Eliminate the causes of sufferings and be happy

“O Hari, relieve me of sufferings;
O Hrisikesha, Thou art Ocean of Grace;
Into Ocean of maya I am diving deep;
O Madhava, lift me up.”

Happiness and sorrows are a part of our life. At some moment in life everybody suffers from pain, agony or heartbreak. Many times we face difficulties. And some times hope seems to fade away. In fact, at every moment of life we have one or more problem or difficulty. Many times being tired of the sufferings a question arises in our mind- “when the sufferings would end and when we would be happy??”. Everybody wants to be happy in life. And to achieve happiness people do everything that they could do. Many people even use immoral means to achieve happiness. However, they fail to find happiness. All they get is a moment of pleasure and life-long sufferings. The main question is why do we suffer? And how could we end all our sufferings? For this, first we need to know the causes of sufferings and then eliminate those causes. Only then we could achieve happiness.

The main cause of all our sufferings is our greediness, the negativity that is inside us. Out of this greediness a person’s desires increases all the time and due to this they are never satisfied with what they have. Even if that person is provided with all the wealth of the world, due to his greediness he could never be satisfied. Greediness forces a person to do wrong things. Greediness leads to hatred and jealousy. And slowly the person ends up loosing everything that he had. Greediness results in self-destruction. Thus, we should give up our greediness. If we don’t destroy greediness, it will destroy us. Suffering also comes from attachment. Thinking about sense objects brings an attachment towards them. Attachment breeds desire, and desire leads to frustration, which in turn leads to delusion. When you are deluded, you lose your memory and with the loss of memory, the power of discrimination is destroyed; with the destruction of discrimination your self itself is lost. Once a person gives up greediness and attachments, most of the sufferings would cease automatically.

All that we need is love and compassion. Love and compassion are the solution to all our problems. With love we could also win the heart of a person who hated us before. We should have love and compassion in our heart for all creatures (not only for human). We should make others more dearer to us. If a person doesn’t have love and compassion for others, nobody will accept him. He may be a very rich person, but if he has no love and compassion in his heart for others, nobody will like him. He would be lonely; he would be depressed and he might even start drinking, smoking or taking drugs. That person could never be happy. So consider others as good as your own self. To see all creatures as good as oneself is the best of all means of one’s worship. We all have some good qualities and some bad qualities. We all have our own weakness and, at the same time, we also possess some strength. Respect people for their good qualities but love them for their weakness. Even more important than the warmth and affection we receive, is the warmth and affection we give. It is by giving warmth and affection, by having a genuine sense of concern for others, in other words through compassion, that we gain the conditions for genuine happiness. More important than being loved, therefore, is to love.

Never engage yourself in caste discrimination. Having no caste discrimination between Brahmin and candela, treat everybody equally. Try to have the same attention to donors and thieves; try to have same regards for the pious and the mean. Many people also differentiate between religions. And it is not good. One should not differentiate between religions because all religions are same. Each religion teaches us the same things. Religions are different roads that lead to the same destination. People worship the same Gracious Almighty, but with different names. So respect every religion. It is the same Almighty who resides inside everybody’s heart. Our soul is nothing but a part of that Gracious Almighty. Lord Hari is prevailing through all creatures; regard them all with Visnu-consciousness. Knowing it well, love all and treat everybody equally with respect.

Thus, the first step towards ending our sufferings is to remove all our negativities like selfishness, greediness, attachment, ego etc. and developing love and compassion in our heart for all creatures. To eliminate these negativity only prayer is not enough, one must have to practice patience, concentration, generosity, love and compassion by body, mind and soul. We must have to train our body and mind. Never be selfish because being selfish you will not be able to achieve much. True achievement could be made only with selflessness. Have consciousness and mindfulness. Always be cautious on what you say and what you do. Try to realize which of your actions are going to have negative effect on you as well as on others. If you find that any of your action is going to have negative effect on you or on others, don’t do it. Consider the welfare of others as well. All suffering comes from the wish for your own happiness. Therefore exchange your own happiness for the suffering of others. Be selfless and dedicate yourself to the welfare of all. Take refugee in the Lotus feet of Almighty Hari and chant hari hari as much as you can. Acting in this way all of the sufferings will cease. And we will attain a state of mind where peace prevails and then happiness will follow.

