Newsletter Number #184  ( Sri Krsna Janmastami & Srila Prabhupad's App' issue 2006 A.D. Gaurabda 520 )
18th August 2006
http://www.hknet.org.nz/index.htm

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ki jaya

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Please Accept My Respectful Obeisances (cyber pranams) & Best Wishes To All

_0____,

All Glories To Srila Prabhupad.

\o/
(_)
/ \    Haribol..............All Glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

Welcome to the latest edition of the on-line HKSRNewsletter, and our humble attempt to render some service to the devotee community. The format of this newsletter is that of a continuous scroll, please see the table of contents where everything is hyper-linked on-line, we hope it's now easier for you all. This newsletter still goes out to way over 3008 receivers. We trust that all is well with everyone by the Mercy of the Lord. However, if anyone would like to be removed please just send us a message requesting me to do so, and we will do it promptly. If you are receiving this from a friend, and would like to be added directly to the mailout please also let us know and we will do the needful there too. Removal and Subscription details are at the very end of this newsletter.

Hare Krishna. =>B-) JTCd

"May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious persons be pacified. May all living entities become calm by practicing bhakti-yoga, for by accepting devotional service they will think of each other’s welfare. Therefore let us all engage in the service of the supreme transcendence, Lord Sri Krishna, and always remain absorbed in thought of Him."(Srimad Bhagavatam 5:18:9.)

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The Nectar in this Issue 

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From time to time articles and shlokas (verses) included in this newsletter may require the Balaram font in order to view them nicely. If you don't have the Balaram font installed on your system you can download it for free from our fonts page.

See the events on Interactive Calendar site for details:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2002-2003.html
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2003-2004.html
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2004-2005.html
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2005-2006.html
The present year's Vaishnava Calendar for 2006-2007
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2006-2007.html
(some selected locations are available already below)

...Download the Vaishnava Calendar software VCAL 4.01
...Ekadasi Information - fasting - breakfast times

Local temples
...Newsletters & Blogs

Words of Wisdom - Shastra & Shastrakaras speak:
... (Srila Prabhupad & the previous Acharyas)
... Coming Festivals
... Local temples
... Verses from Shastra
... Hare Krishna Maha Mantra
... Hare Krishna as ancient religion - NOT a cult
... Vaishnava Songs
... Samskaras and Agama Tantra
... Articles - topical
... Other Topical links - etc
... Vedik revival - Vedik World Heritage

Advertisements - what's on where: check them out...
... Cyber Community Notice Board
...lastest important news items !!!!

... Hare Krishna School in Auckland
... Ayurvedic health - and seminars - Radiance Ayurved has new site
... Fire Safety - Water Safety - Internet Safety
... Singles - Hare Krishna Singles - Vegetarian Singles - Marriage Compatibility checking
... FREE CD Rom
... Sri Shalagram Tirtha Pradarshini web-site and new newsletter
... Vegetarianism and Beyond site gets re-vamped
... Gaura Yoga - Wellington
... The Loft Auckland
... The new Auckland Temple now open

... and much more

At Grass Roots: Topical stuff
... Seasonal Greetings.....Happy 2006
... Have a Happy Year - Gaurabda 520

Prasadam Recipes: To slake the thirst of body, mind & soul
...World Vegetarian Day & World Vegetarian Awareness Month of October links
... Religious Stands on Vegetarianism (Vaishnava - Hindu, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism)
... some really useful Vege links and support
... inspiring Vegetarian articles
... Eggless cooking - baking - cakes
... Vegetarian Cheeses - new page (try the Tuxford range...)(updated August 2004)
... Vegetarian clubs
... Hare Krishna Food For Life - local and international food relief
... check out the new Ekadasi recipes link
... 101 reasons to be a vegetarian
... Meat substitutes - Tofu - Soy - TVP - tempe recipes
... White Sugar free from bone char in NZ
... FREE Meet your Meat CDRoms
... How to offer your food to God
... You mean that's in the Bible?
... visit our Vegetarianism and Beyond Award winning web-site
... Kurma's new web-site
... The Meatrix
... Holiday Season & Xmas survival recipes

Krishna conscious - Vedikly acceptable jokes:
... cut loose have a laugh
... serious therapy in humour !!!
... did U ever wonder -  Ways of the world - Strange but true

Thanx 2 our sponsors and supporters:
... sponsorship and support
... add or remove - sub or unsub
... HELP !!!
... donations welcome

Now you can view the FULL years 1999-2000 & 2000-2001 & 2001-2002 & 2002-2003 & 2003-2004 & 2004-2005, and 2005-2006.
All Calendar entries are explained - Appearance or Disappearance days, festivals, fasts, feasts, etc.

View previous years festival dates on the Calendar:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2001-2002.htm
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2002-2003.html
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2003-2004.html
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2004-2005.html
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2005-2006.html
The coming year's Vaishnava Calendar for 2006-2007
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2006-2007.html

Second month of Chaturmasya begins. (Fast from yogurt for one month.)

Sri Krsna Janmastami: Appearance of Lord Sri Krsna - 16th August 2006 in NZ
 (Fasting till midnight - breakfast with Ekadasi style prasadam)

Sri Nandotsava - celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna

Srila A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada - Appearance - avirbhav (Fasting till noon) 17th August 2006 in NZ

Simha Sankranti (Sun enters Leo)

Fasting on Suddha Ekadasi for Paksa vardhini Mahadvadasi for Annada Ekadasi (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 20th August 2006  in NZ)

27th Aug 2006 Ganesh Chaturthi - ends 21:48 - do not look at the Moon

Srimati Sita Thakurani (Advaita's consort) - Appearance - Avirbhav

Sri Lalita sasti

Sri Radhastami : Srimati Radharani's Appearance - Friday 1st September 2006 in NZ  (Fasting till noon)

Father's Day -  1st Sunday in September in Aus & NZ - 3rd Sunday in June in US & UK

Fasting on Suddha Ekadasi for Parsva Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 4th Sept 2006  in NZ)

Sri Vamana Dvadasi - Appearance of Lord Vamandeva
(The fast is observed till noon on the Ekadasi.)(Feasting is done tomorrow.)

Srila Jiva Goswami - Appearance - Avirbhav

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur - Appearance  - Avirbhav Utsava (Fasting till noon)

Sri Ananta Chaturdasi Vrata
Srila Hari Das Thakur - Disappearance - Tirubhav
8th Sept 2006 - Partial Lunar Eclipse (do not cook, eat, etc. Only Chant Hare Krishna) see eclipses-page

Sri Visvarupa Mahotsava
Acceptance of sannyasa by Srila Prabhupada 1959 AD.
Srimad Bhagavatam Day
Third month of Chaturmasya begins.(Fast from milk for one month.)

Srila Prabhupada's arrival in the USA 1965

Kanya Sankranti (Sun enters Virgo)

Fasting on Suddha Ekadasi for Indira Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 18th Sept 2006  in NZ)

22nd Sept 2006 - Amavasya - Annular Solar Eclipse  (do not cook, eat, etc. Only Chant Hare Krishna) see eclipses-page

Sri Durga Puja

1st Oct World Vegetarian Day (every year)

Sri Ramachandra Vijayotsava (Vijay Dasami)
Sripad Madhvacharya - Appearance - Avirbhav mahotsav

Fasting on Suddha Ekadasi for Pasankusa Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 4th October 2006  in NZ)

Srila Raghunatha Das Goswami - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Sria Krsna Das Kaviraj Goswami - Disappearance - Tirubhav

Sri Krsna Saradiya Rasayatra
Sri Murari Gupta - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Sri Laksmi Puja

Fourth month of Chaturmasya (Karttika mase) begins. (Fast from urad dahl for one month.)

Srila Narottama Das Thakur - Disappearance - Tirubhav

Appearance of Radha Kunda prakat, snan dan
Sri Bahulastami

Sri Virachandra Prabhu (Virabhadra) - Appearance - Avirbhav

Fasting on Suddha Ekadasi for Ramaa Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 18th October 2006  in NZ)

Tula Sankranti (Sun enters Libra)

Sri Dipa dan, Dipavali, Diwali (Kalipuja) - Sunday 22nd October in NZ

Sri Govardhana Puja, Go Puja, Go krda (Worship of Govardhana Hill) - Monday 23rd October in NZ
Sri Bali Daityaraja Puja
Sri Rasikananda - Appearance - Avirbhav

Sri Vasudeva Ghosa - Disappearance - Tirubhav

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada - Disappearance - Tirubhav (Fasting till noon) Thurs 26th October in NZ

Sri Gopastami, Gosthastami
Sri Gadadhara Das Goswami - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Sri Dhananjaya Pandit - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Srinivasa Acharya - Disappearance - Tirubhav

Sri Jagaddhatri Puja

Srila Gaura Kishora das babaji - Disappearance - Tirubhav was on Ekadasi
(Fasting till noon)(Feasting is done tomorrow)

Sri Bhisma Pancaka

Fasting on Suddha Ekadasi for Utthana - Devotthani Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 2nd November 2006  in NZ)

Sri Bhugarbha Goswami - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Sri Kasisvara Pandit - Disappearance - Tirubhav

Sri Krsna Rasayatra - Kartika purnima
Sri Tulasi-Saligram Vivaha (marriage)
Sripad Nimbarkacharya – Appearance - Avirbhav
Chaturmasya vrata ends.(have some urud dal kachoris and urid dal popadam)

This year's full panjikam also now available for viewing:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2005-2006.html
The coming year's Vaishnava Calendar for 2006-2007
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2006-2007.html

All Calender information HERE
http://www.hknet.org.nz/CalendarWhosWho-page.htm

http://panjika.pagehere.com/

Check out the Ekadasi pages with links to every Ekadasi:
(also find out from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada what is, and what constitutes a mahadwadasi)
Find out about Dwadasi and Mahadwadasi here:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/dvadasi.htm

NEW EKADASI RECIPES:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/ekadasi-page.htm

kasmad ekadasi jata tasyah ko va vidhir dvija
kada va kriyate kim va phalam kim va vadasva me

ka va pujyatama tatra devata sad-gunarnava
akurvatah syat ko dosa etan me vaktum arhasi

"Oh Gurudeva! When did Ekadasi take birth and from whom did she appear? What are the rules of fasting on the Ekadasi? Please describe the benefits of following this vow and when it should be followed. Who is the utmost worshippable presiding deity of Sri Ekadasi? What are the faults in not following Ekadasi properly? Please bestow your mercy upon me and tell about these subjects, as you are the only personality able to do so."

Find out what was said HERE:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/ekadasi-page.htm
 

Download yourVaishnava Calendar and make a hard copy for this
All Vaishnava Calendar Information HERE (Downloads, Glossary, Calendars, Eclipses etc)

A New Face Lift for the old VCAL program - info page

Vaishnava Calendar Reminder Services
http://www.vaisnavacalendar.info/programs.htm

GBC Vaishnava Calendar Committee - Vaisnava Calendar Calculation
http://vcal.iskcongbc.org/

The present year's Vaishnava Calendar for 2005-2006
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2005-2006.html
(some selected locations are available already below)

Now available:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2006-2007.html

or if you can't do that and you'd like a Calendar for your longitude, latitude and time zone ANYWHERE in the world I can do that for you and e-mail it to you - FREE    Vaishnava Calendar Software 4.01

Vaishnava Calendar Program Vcal 4.01 FREE Download, and make your own Calendar:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/vcal401.zip

MAKE YOUR OWN CALENDAR FOR YOUR LOCATION,
no more dodgy calendars/panchangas/panjikas from India

...some already made for you http://www.hknet.org.nz/Cals2005-2006-World.html

Vaishnava Calendar maker for your region - on-line:
http://www.iskcondc.org/cgi-bin/vcalndx.pl

Astrologically/Astronomically Accurate and FREE

Please download the software from:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/vcal401.zip

How to use the VCAL calendar program:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/VcalHow2use.html

mailto:jtcd@xtra.co.nz

Vaishnava Calendar maker for your region - on-line:
http://www.iskcondc.org/cgi-bin/vcalndx.pl

Free Vaisnava Calendar Email Reminder Service
Website URL:  http://www.vaisnavacalendar.info

New service just launched - a Free Vaisnava Calendar Email Reminder Service (BETA) where devotees can sign up and receive automated location sensitive reminders of ekadasi's, festivals, appearance and disappearance days via email.

Festivals on the Vrindavan Calendar
http://www.naturalnirvana.com/Braja-Mandala/Braja-Mandal-Files/Braja-Vrindavan-Festivals.htm

Time Zones and Countries World-wide:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
Free Downloadable Vaishnava Reminder for your Desktop
This Vaishnava Calendar Reminder is so simple, so nice and so practical
It has a huge data base of Towns to choose from, and facility to add towns too.
This can be used in conjunction with all other software and URLs mentioned above.

New version 0.55a of Vaishnava Reminder is ready for use. (updated March 2006) (Click HERE for more details)
Check it at the http://vreminder.gauranga.in .

"This software aimed to be a personal information manager of anyone in Krishna's devotee community. Did you ever miss Ekadasi? With Vaishnava Reminder it will not be so easy - it alerts you about fasting days. Also it has built-in vaishnava calendar generator, to-do tasks, custom events, diary and panchang. And it is 100% free - just visit http://www.vreminder.tk and download it. It quietly sits in the system tray and alerts you when needed."

Vaisnava Reminder v.0.501a setup - 520 kb
http://vreminder.gauranga.in/setup-vr0501a.zip

Once you've downloaded it and installed it, you'll never want to be without it, I have it on my machine.

Here's a few Vaishnava Calendar locations around the World friends asked for us to post !!

Moonrise tool Free Download

Check the time of the Moon Rise locally in your area

Moonrise version 3.5 is a very simple to use, yet very accurate program. If you put it in your Startup folder, it will greet you everyday with the day's sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, and twilight times. You can easily see the next series of moon phases, and see a graphic of the current phase. You can find the same information for tomorrow, next week, forty years from now, or the day you were born with a few clicks of the mouse.

Moonrise is available in either 32 or 16 bit versions. You may download a free trial version from the download page.

http://htdconnect.com/~bsidell/download.htm

You will need to enter the latitude, longitude and time zone for your location. If you don't know yours

Newsletters:

Our Archives http://www.hknet.org.nz/Newsletter.html

Do you get the Hare Krishna Newsletter from Auckland?
If not send a message to Mother Madri to add yourself to their list:
mailto:madri@pamho.net
mailto:harekrishnanews_auck-owner@yahoogroups.com

See Auckland's latest newsletter HERE:

Christchurch Temple Times:
mailto:nitail@zfree.co.nz

Wellington Temple Newsletter:
mailto:jagjeevandas.mvgm@paradise.net.nz

Gaura Yoga Centre (Wellington) newsletter:
mailto:gaurayoga-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

...and across the ditch in Aus':
Brisbane temple newsletter
to subscribe - mailto:brisbane@pamho.net

Melbourne temple blog - Hare Krishna movement:
http://www.iskcon.net.au/

New Govardhan Newsletter (Murwillumbah)
contact Govinda Charan prabhu to subscribe - mailto:g.biswas@mullum.com.au

Sydney Temple Newsletter:
http://www.iskcon.com.au/Mailing_list.html

Other Journals, Newsletters, & KC WeBlogs:
Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad's Blogspot - All letters:
http://sangalog.blogspot.com/

Aisvarya prabhu's 'blog:
http://www.livejournal.com/~icemonger/

Aniruddha's blog: There's more comes out of the beadbag than just the finger...
http://www.iskcon.net.au/aniruddha/

Bala Gopala's Mrdanga (formerly Ekendra's Mrdanga)
http://www.gopala.org/
This is my new journal where I hope to contribute something worth reading to the world. The inspiration for this comes from Nectar of Devotion wherein it is stated that to reveal one's mind in confidence is one of the loving exchanges between Vaisnavas. Ekendra dasa.

CafeKrishna.com run by devotees from Pandava sena in the UK
http://cafekrishna.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

Candidasa dasa' Deltaflow Blog
http://www.deltaflow.com/index.php

The Conch newsletter - Radha Giridhari temple Auckland
http://www.hknet.org.nz/TheConch-newsletter.html (old)
http://www.iskconnz.com (The Auckland temple new site)
The Conch Newsletter is a subscription newsletter that is sent out in PDF format either as a printable attached file through e-mail, or hard-copy by snail mail. The newsletter is monthly, and compiled by Amrita-pani devi dasi in conjunction with the editorial advisor HH Mukunda Goswami.

Gauranga Sundara prabhu in Leicester (UK) Newsletter can be found at:
Current issue http://www.gauranga.org/files/newsletter_06.PDF
Back issues and all future issues can be found at: http://www.gauranga.org/newsletter_backissues.htm

Gopala Guru prabhu's blog on MSN - Religious Worship; Ever wonder what's it like to live the life of a Hare Krishna monk?
Visit this Space to find out.:
http://whatsyourstory.msn.com/
http://spaces.msn.com/members/gopalaguru/PersonalSpace.aspx

Hare Krishna Cultural Journal - Krishna-Kirti dasa in USA - A commentary on the culture, views and progress of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
http://siddhanta.com/weblogs/culture/

Indradyumna Swami's "Diary of a Travelling Preacher" blog:
http://blog.worldsankirtan.net/IDS/

ISKCON News.Net -  Blog Updates a compendium of news, with notices sent out by e-mail
http://www.iskconnews.net/

Jayadvaita Swami's blog - satyam param dhimahi
http://www.jswami.info/

Kavichandra Swami's Blog
http://www.kavicandraswami.info/
http://kavicandraswami.info/node/feed

Krishna conscious Podcasting
http://www.prabhupada.org/rama/?page_id=1405

Kurma prabhu's Travel Diary Blog:
Hello there ! I have a new Blog (weblog) Travel Diary. Follow my very latest culinary travels: http://www.kurma.net and click on the blog link right side of page.
Hope all is well with you. Happy cooking, Kurma

Namahatta.org - The Web-siteof ISKCON's Congregational Development Ministry
http://www.namahatta.org/nh2/

Prahladananda Swami's Health blog: On the road, Journal, Audio, Health, Photos etc
http://prahladanandaswami.net/blogs/index.php

Rati Manjari mataji - Every Town & Village - newsletter, which consists of a collective contribution from preachers throughout the UK. To view or download it click the link below:
http://www.gauranga.org/files/etav_02.PDF

You may need to install the latest version of Adobe's Acrobat Reader:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Sit Properly dot com - go to extras 4 the blog - lots of useful info especially for new devotees throughout site
http://www.sitproperly.com/index2.html

Umapati Swami's Blog - http://www.umapati.net/
You can contact me by e-mail at swami@umapati.net. I won't be publishing any comments, but I would be glad to hear from you if you would like to let me know what you think about the blog or if there is any topic you would like me to write about.
Your servant,  Umapati Swami

THE VEDIC THEATRE COMPANY - BRINGING THE ANCIENT VEDIC CLASSICS TO LIFE
http://vedic108.blogspot.com/

Vaishnava Blog Feeds
http://www.prabhupada.org/rama/

From the Virtual pen of Sita-pati dasa http://blog.worldsankirtan.net/sitapati/
News and views from Sita-pati dasa in Brisbane Australia.

