Godavari River/Gautami

The Godavari River is sacred river and has several Pligrimage centers on its banks. It has been held as a special place of pilgrimage for many thousands of years. Many famous personalities, including Baladev (5000 years ago) and more recently Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (500 years ago) have bathed in her waters as an act of worship.
Godavari is considered the Dhakshin (Southern) Ganga and Draksharama Dhakshin Kasi. Every twelve years, Pushkaram fair is held on its banks of the river. Crores of people have a holy dip in the sacred waters of the river to purify themselves of all their sins.

Legend has it that Sage Gautama lived on the Brahmagiri Hills at Trayambakeshwar with his wife Ahalya. The rishi kept his stock of rice in a granary. Once, a cow entered his granary and ate up the rice. When the rishi tried to ward the cow away with Durbha grass, it fell dead. The rishi wanted to relieve himself of the sin of ‘Gohatya’. He worshipped Lord Shiva and requested him to bring the Ganga to purify his hermitage. Lord Shiva pleased with the rishi appeared as Triambaka and brought along the river Ganga. Since the Ganga was brought down to Triambakeshwar by Sage Gautama, it is known here as Gautami. It is also known as Godavari because the river helped Sage Gautama to relieve his sins.

The banks of Godavari river has many pilgrimage sites.
* Trimbakeshwar, One of the twelve Jyotirlingas and ancient temple of Lord   Shiva .
* Nashik – One of the four Sinhastha Kumbh Mela
* Paithan – Saint Eknath’s native place, famous Jayakwadi dam , and a beautiful garden – Sant Dnyneshwar Udyan.
* Nanded – Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, One of the five most sacred places in Sikhism
* Basar – Sri Gyana Saraswati temple is situated on the banks of Godavari.
* Dharmapuri, Andhra Pradesh – Hindu Temple of Lord Narasimha
* Kaleshwaram – Sri Kaleswara Mukhteswara swamy Temple on Triveni sangamam of godavari and pranahita.
* Bhadrachalam – Hindu Temple of Lord Rama.
* Rajahmundry – Center for Telugu Literature.
* Pattiseema – A village where a Hindu temple is located on a small hill on an island in the river.
* Antarvedi – Laxmi Narasimha Swamy temple.
* Konaseema – Picturesque delta of Godavari.

The tributaries of Godavari River are  Pravara, Indravati , Wainganga , Wardha, Pench, Kanhan and Penuganga rivers, discharge an enormous volume of water into the Godavari system. Its tributaries include Indravati, Manjira River, Bindusara River and Sabari River

Chambal River

Chambal River

Chambal river is  a tributary of the Yamuna River.originating from the blood of thousands of cows sacrificed by the Aryan King Rantideva. The ancient name of Chambal River was Charmanvati, meaning the river on whose banks leather is dried. In the ancient times, large scale Yagya (prayer meetings in which also involve offerings to please God) used to be organized on the banks of this river and in these Yagyas animals were slaughtered and offered. According to Mahabharata, the color of river water would become red due to the flow of blood of the sacrificed animals and the skins of these animals were dried on the banks of the rivers. In due course of time, this river became famous as the river of ‘chamda’ (skin) and was named as Charmanvati.

Brahmaputra River/Mahand

Brahmaputra River
Brahmaputra River originates from the Mansarovar near Kailash range and is also known as Mahanad. Worth noting is the fact that the Brahmaputra River has a male name whereas all other majors rivers of India have female names. According to legends, Brahmaputra is the son of Lord Brahma. It is said that Shantanu, a famous ancient sage began a long meditation in an ashram in this area along with his beautiful wife Amodha. Amodha was so beautiful that Lord Brahma himself became enchanted by the beauty of Amodha and requested her to make love with him. But Amodha did not accept the Brahma’s proposal. However, by that time Lord Brahma had become so excited that his semen discharged at that place. When Shantanu came to know about this, he inseminated the Brahma’s semen in the womb of Amodha. Subsequently, Amodha gave birth to a son and he was called Brahmaputra. The tank near the ashram of sage Shantanu is known as the Brahmkund. Another legend is that because Brahmaputra is the largest river in India, it carries a male name.

Bhima River

Bhima River

Bhima is the most important tributary of the Krishna river, which is one of the two majors rivers in Maharastra, the other being Godavari River. Nira confluences with Bhima in Narsingpur, Sholapur.

