By chanting the holy name one
can attain the perfection of nirvāṇa, or liberation from material existence, and so increase one's blissful life of spiritual existence as described by Lord Caitanya (ānandāmbudhi-vardhanam). When one is situated in that position, he no longer has any interest in material opulence or even a royal throne and sovereignty over the whole planet. This situation is called viraktir anyatra syāt. It is the result of devotional service.
The more one makes advancement in devotional service, the more one becomes detached from material opulence and material activity. This is the spiritual nature, full of bliss. This is also described in Bhagavad-gītā (BG 2.59). Paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate: one ceases to take part in material enjoyment upon tasting superior, blissful life in spiritual existence. By advancement in spiritual knowledge, which is considered to be like blazing fire, all material desires are burned to ashes.
The perfection of mystic yoga is possible when one is continuously in connection with the Supreme Personality of Godhead by discharging devotional service. A devotee is always thinking of the Supreme Person at every step of his life. Every conditioned soul is full of the reactions of his past life, but all dirty things are immediately burned to ashes if one simply executes devotional service. This is described in the Nārada-pañcarātra: sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam (CC Madhya 19.170). - Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.13.8-9
The bhakti-yoga system is the topmost yoga system, and in this system the chanting of the holy name of the Lord is the foremost performance of devotional service.
From 1966 until the time of his passing, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada initiated approximately 4,750 disciples.
Here you will find a small collection of photos and links that share a collective story of Krishna and ISKCON. This small glimpse of our community consists of great individuals who have personally helped me along my path in devotional service. Please click each photo to see additional information.
Yours In Service,
His Grace Jivananda Dasa Vanacari
Spiritual Life
A Festival of Bliss
Gaudiya Vaishnavism is a Vaishnava religious movement founded by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in India in the 16th century. Caitanya Mahaprabhu rejuvenated the culture of Krishna bhakti. "Gaudiya" refers to the Gauda region (present day West Bengal & Bangladesh) and Vaishnavism meaning "the worship of Vishnu". Its philosophical basis is primarily that of the Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata Purana, as well as other Puranic scriptures and Upanishads.
The focus of Gaudiya Vaishnavism is the devotional worship (bhakti yoga) of Radha and Krishna, and their many divine incarnations as the supreme forms of God – Svayam Bhagavan. Most popularly, this worship takes the form of chanting or singing Radha and Krishna's holy names, such as "Hare", "Krishna" and "Rama", most commonly in the form of the Hare Krishna mahamantra.
In the material world, if one engages in chanting a material name, he will feel tired after chanting a few times. However, one can chant the Hare Krishna mahamantra all day and night and never feel tired. As chanting is increased, it will come out new and fresh. Srila Rupa Gosvami said that if he could somehow get millions of ears and tongues, then he could relish spiritual bliss by chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra. The transcendental bliss derived from devotional service, primarily from sravanam kirtanam, hearing and chanting, cannot be compared to the happiness derived by karmis by elevating themselves to the heavenly planets or by jnanis or yogis, who enjoy oneness with the supreme impersonal Brahman. Yogis generally meditate upon the transcendental form of Visnu, but devotees not only meditate upon Him but actually engage in the direct service of the Lord.
Lord Caitanya
The Golden Avatara
Over 500 years ago, Lord Caitanya appeared in West Bengal, India to spread a most sublime and eternal philosophy of simultaneous oneness and difference between all living entities and the Supreme Lord, as well as to establish sravanam kirtanam, or hearing and chanting of the Lord's Holy Names, as the primary means of enlightenment for the age of Kali.
Lord Chaitanya is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, appearing in the form of His topmost devotee to personally teach that the holy name of the Lord is the sound incarnation of the Lord and that since the Lord is the absolute whole, there is no difference between His holy name and His transcendental form. Thus by chanting the holy name of the Lord one can directly associate with the Supreme Lord by sound vibration. By these teachings, humanity can be elevated to the topmost platform of spiritual activity. In other words, those who are interested in attaining spiritual existence can easily be relieved from the clutches of birth and death by the grace of Lord Caitanya.
Lord Sri Krishna
In the Western countries, when someone sees Krishna they immediately ask, “Who is Krishna? Who is the girl with Krishna?” etc. The immediate answer is that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. How is that? Because He conforms in exact detail to descriptions of the Supreme Being, the Godhead. In other words, Krishna is the Godhead because He is all-attractive.
We have seen many rich persons, many powerful persons, many famous persons, many beautiful persons, many learned and scholarly persons, and persons in the renounced order of life unattached to material possessions. But we have never seen any one person who is unlimitedly and simultaneously wealthy, powerful, famous, beautiful, wise and unattached, like Krishna, in the history of humanity.
Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is a historical person who appeared on this earth in India 5,000 years ago. This Krishna consciousness movement was created so that everyone can satisfy his propensity for loving others simply by directing his love toward Krishna. As watering the root of a tree immediately distributes water to every part of the tree, so an offering made with love to Krishna, or any action done for Krishna, is to be considered the highest welfare work for everyone. Generally people think that by advancing the cause of moral principles and religious rites they will be happy. Others may think that happiness can be achieved by economic development, and yet others think that simply by sense gratification they will be happy. But the real fact is that people can be happy only by loving Krishna.
The art of focusing one’s attention on the Supreme and giving one’s love to Him is called Krishna consciousness. It is said that although one executes severe austerities, penances and sacrifices in his life, if he fails to awaken his dormant love for Krishna, then all his penances are to be considered useless. On the other hand, if one has awakened his dormant love for Krishna, then what is the use in executing austerities and penances unnecessarily?
The Darling Of Vrindavan
