Significance of Ratha Yatra

The worship of Radha and Krishna deity requires strict brahminical standards. And in Kali yuga, there are not many people with brahminical qualities left. Thus, The Supreme Lord manifested Himself as Jagannatha as is confirmed in the Narada Purana (U. Kh. 52.12):

pratimāṁ tatra tāṁ dṛṣṭvā
svayaṁ devena nimitām
anāyāsena vai yānti
bhavanaṁ me tato narāḥ

The Supreme Lord Narayana tells Lakshmi Devi, “In that great abode of mine known as Purusottama-ksetra, which is rarely achieved in the three worlds, the Kesava Deity, who was fashioned after The Supreme Lord Himself, is situated. If men simply see the Deity they are easily able to come to my abode (where birth, death, old age and disease are absent).

On Ratha Yatra day itself, The Lord of The Universe comes out from His abode just to give the masses regardless of race, language, religion or gender, His darshan. In fact, due to The Supreme Lord being all spirit there is no cause of duality. Therefore, when He presides in the cart, due to the absolute nature of spirit, the cart also becomes non-different from Him. When people come into contact with the cart, they are personally in contact with The Lord of The Universe. This even includes people who see Him or His cart but are unable to maintain physical contact.

Because, The Supreme Lord is all spirit and pure, he cannot be affected by any amount of material element. After all, if He indeed was affected, the He would no longer be perfect and this perfect knowledge called Vedas could not have been established by Himself. This is confirmed in the prayer by Brahma known as Srī-Brahmā Samhitā (text 1), the first living entity that came into existence in this material world:

īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ
sac-cid-ānanda vigrahaḥ
anādir ādir govindaḥ
sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam

Krsna who is known as Govinda, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He has an eternal, blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin, and He is the prime causes of all causes.

When we come into contact with The Supreme Lord, we will become purified of the sinful reactions of our past deeds. When the dirty elements within our hearts are wiped away, only then will we break away from these suffering cycles of birth, death, old age and disease. We will gain entry to Vaikuntha, where we will always joyfully reside with The Supreme Lord His variegated pastimes. This has been promised by The Supreme Personality of Godhead in the Bhagavad-Gita (18.66):

sarva-dharmān parityaja
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ

Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.

Appearance of Lord Jagannatha (The Lord of The Universe)

In the run up to the largest festival celebrated by Sri Krishna Mandir, Ratha Yatra or The Festival of Chariots, we will be running a series of articles on Lord Jagannatha and His pastimes. As this is the first article of the series, let us understand more on the appearance of Lord Krishna as Jagannatha.

In Satya-yuga, King Indradyumna wished to visit the place where he could see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face. A travelling mendicant informed him of a place in the north-east of Bharata-varsha (as India) called Purussotama-ksetra. This land was the residence of the deity of Lord Nila-Madhava. Every night demigods grace the land to take darshan of The Supreme Lord. Anyone who resides in that land for a few days would have freed himself of all sinful reactions. In fact, a simple crow had even attained salvation at the touch of water from a Rohini-kunda, sacred pond from Purussotama-ksetra.

The brother of the chief minister, Vidyapati, a learned and intelligent brahmana, was selected to verify on this matter. After some time, Vidyapati returned to the kingdom and affirmed the existence of Purusottama-ksetra and Lord Nila Madhava. King Indradyumna together with his entire kingdom then prepared to resettle in Purusottama-ksetra. Upon his arrival in the holy land, he learned that the deity of Nila Madhava was forever lost during a violent sand storm. King Indradyumna was devastated and felt much emptiness for not having darshan of the Supreme Lord.

Narada Muni, the liberated pure devotee of the Supreme Lord consoled King Indradyumna and instructed him to perform one thousand asvamedha yajna (sacrifices) to please The Lord of the Universe. Before the final day of the sacrifice, the king had a dream in which he saw Lord Viṣnu lying on the soft white body of Lord Anantadeva and Lakṣmī Devī massaging The Lord’s lotus feet and They were surrounded by an ocean of milk. King Indradyumna relayed his dream to Narada Muni, in which Narada replied that The Supreme Lord was please with the king’s sacrifice and would reveal Himself to the king.

