In2-MeC

IBSA (ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Sadhana Asrama), Govardhana, India
18 January 2004

Here's a message of transcendental nectar from my Godbrother Sriman Radhakunda Prabhu:

The lotus feet of Sri-Sri Radhika-Madhava.

Jaya Sri Radhe,

Radha Madhava have 19 signs on Their Lotus feet. Sri Radhika has a conch, a mountain, an altar, an earring, a chariot, a club, a missile, and a fish on Her right lotus foot. Her left foot has a chakra, a lotus, an elephant goad, an umbrella, a flag, a flower, a bangle, a creeper, a moon, a barleycorn and an upward curving line.

On Sri Madhava�s right lotus foot is a barleycorn, an upward curving line, a chakra, a lotus, an elephant goad, a flag, a thunderbolt, an umbrella, an octagon, 4 swastikas and 4 jambu fruit. His left lotus foot bears the markings of a conch, a sky emblem, a cow�s hoof print, a unstrung bow, a triangle, four water pots, a ˝ moon and a fish.

Please meditate on Their Lotus feet and pray to become a servant at Their Lotus feet!

Your ever well wisher

Radhakunda das
radhakunda@rediffmail. com

P. S. Krsna is known as Radhika-paramodaya: He is supremely manifest only because of Radhikarani!

SRI GARGA-SAMHITA

Canto Three

SRI GIRIRAJA

Chapter Four

Sri Krsna-abhiseka
The Coronation-Bathing of Sri Krsna

TEXT 1

Sri Narada said: Then, accompanied by the demigods, Indra went to a secluded place on Govardhana Hill and bowed down before Lord Krsna.

TEXT 2

Sri Indra said: You are the master of the demigods, the supreme controller, the Lord who is perfect and complete, the oldest, the supreme person greater than the greatest and above the material energy, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Hari. O master of the spiritual sky, O master of the universes, please save me! Please save me!

TEXT 3

You are the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, perfect and complete, who descends as the ten avataras. Desiring to protect the Vedic scriptures and the cows of piety and desiring also to kill the demons headed by Kamsa, You have taken birth in this world.

TEXT 4

O master of the spiritual sky, as a father forgives his son, please forgive me, a proud fool bewildered by Your illusory potency, a fool who has become a great reservoir of offenses to You. O master of the demigods, O home where the universes dwell, please be kind to me.

TEXT 5

Om. Obeisances! Obeisances to You! Obeisances to You, the lifter of Govardhana Hill, the pleasure of the cows, land and senses, the Lord who resides in Gokula as the protecter of the cows, the master of the gopas, the husband of the gopis, the lifter of the elephant among mountains, an ocean of mercy, the creator of the universes, the auspiciousness of the universes, the home where the universes dwell, the enchanter of the universes, the enchanter of many millions of Kamadevas, the lover of King Vrsabhanu's daughter, a lamp shining in King Nanda's family, all-attractive Sri Krsna, the perfect and complete original Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of countless universes, the master of the transcendental abode of Goloka, the companion of Balarama!

TEXT 6

Sri Narada said: A person who, rising in the morning, recites these prayers of Indra attains all perfections. Dangers will not make him fear.

TEXT 7

After offering these prayers, Indra folded his hands and accompanied by all the demigods, bowed down before Lord Krsna.

TEXT 8

Then, on beautiful Govardhana Hill, the surabhi cow born from the milk-ocean bathed the gopa-king Krsna with great streams of milk.

TEXT 9

Its four trunks filled with celestial Ganga water, the intoxicated elephant Airavata bathed Lord Krsna.

TEXT 10

Then the joyful devas, kinnaras, gandharvas, rsis and personified Vedas offered prayers to Lord Krsna and showered Him with flowers.

TEXT 11

When the coronation bathing of Sri Krsna was completed noble Govardhana Hill began to melt with joy.

