Sharad Purnima - Best Wishes for Ratha Yatra Festival

[Guest guest]

Namaste _/\_ all.

 

Ratha Yatra and Sharad Poornima Celebrations

 

Saturday, October 8, 2005

4:00 pm to 9:30 pm

Sunday, October 9, 2005

10:00 am - 3:30 pm

 

This year, in addition to the Rath Yatra and Sharad Poornima

Celebrations, we are also celebrating our Tenth Year Anniversary

in a two day event.

 

Sharad Poornima is that Divine night when Radha Krishn revealed the

supreme Bliss of maharas to uncountable Gopis in Vrindaban about 5,000

years ago. It is the full moon night which falls in October. This day

is very precious in our lives for an additional reason as well: our

beloved Shree Maharajji appeared on that night in 1922 in Mangarh,

India. Whereas the devotees in Mangarh participate in a procession

(yatra) with Shree Maharajji seated on an elegantly decorated chariot

(rath), here at Barsana Dham we have a procession with Shree Radha

Rani seated on a flower adorned chariot.

 

So on this most auspicious and important day, we begin the celebration

at 10:00 am with bhajans on the Temple steps as we wait with great

anticipation to welcome Shree Radha Rani magnificently enthroned on

Her beautifully garlanded chariot. Thousands of flowers and petals

shower down as Shree Swamiji does the first arti to Shree Radha Rani.

With the blowing conches, singing and dancing, the procession begins

on a lovely path through Barsana Dham accompanied by continuous nam

sankirtan. After a break at Shyam Kuti, we continue back to the Temple

for arti, a discourse and more devotional bhajans as well as a special

darshan of the Deities in the shrine. After lunch prasad, we meet

again in the Temple at 2:00 pm for a magnificent cultural program of

dancing and Radha Krishn leelas.

 

-----------------

Shree Swamiji's Rath Yatra/Sharad Poornima Message

------------------

 

The blessed souls.

 

Today we are celebrating Sharad Poornima and on this celebration day

we have the Radha Rani Rath Yatra in the morning. This is Barsana

Dham. Radha Rani appeared 5,000 years ago in India, in Braj, and

stayed in Barsana for all the time She was on the earth planet. She

Graced all the devotees of the world.

 

When I went to Braj in 1955, I stayed in Barsana. At that time I

studied all the scriptures, Vaishnav scriptures especially, and the

life history of Chaitanya Mahaprabhuji. Also, I enjoyed reading the

songs written by rasik Saints–songs of Krishn leelas and Radha leelas.

 

At that time, internally, Shree Maharajji called me. And so it

happened that I met him in Allahabad. When I met him, I saw what I had

read about in "Chaitanya Charitamrit." I felt he truly was the

personified descension of the Bliss of maharas which Radha and Krishn

gave during Their maharas leela. I stayed with him. And with his Grace

this Barsana Dham has come into being. Barsana is the eternal abode of

Radha Rani. Wherever She appears on the earth planet, Barsana is

there. Barsana is where She lives. No other place, just Barsana. So

it's Her eternal abode. With the Grace of Shree Maharajji I thought of

developing something for Western people who cannot go to India quite

so often. Something the same as in India. With his Grace, this Barsana

Dham was established. And we are introducing his teachings and his

message through our organization.

 

Today is very auspicious, very important! It is such an important day,

you cannot imagine. Suppose there is a beggar. He is begging for his

whole life, hoping for pennies or dollars, half-starving his whole

life. Suddenly, suppose he receives a lottery of twenty, thirty

million dollars. Oh! he faints in that joy. That is nothing as

compared with the Divine Bliss which Radha Rani gives to the souls of

this world.

 

We know what we are. We are attached in the world. In our worldly

attachments we live. Family attachment, job attachment, house

attachment, attachment to things. We devote some time, just some time

for God. In that `some time' we have lots of demands from God. How

many of us love God selflessly? There are some who do... But then

again how long do they do devotion selflessly? These are all the

limitations.

