Kripalu Vedic Wisdom

Bhakti Siddhant Glossary

anjan | अंजन

In Ayurveda anjan (Devanagari: अंजन ; ISO 15919: añjana) are eye ointments or salves used for treating eye diseases, such as cataracts. It is also a powerful metaphor for the Divine, especially in Bhakti poetry. Shri Krishna is referred to as anjan of gopis eyes. This means He has eternally

Surrender

bhakt | भक्त

One who has attained the power of bhakti is called a bhakt (Devanagari: भक्त; ISO 15919: bhakta). This term is also used more broadly for anyone who intensely adores something or someone, e.g., one who loves money is often referred to as a "bhakt of wealth."

Bhakti Siddhant Glossary

chandrika | चंद्रिका

chandrika (Devanagari: चंद्रिका; ISO 15919: candrikā) is the crescent-shaped decorations on a crown. REFERENCE Prema Rasa Madira - The Intoxicating Bliss of Divine Love, Vol. 2 Ch. 10

Bhakti Siddhant Glossary

abira |अबीर

abir (Devanagari: अबीर; ISO15919: abīra) is a fine texture coloured powder used for playing Holi festival. Also written as: abir, abeer REFERENCE Prema Rasa Madira - The Intoxicating Bliss of Divine Love, Ch. 18

Bhakti Siddhant Glossary

Pranipaat | प्रणिपात

Pranipaat is superlative spiritual form of the initial act of paat, representing a distinct hierarcy in humility and surrender to your Guru. 1. Paat (Devanagari: पात ISO15919: pāta) - a sign of physical humility, but the mind lacks true feeling of submission. 2. Nipaat (Devanagari: निपात ISO15919:

Bhakti Siddhant Glossary

Puranas | पुराण

Like the Vedas, Puranas (Devanagari: पुराण ISO15919: purāṇa ) are also eternal scriptures. They convey the knowledge of the Vedas through stories that highlight universal values, such as non-violence, charity, penance, compassions, and so on. Puranas have 1 Billion hymns. In Kaliyug people don't have a vast

The Saint

Why Do Saints Suffer?

Question As we grow older, we hear of the deaths of many people. Additionally, we see divine personalities like our most revered Shri Maharaj Ji and Amma Ji also becoming ill and leave this world. Sufferings of divine personalities and their loss wrenches my heart. How can one overcome the

Practical Sadhana

Sacred Compass: Navigating the Journey to Divine Union

The eternal holy scriptures describe three ways of emancipation-from- Maya or God realization. लक्षन्तुचतुरो वेदा लक्षमेकं तुभारतम्॥ lakṣantu caturo vedā lakṣamekaṃ tu bhāratam॥  Ved Vyas divided the Vedas into 4 books and all together they encompass 100,000 hymns [1]. Of

Practical Sadhana

Navigating the Storm of Anger

Question I get upset with my 4-year-old daughter but I don't know why? What should I do? Answer The main reason for getting upset or angry are our unfulfilled desires. The fulfilment of a desire gives rise to greed, and the non-fulfillment of a desire gives rise to

Bhakti Stories

You Can’t Outrun What’s Meant for You

There was once an rich and prosperous king. He ruled for many years. Then he realized that owning and controlling the wealth hasn’t made him any happier than before. In fact, the cares of the world made him more stressed and anxious. So he handed over the keys of

The Soul, Material world and detachment

Does True Surrender Require Wealth Renunciation?

Question : In every lecture of every satsang I attend, it is said - “surrender everything to God”, but I need money for food, shelter, education, and other things that will make me and my loved ones' lives a little more comfortable. If I give away all the money, then

Bhaktiyog

Don't Love God

Don't love God? If NOT God who else should be loved? This is a contentious question. So, let us answer this question based on the eternal philosophy of divine love as explained by the fifth original Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj , who was honored with the title of

Kusang

Fight Kusang Before It Consumes You

For advancing in the spiritual realm one needs to 1. perform preparatory devotion (see sadhana bhakti ). 2. In addition, one also needs to continue to do Satsang ( सत्संग ) and 3. avoid Kusang (कुसंग ) . The Sanskrit word sang means association, sat ( सत् ) means good and ku (कु

