Çré Parçvä Ekädaçé Issue no: 45 13th September 2016 and Pseudo Religion

Irreligious Aspects Pseudo Religion Introduced By Indra Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur Sri Maitreya Ṛṣi

Cheating Sannyāsīs Pseudo brāhmaṇa And Yogīs And Haridas Thakura His Divine Grace Srila Vrindavan Das A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Thakura Prabhupada

Difference Between Weakness And Cheating? Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Issue no 45, Page — 2 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Irreligious Aspects Introduced By Indra was performing the last horse sacrifice [aśvamedha- Sri Maitreya Ṛṣi yajña], King Indra, invisibly, stole the sacrificial horse. He did this because he was greatly jealous of King initiated the performance of one hundred King Prithu. When taking away the horse, King Indra horse sacrifices at a place known as Brahmavarta, dressed himself to appear as a holy person (sādhu). where the River Sarasvati flows towards the east. This Actually this dress was a form of cheating, for it piece of land was controlled by Svayambhuva Manu. falsely created an impression of religion. When Indra When the most powerful Indra, the King of heaven, escaped in this way, the great sage saw him and saw this, he considered the likelihood that King Prithu understood everything of the whole situation. The son would exceed him in fruitive activities and take his of King Prithu, being apprised by Atri of King Indra's position as King of heaven. Thus Indra could not bear trick, was immediately spurred into action, and to see the great sacrificial ceremonies performed by followed Indra to kill him, calling, Wait! Wait!; King King Prithu. Indra was fraudulently dressed as a sannyāsī, having The Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord knotted hair on his head and ashes smeared all over his is present in everyone's heart as the Supersoul. He body. Upon seeing such dress, the son of King Prithu is the proprietor of all planets and the enjoyer of thought Indra a holy renunciant (sannyāsī.) Therefore the results of all sacrifices. Therefore He personally he did not shoot him with his arrows. When Atri Muni attended the sacrifices made by King Prithu. When saw that the son of King Prithu did not kill Indra but Lord Vishnu appeared in the sacrificial arena, Lord returned deceived by him, the muni again instructed , Lord and all the chief predominating him to kill the corrupt heavenly King. He thought that personalities of every planet, as well as their Indra had become the lowliest of all demigods due to followers, came with Him. Seeing Him, the residents his impeding the execution of King Prithu's sacrifice. of Gandharvaloka and Apsaroloka and all the great Being thus informed, the grandson of King sages, praised Him. The Lord was also accompanied immediately began to pursue the rapidly fleeing by the residents of Siddhaloka and Vidyadhara-loka, Indra. Greatly angry he pursued King Indra just as the descendants of Diti, and the demons and Yaksas. the king of the vultures chased Ravana, When Indra He was also accompanied by His chief associates, saw that the vigilant son of Prithu was chasing him, headed by Sunanda and Nanda. Great devotees, who he immediately abandoned his false dress and let go were always engaged in the service of the Supreme of the horse. Indeed, he disappeared from that very Personality of Godhead, as well as the great sages spot, and the great hero, the son of Maharaja Prithu, named , and , and masters returned the horse to his fathers sacrificial arena. of mystic powers, headed by Sanaka Kumara, all When the great sages observed the wonderful attended the great sacrifice with Lord all attended the prowess of the son of King Prithu, they all agreed to great sacrifice with Lord Vishnu. give him the name Vijitāśva. Later Indra, being the In that great sacrifice the entire land came to be powerful King of heaven brought a dense darkness like the milk-producing kāma-dhenu, and thus, by upon the sacrificial arena. Clouding everything in the performance of yajña, all daily necessities for life this way, he again abducted the sacrificial horse, were supplied. The rivers supplied all kinds of tastes- which had been chained with golden shackles near sweet, pungent, sour, etc.-and very big trees supplied the wooden sacrificial guillotine. The great sage Atri fruit and honey in abundance. The cows, having eaten again pointed out to the son of King Prithu that Indra sufficient green grass, supplied profuse quantities was fleeing through the sky. That hero, the son of of milk, curd, clarified butter and similar other Prithu, again chased him. However he saw that Indra necessities. King Prithu was presented with various was holding a staff with a skull at the top and was gifts by the general populace and predominating wearing the dress of a sannyāsī, and again chose not to deities of all planets. The oceans and seas were full punish him. When the great sage Atri re-apprised him, of valuable jewels and pearls, and the hills were full Vijitāśva, became very angry and placed an arrow on of minerals and natural fertilizers. The four kinds of his bow. Upon seeing this, King Indra immediately edibles grew profusely. abandoned the false dress of a sannyāsī and, giving King Prithu was dependent on the Supreme up the horse, made himself invisible. Then the great Personality of Godhead, who is known as adhokṣaja. hero, Vijitāśva, the son of King Prithu, again took the King Prithu performed many sacrifices, and because horse and returned to his father's sacrificial arena. of that, the Supreme Lord, His mercy empowered Since that time, certain men of lesser knowledge him to become like a super-human. have adopted the dress of a false sannyāsī. It was King King Prithu's opulence, however, could not be Indra who introduced this. Whatever different forms tolerated by the King of heaven, Indra, who naturally Indra assumed as a mendicant because of his desire to tried to impede his progress. When Prithu Maharaja seize the horse were symbols of atheistic philosophy. nityaà bhägavata-sevayä top right 3 Issue no 45, Page—3 priests, in a fire mood, began to summon Indra, the King of heaven, by mystic mantras. When they were just about to initiate that fierce sacrifice, Lord Brahma appeared there and forbade them to continue. Lord Brahma addressed them thus: My dear sacrificial performers, you cannot kill Indra, the King of heaven. That is not expected of persons such as yourselves. You should know that Indra is as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Indeed, he is one of the most powerful assistants of the Personality of Godhead. You are trying to satisfy all the demigods by the performance of this yajña, but you should know that all these demigods are but parts and parcels of Indra, the King of heaven. How, then, can you kill him in this great sacrifice? In order to make trouble and impede the performance of King Prithu's great sacrifice, King Indra has adopted some means that in the future will destroy the clear path of religious life. I draw your attention to this fact. If you oppose him any further, he will further misuse his power and introduce many other irreligious systems. Let there be only ninety-nine sacrificial performances for Maharaja Prithu, Lord Brahma concluded. Lord Brahma then turned towards Maharaja Prithu and informed him that since he was thoroughly aware of the path of liberation, what was the use in performing more sacrifices? Let there be good fortune to both of

