vanamali

Ya ya ya! The rock and tree business is for those who wanna be rock and trees! We all have our own feelings as to how we want to be with Krishna, don't we? Yeah, if there's a golfcourse, I'm sure He would like to play a few rounds with you. He might even let you win... once or twice. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif I too am done waiting, but I guess I still have to leave it up to Him. Ok! I want to go, but I don't want to be pushy! Just like if He invites me to His house at seven, it would be rude to barge in at noon. Let Him make arrangements for us! Yeah, and Krishna is not only good at sports (I dunno about the golf thingy) but He's a romantic guy too /images/graemlins/smile.gif I'll leave it at that. Jaya Sri Krishna!!!

Even the grass and trees and dust and rocks in Vrindavana are souls. But it would be so blissful to even be a rock there! Because Krishna permeates the whole place... In my mind's eye I can see Him going around from bush to bush, tree to tree, rock to rock, touching the different plants and talking to them. He knows that they are waiting for His touch. He would mentally speak to the pieces of dust, even as He is walking- and they would feel so joyful to get His paada sparsha! And yes, you're right, even just thinking about Him here in this world is a kind of bliss, where even thinking about Him feels as if He's with you!

Sri Vaikuntha Daily gazette? /images/graemlins/smile.gif Oh, see how the animals are all watching Krishna intently, wanting to catch His glance!!!

You should always offer food to God. You should not give Him onions and garlic (and meat especially, but you probably know that). After offering the food, we should eat, and that prasad will purify us. /images/graemlins/smile.gif Best thing is to offer *everything* to Lord before you eat. Or at least offer Him some nuts/dryfruits or sweets during daily pooja. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

On the TTD website there is the story of Lord Srinivas' advent and marriage to Padmavathi, in pictures. /images/graemlins/smile.gif Govinda! Govinda! http://www.tirumala.org/maintemple_kalyanamstart.htm

"# Why Krishna Steals Butter - dont we think it is a bad practice to his followers." ---- Butter signifies love. Krishna steals butter, because that means actually He steals our hearts. It might be frustrating for us sometimes, to feel ourselves falling in love with God, giving up our control of ourselves to God. (Falling in love is scary sometimes, because it involves trust) That is why Krishna steals butter. He doesn't ask you to fall in love with Him. He just MAKES you love Him, just like that!!!! You can't help but love Him. ---- Why is Krishna surrounded my many gopi's - When he took a Avatar as Ram he married Sita and led his followers by commiting the entire life having 1 Wife / Husband , why in this avatar - he leads this in a different way. -Rama avatar Lord was setting an example for society to follow. There is a saying "Do what Krishna said and what Rama did." Krishna is surrounded by many gopis, because gopis are #1. expansions of the Devi, #2. atman longing for paramatman. Krishnavatara is to fulfill the sacred longings of the devotees who love Him so much. That is why He has many wives and many girlfriends. It is a purely divine, sacred relationship. Krishna will never say "no" to a devotee who comes to Him, so He accepts all women who love Him, because it is actually a atman-paramatman interaction. ----------- # How is Radha rani attracted to Krishna since childhood - is it because of Spirutual - etc..... --- Radharani is one with Krishna. She is His shakti. Just like Seeta with Rama, Radha is attracted to Krishna because She is Her eternal Lord and Her praana naatha... even though when she's a child she doesn't *know* all these things, it is simply ingrained in Her heart. The same goes with us. Since it is our destiny to love Him, we will never be separated from Him. I'm sure a lot of people can testify that even if somehow you are born in a foreign country other than India, Krishna will find you there and make you love Him again! If only once you surrender to Krishna, He will always be with you... Jaya Sri Radhe! Jaya Sri Krishna!

Lord Venkaeshwara came to earth from Vaikuntha after having an argument with Goddess Lakshmi. Lord Venkateshwara married Lakshmi and Padmavathi (Bhudevi) later in life, and tirupati is always full of festivals. Venkateshwara had to borrow money for His marriage from Kubera, so devotees are always eager to give Venkateshwara money to pay off His debts. That's why Tirupati is such a rich temple. /images/graemlins/wink.gif Actually the murthy at Tirupathy is really Lord Krishna Himself. He is deep black, and devotees call Him "Govinda." When Lord Krishna disappeared from this world, He actually appeared in Tirumala. (Krishna is simultaneously in Vaikuntha (as Lord Vishnu) in Goloka (as Gopala Krishna) and in Tirumala (as Venkatesha Govinda). You can think of Venkateshwara as either Narayana or Govinda (or both /images/graemlins/wink.gif) Both ways of thinking are true. Lord Venkateshwara is not a statue- not a murthy made by a human. He is the true God, and when you go to see Him you will see what I mean. I'm not joking even a little bit!!!

sounds ok to me /images/graemlins/smile.gif

Looks like Gaurahari to me. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

Money, Property, people, etc at home ---- Hmmm! You know, if you look too long at Krishna with His flute, you will fall in love with Him. You might not care about material benefits like money, property, people, etc. Like Meera abandoning her palace for the temple. Actually if you "lose" things because of Krishna, that is a blessing from Krishna. He doesn't take anything from you, but you just feel like renouncing. Actually, Gopala Krishna is the greatest wealth. I have a Muralidhara Krishna in my house, and nothing bad has happened. So don't be afraid, you should definitely keep Him in your house. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

You can keep tulasi, wear tulasi, do tulasi pooja. It's ok for your unmarried sister, too. Tulasi can help her get a husband, too, if she is searching for one. *During menses* your sister should simply not touch the tulasi or (especially) pluck leaves. Just treat Her like the murthy of God. There is no bad luck from having Tulasi pooja in your home. If I'm wrong please correct me.

