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Sanskrit - Level 2 course starts Mon July 28, 2008

Click here to Log your Book Distribution records

Click here to download Tamil language audio rendering of Siva Tattva at தமிழ் - BhaktiStudies

Another reason to go Vegetarian - Click here to watch a video presentation

22 July Srila Gopal Bhatt Gosvami Disappearance Day

Bhakti Geography Channel Presents -
Devarayana Durg, Tumkur, Karnataka, India

Devarayanadurga is located about 65 kilometers from Bangalore on Tumkur road in the state of Karnataka in India. Devarayanadurga is a hill station located at a height of 3940 feet above sea level. In Krita/Satya Yuga it was known as Ukeladri, In Thretha Yuga it was known as Simhadri, In Dwapara Yuga it was known as Sidhagiri and in Kali Yuga it is known as Kari Giri.

Sri Bhoga Naraishma Swamy temple (Photo Album, video) is at the base of the hill and Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy temple (Photo Album, Video) is on top of the hill. Click here to read the complete article...

Bhakti Geography Channel presents: Kashi of the Dakshin, Shivaganga, Bangalore, Karnataka. , (Video (audio in Kannad language), Photo Album)

perched at an altitude of 4599 ft/1368 mt, is situated about 56 km north-west of Bangalore, Karnataka, India. It is also known as Dakshin Kashi. This hill has four faces, and it looks like Nandi from the east, Ganesh from the west, Linga from the south and hood spread Cobra from the north.

It has two famous shrines dedicated to Lord Gangadeshwara and Goddess Honnadevi. There is also a fresh water spring called Pathala Ganga between two monolithic rocks. On top of that there is a small Nandi and it is said that there are the "Jata of Shivji" and a small spring which is like Ganga coming out of it. Thats how the place named Shivaganga.

Also watch the video section titled ShivaGanga. If u apply Ghee (Tuppa) on to that linga it becomes Butter (Benne) a reverse process, even you can see it as it is given as prasadam. This is captured in the video. Members can request an email to igvt.hbg@gmail.com for a link to a high quality video of the above. Becoming a member takes only 30 seconds.


18 July - First month of Caturmasya begins
No leafy vegetables, such as spinach, salads of all types, cabbages of all types, kale, leafy herbs such as coriander, mint, parsley, curry and powdered leafy herbs and teas. For the whole five months of Chaturmasya (including Purusottama month), we take no eggplants, tomatoes, loki, parmal, urad dhal, honey, sesame seeds or mustard oil. No shaving for brahmacaris and sannyassis.

17 July - Guru Purnima

PHOTO-TOUR REPORT
GURU-PURNIMA
July 30, 2007

Guru-purnima is a festival celebrating the appearance day of Sri Krsna Dvaipayana Veda Vyasadeva, the literary incarnation of the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna, by whose mercy all the Vedic literatures have manifest and we have received them. Throughout India and the world, people celebrate this sacred day by worshiping his representative, Sri Guru, who purely presents all Vedic knowledge from the vyasasana (the seat of Srila Vyasadeva).
This year, 2007, the festival was observed in India on July 30. To make himself easily accessible, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja sat in four places – Mathura, Vrndavana, Govardhana and New Delhi – over a four day period (July 29-August 1).

Knowing Srila Narayana Maharaja to be a representative and manifestation of Sri Vyasadeva and Vyasadeva’s entire disciplic succession of self-realized spiritual masters, each day several thousand devotees, and especially in Mathura and Vrndavana tens of thousands, gathered to have darsana and worship him. Each day, around 8am, he would offer arati to all of the gurus in his line, to his diksa and siksa-gurus, his grand-spiritual master (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura), his great-grand-spiritual master (Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura) and to the entire disciplic succession up to Srila Vyasadeva and ultimately to Sri Sri Radha-Krsna and Their associates. Click here for the complete article...

17 July - Srila Santana Gosvami - Disappearance Day
Srila Santana Gosvami Samadhi

Below text borrowed from www.bvml.org

vairagya-yug-bhakti-rasam prayatnair
apayayan mam anabhipsum andham
kapambudhir yah para-duhkha-duhkhi
sanatanas tam prabhum asrayami

Raghunatha dasa Goswami has glorified Sanatana Goswami as follows in his Vilapa Kusumanjali (6) "I was unwilling to drink the nectar of devotional service possessed of renunciation, but Sanatana Goswami, out of his causeless mercy, made me drink it, click here to read the complete article...

