tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91814359703160503112012-02-16T14:04:07.441-05:00.Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.comBlogger781100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-55761356537459198282012-02-15T12:37:00.000-05:002012-02-15T12:37:43.375-05:00

I worship Lord Nityananda, the limitless root of the tree of devotional service. He said to Lord Chaitanya, “O brother, the people are all becoming infected by the sins of Kali-yuga. How will they atone for these sins? Please give them a way to easily approach You.” - From Nityanandashtaka by Srila Vrindavan Das Thakura. Thank you Nitai!

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-69925698919582668382012-02-10T14:06:00.000-05:002012-02-10T14:06:37.072-05:00

After almost 4.6 years we were finally leaving for India. Tickets were booked in the last minute. I could not believe my ears and literally pinched myself even as I packed our bags. A trip to India is always filled with excitement and also some trepidation. Excitement at being able to meet with family and visit holy places and trepidation because you are about to give your practical examination

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Everyone loves gifts. Handmade gifts are even special. On the ocassion of Odana Shasthi,  Sri Jagannatha in Puri Dham is specially offered starched clothes, to mark the onset of Winter. Our Jagannatha received specially made woollen shawls hand knitted with love from Ajay Govinda Prabhu's mother.. Here are some pictures. Here is a description of the festival by Srila Prabhupada : (source ISKCON

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If we look at the sciptures, very often we have verses praising different features of the Lord. To give an example, we hear Satyavrata Muni praising the belly of Lord Krishna and also praising the ropes that bind the belly of the Lord. In the Sri Sampradaya,we have Sri Vedanta Desikan,who wrote an epic composition consisting of 1008 verses praising the footwear of Sri Ranganatha of Srirangam, in

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-78768303236945969592011-11-19T01:31:00.004-05:002011-11-22T14:12:24.761-05:00

"Krishna Govinda Govinda Gopal Nandlal...."HH Lokanath Maharaja's kirtan streams from the speakers. Its a dream come true to actually celebrate Gopastami and dress up Srimati Radharani as a Gopa. This Kartika, the deities seemed to have understood my pleas for extra mercy and we were were surrounded by a host of transcendental visitors. First came Gaura Nitai from one devotee who was away on

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-85083921731068826412011-11-10T15:01:00.006-05:002011-11-22T14:16:27.682-05:00

Its a long while since i blogged, though there have been many things to write about, i have stayed away, partly because i was busy and also partly because i just did not feeling like opening my heart out through the blog. Just as the elephant has two sets of teeth, the tusks and the actual teeth, i have been blogging in my mind, storing away all the treasures and gifts in the abyss of my brain

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It was a windy morning on Sunday, 2 October 2011. Sri Jagannath Baladev and Subhadramayi went on Their last Rathayatra of the year. The Destination was Queens Village, New York...As usual whether its someone's birthday, wedding anniversary or any other occasion, the devotees sneaked in the element of Krishna Consciousness by holding a Rathayatra along with the Mahatma Gandhi Peace March that was

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In his description of the Jhulan Yatra festival Guru Maharaja HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami, gives us insight into the nature of activities that one must get ready for in the spiritual world. The Jhulan yatra is one such festival that celebrates the meeting of Radha Krishna and all the friends in the many groves of Vrindavan. We tried to recreate in our own small way with dolls, this beautiful pastime

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Early this month (August) i was flooded with 4 visitors of a special kind. Each was a little baby whose reddish black hair was tied in a topknot, whose eyes were lined with kohl to keep those evil eyes at bay, whose dress fanned out like a blossoming lotus that encircled the nectar laden bee. In His chubby hands He held a laddu and was trying to crawl, maybe He was looking for His laddu crazy

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-40348148220844776682011-08-23T13:25:00.006-04:002011-08-24T12:47:13.254-04:00

Dear Srila PrabhupadaPlease Accept My Humble Obeisances.Today on your appearance day I feel most fortunate to be connected to the movement of Sri Caitanya mahaprabhu through the threads of your causeless mercy. Till 2008 you were the spiritual master of my spiritual master and I could not imagine that I could have a personal connection to you. At a retreat by HH Bhakti Charu Swami, we were asked

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It is becoming increasingly difficult to blog, but here is a small slide show/video of the Snan Yatra at the temple and home. Nilacala candra Jagannath Swami Ki Jaya !Gaura Bhakta Vrinda Ki Jaya.

