Vaishnava Stories Archives - Page 3 of 3

Posted on January 12, 2018March 14, 2019 by remember krishna — 6 Comments

Radharani’s 8 chief gopi companions

Krsna standing with Radha Lalita Vishaka 8 principal gopi friends in forest under tree with peacocks

She also excitingly commissioned new gopi dolls for her granddaughters – she wanted to give them a birthday gift to match the Krsna doll they already had, and asked me to create two more gopi friends as well as Radharani.

Well you can imagine the burst of joyous creativity this inspired!

I worked on Lalita and Vishaka because I was so attracted to their descriptions, and also made Campakalata, after looking up the description of the Campaka flower.

To create artwork I did some research, and I hope you will forgive my literal interpretations. It may not be precisely correct, but it was helpful to me in creating the really sweet dolls I have made.

Description of The Eight Principal Gopis

Lalita devi – 14yrs 8 months & 27days (older than Radha)

Constant companion of Srimati Radharani. She has a beautiful bright yellow complexion

Wears a dress the colour of peacock feathers.

Carries a parasol for RK

Decorates Them with flowers & decorates Their cottage when they rest at night.

Image result for peacock feathers — peacock feathers

Visakha devi – 14 yrs 2 months & 15 days (same age as Radharani)

Her garments are decorated with stars

Complexion, cream colour with a tinge of red.

Likes to dress & decorate Radha & the gopis

Likes to be a messenger between RK

Expert at joking with Krishna

Campakalata 14yrs 2 months & 13 & ½ days (younger than Radha by 1 day)

Complexion like the yellow campaka flower

Garments the color of a blue-jay’s

Expert at collecting fruits, flowers & roots from the forest.

Expert cook – expert at making various kinds of candy.

She can skillfully fashion things from clay with her hands.

Seva is to offer jeweled necklaces and to fan with a camara.

Image result for Campaka flower Campakalaata — Campakalata has a complexion like the Campaka flower. Magnolia champaca, known in English as champak, is a large evergreen tree in the Magnoliaceae family. It was previously classified as Michelia champaca. It known for its fragrant flowers, and its timber used in woodworking.

blue Jay of india — From the Odisha forest website, photo of Blue Jay Description: State Bird: Blue Jay The blue jay is commonly known as Roller under the family Coraciidae. India is famous for a single type of blue jay which is popularly called “Indian Roller Bird”. In Hindi its popular name is ” Nilkanth ” or “Sabzak”. This is an attractive Oxford-and-Cambridge blue bird about the size of a pigeon. They are believed to be near relatives of bee-eaters and kingfishers. They are strongly-built and jay- like. They are characterized by a big head, heavy bill, rufous brown breast, pale blue abdomen and blunt tail. The tail is square. The dark and pale blue colours in the wings show up as brilliant shining bands in flight. Blue jay prefers open cultivated green country and avoids dense forests. Source: http://www.odishaforest.in/states_pride.jsp

Citra-devi 14 yrs 7 months 14 days (younger than Radharani by 26 days)

Complexion like saffron

Garments the color of crystal

Her seva is bringing cloves & garlands

She can nicely make various kinds of nectarean beverages.

Expert in playing music on pots filled with varying degrees of water.

Especially expert at gardening

She is the leader of the gopis who collect transcendental herbs and medicinal creepers from the forest (they don’t collect flowers or anything else)

Saffron flower and the tiny philamen which is harvested and used for cooking.

Tunga vidya 14yrs 2 months & 22 days (15 days younger than Radha)

Complexion color of kumkuma

Wears white garments

Seva is dancing and singing, she is a celebrated music teacher expert at playing the vina & singing in the style known as marga.

Expert in dancing, drama, literature and all other arts & sciences.

Indulekha 14yrs 2 months & 10 & ½ days ( 3 days younger than Radha)

Has a tan complexion

Wears the color of pomegranate flower

Often serves K by bringing nectar-like delicious meals.

Seva is fanning with chamara fan

Expert at stringing various kinds of wonderful necklaces, gemology & weaving various kinds of cloth.

Related image — Beautiful big pomegranate flower.

Ranga devi 14yrs 2 months & 4 & ½ days ( 7 days younger than Radha)

Complexion the color of a lotus filament

Garments are red

Expert in the use of perfumes & cosmetics and aromatic incense.

