Author: Purushottam Nitai Das

Why Lord Jagannath ate the laddu which was too hard to eat?

Once a devotee offered laddu to Lord Jagannath in the bhoga which was too hard to be eaten but the Supreme Lord ate that offering. There is a beautiful story behind this wonderful pastime. This pastime shows how Lord Jagannath lovingly deals with his devotees.

Devotee decides to cook a special laddu for Jagannath

Once a devotee desired to prepare laddu for Lord Jagannath using jaggery. This was the first time he was preparing such item. He thought everyday Lord is eating the same bhoga items, so, something different should be offered to the Lord. So, he prepared the laddu. And the laddu was offered to the Supreme Lord along with other bhoga items.

On that day during offering time, the king of Jagannath Puri came to take darshan of the Lord. So, after the darshan, the pujaris wanted to offer some prasad to the king. Now the king was busy that day so he thought let me take some light item with me. He saw the laddu and decided to take it with him.

Meanwhile the devotee who had prepared the laddu was looking for it. He thought that this is the first time I have prepared it and offered to the Lord, so, I want to taste it and see how it has come out. It will help me to improve the preparation. But the king had already taken that food item with him.

After taking darshan of the Lord, the king got busy with his other engagements. After completing his work, he sat down to take his meal. While eating his food, he remembered the laddu which he had taken from the temple. So, he requested that laddu be served to him. The laddu was served to the king.

King’s tooth creaks when he tries to eat laddu

But to the surprise of the king, the laddu was extremely hard. Not just that on the same morning the king had severe pain in one of his teeth.  And the king by mistake had bitten the laddu with the same tooth. And because of it, his tooth came out. The king was in pain. He became extremely angry.

He immediately ordered that the person who has prepared this laddu should be put behind bars. King was furious because he thought that how can such a hard laddu be served to the Lord. As per the king’s order, the devotee cook who had prepared the laddu was put behind bars. The devotee was surprised that what was his crime. Later he came to know the reason behind his incarnation.

Jagannath appears in King’s dream

On the same night when the devotee cook was put behind bars the king saw a dream. In the dream, Lord Jagannath appeared, and he was chastising the king. The Lord said that how dare he put his devotee behind bars.

The Lord ordered the king to release the cook immediately. Not just that, Lord Jagannath also said that the king should seek forgiveness from the cook. The cook should be taken on a palanquin to his home and the king should sing the glories of the cook in front of others. The king did not have any problem in following the order of Lord Jagannath.

But the king had a question. He asked the lord, “My dear Lord, I tried eating the laddu but it was too hard. My tooth came out. So, how you are appreciating his offering and how you were able to eat his laddu?”

Lord Jagannath explains how he ate the laddu

The Lord smiled and said, “As soon as I saw the laddu I could understand that it is too difficult for me to eat it. So, I started thinking that which incarnation of mine can eat this laddu. Then I thought only my incarnation as Lord Narasimhadeva with his strong teeth can eat such a hard laddu. So, I ate the laddu as Lord Narasimhadeva. Since my devotee had prepared this laddu with such love, so how I could refuse it.”

The king within his heart understood that how Lord accepts the offering which is prepared with love.

But Lord Jagannath did not stop here. He further said to the king, “My desire is that from today onwards this particular laddu is prepared daily and served. And I as Narasimhadeva will eat it.”

The king happily agreed.

He came out of the dream and immediately ordered that the devotee cook be released. the king also sought forgiveness from the cook and he sent him back home on a palanquin. He glorified the cook in front of others. And also as per the order of Lord Jagannath, the king requested the devotee cook to prepare the laddu daily.

The cook was so happy to hear that in spite of the shortcomings, Lord Jagannath mercifully accepted his offering.

He agreed to prepare the laddu daily. And from that day onwards the laddu was served to the Lord daily. This special laddu came to be known as Narasimha laddu.

Lord only wants our love and nothing else

These pastimes of the Lord shows that the Lord is not hungry for the food items which we offer to him. But he actually sees with what intention we are offering things to him. How much love is there in it. Jagannath is the Lord of the universe; he does not need the food we offer to satisfy his hunger, but he needs our love. That is what he is hungry for.  

Krishna makes it very clear in Bhagavad Gita 9.26 when he says, “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.”

We are also hungry for the love of Lord but unfortunately, we do not realize this. And so, we suffer in this world. We try to satisfy ourselves through material means. But things of this world can never give us any satisfaction and any happiness.  We will become happy and satisfied only when we offer our love to the Supreme Lord Jagannath.

The devotee prepared laddu with love and Lord Jagannath ate it as Lord Narasimhadeva. Similarly, if we offer anything to Lord with love then the Lord will surely accept it.  And then our life will become perfect. We will be happy and satisfied.

Note: This pastime is based on the class given by HG Baladev Prabhu, a senior monk of Iskcon Chowpatty. He spoke this pastime during the first day of Kartik Yatra 2023 at Bhakti Vaibhav Puri Maharaj Matha at Sri Jagannath Puri Dham.

Welcoming Lord Rama to reside in our heart this Diwali

If on the auspicious day of Diwali, we welcome Lord Rama to reside in our heart forever then we will attain complete perfection. Miseries will disappear from our life. And we will always be in peace and bliss.

Diwali is the day when we light diyas at our home to remove darkness and spread light. This festival is celebrated because on this day Lord Rama returned back to Ayodhya after 14 years.

When Lord Rama had to leave Ayodhya because of Kaikeyi, entire city plunged into gloom. Everyone in Ayodhya became sad. They could not imagine their lives without Rama.  

It is said that many were so much disturbed that they even stopped lighting even a single diya at their homes. Their life became dark and also their houses.

Entire 14 years they kept waiting when Lord Rama will return.

In spite of having everything, everyone was suffering in Ayodhya

It was not that Ayodhya started suffering any economic crisis when Rama was not there. Or Bharat was an incompetent ruler.  

Under the able leadership of Bharat, none of the citizens were facing any difficulties. There was economic prosperity, security and no scarcity of food, clothing and shelter. But still they were not happy. Why? Because Ayodhya was without Lord Rama. And without him how can one be happy.

The saddest person was Bharat. Although he was the king, but he did not want to be in that position. If we study the life of Bharat given in Valmiki Ramayana, we will find that for 14 years he lived a very austere life.

Bharat’s sacrifice

He never lived in the palace. Instead, he lived in a cottage at the outskirts of Ayodhya called Nandigram. Daily, he ate barley soaked in cow urine. He wore tree bark. And he never sat on the throne. Instead of him, Lord Rama’s paduka (sandal) sat on the throne.

Bharat was very clear what he wanted in his life. He was clear that his life is for Lord Rama, and he did not have any slightest doubt about it.

Although, he had all the opportunity and authority to enjoy all the opulence, but he voluntarily chose not to do so. Because he knew that nothing material can satisfy his heart. Heart only experiences happiness when it is filled with the love of the Lord.

Why we won’t be happy in spite of material riches?

In our life too, we may get material prosperity or whatever material desires we may be having can get fulfilled. But unless we have Lord Rama in our life, our life will be bereft of happiness.  The word Rama means one who gives pleasure to all.

We think that material pleasure is all in all. But if we study scriptures, we will find that the pleasure which devotion to Lord gives is priceless and is not comparable with anything of this world.

This is why we see many great devotees who had all the riches happily gave up all their material prosperity and lived a simple life completely absorbed in singing and chanting the names of the Supreme Lord.

Sabari’s unlimited joy

What opulence did Sabari had? Materially she was penniless. But she was told by her guru that one day she will get an opportunity to have darshan of Lord Rama. Not just darshan but she will get an opportunity to serve Lord Rama. Just hearing that she will in future will be serving Lord Rama gave great joy to her heart.

From that day onwards, she always lived remembering Lord Rama and she patiently waited for Lord Rama. She had complete faith in the words of her guru. And also, she had complete faith in the mercy of the Lord.

And Lord Rama who knows the heart of all fulfilled the desire of Sabari giving her unlimited transcendental joy. She attained complete perfection after getting an opportunity to serve the Lord.

Lord Rama wanted to know Bharat’s desire

The Supreme Lord as Paramatma resides always in our heart. And he reciprocates with us as per our desires. He is always there for us. But if he sees that we are not much interested in him then he does not interfere with our desire to not have him. But as soon as he sees that our heart longs for him, he immediately comes to us.

