Aashishs Blog

In his lecture this morning Prabhupada vividly described how the covering power of maya (Illusion) influences a person's sense of enjoyment. He explained that in Burma they have a drink called naphi. People keep special pots into which they place dead bodies of animals, which are then left to decompose. Later, after some years, the fluids are drained and bottled to be drunk at festivals.

When Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's men opened a center in Rangoon, they cooked puris in ghee. The neighboring people actually complained about the "horrible smell."

Source: A Transcendental Diary, Volume 1 - November 1975 - April 1976, TD 1-9: Sri Dhama Mayapur, February 29th, 1976

Today, I was at Soho Temple - it was Govardhana Puja today. The temple was very nicely decorated, and the deities were stunning in their beautiful outfits. As usual, the feast was really nice.....but it ended up too much! I had to stuff all the sweets in my cup and attempt to get up! His Grace Devadeva Prabhu sang the kirtans and I was literally swept away with his melody that I had never heard before. He is literally crying out for their Lordships in so much pain and separation.

For a fraction of a moment the holy names seemed to come alive and touch me a little bit with its transcendental attractiveness - it is beyond words! I just realised that nothing in the material world can ever compare to the Holy Names, and the Holy Names is like a never-ending ocean of bliss. You then start to wonder why souls deviate from Devotional Service, if it is so pleasurable. My mind is saying that it is all down to the origin of the soul, but that's another controversy that is not worth getting into! Silly Mind!

Below is a lovely video clip from my mobile phone. Please watch:

I am going through my Vedabase Bookmarks and adding them to my Google Notebook with its new Labels functionality. Its a million times more organised this way, I feel. Am a bit paraoid about storing all my KC Notes online though... anyways I thought that I would share with you guys some nectar that I found!!! More will follow later.

In the early morning Prabhupada took up the topic of cheating gurus again. He told us about some of the nefarious activities of a few so-called gurus. One well know Svami had been found in bed with his secretary. So his disciples sued him.

He also told us about a Sikh guru in America who enjoys his disciples' wives. And they consider this a "blessing."

In Bombay there is a deviant line of Vaishnavas who follow a similar procedure. When a couple gets married the girl spends her wedding night with the guru, so that she becomes "guru prasadam"!

Source: A Transcendental Diary, Volume 1 - November 1975 - April 1976, TD 1-9: Sri Dhama Mayapur, February 4th, 1976

Sorted out the Radhastami Videos I posted some time ago - for some reason, the videos were not showing. Just scroll down to see them.

It is stated numerous times throughout the Vedic Literatures that very sinful people would attain the form of Ghosts which, it is stated, is a very miserable existence because the ghosts have no gross body to enjoy (which is why they enter other peoples bodies). You can attain this form through suicide or excessive attachment or if you are very, very sinful.

My God, I found this amazing video of a GhOsT on the internet! Please put your volume up a bit higher than normal, as you will also hear a few quiet and spooky things and make sure that you watch very closely as you will see a mysterious ghostly figure - the video is very short anyways. Oh, and please leave some comments of what you think! Please don't be a wimp and avoid the full screen mode!

This video has been thoroughly analysed by experts but they have so far offered no explanation as to what it is.

This is another wonderful Kirtan of Jaya Radha Madhava that His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swmai sings. I am always stunned with his beautiful voice and devotion.






Right Click Here & Select Save As to Download

This is another wonderful Kirtan by His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami Maharaja that I would like to share with you. Its short but sweet!





Right Click Here & Select Save As to Download it

Here is one of my favourite Music Kirtans that His Holiness Srila Sivarama Swami sings with such Love. I just rediscovered it on my External Hard Drive. I believe that it was taken in a Pandava Sena Jammin Event some time ago. I would like to share it with all of you!

You will fall for it.....



Right Click Here & Select Save As to Download it

Today, His Holiness Devamrita Swami gave a wonderful class at the Soho Temple. It was based on the Bhagavad Gita and so the class was on the nature of the material existence and how it is full of anxieties and how we will never be able to be happy here, let alone be satiated. He brings in the Spiritual side of life, where Devotion to God, Krishna, will, not only relieve you of your miseries, but will grant you the nectar for which we are always anxious.

Devamrita Swami's lecture are very facinating as he gives out a unique blend of his own experiences on his path of Krishna Consciousness along with deep understanding of the Vedic Philosophy with lots of humour! I have another one of his lectures on my blog, that also is an amazing video. Perhaps I should tag those posts as HH Devamrita Swami? I also took a video of this whole lecture on my Mobile Phone, watch it below:

On this day, I went out for Books Distribution with the ISKCON Pandava Sena!!! This is a day where we try and distribute Spiritual books of Srila Prabhupada to everyone in the hopes that we can stop the downward decline of Human Society into Hell. Sounds like a task also for the Pandava Sena!!!

