HANUMAN FIGURINE IS PRESIDENT OBAMA’S LUCKY CHARM

BARACK OBAMA ALWAYS CARRIES 
HANUMAN STATUETTE IN POCKET

www.indiadivine.org - A statuette of Lord Hanuman is among few items that US President Barack Obama always carries in his pocket and seeks inspiration from whenever he feels tired or discouraged. President Obama disclosed this on a YouTube interview which the White House scheduled as a way to reach younger audiences as it promotes Obama’s final State of the Union address on last Tuesday. 
Asked to show off an item of personal significance during the interview with YouTube personality Nilsen, 54-year-old Obama pulled from his pockets a series of small totems, each of which he said reminded him “of all the different people I’ve met along the way.” It included rosary beads given to him from Pope Francis, who he met at the White House this fall and a tiny Buddha statue procured upon him by a monk.

The other items that US President Obama always carries in his pocket are a silver poker chip that was once the lucky charm of a bald, mustachioed biker in Iowa; a figurine of the Hindu monkey God Hanuman; and a Coptic cross from Ethiopia, where he visited in July. “I carry these around all the time. I’m not that superstitious, so it’s not like I think I necessarily have to have them on me at all times,” Obama said. 
But he said they do provide some reminders of the long path of his presidency. “If I feel tired, or I feel discouraged sometimes, I can kind of reach into my pocket and say yeah, that’s something I can overcome, because somebody gave me the privilege to work on these issues that are going to effect them,” he said. Obama, whose father was a Kenyan and mother a white woman from Kansas, spent initial days of his life in Indonesia where Hinduism is a popular religion. Nowadays, there are about three million Hindus in USA.

A figurine of Lord Hanuman is among the few items that Barack Obama always carries around in his pocket and seeks inspiration whenever he feels discouraged, the U.S. President revealed in an interview, CNN reported. In a live post-State of the Union interview with Ingrid Nilsen, American YouTube personality, from the East Room of the White House on January 15, Obama showed things he carried around all the time and took out from his pocket which he described as: "This is Hindu little statuette of monkey god Hanuman that a woman gave me." This video-interview is posted on The White House website. In Mahabharata war, the flag on Arjuna’s chariot, driven by Lord Krishna himself, displayed Lord Hanuman; therefore to achieve success in battle it is not  surprising that President Obama also reportedly carried small Hanuman figurine as a lucky charm during electioneering. Hanuman, son of wind-god, besides incredible strength and changing shape at will and flying, is a perfect grammarian, great scholar and excelled in all the sciences. According to a legend, even while he was still an infant, he intimidated the sun. Apart from all of this, Hanuman’s only desire was to go on serving his Lord Rama; and thus, from the devotee's point of view, Hanuman perfectly exemplifies ‘dasyabhava’ devotion - one type of devotional disposition - that lovingly bonds the master and the servant. Servitude [dāsya], friendship [sakhya], parental affection [vātsalya] and conjugal love [śrińgāra] are the four transcendental mellows [rasas]. These are the transcendental modes of loving service to the Lord. By the devotees who cherish these four mellows, the Supreme Lord is subdued. Our spiritual masters have taught us that our practice should be focused on culturing a specific service that takes the shape of any of the loving sentiments, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya or madhurya / śrińgāra. Our hearing and chanting will become focused on those lilas which will help us to promote our particular serving identity to the Lord. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

The bhāva stage is the final division before one reaches love of Godhead. The word sarva-bhāva means that one can love the Supreme Personality of Godhead in different transcendental modes of mellows, beginning with dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and mādhurya. In the śānta stage, one is on the border of loving service to the Lord. Pure love of Godhead begins from dāsya and develops to sakhya, vātsalya and then mādhurya. Still, in any of these five mellows one can render loving service to the Supreme Lord. Since our main business is to love the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one can render service from any of the above-mentioned platforms of love.

Śrīla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda :
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam - Canto 7: "The Science of God"
Chapter 9: "Prahlāda Pacifies Lord Nrisimhadeva with Prayers" - Verso 54

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
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TEENAGER GANG-RAPED IN GORY EXORCISM RITUAL

GIRL GANG RAPED AND HER EYES 
GOUGED OUT IN EXORCISM RITUAL

www.torontosun.com - An Argentinian 16-year-old girl was gang-raped and had her eyes gouged out by her older sister to free her from demons. The girl is reportedly clinging to life in hospital in the town of General Pinedo. Her older sister, 22, is the only one charged in the gruesome exorcism ritual so far. 
Argentinian police said she told her parents she was worried about bizarre visions her little sister had been having. "The girl said that she was possessed by a demon and evil beings, saw bugs and animals (that weren't there)," police commissioner Paul Almiron told Buenos Aires newspaper the Cronica. "So the parents went to seek help from (the pastor)." Almiron said the pastor told the family to cut her eyes out to exorcise the demons.

