Sunday, December 8, 2019

Glory of Shreemad Bhagavad Gita


Bhagavad Gita literally means “The Song of God". The Bhagavad Gita is a dialogue between Lord Shree Krishna and Arjun on the battlefield at Kurukshetra, where the Pandavas were fighting the righteous war with their cousins, the Kauravas.

Shreemad Bhagavad Gita is not just a book but it is a song sung by Shree Krishna Himself!! That is the Divine Glory of this holy scripture.

Bhagavad Gita is a journey...


From Grief to Glory
Arjun's grief made him weak enough to drop his duties of defending the right. Grief led him to confusion. Bhagavad Gita transformed this emotion into the spiritual Glory in Arjun's life.

From Confusion to Clarity
Arjun's confusion coaxed him into a thicker illusion, believing he was bound by the physical relationship toward kins from the opposite side, which resulted in excuses not to put up a fight. Bhagavad Gita uprooted his confusion and gave him clarity of thought and perspective, thus enlightening his path toward conquering not only the external war but also the internal battle.

From Illusion to Enlightenment
Arjun's fallacy regarding self identity dragged him into entanglement of physical relationships, leading to worries regarding the results of the war. Bhagavad Gita removed his illusion and established the enlightenment by revealing his true self in the spiritual realm.

From Worries to Victory
Arjun's worries created dejection and withdrawal symptoms amidst the battlefield. Bhagavad Gita removed Arjun's negative sentiments and bestowed unto him with the much needed victory.

From Self-identification to Surrender
The root cause of Arjun miseries was his mistaken self-identity; when he finally surrendered to Krishna, he could take the charge and deliver himself.

From Trembling to Triumph
It is the power of Bhagavad Gita, the song of God, sung by Shree Krishna HIMSELF, that Arjun's trembling state (in the form of physical, mental, inter-personal relationships, false righteousness, fruitive karma, etc.) transformed into the Triumph.

From Choice to Charge
Bhagavad Gita is a journey from Arjun's choosing Krishna (rather than Shree Krishna's whole Army) and taking the charge according to HIS WILL (in the battle field).


Key points of Bhagavad Gita:

1. Shree Krishna tried His best to avoid the war.

Despite being the King of Dwaraka, He himself went to the Kauravas as a "Peace Messenger"!!
When Kauravas refused to part with even half of land, Shree Krishna put the minimal offer and asked only for five villages---one each for Pandavas.
He also revealed His virat Roop in the court of Dhritarashtra.
BUT...
...blinded by the ignorance and pride, no one could understand His humility when God Himself came as a Peace messenger!!
No one could agree to HIS simplest proposal.
No one could see HIS Divine Form due to the lack of Divine vision.




2. After the unjust exile of the Pandavas, the laksha-grih scandal, cheating in gambling, Daupadi's vastraharan, and many other injustices and sufferings, War was the only way left out to curb arrogant, ignorant and irresponsible Kauravas' evil empire.

3. The roots of Bhagavad Gita lies in the choice Arjun made. When in Dwaraka, Shree Krishna offered him two options:
He Himself or His mighty army. "Narayan or Narayani Sena"! Arjun chose Shree Krishna and that day the roots of Bhagavad GIta were sown. Because once one chooses Lord Krishna and leaves all other supports, Shree Krishna takes the complete responsibility of that person.


4. Shree Krishna had never told Arjun to fight for his own rights or victory. Being a Kshatriya, Arjun was also responsible to ensure social security, development and righteousness. Arjun, by refusing to fight the war, was indirectly permitting injustice to sprawl and corrude the social structure.

5. Only three persons had listened to the Bhagavad Gita directly from the Lotus-Mouth of Shree Krishna; Arjun, Sanjay and Hanuman who was sitting on Arjun' chariot.

6. Bhagavad Gita is a great Psycho-Spiritual scripture where Shree Krishna had played a great role of the First Supreme Psychologist who had not only treated Arjun physically or mentally or emotionally but He provided the spiritual knowledge, solution-oriented techniques and wisdom for every one's psyche.

7. God reveals His forms according to the time and society. The same Lord who revealed Himself as a Maryada Purushottam in Dvapar Yug, revealed Himself as a Purna Purushottam in Treta Yug. The same Lord instructed and inspired Arjun to fight for the wellness and righteousness. When saintly qualities such as humility, goodness, compassion, etc. are over-powered by the evil beings, it is better not to continue with such nature, because it weakens the social and moral character. And sometimes it is considered as a weakness. Shree Krishna warned Arjun about this.

8. The song sung by Shree Krishna before more than 5000 years has key solutions for our all problems and is perfectly applicable to even present era.

9. Shreemad Bhagavad Gita is an Art of Man-making and a Science of Spiritual being.





Lessons form the episode of Bhagavad Gita:

1. Choose God always.

2. Do not be afraid by the confusions, worries and grief on the path of Spirituality. It is a process of purification toward elevation. If your intentions are pure and efforts are sincere, God will reveal the Supreme solutions to you.

3. Put God in the driver's seat of your life because anything under His control will never be out of control.

4. God will never misinterpret your deenata or humility as your weakness. He appreciates your tiniest sentiments.

5. In confusion, do not wander here and there, seek God for the solutions.
6. Once you are truly surrender to God, the Almighty God happily excepts to even drive your chariot.

7. Your actions should not be motivated by ignorance and selfishness.



Sunday, September 22, 2019

Desire is responsible for shrouding our power of discrimination - a meaningful allegorical story

Lord Shree Krishna is extending his loving hand but we neglect Him in the process of sipping honey.......

