Grateful Greetings to Swami Mukundananda on His Birth Anniversary!

A king thought that I wanted to honor a person who had contributed significantly to the development of my kingdom. The king called a cabinet meeting for this. The king asked the advice of the ministers, ``Whom should I honor?"

A minister stood up and said, "We should respect the writer because he teaches us all to live life through his ideas". Another minister said, "We should respect the artist because he brings us out of depression by providing entertainment". The third minister said, "We should respect the engineer because it is because of him that there has been so much development. These roads, big houses, various machines and physical facilities have come only because of the engineer". A fourth said, "We should respect the doctor because he gives new life". The fifth minister said, "According to my opinion, the industrialist should be respected because of this many people get employment and the state also gets income". The another minister raised his voice, "we should respect teachers. He teaches us all."

The king was confused after hearing the different suggestions of all the ministers. All these people really contributed tremendously to the development of the state so there was a big confusion as to whom to honor. The king asked the most experienced and senior minister of the state to give his opinion who was still sitting silently listening to everyone. Senior Pradhan said, "Maharaj, give me one hour's time for this. I will go out for an hour and then give my opinion". The king gave permission for this.

The state's senior-most minister left the meeting and returned after an hour.

He returned with a man full of effulgence, radiance and happiness in his aura. Yes, he came with a glorious and Holy Saint of the state. Most of the ministers sitting in the meeting smiled at the sight of this man. All these ministers stood up from their seats and bowed down to the old lady. The king started thinking that I am giving salary to everyone but no minister is paying me so much respect!!"

Looking to the Saint the king himself also stood up and bowed down to Him.

Now the senior minister clarified the picture. He said, all present here had their opinion and their opinions were right. But the contribution of scientists, engineers, teachers, authors etc. is limited for their respective fields. While the saint has a long-lasting contribution to our society. The saint is all in one!!

We cherish His positive impact and influence forever and we feel grateful when He shower His gracious blessings upon us. He gives a golden touch to society, turning it into a beautiful heaven on earth while minimizing the distress and hopelessness from people’s lives. His Devotional sentiments subtly cleanse the materialistic pollution from the minds of His followers. The aspirations and achievements of this human being cannot be recorded even in a colossal book. He has set himself as role model for the masses to follow. He has guided us to achieve peace of mind through spirituality.

The king looked at the senior minister and asked, "I understand whose contribution is the most important in the development of the state? Writer, artist, engineer, doctor or industrialist, all these have an invaluable contribution to the well-being of the state, but the work of shaping all these is done by the Saint, so the honor of the Saint should be respected."

This story reminds us of the dedicated life of Swami Mukundananda.

Swamiji doesn't work for one particular department; his services are multi-dimensional and expand to many departments and faculties of this world and beyond!! He serves not only to a particular community of limited class of the society, he serves the entire human kind.

He is an engineer, bridging the gap between soul and God.

He is a Professor, who elucidates the Vedic message to a wide range of students with different attitudes---from emotional young children to persons with highly logical brains.

He is a mathematician, who solves problems, doubts and confusions arising from apparently contradictory scriptures.

He is a scientist, discovering and simplifying the formulas for devotion in a changing world.

He is a geologist, mapping and guiding all towards the spiritual dimensions where many elevated souls reached in their lifespan in the past.

He is a preacher, promoting the Vedic lifestyle and spreading the words of Hari and Guru.

He is a singer, who sings the glory of God's divine forms, virtues, abodes, and pastimes.

He is an orator, who explains difficult scriptural principles making it easy to understand and practice.

He is a gardener, who nurtures the seed of devotion in the heart of people.

He is an advocate of the Sanatan Dharm.

He is a lawyer, clarifies the laws of God and inspires others to abide by them.

He is a guardian, protecting the Sanatan Vedic knowledge.

He is a doctor, who helps to uproot the bhav rog by healing infirmities of the body, mind and soul by inspiring them to walk on the path of Yog and God-realization.

