Ultimate Self Realization

What to do in a world of calamities where there is danger at every step? Our only shelter is the boat of the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna. Nothing else can save us. Therefore let us give up all the false shelters and place ourselves securely at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Merciful Krishna Gives His Devotees All Protection Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: What is the Most Powerful Krishna Mantra? Dear Sir, Pranam. Please advise what is the most powerful mantra of lord Krishna, which can be chanted daily, at all times and at all places. Regards Padmakumar Answer: The Hare Krishna Mahamantra The most powerful of all mantras (Krishna or otherwise) is the Hare Krishna mahamantra. This mantra can deliver the entire world: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare Sankarshan Das Adhikari

The more that we are willing to go through hell for Krishna, the more Krishna sees that we truly love Him and the more we become blessed with transcendental happiness. This is very nicely illustrated by one of Krishna's pastimes. One time Krishna pretended that He had a headache. Many physicians came to cure Him, but still His "headache" persisted. Finally He said, "No physician has been able to cure me. But if my devotee can give me the dust of his feet on my head, then I can be cured." So a messenger began approaching all of the devotees asking that them to give their foot dust to cure Krishna's headache. But nobody wanted to give. They were thinking, "If I give the dust of my feet for Krishna's head, I will go to hell." Even when Narada Muni was approached he said, "How it is possible that I shall give the dust of my feet to Krishna? No, no, no, it is not possible." Then Krishna asked His messenger "Go to Vrindavana and ask

25 February 2013--We are now finally just one step away from arriving in the Lord's holy dhama. We are stopping at the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre in Kolkata to see this important ISKCON project which is dedicated to preserving the Vaisnava literatures. Currently they have 3,500 titles in their library and are actively in the process of acquiring as many as possible. These literatures are the most important literatures for the deliverance of the human society. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Bhaktivedanta Research Centre Kolkata, India Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Am I Insulting the Demigods? Dear Sir, All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I am daily chanting Hare Krishna and I love to read the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. I always like to engage myself in reading the transcendental activities of Krishna. But at the same time I do not like worshipping the other demigods such as Ganesh and Shiva because I know that only Krishna is worshipable. Am I insulting the demigods

We had a good chunk of hours between our arrival in London from the USA and our departure to India. So we took advantage of the stopover to visit ISKCON's wonderful Bhaktivedanta Manor for the celebration of Lord Nityananda's appearance day. The devotees scheduled for me to give a song class in Srila Prabhupada's quarters on "Nitai Pada Kamala", a song by Narottama Das Thakur, which describes the wonderful glories of Lord Nityananda. It was a wonderful relief from all the mundane association on the airplanes and at the airport. I met with devotees to answer their questions about devotional service, gave class, honored the feast, and headed back to the airport feeling uplifted and spiritually surcharged. It is indeed sublime how Srila Prabhupada has created such a wonderful world wide spiritual society. There are now so many transcendental oases in this vast desert of material existence where one be surcharged with transcendental bliss. Sankarshan Das Adhikari S

Secularism or materialism will never bring the desired peace and happiness in the world because by nature everyone has their own separate self interest, which will inevitably conflict with someone else's self interest. Therefore for genuine world peace there must a common center for all, a God-centered conception, to which everyone can subordinate themselves. This will bring everyone together on a common platform. In this way everyone can act for God's interest instead of their own interest and be fully happy and peaceful. But if religion is introduced in a sectarian way, problems will still persist. Sectarian religion is very divisive. It pits those of one religion against those of different religions to such an extent that they sometimes even kill and torture each other. Therefore non-sectarian religion, i.e. spirituality, is what is needed in the world today in order to bring in the much desired peace. In other words we must approach God scientifically and not sentimentall

Today is the most auspicious appearance day of Lord Nityananda. In observance of this momentous occasion devotees all over the world are fasting until noon. Narottama Das Thakur has very nicely sung regarding Lord Nityananda: nitāi-pada-kamala, koṭi-candra-suśītala je chāyāy jagata jurāy heno nitāi bine bhāi, rādhā-kṛṣṇa pāite nāi dṛḍha kori' dharo nitāir pāy "The lotus feet of Lord Nityananda are a shelter where one will get the soothing moonlight not only of one, but of millions of moons. If the world wants to have real peace, it should take shelter of Lord Nityananda. Unless one takes shelter under the shade of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, it will be very difficult for him to approach Radha-Krishna. If one actually wants to enter into the dancing party of Radha-Krishna, he must firmly catch hold of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda." If we take advantage of the unlimited kindness of Lord Nityananda and sincerely beg for His mercy, especially today on His mos

