...Intro'
...Feature Articles: The Lord kindly appears to please His devotee:
...About the web-site: What's there - how to utilize it.......
...New Entries on the Web-site..... quite a few since the last newsletter.
...SEARCH for Ishthadevatas and Devotees on the site......
...Please Visit the ARTICLES pages
...More Nectar: Prasadam of the Silas
...The functional purpose of the divisions of Archana - Panchanga:
...World Vegetarian Day October 1st - World Vegetarian Awareness Month
...Govardhan Puja & Annakuta
...Travelling Lord by Bhaktisiddhanta swami
...News Item ( Pilgrimage to the top of the world - Damodar Kunda)
...We should be very much careful to see Krishna - ACBSP - 29th September 1974
...Letters from readers............ leading us to the edge !!!
...Outro'

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Sri-murti-lakshana, aara shaalagraama-lakshana
   krishna-kshetra-yaatraa, krishna-murti-darshana

“The characteristics of the Deities should be discussed, as well as the characteristics of the Shalagrama-shila. You should also discuss visiting the Deities in the temple and touring holy places like Vrindavana, Mathura and Dvaraka."

 (Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya-lila 24:335. text - 61 Explanations of Atmarama verse)
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...Intro'

Hare Krishna
Namaskaragalu - Vanakkam - G'day

Please accept my respectful obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupad, All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga,
All glories to all the Vaishnava devotees of the Lord - Chari Vaishnava sampradaya ki jaya

Sri Swayam-vyakta Shaligram Sila, Dwaraka Sila, Govardhan Sila ki jaya

Welcome to what we hope to be the first of many newsletters. The present plan is to attempt to maintain the site nicely and keep updating with new information and pictures and additions to help enthuse everyone, and use this newsletter to help keep everyone informed about that. With my other various services we figured that Quarterly would be a feasible beginning, so we are looking at April - July - Sept - Dec for now.
 
We very much welcome constructive feedback to further assist the development of the site and newsletter services - always open to that.
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...Feature Article: The Lord kindly appears to please His devotee:

tvam bhakti-yoga-paribhävita-hrit-saroja
 ässe shrutekshita-patho nanu nätha pumsäm
yad-yad-dhiyä ta urugäya vibhävayanti
 tat-tad-vapuh pranayase sad-anugrahäya

"O my Lord, Your devotees can see You through the ears by the process of bona fide hearing, and thus their hearts become cleansed, and You take Your seat there. You are so merciful to Your devotees that You manifest Yourself in the particular eternal form of transcendence in which they always think of You." (Srimad Bhagavatam 3:9:11.)

PURPORT:
The statement here that the Lord manifests Himself before the devotee in the form in which the devotee likes to worship Him indicates that the Lord becomes subordinate to the desire of the devotee—so much so that He manifests His particular form as the devotee demands. This demand of the devotee is satisfied by the Lord because He is pliable in terms of the transcendental loving service of the devotee. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gitä (4.11): ye yathä mäm prapadyante täms tathaiva bhajämy aham. We should note, however, that the Lord is never the order supplier of the devotee. Here in this verse it is particularly mentioned: tvam bhakti-yoga-paribhävita. This indicates the efficiency achieved through execution of matured devotional service, or premä, love of Godhead. This state of premä is achieved by the gradual process of development from faith to love. On faith one associates with bona fide devotees, and by such association one can become engaged in bona fide devotional service, which includes proper initiation and the execution of the primary devotional duties prescribed in the revealed scriptures. This is clearly indicated herein by the word shrutekshita.
        The shrutekshita path is to hear from bona fide devotees who are conversant with Vedic wisdom, free from mundane sentiment. By this bona fide hearing process, the neophyte devotee becomes cleansed of all material rubbish, and thus he becomes attached to one of the many transcendental forms of the Lord, as described in the Vedas.

This attachment of the devotee to a particular form of the Lord is due to natural inclination. Each and every living entity is originally attached to a particular type of transcendental service because he is eternally the servitor of the Lord. Lord Chaitanya says that the living entity is eternally a servitor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna. Therefore, every living entity has a particular type of service relationship with the Lord, eternally. This particular attachment is invoked by practice of regulative devotional service to the Lord, and thus the devotee becomes attached to the eternal form of the Lord, exactly like one who is already eternally attached. This attachment for a particular form of the Lord is called svarüpa-siddhi. The Lord sits on the lotus heart of the devotee in the eternal form the pure devotee desires, and thus the Lord does not part from the devotee, as confirmed in the previous verse. The Lord, however, does not disclose Himself to a casual or unauthentic worshiper to be exploited. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gitä (7.25): näham prakäshah sarvasya yoga-mäyä-samävritah. Rather, by yoga-mäyä, the Lord remains concealed to the nondevotees or casual devotees who are serving their sense gratification. The Lord is never visible to the pseudodevotees who worship the demigods in charge of universal affairs.
        The conclusion is that the Lord cannot become the order supplier of a pseudodevotee, but He is always prepared to respond to the desires of a pure, unconditional devotee, who is free from all tinges of material infection. (Srila A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad Bhagavatam 3:9:11. purport)

http://www.salagram.net/sstp-swarupsiddhi.html
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...About the web-site: What's there - how to utilize it.......

We have started this web-site and news-letter for the purpose of sharing inspiration among like minded devotees, with a like interest in serving the Lord. On the www.salagram.net/ site there are many topics all referenced to shastra with the express purpose of helping us all over the world to have Sadhu-sanga http://www.salagram.net/sstp-sadhusanga.html So we have tried to create a sacred place in Cyber-space where devotees can find refuge, can associate, gain inspiration, share inspiration, hence it is Shaligram Tirtha, a Holy Tirtha in Cyber-space. Some of you may have noticed the Warning........ it seems appropriate to some of us it be there as many devotees were feeling they didn't want to express themselves or reveal their "bhav" least people who had no such appreciation might misunderstand - misinterpret - criticise what they saw or read due to their own vision/motivation/agenda. So following the advice of shastra we are keeping our Ishthadevas hidden while sharing mutual appreciation found in rendering some small service to the Lord.

Those of you who haven't visited the site recently will find transcendental pleasure that there are so many resources and articles, all of which you are welcome to download or copy for your personal use and to inspire others. If however you find a published article there that you would like to publish or if you have a site or some media whereby you would like to on-share with others just check with me to see who holds the legal copywrite if none are mentioned, as we don't want to offend anyone, or do anything illegal, even with our zealousness to share nectar.

