In2-MeC

ISKCON Chowpatti, Mumbai, Maharastra, India
30 April 2004

Sayin' Goodbye to Mumbai with a Bang, Baby!

Gotta dance, see, to that Mahamantra Trance beat!

The beautiful Sri-Sri Laksmi-Narayana, ISKCON Chowpatti.

Day visit to ISKCON Juhu.

Vaisnava initiation ceremony, ISKCON Juhu.

Sri-Sri Radha-Rasabihara Lalita-Visakha Sakhi, Juhu.

Sri-Sri Sita-Rama abhiseka ceremony.

Lovely Juhu temple outer courtyard; inside, devotees gather for the festival.

The ISKCON Juhu mandira towers.

Srila Prabhupada's quarters, ISKCON Juhu.

The temple of Lord Siva across the street from ISKCON Juhu that Srila Prabhupada used to visit before taking his morning walks on the beach. Lord Siva protects the Vaisnava holy places.

Lecture at an engineering college. Afterward I had a lively talk with some very interested students.

It was the transcendental arrangement of Sri-Sri Jagannatha Sudarasana that although I missed the regular Bombay Rathayatra when it was held earlier this year, the Chowpatti congregation was having a special Rathayatra on the last day of my visit here.

The warm-up kirtana with humorous dancing for the pleasure of Sri-Sri-Sri Jagannatha-Baladeva-Subhadra.

The dedication arati and then cart-pulling procession begins.

D-O-G or G-O-D? The Rath cart passes in front of an animal hospital.

Sri Jagannatha Rathayatra ki jaya!

3 May is Sri Nrsimha Caturdasi!
 

RRROOAA-AAARRRR!!!!!

For reasons explained in the next section (Upcoming: Gandaki River Trek!) I may not be able to post anything here on Nrsimha Caturdasi. So here's some Nrsimha nectar in anticipation of Our Most Dangerous Lord's divine appearance day!

Nrsimha Bija Mantra

om kshraum
ugram viram maha visnum jvalantam sarvatomukham
nrisimham bhisanam bhadram mrtyu mrtyum namamy aham

May my head be protected by the moon-colored one, who is the greatest among persons. My obeisances unto the ferocious and powerful, the great Visnu, the fiery one, who's faces are on all sides, the fearful one, Nrsimha, who causes the death of even death personified, (or who can overcome death).

Daily Nrsimha Prayer

tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-srnga
dalita-hiranyakasipu-tanu-bhrngam
keshava dhrta-narahari-rupa jaya jagadisa hare

O Keshava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of half-man, half-lion! All glories to You! Just as one can easily crush a wasp between one's fingernails, so in the same way the body of the wasp like demon Hiranyakashipu has been ripped apart by the wonderful pointed nails on Your beautiful lotus hands." (from Sri Dasavatara-stotra)

Have a Nrsimha-sila?
Please do special puja on His appearance day!

Srila Rupa Goswami mentions some of the benefits of worshipping a Nrsimha shalagram sila in his book, Padyavali:

A tulasi leaf offered to the lotus feet of the Nrsimha shalagram sila destroys the sin of murder. Water that has washed the lotus feet of the Nrsimha shalagram sila destroys the sin of theft. Foodstuff offered to the Nrsimha shalagram sila destroys the sin of drinking liquor. Sincere surrender to the Nrsimha shalagram sila destroys the sin of adultery with the wife of the spiritual master. Association with the devotees of the Nrsimha shalagram sila destroys the sin of offenses to the devotees. This is the extraordinary glory of the Nrsimha shalagram sila. (Srila Rupa Goswami: Padyavali, Verse 116)

Pray to be purified by Lord Nrsimhadeva's grace!

om namo bhagavate nara-simhaya namas tejas-tejase avir-avirbhava
vajra-nakha vajra-damstra karmashayan randhaya randhaya tamo grasa grasa om svaha.
abhayam abhayam atmani bhuyistha om kshraum

