My Marriage realizations

I got married on 10th Dec 2010 in hyderabad.A very traditional vedic ceremony was arranged.They had some deep meaning to it some of which i am writing it below

Every ritual started with prayers & the brahmana (priest) said to remember or meditate on Lord Visnu .

A fire sacrifice was arranged & we put oblations in it.

The fire in the yagna is the tongue of Lord Visnu & all offerings are put in it to satisfy the Supreme Lord & invoke his blessings & sanction for an auspicious marriage as stated in Bh Gita 5.29

Bhkotaram yagna tapasam....

Krishna is the ultimate beneficiary of yagna

========================= puport of 18.5

The yogis should perform acts for the advancement of human society. There are many purificatory processes for advancing a human being to spiritual life. The marriage ceremony, for example, is considered to be one of these sacrifices. It is called vivaha-yajna.

=====================

Purpose of Marriage is Spiriual adavancement

-------------------------------- puport of 18.5

The Lord says here that any sacrifice which is meant for human welfare should never be given up.Vivaha-yajna, the marriage ceremony, is meant to regulate the human mind so that it may become peaceful for spiritual advancement.

Then a small act was also performed where they made me carry a umbrella & a cane stick & i had to walk

a distance & the uncle of bride would pursue me to come back & marry .

The significance of this act is that the husband thinks his spiritual would be disturbed if he gets married

so he decides to go to Kashi (place of pilgrimage) but then the uncle comes & says that "your would be wife is

very sense-controlled & likes spiritual life & shall support your spiritual life so donot keep the worry

& please marry her"

The final & sacred ceremony is when the cloth is kept in between the wife & husband &

mangalashtakam is sung & after that the wife & husband exchange the garlands.

It was really surprising when the priest said at the start "Now remember your ista-deva in your heart "

Then the priest started chanting a mantra which i knew very well

kasturi tilakam lalata patate vakshasthale kausthubham

naasaagre varmouktikam karatale venum kare kankanam
sarvaange harichandanam sulalitam kanthecha mukthavali
gopastree pariveshthito vijayate gopala chudaamani
vijayate gopala chudaamani

O Sri Krishna ! The Kasturi (Musk) Tilak, a red ritual mark decorates your forehead and the Kaustubha jewel ornaments your chest
The Nava mouktika, a pearl ornament on your nose, your fingertips graced by a flute, while your wrist is ornamented with a bracelet.
O Sri Hari! Your entire body is bedecked with fragrant sandalwood paste, your neck has a beautiful garland

This mantra is for remembering Lord Krishna & the priest said you remember

your ista-deva ie the demigod worshipped by the lineage of ones family

I felt it is better to remember Lord Krishna because he is the real ista-deva & lord of all the demigods

Isvara param Krishna

Krishna is the Supreme lord of lords

------------ bramha samhita

& the mantra was very appropriate for that occasion

This shows that all ceremonies are simply meant for remembering & worshiping & glorifying Lord Krishna but this purpose has got lost or ignored or not emphasized in todays marriage.

I was fortunate to remember Krishna at the time of my marriage ceremonies .

It so happened that one devotee from Hyderabad temple came & gifted the maha garlands of

Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan dieties .

We then immediately exchanged it as if doing the ceremony again.

I had arranged a book table for Prabhupad books to distributed at less price

About 300 big books were distributed .I was so happy to hear this

It gave relief from the pains of travel & tiredness.

I thought this event is an amazing memorable event in my life .

All went perfectly in KCON way.

Preacher :::: Being a friend to ALL

I went to nagar sankirtan last week & i was trying to distribute books

As usual i felt an unwilling feeling to stop people & show them the book

Thoughts like " This book distribution is so hard ,

will people listen to me ??,

they are so materialistic!!!!

they are not stopping , :(

forget it lets go to dance in kirtan that is simple :-)

I can't Do this ;-) "

But i persisted & tried my best .

Then HG Vaisesika Pr a book distributor for last 35+ yrs was teaching a newcomer how to stop people & distribute books

& i felt lets learn again ................why not ?? lets get some basics to work

He said " Use your Radar !!!! raise your hand & see into their eyes & say """ HI """ """How are you doing today ?"

