Glorification of Lord Sri - Part 1

Date: 2010-01-16 Author: Anuradha dasi

Hare Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the transcription of the wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mataji on S.B.5.19.3:

oṁ namo bhagavate uttamaślokāya nama ārya-lakṣaṇa-śīla-vratāya nama upaśikṣitātmana upāsita-lokāya namaḥ sādhu-vāda-nikaṣaṇāya namo brahmaṇya-devāya mahā-puruṣāya mahā-rājāya nama iti

Let me please Your Lordship by chanting the bija- omkara. I wish to offer my respectful obeisances unto the personality of Godhead, who is the best among the most highly elevated personalities. Your Lordship is the reservoir of all the good qualities of , people who are advanced. Your character and behavior are always consistent, and You exhibit exemplary character to teach others how to behave. There is a touchstone that can be used to examine the gold, but You are like a touchstone that can verify all good qualities. You are worshipped by who are the foremost of all devotees. You, the Supreme Person, are the King of Kings, and therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

In this verse Lord Rama is glorified in 8 ways by the devotees. We shall see one by one and try to understand the meaning.

1. uttamaślokāya - Who is always worshiped with selected verses - We always make the best choice in everything. In the same way Supreme Personality of Godhead is also glorified by choicest verses. The very word uttama means ut gata tamah , meaning one who has transcended the mode of ignorance. He is above darkness. There is no tinge of ignorance or darkness, in other words, it means highly transcendental. It is above the modes of material nature. That is why when we chant any verses from Srimad Bhagavatam or from or chant mantra, we feel very peaceful. Because these verses are uttama, beyond the modes of material nature. But this peacefulness we cannot attain with material sound vibrations. Satisfaction of the soul only can give peace of mind. If the soul is not satisfied, then how much ever we try we cannot be pacified. Soul doesn't belong to the material nature. We call the soul as spirit soul and it is transcendental. It has nothing to do with the material nature. The very word material nature means three modes, satva guna, rajo guna, tamo guna. If we want to satisfy something which has got nothing to do with matter, then how can we satisfy with material vibrations? So the soul requires transcendental sound vibrations or spiritual vibrations.

Our Godbrother HG Svayam Spruthy Prabhu in one of his lectures said that if we think about Krishna in the night and sleep, in the morning we feel very fresh and blissful. But if we have dreams of material things, then we wake up with headache in the morning. Soul is happy only when it is engaged in Krishna's service.

All the verses in Srimad Bhagavatam are transcendental. That is why even today we feel happy to read. But if we take any old newspaper or magazines we don't feel like reading it again and again. Because they are not satisfying the soul. took place in treta yuga, but still we feel very blissful by reading and relish it. That is why it is called uttamasloka. Ramayana itself says that till the time mountains are there in the universe and rivers and oceans flows, Ramayana will be sung continuously. Ramayana is truthful, auspicious and pious so it gives satisfaction to the soul.

2. ārya-lakṣaṇa-śīla-vratāya - Who possesses all the good qualities of advanced personalities Arya means a personality who is very much advanced. Our assumption of advancement means technological advancement. But advancement means a person who is advanced in transcendental knowledge. But now we have a wrong definition for advancement. We feel that if we are advanced in material civilization then we think we are advanced. Advancement in material civilization can be either in eating, sleeping, mating or defending. It can be in these 4 areas only.

Advancement in eating includes fast food, junk foods, frozen foods etc. Advancement in sleeping includes sleeping in medicated mattresses, taking sleeping dozes, etc. Advancement in mating includes being together before marriage. Advancement in defending includes atomic bombs, nuclear weapons, etc. We call the country which is advanced in technology as first world country. Our Maharaj says, "We are third world countries. They are all first world countries. They drink purified urine in the name of advancement in desalination technology. It is better to be a person from third world country and drink river water. Desalination process should go naturally. Krishna has not provided ocean water for drinking purpose. It is meant for desalination process which goes naturally."

Vrataaya means Rama has taken vow to be a man of good characters. Rama is embodiment of good qualities. So let us see some of the good qualities of Lord Rama. Ramayana begins with Bala Kanda. It starts with the conversation between two great sages and . All the have the conversation between great sages. Narada, the spiritual master of whole universe is inquired by Valmiki, the leader of all sages. Valmiki asked that he wants to know the existence of any Personality who possesses the following 16 qualities. Ramayana was written when Rama was there. That is why he asked for an existence of such a personality.

We will see the 16 qualities of Lord Rama in the subsequent mails, Krishna willing.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi Abu Dhabi. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 2

Date: 2010-01-18 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the transcription of the wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mataji on S.B.5.19.3.

oṁ namo bhagavate uttamaślokāya nama ārya-lakṣaṇa-śīla-vratāya nama upaśikṣitātmana upāsita-lokāya namaḥ sādhu-vāda-nikaṣaṇāya namo brahmaṇya-devāya mahā-puruṣāya mahā-rājāya nama iti

Let me please Your Lordship by chanting the bija-mantra omkara. I wish to offer my respectful obeisances unto the personality of Godhead, who is the best among the most highly elevated personalities. Your Lordship is the reservoir of all the good qualities of Aryans, people who are advanced. Your character and behavior are always consistent, and you exhibit exemplary character to teach others how to behave. There is a touchstone that can be used to examine the gold, but you are like a touchstone that can verify all good qualities. You are worshipped by brahmanas who are the foremost of all devotees. You, the Supreme Person, are the King of Kings, and therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

In this verse Lord Rama is glorified in 8 ways by the devotees. In the previous mail we saw 2 glories of Lord Rama. The second glory aarya-lakshana-sheela-vrataaya talks about the qualities of Rama. So let us continue to study the qualities of Lord Rama.

Ramayana starts with Bala Kanda. It starts with the conversation between Narada Muni and sage Valmiki. Valmiki asked Narada whether there is any personality who possesses all 16 qualities. This is given in Valmiki Ramayan 1.1.2- 1.1.4. Valmiki Ramayan 1.1.2 says,

kaḥ nu asmin sāṃpratam loke guṇavān kaḥ ca vīryavān dharmajñaḥ ca kṛtajñaḥ ca vākyo dhṛḍha vrataḥ

Who really is that person in this present world, who is principled, and also a potential one, a conscientious one, a redeemer and also a truth-teller and self-determined in his deed.

When Valmiki asked this question, Narada muni referred Rama as the personality with all these 16 qualities. We will study each of these 16 qualities with reference to few incidences from Ramayan and see how Rama exhibits these qualities. Srila Prabhupada says being parts and parcels of the Lord, we also possess a portion of quality which Lord Rama possesses. But even that small portion is being covered with the material modes. By chanting, we have to purify the heart and manifest these good qualities. Everybody born is good but due to the environment and association with the material modes, we become contaminated. So just by listening to Ramayan, we are getting purified and should try to manifest all these good qualities. That is the intention of the scriptures.

Maharaj says, "All the scriptures talks about only two things. First thing they talk about transcendence, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the description of the Lord. Secondly it talks about how to improve our behavior, how to come out of the three modes. If we don't learn these 2 points from the scriptures, then there is no use in reading the scriptures".

In the above verse of Valmiki Ramayan 1.1.2 there are 6 qualities mentioned. 1. guṇavān - Principled Person It means a man of character. We know Lord Rama is widely known as Maryada Purusha. He is a very highly respected personality. He is brave, gentle and always smiling. He is called Guna nidhi, meaning the reservoir of all the transcendental qualities. If we take the whole life story of Lord Rama, we can see how much He exhibited good character in each and every episode of His life. When His father asked Him to go to the forest, He did not hesitate for a moment but immediately accepted. He was eka patni . Our God brother HG Svayam Spruthy Prabhu says,"We have to do what Rama does and listen what Krishna says". So we should follow the principles of Lord Rama who has descended on this Earth to set an example for every human being showing the correct way of leading life. We must try to be men or women of exemplary character.

Maharaj says "Our character should be crystal clear. Meaning, our behavior should be such that nobody should have doubt about that. For that, we have to sincerely chant our rounds and go through the scriptures again and again. When we are not engaged in doing any service, we must immerse in reading Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita or Sincere Chanting. By seeing this, others must get motivated and have the impetus to follow. This way only we can gain the respect of others."

It is my personal experience also; I used to pick my phone calls by saying Hare Krishna. One day my son's school bus driver called me. He is a Muslim person. As usual, I just received the call saying Hare Krishna, immediately he said Namaskaram to me and then continued to talk. If just for saying once Hare Krishna, people offer obeisances, then we have to imagine if we chant sincerely 16 malas what will happen. If we artificially wear tilak and chant and artificially keep Bhagavatam books with us, people will offer obeisances. When people start offering obeisances, at least for that sake we will improve our character.

As Bhaktisiddhanta Thakur used to say "Fake it until you make it". We have to continuously endeavor to become a gunavaan.

Our Maharaj said that "When couldn't console to marry him, he asked Kumbakarna to give him some idea. Then Kumbakarna suggested Ravana to assume the form of Lord Rama. Ravana replied, if he wants to take the form of Rama, then he has to meditate on that form. If he starts meditating on that form of Rama, then the tinge of Gunavaan quality of Lord Rama will change him completely and he can see Sita as his mother only. If meditating on Rama's form for a moment can have such an effect, just imagine how much effect it will have if we meditate on the glorious qualities of Lord Rama all the time?!

2.vīryavān - Potential One Lord Rama is highly powerful. That we can see through various challenges He met. The first demon killed by Rama was . Sage Vishwamitra came to King Dasaratha and requested to send Rama with him to protect his . Dasaratha was so reluctant. He told that he had children after 60,000 years, so how to send this young boy with him. Vishwamitra said that he knows very well about the prowess of Rama. Vishwamitra put a tricky word and said if he had any doubt he can enquire with Vashishta. Vashishta was the Rajaguru of that dynasty. Vishwamitra and Vashishta always had difference of opinion. They never agreed with one point. So Vishwamitra told Dasaratha to ask Vashishta whether Rama is powerful or not. All the time Vashishta refused Vishwamitra's statement but this time he had to agree. So he asked Dhasaratha to send Rama with Vishwamitra. Then Rama killed Tataka demon. After that Shurpanaka asked Kara and Dhushana to fight with Rama. So Kara and Dhushana sent 14 demons. They were killed single-handedly by Rama. Once they were killed, Kara sent 14,000 soldiers from his army. They were also killed. Then Rama killed Kara and Dhushana. At the end we all know how Rama killed Ravana. In this way Lord Rama has been exhibiting His unlimited power throughout His pastime on the earth planet.

In this Yuga, we can also become vīryavān. We can also kill all our enemies like lusty desires, anger, greed, envy, etc by powerful preaching and sincere chanting.

We will see the rest of the qualities of Lord Sri Rama in the subsequent mails, Krishna willing.

Thankyou very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi Abu Dhabi. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 3

Date: 2010-01-26 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This mail is the continuation of series titled - "Glorification of Lord Ram", based on wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mataji on S.B.5.19.3

oṁ namo bhagavate uttamaślokāya nama ārya-lakṣaṇa-śīla-vratāya nama upaśikṣitātmana upāsita-lokāya namaḥ sādhu-vāda-nikaṣaṇāya namo brahmaṇya-devāya mahā-puruṣāya mahā-rājāya nama iti

Let me please Your Lordship by chanting the bija-mantra omkara. I wish to offer my respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, who is the best among the most highly elevated personalities. Your Lordship is the reservoir of all the good qualities of Aryans, people who are advanced. Your character and behavior are always consistent, and you exhibit exemplary character to teach others how to behave. There is a touchstone that can be used to examine the gold, but you are like a touchstone that can verify all good qualities. You are worshipped by brahmanas who are the foremost of all devotees. You, the Supreme Person, are the King of Kings, and therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

Valmiki muni asked Narada muni whether there is any existing personality who possesses all 16 qualities. It is given in Valmiki Ramayan 1.1.2.

kaḥ nu asmin sāṃpratam loke guṇavān kaḥ ca vīryavān dharmajñaḥ ca kṛtajñaḥ ca satya vākyo dhṛḍha vrataḥ

Who really is that person in this present world, who is principled, and also a potential one, a conscientious one, a redeemer, and also a truth-teller and self-determined in his deed.

In this verse 6 qualities of Lord Rama is explained. In the previous mail we have seen the first 2 qualities, gunavaan and veeryavaan. We will continue to see the rest of the qualities.

3. dharmajñaḥ - conscientious Lord Rama is popularly known as Ramo vigrahavaan dharmah. Meaning Rama is the personification of or religious principles. As a putra dharma, He is pitru vaakya paripalan, He obeyed his parents. As a dharma of being a husband, He was following eka patni vrata. As a raja dharma, He even took Sita to the forest. He was born to show how to live and abide by the religious principles. Rama knows all the religious principles. We should also become aware of the religious principles. It can be done by studying the scriptures, attending the classes on Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita and association with the devotees. Krishna has given us the human form with intelligence. So we have to use this form to the best and follow the religious principles. That is why Krishna says in B.G.16.23 "He who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whims attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination".

4. kṛtajñaḥ - what has been done, knower of it. Lord Rama showed so much of gratitude to all living entities. He is a very grateful personality. There is one incidence in Ramayan. Hanumanji located Sita matha in . He came to Rama and said "I have seen Sita". Rama was so much delighted. Hanumanji has done a wonderful job. So Rama wanted to give something to Hanumanji. But Rama had nothing to give him. Rama said that Hanumanji has completely saved His life, 's life and whole Raghu dynasty. If Hanumanji says that he has not seen Sita or Sita is not alive, then Rama will give up His life. Once Rama gives up His life, Lakshmana will give up his life, and then whole Raghu dynasty will give up their lives.