She carries coal during the winter and fans the divine couple in the summer.

Also her & her friends are able to control the lions, deer & other wild animals in the forest.

Sudevi 14yrs 2 months & 4 days

She is the sweet and charming sister of Ranga devi, slightly older by ½ day (twin)

So similar to Ranga devi that they are often mistaken for one another.

Complexion colour of lotus stamen

Wears colour of the red jaba flower (hibiscus)

Seva is to bring water

Arranges Radha’s hair, decorates Her eyes with mascara and massages Her body with scented oils.

Expert in training male & female parrots.

Expert sailor, knows how to start fires & keep them burning and knows which flowers blossom with the rising of the moon.

Image result for red hibiscus — red hibiscus

If you would like to get a copy of this to print or store for later, you can download the document Description of The Eight Principal Gopis HERE.

Because this is a super interesting topic – who can ever get tired of the Gopi Companions of Srimate Radharani, I am working on a new set of all 8 cheif gopi companions of Radha!

Posted on September 26, 2017November 16, 2017 by remember krishna — Leave a comment

Why Krishna art

Krishna doll from Remember Krishna shop online doll blue boy

I remember practicing to draw that beautiful blue treasure of our hearts when I was just a little tyke!
In fact I remember the first drawings of some of the most incredible artists of this age (Yep I’m looking at you, Devaki & Yogananda!)

Because we all dote on Krishna we can look fondly on the blue or yellow or green scribble and encourage further attempts.

The thing I find the most encouraging is that, Krishna’s sweetness can be evident even in a sketchy scribble where the arms maybe not exactly proportionate or even correct, but we can see tilak or some effulgence and we have this little piece of remembrance.

While I personally am only a mediocre artist, and am always learning more, it is a great delight to draw and practice on Krishna.

Thankfully many people have enjoyed my Krishna art and of course I am thrilled to be able to sell my Krishna dolls.

When I was little our parents encouraged us to create by giving us stories of Krishna, nursery rhymes which had lyrics about Him, and always coloring in activities with Krishna and His transcendental companions. If you remove tv and computer games as a distraction then there’s a lot more time to develop an interest! Interestingly – and this is not at all the point of my post but a fascinating side note – Bill Gates, the genius behind Microsoft computers, does not even allow his kids to own or have devices – citing developing creativity and interests as his parenting reasoning.

So, the beauty of capturing Krishna in art is such that, while we do so we can absorb ourselves in thinking about Him (what does He look like? How does He stand/ what does He wear, what have I heard about Him that I can incorporate into this artwork?).

The beauty for the audience is they also get to enjoy remembering Krishna by gazing upon the Krsna artwork – however inexpertly created. A win win situation!

While I work on painting my Krishna dolls, I find it is conducive to listen to a lecture, so my ears are occupied in hearing while my hands are busy. This can be nice, but other great times are when family is gathered or friends are visiting – like someone who knits, always on your lap!

Krsna_deity_painted_diy — Adorable but shiny

I also ask Krishna for His blessings and assistance before I try and represent Him – most especially before I attempt to paint deities of the Lord, I pay my obeisances and ask Krishna for His help to guide my hand – I need it because I am not very expert, but who can accurately portray the beauty of Krishna without His assistance?

Remembering Krishna’s name, qualities, beauty and pastimes I have some very very favorite and inspiring quotes to share with you to assist you in your own creativity painting Krishna.

Sri Krsna’s complexion is as enchanting as an emerald, a tamala tree, or a group of beautiful dark clouds. He is an ocean of nectarean handsomeness.

He wears yellow garments and a garland of forest flowers. He is decorated with various jewels and He is a great reservoir of the nectar of many transcendental pastimes.

His handsome crown is decorated with many different flowers. His handsome forehead is splendidly decorated with tilaka markings and curling locks of hair.

The playful movements of His raised, dark eyebrows enchant the hearts of the gopis.

The tip of His nose is as handsome as the beak of Garuda, the king of birds.

His charming ears and cheeks are decorated with earrings made of various jewels.

He speaks many charming jokes.

Decorated with a necklace of pearls, the beauty of His neck enchants the residents of the three planetary systems. Decorated with a necklace of pearls and with the Kaustubha gem, which shines like lightning, Krsna’s handsome chest longs to enjoy the company of the beautiful gopis.

