Author: Purushottam Nitai Das

Principles and Values for a Successful Krishna Conscious Marriage life discussed during Grihastha training course at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata

A two day grihastha training course on how to be successful and happy in Krishna Conscious marriage was organized at Iskcon Newtown, Kolkata on 11^th & 12^th March, 2023.  The course was entitled – Strengthening the bonds that free us.

Married devotees and those devotees who are planning to enter into grihastha ashram attended the training to learn important tips to lead a happy Krishna Conscious married life.

Temple brahmacharis too attended the course to get a better understanding of grihastha ashram and its importance in Iskcon society.

Training was conducted by HG Parth Prabhu and HG Uttama Devi Mataji. Both are Srila Prabhupada’s disciples and are happily married for more than 50 years. Their life is testimony to the fact that if a devotee couple comes together for a higher purpose without any ulterior motive then they not only live a successful married life but they can also guide hundreds of grihastha devotees to be happy in Krishna Conscious marriage.

Devotee marriage is different

Devotee marriage is different from other marriages because devotees marry for higher purpose. Krishna is always the centre of their life and they both together try their best to serve Krishna. And the devotee couple also actively serve the mission of Srila Prabhupada.

The training was based on the teachings of scriptures and Srila Prabhupada’s instruction to grihastha devotees. They discussed the challenges which a husband and wife faces in today’s fast paced world and how a Krishna Conscious couple should navigate through those challenges and continue living together happily. 

Marriage means responsibility

Tips were given as how in today’s world devotee couple can sort out their differences amicably. Srila Prabhupada in many of his teachings emphasize that marriage means responsibility. Both the husband and wife should come together to serve each other with a goal to ultimately please Krishna and there is no question of separation.

Srila Prabhupada says, “But marriage means to take full responsibility of a woman. That is real marriage, Vedic marriage. We, when I get married our boys and girls, the boy takes this vow that “I take responsibility of your maintenance throughout your whole life,” and the girl promises that “I desire to serve you throughout my whole life.” So the woman, the female, is the energy. When a man comes at home, he sees that everything is nicely decorated, my wife is well-dressed and foodstuff is nicely prepared, he becomes encouraged. He can work more nicely. Therefore woman is the energy. The woman gives the energy and he can work.” Room Conversation — October 20, 1968, Seattle

Various case studies and research materials published by professional marriage counsellors and psychologists were too part of the training.  Even these professionals say that spouses should work hard to develop health bond with each other. And if the couple want happy and satisfying life then marriage should last life long and there should not be separation.

12 Principles and Values for a Successful Krishna Conscious Marriage

This was also the purpose of seminar – to help devotee couple develop strong bond with each other and never even think of divorce. It was a comprehensive marriage and family course for couples before and after marriage, leaders, and everyone concerned. 

The training included in-depth exploration, interactive exercises, role plays, journaling and education in the following areas:

• 12 Principles and Values for a Successful Krishna Conscious Marriage in alignment with Srila Prabhupada and the sastras.
• Male/Female Paradox- Gender roles and cultural Norms, Understanding Differences and Expectations.
• Communications — Healthy Communication, Saboteurs of Healthy Communication, Empowering Communication Skills, Sustaining Family Relationships.
• Affection and Intimacy-Krsna Conscious Perspectives on Sex Life, Connection and Loving Exchanges.
• Managing Conflict-Danger Signs in Marriage, Signs of Abusive Relationships, Conflict Resolution Styles, Win-win decision making.  
• Children and Parenting —Patterns and Skills of a Healthy Family, Children’s Needs, Parenting Styles and how we are influenced.
• Balanced lifestyle – Personal development / Spirituality, Values.

Marriage is Krishna’s gift

Marriage is sacred and it is for entire life. But unfortunately, in today’s time it has lost its sacredness and couples decide to get separated even for trivial issues.  In Krishna Conscious marriage both husband and wife understand that they have come together only by the blessing of Krishna.

Marriage is a gift which Krishna has given them and how happily they live together is a gift they can give to Krishna. 

Yes, it’s true when two different individuals come together there will be differences and disagreements but if there is mutual respect and love for each other then one can overcome any challenge.

But if there is selfishness and exploitative mentality then even a small issue can snowball into a big controversy. Both husband and wife have to equally take responsibility of making marriage successful.

If a husband tries and wife remains indifferent or vice – versa then there will be serious challenge in the marriage and can even lead to separation. This will displease Krishna, Srila Prabhupada and all the acharyas. It will also have negative impact on one’s Krishna Conscious life.

There should be no divorce

Srila Prabhupada would very strongly say that there should be no divorce at any cost.  In this age of Kali yuga, people do not hesitate to go for divorce. So, devotees in Iskcon should do their best to avoid divorce.

Devotees wear Vaisnava dress, put tilak, wear kanti mala, carry bead bag and have love for Srila Prabhupada, so we should not do anything which will displease Srila Prabhupada.

Sometimes some devotees justify divorce saying that since the couple was not happy with each other, so it was better they got separated.  And they also give examples of devotees who are happy in their second marriage or third marriage and so on.

But Srila Prabhupada did not approve this. He says that it’s a dog life. Just like dog changes partner again and again for sense gratification, similarly, so called devotees changes partner again and again.

Below are few of the statements of Srila Prabhupada on divorce.

“The divorce is also dog’s business. Dog is having sex intercourse with this female dog and another, another, another, another. It is animalism, That’s all.”

Morning Walk — May 28, 1974, Rome

Yes, in case of abuse, physical or emotional, one does not have any option but to move out of the marriage. But unfortunately those who want to separate may start claiming that they are being abused. Anyway, how much sincere we want to be in our spiritual life is our decision.

We can cheat the world but not Krishna. He knows the truth and we will get the reaction as per our own karma. Also, if someone’s husband or wife runs away from the marriage then it’s a different situation.

Srila Prabhupada never thought about divorce

Srila Prabhupada gives his own personal example that although he had disagreement with his wife but neither he nor his wife ever thought about divorce.

“The modern, so-called advanced boys and girls, they are now after divorce. But before that, even there was misunderstanding between husband and wife, quarrel, there was no question of divorce. Take my life practical. I was a householder. Now I have given up. So practically I did not agree with my wife, but there was no dream of divorcing. You see? Neither she dreamt, neither I dreamt. This was unknown. Now they are being introduced.”

Press Interview — December 30, 1968, Los Angeles

We don’t allow divorce

“A man wants a woman, and a woman wants a man, so we say, “All right, take it. Live peacefully, but don’t change partners.” We don’t allow divorce; once they’re married there is no separation. Nor do we allow boys and girls to live together as friends. If a man wants a woman and a woman wants a man, they should become united by marriage, live peacefully and advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is our proposal.”  Interview with the New York Times — September 2, 1972, New Vrindaban

Dangerous to allow Divorce

“That is very dangerous law to allow divorce. Divorce should not be allowed. Even there is some disagreement between husband and wife, it should be neglected.” Room Conversation with Director of Research of the Dept. of Social Welfare — May 21, 1975, Melbourne

Selfish motives leads to divorce

“As soon as there is discrepancy in my satisfaction I divorce my wife. Or the wife sees that “This husband is useless.” She also divorces. So everywhere, the whole material world is going on on the basis of sense satisfaction.” Room Conversation — September 24, 1969, London

Conclusion – Live together & love each other forever.  

Hope the seminar will help the devotees to understand the true meaning of grihastha life and the importance of preserving the marriage lifelong. Just like a sannyasi takes a vow to serve Krishna with body, mind and words, similarly husband and wife take vow in front of Krishna and the fire to love and serve each other for entire life and never get separated. 

This Grihastha Training will help devotees to lead a successful and blissful Krishna Conscious married life.  This will please Krishna, Srila Prabhupada and the entire devotee community.

At the end HG Acharya Ratan Prabhu honoured HG Parth Prabhu and HG Uttama Devi Mataji & thanked them for conducting the Grihashta Training course which will surely help the devotees to be successful in their Krishna Conscious marriage life

Why Rukmini faints when Krishna teases her?

To spice up his marital bliss, Krishna teases Rukmini. Rukmini Devi, a gentle, polite, submissive wife of Krishna always wanted to give the best joy to the Lord of her heart.  However one day, Krishna who is always willing to fulfil the desires of his beloved devotees had a desire to see the angry face of Rukmini.

He wanted that Rukmini who is the epitome of gentleness to quarrel with him.  So, to fill her heart with anger, Krishna begins to tease her.  But the words spoken by Krishna jokingly pierced the tender heart of Rukmini Devi, the source of the goddess of fortune.

You erred in choosing me as your husband

In order to invoke anger in her, Krishna said that you committed a big mistake by marrying me. There were many great kings who were eager to marry you. In fact, your marriage was fixed with Sisupala. He is rich, powerful, heroic and also a king. But mistakenly you chose me. I am not a king. I am merely a cowherd man. 