Waves of Devotion | Journal - Writings and Realizations of His Holiness Dhanurdhara Swami
http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/index.html

The International Society for Education in Krsna Consciousness http://www.isekc.com/ has a Blog called Vaishnava Sanga which one can access from the ISEKC home page.

News stories, articles, comment, insights, features, and Vaisnava perspectives available on-line from http://www.iskcon.com/new/

Vraj journal
http://www.vrajajournal.com/

prausthapadyam paurnamasyam
hema-simha-samanvitam
dadati yo bhagavatam
sa yati paramam gatim

Srimad Bhagavad Gita AS IT IS

Bhagavad Gita:   Chapter 6 - Dhyana-yoga

TEXT 3
                          aruruksor muner yogam
                          karma karanam ucyate
                          yogarudhasya tasyaiva
                          samah karanam ucyate

   WORD FOR WORD

   aruruksoh--who has just begun yoga; muneh--of the sage; yogam--the eightfold yoga system; karma--work; karanam--the means; ucyate--is said to be; yoga--eightfold yoga; arudhasya--of one who has attained; tasya--his; eva--certainly; samah--cessation of all material activities; karanam--the means; ucyate--is said to be.

                               TRANSLATION

   For one who is a neophyte in the eightfold yoga system, work is said to be the means; and for one who is already elevated in yoga, cessation of all material activities is said to be the means.

PURPORT by HDG Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:

   The process of linking oneself with the Supreme is called yoga. It may be compared to a ladder for attaining the topmost spiritual realization. This ladder begins from the lowest material condition of the living entity and rises up to perfect self-realization in pure spiritual life. According to various elevations, different parts of the ladder are known by different names. But all in all, the complete ladder is called yoga and may be divided into three parts, namely jnana-yoga, dhyana-yoga and bhakti-yoga. The beginning of the ladder is called the yogaruruksu stage, and the highest rung is called yogarudha.

   Concerning the eightfold yoga system, attempts in the beginning to enter into meditation through regulative principles of life and practice of different sitting postures (which are more or less bodily exercises) are considered fruitive material activities. All such activities lead to achieving perfect mental equilibrium to control the senses. When one is accomplished in the practice of meditation, he ceases all disturbing  mental activities.

   A Krsna conscious person, however, is situated from the beginning on the platform of meditation because he always thinks of Krsna. And, being constantly engaged in the service of Krsna, he is considered to have ceased all material activities.

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with permission.

Bhagavad Gita As It Is - http://www.asitis.com/

Bhaktivedanta Vedabase - Bhagavad Gita on-line http://bhagavadgitaasitis.com/

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Bhagavad-gita As It Is  http://vedabase.net/bg/en

Bhagavad Gita Multi Media Web-version http://chantandbehappy.com/gita/

Listen to Bhagavad Gita on line - http://www.Gitamrta.org

View our Bhagavad Gita Overview:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/BG.html

Archive: http://www.cs.rice.edu/~vivek/btg/archive/
Home Page: http://www.cs.rice.edu/~vivek/btg/

Join Bhagavad Gita eGroups HERE
mailto:bhagavad_gita-owner@egroups.com

Prabhupada Uvacha:
(here's some nectar, sometimes it comes in the form of Srutakirti prabhu's diary, other times from Govinda dasi's diary, Hari Sauri prabhu's Transcendental Diary, or sometimes from a letter, or other related source, but still nectar...)

May 24th, 1976

In the car driving out for his morning walk, Srila Prabhupada sat back and laughingly exclaimed, "I have a new theory: Man is good, woman is good. But when they combine together they become bad!" This past December when he received a letter from Gurudasa Swami saying how pleased he was that Prabhupada had relieved him of his association with his wife Prabhupada had written this new "theory" back to him. He has practical experience of how nicely his male and female disciples serve, but how much disturbance comes as soon as they combine. Still, it cannot be avoided and he has to push on, encouraging them all to chant and do as much as they can. He said that being married is better than being what he calls a "bachelor daddy." This is another term he has coined to refer to men who refuse to get married but still associate with women. They pose as brahmacaris, but their real mentality is to simply avoid responsibility; they are not actually detached. Although Srila Prabhupada sometimes laughs about it, as he mentioned yesterday in class, he does not find this kind of hypocrisy at all welcome.

- From the "A Transcendental Diary Vol 2" by HG Hari Sauri dasa

To receive little snippets of nectar like this on a daily basis subscribe HERE: or If you want to introduce anyone else in reading Srila Prabhupada Nectars, please send their eMail addresses to mailto:krpamaya_gauranga@hotmail.com

Please Chant:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Listen to Srila Prabhupad on-line
....a different lecture, morning walk, conversation or class daily.

"God Is Individual Person"

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.12 -- New York, March 7, 1966

Listen to the entire lecture on-line:
http://prabhupadaradio.com/M3U/Gita/m3u/GT057.m3u

Prabhupada: So last day we were speaking about the eleventh, eleventh, Second Chapter, eleventh verse. Just read it. Second Chapter, eleventh verse.

Devotee: "In fact, there was never..." "Arjuna, you grieve over those who should not be grieved for, and yet speak like the learned wise men who do not sorrow over the dead or the living."

Prabhupada: Yes. You have marked it? With pen? Yes. So we have finished this sloka. The next verse is

na tv evaham jatu nasam
na tvam neme janadhipah
na caiva na bhavisyamah
sarve vayam atah param
 [Bg. 2.12]

What is the translation?

Devotee: "In fact there was never a time when I was not, or you or these kings were not, nor is it a fact that hereafter we shall cease to be."

Prabhupada: Yes. Now...

Devotee: "...we shall ever..."

Prabhupada: Krsna is trying to convince Arjuna that death does not take place. He says clearly that "Myself -- I am the Supreme God, Krsna -- yourself, you, and all the other kings and the soldiers, those who have assembled in this great battlefield, it is not that in the past, we were not existing. And in the present, we are now face to face. We are seeing that we are existing. And in the future, we shall also exist in the same way." "In the same way" means individually. Just like I am an individual person. You are an individual person. He is an individual person. So I, you, he, or they -- first person, second person and the third person -- so that individuality continues. Individuality of every living being is a fact. Therefore in the actual field also, we see that we have got difference of opinion. What I think, you may not agree with me because you have got your individuality. Similarly, your thinking may not be agreed by another gentleman. So everyone has got his individuality. That is a fact. Not that the... Just like there is a class of philosophers who says that the soul is a homogeneous, one entity, and after the destruction, after the annihilation of this body, the soul, as a substance, will mix up. Just like water. You keep in different pots. In different pots you keep water. So the water takes the shape of the pot, the bowl, round bowl. You keep water. The water takes the shape of round. So similarly, there are thousands of, or millions of, waterpots, and suppose all the waters are mixed up. Then there is no distinction. Just like they were in the pots. So their theory is that when a soul is liberated then the, that it mixes up with the Supersoul. Just like a drop water taken from the sea water and again put it into the sea, it mixes up. It loses its identity.

continued.......................

Lord Shiva in Gita Mahatmya, states that "only one God - Krishna, the son of Devaki" (Verse 7). In the Padma Purana it is stated, "By scrutinizingly reviewing all the revealed scriptures and judging them again and again, it is now concluded that Lord Narayana is the Supreme Absolute Truth, and thus He alone should be worshipped". Similarly it is said in the Skanda Purana, "In the material world, which is full of darkness and dangers, combined with birth and death and full of different anxieties, the only way to get out of the great entanglement is to accept loving transcendental devotional service to Lord Vasudeva. This is accepted by all classes of philosophers".

The position of Krishna as God is confirmed by great personalities like Narada, Asita, Devala, Vyasa, Parasara, Brahma and Shiva. Finally Krishna Himself confirms this fact in the Bhagavad-gita to His friend and devotee, Arjuna. He clearly says that He is "the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods" (BG 5.29), that "there is no truth superior to Me" (BG 7.7) and - "I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me" (BG 10.8).

What is the position of Krishna?

As God, there is no one equal to or greater than Krishna. He is the original, unborn, eternal person, the most ancient, completely independent, and the cause of all causes. Parasara Muni, the father of Srila Vyasadeva and a great scholar who had himself held the position of Vyasa in a previous kalpa, very nicely defines the position of Bhagavan (God) as one Who is complete in six kinds of opulence namely - wisdom, beauty, fame, power, wealth and renunciation. While there are many great personalities who are very famous or very wealthy, only Krishna as God is replete in all six opulence.

The scriptures not only give us the unique position of Krishna but also give us a detailed description of all His aspects. They tell us that above this temporary material universe is an eternal spiritual world called Vaikuntha, and Krishna lives in the topmost planet of this universe called Goloka Vrindavana which is full of palaces made of touch-stone (cintamani), with trees that are capable of fulfilling all desires (kalpa-vraksha) and cows that are called Surabhi.

Here Krishna eternally resides, served by hundreds and thousands of goddesses of fortune. He sports with His most confidential and intimate devotees, headed by Srimati Radharani. He has a form just like us but His body is spiritual and thus eternal. His complexion is dark-blue, like that of a rain-filled cloud and His eyes are like lotus petals. He is ever youthful, full of bliss and His beauty excels that of thousands of cupids. He likes to play the flute, He sports a crown with a peacock feather and He is adorned by the exquisite kastuba jewel.

What is Krishna avatar?

In Chaitanya-charitamrita (2.20.263-264) it is stated that the "avatar, or incarnation of Godhead, descends from the kingdom of God for creating and maintaining the material manifestation. And the particular form of the Personality of Godhead who so descends is called an incarnation, or avatar. Such incarnations are situated in the spiritual world, the kingdom of God. When They descend to the material creation, They assume the name avatar."

The Srimad Bhagavatam states that there are countless incarnations just like the waves of the oceans. They fall in various categories like lila (pastime), yuga (period of yuga), manavantara (period of Manu), purusa (Vishnu expansions) and shaktivesa (empowered). These avatars perform various pastimes based on the time, place and circumstances, but their purpose is always the same - "to attract the conditioned souls back to their eternal spiritual abode".

The incarnations emanate from Vishnu. Maha-Vishnu is the original cause of all material creation and from Him Garbhodakashai-Vishnu expands and then Ksirodakasayi-Vishnu. Generally all incarnations appearing within the material world are plenary portions of Ksirodakasayi-Vishnu (also known as Hari).

However only once in a day of Lord Brahma (which lasts for 4.32 billion of our years), does Krishna descend in His original form, as the avataree, the cause of all avatars. When Krishna appears all the incarnations join with Him. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the complete whole and all the plenary portions and incarnations always live with Him. So when Krishna appeared, Lord Vishnu was always with Him, and while Krishna enjoyed His pastimes in Vrindavan, the killing of the demons was actually carried out by the His Vishnu portion. Since Krishna eternally resides in Vrindavan, when He left Vrindavan at the age of ten, it was His Vasudeva expansion that actually left.

Appearance of Krishna

In the era of the Svayambhuva Manu, prajapati Sutapa and his wife Prsni were instructed by Lord Brahma to have progeny. They performed severe austerities for twelve thousand years of the demigods to have the Lord as their child. Pleased by their austerities the Lord appeared and granted them this benediction. Since He gave them this benediction three times, in Satya-yuga He first appeared as the son of Prsni and Sutapa and was called Prsnigarba. In Treta-yuga they were Aditi and Kasyapa Muni and the Lord appeared as Vamanadeva. Finally in the Dvapara yuga, Krishna in His original form, appeared as the child of Devaki and Vasudeva.

Krishna appeared specifically on the request of Bhudevi, the presiding deity of the Earth planet. Distressed by the burden of many demons who had appeared as powerful Kshatriyas and were ruling the planet impiously, she assumed the form of a cow and pleaded to Lord Brahma for help. Lord Brahma with all the demigods prayed to Lord Vishnu in Svetadvipa by chanting the Purusa-sukta prayers. At this time the Lord informed Brahma that in order to establish religiosity and destroy evil, He would soon appear as His original Self. In the meantime the various demigods were instructed to take birth in various families in the Yadu dynasty and prepare for the appearance of the Lord.

Lifeline of Sri Krishna

Historically, Lord Krishna appeared in the Dvapara yuga, on the midnight of the 8th day of the dark half of the month of Sravan. This corresponds to July 19th in the year 3228 BC. ( important NOTE) He exhibited His pastimes for a little over 125 years and disappeared on February 18th 3102 BC on the new moon night of Phalgun. His departure marks the beginning of the current age of corruption known as Kali.

The great scholar Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti neatly outlines Lord Krishna's activities in this way. He was born in Mathura in the prison cell of Kamsa and carried to Gokul. The first three years and four months were spent in Gokula, then equal lengths of time in Vrindavan and Nandagram. At the age of eleven He left Vrindavan for Mathura where He lived for eighteen years and four months, and finally ninety-six years and eight months in Dvaraka totaling about 126 years of manifest pastimes. At the time of Mahabharata, when Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita, He was about ninety years of age.

Pastimes of Krishna

The tenth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam describes the activities and transcendental pastimes of Sri Krishna. They are also described in the epic Mahabharata, specially in the Bhishma parva which also contains the Bhagavad-gita. The pastimes of Krishna appeal to the liberated souls, those that are trying to get liberated and also to the gross materialists.

The pastimes of Sri Krishna, known as Krishna-katha fall into two categories. Words spoken by Krishna, as the Bhagavad-gita, and words spoken about Krishna, as in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Souls in the liberated stage derive great pleasure in relishing anything and everything related to Krishna. For those that are trying to be liberated, Krishna-katha makes their path of liberation very clear. By studying the Gita one becomes fully conscious of the position of Sri Krishna; and when one is situated at the lotus feet of the Lord, he understands the narration's of Krishna as described in the Srimad Bhagavatam.

Even the gross materialists are attracted by the pleasure pastimes of Krishna with the Gopis and His wives. Even though the loving affairs of Krishna have nothing to do with the gross, mundane sex affairs, they attract the people engrossed in sense-gratification and gradually elevate them to higher levels of spirituality.

Causeless mercy of Krishna

Even though Krishna is completely self sufficient and self satisfied, He descends for the benefit of all the conditioned souls. His most endearing quality is that of "bhakta vatsala". His pure devotees are always trying to please Him, and He is always trying to please His devotees. Just as He lives in the heart of His devotees, His devotees constantly reside in Him.

Krishna is so merciful that He not only helps His devotees, but also those who are envious of Him. Krishna destroys evil by providing them with an opportunity to take up devotion.

On the greatly auspicious day of Krishna-Janamashtami, let us all pray to Sri Krishna for a drop of His causeless mercy, for only that alone is sufficient to take us out from this material word, back home, back to Godhead.

The time for an appearance of the Lord coincided with two internal desires of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. First the Lord desired to descend on earth to increase the fortune of Yasoda and Nanda. Also at that time Krishna wanted to relish the sweet mellow of smgara rasa (paramour love) while enacting His worldly pastimes. For these two reasons the Lord appeared within the material creation on Bhuloka, (earth planet), along with His parents, friends, and other eternal associates.

Another distinction of Lord Krishna's earthly pastimes is that when the eternally liberated gopis such as Srimati Radharani, Candravali, and others appeared, the Srutis personified also appeared in the homes of other gopis, because they had previously cultivated the desire to serve Sri Krishna as Vraja gopis. The Dandakaranya sages, upon seeing the svakiya bhava (the sweet conjugal relationship) of Lord Ramacandra and Sitadevi, desired to have the same relationship with their Lord Madana Gopala. Upon attaining perfection in their sadhana they achieved the fortunate position of appearing as gopis in Vrindavan. Yogamaya, Lord Krishna's pastime potency who possesses unlimited abilities, appeared invisibly in Gokula to arrange this, and perform other difficult tasks on behalf of the Lord.

Sri Nanda, Yasoda, and others appeared in Brhadvana (Mahavana) before the Lord. The gopas, gopis, and other eternally liberated associates appeared after the Lord. Then those who had attained perfection by sadhana, namely the sruti-caris and muni-caris, took birth in Vrindavan.

Learning of Krishna's imminent appearance, the earth personified, feeling like a wife happily greeting her husband after a long separation, immersed in unlimited joy. At the time of Krishna's birth the general mass of people tasted the inner bliss that devotees forever relish. Auspicious signs abounded everywhere. As Visnu's conchshell Pancajanya opens in a clockwise fashion, similarly, auspicious sacrificial fires glowed in all directions. Pure gentle breezes brought a refreshing coolness like devotees who satisfy and sanctify everyone with their calm, sweet, and affectionate behavior.

The whole atmosphere became as completely purified as the heart of a devotee. The devotees once again found peace and prosperity in worshiping the lotus feet of Lord Hari. Fruits filled the jubilant trees. But the envious demons exhibited various inauspicious signs of degradation such as rapidly aging bodies and symptoms of imminent death. The desire vines of the celestial denizens seemed to be hanging in the air as if eager to produce fruits. At that time all the directions became felt as pure and joyful as the mind of a devotee who has received the mercy of Lord Hari. Just as gems, mantras, or medicines can a remove a poisonous disease from the body of a man, the advent of the Lord relieved the world from the contamination of material existence and the sinful effect of the demons. Happiness gradually replaced the distress in everyone's hearts.

The bodies of all creatures manifested extraordinary beauty and youthful vitality. Men felt extremely joyful and displayed virtuous qualities. Throughout the world people behaved cordially and interacted amicably. Happiness twinkled in everyone's eye. At the end of Dvapara-yuga, which completely destroys faults and doubts, an auspicious, favorable, obstacle-free time appeared on the eighth day of the waning moon in Bhadra month. Just at that sweet moment the Rohini Naksatra, along with the good qualities of the moon and an auspicious conjunction of stars called Ayusman, appeared in the sky to give shelter to gentle persons.

As the living entity comes out from the womb of his mother and the moon appears on the lap of the eastern direction, Yogesvara Sri Krishna, the personification of complete bliss, appeared amidst great festivities. As the moon appears in the lap of the eastern direction, which is like a beautiful bride, Krishna manifested the wonderful pastime of His appearance out of His love and compassion for the conditioned souls.

Due to austerities performed in previous lives, Vasudeva and Devaki received the opportunity to momentarily relish parental affection for Lord Sri Krishna when He appeared before them in His form as Vasudeva. Thereafter in fear of Kamsa, Vasudeva brought Vasudeva Krishna to Gokula. There the Supreme Lord appeared as Govinda before Nanda and Yasoda, His eternal parents who have been smothering Him with the sweetest form of parental love since time immemorial. The four symbols of Visnu (sankha, cakra, gada, padmd) adorned His hands and feet. The flute, flower garland, and kaustubha mani, although present within Him, had not yet manifested.

In fear of cruel Kamsa, Vasudeva decided to transfer all his wives except Devaki to Gokula. He sent Rohini to the house of Vrajaraja Nanda. By the sweet will of the Lord, Yogamaya arranged for the seventh child of  Devaki (Balarama) to enter the womb of Rohini. As a result, Balarama appeared in the home of Vrajaraja Nanda before the birth of Krishna.