Today we heading out via London to the most holy abode, Sridham Mayapur, located in West Bengal on the bank of the sacred Ganges river. Because this is the place where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared 500 years ago it is imbued with great spiritual potency. Anyone who spends even a few minutes in Mayapur is unlimitedly blessed for all of eternity by the divine influence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is personally present in Sridham Mayapur to this very day, even though He is not physically manifest. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Sridham Mayapur on the Bank of the Ganges Srila Prabhupada's Puspa Samadhi in Mayapur Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: What Language in the Spiritual World? Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! What is the language spoken in the spiritual world? Thanking you. Yours humbly, Kesaven Answer: The Most Perfect Language, Sanskrit Srila Prabhupada has very nicely answered your question as f

You are the pilot of the airplane of your mind. So, it is your choice at what altitude you will fly. You can fly at a low altitude and be tossed hither and thither, buffeted by the stormy winds of the three modes of material nature. Or you can fly at a high altitude in the transcendental dimension where all the miseries of material existence are conspicuous by their absence. Therefore it is completely up to you whether you will suffer or enjoy. If you will give up sinful activities and regularly and devotedly chant the holy names of God, you will experience the unlimited happiness of always flying smoothly in the friendly and most beautiful spiritual sky. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Reside With Krishna and the Gopis Forever Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Attachment to Devotees is Bad? I am getting attached to the devotees at the ISKCON temple. Is that a bad thing? Humble obeisances, Amar Answer: Become Liberated by Such Attachment When Narada Muni was a young bo

We should not blame Krishna for whatever difficulties and hardships that we face. Instead we should always gratefully see how Krishna is bestowing His kindness upon us in so many ways at every minute. By always maintaining this attitude of gratitude, we will always be happy and peaceful in all varieties of circumstances, even in the most trying and taxing situations. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Krishna Always Bestows Sweet Kindness Upon Us Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: What is the Qualification for Preaching? What is the qualification for preaching? Is the number of rounds which we chant the qualification, or is it simply the desire to preach? What does Srila Prabhupada want us to do? Should we first chant 16 rounds and then preach, or should we become completely pure devotees and then preach? Your servant Praveen Answer: Conviction The qualification is conviction, that you must be completely convinced that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If you

At the present moment we are captivated by the material energy and have thus forgotten our eternal identities as the Lord's servants in His amazing transcendental abode. Thus we are unnecessarily suffering in so many ways the pangs of birth, death, old age, and disease. Instead of prolonging our suffering by stubbornly holding onto our sense-gratification-hungry false egos, we should take shelter of Krishna by regularly chanting His holy names and thus regain our eternal, all-blissful transcendental identities. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Krishna Awaits Our Return to His Kingdom Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Nothing to Do Beyond Knowing Krishna? In Bhagavad-gita 4.9 Lord Krishna states: "One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna." If one knows as stated in this verse, does it mean that he has no thing fur

Once again on 16 February 2013 the magical potency of Lord Sri Krishna's name manifested on Austin's South Congress Avenue. This time there were twelve of us singing and dancing in ecstasy to awaken ourselves in self-realization and to bestow self-realization upon the sleeping souls of this world. It is sometimes said that there is strength in numbers. In the case of our holy name chanting party this principle is quite appropriate. The spiritual energy was flowing through us like Niagara Falls bestowing unlimited tons of mercy upon everyone who came within earshot of the chanting, even the many dogs who came by walking their masters. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Ecstatic Kirtan Attracts the Attention of Passersby Austin, Texas USA--16 February 2013 Nothing is More Ecstatic than Hare Krishna Kirtan Four Young Women Sing and Dance With Us A Family Stops to Sing and Buy One of Our Books Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: How to Taste the Nectar of Krishna'

If one wants to be properly situated in Krishna consciousness and make steady advancement on the path of bhakti, he must have complete faith in the guru, who helps the disciple make progress in spiritual life. As soon as the disciple thinks independently, not caring for the instructions of the spiritual master, his spiritual life is doomed. This is confirmed as follows in the Śvetāśvatara Upanisad 6.23: yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā-deve tathā gurau tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ prakāsante mahātmanaḥ “Only unto those great souls who have unflinching, implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.” Therefore it should be clearly understood that one who is unflinchingly devoted to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, and similarly devoted to the spiritual master, with no ulterior motive, becomes a perfect knower of the Absolute Truth as revealed in the Vedic wisdom. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Srila Prabh