 

So, for such souls, if Radha Rani gives Her own kingdom, Her own Self,

Her own abode, Barsana and Divine Vrindaban...there are no words to

explain the greatness of Her love and kindness! But we can experience

that, definitely, in this lifetime, if you are determined. That's it.

No other requirement. How fallen a soul is makes no difference. It

makes no difference. Every soul is fallen. That's why he's in the world.

 

Suppose somebody says that he has not done any big crime in this

lifetime. In past lifetimes, he would have done so. His remote past,

he would have done so. And we have all the karmas of all the past

accumulated lifetimes with us all the time in the mind. We have

uncountable good and bad deeds contained in our sanskars. Some people

are doing very good, some less good, some are doing devotions, some

are great devotees. Those who are great devotees if they look to their

past, were they the same in childhood? No, they developed.

 

What I mean to say is that a soul may change anytime. It is a matter

of understanding. When you understand, "Oh, Radha and Krishn are my

supreme Divine Beloved." One sentence. They are your supreme Divine

Beloved. Beloved of your heart, mind, soul, body, everything. Only

supreme Divine Beloved, only Beloved. That's all you have to

understand. That's it, and you are on the path to God realization.

 

This may take time. It's up to you to determine. Whenever you decide,

you are on the path. Then, what you were in the past, Radha Rani never

cares to know...just forget it. Past is past. Present, presently what

you are, that's what counts.

 

So, any soul, of any class and kind and profession, of any age, from a

child to grown-up or old, it makes no difference, if you decide, then,

instantly you receive the Grace of Radha Rani. The decision is yours.

And Gracing is on Her part. She is always open and ready to Grace any

soul. Only you have to look to Her, "O Radhey! I am Yours. You are

only mine. You only were mine, I realize now. Please help me, Grace

me." This feeling should come from the bottom of your heart. That's

all you have to do. All the rest, Radha Rani will do. Krishn will do.

It's in Their hands.

 

So that's the message we give every year.

 

Every day when we do chanting, and have satsang, and have darshan, we

give the same message to all the souls all the time, but this

particular occasion reminds us that on this particular night, Sharad

Poornima night, Radha and Krishn gave maharas ras to uncountable

Gopis—not millions or billions or trillions, but uncountable Gopis. In

Vrindaban. In India. So one might think that Vrindaban is a limited

place, and how could uncountable Gopis have come? Yes, it was made

Divine at that time.

 

The location was Vrindaban, but the space was made Divine. Divine has

no limitation. So uncountable Gopis joined, did maharas with Radha and

Krishn and enjoyed the Bliss. The same can be given to you. You can

receive that, if you decide.

 

This is the message which we give every year to all the souls who

come. And my Grace and my blessings are on all the souls. We wish

every soul to realize the importance of God realization and come to

this path.

 

Bolo Shree Raseshwari Radha Rani ki, jai!

Barsana Dham ki, jai!

Shree Kripaluji Maharaj ki, jai!

Jai Shree Radhey!

 

http://www.barsanadham.org/festivals-rathyatr.html

 

------

 

10th Anniversary Celebrations of Sri Raseshvari Radha Rani Temple

Barsana Dham, Austin, Texas, USA

 

Saturday, October 8, 2005

4:00 pm to 9:30 pm

Sunday, October 9, 2005

10:00 am - 3:30 pm

 

View the event flier here:

http://www.barsanadham.org/events/rathyatra-web.html

 

, glnsamp67 wrote:

>

> Religious Festival <br><br>Kojagiri pournima

> (Sharad pournima) <br><br>Significance<br><br>The full

> moon day in the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin is called

> Kojagiri pournima. This year it will be celebrated on

> October 31, 2001. This is the day of the year that the

> moon is closest to the earth and hence appears

> largest. The moon which we see represents the basic moon

> principle `chandrama', and just like the moon principle, it

> is soothing and imparts Bliss. Seekers can

> experience this serenity from incarnations of The Lord.

> Hence, Lord Rama and Lord Krushna have also been named

> Ramchandra and Krushnachandra, respectively. <br><br>Method

> of Celebration<br><br>In this vowed religious

> observance, the deities Lakshmi and Indra, seated on His

> elephant Airavat, are ritualistically worshipped at night.

