

Pastimes of Chaitanya

Little Nimai craves for the moon | Pastimes with Saci Mata

Post author By gaudiya
Post date May 6, 2020

One auspicious evening, after employing her servants in their evening chores, Saci Mata carried little Gaurahari out to the courtyard. It was a full moon night and an ascending moon was on the rise. At this time, little Viswambhara, very consciously and cleverly cried out “Mother! Mother!”. Saci Mata urged Him to quit His crying during the evening and assured she would give Him whatever He wants.

Saci bole – sandhyakale na kara krandana
Yaha chaho taha diba- sunaha vacana
(Chaitanya Mangala, Adi, 2.266)

Little Nimai replied, ”Please pluck the moon out of the sky and give it to Me”. Saci Mata laughed at His reply and joked at how stupid her son was. “Can anyone get the moon from the sky?”, she said. Nimai challenged, “Then why did you say that you shall give me whatever I ask for? That is why I had my hearts set on having the moon”.

moon

Saying this, He began to cry aloud. Holding the end of His mother’s saree, and rubbing His eyes with His other hand, He began beating the dirt with His feet. Holding His mother’s neck, Lord Gaura Raya kept crying and demanding the moon, with which He craved to play. At times, He rolled over the dirty soil, hit His own face and at times He pulled Saci Mata’s hair. Noticing this Saci Mata turned astonished and remarked, “O stupid boy! Your nature is so strange”.

Glorifications of Sri Chaitanya

Eagerness to see Lord Gauranga | Love in separation | Sri Prema Vivarta

Post author By gaudiya
Post date April 29, 2020

(The following is an excerpt from Srila Jagadananda Pandita’s ‘Sri Prema Vivarta’)

Srila Jagadananda Pandita writes –

O Gauranga! Leaving the shelter of Your feet, I am traveling to Sri Vrindavana. Considering that I would be able to see Your previous pastimes, I wished to go there.
Now I repent having thought like that. Not seeing You, my life has grown unendurable. I do not know what to do now.
Your reddish feet are the precious wealth of my life. Alas! I have deserted them on the sands by the sea-shore (in Jagannatha Puri). What have I come here to see? I have foolishly indulged my mind and now my bird-like heart is eager to fly away.
The More I walk, the more my mind refuses to accompany me. Yet I proceed stubbornly. The Transformations of love make me dance like a puppet. Being thoroughly perplexed, I feel like a lifeless man.

What is Spirituality

Meaning of Divine Love (Prema) & its symptoms

Post author By gaudiya
Post date April 28, 2020

(The below is an excerpt from Srila Jagadananda Pandita’s ‘Sri Prema Vivarta‘ that explains the meaning of divine love and its exalted characteristics)

Enquiries of Sri Raghunatha Das Goswami

One day Sri Raghunatha asked Swaroop Damodara,” What is Divine Love? Please give me a general perception of it. I cannot comprehend the ecstatic divine love described by Vidyapati and Chandidasa.
Their words externally come across as nothing more than the ordinary love between a man and a woman.
Why is that love recognized as being spiritual? And why do they refer to this mundane lust as divine?
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu continually sings their songs with you, but I do not comprehend them.
The Lord has entrusted me in your hands and instructed you,’ Teach him (Raghunatha) the precious confidential truths’ “.