Newsletter Number #135 -  ( Radhastami issue 2004 A.D. Gaurabda 518)
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ki jaya

Please Accept My Respectful Obeisances & Best Wishes To All

_0____,

All Glories To Srila Prabhupad.

\o/
(_)
/ \ All Glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

Welcome to the latest re-vamped edition of the on-line HKSRNewsletter, and our humble attempt to render some service to the devotee community. As you can see we've changed the format, and everything is here hyper-linked on-line, we hope it's now easier for you all. This newsletter now goes out to way over 2108 receivers. We trust that all is well with everyone by the Mercy of the Lord. However, if anyone would like to be removed please just send us a message requesting me to do so, and we will do it promptly. If you are receiving this from a friend, and would like to be added directly to the mailout please also let us know and we will do the needful there too. Removal and Subscription details at the very end of this newsletter.

Hare Krishna. =>B-) JTCd

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The Nectar in this Issue 

See the events on Interactive Calendar site for details:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2002-2003.html
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2003-2004.html
Have you got your Vaishnava Calendar for 2004-2005 ???
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Words of Wisdom - Shastra & Shastrakaras speak:
... (Srila Prabhupad & the previous Acharyas)
... Coming Festivals
... Local temples
... Verses from Shastra
... Hare Krishna Maha Mantra
... Hare Krishna as ancient religion - NOT a cult
... Vaishnava Songs
... Samskaras and Agama Tantra
... Articles - Topical links
... Vedik revival - Vedik World Heritage

Advertisements - what's on where: check them out...
... Cyber Community Notice Board
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... Hare Krishna School in Auckland
... Ayurvedic health - and seminars - Radiance Ayurved has new site
... Fire Safety - Water Safety - Internet Safety
... Singles - Hare Krishna Singles - Vegetarian Singles - Marriage Compatibility checking
... FREE CD Rom
... Sri Shalagram Tirtha Pradarshini web-site and new newsletter
... Vegetarianism and Beyond site gets re-vamped
... Gaura Yoga - Wellington
... The new Auckland Temple now open
... and much more

At Grass Roots: Topical stuff
... Have a Happy New Year - Gaurabda 518

Prasadam Recipes: To slake the thirst of body, mind & soul
... some really useful Vege links and support
... inspiring Vegetarian articles
... Eggless cooking - baking - cakes
... Vegetarian Cheeses - new page (try the Tuxford range...)(updated August 2004)
... Vegetarian clubs
... Hare Krishna Food For Life - local and international food relief
... check out the new Ekadasi recipes link
... 101 reasons to be a vegetarian
... Meat substitutes - Tofu - Soy - TVP - tempe recipes
... White Sugar free from bone char in NZ
... FREE Meet your Meat CDRoms
... How to offer your food to God
... You mean that's in the Bible?
... visit our Vegetarianism and Beyond Award winning web-site
... Kurma's new web-site
... The Meatrix
... World Vegetarian Day & Vegetarian Awareness Month

Krishna conscious - Vedikly acceptable jokes:
... cut loose have a laugh
... serious therapy in humour !!!
... did U ever wonder -  Ways of the world - Strange but true

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Now you can view the FULL years 1999-2000 & 2000-2001 & 2001-2002 & 2002-2003 & 2003-2004 & 2004-2005.
All Calendar entries are explained - Appearance or Disappearance
days, festivals, fasts, feasts, etc.

View previous years festival dates on the Calendar:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2001-2002.htm
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2002-2003.html
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2003-2004.html
Now available 2004 - 2005 Vaishnava Calendar starts March 2004
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2004-2005.html

Kanya Sankranti (Sun enters Virgo)

   Sri Ganesh Chaturthi - 18 Sept in NZ (Do Not Look @ the Moon)

Srimati Sita Thakurani (Advaita's consort) - Appearance - Avirbhav

Sri Lalita sasti

Sri Radhastami : Srimati Radharani's - Appearance (Fasting till noon - 22nd September in NZ)

Trisprsa Mahadvadasi (Fasting for Parsva Ekadasi) - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 25th September 2004 in NZ)

Sri Vamana Dvadasi - Appearance of Lord Vamandeva (The fast is observed till noon on the Ekadasi)(Feasting is done tomorrow.)

Srila Jiva Goswami - Appearance - Avirbhav

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur - Appearance - Avirbhav Utsava
(The fast is observed till noon on the Mahadvadasi)(Feasting is done today)(see calendar for details)

Sri Ananta Caturdasi Vrata

Srila Hari Das Thakur - Disappearance - Tirubhav

Sri Visvarupa Mahotsava

Acceptance of sannyasa by Srila Prabhupada 1959 AD.

Srimad Bhagavatam Day

Third month of Chaturmasya begins (Fast from milk for one month.)