It's unknown if the alleged gang rape that apparently took place beforehand was part of the ritual, but police say rape charges are pending. Local media have published gruesome photos of the teen in hospital. Police said it appears the older sister used a sharp instrument for the terrible deed. 
The teen is also suffering from severe injuries in her genital area. Spanish online portal Terra reported police found a Bible covered in blood and pieces of the girl's eyes at her home, the scene of the crime. "It is the first time in 22 years of policing that I've seen something like this," Almiron told the Cronica, adding the attack is "very hard to explain."

A brutal exorcism ritual happened in the town of General Pinedo, in the north Argentine province of Chaco. A teenager was brutally gang-raped then had her eyes gouged out by her sister in a horrific ritual that the rapists claim was ordered by a local pastor. The victim's sister claimed that the religious centre even gave her the sharp knife used in the attack and said that she must personally carry out the brutal act in order to cure her younger sister. The teenager was pinned down and her elder sister cut both of her eyes out. The victim, aged just 16, is now fighting for her life in hospital after the horrific ordeal, which her family said they orchestrated because the teenager was having visions and they believed she was possessed by the devil. Doctors reported that the victim had also suffered several injuries in the genital area and it is understood that police are about to arrest a group of men who took part in the twisted ritual. Throughout Latin America, belief in possession and exorcism predates the arrival of the Spanish. Aztec healers burned herbs and prayed to ward off spirits. In many occasions, subtle materialism tries to disguise as spiritual processes, and they are known under names such as occultism, magic, witchcraft, voodoo, witchcraft, macumba, camdombé, etc. To accept advice from spirits it is like accepting foolishly be advised by someone who in his last embodiment has not done things very well and instead of moving towards spiritual enlightenment he still is wandering around these places. We must move away from the influence of the occultists, because they are defying and denying the authority of the Supreme Lord, replacing it with the dark force of the fallen souls. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

The spirits [...] can speak our minds and bad Invisible Counselors "kill yourself, inject drugs yourself, have sex, consume drugs, gamble, inflict torture to others"; these are the kinds of tips they try to give us and unfortunately there are listeners. The sacrifices of the poor animals in voodoo or human sacrifices in African tribes, groups of black magic in Brazil or the Incas in Machu Pichu, have all demonic spirits behind. [...] Do not be fooled !, sorcerers use the word God as the bakers use the word bread, but be certain they do not even know who God is; nor they are abide by the will of Him. They only use the natural piety of people talking about God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. In Brazil, on the places where spiritualists work there are statuettes of Jesus Christ to mislead the church and disguise their true intentions.

Śrīla Bhakti Aloka Paramadvaiti Mahārāja :
“Occultism” - http://gurumaharaj.net/
http://bhaktipedia.org/espanol/index.php?n=sabidurias_vedicas.ocultismo
http://www.sabiduriavedica.org/c39-espiritualidad/ocultismo/

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
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BOY BELIEVES HE WAS A WOMAN IN PAST LIFE

BOY, 5: GOD TOLD ME I LIVED 
A PAST LIFE AS A BLACK WOMAN

http://english.alarabiya.net - A five year-old boy in the U.S. city of Cincinnati believes he a 30-year-old African American woman, who died in a 1993 fire, in a past life, Fox8 news channel reported last week. It started out with Luke Ruehlman, then two, calling things around the house “Pam” which was followed by making references to “when he was a girl.” “He used to say: ‘When I was a girl, I had black hair,’ or he would say, ‘I used to have earrings like that when I was a girl,’” Erika, Luke’s mother, said adding that he has stopped mentioning Pam.
Luke revealed his belief that he was Pam when his mother confronted him about who she is. According to the mother, the boy recounted a process of reincarnation in which he was “pushed back down to earth” in the form of a new born.

“Well, I used to be [Pam], but I died. I went up to heaven, and I saw God, and he pushed me back down and when I woke up, I was a baby and you named me Luke,” the boy was quoted as saying. In an episode of paranormal investigative show “The Ghost Inside My Child,” Luke is shown several photos of African-American women in their 30s. Pamela Robinson, the woman Erika believes her son Luke was speaking of, was one of them. Luke appears to have been able to identify Pamela Robinson using knowledge his mother said he would not have been able to acquire on his own. 
After the incident, Erika reached out to the Robinson family in a bid to find out more about the woman her son claims to have been. She found out that both her son and Pamela shared an affinity for artist Stevie Wonder and playing the keyboard.