O Mind, utter Sriraam, Krishna carefully,

Hold on Krishna’s feet whole-heartedly.

O Gopala, Garudaketu, I bow at Thy Feet;

Rescue me, O Hari, as Refuge I have sought.

                                       

                                                                        ...krishna...

Description of Meditation

Lord Almighty could not be achieved through sacrifice, penance, rituals and knowledge. The Gracious Lord could be won only through true devotion (bhakti). The great devotee Prahlada had thus said-

“For devotion one need not be God, dvija, sage;

One need not acquire knowledge of many scriptures;

Penances, silent prayers, sacrifices, gifts are mere deceptions,

Narayana remains content only with devotion.” _Prahlada Charitra

However, devotion does not come automatically. To develop devotion one must have to go on practicing it in body, mind and words. 

For practicing devotion at Lord Krishna’s lotus feet the company of Vishnu’s devotee is required first. Vishnu’s devotee should be taken as preceptor and well treated. Krishna’s feet should be meditated in hearts. The Almighty dwells in all creatures. Thus, knowing it well, have affection for all creatures. One should practice sravana and kirttana. The duties other then this are mere deceptions. When one thinks more and more about Lord Krishna, his devotion at Hari’s feet would increase and all the dirt of mind would disappear. Then alone to the Almighty Krishna our mind shall be drawn.

Now listen raptly, how to meditate on Hari; listen to the beauty and virtue of Hari.

There is a place named Vaikuntha. It is the Supreme Abode made only for Lord Narayana. The chariots glitter rows after rows, all inlaid with sapphires, diamond and emerald. There the Sun and the Moon shines in such a way that it is not known whether it is a night or a day. In the transparent water of the beauteous lakes bloom fragrant lotus and shining lilies. Flocks of swans are playing on the water, sportingly uprooting lotus-roots and eating there. On the bank, flower parijats blooms. The sweet fragrance of the flowers blows with the breeze filling the entire region with scent of flowers. The sparrows are singing in a melodious way and the black bees are singing Hari’s songs hearing which the Vaishnavas derive pleasure. At the centre of such highly charming Vaikuntha there is a tall Temple made up of precious gems. The pillars are made up of sapphire and walls of marble. It has pearl panels and diamond doors; thereon are carved out chains of gold, spotted with various gems and emeralds; and the beams are inlaid with charming rubies. The temple is dazzling as crores of suns. Varieties of canopies are hanging over there. Garlands of gems and pearls are hanging everywhere. Inside this divine temple on a throne of gems Lord Narayana is sitting charmingly. He is surrounded by his attendants, holding upon umbrellas inlaid with pearls. They fan Him both sides with white caamaras (a whisk made of the tail hair of the yak) and strew around Him sweet-smelling flowers. At His feet is sitting Lakshmi, Mother Goddess of Universe, offering her prayers in all devotional ways. In Eternal Form of Purity and Consciousness, Lord Hari continues to dwell there in Supreme Bliss. His Capacious Form is dazzling so amazingly that crores of kandarpa (the Indian Cupid) fails to conform. Father of Universe is devotee’s friend, Lord Hari keeps on shining as crores of Moons, whose very recalling burns series of sins.

