Tag Archives: krishna

Govinda Jaya Jaya & Hare Krishna Kirtan at Kona Interfaith Concert 2023

Govinda Jaya Jaya & Hare Krishna Kirtan by Sakshi Zion & friends at last years (2023) annual Interfaith Concert at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity in Kona, Hawaii.

Joining me was Karmic Atese (vocals), Triona (vocals), Kaimalu (keys) & Krishna Chaitanya (mridanga) it was a beautiful experience!

The mantra Govinda Jaya Jaya translates to “Govinda (another name for Krishna), glory, glory.” It celebrates the divine qualities of Lord Krishna, often revered as the embodiment of love, compassion, and joy. This mantra is a cornerstone of Kirtan, a devotional practice originating in the Bhakti Yoga tradition, which seeks to connect with the divine through collective singing.

Similarly, the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra—“Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”—is a profound invocation of divine energy, calling upon Krishna and Rama as aspects of the supreme consciousness. Both mantras are imbued with spiritual power, as their vibrations are said to awaken the soul’s innate connection with the divine, purify the heart, and instill bliss and tranquility in the practitioner.

In Kirtan, these mantras create a communal spiritual resonance, uplifting participants into a shared state of devotion and transcendence.

Sri Krishna Govinda

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Spiritual Significance of Annada Ekadasi

Annada Ekadasi, also known as Aja Ekadasi, is a significant Hindu fasting day dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It occurs during the waning phase of the moon in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (August-September). This day holds great spiritual significance and is believed to grant liberation from sins, fulfillment of desires, and the blessings of prosperity and well-being.

Significance:

  1. Spiritual Cleansing and Merit: Fasting on Annada Ekadasi is believed to cleanse one’s sins and bring spiritual merit. Devotees observe the fast with the belief that it purifies the mind and body, helping to enhance devotion towards Lord Vishnu.
  2. Connection to Lord Vishnu: Annada Ekadasi is a day to honor and worship Lord Vishnu. It is believed that sincere observance of this fast pleases Lord Vishnu, who grants the devotee’s wishes and blesses them with a prosperous life and spiritual upliftment.
  3. Charity and Helping the Needy: The name “Annada” implies “giver of food,” emphasizing the importance of feeding the hungry and helping those in need on this day. Acts of charity are highly encouraged, as they are believed to multiply the spiritual benefits of fasting.

Legends Surrounding Annada Ekadasi:

One of the prominent legends associated with Annada Ekadasi involves the story of King Harishchandra, a righteous and truthful king who lost his kingdom, family, and wealth due to a series of misfortunes. According to the legend:

  • The Story of King Harishchandra: King Harishchandra was once the ruler of Ayodhya, renowned for his unwavering commitment to truth and righteousness. Due to a curse and the tests posed by Sage Vishwamitra, he lost everything and was reduced to working as a crematorium caretaker, separated from his family and enduring immense suffering.
  • Divine Guidance: After years of hardship, a sage advised Harishchandra to observe the fast of Annada Ekadasi. Following the sage’s advice, Harishchandra observed the fast with complete devotion to Lord Vishnu.
  • Miraculous Transformation: Pleased with his devotion, Lord Vishnu appeared before Harishchandra, restored his lost kingdom, and reunited him with his family. He was also blessed with the return of his deceased son. This legend underscores the power of Annada Ekadasi in granting divine grace, forgiveness, and the restoration of one’s fortunes.

Rituals:

  1. Fasting: Devotees fast from sunrise to the next morning, abstaining from grains, beans, and certain other foods. Some observe a strict waterless fast, while others may consume fruits and milk.
  2. Worship and Prayers: Devotees perform puja (worship) of Lord Vishnu with flowers, incense, and offerings, and chant Vishnu-related mantras or recite the Vishnu Sahasranama (a list of a thousand names of Lord Vishnu).
  3. Charity: Acts of charity, such as feeding the poor or donating to temples, are considered highly meritorious on this day.

Annada Ekadasi is a day of deep spiritual significance, reminding devotees of the virtues of truth, devotion, and the transformative power of divine grace through steadfast faith and adherence to dharma (righteousness).

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The significance of the moon on Krishna Janmashtami

Krishna’s birthday, celebrated as Janmashtami, holds deep spiritual significance, and the moon plays a symbolic role in this context.

Astrological Significance:

  • Krishna was born on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha (the dark fortnight of the moon) in the month of Bhadrapada (August-September) according to the Hindu calendar. This phase is when the moon is waning, symbolizing the removal of darkness and the coming of light.

Symbolism:

  • The moon, especially during Janmashtami, is often associated with calmness and serenity, reflecting the tranquil nature of Krishna. His birth during the dark phase of the moon represents the divine light that Krishna brings to the world, dispelling ignorance and darkness.

