Tag Archive for: KrishnaLila

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Absolute Love: The Rasa Lila of Sri Krishna October16, 2018

Mahanidhi Swami

Bhagavan Sri Krishna’s Rasa Lila is a completely divine, transcendental pastime. By hearing/reading it the sober and faithful learn about the secret, transcendental love affairs of the Supreme Absolute Truth, Bhagavan Sri Krishna, and His counter-part Absolute sakti, Srimati Radharani—Krishna’s innate power of divine beauty, love and bliss.

Sri Krishna’s rasa lila is indeed a richly emotive, exciting and endearing love story that somewhat resembles the classic secret love stories of Romeo & Juliet and Odysseus & Penelope. Thus from a completely uninformed, external, material viewpoint, one will misjudge and misconstrue the transcendental amorous affairs of Bhagavan Sri Krishna to be ordinary like any young lovers of this limited world.

However, there is a unique quality in Radha-Krishna’s love story that distinguishes it from any other. And what is that specialty? The Rasa Lila and all of Radhe-Syama’s Vraja madhurya-lilas are completely transcendental, transforming and transporting. Any form of sensual or mental contact with Radha-Krishna’s divine pastimes will purify one’s being and elevate one to the transcendental plane of eternal life.

In addition, one’s mind and heart will be transformed, overhauled so to speak. One will attain a new and sanctified heart and an immaculately pure mind—totally devoid of lust, anger, greed, envy and pride. Then the transcendental vehicle of one’s pure mind and heart will transport one to the spiritual realm, Goloka Vrndavana, wherein one will joyfully live, sport, play, love and relish boundless bliss in the eternal association of Sri Sri Srimati Radharani and Bhagavan Sri Krishna!

All around us, we see that Kamadeva, the King of mundane lust and desire has conquered the kingdoms of everyone’s hearts, leaving one and all in a perpetual state of anxiety, tension, frustration and dissatisfaction. Many many love stories—full of intrigue, competition, arguments and romantic interludes—have come and gone. Yet still we remain suffering from the searing pain of unrequited lust, that continually itching inner hankering for ultimate bliss and fulfillment.

A question then arises: “How can I get free from lust, and discover the unique inner bliss that’s my very birthright as a human being? How can I touch the love and joy that hides within transcendence?”

Radha-Krishna have revealed the secret by saying, “Come My children! Come enter Our Rasa Lila! We guarantee that your mind and heart will be fully conquered by Our immaculately pure and sweet selfless love!”

All the famous love stories, be they past, present or personal, are certainly very compelling, exciting, and heart stirring. But none of them have the power to “spiritualize” one’s existence and free one from the cycle of birth and death, samsara. And they can never give one the sweet taste of a bliss that never ends.

However, there is one love story from time eternal, the divine love story of Radha and Krishna, the Rasa Lila, which definitely gives to any partaker the boundless joy arising from a pure mind, and the ultimate bliss and fulfillment arising from a fully satisfied, love-drenched heart.

At the end of his Bhagavatam Rasa Lila narration (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.33.39), Sri Suka Muni offers the following gift, blessing and benediction to all his readers: “Anyone who faithfully hears or describes Bhagavan Sri Krishna playful, divine loving affairs with the youthful damsels of Vraja will attain the topmost form of devotion for Sri Krishna i.e. the sweet selfless love that Srimati Radharani cherishes for Her beloved Syamasundra.”

As Sri Radha’s love floods the heart, simultaneously one becomes quickly free from lust, the incurable disease of the heart. One becomes peaceful and wise—feeling completely refreshed, content, fulfilled and satisfied.

On one side, Kamadeva rules the world, conquering everyone’s hearts with lust and desire. On the other side is Kamadeva Sri Krishna, the aprakrta-madana, saksad manmatha manmatha, waiting to conquer our hearts with His love. By the mercy of Sri Krishna and the power of Rasa Lila, everyone can attain a full life of bliss, joy and satisfaction by serving, playing, dancing and whirling around and around with Radha and Krishna in Their endless dance of pure love—the Rasa Lila.