Now the key here is when we look into their eyes they would respond

but response level is NOT the same of all people

1 --- some would look at you & then shun away

2 --- some would reply & say "Hi" but without a smile

3 --- some would reply & walk by fast thinking you are another salesperson

5 --- respond with a smile

6 --- when u walk to them they would walk to you

So a response of 0-5 has more possibility of book being rejected

but above 5 is excellent condition for book distribution

When i heard this ..... i said lets TRY IT ....

I had made up my mind & gave up my own way of Book distrbution

& took to this advice & opened my eyes

& said to myself " Lets be a friend to these souls "

& a normal smile came upon my face & i said to the first person " HI How are u doing today ??"

& he smiled back & said " Good" & then i walked to him smiling (bcos his response was 5 or 6)

& said " Here is a book for YOU . a book on yoga & meditation""

& then it WORKED ................ i got him take the book

i felt sooooooooooooooo happy ...............

& then i tried to every one who passed by .... some responded with 0-5 level so i did not disturb them but rather looked for another person...

& i could stop & distribute books to 5 people in this way

& lesson & realization i had was .... i felt satisfied with my service.I felt inner happiness .

When we try to distribute books we tend to force upon people, who have no interest ,with the expertise of our philosophical & tactical ways but the result is we are not able to distribute the books & this causes sadness in OUR heart .

rather if we concentrate & put energy on interested people we can have more chances of SUCCESS.

As i was reading Srimad Bhagavatam first canto the same point was expressed .

Srimad bhagavatam is the only thing that can bring revolution in the lives of unfortunate souls.

So why one shud think of HIS own way or idea of Revolutionizing this world

thus Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati said " He who think of reform needs to be reformed first "

Simply because Srimad Bhagavatam which is Krishna himself can only revolutionize the world.

better co-operate with HIM

So ifelt if i follow whole heartedly the ways of book distribution by experienced devotees like
HG Vaisesika Pr i can be a part of that revolution ....

& this is what happened on harinam .......... i felt for the first time satisfied.

2) an elderly person whom i stopped listened patiently to my explanation

& asked me a question " Can you explain in one line what is the purpose of the Book??"

I thought for a moment & said " It is to bring spiritual happiness in our lives"

& then again he asked " In one line can you explain what i am needed to do to really get benefit on this path."

& i thought for a moment & repeated the words of my guru & all acarayas " One needs to be Sincere on this path"

The Dance of Surrender

The Dance of Surrender

I always wondered why we dance with our hands raised??

I am very shy person , very reserved but at the very first mangal arati of my life at
Sri Sri Radha Kunjhabihari mandir Iskcon pune my hands raised for the first time
without reservation & i danced !
And till today i dance without reservation , an amazing thing happens which cannot be described in words ,when the hare krishna maha mantra enters your ears.
It is the spiritual experience which make many devotees dance. Mostly all devotees are
very shy & timid personalities but when it comes to Kirtan something Amazing happens
we just shed away our SHYNESS.

Krishna says in 18.66 gita that we should surrender to him in loving devotional service
& to actually demonstrate the process of Surrendering he comes as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu & Teaches us the DANCE of SURRENDER.

like a police cop when he points his gun to you says " HAND UP !!!!! SURRENDER !!!! ELSE i shall shoot you " The hands go up



Similarly we are been taught on how to surrender but in a very loving & voluntarily way
This is the greatness of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Who freely gives the Spiritual taste regardless of ones Qualification !




Why one should hear about KRISHNA only ?
As i analyse we are very eager to hear about great famous personalities like film stars , politics etc
but we are not satisfied by them because they are tasteless
We are ALL looking for a person who has infinite amount of all 6 qualities namely 1) Fame 2) Beauty 3) strength 4) knowledge 5) renunciation & 6) wealth

And we are misplacing our search on temporary false personalities of this world
who have only an iota of one of the above qualities.

And Krishna is the only Person who has all 6 qualities in infinite proportions

One hears about the flimstars from magazines dedicated to films & these magazines can create amazing taste for persons in a particular film star.
Similarly we should hear about Krishna from persons & sources which are fully dedicated to KRISHNA ie the SRIMAD bhagavatam & guru.

so our dance is nothing but an expression of Surrender to Lord
& prayer that i have heard a lot about your greatness Oh Krishna ! I have thus come to take shelter of YOU.Please engage me in your service .