The Bhima River originates in Bhimashankar hills near Karjat on the western side of Western Ghats,known as Sahyadri, in Maharastar state inIndia. Bhima flows southeast for 861 km through Maharashtra,Karnataka,Andra Pradesh states.
The Bhima River is also called Punya Damini Bhima. In South India, people give regards to the Bhima River the same way as they do to Ganga. The Bhima River originates from the Sahyadri hills. According to the legends, when Lord Shankar came near Bhima Shankar mountain after killing the demon Tripursur, he found that the Ayodhya’s saintly king Bhimak was under penance at that place. King Bhimak begged for the blessings of Lord Shankar so that a pious river might originate from the sweat of Lord Shankar. Lord Shankar gave the desired blessings and accordingly, a river originated from his sweat. On the name of king Bhimak, this river was called as Bhima River. The river joins Krishna at Kurugadi in district Raipur, which is 25 km away from Gulbarg. A jyotirling (glorified symbol of Lord Shiva) namely, Bhima Shankar, and a religious place, namely Pandarpur, are located on the banks of this river.

Bagmati River

 

Bagmati River
It is also called Bagvati in Vishnu Purana. The Svayambu and the Vardha Purana call it the Vagmati. It is called Bachamati in Buddhist literature, because it was created by the word uttered by Buddha Krakuchhanda when the latter visited Nepal with his disciples from the Gaud-desa. Vdana mentions a river Vaggumuda which flowed to the east of the Vajji territory. This Vaggamuda seems to be the Vagamati of the present time. Baghavati, the name given to this river by Vidyapati seems to have some connection with the word Vyaghra (tiger). Tigers are found in abundance on its banks in the Nepalease Terai.

 

It flows through the Kathmandu valley and is the river separating Kathmandu from Lalitpur. It is considered a holy river both by Hindus and Buddhists. A number of Hindu temples are located on the banks of this river.
The importance of Bagmati also lies in the fact that Hindus are cremated on the banks of this holy river, and Kirants are buried in the hills by its side. According to the Nepalese Hindu tradition, the dead body must be dipped three times into the Bagmati river before cremation. The chief mourner (usually the first son) who lights the funeral pyre must take a holy river-water bath immediately after cremation. Many relatives who join the funeral procession also take a bath in the Bagmati River or sprinkle the holy water on their bodies at the end of cremation. The Bagmati River is considered to purify the people spiritually.

Source of Money used for offering Bhoga

The question to the source of the money used to buy the bhoga foodstuffs

So a householder devotee should try to earn as honestly as possible and especially try to maintain a very spiritual consciousness at work or business.

Krishna Prasadam is not always purely on the transcendental platform–but rather possibly tinged by the modes, due to the purity of the devotee offering it.

Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura suggests that people who are materialistically inclined and sahajiyas, or so-called Vaishnavas who take everything very casually, are both visayis, or materialists. Eating food offered by them causes contamination, and as a result of such contamination, even a serious devotee becomes like a materialistic man.

If one cooks oneself and offers and then honors prasadam, it is guaranteed that one will not become contaminated more than what one already is

Different grades and standards of prosperity

 

There are different grades and standards of prosperity. The standard of comfort and happiness conceived by a common man engaged in material labor is the lowest grade of happiness, for it is in relationship with the body. The highest standard of such bodily comfort is achieved by a fruitive worker who by pious activities reaches the plane of heaven, or the kingdom of the creative gods with their delegated powers. But the conception of comfortable life in heaven is insignificant in comparison to the happiness enjoyed in the impersonal Brahman, and this brahmananda, the spiritual bliss derived from impersonal Brahman, is like the water in the hoofprint of a calf compared to the ocean of love of Godhead. When one develops pure love for the Lord, he derives an ocean of transcendental happiness from the association of the Personality of Godhead. To qualify oneself to reach this stage of life is the highest perfection.
One should try to purchase a ticket to go back home, back to Godhead. The price of such a ticket is one’s intense desire for it, which is not easily awakened, even if one continuously performs pious activities for thousands of lives. All mundane relationships are sure to be broken in the course of time, but once one establishes a relationship with the Personality of Godhead in a particular rasa, it is never to be broken, even after the annihilation of the material world.

Adi 1.56

 

 

Grades of Prasadam

“When one eats food offered by a materialistic man, one’s mind becomes contaminated, and when the mind is contaminated, one is unable to think of Krsna properly.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura suggests that people who are materialistically inclined and sahajiyas, or so-called Vaisnavas who take everything very casually, are both visayis, or materialists. Eating food offered by them causes contamination, and as a result of such contamination, even a serious devotee becomes like a materialistic man.

Antya 6.278

“When one accepts an invitation from a person contaminated by the material mode of passion, the person who offers the food and the person who accepts it are both mentally contaminated.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that there are three varieties of invitations — those in the mode of goodness, those in passion and those in ignorance. An invitation accepted from a pure devotee is in the mode of goodness, an invitation accepted from a person who is pious but materially attached is in the mode of passion, and an invitation accepted from a person who is materially very sinful is in the mode of ignorance.

