ISKCON WORLD REVIEW June 2015 1

June2015

Once Sri Krishna, son of Devaki, visited the Pandavas in the forest. All the Pandavas, including Draupadi, were very happy to see their Lord, and they forgot their painful forest life immediately. They felt enriched with a new life just by taking Sri Krishna's darshan. They paid their obeisances at his lotus feet. Seeing the miserable condition of the Pandavas, Sri Krishna became very upset, and at the same time He became very angry towards Duryodhana. It appeared as if the Lord was going to destroy the whole universe, and so the Pandavas became fearful and all began to pray to the Lord in a humble mood. Listening to the humble prayers of Arjuna, the Lord composed Himself and said, “Oh Arjuna, being very pleased with all of you Pandavas, and being controlled by your devotion and friendship towards Me, I will now tell you about the wonderful history of Purushottama month. Once upon a time, by the arrangement of providence, an extra month came to this world. Every one took this month to be most inauspicious, [Khar-maas], and even saw it as a stool-like month. Just as one should not touch stool, this month was also seen as untouchable. It was constantly unprotected and blasphemed, and rejected by everyone as an improper time for any religious and auspicious activities. Being so rejected by all human beings, and constantly hearing only bad words and blasphemy, the personality of this extra month became very sad. She came to Vaikuntha to explain her sorrowful situation to the Lord. Seeing Lord Vishnu on His Simhasana, she fell down at His lotus feet in a mood of sorrow and grief. Tears were falling profusely from her eyes. She prayed to the Lord, “Oh ocean of mercy! I have come to You because I am helpless. I have been rejected and blasphemed by all people of the world. Please protect

me; please show me Your mercy. Please don't be indifferent towards me.” Saying these words, the extra month [adhik maas] continued crying in front of Lord Vishnu and sat down before Him in a dejected mood. Seeing the humble and pitiable position of the extra month, Lord Vishnu became very merciful towards her. He told her, “Do not lament, I shall give you protection from all of your miseries. Please stop crying. It is not proper to lament after taking shelter of

My lotus feet.” Being so consoled by the Lord, the extra month said, “Oh Lord, You know my painful condition. No one is in more miserable situation in these three worlds than I. First of all, all other months, years, days, nights, directions etc. are being protected by You, and so they are always moving fearlessly in their unique charming moods. But I [an extra month] don't have any name, nor any protector, nor a husband to give me shelter. All the demigods and human beings have rejected me for any auspicious activities. For this reason, oh Lord, I want to die immediately.” This extra month then repeatedly said, “I want to die!

I want to die! I want to die!” Then she fainted at the feet of the Lord. Being requested by Lord Vishnu, Garuda started fanning the extra month. And after sometime she got up and began to speak again, “Oh Lord of the universe, I am in need of Your shelter, please protect me.” Lord Vishnu told the extra month, “Oh child, please don't lament, your misery will be finished very soon. Get up and come with Me to Goloka Vrindavana, which is unattainable even to great yogis. Goloka is the abode of Lord Sri Krishna. Here Lord Sri Krishna is in His two handed form, surrounded by gopis and is

The origin of the Purushottam Adhika mas - Padma Purana

ISKCON WORLD REVIEW June 2015 2

VANDANAM

May Sri Sri Radha Krishna bless the

devotees above who have contributed

generously to Their temple as life

patrons.

“O King, I do not wish to go down to the planet earth, for there the people in general will bathe in my water to cleanse themselves of the reactions of their sinful deeds. When all these sinful reactions accumulate in me, how shall I become free from them? You must consider this very carefully.” Bathing in the Ganga helps us get rid of sin. Since the water is touched by Vamanadev, it is like prasadam and thus it destroys sin. More important is that bathing in the Ganga is an act of devotion. Bhakti destroys sin. So it’s powerful. However, Ganga devi says that when people take bath in her water, they leave their sins and thus she becomes contaminated. King Bhagirath replies to Ganga when pure devotees of Krishna take bath in her waters, she will be relieved of all the contaminations of sin. Krishna destroys all sins. Bhakti destroys all sins. Since the Supreme Lord resides in the heart of the devotee, when the devotee takes bath, Ganga is purified. All people in the material world are striving to get rid of suffering. No one wants pain, sickness or hunger. Everyone wants extra enjoyment too. So there are two objectives - avoid pain and get pleasure. These are the basic goals of human life. Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita that we are not the body at all. He teaches us to tolerate happiness and distress. Real happiness comes from the atma. So happiness is to realise that we are not the body but atma and get liberation. Second happiness is to understand that we have an eternal relationship with the Lord. That is Bhakti. Of the two, superior happiness comes from Bhakti yoga. It satisfies the intrinsic need of minimising sin and maximising pleasure. In Bhakti one comes to love the Lord and become free from suffering and get happiness. Freedom from sin begins even before bhakti begins because it begins even by accidentally doing bhakti. Important aspect is to deelop devotion towards the Lord. Not just to destroy karma, sin, suffering etc., Krishna prema means happiness for us based on giving happiness to Krishna. We have to cultivate that in the very beginning by selfless love or unconditional love.

