# Blog — Hare Krishna Movement, Mumbai > Official blog of Hare Krishna Movement — articles on Krishna Katha, Pilgrimage, Prayers, Vratas, and spiritual wisdom. Discover timeless wisdom, Bhagavad-gita teachings, and devotional practices to enrich your spiritual journey. URL: https://hkmmumbai.org/blog --- ## Ekadashi — Rituals and Significance **URL:** https://hkmmumbai.org/blog/ekadashi-vrata Ekadashi is observed on the 11th day of each lunar fortnight in the Hindu calendar. Well-known as the day of Lord Hari, this is celebrated as one of the highly auspicious days suitable for fasting. It is a day of increased spiritual opportunity and connection with the divine. The purpose of observing Ekadashi is to purify the body and mind and to cultivate devotion to God. ### Common Acts of Devotion on Ekadashi - Fasting from grains and beans, as a way to cultivate self-control and spiritual focus - Chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, especially during the evening and early morning hours - Listening to or reading from the scriptures, such as the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam - Performing puja (worship) to Lord Krishna and his devotees - Attending special kirtans (devotional singing) or lectures - Making special offerings or donations to the deity or temple - Participating in parikrama (circumambulation) of the deity or holy places ### Foods Forbidden on Ekadashi - Food grains, cereals and beans (pulses) must be avoided - Mustard seeds should be avoided - Powdered asafoetida (hing), since it generally contains grains - Sesame seeds may only be used on Sat-tila Ekadashi - Avoid cooking ingredients mixed with grains **Permitted foods:** Fruits, sabudana, makhana, milk, and flours like singhare ka atta, kuttu ka atta, rajgira ka atta. ### Levels of Observing Ekadashi 1. Complete fast without even water (nirjala fast) 2. Water only 3. Fruit and milk 4. Non-grain foods (vegetables, roots, nuts) once during the fast 5. Non-grain items three times like a regular day ### How to Observe Ekadashi Vrata Observe from sunrise to sunrise. Engage in spiritual activities: - Remembering pastimes of Lord Krishna - Chanting Hare Krishna maha-mantra as many times as possible - Reading scriptures - Visiting a temple of Lord Vishnu/Krishna ### Purpose and Benefits - Reduces bodily demands, allowing more time for spiritual activity - Increases faith and love for Krishna - Regular observance leads to advancement in Krishna consciousness - Frees one from sinful reactions (Brahma-vaivarta Purana) - Helps attain the supreme goal, the abode of Vaikuntha (Padma Purana) ### Breaking the Fast - Break next day after sunrise - If not nirjala, break by taking grains - If nirjala, can break with milk or fruits --- ## Gaura Purnima — The Advent of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu **URL:** https://hkmmumbai.org/blog/gaura-purnima It was the year of A.D. 1486. The pearly white moon glittered in the sky as scores of devotees gathered at the banks of the Ganges to observe the lunar eclipse. They loudly chanted "Hari! Hari!" with blissful smiles. Thus, Lord Krishna appeared as the son of Sri Jagannath Mishra and Srimati Shachi Devi in Mayapur Dham. Since the Lord was born under a neem tree, He was named "Nimai". His moon-like face and charming smile captured hearts, and owing to His strikingly golden complexion, He earned the name "Gauranga". ### Kheturi Maha-mahotsava — The First Gaura Purnima Festival Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura conducted the first celebration in Kheturi, Bengal, including installation of six deities. Many renowned devotees attended including Jahnava Devi. Lord Chaitanya Himself appeared along with His dearest associates during the euphoric kirtan. ### Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Non-different from Krishna Lord Chaitanya came to earth to preach krishna bhakti, love of Krishna. He is Lord Krishna Himself, teaching the living entities the proper way to approach Krishna. ### The Teachings of Lord Chaitanya Lord Caitanya boldly declared: > "In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way." ### Pancha Tattva — Five Features of the Absolute Truth Krishna manifests as: a devotee (Sri Caitanya), expansion of a devotee (Sri Nityananda), incarnation of a devotee (Sri Advaita Acharya), pure devotee (Srivas Thakur), and devotional energy (Sri Gadadhara Pandit). ### Sri Krishna Caitanya — The Epitome of Mercy Srila Rupa Gosvami eulogises: > "O most munificent incarnation! You are Krishna Himself appearing as Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You have assumed the golden colour of Srimati Radharani, and You are widely distributing pure love of Krishna. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You." --- ## Sri Rama Navami — The Advent of Lord Rama **URL:** https://hkmmumbai.org/blog/sri-rama-navami The crescent moon softly revealed itself through the trees around the palace of King Dasharatha. In the divine lap of Mother Kaushalya rested the Supreme Lord in His infant form. His tender, reddish lips blossomed into enchanting laughter. By His very presence, He filled the hearts of the residents of Ayodhya with boundless happiness. Thus, He was lovingly named "Rama." ### The Ramayana Summarised in One Verse (SB 9.10.4) To keep the promise of His father intact, Lord Ramacandra immediately gave up the position of king, wandered through forests accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana, constructed a bridge across the ocean, and entered the kingdom of Ravana to vanquish him. ### Lord Rama is Non-different from Lord Krishna As stated in the Brahma Samhita (5.39): "I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who manifested Himself personally as Krishna and the different avataras in the world in the forms of Rama, Nrisimha, Vamana, etc." ### Lord Rama — The Greatest Renunciant When instructed to leave Ayodhya, Lord