I am happy to report that I have distributed 1 Perfection of Yoga book! So, thats the 2nd book that I have sold in my lifetime! What? Well, I am getting there! Plus, don't underestimate the Power of a Perfection of Yoga Book...oh and the lovely Kirtan that happened on Carnaby Street was because of the matajis; they brought with them a harmonium, a mrdanga and kartals - and it was so nice! The power of the Holy name surely had an effect on the passers-by - quite a few were just standing there looking absorbed in the Holy Names! Thats how I sold the Book - I took advantage of the Brain-Washing that was occuring and offered a young woman a Yoga book. Heheheheheheh......

Towards the end of my stay, I was feeling blissful and very serene - such spiritual potency there is in Sankirtan! I regretted that I had to go, but there you go...

Below is a short video of the nice and mellow kirtan that happened on Carnaby Street:

On the 19th was Radhastami - the Appearance of Srimati Radharani. On this day, I spent a lot of the time in the Temple Room listening to the most wonderful music I have ever heard! Just to sit there and trying to listen attentively and sing along was a very mellow experience. Everyone was singing with so much Love that I could feel like I was starting to be carried away with those Waves of Love.

Sri Radha had a most beautiful form on this day and she was smiling sweetly from her Altar, as was Krishna (London-ishvara is the name of the deity in the Temple). This conception was slowly starting to creep into my consciousness. The Deities are Real! Because we are covered with Maya (Illusion), we cannot see the Lord, but he mercifully manifests in his Deity form for all to see.

"I have bought medicine to awaken every living being from perpetual sleep. Please receive the Holy Name of the Lord, the Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra and Awaken"

God may have to take time out from looking after the Universe - to appear before a US Judge.

The Almighty is being sued by a politician in Nebraska for causing 'widespread death and destruction'.

State senator Ernie Chambers claims God has terrorised both him and his constituents. He is seeking a permanent injunction against the Lord for causing 'fearsome floods, horrendous hurricanes and terrifying tornadoes'.

Mr Chambers' injunction adds that God should be blamed for causing 'calamitous catastrophes resulting in the widespread death, destruction and terrorisation of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants including innocent babies, infants, children, the aged and infirm without mercy or distinction'.

The 70-year-old politician, from Omaha, said he tried to Contact God numerous times without success.

Mr Chambers claimed the move had a serious point - to point out how many frivolous lawsuits were clogging up the US legal system.

He said he was moved in particular to act by an earlier suit filed by a woman against a judge who recently barred words such as 'rape' and 'victim' from a sexual assault trial.

Source: The Metro on 20/09/2007

Well, what on earth do you guys think! I am speechless!! As if God is going to come down to a US Court! Even if he does, it will probably be his Chakra coming down to get him.....nah, he doesn't even deserve that!!!

I just saw this article in The Times today. Basically, the Government is saying that the Ramayana is a myth and Lord Rama never existed. I can't believe what I am hearing! I thought that the Archaeological Survey of India was a respectable organisation, but denying the Ramayana ever existed and that the Personality Lord Rama is a myth is like taking the heart out of India. It looks like the godless, atheistic class of people are now the leaders of society...Read the full story by clicking on the Source Link below:

Source

I was upstairs in the Soho Street Temple in the Brahmacari Ashram, and this is what I saw in the bathroom:

"The scriptures describe the benefits of taking a cold bath early in the morning. Such a bath can purify even a sinner, for it has the power to wash away all external and internal contamination's. Whereas a warm water bath cleanses physically, cold water revitalizes the subtle body, removing the influence of sleep and dreams as well as of evil-minded persons. The cold bath also gives strength, sensitivity, longevity, effulgence, and purity. Taking an early-morning cold bath increases one's knowledge and determination and affords peace of mind. It removes unhappiness, lamentation, degradation, and bad thoughts. In short, it counteracts all the ill effects of sin. At night the nine holes of the body become filled with waste products, which are continuously produced. The early-morning bath most effectively removes all of this dirt so that the body can begin its daily activities in a fresh state. In this way the early- morning bath has positive physical, mental, and spiritual effects, and is therefore highly glorified in the scriptures".