Lord Hari, who is bliss personified, appeared in the home of Nanda Maharaja, the king of Vrindavan for three reasons: to engage the self satisfied sages in devotional service, to please the devotees by performing sweet transcendental pastimes, and to relieve the earth's burden caused by the demons. At the time of His majestic birth Krishna employed His inconceivable powers to appear in a body of eternity, bliss and knowledge. Everyone in the maternity room swelled with joy upon seeing the Lord's exquisite transcendental form that looked like a creeper of beauty.

Mother Yasoda resembled a lake of spiritual ecstasy in which a brilliant blue lotus of personified bliss had appeared. Neither the wind nor the bees relished the fragrance of that blue lotus. That unborn lotus was never touched by the waves of the modes of nature. Even Lord Brahma could not see it, what to speak of ordinary men.

After Yasoda and her family members fell asleep in the maternity room, Hari cried beautifully like a newborn baby. His crying sounded like the maha-vakya omkara announcing the auspicious arrival of His pastimes. Omkara is a transcendental vibration that had previously emanated from the mouth of Lord Brahma. When the ladies of Vrindavan heard the sweet sound of Krishna's crying, they woke up and ran to see the Lord. With the mellow of their matchless overflowing affection they anointed His body.

The natural fragrance of Krishna's body smelled just like musk. After the ladies bathed Krishna hi sweet ambrosia, He looked cleansed and beautiful. Then they smeared His body with fragrant sandalwood pulp. The presiding deity of the house sent a campaka flower resembling the flame of a lamp into the maternity room to worship that ornament of the three worlds. With the strength of His little arms, delicate as the tender leaves of a tree, Krishna made all the lamps in the maternity room look like a garland of lotus flower buds.

The ladies of Vrindavan saw baby Krishna like a blossoming flower made of the best of blue sapphires, or like a newly unfurled leaf of a tamala tree. Krishna looked like a fresh rain cloud decorated with the musk tilaka of the goddess of fortune of the three worlds. The ointment of the greatest auspiciousness lined His eyes. His presence filled the maternity room with good fortune. Although a mere baby, Krishna had a head full of curly hair. To hide the unique signs on His hands (goad, fish, conch etc.) the Lord folded His delicate petal-like fingers into His lotus palm. At that time Krishna laid on His back with His eyes closed.

Mother Yasoda awoke amidst the joyous chattering of the elderly gopis. Leaning over the bed she admired her gorgeous son. But upon noticing her own reflection on Krishna's body, she imagined it another woman. Thinking that a witch had assumed her form to kidnap Krishna, Yasoda became bewildered and yelled, "Get out of here! You go away!" Spontaneously she cried out to Nrsimhadeva to protect her precious son. Beholding Krishna's tender face, Yasoda showered tears of affection that looked like an offering of a pearl necklace.

Yasoda saw Krishna's body as a mound of dark blue musk, softer than the butter churned from the milk ocean. Overflowing with nectar, His charming body appeared like the foam of milk, but being dark blue in color it seemed the foam was full of musk juice. Admiring the supremely delicate form of her son, Yasoda worried about His safety and feared the touch of her body might hurt his tender body.

As she leaned over the bed Yasoda bathed Krishna with the milk dripping from her breasts. The elderly gopis instructed Yasoda how to caress the baby in her lap, and affectionately push the nipple of her breast into Krishna's mouth to feed Him. Due to Yasoda's intense love, personified bliss flowed from her breasts as steady streams of milk. When milk sometimes spilled out of Krishna's bimba fruit red lips onto His cheeks, Mother Yasoda would wipe His face with the edge of her cloth. After feeding her son, Yasoda gazed affectionately at Him in wonder.

She saw her child's body as made of dazzling blue sapphires. His mouth resembled a red bimba fruit and His hands and feet looked like exquisite rubies. Krishna's nails shone like precious gems. In this way, Yasoda thought her child was completely made of jewels. Then she perceived that His naturally reddish lips looked like bandhuka flowers, His hands and feet resembled Java flowers, His nails looked like maJlika flowers. Yasoda then thought, "Krishna's whole body seems to be made of blue lotus flowers. He does not appear to be mine." After thus deliberating within herself Yasoda became stunned in amazement.

The beautiful, soft curly hairs on the right side of Krishna's chest resembled the tender stems of a lotus. Seeing the mark of Srivatsa on His chest, Yasoda thought it was breast milk that had previously spilled out of His mouth. She tried unsuccessfully to remove these 'milk stains' with the edge of her cloth. Struck with wonder, Yasoda thought this must be the sign of a great personality. Observing the sign of Laksmi (a small golden line) on the left side of Krishna's chest, Yasoda thought a small yellow bird had made a nest amidst the leaves of a tamala tree. Could this be a streak of lightning resting on a rain cloud, or could it be the golden streaks marking a black gold-testing stone? Krishna's delicate, leaf-like hands and feet, glowing pink like the rising sun, looked like clusters of lotus flowers floating in the Yamuna.

Sometimes Yasoda saw the curly, dark blue locks of baby Krishna as a swarm of bumblebees surrounding His face. Intoxicated from drinking too much honey nectar, the bees just hovered in the sky. His thick, beautiful blue hair appeared like the dark night. The two lotus eyes of Krishna looked like a pair of blue lotus buds. His cheeks resembled two huge bubbles floating in a lake of liquefied blue sapphires. Krishna's attractive ears looked like a pair of fresh unfurled leaves growing on a blue creeper.

The tip of Krishna's dark nose appeared like the sprout of a tree, and His nostrils looked like bubbles in the Yamuna River, the daughter of the sun god. His lips resembled a pair of red Java flower buds. Krishna's chin rivaled a pair of ripe, redjambu fruits. Seeing the extraordinary beauty of her son fulfilled the purpose of her eyes and submerged Yasoda in an ocean of bliss. The elderly Vrajavasi ladies addressed Vrajaraja Nanda, "O most fortunate one, you fathered a son!" Previously Nanda Maharaja had felt deeply aggrieved over his long-standing inability to obtain a son. His heart was like a small lake that had completely dried up during a long hot summer. But when Nanda Maharaja heard of his son's birth he felt as if the dry lake of his heart had been blessed with a sudden downpour of nectar. The gentle sound of Krishna's voice removed all his grief and lamentation. Now he bathed in the rains of bliss, swam in the ocean of nectar, and felt embraced by the joyful stream of the celestial Ganges.

Eager to see his son, Nanda's body thrilled with astonishment and waves of ecstasy as he stood outside the maternity room. Because he had accumulated heaps of pious activities, it appeared that the King of Vrindavan was now shaking hands with the personification of pious deeds. Anxiously standing in the background, Yogamaya induced Nanda Maharaja to enter the maternity room. He rushed in to see his son, the personified seed of condensed bliss. It seemed that all the auspiciousness of the three worlds now resided within Krishna, the original cause of everything. Nanda saw his son as a perfectly charming person. The kajala around Krishna's eyes looked like lines on a black creeper of beauty. As the very embodiment of Nanda's good fortune, Sri Krishna bloomed like a beautiful flower in a garden of desire trees.

The aparajita flower is compared to the body of the Queen of Vrindavan. Her son is like the representative of the Upanisads that are compared to the fruit of the desire creepers. By seeing his glorious son Nanda felt that he had attained happiness, perfection, and the fulfillment of all his desires. Meeting that embodiment of bliss overwhelmed Nanda with immeasurable satisfaction. He stood motionless, stunned; his hair stood erect and tears flowed from his eyes. He appeared like a person carved in stone or a figure drawn in a painting. For some time Nanda Maharaja remained in this semi-conscious state like a sleeping man about to awaken.

Upananda, Sunanda, and other relatives felt extremely joyful while observing the best ofbrahmanas perform the rites of purification for Krishna's birth. To insure his son's welfare Nanda Maharaja donated newborn calves to each and every brahmana, thus turning their homes into abodes of surabhi cows. These cows had gold and silver plated horns and hooves, and jeweled necklaces adorning their necks. In addition, Vrajapati Nanda filled the courtyards of their homes with hills of gold, jewels, and sesame seeds. While Nanda distributed charity, the kamadhenus, touch- stones, and desire-trees lost their power to produce valuable items. Even the jewel-producing oceans lost their stock of jewels, and the goddess of fortune, the abode of lotuses, had but one lotus in her hand. The auspicious news of Krishna's wonderful appearance spread in all directions by word of mouth. Delight danced in the hearts of Nanda, his brothers Upananda and Sunanda, and all the other gopas. The gopas brought many varieties of delicious dairy products such as milk, yogurt, butter, wet cheese, and hard cheese in jewel-studded pots. The pots were tied to the ends of bamboo poles with jute straps and carried on their shoulders. Bedecked with many precious jeweled ornaments, the gopas appeared very handsome. They dressed in beautiful yellow cloth defeating the brilliance of lightning, and held staffs topped with gold and jewels in their lotus hands. As a great ocean spreads its waves in all directions, the birth of Krishna filled the Vrajavasis with unbounded bliss. The gopas and gopis enjoyed a grand festival by happily eating and by splashing each other's bodies with a mixture of yogurt, butter, milk, and condensed milk. The society girls visiting Nanda Maharaja's house experienced more happiness than they had ever felt since their birth. Their minds saturated with joy and satisfaction. Hearing the delightful description of Krishna's birth carried away the chariots of their minds and made them abandon all other duties. They became possessed with the desire to see Krishna.

Sparkling rubies hung from the necklaces adorning the society girls. Their diamond-studded armlets shown more beautifully than drops of crystal clear water. Their jewel inlaid golden bangles boasted unparalleled elegance. For this unique festival they took out some highly ornamental waist-belts from their jewel boxes and tied them around their hips. The sweet jingling of the waist-bells resting on their broad hips enhanced the beauty of these society girls. They attracted the minds of everyone with their bulky golden anklets, loosened hair braids, and graceful gait, which resembled the smooth gliding of swans. Their minds entered a state of enchantment as they gazed upon the captivating beauty of Krishna's transcendental body. To worship Krishna they brought golden trays full of auspicious articles such as fruits, flowers, yogurt, durva grass, uncooked rice, and jewel bedecked lamps. They covered the offering plates with splendid yellow silk cloth and held them in their soft lotus hands. Their jeweled ankle-bells vibrated pleasantly as they walked.

Beholding the astounding beauty of the delicate baby, the society girls considered the purpose of their eyes fulfilled. They perceived Krishna's perfect birth to be like the appearance of the leaves of an important herbal medicine. Krishna resembled a blue lotus floating hi the lake of His parent's affection. After bestowing their blessings for Krishna's prosperity, they worshiped Krishna with fresh flowers and a constant shower of loving glances. With great enthusiasm the society girls glorified Vrajesvari Yasoda since she had attained the essence of all good fortune by having Krishna as her son. Leaving the maternity room, the society girls entered the assembly hall of Nanda Maharaja's palace. Their faces looked exceedingly beautiful as they sung melodious songs, which resembled the soft sweet humming of bees moving amidst a cluster of lotus flowers. All the guests bathed in a nectar shower produced by these soothing sounds. Overwhelmed with love, they filled then- lotus palms with fragrant oil, turmeric paste, and fresh butter and started smearing each other's faces and bodies. They looked very attractive with then* smiling faces and glittering white teeth.

Then: red lips seemed more beautiful than red bandhuka flowers. This incredible display of elegance smashed the pride of the goddess of fortune of the three worlds. Carried away with joy over Krishna's birth, they fearlessly threw cheese balls, butter, and yogurt at each other. One could mistake the white balls of cheese for hailstones, solidified moonlight, or white mud from the floor of the milk ocean. Then they showered each other with buttermilk, aromatic oils, and water mixed with turmeric.

Cymbals, damru drums, bherries, and big drums vibrated auspicious sounds hi specific melodies. A celestial concert of precise poetical meters, proper rhythms, and metrical compositions suddenly manifested there. The musical ensemble inspired the society girls to sing and dance in mirth and merriment. Though not good singers, by the will of the Lord they sang with great virtuoso. Then" wonderful songs filled Nanda Maharaja's heart with joy. The combined vibrations of brahmanas' chanting Vedic hymns, the recitation of Purank lore, and the panegyrists' prayers transformed the ethers into sabda brahman,

The joy of Krishna's birth celebration taxed the drains of Nanda's capital city as they swelled to the brim with milk, yogurt, and other auspicious liquids. Soon rivers of this nectar flooded the streets of the town and permeated the entire atmosphere with a sweet fragrance. Disguising themselves as birds, the demigods descended to Vrajapura to happily drink the flood of nectar. The Vrajavasis decorated their cows with gold and jeweled ornaments. Then in great excitement they smeared them with oil, fresh butter, and turmeric paste. Beholding Krishna in their hearts, these fortunate cows looked like the essence of the earth's auspicious-ness. The whole world resounded with their jubilant bellowing. Absorbed in the ecstasy of Krishna's birth, they forgot about eating and drinking.

The festival drowned the gopis in an ocean of joy. After offering oil, vermilion, garlands, and utensils in charity to all the assembled gopis, Rohini, the wife of Vasudeva, asked them to bless Krishna, Upon completion of the sacrifice, Upananda and the other relatives felt constant happiness while taking their baths. Keeping the King of Vrindavan in the front, Nanda's relatives offered opulent cloth, jeweled ornaments, tambula, garlands, and sandalwood pulp to the guests. Then they humbly requested all in attendance to bless that wonderfully auspicious boy who had just appeared in Vrindavan.

Hare Krishna!

"O Lord, You are the personification of all religion. Therefore You manifest Yourself in three millenniums, and thus You protect this universe, which consists of animate and inanimate beings. By Your grace, which is of pure goodness and is the bestower of all blessings, kindly drive away the elements of rajas and tamas for the sake of the demigods and twice-born."
(Srimad Bhagavatam 3.16.22)

courtesy of www.Vedabase.com

"'The transcendental form of Krsna is shown to the world by Lord Krsna's internal, spiritual energy, which is a transformation of pure goodness. This jewellike form is the most confidential treasure of the devotees. This form is manifested from Krsna's eternal pastimes.'"
(Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya lila 21.103)

courtesy of www.Vedabase.com

"`When devotional service is executed on the transcendental platform of pure goodness, it is like a sun-ray of love for Krsna. At such a time, devotional service causes the heart to be softened by various tastes, and one is then situated in bhava [emotion].'"
Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 23.5

Courtesy of http://www.vedabase.com/ used with permission

The following Sections are from Sri Gaudiya Kantahara

The Glories of the Qualities of the Supreme Lord

13.34

ätmärämäç ca munayo nirgranthä apy urukrame
kurvanty ahaitukéà bhaktim ittham-bhüta-guëo hariù

    All varieties of ätmärämäs, especially those established on the path of self-realization, though freed from all kinds of material bondage, desire to render unalloyed devotional service to the Personality of Godhead. This means the Lord has transcendental qualities and therefore can attract everyone, including even liberated souls. (Bhäg. 1.7.10)

Näma-kértana is the Best

13.35

paraà çrémat padämbhoja-sadä-saìgaty apekñayä
näma-saokértana-präyäm viçuddhäà bhaktimäcara

    O Gopa Kumära! If you desire to have the eternal association of the lotus feet of the Lord then you should perform pure devotional service which is prominent in chanting of the holy name. (Båhad-bhägavatämåta 2.3.144)

Näma-kértana is the Only Way in Kali-yuga

13.36

harer näma harer näma harer nämaiva kevalam
kalau nästy eva nästy eva nästy eva gatir anyathä

    The name of Hari, the name of Hari, the name of Hari is absolutely the only way, the only way, the only way in this age of Kali. There is absolutely no other way. (Cc. Ädi 17.21)

The Harinäma Verse Explained

13.37

kali-käle näma-rüpe kåñëa-avatära
näma haite haya sarva-jagat-nistära
däròhya lägi' 'harer näma'-ukti tina-vära
jaòa loka bujhäite punaù 'eva'-kära
'kevala'-çabde punarapi niçcaya-karaëa
jïäna-yoga-tapa-karma-ädi niväraëa
anyathä ye mäne, tära nähika nistära
nähi, nähi, nähi—e tina 'eva'-kära

    In this age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra, is the incarnation of Kåñëa. Simply by chanting these names, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered. This verse repeats the word eva (certainly) three times for emphasis. It also repeats three times the words harer näma just to make common people understand. The use of the word kevala (only) prohibits all other processes, such as cultivation of knowledge, practice of mystic yoga, and performance of austerities and fruitive activities. (Cc. Ädi 17.22-25)

Smaraëa

13.38

etävän säokhya-yogäbhyäà sva-dharma-pariniñöhayä
janma-läbhaù paraù puàsäm ante näräyaëa-småtiù

    The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by practice or mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the time of death. (Bhäg. 2.1.6)

The Results of Remembering Material Subjects
vs. that of Remembering Kåñëa

13.39

viñayän dhyäyataç cittaà viñayeñu viñajjate
mäm anusmarataç cittaà mayy eva praviléyate

    One who meditates on the objects of the senses becomes attached to those things. One who remembers Me, however, becomes absorbed in Me. (Bhäg. 11.14.27).

The Results of Remembering Kåñëa

13.40

avismåtiù kåñëa-padäravindayoù
kñiëoty abhadräëi ca çaà tanoti
sattvasya çuddhià paramätma-bhaktià
jïänaà ca vijïäna-viräga-yuktam

    For one who remembers the lotus feet of Kåñëa, all inauspiciousness soon disappears, and one's good fortune expands. In other words, one becomes free from all material contamination, one attains liberation from repeated birth and death and one's real spiritual life begins. As one's heart becomes gradually purified, one's devotion for the Lord within the heart awakens, and one realizes the Paramatma. Thus one gradually develops knowledge (jïäna), realization (vijïäna), and renunciation (vairägya). (Bhäg. 12.12.55)

Take a mini-pilgrimage to Mathura and Vrindavan on-line - you will not be disappointed:
http://www.vrindavan-dham.com/general.php

The wonders of Vraja Mandala Parikrama
http://www.touruniversal.com/

Take a Transcendental Pilgrimage here to many sacred places
http://www.vaisnava.cz/index_en.php3

Sacred places in India
http://www.vaisnava.cz/ind_en.html

Where to stay in Sri Vrindavan Dham?

