© Global Organization for Divinity Nama Dwaar/Apr 2014/ Page 1

Bhagavata Dharma is the easiest and yet the most secretive dharma or path to God. Here, the devotee finds refuge in the Lord and spends every moment in His constant remembrance. In Srimad Bhagavatam, Lord Yama lists twelve people who have realized the essence of Bhagavata Dharma. Among these great devotees is one unlikely person—the asura king Mahabali (also known as Bali Chakravarthy).

King Mahabali was truthful, steadfast, and charitable; he revered his Guru, protected the brahmanas and above all, had unpretentious love towards Bhagavan. A unique blend of some striking traits of his ancestors, Mahabali was devout like his grandfather Prahlada, steadfast like his father Virochana, but (his only shortcoming)egoistic like his great grandfather Hiranyakashipu.

When the Lord decides to bestow His grace on someone, He wipes out their vices so He can place Himself permanently in their heart. This is illustrated beautifully in Brahma Mohana leela, and Govardhana Leela during the descent of Sri Krishna in Dwapara Yuga. Here too, the Lord was waiting for an opportunity to bestow His blessings on Mahabali by wiping out his pride, albeit in a unique way.

With the blessings of his Guru Sukracharya, Mahabali had won over all the three worlds and forced the devas out of their abode. Distressed to see the state of Indra and her other sons, Aditi fasted and prayed to the Lord, who appeared before her, and promised to be born as her son and get the heavens back for his brothers.

Lord Sri Hari then condensed His

resplendent form to a dwarf brahmana boy – Vamana – and was born to Aditi. He proceeded eagerly to the sacrificial hall to see His beloved devotee with an unwavering resolve to grace him once and for all. As

soon as Vamana entered the sacrificial hall, Mahabali asked the lustrous brahmana boy how he could serve him. The boy turned down all the wonderful things listed by Mahabali and asked him for three paces of land instead.

His ego bared, Mahabali felt offended and remarked that a mere three paces of land was a foolish request from the brahmana. However,

Sukracharya recognized the boy to be none other than the Lord Himself. He intervened and warned Bali that it was Lord Hari who had come to take away Bali’s possessions and his life. But Bali remained firm in his resolve to fulfill the brahmana’s request; moreover he said he would be happy to lose everything to the Lord! It was indeed the Lord Himself who made Sukracharya speak thus; He seized every opportunity to paint a grand picture of His devotee.

Mahabali then washed the Holy Feet of the Lord with the sacrificial waters and knowingly parted with all he had. When the donor is righteous like Mahabali, the receiver is none other than the very Lord of the Universe.

The charming form of Vamana grew, covering the earth, the heavens and the subterranean regions. Mahabali then witnessed the magnitude of the little divine boy’s splendor. The entire universe nestled in Him. The Lord covered the earth, heavens and all the worlds in two strides and unable to find a space to place the third step, condemned Bali of giving a false promise! The Lord knew His devotee and the devotee understood the Lord’s

intention.

Mahabali then surrendered to the Lord and said, “Pray, place your third footstep on my head. Disguised as an enemy you indeed are our greatest friend as you snatched away power from us, who were blinded with arrogance. What use is this body, which is certain to die one day, what use are family and relatives who will certainly bring about transmigration?”

Thus Indra got back his heaven; but Mahabali got the most priceless gift, the Lord Himself. Extremely pleased with his surrender, the Lord granted him a place in Sutala, a region more pleasurable and beautiful than Indra’s heaven; and what is more, the Lord Himself decided to remain in that region as Mahabali’s guard! In the following Manvantara, the Lord promised to bestow on Mahabali the position of ‘Indra’, to be finally followed by union with Him.

In most instances a devotee surrenders to the Lord at the time of suffering after he has exhausted all other measures. But Mahabali surrendered his possessions and finally himself — to the Lord who stood apparently on his enemy’s side — even when he was at the pinnacle of glory, without any resistance. This shows that Mahabali lived a life of surrender at all times. It is no wonder then that the Lord Himself came to his doorstep to ask for alms; such was the exalted state of Mahabali’s atmanivedanam.

Lekshmi Nair, Houston TX

Nama Dwaar Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare , Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

A monthly journal glorifying Sanatana Dharma from the portals of Bhakti Apr 2014, Issue 68

For free distribution only. Not for sale. To receive this news-letter by email, send request to newsletter@godivinity.org THE MAGNANIMOUS MAHABALI

Inside this Issue

Cherished Memoirs - 11 Pg 2

Kid’s crossword - Ramayana Part 2 Pg 2

Madhura Geetam - 11 Pg 3

Story Time - The dog and the beggar Pg 3

News and Events Pg 4

Learnings from Srimad Bhagavatam

© Global Organization for Divinity Nama Dwaar/Apr 2014/ Page 2

Sri Hari:

This series chronicles sweet experiences recounted by the devotees of HH Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji as well as some divine experiences of Sri Swamiji himself. These articles are translations from the series, "Madhuramaana Mahaneeyar" that is published every month in Madhuramurali Tamil monthly magazine.

