Beautiful Pictures of Baby Krishna

Also see pictures of Shri Govardhan Ji and Shri Krishna Leela of lifting Govardhan Ji:
http://krishnaseva.blogspot.in/2014/10/pictures-of-shri-govardhan-happy.html

*** Hare Krishna ***

Pictures of Shri Govardhan - Happy Govardhan Puja

Shri Govardhan Ji ki jai

Also read the post having eight names Of Tulasi Maharani and more about her:

http://krishnaseva.blogspot.in/2014/10/eight-names-of-tulasi-devi-and-more.html

*** Hare Krishna ***

Eight Names Of Tulasi Devi and more about Tulasi Maharani

The eight names of Tulasi devi:

1. Vrndavani – One who first manifested in Vrindavan.
2. Vrnda – The goddess of all plants.
3. Visvapujita – One who the whole universe worships.
4. Puspasara – The topmost of all flowers, without whom Krishna does not like to look upon other flowers.
5. Nandini – She gives happiness to everyone.
6. Krsna-Jivani – The life and soul of Lord Krishna.
7. Visva-Pavani – One who purifies the three worlds.
8. Tulasi – One who has no comparison.

Any one while worshipping Tulasi Devi chants these eight names will get the same result as one who performs the Asvameda Yagna and one who on the full moon-day of Kartik (Tulasi Devi’s appearance day) worships Her with this mantra will break free from the bonds of this miserable world of birth and death, and very quickly attain Goloka Vrindavan. 

One who remembers this mantra will very quickly attain devotion to Lord Krishna’s Lotus Feet. [Gita-Mahatmya and Tulasi devi Mahatmya of Padma Purana.]

Quotes from Srila Prabhupada on Srimati Tulasi Devi and picking leaves.

“Tulasi leaf is very, very dear to Vishnu. All Vishnu-tattva Deities require profusely Tulasi leaves. Lord Vishnu likes garlands of Tulasi leaves. Tulasi leaves mixed with sandalwood pulp and placed on the lotus feet of the Lord is the top most worship. But we must be very careful that Tulasi leaves cannot be placed on the feet of anyone except Lord Vishnu and His different forms. Tulasi leaves cannot be placed even on the lotus feet of Radharani or on the lotus feet of the Spiritual Master. It is entirely reserved for being placed on the lotus feet of Krishna. We can place, however, Tulasi leaves in the hands of Radharani for being placed on the lotus feet of Krishna, as you have seen on the Govinda album.”

I am giving herewith three mantras for Tulasi devi as follows:

Mantra 1) 
vrndayai tulasi devyai, priyayai kesavasya ca
krsna-bhakti-prade devi, satyavatyai namo namah

I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vrnda, Srimati Tulasi Devi, who is very dear to Lord Kesava [Krishna]. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Krishna and possess the highest truth.

This is offering obeisances, bowing down (pancanga pranam). And when collecting leaves from the plant, the following mantras should be chanted:

Mantra 2)
tulasi amrta-janmasi, sada tvam kesava-priya
kesavartham cinomi tvam, varada bhava sobhane

O Tulasi devi, you are born from nectar, and you are always very dear to Lord Kesava. Now in order to worship Lord Kesava I am collecting your leaves and manjaris. Please bestow your mercy upon me.

Mantra 3)
yani kani ca papani, brahma-hatyadikani ca
tani tani pranasyanti, pradaksinah pade pade

“So there are three mantras, one for bowing down, one for collecting the leaves. The collecting of leaves should be done once in the morning for worshipping and for putting on the plates of foodstuffs to be offered. On each bowl or plate there should be at least one leaf. So you follow and practice these Tulasi affairs and you try to distribute your experience to all the other centre’s, that will be a new chapter in the history of the Krishna consciousness movement.”
(Srila Prabhupada to Govinda dasi, 7th April, 1970)

There are two types of Tulasi: Krishna Tulasi, which has purple colouring in the leaves and stems and Rama Tulasi with green leaves and stems. Both of these Tulasi are used in the worship of Lord Krishna.

