Following is about the features of the temple and the holy place-Guruvayoor
This place was predominantly preached by Sankaracharya&so the people
here still have the influence of impersonalism even though they are so
much devoted to the deity here. Sankaracharya personally stayed for 41
days to preach about deity worship in the temple.
The temple is more like a home without much opulence like big towers
& the Lord is seen as a small boy-BalaKrishna to be taken care of
nicely by serving.
The darshan timings are restricted so that the Lord can be fed Bhoga
frequently&also given rest sufficiently. This is one of the richest
temples where 60 elephants are used for temple services. Elephants are
devotees as well. Not just dumb ones. One elephant devotee named
Keshav would not allow any tamer to get on him other than pujari with
deity for procession.Also he will not allow other elephants to take up
the deity procession when he's present. There's a classical dance
performed outside the temple about the Lilas of Krishna every night
which is very unique. Also there's chanting of Maha mantra in the
temple starting with Hare Rama Hare Rama...
There's full prasadam provided in the temple for 100s of devotees
everyday. Other unique thing here is marriages in the temple. As many
as 100 marriages of the local people is very common in the temple for
just one day. Tulabhara seva in which the devotees offer any specific
item like rice or sugar equal in weight to oneself. Non-Hindus are
also attracted to the Lord by this tulabhara seva in which case the
weighing bridge is brought outside the temple for them.
Prasadam is very famous here like other temples. This temple is very
famous only among south Indians&not much talked about in the northern
part of the country.
Narayaneeyam#
This is a literary work by a brahman named Bhattadir(unsure of the
exact name). Unlike Bhagavatam which is in passive voice describing
about the Lord,the verses are directly addressed to the Lord&is sung
in front of the Lord everyday.When composed,the Deity Himself
interfered&corrected the verses. Two instances are noted.
To keep the song Rhymic, the composer instead of using the syllables
Ra-ma used Ra or something but the deity asked him to use the syllable
"te" which means "unto You" signifying that the deity is Lord Rama
Himself.
In another instance when the composer asks the deity,I could not
understand why You have banished mother Sita.why have You done so? For
that the deity replied that It was only Lord Rama and not Himself.
So this shows the Lord is very tricky :)

--
Yours
Dinesh

Temple&Holy place features!

The following is Sthala Purana(history of the manifestation of the
temple) of Guruvayoor temple.The Presiding Deity of Guruvayoor has
been worshipped by Lord Sri Krishna Himself when He was personally
present in this planet 5000yrs ago.This deity is exactly of the four
handed small boy form as He appeared in front of mother
Devaki&Vasudeva.There's no history of Lord Chaitanya having visited
this temple.But that doesnt mean He didnt visit this temple.Also Krsna
Das Kaviraj Gosvami mentions that he has not listed all the temples
that Lord Chaitanya visited.
The Lord instructed Uddhava to take care of the deity after His
departure to the Spiritual World.Lets see how the Lord manifested
Himself here.His form here is exactly that of Lord Narayana&Narayana
Himself worships this deity.Uddhava consults Brihaspati,the Guru of
demi-gods to find a place to install the deity in the Bharata Varsha
which is as sacred as Dwaraka.And the deity gets submerged in the
water when Dwaraka was inundated.
Varuna takes in-charge of the deity&gives the deity to Vayu.
Vayu&Guru(Brihaspati-guru of demigods) takes the deity to install in a
suitable place.Meanwhile on the other side of the country-Kerala(which
was formed when Lord Parasurama throwed His axe) devotees suffering
from Rheumatism approached Lord Parasuram(living in Kerala) to relieve
them from the disease.
Lord Parasuram instructed the devotees to install the deity worshiped
by Krsna in Dwaraka to relieve them from the pain. Lord Parasuram
started to bring the deity&on His way near Palghat,He meets Guru&Vayoo
bringing the deity He's after.
Then they come to the place near a lake where Lord Shiva was
meditating.Lord Shiva
Seeing them says this is the place of Lord Narayana&you can install
the deity here.
The architect of celestial planets,Vishwakarma is callled for&the
temple is constructed.
Since Guru&Vayu brings the deity,the presiding deity is named as
GuruVayoorAppan. Appan-Natha/Lord-Notes from Guruvayoor yatra morning
class by HH.Bhakti Vikasa Swami.
More later....:)

--
Yours
Dinesh

Sthala Purana-Guruvayoorappan's temple

KKSBlog - News

---

• He's the one!!
• Millions Of Miles Away!
• To Take Shelter Of The Holy Name!