After killing Ravana and his demon associates, Lord Rama with Mother Sita and brother Lakshman was to return to Ayodhya because 14 years was coming to an end. He had promised to Bharat that the moment 14 years is over, he will be there in Ayodhya.

However, before returning to Ayodhya, he wanted to check if Bharat wants to continue as the king of Ayodhya or if he actually wants to hand over the rein to him. To know this, he sent Hanumanji.

Hanumanji was not supposed to ask Bharat whether he wants to continue as the king or not. He just had to just see the expression of Bharat when he was to deliver the news that Lord Rama is going to come back to Ayodhya.

But as soon as Bharat heard that his dear Rama was to come to Ayodhya, tears of love and joy started coming from his eyes. He immediately embraced Hanuman and thanked him in choked voice for informing him that his dear Rama is coming back to Ayodhya.

This Diwali, like Bharat let us welcome Lord Rama in our life forever

When Lord Rama was completely sure that Bharat wants him back in Ayodhya, he immediately returned back to Ayodhya. Bharat was delighted to see the Lord. All the citizens of Ayodhya were dancing in joy seeing their beloved Lord Rama back in Ayodhya.

Their life came back. The day when Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya was celebrated as Diwali or festival of lights. On this day everyone lit their house with lamps.

Each and every nook and corner of Ayodhya was beautifully decorated and unlimited number of diyas were lit to welcome Lord Rama. Seeing the eagerness of the devotees to have him back in Ayodhya, Lord Rama felt happy.

And seeing the Lord happy, everyone felt happy and satisfied. This is spiritual life. The devotees are eager to please the Lord and the Lord is always eager to reciprocate with the desire of the devotees.

This Diwali let us too open our heart to Lord Rama and welcome him. Let us shun all our desire for material enjoyment. Let our heart have only one desire. And like Bharat that desire should be to have Lord Rama in our life forever.

Why to make a Krishna Conscious New Year Resolution this year?

Have you ever tried making Krishna Conscious New Year Resolution? If not, then this year give it a try.

We all make New Year resolutions. In the beginning of every year, we promise to ourselves to consistently engage in those activities which will positively impact our life. We determine to work for good health, lots of wealth, beautiful spouse, luxurious house and so on. We want all these stuffs so that we can thoroughly enjoy our life.

Now, if we jog our memory a little, then we will find that last year too we had same resolutions, and also the previous year, and couple of year back too. In fact, every year we almost make the same promise to ourselves and desire the same stuffs, hoping that it will bring joy to our lives.

Hoping for happiness in this material world

Our quest for enjoying our life is not just continuing year after year but life after life. Throughout life we struggle to bring joy to our life. But surprisingly the happiness which we desperately seek for always elude us.

And even if we succeed in accomplishing some material goals, we find that the pleasure which we get from it is temporary and flickering. And such success is always accompanied with the fear of losing it at any moment. So, where is the happiness?

Now in spite of trying so hard, if we are not able to get something then it means two things – either the way we are trying is wrong or the object which we are pursuing is not worthy enough to give us what we are looking for.

Looking for happiness is not wrong. Scriptures say that we are pleasure seekers – ānanda-mayo ‘bhyāsāt. But the problem is that the things which we think will give us pleasure actually do not have the capability to give us pleasure.

For example, if someone chews a bamboo stick and hope to experience the sweetness of sugarcane juice then can it be possible? Definitely not.

Similarly, hoping for happiness in this world is akin to chewing a bamboo stick.  No matter how hard we chew, nectar won’t flow from it.  In fact, the opposite happens, the teeth breaks. Similarly, the more we are mad for material pleasures, the more insane we become.

A foolish person keeps on trying to derive some nectar in this world. They hope that in future they will succeed in attaining it.

What happens when a donkey dreams to marry a beautiful girl?

Once in a house lived a donkey and a bull. Their master was a heartless person. He would take lots of work from the bull. One day the bull thought that let me pretend that I am sick so that I can take rest today.

So, in the morning when the master came the bull did not get up. The man tried a lot, but the bull acted as if he is in pain. The person thought that I have lots of work, but this bull is now sick, so what to do.

His eyes went to the donkey. He thought that let me take donkey for work today. And the master saw that the donkey was happy to work. The donkey worked whole day and by the time he returned back, he was extremely tired.

The master gave him some dry grass, he ate it and slept. The next day when the master came, bull acted again as if he is sick. Master looked at the donkey. Donkey was ready to go for work. Again, he worked throughout the day and came late evening extremely tired and exhausted. Now, it became a daily routine.

Donkey reveals his heart

Once the bull asked donkey why are you torturing yourself? There is no need to work so hard. Learn from me and act as if you are sick. The donkey protested, “You do not know the actual reason, why I am working hard, so you are speaking nonsense.”

“What is the reason?” the bull inquired.

The donkey said, “Once I heard our master chastising his daughter and saying that “I am going to get you married to this donkey, one day.” So, in order to impress the master, I am working so hard. And I know that if I remain dedicated to my work then one day, I will get to marry his beautiful daughter.” 

Soon the master came and the donkey although tired, limping, frothing from the mouth went to work hard with a hope that he will one day marry the beautiful daughter of his cruel master. This hope motivated him to work harder.  

Why are we not experiencing eternal joy?

The same hope you and I also carry in our heart. All the materialists of the world have the same hope. Everyone thinks that a day will come when they will be able to fulfil their dream and become happy forever.

But an intelligent and thoughtful person understands the futility of such hope.  They understand that whatever little pleasures which this world offers never satiates the heart. On the contrary, it becomes the cause of great distress.

Srimad Bhagavatam says, “Material desire is undoubtedly the cause of the greatest unhappiness, and freedom from such desire is the cause of the greatest happiness.” Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 11.8.44

So, does it mean that we are forever forbidden to experience eternal joy in our life? Not at all. In fact, to be happy is our eternal fundamental right. The only reason we are not attaining it because we are looking to get it from the wrong source.

Since, we are souls, we are spiritual and not material. So, we should seek spiritual pleasures. Krishna is the source of all transcendental ecstasy, ānanda-dughaṁ, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.29.3.

What happens when we bring Krishna in our life?

Understanding this reality, we should pursue Krishna in our life.  In Nectar of Instruction, Verse 7, Srila Rupa Goswami says, “The holy name, character, pastimes and activities of Kṛṣṇa are all transcendentally sweet like sugar candy.”

This sweetness, we too can experience if we add Krishna in our life. Just as by watering the root of a tree its branches, twig, leaves, flowers automatically get nourished. Similarly, by engaging in the service of Krishna, we will automatically feel joyful because Krishna is the source of our origin. He is the root, we his parts and parcels.

Also, Krishna’s presence can save us from different kinds of disturbances which keeps causing great fear in our heart. Just like in a forest, fire starts automatically from anywhere, similarly many times miseries enter in our lives at any time without any invitation.

But Krishna’s shower of mercy can give us relief from all sufferings. As deer tremble in fear of lions, material miseries fear in front of Krishna and quickly flees away.  We all aspire for a life free from suffering and full of happiness. Krishna offers such a life. He promises this in Bhagavad Gita.

“O scion of Bharata, surrender unto Him utterly. By His grace you will attain transcendental peace and the supreme and eternal abode.” Bhagavad Gita 18.62

Experience the change by making Krishna Conscious Resolution this New Year

In the beginning of New Year, we have always made non Krishna Conscious resolutions. And have failed to get what our heart actually looks for. So, this year let us do something different, let us make Krishna Conscious New Year Resolution. Let us take a vow to bring Krishna in our life. Let us make him the centre of our life.

And instead of pursuing material pleasures, this year let us engage our mind, body and words in a way which gives pleasure to Krishna. It is said that the taste of the pudding lies in tasting it. So, let us try to taste the pleasure which scriptures promises we get when we become Krishna Conscious.

Let us offer this New Year to Krishna and experience how it changes our life for good.

To be Krishna Conscious whole year, make a resolution to do the following things:

• Chant at least two rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra – Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
• Daily read Bhagavad Gita of Srila Prabhupada for at least 30 minutes.
• Visit nearby Iskcon temple at least once a week preferably in the morning so that you can attend morning arati and Srimad Bhagavatam Class in the temple. If not possible in the morning then visit in the evening and attend Gaur Arati. Or whatever time suits you and is practically possible but please do visit the temple and take darshan of the deities.
• Also, join a weekly program conducted by devotees in your area.