Also read about five types of Sadhana Bhakti:
http://krishnaseva.blogspot.com/2014/09/sadhana-bhakti-five-types-of.html

*** Hare Krishna ***

Sadhana Bhakti - Five types of relationships with God

In the sadhana bhakti we start to build a feeling of relational love with God. Most teachings about God's personality refer to Him as the Supreme Being. It is difficult to feel related to such a personality.

To develop love, saints have stressed to forming a close personal relationship with Krishna through a Bhava -- a particular quality of love, expressed in a style of relationship. These are:

• Shant bhava -- loving God as a supreme governor
• Dasya bhava -- loving God as a master
• Sakhya bhava -- loving God as your close friend
• Vatsalya bhava --loving God as your child
• Madhurya bhava -- tloving God as your beloved

Each of these loving sentiments have their own quality of divine love bliss. For example, you know the feeling of closeness that a dear friend inspires. But the love you have for your mother is different and more intimate, but in its own style. The love of two beloveds can only be compared to itself. Each has its own special quality of intimacy that you can use in sadhana bhakti.

Most of the examples that Saints give for these loving bhavas relate to these Divine leelas. However you have complete freedom to use your own modern version of these relational feelings in your sadhana bhakti meditation. Cultivate that sense of closeness in your devotional imagination the same way you would develop a similar style of relationship in the world.

The highest class of saints do not give special importance to feelings of shant bhava, because in this relationship there is no loving intimacy or any particular manifestation of divine love bliss.

Divine love bliss starts from dasya bhava - feelings of servitude. A devotee with deep feelings of servitude towards his beloved Master says,

"Oh Lord! When I die, may the material elements that comprise my body still be used in Your service. May the water element mix in the well where You go to bathe. May the fire element enter the mirror where You see your reflection. May the space element merge in the space in which You walk. May the earth element mix with the ground upon which You place Your lotus feet. May the air element mix with the breeze that is created when You are fanned."

This humble sentiment is so strong that such a servant desires to serve his Master even after death.

In sakhya bhava, the bliss of Divine love is more unique and closer. This example is seen in the Gwalbals or childhood friends of Krishna. Although these young boys were illiterate villagers, when they called Krishna the nickname 'Kanua', Krishna would become absorbed in love.

If Krishna saw them offended or annoyed, He would also feel unhappy. He would tease them on picnics by snatching morsels of half-eaten food from their mouths. If the Gwalbals defeated Krishna in their childhood games, they would make Krishna become a horse and they would climb on his back and ride Him.

If these friends had even the slightest idea that Krishna was almighty supreme God, the sweetness of their love and feeling of intimacy would have instantly vanished.

In vatsalya bhava -- feelings of maternal love, the bliss of Divine love is even more intimate. This is represented through the love of Krishna's mother, Yashoda.

Once Yashoda tied Krishna to a heavy mortar to punish him for eating earth. She approached him with a thin stick in her hand to spank him. Krishna cried, trembled and tearfully begged, "Mother, let me go this time! I promise I won't eat earth again!" Seeing his tears, Yashoda felt emotions only a mother could understand.

If she knew that she had bound supreme almighty God, who has unlimited powers, her love would have disappeared immediately.

In madhurya bhava, the bliss of Divine love is the most intimate. Madhurya bhava incorporates all the bhavas within itself. In your sadhana you can think of Krishna as your beloved, son, friend, lord or king whenever you wish. The madhurya bhav of the Gopis is well known. Under the influence of the Gopis love, Krishna forgets all his almighty majesty

A glimpse of such feelings is expressed by a Gopi in the Bhagwatam (10/30/40):

"Oh Lord! (Feeling of servitude) Oh my Sweet One! (Feeling of maternal love) Oh darling! (Feeling of beloved relationship) I am yearning to see You. Oh, my only companion, Krishna! We, the Gopis, are Your eternal servants. Please come before us and show us Your beautiful face."

Also read story of salvation of Dantavaktra by Lord Krishna:

http://krishnaseva.blogspot.in/2014/09/salvation-of-dantavaktra-by-lord-krishna.html

*** Hare Krishna ***