He's the one!! Posted: 11 May 2011 02:13 PM PDT Transcribed by Annie (Kadamba Kanana Swami, Stockholm, February 2011) It is certainly good to look for inspiration in the association of devotees, but no, we must also learn to find it when we are completely alone. If we always try to fill the vacuum by being with others and hoping that something inspirational is going to happen, then each time when we are alone, we fall back in a vacuum. No, we must also learn to appreciate Krsna's presence when we are alone. He's here! He's always here! He's really here! We are never alone! Krsna is here in all His magnificent glories. So where is there a question of having to go to anyone when we have Krsna? In any relationship, there's always a third person – Krsna, and He is by far more inspiring than any other person. It is Krsna that is the most inspiring person in any relationship. So, we have to remember the third person is always there, and ultimately, that he is the one! The one whom we are actually taking inspiration from!

Millions Of Miles Away! Posted: 11 May 2011 01:51 PM PDT Transcribed by Hina (Kadamba Kanana Swami, Vrindavan, 2008) A person who is detached from the modes of material nature remains just like the sun – reflected on water! When the sun is reflected on water, the movement of the water, or the coolness, or unsteadiness of the water cannot affect the sun! Similarly, 'Vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogah prayojitah' (SB 1.2.7). When one engages fully in the activities of the devotional service – bhakti yoga, he becomes just like the sun, which is reflected on water. Although, a devotee appears to be in the material world – actually he is in the transcendental world, as the reflection of the sun appears to be on the water, but is many millions of miles away from the water!

To Take Shelter Of The Holy Name! Posted: 11 May 2011 01:03 PM PDT Transcribed by Annie (Kadamba Kanana Swami, Stockholm, February 2011) In japa, you are confronted with yourself – completely! In japa, you have to face with who you are! You know, when you are sitting in a group that you can be ecstatic, because the whole group is ecstatic – so ecstatic, but when we are alone with Krsna and His Holy Name, then we are confronted with who we really are – where we are, and that's not so good! We're far from Krsna, that's the situation, and that's why japa is more difficult, but exactly in that japa we must go, because there we are alone with Krsna, and now we go before Krsna, and now we beg: "Krsna, I have no taste. Krsna, my offering is poor, but Krsna, I want something. I really want Krsna prema – please give it to me. I am offering only broken names, I know I don't even want to pay the price, but Krsna, please give it to me….. Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare I have no love, please give me this. I want the taste of this Krsna prema!" So, we are beggars when we are chanting. We are beggars and we have no capacity to chant, so we take shelter alone, all alone in chanting the Holy Name, knowing that now I am associating with Krsna, and in this chanting the amazing thing happens, that we make an offering to Krsna and at the same time we get a darshan of Krsna! It's quite amazing how these two can go together! We are offering the name to Krsna, and at the same time Krsna reveals Himself to us! The more we get into making the offering, the more the darshan starts happening, and we try to chant nicely and hear at the same time – then the whole element of offering and darshan begins to happen. Then we might get some mercy in the chanting, and we will actually become, gradually, a little bit self-sufficient.

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NIRANJANA SWAMI ON DEVOTEE CARE

via Gita Coaching by akrura@gmail.com on 10/05/11

At Trai dasa's (ACBSP) home in the mountains near Bologna, Italy

(Note: This an audio transcript so "+++" means there are few words that are inaudible.)

"We are trying to avoid the phenomemnon that expansion of Krsna consciousness means many people are coming but many people are also leaving." – Niranjana Swami

Ramacandra dasa ( RNS), from Villa Vrindavana, Italy:
What can you do besides hearing and chanting to care for devotees?

Niranjana Swami:
It is definitely a faith. It's a primary responsibility for anybody who's preaching Krsna consciousness. Preaching means hearing and chanting. But we have to protect the faith of the devotee. Bhaktivinoda Thakura gives the example. He speaks about sraddha, faith, in Tattva Viveka. He says, "Appearance of faith is like a birth of a new-born baby girl. When baby girl is born the parents are very careful to protect their +++ from hunger, from thirst, from heat and cold +++ dangerous features. And also, they give nourishment to the baby.
Therefore, he says, the awakening of the faith in the heart of a living entity is like a birth of a new-born baby girl. Once the faith is awakened, it needs to be protected. Protected from karma, jnana, mystic yoga perfections. Srila Rupa Gosvami says, bhukti-mukti-sprha yavat pisaci hrdi vartate. Bhukti and mukti are like two witches that haunt one like a ghost. As long as these two witches are within your heart then one will never be able to taste +++ of devotional service.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura used that analogy +++ of birth of a new baby girl in connection to faith. What we can do to help others +++ protect their faith in devotional service. As he said, faith is the most valuable currency. When you protect that faith and nourish, like a baby girl, +++ protect from dangerous elements but alsoo need to be nourished. Nourishment in sanskrit is pusti.
When we nourish sombody's faith that's the way to show our care for them. Nourishing their faith in devotional service and protect them from dangerous features of bhukti and mukti. And when somebod gets care in this way, they can undergo any difficulties. They can accept austerity. They can accept inconvenience. All +++ care is automatically fulfilled by caring for their faith.
It doesn't mean that we don't care for their bodies also. We also can do that too. +++ we have to be indifferent to their suffering. Vaisnava is never indifferent to other's suffering. But it's +++ how to protect their faith. That's how you can show care for others.

