For the past couple of weeks we have been talking about the Pandavas and Kauravas. I just randomly chose some stories but not really in a sequence so that the kids can get familiarized with the characters for next year.
The story which was told on sunday class is follows:
The Kauravas big brother Dhuryodana will plan to kill pandavas by sending them to the palace at Varnavat. The palace will be made of hay. This is to set fire to the palace when the Pandavas are resting with Kunti. Uncle Vidura will come to know about this. He will help Pandavas by building a tunnel for them to escape when Kauravas set the fire to the palace.
Pandavas will attend the fair in Varnavat each day, after 7th day the palace will be set to fire. The Pandavas will escape and go to a village called Ekachakra. There they will share a house with other Brahmana family. All the pandavas and mother Kunti will be dressed up as Pandavas.
One time the family whom they are sharing the place will be very sad. Kunti will come to know that there is a demon who is demanding food from everybody. Kunti will assure the family not to worry and she will sent Bhima with cart load of food for the demon Bakasura.
Bhima will keep eating the food infront of Bakasura. Bakasura will be so mad and Bhima that he was eating his food. He will fight with Bhima and Bhima will kill him and carry him to the village. All the village people will be happy to see this.
The Pandavas will keep moving to other place through the forest where Hidumba will be there. Hidumba has as sister Hidumbi. He asks her sister to go and look for food. But Hidumbi sees Bhima and gets attracted to him and wanted to marry him.
Hidumba sees her with Bhima and gets angry and fights with Bhima.
Bhima wins over Hidumba and marries Hidumbi and eventually Gadothgacha was born.
Then everyone reaches Panchal and hears about the syamvara of Draupati. There is a contest and whoever wins the contest will get married to Draupadi.
Rest of the story in next class.
Showing posts with label story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label story. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Hiranyakasipu and Prahlad Mahraj - Part 2
Dear parents,
This the story I told the kids last week in the sunday class. I took this from Srimad Bagavatam 7th canto.
The demon Hiraṇyakaśipu, having thus been blessed by Lord Brahmā and having acquired a lustrous golden body, continued to remember the death of his brother and therefore be envious of Lord Viṣṇu.
Hiraṇyakaśipu became the conqueror of the entire universe. Indeed, that great demon conquered all the planets in the three worlds — upper, middle and lower —
Hiraṇyakaśipu, who possessed all opulence, began residing in heaven, with its famous Nandana garden, which is enjoyed by the demigods. In fact, he resided in the most opulent palace of Indra, the King of heaven.
Hiraṇyakaśipu was always drunk on strong-smelling wines and liquors, and therefore his coppery eyes were always rolling. Nonetheless, because he had powerfully executed great austerities in mystic yoga, although he was abominable, all but the three principal demigods — Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and Lord Viṣṇu — personally worshiped him to please him by bringing him various presentations with their own hands.
Being worshiped by sacrifices offered with great giftsinstead of offering shares , accepted them himself
Everyone, including the rulers of the various planets, was extremely distressed because of the severe punishment inflicted upon them by Hiraṇyakaśipu. Fearful and disturbed, unable to find any other shelter, they at last surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu
Lord Visnu says as follows
When Hiraṇyakaśipu teases the great devotee Prahlāda, his own son, who is peaceful and sober and who has no enemy, I shall kill Hiraṇyakaśipu immediately, despite the benedictions of Brahmā.
Hiraṇyakaśipu had four wonderful, well-qualified sons, of whom the one named Prahlāda was the best. Indeed, Prahlāda was a reservoir of all transcendental qualities because he was an unalloyed devotee of the Personality of Godhead.
He was completely cultured as a qualified brāhmaṇa, having very good character and being determined to understand the Absolute Truth. To respectable persons he acted exactly like a menial servant, to the poor he was like a father, to his equals he was attached like a sympathetic brother, and he considered his teachers, spiritual masters and older Godbrothers to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He was completely free from unnatural pride that might have arisen from his good education, riches, beauty, aristocracy and so on
Although Prahlāda Mahārāja was born in a family of asuras, he himself was not an asura but a great devotee of Lord Viṣṇu. Unlike the other asuras, he was never envious of Vaiṣṇavas. He was not agitated when put into danger, and he was neither directly nor indirectly interested in the fruitive activities described in the Vedas. Indeed, he considered everything material to be useless, and therefore he was completely devoid of material desires. He always controlled his senses and life air, and being of steady intelligence and determination, he subdued all lusty desires.
