Arvindaksh das

Shri Shri Guru Gaurangau Jayatah !!! Shri Shri Radha Gopinath Jayatah !!! Devotion in the Braja mood, as highlighted in Shri Chaitanya Charitaamrita, 1.4.19-22….. The different different ways in which the devotees worship Me, In the same way I reciprocate their love and this is My quality. My dear son, my dear friend, the lordship of my heart, In this way one who with pure love to Me is devoted. Who thinks of himself to be big in love and Me as smaller, In the same way and gratitude I to his love surrender.

Shri Shri Radha Gopinath Jayatah !!! In Shrimad Bhagvatam 3.15.49, Shri Sanak-aadi munis say: O Supreme Lord ! If like the honey bee my heart and mind remains engrossed in Your Lotus Feet, and like the tulasi leaves my voice is glorified by praising Your Lotus Feet, and my ears are always full of listening your glorious deeds and lilaas, then we are not at all worried even if because of the demerits of our actions or karma we have to take birth in hell.

"I don’t desire wealth, followers, association of beautiful women, knowledge or lordship of the world, O Supreme Lord! give me your causless devotional service birth after birth". Verse 4 Shikshashtaka Wealth, followers I don’t ask for, knowledge and women, Give me pure devotion Krishna by Your supreme mercy. Very very humble Mahaprabhu begged for servitorship pure devotion, In this state He thought of Himself as a simple soul.

Shri Shri Sita Rama Jayatah !!! Shri Shri Shiva Parvati Jayatah !!! Shri Shri Radha Gopinath Jayatah !!! Shri Shri Guru Gauranga Jayatah !!! Wishing all devotees a very happy and prosperous Deepawali and New Year

In Shrimad Bhagvatam 3.4.15, Shri Udhava says: "For the pure devotees who render devotional service unto Your lotus feet, nothing is unattainable from dharma, artha, kaam and moksha i.e. these are easily attained. Then also O All-powerful, I am always desirous of the service of Your lotus feet and not the above worldly achievements."

Shri Krishna tells Udhava (Udhava Gita) in Shrimad Bhagvatam 11.20.31 "tasmaan mad-bhakti-yuktasya, yogino vai mad-aatmanah na jnaanam na cha vairaagyam, praayah shreyo bhaved iha" Therefore, for a devotee engaged in My loving devotional service, with mind and heart fixed in Me, knowledge (Jnaana) and renunciation (vairaagya) are not the means which are most beneficial or joy giving for him.

Shri Shri Guru Gaurangau Jayatah !!! Continued .... Shaucham (cleanliness): Detachment from ones karma or fruitive activities. Tyaagah (renunciation): Sannyaas or to give up the thought that things belong to self except the selfless service of the Lord. Dhanam (wealth): Devotional life (dharma) is the truly desirable and dearest wealth. Yajya (sacrifice): The Supreme Lord (bhagvaan) Shri Krishna is yajya. Dakshinaa (offerings in charity): Giving some one knowledge of truth or pure devotion.

Shri Shri Guru Gaurangau Jayatah !!! continued .... Daanam (charity): To give up chastising or punishing others. Tapah / Tapasya (austerity): Renunciation of lust. Shaurya (heroism): To conquer ones own nature. Satya (truth): To see the Lord everywhere and in everything. The sages declare that the truth is also to be spoken in a pleasing way. Shaucham (cleanliness): Detachment from ones karma or fruitive activities.

Shri Shri Guru Gaurangau Jayatah !!! "gun govinda gayo nahi, janamu akarath kinu kahu nanak hari bhaju manaa, jiha bidhi jala kau meena" This translates: You have not sung the glories of Govinda, you have wasted your life. Naanak says, O mind! Worship Hari, just like a fish loves water (just as a fish can not live without water and desperately wants to be with water when kept out of it, so should be our mind when it thinks of anything else but service of Shri Hari). All the Sikh Gurus were vaishnavas and this couplet is by Guru Tega Bhahadur ji (the ninth guru). Guru Naanak deva ji, the first guru was a contemporary of Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and there are records about their meeting, of which I have not personally come across. Request that devotees may please help if they know about these records. It is said that in Guru Naanak deva jis teachings the Brahma Jyaana reflects, as may be considered in the following couplet: "guru kirpaa jaehin narpe keeneeh, tinha yaha jugati pichanee. Naanak leena bhayo govinda, jyon paanee sangha paanee" This translates: One who has the blessings of guru, knows the real truth. Naanak has become so absorbed in the thoughts of Govinda, like water when put in water.