Radha-Krishna’s Rasa Lila ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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The Real Radha Kunda Appearance Day

Mahanidhi Swami

 

There is an amazing story behind this. The day before Caitra Purnima 2017, I met with 108 Pandit Sri Krishna Dasa Babaji Maharaja and had the following conversation:

  1. Madan Gopal Das: “Gurudeva, since Sri Sanatana Goswami says in (SB 10.45.3) Vaisnava Toshani tika that today, Caitra Purnima midnight is the ACTUAL AND REAL APPEARANCE DAY OF RADHA KUNDA, should we bathe tonight to honor that wonderful, most merciful lila of Radha and Krishna?”

Gurudeva: (replied affirmatively while looking straight into my eyes from about one foot away), “Yes, you should!”

mmgd: “Should I tell all your disciples about this?

Gurudeva: “Yes, get a microphone, go around Radha-kunda and tell everyone.”

mmgd: “Really, Gurudeva, are you serious that I should do that?”

Gurudeva: “Yes, because the Karttika Bahulastami snana is NOT THE APPEARANCE DAY OF Radha-kunda. In Mathura Mahatmyam, Sri Rupa Gosvamipada says that devotees should BATHE ON THE KARTTIKA DAY OF BAHULASTAMI just to please Bhagavan Sri Hari. It says nothing about appearance day. According to our Gaudiya Vaisnava mahajana and supreme praman, Srimad Bhagavatam, today at midnight Caitra Purnima IS THE REAL APPEARANCE DAY OF SRI RADHA KUNDA!”

mmgd: (Since Gurudeva is 99 years old,  I never expected him to say yes, but nevertheless, I curiously asked him the next question):

“Gurudeva, would you like to join us and take Radha-kunda midnight snana tonight?”

Gurudeva: (Much to my surprise, Pandit Baba looked at me innocently like a child and said enthusiastically, “YES, I’LL WILL TAKE MIDNIGHT SNANA TOO!”

 

And that’s how our first annual Caitra Purnima Radha-kunda Appearance Festival started. On behalf of Sri Advaita Prabhu, Sri Gurudeva and all the faithful followers of the six Goswamis, we invite all the devotees to come bathe at midnight on every Caitra Purnima to celebrate the actual, real APPEARANCE DAY OF RADHA KUNDA.

Radha-kunda Annual Avirbhava Mahotsava ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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Krishna: His Age In Lilas

Mahanidhi Swami

 

Bhagavan Sri Krishna is a blissful, carefree, playful, naughty and romantic eternally dazzling youth of sweet sixteen.

Srimad Bhagavatam (10.55.28) describes how the Dvaraka queens of Krishna became bashful, and hid themselves here and there upon seeing the teenaged Pradyumna (Krishna’s son) whom they mistook to be their husband Sri Krishna.

Sri Jiva Goswami said, “Sri Krishna does not age beyond the kaishora period (ages 10-16).” (tika: SB 10.45.3) To be exact, the 19th century Gaudiya Vaisnava acharya Siddha Krishnadasa Tatapada said, “Bhagavan Sri Krishna’s eternal age is 15 years, 9 months, seven and a half days!”

 

In an amazing Bhagavata tika (SB 10.45.3), Gaudiya Vaisnava mahajana Sri Jiva Goswami reveals the exact age of Sri Krishna during some of His spectacular pastimes. To please the ears and hearts of our devoted friends, we offer the following:

 

AGE 7:

Summer, Sri Krishna killed Pralambasura.

AGE 8:

Ashvina Month (Sept-Oct); Sri Krishna played flute.

Karttika Month (Oct-Nov); Sri Krishna lifted Mount Govardhana (although Vrajavasis there exclaimed that Krishna was only seven years old).

Karttika sukla ekadashi: Indra and Surabhi bathed Sri Krishna and gave name “Govinda”.

Karttika sukla dvadashi: Sri Krishna went to Varuna’s kingdom to rescue Nanda Baba.

Karttika Purnima: Sri Krishna immersed His Vrajavasis devotees in the lake Brahma-hrada to show them the spiritual realm and Krishnaloka.

Karttika Mrgashirsha month: During the winter season, Sri Krishna stole the Vraja kanyas clothing.

Next summer: In the summer of his eighth year, Sri Krishna gave mercy to the Yajna patnis, wives of the brahmanas.