World Vegetarian Day ( 1st October every year)

Srila Prabhupada's arrival in the USA (6th Oct 2004)

Fasting for Indira Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 10th October 2004 in NZ)

14th October Partial Solar Eclipse (do not cook, eat, etc. Only Chant Hare Krishna)
see eclipses-page

Tula Sankranti (Sun enters Libra)

Sri Durga Puja

Sri Ramacandra Vijayotsava (Vijay Dasami)
Sripad Madhvacarya - Appearance

Fasting for Pasankusa Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 24th Oct 2004  in NZ)

Srila Raghunatha Das Goswami - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Sria Krsna Das Kaviraj Goswami - Disappearance - Tirubhav

Sri Krsna Saradiya Rasayatra
Sri Murari Gupta - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Sri Laksmi Puja

Fourth month of Caturmasya (Karttika mase) begins. (Fast from urad dahl for one month.)

28th October - Total Lunar Eclipse (do not cook, eat, etc. Only Chant Hare Krishna)
see eclipses-page

Damodara Masa, (Karttika mase) begins

Srila Narottama Das Thakur - Disappearance - Tirubhav

Appearance of Radha Kunda prakat, snan dan
Sri Bahulastami

Sri Viracandra Prabhu - Appearance - Avirbhav

Fasting for Ramaa Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 9th November 2004  in NZ)

Sri Dipa dan, Dipavali, Diwali (Kalipuja) (Friday 12th Nov 2004)

Sri Govardhana Puja, Go Puja, Go krda (Worship of Govardhana Hill) (Saturday 13th Nov 2004 in NZ)
Sri Bali Daityaraja Puja

Sri Rasikananda - Appearance - Avirbhav

Sri Vasudeva Ghosa - Disappearance - Tirubhav

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada - Disappearance - Tirubhav  (Fasting till noon) (Tues 16th Nov 2004 in NZ)

Vrscika Sankranti (Sun enters Scorpio)

Sri Gopastami, Gosthastami (20th November 2004 in NZ)
Sri Gadadhara Das Goswami - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Sri Dhananjaya Pandit - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Srinivasa Acarya - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Sri Jagaddhatri Puja

Srila Gaura Kishora das babaji - Disappearance - Tirubhav  (Fasting till noon)
Sri Bhisma Pancaka

Fasting for Utthana - Devotthani Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 23rd November 2004  in NZ)

Sri Bhugarbha Goswami - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Sri Kasisvara Pandit - Disappearance - Tirubhav

Sri Krsna Rasayatra
Sri Tulasi-Saligram Vivaha (marriage)
Sripad Nimbarkacarya – Appearance - Avirbhav
Chaturmasya vrata ends.

This year's also now available for viewing:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2004-2005.html

http://www.hknet.org.nz/CalendarWhosWho-page.htm

http://panjika.pagehere.com/

Check out the Ekadasi pages with links to every Ekadasi:
(also find out from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada what is, and what constitutes a mahadwadasi)
Find out about Dwadasi and Mahadwadasi here:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/dvadasi.htm

NEW EKADASI RECIPES:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/ekadasi-page.htm

kasmad ekadasi jata tasyah ko va vidhir dvija
kada va kriyate kim va phalam kim va vadasva me

ka va pujyatama tatra devata sad-gunarnava
akurvatah syat ko dosa etan me vaktum arhasi

"Oh Gurudeva! When did Ekadasi take birth and from whom did she appear? What are the rules of fasting on the Ekadasi? Please describe the benefits of following this vow and when it should be followed. Who is the utmost worshippable presiding deity of Sri Ekadasi? What are the faults in not following Ekadasi properly? Please bestow your mercy upon me and tell about these subjects, as you are the only personality able to do so."

Find out what was said HERE:
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Download yourVaishnava Calendar and make a hard copy for this
last year's ( 2003-2004 AD - 517 Gaurabda ) from our site:
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This coming year ( 2004-2005 AD - 518 Gaurabda ) from our site:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2004-2005.html

Vaishnava Calendar Program Vcal 4.01 FREE Download, and make your own Calendar for 2004-2005:
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or if you can't do that and you'd like a 2004-2005 Calendar for your longitude, latitude and time zone ANYWHERE in the world I can do that for you and e-mail it to you - FREE    Vaishnava Calendar Software 4.01

MAKE YOUR OWN CALENDAR FOR YOUR LOCATION,
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Astrologically/Astronomically Accurate and FREE

Please download the software from:
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How to use the VCAL calendar program:
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mailto:jtcd@xtra.co.nz

Here's a few Vaishnava Calendar locations around the World friends asked for us to post !!

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Melbourne Temple F.O.L.K. News Daily Newsletter/diatrobe:
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Other Journals & KC Blogs:
Aniruddha's blog:
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Ekendra's Mrdanga
http://www.gopinatha.net/journalKC/index.php
This is my new journal where I hope to contribute something worth reading to the world. The inspiration for this comes from Nectar of Devotion wherein it is stated that to reveal one's mind in confidence is one of the loving exchanges between Vaisnavas. Ekendra dasa.
 
 

Srimad Bhagavad Gita AS IT IS

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 1

Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra

                                 TEXT 9

                        anye ca bahavah sura
                        mad-arthe tyakta-jivitah
                         nana-sastra-praharanah
                         sarve yuddha-visaradah

   WORD FOR WORD
   anye--others; ca--also; bahavah--in great numbers; surah--heroes;
   mat-arthe--for my sake; tyakta-jivitah--prepared to risk life;
   nana--many; sastra--weapons; praharanah--equipped with; sarve--all
   of them; yuddha-visaradah--experienced in military science.

