Narada’s Pride in overcoming lust

Story: Narada’s Pride in overcoming lust!

Narada Muni is never touched by Maya,but sometimes he played the part of a conditioned soul nitya baddha for our instruction.

While once doing meditation, some beautiful apsaras from the heavenly planets came down to his asrama in an attempt to seduce him.

However, Narada was so absorbed in spiritual consciousness that he was quite unaffected. Although they had tried to make him fall down, he did not curse them, but, smiling, merely told them to leave.

However, after they had gone, Narada Muni began to feel very proud of himself. Becoming overwhelmed with false ego, he approached his father Lord Brahma, and proudly declared that he had overcome lust.

Although congratulating him, his father Brahma anxiously warned him to keep this to himself, and not to tell Sankara or Lord Visnu.

However, not heeding this advice, Narada Muni next approached Sankara, and told him the same thing.

After praising him warmly, Sankara cautioned him against telling this to Visnu.

But Narada, blinded by pride, at once approached the Lord.

Glorifying Him, he declared:

"O omniscient Lord, by Your mercy I have overcome lust!"

Although outwardly appearing pleased with him, Lord Visnu could see the disease that had come in Narada Muni's heart, and knew that if left unchecked it would spread throughout his whole body and kill him.

Therefore, to save him, He created an illusory world. Within that world there was a king with an incomparably beautiful daughter, whom he wanted to marry off.

By the Lord's arrangement, Narada met the king, who told him that he could also compete for her hand in marriage, but that he was leaving the ultimate choice of husband in her hands.

Upon seeing her, Narada Muni fell completely in love with her. However, he knew that she would never consider him.

So he immediately went to Lord Visnu, saying:

"O Lord, I have never asked you for anything. But now I have an urgent request. Please make me as beautiful as Yourself!"

Smiling affectionately, the Lord answered:

"Yes, I must certainly act for your welfare. I will surely help you."

Having received the Lord's blessings, Narada Muni left and went to the princess, feeling sure that she would not be able to resist him now.

However, upon arriving, he was surprised that the princess seemed not even to notice him. She even appeared faintly disgusted by his presence. Although he walked very closely to her, and indicated by his facial expressions that he was the best choice of partner that she could possibly make, it was all to no avail.

Meanwhile, two of Narada's godbrothers continually praised him sarcastically, saying that there was no-one in the world so beautiful and irresistible as him.

However, Narada Muni was so blinded by lust, that he did not at all realise that they were only mocking him. He had completely forgotten Visnu, and was sunk in lust.

While Narada Muni was trying so hard to woo the princess, suddenly Lord Visnu arrived on the back of Garuda.

As soon as the beautiful princess set eyes on the Lord, she knew that He was the person she wanted as her husband.

She put her garland on Him, Who, smiling, took her onto His lap, and at once flew off with her.

Narada could not believe his eyes. His worshipable Lord, in Whom he had given his implicit trust, had now insulted and cheated him.

Then, seeing his reflection in some water, he recoiled in horror to see the face of a monkey staring back at him.

Furiously, Narada went and confronted Lord Visnu, and proceeded to curse Him and the princess.

"Although I have had to suffer separation from my beloved for only one hour, I curse You to take birth on the earth, where you will be forced to suffer separation from the princess for one year!"

Then Lord Visnu lifted the veil of Yogamaya, and Narada realised the real situation. The princess was none other than Laksmi devi herself.

Repenting most wretchedly, he cried out:

"O Lord! I was in such an illusion, but you were only trying to help me. I have committed such aparadha against You."

However, the Lord was overjoyed to have His devotee back, and answered:

"I am very happy to undergo the effects of your curse. As Sita and Rama, Laksmi and I will advent on the planet earth, and by hearing the heart-rending story of our tribulations and pastimes, people will very easily attain Vaikuntha."

The Lord went on to explain that the material world is such a dangerous place, that one may very easily be derailed at any time, and that we must therefore be very careful.

Moral of the story:

This is the situation of all conditioned souls in this world. One controlled by lust becomes bereft of all intelligence and discrimination, just as Narada was.

In that condition, we criticise many Vaisnavas, and think that we are so qualified. So we must be very careful.

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share this moral / instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefitted by hearing about Krishna and his dear devotees.

Crow search for happiest bird in the world

Story: Crow search for happiest bird in the world

A crow lived in the forest and was absolutely satisfied in life. But one day he saw a swan. "This swan is so white," he thought, "and I am so black. This swan must be the happiest bird in the world."

He expressed his thoughts to the swan. "Actually," the swan replied, "I was feeling that I was the happiest bird around until I saw a parrot, which has two colors. I now think the parrot is the happiest bird in creation."

The crow then approached the parrot. The parrot explained, "I lived a very happy life until I saw a peacock. I have only two colors, but the peacock has multiple colors."

The crow then visited a peacock in the zoo and saw that hundreds of people had gathered to see him. After the people had left, the crow approached the peacock, "Dear peacock," the crow said, "you are so beautiful. Every day thousands of people come to see you. When people see me, they immediately shoo me away. I think you are the happiest bird on the planet."