(MVT) Mayapur  - Vrindavan Trust Guest House
http://www.mvtindia.com/mvt.htm
MVT - Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg,
Raman Reti, Vrindavana - 281 124 (U.P.) INDIA
Tel: (0091)-565-2540050, 2540078, 2540079
Fax: (0091)-565-2540073

Dhananjaya dasa ACBSP
email: mvt@pamho.net

Sadhana Kunj Guest House (beside MVT)
Raman Reti, Vrindavan Dham 281 124

ph: 0091 - 565 2540670

Madhu Kanta dasa
e-mail: Sadhana.kunj.Mkd@pamho.net
e-mail: onkarnathdas@sancharnet.in

Pictures of Prabhupad in Australia and Indonesia:
http://www.iskcon.net/gauranga/ppad.htm

taken by Amogha prabhu ACBSP

Prabhupad photo gallery - US:
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/srila_prabhupada_photo_gallery.htm
compiled by Srinandanandana prabhu ACBSP

Prabhupad in Vrindavan picture Gallery
http://www.vrindavan-dham.com/prabhupada-vrindavan.php

Krishna Balaram temple and huge amount of links to all Vrindavan sites
http://www.vrindavan-dham.com/iskcon/

Krishna Balaram mandir Festival Photo galleries
http://www.vrindavan.com/darshan/albums.php

Mayapur Vrindavan Trust - Vrindavan
http://www.mvtindia.com/

Mayapur Chandradoya Mandir - Festival etc 2005
http://www.mayapur.info/
(this site is no longer being updated see http://www.mayapur.com for Mayapur site now)

http://64.28.101.188/iskcon_mayapur/iskcon_mayapur.html

Mayapur Chandradoya Mandir
http://www.mayapur.com

Pancha Tattva come to Mayapur 2004
http://www.bharatavarsa.net/Gallery/mahaPancaTattva

Srila Prabhupada's Final Lesson Video - Downloadable and viewing on-line
http://users.iskconludhiana.com/images/thumbnails.php?album=21

European Krishna conscious festivals - photo galleries:
http://www.bharatavarsa.net/Gallery/albums.php

Foto galleries of Latino America with Rasananda Swami
http://www.rasanandaswami.com.br/fotos.htm

Picture galleries from India - totally wonderful
http://www.touruniversal.com/album/india.htm

Hungarian New Vraj Dham temple Foto Galleries
http://www.krisna.hu/galeria/index.php

Ratha Yatra and Jagannath darshan in Puri 2006
http://www.indiadivine.org/support/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=viewdownload&downloaditemid=11

"An amazing video of the annual Ratha Yatra in Puri Dham, with footage of building the chariots, pahandi (carrying deities out of the temple), Golden Dress (Suna Vesha), Elephant Dress, etc. The video narration is in Hindi, but the footage is still wonderful and worth watching for those who don't understand Hindi."

One can even download the file (84 Mb) to your hard drive so you can watch it any time you like.

Panihati Chida-dadhi Festival in New Panihati Dham, Atlanta 2006
http://www.e-vedas.com/panihati/index.html

Krishna conscious instructive dramas - plays:
http://www.cedarpost.com/krsnaconsciousplays/TableOfContents.htm

Damodar web-site for Children
http://www.damodara.de/english/index.eng.02.htm

"IN EVERY TOWN AND VILLAGE the chanting of the Holy Name of Krishna shall be heard. This was the forecast made by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu almost 500 years ago in India. Today, as the Hare Krishna Mantra -- Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare -- resounds in Bombay and New York, Nairobi and Sydney, and in Paris and Hong Kong, the prophecy of Lord Caitanya stands fulfilled. The universal import of this "Samkirtan Movement" (the congregational chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord) was expressed by Lord Caitanya as follows:

"Glory to the Sri Krishna Samkirtan which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years together. Thus the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death, is extinguished. The Samkirtan Movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction Moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge, it increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it helps us to have a taste of the full nectar for which we are always anxious."

(Every Town & Village, album cover)

On-line Virtual Arati to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai - check it out
http://www.in2-mec.com/GNpuja.html

http://www.hknet.org.nz/harernam-page.htm
http://Harinam/rulestheweb.com

What's So Special About Chanting Hare Krishna?
By Stephen Knapp (Sri Nandanandan dasa ACBSP):
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/chanting_hare_krishna.htm

Hare Krishna is NOT "a Cult":
Is ISKCON a Cult or part of the "Hindu Culture" or Something Else?
http://www.hknet.org.nz/not-a-cult.html

Hare Krishna is NOT a Cult letter by Kunti dd editor of Hare Krishna World:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/HK-no-cult.html

40+ Years of Krishna Consciousness through Iskcon.........
http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/aa081201a.htm

Very nice articles and numerous links on the About Hinduism web-site.

What is ISKCON ???
http://www.iskcon.org/main/twohk/iskcon/what.htm

Is Iskcon a Cult?
http://www.hknet.org.nz/not-a-cult.html

Iskcon and Hinduism
http://www.hknet.org.nz/IskconHinduism.html

New to Krishna Consciousness - these topics 4 you
http://harekrishnaworldnews.blogspot.com/2005/08/new-to-krishna-consciousness.html

For those who are new to the Krishna Conscious philosophy,
here are a series of FLASH presentations introducing the philosophy to beginners.

What is Krishna Consciousness? (172k)
How can we become Krishna Conscious? (144k)
What is the Soul? (412k)
What is Yoga? (396k)
What is the Maha mantra? (216k)
What is Sanskrit? (64k)
What is the syllable Om? (312k)
Who is the girl with Krishna? (200k)
What are the Incarnations of the Lord (1.2mb)

http://www.iskcon.com.au/New_to_Krishna.html

Are You Tired Of Suffering?

Unlimited Bliss Is Your
Constitutional Birthright.

Now You Can Regain It With
The Ultimate
Self-Realization Course

Enroll Today
For Your Free E-Course!

http://www.backtohome.com/

SONGS AND MANTRAS by Vaishnava spiritual masters:
http://web.tiscali.it/no-redirect-tiscali/gopala/Vaishnava-Songs/index.html

Vaishnava Song Book:
http://www.iskcon.org/sastra/f_vs.html
http://www.iskcon.org/sastra/vs_other.html

Vedic Art Publications
http://www.vedicarts.net/catalogmain.html

Vrindavan Art
http://www.vrindavanart.com/index.php?gallery=gal14

Mayapur Darshans

http://www.mayapur.com
http://www.photo.net/photos/Vrindavan Lila
http://www.maphoto.tk
http://www.mayapur-katha.tk
http://www.dipika.org/mainpages/contributors/vrindavan.lila.dd.htm
http://www.geocities.com/mayapurkatha1
http://www.mayapurmail.com
http://mayapur.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=5025
http://mayapur.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=11

Radhastami photo-gallery:
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=528023

Nrisimha Deva's photo-gallery:
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=500789

Also we are sending out mailing lists with regular postings of video clips,
photos and PDF jornals.

to SUBSCRIBE to our FREE MAILING LISTs:

- MAYAPUR KATHA for web-magazines (PDF) send request to
  "Mayapur Katha Magazine" <Mayapur.Katha.Magazine@pamho.net>

- MAYAPUR DARSAN, video clips of Mayapur, send reqest to
  "Mayapur Darshan" <Mayapur.Darshan@pamho.net>

- Second SUNDAY MAILING LIST - photos of Mayapur, send request to
  Padmalochan.ACBSP@pamho.net / vrindavanlila@photo.net

Iskcon Mayapur are looking at starting a new WWW web-site, and are looking for a sponsor
if you are interested is assisting this great project please contact
Padmalochan.ACBSP@pamho.net or his wife vrindavanlila@photo.net

New Calcutta (Kolkata) Guesthouse Near Airport

http://www.prabhupada.org/rama/?p=1560

Dear devotees, please accept our humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.

PLEASE POST THIS ON YOUR TEMPLE’S NOTICE BOARD

Hare Krishna. We are pleased to inform you that there is now a comfortable, affordable and secure accommodation for devotees to stay overnight just 1 one minute drive away from the Calutta airport located on VIP Road. Now you can avoid the high prices and bad quality of hotels in the vicinity of Calcutta airport as well as the long expensive drive to downtown Calcutta.

ACCOMMODATION FEATURES:

1. Guest-house run by ISKCON devotees
2. Secure gated complex with 24 hr security
3. 24hr filtered water supply from private well
4. 24hr standby generator
5. Hot & cold water supply
6. Walking distance to Haldiram vegetarian restaurant
7. Own kitchen available for devotee cooking
8. Comfortable beds
9. Clean bathrooms and showers
10. Vehicle to and from Mayapur Dham can be arranged (car or bus etc)
11. Per night per person Rs 500/- (Compare to hotels Rs 1200-1500/- or more)

CONTACT & RESERVATION DETAILS:

1. In Mayapur Dham
Reservation available thru Mayapur Travel Seva
Bhadra Balaram Das email: bhadra.balaram.jps@pamho.net
phone: (3472)-245-468

2. Bhakta Amit email: iskcon_amit@yahoo.co.in
phone: 9932823574 (cell)

3. Bhakta Shivaji phone: 9231549376 (cell)

4. Caitanya Dasi & Paradhyeya Das
email: paradhyeya.acbsp@pamho.net
(in USA) phone: 916-568-1401

Note: Bhakta Shivaji will meet scheduled devotees arriving at Calcutta
airport and escort them to the guest-house.

Your servants,
Paradhyeya Dasa
Caitanya Dasi

Listen to or download Prabhupad lectures and bhajans
http://chantandbehappy.com/prabhupada/index.html

Devotional Bhajans and kirtans
http://chantandbehappy.com/bhajans/index.html

Hundreds of devotional songs by various artists - singers - performers - and many more coming soon:
http://www.radiokrishna.com/modules.php?name=NukeView&file=index&query=http://www.radiokrishna.com/rkc_archive_new/index2.php

Download songs
http://www.harekrsna.cz/mp3/folk/

Krishna Vision of Krishna Prema dasa ACBSP Sound Track Vol. 4 samples:
http://www.krisnavision.narod.ru/

Sydney temple Audio page
http://www.iskcon.com.au/Audio.html

Leicester Temple UK Audio page - many bhajans and kirtans
http://www.gauranga.org/audio_page.htm

Listen to Krishna Radio on various subjects on-line:
http://www.krishna.com/newsite/main.php?id=260

Hare Krishna Media Library
http://www.harekrishna.org.au/

Iskcon Podcast live classes
http://www.podcast.net/tag/iskcon

Agama Tantra and the Vaishnava Samskaras as a way of life:

Recently I was asked, "Don't you find it an inconvenience to always be checking to see when is the right time to do this or the best time for that?"

In simple terms my answer was and still is; if you go to the bus or railway station or airport it is probably an intelligent venture to enquire about the times and routes of vehicles than to just hope that one will be along soon, or one is going in your direction.

There are subtle influences in the Universe that, for thousands of years gone by, advanced cultures have honoured, respected and utilised. Before the corruption of the Vedik literatures by the Christian and Moslem invaders to India all these things were used; Ayurvedik Medicine; Vedik Astrology; etc. Today there's a rennaisance among many to revive these arts.

We have been trained and studied to be able to provide these services. See some of my sites:

http://www.hknet.org.nz/jtcd-samskaras.html
http://www.iskcon.net/nz-namahatta/jtcd/1-homepage.html

or contact me directly: mailto:jtcd@xtra.co.nz

aham kratur aham yajnah
svadhaham aham ausadham
mantro 'ham aham evajyam
aham agnir aham hutam

"But it is I who am the ritual, I the sacrifice, the offering to the ancestors, the healing herb,
the transcendental chant. I am the butter and the fire and the offering."(Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita 9.16)

Krishna conscious affirmations:

 Always remember Krishna and never forget Him

Join and receive Krishna conscious affirmations:
mailto:Sravana.SPGTSI@pamho.net

By popular demand - Looking for a devotee husband or wife?
&
Marriage Synastry

Devotee Meeting-Place Web site - FREE Service:
http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/devoteesmeet/home.html

or HERE

BHAKTI YOGA SINGLES:
This list is for Bhakti Yoga singles. Those who practice Bhakti Yoga are known as Vaisnavas.
This list is therefore called Vaisnava Singles.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vaisnavasingles

Post a Message: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vaisnavasingles/post

Vegetarian Singles:
This list is for vegetarian singles. I know it can be difficult to get to know someone. There may not be anyone who can help us to get to know that special someone. We've got the computer now. So signup and start letting people know you're lonely.
Don't keep it a secret any longer.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vegetariansingles

Post a Message:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vegetariansingles/post

Post your singles ads here.
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/devoteesingles

.....think you've found someone special......
Marriage Compatibility Checking - Synastry

For marriage compatibility analysis bookings
http://www.hknet.org.nz/3-synastry.html

For more information about the system of analysis - the Vedik Kuta system
http://www.hknet.org.nz/synastry9page.htm

For more information about Vedik Marriage Compatibility
http://www.hknet.org.nz/MarriageSynastry4U.html

......and the process of Vaishnava Vivaha - sacred marriage

Kayastha Matrimonial
http://www.Kayasthatokayastha.org

We Have the largest Collection of well educated Kayastha
brides and grooms from all over India and other
countries including US, UK, Canada, Australia etc. The
data base includes bio-data of Kayasthaboys and girls
from various fields of life i.e. Medicos, Engineers,
IT Professionals, Software Engineers, Professors,
Teachers, Entrepreneurs, Industrialist, Businessmen,
Self Employed, Employees in private

contact Rani Srivastav
kayastha_marriage1@yahoo.com

Bringing Into The World "Rays of Vishnu"

RTU KALABHIGAMI YAH SVA DARA NIRATAS CA YAH
SA SADA BRAHMA CARIHA VIJNEYA SAN GRHASRAMI
RTUH SODASA YAMINYAS CATASRAS TASU GARHITAH
PUTRAS TASU API YUGMAS TU AYUGMAH KANYAKAH SMRTAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 11/156,157 from SKANDA PURANA and PADMA PURANA)

 "Any grhastha (householder) who copulates with his own wife only when it is time for conception is called brahmacari or celibate. There are sixteen nights for conception of the woman from the day of the discharge of menstruation. Among them, the first four nights are rejected and very much criticized (by scripture). Of whatever days are left, on the even numbered days, one produces a son and on the odd numbered days, one produces daughter.

Read more HERE

If you want our assistance in this regard we can oblige.
Our service is discrete, professional and 108% confidential.

Please send an e-mail by clicking on the snake-charmer to request our
Information Package and how to donate for the consultation

Gurukuli.com
A positive, safe environment to meet and chat
http://youth.rupa.com

BRITish CREW - Gurukuli forum
http://britcrew.com

Young F.O.L.K.
Young Friends Of Lord Krishna
 http://www.hknet.org.nz/YoungFOLK.htm

ete cäàça-kaläù puàsaù
kåñëas tu bhagavän svayam
indräri-vyäkulaà lokaà
måòayanti yuge yuge

“All the lists of the incarnations of Godhead submitted herewith are either plenary expansions or parts of the plenary expansions of the Supreme Godhead, but Kåñëa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.28)

rämädi-mürtiñu kalä-niyamena tiñöhan
nänävatäram akarod bhuvaneñu kintu
kåñëaù svayaà samabhavat paramaù pumän yo
govindam ädi-puruñaà tam ahaà bhajämi

“I worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda [Kåñëa], who is always situated in various incarnations such as Räma, Nåsiàha and many subincarnations as well, but who is the original Personality of Godhead known as Kåñëa, and who incarnates personally also.” (Brahma samhita 5:39.)

Hindu Gods, Goddesses & Devas Wallpaper - 22 different ones, and screensavers too.
http://coolbuddy.com/wallpapers/Religious/hindu_god_home.htm

The Devotee List - Iskcon and Gaudiya math(s):
(It's still being developed, and a lot of devotees are not here......)
http://devotee.s5.com/index.html

Mail box full - over quota - newsletters bouncing.......

Still waiting for an internet company to come forward
and give you a massive mailbox for FREE like it's been rumoured for months.

HELP IS HERE AT LAST.

Tired of that wimpy 2mb mailboxs?  rejecting important emails cause
its always overflowing but still too cheap to spring for a "real" ISP..
No computer but need an email address? Need a stealth email address? Got
a friend who fits that description?... Well here are some other free
options for you. Note that a couple of these offer HUGE 100-200mb mail boxes...

http://www.hotmail.com   ..................2 mb
http://www.yahoo.com ....................4 mb
http://www.freeserve.com ..............5 mb
http://www.myownemail.com ........5 mb
http://www.lycos.com ......................5 mb
 http://www.softhome.net ................6 mb
http://www.bigmailbox.com ...........7 mb
http://mail.uk2.net ...........................10 mb
http://www.mail15.com .................15 mb
http://macnews.de .........................20 mb
http://xms.ms ..................................20 mb
http://balls.com ............................100 mb
http://ukonline.net .......................200 mb

Get a FREE Gmail account today
HERE  or HERE
Gmail give you 2000+ Mb of free space

Vedik World Heritage pages

Read enlivening articles
See pictures of exhumed relics
Understand conspirital deceptions...
Join the renaissance to rebuild the Golden Age in the Kali-yuga
Find out about Vedik heritage items all around the world.....

Send in your articles and news:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/VWH.html

See more similar pages and links http://www.hknet.org.nz/VWH.html and http://www.hknet.org.nz/index-Vedik.htm

Vedik Culture list
 mailto:vediculture-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

A selection of interesting Krishna conscious articles from New Panihati - Atlanta temple USA:
http://newpanihati.tripod.com/NewsGroup/KCNectar/KCNectarMain.htm

Paradigms - where things are not all they seem

Krishna conscious Dramas and plays:
A collection of 88 transcendental dramas assembled and presented for the pleasure of
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
http://www.cedarpost.com/krsnaconsciousplays/default.htm

Wonderful modern Krishna conscious plays:
http://www.cedarpost.com/krsnaconsciousplays/TableOfContents.htm

These are great for Sunday feasts, or school programs or street presentations, or just for our own understanding.

Read here what Prabhupad says about such plays and dramas:
http://www.cedarpost.com/krsnaconsciousplays/PlaysP2SPquotes.htm

Click on this link to see how really short life is.

http://www.sastradana.com/video/lifeisshort.wmv

thanx again Shyam'

Hare Krsna!

In the download section of my website  http://tinyurl.com/9er95 you will find a copy of Ganguly's complete English translation of the Mahabharata (originally in 13 hardback volumes) in HTML format. It is in a 7.5 MB zipped file.

The Mahabharata explains by example how Lord Krsna's Vedic culture and Varnashrama Dharma are meant to work. Where the Manu Smriti is a concise book of laws for Mankind the Mahabharata shows how those laws are applied. The Mahabharata along with the Ramayana have been the main foundation for the continuation of Vedic culture because they are easily accessible to the masses. The Mahabharata was actually written for the unfortunate people of the Kali Yuga to help uplift them. A close study of the Mahabharata and Ramayana in conjunction with the Manu Samhita would serve as a good guide on how to implement Varnashrama Dharma. And, in conjunction with the Srimad Bhagavatam, insight into Daivi Varnashrama Dharma. The Mahabharata is thus an essential text for anyone interested in implementing VAD.

The Mahabharata is a vast treasure house of Brahminical knowledge and as the Mahabharat itself says: "What is found in the Mahabharata may be found in other texts; whatever is not found in the Mahabharata is not found anywhere."

You will also find a PDF copy  of a canto of Agnivesa's Caraka Samhita (an Ayurvedic text) entitled Sarirasthana, a fascinating account of how the body is formed starting with philosophical details, conception, karmic details, embryology etc. I once gave this text to an obstetrician to read while she was waiting to see me and she was astounded at how much knowledge was contained in such an ancient text. Size 14 MB

Yours faithfully,

Shyamasundara Dasa

http://www.ShyamasundaraDasa.com
"krsnas tu bhagavan svayam"

Rig Veda complete - From the Translation of the Rigveda by Griffith 1896
http://www.beliefnet.com/frameset_offsite.asp?pageLoc=http://hinduwebsite.com/sacredscripts/rigintro.htm

The Formidable Audio page - Bhajans, Kirtans, Lectures many Iskcon devotees:
http://www.iskcon.com.au/Audio.html

and

Bhajans and Kirtans
http://chantandbehappy.com/bhajans/index.html

and

Download latest Real Player for Free:
http://software-dl.real.com/22e4968a89f121132020/windows/mrkt/AUN03D/RealOnePlayerV2GOLD.exe

Listen to audio and view videos on-line here:
http://www.prabhupada.org/prabhupadadesh/a_deposito_oggetti/Archivio_Audio-Video/index.php?q=t&t=EN
http://www.prabhupada.org/prabhupadadesh/a_deposito_oggetti/Archivio_Audio-Video/index.php?q=f&f=%2FAudio
There's literally hundreds of bhajans, kirtans and videos segments to check out.............try all the folders too.......