   TRANSLATION
   There are many other heroes who are prepared to lay down their
   lives for my sake. All of them are well equipped with different
   kinds of weapons, and all are experienced in military science.

   PURPORT by HDG Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:
   As far as the others are concerned--like Jayadratha, Krtavarma and
   Salya--all are determined to lay down their lives for Duryodhana's
   sake. In other words, it is already concluded that all of them
   would die in the Battle of Kuruksetra for joining the party of the
   sinful Duryodhana. Duryodhana was, of course, confident of his
   victory on account of the above-mentioned combined strength of his
   friends.

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with permission.

 - His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Bhagavad Gita As It Is - http://www.asitis.com/

View our Bhagavad Gita Overview:
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Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with permission.

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Prabhupada Uvacha:
(here's some nectar, sometimes it comes in the form of Srutakirti prabhu's diary, other times from Govinda dasi's diary, or sometimes from a letter, but still nectar...)

Look! You Have Broken the Floor!

In Hawaii, one woman disciple went in to see Srila Prabhupada and brought her one-year-old daughter with her. The temple president introduced her, telling how they were trying to arrange that this woman could earn money for her needs without unduly straining the temple's finances.
The woman said that she heard there was a job picking guavas available on the island. Prabhupada said no, a woman with a child should not take such strenuous labor. When she said that as an alternative she could distribute his books, Prabhupada smiled and approved, "Yes, do that."
While this talk was going on, the woman's young child began to play with papers on Prabhupada's desk.
"No," said Prabhupada, shaking his finger at the child.
The woman picked up her child and placed her beside her, but the little girl crawled forward and started to touch Prabhupada's feet.
"No!" the mother called out, and she began to drag her child away, but Prabhupada said, "My papers she should not touch, but my feet, that is all right. You must learn how to instruct the child properly."
Knowing that her time in the darsana was soon up, the mother tried to introduce a philosophical question to get some spiritual benefit from the rare opportunity of talking to Srila Prabhupada. She asked, "How do you become free from fear?" Prabhupada replied by giving the example of Prahlada Maharaja. For him, Prabhupada said, he saw everything as coming from Krsna, whether it was good or bad, whereas for the demon, there was only fear.
Prabhupada then drank water and held the cup out to the small child. By now, however, the child was getting tired and cranky. She refused the water and threw herself on the ground, hitting her head in a temper tantrum. Before she actually began to cry, Prabhupada interrupted her and said, "Look!" pointing to the floor. "You have broken the floor!" The child immediately got up, stopped crying, and looked at the floor. Then Prabhupada gestured that they should leave.

Bhavatarini-devi dasi, interview.

- From the Prabhupada Nectar by HH Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
 

To receive little snippets of nectar like this on a daily basis subscribe HERE: or If you want to introduce anyone else in reading Srila Prabhupada Nectars, please send their eMail addresses to mailto:krpamaya_gauranga@hotmail.com

Please Chant:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Listen to Srila Prabhupad on-line
....a different lecture, morning walk, conversation or class daily.

" Stool Is Sublime - Materialists "
Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 1.14
Hyderabad, April 7, 1975

Listen to the entire lecture on-line:
http://prabhupadavani.org/Caitanya_Caritamrta/RamFiles/CC13.ram

Pradyumna: "I offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Lord Krsna, who is nondifferent from His features as a devotee, devotional incarnation, devotional manifestation, pure devotee, and devotional energy."

Prabhupada:

So Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, has five features. Krsna has five features. Krsna means these five features. What are those? Krsna, Krsna's manifestation, Krsna's incarnation, Krsna's different potencies, in this way. And Krsna, the source of devotional service, He is Krsna Caitanya, bhakta-saktikam. To advance in devotional service requires spiritual strength. It is not so easy thing. That spiritual strength is also Krsna, bhakta-saktikam. There is nothing except Krsna, ekam brahma dvitiya-nasti. So we have to understand Him especially in these five features for advancing in devotional service. Therefore His name is panca-tattvatmakam, with five features, krsnam, bhakta-rupa-svarupakam. Krsna is so kind upon us that... He is coming as He is. Krsna is original, and trying to convince us about the necessity of our life, or the goal of our life. Prayojana, prayojana: it is necessary. It is not optional -- compulsory. If you don't take to Krsna consciousness, then you will continue to suffer; therefore it is necessity. It is not that if you like, you can take it; if you don't like, you reject it. If you reject it, then you will suffer. And if you take it, then actually you will enjoy life.

So maya is very strong. Although it is necessary, maya is always dictating that it is not necessary. The real necessity is materialistic way of life, this is maya's dictation. Maya... We are now given a chance of maya's jurisdiction. So maya wants to punish us more and more, because we have forgotten Krsna. Great punishment.