Decorated with bracelets and armlets, Krsna’s arms hang down to His knees.

Krsna’s knees are very splendid, charming and handsome.

His charming lotus feet are decorated with jeweled ankle-bells.

Krsna’s feet have the luster of roses, and they are decorated with various auspicious markings, such as the markings of the disc, half-moon, octagon, triangle, barleycorn, sky, parasol, waterpot, conchshell, cow’s footprint, svastika, rod for controlling elephants, lotus flower, bow and jambu fruit.

His reddish toes are decorated with the row of full moons that are His toenails.

Although we have sometimes compared Krsna’s handsomeness to various things, nothing can actually be equal to it.

Posted on April 6, 2017October 28, 2017 by remember krishna — 2 Comments

5 Vaishnava Blogs to follow for increased happiness

I’m moving, I’m packing, cleaning, losing my mind, you know how it is! Can’t wait for this week to be a memory…

In the meantime thought you would enjoy a round up of just SOME of my “blogs to follow” suggestions.

Ok so they’re nearly all accounts I love to follow on Instagram too, so if you don’t spend a LOT of time reading blogs, check out their insta profiles.

1.) Aloha & Namaste – full of dreamy print worthy photos and achingly real from-the-heart words. Sometimes you cry, usually you laugh and you’ll often do both! Set at island life pace, keep up with Hula lessons, amazingly simple but tasty food & recipes, and Surabhi’s journey with terminal illness raw and wryly revealed with honesty which never fails to touch hearts.

2) Leaving this World – a blog about cancer, spirtuality, death.. and guitars.
Chaitanya das writes in his introduction:

“When I was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer I was already doing some meditation and I was also reading Vedic scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita. So I understood in principle that I am not the body, but spirit in essence. This is opposed to what many think, that is, that we ARE our material bodies and we HAVE a spirit. NO!… I AM spirit soul and at this moment I HAVE this material body.

It is explained in the Bhagavad Gita that the Supreme Soul, Krishna, sits in our heart always. He never leaves us.

These 2 simple points of not being the body, and of being accompanied by the Supreme/ God/ Krishna, Yaweh (Jehovah) / The Father, wherever we go, is the basis of all spiritual knowledge.”

I urge you to click through and read some of the posts by Chaitanya das on http://www.leavingthisworld.com/ – they’re enlightening, funny, never too heavy and leave you feeling empowered and positive that you too, can leave this world and even live IN this world with dignity and purpose.

3) Yoga Wisdom – for all seekers of the truth, this beautiful and easy to use news style blog has the most overwhelming collection of useful insight to add to your spiritual tool kit. Serious and sobering, wisdom.yoga is an invaluable resource for all spiritual seekers. Let the light of love and knowledge guide your path.

4) Raising Happy Kids – I’ve got kids, and I love watching the lives of this pair of happy monkeys in Hawaii from the other side of mummies lens.

There’s lots of craft process photos (always a fave) and deliciously beautiful photos of Hawaiian home life. The authors writing style is so attractive and sweet, she writes like she’s everyones best friend, so you will soon grow as fond of her as I am! @raisinghappykids is a great ig account to follow should you choose to, and I highly and utterly recommend you view this site, with a sweet sincerity and open heart.

Possibly my favorite post is Miles apart, Together at heart a beautiful inter-continental transcendental love festival.

5) Dev also manages the absolutely darling blog coloring Krsna, where your kids can send in their coloring and get a chance to be featured on Instagram and be featured on the website, added the art files of this creative and arty house.

So that’s it – 5 to watch.

Posted on March 25, 2017 by remember krishna — Leave a comment

Gopal Bhatta Goswami & Sri Radha Raman

Here’s a brief synopsis of Gopal Bhatta Goswami (1503-1578) and the appearance of Radha Raman deity.

vishnu form of ranganath deity — Ranganath has a history stretching back to Lord Brahma!

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu began His walking journey throughout Southern India in the summer of 1510. After many days He came to a small city called Shri Rangam. The main temple here is the largest Vishnu temple in all of India and pilgrims come from 100’s of miles to see the Deity, Ranganatha.

Ranganatha is a deity of Vishnu, lying on his side on Seisha Naga. Before entering the temple of Ranganath first one visits Ranganaiki, Lakshmi, and take her permission to visit the inner chamber of her husband. In the courtyard of the temple there is a huge deity of Garuda, the bird carrier of Vishnu, just waiting should Lord Vishnu wish to travel anywhere.