Devotional bhajanas, kirtans and mantras:
http://www.sudarshana.org/

Nectar for kids and adults alike:
http://www.rasa-music.com/Bodies/body-shop.html

...........more Audio sites linked HERE

Topical Articles:
Abortion - http://www.hknet.org.nz/index-abortion.htm
Genetic Engineering ( GE or GM ) - http://www.hknet.org.nz/GE.html
Environment - http://www.hknet.org.nz/Environment.htm
Encroachment - http://www.hknet.org.nz/WE-Day2004.html
Cloning - http://www.hknet.org.nz/cloning.htm
Science - http://www.hknet.org.nz/science2KC.html
Cow Protection - http://www.hknet.org.nz/Cow-protection.htm
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Iskcon News Articles now available - many topical insights
http://www.iskcon.com/new/index.html

Bomb attack on ISKCON's Hare Krishna temple in Manipur kills 5 and wounds 50 +, more expected to die. This happened during the Krishna's Birth commoration celebration (Janmastami)

Here's some URL's that cover the story
http://news.google.com/news?q=iskcon+manipur&hl=en&hs=SCL&lr=&client=opera&rls=en&sa=X&oi=news&ct=title

Grenade Explosion Kills Five in Indian Temple

Religion News Service

CHENNAI, INDIA, August 17, 2006: A Reuters report quoted an intelligence official saying that unidentified people had warned International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) officials not to hold any functions on Wednesday, when the country was celebrating Janmashtami, a major Hindu festival. The official said the grenade attack might have been carried out by a local group as part of a campaign to revive indigenous Hindu practices and discourage new religious movements like ISKCON. A statement from ISKCON said the attack occurred around 7 p.m. as some 1,000 worshippers were gathered at the temple. The grenade was tossed into a large tent outside the temple where devotees were watching a religious dance that depicts Lord Krishna's pastimes. "The victims were innocent devotees of God," said Anuttama Dasa, ISKCON's minister of communications in Washington. "There is no excuse for such wanton acts of violence. . .. We pray that Lord Krishna will soon lift the terrible veil of hatred and violence that is covering our world." The state of Manipur, with a population of around 2.5 million people, is one of seven states in northeast India that are home to at least two dozen separatist groups and more than 200 tribal and ethnic communities. The attack is the latest in a string of bombings that have targeted Hindu holy sites during major holidays. Last October, a bombing in Delhi killed more than 60 people during Diwali, and 20 people were killed last March at a temple in Varanasi. "This attack on the ISKCON temple that serves all devotees and all visitors with welcome arms is an example of the lengths that terrorists go to undermine the fabric of India and to provoke religious and sectarian conflict," said Ramesh Rao, a member of the executive council of the Hindu American Foundation.

Manipur Iskcon Temple Bombing

http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

IMPHAL, INDIA, August 17, 2006: Janmashtami celebrations in Manipur turned bloody on Wednesday when a grenade was tossed into the Iskcon temple crowded with more than 20,000 devotees. The blast left at least four devotees dead (the BBC today reports that five people have been killed) and at least 40 others injured, including Iskcon international director Damodara Swami, police said. Organizers estimated about 20,000 devotees had gathered on Wednesday evening for Janmashtami, one of the biggest religious events in Manipur, where most Hindus were Krishna worshippers.

Courtesy of Hinduism Today  http://www.hinduismtoday.com

Punjab Kesar

NEW DELHI, INDIA, August 4, 2006: A debate arose in Delhi about the proper day to celebrate Janamashtami. The national general secretary of the Sanatan Dharam Sammelan, Shri R.N. Vats announced, "There are no differences with regard to the celebration of Shri Krishna Janamashtami. Some people try to celebrate festivals on different dates without any reason." Shri Vats chaired the meeting of the Sammelan which discussed the matter and said many Sanskrit scholars and astrologers had attended when this decision was made that August 16 was the correct date.

Courtesy of Hinduism Today http://www.HinduismToday.com

“Satisfying The Senses”
http://www.prabhupada.org/rama/?p=2721
London, Bhagavad-gita 2.9 - 15th August 1973

Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):

sanjaya uvaca
evam uktva hrsikesam
gudakesah parantapah
na yotsya iti govindam
uktva tusnim babhuva ha
[Bg. 2.9]

Translation: “Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus, Arjuna, chastiser of enemies, told Krsna, Govinda, I shall not fight,’ and fell silent.”

Prabhupada: In the previous verse, Arjuna said that “There is no profit in this fighting because the other side, they are all my relatives, kinsmen, and by killing them, even if I become victorious, so what is the value?” That we have explained, that such kind of renouncement sometimes takes place in ignorance. Actually, it is not very much intelligently placed. So in this way, evam uktva, “saying that, So there is no profit in fighting,’ ” evam uktva, “saying this,” hrsikesam, he is speaking to the master of the senses. And in previous verse he has said, sisyas te ‘ham prapannam: [Bg. 2.7] “I am Your surrendered disciple.” So Krsna becomes guru, and Arjuna becomes the disciple. Formerly they were talking as friends. But friendly talking cannot decide any serious question. When there is some serious matter, it must be spoken between authorities.

So hrsikesam, I have several times explained. Hrsika means the senses, and isa means the master. Hrsika-isa, and they join together: Hrsikesa. Similarly, Arjuna also. Gudakesa. Gudaka means darkness, and isa… Darkness means ignorance.

ajnana-timirandhasya
jnananjana-salakaya
caksur-unmilitam yena
tasmai sri-guruve namah

Guru’s duty is… A sisya, a disciple, comes to the guru for enlightenment. Everyone is born foolish. Everyone. Even the human beings, because they are coming from the animal kingdom by evolution, so the birth is the same, ignorance, like animals. Therefore, even though one is human being, he requires education. The animal cannot take education, but a human being can take education. Therefore sastra says, nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye [SB 5.5.1]. I have several times recited this verse, that now… In the lower than human being condition, we have to work very hard simply for four necessities of life: eating, sleeping, mating and defending. Sense gratification. Main object is sense gratification. Therefore everyone has to work very hard. But in the human form of life, Krsna gives us so much facilities, intelligence. We can make our standard of living very comfortable, but with the purpose of attaining perfection in Krsna consciousness. You live comfortably. That’s all right. But don’t live like animals, simply increasing sense gratification. The human effort is going on how to live comfortably, but they want to live comfortably for sense gratification. That is the mistake of the modern civilization. Yuktahara-viharas ca yogo bhavati siddhih. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said yuktahara. Yes, you must eat, you must sleep, you must satisfy your senses, you must arrange for defense — as much as possible, not to divert attention too much. We have to eat, yuktahara. That’s a fact. But not atyahara. Rupa Gosvami has advised in his Upadesamrta,

atyaharah prayasas ca
prajalpo niyamagrahah
laulyam jana-sangas ca
sadbhir bhaktir vinasyati
[NoI 2]

If you want to advance in spiritual consciousness — because that is the only objective of life — then you should not eat more, atyaharah, or collect more. Atyaharah prayasas ca prajalpo niyamagrahah. That is our philosophy.

The other day in Paris one press reporter came to me, the Socialist Press. So I informed him that “Our philosophy is that everything belongs to God.” Krsna says bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram [Bg. 5.29]. “I am the enjoyer, bhokta.” Bhokta means enjoyer. So bhoktaram yajna-tapasam. Just like this body is working. The whole body is working, everyone’s, to enjoy life, but wherefrom the enjoyment begins? The enjoyment begins from the stomach. You have to give sufficient nice foodstuffs to the stomach. If there is sufficient energy, we can digest. If sufficient energy, then all other senses become strong. Then you can enjoy sense gratification. Otherwise it is not possible. If you cannot digest…. Just like we are now old man. We cannot digest. So there is no question of sense enjoyment. So sense enjoyment begins from the stomach. The luxuriant growth of the tree begins from the root, if there is sufficient water. Therefore the trees are called pada-pa. They drink water from the legs, the roots, not from the heads. Just like we eat from the head. So there are different arrangements. As we can eat from the mouth, the trees, they eat from their legs. But one must eat. Ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithuna. Eating is there, either you eat through your legs or your mouth or your hands. But so far Krsna is concerned, He can eat from anywhere. He can eat from hands, from legs, from eyes, from ears, anywhere. Because He is complete spiritual. There is no difference between His heads and legs and ears and eyes. That is stated in the Brahma-samhita,

angani yasya sakalendriya-vrttimanti
pasyanti panti kalayanti ciram jaganti
ananda-cinmaya-sadujjvala-vigrahasya
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs.5.32]

So as in this body our sense enjoyment should begin from the stomach, similarly, as the tree begins developing luxuriantly from the root, similarly, Krsna is the origin of everything, janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1], root. So without Krsna consciousness, without pleasing Krsna, you cannot be happy. This is the system. Therefore how Krsna will be pleased? Krsna will be pleased that… We are all Krsna’s sons, God’s sons. Everything Krsna’s property. These are fact. Now, we can enjoy taking prasadam of Krsna, because He is the proprietor, bhokta, enjoyer. So everything should be given first to Krsna, and then you take the prasadam. That will make you happy. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. Bhunjate te tv agham papam ye pacanty atma-karanat: “Those who are cooking for eating themselves, they are simply eating sin.” Bhunjate te tv agham papam ye pacanty atma… Yajnarthat karmano ‘nyatra loko’ yam karma… Everything should be done for Krsna, even your eating, anything. All sense enjoyment, you can enjoy. But after Krsna has enjoyed. Then you can eat. Therefore Krsna’s name is Hrsikesa. He is the master. Master of the senses. You cannot enjoy your senses independently. Just like the servant. Servant cannot enjoy. Just like the cook cooking very, very nice foodstuffs in the kitchen, but he cannot eat in the beginning. That is not possible. Then he will be dismissed. The master first of all must take, and then they can enjoy all the nice foodstuffs.

So Krsna is the master of the senses. The whole world is struggling for sense gratification. Here is the simple philosophy, truth, that “First of all let enjoy, let Krsna enjoy. He is the master. Then we enjoy.” Tena tyaktena bhunjitha. The Isopanisad says everything belongs to Krsna. Isavasyam idam sarvam: [Iso mantra 1] “Everything belongs to Krsna.” This is the mistake. Everything belongs to Krsna, but we are thinking, “Everything belongs to me.” This is illusion. Aham mameti [SB 5.5.8]. Aham mameti. Janasya moho ‘yam aham mameti. This is illusion. Everyone is thinking, “I am this body, and everything, whatever we find in this world, that is to be enjoyed by me.” This is the mistake of civilization. The knowledge is: “Everything belongs to God. I can take only whatever He gives me, kindly allows.” Tena tyaktena bhunjitha. This is not Vaisnava philosophy; this is the fact. Nobody is proprietor. Isavasyam idam sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. Every… Krsna says, “I am enjoyer. I am the proprietor.” Sarva-loka-mahesvaram [Bg. 5.29]. Maha-isvaram. Maha means great. We can claim isvaram, controller, but Krsna is described as maha-isvaram “controller of the controller.” That is Krsna. Nobody is independently controller.

So therefore Krsna is described, Hrsikesa. Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. And bhakti means to serve Hrsikesa by the hrsika. Hrsika means senses. Krsna is the master of the senses, and therefore, whatever senses I have got, the master is Krsna, proprietor is Krsna. So when our senses are engaged in the satisfaction of the master of the senses, that is called bhakti. This is the definition of bhakti, devotional service. And when the senses are engaged for sense gratification, not for the master, that is called kama. Kama and prema. Prema means to love Krsna and do everything for satisfaction of Krsna. That is prema, love. And kama means everything done for the satisfaction of my senses. This is the difference. The sense is the medium. Either you do it, satisfy your senses, or you satisfy Krsna’s senses. But when you satisfy Krsna’s senses, you become perfect, and when you satisfy your senses, you become imperfect, illusioned. Because you cannot satisfy your senses. That is not possible without Krsna. Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate [Cc. Madhya 19.170].

Therefore one has to purify the senses. At the present moment, everyone is trying to satisfy his senses. Aham mameti. Janasya moho ‘yam [SB 5.5.8]. Pumsah striya maithuni-bhavam etat. The whole material world is that… There are two living entities, male and female. The male is trying also, satisfy his senses, and the female is also trying to satisfy her senses. Here the so-called love means… There is no love. It cannot be love. Because the man and woman, nobody is trying to satisfy the other party’s senses. Everyone is trying to satisfy his or her senses. A woman is loving a man for satisfying her senses, and the man is loving a woman for satisfying. Therefore, as soon as there is some little disturbance in the sense gratification, divorce. “I don’t want it.” Because the central point is personal sense gratification. But we can make a picture, show-bottle, “Oh, I love you so much. I love you so much.” There is no love. It is all kama, lust. In the material world, there cannot be possibility of love. It is not possible. The so-called is cheating, cheating only. “I love you. I love you because you are beautiful. It will satisfy my senses. Because you are young, it will satisfy my senses.” This is the world. Material world means this. Pumsah striya maithuni-bhavam etat. The whole basic principle of this material world is sense gratification. Yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham kanduyanena karayor iva duhkha-duhkham [SB 7.9.45].

This material world, so-called love, society, frienship and love — everything is depending on that sense gratification, maithunadi, beginning from sex. Yan maithunadi grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham. So when one becomes free from this maithunadi-sukham, he is liberated, he is liberated, svami, gosvami. So long one is attached to this maithunadi, sex impulse, he is neither svami nor gosvami. Svami means when one becomes master of the senses. As Krsna is the master of senses, so when one becomes Krsna conscious, he becomes master of the senses. It is not that senses should be stopped. No. It should be controlled. “When I require, I shall use it; otherwise not.” That is master of senses. “I shall not act impelled by the senses. Senses should act under my direction.” That is svami.

Therefore Arjuna is called Gudakesa. He is master of… He is also, when he likes. He is not a coward, but he is compassionate because he is devotee. Because he is devotee of Krsna… Anyone who becomes a devotee of Krsna, all the good qualities manifest in his body. Yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah. All godly qualities. So Arjuna, he is also… Otherwise how he can become intimate friend of Krsna unless of the same position? Friendship becomes very strong when both the friends (are) on equal level: same age, same education, same prestige, same beauty. The more similarity of position, then the friendship is there, strong. So Arjuna is also on the same level of Krsna. Just like if somebody becomes friend of the president, friend of the king or queen. So he is not ordinary man. He must be of the same position. Just like the Gosvamis. The Gosvamis, when they gave up their family life… It is described by Srinivasa Acarya, tyaktva turnam asesa-mandala-pati-srenim sada tucchavat. Mandala-pati, big, big leaders, mandala-pati. Big, big leaders, zamindars, big, big, big men. He was minister. Who can become his friend unless he is also a very big man? So Rupa Gosvami gave up their company. As soon as Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami became acquainted with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, immediately they decided that “We shall retire from this ministership and join Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to help Him.” To serve Him, not to help Him. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu doesn’t require anyone’s help. But if we try to associate and try to serve Him, then our life becomes successful. Just like Krsna says… Krsna came to preach Bhagavad-gita. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. That was His mission, that “These rascals have become servant of so many things: society, friendship, love, religion, this, that, so many things, nationality, community. So these rascals should stop all this nonsense business.” Sarva-dharman parityajya: “Give up all this nonsense. Simply just become surrendered unto Me.” This is religion. Otherwise, how Krsna is advising that sarva-dharman parityajya, [Bg. 18.66] “You give up all religious system?” He came — dharma-samsthapanarthaya. He came to reestablish the principles of religion. Now He says, sarva-dharman parityajya: “Give up all.” That means anything without Krsna consciousness, without God consciousness, they are all cheating religion. They are not religion. Religion means dharmam tu saksat bhagavat-pranitam, the order of the Supreme Lord. If we do not know who is the Supreme Lord, if we do not know what is the order of the Supreme Lord, then where is religion? That is not religion. That may go on in the name of religion, but that is cheating. So the Bhagavad-gita ends: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. And Bhagavata begins from that point.

Therefore Bhagavad-gita is the preliminary study of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Bhagavata begins, dharmah projjhita-kaitavah atra: “Now, in this Srimad-Bhagavatam, all cheating type of religions are rejected, projjhita.” So there is link. Real religion means to love God. That is real religion. Therefore Bhagavata says, sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje: [SB 1.2.6] “That is first-class religion.” It doesn’t mean that you follow this religion or that religion. You may follow any religion. It doesn’t matter, either Hindu religion or Christian religion or Mohammedan religion, anything you like. But we have to test. Just like a student who has passed M.A. examination. Nobody inquires, “From which college you have passed your examination? You have passed M.A. examination? That’s all right.” And we are concerned, whether you are graduate, postgraduate. That’s all. Nobody inquires, “From which college, from which country, from which religion, you have passed your M.A. examination?” No. Similarly, nobody should inquire, “To which religion you belong?” One must see whether he has learned this art, how to love God. That’s all. That is religion. Because here is the religion: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. This is religion. Bhagavata says. Dharmah projjhita-kaitavah atra: “All cheating type of religion is kicked out from this Bhagavatam.” Only nirmatsaranam, those who are not envious of God… “Why shall I love God? Why shall I worship God? Why shall I accept God?” They are all demons. For them only, Srimad-Bhagavatam, for them only those who are actually serious to love. Ahaituki apratihata yenatma samprasidati.