I can't stand seeing the entire world in such a unnecessarily miserable condition. If the world's people would simply add Krishna consciousness to their lives, this place would become heaven on earth. So somehow or other we must find the ways and means to induce them all to read Srila Prabhupada's books and thus receive the knowledge of how they can constantly live in the realm of pure transcendental happiness. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Vaisesika Prabhu Distributing Prabhupada's Books Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: How to Stop Seeing Others' Faults? How can I stop looking at the faults of others? Regards, Parag R. Rane Answer: See Your Faults and Krishna's Glories Look at your own faults and always glorify Krishna. Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Greed for wealth, women, and power destroys one's ability to become a spiritually awakened being. However if one is very greedy to advance in his Krishna consciousness, this is a great boon. In fact, Srila Prabhupada describes that this greed for bhakti is the best path available. In this regard it is stated by Srila Rupa Goswami: kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa-bhāvitā matiḥ krīyatāṁ yadi kuto 'pi labhyate tatra laulyam api mūlyam ekalaṁ janma-koṭi-sukṛtair na labhyate "Pure devotional service in Krishna consciousness cannot be had even by pious activity in hundreds and thousands of lives. It can be attained only by paying one price-that is, intense greed to obtain it. If it is available somewhere, one must purchase it without delay.' --Padyāvalī 14 Therefore greed should not be given up. It should be purified by engaging it in the service of Krishna. We should be greedy to awaken our dormant Krishna consciousness. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Beautiful Krishna is Calli

At the present moment due to godless leaders the entire planet earth is gradually being transformed into an uninhabitable toxic waste dump. Everywhere things are becoming more and more polluted: the rivers, the oceans, the underground water table, the forests, the cities, the countryside, the air, etc. In spite of so much rhetoric about cleaning up the environment, the world's leaders are not able to do anything tangible about it because they are simply puppets in the hands of the greedy few who possess massive economic power. These vested interests care naught for the welfare of the human population. They are simply driven by their lust for more and more sense gratification, especially in the form of wealth and power. The people in general are forced for their livelihoods to work long hours in tedious jobs that they don't like. To do so they are crammed into congested, hellish, crime-ridden, dangerous, dirty cities. This is not the way that human life is supposed to be. In th

A Godbrother of mine very wisely said that if you attend mangala-arati, magic will happen in your day. Mangala-arati means "auspicious welcoming ceremony for the Lord." It is to be conducted no later than one-and-a-half hours before sunrise. In ISKCON temples around the world it is celebrated every day at 4:30 A.M. It is our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, who taught us to perform mangala-arati. He writes in his purport to Nectar of Instruction, verse 3: "In this Krishna consciousness movement we require everyone to rise early in the morning, by four A.M., and attend mangala-arati, or morning worship." So whether one lives in a temple or lives at home, those who are following the principles of Krishna consciousness rise every day no later than four A.M. and celebrate mangala-arati. Mangala-arati is such an important part of our Krishna conscious life that we can judge our level of advancement in Krishna consciousness simply by how we experience mangala-arati.

On 10 February 2013 at ISKCON Austin I initiated two new disciples into our disciplic succession, Bhaktavatsala Das and Sulaksana Devi Dasi. It brings great joy to the heart to see sincere souls realizing the illusory nature of material happiness and thus taking to the path of unlimited happiness in the devotional service of the Lord. This material world is a nasty, dangerous place. But if one takes to Krishna consciousness seriously, all of his problems will be solved. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Ecstatic Initiation Ceremony 10 February 2013 at ISKCON Austin: Initiation of Bhaktavatsala Das Initiation of Sulaksana Devi Dasi Fire Sacrifice Ceremony Ecstatic Hare Krishna Kirtan Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Is this a Contradiction? Please accept my humble obeisances All glories to Srila Prabhupada Your Grace mentioned recently in one of your answers that Krishna is emanating innumerable living entities from Himself every moment. I do not understand how thi