Prahlāda Mahārāja was already educated in devotional life, but when his father sent him to those two sons of Śukrācārya to be educated, they accepted him at their school along with the other sons of the asuras.
Prahlāda certainly heard and recited the topics of politics and economics taught by the teachers, but he understood that political philosophy involves considering someone a friend and someone else an enemy, and thus he did not like it.
When Hiraṇyakaśipu's servants brought the boy Prahlāda back to the guru-kula [the place where the brāhmaṇas taught the boys], the priests of the demons, Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, pacified him. With very mild voices and affectionate words, they inquired from him as follows.
Dear son Prahlāda, all peace and good fortune unto you. Kindly do not speak lies; just reply with the truth. These boys you see are not like you, for they do not speak in a deviant way. How have you learned these instructions? How has your intelligence been spoiled in this way?
The great soul Prahlāda Mahārāja became silent after saying this to his teachers, Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, the seminal sons of Śukrācārya. These so-called brāhmaṇas then became angry at him. Because they were servants of Hiraṇyakaśipu, they were very sorry, and to chastise Prahlāda Mahārāja they spoke as follows.
Oh, please bring me a stick! This Prahlāda is damaging our name and fame. Because of his bad intelligence, he has become like a cinder in the dynasty of the demons. Now he needs to be treated by the fourth of the four kinds of political diplomacy.
Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, the teachers of Prahlāda Mahārāja, chastised and threatened their disciple in various ways and began teaching him about the paths of religion, economic development and sense gratification. This is the way they educated him.
After some time, the teachers Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka thought that Prahlāda Mahārāja was sufficiently educated in the diplomatic affairs of pacifying public leaders, appeasing them by giving them lucrative posts, dividing and ruling over them, and punishing them in cases of disobedience. Then, one day, after Prahlāda's mother had personally washed the boy and dressed him nicely with sufficient ornaments, they presented him before his father.
When Hiraṇyakaśipu saw that his child had fallen at his feet and was offering obeisances, as an affectionate father he immediately began showering blessings upon the child and embraced him with both arms. A father naturally feels happy to embrace his son, and Hiraṇyakaśipu became very happy in this way
śrī-prahrāda uvāca
śravaṇaḿ kīrtanaḿ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaḿ pāda-sevanam
arcanaḿ vandanaḿ dāsyaḿ
Prahlāda Mahārāja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Viṣṇu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words) — these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Kṛṣṇa through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge.
Love and Regards
Nama Priya
This the story I told the kids last week in the sunday class. I took this from Srimad Bagavatam 7th canto.
The demon Hiraṇyakaśipu, having thus been blessed by Lord Brahmā and having acquired a lustrous golden body, continued to remember the death of his brother and therefore be envious of Lord Viṣṇu.
Hiraṇyakaśipu became the conqueror of the entire universe. Indeed, that great demon conquered all the planets in the three worlds — upper, middle and lower —
Hiraṇyakaśipu, who possessed all opulence, began residing in heaven, with its famous Nandana garden, which is enjoyed by the demigods. In fact, he resided in the most opulent palace of Indra, the King of heaven.
Hiraṇyakaśipu was always drunk on strong-smelling wines and liquors, and therefore his coppery eyes were always rolling. Nonetheless, because he had powerfully executed great austerities in mystic yoga, although he was abominable, all but the three principal demigods — Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and Lord Viṣṇu — personally worshiped him to please him by bringing him various presentations with their own hands.
Being worshiped by sacrifices offered with great giftsinstead of offering shares , accepted them himself
Everyone, including the rulers of the various planets, was extremely distressed because of the severe punishment inflicted upon them by Hiraṇyakaśipu. Fearful and disturbed, unable to find any other shelter, they at last surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu
Lord Visnu says as follows
When Hiraṇyakaśipu teases the great devotee Prahlāda, his own son, who is peaceful and sober and who has no enemy, I shall kill Hiraṇyakaśipu immediately, despite the benedictions of Brahmā.