Also, I am not heroic. I fled the battlefield when Jarāsandha attacked me. I abandoned the city of Mathura and took shelter of the ocean. Now with my family members and friends, I am living in Dwarka away from Mathura. In Dwarka, I am not the king. Ugrasena is the ruler and I follow his order.

Being satisfied within myself, I do not have attraction for wife, children and wealth.  In fact, those who worship me are materially poor.  The beggars adore me, and the rich are indifferent to me.  Why do you want to be the wife of someone whose friends are poor?  You erred in choosing me.

“We care nothing for wives, children and wealth. Always satisfied within Ourselves, We do not work for body and home, but like a light, We merely witness.” Srimad Bhagavatam 10.60.20

Rukmini always thought that amongst all of Krishna’s wives she was his most beloved. But when she heard these words from Krishna, she began thinking that Krishna has not accepted me whole heartedly. Her thoughts did not just end there.

She now feared that there could be a possibility that my beloved Krishna may abandon me.  This put her in great anxiety. Krishna teases Rukmini to make her angry but instead she became horrified.

Thought of separation from Krishna

Rukmini could not bear the thought of being separated from Krishna even for a moment. We conditioned souls do not feel the pain of separation from Krishna. But pure devotees cannot even think of living without Krishna even for a moment.

Once Madhumangala said to Krishna that while we are playing sometimes you go behind the tree and we are not able to see you for a moment, this causes unbearable pain to us. We cannot live without you even for a second. We live only for you.

As the thought of separation from Krishna overwhelmed her, Rukmini fell on the ground and fainted. Krishna realized that Rukmini did not get his joke, in fact she completely misunderstood him. Krishna teases Rukmini so that he can enjoy more with her but Rukmini got heartbroken by his words.

Rukmini is Chandravali

Rupa Goswami in his Lalit madhav and Vidagdh madhav mentions which gopis from the Vraj lila manifest as queens in Dwarka.

In Dwarka, Rukmini is Chandravali and Satyabhama is Radharani. Chandravali’s mood is different from Radharani’s mood. She does whatever Krishna asks her to do. She does not become angry at Krishna.

So, when Krishna was teasing Rukmini then she was responding as per her mood. Soon Krishna realized that he is dealing with Chandravali and not Radharani. Krishna

Krishna pacifies Rukmini

When Krishna saw that Rukmini has become unconscious, he immediately got down from the bed and lifted her and caressed her. With pleasing words, he consoled her and said that he was only trying to tease her and also gave the reason for it.

He said that the greatest pleasure which a husband enjoys is when he jokes with his wife. I was trying to do so but you misunderstood me. A husband enjoys light-hearted banter with his wife in her private quarters and when the wife becomes angry then husband enjoys great pleasure later in consoling her.

“The Supreme Lord said: O Vaidarbhī, do not be displeased with Me. I know that you are fully devoted to Me. I only spoke in jest, dear lady, because I wanted to hear what you would say. I also wanted to see your face with lips trembling in loving anger, the reddish corners of your eyes throwing sidelong glances and the line of your beautiful eyebrows knit in a frown. The greatest pleasure worldly householders can enjoy at home is to spend time joking with their beloved wives, My dear timid and temperamental one.” Srimad Bhagavatam 10.60.29 – 31

Rukmini’s answer to Krishna

Krishna’s words pacified Rukmini. She now began smiling. But she was angry too because of Krishna’s words. Or we can say that she started countering Krishna in an angry mood because Krishna wanted to see her angry. And Rukmini as per her nature does what pleases Krishna. 

Rukmini said:

“I know, I am not qualified to be your wife because no one can be equal to you.  You are most glorious and most lovable.  I am not the best match for you but what can I do I got attracted to you. In fact, anyone who hears about you quickly becomes mad for you. This is what happened with me. And this is your fault, not the fault of those whom you drive mad. As soon as I heard about you, I decided to marry you and no one else.

The false kings

You praised the kings saying that they are the rulers of the kingdom, are rich and powerful. But the truth is that they are not the kings because they are always under the control of the three modes of material nature and the powerful time.

Not just that they are worthless puppet who are always under the control of women. They are no better than dogs and assess.  An intelligent woman should not even think of marrying such unfortunate men.

“O infallible Kṛṣṇa, let each of the kings You named become the husband of a woman whose ears have never heard Your glories, which are sung in the assemblies of Śiva and Brahmā. After all, in the households of such women these kings live like asses, oxen, dogs, cats and slaves.” Srimad Bhagavatam 10.60.44

Your devotees chose to be poor

You say you are poor, but you are the proprietor of this universe. The first being of this creation, Lord Brahma, comes from your navel. He is your devotee. Lord Shiva is your devotee. And your devotees are not at all poor.

Many times they choose to be materially poor because they want to relish the spiritual wealth. Always absorbed in thinking about you, they are always blissful.  Your devotees are most fortunate and they always aspire to be with you.  I also have the same desire. I always want to be with you.  

I only want you

I never look at anybody even for a moment other than you, not even Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva. I only want you. I only desire you. You are the most wonderful person in the entire creation. You cannot be compared with anyone.

If I would have failed to get you in this life then I was ready to extend my austerity to next life but I would have never accepted anyone other than you as my husband.”  

Never choose anyone else

Rukmini Devi is teaching an important lesson to all the devotees of Krishna – we should never choose anyone else other than Krishna. Even if it takes many lifetimes, we should patiently wait for Krishna to come and accept us.  Just like Rukmini is a chaste wife of Krishna, we should be a chaste devotee of Krishna.  

We should always say, “Krishna, I only desire you. Please come and accept me.”

Rukmini only wanted Krishna, so she ultimately got Krishna. Krishna shows that if the desire of a devotee is too strong then he also cannot resist fulfilling that desire.

Krishna responds to the quality of our devotion, our service and our eagerness to have him. Quality of Rukmini’s devotion was so strong that Krishna immediately responded and accepted her as his wife.

Plan to be successful in Krishna Consciousness

We see that before her marriage, Rukmini was always planning how to be successful in her Krishna Consciousness. Although at her home conditions were not favourable for her to be a devotee of Krishna but still she did not give up Krishna.

Her brother Rukmi considered Krishna as an enemy. And her father because of pressure from his son, Rukmi, agreed to marry her to Sisupala who was also an enemy of Krishna.  But she did not give up hope.

With determination she continued pursuing Krishna. She secretly called a brahmana and sent a letter to Krishna. That letter can be considered the first love letter since the dawn of creation.

In that letter, she poured her heart into it. She expressed her desire to marry him. She requested Krishna to come and pick her up from her palace and take her away. In the letter, she also explained in detail that how Krishna can come and kidnap her and marry her. She told him the place where to come and also the exact time when he should come.

Strong determination attracts Krishna’s attention

Rukmini was also clear that if Krishna fails to reciprocate with her feelings then she would end her life rather than marry Sisupala or anyone else. That was her resolve.

She thought that if Krishna will not come then it is her fault because her devotion is not strong enough to attract Krishna’s mercy. So, she was ready to continue her austerity life after life till she gets Krishna as her husband.  She was determined to have Krishna.

“O lotus-eyed one, great souls like Lord Śiva hanker to bathe in the dust of Your lotus feet and thereby destroy their ignorance. If I cannot obtain Your mercy, I shall simply give up my vital force, which will have become weak from the severe penances I will perform. Then, after hundreds of lifetimes of endeavor, I may obtain Your mercy.”
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.52.43

Rukmini Devi’s life teaches us the importance of determination in our Krishna conscious journey. Situations and circumstances are sometimes favourable and sometimes unfavourable but we should always practice Krishna Consciousness. 

For that we need strong determination. And off course patience is also required. We cannot expect quick result always. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, also tests our endurance many times.

Krishna teases Rukmini to glorify her

Krishna teases Rukmini to show to the world the love she had for him. The Supreme Lord ,Krishna, teases his beloved wife Rukmini to glorify her transcedental qualities. Rukmini is not just the queen of Dwarka, but she is the queen of Krishna’s heart.

Let us pray at the lotus feet of Rukmini to instil our heart with love for Krishna.

Krishna acknowledges Rukmini’s love for him in these beautiful words:

“In all My palaces I can find no other wife as loving as you, O most respectful one. When you were to be married, you disregarded all the kings who had assembled to seek your hand, and simply because you had heard authentic accounts concerning Me, you sent a brāhmaṇa to Me with your confidential message.” Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.60.55

Krishna further says that your love for me is so great that I cannot do anything to reciprocate with your pure love. I can simply thank you for this.