These activities won’t take much time and whatever little time it takes is worth giving. And also do not forget to go to temple early in the morning on 1st Jan.

These Krishna Conscious activities will bring auspiciousness in life and make entire year a blissful year. So, this year please do make a Krishna Conscious resolution.

Desires Determine Destiny: Be Careful of Your Desires

Our desires determine our destiny. Right desires bring glory and wrong desires bring infamy.

Can we think of any moment when our heart had no desire? If we introspect, we will find that we always carry some desire in our heart. Some desires are too strong, and some are milder. It does not depend on whether we are young or old, rich or poor, we always look for something in our life.

If we have no desire, then we are like stones.

So, it is important that we cultivate right desires. And it is equally important that we weed out wrong desires from our heart. Our suffering is directly proportional to the kind of desires we choose to have in our heart.

So, we should carefully analyse our life and see if our desires and the activities we are doing to fulfil those desires is bringing happiness or is making us miserable. Many times, we continue with our old wrong desire because we do not pause for a moment and reflect on our life.

Prostitute Piṅgalā becomes Peaceful Pingala

Srimad Bhagavatam tells the story of a lady, Pingala, who by giving up wrong desires attained peace. She was a prostitute. One evening she dressed herself gorgeously and decorated herself with beautiful ornaments. She thought that if she will look attractive then she will be able to attract wealthy men who will satisfy her physically and pay her good amount of money.

With this desire she went outside her house trying to entice men.

But unfortunately, no one came to her. She tried hard but still no one even looked at her. She felt disgusted, became morose. But she also became thoughtful. She began contemplating on the desires she carried in her heart.

Piṅgalā understood that because of lusty desire, she is suffering and torturing herself.

She thought, “I am living in illusion that lust will gratify me, but it has never made me happy. It has always made me miserable but foolishly I try again and again to fulfil my lusty desires. Instead of desiring to enjoy with others, if I just desire to serve the lotus feet of the Lord then all my miseries will go away.”  

As soon as her heart enlightened with this thought she became peaceful and felt relief from the miseries she was experiencing within.

“Material desire is undoubtedly the cause of the greatest unhappiness, and freedom from such desire is the cause of the greatest happiness. Therefore, completely cutting off her desire to enjoy so-called lovers, Piṅgalā very happily went to sleep.” Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.8.44

We fear giving up material desires

We are also suffering because we have chosen to nurture wrong desires in our heart. So, like Pingala, we should carefully identify the desires which are causing us great pain and with determination we should give it up.

Giving up lower desires become easy when we cultivate higher desires which gives us higher taste, paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate, Bhagavad Gita 2.59. Initially we many find it difficult to say goodbye to bad desires.

Just like a drug addict fear giving up drug thinking that he cannot live without it. Similarly, many times we fear giving up bad desires fearing that without it we cannot live it.

I remember seeing a video of the people in drug rehabilitation centre. One of the inmates was sharing his experience that he could not think of a day living without drugs. He thought that if he will not take drugs then he won’t survive. He could not believe that he can live without it.

But there are millions of people who live without even touching drugs. But this person was thinking that he will die without drugs.

Similarly, we are also addicted to material desires. And we think that we will die without those desires. So, when we are asked to give it up then we are fearful.

How it becomes possible to fearlessly give up material desires?

Now, for a drug addict it becomes easy to give up addiction in a rehabilitation centre because the expert doctors treat them and in the association of those who are trying to give up addiction, they also feel encouraged to give up his habit.

Similarly, giving up wrong desires become easy when we associate with those who do not have any material desires in their heart. The saintly people who are always absorbed in chanting and serving the Lord does not carry an iota of worldly desires in their heart.

If we associate with such souls, then it becomes easy for us to understand that we can live safely without material desires. And when we see them happily serving the Lord then we become convinced that we can be happy without worldly desires.

Also, because of their purity and expertise in scriptural knowledge they can expertly guide us in transcending those desires which gives us great suffering.

Examples of those who changed their destiny by giving up material desires

There are so many examples of people who were able to give up all abominable activities which they had developed because of cultivating wrong desires by associating with great souls.

In recent times, we have examples of hippies who were indulging in so many sinful activities. They were drug addicts, had illicit relationships with members of opposite gender, ate non vegetarian food and so on.

But when they began associating with Srila Prabhupada then they were able to quickly give up all wrong habits. Earlier they had the desire to enjoy materially as much as possible. But by being with Srila Prabhupada they could clearly understand that material desires are not taking them anywhere.

Change destiny by flooding heart with spiritual desires.

In fact, such longings are the cause of great pain and lamentation. Instead, if heart is flooded with spiritual desires and longs always to serve the Lord and his devotees then one experiences great pleasure.

Because of Srila Prabhupada’s association and guidance these hippies became great devotees of Krishna. Their future was bleak, destiny was to suffer, but by nurturing right desires they changed their destinty. Many of them have become sannyasis and are travelling all over the world spreading the glories of Krishna, making people devotees of Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada established Iskcon, so that like-minded people can come together and get purified by chanting the names of Krishna and by serving Krishna. In Iskcon temples, we get an opportunity to associate with spiritually minded people who are sincerely trying to serve the Lord.

Iskcon is a great gift of Srila Prabhupada to entire humanity.

At Iskcon, in the association of spiritually surcharged devotees it becomes easy to cultivate spiritual desires and also it is easy to give up material desires. Also, if we regularly read the books of Srila Prabhupada and hear his lectures then it also helps us to purge our heart of sinful desires.

Srila Prabhupada’s teachings help us to understand that how material desires bind us in this world and gives us great trouble. And we also understand how to develop spiritual desires.

So, like the fortunate hippies who got association of Srila Prabhupada, we too will be able to change our destiny by having spiritual desires in our heart.

Once our heart will get flooded with spiritual desires and we start experiencing happiness in serving the Lord then all our miseries will vanish just like darkness disappears as soon as the sun rises.

We will then attain perfection and will be always joyful.

खुश रहने के लिए सदैव कृष्णभावनामृत रहें

यदि हम कृष्णभावनामृत नव वर्ष की योजना बनाते हैं, तो पूरे वर्ष कृष्ण हमारे साथ रहेंगे। और यदि कृष्ण सदैव हमारे साथ हैं तो हमारा जीवन शांति और आनंद से भरा रहेगा।

हर साल, हम इस उम्मीद के साथ नए साल का स्वागत करते हैं कि आने वाला साल अधिक शांति और अधिक खुशियाँ लेकर आएगा। हम भगवान से प्रार्थना करते हैं कि पिछले वर्ष में हमें जो कष्ट सहना पड़ा, वह नए वर्ष में दोबारा न दोहराया जाए। राष्ट्रीयता, लिंग, धर्म, जाति या पंथ से परे हर कोई यही चाहता है। आखिर ऐसा क्यों? क्योंकि यह हमारी स्वाभाविक संवैधानिक स्थिति है.

हम आत्मा हैं और आत्मा के रूप में हम सच्चिदानंद अर्थात् शाश्वत, आनंदमय और ज्ञान से परिपूर्ण हैं। आनंदित रहना हमारा मौलिक अधिकार है। हम सभी दुख से घृणा करते हैं, और हम सावधानीपूर्वक दुख से मुक्त जीवन की योजना बनाते हैं।

अनचाहे दुख का कारण

लेकिन हमारी तमाम कोशिशों और योजनाओं के बावजूद दुख परछाई की तरह हमारा पीछा करते हैं। दरअसल, कभी-कभी हमारी परछाई भी हमारा साथ छोड़ देती है। उदाहरण के लिए, अंधेरे में हम बिल्कुल अकेले हैं।

लेकिन दुख हमारा पीछा कभी नहीं छोड़ते। क्या यहाँ कोई है जो दुःख से मुक्त है? क्या कोई ऐसा व्यक्ति है जिसे कभी कोई बीमारी नहीं हुई या जिसने अपने प्रियजनों को हमेशा के लिए नहीं खोया हो? उत्तर स्पष्ट है।

वास्तव में, यदि हम जीवन का विचारपूर्वक विश्लेषण करें तो हम देखेंगे कि जो यहां जितना अधिक आनंद लेने का प्रयास करता है, उसे उतना ही अधिक कष्ट उठाना पड़ता है। उदाहरण के लिए, मान लीजिए कि एक पारिवारिक व्यक्ति है, जो अपने परिवार की अच्छी तरह से देखभाल करता है, अपनी पत्नी और बच्चों से बहुत ज्यादा जुड़ा हुआ है तो क्या वह खुशी का अनुभव कर रहा है? उत्तर है, हाँ। लेकिन अहम सवाल यह है कि वह कब तक खुश रहेगा?