This article is about an five year old American boy, called Luke, who claims he is the reincarnated spirit of Pam, a 30-year-old woman. The young boy has spooked his mother after recalling unsettling details of how his past life ended when he died jumping from a burning building. Luke's mother Erika says that her son started talking about his “past life” when he was only two. The story was investigated by the TV show 'The Ghost Inside My Child', who put Erika in touch with Pamela Robinson's family who said that Luke's personality and music interests are very similar to their late daughter. And since contacting Robinson’s family, Erika has reportedly also uncovered coincidences between her son and the late Chicagoan’s favorite things: Stevie Wonder's music and the piano. “It’s a positive [message] of unification, of love,” Luke's mother says. She believes that the message of Luke should be made public, because "we should not define the soul based on a race or a genre," she says. She also states that they did not receive money for the TV documentary and her intent is for this story of unification to be shared with others because it's a positive one. Our spiritual masters have taught us that soul incarnates through different forms (samsara or reincarnation); it takes another birth in a material body to continue with material experiences or the pursuit of satisfying material desires. The understanding of reincarnation is not complete without understanding the law of karma. The concept of reincarnation and karma are joined, so the reactions to our desires and actions cause ultimately suffering because they attach us more and more into the continued cycle of birth and death. In this sense, the Vedic literature offers complete spiritual information on the science of life after death, karma and reincarnation. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Hindus are known to believe in the idea of reincarnation. A common misconception is that reincarnation only refers to the idea that a sinful person comes back in their next life as a rat or a tiger or some lower animal. Reincarnation actually means the soul accepts a material body and that after death, the current body is discarded and the soul enters a new one. [...] The soul is eternal, but our material bodies aren’t. We have accepted our current bodies due to our past karma. Birth, death, old age, and disease are guaranteed for the body. At the time of death, we give up our present body and accept a new one based on our karma. [...] The most important thing to understand about reincarnation is that it can be stopped. Lord Krishna tells us that thinking of Him at the time of death will stop the perpetual cycle of birth and death. 

Krishna'sMercy.org - Jai Shri Krishna :
“Reincarnation” - Posted on April 04, 2009
http://www.krishnasmercy.org/dotnetnuke/
http://www.krishnasmercy.org/dotnetnuke/News/Blog/tabid/57/EntryId/48/Reincarnation.aspx

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

BHAGAVAD GITA SHOULD BE MADE NATIONAL SCRIPTURE

INDIAN MINISTER ASKS GITA BE MADE 
NATIONAL BOOK, TRIGGERS DEBATE

www.digitaljournal.com - India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has asked the Indian government to declare the scripture Bhagavad Gita, India's "Rashtriya Granth" or national book, triggering a debate among media and intellectuals. Swaraj was speaking at the" Gita Prerna Mahotsav" at the Red Fort in New Delhi, organized to celebrate the book. She said that the declaration would only be a formality since a large number of Indians already saw the scripture as a national book. 
Swaraj said that her role as External Affairs Minister brought many challenges, which she had faced only because of the teachings of Bhagavad Gita. “Everyone should read two shlokas of Gita everyday ... it is a scripture of 700 shlokas and it can be finished in a year,” she said, addressing the audience at the event.

“Read it again and continue this till the end. After reading it three to four times, you will discover a path to lead a life, the way I discovered,” Swara added. The Gita has been in the limelight since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of India in May 2014, as he gifted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the book during his visit to Japan, and also to Barack Obama during his visit to the US. The Bhagavad Gita in its extant form is a part of the ancient Indian epic Mahabharat, and records the conversation of Krishna with Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. 
The book is only one of many Hindu scriptures, and declaring it the national book in secular India with its multiple faiths and belief systems may not become a reality soon, according to several media pundits.

