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Glories of Kartik - The Mouse, the Lamp and the Queen

 Srila Jiva Goswami writes in Bhakti-sandarbha, anuccheda 153: astu tāvat śuddha-bhakty-ābhāsasya vārtā, aparādhatvena dṛśyamāno ‘py asau mahā-prabhāvo dṛśyate. It is seen that the activities of pure bhakti when performed even without a devotional attitude are still very powerful. Srila Jiva Goswami then cites an example from the Viṣṇudharmottara Purāṇa of an ordinary mouse who became a devotee and a queen due to some superficial contact with the Lord. A similar story is also found the Padma Purāṇa. In the Viṣṇudharmottara (1.167), Markandeya Rishi relates the following to King Vajra. In the country of Vidarbha there lived a king named Chitraratha. He had one hundred and fifteen sons, but only one daughter, whose name was Lalitika. She was endowed with all good qualities and possessed matchless beauty. Her father gave her in marriage to the righteous king of Kashi. That law-abiding king of Kashi had three hundred wives, but Lalitika became his principal queen. Beginning from the dark h
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Bhisma Pancaka

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𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗮𝗸𝗮 What is the meaning of bhīṣma-pañcaka? Bhishma left his body on the Makara Sankranthi when the Sun enters Capricorn which generally would fall in the month of January. However, the vrata of bhīṣma-pañcaka is the last week of the month of Kartika. . Bhīṣma-pancaka was not the last days that Bhishmadeva was on the bed of arrows. The name and meaning of this ritual seems to have originated from Krishna or Lord Vishnu giving this vrata to Bhishmadev. It is described in the Padma Purāṇa as well as some of the writings of our ācāryas. . In the 124th chapter of the Uttara-khanda (5th canto) of the Padma Purana, Lord Shiva speaks about it to his son Kartikeya. In text 29 Shiva says: . pravakṣyāmi mahāpuṇyaṁ vrataṁ vidhimatāṁ varaḥ | bhīṣmeṇaitadyataḥ prāptaṁ vrataṁ pañca-dinātmakam || . "O you who are the best amongst the believers in vows, I shall explain to you the very meritorious vow which lasts for five days. Since Bhishma got it from Vi
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Four principles of Surrender

1. Krsna, I am yours.  mamaivamso jiva loke jiva bhuta sanatana jivera swarupa hoye krsnera nitya dasa 2. Radha Krsna are the goal of my life. jivane nidhane nityam radha krsna gatir mama jivane marane gati ara nahi mora sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja 3. Whatever calamity comes in life, I will never take shelter of anyone else other than Radha Krsna. Like a chaste wife. avasya raksibe Krsna avasya palana goptrtve varanam aslisya va pada ratam tvayi me ananya visaya 4. I will use body, mind and words in Krsna's service. tat ne anukampam susumiksamano - hrd vak vapur sa vai manah krsno pada aravindayo - Ambarisa Maharaj  ahaṁ hare tava pādaika-mūla-Vrtrasura vani gunanu kathane sravanau kathayam-Manigriva Nalakuvera kayena vaca manasendriyaiva manasa deha geho jo kichu mor
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Ganesh Caturthi Meditation

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namo namo vando deva gaṇeśvara vighna-vināśana mahāśaya ekadanta mahākāya sarvakārye sahāya jaya jaya pārvatī tanaya Translation: I pray to Śrī Gaṇeśa — the destroyer of obstacles, who has the body of a huge elephant with one tusk. He brings success in all endeavors. All glories to Lord Ganesa, the son of Parvati Devi. — Caitanya-maṅgala, Sūtra-khaṇḍa, Chp 1, Verse 2 सर्वसिद्धिप्रदो देव गणेश भगवन्नमः। यथा कृष्णो लभेत्सिद्धिं तथा लोकत्रये कुरु॥ sarva-siddhi-prado deva gaṇeśa bhagavan namaḥ yathā kṛṣṇo labhet siddhiṁ tathā loka-traye kuru Translation: O almighty! O Lord! O Gaṇeśa! O bestower of all perfections! In all the three worlds please bestow upon us the perfection by which we will be able to attain Sri Krishna. — Vraja-bhakti-vilāsaḥ 3.43 avaiṣṇaveṣu paśyatsu mama pūjāṁ karoti yaḥ apūjayitvā vighneśaṁ sambhāṣya ca kapālinam Translation: [The Supreme Lord says]: Those who worship me on seeing an atheist non-vaiṣṇava, who worship me without worshiping Gaṇeśa and who worship me after
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Prayer to the Pancatattva

 Amrta-pravaha-bhasya by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur.  TEXT 2 jaya jaya sri-krsna-caitanya gauracandra jaya jaya paramananda jaya nityananda SYNONYMS jaya jaya--all glories; sri-krsna-caitanya--Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu; gaura-candra--whose name is Lord Gauranga; jaya jaya--all glories; paramananda--most joyful; jaya--all glories; nityananda--unto Nityananda Prabhu. TRANSLATION Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is known as Gaurasundara. I also offer my respectful obeisances unto Nityananda Prabhu, who is always very joyful. TEXT 3 jaya jayadvaita acarya krpamaya jaya jaya gadadhara pandita mahasaya SYNONYMS jaya jaya--all glories; advaita--unto Advaita Prabhu; acarya--teacher; krpamaya--very merciful; jaya jaya--all glories to; gadadhara--of the name Gadadhara; pandita--learned scholar; mahasaya--great personality. TRANSLATION Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Advaita Acarya, who is very merciful, and also to that great personality
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Forgiveness

 Should I Forgive Him? Once upon a time Bali Maharaja approached Prahlada Maharaja and asked him, “Which is actually best, forgiveness or the use of strength?” Prahlada Maharaja thought for some time and replied, “Neither forgiveness nor the use of strength is good in all situations. If one were to always forgive, then his servants, dependents and even strangers would disrespect him. When one always forgives and never shows the strength to chastise and correct, then mean-minded servants gradually steal away all one’s wealth and fail to favorably respond to commands. On the other hand, one who simply punishes and never forgives soon finds himself bereft of all servants and friends. Indeed everyone comes to hate such an unforgiving person, and when there is the slightest opportunity, they will do something to inconvenience or harm him. Therefore, the conclusion is that strength and forgiveness should be exhibited at the proper times. “My dear Bali, the following persons should be forgive
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Vaijayanti mala/Vyjayanti Mala

 Tulasi, kunda, mandara, parijata, kamala
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