Maya means to give sufficient punishment to the living entities who have forgotten Krsna and wants to enjoy material life independently. They are called conditioned soul. Bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg. 8.19]. This conditioned life means we accept one type of body, we suffer sufficiently. It is simply suffering. There is no enjoyment. Where is enjoyment? To remain in the womb of the mother for ten months, is that enjoyment? Packed up in airtight bag? Just imagine, if you were put in airtight bag at the present moment, within three seconds you will die. You cannot live without air, even for three seconds. This is our position. And by maya's arrangement, we have to remain at least for ten months within the airtight bag, embryo, within the abdomen of our mother. So if we cannot live for even three seconds without air, how it was possible to remain in that airtight bag for ten months? That is also Krsna's mercy, to allow us to develop the body, so that coming out of the mother's womb we can live independently. To make us strong in the body. But the maya is so strong that even within that position, the mother is also killing the child. This is Kali-yuga...............continued

That in Varsana we are under Srimati Radharani's shelter, here is Her janma-lila. He mentioned how Srila Prabhupada was very reserved whenever he talked about Radharani - She is so special, all happiness expands in Her, and Krsna expands Himself in Her, She is the source of all fortune and the original angel. Krsna does not tolerate any offenses against Her. . .
    Saying this, let us remember the pastime about how Srimati Radharani appeared. She came just to serve Krsna. . . She wanted to make devotees for Him, just like Gadadhara Pandit (who is Her expansion), also came to make devotees for MahaPrabhu's.

When King Vrshabhanu offers his Beautiful, blind baby girl to Narada Muni for blessings, Narada Muni became overwhelmed in ecstasy, his hair stood on  end, tears were flowing  from his eyes, all his body was shivering. . .Narada Muni took that girl baby and put her on his lap. He started to think :'I have gone to all the places in the entire universe, no where I had found such a beautiful girl like this. NOWHERE!!
I am very fortunate.' Then he tells King Vrshabhanu that he is very very fortunate to have this baby girl as daughter. Wherever this girl is, this place resides the Goddess of Fortune. So your duty is just to take care of this baby and nothing else. Narada Muni prayed to Radharani with very pleasing prayers, having Her on his lap. He asked Her to give darshan of Her Youthful Kishori form. Radharani being very pleased appeared before him with all Her sakhis and told Narada Muni to meet Her in Kusum Sarovar. Accordingly Narada Muni got darshan of Srimati Radharani in Her Kishori Form which is very very pleasing, which attracts the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 “Since so many Puranas already depict Krsna’s pastimes, it was not necessary to retell Lord Krsna’s pastimes in the SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM.  What was the special reason for writing the SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM?  The SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM was written to introduce and describe the glories of the gopis; and especially to establish Srimati Radharani’s supremely elevated position as the most beloved of the Supreme Lord Krsna”. (SVMP)  According to Srila Visvanatha Cakravati Thakur, in the SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM verse (10.83.42) the word “sriyah” refers to the supreme goddess of fortune, Srimati Radharani.”  “The transcendental goddess, Srimati Radharani is the direct counterpart of Lord Sri Krsna.  Radha is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune.  Radharani possesses all attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead.  Radharani is the internal potency of the Lord”. (BGT)

Sri Radha’s Gold and Flower Ornaments

 Srimati Radharani wears twelve different ornaments on Her transcendental form.  These ornaments which include Radha’s crown, earrings, belt, ankle-bells, finger and toe rings, armlets, and jewel necklaces that look like strings of stars are all fashioned from pure gold; they appear like myriad shining suns.  Sri Radha wears a locket containing a picture of Sri Krsna and a signet ring that is engraved with "Radha".  Radha’s Syamantaka jewel is also known as Sankhacuda-siromani” (Sankhacuda’s crest jewel).  Srimati Radhika’s ankle-bells stun Sri Krsna with their tinkling sounds.
 Besides jewels and gold, Radha wears a variety of flower crowns, necklaces, armlets, sashes, earrings, bracelets, anklets and blouses.  Radha taught Lalita-sakhi how to make these flower decorations, which Radharani prefers over the jeweled variety.  Srimati Radhika’s favorite crown is made from flowers and buds of five colours arranged in five points.  The gopis also artistically arrange flowers to create five different kinds of earrings; resembling objects like a peacock, lotus, shark or half-moon. (RKG)
 “The glaringly effulgent tiara’s shimmering halo; beautifully sports in all directs stretching to the horizon.  Glistening, sleek armlets, bracelets and necklaces refract a collective, flickering of jewel-like coronas.  Hip-spanning belt of softly tinkling bells.  Anklets charming musical chimes embellishing the majesty of Her divine lotus feet.  Oh, my dear mind! Just worship the effulgence known as ‘Radha’”. (RRS)

Srimati Radharani’s Clothing

 Wearing light-colored clothes during the full moon and dark colours in the moon’s absence, Sri Radha dresses to please Her beloved Krsna, and to facilitate Her nightly meetings with Her gallant lover, Sri Syamasundara.  Radha’s favourite outfit is a “Krsna-blue” sari and shawl matched with a pink blouse that delights Sri Krsna.
 “Radharani’s upper garment is red like a ruby, and it is the favourite of Lord Hari.  Radha’s lower garment is the color of a blue cloud, and it is Her favourite.” (RKG),  “Sri Krsna said to Sri Radha, ‘All glories to Your wonderful ruby-red silk sari.  O Radha, this sari has doubled the passionate love I bear for You in My heart’”. (UN)