> After the worship, puffed rice and coconut water are

> offered to the deities and ancestors and is then

> distributed to the people assembled there. The moon is given

> an offering of condensed milk. According to a

> legend, it is believed that at midnight Lakshmi descends

> from the region of the moon and asks, `Who is awake?'

> She bestows riches on the one who is awake and makes

> them content with wealth and food. The next morning

> the ritualistic worship is concluded<br><br>We

> thought of giving some information on the celebration of

> Kojagiri pournima<br><br>Love to

> all,<br><br>Sanatan<br><br>Glenn - Sampada

>

[Guest guest]

Namaste _/\_ all.

 

Sri Radhavatar - Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at the Ratha Yatra Festival:

 

After abandoning the dancing, the Lord ordered Svarupa Damodara to

sing. Understanding His mind, Svarupa Damodara began to sing as follows:

 

sei ta parANa-nAtha pAinu

yAhA lAgi' madana-dahane jhuri' genu

 

"`Now I have gained the Lord of My life, in the absence of whom I was

being burned by Cupid and was withering away.'"

 

When this refrain was loudly sung by Svarupa Damodara, Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu again began rhythmically dancing in transcendental bliss.

The car of Lord Jagannatha began to move slowly while the son of

mother Saci went ahead and danced in front. While dancing and singing,

all the devotees in front of Lord Jagannatha kept their eyes on Him.

 

Caitanya Mahaprabhu then went to the end of the procession with the

sankirtana performers. His eyes and mind fully absorbed in Lord

Jagannatha, Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to play the drama of the song

with His two arms. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu was dramatically enacting

the song, He would sometimes fall behind in the procession. At such

times, Lord Jagannatha would come to a standstill. When Caitanya

Mahaprabhu again went forward, Lord Jagannatha's car would slowly

start again. Thus there was a sort of competition between Caitanya

Mahaprabhu and Lord Jagannatha in seeing who would lead, but Caitanya

Mahaprabhu was so strong that He made Lord Jagannatha wait in His car.

 

While Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was dancing, His ecstasy changed.

Raising His two arms, He began to recite the following verse

in a loud voice.

 

yaH kaumAra-haraH sa eva hi varas tA eva caitra-kSapAs

te conmIlita-mAlatI-surabhayaH prauDhAH kadambAnilAH |

sA caivAsmi tathApi tatra surata-vyApAra-lIlA-vidhau

revA-rodhasi vetasI-taru-tale cetaH samutkaNThate ||

 

He who took my maidenhand is verily

he who is here today as my bridegroom.

And these are the same moonlit nights of spring,

when the impetuous, fragrant breezes

are heavy with the scent of newly blossoming jasmine.

And I too am the same person,

Yet my unsatisfied mind yearns for the reedbeds

by the banks of the stream where we were initiated

into the joyful games of love.

 

"That very person who stole my youth is now again my master. These are

the same moonlit nights of the month of Caitra. The same fragrance of

malati flowers is there, and the same sweet breezes are blowing from

the kadamba forest. In our intimate relationship, I am also the same

lover, yet still my mind is not happy here. I am eager to go back to

that place on the bank of the Reva under the Vetasi tree. That is my

desire."

 

This verse was recited by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again and again. But

for Svarupa Damodara, no one could understand its meaning. I have

already explained this verse. Now I shall simply describe it in brief.

Formerly, all the gopis of Vrndavana were very pleased when they met

with Krsna in the holy place Kuruksetra.

 

Similarly, after seeing Lord Jagannatha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu awoke

with the ecstasy of the gopis. Being absorbed in this ecstasy, He

asked Svarupa Damodara to sing the refrain. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

spoke thus to Lord Jagannatha:

 

avazeSe rAdhA kRSNe kare nivedana

sei tumi, sei Ami, sei nava saGgama

 

"You are the same Krsna, and I am the same Radharani. We are meeting

again in the same way that We met in the beginning of Our lives.