Rama said that His heart is completely paining because He is in a very helpless position that he is not able to reward Hanumanji. Hanumanji has given a very pleasing message, but Rama was not able to reward him in that same amount. Sometimes when our friends give us nice gifts, we feel very happy and we make a point to give very nice gifts to them in return. If this is in our case, then how much Lord Rama will feel to show His gratitude. But at that point of time Rama had nothing to give to Hanumanji. Then Rama said, the only return he can do is to embrace Hanumanji.

Rama said that Hanumanji only crossed the ocean and located Sita matha. But Hanumanji could make all these things only by chanting Lord Rama's holy name. Actually everything is done by Lord Sri Rama. But still Rama shows his gratitude towards Hanumanji. But in our case, we do nothing, but we say to everybody that we have done everything. So we should be grateful to all the living entities, who have been helping us right from the beginning, our parents, our teachers, who brought us to the Krishna Consciousness, who helped us materially and spiritually.

5. satya vākyo - truth speaker There is a beautiful incidence in Ramayana which says how Rama is satyavaakyo. When Rama entered into the forest with Sita and Lakshmana, He went to the of Sarabhanga rshi. Sarabhanga rshi directed them to go to Sutiikshana's ashram. In the forest Rama was going from one hermitage to another to get good advices from the sages. While leaving Sarabhanga ashram, the sages of that ashram requested Rama to protect their from demons. Then Rama promised them that He will protect them. After this there was conversation between Sita and Rama.

Sita matha was worried that why Rama should fight in the forest. So to convince Rama she started with a nice story. Sita told Rama, once there was a rshi who was meditating in the forest. came there as a soldier and asked rshi to take care of his sword, because he is going for a pilgrimage. The rshi accepted and asked the soldier to keep the sword little far away from his place. Then the soldier left the place. Rshi thought to keep the sword near him and kept it. Then he thought what if some animal comes and takes the sword. Having accepted the responsibility of up keeping, he must take proper care of it. So he kept the sword on his lap. After sometime he felt the sword would be better protected, if kept it in his hand. Once the sword came to his hand, he started to kill the animals. So when something is there with us, we always have the intention to utilize it. Then Sita told Rama, that just because He was having bow and arrow, He had the intention to kill the demons. She said that we are not personally affected by the demons and why should we kill the demons. She tried somehow to convince Rama. But Rama said that there is a possibility that he might give up her and Lakshmana also, but once He had given a promise particularly to a , He can never go back. He said that it is his duty to give protection to the needy. He felt very shameful that he allowed the situation wherein the sages had to request him whereas he must have done that realizing their needs, even before the sages approached Him. We have to not only speak the truth but it should be pleasing to others also.

We will see rest of the qualities of Lord Rama in the subsequent mails, Krishna willing.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi Abu Dhabi.

Moderator's Note : The ceremony of our beloved spiritual master HH Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj took place in a very glorious manner today at Nasik. The occasion was graced by presence of many senior disciples of Srila Prabhupada like HH Radhananath Swami Maharaj, HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj, HH Charu Maharaj, HH Kavi candra Maharaj, HH Nava Yogendra Maharaj , HG Yashomati nandan Prabhuji, HG Devaki nandan prabhu (Juhu), HG Vrajvihari Prabhu and many other disciples and well-wishers of Maharaj. Krishna willing we shall send out a detailed mail on the ceremony in our subsequent mails. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 4

Date: 2010-01-30 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the continuation of transcription of the wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mataji on S.B.5.19.3.

Valmiki muni inquired Narada muni whether there is any existing personality who possesses all 16 qualities. In the previous mails we saw first 5 qualities. We will see the sixth and seventh quality in this offering.

6. dhṛḍha vrataḥ- Determined in His Vow Rama is completely determined in whatever vow he has taken. There is a beautiful verse in Ramayan. Maharaj likes this verse very much.

Valmiki Ramayana 6.18.33:

sakṛd eva prapanno yas tavāsmīti ca yācate abhayaṁ sarvadā tasmai dadāmy etad vrataṁ mama

If any living being takes shelter of Me even once, saying, "I am Yours", then I award that person freedom from all fear. This is My solemn pledge.

There is a nice incidence in Ramayan. , Rama and party were in the other side of the ocean. They were yet to cross the ocean. That time came to surrender to Lord Rama. He approached Sugriva, to inform Rama that he has come to surrender to Lord Rama. Sugriva went to Rama and informed that Vibhishana has come to surrender unto you. Rama was happy to give shelter. But Sugriva alerted Rama that he has come from enemy's camp, he may be a spy. Sugriva put so much of arguments for not accepting Vibhishana. Rama told Sugriva not to speak like this. Rama said that he has already taken a vow, if anybody comes and surrender, then He has to give shelter to them. To explain this situation Rama said a nice story.

Once there was a hunter who caught a male pigeon in his snare. The female compatriot was left lonely suffering for her survival. After passage of time, one day the hunter returned to the same tree where the female pigeon was residing in. Since it was very cold that night, the hunter lit up a bonfire under the tree and was warming up. Upon seeing that the hunter had come to her house, she decided to offer him ample hospitality. Infact, she had nothing else to feed the hunter, except herself. The bird gave him her own flesh by falling prey into the bon fire to fulfill her obligation to receive a guest. Rama compared his situation with the bird's situation.

Rama compared Himself to the female bird and Sita to the male bird.

1. Sita was carried away by Ravana and the male bird was caught and killed by the hunter. 2. Vibhishana, brother of Ravana came to Rama's camp and the hunter came back and took shelter under the tree where the female bird was residing. 3. Vibhishana asked for shelter whereas the hunter did not ask for shelter. 4. By giving shelter Rama is not going to give up his life whereas the female bird herself fell into the fire and gave up her life.

Rama asked Sugriva whether the bird is greater or He is greater. Rama felt that bird is doing so much, but He was not able to do enough to Vibhishana. Rama asked Sugriva whether he was convinced and told him to bring whether it is Vibhishana or Ravana himself. With that great vow Rama gave shelter to Vibhishana.

Valmiki Ramayan 1.1.3:

cāritreṇa ca ko yuktaḥ sarva bhūteṣu ko hitaḥ vidvān kaḥ kaḥ samarthaḥ ca kaḥ ca eka priya darśanaḥ

Who is he conduct-wise blent with good conduct, who in respect of all beings is benign, who is adept and also ablest one, also uniquely good to look to..

In this verse, 5 qualities of Lord Sri Rama are explained. We will try to see one by one.

7. cāritreṇa - Good Conduct Rama is an embodiment of good conduct. asked to send Rama to the forest. Dasharatha had no other go, and he accepted. Then Kaikeyi told Rama that King Dasharatha had ordered Him to go to the forest. Rama said even if she had told Him to go the forest, He will go. Before going to the forest also, Rama offered obeisances to Kaikeyi. Dasharatha was too much upset by Kaikeyi's act. Before leaving his body, Dasharatha disowns his wife Kaikeyi and his son . He said that no more he considers Kaikeyi as his wife and Bharata as his son. This came to Rama's knowledge. After the war with Ravana was over and Rama returned to , Dasharatha and forefathers came from heaven to bless Lord Rama. Dasharatha asked Rama, if He wants any boon. Rama remembered that Dasharatha disowned Kaikeyi and Bharata. So Rama requested Dasharata to accept Kaikeyi as his wife and Bharata as his son. This was the boon which Rama demanded from His father. In this way Rama showed His exemplary good conduct throughout His life.

S.B. 3.16.4 and 5 gives some idea about good conduct. This is the incidence when four Sanat Kumaras who tried to enter into Vaikuntha loka. At that time they were stopped by Jaya and Vijaya. Sanat Kumaras cursed the door-keepers. Then Krishna Himself came from Vaikunta loka. Krishna showed so much of respect to Sanat Kumaras. In S.B. 3.16.4 Lord Sri Krsna says "To Me, the brahmana is the highest and most beloved personality. The disrespect shown by My attendants has actually been displayed by Me because the doormen are My servitors. I take this to be an offense by Myself; therefore I seek your forgiveness for the incident that has arisen". In the modern companies also if any fraud is committed by the lower employees, the boss is held responsible for that. S.B. 3.16.5 says, "A wrong act committed by a servant leads people in general to blame his master, just as a spot of white leprosy on any part of the body pollutes all of the skin." In the purport to this verse, Srila Prabhupada writes, "A devotee should be blameless because any offense by the devotee is a scar on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The devotee's duty is to be always conscious in his dealings with others, especially with another devotee of the Lord".

We are wearing the Kanti mala and Tilak, which means we are declaring to the whole world that we are Vaishnavas. If we do any activity against the good conduct, then we are putting the scar on Krishna or our Spiritual Master. If we have this idea always in our mind that "I am representing my Spiritual Master", then we will have good conduct in our life.

We will see the rest of the qualities of Lord Rama in the subsequent mails, Krishna willing.

Thank you very much, Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi Abu Dhabi.

Moderator's Note: We would like to inform that one nice devotee from Minneapolis H G Vijaya Krishna das has put 30 minutes of video in youtube of a lecture our Maharaj gave in London in 2007. He has taken wonderful efforts to put subtitles too for the lecture on the video clip. Please take your time to see and hear our glorious Spiritual Master's lecture. Here is the link - H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj Lecture in London on Nov 24th 2007. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 5

Date: 2010-02-09 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the transcription of the wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mataji on S.B.5.19.3.

In Valmiki Ramayan, Valmiki muni inquired Narada muni whether there is any personality existing with 16 qualities. Narada muni said it is Lord Rama who possess all such qualities. In the previous mails we have seen the first 7 qualities of Rama. In this mail we will see the next 2 qualities of Lord Rama. Valmiki Ramayan 1.1.3 says,

cāritreṇa ca ko yuktaḥ sarva bhūteṣu ko hitaḥ vidvān kaḥ kaḥ samarthaḥ ca kaḥ ca eka priya darśanaḥ

He Who is conduct-wise blent with good conduct, who in respect of all beings is benign, who is adept and also ablest one, also uniquely good to look to...

8. sarva bhutesu ko-hitah - One who is thinking of the welfare of all the living entities Everybody in this material world is selfish. We are concerned about ourselves, our own family, our bank balance, etc. Every body is narrow-minded. But we must think about the welfare of all the living entities. Krishna declares in Bhagavad Gita 5.29 "suhrdam sarva-bhutānām"- not only for few people but for all the living entities, because as a Paramatma, He is waiting in the hearts of all the living entities, in the midst of stool and urine, He is waiting for millions of janmas. He is waiting when the living entity will turn to Him. He is so patient. In Ramayana, Rama could have thought that crossing the ocean is difficult and taking all the armies to Lanka, must be very very difficult. He could have told Hanumanji to locate Sita and bring Her to Him. But Rama thought that Ravana imprisoned so many people. Rama wanted to release all those people who are suffering under Ravana's Kingdom. Rama was not selfishly interested in getting back His wife alone.

At the end of the war with Ravana, Brahmaji asked Rama, if he wanted any boon. Rama has given instructions previously that any vanara who has been killed in the battle, their body should be kept safely. So Rama asked Brahmaji to give back the lives of all the deceased vanara sena. Brahmaji also accepted and said if the body is there he can give back their lives. Rama didn't stop with that. He asked Vibhishana to bring all the bodies also, so that they can also get back their lives. Rama thought of the welfare of all the rakshasas also. But unfortunately, Ravana gave the instructions to throw the demons body into the ocean. Because when the other rakshasas see so many demons were killed, they will become depressed. He thought that, motivation to fight will not be there when they see so many dead bodies. So with that idea, they disposed all the bodies of demons. Rama was ready to give the lives back to demons, but the bodies were not available to fulfill this. Rama performed the righteous funeral to , which is a bird. He showed welfare to all the living entities, even to the squirrels which helped in constructing the bridge to cross the ocean.

9. vidvaan - Learned Personality Chaanakya Pandita gives the real test of a vidvaan. There is a beautiful verse which tells us who is really a vidvaan. Our general understanding of a vidvaan is who learnt many . But the practical definition of a vidvaan is given by Chanakya Pandita. Srila Prabhupada loves this verse. He told that this verse must be given to the children.

mātṛvat para-dāreṣu para-dravyeṣu loṣṭravat ātmavat sarva-bhūteṣu yaḥ paśyati sa paṇḍitaḥ The 3 qualities which are required for a person to be called as vidvaan.

1. Any other lady other than you own wife should be considered to be your mother. That is why in our Hare Krishna movement we have a very good practice to refer everyone as Mathaji. Rama followed eka patni vrata. He considered everybody as His mother.

2. The property which is belonging to others should be treated as a lump of dirt. Rama conquered Lanka, but he did not take Lanka. He gave to Vibhishana. He is not at all concerned about others property. When His father asked Him to go to the forest, He gave His own kingdom to Bharata. He is not concerned about His own property itself.

3. We should see all the other living entities in the same way as we see ourselves. When Rama went to the forest, he saw Sugriva. Sugriva was suffering because his kingdom and his wife were taken away by his brother . Rama understood Sugriva's position to be just like His, suffering by separation from Sita Devi and his kingdom. Rama understood the pain of others. He saw others as Himself. Rama had wonderful considerations for all the living entities. Rama accepted Guha - a hunter, Sugriva - a monkey and Vibhishana - a as his brother. He did not discriminate.

That is why Krishna declares in B.G. 5.18 as "The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog eater (outcaste)".

