Preface
A few years ago I presented a photo table at a Sunday feast at one of our temples. One devotee came up to the table and held a photo of Lord Nrsimhadeva in his hands. I encouraged him to take Lord Nrsimhadeva home, but he said, “If I was qualified to worship Him!” and quickly walked away. He seemed to be afraid of Lord Nrsimhadeva.
More recently my daughter and her husband removed the photo of Lord Nrsimhadeva from their altar because they heard that some couples had been devastated by worshiping an Ugra Nrsimha Deity in their home. Ugra Nrsimha is the terrifying form of the Lord standing ready to attack the demons and totally destroy them, in
order to save His devotee Prahlad. To worship Him in His Deity form one must be strictly celibate, and there are many strict rules and methods of worship. One point is that having a photo of a Deity on an altar is not the same as having a Deity, but more importantly, Lord Nrsimhadeva in Mayapur is extremely merciful.
If we read about the appearance and pastimes of Mayapur Lord Nrsimhadeva as published by His Grace Pankajanghri Prabhu, we will find that the Deity maker warned devotees of possible devastation if they incorrectly worship Ugra Nrsimha. However, because this Nrsimha Deity would be appearing in the land of Gauranga, He would be different from Ugra Nrsimha because He would adopt the mood of the predominating Deity of that place. That mood, the mood of Nityananda and Gauranga, is to forget the faults of devotees and only see their devotion, and bless them with love for Krishna.
It is written that Lord Nityananda is Lord Balaram plus mercy. He is non-different than Lord Balaram, yet He is different than Lord Balaram because of His unprecedented mercy upon the fallen souls. In fact, the abode of Nitai Gauranga is called “audharya,” which means it manifests mercy upon the devotees regardless of their faults.
In a similar way, Lord Nrsimhadeva at ISKCON Mayapur is non-different than Ugra Nrsimha, yet He is very different than Ugra Nrsimha because of His unprecedented mercy. Therefore I have started this web page with the title “Merciful Nrsimhadeva.” Careful study of the pastimes here will give us the realization that this Mayapur Nrsimhadeva is extremely kind and merciful to all.
After we offered a night set of clothing to Merciful Nrsimhadeva a few years ago, Jananivas Prabhu sat down with my wife and me in the temple. He told us that Lord Nrsimhadeva derives ecstasy from serving Gauranga by helping devotees of His sankirtan movement.
I pondered the idea of one form of the Lord serving another. Isn’t it true that Lord Balaram manifest’s Lord Krishna’s shoes, umbrella and other paraphernelia to serve Him? Isn’t it true that Lord Nityananda serves Gauranga? And Advaita Acarya?”
I had often thought about the photographs I make of Merciful Nrsimhadeva, feeling that His face reveals not anger but a huge ecstatic smile. Hearing Jananinvas Prabhu’s words confirmed that feeling. His eyes may reveal a deep ecstasy, on the level of the enjoyment of the Supreme Lord–an interesting meditation.
As stated in the accounts that follow, “Although very ferocious, the lioness is very kind to her cubs. Similarly, although very ferocious to non-devotees like Hiranyakasipu, Lord Nrsimhadeva is very, very gentle and kind to His devotees like Prahlada Maharaja.”
Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared to a devotee to say “There is no need to fear Me. Please give up this fear.” We should take this to heart and not fear this most unusual form of Lord Nrsimhadeva residing in Gauranga’s abode. Worshiping Him will bring love and protection, not devastation.
Amogha das
Lord Nrsimhadeva Reciprocates Instantly
by Pankajanghri das
The fact that people just love to hear stories is one reason why some of the Vedic codes were gradually transmitted in story form, like the epic histories Mahabharat and Ramayan and the Puranas. When such stories concern the pastimes of the Lord and His devotees, they are called “lilas”. Being labeled Lord Nrsimhadeva’s pujari in Mayapur, I have been asked to recount some stories in connection with Him, but unlike the sastras (scriptures), these “lilas” (pastimes) have no authority except for the testimony of the devotees who told them. In most cases there were no other witnesses. Although I am generally quite skeptical when it comes to accepting other people’s mystical experiences as truth, just too many things started happening recently, not to sit up and take notice.
For instance, during the last Gaura Purnima festival, I called over a devotee in the crowd and asked her to distribute the Lord’s caramrita to the ladies, which she did. Later, when she brought the caranamrita pot back, she remarked that Lord Nrsimhadeva was very merciful to reciprocate so quickly.
“I was praying this morning that I might be able to offer some direct service to Him, and now you have given me this service.”
“Yes,” I said, “desires are quickly fulfilled in the Dham (holy place). Just see, the same day you desire, it happened.”
“No, not the same day–the same moment,” she replied. “The very instant I expressed that desire to serve Him, you called me over.”
“Wow! that is amazing,” I acknowledged. “Did you hear about how one devotee’s eye problem was cured at the same time that Lord Nrsimhadeva’s original eyes were placed back, after one donor had bought Him new eyes?”
“Oh, yes,” she told me. “As a matter of fact, I was staying in the same building when Lord Nrsimhadeva spoke to her.” She added, “You know, there was so much energy around that night that nobody could get any sleep.”
Just a few days later, another devotee revealed how Lord Nrsimhadeva helped him. “I was suffering intensely. I could not even stand without supporting myself on the column in front of Lord Nrsimhadeva’s altar. I prayed, ‘Please help me. Take away this suffering condition so that I may serve You fully.’ I then felt all my pain moving up and flowing out of my body. It just left.”
While I was hearing this, I noticed another devotee who had come for the darshan of the Lord. Earlier in the morning this devotee had asked my advice what to do, for she had been afflicted for about two weeks with a severe problem that contaminated her body, that wouldn’t allow her to paint some Deities in Assam, although she had already been commissioned to do it and had an air ticket to go.
“Mataji,” I exclaimed while walking over to her, “Lord Nrsimhadeva is giving instant benedictions. Why don’t you ask Him to remove your problem?”
The very next morning, when she saw me, she said “Thank you so much for the advice! You know, when I arrived home from the temple yesterday, my problem had completely disappeared.”
Some days later another devotee came to the pujari room and told us about a dream, wherein Lord Nrsimhadeva walked and talked with her just like a father. When she asked how she could serve Him, He told her to offer Him some mangoes. It wasn’t the mango season, but she managed to get some, and we offered them for her. This was the year that His Holiness Gour Govinda Swami left his body in Mayapur.
A few days after this tragedy she came again and said, “Actually, I only told you half of the dream. Lord Nrsimhadeva also said to me, “My pujari is very dear to Me, and I am going to take him back with Me.”
“Oh, don’t do that, please,” I fearfully exclaimed. “We want him to stay here.”
“No, I think I will take him back.”
“And after my pleading with Him for a long time, the Lord firmly announced. ‘All right, then, I will take one of the gurus instead.'”
She concluded by saying, “I told my spiritual master about this dream, and he advised me not to tell anyone. But now, because it has come true, I think I can tell you.”
When I repeated this story to my friend, Visvambhar from Carolina, he said, “This is amazing! My wife also dreamed about Lord Nrsimhadeva and mangoes. You see, yesterday, while she was walking outside the Mayapur campus, she saw a jar of mango pickles in a shop and desired to buy them for Lord Nrsimhadeva. But doubting the purity of the contents, she refrained. However, last night, Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared in her dream and asked, “Where are My mango pickles?”
When Lord Nrsimhadeva first came to Mayapur, all the pujaris were reluctant to worship His awesome form. Bhava Siddhi das was particularly frightened and always very nervous worshiping Him. One night, after putting the Lord to rest, he was leaving the altar, when he heard such a tremendous sound that it made his hairs stand on end. Looking back fearfully, he saw that everything was in place. So he quickly left, locked the door and paid his obeisances, praying for forgiveness for any offense he might inadvertently have committed. At the end of that night he was awakened by the shaking of his bed. Bhava Siddhi was sleeping on the top of a bunk bed. So he thought it must be the pujari below him getting up for mangala-arati (morning worship).
However, when he opened his eyes, he saw Lord Nrsimhadeva sitting on his bed. That fortunate pujari became very fearful, practically to the point of panic. As he tried to get up, Lord Nrsimhadeva place His two hands, which felt like the weight of the universe, on his shoulders. “Be peaceful, be calm,” the Lord consoled him. “I have just come to tell you that when you worship Me in the temple, there is no need to fear Me. Please, give up this fear.”
The Lord then disappeared, but Bhava Siddhi began to run up and down the veranda of the Long Building, where he slept.
“What happened?” asked some concerned devotees. But they received only incoherent replies. They started to think maybe he had gone mad or become haunted by a ghost. Finally Bhava Siddhi ran over the the temple and prostrated himself before the door where Lord Nrsimhadeva is worshiped and offered heartfelt prayers. After some time he became a little pacified, and began walking back to his room. “I wonder why everyone is staring at me,” he thought. When he looked down, the answer was obvious: He had gone to the temple in his night dress.
I saw Bhava Siddhi at last year’s Gaura Purnima festival–he is living in America now–and asked him about that incident. “Yes,” he said. “I still have those two marks from Lord Nrsimhadeva on my shoulders. They are almost gone now, but they are still visible.”
He wasn’t the only one to claim to have seen Lord Nrsimhadeva. Once, a devotee from a nearby Gaudiya Math came to offer worship to Lord Nrsimhadeva and told our head pujari, Jananivas, that on Nrsimha Caturdasi (the Appearance Day of Nrsimhadeva), he had been staying up all night chanting. Then, at the end of the night, Lord Nrsimhadeva manifested Himself in his room. It was the form of Nrsimhadeva from the ISKCON temple, and He appeared to be smiling very sweetly at me. My Guru Maharaj said I was very fortunate and should come here and worship Lord Nrsimhadeva.