Glorification of Srimati Radharani’s Indescribable Beauty

 Sri Krsna praised Srimati Radharani, ‘My dear Radha, Your curling locks of hair, long restless eyes, firm breasts, slender waist, shyly lowered head, creeper-like arms and jewel-like fingernails are all exquisitely beautiful.  The jubilant festival of Your beauty makes the three worlds tremble in transcendental bliss’”. (UN)
 “The beauty of Srimati Radharani’s eyes forcible devours the beauty of the newly grown blue lotus flower, and the beauty of Radha’s face surpasses that of an entire forest of fully blossomed lotuses.  Radha’s bodily luster seems to place even gold in a painful situation.  Thus the wonderful unprecedented beauty of Srimati Radharani is awakening in Vrndavana”. (Vidagdha-madhava)
 “Entwining this way and that with decorations of fresh forest flowers, and bound and tied up with jewel-threads; Adorned with jasmine garlands of exotic fragrance and hanging down very best of noble gemstones; Your hair style arranged by the hand of Hari, will I ever see it, Oh Radhe?
 “Teeth like rows of pearls and lovely lips like bimba berries; Thin waist, wide hips and a deep navel like a whirlpool of newer youth; This indescribable lover – the very heart of the cleverest maidens – May Radha protect us!
 “Oh moon-faced one! O doe-eyed one! O Goddess! Oh lovely-nosed one! O one with reddish lips! O sweet smiler! O Supreme Laksmi! O creeper-armed one! O lustrous one of conch shell-smooth neck! O one with plantain tree shaped thighs! Oh whose collection of lotus toenails brightly illuminates all directions! When, Oh Radhe, will You be worshipped by me?” (RRS)

 Among Radha’s innumerable transcendental attributes, She has twenty-five principal qualities.  1) Radharani is very sweet and most charming to look at;  2) Radha is adolescent and always freshly youthful;  3) Radhika’s eyes are doe-like and restless;  4) Sri Radha’s face is smiling and every blissful’  5) Auspicious, beautiful lines adorn Sri Radha’s lotus hands and feet;  6) Radharani maddens Krsna with Her fragrant bodily aroma;  7) Srimati Radharani is the most exceptional singer and vina player;  8) Radha’s words are charming and pleasing;  9) Radha is expert at telling jokes that delight Krnsa;  10) Srimati Radhika is exceptionally humble;  11) Radha is the embodiment of mercy and compassion;  12) Sri Radha’s intelligence and wit surpasses all;  13) Radharani is expert at performing all activities of love:  14) Shyness is the shining gem in Radha’s character’  15) Srimati Radharani is the beacon light of modesty and never swerves from the path of honesty;  16) radha is never perturbed by worldly sorrow or misery;  17) Sri radha has unbounded gravity and sublimity;  18) Radhika is ever fascinated to unite Herself with Krsna;  19) Radha possesses Mahabhava, the highest sentiments of love;  20) Radharani is the reservoir of loving affairs in Gokula;  21) Radha’s transcendental glories are shining in all the worlds;  22) Sri Radha is most affectionate to her superiors;  23) Radhika is submissive to the love of Her senior girlfriends;  24) Radharani is the chief among Krsna’s gopi lovers;  25) Radha always keeps Sri Krsna under Her control.  Krsna submissively obeys Radha’s command. (CS)
 “Srimati Radharani always keeps Her hand on the shoulders of Her friends and Radha always talks and thinks of the pastimes of Krsna.  Radharani forever offers Krsna a kind of intoxication by Her sweet talks.  Sri radha supplies all the demands of Sri Krsna, and Radharani possesses unique and uncommon qualities meant for Krsna’s satisfaction.  Srimati Radhika is able to fulfill all the desires of Krsna.  No one else can do so.  Radha is so expert in all affairs that the damsels of Vraja come to learn the arts from her”. (TLC Chap.31)

