Decoration for the forehead Lalatika is made of flowers of two different colours. It has two parts. One is of red colour. It is fastened at the top of the head and follows the parting of … Read More
Hare Krishna dear devotees, Soon the publications of isvara.org will NOT be available on the Facebook page of His Grace Manonatha Maharaja. Instead, all publication of the articles of isvara.org will be on the Facebook page … Read More
You must be careful about the quality of the company. Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (2.13) explains the reasons: yasya yat sangatih pumso manivat syat sa tad gunah svakularddhyai tato dhiman svayuthany eva samsrayet Just as the qualities of an … Read More
The Vedas describe the truth concerning the holy name with these words from the Rig-vedas: om ity etad brahmin nedistam nama yasmad uccaryamana eva samsara-bhayat tarayati tasmad-ucyate tara iti om asya jananto nama cid-viviktan mahaste visno … Read More
A deliberation on Namabhasa Namabhasa vicara Glory to Gadai-Gauranga and the life of Jahnava Devi! Glory to Sita’s husband! Glory to Srivasa and all devotees! Mahaprabhu extended His lotus hand and then raised Hari Dasa. He … Read More
Years had passed, and Pratipa had grown old. So, he retired to the forest to spend the last years of his life in devotional service and meditation. Shantanu had inherited his father’s throne and ruled with … Read More
After those first fortunate circumstances, on my travels to London, Delhi, and Bombay I bought several editions of the Ramayana and Maha-bharata, and immersed myself in their study. I have read these books a considerable number … Read More
When Dhritarastra introduced his welcome speech in paternal ways, Yudhisthira could not help but catch a glimpse of false expressions. However, he replied without resentment, hiding his concern about the proposals that his uncle would later … Read More
According to Namastaka (2), the holy name is worshiped by liberated souls, as even namabhasa destroys all kinds of suffering. jaya namadheya muni-vrnda-geya jana-ranjanaya paramaksarakrte tvam anadarad api manag udiritam nikhilogra-tapa-patalim vilumpasi Oh Hari-nama! The great … Read More
King Shantanu was the forty-seventh descendant of the noble lineage of Kshatriyas who came from Brahma through the moon Deva, Chandra. His father was called Pratipa, and he had been a great king, loved by his … Read More
A friend for lunch Once a Vaishnava invited his friend for lunch. He served him prasadam nicely and later inquired him about his devotional service. The friend got angry and said, “What are you talking about? … Read More
One day, along the path that skirted Rama’s hut, Surpanakha, Ravana’s sister, the king of the Raksasas, happened to pass by chance. Surpanakha was a monstrous and evil being, a worthy sister of Ravana. Her features … Read More
The holy name of Krishna, overflowing with transcendental bliss, is the embodiment of transcendental sweetness. In Namastaka (8) it is written: narada-vinojjivana sudhormi- niryasa-madhuripura tvam krsna-nama kamam sphura me rasane rasena sada O Krishna-nama! You infuse … Read More
What is the Aranyaka portion of the Vedas? There are various sections of Sruti (the Vedas), some of which are the Samhitas, the Upavedas, the Vedangas, the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas, the Sutras, the Upangas, etc. … Read More
The Devas pondered a little, then responded: “We certainly have to perform our duty to give relief to those who suffer, but we doubt that we will be able to win unless Lord Krishna accompany us. … Read More
I had always dreamed of recounting the Ramayana in a simple book, within everyone’s reach, sure, as I still am, that the beauty of the story would have fascinated anyone. I heard the Ramayana – and … Read More
It is confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.12.48): sankirtyamano bhagavan anantah srutanubhavo vyasanam hi pumsam pravisya cittam vidhunoty asesam yatha tamo ‘rko’ bhram ivati-vatah When people properly glorify the Supreme Personality of God or even just when they … Read More
6. Sastha-yama Sadhana Bhajana during the evening Bhava (The transcendental emotion) The external symptoms of perfection are found in the Siksastaka (6): nayanam galad-asru-dharaya vadanam gadgada-ruddhaya gira pulakair nicitam vapuh kada tava nama-grahane bhavisyati … Read More
And so, peace was endangered again. These demons, practically invincible in battle, united to form armies whose military strength was so vast that the Earth itself began to be unable to bear their physical weight. It … Read More