Bhakti Stories

Raghu’s Golden Integrity

Preface: In olden times, students used to live in their Guru’s ashram to study and complete their education. At the completion of their studies, they used to make an offering to their Guru as a token of their gratitude towards him. This offering was called “Guru Dakshina”. Kautsa, the

Bhakti Stories

The Lord Who Humbles His Own

Lord Shri Ram ruled the kingdom of Ayodhya a few million years ago. Hanuman, the eternal servant of Shri Ram served Him, while He lived on this earth for 11,000 years. Before leaving for His divine abode, Lord Ram instructed Hanuman to continue to stay on earth to propagate

Forms of God and Descensions

Glorification of Shri Krishna by Shankaracharya - शंकराचार्य द्वारा श्री कृष्ण स्तुति

यमुना निकट  तटस्थित वृंदावन कानने महारम्ये । कल्पद्रुमतलभूमौ चरणं चरणोपरिस्थाप्य ॥ yamunā nikaṭa taṭasthita vṛṃdāvana kānane mahāramye । kalpadrumatalabhūmau caraṇaṃ caraṇoparisthāpya ॥ यमुना जी के तट पर वृंदावन की किसी अति मनो

Festivals

Shri Krishna Janamashtami

Janmashtami is the celebration of the divine descent of Absolute Brahm Shri Krishna to Earth in 3226 BCE , at the end of the Dwapar yug in the Saraswat Kalp . According to the luni-solar calendar, it's celebrated on the eighth day after the full moon of the month of

Ultimate goal of life

When and how Vedas came to us?

If you see Wikipedia you will see that Vedas were composed 1500 - 1200 BC. Additionally, Wikipedia says "The Vedas have been orally transmitted since the 2nd millennium BCE with the help of elaborate mnemonic techniques." It additionally says "The oldest part of the Rig Veda Samhita

Bhakti Stories

Embrace the Higher Duty

When Lord Ram was banished to 14 years of exile by His stepmother Kaikeyi, a pall of gloom fell over the kingdom. Their father, King Dashrath and Lord Ram’s mother Kaushalya were grief stricken and inconsolable. King Dashrath fell terribly sick such that no medicine could help him. Despite

Jagadguruttam Kripalu

Don’t Be Fooled by Malefic Performers

Some try to invoke the souls of people who have departed the earth. Numerous people want to speak with the dead. There can be multitude of reasons for them to do such a naive act. Speaking with their deceased near or dear ones, in their quest to know their own

Forms of God and Descensions

Why Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Stands Apart

Shri Krishna is Brahma - Supreme God . All forms of God including the Trinity: Brahma, Vishnu and Shankar, who are the governors of the brahmand , are His subordinates. In the age of Kali yuga , the same Supreme Lord Shri Krishna descended [1] in the village of “Nadia” in West Bengal,

Ultimate goal of life

The Divine Secrets of Maharaas

The Maharaas is a profound pastime of Shri Radha Krishna with a select group of God realized saints. It is so deeply spiritual that even among these enlightened beings, only one in a million is able to comprehend it. Due to its subtle nature, attempts to describe it often lead

Forms of God and Descensions

Are Shri Krishna and MahaVishnu Different?

Question Are MahaVishnu and Shri Krishna two beings or are They the same in different forms ? Answer Based on the leelas in the scriptures people deduce diverse conclusions about the personality of Shri Krishna and MahaVishnu. Some of them being 1. Shri Krishna and MahaVishnu are the same being in

Practical Sadhana

From Romance to Real Love: Rethinking Valentine’s Day

Today is Valentine’s Day. People have been celebrating this day as a day of love and romance since the 1300s.  On this day people demonstrate their love by exchanging cards, candy, flowers or gifts with their special “valentine”. "Love" is considered pure, selfless and eternal. Does the&

Forms of God and Descensions

Why God Descends to Earth?

A few weeks back we celebrated the auspicious occasion of Shri Krishna Janamashtami . Janamashtami is celebrated as the appearance day of the Supreme Lord Shri Krishna, who appeared over 5000 years ago to grace the deserving souls with Divine Love Bliss. As we celebrate the descension day of Lord Krishna,