After Janmastami I had a direct flight from Copenhagen/Denmark to Tallinn/Estonia with Air Baltic - the first flight I had dared to book after the Corona crisis had started. And four days before the scheduled journey the flight was canceled due to lack of passengers. I re-booked with Finnair via Helsinki, which fortunately operated. The flight from Helsinki to Tallinn had only six passengers! We were requested to take our seats in the very back - to balance out the luggage, which was in the compartment towards the front of the plane....
All airports were completely dead and empty, with most airport shops closed - indeed a new travel experience....!
It must be more than 10 years ago that I visited the Tallinn temple last time. During my grihastha life we started the temple in Riga/Latvia, which is the neighboring country of the Baltics. In those days we used to come rather frequently to Tallinn to support the preaching - we used to help arrange the Ratha Yatra festivals, Padayatra and so many other programs, and their young boys came to the Riga ashram to receive brahmacari training. Visiting Tallinn now after many years brought memories back to life....
It must be more than 10 years ago that I visited the Tallinn temple last time. During my grihastha life we started the temple in Riga/Latvia, which is the neighboring country of the Baltics. In those days we used to come rather frequently to Tallinn to support the preaching - we used to help arrange the Ratha Yatra festivals, Padayatra and so many other programs, and their young boys came to the Riga ashram to receive brahmacari training. Visiting Tallinn now after many years brought memories back to life....
The devotees had arranged a variety of programs - a matajis' sanga, a house program in the countryside, the Sunday feast lecture and four evening programs on the topic of mentorship within Krishna consciousness. And the highlight was the Radhastami celebration, which was very festive with the altar and Srila Prabhupada's Vyasasana decorated with beautiful flower arrangements.
Srila Prabhodananda Sarasvati Thakur describes Srimati Radharani's influence on Krishna being so great that as soon as Krishna sees Radha His flute slips from His hands. Becoming intensely attracted to Sri Radha, Krishna doesn't even notice His golden crown falling off His head. By Radha's wonderful qualities She attracts Krishna in so many ways that He can't remain away from Her. That is why another name for Radha is 'Hare', because Hare means, She who steals Krishna's heart by completely inundating Him with Her love. Krishna becomes so delighted and pleased when we chant 'Hare, Hare,' because we are invoking His beloved Radha. Similarly, Sri Radha becomes ecstatically joyful whenever we chant, 'Krishna, Krishna'.
Being the greatest devotee and the best worshiper of Sri Krishna, Sri Radha possesses the most exemplary and exalted mentality. "Srimati Radharani said, 'I do not mind My personal distress. I only wish for the happiness of
Krishna, for His happiness is the goal of my life. However, if He feels great happiness in giving me distress, that distress is the best of my happiness. If Krishna, attracted by the beauty of some other woman, wants to enjoy with her but is unhappy because He cannot get her, I fall down at her feet, catch her hand and bring her to Krishna to engage her for His happiness.' Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur says that a devotee does not care about his own happiness or distress, he is simply interested in seeing that Krishna is happy, and for that purpose he engages in various activities. A pure devotee has no way of sensing happiness except by seeing that Krishna is happy in every respect. If Krishna becomes happy by giving him distress, such a devotee accepts that unhappiness as the greatest of all happiness" (CC Antya 20.52/53.).
Krishna, for His happiness is the goal of my life. However, if He feels great happiness in giving me distress, that distress is the best of my happiness. If Krishna, attracted by the beauty of some other woman, wants to enjoy with her but is unhappy because He cannot get her, I fall down at her feet, catch her hand and bring her to Krishna to engage her for His happiness.' Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur says that a devotee does not care about his own happiness or distress, he is simply interested in seeing that Krishna is happy, and for that purpose he engages in various activities. A pure devotee has no way of sensing happiness except by seeing that Krishna is happy in every respect. If Krishna becomes happy by giving him distress, such a devotee accepts that unhappiness as the greatest of all happiness" (CC Antya 20.52/53.).
