Jai Jagannath at Copenhagen

6th July 2019                                                                              Copenhagen

Although have never been to Jaganatha Yatra in India even if it used to happen 2km away from my place in Bangalore. But, It's interesting when Indians travel out of India , their seeking to roots awakens. When you realize exact 'Essence' of life, you try to search it everywhere wherever you go in world ,but guess you won't find it ,because that 'essence' is patent to Indian land only but God is extra kind to bring a part of this essence to West even in Kaliyuga.

Gratitude to the wonderful Sages of Bharat who took pain to travel world and give the spiritual knowledge to west .

Here ,talking about ISKCON, founded by Srila Prabhupad. He traveled to America in 1965 at the age of 70 to spread the knowledge of Bhagwat Geeta and Harinaam Sankirtna as per His Guru's desire. .We do see a lot of nice ISKCON temples in almost every part of the world today, it is indeed the outcome of Prabhupad's years of selfless service.


अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते।
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्।।9.22।।

BG 9.22: There are those who always think of Me and engage in exclusive devotion to Me. To them, whose minds are always absorbed in Me, I provide what they lack and preserve what they already possess.

Jagannath Yatra and Hare Krishna mantra Sankirtan  is what  ISCKON devotees primarily observe  worldwide. The devotees have undoubtedly brought awareness about having Vegetarian food to the west which was quite rare  until 10 years ago.

Back to the event of Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra , it was aranged on 6thJuly2019 ,1PM in capital city Copenhagen near Nytorv station. The area is quite packed as it is close to an expensive shopping street & lot of restaurants. After taking a round of city's area , all the devotees along with Lord Jaganath Rath stopped at a place where from 2-5 PM ,  cultural activities like Bharatnatyam and Bhajan were performed. And than along with delicious Prasadam, the continous chanting of Hare Krishna Mahamantra until 7 in evening on the streets of CPH was mesmerizing...sharing some pics.

Festival of Bharat

Jai !

An experience to waterless 'Upvaas'

14June 2019                                         Copenhagen 

राम राम रामेति रमे रामे मनोरमे । सहस्रनाम तत्तुल्यं रामनाम वरानने ॥
Chanting Ram naam is equivalent to Thousand names of Lord Vishnu says Lord Shiva. :)

Sharing an experience of this year's Nirjala Ekadashi.It is said if we observe this one ekadashi only without water and without food,we may collect 'punya' of entire year ekadashi's.In the course of ekadashi fasting,some people opt to have only milk ,some only fruits and some people literally nothing.
Although eating or not eating is entirely one own decision as per own body stamina.

The day of ekadashi occurs twice a month on eleventh day from full moon and as well as from new moon.Lord Krishna illuminated the benefits of ekadashi fasting in ancient scriptures.

I know few friends who observe ekadashi's without water and food. Inspired and Motivated , I as well wished to fast without food & water this time .It was a challenge as have never discovered that long fasting before .

And , until late evening 9PM ,I managed to pass my day without  food & water, however by late night 11 PM,  felt extremely thirsty and starved. It became tougher as sleeping as well becomes tough when stomach is hungry and hence had water and potatoes finally.

It was little hard, but the fasting served as an unexpectedly wonderful exercise .They say If we want to experience the inner dimension of life, observing upvaas is necessary. Immunity and detoxification are other good effects that even modern research acknowledge.

There were some nice observations I noticed during those fasting hours :-

1. Somebody was extremely happy as It was free of eating and doing related things like cooking, washing utensils, thinking what to eat etc..  

2. The chattering mind was not at all active  no waves of bad and good thoughts ,no  useless memories. Mind was thoughtless, and living in present . 

3. Felt how the Vibrations of  no food and also good food can bring changes in mind and body too.It's all connected somehow.

Last but not the least -

4. The Next day brought special excitement towards Breakfast :) 

Govind hare Gopal hare .

Digital Expression of Satt Chitt Anand

                                                          

BG 7.14: 

दैवी ह्येषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया।

मामेव ये प्रपद्यन्ते मायामेतां तरन्ति ते।।14।।

Sri Krishna - My divine energy Maya, consisting of the three modes of nature, is very difficult to overcome. But those who surrender unto me cross over it easily.

Indeed,it revolves each one of us.It wrestles even the best of good beings and 'It' is profoundly known as Maya.

I once heard this mystical words in Gurudev's discourse - 

“This universe is from billions of years , there have been millions of yugs, millions of wars, millions of universe, there have been the time when there were  no humans on this earth for hundreds of years, only flora existed, then also we were there somewhere".

It is said maya is Illusion, that which is eternally changing and Truth is only 'Ishwar' , known by different names i.e Shiv , Krishna ,Guru ,Brahman. The underlying element of all of them is same,and element is formless.The power through which Lord manifests is Yogmaya (Goddess Shakti).

If I try to connect this knowledge to mathematical expressions, 0 may denote symbol for that absolute truth, never ever changing ,nor effected by + or - or multiply or divide ,remains 'Shunya' , may be this philosophy was the foundation of Indian numeral system which gave 0 to the world. And, on the other hand,1 would denote the 'ever changing',where creation,operation ,destruction continues to recur.

In Human tendency , we can say '1' will denote "mind ,body , intellect" where the changes in "emotions,time and desires" behold strong effect , however beyond them is consciousness ,awareness of  'I'  indicated by 0 ,always constant.

It is not intended to know how vast ,dynamic ,powerful this universe and creator is.However,it is only to have a gentle understanding that how small we are, what we think to be biggest is only a matter of fraction of time from that Infinite existence , & in that fraction of time , whatever things we go through,does it really have any value? :) Socho ..........