Guest guest Posted February 21, 2003 Report Share Posted February 21, 2003 New Group about Lord Gauranga and Lord Nityananda Please join my new group about Lord Gauranga and Lord Nityananda. To send a message to: gauranga_nityananda- or visit gauranga_nityananda/ Your servant, Ranganatha Dasa Sri Chaitanya Bhagavat Adi Lila Chapter One I worship their Lordships Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu, whose long arms extend down to their knees, whose beautiful complexions are the radiant yellow of molten gold and whose elongated eyes are like red lotuses. They are the topmost of the brahmanas, the guardians of religious principles for this age, the munificent benefactors of all living entities, and the most compassionate incarnations of Godhead. They initiated the congregational chanting of the names of Lord Krsna. O Lord! You are the eternal truth - past, present, and future - and You appeared as the son of Sri Jagannatha Misra. I offer my repeated obeisances unto You along with Your inseparable servitors, Your unalloyed devotees, Your sons (referring to His renounced Gosvami disciples, or the devotional process of chanting the holy name of Lord Krishna), and Your relatives (Bhudevi as Sri Vishnu Priya, Sridevi as Sri Laksmi Priya, and Lila, Nila or Durga as Navadvipa Dhama). According to devotional tastes there are the two Gadadharas, Damodara, Narahari, Ramananda, Jagadananda etc. One is Sri Gadadhara Pandita - the expansion of Srimati Radharani and Sri Gadadhara Bhatta from South India who is Rangadevi. I worship the two brothers, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu, who are the embodiment of magnanimity. By Their inconceivable potency They are the transcendental, eternal supreme controllers of all. Now They have descended to the material world. All glories to Sri Gaurasundara, the supremely powerful Lord of pure transcendence. He has an aura of molten gold, with lotus petal eyes, and His long graceful arms extend to His knees. While He sings the glories of the Lord, He dances in various pleasing postures, His heart inundated by the ecstatic emotions of devotional mellows. All glories, all glories to the moonlike Sri Krishna Caitanya. He is the fully independent Supreme Person, always engaged in transcendental pastimes. He is the Lord of the universe, the supreme controller of all controllers, and the personification of transcendence. All glories, all glories to the devotees of Sri Gauracandra. All glories, all glories to the ecstatic dancing of the Lord's intimate associates. In the beginning I offer my humble obeisances to the feet of the loving, confidential devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya. I then offer my obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna Caitanya. He incarnated in Navadvipa, and He is known as Visvambhara. That same Supreme Personality of Godhead has declared in the Vedas and Bhagavat, "Worship of My devotees is superior to worship of Me." Lord Krishna said to Uddhava, "O Uddhava, serving My devotees is many times better than worshiping Me." (SB 11:19:21). Therefore, I offer my worshipful prayers unto the devotees of the Lord before I begin to write this book. By this act may my present endeavor be successful. I offer my respectful obeisances to my worshipable Lord and spiritual master, Sri Nityananda Raya, by whose mercy the transcendental pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya become spontaneously manifest. With a thousand tongues we should incessantly glorify the Supreme Lord Balarama, because His thousand mouths as Ananta Sesa constantly glorify Lord Krishna. Just as priceless gems are kept in secure custody, so also the invaluable jewel of knowledge about Krsna's pastimes is kept safely in the mouth of Anantadeva. Therefore the tongue which initially glorifies Balarama will automatically be qualified to vibrate the transcendental pastime of Sri Caitanya. The Supreme Lord Haladhara holds His thousand hoods like snakes. He is a gigantic figure and the source of all inspiration. As Nityananda He is fully transcendental and eternally existent, intoxicated by the nectar of Sri Caitanya. Whoever sings or hears about Nityananda's supramundane character is offered the supreme shelter of Lord Caitanya. Mahesa and his consort Parvatidevi take great pleasure in eulogizing the object of their love - Sankarsana, Nityananda Prabhu. In the midst of a million fresh young maidens, the pure devotee, Sri Siva, and his consort pour out nectarean devotional hymns to Lord Sankarsana. All this is revealed in the Fifth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam. Balarama is worshiped by the entire Vaisnava world with songs of