Om Jai Jagdish Hare ( Golden voice of Lata Mangeshkar )(must listen)

SLOKA TO DAY.WWW.TIRUMALA.ORG

Thanks www.Tirumala.org

SRAVANA POURNAMI SRINIVASA KALYANA MAHOTSAVAM

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SEPARATELY POSTED

heart stealing lamp.Photo credit envy

Please observe the Lamp keenly ( u may Zoom and see).It is wonderful,heart stealing.Caved in my camera on 24/8/1o during sanskrit day function in Iskon.Bangalore. Chief Guest HE gov of Karnataka.Shri H.R .Bharadwaj.
India is full of such wonders/rituals/articles/lamps/fashions/heritages.Look for more in next postings

Shri Gayatri Hridayam - Essential Evening Chants - Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma

Shri Gayatri Chalisa - Essential Morning Chants - Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma

ghanta Mani in Temples.Rare in New Temples.

in Newly Built temples,u Cannot see Big Bens(ghanta Mani,like one above.The author clicked from that of Lord Anjaneya Temple in Arikere.Bangalore.The sound
from such Ghanta Mani is a feast to your ear,will cure your inner throu Ears.

VARA LAKSHMI VRATHA IN KARNATAKA.PHOTO CREDIT RAMYAKANNAN

JUST 16 MONTHS OLD achuyut,learing one of the CHOTACHA UPASHAR to lord.ie waving New cloth to Goddess varalakshmi after the KARPOORA ARATHI.THE Festival on 20/8/10.A

sweet name.Sweet Passion

ANY NUMBER OF pages,one can write about Sikhism,Gurudwara,and Guidance of Sikh gurus.
This author is the ardent devotee of Gurdwaras,and in fact I have seen the historic one like "Nanded" etc.
The visit of gurudwara,does not end,but with Guru ka Lanker.They have passion in serving the Prashad,Whenever they serve the itmes,they add the word prashad.For exaple Roti is called Roti Prashad.Dal as dalprashad,keerprashad.
The passionate resembles the "krisna culture" wherein many believe,before u take any food,the same should be offered to Lord Krishana and than the offering should be Christened as "krisna Prasad" I try to follow,both.A real value addition

krishna,s cup for Butter.(exclusive)

Lord Krisna and his Childhood habits,like consuming milk,curd,eating Butter,in the company of "yadavs" is part of India and every Indian is proud of "GOD" Balkisna.

You must have heard many stories coming round in Poems,Satsangs etc pertaining to the above habits.

It is recorded in a poem that Lord consumed milk directly from Cow.When eating Butter,he made the leaves of FICUS KRISHNA*( FAMILY MORACEAE) .

THIS Tree can be viewed in Krishi Vigyan Kendra ( govt Agrl college; Hebbal Bangalore,duly highlighting the nature of the leaves of FICUS KRISHNA.

kamika Ekadasi.haarr krisna haare Rama(thanks vaisnava calender

Kamika Ekadasi

KAmikA EkAdasii - from BrahmA Vaivarta PurANa:

The saintly king Yudhisthira maharaj said, “Oh Supreme Lord, I have heard from You the glories of fasting on Deva-sayani EkAdasii, which occurs during the light fortnight of the month of AshADha. Now I would like to hear from You the glories of the EkAdasii that occurs during the dark fortnight (krishna paksha) of the month of ShrAvaNa (July –August). Oh Govindadeva, please be merciful to me and explain its glories. Oh Supreme VAsudeva, I offer my most humble obeisances unto You.”

The Supreme Lord, Shri Krishna, replied, “Oh King, please listen attentively as I describe the auspicious influence of this Holy fast (vrata) day, which removes all sins. Narada Muni once asked Lord BrahmA about this same topic. ‘Oh regent of all beings,’ said NAradji, ‘Oh you who sit upon a water born lotus throne, please tell me the names of the EkAdasii that occurs during the dark fortnight of the sacred month of ShrAvaNa. Please also tell me which Deity is to be worshipped on that Holy day, the process one must follow to observe it, and the merit it awards.’