Indra Steals the Horse, Artist: Dinabandhu Dasa Indra Steals the Horse, you, for you and King Indra are both part and parcel In this way, King Indra, in order to steal the horse of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore from King Prithu's sacrifice, adopted several orders of you should not be angry with King Indra, who is non- sannyāsa. Some sannyāsīs go naked, and sometimes different from you. My dear King, do not be agitated they wear red garments and pass under the name of and anxious because your sacrifices have not been kāpālika. These are simply symbolic representations properly executed due to providential impediments. of their sinful activities. These so-called sannyāsīs are Kindly take my words with great respect. We should very much appreciated by sinful men because they are always remember that if something happens by all godless atheists and very expert in putting forward providential arrangement, we should not be very sorry. arguments and reasons to support their case. We must The more we try to rectify such reversals, the more we know, however, that they are only passing as adherents enter into the darkest region of materialistic thought. of religion and are not so in fact. Unfortunately, Stop the performance of these sacrifices, for they have bewildered persons accept them as religious, and being induced Indra to introduce so many irreligious aspects. attracted to them, they spoil their life. Maharaja Prithu, You should know very well that even the demigods who was celebrated as very powerful, immediately have many unwanted desires. Just see how Indra, the took up his bow and arrows and prepared to kill Indra King of heaven, was creating a disturbance in the himself, because Indra had introduced such irregular sacrifice by stealing the sacrificial horse. These sinful sannyāsa orders. When the priests and all the others activities he has introduced will attract the minds of the saw Maharaja Prithu very angry and prepared to people in general, who will imitate them. O King Prithu, kill Indra, they requested him: "O great soul, do not son of Vena, you are the part-and- parcel, expansion of kill him, for only sacrificial animals can be killed in Lord Vishnu. Due to the mischievous activities of King a sacrifice. Such are the directions given by śāstra. Vena, religious principles were almost lost. At that Dear King, Indra's powers are already reduced due to opportune moment you descended as the incarnation his attempt to impede the execution of your sacrifice. of Lord Vishnu. Indeed, for the protection of religious We shall call him by Vedic mantras which were never principles you have appeared from the body of King before used, and certainly he will come. Thus by the Vena. O protector of the people in general, please power of our mantra, we shall cast him into the fire consider the purpose of your being incarnated by Lord because he is your enemy." Vishnu. The irreligious principles created by Indra are After giving the King this advice, the sacrificial but mothers of so many unwanted religions. Please Top Issue left 4 no 45, Page — 4 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä therefore stop these imitations immediately. When King Prithu was thus advised by the supreme teacher, Lord Brahma, he abandoned his eagerness to perform yajñas and with great affection made peace with King Indra. After this, Prithu Maharaja took his bath, which is customarily taken after the performance of a yajña, and received the benedictions and due blessings of the demigods, who were very pleased by his glorious activities. With great respect, the original king, Prithu, offered all kinds of rewards to the brāhmaṇas present at the sacrifice. Since all these brāhmaṇas were very much satisfied, they gave their heartfelt blessings to the King. All the great sages and brāhmaṇas said: O mighty King, by your invitation all classes of living entities have attended this assembly. They have come from Pitraloka and the heavenly planets, and great sages as well as common men have attended this meeting. yogīs have existed since the time of Prithu Maharaja's Now all of them are very much satisfied by your sacrifice. This cheating was very foolishly introduced dealings and your charity towards them. by King Indra. In some ages such cheating is very prominent, and in other ages not so prominent. It is —Srimad Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) » Canto 4: The Creation of the the duty of a sannyāsī to be very cautious because, Fourth Order » Chapter 19. King Prithus One Hundred Horse Sacrifices » as stated by Lord Chaitanya, sannyāsīra alpa chidra Verse:1 to 42. sarva-loke gāya, a little spot in a sannyāsīs character will be magnified by the public (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Cheating Sannyāsīs And Yogīs Madhya 12.51). Therefore, unless one is very sincere His Divine Grace and serious, he should not take up the order of A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada sannyāsa. One should not use this order as a means to cheat the public. It is better not to take up sannyāsa in Indra took up the saffron-colored dress as a way of this age of because provocations are very strong cheating others. This saffron dress has been misused in this age. Only a very exalted person advanced in by many imposters who present themselves as spiritual understanding should attempt to take up spiritually elevated persons or incarnations of God. In sannyāsa. One should not adopt this order as a means this way people are cheated. As we have mentioned of livelihood or for some material purpose. many times, the conditioned soul has a tendency to —Srimad Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) » Canto 4: The Creation of the cheat; therefore this quality is also visible in a person Fourth Order » Chapter 19. King Prithu's One Hundred Horse Sacrifices » like King Indra. It is understood that even King Indra Verse: 12. is not free from the clutches of material contamination. The saffron dress worn by a sannyāsī announces to Difference Between the world that he has renounced all worldly affairs Weakness And Cheating? and is simply engaged in the spiritual cultivation. A Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura devotee is actually a sannyāsī, or liberated person. In Bhagavad-gītā (6.1) it is said: Cheating and weakness are two separate things. Persons devoid of a cheating propensity achieve anāśritaḥ karma-phalaṁ perfection in life, but a cheater is never successful. kāryaṁ karma karoti yaḥ is another name for simplicity. Cheaters sa sannyāsī ca yogī ca are non-devotees. Sincere persons can be weak, but na niragnir na cākriyaḥ they are not cheaters. Cheaters say something and do something else. Weak people are embarrassed by their defects, whereas cheaters are maddened by their One who is unattached to the fruits of his work and achievements. They think, “I will cheat the ācārya,”, “I who works as he is obligated is in the renounced order will deceive the doctor,”, “I will nourish the poisonous of life, and he is the true mystic, not he who lights no snake of my sinful propensity with banana and milk, fire and performs no work. hiding him in the hole of my cheating propensity,” In other words, one who offers the results of his and, “I will demand name and fame from the people activities to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is while posing as a saint” These are not symptoms of actually a sannyāsī and yogī. Cheating sannyāsīs and nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 45, Page—5 skepticism, materialism, and impersonalism are present, are not accepted as religion by the Vaishnavas. In fact, such religions are to be accepted as irreligion, cheating religion, reflection of religion, or non-religion. — Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta 1/1