praise. Balarama danced with His gopis in Vrndavana, and their rasa dance is the pinnacle of sublimity. The Puranas describe that Balarama performed His rasa dance during the two months of spring, Madhava and Madhu. The Srimad Bhagavatam verses narrating this subject were spoken by Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Pariksit. Balarama spent the moonlit nights of the months of Vaisaka and Caitra with the cowherd damsels in the supramundane abode of Vrndavana. The place was set aglow with the rays of the moon. The lotus and kadamba flowers bloomed freely under the influence of the moon's rays, and a soft breeze circulated their scent. In the groves on the bank of the Jamuna, Balarama danced with the gopis, increasing their conjugal mood. The Supreme Lord Balarama, like a exquisite gem decorated by the cluster of gopis, performed His pleasurable pastimes. He behaved like Indra's elephant Airavata - the controller of many she- elephants. The Gandharvas observed the rasa dance and offered their prayers. The sound of kettle drums rose from the heavens, the demigods joyously showered flowers upon Them, and the Gandharvas and sages worshiped the Supreme Lord Balarama with verses praising His activities. The sages unequivocally denounce association with women, yet they sung hymns in praise of Balarama's rasa dance with His cowherd damsels. The demigods attended Balarama's rasa dance to shower flower petals. They knew that there was no difference between Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama, Haladhara. The transcendental qualities of Balarama are obscure in the four Vedas, but the Puranas describe them boldly. What power do I have to describe them? Out of ignorance, some people disregard the Puranas and reject Balarama's rasa dance as inauthentic. The two brothers, Lord Krsna and Balarama, performed the rasa dance with the gopis in the same place in Vrndavana. On the radiant full moon night of holi, at the end of sivaratri vrata, Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama, accompanied by Their cowherd boy friends, enjoyed Themselves in the midst of the beautiful maidens of Vrndavana. They were both pleasingly decorated with the finest jewelry, sandalwood pulp, wildflower garlands and exquisite clothes. The fortunate gopis sang sweetly, their hearts enraptured by love for Krishna and Balarama. Evening had not set in; the moon and the stars appeared. The fragrance of Arabian jasmine intoxicated the bumblebees, and a light breeze carried the aromas of white lilies and lotus flowers. Considering that very moment to be appropriate, Krsna and Balarama began Their pleasurable dalliances. They sang together for the pleasure of all living entities, Their voices rising and falling melodiously. If a person, after reading Srimad Bhagavatam, is not affectionately inclined towards Lord Balarama, then he is rejected by the Supreme Lord Vishnu and His devotees. In the words of Srimad Bhagavatam, a non-believer is a yavana (a barbarian). He is destined to suffer in hell, birth after birth. There are others who, like eunuchs, make emotional gesticulations, challenging, "Which scripture describes the rasa dance of Balarama?" Who is so sinful that even after reading the scriptures, he can not accept the truth, but misinterprets the real meaning and gives his own distorted understanding? Lord Balarama is the abode of Lord Caitanya's deep affection. Offense at Balarama's lotus feet destroys all possibilities for salvation. In His incarnation as Laksmana the younger brother of Lord Ramacandra, Balarama enacted the role of the Lord's servitor. Yet in His manifestation as the Supreme Lord, Balarama serves Himself in every respect - as a friend and a brother, by fanning Him, putting Him to sleep, glorifying Him with Vedic invocations and expanding Himself as His house, umbrella, attire, jewelry and seat. "O Lord ! Your direct, partial expansion, Ananta Sesa, is the source of all the various ingredients for Your service in the transcendental realm of Vaikuntha. Ananta Sesa is famous because He is manifest as Your residence, bed, throne, shoes, clothes, jewelry, etc. When shall I see you with Laksmidevi seated on the throne of Ananta Sesa? Ananta Sesa's partial expansion is the mighty Sri Garuda whose satisfaction is derived from acting as the Lord's carrier in every pastime. Ananta's devotees include Brahma, Siva, the four Kumaras, Srila Vyasadeva, Sukadeva Gosvami, Narada Muni and others. His glorious qualities are unlimited and are not fully understood by anyone. He is the original personality, the greatest mystic, the Supreme Lord, and the greatest devotee of the Vaisnavas. Thus far you have heard about the