Cultural Beliefs:

  • The moon is also linked to Lord Krishna in various legends. For instance, one story tells how Krishna swallowed the Syamantaka jewel, associated with the moon god, which then caused a lunar eclipse. This story symbolizes the overcoming of material desires and the divine play of Krishna.

Thus, the moon on Krishna’s birthday is a reminder of the divine light and joy Krishna brought into the world, guiding souls away from darkness and towards spiritual enlightenment.

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Parallels between Sufi and Bhakti traditions

The Bhakti movement and Sufi Islam are two religious movements that have a strong presence in India and the wider Indian subcontinent. The Bhakti movement is an intensely devotional form of Hinduism that originated in South India and eventually spread across the Indian subcontinent, while Sufi Islam is an Islamic mysticism that originated in the Middle East and was spread to the Indian subcontinent by Sufi teachers. The two movements share many similarities, most notably their emphasis on love, devotion, and spiritual growth, but how the Bhakti movement has influenced the Sufi movement in India is not as well understood. Let us explore the influence of the Bhakti movement on the Sufi Islam of India and its implications for the religious life of India today. 

Background of the Bhakti and Sufi Movements

The Bhakti movement originated in South India during the 7th century CE, and it quickly spread to other parts of India. The movement was a strong expression of Hinduism, but it was distinct from the more orthodox forms of Hinduism, such as Vedanta and Yoga. The Bhaktis focused on the personal relationship between the devotee and God, believing that the only way to find salvation was through unconditional love and devotion. The Bhakti movement had a profoundly spiritual and devotional character that appealed to many Hindus across India.

The Sufi movement is an Islamic mysticism that originated in the Middle East and eventually spread to the Indian subcontinent. Like the Bhakti movement, the Sufi movement focused on a personal relationship with God, believing that the only way to reach divine union was through love, devotion and submission to the will of God. Sufi teachers traveled to India during the medieval period, and their teachings quickly spread to the various Islamic communities of the subcontinent.

The Influence of the Bhakti Movement on Sufi Islam

The Bhakti movement had a profound influence on the development of Sufi Islam in India. Bhakti teachings, specifically those of the great South Indian Bhakti saints, Kabir and Guru Nanak, were deeply influential in shaping the structure and direction of Indian Sufi Islam. The Bhakti saints argued that the only way to salvation was through love, devotion and spiritual growth, and this idea was picked up by the early Sufi teachers who were inspired by their teachings.

The mingling of Bhakti and Sufi beliefs is also seen in the Hindu-Muslim syncretic traditions of Sufi Islamic traditions in India. The idea of a single, unified God, often referred to as “Ishwarkrishna” or “Ishwar-Allah”, was adopted by many Sufis. This emerged from their experience of interfaith dialogue and their appreciation for the spiritual aspects of Hinduism. This unity of God would have been unthinkable without the influence of Bhakti teachings and the experience of interfaith dialogue. 

The Bhakti movement has had a profound influence on the development of Sufi Islam in India. The shared emphasis on love, devotion and spiritual growth, and the syncretic blending of Hindu and Muslim beliefs, have had a lasting impact on the religious life of India and its people. The influence of the Bhakti movement on Sufi Islam has resulted in a more inclusive, tolerant and open-minded religious culture that continues to thrive and develop in India today.

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The Esoteric Meaning of the name Krishna

Krishna, a name rich in cultural and spiritual significance, holds a secret esoteric meaning that unveils the depth of its symbolism. Derived from Sanskrit, Krishna is a divine name that embodies a multifaceted understanding, transcending mere linguistic representation.

At its core, Krishna signifies the embodiment of divine love, joy, and consciousness. It is a profound representation of the divine, the ultimate reality, and the primordial cosmic energy. Krishna is considered an avatar, a divine incarnation, of Lord Vishnu in Hinduism, and is revered as a deity who embodies both human and divine qualities.

Delving deeper into its esoteric meaning, Krishna can be deciphered as the personification of supreme consciousness and the epitome of spiritual evolution. The name Krishna signifies the boundless, eternal nature of the universe and the individual soul’s journey towards self-realization and enlightenment.

Krishna is often depicted as a dark-skinned, charming deity with a mesmerizing smile, playing a flute, surrounded by devotees, and engaging in divine play or lila. This playful aspect of Krishna represents the harmonious interplay between the divine and the mortal realms, symbolizing the dance of creation and the interconnectedness of all beings.

Furthermore, Krishna is renowned for his teachings in the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu scripture. In this text, he imparts profound wisdom, guiding individuals on the path of righteousness, selfless action, and spiritual realization. The name Krishna thus embodies the essence of divine wisdom, leading seekers towards enlightenment and liberation.