If you find any inspirational articles, or items, or pictures relevant to this site please feel free to send them to us. Please include all available references and details so that everything can be appreciated fully by all.

If for some reason http://www.salagram.net/index.html isn't working or available then please go to the mirror site http://www.hknet.org.nz/Sri-Shaligram-Tirtha.htm - and please remember to save these URLs in your Favorites (IE) or Hotlist (Opera) Bookmarks (Netscape).
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...New Entries on the Web-site..... last update 30th August 2003
www.salagram.net/sstp-NEW.html

In this section you can see all the latest additions, new picture updates of all the various devotees and Silas on the site.

We keep this page separate from the main SEARCH page so that regular nectar loving bees can quickly find their sweet flavoured source in what/Who has been recently added to the site. SEARCH and ARTICLES links and all other pages are also updated simultaneously.
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...SEARCH for Isthadevatas and Devotees on the site......
www.salagram.net/sstp-SEARCH4devs.html

"There are no strangers, only friends we are yet to meet" (unknown author)

To all those devotees who are receivers of this first newsletter; if you still haven't sent in photos or introductory descriptions or stories for the Sila in your care, that's okay, time is not out, you can still send. We are continuously updating the pages, so your sending pictures etc is never too late. Please send.

If you have Photoshop please "save for web" to keep the size down, but if you don't have that too is okay, just send, I can "save for web" also, if that will help. If you don't have a scanner that too is no problem, please send me an e-mail and I'll give you the address where you can post (snail-mail) your photographs, and there's always disposable Fuji cameras if things get really tough...... Please also view the article by Param Seva prabhu www.salagram.net/sstp-HELP.html
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...Please Visit the ARTICLES pages
www.salagram.net/sstp-ARTICLES.html

As the late Bhakta George Harrison so nicely put it in the preface of the Krsna Book, "The proof of the pudding is in the eating", so please go to the Articles section and make good use of all the links there. There's so much information and we hope and pray that you find it as useful as we have. =>:-))

This section has to be seen to be believed. We have tried, and had much success to find articles on almost every aspect of Shalagram seva pujan. All articles are clearly marked and ready for your perusal. We trust this serves you in this seva well.

Developing firm faith in the inconceivable potency of the Lord:

The episode of Shakshi Gopal:
http://www.gauranga.org/saksi.htm

Sripada Gopal Bhatta Goswami's Sri Sri Radha Raman Shaligram:
http://www.salagram.net/parishad21.htm

"The Divine Form" by Sripad Sadagopan Iyengar of the Sri Vaishnava sampradaya
http://www.salagram.net/sstp-Deityworship.html#TheDivineForm

General information from the Puranic Encyclopedia CDRom
http://www.salagram.net/sstp-Vigraha.html

See many more articles on similar topics HERE:
http://www.salagram.net/sstp-ARTICLES.html
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The benefits of partaking of the sacred remnants from the Shaligram Sila from Hari Bhakti Vilas:

SALAGRAMA SILA TOYAM YAH PIVET VINDUNA SAMAM
MATUH STANYAM PUNAR NAIVA SAPIVET BHAKTI BHANG NARAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/22 from PADMA PURANA)

 Any person, if he has even taken one drop of water which has washed Salagram Shila, he will not have to suck a mother's breast again in the future. (will not take birth in the material world again)

BHAKTYA BHUNAKTI NAIVEDYAM SALAGRAMA SILARPITAM
KOTIM MAKHASYA LABHATE PHALAM SATA SAHASRASAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/395 from SKANDA PURANA)

 One who eats food after offering it to Shalagram Shila, he achieves the results of performing one hundred times one thousand times one million fire sacrifices

YE PIVANTI NARA NITYAM SALAGRAMA SILA JALAM
PANCA GAVYA SAHASRAIS TU SEVITAIH KIM PRAYOJANAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 9/20 from PADMA PURANA)

 Any person who has drank the water which has bathed Shalagram Shila, what is the need for them to drink thousand and thousands of times pancagavya? (Pancagavya is made from five auspicious products of a cow offered to the Lord.)

GANGA GODAVARI REVA NADYO MUKTI PRADAS TU YAH
NIVASANTI SA TIRTHAS TAH SALAGRAMA SILA JALE
KOTI TIRTHA SAHASRAIS TU SEVITAIH KIM PRAYOJANAM
TIRTHAM YADI BHAVET PUNYAM SALAGRAMA SILODBHAVAM

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 3/293,294 from PADMA PURANA)

 The water which washed Shalagram Shila includes the water from the Ganga, Godavari, Reva and other liberating rivers. If this bath water from the Shalagram Shila is available, then there is no need for thousands of other places of pilgrimage.

GANGA PRAYAGA GAYA NAIMISA PUSKARANI
PUNYANI YANI KURU JANGALA YA MUNANI
KALENA TIRTHA SALILANI PUNANTI PAPAM
PADODAKAM BHAGAVATAH PRAPUNATI SADYAH

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 3/301 from NRSINGHA PURANA)

 Ganga, Prayaga, Gaya, Naimisa, Puskara, Kuruksetra, together with other places of pilgrimage, remove the sins of a person after long connection with them. But water which has washed the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead at once purifies a person.

Excerpt from www.salagram.net/shaligramHBV.htm

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Srila Prabhupada's words of encouragement:

ei-mata jagannätha karena bhojana
ei sukhe mahäprabhura juòäya nayana

SYNONYMS
ei-mata—in this way; jagannätha—Lord Jagannätha; karena bhojana—accepts His food; ei sukhe—in this happiness; mahäprabhura—of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahäprabhu; jutäya—become fully satisfied; nayana—the eyes.

TRANSLATION
Indeed, Sri Caitanya Mahäprabhu was fully satisfied just to see how Lord Jagannätha accepted all the food.