13 July - Fasting for Sayana Ekadasi

8 July - Sri Vakresvara Pandita - Disappearance

6 July - Hera Pancami
[CHAPTER SEVEN OF THE ORIGIN OF RATHA-YATRA]
The difference between Vrndavana and Dvaraka

The meaning of Hera-pancami is as follows. On the fifth day of the Chariot Festival, Laksmi-devi becomes very worried and thinks, "Where has my husband gone? He told me, 'I am going for a...click here for the complete article.

3 July - Gundica Marjana
Secrets Of Gundica Mandira Marjana
July 4, 2003 Berlin, Germany (Part 2)
Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

What is the hidden deeper meaning of Gundica-marjana, the cleaning of the Gundica Temple? Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu told some of the associates of the king...click here to read the complete article

2 July - Sri Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura -Disappearance
Click to download Jaiva Dharma book here

Confidential Secrets of Bhajana is compiled from the lectures of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja, which were given during the Karttika of 1996 in Vrindavana on the Bhajana-rahasya of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

Bhajan Kutir of Srila BhaktiVinoda Thakura near Radha-Shyama Kunda

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Vienna, Austria: September 19, 2002
Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

[This lecture was delivered by Parama-pujyapada Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja...click here to read the complete article

2 July -Sri Gadadhara Pandita -- Disappearance
The Glories of Sri Gadadhara Pandita, Tota-Gopinatha Mandira
Sunday, 07 October 2001
Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja
Sri Panca-tattva

In October, 2001, Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja led several hundred international pilgrims on parikrama to many holy places of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes. On Oct. 7th he took the parikrama pilgrims to Tota Gopinatha Temple. Tota Gopinatha is the Deity...click here to read the complete article.

29 June - Fasting for Yogini Ekadasi

28 June - Sri Srivasa Pandita/Thakura -- Disappearance
[Srivasa Thakura, who is Sri Narada Muni in krsna-lila. Herein we are presenting a few words on his glory, spoken by Srila Narayana Maharaja in 2002. The main topic of Srila Maharaja's class was "taste for krsna-bhajana", and Srila Maharaja gave Srivasa Thakura as an example of a pure devotee who, due to his taste for bhajana, had no t aste in material affection:]

You are always engaged in maintaining your life. Sometimes business is very good and you think, "Oh, this is very good." And sometimes it is down and you think, "What to do? What to do? What to do?" You forget to chant and you forget to worship. Click here for the complete article...

June 23, Sri Vakresvara Pandita -- Appearance
Vakresvara Pandita is mentioned in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta for his ecstatic dancing. Once, in the house of Srivasa Thakura, he danced in constant ecstasy for seventy-two hours. He made many disciples, specially in Orissa, among them Sri Gopala-guru Gosvami.
CC - Adi Lila - Chapter 10 - TEXT 17
vakresvara pandita----prabhura bada priya bhrtya
eka-bhave cabbisa prahara yanra nrtya
Click here for the complete article...

June 19 - Sri Syamananda Prabhu -- Disappearance
Sri Sri Radha Shyam Sundar

The following text is copied from www.bvml.org

Those who know the associates of Sri Gauranga to be eternally liberated souls will attain their place by the side of the son of the king of Vraja.

Sri Syamananda Prabhu, Srinivasa Acarya and Sri Narottama dasa Thakura were the internal associates of Sri Gaurasundara. They incarnated in this world in order to spread the teachings of...Click here to read the complete article...

June 17 - Sri Mukunda Datta -- Disappearance
Mukunda Datta, the son of Vasudeva Datta, was a classmate of Lord Caitanya's. Mukunda Datta had a melodious voice, and he knew the intricacies of musical meters and ragas. Lord Caitanya took sannyasa amidst Mukunda Datta's kirtana.
Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.40
sri-mukunda-datta sakha----prabhura samadhyayi
Click here to read the complete article...

June 17 - Sri Sridhara Pandita -- Disappearance
Excerpted from "Sri Chaitanya: His Life & Associates" by Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj

khola-becataya khyatah panditah shridharo dvijah
asid vraje hasya-karo yo namna kusumasavah
(Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 133)

One of the twelve Gopals in Krishna lila was named Kusumasava. He appeared in Gaura-lila as Sridhara Pandit, who...click here to read the complete article

June 17 - Snana Yatra of Lord Jaganatha
History Of The Appearance Of Lord Jagannatha
Monday, 03 July 2000
(Wales, UK, July 3, 2000)
Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja
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[Just before beginning class, Srila Maharaja gave a short talk on the meaning of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Introduction to Saranagati.]