Akrura dasa:
How do you induce people to become counselors?

Niranjana Swami:
By caring for them.

Akrura dasa:
How long does it take?

Niranjana Swami:
It depends on the person.

Akrura dasa:
Many devotees say they are not qualified to be a spiritual guide.

Niranjana Swami:
Yes, that's true. Therefore, they are not forced to do it. Nobody is forced. It has to be voluntary. One is supposed to want to do it for the right reasons. +++ no personal benefit for being a counselor. So they have to do it for the right reasons.

Akrura dasa:
What do you mean there is no benefit?

Niranjana Swami:
Material benefit. Theya are not starting a separate preaching center. They are not extracting resources from the people they are taking care of. So there is no personal material benefit. Benefit is a satisfaction they get from caring for others. And the mercy that comes down for doing that confidential service. Tamal Krsna Maharaja told me in 1978. I was in the temple in Manhattan in Ney York City. We had about 40 devotees at the temple.
I was in charge of all the new devotees and guests. That was my responsibility. Some times there were as many as 30-40 people that I had to help. Tamal Krsna Maharaja said that Prabhupada told him that if you take care of Krsna's devotees Krsna takes care of you.
So you read the book ("Taking Care Of Krsna's Devotees")?

Akrura dasa:
Oh, yes. It's a gem.

Niranjana Swami:
This year devotees are waitng for the number two. Either volume two or revised edition.

Akrura dasa:
Many devotees say they would like to be a caregiver or a counselor, but they don't have time. They have so many things to do. How do you respond to that?

Niranjana Swami:
+++ Right in this present moment, I was asked to help in Hungary. They are just staring their (devotee care) system there. Last week we had a meeting with devotees who live outside and we discussed that threadbare.
It can go either way. Sometimes they have a good reason why they cannot. That's why they shouldn't be pushed. Sometimes there is no proper utilization of time. And sometimes people are not really convinced +++ And if they are the'll find the time +++ They'll set their priorities +++ They'll find time. What I experienced, devotees who really get absorbed in it, especially the grhasthas who are working and maintain their family, that what it really comes down to, it's recreation +++

Akrura dasa:
Many are afraid it will be a burden.

Niranjana Swami:
It is like that, but when they get mercy starts flowing, it's a higher taste.

Akrura dasa:
How many counselors you have in Ukraine?

Niranjana Swami:
160. Not all of them are +++ Some of them are "in training".

Akrura dasa:
Thank you.

NIRANJANA SWAMI ON DEVOTEE CARE

raja-vidya raja-guhyam

pavitram idam uttamam

pratyaksavagamam dharmyam

su-sukham kartum avyayam

TRANSLATION

This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed.

PURPORT

This chapter of Bhagavad-gita is called the king of education because it is the essence of all doctrines and philosophies explained before. There are seven principal philosophers in India, Gautama, Kanada, Kapila, Yajnavalkya, Sandilya, Vaisvanara, and, finally, Vyasadeva, the author of the Vedanta-sutra. So there is no dearth of knowledge in the field of philosophy or transcendental knowledge. Now the Lord says that this Ninth Chapter is the king of all such knowledge, the essence of all knowledge that can be derived from the study of the Vedas and different kinds of philosophy. It is the most confidential because confidential or transcendental knowledge involves understanding the difference between the soul and the body. And the king of all confidential knowledge culminates in devotional service.

Generally, people are not educated in this confidential knowledge; they are educated in external knowledge. As far as ordinary education is concerned, people are involved with so many departments: politics, sociology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, engineering, etc. There are so many departments of knowledge all over the world and many huge universities, but there is, unfortunately, no university or educational institution where the science of the spirit soul is instructed. Yet the soul is the most important part of this body; without the presence of the soul, the body has no value. Still people are placing great stress on the bodily necessities of life, not caring for the vital soul.

The Topmost Knowledge & The Secret behind!