“Lord BrahmA replied, ‘My dear son Narada, for the benefit of all humanity I shall happily tell you everything you wish to know, for just hearing the glories of the KAmikA EkAdasii bestows merit equal to that obtained by one who performs a horse sacrifice. Certainly, great merit is attained by one who worships, and who also meditates on the lotus feet of the four-armed Lord GadAdhara, who holds conchshell, disc, club and lotus in His hands and who is also known as Shridhara, Hari, Vishnu, Madhava, and MadhusUdana. And the blessings achieved by such a person / devotee, who worships Lord Vishnu exclusively are far greater than those achieved by one who takes a sacred bath in the Ganges at KAshi (VarANasii), in the forest of NaimishAraNya, or at Pushkara, which is the only place on the planet where I am formally worshipped. But one who observes this KAmikA EkAdasii and also worships Lord Shri Krishna achieves greater merit than one who has darshana of Lord KedAranAtha in the HimAlayas, or one who bathes at Kurukshetra during a solar eclipse, or one who donates the whole Earth in charity, including its forests and oceans, or one who bathes in the GaNDaki River (where the sacred Shaligrams are found) or the GodAvari River on a full moon (purnima) day that falls on a Monday when Leo (Simha) and Jupiter (Guru) are conjoined (conjunct).

“ ’Observing KAmikA EkAdasii bestows the same merit as donating a milk-cow and her auspicious calf, along with their feed. On this all auspicious day, whosoever worships Lord Sri Shridhara-deva, Vishnu, is glorified by all the devas, Gandharvas, Pannagas, and NAgas.

“ ‘Those who are afraid of their past sins and completely immersed in sinful materialistic life should at least observe this best of EkAdasiis according to their ability and thus attain liberation. This EkAdasii is the purest of all days and the most powerful for removing sins of the native. Oh Narada ji, Lord Shri Hari Himself once said about this EkAdasii, “One who fasts on KAmikA EkAdasii attains much more merit than one who studies all the spiritual literatures.”

“ ‘Anyone who fasts on this particular day remains awake throughout the night will never experience the anger of YamarAja, the king of death personified. It has been seen that whoever observes KAmikA EkAdasii will not have to suffer future births, and in the past too, many Yogis of devotion who fasted on this day went to the spiritual world. One should therefore follow in their auspicious footsteps and strictly observe a fast on this most auspicious of EkAdasiis.

“ ‘Whosoever worships Lord Shri Hari with Tulasi leaves is freed from all implication of sin. Indeed, he lives untouched by sin, as the lotus leaf, although in the water, is untouched by it. Whosoever offers Lord Shri Hari but a single leaf from the sacred Tulasi tree (occillium basilcum sanctum) attains as much merit as one who gives away in charity two hundred grams of gold and eight hundred grams of silver. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is more pleased by one who offers Him a single Tulasi leaf than by one who worships Him with pearls, rubies, topaz, diamonds, lapis lazuli, sapphires, gomedA stones (gomaz), cat’s eye gems, and coral. One who offers Lord Keshava newly grown maNjari buds from the Tulasi plant gets rid of all the sins he has committed during this or any other lifetime. Indeed, mere darshana of Tulasi on KAmikA EkAdasii removes all sins, and merely touching her and praying to her removes all kinds of disease. One who waters Tulasi devi need never fear the Lord of death, YamarAja. One who plants or transplants Tulasi on this days will eventually reside with Lord Shri Krishna in His own abode. To Srimati Tulasi devi, who awards liberation in devotional service, one should therefore daily offer one’s full obeisances.

“ ‘Even Chitragupta, YamarAja’s secretary, cannot calculate the merit obtained by one who offers Shrimati Tulasi-devi a perpetually burning ghee lamp. So dear is this sacred EkAdasii to the Supreme Personality of Godhead that all the forefathers of one who offers a bright ghee lamp to Lord Shri Krishna on this day ascend to the heavenly planets and drink the celestial nectar there. Whoever offers a ghee or sesame oil lamp to Shri Krishna on this day is freed from all his sins and enters the abode of Surya, the Sun-god, with a body as bright as ten million lamps. This EkAdasii is so powerful that if one who is unable to fast simply follows the practices as mentioned herein, s/he is elevated to the heavenly planets, along with all their forefathers.

