Sri Krishna Kathamrita

तवकथामृतं तप्तजीवनम्
tava kathāmṛtaṁ tapta-jīvanam
Highlights Bindu
Fortnightly email mini-magazine from Gopal Jiu Publications

Issue No. 523 Śrī Mohinī Ekādaśī 12 May 2022

• Compassion of the Devotees

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
• Nrisimha and the Cheating Pujari
Highlights

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada

• Manifestations of the Lord in Different Rasas
Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhupada
• Why do we Worship Nrisimha?
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja
• Prayers to Nrisimha
Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode

Nrisimha and the Cheating Pujari

From the Life of
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada
Around 1913 a hired Brahmin from Orissa by the name
of Krishna Pujari was engaged in deity service at the
Yogapith. Once in the middle of the night he suddenly ran
shrieking to Vrajapattana, where he sobbingly recounted
to Sri Siddhanta Saraswati that in a dream Mahaprabhu
in the form of Nrisimhadev had straddled his chest and
told him, “You stole from my donation box! Run! Get out
from my house right now or I’ll destroy you!” The priest
started wailing and rolling on the ground, and despite
all attempts could not be pacified. But after some time,
he rose and set out for Calcutta, and then returned to
his home. Although two months’ salary was due him, he
Compassion of the Devotees refused to accept even a paisa.
— Bhakti Vikasa Swami. Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Vaibhava, 1.2.23. Bhakti
His Divine Grace Vikasa Trust. Surat, India. 2009.
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Manifestations of the Lord
It should be understood that sages, saintly persons and In Different Rasas
devotees are not unconcerned with the people’s welfare.
Srila Rupa Goswami’s Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 2.5.119
Ordinary karmīs are busy acquiring money for sense
gratification, and ordinary jñānīs are socially aloof when kapilo mādhavopendrau
nṛsiṁho nanda-nandanaḥ
they speculate on liberation, but actual devotees and
balaḥ kūrmas tathā kalkī
saintly persons are always anxious to see how the people rāghavo bhārgavaḥ kiriḥ
can be made happy both materially and spiritually. mīna ity eṣu kathitāḥ
— From the purport to Bhāg. 4.14.7. kramād dvādaśa devatāḥ

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 Issue Five Hundred Twenty-three, Page — 2 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु
Unknown artist. South India, late Chola period c. 1250

Yoga Nrisimha
 Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Twenty-three, Page — 3
Unknown artist. Rajasthani painting. C 1700s

Lord Nrisimhadev kills Hiranyakasipu, while Prahlad and Lakshmi Devi offer prayers

There are twelve deities assigned to the twelve Krishna naturally represents madhura-rasa. Balaram
rasas as follows: Kapila (śānta), Madhava (prīti is fond of joking and therefore suitable to represent
or dāsya), Upendra (preyān or sakhya), Nrisimha hāsya-rasa. Kurma represents adbhuta-rasa because of his
(vātsalya), Krishna (madhura), Balaram (hāsya), Kurma huge and unusual but suitable form for the task at hand.
(adbhuta), Kalki (vīra), Rama (karuṇa), Parashuram Kalki is famous for having the sword in his hand, and
(raudra), Varaha (bhayānaka) and Mina (bībhatsa). thus represents vīra-rasa. Rama represents karuṇa-rasa
Notes by Bhanu Svami: Kapila can represent śānta- because of his lamentation at losing Sita. Parashuram
rasa because of his stance in meditation. Perhaps destroyed the kṣatriyas out of anger, and thus is suitable
Madhava represents dāsya-rasa because of the derivation to represent raudra-rasa. Varaha represents fear
of Madhava as mā (Lakshmi) and dhava (husband), (bhayānaka) perhaps because he created fear in the
meaning Narayan. Upendra or Vamana can represent ocean when he dove in, and had a fearful appearance
sakhya-rasa, since he has a friendly relationship with covered with blood after killing Hiranyaksha.
Indra, and acts as the doorkeeper in Sutala for Bali. — Rupa Goswami. Śrī Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu. With commentaries of
Jiva Goswami, and Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakur, and notes by
Nrisimha can represent vātsalya-rasa because of his Bhanu Svami. English translation by Bhanu Svami. Sri Vaikuntha
regarding Prahlad as his son, placing him on his lap. Enterprises. Chennai. 2006.

