Saturday, April 30, 2016
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Sri Narasimha Chaturdashi
Date http://www.drikpanchang.com/dashavatara/narasimha/narasimha-jayanti-date-time.html
Photos
http://www.iskconjuhu.com/category/festival/narsimha-chaturdashi/
Tube
https://www.youtube.com/results?q=narasimha+chaturdashi
Prahlada Maharaja said to Nrsimhadeva:
My obeisances to Bhagavan Sri Vishnu
Who appeared in the form of a half man and half lion (nara-simha)
O Lord of all lords, I am Your devotee
Please hear my heartfelt inquiry
Oh my master, how did I develop such intense devotion for You?
Kindly tell me how it happened that I became Your devotee?
Nrsimhadeva replied:
Please hear, My greatly intelligent one. My dear son, listen carefully as I explain to you the reason for your devotion to Me that has made you very dear to Me.
Once, you where born as a brahmana, but you didn’t study any of the shastra. Your name was Vasudeva. In that life you became so attached to a prostitute that you did not bother to perform any pious activities, accept for a single vow in relation to Me. As result of observing that vrata – even unknowingly – you developed exalted devotion for Me.
Prahlada inquired:
O Lord Nrsimhadeva, Acyuta. Please tell me who was my father in that life? What was my duty? And how did I observe Your vrata, even though I was attached to a prostitute?
Nrsimhadeva replied:
In ancient times there was a brahmana who was well versed in the shastra. He lived in Avantipura and his name was Vasu Sharma. He used to perform daily agnihotra ceremonies and other vedic rituals. In this way he pleased the devas. He begot five sons with his pious wife. You were the youngest of them.
Due to being attached to a prostitute you became accustomed to drinking wine and performing other sinful activities, so that you never engaged in the study of the Vedas. You spent more time at the house of the prostitute. One day however you and she quarrelled with each other and because of that you missed your meal that day. As a result both of you unknowingly observed a sacred vow in relation with Me – not eating and sleeping the entire day and through the night.
Because of unknowingly observing this vow in relation to Me, you became purified and accumulated heaps of pious merit. By the performance of this vow many devas, Brahma and Mahadeva attained perfection of life and the power they needed to perform their tasks. Dear Prahlada, on the strength of that vow you came to render devotional service unto Me. In the next life the prostitute was born in heaven as an Apsara and after enjoying life there she entered My supreme abode.
In order to propagate devotional service to Me you have incarnated and after completing the task of preaching the glories of bhagavata-dharma you will again enter My eternal abode. Thus who observe this vow in relation to Me will never return to this material existence. This vow grants all material and spiritual benefits. The more that sinful activities increase in Kali-yuga the less people will observe this Caturdasi-vrata.
After considering all these facts one should observe this vow, which occurs in the month of Vaishakha. Dear Prahlada when this auspicious day arrives you should observe this vrata, which destroys all sinful karma. One who glorifies the discussion of this most confidential and sacred vow will obtain the merit of observing this vow and as such all of his desires will be fulfilled.
(The vow done by Prahlada; is to not eat, drink or sleep for 24 hours on the day of Nrsimha Caturdasi)
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Monday, April 18, 2016
Friday, April 1, 2016
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