The peacock replied, "I always thought that I was the most beautiful and happy bird on the planet. But because of my beauty, I am entrapped in this zoo. I have examined the zoo very carefully, and I have realized that the crow is the only bird not kept in a cage. So for past few days I have been thinking that if I were a crow, I could happily roam everywhere."
( Source unknown )

Moral of the story:

This is our problem too. We make unnecessary comparison with others and become sad, instead of counting our blessings from the Lord, thus leading to the vicious cycle of unhappiness. There will always be someone who will have more or less than what we have.

So the happiest person is the satisfied person.

That is why we see that Lord Vamanadeva very categorically states in Srimad Bhagavatam 8.19.24

yadrcchayopapannena / santushto vartate sukham
naasantushtas tribhir lokair / ajitaatmopasaaditaih

"One should be satisfied with whatever he achieves by his previous destiny, for discontent can never bring happiness. A person who is not self-controlled will not be happy even with possessing the three worlds."

"If happiness is the ultimate goal of life, one must be satisfied with the position in which he is placed by providence."

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share this
moral / instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefitted by hearing about Krishna and his dear devotees.

Krishna is very sick has high fever

Krishna Story: Krishna is very sick has high fever!

In Dwarka, Krishna once manifest His jvara-lila. He was shivering with high fever. Narada Muni came and saw Krishna shivering:

“What happened?”

“High fever.”

Then Narada Muni said, “I will get some medicine for You. Then You will be cured of the fever.”

Krishna said, “Oh Narada, there is no medicine for My body. Only one medicine is there. If you can get it, then I will be cured. If you go to some of My devotees and beg some dust from their feet, that is the medicine for Me. No other medicine will work for this body.”

Narada thought, “Here in Dwarka thre are so many humdreds of thousands of queens, Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati and others. Surely they will give some dust.” So he approached them. “Krishna is sick. He has a high fever and the medicine is with you. Please give me some dust of your feet so Krishna will be cured.”

They said, “Oh, what are you saying? Krishna Is our revered husband. Shall we give dust from our feet and go to hell? Get out! We cannot give.” They would not give.

Then Narada went to Vrajabhumi. Seeing Narada Muni, all of the gopis ran to him. Narada wanders everywhere, so the gopis thought, “He can gives us information about Krishna and inform Krishna how we are always thinking of Him and feeling acute pangs of separation from Him.”

Narada Muni said, “Yes, I have information. Krishna is very sick now with high fever. I have come to you for medicine.”

“What medicine is that?”

“If some of you gopis can give dust from your feet, that is medicine. Krishna will smear it on His body and He will become cured.”

“Oh, that medicine. All right, take from me.” said gopis.

At that time there was some competition between them who will give dust for Krishnas headeach.

“O Narada take from me!”

“No, no, no! Take from me!”

“How many bags will you take?”

They said, “If giving dust from our feet is required for Krishna, and we have to go to hell and suffer forever, we are prepared for that. Let our Krishna be cured and happy.”

Moral of the story:

This is love. This is the difference between their love and the love of the queens of Dwarka. Where there is jnana and aisvarya then love is shrunken, priti-sankucita. Gopi-prema, radha-prema, is kevala-bhakti; only pure love is there. It is not mixed with jnana and aisvarya. They are preapred to go to hell and suffer there forever, “Let our Krishna be happy.”

So we should ask ourself today how i yan amke Krishna happy?
( Story nareted by His Holiness Gour Givinda Swami in his book Mathura meet Vrindavana )

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share this
moral / instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefitted by hearing about Krishna and his dear devotees.

Krishna fears this monster

Vrindavan story: HAU-BILAU- Krishna fears this monster!

One day, Krishna and Balaram were playing with Their friends, but it was time for them to come home to take Their lunch and mother Yashoda sent Rohini, “You go to get Krishna and Balaram”.

Rohini came and she said, “Krishna, Balaram, please come home. Your lunch is waiting for You. Nanda Maharaj is also waiting for You.”

But They were so busy playing, having so much fun with Their friends that They ignored mother Rohini.

So she went and told Yashodamayi that They will not come. So Yashodamayi came and she began to very strictly order Krishna, “You come back”.

But Krishna’s friends told Him “If You go we will not play with You tomorrow, because You will ruin our game if You go in the middle.”

So Krishna, afraid of being banned from the play, continued playing, and mother Yashoda was pleading with Krishna and chastising Krishna. But Krishna and Balaram just kept playing.

And finally mother Yashoda was thinking, “What should I do? He will be hungry. I cannot allow Krishna and Balaram to be hungry. It is not good for Their health.” So she began to think. Then she got an idea.

She said, “Krishna-Balaram, You better come right now, because the Hau-Bilau is coming”.

Krishna and Balaram said, “What is Hau-Bilau?”

She said, “He is coming. He is coming, lets go.”

They again asked, “What is this ‘Hau-Bilau’?”

Yashoda replied with a huff, “Hmm… ‘Hau-Bilau’ walks on four legs and has very, very fierce eyes and big, big mouth and sharp, sharp teeth and he eats little children, and he is coming”.

Then Krishna-Balaram looked at her and said, “We do not believe in “Hau-Bilaus”. There is no such thing.”