Who are sinful and cheating on the pretext of being an ācārya?

Pseudo ascetics and hypocrites give others mantras and pretend to be ācāryas, but they engage in various sinful activities. Detached and renounced Vaishnavas must develop extremely pure characteristics. — Sajjana-toṣaṇī 5/10

What is the harm if persons who follow pseudo religion identify themselves as brahmacārīs, sannyāsīs, and paramahaṁsas?

Nowadays, being involved in various pseudo religions, many people identify themselves as brahmacārīs, sannyāsīs, and paramahaṁsas, and thus they destroy the religious principles of the āryans. —Sajjana-toṣaṇī 10/7

Who are ass-like people and cheaters? Why are they unfavorable to devotional service? weakness but of utter deceitfulness. Such cheaters will never achieve any good. Those who do not understand their qualification but By hearing humbly from saints with a sincere attitude, accept the instruction of a bogus guru and engage in however, one will gradually attain auspiciousness. the process of worship meant for exalted devotees After accepting tridaṇḍi-sannyāsa, if one remains are cheated ass-like people. And those who have busy with worldly activities, thinking that family life understood their ineligibility yet with a goal to is more important than spiritual life or maintaining accumulate money and prestige still follow the process the sinful mentality of kidnapping from as of worship meant for exalted devotees are called Ravaṇa did even while dressed as a devotee, then one cheaters. Until this cheating in the name of religion is a self- killer. is destroyed, ones attachment will not awaken. Such We are far from the worship of . Even if we have people deceive the entire world by making a show of weakness and have enough anarthas to last us for sectarian formalities and pseudo-renunciation.” millions of years, we are not as plagued by misfortune as if we possessed a cheating propensity. It is better — Saṁhitā Chapter-8/16 to take birth as animals or birds than to take shelter of cheating. Who are unsteady renunciates ? — Amṛta Vāṇī: Nectar of Instructions of Immoratality, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thakura Prabhupāda Compiled by Śrīpāda “Those who take sannyāsa by being induced by Mayukha Bhāgavat Mahāraja, Adapted and Published by Īśvara dāsa, temporary detachment born from quarrel, distress, Translated from Bengali by Bhumipati dāsa. lack of wealth, disease and accident, in the process of getting married, are unsteady renunciates. Their Pseudo Religion detachment does not last long; very soon they become Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur pseudo renunciates.” —Caitanya Śikṣāmṛta 5/2 Which religions are called irreligion, cheating religion, reflection of religion, or non-religion? What is the only religion which is free from all cheating propensities? Religion in which various anarthas such as atheism, Issue no 45, Page — 6 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä “There is only one religion in this world, that is Vaishnava . All other systems of religion are full of differences in opinion, arguments, counter arguments, envy and eagerness to prove their supremacy over others. Those religious systems which did not specify the relationship between Karma, Jñāna, Bhakti and Vairāgya, are all cheating religion. Only Vaishnava dharma is pure and without cheating. The pure Vaishnava dharma cannot be polluted by the characteristics and conclusions of pseudo Vaishnavas.” —Sajjana Toṣaṇī - 11/10

Which association of so-called Vaishnavas should be given up?