Shri Shri Guru Gaurangau Jayatah !!! Shri Guru Granth Sahib is concluded by a very devotional prayer (bhajan) whose main couplet (which is repeated after each stanza) is: "gun govinda gayo nahi, janamu akarath kinu kahu nanak hari bhaju manaa, jiha bidhi jala kau meena" This translates: You have not sung the glories of Govinda, you have wasted your life. Nanak says, O mind! Worship Hari, just like a fish loves water (just as a fish can not live without water and desperately wants to be with water when kept out of it, so should be our mind when it thinks of anything else but service of Shri Hari)

Shri Shri Guru Gaurangau Jayatah !!! Shri Guru Granth Sahib is concluded by a very devotional prayer (bhajan) whose main couplet (which is repeated after each stanza) is: "gun govinda gayo nahi, janamu akarath kinu kahu nanak hari bhaju manaa, jiha bidhi jala kau meena" This translates: You have not sung the glories of Govinda, you have wasted your life. Nanak says, O mind! Worship Hari, just like a fish loves water. (just as a fish can not live without water and desperately wants to be with water when kept out of it, so should be our mind when it thinks of anything else but service of Shri Hari)

Shri Shri Guru Gaurangau Jayatah !!! Shri Krishna replies to Uddhava’s question as to what is the true nature and meaning of yamah, niyamah, shamah, damah, titikshaa, dhritih, daanam, tapah, shaurya, satyam, shaucham, tyaagah, dhnam, ishtam, yajya, dakshinaa, balam, bhagah, laabhah, vidyaa, hrih, shrih, sukham, dhukam, panditah, murkha, panthaah, utpatha, svargha, narkah, bandhuh, griham, aadhyah, daridra, kripanah, ishvara Shrimad Bhagvatam 11.19.33-44: Yamah (principles of discipline): Non-violence, truthfulness, not coveting or stealing the property of others, detachment, humility, freedom from possessiveness, trust in the principles of religion, celibacy, silence, steadiness, forgiveness and fearlessness are the twelve primary disciplinary principles. Niyamah (prescribed duties): Internal cleanliness, external cleanliness, chanting the holy names of the Lord, austerity, sacrifice, faith, hospitality, worship of Me, visiting holy places, acting and desiring only for the supreme interest, satisfaction, and service to the spiritual teacher are the twelve elements of regular prescribed duties. Shamah (mental equilibrium): Intelligence which brings steady faith in Me Damah (self-control): Complete discipline of the senses Titikshaa (tolerance): Patiently enduring unhappiness Dhritih (steadiness): Conquering the tongue and genitals Daanam (charity): To give up chastising or punishing others

Shri Shri Guru Gaurangau Jayatah !!! Shri NAmashtakam by Srila Rupa Goswami 8. O Holy Name of Shri Krishna ! You are the very life of Narada’s vina and the ocean of spiritual nectar surcharged with the sweetest divine mellow of love. I surrender unto You, O Holy Name! May You ever reside on my tongue with the fullest fervour of divine love.

After the 10 Sikh Gurus, the 10th Guru compiled the SHRI GURU GRANTHA SAHIB (the Holy Scripture) and thereafter the Holy Book is the Guru for Sikhs. Usually there is one Holy Book in one Temple (Gurudwara) or in religious Sikh family homes. However devotees have to take great care of the book once they keep it in their home. The book is always kept in a sacred cloth on an elivated altar, it is to be greeted in the morning by reading a few pages from it and in the evening the book has to be formally wrapped in the sacred cloth and closed for the night. It is very interesting to note that Shri Guru Grantha Sahib is mostly written in Gurmukhi script, however talks mostly from Shrimad Bhagvata and Ramayan. Glories of the Holy Names of the Lord "Rama, Krishna and Govinda" come most frequently in this book.