Here Lord Chaitanya met Vyenkata Bhatta and his 2 brothers. They were brahmans looking after the Deity. Vyenkata’s 7 year old son was Gopal Bhatta.

Lord Chaitanya appears in a dream to Gopal Bhatta — Lord Chaitanya appeared in a dream to Gopal Bhatta and revealed Himself as non-different than Krishna

Lord Chaitanya stayed for 4 months of the rainy season and using logical and scriptural foundations, He enduced Vyenkata to worship Krsna. Meanwhile Lord Chaitanya had been allowing young Gopal Bhatta to serve Him the whole time He was there.

When it was time for Lord Chaitanya to leave, Vyenkata Bhatta fainted out of separation and young Gopal cried with tears of love. Just to pacify them Lord Chaitanya agreed to stay a few more days.

During this time Gopal Bhatta had a dream of Lord Chaitanya. He appeared to Gopal Bhatta as Krsna and then transformed Himself back into His form as Sri Chaitanya.

In this dream Gopal Bhatta was instructed by Lord Chaitanya You will meet 2 jewel-like persons, Rupa and Sanatan. I have given them my mentality in order to publish my teachings. But by your own disciple, especially, these teachings will spread to every town and village.

Upon awakening, Gopal Bhatta went directly to Lord Chaitanya to serve Him. Lord Chaitanya instructed him For now, stay here and serve your mother and father. After they have departed this world you may go to Vrindavan and join Rupa and Sanatan. Always engage yourself in hearing and chanting the glories of Krsna.

When he grew up Gopal Bhatta accepted his uncle Prabodhananda as his spiritual master. He studied scripture and became renowned throught the lands as a great scholar. Eventually after the death of his parents, Gopal Bhatta proceeded to Vrindavan where he was greeted with great love by Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Sanatan Goswami.

On hearing of his arrival in Vrindavan Lord Chaitanya sent a letter to Rupa and Sanatan. Along with this letter He sent a package for Gopal Bhatta which included His loincloth and other personal articles. One item in particular, a small black wooden seat, used by Lord Chaitanya Himself, is still worshiped in a temple in Vrindavan.

Upon the arrival of the letter all the devotees became ecstatic and started chanting the holy Names of God. Gopal Bhatta was deeply grateful that Sri Chaitanya had sent His cloth and he treasured the sacred paraphernalia for the remaining years of his life.

Live his life as an embodiment of the scriptures, Gopal Bhatta’s fame spread through all of India and he became known as the younger brother of Rupa and Sanatan.

Once he travelled by foot to the Gandaki River in Nepal, a long and arduous journey. There he found 12 shilas (sacred stones) and brought them back to Vrndavan.

worshipping krsna many forms Gopal Bhatta goswami vaishnava — Gopal Bhata Goswami worships Damodar Shila

Upon arriving back in Vrndavan, he felt unqualified to worship his sacred stones, so he again journed back to Nepal to replace them in the Gandaki River. While chanting he carefully placed the shilas in the holy river. But they spontaneously jumped back into his hands. Trying 3 or 4 times to leave them in the river he found he was unable to do so. He took them back to Vrndavan to worship. He carried them at all times in a cloth bag that hung from his neck.

8 years after Lord Chaitanya’s disappearance, Gopal Bhatta felt the need to worship a Deity. This was intensified after a wealthy merchant gave him jewellery and find cloth for the worship of Krsna.

Damodar Krishna Radha Raman deity — The Damodar Shila of Gopal Bhatta had self-manifested as Radha Raman deity of Krishna playing flute as a sweet young boy

Gopal Bhatta placed these items before his shilas and fervently prayed for proper direction. The next morning he found that one of the shilas known as the Damodar shila had transformed into a Deity of Krsna. Gopal Bhatta fell to the ground immediately and offered beautiful prayers.

hearing of this miraculous event, Rupa Goswami, Sanatan Goswami and many other Vaisnavas hurried to the spot. They were there when Gopal Bhatta named the Deity Shri Radha Raman.

Accreditation given where known, but as so often the case amongst Vaishnava devotees, one does not always know the name of artist or photographer, apologies for any offense caused.