So real success of life is that when you learned how to love God. Then your heart will be satisfied. Yam labdhva caparam labham manyate nadhikam tatah. If you get Krsna or God… Krsna means God. If you have got another name of God, that is also accepted. But God, the Supreme Lord, the Supreme Person. When you have got this… Because we are loving somebody. The loving propensity is there. In everyone. But it is misdirected. Therefore Krsna says, “Kick out all these loving objects. Try to love Me.” Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam [Bg. 18.66]. In this way your loving will never be able to satisfy you. Yenatma samprasidati. If you want real satisfaction, then you must love Krsna, or God. That is the whole philosophy of…, Vedic philosophy. Or any philosophy you take. Because after all, you want satisfaction of yourself, full satisfaction of your mind. That can be only achieved when you love God. Therefore that religion is first-class which teaches, which trains the candidate how to love God. That is first-class religion. Sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktih… [SB 1.2.6]. And that love not with a motive. Just like here in this material world, “I love you; you love me.” Background is some motive. Ahaituky apratihata. Ahaituki, no motive. Anyabhilasita-sunyam [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11]. All other desires making zero. Zero. That will be taught in the Bhagavad-gita. Anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. People are working… Somebody is working for knowledge and somebody is working for sense gratification. This is the material world. This is the material world. Somebody is trying to become very big scholar, knowledge, “What is this? What is this? What is this?” Not for understanding God, but for having some superfluous knowledge. So this is called jnana. And karma means working day and night for sense gratification. So bhakti is transcendental. Anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11]. Not tinted by all these contamination, jnana and karma. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura says, jnana-kanda, karma-kanda, sakali visera bhanda. Either you are engaged in the activities of karma or either you are engaged in the activities of speculative knowledge or acquiring knowledge, this is jnana-kanda and karma-kanda. So Narottama dasa Thakura says that “Both these, jnana-kanda and karma-kanda, are pots of poison. Either you drink this or that, it doesn’t matter.” Karma-kanda — according to karma you’ll get a different body. Jnana-kanda also. If you actually become very much advanced in knowledge, you can get a body in a brahmana family, in a very educated family. But I’ll have to go through the transmigration of the soul, repetition of birth and death. There is risk. I do not know what I am going to get. It is not guaranteed. Little mistake. Little mistake… Just like Bharata Maharaja, little mistake. At the time of…, he was thinking of a deer. Next life he got the life of a deer. Little mistake. Yam yam vapi smaran loke tyajanty ante kalevaram. Because nature is so perfect, at the time of your death, what is the mental condition, you will get a similar body, next life. Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. Because daiva, Krsna is with you. Krsna will see, “Now he is thinking of become a king. Now he is thinking to become a dog.” So Krsna immediately gives you. You take the body of a dog. You take the body of a lion. You take the body of a king. Take the body. Similarly, if you are thinking of Krsna, take the body of a Krsna, immediately. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya [Bg. 4.9]. This is Krsna consciousness, how to train the mind to die thinking of Krsna. Then your life is successful. Therefore we have to chant Hare Krsna, always think of Krsna. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. Then your life is perfect.

Thank you very much. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.9 — London, August 15, 1973

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-India-Soft-Drink-Ban.html

NEW DELHI, INDIA, August 9, 2006: While four Indian states have banned the sale of Coke, Pepsi and other soft drinks made by Indian subsidiaries of Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc. in schools, colleges and government offices, Kerala has been the first to impose a total ban on production and sales. Kerala's health secretary, Viswas Mehta, told The Associated Press the state banned the drinks because of concerns over pesticide contamination and said his department began collecting its own samples of Coke and Pepsi for independent testing. The Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi said it found pesticide residues in samples of Coke and Pepsi that were 24 times above the limits set by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The center said it carried out tests on 57 samples taken from 11 soft drink brands made by Coca-Cola India and PepsiCo India and found a "cocktail of three to five different pesticides," all apparently present in water used to make the drinks. The toxins could, if consumed over a long period, cause cancer, damage to the nervous system, birth defects and disruption of the immune system, the center said. On Tuesday, PepsiCo placed advertisements with several Indian newspapers saying the company follows Indian government's regulations and the "pesticide residues present in soft drinks are minuscule."
Courtesy of Hinduism Today http://www.HinduismToday.com

Indian Soft Drinks Remain Contaminated With Pesticides

http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?slug=Pesticide+issue+dominates+Lok+Sabha&id=90957&category=National

NEW DELHI, INDIA, August 3, 2006: The Center of Science and Environment on Wednesday claimed that 11 leading soft drink brands have pesticide residue. According to the CSE, soft drinks available in India have a cocktail of three to six pesticides. In a study of 57 random samples of 11 soft drink brands from 25 different manufacturing plants of Coke and Pepsi spread over 12 states, CSE claims to have found pesticides on an average 24 times higher that the Bureau of Indian Standards norms, which have been finalized but not notified. The levels that the CSE has found are even higher than what they found in 2003. The samples show a cocktail of 3-6 different pesticides and the presence of carcinogens and neurotoxins at levels much higher than BIS standards. After the Centre for Science and Environment released its findings on Wednesday on the high levels of pesticide residue in several soft drink brands in India, the issue was raised in the Lok Sabha. The BJP staged a walkout over the issue. In 2003, a Joint Parliamentary Committee cleared as authentic a report by the CSE on high levels of pesticide residue in soft drinks. The JPC had directed the Bureau of Indian standards to set standards on the issue.

Courtesy of Hinduism Today http://www.HinduismToday.com

Eight aspects of brahmacarya, ( by Sridhar Swami, the Bhagavatam commentator. Also quoted in Daksha Smriti).

(1) Smaranam - One should not think of the opposite sex. One should think of Krishna and His service as given by the spiritual master. Memorize favorite passages or verses from the Sastras.

(2) kirtanam - One should not talk of sex life. (Prajalpa) One should talk of Krishna and discuss ones realizations with one’s friends, other brahmacari’s. (Practice gravity).

(3) kelih- Don’t (play) or dally with the opposite sex, (even if it is your service to deal with them, try to minimize it) . ‘Avyartha-kalatvam’- Rupa Goswami says in NOD. Pure devotees don’t waste their time, they always are cautious to make sure they are always engaged positively in K.C.

(4) preksanam- Don’t look lustfully at the opposite sex. Focus your eyes (or remember) on your favorite deity form of the Lord.

(5) guhyabhasanam- Don’t talk intimately with the opposite sex in a secluded place. Make strong friendships with other brahmacari’s, (or offer your choice prayerful words to the deity instead).

(6) sankalpo- Don’t decide to engage in sexual intercourse. Make sure you get proper counseling with a senior devotee(s) you have implicit trust in, if you have fallen to this bad state of mind. (Thinking, feeling, willing).

(7) adhyavasayas- Don’t endeavor for sex life. Endeavor to improve or get better devotees association then you have now.

(8) ca kriyanirvrttir - Don’t engage in sex life. Doing it has more trouble in store for you (health, and otherwise) then you think. Control the senses, mind, activities by devotional service.

nirvrttir eva ca - One executes real brahmacarya when all these activities come to a halt. (Sridhara 6.1.12).

Etan maithunyam astangam pravadanti manisinah vikarita brahmacaryam eda astanam laksanam iti

Discussions of these 8 points in further detail with evidences.

(1) Smaranam - One should not think of the opposite sex. One should think of Krishna and His service as given by the spiritual master. Memorize favourate passages or verses from the Sastras.

(SB. 7.15.36 Purport) “In our Krsna consciousness movement it is advised, therefore, that the sannyasis and brahmacaris keep strictly aloof from the association of women so that there will be no chance of their falling down again as victims of lusty desires.”

(2) kirtanam - One should not talk of sex life. (Prajalpa) One should talk of Krishna and discuss ones realizations with one’s friends, other brahmacari’s. (Practice gravity, chant Japa nicely).

“Japa means tapa, tapasya. And that is drdha-vrata. Tapasa brahmacaryena. Tapasya begins with brahmacarya. There is no tapasya, there is no brahmacarya, there is no drdha-vrata,” (Rm. Conv. Jan 31, 1977)

“So this is the process. Tapasa brahmacaryena. Brahmacarya is very, very essential. And that is, when one becomes detestful to sex life, that is the beginning of spiritual life. That is the beginning of spiritual life.” (Lect CC Adi 1.11, April 4,’75) (see determination)

(SB.1.5.26) tatranvaham krsna-kathah pragayatam anugrahenasrnavam manoharah tah sraddhaya me ‘nupadam visrnvatah priyasravasy anga mamabhavad rucih

O Vyasadeva, in that association and by the mercy of those great Vedantists, I could hear 0them describe the attractive activities of Lord Krsna And thus listening attentively, my taste for hearing of the Personality of Godhead increased at every step.

Lord Sri Krsna, the Absolute Personality of Godhead, is attractive not only in His personal features, but also in His transcendental activities. It is so because the Absolute is absolute by His name, fame, form, pastimes, entourage, paraphernalia, etc. The Lord descends on this material world out of His causeless mercy and displays His various transcendental pastimes as a human being so that human beings attracted towards Him become able to go back to Godhead. Men are naturally apt to hear histories and narrations of various personalities performing mundane activities, without knowing that by such association one simply wastes valuable time and also becomes addicted to the three qualities of mundane nature. Instead of wasting time, one can get spiritual success by turning his attention to the transcendental pastimes of the Lord. By hearing the narration of the pastimes of the Lord, one contacts directly the Personality of Godhead, and, as explained before, by hearing about the Personality of Godhead, from within, all accumulated sins of the mundane creature are cleared. Thus being cleared of all sins, the hearer gradually becomes liberated from mundane association and becomes attracted to the features of the Lord. Narada Muni has just explained this by his personal experience. The whole idea is that simply by hearing about the Lord’s pastimes one can become one of the associates of the Lord. Narada Muni has eternal life, unlimited knowledge and unfathomed bliss, and he can travel all over the material and spiritual worlds without restriction. One can attain to the highest perfection of life simply by attentive hearing of the transcendental pastimes of the Lord from the right sources, as Sri Narada heard them from the pure devotees (bhakti-vedantas) in his previous life. This process of hearing in the association of the devotees is especially recommended in this age of quarrel (Kali).

(3) kelih- Don’t (play) or dally with the opposite sex, (even if it is your service to deal with them, try to minimize it) . ‘Avyartha-kalatvam’- Rupa Goswami says in NOD. Pure devotees don’t waste their time, they always are cautious to make sure they are always engaged positively in K.C.

(From Lecture April 30 1972 Tokyo)

“If one is absent-minded, he cannot work nicely because mind is absent or not in order. Therefore our method of controlling the senses is to engage the senses in the service of the Lord. The first engagement should be that mind should be always absorbed in thoughts of Krsna. Always engaged. These boys, they are always engaged. Just like in offering arcana to the Deities from early morning up to ten o’clock at night, and then they go to rest. Again rise early in the morning. So somebody is engaged n cleansing the temple, somebody is engaged in dressing the Deity, somebody is engaged in cooking for the Deity, somebody is engaged going in Tokyo city for distributing literature, somebody is performing kirtana here, somebody is reading our various books. In this way we have got twenty-five hours engagement instead of twenty-four hours. So mind cannot go outside Krsna. That is called Krsna conscious. We don’t allow the mind go out of Krsna’s service. And this is sannyasa.”

(4) preksanam- Don’t look lustfully at the opposite sex. Focus your eyes (or remember) on your favorite deity form of the Lord. (See SB. 6.18.41-42)

(SB. 6.18.41-42) sarat-padmotsavam vaktram vacas ca sravanamrtam

hrdayam ksura-dharabham strinam ko veda cestitam

A woman’s face is as attractive and beautiful as a blossoming lotus flower during autumn. Her words are very sweet, and they give pleasure to the ear, but if we study a woman’s heart, we can understand it to be extremely sharp, like the blade of a razor. In these circumstances, who could understand the dealings of a woman?

Woman is now depicted very well from the materialistic point of view by Kasyapa Muni. Women are generally known as the fair sex, and especially in youth, at the age of sixteen or seventeen, women are very attractive to men. Therefore a woman’s face is compared to a blooming lotus flower in autumn. Just as a lotus is extremely beautiful in autumn, a woman at the threshold of youthful beauty is extremely attractive. In Sanskrit a woman’s voice is called nari-svara because women generally sing and their singing is very attractive. At the present moment, cinema artists, especially female singers, are especially welcome. Some of them earn fabulous amounts of money simply by singing. Therefore, as taught by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, a woman’s singing is dangerous because it can make a sannyasi fall a victim to the woman. Sannyasa means giving up the company of women, but if a sannyasi hears the voice of a woman and sees her beautiful face, he certainly becomes attracted and is sure to fall down. There have been many examples. Even the great sage Visvamitra fell a victim to Menaka. Therefore a person desiring to advance in spiritual consciousness must be especially careful not to see a woman’s face or hear a woman’s voice. To see a woman’s face and appreciate its beauty or to hear a woman’s voice and appreciate her singing as very nice is a subtle falldown for a brahmacari or sannyasi. Thus the description of a woman’s features by Kasyapa Muni is very instructive.

When a woman’s bodily features are attractive, when her face is beautiful and when her voice is sweet, she is naturally a trap for a man. The sastras advise that when such a woman comes to serve a man, she should be considered to be like a dark well covered by grass. In the fields there are many such wells, and a man who does not know about them drops through the grass and falls down. Thus there are many such instructions. Since the attraction of the material world is based on attraction for women, Kasyapa Muni thought, “Under the circumstances, who can understand the heart of a woman?” Canakya Pandita has also advised, visvaso naiva kartavyah strisu raja-kulesu ca: “There are two persons one should not trust-a politician and a woman.” These, of course, are authoritative sastric injunctions, and we should therefore be very careful in our dealings with women.

Sometimes our Krsna consciousness movement is criticized for mingling men and women, but Krsna consciousness is meant for anyone. Whether one is a man or woman does not matter. Lord Krsna personally says, striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te ‘pi yanti param gatim: whether one is a woman, sudra or vaisya, not to speak of being a brahmana or ksatriya, everyone is fit to return home, back to Godhead, if he strictly follows the instructions of the spiritual master and sastra. We therefore request all the members of the Krsna consciousness movement-both men and women-not to be attracted by bodily features but only to be attracted by Krsna. Then everything will be all right. Otherwise there will be danger.

Here is a practical solution to the problem of agitation in the presence of so many women in Kali Yuga. Avoid unnecessary association, but be practical. Remember! The sense objects are not at fault. It’s how one understands the purpose of the various sense objects that creates ones difficulties.

All creatures and all things must be offered for Krishna’s enjoyment. If one understands this always, then one can be pacified despite provocation. But disturbance or not, we must carry on our preaching duties. Get association, and counseling. Endeavor for rectifying your strength. Then after regaining strength-go out to preach again. This time more cautious then before you had the initial weakness.

(SP let. Ekayani 12/3/72)

“Who has introduced these things, that women cannot have chanting japa in the temple, they cannot perform the arati and so many things? If they become agitated, then let the brahmacaris go to the forest, I have never introduced these things. The brahmacaris cannot remain in the presence of women in the temple, then they may go to the forest, not remaining in New York City, because in New York there are so many women, so how they can avoid seeing? Best thing is to go to the forest for not seeing any women, if they become so easily agitated, but then no one will either see them and how our preaching work will go on?”.. It is not possible.”

Hoping this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami cc: Bali Mardan Goswami

(5) guhyabhasanam- Don’t talk intimately with the opposite sex in a secluded place. Make strong friendships with other brahmacari’s, (or offer your choice prayerful words to the deity instead).

(SB. 11.17.33) strinam niriksana-sparsa-samlapa-ksvelanadikam

pranino mithuni-bhutan agrhastho ‘gratas tyajet

Those who are not married-sannyasis, vanaprasthas and brahmacaris-should never associate with women by glancing, touching, conversing, joking or sporting. Neither should they ever associate with any living entity engaged in sexual activities.

Praninah indicates all living entities, whether birds, bees or human beings. Among most species of life, sexual intercourse is preceded by diverse mating rituals. In human society, all types of entertainment (books, music, films) and all places of amusement (restaurants, shopping centers, resorts) are designed to stimulate the sexual urge and create an aura of “romance.” One who is not married-a sannyasi, brahmacari or vanaprastha-should rigidly avoid anything related to sex and of course should never see any living entity, whether bird, insect or human, engaging in the various phases of sexual intercourse. When a man jokes with a woman, an intimate, sexually-charged atmosphere is immediately created, and this should also be avoided for those aspiring to practice celibacy. Even a householder who becomes attached to such activities will also fall down into the darkness of ignorance.

(6) sankalpo- The determination to engage in sexual intercourse. Don’t contemplate to engage in sexual intercourse. Be determined to make sure you get proper counseling with a senior devotee(s) you have implicit trust in, if you have fallen to this bad state of mind. (Thinking, feeling, willing).

(SB. 7.15.22)

asankalpaj jayet kamam krodham kama-vivarjanat

arthanartheksaya lobham bhayam tattvavamarsanat

By making plans with determination, one should give up lusty desires for sense gratification. Similarly, by giving up envy one should conquer anger, by discussing the disadvantages of accumulating wealth one should give up greed, and by discussing the truth one should give up fear.

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has suggested how one can conquer lusty desires for sense gratification. One cannot give up thinking of women, for thinking in this way is natural; even while walking on the street, one will see so many women. However, if one is determined not to live with a woman, even while seeing a woman he will not become lusty. If one is determined not to have sex, he can automatically conquer lusty desires. The example given in this regard is that even if one is hungry, if on a particular day he is determined to observe fasting, he can naturally conquer the disturbances of hunger and thirst. If one is determined not to be envious of anyone, he can naturally conquer anger. Similarly, one can give up the desire to accumulate wealth simply by considering how difficult it is to protect the money in one’s possession. If one keeps a large amount of cash with him, he is always anxious about keeping it properly. Thus if one discusses the disadvantages of accumulating wealth, he can naturally give up business without difficulty.

If one doesn’t get help to stop this contemplation at an early stage, then eventually it goes from thinking, to feeling. At this point, devoid of mind and sense control, the living entity loses all reasoning, and is unable to hear the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of sastras.

Such a person usually ends up (at best, through counseling) getting married, or (at worse) becomes a debauchee-falling into illicit life. Sometimes he tries to satisfy this craving through artificial means. (See SB 2.6.20 Purport)

(SB 6.1.62) stambhayann atmanatmanam yavat sattvam yatha-srutam

na sasaka samadhatum mano madana-vepitam

As far as possible he patiently tried to remember the instructions of the sastras not even to see a woman. With the help of this knowledge and his intellect, he tried to control his lusty desires, but because of the force of Cupid within his heart, he failed to control his mind”.

“Regarding your proposed marriage, if you think it is nice then you have all my blessings upon you both. If you do not think you can remain brahmacari, then it is better to remain in Krsna Consciousness as householder and not pretend to brahmacarya artificially. From your description the girl seems very qualified and sincere, so you continue to train her in our Krsna Conscious way of life and she will work together with you as your helpmeet in Krsna’s service.” (to Jananivas Sept. 29,’70)

Incidentally, Jananivasa Prabhu never got married. Instead since 1971 he has dedicated his life to the worship of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava in Mayapur, thus setting a wonderful example of dedication in Deity worship for all brahmacari’s to follow.

(7) adhyavasayas- To endeavor for sex life. Don’t endeavor for sex life.

Endeavor to improve or get better devotees association then you have now.

Even if austerity and brahmacarya are painful because we want to be unrestricted, as soon as we are regulated, what appeared to be painful is in practice not painful.

There are two classes of men-those who are sober (dhira) and those who are extravagant (adhira). When one, in spite of provocation or in spite of the presence of a source of mental agitation, can remain steady in his position, he is called dhira. An example of a dhira is given by Kalidasa Pandita, a great Sanskrit poet who wrote a book called Kumara-sambhava, wherein he has given an example concerning Lord Siva. It appears that when the demigods were fighting the demons and were being defeated, they decided that they could be saved by a commander-in-chief born from the semina of Lord Siva. Lord Siva, however, was in meditation, and to acquire the needed semina was very difficult. They therefore sent Parvati, a young girl, who appeared before Lord Siva and worshiped his genitals. Although this young girl sat before Lord Siva and touched his genitals, Lord Siva was steady in meditation. Kalidasa says, “Here is an example of a dhira, for despite a young girl’s touching his genitals, he was undisturbed.”