TEXT 12

Pleased, the Lord left the mark of His lotus hand on the melting hill. O king, even today that handprint can be seen on Govardhana Hill.

TEXT 13

O king of Mithila, know that the footprints Krsna left there are a great holy place that destroys the people's sins.

TEXT 14

O king of Mithila, nwxt to Lord Krsna footprints were the surabhi cow's hoofprints.

TEXT 15

O king of Mithila, the celestial Ganga water that bathed Lord Krsna on Govardhana Hill became the Manasa-ganga lake, which destroys all sins.

TEXT 16

O king, the streams of the surabhi cow's milk that bathed Lord Krsna on Govardhana Hill became the Govinda-kunda lake, which destroys the greatest sins.

TEXT 17

Sometimes the water in that lake tastes like delicious milk. One who bathes there attains Lord Krsna's feet.

TEXT 18

Circumambulating Lord Krsna, bowing down, making many offerings, calling out, " All glories!" and showering Him with flowers, the happy demigods returned to their celestial abode.

TEXT 19

A person who hears this narration of Sri Krsna's ceremonial bathing attains a result much greater than the result of ten asvamedha-yajnas. He attains the supreme creator's transcendental abode.

CHAPTER Five

Gopa-Vivada
The Dispute Among the Gopas

TEXT 1

Sri Narada said: Having seen Krsna wonderful and surprising pastimes, the gopas and gopis said to Nanda and Yasoda:

TEXT 2

O king of the gopas, no one in your family could lift a hill. O Yasoda, you could not hold even a single rock for seven days.

TEXT 3

What is the strength of a seven-year-old boy? How strong must one be to lift Govardhana Hill, the king of mountains? We have begun to doubt the identity of your unnaturally strong boy.

TEXT 4

With one hand He playfully held up the greatest of mountains as an elephant holds up a lotus flower or a child holds up a mushroom.

TEXT 5

O Yasoda, your complexion is fair. O Nanda, your complexion is also fair. This boy is very dark. He is different from the rest of the family.

TEXT 6

This boy is like a ksatriya. For Balarama a ksatriya's nature is not unexpected. He was born in a ksatriya family descended from the moon-god.

TEXT 7

If you don't tell us the truth, we will leave the community. Was this boy really born in a family of gopas? If you don't tell us, there will be a great quarrel.

TEXT 8

Sri Narada said: As she heard the gopas words, Yasoda became gripped with fear. Then King Nanda spoke to the angry gopas.

TEXT 9

Sri Nanda said: O gopas, I will carefully tell you what Garga Muni said. O gopas, by his words you will be quickly free of your anxiety. Garga Muni said to me:

TEXT 10

In the word "Krsna" the letter "k" means "the lover of the goddess of fortune", "r" means "Lord Ramacandra", "s" means "the Lord of six opulences " or "the Lord who resides in Svetadvipa. "

TEXT 11

"N" means "Lord Nrsimha", "a" means "the eternal one" or "the Lord who enjoys what is offered in the sacrifical fire" and "h" means "the Nara-Narayana Rsis. "

TEXT 12

These six letters combine to form the name of the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is perfect and complete. That is why this boy is named Krsna.

TEXT 13

In the other yugas He is white, red or yellow but at the end of Dvapara-yuga and the beginning of Kali-yuga, this boy becomes dark-complexioned (Krsna).

TEXT 14 AND 15

That is why Nanda's son has the name Krsna. Because He is the Lord (deva) that rules over the eight vasus (the heart, mind, intelligence and the five senses), He is also called Vasudeva.

TEXT 16

Because He is the husband (pati) of King Vrsabhanu's daughter Radha, who was born in the palace of Kirti-devi, He is also called Radha-pati.

TEXT 17

Sri Krsna is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is perfect and complete. He is the master of countless universes. In the transcendental abode of Goloka He shines with transcendental glory.

TEXT 18

In order to relieve the earth of its burden, kill the demons headed by Kamsa and protect the devotees, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead has now become your son.