wonderful services performed by Ananta Sesa; now hear about His great opulence. He is enthroned in the lower planetary system of patala as his own source and repose. He is worshiped by all as His thousand mouths continually taste the full nectar of love of Godhead. In the court of Brahma, Narada Muni plays on his vina, and with well-composed verses he sings the wonderful glories of Ananta. Is it humanly possible to know the supramundane nature of Anantadeva? Just by His glance, He sets in motion the three modes of material nature which are the cause of this world's creation, maintenance, and annihilation. Although He is one, He supports the entire variegated material cosmic manifestation Himself (within the pores of His person). He is beginningless and eternal. Other then Lord Sankarsana, who can offer shelter to persons devoid of all material aspirations? He is the support on which the material world manifests and acts. That Supreme Lord, the cause of all causes, has appeared in His sublime spiritual form. He is the most powerful; in comparison, the power of a lion is insignificant. He performs pure transcendental pastimes to capture the hearts of His dear devotees, and He destroys countless sins by manifesting His transcendental form. What more is there to say than this? One becomes purified by hearing or calling out the name of Lord Anantadeva, either respectfully or accidentally. Even a degraded person is purified when he tauntingly utters the name of Sri Ananta. Anantadeva's mighty potency is beyond measure. That Supreme Lord carries on just one of His thousand heads the entire universe with all its living entities, mountains, and rivers, and that universe appears to be only a minute, atomic speck. Even if a person acquires a thousand tongues, how can he describe the power of the omnipotent Supreme Lord? Anantadeva is His own shelter and source, filled with unlimited power and strength. While residing in the lower planetary system of rasatala, He holds this gigantic cosmic manifestation with ease born of detachment. This material world's creation, maintenance, and annihilation, as well as the three modes of material nature, are activated by His glance. Who can fathom Anantadeva's non-dual, transcendental, eternal and unborn existence? Out of mercy toward the living entities the Lord manifests His supramundane spiritual form while He performs His variegated pastimes. All living entities reside within that transcendental form. The mighty Lord Nrsimhadeva represents but a wave in the ocean of the Lord's unlimited pastimes which satisfy the hearts of His devotees. Anantadeva's unlimited names, when heard or chanted by anyone in any manner, immediately sever the noose of innumerable births and deaths. Thus the Vaisnava devotees of the Lord always appreciated those who glorify Him. Ananta Sesa is the supreme destination of the entire universe; His holy name is the only means for the living entities's redemption. The Lord holds on His head the unlimited material nature - along with its mountains and oceans - simply for its protection and maintenance. The entire universe is a speck on one of His thousand hoods, and because of His unlimited strength, He does not feel the burden. Lord Anantadeva, the original Supreme Personality and maintainer of the entire cosmic manifestation, incessantly sings in glorification of Lord Krsna. He continuously describes every aspect of the Lord's divine attributes. Lord Krsna is eternal and His attributes are unending, therefore He can never be fully described or glorified. But Ananta is also eternal and His ability to glorify the Lord is unending. In Their divine relationship, neither is ever victorious. Even today Ananta Sesa's thousand mouths continuously sing the glories of the Supreme Lord Krsna Caitanya. How wonderfully Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama compete with each other! Brahma, Siva, other demigods and the perfected sages look on, feeling great exhilaration. The eulogies of Anantadeva pursue the ever-expanding, elusive shores of Lord Krsna's ocean of qualities. O Narada, I Brahma, and your elders, Sanaka and other sages cannot even fathom the extent of this material nature, what to speak of knowing the Supreme Lord's spiritual potencies. Anantadeva, the origin of all demigods, is unable to exhaustively glorify the Supreme Lord's transcendental opulence and potencies with His thousand mouths. Therefore how is it possible for ordinary mortals to understand these divine potencies? Anantadeva is Himself the master of unlimited attributes, and He resides in rasatala simply to support the vast material creation. In the court of Brahma, Narada Muni plays His vina and sings