क्या वह हमेशा अपनी पत्नी और बच्चों के साथ रहेगा?  उसे कैसा महसूस होगा जब या तो उसकी पत्नी या बच्चे उसे छोड़ देंगे, या वह अपनी पत्नी और बच्चों से घिरा हुआ मृत्यु शय्या पर होगा? मात्र विचार ही हमें भय से काँपने पर मजबूर कर देता है। लेकिन यह घटना निश्चित रूप से घटित होने वाली है, चाहे कोई चाहे या न चाहे। तो फिर ख़ुशी कहाँ है?

यहां जो भी सुख मिलता है उसकी एक समाप्ति तिथि होती है।

यहां हम अपने जीवन का आनंद लेने के लिए बहुत सारी योजनाएं बनाते हैं। हम अपनी इंद्रियों – आंख, कान, जीभ, नाक, त्वचा – को आनंद देने की पूरी कोशिश करते हैं। हम फ़िल्मी गाने सुनते हैं, फ़िल्में देखते हैं, खेल खेलते हैं, स्वादिष्ट भोजन खाते हैं, सुंदर स्थानों पर जाते हैं।

इंद्रियाँ दुख का कारण कैसे बनती हैं?

ये सब हम खुश रहने के लिए करते हैं। परंतु ये भोग कोई स्थायी सुख नहीं देते। दरअसल, कई बार इंद्रियों को तृप्त करने की चाहत ही बड़े दुख का कारण बन जाती है। 

उदाहरण के लिए, एक हिरण को तब पकड़कर मार दिया जाता है जब उसके कान शिकारी के संगीत से मोहित हो जाते हैं। एक मछली तब पकड़ी जाती है जब उसकी जीभ मछुआरे के काँटे से लटके भोजन का आनंद लेने की कोशिश करती है।

जब नर हाथी मादा हाथी की त्वचा को छूने के लिए पागल हो जाता है तो उसे पकड़कर गुलाम बना लिया जाता है। एक पतंगा जब आग से निकलने वाली रोशनी की ओर आकर्षित होता है तो वह जिंदा जल जाता है।

यदि हमारी इन्द्रियाँ हमारे वश में नहीं हैं तो जानवरों की तरह हम भी दुःख भोगते हैं

केवल जानवर ही कष्ट नहीं उठाते क्योंकि वे इंद्रियों के वश में हैं, बल्कि हम भी कष्ट भोगते हैं यदि हम अपनी इंद्रियों को तृप्त करने में लगे रहते हैं। हमारी कोई भी इंद्रिय हमारे पतन का कारण बन सकती है।

कृष्ण ने भगवद गीता 2.67 में इसकी पुष्टि की है, “जैसे तेज हवा पानी में नाव को उड़ा ले जाती है, वैसे ही इंद्रियों में से एक भी, जिस पर मन केंद्रित होता है, मनुष्य की बुद्धि को उड़ा ले जा सकती है।”

इस संसार में सभी सुख क्षणभंगुर हैं और हमारे हृदय को तृप्त नहीं करते। और सबसे महत्वपूर्ण बात यह है कि हम हमेशा इस डर में रहते हैं कि किसी भी समय कुछ भी गलत हो सकता है। हम सभी ने इसका अनुभव किया है।

और सबसे घृणित तथ्य यह है कि हमारी तमाम योजनाओं और प्रयासों के बावजूद हम यहां कष्ट झेलने को मजबूर हैं। तो, एक बुद्धिमान प्राणी होने के नाते क्या हमारे लिए यह जानना महत्वपूर्ण नहीं है कि हम यहाँ हमेशा खुश क्यों नहीं रहते? अथवा हमारे दुःख का मूल कारण क्या है?

दुख का मूल कारण

उत्तर जटिल नहीं है. यह आसान है। चूँकि हम आत्मा हैं, हम आध्यात्मिक हैं। तो, यदि हम आध्यात्मिक हैं तो हम इस संसार की भौतिक चीज़ों से कैसे खुश रह सकते हैं?

हमारे सभी प्रयास हमारे शरीर को आनंद देने के लिए हैं, जो अस्थायी है और अंततः नष्ट हो जाता है। और चूँकि हम शाश्वत आत्माएँ हैं, तो हम इस संसार की अस्थायी चीज़ों से कैसे खुश रह सकते हैं?

एक आत्मा के रूप में हम कभी नहीं मरते। परन्तु इस संसार में हमें आपके अस्थायी शरीर को बार-बार त्यागना पड़ता है। तो क्या हम खुश रह सकते हैं, अगर हमें बार-बार यहीं मरना पड़े?

यही कारण है कि वैदिक साहित्य हमें बताता है कि हमें इस अस्थायी दुनिया के प्रति बहुत अधिक आसक्त नहीं होना चाहिए। लेकिन हमें आध्यात्मिक दुनिया में वापस लौटने की योजना बनानी चाहिए जो हमारा मूल घर है। आध्यात्मिक दुनिया में, हम मरते नहीं हैं। वहां हमें कष्ट नहीं होता.

शाश्वत रिश्ते की तलाश करें

ठीक वैसे ही जैसे इस भौतिक संसार में, हमारे रिश्ते हैं। इसी तरह, आध्यात्मिक जगत में भी हमारा रिश्ता है। लेकिन दुर्भाग्य से इस दुनिया में सभी रिश्ते अस्थायी हैं। लेकिन आध्यात्मिक दुनिया में, सभी रिश्ते शाश्वत हैं। और हमारा सबसे महत्वपूर्ण रिश्ता कृष्ण से है।

वास्तव में हम कृष्ण के हैं। हम कृष्ण के अंश हैं। कृष्ण हमारी उत्पत्ति का स्रोत हैं और वे हमारे अस्तित्व का कारण महद्योनिरहं बीजप्रद: पिता, भगवद गीता 14.4। लेकिन दुर्भाग्य से, हम कृष्ण के साथ अपने रिश्ते को भूल गए हैं, तो हम कैसे खुश रह सकते हैं?

इस संसार में भी हम देखते हैं कि यदि कोई बच्चा अपने पिता से अलग हो जाता है तो उसे कठिन जीवन जीना पड़ता है। इसी प्रकार, जब हम अपने आध्यात्मिक पिता से अलग हो गए हैं, तो हम यहाँ कैसे खुश रह सकते हैं?

सभी कष्टों का स्थायी समाधान

इसलिए, यदि हम अपने सभी दुखों का स्थायी समाधान ढूंढ रहे हैं तो हमें सबसे पहले यह पता लगाना चाहिए कि हमारी आत्मा की आवश्यकता क्या है। आत्मा को कृष्ण की आवश्यकता है।

जिस प्रकार एक खोया हुआ बच्चा अपने पिता से पुनः मिल कर अनेक कष्टों से मुक्ति पाता है। इसी प्रकार, जब हम कृष्ण के साथ अपना संबंध पुनः स्थापित करेंगे तो हमें सभी कष्टों से मुक्ति मिल जाएगी।

दरअसल, हमसे ज्यादा कृष्ण चाहते हैं कि हम उनके पास आएं। यही कारण है कि कृष्ण आध्यात्मिक जगत से आते हैं। उनका उद्देश्य हमें अपने राज्य में वापस आमंत्रित करना है। कुरुक्षेत्र के युद्ध के मैदान में अर्जुन से बात करते हुए, वह कहते हैं कि यदि कोई उनकी शरण लेता है तो वह सभी कष्टों से मुक्त हो जाएगा, भगवद गीता 18.66।

और वह यह भी कहते हैं कि एक बार जब हम उनकी दुनिया में वापस चले जाएंगे तो हम दोबारा इस दुनिया में नहीं आएंगे जो दुखों से भरी है, भगवद गीता 8.15। ये निमंत्रण कृष्ण ने हम सबको दिया है.