In essence, the secret esoteric meaning of Krishna’s name encompasses divine love, cosmic consciousness, spiritual evolution, and the interplay of the divine and mortal realms. It serves as a reminder of the eternal journey of the soul towards self-realization, offering profound guidance and wisdom to those who seek it.

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Narasimha the Lion King

The Narasimha avatar of Vishnu is one of the most popular and important avatars of Vishnu. It is believed to have occurred at the end of the Treta Yuga. The story of Narasimha as told in Hindu mythology is as follows:

The demon king Hiranyakashipu had been granted a boon by Lord Brahma that nothing on earth, neither man nor animal could kill him. Knowing of his invincibility, Hiranyakashipu grew increasingly powerful, prideful and arrogant. As his tyranny worsened, the people of the world started to suffer from his rule.

In response to Hiranyakashipu’s wickedness, Lord Vishnu took the form of Narasimha (half-man, half-lion) in order to save his devotee Prahlada and the people of the world. Vishnu took the form at dusk, knowing that neither Hiranyakashipu nor anyone else would be able to recognize him. Vishnu appeared with terrifying arms, four faces, and power greater than anyone had ever seen before.

When Hiranyakashipu challenged Vishnu to a fight, Vishnu grabbed the demon king and placed him on his lap. Since Hiranyakashipu had been granted that nothing on earth would kill him, and Vishnu was neither man nor animal, the Avatar was able to tear apart the demon king with his fingernails.

This incident marked the end of Hiranyakashipu’s tyranny and the beginning of peace in the world. Vishnu’s act of protecting Prahlada and destroying Hiranyakashipu, demonstrated the power of devotion and taught the world that evil forces will never win in the face of absolute faith and love.

Since then, Lord Vishnu in the form of Narasimha has become one of the most venerated and popular deities in Hinduism. His image can be found in various temples and other places of worship all over the world. Narasimha is also worshipped during festivals and special occasions, usually in the form of prayers and Thirumanjanams (fire sacrifices).

Art by Art is Well ????️

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Narasimha Lion Man God

Narasimha, the fourth avatar of Lord Vishnu, was born from a powerful and tumultuous blaze of fire in a beautiful golden twilight, before making his way to the earthly realms.

He was sent by Krishna to liberate the oppressed and punish the evil king, Hiranyakashipu. The mere sight of Narasimha, who was half lion and half man, filled Hiranyakashipu with terror and dread. Narasimha then proceeded to tear into the king’s chest, bring his years of tyranny and cruelty to an end.

Having accomplished his mission, Narasimha then transformed into a gentle and compassionate being, kindness emanating from his aura. He graced the earth with a renewed sense of hope and fearlessness. With heavenly music filling the air and a sight of mercy, he granted people with his divine blessings and protection.

His legend and deeds soon spread far and wide, and ever since, people have praised and celebrated him for his infinite strength and compassion. His presence is still venerated today, for the invaluable contribution he made to protect the innocent and punish the wicked.

Narasimha continues to serve as an example to all of us, to demonstrate courage and strength in the face of oppression and suffering. Through his remarkable journey, we’ve been reminded that justice always triumphs, no matter how dark and difficult the times be.

Art by Art is Well 🕉️

Poem for Sri Radha

Radha, a young cowherd girl,
Her eyes brimming with tears,
Waited all through the long years
For Krishna’s return to Vrindavan.

The banks of the Yamuna were her home,
Where she wished everyday to roam,
For the glimpse of her divine lord’s face,
Her longing knew no time or space.

The birds, beasts and trees sang a tune,
Of love and divine longing,
The Gopis knew and all could feel,
Her divine love for him was real.

So she kept a flame burning in her heart,
Alone, and yet she was never apart,
Waiting for her lord’s return to her,
There to be with him, forever more.

Sri Radha 🪷

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Krishna & Christ

His name Christ comes from the word Krishna, Krist, and the second one is Jesus. Krishna had a foster mother whom Radha loved very much. Her name was Yeshoda, we also call her as [Jesoda, Jeshoda]. Christ is called also as [Yesu, Yeshu] in India. The short form of [Jesoda, Jeshoda] is [Yesu, Yeshu] or [Jeshu, Jesu] we have both the things. From there the name Jesus has come. She wanted to name Her after the foster mother because she was a lady so she was called as [Jeshoda, Jesoda] but for a man She selected the name [Yesu, Yeshu] and [Jeshu, Jesu]. Moreover the word [Jeshu, Jesu] or [Yeshu, Yesu] is very important. “J” in Sanskrit language means, every word has a meaning in Sanskrit language, means to know, is to know, the knowledge, Gyana. [SANSKRIT TALK]. The one who knows. But [Jeshu, Jesu] [“shu”, “su”] means auspicious. [“Shu”, “Su”] means “that brings auspiciousness, that brings blessings”. Jeshu is the one who knows how to bring auspiciousness on this Earth. People never told this, they never knew who went from here with the message that Christ was born.