“When you sent the messenger with your most confidential plan and yet I delayed going to you, you began to see the whole world as void and wanted to quit your body, which could never have been given to anyone but Me. May this greatness of yours remain with you always; I can do nothing to reciprocate except joyfully thank you for your devotion.” Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.60.57

12 names of Lord Chaitanya which gives complete perfection

In Sri Krsna-Chaitanya-Dvadasa-Nama-Stotram,  Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya writes about 12 important names of Lord Chaitanya. He further says that these glorious names of Chaitanya if chanted daily brings auspiciousness in life.

Twelve principal names of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are:

(1) caitanyah krsna-caitanyo gaurango dvija-nayakah
yatinam dandinam caiva nyasinam ca siromanih

(2) raktambara-dharah sriman navadvipa-sudhakarah
prema-bhakti-pradas caiva sri-saci-nandanas tatha.

Sri Krsna-Chaitanya-Dvadasa-Nama-Stotram by Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya:

Meaning of each of the 12 names of Lord Chaitanya are as follows:

• Chaitanya — The living force
• Krsna-Chaitanya — The all-attractive Supreme living force
• Gauranga — He of fair bodily complexion
• Dvija-Nayaka — The hero amongst the twice-born brahmanas
• Yatinam Siromani — The crest jewel of sannyasis (who wander freely)
• Dandinam Siromani – The crest jewel of sannyasis (who carry staffs)
• Nyasinam Siromani — The crest jewel of sannyasis (who renounce everything).
• Raktambara-Dhara — He who wears red cloth
• Sriman — The supreme opulent one
• Navadvipa-Sudhakara — The source of nectar in Navadvipa
• Prema-Bhakti-Prada — The bestower of ecstatic loving devotion
• Sri-Sachi-Nandana — The delightful son of mother Sachi.
  
  One who recites these twelve holy names of the Lord three times a day (in the morning, at noon time and at dusk) will attain complete perfection in their life and will surely attain pure devotion unto the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya which is the ultimate shelter of all living entities.

Re-established religious principles in true spirit

After Lord Krishna completed his pastime in this mortal world and left for his eternal world, religious principles started declining. In fact, before the advent of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, there was almost no religion because no one was following the scriptures as it is. In fact, people had forgotten the purpose of scriptures. There was no scriptural discussion and hardly anyone chanted the names of Krishna. 

If anyone chanted the names of Krishna, the general belief was that such people are either fool or because of poverty are hungry so are helplessly crying the name of God. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu re-established religious principles. His profound teachings dispelled all the misconception which people had regarding religion and the unscrupulous religious leaders who were misguiding people in the name of religion got exposed and defeated.

Living corpse to lively devotee

Chaitanya means living force. His advent brought life because people were able to forgo painful material life and joyfully started living happy Krishna Conscious life.

Material life is no life because God is not the centre of life, so it is full of suffering. If we fail to understand that we are parts and parcels of God then we are as dead and dull as stone. Just like stone has no life, similarly we are nothing but living corpse.  

But Chaitanya Mahaprabhu taught us that for our own benefit, we should rise above material consciousness and situate ourselves into Krishna Consciousness. If we do so, then we can live happily forever in the association of Krishna who is source of all happiness.

Krishna who is not black

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is Krishna who is not black. He has golden complexion. Also he is in the mood of the topmost gopi of Vrindavan. Many times experienced devotees do not put peacock feather on him because if we put peacock feather then it means that we are interfering with the mood of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Most of the time Mahaprabhu is in the mood of Srimati Radharani, and we know that Radharani does not put peacock feather.  He is always absorbed in the thoughts of Krishna. He is not stable; he is always agitated for Krishna prema.

Why he came here?

There are many reasons why Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came. One of the reasons is that he came to pay debt to the gopis. When Krishna left Vrindavan then gopis continuously cried for Krishna in separation. So, as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu he always cried like the gopis feeling separation from Krishna.

In Bhagavad Gita 4.11, Krishna says, ye yatha mam prapadayante, “As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly.”  So, Krishna is eager to give something to the devotees, but pure devotees of Krishna do not ask anything from him.  They only want to give something to Krishna. They always want to serve him.

Sanatana Goswami says that when Krishna asks devotees to ask something from him then devotees say three times “no”. He explains that three times no means – in past no, in present no and in future no. So, to pay debt to such dear devotees who have no personal desire or motive, Krishna comes as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to give them prema.  

He is always keen to distribute prema, pure love of Godhead. But he gives prema to only those who are simple and not duplicitous and have no ulterior motives.

Advaita Acharya told to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that do not give prema to those who are proud of wealth, power and beauty. Give prema to those who are simple and chant the names of Krishna.

He will award prema if our heart is free of prema for sense enjoyment

So, if we want to get prema of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then we should be simple hearted and have love for the holy names.

We see Haridas Thakura had no material opulence, but he got Chaitanya Mahaprabhu prema. He did not get any higher material education neither he possessed any wealth or wielded any power.

But he was simple, humble and had no ulterior motives, was not duplicitous in his behaviour and was always eager to chant the name so Krishna, so Chaitanya Mahaprabhu awarded him love for Krishna and he came to be known as Namacharya.  

If with humility and simplicity, we accept the shelter of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then all opulence of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu will manifest. .

We should not have any material desires. Even if the desires are there then we should ignore it and not try to think about it especially when we are chanting the names of Krishna.  It is because whatever is in the mind when we chant will manifest.  So, if we have material desires then those desires will get fulfilled but it will pull us way from Krishna.

We should always be humble. And many times, without humiliation, we don’t become humble. For eg Keshav Kashmiri was  very proud of his scholarship but when he was defeated by  Chaitanya Mahaprabhu he became humble and fell at his lotus feet. When we offer our obeisances, it shows our humility and it burns our pride.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in this world to destroy our pride and our false attachment to this material world. So, let us all be under the shelter of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and continuously chant his holy names.

Note: This article is based on a Srimad Bhagavatam class given by His Holiness Bhakti Dhira Damodar Swami Maharaj at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata, India.

When Lord Krishna steals sweet rice for Madhavendra Puri

Krishna is famous for stealing butter in Vrindavan but there is a beautiful pastime in which he steals sweet rice for his devotee Madhavendra Puri.

Krishna always reciprocates with the desire of his devotee but his pure devotees have no personal desire. Their desire is always to serve the desire of the Lord.

Lord’s desire or our own desire

Now let us ask what desire we carry in our heart?  What we do when we go in front of Krishna? Do we ask him his desire, or do we tell him our desire? Most of us have a long list of desires and we expect the Lord to fulfil our desires. If he fulfils it, we think that it was his duty to do so and if our desires are not fulfilled then we become upset with the Lord.  Most of us follow this ritual.

Now let us ask ourselves that how many times have we ever asked Krishna about his desires, his likes and dislikes? Or do we even care about his desire?  For us God is just our caretaker.  We want him to take care of each and every aspect of our life.

But pure devotees of Lord have no personal desire. Their only desire is to fulfil all the desires of the Lord in all situations and in all circumstances. Krishna also shares his feelings only with those who have unflinching and unmotivated love for him. Madhavendra Puri is one such great devotee with whom Krishna shared his personal desires.

Krishna reveals his desires to Madhavendra Puri

First, he asked Madhavendra Puri to install his deity on top of Govardhan hill. Madhavendra Puri with the help of the villagers installed the deity of Gopal on top of Govardhan hill and worshipped the Lord in a very grand way.

And later Lord Gopal asked him to bring sandalwood pulp from Jagannath Puri and apply on him to give him soothing experience. Madhavendra Puri immediately left to full the order of the Lord. Let us see how Krishna reciprocates with the love of Madhavendra Puri and how Madhavendra Puri was always eager to serve the Lord without any personal motive or desire.

Madhavendra Puri’s desire to taste amṛta-keli & his lamentation

On the way to Jagannath Puri, Madhavendra Puri came to Remuna. In Remuna there is a beautiful deity of Krishna called Gopinath. Madhavendra Puri was so happy to see the deity. He inquired from the temple priest that how the Lord is served here.

The brahmana said that the Supreme Lord is worshipped very nicely here and one of the great attractions is that the Lord is offered one special sweet rice daily which is called amrit keli.

“The brāhmaṇa priest said, “In the evening the Deity is offered sweet rice in twelve earthen pots. Because the taste is as good as nectar [amṛta], it is named amṛta-keli. This sweet rice is celebrated throughout the world as gopīnātha-kṣīra. It is not offered anywhere else in the world.” Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.117-118

While the discussion was going on sweet rice was placed in front of Gopinath. Seeing the delicious preparation, a thought came to Madhavendra Puri’s mind – If I could taste it then I can prepare it for my Gopal in Govardhan. But soon he felt terrible. How can I even think about tasting sweet rice which is being offered to Gopinath?