Prabhupada: So our request is... Everyone who is present here... Today is Rädhäñöamé. So pray to Rädhäräëé. And She is hare, harä. This hare, this word, is Rädhäräëé. Harä, Rädhäräëé. Rädhä or harä  the same thing. So Hare Kåñëa. So we are praying to Rädhäräëé, “My Mother, Rädhäräëé, and Kåñëa.” Hare Kåñëa. “O Kåñëa, O the Lord.” Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa, the same thing, repetition. “O Rädhäräëé, O Kåñëa.” “O Rädhä-Kåñëa.” “Rädhe-Kåñëa” or “Hare Kåñëa,” the same thing. Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare. Again addressing, “O Kåñëa, O Kåñëa, O Rädhäräëé.” Hare Räma. The same thing, again. Hare Räma. Räma is also Kåñëa. Räma is Räma, Räma is Balaräma. They are all Kåñëa. Hare Räma Hare Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare. So this repetition of addressing Rädhä and Kåñëa or Hare Kåñëa is to pray, “My dear Lord, the, and the energy, the spiritual energy of the Lord, kindly engage me in Your service.” That’s all. “I am now embarrassed with this material service. Please engage me in Your service.”
    This is good sense. We are servants here. We are engaged in so many services. But it is not giving us comfort. Na trapä nopaçänti. The service which we are rendering to others, they are not satisfied, I am not satisfied. This is material service. But if you give service to Kåñëa... Svalpam apy asya dharmasya träyate mahato bhayät. A little service can save you from the greatest danger. This is the formula.
    Just like Ajämila. Ajämila, in his boyhood, he was brähmaëa. He was giving service to Viñëu. But in young age he became a victim of a prostitute, and he fell down. But at the end, ante näräyaëa-småtiù, when Yamadüta was coming and were so fearful, he did not know whom to take shelter, but he was attached to his youngest son, whose name was Näräyaëa. So he thought, “This Näräyaëa would give me protection.” So he asked him, “Näräyaëa!” But at the same time he remembered that “That Näräyaëa, oh, hm, I sometimes gave service.” So immediately Näräyaëa saved him. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya träyate mahato bhayät.
    So it is our duty therefore... That is the duty of human life, to become Kåñëa conscious. And that is stated here. Véta-räga-bhaya-krodhä man-mayä mäm upäçritäù, bahavaù. It is not that one or two. Many. Jïäna-tapasä. Jïäna. That is required, knowledge and tapasya. That is human life. If, if we remain just like cats and dogs, eat, sleep and have sex life, beget children and die someday, this is cats’ and dogs’ life. This is not human life. Human life is different. Man-mayä mäm upäçritäù. Jïäna-tapasä pütä. To become purified by knowledge and tapasya. Tapo divyaà yena çuddhyet sattvam. That is the statement of Åñabhadeva. Everywhere. We have to purify our existence, and get out of this repetition of birth and death. That is success of life.
    So we shall pray to Rädhäräëé... What is Rädhäräëé? Rädhäräëé is the pleasure potency of Kåñëa. Pleasure potency. Paräsya çaktir vividhaiva çrüyate. The Supreme Lord has many potencies. Na tasya käryam karaëaà ca vidyate. Therefore He has nothing to do. He has got so many potencies. Just like big man, a rich man. He’s sitting. But his energies, his potencies, are working. Big, big factory. And he knows everything. Similarly, paräsya çaktir vividhaiva çrüyate. He has got many multi-potencies. One of them is this pleasure potency. Pleasure potency...

He also wants pleasure. So when Kåñëa wants... Kåñëa is Paraà Brahman. He cannot enjoy anything material. He has to create the source of enjoyment by His own spiritual potency. That is Rädhäräëé.
    So Rädhäräëé is described in the çästra: rädhä-kåñëa-praëaya-vikåtir hlädiné-çaktir asmäd. That is Kåñëa’s hlädiné-çakti. She gives pleasure to Kåñëa. So She is very kind. And today is Rädhäñöamé. If we pray to Çrématé Rädhäräëé... Therefore in Våndävana you’ll see. They are first of all glorifying, “Jaya Rädhe!” Everywhere you’ll hear. “Jaya Rädhe.”

Guest: Jaya Rädhe.

Prabhupäda: To glorify Çrématé Rädhäräëé. So if Rädhäräëé’s pleased, he’ll be able to approach Kåñëa very easily. And that is the goal of our life. That is the goal of life. Véta-räga-bhaya-krodhä man-mayä mäm upäçritäù. Mäm upäçritäù means you have to take... You cannot take shelter of Kåñëa directly. You have to take shelter of His potency.
Kåñëa is therefore trying to help us. Guru-kåñëa-kåpäya päya bhakti-latä-béja. He is within. He is called caitya-guru. If you are purified... Kåñëa... Buddhi-yogaà dadämi tam. He’ll directly speak you. And so long you cannot, then He sends His representative, the spiritual master, the guru. You can ask through the spiritual master about Kåñëa. Yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädaù.
So in this way we have to be absorbed in the thought of Kåñëa. We have to take shelter of Kåñëa. Then... If you take shelter of Kåñëa, this jïäna...

väsudeve bhagavati
bhakti-yogaù prayojitaù
janayaty äçu vairägyaà
jïänaà ca yad ahaitukam

The same thing. Kåñëa will speak. Kåñëa is within you. Simply you have to take shelter of Kåñëa, always thinking of Kåñëa, chant Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare, Hare Räma Hare Räma...
Guests: Hare Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare.
Prabhupäda: Thank you very much. That’s all. (end)(A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 23rd September 1974. BG 4:10. class. Srimati Radharani's Appearance day lecture excerpt. Calcutta.)

dämodara-rati-vardhana-veçe
hari-niñkuta-våndä-vipineçe

våñabhänudadhi-nava-çaçi-lekhe
lalitä-sakhé guëa-ramita-viçäkhe

karuëäà kuru mayi karuëä-bharite
sanaka-sanätana-varëita-carite
rädhe jaya jaya mädhava-dayite