PURPORT
Following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahäprabhu, a Vaishnava should be fully satisfied simply to see a variety of food offered to the Deity of Jagannätha or Rädhä-Krishna. A Vaishnava should not hunger for a variety of food for his own sake; rather, his satisfaction is in seeing various foods being offered to the Deity. In his Gurv-ashtaka, Srila Vishvanätha Cakravarti Thäkura writes:

catur-vidha-sri-bhagavat-prasäda-
svädv-anna-triptän hari-bhakta-sanghän
kritvaiva triptim bhajatah sadaiva
vande guroh sri-caranäravinda **

“The spiritual master is always offering Krishna four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasädam, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.”
        The spiritual master’s duty is to engage his disciples in preparing varieties of nice foods to offer the Deity. After being offered, this food is distributed as prasädam to the devotees. These activities satisfy the spiritual master, although he himself does not eat or require such a variety of prasädam. By seeing to the offering and distribution of prasädam, he himself is encouraged in devotional service. (Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya lila 14:36. text & purport.)
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THE FUNCTIONAL PURPOSE OF THE DIVISIONS OF ARCHANA:

Panca Anga Puja:

Deity worship has been divided into five categories of activities in the pancaratra scriptures.

1. abhigamana  (approaching the Lord):

 This includes the preparatory activities such as cleaning oneself physically by bath, wearing fresh cloth, ornamenting oneself appropriately with tilaka and tulasi beads, cleaning the temple, removing used articles and cleaning them, and decorating the temple.

2. upadana (gathering articles):

This includes gathering flowers, tulasi, suitable fruits, preparing cooked foods, and selecting the proper utensils (upacharas) for the worship.

3. yoga (attaining spiritual identity):

This includes cleansing the body of material conception and assuming a spiritual body fit for service to the Lord, by means of mantra, bhuta suddhi, dhyana and manasa puja.

4. ijya (worship):

This refers to the external worship, or offering of upacharas such as asana, padyam, snana, dhupa, dipa, naivedyam etc., for the pleasure of the Deity.

5. svadhyaya (This includes all of the processes of cultivation, such as reading scripture, hearing and chanting the names and glories of the Lord, recitation, and spreading the fame of the Lord, putting on festivals, celebrating special days and events etc.):

From this analysis one can understand that archana does not consist of simply offering external articles to the murti of the Lord, but involves subtle preparatory and supplementary activities, all of which are also necessary for wholistic successful attainment of our focus in nicely executing the glorification of the Deity.  If one offers articles to the murti without being in spiritual consciousness we miss out on the relationship that the Deity has been placed there in order to give us the opportunity to have (love of God). As stated in Bhagavad Gita 9:27 it is not solely the offering of articles that please the Lord, for He is offered so many things in so many places, so many times a day. The mere external ritual actions may not necessarily alone favour the development of loving devotion, which is the goal if not saturated with loving sentiment. These five items (panch-anga) activities of the five limbs are of great assistance to the development of our spiritual qualification for those of us on the level of sadhana, and therefore it is greatly advantageous that they be practiced on a daily basis along with the external worship of the deity (ijya).
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World Vegetarian Day October 1st - World Vegetarian Awareness Month
*****HARNESSING A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY*****
OFFICIAL WORLD VEGETARIAN DAY - 1st OCTOBER
(Each Year) (...just a few days away - still time to organize something)

What a great opportunity to reach the masses world wide.

*Shaligrama Sila - Govardhan Sila maha-prasadam saturating the planet.......
*Book Distribution, including Higher Taste, Adiraj prabhu's, Kurma prabhu's Great Vegetarian Dishes, etc.
*Media awareness of Food For Life, Hare Krishna Sunday Feast programs, various Krishna conscious restaurants locally and world-wide.
*Interact with local Vegetarian Clubs and Societies
*Reaching the people through the media; TV, Radio, newspaper adds, KC Web-sites.
*Harinaams with prasadam distribution.
*University programs and or School programs.
....................................................................we're sure you know of more.

...in like a needle out like a plough !!!

If we all do something we can make a difference.

Again we're being given a golden opportunity to share the philosophy and life-style that Srila Prabhupad has given us.

Please let me know what you are doing in your local area to encourage and enthuse others to do so.

Individuals all, united as one in service.

Please view VEGETARIANISM and BEYOND http://turn.to/Vegetarianism or www.hknet.org.nz/Veges-Beyond5page.htm

There are Fact Sheets, FREE Downloads, samples, Useful links, and more information than most will ever need =>:-))
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Govardhan Puja - Annakuta seva and mass prasadam distribution:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/parishad77-g.htm

[As they came, bringing all kinds of food, Raghunatha dasa purchased it all.  He gave them the price for their goods and later fed them the very same food. Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita Antya 2-6-292]

[2-6-294:  Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed Raghunatha dasa, "This stone is the transcendental form of Lord Krsna.  Worship the stone with great eagerness."

PURPORT:  Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes in his Anubhasya that in the opinion of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the govardhana-sila, the stone from Govardhana Hill, was directly the form of Krsna, the son of Maharaja Nanda.  The Lord used the stone for three years, and then in the heart of Raghunatha dasa the Lord awakened devotional service to the stone.  The Lord then gave the stone to Raghunatha dasa, accepting him as one of His most confidential servants.  However, some envious people conclude that because Raghunatha dasa had not taken birth in the family of a brahmana, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not give him the right to worship the Deity directly, but instead gave him a stone from Govardhana.  This kind of thought is naraki, or hellish.  As stated in the Padma Purana, arcye visnau siladhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhih...yasya va naraki sah:  "One who considers the arca-murti (the worshipable Deity of Lord Visnu) to be stone, the spiritual master to be an ordinary human being, or a Vaisnava to belong to a particular creed is possessed of hellish intelligence."  If one thinks that the worshipable salagrama-sila is a mere stone, that the spiritual master is an ordinary human being or that a pure Vaisnava preaching the bhakti cult all over the world is a member of a particular caste or material division of society, he is considered a naraki, a candidate for hellish life.  When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed that the govardhana-sila, the stone taken from Govardhana, is non-different from the body of Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He indirectly advised such foolish persons that one should not be envious of a Vaisnava who belongs to a different caste or sect.  One should accept a Vaisnava as transcendental.  In this way one can be saved;  otherwise, one is surely awaiting a hellish life. Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita Antya 2-6-294]

[2-6-295:  Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "Worship this stone in the mode of goodness like a perfect brahmana, for by such worship you will surely attain ecstatic love of Krsna without delay. Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita Antya 2-6-295]

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Traveling Lords by HH Bhaktisiddhanta Swami

    Sometimes in the private worship, Thakurs may be placed on a hidden seat, where the sevak is the only `nectar bear' that gains access, however in some circles the Lords like to make a `physical presence' to reach out to others in need and not to be kept behind closed doors.