The association of the following pseudo Vaishnavas must be given up; 1. Those who put on the garbs of a Vaishnava out of cunningness. 2. Those who identify themselves as the followers of the Vaishnava ācāryas just to make impression among the impersonalists. 3. Those who identify themselves as Vaishnavas because of greed for money, fame or any other enjoyment.” —Caitanya Śikṣāmṛta3/2

Why do many people call pseudo-Vaishnavism pure Vaishnavism? and begin to relish the love of God. This is a well known fact.” Due to the influence of Kali many people, not —Commentary on Bhajanāmṛtam understanding the principle of pure Vaishnavism, call pseudo-Vaishnavism pure Vaishnavism. By accepting any philosophy as Mahaprabhu’s —Jaiva Dharma, Chapter 4 philosophy can one obtain the teachings of the Lord? What are the characteristics of the cheaters? Do the devotees expose them in public for the benefit of Many times, because of bad karma, miscreants of themselves and others? various unauthorized cults, such as pseudo religion and irreligion, say that they preach the teachings of Sri “Those who are averse to the association and Chaitanyadeva. Being absorbed in material enjoyment conversation of the Vaishnavas are simply disguised and not having the ability to discriminate, many as devotees. Their devotional service to Vishnu is people accept those unauthorized cults as the line of certainly an external ornament as internally their hearts Mahaprabhu, and thus they are cheated from receiving are polluted. Absence of desire for associating with the the actual instructions of the Lord. devotees is their symptom. One may test the disguised —Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta devotees by observing these symptoms. People think that they should serve such Vaishnavas, but that is a mistake. There are many genuine Vaishnavas and one Can the foodstuffs cooked by the non-devotees or should try to associate with and serve them. It is not that pseudo devotees be offered to Krishna? those who are intelligent, sincere and pure devotees remain indifferent to the pseudo affection of such so- “Food stuffs that are cooked only by pure devotees called devotees. Rather they establish pure devotional should be offered to Krishna. During the time Krishna service in this world by exposing the deceitful to the is worshiped no non-devotee should be present to world. It is the duty of everyone to associate with such witness that puja.” pure devotees who are expert in destroying deceitfulness —Harināma Cintāmani nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 45, Page—7 Can one achieve the result of Vaishnava Seva by Pseudo Brāhmaṇa and feeding the pseudo Vaishnavas who are greedy Haridas Thakura after opulent food, wealth, and disciples? Srila Vrindavan Das Thakura