You might defnitely have seen these sites before, but anyway... I will look through my books and try to find some meera bhajans for you. -----

You feel like you are taking one step forward and 50 steps back? Don't worry! Krishna doesn't expect complete change in a day! Just keep talking to Him and calling His name, and slowly but steadily you will improve. The material entanglement is not permanent. In the end it is only you and Krishna. Krishna is waiting for you! Just talk to Him, He will listen. He is your everything, and He is always with you. You can always be happy thinking of Krishna, no matter what the material situation is. Just remember Krishna, just keep thinking of Krishna, and everything will be ok! shrI kRiShNa govinda hare murAre he nAtha nArAyaNa vAsudeva jihve pibasvAmRitam etad eva govinda dAmodara mAdhaveti "Shri Krishna! Govinda! Hari! Murari! O Lord, Narayana, Vasudeva!" O tongue, please drink only this nectar--"Govinda, Damodara, Madhava!"

Lord Jagannatha

Visakha sakhi again

Visakha sakhi

Yes I do agree that we tend to get attracted to the worldly material beauties. But you know, when we keep ourselves conscious in our effort to keep thinking of Shri Hari/Krishna all the time, He really comes to us and bless us in the way we wish to be with HIM even in the material existence. ------- Oh, Raghavan! Yes, it's true!!!

We are not bhaktas for sure! Remember the description of a bhakta in Gita chapter 12. Krishna even makes the allowance that "Ok, even if you just try to develop these characteristics..." But let's be honest. Do we REALLY try? Really? We should just realize how humble and small we are before the Lord's infinite beauty, and beg for His grace that He might look past our defects, and bless us with a loving glance!

Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam, Govindam Bhaja, mudhamaate!! /images/graemlins/smile.gif

does it make sense?

Can Krishna be trusted? Oh YES YES YES!!!!!

This is the sloka known as as Gita carama or Krishna carama slokam. This is basically promising that anyone who SURRENDERS to Krishna will be freed from sins. Sarva dharmaan parityajya maamekam saranam vraja Abandon all dharma and SURRENDER TO ME The second part of this line is important! ---------- What is surrender? (prapatti, saranagathy) (from Ahobila Math article on Prapatti) Prapatti... has the following five angAs (accessories). <font color="red">Anukoolyasya Sankalpam: Determination to perform whatever is pleasing to Sriman NArAyaNA.... Pratikoolyasya Varjanam: Avoidance of acts that are displeasing to Sriman NArAyaNA.... KArpanyam: Feeling of utter helplessness. One should cry in front of Sriman NArAyaNA for his inability to perform Bhakti (or any other)* yOgA and should be fully aware of the fact that he/she cannot attain moksham by their own efforts. Utter dependence on the mercy of the Divya Dampati is needed. MahA VisvAsam: Intense faith that Sriman NArAyaNA will certainly grant moksham for the prapatti performed, eventhough one has committed countless sins.... Goptrtva Varanam: Begging Sriman NArAyaNA for offering protection. This is the prayer to the Lord for granting mokshA, wherein one pleads with Him, the sole refuge, to be present in the place (sthAnA) of bhakti yogA and grant its fruit of moksham to an akinchanA like himself/herself. </font color> ----- *added by Vanamali ----- So basically, if one surrenders to Krishna, Krishna promises to take care of him no matter what. The prapanna (person surrendering) "abandons dharma" but will end up fulfilling his or her dharma, not because of consideration of what is right or wrong, but only because the prapanna wishes only to please the Lord (who is the embodiment of dharma itself), and when dharmic action is what pleases Him, dharmic action will be taken. So in other words, Krishna is saying; "Don't do it because of what you will get for it, or even because it's your duty... do it because I asked you to do it. Do it because you love Me." This verse is the most beautiful and intimate teachings of the Lord, out of the Lord's infinite mercy towards humankind! And if you abandon all dharma and just surrender to Him.... "Aham tvaa sarvapaapebhyo mokshayishyaami maa suchah!"

Even if you become an athiest to "look cool" what happens when you're all alone, and friends and family are gone. Or when you are on your death bed, what then? Or if when you're old, your family leaves you in a nursing home and always "forgets" to visit? Then what? So just remember, God is your only real friend. Even if you lose your good looks, or you fail in school or at your job, or if all your friends and family forget about you, your Best Friend will still be there, and in His eyes, you will always be beautiful, and He will never leave you alone.

Just chant for the sake of chanting. Those are the beautiful names of the Lord. Just do it for Him. If in the process somebody hears and wants to join, then that is good. Pretend you are a sheet of blank newspaper. On the paper is written a beautiful story, and people read the story and are captivated. This is not the glory of the paper, but the glory of the author. So, remember that you are not the author, but just a blank sheet of paper. When people look at you and see something beautiful, realize that they are seeing not you but only Krishna, and you are just a medium for conveying His beauty.

When the gopis came to meet Krishna, He told them: ----------- shravaNAt darshanAt dhyAnAt mayi bhAvo’nukIrtanAt / na tathA sannikarshheNa pratiyAta tato gRhAn // meaning, “Transcendental love for Me arises by the devotional processes of hearing about Me, seeing My Deity form, meditating on Me and faithfully chanting My glories. The same result is not achieved by mere physical proximity. So please go back to your homes”. -------- But did that stop them?