Antya 6.279

Bhavas of Dasya Rasa- (Devotional Service in Ecstasy)

Visaya and asraya are two very significant words relating to the reciprocation between Krsna and His devotee. The devotee is called the asraya, and his beloved, Krsna, is the visaya. Different ingredients are involved in the exchange of love between the asraya and visaya, which are known as

1. vibhava,
2. anubhava,
3. sattvika and
4. vyabhicari.

Adi 4.135

1. vibhava

• Alambana -
  1. Asraya – Devotee/Radharani (Shelter)
  2. Visaya – Krsna(Object)

Note:In the loving affairs of Radha and Krsna, Radharani is the asraya feature and Krsna the visaya

• Uddipana – (Stimuli)
  1. Uddipana is induced by:
  2. Krsna’s transcendental qualities,
  3. His activities,
  4. His beautiful smiling face and
  5. the aroma of His body,
  6. the sound of His flute,
  7. the sound of His conchshell,
  8. the marks on the bottoms of His feet,
  9. His dwelling place and
  10. His paraphernalia of devotional service (such as tulasi leaves, devotees, ceremonial performances and Ekadasi)

 TLC 14-1975: The Ecstasy of the Lord and His Devotees

Dasya-rasa uddipana

“The cause bringing about the tasting of love for Krsna is called vibhava. Vibhava is divided into two categories-alambana (support) and uddipana (awakening).”

Madhya 23.51

“That which causes love for Krsna to appear is called vibhava. That has two divisions-alambana [in which love appears] and uddipana [by which love appears].”

Madhya 23.51

“The object of love is Krsna, and the container of that love is the devotee of Krsna. Both of them are called by the learned scholars alambana — the foundations.

Madhya 23.51

Dasya-rasa uddipana.

1. The sweet sound of the flute;
2. the sound of the srngi horn;
3. Krsna’s smiling glance;
4. hearing of Krsna’s wonderful qualities;
5. the lotus flower;
6. the impressions of Krsna’s lotus feet;
7. fresh dark blue rain-clouds; and
8. Krsna’s enchanting bodily fragrance

Shanta Rasa – Service in Neutrality/Passive Service

Simple appreciation of the Supreme is called santa-rasa.

In the beginning, this is called santa-rasa, to understand the greatness of God, “God is great.” There is no exchange

You can serve Krsna passively, as Vrndavana land, as tree, as water, so many, as flowers, as fruits. This is called santa rasa.

To realize the creation of God with awe and veneration, appreciation, that is one relationship. This is called santa rasa simply appreciation.

Realization of “Brahman” and “Paramatma” is also a transcendental mellow (Rasa) which is called ‘Santa Rasa,’ a transcendental stage where the transcendental activities are non-manifest.

The acceptance of the greatness of God is called santa-rasa. It is also peaceful realization: “I have realized the greatest.” This is called brahma-bhuta. “I am qualitatively one with the Supreme. I am Brahman, and the Lord is also Brahman.” Suppose a very big man is our very nearest and dearest relative. Are we not proud of it? For example, wouldn’t you feel proud to know that the President were your uncle? Similarly, as soon as one understands that he is Brahman or that Krsna is Param Brahman, he will feel ecstasy. That is called santa-rasa.

When one gets out of the so-called happiness of material life and becomes conscious that God is great, that is called santa-rasa

Anugata-dasa

“Those servants whose hearts are always immersed in affectionate service to Krsna are anugata-dasa. They are of two categories: those who reside in Vraja-dhama and those reside in Dvaraka-puri.

Krsna is the object

Shelter in Gokula daya rasa – In the dasya-rasa one follows in the footsteps of servants - specific services entrusted to the anugas are varied:

1. Raktaka- Considered to be the chief He wears yellow clothing, and his bodily color is just like newly grown grass. He is very expert in singing and is always engaged in the service of the son of Maharaja Nanda
2. Citraka,
3. Patraka
4. Patri,
5. Madhukantha,
6. Madhuvrata,
7. Rasala -prepares the betel nuts
8. Suvilasa,
9. Premakanda,
10. Marandaka,
11. Ananda,
12. Candrahasa,
13. Payoda,
14. Bakula-cleanse the yellowish dress of Krsna
15. Rasada
16. Sarada
17. Varika - flavor the bathing water with aguru scent

They are direct servants of Krsna who are the embodiments of service in the mellow of servitude

Shelter in Dvaraka daya rasa – Those who are constantly engaged in the personal service of the Lord are called anugas, or followers.

1.  Daruka
2. Sucandra - fanning with the white camara bunch of hair
3. Mandana-always bears the umbrella over the head of Lord Krsna
4. Stamba
5. Sutamba - engaged in supplying betel nuts

Vaikuntha –  Hanuman

Material world – Hanuman

Note:

Bhakti vinod Tahkura says Raganuga devotees of different rasas, spiritual tastes, try to follow in the footsteps of the eternal associates (ragatmika bhaktas) by emulating their devotional sentiments (bhavas) and service.