He is an author, expressing the greatness and glory of the Divine in meaningful words.”

And the list goes on..
Swamiji is a dedicated follower of Hari-Guru.

He is an inspiration for thousands..

Friendly philosopher and guide to many...

A founder of Bal-Mukund and JKYog...

Parents often complain, "It is like trying to chew iron nuts when it comes to convincing their children to follow God's words." Not only children, it is a very difficult task to inspire even one or two close relatives to walk on the path of God-realization; we all have faced this at one or other stage of our life. But looking at Swamiji’s life, listening to his lectures and kirtans, many people, not only from India but even from other countries, wish and start to walk on the path of God-realization. Such contagious devotion he possesses.

Swamiji has been selflessly and tirelessly spreading the Divine message of Lord Krishna and Shree Maharaj ji throughout the world.

Swamiji, Your Birthday is a blessed day for all of us. You have set a brilliant example of selfless service and love for God and Guru!! In other words, this day has given birth to many spiritual births and opportunities to others! Our most humble greeting to You on this special day! This day, is an opportunity to express our gratitude for Your invaluable spiritual gifts distributed for free. Your kirtans, discourses and books are deeply inspiring, enlightening and continuously uplifting...thank you for everything that you have given us for our spiritual enlightenment.

All the children of Bal Mukund along with their parents and teachers are grateful to You for Your grace and guidance!

Kindly keep shining as a lighthouse guiding wayward souls toward their destination.

Sambhavami Yuge Yuge.

People often ask where is God? Especially during this time when humankind is facing and fighting  with  the strange Corona virus, the God is often remembered through this famous shlok of Bhagwad  Geeta- either for seeking protection or out of curiosity due to unending adversity:

 

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत |

अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ||

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् |

धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे || 

   Bhagavad Gita:4-7,8

Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj says, "HE is waiting for us with wide, open arms."

So, why is He delaying His descendance on the earth when we are facing so many challenges simultaneously?

This is the time when we need to go beyond our selective memory and remember Shree Krishna's words once again. He also said, "I will come to annihilate adharm and to protect dharm". He stated that He will be on the side of Dharma!!

Now these words suggest the need of introspection!

Are we on the path of Dharma? Once we have reflected on this question, our curiosity to seek clarification on His apparent absence or the so called unending adversity will get answered.

Knowingly unknowingly, to attain small gains, to fulfill our mundane desires many times we deviate from the principles of dharma. As soon as we face the consequences of these deviations, we seek God to redeem us.

Not only that, many times we ignore the unrighteous approach just out of our preferences! And how we find leeways! We call it duty, need, helplessness and what not and end up victimizing ourselves for siding Adharma. Bhaishma Pitamah, Dronacharya and Kripacharya are the examples of this. They knew that Kauravas had malicious intentions and that Pandavas were virtuous and deserving. But under the pressure of their respective duties, they knowingly or unknowingly, happily or unhappily supported, encouraged and pampered Kauravas. And it is also known that these are the reasons why Shree Krishna was not in that side! 

On the other side, Pandavas who were entitled to a kingdom, continued to stick to Dharma even in the face of grave adversities. They were enough capable, powerful and intelligent to respond back to each act of injustice done by Kauravas, but they chose not to leave their Dharma.

 Looking to the straightforwardness and  righteousness, humility and God-seeking attitude, Shree   Krishna came to support them. At that stage also He gave them choice to select God or His mighty   army. But The Krishna-loving Pandavas chose Shree KRISHNA against His mighty army.Their love   for God, their righteousness attract God's grace.And we know that Shree Krishna didn't even redeem   them, but worked with them like their Sakha...parabhrama Parmeshwar became a charioteer of Arjun's   chariot!

Shree Krishna is kind. He is Dayanidhi.He is Karunasindhu. He cannot wait for a moment to rush to help His devotees but the need is to purify ourselves. 