Another time the frantic parents of a runaway boy, after searching all over the country, finally heard that their son was at our Mayapur center. They immediately came and spent the whole day looking for him, inquiring at the reception desk and from individual devotees, but they were not at all lucky in tracing him.
At the end of the day, during the sandhya arati (evening worship) of Lord Nrsimhadeva, his mother was praying with folded hands,”My dear Lord, the last time I came here, I happily participated in the chanting and dancing, but now my heart is broken because of my lost son, and I find no pleasure in life anymore. My Lord, if only my son could be returned to me, then I would also raise my hands and chant ‘Haribol, Hare Krishna.'”
As these words left her mouth, a figure passed and stepped before her and Lord Nrsimhadeva: it was her lost son. Both parents have now accepted Vaishnava initiation, started a nama hatta preaching center, and are enthusiastically preaching the Lord’s glories.
There are other stories–some I would be hesitant to repeat, and others that I can’t, having been told them in confidence. The devotees who told me these stories have had their faith and conviction strengthened, and certainly mine was, too, by hearing them. So if others derive the same benefit from reading them–even though they are not sastra (scripture)–it will be most beneficial. They help us advance in Krishna consciousness.
Lord Nrsimhadev’s Appearance at ISKCON Mayapurbased on a talk with H.G. Atmatattva das On the 24th of March, 1984, at 12:20 am, thirty five dacoits (thieves) armed with weapons and bombs attacked Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Temple. They harassed the devotees and treated them with derision. But the greatest shock came when the dacoits decided to steal the Deities of Srila Prabhupada and Srimati Radharani. Fearlessly the devotees challenged the attackers. How could they see Srila Prabhupada and Srimati Radharani carried away? Shots were fired, a few dacoits fell, and their plans were foiled. Srila Prabhupada was rescued, but that beautiful form of Srimati Radharani would no longer grace the main altar. This incident really disturbed the minds of the devotees. Those involved in management were especially concerned to make some permanent solution. This was not the first time the devotees had faced violence and harassment in Mayapur. Bhavananda das, who was the co-director of ISKCON Mayapur, suggested that Lord Nrsimhadev be installed. When the dacoits had threatened devotees at the Yoga Pitha, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur and his son Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, had promptly installed Sri Sri Laksmi Nrsimhadev. There had been no further disturbances. Other devotees in Mayapur were not so keen to follow so closely in these footsteps. The pujari must be a naisthika brahmacari (celibate from birth), and the worship of Lord Nrsimhadev must be must be very strict and regulated. Who would be prepared to worship Him?Despite such hesitancy, Bhavananda das was enthusiastic to bring Lord Nrsimhadev to Mayapur. He asked Bhaktisiddhanta das and myself to draw some sketches. One day quite spontaneously he said that the Deity’s legs should be bent, ready to jump, He should be looking around ferociously, His fingers should be curled, and flames should be coming from His head. I sketched a Deity in this mood.The devotees liked it and Pankajanghri das agreed to worship Him. Radhapada Das, a wealthy devotee from Kolkata, offered to sponsor the sculpting and installing of the Deity. It seemed Lord Nrsimhadev’s appearance in ISKCON Mayapur would be a simple, straight forward affair. Radhapada Das promptly gave Rs. 130,000, and it was accepted that the Deity would be ready for installation in three months. I left for South India to get things organized. By Krishna’s grace I soon found a very famous sthapati. A sthapati not only sculpts Deities; he also expert in temple architecture and engineering. The man was very obliging until I mentioned that the Deity we wanted carved was Ugra Nrsimhadev. He emphatically refused to make such a Deity. I approached many Deity sculptors, but the answer was always the same: No. I had made a number of trips between Mayapur and South India. Six months had passed, but Lord Nrsimhadev had not yet manifested in His Deity form. Radhapad Das was very anxious to see Lord Nrsimhadev installed in Mayapur. He asked me to visit the original sthapati I had seen and once again plead our case. This time the sculptor was a little more congenial and offered to read me a chapter from the Silpa Sastra (A Vedic scripture on sculpture and temple architecture.) that deals with different forms of Deities. He read aloud some verses describing Lord Nrsimhadev. A series of verses described His flamelike mane, His searching glance, and His knees bent with one foot forward ready to jump from the pillar. When he read this I was amazed. This was exactly what we wanted. I showed him the sketch I had done.He was impressed and offered to draw an outline based on the scriptural description, which we could use as a guide for sculpting the Deity. He reminded me, though, that he would not carve the form himself. It took him a week to complete the sketch. It was very impressive. I returned to Mayapur and showed the sketch to the temple authorities. Everyone wanted the same sthapati to carve the Deity. Once again I was sent back to South India to try to convince him. I went straight to the house of the sthapati. I was feeling very anxious. What could I do but pray to Lord Nrsimhadev to be merciful and agree to manifest Himself in our temple in Sri Mayapur Dham? I had hardly said two sentences when the man matter-of-factly said he would carve the Deity. The story of how he came to this decision is interesting.The sthapati had approached his guru, the Sankaracharya of Kanchi Puram, about our request. His guru’s immediate reply was “Don’t do it.” When he heard that it was Hare Krsihna people from Navadvip, he became very concerned. “They want Ugra Nrsimha? Are they aware of the implicatins of sculpting and installing Ugra Nrsimha? Such Deities were carved over three thousand years ago by very elevated sthapatis. There is a place on the way to Mysore where a very ferocious Ugra Nrsimha is installed. The demon Hiranyakasipu is torn open on His lap and his intestines are spilling out all over the altar. Once the standard of worship there was very high. There was an elephant procession and a festival every day, but gradually the worship declined. Today that place is like a ghost town. The whole village is deserted. No one can live there peacefully. Is that what they want for their project?”The sthapati replied, “They are very insistent. They are constantly coming to talk to me about the Deity. Apparently they have some problem with dacoits.” Handing his guru a sketch of the Deity, he said “This is the Deity they want.” His guru took the sketch and looked at it knowlingly.“Ah,this is Ugra category,” he said, “but a Deity in this particular mood is called Sthanu Nrsimha. He doesn’t exist on this planet. Even the demigods in the heavenly planets don’t worship a form like this. Yes, this Deity belongs to the Ugra category. Ugra means ferocious, very angry. There are nine forms within this category. They are all very fierce. The one they want is Stanu Nrsimha: stepping out of the pillar. No. Don’t carve this Deity. It will not be auspicious for you. I will talk with you about this later.”A few nights later the sthapati had a dream. In the dream his guru came to him and said, “For them you can carve Sthanu Nrsimha.” The next morning he received a hand-delivered letter from Kanchipuram. The letter was from the Sankaracharya and gave some instructions regarding temple rennovations. There was a footnote at the bottom. It read, “For ISKCON you can carve Sthanu Nrsimha.” The sthapati showed me the letter and said, “I have my guru’s blessings. I will carve your Deity.” I was overwhelmed with joy. I gave him an advance payment and asked him how much time it would take to carve the Deity. He said the Deity would be ready for installation within six months. I returned to Mayapur.After four peaceful months in the Holy Dham, I decided to go to South India and purchase the heavy brass paraphernelia required for Nrsimha worship and then collect the Deity. The trip was well-organized and trouble-free until I visited the sthapati. I explained to him that all the paraphernelia required for the worship had been purchased and that I had come to collect the Deity. He looked at me as though I had lost me senses and exclaimed, “What Deity? I haven’t even found a suitable stone!” I couldn’t believe my ears.“But you told me He would be ready in six months,” I exclaimed. “I will keep my promise.” he said. “Six months after I have found the stone the Deity will be ready for installation.” His reply was emphatic, but I just couldn’t understand or accept the delay. In frustration I challenged him, “There’s big slabs of stone all over South India. What’s the problem.?” He looked at me the way a teacher would view a slow student and said very deliberately, “I am not making a grinding mortar. I am making a Deity. The scriptures tell us that only a stone that has life can be used to make a Vishnu Deity. When you hit seven points of the stone slab, and each makes the sound mentioned in the scriptures, then that stone may be suitable. But there is a second test to indicate whether the stone is living stone. There is a bug that eats granite. If it eats from one side of the stone to the other, and leaves a complete trail behind it, then the second test of living stone has been passed. That stone is living stone, and expression can manifest from it. Only from such a stone can I carve your Nrsimhadev. Such stone speaks poetry. All features of a Deity sculpted from such a stone will be fully expressive and beautiful. Please be patient. I’ve been searching sincerely for your six-foot slab.”I was amazed and a little anxious. The devotees in Mayapur were expecting the arrival of the Deity soon. How was I going to explain the “living stone” search to them? Maybe they would decide to make Nrsimhadev from marble I decided to try to lighten the subject by discussing the Prahlad Maharaj murti with the sthapati. “Please forgive me but I forgot to tell you last time I came that we also want a Prahlada Murti. We want to worship Prahlada Nrsimhadev. What do you think?“I don’t think that will be possible,” the sthapati replied matter-of-factly. I looked at him incredulously, not sure what to say. He smiled and continued. “You want everything done exactly according to the scriptures. Your Nrsimhadev will be four feet high. Comparatively speaking, that will make Prahlada Maharaja the size of an amoeba.”“But we want Prahlada Maharaja one foot high,” I interrupted.“Fine,” the sthapati replied, “but that means your Nrsimhadev will have to be about 120 feet high.” We began to argu back and forth about Prahlada Maharaja’s form. Finally the sthapati sighed in resignation and agreed to make Prahlada Maharaja one foot tall. At least now I had something positive to report when I returned to Mayapur.After two months I returned to South India. There had been no developments. I shuttled back and forth from Mayapur to South India every thirty or forty days. Finally our stone was found, and the sthapati became a transformed man. For over a week he hardly spent any time at home. Hour after hour, day after day, he just sat staring at the slab. He had chalk in hand but didn’t draw anything. He refused to allow his laborers to do anything besides remove the excess stone to make the slab rectangular. The next time I visited him, he had made a sketch on the stone. Thatwas all. I was worried. The Mayapur managers were becoming impatient. “Are you sure the Deity will be finished in six months?” I asked in desperation. “Don’t worry. The work will be done,” he replied.I returned to Mayapur, only to be sent back to South India to check on some details of the Deity. I found the sthapati carving the form himself with intense care and dedication. At that stage the stone had gone and the shape had come. The sthapati had just started on the armlets. He took two weeks to carve them. All the features were so refined an delicate. I was impesssed and very happy. It took the sthapati a little ove twelve months to finish the Deity. When he completed the work, he didn’t immediately inform me but decided to visit some friends for a few days. It was the monsoon season. There were few visitors, and he felt it safe to lock up Lord Nrsimhadev securely in his thatched shed. Two days later his neighbours ran to inform him that the thatched shed was on fire. There was ha\eavy rain and everything was wet, but the coconut tree roof had caught fire. He ran to the scene to find Nrsimhadev untouched, but the shed burned to ashes. Immediately he phoned me, “Please come and take your Deity, He’s burning everything. He’s made it clear He wants to go NOW!”