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It was almost 1 AM, Saturday morning, the streets were still busy with vehicles. But the street where we live was calm and quiet and the only sound was the melodious bhajan Sri Rupa Manjari pada,playing on our car stereo. We had yet another late Bhakti Vriksha gathering and were just pulling into the drive way when the hysterical screams of  a female voice penetrated the still, spring air. Not

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Little Nimai Nitai after a month's stay. Our Nitai Our Nimai Little Nimai-Nitai, when They came home. As I open the guest altar two smily faces affront me. The gleaming spring sun casts its rays through a parting in the window, this makes the already shiny faces glisten like the morning dew. Whenever i see the little Nimai-Nitai  deities as i call Them, visions of

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It was the day of Akshaya tritiya, the third day of the bright fortnight, in the month of Vishaka, our already crowded home was having a splurge of transcendental visitors. First it was Gaura Nitai, Gopal, and Little Jagannath Baladev Subhadra, and on Akshaya Tritiya, Radha Vrindavan Chandra, 2 Laddu Gopals and Nitai Gaurasundara came for a visit. Its always a pleasure to have guests at home

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-17448731612513039432011-04-23T21:10:00.002-04:002011-11-18T23:48:04.349-05:00

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Nitai on Nityananda Trayodasi 2011 Srila Vrindavan Das Thakura receiving Darshan of Nitai. Sri Nityananda Astakam By Vrindavan Das Thakura 1) I perpetually worship Shri Nityananda Prabhu, the root of the Krishna-bhakti tree, whose bright face   mocks the full autumn moon, whose pure complexion glistens, whose gait is like that of a maddened elephant, who is always intoxicated in

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All pictures are courtesy of Ajay Prabhu.

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Not too long ago we celebrated the public bathing ceremony of Sri Jagannath Baladeva and mother Subhadra at our center. Sri Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra on their arrival were first seated in the library, were they were offered cooling yogurt rice and laddus.It was a very intimate moment of service to the Lord as we fanned them with  the Chamara and Peacock feather fans. The library was hot and

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An interview according to the Webster's,  is a formal consultation usually to evaluate qualifications (as of a prospective student or employee). Srila Prabhupada writes in the translation of Text 43 of the Antya Lila -Caitanya Caritamrita, Chapter 6: The Meeting of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Raghunath Dasa Goswami as follows, "In the village of Panihati, Raghunatha dasa obtained an interview

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-69822390754673851502010-07-06T09:42:00.002-04:002010-07-06T09:47:02.288-04:00

When younger, summer holidays for me meant lots of reading. I would clean out my desk and settle down with just about any book that caught my eye. One particular summer I remember pasting two quotations, one from the Thirukural  which went something like "One may smile and smile but be no friend, for the heart has to smile with the face," and the other, a quote by William Penn, written in a

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On Janmasatami last year, one mataji asked me if I could dress her Radha Madan Mohan, after the abhishek. I happily agreed, but it soon struck me that I had only been used to dressing Jagannath Baladev,Subhadra, Gaura Nitai and Narsimhadeva and never Radha Krishna. When I dress Jagannath, it feels so wonderful, especially the big Jagannath, I literally walk into His arms to garland Him or to tie

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Some fruit and herb bhoga for Jagannath said my friend Geeta, as she stuffed a plastic carry bag into my black cloth bag emroidered with green parrots and inscribed with the word Radha.Thoroughly preoccupied by thoughts of how I can cook the next morning, I absent mindedly nodded my head in reply to her. It was 11PM by the time the program with HH Bhakti Charu Maharaj concluded on Friday evening.

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-64546660228524128062010-03-11T18:32:00.005-05:002010-03-30T16:30:16.759-04:00

This past weekend when we visited Prabhupada Village, Sandy Ridge North Carolina, I was wondering, "Looks like a sleepy laid back place, suitable for a retreat. What is there to see?" I decided I would go with an open heart and embrace whatever comes my way. But from the beginning to the end the journey was very sweet. Madhukari http://vedabase.net/cc/madhya/20/81/ is a term that is used for

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Dear Gurudeva,Please accept my humble obeisnaces, All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your lotus feet.As I was talking to one devotee , I was thinking of your specific mission to spread compassion, love, and enthuse everyone to take up service. Many are of the opinion that LOVE is easy to come by. Anyone can teach living entities on how to care for and love each other they say. I have