External Affairs Minister of India, Sushma Swaraj, recently said that the Bhagavad Gita should be made the national scripture, adding that the Hindu sacred writ should be read for guidance throughout one's life. "The Bhagavad Gita teaches us the way to lead life in a happy and stress free manner. It shouldn't be left for old age; it is something that one should read for guidance throughout your life," Swaraj said, while addressing the Gita Prerna Utsav, held in the national capital. "I have said in Parliament that the Bhagavad Gita should be declared as our 'Rashtriya Granth'. No official announcement has been made in this regard. However, by offering the 'Bhagavad Gita' as a gift to US President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already given that honour to Bhagavad Gita," she added. In spite of her good and laudable intentions, Swaraj's claims that the Bhagavad Gita should be recognised as India's national scripture, has triggered a massive row in India. For example, under the headline "Why ‘Gita’ as Rashtriya Granth is problematic" The Hindu newspaper says that "in a secular polity ... any attempt to declare the ‘Gita’ a ‘Rashtriya Granth’ ... needlessly ruffle the feathers of Hinduism’s closer cousins like Sikhism for which the teachings of its first five Gurus constitute its principal ‘Guru Granth’." Our spiritual masters have taught us that beyond the opinions and beliefs, we must be respectful of the different holy religious scriptures, but no other scripture is necessary if one take shelter of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita because it was directly spoken by Sri Krishna and it is one with Him. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Sree Geeta is not a material sound. In material sound, you will find that the thing referred to by a sound is different from the sound itself. If you utter: 'water, water, water,' the water word is not the water-thing. The word 'water' refers to a thing understood to be water. In this world you will find a difference between the word 'water' and the object referred to by the word 'water.' But Krishna and the Name of Krishna are one and the same. Sri Geeta and Sri Krishna are identical. So, by taking shelter of the Geeta we can come in contact with Sri Krishna. We have gone through the contents of the Geeta, we have read the Geeta, but despite this, we still have no devotion to Sri Krishna. This is not actual reading. If we actually read the Geeta, we will obtain devotion to Sri Krishna.

Śrīla Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Mahārāja :
"How to Read Sri Gita"
Speaking Tree - Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj's Blogs
http://www.filmyboxoffice.com/news/how-to-read-sri-gita.html
Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math (SCGM)

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

PSYCHIATRY AND RELIGION

PSYCHIATRISTS LAYING GROUNDWORK 
TO DECLARE RELIGION AS MENTAL ILLNESS

http://healthland.time.com - Religion can be a source of comfort that improves well-being. But some kinds of religiosity could be a sign of deeper mental health issues. Seeing their kids more eager to pray than play video games, most parents would shout, “Hallelujah” or whatever their expression of joy. And they should. Research shows that religion can be a positive force in the lives of children, just as can be for adults.
“Religion,” says Bill Hathaway, a clinical psychologist of religion and Dean of the School of Psychology and Counseling at Regent University, “is related to the child having a higher sense of self esteem, better academic adjustment and lower rates of substance abuse and delinquent or criminal behavior.”

So if your child is immersed in scripture after school and prays regularly throughout the day, you may breathe a sigh of relief.  She’s such a good girl. My boy is okay. Or maybe not. Your child’s devotion may be a great thing, but there are some kids whose religious observances require a deeper look. For these children, an overzealous practice of their family faith — or even another faith  — may be a sign of an underlying mental health issue or a coping mechanism for dealing with unaddressed trauma or stress. 
Therapists in private practice report that they are seeing children and teens across a range of faiths whose religious practice can be problematic. Are they doing well at school, playing sports or music, socializing with friends? If so, then their faith is probably a source of strength and resilience.  If, however, the religious practices and rituals seem to be overtaking their daily lives, and displacing their normal activities, experts suggest taking steps to understand what’s triggering the focus on faith.

In a recent article in Time magazine, written by journalist Francine Russo, it was published a vision about the damages that religiosity could cause. The author says, "Children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), for example, may rigidly repeat holy verses, say Hail Mary’s or focus on other rituals less out of a deeper sense of faith but more as an expression of their disorder. “It looks positive but could be negative,” says Stephanie Mihalas, a UCLA professor and licensed clinical psychologist. Such ritualistic behavior, she says, may also reflect a child’s way of coping with anxiety, and in reality could be no more spiritual than fanatical hand washing or dreading to walk on cracks." Hmm ... interesting article, right? You may think that the article's headline is sensationalism, since it is NOT claiming that ALL people of faith are mentally ill, as the headline suggests. Also, perhaps it might be too exaggerated to think that someday psychiatrists declare religion as a mental disease; however, this article is showing the very fact that psychiatrists are trying to tie religion into their studies on psychology and it could be dangerous due to the fact that they are materialistic studies which can understand the spiritual domain. And this is alarming because this psychiatric trend to analyze everything according to its materialistic point of view is regrettably increasing. We should read and take advantage of the knowledge that is found in the Bhagavad-gītā as it is a superior knowledge which begins at a point that is beyond materialistic understanding. And not only that, besides to understand that one is not this material body we should engage in the activities of the spiritual world. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Knowledge begins not from Krishna, but from things which we are accustomed to see every day. [...] There are many scientists, for example, who are soil experts; they can say, by analyzing a particular type of earth, what kind of minerals are there. Somebody seeks out silver, somebody seeks out gold, somebody seeks out mica. This is knowledge of gross things—the earth. [...] Next comes the study of the ethereal: electronics, ethereal transformations from one thing to another. Then, finer still, is the mind—psychology and psychiatry. But for intelligence, rationalism, there is only a little philosophical speculation. And what about the soul? Is there any science of the soul? The materialists have none. Material science has advanced to the study of the ether, or the mind and intelligence, but there is no advancement beyond that. Beyond intelligence, they do not know what exists. But here in the Bhagavad-gītā you can find this.