Enthusiastically I travelled to South India, hired a truck, and half-filled it with sand. I arrived at the sthapati’s studio thinking this final stage would be relatively simple. I had foolishly forgotten that Lord Nrsimhadev is a very heavy personality. He weighed one ton! Aftern two or three hours we managed to lift the Deity safely from the shed onto the truck. To ravel across the border safely, we also needed police permission, along with signed papers from the Central Sales Tax Department, the Archeological Director, and the Art Emporium Directorate in Tamil Nadu.All the officers demanded to see the Deity before signing the necessary papers. Once they took darshan of Lord Nrsimhadev, they all became very obliging and efficient. We had all the necessary papers in hand within twenty-four hours–a miracle given the usual quagmire of bureaucracy found in government offices in India. The trip back to Mayapur was also amazingly troulbe-free and peaceful. Our protector was certainly present with us. Usually the sthapati comes on the day fo the installation ceremony, goes into the Deity room, and carves the eyes of the Deity This is called netra-nimilanam (opening the eyes). It was an exceptional case that our Nrsimhadev’s sthapati had already carved the eyes. He had not only carved the eyes; he had also done the prana-pratistha (installing the life force), a little puja and an arati. I am sure that is why all the papers were prepared so obligingly, and transporting the Supreme Lord was so easy. He was already present. And who would dare to say no to Lord Nrsimhadev?”The installation of Lord Nrsimhadev was very simple and lasted three days: from the 28th to the 30th of July, 1986. I remember feeling apprehensive that perhaps the installation was so simple. The grave warnings of the Sankaracarya of Kanchipuram had deeply impressed me. But my mind was soon appeased by an awareness of loud, dynamic kirtana. Sankirtana-yajna, the only true opulence of Kali Yuga, was dominating the scene. I felt enlivened and satisfied. Lord Nrsimhadev, the protector of the sankirtana mission, had finally decided to manifest at Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir. |
Sri Nrsimhadev:
The Lord in His Most Terrific Form.
by Pankaganghri das
Om namo bhagavate sri maha-Nrsimhaya/ damstra-karala-vadanaya/ ghora-rupaya vajra-nakhaya/ jvala-maline mama vighnan paca paca/ mama bhayan bhindi bhindi/ mama satrun vidravaya vidravaya mama/ sarva ristan prabhanjaya prabhanjaya/ chata chata, hana hana, chindi chindi/ mama sarvabhistan puraya puraya mam/ raksa raksa hum phat svaha
“O Nrsimhadeva, whose form is terrible by sharp and long teeth: who is very fearful to see with strong, large nails, and who is garlanded by flames–destroy, destroy my obstacles and kick out, kick out my fear. Scatter, scatter my enemies, destroy, destroy my karma. Flash, flash! Kill, kill! Cut, cut! Ever fulfill, fulfill my desire to serve You and protect, protect me and all around me.”
Startling, isn’t it–this maha-mantra of Lord Nrsimhadeva? For those who have had darsana of this Deity form here in Mayapur–especially at mangala-arati, when in the darkness of pre-dawn, His doors open to reveal His awesome form, illuminated by 200 oil lamps, that make His eyes and teeth glint in His lion-like face with a gaping mouth–they know that this description is no exaggeration. While inside the altar area, the pujari circles large lamps of bright flaming camphor and ghee. Outside, many devotees throng for a glimpse of their Lord, for they know that this auspicious arati will be over in just three or four minutes.
It is just before 5:00 a.m. The arati is over and the heavy wooden doors to Lord Nrsimhadeva’s altar are closed.
I enter the Deity room, after offering prostrated obeisances and praying for the blessings of Srila Prabhupada and the assembled devotees. While standing before the Lord with folded hands, I recited the following prayer: “O Kesava, O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who has assumed the form of half-man, half-lion. All glories to you! Just as one can easily crush a wasp between one’s fingernails, so in the same way the body of the wasp-like demon Hiranyakasipu has been ripped apart by the wonderful painted nails on Your beautiful lotus hands.”
After cleaning the floor and sitting on a kusa-grass mat, the puja begins… The first thing I do is to purify the articles to be used, as well as the body and the mind. Then I meditate on my spiritual identity as different from the body, understanding myself to be the eternal servant of the servant of the Lord. Next comes my worship for my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, with sandalwood paste, flowers, incense, a ghee lamps, and some food. I then ask for his permission to assist in the worship of Lord Nrsimhadeva. Repeating the same procedure for Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Prahlada Maharaja, I begin to offer 16 items of worship through mantras–through the medium of water–to Lord Nrsimhadeva.
I touch my head to the lotus feet of the deity of Sri Prahlada Maharaja, praying for his blessings. “It was only to relieve the distress brought to you by your demoniac father Hiranyakasipu, that the Supreme Lord appeared in His wonderful form of Lord Nrsimhadeva. O Sri Prahlada Maharaja, you are one of the twelve mahajanas, or great authorities of devotional service. Kindly bless me with the understanding of spiritual truths.”
On the altar of Lord Nrsimhadeva are 60 salagrama-silas. I remove Them to offer abhiseka. The big sila in the center who wears a crown is a Nrsimha saligram.
Although it is a scriptural injunction that one should touch one’s head to the feet of the Deity, it’s not always possible or practical. Therefore, we bring out the satari, the Deity’s shoes, mounted on what looks like a helmet, and place it over the heads of the devotees. One of the benedictions of being a pujari is that he can place his head directly on the Lord’s lotus feet. Receiving this benediction and begging forgiveness for any inconvenience I may cause Him, I undress the Lord and wipe His body with a soft, damp towel. His body begins to shine when I massage it with cooling oils like sandalwood or khus. His form is exquisite, slender and perfectly formed. He looks powerful but also graceful. The Lord’s knees are bent, ready to spring, and around His hips is an engraved girdle, bearing a face with large cheeks, open mouth and a protruding tongue. His navel is deep and his chest is broad. Lord Nrsimhadeva’s transcendental body is smooth, soft to the touch, and very much appealing to the eye. He is bedecked with bracelets and other ornaments. The Lord has eight arms. In six hands He holds a sword, lotus flower, disc, conch, club and shield, and to keep the promise of Brahma, His two front hands yield no weapons.
The Lord cannot bear any intolerance against His devotees. It is said that the face is the index of the mind. If this proves to be true, then we can see how furious Lord Nrsimhadeva must have been when He burst out from the pillar to attack the greatest of all demons, Hiranyakasipu, who tried to kill the Lord’s pure devotee, Prahlada. “His angry eyes resembled molten gold, and His shining mane expanded the dimensions of His fearful face. His deadly teeth and His razor sharp tongue moved about like a dueling sword. His ears were erect and motionless, and His nostrils and gaping mouth appeared like caves of a mountain. His jaws parted fearfully and His entire body touched the sky.” When it was decided to bring a Deity of Lord Nrsimhadeva to Mayapur for the protection of the devotees and the temple, three of the main pujaris were called by the managers to discuss the importance of establishing this Deity. However, when it came to the point of who would peform daily puja, no one was willing to step forward. “After such a long waiting period, the Deity is finally ready, and now nobody wants to worship Him!” Their concern was obvious. And then I was singled out….”Why don’t you want to worship Him?” I was asked. “I’m too scared,” I replied. They intimated me: “Oh, you probably don’t follow the four regulative principles….” “Of course, but…”
Fortunately, our fears were allayed by Atma-tattva Prabhu, who had procured the Deity in South India. He told us that first, even the sthapati refused to make such a Deity, saying that nobody worships this sthanu form of Nrsimhadeva [the ferocious form of the Lord when He stepped out fo the pillar to Kill Hiranyakasipu]. Generally one goes before the Deity of the Lord to ask for some benediction, but to ask for something when He is shaking with fury–just wouldn’t be a smart thing to do. It is certainly better to go for a more pacified form, e.g. after He has killed Hiranyakasipu. But later, when the stapati found out that it was for Mayapur Dhama, he agreed, because any deity brought to the dhama takes on the mood of the presiding deity of the dhama. In this case it is audarya, “benevolence,” the mood of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Gaura-Hari!