 Here the role of Bhagavad Gita comes.
 It is not merely a book on which you put your hand in the courts and take the vows! 
 It is not merely a book to put on the altar and to offer incense sticks to. 
 It is not a thing to highlight as your favorite book on your facebook page alone to show how religious minded you are.

 Bhagavad Gita is DIVINE WORDS of SHREE KRISHNA HIMSELF!
 It is divine guidance.
 It is for a person to live his day-to-day life fulfilling and for the soul to decide its journey further.
 It is a complete package for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness.

 It teaches to have a candid dialogue with God regarding the problems. If you do not talk to God then who else can guide you? It teaches that in dilemma or difficult conditions, seek divine guidance from God instead of doing gymnastic according to own limited intellect.

It teaches Bhaktiyog, Karma yog and Gyan yog. 

It reveals the opulence of Shree Krishna and though we do not have that divine vision to see God's cosmic form, through this Holy scripture and its words, we can visualize the great opulence of ShreeKrishna's cosmic form!!

It shows the karmic connection and the journey of a soul according to those karma.

In this holy scripture Shree Krishna has clearly shown the way to reach Him.

Finally, it teaches the ultimate lesson...."सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज" - Surrender to Shree Krishna only!!  The ultimate Dharma of jeev as well as the soul!!

These are the lessons of Bhagavad Gita and we need to absorb them in our life.

Swami Mukundananda has nicely put this by giving an example in his lectures.."somebody came to me and shared, "Swamiji! not a day passes without me chanting the verses of Gita. Swamiji responded, "It is Good. but what do you chant?" "mamekam sharanam vraj?? Swamiji then shared that when we only chant without understanding the meaning, we do not get the essence. The devotee was chanting surrender to me only", which originally were the words spoken by Shree Krishna.

So, according to Gita, 

Stay on the path of Dharma,

Do not be on the side of Adharma 

In a dilemma,  seek the divine guidance of God,

Know His wish.

Completely surrender unto Him and ACT according to HIS Guideline.

God is all ready to meet, but He will definitely see the receiving capacity!! He is continuously waiting to reach us, receive HIM by following and implementing HIS Teachings.

Does God Eat the offered food?

An Annakoot Mahotsav was going on in the revered presence of Guru. A Variety of food was being offered to Lord Shree Krishna. Everyone was engaged in devotion with great sentiments. A college-going young boy- a novice on the path of devotion with his intellect yet weighing the divinity, was also observing everything. The ceremony was going on very well.

After the Puja was over, the pujari announced that all the devotees must accept the prasadam and only then leave. That young boy saw that not a single thing was consumed by God and even then everyone was accepting the prasadam with great sentiments. His intellect started itching. He could not resist and went straight to His Guru. He asked his Guru, "This is something that I cannot digest. We keep offering food to God and nothing is consumed by Him. Does God really eat? or are we just doing a drama in the name of traditions?"

The enlightened Guru understood the plight of the intellectual beginners and responded to the devotee with compassion.

He told him to bring a rose garland and a weighing scale. He couldn’t understand the purpose but did it never the less. He brought a garland and weighing scale.

The Guru told him to weigh the garland. He did so and told the exact weight of rose garland. It was exactly 700 gms.

Then the Guru told him to smell the garland. He did so. The Guru told him to smell it as much as possible, again and again. He followed the words of Guru. It seemed like his entire existence was filled with the aroma of roses!

Now the Guru told him to weigh the garland again. He weighed it.

The Guru asked him, "Is there any difference in the weight?"

He said, "No, it is the same."

Now his Guru explained the answer, "You smelled so much of the fragrance of these roses but not a bit of its weight is reduced by that. Similarly, God does eat the offered food- not physically, but he accepts the sentiments poured in them. He is omniscient. Right from the stage of mere thought when you wish to offer something to God, He starts accepting your sentiments. The varieties you choose, the quality of ingredients you buy, the way you prepare varieties, the way you present food, the way you offer them and the way you keep faith in this entire ceremony- everything is observed by God and He starts relishing your offerings right from the time when you conceived the thought of those offerings. So, apparently, nothing is consumed by Him but yet the entire food becomes divine prasadam. and when you eat that prasadam, it spreads devotion in your entire inner system. The more sensitive you are to these, the more divinity you would experience within.”

