Essence of Love

“Love is something eternal, the aspect may change, but not the essence. Perhaps it will seem to you that the sunshine is brighter and that everything has a new charm. At least, I believe this is always the result of a deep love, and it is a beautiful thing. And I believe people who think love prevents one from thinking clearly are wrong; for then one thinks very clearly and is more active than before. And love is something eternal – the aspect may change, but not the essence. There is the same difference in a person before and after he is in love as there is in an unlighted lamp and one that is burning. The lamp was there and it was a good lamp, but now it is shedding light too, and that is its real function. And love makes one calmer about many things, and in that way, one is more fit for one’s work.”

~Vincent van Gogh

The Radha-Krishna amour is a love legend of all times. It’s indeed hard to miss the many legends and paintings illustrating Krishna’s love affairs, of which the Radha-Krishna affair is the most memorable. Krishna’s relationship with Radha, his favorite among the ‘gopis’ (cow-herding maidens), has served as a model for male and female love in a variety of art forms. Krishna’s youthful dalliances with the ‘gopis’ are interpreted as symbolic of the loving interplay between God and the human soul. Radha’s utterly rapturous love for Krishna and their relationship is often interpreted as the quest for union with the divine.                  (Courtesy : Hinduism.about.com)

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Krishna mantra and Iskcon

The Hare Krishna mantra or Maha Mantra (“Great Mantra”) is a sixteen-word mantra. The Chanting of Krishna’s name publicly and the Krishna mantra was popularized by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1533), a prominent Vaishnava saint and founder of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. Vaishnavism means worship of Lord Vishnu and Goudiya refers to the place where this tradition began (Bengal and Orissa province those days was known as “Goud”).

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born in Mayapur, in Nadia District of West Bengal State, in India which is near Calcutta (now Kolkata) city, where the ISKCON HQ is situated today. He was also known as Gouranga and Nimai (as He was born under a ‘Neem’ tree). He began his mission to spread this mantra publicly to ‘every town and village’ in the world, traveling throughout India, but he could not spread it beyond Bengal and Orissa.

After 433 years, in 1966, Srila Prabhupada founded his movement in New York, known as “The International Society for Krishna Consciousness“ (ISKCON) to spread Chaitanya’s teachings throughout the world. This movement was also known as “Hare Krishna” movement those days. The incomplete dream of Mahaprabhu has been fulfilled by Srila Prabhupada through his ISKCON.

When the “mantra” is heard, meditated upon, or sung out loud in the public, it is believed by the preachers to bring about a higher state of consciousness.

(For details of ISKCON HQs at Mayapur read my post “One Day at Iskcon” )

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One day at ISKCON Mayapur

Mayapur, a small unknown village has come up to the world map as the Headquarters of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) which is situated here. Mayapur is located in West Bengal state, in the district of Nadia, 130 km from Calcutta city (now Kolkata). It is located on the bank of the Ganges and on the other bank, a small town Nabadwip is located. Nabadwip means nine islands. There are two large holy rivers, the Ganges and Jalangi flowing between these islands.

Mayapur is the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, regarded as a special incarnation of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Godhead and therefore it is considered as a holy place by Hindus and specially by the followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. It is visited by a large number of pilgrims from around the World, every year.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) also known as ‘The Hare Krishna’ movement, was founded in 1966 in New York City by A.C. Bhaktibedanta Swami Prabhupada. Since the 1970s, Mayapur is also the site of the world headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) as well as a number of other Vaishnava organisations such as the Gaudiya Math. At Mayapur ISKCON has a sprawling campus studded with natural beauty.

Chandrodaya Temple, Mayapur

Today ISKCON Mayapur serves as an international center of pilgrimage and spiritual tourism. The Deities of Sri Sri Radha Madhava and Sri Chaitanya and the Pancha-tattva preside over a temple for thousands to enjoy daily congregational chanting.

In Mayapur campus, it is amazing to see the young and middle aged ladies and gents from all over the world, specially western countries. It is unbelievable to see that leaving their wealthy western luxurious lifestyle, they come to Mayapur in quest of peace, happiness and meaningful life. As seen in the campus, they are seems to be totally devoted to simple and spiritual lifestyle.

Today we are not seriously religious about our religion or religious rituals but it made me surprised to that the ISKCON devotees are practicing our Indian cultures, rituals seriously which our young generation is reluctantly accept. When our young generation is blindly accepts or consider acceptability of western cultures in their lives, what made these people to turn to East (Through ISKCON) ?

 

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