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मच्चित्ता मद्गतप्राणा बोधयन्त: परस्परम् |
कथयन्तश्च मां नित्यं तुष्यन्ति च रमन्ति च ||
With
their minds fixed on me and their lives surrendered to me, my devotees
remain ever contented in me. They derive great satisfaction and bliss in
enlightening one another about me, and conversing about my
glories. Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10, Verse 9
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| |  | From the Editor's Desk | 
When we reflect on our rich cultural heritage, it would make us all
experience a great sense of pride. Whether we refer to the
incredible feats of historical figures and trail blazers, or how we
celebrate festivals, the Indian culture has much to offer and we, as
ambassadors need to rejoice the legacy. Our culture is replete
with stories or kathas that underlie sacrifice, devotion and generosity for the good of mankind. In
this issue of Samarpan, we celebrate our rich cultural heritage and
exemplify the spirit of generosity in a story where Karna and Arjun are
both asked by Lord Krishna to make donations and how the true spirit of
giving is reflected in the actions of each of these heroes. Other
heroes from the more recent past in India's history can be found in the
struggle for independence and sovereignty. One such story of the
sacrifices made by Rani Laxmibai is featured to commemorate March 8 as
the International Women's Day. A discussion of our cultural legacy
cannot be complete without stories and celebrations of the festival of
Holi. We present the legend on Prahlad and how Lord Narayan, a
protector of His devotees, is only a thought away and all we need to do
is call Him with sincerity. Above all, we share plans for a safe
celebration of Holi and rejoice in the season of divine love, truth,
humanity, and harmony with nature. |
| Bhakti Ras
Giving is a Form of Seva Everyone
with Indian roots is familiar with the historical epic, the
Mahabharat. Many might also be knowledgeable about the Karna, the
eldest son of Kunti and the Sun God. Karna was famous for
many noteworthy characteristics like a great warrior, a loyal friend, a
virtuous man and above all, a philanthropist of the highest
caliber. He was known as "Daanveer Karna" because he
never sent anyone empty-handed when they came to him for help or
alms. Readers must also be aware of the deep-rooted animosity and
competitiveness between Karna and Arjun, the third of that Pandavas.
One day, prior to the Mahabharat
war, Arjun and Shri Krishna were on their way to a small town.
Arjun seemed distracted and asked Shri Krishna a question that had been
bothering him for a long time. Madhusudan, "please tell
me why people believe Karna to be a greater philanthropist than
me? I have been so generous to everyone." Shri Krishna said
that Karna's generosity knew no bounds and his donations were
unmatched. Arjun was irritated by the Lord's words so he
persisted, "what has Karna done that is more noteworthy than my
actions?" Then Shri Krishna said, "Ok, you can see for yourself."
 Shri Krishna used His maya
(or illusionary powers) to convert the two close-by mountains into
mounds of gold. He told Arjun to distribute the gold to all the
townsmen and ensure that he continued to do so until not even an ounce
of gold remained. Arjun thought that this was the easiest task the Lord
had ever assigned to him so he went into the town and asked all the
people to come to the outskirt by the mountain and get their share of
gold. Arjun was very happy when the people stopped by, took their share
of gold and praised him for his generosity. Arjun though that the
people's words would surely impress Lord Krishna. This way he
continued to dig shovelfuls of gold from the mountains day and night for
several days in a row, giving away a large amount of gold.
However, after a few days of intense labor, Arjun was physically
exhausted but the quantity of the gold did not seem to diminish.
He told Lord Krishna that he needed some rest because he could not get
himself to accept defeat in this critical mission. So Lord
Krishna beckoned Karna and asked him to do the same, that is, donate
every bit of the gold that was in the two huge mountains to the poor
villagers and townsmen. Karna bowed his head to Lord Krishna and
then called all the villagers to the mountains. Karna said, "These
two mountains of gold are yours to keep or do whatever you
choose." Then once again he bowed to Lord Krishna and walked away
without a second glance. Arjun was completely flabbergasted at
Karna's indifference toward the gold or the people's appreciation and
rebuked himself for not doing the same. Lord Krishna, the knower of all minds and hearts, turned to Arjun and said benevolently, "Arjun, now you know why
Karna is matchless in his generosity. For Karna, the act of
giving was far more important than to whom or how much he was giving
away. He did not care whether people thanked him or not or that he
was giving away something of such high value. Finally, Karna's
act of giving away the gold was matched by the purity of his heart and
mind as was evident from how he dispassionately walked away after making
his statement." Lord Krishna said further, "Arjun, this is why
Karna is considered to be a true Daanveer and a role model for mankind." As
Swami Mukundananda ji says, "If you give something with the expectation
of receiving something in return, that is business. If you give
something without expecting anything in return, that is a true form of
giving and seva to the society." This sentiment has also been
reiterated by Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj who said, "True servants
desire only to serve their Master, Shree Krishna. They consider
their Master's happiness as their own." |
| | Inspirations for Living
Remembering the Women in India's Independence Struggle The
month of March is known for several festivals and events including Holi
(March 5), International Women's Day (March 8), and St. Patrick's Day
(March 17) to name a few. Many of us who live in the U.S., often
forget the important role of women in the Quit India movement.
Each Independence Day we remember the heroes who were always in the
limelight but do not always remember the women whose courage and
resilience is often underrated. This month's e-magazine features a
short profile of one of these women, Queen Laxmibai of Jhansi in the
honor of International Women's Day.  The
queen of Jhansi, called Rani Laxmibai, was married to Raja (king)
Gangadhar Rao, the head of the State of Jhansi. Upon her husband's
death, Rani Laxmibai wanted their adopted son to be the heir of the
State but the British did not allow the succession and forcibly annexed
Jhansi against the will of the queen and the people. At that time,
Dalhousie was the Governor General of India. The British not only
sequestered the state jewels and highly valued art, they ordered the queen to
leave the fort of Jhansi and live in the Queen's palace instead.
