tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37603109555931655602024-03-13T14:52:53.309-04:00PRATYAGATIThe Journey HomeSyamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-7873922769938842442011-05-01T13:36:00.008-04:002011-05-01T13:54:25.878-04:00The Flute and the Holy Name<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-18TeXzJ7Fe0/Tb2bS1UCtMI/AAAAAAAAB_g/IzVoHUEdH2o/s1600/25967_375984165090_591060090_5222249_3458097_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601804259369858242" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-18TeXzJ7Fe0/Tb2bS1UCtMI/AAAAAAAAB_g/IzVoHUEdH2o/s400/25967_375984165090_591060090_5222249_3458097_n.jpg" /></a><em></em><br /><em></em><br /><em>"</em> <em>The vibration of His flute is just like a bird that creates a nest within the ears of the gopis, and always remains prominent there, not allowing any other sound to enter their ears. Indeed the gopis cannot hear anything else , nor are they able to concentrate on anything else, not even to give a suitable reply. Such are the effects of Lord Krsna's flute."</em><br />~ Lord Caitanya to Sanatana Goswami<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c7HrsZMTaME/Tb2bL6_LRGI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/UFUSjTq1l_Q/s1600/krishna-FLUTE.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 342px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 360px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601804140633867362" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c7HrsZMTaME/Tb2bL6_LRGI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/UFUSjTq1l_Q/s400/krishna-FLUTE.jpg" /></a> The vibration of Krsna's flute is always prominent in the ears of the gopis. Naturally they cannot hear anything else. Constant remembrance of the holy sound of Krsna's flute keeps them enlightened and enlivened, and they do not allow any other sound to enter their ears. </div><br /><div>Since their attention is fixed on Krsna's flute, they cannot divert their minds on any other subject. The vibration of Krsna's flute is represented by the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. </div><br /><div>A serious devotee of the Lord who chants and hears this transcendental vibration becomes so accustomed to it that he cannot divert his attention to any subject matter not related to Krsna's blissful characteristics and paraphenalia.</div><br /><div>~ <em>Purport to CC Madhya Lila, 21.144</em></div><br /><div></div>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-36288185069564582872011-04-14T15:22:00.003-04:002011-04-14T15:27:19.688-04:00The Magical Flute<iframe height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6vDMqpYv77I?fs=1" frameborder="0" width="425" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Whenever I hear great artists like Hariprasad Chaurasia or Kudamaloor Janardanan play the flute, I am captivated by the rich timbre of its sound and the lilting sweetness of the ragas played. And my mind is always swept to the same thought.... If a mere mortal can create such an exquisite sound, what must it sound like when, to His sweet lips, Krsna places His bamboo flute?? It made me think of a poem I recently came across, in a book entitled "White whispers: Selected poems of Salabega", Salabega being a 17th century Oriyan poet and Vaisnava. Despite being born to a Muslim father, he was utterly and completely devoted to Lord Jaganath, who is none other than Krsna Himself. His poem is titled, 'Who Plays on the Magical Flute?' That is what is must be like when Krsna plays His flute...magical! <br /><div align="center"><em>Who is it on the magical flute</em> </div><br /><div align="center"><em>from beneath the kadamba tree?</em> </div><br /><div align="center"><em>Blowing it, He stole away</em> </div><br /><div align="center"><em>my heart's glittering gold.</em> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em><em>Listening to its mellowed song</em> </div><br /><div align="center"><em>rocks melt away, withered twigs</em> </div><br /><div align="center"><em>merrily dance with new foliage.</em> </div><br /><div align="center"><em>And listening to it my eyes do away with sleep.</em> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em><em>Listening to its sorcerous songs</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>the mild Yamuna goes wild, </em></div><br /><div align="center"><em>and her multicoloured trouts</em> </div><br /><div align="center"><em>wince on the bank's unkind bosom.</em> </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><em></em><em>Will there be no meeting</em> </div><br /><div align="center"><em>of my Lord with His hearts priceless gem?</em> </div><br /><div align="center"><em>Thus prays Salabega,</em> </div><br /><div align="center"><em>the down-trodden, the lowborn.</em></div>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-2969367529341965012011-01-01T13:55:00.004-05:002011-01-01T15:42:43.930-05:00Happy Hopeful New Year!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/TR95fC9EFFI/AAAAAAAAB98/DiqSJx2xmYY/s1600/sacinandana%2Bswami.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/TR95fC9EFFI/AAAAAAAAB98/DiqSJx2xmYY/s400/sacinandana%2Bswami.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557294039474377810" border="0" /></a><br />Happy New Year!<br />As 2009 turned into 2010 last year, my life had been irreversibly altered. I held a tiny 12 day old baby in my arms. All the time and energy I devoted to myself turned into energy I devoted, almost completely, to her.<br />And now, as 2010 turned into 2011, I have a little toddler - energetic and untiring in her endeavours to learn everything she can as she explores the world in she lives. Combine that with being in school, trying to complete my BCom degree, and be a devotee...well, I've felt myself spread a little thin.<br />Most of my time and energy is devoted to my daughter - and that is a service I am so, so happy to have; the chance to bring up a little Vaisnavi and teach her everything I can about Krsna, and being a vaisnava (although, as it happens,<span style="font-style: italic;"> she</span> is the one who teaches me a whole lot of things on that topic!)<br />But my spiritual life has taken a back seat and for the longest time I have felt disconnected from Krsna. I know that it comes with the territory of being a new mom - but it's disheartening nonetheless.<br /><br />And so as 2010 neared it's end, I read the wonderful resolutions of friends around the world on Facebook - resolutions designed to increase their devotion, to live more Krsna-conscious lives and to give Krsna to as many people as they could - I admired, and admittedly, envied them. Where was my resolution that would bring me closer to Krsna? I didn't even feel motivated to make a resoultion! Instead, I felt...hopeless. When you feel disconnected and unmotivated for long enough, well, you tend to give up a little - you start to feel like maybe Krsna is beyond your reach and may have actually forgotten about you.<br />I've felt so scattered over the past year - moving from Canada to South Africa, spending some time in New York, back to SA and finally returning to Canada a few weeks ago; combine that with caring for a baby, spending as much time as I can with my family and studying for exams and the result: My relationship with Krsna had begun to feel a little superficial and habitual.<br /><br />And then this morning, I came across this wonderful e-mail written by HH Sacinandana Swami. It is truly a message of hope:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">With More Strength than a Million Suns ....</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">A New Year's Message of Hope</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Night is falling quickly this winter evening, and it is snowing again. I am</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> sitting in our little Gaura Bhavan Ashram, on the shore of Lake Wannensee,</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">and thinking about each of you whom I met during the past year. I want to</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">send you a message of hope - realistic hope.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Throughout my pilgrimage to Vrindavan, India, a sweet realization entered my</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">awareness again and again. That is, Krishna is unlimitedly merciful. We</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">simply need to be willing to accept His mercy and turn to Him.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The problem is, though, that often His mercy is not easy for us to</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">recognize, and that's especially true when we're overburdened by challenging</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">life situations or plain, old doubts. I learned something about doubt on</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">this trip to India, because while sitting under a tree at Govinda-kunda I</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">met one practitioner of bhakti who expressed his doubt to me. He said, "I</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">have been practicing bhakti-yoga now for more than ten years, but I cannot</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">even control my agitated and self-centered mind what to speak of develop</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">love for Krishna. There seems to be obstacles on my path as tall as the</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Himalayan Mountains, and both the darkness of material consciousness and the</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">general atmosphere of Kali-yuga are overwhelming. On some days I feel </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">hopeless."