“The present custom in the holy places is extremely One day in the courtyard of a rich man’s house harmful. There one person goes out and invites this snake charmer was performing a snake dance. one hundred Vaishnavas for lunch. After receiving He was chanting a special mantra accompanied such invitation the Vaishnavas immediately give up by musicians playing the mṛdaṅga and mandira. their respective duties and decorate themselves with was passing by and stood to one side tilaka etc. They then began to manifest symptoms watching the snake dance. Although the snake of devotional service thinking, "Today we will get charmer was an ordinary human being, by the sufficient puris and malpoyas as well as some dakṣina influence of his mantra he could dance as though ( donations)." In his book, Śrī Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu he were possessed by the spirit of the king of the Sri has not accepted these activities as snakes, Ananta Sesa. With an enchanting melody devotional service. Therefore if these activities are not he sang about the pastime of Lord Krishna in devotional service then the performers of such activities the lake called Kaliya-daha where the Lord also can not be accepted as Vaishnavas.” vanquished an evil serpent called Kaliya. —Sajjana Toṣaṇī 6/1 Haridasa listened intently to the pastime of his beloved Lord Krishna, and suddenly moved What is the definition of pseudo love of God? by ecstasy, he fell unconscious to the ground. When he regained consciousness, he jumped to “Pseudo Love of God is like the play of a drama, and his feet and roared like a lion, dancing in ecstasy it results only in sense gratification. Therefore, O mind, as he babbled with joy. The snake charmer was always give up sensual pleasures, which are full of impressed by Haridasa’s manifestation of ecstatic offenses.” symptoms and stood respectfully to the side. As —Kalyāna Kalpataru, Song 19 the various symptoms of horripilation, crying, and shivering traversed his body, he rolled in the What is Sri Bhaktivinoda Ṭhakura’s instruction dust, crying in love for Krishna. He remembered towards the pseudo renunciates and those who how his beloved Lord had mercifully saved the desire material fame? snake Kaliya, and as he floated in ecstatic trance, the people around him obliged by singing songs about the wonderful pastimes of the Lord. The “You are a servant of Sri Chaitanya and you should snake charmer simply stood to the side, overcome desire devotional service to Hari. What is the use by awe and reverence for Haridasa. When his of various symptoms of āśrama life? Please reject ecstasy subsided, Haridasa left and the snake material honor and reside in Shantipura. Your only charmer resumed his performance. assets are the mercy of the devotees.” Everyone who witnessed the ecstasy of Haridasa —Kalyāna Kalpataru, Song 13 felt spiritually exhilarated and they smeared their bodies with dust from his feet. However, one How do spiritual knowledge, renunciation and cunning and deceitful brāhmaṇa in the crowd devotional service help a spirit soul? decided to cheat the people. "I will also dance here," he told himself. "I can see that the people “Knowledge regarding ones relationship with the are not very intelligent. They are offering so much Supreme Lord and detachment from material objects respect to this lowborn Haridasa just because he automatically develop in a person who engages in dances and cries; if I, a brāhmaṇa, also dance devotional service. Wherever they are not developed, and cry they will certainly worship me as well. it is to be understood that there is an absence of The brāhmaṇa threw himself on the ground devotional service. Therefore, it should be called and feigned unconsciousness as though he had pseudo devotional service. Through renunciation, a fallen into trance. But as soon as he touched spirit soul attains satisfaction. Through knowledge the ground the dancing snake charmer became regarding ones relationship with the Supreme Lord, a furious, picked up a stick, and began beating spirit soul attains nourishment, and through devotional the brāhmaṇa relentlessly. He struck him again service, a spirit soul attains mitigation of his hunger.” and again on every part of his body until the —Śrī Bhāgavatārka Māla 15/117 brāhmaṇa, howling in agony, got up and ran — Taken from Bhaktivinoda Vānī Vaibhāva Published by Īśvara dāsa. away just to save his life. The snake charmer then resumed his dance while the entire crowd stood Issue no 45, Page — 8 nityaà bhägavata-sevayä dumbfounded. At last, a man with folded hands injunction of the scriptures. On the other hand, humbly requested the snake charmer to explain if someone is born in a sophisticated family but why he had stood respectfully to the side while does not worship the lotus feet of Sri Krishna, Haridasa danced, yet he had beaten the brāhmaṇa then his high birth is useless