vsdprasad

oh papadams!. In India they are popularly called karram kurram, kurram karram going by a popular brand. well, you can try yourself by going to any indian store in your city. look for the above popular brand (lijjat). Without papads, the store is not called an indian store!. you can smear little oil over it and place it in microwave till it swells evenly. -Prasad.

yes, outside religions are mostly not allowed in islamic countries. You can see this page from the diary of travelling preacher http://www.traveling-preacher.com/tp071202.htm . HH Indradyumna swami had recently been to an arabic country. He describes his experiences there. -Prasad.

Listen to "Bhaja Govindam" by MS Subbalakshmi: click www.harekrishna...Bhaja Govindam. The ten verses in this song are from these texts (which are in bold). TEXT 1 bhajagovindam bhajagovindam govindam bhajamuudhamate sampraapte sannihite kaale nahi nahi rakshati dukrijnkarane <u>Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda. Oh fool! Rules of Grammar will not save you at the time of your death.</u> TEXT 2 mudha jahiihi dhanaagamatrishhnaam kuru sadbuddhim manasi vitrishhnaam yallabhase nijakarmopaattam vittam tena vinodaya chittam <u>Oh fool! Give up your thrist to amass wealth, devote your mind to thoughts to the Real. Be content with what comes through actions already performed in the past.</u> TEXT 3 naariistanabhara naabhiidesham drishhtvaa maagaamohaavesham etanmaamsaavasaadi vikaaram manasi vichintaya vaaram vaaram Do not get drowned in delusion by going wild with passions and lust by seeing a woman's navel and chest. Bodies are flesh, fat and blood. Do not fail to remember this again and again in your mind. TEXT 4 naliniidalagata jalamatitaralam tadvajjiivitamatishayachapalam viddhi vyaadhyabhimaanagrastam lokam shokahatam cha samastam Uncertain is the life of man as rain drops on a lotus leaf. Know that the whole world remains a prey to disease, ego and grief. TEXT 5 yaavadvittopaarjana saktah staavannija parivaaro raktah pashchaajjiivati jarjara dehe vaartaam koapi na prichchhati gehe <u>So long as a man is fit and able to support his family, see the affection all those around him show. But no one at home cares to even have a word with him when his body totters due to old age.</u> TEXT 6 yaavatpavano nivasati dehe taavatprichchhati kushalam gehe gatavati vaayau dehaapaaye bhaaryaa bibhyati tasminkaaye When one is alive, his family members enquire kindly about his welfare. But when the soul departs from the body, even his wife runs away in fear of the corpse. TEXT 7 baalastaavatkriidaasaktah tarunastaavattaruniisaktah vriddhastaavachchintaasaktah pare brahmani koapi na saktah Childhood is lost in play. Youth is lost by attachment to woman. Old age passes away by thinking over many past things. Alas! hardly is there anyone who yearns to be lost in Parabrahman. TEXT 8 kaate kaantaa kaste putrah samsaaro.ayamatiiva vichitrah kasya tvam kah kuta aayaatah tattvam chintaya tadiha bhraatah Who is your wife? Who is your son? Strange is this samsara. Of whom are you? Where have you come from? Brother, ponder over these truths. TEXT 9 satsangatve nissngatvam nissangatve nirmohatvam nirmohatve nishchalatattvam nishcalatattve jiivanmuktih From Satsanga comes non-attachment, from non-attachment comes freedom from delusion, which leads to self-settledness. From self-settledness comes Jivan Mukti. TEXT 10 vayasigate kah kaamavikaarah shushhke niire kah kaasaarah kshiinevitte kah parivaarah gyaate tattve kah samsaarah What good is lust when youth has fled? What use is a lake which has no water? Where are the relatives when wealth is gone? Where is samsara when the Truth is known? TEXT 11 maa kuru dhana jana yauvana garvam harati nimeshhaatkaalah sarvam maayaamayamidamakhilaM hitvaa brahmapadaM tvaM pravisha viditvaa <u>Do not boast of wealth, friends, and youth. Each one of these are destroyed within a minute. Free yourself from the illusion of the world of Maya and attain the timeless Truth.