TEXT 19

O descendent of Bharata, His names are endless. His names are hidden even from the Vedas. His transcendental pastimes will show what His names are. Do not be surprised by them.

TEXT 20

When I heard Garga Muni say this about my son, I did not doubt his words. The words of the Vedas and the words of a brahmana are the final proof of what is true in this world.

TEXT 21

The gopas said: If the great sage Garga Muni actually came to your home and performed the name-giving ceremony, why did you not call your relatives to come and witness it?

TEXT 22

You kept the name-giving ceremony a secret even when it was performed in your own home!

TEXT 23

Sri Narada said: Their bodies filled with anger as they spoke these words, the gopas left Nanda's palace and went to King Vrsabhanu.

TEXT 24

Filled with anger for their kinsman Nanda, all the gopas spoke to Nanda's friend, King Vrsabhanu.

TEXT 25

The gopas said: O King Vrsabhanu, you have a noble heart. You are the best person in our community. O king, O leader of the gopas, you should sever your ties of friendship with King Nanda.

TEXT 26

Sri Vrsabhanu said: What wrong has King Nanda done that I should sever my ties of friendship with him? King Nanda is worshipped by the gopas. He is the crown that gloriously decorates our community. He is my dear friend.

TEXT 27

The gopas said: O king, if you do not sever your ties of friendship with him, we, the people of Vraja, will sever our ties of friendship with you. O thoughtful one, in your home you have a grown-up daughter of marriageable age.

TEXT 28

If you, the first person in our community, who have now become maddened with your wealth and opulences, find yourself unable to give Her in marriage to a suitable bridegroom, the fault will be yours alone.

TEXT 29

If you do not for a long time sever your ties of friedship with King Nanda, we will ostracize you from our community. O noble-hearted one, reject, reject King Nanda.

TEXT 30

Sri Vrsabhanu said: O gopas, I will repeat for you Garga Muni's words. Those words will make you free of all these anxieties. Garga Muni said:

TEXT 31

The boy that was born in Nanda's home is the master of countless universes. He is the master of Goloka. He is greater than the greatest. No one is greater than Him.

TEXT 32

On the demigod Brahma's request, Krsna came to this universe to remove the earth's burden and kill the demons headed by Kamsa.

TEXT 33

Sri Radha, who in the realm of Goloka is Sri Krsna's first queen, has taken birth in your home. You do not know how exalted She is.

TEXT 34

I will not arrange the marriage of Radha and Krsna. They will be married in Bhandiravan forest by the Yamuna's shore.

TEXT 35

In a beautiful secluded place near Vrndavana forest the demigod Brahma will perform their wedding.

TEXT 36

O best of the gopas, please understand that, in the palace of Goloka, Radha is the first queen of Sri Krsna, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the crest jewel of the worlds.

TEXT 37

From Goloka all you gopas have come to the earth. The gopis and cows have also come, by Radha's wish, from Goloka.

TEXT 38

After speaking these words, the great sage Garga Muni left. From that day I have not doubted Radha's exalted position.

TEXT 39

The words of the Vedas and the words of a brahmana are the final proof of what is true in this world. O gopas, now I have explained all this to you. What more do you wish to hear?

Sketches of a Devotee's Pre-Krsna Conscious Life in India

Back in the late 1980's I tape-recorded a series of interesting stories told me by an Indian devotee, whom I shall not name to protect his privacy. These stories relate his life as a young man from a South Indian smarta brahmin family, and trace how he gradually turned away from material life to Krsna consciousness. What you will read below took place in Puttaparthi, at the asrama of a famous pseudo-incarnation of God.

There was a door within the interview room that opened directly to Sai Baba's quarters. After a few moments he glided through it as everybody rose with palms joined in pranam-mudra. Out of politeness, I also got up. I had a close look at his eyes; they seemed staring and unfocused.