about these very same transcendental qualities of the Supreme Lord. Brahma and others are stunned in ecstasy upon hearing about the supramundane qualities of the Supreme Lord, and Narada Muni is worshiped by all because he sings about those qualities. I have also been moved to write a few phrases in praise of the unlimited potencies of Lord Nityananda, Anantadeva, so I humbly request all of you to develop a loving devotional mood toward the Lord. Those who desire to cross over the dangerous ocean of material existence, yet drown in the ocean of devotional ecstasy, may take shelter of Lord Nityananda. I pray to the merciful Vaisnava devotees of the Lord to fulfill my hearts yearning, that I may serve my Lord Balarama birth after birth. Just as dvija, vipra, and brahma are different names for the same person, similarly Nityananda, Ananta and Balarama are different names for the same Supreme Personality. My Lord Nityananda Prabhu appeared within my heart and instructed me to narrate the transcendental qualities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in this book. The pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are revealed by Nityananda's mercy only, because His personal expansion, Ananta Sesa, is the storehouse of information about Lord Caitanya and Lord Krsna's pastimes. Although Sri Ananta Sesa is the embodiment of Krsna kirtana, I have been able to offer only a humble prayer in His honor. Hearing Lord Caitanya's qualities and pastimes can clean away all material contaminations. Know for certain that such pastimes are revealed only through a pure devotee's grace. For who can know the nature and pastimes of Lord Caitanya? It is a hidden mystery even in the Vedas. Therefore, I have compiled only first-hand accounts taken directly from the lips of the associates of the Lord. I see no beginning or end to Lord Caitanya's pastimes. They are eternal and unlimited, and only the Lord's grace gives me the potency to compose them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2003 Report Share Posted February 21, 2003 , "nitai19921 <nitai19921>" <nitai19921> wrote: > New Group about Lord Gauranga and Lord Nityananda > > Please join my new group about Lord Gauranga and Lord Nityananda. > > To send a message to: > gauranga_nityananda- > > or visit > > gauranga_nityananda/ > > Your servant, > Ranganatha Dasa Namaste, Touting for ISKON? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2003 Report Share Posted February 25, 2003 You are one who is mistaken my friend, Idols like Lord Kshna have no place in the Kingdom. The Greeks worshiped many a God, but there is only one True God Y'shua, Christ, Jesus. (John 17:3 of Holy Bible). And if your so called god is GOD then that makes two God's either there is one God or there is no God. Lord Krsna is no God at all. Scripture tells us that upon death "the spirit returns to God who gave it" (Ecc. 12:7), that "to be away from the body" is to be "at home with the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:8). Indeed, the Christian's hope rests not on the reincarnation of the soul, but in the resurrection of the body (1 Cor. 15:42-55). Do we truly realize the power that is available to us? Do we have any concept of the power Jesus intended for His church to wield in this dark and dangerous world? Or has our vision of the church become so dimmed that the word "church" suggests to us only a building on the corner where we go once a week to sing hymns and hear sermons? The church, as God designed it and as the Bible describes it, is an amazing, dynamic, world-changing force. It is, in fact, a kind of invisible government, influencing and moving the visible governments of the earth. Because of the powerful influence of the church, the people of this planet are able to experience the benefits of social stability, law and order, justice and peace. Yes, the world is troubled and in turmoil--but we haven't seen even a fraction of one percent of the tribulation, tyranny, anarchy, and slaughter that would take place if the church were suddenly taken out of this world! (See Matt. 5:13,14; Phil. 2:14,15; 1 Tim. 2:1,2.) Whenever the church has followed the biblical pattern and become more of what God designed it to be, righteous conditions have spread throughout society. When the church has abandoned this divine pattern, relying on worldly power, becoming proud, rich and tyrannical, then it has become weak and despised--and terrible forces of evil have been unleashed in the world. "When all else fails, follow directions!" says the popular slogan. God has given us a set of directions for building a powerful, functional, dynamically effective church. In this book, we will open