Ending the worst picnic in this material world

Song Name: Bhuliya Tomare

Official Name: Dainya Song 1

Author: Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Book Name: Saranagati

Language: Bengali

LYRICS:

(1)

bhuliyā tomāre, saḿsāre āsiyā,

peye nānā-vidha byathā

tomāra caraṇe, āsiyāchi āmi,

bolibo duḥkhera kathā

(2)

jananī jaṭhare, chilāma jakhona,

biṣama bandhana-pāśe

eka-bāra prabhu! dekhā diyā more,

vañcile e dīna dāse

(3)

takhona bhāvinu, janama pāiyā,

koribo bhajana tava

janama hoilo, paḍi' māyā-jāle,

nā hoilo jñāna-lava

(4)

ādarera chele, sva-janera kole,

hāsiyā kāṭānu kāla

janaka jananī-snehete bhuliyā,

saḿsāra lāgilo bhālo

(5)

krame dina dina, bālaka hoiyā,

bhelinu bālaka-saha

āra kichu dine, jnāna upajilo,

pāṭha poḍi ahar-ahaḥ

(6)

vidyāra gaurave, bhrami' deśe deśe,

dhana uparjana kori

sva-jana pālana, kori eka-mane,

bhulinu tomāre, hari!

(7)

bārdhakye ekhona, bhakativinoda,

kāṇdiyā kātara ati

nā bhajiyā tore, dina bṛthā gelo,

ekhona ki have gati?

TRANSLATION

1) I forsook You, O Lord, and came to this world of pain and sorrow. Now I submit my tale of woe at Your lotus feet.

2) While still in the unbearable fetters of my mother’s womb, I saw You before me You revealed Yourself but briefly and then abandoned this poor servant of Yours.

3) At that moment I swore to worship You after taking birth; but birth came, and with it the network of wordly illusion which robbed me of all good sense.

4) As a fondled son in the lap of relatives, I passed my time smiling and laughing. My parents’ affection helped me to forget the pangs of birth, and I thought the world was very nice.

5) Day by day I grew and soon began playing with other boys. Shortly my powers of understanding emerged. I read and studied my lessons incessantly.

6) Travelling from place to place, proud of my education, I grew wealthy and maintained my family with undivided attention. O Lord Hari, I forgot You!

7) Now in old age, Bhaktivinoda is sad. He weeps. I failed to worship You, O Lord, and instead passed my life in vain. What will be my fate now.

This material world is tried to be explained & explored by all men in all ages

But Krishna explains it in just 2 Words " asasvatah dukhalayam" ie temporary & abode of miseries .

How to end this material life journey then ??

The 6 enemies in heart namely lust greed & anger is what is to be purified from heart & then one can be happy.

Arjuna seeing that he is unable to perform his duty due to attachments (6 enemies) though he

knew what is the right thing !? he called himself as karpanya dosho ie miserly person with defects of 6 enemies in heart

Seeing that he is helpless to remove this doshas he surrendered to Krishna as his disciple

So surrendering to guru is the key to get rid of all this doshas(defects in heart)

as explained in Srimad Bhagavatam also, below

http://vedabase.net/sb/11/3/21/en

11.3.21

tasmād guruḿ prapadyeta

jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam

śābde pare ca niṣṇātaḿ

brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam

Therefore any person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of the bona fide guru is that he has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, should be understood to be bona fide spiritual masters.

& the key to advancement in spiritual life is to be a submissive obedient disciple dedicated to

please his guru as his life & soul as explained by Visvwanath Cakravarti Thakur in mangal arati prayers.

http://kksongs.org/songs/s/samsaradavanala.html

yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo

yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi

dhyāyan stuvaḿs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaḿ

vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kṛṣṇa. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.

This is the way to End ones material journey ......................... & take on the journey Home back home back to Godhead.