“Although very ferocious, the lioness is very kind to her cubs. Similarly, although very ferocious to non-devotees like Hiranyakasipu, Lord Nrsimhadeva is very, very gentle and kind to His devotees like Prahlada Maharaja.”
While dressing the Lord and remembering His mercy, I am thinking how some people misunderstand our purpose of worshiping Lord Nrsimha. Sometimes devotees say that worship of Nrsimhadeva is Vaikuntha-bhava, and it cannot take one to Goloka Vrindavana, the Lord’s supreme and most intimate abode. But Lord Nrsimhadeva is partucularly inclined towards the devotees of Radha and Krishna. He is Krishna Himself, appearing especially in this form to reciprocate with our desire to remove all the obstacles in our devotional service. If one can always raise his hands and call out with great love the names of Nitai-Gaura and Radha-Madhava, that is wonderful. But if there is something in your heart that is stopping you from that spontaneous call, why not go in all humility before Lord Nrsimhadeva and pray that with His sharp nails, He may pierce those crooked desires in your heart and throw them far away… This is His main function. Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura writes: “Therefore, I will pray at the feet of Lord Nrsimhadeva to purify my heart and give me the desire to serve Krishna. Weeping, I will beg at the lotus feet of Nrsimha that I may worship Sri Sri Radha and Krishna in Navadvip Dhama, free from all obstacles.” His prayers continue: “At that moment, by Lord Nrsimhadeva’s mercy, I will exhibit symptoms of ecstatic love for Radha and Krishna, and I will roll on the ground by the door of Lord Nrsimhadeva’s temple.”
Didn’t Lord Caitanya reveal His divinity to Srivasa Thakura while Srivasa was worshipping his Nrsimha Deity, by saying: “Srivasa, don’t you know that I am the same person whom you are worshipping behind those closed doors?” And what about Advaita Acarya, whose offerings of tulasi buds and Ganga water, along with His loud calling, caused the Lord to descend, it is said that He worshipped a Nrsimha Salagram!
I now begin putting ornaments on the Lord’s body. I adjust Sri Nrsimhadeva’s necklaces, so they hang symmetrically; tie shining bracelets on His wrist, and fix beautiful rings on His lotus fingers. “I am so close to you, oh Lord, and yet so far away. When will I become a devotee?” Prahlada, your foremost bhakta, is indicating that he is not afraid of Your ferocious mouth and tongue; Your eyes as bright as the sun, and Your frowning eyebrows. He fears not Your sharp, pinching teeth, your garland of intestines, and Your mane soaked with blood, nor Your tumultuous roaring, which makes elephants flee; nor Your nails meant for killing your enemies. However, he says, “I’m very much afraid of my condition of life within this material world. When will that moment come when You will call me to the shelter of Your lotus feet?” I know Sri Prahlada was saying that last point only for our benefit, for he was always completely surrendered unto You.
One time, I also felt surrendered unto You–at least for a few minutes. That was during the big flood in 1987. While offering You puja, standing waist deep in water, a big, frightening snake swam in the temple, passing behind You. It stopped about five feet in front of me, finding its exit blocked. After examining me for some long moments, it dipped down, out of sight, in the muddy Ganga water. Feeling myself in imminent danger, I noticed the hair on my arms standing on end, with no weapon to defend myself, nor the ability to run away, I felt very insecure. In such a helpless condition, I turned to You, oh Lord, and I knew that my fate was completely in Your hands. “You are the Supersoul in everyone’s heart. If You want that snake to bite me, it will bite–if You don’t, it won’t. Let me continue my service; the result is dependent on You.” Then, I became peaceful again, feeling the safety of Your shelter.
I finished the morning puja, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the incident. It reminded me of the description by Lord Kapila of the babies in the womb. In their helpless and painful condition, they get the darshan of Paramatma, the Lord in the heart. If they are pious, they pray that if He relieves them from their suffering condition, they would–after being relieved from the womb–exclusively worship Him. But as soon as they’re out and in good shape, they forget everything. Still, I have great hope that one day I’ll be able to serve You nicely for Your pleasure. By the way, as long as the temple room was filled with water from the flood, the snake would come every day, circumambulate the Deity once, and then go out. Who knows who that snake actually was?
Covering His body with fresh garlands of flowers and tulasi, offering sandalwood paste, mixed with fragrant flowers and tulsi leaves to His lotus feet (which symbolizes sacrificing everything to the Lord), the morning puja is now complete. Hearing the devotees gathering outside makes me hurry–it’s time for darshan. I blow the conch three times and open the doors to reveal the resplendent Lord. Jaya Sri Prahlada Nrsimhadeva! The devotees bow down, happy to see their Ugra Nrsimha again. In their hearts they know that He is not really as ugra as He looks.
–from an article published in Mayapur Journal, Summer 1994.
|
“I Want My Eyes Back!”
On a warm December morning last year, around 11:00 a.m., as I sought the association of the magnificent Lord and prayed to His dear most devotee Prahlada, I found myself involved in one of His temple lilas (pastimes), much to my astonishment After offering my obeisances to the captivating Prahlada, who stands next to his beloved Lord with his hands folded and his small body decorated with fresh fresh flowers and beautiful ornaments, I prayed, “My dear Prahlada, you are expert in receiving all kinds of blessings from Lord Nrsimhadev. You even received the blessings of forgiveness for you demoniac father, Hiranyakasipu. Please ask you Lord to bless this poor soul with the destruction of everything that stands in the way of her devotional service. Show me the way to real happiness.” Then, as I stood meditating on the Lord’s beauty and mercy, I heard a very sweet, deep voice: “I want My eyes back!” At first, I ignored it and kept my mind in the mode of prayer. But the voice spoke a second time: “I want My eyes back!” Attempting again to disregard this clear message raised a burning and almost a painful sensation in my heart. I was dumbfounded. What was I to do? Then the voice continued: “Go to the pujari.” Okay, I thought, I have nothing to lose. If the pujaris think I am crazy, I will at most lose a bit of my false ego. Praying to the Lord to give me the strength to carry out His order, I paid my obeisances and almost breathlessly headed for the pujari rooms. There I found Jananivas Prabhu reading the Srimad Bhagavatam. The atmosphere in the room was extremely serene and otherworldly. I stood there for several minutes and waited for him to notice me. Then, after I told him what happened, he asked me to go see his twin brother, Pankajanghri Prabhu, the actual pujari of Lord Nrsimhadev. Somehow I felt that I didn’t have to do more at this point.” The following day, as I approached the magnificent form of Lord Nrsimhadev, my mind buzzed with doubt. “What if that voice was just my mind, demanding the healing of my eyesight, which has been very poor and painful for the past six week?”Thinking in this way, I prayed for an answer. The voice spoke to me again, this time with a more serious and firm tone: “You will get your eyes back when I get mine!” His form always emanates a soft light, and my heart felt peaceful and warm. I felt overwhelmed with unusual confidence, as if my head were touching the sky. The next morning, at 2:20 a.m., I woke up fully refreshed and wide-awake. It was unusually early for me, as I usually get up around six O’clock. A soft voice urged me to rise, bathe and attend mangala-arati (early morning worship)– which I did. After the ceremony was over, the same voice urged me to follow Pankajanghri Prabhu from Lord Nrsimhadev’s altar into the pujari room. I felt very embarrassed and had tears in my eyes. I also felt a kind of unwillingness in my heart to reveal my mind to him.