Important Lessons From Kurma Avatar

Happy Kurma Jayanti!

Kurma Avatar is the second incarnation of Shree Hari. Kurma means Tortoise. It is a tortoise form of Shree Hari; greatly revered by the devotees. During the great celestial event of Samudra Manthan, Mount Mandara was used as the pivot for churning the oceans. But when it began to sink, Shree Hari appeared as a giant tortoise that held the mountain up on His back.

Thus without the help of Lord Kurma , the milk-ocean or ‘Kshirsagara’ would not have been churned; and the demigods wouldn’t have found the 14 sacred ratnas or divine gifts. The day of Kurma Jayanti thus holds special religious significance.

Message of Kurma Jayanti:

1.There is duality everywhere in the world. Day and Night, right and wrong, good and bad, pain and pleasure, etc....and both the factors pulling us at their sides. Due to these continuous churning, we loose our balance and stability. In this condition only Shree Hari, His name or remembrance can provide the stability and balance in our life.

2.God appeared and sat as Kurma under Mt. Mandarachal. The foundation always remains at the bottom. In every structure foundation is of prime importance. If the foundation is weak or shaky the structure collapses. Thus Kurma avatar teaches us the virtues of stability and balance.

3.The foundation always remains at the bottom. Lord Kurma teaches us the importance of humbleness by remaining at the bottom.

4. The foundation can never be seen, and that is its great and silent contribution to any buildings. We used to praise the buildings but the foundation always remain under the cover.

Let us pray to Lord Kurma on Kurma Jayanti day and seek His blessings.

Important Teachings of Matsya Avatar

Matsya, (Sanskrit: “Fish”) is one of the ten Avatars (incarnations) of Bhagavan Shree Hari.

In MATSYA Avatar, Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as a fish in this world. In the earliest yuga (era) of Sata-yuga, a king named Manu was performing severe penance for thousands of years. 

One day as he was performing ablutions with river water, a small fish came into his hands and just as he was about to throw the fish back into the river, the fish requested the king to save its life. Heeding its request, the king put the fish into a jar of water but the fish started growing and the jar was not big enough for it. Then the king threw it into the river, but it soon it outgrew the river and the king then threw it into Ganges and then into the ocean. 

The king realized that it was Lord Vishnu himself and then the lord made an appearance and made a special request to the king. It predicted that the world would come to an end by a huge flood in seven days and requested the king to build a huge boat and take the seven sages(hermits), seeds of all plants, one animal of each type and told him that he would appear as a fish to propel the boat to Mt Himavan for surviving the flood to the next yuga(eon). 

True to his word, after seven days the Lord appeared and the king tied the boat to the fish by using the royal serpent Vasuki and the fish took all of them to Mt Himavan and kept them there till the flood was over and in the new era, the king started procreation for the new era.

"Whenever Dharma, or the situation of law and order, is endangered on this world, I shall incarnate onto this world to re-establish Dharma, law and order, and to protect the good people and to destroy the evil elements of the society."

The teachings of Matsyavatar are as below:

1. God keeps His promises.

2. God can assume any form to keep His promise and to save His devotees.

3. In a chaotic circumstances, we can find grace in God.

4. Keep your account of karma clean, at the final time that only will be helpful.

5. Keep your vessel (build your future by intense sadhana) ready, He will bestow His grace when the right time will come.

6. In this avatar, Lord saved the knowledge and law, thus he had given us moral that law and knowledge are mandatory to make and run a society. 

  7. Follow the instruction of God, He can see and feel everything - your past, present and future - and keen to help You. Trust Him and act as He wishes.

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.

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

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!

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.