Sri krsna caitanya prabhu jive doya kori. What is the essence of this song? You should try to hear very carefully - but not only hear. There was once a guru and a cela, disciple. The guru ordered, "Bring me a glass of water. Are you hearing?" The disciple answered, "Yes, I am hearing." But he did not go to bring the water. The guru asked...read here for the complete article...

June 15 - Dahi Cida Mahotsava of Srila Ragunatha dasa Gosvami at Panihati
Tree where the pastime of the Lord (Dahi Cida Festival) took place

Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami's Samadhi Mandira at Radha-kunda

Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami
Wednesday, 11 June 2003
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Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami's Samadhi Mandira at Radha-kunda
De Glind, Holland: June 11, 2003
Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja
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We should know about Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. He is in the line of Rupanuga Vaisnavas, and he is very near and dear to Srila Rupa Gosvami and all other Vaisnavas.

Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami took birth in a very aristocratic and wealthy family, and he was the only son of his father and uncle. In boyhood he was very fortunate to be initiated by Srila Yadunandana Acarya in the line of Sri Advaita Acarya. Also, Krsna arranged to send Srila Haridasa Thakura to his home, and they were together often. From babyhood he had great taste in chanting the holy name, and at the age of five he received initiation and gradually developed in his bhakti.
Click here to read the complete article...

June 12 - Ganga Puja/Ganga Dasahara
Gangotri Galcier Retreat. Help! Help! Conserve natural resources!

Click here for a treat on this auspicious occasion...

June 12 - Disappearance Day of Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana

Los Angeles, California: June 4, 1998
Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja
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Today is the disappearance day of Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana - one of the most elevated acaryas in our disciplic succession. Today is also the birthday of Srimati Gangamata Gosvamini, and it is also the very day that the Ganges River came to this world. Three holy days are here. In India, in all our Mathas (temples), there will be a very big festival of harikatha for these prominent leaders in devotion to Sri Krsna.

Baladeva Vidyabhusana was born in Orissa, near Puri, in a place called Chilka Lake. He was very brilliant, and in his boyhood he learned all vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar) as well as the Vedas, Upanisads and all other scriptures. He wanted especially to read and study Vedanta. Click here to read the complete article...

June 13 - Srimati Gangamata Gosvamini - Appearance day
Glories of Srimati Gangamata Gosvamini
Murwillumbah, Australia, January 14, 2000
Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja
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There was a beautiful girl in East Bengal named Saci devi, and she was the daughter of the King of Putiya. From the beginning of her life she heard about Lord Krsna, and from that time she gave her whole heart to Him. From the time she was about five years old, she used to worship Krsna, sing to Krsna, play with Krsna... Click here to read the complete article

A critique on Barkingdog18 Video
Srila Gurudev's Glorification of Srila Prabhupada. Here are just a few lectures in thousands in which BV Narayana Goswami Maharaj glorifies his Siksa Guru Srila Prabhupada.
http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19960506am_Holland.mp3
http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19960506Holland_Srila%20Gurudev%20speaks%20on%20Swamiji.mp3
http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19960507Holland_Boven_Lehuwen_3.mp3
http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19960626BADGER%20SWEET%20HARI%20KATHA%20FROM%20SRILA%20GURUDEVA.mp3
http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19960626BADGER%20T120%20P1.mp3
http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19960626BADGER%20T120%20P2.mp3
http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19960629BADGER%20%20%20T126.mp3
http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19970131AUSTRALIA.mp3
http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19970131AUSTRALIA_A1.mp3
http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19970131AUSTRALIA_INTERVIEW_WITH_DEVOTEE_WHY_COME_TO_AUST.mp3
http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19970515_Badger%20Swamiji%20and%20BP%20Kesava%20Maharaja.mp3
http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19970516Badger.mp3
http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/20000729pm_The%20object%20of%20our%20life.mp3
http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/20000531BADGER_am.mp3
http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19980621BADGER_976.mp3
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Srirangam Temple
Watch 3 videos on this temple on left

Srirangam (Sri Rangam) is located 2 km north of Tiruchirappalli (TN, India). The main deity is Lord Ranganatha, or Lord Vishnu, reclining on Sesa Naga. This temple is the foremost of the eight self-manifested shrines of Lord Vishnu (Swayam Vyakta Ksetras). It is also considered the most important of the 108 main Vishnu temples (Divya Desams). Click here to read the complete article.
(Thanks to Vaisnava.cz and bvml.org)

May 31, Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur - Appearance

The temple in Denur where Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur wrote the Sri Chaitanya Bhagavat. Pls see photo slide show on left.