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Nrsimhadeva, the source of all power. O my Lord who possesses nails and teeth just like thunderbolts, kindly vanquish our demonlike desires for fruitive activity in this material world. Please appear in our hearts and drive away our ignorance so that by Your mercy we may become fearless in the struggle for existence in this material world. (Srimad Bhagavatam 5.18.8)

Ugra-Nrisimha-dhyana

mimamsamanasya samutthito 'grato
nrisimha-rupas tad alam bhayanakam

pratapta-camikara-canda-locanam
sphurat-sata-keshara-jrimbhitananam

karala-damshtram karavala-cańcala-
kshuranta-jihvam bhru-kuti-bhishanam

stabdhordhva-karnam giri-kandaradbhta-
vyattasya-nasam hanu-bheda-bhishanam

divi-sprishat kayam adirgha-pivara-
grivoru-vakshah-sthalam alpa-madhyamam

candamshu-gauraish churitam tanuruhair
vishvag bhujanika-shatam nakhayudham

durasadam sarva-nijetarayudha-
praveka-vidravita-daitya-danavam

Hiranyakashipu studied the form of the Lord, trying to decide who the form of Nrisimhadeva standing before him was. The Lord's form was extremely fearsome because of His angry eyes, which resembled molten gold; His shining mane, which expanded the dimensions of His fearful face; His deadly teethl and His razor-sharp tongue, which moved about like a duelling sword. His ears were erect and motionless, and His nostrils and gaping mouth appeared like caves of a mountain. His jaws parted fearfully, and His entire body touched the sky. His neck was very short and thick, His chest broad, His waist thin, and the hairs on His body as white as the rays of the moon. His arms, which resembled flanks of soldiers, spread in all directions as He killed the demons, rogues and atheists with His conchshell, disc, club, lotus and other natural weapons. (Bhag. 7.8.19-22)

Sri Nrsimha Protection Mantras

om kraum
namo bhagavate nrsimhaya
jwalamaline diptadamstraya
agninetryaya sarvaraksoghnaya
sarvabhuta vinasanaya
sarva jvara vinasanaya
daha daha paca paca raksa raksa
hum pat swaha

I offer my respects to Lord Narasimhadev who has a beard of flames and eyes like pillars of fire, and who is the protector of the devotees, cut cut, burn burn, and protect protect us.

om namo bhagavate sri maha nrsimhaya
damstra kupalavudanaya grocha
rupaya vajra nakhaya jvala maline
maha vishnan pacha pacha
mama astrun vidravaya vidravaya
mama sarva rista prabhunjaya
chata chata hana hana chindi chindi
mama sarva bhistan puraya puraya
mam raksa raksa hum phat svaha

I offer my respects to the great Lord Narasimhadev. You have nails and teeth like bolts of lightning and are garlended by a mane of flames. Chopping, cutting, tearing, and killing please protect us your devotees.

om namo bhagavte narasimhaya
hiranyasipu vaksa stala vidharanaya tribhuvana-vyapakaya
bhuta prita pisacha dakhini sakhini mulon mulanaya
stambhodbhavaya samsta doshan
hara hara visara visara
pacha pacha hana hana
kampaya kampaya
hrim hrim hrim hrim
phat phat tam tam
ehi rudra yajna pataye svaha

Obeisances unto You Narasimha. You who killed the demon Hiranyakashipu, who was threatening the three worlds. You remove all impediments from devotional life like the various ghosts and witches You chase away. O Lord of sacrifice whose transcendental activities are invoked by the sacrifice of Your devotees, we sacrifice for You.