Devotees prepare food only for the pleasure of the Lord

Devotees with great love and care prepare food for the pleasure of the lord. Many people prepare food which they like and offer to the lord so that later they can eat it.  Some who are addicted to tea and coffee even offer tea and coffee to the lord.

And there are those who cook food using onion and garlic and give it to the lord. Because they like onion and garlic so they put the plate in front of the Lord and later they enjoy such food. The motive is not to satisfy the Lord but to satisfy themselves.

What Krishna likes and he does not like he has already mentioned in the scriptures. And his pure devotees have also clarified it multiple times. If we prepare food which is not sanctioned in the scriptures, then the Lord will not accept it.

So, devotees prepare only those food items which are authorized by the scriptures. And when devotees prepare food for the Lord, they put their heart into it and then request Krishna to accept it. Devotees put the plate having delicious food items in front of the Lord and chant proper mantras and request the Lord to eat it.

When the Lord eats his food then during that time the devotee meditate on how Lord enjoys his food cooked by mother Yashoda with his cowherd friends and they also chant his holy names.

Krishna steals sweet rice for Madhavendra Puri

So, when the thought of tasting amrit keli (sweet rice) came into the mind of Madhavendra Puri, he felt that he has committed an offense.  He did not say anything but remained in the temple till the arati of Lord was performed.

After the arati he left the temple and began chanting the names of Krishna in the marketplace of Remuna.

Meanwhile in the same night the temple priest had a unique dream. In his dream Gopinath appeared and told him that he has stolen a pot of sweet rice for his devotee Madhavendra Puri and he should take it and give it to him. Pujari was perplexed.

He got up and went inside the deity room. There he saw a pot of sweet rice under the garment of the Lord. The merciful Lord had stolen the sweet rice and had hid it under his garments.

Pujari was so amazed seeing the grace of the Lord. He immediately picked the pot of amrit keli and ran outside the temple. He did not know who Madhavendra Puri is. So, he began calling his name and announcing that Gopinath has stolen sweet rice for him, so, he should come immediately and enjoy the mercy of the Lord.

“Holding the pot of sweet rice, the priest called, “Will he whose name is Mādhavendra Purī please come and take this pot! Gopīnātha has stolen this pot of sweet rice for you!.” Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.133

The priest continued, “Would the sannyāsī whose name is Mādhavendra Purī please come and take this pot of sweet rice and enjoy the prasādam with great happiness! You are the most fortunate person within these three worlds!” Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.134

Madhavendra Puri in ecstasy seeing the mercy of the Lord

Hearing his name being called, Madhavendra Puri came out and identified himself. And when he came to know that Gopinath had stolen sweet rice for him, he was filled with ecstasy. When a pure devotee of Krishna works tirelessly to serve the Lord then Lord also reciprocates with that love. 

Madhavendra Puri relished amrit keli. He then washed the pot and broke it into pieces and tied those pieces to his cloth. And later everyday he would eat a bit of the earthen pot and would experience great ecstasy.  

From that day onwards Gopinath came to be known as Kshirachora Gopinatha – Gopinath who stole kshira (sweet rice) for his devotee.

But that night Madhavendra Puri was little worried too. He thought that soon everyone will come to know that the Lord has stolen sweet rice for me. So, people will throng to see me, and this will impact my devotion to the Lord.

His glory reaches Puri

To avoid public attention, he immediately left the place for Jagannath Puri. But before he could reach Puri dham his glories reached there. Everyone glorified him in Jagannath Puri.

But Madhavendra Puri was focused on his goal. He had come to collect sandalwood for his Gopal deity. He knew that Gopal is waiting for him in Govardhan. The residents of Jagannath Puri were happy to help him. They arranged sandalwood for him and also arranged two assistants to carry sandalwood.

Gopal asks to apply sandalwood paste to Gopinath

While returning back to Govardhan, he came again to Remuna to take darshan of Gopinath. The temple priests and other devotees were so happy to see him. In Remuna, Gopal appeared in the dream of Madhavendra Puri in the night and said that you can apply the sandalwood paste to Gopinath because I am non different from Gopinath.

When the devotees in Remuna heard the desire of Lord Gopal they were so happy. It was celebration time in Remuna.  Daily chandan paste was prepared and was applied to Lord Gopinath.  In this way Madhavendra Puri was able to fulfil the desire of Krishna.

If we always serve Krishna’s desire, we will always be in bliss

Pure devotees like Madhavendra Puri appear in this world to teach us, the conditioned souls, that real satisfaction and happiness is in always serving the Lord and not our own senses.  

Madhavendra Puri just had a little desire to taste sweet rice and Krishna immediately steals sweet rice for him. Important is not how Krishna steals sweet rice. But why Krishna steals sweet rice for Madhavendra Puri?

It is because Madhavendra Puri had great love for Krishna and was always eager to serve Krishna. And to reciprocate with the love of Madhavendra Puri, Krishna steals sweet rice for him.

This is personally confirmed by Krishna. “I have accepted your service due to your ecstatic love for Me.” Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.40

Krishna tells the characteristics of his pure devotees in Gita, “Always chanting My glories, endeavouring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.” Bhagavad Gita 9.14

So, instead of focussing on our desires, if we try to always serve Krishna’s desires then we will always be in bliss.  Now let us ask ourselves – are we endeavouring to satisfy Krishna’s desires or are still obsessed with our personal desires?

Gita tells us that we are spiritual beings & not a programmable robot

Are we programmable robots or spiritual beings with spiritual consciousness, let us see what Bhagavad Gita says about it.

Modern scientific viewpoint states that we the human beings are nothing but a bag of chemicals & we came into existence owing to some spontaneous chemical reactions and will cease to exist once the chemical reaction ceases.

Scientific theory epitomizes the doctrine of the renowned atheist charvak muni who said when this body dies nothing is left. So, one must enjoy ones life as much as possible. Beg, borrow and steal but enjoy was his message to the humankind.

Modern educational curriculums are designed taking into consideration the aforementioned viewpoint.

Why a robot will have feelings for other robots

Scientists believe that a human brain can be programmed to act in a particular way in the same manner as a robot is programmed in laboratories to act in a particular way.

Today in schools & colleges a student’s brain is stuffed with loads of information to ensure that his brain is programmed to believe that he is the doer of everything and this life of his is to enjoy to the fullest. Every year across the world schools & colleges are manufacturing highly skilled robots, loaded with technical savoir faire.

So, since schooldays itself these mechanized robots starts considering this life to be full & final and are ready to resort to any means to enjoy this (& only this) life. If I am a bag of chemicals & my colleagues or my friends or my family members are also a bag of chemicals then what’s the harm in destroying that bag? I have to enjoy my life any how (beg, borrow & steal).

How a robot can solve life’s problems

However, when confronted with any adversity these highly talented mechanized robots tries to switch on their intelligence button but fails to find out that particular program which can solve their problem.

So, we find these highly skilled, highly intelligent and high profile robots hangings itself with a small rope from the ceiling of the house, taking dollops of rat poison to end the troublesome safari of life or taking the shelter of the sleeping pills.

In spite of being force- fed dollops of arguments against suicide, drug abuse, depression why is it that even the most knowledgeable materialistic brain (high profile engineers, doctors, scientists, business magnates, lawyers) easily succumb to it.

Inundated with plethora of materialistic information human intelligence fails to do an RCA (Root Cause Analysis) of the problem. The brain tries to find the solution based on the existing source codes which were force – fed in schools & colleges to ensure that the being turns out to be a technological masterpiece (robot) unparalleled and unequivocally the best.

However unfortunately, unlike the computer program the output is not always as per the expectations.

Differences between a robot and us

Let us understand the difference between a robot and a human being.

Robot is a mechanical machine devoid of any consciousness whereas human beings are spiritual beings full of consciousness. Unlike human being a robot does not feel pain & pleasure, tears does not start pouring down from it’s eyes with love and ecstasy upon seeing it’s own creator (mother & father) or fellow robots (brothers & sisters).

The flaw of the modern education system is that it does not answer the questions: who we are, what is the purpose of this life & why do we suffer. It provides information only to deal with dead matter. There is no information about isvara(the Supreme Lord), jiva (the living entity), prakrti (nature), kala (eternal time) and karma (activity) in today’s educational curriculum.

We should understand that we are not a robot devoid of consciousness instead we are spiritual beings full of consciousness. In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna very clearly says that we are spiritual beings. He explains that we are souls and our material body is functioning only because of the presence of soul within this material body.

“That which pervades the entire body you should know to be indestructible. No one is able to destroy that imperishable soul.” Bhagavad Gita 2.17

As a soul we are sat-cit-ananda i.e. eternal, blissful and full of knowledge. A robot will not experience pain or pleasure. At the most, it can be programmed to smile, to laugh or even to shed tears.