[Excerpted from "Sri Chaitanya: His Life & Associates" by Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj. Mandala Publishing 2001]

namnarjunah sakha prag yo dasa sa parameshvarah
Parameshvara Das Thakur was previously Arjuna,
one of Krishna’s twelve cowherd boyfriends.
(Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 132)

Srila Paramesvari Thakur appeared in a Vaidya family. He made his home in Antpur (pls see google map below), a village which was previously known by the name of Bishakhali. The Antpur station is on the on the Champadanga branch of the Howrah-Amta rail line. Paramesvari Thakur’s Sripat is not far from the train station and near the old Radha Govinda temple...
click here to read the complete article.
View Larger Map May 24, Sri Ramananda Raya -Disappearance http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19960506Holland_Boven_Lehuwen_3.mp3 http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19960506pm_Holland.mp3 http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19960508Holland_Boven%20Lehuwen_6_Ramananda_Samvar.mp3 http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19960509_Holland.mp3 http://sbnmcd.org/mp3/19960627BADGER%20T121.mp3 Introduction to Raya Ramananda Samvada A Lecture for Sri Raya Ramananda's Disappearance Day - May 8, 2004 Maui, Hawaii: May 24, 2000 Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja Come with me and be with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu when He is going from Puri to South India to search for his brother, Visvarupa. This was only a pretext... Click here to read the complete article (5 Lectures) Map shows Godavari river. Scroll top/right to see Puri View Larger Map May 19, Appearance of Sri Radha-Raman Devaji and about Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami Pls click here or on left to view a slide show of photos.

The all merciful Lord Sri Gaur Hari, as He travelled from village to village throughout the south of India, continued to Click here to read the complete article....

May 19, Sri Madhavendra Puri and Sri Srinivasa Acarya - Appearance Days

Sri MadhvacaryaMathura, India: October 13, 2005
Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja
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Today is the appearance day of Sri Madhvacarya, who is the sampradaya-acarya of our Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya.*[See Endnote 1] He appeared in a place called Pajaka-ksetra. His father’s name was Madhvagaya, his mother’s name was Vedavidya, and his childhood name was Vasudeva. He took sannyasa at a very young age, and his sannyasa-name was Purna-prajna. His sannyasa-guru, who totally followed the mayavada philosophy of impersonalism, was called Sri Acyuta-preksa. Click here to read the complete article (2 Lectures)...

May 19, Sri Paramesvari Dasa Thakura - Disappearance
[Excerpted from "Sri Chaitanya: His Life & Associates" by Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj. Mandala Publishing 2001]

Srila Paramesvari Thakur appeared in a Vaidya family. He made his home in Antpur, a village which was previously known by the name of Bishakhali. The Antpur station is on the on the Champadanga branch of the Howrah-Amta rail line. Paramesvari Thakur’s Sripat is not far from the train station and near the old Radha Govinda temple established of the diwan or chief minister of Burdwan’s king, Tej Bahadur.

namnarjunah sakha prag yo dasa sa parameshvarah
Parameshvara Das Thakur was previously Arjuna,
one of Krishna’s twelve cowherd boyfriends.
(Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 132) Click here to read the complete article

Lord Nrsimhadeva at ISKCON, Mayapur, WB

May 18 , Nrsimha Caturdasi: Appearance of Lord Nrsimhadeva
Full fasting till dusk. Then no grains or beans till after sunrise next day.
Pls see check out the video section for a movie on Lord Narsimhadev. All copyrights owned by the producers. Bhaktistudies does not claim any copyrights to the video.

Also, Pls listen to 2 audio lectutures of Srila Gurudev in the Music section on Lord Nrsimhadeva.

Who is Lord Nrsimhadeva?
(An Appearance Day Lecture)
by Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

[The following is Srila Narayana Maharaja's lecture on His glories, given in Badger, California on May 14, 2003.]