“ ‘Oh Maharaj Yudhisthira,” Lord Shri Krishna concluded, “…these were the words of prajapathi BrahmA to his son Narada Muni concerning the incalculable glories of this KAmikA EkAdasii, which removes all sins. This sacred day nullifies even the sin of killing a brAhmaNa or the sin of killing an unborn child in the womb, and it promotes one to the spiritual world by making one supremely meritorious.
One who kills the innocent, i.e., a brahmin (brAhmaNa), a child in the womb, a pious and spotless woman, etc., and then later hears about the glories of KAmikA EkAdasii will be relieved of the reaction to one’s sins. However, one should NOT think beforehand that one can kill a Brahmin or other innocent folk and then go unpunished simply by hearing of this EkAdasii. Such knowing commission of sin is an abomination.

Whosoever hears these glories of the KAmikA EkAdasii with faith becomes free of all sins and returns home, back to Godhead – Vishnu-loka, Vaikuntha.

Thus ends the narration of the glories of the ShrAvaNa-kRshNa EkAdasii, or KAmikA EkAdasii,
from the Brahma-Vaivarta PurANa.

These stories have been summarised and slightly changed or abbreviated from how they are found in the celebrated book, "Ekadasi: The Day of Lord Hari" 1986. HH Krishna Balaram Swami. Bhaktivedanta Institute Press, Pages 105-107.

Note:: Special thanks to Jaya Tirtha Caran prabhu from NZ for allowing us to use some of the content from his site to compile these pages.

THANKS.PRANAMS ETC VAISHNAVA CALENDER.

Sri Lokanatha Goswami

I worship Sri Lokanatha Prabhu, the son of Sri Padmanabha, who possessed great wealth of devotion to Sri Sri Radha-vinoda, and always engaged in Their service.

Srila Loknatha Gosvami was born in the village of Talkhari, within the district of Jessore, Bangladesh, as the son of Sri Padmanabha Bhattacarya and his wife, Sri Sita devi. Talkhari can be reached from Sonakhali and Khejura.

Sri Padmanabha Bhattacarya was a devoted follower of Sri Adwaita Acarya, who was very fond of Sri Padmanabha. The younger brother of Lokanatha was Pragalbha Bhattacarya. His descendants are still residing at Talkhari.

From his childhood Lokanath was disinterested in worldly affairs. He decided to leave his home and came to Navadwip to have darshan of Mahaprabhu. Sri Gaursundara very lovingly embraced Lokanath and instructed him to go to Vrindavana as soon as possible. Lokanath could understand that Mahaprabhu would renounce His family life within a few days and he was aggrieved at this. Mahaprabhu consoled him and told him that they would meet again in Vrindavana.

"With tears flowing from his eyes Lokanath offered his obeisances to Mahaprabhu. The all-omniscient Lord lovingly embraced him and after explaining some hidden truths to him, He instructed him to go to Vrindavana. Thus Lokanatha, after surrendering his self at the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu, set out for Vrindavana. [B. R. 1st Taranga]

Lokanatha never returned home. Being afflicted greatly by separation from the Lord, he set out to tour the holy places, and then finally came to Vrindavana.

Meanwhile Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted sannyasa and then came to Nilacala. After some time, when Mahaprabhu set out on His tour of South India, Lokanatha, having received this news also journeyed to the south. Then Mahaprabhu came to Vrindavana; Lokanatha followed Him there. But by the time he reached Vraja­bhumi, Mahaprabhu had already left for Prayaga. Lokanatha was extremely sad. Again having missed darshan of his Prabhu, He decided to leave the next morning for Prayaga.

In a dream however, Prabhu came to console Lokanatha and requested him to stay at Vrindavana. Thus Lokanatha remained at Vrajadhama, not wanting to neglect the order of Mahaprabhu. He stayed alone, his presence unknown to anyone. But after some days he met the dear disciples of Mahaprabhu - Sri Rupa, Sri Sanatana, Sri Gopal Bhatta, Sri Bhugarbha, and others. They were all very affectionate to one another and it was as though they were of one mind.