But we the human beings cannot be programmed to show emotions in a mechanical way. We actually experience happiness or distress and accordingly express our feelings. Why just the human beings, in fact all living beings like animals, birds, aquatics etc experiences pain and pleasure.

Gita has answer to all the important queries

We are undergoing pain, pleasure and happiness owing to our previous karma. And we are getting affected by it because as Bhagavad Gita explains we are spiritual beings.

As Srila Prabhupada explains, “We are suffering or enjoying the results of our activities from time immemorial, but we can change the results of our karma, or our activity, and this change depends on the perfection of our knowledge.”

As we are conditioned and fail to understand what is right or what is wrong, we should take the shelter of scriptures like Bhagavad-gita which provides answers to all our questions.

Srila Prabhupada explains,”Being an associate of Lord Krishna, Arjuna was above all ignorance, but Arjuna was put into ignorance on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra just to question Lord Krishna about the problems of life so that the Lord could explain them for the benefit of future generations of human beings and chalk out the plan of life. Then man could act accordingly and perfect the mission of human life.” 

Throughout Bhagavad Gita Krishna has again and again emphaised that we are spiritual beings and so we should act accordngly if we want to lead a happy life.

Unfortunately, we have banished these religious treatises in pursuit of modernity. However, since time immemorial the priceless, timeless and sublime philosophy of Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Isopanisad, Puranas & other revered religious scriptures has been a beacon light for the entire human civilization.

A research

Recent research conducted by leading universities all over the world acknowledges the positive impact of spirituality in a person’s life.

Recently published paper ‘Impact of Adoption of Yoga Way of Life on Emotional Intelligence of Managers’ by Indian Institute of Management – Bangalore (https://www.iimb.ac.in/node/4034) states that those individual who has strong spiritual inclination has great ability to withstand failure and stress.

We spiritual beings should be spiritually empowered

Why not include Bhagavad Gita and other revered Vedic scriptures in schools and colleges curriculum. Once done the schools & colleges will no longer produce hundreds & thousands of mechanized robots every year instead, we will have young scholars who are not just technically savoir faire but are also spiritually empowered.

The paper also concludes yoga increases the Emotional Intelligence (EI) of a person which in turn increases the person’s managerial performance. It also says that Yoga can even replace six-sigma.

Empowered with the philosophy of these scriptures a person will not be bewildered when confronted with adversity; he will not be agitated, will not be frustrated and will never indulge in any life threatening and life destructive activities.

Like Arjuna he will be fearless, will always perform righteous deeds and usher the world in a new era of peace, prosperity & happiness.

Bhagavad Gita not just teaches us that we are spiritual beings but also empowers us to deal with even the toughest problems of our life.

Bhagavad Gita has solution for all our miseries

If you are tormented by miseries then do not worry, Bhagavad Gita has solution for all your miseries. None of us want suffering in our life but it comes knocking at our door.  It not just knocks at our door but forcibly enters into our house, into our life.

From a rickshaw puller to a pilot flying high in the sky, from a government employee to a head of the government, from a beggar on the street to a business tycoon, from a baby in her cradle to an old man – all continuously search for happiness. 

But in spite of our obsession with ‘happiness’, ‘miseries’ continuously accompany us like a shadow. Misery can be physical or can be psychological and it has a knack of appearing and disappearing at its own whims.

Types of miseries

Vedic scriptures tell us about the fourfold misery – birth, old age, disease and death.  Till date since the dawn of creation there has not been a single being including non -humans who have not been affected by it.  Who in this world would want to be diseased, grow old and ultimately die? But it happens to all of us. 

In this world we are also subjected to three types of miseries: 

• Miseries caused by nature such as excessive heat or cold, flood or famine, earthquake, tsunami etc. (adhidaivika-klesa)
•  Miseries caused by the activities of fellow beings like terrorists or sometimes by our own near and dear ones.  Even other species like mosquitoes, viruses too inflict on us sufferings in form of several diseases. (adhibhautika-klesa)
• Suffering caused by our own body and mind (adhyatmika-klesa). Bodily diseases, anxiety, depression, stress, fear of future etc. do not allow us to live in peace.

Scriptures are life’s manual 

In spite of our repeated efforts, we are not able to defend ourselves against the onslaught of material miseries.  The only approach which we consider effective is by increasing our worldly possessions and enhancing our material positions.

We think by filling our coffers with lots of money we can bribe misery when it knocks at our door and can change our destiny. But sadly, this rarely happens.  Many times, we are caught off guard and suddenly we find ourselves in precarious situation.

One of the advantages of being a human being is that we have been gifted with intelligence. So, as an intelligent species shouldn’t we ask why in spite of all my efforts, irrespective of all the measures taken we are not able to free ourselves from the strong grip of grief and sorrow?

Are the precautionary measures taken by us aren’t sufficient or is it that the measures itself is erroneous and so outcome is always ineffective?

When we buy a new gadget such as an iPhone then along with it is given to us a manual which not just explains the functionalities of the device but also specifies dos and don’ts.  And for effective functioning we are supposed to adhere to given guidelines.

But if we go against the advice then the device starts malfunctioning.

Similarly, we have also been given manuals by the creator of this world who is also our Supreme Father. These manuals are the sacred Vedic literatures which comprehensively give detail about this world, about our life and also delineate the process by which we can ward off all miseries and lead a peaceful life. 

It will not just protect us from all dangers but will also guide us to a path which will open the door of perennial bliss.

How like Arjuna we can overcome misery

Arjuna was in abject misery and in tears just before the Mahabharat war.  But after being thoroughly educated by Krishna in spiritual science he got enlightened and decided to work according to the directive of Krishna, the Supreme Lord.

By following the teachings of Bhagavad Gita which has solution to all the problems of life, Arjuna was able to come out of all miseries.

Krishna said, “Therefore, O Arjuna, surrendering all your works unto Me, with full knowledge of Me, without desires for profit, with no claims to proprietorship, and free from lethargy, fight.”  Bhagavad Gita 3.30

Arjuna fought with grit without worrying about gain or loss. And since he was executing his given duties as per the laws of God, he was victorious. Krishna was always with him providing protection and guidance. 

We suffer here because we go against the laws of God, we do not turn towards him, but we turn away from him.  But like Arjuna, if we do all our activities as given in the scriptures and if we invite Krishna in our lives then we can protect ourselves from many unpleasant situations and circumstances.  

Krishna saved Arjuna and he wants to save us too

After the Mahabharat war ended, Krishna asked Arjuna to get down from the chariot first. But Arjuna requested Krishna to get down first. Krishna advised Arjuna to do what he is being asked to do.  So, Arjuna got down first and then Krishna followed.

And as soon as Krishna got down from the chariot, the chariot blew up and burned to ashes.  Arjuna was horrified. Krishna explained that the weapons unleashed by Bhishma, Drona, Karna and other Kaurava warriors were extremely powerful but because of him the lethal weapons did not harm Arjuna a bit.

Arjuna always remained safe in Krishna’s hand.  Krishna, the all-powerful and all merciful is our only saviour.

Yes, it is true that in this world a devotee of the Lord too undergoes through old age, disease, death and three types of miseries also affect him.  But for devotees, Krishna is always there for him, just like he was for Arjuna.

Krishna shields his devotees from all dangers and provides him sufficient intelligence and inner strength which helps to nullify the miseries of this world. If we are in Krishna’s care, there is no fear and Krishna wipes all our tear. 

Not just this after leaving this world we get an opportunity to return back to the kingdom of Krishna where there is no rebirth, no disease, no old age, no death, no adhidaivika-klesa, no adhibhautika-klesa and no adhyatmika-klesa.

“After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogīs in devotion, never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection.” Bhagavad Gita 8.15

Free from miseries we can live always happily

In Bhagavad Gita 3.10, Krishna says “Be thou happy by this yajna [sacrifice] because its performance will bestow upon you everything desirable for living happily and achieving liberation.”  And the yajna in this world is chanting the names of Krishna, the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. 

Chanting brings Krishna’s grace, and it opens the gateway to the spiritual world which is the abode of eternity and bliss. And so, Srila Prabhupada famously said, “Chant and be happy.”

Bhagavad Gita has solution for all our miseries, so if we live as per the guidelines of this great scripture we will never suffer and will live always happily.

How a devotee of Krishna lives fearlessly

A sincere devotee of Krishna is never disturbed by any kinds of sufferings and lives always fearlessly.  We will never find any instance in the Vedic scriptures where a devotee was fearful of any material situation.

But if we are not Krishna conscious then in this world we will always be in a disturbed state. In spite of our power and position, we will live in fear. Whether we are in the house or out of the house we will be in fear.