   From worship in Mayapur and the Nama hatta programs in various areas of Bengal, when our 9 Govardhana Silas and some 30 Shaligram visit the village homes in a velvet lined aluminum camera case, many of the devout villagers become so attracted having only heard about, but never seen `Such Lords'. They beg to have darshan, in fact I have had members of families, where the husbands will ask if they could personally offer some incense and prayers to the Lords(without any of the other associates around) and then as I am going out the door, the wives and children will come around to do just the same(without the husbands snooping over their shoulder). Sometimes the families will get jealous of the other householders, saying "Please bring Giriraja and Shaligram to our home so we can cook for Them". These Lords are portable and merciful so everyone's desires are fulfilled.

  Have you ever relished the boundless devotional foodstuffs, prepared by the assorted martial cooks in their spiritual kitchens? Well, then as part and parcel, isn't your desire a qualitative semblance to the quantitative Supreme Whole?   This propensity certainly resides within each of us, then what to speak of our Architect who has designed variety. In the Brahma Vimohana lila, Krsna expands to be mothered and fathered by all. Why should He limit the amount of cooks that cater to Him, or could we go as far to say, what about His arrangement for chefs of various culinary sensitivities?

   On our way to Malaysia (plane trips have their limitations in the fruit entrées), the Muslim immigrations were dumbfounded to understand that Allah could be worshipped in so many forms. "Ah yes, Allah hu akbar! `Allah is great' and even many yogis will worship these forms to become close to Him." Unfortunately, (or fortunately for them) they wanted to touch, for curiosity had the better of them. Have you ever experienced the `soul Supersoul transmission' when a covered living entity comes in contact with the Divine in this way and though materially they can't make heads or tails of the encounter, but still there is a `deep conscious attraction'? This often happens on book distribution.

  Finally, we are able to reach the spiritual atmosphere of the `Jagannath Mandir' in Kuala Lumpur. Here, there is this one mataji who would do the work of 5 seasoned cooks. Daily she would whip knock out preparations from sabjis, Chinese legumes, curds, tofu, sweets, yogurt drinks, ice cream, and six varieties of tropical fruits for the Thakurs.

   In Penang, the Sunday Feast consisted of around 12 preps, but when They arrived, the venue increased to 27 delicacies. A sudden inter yatra competition broke out, where the cooks in the different centers became absorbed in a particular `kitchen religion'. The Lords were being given at least two full course feasts a day.

  One night 20 devotees huddled into my room for a darshan of all the Deities, and it took me three repeated requests to ask people to leave the room. They were speechless and in anxiety about separation and like a little flock of sheep, stepping and pausing, stepping and pausing, making awkward movements as they huddled out the door.  Later in the evening, 3 children spent 4 hours and made 21 multicolored necklaces for the Silas (they were ready to make more the next day). The temple managers noticed that for the nine days in which the Lords were there, donations of goods and laxmi came to the center like never before. This temple's congregation also purchased 6 full sets.

  At BM, a nearby center, after lecture and kirtan, I was talking to one grhasta couple upstairs, above the prasadam hall, and we showed them one Matsya Sila and suddenly 70 devotees were called from down stairs to take darshan. They too had never seen and after doing acamana, everyone was able to touch. Many donations came and several days later, 3 Srimad Bhagavatam sets were purchased in the area. Could this be a confirmation that the Lord doesn't mind being the center of attention?

  In Keluk Intan, the devotees had heard about the previous episodes, so they begged to have all the Lords on a table before the main altar, and were then able to circumambulate the Supremes(7 times around a Govardhana Sila equals one Giriraja Parikrama). Sixty devotees attempted this, but the line became quite congested as everyone wanted to stand in front for darshan, the matajis impatiently looked onward and upward, waiting for the slow poke men to make it around first. After this 3 sets were sold.

  The scriptures say how any service done with the presence of shaligram is enhanced one million fold. Bhoga offered to the arca vigraha, is of course maha prasadam, but to self manifesting deities as Govardhana and Shaligram, one is blessed with maha maha, or better known as `amrita prasadam'. Taste and you will see.

  Kirtan is the same. Have you ever walked into a room and someone is talking about you and naturally your ears may perk up? Again, where does this propensity come from, Who likes to hear His own glories?  Krsna. The presence of the Lords not only creates atmosphere, but They are the best of listeners and reciprocators.

  In returning to India, a home program was arranged at the mansion of Calcutta's chief of police. The house was three floors of solid marble. The proprietors were thinking of calling their abode `The Royal House', we quickly renamed it `Svarga Loka' and if they became devotionally serious `New Mayapur Dhama'.  On the 2nd floor, a life size deity of Laxmi devi could be seen as you came up the stairs and to the left a beautiful temple room with see through glass doors had a deities of Sri Gopal, Gopesvara, Ganesh and various other personalities. Giriraja and Shaligram,  in Their case, were placed on a table before Gopal and the evening kirtan began.

  In front of the main temple room was this large tapestry rug on which the brahmacaris stood, playing kartal and mrdunga with showy precision, when suddenly out of now where, the two older daughters(big mamas) of the house, pushed our `saffron crew' off the rug and out of the way. They began to dance in a goose step fashion with hand mudras and golden bracelets chiming to the beat for ½ an hour. The boys looked at the display of spontaneity with humility and humor as the harmonium increased in tempo. Later, the matas mentioned that they had never danced before like this in their life. Afterwards they asked for two life memberships and two full sets. All glories to the traveling Lords.

  In conclusion, all of us are looking for that `special sweetness' in our service, as we attempt to interact with the Holy Name, the Deity form and with those in relationship to these Supremes. If we place ourselves in situations of unpredictability then surely the Lord can arrange adventures for His communicators. We can not help but notice; if we attempt to place the Lord `in the center' amazing things will happen. Have you observed the surcharged lively atmosphere at the temple festivals where the Deities are glorified by kirtan, pravacana and prasadam? This is so pleasing to Krsna, what to speak when He travels in `His mobile form' to the front lines and increases His own pleasure by blessing those who normally would never get to see Him.

   Your foreign correspondent,

      Bhaktisiddhanta Swami
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News Item: Now is a VERY good time to utilize this facility
 

Pilgrimage to the top of the world
 

Visit Muktinath or Damodar Kund in Northern Nepal the home of the Shaligram Sila

Fly up the Kali-gandaki gorge, the deepest natural gorge on the planet amid the towering Annapurna range of Himalayas. An experience of a life-time, with stunning views that will remain with you treasured for the rest of your life. Take a quick look here to whet your appetite....