</u> TEXT 12 dinayaaminyau saayam praatah shishiravasantau punaraayaatah kaalah kriidati gachchhatyaayuh tadapi na mujncatyaashaavaayuh Daylight and darkness, dusk and dawn, winter and springtime come and go. Time plays and life ebbs away. But the storm of desire never leaves. TEXT 13 dvaadashamajnjarikaabhirasheshhah kathito vaiyaakaranasyaishhah upadesho bhuudvidyaanipunaih shriimachchhankarabhagavachchharanarih This bouquet of twelve verses was imparted to a grammarian by the all-knowing Shankara, adored as the bhagavadpada. TEXT 14 kaate kaantaa dhana gatachintaa vaatula kim tava naasti niyantaa trijagati sajjanasam gatiraikaa bhavati bhavaarnavatarane naukaa Oh mad man! Why this engrossment in thoughts of wealth? Is there no one to guide you? There is only one thing in three worlds that can save you from the ocean from samsara. Get into that boat of satsangha quickly. TEXT 15 jatilo mundii lujnchhitakeshah kaashhaayaambarabahukritaveshhah pashyannapi cana pashyati muudhah udaranimittam bahukritaveshhah There are many who go with matted locks, many who have clean shaven heads, many whose hairs have been plucked out; some are clothed in saffron, yet others in various colors --- all just for a livelihood. Seeing truth revealed before them, still the foolish ones see it not. TEXT 16 angam galitam palitam mundam dashanavihiinam jatam tundam vriddho yaati grihiitvaa dandam tadapi na mujncatyaashaapindam Strength has left the old man's body; his head has become bald, his gums toothless and leaning on crutches. Even then the attachment is strong and he clings firmly to fruitless hope. TEXT 17 agre vahnih prishhthebhaanuh raatrau chubukasamarpitajaanuh karatalabhikshastarutalavaasah tadapi na mujncatyaashaapaashah Behold there lies the man who sits warming up his body with the fire in front and the sun at the back; at night he curls up the body to keep out of the cold; he eats his beggar's food from the bowl of his hand and sleeps beneath the tree. Still in his heart, he is a wretched puppet at the hands of passions. TEXT 18 kurute gangaasaagaragamanam vrataparipaalanamathavaa daanam gyaanavihinah sarvamatena muktim na bhajati janmashatena One may go to the Ganga, observe fasts, and give away riches in charity! Yet, devoid of jnana, nothing can give mukthi even at the end of a hundred births. TEXT 19 sura mandira taru muula nivaasah shayyaa bhuutala majinam vaasah sarva parigraha bhoga tyaagah kasya sukham na karoti viraagah <u>Take your residence in a temple or below a tree, wear the deerskin for the dress, and sleep with mother earth as your bed. Give up all attachments and renounce all comforts. Blessed with such vairagya, could any fail to be content?</u> TEXT 20 yogarato vaabhogaratovaa sangarato vaa sangaviihinah yasya brahmani ramate chittam nandati nandati nandatyeva One may take delight in yoga or bhoga, may have attachment or detachment. But only he whose mind steadily delights in Brahman enjoys bliss, no one else. TEXT 21 bhagavad giitaa kijnchidadhiitaa gangaa jalalava kanikaapiitaa sakridapi yena muraari samarchaa kriyate tasya yamena na charchaa <u>Let a man read but a little from the Gita, drink just a drop of water from the Ganga, worship Murari just once. He then will have no altercation with Yama.</u> TEXT 22 punarapi jananam punarapi maranam punarapi jananii jathare shayanam iha samsaare bahudustaare kripayaa apaare paahi muraare <u>Born again, death again, birth again to stay in the mother's womb ! It is indeed hard to cross this boundless ocean of samsara. Oh Murari ! Redeem me through Thy mercy.