Glories of Lord Vamanadev and Bali Maharaj - Part 1 Date: 2017-09-03 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva. Today is the auspicious occasion of appearance of Lord Vamanadev. There are many transcendental reasons behind each and every appearance of the Supreme Lord and by the mercy of pure devotees, we get a glimpse of the glories of such appearances. So praying to the lotus feet of Srila Gurudeva and His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, let us meditate on some of the glories of Lord Vamanadev and His dear devotee Bali Maharaj. Bali Maharaj was performing the Vishvajit sacrifice under the guidance of the brahmanas from Bhrgu dynasty. When Lord Vamanadev - the glorious son of Mother Aditi and Kashyapa Muni entered the sacrificial arena as a dwarf brahmana, Bali Maharaj could immediately recognise His greatness and offered proper reception. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 8.18.28 Sukadev Goswami says, tat-pāda-śaucaṁ jana-kalmaṣāpahaṁ sa dharma-vin mūrdhny adadhāt sumaṅgalam yad deva-devo giriśaś candra-maulir dadhāra mūrdhnā parayā ca bhaktyā Lord Shiva, the best of demigods, who carries on his forehead the emblem of the moon, receives on his head with great devotion the Ganges water emanating from the toe of Vishnu. Being aware of religious principles, Bali Maharaja knew this. Consequently, following in the footsteps of Lord Shiva, he also placed on his head the water that had washed the Lord's lotus feet. Bali Maharaj by his extra-ordinary power had created great fear in the minds of demigods and had occupied the heavenly planets. He was enjoying the material opulence along with the other demons. But he very well knew the importance of respecting all the brahmanas. So even though he didn't realise the real identity of Lord Vamana who had appeared like a dwarf brahmana, he offered the Lord very nice welcome. He washed His lotus feet and also very nicely honoured the caranamrit - the water used to wash His lotus feet, by sprinkling it on his head. Srila Prabhupada very beautifully explains in the purport as to how Lord Shiva, in order to give supreme respect to Supreme Lord, has placed Ganges on his head, above the symbol of moon. "On Lord Shiva's forehead is the emblem of the half-moon, yet to give supreme respect to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Shiva placed the water of the Ganges above this emblem. This example should be followed by everyone, or at least by every devotee, because Lord Shiva is one of the mahajanas. Similarly, Maharaja Bali also later became a mahajana. One mahajana follows another mahajana, and by following the parampara system of mahajana activities one can become advanced in spiritual consciousness. The water of the Ganges is sanctified because it emanates from the toe of Lord Vishnu. Bali Maharaja washed the lotus feet of Vamanadeva, and the water with which he did so became equal to the Ganges. Bali Maharaja, who perfectly knew all religious principles, therefore took that water on his head, following in the footsteps of Lord Shiva." Bali Maharaj attained perfection in his devotional service simply by following the footsteps of the greatest Vaishnava - Lord Shambu. Mahajana yena gata sa panthah. Even if we may have so many anarthas in us, simply by trying to follow the footsteps of great devotees, we will be cleansed of our anarthas and gradually attain perfection by the mercy of Lord and His devotees. Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering. Hare Krishna. Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Sudarshana devi dasi. Glories of Lord Vamanadev and Bali Maharaj - Part 2 Date: 2017-09-04 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva. This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Glories of Lord Vamanadev and Bali Maharaj" wherein we were meditating on some of the verses from Chapter 18 of eighth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offering we saw how Bali Maharaj welcomed Lord Vamanadev Who had appeared in the form a dwarf brahmana in his sacrificial arena. Simply by following the footsteps of exalted devotees of the Lord, gradually we will attain perfection. Now we shall see further. Bali Maharaj after washing the lotus feet of Lord Vamana, he glorified Him nicely. He felt grateful that Vamanadev had sanctified his family and the entire world by His presence. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 8.18.32 he says, yad yad vaṭo vāñchasi tat pratīccha me tvām arthinaṁ vipra-sutānutarkaye gāṁ kāñcanaṁ guṇavad dhāma mṛṣṭaṁ tathānna-peyam uta vā vipra-kanyām grāmān samṛddhāṁs turagān gajān vā rathāṁs tathārhattama sampratīccha O son of a brahmana, it appears that You have come here to ask me for something. Therefore, whatever You want You may take from me. O best of those who are worshipable. You may take from me a cow, gold, a furnished house, palatable food and drink, the daughter of a brahmana for Your wife, prosperous villages, horses, elephants, chariots or whatever You desire. We can see how charitable Bali Maharaj is. While explaining about the different modes in which charity is done, Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad-Gita verses 17.20 through 22 how charity should be done as a matter of duty, not with a feeling of grudge. Also charity given to suitable person, at a proper place and time must be done with proper respect and attention and not in neglectful manner. So Bali Maharaj very magnanimously asks Vamanadev as to what He wanted. It is very difficult position to ask/beg for charity from others. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 6.10.6 while describing the position of person who is begging for charity and the one is donating it - there is a nice word mentioned - "veda para-saṅkaṭam" which means knowing the pain of others. When the beggar and the donor both understand and respect the pain of each other, then that charity is indeed a glorious one. Neither will the beggar demand more than what the donor could offer, nor will donor be miser in what he is giving. So not wanting to put Vamanadev in that difficulty, Bali Maharaj voluntarily encourages Him to feel free to ask whatever He wanted. He had no reservations. Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering. Hare Krishna. Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Sudarshana devi dasi. Glories of Lord Vamanadev and Bali Maharaj - Part 3 Date: 2017-09-05 Author: Sudarshana devi dasi Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva. This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Glories of Lord Vamanadev and Bali Maharaj" wherein we were meditating on some of the verses from Chapter 18 of eighth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the previous offering we saw how Bali Maharaj welcomed Lord Vamanadev and encouraged Him to ask for whatever charity He wanted. Now we shall see further. Pleased by Bali Maharaj's behaviour, Lord Vamanadev appreciated him and also glorified the ancestors of Bali Maharaj - Prahlad Maharaj, Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha. Prahlad Maharaj was a pure devotee of the Lord and so it is not surprising to hear about his praise. But here we find that although Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu had behaved inimically towards Him, still being Supreme Lord, Lord Vamanadev was able to see the good qualities in the whole dynasty and appreciated the same. In fact, Lord Vamana very nicely appreciates the bravery of Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu and said how Lord Vishnu was very satisfied by their fighting prowess. Generally our tendency is to find faults even when one possess so many good qualities. But here we find Lord very genuinely appreciating the fighting spirit of Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu. When Lord killed Hiranyakasha, his brother Hiranyakashipu wanted to take revenge on Him and was looking out for Lord Vishnu. But Lord knowing his tendency to search for him outside, decided to enter inside him. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 8.19.10 Sukadev Goswami says, evaṁ sa niścitya ripoḥ śarīram ādhāvato nirviviśe ’surendra śvāsānilāntarhita-sūkṣma-dehas tat-prāṇa-randhreṇa vivigna-cetāḥ Lord Vamanadeva continued: O King of the demons, after Lord Vishnu made this decision, He entered the body of His enemy Hiranyakashipu, who was running after Him with great force. In a subtle body inconceivable to Hiranyakashipu, Lord Vishnu, who was in great anxiety, entered Hiranyakashipu nostril along with his breath. Srila Prabhupada translates the word vivigna-cetāḥ in the above verse as 'being very anxious'. His Divine Grace mentions in the purport, "The word vivigna-cetaah, "very anxious," is significant. It is not that Lord Vishnu was afraid of Hiranyakashipu; rather, because of compassion, Lord Vishnu was in anxiety about how to act for his welfare." Lord being Supreme Father is always anxious to take us back home, back to Gohead, even though conditioned souls like us, under the influence of material modes of nature, forget to recognsie His Supremacy and glorify Him. Hiranyakashipu was hell-bent to fight and kill Lord Vishnu. But even in such circumstances, Lord was anxious about his welfare. Such is inconceivable causeless mercy of Supreme Lord. Krishna willing, we shall continue to meditate more on this topic in the subsequent offering. Hare Krishna. Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Sudarshana devi dasi.