Śrīla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda :
“Krsna Consciousness The Topmost”
Chapter Five: “Our Real Life”
http://prabhupadabooks.com/ssr/5/superconsciousness

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
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2014 VAMANA JAYANTI

TOMORROW IS VAMANA JAYANTI 
BIRTH DAY OF VAMANA INCARNATION

http://astrobix.com - Vamana Jayanti is celebrated every year on Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapad month.  Lord Vamana is one of the significant forms of Lord Vishnu. It is the fifth avatar or incarnation of Vishnu. As per the legends, King Bali performed austerities and became more powerful than Devas. He would be able to conquer heaven in this battle once he completes his 100 yagnas; therefore, Indra Deva went to Lord Vishnu and asked for his help. 
In order to protect Devas from the wrath of Asuras, Lord Vishnu incarnated into Lord Vamana and took birth from the womb of Aditi, wife of Saint Kashyapa. Lord Vamana adopted the form of Brahmachari. Soon after he grew up, Vamana went to see King Bali  on the day of his 100th Ashwamedh Yagna (in order to prevent it from taking place).

King Bali asked Brahmin Vamana to ask for anything he desires. Vamana asked for three paces of land that he could measure from his own feet. Since he had made a promise, he could not deny it and had to fulfill the Brahmins wish. Vamana took the first step, encompassing the whole earth, and the second covered the heavens. In this way, he conquered two of the three worlds. There was no place to keep the third step on, and then Bali offered his head to Vamana. Vamana accepted it and placed his last step on Bali’s head.
Lord Vishnu was pleased by the integrity of Bali of fulfilling his promise. He blessed Bali with one desire. Bali asked Lord Vishnu to be present in front of Him day and night, so that he is able to worship him. To keep his promise and to fulfill Bali’s desire Lord Vishnu had to become his gatekeeper.

Tomorrow, 6th September 2014 (Saturday) is Vamana Jayanti (also known as Vaman Dwadashi ). It is the birth anniversary of Lord Vishnu. Vamana was the fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu during Treta Yuga. Special Puja is organized in Lord Vishnu temples on the occasion of Vamana Jayanti. This is one of fabulous religious days of Hindu religion in India and celebrated each of years with great joy and enthusiasm in northern parts and southern parts of India. People performs various types of religious acts regarding to the importance of this day. People from various communities offer worship to lord Vishnu on this day and performs various type of ritual acts to make happy the Supreme power of world. They offer pooja fruits, flowers and prasad to lord Vishnu at various temples. On this day devotees worship Shri Hari early in the morning with proper rituals. Donating  rice, curd etc is considered to be auspicious on this day. In the evening, the devotees should listen to Vamana Katha along with the family members and distribute prasad among everyone. Devotees should observe fast and perform puja with proper rituals to please Lord Vamana and to get all wishes fulfilled. This Vedic story shows us that no one owns anything in this material world, even if we conquer planetary systems, there will come a time when we will be forced to abandon all wealth and position and surrender our pride at the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

The fifth among the Dasavatara is Sri Vamana-avatara. There are innumerable lila-avataras. Among them are twenty-five chief lila-avataras of which Sri Vamanadeva is the eighteenth. [...] The Deity of the month of Ashadha is Sri Vamanadeva. Vaishnavas wear holy marks of twelve hari-mandiras (temples of the Lord in the form of markings known as tilaka) on different parts of the upper body. Among them, the hari-mandira on the left side of the abdomen is fixed for the Presiding Deity Vamanadeva. [...] In the 8th Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa Muni has given detailed accounts of Lord Vamanadeva’s pastime of appearance, the capturing of the three planetary systems from Bali Maharaja (on the pretext of asking for only three steps of land) and the eventual awarding of the Sutala planet to Bali. [...] Sri Sukadeva Gosvami has mentioned the pastime of Bali and Vamanadeva, which took place during the reign of Savarni Manu of the eighth manvantara.

Śrīla Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Mahārāja :
“Dasavatara - The Ten Manifestations of God”
Chapter 5: “Sri Vamana-avatara”
Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math - www.sreecgmath.org

 

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
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HAPPY RADHASTAMI 2014!