However, Rani Laxmibai was undeterred and resolved to protect
Jhansi. In
the famous battle in March 1858, the British attacked Jhansi. The
historical images of Rani Laxmibai, dressed as a man, her infant child
strapped on her back, the reins of the horse in her mouth, a sword in
each of her hands, leading her men to the battle ground, is one of the
most poignant images of India's struggle of independence from the
British. She fought the British soldiers valiantly as an
equal. She died a hero's death on the battlefield on June 18, 1858
at the age of 22 years. Rani Laxmibai is still commemorated for
her patriotism, courage, and refusal to surrender to the enemy.
Let us honor her memory this month and muster pride about our heritage and the strong women of India. |
| | Bal-Mukund: Playground for Vedic Wisdom
The Legend of Lord Narayan and Prahlad 
Prahlad was a very steadfast devotee of Lord Narayan even though he was
the son of the demon king Hiranyakashyap, the mortal enemy of the
Lord. In spite of repeated attempts on his life, Prahlad refused
to stop worshipping Lord Narayan and chanting His name every waking
moment. Each time Hiranyakashyap tried to kill his own son Prahlad, Lord
Narayan always intervened and protected his life. In
a last ditch attempt to kill Prahlad, Hiranyakashyap approached his
sister Holika for help. She was blessed with the power to resist
burning by fire. She talked Prahlad into sitting on her lap as she
seated herself on a pyre. During the entire time, Prahlad kept
chanting "Om Namah Narayan" with his eyes closed and mind in
meditation. Because of Holika's evil intentions, it was she whose
body turned into ashes while Prahlad was left unscathed. To
this day, Holi is celebrated as a festival of victory of good over evil
and a testament to God's protection for His ardent devotees. |
| | | | Holi Hangama | Immerse
yourselves in the festive spirit by splashing dry, wet, natural, and
vibrant colors while dancing to the music by DJ Manish and Dholi TK. | 
| Melodious and Enchanting Kirtans | 
| Holi Keynote Address by Swami Mukundananda | 
| Delicious Indian Cuisine (to be purchased) | 
| Splashing of Natural & Vibrant Colors |
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| If
you still want more fun, participate in games including Bounce House, a
47-feet long inflatable obstacle course/slide and much more await you
and your family! Sunday, 22nd March, 2015
The Radha Krishna Temple Site*
1450 N Watters Rd, Allen, TX 75013 *Temple site is situated on 3.2 acres of ground & ample parking spots are available | Finally, have you heard about the Holi contest? | |
| At
this Holi celebration, everyone can participate in a contest for
capturing the best photograph. Bring your camera or cell phone and
take your best shot of people playing Holi. Send your picture to
us at [email protected] to enter the contest and possibly win a prize. |
| | Community Event Updates
The
Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas is more than just a temple under
construction. It is a thread that binds the local community, providing
inspiration and support to members through various activities for the
benefit of the body, mind, and soul. From
weekly satsangs and chanting groups to yoga classes and intellectual
discourse, the Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas is already becoming known
for its voluntary activities for the benefit the community. Please
contact us at [email protected] to find out more about how to engage. |
 | Weekly Satsangs
These
satsangs truly propel one in the ocean of bhakti through a combination
of prayer, singing bhajans/kirtans, viewing a video lecture, and
followed by arati, and Prasad.
For local satsang information visit: www.radhakrishnatemple.net or [email protected]. |
|
|  | | Bhagavad Gita
Study Group | Free Community
Yoga Classes | Vishnu Sahashra
Naam Chanting At: 4020 Sendero Trail
Plano, TX 75024
On: 1st Sat, 3 to 4 PM
Details & Registration |
It
also offers abundant opportunities to volunteer and
participate in various events to uplift self and others. Do you
have special talents like writing, singing, engaging in
discourse or any other? Think of the Radha Krishna Temple of
Dallas as the avenue for expressing your talents. We do not
need to wait for the construction to be completed to increase
our involvement in various activities. |
|
| |  | 'Dollar A Day' - Pledge Continuous Support! Donate a Dollar a Day towards the building and upkeep of the Radha Krishna temple! By donating just $1 everyday,
you'll help this noble cause!
How many of us have the opportunity and are fortunate enough to build a house for God? Set up monthly contributions through credit card/debit card by calling: 860-605-3685 or by visiting temple website at Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas (click). |
|
| | Wellness for Life
Holi Safety Tips for you and your Family  Playing
Holi with dry and wet colors can be a lot of fun if done right.
In other words, like many other festivals, there are some spoken and
unspoken rules that everyone should attend to ensure that the
celebration is enjoyable for all. Here are a few pointers
especially for children and youth: Wear clothes that can be discarded if necessary and cover as much of your body as you can to avoid irritation to the skin. Close your eyes for protection when someone throws colors at you. Feel free to cover your head with a scalp cap or cloth if you wish. Avoid
washing your face or hair each time you get clobbered with color
because this may end up irritating your skin even more. Take a
lukewarm bath after the celebration is all done. Avoid
coloring people who are not interested in playing. There could be
many reasons for not playing including health or social issues.
Respect people's choices. Play Holi in the true spirit of fun and festivity where good wins over evil.
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| We love to hear from you! |
| | | Copyright © Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog 2014. All rights reserved. |
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