AGE 9:

Ashvina month (autumn, sharada season) In his ninth year, Sri Krishna enjoyed the rasa dance.

Phalguna month: (Krishna caturdashi, Shiva Ratri) Krishna went to Ambikä-vana in Vraja to rescue Nanda Baba from snake.

Phalguna Holi Purnima: Krishna kills Shankhacuda.

AGE 10:

In his tenth year, Sri Krishna performed pastimes as He pleased.

AGE 11:

Caitra Month: (march-april) On Purnima, Krishna killed Arishtasura [and also manifested Radha-kunda] [Krishna’s “running age” although was still age 10]

Year later, Sri Krishna killed Keshi, last demond killed in Vraja, on Phalguna sukla dwadasi. On Trayodashi, Uncle Akrura took Krishnaji to Mathura. The next day on  Phalguna chaturdashi, Sri Krishna killed Kamsa. Once Krishna enters His kaishora period, He does not age beyond that.

Nitya nava-yauvanam, saundarya swarupam Bhagavan Sri Krishna ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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A Maan Bhanga Lila

Mahanidhi Swami

 

Once Madana-mohini displayed an intensely contrary mood (maan) that Vamshidhari could not remove by any means.

 

The playful Dhira-lalita Shyama then devised a charming trick. Krishna strung a beautiful flower garland and draped it on Kishori’s neck. But Devi just threw it away in disgust. By chance that garland fell on Krishna. Hari immediately frowned, grimaced and sighed as if He had been badly injured.

 

Shyama then sat silently in a corner looking very sad. Observing Krishna’s behavior, Srimati felt very anxious and worried. Then to solace Shyama, Manini Radha held Krishna’s shoulders. At this, Krishna laughed mischievously and enveloped Radha in a loving embrace!

Srimati Radharani ki jai! Maan Bhanga ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

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Sri Krishna’s Intimate Affairs

Mahanidhi Swami

Often we receive questions about Bhagavan Sri Krishna’s intimate conjugal affairs with the Vraja-gopis. The Srimad Bhagavatam rasa-panchadhyaya (10.29-33) clearly says that Sri Krishna pinches, kisses, fondles and embraces His beloved gopis.

But does Krishna enjoy amorous enjoyment like mundane men and women? The basic question is this: does Krishna have conjugal union with His beloved Vraja-gopis and Dvaraka queens?

Before directly answering this question, we should consider the spiritual truths, bhagavata-tattva, concerning the completely transcendental and immaculate loving relationship between Bhagavan Sri Krishna and His divine lovers, the Vraja-gopis and Queens of Dvaraka, who are none other than the personal expansions of Sri Krishna’s own intrinsic pleasure potency, hladini-shakti.

Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja explains the true identity and supremely unique position of Sri Krishna’s beloved village darlings, the gopis of Vraja:

“The pure immaculate love of the Vraja-gopis (vishuddha nirmala prema) is never at any time called lust. Because of its absolute purity, the dearest devotees of Bhagavan Sri Krishna, bhagavata-priya, like Uddhava Mahashaya desire to experience the gopis’ prema.

“Gopi prema is gold and lust is loha, iron—totally different in nature. The gopis’ prema glows like the radiant pure rays of the sun, nirmala bhaskara, and lust resembles blind darkness, andha tamah.

“Lust is nothing but selfish-pleasure (nija-sambhoga kevala), and “I love to please my senses!” (atma indriya priti). Whereas, the gopis’ love is selfless seva for Shyama’s satisfaction (krishna indriya priti).

“The gopis’ intense loving attachment is for Krishna alone (krishna drdha anuraga). Nothing in this world can compare with the purity of their prema that is like super white cloth without a spot. In the gopis’ pure loving relationship with Sri Krishna, there is not even a scent of lust, krishna se sambandha, nahi kama gandha.

“Never caring for their personal happiness or distress, atma sukha duhka na vicara, the damsels of Vraja think and act only for the happiness of Krishna, krishna sukha hetu ceshta manah. And for Krishna’s sake, the sakhis have renounced everything else in the world, krishna lagi saba parityaga. (Cc. 1.4.162-176)

The answer to the questions is “Yes, Bhagavan Sri Krishna does enjoy divine union with His personal hladini-shaktis, pleasure potencies, manifesting as the transcendental forms of the Vraja-gopis and Dvaraka mahishis. Externally, Krishna’s union with the gopis appears like ours, or rather ours is like His.