the Scriptures and examine God's directions for the church--which, as it turns out, are also God's directions for building a rewarding, effective, dynamic life. It is through the koinonia-fellowship of the church that we truly become all God intended us to be. --- "nitai19921 <nitai19921" <nitai19921 wrote: > New Group about Lord Gauranga and Lord Nityananda > > Please join my new group about Lord Gauranga and > Lord Nityananda. > > To send a message to: > gauranga_nityananda- > > or visit > > gauranga_nityananda/ > > Your servant, > Ranganatha Dasa > > > Sri Chaitanya Bhagavat > > Adi Lila Chapter One > > I worship their Lordships Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu > and Sri Nityananda > Prabhu, whose long arms extend down to their knees, > whose beautiful > complexions are the radiant yellow of molten gold > and whose elongated > eyes are like red lotuses. They are the topmost of > the brahmanas, the > guardians of religious principles for this age, the > munificent > benefactors of all living entities, and the most > compassionate > incarnations of Godhead. They initiated the > congregational chanting > of the names of Lord Krsna. > > O Lord! You are the eternal truth - past, present, > and future - and > You appeared as the son of Sri Jagannatha Misra. I > offer my repeated > obeisances unto You along with Your inseparable > servitors, Your > unalloyed devotees, Your sons (referring to His > renounced Gosvami > disciples, or the devotional process of chanting the > holy name of > Lord Krishna), and Your relatives (Bhudevi as Sri > Vishnu Priya, > Sridevi as Sri Laksmi Priya, and Lila, Nila or Durga > as Navadvipa > Dhama). According to devotional tastes there are the > two Gadadharas, > Damodara, Narahari, Ramananda, Jagadananda etc. One > is Sri Gadadhara > Pandita - the expansion of Srimati Radharani and Sri > Gadadhara Bhatta > from South India who is Rangadevi. > > I worship the two brothers, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu > and Sri > Nityananda Prabhu, who are the embodiment of > magnanimity. By Their > inconceivable potency They are the transcendental, > eternal supreme > controllers of all. Now They have descended to the > material world. > > All glories to Sri Gaurasundara, the supremely > powerful Lord of pure > transcendence. He has an aura of molten gold, with > lotus petal eyes, > and His long graceful arms extend to His knees. > While He sings the > glories of the Lord, He dances in various pleasing > postures, His > heart inundated by the ecstatic emotions of > devotional mellows. > > All glories, all glories to the moonlike Sri Krishna > Caitanya. He is > the fully independent Supreme Person, always engaged > in > transcendental pastimes. He is the Lord of the > universe, the supreme > controller of all controllers, and the > personification of > transcendence. All glories, all glories to the > devotees of Sri > Gauracandra. All glories, all glories to the > ecstatic dancing of the > Lord's intimate associates. > > In the beginning I offer my humble obeisances to the > feet of the > loving, confidential devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya. > I then offer my > obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, > Sri Krishna > Caitanya. He incarnated in Navadvipa, and He is > known as Visvambhara. > > That same Supreme Personality of Godhead has > declared in the Vedas > and Bhagavat, "Worship of My devotees is superior to > worship of Me." > Lord Krishna said to Uddhava, "O Uddhava, serving My > devotees is many > times better than worshiping Me." (SB 11:19:21). > Therefore, I offer > my worshipful prayers unto the devotees of the Lord > before I begin to > write this book. By this act may my present endeavor > be successful. > > I offer my respectful obeisances to my worshipable > Lord and spiritual > master, Sri Nityananda Raya, by whose mercy the > transcendental > pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya become spontaneously > manifest. With a > thousand tongues we should incessantly glorify the > Supreme Lord > Balarama, because His thousand mouths as Ananta Sesa > constantly > glorify Lord Krishna. Just as priceless gems are > kept in secure > custody, so also the invaluable jewel of knowledge > about Krsna's > pastimes is kept safely in the mouth of Anantadeva. > Therefore the > tongue which initially glorifies Balarama will > automatically be > qualified to vibrate the transcendental pastime of > Sri Caitanya. > > The Supreme Lord Haladhara holds His thousand hoods > like snakes. He > is a gigantic figure and the source of all > inspiration. As Nityananda > He is fully transcendental and eternally existent, > intoxicated