</u> TEXT 23 rathyaa charpata virachita kanthah punyaapunya vivarjita panthah yogii yoganiyojita chitto ramate baalonmattavadeva There is no shortage of clothing for a monk so long as there are rags cast off the road. Freed from vice and virtue, onward he wanders. One who lives in communion with God enjoys bliss, pure and uncontaminated, like a child and as someone intoxicated. TEXT 24 kastvam ko.aham kuta aayaatah kaa me jananii ko me taatah iti paribhaavaya sarvamasaaram vishvam tyaktvaa svapna vichaaram Who are you? Who am I? From where do I come? Who is my mother, who is my father? Ponder thus, look at everything as essenceless and give up the world as an idle dream. TEXT 25 tvayi mayi chaanyatraiko vishhnuh vyartham kupyasi mayyasahishhnuh bhava samachittah sarvatra tvam vaajnchhasyachiraadyadi vishhnutvam In me, in you and in everything, none but the same Vishnu dwells. Your anger and impatience is meaningless. If you wish to attain the quality of Vishnu soon, have Sama Bhaava always. TEXT 26 shatrau mitre putre bandhau maa kuru yatnam vigrahasandhau sarvasminnapi pashyaatmaanam sarvatrotsrija bhedaagyaanam Do not waste your efforts to win the love of or to fight against friend and foe, children and relatives. See yourself in everyone and give up all feelings of duality completely. TEXT 27 kaamam krodham lobham moham tyaktvaa atmaanam bhaavaya ko aham aatmagyaana vihiinaa muudhaah te pachyante narakaniguudhaah Give up lust, anger, infatuation, and greed. Ponder over your real nature. Fools are they who are blind to the Self. Cast into hell they suffer there endlessly. TEXT 28 geyam giitaa naama sahasram dhyeyam shriipati ruupamajasram neyam sajjana sange chittam deyam diinajanaaya cha vittam <u>Regularly recite from the Gita, meditate on Vishnu in your heart, and chant His thousand glories. Take delight to be with the noble and the holy. Distribute your wealth in charity to the poor and the needy.</u> TEXT 29 sukhatah kriyate raamaabhogah pashchaaddhanta shariire rogah yadyapi loke maranam sharanam tadapi na mujnchati paapaacharanam He who yields to lust for pleasure leaves his body a prey to disease. Though death brings an end to everything, man does not gives up the sinful path. TEXT 30 arthamanartham bhaavaya nityam naastitatah sukhaleshah satyam putraadapi dhana bhaajaam bhiitih sarvatraishhaa vihiaa riitih <u>Wealth is not welfare, truly there is no joy in it. Reflect thus at all times. A rich man fears even his own son. This is the way of wealth everywhere.</u> TEXT 31 praanaayaamam pratyaahaaram nityaanitya vivekavichaaram jaapyasameta samaadhividhaanam kurvavadhaanam mahadavadhaanam Regulate the pranas, remain unaffected by external influences and discriminate between the real and the fleeting. Chant the holy name of God and silence the turbulent mind. Perform these with care, with extreme care. TEXT 32 gurucharanaambuja nirbhara bhakatah samsaaraadachiraadbhava muktah sendriyamaanasa niyamaadevam drakshyasi nija hridayastham devam <u>Oh devotee of the lotus feet of the Guru! May thou be soon free from Samsara. Through disciplined senses and controlled mind, thou shalt come to experience the indwelling Lord of your heart!</u> TEXT 33 muudhah kashchana vaiyaakarano dukrijnkaranaadhyayana dhurinah shriimachchhamkara bhagavachchhishhyai bodhita aasichchhodhitakaranah Thus was a silly grammarian lost in rules cleansed of his narrow vision and shown the Light by Shankara's apostles. TEXT 34 bhajagovindam bhajagovindam govindam bhajamuudhamate naamasmaranaadanyamupaayam nahi pashyaamo bhavatarane Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, Oh fool! Other than chanting the Lord's names, there is no other way to cross the life's ocean. Hare Krishna -Prasad