We have the greatest cause for celebration. The sweet water ocean of Lord Caitanya's mercy is inundating the universe and drowning everyone. Therefore do not remain on the shore of birth, death, old age, and disease. Instead you should dive into this ocean of mercy and immediately become liberated from all material miseries. Diving into this most sublime ocean is not all difficult. It can be immediately be done. All you have to is exuberantly sing and dance: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Exuberant Song and Dance on a Cold, Rainy Day Austin, Texas USA--9 February 2013 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Was Mira Bai a Pure Devotee of Krishna? Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to you Was Mira Bai a pure devotee of Krishna according to Srila Prabhupada? Is she a great authority? Was she one of the eight main gopis in Vrindavana? Reg

The Krishna Consciousness movement is not a sentimental concocted movement. It is fully authorized by Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to guide the entire human society in the principles of what is a proper life for going back home, back to Godhead. This authority has been carefully handed down through an unbroken chain of disciplic succession beginning with Krishna Himself. This authorized disciplic line is as follows: 1. Krishna 2. Brahma 3. Narada 4. Vyasa 5. Madhva 6. Padmanabha 7. Nrhari 8. Madhava 9. Aksobhya 10. Jaya Tirtha 11. Jnanasindhu 12. Dayanidhi 13. Vidyanidhi 14. Rajendra 15. Jayadharma 16. Purusottama 17. Brahmanya Tirtha 18. Vyasa Tirtha 19. Laksmipati 20. Madhavendra Puri 21. Isvara Puri, (Nityananda, Advaita) 22. Lord Caitanya 23. Rupa, (Svarupa, Sanatana) 24. Raghunatha, Jiva 25. Krishnadasa 26. Narottama 27. Visvanatha 28. (Baladeva) Jagannatha 29. Bhaktivinoda 30. Gaurakisora 31. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati 32.

In Chinese wisdom it is very succinctly and profoundly stated, "Persistence furthers." This principle is very much applicable in the practice of Krishna consciousness. The devotee who persists in spite of all the ups and downs experienced in the neophyte stage of Krishna consciousness will in due course of time become a highly advanced devotee transcendentally situated beyond the dualities of material existence. Simply one must persist in his practice. He must never give it up. By doing so he will eventually attain the perfectional stage of prema bhakti. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Baby Krishna, the Supreme Mischief Maker Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Why Krishna is Mischievous? You may not know this, but the stories tell that Krishna as a child was mischievous. If He is God, shouldn't He be perfect? Or is this just a portrayal of innocent child play? Bhavishya Answer: His Supreme Naughtiness is not Naughty By the mercy of our spiritual master, His

Srila Rupa Goswami has written in the Vidagha Madhava 1.15 that he does not know how much nectar the two syllables, "Krish" and "na" have produced because when he utters them Krishna literally dances in his mouth emanating so much nectar that his one mouth is not capable of containing it. Therefore Rupa Goswami desires many, many mouths. Then he describes that when the sacred name Krishna enters the holes of his ears there is so much nectar that he requires billions of ears to capture it. He concludes his wonderful glorification of the Lord's holy name by saying that when Krishna dances in the courtyard of his heart, his mind becomes completely conquered and all of his senses become inert. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Srila Rupa Goswami Chants the Hare Krishna Mantra Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Why Krishna Consciousness is Strict? I am a teenage girl living in Canada but I was born and raised as a Hindu. My question to you is that Hinduism

I recently corresponded with my Godbrother, Indradyumna Maharaja. I feel a close affinity with him because we were both inspired by Vishnujana Maharaja to join this most sublime Hare Krishna movement. Indradyumna Maharaja very wonderfully wrote me, "Let us try to follow in the footsteps of Vishnujana Maharaja and inspire the devotees like he inspired you and me." This reminds me of what Srila Prabhupada once wrote about Vishnujana Maharaja, "Vishnujana Maharaja is personally a nice devotee so he has created nice devotees." Even though I had previously associated with other devotees of the Hare Krishna movement, I was not inspired to join. But after associating with Vishnujana Maharaja and feeling the bliss of Krishna consciousness in his divine association, I realized that to surrender to Krishna under the guidance of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada would be the perfection of my existence. And now after 42 years of serving Srila Prabhupada I