Similarly, someone sent a young prostitute to disturb Haridasa Thakura, and upon hearing her appeals for intercourse, Haridasa Thakura said, “Yes, your proposal is very nice. please sit down and let me finish my chanting, and then we shall enjoy.” Morning came and the prostitute became impatient, but Haridasa Thakura replied, “I’m very sorry. I could not finish my chanting. Come tonight again.” The prostitute came for three nights, and on the third night she fell down at his feet, confessed her intentions, and pleaded with him, “I was induced to perform this act by a man who is your enemy. Kindly excuse me.” Haridasa Thakura then replied, “I know all about that, but I allowed you to come here for three days so that you could be converted and become a devotee. Now take these chanting beads, and go on chanting. I am leaving this place.” Here is another example of a dhira who has control of his body (deha), words (vac), and intelligence (buddhi). One’s body, words and intelligence should be controlled by one who is dhira and who actually knows the principles of religion.

(8) ca kriyanirvrttir - Don’t engage in sex life. Doing it has more trouble in store for you (health, and otherwise) then you think. Control the senses, mind, activities by devotional service.

(Lect SB 6.1.21-22) “Of course, one who thinks that family life is too big a responsibility can forgo it and thus avoid a lot of trouble. Family responsibility is very great; therefore if a man feels he cannot accept the responsibility, he should remain a brahmacari, a celibate student. A person who practices the science of brahmacarya under the care of a spiritual master automatically becomes seventy-five percent free from material entanglement.”

(From Lecture April 30 1972 Tokyo)

“At the present moment, in the materialistic concept of life, everyone is servant of the senses. Everyone acts by the dictation of the senses; therefore they can be called, in other words, as godasa, servant of the senses. Instead of becoming servant of the senses, one has to become the master of the senses. That is called gosvami, master of the senses. So how to become master of the senses? Senses are very strong. How one can become master? The simple method is when one engages the senses in the service of the Supreme Lord, it is automatically controlled.”

Etan maithunyam astangam pravadanti manisinah

vikarita brahmacaryam eda astanam laksanam iti

These eight kinds of enjoyments are eight kinds of breaks in the current of Akhanda brahmacari life. We must avoid these eight interruptions with great care, hard work and diligent self-introspection (always analyzing at all times to observe your true motivations). Only he who is truly free from these eight breaks can be technically called a brahmacari.

Srila Prabhupada has also acknowledged that in Kali Yuga it may be difficult to strictly follow all the details in avoiding these eight breaks in brahmacari life, but Krsna conscious life following the regulative principles will help the devotee to prevail over the occaisional attack by maya.

Read more on seX-files

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006/08/04/news/doc44d3d3503142e535783506.txt

BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS, August 5, 2006: More than 100 Midwest youth are spending time studying Hindu values and practices while canoeing, doing arts and crafts and generally having fun at the Hindu Heritage Camp at Lake Bloomington's' East Bay Camp. The Hindu Swayamsewak Sangh, founded in 1925 in India, is the camp's sponsoring group. In the United States, about 100 local branches of the service organization exist, including a Central Illinois group, said Saumitra Gokhale of Chicago. The trained engineer opted for a career of volunteerism with the Hindu group, and organizes camps and other events around the United States. For many campers, the week-long annual event is a summer tradition. Some return, as college students, to help lead the various activities of the camp. Arpitha Gouda, Kavita Jayaswal and Suneeti Gupta are three Bloomington women now studying to be doctors. All three spent summers at Hindu Heritage Camp, and each has returned this summer to t each younger campers. "Our culture is what our parents and community provides us," said Jayaswal, 20, noting she likes to share the heritage with the youth. This camp helps children adapt, and make their life's values work for them, added Gouda, 18. "Sometimes in America we're bombarded with so many cultures. It's hard to figure out where we fit in as Hindu Americans," she said. "We get to learn about our culture - we learn about famous Hindu people. But, we get to go canoeing too," said Nithesh, a Colene Hoose fifth-grader. "But, I think the swimming is fun too."

Courtesy of Hinduism Today http://www.HinduismToday.com

Prabhupada-lila (Appendix to Prabhupada-lilamrta) by Satsvarupa Maharaja (7.10):

---
One evening Hrdayananda Maharaja entered Srila Prabhupada's room and found him alone, carefully reading the Spanish edition of the Krsna book, Krsna, La Suprema Personalidad de Dios.

Srila Prabhupada!" Hrdayananda Maharaja exclaimed. "You are reading in Spanish!" Prabhupada smiled and said, "For Krsna you can do anything."
---

Srila Prabhupada Nectar by Satsvarupa Maharaja (4.10):

Devotees have noted on various occasions how Prabhupada displayed an extrasensory perception of events. Prabhupada was in Florida with Hrdayananda Goswami, and they were driving behind a fruit truck. Prabhupada pointed to it and said, "Oh, watermelons?" Hrdayananda Goswami explains, "We looked, but all we could see were Florida oranges. We said, 'No, Prabhupada. Those are oranges.' A few minutes later, as we were passing that truck, behind the oranges we saw watermelons. They were hidden. Prabhupada just laughed and said, 'Yes, there are the watermelons.'"
-

Who am I?
How am I different from this body?
How am I different from the material nature?
How am I different from the Supreme Person?
Understanding that Supreme Person as worshippable, how can I have a relationship with Him?
What are the symptoms of that relationship?
What symptoms of change in consciousness would I have to undergo to achieve such a relationship?
What is the system to follow to achieve that?
Where can I do that?
Is there a cost involved?
Is the cost a material fee?
Is the cost involved sacrifice beginning with self discipline?
Who can teach me to follow these practices?
What is that person's qualification?
How did that person attain such qualification?
After attainment of similar qualification, by his grace, what is the process to give such an opportunity to others who were in a similar situation to myself?
If this process of chanting, taking prasadam and associating with purified souls is so simple, why doesn't everyone do it?
If everyone can have this opportunity, and is affected by even what a few devotees on the planet are doing, how is this possible?
We hear that the Lord and His Name are the same unlike names of objects in this world what is the proof of this?
If undergoing such a scientific experiment as following the recipe for making a cake, we follow the instructions in chanting and associating with like minded purified souls, how long will it take to complete the experiment and we see tangible results of change?
What are such results?
What are the symtoms of attainment of spiritual status?
Being so absorbed in spiritual life how does one practically act in the world?
What is such a purified soul's destination upon his body dying?
Is there any loss for one who may not have completelty purified their situation?

When does bhoga actually become prasadam?

In todays podcast HH Sivaram Maharaja explains;
About yesterdays podcast.
When does bhoga become prasadam?

click here - 10.5 Mb download, 21:52 playing time.

Lord Chaitanya narrates the following to Srivasa Thakura:
“Being obliged by her love, I am brought there to eat.”

CC Madhya 15.55-66:

“One day My mother, Saci, offered food to Salagrama Visnu. She offered rice cooked from sali paddies, various kinds of vegetables, spinach, curry made of banana flowers, fried patola with nimba leaves, pieces of ginger with lemon, and also yogurt, milk, sugar candy and many other foods.
“Taking the food upon her lap, Mother was crying to think that all that food was very dear to her Nimai.

“My mother was thinking, Nimai is not here. Who will accept all this food? As she meditated upon Me in this way, her eyes filled with tears.

“While she was thus thinking and crying, I immediately went there with great haste and ate everything. Seeing the dish empty, she wiped her tears away.

“She then began to wonder who had eaten all that food. Why is the plate empty? she wondered, doubting that Balagopala had eaten it all.

“She began to wonder whether there had actually been anything on the plate in the first place. Then again she thought that some animal might have come and eaten everything.

“She thought, Perhaps by mistake I did not put any food on the plate. So thinking, she went into the kitchen and saw the pots.

“When she saw that all the pots were still filled with rice and vegetables, there was some doubt in her mind, and she was astonished.

“Thus wondering, she called Isana, the servant, and had the place cleaned again. She then offered another plate to Gopala.

“Now whenever she prepares some good cooked food and wants to feed it to Me, she cries in great anxiety.

“Being obliged by her love, I am brought there to eat. Mother knows all these things internally and feels happiness, but externally she does not accept them.

“Such an incident took place on the last Vijayadasami day. You can ask her about this incident and thus make her believe that I actually go there.”

See our World Vegetarian Day Newsletters 2004 - 2005 - World Vege Day

See similar articles at Vegetarianism & beyond:
http://turn.to/Vegetarianism

Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakura has written: "The church that has the best chance of survival in this damned world is that of atheism under the convenient guise of theism. The churches have always proved to be the staunchest upholders of the grossest form of worldliness from which even the worst of non-ecclesiastical criminals are found to recoil." (The Harmonist, issue of January 1932).

Vedic World Heritage links:

See our pages supporting these views HERE:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/VWH.html (Vedik World Heritage)
Western Indologists been exposed page:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/WesternIndologists-page.htm
How British Misguided the World on Vedic History
http://www.hknet.org.nz/MotiveBritishRajMissionaries.html

World Smoke Free Day
31st May Every Year 

http://www.be-free.org/b-media/market-bfree03/cinema.php

yeah kick the butt
...and remember from 10th December 2004 no more smoking in public places in New Zealand by law

THE THIEF WHO WENT TO VRNDAVANA

One professional reciter was reciting about Bhagavata, describing that Krsna, being highly decorated with all jewels, is sent for tending the cows in the forest.  There was a thief at that meeting, and when he heard about Krsna, he thought, "Why not go to Vrndavan and plan to catch this boy in the forest with so many valuable jewels?  I can go there and catch the child and take all the jewels."  That was the thief's intention.  He was serious, thinking, "I must find out that boy.  Then in one night I will become a millionaire."  And he went to Vrndavan.  His qualification was, "I must see Krsna.  I must see Krsna."  That anxiety, that eagerness made it possible for him to see Krsna in Vrndavan.  He saw Krsna in the same way he was informed by the Bhagavata reader.  Then he thought, "Oh you are such a nice boy, Krsna."  He began to flatter.  He thought that by flattering he would obtain the jewels.  But then he proposed his real business to Krsna.  "May I take some of your ornaments?  You are so rich."  "No no," said Krsna.  And then by Krsna's association he had already become purified.  At last Krsna said, "All right, you can take."  But then the man became a devotee.

MORAL: Because by association, somehow or other, we should come in contact with Krsna., and then we will become purified.

See similar inspirational snippets HERE:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/parables.htm

See more on Darwin and Evolution HERE:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Darwin-out-page.htm

Articles from Back to Godhead Magazine:
http://krishna.org/?related=Back%20to%20Godhead%20Magazine

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Hundreds of devotional songs by various artists - singers - performers - and many more coming soon:
http://www.radiokrishna.com/rkc_archive_new/

Assorted Audio Lectures from Senior Iskcon Devotees:
http://www.harekrishna.org.au/

Amala Bhakta dasa reciting Srimad Bhagavatam on-line:
http://www.prabhupadavani.org/SB_index.html

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  Please accept our respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 With thankfulness to our Founder Acharya Srila Prabhupada, Sri Gaura-Nitai, and the inspiration of all of you, we announce the Grand Opening of "NECTARBOOKS.COM". This website contains rare, wonderful Krishna Literature by our Vaisnava Acharyas, beautifully and carefully translated by Dasaratha Suta Prabhu, a scholarly disciple of Srila Prabhupada, long known for his translation work.

It was a desire of Srila Prabhupada to give all of us, his children and grandchildren, the entire Vaisnava Library of devotional writings, and we are  blessed by His Divine Grace to recieve some of this literature with which to further water our creepers of devotion.

Please consider forwarding this email to your address list in the mood of going for the mercy of Lord Chaitanya by assisting His missionary desires.

http://www.nectarbooks.com

Your aspiring servants at NectarBooks.Com

Dasaratha-suta Dasa and Dina Sharana Dasa

********
Letter to: Hayagriva
Tokyo April 27, 1972

.. It is my serious desire to devote the fag end of my life to translating Srimad Bhagavatam and so many other Vaisnava literatures so by assisting me in this regards you will be performing the highest service to Krsna....

HG Amal Bhakta dasa ACBSP
http://www.amalbhakta.com/

(the late) HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami
http://www.btswami.com/ (UK)
http://www.ifast.net/  (Institute for Applied Spiritual Technology)
http://home.iprimus.com.au/naractl/Biographys/ISKCON_Gurus/Bhakti_Tirtha_Swami.html#mod (Perth Aus)

HH Bhaktivaibhava Swami
http://www.vyasapuja.com

HH Bhakti Vikas Swami
http://www.bvks.com/

HH Bir-Krishna Goswami
http://www.bkgoswami.com/

HH Devamrita Swami
http://www.devaswami.com/main.php
http://www.devaswami.com/main.php?&displayPage=home
Lecture Catalogue - free downloads:
http://mp3cd.gaurayoga.co.nz/cat/

HH Gopal Krishna Goswami:
http://www.geocities.com/gopalkrsna/
http://www.fortunecity.com/millenium/quarrybank/78/news/news.htm

HH Indradyumna Swami:
http://www.Gurudeva.ru/eng
http://www.traveling-preacher.com/
http://www.harekrishna.asn.au/speakers/indradyumna_swami/indradyumna_swami.htm

HH Jayadvaiata Swami:
http://www.jswami.info/

HH Jayapataka Swami
http://www.hearjps.com/
http://www.jpsoffice.com/
http://www.harekrishna.asn.au/speakers/jayapataka_swami/jayapataka_swami.htm
http://www.victoryflag.com/
Many lectures by HH Jayapataka Swami and HH Radhanath Swami
http://www.radiokrishna.com/rkc_archive_new/

HH Kadamba Kanana Swami
http://www.kkswami.com/
http://www.geocities.com/kksaudioministry/

HH Kavichandra Swami:
http://www.kavicandraswami.info/

HH Prabhavishnu Swami
http://home.iprimus.com.au/naractl/Biographys/ISKCON_Gurus/Srila_Prabhavisnu_Swami_Biography.html#Prabhu

HH Prahladananda Swami
http://www.prahladanandaswami.net/
http://home.iprimus.com.au/naractl/Biographys/ISKCON_Gurus/Prahladananda_Swami_Maharaja.html#mod

HH Romapada Swami
http://www.prastha.com/cgi-bin/uncgi/renderphilo.pl?ndx=2

HH Sacinandan Swami
http://www.saranagati.net/

HH Sivaram Swami:
http://www.sivaramaswami.com/

HH Sridhar Swami (the late Sridhar swami formerly in Bombay)
http://www.jollyswami.net/home.php

HH Suhotra dasa Tapa Vanacharin
http://www.suhotraprabhu.com/

HH Trivikram Swami
http://www.tvswami.sotiko.pl/

HH Umapati Swami:
http://www.umapati.net/

HG Vaiyasaki dasa Adhikari
http://www.kirtan.org/index.html

If you know of any other senior Iskcon devotee web-sites please send their URL to us to share with others through this media mailto:jtcd@xtra.co.nz

See the Blogs above also for some interesting reads and feeds from other senior devotees too:

Here's a short list with some links - sadhu sanga ki jaya
http://krisna-volgy.hu/sadhu/

What's Going On Where &Adds

FESTIVAL EVENTS AND VENUES:

The New Iskcon Auckland temple

for more information and some wonderfrul pictures of the event see our page:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/HKAuckland-page.htm

photos updated 12th March 2004

page updated September 2005

Iskcon Auckland's new official web-page

Hare KrishnaSchool & Playgroup

Krishna Conscious education for children
http://www.harekrishna.school.nz

Hare Krishna School in Riverhead, Auckland is a government funded school that runs from 9am – 3pm five days a week. We cover all core subjects in the New Zealand Curriculum and in addition teach Sanskrit, Sastra and Vedic arts. Children who come to this school get everything that children at state schools get plus Vedic culture and values in a serene rural environment.

A school bus service provides transport from Auckland suburbs.

For enrolment information please contact:-

admin@harekrishna.school.nz

Ph: 09-412-6325
Mob: 021-265-7587
Fax: 09-412-6325

Find out what the NZ Government Education Review Office thinks of the Hare Krishna School. Click the link below.
http://www.ero.govt.nz/publish/reppub.ns4/Institution/98CA326F2C53BF0CCC256B7500174198/$File/4204.htm?OpenElement

Gaura Yoga Centre
First floor
175, Vivian Street,
Wellington

Phone:  (04) 801-5500

Learn about the Krishna conscious life-style
Learn Yoga
Learn about Vegetarianism
...all in a non-threatening friendly atmosphere.

http://www.gaurayoga.co.nz

Contact us: mailto:info@gaurayoga.co.nz

Subscribe to newsletter: mailto:gaurayoga-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Sunday Love Feasts - contact your local temple, or community for details
http://www.hknet.org.nz/index-int.htm

http://www.hknet.org.nz/NZKiwi-yatra.htm

http://www.hknet.org.nz/aussie-yatra.htm

Harinaam Kirtan and Bhajans in Tauranga BOP.
Every Saturday in the Red Square by the Strand (or Mt. Maunganui)

Come and join the throng 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

...for more details contact Trivikrama dasa

Vegetarian Clubs
Waikato University - Hamilton campus

2 days per week serving about 100 plates each day.

Auckland Veda club.
Auckland University - Wellesley St. campus

Its a simple weekly program thats been running for a few years, at Clubspace,
where we have a vegetarian prasadam lunch and sometimes show a video.
Srila Prabhupada's books are available to browse or buy.

For more information contact Auckland temple:
mailto:radhik@e3.net.nz

Otago University - Dunedin - Vege Club
Room 2., Clubs & Societies Building
Albany St.,

contact Jambavati dasi (03) 477 8277
mailto:jambavati85@hotmail.com

http://www.hknet.org.nz/HKDunedin-page.htm


Auckland
http://www.hknet.org.nz/AuckFFL-page.htm

Christchurch
http://www.hknet.org.nz/CHCH-FFL-page.htm

See more about Food For Life and how you can help HERE:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/HKFood4Life-page.htm

 268., Karangahape Road., Auckland

Delicious hot inexpensive Vegetarian Meals !

Pure Vegetarian Restaurant

$5 Combo Meal

Open Mon-Fri 11am-7.30pm

Sat 11am-2.30pm

Phone (09) 300 7585

SPIRITUAL MASTER INSPIRES FOOD DISTRIBUTION

Seven hundred plates of free prasadam (food offered to the Lord) were distributed to an appreciative public and to 50 devotees who took part in a central city Harinam (chanting in the streets).

By the mercy of Guru, Gauranga and Radha Krishna, (after our first bhajan album Bhajanamrtam) we have managed to produce a new CD entitled "Bhaktivinoda", a collection of bhajans of Saccidananda Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur and other Vaisnava acaryas in Orissi classical ragas.