Sri Ahovalam Stotram
(chant it as you do Sri Brahma-samhita)

lakshmi-kataksha-sarasi-ruha-raja-hamsam
pakshindra-shaila-bhavanam bhava-nasham isham
gokshira-sara-ghana-sara-patira-varnam
vande kripa-nidhim ahobala-narasimham

I offer my obeisances to that ocean of mercy, Ahobala Nrisimha. He is a great swan swimming amongst the lotuses of Lakshmi's furtive glances. He is the Supreme Lord, who puts an end to material imprisonment and who appeared from the stone of the Garuda pillar. His body has lines of colour: both a creamy colour and the colour of rain clouds.

adyanta-shunyam ajam avyayam aprameyam
aditya-candra-shikhi-locanam adi-devam
abja-mukabja-mada-lolupa-matta-bhringam
vande kripa-nidhim ahobala-narasimham

I offer my obeisances to that ocean of mercy, Ahobala Nrisimha. He has no beginning or end. He is unborn, everlasting, and immeasurable. He is the original God who gives brightness to the sun, moon, and to fire. He is like a honey bee intoxicated by his passionate desire for the lotus face of Lakshmi.

kotira-koti-ghatitojjvala-kanti-kantam
keyura-hara-mani-kundala manditangam
cudagra-ranjita-sudhakara-purna-bimbam
vande kripa-nidhim ahobala-narasimham

I offer my obeisances to that ocean of mercy, Ahobala Nrisimha. He looks splendid with his thick shiny mane tied back and with his body decorated with armlets, necklaces, and jewelled ear rings. His face is like the disc of the full moon, adorned with his crown.

varaha-vamana-nrisimha-subhagyam isham
krida-vilola-hridayam vibhudendra-vandyam
hamsatmakam paramahamsa-mano-viharam
vande kripa-nidhim ahobala-narasimham

I offer my obeisances to that ocean of mercy, Ahobala Nrisimha. He is the all-fortunate supreme Lord: Varaha, Vamana, and Nrisimha. His heart is frolicking with his own playful pastimes. The most intelligent persons pray to him, the Supreme soul, who fascinates the great sages.

mandakini-janana-hetu-padaravindam
vrndarakalaya-vinodanam ujjvalangam
mandara-pushpa-tulasi-racitanghri-padmam
vande kripa-nidhim ahobala-narasimham

I offer my obeisances to that ocean of mercy, Ahobala Nrisimha. His lotus feet are the source of the Ganges. His body is resplendent as he enjoys himself in his superexcellent abode, and his lotus feet are bedecked with Tulasi leaves and the flowers from the heavenly coral tree.

tarunya-krishna-tulasi-dala-dhama-rabhyam
dhatri ramabhi ramanam mahaniya-rupam
mantradhi-raja-matha-danava-mana-bhangam
vande kripa-nidhim ahobala-narasimham

I offer my obeisances to that ocean of mercy, Ahobala Nrisimha. His most favourite thing is fresh dark Tulasi leaves. He exhibits a magnificent form as he enjoys with his female assistants, the goddesses of fortune. He breaks the pride of the demons by destroying Ravana, that master of magic spells.

Upcoming: Gandaki River Trek!

This evening at 9:45 we board a train for Mathura where tomorrow we'll arrive at (hopefully) 4:30 PM. (See map of India; trace the distance from Mumbai to Agra, which is very close to Mathura.) We'll stay overnight at IBSA in Govardhana, leaving most of our luggage behind when the next morning we taxi into Delhi. At 7:30 PM on 2 May we take a train to Gorakhpur (see map of Nepal). From there we take a bus to Pokhara (see map of Nepal). From Pokhara we'll fly to Jomsom near the border of Tibet and take a trek up the Gandaki River to Muktinath.

The whole journey--which again, starts this very evening, 30 April--is likely to take more than two weeks. I cannot foresee what opportunities I'll have to upload entries to my e-journal. I will certainly not be bringing my laptop with me to Nepal! I suppose there are Internet access places in Pokhara, though I don't know for sure since the last time I was there was in 1987, before the World Wide Web existed.

In any case, there's no doubt that my In2-MeC journal entries will be largely interrupted beginning tomorrow until approximately 20 May.

But after that, Krsna willing, we'll feature a BIG JUICY PHOTO REPORT! Haribol!

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