As he was preparing the articles for the Lord’s abhisheka, I started to talk to him. Pankajanghri Prabhu listened attentively to my story. Then, without saying anything, he smiled and gave me maha sweets from Lord Nrsimhadev’s plate. The following morning, when my daughter returned from the temple, she was shouting, “Mommy, they changed Nrsimhadev’s eyes! He has beautiful red eyes now.” And as the sweet deep voice had promised, my eyesight was miraculously cured–within three days. All glories, all glories to the merciful Lord Nrsimhadev in Sri Mayapur. [Editor’s note: Lord Nrsimhadev originally had red eyes. One day, a devotee came to Mayapur and offered two precious yellow stones for His eyes, and the pujaris reluctantly changed the eyes on the Deity. They felt happy when the Lord revealed that He wanted His original red eyes.] Atmarati Dasi, who joined ISKCON in 1980 is from Greece, and she wrote this article for Mayapur journal in 1997, |
|
More Pastimes Pastime One Lord Nrsimhadev’s pujari had a very startling dream in which the director of the Temple called him and told him to bring some diesel oil, saying, “We are going to sacrifice Lord Nrsimhadev.”You are going to what?!” exclaimed the pujari.” “Yes we are going to sacrifice Lord Nrsimhadev.” “You can’t do that, this is crazy.” “Just bring the diesel will you?” “Ok, I will bring the oil but I don’t want anything to do with this, it doesn’t make any sense.” After some time the pujari returned to the temple and was totally shocked to see that everything had been completely burned by a great fire and all that remained of the Deity was his feet and ankles. Early next morning he approached the chief pujari and asked if he could explain the meaning of this terrible nightmare. After thinking for awhile, he began to smile and said “Oh yes, you see yesterday was the start of jaladan (the festival of dripping water on salagram for one month), but we forgot to observe it, therefore Lord Nrsimhadev is letting you know that He is burning up and you should immediately begin the jaladan,” which we did! Pastime Two Once, Lord Nrsimhadev’s worship was going on as usual when the pujari noticed that one flower fell from Nrsimhadev’s garland. The pujari asked the visitors if anyone was offering any special prayers to Lord Nrsimhadev. The visitors in front did not say anything, but from the back one lady came forward with tears in her eyes. She said, “My daughter got married about four or five years ago and she has no issue. The people in my son-in-law’s house consider it inauspicious. So I was praying to Nrsimhadev that He might help her in her desperate situation.” Then the pujari said, “Your prayer is granted, the symptom is that this flower fell from Nrsimhadev’s garland. Please take this and keep it nicely. You can wash this flower and give the water to your daughter to drink.” Then the lady left, and later the pujari forgot the incident. After one year, the same devotee, along with her daughter, son-in-law and a newborn baby came smiling to Nrsimhadev. She reminded the pujari about the prayer she made one year back, as a result of which her daughter gave birth to a very nice baby boy, whom they named Prahlad. And once again they offered a very nice puja (offering) to Lord Nrsimhadev. Pastime three One of our Namahatta devotees, Kalyanit dasi, has two daughters, the elder one is Prathibha and the younger is Anubha. Both of them are married, and they have grown-up children. They both live in the same city, Berhampur. Once the husband of Prathibha fell extremely sick and was in a coma, near to death. Along with the other relatives the younger sister, Anubha, was also in great anxiety about her brother-in-law’s situation. She went to the hospital, and as she was a devotee, she prayed to Lord Nrsimhadev (at ISKCON Mayapur) to help her brother-in-law. She came home and went to bed with a heavy heart. At the end of the night she had a dream in which Lord Nrsimhadev came near to her and told her, “Don’t worry, your brother-in-law is ok.” And then her dream broke. In the morning the news came from the hospital that the patient was doing well, his saline drip and oxygen had both been removed, and he was now able to talk. Pastime four There was a fight in a village, and in the course of the fight one person was attacked with acid as a result of which his whole face was burnt and terribly disfigured. The sight of one of the eyes was completely lost and the other eye had only about 10% vision. The doctors said that the remaining eye, through which he had 10% vision, would also go blind very soon. They suggested taking the patient to Vellore (South India) for further treatment, to see if they could do something about it. At that time a devotee who was there, suggested that they should pray to Lord Nrsimhadev for the recovery of his eyes. As a result they prayed to Lord Nrsimhadev (at ISKCON Mayapur). The next day, much to the doctor’s surprise, it was found that the patient could see everything very nicely. Pastime five One Russian lady used to make tulasi garlands for Nrsimhadev every day. Being pleased with her, Nrsimhadev’s pujari gave her one of Lord Nrsimhadev’s false finger nails as prasad. She took it and kept it with her. That night she had a dream in wich she saw that Lord Nrsimhadev had come to her and was sitting one her bed. The Lord then put His fingers with His long nails inside her heart and pulled out something black and said “You see this? This is not love, it is lust. And there is still more here. What shall I do with it?” She could not reply, and her dream broke. The next day she went before Lord Nrsimhadev and asked Him to throw it far away.
Pastime Six The father of one of the devotees of ISKCON your forum used to argue with him saying, “Why do we have to worship Nrsimhadev, when Radha Madhava are there?” The boy tried to make his father understand that Krishna and Nrsimhadev are non-different, but his father was not very convinced in this regard. During Nrsimha Caturdasi 2003, this boy, along with his father, came to the temple and was watching Lord Nrsimhadev’s Abhisek ceremony. Suddenly the boy’s father saw Madhava’s face in place of Nrsimhadev’s. He turned to Radha Madhava and again he looked back at Nrsimhadev and found Nrsimhadev’s face as Madhava’s still. This contineud for about 20 seconds. In this way he realized that there is no difference between Madhava and Nrsimhadev.
Pastime seven During 2004 Kavipriya devi dasi of South Kolkata, a disciple of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami, made some bracelets for Lord Nrsimhadev. Somehow or other she could not come to Mayapur and offer them to the Lord. In the meantime she started becoming sick in different ways. She went to the doctors and tried various treatments, but there was no cure. Lastly the doctors said that her problem was thyroid. As a result, she would eventually be unable to move. As she was in great anxiety, thinking what to do, all of a sudden she remembered about Lord Nrsimhadev and the bracelets which she was supposed to offer to Him. Even though she was ill, she made the endeavor to come to Mayapur to give Him the bracelets. After offering them to Lord Nrsimhadev, all the symptoms of illness were totally removed within three days. All glories to Lord Nrsimhadev!
Pastime Eight “Thank You, Lord Nrsimhadev.” On april 22, 2005, Revati Sundari devi dasi, age 8, was climbing on the roof of the bamboo playhouse in the Grhastha park in Sri Mayapur dham. To her great surprise she fell through the roof, landing on her head, and the roof caved in on top of her. She was in shock for an hour, shaking and crying and incoherent. She also had concussion. Gaura Baba, our wonderful homeopathic vaishnava doctor, treated her for concussion and shock and suggested a scan. After three days, Revati woke up in the night vomiting black blood. We rushed her off to Kolkata. On the way, clear fluid was leaking from her nose, then violent nosebleeds started. We took her straight to a good pediatrician, who immediately called in the top neurologist in the city. He ordered a CT scan and then, seeing the results, he sent us to a very good neurosurgeon, who has his own private hospital. Revati was admitted straight away. The symptoms continued through the night, and we found out that the clear fluid from her nose was the brain fluid (CFS)leaking out. The scan clearly showed a fracture in the floor of her brain, from which the brain fluid was escaping. Also her brain was swollen and blood was pooling there, causing pressure. She had extreme pain in her head which was unabated since the accident. The doctors worked on her for a couple of days, giving her medicine intravenously. The whites of her eyes became totally red. She was like a limp rag with little interest in anything. Finally the doctors said that the next morning, early, they would do a special scan showing all the sections of her brain to determine the exact extent of the injuries and then would probably decide to operate to repair the damage. They would tell us their decision by 9 am. I phoned Pankajanghri Prabhu, explaining the situation and asking him to please pray to Lord Nrsimhadev. He immediately said he would do a full puja (offering) between 5 and 7 am, complete with abhisekha and everything else. This was the time of the special scan. The next morning when I met the doctors, they were looking amazed and said that the new scan showed that the injuries were miraculously almost healed. All the symptoms such as pain, violent nosebleeds, brain fluid leakage, vomiting, etc. had abruptly stopped. When I went in to see Revati, she was sitting up in bed looking bright-eyed and fresh, and her eyes were fully white again. Thank you, Lord Nrsimhadev! In gratitude and love, your servant Racitambara dasi
Pastime Nine Lord Nrsimhadev shows His mercy even to a non-devotee. Yasoda Mata’s 85 year old foster father passed away two months ago. During his stay in the hospital, Yasoda Mata prepared a tape recorder and played the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra all day long in his ward. Her foster father was actually in semi-coma, but miraculously when he heard the maha-mantra, gradually he awoke and with closed eyes he appeared to be enjoying the music and the sound vibration. He started to follow the tempo by tapping his hand on the edge of his bed. His finger ring made the sound like “don, don, don” “don don don”…” He looked like he was totally meditating on the Maha mantra. Suddenly he spoke, “Look! There is a huge five-clawed man, and his head looks just like a lion’s. He is coming into my ward. Don’t you see him? He is coming.” The foster father still with eyes closed said. “Oh, yes, I forgot you all cannot see him, but he is really here. I do not know who he is.” At that moment Yasoda Mata and her daughters looked at each other in great surprise and answered, ” Father, He is Lord Nrsimhadev,” “What dev???” he asked. “I don’t know Him. But He is nodding His head to tell me that He is.” Yasoda Mata felt great ecstasy in hearing this, for in her house she keeps a model of the Nrsimha Deity from Mayapur and had been offering heartfelt prayers to Him so that her father could leave the body without any attachment and that his soul can become Krishna’s devotee in his next birth. Continuously her father said, “Look, He is smiling to me and starting to speak again. Oh, He is telling me that I have to learn to chant what you are chanting now. What exactly are you chanting?” He said. “It is a mantra to call the holy name of Lord,” Yasoda Mata replied. “I don’t know what mantra, but please teach me,” he said. “All right father, please repeat after me and listen carefully–Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.” Yasoda Mata taught her foster father word by word patiently. Without taking a long time, he learned and tried to chant, and chanted so nicely. The next day he passed away with tranquility. During that weekend we devotees here congregated together to do the kirtan(chanting) for Yasoda Mata’s father at the funeral service. Yasoda Mata prepared the prasadam garland, Ganga water, tulasi and put tilak on her father, which have all been done nicely and properly according to her guru maharaj His Holiness Giridhari Swami’s telephone instruction. Her foster father’s face looked so peaceful. His cheeks were a little pink and his body was soft. After some customary ceremonies, the body was sent to the incinerator. A few hours later the people who work in the memorial service came to us and and exclaimed to us in amazement, “We have never seen anyone’s ashes look so white and beautiful like jade as your father’s! What happened to him? What were you chanting for him? Could you write it down for us? We want to learn and we think we can also chant while doing our service here.” Why the Lord personally appeared before someone who we consider is not a devotee proves the scriptural statement that if one is always engaged in the devotional service of the Lord, all their family members will be benefited as well. From Lin Tulip, Taiwan, 20th March 2006. |
Pastimes during 2006 and 2007
|
Lord Nrsimhadev resolves a father’s dilemma 9th September 2006 My father and mother, living at Bakura district, Catna village, are initiated devotees of the Gaudiya Math. My name is Gauranga. I had joined the ISKCON Sri Mayapur temple six months ago, and after finishing the three months bhakta training course, I was put in the school preaching service. A few days ago just before Jhulan Purnima (the Lord’s swing festival), my father came to take me back to my house with a request from him aand other family members that I should sit for the higher board examination and get a degree. I also had a slight desire to go and see my mother. However on hearing my father’s intention, devotees, concerned devotees made heartfelt requests. One even fell at his feet, begging him not to take me back to the world of maya (illusion). My father, being a Vaishnava (devotee of the Lord) himself, fell in a great dilemma. Finally he took shelter of Lord Nrsimhadev and prayed to Him for guidance. That night Lord Nrsimhadev appeared in my father’s dream. The Lord was in a very calm mood. He rubbed the palm of his hand on my father and said, “My dear son, you go. Your son shall remain here at My lotus feet.” Upon seeing the Lord, my father, completely startled, started to pay obeisances. Then Lord Nrsimhadev disappeared. My father happily told my incharge that I may remain and continue to serve here. I also called and informed the other family members that I was not ready to appear for any kind of examinations this year.