And then mother Yashoda, she looked behind Krishna and Balaram from where they were standing and she said, “Here he is, the “Hau-Bilau” has come ahhh!!!”

And then with big eyes she started running away as fast as possible.

And when Krishna and Balaram saw this they were afraid to even look back.

They immediately let out and scream and said, “Mother wait for us.”

They started running full speed ahead and mother Yashoda ran all the way back to Nanda Bhavan and Krishna and Balaram ran and ran as fast as they could.

They were afraid to even look back, and then They came into the house, and Yashodamayi had nice prasad ready for Them and They sat next to Nanda Maharaj.

And Krishna and Balaram were telling Nanda Maharaj, “You should have seen this Hau-Bilau. He had big fiery eyes, and long teeth and big mouth and fur all over him, but We escaped. Somehow or other We ran so fast, We got away.” and Nanda Maharaj was very happy.

So in this way mother Yashoda with her loving parental affection performed so many pastimes for the pleasure of Krishna and Balaram. It is also said, that after mother Yashoda saw that this pastime worked very good, she made these Murtis of Hau-Bilau.

And when Krishna and Balaram would be naughty, she would say, “Beware, I will take you to Hau-Bilau”. So they would become very nice. So, even the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna and Balaram fear Hau-Bilau! This is the sweetness of the Leela of Shri Vraja Dham.

( Story narrated by His grace Deena Bandhu Prabhu and His holiness Radhanat Swami )

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share this moral / instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefitted by hearing about Krishna and his dear devotees.

Krishna plants pearls

Vrindavan story: Krishna plants pearls!!!

On the day of Diwali, in the month of Karthik, Radharani and gopis assembled together at Malyahara kunda. Krsna’s parrot, Vicakshana, informed Him. Krsna came to Malyahara kunda and there He found Srimati Radharani and Her sakhis making pearl necklaces.

Krsna requested from Radha and gopis if He could have a few of those pearls to decorate His most favorite cows, Harini and Hafini. But the gopis refused. Krsna pleaded with gopis, pleaded, “Please give me some pearls for my cows.”

Lalitha sakhi went to the body of the bag of pearls and found one broken little piece. And she said, “You can have this.”

Shyamasunder was very unhappy. So He went home and told mother Yashoda that, “I want to grow a garden of pearls. Please give me some pearls to plant in the ground.”

Yashoda Mayi responded that, “O Gopal, you don’t understand.” And then she laughed that, “Pearls do not grow on trees. Pearls come from the ocean.”

And Gopal insisted, “No, they will grow if I plant them in the ground. I have seen my father growing. I have seen him put seeds in the ground. Pearls, like seeds, I will plant.”

Krsna Plants Pearls

He insisted, and Yashoda Mayi, to satisfy His heart, gave Him some pearls. And He brought them near the bank of Yamuna and dug little holes in the ground and put the pearls in and then buried them, and then told mother Mangal to go to the gopis and request some milk to water His pearls.

So gopa Madhumangal went to Sri Radharani and gopis and requested some milk to water Krsna’s pearls and the gopis simply laughed.

That’s all they gave Him, was a laugh. So Madhumangal returned.

Krsna then went to mother Yashoda and requested some milk. She supplied all the milk He could want and He went, and profusely watered the ground on the bank of Yamuna where He planted the pearls.

After a few days, a little green shoot came out of the ground. And Krsna was so happy. He told gopis and the gopis came and looked at the shoot and they laughed, and they said, “Those are thorn shoots, not pearl shoots.”

Krsna’s Big, Beautiful Pearl Creepers

A few days later, a creeper grew that was covered with an immense quantity of large, beautiful, multi-colored pearls. Those pearls were so special that they filled the entire Vrindavana dham with an ambrosia-intoxicating fragrance.

Krsna was laughing and joking to the gopis that, “My pearls are so big and so colorful and so fragrant compared to yours all.” So the gopis became quite competitive. And they had a meeting together. And they vowed to make a garden that would grow better pearls than Krsna’s.

So all of their pearl necklaces were planted in the ground. And then they went to their parent’s house and took every pearl from all of the houses of their families. Then they planted those pearls. And three times a day, every day, they watered the pearls with milk, yoghurt, butter and ghee.

And after a few days, a little shoot came out of the ground. And they became very excited. And a few more days passed, and there were thorn bushes.

When Krsna and His gopas saw those thorn bushes, they became ecstatic. They laughing and joking. And Krsna really wanted to humiliate the gopis.

He had His cowherd boyfriends make pearl necklaces out of big, beautiful, multi-colored, fragrant pearls, and they made pearl necklaces for every cow in Vrindavana. For every buffalo, for every goat, for every sheep. In fact, in all Vraja dham, every monkey had a pearl necklace. But He would not give a single pearl to the gopis.

The Loving Exchanges Between Krsna and the Gopis

So the gopis were in a lot of anxiety, because they took all the pearls of their parents’ homes. And now they all turned into thorns. What were they going to tell their parents? So they sent Chandramukhi and Kanchanalata, two gopis, with gold, to barter gold for a few of Krsna’s pearls.

Krsna looked at them and said that, “Even the Kaustubha Mani of Lord Narayana is not worth a fraction of the price of the fraction of one of my pearls.”