Hiraṇyakaśipu had four wonderful, well-qualified sons, of whom the one named Prahlāda was the best. Indeed, Prahlāda was a reservoir of all transcendental qualities because he was an unalloyed devotee of the Personality of Godhead.
He was completely cultured as a qualified brāhmaṇa, having very good character and being determined to understand the Absolute Truth. To respectable persons he acted exactly like a menial servant, to the poor he was like a father, to his equals he was attached like a sympathetic brother, and he considered his teachers, spiritual masters and older Godbrothers to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He was completely free from unnatural pride that might have arisen from his good education, riches, beauty, aristocracy and so on
Although Prahlāda Mahārāja was born in a family of asuras, he himself was not an asura but a great devotee of Lord Viṣṇu. Unlike the other asuras, he was never envious of Vaiṣṇavas. He was not agitated when put into danger, and he was neither directly nor indirectly interested in the fruitive activities described in the Vedas. Indeed, he considered everything material to be useless, and therefore he was completely devoid of material desires. He always controlled his senses and life air, and being of steady intelligence and determination, he subdued all lusty desires.
Prahlāda Mahārāja was already educated in devotional life, but when his father sent him to those two sons of Śukrācārya to be educated, they accepted him at their school along with the other sons of the asuras.
Prahlāda certainly heard and recited the topics of politics and economics taught by the teachers, but he understood that political philosophy involves considering someone a friend and someone else an enemy, and thus he did not like it.
When Hiraṇyakaśipu's servants brought the boy Prahlāda back to the guru-kula [the place where the brāhmaṇas taught the boys], the priests of the demons, Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, pacified him. With very mild voices and affectionate words, they inquired from him as follows.
Dear son Prahlāda, all peace and good fortune unto you. Kindly do not speak lies; just reply with the truth. These boys you see are not like you, for they do not speak in a deviant way. How have you learned these instructions? How has your intelligence been spoiled in this way?
The great soul Prahlāda Mahārāja became silent after saying this to his teachers, Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, the seminal sons of Śukrācārya. These so-called brāhmaṇas then became angry at him. Because they were servants of Hiraṇyakaśipu, they were very sorry, and to chastise Prahlāda Mahārāja they spoke as follows.
Oh, please bring me a stick! This Prahlāda is damaging our name and fame. Because of his bad intelligence, he has become like a cinder in the dynasty of the demons. Now he needs to be treated by the fourth of the four kinds of political diplomacy.
Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, the teachers of Prahlāda Mahārāja, chastised and threatened their disciple in various ways and began teaching him about the paths of religion, economic development and sense gratification. This is the way they educated him.
After some time, the teachers Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka thought that Prahlāda Mahārāja was sufficiently educated in the diplomatic affairs of pacifying public leaders, appeasing them by giving them lucrative posts, dividing and ruling over them, and punishing them in cases of disobedience. Then, one day, after Prahlāda's mother had personally washed the boy and dressed him nicely with sufficient ornaments, they presented him before his father.
When Hiraṇyakaśipu saw that his child had fallen at his feet and was offering obeisances, as an affectionate father he immediately began showering blessings upon the child and embraced him with both arms. A father naturally feels happy to embrace his son, and Hiraṇyakaśipu became very happy in this way
śrī-prahrāda uvāca
śravaṇaḿ kīrtanaḿ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaḿ pāda-sevanam
arcanaḿ vandanaḿ dāsyaḿ
Prahlāda Mahārāja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Viṣṇu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words) — these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Kṛṣṇa through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge.
Love and Regards
Nama Priya
Monday, May 4, 2009
Story of Prahlad Mahraj - Part 1
Dear parents,
Below is the story I told the kids in the class. I got the story from Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7
Hiranyakasipu's Anger:
Hiranyakasipu was very upset that Krishna killed Hiranyaksha his brother. He considered to kill Lord Vishnu and devastate the Vaikunthaloka kingdom. Exhibiting his terrible teeth, fierce glance and frowning eyebrows, terrible to see, he took up his weapon, a trident, and thus began speaking to his associates, the assembled demons.