What a deep and powerful contemplation for us on this very day of Radhastami.....!
Sri Radha wears a locket containing a picture of Sri Krishna. Besides jewels and gold, Radha wears a variety of flower crowns, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, anklets and blouses. Radha taught Lalita-sakhi how to make these flower decorations, which Radharani prefers over the jewelled variety.
Srimati Radhika's favorite crown is made from flowers and buds of five colours arranged in five points. The gopis also artistically arrange flowers to create five different kinds of earrings, resembling objects like a peacock, lotus, shark or half-moon.
In our temples we are practising these arts, and yet we often think making garlands is a very simple service - for those ladies who can't do anything else......
Sri Radha wears a locket containing a picture of Sri Krishna. Besides jewels and gold, Radha wears a variety of flower crowns, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, anklets and blouses. Radha taught Lalita-sakhi how to make these flower decorations, which Radharani prefers over the jewelled variety.
Srimati Radhika's favorite crown is made from flowers and buds of five colours arranged in five points. The gopis also artistically arrange flowers to create five different kinds of earrings, resembling objects like a peacock, lotus, shark or half-moon.
In our temples we are practising these arts, and yet we often think making garlands is a very simple service - for those ladies who can't do anything else......
The devotees taking advantage of Krishna's compassionate nature, which is represented by Radharani, always pray to Radha for Krishna's compassion.
If Krishna is always attractive to everyone, and Radharani is attractive to Krishna, how can we imagine the position of Srimati Radharani? We should humbly try to understand Her and offer Her our obeisances saying, 'Radharani, You are so dear to Krishna. Krishna is Yours! Please, introduce us to Your Krishna!' If we approach Krishna through the mercy of Radharani, we can easily attain Krishna. If Radharani recommends a devotee, Krishna immediately accepts him, however foolish he may be.
So we also have a chance....!
Srimati Radharani received from Durvasa Muni the benediction that whatever She cooked would be sweeter than nectar. That is the special feature of Radha's cooking. Srimati Radharani's excellence was Her cooking. Sri Radha
could also sing and dance, but Radha's great service was Her cooking for Krishna. Mother Yasoda would ask Radha personally to come to Nandagaon and cook for Krishna and the cowherd boys. So all in a line, Radharani would feed them prasadam.
Prabhupada instructed us that a woman should be trained in two things: chastity and cooking. If she is expert in those things, then she will be happy. In this way we are following in Radharani's footsteps - she perfected those arts. As she conquers Krishna's heart, we find the same principle as perverted reflection in this material world. A wife can conquer her husband's heart through her devoted and submissive service - no matter how cruel he may be.
If Krishna is always attractive to everyone, and Radharani is attractive to Krishna, how can we imagine the position of Srimati Radharani? We should humbly try to understand Her and offer Her our obeisances saying, 'Radharani, You are so dear to Krishna. Krishna is Yours! Please, introduce us to Your Krishna!' If we approach Krishna through the mercy of Radharani, we can easily attain Krishna. If Radharani recommends a devotee, Krishna immediately accepts him, however foolish he may be.
So we also have a chance....!
Srimati Radharani received from Durvasa Muni the benediction that whatever She cooked would be sweeter than nectar. That is the special feature of Radha's cooking. Srimati Radharani's excellence was Her cooking. Sri Radha
could also sing and dance, but Radha's great service was Her cooking for Krishna. Mother Yasoda would ask Radha personally to come to Nandagaon and cook for Krishna and the cowherd boys. So all in a line, Radharani would feed them prasadam.
Prabhupada instructed us that a woman should be trained in two things: chastity and cooking. If she is expert in those things, then she will be happy. In this way we are following in Radharani's footsteps - she perfected those arts. As she conquers Krishna's heart, we find the same principle as perverted reflection in this material world. A wife can conquer her husband's heart through her devoted and submissive service - no matter how cruel he may be.