Lord Krishna and Lord Hanuman

To behold objects beyond the perception of

the eye, we seek the help of binoculars or

telescopes. Likewise, when the mind attains

one-pointedness through meditation, it can

perceive subtler thoughts beyond the

comprehension of the intellect. Every now and

then, Sri Swamiji shares with us such subtler

aspects of divinity.

Throughout Margazhi month (ninth month in

the Tamil calendar), Sri Swamiji performed

special pooja to Sri Premika Varadhan at

Madhurapuri Ashram. Adhyayana Utsav

(celebration of the Nalayira Divya

Prabandham) was also celebrated. During one

such pooja, Sri Swamiji realized that his mind

was going back and forth between Lord

Krishna and Lord Hanuman.

He started comparing the divine leelas

performed by

Lord Krishna and

Lord Hanuman.

He described the

similarities

between the

different leelas

by Lord Krishna

and Lord

Hanuman, and

started

conversing with

Lord Krishna and Lord Hanuman thus:

“"Krishna! You lifted the Govardhana Hill to

protect the devotees, while, Hanuman! You

lifted the Sanjeevani hill to protect the Lord

Himself!"

"Krishna! You played messenger for your

devotees, while, Hanuman! You played

messenger for verily the Lord!"

"Krishna! You manifested your colossal form

for the sake of Mahabali, while, Hanuman! You

manifested your colossal form for Sita Devi."

"Krishna! You were cursed by Gandhari, while,

Hanuman! You had a curse too, that made you

forget your own strength."

"Krishna! You loved to roam around in the

forests; Hanuman! You loved to roam around

in the forests too!"

During the Moola Nakshtra ('Moola' - the birth

star of Lord

Hanuman), Sri

Swamiji visited

Bangalore. There,

he visited Sri

Sundara Anjaneya,

who had been

recently installed

(but not yet

consecrated) in the

Sri Veda Vyaasa

Purana Patashala

premises (at Kalkere, Ramamoorthy nagar) and

himself performed 'Tirumanjanam' (sacred

bath) and nicely decorated Him in the evening.

After having adorned Him thus, Sri Swamiji

while performing Harathi witnessed something

divine! He saw Hanuamanji's chest pulsating as

if Hanumanji was breathing!

He experienced the divine presence of

Hanumanji there, and realized that the 'Prana

Prathishta' (a ceremony of infusing life energy

into the deity) had already taken place on its

own accord! Sri Swamiji knew then that this Sri

Sundara Hanuman, would fulfill the heartfelt,

righteous prayers of His devotees without fail.

Translated by Viji Ramakrishnan, Dallas TX, from “Madhuramaana Mahaneeyar” column in Madhuramurali Tamil monthly magazine, February 2008 issue

Cherished Memoirs 11

ACROSS:

4 Place where Lord Rama and Sita stayed

during their exile, before going into Dandakaranya forest

5 The bird who fought with Ravana to rescue Sita

7 An old ardent woman who was blessed with Lord Rama’s darshan

12 Wife of Shatrughna

15 King Dasaratha’s family deity

16 King Dasaratha’s father

17 Wife of Lakshmana

18 Wife of Ravana

Down:

1 Chief counselor of King Dasaratha

2 Elder brother of Sugriva

3 Bhagiratha requested this river to come down to earth

6 Ravana’s brother who later became a close friend of Lord Rama

8 King Vali was the king of this place

9 The son of Tataka

10 Wife of Bharatha

11 This son of Ravana was killed by Lakshmana

13 Kaikeyi’s birth place

14 It is he who took Lord Rama to Sugriva

Solution:

Compiled by

Ramya Srinivasan,

San Jose, CA

Crossword - Ramayana

© Global Organization for Divinity Nama Dwaar/Apr 2014/ Page 3

Sri Hari:

In this series, we will go on a pradakshina of Bharata desha as we present, each month, a kirtan composed by His Holiness Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji on a particular kshetra, starting from south India and then going north.