 

tathApi AmAra mana hare vRndAvana

vRndAvane udaya karAo Apana-caraNa

 

"Although We are both the same, My mind is still attracted to

Vrndavana-dhama. I wish that You will please again appear with Your

lotus feet in Vrndavana.

 

ihAG lokAraNya, hAtI, ghoDA, ratha-dhvani

tAhAG puSpAraNya, bhRGga-pika-nAda zuni

 

"In Kuruksetra there are crowds of people, elephants and horses, and

also the rattling of chariots. But in Vrndavana there are flower

gardens, and the humming of the bees and chirping of the birds can be

heard.

 

ihAG rAja-veza, saGge saba kSatriya-gaNa

tAhAG gopa-veza, saGge muralI-vAdana

 

"Here at Kuruksetra You are dressed like a royal prince, accompanied

by great warriors, but in Vrndavana You appeared just like an ordinary

cowherd boy, accompanied only by Your beautiful flute.

 

vraje tomAra saGge yei sukha-AsvAdana

sei sukha-samudrera ihAG nAhi eka kaNa

 

"Here there is not even a drop of the ocean of transcendental

happiness that I enjoyed with You in Vrndavana.

 

AmA laJA punaH lIlA karaha vRndAvane

tabe AmAra mano-vAJchA haya ta' pUraNe

 

"I therefore request You to come to Vrndavana and enjoy pastimes with

Me. If You do so, My ambition will be fulfilled."

 

I have already described in brief Srimati Radharani's statement from

Srimad-Bhagavatam. In that ecstatic mood, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

recited many other verses, but people in general could not understand

their meaning. The meaning of those verses was known to Svarupa

Damodara Gosvami, but he did not reveal it. However, Sri Rupa Gosvami

has broadcast the meaning.

 

While dancing, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to recite the following

verse, which He tasted in the association of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami.

 

Ahuz ca te nalina-nAbha padAravindaM

yogezvarair hRdi vicintyam agAdha-bodhaiH

saMsAra-kUpa-patitottaraNAvalambaM

gehaM juSAm api manasy udiyAt sadA naH

 

"[The gopis spoke thus:] `Dear Lord, whose navel is just like a lotus

flower, Your lotus feet are the only shelter for those who have fallen

into the deep well of material existence. Your feet are worshiped and

meditated upon by great mystic yogis and highly learned philosophers.

We wish that these lotus feet may also be awakened within our hearts,

although we are only ordinary persons engaged in household affairs.'"

 

Speaking in the mood of Srimati Radharani, Caitanya Mahaprabhu said:

 

anyera hRdaya mana, mora mana vRndAvana,

`mane' `vane' eka kari' jAni

tAhAG tomAra pada-dvaya, karAha yadi udaya,

tabe tomAra pUrNa kRpA mAni

 

"For most people, the mind and heart are one, but because My mind is

never separated from Vrndavana, I consider My mind and Vrndavana to be

one. My mind is already Vrndavana, and since You like Vrndavana, will

You please place Your lotus feet there? I would deem that Your full mercy.

 

prANa-nAtha, zuna mora satya nivedana

vraja AmAra sadana, tAhAG tomAra saGgama,

nA pAile nA rahe jIvana

 

"My dear Lord, kindly hear My true submission. My home is Vrndavana,

and I wish Your association there. But if I do not get it, then it

will be very difficult for Me to keep My life."

 

(Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya-lila, chapter. 13)

 

-----------------------------

 

> Ratha Yatra and Sharad Poornima Celebrations

>

> Saturday, October 8, 2005

> 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm

> Sunday, October 9, 2005

> 10:00 am - 3:30 pm

>

> This year, in addition to the Rath Yatra and Sharad Poornima

> Celebrations, we are also celebrating our Tenth Year Anniversary in

> a two day event.

 

> Bolo Shree Raseshwari Radha Rani ki, jai!

> Barsana Dham ki, jai!

> Shree Kripaluji Maharaj ki, jai!

> Jai Shree Radhey!

>

> http://www.barsanadham.org/festivals-rathyatr.html