Then each gopi came one by one to try the barter. Whatever they had, for some pearls of Krsna. Srimati Radharani was hiding in a private little kunja, where Krsna could not see Her. But she could hear everything that was being said. And each gopi, individually was coming.

Krsna had a large box of these pearls He grew. But no matter what they would give, He would not even release a single pearl. Finally, Krsna told Vishaka gopi, He said, “I will give your Radharani the smallest of all my pearls, and She has to pay Me whatever price I ask immediately, otherwise I will put Her in a prison of one of my private kunjas.”

So nothing was working. There was a big argument. Raghunath Das Goswami goes into nice detail about that loving exchange of arguments. And then Subala was brought in as the mediator because it was like one of those conflicts where they could not make a negotiation. So Subala was the mediator. Continued, and in the end, they could not agree on any price.

Radharani was listening to everything. The other gopis, very sad, they came with Srimati Radharani and came to Sri Radha kunda.

Krsna’s Gift And Radharani’s Reciprocation

When the gopis were at Radha kunda, Krsna took the best of all His pearls, and with His own hands, He strung the most elegant necklace. Then He put that necklace in a golden box. And with His own loving hand, engraved the name of Sri Radharani on that box. Then He made another necklace of pearls with His own hands and put it in a golden box and put the name of another gopi.

In this way, He made boxes with gifts of handmade pearl necklaces for all of Radharani’s sakhis and Sri Radharani Herself. And He sent them to Radha kunda to be given as gifts.

The gopis were so joyful. Srimati Radha picked flowers, beautiful, fragrant flowers and made a divine garland. And She prepared the most ambrosia bhoga, fruit stuff, and She sent it to Krsna in reciprocation of His love.

Then all the gopis decorated themselves with the most beautiful pearls in all of existence. And they went home and their parents were very happy.

Moral of the story:

This is the supreme treasure that Krishna is offering to place our head in the sacred dust of Vrindavana and pray that the priceless pearl of the mercy of Guru and the Vaishnavas may be cherished as the supreme most wealth of our life. Let everything else be seen as nothing but useless, thorny worship that only cause obstacles on our path.

We should not take these pearls to be something ordinary. Unless we understand, even to a small extent the value of the pearl of this opportunity in life we have for developing bhakti devotion for Krishna, we will lose it, trying to enjoy the thorny pleasures of this world,

( From the book The Mukta Caritra - The Pearl Story, by Raghunatha dasa Gosvami )

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share this moral / instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefitted by hearing about Krishna and his dear devotees.

Narada, Hanuman and men who chanted at toile

Holy name story: Narada, Hanuman and men who chanted at toilet!

Ones Narada Muni meet one household man and was preaching to him about value of chanting of the holy names of Lord Rama.

But this man said as all of us people of the modern world:

- It is nice to chant Narada, but you know i am so busy i have not time! I have so many duties to perform every day. I need to work, to take care for my wife and children. So many duties, so not time to chant!

- Is there any little free time in your busy day? Asked sage Narada.

- I do not know! said the man. Only free time i have is when i am siting in toilet. There i have some free undisturbed minutes! said busy men.

- Wonderful, then you start chanting holy names of Lord Rama when you are in toilet! happily spoke sage Narada and went away.

So our busy men started chanting every day when was in toilet. People in modern times are taking books or newspapers while sitting on toilet desk. But our busy men was more spiritual, he was chanting holy names of Rama.

By hearing intensity of chanting the names of his master Hanuman started searching. Who is so devotedly chanting names of my master? Finally Hanuman found this men chanting Rama, Rama while siting in his toilet room.

By seeng this Hanuman become very angry. He thought who is this men who so disrespectfully chanting holy names of Rama while siting in such impure place as toilet. I will finish him! So Hanuman started kicking the men with his lags but could not move the men even for inch. Hanuman tray even harder but was not successful. Hanuman thought: I am one of the most powerful persons in universe, but i cannot even touch this men. What is happening?

Then at scene appeared Guru of our busy men, Narada Muni.

He asked: Hanuman what is happening?

- I try to kick this men who chant holy names of my Lord Rama at toilet, but i cannot do nothing to him? Help me! Spoke Hanuman.

- My dear Hanuman, when one is chanting holy names of Lord Rama he is personally associating with him Lord Rama. Lord and his names are not different, so who can hurt that person who is chanting. Because he is so busy in life, this is only place he can chant. Holy name cannot be contaminated even by chanting in dirty place such as toilet.

Happily understanding glories of holy names of his Lord Rama, Hanuman continue chanting and our busy men continue chanting in toilet even up to day.

Moral of the story:

By chanting holy name we associate with the Lord. So why not always chant and be in personal association with God! So... Happy new year and dont forget to chant in new year, at least at toilet!

( Story narrated by His Holiness Sacinandana Swami)

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share this moral / instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefitted by hearing about Krishna and his dear devotees.