He said Krishna is equal to both demons and devatas. But this time when devatas approached him he took their side and helped them. Thus he gave up his natural tendency of equality towards the demons and demigods. He also said Lord Vishnu was influenced by Maya, he assumed the form of a boar to please His devotees. So I will fight with Vishnu to please his brother Hiranyaksha
Thus saying these to the demons he instructed them to destroy everyone. So the demons went ahead and started putting fire to the cities, villages and pasturing grounds, agricultural forest and natural forests. Some of them burned the hermitages, protective gates of the palaces, cut down the trees, destroying the government buildings.
The devatas, were very sad and did not know what to do.
Hiranyakasipu's tapasya:
Hiranyakasipu wanted to do tapasya to attain immortality and not to suffer from old age and disease and not to be attacked by any opponents and wanted to become the ruler of the universe. With this desire he entered the mandara mountain and began praciticing a severe type of austerity and meditation.
Hiranyakasipu began his austerities by standing with his toes on the ground, keeping his arms upward and looking toward the sky. This position was extremely difficult. From the hair on Hiraṇyakaśipu's head there emanated an effulgent light as brilliant and intolerable as the rays of the sun at the time of dissolution. Seeing the performance of such austere penances, the demigods, who had been wandering throughout the planets, now returned to their respective homes.
Because of Hiraṇyakaśipu's severe austerities, fire came from his head, and this fire and its smoke spread throughout the sky, encompassing the upper and lower planets, which all became extremely hot
Because of the power of his severe austerities, all the rivers and oceans were agitated, the surface of the globe, with its mountains and islands, began trembling, and the stars and planets fell. All directions were ablaze.
Devatas approaching Lord Brahma:
Scorched and extremely disturbed because of Hiraṇyakaśipu's severe penances, all the demigods left the planets where they reside and went to the planet of Lord Brahma, where they informed the creator as follows: O lord of the demigods, O master of the universe, because of the fire emanating from Hiraṇyakaśipu's head as a result of his severe austerities, we have become so disturbed that we could not stay in our planets but have come to you
O great person, chief of the universe, if you think it proper, kindly stop these disturbances, meant to destroy everything, before all your obedient subjects are annihilated
Brahma seeing Hiranyakasipu:
Lord Brahma, who is carried by a swan airplane, at first could not see where Hiraṇyakaśipu was, for Hiraṇyakaśipu's body was covered by an anthill and by grass and bamboo sticks. Because Hiraṇyakaśipu had been there for a long time, the ants had devoured his skin, fat, flesh and blood. Then Lord Brahma and the demigods spotted him, resembling a cloud-covered sun, heating all the world by his austerity. Struck with wonder, Lord Brahma began to smile and then addressed him as follows
Lord Brahma said: O son of Kasyapa Muni, please get up, please get up. All good fortune unto you. You are now perfect in the performance of your austerities, and therefore I may give you a benediction. You may now ask from me whatever you desire, and I shall try to fulfill your wish.
My dear son of Diti, with your great determination and austerity you have done what was impossible even for great saintly persons, and thus I have certainly been conquered by you
O best of the asuras, for this reason I am now prepared to give you all benedictions, according to your desire. I belong to the celestial world of demigods, who do not die like human beings. Therefore, although you are subject to death, your audience with me will not go in vain.