There are two pilgrimage time periods when this region is accessible, as the rest of the year it is snow-bound.
                                                    Pre-monsoon pilgrimage:
                                                        April - May - June

                                                     Pre-winter pilgrimage:
                                               End of September - October - November

Kathmandu - Pokhara (By bus or plane - bus takes six - eight hours, plane takes less than an hour)

Pokhara - Muktinath (by Helicopter) where devotees get one hour to worship Muktinath and fly back to Pokhara then back to Kathmandu.
                                           Cost US $400.00 + $40.00 (if ktm-Pok by plane)

For Kathmandu - Pokhara (By bus or plane) Pokhara - Damodar kunda (by Helicopter) and fly back to Pokhara then back to Kathmandu.
                                           Cost US $850.00 + $40.00 (if ktm-Pok by plane)

  Damodar kunda Trekking Itinerary (Damodar kund now open to devotees)

          Day 01: Arrive at Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel
          Day 02: Half day sight seeing tour.
          Day 03: Ply to Pokhara
          Day 04: Fly Pokhara – Jomsom and trek to Kagbeni
          Day 05: Kagbeni - Tashukang O/N Camp
          Day 04: Tashukang - Tetang O/N Camp
          Day 05: Tetang - Tange O/N Camp
          Day 06: Tange - Surkhang O/N Camp
          Day 07: Surkhang – Luri O/N Camp
          Day 08: Lur i- Bas Khola  O/N Camp
          Day 09: Bas Khola – Damodar Kundai O/N Camp
          Day 10: Damodar Kunda- Luri O/N Camp
          Day 11: Luri - Ten O/N Camp
          Day 12: Ten – Tetang O/N Camp
          Day 13: Tetang- Muktinath
          Day 14: Muktinath-Jomsom
          Day 15: Jomsom- Pokhara
          Day 16: Pokhara- Kathamndu and transfer to hotel
          Day 17: Rest and explore your self.
          Day 18: Fly back to home.

Details:
·  Special Permit for 10 days US$ 700.00 Per Person & above 10 days every day 70.00 US$ more extra.
·  For Liaison officer expenses have to pay by clients
·  Client (s) should have fill up all form for permit with in 15 days before, departure for trekking

Cost - US $ 2600.00 per person for group of 5 people (Special permit fee included)

Cost Includes:
a) All domestic air and land fares within Nepal.
b) All three course meals in trekking days (not in hotels in Katmandu)
c) All staff and trekking leader wages included.
d) 4 nights at Kathmandu and 1 night in Pokhara on Bed and Breakfast.
e) Departure and arrival transportation.

(US$1900.) Cost does not include.
a) Visa fee - which will be purchased at your home country.
b) Special permit fee of Upper Mustang (US$700.)(makes the total of US$2600.)
c) Private and Personal Expenses - obviously.
d) Tips and donations that you may feel obliged to give along the way......

For those in doubt of ridiculous price of Special trekking permit, sadly these are the prices for such a remote area as Upper-Mustang. The following URLs are Nepali Government sites supporting and confirming the US$ 700 cost.http://www.manang.com/Trekking%20Permit.htm and http://www.project-himalaya.com/info-visa.html and http://www.buddhatreks.com/nepal/trekking/trekking-permit.htm sorry that's the Nepali Govt permit price!!!

Presently the going rate for The Permit is US $350

                              For Enquiries/Inquiries & Bookings send E-mail

mailto:salagram@xtra.co.nz
 

              To get some idea of the views etc please visit HERE: Visit Shaligram Tirtha

http://www.salagram.net/ShaligramTirtha.html

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We should be very much careful to see Krishna...........
Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 29th September 1974. Srimad Bhagavatam lecture SB 1:8:19. Mayapura, India

(this article is best viewed with the Balaram font - download it for free here www.hknet.org.nz/fonts.htm )

Translation: Being beyond the range of limited sense perception, the eternally irreproachable factor covered by the curtain of deluding energy, You are invisible to the foolish observer, exactly as an actor dressed as a player is not recognized.

Prabhupäda:
mäyä-javanikäcchannam
ajïädhokñajam avyayam
na lakñyase müòha-dåçä
naöo näöyadharo yathä

So one side is mäyä-javanikäcchannam. Mäyä, this illusory energy, is covering with the curtain. Just like we are seeing the Deity, but if there is a curtain, we cannot see. Similarly, there is a curtain which is illusory energy, mäyä. Big, big scientists, they cannot see what is behind this material nature. They cannot understand. Because the mäyä, this wonderful material energy, is acting in such a big curtain, they cannot understand that beyond this there is something else. They cannot understand. Mäyä-javanikä äcchannam. Illusory energy. They are thinking this material energy working, that is everything. Nothing beyond this. The whole world is covered. This is one side. And the other side: ajïä.

Mäyä-javanikäcchannam ajïä... These materialistic persons, they are ajïä, means they have no sufficient knowledge. Unless one develops the light of knowledge, sattva-guëa... Sattva-guëa is the light of knowledge. Rajo-guëa and tamo-guëa is darkness. Ignorance and passion. In this stage one cannot understand what is Kåñëa, what is God. Ajïä. Rajas-tamo-bhäväù [SB 1.2.19]. As we have discussed in Bhagavad, Çrémad-Bhägavatam, rajas-tamo-bhäväù, those who are infected with the two kinds of material modes, means rajo-guëa and tamo-guëa, they are simply busy, käma and lobha. They are busy only... Those who are passionate, they are simply busy for sense gratification, and those who are in ignorance, in darkness, they have no eyes to see.

So these two classes of men... Mostly people are infected with these two kinds of modes of material nature. Rajas-tamas. The whole world. At the present moment, especially, mostly ignorance, and some of them are passionate. That passionate tendency is engaging them for so many industries and very, very strong work, ugra-karma. Ugra-karma. Ugra-karma means very strong...? What is, should be the English word? Ugra... Ugra, just like chili, pungent. There are many things. They are very strong in taste. So ugra-karma, these... Just like they are building hundred-and-fifty-story building. People can live comfortably in a small cottage or one-storied house or little more. But no, theyre increasing. Their passionate activities are increasing. Just like in your country, in New York, now there is hundred-and-four-storied building, or more than that. Some building?