God and duration of our life

God and duration of our life

When God had created the world and was about to fix the length of each creature's life, the ass came and asked, "Lord, how long shall I live?" "Thirty years," replied God; "does that content you?" "Ah, Lord," answered the ass, "that is a long time. Think of my painful existence! To carry heavy burdens from morning to night, to drag sacks of corn to the mill, that others may eat bread, to be cheered and refreshed with nothing but blows and kicks. Relieve me of a portion of this long time." Then God had pity on him and relieved him of eighteen years. The ass went away comforted.

The dog appeared. "How long would you like to live?" said God to him. "Thirty years are too many for the ass, but thou wilt be satisfied
with that." "Lord," answered the dog, "is that Thy will? Consider how I shall have to run; my feet will never hold out so long, and when I have once lost my voice for barking, and my teeth for biting, what will be left for me to do but run from one corner to another and growl?" God saw that he was right, and released him from twelve years of life.

Then came the monkey. "Thou wilt certainly live thirty years willingly," said the Lord to him. "Thou hast no need to work as the ass and the dog have to do, and wilt always enjoy yourself." "Ah! Lord," he answered, "it may seem as if that were the case, but it is quite
different. When it rains porridge I have no spoon. I am always to play merry pranks, and make faces which force people to laugh, and if they give me an apple, and I bite into it, why it is sour! How often sadness hides itself behind mirth! I shall never be able to hold out for thirty years." God was gracious and took off ten.

At last man appeared, joyous, healthy and vigorous, and begged God to appoint his time for him. "Thirty years shalt thou live," said the Lord. "Is that enough for me?" "What a short time," cried man, "when I have built my house and my fire burns on my own hearth; when I have planted trees which blossom and bear fruit, and am just intending to enjoy my life, I am to die! O Lord, lengthen my time." "I will add to it the ass's eighteen years," said God. "That is not enough," replied the man. "Thou shalt also have the dog's twelve years." "Still too little!"
"Well, then," said God, "I will give thee the monkey's ten years also, but more thou shalt not have." The man went away, but was not satisfied.

Moral of the story:

So man lives seventy years. The first thirty are his human years, which are soon gone; then is he healthy, merry, works with pleasure, and is glad of his life. Then follow the ass's eighteen years, when
one burden after another is laid on him; he has to carry the corn which feeds others, and blows and kicks are the reward of his faithful services. Then come the dog's twelve years, when he lies in the corner, and growls and has no longer any teeth to bite with, and
when this time is over the monkey's ten years form the end. Then man is weak-headed and foolish, does silly things, and becomes the jest of the children.

===========================================
ayur harati vai pumsam
udyann astam ca yann asau
tasyarte yat-ksano nita
uttama-sloka-vartaya

Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases
the duration of life of everyone, except one who
utilizes the time by discussing topics of the
all-good Personality of Godhead. SB 2.3.17

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share this moral / instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefitted by hearing about Krishna and his dear devotees.

Narada Muni and men who didn't wanted to go to Vaikuntha

The best story: Narada Muni and men who didn't wanted to go to Vaikuntha!!!

Narada Muni once approached Krishna Vaikuntha planets and was very surprice.

Lord was siting and was crying!

Oh my Lord has someone hurt you? Can i help you to remove your suffering? asked devote Narada.

Lord spoke: I am crying for souls in material world. Nobody want to return to me! I cry in separations from this souls who are part from me.

Oh my Lord, how i can help you in this mater? asked Narada Muni.

On planet earth there is a nice devotee called Chandulal, if you want you tell Chandulal that I am waiting even now to bring him back to Me to Vaikuntha. He dont need to do any sadhana, japa, yagja,dana to return to me. Just take him with you and bring him to Vaikunta. Spoke mercifuly Lord Krishna to Narada.

So Narada Muni went down on planet Earth and knocks at the door of Chandulal's house.

Chandulal said "Maharaj we are very happy to see you, please come inside and sit down".

Narada muni said, "Don't waste time now, enough sitting down and everything, Krishna says now He can come with me to Vaikuntha and you dont need to do any sadhana, japa, yagja, dana. Are you willing to come back to Krishna?"

Chandulal said, "Yes Maharaj even now I am ready. Krishna is very great, He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is ishvarah paramah krishnah sac-cid-aaanda-vigrahah anaadir aadir govindah sarva-kaarana-kaaranam”. I am very happy".

Narada said, "You please stop talking. Are you ready to go to Krishna?"

Chandulal promptly replied," Maharaj even now I am ready but just see I am just married. My wife is very young. If I want to leave her now, do you know how much bad it will appear to the society? Not for me but for how they will think what kind of person Krishna is? He takes away the young man from his wife. Society will not think very kindly. As a devotee, it is our duty Maharaj to make sure that we keep the flag of our society flying so that vaishnavas are not looked down and Krishna must have good reputation".

Then Narada said, "That is not a problem, ok tell me now how much time you need?"

Chandulal said, "Let me settle her down, once child is born she will forget about me". So Chandulal asked Narada Muni to come after few years.

Narada muni came back after few years and saw children are running around. Everything looks very nice.

Narada muni asked Chandulal, "Are you ready to come?"