TOMORROW, IS RADHASTAMI
APPEARANCE OF SRIMATI RADHARANI

www.indoamerican-news.com - The divine counterpart of Sri Krishna is known as Sri Radha. Together, according to the ancient Vaishnava tradition, this dual-gendered divinity is God-male and female dimensions of the Absolute Truth. Sri Radha is the complete energy, and Sri Krishna is the complete energetic source. They are non-different from each other, just as musk and its scent are forever merged, or as fire and heat are inseparable. Radha and Krishna are one, yet They have assumed two separate forms to enjoy loving pastimes.
Numerous theological texts explain how this is so, but most thorough are the writings of Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami and Rupa Gosvami, great masters in the Vaishnava tradition whose books have been translated and commented upon by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. To understand Sri Radha, then, English readers would do well to turn to Srila Prabhupada’s books.

Srimati Radharani(or Radha, as most people affectionately call her) has a unique position: She is actually the controller of Krishna (who is in fact the Supreme Controller and who cannot be controlled by anyone) because of Her absolute and unalloyed love, devotion, service, and surrender to Him. Being His closest and most intimate companion She has the ability to recommend the most fallen souls for liberation at His merciful feet. 
Lord Krishna is generally hard to approach directly even by the most accomplished of sages as evidenced by verse 7.3 in the Bhagavad Gita, where Lord Krishna says “Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.” Luckily for us Srimati Radharani makes it very easy because Her infinite capacity for compassion for the worst of sinners helps ease the path. Therefore, it is sometimes said that Radharani is even more merciful than the Lord Himself.

Tomorrow, September 2, 2014 (Tuesday) is Radhastami. The appearance anniversary of Srimati Radharani, the eternal consort of Lord Krsna. This article written by Indo American News reminds us the importance of this special day, “It is our duty to fall at Her lotus feet and seek the mercy of Her sublime and healing gaze. It also happens to be the only day of the year where Srimati Radharani’s feet are visible (all other days they are completely covered). This makes it all the more important that devotees make the trip to the temple and sing Her glories and enjoy the ecstasy that comes with worshipping the feet of the most munificent form of the Lord’s internal potency.” IAN further explains: “Of the many, many prayers offered to Srimati Radharani, the eternal consort of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna, one goes thus: tapta-kancana-gaurangi radhe vrndavanesvari / vrsabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye - I offer my respects to Radharani, whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Vrndavana. You are the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and You are very dear to Lord Krsna.” Vedic Sages have explained that Radha and Krishna are one, as Sweetness cannot be separated from the Sugar or Fragrance from Flower, or Light from Sun; in the same way, they cannot be separated from each other. In this age of kali Lord Krishna’s eternal wish to understand Radha’s love for Him came true when He appeared as Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is none other than Krishna Himself but in the mood of Radharani. Our spiritual masters have taught us that Radharani’s special qualification is that She is the best devotee of Krishna, and thus, Krishna loves Her the most. It has also been taught that, without the mercy of Radha, we can not reach Krishna. But we must take a step forward and not worry so much about asking the grace of Srimati Radharani to "reach" our liberation or the final goal in our lives. But rather, ask Her to help us work harder every day to make other people be engaged in this spiritual path, underpin the progress of others who are reeling and give new vigor and energy to those who are weakening. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Today we are celebrating the most important day of the universe, the appearance day of Srimati Radharani. Since yesterday we meditate on this supreme love, to be in love with bringing Krishna happiness, to make everyone happy in Krishna consciousness. This meditation leads us to understand who Srimati Radharani is in our life. Who is Krishna? Who are we?  [...] Srimati Radharani does everything to make Krishna supremely happy. I renounced my liberation to help others. In Krishna consciousness we need to understand that the most valuable things are to make others aware of Krishna. Do you want to enter the camp of Srimati Radharani?  Do you want to be part of the intimate group of Srimati Radharani? Then you must want to run to help others. A devotee of Radharani is someone with a strong desire to show others the path of spiritual love to stop suffering. Your task is to work on the spirituality of others. An intimate servant of Radharani is one that is fully committed to the urgent needs of this world.