Jagadguruttam Jayanti

Jagadguru Shree Kripalu Maharaj is the fifth original Jagadguru in Indian history. He is renowned for his exquisite mastery of the Hindu scriptures. He has written thousands of bhajans that exude Vedic philosophy in general and love for God in particular.

Maharajji appeared in this world in 1922, on the full moon night called Sharad Poornima. This was the night, when five thousand years ago, Lord Shree Krishna performed His famous Raas Leela dance with the gopis. Maharajji was born in a small village called Mangarh, near Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, India. 

Maharajji's childhood was spent in fun and frolic with friends. Yet, he amazed everyone by displaying his mastery in every subject that was taught in school. His answer papers in examinations would always be perfect, but his teachers would hesitate to give him a perfect score, and would award him 99 marks. His friends would be so impressed by this feat, that they had given him the name " Mr. Ninety Nine." He would often take his young village friends to sit under shady village trees, and engage them in singing loving keertans to God. 

At the age of fourteen, he left his village Mangarh to study courses from three Universities, at Kashi, Delhi and Kolkata. In those days in India, students were given the facility to register for courses, and study them at home. Due to his exceptional ability, Maharajji completed eighteen years syllabus in a short span of just two-and-a-half years. He received three degrees -Vyakaran Acharya, Sahitya Acharya, and Ayurved Acharya.

At the young age of sixteen, he gave up his studies and entered the dense forests of Chitrakoot, where he remained absorbed in intense love of Shree Radha Krishna. During that period, he would rest in caves and eat fruits from the trees of the forest. Often having no awareness of his body, he would go without eating and drinking for several days at a stretch. His mind would remain immersed in Mahabhav, the highest state of devotion to Lord Shree Krishna. This elevated state of Mahabhav devotion was also manifested by another great Saint, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, about five hundred years ago.

In January 1957, Maharajji was invited to give a series of lectures to the Kashi Vidvat Parishat. This was a body of 500 foremost Vedic scholars of India, each of them was a master of one or more scriptures. Maharajji spoke in Sanskrit for ten days, giving innumerable quotations from the Vedas, Puranas, Mahabharat, Ramayan, Vedant, and other scriptures. He showed the wonderful unity in the teachings of the previous jagadgurus and revealed the true path of God realization.

When the entire body of scholars was convinced that Kripaluji Maharaj's knowledge was deeper than the combined knowledge of all the 500 scholars put together, they honoured him with the title of Jagadguru, or the Spiritual Master of the world. They also declared that he was Jagadguruttam, or supreme amongst Jagadgurus, and Bhaktiyog Rasavatar, or the descension of the Bliss of Divine Love.

(An excerpt form Saints of India: Bal Mukund Character Building Series)

नाचो गाओ सब साधक समुदाय, आज गुरुदेव जन्मदिन पुनि आय।
हम सब की उमर इन्हें लग जाय, युग युग जीयें ऐसे साधना कराय।

Important Lessons of Vijaya Dashami

Ravan was...

a great scholar,

a master of Vedas,

a great chanter of Sam Ved,

a scholar of Astrology and Ayurved,

a controller of the planetary system,

a great musician and a prolific Veena player,

an efficient king who built a Golden Lanka,

a highly intelligent person,

an excellent warrior,

a great performer of severe austerities towards Lord Shiv,

However, he did some irreversible and unforgivable mistakes...

After pleasing Lord Shiv and having got blessed with His boon and powers, out of arrogance, he (failingly) tried to move the residence of Lord Shiv Himself that is Mount Kailash.

He underestimated the glory of Shree Ram as God Himself and considered Him as an ordinary man, just because He was in exile and was roaming in the forest with saffron clothes to fulfill the promise of His Father.

He tried to kidnap and torture the Mother of Universe and Adya Shakti Sitaji, considering Her a helpless and an ordinary woman.