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Issue Five Hundred Twenty-three, Page — 4 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु

Unknown artist. Sketch done in 1876 of ancient painting in Ellora. .Caves

Nrisimhadev killing Hiryanyakasipu

Why We Worship Nrisimha Prayers to Nrisimha

Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode’s
Devotee: All the avatāras are within Krishna, so Śrī Navadvīpa-bhāva-taraṅga, 36-40
what is the need for a separate meditation on the e duṣṭa hṛdaye kāma ādi ripu chaya
form of Nrisimhadeva? kuṭīnāṭi pratiṣṭhāśā śāṭhya sadā raya
Gour Govinda Maharaja: Because the Nrisimha form hṛdaya-śodhana āra kṛṣṇera vāsanā
specifically kills all demoniac attitudes. Therefore, we nṛsiṁha-caraṇe mora ei to’ kāmanā
offer pranama to Nrisimhadev. Because we have so many Within my sinful heart the six enemies headed by
lusty desires — we are not devotees at all, we are really lust perpetually reside, as well as duplicity, the desire
demons. So, let him kill the demoniac attitude in us. for fame, plus sheer cunning. At the lotus feet of Lord
Material world means it is full of demons — so much Nrisimha, I hope that he will mercifully purify my
enviousness is here. Demons are envious; devotees heart and give me the desire to serve Lord Krishna.
are not envious at all. Nrisimhadev will kill all these kāṅdiyā nṛsiṁha-pade māgibo kakhana
things and make your path of devotion free from nirāpade navadvīpe jugala-bhajana
inauspiciousness, free from obstacles. He will make it bhaya bhaya pāya yāṅ’ra darśane se hari
prasanna ha-ibe kabe more dayā kari
clear, then you can very easily tread the path. This is
the special characteristic of Nrisimhadev. Therefore, Weeping, I will beg at the lotus-feet of Lord
we offer prayers to him. Nrisimha for the benediction of worshiping Radha
— Conversation in Bhubaneswar, 14 May 1995, Nrisimha-caturdaśī. and Krishna in Nabadwip, perfectly safe and free
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Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Five Hundred Twenty-three, Page — 5

Unknown artist. Contemporary pata-citra painting from Odisha

 Issue Five Hundred Twenty-three, Page — 6 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु
Even though Nrisimha is terrifying for sinful souls,
he offers great auspiciousness unto the devotees of
Lord Krishna headed by Prahlad Maharaja. When will
he be pleased to speak words of compassion unto
me, a worthless fool, and thereby make me fearless?
svacchande baisa he vatsa śrī-gaurāṅga-dhāme
jugala-bhajana ha-u rati ha-u nāme
mama bhakta-kṛpā-bale vighna jābe dūra
śuddha cite bhajo rādhā-kṛṣṇa-rasa-pūra
He will say, “Dear child! Sit down freely and live
happily here in Sri Gauranga Dham. May you nicely
worship the divine couple, and may you develop loving
attachment for their holy names. By the mercy of my
devotees, all obstacles are cast far away. With a purified
Unknown photographer, c 1800

heart, just perform the worship of Radha and Krishna,

for such worship overflows with sweet nectar.”
ei bali’ kabe mora mastaka-upara
svīya śrī-caraṇa harṣe dharibe īśvara
amani jugala-preme sāttvika vikāre
dharāya luṭiba āmi śrī-nṛsiṁha-dvāre
Saying this, will that Lord delightedly place his lotus
feet on my head? I will experience sublime love for the
Ancient deity of Nrisimha on the road between Hampi and Vijayanagar divine couple Radha-Krishna and undergo the ecstatic
from all difficulties. When will this Lord Hari, whose transformations called sāttvika. Falling on the ground,
terrible form strikes fear into fear itself, ever become I will roll about at the door of Nrisimha’s temple.
pleased and show me his mercy? — Translation by Dasaratha-suta Das. Navadvīpa-bhāva-taraṅga.
Nectar Books. Union City, Georgia, USA.
yadyapi bhīṣaṇa mūrti duṣṭa-jīva-prati
prahlādādi kṛṣṇa-bhakta-jane bhadra ati
kabe vā prasanna ho’ye sa kṛpa-vacane
nirbhaya karibe ei mūḍha akiñcane 

Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu

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Unknown artist. South Indian c. 1800

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Lord Nrisimha with four arms