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International Society for Krishna Consciousness

Founder Acarya His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

www.iskcondc.com

Issue 9 May ‘10

philosophy of Krishna
FESTIVAL/ EVENTS
Consciousness.
Poem 2
By Sruthi Mungara (13)
P rah l ad 's d emo n i ac f at h er, Prahlada’s Qualities 2
Hiranyakashipu, lord of the -Srimad Bhagavatam
Jai jai Nirshimadev! Nirshimadev
Chaturdasi is here! On the most demons, was very arrogant, for he
auspicious day of the appearance of had been made immovable by Lord Acharya series 3

the half lion half man incarnation, we Brahma's boons. Prasadam 4

should be in a prayerful mood. Meditation 4

He tortured and tormented his son,
Story 1— Lord 4
just to make him give up Krishna
Nrsimhadev’s
consciousness. But Prahlad had
protection !
immense faith in the process and
his spiritual master, Naradha Muni; Story 2— Cursing of 5
so he did not waver. Jaya & Vijaya

Prahlada Maharaj’s 5
prayer to Lord
Nrsimhadev

Verse of the month 6

Lord Nirshima came to annihilate the
demon Hiranyakashipu and to protect Game—Join the dots 6

His most wonderful dev otee, Prahlad CELEBRATION

Maharaja. Lord Nrsimhadev’s Appearance day!!

(May 26th ‘10)

Prahlad was just a boy of five years

and he always used to be absorbed in Let us pray to Lord Nirshimadev
thoughts of Lord Krishna. When he t o r e m o v e t h e l i t t l e
started to go to school, he preached to Hiranyakashipus in us.
his classmates on the

Killing of Hiranyakashipu
( A Poem )
By Mansi Suresh (9)
Once, there was a demon Hiranyakashipu
Who was an atrocious tyrant, lusty too
He performed severe penance
For he wanted mighty potence
He stood day and night on his bare toes
Without eating or breathing- not even wearing any clothes!
Then, Lord Brahma arrived, asking what the demon desired
“Immortality!” he replied, for that was what he aspired
Meanwhile, Maharaj Prahlad, soon to be born,
Heard from Narada Muni, the glories of the Lord’s forms
He constantly remembered his spiritual master
Even in the association of his demon father
But Hiranyakashipu, proud of his prowess
Harassed his son Prahlad, who was so harmless
Angrily, the demon asked, “Where is your God?”
“Is he in this pillar so broad?”
“Yes, my dear father,” replied gentle Prahlad
And Hiranyakashipu kicked the pillar hard
Out came Lord Nrismha, in his half man-half lion form
With sharp nails and claws, like a fierce storm
He tore open the demon in half
And made a loud laugh
Everyone was happy, for Hiranyakashipu was dead
And little Prahlad was grateful for the Supreme Godhead
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Srimad Bhagavatam
1. SB 7.5.23
"When Prahlada Maharaja was asked by
his father to say something from whatever
he had learned, he considered that what
he had learned from his spiritual mas-
ter was the best of all teachings
whereas what he had learned about diplo-
macy from his material teachers, Sanda
and Amarka, was useless. Bhaktih paresa-
nubhavo viraktir anyatra ca (Bhag.
11.2.42). This is the symptom of pure de-
votional service. A pure devotee is inter-
ested only in devotional service, not in ma-
terial affairs. To execute devotional ser-
vice, one should always engage in hearing
and chanting about Krsna, or Lord Visnu."
2. Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam,
02-22-73, Auckland
"Prahlada Maharaja, he was put into so
many difficulties by his atheist father, Hi-
ranyakasipu, but he was simply remem-
bering Narayana, Krsna. Because he was a
child, five years old, how he can fight with
his father? His father was the greatest de-
mon, powerful, and he was against the
child. So he used to simply think of
Krsna, smaranam."
- Srila Prabhupada
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Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami, who is Guna-manjari in Krsna’s Lilas, appeared in

ACHARYA SERIES 1503 as the son of Venkata Bhatta in Srirangam ( South India). This famous
By Ayushi Jain (8) town has the biggest temple of Krishna, who is worshipped with great
reverence in the form of Narayana.
When Gopal Bhatta was seven years old, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited
Srirangam and stayed there for the whole rainy season. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spent many days discussing
scriptures with Venkata Bhatta and his two brothers and allowed little Gopal Bhatta to render service onto Him. One of
the things Shri Chaitanya explained to the brothers was, “Even though your worship of Lakshma-Narayana is perfect
and full of devotion, still the worship of Radha and Krishna is even better.”