I went to the Notting Hill Carnival on the 26th August on a Sunday. I had known the dangers of going there as one Brahmacari, who was also going there to sing & dance (for Krishna), had told me of sighting "topless dancers" at the previous year! I had started to wonder whether it was even worth going or not as you could easily fall down and go looking at other things *cough* S****ep **e**ha [Fill in the stars! Had to change it due to a - urm - complaint! LOL] *cough*!

You know, I did get a glance of some of the dancers (these were wearing some clothes) and they all looked bored and no life in them. Not a single trace of ecstacy. Just watch the video below of our Devotees dancing and singing away to see where the real ecstacy was!

Regardless of what I had thought and heard, I started to see several advanced devotees participating in this adventure. Basically, all the devotees were going there to distribute books, give out some lovely Transcendental sweets and sing the Holy Names to purify the people and it worked wonders! Lots of people were surrounding us as we sang away the Holy Names and everyone who took our sweets loved them. Book distribution went well, though I have some way to go to...

2007.08.26-Notting Hill Carnival

"China has banned Buddhist monks in Tibet from reincarnating without government permission. This article is both hilarious and sad, looking at the lengths to which a government will go to regulate thought through censorship. It also goes into some of the more subtle politics of the current 72-year-old Dalai Lama as he thinks about his political and spiritual successor. The Dalai Lama 'refuses to be reborn in Tibet so long as it's under Chinese control.'"

Source

On the 10th August 2007, His Holiness BB Govinda Swami came to Soho Street Temple to give some wonderful bhajans and a review and update on the Kazakstan situation plus a fundraising at the end.

This is the first time I have seen this Maharaja, and I really loved his Kirtans, I had made several videos so do watch them below! On the Kazakstan situation, it appears to be going nowhere, but Maharaja did say that for the United Kingdom Devotees, it took 15 years (?) of campaining to prevent Bhaktivedanta Manor from closing down. What a long, tough road the Kazakstan devotees may have to traverse...please pray for them!

Part 1: Guru Puja

After a long while, I finally uploaded the video of His Holiness Bhakti Chaitanya Swami doing an amazing Harinama through the streets of London. You just have to watch it! The video is about 30 minutes long.

INMATES at a jail in southern India are eating so well many are reluctant to leave and other convicted criminals are trying to move in.

The Parappana Agrahara prison in Bangalore is crowded with 4700 inmates, more than twice its capacity, because petty criminals are refusing to apply for bail, the Bangalore Mirror says.

Juvenile offenders are also overstating their age to qualify as adults and get in.

The reason is the healthy food served by Hare Krishnas, who began serving pure vegetarian fare on May 21, under contract from the prisons department.

Lunch and dinner typically include piping hot rice, two vegetables and a spicy lentil dish called sambar and buttermilk. A dessert is added on festival days and national holidays like Independence Day, and also once a week.

"When we are getting tasty, nutritious food three times a day here, why should we go out and commit crimes?" said prisoner Raja Reddy, who has been arrested 20 times in 30 years for theft, robbery and burglary.

"Our going out of the prison will only benefit pawnbrokers who purchase stolen items at a throwaway price from us, advocates who fleece us to fight our case and the police who collect bribes." - AFP

I was just reading A Transcendental Diary by His Grace Sruti Kriti Prabhu, and I came across a wonderful description of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada:


He walked at an easy gait, accompanied by a small handful of devotees. He spoke only intermittently, strolling along with a quiet serenity. Srila Prabhupadda has a wonderfully aristocratic bearing - erect stature, upwardly tilted head, cane firmly wielded, his hand clasping the silver handle with the forefinger extended, sharp eyes, penetrating and clear - yet at the same time he is completely approachable and never aloof from his surroundings and his followers. He has weight. He is a presence one cannot ignore. Even when he is silent you know he has a lot to say. And when he does speak he reveals a wealth of information. As he told us in Bombay, a devotee is expert, which means that "he knows everything about something, and something about everything." Srila Prabhupadda is certainly the most expert.

Yesterday (Wednesday), I went on Food For Life (as I do every week), and just when we came back from our Food Distribution, two curious young people (with a pint in their hands) begin to ask Asish Soni Perfect Questions, which in reply they certainly did get Perfect Answers! Asish is an amazing Devotee, but you have to be with him to realize his Depth of Devotion. Watch this amazing video clip below of this amazing Preaching:

I was in the Soho Street Temple the other day, and I came across these amazing facts:

Books Distributed Globally So Far
427,526 in April, 2007 alone
1,044,779 so far in 2007
450,000,000 since ISKCON was founded

I was at Soho Street Temple today and His Holiness Devamrita Swami gave a really nice Bhagavad Gita Class. Unfortunately, I didnt bring my camera and my tripod, so i recorded the class on my Sony-Ericsson Phone, but you can hear the whole class clearly. See it below, it is about an hour long:

The menu links have now been fixed! Clicking on the Photos link, for example, will show you all posts with Photos on them.

