Understanding the Significance of Hare Krishna Mantra and Devotional Practices, Lecture notes of Voice

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Devotional Practices

(Part -1)

Hare Krishna Sunday School

International Society for Krishna Consciousness Founder Acarya : His Divine Grace AC. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

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Devotional Practices

( Part - 1)

Compiled By : Tapasvini devi dasi Vasantaranjani devi dasi Vishnu das

Art Work By : Mahahari das & Jay Baldeva das

Hare Krishna Sunday School

Contents

Lesson Page No.

l. Chanting Hare Krishna 1

2. Wearing Tilak 13

3. Vaisnava Dress and Appearance 28

4. Deity Worship 32

5. Offering Arati 41

6. Offering Obeisances 46

Lesson 1

Chanting Hare Krishna

A. Introduction Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, an incarnation of Krishna who appeared 500 years ago, taught the easiest method for self-realization - chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna '. Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rams Rams Rama Hare Hare

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These sixteen words make up the Maha-mantra. Maha means "great." Mantra means "a sound vibration that relieves the mind of all anxieties". We chant this mantra every day, but why?

B. Chanting is the recommended process for this age. As you know, there are four different ages: Satya-yuga, Treta-yuga, Dvapara-yuga and Kali-yuga. People in Satya- yuga lived for almost 100,000 years whereas in Kali-yuga they live for 100 years at best.

In each age there is a different process for self- realization or understanding God. They are as follows:

I. Satya-yuga: By severe tapasya (meditation). Vishvamitra Muni performed tapasya for 60,000 years but was still not successful.

C. Different types of chanting There are two ways to chant.

1. Japa, which is soft chanting only for yourself to hear. This is done on japa mala, a string of 108 beads. The 108 beads represent the 108 principal gopis and the 108 Upanishads. Here is how we chantjapa:

Take the japa-mala in the right hand, holding it between the thumb and the middle finger (see diagram). The first finger is not used, as it is considered contaminated. Start at the bead next to the head bead. Before chanting Hare Krishna maha-mantra japa chant the Panca-tattva maha-mantra: "sri-krishna- caitanya prabhu nityanada sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda." Chanting these names of Lord Caitanya and His principle associates helps us become free from offenses in chanting.

Now chant the maha-mantra: "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare." Then move onto the second bead. In this way after chanting the maha-mantra fully each time, move onto another bead. After chanting 108 times, you will again reach the head bead and will then have completed one mala,or round. Now turn the beads around without crossing the head bead and start another round by again chanting "sri- krishna-caitanya prabhu nityanada sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda."

The japa mala is best kept in a bead bag, a special bag made for this purpose. The bead bag has a small hole for keeping the second finger outside and away from the beads. Bead bags are made with a strap so that they may be worn around the neck and thus carried everywhere when not in use (see diagram). Devotees carry their beads with them everywhere so that whenever they get an opportunity they can chant japa. Care should be taken to keep beads and bead bag clean and pure. Bead bags and beads are not worn or taken into the bathroom.

We may be busy with many duties such as school, chores and homework, but we must put aside some time every day to chant Hare Krishna.

2. Kirtan. We can also sing the same mantra with other people. This is called kirtan. We can use kartalas, drums and other musical instruments when we chant in a kirtan.

So, however you choose to do it, chant, chant, chant! And your life will be sublime.

Do you know how valuable the Mahamantra is? Is it worth a dollar, a thousand dollar, a million dollars? The following story will give you a clue.

The Story of Sanatana Goswami's

Touchstone

Lord Krishna appeared five hundred years ago on this earth in a very special form -- in the form of His own devotee. He was called Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He spread the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra all over the world.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had many exalted disciples. The six Goswamis of Vrindavana are the most famous of them. Sri Sanatana Goswami was the oldest of the six Goswamis.

Even though Sri Sanatana Goswami had a very good job as the prime minister of Bengal, he left his job and went to Vrindavana on Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's order. There he established temples and wrote many books on Krishna consciousness.

The six Goswamis would stay under a different tree everyday. Sometimes they would also stay at one place and perform bhajan-sadhana. Once Sri Sanatana Goswami was staying in a small hut in Vrajamandala. Sri Sanatana Goswami had a touchstone. Do you know what a touchstone is? It's a stone that can turn iron into gold.

Somehow a thief came to know about the touchstone. He thought, "If I can somehow get that touchstone, then all my problems will be solved. I'll become avery , very rich man and I will never have to steal again." Thus he decided to go to Sri Sanatana Goswami's hut and steal the touchstone.

When he entered Sri Sanatana Goswami's little hut, he saw him sitting in one corner, quietly chanting "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna ". He started looking around for the

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gold utensils, in great amazement he asked the thief, "Hey! It seems you robb ed the king's treasury today." The thief then explained how he stole the touchstone.

After listening to the whole story , his friend said, "Well, I think you are a big fool."

"A fool -- why?" the th ief asked in surprise.

"Well, you said that the touchstone was lying in his garbage can, is that correct?"