At the time when Christ came on this Earth with this big message that somebody has to pass through this special problem. Now let’s see why the problem was there. We have to understand the problem that faced human beings at that subtle level where they had to work out this special, a very extraordinary Incarnation. The problem was that human beings had raised their heads. By raising their heads their ego and superego grew up around their limbic area, making it a very hard shell, just like an egg. A man developed his I-ness and only way to transform him into a bird, like an egg breaks up into a bird, was to make the Kundalini rise.

Hindu Influences on Rastafari

There is only one Jah, one God with Infinite Names.

Aristotle referred to the Ethiopians as a people of both Kush (Africa) & Sind (India).. Queen of Sheba ruled over the land of Sheba/Shiva/Saba.. the indigenous traditions of the Sabians was ancient African Shiva & Shakti worship.

To overstand the issue with iconography verses idolatry one must know the difference between a graven image & sacred murti, the ancient Egyptians had a similar practice as Hindus when they would designate specific icons for temple worship and a ritual is performed where the breath of God/Life is breathed into the icon and thus the image becomes a living deity… that being said.. when Yeshua went to India, he learned about the sacred science behind murtis, mandalas, Hindu & Buddhist symbolism and yantras, mantras and pujas BUT he also saw the corruption of the caste system & how the elite class of Brahman priests and people in general would worship and lavish great riches and honor to their stone icons but treat their fellow brothers & sisters like animals or worse.. thus Yeshua preached a razor edge distinction regarding this.. and emphasized to the people that the real deity to be worshipped is within the heart of all living beings.. the so-called low caste folks (Dravidians aka Lost Tribes of Israel) loved Saint Issa, as they called him in the East, but the elites didn’t like what he was preaching at all (threatening their hierarchy of power), and the story goes that then Yeshu had to flee from some of these areas of India to the Himalayas and stay with some Buddhist monks whom agreed with his teachings on rejecting the caste system. These stories can be found in The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus Christ, The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ, The Christ of India & various other manuscripts that have been hidden & repressed for centuries. The secret archives of the Vatican has several of these various manuscripts as well as ancient icons/murtis of these connections and sadly many of these manuscripts were destroyed in the 2 worst literary holocausts in history.. the burning of the library of Alexandria & the burning of the Saint Thomas Christian’s library in India, both burned down by the Roman Catholic Church.

When Haile Selassie, the emperor of Ethiopia was gifted with a Ramayana by an Indian sannyasi, he smiled, and said they were all descendants of Lord Rama. He explained how the Ethiopians are called as Cushites, or coming down from Kusha, a son of Rama. The country is called Kushadwip, or the land of the son of Rama.

Ethiopians admit their ancestor as Kush, and they quote the Biblical story of Cush being a son of Ham (a phonetic misnomer of Ram). This only confirms to the widespread influence of Ramayana, even in a land that is 3000 miles away from the mainland of India.

Kemetic Yoga is the OG Sanatan Dharma brought from Ancient Kush (Ethiopia) to Ancient Sind (India) by the Dravidians in the first major human migrations out of Africa, and they founded the Indus Valley Culture & city of Harappan (Hara is a name of Shiva & Pan is an archetypal god often linked to Shiva) which was one of the most advanced in the ancient world, later it was the Aryans from the north that brought in many new ideas and later subjugated the Dravidians with the caste system. The Dravidians were mostly agricultural people who worshipped the Mother Goddess & Pushupati (Lords of the Animals) aka Shakti & Shiva in their indigenous African-Dravidian forms similar to the ancient traditions of the land of Kush/Saba/Sheba/Shiva but the Aryans were hunter/gatherers & would invade and conquer wherever they went, their pantheon was more War gods & Sky Gods like Indra and Surya.. these two traditions were eventually synthesized / merged to form modern Hindu religion. But the true mystical path of Sanatan Dharma is what the Sadhus (Holy Men) & Rastafari trod.. the lifestyle and consciousness of the Natural Mystic as Buddha, Krishna & Yahshua the Christ taught us.

Watch Yogiraj speak on his rare meeting with Haile Selassie I after his supposed death :

Read about the how the Ancient Hebrews worshipped Shiva here.

Leonard Howell also known as Gong Gang Guru Maharaj aka The First Rasta

Read this thesis paper on the “Hindu Influences on Rastafari” for more relevant information about Leonard Howell’s influences on Rastafari and his connection to Hindu ideas and traditions.