These are the videos from the Vyasa-Puja Ceremony of His Holiness Sivarama Swami in Hungary, NVD Temple. It is split into three videos. Basically, the first video, a massive procession of devotees do harinama to Maharajas house, then part 2 is on the procession back to the Temple with Maharaj and the final video is the actual ceremony itself in the temple room.

Part 1: Harinama to His Holiness Sivarama Swami's House

The kirtans that went on in Hungary were truly amazing! For those of you who did not go or have not been to Hungary, maybe you can relish a few drops of the nectar by these three videos that I had made below:

His Grace Madhava Prabhu Bhajan

My first major video was this piece. It is the Abhishek Ceremony of Lord Nrsimhadev. Unfortunately, the angle from which the video was taken means the vision of the ceremony is slightly obscured. however, His Grace Madhava Prabhu's kirtan is beautiful and trance-like as always!

During my stay at the New Vraja Dham, the whole of the temple building is ornamented with beautiful paintings, and a lot of them are created in 3D. You will see what I mean when you browse through the album below. You can clearly see that a lot of love and devotion went into these paintings and making the whole Temple what it is today. You just have to be there to really experience the spiritual atmosphere. Please browse below!

Art of Hungary NVD Temple

All the photos have now been uploaded! These photos are from the Hungary Retreat that I went on the 3rd May 2007 especially for His Holiness Sivarama Swami's Vyasa-Puja (Nrsimhadev Festival was also held during my stay). Please feel free to browse!

2007.05.03-08-Hungary at NVD

Well, I went to Hungary for His Holiness Shivarama Swami's Vyasa-puja and the Nrsimhadeva Festival, and I did manage take several amazing videos and plenty of photos! At this moment, I have uploaded 1 video, but will only post these amazing videos when they all have been uploaded. So, please check back soon!!! They are all amazing VCD Quality videos.

His Holiness Lokanatha Swami leads a wonderful harinama through the streets of London!!!!! You just had to be there, I very rarely see such a huge harinama procession. Video is over 1 hour.

Well, I could have taken the video via my camera instead of my Sony-Ericsson phone (its VCD Quality) but that would take a long time to upload. Any opinions out there???

OK, tomorrow I am off to Hungary for 5 days! Its mainly for His Holiness Shivarama Swami's Vyasa Puja Ceremony. Hopefully I will be able to get some video clips and photos, although I have heard that Maharaja does not like people taking photos of him during kirtan! Oh well, lets see what happens.....

The knot of the heart shall be cut apart,
all doubts shall be torn away,
and even his Karma, his deeds,
and the inevitable consequences of his deeds,
shall disappear when he has beheld his Atman and God

Source: Journey to Unknown India (quoted from the Bhagavata), Walter Eidlitz, Page 118

Once upon a time Narada visited Krishna. The latter stood outside His palace and invited his guest to dine with him, whereupon Narada thanked him and went to bathe in a nearby river, telling Krishna he would be back in 5 minutes.

The rishi dived into the river, but to his surprise he was immediately changed into a woman. Amazed, he touched his long hair, his breasts and his body. He still remembered that he was Narada, the great wise man, but the longer he remained in the water, the fainter this memory grew. He became Naradi, the young woman. When a young man walked along the bank of the river, she took his hand and he led her to his home, where she bore him innumerable children. Gradually, her beauty vanished. The children cried and clamored. All the troubles of life enveloped her. She became ill and old, and in this condition she cried to God. At that moment she became Narada again, and the Lord stood at the entrance of his palace. "Narada, the 5 minutes have passed. Our meal is ready!"

Narada had dived into the waters of Maya, of which Krishna is master.

Source: Journey to Unknown India, Walther Eidlitz, Page 58

According to the author, this tale is very popular in India, and a moving picture has even been made of the story, and it has run a long time at a great many cinemas throughout the country. In any case, it adequately displays the Power of Maya.

I am currently reading an amazing true account of a Spiritual Journey to India of a man known as Walther Eidlitz, Austrian-born, who abandons his wife and kids in search for the Absolute Truth. He meets a few gurus along his journey, but when World War 2 breaks out, because he is Austrian born, he becomes imprisoned in a British "alien enemies" camp. While there, he meets a disiple of His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, named Sadananda.....