SP says initiation is not the perfection. An initiated person shud have inspiration and then reach perfection. putting in joy mukherjee's words, it shud be "Srila Prabhupada's books are so initiating that they have power to inspire and make us reach to perfection." His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Regarding your question of an initiated person falling prey to the maya; ,the answer is that so long we are in this material world there is always chance of being spoiled by maya; ,so we must stick with vow to the lotus feet of Krishna.An initiated devotee is given the chance for becoming free from the entanglement of karma wheel.Initiated means beginning, not perfection. The spiritual master’s business is to guide him to the perfectional point. But if one does not strictly follow the guidance of a bonafide spiritual master his initiation does not bear any meaning.The initiation performance is an agreement by the disciples to abide by the order of the spiritual master.Therefore, if the spiritual master is bona fide and the disciple is serious to abide by his order,then the success is sure.If a disciple follows strictly the devotional way of life,he is no longer a karmi and all his activities, which may appear to be like ordinary work,or it may be activity according to scriptural injunction, are counted as devotional service. And devotional service in all circumstances is free from the actions and reactions of karma. I hope this will clear the matter. what say theist ji? -Prasad.

prabhuji this is very nice. we must conform to dharma, for it is the one which saves us. Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah But how do we answer those who say it is not relevant in kali yuga? Especially when our own dharma security is at stake and hence there is a build up of 'suicide squads'? They are also indirectly safeguarding dharma. How shud they be explained? -Prasad.

perhaps you are right theistji, we shud challenge that fictitious NATO passport Act (NATOPA enacted on Nov 2, 2001 at the republic Internet) Hail NATOPA! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif -Prasad.

names to narasimhaya prahladahlada-dayine hiranyakasipor vaksah- sila-tanka-nakhalaye I offer my obeisances to Lord Narasimha, who gives joy to Prahlada Maharaja and whose nails are like chisels on the stonelike chest of the demon Hiranyakasipu. ito nrsimhah parato nrsimho yato yato yami tato nrsimhah bahir nrsimho hrdaye nrsimho nrsimham adim saranam prapadye Lord Nrsimha is here and also there. Wherever I go Lord Nrsimha is there. He is in the heart and is outside as well. I surrender to Lord Nrsimha, the origin of all things and the supreme refuge. tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-srngam dalita-hiranyakasipu-tanu-bhrngam kesava dhrta-narahari-rupa jaya jagadisa hare O Kesava! 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 Hiranyakasipu has been ripped apart by the wonderful pointed nails on Your beautiful lotus hands. [note]: listen to the song online: http://artists.mp3s.com/artist_song/714/714327.html -Prasad.

yes they are planning to build up the entire infrastructure. All plans/projects are given in this portal: www.mayapur.org It might take some years to build up the whole thing but definitely it is arriving. -Prasad.

jndas prabhuji, Can u explain more about rudra sampradaya & kumara sampradaya. I've heard about the 4 sampradayas: rudra vaishnava sampradaya (Visnuswami) , brahma vaishnava sampradaya (Madhvacarya) , sri vaishnava sampradaya (Ramanuja), & kumara vaishhava sampradaya (Nimbaditya). Does saivism fall under rudra vaishnava sampradaya? what are the major religious organizations under these sampradayas? -Prasad.

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/nov02/ibomb.asp A glass-like material based on technology found in an ancient Sanskrit text that could ultimately be used in a stealth bomber (the material cannot be detected by radar) has been developed by a research scholar of Benaras Hindu University. Prof M A Lakshmithathachar, Director of the Academy of Sanskrit Research in Melkote, near Mandya, told Deccan Herald that tests conducted with the material showed radars could not detect it. “The unique material cannot be traced by radar and so a plane coated with it cannot be detected using radar,” he said. The academy had been commissioned by the Aeronautical Research Development Board, New Delhi, to take up a one-year study, ‘Non-conventional approach to Aeronautics,’ on the basis of an old text, Vaimanika Shastra, authored by Bharadwaj. Though the period to which Bharadwaj belonged to is not very clear, Prof Lakshmithathachar noted, the manuscripts might be more 1,000 years old. The project aims at deciphering the Bharadwaj’s concepts in aviation. However, Prof Lakshmithathachar was quick to add that a collaborative effort from scholars of Sanskrit, physics, mathematics and aeronautics is needed to understand Bharadwaj’s shastra. The country’s interest in aviation can be traced back over 2,000 years to the mythological era and the epic Ramayana tells of a supersonic-type plane, the Pushpak Vimana, which could fly at the speed of thought. “The shastra has interesting information on vimanas (airplanes), different types of metals and alloys, a spectrometer and even flying gear,” the professor said. The shastra also outlines the metallurgical method to prepare an alloy very light and strong which could withstand high pressure. He said Prof Dongre of BHU had brought out a research paper Amshubondhini after studying Vaimanika Shastra and developed the material. “There have been sporadic efforts to develop aeronautics in the country’s history. There has never been a holistic approach to it. Vaimanika Shastra throws up many interesting details that can benefit Indian aviation programme,” the director added. Prof Lakshmithathachar rubbished the tendency among certain scholars to discount such ancient Sanskrit texts and said, “Why would our scholars want to cheat future generations? Unless it was important, nothing was written in the old days. The fact that there exists manuscripts indicates the significance.” The academy has also embarked on other projects including ‘Indian concept of Cosmology’ with Indian Space Research Organisation, ‘Iron & Steel in Ancient India — A Historical Perspective’ with the Steel Authority of India Limited, and ‘Tools & Technology of Ancient India.’