Please Help Me! On the 10th of December, 2006, while taking the bhakti shastri course in Mayapur, Deepak Gupta from Delhi, suddenly contracted chicken pox. Hoping against hope he consulted three doctors–aleopath, homeopath and ayurvedic. All three confirmed the same thing: “Take complete rest in isolation for for at least twenty days.” Deepak became really upset because his parents had let him come to Mayapur only after his repeated requests over a long period of time. Now he would have to miss the courses as well as the association of sannyasis and other senior teachers. After suffering intensely for three days, Deepak just couldn’t tolerate it any more so he made his way to the temple. He arrived just after sandhya aroti (evening worship). As he stood before Lord Nrsimhadev, he said, “Dear Lord just look at my pitiable condition (his whole body aching and covered with sores). Please help me.” Then he joined the que for the Deity’s mahaprasadam (sanctified remnants). The startled pujari, seeing his condition, gave him some prasadam and called for the security guard, who escorted him out from the temple and told him not to come back with such a contagious disease. Deepak returned to his room depressed at the thought of having to suffer like this for another seventeen days or so. At 2 a.m. the next morning, Deepak awoke feeling very energetic. He got up to take a shower, and to his delight and surprise, he saw that the sores on his body had gone. All the marks had just disappeared. He attended the whole morning program without feeling any trace of fatigue. Deepak says, “I am really thankful to Lord Nrsimhadev for what He did for me in the holy dham. He saved my life. I could not tell you the pain I was getting and He cured me in just one day.” Letter from Andharupa devi dasi Hare Krishna. My name is Andharupa dasi initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1975 at Miami Florida. I was asked to tell my story of my cure from Hepatitis C. The summer of 2004 His Holiness Jayapataka Maharaja visited New Ramana reti temple in Alachua Florida. I approached Maharaja and asked him for his blessings for my departure from this world. My illness: Hepatitis C of 3rd stage fibrosis of the liver. I was undergoing medical treatment for a duration of 48 weeks with only 45% chance to be cured with many side affects. Jayapataka Maharaja said to me “You see this staff? It was touched to Lord Nrsimhadev in Mayapur.” Then he touched it to my head. That night I had a dream my body was diseased with leprosy and started to fade away. The next morning I had a phone call from the University of Florida. The doctors told me “Congratulations. You are Hepatitis C free. The viral count is non reactive in just 8 weeks!” The doctors were amazed especially for I had genotype 1, the deadly type of Hepatitis C. When I started this treatment I prayed to Lord Nrsimhadev every day, “Whatever your desire, You may take me from this world or you may cure me. Whatever you see fit. However, please allow me to always be engaged in your pure devotional service.” Thank you Lord for giving me a second chance. Thank you for your time. Gratefully yours, Andharupa dasi
Government Doctor’s Inspiration Dr. Bashudev Das is a Bangladesh Government doctor. His 20 year old daughter Mistee Das who is a medical student, became very sick in March 2006. She was diagnosed with a life-threatening germ cell tumor in the ovary. They brought her to Mumbai, where treatment started. But soon the doctors gave up on her. Dr. Das went to visit the ISKCON Temple in Juhu, where one devotee gave him a leaflet about the upcoming Nrsimha Caturdasi festival in Mayapur, which he attended. There he received a small book of pastimes of Lord Nrsimhadev in Mayapur. He read in the book some of the miraculous cures that Lord Nrsimhadev had performed, and was convinced that by Lord Nrsimhadev’s mercy his daughter would be cured. He went back to Bangladesh and contacted Lord Nrsimhadev’s pujari in Mayapur. He requested him to offer a special offering to Lord Nrsimhadev to save his daughter’s life. Immediately Mistee’s health started to improve. Now gradually she is returning back to her normal state. Basudev Das became so inspired by Lord Nrsimhadev’s mercy that he printed the book of His pastimes and distributed it in Bangladesh. He says, “I feel every person should pray to Lord Nrsimhadev for personal and spiritual development.”
Miracle at Mayapur On October 28th, 2006, Chakravarty Raj, the 14 year old son of Radha Kanta Gopal das and Padma Radhika devi dasi was injured when a fire cracker burst in his face. He was immediately rushed to hospital. The doctors said that he suffered from 2nd degree burn injuries on his face and suggested (1) facial dressing immediately, (2) chemical crafting after a fortnight and then (3) plastic surgery after 6 months or 1 year. Next morning, the parents requested Pankajanghri Prabhu to offer special offerings to Lord Nrsimhadev for the speedy recovery of Chakravarty Raj, which were duly performed. For the next 2 days, he was just lying in bed without much movement. He could not even open his eyelids. He was then taken to Disha eye hospital at Barackpur, where they found that the carina (the white portions of the eyes) took the burn injury and the pupils were unharmed. Hence, there would be no problem with his sight and a treatment of 15 days would cure the carina. On 2nd November morning, Padma Radhika devi dasi approached her Guru Mahraja, His Holiness Jayapataka Swami, and told him of what had happened. He gestured that he will pray for him and applied Nrsimha oil on her forehead. The same morning, Chakra was taken to Kolkata for treatment of his facial injuries After getting an opinion at the Apollo Hospital in the morning, Chakravarty was taken to the Railway Hospital at Howrah. One of the senior Doctors tested him and confirmed that it was a second degree burn and sent him to the dressing room for initial facial dressing. But within 3 minutes one of the staff from the dressing room rushed out yelling and took the parents inside. Upon seeing Chakravarty the parents stood there motionless, struck with wonder and amazement. There was Chakra, standing and smiling, with no trace of any injury or mark on his face!! Nrsimhadev ki jai. When asked for clarification, the Doctor and others present in that place could not give any valid reason. One of them said, “You can go back in your temple and ask you Lord about it. “yeh tho apke Bhagavan ka chamarkar hai.” “This is your Lord’s miracle.” All glories to Lord Nrsimhadev and all glories to Sri Sri Radha Madhava. Padmaradhika devi dasi, Principle of Bhaktivedanta National School, Sri Mayapur. |
New Pastimes
(not yet in the Lord Nrsimhadeva book)
Note: If you are planning to print the book in any language, please consult Pankajanghri Prabhu before using any new stories.