संकोच न करें, कृष्ण का निमंत्रण स्वीकार करें

यदि हम सभी कष्टों से मुक्ति चाहते हैं तो हमें कृष्ण को अपने जीवन में लाना चाहिए। नए साल का स्वागत करते समय हमें इस भ्रम में नहीं रहना चाहिए कि भौतिक चीजें हमारे जीवन में खुशियां लाएंगी। अगर हम अपने जीवन में खुशियां लाना चाहते हैं तो इस नए वर्ष में हमें कृष्ण के निमंत्रण को दिल से स्वीकार करना चाहिए और सदैव कृष्णभावनामृत रहना चाहिए।

अगर हम अपने जीवन में खुश रहना चाहते हैं तो इस नए वर्ष में हमें कृष्णभावनामृत बनना चाहिए।

चिरस्थायी शांति और खुशी के लिए, हमें कृष्ण के साथ अपने रिश्ते को पुनर्जीवित करना चाहिए जो सभी सुखों का स्रोत हैं। यदि हम हमेशा कृष्णभावनामृत रहते हैं, तो हम हमेशा खुश रहेंगे, यहां तक ​​कि इस दुनिया में भी और जब हम आध्यात्मिक दुनिया में वापस आएंगे।

लेकिन अगर हम नए वर्ष में कृष्णभावनामृत नहीं हुए तो हमें अपने जीवन में संघर्ष करना पड़ेगा।

Plan for a Krishna Conscious New Year

If we plan for a Krishna Conscious New Year, then throughout the year Krishna will be with us. And if Krishna is with us always then our life will be full of peace and bliss.

Every Year, we welcome New Year with a hope that the coming year will bring more peace and more happiness. And we pray to Lord that the miseries which we underwent through in the outgoing year is not repeated again in the New Year. 

This is what everyone looks for irrespective of nationalities, gender, religion, caste or creed. But why so? Because this is our natural constitutional position.

We are souls and as souls we are sac-cid-ānanda i.e. eternal, blissful and full of knowledge. Being blissful is our fundamental right. We all despise misery, and we meticulously plan for a life free from pain.

The cause of unwanted suffering

But in spite of all our efforts and plan miseries follow us like a shadow. In fact, our shadow leaves our company sometimes. For example, in darkness, we are all alone. But miseries never leave us. 

Is there anyone who is free from suffering here? Is there anyone who never had any disease or has not lost his loved ones forever? The answer is obvious.

In fact, if we thoughtfully analyse life, we will see that the more one tries to enjoy here the more one suffers. For example, suppose that there is a family man, who takes care of his family nicely, is too attached to his wife and children then is he experiencing happiness? The answer is yes. But the important question is, how long will he be happy?

Is he going to live with his wife and children forever? So, how will he feel when either his wife or children leaves him, or he is on the deathbed surrounded by his loving wife and children? The mere thought makes us shudder with fear. But this event is surely going to occur whether anyone wants it or not. So, where is the happiness?

Whatever happiness one experiences here has an expiry date.

Now, here we make so many plans to enjoy our life. We do our best to give pleasure to our senses – eyes, ears, tongue, nose, skin. We listen movie songs, watch movies, play sports, eat delicious food, go to exotic locations.

All this we do to become happy. But these indulgences do not give any lasting happiness. In fact, many times the desire to gratify senses become the cause of great suffering. 

How senses become the cause of suffering?

For example, a deer is caught and killed when its ears get captivated by the music of the hunter’s horn. A fish is caught when its tongue tries to enjoy the food hanging from the fisherman’s hook.

A male elephant is caught and enslaved when it becomes mad to touch the skin of the female elephant. A moth burns itself alive when its eyes get attracted to the light emanating from fire.

Not just the animals suffer because they give in to their senses, but we too suffer if we are engrossed in gratifying our senses.  Any of our senses can become the cause of our great downfall. 

Krishna confirms this in Bhagavad Gita 2.67, “As a strong wind sweeps away a boat on the water, even one of the roaming senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a man’s intelligence.”

In this world all pleasures are flickering and does not satiate our heart. And most importantly, we always live in the fear that anything wrong can happen at any moment. We all have experienced this.

And the most disgusting fact is that in spite of all our plans and efforts, we are forced to suffer here. So, as an intelligent species is it not important for us to figure out why we are never always happy here? Or what is the root cause of our suffering?

Understanding the root cause of our suffering

The answer is not complicated. Its simple. Since, we are souls, we are spiritual. So, if we are spiritual then how can we be happy with the material things of this world?

All our efforts are to give pleasure to our body which is temporary, and which ultimately dies. And since we are eternal souls, so how can we be happy with the temporary things of this world? 

As a soul we never die. But in this world, we have to give up our temporary body again and again. So, can we be happy, if we are forced to die?

This is why the wisdom literatures tell us that we should not be too obsessed with this temporary world.  But we should plan to return back to the spiritual world which is our original home. In the spiritual world, we do not die. There we do not suffer.

Just like in this material world, we have relationships. Similarly, in the spiritual world, we have relationship. But unfortunately, in this world, all relationships are temporary. But in the spiritual world, all relationships are forever. And our most important relationship is with Krishna. 

In fact, we belong to Krishna. We are his parts and parcel.  Krishna is the source of our origin and he the cause of our existence, ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā, Bhagavad Gita 14.4. But unfortunately, we have forgotten and given up our relationship with Krishna, so how can we be happy?

Even in this world, we see that if a child gets separated from his biological father, he has to lead a difficult life. Similarly, since we have got separated from our original spiritual father, so how can we be happy here? 

The permanent solution for all suffering

So, if we are looking for permanent solution to all our miseries then we should first find out what is the need of our soul. Soul needs Krishna. Just as a lost child attains relief from so many sufferings as he is reunited with his father.

Similarly, we will attain freedom from all suffering when we reestablish our relationship with Krishna.

In fact, more than us Krishna wants us to come to him. This is why he descends from the spiritual world. His purpose is to invite us back to his kingdom. While speaking to Arjuna at the battlefield of Kurukshetra, he says that if anyone takes his shelter then one will be free from all the sufferings, Bhagavad Gita 18.66.

And also, he says that once we go back to his world then we will not again come to this world which is full of suffering, Bhagavad Gita 8.15. Krishna has given this open invitation to all of us.

If we want freedom from all sufferings, then we should bring Krishna in our life. We should plan our life in such a way that we are always Krishna Conscious. While welcoming New Year, let us not be in any illusion that material things will bring happiness in our life.

If we want to celebrate our life then this New Year, we should become Krishna Conscious.

For everlasting peace and happiness, we should revive our relationship with Krishna who is the source of all the pleasures. If we are always Krishna Conscious, we will always be happy, even in this world and when we will be back in the spiritual world. 

But if we are not conscious of Krishna then we will have to struggle in our life again and again.

अर्जुन ने कृष्ण से पूछा, मुझे महाभारत का युद्ध क्यों लड़ना चाहिए?

जब कृष्ण अर्जुन को महाभारत युद्ध लड़ने के लिए कहते हैं तो अर्जुन परेशान हो जाता है। वह सोचता है कि कृष्ण ने समझाया है कि मैं यह शरीर नहीं बल्कि आत्मा हूं। और एक आत्मा के रूप में मैं आध्यात्मिक हूं और कृष्ण से शाश्वत रूप से संबंधित हूं। यह शरीर और इस शरीर से संबंधित सभी रिश्ते अस्थायी हैं।

तो, कृष्ण क्यों चाहते हैं कि मैं इस भौतिक संसार की किसी गतिविधि में शामिल होऊं? यदि मैं युद्ध जीत भी जाऊं तो क्या लाभ? क्योंकि अंततः, मुझे यह शरीर छोड़ना ही होगा, तो इस सांसारिक चक्कर में अपना समय क्यों बर्बाद करूं?