The CD includes 8 bhajans and a 12-page booklet with all lyrics and a translation of the songs:
Gurudeva! Kabe Mora Sei Din Habe
Hari Hari, Kabe More Hoibe Sudina
Kabe Sri Caitanya More
Radha-Kunda-Tata
Narada Muni
Janama Saphala Ta'ra
Brajendranadana, Bhaje Jei Jana
Kabe Ha'be Bolo

Price, inclusive of shipping, is 15 Euros per CD. If you want to order this CD, please transfer the amount to the following account (and send us your shipping address by mail or email):

Account number 3125628, Ashok Jagram, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Bank details: Postbank, Foreign operations, P.O. Box 1800, 1000 BV Amsterdam [Swiftcode: PSTB NL2]

- HEALTHY ISSUES - Ayurveda:-
Visit Vaidya Yolande Manson's Ayurvedic practice - in Hamilton:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/YM-Ayurved.html

dhanvantaris cha bhagavan svayam eva kirtir
namna nrnam pururujam ruja asu hanti
yajne cha bhagam amrtayur avavarundha
ayusya vedam anusasty avatirya loke

"The Lord in His incarnation of Dhanvantari very quickly cures the diseases of the ever diseased living entities simply by His fame personified and only because of Him do the demigods achieve long lives. Thus the Personality of Godhead becomes ever glorified. He also exacted a share from the sacrifices, and it is He only who inaugurated the medical science or the knowledge of medicine in the universe." (Srimad Bhagavata Purana 2.7.22 )

Sacred Vegetarian Recipes - Prasadam

World Vegetarian Day 1st October each year

World Vegetarian Awareness Month - October

http://www.hknet.org.nz/VegeWVD.html

see what's already happened last year http://www.hknet.org.nz/VegeWVD2004.html

see what we hear is to be happening this year

See our previous World Vegetarian Day issue of the newsletter for a wide range of Vegetarian issues
2005 World Vegetarian Day newsletter
Shaligram Tirtha Pradarshini newsletter October 2005 - Theme Prasadam

Vege update:
Social scientists and law enforcement officials have identified animal abuse as a symptom of emotional illness and a precursor to violent crimes against human beings. To allow individuals guilty of perpetrating such cruel acts to go unpunished or not sufficiently punished would be to sanction these horrific crimes and would permit them to go on to possibly commit violent crimes against humans.

The Animal Spirit Newsletter - Issue #2 -  4/21/03-4/27/03

This list is about vegetarian kitchen crafts. This list is created for postings regarding back to basics vegetarian kitchen crafts. When we say vegetarian we mean no meat, fish or eggs. When we say back to basics, we mean tips on making yeast, bread, gluten, tofu, sprouts and so forth. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vkcrafts   Post a Message: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vkcrafts/post
 

Eggplant Parmesan

Ingredients:
9 Lasagne pieces, uncooked
1 medium eggplant, about 3/4 pound
Olive oil flavored cooking spray
2 tsp. dried basil
2 tbsp. grated low-sodium Parmesan cheese
1 26-oz. jar low fat-marinara sauce (see our recipe)
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 15-oz. container light ricotta cheese
8 oz. low-sodium shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or parsley (optional)

Italian Seasoning Blend
2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons dried marjoram
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried sage
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
Combine all ingredients; store in an airtight container.

Cook lasagne pieces according to package directions. Meanwhile, preheat broiler. Trim ends and peel eggplant; cut crosswise into 12 1/4-inch slices. Place on foil-lined baking sheet; coat well with cooking spray. Broil 4 to 5 inches from heat source 5 minutes or until browned. Turn; coat well with cooking spray. Broil 3 minutes. Remove from broiler; sprinkle with basil and Parmesan cheese. Return to broiler; broil 1 minute or until cheese is golden brown. Remove pan from broiler; let stand 5 minutes. Preheat oven to 375° F.

Combine marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Spread 1/3 cup sauce each in bottom of two disposable foil 8 x 8 2-inch baking pans. Drain lasagne; rinse with cold water. Cut lasagne pieces crosswise, forming 18 pieces. Layer 3 pieces in each pan; top with half of ricotta cheese. Place eggplant slices over cheese; top with 1/4 cup sauce. Repeat layering in each pan with 3 more lasagne pieces, 1/4 cup sauce, remaining ricotta cheese, last 3 lasagne pieces and remaining sauce. Serve hot.

Some hints taken from the pasta recipe site - not that devotees would do this but it's what it said here.
Cover pans with aluminum foil; place one pan in a large resealable freezer bag. Freeze up to 2 months for another meal. Bake remaining lasagne 40 minutes or until hot. Remove foil; sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Return to oven and bake 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes; cut in squares. Sprinkle with fresh basil, if desired.

To reheat frozen lasagne, thaw in refrigerator over night or at least 8 hours. Bake as directed above.

JTCd's Spinach lasagna
Ingredients:
(I usually double or treble these measurements)
1 x 250grms lasagna pasta
2 large bunches spinach, washed and coarsely chopped
5 tablespoons (100 ml) butter
1 teaspoon (5 ml) ground black pepper
1 teaspoon (5 ml) yellow asafoetida powder
1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) nutmeg
2 tablespoons (40 ml) plain flour
3/4 cup (185 ml) milk
250 g (9 ounces) chopped feta cheese (or ricotta or curd cheese)
1 and 1/2 cups (375 ml) tasty cheddar cheese grated
1 and 1/2 cups (375 ml) mozarella cheese grated
1 and 1/2 cups (375 ml) parmesan cheese grated
1 and 1/2 cups (375 ml) mild or edam cheese grated - for topping
2 tablespoons (40 ml) bread crumbs (optional)
1 cup (250 ml) melted butter (for brushing on the pastry layers)
olive oil
salt

1. Place the spinach in a large, heavy saucepan over moderately high heat with 3 tablespoons (60 ml) of butter, salt, and pepper. Bring the spinach to a boil, reduce the heat, and cook uncovered until the spinach is tender and the liquid has evaporated.
2. Melt another 2 tablespoons (40 ml) butter in a separate pan, add asafoetida, and saute for a few moments. Add the nutmeg and flour and saute for about 1 minute. Add the milk and stir carefully until the sauce boils and thickens. Remove from the heat. Combine the spinach, cheese, and sauce. Place the mixture in a bowl. If the mixture is too moist, add the optional bread crumbs.
3. In a separate pot cook the wavey lasagna in a pot of water with salt and olive oil until el-dante
4. Drain lasagna
5. Put lasagna into large baking dish and pour over it the spinach mixture.
6. Add the mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese, and mix all together until evenly mixed
7. Sprinkle  mild and or edam over the top of the lasagna in the dish. I added some crumbled Wensleydale once too, amazingly wonderful combination with added paprika and black pepper sprinkled over the top.

Put into the oven and bake on medium heat for about one hour, or two if you like - it improves by the hour. Offer hot witha drizzle of olive oil.

Fettuccine Alfredo
(some say it) Serves 4
Ingredients:
8 oz. Fettuccine pasta
1 cup butter
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Prepare pasta according to package directions, drain. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Blend in cream and cheese and cook over low heat to reduce mixture slightly and melt cheese. Sauce should not boil. Remove from heat, season to taste with salt and pepper, toss with pasta and serve immediately.

Pesto  (Italiano Sauce)
Ingredients:
Equal amounts of  (one good bunch):
        Fresh Basil leaves
        Fresh Mint leaves
        Fresh Parsley leaves
200 grams + of Parmasen Grated Cheese
200 grams Almonds
4 table spoons Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp whole black peppercorns
2 tsp sweet basil
2 tsp paprika
1 cup water
squirt lemon juice (half lemon)

Put it all into a blender and blend until thick and creamy

Serve with pasta and pasta sauce above

Vegetarian Peppers and Polenta Kebabs:
Ingredients:
For the kebabs:
2 green capsicums  - cut into squares - 1/2 inch in size
2 red capsicums  - cut into squares - 1/2 inch in size
2 yellow capsicums  - cut into squares - 1/2 inch in size
2 orange capsicums  - cut into squares - 1/2 inch in size
one large jar of Kalamata black olives pitted
one large jar of stuffed green olives
one can of Pineapple rings - or if available fresh pineapple and cut to small segments
225 grms (8oz) cherry tomatoes
100 grams Red Leicester cheese - cut into squares - 1/2 inch in size
100 grams Tasty cheese  - cut into squares - 1/2 inch in size
100 grams Parmesan cheese
bamboo kebab sticks - 8 inches long

For the polenta skewers:
1 litre (1 and 1/4 pints) vegetable stock or water
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
200 grms (70z) course polenta
50 grms (2oz) butter
75 grms (3oz) freshly grated Parmesan cheese - plus extra for sprinkling
1 tea spoon hing
2 tablespoons Olive oil
2 springs Rosemary

For the polenta - method:
1 . In a large saucepan, bring the stock/water and 1tsp salt to the boil. Gradually add the polenta, stirring constantly. Simmer for 30 - 40 mins until the mixture comes away from the pan, stirring frequently. Add the butter, Parmesan cheese, hing, rosemary and pepper.
2. Spread out the hot mixture on to a dampened baking sheet to a 5mm (1/4 inch) thickness. Leave for about 1 hour to set.
3 Cut the polenta into squares or diamonds shapes about one inch in size and lightly grill in the oven until golden brown and a slight puffy.

For the Kebabs:
1. collect all ingredients in small bowls
2. assemble each item onto the bamboo stick
3. Black olive, red capsicum, pineapple, red Leicester cheese, green capsicum, cherry tomato, orange capsicum, polenta, yellow capsicum, tasty cheese, red capsicum, stuffed green olive.

Serve with Satay sauce or Pesto sauce. Serve at room temperature.

Satay Sauce
From Kurma's Great Vegetarian Dishes cookbook.
Satay sauce is delicious served with a variety of fried savouries. This recipe yields a fairly hot sauce. Adjust chilies as desired.
PREPARATION TIME: a few minutes
COOKING TIME: 15 minutes
YIELD: just under 2 cups (500 ml)
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon (20 ml) olive oil
1 teaspoon (5 ml) minced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon (20 ml) hot green chilies, minced
1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) yellow asafoetida powder
11/2 cups (375 ml) tomato puree.
11/2 teaspoons (7 ml) ground cumin
3 tablespoons (60 ml) peanut butter
4 tablespoons (80 ml) coconut milk
11/2 teaspoons (7 ml) brown sugar
1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt
1 tablespoon (20 ml) minced parsley
1 tablespoon (20 ml) lemon juice

1. Heat the olive oil in a heavy pan until almost smoking. Saute the ginger and chilies until they start to brown; then add the asafoetida. Saute for just a few seconds; then add the tomato puree. Stirring often, bring the puree to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.
2. Add the ground cumin and peanut butter, stirring the sauce until the peanut butter melts. Blend the coconut milk, sugar, salt, parsley, and lemon juice with the peanut butter and remove the sauce from the heat. Whisk until smooth. This sauce is best served hot.

Vrindavanesvari's Krishna Balaram cake:
Ingredients:
250 grms butter
1 and 1/2 cups sugar
2 table spoons yogurt
2 table spoons golden syrup
4 cups white flour
4 table spoons baking powder
2 and 1/2 cups liquid (half milk half water)

Works fine doubled or tripled also

method:
1. Melt butter and cream it with the sugar in a pot. When bubbling add yogurt and golden syrup.
2. Disolve baking powder in the half and half milk and water bowl. Be prepared for it to nearly double in size. Add to the creamed mixture (it also works if you add the creamed mixture to this bowl which is easier for mixing in larger quantities)
3. Double the mixture and divide in half or in three for layer cakes. Cook on a meduim 150 C heat until golden brown - usually about 35-40 mins.

For Orange cake add grated orange rind to the butter mixture and 1/2 cup orange juice instead of as much water.
For Carob or Decaf Coffee cake cream the powder with the butter mixture.
It is nice also if you keep a carob or coffee mix seperate from a plain mix and then marble the two together.

The consistency should be semi-liquid not dry and doughy.
if unsure you can always cook for longer on a lower heat.

You can put jams in the layers and icing and cream on top.
Offer and serve.

Cakes in Strawberry Yogurt (Malpoora)
This luscious version of the well known Indian sweet Malpoora is not traditional but rather something that has been developed over 2 decades in the Sunday Feast kitchens of Hare Krishna Temples around the world. Spoonfuls of thick batter are deep-fried in ghee to produce doughnut-like soft cakes, which are suspended in sweetened, fruit flavoured yogurt. You can substitute any fresh ripe berry for the strawberries, or try banana, passion fruit, papaya, mango, or kiwifruit. (BTW during chaturmasya's second month many of us may refrain from eating yogurt preparations, even though the vrata is from yogurt only. However, on festival days even yogurt is offered and accepted by all.)
PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes
BATTER RESTING TIME: 15 minutes
COOKING TIME: 20 minutes
YIELD: about 2 dozen
Ingredients:
2 and 1/4 cups (560 ml) self-raising flour
1 cup (250 ml) icing sugar
1 and 1/4 cups (310 ml) cold water
ghee for deep-frying
5 cups (11/4 litres) plain yogurt, chilled
3/4 cup (185 ml) caster sugar
1 and 1/2 cups (375 ml) strawberries, washed and quartered

Method:
1. Sift together the flour and icing sugar in a bowl. Add the water gradually, while stirring with a wire whisk, until the mixture reaches a consistency somewhere between batter and dough. Spoon in one tablespoon (20 ml) of yogurt and whisk again. The finished batter should cling to a spoon. Allow to set for 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat the ghee to a depth of 6.5 - 7.5 cm (21/2 - 3 inches) in a wok or deep-frying pan over moderately low heat 160°C/320°F.
3. Spoon out a tablespoon of batter from the bowl. With the aid of a second spoon, deftly slide the batter into the hot ghee. Quickly repeat the procedure for about 8 spoonfuls of batter. Allow the cakes to inflate in the ghee. Then turn them over with a slotted spoon and fry them, turning occasionally, for about 3 to 4 minutes, or until they are light golden brown all over. Remove and drain. Repeat until all the batter is used up.
4. Combine the yogurt and caster sugar in a large bowl. Crush a few berries through your fingers into the yogurt. Add the rest of the berries and combine well.
5. Carefully fold the fried cakes into the fruit yogurt and refrigerate, allowing the cakes to soak for about 30 minutes before serving. Serve the malpoora in individual dessert bowls with strawberry yogurt spooned on top.

Apple and Blackberry Crumble
From Kurma's Great Vegetarian Dishes cook book. This version of the famous English dessert has delighted customers at Gopal's Restaurant in Melbourne for many years. Succulent stewed apples, folded with fresh blackberries, are baked with a buttery, crunchy topping and served with cream or hot custard.
PREPARATION AND COOKING TIME: 15 minutes
BAKING TIME: 20 minutes
YIELD: enough for 6 to 8 persons
Ingredients:
6 medium green apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
1 and 1/2 cups (375 ml) fresh blackberries (or try raspberries, loganberries, or boysenberries)
1 tablespoon (20 ml) sugar
1 tablespoon (20 ml) fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup (185 ml) raw oats
1/2 cup (125 ml) unbleached plain flour
1/2 cup (125 ml) wholemeal flour
1/2 cup (125 ml) raw sugar
1/2 cup (125 ml) brown sugar
1/2 cup (125 ml) melted butter

Method:
1. Place the sliced apples along with a sprinkle of water in a heavy 4-litre/quart saucepan. Cook covered over moderate heat until the apples soften. Fold in the fresh berries, one tablespoon (20 ml) sugar, and lemon juice. Remove from the heat.
2. In a bowl, combine the raw oats, unbleached plain flour, wholemeal flour, raw sugar, brown sugar, and melted butter, rubbing in the butter until a coarse meal-like consistency is achieved.
3. Spread the cooked apples and berries in the bottom of a 20 cm (8-inch) ovenproof baking dish. Without pressing down, spoon on all the topping.
4. Place the dish in the top one-third of a preheated 180°C/355°F oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the topping is golden brown. Serve hot.

The Animal Spirit Newsletter - Issue #2 -  4/21/03-4/27/03

The book "Living a Good Life" normally selling at $21.95 is now going at the $14.95 price, .http://vegsoc.wellington.net.nz/livingGd.htm

 Krishna Conscious - Vedikly acceptable Jokes

Healing with humour: Taking better care of ourselves  =>;-))
http://www.hknet.org.nz/healthNhumour.html
Visit our Hasya Rasa pages

Laughter Therapy - its no joke:
http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/yod/march98/news.htm

To read more about Hasya visit our pages

FOR YOUR INTEREST: This one is not a joke but I thought you might like to know. These are the names of Lord Caitanya taken from the book "Sri Caitanya Sahasra Nama Stotra", i.e. "A Thousand Names of Lord Caitanya" by Srila Kavi Karnapura (as translated by HG Kusakratha Prabhu from the Krsna Institute)...

-> Ozone created by electric cars now killing millions in the seventh largest country in the world, Mexifornia , formerly known as California.  White minorities still trying to have English recognized as Mexifornia's third language.

-> Spotted Owl plague threatens northwestern United States crops and livestock.

-> Baby conceived naturally.  Scientists stumped.

-> Couple petitions court to reinstate heterosexual marriage.

-> Last remaining Fundamentalist Muslim dies in the American Territory of the Middle East (formerly known as Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Lebanon).

-> Iran still closed off; physicists estimate it will take at least 10 more years before radioactivity decreases to safe levels.

-> France pleads for global help after being taken over by Jamaica.

-> Castro finally dies at age 112; Cuban cigars can now be imported legally, but President Chelsea Clinton has banned all smoking.

-> George Z. Bush says he will run for President in 2036.

-> Postal Service raises price of first class stamp to $17.89 and reduces mail delivery to Wednesdays only.

-> 85-year $75.8 billion study:  Diet and Exercise is the key to weight loss.

-> Average weight of Americans drops to 250 lbs.

-> Massachusetts executes last remaining conservative.

-> Supreme Court rules punishment of criminals violates their civil rights.

-> Average height of NBA players is now nine feet, seven inches.

-> New federal law requires that all nail clippers, screwdrivers, fly swatters and rolled-up newspapers must be registered by January 2036.

-> IRS sets lowest tax rate at 75 percent.

-> Florida voters still having trouble with voting machines.

.......and always remember (don't forget...)

You might like to check out Krishna-conscious jokes - http://vedaveda.com/anglais/joke/deux.html
Also check out the Humour section of the Main Index: http://www.hknet.org.nz/index.htm

A Grateful Word to ourSupporters

to all the readers who have one way or another subscribed to N.Z.H.K.S.R.Network.
Your interest and support makes this work possible.

Thank you to The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International (BBTI) for allowing the kind use of their pictures found in this newsletter; Copyright ©2005 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, on the web at http://www.krishna.com. Used with permission.

A special thanx for the devotees who were sponsoring the site over 2004-2005, and to Yagnesh Rajani prabhu for taking it up to 2007

Also a more than special thanks to those devotees who helped us on the India yatra, you know who you are. Thanx

Those wishing to contribute to this Net-work, send articles, and or information please do so by contacting me here ...

Similarly if anyone would like to send donations to help maintain this and similar work,
especially on a regular basis please contact me here also ...

Every little is VERY much appreciated, and is what allows the service to continue regularly. Thanx

Donations can be made on-line at http://www.hknet.org.nz/donations.html  through our PayPal account.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

*DISCLAIMER: All information featured in this newsletter is verified with the original source. I cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information or for the consequences of its use.

*COPYRIGHT NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, and International Copyright law, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under "fair use" without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.