for he lives just like for what seemed to be the same activity. a resident of hell. Just to prove the truth of these The spirit of Ananta Sesa who dwelt within scriptures Srila Haridasa took birth in a low-caste the snake charmer then spoke in glorification family. Prahlada Maharaja, one of the greatest of Srila Dasa Thakura. "The subject matter of devotees of the Lord, had previously appeared in your inquiry is very confidential. Although such a family of demons, and , the greatest a topic is rarely discussed because of its highly devotee of Lord Ramachandra, took birth in esoteric nature, I shall nevertheless answer your the monkey species. Similarly, Srila Haridasa question. When Śrila Dasa Thakura was dancing appeared in a family of Muslims. in ecstatic trance, each one of us felt our respect The demigods desire the touch of the pure and and affection for him spontaneously increase. transcendental form of Srila Haridasa Thakura, But the deceitful brāhmaṇa was simply imitating and mother Ganges also prays that her water will Haridasa in order to get some cheap adoration be sanctified by his presence. But one need not from the crowd. Not out of love for Krishna, touch Srila Dasa Thakura; simply by seeing him but out of enviousness toward a pure devotee, one is automatically freed from the eternal cycle the brāhmaṇa threw himself on the ground and of birth and death. Furthermore, one who sees a feigned ecstasy. Furthermore, he interrupted devotee who has taken shelter at the lotus feet of my dancing. Because he disturbed me and tried Srila Haridasa Thakura is also granted freedom to imitate the pure devotee, I punished him from material bondage. Neither a thousand severely.” mouths nor a thousand ears would be sufficient “He is presenting himself as a important person to describe and hear the wonderful qualities of by imitating some religious sentiments. This Srila Haridasa. You are a fortunate soul for your arrogant and deceitful brāhmaṇa has no love inquiry gave me an opportunity to glorify the pure for Krishna. To receive the shelter of devotional devotee and gave you the opportunity to hear the service at the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, one has transcendental topic. From the moment a person to become pure, free from deceit. By seeing Srila speaks the name of Srila Haridasa Thakura, his Haridasa Thakura dance one becomes liberated ascension to the supreme abode of Lord Krishna from material bondage; even the Supreme Lord is guaranteed.” Krishna himself dances when He sees Srila Dasa Nagaraja, the snake charmer, then fell silent. Thakura dance. The entire universe becomes The assembled brāhmaṇas and pious gentlemen cleansed of all sinful reactions just by seeing Śrīla felt thoroughly satisfied by his glorification Haridasa dance. He is truly worthy of his name, of Srila Haridasa. The assembly accepted the Haridasa Thakura, the servant of the Supreme Nagarāja’s appraisal of Haridasa, and the love Lord Hari, Krishna, who shines eternally like a each person felt for Haridasa increased. full moon in the heart of His devotee. —Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata of Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura » Chapter “Haridasa is affectionate and compassionate Sixteen: The Glories of Śrī Haridāsa Ṭhākura » Translated by Sarvabhavana towards all living entities, and he descends as the Dasa, Edited by Kesidamana Dasa. eternal servant of the Supreme Lord in each of !! Sri Sri Gaurchandra Jayati !! the Lord’s incarnations. He is totally free from any fault or offense towards the Supreme Lord NBS or his devotees. Even in his dreams he never E-Magazines. E-books. Education commits an offense. A moment’s association with Haridasa can purify any living entity and Dedicated to assure him the eternal shelter of Lord Krishna’s His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada lotus feet. Even Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva For subscriptions please visit Self Study Course constantly desire his association. our website: www.nbsmag.com “Haridasa appeared in the family of a lowly An easy way of studying Çrémad-Bhägavatam Muslim on the order of the Supreme Lord, just Our heart felt thanks to Isha Prakash Das for helping as Copy Editor, to teach human society that material designations Vrajsevika Dasi for her and Bengali Translations and like caste, creed, birth status, and family position Rasa Manjari Devi Dasi for her assistance. are all illusory and pursuing them is futile. If a Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of pure devotee of the Lord is born in a low-class His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada family, he is no less worthy of worship; that is the ©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. ©All the paintings are copyrights of their respective artists. nityaà bhägavata-sevayä Issue no 45, Page—9