Amongst the Goswamis, Lokanatha was the eldest. He was always intensely absorbed in loving ecstatic mellows. In Hari bhakti vilasa we find this verse: "I worship Srimate Kasisvara, Srimate Lokanath and Srimad Krsna das Kaviraj, who have taken shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Govinda and who are very dear to Sri Vrindavana."

Lokanatha Goswami used to visit the many places of Krsna's pastimes within Vrajadhama and in this way he was always absorbed in intense ecstasy. Lokanath came to the banks of Kisori-kunda within the village of Umrao, by the side of Chatrabon, and remained there for a few days. Lokanatha wanted very much to be able to worship the Deity form of the Lord, and Sri Krsna, who is within the heart of everyone, thus presented a Deity form of Himself to Lokanatha to worship. This Deity's name is Radha-Vinoda. Having received this Deity, Lokanath looked up to see who had brought Him, but seeing no one present he began to reflect on the mystery of His appearance.

Seeing Lokanatha deep in thought, Radha-Vinoda laughed, "Who would have brought Me here! I have come Myself! I live here on the banks of Kisori kunda and this is My village - Umrao. Now please give me some thing to eat."

Lokanatha was beside himself with bliss and being immersed in that ecstasy, he prepared some foodstuffs and offered them to Radha-Vinoda. Then he made a bed of flowers and made the Deity lie down to take rest. He fanned the Deity with some leaves and meditated on massaging the lotus feet of his Lord. Having surrendered his body, mind and very life itself, he was totally absorbed as though drinking a flow of honey-like nectar.

Lokanatha Goswami had no permanent abode. Some Vrajavasi villagers wanted to build a little hut for him but he wouldn't agree. He made a bag for Radha-Vinoda which he kept around his neck. Radha-Vinoda was as though a rare gem suspended on a necklace round the neck of Lokanatha. His activities represented the crest jewel of asceticism and the other Goswamis managed to keep him in their company only by great endeavour.

It is very difficult to describe the character of Lokanatha Goswami, who was so dear to Mahaprabhu. When Mahaprabhu and some of the other Goswamis began their pastimes of disappearance, Lokanatha maintained his life only due to the desire of Mahaprabhu. Sri Lokanatha Goswami initiated Narottama dasa Thakur Mahasaya in the divine mantra. There is no mention anywhere of any other disciple of his. It is not possible to describe the care with which Narottama Thakura served his guru. In the early morning he would clean the place where his guru passed stool and urine.

Lokanatha Goswami, having become quite advanced in years, entered into his eternal pastimes, while residing at Khadir bon (Khoyra gram). There is a large lake there called Sri Yugal kunda on the banks of which his samadhi has been established. His worshipable Deities Sri Sri Radha-Vinoda are at present being worshiped in Jaipur, Rajasthan. His puspa samadhi is within the courtyard of Sri Gokulananda Mandira.

It is said that Srila Krsna das Kaviraja Goswami approached Lokanatha Goswami for his blessings and any information that he might be able to supply in order that he might satisfactorily compose Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. At that time, Lokanatha forbade Kaviraj Goswami to mention his name or describe anything about him. In order to honor the request of this great Vaisnava, he therefore didn't write anything about him. His disappearance is on the eighth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Sravan.

Sri Narottama dasa Thakur Mahasaya has prayed at the lotus feet of his guru as follows: "Oh My Lord, Lokanatha! Please keep me at your feet, and if it pleases you, please let your glance of mercy fall upon me. I have a great longing that my mind's desires might be fulfilled. Wherever one gets the association of Lord Caitanya, there also he gets the association of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. If you are not merciful to me, then who will be? This time, please fulfill my mind's desires. In the three worlds I have no one other than you. Please keep me near your lotus feet, where I might hear, day and night, your songs describing the lila of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. Without you, the desire of Narottama cannot be fulfilled."

Note: Special thanks to Jaya Tirtha Caran prabhu from NZ for allowing us to use some of the content from his site to compile these pages.