Today is the auspicious appearance day of Lord Nrsimhadeva. Who is Nrsimhadeva? He is Krsna Himself – "Kesava dhrta narahari rupa." Krsna Kesava – He is the same Kesava, but not directly. He is none other than Cakra. Krsna's cakra (wheel-shaped weapon) became Nrsimhadeva; and whenever there is a temple installation of Cakra, the prayers are offered to Nrsimhadeva.
Click here to read the complete article....

May 15 - Fasting for Mohini Ekadasi. Check Viashnava Calender link on the right to confirm exact date/time in your area.

May 12 - Madhu Pandita Disappearance
Pls click on the photo section on left (scroll down a bit) to view a slide show of old and new Radha Gopinatha Temples, Dieties and samdhi of Madhu Pandita

Madhu Pandit was the disciple of Sri Gadadhar Pandit.

There is no mention of Sri Madhu Pandit in Caitanya Caritamrta. Only it is mentioned in Bhakti Ratnakar that Sri Gopinathji manifested Himself before Him. [B. R. 2.473]
Click here to read the complete article....

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May 12, Srimati Sita Devi (consort of Lord Sri Rama) -Appearance

A Further Glorification of Sri Sita-Rama
Mathura, April 13, 2000
Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

[May 17, 2005 is the appearance day of Srimati Sita-devi, the consort of Lord Ramacandra, and Srimati Jahnava-devi, the consort of Sri Nityananda prabhu. Regarding Sita-devi, please accept Srila Narayana Maharaja's class of April 13, 2000. Srila Narayana Maharaja left for Hawaii today, May 16, from Fiji where he had been lecturing on sanatana-dharma and where he initiated about 80 fortunate souls. After having just flown over the Pacific Ocean he has now reached Hawaii, where he will stay until about June 9th.]

Janaka Maharaja had given the definition of bhakti to Lord Rama’s brother, Bharata. "Anyabhilasita-sunyam, jnana-karmady-anavrtam, anukulyana krsnanu-silanam bhaktir uttama. One who has no other desire than to please Krsna, and who is not influenced by the process of jnana-marga (cultivation of knowledge) karma, and so on, is situated in pure bhakti.” The king told him that nothing can control prema (pure love of God); it has its own law. One who has prema will always consider the desires of his object of love. He has no personal interest. He will always think, "How will my beloved be pleased?" Our real purpose is to please our worshipful deity, God and Guru; not to please ourselves." Click here to read the complete article...
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May 13, Srimati Jahnava Devi (Consort of Lord Nityananda) - Appearance
[Excerpted from "Sri Chaitanya: His Life & Associates" by Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj]

shri-varuni-revata-vamsha-sambhave
tasya priye dve vasudha ca jahnavi
shri-surya-dasasya mahatmanah sute
kakudma-rupasya ca surya-tejasah
ananga-maïjarim kecij jahnavam ca pracakshate ubhayam tu samicinam purva-nyayat satam matam

Balaram’s wives Varuni and Revati became Vasudha and Jahnavi, the two wives of Nityananda Prabhu, in Chaitanya-lila. Both of them were the daughters of Surya Das, who was as effulgent as the sun. He was Kakudman, the father of Revati, in his previous birth. According to another opinion, Jahnava was the incarnation of Ananga Mjari. Both these opinions are possible, as we have shown that more than one identity can be joined in associates of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
(Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 65-6)
Jahnava’s father was Surya Das Sarakhela. According to the Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidhana, her mother’s name was Bhadravati. Surya Das’s Shripata is in the village of Shaligrama, which is not far from Nabadwip, situated close to the Muragacha station on the Eastern Railway. Surya Das was the third son of Kamsari Mishra. His older brothers were Damodar and Jagannath, his younger brothers, Gauri Das, Krishna Das Sarakhela and Nrisingha Chaitanya. Click here to read the complete article....
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May 11 - Happy Mothers Day to all our readers. All glories to the loving mothers (and fathers)! Below painting of 'Mother Yasoda and baby Krishna' by Srimati Syamrani dd borrowed from www.bhaktiart.net.

May 9, Badrinatha Temple, Doors re-open
Please click the photos section on the left to view pictures of the Badrinatha Temple

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 3.4.22
yyatra narayano devo
naras ca bhagavan rishih
mridu tivram tapo dirgham
tepate loka-bhavanau

Please click here to read the complete article....