This song was sung by Rüpa Gosvämé. He is the real person, actual person, to understand Rädhä and Kåñëa. So he says, “All glories to Rädhäräëé.” Rädhe jaya jaya mädhava-dayite. “She’s so dear to Kåñëa.” Kåñëa, everyone is trying to love Kåñëa, but Kåñëa is trying to love somebody. Now how great She is. Just try to understand. Everyone, the whole world, the whole universe, all living entities, they are trying to love Kåñëa. Kåñëa-prema. Lord Caitanya describes, prema-pumärtho mahän. And Rüpa Gosvämé described that “You are distributing kåñëa-prema.” So kåñëa-prema is so valuable, but Kåñëa is after Rädhäräëé. Just see how Rädhäräëé is great. Just try to understand the greatness of Rädhäräëé. Therefore She is so great, and we have to offer our respect. Rädhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite. How She is? Gokula-taruëé-maëòala-mahite. Taruëé, taruëé means young girls. You’ll see the pictures, they are all young girls. But of all the young girls, She is the most beautiful. She is enchanting to the young girls also. She is so beautiful. Gokula-taruëé-maëòala-mahite. Dämodara-rati-vardhana-veçe. And She always dresses Her so nicely that Dämodara, Kåñëa, becomes attracted by Her beauty. Hari-niñkuta-våndä-vipineçe. And She is the only lovable object of Kåñëa, and She is the queen of Våndävana. This queen of Våndävana... You’ll find in Våndävana, if you go to Våndävana, everyone is worshiping Rädhäräëé. Räëé means queen. They are always speaking, “Jaya Rädhe!” Rädhäräëé. All the devotees in Våndävana, they are worshiper of Rädhäräëé. Hari-niñkuta-våndä-vipineçe. Våñabhänudadhi-nava-çaçi-lekhe. And She appeared as the daughter of King Våñabhänu, and Her companion, Lalitä-sakhé and Viçäkha-sakhé, and the devotees... So on behalf of the pure devotees of Kåñëa, Rüpa Gosvämé is praying, karuëäà kuru mayi karuëä-bharite. “Oh, my worshipable Rädhäräëé, You are full of mercy. So I am begging of Your mercy because You are so merciful, very easily You offer, bestow Your mercy. So I am begging Your mercy.” Karuëäà kuru mayi karuëä-bharite, sanaka-sanätana-varëita-carite. Now somebody may say, “Oh, you are so great, learned scholar, you are so great saintly person, and you are begging mercy from an ordinary girl? How is that?” Therefore Rüpa Gosvämé says, “Oh, this is not ordinary girl.” Sanaka-sanätana-varëita-carite. “This girl’s description is possible to be made by great saintly persons like Sanaka-Sanätana. She is not ordinary.”
    So the lesson is that we should not treat Rädhäräëé as ordinary girl, or Kåñëa as ordinary man. They are the Supreme Absolute Truth. But in the Absolute Truth, there is the pleasure potency, and that is exhibited in the dealings of Rädhä and Kåñëa. And Rädhä’s expansion all the gopés, and Kåñëa is the Supreme Lord.
    Thank you very much. Chant Hare Kåñëa. You can chant? Can you chant? Janärdana? All right, you can chant. What is that? No, I have explained that one çloka from this Räma-carita-manasa. Chant Hare Kåñëa. (end) (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 30th August 1968. Srimati Radharani's Appearance Day. Montreal.)

SRI RADHAKUNDASTAKA - Eight Prayers Glorifying Radhakunda

SRI RADHIKASTAKA - Eight prayers Glorifying Sri Radhika

"I constantly remember Shrimati Radharani`s foot dust which is a fragrant transcendental powder possessed of unlimited potency, able to immediately subdue the Supreme being, Shri Krishna Who is not so easily seen even by great devotee-leaders like Brahma, Shiva, Shukadeva, Narada and Bhishma."

gaurange mradima smite madhurima netrancale draghima
vakshoje garima tathaiva tanima madhye gatau mandima
shroNyam ca prathima bhruvoh kutilima bimbadhare shoNima
shri radhe hridi te rasena jadima dhyane'stu me gocarah

"O Sri Radhe! May the softness of Your transcendental golden body, the sweetness of Your smile, the wideness of Your eyes, the abundance of your bosom, the slimness of Your waist, the lightness of your gait, the wideness of Your hips, the crookedness of Your eyebrows, the redness of Your cherry-lips and the numbness of Your heart saturated with aesthetic loving sentiments, be present in my meditation."

"Although Krishna is the pleasure giving like cooling moon for all the inhabitants of Vraja, still Srimati Radharani is the resting place for all of His senses which She completely maddens with the two syllables of Her name Radha.”

"May the two strikingly wonderful syllables "Ra-dha”, that immediately attracts the Lord of Gokula (Krishna) when they are pronounced even once, that reveals the insignificance of all human pursuits (other than bhakti sadhana and prema) when there is love for Them, that are included in the mantra-formula repeated with great love by Lord Madhava (Vishnu) and even by Sri Krishna himself, appear in my heart !”

"May the surprisingly fine, bliss giving, spiritually tastfull, endowed with the flavour of absolute transcendental shringara-love, wish fulfilling and charming two syllables of Radha’s name, which represent the highest supreme cognition and are muttered by Sri Hari (Krishna) who like a great yogi sits in a bower’s temple on the bank of the Yamuna, meditating on the effulgence of Shri Radha’s lotusfeet with streaming tears of love, be always revealed in my heart !