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Everyone loves Jagannath. Though some of us find Him different looking we are nevertheless attracted to Him. This was very evident from the Rathayatra that we had in Queens, New York last Sunday. These deities are very different, because they were carved in New Jersey by Kalpavrksa dasa, our God brother, who is a very empowered devotee. Their very first public appearance was two weeks back,

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Kids are very good with using KC concepts to their convenience and I experienced in this instance the meaning of the word 'boomerang.' I had been listening to the series of classes on Brahma Samhita by HH Mahanidhi Swami and time and again I marveled at the poetic eloquence of Lord Brahma. Listening to the descriptions of the spiritual world and Lord Krishna I began appreciating the artists in

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The very first thing that I observed when I was new to the Gaudiya Vaisnava ways was the personal aspect of worship. How the Lord has a special plate, a bed and is treated like a person. In the Srivaisnava worship, as a child I would observe how they would make pots of Naivedya/bhoga and take the steaming hot container and place it directly in front of the Lord. No spoon, no water, no plate even.

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Thoughts lead to Actions, Action to habits, habits to character. The collective characters of individuals forms the culture of a nation. Its really not so hard to connect the dots. In the past three months, on two occasions I have received racist comments from young boys in the age group of twenties. I was called names and when I responded by laughing it away and thanking the person, I guess it

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On Saturday, the 11 July we had the third Rathayatra in Atlantic city. This time we were given the seva of Bringing Srila Prabhupada to the venue. While the other devotees called up to say that the roads were clogged with beach traffic, we sailed into Atlantic city with Prabhupada sitting in the passenger seat of our Nissan Quest. Head held High he rode on majestically. The Rathayatra was

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cheto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha--davagni-nirvapanamshreyah-kairava-chandrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanamanandambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamritaswadanamsarvatma-snapanam param vijayate sri-krishna-sankirtanamGlory to the Sri-Krsna-Sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-36509405534957310402009-06-25T22:26:00.010-04:002009-06-25T23:58:45.620-04:00

Fresh herbs from Jagannath Vallabha Gardens!Tasseography or Tasseomancy is the art of reading tea leaves. After a cup of tea has been poured, without using a tea strainer, the tea is drunk or poured away. The cup should then be shaken well and any remaining liquid drained off in the saucer. The diviner now looks at the pattern of tea leaves in the cup and allows the imagination to play around

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A week ago I was busy in the kitchen. It had been raining heavily outside and the the rain was just tapering off when I heard a soft thud. On walking to the window I saw a mass of gray plastered onto the outside of the window glass, a little above the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda. The feet that I had made of sculpey clay and painted had fallen off from the wall and so I had temporarily rested

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As we were studying about Chapter 6: How to Discharge Devotional Service in the Nectar of Devotion, the class reached a discussion on the worshippable rivers like Mother Ganga and Yamuna. The discussion found its way to the topic on being able to see the dham. Seeing the dham requires the mercy of Gopisvara Mahadev who is the gatekeeper of the dham and also that of the Vrajavasis. The question

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The past Sunday we celebrated the Snan Yatra- The Appearance Day of sorts;of Lord Jagannath. I love festivals related to Lord Jagannath and Giriraja because there is no austerity of fasting involved. No growling tummies, dizzy heads and cranky tempers to deal with. So, Jaganntha has His annual bath in full public view and then promptly falls sick. Firstly he reciprocates with the sincere desire

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"Therefore Rukmini Devi knew very well that obtaining the favor of Krishna was not easy. Since even Lord Siva must purify himself for this purpose, surely it would be difficult for Rukmini who was only the daughter of a Kshatriya King. Thus she desired to dedicate her life to observing severe austerities and going without bodily comforts. if it were not possible in this lifetime to gain Krishna's

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Yesterday (30 May) was the 5 year since we received Harinam Diksha or first initiation. Your name will be ...My heart was beating fast, and my stomach was churning , my daughter wanted to be fed while I was sitting at the fire sacrifice. I looked at the grim faces of the Maharajas and Guru Maharaj as they talked about the ten defences and the gravity of of initiation and initiation vows. Will I

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We are on the way back from the temple, from the Sunday feast program. We are out of milk and I need to get it for Monday but wait a minute I am draped in a sari, with a bright tilaka adorning the ajna chakra covered by the layers of flesh and skin - my forehead. I pass a palm over my forehead trying to clear up the tilaka before I can enter the grocery store. "What will people think of my