Śrīla Bhakti Aloka Paramadvaiti Mahārāja :
“Sunday Chat, Radhastam”
September 23 2012 (Sri Radhastami), Colombia
http://www.vrindanews.com/
http://vrindanews.com/category/swami-b-a-paramadvaiti/
http://nimaihuset.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/srila-ba-paramadvaiti-maharaj-sunday.html

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

VARAHA JAYANTI 2014

TOMORROW IS VARAHA JAYANTI 
BIRTH DAY OF VARAHA INCARNATION

http://astrobix.com - Varaha Jayanti celebration approaches. This year, Varaha Jayanti is celebrated on 28th August, Thursday. This festivity is dedicated to Lord Varaha, another incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who was born to destroy evils. On this day, devotees perform bhajans and observe fasts in order to please Lord Varaha. Lord Varaha is the third incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Worshipping Lord Varaha on this day brings wealth, fortune and happiness to the devotee. Varaha Jayanti Story: Diti gave birth to two demons.
Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakshayapu were born with terrific powers. At the time of their birth, the entire universe was terrified. Earth shook, huge tides aroused in the oceans and stars moved upside down. The scenario of the three worlds was in itself terrifying. Soon, both brothers grew up with strong and huge built.

Both of them performed tough austerities and were able to please Lord Brahma. They asked for limitless powers and that no one should be able to defeat them in any war. Lord Brahma granted them the wish and went back to heaven. Both of them became powerful and started troubling people of all the three worlds to prove their strengths. After acquiring the three worlds, Hiranyaksha dragged the Earth into the bottom of the sea. To end his terror and free the Earth from evil, Shri Vishnu took the form of Varaha, half-boar-half-human. 
Varaha got earth free from abyss of the deep Garbhodaka ocean by holding it with his tusks, and restored the planet earth in its correct position in space. After completing his task, and restore the Earth in a safe place, Varaha and Hiranyaksha fought each other for a long time and then Hiranyaksha was killed by Lord Vishnu.

Tomorrow, 28th August 2014 (Thursday) is Varaha Jayanti. It is the birth anniversary of Varaha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. As per the Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu is the preserver and protector of the universe. He protects us from various dangers and evil powers. It is explained in the Vishnu Purana that whenever Dharma or law and order is endangered, Shri Vishnu will incarnate to eradicate the darkness and win over the evil powers. Varaha is the third incarnation of Lord Vishnu during Satya Yuga that appeared to rescue Earth from Demon Hiranyakasha. Special Puja is organized in Lord Vishnu temples on the occasion of Varaha Jayanti. Among the rituals to observe during this festivity, we can mention that devotees should observe fast throughout the day and organize a Jagran (a way of worship throughout night) reciting stories of various manifestations of Lord Vishnu overnight. Devotees who observe fast on Varaha Jayanti normally establish a deity of Lord Varaha in a kalash (a sacred waterpot), followed by doing Visarjan (immersion of a deity in the water). Once the puja is done the deity is donated to any Brahman or Acharya. It is believed that worshipping Lord Varaha gets one rid of all the problems in life and brings good fortune and happiness. Nowadays, huge industries are drilling the ocean for oil, but they do not care about the imbalance they are creating in the subterranean depths. In order to satisfy their excessive ambition for money, they are putting our Mother Earth in great dangers, just as the demon Hiranyaksha did millions of year ago. We must always remember that when the Lord's creation is in danger, He himself appears to punish the wicked and put things in their proper locations. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

When Brahmaji saw the earth submerged in the water, he thought for a long time about how it could be rescued. [...] Even after much effort, Brahmaji was not able to think of any solution. At last, he took shelter of the Supreme Lord Visnu. While Brahmaji was still deep in thought, a small boar the size of the tip of a thumb manifested from his nose. But the most surprising thing is that the small boar expanded in front of Brahmaji and within moments, filled the sky and assumed a form as big as an elephant.  [...] The omnipotent Sri Hari enlivened Brahma and the other highly elevated brahmanas by again roaring with His uncommon voice. The sound of His roar was so sweet that it destroyed all the miseries of the hearer. [...] The Lord of all sacrifices penetrated the water with His hooves, and in the depths of the Rasatala ocean, He saw the earth lying there as it was carried by Him in his stomach during the time of devastation. Lord Varaha lifted the earth on His tusks and appeared very splendid.

Śrīla Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Mahārāja :
“Dasavatara - The Ten Manifestations of God”
Chapter 3: “Varaha Avatara (The Boar Incarnation)”
Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math - www.sreecgmath.org

 

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

HAPPY JANMASHTAMI 2014

TOMORROW, IS KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI
SUNDAY, AUGUST 17TH, 2014

www.indiaonlinepages.com - Janmashtami, or “Krishna Janmashtami”, celebrates the birth of Sri Krishna, regarded as the most venerated in the Hindu pantheon of deities. According to Hindu belief, baby Krishna was born at midnight in Bhado (Bhadra) month. The sacred day of Janmashtami celebrates the beautiful moments of Sri Krishna depicted as a child. Sri Krishna is revered as a representation of joy and simplicity and this aspect is brought out very well throughout the episodes in Mahabharata. 
Lord Krishna represents the joyful spirit in all of us that we should invoke even when we face situations in life. The deeper message of Sri Krishna Janmashtami is that we should make efforts towards imbibing these aspects of Lord Krishna to wade easily through life. To celebrate Janmashtami, devotees observe fasting early on and continue fasting till the auspicious time of baby Krishna's birth arrives. Then they bathe the infant Krishna and adorn him with new clothes and jewellery, and rock him in a cradle.