After speaking these words to Hiraṇyakaśipu, Lord Brahma, the original being of this universe, who is extremely powerful, sprinkled transcendental, infallible, spiritual water from his kamaṇḍalu upon Hiraṇyakaśipu's body, which had been eaten away by ants and moths. Thus he enlivened Hiraṇyakaśipu
As soon as he was sprinkled with the water from Lord Brahma's waterpot, Hiraṇyakaśipu arose, endowed with a full body with limbs so strong that they could bear the striking of a thunderbolt. With physical strength and a bodily luster resembling molten gold, he emerged from the anthill a completely young man, just as fire springs from fuel wood
Seeing Lord Brahma present before him in the sky, carried by his swan airplane, Hiraṇyakaśipu was extremely pleased. He immediately fell flat with his head on the ground and began to express his obligation to the lord
Hiranyakasipu's asking for benediction:
Hiranyakasipu asked for the benediction for immortality - which means he does not want to leave this world. Brahma said he cannot do that, so Hiranyakasipu asked for benediction - not to be killed by the living entities created by Brahma, not die inside, outside the house , not day time or night time, not in ground or sky, no weapons, not by any demigod of demon, give me mystic power that these cannot be lost any time
Love and Regards
Nama Priya
Below is the story I told the kids in the class. I got the story from Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7
Hiranyakasipu's Anger:
Hiranyakasipu was very upset that Krishna killed Hiranyaksha his brother. He considered to kill Lord Vishnu and devastate the Vaikunthaloka kingdom. Exhibiting his terrible teeth, fierce glance and frowning eyebrows, terrible to see, he took up his weapon, a trident, and thus began speaking to his associates, the assembled demons.
He said Krishna is equal to both demons and devatas. But this time when devatas approached him he took their side and helped them. Thus he gave up his natural tendency of equality towards the demons and demigods. He also said Lord Vishnu was influenced by Maya, he assumed the form of a boar to please His devotees. So I will fight with Vishnu to please his brother Hiranyaksha
Thus saying these to the demons he instructed them to destroy everyone. So the demons went ahead and started putting fire to the cities, villages and pasturing grounds, agricultural forest and natural forests. Some of them burned the hermitages, protective gates of the palaces, cut down the trees, destroying the government buildings.
The devatas, were very sad and did not know what to do.
Hiranyakasipu's tapasya:
Hiranyakasipu wanted to do tapasya to attain immortality and not to suffer from old age and disease and not to be attacked by any opponents and wanted to become the ruler of the universe. With this desire he entered the mandara mountain and began praciticing a severe type of austerity and meditation.
Hiranyakasipu began his austerities by standing with his toes on the ground, keeping his arms upward and looking toward the sky. This position was extremely difficult. From the hair on Hiraṇyakaśipu's head there emanated an effulgent light as brilliant and intolerable as the rays of the sun at the time of dissolution. Seeing the performance of such austere penances, the demigods, who had been wandering throughout the planets, now returned to their respective homes.
Because of Hiraṇyakaśipu's severe austerities, fire came from his head, and this fire and its smoke spread throughout the sky, encompassing the upper and lower planets, which all became extremely hot
Because of the power of his severe austerities, all the rivers and oceans were agitated, the surface of the globe, with its mountains and islands, began trembling, and the stars and planets fell. All directions were ablaze.
Devatas approaching Lord Brahma:
Scorched and extremely disturbed because of Hiraṇyakaśipu's severe penances, all the demigods left the planets where they reside and went to the planet of Lord Brahma, where they informed the creator as follows: O lord of the demigods, O master of the universe, because of the fire emanating from Hiraṇyakaśipu's head as a result of his severe austerities, we have become so disturbed that we could not stay in our planets but have come to you
O great person, chief of the universe, if you think it proper, kindly stop these disturbances, meant to destroy everything, before all your obedient subjects are annihilated
Brahma seeing Hiranyakasipu:
Lord Brahma, who is carried by a swan airplane, at first could not see where Hiraṇyakaśipu was, for Hiraṇyakaśipu's body was covered by an anthill and by grass and bamboo sticks. Because Hiraṇyakaśipu had been there for a long time, the ants had devoured his skin, fat, flesh and blood. Then Lord Brahma and the demigods spotted him, resembling a cloud-covered sun, heating all the world by his austerity. Struck with wonder, Lord Brahma began to smile and then addressed him as follows
Lord Brahma said: O son of Kasyapa Muni, please get up, please get up. All good fortune unto you. You are now perfect in the performance of your austerities, and therefore I may give you a benediction. You may now ask from me whatever you desire, and I shall try to fulfill your wish.
My dear son of Diti, with your great determination and austerity you have done what was impossible even for great saintly persons, and thus I have certainly been conquered by you
O best of the asuras, for this reason I am now prepared to give you all benedictions, according to your desire. I belong to the celestial world of demigods, who do not die like human beings. Therefore, although you are subject to death, your audience with me will not go in vain.