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Since the actual day of Narasimha Chaturdasi was a weekday we celebrated it at the property which will someday house our Radha Krishna in a temple. Here are some pictures of the celebrations.Our Ugra and Jwala Narasimha Shilas.Our Pancha loha Lakshmi Narasimha deva deity.Radha Gokulananda surrounded with mustard blossoms

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My sister and her family visited us en route, on a tour of America. When relatives visit it is always bittersweet. My sister (who is a good eight years older than me), or for that matter no one from my family can relate to the fact that I am no longer the person that I used to be. In the high school years of my sister, my parents received a complaint from the teachers that she was not paying

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About 2 weeks ago as I was listening to the Nectar of Devotion class, part of our Bhakti Shastri program, the topic of discussion was Mercy. How without Mercy we cannot go anywhere in our spiritual life.Mercy according to webster's is: A blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion.Mercy comes in many ways, we only have to recognize it. My mind was conjuring up images of a stationary

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Been busy spring cleaning the house and trying to do some serious reading. With limited access to a computer, my life is dramatically changing, for the better.Chappan Bhog, the blog dedicated to bringing out recipes of bhoga being offered on a daily basis at home is now online. Here is the link http://chappanbhog.wordpress.com/. The recipes are going to be a mish mash predominantly featuring

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While going about our own day to day activities from time to time one is faced with their own little battles of Kurukshetra, sometimes with other devotees, family members, and mostly the mind. Sometimes Mr. Jekyll takes over and at other times Mr. Hyde becomes very powerful, snuffing out the all the goodness with a sip of his very own magic potion. In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, we are

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-81450758466772290562009-04-07T11:48:00.014-04:002009-04-07T14:56:21.013-04:00

Wonderful dancing of Krishna and BalaramExcerpt from a lecture by HH Varsana Swami, Submitted by ManojThe holy dham is to be respected as the expansion of the Lord Balaram, Who sets the scene for the pastimes. And what are the Lord's embellishments, decorations?Mother Yasoda comes into Krishna's bedroom, singing sweet songs about the loving pastimes that took place before and she wakes up

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AmmaNiyAzhvan walked a long distance to reach Bhattar and fell at his feet and asked him "Please teach adiyEn something in which to take refuge in".Bhattar taught him the meaning of Azhvar's "nedumArkkadimai" pasurams and told him "Knowing the Lord is only knowing Him in half. "It is by knowing His devotees that one knows Him in full".ammaNiyAzhvan said "Learning many things is no good. I will

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-83753033413331282082009-04-01T12:51:00.017-04:002009-04-02T10:17:39.357-04:00

It would not be wrong to call ourselves a bundle of Impressions or Samskaras. Some, from this very birth and some from lifetimes before. In my own life, apart from the actual passages of rites, like marriage, childbirth and subsequent Namakaran Samskara, Initiation etc., some very strong impressions are those associated with people, places, and food. The impressions of the delicate looking Mrs.

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-44528583156949800602009-03-26T14:57:00.008-04:002009-03-27T11:09:52.718-04:00

23 March was a very bad day for me. Though it was the birthday of my husband and called for celebration, I was sad that my friend of 2 years became a victim of anger and left me forever. My friend with whom I shared my deepest secrets, without fear of being judged or reproached decided to leave me. My friend was quite healthy and not sick and the departure was quite shocking to me. My friend was

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-73195674147821533532009-03-25T13:04:00.010-04:002009-03-25T17:53:54.833-04:00

Have you ever felt that you were around a Kalpavriksha tree. In my few years as a devotee, many a time I have had this feeling that I am sitting beneath a Kalpavriksha tree because my desires get fulfilled so easily when I am around devotees. Just the other day, on Ekadasi at prasadam time, someone at the temple commented about us devotees who were on complete fast, even from water, saying "You

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-17675046566819271852009-03-24T12:45:00.006-04:002009-03-24T17:17:35.627-04:00

Bhaja-Just this one word sums up everything. The starting word of my favorite song, 'Bhaja Hu Re Mana." Bhaja means “Be engaged in devotional service’’ says Srila Prabhupada. Why then is it so difficult for me to take up this process sincerely. Why do I seek adoration and appreciation when I should just be concerned about performing my service. The past few weeks have been weeks of intense soul

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-45692758797996164012009-03-18T13:09:00.009-04:002009-03-19T09:09:01.439-04:00