He gave ash to a couple of people--I saw it clearly materialize from his fingers. Near me stood a girl of about ten with her father. When Sai Baba came to her he set two earring that just appeared in his hands into the lobes of her ears. Father and daughter gasped in astonishment, for her ears had not been pierced before. Now they were, and hung with gold.

Seeing this feat, everyone cried "Sai Ram! Sai Ram!" in great wonderment. Then, without acknowledging me with so much as a glance, he turned back and exited from whence he came, Mr. Kasturi on his heels.

A moment later Kasturi came back through the door and announced, "The interview is over; everyone should go now. He did not speak with you, but you are very fortunate, for you saw a miracle of Baba's power. " He waved everybody to the door that opened on the balcony, and we stood to leave.

I followed the father and daughter, but Kasturi stopped me with an outstretched hand. "Please continue to sit. Baba wants you to wait here comfortably. " I nodded, a bit nonplussed, and retook my seat. As soon as the room was cleared, Sai Baba came in again. This time he looked different.

He didn't have that entranced, almost dazed look I'd seen on his face before. Now he appeared completely normal and relaxed. I thought irreverently, "How interesting: mad looks for the masses. "

He stood in front of me. This time I didn't get up. Speaking in Sanskrit, he asked me how I was feeling and if everything was all right. I replied in Tamil, "I do not know Sanskrit; please speak to me in your native tongue. " He switched to his Telegu and asked the same question. Conversation was now possible, because Telegu and Tamil are quite similar.

I answered, "By God's grace, everything is all right. I have a place to stay, and my plan is to visit Prashanti Nilayam for two weeks. " He walked around the room as if in thought and came back to me.

"You say you want to visit for two weeks?" I nodded.

"What is your mission here?"

Remembering what I'd told the Sikh, I replied, "I am looking for God. "

He suddenly smiled and half-raised his arms, turning the palms of his hands in my direction in what I guessed was a double benison. Bending his body slightly at the knees, hips and shoulders, he tilted his head coyly to one side and uttered in a silky voice, "If you can't find God here, where will you find Him?"

I was not very impressed by this little show, and was beginning to feel uncomfortable. "Well, I'll be here for some time, and I hope to meet with you more. . . " my voice trailed off uncertainly. Eyeing me intently, he said firmly, "Any time you want, you can see me. "

Just then a servant appeared in the doorway to his apartment and gave a signal. Sai Baba waved him off. He turned to me again and asked, "Aren't you hungry?"

It was just about lunchtime, so I answered, "I wouldn't mind to eat something now, but of course I have to arrange that somebody gives me biksha. "

He smiled magnanimously. "Eat with me. "

I couldn't hide my surprise and I thanked him. He went through the door and I followed. Entering his private dining room, we sat down on plush cushions at a low round marble-topped table.

Through a wide entraceway, I could see his bedroom. I noted some of the paraphernalia of God: a silk-covered bed, and next to that a nightstand topped by an alarm clock and some medicine bottles. Behind a half-open door I glimpsed a flush toilet.

He nonchalantly sang something to himself as his man brought the lunch on a serving tray. The meal consisted of utma (vegetables fried with farina), achar (hot pickle), fried eggplant and coffee.

The utma, to my surprise, was flavored with onions; I knew that strict sadhus shunned onions, as this food gives rise to pas- sions. Coffee, an intoxicant, would likewise be considered a worldly indulgence. But apparently Sai Baba did not care for these rules. And neither did I, for I was a self-made swami, under vows to no one.

We finished. He got up to wash and gargle, and I did the same. Then with his customary benign smile he nodded his head, indicat- ing that I could go.

As I came down the staircase, I saw the people still sitting in rows, now gazing at me with open mouths. My friend the roommate rushed up to me with a look of awed ecstacy fixed on his face. Others were running up behind him as we met at the bottom of the stairs.