Rama practically exhibited this sama-darshinah character throughout His life. Similarly, our Guru Maharaj showed love and affection to all the living entities. Even to the car driver, Maharaj used to ask about his health and family. He did not discriminate. Maharaj says that we should have an amicable and workable relationship with everybody. We should have very good relationship with all the living entities. By this relationship our time will be saved. If we start fighting with others, our mind will be full of hatred. This creates anxiety and lack of peace. Then we cannot sit and study Srimad Bhagavatam. So we must maintain good relationship with others. If a person have all the above three qualities, then he is called as vidvaan or pandita. So Rama is a vidvaan.

Other aspect of vidvaan means a learned person or one who read all vedas. Rama exhibited this quality also in one of His pastimes. Rama was about to meet Sugriva. Sugriva sent forward Hanumanji as his messenger. Hanumanji came as a brahmana and once he came to know that Lord Rama has come, he came back to his original form. At that time Hanumanji spoke very nicely to Lord Rama. Just listening to the speech of Hanumanji, Rama highly appreciated Hanumanji. It is given in Valmiki Ramayan 4.3.28-33. It is said in shastras, we should not appreciate a disciple or a son on his face. We have to appreciate that person in front of another person. Maharaj always used to glorify a person to some other Godbrother. Then that Godbrother will call that person and tell that Maharaj praised him. If we appreciate our children in front of them, then they will sit on our head. But we have to glorify our spiritual master in front of them. This is the shastric injunctions. When Hanumanji spoke very wonderfully, Rama couldn't control Himself and as an exception, He immediately glorified Hanumanji. He said that Hanumanji is a person who has read Rig Veda, Yajur Veda and Sama Veda. Because for every veda some qualification is required. If a person is expert in Rig veda, he must be very much controlled and well trained. If a person is expert in Yajur veda, he must have a very good memory power. If a person is expert in Sama veda, he must have a complete knowledge of vedic notes. All these qualities Rama found in Hanumanji. Rama said that Hanumanji learnt the grammar very nicely, studied other vedic literatures, there is no misuse of any word and a man of time, tradition and character. Rama described all the techniques of speech. Unless Rama had learnt all the scriptures, he cannot comment about others speech. So Rama is a vidvān.

We will see the other qualities of Rama in subsequent mails, Krishna willing. Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi Abu Dhabi. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 6

Date: 2010-02-15 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the transcription of the wonderful class of HG Vaijayantimala Mathaji in Abu Dhabi on S.B.5.19.3:

In Valmiki Ramayan, Valmiki muni inquired Narada muni whether there exists a personality who possesses 16 qualities. Narada muni said it is Lord Sri Rama. Valmiki Ramayan 1.1.3. says,

cāritreṇa ca ko yuktaḥ sarva bhūteṣu ko hitaḥ vidvān kaḥ kaḥ samarthaḥ ca kaḥ ca eka priya darśanaḥ

He Who is conduct-wise blent with good conduct, who in respect of all beings is benign, who is adept and also ablest one, also uniquely good to look to...

In the previous mails we saw the first 9 qualities of Lord Rama. In this mail we will see the next 2 qualities.

10. samarthah - Capability Rama has got all the capability and is shown by the way He ruled His kingdom. Even now we say 'rajya' means Ramarajya. But the pity is, in Kaliyuga we are looking for Ramarajya without Rama. There is a beautiful verse in Srimad Bhagavatam to show how the kingdom was flourishing during the time of Rama's rule. Maharaj loves this verse very much. During Dwaraka temple opening maharaj recited this verse from SB 9.10.53

nādhi-vyādhi-jarā-glāni- duḥkha-śoka-bhaya-klamāḥ mṛtyuś cānicchatāṁ nāsīd rāme rājany adhokṣaje

When Lord Ramachandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was the King of this world, all bodily and mental suffering, disease, old age, bereavement, lamentation, distress, fear and fatigue were completely absent. There was even no death for those who did not want it.

When Lord Ramacandra was the King of this world, 9 things were not present in the world. a) ādhi - It refers to three fold miseries (adhyātmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika). Rama ruled with so much of honesty. Nature supplied all the things according to the season. The Mother Nature was completely pleased because there were no exploitation. So there were no three fold miseries. b) vyādhi - Disease c) jarā - Old age - When everything is supplied nicely and because they got all natural and nutritious food, as a consequence, there was no disease and old age. But now we are taking all artificial preservative foods, deep frozen and fast food and the result is vyaadi and jaraa. We converted all the agricultural lands into industries. Srila Prabhupada says, "Future generations have to eat nuts and bolts only" d) glāni - Bereavement e) duhkha - Grief f) shoka - Lamentation - Because everything was supplied nicely and there was no old age and disease, naturally there was no bereavement, grief and lamentation. g) bhaya - Fear - Because there was no anxieties and lamentation, fear was not there. h) klamāh - Fatigue - Because everything was natural, there was no tiredness. But now children go to the school which is full of A/C, come by bus which is full of A/C and come to home which is full of A/C. But still they feel very tired. i) mrtyuh - Death - In Ram Rajya, the threat of death was absent. When they did not want to die, the death will not approach. People were leaving their body according to their own will. The people were so pure because of the association with Rama. Our Maharaj left his body out of his own will because he is very pure-hearted.

This was the way Rama administered His kingdom. He carried over the Varnashrama dharma very nicely. During the night time, He used to go incognito and go around the city to find out the problems of His citizens. He did not take rest in the night also. But now, we can see the politicians only during the election time. In Rama's rule the son will not die before father dies. In case if the child dies before the father, they will immediately run to the palace to seek justice from the King. The King will be personally held responsible for any misfortune in any of the family. Rama ruled the Kingdom very wonderfully and immaculately.

11. priyadarshanah - Pleasing to see Rama is a very pleasing personality. Rama was not only pleasing to ordinary human beings, but also to Shurpanaka, a rakshasi. If a person wants to appreciate the beauty of another person, then that person should have some fineness in their heart. So it is highly impossible that a rakshasi can go and appreciate the beauty of Lord Rama. That means how much pleasing was Lord Rama? After Shurpanaka's nose was cut, she went and complained to her brothers, Kara and Dhushana. Suppose, if we go and propose to a person, and that person says no, it is an insult for us. We go to another person and tell that he is a useless fellow, he thinks that he is the Manmada of this world etc. We say all bad things about him. But in case of Shurpanaka, Rama did not accept her proposal and on top of it, her nose was cut. But still Shurpanaka described the beauty of Lord Sri Rama to her brothers. She said that Rama is young, full of beauty, very strong, have broad eyes like lotus, wears the hides of trees, eats fruits and roots, self-controlled, ascetic, celibate, gives protection to all beings, great and best among those who wields the bow. Rama was so pleasing.

Our Deities are looking so beautiful. We think that the deities are beautiful because we are dressing Them so nicely. The very purpose of dressing the deities is that, They are so beautiful, that unless we put the ornaments, we cannot bear the beauty. That is why we cover Their beauty with ornaments. But we are thinking, with the ornaments we are beautifying. Even when the small children are naked, we say that somebody's bad dhristi will fall on them. So we hurriedly cover the baby with clothes. Like this way only we are covering the deity's beauty by dresses and ornaments.

'Pleasing' doesn't mean the external beauty. Sometimes some people's bodily form may not be good; their eyes may not be pleasing. But their heart may be pure. Then that person becomes more attractive. Whatever we feel in our heart and mind, that is reflected in our face. That is why we say face is the index of mind. Srila Prabhupada and our Guru Maharaj look so attractive because of their pure heart. Smiling gives the real beauty. Maharaj says, " We are always contaminated by the modes of material nature that we are not able to smile. Smiling is a big austerity nowadays. A cow is not coming to you, a dog is not coming to you, it is only a human being coming to you and why not you give a smile and give few pleasing words". Maharaj, when he was in the hospital, he was suffering so much. He did not have any breath to speak. So he just took some facility for breathing and greeted all the living entities who came to have his darshan. Maharaj smiled at everybody in spite of his acute bodily pains. So Priyadarshanam comes from our heart, smiling and speaking pleasing words.

We will see the remaining qualities of Lord Rama in the subsequent mails, Krishna willing.

Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi, Abu Dhabi. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 7

Date: 2010-02-22 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the transcription based on the wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mataji on S.B.5.19.3

In Valmiki Ramayan, Valmiki muni inquired Narada muni whether there is any personality who possesses 16 qualities. Narada muni said it is Lord Rama. In the previous mails we have seen the first 11 qualities of Lord Sri Rama. In this mail we will see the next quality of Rama. Valmiki Ramayan 1.1.4 says

ātmavān ko jita krodho / dyutimān kah anasuyakaḥ kasya bibhyati devāh ca / jāta roṣasya saṁyuge

Who is that courageous one, who controlled His ire, who is brilliant, non-jealous and even whom do the gods fear, when provoked to war.

12. ātmavān - One who is always spiritually situated ātmavān is a person who is thinking always about the soul and never about the body. His main concern is how to progress in spiritual consciousness, because he understood that the material body or anything material is temporary. He situates himself in eternal things. We think that we have to live in this house for many years. We know all these things are temporary. But still we hanker for permanency - because we are not the body, we are the soul and the quality of the soul is eternality. That is why we want to situate permanently. Krishna says in B.G 2.56, "One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold misery or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind." He is called ātmavān.

Lord Rama was born to Dasaratha Maharaj after 60,000 years. If a child is born long time after marriage, we call that child as precious child. Dasaratha Maharaj had too much love and affection for Lord Rama. So he decided to coronate Rama. But because of Kaikeyi, Rama was sent to vanavasa for 14 years. But Rama did not rebel for that. In Ramayan it is said, "His face was like a lotus when He was told that you are going to be coronated, his face was like a blooming lotus, when he was told 'no coronation, and you have to go to forest'". He was completely unaffected. Maharaj says miseries are concomitant factors in this material world. This world is meant to give miseries. The manufacturer of the product should give the certificate about his product. Only the manufacturer will know the product's defects and qualities. So the same way, this world is manufactured by Krishna. He says in B.G.8.15 duhkhaalayam ashaasvatam - place full of miseries and temporary in nature. But our expectations are not according to what the manufacturer has given in the certificate. Maharaj says, "The soul is situated in the body which has 9 holes. It is a great wonder that the soul stays inside this 9 holed body." Srila Prabhupada writes in one of the purport, "We are all thrown into a mine of salt and everywhere we go only salt is present. This world is a prison house. We have come here as a punishment." According to the previous , whatever happiness or distress is due to us definitely follows the soul. Maharaj says, "This karma will eventually catch you." There is a beautiful verse which Maharaj quotes,

yathā dhenu sahasreṣu vatso gaccati mātaram tathā yaccha kṛtam karma kartāram anugacchati

Just like how in the midst of thousands of cows, a calf finds the mother accurately, similarly the reactions of one's past actions hit the doer without fail.

In Mahabharat, Dhrtarashtra was questioning how his 100 children were lost and how much karma he might have performed. Then Krishna showed him, that 500 janmas before he was a hunter. He burnt a tree with 100 birds. Then Dhrtarastra asked why it took 500 janmas. Krishna said that he had to do so many good (sukrti) to beget 100 children and to perform so many good karmas he had to take so many janmas and finally get 100 sons. Krishna says in the third chapter of Bhagavad Gita, "These waves of the laws of the karma are highly mysterious, even the greatly learned personalities cannot understand." It is all expertly managed by Lord Sri Krishna. So only understanding we must have is, some karma we have done, the reaction has come and whatever reaction is that, we should just tolerate. There is no other go. We should go on offering obeisances to the Lord, perform our devotional activities and just tolerate. Maharaj says that at least in this janma we came to the knowledge and just tolerate whatever is happening and don't add to your karma bag. The root of the karma is the idea in our mind. Any activity can be performed only when a thought comes. Action always follows the thoughts. So we have to purify our mind and intelligence. It can be done by reading Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita and chanting the holy names. We must always remember īśasya hi vaśe loko (S.B.1.6.7). These two lines will purify our intelligence. This entire world is under the control of the Supreme Lord. We are all just like wooden dolls. If we are in this understanding, then we can welcome any situation. And if we don't welcome also it will come. So we have to tolerate.

We have to understand that these great scriptures Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita doesn't say in any part that if you do this prayaschita, you will get rid of this misery. Both say just to tolerate. Maharaj says that "It is very difficult, but by cultivation we can do it." If we just try to tolerate, one day Krishna will give the mercy to tolerate. Maharaj says, "We should not increase the artificial necessities of life. Have a simple living. Our life should be conducted in such a manner that in any circumstances we should be able to pass life." Like Rama, He was living in palace so many years and used with so many comforts, when he was asked to go to forest, he accepted that also. This world is called jagat meaning "changing". There is a beautiful verse Maharaj quotes,

calat cittam calat vittam / calat jīvana yauvanam calācalam sarvam / bhaktir yasya sa jīvati

Our mind is flickering, our wealth is flickering, and our own life and youth are also a passing phase. There is steadiness and eternity only in devotional service.

The real life is only when Bhakti is there. So we have to catch hold of eternal things. The person who catches hold of eternal things is called ātmavān.

We will see the rest of the qualities of Lord Sri Rama in the subsequent mails, Krishna willing.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi, Abu Dhabi. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 8

Date: 2010-03-22 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the transcription based on the wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mathaji on SB 5.19.3. In Valmiki Ramayan, Valmiki muni inquired Narada muni whether there is any personality who possesses 16 qualities. Narada muni said it is Lord Rama.

In the previous mails we have seen the first 12 qualities of Lord Sri Rama. In this mail we will see the next quality of Rama.Valmiki Ramayan 1.1.4 says:

ātmavān ko jita krodho dyutimān kaḥ anasūyakaḥ kasya bibhyati devāḥ ca jāta roṣasya saṃyuge

Who is that courageous one, who controlled his ire, who is brilliant, non-jealous and even whom do the gods fear, when provoked to war...