Srimati Radharani is the center of all Vrindavan's activities. In Vrindavan, Krishna is the instrument of Srimati Radharani; therefore all the inhabitants of Vrindavana still chant 'Jaya Radhe'. From Krishna's own statement given herein, it appears that Radharani is the Queen of Vrindavana and that Krishna is simply Her decoration. Radharani, embodying the topmost devotee, is so powerful that She has purchased Krishna. Therefore Vrajavasis take shelter of the lotus feet of Radharani for if She recommends, 'Oh here is a nice devotee,' Krishna must accept him.
Srila Prabhupada said: "My father used to receive many saintly persons at our home, and to everyone of them he used to say: 'Kindly bless my son so that he may become a servant of Radharani.'That was his only ambition."
And he surely received this blessing, sacrificing himself for Krishna's pleasure in the mood of Srimati Radharani, and spreading Their glories all around the world.
The gopis never want to enjoy themselves with Krishna personally. The happiness of the gopis increases ten million times when they serve to engage Radha and Krishna in Their transcendental pastimes. Although the gopis, Srimati Radharani's friends, do not desire to enjoy themselves directly with Krishna, Srimati Radharani makes a great endeavor to induce Krishna to enjoy Himself with the gopis. Presenting various pleas for the gopis, Srimati Radharani sometimes sends the gopis to Krishna just to enable them to associate with Krishna directly. At such times, Srimati Radharani enjoys happiness ten million times greater than enjoyed by direct association. Among the gopis, there is not a pinch of desire for sense gratification. Their only desire is to give pleasure to Krishna, and in this way they mingle with Him and enjoy Him. The transcendental mellow is nourished by that mutual behaviour in transcendental love of Godhead. When Lord Krishna sees how the gopis have developed pure love for Him, He becomes very satisfied.
This is the service mood in utter non-enviousness: we want to push others forward, and we derive even more pleasure from seeing others in the front, rather than ourselves......
During my visit to Tallinn I met a few well known faces, and almost every day my hosts agreed to receive one of those devotees as a guest for lunch prasadam. In this way, I spent a wonderful time in Tallinn....
On the 28th of August I traveled back to Simhachalam/Germany....
Your servant, Devaki dd
Srila Prabhupada said: "My father used to receive many saintly persons at our home, and to everyone of them he used to say: 'Kindly bless my son so that he may become a servant of Radharani.'That was his only ambition."
And he surely received this blessing, sacrificing himself for Krishna's pleasure in the mood of Srimati Radharani, and spreading Their glories all around the world.
The gopis never want to enjoy themselves with Krishna personally. The happiness of the gopis increases ten million times when they serve to engage Radha and Krishna in Their transcendental pastimes. Although the gopis, Srimati Radharani's friends, do not desire to enjoy themselves directly with Krishna, Srimati Radharani makes a great endeavor to induce Krishna to enjoy Himself with the gopis. Presenting various pleas for the gopis, Srimati Radharani sometimes sends the gopis to Krishna just to enable them to associate with Krishna directly. At such times, Srimati Radharani enjoys happiness ten million times greater than enjoyed by direct association. Among the gopis, there is not a pinch of desire for sense gratification. Their only desire is to give pleasure to Krishna, and in this way they mingle with Him and enjoy Him. The transcendental mellow is nourished by that mutual behaviour in transcendental love of Godhead. When Lord Krishna sees how the gopis have developed pure love for Him, He becomes very satisfied.
This is the service mood in utter non-enviousness: we want to push others forward, and we derive even more pleasure from seeing others in the front, rather than ourselves......
During my visit to Tallinn I met a few well known faces, and almost every day my hosts agreed to receive one of those devotees as a guest for lunch prasadam. In this way, I spent a wonderful time in Tallinn....
On the 28th of August I traveled back to Simhachalam/Germany....
Your servant, Devaki dd
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