by the > nectar of Sri Caitanya. Whoever sings or hears about > Nityananda's > supramundane character is offered the supreme > shelter of Lord > Caitanya. > > Mahesa and his consort Parvatidevi take great > pleasure in eulogizing > the object of their love - Sankarsana, Nityananda > Prabhu. In the > midst of a million fresh young maidens, the pure > devotee, Sri Siva, > and his consort pour out nectarean devotional hymns > to Lord > Sankarsana. > > All this is revealed in the Fifth Canto of the > Srimad Bhagavatam. > Balarama is worshiped by the entire Vaisnava world > with songs of > praise. Balarama danced with His gopis in Vrndavana, > and their rasa > dance is the pinnacle of sublimity. The Puranas > describe that > Balarama performed His rasa dance during the two > months of spring, > Madhava and Madhu. The Srimad Bhagavatam verses > narrating this > subject were spoken by Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja > Pariksit. > > Balarama spent the moonlit nights of the months of > Vaisaka and Caitra > with the cowherd damsels in the supramundane abode > of Vrndavana. The > place was set aglow with the rays of the moon. The > lotus and kadamba > flowers bloomed freely under the influence of the > moon's rays, and a > soft breeze circulated their scent. In the groves on > the bank of the > Jamuna, Balarama danced with the gopis, increasing > their conjugal > mood. The Supreme Lord Balarama, like a exquisite > gem decorated by > the cluster of gopis, performed His pleasurable > pastimes. He behaved > like Indra's elephant Airavata - the controller of > many she- > elephants. The Gandharvas observed the rasa dance > and offered their > prayers. > > The sound of kettle drums rose from the heavens, the > demigods > joyously showered flowers upon Them, and the > Gandharvas and sages > worshiped the Supreme Lord Balarama with verses > praising His > activities. The sages unequivocally denounce > association === message truncated === Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes./ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2003 Report Share Posted February 26, 2003 - "grady little" <gradyll <> Tuesday, February 25, 2003 8:55 PM Re: New Group about Lord Gauranga and Lord Nityananda Dear Grady: I am copying here for your reference the post in which Sri Harshaji emphasizes respect for and acceptance of the beauty of the many paths with which God has so graciously blessed us All. Namaste, Joyce This spiritual discussion group is an open Satsang and is blessed by Sri Ramana Maharshi, the great Jnani Sage of Arunachala. a is in the best tradition of a joyous spiritual fellowship for facilitating the Recognition of the Eternal Reality that is One's Own Self. "I Am That!" This is the uncompromising, simple, and yet Radical Truth proclaimed in a variety of ways by the ancient and modern Sages of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Taoism. In Advaita Vedanta, the highest teaching emphasizes the complete identity of the Individual Soul with the Supreme Soul. In Tibetan Buddhism, Dzogchen is considered the supreme teaching and represents the nondual focus on one's innate wakefulness. How beautiful the variety of expressions in so many different traditions! We embrace this variety with great joy and in fellowship in a. No religion or teacher or tradition has a monopoly on the Essential Truth of Reality which is Our Own Nature. In this context, a focuses on the aspirations and experiences of individuals on the spiritual path. Everyone interested in any of the Shiva and Shakti traditions, and the related yogic and tantric paths as well as those practicing primarily the cognitive methods of the pure nondual teachings of great Jnanis such as Ramana Maharshi are welcome to join. The discussions are typically expected to focus on Self-Realization, Kundalini Shakti and Its Manifestations, God-Realization, the Goddess, Enlightenment, and various types of Samadhis (Savikalpa and Nirvikalpa). Discussion of various teachers and teachings can also be enriching as long as there is mutual respect and a feeling of amity in the conversation. Humor and poetry and other artistic expressions of the spiritual life are encouraged and supported. May God Bless everyone with Peace, Joy, and Understanding. May we all nourish and heal each other in the spirit of Compassion, Wisdom and Love. OM Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. Peace to all living beings. Grady wrote.... > You are one who is mistaken my friend, Idols like Lord > Kshna have no place in the Kingdom. The Greeks > worshiped many a God, but there is only one True God > Y'shua, Christ, Jesus. (John 17:3 of Holy Bible). > And if your so