अर्जुन ने कहा: हे जनार्दन, हे केशव, यदि आप सोचते हैं कि बुद्धि सकाम कर्म से बेहतर है तो आप मुझे इस भयानक युद्ध में क्यों शामिल करना चाहते हैं? भगवत गीता 3.1

इस प्रश्न ने कुरुक्षेत्र के युद्ध के मैदान में अर्जुन को भ्रमित कर दिया और यह कृष्ण की भक्ति शुरू करने वाले भक्तों को भी भ्रमित कर देता है।

हम अर्जुन की तरह अपने कर्तव्यों को लेकर भ्रमित हो जाते हैं

मुझे याद है कि मेरे कॉलेज के दिनों में जब मेरा परिचय कृष्ण भावनामृत से हुआ था तब मेरे मन में भी यही प्रश्न था। मुझे पढ़ाई क्यों करनी चाहिए? अध्ययन का उद्देश्य क्या है? अच्छे अंक लाने से क्या फायदा? और जब मैंने अपने साथ पढ़ने वाले अन्य भक्त मित्रों से बात की तो उनके भी यही विचार थे।

कृष्ण चेतना में आने से पहले, हम सफलता और नाम और प्रसिद्धि के लिए कड़ी मेहनत करना चाहते हैं। लेकिन जब हम कृष्ण की भक्ति में आते हैं, तो हमें समझ में आने लगता है कि सांसारिक इच्छा कितनी व्यर्थ है। क्योंकि कोई भी भौतिक वस्तु टिकाऊ नहीं होती और सबसे महत्वपूर्ण बात यह है कि वह कभी भी आत्मा को कोई सुख नहीं देती।

इसलिए, हम सोचने लगते हैं कि सभी भौतिक कर्तव्यों से विरत रहना ही बेहतर है। यही विचार अर्जुन ने भी किया था, महाभारत का युद्ध क्यों लड़े?

अपने कर्तव्यों को कभी मत छोड़ो

लेकिन अर्जुन भाग्यशाली था कि उसके साथ कृष्ण थे। और कृष्ण ने अर्जुन को समझाया कि मानव जीवन का उद्देश्य हृदय से सभी अशुद्धियों को शुद्ध करना और आध्यात्मिक दुनिया में वापस लौटना है। अशुद्ध हृदय से हम इच्छित मंजिल प्राप्त नहीं कर सकते। जब हम अपने कर्तव्यों में लग जाते हैं तो हृदय की सारी गंदगी साफ करना आसान हो जाता है। इसलिए, कृष्ण ने अर्जुन से युद्ध का अपना कर्तव्य न छोड़ने के लिए कहा।

अर्जुन एक क्षत्रिय थे और इसलिए उनका कर्तव्य धर्म की स्थापना के लिए महाभारत युद्ध लड़ना था। इसी प्रकार, एक छात्र के रूप में, एक कामकाजी पेशेवर के रूप में, एक गृहिणी के रूप में हमारे भी निर्धारित कर्तव्य हैं। इसलिए हमें अपनी जिम्मेदारियों से भागना नहीं चाहिए।

लेकिन इसका मतलब यह नहीं है कि हमें केवल अपने निर्धारित कर्तव्यों में ही लगे रहना चाहिए। यह महत्वपूर्ण है कि हमें अपना कर्तव्य निभाते हुए निरंतर कृष्ण का स्मरण करना चाहिए। क्योंकि अगर हम ऐसा करते हैं तो हम हमेशा कृष्ण भावनामृत में रहेंगे।

इस दुनिया में कैसे काम करें?

बाह्य रूप से हम जो कर रहे हैं और भौतिकवादी जो कर रहे हैं वे एक जैसे ही दिख सकते हैं। लेकिन अंदरूनी तौर पर बहुत फर्क होगा.

उदाहरण के लिए, अर्जुन भी लड़ रहा था और दुर्योधन भी लड़ रहा था लेकिन अर्जुन कृष्ण को केंद्र में रखकर लड़ रहा था और दुर्योधन अपने स्वार्थ के लिए लड़ रहा था। इसलिए, हमें अर्जुन के नक्शेकदम पर चलना चाहिए, दुर्योधन के नहीं।

यदि हम ऐसा करेंगे तो अर्जुन की तरह हम भी अपने जीवन में विजयी होंगे। और कृष्ण हम पर प्रसन्न होंगे. साथ ही, कृष्ण को अपने हृदय में रखकर अपना कर्तव्य करने से हमारा हृदय सभी अशुद्धियों से शुद्ध हो जाएगा। एक बार जब हमारा हृदय शुद्ध हो जाता है, तो हम पूर्णता प्राप्त कर लेंगे और आध्यात्मिक दुनिया में वापस लौटने के योग्य बन जायेंगे।

Arjuna asks Krishna, why should I fight the Mahabharat war?

When Krishna asks Arjuna to fight the Mahabharat war then Arjuna is perturbed. He thinks that Krishna has explained that I am not this body but a soul. And as a soul I am spiritual and eternally related to Krishna. This body and all the relationships pertaining to this body is temporary.

So, why does Krishna want me to engage in any activity in this material world? Even if I win the war then what is the gain? Because ultimately, I will have to leave this body, so why to waste my time in this mundane affair?

Arjuna said: O Janārdana, O Keśava, why do You want to engage me in this ghastly warfare, if You think that intelligence is better than fruitive work? Bhagavad Gita 3.1

This question confused Arjuna at the battlefield of Kurukshetra and this also confuses devotees who begin practicing Krishna Consciousness.

Like Arjuna we get confused about our prescribed duties

I remember in my college days when I got introduced to Krishna Consciousness then I also had the same question. Why should I study? What is the purpose of study? What is the benefit of getting good marks? And when I spoke to other devotee friends studying with me, they too had the same thoughts.

Before coming to Krishna consciousness, we want to work hard for success and for name and fame. But when we come to Krishna Consciousness, we start understanding how futile is mundane desire. Because nothing material is sustainable and most importantly, it never gives any pleasure to the soul.

So, we start thinking that better to refrain from all material duties. The same thought Arjuna had. Why to fight the Mahabharat war?

Never give up your prescribed duties

But Arjuna was fortunate that he had with him Krishna. And Krishna explained to Arjuna that the purpose of human life is to cleanse the heart of all the impurities and return back to the spiritual world. With impure heart we won’t attain the desired destination. Cleaning heart of all the dirt becomes easy when we engage in our prescribed duties. So, Krishna asks Arjuna to not give up his prescribed duty of fighting.

Arjuna was a kshatriya and so his duty was to fight the Mahabharat war to establish dharma. Similarly, we also have our prescribed duties as a student, as a working professional, as a housewife. So, we should not run away from our responsibilities.

But it does not mean that we should only be engaged in our prescribed duties. It is important that while doing our duty we should constantly remember Krishna. Because if we do so then we will always be in Krishna Consciousness.

How to work in this world?

Externally what we are doing and what the materialists are doing may look the same. But internally there will be an ocean of difference.

For example, Arjuna was fighting and also Duryodhana was fighting but Arjuna was fighting by keeping Krishna in the centre and Duryodhana was fighting for his selfish desire. So, we should follow the footsteps of Arjuna and not of Duryodhana.

If we do so, then like Arjuna we will also be victorious in our life. And Krishna will be pleased with us. Also, by doing our duty by keeping Krishna in our heart, our heart will get cleansed of all the impurities. Once our heart becomes pure, we will attain perfection and become eligible to return back to the kingdom of Krishna.

Life & Teachings of Sripad Ramanujacharya

Sripad Ramanujacharya is the founder acharya of the Sri Sampradaya, the school of Vaisnavism or Visnu worship which traces its roots to Lakshmidevi or Sri, the eternal consort of Lord Visnu.

The acharya appears

Sri Ramanujacharya, is an incarnation of Sri Lakshmana, the younger brother of Lord Rama. He appeared in the month of Caitra (April-May) in 1017 AD to Asuri Kesavacharya and Kantimati in the village of Bhutapuri (presently known as Sri Perambudur).

Sailapurna, an exalted devotee and disciple of Yamunacharya, named him Ramanuja which means “younger (anuja) brother of Lord Rama”.  He married to Rakshambal at the age of 16.

After his father’s demise, he moved to Kancipuram along with his family. In Kanchipuram he joined the school of Yadavaprakasa. Yadavaprakasa was a renowned Vedic scholar but he was a Mayavadi.

Ramanuja soon started exposing the hollowness and inaccuracies of Mayavada philosophy   which infuriated Yadavaprakasa.  The relationship had deteriorated so much that once Yadavaprakasa decided to kill Ramanuja but he was miraculously saved by Lord Vardraj.

