Wednesday 27 February 2013

Gour Govind Swami - Portrait

gour govinda swami - official website

srila gour govinda swami - archives

srila gour govinda swami - biography

A Life of Purity: In search of his eternal spiritual master he left home with only two gamchas (short dhoti), a bamboo stick, a begging bowl, and no money. He completely depended on Krishna for everything. Walking and talking about Krishna to devotees, eating whatever Krishna would provide and sleeping under any tree at night. He was looking for three things: Bhagavata, Krsna and Mahaprabhu.
 
Meeting with Srila Prabhupada "So I went in and paid dandavat, he looked at me and enquired, "Who are you? What is your name?" "Goura Gopalananda dasa." He looked at me and said, "O, have you taken sannyasa?" He asked me from his side. I said, "No." "Then I'll give you sannyas!" I immediately know, "Oh, it's paramatma what I am looking for now it is here. Yes, I have gotten now. I have gotten now."

A Devotee by Birth : Srila Prabhupada quoted the following Bhagavad-gita verse at the time of giving sannyasa to Srila Gour Govinda Swami:
sri-bhagavan uvaca
anasritah karma-phalam
karyam karma karoti yah
sa sannyasi ca yogi ca
na niragnir na cakriyah
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: One who is unattached to the fruits of his work and who works as he is obligated, is in the renounced order of life, and he is the true mystic, not he who lights no fire and performs no duty.” (BG, 6.1)
He uttered this verse and said, “He is a real sannyasi,” then gave him the sannyasa mantra and danda. Shortly thereafter, many sannyasis and GBC members started complaining, “How has he taken sannyasa? He is a new man!” Then Srila Prabhupada told them, “He is a devotee from birth - you are new men!"

Tuesday 26 February 2013

Vishnujan Swami Portrait

Vishujana Swami used to stand on the streets of LA and play the mridanga 6-8 hours a day, day after day, and come back and eat huge quantities of prasadam. "It is impossible to convey in writing the magnitude of his kirtans. The amount of energy he burns leading the sankirtana party in non-stop chanting can’t be calculated." Krishna inspires him with a nice idea how to preach. “You invite me to your home,” he proposes, “and I will turn your home into a temple.” Vishnujana used to make sweet rice by continuously stirring it. We would take turns stirring, while the other read KRISHNA book. “Oh my Lord, what am I, and what is my value?
           I, who am eternal, full of knowledge and bliss,
           have falsely identified with this body
           which is temporary, full of ignorance and misery.
           And what is the value of these things we have offered you?
           They are also of the same temporary nature.
           But You, dear Lord Krishna, are the most expert mystic, and as such,
          You can enter into anything and change matter into Spirit as You like.
          And as You are always anxious to accept the offerings
          from the hands of Your pure devotees, so we have offered these nice foodstuffs
          unto the hands of Your most pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada.
          Please, therefore accept, and if You are satisfied, then we are satisfied.”
Vishnujan Swami Blog

Friday 15 February 2013

Hladini Mataji Portrait





Remembering Hladini Mataji

Srila Prabhupada letter to Hladini Mataji

It is natural to cry in separation for PURE Devotee like Hladini Mataji. She gave her life for protection of vaishnavas. Her favorite Purport of text 6.24 of Bhagavad Gita, about a sparrow trying to dry up the ocean to save her eggs, and garuda eventually coming to help see identified with the little sparrow & saw Srila Prabhupada as GARUDA. I really cried, full of prayers while chanting to get blessings of previous acharyas, to paint above portrait.