Through the power of Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s merciful association, Venkata
Bhatta, his brother Prabodhananda Saraswati, his son Gopal Bhatta Goswami, and all the other
members of his family, were inspired to give up the worship of Lakshmi-Narayana and became
engaged in the exclusive devotional service of Radha and Krishna. They were happy to
understand that Shri Chaitanya was Krishna Himself. When the time came for the Lord to
depart Shrirangam, young Gopal pleaded with the Lord to go with him. Gopal Batta was so sad
that the Lord stayed a few extra days just to pacify him.

Shortly afterwards, Gopal Bhatta had a dream in which Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu revealed His
true form as Krishna and asked Gopal to stay home and take care of his parents. Then, with
their blessings, Gopal could come and join the Lord or go to Vrindavan and assist Rupa and Sanatan Goswamis. Gopal
Bhatta made this order his very life and soul.

Gopal Bhatta studied under his uncle Prabodhananda Saraswati, who was an extremely learned spiritual teacher.
Achieving mastery over Vedanta, poetic composition, and Sanskrit grammar, his fame spread far and wide. Gopal's
parents surrendered themselves, life and soul, to the feet of Lord Chaitanya. They ordered their son to go to Vrindavan
before they left this world. He left for Vrindavan.

In Vrindavan, Gopal Bhatta took to the life of a mendicant, begging his food and going without comforts. He assisted
Rupa and Sanatan with the writing of many important scriptures. Gopal was the kind of devotee who always wanted to be
in the background, never in the foreground. But, at the same time, he is the reservoir of inspiration for those who are
in foreground. He also gave the devotees much pleasure by recalling Lord Chaitanya's pastimes in South India.

Rupa and Sanatan Goswamis wrote to Mahaprabhu expressing their appreciation of Gopal Bhatta's devotional qualities
and his renunciation. Mahaprabhu was so pleased that He immediately sent Gopal gifts. The gifts were a wooden seat
and a shawl, which He had personally used. Gopal Bhatta worshipped these sacred items for the rest of his life.

When Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami was visiting the pilgrimage centers of northern India, he found Salagrama Shilas on
the banks of the Gandaki River. He took twelve worshipable Shilas to Vrindavan. Out of his great humilit, he felt that
he had no qualification to worship the Shilas, who are non different than the Lord. So he went back to Gandaki river and
chanted the proper mantras and released the Shilas into the water. But amazingly the Shilas jumped right back into his
hands; this happened many times. Then, Gopal Bhatta realized that Krishna desired for Gopal Bhatta to worship the
Shilas.

Some years later, a wealthy merchant presented Gopal Bhatta with a gift of jewelry, fine clothes, and ornaments to use
in the worship of the Deities. The problem was that his Shilas were not suitable for decorating in the same way as a
regular Deity. Gopal Bhatta placed the valuable articles before his Shilas and prayed to Them for guidance. The next
morning he discovered a miracle. To his astonishment, one of the Shila had transformed Himself into a wonderful Deity
of Krishna. Gopal Bhatta Goswami, considering himself to be subordinate to Rupa and Sanatan Goswami, immediately
sent words to them about the miraculous manifestation of the Deity. Rupa Goswami named the Deity "Radha Raman",
which means "Krishna, who gives pleasure to Radha". Gopal Bhatta worshipped Radha Raman in a very grand way. An
impressive temple was constructed for the worship of Radha Raman. Even today devotees from all over the world visit
Radha Raman to offer prayers. Gopal Bhatta Goswami ki jay!
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... Recipe - Coconut Balls Meditation -

am
s ad Sruthi Mungara (13) A quality of Prahlāda Maharaj
a
Pr

Faith is complete trust or confidence in some-

one or something. Prahalad Maharaj had faith in
Lord Krishna Himself and His name. He also
had faith that Lord Krishna will protect him.
That is why when the demons tried killing him
Lord Krishna protected him.

We should have complete faith in Lord Krishna

and his holy name. We should also have faith
that Lord Krishna will protect us.

Contributed by ~Sunethra Ramkumar (9)

LORD NRSIMHADEV’S PROTECTION !