He eagerly inquired, "What happened? After the interview the others came down but Baba kept you with him. "

I said with a nonchalant shrug, "Oh, I had lunch with him, that's all. "

Suddenly at least two hundred people were mobbing me. I was pulled towards a fancy lodging block and ended up in a big airconditioned apartment with a roomful of rich people sitting in front of me. They had locked the door and were guarding it because a big crowd had gathered outside.

It was practically an interrogation session: "What about the miracle with the earrings? And what did Baba say to you?" But I sat silent and serene in the big upholstered chair they'd given me. In my mind, I was gloating at my sudden change of fortune. I wondered if I could exploit this situation further. I had to find out what being God was really like. "Just do it," the opportunist within myself crowed. "It's not a sin; you're just giving them faith in something higher. This is the life you've been waiting for. "

In the relaxed and self-assured manner I'd picked up from him I began singing Chitta Chora (Thief of the Mind), a well-known Sai Baba song. The entire group froze in a hush. Then one by one they started clapping and singing along enthusiastically until the whole room was in an uproar. The song completed, again I was silent. The proverbial pin would have sounded like a car crash.

Finally, I spoke, softly: "What do you want from me? I am a beggar. "

"Swami," came the answer, "you're one of those rare swamis who has accepted Baba as God. Baba has said this is very extraordi- nary, because he is hiding from those who are engaged in reli- gious and spiritual life. He says that at the end of their sadhana he gives them the darshan they expect--if they worship Rama, he'll appear to them as Rama. If they worship Shiva, he'll come to them as Shiva. But as Baba, only very fortunate people can see him. "

I closed my eyes. "But to me", I murmered, "he is simply a guide. "

Somebody from the back exclaimed, "Ah-hah, what a vision! His guide!" I began to perceive that whatever I said here would be accepted as "nectarean truth. "

Just then a curtain that covered the opened glass door to the balcony moved in the breeze. Seeing this, two ladies in the crowd began to weep. "Baba! Baba is here with us right now!", they sobbed.

Now I could really see how it worked. One didn't have to do anything. Such foolish people would create their own "miracle", propogate it, and make you God.

My friend was there in the group, close by. He urged, "Swami, please tell us your experience with Baba. "

"Everybody was sent out," I began, "but Mr. Kasturi asked me to remain seated, and Baba came to me. He spoke to me in Sanskrit. "

They all looked at each other with wide-open eyes. I heard murmerings of "Sanskrit! Veda! Veda coming out of his mouth. "

I continued on, even to the point of standing up to show them the pose he made when he said, "If you can't find God here, where will you find him?" And I told them how he said anytime I wanted I could have darshan. They hung onto every word.

My friend asked, "Did you speak to him about me?" I shook my head solemnly. He whined, "But I requested you to do that. "

I answered with gravity, "Either you understand he's God, or you understand he's an ordinary person. If you think he's God, then he knows. If you think he's an ordinary person, you shouldn't be here. Why should anyone have to recommend your case?"

Someone exclaimed, "That's the exact thing Baba says! 'If you think I am God, then why don't you have faith, and if you don't think I am, then why are you here?' Baba speaks the same thing!"

Another lady called from the back, "Swami, one more song? Some nectar for our ears?" So I sang a song about Vishnu, one Sai Baba also sings but which is not his composition. As the afternoon drew on I got hungry. They brought me to the canteen and of course, paid for everything.

As it turned out, my friend had also became a celebrity with these rich people because of his relationship to me. They flocked to him to get my attention, and they flocked to me to get Sai Baba's attention.

Despite my hidden cynicism about the 'God' of Prashanti Nilayam, I was yet quite drawn to him because he had pulled off his act so well. Having renounced worldly aspirations, I'd found here a whole new temptation. Nothing arouses ambition in the heart like the fame of another, and though I was loathe to admit it to myself, I envied this 'God'. The curious thing was that my crass imitation of Sai Baba's behavior was thought by his followers to be devotion to him.

I was to find out that he thought that way too.

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