The divine Form of Madhava is full of Supreme Bliss. It looks like a fresh green cloud. By the yellow robe upon it a glow is made. His capacious Form is so amazingly dazzling that crores of Moons fails to conform. The Lotus Feet of Hari appear as if in full bloom, by seeing which the devotees are highly pleased. The soles are purple in color. Ankusa, padma, dhvaja, vajra and yava are the signs. The fine fingers look like petals in form. They appear as spindles of gems. The nails glitter there as the half-moons. The ujjhanti (a kind of ornament) of gems are shining bright and sounding anklets are adorning the joints of Feet. The thighs appear as the trunk of elephant. A yellow robe glitters on the waist and a girdle inlaid with gems is tied over there. The Lotus-Navel of Lord Hari is shining brightly. On the pleasing chest are glittering locks of srivatsa (the white curl of hair on the chest of Almighty Visnu). There appears Maa Lakshmi shining as golden lines on black touch-stones. The green Body brightens with yellow robes as the lightning in clouds. Necklace of pearls hangs on the broad chest. Pecandaraornament (a kind of gold ornament) is glittering there. Various gems and pearls are glittering brightly. On the beauteous neck hang a beautiful garland of wild flower down to the Feet. The honeybees are getting intoxicated for honey-smelling flowers and they are humming in and round the garland there. The four beautiful arms of Hari are well built. They are blue in color and are highly attractive. Armlets, bangles, bracelets are shining there. The hands glitter like the new grown leaves. The fingers appear as sticks of gems. Various rings glitters there. The red Nails of the figures look like the moon. Lord is holding sankha, cakra, gada and paadma in His four Hands. Necklaces galapata and satasari are hanging in the neck. On the shoulder glitters the sacred uttari (a sacred thread) of nine threads. The conch-shaped throat is adorned by the gem kaustubha. The face of Lord Hari is as pleasing as the view of the full moon. It is as charming as the sun rising in early morn. On ear-lobes glitter the makara-kundala (fish-like earrings). With its radiations the yellow-white cheeks shine. Rows of teeth are so much attractive as if there shine a series of coral and gems. A sweet smile prevails over there in His lips ever. The nose is glittering like sesame flower, reddish Eyes look like petals of rose and Eye-brows resemble beautiful bows. On the forehead is glittering the tilaka (a small round mark on the forehead between the two eye-brow) of gem. Upon the head the Crown of gold is glittering, hair-bands are shining with cudamani diamond and amidst there is the golden Lotus Garland, by the glow of which the Face is being brightened. On such a Divine Form one should meditate. One should meditate on it again and again with firm concentration of mind starting from Head down to Feet inside one’s heart. Observing the signs of the Lotus Feet of the Almighty, namely dhvaja (banner), vajra (thunder-bolt), padma (lotus), ankusa (hook) and java (grain) one should bow down at Feet. Then there would be Suprme Success for you. Hari alone is Invaluable Treasure of the Universe. By meditating at the Divine Form of Hari one would overcome the worldly life at ease. Thus, don’t spoil the human life with fruitless deeds. In the Holy Kirttana Ghosa it is said:

“Keep Lord Hari’s Feet in your firm grips;

This is the only Boat to sail across Ocean of Sins.

Krishna’s kinkara Sankara says:

Ye all chant hari-hari in assemblage.”

When Gracious Almighty Krishna was leaving the earth--

When Gracious Almighty Krishna was leaving the earth--

"Looking at Madhava, the Devas bowed down.
They gazed at the Form attentively;
Showered flowers on Him joyfully.

With folded palms, in separate groups,
They in devotion sang Krishna's deeds.
Some were doing Krishna's kirttana,
Some were dancing on to the tunes.
Instrumental sounds prevailed over sky;
Deva's beating of dundubhi rang high.
'Glory be to Krishna' was pronounced joyously.

Hearing sounds Hari looked above Him;
He met Brahma in front of Him.
Seeing other Devas too in front,
Almighty Krishna shut both eyes.

After performing yoga concentration all,
Placing Himself in Supreme Soul,
Leaving instantly the human nature,
Into Vaikuntha didst Hari enter.

As in clouds a lighting flash,
Is too fast for anyone to trace,
So also Krishna's speed of merger,
Was too difficult for Devas to discover.

The Body that was a meditating object,
Its sight made even Himself amazed.
Such a Body suddenly vanished,
As does the lightening flash.

Virtues like Beauty, Faith, Truth, Patience
With Krishna did all depart hence.
Seeing the happenings of the kinds,
Devas were stupefied in minds.

Wonderful was Krishna's yogic movement;
Seeing it Devas admired and were all content.
To King Parikshita Sage Suka said thus.
O king, won't be amazed at it;
Dead sons from Yama He brought,
As gift to Guru didst He offer;
As human to heaven He sent the hunter.

When by brahma-astra you were burnt,
He with Mace didst you protect.
Deva Hari, being the origin of all creation,
Didst not let survive the Yadu clan.

There is no smooth sailing in man;
Everything is disarrayed at the end.
Lord Hari didst demonstrate it;
Destroying the clan didst he depart.

It is one of the sportive deeds of Krishna,
One who chants about these always,
Surely in Vaikuntha does dwell;
Knowing it, give up idleness all.