13. jita krodhaḥ - Conquering Anger Rama conquered anger in so many situations like, when Kaikeyi told Rama to go to the forest, when Sita was kidnapped, when Surpanaka proposed to Him to marry her, when citizens of Ayodhya were questioning the purity of Sita Devi after returning from Lanka, etc. In one such situation also Rama conquered anger. Sugriva was without his wife and his kingdom for a long time. Rama killed Vali and gave back the kingdom to Sugriva. Then Rama said that Chaturmasya is approaching, so we cannot go for searching Sita. Sugriva is a monkey, so they want sense gratification. So Rama told Sugriva to go and enjoy with his wife and kingdom. Rama told Sugriva to come after four months and help Him to find Sita. Rama was so tolerant and understood the feelings of others inspite of being in his most difficult time. But even after the four months were over, Sugriva did not send a word to Rama, because he was completely engrossed in sense gratification. That time Lakshmana became very angry. Lakshmana is well known for his anger. He told Rama that he will go and kill Sugriva. Rama told Lakshmana to control himself at this situation. Valmiki Ramayan 4.31.6 says "Certainly none of your kind shall commit this sort of sin in this world, and if such a situation occurs, he who by his noble gesture kills his own anger is a valorous one, and he really becomes the best one among men". A Purushottama is not a person who is able to conquer other persons. The first thing is we have to control our own anger. We can become the best person just by killing anger. Rama told Lakshmana to go to Sugriva and deal with him in a very friendly manner and don't use caustic words, use only pleasing words. Rama is in such a big problem, but still he did not get angry on Sugriva.

In Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita, there are so many instructions about anger because anger is considered to be the foremost enemy in the path of spiritual advancement. Another name for anger is kāmānuja. kāmā means lust or desire, anuja means brother. Once our desire is unfulfilled only, we become angry. So krodha always follows kaama. So the younger brother of kāmā is krodha. Bhagavad Gita 5.23 says "Before giving up this present body, if one is able to tolerate the urges of the material senses and check the force of desire and anger, he is well situated and is happy in this world". So before we give up the body, we have to control this anger. But we don't know when we will give up our body.

Our Maharaj is a very best example of controlling anger and tolerating. Maharaj came to Abu Dhabi first time so many years back. That time one Prabhuji called from Sharjah and told HG Svayam Sphurthy prabhu, that "One Maharaj is coming to Abu Dhabi, so make arrangements for his accommodation in your home." That time Svayam prabhu did not know about Maharaj as he did not meet him before. Svayam prabhu said that he has to go to office, so after coming from office he will buy the new bed sheets, etc. and he told that Prabhuji from Sharjah to send Maharaj in the evening. But before that Maharaj had already come to Abu Dhabi, sitting in an office, nearby Svayam prabhu's home building. He was just waiting there in the reception of the office without prasadam and even water from morning till evening. By then Svayam prabhu came to know about this, it was already in the evening, and he came running to receive his guest Maharaj. He saw an effulgent personality. On seeing Maharaj's face, he understood that he is very much different from whatever we are. Then Svayam prabhu asked where Maharaj was staying. Maharaj said that he was sitting in the reception next to his building. He did not speak a word, why he came late or why he made him sit in the office without even prasadam. Maharaj is teaching us by his own example. He was able to control his senses. He is having a lot of reason to get angry like, no prasadam from morning, sitting somewhere, age, etc. But still he controlled his anger.

Maharaj gives a beautiful explanation for anger.

A - Atheistic mentality Atheistic means a person who doesn't believe in God. We are angry means things are not according to our wish. But everything is happening under the control of the Lord, then where is the question of becoming angry? Still if we are angry, that means we are not accepting the authority of God. It means we are atheistic. Every time when we become angry we must think we are atheistic.

N - Negation of the Vedic principle If we are angry means we are thinking of the bodily concept. If somebody tells something about us, then we become angry. If we think that we are the soul, the soul cannot be touched by whatever others say.

G - Greedy We are not satisfied with whatever we have. That is why we are greedy and anger follows.

E - Envious nature When somebody is progressing we become envious and angry.

R - Raurava hell If we are angry we will go to this Raurava hell and then Ruru animal will come and gobble us.

At the moment we become angry we must remember all these points. But it is very difficult to remember at that time. When we are angry our blood pressure increases. The heart is pumping very fast and causes damage to our body. In our brain there are so many tiny nerves even tinier than our hair. The blood is passing through these nerves, when pressure increases these nerves will be immediately cut off. When it is cut off, hemorrhage occurs and we collapse. So considering our own health we must control anger. Before we are merciful to others, we must be merciful to our own health. So if we are angry, blood pressure increases, nerves cut off, hemorrhage occurs and then we may pass away. If we pass away in this anger mood, again Raurava hell, birth, death and so many species of life is waiting for us. That is why we call anger as a double-edged sword. Both the edges are sharp. When we are angry, the other person is affected and we are also affected. Maharaj says 'anger' is one letter short of 'danger'.

In Bhagavad Gita 2.63 Krishna says "From anger, complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost, one falls down again into the material pool". Then again and again we have to rotate in this 84 lacs of species of life, " duhkhaalayam ashaasvatam". Just for small moment of anger, we have to again and again suffer in this material world. In the purport of SB 4.11.31, Srila Prabhupada says "By constantly hearing about devotional service, one can check the force of anger, which is detrimental to the process of devotional service". Maharaj gives 3 solutions to control anger:

1. Leave that place 2. Do not open your mouth 3. Develop the quality of forgiving nature.

We will see the rest of the qualities of Lord Sri Rama in the subsequent mails, Krishna willing.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi, Abu Dhabi. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 9

Date: 2010-03-23 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the transcription based on the wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mathaji on S.B.5.19.3:

In Valmiki Ramayan, Valmiki muni inquired Narada muni whether there is any personality who possesses 16 qualities. Narada muni said it is Lord Rama. In the previous mails we have seen the first 13 qualities of Lord Sri Rama. In this mail we will see the next quality.

Valmiki Ramayan 1.1.4 says,

ātmavān ko jita krodho dyutimān kaḥ anasūyakaḥ kasya bibhyati devāḥ ca jāta roṣasya saṃyuge

Who is that courageous one, who controlled His ire, who is brilliant, non-jealous and even whom do the gods fear, when provoked to war.

14.dyutimān - Brilliant When Lord Rama was ruling Ayodhya, He made it a point to make a lot of sacrifices. Treta yuga's prescribed is sacrifices. Only when the leader follows the yuga dharma, citizens will follow. BG 3.21 says "Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues." The children always follow the parents and teachers because for the children, the parents and the teachers are their leaders. In Treta yuga, the kings were showing the yuga dharma by doing astonishing number of sacrifices. Now in Kali yuga, the yuga dharma is chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. But unfortunate situation is that our leaders, our Chief ministers, Prime ministers are not chanting to show this yuga dharma to other living entities. That is why Srila Prabhupada was trying to approach the National Leaders and Prime ministers. Once the leaders become Krishna Conscious, everything becomes auspicious for the citizens. Recently His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj met the President of Mrs.Prathiba Patil and presented the book "The Journey Home" he had written. He met the Chief Minister of also. Because, the innate desire in him is to make the leaders Krishna Conscious, exactly following the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada.

It is mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam, a sacrifice is immediately followed by charity. It is mentioned in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, a sacrifice which is performed without dakshina is considered to be in the mode of ignorance. So when Lord Rama performed the sacrifice, He gave the entire area of all the four directions to the four brahmanas. He gave away everything. Srimad Bhagavatam says that Rama was left only with his own personal garments and ornaments. And Sita Matha was left only with her nose ring. To that extent He gave the dakshina. But nowadays, when we perform marriages, we spend so much for reception, garments, ornaments, beauty parlors, decorations, etc. But when it comes for giving dakshina to brahmanas, we shrink. We feel that they are demanding too much. We have to learn, when the brahmanas come to perform sacrifices, we have to liberally give them the dakshina. Whatever is within our ability and reach, we must definitely give to them. Kali yuga brahmanas are not perfect, cannot be a reason for us to shrink. Because if the brahmanas are not given proper remuneration to maintain themselves, they will leave the vaidic dharma and take to kali yuga jobs. As a result brahminical (vedic) culture will become extinct. Nobody will come forward to study the vedic scriptures and perform the samskaras. Then the human civilization will degrade further.

At the same time we should understand the real qualifications of a brahmana. When Lord Rama gave all the areas of all the four directions, the brahmanas were very much pleased by His generosity. They said that they don't want this material donation. This is the quality of brahmanas. So we must give like Rama, and brahmanas should be satisfied with the minimum things required to maintain their body and soul together. This must be the quality of brahmanas. Another important quality of the brahmanas is to give back the dhana to other living entities in charity (daana). So the brahmanas gave back the dhana to Lord Rama. After giving back the dhana the brahmanas spoke the following beautiful words. It is given in Srimad Bhagavatam 9.11.6. The Brahmanas said to Lord Rama, "O Lord, You are the master of the master of the entire universe. What have You not given to us? You have entered the core of our hearts and dissipated the darkness of our ignorance by Your effulgence. This is the supreme gift. We do not need a material donation". The brahmanas should never be greedy. We must understand that at the end of our life we are not going to carry anything.

Our body is the temple of Lord because Sri Krsna Himself is situated in our heart. When we apply tilak, it represents the lotus feet of the Lord. And one more thing is tilak is a mud. When we apply tilak all over our body, we must understand that at the end we are going back to the mud. Lord Rama, being situated as the Supersoul in our heart, is giving the brilliance of knowledge. We are in ignorance because we are thinking "I am the body". Ignorance is actually madness. Mad people think something which they are not and act like that. As one psychiatrist/lawyer put it, "Actually each and every one of us in this material world are mad, It is only the degree of madness differs from person to person ." We are acting like something which we are not and we are very adept at this.

Actually, we forget that we are servants of Sri Krsna. We are acting and behaving completely opposite to this mood. So we are all mad. We cannot claim that the person in mental hospital is only mad and we are normal. But Lord Sri Krsna is situated in our heart to clear our madness. To get rid of this madness, we have to get connected with the Supreme Personality of Godhead by persistent chanting and preaching.

The soul is carrying the mind, intelligence and ego to millions of janmas. Only the body is changing. That is why even in this human form, we sometimes behave like animals. We shout at others, we bark like dogs. These impressions are always carried in the mind. We are trying to get rid of all these impressions. Just like if we keep oil in a vessel for so many years, and try to remove the oil, still the oil will be there in the form of a thick dark layer. We have to put more effort to remove it. Similarly we are carrying the impressions for innumerous janmas of life. We have to clear all these impressions. It takes more time and effort. That is why, to remove these impressions, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave a very easy means of chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Immediately the brilliance shines. Lord Rama clears all the contamination within us. The only thing we have to do is to chant sincerely and hear katha. This is the brilliance of the Lord.

We will see the rest of the qualities of Lord Sri Rama in the subsequent mails, Krishna willing.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi, Abu Dhabi. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 10

Date: 2010-03-24 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the transcription based on the wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mathaji on SB 5.19.3.

In Valmiki Ramayan, Valmiki muni inquired Narada muni whether there is any personality who possesses 16 qualities. Narada muni said it is Lord Rama. In the previous mails we have seen the first 14 qualities of Lord Sri Rama. In this mail we will see the next 2 qualities.

Valmiki Ramayan 1.1.4 says

ātmavān ko jita krodho dyutimān kaḥ anasūyakaḥ kasya bibhyati devāḥ ca jāta roṣasya saṃyuge

"Who is that courageous one, who controlled his ire, who is brilliant, non-jealous and even whom do the gods ear, when provoked to war?"

15.anasūyakaḥ - No Envy We are in this material world because of this quality of envy. We had envy on Lord. We thought why He is the only enjoyer. We should also enjoy. Then Krishna said, "OK go and enjoy in the salt of mine." Everywhere we see only salt is present and there is no sweet. There is no place for envy in the spiritual world. NV (Envy) means No Vacancy in the spiritual world. Lord Rama was completely non-envious. He was not envious even of Ravana. After Ravana was killed in the battlefield, Lord Rama advised Vibeeshana to perform funeral rites very perfectly. At that time Lord Rama glorifies Ravana who carried away Sita. Lord Rama said, "Ravana did not die in the battlefield without making any effort. He exhibited extraordinary enthusiasm. He remained confident throughout the battlefield. He did his Kshatriya duty very nicely. All the three worlds were afraid of him because of his intelligence." Rama nicely glorified Ravana. But we are envious of our own well-wishers. Ravana did so much injustice to Rama, but still Rama glorified him. In Valmiki Ramayan 6.109.25 Rama says that "Hostilities end with death. Our purpose has been accomplished. Let his funeral rites be performed. He is even as good mine, as yours".

Another non-envious nature we can see when Ravana came to torture Mother Sita by words in Ashoka vana. At that time Sita requested Ravana to please become friend of Lord Rama. She told him to enter into the agreement of friendship, so that Rama will forgive all the injustice done by him. At that time Acharyas wrote a commentary on it. Why should Sita tell Ravana to become a friend of Lord Rama? She could have told Ravana to surrender unto Rama. Then Acharyas gave the answer for this. Mother Sita is confident about the victory of Lord Rama. She thought to Herself before speaking to Ravana, once the was is over, they will go to Ayodhya. After some days Rama will sit with Sita and ask what happened in Lanka? What Ravana did? Then She may have to say that Ravana spoke such and such a thing and that She ordered Ravana to surrender to Rama. Immediately Rama will get angry. Rama will say that Ravana is the king of Golden Lanka. Rama is also a king. They are equal. So how can a king surrender to another king? They can only become friends. Mother Sita thought all these things and then only She requested Ravana to become friend with Lord Rama. Because Mother Sita knows the heart of Her husband.