Chandulal said, "Maharaj even now I am ready but just see we have one problem. Wife is there, children are there and I also have my mother in the same house. You know Maharaj when you put one woman in one kitchen it is alright, but when you put two women in one kitchen it is kurushetra. I am trying very hard daily to adjust my wife with my mother. So this daughter-in-law, mother-in-law thing is there Maharaj. It is my duty as a family member to make sure everything is settled. So you give me 2-3 years everything will get settled and things will be fine. Now children are young, let the children become little old".

Narada muni said, "Alright but time is running."

In a few years, Naradi muni came back and saw grandchildren also. So Chandulal has no more excuse to give.

And when he saw Narada muni, he wanted to hide. But in running up the stairs, he falls down the stairs and breaks his neck and Yamaraj comes.

Narada muni is very sad and the wife of Chandulal is very sad. They look at Narada muni and think that because of him Chandulal died. So Narada muni decided to leave the place.

Narada muni went to see Krishna. Narada muni give sad report to Krishna.

But Krishna is so kind and told Narada muni not to worry and said that Chandulal has become a dog.

Narada muni asked where he is now. Krishna said he is just outside his own house. He likes his house so much, so I gave him the facility to sit outside his house in his next life. Krishna told Narada muni to go to Chandulal and talk to him. I will give both of you the tejas - power to understand each other's language. You tell Chandulal that even now I am willing to take him back in dog form back to Godhead.

Narada muni said, "Krishna no one is more compassionate than You. I am sure now Chandulal is repentant. I am sure he now understands his mistake, so I am going to run to him".

Narada muni went to Chandulal house. House was very quiet. Outside the house there was a tree and under the tree the dog was sitting.

Narada muni approached Chandulal and asked "Can you hear me?".

Chandulal said that he can hear him.

"What a benediction, in my last life I was so sinful that I forgot Krishna and reward was not inspiration and reward was death. I lost my chance".

Narada said, "Hold it, I got good news of the day for you. Even now Krishna is waiting to take you, even now you can go back. Are you prepared to come back?"

Chandulal never forgets his nature. Even in dog's life he was just like Chandulal.

Chandulal said "Maharaj I am very happy, even now I am ready to go back to Krishna. He is so merciful."

Narada says, "In last life you talked so much and you never did anything. Now you are a dog -- Better now you talk less and do more. Are you going to come back with me or not?"

Chandulal said "Maharaj look at the house".

Narada muni asked "What is wrong with the house?"

Chandulal said, "They left all the windows and doors open. They have gone out to watch movie. All my hard earned money is inside the house and they have just left it like that".

Narada said, "So what can you do, you are a dog now".

Chandulal said, "Just give me a while, I will guard the house, make sure no one comes in and once everything is over and when I feel the house is secure, then you come and take me".
( Puranic story )

Moral of the story:

Narada thought this is just too much. Up to the point of being a dog, given a chance to come back to Krishna, still we don't want to take His feet. Still we want anything and everything except Krishna. So whom do we have to blame when we are not inspired?

Even when we are given the rarest chance to be at the lotus feet of Krishna, we find all the favourable arguments in material energy to say 'not now!'. I will read Bhagavatam but just give me one year. I will slowly do these things but I need some more time. When the eagerness is not there, there is no way to go to Krishna. That is the reason why we are always in trouble. That is the reason why we are not pacified.

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share this moral / instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefitted by hearing about Krishna and his dear devotees.

Sweeper took the position of the deity Dwarakadish

Deity story: Sweeper took the position of the deity Dwarakadish!

Once there was a sweeper in the Dwarakadish temple and he was very sincere and devoted. Every time he saw thousands of devotees coming to take darshan of the Lord, he thought that the Lord is standing all the time and giving darshan and He must be feeling very tired.

So one day very innocently he asked the Lord whether he can take the place of the Lord for a day so that the Lord can have some relief and rest.

The Deity of Dwarakadish replied, "I do not mind taking a break. I will transform you like Myself, but you must do one thing. You must just stand here like Me, smile at everyone and just give benedictions. Do not interfere with anything and do not say anything. Remember you are the deity and you just have faith that I have a master plan for everything." The sweeper agreed to this.

The next day the sweeper took the position of the deity and a rich man came and prayed to the Lord. He offered a nice donation and prayed that his business should be prosperous. While going, the rich man inadvertently left his wallet full of money right there. Now the sweeper in the form of deity could not call him and so he decided to control himself and keep quiet.

Just then a poor man came and he put one coin in the Hundi box and said that it was all he could afford and he prayed to the Lord that he should continue to be engaged in the Lord’s service. He also said that his family was in dire need of some basic needs but he left it to the good hands of the Lord to give some solution. When he opened his eyes, he saw the wallet left by the rich man. The poor man thanked the Lord for His kindness and took the wallet very innocently. The sweeper in the form of the Deity could not say anything and he had to just keep smiling.

At that point a sailor walked in. He prayed for his safe journey as he was going on a long trip. Just then the rich man came with the police and said that somebody has stolen his wallet and seeing the sailor there, he asked the police to arrest him thinking that he might have taken it. Now the sweeper in the form of Deity wanted to say that the sailor is not the thief and he could not say and he was greatly frustrated.