True to the words of Narada Muni, some citizens returned from bathing in the sea and announced that they had seen a magnificent tree floating on the waves of the sea. It had a sweet smell, was glowing with an unusual luster and had the symbols of Viṣnu on it. The tree was pulled out of the water and placed in a mahāvedi or sacrificial platform. As the king concluded the sacrifice, he thought how the sacred wood could be carved to a form of The Supreme Lord so that everyone could take His darshan. Just then a supernatural voice was heard from the sky, stating that a brahmana would arrive and offer to carve the deity of The Supreme Lord. He had to be given absolute privacy and during this time, kirtan should be ongoing without interruption.

Soon indeed, an old brahmana appeared with his tools and offered his services to carve out the deity of The Supreme Lord. King Indradyumna gave all the facilities that was instructed to him by the divine voice and after two weeks the deities of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva, Lady Subhadra and Sudarshan Cakra was introduced to the entire universe.

King Indradyumna then decided to construct a majestic temple with all the wealth of the treasury. He declared, “What could be a superior fortune than offering all the wealth we have to The Supreme Lord. After all, The Lord of the Universe is the provider of all the wealth and riches we have.” The Supreme Lord is fully satisfied in Himself and does not need anything from anyone but to show mercy to His devotees he accepts their offering regardless of it being menial.

At the conclusion of the temple construction, Narada Muni had to return to meet Brahma to inform him of the appearance of Lord Jagannatha and construction of His temple. King Indradyumna requested that he accompanied Narada Muni. Together, they met Brahma at the topmost planet of this material universe, Brahmaloka. King Indradyumna then requested Brahma to descend to Purusottama-ksetra and install the munificent deities.

When all of them descended on earth, preparations of epic proportions were made for the first ever festival of chariots. This was required as the deities were still being staged at the mahavedi (sacrificial platform) and had to be brought to the temple for their permanent residence. Three enormous carts were constructed by Visvakarma, the architect from the heavenly planet. The canopies were decorated with exquisitie silk and gold. Lord Jagannatha’s cart flew the flag with the symbol of Garuda; a flag with the symbol of lotus flower for Lady Subhadra and a flag with the symbol of a plough for Lord Baladeva. A long stretch of horses with reins decorated with gems and stones pulled the carts all the way to the temple.

Brahma explained that the presiding deity in Purussotama-ksetra was Nila Madhava for the first fifty years of Brahma’s life. Once that period came to pass, Nila Madhava would disappear and in His place will be Jagannatha for the next fifty years of Brahma’s life. The appearance of Lord Krishna as Jagannatha was only due to the devotion of King Indradyumna who played the role of an ideal ruler in the pastimes of The Supreme Lord. The rajarishi or the saintly king was concern for the citizens and their liberation from material miseries. While he carried on his duties to perfection looking after all the citizens of his kingdom, he never relented from the devotion of The Supreme Lord. And thus, The Supreme Lord agreed to manifest Himself just to allow the citizens of the kingdom to take darshan and purify themselves from all sinful reactions.

Choice is not an option – part III

Well now how do we serve God ? I am caught in so many of my material responsibilities that how am I ever going to find time to achieve this? It seems out of the world.

We yearn for things to be practical and simple and tend to deride things which don't appear easy. And what's more we want to see immediate results. Well if the supreme is aware of everything, why would he ignore this and not have a solution?

Yes…the scriptures recommend different practices and methods for different ages considering the conditions applicable to each age. There are four ages prescribed, and the current age is the iron age or Kali yuga. This age is described to be full of vices. Men have short memory and not lucky. Their life span is hardly a hundred years.

Just as there are four ages, there are four methods to reinstate our relationship with God. Meditation, rituals, worship and chanting the holy name of God are the four prescribed methods. Of these four, the first three methods require considerable time and purity to enable one to achieve success. Well now, the fourth method, chanting God's name is the easiest and most sublime. The Supreme Lord appeared as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu some 500 years ago to inaugurate this movement. He preached that chanting of God's name is possible and practical because it is not dependent on one's qualification or purification. In fact such qualification and purification is achieved by the process itself. So let us start chanting God's name wherever possible and make our lives happy and peaceful.

Please chant

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna |

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare ||

Hare Rama Hare Rama |

Rama Rama Hare Hare ||

 

A minimum of 108 times everyday.