Do Hari kirttana always;
Won't die by saying worthless words.
Krishna's kinkara Sankara thus says:
Ye all, chant hari-hari always."

(some verses from the Holy Bhagavata Purana)

Celebrating 563 birth anniversary Of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankaradeva by Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha

placing the Holy Bhagavata in the cart

ready to go

Bhagavata bhramana

procession

procession

procession

procession

kids in traditional dress

devotees singing Hari-naam

procession

procession

Unity in diversity. People from different communities marching together singing Hari-naam

People carrying banner of Jai Guru Sankara (Glory unto Guru Sankara)

procession

procession

procession

procession

procession

procession

That outcaste is deemed to be greatest:
From whose tip of tongue flows Hari's message;
He has earned virtues all of holy baths,
Penances, fire-offerings and charities.
To best of castes he belongs, understands Vedas,
If from his mouth springs Hari's naam.

If in Krishna-katha a person has deep interest,
He need not aspire to be a Brahmana in birth.
Let him only recall Hari day and night,
Devotion makes no distinction between caste uncaste.

Our Guru Srimanta Sankara

"Srimanta Sankara Hari Bhakatara

Jānā yena kalpataru

Tāhānta bināi nāi nāi nāi

Āmāra parama Guru ." 375(Naam Ghukha)

Know ye that Srimanta Sankaradeva is like the wish-yielding tree (kalpataru) of all the devotees of Hari. Be triple sure that there is no (other) Guru than Sankaradeva himself.

The Holy Scriptures

“First do I bow down unto Thee, O Sanatana Narayana;
Thou art Brahma manifest, the cause of all incarnations.
From Thy Lotus-naval Brahma sprang forth;
Innumerable Incarnations through ages Thou hadst. ”

            _1 (kirttana ghukha)

The Lord Almighty Narayana is the creator. He is pervading the world over. Everything that we see around us is created by the gracious Lord. The Lord created everything, moving and non-moving, and entered into all the bodied forms in form of soul. In Vedastuti, the Vedas are thus praying at the feet of Lord Narayana:

“Thou hadst created all forms- moving, non-moving;
Thou art with all Greatness present in everything.
Entered Thou as soul into all bodied forms,
Hence, we worship Thee by all means.”

_1655 (kirttana ghukha)

To save the world, for the welfare of the noble and to make the truth prevail the Gracious Lord takes innumerable incarnations from time to time. The various incarnations of Lord Vishnu reminds us of the evolution of life in earth, starting from matsya (fish) avatar to the much awaiting Kalki. In each incarnation the Master, the Almighty Narayana had taught us different lessons in a very sportive way. And the Holy Books like the Kirttana ghukha, Naam ghukha, Srimad Bhagavat Gita etc. contains these lessons that the Lord had taught us. In other words, these books contain the words spoken by the Gracious Lord. In the kali age these holy books are our only preceptors, our only guru. These books would always guide us on the correct way. It is given in the Prahlada Charitra (The Episode of Prahlada) that Lord Almighty could not be achieved through sacrifice, penance, rituals and knowledge. The Gracious Lord could be won only through true devotion (bhakti). The great devotee Prahlada had thus said-

“For devotion one need not be God, dvija, sage;

One need not acquire knowledge of many scriptures;

Penances, silent prayers, sacrifices, gifts are mere deceptions,

Narayana remains content only with devotion.”

_Prahlada  Charitra

However, devotion does not come automatically. To develop devotion one must have to go on practicing it in body, mind and words.

For practicing devotion at Lord Krishna’s lotus feet the company of Vishnu’s devotee is required first. Vishnu’s devotee should be taken as preceptor and well treated. And in our times it is a painful truth that the society is developing for sure however, it is also degenerating as well at the same time. And we, the people, are so sinful that today it is very hard to find a Vaishnava i.e. a true devotee of Lord Vishnu who could guide us. However, if we search by heart we would find the company of Vishnu’s devotee for sure, and this company is in the form of the holy books like the Holy Kirttana ghukha, Naam ghukha, Srimad Bhagavat Gita etc. We should take these Holy Scriptures as our preceptor and treat them well. They are the only company of Vishnu’s devotee.