Brindavan In our journey through Bharata desha through Sri Swamiji’s kirtans, we now come to his favorite place – the great Brindavan, where God Himself – as Lord Sri Krishna - walked in the garb of a cowherd, thousands of years ago. Unlike most other pilgrimage places in India where it is a particular temple or a deity that makes the site hallowed, the very earth of Brindavan is sacred because the Lord’s feet have touched every little spot of this holy land. (The present temples of Brindavan have all come up only in the last few hundred years.) Playing with the Gopas and Gopis, enacting so many of His divine leelas and vanquishing numerous demons, Sri Krishna’s days in Brindavan are the most endearing and enchanting time of His life. And also the most conducive to shravanam and kirtanam, thus becoming the seed for bhakti. Brindavan itself throbs with bhakti to Sri Radha and Sri Krishna, even today. A pilgrimage to the hallowed place is not

only to see the various

spots of Sri Krishna’s leelas but also to absorb the devotion that the place and its people are soaked in! In this song, Sri Swamiji asks Krishna – who is Shridhara (Possessor of fortune), Damodara (the One who was tied by a rope) and Bhuvanasundara (the One who is most beautiful in all the worlds) – to bless him with constant stay in Brindavan. Sri Swamiji then goes on to reminisce some of the divine places and divine leelas of Krishna in Brindavan.

Srivana Vasam Dehi Me Krishna Ragam: Bilahari Tala: Adi

Song Pallavi shrI vana vAsam dehi mE Krishna shrIdhara dAmOdara bhuvanasundara

Charanam kAthyAyani sOdhara shrI Krishna kALiyanardana shrI Krishna kEshi vimardana shrI Krishna gOpeshwara pUjita shrI Krishna

bAnke vihAri shrI Krishna brahmAdi sEvita shrI Krishna pItadukUli shrI Krishna brindApUjita shrI Krishna

rAsavihAri shrI Krishna rasikashikhAmaNE shrI Krishna

rAdhAlOla shrI Krishna rAjagopAla shrI Krishna

vamshIvata vAsa shrI Krishna vamshIdhara hE shrI Krishna vadanAngamOhana shrI Krishna varamuraLi sevita shrI Krishna

Meaning Pallavi O Krishna, please let me live in Brindavan O Sridhara, Damodhara, Bhuvanasundara

Charanam Krishna, You who are Kathyayani’s brother The One who danced on Kaliya’s head The One who killed the asura Keshi The One who is worshipped by Lord Gopeshwara (Shiva)

O Krishna, You [live in Brindavan] as Banke Vihari You are worshipped by Brahma and other gods You are always clad in yellow garments You are worshipped by Brinda Devi

O Krishna, You are One who played the divine Rasa You are the greatest connoisseur You are the beloved of Radha You are the King of the cowherds O Krishna, You are one who lives in Vamsivata (a place in Brindavan)

You are the One who plays the [magical] flute Your face is most attractive You are One who is served by Muralidhara

Nisha Giri, Houston TX

Madhura Geetam - Bharata Pradakshina 11

Once a beggar was walking on the streets of Ayodhya. He was very hungry as he did not get enough alms for the day to procure his meal. Alongside him was a dog silently trotting with him, matching his gait. A hungry man is an angry man, it is said. Hunger be-gets anger and it is common sense that this anger can only been shown to a lower being. Unfortunately, the beggar held a stick in his hand and with it, gave a hard blow to the dog. The dog writhed in pain.

Rama Rajya that it was, it arraigned the beg-gar to Sri Rama’s judicial court for justice.

Sri Rama was seated majestically in the throne and the complainant and defendant

stood on either side. Lakshmana stood by Rama’s side.

Sri Rama heard the case patiently and con-cluded that the beggar was indeed guilty. Now it was time to award punishment to the beggar. He turned to the dog and requested it to suggest a suitable punishment for the beggar.

The dog immediately said, “Give him a pow-erful post and shower him with a lot of wealth and riches.”

Lakshmana who stood witnessing the entire happening was stunned to hear these words from the dog and was drawn to tears. He told Rama, “Oh brother! Great indeed is your rule – Ramarajya. Even a dog seeks the wel-fare of the person who troubled it.”

Sri Rama gave a smile. Confused, Lakshmana asked for the reason behind the smile.

Sri Rama said, “Lakshmana, the dog is not as benevolent and compassionate as you imag-ine. It has a reason behind its wish. This dog, in its previous birth had enormous power and wealth. Subsequently, it had accumulat-ed a lot of sins, and as a result, has taken birth as a dog. The dog wanted the beggar to become a dog, to undergo the torment it had just faced, and it knows that the easy way to make him one, is by flooding him with power and wealth!”

Lakshmana now understood.

Moral: Be simple and humble. Never hurt others.

Source: www.namadwaar.org

The Dog and the Beggar

© Global Organization for Divinity Nama Dwaar/Apr 2014/ Page 4

Sri Hari:

News & Events

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