How to get rid of sins and avoid painRead below few notes from the discourse given by HH Bhanu Swami at ISKCON Chennai on the following verse from Srimad Bhagavatham, Canto 9, Chapter 9, verse 5 (SB-9.9.5) spoken by Ganga devi.

Continued from page 1

enjoying His eternal pastimes. The Supreme Sri Krishna of Goloka will deliver you from all your miseries, please come with Me.” Then Lord Vishnu took Malamasa (the extra month) to Goloka by catching her by the hand. From a distant place Lord Vishnu and Malamasa observed the effulgence of Goloka. This dazzling effulgence automatically forced Malamasa to close her eyes. Therefore, keeping the extra month behind Him, Lord Vishnu proceeded further until they reached the main gate. There the doorkeeper paid his respects to Him. Having reached the Supreme Abode, Lord Vishnu met Lord Sri Krishna who was surrounded by many devoted gopis. Lord Vishnu, the husband of Ramaadevi, paid His obeisances to Lord Sri Krishna. Then He made the extra month also offer her obeisances at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna, even though she was crying loudly. Immediately Sri Krishna asked, “Why is she crying? She is in Goloka Vrindavana, why is she crying?” Hearing these words form Lord Sri Krishna, Lord Vishnu got up from His seat and started explaining the miserable condition of the extra month. He begged Him to please protect his unprotected month. “There is no one except You Lord Krishna, who can save this extra month from her hellish condition and give her full protection.”

Story continued in the next issue

Srividya Viswanathan

Rajendra Praveen G V

Prasunsit

Anbalagan R

Rajaram C D

Jyothirmai P S

Srinivasan T

Sivakami D

Vaitheeswaran

Ashok Nandah R

We thank Sri Sivakumar Kennedy for his generous contributions to the complete celebration of the

Narasimha Caturdashi and Panihati festivals. We pray to Lord Krishna to bestow His supreme

blessings upon Sivakumar Kennedy and his family“like” our facebook page - “Bhanu swami sb class notes”

to read notes from his classes on fb.

ISKCON WORLD REVIEW June 2015 3

The Month called “Purushottam” : 17th June-17th July, 2015

GLORIES OF PURUSHOTTAM MONTHfrom Padma and Skanda Puranas

1) Lord Sri Krsna: “Purusottama month has all the power I have to bless its observer. One who follows Purusottama vrata will destroy all his past sinful reactions. Without performing Purusottama vrata, one cannot perform pure devotional service. The value of Purusottama month is far more valuable than all other types of austerities and religious activities mentioned in the Vedas. Anyone who observes Purusottama vrata will return to my abode, Goloka, at the end of his life”.2) Durvasa Muni: “Just by bathing in a holy river during Purusottama month, one becomes sinless. The glory of all other months is not equal to one-sixteenth of the glory of the Purusottama month. By bathing in a holy place, giving charity and chanting the Holy Name of Krsna during Purusottama month, all miseries are destroyed, one attains all kinds of perfection and fulfills all his desires”.3) One Purushottama vrata equals a thousand Kartika vratas.4) Valmiki Muni: “By observing Purusottama vrata, one attains more benefit than performing one hundred horse sacrifices. All holy places live within the body of a Purusottama month vrata. Anyone who faithfully performs Purusottama vrata will go to Goloka Vrndavana”.5) Residence in the holy dhama in Purusottama month yields 1000 times the benefit.6) Naimisaranya Sages: “Merciful Purusottama month acts like a desire tree to fulfill a devotee’s desire”.7) If one sincerely worships Radha and Krsna in Purusottama month, he will attain everything.8) One who observes Purusottama vrata, will burn up the reactions of all his bad karma and attain the direct service of Radha and Krsna.9) Purusottama month is the best month for all spiritual advancement because Krsna overlooks all the aparadhas.