After speaking these words to Hiraṇyakaśipu, Lord Brahma, the original being of this universe, who is extremely powerful, sprinkled transcendental, infallible, spiritual water from his kamaṇḍalu upon Hiraṇyakaśipu's body, which had been eaten away by ants and moths. Thus he enlivened Hiraṇyakaśipu
As soon as he was sprinkled with the water from Lord Brahma's waterpot, Hiraṇyakaśipu arose, endowed with a full body with limbs so strong that they could bear the striking of a thunderbolt. With physical strength and a bodily luster resembling molten gold, he emerged from the anthill a completely young man, just as fire springs from fuel wood
Seeing Lord Brahma present before him in the sky, carried by his swan airplane, Hiraṇyakaśipu was extremely pleased. He immediately fell flat with his head on the ground and began to express his obligation to the lord
Hiranyakasipu's asking for benediction:
Hiranyakasipu asked for the benediction for immortality - which means he does not want to leave this world. Brahma said he cannot do that, so Hiranyakasipu asked for benediction - not to be killed by the living entities created by Brahma, not die inside, outside the house , not day time or night time, not in ground or sky, no weapons, not by any demigod of demon, give me mystic power that these cannot be lost any time
Love and Regards
Nama Priya
Monday, March 23, 2009
Bakasura story
All the cowherd boys would daily go to the bank of the river Yamuna to water their calves. Usually, when the calves drank water from the Yamuna, the boys also drank. One day, after drinking, when they were sitting on the bank of the river, they saw a huge animal which looked something like a duck and was as big as a hill. Its top was as strong as a thunderbolt. When they saw that unusual animal, they became afraid of it. The name of this beast was Bakasura, and he was a friend of Kamsa's. He appeared on the scene suddenly and immediately attacked Krsna with his pointed, sharp beaks and quickly swallowed Him up. When Krsna was thus swallowed, all the boys, headed by Balarama, became almost breathless, as if they had died. But when the Bakasura demon was swallowing up Krsna, he felt a burning fiery sensation in his throat. This was due to the glowing effulgence of Krsna. The demon quickly threw Krsna up and tried to kill Him by pinching Him in his beaks. Bakasura did not know that although Krsna was playing the part of a child of Nanda Maharaja, He was still the original father of Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe. The child of mother Yasoda, who is the reservoir of pleasure for the demigods and who is the maintainer of saintly persons, caught hold of the beaks of the great gigantic duck and, before His cowherd boy friends, bifurcated his mouth, just as a child very easily splits a blade of grass. From the sky, the denizens of the heavenly planets showered flowers like the cameli, the most fragrant of all flowers, as a token of their congratulations. Accompanying the showers of flowers was a vibration of bugles, drums and conchshells.
When the boys saw the showering of flowers and heard the celestial sounds, they became struck with wonder. When they saw Krsna, they all, including Balarama, were so pleased that it seemed as if they had regained their very source of life. As soon as they saw Krsna coming towards them, they one after another embraced the son of Nanda and held Him to their chests. After this, they assembled all the calves under their charge and began to return home.
When they arrived home, they began to speak of the wonderful activities of the son of Nanda. When the gopis and cowherd men all heard the story from the boys, they felt great happiness because naturally they loved Krsna, and hearing about His glories and victorious activities, they became still more affectionate toward Him. Thinking that the child Krsna was saved from the mouth of death, they began to see His face with great love and affection. They were full of anxieties, but they could not turn their faces from the vision of Krsna. The gopis and the men began to converse amongst themselves about how the child Krsna was attacked in so many ways and so many times by so many demons, and yet the demons were killed and Krsna was uninjured. They continued to converse amongst themselves about how so many great demons in such fierce bodies attacked Krsna to kill Him, but by the grace of Hari, they could not cause even a slight injury. Rather, they died like small flies in a fire. Thus they remembered the words of Garga Muni who foretold, by dint of his vast knowledge of the Vedas and astrology, that this boy would be attacked by many demons. Now they actually saw that this was coming true, word for word.
