Spiritual

The 108 Divya Desam, or the 108 Divine Abodes, are a sacred group of 108 Vishnu temples revered in the Hindu tradition. These hallowed shrines, scattered across the Indian subcontinent, are believed to be the earthly manifestations of Lord Vishnu, the preserver and protector of the universe. For those interested in exploring these sacred sites, the 108 Divya Desam list provides a comprehensive guide to each temple’s location and significance.

Sripad Aindra Prabhu was a revolutionary! A white American who changed the face of Kirtan for hundreds and thousands by living in India, specifically Vrindavan for the last 24 years of his life.

The specialty about kirtans in Vrindavan is becoming the epic centre of talent and this was all the inspiration of Aindra Das. He made Kirtan very joyous, attractive and pure.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born in Mayapur in the town of Nadia, just after sunset on the evening of the 23rd Phalguna 1407 Shakabda, corresponding to February 18th, 1486 of the Christian Era. The moon was eclipsed at the time of His birth, and the people of Nadia were then engaged, as usual on such occasions, in bathing in the Bhagirathi (Ganges River) with loud cheers of “Haribol!” His father, Jagannath Mishra, was a poor Brahmana (priest) of the Vedic order, and His mother Sachidevi was a woman of ideal character. Both descended from Brahmana families originally residing in Sylhet.

Arjuna submits to Lord Krsna as His disciple, and Krsna begins His teachings to Arjuna by explaining the fundamental distinction between the temporary material body and the eternal spiritual soul. The Lord explains the process of transmigration, the nature of selfless service to the Supreme and the characteristics of a self-realized person.

Many people regard Ekalavya’s guru-bhakti as that of the ideal disciple. But one special consideration must be observed.

Hiraṇyadhanura, the king of the outcastes (chaṇḍālās), had a son named Ekalavya. Desiring to study the science of projectile weaponry (astra-vidyā), the outcaste prince presented himself before Droṇācārya.

However, Droṇācārya did not agree to initiate him into the science of archery, for he was aware of Ekalavya’s very low status.

APPEARANCE Sri Baladeva is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. He is equal in supremacy to the Supreme Godhead, yet wherever Krishna appears, Sri Baladeva appears as Krishna’s brother, sometimes elder, sometimes younger. In his vaibhava-prakasa feature, Lord Krishna manifests Himself as Balarama. The Balarama feature is as good as Krishna Himself, the only difference being that the bodily hue of Krishna is dark and that of Balarama is fair. These two Lords, Krishna and Balarama, are each the seed and womb of the universe, the Creator and His Creative potency.

When Charles asked his son and daughter-in-law a Hare Krishna couple to move in with him, he knew he’d have to adapt, but his reward was more than he could ever imagine.

“Shoot him,” said the man with the crowbar. Kshudhi felt the cold metal against his skull and chanted Hare Krishna like never before. His nimble nineteenyear old body was tucked under the bed. The other four men with guns hesitated. They attacked the house knowing that a Johannesburg vegetable merchant had kept cash there, but were they ready to kill for it?

For humankind, the mind is the cause of bondage and the mind is the cause of liberation. The mind absorbed in sense objects is the cause of bondage, and the mind detached from sense objects is the cause of liberation. ~ Amrta Bindu Upanishad

Question: Spirituality should be silent and sober like in meditation. When devotees sing loudly and dance vigorously, how can such a noisy activity be considered spiritual?

Answer: Sankirtana, the congregational chanting of the holy names of Krishna to the accompaniment of music and dance, is actually meditation in its most profound, potent and practical form. Let’s see how.