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fortunately, I was well equipped to answer his doubt since just that morning</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">I found a message of hope in the eighteenth chapter (text 56) of the </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bhagavad-gita. There Krishna says, "Under My protection My devotee reaches</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My eternal abode."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport to this verse: "To a devotee who is</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">engaged in Krishna consciousness, the Lord is very, very kind. In spite of</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">all difficulties, he is eventually placed in the transcendental abode, or</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Krishnaloka."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And two verses later, Krishna emphatically declares: "If you become</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">conscious of Me, you will pass over all obstacles of conditioned life by My</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">grace."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note: It is not by our own strength that we can conquer the darkness</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">that surrounds us but by the strength of Krishna, which is more powerful</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">than the power of one million suns.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Coming to the Turning Point</span><br /><br /><span style="cursor: pointer; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; font-weight: bold;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1293908063_0">Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> expresses the same point in this famous</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">verse from the Chaitanya-charitamrita, (Madhya-lila 22.33): "One is</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">immediately freed from the clutches of maya if he seriously and sincerely</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">says, 'My </span><span style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1293908063_1">dear Lord Krishna</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">, although I have forgotten You for so many long</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">years in the material world, today I am surrendering unto You. I am Your</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">sincere and serious servant. Please engage me in Your service.'"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">So it seems the only requirement for being accepted and protected by Krishna</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">is that one comes to the turning point and sincerely surrenders to Krishna,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">renouncing all other shelters.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Someone who has found Krishna's shelter is not inconvenienced by adverse</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">circumstances. The Sanskrit word ashraya, or shelter, comes from the root</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">word sri, which means "to be brilliant and dazzling." For a devotee who</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">surrenders to Krishna's direction the cloud of anxiety enveloping an</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">unsurrendered soul lifts, and he begins to shine with Krishna conscious</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">happiness. Krishna has personally fortified and empowered such a devotee</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">with His own spiritual energy - more brilliant than the sun. Srila</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Prabhupada writes: "The foolish cannot understand this great freedom from</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">anxiety."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Another feature in the life of a devotee who has given himself into</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Krishna's hands is that he is not so easily exhausted. When I visited Srila</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prabhupada in 1974 in his room in Germany, he gave me several personal</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">instructions, one of which was to become a water-carrier. I used to wonder</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">exactly what he meant by that until one day I came upon an old well in</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Serbia and watched how it served many people. I remembered my spiritual</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">master's instruction and then wrote this small poem:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Never Exhausted</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">An old well gave water to all -</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the young, the old, the happy, the sad -</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">every day without hesitation or delay.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">When I first came to him thirsty, I was amazed:</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Did giving water again and again</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">not exhaust him?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">So I decided to ask.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">"No problem," he said, "I am only the well,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">not the spring, which supplies me</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">as long as the connection is there."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Let's live like the well -</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">live in the higher connection.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">You will be happy to pass on</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">what the source gives you,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">never to be exhausted.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why am I writing this? Simply to encourage you. There is good reason to be</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">hopeful. Krishna is very, very kind to and supportive of His devotees. He</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">waits patiently for them to turn to Him, and then He responds immediately.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Often He Himself takes the first step toward them. "He is so kind, so very</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">kind," as Srila Prabhupada used to say.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">We have only to accept that Krishna's kindness follows His own mind and not</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">always our expectations. This means He gives us exactly what we need at any</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">given time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">So now my question these days is, How can I live in relationship with Him?</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">As I ponder this question I look out at the winter night. The stars blink in</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">the distance. Is the Lord as far away as those stars or is He closer? How</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">can I connect with Him?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">During the last year I learned some things that help me make that</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">connection. I'd like to share them with you:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Become aware that Krishna is the goal of your life.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Offer as many acts as you can in His service. Activate your relationship</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">with Him and ask for guidance how to further activate it from those who have</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">an active relationship with Him, like Srila Prabhupada and your other</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">spiritual masters.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Train your mind to connect with Krishna through devotional thoughts.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Convince your intelligence of the truth of Krishna consciousness.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Take full and unreserved shelter in the processes of bhakti - the hearing</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">and chanting and reading the scriptures under the guidance of great</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">devotees.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Most importantly, pray, pray, pray. Bring your spiritual heart into your</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">prayer.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pray like the bird who sits in the nest waiting fervently for its mother to</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">bring it food.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pray like the thirsty calf who tugs at the rope binding it to a stake so it</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">can run forward to its mother's udder.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pray like the morose wife who yearns for her husband when he is away from</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">home.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You will soon find that Krishna is only a prayer away. He is not like the</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">stars in the winter sky, which are distant, cold, and unapproachable. When</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">you reach Him in devotion, Krishna will respond to you in ways beyond your</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">boldest imagination. Yes, the Lord is only a prayer away!