I too heard that it shudn't be read on other occasions except during rites after person's death. One of my relative who listened to it told me that it all deals with how a soul passes thru different areas till it reaches the final destination, either hell or heaven or some higher planet. Some areas are highly formidable and some are vvery painful it seems. It also tells how those places appear and how the soul experiences them. perhaps jndas prabhu might give some more insight into this. -Prasad.

I too heard that it shudn't be read on other occasions except during rites after person's death. One of my relative who listened to it told me that it all deals with how a soul passes thru different areas till it reaches the final destination, either hell or heaven or some higher planet. Some areas are highly formidable and some are vvery painful it seems. It also tells how those places appear and how the soul experiences them. perhaps jndas prabhu might give some more insight into this. -Prasad.

I really like reading such stories. In hyderabad, there are some summer schools for children where they are taught such moral stories, bhagavad gita slokas, extra curricular activities etc. I had some experience with such summer camps when I was a child as I was sent to a summer camp twice after my naughtiness was felt unbearable at home!. you can really see how those small children listen carefully to such moral stories by their teacher. It is altogether a different experience listening to moral stories under the shade of a tree in a cool breeze far away from the city life . -Prasad.

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This appears logical 'cos if devotees keep on fasting for all the previous acharyas, then there will be some day where they have to fast the whole of the year for all (>365)previous acharyas!. what do shaivites comment on this? I came across "http://www.hinduweb.org/home/general_sites/sita/" wherein they say something about "ISKCON Vs hindutva" and feel at odds with many of SP's comments. -Prasad.

SP says: "Religion without philosophy is sentiment, or sometimes fanaticism, while philosophy without religion is mental speculation." purport in BG ch3txt3. So when mayavadi's say "Iam God" or something like this based on their limited senses & experiences, then it is a mental speculation. But he also says that when their speculation is correct as per sankhya-yoga then ultimately they all come to krishna consciousness. So when they claim that they've found the absolute truth in themselves then they are wrong as per this verse. So it appears that philosophy by current mayavadi's who teach "Iam God" is a mental speculation. -Prasad

NEWTON The chicken was able to walk on the road because according to the 3rd law of motion, the action produced by pressing its feet on the road created an equal and opposite reaction that made it move forward and cross the road! -Prasad.

I've tried this, but it says "Private messages are disabled".

News from Indian Express: <a href="http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=15798" target="_blank">http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=15798 </a> Besra's husband says doctors cured her, not Mother Teresa Press Trust of India New York, October 14: The husband of Monica Besra who was reportedly cured miraculously by Mother Teresa, has said his wife was cured by doctors and not by miracle, a report has said. "It is much ado about nothing," he told the Time magazine. "My wife was cured by the doctors and not by any miracle." Peeved with the attention his now famous wife was getting, he wants to be left in peace. According to the report, he was peeved at wife's fame, in part because the press was constantly at his doorstep. "I want to stop this jamboree, people coming with cameras as every few hours or so," he said. Domestic bliss, the report said, has fled the household of Seiku Murmu and his wife Monica Besra. Monica is a celebrity in the small village of Dangram because she is the beneficiary of what many catholics believe is the first posthumous miracle of Mother Teresa, founder of the Missionaries of Charity. On Sept. 5, 1998, the first anniversary of the nun's death, Monica was suffering abdominal pain caused, she believed, by a tumour. But the purported tumour vanished when Monica applied a medallion with an image of the Mother to the location of her pain. In August 2001, Monica's miracle was supplied to the Vatican as part of the fast-tracking of Mother Teresa's canonisation. Two weeks ago, the Vatican recognised the 1998 miracle, beginning the process of Mother Teresa's beatification, a major step toward sainthood. ----------