Maharaj says the root cause of our envy is the inclination for sense enjoyment. Lord Rama is Aatmaram, meaning self- sufficient. If we are happy with whatever we have, then there is no question of envy within us. When prasadam is served we have to look into our own plate. But we always look into other's plate. Then we cannot enjoy whatever we have in our plate also. There is a nice story regarding this. Donkey goes for grazing grass during summer time. Naturally in summer time there won't be much grass. After eating the grass, it will look around. There won't be any grass. It will think that it has consumed lot of grass. During rainy season more grass will be grown. That time it will go for grazing the grass. That time the donkey will consume 10 times more grass. Then it will look around. But there will be more grass left around. Then the donkey will feel very sad that it has not eaten enough grass. This is the quality of envy. Envy means we are not able to tolerate another's success, glories and prosperity. Krishna knows what is best for us and what do we deserve. To come out of this envious nature, Maharaj gives a solution. When a person has no longer got anything to enjoy in this world, then the envy will stop. If we come to the conclusion there is nothing to enjoy in this world, then we will stop this envious nature. We must always remember Maharaj's favourite verse S.B.11.10.20. " Death is not all pleasing, and since everyone is exactly like a condemned man being led to the place of execution, what possible happiness can people derive from material objects or the gratification they provide?".

Maharaj says when the train comes; it will be difficult for a person having more luggages to board into the train. Maharaj said when he was about to leave the body, he has already purchased the ticket and he is just waiting for the train to board. Because he doesn't have anything. That is why he easily boarded into the train very peacefully. S.B.7.15.23 says simply by stopping sense gratification one can conquer envy.

16. kasya bibhyati devāḥ ca jāta roṣasya saṃyuge - Even demigods become afraid of Him when He becomes so angry Rama exhibited real anger when the Ocean god did not give way to cross the ocean. Rama is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he could have used an arrow to kill Ravana without even crossing the ocean or he could have made the way to cross the ocean. But since he has taken the human form, he acted perfectly according to that form. So in order to get the help from the Ocean god, He sat down upon a grass and observed complete austerity for 3 days and 3 nights. He prayed to with folded hands. Even after this the Ocean god did not make his personal appearance. At that time Lord Rama became very very angry. He told Lakshmana to bring up His bow and arrow to dry up this whole ocean, so that all the monkey armies can just walk on that. Bhagavatam says that Lord Rama's eyes became so red and because of the heat from His eyes, the ocean started boiling. The ocean overflowed its limit by eighty miles, filling all beings with terror. Then also Varuna did not come. Then Lord Rama asked Lakshmana to bring His Brahmastra. At that time Varuna came with folded hands full of fears. He asked Rama to forgive him. He said everything is having a dharma, like sugar has the dharma of sweetness, the fire has the dharma of burning, the ocean has the dharma, it is unfathomable and impossible to cross. So Varuna was not able to get rid of his dharma. But Varuna gave an idea of constructing bridge with monkey.

In the quality of jitakrodhaḥ, we saw Lord Rama conquered anger. Sugriva did not come even after 4 months of enjoyment. That time Lakshmana got angry. Rama advised him to control his anger. But now Rama got angry on Varuna deva. We will see why Rama got angry with Varuna and why not with Sugriva. a) Sugriva is a monkey. Varuna is a demigod - direct servant of Supreme Personality of Godhead. He should be knowing his duty to the Supreme Lord. b) Rama did not do any austerity for Sugriva to come. But here He performed austerity. Demigods have the responsibility of reciprocating to the austerities and sacrifices. c) Only Lord Rama was affected if Sugriva does not come. But here so many crores of monkey armies are waiting to cross the ocean. Lord Rama thought that it will create inconvenience to them. d) That time they don't know where Sita is. But now Hanumanji found Sita in Lanka and She also said that She will wait only for 2 more months; if Rama doesn't come She will give up Her life.

Anger is also required; it doesn't mean that every place we can remain calm and quiet. Rama became calm after seeing Varuna deva. But we carry over our anger. Maharaj also becomes angry at us when we make a mistake and then immediately he is calm and compassionate and very nice. Because he genuinely wants to give us something very valuable. Therefore this anger out of hatred. The whole system is working under the fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This Lord is so merciful because He comes in the form of Hare Krishna Mahamantra, name, deity, scriptures, and spiritual master. Even though the fear element is there in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we can see the mercy element also.

These are the 16 qualities of Lord Sri Rama. Lord Rama's qualities are unlimited. It is only a glimpse of the major 16 qualities.

In SB 5.19.3 Lord Rama is glorified in 8 ways by the devotees. With this series of mails, following 2 ways of glorification of Lord Sri Rama is completed.

1. uttamashlokaaya - Who is always worshiped with selected verses 2. aarya-lakshana-sheela-vrataaya - Who possesses all the good qualities of advanced personalities (16 qualities)

We will see the rest of the glorification of Lord Sri Rama in the subsequent mails, Krishna willing.

Sri Sri Mahotsav ki jai!

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi, Abu Dhabi.

Moderator's Note: We thank H G Anuradha mataji and H G Vaijayantimala mataji from the bottom of our hearts for delighting us with such wonderful nectarean pastimes and qualities of Lord Ramachandra. It is perfectly fitting that the description of the 16 qualities ended on the auspicious day of Rama Navami. It is important to inform here that Anuradha mataji was very busy in taking care of her younger son who was not keeping well for several days. Inspite of her responsibilities, she made it a point to complete the transcription for the 16 glorious qualities of Lord Ramachandra. By the way, the series is not done yet, mataji will continue with 6 more ways of glorifying Lord Rama in the subsequent mails. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 11

Date: 2010-04-21 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the transcription of the wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mathaji on S.B.5.19.3.

oṁ namo bhagavate uttamaślokāya nama ārya-lakṣaṇa-śīla-vratāya nama upaśikṣitātmana upāsita-lokāya namaḥ sādhu-vāda-nikaṣaṇāya namo brahmaṇya-devāya mahā-puruṣāya mahā-rājāya nama iti

Let me please Your Lordship by chanting the bija-mantra Omkara. I wish to offer my respectful obeisances unto the personality of Godhead, who is the best among the most highly elevated personalities. Your Lordship is the reservoir of all the good qualities of Aryans, people who are advanced. Your character and behavior are always consistent, and You exhibit exemplary character to teach others how to behave. There is a touchstone that can be used to examine the gold, but you are like a touchstone that can verify all good qualities. You are worshipped by brahmanas who are the foremost of all devotees. You, the Supreme Person, are the King of Kings, and therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

In this verse Lord Rama is glorified in 8 ways by the devotees. In the previous mails (upto part 10) we have seen the first 2 glorification of Lord Rama, uttamashlokaaya and aarya-lakshana-sheela-vrataaya. In this mail, we will see the next glorification.

3. upaśikṣitātmana - Unto You whose senses are under control Lord Rama exhibited His control of senses and mind in many situations like, when Rama was asked to go to the forest, when Surpanaka proposed to Him, when citizens told Sita is not pure and in so many situations. Rama was the beloved son of King Dasaratha. He was born after 60,000 years. But still, When Rama was asked to go to the forest, immediately He accepted and spoke a beautiful verse. It is in Valmiki Ramayan, 2.19.7.

aham hi sītām rājyam ca prāṇān iṣṭān dhanāni ca hrṣṭaḥ bhrātre svayam dadyām bharatāya apracoditaḥ

Without being asked, I myself would have gladly offered even Sita with kingdom, even my life, loved ones and wealth.

He gave everything so gladly. After He conquered Lanka, He installed Vibeeshana on the thrown of Lanka. He did not take Lanka, but gave it to Vibheeshana. After the 14 years of Vanavaasa was over, he came to Nandigram to meet Bharata. That time also He did not tell Bharata that He has come now, so give back the kingdom. He had the perfect control over senses and mind. Bharata fell at the lotus feet of Lord Rama and said that he can no more tolerate this burden of taking care of the Kingdom. Bharata requested Rama to take care of the kingdom. Then Rama accepted the offer by Bharata. Otherwise He could have not asked for the kingdom. Ravana grabbed Pushpaka from his brother Kuvera. Kuvera was not at all willing to give this. After killing Ravana, Rama took Sita, Lakshmana and all others to Nandigram in that Pushpaka vimana. Once they reached Nandigram, Rama told Pushpaka vimana to go back to Kuvera and serve him. Rama could have kept that with Him. But He did not have any attachment to these things. In this way Rama exhibited complete control of His senses and mind through out His life.

The general philosophy nowadays is "eat, drink and be merry". Because we are living for a few years, that too in Kali Yuga our life time is very limited. So many mishaps are taking place. So anything can happen at any time. We live for a very few years. Till that time why not we enjoy? So eat whatever we want, drink whatever we want and be happy in the way of life whatever we want to live. This is given by an atheistic philosopher named . He said we have to enjoy our life in such an extent we have to eat only with ghee. Ghee is supposed to be an opulent food product. For that, if you want to eat ghee you can even take loan. Somehow take loan and get ghee and eat. Till the time you live happily. Any way one day we are going to die and then this body will be converted into ashes, then how we will come back. Everything is finished. Even if you have taken loan you need not repay it. Even we also, so called "devotees", most of the times think that we are going to live in this world for few years and why don't we enjoy our life doing whatever we like. But we should never think like this because this will lead to many diseases and distress situation.

Why should we at all control our senses and our mind? If we do not control our mind and senses then life is going to be very miserable. Any body who is not controlling the senses, or not following the regulated way of living has undergone miseries. This is our own experience. That is why in our Krishna conscious movement, the first thing Srila Prabhupada gives is the four regulative principles. These are given to control our senses.

1. Meat eating - Human beings are not meant to eat non-vegetarian food. The constitution of the kidney and intestine is such that it is suitable for eating only vegetarian food products. We can see that a non-vegetarian person undergoes more diseases than the vegetarian person. Maharaj says that eating meat is like putting dead body into our mouth. He says that our stomach is not a cemetery. Cemetery is the place where the dead bodies go. If it goes inside our body all the problems come. This is the practical experience.

2. Illicit sex - If the people are not marrying one lady and go for changing partner, they undergo a disease called AIDS. Regulative principles are given for our own benefit.

3. Intoxication - Smoking, drinking everything leads diseases. Nowadays they have decided to put the pictures of the person who are suffering by smoking in the cigarette cover. Before there were only a small caution printed in the cigarette cover that smoking is injurious. The person who is smoking and drinking will get more diseases than the non- smokers and non-drinkers.

4. Gambling - Mental anxiety is there in this gambling. Here we are very anxious about, whether I get it, whether I get it. When the mind is anxious, again all the diseases are ready to show in our body. At least for being merciful to our own self, we have to control our senses.

Bhagavad Gita 6.17 says "He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the system".

We will see the rest of the points to control our mind and senses in the ensuing mail, Krishna willing.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi, Abu Dhabi. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 12

Date: 2010-05-02 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the transcription of the wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mathaji on S.B.5.19.3.

oṁ namo bhagavate uttamaślokāya nama ārya-lakṣaṇa-śīla-vratāya nama upaśikṣitātmana upāsita-lokāya namaḥ sādhu-vāda-nikaṣaṇāya namo brahmaṇya-devāya mahā-puruṣāya mahā-rājāya nama iti

Let me please Your Lordship by chanting the bija-mantra omkara. I wish to offer my respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, who is the best most highly elevated personalities. Your Lordship is the reservoir of all the good qualities of Aryans, people who are advanced. Your character and behavior are always consistent, and You exhibit exemplary character to teach others how to behave. There is a touchstone that can be used to examine the gold, but You are like a touchstone that can verify all good qualities. You are worshipped by brahmanas who are the foremost of all devotees. You, the Supreme Person, are the King of Kings, and therefore I offer my respectfulo obeisances unto You.

In this verse Lord Rama is glorified in 8 ways by the devotees. In the previous mails we have seen the first 3 ways of glorifying Lord Sri Rama. In the third glorification upaśikṣitātmana - unto You whose senses are under control, (Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 11) we saw, why should we control our senses and mind? If we do not control our senses and mind, the following will certainly happen:

1. Life is going to be miserable. 2. Squander away our wealth. 3. Dishonest means of earning money. 4. It keeps us in complete illusion. 5. Steals away all the time which is meant for self-realization. 6. Puts us again in material pool. 7. We cannot attain the mercy of the Lord. 8. Gives us very difficult time in old age. 9. Cannot give any peace or happiness. 10. Purification of existence is not possible.

We saw the first point in the previous mail. We will continue with the other effects of not controlling our senses and mind in the following mails.

2. Squander away our wealth. Uncontrolled senses squander away our hard-earned money and property. From morning to evening we strive to earn money and if our senses are going to dictate in so many ways, then we are going to squander away all our property. We spend so much money on the things which is not at all necessary. That is why Maharaj says, we have created artificial necessities. We think that by having artificial necessities only, we have a very good standard of life. We always look for, I want this, I want that. In the name of devotee, we say it is for Krishna consciousness. Because of the artificial necessities our money is spent in buying that product and after utilizing that, we spend money in hospital also. We buy so many houses and take loans, and then we are worried of repaying the loans. We should maintain minimum things to keep our body and soul together. Regarding this there is a small story.

There were four brahmanas. They went to a sage. They were in poverty so they needed some money. The sage gave them one wick to each person. He told them to carry on with them and wherever the wick falls, dig that place and they will get something and they can use for their life. So the four of them took the wick and traveled together. First brahmana's wick fell in one place. Then he dug that place. There he found copper mine. So many copper vessels, jewels everything was there. He was so happy. He told everybody to come with him, so that we will sell this and share for our living. But the other fellows said that it is only copper, we may get something better than this so we will keep going ahead, and if you want you can remain there. Similar way, the second brahmana got silver mine and third one got gold mine. But the fourth brahmana said, that he will go some more distance where he will get something very precious than this. He was very greedy. In one particular place his wick was about to fall, there he found one man standing, he had a big wheel moving around his head and so much blood was coming. Fourth brahmana went to him and asked why this wheel is moving around his head and why he is suffering like this. The moment he went near that fellow and asked this question, the wheel went on the top of that brahmana's head and started rotating. It was so much painful and he asked that fellow, why it came on the top of him and what is happening. Then that fellow asked that brahmana whether he went to that particular sage, whether he gave them any wick. Brahmana said yes. Then that fellow asked the brahmana whether he was not happy with the things he got before. Brahmana again said yes. Then that fellow said that in the past he was also not satisfied with copper, silver and gold and had come here and saw someone standing there with a wheel rotating around his head. When he asked that man how he got the wheel on his head, the wheel came on his head and that persond said "if some other fellow greedier than you comes here, then you will be released. Till that time you please carry on with this wheel." He told that and ran away from that place.

Similarly we are also so greedy. If we get 100 Rs, we look for 1000 Rs, 1,00,000 Rs. We are not able to fix a target. Our target is going beyond our limitations and continuously expanding our requirements. With uncontrolled senses, we are not satisfied with whatever we have. It completely squanders our wealth.

3.Dishonest means of earning money: Because the senses are uncontrolled it demands so many things. Whatever we are earning honestly doesn't satisfy the uncontrolled senses. To fulfill the demands, we go for dishonest means of earning the money. We feel that some how or the other we should get this house, which means some how or the other we must earn money. So we move away from the honest path and do sinful activities. Sinful activities mean papa account is opened and again birth and death is waiting. Maharaja says in S.B.7.5.30. "Because of their uncontrolled senses, persons too addicted to materialistic life make progress toward hellish conditions and repeatedly chew that which has already been chewed. Their inclinations toward Krishna are never aroused, either by the instructions of others, or by their own efforts, or by a combination of both". We think that we are born to take care of our family members and satisfy them. But it is not at all possible to satisfy our family members and our own self. Bhagavatam says that the family members are thieves in different forms. A thief is coming in the form of son and grabbing the money for education. Another thief in the form of daughter is coming to grab money for marriage. If the senses are uncontrolled we have to enter into the hell called tamisra and again and again we are made to chew the already chewed. After we chew the sugarcane for once, all the juices are gone. If we take the same sugarcane and again we chew it, nothing will be there. But still we do the same thing. We are not frustrated with the material life. This is the quality of the person with uncontrolled senses.

4.It keeps us in complete illusion. Uncontrolled senses don't allow us to go near Krishna . In uncontrolled senses our idea is "I am this body". Whatever the eyes are demanding, we feel like satisfying it. Whatever the ears are demanding, we feel like satisfying it. Because we are not aware that there is a spirit soul behind, which is enlivening all these senses. We are completely forgetting the spirit soul. Krishna's plan is that as soon as the living entity is promoted by gradual evolution to the platform of human life, he has to understand his spiritual position. This cannot be understood unless the senses and mind are in control. By enjoying more and not controlling the senses, we are putting more iron shackles in our body. Uncontrolled senses put us completely in illusion and make us continue in this material prison for years together and millions of janmas together. We will see remaining points regarding the controlling of senses and mind in the ensuing mails, Krishna willing.

Thankyou very much. Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi, Abu Dhabi. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 13

Date: 2010-05-09 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the transcription of the wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mathaji on S.B.5.19.3.

In this verse Lord Rama is glorified in 8 ways by the devotees. In the previous mails we have seen the first 3 ways of glorifying Lord Sri Rama. In the third glorification upaśikṣitātmane - unto You whose senses are under control, (Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 11) we saw, why should we control our senses and mind ? If we do not control our senses and mind, the following will certainly happen:

1. Life is going to be miserable. 2. Squander away our wealth. 3. Dishonest means of earning money. 4. It keeps us in complete illusion. 5. Steals away all the time which is meant for self-realization. 6. Puts us again in material pool. 7. We cannot attain the mercy of the Lord. 8. Gives us very difficult time in old age. 9. Cannot give any peace or happiness. 10. Purification of existence is not possible.

We saw the first 4 points in the previous mails (Part 11 and part 12). We will continue with the other effects of not controlling our senses and mind in the following mails.

5.Steals away all the time which is meant for self-realisation. Krishna has given us so much time, particularly the human form of life, which is meant to realise the self. In this life, if the senses and mind are left uncontrolled, then we waste all our time in satisfying these senses, which means, we will be left with no time for self-realisation. There is no time to do our devotional service.

Maharaj always says that "you should cook your own food". When we cook our food on our own, we will not prepare 10 varieties of food. If somebody is cooking, then we look for more varieties of food. But when we cook, we make minimum food and we feel like somehow finish the work and come out of the kitchen. In this way we save lot of time. We cook minimum, eat minimum and lot of time is saved. Now the time is available to chant and read the scriptures. One Prabhuji told Maharaj that he was not able to stop drinking tea and he is so much addicted to it. Maharaj did not tell him to stop drinking tea. But he told that Prabhuji's wife to stop making the tea and asked the Prabhuji to prepare tea on his own. That Prabhuji gradually realized the point and he reduced drinking tea.

Once we start doing the material activities on our own, then all the material activities will become minimized. When washing machine is available, we just throw the clothes in it. If we don't have washing machine, then we change minimum clothes everyday. Srila Prabhupada always controls his senses, so that he can use the time in transcription. When he was in the death bed he told that he always prayed to Krishna that he should stop these four material demands of the body- eating, sleeping, mating and defending. He told that Krishna has stopped his material demands now. When he took , mating and defending is stopped. Last six months before he left the material world he did not eat. He took very few drops of pomegranate juices. He was not able to sleep also. He told that he successfully stopped eating, sleeping, mating and defending. He was just thinking of Krishna. 6.Uncontrolled senses put us again into the material pool. There is a beautiful verse in Bhagavad Gita in this regard. B.G.2.62 and 2.63 says, "While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises. From anger, complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost one falls down again into the material pool". It all begins with uncontrollable senses which lead to falling down into the material pool.

7.We cannot attain the mercy of the the Lord. Everybody is looking forward to receive the mercy of the Lord. Because we cannot survive even for a second without the mercy of the Lord. With uncontrolled senses, we cannot attain the mercy of the Lord. Maharaj says that there is only one verse in Bhagavad Gita which tells how to get the mercy of the Lord. In B.G. 2.64, Krishna says "But a person free from all attachment and aversion and able to control his senses through regulative principles of freedom can obtain the complete mercy of the Lord". A person should be free from attachment and aversion and must be able to control his senses through the four regulative principles of freedom, and then he attains the complete mercy of the Lord. Freedom from attachment and aversion can only come by our endeavor to control our senses. Once we see any new product, we must think whether it is necessary for us or not and control our senses. Some things may not be pleasing to us but it may be pleasing to Lord, then we have to make it and we should not show aversion in this regard. For example we don't want to get up early in the morning for Mangalarthi, but if we get up early, Krishna will be pleased. So we should not have aversion towards getting up early and attachment towards bed. Here, we have to control our senses. Maharaj says a genuine attempt to control the senses immediately attracts the Lord's mercy.

8. Gives us very difficult time in oldage. Every one of us has to go through this old age. First of all, with the uncontrolled senses and mind, it is very difficult to live for a long time. If at all, we somehow reach the old age by Krishna's mercy, we will face many problems because of our uncontrolled senses. Maharaj says that if anybody is above 60, the society completely rejects them. The old person doesn't contribute anything, so the younger generation rejects them. At that age, if you again got to have uncontrollable senses, the problem is going to be manifold. If a person doesn't have control in eating, then in old age it is very difficult because already he will be having many diseases. If we do not practise to control our senses in younger age, then it is very hard to practise in old age. In old age, the younger generation takes care of us, we may have many diseases and on top of it, if we have uncontrolled senses, then we are giving more trouble to the body as well as to our children. We speak too much in the old age. If we do not practice to control our tongue to speak, again it is very difficult in the old age. Nobody will like us. Whereas, a person who sits with Srimad Bhagavatam and chants nicely and talks only about Krishna in the old age will be liked by all. If we are controlled then the younger generation will be happy to serve us. Maharaj lived his life to show us how to go through the old age. He was undergoing bodily pain, but even that time also, he did his work on his own. He had complete control over his senses and mind and he pushed himself to get out of his bed. In the hospital, Maharaj was provided with comfortable and adjustable bed, but he rejected to sleep in that adjustable bed. He slept in a sofa which was not at all comfortable. No body in fact loves a 90 year old person. We love our Guru Maharaj so much because he had complete control over his senses and mind. Maharaj says if you lead a sinful life in younger age don't expect a comfortable life in the old age.

We will see the remaining points regarding the "effects of uncontrolled mind and senses" in the ensuing mail, Krishna willing.

Thankyou very much. Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi, Abu Dhabi. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 14

Date: 2010-05-17 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the transcription of the wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mathaji on S.B.5.19.3.

In this verse Lord Rama is glorified in 8 ways by the devotees. In the previous mails we have seen the first 3 ways of glorifying Lord Sri Rama. In the third glorification 'upaśikṣitātmane' - unto you whose senses are under control, (Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 11) we saw, why should we control our senses and mind? If we do not control our senses and mind, the following will certainly happen:

1. Life is going to be miserable. 2. Squander away our wealth. 3. Dishonest means of earning money. 4. It keeps us in complete illusion. 5. Steals away all the time which is meant for self-realization. 6. Puts us again in material pool. 7. We cannot attain the mercy of the Lord. 8. Gives us very difficult time in old age. 9. Cannot give any peace or happiness. 10. Purification of existence is not possible.

We saw the first 8 points in the previous mails (Parts 11 - 13). We will continue with the other effects of not controlling our senses and mind in this mail.

9. Uncontrolled senses cannot give any peace or happiness. Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 2.66 "One who is not connected with the Supreme [in Krishna consciousness] can have neither transcendental intelligence nor a steady mind, without which there is no possibility of peace. And how can there be any happiness without peace?" Every one of us wants to be peaceful and happy. In S.B.8.19.24 Dev says to Bali Maharaj "One should be satisfied with whatever he achieves by his previous destiny, for discontent can never bring happiness. A person who is not self-controlled will not be happy even with possessing the three worlds". Satisfied person is happy even with the three foot of land. 10,000 million rupees will also not give satisfaction because basically we are not the matter. Rupees are matter. We are all spirit souls. A matter cannot satisfy a spirit soul. We are like a fish out of water. If we feed the fish out of water with nice rasagullas and give some silk blanket, it won't be happy at all. It will be happy when we put it back in water. Fish wants only water. Similarly spirit wants only spiritual things. Spirit can be happy with Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavatam and Chanting. In S.B.7.15.17 Narada says, "For a person who has suitable shoes on his feet, there is no danger even when he walks on pebbles and thorns. For him, everything is auspicious. Similarly, for one who is always self-satisfied there is no distress; indeed, he feels happiness everywhere". Instead of controlling our senses, we expect that all the malls should be closed; television should not be there, no restaurants etc. To control our senses, we cannot close the whole world. This is not Bhagavatam. If it is raining, we cannot stop the rain, instead, the wise thing is that we can carry an umbrella. We have to give this education to the children. We have to tell them that all these attractive things will not give happiness and only self controlled things will give happiness. The child will not stay with us for a long time. Once they attain 17 years they go out for higher education. They have to face the outside world. If we give them this knowledge in the young age, this will form an impression in their mind, even when they are exposed -- alone without guidance of parents -- to the dangerous attractions of the outside world, nothing will affect them. We have provided them suitable shoe, so they are completely protected from pebbles and thorns.

10. Purification of existence is not possible. Human form of life is the best opportunity to purify our existence. In S.B.5.5.1 "Lord Rsabhadeva told His sons: My dear boys, of all the living entities who have accepted material bodies in this world, one who has been awarded this human form should not work hard day and night simply for sense gratification, which is available even for dogs and hogs that eat stool. One should engage in penance and austerity to attain the divine position of devotional service. By such activity, one's heart is purified, and when one attains this position, he attains eternal, blissful life, which is transcendental to material happiness and which continues forever". Rshabhadeva gave four instructions to His sons. a. You are not the body. b. We are not meant for struggling for our existence. c. We are meant for austerity. d. If we do austerity, our existence will be completely purified.

Once we get purified, we experience the unlimited happiness. This we cannot experience with our uncontrolled senses. Krishna says to Brahmaji in S.B.2.9.24 "I create this cosmos by such penance, I maintain it by the same energy, and I withdraw it all by the same energy. Therefore the potential power is penance only". Krishna values this austerity very nicely. Krishna says in B.G.2.58 "One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws its limbs within the shell, is firmly fixed in perfect consciousness". By the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, tapasya is made very easy in Kaliyuga, simply chant

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

To control our senses, Srila Prabhupada says that we have to remember this in the morning. "I am a spirit soul. Somehow or the other I am in contact with matter. This is my trouble. Now I have to detach from this matter and be situated in my pure spiritual state. Then I can be free from all the miseries. So I shall not do anything for my sense gratification, but I shall do everything for the satisfaction of Krishna." The beauty of Krishna Consciousness is, it allows us to do our material life in parallel along with our spiritual life. If you want to eat nice food, eat Krishna prasadam. If you want to dance in the party, hear nice and dance for the pleasure of Krishna. So eat, dance and be merry in Krishna consciousness.

What is the consequence of having controlled senses and mind? It is nicely given in S.B.6.16.34. Maharaj likes this verse very much. This verse is spoken by Citraketu Maharaj. "Citraketu said: O unconquerable Lord, although You cannot be conquered by anyone, You are certainly conquered by devotees who have control of the mind and senses. They can keep You under their control because You are causelessly merciful to devotees who desire no material profit from You. Indeed, You give Yourself to them, and because of this, You also have full control over Your devotees". In this way Krishna conquers devotees and devotees conquer Krishna.

With this we have seen the first 3 ways of glorifying Lord Sri Rama. I shall try to post the other glorifications of Lord Sri Rama in the subsequent mails, Krishna willing.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi, Abu Dhabi. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 15

Date: 2010-05-25 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the transcription of the wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mathaji on S.B.5.19.3.

oṁ namo bhagavate uttamaślokāya nama ārya-lakṣaṇa-śīla-vratāya nama upaśikṣitātmana upāsita-lokāya namaḥ sādhu-vāda-nikaṣaṇāya namo brahmaṇya-devāya mahā-puruṣāya mahā-rājāya nama iti

Let me please Your Lordship by chanting the bija-mantra Omkara. I wish to offer my respectful obeisances unto the personality of Godhead, who is the best among the most highly elevated personalities. Your Lordship is the reservoir of all the good qualities of Aryans, people who are advanced. Your character and behavior are always consistent, and You exhibit exemplary character to teach others how to behave. There is a touchstone that can be used to examine the gold, but you are like a touchstone that can verify all good qualities. You are worshipped by brahmanas who are the foremost of all devotees. You, the Supreme Person, are the King of Kings, and therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

In this verse Lord Rama is glorified in 8 ways by the devotees. We have seen the first 3 ways of glorification of Rama in the previous mails. Let us continue with the 4th glorification.

4. upāsita-lokāya: Who is always remembered and worshiped by all the different classes of living entities A person with controlled mind and senses will be worshiped by all the different classes of living entities. So upashikshitatmane leads to upaasita lokaaya. There is a beautiful verse in the nectar of instructions by Rupa Goswami. The very first instruction talks about various vega (urge). It says "A sober person who can tolerate and control all these urges like urge to speak, mind demands, the actions of anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals, then he is qualified to make disciples all over the world." That is why a person who controls these six urges is called Goswami. 'Go' means senses and 'Swami' means master. The six goswami's of Vrindavan are the direct disciples of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and they are worshiped all over the world. We will see the incidence from Ramayan where Lord Rama was worshipped by different classes of people. a) - Tribal woman She was waiting in Mathanga muni's ashram for Rama's arrival. She collected all nice sweet fruits to offer to Rama. Her spiritual master Mathanga muni already left the material world. That time she told him that she will also come with him. But Mathanga muni told her to wait for some more days so that she will get the darshan of Lord Rama. So she has to serve Him and worship Him and then she will get liberated. When Lord Rama came there she spoke a very nice verse (Valmiki Ramayan 3.74.11 and 12). She said, "Now my life has become successful because I am able to have your darshan Rama, whatever austerities I have done, everything has become fruitful". In this way a tribal woman is worshiping Lord Rama. b) Guha - Tribal man When Lord Rama came to the banks of the Ganges, Guha received Him nicely and worshiped Him and offered nice prasadam. In Valmiki Ramayan 2.50.38, Guha welcomes Lord Rama, "Welcome to You, Oh, mighty armed! All this land is Yours. We are Your servants. You are the Lord. Rule over our kingdom in an efficient way." Guha wants to give impression to Rama that He has not lost anything. At night time when Rama was taking rest, Guha did not sleep. He was just protecting Rama. He had so much of love for Rama. c) - Monkey woman Rama killed Vali. We know that story very well. Tara is Vali's wife. She loves her husband so much. Once Sugriva comes and challenge Vali for a fight, Tara told, "O Vali, use your intelligence before you have a fight with Sugriva. Sugriva ran away from you before, but now he comes and challenges means there must be a big support behind him. Lord Rama, The King of Ayodhya is giving shelter to Sugriva".

In Valmiki Ramayan 4.15.19 Tara very nicely glorifies Lord Rama, "And He is said to the habitable tree for the polite, the ultimate course for the person in danger, a shelter for the person who is suffering, and for grace and virtue, Rama is the only abode". She says that Rama is the mine of all good qualities. But Vali did not listen to his wife and then he was killed by Rama. After the death of Vali, Tara was lamenting too much. That time Rama came to console her. When Rama went near her He did not even open His mouth, she started glorifing Rama who killed her husband. Valmiki Ramayan 4.24.31 says

tvam aprameyaḥ ca durāsadaḥ ca jitendriyaḥ ca uttama dharmakaḥ ca akṣīṇa kīrtiḥ ca vicakṣaṇaḥ ca kṣiti kṣamavān kṣatajopamā akṣaḥ

You are an indeterminable one, an inaccessible one, one with His self conquered, the supreme among righteous souls, Your glory is unmitigated, and You are the one with clear discrimination, and in endurance earth-like, and Your eyes are blood-streaked like those of an emperor.

In this way, a monkey woman nicely glorifies and respects Rama. d) - Raakshasi woman Mandodari glorifies Rama, that too after her husband Ravana has been killed. Mandodari lamented in front of Ravana's body and she felt that if Ravana would have controlled his senses by not taking away Sita, he would have not lost his life. At that time, she speaks 4 beautiful verses. It is called Mandodari Cathursloki. She recognizes Rama as Lord . She said, "This Rama is certainly a great ascetic and an eternal person having no beginning, middle or end, greater than distinguished universal spirit like , the one beyond ignorance, the nourisher, He reveals a conch, a disc and a maze wearing a srivatsa mark on His chest, He is of lasting beauty, incapable of being conquered, a perpetual one, being the constant soul of the universe, truly mighty, the Lord of all the worlds, prosperous one having a great splendor and Vishnu - the Lord of maintenance with the wish and in order to benefit the world He assumed the human form surrounded by all the Gods in the form of monkeys and this Rama has killed you Ravana surrounded by Demons". In this way she glorifies and worships Lord Rama.

Apart from these above personalities we also know very well how unflinching devotees Vibheeshana (raakshasa man) and Hanumanji (monkey man) glorified Lord Rama.

Maharaj says that if we have to be respected all over the world then 4 things are required.

1. Control our mind and senses. 2. Sincerely glorify Lord Krishna. 3. You must be a learned personality. 4. You must have stock of good behavior.

Perfect example is Srila Prabhupada. He sincerely glorified Krishna and now he is worshiped all over the world and round the clock with ghee lamp. With this, we have seen the first 4 glorifications of Lord Sri Rama. I shall try to post the other glorifications of Lord Sri Rama in the subsequent mails, Krishna willing.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi, Abu Dhabi. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 16

Date: 2010-06-03 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the transcription of the wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mathaji on S.B.5.19.3.

oṁ namo bhagavate uttamaślokāya nama ārya-lakṣaṇa-śīla-vratāya nama upaśikṣitātmana upāsita-lokāya namaḥ sādhu-vāda-nikaṣaṇāya namo brahmaṇya-devāya mahā-puruṣāya mahā-rājāya nama iti

Let me please Your Lordship by chanting the bija-mantra omkara. I wish to offer my respectful obeisances unto the personality of Godhead, who is the best among the most highly elevated personalities. Ypour Lordship is the reservoir of all the good qualities of Aryans, people who are advanced. Your character and behavior are always consistent, and You exhibit exemplary character to teach others how to behave. There is a touchstone that can be used to examine the gold, but You are like a touchstone that can verify all good qualities. You are worshipped by brahmanas who are the foremost of all devotees. You, the Supreme Person, are the King of Kings, and therefore I offer my respectfulo obeisances unto You.

In this verse Lord Rama is glorified in 8 ways by the devotees. We have seen the first 4 ways of glorification of Rama in the previous mails. Let us continue with the next glorification.

5. sādhu-vāda-nikaṣaṇāya - to the Lord, who is like a stone for examining all the good qualities of a saadhu. Touch stone is used to verify the quality of a pure gold. In the same way, Rama is like a touch stone to verify all the good qualities. We have already seen the minimum 16 qualities of Lord Rama. Once King Dasaratha sees himself in the mirror and found one grey hair near his ear, immediately he decided that he has become old, so he has to handover the Kingdom to Rama. That time he thinks about all the good qualities of Lord Rama. There Valmiki again writes one full sarga about the good qualities of Lord Rama. King Dasaratha wanted to know the opinion of his citizens about the coronation of Rama. When he said his opinion, immediately everybody said that let Rama become the King. Intention of Dasaratha is to hear the glorification of his son from everybody. Rama possess unlimited good qualities. We will see very few of them to relish the qualities of Lord Rama.

1. Prashaantaatma - Peaceful in mind 2. Mrdu purvakam bhaashate - Speaks softly 3. Madhurabhashi - Speaks sweetly 4. Purvabhaashi - First one to initiate talk 5. Priyam vadah - Pleasing in speech 6. Uttaram na prapadyate - He did not react to harsh words spoken by others 7. Feels glad even by whatever way a good thing is done to Him 8. He does not remember any number of bad things done to Him 9. When He finds time even while practising archery Rama used to converse with elderly people, elder by conduct, knowledge and age 10. Buddhiman - Wise man 11. He did not speak untruth 12. Receptive and worshipful to the elders 13. Smrtimaan - Had a very good memory power 14. Humble 15. Sahaayavaan - Helping others 16. Amogha krodha harsashca - His anger and pleasure was not wasteful 17. Sthita prajnah - Steady consciousness 18. Na asadgraahah - Not stubborn 19. Na durvachah - Never spoke evil words 20. Always alert.

6. Brahmanya-devaaya - Who is worshipped by the most qualified brahmanas. The topmost of the devotees are called brahmana vaishnavas. Vaishnava means pure devotee of the Lord. Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, the four classes of men are brahmana, ksathriya, and sudra. This classification is based on your qualities and activities and not on birth. There is a beautiful saying,

janmanā jāyate śūdraḥ saṁskārād bhaved divjaḥ veda-pāṭhād bhaved vipro brahma jānātīti brāhmaṇaḥ

By birth everyone is sudra. And when he is reformed, when he is culturally rebirth, taken rebirth, then he is dvija, twice-born. And after being dvija, veda-pathaad bhaved viprah. Veda-pathaad means this knowledge, scriptural knowledge, Vedic wisdom. By studying this Vedic wisdom he becomes a vipra. And after studying, when he knows, 'Oh, I am spiritual. I am not this matter,' and he knows the constitution of himself, constitution of the Supreme Lord, then he is brahmana.

From this we can understand who is a brahmana. Krishna gives the qualities of a brahmana in Bhagavad Gita 18.42, " Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness" - these are the natural qualities by which the brahmanas work". If a person possess all these qualities then he is a brahmana. This human form of life is a very valuable asset which has been given to us so that we can understand how to solve the problems of life. The main problems of life is birth, death, old age and disease. Only in human form we can understand this. Just like in a company chairman is provided with good facilities. The same facility will not be given to the clerk. Because the chairman has more responsibility. But if a chairman performs the work like a clerk then he will become a clerk. Similarly if we do not use this human form for stopping the 4 miseries, then we will be degraded.

Why Krishna has given a high worshipable position to Brahmana? Lord Kapiladeva says in the 3rd Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, Chapter 29 and verses 28-32. It is mentioned in a hierarchy that who is the best person for Him. The topmost person is the pure devotee executing devotional service without expectation of reward. In SB 10.86.53-54 Krishna says "By his very birth, a is the best of all living beings in this world, and he becomes even more exalted when he is endowed with austerity, learning and self-satisfaction, what to speak of devotion to Me. Even My own four-armed form is no dearer to Me than a brahmana. Within himself a learned brahmana comprises all the Vedas, just as within Myself I comprise all the demigods".

We will see some of the incidents where Brahmanas worshiped Rama from Ramayana in the ensuing mail, Krishna willing.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi Abu Dhabi. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 17

Date: 2010-06-10 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the transcription of the wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mathaji on Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.19.3.

oṁ namo bhagavate uttamaślokāya nama ārya-lakṣaṇa-śīla-vratāya nama upaśikṣitātmana upāsita-lokāya namaḥ sādhu-vāda-nikaṣaṇāya namo brahmaṇya-devāya mahā-puruṣāya mahā-rājāya nama iti

Let me please Your Lordship by chanting the bija-mantra Omkara. I wish to offer my respectful obeisances unto the personality of Godhead, who is the best among the most highly elevated personalities. Your Lordship is the reservoir of all the good qualities of Aryans, people who are advanced. Your character and behavior are always consistent, and You exhibit exemplary character to teach others how to behave. There is a touchstone that can be used to examine the gold, but you are like a touchstone that can verify all good qualities. You are worshipped by brahmanas who are the foremost of all devotees. You, the Supreme Person, are the King of Kings, and therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto you.

In this verse Lord Rama is glorified in 8 ways by the devotees. We have seen the first 5 ways of glorification of Rama in the previous mails. In the 6th glorification brahmanya devaya, we saw who is a brahmana. Today we will see first, how Ramaworshipped the brahmana.

Before Rama was leaving to the forest, Rama gave lot of charity to the brahmanas because He considered that brahmanas are His worshippable deities. He invited so many brahmanas and Sita matha gave away all the jewellery which she was wearing. Ramagave 80 cart loads of jewels, 1000 bullocks carrying loads of rice and 200 bullocks for cultivation of land to the brahmanaswho learn vedas. There was brahmana called , who was living in poverty. His wife asked him to go to Rama and asksomething from Him. Trijata went to Rama and asked for charity. Rama replied jestingly "By me, even one thousand cows werenot given away so far. You will get as many cows to such an extent as you will throw this staff." He was so happy and took the staff and with all his strength he threw that staff. It almost crossed the Sarayu river and went to the place where so many flock of cows were there. Rama was pleased and He embraced Trijata and gave him cows as he promised. Rama also asked the brahmana whether he wants something more! In Valmiki Ramayan 2.32.41 Rama says, "I am telling the truth here. There is no limitation for you. Whatever riches belonging to me, are indeed for the brahmanas. If the wealth earned by me is givenabundantly to you, it will bring in joy and fame." To that extent Rama gave the charity to the brahmanas.

In forest, the rshis of Sarabhanga ashrama approached Rama seeking for their protection. That time, Sita matha tried to convince Rama not to fight with the demons. Then Rama said that there may be a possibility for him, to give up even Sita Devi and Lakshmana also, but He can never go back from his Kshatriya dharma of protecting his citizens and particularly he cannot break his promise given to a brahmana. He felt very shameful that He allowed the situation for them to come and request Him. We have already seen this part earlier.

We will see some of the incidents from Ramayan where Brahmanas worshipped Lord Rama. a.Sage - He welcomed Rama nicely. He asked Rama to stay there. But Rama said that He cannot stay there. So he chants number of verses for the safe journey of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. b.Sage Sarabhanga - When Rama was reaching Sarabhanga ashrama, King Indra was there. He came to take Sarabhanga toBrahmaloka. But Sarabhanga saw Rama coming to his ashram, so he told to Indra that he will come later because before leavingthis world, he wanted to see Rama. So Indra went. Sage Sarabhanga received Rama very nicely and welcomed Him. He offered nicefruits. He told that Indra came to take him to Brahmaloka. But he felt what is the use of going to Brahmaloka without havingthe darshan of Rama. c.Sage Sutikshana - He was also about to leave to Brahmaloka planet. That time, Indra came and told Rama's arrival. So he was waiting to take darshan of Lord Rama. When Rama came, he welcomed very nicely and said Rama to take all the three worlds which he got from Indra for his austerity. But Rama asked Sage Sutikshana to show them a place to live in the forest. d. Sage - Rama went to Sage Agastya's ashram. That time Agastya was performing some yajna inside. Rama asked some of the disciples who are standing outside to inform about their arrival to the sage. Then the disciple went and said this to the sage. Sage immediately told the disciples why to wait for his permission. He himself went and received them. He was so worried to see sweat on the forehead of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. Agastya presented Rama with the bow of Vishnu that had been constructed by , along with two inexhaustible quivers from Lord Indra, an infallible arrow, and a gold inlaid sword from Lord Brahma.

In this way all the sages and brahmanas in the forest were nicely worshipping Lord Rama.

I shall try to post the remaining 7th and 8th way of glorification of Lord Sri Rama in the subsequent mails, Krishna willing.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi Abu Dhabi. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 18

Date: 2010-06-11 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the transcription of the wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mathaji on Srimad Bhagavatam verse 5.19.3.

oṁ namo bhagavate uttamaślokāya nama ārya-lakṣaṇa-śīla-vratāya nama upaśikṣitātmana upāsita-lokāya namaḥ sādhu-vāda-nikaṣaṇāya namo brahmaṇya-devāya mahā-puruṣāya mahā-rājāya nama iti

Let me please Your Lordship by chanting the bija-mantra Omkara. I wish to offer my respectful obeisances unto the personality of Godhead, who is the best among the most highly elevated personalities. Your Lordship is the reservoir of all the good qualities of Aryans, people who are advanced. Your character and behavior are always consistent, and You exhibit exemplary character to teach others how to behave. There is a touchstone that can be used to examine the gold, but you are like a touchstone that can verify all good qualities. You are worshipped by brahmanas who are the foremost of all devotees. You, the Supreme Person, are the King of Kings, and therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto you.

In this verse Lord Rama is glorified in 8 ways by the devotees. We have seen the first 6 ways of glorification of Rama in the previous mails. In this mail, we will see the 7th glorification

7.Mahaa-purushaaya - unto the Supreme Lord, who is worshiped by the purusha-sukta because of being the cause of this material creation. Krishna is referred as purusha meaning enjoyer and all the living entities are referred as prakriti. We are all here only for the enjoyment of the Supreme Person. Lord Krishna gives us the peace formula in verse 5.29 of Bhagavad Gita. He says "A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries".

We have to understand these three things and only then, we will get peace. There is one sentence which Maharaj always makes us to remember from the purport of Srimad Bhagavatam verse 1.5.12. "The bona fide enjoyer of the fruitive work is the Personality of Godhead, and thus when it is engaged for the sense gratification of the living beings, it becomes an acute source of trouble". We have to understand that Krishna is the ultimate enjoyer and Supreme owner; we are here, only for His enjoyment. Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita verse 9.27 "Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform, do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me". And in the next verse, He beautifully says "In this way you will be freed from bondage to work and its auspicious and inauspicious results. With your mind fixed on Me in this principle of renunciation, you will be liberated and come to Me". At the end we have to go back to Him. This is what we want. So we should understand that He is the Maha- purushaaya.

Lord Rama took the form of an ordinary human being. Everywhere He used to introduce Himself as the son of King Dasaratha. Nowhere had He said that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He played his character very nicely as a human being. But there are some instances where He revealed that He is a maha-purusha. Maha-purushaa's activities are adbhuta karmana. But we human beings cannot do any super human things. But Rama in this human form, has performed mahaa-purushaa activities. a. Jatayu - When Ravana carried Sita matha, Jatayu fought with Ravana. Ravana cut the wings of Jatayu. Jatayu was about to die. That time Rama and Lakshmana came there looking for Sita. Rama put Jatayu in His lap. Then Jatayu said that a 10 headed demon took Sita towards south and he cut his wings. After conveying this he died. Rama felt so much for Jatayu because for His sake he fought with Ravana. So Rama decided to perform the ritualistic ceremony to Jatayu. Rama speaks in Valmiki Ramayan 3.68.29 and 30 "O King of vultures, the destinations which is attained by the persons who perform yajnas for a long time and the destinations which is attained by a person who worship for a long time, a destination attained by a person who donates his land nicely, that destination you attain by my concern. You go to the planet which is unparallelled". An ordinary human cannot make a soul to go to Vaikunta. In this way He revealed that He is a Maha-purusha. b. Rama prayed to Varuna deva for crossing the ocean. But Varuna deva did not appear even after 3 days of Rama's austerity. At that time Rama became very angry. He told Lakshmana to bring up his bow and arrow to dry up this whole ocean, so that all the monkey armies can just walk on that. Srimad Bhagavatam says that Rama's eyes became so red and because of the heat from his eyes, the ocean started boiling. The ocean over flowed its limit by eighty miles, filling all beings with terror. Then also Varuna did not come. Then Rama asked Lakshmana to bring His Brahmastra. At that time Varuna came with folded hands full of fears. He asked Rama to forgive him. He said everything is having a dharma, like sugar has the dharma of sweetness, the fire has the dharma of burning, the ocean has the dharma, and it is unfathomable and impossible to cross. So Varuna was not able to get rid of his dharma. But Varuna gave an idea of constructing bridge with Nala monkey. This type of anger cannot be exhibited by an ordinary human being. There He revealed that He is a Maha-purusha. c. Moksha to Ayodhya Residents: After ruling the Ayodhya nicely, at the end He said that He will take all the living entities of Ayodhya to Vaikunta planet. He gave liberation to all the living entities. An ordinary human being cannot give liberation. Again here, Rama revealed that He is a Maha-purusha.

We will see the eighth glorification of Rama in the ensuing mail, Krishna willing.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi Abu Dhabi. Glorification of Lord Sri Rama - Part 19

Date: 2010-06-22 Author: Anuradha devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is the concluding part of the previous mails under the same heading "Glorification of Lord Sri Rama" transcription of the wonderful class given by HG Vaijayantimala Mataji on S.B.5.19.3

In this verse Lord Rama is glorified in 8 ways by the devotees. We have seen the first 7 ways of glorification of Lord Rama in the previous mails. Today we will see the 8th glorification of Lord Rama.

8. Mahā-rājāya - unto the Supreme king, or the King of all kings

Whenever we speak about the kingdom, the very word comes to our mind is Ramarajya. How nicely Lord Rama ruled the kingdom is given in 9th Canto, 10th Chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam. We have compiled it into 10 points.

1.Lord Rama was completely out of greed - Lord Rama took up the kingdom pleased by the full surrender and submission of Bharata. When He came back from the forest after his 14 years of vanavasa, He did not order Bharata to give back the kingdom. He did not take the kingdom out of His own greed. As a matter of duty and for the pleasure of citizens, He ruled the kingdom.

2.Lord Rama took good care of the citizens - Bhagavatam says that the relationship between Lord Rama and the citizens were just like the relationship between a father and a son. He cared for the citizens exactly like a father takes care of the children. When the sons in the family are well trained, then they are obedient to the father. If the father is well qualified, he takes good care of the children. So well qualified father and well trained children, both are required for a good family life. In this way Lord took good care of His citizens.

3.Lord Rama exhibited varnashrama dharma - He divided the society into 4 varnas namely brahmana, kshatriya, Vaishya and sudra and 4 ashramas namely brahmacari, grahastha, and sannyasa. Srila Prabhupada says " the first principle of good government is that, it must institute the varnashrama system and enable the people to become God Conscious". Everybody will do their own duty. Others will serve the brahmanas. Brahmanas will be God conscious, so they will give the God consciousness to other followers. Simply by enforcing the laws and ordinances we cannot make the citizens obedient and lawful. The good government should have the division of society into varnashrama dharma.

4.His rule was like satya yuga - Even though He was living in treta yuga, during his rule, it was like satya yuga because of good government. Satya yuga means all the four pillars of the religion namely austerity, mercy, truthfulness and cleanliness were nicely existing in this age. When Rama was ruling, all these four pillars were there. Now in this kali yuga all the three pillars like austerity, mercy and cleanliness are gone and truthfulness alone is hanging a little bit here and there.

5.Everybody was religious and completely happy - Lord Rama ensured that everybody is following the religion perfectly. Once a child of the rshi in his kingdom died. In Rama Rajya, a child must not die before the parents die. So the rshi thought that something is wrong with the governance of the king. He went to the palace and complained about his son's death. He felt so much for that. He went out to find out whether something is going against the religious principles. He saw a man hanging upside down in a tree and doing . He is doing the tapas to go to the heaven with the same body. It is completely irreligious. The first thing is he is a shudra and he should not ignore his varnashrama dharma and resort to doing tapas and the second thing is he can never go to the heaven with this same body. So Lord Rama became very annoyed and just took the sword and cut off the head of that offending sudra. Once He did so, that child came back to life. This is the way He was maintaining the religious system.

6.There was no scarcity and no deforestation - Forests, rivers, hills, mountains and all the natural things were very favorable in supplying all the necessities of life for all the living beings. Forests were full of trees, rivers were full of water, and oceans were full of gems.

7.The Nine miseries were not there - In S.B.9.10.53 (which is one of the favorite verses of our Maharaj HDG Mahavishnu Goswami), it is mentioned that 9 miseries were not there Lord when Rama was ruling the kingdom.

1.nādhi- it refers to three fold miseries (adhyaatmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika). Lord Rama ruled with so much of honesty. Nature supplied all the things according to the season. The Mother Nature was completely pleased. So there were no three fold miseries. 2. Disease 3. Old age - When everything is supplied nicely, then the consequence is that, there will be no disease and old age because they got all natural and nutritious food. But now we are taking all artificial preservative foods, frozen and fast food and the result is vyaadi and jaraa. We converted all the agricultural lands into industries. Srila Prabhupada says " future generations have to eat nuts and bolts only". 4.Bereavement 5.Sadness 6.Lamentation- Because everything was supplied and no old age and disease, naturally there was no bereavement, sadness and lamentation. 7.Fear - Because there was no lamentation, fear was not there. 8.Fatigue - Because everything was natural, there was no tiredness. 9.Death - When they did not want to die, the death will not be there. People were leaving their body according to their own will. The people were so pure because of the association with Lord Rama.

8. He taught the general public by His own action - He followed eka patni vrata. His character was extremely good. By His own character and conduct He was an ideal example for the citizens. The citizens will follow whatever the leader does. That is why the leader should possess exemplary character.

9. He gave personal audience to all the citizens and residents of the palace - He was personally available. He went around and personally spoke to the citizens.

10. Lord Rama maintained the city in great opulence - The streets were sprinkled with perfumed water thrown about by the elephants from their trunks. Every where golden things were there. Palace was filled with golden dooms. There were no thieves to take away.

Our prayers unto the lotus feet of Srila Gurudev, Srila Prabhupada and Maryadha Purusha Lord Ram, that may we continue to meditate on His glorious qualities always and thus purify our existence and lead a life in a manner pleasing to Them.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Anuradha devi dasi, Abu Dhabi.

Moderator's Note : Lord Rama is very dear to Srila Gurudev and indeed he would be relising these nectarean offerings in the spiritual world. By meditating on the qualities of Lord Ram, Ravana's heart was also changed. So simply by going through His glories again and again we can cleanse our heart of all anarthas. Our heart-felt thanks to HG Vaijayanthi mathaji and HG Anuradha mathaji for sharing with us the nectarean glories of Lord Sri Rama.