</span><br /><br />On the eve of 2011, I didn't have a single resolution - now I have five.<br />On the eve of 2011, I was hopeless - now I am hopeful.<br />Here's to a year of surrender, deepened awareness of Krsna's mercy and most of all, prayer.<br /><br />Happy 2011!!Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-67462425586125702062010-08-10T03:55:00.002-04:002010-08-10T04:01:36.812-04:00Full blossom...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/TGEHSJbEeXI/AAAAAAAAB9o/RBB_ij1gRGs/s1600/3+months+001.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/TGEHSJbEeXI/AAAAAAAAB9o/RBB_ij1gRGs/s400/3+months+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503688227971955058" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">"As a flower in the bud gradually fructifies and yields it's desired aroma and beauty, so when a living entity comes to the platform of Krsna consciousness, the beauty of his real form comes into full blossom. </span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">That is the ultimate beauty and the ultimate fulfillment of desires."</span><br /><br />S.B 10.13.51 purport<br /></div>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-11844918062210136142010-06-24T04:18:00.004-04:002010-06-24T05:30:03.892-04:00Mamma Mia!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/TCMliO44BGI/AAAAAAAAB9g/ebguyGGIB9Q/s1600/us.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/TCMliO44BGI/AAAAAAAAB9g/ebguyGGIB9Q/s400/us.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486270041109824610" border="0" /></a><br />Nobody told me how hard being a new mother would be.<br />Actually they did. They all did. I just didn't believe them.<br />After all, how hard could it be to take care of a little person? All they need is to eat, sleep and have their diapers changed - usually in that order.<br />But did you know that in the beginning they eat every two hours?<br />And did you know that sometimes putting them to sleep would take both a longer amount of time than they actually slept for, as well as a great deal of creativity (<span style="font-style: italic;">rocking? no. Bouncing? No. Singing? No. Rocking, bouncing and singing? Yes. *cue sigh of relief</span>*) and leave<span style="font-style: italic;"> you </span>in need of a nap - but before your head actually hits the pillow for said nap, the little person is awake and ready to go again?<br />I did not know this. I do now.<br /><br />I think I looked a little wild-eyed, a little crazy in the beginning. Yes, I definitely did. Sadly Vaishali did not come with a users manual. Of course there are plenty of baby books (not to mention aunts, grandmothers, friends, neighbours, strangers) to give you advice, but what I needed was a manual tailor-made to fit Vaishali's personality. You know, something that went along the lines of:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This model of baby will wake up every day, without fail, at 5 a.m and require 2 hours of non-stop playing activity. Do not bother trying to change this habit. Or praying that it will change. It won't. Ever.</span><br /><br />But now, my little girl is 6 months old, and the crazy, sleep-deprived days are getting better. I no longer check on her every five minutes, just to make sure she's breathing (I've stretched it to about 15 minutes, and yes, I'm proud of that achievement, thank you very much.)<br /><br />Of course, each new stage comes with new challenges. The nature of my questions have changed. It's no longer "Is she getting enough milk", but "Is she ready for grains?" I no longer panic when she cries (which is hardly ever - which is of course something I used to panic about too. You know, "Shouldn't she cry more than this?" I'd fret. "I think she's just a happy baby," my husband or mother would comment, a tad dryly.)<br />And sometimes, in my sleep-deprived, hormonal, overly-worried state I would feel bad for my little baby. Didn't she deserve a mother who actually knew what they were doing? Who knew what each different cry meant, who knew how to calm and soothe her and take care of her from the very moment she entered this world?<br /><br />For a new mother, there's nothing better than talking to or hearing about other new mum's and their experiences. It's comforting to know that your neurotic state of mind is not unique, that you are not the only one who feels overwhelmed at times, or at a loss over what to do.<br />I recently read a book, and in it a first-time mother, a few years after the birth of her son, stated, "<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> You can never be one hundred percent prepared for motherhood, because it is motherhood itself that prepares you."</span><br /><br />How completely, and utterly true.<br /><br />I assumed that the role of mother was one I would take on naturally, gracefully. It wasn't. I may have carried Vaishali for 9 months, but I only really met her after she was born, and only got to know her in the weeks and months that followed. And it was difficult, not having any experience. But as the days passed, that experience came - I grew stronger and more sure of myself and my ability to take care of my child.<br />And now, Vaishali and I know each other pretty well. Each day, as she discovers more and more about herself, the world she lives in, and the people who love her, we discover more about her. Between her father and I, we know how to make her smile. We know that lots of kisses from her papa will irritate her, unless its first thing in the morning and she's just woken up. We know that after she's had her pureed squash or sweet potatoes, she likes to babble with the spoon in her mouth. We know that she likes it when we firmly press her arms and legs - it calms her down. We know that we can get her to give us big, open-mouthed, spitty kisses by saying, "Kisses!!"<br /><br />It has been a life-altering experience, becoming a mother. But I guess, that's what babies do! They take us on a journey that changes us from self-centered and selfish, to become more giving, more open and more loving individuals.<br /><br />What a blessing babies are!Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-2232327136190524852010-05-09T06:22:00.002-04:002010-05-09T07:23:56.863-04:00Happy Mothers Day!!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/S-aNPwB6tXI/AAAAAAAAB9Q/88vgOFiBwL4/s1600/vaishali.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/S-aNPwB6tXI/AAAAAAAAB9Q/88vgOFiBwL4/s400/vaishali.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469214099218543986" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Vaishali Sundari </span><br /></div><br />Happy Mothers Day! I don't think there should be only one out of 365 days in honor of a person who gives so selflessly, who works so tirelessly, who loves so unconditionally.<br /><br />Since giving birth to our daughter Vaishali Sundari 4 and a half months ago, I have a new appreciation and understanding of what my own mother has felt for me since before I was born, and for what she has done since.<br /><br />And now, as a new mother, I am tired, sleep-deprived and slightly neurotic, but I am also overjoyed and honored (and a little scared, truth be told) that Krsna has given me my own little Vaisnavi to raise.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/S-aNJPnFl5I/AAAAAAAAB9I/OiaIyZsWMb4/s1600/24575_398900468520_512168520_3847163_7224101_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/S-aNJPnFl5I/AAAAAAAAB9I/OiaIyZsWMb4/s400/24575_398900468520_512168520_3847163_7224101_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469213987436861330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">My mother...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Who fed me from her gentle breast,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> And hush'd me in her arms to rest,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> My Mother. </span></div><p style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"> When sleep forsook my open eye,<br />Who was it sung sweet hushaby,<br />And rock'd me that I should not cry?<br /> My Mother. </p><p style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"> Who sat and watch'd my infant head,<br />When sleeping on my cradle bed,<br />And tears of sweet affection shed?<br /> My Mother. </p><p style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"> When pain and sickness made me cry,<br />Who gaz'd upon my heavy eye,<br />And wept, for fear that I should die?<br /> My Mother. </p><p style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"> Who drest my doll in clothes so gay,<br />And taught me pretty how to play,<br />And minded all I had to say?<br /> My Mother. </p><p style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"> Who ran to help me when I fell,<br />And would some pretty story tell,<br />Or kiss the place to make it well?<br /> My Mother. </p><p style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"> Who taught my infant lips to pray,<br />And love God's holy book and day,<br />And walk in wisdom's pleasant way?<br /> My Mother. </p><p style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"> And can I ever cease to be<br />Affectionate and kind to thee,<br />Who wast so very kind to me,<br /> My Mother. </p><p style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"> Ah! no, the thought I cannot bear;<br />And if God please my life to spare,<br />I hope I shall reward thy care,<br /> My Mother. </p><p style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"> When thou art feeble, old, and gray,<br />My healthy arm shall be thy stay,<br />And I will soothe thy pains away,<br /> My Mother. </p><p style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"> And when I see thee hang thy head,<br />'Twill be my turn to watch thy bed,<br />And tears of sweet affection shed,<br /> My Mother. </p><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">For could our Father in the skies<br />Look down with pleased or loving eyes,<br />If ever I could dare despise<br /> My Mother. <br /> - Ann Taylor<br /></div>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-30173220905123285192010-03-22T07:33:00.003-04:002010-03-22T07:39:46.034-04:00DawnBehind a bank of Syama-coloured storm clouds, resting above the ocean from the night before, the sun rises, painting the clouds and sky above fiery hues of orange, pink and purple.