Spirituality in Spring
Lectures on Shrimad Bhagavatam
Gaudiya Vaishnava Association (GVA), founded by His Divine Grace Shrila Bhakti
Swarup Tirtha Goswami Maharaj with the sole objective of spreading spiritual
awareness all over the world, and to propagate, preach and promote the only
means of deliverance - the chanting of the Holy Names of God, Shri Krishna. In
order to bring this awareness, GVA conducted the Spirituality in Spring lecture
series from Shrimad Bhagavatam between April 18 and May 9 in Cumming, Johns
Creek, and Alpharetta. His Divine Grace, one of the eminent speakers of Bhakti
Yoga and preacher of Vedic scriptures, gave discourses from the Shrimad
Bhagavatam. Shrila Maharaj covered select verses from Shrimad Bhagavatam, Cantos
6,7 and 11 during this period.
Cumming: Deliverance of Ajamila
Shrila Maharaj explained how Ajamila was saved by the Vishnudutas from the
yamadutas and in this connection he quoted what Yamaraja instructed his
servants, "One who constantly hears and chants the holy name of the Lord and His
activities can very easily attain the platform of pure devotional service, which
can cleanse the dirt from one’s heart. One cannot achieve such purification
merely by observing vows and performing Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. It is a
fact that even a chronically sinful person who chants the holy name of the Lord,
although not completely without offenses, does not take another material birth".
Shrila Maharaj, while describing the battle between the demigods and the demon
Vritrasura, informed that at the end of Satya-yuga and the beginning of
Treta-yuga, a great fight took place between the demigods and the asuras. Unable
to tolerate the effulgence of the demigods, the asuras fled the battle, leaving
Vrtrasura, their commander in chief, to fight for himself. Vṛtrāsura, however,
seeing the demons fleeing, instructed them in the importance of fighting and
dying in the battlefield and said, “There are two ways to meet a glorious death,
and both are very rare. One is to die after performing mystic yoga, especially
bhakti-yoga, by which one can control the mind and living force and die absorbed
in thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The second is to die on the
battlefield, leading the army and never showing one’s back. These two kinds of
death are recommended in the śāstra as glorious". Shrila Maharaj clarified that
though Vrtrasura was a demon he could talk philosophy because he was a devotee
king named Chitraketu in his previous life and due to a curse had to take birth
as a demon. In this context, he also described the story of King Chitraketu and
how he met the Supreme Lord and received knowledge from Him.
Johns Creek: Prahlada Maharaja, the Saintly Son of Hiranyakasipu
Next, Shrila Maharaj spoke the Science of God from Canto 7, explaining how
Hiranyakasipu terrorized the Universe and his saintly son Prahlada. Prahlada
Maharaj, speaking about devotional service to Lord Hari, adviced his schoolmates
what he learned of Bhagavata dharma in the womb of his mother. Shrila Maharaj
also described the four social classes known as varnashrama dharma, the
regulative principles to be followed by sannyasis and the occupational duties of
a householder.
On April 28th, GVA celebrated Shri Nrsimha Chaturdasi, the appearance day of
Lord Shri Nrsimhadeva. This has been observed for millennia in India and is now
celebrated worldwide. His story is beautifully told in Shrimad Bhagavatam. Lord
Nrsimhadeva is known as the protector of His devotees and the remover of all
obstacles and difficulties on the path of devotion. On this auspicious day,
Shrila Maharaj out of his causeless mercy gave initiation to devotees and also
explained the importance of being initiated. Later, he gave a special discourse
on the killing of Hiranyakasipu by Lord Nrsimhadeva and how Prahlada pacifies
the Lord with his prayers.
Prahlada Maharaja is the best among exalted devotees. He says, “O great one, O
Supreme Lord, because of combination with pleasing and displeasing circumstances
and because of separation from them, one is placed in a most regrettable
position, within heavenly or hellish planets, as if burning in a fire of
lamentation. Although there are many remedies by which to get out of miserable
life, any such remedies in the material world are more miserable than the
miseries themselves. Therefore I think that the only remedy is to engage in Your
service. Kindly instruct me in such service.”
He continues to pray, “O my Lord Nrsimhadeva, by engaging in Your transcendental
loving service in the association of devotees who are liberated souls [hamsas],
I shall become completely uncontaminated by the association of the three modes
of material nature and be able to chant the glories of Your Lordship, who are so
dear to me. I shall chant Your glories, following exactly in the footsteps of
Lord Brahmā and his disciplic succession. In this way I shall undoubtedly be
able to cross the ocean of nescience.”
In terms of protection in this material world, he prays, “My Lord Nrsimhadeva, O
Supreme, because of a bodily conception of life, embodied souls neglected and
not cared for by You cannot do anything for their betterment. Whatever remedies
they accept, although perhaps temporarily beneficial, are certainly impermanent.
For example, a father and mother cannot protect their child, a physician and
medicine cannot relieve a suffering patient, and a boat on the ocean cannot
protect a drowning man.”
Lord Nrsimhadeva wanted to bestow benedictions upon Prahlada Maharaja, one after
another, but Prahlada Maharaja, thinking them impediments on the path of
spiritual progress, did not accept any of them. Instead, he fully surrendered at
the Lord’s lotus feet.
Alpharetta: Lord Krishna Explains the Yoga System & Mystic Yoga Perfections
From Canto 11 Shrila Maharaj explained the yoga system and the process of
meditation as spoken by Lord Krishna to Shri Uddava. Devotional service to the
Supreme Lord is the most excellent method of spiritual practice. This section is
also called – Shri Uddhava Gita where Lord Shri Krishna instructs Shri Uddhava,
His friend and ardent devotee on the science of Self Realization. Shrila Maharaj
presented this great philosophical treatise with indepth explanations. Shrila
Maharaj also spoke about Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa"s manifest opulences in terms of His
specific potencies of knowledge, strength, influence, and so on. On the final
day of the discourse, Shrila Maharaj held a group kirtan session that enthralled
the devotees and guests. GVA Gurukul students recited slokas from Shrimad
Bhagavatam and Shri Bhagavat Gita. Genuine spiritual seekers and devotees from
Missouri, Washington DC, New York, Arizona and Texas traveled to Atlanta and
attended the sessions.
Shrila Maharaj held kirtans at the airport before departing from Atlanta to
continue his preaching mission in Europe. Many travelers at the airport were
very much attracted to the kirtan. They met Shrila Maharaj, spoke to him in
person, had photo sessions and received his blessings.
Reading Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam brings about peace of the
mind, soul, and body. Shrila Maharaj has given discourses which are available in
CD/DVD/USB media for the benefit of all groups of people. Interested people are
welcome to contact GVA at 1-888-9GVA-USA or visit online at
www.bhagavatvani.org
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