The Pursuit of Bliss

Shivratri (The Great Night of Shiva)  (A quick synopsis from the view point of Itihasa Puranas and Scriptures of the Vedic Tradition) Consort of Lord Shiva. By rigorous penance she won over Bhagawan Shiva, himself a great ascetic.  Mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. By becoming the wife of Shiva she paved the way for the spread  of peace and felicity in the world. Mother Parvati Goddess Parvati is the wife of Lord Shankar. She has several names, each with a special significance. Since Ishwara or Shiva is also called 'Bhava' (Of course by now you would have also known that  Maha Bhava Swarupini is Shri Radha Rani and thus Lord Shiva is constantly in Radha Samadhi, earning Him the name Bhavaya) his wife is known as 'Bhavani.' She is 'Parvati', being the daughter of the king of mountains, Parvataraja. With the same connotation she has two other names ‘Girija’ and 'Shailaja'. As she is the source of all good things to all those who have fait...

Vasant Panchami Vasant Panchami marks the beginning of the spring season and falls on the fifth day of spring (Maagh). Also known and celebrated as Saraswati Puja. This festival is celebrated at the beginning of the Spring season, when vibrant yellow flowers in the mustard fields are blooming, creating a joyous atmosphere everywhere. In Braj, from the time of Vasant Panchmi, devotees begin to sing Holi songs in the Temples. Shri Maharaj Ji dresses up in lovely yellow garments. Devotees chant special Holi songs, dance in spiritual happiness and play Holi of flower petals throwing them on each other, and Shri Maharajji showers his Grace by throwing flowers on them. “Pad Kirtans” sung during this season usually recount how the exasperated gopies, took their sweet revenge on Shri Krishna and his friends. Tired of being teased and harassed by Shri Krishna and his friends, the gopies decided to retaliate by pelting the darling of Braj with cow-dung, mud, dyes made out of local flow...

Importance of Human Life.............. Lecture by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj There are three things that are attained only through God’s grace and all three are very rare. Number one is human body. Human birth has been given to us through the grace of God. It is not our doing. Ramayan says – After millions of births; after revolving in 8.4 million forms of life, the individual soul is granted the rare human birth. God gives us a chance to attain the ultimate goal of our life. If we fail to attain the aim of life, then as the Vedas say – –we will be forced to revolve in 8.4 million species. But we did not listen to God. Therefore, we are going round and round. Then once again God took pity on us and gave us the human form. So, this human life is attained with God’s grace and it’s very rare. You may think, “I have attained the human birth as a result of virtuous actions of previous lifetimes, and therefore why should I consider this to be God’s grace?” But I ask you; do y...

Shri Radha Tatva - Lecture by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj at Prem Mandir Vrindavan on 24th September 2012

Who is Radha Rani ? Short Lecture By Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaji - 2012  With English Subtitles 

Baby Radha in the courtyard of Mother Kriti and King Vrishabhanu  in Barsana  The blessed souls. Those who are here, they have a desire to know more about Radha Rani, to experience Her Grace, and to have Her vision. That’s why you have come here on this celebration of the appearance day of Radha Rani. This desire has to be deepened. That’s all you have to do, nothing else. We sometimes know something, and we forget. So we keep on reminding you every time that you must remember your true desire of finding Radha and Krishna. Not very long, just 5,000 years ago, Radha Rani was on this earth planet for 125 years, in Barsana, in India. And very recently, 500 years ago, the same Radha Rani appeared as Chaitanya Mahaprabhuji and revealed the true Bliss of Her leelas through chanting and Hari bol, to all the souls, whoever came close to him. Like a free gift to every soul. But those who came to him, they had different experiences. Some received something. Some received enli...

जोइ वृषभानुनन्दिनी राधे - Joi Vrishbhanu Nandini Radhey

Pravachan By Jagadguru Shri Kripaluji Maharaj Ji ( 2012 Janmastami ) at Prem Mandir Vrindavan. 

नन्द के आनन्द गोविंद राधे | प्रकटे आनन्दकन्द बता दे || Nand Baba's house is filled with joy, because the ocean of bliss has appeared in his house! पुत्र जन्म सुनि नन्द गोविंद राधे | रोम रोम आनन्दमग्न बता दे || When Nand Baba heard a baby boy has taken birth, every pore of his body was filled with joy! नन्द के बन्दीजन गोविंद राधे | आशीर्वाद देने आये बता दे || All of Nand Baba’s respected elders came to bless the boy. सब ब्रजवासी भी गोविंद राधे | गावें बधाई नाचें मत्त हो बता दे || All Brajwasis also started singing songs of felicitation and started dancing with joy. ब्रज के सभी ग्वाल गोविंद राधे | सजधज भेंट लै के आय बता दे || All the cowherd boys of Braj spruced themselves up and came to see Him with some gifts. नन्द के पुत्र हुआ गोविंद राधे | शोर सुनि गोपियाँ विभोर बता दे || When the Gopis heard the news that a boy was born to Nand Baba, they were overwhelmed with joy! पुनि सब गोपी मिलि गोविंद राधे | मंगल गान गावें नाचें बता दे || Once again, all the G...

Happy Raksha Bandhan स्वामी सखा सुत पति श्याम बता दे | Krishna is my master, my friend, my child as well as my beloved. आज तो भैया कन्हैया बता दे || Today He is my brother too. बाप और मैया हैं गोविन्द राधे | Radha and Krishna are my mother and father. आज तो हैं भैया कन्हैया बता दे || However, for today, Krishna is my brother! दाऊ जी के भैया हैं कृष्ण कन्हैया | He is brother of Balram. मैंने भी आज बना लिया भैया || However, I have also made Him my brother, today. रास रचैया भैया गाय चरैया | My brother, You perform raas (Divine dance), You also graze the cows. नाग नथैया भैया लेउँ बलैया || You controlled the (black) snake, my brother! I sacrifice myself on You. यशुमति मैया छैया दाऊ जी के भैया | You are the son of Mother Yashuda and Balram's brother. लेत बलैया मैया नाचें ता ता थेइया || Mother Yashuda sacrifices Herself on Him and dances in joy in a rhythmic way!

Kaun duhave gaiya, Kanha topai kaun duhave gaiya? ( Oh Kanhaiya! Who is going to have You milk their cow?) Thakurji (little Krishna) used to go to the house of  Gopis .  This was a daily routine and He used to beg and plead,  “O  Gopi ! Have Me milk your cow. I will milk your cow.  You don’t need to work so hard.”  All the  Gopis  had a meeting and they all decided that they should tease Lala (little Krishna).  So, today when Thakurji went and said, “Have Me milk your cow,”  all the  Gopis refused.  “I don’t need Your help to milk my cow.  I will do it myself.” Kanhaiya was taken by surprise as to what could have happened?  The  Gopis  said, “Listen to the reasons.” Karo rang aru kari kamariya, bidak jayagi gaiya . (Seeing Your dark complexion and Your black blanket, the cow will jump back.) The color of Your body is black and You wear a black blanket; (seeing that,) the cow will jump back,...