Brahmänanda: Hundred and ten.
Prabhupäda: Hundred and ten.
Brahmänanda: Two of them.
Prabhupäda: Two of them. Theyre increasing. They are thinking by increasing the stories more and more, that is advancement of civili... But how long you will increase? If you make million stories, still, it is unlimited. That we can see. So many airplanes are running in the sky. What is that? Still, it is vast. So many sputniks are running in the sky. Still, it is vast. So it is simply desire, that If I make a hundred-and-fifty-storied house, then my life is successful.So in this way, instead of not wasting valuable time of this human life, they are simply wasting time in this way. That is also explained in the Rämäyaëa. Just the Rävaëa. He wanted to make a staircase up to the heavenly planet. It is like that. Ugra-karma. Why they are doing so? Ajïä, ajïä. Foolish people.

Now, if we say that You are all foolish, rascal people. You are wasting your time in this way,they will think us crazy. And they think us like that, that we do not recommend these things. So it is very, very difficult to understand Kåñëa in this condition, in this situation. Mäyä-javanikäcchannam and ajïä, foolish people. Ajïä. And the other, other side, Kåñëa is adhokñaja. Even one is advanced in knowledge... Knowledge means, our knowledge means we manufacture words or syllables from A to Z. Thats all. ABCD. We compose words with these twenty-six, or how many? A to Z?

Devotee: Yes.
Prabhupäda: Yes. That is... And in Sanskrit, as in English it is A to Z, similarly in Sanskrit, a, a, i, u, and the end is kña. So a and kña, that is called akña. Akña-ja. And ja means generated. So we also compose words, those who are Sanskrit scholars, they compose words from a to akña, just like English they compose words from A to Z.

So our mental speculation and advancement of education is limited between this a and kña, akña. Akña-ja. But Kåñëa is adhokñaja. Adhokñaja means where these kinds of speculation, beginning from a to kña, will not act. Therefore His name is Adhokñaja. Adhaù kåta, cut down. (aside:) Why they are going? They are busy in some other work? Eh? Ugra-karma. Without hearing, what he will do, nonsense? Çravaëaà kértanam, this is our main business. Çravaëam. If you dont hear, what you will do? You will do simply sense gratification. Thats all.

So this is difficulty, that we are not very much interested in hearing. And that is the main business. Our bhakti begins: çravaëaà kértanaà viñëoù [SB 7.5.23]. We have to hear and we have to speak. But if we are not interested in hearing and speak, then it will be the same öhäkura-bari(?), simply formula. Thats all. And gradually it will be stopped. Unless there is life of çravaëaà kértanam, these big, big buildings, temples, will become burden. So if we are, if we want to create burden for future, then we may give up this hearing and chanting and sleep very nicely. It will be burden. Galagraha. Not çré-vigraha, but galagraha. Galagraha. Çré-vigraha means worshipable Deity. So if we give up this çravaëaà kértanaà viñëoù, then it will be thought that Our Guru Mahäräja has given a burden in the neck, galagraha.This is the danger. So we must be very much alert in çravaëaà kértanam. Otherwise all this labor will be futile. This building will be only the nest, nest for the doves and the pigeons. That is the danger. That is being done. Nobody is interested. Such, such things...

Now, who is, who can understand Kåñëa? There are so many impediments. One side, there is curtain of mäyä; another side,
everyone is a rascal and fool; and another side, Kåñëa is beyond your sense perception. This is the position. How much one must be alert. Then one can understand. Just like the Gosvämés. Is Kåñëa is so easy thing to be understood? But there is process. So if we do not adopt the process, then how we can understand Kåñëa? These are the so many difficult things. One side, one thing is the mäyä is checking. Mäyä is trying to put stumbling block for your advancement of spiritual life. Mäyä-javanikäcchannam. And the other side, we are all fools and rascals. And the, again, Kåñëa is adhokñaja, beyond the range of sense perception. This is the position.

So unless we become very serious to understand Kåñëa, it is very, very difficult to understand Kåñëa. Mäyä-javanikäcchannam. On the one side, Kunté says, antar bahir avasthitam: Kåñëa, You are within...Éçvaraù sarva-bhütänäà håd-deçe [Bg. 18.61]. Kåñëa is not far away. Kåñëa is always with you. He, Hes so friendly that just like two birds... It is said in the Upaniñads: the one bird is eating the fruit of the tree; another bird is simply guiding and seeing. Because this material world, living entity wanted to enjoy. Just like you have seen that the dog and the master. The master is so friendly to the dog out of love. It is a dog, but when it is passing stool, hes waiting. Why? Is the duty of the master to wait because the dog is passing stool? No. Out of love. Out of love.
We can see from practical example. Similarly... The master may be a great millionaire, but still, he loves the dog so much that on the morning walk he takes his dog and the dog is passing urine... What, what business dog has got? To pass urine and stool and go this way and that way. But the master is attending. Similarly, God, or Kåñëa, is so affectionate that we have come here in this material world simply to pass stool and urine, still Hes attending. Still, Hes attending. Just imagine what merciful is Kåñëa.

In the Upaniñads it is said that two birds... The one bird is Paramätmä. Kåñëa has become Paramätmä. It is stated in the
Bhagavad-gétä that kñetra-kñetrajïa. There are two things. One is this kñetra, this body. Kñetra, just the field. Just like we are
tilling the field. And the tiller, the kåñäëa. Similarly, we are, we have got this field, and we are growing our own, harvesting our own grains. Just like you are doing. So according to our labor, according to our attempt, we are getting food grains. Similarly, we have got this body, and I am, the spirit soul is the tiller. So according to my karma, I am getting the result. So similarly... Not only I am there, but Kåñëa is also there. Hes seeing what you are doing, what you are doing, what you want more. Sarvasya cähaà hådi sanniviñöaù. Kåñëa says, I am sitting in everyones heart.Why? Just to give him the facilities. This rascal living being has come to the material world to till the field to get some result. All right. Let him do that.Just like children play on the beach, do all nonsense, and the father sees, All right, you have finished your business? Come on.So Kåñëa is like that. He is simply seeing. We are acting so nonsensically, and Kåñëa is giving us... The same way, a dog passing stool and urine, the master is attending. Or the father is seeing. The children are playing on the beach. Theyre making big, big house on the sand, and it has nothing, no value, but Kåñ..., the father is giving the opportunity, All right, do it.