called god is GOD then that makes two > God's either there is one God or there is no God. > Lord Krsna is no God at all. > > Scripture tells us that upon death "the spirit returns > to God who gave it" (Ecc. 12:7), that "to be away from > the body" is to be "at home with the Lord" (2 Cor. > 5:8). Indeed, the Christian's hope rests not on the > reincarnation of the soul, but in the resurrection of > the body (1 Cor. 15:42-55). > > Do we truly realize the power that is available to us? > Do we have any concept of the power Jesus intended for > His church to wield in this dark and dangerous world? > Or has our vision of the church become so dimmed that > the word "church" suggests to us only a building on > the corner where we go once a week to sing hymns and > hear sermons? > > The church, as God designed it and as the Bible > describes it, is an amazing, dynamic, world-changing > force. It is, in fact, a kind of invisible government, > influencing and moving the visible governments of the > earth. Because of the powerful influence of the > church, the people of this planet are able to > experience the benefits of social stability, law and > order, justice and peace. Yes, the world is troubled > and in turmoil--but we haven't seen even a fraction of > one percent of the tribulation, tyranny, anarchy, and > slaughter that would take place if the church were > suddenly taken out of this world! (See Matt. 5:13,14; > Phil. 2:14,15; 1 Tim. 2:1,2.) > > Whenever the church has followed the biblical pattern > and become more of what God designed it to be, > righteous conditions have spread throughout society. > When the church has abandoned this divine pattern, > relying on worldly power, becoming proud, rich and > tyrannical, then it has become weak and despised--and > terrible forces of evil have been unleashed in the > world. > > "When all else fails, follow directions!" says the > popular slogan. God has given us a set of directions > for building a powerful, functional, dynamically > effective church. In this book, we will open the > Scriptures and examine God's directions for the > church--which, as it turns out, are also God's > directions for building a rewarding, effective, > dynamic life. It is through the koinonia-fellowship of > the church that we truly become all God intended us to > be. > > > > > --- "nitai19921 <nitai19921" > <nitai19921 wrote: > > New Group about Lord Gauranga and Lord Nityananda > > > > Please join my new group about Lord Gauranga and > > Lord Nityananda. > > > > To send a message to: > > gauranga_nityananda- > > > > or visit > > > > gauranga_nityananda/ > > > > Your servant, > > Ranganatha Dasa > > > > > > Sri Chaitanya Bhagavat > > > > Adi Lila Chapter One > > > > I worship their Lordships Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu > > and Sri Nityananda > > Prabhu, whose long arms extend down to their knees, > > whose beautiful > > complexions are the radiant yellow of molten gold > > and whose elongated > > eyes are like red lotuses. They are the topmost of > > the brahmanas, the > > guardians of religious principles for this age, the > > munificent > > benefactors of all living entities, and the most > > compassionate > > incarnations of Godhead. They initiated the > > congregational chanting > > of the names of Lord Krsna. > > > > O Lord! You are the eternal truth - past, present, > > and future - and > > You appeared as the son of Sri Jagannatha Misra. I > > offer my repeated > > obeisances unto You along with Your inseparable > > servitors, Your > > unalloyed devotees, Your sons (referring to His > > renounced Gosvami > > disciples, or the devotional process of chanting the > > holy name of > > Lord Krishna), and Your relatives (Bhudevi as Sri > > Vishnu Priya, > > Sridevi as Sri Laksmi Priya, and Lila, Nila or Durga > > as Navadvipa > > Dhama). According to devotional tastes there are the > > two Gadadharas, > > Damodara, Narahari, Ramananda, Jagadananda etc. One > > is Sri Gadadhara > > Pandita - the expansion of Srimati Radharani and Sri > > Gadadhara Bhatta > > from South India who is Rangadevi. > > > > I worship the two brothers, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu > > and Sri > > Nityananda Prabhu, who are the embodiment of > > magnanimity. By Their > > inconceivable potency They are the transcendental, > > eternal supreme > > controllers of all. Now They have descended to the > > material world. > > > > All glories to Sri Gaurasundara, the supremely > > powerful Lord of pure > > transcendence. He has an aura of molten gold, with > > lotus petal eyes, > > and His long graceful arms extend to His knees. > > While He sings the > > glories of the Lord, He dances