pankajanghri . acbsp@pamho . net
|
Lord Nrsimhadeva’s mercy The mercy of Lord Nrisimhadeva at Mayapur is famous and I have an interesting story in brief. I know a couple Ashok Ghosh and his wife Shila Ghosh from Kolkata, who married twelve years ago. Four years before when I met them, they shared their worries with me. Like other childless couples, who undertake treatments or throw faith in magical amulets, this young couple too were attracted to artificial means to have a baby. Incidentally, I suggested them to take shelter of Jagrata Nrsiimhadeve at ISKCON Mayapur. In the year 2006, Nrisimha Caturdasi day, the couple came too Mayapur and observed the Vrata seriously, approached the Lord, and paid their sincere offerings to Him with full surrender. A year later, when I visited Calcutta, incidentally I met the couple and found them extremely happy. To my amazement, I saw carrying a small baby in the lap. I enquired who the child was? The couple narrated to me the blessings of Lord Nrisimhadeva upon them. This is a clear example of the Lord’s mercy upon anyone who takes shelter of Him. This is an instance, even a non-devotee has been blessed with His mercy. The Lord can bless anything to anyone if surrenders to Him and incidentally utters His holy name even once. The ancients performed putrakameshthi yajna to invoke the divinities and bless the childless couple to have progeny. In kaliyuga, we short-lived humans forgot those tedious Vedic yajnas. In this disastrous age, surrendering to the God and uttering His holy names is the greatest sacrifice one can offer as Lord Caitanya instructed us through His divine Grace A. C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. As the Vishnupurana says, “Ten years of tapasya in sattya yuga equates to one year of tapasya in tertayuga, and it equates to one month of tapas in dvapayuga and it equates to just one day of tapasya in kaliyuga. Anyone who surrenders to the Lord and utters His holy name even once, the merciful Lord will bless him all his needs and at the end will offer him a chance to reach the Supreme Destination even the king of heaven Indra is ineligible to obtain. Therefore, let us always recite the mahamantra — HARE KRSNA HARE KRSHNA KRSHNA KRSHNA HARE HARE O’ Lord Nrisimhadeva, I beg you to bless upon us Your benediction to please remember You always. Please bless me be free from all obstacles and dwell in pure love of Radha Madhava at Mayapur, and let me be their servant forever. Lakshman das, Vrindavan, India |
|
Dr. Nrsimhadeva at the Door On Wednesday evening, Oct 22, 2008, we were performing our regular deity service at our local ISKCON temple in Houston. My Prabhu and me were dressing the deities of Sri Sri Radha Nilamadhava. I heard our cell phone ringing couple of times but I did not want to interrupt our service, so I did not pick it up. However, when it rang again, I felt that it must be an emergency. So, I got out of the altar and saw missed calls from my godbrother in Atlanta, HG Lakshman Ram Prabhu. When I called him back, he gave me the most shocking news about Srila Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaja. He said that Guru Maharaj has fallen unconscious in Mumbai. He was not very sure of the cause of this, but everyone was worried. After that, I was not able to focus my mind properly on my service, so I started praying helplessly to the deities while completing my service. Later, I called Mayapur to get some updates. Even there, they did not have clear picture as to what was the cause of Guru Maharaj’s unconsciousness. We were just told to pray. When we came back home that night, we chanted special prayers to Lord Nrsinghadev for Guru Maharaj’s protection. We offered 108 tulasi leaves to Lord Nrsinghadev, chanting 108 name of Lord Nrsinghadev. We spent the night in constant anxiety and prayers. Suddenly, I found myself in front of a door. When I opened the door, I saw Guru Maharaj lying down on the bed. I entered the room and stood by Guru Maharaj’s bedside. He had tubes all over Him. It was intolerable to see Guru Maharaj n that situation. I started crying very profusely. All of a sudden, the door to the room flung open and there stood Lord Ugrastanu Nrsinghadev of Mayapur, in all His glory. As He walked inside, I came forward and fell in prostrated obeisances in front of Lord Nrsinghadev. He picked me up and embraced me with all His eight hands. Very lovingly, the Lord spoke, “Why are you so worried? To relieve you of your worries, I have come here personally. To show you that I am personally taking care, I have come here. Come!!! Let me show you.” Lord Nrsinghadev took me by my hand towards Guru Maharaja’s bedside. Then, with His little finger of His left hand, He extended His hands on the back of Guru Maharaja’s head. Gently, with the nail of His little finger, He started caressing the back of Guru Maharaja’s head, in the area above the neck. The Lord continued, “See!! I am personally taking care. So, do not worry.” I felt assured and peaceful. All my anxiety dissipated. I knew that this whole situation was directly in Lord Nrsinghadev’s Lotus Hands. I suddenly woke up and realized that it was all a dream. But, I felt very releived. I could still feel the warmth of Lord Nrsinghadev’s divine embrace. This was a very powerful experience which deepened my attachment to Lord Nrsinghadev. Later, when I shared this experience with HG Pankajanghri Prabhu, he insisted that I write this experience and send to him. Sri Ugrastanu Nrsinghadev Bhagavan ki Jai!!! Kalasudha devi dasi, Houston, Texas. |
|
Auntie’s Cancer Cancelled April 25, 2010 Meanwhile I was translating (Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Pastimes into Spanish) I got a call from my family in New Zealand telling me that my auntie had an agressive cancer, and most probably only a few more weeks to live. My good Godsister Ganga devi (wife of Param Dhama prabhu) is living also in Mayapur, so I called her and asked to please pray to Lord Nrsimhadev for a smooth transition. My auntie came every year to visit me, accompanied me to the temple and even did service whenever she was here. So Ganga told me she would offer manjaris to the Lord and pray for her. Meanwhile my family was pushing me to come, as they said there was not much time left. I took a flight to New Zealand and when I arrived I went straight to the hospice where she was staying, where they were going to discharge her that very day, as there was nothing they could do for her. She was down to 30 kg and could hardly walk. We took her to the house of my family and I gave a picture of Lord Nrsimhadev and told her that the devotees are praying for her. All of a sudden, every day she became stronger, started to eat, started to sleep better, I took her several time out for a walk in a wheelchair but after one week she started to walk again alone.So during my stay she was constantly improving. After three weeks I had to leave. But ever since it is getting better and better, a few days ago I spoke to her and she gained 10 kg and is doing exercises on a indoor bike!!! The doctor has stopped all her medicine and the ones who are doing the follow up can´t hardly believe what they see. They still have not figured out what is happening to her. Last summer we had Pankajanghri prabhu visiting our Malaga temple and in one lecture he said that sometimes they call the Lord “Dr.Nrsimhadev”. I can only agree!! So now I only pray to the Lord that, as he gave a second chance to my auntie, he will please give her spiritual insight so that she will use the rest of her life in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. Rasa Sundari devi dasi(GRS), Malaga |
|
Twenty Foot Flames January 10, 2010 His Grace Pankajanghri Prabhu recently said that a few months ago one Mataji had been suffering a health condition that would not go away for years. When she read about Lord Nrsimhadeva curing devotees, she realized that she could pray to Him for this purpose and she did. The condition disappeared. A few weeks ago His Grace Jananivas Prabhu informed me that a married couple could not conceive a child. A year ago the doctor examined the wife and said that in the past some disease had occurred and her tubes were permanently closed. The couple took shelter of Lord Nrsimhadeva. Just recently they again went to the doctor, who revealed that now the tubes are open, which normally does not happen. And, he was happy to say, she is pregnant! Manohar Shyam Prabhu revealed that recently there were massive bushfires in Argentina. There were raging hot winds and the flames were devouring everything in their path. Emergency workers were evacuating people from their homes. Manohar Shyam’s mother, who worships Mayapur Nrsimhadeva, could see the flames rising twenty feet into the air coming towards her home. The family had packed everything they could save in a vehicle and were about to drive away from the house, but the huge wall of flames was suddenly only 20 metres away. His mother cried out with all of her heart to Lord Nrsimhadeva for help. Suddenly the wind changed direction, and the flames blew away, leaving the house and her family unharmed. We have asked his mother for her account in detail. Devotees often are humble and sometimes will not tell us about what they have experienced. Other devotees will feel inspired by their revelations. Anyone who has something to tell us about their experiences, please write it down and send to pankajanghri.acbsp@pamho.net. |
|
Saved from Acute Cancer On 18th March, 2009, Sri Maheshbhai Dhokia, a congregation member from London, called me and told me that His wife, Srimati Jayshree Dhokia, is suffering from acute uterine cancer and she is being flown to Frankfurt for the last time. Maheshbhai asked me if the devotees in Mayapur could do some prayers for his wife. Doctors in London had given up the hope and claimed that she may not last more then 3 months as the cancer had spread to most parts of lower body, that is the Abdominal and pelvic area. The following morning, I humbly requested HG Pankajanghri Prabhu and explained the whole situation to him. We were both in the pujari room near the Radha Madhava Altar. I was dressing the Mahaprabhu Deity at that time of the year and HG Pankajanghri Prabhu was making his final preparations for all the abhisekha of Lord Nrisimadeva. HG Pankajanghri prabhu asked “What is the name of the mataji?” I just gave her name, writing on the piece of paper. Now in Germany, just during the same time the operation was going on to save Srimati Jayshree mataji. After she regained her consciousness she told her husband that she dream’t of Lord Nrsimhadeva of Mayapur. She said that Bhakta Prahlad maharaj was there to tell her the glories of Lord Nrsimhadev. She also told her husband that she completely feels like a new person and something evil has left her body. Now back in London, she was taken back to doctors for a check up. During the PET Scan, the Radiologists were shocked to discover that there was no sign of cancer at all. They called up the hospital in Germany to confirm about the medical details of the patient. The German surgeons who operated on her could not believe what they were just hearing from the radiologist in London. The German Surgeons were shocked to hear that there was no sign of cancer at all. The German research medical unit is now deeply studying the entire case. Now little do these doctors know, that there is somebody by the name of Lord Nrsimhadeva, Who protects His devotees. While both HG Maheshbhai and his good wife Srimati Jayshree came back to Mayapur to really have a close darshan of Lord Nrsimhadeva and come to their senses and understand as to just what had happened. Srimati Jayshreeben just cried and cried in front of Lord Nrsimhadeva. HG Jananivas Prabhu summed up the whole transcendental episode. While blessing both the couples, HG Jananivas prabhu said ”Lord Nrisimhadeva performs operations with his transcendendal nails and the devotees just feel blissful.” Jayshreeben now chants 16 good rounds and with this new Krishna Consiousness life. She thanks all the devotees of ISKCON and she feels very proud to join the real spritual family of Srila Prabhupada. She vows to come to Mayapur every year and be near Lord Nrsimhadeva. She also thanks Both HG Jananivas prabhu and HG Pankajanghri prabhu for having saved her life through powerful prayers to Lord Nrsimhadeva. ALL GLORIES TO LORD NRSIMHADEVA !!!!!!!!!!! Ys Nandkishore das |
|
Lord Nrsimhadeva Stops Storms I remember once we had a program to test for the first time the Nitai Pada Kamala boat that was ordered by my guru maharaj, H.H. Jayapataka Swami, for preaching in the villages along the Ganges. I was asked to do the first tour in the boat, but I wanted to take the students from the Gurukul school. We organized the cooking of prasadam for 120 people that day, but suddenly it became dark and cloudy–almost raining. Tara Prabhu, who was in charge of the students, told me he was sorry but he had to cancel the journey, because the boys would get sick. I was shocked. I was already in the kitchen preparing the prasadam, while another devotee was cooking pasta and sauce. I heard Tara’s words, and immediately ran to the temple and begged Pankajanghri Prabhu to pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva to stop the rain and dissipate the dark clouds. When he saw my determination, he said, “It is done by your faith.” I went up to continue cooking. After two minutes I went out to see the sky, and the dark clouds opened, creating a beam of sunlight shining directly over the school. I phoned Tara Prabhu and said, “Go out and see what is happening and how sunny it is! No rain!” After twenty minutes, he called me and said, “Ok. Yes. Let’s go.” It is so amazing that Lord Nrsimhadeva reciprocates instantly. But even more amazing is that when we came back from the journey, about three minutes before we reached the shore, it started raining, as the mission was accomplished.