"Yes, it was. So?"

"Well, why would someone keep a touchstone ill the garbage can?"

"I don't know."

"Because for him it IS not something precious."

"What do you mean ?"

"Well, it means that the sadhu has something much more precious than this touchstone."

"Hmmmm! I never thought of that."

"That's why I said you are a big fool. That sadhu has made a fool of you. He has very cunningly cheated you."

"Hummh! I'll go and kill him," the thief said in anger and at once set out for the cottage of Sri Sanatana Goswami. He entered the hut and in great anger shouted, "Hey, sadhu! you cheater "

· Sri Sanatana Goswami, who was quietly chanting his rounds, opened his eyes and very lovingly asked, "What is the matter, my dear sir? Why are you so angry?"

Seeing the peaceful, effulgent face of Sri Sanatana Goswami and hearing his sweet, nectarean voice, the thief calmed down and spoke a little more respectfully. "Sir, I stole a touchstone from your cottage yesterday."

"Didn't that make you happy?", Sri Sanatana Goswami asked.

"No, because it seems that you have something more precious than the touchstone. Otherwise, why would you have kept it in the garbage can?"

"Yes, I have something much more precious," Sri Sanatana Goswami said.

"Then give it to me."

"Of course, but first of all, you will have to throw this touchstone into the Yamuna River."

"Then will you give that more precious thing to me?"

"Yes, if you throwaway this touchstone and then take your bath in the Yamuna River. After that, come back to me and I will give you that valuable thing."

Hearing this the thief immediately ran to the Yamuna River and threw the touchstone in it. After taking a bath in the river, he came back to Sri Sanatana Goswami's cottage. As he entered the cottage, he felt very blissful and happy. When he saw the effulgent, transcendentally blissful face of Sri Sanatana Goswami, he all of sudden felt very purified. His heart became

QUESTIONS

1. What does the Hare Krishna mantra mean?
2. What isjapa?
3. What is kirtan?
4. How many beads are on a mala? _

Lesson 2

Wearing Tilak

A. Introduction "What's that stuff on your forehead?" "What does that mark on your face mean?" "Why do you have paint on your nose?" These are some questions that you might hear if you wear tilak. In India wearing tilak is very common but in America hardly anyone knows what it means.

Who are you? Are you your body? Your head, arms, legs, shoulders? Or are you a soul? Yes, we are souls and the presence of the soul makes the body alive. When the soul leaves, the body dies. So what is more important - the body or the soul? (I hope you said the soul.)

B. Why do we apply dlak? Our body is like a house, or a temple, for the soul. You can identify churches by their tall steeples. Temples often have chakras on the top of their roofs. They are clearly marked as houses of God. ~_. ""1)'4,,, til.1I: to lJMo (or,hPed Similarly, we mark our body in twelve places to show that it is a temple for the soul. When we see tilak it reminds us that the soul is what is important. And when other people see tilak on our faces, they are reminded of Krishna. And whenever someone thinks of Krishna they make spiritual advancement. In this way we can help people.

C. What does the Tilak signify? The two straight lines represent the two lotus feet of Lord Krishna. The leaf-like shape at the bottom represents the "tulasi" leaf: Tulasi is a great devotee of Lord Krishna and is always placed on His lotus feet.

Thus, when we put tilak on our forehead it signifies that we are eternal servants of Lord Krishna and our duty is to always serve His lotus feet. (^) C"rrrd tilnk d c ~ jl::"

D.. What do we use/or applying Tilak? Tilak is made from the clay of the holy rivers - the Ganges or Yamuna. They are rivers in which Krishna had many pastimes and their waters and soil are very purifying. The clay that the Vaishnavas use for applying tilak is called 'Gopichandan'. Do you know why is it called Gopichandan and why we use it for applying tilak? Read the story at the end of this lesson and you will get the answer!!!

If you are unable to wear tilak to school, you can apply tilak water. Instead of using the clay,just say the mantras and make invisible tilak marks with water.

As we mentioned before, the tilak is applied at twelve places on the body. The diagram on Page 17 shows where to apply the tilak.

While applying tilak we chant some mantras. There is a specific mantra for applying tilak at a specific place on the body. Let's now learn a song that will help you learn these mantras!

TILOI(SONG

(I) The body is a temple of Visnu, who's the Supreme Lord Tilok is his sitting place We mark our own body and face. (2) Om Kesavaya on the forehead Om Narayanaya on the abdomen Om Madhavaya on the chest Om Govindaya on the neck Om Visnavaya on the right side Om Madhusudanaya on the right arm Om Trivikramaya on the right shoulder Om Vamanaya on the left side Om Sridharaya on the left arm Om Hrsikesaya on the left shoulder Om Padmanabaya back of the neck Om Damodaraya on the back

(3) Om Vasudevayatop of the head We mark with clay as each Name's said. Tilok is His sitting place We mark on OUt body and face. (repeat Ist verse)

(4) Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare (repeat 2x)