It is said that the reward for service is more service and there can be no better way to spend the day, especially your birthday, raking up the yard in the pleasant pre-spring sun. So there I was trying to clean and did not realize that one earring of mine had fallen off, until my friend spotted it. I really liked that one so I searched around for a while and then decided to take a break and

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-85519622531991762922009-03-17T13:27:00.014-04:002009-03-19T09:10:14.548-04:00

Ever since I saw the Abhay Charan series and how the devotees in the early days took Jagannath out for a day at the park, I have been envisioning taking my Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra out in our garden during summer. Have Them rest on a charpai, while we fan them gently with chamaras and peacock feather fans, feed Them natural, homemade mango ice cream, topped with golden yellow slices of

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-72885528811433732082009-03-16T15:03:00.014-04:002009-03-19T13:13:56.365-04:00

I love festivals!Festivals are such times of inspiration where all devotees work together for the pleasure of the Lord. We get a lot more association with devotees, during festivals and this acts as a gauge on how far we have progressed in our own spiritual life. Association with devotees who are pure at heart, coupled with service and chanting gradually cleanses the mirror of our heart 'Ceto

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-44261257495310984592009-03-11T09:08:00.019-04:002009-03-12T10:41:30.649-04:00

Seeing the rose bushes in the morning, with green leafy buds ready to spring open with the touch of the sun's rays filled my heart with an assurance that spring is not far away. Seeing the full moon in the night sky also filled me with an assurance, that Nimai has appeared. The full moon in the sky is visible to all, but few are affected by it to the point of lunacy. Likewise Nimai has risen in

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-210406880007958642009-03-09T16:27:00.005-04:002009-03-09T16:56:04.004-04:00

Compromise is not a bad word when spelt as Balance. This was the key line in an advertisement, can't remember which one...Apparently the Vrajavasis are expert in wording things. While looking for something else, I found these beautiful verses from Vraja Riti Cintamani-by Viswanath Chakravarti Thakura, translated by HG Kushakratha Prabhu and was just trying to absorb the sweet simplicity of these

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-91650935908163495982009-03-06T10:33:00.025-05:002009-03-06T15:47:51.868-05:00

The Faces behind the Feast.Southward bound: Last Sunday, we decided to travel south and offer the culinary specialities of South India to the Lord and the devotees. The menu included Idli, Sambar, Tamarind rice, Coconut chutney, Papad and the dessert ...Rava Kesari or Semolina halva with saffron,from which it takes on the name Kesari (for the Ramayan fans, please do not mistake this with the

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-29503810407699039042009-03-05T08:59:00.009-05:002009-03-06T09:26:27.785-05:00

Dear Gurudev.On your 59 Vyasa Puja, I wished to make an offering and express my gratitude, but words fail me, and all I can say is HAPPY BIRTHDAY!You said that we could talk to your picture and you would reciprocate and I can feel the reciprocation every time I do that. Today as I stand before your picture with a begging bowl, begging you that I can make my life itself an offering at your lotus

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-45943301929968941072009-03-04T22:15:00.013-05:002009-03-06T10:33:40.060-05:00

Common sense tells us that adding too much of any ingredient in cooking is a surefire recipe for disaster. But there is one ingredient which we cannot get enough of. That, which makes the world go around. Nope, its not anything material that I am talking of here. It is LOVE! We cannot buy it from the wholesale club and there is no limit to the number of tablespoons that we can add. This same love

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-89352906032295720022009-03-03T13:56:00.013-05:002009-03-04T09:01:10.449-05:00

Last year around this time, when my daughter suffered with pneumonia, I was grounded and having nothing much to do, I started listening to classes (with more seriousness),by HH Bhakticharu Swami. The very first class that I chose was the Brhad Bhagavatamrta and I got hooked to hearing about the Lord and His devotee, Gopa Kumar. Today, again I was hearing about the rarity of human life and made

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-86298488108348851142009-03-02T22:04:00.025-05:002009-03-03T10:13:37.057-05:00

She had visited us many times this year, but I knew we would get private time with her this time round. So, after a hectic weekend of mixed feelings of happiness, anger and sadness, I was ready to meet with Bhaktin Hima come Monday Morning. The brightness seeping in from the windows signalled that she had arrived. My daughter and I welcomed her with Maha Flowers, a woollen scarf to protect her

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-75743817844559391932009-02-26T13:44:00.005-05:002009-02-26T14:29:23.391-05:00