Many of us think that we are safe and secure inside the house but what happens when earth starts shaking? Do we remain inside the house? At the time of earthquake house is the most unsafe place to be in. But suppose that the earthquake is accompanied by heavy rain and lightening then where will we go? We will then not be secure in the house and also outside the house. 

Is there any place in this world where we are safe? The answer is no.

This is why Srimad Bhagavatam says that in this world there are dangers at every step – padam padam yad vipidam, Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.58.

No one can protect us in this world. Even those who loves us the most cannot save us from danger.

A father and a mother cannot protect their child. In fact they can’t even protect themselves.

Even the best doctor and the best medicine cannot save a patient. A boat in the ocean cannot save a drowning man. We all know that Titanic which was said be an unsinkable ship sank in its first voyage.

From womb to tomb uncertainty, anxiety and fear accompany us like a shadow. 

The unwanted suffering

We fear suffering. But suffering comes to us whether we like it or not. 

But when suffering comes, we have a tendency to blame others. We feel that the entire world is conspiring against us. And it is true also that we suffer because of others. But if we study the life of great devotees then we will find that they never blamed anyone for their suffering even though it was very clear that others where inflicting pain upon them.

For example, Prahlada never blamed his father, Hiranyakasipu, who was torturing him mentally and physically and was employing cruel means to kill him. Prahlada said, “I am suffering because of my own activities.” Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.16

Now, how many of us accept that we are the cause of our own misfortune?

We may be suffering now not because the Lord wants us to suffer but because we had indulged in certain prohibitory activities in the past, which is considered sinful by the Vedic scriptures.

Like a prisoner in this world

As long as we are in this world and as long as we have not got purified of all our sins, we will suffer. This material world is compared to a prison house. Just like in a prison, the inmates cannot be peaceful, similarly, in this material world we cannot be peaceful.

A prisoner cannot complain that why he is not happy in the prison house.  

Similarly, we the spiritual beings who have been exiled from the spiritual world and sent to this material world, which is just like a prison house should not expect that we can enjoy here.

Krishna in Bhagavad Gita 8.15 very clearly says that this world is duhkhalayam asasvatam– temporary and miserable. 

The good news – we can live fearlessly.

However the good news is that we are not condemned to suffer forever in this world. There is a solution to all our miseries.

Sometimes seeing the good conduct of a prisoner, the jail authorities may recommend the constitutional authority to reduce his sentence or even recommend to set him free.

Similarly, we the residents of this world also have the chance to get freedom from all the miseries.

The jail authorities of this world may be heartless, biased or corrupt, but the Supreme Lord is unbiased and our best well-wisher.

He has the complete authority over this world and is always eager to take us back to His abode where there are no miseries. And once we return to our eternal home, we will never come back to this world. Free from all sufferings we will live there fearlessly.

“From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kuntī, never takes birth again.” Bhagavad Gita 8.16

Now, we do not have to wait to go to the abode of Krishna to live a fear free happy life.

Even in this world, if we always remain under the shelter of Krishna we will attain freedom from all suffering and can life without any fear. 

Showing compassion upon you and me, Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, “Come to me, I will free you from all sins and you can then live fearlessly”.

“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” Bhagavad Gita 18.66

How Krishna helps devotee to live fearlessly

In fact, once we enthrone Krishna in our hearts then we can live happily and fearlessly forever, even in this world.  

In fact, a devotee of Krishna lives fearlessly even in this world because Krishna personally and proactively protect his devotee.

Srimad Bhagavatam informs us that if one takes shelter of the Supreme Lord completely then the merciful Lord helps him to navigate through all the dangers which torments us in this world.

“For those who have accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Murāri, the enemy of the Mura demon, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf’s hoof-print. Their goal is paraṁ padam, Vaikuṇṭha, the place where there are no material miseries, not the place where there is danger at every step.”  Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.58

Always absorbed in Krishna

Great devotee, Prahlada says that he is not afraid of material life because he always meditates on the Supreme Lord which gives him unlimited bliss. But he is concerned about those people who try to enjoy this world and forget to take shelter of the Supreme Lord. Such persons are condemned to suffer.

“O best of the great personalities, I am not at all afraid of material existence, for wherever I stay I am fully absorbed in thoughts of Your glories and activities. My concern is only for the fools and rascals who are making elaborate plans for material happiness and maintaining their families, societies and countries. I am simply concerned with love for them.” Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.43

A devotee of Krishna lives fearlessly because the Supreme Lord is always with him.

So, if we too want to live fearlessly then we should follow the footsteps of devotees like Prahlada and always remain under the shelter of Krishna, the Supreme Lord.  If we fail to do so, then we will have to face the consequences.

Bhagavad Gita & Srimad-Bhagavatam about fear and how to overcome fear

Vedic literatures like Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam teaches us how to overcome fear and live fearlessly in this world. This becomes possible and easy if one surreders to Krishna as per the teachings of Bhagavad Gita, this is the guaranteed way to get freedom from all fear.

A personal story

I was sitting in the college library one afternoon. Suddenly I saw my friend and classmate Abhishek run frantically into the building. He was breathless and perspiring. In apparent desperation, he approached one of our teachers and asked, “What if I don’t clear my HSC board exam? How will I face my friends and relatives?”

The teacher patiently calmed him down, advising him to remain positive instead of getting so agitated by something that had not yet happened.

Abhishek, however, could not settle down. I knew him as a studious young man; he had been a hard-working and conscientious student for as long as I’d known him. But peer and social pressures had somehow taken their toll on him everything in his life seemed to frighten him. Even a mosquito could drive him crazy with fear “What if I get malaria and die?” When the results came out after two months, Abhishek found that he had cleared his exam with distinction.

The uncertainty of the future keeps many of us in a perpetual state of fear. The world is so unpredictable we don’t know what is going to happen next. Health crisis, financial collapse, joblessness, death in the family anything can happen, at any moment. Most of us worry about things that have never happened and may never happen to us. Fear is like a noose that gets tighter and tighter until it strangles one to death.

Fear and its Consequences

Bhartrhari explains that there are nine types of fear:

 भोगे रोगभयं कुले च्युतिभयं वित्ते नृपालाद्भयं
माने दैन्यभयम्, बले रिपुभयम्, रूपे जराया भयम् ।
शास्त्रे वादिभयम्, गुणे खलभयं, काये कृतान्ताद्भयं
सर्वं वस्तु भयान्वितं भुवि नृणां वैराग्यमेवाभयम् ॥

bhoge rogabhayam, kule chyutibhayam, vitte nrupAlAd-bhayam
mAne dainyabhayam, bale ripubhayam, roope jarAyA bhayam |
shAstre vAdibhayam, guNe khalabhayam, kAye kRtAntAd-bhayam
sarvam vastu bhayAnvitam bhuvi nRNAm vairAgyameva abhayam ||

1. bhoge rogabhayam (भोगे रोगभयं): In enjoyment there is fear of disease
2. kule chyutibhayam (कुले च्युतिभयं): In a family there is fear of disgrace or dishonour
3. vitte nrupAlAd-bhayam (वित्ते नृपालाद्भयं): In wealth there is fear of hostile rulers
4. mAne dainyabhayam ( माने दैन्यभयम्): In honor or prestige there is fear of humiliation
5. bale ripubhayam (बले रिपुभयम्): In power there is fear of enemy or adversary 
6. roope jarAyA bhayam (रूपे जराया भयम्): In beauty there is fear of old age
7. shAstre vAdibhayam (शास्त्रे वादिभयम्): In knowledge there is fear of learned opponents
8. guNe khalabhayam (गुणे खलभयं):  In virtue there is fear of wicked vilifying person
9. kAye kRtAntAd-bhayam (काये कृतान्ताद्भयं): In body there is fear of death

Fear of death

The last one, the fear of death, is the most frightening because what happens after death is a mystery to most. And because we fear it more than anything else, we either ignore or downplay death. Masking it under a thick coating of perfumes and cosmetics, we feel secure in the illusory hope that we are still young and death is too far in the future to be of a present concern.

The apparent success of medical science has added to this illusion by falsely increasing the hope that one day we will conquer death completely. Unfortunately, no technological advancement can stop death. The eventuality of death is utterly outside our control. When Srila Prabhupada was once asked why the death rate was so high in India, he replied, “The death rate is the same everywhere 100%.”

It is well known that excessive fear can ruin one’s life. Here are some of its effects:

1.Physical: 

Gripped by fear, the body reacts adversely: perspiration, palpitation, and a rise in blood pressure.

2.Social: 

A fearful person feels lonely and isolated and is often unable to mix with friends and society. To maintain his or her status, such a person may resort to speaking lies. Fear also causes us to hate those persons whom we fear. A child afraid of his father hates his father; an employee afraid of his boss hates his boss.

3.Occupational: 

Over whelmed by fear of failure at work, people often stagnate and stop performing. “If I don’t meet my targets, my boss will fire me.” Such negative emotions completely engulf such people and ruin their lives.