Bhāgavata Vidyālaya A Project to open Śrīmad-Bhāgavata schools in every town and village.

With the intention of serving the mood and mission of Srila Prabhupada, a humble attempt is made to open a School in each area. This certified course, exclusively based on Śrīmad- Bhāgavatam, is essentially for the congregational devotees. It can be conducted anywhere, in tem- ples, farm communities, places of congregational gathering or at houses of congregational devotees. Those leaders who are willing to open a Bhagavata school can register with us on the follow- ing link: www.nbsmag.com/vidyalaya. Features 1. A weekly program mainly lead by the congregational leaders for their congregation members. 2. It would be a three-hour session which includes Kirtan, Reading, Lecture and Question / Answers 3. In each session one chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam will be covered. 4. A maximum of 15 students per session is advised. 5. Each session will be conducted by two to three teachers. 6. Students Handbook and Appropriate Teachers notes will be provided. 7. There will be a Bhagavata Festival after completion of each level. 8. Students will get encouragement for writing articles and giving lectures. 9. This program is free of cost. Self Study Course Nityam Bhagavata-sevaya A Fortnightly E-Magazine for serving An easy way of studying Çrémad-Bhägavatam Çrémad-Bhägavatam. Despite knowing about the glories of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Nityam Bhagavata-sevaya (NBS) E-magazine was we still find it difficult to make it a part of our everyday started on December, 2014 on Mokṣadā Ekādaśī exclu- life. We have come across many devotees who are in fear to sively for serving Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. We are present- even start reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam just thinking about ing various topics from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with the its vastness. help of the commentaries of Srila Prabhupada and the We have a solution by which one can make Śrīmad- previous acharyas. Bhāgavatam its life and soul. For subscribing to self study For viewing previous issues visit our page: http://www. course visit our page: http://www.nbsmag.com/self-study. nbsmag.com/emagazines.