I was just trying to check my yahoo mail and this caught my eye " Japanese "poverty god" beats economic woes, stress". Curious as I am I decided to take a peek into it and see what it was. Turns out that a former banker has been doing good business by blaming the current economic situation and poverty, on the Japanese God of Poverty - Bimbo Gami, by building a shrine for him and living off the

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-46829764278040282252009-02-25T09:06:00.012-05:002009-02-25T10:31:04.122-05:00

Doctor Doctor,I swallowed a pillCure my cold I thought it willThree times a day was my dosageNow my nose is like a big sausage. Sitting in the crowded doctor's office in Bangalore, delirious with high fever, this rhyme pasted on the wall there, instantly brought a smile to my face. This rhyme sums up the effects of self medication in a light way. From a philosophical angle, it is a reminder of

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-90250784325206175902009-02-24T09:29:00.018-05:002009-02-25T05:34:13.405-05:00

Yesterday being Siva ratri, I was trying to follow HH Mahanidhi Swami's words by painting the canvas of my mind with pastimes of Lord Shiva. Hearing the pastimes of Aasheshwar Mahadev in Vrindavan,I was trying to tune into the message in it for me. Maharaj kept reiterating about how the devotee of the Lord, in this case Lord Siva, has hope against hope or 'Ashabandha.' Though considering himself

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-35039961499862216992009-02-21T23:36:00.025-05:002009-03-02T21:56:24.793-05:00

I could not get to participate much in the kirtan program at the home of the Ravals (NY), but got some pictures of the Annakut and their home deities. It was simultaneously like being in Vrindavan with the Annakut festival, in Mayapur with the Sankirtan and in Jagannath Puri with all the prasadam. Here are some pictures. The AltarSri Sri Radha Vasant BihariGaura Nitai .They need no intro...The

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36 hours? surely you must mean 36 minutes. Why don't you use that time in spreading joy among the poor, distribute food maybe? You mean you chant every single day? These are questions that we get asked sometimes, while inviting newbies to a kirtan program. At the outset this might be like comparing apples and bananas. What has spending time in kirtan got to do with helping the poor?Historically

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-75311957566335959742009-02-18T22:10:00.009-05:002009-02-19T09:01:15.168-05:00

Guru Maharaj used to often mention in his lectures that Maya devi is an equal opportunity provider, and doesn't spare anyone. I felt that this was so relevant to the recently concluded Valentine's day celebrations held at my daughter's school. While, casually glancing at the cards and candies it did seem cute. On deeper introspection it just was another consumerist propaganda targetting these 5

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-29912003474111708032009-02-13T23:47:00.004-05:002009-02-14T00:09:08.406-05:00

Watching our car being towed away by the American Automobile Association or triple A as it is commonly referred to, I was thinking how in our own devotional life we are each bestowed with association of the AAA. The AAA is best known for its emergency services, it also guides us to our destination by way of road maps and even offers insurance facilities. Likewise, in the journey of life Krishna

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-33421759534160782752009-02-12T14:56:00.011-05:002009-02-13T22:50:01.758-05:00

My neighbor's neatly maintained lawn resembled a rubbish heap. Empty Styrofoam cups floated around. The kids broke out in a frenzy running around flapping their arms. The dry winter leaves flew in the air looking like a flock of sparrows. Plastic bags hung from tree branches and the wind howled and roared at times as if making an announcement. "Who is that?" questioned the little girl. In the

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-74593181023964468042009-02-10T14:45:00.004-05:002009-02-10T16:42:08.399-05:00

Every occasion is an opportunity to glorify Krishna. Today happens to be the starting of the fiftieth year of marriage of my parents. The golden Jubilee year. Interestingly, i was reading the meaning of Jubilee and came across this on the Webster's dictionary. Though it means a special anniversary, this one struck as a more apt meaning especially when in reference to marriage anniversary :"A

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Just before they went to bed one night a mother told her daughter barely 6, "When the time comes to leave my body i want to do so in midst of kirtan." The daughter spontaneously hugged the mother and replied, "I will be the first to sing for you Amma." That mother is me and that daughter is my little girl. I do not know if she even understood the import of leaving the body, losing your mother,

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-84708624371190414292009-02-06T23:48:00.010-05:002009-02-07T07:49:51.624-05:00

I seem to be falling into this pattern of seeing and hearing or seeing and reading about the same topic on the same day, kind of reinstating a point. My daughter picked out something for me to read to her and i found that it was about Jayadev Goswami, author of Gita Govinda. I have these Amar Chitra Katha comics that i used to read as a young girl. I got them bound and carried them from India as