to stay tuned in with Purushottham Month join - https://www.facebook.com/purushottam.maas

The main vrata is to worship Radha Krishna Rise at Brahma-muhurta (1.5 hours before sunrise)Take vow to remain truthful for whole month.Take care not to blaspheme any devotee, sastra, brahmin, cows, saints, or one observing the Purusottama Vrata.Fixed increased chanting 25, 32, 64,128 rounds daily!Hearing hari katha and/or speaking daily hari-kathaWorshiping Radha Krishna with fresh first class lotus or rose and tulasi garlands.Sing bhajans and kirtans Offer daily ghee (pure cow’s ghee only) lamp to

Radha-Krishna Bathe daily in Yamuna around sunrise. Or if

not in holy land then pour drops on head from bottle of Radha-kunda water or Yamuna

after offering obeisances and prayers to Radha-kunda or Yamuna.Eating–Fast till noon and eat only fruits or just vegetables without any beans or grains. (like ekadasi preps for one month!) once a day if you can. Or just eat maha-prasadam, full to neck ONCE A DAY. Take a vow according to your capacity to follow, and in no

condition can one break his vow in the middle of the month.

HOW TO BREAK THE PURUSOTTAMA VRATA AFTER ONE MONTH?

Worship Radha-Govinda and chant this mantra: “O Supreme Lord! O Sanatana! O Purusottama! O Lord Hari! I offer my obeisances unto You. May You and Your beloved Srimati Radhika please accept my offerings. I offer my repeated obeisances unto Radha-Syamasundara, who wears effulgent yellow garments on His beautiful body.”Offer pushpanjali and dandavats to Radhe-Syama.Give charity to 3,5,7,9 or 11 brahmanas to the best of your ability. Best charity is to give Srimad Bhagavatam to qualified Vaisnava devotee or brahmana. This charity will deliver all you forefathers to Goloka dhama and the association of Lord Purusottam! Other recommended gifts: new clothes, gold, two pairs of new shoesFeed brahmanas with prasadam

Purushottam Month is a special month very dear to Krsna. When the full moon occurs twice in a month, i.e. in less then 29 solar days then the month is divided into 2 and a leap month is added. This leap month is

known as Adika mas or Purushottama month and occurs about every 3 years.

You will be happy to know that we have a hall in the temple premises, used for our preaching programmes, seminars and cultural activities. Subject to availability, devotees and life patrons can use the hall for functions. Please contact: Bhakta Tirumal Rao - 9282138879.

ISKCON Hall Available for Functions

Vaishnav Calendar 2 Jun Tu Snana Yatra at Jagannatha Puri12 Jun Fr Fasting for Yogini Ekadasi Sri Srivasa Pandita -- Disappearance13 Jun Sa Break fast 07:22 - 09:59 16 Jun Tu Amavasya Sri Gadadhara Pandita -- Disappearance Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura – Disappearance17 Jun We Purusottama-adhika Masa, upto 17 July28 Jun Su Fasting for Padmini Ekadasi29 Jun Mo Break fast 05:45 - 10:03

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I'd put a stall close to Chembur Station in Mumbai, which a middle-aged man out of curiosity stopped to check. He looked at the books and, looking at me, said “Madam, why are you wasting time with these books? I do not believe in all those things.” Challenged in this way, I wanted to refute his words, knowing that it's difficult to persuade such a person. I told him, “Sir, I can give you some answers, provided you have time to hear me.” He said he had time and wished to hear. I asked his name and whether he had kids and if they had grown up. Then I asked him, "What if you walked into your home, and your children refused to recognize you. Or said 'You are not our father.'" The man couldn’t digest this example. I told him to make a thought experiment and consider what he'd feel if it really happened. He was shocked. He soon connected this example to the statement he made about the books and God's existence. After a few minutes of contemplation he asked for the rate of the English Bhagavad-gita, purchased it and left. The next morning, I saw him again, walking on the same road. This time he himself came over and appreciated my efforts to share thoughts and this great book. He mentioned that on the next day in their colony there would be a religious function and he invited me to set up a stall. He said that whatever help I needed, he will readily and happily provide.

Vedmata Mataji, Sion, Mumbai.

“Father, you are not our father!”

ISKCON Chennai is sending Birthday Greetings to all life patrons. Kindly let us know if you received or did not receive them so that we can improve our service. Contact Mrs.Mohana at 044-2445 6199.

Birthday Greetings

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