thank you for all the intelligent replies. jndas prabhu said: "Our mere desire to enjoy separately from the Lord is the subtle root of all our karmic experiences. That desire resulted us being placed in a suitable environment where action and reaction is constantly occuring, eventually snow-balling into our unlimited sinful reactions." If the desire to enjoy separately from the lord is the subtle root, then it appears that there would have been some variations in the levels of these desires of individuals in the spiritual world before landing here. But what made those variations in the desire levels??. We are all now in digital era and I feel either there shud have been a desire (1) or no desire (0) ! Those who had desire have landed here and others are blissfully continuing there. So my question is what made these variable levels of desires (and on what basis) which have given rise to varying karmas. Otherwise everyone would be maintaining the same balance in their karma account and there wouldn't be any differences in the sufferings/happiness of the individuals in this world. The response also reminded me of one of my previous posts in a small thread: http://www.indiadivine.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB1&Number=20469 I wasn't fully convinced with the replies in that thread. My specific question is: In the spiritual world, why didn't the lord use his powers to make the devotees have all desires except having a desire to enjoy separately. If this had happened, then everyone would've been blissful and the history of material suffering wouldn't have reached to this extent. If there isn't any reason why the blissful individual souls in the spiritual world still had the desire to enjoy separately, then does it not appear that there is no guarantee that after going back to godhead, this desire still creeps in?? -Prasad.

when the living entities first appeared in the material world, the karma balance in their account shud have been zero. Over a period of time, they all have acquired good/bad karma. But any action is based on previous karma and karma is based on the action performed. So it appears that the karma account is not zero @ the root. Any elaborations on this paradox?? -Prasad.

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This summer I had a nice vacation in India. while I was returning, I was travelling from LondonGatWick to DallasFortWorth in AA .( I ordered for AsianVegMeal, AVML when I booked my flight before.) I was looking over the atlantic and was thinking how wonderful GODs creation was. It was lunch time and the air hostess placed a so-called AVML before me. one item appeard to me like a non-veg item & I immediately asked her "Is this a vegetarian?". she said: "yes, its vegetarian", I said "But it looks like a chicken!". She said," No, No! its a fish!". Then I realised they treat sea foods also as pure vegetarian foods! They dont find anything more vegetarian than this!, unlike few other airlines. I had to end up eating other veg-items like a pure herbivore and relying on juices. It was fine when travelling in 'Emirates' wherein they serve something like 'upma' and other veggy items for AVML. How do acharyas who go for preaching missions find the food during their flights? -Prasad.

I too felt the same thing. you can see urself by moving ur head little farther from the monitor and blurring your eyes slightly. no need of using photoshop. There is so much contrast between A and B. -Prasad.

AOL has an IP range from 172.128.0.0 - 172.191.255.255, i.e there are (191-128)*255*255= 4096575, i.e there are about 4 million IPs that are reserved for AOL. Instead of banning all of them, you might do one thing.. If you find an inappropriate post from an IP, ban that IP address. Then the system shud not allow any guest posts from those banned IPs. It can still accept a post from a member from that IP address so that genuine devotee members who get the same IP from the ISP wont find any problem. So, this would solve the problem of inappropriate junk posts from guests. Next, if the guest still wants to be troublesome, he will become a member and make inappropriate posts. In this case, you can ban posts from this member so that he wont be able to post with that name no matter where in the world he uses his computer. He might then become tired of opening new accounts. Definitely this shud take some time but over a period of time this will help avoid junk posts. some moderators can take care of this. Hope you got it !. -Prasad.