By Panchajanya Mungara (10)

This is a story about how Lord Nirshima person-

ally protects His dear devotees. Once, during the recent Bombay terrorist attack, a devo-
tee, who was a police officer, was trying to arrest the terrorists. Suddenly, the terrorists
threw smoke bombs and the devotee couldn't see anything. Two of the
other police officers were on either side of him. He was very frightened
and then his cell phone rang. The ring tone was the Nirshima Pranam
and he remembered Lord Nirshima and started praying to him. He
closed his eyes and when he opened them, he say the police officers that
were on either side of him shot dead, and right in front of him stood a pillar. The pillar
had taken all the gun shots for him!
Thus, this shows the infallible protection of the Supreme Lord to his pure devotees.
Jai Jai Nirshimadev!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Cursing of Jaya and Vijaya

One day, the four sons of Lord Brahma, Sanaka, Sanatana,
By Mansi Suresh (9)
Sanandana and Sanat, came to Vaikutha to see the Supreme
Lord. At the main gate, they were stopped by two gate-
keepers, Jaya and Vijaya, who held golden clubs in their
hands. These gate keepers were very strict and they did
not allow anyone to enter, unless they were devotees. Because the four Kumaras looked like little children,
Jaya and Vijaya refused to let them in. Then the Kumaras said, “If you don’t let us go, then we will curse
you. You have to take birth in the material world.”

Four Kumaras and the gatekeepers of

Meanwhile in Vaikuntha, Lord Krsna understood that some- Vaikuntha
thing was going wrong. So he appeared in the front gate. Jaya
and Vijaya started praying to the Lord, pleading him to take
away the curse. But the Lord replied, “I can’t take away the
curse of my devotees. But I can shorten your lifetime in the
material world. I will give two choices: either take birth as
devotees in the material world for seven lifetimes or as de-
mons for three lifetimes and be killed by me each time.”

Jaya and Vijaya decided to accept the second choice of being

born as demons three times, so that they could come back to Vaikuntha very quickly. They soon felt
themselves falling down to the material world. In their first lifetime, they were Hiranyaksa and Hiranya-
kasibhu. In their next life, they became Ravana and Kumbhakarna, and at their last life, they took birth as
Sisupal and Dhantavakra. Every time the Lord personally came and annihilated them. Thus, the compas-
sionate Lord protected His devotees by delivering them from the curse.

Prahlāda
Prahl da Maharaj’s prayer to Lord Nrsimhadev
Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.44

Prahlada Maharaja said, naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaranyah: "O best of the great per-
sonalities, I am not at all afraid of material existence." The pure devotee is never unhappy
in any condition of life. This is confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.17.28):

narayana-parah sarve
na kutascana bibhyati
svargapavarga-narakesv
api tulyartha-darsinah

"Devotees solely engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana,
never fear any condition of life. For them the heavenly planets, liberation and the hellish planets are
all the same, for such devotees are interested only in the service of the Lord."
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Game - JOIN THE DOTS

Verse of the month
(Verse 9.22)
“Srimad Bhagavat Gita- By His Divine Grace A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

By Siddhesh Ambokar (11)

ananyāś cintayanto māḿ

ye janāḥ paryupāsate

teṣāḿ nityābhiyuktānāḿ
yoga-kṣemaḿ vahāmy aham

TRANSLATION

But those who always worship Me with

exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcen-
dental form — to them I carry what they lack,
and I preserve what they have.
MY REALIZATIONS

In this verse, Srila Prabhupada explains the

word “yoga”. When a devotee is in yoga, he/
she is engaged nonstop in Krishna conscious-
ness and is constantly thinking of Krishna.
When a devotee is in yoga, he/she is “engaged in devo-
tional service by hearing, chanting, remembering, of-
fering prayers, worshiping serving the lotus feet of the
Lord, rendering other services...”(BG 9.22). Such a
devotee shall be ever closer to the Lord. It, then, will
be undoubtedly easy for that devotee to rejoin the
Lord and to eternally serve His lotus feet. And be-
cause of the Lord’s constant protection, a devotee will This newsletter has been made possible by the inspiration, encour-
agement, and support from senior Vaishnavas and our mentors. The
never fall down. The word “ksema” refers to this infal-
newsletter team is very grateful to them.
lible protection of the Lord. He helps the devotee to
We would like to encourage other children to join us and contribute
reach Him. Thus, yoga is ever more important in this
to this monthly newsletter. We would also be very happy to hear
age of Kali, for many, many conditioned souls are on your valuable suggestions . Please contact us at dc.4r.kids@gmail.com
this planet and Krishna is eagerly awaiting their re-
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turn to His abode.