Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2: Introduction

By Bhakti Rasamrita Swami

From today onwards for the next few sessions, I thought about discussing a certain section of the 11th Canto of Srimad Bhagvatam (Chapters 2 – 5). 

The 4 chapters are a conversation between the great devotees Narada and Vasudev (father of Krsna). Usually, when we have such conversations that appear in the scriptures (especially in books like Srimad Bhagavatam), the conversation appears between two exalted personalities. 

Narada is an associate of Krsna, a liberated soul, a pure devotee who is a transcendental space man traveling all over the universe simply for preaching the message of devotion to Lord Krsna. He has the complete freedom to travel anywhere & everywhere that he chooses. He is not dependent on normal modes of transport that we are limited by. Even the demi-gods in the higher plants can travel through the skyways. Narada is even more mobile than them because not only does he have access to the highest planet of Brahmaloka (which even some of the residents of the higher planets can’t go to) but he can also enter into Vaikuntha which is the planet of Lord Vishnu himself.

Japa Workshop: Process, Techniques, and Methodology

By H.H. Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami

Chanting, while mostly devotional, is also a technical process of meditation. This section will help you to understand more of what is involved and how to improve your japa meditation.

The Proper use of Beads :
• Start from bead no.1; turning at bead no.108
• Turn each bead in the fingers.
• Don’t chant on or cross the larger bead where you start

Pronunciation : One should note in this connection that chanting involves the activities of the upper and lower lips as well as the tongue. All three must be engaged in chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. The words “Hare Krishna” should be very distinctly pronounced and heard. Sometimes one mechanically produces a hissing sound instead of chanting with the proper pronunciation with the help of the lips and tongue. Chanting is very simple, but one must practice it seriously.
(Srila Prabhupada, Cc Adi 7.32 purport)

Overview of Srimad Bhagavatam

by Sri Bhurijana Das

Canto One, Chapter One : Questions By the Sages

Srila Vyasadeva offers his obeisances to Lord Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and immediately glorifies the Srimad Bhagavatam as completely pure, free from materially motivated activities, and especially nectarean having emamated from the lips of Sri Sukadeva Goswami. (1-3) The narration of the ”Bhagavatam• begins in the holy place of Naimisaranya, where great sages first glorify Srila Suta Goswami, the speaker of the Bhagavatam, and then begin inquiring from him (4-8) The sages begin posing their questions. (9-13) They then glorify hearing about the Lord and request Suta to speak to them about the Lord and His incarnations. (14-20) After Suta describes that the Age of Kali has just begun, the sages then ask a final question: “Now that Sri Krsna, the Absolute Truth, the master of all mystic powers has departed for His abode, please tell us by whom religious principles are presently protected.” (21-23)