Rama relinquished His rightful position as heir to the throne without hesitation. He accepted His father's words as His sacred duty and spent fourteen years in the forest. ### Lord Rama's Promise > "It is My vow that if one only once seriously surrenders unto Me, saying 'My dear Lord, from this day I am Yours,' and prays to Me for courage, I shall immediately award courage to that person, and he will always remain safe from that time on." --- ## Kartik Deepotsava **URL:** https://hkmmumbai.org/blog/kartik-deepotsava Deepotsava is celebrated in the month of Kartik every year — a month-long festival commemorating Damodara-lila, the sweet pastime of baby Krishna stealing butter and being tied to a mortar by His mother Yashoda. ### What is Damodara Puja? The festival of offering ghee lamps to Lord Krishna lasting the entire month of Kartika, described in scriptures as the best among months. ### Why Damodara Puja? The name Damodara means "one who is bound by the ropes of love." Through His willingness to be bound by Yasoda's pure love, Krishna shows He is conquered by devotion. ### Puja Benefits (from Puranas) > "Of all months, Kartika is most dear." > "One who offers a ghee lamp to Lord Hari during the month of Kartik enjoys pastimes in Lord Hari's spiritual world." > "When one offers a ghee lamp during Kartika, his sins in many thousands of births perish in half an eyeblink." ### Daily Damodara Puja at Home (8–10 mins) 1. Place picture of Lord Krishna (Damodara) in puja area 2. Sing the Damodara Ashtakam 3. Light the ghee lamp 4. Offer in 7 clockwise circles before the picture --- ## Sikshashtakam — The 8 Esoteric Treasures of Caitanya Mahaprabhu **URL:** https://hkmmumbai.org/blog/sikshashtakam The only written instructions personally given by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, illuminating the essence of bhakti yoga and the process of chanting the Holy Name. ### Verse 1: The Cleansing Power of Harinam > Glory to the sri-krsna-sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life. ### Verse 2: Chant Anywhere, Anytime > O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. ### Verse 3: Real Humility, Tolerance & Respect > One should chant the holy name in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige. ### Verse 4: The Only Desire > O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women, nor followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service, birth after birth. ### Verse 5: His Eternal Servant > O son of Maharaja Nanda, I am Your eternal servitor, yet I have fallen into the ocean of birth and death. Please place me as one of the atoms at Your lotus feet. ### Verse 6: The Symptoms of Ecstasy > When will my eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing constantly when I chant Your holy name? ### Verse 7: The Pangs of Separation > O Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I am considering a moment to be like twelve years. Tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of rain. ### Verse 8: A Puppet in His Hands > I know no one but Krishna as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly or makes me brokenhearted by not being present before me. --- ## Srila Prabhupada — Founder Acharya of the Hare Krishna Movement **URL:** https://hkmmumbai.org/blog/srila-prabhupada-founder-iskcon His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada (1896–1977) was the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON. He worked relentlessly to establish the Hare Krishna movement globally. ### Early Life Born September 1, 1896 in Calcutta as Abhay Charan De. Graduated from Scottish Church College in 1916. ### Early Preaching and Writing - 1944: Launched Back to Godhead magazine - 1947: Honored with the title "Bhaktivedanta" - 1950: Retired from family life - 1959: Accepted sannyasa, dedicating himself to spreading Krishna Consciousness worldwide ### Journey to the West (1965) At age 70, boarded the cargo ship Jaladuta to New York with little money, a suitcase, and books. Endured 40-day voyage including severe seasickness and two heart attacks. ### Founding of ISKCON (1966) Formally established ISKCON on July 13, 1966 in New York City from a tiny storefront. ### Global Impact - 108 temples across six continents - ~10,000 initiated disciples - 14 world tours despite advanced age - 80+ volumes translated and commented upon - Books in 80+ languages --- ## Worshipping Tulasi at Home **URL:** https://hkmmumbai.org/blog/worshipping-tulasi ### Who is Tulasi Devi? Lord Vishnu created her during the churning of the milk ocean. Devotees revere her as one of Lord Vishnu's greatest devotees, dearer to Him than Lakshmi. ### Offering Garlands of Tulasi Leaves Lord Vishnu does not accept any offerings without her leaves. Devotees mix Tulasi leaves with sandalwood pulp to decorate Krishna's lotus feet — described as the highest form of Deity worship. ### Important: Tulasi leaves exclusively belong to Lord Krishna and should never be placed at the feet of anyone else. ### Common Mistakes to Avoid - Do not cut or prune Tulasi Devi - Do not make tea or juice from Tulasi leaves - Do not use Tulasi for mundane medicinal purposes - Do not step on the shadow of the Tulasi plant ### Practical Care Tips - **Plucking leaves:** Only in the morning, gently with fingers (not nails or scissors) - **Circumambulation:** Walk around with care, providing water - **Manjari care:** Can clip seed buds to help the plant grow stronger - **Placement:** Keep in shade, away from walkways and animals ### Tulasi Arati Offer worship with incense sticks, ghee lamps, and fragrant flowers in early morning hours. **Pranam Mantra:** > vṛndāyai tulasī-devyai priyāyai keśavasya ca > viṣṇu-bhakti-prade devī satya vatyai namo namaḥ "I offer my repeated obeisances unto Vrnda, Srimati Tulasi Devi, who is very dear to Lord Kesava. O goddess, you bestow devotional service to Lord Vishnu and possess the highest truth."