The sailor looked at the Lord and asked why he an innocent person is being punished. The rich man looked at the Lord and thanked Him for finding the thief. The sweeper in the deity form could no more tolerate and he thought that even if the real Lord had been here, he would have definitely interfered and hence he started speaking and said that the sailor is not the thief but it was the poor man who took away the wallet. The rich man was very thankful as also the sailor.

In the night, the real Dwarakadish came and He asked the sweeper how the day was.

The sweeper said, "I thought it would be easy, but now I know that Your days are not easy, but I did one good thing." Then he explained the whole episode o the Lord. The Lord became very upset on hearing this whereas the sweeper thought the Lord would appreciate him for the good deed done.

The Lord asked, "Why did you not just stick to the plan? You had no faith in Me. Do you think that I do not understand the hearts of all those who come here? All the donation which the rich man gave was all stolen money and it is only a fraction of what he really has and he wants Me to reciprocate unlimitedly. The single coin offered by the poor man was the last coin he was having and he gave it to Me out of faith. The sailor might not have done anything wrong, but if the sailor were to go in the ship that night he was about to die because of bad weather and instead if he is arrested he would be in the jail and he would have been saved form a greater calamity. The wallet should go to the poor man because he will use it in My service. I was going to reduce the rich man’s karma also by doing this and save the sailor also. But you cancelled everything because you thought you know My plan and you made your own plans."

Moral of the story:

Unfortunately this is my position also because I do not have belief and faith in the plan of the Lord as I do not know His plans. Srimad Bhagavatam very wonderfully explains this point in verse 1.9.16:

na hy asya karhicid raajan / pumaan veda vidhitsitam
yad vijijnaasayaa yuktaa / muhyanti kavayo ’pi hi

"O King, no one can know the plan of the Lord [Sri Krishna]. Even though great philosophers inquire exhaustively, they are bewildered."

Srila Prabhupada therefore very strongly advises in his purport, "Even the exhaustive philosophical inquiries of sages cannot ascertain the plan of the Lord. The best policy is simply to abide by the orders of the Lord without argument."

( Story nareted by His Mahavishnu Goswami )

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share thismoral / instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefitted by hearing about Krishna and his dear devotees.

Potency of prasadam

Story: Potency of prasadam!

Once Sripad Ramanujacarya was walking along a pond with few 5 top sannyasi disciples.

Stopping by a pond, he took some prasadam and threw half of it in the water for the fishes. Then he got up to walk on.

The fishes that took the prasadam assumed the four handed forms, rose up in the air and reached Vaikuntha.

When his disciples saw this they are wonder stuck. They were amazed by this scene. So this 5 sannyasis stopped and didn't wanted to move forward.

Ramanuja turned and asked them why they were not following.

They said, "We are thunder- struck. Please explain what we have just seen. Otherwise, how can we follow behind you in this condition?"

Ramanuja told them that its the potency of maha - prasadam ( remnants of food eaten by great devotees of Krishna ).

When they inquired how although they had been honoring the maha - prasadam all these years - nothing had happened to them so far, Ramanauja replied -

"These creatures have no free will, and therefore make no offense. Nor do they doubt the transcendental power of maha - prasadam. So they get full benefit at once. But you with your free will and human intelligence make offenses and are lacking in faith, and thus you hinder your own progress."
( Story narrated in biography of Ramanujaacarya )

Moral of the story:

Krishna prasadam has immense potency. But many times we don't realise its power. So whenever we honour prasadam - we should understand that its Krishna's mercy and honour the same with faith and gratitude.

Holly book Caitanya Caritamrita Antya 16.59 says:

krsnera ucchista haya `maha-prasada' nama
`bhakta-sesa' haile `maha-maha-prasadakhyana'

The remnants of food offered to Lord Krsna are called maha-prasadam. After this same maha-prasadam has been taken by a devotee, the remnants are elevated to maha-maha-prasadam.

TEXT 60
bhakta-pada-dhuli ara bhakta-pada-jala
bhakta-bhukta-avasesa,--tina maha-bala

The dust of the feet of a devotee, the water that has washed the feet of a devotee, and the remnants of food left by a devotee are three very powerful substances.

TEXT 61

ei tina-seva haite krsna-prema haya
punah punah sarva-sastre phukariya kaya

By rendering service to these three, one attains the supreme goal of
ecstatic love for Krsna. In all the revealed scriptures this is loudly
declared again and again.

TEXT 62
tate bara bara kahi,--suna bhakta-gana
visvasa kariya kara e-tina sevana

Therefore, my dear devotees, please hear from me, for I insist again and again: please keep faith in these three and render service to them without hesitation.

TEXT 63

tina haite krsna-nama-premera ullasa
krsnera prasada, tate `saksi' kalidasa

From these three one achieves the highest goal of life-ecstatic love of
Krsna. This is the greatest mercy of Lord Krsna. The evidence is Kalidasa himself.

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share this moral / instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefitted by hearing about Krishna and his dear devotees.

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Ramanujacarya and mantra Om namo Narayanaya

Mantra Story: Ramanujacarya and mantra Om namo Narayanaya

Once Ramanujaacarya aproached his guru to recive secret mantra initiation.

The guru, Gosthipurna began to consider the matter deeply, but still he was unwilling to give the mantra to any person.