By the potency invested in him by his spiritual master, the spiritual master saves his disciples from the cycle of birth and death and delivers them back to home, back to Godhead. The Vedic wisdom is our mother. And the spiritual master who initiates us is our spiritual father. Srila Prabhupada explains that even though just as we have only one father, we have only one spiritual master, the spiritual master who initiates us, other Vaisnavas who teach us purely what our initiating spiritual master has taught us can also be accepted as gurus. They are called instructing gurus. While we can have only one initiating guru, we can have unlimited instructing gurus. If we take full advantage of the initiating guru and the instructing gurus, our lives will be successful. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Srila Prabhupada in His New Dvaraka Garden ISKCON Los Angeles, USA Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: When Will I Be Able to See Krishna? Please accept my respectful obeisances. All g

In this crazy, chaotic world we have one thing which keeps us sane: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare By always taking shelter of this Hare Krishna mahamantra we will never become fearful, bewildered, or confused in any situation. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Snehal Asmin Purchases an Entire Case of Gitas 3 February 2013--Round Rock, Texas Respecting the World's Most Profound Scripture Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Why Have We Forgotten God? I have a question. If everything is created by Krishna and everyone is part and parcel of Krishna, then how come we have forgotten our real identity? Why Krishna has created this very complex duality nature in the material world that somebody loves Him and somebody hates Him? Why have these different mentalities come even when Krishna is present in the material world? There are so many confusions about God. Somebody says that God has form and others say that

Transcendental bliss has once again hit the streets of Austin, Texas USA. On Saturday 3 February 2013 an ecstatic group of devotees from ISKCON Austin brought the unlimited mercy of Lord Caitanya once again to the streets of Austin. We set up a bhakti oasis on South Congress Avenue, a popular spot for Austinites on the weekend. For uplifting the local and global consciousness we loudly sang the Hare Krishna mantra and distributed the liberating transcendental literatures of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. I'll let you in on an insider's secret. The more you distribute transcendental bliss, the more you will taste transcendental bliss. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Bliss on South Congress Avenue Austin, Texas 2 February 2013: Loudly Broadcasting the Holy Names Those Passing By Get the Supreme Blessing Mahasundari Madhavi Devi Dasi Convinces a Young Man to Purchase the Topmost Literature He Feels Great Bliss with His New Books Guruvani Devi Dasi Blesse

It has been wisely stated, "Pride comes before the fall." Therefore if we want to remain solidly situated on the path of spiritual awakening, we must always remain humble, thinking ourselves lower than the straw in the street, being more tolerant than a tree, and offering all respect to others without demanding any respect for ourselves. Lord Caitanya taught us this principle by His words and by His personal example. I have been a member of the Krishna consciousness movement for last 42 years. In this course of time I have seen many, many devotees come and go from this movement. Even many big, big leaders have come and gone. What I have learned it is that if one always remains humble in all circumstances, he will never fall down. This is the secret of longevity and ultimate success on the pathway of awakening one's Krishna bhakti. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Lord Caitanya Humbly Presents Himself to the Mayavadi Sannyasis Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: S

Srila Prabhupada explains in his Srimad Bhagavatam lecture given on 4 August 1974 in Vrindavan, India: "This is the business of the disciple, how to glorify the spiritual master, parampara. I glorify my spiritual master, you glorify your spiritual master. If we simply do that, glorify, then Krishna is glorified." This is a very important principle for the disciple to always remember and practice, to always be glorifying his spiritual master. This is how to please Krishna. In this connection Srila Prabhupada often quotes the saying, "If you love me, love my dog." He explains that the spiritual master is the dog of God. So one's love of God is seen by how much he loves and glorifies his spiritual master. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Devotees Lovingly Greet Srila PrabhupadaArriving in Sydney, Australia in 1971 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: How to Forget the Past? It is very difficult to forget all the hard times I have gone through, especially

Just as a house with an ever-increasing clutter of junk becomes more and more unlivable, in a similar way if the house of one's mind is cluttered with the junk of material attachments, one's life becomes more and more miserable. Therefore one should always keep his mind clean and one-pointed instead of cluttered by always keeping it fixed on Krishna. The unlimited bliss of remembering Krishna will automatically keep the mind free from the clutterific jungle of material attachments. Sankarshan Das Adhikari A Materialistic Mind is Like a Clutter-Filled House The Mind of a Pure Devotee is Clean and Serene Srila Prabhupada on the Bank of the Yamuna River Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Change of Rasas in the Spiritual World? Please accept my humble obeisances All Glories to Srila Prabhupada! I have heard that in the spiritual world everything is conscious, even the grass, the rocks etc etc. Does this therefore mean that when we return to the spiritual wor