in various pleasing > > postures, His > > heart inundated by the ecstatic emotions of > > devotional mellows. > > > > All glories, all glories to the moonlike Sri Krishna > > Caitanya. He is > > the fully independent Supreme Person, always engaged > > in > > transcendental pastimes. He is the Lord of the > > universe, the supreme > > controller of all controllers, and the > > personification of > > transcendence. All glories, all glories to the > > devotees of Sri > > Gauracandra. All glories, all glories to the > > ecstatic dancing of the > > Lord's intimate associates. > > > > In the beginning I offer my humble obeisances to the > > feet of the > > loving, confidential devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya. > > I then offer my > > obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, > > Sri Krishna > > Caitanya. He incarnated in Navadvipa, and He is > > known as Visvambhara. > > > > That same Supreme Personality of Godhead has > > declared in the Vedas > > and Bhagavat, "Worship of My devotees is superior to > > worship of Me." > > Lord Krishna said to Uddhava, "O Uddhava, serving My > > devotees is many > > times better than worshiping Me." (SB 11:19:21). > > Therefore, I offer > > my worshipful prayers unto the devotees of the Lord > > before I begin to > > write this book. By this act may my present endeavor > > be successful. > > > > I offer my respectful obeisances to my worshipable > > Lord and spiritual > > master, Sri Nityananda Raya, by whose mercy the > > transcendental > > pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya become spontaneously > > manifest. With a > > thousand tongues we should incessantly glorify the > > Supreme Lord > > Balarama, because His thousand mouths as Ananta Sesa > > constantly > > glorify Lord Krishna. Just as priceless gems are > > kept in secure > > custody, so also the invaluable jewel of knowledge > > about Krsna's > > pastimes is kept safely in the mouth of Anantadeva. > > Therefore the > > tongue which initially glorifies Balarama will > > automatically be > > qualified to vibrate the transcendental pastime of > > Sri Caitanya. > > > > The Supreme Lord Haladhara holds His thousand hoods > > like snakes. He > > is a gigantic figure and the source of all > > inspiration. As Nityananda > > He is fully transcendental and eternally existent, > > intoxicated by the > > nectar of Sri Caitanya. Whoever sings or hears about > > Nityananda's > > supramundane character is offered the supreme > > shelter of Lord > > Caitanya. > > > > Mahesa and his consort Parvatidevi take great > > pleasure in eulogizing > > the object of their love - Sankarsana, Nityananda > > Prabhu. In the > > midst of a million fresh young maidens, the pure > > devotee, Sri Siva, > > and his consort pour out nectarean devotional hymns > > to Lord > > Sankarsana. > > > > All this is revealed in the Fifth Canto of the > > Srimad Bhagavatam. > > Balarama is worshiped by the entire Vaisnava world > > with songs of > > praise. Balarama danced with His gopis in Vrndavana, > > and their rasa > > dance is the pinnacle of sublimity. The Puranas > > describe that > > Balarama performed His rasa dance during the two > > months of spring, > > Madhava and Madhu. The Srimad Bhagavatam verses > > narrating this > > subject were spoken by Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja > > Pariksit. > > > > Balarama spent the moonlit nights of the months of > > Vaisaka and Caitra > > with the cowherd damsels in the supramundane abode > > of Vrndavana. The > > place was set aglow with the rays of the moon. The > > lotus and kadamba > > flowers bloomed freely under the influence of the > > moon's rays, and a > > soft breeze circulated their scent. In the groves on > > the bank of the > > Jamuna, Balarama danced with the gopis, increasing > > their conjugal > > mood. The Supreme Lord Balarama, like a exquisite > > gem decorated by > > the cluster of gopis, performed His pleasurable > > pastimes. He behaved > > like Indra's elephant Airavata - the controller of > > many she- > > elephants. The Gandharvas observed the rasa dance > > and offered their > > prayers. > > > > The sound of kettle drums rose from the heavens, the > > demigods > > joyously showered flowers upon Them, and the > > Gandharvas and sages > > worshiped the Supreme Lord Balarama with verses > > praising His > > activities. The sages unequivocally denounce > > association > === message truncated === > > > > > Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more > http://taxes./ > > > > /join > > > > > > The Heart is the Self. The Self is the Heart. > > Your use of is subject to > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.