 

By Krsna Caitanya Das

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accolades On The Web for Sri Krishna Mandir

Hare Krsna!! One of our devotees was in for a pleasant surprise when he was browsing the net. He googled "Hare Krsna in Singapore" and found some interesting web pages where people have expressed genuine appreciation for different aspects of preaching activities of Sri Krishna Mandir. Following are some links which contain these appreciations:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bp2.blogger.com/_cyP3UXYPDjY/SHocQqMEIYI/AAAAAAAAIDU/vaFK34S5K0k/s320/IMG_0807-778838.JPG&imgrefurl=http://twcnomad.blogspot.com/2008/07/ratha-yatra-08-hare-krishna-procession.html&usg=__n3-JrIEDVRO54tmBqBrE0r2wEuA=&h=240&w=320&sz=15&hl=en&start=6&um=1&tbnid=OX72Ghk_NAnjUM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=118&prev=/images%3Fq%3DHare%2BKrsna%2BSingapore%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den


http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8u-IrrT6jfU/SC1DbqDApLI/AAAAAAAACQk/fY85FOSRu64/DSCN1365.JPG&imgrefurl=http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cgAb2RoyhwtzKvmj3wc2yQ&usg=__gvpGcXw0Wc-s_ocHe7KiTzLiJRg=&h=1200&w=1600&sz=15&hl=en&start=11&um=1&tbnid=vxLXtF_k-6rN-M:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3DHare%2BKrsna%2BSingapore%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rags1969/876336097/in/photostream

If any one finds more of such appreciations, please email the links to sri.krishna.mandir@gmail.com.

Thank you & Hare Krsna!!

Choice Is Not An Option - Part 2

But why is independence a problem? After all its something that everyone look for.

Having understood a fair deal on our relationship with God, let’s explore this concept of independence. But before that, can we think aloud and see what we mean as independence and is it something which is really possible? At least going by general parlance, independence can be associated with a sense of feeling where everything is under one’s control where one can dictate terms and be in a position according to his own whims and fancies.  I am sure this definition of independence would have raised a few eyebrows and made one ponder as to where we are heading. We are heading to understand if this is really possible and whether we really are in such a position.

But before that we need to understand the nature of our surroundings. The world we have occupied is a place of duality where both happiness and distress coexist. The Lord himself confirms this in the Bhagavad Gita terming this world as “dukhalayam asasvatam” – meaning a place of misery and that which is temporary. As we have come to see and as confirmed by the authorities there are four things in this material world which are there to exist – birth, death, old age and disease. These four things cannot be stopped and is experienced even up to the highest planet in this material world which is Brahmaloka. And even if one happens to be the richest of the richest he cannot stop this. Besides these four things there are other natural disturbances like flood, famines, earthquakes etc which are beyond anybody’s control. Despite the advancement in science and technology these things still cannot be checked.

So now it’s time to question ourselves. Can we actually remain independent given the nature of our environment and the place which we occupy? The obvious answer should be no, because it is clear that we do not have control over our surroundings and as such the question of independence never exists.    

But one may argue that there is a limited independence which exists. This argument is valid and it is a fact that we are naturally independent. The Lord is all independent and we being a part and parcel of the Lord also have that natural independence. But currently we are unable to utilize it fully because we have misused that independence. The misuse of independence happens when we attempt to be independent to the source of our independence itself. In other words we want to enjoy being separated from God and not wanting him to be with us. It is just like a son or daughter who in the name of independence intents to act according to his or her whims without adhering to the instructions of the parents. In the beginning it may be nice, but the end result can be devastating. So the solution lies in using that limited independence which we currently enjoy to dovetail our activities to the service of the Lord. That will reinstate us in our true feeling of independence. But am I not forcing myself to undertake something which I don’t enjoy? The point is that unlike serving a master in this material world out of need or necessity the pleasure in serving the lord is immense. This is because the Lord is by nature full of eternal, bliss and knowledge and we being his parts and parcels also have that quality.

We conclude this part by clearly voicing that Independence is not a problem, in fact it is a boon but one needs to properly understand and not misuse it.

Part3

But at the end of Part 2, are we sounding impractical or are we getting too theoretical? So Let’s explore the practical means to achieve what we discussed in the upcoming Part 3.

--- by Krsna Caitanya Das

Choice is not an option - (Part 1)

All over the world people today have come to understand life with the simple theory of “Life is short, make merry and enjoy”. Though it seems simple, it opens up several dangers which we shall unravel through the course of this discussion. The quest for any theory in life is to be happy and make the most of what is available for our own personal sense gratification. This in short is the cause of our disturbances. It seems strange isn’t it! But it’s a hard reality which we have got to accept. Let’s accept it with some basis though but before that let us understand what this word ‘choice’ is. 