"The divine ambrosial transcendental name of Sri Radha, that remains difficult to utter by the demigods, the devotees in general, the liberated souls and Krishna’s friends, is even repeated and described with love by Hari (Krishna). He listens this name of Radha being sung to him by the sakhis and also chants it congegationally with them in ecstasy. This name of Radha that consists of the greatest spiritual love, gusto and bliss, is my very life.”

"If one can simply get into the habit of daily chanting only the holy name of Radha, millions of best spiritual practises (exept the different limbs of bhakti sadhana) will be naturally depreciated and given up. Millions of greatest human goals of life just worship the transcendental nectar of Sri Radha ‘s lotusfeet, and are thus of no interest for those worshipping Them. There are Millions of wishyielding trees in Sri Radha’s playground (Vraja) which is always decorated by Her foot marks, and millions of wonderfull mystic perfections roll at the feet of Sri Radha’s manjaris, but are simply uncared for by them.”

"O Sri Radhe! Madhupati (Krishna) doesn’t take into consideration the innumerabile offenses commited to Saints by anyone who relished even once the sweetness of repeating your delicious holy name, but rather considers, overwhelmed with great ecstatic love, to bestow the highest gift of Your personal service to such a person. Then how can we ever think to understand the greatness of someone whose mind always dwells on Your service.”

"Glory, glory to the holy name of Radha, that permanently dwells everywhere in Vrindavana, and that is the ocean of Krishna’s blissful transcendental pastimes. Due to my bad luck I didn’t hear the glorification of such a Radha.”

"O brother ! (Sister !) By singing Krishna’s name you will reach Radhika’s lotus feet, and by singing Radha’s name you will reach Krishna-chandra. Now that I have told you this in brief, follow this advice and you will be relieved of your mental ditress.

"Glory to the Sri Krishna Samkirtan which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years together. Thus the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death, is extinguished. The Samkirtan Movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction Moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge, it increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it helps us to have a taste of the full nectar for which we are always anxious."

(Every Town & Village, album cover)

On-line Virtual Arati to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai - check it out
http://www.in2-mec.com/GNpuja.html

http://www.hknet.org.nz/harernam-page.htm
http://Harinam/rulestheweb.com

What's So Special About Chanting Hare Krishna?
By Stephen Knapp (Sri Nandanandan dasa ACBSP):
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/chanting_hare_krishna.htm

Hare Krishna is NOT "a Cult":
Is ISKCON a Cult or part of the "Hindu Culture" or Something Else?
http://www.hknet.org.nz/not-a-cult.html

Hare Krishna is NOT a Cult letter by Kunti dd editor of Hare Krishna World:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/HK-no-cult.html

38 Years of Krishna Consciousness through Iskcon.........
http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/aa081201a.htm

Very nice articles and numerous links on the About Hinduism web-site.

What is ISKCON ???
http://www.iskcon.org/main/twohk/iskcon/what.htm

Is Iskcon a Cult?
http://www.hknet.org.nz/not-a-cult.html

Iskcon and Hinduism
http://www.hknet.org.nz/IskconHinduism.html

SONGS AND MANTRAS by Vaishnava spiritual masters:
http://web.tiscali.it/no-redirect-tiscali/gopala/Vaishnava-Songs/index.html

Vaishnava Song Book:
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http://www.iskcon.org/sastra/vs_other.html

Listen to or Download for FREE numerous other classes on all kinds of inspiring topics by
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Watch Krishna Conscious Devotional and Educational Videos
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Watch for FREE
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Meet Your Meat (Warning! Very Graphic)
Near Death Experience
..............and much more.
http://www.harekrishna.org.au/video.htm

Agama Tantra and the Vaishnava Samskaras as a way of life:

Recently I was asked, "Don't you find it an inconvenience to always be checking to see when is the right time to do this or the best time for that?"

In simple terms my answer was and still is; if you go to the bus or railway station or airport it is probably an intelligent venture to enquire about the times and routes of vehicles than to just hope that one will be along soon, or one is going in your direction.

There are subtle influences in the Universe that, for thousands of years gone by, advanced cultures have honoured, respected and utilised. Before the corruption of the Vedik literatures by the Christian and Moslem invaders to India all these things were used; Ayurvedik Medicine; Vedik Astrology; etc. Today there's a rennaisance among many to revive these arts.

We have been trained and studied to be able to provide these services. See some of my sites:

http://www.hknet.org.nz/jtcd-samskaras.html
http://www.iskcon.net/nz-namahatta/jtcd/1-homepage.html

or contact me directly: mailto:jtcd@xtra.co.nz

aham kratur aham yajnah
svadhaham aham ausadham
mantro 'ham aham evajyam
aham agnir aham hutam

"But it is I who am the ritual, I the sacrifice, the offering to the ancestors, the healing herb,
the transcendental chant. I am the butter and the fire and the offering."(Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita 9.16)

Krishna conscious affirmations:

 Always remember Krishna and never forget Him

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