We are not able to think of God and hold onto Him who is the best support during our times of trouble. This is how we are leading our life in samsara, lost in the pleasures of the world!!! Read this allegorical story which teaches us this eye opener lesson.

A man used to take his evening walk by the side of a forest. 

One evening, he decided to walk in the forest instead. When he had walked a couple of miles, the sun began setting and the light started fading. He turned around to walk out of the forest, but to his dismay he found that animals had gathered on the other side. These ferocious animals started chasing him and to escape from them, he ran deeper into the forest. While running, he found a witch standing in front of him with open arms to embrace him. To escape her, he turned direction and ran perpendicular to the animals and the witch. 

By then, it had become dark. Unable to see much, he ran over a ditch that was covered by vine hanging from a tree. He fell headlong, but his feet became entangled in the vine. As a result, he began hanging upside down above the ditch. 

After a few moments he came to his senses and saw a snake sitting at the bottom of the ditch, waiting to bite him if he fell down. In the meantime, two mice appeared—one white and one black—and started nibbling at the branch from which the vine was hanging. To confound his problems, some wasps gathered and began stinging him on his face. In this precarious situation, it was found that the man was smiling. 

Philosophers gathered to ponder how he could smile in such a dire strait. They looked upwards and found a beehive, from which honey was dripping onto his tongue. He was licking the honey and thinking how pleasurable it was; he had forgotten the animals, the witch, the snake, the mice, and the wasps.


The person in the story may seem insane to us. However, this tale depicts the condition of all humans under the influence of desire. 

The forest in which the man was walking represents the material world in which we live, where there is danger at every step. The animals that chased him represent diseases that begin to appear in life, and continue harassing us until death. The witch represented old age that is waiting to embrace us with the passage of time. The snake at the bottom of the pit is like the inevitable death that awaits us all. The white and black mice that were nibbling on the branch represent day and night, which are steadily reducing our life and bringing us closer to death. The wasps that were stinging the face are like the innumerable desires that arise in the mind and agitate it, causing us pain and distress. Honey represents the sensual enjoyment we experience in the world, which clouds the discrimination of our intellect. 

Hence, forgetting our precarious position, we remain absorbed in enjoying the temporary delights of the senses. Shree Krishna states that it is this type of lustful desire that is responsible for shrouding our power of discrimination.


-An excerpt from Bhagavad Gita (3.38)
The Song of God
Commentary by Swami Mukundananda

Thursday, July 4, 2019

Grab the chance to stroll with the Almighty Lord!

Bal Mukund kids can celebrate Rath Yatra at home:

Ratha Yatra is a great day for the devotees of Shree Krishna as the Lord himself comes out of the temple to give darshan to His devotees.

It may be difficult for many to reach the place and have the Divine Darshan. Don’t get disheartened! You can celebrate the Rath Yatra at your home.

Invite all your friends to join in the service of Lord Jagannathaji.

Make a small chariot of cardboard or wood with the help of your parents or elders. Decorate the chariot with fresh and colorful flowers. Put a small Dhwaja on it. You can also decorate the chariot with colorful lights. Spread a velvet cloth (red carpet) on it and make an asan for the Lord to sit. Sprinkle some perfume with a divine fragrance of chandan and rose. Spread rose petals near the asan of Lord to welcome Him. Tie long ropes or sticks to the chariot to pull it.

Now decorate the deities with new clothes, crown, beautiful necklaces, and garland of roses and other flowers. Put the deities of Lord Jagannathaji, Balaramaji, and Subhadraji in it with great reverence. Offer Them prasadam as bhog. You can offer fresh fruits, laddus (small sweet balls), or even chocolates. Try your best to offer home-made varieties to the Lord.

You can also sing Naam Sankirtan of Shree Krishna and Radhaji. Blow the counch. Ring the bells. Beat the drums. Use as many musical instruments to please the Lord. Pull the Chariot. Be gentle, avoid jerks. Distribute the prasadam of the Lord. Try to distribute it as much as possible.

Don’t forget to remember the Lord during the whole Rath Yatra. “Oh Lord! Grant me Your service... may my heart be engaged in Your service forever! Kindly bless me!”



Grab the chance to stroll with the Almighty Lord and His Siblings!

SERVE GOD ALWAYS!

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Difference between Divine Love and Material Love.


1.Divine Love is ever increasing.
Material love keeps fluctuating.

2. Divine love is unconditional.
Material love is conditional.

3. Divine love is unlimited.
Material love is limited.

4. Divine love lasts forever.
Material love has expiry date.

5. Divine love seeks the happiness of Beloved.
Material love seeks happiness of self.

6. Divine love can never be destroyed.
Material love can be destroyed.

7. You rise in Divine love.
You fall in material love.



8. Nature of Divine love is to keep hiding the sentiments.
Nature of material love is to exhibit the emotions.

9. Give, give, give...without expecting is the motto of Divine love.
Take, take, take...with expecting profits is the pattern of material love.

10. Divine love never complains.
Material love often complains.

11. Divine love is always based upon the sentiments.
Material love is based upon material things.

12. Divine love is eternal.
Material love is temporary.

13. Divine love is infinite.
Material love is finite.

14. Divine love connects with soulful satisfaction.
Material love connects with gratification of senses body and mind.

15. Divine love leads you to peace and harmony.
Material love often leads you to chaos and insecurity.

16. Divine love can be expressed without words.
Material love needs words to express.

17. Divine love says, "what I can do for you?"
Material love says, "What can you do for me?"

18. Divine love finds bliss in pains.
Material love finds problems in happiness.

19. Divine love asks for quality.
Material love asks for quantity.

20. Divine love opens the way to virtues.
Material love tends to think miserly.

21. Divine love sees your inner world.
Material love sees your external world.