Thursday 24 June 2021

Bahulas'va and S'rutadeva



Continuing their tour, they came to the kingdom of Mithila, ruled by the descendant of King Janaka, Dhrti. Dhriti was the father of King Bahulashva and a great devotee of Lord Krishna. Uddhava informed Pradyumna that Krishna would come meet with Bahulashva in the future. Hearing this, Pradyumna disguised himself as a brahmana, and asked Uddhava to be his disciple and approached King Dhrti. They wanted experience the devotion of the king. Entering the city, Pradyumna was surprised to see that all the warriors are adorned with tilaka and, holding japa, they chant the holy names of Lord Krishna. The holy names of Krishna were written on all doors, and His appearance was painted on each location. All the walls in the city were decorated with pictures of Lord Vishnu, holding in his hands a club, a conch, a lotus and disk. And in front of every house there was a tulasi temple. As Pradyumna and Uddhava walked through the city, they saw that on both sides of the street people were hearing "Bhagavatam" and "Mahabharata". Then in other places they saw people narrating different Puranas, as well as Harivamsa. 


In many places Valmiki's "Ramayana" was recited. Everywhere the brahmanas performed yajnas. Kirtans were heard in the temples to the accompaniment of musical instruments. In every home, people were busy with one of the nine types of devotional service to the Lord. When Pradyumna and Uddhava entered the palace, they saw the great sages: Sukadeva, Vedavyasa, Narada, Gautama, Brihaspati and Vasishtha. 

Noticing the arrival of the brahmana and his disciple (Pradyumnu and Uddhava), king immediately rose from his seat to greet them. With folded hands, the descendant of Janaka said, “Today my life was successful, seeing you, I was purified. By your visit you have satisfied all the sages and demigods. Great personalities like you roam the Earth, just to bestow good on householders like me." In reply Pradyumna glorified devotion of subjects of the king to Lord Krishna. Janaka's descendant said: “This city, people and palace are not belong to me. My wife, kids and everything else belongs Lord Krishna. Whatever I do with my body mind and speech, I dedicate to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna." The brahmana (Pradyumna) said, “O king, you are undoubtedly will achieve liberation by becoming one with the Lord." The king replied, “I do not want this kind of liberation. I consider myself as an eternal servant of the Supreme Lord and His devotees." Brahmana (Pradyumna) said, “You manifest every symptom of a pure devotee to the Lord. I'm surprised that Pradyumna traveling the world still hasn't come to you". King Dhrti, in a trembling voice from tears, said: “Pradyumna is all-pervading because he is the embodiment of the Lord Himself. Of course he's here." Brahmana (Pradyumna) said, “If you are sure that Pradyumna is all-pervading then make him appear here, just like Prahlada called Lord Nrsimha." The king said, “If I am truly devoted to the Supreme Lord, if I truly served Him and Hisx devotees, then I pray that He will now appear before me". Narada Muni continued, “Taking off the clothes of a brahmana, Pradyumna appeared before the king in his true form. At the sight of this magical transformation, the king was seized signs of ecstasy of love for the Lord. After the king offered words of praise, Pradyumna informed him that he came to him to ascertain his devotion, and assured him that he would attain sarupya-mukti at the end of his life. Then Pradyumna returned to his camp. 


Parjanya

 https://www.google.com/search?q=Parjanya

Sunday 20 June 2021

Remuna


One day in the forest of Citrakuta during monsoon time, Lord Ramacandra noticed some cows munching on lush green grass. Relishing a sweet memory, Lord Ramacandra smiled slightly. Curious, Srimati Sita-devi asked what was making the Lord so joyful.


“I am remembering the pastimes I will perform in Dvapara-yuga as Krishna in Vrindavana,” answered Lord Ramacandra.

Srimati Sita-devi begged, “Please, tell me those pastimes so I can enjoy them too?”

Lord Ramacandra said, “I will appear in Vrajabhumi as Yasodanandana Sri Krishna, the beloved cowherd son of Nanda Baba and Yasoda-devi, and you will appear as Radhika, the tender child of Vrsabhanu and Kirtida. Instead of sporting on Citrakuta Hill, I will run behind the cows and play at Govardhana Hill with You and My friends like Subala, Sridama and Madhumangala. As we have this kadamba tree beside our cottage, similarly, in Vraja as Gopinatha I will relish many intimate conjugal delights with you and the asta-sakhis like Lalita and Visakha underneath the Keli Kadamba trees.”

Srimati Sita-devi, Her inquisitiveness fully aroused, softly asked Lord Ramacandra to show Her that gorgeous form. Lord Ramacandra replied, "Just wait a week. With an arrow I'll carve some pictures of those pastimes in a black rock, and you will be able to see them."

But after four days Sita said, "I can't wait any longer. Please show me what You've done."

By this time, Lord Ramacandra collected a large black stone, and using an arrow,

He first inscribed Gopala Krishna standing in a graceful three-fold bending form clutching a flute.

Then on Gopala’s left, Lord Ramacandra formed

  1.  Lalita-sakhi offering tambula with her right hand, and 
  2. Visakha holding a tray of fruits and a water pitcher. 
  3. Citra-sakhi (Sucitra) is holding a flower mala and 
  4. Indulekha waits at Gopala’s feet for carana-seva. 
On Gopinatha’s right, Lord Ramacandra carved

  1. Campakalata with a camara fan; 
  2. Ranga-devi with a tray of sandalwood paste; 
  3. Tungavidya-sakhi clutching new cloth; and 
  4. Sudevi preparing a flower bed. 
Thus Rama produced the asta-sakhis with their sevas.

http://gopiradhakrishna.blogspot.com/2011/06/village-of-asta-sakhis.html

On either side of Gopala, Sri Rama engraved Krishna’s four dear friends:

  1. Subala, 
  2. Madhumangala, 
  3. Sanandana and 
  4. Vidagdha 
http://8gth.blogspot.com/2015/01/four-kinds-of-sakhas.html

along with
  1. three cows each. 
  2. Three jammu (rose-apple) trees are visible above Gopala’s head 
along with an engraving showing the destruction of the Mathura wrestlers
  1. Canura and 
  2. Mustika, Kamsa’s demoniac followers. 



Ananta Sesa is fanned out in the middle above the head of Gopala.


Pleased to see all this, Srimati Sita devi worshiped this Gopala Deity carved by Her husband Ramacandra until the time she was kidnapped by Ravana. Lord Brahma then continued the seva-puja for the seven hundred year balance of Treta-yuga.

When Lord Ramacandra and Sita devi were returning from Lanka after killing the demon Ravana, They stopped here for four days in a beautiful green forest called Ramaniya (today called Remuna).

Sita devi wanted to bathe there in the Ganges, so Lord Ramacandra shot seven arrows into the ground and brought forth the Ganges. Today that place is called Saptashara, "seven arrows." A deity of Lord Siva named Gargasvara was later installed there. Because Lord Ramacandra felt pleasure (ramana) at that place, it came to be known as Remuna. 

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