This is one of the most sweetest and mellow kirtans that I have heard! And I know a lot of other people that think so too. I uploaded this tune a while back on PStimulate but if you haven't heard it, then "Half your life is wasted"!!! Hear it below:

Right click here to download this track

While Surfing the net, I stumbled on these amazing videos of Boy George singing the Mahamantra! I just have to share it, the first video (thats My Sweet Lord) is my fav! Wait till I find the full mp3 recording, I'll post it. The second video is also nice.

See below (you may have to increase the volume to hear it as it is a bit quiet):

My Sweet Lord

Hare Krishna

I was at Bhaktivedanta Manor today! Haven't been in what seems like ages. Ravi is very nice to take me! To make it even more nicer, it was a beautiful day today, and so I spent most of the day just chanting away and chilling out. I took a small video of His Grace Gauri Prabhu singing Jaya Radha Madhava and a few pictures of the Manor. They have now installed this new Buddha water fountain outside, looks nice. Below is the video and below that are some pictures:

I was out cycling yesterday! It was a beautiful day, so I had decided to chant some rounds at Wanstead Park and have some fresh air at the same time.







I came across a map and, curiously enough, there was a place inside the park called "The Temple"! I was quite surprised because only Hindu Temples or any of its branch religions are designated as a Temple and there was one right in the middle of Wanstead Park! Bliemy!! I was thinking maybe it was some lost Vishnu Temple or something crazy like that. Already feeling like I was on some transcendental adventure, I cycled right there. Here are the pictures, just click on any of them in this post to expand:



Well, as it turned out, after some research, the so-called Temple was a 19th century building for entertainment purposes. What remains now is just some ruins. Nevermind, maybe next time!

One thing did strike me, however. Its the Power of Time which slowly destroys everything. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita Verse 11.32:

Time I am, the Great Destroyer of the Worlds. And I have come here to Destroy all people. [...]

We can clearly see how the past is in ruins, and that history is all about dead people. But people in this day and age don't see that they are soon going to also be destroyed also by Time in the form of death and diseases. For them, life just continues on its blind course to destruction, not knowing the actual meaning of life itself or its ultimate goals. This is very unfortunate because you cannot guarantee that you will get a Human form of life in the next life. The next life could be a very hellish condition for the soul...

The problem was that the MP3s on this Blog always were being cut short towards the ending, thats sorted out now. It seems there is no such thing as Free Hosting for your MP3 files! Tch.

I want to share with you another favourite kirtan of mine, which I used to hear all the time when I started in Krishna Consciousness. There is just something about this Kirtan that I like so much! Hear it below:

Right Click Here & Select Save As to Download

Prabhupada would sometimes say "Good morning". We always say Hare Krsna, and we should say Hare Krsna, but Prabhupada would sometimes say "Good morning". And that would induce them to say "Good morning" back, and in that way they were offering a benediction to a Vaisnava. It's actually "May you have a good morning," So Prabhupada said "You know what this 'Good morning' means in the material world? It means nothing horrible has happened yet." (laughter) That's their happiness, "Good morning".

I heard this podcast from HH Shivarama Swami a few days ago. It was taken on 21st September 2006 (yes, I am 7 Months behind!!!) and basically Maharaja is singing with the Piano! Sounds sweet... Hear it below, just press Play:

As dalliance with the body in luxury increases, so wanes the spirit of service of the Lord.

- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

Today, I was going through my videos when I stumbled upon these two small Kirtan videos of His Holiness Shivarama Swami singing ecstatically. It was some time ago that I shot these clips, I didn't share it cos I thought they were bad quality. They are a bit better then the Mobile clips I have posted, so please check them out below!

The first clip is a nice mellow tune and the second clip is very ecstatic.

I was at Govinda's today, having a late lunch :-)

Since it was tuesday, His Grace Jayadeva Prabhu was there doing, as usual, an ecstatic bhajan. Got a little video clip of it below from my mobile, so do check it out below:

Check out some of the photos from the Harinama which I have been going on about! Click on the photo below to access the Album:

2007.03.31-HH Kadamba Kanana Swami Harinama

Maharaja leads an ecstatic harinama through the streets of London! I'm telling you, I saw so many people other than devotees dancing also! Check out the video below:

Well? Where were you guys when Maharaja gave this class!!? It was so nice to be seeing Maharaja again ever since I saw him when I went to the Pandava Sena France Trip. The lectures I heard from Maharaja while I was in France were stunning, and this is no less! Maharaja talks about the nature of God and some pastimes of Krishna. Check out the video below: