Kartik (Damodar)...The Holiest Month...

Kartik (Damodar) is the best, the purest of purifiers, and most glorious of all months. Kartik month is particularly dear to Lord Sri Krishna. This month is full of bhakta vatsalya. Any vrata, even the smallest, will yield huge results. The effect of performing a Kartik Vrata lasts for one hundred lifetimes, Kartik or the festival of offering lamps to Lord Krishna, glorifies Lord Krishna’s pastime of being bound with ropes by Mother Yashoda.

Everybody should follow following practices in Kartik (Damodar) month:

1. Daily offer a ghee lamp to Krishna and sing the Damodarastakam, meditating on meaning.

2. One should always remember Supreme Lord Hari. Devotees should try to do more Harinam Chanting. Do extra rounds and more kirtana.

3. Hear Srimad Bhagavatam, daily in association of exalted Vaisnavas, if possible. All other duties should be given up in favor of hearing the scriptures from sadhus during this month. It is most beneficial to recite and read Gajendra Moksha Lila-stava from 8th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, which teaches complete surrender/dependence of Supreme Lord.

4. Eat only prasadam.

5. Daily recite Siksastaka of Sriman Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and meditate on its meaning. Read the commentary on Sikastaka by Bhaktivinod Thakur.

6. Daily Read the the Updeshamrata of Srila Rupa Goswami .

7. Daily offer lamp to Tulsi devi and pray for eternal residence in Vrndavana and eternal service of the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna. Do 4 parikrama (circumbulation) of Tulasi.

8. Make nice offerings for Krishna. Devotees should observe the festival of Annakuta, Giriraj Govardhan Puja.

9. Associate more with devotees.

10. Practice brahmacharya – celibacy.

11. Perform austerities.

Following are excerpts from some scriptures (Puranas) describing the glory of the pious Kartik month:

“If somebody performs even a little worship of Lord Shri Hari in this month, He offers that devotee His own abode.”

“If somebody burns a lamp in the temple of Lord Shri Hari even for a short time (in the month of Kartik), then whatever sins, he has acquired for millions of kalpas (one kalpa equals 1000 yugas) are all destroyed.”

“A person, who for the entire month of Kartik eats only once a day, becomes very famous, powerful and heroic.”

“A person who happily reads the Bhagavad Gita in the month of Kartik does not return to the world of birth and death.”

“Of all gifts, the gift of a lamp during the month of Kartik is the best. No gift is its equal.”

“The pious result obtained by bathing in all holy places and giving all charities is not equal to one ten-millionth part of the result obtained by following the vow of Kartik."

New Updates from the Bhaktivedanta Archives.

Published on the Auspicious Disappearance Day

of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, June 23rd, 2017

The Bhaktivedanta Archives is pleased to offer two new releases:

1) The VedaBase™ 2017.1 update.

2) Original unedited audio for the year 1969.

The 2017 VedaBase™ Update Includes:

a) New Unicode w/Reference Icon!

Authored by Indupati Dāsa

Unicode is a modern typographic standard for processing text in multiple languages. This standard accommodates all the diacritic marks needed for rendering Sanskrit and Bengali in roman transliteration, etc.

The new Unicode icon converts selected diacritic text in the VedaBase to this universal standard which can be applied on the web, emails, Facebook, etc.

Mac: Preinstalled.

Windows: Refer to Unicode—README.

[Advanced Users Only—no tech support]

b) 1969 Reverified Against Original Audio

c) 1975 Room Conversation with Gurukula Teachers

Via Rūpa-vilāsa Dāsa

d) The Way of Kings

Drew Lawrence / Duryodhana-guru Dāsa

e) The Realization & Manifestation of Your Eternal Identity

Uttamaśloka Dāsa

f) Śrī Godruma Kalpāṭavī, The Desire-tree Grove of Godruma

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura

with Translations and Commentary by Jayapatākā Swami

Download VedaBase™ 2017.1

[Both Windows & Mac]

Alternative Downloads:

Windows

Mac

Audio Publishing and Processing Update

Tape Ministry Compared to Original Audio

1977 (038 / 387 (audio files published)

1976 (244 / 703 (audio files published)

1975 (302 / 563 (audio files published)

1974 (309 / 439 (audio files published)

1973 (289 / 418 (audio files published)

1972 (160 / 413 (audio files published)

1971 (015 / 228 (audio files published)

1970 (017 / 084 (audio files published)

1969 (067 / 145 (audio files published)

———————————————————

1968 (052 / 150* (audio files)

1967 (011 / 048* (audio files)

1966 (101 / 118* (audio files)

* Anticipated 316 original audio files [pending]

1969 (102 hours, 145 audio files, 04 Gb)

Individual Downloads

1970 (043 hours, 084 audio files, 02 Gb)

Individual Downloads

1971 (136 hours, 228 audio files, 06 Gb)

Individual Downloads

1972 (258 hours, 413 audio files, 14 Gb)

Individual Downloads

1973 (252 hours, 418 audio files, 11 Gb)

Individual Downloads

1974 (250 hours, 439 audio files, 11 Gb)

Individual Downloads

1975 (315 hours, 563 audio files, 14 Gb)

Individual Downloads

1976 (340 hours, 703 audio files, 17 Gb)

Individual Downloads

1977 (237 hours, 387 audio files, 10 Gb)

Individual Downloads

Total: (1933 hours, 3380 audio files, 89 Gb)*

*[All audios are accompanied by matching PDF transcription files.]

Alternative downloads from Prabhupadavani.org

How to Acquire without downloading:

a) Receive all 145 ‘69 original audios for $50.- on an USB Drive, including shipping and handling worldwide. Includes the latest VedaBase 2017.1 NFO (Mac & PC).

b) Receive all 3380 [1969—1977] original audios for $75.- on an USB Drive, including shipping and handling worldwide. Includes the latest VedaBase 2017.1 NFO (Mac & PC).

Contact: info@prabhupada.com or go directly to our PayPal donation page: http://prabhupada.com/Donations/Donations.html

Tech Support

Technical assistance is provided via email only for bona fide VedaBase versions, phone support not available. When contacting us about a particular problem, try to be as specific as possible. For example: state your Operating System (version), computer type, VedaBase version, etc. If required include screenshots to help clarify your issue. We normally reply within 24 hours.

We do not provide help with your computer’s Operating System or how to operate your computer.

Questions for VedaBase (Windows): ekanatha@prabhupada.com

Questions for VedaBase (Mac): nitya@prabhupada.com

Thank you.

Your grateful servants,

The Bhaktivedanta Archives staff

Parama-rūpa Dāsa

Nitya-tṛptā Devī Dāsī

Kula-priya Devī Dāsī

Ekanātha Dāsa

To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/Ag3yWf

EKADASI and NIRJALA VRATA

The Hari bhakti Vilasa (15:25) refers a quote from the Padma Purana (Vedavyasa speaks to Bhima),

samvatsara ya madhye ekadashyo bhavanti hi tasam phalam apnoti putra me

na atra samshayah it imam keshavah praha shankha cakra gadadharah

“Hear it doubtlessly my son what Lord Keshava, who beholds a club, disk, conch shell and lotus flower in hand, once told me, “The merits achieved by fasting on all Ekadashis in a year can be verily obtained by fasting on this Nirjala Ekadashi.”

Summarily, Srila Prabhupada said that nirjala means (not drinking even water) because consuming water according to shastra is consuming food. There are many devotees who don’t drink even a drop of water. The whole day and night they fast and observe the Ekadasi-vrata. The night is called Harivasara (chanting the holy name of Hari). Such a firm vrata is called drdha-vrata.

Srila Prabhupada advised to chant the Mahamantra as much as possible. The Mahamantra we follow in ISKCON is “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.” One should try any number of rounds possible on the Ekadashi days.

Observing a vrata (usually fasting) is meant to control our senses and mind because without which it may be hard to focus our attention on the Supreme. Therefore, Ekadashis are days meant for purification of mind curtailing the bodily demands. Abstaining from food will control our urge for taste and appetite and if we observe the vrata regularly, we can bridle our senses by controlling the mind. The vrata is intended to control the tongue as well. During the Ekadashi-vrata, we should never even think of using a foul language.

Lord Krshna tells in Uddhava Gita (14.36),

shamo man-nishthata buddher dama indriya samyamah

titiksha duhkha-sammarsho jihvopastha-jayo drdhih

“Control of mind is engaging the intelligence in love of Me and self-control is controlling the senses. Tolerance is subsiding mental distress and firm determination is conquering the tongue, genitals and lusty desires.”

Among all senses, tongue is the most important. Anyone who can control the taste of tongue and speech can control the mind and such a person alone can become a perfect devotee of God. Therefore, Ekadashi vratas are very important for a devotee to perfect his love of God and a true lover of Krshna should not miss those opportunities.

On an enquiry about fasting on the Nirjala Ekadashi day, Srila Prabhupada said,

“Ekadashi day – there is no eating sumptuously. Simply you take little fruits and flowers. Try to avoid that also. You don’t take even water. That is really Ekadashi. But because we cannot do it – in kali-yuga the time is different – therefore we are allowed to take little fruit and milk, which is called anukalpa.”

If a devotee can’t fast on Ekadashi, he must fast on the following day. However, in any case, we should avoid food made of grains on all Ekadashis as Lord Caitanya insisted His mother Sacidevi in Caitanya Caritamrta:

ekadashite anna na khaibe

which means “On Ekadashis, food stuffs made of grains such as rice should be avoided.”

C.C. Adi-lila (15.9)

Srila Prabhupada comments quoting from the Skanda Purana, “A person who eats grains on Ekadashi becomes a murderer of his mother, father, brother and spiritual master, and even if he is elevated to a Vaikuntha planet, he falls down.”

The observers of vrata on Ekadashis sometimes prefer to fast, and/or fast without drinking water, and/or spend a sleepless night. Sometimes devotees chant and praise the Lord always and keep awake the whole night.