I happened to meet a gentleman from a respected family in India and was pleased to explain the philosophy of God consciousness to him. He patiently listened through and then started his part of the story. Finally he landed up at a point saying – what is wrong in suffering? I am ok with it. Well now here ends the conversation. When we have made a choice to suffer nobody can save us. It sounds foolish isn’t it…that I am ok to suffer but this is a reality in today’s world. We are so much engrossed in temporary sense enjoyment that we don’t bother even to suffer or at least say that we don’t bother. Hold on…let me not get any further. Let’s come to the basis.

Have we ever thought of questioning something very basic like this: Why am I born? Why is there disease, death and old age? Why am I not in control of my surroundings and the way I look at things? Why is something subtly forced on me?

The answer to these million dollar questions are not available in today’s modern books of history or geography but in our very own ancient Vedic wisdom.

To answer them we need to explore a series of points and understand its linkage. The Bhagavad Gita – meaning song of the Lord spoken some 5,000 years ago methodically explains and clarifies this linkage.

To begin with, we need to understand that we are this spirit soul and not this body or at least we are not this body and we are something distinct from it. The distinction between a dead body and a living body is sufficient evidence to help us understand this fact.

Now having known that fact, we get information that this spirit soul which is the source of the consciousness in the body is a part and parcel of the lord. Being a part and parcel of the Lord means in essence that the spirit soul has all the qualities that are available in God just like a part and parcel of gold also possesses the qualities of gold. So are we God? No, because though qualitatively we are one with God we cannot match it quantitatively just like though a part of gold is also gold it cannot match the quantity in a gold mine. By this we come to understand the concept of a superior and a subordinate. Well the trouble game starts when this subordinate x wants to be on his own and ignore superior Y. It’s like a child who is part of the family but does not want to accept the family and be on his own. This is the sum and substance of our trouble in material existence. We living entities being parts and parcels of God want to enjoy independent of the Lord and have therefore been imprisoned in this material world to enjoy or suffer the reactions of our past deeds. So the solution is simple. If we want to be truly or eternally happy we should attempt to reinstate that relationship just like though the particle of gold might glitter independently, but when it is part of a gold ring it is very much appreciated. This is the secret of peace and happiness.

Srila Prabhupada wrote that when a diamond is set in a gold ring, it looks very nice. The gold is glorified and at the same time, the diamond is also glorified. The Lord and the living entity eternally glitter, and when a living entity becomes inclined to the service of the Supreme Lord he looks like gold. The Lord is the diamond, and so this combination is very nice.

More on Part 2

But why is independence a problem? After all it’s something that everyone look for.

Having understood a fair deal on our relationship with God, let’s explore this concept of independence. But before that, can we think aloud and see what we mean as independence and is it something which is really possible? At least going my general parlance, independence can be associated with a sense of feeling where everything is under one’s control where one can dictate terms and be in a position according to his own whims and fancies.  I am sure this definition of independence would have raised a few eyebrows and made one ponder as to where we are heading. We are heading to understand if this is really possible and whether we really are independent in the first place.

Hare Krsna!!

Krsna Caitanya Das

 

 

 

Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja 2008 Offering from Bhaktin Syamala

Hare Krsna!! Srila Prabhupada ki jai!!                                                                

Srila Prabhupada, you have been teaching Krsna consiousness in the whole world for the past 42 years, to many fortunate souls. But in the whole process i cannot understand one thing; that how I, being the most sinful and fallen soul have been awarded your mercy. I offer my most humble obeisances unto you.

After my birth i was taught some dos and don'ts by my parents for some phase of life. After that i didn't have guidance to know what is right and what is wrong. In the process i comitted so many mistakes and sins unknowingly. But you being "Aadhama Janara Bandhu", made me aware of my sins and introduced me to the chanting of the holy name of the Lord.

Srila Prabhupada, you are "Karuna Sindhu", ocean of mercy. But I am so ignorant that I am not able to utilise your potential to the fullest. Please be kind to me and let me stick to your lotus feet and serve you under any circumstance, to cross over the blazing fire of material existance and to reach the Abode of The Lord. Please forgive my offences and make me eligible to get shelter at your lotus feet.

Awaiting your mercy,

Syamala