4.Emotional: 

Fear is compared to a stream of deadly dangerous thoughts. In extreme cases, constant fear can lead to suicide.

The Root Cause of Fear

Fear arises when we accept false things as true, the temporary as eternal, illusion as reality. This world of matter is temporary and illusory, and therefore the happiness found here is of the same nature, temporary and illusory. Our body too, being made of matter, has the same nature; it can never provide us everlasting happiness.

Forgetting this, we try to find happiness in this material world through the temporary body and we find ourselves in a fearful situation. Fear of change, disruption, and ultimately death looms behind us, not allowing us to remain peaceful.

However hard we may try to distract ourselves or to forestall the inevitable with artificial technological facades, the jaws of time continue to devour us until we are face-to-face with inevitable death, suffering from the most heightened state of fear.

Quoting the famous Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.37) verse that begins bhayam dviti ya bhini vesatah syat, Srila Prabhupada explains, “Dvitiya refers to matter, which is beyond spirit. Matter is the secondary manifestation of spirit, for matter is produced from spirit.

Just as the material elements described are caused by the Supreme Lord, or the Supreme Spirit, the body is also a product of the spirit soul. Therefore, the material body is called dvitiya, or ‘the second.’ One who is absorbed in this second element or second exhibition of the spirit is afraid of death.”

The fallen souls

Originally, we are spirit souls, different from the material body, and we belong to the eternal, blissful spiritual world. But, for some reason, we have fallen into this world of matter, which is totally foreign to us.

Here we have developed a spirit of rebellious independence, averse to the service of God, Krishna. This has put us in a miserable situation. We are now orphans, who have been left alone in the middle of an ocean to fend for ourselves. We now face fear at every step of life, to some degree or the other.

A Guaranteed Remedy

As soon as we understand that we are not this material body, that this material world is not our real home, and that all our possessions, positions, and relationships are temporary, the door of fearlessness flings wide open before us. We must understand that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, our loving eternal Father, who is eager to have us back home with Him.

All we need to do is sincerely surrender to Him, without reservation. A famous Vaishnava philosopher and poet named Govinda Dasa has sung, bhaja hu re mana sri-nanda-nandana-abhaya-caranaravinda re: “My dear mind, you please worship the son of Nanda [Krishna], who is abhayacarana, whose lotus feet are secure. There is no fear.”

To such a devotee who earnestly prays for help, Krishna awards total fearlessness. In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says that one can overcome fear if one takes his shelter. “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” (Bhagavad Gita 18.66)

A step towards Krishna

As easy as it may sound, surrendering to Krishna is not so easy. To break off the shackles of false faith that happiness can be found in the material world takes practice and time. Within our short lifespan, we need to judiciously utilize, not ludicrously waste, every moment to develop the quality of surrender.

If we take one step towards Krishna, He will take thousands of steps towards us. We just need to take the initiative, and Krishna will help us take the next step.

Whatever we achieve in this world does not remain with us forever if not before the final hour, everything we treasure will be taken from us at the time of death. But any effort taken on the spiritual path does not go in vain; those results remain with us permanently, and even the slightest effort protects us from degrading into lower forms of life. Lord Krishna promises that His devotee never perishes. (Bhagavad Gita 9.31)

A Modern Example

The easiest way to become fearless is by studying the lives of great devotees who exemplify the quality of surrender. Srila Prabhupada, at the ripe age of sixty-nine, went to the West to preach the message of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He had no money or support, no permanent place to stay, no guarantee he would be fed, no source of income.

But he was free from any fear because, as he often said, he had strong faith in the teachings of Bhagavad Gita, in the holy name of Krishna and in the order of his spiritual master. During the journey he suffered two massive heart attacks; the third one would have killed him.

On the night of the second heart attack Srila Prabhupada dreamed he saw Lord Krishna rowing a boat and asking him not to be afraid. The Lord assured Srila Prabhupada that He would be with him. Significantly enough, Srila Prabhupada’s parents had given him the name Abhay Charan, “one who is fearless having taken shelter at Lord Krishna’s feet.” Prabhupada earned that name.

Out of compassion, he shared Krishna’s sublime message of the Bhagavad-gita and transformed the lives of millions of people all over the world. He has said, “To award fearlessness to the common man is the greatest act of charity.”

And Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavagam teaches us how to deal with fear. At various places in his writings, Srila Prabhupada taught us that how by following the teachings of Bhagavad Gita one can overcome fear and remain fearless. Here are some things we can do to conquer fear:

Practical steps to take to overcome fear

1. Chanting Krishna’s holy names: 

Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.1.11) teaches us, “O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge.”

Lord Caitanya and Srila Prabhupada have taught us to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.

2. Reading and hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam: 

The Srimad Bhagavatam (1.7.7) says, “Simply by giving aural reception to this Vedic literature, the feeling for loving devotional service to Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, sprouts up at once to extinguish the fire of lamentation, illusion and fearfulness.”

For ISKCON devotees, Srila Prabhupada instituted morning and evening classes in all ISKCON temples to facilitate the study of Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Bhagavad-gita. We should take advantage of this facility as much as possible.

3. Meditation on Krishna’s form: 

“My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, You are the Supreme Soul. If one meditates upon Your transcendental body, You naturally protect him from all sources of fear, even the imminent danger of death.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.10.29)

We can meditate on the Deity form of Krishna, at home or in the temple. As we advance in spiritual life, Krishna will reveal to us His captivating form fully competent to dispel all fear.

4. Service to devotees: 

Advanced devotees of the Lord, by dint of their unflinching devotion, acquire godly qualities and always remain fearless. Serving them and following they path they have taken is a guaranteed method of acquiring fearlessness.

Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.1.17) confirms this: “The path followed by pure devotees, who are well behaved and fully endowed with the best qualifications, is certainly the most auspicious path in this material world. It is free from fear, and it is authorized by the shastras.”

The Best Soluton

Among all the methods described above, chanting the holy names is the best and the easiest way to dispel fear, and this is the religion for this age. If we chant sincerely, it can help us instantly transcend all anxieties of this world.

Chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare will swiftly bring us closer to Krishna and make us feel sheltered. By Krishna’s mercy, we will be able to fearlessly march towards our supreme destination, Vaikuntha, the place where there is no anxiety or fear.

If we too start following the guidelines of Vedic scriptures like Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam then we too can overcome all fear and live fearlessly in this world.

What qualities should a devotee have?

A devotee inquired from his guru Parasar Bhat about the qualities of a sincere devotee.  Parasar Bhat contemplated on the question and advised him to go to Anantacharya for the answer. The curious devotee immediately went to the monastery of Anantacharya.

Upon reaching, he explained his purpose of visit and asked for an audience with the revered saint. But Anantacharya asked him to stay in the ashram and said that he would give the answer later. The devotee thought that it is better to stay here till my queries are addressed. But what unfolded later, he was least prepared for.

Devotee patiently tolerates

In the beginning of his stay he was treated with love and respect but it did not last long. Soon he found that he is being treated with disdain. He was being neglected and was asked to perform many services which he happily did. The devotee without any complain continued to stay in the ashram.

He thought that he has come here with a mission and so he will not leave the place unless he gets answer to his questions. Several months had passed but he did not get any answer but he still waited patiently for the reply.

Once a big feast was organized and when he too sat with other devotees for taking food he was asked by Anantacharya to get up and serve all. He was told to take food in the next batch. And when he sat in the next batch, he was again asked to get up and serve all. This continued till the time he was the only one who had not taken the food. 

And now Anantacharya showed his compassion. He called the devotee and asked what his question was. The devotee reverently replied, “I want to know the qualities of a sincere devotee.”

The four qualities of a devotee

Srila Anantacharya said: A true devotee is: (a) like a crane (b) like a hen (c) like salt and (d) like you

The answer was confusing and the venerable sage did not even elaborate, he asked the devotee to go and get the explanation from Parasar Bhat.  The devotee immediately left the ashram and went to Parasar Bhat who was also eagerly waiting to know what answer the great Anantacharya would have given.

The devotee paid respects to Parasar Bhat and narrated the entire incident and also the answer which he had got. Upon hearing the qualities of a genuine devotee explicated by Anantacharya, Parasar Bhat was jubilant. 

And he started explaining the deep meaning which was hidden in the answer:   

1. Like a crane:

• As the colour of the crane is white without any spots, similarly the heart of a devotee should be utterly clean with no dark spots. 
• Crane stands on one leg in the water and keeps on watching the fish. It let go the small fishes but the moment sees a big one then it pounces on it. A devotee too knows what to accept and what to ignore. A devotee ignores materialistic people engaged in mundane talks but whenever finds any spiritual discourse then he immediately grabs the opportunity to immerse himself in hearing Lord’s glories. He does not waste his valuable time in unnecessary gossips.
• During monsoon season, crane leaves the river and goes away to a distant place and returns back when things become normal. A devotee similarly leaves the association of those people who do not have interest in Krishna consciousness and goes to the place where he can get the association of sincere devotees.

2. Like a hen:

• A hen digs its head in the garbage, segregates the filthy stuff and picks healthy food to eat.  A devotee is sargrahi, he is interested only in the essence. As a crow looks for garbage, a fly looks for wounds similarly materialistic people have fault finding tendency. But a sincere soul, who is very much interested in elevating his consciousness, discards mundane and non-devotional activities and only focuses on activities which can take him closer to Krishna.

3. Like Salt:

• While relishing any delicacies we praise the cook, the spices, the vegetables and every other ingredient which we have on our platter but have we ever praised the salt? No. In fact we take the presence of salt for granted. If there is no salt in the food then we immediately realize its absence but we never recognize its presence.
• A devotee being like a salt means that he is ready to sacrifice his personal identity and easily gels with other devotees and renders service without bothering for honour, respect and prestige. He humbly serves all the vaisnavas and becomes so intimate with them that if he not with them even for a moment they start missing his presence. 
• Also in our food salt has to be in optimum quantity – neither too much nor too little. Similarly a vaisnava has to be balanced. Krishna says in Gita 6.16, “There is no possibility of one’s becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough.” And again in Bhagavad Gita 6.17 Krishna gives the formula for success, “He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.”

4. Like You:

• You had gone there with a purpose and you stayed there tolerating all the adverse conditions unless and until you achieved your goal. Also you had a service attitude because whenever you were asked to serve you did it with all humility and without any complain. 
• Lord Chaitanya in his Sistastakam prayers underlines the importance of tolerance and humility: “One should chant the holy names 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 respects to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy names of the Lord constantly.”

Conclusion

The above four qualities is a must for all the sincere seekers. How much of it we have now we need to introspect and simultaneously we should endeavour to assimilate all these wonderful qualities which will help us to attain love of Krishna.

Vedic Scriptures on Why God allow people to suffer because of hunger?

Does the Vedic Scriptures have an answer to the question why God allow people to suffer because of hunger? The believers of God are always perplexed with this question. In fact, many people become agnostic seeing people dying because of scarcity of food. But does God really want us to starve? Or is God not capable to provide food to all? Let us try to understand that does God allow people to suffer because of hunger and what Vedic Scriptures say about it.

Man Sharing Milk with Dogs

During Coronava lockdown, there was a heart wrenching video in which a man can be seen sharing milk with street dogs in Agra. It seems a milk container overturned, and milk fell on the road.

While the man is trying to fill his little container with the milk, the street dogs are also hurriedly licking the milk.

Lockdown Impact:
इंसान और जानवर साथ साथ दूध पीने लगे।
आज अगरा के रामबाग चौराहे पर एक दूध वाले की दूध की टंकी गिर गयी।फिर क्या हुआ खुद देखिए। pic.twitter.com/OWvNg8EFIe

— Kamal khan (@kamalkhan_NDTV) April 13, 2020

The dogs are looking at the man with disdain.

“This is our area. How come you are stealing our food?”

An old starving lady is beaten

In India thousands or may be lakhs of people still live in hunger and die of hunger. But such stories never make headlines in the country. Because none of us want those hungry and unclean people to enter our bedrooms and living rooms.

So, the news channels which are run by highly educated marketing professionals cum journalists make sure that such stories are never discussed during their primetime debates. And the leading dailies of India never publish such stories on their front pages lest the people have gut wrenching feeling early in the morning.

I remember a video clipping which I saw almost 8 – 9 years back in which an elderly woman was being beaten by security guards. Her crime was that she was collecting some grains lying near the door of a godown in Danapur, Bihar. And the same clipping showed that there were dozens of mice inside the godown feasting on the grains.

The godowm was stuffed with sacks of grains. The elderly woman was not collecting any premium quality rice or wheat, but she was collecting rotten grains which were half eaten by the mice. She was beaten and warned not to do this again.

Are there insufficient foodgrains?

Now the question is, are people suffering because of lack of availability of food grains in India? As per the government data – Definitely Not. The government has ample buffer stock. In fact government has foodgrain stock which is more than the buffer norm. According to Financial Express in 2019 the government accumulated food grains 2.7 times the buffer norm.

So what happens to these foodgrains? Where does it go?  Sunday Guardian in his report in 2017 writes, “Around 62,000 tonnes of food grains, mainly rice and wheat, have been damaged in the last six years in the storage facilities of Food Corporation of India (FCI).”

The unused foodgrains rot in the godowns, insects and mice feed on it but it rarely reaches to the hungry people. The government says that they do not have proper mechanism to distribute the foodgrains to the poor people.

The government has the mechanism to send rockets in space, develop nuclear missiles but do not have the mechanism to feed the hungry people!!!

It has never been the fault of nature that people have to live in hunger. She provides all necessities which are required to live in this world comfortably. But it is because of the exploitative mentality of people and especially people who are in power and position that people struggle for daily food.

In Bengal famine of 1943 around 2 – 3 million people died of starvation. All historians concur that the famine was man-made.

So, before independence people in India was dying of hunger and even after 73 years of independence people are suffering because of hunger.  

Nothing much has changed especially for the poor people. And no one even cares about them.

Vedic Scriptures explain that God provides all the necessities

So, it is not that God is keeping people hungry. Hunger is because people in responsible position are misusing the resources given by God for their selfish purpose.

Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, “In the beginning of creation, the Lord of all creatures sent forth generations of men and demigods, along with sacrifices for Viṣṇu, and blessed them by saying, “Be thou happy by this yajña [sacrifice] because its performance will bestow upon you everything desirable for living happily and achieving liberation.” Bhagavad Gita 3.10.

In this world, everything required for our sustenance have been provided by God. But these resources should be utilized properly for everyone’s benefit. This becomes possible and easy when men in power and positions are devotees of God.

As per Vedas a king or the ruler (President or Prime Minister) is the father of all the citizens of the country. And like a father he has to make sure that all his citizens are properly taken care – No one is exploited and no one goes hungry.

One should ensure that no one is hungry

It is not only the responsibility of the rulers to make sure that all the necessities are distributed equally to all but even the ctizens should proactively take responsibility of ensuring that no one around them suffers especially because of lack of food.

In fact, the scriptures go one step ahead and say that all the well-to-do householders should make sure that none of his dependents and no one living near his house should remain hungry.

Before honouring the meal, the householder should go out of his house and shout, “Is there any one hungry?” multiple times and if anyone responds to his call then he should immediately feed that person. Although today this approach will be difficult to implement but one should try to help the needy people as much as possible.

A genuine devotee of the Lord can never tolerate others’ suffering. He will do his best to alleviate the suffering of the people and will make sure that no one around him/her is hungry.

When Srila Prabhupada had tears in his eyes?

Once in Mayapur, devotees celebrated Govardhan Puja. They cooked huge quantity of rice and distributed the prasada (sanctified vegetarian food) to many people. People ate the prasada on a leaf plate and threw the plates near a building where Srila Prabhupada was staying.  Prabhupada after some time started hearing dogs barking and children yelling.

He looked over and saw a big pile of leaf plates. The dogs and the children were fighting for the food left on the plate. The children carrying the stick was trying to drive away the dogs, but the hungry dogs were not relenting. Prabhupada’s eyes got filled with tears.

He immediately called the devotees and said, “Make sure that nobody goes hungry within the 10-mile radius of the temple. Temple is the place of god. And all are God’s children. And in the presence of the supreme Lord, the Supreme Father his children should not remain hungry.”

This is the guiding principles of all the devotees of Iskcon. And so we see that Iskcon has always tried to serve free prasad to thousands of people all over the world. 

Iskcon’s contribution in alleviating hunger

During this coronavirus pandemic ISKCON and its affiliate foundations have served more than 1.22 crore (12 million) plates of meals across India till now. And they are still distributing food to people not just in India but in different parts of the world.

So, the solution to all the problems of the world is lack of God consciousness.

Gifts of God should be shared by all

If the entire people of the world become devotee of the Lord, then they will start seeing each and every other living being in relationship with the Lord. They will start seeing everyone as their own brothers and sisters.

And then no one will exploit others but all will happily share the available resources with others with an understanding that these are the gifts of God and it should be shared by all.

“Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.” Sri Isopanisad, Mantra 1

The people who are in governance will consider it as their divine duty to honestly and selflessly serve the people.

In such a God conscious society no one will die of hunger and no one will have to lick the milk fallen on the road with the street dogs.

Vedic scriptures clearly say that God does not allow and does not want people to suffer from hunger. Hunger is due to lack of God consciousness.