Raktaka is classified among the dhurya, or those who are always attached to serving the most beloved gopis

Parisada dasa

Three types of parisada dasa (eternally perfect associate)

1. dhurya -topmost direct servant
2. dhira - steadfast servant sheltered by Krsna’s beloveds such as Satyabhama
3. vira - sheltered servant thus proudly unconcerned about others

• “Uddhava,
• Daruka,
• Satyaki,
• Srutadeva,
• Satrujit,
• Nanda,
• Upananda, and
• Bhadra, etc., are parisada dasa.

Although they often offer advice and counsel, they also render other appropriate services according to time and circumstance.

1. Bhisma,
2. Pariksit Maharaja, and
3. Vidura are also parisada dasa.

Uddhava is the best amongst all the beloved parisada-dasa of Krsna.”

Asrita-dasa

An asrita-dasa has the mood of having taken complete shelter of his Lord and is always ready to fully execute his Master’s orders

Asrita dasa are also of three types:

1. nitya-siddha, eternally liberated;
2. siddha, having attained perfection; and
3. sadhaka, a practitioner aspiring for perfection.

“The asrita dasa are of three kinds:

1. saranagata, surrendered;
2. jnani enlightened;
3.  seva-nistha  fixed in service.

Kaliya-naga and the kings who were imprisoned by Jarasandha are examples of saranagata dasa.

The rsis headed by Saunaka discarded their aspiration for mukti and took devotional shelter of the Supreme Lord, Sri Hari; thus, they are jnana-nistha-dasa, enlightened servitors.

Attached and dedicated from the very beginning to bhagavad-bhajana, Candradhvaja, Harihara, Bahulasva, Iksvaku, and Pundarika are seva-nistha dasa, servitors absorbed in service.

Adhikrta-dasa

Adhikrta-dasa indicates that the servitor is qualified for a particular service to the Lord by always considering himself the property of his master; this servitor always indulges his master and maintains a meek and humble disposition before his Lord.

Examples of the adhikrta-dasa

• “Lord Brahma,
• Lord Siva,
• Indra,
• the devas and
• devis,

are adhikrta dasas and dasis. Having earned the qualification for positions of authority in the administration of the material cosmos, they serve the Supreme Lord in that capacity.”

Four kinds of Dasa’s

Four kinds of dasa they are:

1. adhikrta-dasa, qualified servants;
2. asrita-dasa, sheltered servants;
3. parisada-dasa, constant trustworthy companions; 
4. anugata-dasa, obedient followers.

 

Kamadhenu

The surabhi cow is also called kamadhenu.  In other words, the surabhi cow can yield milk unlimitedly. Surabhi cows are generally found on the Vaikuntha planets.

Although Jamadagni possessed only one kamadhenu, he was able to get from it everything desirable.

Thus he was able to receive the King (Kartaviryarjuna) along with the King’s great number of followers, ministers, soldiers, animals and palanquin carriers. When we speak of a king, we understand that he is accompanied by many followers. Jamadagni was able to receive all the King’s followers properly and feed them sumptuously with food prepared in ghee. The King was astonished at how opulent Jamadagni was because of possessing only one cow, and therefore he became envious of the great sage. This was the beginning of his offense.

The surabhi cow is described as havirdhani, the source of butter. Butter, when clarified by melting, produces ghee, or clarified butter, which is inevitably necessary for performing great ritualistic sacrifices. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (18.5), yajna-dana-tapah-karma na tyajyam karyam eva tat: sacrifice, charity and austerity are essential to keep human society perfect in peace and prosperity. Yajna, the performance of sacrifice, is essential; to perform yajna, clarified butter is absolutely necessary; and to get clarified butter, milk is necessary. Milk is produced when there are sufficient cows. Therefore in Bhagavad-gita (18.44), cow protection is recommended (krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava jam).

SB 8.8.1

Surabhi Cow

Krsna says among cows I am the surabhi. Kama-dhenu is also known as surabhi. Surabhi cows inhabit the spiritual world, and, as stated in Brahma-samhita, Lord Krsna is engaged in tending these cows: surabhir abhipalayantam [Bs. 5.29]. One can milk a surabhi cow as often as one likes, and the cow will deliver as much milk as one requires. Milk, of course, is necessary for the production of so many milk products, especially clarified butter, which is required for the performance of great sacrifices. Unless we are prepared to perform the prescribed sacrifices, our supply of the necessities of life will be checked. Bhagavad-gita confirms that Lord Brahma created human society along with yajna, the performance of sacrifice.

SB 4.19.7

After Lord Siva drank all the poison, both the demigods and demons took courage and resumed their activities of churning. Because of this churning, first a surabhi cow was produced. Great saintly persons accepted this cow to derive clarified butter from its milk and offer this clarified butter in oblations for great sacrifices.

SB 8.8 Summary