All the elderly cowherd men, including Nanda Maharaja, used to talk of the wonderful activities of Lord Krsna and Balarama, and they were always so much absorbed in those talks that they forgot the threefold miseries of this material existence. This is the effect of Krsna consciousness. What was enjoyed five thousand years ago by Nanda Maharaja can still be enjoyed by persons who are in Krsna consciousness simply by talking about the transcendental pastimes of Krsna and His associates.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Story of Ekadesi
WHO IS EKADASI ?
In the Satya-yuga there once lived an amazing fearsome demon called Mura.
Always very angry, he terrified all the demigods, defeating even Indra, the king of heaven; Vivasvan, the sun-god; the eight Vasus; Lord Brahma; Vayu, the wind-god; and Agni, the fire-god.
With his terrible power he brought them all under his control.
Then the demigods approached Lord Visnu, and prayed to Him for help.
Hearing the prayers and request from Indra, Lord Visnu became very angry and said:
"O powerful demigods, all together you may now advance on Mura's capital city of Candravati."
Encouraged thus, the assembled demigods proceeded to Candravati with Lord Hari leading the way.
Then there was a big fight between the soldiers of Mura and the demigods.
Many hundreds of demons were killed by the Lord's hand.
At last the chief demon, Mura, began fighting with the Lord, first with weapons, then with bare hands.
The Lord wrested with Mura for one thousand celestial years and then, apparently fatigued, left for Badarika-asrama.
There He entered a very beautiful cave, named Himavati, to rest.
The demon followed Him into the cave, and, seeing Him asleep, started thinking within his heart:
"Today I will kill this slayer of all demons, Hari."
While the wicked demon Mura was making plans in this way, from Lord Visnu's body there manifested a young girl who had a very bright complexion.
Mura saw that she was equipped with various brilliant weapons and was ready to fight.
Challenged by that female to do battle, Mura prepared himself and then fought with her, but he became very astonished when he saw that she fought with him without cessation.
The king of demons then said: "Who has created this angry, fearsome girl who is fighting me so powerfully, just like a thunderbolt falling upon me?"
After saying this, the demon continued to fight with the girl.
Suddenly that effulgent goddess shattered all of Mura's weapons and in a moment deprived him of his chariot.
He ran toward her to attack her with his bare hands, but when she saw him coming she angrily cut off his head.
Thus the demon at once fell to the ground and went to the abode of Yamaraja.
Then the Supreme Lord woke up and saw the dead demon before Him, as well as the maiden bowing down to Him with joined palms.
The Lord, being pleased with the girl, offered to give her a boon.
The maiden said: "O Lord, if You are pleased with me and wish to give me a boon, then give me the power to deliver from the greatest sins that person who fasts on this day.
I wish that half the pious credit obtained by one who fasts will acrue to one who eats only in the evening [abstaining from grains and beans], and that half of *this* pious credit will be earned by one who eats only at midday.
Also, one who strictly observes a complete fast on my appearance day, with controlled senses, goes to the abode of Lord Visnu for one billion kalpas after he has enjoyed all kinds of pleasures in this world.
This is the boon I desire to attain by Your mercy, my Lord.
O Lord, whether a person observes complete fasting, eats only in the evening, or eats only at midday, please grant him a religious attitude, wealth, and at last liberation."
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said:
"O most pious lady, what you have requested is granted.
All My devotees in this world will surely fast on your day, and thus they will become famous throughout the three worlds and finally come and stay with Me in My abode.
Because you, My transcendental potency, have appeared on the eleventh day of the waning moon, let your name be Ekadasi.
If a person fasts on Ekadasi, I will burn up all his sins and bestow upon him My transcendental abode."
In the Satya-yuga there once lived an amazing fearsome demon called Mura.
Always very angry, he terrified all the demigods, defeating even Indra, the king of heaven; Vivasvan, the sun-god; the eight Vasus; Lord Brahma; Vayu, the wind-god; and Agni, the fire-god.
With his terrible power he brought them all under his control.
Then the demigods approached Lord Visnu, and prayed to Him for help.
Hearing the prayers and request from Indra, Lord Visnu became very angry and said:
"O powerful demigods, all together you may now advance on Mura's capital city of Candravati."
Encouraged thus, the assembled demigods proceeded to Candravati with Lord Hari leading the way.
Then there was a big fight between the soldiers of Mura and the demigods.
Many hundreds of demons were killed by the Lord's hand.
At last the chief demon, Mura, began fighting with the Lord, first with weapons, then with bare hands.
The Lord wrested with Mura for one thousand celestial years and then, apparently fatigued, left for Badarika-asrama.
There He entered a very beautiful cave, named Himavati, to rest.
The demon followed Him into the cave, and, seeing Him asleep, started thinking within his heart:
"Today I will kill this slayer of all demons, Hari."
While the wicked demon Mura was making plans in this way, from Lord Visnu's body there manifested a young girl who had a very bright complexion.
Mura saw that she was equipped with various brilliant weapons and was ready to fight.
Challenged by that female to do battle, Mura prepared himself and then fought with her, but he became very astonished when he saw that she fought with him without cessation.
The king of demons then said: "Who has created this angry, fearsome girl who is fighting me so powerfully, just like a thunderbolt falling upon me?"
After saying this, the demon continued to fight with the girl.
Suddenly that effulgent goddess shattered all of Mura's weapons and in a moment deprived him of his chariot.
He ran toward her to attack her with his bare hands, but when she saw him coming she angrily cut off his head.
Thus the demon at once fell to the ground and went to the abode of Yamaraja.
Then the Supreme Lord woke up and saw the dead demon before Him, as well as the maiden bowing down to Him with joined palms.
The Lord, being pleased with the girl, offered to give her a boon.
The maiden said: "O Lord, if You are pleased with me and wish to give me a boon, then give me the power to deliver from the greatest sins that person who fasts on this day.
I wish that half the pious credit obtained by one who fasts will acrue to one who eats only in the evening [abstaining from grains and beans], and that half of *this* pious credit will be earned by one who eats only at midday.
Also, one who strictly observes a complete fast on my appearance day, with controlled senses, goes to the abode of Lord Visnu for one billion kalpas after he has enjoyed all kinds of pleasures in this world.
This is the boon I desire to attain by Your mercy, my Lord.
O Lord, whether a person observes complete fasting, eats only in the evening, or eats only at midday, please grant him a religious attitude, wealth, and at last liberation."
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said:
"O most pious lady, what you have requested is granted.
All My devotees in this world will surely fast on your day, and thus they will become famous throughout the three worlds and finally come and stay with Me in My abode.
Because you, My transcendental potency, have appeared on the eleventh day of the waning moon, let your name be Ekadasi.
If a person fasts on Ekadasi, I will burn up all his sins and bestow upon him My transcendental abode."
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Jambhavi and Satyabama marrying Krishna
The last week class was amazing. The students are getting more comfortable with the slokas.
The ask brilliant questions in the stories even if I miss something.
Isn't sunday school so much fun?
The whole story is found in http://www.krsnabook.com/ch56.html
I dont have pictures right now, I will scan and post it. The only one I have is Satrajit offering the syamantaka jewel and Satyabama to Krishna.
I will continue the story again this week. I am going to introduce one more Bhagavad gita sloka this time. I am sure the kids will memorize the same day.
I thank all the parents who bring the kids on time and I appreciate all your efforts in this class.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Krishna Marrying Rukmini
Rukmini is thinking for Krishna all the time. She grew up hearing about the pastimes of Krishna through Narada Muni.
She wanted to marry Krishna but her brother Rukmi wanted her to marry his friend Sishupal. So she sends a brahmana with the letter to Krishna. In the letter she writes to Krishna asking him to come and take her and get married. The messenger takes the letter and meets Krishna. Krishna received the brahmana with love and affection and gives him food and nice place to sleep. He puts the brahmanas leg on his lap and presses and enquires about his arrival
Rukmini is looking through the window for the messenger to arrive. Finally she sees him and becomes happy. She is much eager to know from him about the news from Krishna.
Rukmini goes to temple before marraige, her heart was always thinking of Krishna but the wedding arrangements are for Sisupal. But she has faith that Krishna will come and take her away. She meets Krishna outside the temple in the chariot.
Krishna kidnaps Rukmini from the temple and places her in his chariot and drives to Dwaraka
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