What is the sastric proof? There are many ancient authorized works i.e. Gita Govinda by Sri Jayadeva Goswami that describe the intimacies of Krishna’s encounters with the Vraja-gopis. The best proof, however, is found in the amala purana paramahamsa samhitam Srimad Bhagavatam (10.55.1): “Pradyumna took birth from the womb of Rukmini from the semen of Bhagavan Sri Krishna, jato vaidarbhyam krishna virya samudbhavah pradyumna.” Admittedly, all of this is most amazing and inconceivable.

In summary, the Srimad Bhagavatam tenth canto describes the nara-lila, human like pastimes of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. And because they so much resemble human exploits, there seem to be so many similarities between Sri Krishna’s divinely orchestrated, transcendental activities and our karmic dancing to the tunes of maya. In Gita (9.11), Bhagavan Sri Krishna warns one and all not to be foolish and ass-like by trying to weigh, compare or measure His completely transcendental divine pastimes. Sri Krishna said, “Because I appeared as a human being, fools and asses consider Me to be an ordinary human like them, avajananti mam mudha manushim tanum ashritam.”

No one in the universe except Bhagavan Sri Krishna is completely and utterly desireless and endlessly sweetly blissful within Himself. Thus Krishna alone is glorified as atma-kama and atma-rama, svatantra, sarva-jna bhagavan and the sarva-avatari. Although He was a mere child during His Vraja nara-lila, Sri Krishna humbled into submission the greatest devatas of the universe including Siva, Brahma, Indra and Varuna. Thus upon once gaining a glimpse of Sri Krishna’s indomitable omnipotence and omnipresence, pitamaha Sri Brahmaji prayed, “O Krishna, my greatest possible good fortune would be to take any birth whatever in this forest of Gokula, and have my head bathed by the dust falling from the lotus feet of any of the Vrajavasi residents.” (SB 10.14.34)

Only by the grace of bhakti-devi, great saints, and the direct mercy of Sri Krishna Himself can conditioned souls like you and me understand a drop of the unlimited ocean of Sri Krishna’s alaukika, divya, and acintya sports and play that He performs simply to please His beloved bhaktas.

May the soothing pure light of divine wisdom shine on all to remove the shadows of doubt concerning this most sublime subject.

The glorious love of gopis ki jai! Ananda Khanda Bhagavan Sri Krishna ki jai!

Shree Vraja lila ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

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The Day Govinda Became Ananta – Ananta Caturdasi Vrata

 Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Once upon a time Sri Krishna was playing with Radhika and the gopis in an area near Yavata-grama and Kokilavana. Somehow the ancient pastime of Anantashayi Vishnu (aka Ananta Padmanabha came up in Their conversation. Suddenly Radhika wanted to see the lila of Ananta Vishnu resting on the thousand-hooded divine serpent. To satisfy His precious Priyaji, Shyama absorbed Himself in the bhaava of Anantashayi and laid down on a 1,000 petalled lotus in the middle of lake, which turned into Kshirasagara. Much to the amazement of the gopis, Jaya Sri Radha adopted the mood of Lakshmi and massaged Ananta Vishnu’s lotus feet.

When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took darshana of this place, He swooned in ecstatic love remembering this beautiful pastime. We can glorify this pastime by reciting a prayer from (Vraja Vilasa-stava 91) by Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswamipada:

sri gosthe prathayatu sada, sheshashayi sthitam nah “I sincerely pray that Sheshashayi Sri Krishna may kindly bestow upon me eternal residence in His beautiful and enchanting pasture lands of Vrindavan.”

Today this lila-sthali is called Sheshashai, and one can see a wonderful Shyama black Deity of Bhagavan Ananta reclining on His bed with Lakshmi massaging His lotus feet.

Ananta Sheshayshayi Bhagavan Sri Krishna ki jai!

Ananda Khanda Bhagavan Sri Krishna ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!