Tornado Once H.H. Jayapataka Swami was on a flight to Mauritius when a big hurricane hit that area. There was a twister tornado going directly to the temple. When I heard I went to Pankajanghri Prabhu and we did a special offering of auspicious items to Lord Nrsimhadeva. We prayed for the safety of the flight and the temple. The day after we came to know that the twister and tornado were diverted and the temple and the flight were saved. Tusti Mohan Krsna das(JPS). |
|
Pot of Prasadam from 2003 to 2009 After the ceremonies on Nrsimha Caturdasi ( His Appearance Day), usually there is a feast sponsored by His Holiness Jayapataka Swami. One year, however, he left Mayapur right after the ceremonies for a preaching engagement. I sat with my wife and child outside the temple on one of the benches near the entrance. I asked, “If Jayapataka Swami is gone, where will we get prasadam?” Within a few moments of his saying that, a lady devotee came out of the temple with a clay pot and asked, “Would you like some prasadam?” “Oh yes!” I exclaimed as I received the pot. It was a delicious vegetable preparation with slices of mango in it. (Lord Nrsimhadev is fond of mango.) We blissfully shared the prasadam, laughing and smiling about the reciprocal mercy of the Lord. Later Jananivas Prabhu said the pujaris don’t offer mango in vegetable preparations. Mango might have been mixed in, as they often mix the preparations from the Deity trays just before distributing them. Recently we bought a crystal necklace with a large crystal pendant to offer to Lord Nrsimhadev, hoping He would wear it around His neck with the pendant on His chest. We were happy to offer it but never saw Him wear it. One day, the my wife prayed to the Lord, “Please tell me what I can offer that you would be pleased to wear.” The next morning when she came to see Lord Nrsimhadev, He was wearing the crystal necklace we had offered. One morning, my wife was praying to the Lord, “What service could I do to please You?” Just a few moments later, I approached her from behind and put flowers in her hand that I had purchased to offer to the Lord. Another day she prayed to Lord Nrsimhadev, “What more can I do to serve You?” She was just leaving the temple after that when a devotee said, “Excuse me. Would you like to offer some lotus flowers to the Lord? We have so many lotus flowers.” She was a bit bewildered because she was praying to do some service and suddenly a devotee informed her that there were too many lotus flowers. She gave a donation and offered a large plate of lotus. Amogha das |
Pastimes of Lord Nrsimhadeva not Mayapur based
|
Child Hit by Truck Now allow me to tell a true story that happened some 10 years ago in South Africa. The father and the daughter who experienced this event told this story to my friend, a sannyasi and devotee of Lord Nrsimhadev. This stories was also found in the newspapers, and several witnesses of this truck-accident after this incident became devotees of Lord Nrsimhadev. This happened to a simple Vaishnava family that lives there. They had back then a 5 years old daughter. This girl was a great “fan of Nrsimhadev.” She found Him simply funny, as He looked half-lion half-man and she felt very attracted to Him. She often told her playmates about her favorite God, a lion, and the kids always wondered about what kind of God this could be–a lion. What can a five year old girl know about God? She wasn’t initiated, not even her parents, as far as I can remember. The father of the family followed a guru and surely later accepted initiation. But there was a small Hindu-community they were in close touch with. So, one day the girl was playing outside with her ball together with other kids, beside the street. The ball, how else could it be, fell on the street, and the girl ran after her precious ball. There was nearly no traffic, a rarely used country road. But this time a very fast truck came running down the road. The girl in her play didn’t see the truck coming. The father was in the first floor of the house and saw his baby girl running on the street. But he also saw the huge truck coming down, closer to his daughter with huge speed. The father yelled at her, but she didn’t hear him. So he jumped out of the window of this first floor to save his daughter, and broke both his legs, when coming down, and remained laying on the ground in pain. He had to watch how his little girl was hit by the truck and thrown through the air, some 20meter away. All children and neighbors around who observed this froze the blood. The father later said his only desire when he saw this was to die. From the other direction came a police car that also witnessed the accident. The truck went on and the policeman stopped his car across the street to stop him. The truck-driver hardly stopped his truck and he seemed to be very drunk.The policeman immediately called the ambulance and ran over to the motionless laying girl in the grass.The closest hospital was a small private clinic. The ambulance came, but refused to take the girl, being afraid they wouldn’t have the necessary devices and machines to help the injuries the girl must have. They advised the policeman to call the main hospital, as only they could efficiently help her, as her spine must be broken, etc. The policeman was in despair, not even knowing where the father of the girl was. Actually he didn’t even know if the girl was still alive, as he didn’t dare to touch her, not knowing how injured she was. However, in the end she was brought to a right hospital, the policeman accompanied the girl, and also finally the father was there. The chief-doctor heard then what happened to the girl, and they immediately x-rayed her to see first results. The policeman wanted to rest assured how the girl was doing, and waited there to see the results. Everybody was shocked to hear what terrific accident had happened to the girl. So the nurse brought the x-ray pictures to the doctor, who became very upset and started yelling at the nurse she should for-God’s-sake bring the right pictures, things were about death and life! He threatened to fire her, as it was unacceptable to make such mistakes. The nurse was scared and didn’t understand what was happening. Those were the pictures of the five year old girl that was hit by the truck. The nurse wasn’t aware yet of what had happened to the girl.The doc said this cannot be, for on the x-ray there was not a single broken bone. So, the doc all the time again and again repeated “Impossible! It can’t be.” Then suddenly the girl awoke from her faint and then told a story at full consciousness, which made its tour through the media. In the moment she picked up the ball from the street, she saw the truck coming up to her. The only thing she could do was to yell out for help. She didn’t call for mommy or daddy, but for her Nrsimhadev. In this moment when the truck should hit her, she suddenly saw how Nrisimhadev picked her up from the ground, smiled at her, and said, “Don’t be afraid, nothing will happen to you.” The girl continued her story that the Lord had put her on the other side of the street into the grass. But when putting her down, He accidentally scratched her waist, which still hurt her a bit. She spoke about how beautiful Nrsimhadev was, His hair, His eyes, etc. But his claws were very sharp, He should cut the nails. He wore a golden dhotie, etc. The doctor didn’t understand anything and told the policeman she still was in shock and hallucinated, which is normal. So, the girl was profoundly checked for any injuries, but the only injury they found on her body were those scratches and the doctor said this must be from a wild animal like a lion, as he had cases like this before. So, he was disturbed and asked if they had brought the girl to hospital, as this one was inured by a wild animal, not a truck. Nobody was clear about what had happened. The same doctor and the nurse who took care of her later became devotees, as they later learned from the parent who “that lion” was. As we can see miracles still today happen. Not only in Mahabharata, Puranas or shastras that are more than thousands of years old. The little girl was very attracted to this form of God, and in her despair she called Him for help. Lord Nrsimhadev did not look if she was initiated and have the right to call His name. He protects His devotees that sincerely worship Him in their hearts. I am sure this litte girl was no common soul. Who knows what she did in her previous life? The sannyasi heard that she very much liked to eat sweets, and prepared a big plate full of sweets for her to rest assured she will not be able to eat it all up. He gave her the mounted plate of sweets, she took some of the sweets and ran out playing with her friends. As soon as she was gone from the room, the sannyasi went over to that plate and took the rest, as for him, this was the best maha-prasad available! Who last time has met Lord Nrsimhadev? Narada Muni maybe?? The girl for sure, and she must be a great soul. Jai Nrsimhadev! Hari bol–Shyam Gopal prabhu |
|
Terror Attack Radhanath Maharaja told me a very blissful story the other day and he said I could use it. So here goes! There was that Taj Hotel where the terrorists attacked. They were fighting in there for three days, complete carnage. The terrorists had arranged in such a way that they would always be up higher. They would shoot from a lower vantage point down. Radhanath Maharaja told me this. They had all these grenades and they would throw the grenades and the grenades would create so much smoke that if you were down looking up you couldn’t see anything. Picture that you are one of these soldiers or police officers and you are in this cloud of smoke and up above you there is this hail of bullets from the terrorists shooting at you. One of those soldiers was one of our devotees. At one point, they were trying to chase these people through the hotel. They are trapped. The terrorist were throwing all these grenades, they are in a complete cloud of smoke. They cannot see one foot in front of their face. They can’t see left, right or anything and this hail of bullets is being fired at them. Just a wall of bullets coming at them. This devotee police officer, with two other police officers on either side, he is in the middle, he actually was completely helpless. He couldn’t see left, right, he couldn’t see his colleagues. He remembered that he had on his ring tone on his phone Nrsimhadeva prayers. He began playing the Nrsimhadeva prayers and praying intently to Lord Nrsimhadeva, “Please I am absolutely helpless. I am going to die. Save me, in an absolutely hopeless state.” When the shooting stopped, the smoke cleared, his friend to the right and his friend to the left were completely killed, riddled with bullets, and he was unscathed. In front of him, which he couldn’t see at the time, was a giant pillar. And because they were shooting at him the pillar protected him. He thought, “Just as Lord Nrsimhadev came out of the pillar to save Prahlada He put a pillar here to save me!” So my point is, simple point, is if we have that faith, “Oh, how will I be taken care of?” Krishna will take care of you, don’t worry. Let me give my life to the sankirtana movement. (from Srimad Bhagavatam class in Mayapur Date: February 19, 2009) Speaker: His Grace Badrinarayan Prabhu Fill your phone with Lord Nrsimhadev. |
narasimhalila 