He could not recognize Lord Shiv whom he used to worship, when He came as a messenger of Lord Ram; in form of Hanuman. Not only that he ordered to burn His tail and tried to give Him immense pain.

He could not even comprehend the sign of God who built a bridge over the huge ocean and crossed the ocean with the large army and finally reached Lanka, which is next to impossible for an ordinary man.

He could not understand the repeated requests from his maternal grand father, wife and younger brother, "to return Mother Sita and surrender to Shree Ram as He is a God Himself". He laughed at them thinking they are foolish.

These are the major mistakes he did because he was arrogant. Despite such great skills and powers, he kept on doing such major mistakes throughout the life and the only one reason for this was an absence of devotion to God in his life. Due to that absence of devotion, he was obsessed with his powers and considered himself invincible.

God does not please with skills, achievements, knowledge, opulence, powers, strength, reputation, austerities, etc. which are not accompanied by pure devotion. He sees only inner sentiments. The only things He doesn't like are arrogance and hypocrisy.

When Shree Ram returned to Ayodhya, Mother Kaushalya asked Him, "Have You killed Ravan?" 

Shree Ram gave a very thought-provoking answer, "Mother, I haven't killed the great scholar, a highly intelligent, a master of sciences, an excellent warrior, a great musician and a sadhak of Lord Shiv, Ravan... But, ...his "I" (ego) has killed him!"

On this victorious festival let us learn these two important lessons of Vijaya Dashami. 

1. No skills, achievements, knowledge, opulence, powers, strength, reputation, austerities, etc. which are not accompanied by pure devotion and surrendering, can please God and His eternal energy or even His associates.

2. One saintly philosopher has very nicely explained... 
"In Sat Yug, good and evil were in two different worlds-Dev lok and Asur lok. 
In Treta in the same world-Ram and Ravan. 
In Dwapar, in the same family-Pandava and Kaurava. 
In Kali Yug,in the same person.
As the Yug changes, the line between good and evil thins and blurs down."

Kill the ego residing within us and surrender to the ocean of mercy and compassion, Shree Ram!

Ganesh Visarjan Teaches Us Important Lessons on Serving God

Yesterday was a day for Ganapati Visarjan. Little Sanket was very upset. He was not ready to say "Good Bye" to lovely Ganeshji. He was truly devotional minded child and was get highly attached to Ganapati in these special ten days of Ganesh-pooja (From Ganesh Chaturthi to Anant Chaturdashi). 

All gathered relatives and other people were eager to proceed with the ceremony of visarjan but they were helpless in front of the sentimental stubbornness of this small child. 

Finally his grand ma took the whole matter in her hand. She sat with him, and calmed him down. She knew the depth of devotion in heart of this child. He was not going to be convinced merely by any temptation of chocolates or video games! So she made him understand the act of visarjan as a part of worship with true philosophical understanding.

She told him, "Look, God is omnipresent. He neither arrives nor leaves. He has existed before time and will exist beyond. This ceremony is symbolic to understand our life. We arrive, we celebrate and we merge into the elements." 

She continued, "The act of Visarjan teaches us to let go of something you love deeply. To surrender to faith over intellect. It also teaches us what we love may leave us, so love unconditionally... !!!"

It is good that you feel happy in serving God, but the true essence of devotion and service lies in not your happiness, but it lies in the happiness of God. You need to understand this if you really want to serve God.

It teaches us to remember God throughout the year and wait to welcome Him again according to His time and wish...!

It teaches that the omni-present God, when time comes, again appears in front of us and gives the chance to serve Him. 

That is why we say "O Ganesh! Do come back sooner the next year!" Till then we do not stop worshiping Him but we prepare ourselves to welcome Him again with more devotion, with more faith and with more desire to serve Him."

This is what Sanket was needed to understand. With tears in eyes but great faith in heart, he joined to the procession of Ganapati Visarjan, repeating the prayer, "Ganapati Bappa Morya, pudhchya-varshi-lavkar-ya (agale baras tu jaldi aa)!!"