Song Name: Sri Guru Carana Padma

Official Name: Song 1; Guru Vandana (Verses 1 to 4)

Author: Narottama Dasa Thakura

Book Name: Prema Bhakti Candrika

Language: Bengali

LYRICS:

(1)

śrī-guru-caraṇa-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma,

bando muñi sāvadhāna mate

jāhāra prasāde bhāi, e bhava toriyā jāi,

kṛṣṇa-prāpti hoy jāhā ha'te

(2)

guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koribo aikya,

ār nā koriho mane āśā

śrī-guru-caraṇe rati, ei se uttama-gati,

je prasāde pūre sarva āśā

(3)

cakṣu-dān dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei,

divya jñān hṛde prokāśito

prema-bhakti jāhā hoite, avidyā vināśa jāte,

vede gāy jāhāra carito

(4)

śrī-guru karuṇā-sindhu, adhama janāra bandhu,

lokanāth lokera jīvana

hā hā prabhu koro doyā, deho more pada-chāyā,

ebe jaśa ghuṣuk tribhuvana

TRANSLATION

1) The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure devotional service. I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Krsna.

2) My only wish is to have my consciousness purified by the words emanating from his lotus mouth. Attachment to his lotus feet is the perfection that fulfills all desires.

3) He opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He is my Lord birth after birth. From him ecstatic premaemanates; by him ignorance is destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character.

4) Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord and master of the devotees. O Lokanatha Goswami! O master! Be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds.

Contended with what you have !

http://vedabase.net/sb/8/19/24/en

8.19.24

yadṛcchayopapannena

santuṣṭo vartate sukham

nāsantuṣṭas tribhir lokair

ajitātmopasāditaiḥ

TRANSLATION

One should be satisfied with whatever he achieves by his previous destiny, for discontent can never bring happiness. A person who is not self-controlled will not be happy even with possessing the three worlds.

PURPORT

If happiness is the ultimate goal of life, one must be satisfied with the position in which he is placed by providence. This instruction is also given by Prahlāda Mahārāja:

sukham aindriyakaḿ daityā

deha-yogena dehinām

sarvatra labhyate daivād

yathā duḥkham ayatnataḥ

"My dear friends born of demoniac families, the happiness perceived with reference to the sense objects by contact with the body can be obtained in any form of life, according to one's past fruitive activities. Such happiness is automatically obtained without endeavor, just as we obtain distress." (Bhāg. 7.6.3) This philosophy is perfect in regard to obtaining happiness.

Real happiness is described in Bhagavad-gītā (6.21):

sukham ātyantikaḿ yat tad

buddhi-grāhyam atīndriyam

vetti yatra na caivāyaḿ

sthitaś calati tattvataḥ

"In the spiritually joyous state, one is situated in boundless transcendental happiness and enjoys himself through transcendental senses. Established thus, one never departs from the truth." One has to perceive happiness by the supersenses. The supersenses are not the senses of the material elements. Every one of us is a spiritual being (ahaḿ brahmāsmi), and every one of us is an individual person. Our senses are now covered by material elements, and because of ignorance we consider the material senses that cover us to be our real senses. The real senses, however, are within the material covering. Dehino'sminyathā dehe: [Bg. 2.13] within the covering of the material elements are the spiritual senses. Sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaḿtat-paratvena nirmalam: [Cc. Madhya 19.170] when the spiritual senses are uncovered, by these senses we can be happy. Satisfaction of the spiritual senses is thus described: hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaḿ bhaktir ucyate. When the senses are engaged in devotional service to Hṛṣīkeśa, then the senses are completely satisfied. Without this superior knowledge of sense gratification, one may try to satisfy his material senses, but happiness will never be possible. One may increase his ambition for sense gratification and even achieve what he desires for the gratification of his senses, but because this is on the material platform, he will never achieve satisfaction and contentment.

According to brahminical culture, one should be content with whatever he obtains without special endeavor and should cultivate spiritual consciousness. Then he will be happy. The purpose of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is to spread this understanding. People who do not have scientific spiritual knowledge mistakenly think that the members of the Kṛṣṇaconsciousness movement are escapists trying to avoid material activities. In fact, however, we are engaged in real activities for obtaining the ultimate happiness in life. If one is not trained to satisfy the spiritual senses and continues in material sense gratification, he will never obtain happiness that is eternal and blissful. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.5.1) therefore recommends:

tapo divyaḿ putrakā yena sattvaḿ

śuddhyed yasmād brahma-saukhyaḿ tv anantam

One must practice austerity so that his existential position will be purified and he will achieve unlimited blissful life.