Time and again Ramanuja approached him, but repeatedly Gosthipurna refused his request. When his appeals had been denied on eighteen separate occasions, Ramanuja began to feel that there must be some great impurity in his heart and that it was for this reason that Gosthipurna would not bestow his mercy upon him. In this state of dejection, Ramanuja began to shed tears of despair.

When some people informed Gosthipurna of Ramanuja's condition, he was moved by pity for the young devotee.

Therefore, when Ramanuja came before him again, he spoke to him in a kind way. "Only Lord Visnu Himself is aware of the glories of this mantra. Now I know that you are worthy to receive it, for you are pure and firmly fixed in devotion to the lotus feet of the Lord. At the present time I can find no one but yourself who is fit to receive the mantra, for whoever chants it is certain to go to Vaikuntha at the time of death. Because this mantra is so pure and sacred, it must not be touched by the lips of anyone who has material desires. Therefore, you must not disclose the mantra to any other person"

Having thus instructed Ramanuja, Gosthipurna initiated him into the chanting of the mantra of eight syllables. Ramanuja was filled with ecstasy to chant this wonderful vibration, and his face began to glow with spiritual effulgence. He considered himself the most blessed of all beings and bowed again and again at the feet of his guru.

REVEALING THE SECRET MANTRA

Having taken leave of Sri Gosthipurna, Ramanuja, in a joyful mood, began to return to Sri Rangam.

But as he was walking, he began to think about the potency of the mantra that had been given to him. While thinking in this way, he became filled with feelings of compassion for the sufferings of all living beings in this material world.

Then, as he was walking near the walls of the Visnu temple in Tirukkotiyur, he began to call out to all the people who were passing by, "Please, all of you, come near to Lord Visnu's temple, and I will give you a priceless jewel!"

Attracted by his pure expression and unusual words, a large crowd of men, women, and children began to follow him. A rumor began to spread all over the town that a prophet had appeared who could fulfill all of one's desires.

Within a short time a huge crowd had assembled outside of the temple. On seeing this mass of humanity, Ramanujas heart swelled with joy. He embraced the two disciples who had accompanied him, Dasarathi and Kuresa, and then climbed up the tower of the temple.

In a loud voice he began to address the gathering: "All of you are more dear to me than my own life. Therefore I have a strong desire to deliver you from the torments and sufferings all of us must undergo in this temporary world. Please recite this mantra which I have obtained for you. Do this, and the Lord's mercy will be upon you."

When they heard Ramanuja's words, all the people in the crowd called out, "Please tell us the mantra. Shower the Lord's blessings upon us!"

Then Ramanuja called out in a deep resounding voice the mantra he had just received from Gosthipurna;

OM NAMO NARAYANAYA

Immediately the crowd responded, everyone calling out the sacred words together, producing a sound like thunder. Twice more Ramanuja called out the mantra, and twice more the thunderous response resounded from the crowd.

Every person became silent and looked at one another with feelings of deep ecstasy in their hearts. At that time it seemed that the earth had become Vaikuntha.

The faces of the men, women and children were flushed with joy and it seemed that all miseries were gone from the earth. Those who had come running to the temple hoping to receive gold or jewels, immediately forgot their worldly desires, feeling as if they had been given a diamond in place of a piece of broken glass.

As the joyful crowd melted away, men and women came and prostrated themselves beforeRamanuja, considering themselves most blessed to have received such a benediction from that great soul.

Ramanuja then climbed down from the tower and began walking towards Gosthipurna's residence to worship the feet of his guru.

GOSTHIPURNA'S ANGER

By this time Gosthipurna had come to hear in detail of everything that had taken place outside the temple and was extremely angry, feeling Ramanuja had betrayed his trust.

When Ramanuja approached him with his two disciples, the aged acarya addressed him in a voice that trembled with rage. ‘Get out of my sight, O lowest of men! I have committed a great sin by entrusting the most precious gem to such an untrustworthily person as yourself. Why have you come here again, forcing me to commit the sin of looking at your face? Surely you are destined to live in hell for countless lifetimes.’’

Without any sign of remorse, Ramanuja replied to his guru in a most humble manner, saying, ‘ It was only because I am prepared to suffer in hell that I dared to go against your order. You told me that whoever chanted the mantra of eight syllables was certain to be liberated. Thus, according to your words, so many people are now destined to find shelter at Lord Narayana’s lotus feet. If an insignificant person like me has go to hell, it is off no great importance if so many others thereby attain the mercy of Lord Narayana.’’

On hearing these words, which fully revealed the depth of the devotee’s compassion , Gosthipurna was completely stunned and filled with great wonder. All his fierce anger disappeared in an instant, like the passing of violent storm, and he embraced Ramanuja with profound affection. Everyone who was able to witness this transformation was filled with joy and astonishment.

Gosthipurna then addressed Ramanuja with folded palms, ‘My child, I have never known anyone so magnanimous as yourself. From this day you are my guru, and I am your disciple.

Moral of the story:

Knowledge is meant for distribution.We should give our best to spread the divenie light of mantras by distributing the transcendental knowledge for the benefit of everyone.

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share this moral / instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefitted by hearing about Krishna and his dear devotees.

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