Unique rendezvous with Yamunacharya

Yamunacharya, one of the foremost acharya of Sri Vaisnavism, once saw Ramanuja and he immediately understood that Ramanuja is the one who is going to revive Vaisnavism and will play a major role in uprooting Mayavada philosophy.

Yamunacharya asked his disciple Mahapurna to bring Ramanuja. Upon hearing that the great Yamunacharya had invited him, Ramanuja immediately left for Sri Ranagam along with Mahapurna. But by the time they arrived the great sage had left this world for the spiritual abode.

In front of the great sage’s spiritual body hundreds of his disciples and scores of admirers were mourning. However, there was something unique which everyone was observing, Yamunacharya’s three fingers of the right hand was tightly closed. Ramanuja through his spiritual prowess understood Yamuncharya’s heart and he took three vows:

1. I will spread the message of Lord Vishnu and worship Him with unflinching devotion. 
2. I will write Sri Bhasya, commentary on Vedanta sutra to establish the supremacy of Lord Vishnu.
3. I will name one of my disciples after Parasara Muni, the great sage and writer of Vishnu Purana. 

To the utter surprise of all, Yamunacharya’s three closed fingers opened one by one as Ramanuja took the three vows.

The Mission Begins

Ramanuja now had a new mission of his life. He soon took initiation from Mahapurna, later he took sannyas and upon the request of many devotees became the successor of Yamuncharya at Sri Rangam.

His exemplary life, extraordinary devotion, philosophy and prolific writings brought a revolution, tens and thousands of people became his followers.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the acharyas of Brahma Madhava Gaudiya Sampradaya have always extolled the contribution of Sri Ramanujacharya. Both the sampradays – the Brahma-Madhava Gaudiya sampradaya and Sri Sampradaya –  emphasizes on selfless, unconditional, unmotivated and uninterrupted devotion to the Lord.

Srila Prabhupada has quoted Ramanuja profusely in his teachings and writings and have recommended us to study his life and advised us to follow his footsteps.

Few of the incidents discussed below allows us to understand the mood and mission of the great acharya.

Service to the devotees

Ramanujacharya emphasized that when we serve the devotees without any discrimination then it attracts the mercy of the Supreme Lord and the great sages.

Once on his way to Tirupati, Ramanujacharya, came to a village where lived a wealthy man who was his disciple. The acharya asked his assistants to go and inform his wealthy disciple that they all will be spending night at his home.

Upon hearing this, the wealthy man was excited. He called all his family members informing them about this exciting news and immediately started making various arrangements so that he could serve his beloved guru opulently.

After delivering the message, the assistants returned and informed Ramanujacharya that his disciple is making elaborate preparations to welcome him. But when Ramanujacharya asked them how they were served the disciples remained mum.

Upon prodding they revealed that they were not offered even a glass of water nor a place to sit.

Ramanujacharya is upset

Ramanujacharya was appalled at the behavior of his rich disciple. He decided not to go to his house.

Instead he decided to visit the house of a poor person who was also his disciple. Ramanujacharya along with his followers arrived at the doorstep of the poor man. It was a humble house.

A pious lady opened the door, her husband was not at home. She was happy to see Ramanujacharya and other devotees. The lady welcomed them, gave them a place to sit and requested them to have prasad. She then rushed to the kitchen. There was nothing in the kitchen to cook.

She was desperately thinking what to do. She remembered a wealthy man who liked her but she had always ignored him. From the other door of the house she went to the man and shamefacedly said that she is ready to fulfill his lusty desires provided he gives her grains, vegetables, spices and other ingredients to cook nice food.

The wealthy man happily agreed to the proposal. A nice feast was cooked. Ramanujacharya and the assembled disciples were pleased.

Meanwhile the husband came and he was pleasantly surprised to see his beloved guru and his godbrothers enjoying sumptuous food. He inquired from his wife, “How did you manage to get these foodstuffs?”

The chaste wife hung her head in shame and told the truth. The husband did not become angry and he was not also upset. He in fact appreciated the sacrifice which she was making to serve the devotees.

Ramanujacharya saves his disciples

Both went to Ramanujacharya and narrated the whole incident. Ramanujacharya asked them not to worry. He asked them to feed his remnants to the wealthy man. And as soon as the rich man ate the prasad, his heart got cleansed of lusty desires.

He realized how filthy his thoughts were, he begged for forgiveness from the noble lady and decided to take shelter of Ramanujacharya.

Ramanujacharya had refused to visit the house of his wealthy disciple because he neglected his god brothers but he was so happy at the humble house of his poor disciples as they were lovingly serving him and also honouring all the other disciples. Ramanujacharya often said, “If you want to please me, please my devotees.”

Celebrating humility

Lord Chaitanya in His Sri Siksastakam prayers underlines that we can chant the holy names of the Lord only when we are humble.

“One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.”

One of the incidents of Ramanuja highlights that how humility is the bedrock of Sri Vaisnavism philoshy.

Once Ramanujacharya decided to visit the temple of Lord Balaji in Tirupati. When Sri Sailapurna, an exalted Vaisnava who was also senior to him in age, heard that Ramanujacharya is coming, he came down from the top of the hill to receive Ramajucharya.

He welcomed him by offering prasad and garland.  Ramanujacharya was surprised, “Why did you come? You are my guru and an esteemed saint. Why did you not send a junior person to receive me?”

Sri Sailapurna said, “I was looking all around Tirumala to find a person junior to me but I could not find anyone. I was the junior most, so I came.” Ramanujacharya understood the lesson.

In the eyes of the Supreme Lord, real greatness is in humility and genuine eagerness to serve all the devotees and be the servant of the servant of all the devotees.

The Spiritual Warrior

This year is very special for all the Vasinavas of the world because this year we are celebrating 1000th birth anniversary of Sri Ramanujacharya.

He lived in this world for 120 years. He established seventy – four centres of Sri Vaisnavas. His followers included 700 sannyasi disciples, 12,000 brahmachari disciples and 300 ladies who had taken the vow of renunciation. 

He influenced the lives of thousands of people including several kings, influential minsters and landlords. The great sage wrote several books. His commentary on Vedanta (Sri Bhasya), commentary on Bhagavad Gita, his Vedanta – Sara and Vedartha-Sangraha are most famous.

He laid down the following guidelines for all the devotees who sincerely and seriously want to practice devotional life:

• Worship all the Vaisnavas daily and associate with them the way you worship your Guru and serve them with firm faith.
• Study the Vedic scriptures reverentially and teach others whom are interested.
• Chant the holy names of the Supreme Lord with devotion and relish the form and qualities of the Lord.

His life was exemplary, his love for the Lord was supreme.  As a spiritual warrior, he established the unadulterated teachings of the Vedic literatures.

To honour this venerable saint, Sri Vaisnavas under the leadership of His Holiness Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji have installed 216 feet statue of Sri Ramanujacharya in Shamshabad, Hyderabad, Telangana. This statue is called as Statue of Equality and it is surrounded by 108 divya – desams.

The Exemplary Life of Yamunacharya

Yamunacharya is one of the greatest spiritual leaders who appeared in 10th century CE in India.

Lord sends his chosen representatives in this world whenever he finds that the pure devotional service unto Him is in danger. Mayavada (monist) philosophy is one such school of thought which puts one’s spiritual life in danger by teaching its practitioners that one ultimately becomes God by merging into the Supreme Brahman.

The philosophy was attracting thousands of people and appeared unconquerable. It was during this period Lord sent Yamunacharya who countered the monist concept effectively, he saved the spiritual life of thousands of people. He laid the foundation for Vishistadvaita philosophy which was later propagated by his disciple Ramanujacharya.

The Vishistadvaita philosophy very emphatically established that the Lord and the living entities are although qualitatively one but are quantitively different and we the living beings can never become God.

Yamuna – a child prodigy

Yamunacharya was born in Madurai in early 10^th century CE to Isvaramuni. His father died when he was just a small child. Yamunacharya lived in poverty and grew up under the care of his mother and grandmother. His grandfather, Nathamuni, was a very learned scholar and a saintly person.

He had renounced the world and had taken sannyas. He was the first person to make available the writings of the alvaras. At the age of five, Yamuna was sent to the ashram of Bhasyacharya for studies, he soon became one of his favourite students. 

During that period lived an erudite scholar named Kolahala. He would challenge others for debate and defeat them easily. The king of the Pandya dynasty appreciated his profound knowledge.