This is followed by ritualistic “puja”, “aarti” and a whole repertoire of devotional songs and dance performances. Janmashtami “prasada” is offered to the deity of baby Krishna and devotees break their fast after partaking of this holy food. The celebration of Janmashtami still carries on with the same fervor, sticking to the traditions of enacting episodes from Lord Krishna's life, which are typically fun, and playful moments. Deep devotion and elation and strong sense of solidarity is at the heart of Janmashtami celebration. 
In general, “Rasa Lila” is performed everywhere, wherein the life and events of Lord Krishna’s youthful days and his romance with gopis or devotees is depicted to the rhythm of dance and music. “Dahi-handi”, wherein young boys climb up a human pyramid to break a pot filled with a concoction of milk, yoghurt, butter, honey and dry fruits, is the most popular of customs followed this day. Competitions are held and prizes given as it tests one's courage and perseverance on Krishna Janmashtami. 

Janmashtami (Krishna Jayanti) is one of the prominent Hindu festivals celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Krishna. It is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm in India and all over the world. The actual celebration of Janmashtami takes place during the midnight, as Sri Krishna is believed to be born on a dark, stormy and windy night to end the rule and violence of his uncle, Kansa. Across India, there will be ceremonies and prayers at temples dedicated to Krishna and the Hindu homes are wonderfully decorated and illuminated. Not just in India, but all over the world Janmashtami is celebrated with devotional songs and dances, pujas, arti, blowing of the conch and rocking the cradle of baby Sri Krishna. Krishna was born in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. In this region, a common tradition is the performance of Krishna Lila, a folk drama consisting of scenes from Krishna's life. The Janmashtami celebration of Mathura and Vrindavan, the places where Sri Krishna had spent his life, is very special. During Janmashtami festival, Vrindavan and Mathura are full of devotees who come from all parts of India and the world to pay homage to Lord Krishna. People start celebrating ten days prior the date of the festival. Many plays depicting the life of Krishna are staged and rasaleelas are performed at various temples there. Both cities are filled with the sound of bhajans and mantras and professional artists are invited to give their best performances so that Lord Krishna showers them with his divine blessings. The day before may consist of fasting and prayer up to midnight, the time at which it was said that Krishna was born. Nightlong prayers are offered and religious mantras are sung in the temples. One of the liveliest customs connected with Janmashtami festival is the breaking of the “dahi-handi” (dahi: buttermilk, handi: earthen pot). This is a pot of milk, yoghurt, butter, honey and dry fruits that are suspended high above a street. Teams of young men and boys compete with each other to build human pyramids high enough to reach the dahi-handi and break it. The act is symbolic of Krishna’s love for milk and butter, and the memory of his plundering of the local cowgirls’ handis. Our spiritual masters have taught us that Janmashtami celebration is a new opportunity to prepare and purify ourselves so that Krishna will think us to be qualified to get Him. If we sanctify our lives, we may be apt to receive Krishna in our hearts. Krishna is already there, but due to our selfish desires, lustful thoughts, our anger and desire for revenge, our vanity and ignorance, we are not aware of His constant presence as the Lord of our heart. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

“More than 5,100 years ago, Krishna appeared in His original, transcendental form just to please His devotees, annihilate the miscreants, and reestablish the principles of religion.” [...] The date of Krishna’s birth is traditionally given as 5.201 of Bhadra Krishna Ashtami, or 3.226 BC (or 3.227 BC, depends if we consider the year 0 or not). “Bhadra” is the name of a month (corresponds roughly to July-August; Vedic calendar is luni-solar), “krishna” here specifically denotes the dark part of a month (waning moon) and “ashtami” means “8th day”. If you download and calculate the Vedic calendar for your location you can see when Janmashtami (“Krishna’s birth day”: janma - birth, ashtami - 8th day) occurs so that you can take part in its celebration with us in one of our centers. The peak of the celebration is midnight when Krishna appeared.

Vedic Knowledge On Line : 
“Who is Krishna? - Questions about Krishna”
VEDA - Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Krishna.com
http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz
http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/bhaktiyoga/vaisnavism.htm

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/