So Kåñëa is giving us all the facilities, but we are so fool that we cannot understand that Kåñëa is so friendly. That is... It is said, na lakñyase müòha-dåçä. They cannot see. Because müòha-dåçä. Müòha means rascal, and dåçä... Dåçä means seeing. They have no power to see. A müòha cannot see. Rascals, they cannot see. They are very much proud: Can you show me God?But they do not think, Whether I am qualified to see?They are very much proud of these eyes. What is the value of this eye? Therefore Kåñëa says, Yes, you can see Me, but according to My direction. You see Me: raso ham apsu kaunteya. You can see. It is very easy for you. You see Me in the water. While you taste, while you drink water, you see Me. I am the taste.So you are, everyone drinks water, and we get some taste. Otherwise why hes drinking water. So that taste, if you remember that Here is Kåñëa,simply by tasting water, simply by drinking water, if you follow Kåñëas instruction, one day youll be a devotee. Kåñëa is so kind. Simply by drinking water. Simply we have to know how to see Kåñëa.

Therefore Kuntédevé says, na lakñyase müòha-dåçä. The müòha, the rascal, is so foolish... Kåñëa says that You see Me in the taste of water,but these rascals: Hah! This is humbug. This is humbug. How, in the taste, Kåñëa is there? I want to see in my own eyes.But you havent got that eyes. Just develop your eyes gradually. Just like one is suffering from some eye disease. So take some medicine, then gradually, your eyesight will be improved. Take the spectacle, some power, then more power, more power.
So... But theyll not take the instruction of Kåñëa, the instruction of spiritual master. So they want to remain müòha-dåçä, rascal and fool. And still they want to see Kåñëa. This is the difficulty. Na lakñyase müòha-dåçä. If you do not improve your eyes according to the direction of çästra..., sädhu-çästra-guru, these three things, then how youll see Kåñëa? Kåñëa is saying. That is çästra. Çästra means what is said by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is çästra. And guru. Guru says the same thing. And sädhu says the same thing.

Sädhu-guru test means they do not change the words of Kåñëa. They do not say, Now I have manufactured something. Kåñëa says that You can see Me in the taste of water.I can say that you can see in this way: You see me and you will see Kåñëa.Just (as) the Mäyävädé says, You think of me.In the Aurobindo Ashram, there they have no other business. The disciples are advised that Whatever you like, you can do. You should always think of Aurobindo.Just like Kåñëa says, man-manä bhava mad-bhakto mad-yäjé mäà namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. I inquired from the inmates of the Aurobindo Ashram. So I (inquired,) What do you do?
That we think of Aurobindo.They are... Because Aurobindo thinks that he is Kåñëa. As Kåñëa says, man-manä bhava
mad-bhaktaù, so they advise that You think of me.So the inmates, they think and smoke biòi and cigarette. Thats all. I have seen it. So these things are going on. Müòha-dåçä. If we want to remain müòha-dåçä, then it will be difficult for us to see Kåñëa. We have dedicated our life to see Kåñëa, to talk with Kåñëa, to play with Kåñëa, to have Kåñëa as our son, to have Kåñëa as our friend, to Kåñëa as our lover. If this is our ambition, then we should not remain a müòha-dåçä, foolishly...

So we have to follow the mahäjano yena gataù... As Kuntés advising. Kunté is, she knows how to see Kåñëa. She knows, Here is Kåñëa. Although Hes playing the part of my brothers son, nephew, but actually, Hes the Supreme Personality of Godhead.Just like Arjuna. Arjuna, he was talking like friend, but when he saw that It is impossible to solve this problem... I am inclined not to fight and kill my relatives, but the duty is to kill them...It is a very perplexed position. So therefore he accepted Kåñëa as guru. He said that I do not find anyone else who can solve my, this problem. Therefore Kåñëa, I am surrendering unto You.Çiñyas te haà çädhi mäà prapannam [Bg. 2.7]. Now we are not talking as friends. I accept You as guru.When one accepts somebody as guru, he cannot argue. That is the condition. Praëipätena, sampürëa, fully surrendered. Otherwise there is no meaning of making a guru. It is not like that, a pet dog, that Everyone makes guru, and let me guru, let me have a guru.But that is not the... Guru means first of all the condition is praëipäta, fully surrendered. Not that If I like, then I shall carry your order. And if I dont like, then I shall not do it.That is not acceptance of guru. Praëipäta. First of all, we must agree. So because friends and friends talking... A friend may agree with his friend. He may not agree with... That is friendly talk. But Arjuna became çiñyas te ham: I am now Your çiñya, disciple. Now there is no question of disagreeing with You. Whatever Youll say, I will accept.So at last Kåñëa said, Surrender unto Me.And Arjuna did it. That is the whole purpose of Bhagavad-gétä. He changed his decision. He changed.
He did not want to fight. That was his decision. But when he accepted Kåñëa as guru and He said that You must fight. It is my desire. Even you dont find these people are not going back home, they will be killed here, that is my already plan...

So these things are discussed in the Bhagavad-gétä. So if we remain müòha-dåçä, in spite of opening our eyes in so many ways by Kåñëa, by guru, by çästra, if still, if we remain müòha-dåçä, then how we can see Kåñëa? That is not possible. Therefore it is said, na lakñyase müòha-dåçä: If we keep our eyes still müòha, illusioned, then we cannot see You.How? Naöo näöyadharo yathä.
Exactly... Kåñëa... Just like one of my relatives, he is playing before me, but because I am müòha-dåçä, my eyesight or my
intelligence is not correct, I am seeing that somebody else... I see that my relative, my brother or father or friend, is dancing on the stage, but he is dressed in such a way that in spite of being present in my front, I cannot recognize. So if we remain
müòha-dåçä, then we cannot see Kåñëa. Otherwise Kåñëa is everywhere. Akhilätma-bhütaù. In the Brahma-saàhitä it said, goloka eva nivasaty akhilätma-bhütaù [Bs. 5.37]. Although Hes living in Goloka Våndävana, Hes everywhere. Then how can I see?
Premäïjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaù sadaiva hådayeñu vilokayanti [Bs. 5.38]. Those who have developed love for Kåñëa, they can see always, twenty-four hours, Kåñëa and nothing but Kåñëa. This is the process.