In fact Kolahal had got a law enacted by the king that those who gets defeated by him should pay him tax regularly. Bhasyacharya had also been bested by Kolahala. Once Kolahala’s pupils came to the ashram of Bhasyacharya to collect the tax.

Upon not finding him they inquired from Yamuna who was present in the ashram. Yamuna was then just 12 years old. With immense pride they said, “We are the disciples of Kolahala, the Great. Our guru has defeated your guru but has not paid tax. He should pay tax immediately else be ready for punishment.”

Yamuna challenges Kolahala for debate

Yamuna looked into their eyes and said, “You all are filled with pride and arrogance. I am the youngest student here and I challenge Kolahala for a debate.”  Kolahala’s followers were shocked. 

They immediately went to Kolahala and narrated everything. Hearing that a 12-year-old boy has challenged him Kolahala laughed, the king too laughed. But the king said to Kolahala that he will have to honour the challenge.

The king sent a letter to Yamuna inviting him for the debate. Yamuna wrote back asking the king to send a royal palanquin for him and also during the procession to the court he should be accompanied by military guards and brahmanas chanting mantras. The king agreed.

The Extraordinary debate

People of the entire kingdom were amazed when they heard about the debate. Majority thought that the little boy would be easily defeated. But in their hearts, many including those scholars who had been defeated by Kolahala prayed that Yamuna wins.

Yamuna arrived in court on a palanquin. Scores of people were present to witness this unique debate. Seeing a young boy the king turned to his queen and said, “Just like a cat devours a mouse, Kolahala is going to demolish this boy.” And the queen promptly replied, “Just as a small spark burns a large mountain of cloth to ashes, this little boy is going to demolish the pride of Kolahala”.

The queen further said, “If Kolahala defeats Yamuna then I will become servant of your maidservants.” And the king said, “If little Yamuna wins I will give half of my kingdom to him.”

When Kolahala heard this, he turned towards the queen and sarcastically said, “Alabandara.” The word meant: Is this the person who is going to conquer me? Queen looked back at him and said,”Alabandara.”

The debate begins

Kolahal started asking questions and Yamuna started replying. Kolahal increased the complexity of the questions but Yamuna answered easily with logic and reasoning. The debate went on. Kolahal was trying his best but Yamuna appeared unconquerable.

The assembled audience including the king and the queen could not believe what they were witnessing. After several rounds, Yamuna looked at Kolahal and said disparagingly, “Why are you asking easy questions? Do you think that I am a young boy so I am an inferior scholar than you?” Kolahal was dumbfounded. He said, “You ask the questions.”

Yamuna said, “I will make three propositions and I want you to refute these propositions”

Yamuna then presented following three propositions which Kolahal had to refute. 

Three propositions of Yamuna

• Kolahal’s mother is not a barren woman.
• The king is a righteous man.
• The queen is chaste and faithful to her husband like Savitri.

Kolahala was shocked. He exploded with anger, “You should be killed for putting forth such nonsense and offensive statements.”

Yamuna calmly said, “I will defeat my propositions.”

Yamuna defeats his own propositions

And he said,

• According to scriptures, a woman who has only one child is considered a barren woman. Since Kolahala is the only son of his mother so according to scriptures his mother is barren.
• As per scriptures, a king accepts one sixth of pious and also one sixth of impious deeds of the citizens. In Kaliyuga, people are more sinful than pious. So, although the king is righteous but because he is also accepting the sins he is not righteous.
• According to the scriptures king represents following demigods: Agni, Vayu, Surya, Chandra, Yama, Kuvera, Varuna, and Indra. Although the queen serves her husband faithfully but while serving the king she also serves eight other men simultaneously.

As soon as the queen heard this, she leaped up from the throne and cried out, “Alabandara! You have conquered Kolahala”.  Everyone was applauding. Kolahal’s pride was crushed. The king garlanded Yamuna and gave him half the kingdom.

Yamuna, the king, gets engrossed in worldly affairs

Although he was mere 12 years old but he was a quick learner. He started managing and administering the kingdom efficiently. He expertly organized his military to thwart any attack on the kingdom.

Years passed by and he was completely absorbed in managing the affairs of his kingdom and devising plans to expand his territory.

Meanwhile Nathamuni, his grandfather, had become too old. He was worried because his grandson had forgotten his religious duties and the teachings of the holy scriptures. He asked Ram Mishra, his intimate disciple, to bring Yamuna to the path of pure unalloyed devotional service.

Ram Mishra came to Madurai. He knew that being an unknown person he won’t get an audience with the king. So, he made a plan. He was an expert in Ayurveda, so he took a specific variety of spinach to the cook of the king’s kitchen and said, “I am a Brahmin and out of love for the beloved king I want to offer this nutritious food to him.”

This special spinach not just tasted good but it had the potency to bring out good qualities of a person. The king liked the preparation and Ram Mishra would supply it daily to the cook. Once Ram Mishra did not come, so the cook did not prepare that special dish. The king had fallen in love with that spinach.   

When he did not find it in his meal he immediately inquired. The cook told the king about the brahaman who brings the special spinach out of love for the king and does not charge any money for it.  King expressed his desire to meet the brahmana. So when next day Ram Mishra came, the cook took him to the king.

Yamuna’s love for the Supreme Lord reawakens

Ram Mishra revealed to the king that he was a disciple of his illustrious grandfather, Nathamuni, and have a special message for the king. King was happy to meet him and was curious to know the message.

Ram Mishra told the king that his grandfather has left a great treasure for him and he is here to handover the wealth to him. King desperately needed wealth as his army was in the midst of a battle. He wanted to know all the details about the treasure.

Ram Mishra said that the treasure is guarded by 7 gates, surrounded by 2 rivers and is being guarded by many hooded serpent. Every 12 years a Yaksha comes to inspect the treasure. To get the treasure the king had to come with him alone. The king agreed. He delegated his responsibilities to senior ministers and went with Ram Mishra.

Ram Mishra and the king would travel for several miles daily and wherever they stopped for rest, Ram Mishra would read Bhagavad Gita. Yamuna was hearing the beautiful verses of Bhagavad Gita after several years, he started remembering his old days, his heart was getting transformed.  

And as soon as he heard the verse, “Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus you will live in Me always, without a doubt” (Bhagavad Gita 12.8), he began to weep. Falling at the feet of Ram Mishra the king said “I will not go back to my kingdom. I have understood the goal of my life, I was simply wasting my time. I will live only to serve Krishna.”

Yamuna goes to Sri Rangam

Ram Mishra explained him about the real treasure which his grandfather wanted to gift him. He took him to Sri Rangam where merciful Lord resides as Sri Ranganath Swami.

One has to cross 7 gates to reach the temple city, the holy city is surrounded on two sides by Kaveri river, Anantsesa, the multi hooded serpent, guards the Lord, and Vibhishan, the yaksha, come once in every 12 years to worship the Lord.

When his love for the Supreme Lord re-awakened, he experienced deep joy and deep satisfaction. As a king, he had all the material opulence but he never felt the pleasure which he was experiencing now.

He handed over the reins of his kingdom to others and also made sure that some part of the kingdom’s wealth is used in the service of the Lord. He started living the life of a renunciate and propagated the Vaisnava philosophy.

Yamunacharya – an exemplary devotee, a philosopher, a prolific writer

As 12-year-old, he had conquered Kolahala and later through his teachings and writings he conquered the Mayavada philosophy through the Vishistadvaita philosophy.

The legacy of Yamunacharya was carried forward by Ramanujacharya who became one of the foremost leader of Sri Vaisnava sampradaya and played pivotal role in defeating the Mayavada philosophy. 

Yamunacharya wrote several books, few of them are:

• Chathusloki – prayer in praise of Lakshmi
• Stotra-ratna – prayer in praise of Narayana

• Siddhitrayam – it establishes the Vishistadvaita school of thought by explaining the relationship between the Supreme Lord, the soul and the universe.
• Gitartha Sangraha – a commentary on the Bhagvada Gita
• Mayavada Khandanam

His life was exemplary, his love for the Lord was supreme. In Stotra – ratna (43), Yamunacharya expresses his heart’s longing to love and serve the Lord forever. “By serving You constantly, one is freed from all material desires and is completely pacified. When shall I engage as Your permanent eternal servant and always feel joyful to have such a fitting master?“