Such observers of vrata should break the fast methodically.

NB:

It may be safe to drink one or more glasses of water with lemon juice and

a little bit of salt and black pepper as appetizer and eat food after a couple of hours.

TEXT courtesy: http://www.deityworship.com/pandava-nirjala-ekadashi/

Look further down for highlighted article:

SOME THOUGHTS ON FAST BREAKING

German airport offers travelers prayer booth. It features 300 prayers in 65 languages.

Feeling nervous before Your flight? Travelers at one German airport can now receive spiritual solace by entering a booth and listening to a prayer of their choice before boarding the plane. The prayer booth at Stuttgart Airport’s Terminal 3 features 300 prayers from various religions in 65 different languages. Designed by Berlin artist Oliver Stunts, the photo booth-sized cabin offers a vast variety, including the Christian Lord’s Prayer, the Jewish Shma Israel and the Islamic muezzin’s call to prayer.

The Hindu Hare Krishna chant and a funeral- ceremony from the Solomon Islands are also available. An airport spokeswoman said yesterday the ‘Gebetomat’ prayer booth which was first designed by Sturm in 2008, was installed on Thursday and its use is free. -OP

A Hindu Shrine Amidst A Buddhist Monastery

Photos and article courtesy Dandavats http://www.dandavats.com/?p=44509

By Kumudaksa Dasa

For the last four years a Cambodian youth has been inspired to organize an elaborate yearly Hindu worship within the monastery of a major Buddhist temple (Pagoda) in Phnom Penh with the approval and consent of the local head monk. Not only is it a Hindu worship program, indeed the initiative has developed into the manifestation of a Hindu shrine within the Buddhist compound.

On Sunday, April 26, 2017, a group of devotees from our Hare Krishna base center in Siem Reap travelled to the capital city to attend a shorter version of their yearly event that the group celebrates in the month of December.

As we entered the Pagoda compound we were led to the place where for the last 4 years Bhakta Karney has been ‘step by step’ unfolding a Hindu rendering of ancient Cambodian Vedic gods and goddesses in an area especially assigned for such worship, reminiscent of a revival of ancient Cambodian Hindu worship. We were pleasantly surprised to see a group of some 30 Hindu Cambodians all engaged in making various arrangements for the elaborate worship soon to follow. Some were making flower garlands for the large stone-carved deities of Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu. Others were placing candle lamps and flower vases on the small altar that had the small Deities of Sri Sri Radha Krishna along with Deities of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and a photo of Srila Prabhupada. They had also prepared flower petals to be offered to all the deities. As darkness set in, the various colored lights placed in front of the altar produced a special effect.

The program began with our intoning the prema dhvani prayers accompanied by harmonium, mrdanga and karatals. This was followed by lighting of a large lamp offered to the main deities and then offering of flower petals by all those present. Bhakta Karney personally and elaborately offered a lamp to all the Deities ending with special prayers in the local Khmer language. We then conducted Harinam Kirtan for about 30 minutes. After the kirtan we explained the chanting of the holy name and introduced everyone to the Hare Krishna Maha mantra. We then distributed Japa Malas and had everyone chant together one full round of japa.

To our pleasant surprise, Bhakta Karney had also arranged for a local traditional dance performance meant to please the Lord. After the dance, we distributed some prasadam and books to all those present. Before closing the program we again thanked all who attended and we proposed to have a group photo to commemorate the event. All were very enthusiastic and some of them purchased a japa mala.

BIOGRAPHY

H.H. BHAKTIMARGA SWAMI

Born in 1952 in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, Bhaktimarga Swami (formerly John Peter Vis) adopted the monastic lifestyle of the Hare Krishna order in 1973. Globally known for his “Canwalk” marathons, he achieved the remarkable feat of walking across the entire length of Canada from the west to east coast in 1996 which was detailed in the National Film Board of Canada’s documentary, “The Longest Road”. Bhaktimarga Swami repeated the feat again in 2003 (this time from east to west), and yet again a third time (west to east) in 2007.

Believe it or not, The Walking Monk recently finished his FOURTH trek across Canada in the summer of 2014 (Canwalk 4) which began in the spring of 2012. With this "friend-raiser", he is once again promoted pilgrimage and a more car-free, care-free lifestyle. In addition to Canada he has also walked across the countries of Ireland, Israel, Fiji Islands, Mauritius, Trinidad and Guyana.

Bhaktimarga Swami is a member of ISKCON (The International Society for Krishna Consciousness) founded by his teacher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and is the GBC (Governing Body Commissioner) for ISKCON Canada.

In addition to marathon walking and administrative duties, Bhaktimarga Swami is an instructor of Bhakti Yoga (devotion to the Divine) and mantra meditation. He is also a playwright, producer and director of live avant garde “morality theatre”, whose captivating works based on tales from ancient India are performed regularly across the globe. In his productions, The Walking Monk regularly engages youth from the global communities he visits in this “enter-lightenment” designed to uplift the spirit.