Category Archives: Blogs

Hare Krsna, For sincere devotees sincerely endeavoring to make advancement in devotional service, overcoming all anarthas (unwanted things) is essential and most difficult. Bhakti-Rasamrta-Sindhu states that “devotional life is divided into two stages—sādhana-bhakti and bhāva-bhakti. Sādhana-bhakti refers to the development of devotional service through the regulative principles. The basic principle for the execution of devotionalContinue reading “SB 10.18.17-32: Balarāma Kills Pralambāsura”

Hare Krsna, I was thoroughly enjoying the verses of this chapter until I encountered a topic that sparked my intellectual curiosity—the term uddīpanā. To understand its technical meaning, I delved into additional sources. In His instructions to Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sheds light on the concepts of ālambana and uddīpana: “There are twoContinue reading “SB 10.18.1-16: The Forests as Uddīpanā, Features Which Stimulate Rasa”

Hare Krsna, This lesson about the pastime of Kṛṣṇa swallowing the forest fire to save the Vrajavāsīs coincides with the recent, and still developing, devastating forest fires in Los Angeles. The contrast between the attitudes and responses of the people in Vṛndāvana and Los Angeles during these crises is striking. In Los Angeles, the cityContinue reading “SB 10.17.13-25: Kṛṣṇa Swallows Fire to Save His Friends”

Hare Krsna, This relatively short lesson provides profound wisdom on humility, mindfulness, false compassion and committing offenses to others. The pastimes of Kāliya, Garuḍa, and Saubhari Muni provide valuable insights into the nature of offenses and the means to avoid them. These stories highlight the root causes of offenses—arrogance, false compassion, and impulsive actions—and theirContinue reading “SB 10.17.1-12: Past Conflict Between Garuda and Kaliya”

Hare Krsna, I want to thank our dear teachers for sharing another version of the pastime of Kaliya as described in Sri Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta of Srila Sanatana Goswami. This pastime made for a sweet reading. According to me, this pastime explains the essence of Kaliya pastime and the final conclusions of devotional service. “By the mercyContinue reading “Lessons from the Pastime with Kāliya According to Bṛhad-Bhāgavatāmṛta”

Hare Krsna, I am impressed by the maturity displayed by Kaliya in his prayers; his prayers reveal his surrender to Krsna. He prays, “O Lord, since You are the omniscient Lord of the universe, You are the actual cause of freedom from illusion. Please arrange for us whatever You consider proper, whether it be mercyContinue reading “SB 10.16.54-67: Kāliya Surrenders and Offers Prayers”

Hare Krsna, I am going to start with an audacious statement which many of the readers may not agree with. The prayers of Nagapatnis is a classic case of ‘missed opportunity’. I am going to explain this a bit later. First, I want to highlight some of the similarities of the Nagapatnis’ prayers with otherContinue reading

Hare Krsna, The ability to see apparent punishment as mercy needs maturity and surrender to (and love for) Krsna. An immature or neophyte devotee may blame Krsna for the calamities in his/her life. A pure devotee like Queen Kunti will be grateful for the calamities in her life as this gives an opportunity to rememberContinue reading “SB 10.16.31-38: Apparent Punishment as Mercy”

Hare Krsna, Devotees of Krsna can appreciate that Krsna performed these pastimes with the Kaliya snake to give impetus to intensified feelings of love for Him. Seeing Krsna in trouble, the devotees in Vrndavana became absorbed in remembering His smiling face, His loving words and His dealings with the various demons He had vanquished. TheContinue reading “SB 10.16.13-30: Various Types of Ecstatic Love”

Hare Krsna, Hearing the pastime of Krsna subduing Kaliya reminds me of the pitiable condition of my heart. The tranquil lake of my heart has been polluted by the poisonous venom emanating from the mouth of a poisonous snake (which represents the dark ignorance of avidya established since time immemorial). This snake has many hoodsContinue reading “SB 10.16.1-12: Kṛṣṇa Captured in the Coils of the Snake”