<br />Krsna, what an artist You are!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/S6dVwjcdcTI/AAAAAAAAB8M/JYEN4-4ma-w/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451420166591967538" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/S6dVwjcdcTI/AAAAAAAAB8M/JYEN4-4ma-w/s400/001.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center">(21 March 2010, North Coast, Durban, South Africa)</div>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-41986449522552754502009-11-12T09:05:00.006-05:002009-11-12T09:17:14.641-05:00Beauty on the BeachSand sculptures by artist <a href="http://artsytime.com/sand-sculptures-by-sudarsan-pattnaik/">Sudarshan Pattnaik</a>, on the beaches of Puri...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SvwWuK7qT7I/AAAAAAAABgI/sEOYPhWkVeg/s1600-h/jbs2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403218635402137522" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SvwWuK7qT7I/AAAAAAAABgI/sEOYPhWkVeg/s400/jbs2.jpg" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SvwWt1bDe_I/AAAAAAAABgA/Uxxv9xgunOw/s1600-h/jbs3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403218629628230642" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SvwWt1bDe_I/AAAAAAAABgA/Uxxv9xgunOw/s400/jbs3.jpg" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SvwWjGvEv7I/AAAAAAAABf4/C_u7wtO30Fk/s1600-h/jbs4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403218445297041330" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SvwWjGvEv7I/AAAAAAAABf4/C_u7wtO30Fk/s400/jbs4.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SvwWbU9-3DI/AAAAAAAABfw/oBWq-STQePY/s1600-h/jbs5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403218311678712882" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SvwWbU9-3DI/AAAAAAAABfw/oBWq-STQePY/s400/jbs5.jpg" /></a> And the piece de resisitance...<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SvwWQeRO8OI/AAAAAAAABfo/hsNfk2Ycuz0/s1600-h/jbs.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403218125196816610" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SvwWQeRO8OI/AAAAAAAABfo/hsNfk2Ycuz0/s400/jbs.jpg" /></a> <div> </div></div></div></div></div>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-21434623750941781122009-09-15T11:29:00.002-04:002009-09-15T11:35:13.078-04:00Krsna-Rama!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/Sq-zRu86isI/AAAAAAAABeg/CQB7TCpncAA/s1600-h/KB+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 292px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381717196973705922" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/Sq-zRu86isI/AAAAAAAABeg/CQB7TCpncAA/s400/KB+001.JPG" /></a> As He takes care of the cows, Krishna jokes and plays with His friends. When He calls, the cows come. I pray that playful Krishna will enter my memory and make me tremble with love for Him.<br /> When will Krishna and Balarama, holding hands, laughing, and joking, make my heart tremble with love?<br />“Rama! Krishna! Krishna-Rama! Krishna! Krishna! Krishna!” Here and there on the pathways of Goloka one may hear the people chanting these names as they come and go.<br /> <em>~ Gopala Champu</em><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/Sq-zItuq3uI/AAAAAAAABeY/vosR3VmyYRU/s1600-h/KB+010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381717042026700514" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/Sq-zItuq3uI/AAAAAAAABeY/vosR3VmyYRU/s400/KB+010.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-58546484123911782532009-08-27T12:12:00.004-04:002009-08-27T12:30:31.997-04:00Srimati Radhika's beauty and the envious moon<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/Spax769PImI/AAAAAAAABdw/OXTMJokk26Y/s1600-h/radhika+hungary.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374678848309764706" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/Spax769PImI/AAAAAAAABdw/OXTMJokk26Y/s400/radhika+hungary.jpg" /></a><br />Her glorious complexion fair, Her garments red, and Her new youthfulness effulgent, Sri Radha, delighting Her friends, and graceful like a crescent moon in its second night, shone with great splendor.<br /><br />Sri Radha's limbs glistened like lightning. Sri Radha's hair was like a dark monsoon cloud with lightning. Sri Radha's neck and other limbs are like the winding tendrils of a golden sura-lata vine. Sri Radha's face graced with many black and curly locks of hair is like a lotus encircled by black bees. Sri Radha's forehead is like a half-moon. Sri Radha's eyes are like two stars. Sri Radha's eyebrows are like two archer's bows. Sri Radha's nose is like a graceful arrow. Sri Radha's ears are like the tips of the tendrils of two golden vines. Sri Radha's cheeks are like two round fruits borne by that vine. Sri Radha's mouth is like a golden cup with rubies around its circle top. Sri Radha's teeth are like pearls fallen from a cloud. Sri Radha's gentle smile is like the sweet fragrance of vine that bears flowers of poetic words. Shri Radha's lips are like flower petals.<br /><br />Sri Radha's abdomen is like an ashvattha leaf. The line of hairs on Shri Radha's body is like a graceful line drawn upon it. Sri Radha's waist is like an altar built by Vishvakarma, the demigods' architect. Sri Radha's navel is like a deep and holy pilgrimage lake. Sri Radha's two legs, anointed with various colors, and graceful like the most graceful elephant's trunk, are clothed in wonderful and colorful garments that reach to Her glorious feet. Sri Radha's feet glorious with the effulgence of Her toenails are like two glorious blossoming flowers anointed with cooling drops of mist. Sri Radha's arms are like two soft golden-lotus stems. Sri Radha's hands are like two lotus flowers. In this way Sri Radha's form is splendid and beautiful.<br /><br />Sri Radha's hair is curly and graceful. Sri Radha's hair is gracefully dishevelled. Shri Radha's tilaka is perfect, unbroken, graceful, and glorious with various colors. Sri Radha's earrings are reflected in the two blue lotus flowers of Her eyes. Sri Radha's smile is reflected in the pearl-ring on Her nose. A whispering belt of jangling bells glistens over Sri Radha's garments. Sri Radha's neck, arms, and other limbs are decorated with tilaka and with many glorious ornaments. What more can I say? Sri Radha's graceful head is the ultimate ornament, the ornament that decorates all the other parts of Her body.<br /><br />The gopi-maidservants decorating Sri Radha were stunned with wonder. Quickly and expertly they decorated Her.<br /><br />Seeing Sri Radha sublime splendor, the moon burned with envy. Those flames of envy in the moon's heart must have left marks now visible on the moon's surface. This I think.<br /><br /><div align="center">~ <strong><em>Gopala Champu by Jiva Goswami</em></strong></div><div align="center"></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SpaxgXMxMEI/AAAAAAAABdo/tLghQ0V2cBY/s1600-h/s_full-moon.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374678374854766658" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SpaxgXMxMEI/AAAAAAAABdo/tLghQ0V2cBY/s400/s_full-moon.jpg" /></a>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-11740190096170804982009-08-18T09:37:00.003-04:002009-08-18T09:44:10.084-04:00Dear Krishna...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SoqvuaIRrOI/AAAAAAAABNQ/cOtVHEzhHpI/s1600-h/LITTLEBOY.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 130px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371298717415615714" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SoqvuaIRrOI/AAAAAAAABNQ/cOtVHEzhHpI/s400/LITTLEBOY.jpg" /></a> Little Raj came into the kitchen where his mother was making dinner. His birthday was coming up and he thought this was a good time to tell his mother what he wanted. "Mom, I want a bike for my birthday."<br /><br /><div>Little Raj was a bit of a troublemaker. He had gotten into trouble at school and at home. Raj's mother asked him if he thought he deserved to get a bike for his birthday. Little Raj, of course, thought he did. Raj's mother wanted Raj to reflect on his behaviour over the last year. "Go to your room, Raj, and think about how you have behaved this year. Then write a letter to Krishna and tell him why you deserve a bike for your birthday."</div><br /><div>Little Raj stomped up the steps to his room and sat down to write Krishna a letter. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center">************** </div><br /><div>Letter 1: Dear Krishna, I have been a very good boy this year and I would like a bike for my birthday. I want a red one. Your friend, Raj </div><br /><div align="center">************** </div><br /><div>Raj knew that this wasn't true. He had not been a very good boy this year, So he tore up the letter and started over. </div><br /><div align="center">************** </div><br /><div>Letter 2: Dear Krishna, This is your friend Raj. I have been a good boy this year and I would like a red bike for my birthday. Thank you. Your friend, Raj </div><br /><div align="center">************** </div><br /><div>Raj knew that this wasn't true either. So, he tore up the letter and started again. </div><br /><div align="center">************** </div><br /><div>Letter 3: Dear Krishna, I have been an OK boy this year. I still would really like a bike for my birthday. Raj </div><br /><div align="center">************** </div><br /><div>Raj knew he could not send this letter to krishna either. So, Raj wrote a fourth letter. </div><br /><div align="center">************** </div><br /><div>Letter 4: Krishna, I know I haven't been a good boy this year. I am very sorry. I will be a good boy if you just send me a bike for my birthday please! Thank you, Raj</div><br /><div align="center">************** </div><br /><div>Raj knew, even if it was true, this letter was not going to get him a bike. Now, Raj was very upset. He went downstairs and told his mom that he wanted to go to temple. Raj's mother thought her plan had worked, as Raj looked very sad. "Just be home in time for dinner", Raj's mother told him. Raj walked down the street to the temple on the corner. Little Raj went into the temple and up to the altar. He looked around to see if anyone was there. Raj bent down and picked up a statue of the Radha. He slipped the statue under his shirt and ran out of the temple, down the street, into the house, and up to his room. </div><br /><div>He shut the door to his room and sat down with a piece of paper and a pen. Raj began to write his letter to Krishna. </div><br /><div align="center">************** </div><br /><div>Letter 5: Krishna, I'VE KIDNAPPED YOUR GIRLFRIEND. IF YOU WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN, SEND THE BIKE!!!!!! </div><div> </div><div>(Just for laughs...OBVIOUSLY!!)</div>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-11878796547007661762009-08-05T13:31:00.003-04:002009-08-05T13:38:54.227-04:00It's Dauji's birthday!!<div align="left"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SnnCHIJw6BI/AAAAAAAABNI/g2PjTvi0olw/s1600-h/baladev2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366533858691966994" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SnnCHIJw6BI/AAAAAAAABNI/g2PjTvi0olw/s400/baladev2.jpg" /></a> May Lord Balarama the master of Goloka the supreme controller of all controllers who is always glorified by pure kirtan, protect me. May Lord Balarama appearing as Ananta Sesa, who on His hand holds the earth as if it were a single mustard seed, protect me on the earth. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">May Lord Balarama protect me when I am surrounded by many armies. May Lord Balarama, who holds a plow, always protect me in the battle. May Lord Balarama, who holds a club, always protect me in the fortress. O Sankarsana please protect me in the forest. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">May Lord Balaram, who wears blue garments and who stopped the Yamuna always protect me in water. May Lord Balarama protect me in the wind. May Lord Balarama protect me inthe sky. May Lord Balarama who is Lord Ananta Himself, always protect me inthe great ocean. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">May Lord Balarama, who is Vasudeva's son, protect me in the mountains. May Lord Balarama, who has a thousand hands, protect me in times of war. May Lord Balarama, Rohininandana, protect me from desires. May Lord Balarama,kamapala, who fulfils desires, protect me from catastrophes. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">May Lord Balarama, Dhenukari, who killed the demon Dhenukasura, always protect me from lust. May Lord Balarama, who killed Dvivida, always protect me from anger. May Lord Balarama, who is the enemy of the Balvala, always protect me from greed. May Lord Balarama, Magadharrh, the enemy of Jarasandha, always protect me from illusion. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">May Lord Balarama, Vrsni-Dhurya, best of the Vrsnis, always protect me at sunrise (6-8:30am). May Lord Balarama, Mathura-purandarah, the king of Mathura city, kindly protect me in the morning. May Lord Balarama,Gopa-sakha, the friends of the Gopas, always protect me at midday. May Lord Balarama, who is completely independent, always protect me in the afternoon. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">May Lord Balarama, Phanindro, the king of serpents, always protect me at sunset. May Lord Balarama, who is greater then the greatest, always protect me in the evening. May Lord Balarama, whose power is invinsible,always protect me in the midnight. May Lord Balarama, always protect me at every sunrise. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">May Lord Balarama, Revati pati, the husband of Revati, protect me from the four intermediate directions (NE,NW,SE,SW). May Lord Balarama, Pralambari,the enemy of the Pralamba, protect me from the four directions(N,S,E,W). MayLord Balarama, the best of the Yadavas, protect me from below, May Lord Balabhadra always protect me from above. May Lord Baladeva, protect me here and every where. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">May Lord Balarama, Purusottama the Supreme Personality of Godhead, always protect me from within, may the supremely powerful Lord Balarama, Nagendra,who enjoys pastimes as the king of serpents, protect me from without. May Lord Balarama Lord Hari the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supersoul residing in the everyone's heart always protect me. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Please know that the kavaca of Lord Balarama destroys the fears of the demigods and demons. It is a blazing fire that burns up a host of sins. It spells death to a host of obstacles. It is the adobe of spiritual perfection and spiritual strength.</div>~ Balabhadra Stotra KavacaSyamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-22565690031065192432009-07-29T12:46:00.004-04:002009-07-29T12:53:45.612-04:00The importance of hearing from a pure devotee<div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SnB9BKbHHLI/AAAAAAAABNA/NEoEgqFC0aU/s1600-h/Kadamba+Kandi.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363924615129668786" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SnB9BKbHHLI/AAAAAAAABNA/NEoEgqFC0aU/s400/Kadamba+Kandi.jpg" /></a><em>(Photo from caitanya.org)</em></div><div align="center"> </div><strong><em>"My dear Lord, You are glorified by the selected verses uttered by great personalities. Such glorification of Your lotus feet is just like saffron particles. When the transcendental vibrations from the mouths of great devotees carries the aroma of the saffron dust of Your lotus feet, the forgetful living entity gradually remembers his eternal relationship with You. Devotees thus gradually come to the right conclusion about the value of life. My dear Lord, I therefore do not need any other benediction but the opportunity to hear from the mouth of Your pure devotee." </em></strong><br /><div align="left"><strong><em> Srimad Bhagavatam 4.20.25</em></strong></div><strong><em></em></strong><div align="left"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SnB87vwkyJI/AAAAAAAABM4/6mUzTlxagMc/s1600-h/bb.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 294px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363924522072590482" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SnB87vwkyJI/AAAAAAAABM4/6mUzTlxagMc/s400/bb.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-3892591031505577112009-07-06T11:14:00.005-04:002009-07-06T11:31:34.676-04:00Early morning darshan<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SlIU24X4YwI/AAAAAAAABCY/a1vkL1-2snA/s1600-h/mangal.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355365839974982402" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SlIU24X4YwI/AAAAAAAABCY/a1vkL1-2snA/s400/mangal.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center">With Your sweet, sweet smile</div><div align="center">The tilt of Your hips</div><div align="center">Your kind lotus eyes</div><div align="center">The bamboo flute at your lips</div><div align="center">Early in the morning</div><div align="center">Without Your mukut in Your hair </div><div align="center">Free of Your ornaments and all the fanfare</div><div align="center">...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Just a sweet, simple cowherd boy</div><div align="center">That is how I love you best</div>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-67073874394827165912009-06-29T00:22:00.005-04:002009-06-29T00:49:29.989-04:00Ksiracora Gopinath - The thief of sweet-rice...and hearts<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SkhHYUzyjlI/AAAAAAAABCQ/5ChfXPIcabc/s1600-h/Toronto+deities+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352606640358198866" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SkhHYUzyjlI/AAAAAAAABCQ/5ChfXPIcabc/s400/Toronto+deities+006.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SkhHO5axWAI/AAAAAAAABCI/Z19AbjgrkgA/s1600-h/Toronto+deities+017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352606478386681858" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SkhHO5axWAI/AAAAAAAABCI/Z19AbjgrkgA/s400/Toronto+deities+017.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SkhHBULjGbI/AAAAAAAABCA/xm1HcNEeSd0/s1600-h/Toronto+deities+007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352606245052422578" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SkhHBULjGbI/AAAAAAAABCA/xm1HcNEeSd0/s400/Toronto+deities+007.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I just realised that despite being here for two full years, this is my very first post about the deities in Toronto. Admittedly when I arrived here I expected to feel some kind of instant connection to the deities...I felt that way in South Africa with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Radha</span>-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Radhanath</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nitai</span>-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gaurahari</span> in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lenasia</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna</span>-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Balarama</span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Radhe</span>-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Shyam</span> in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Vrindavana</span>. Instead, upon my first <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">darshan</span> of the deities I felt nothing . Well, perhaps <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">thats</span> an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">exaggeration</span>! I knew it was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna</span> and so I felt respectful. But that was about it. </div><div>Then I travelled to Detroit and Montreal and, especially in Montreal, found myself deeply attracted and attached to those deities. And my lack of feeling for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Radha</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ksiracora</span>-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gopinath</span> began to bug me - to the point where I wrote to my Guru <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Maharaja</span>, freaking out a little bit. He explained that its natural to be more attracted to certain deities, but if I were to do some personal service for Them then my attachment to Them would grow. </div><div>Living in Kitchener and now Milton hasn't quite allowed any kind of regular deity service, but in these two years I've been fortunate enough to be involved in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bhaktimarga</span> Swami's dramas. And even though it wasn't personal service - I was not preparing an offering for the Lord, or setting Their jewellery, or even wiping the altar floor - but it was still service that I did for Their pleasure.</div><div>And somewhere along the line, I lost my heart to Them. Perhaps it was the long, tiring hours of rehearsals where Their <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">darshan</span>, and knowing that it was for Them that we worked so long and so hard, were the two things that kept me going; or maybe it was on a quiet day, chanting <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">japa</span> before Their beautiful forms. I don't know when it happened...I'm just glad that it did. </div><br /><div>This <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gopinath</span> is not just a sweet-rice thief, he is a stealer of hearts. If you're lucky, He will steal your heart immediately. Or it may take longer. But one way or the other, without even realising it, He will definitely steal your heart. </div><div> </div></div></div>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-22644268486840562022009-06-02T18:46:00.001-04:002009-06-02T18:48:46.356-04:00A Sweet Lullaby...<p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9HWs5g8n0Og&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9HWs5g8n0Og&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><p>Isn't this just so beautiful? You can listen to more of Manjari's sweet bhajans and kirtans <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=383411703">here</a></p>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-53891674106135601692009-05-02T12:19:00.003-04:002009-05-02T13:01:59.301-04:00Syamasundara, a deity of the heart<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SfxzACHgnsI/AAAAAAAABB4/TXnjsh74IoY/s1600-h/Shyamsundar_01~2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331262503305387714" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SfxzACHgnsI/AAAAAAAABB4/TXnjsh74IoY/s400/Shyamsundar_01~2.jpg" /></a> The deities of Syamananda Pandita in Vrindavana, Sri Sri Radha Syamasundara, are among my favourite deities in Vraja. This deity is said to be manifested from Srimati Radharanis own heart. Krsna has the most enchanting smile and He is always, always beautifully and opulently adorned.<br />The last time I was in Vrindavana during Kartik I would make a trip everyday to this temple after the morning program at the Krsna-Balarama mandir ended. Here I would spend an hour or two chanting extra rounds or reading, before heading off to the Radha-Damodara temple just a short walk away.<br />It's special being there on any ordinary day, but during Kartik, its extra-special. Radha-Shyamasundara, specifically Shyamasundara, is dressed according to His different pastimes - one day He is dressed as a female bangle seller, fully equipped with a basket of sparkly bangles on His head, another day He is dressed as a mendicant devotee of Shiva, with snakes around His neck and arms, and yet another He is disguised as a gopi or demigoddess. There were some days when I wasn't sure what the pastime was exactly (my understanding of Hindi is sketchy at best), but still, it was sweet to have Their darshan.<br />The devotees have done a great job with the <a href="http://www.radhashyamsundar.com/">temple website </a>, where you can read about the history of the deities and have Their darshan. Below is a photo of Shyamasundara taken during Candana yatra.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/Sfxy3F4Ap4I/AAAAAAAABBw/iwfPijJosg4/s1600-h/radha+shyamasundara+candana.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331262349695297410" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/Sfxy3F4Ap4I/AAAAAAAABBw/iwfPijJosg4/s400/radha+shyamasundara+candana.jpg" /></a> <em>"Dear Lord, when You appear in Your different incarnations, You take different names and forms according to different situations. Lord Krsna is Your name because You are all attractive; You are called Syamasundara because of Your transcendental beauty. Syama means blackish, yet they say that You are more beautiful than thousands of Cupids. Kandarpa-koti-kamaniya. Although You appear in a color which is compared to the blackish cloud, because You are transcendental Absolute, Your beauty is many many times more attractive than the delicate body of Cupid"</em><br /> ~Krsna BookSyamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-15980921991888622672009-05-01T11:24:00.008-04:002009-05-02T07:58:56.800-04:00Will you make Krsna smile today?<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SfsaICp-AqI/AAAAAAAABBo/Q6GqidrD49A/s1600-h/fruit+vendor.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330883309377290914" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SfsaICp-AqI/AAAAAAAABBo/Q6GqidrD49A/s400/fruit+vendor.jpg" /></a><br /><div>My new mantra is "Love and Devotion." I chant it as I cook, begin my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">japa</span></span>, dress the deities or offer an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">arati</span></span>. "Love and devotion <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Syamesvari</span></span>, love and devotion," I chant in my head as I heat the oil or ghee, as I pick out turban pieces or set the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">arati</span></span> tray. There are so many things I try to do for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna</span></span> everyday, big and little, quick or time-consuming, but how many of them do I do in the right mood? How many things do I do with a loving 'This is for <em>Your</em> pleasure <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna</span></span>, not for my benefit' attitude? Hardly anything, I'm ashamed to admit. I do things out of habit, out of obligation, or for the selfish reason of getting rid of bad karma and hopefully ending my time in the material world. But without those two all-important ingredients - love and devotion - really, what benefit am I gaining anyway? Inattentive chanting is not nearly as potent or beneficial as attentive chanting is, so similarly, devotional service without the devotion is not nearly as sweet or as meaningful to me, or to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna</span></span>. </div><div></div><div>If it weren't for seeing first-hand what real devotional service is, I wouldn't be aspiring after it myself. There are some amazing <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">vaisnavas</span></span> who are eagerly and purely serving the Lord, their hearts full of surrender and genuine affection for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna</span></span>. These devotees are my role-models and their association makes me want to be a better devotee.</div><div></div><div>Of course simply chanting 'love and devotion' does not bring about those feelings. Like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Srila</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Prabhupada</span></span> once said, 'Chanting water, water, water does not quench your thirst.' But just as chanting 'water, water, water' reminds you of water, makes <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">you</span> meditate on it and possibly hanker after it, my 'love and devotion' mantra reminds me of what the real point of rendering any service to the Lord is.</div><div></div><div><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sivarama</span></span> Swami gave a class some time ago entitled <strong>"Will you make <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna</span></span> smile today</strong>?" The introduction to that class reads : <em><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Srila</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Prabhupada</span></span> explains that making the Lord smile by our pure devotion is the conclusion of all spiritual practices and the essence of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Vrndavana</span></span> life.</em> </div><br /><div>So now I realise that the aim is not merely to do something <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">devotionally</span></span> related to get it done - it is to make <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna</span></span> happy and make Him smile. And with no other motivation than bringing a sweet smile to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna's</span></span> lips, performing even the simplest of tasks, like peeling <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">potatoes</span> or washing <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">puja</span> items can become our most devotion-filled tasks and we will gain the greatest benefit and satisfaction.</div><div></div><div>Will you make <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna</span></span> smile today?</div>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-73839921117797055262009-04-28T09:36:00.007-04:002009-04-28T10:15:07.691-04:00Attract Krsna's Mercy!!!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SfcI_cIWqgI/AAAAAAAABBg/Tom66_pXQSc/s1600-h/Deity-worship.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329738569992284674" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SfcI_cIWqgI/AAAAAAAABBg/Tom66_pXQSc/s400/Deity-worship.jpg" /></a>I get a lot of amazing e-mails from a devotee in South Africa, Mother <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cheron</span>. Sometimes I don't have the time to read them, and many of them remain unopened, or half read, as I go off to study or chant my rounds or cook etc. But the heading of this e-mail 'Attract <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna's</span> mercy!!!" really got my attention, and not just because of the three exclamation points (although that certainly contributed!) After all, isn't that one of our important goals in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna</span> Consciousness, to attract <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna's</span> attention and mercy? I have heard <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bhakti</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Caitanya</span> Swami say several times in class that when we go before the deities, it is not so that we can see <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna</span>, it is so that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna</span> can see us, and see what we have done to increase our love and devotion for Him. In this <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">excerpt</span> from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kadamba</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kanana</span> Swami's class, he tells us how we can attract <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna's</span> mercy, and when we next stand before <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna</span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Srimati</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Radharani</span>, maybe <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Krsna</span> will take special notice of us because we have made an extra endeavour to do things with more love and devotion. <div></div><div align="center">* * *</div><div>"We should perform our service with love but we are not able to. <strong>Is it within our reach to love Krishna? Or is it granted by Krishna?</strong> It is always granted by Krishna. It is a gift from Krishna and it depends on Krishna’s mercy. The mercy of Krishna is causeless, so Krishna may give to whomever He likes - although one can do something to attract the mercy of Krishna because <strong>Krishna has a heart</strong>. So Krishna is full of appreciation. It is said that when <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Draupadi</span> was going through that experience of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dushasana</span> trying to pull her cloth, at that time she surrendered to Krishna and she called out " He <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">Govinda</span>". And Krishna later said that "<em>Whenever I remember how <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">Draupadi</span> just surrendered unto Me, in My heart My appreciation for her is increasing</em>." So <strong>Krishna deeply appreciates and feels enlivened</strong> by the service of His devotee. <strong>Thus devotional service can attract Krishna</strong>. And this is what we keep in mind. We may not have love for Krishna, but devotional service to Krishna can attract the mercy of Krishna."</div><div>~ H.H <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kadamba</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kanana</span> Swami</div><div></div><div>* Thank you <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cheron</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">mataji</span> for all the nectar you send my way :)</div>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-72930918122867768902009-04-20T12:24:00.005-04:002009-04-20T13:06:48.851-04:00A rite of passage<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SeyqMreMgFI/AAAAAAAABBY/cG_t-MIBnQY/s1600-h/prabhupada+initiation.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326819594076979282" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SeyqMreMgFI/AAAAAAAABBY/cG_t-MIBnQY/s400/prabhupada+initiation.jpg" /></a> <em>(Srila Prabhupada giving initiation)</em></div><div align="center"> </div>For many, the word initiation conjures thoughts of performing something painful or humiliating in order to be one of the select few of a particular group or society.<br /><br /><br /><p>In the Hare Krishna movement, initiation is neither painful nor humiliating. It is a sweet and intimate rite of passage that forever connects you to your spiritual master and the guru parampara, all the way up to Krsna Himself. </p><p>I was fortunate enough to be a part of an initiation ceremony yesterday, where my husband and I received our second initiation, and where three enthusiastic and very deserving devotees received their first. </p><p>I was reminded of the nerves and anxiousness of the moments running up to the actual initiation - <em>will I remember all 4 principles? What if I don't? What if I make a mistake? What is my new name going to be?</em> All these thoughts run through your mind and make your head spin, but then you sit before your guru and he looks you straight in the eyes, and asks what the four principles are that you are vowing to follow for the rest of your life. And in that moment, its just you and him, taking such sacred vows - you vowing to follow those four principles, your guru vowing to take you back to Krsna. There is no moment like it. </p><p>I was happy to have been a part of that initiation and be reminded of the vows I took 5 years ago. Bhaktimarga Swami gave first initiation to three devotees, and three couples, including myself, received second initiation. Initially I felt so disconnected. My Guru Maharaja was not there, so I would never share that moment of him giving me the mantras and teaching me how to chant them. And from what Maharaja had told me (after he and Bhakti Caitanya spoke in South Africa), I was under the impression that he would simply e-mail me the mantras. But it worked out very well - my Guru Maharaja sent me a sound file of him saying the mantras, and Bhaktimarga Swami, who is my siksa-guru in every way, taught me, along with his other disciples, how to chant them. So rather than lacking in any way, I felt like I had been given a double-dose of mercy:) I was also glad to take this important step with my husband. We weren`t around for each others first initiations, and rather than just watch the other take their second initiation, we got to do it together. </p><p>All in all it was a good day and a very good experience. I pray that I am able to do more and more for Srila Prabhupada`s movement and be better able to serve Krsna and His devotees. </p>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-91049607500792847182009-04-03T10:53:00.011-04:002009-04-03T11:23:24.762-04:00Darshan karo...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SdYjpJPZ0eI/AAAAAAAABBQ/tj45IpltgK8/s1600-h/n628141514_2339208_226844.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320479199546954210" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SdYjpJPZ0eI/AAAAAAAABBQ/tj45IpltgK8/s400/n628141514_2339208_226844.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SdYjk_dWjLI/AAAAAAAABBI/LPs0VCamns0/s1600-h/n628141514_2339216_5238129.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320479128201628850" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SdYjk_dWjLI/AAAAAAAABBI/LPs0VCamns0/s400/n628141514_2339216_5238129.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SdYjPclFYuI/AAAAAAAABA4/N0vFa_cnrj4/s1600-h/n628141514_2339207_7350412.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320478758061564642" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SdYjPclFYuI/AAAAAAAABA4/N0vFa_cnrj4/s400/n628141514_2339207_7350412.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SdYjDCuGW8I/AAAAAAAABAw/eOhztHCNjI4/s1600-h/n628141514_2339214_1615750.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320478544961625026" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SdYjDCuGW8I/AAAAAAAABAw/eOhztHCNjI4/s400/n628141514_2339214_1615750.jpg" /></a> </div><div>I know, I know...I no longer live in South Africa. Still, I couldn't pass up this opportunity to share the beautiful darshan of Sri Sri Radha-Radhanth and the new deities - Sita, Rama, Laxmana and Hanumana. </div><div>Aren't They just lovely??</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><em>"<strong>To keep the promise of His father intact, Lord Ramacandra immediately gave up the position of king and, accompanied by His wife, mother Sita, wandered from one forest to another on His lotus feet, which were so delicate that they were unable to bear even the touch of Sita's palms. The Lord was also accompanied by Hanuman [or by another monkey, Sugriva], king of the monkeys, and by His own younger brother Lord Laksmana, both of whom gave Him relief from the fatigue of wandering in the forest. Having cut off the nose and ears of Suparnakha, thus disfiguring her, the Lord was separated from mother Sita. He therefore became angry, moving His eyebrows and thus frightening the ocean, who then allowed the Lord to construct a bridge to cross the ocean. Subsequently, the Lord entered the kingdom of Ravana to kill him, like a fire devouring a forest. May that Supreme Lord, Ramacandra, give us all protection."</strong></em></div><div><em><strong>"In the arena of the sacrifice performed by Visvamitra, Lord Ramacandra, the King of Ayodhya, killed many demons, Raksasas and uncivilized men who wandered at night in the mode of darkness. May Lord Ramacandra, who killed these demons in the presence of Laksmana, be kind enough to give us protection."</strong></em></div><div><strong><em>~ Srimad Bhagavatam</em></strong></div></div></div></div>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-44321131040255709112009-03-19T07:56:00.005-04:002009-03-19T08:41:03.788-04:00A year ago today...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/ScI11dZDAZI/AAAAAAAABAo/v4YB_nM-cMU/s1600-h/MSB_29.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314869702789628306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/ScI11dZDAZI/AAAAAAAABAo/v4YB_nM-cMU/s400/MSB_29.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/ScI10vhf5mI/AAAAAAAABAY/jkHii80hQPU/s1600-h/MSB_47.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314869690477045346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/ScI10vhf5mI/AAAAAAAABAY/jkHii80hQPU/s400/MSB_47.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/ScI10H2Kw1I/AAAAAAAABAQ/xuiOSo3yxiA/s1600-h/MSB_48.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314869679826322258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/ScI10H2Kw1I/AAAAAAAABAQ/xuiOSo3yxiA/s400/MSB_48.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/ScI0pmaLYWI/AAAAAAAABAI/l5Uh4wH1alc/s1600-h/MSB_50.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314868399540232546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 261px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/ScI0pmaLYWI/AAAAAAAABAI/l5Uh4wH1alc/s400/MSB_50.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/ScI0pD2G6JI/AAAAAAAABAA/I4aidwk9B90/s1600-h/MSB_57.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314868390262139026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/ScI0pD2G6JI/AAAAAAAABAA/I4aidwk9B90/s400/MSB_57.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/ScI0ovvqJUI/AAAAAAAAA_4/pNg2QCRbXfc/s1600-h/MSB_67.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314868384866379074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/ScI0ovvqJUI/AAAAAAAAA_4/pNg2QCRbXfc/s400/MSB_67.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/ScI0oexp-5I/AAAAAAAAA_w/nz-dDEyyZqc/s1600-h/MSB_75.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314868380311354258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 261px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/ScI0oexp-5I/AAAAAAAAA_w/nz-dDEyyZqc/s400/MSB_75.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div align="left"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/ScI0oERzNsI/AAAAAAAAA_o/M4BbotXfMVs/s1600-h/MSC_63.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314868373198419650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/ScI0oERzNsI/AAAAAAAAA_o/M4BbotXfMVs/s400/MSC_63.jpg" border="0" /></a> Marriage has exceeded my every expectation. Sure it's hard work at times, but so is anything of value that we attempt. It has been such a rewarding experience.</div><div align="left">A big thank you to everyone who made it so special - for helping out, or just by being there. </div><div align="left">To my mom, who has been a mom and a dad my whole life...a cooler mom does not exist! Everything I am, become or have is because of you. I hope and pray that I can be exactly the type of person and mother that you are.</div><div align="left">To my Guru Maharaja, Bhakti Caitanya Swami, who gave me away and took part in the ceremony as my father, words cannot express my gratitude, love and appreciation. I am eternally grateful to be the disciple of such a wonderful, caring and compassionate spiritual master.</div><div align="left">To Indradyumna Swami, who played a part in bringing us together, so many years ago with a garland :) At a wedding, you wrapped a garland around the couple's hands and bathed it with milk. You then said that the girl who caught this garland was guaranteed to marry a handsome, loving, wonderful, Krsna-conscious devotee. Thank you for throwing that garland to me :) I think it was a case of 'From your lips to Gods ears', because here I am married to that handsome, loving, wonderful devotee you promised - a devotee who inpsires me in my Krsna consciousness and pushes me to be a better devotee.</div><div align="left">And finally to Bhaktimarga Swami, who supported and guided us from the very beginning. At our wedding you joked that you were 'concerned' that Savyasacin wouldn't find someone he wanted to be with and marry...I'm glad that you no longer have a need to be concerned :) You were hoping that things would work out between us from the first time we met before <em>we</em> even knew we wanted to be together! Your support and encouragement has been a lifeline in our marriage and in our spiritual lives. </div><div align="left">And of course, a big thank You to Krsna...without Him, none of this would be a reality. I pray that we can both make You the absolute center of our lives, and that together we can make a difference in spreading Krsna consciousness. </div></div></div></div></div>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-42640521626026804712009-03-16T12:57:00.008-04:002009-03-16T22:41:08.749-04:00An explosion of colourI can hear the raindrops, pitter-pattering on the roof<br />"Springtime is coming", they sing, "and we are the proof!"<br />To soft gentle raindrops the snowflakes have turned<br />And brought with it weather for which we have yearned<br />A few weeks ago the snow was steadily falling<br />And with it a wind icy cold, whistling and howling<br />But with each passing day it gets warmer and warmer<br />The wind has died down and the air is much calmer<br />The blankets of snow are melting away<br />The sun has come out and chased off the grey<br />The earth may be muddy, but the grass is green<br />The roads may be slushy, but the air is clean<br />The tulips are blooming - loud and bright<br />Daffodils and hyacinths - such a welcome sight!<br /><br />Radha and Krsna begin Their spring sport<br />He throws on Her colours once She's been caught<br />Vermillion and yellow, blue, pink and green<br />Such an explosion of colour has never been seen<br />A festival of beauty, of joy and of love<br />Bursts forth in the colours that fall from above<br />And just like in Vraja springtime, does bring<br />A time of devotion - for Krsna we we'll dance and we'll sing<br /><br />So winter is over and here is the proof -<br />The pitter-patter of raindrops falling on the roof<br /><br />- P.S Happy Holi!!Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-2210693836970143332009-03-13T10:19:00.012-04:002009-03-13T11:33:02.504-04:00Two merciful cowherd boys...<div align="left">...Who are non-different from Lord Gauranga and Nityananda Prabhu.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SbpuPEljqQI/AAAAAAAAA-s/jQ97Y_6zx6M/s1600-h/gaura+purnima+509.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312679915645282562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SbpuPEljqQI/AAAAAAAAA-s/jQ97Y_6zx6M/s400/gaura+purnima+509.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SbpsMdflfyI/AAAAAAAAA9s/lnV_lb3iy00/s1600-h/gaura+purnima+541.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312677671768260386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/SbpsMdflfyI/AAAAAAAAA9s/lnV_lb3iy00/s400/gaura+purnima+541.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong><em>jaya jaya nityānanda, nityānanda-rāma<br />yāńhāra kṛpāte pāinu vṛndāvana-dhāma</em></strong></div><div align="center"><em>All glory, all glory to Lord Nityānanda Balarāma, by whose mercy I have attained shelter in the transcendental abode of Vṛndāvana - C.C Adi 5. 200</em></div><div align="center"><em>Who in this world but Nityānanda could show His mercy to such an abominable person as me? </em><em>Because He is intoxicated by ecstatic love and is an incarnation of mercy, He does not distinguish between the good and the bad.He delivers all those who fall down before Him. Therefore He has delivered such a sinful and fallen person as me. - C.C Adi 5. 207 - 209</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="left"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/Sbpr3BVdZWI/AAAAAAAAA8I/XsbFQcL7byg/s1600-h/gaura+purnima+543.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312677303432340834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/Sbpr3BVdZWI/AAAAAAAAA8I/XsbFQcL7byg/s400/gaura+purnima+543.JPG" border="0" /></a><em>"Let me take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, who has descended in the form of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu to teach us real knowledge, His devotional service, and detachment from whatever does not foster Krsna consciousness. He has descended because He is an ocean of transcendental mercy. Let me surrender unto His lotus feet. Let my consciousness, which is like a honeybee, take shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has just now appeared as Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu to teach the ancient system of devotional service to Himself. This system had almost been lost due to the influence of time." </em></div><div align="left"><em>- C.C Madhya 6.253-254 (Sarvabhauma Bhattacrya)<br /></em><br /></div><div align="center"><embed pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fsyamesvari%2Falbumid%2F5312676507804521841%3Fkind%3Dphoto%26alt%3Drss"></embed></div><div align="left"><br /><br /></div></div>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3760310955593165560.post-82668587368842617682009-03-05T09:54:00.004-05:002009-03-05T10:01:29.181-05:00Krsna-Balarama<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/Sa_oxefVVQI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/nA56SWawI2k/s1600-h/wedding,+ids+078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309718422388823298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/Sa_oxefVVQI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/nA56SWawI2k/s400/wedding,+ids+078.JPG" border="0" /></a> Krishna whose flower-decorated hair was like a dark cloud glorious in the moonlight, Krishna whose sandal tilaka was like a glorious moon rising in the dark evening sky of His forehead...<br /> - Srila Visvanath Cakravarti Thakur<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/Sa_n8m_6VlI/AAAAAAAAA4I/pMrmJ4B5Kio/s1600-h/wedding,+ids+035.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309717514139883090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B6CWDyAYe68/Sa_n8m_6VlI/AAAAAAAAA4I/pMrmJ4B5Kio/s400/wedding,+ids+035.JPG" border="0" /></a>Syamesvarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09873192493823089296noreply@blogger.com2