So we have to increase our attachment, our love for Kåñëa. Mayy äsakta-manäù pärtha yogaà yuïjan mad-äçrayaù. The... This is also explained. Everything is there. Mayy äsakta. We have to increase our attachment for Kåñëa, our love of Kåñëa. Then we shall see Kåñëa always.

premäïjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santaù sadaiva hådayeñu vilokayanti
yaà çyämasundaram acintya-guëa-svarüpaà
govindam ädi-puruñaà tam ahaà bhajämi
 [Bs. 5.38]

These are the practical experience of mahäjana, Brahmä. The Brahma-saàhitä is written by Brahmä. Hes mahäjana. Mahäjana means the person who knows Kåñëa. The mahäjanas are described, you know. Twelve mahäjanas. Näradaù svayambhüù çambhuù. Närada is mahäjana, and Brahmä is mahäjana, Svayambhü. And Lord Çiva is mahäjana. Kapilaù kumäro manuù prahlädo bhéñmaù.
The mahäjanas are there. So we have to follow. Mahäjano yena gataù sa panthäù [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. We should not remain müòha-dåçä. We should follow the mahäjanas and the sädhus, çästra. And they recommend... The most important process is çravaëam. Çåëvatäà sva-kathäù kåñëaù puëya-çravaëa-kértanaù [SB 1.2.17]. If we dont hear about Kåñëa, then how well make advance? We have to hear. My Guru Mahäräja was very kind upon me because I was very much interested to hear him. That you know. I hear him. I did not understand him, actually. In the beginning I could not understand him. He was speaking in so high philosophical way that it was not... Still, I wanted to hear him. That was my only qualification.

So the... It is the process. During lecture time, if we dont care to hear or we do other things or take rest, that is not very good sign. We should be very much careful. Then we shall remain müòha-dåçä. Naöo näöyadharo yathä. We have taken the vow to see Kåñëa or to understand Kåñëa. We should be very, very serious and do the needful. Then our life will be successful.

Thank you very much. Hare Kåñëa. (end)

(Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 29th September 1974. Srimad Bhagavatam lecture SB 1:8:19. Mayapura, India)
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Some correspondence sent in:

This letter is from one very nice devotee who, due to pressures in the world was thinking to give up his seva to his Shalagram after about 7 or 8 years of serving Him. Some years ago I took had a similar experience where after weighing up the pros' and cons', and seeing how They were such an integral part of my life, brought to the edge of despair so as to appreciate a little of what I had. In the words of the old environmentalist song "..but you dunno know what you got until it's gone...." (J. Mitchel) - there were another two devotees who had similar situations to this, one had a baby and found the struggle very strong, but again kept her ishthadeva and in fact bought Him all manner of new ornaments etc to show her appreciation........! Krishna does so much to try to invoke our love for Him, sometimes he leads us right to the edge.........

Dearest JTC prabhu

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I took my salagram today to prepare Him for bringing to you. After brushing His
candana markings off, I bathed Him in milk, and then rinsed Him off with
water. Having completed that I then massaged Him liberally with sandalwood
oil.

While He was sitting there waiting, I prepared a bed for Him out of a soft
towel. I placed Him in the box and surrounded Him with lots of dried tulasi
leaves, covered Him and closed the lid.

At that moment I was overcome with deep emotions of love, separation and
sadness. While shedding tears, I apologised profusely to Him for being such
a fallen, wretched servant who cannot take care of Him, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Not even a simple offering.

Such is my selfish nature that I put myself before Him. Then I realised how
kind He has always been to me. I'm such a fool and not in touch with reality
that I took Him for granted, not recognising who He is.

After gathering myself together, I talked to Him. I said that He arranged so
many things for me to teach me love; I cannot bring myself to give Him away.
However I will resume His worship. It won't be as elaborate as I would like to
do, but I hope that He would accept a small puja.

Sorry, prabhu, I will not take Him to XXXXXXXXX to give Him into your care. I
have too many sentiments for the sila and He is indicating He wants to stay
here, whatever the situation.

It's amazing that a "stone" can make a heart made out of stone melt.

All glories to Lord Nrsimhadeva.

May Lord Nrsimhadeva always protect you.

Begging to remain your aspiring servant.

Name witheld

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|)<>(|)<>(|)<>( A Grateful Word to our Supporters )<>(|)<>(|)<>(|
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...Outro'
Personally we find that so many devotees are inspiring us in so many different ways, by the grace of the Lord. Especially I'd like to thank HDG Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad for saving my very life, and to HH Jayapataka Swami and HH Indradyumna Swami for all the support and encouragement in seva pujan. There are literally hundreds who have helped in this humble service of ours here, Paramseva dasa was the catalyst for the web-site, Hrsikeshananda prabhu has kindly sponsored the site and maintains it financially, so without his help it wouldn't be, and similarly for the mirror site Tirtharaj prabhu allows us space and hosts www.hknet.org.nz to both these devotees we are so much indebted. There are so many others who have and are helping so much with articles, gifting Silas, books, and paraphernalia, and support; special thanks to Gaura Keshava prabhu ACBSP, Ramadasa prabhu ACBSP, Kurma prabhu ACBSP, Hari Sauri prabhu ACBSP, Sukadev prabhu ACBSP, Bhaktisiddhanta swami JPS, Ameyatma prabhu PVS, Aisvarya prabhu HDG, Jvala Nrsimha prabhu IDS, Matsya Avatara prabhu BTS, Kailash mataji, Hamsa Avatara prabhu, Jagjeevan and Sudevi MVG, Vikram and Aasha Murthy, and mother Neeta Sharma and Mukunda Khatiwada, and my eldest daugther Kirtida Sundari to name but a few. Sarv-lok vaishnavebhyo namo namah so as not to miss anyone, as we so much appreciate all of you who are receiving this newsletter, otherwise we wouldn't do all this, thank you so much for just being part of it.

Indeed, many thanks to all the readers who have one way or another subscribed to Sri Shaligram Tirtha Pradarshini newsletter. Your interest and support makes this service possible. Those wishing to contribute in any way to this 'Net-work, send articles, and or information please do so by contacting me here ... mailto:salagram@xtra.co.nz

We are very grateful to our sponsors donations to help maintain this and similar devotional service, especially on a regular basis, so again and again thank you. ...Couldn't do it without you.

After some feedback from our readers we are trying to maintain that the newsletter go out Quarterly, (four times a year - April, July, Sept, Dec). I hope that this is okay with everyone. See you in a couple of weeks.

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If somehow you are receiving this double - ie., at home and in the office please let me know, and your preferential option =>:-) JTCd

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* Purohit JAya Tirtha ChAran dAsan
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* jtcd@xtra.co.nz
* salagram@xtra.co.nz
*
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