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-80783050294988611482009-02-05T22:04:00.011-05:002009-02-06T08:59:02.681-05:00

We have a deity welcoming program at a devotee's home this Saturday, the day of Lord Nityananda's appearance. The Mataji asked me if i could bring a cake and also asked another devotee for 2 large cakes. Since our congregation is small we thought there must be a mistake. We assumed that it must be Avadhuta Nityananda Prabhu's desire and went about collecting the ingredients. Since i have a

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-1099672795265073582009-02-03T10:29:00.008-05:002009-02-04T03:30:26.058-05:00

"When God Shuts one door He opens another."" I have a pacemaker and cannot run.""She bought half a cow.""Do you want the liver?"Two days ago when i woke up, these words were going around in my mind. These are fragments of conversations that i have had with a lady i meet at my daughter's bus stop. Instantly my mind screamed back at the thoughts;"That, is your karma." But my conscience was feeling

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-14553257677214539212009-01-30T11:04:00.009-05:002009-01-31T23:22:55.660-05:00

vāco vegaḿ manasaḥ krodha-vegaḿjihvā-vegam udaropastha-vegametān vegān yo viṣaheta dhīraḥsarvām apīmāḿ pṛthivīḿ sa śiṣyātA sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the mind's demands, the actions of anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals is qualified to make disciples all over the world. (Nectar Of Instruction Verse-1)Yesterday, when i working on a write-up for our

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-88706637184315571722009-01-29T10:51:00.006-05:002009-01-31T06:40:52.732-05:00

Nilacala Nivasaya, nityaya paramatmaneBalabhadra Subhadrabhyam, Jagannathayathe Namah.Deity worship is like an arranged marriage where once you start serving the person, you eventually fall in love with them. Though we worship Jagannatha at home when these deities who are at our temple every weekend decided to come home for a 3 week stay, there was great joy at home. The devotees who were caring

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-23523538920818082702009-01-23T11:14:00.006-05:002009-01-30T11:02:06.759-05:00

I see Krishna is the rising waves of the sea, in the buzzing bee, in the monsoon sky, in the grass so green. i can see Him in the name of the driving instructor, Gauranga! In the pink toes of the sleeping baby, in the wholesome glass of milk, in the bright yellow saree of the garland vendor. Krishna is in the cherries so ripe and juicy, in the golden butter that sizzles on the skillet and in the

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-62985044527735175272009-01-17T09:15:00.011-05:002009-01-22T17:17:46.161-05:00

We must eat food, not so much for our body but for our mind. Food does more than nourish the body, it nourishes the mind. I just understood after hearing the glories of maha maha prasadam, by HH Mahanidhi Swami, that even the act of accepting prasadam and honoring it can mean surrendering to Krishna. How is that possible one might ask? When one accepts Krishna Prasadam, he/she is acceptng the

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-10301520070545013442009-01-12T17:35:00.007-05:002009-01-21T13:21:41.431-05:00

Non Envious and friend to all. How does one become that? I was trying to comprehend this very difficult truth. The truth became less complex as i was listening to a class in honor of Jayananda Prabhu's disappearance day. As HH Kadamba Kanana Maharaj discussed the qualities of Jayananda Prabhu, these were some of the things that stood out in my mind.He was a friend to everyone, engaging everyone

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-51137635267101012322009-01-08T13:05:00.003-05:002009-01-09T09:07:24.839-05:00

Yersterday was Ekadasi, the day of Lord Hari. I decided to go Nirjal, after hearing from a class by Mahanidhi Maharaj, that one can follow the fast and then give away the merits to someone who is ailing or troubled. So, though i myself am an impoverished needy soul, yearning for that sidelong glance of mercy, i prayed that the merits of my fasting be passed on to two souls who are in need of a

Nitya Navina dasihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07121254307819010884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9181435970316050311.post-20489519938019167112009-01-08T09:20:00.000-05:002009-01-08T15:07:09.270-05:00

Hare Krishna,Everyday we hear so many things but how much do we retain from it. Writing it down is said to make a longer, lasting impression on our minds. Purity in hearing can be attributed to purity in thoughts and eventually purity in actions. Writing down what we hear makes us retrieve the information when the circumstance demands an appropriate action. it makes us introspect and act in a way

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