GOPASTAMI - 31 OCT 2014 FRIDAY THIS IS THE VERY FIRST DAY SRI KRISHNA IS SENT TO HERD THE COWS IN VRINDAVAN BY NANDA MAHARAJ. ON THIS SPECIAL DAY SRI KRISHNA BECAME A QUALIFIED COWHERD. BEFORE THIS DAY, HE WAS JUST A KEEPER OF THE CALVES. youtube/watch?v=fvOIFjtafms - GOPASHTAMI FESTIVAL 3.11.2010 Sri Govardhana HD youtube/watch?v=_Ue1iEVZuKk - Gopastami story told by Jananivasa Prabhu, Mayapur youtube/watch?v=GqWBQhE6k6o - Gopashtami The spiritual world is an arena of loving service youtube/watch?v=JdZBUQFDob0 - VARDAAN TV- gopashtami special.mp4 Hindi youtube/watch?v=eKup8VAo1fg - Mayapur kirtan Gopastami Gopis Lotus Feet youtube/watch?v=ZYHnOcribP4 - Darsan of lotus feet - Sri Sri Radha-Madhava & Gopis youtube/watch?v=t88cPwuhfIo - Gopastami MAYAPUR youtube/watch?v=w9iIbuc4D_g - Pathmeda Godham Introduction (Worlds Largest Goshala) On Gopashtami or Gosthastami day, Nanda Maharaja performed a ceremony for the cows and Krishna (and His friends) in Vrindavan, as He reached the pauganda, from the sixth year up to the tenth age. This was the day Nanda Maharaja sent his Sons, Krishna and Balarama to herd the cows for the first time. All the cowherd men conferred and agreed to give those boys who had passed their fifth year, charge of the cows in the pasturing ground. Given charge of the cows, Krishna and Balarama traversed Vrindavana, purifying the land with Their lotus footprints. It was a celebration meant only for men and boys. As Srimati Radharani and Her friends wanted to enjoy the fun, and because of Her resemblance to Subala-sakha, She put on his dhoti and garments and joined Krishna. The other gopis joined in too. Krsna said at that time that the cows are worshiped even by the demigods, and He practically demonstrated how to protect the cows. At least people who are in Krsna consciousness should follow in His footsteps and give all protection to the cows. Cows are worshiped not only by the demigods. Krsna Himself worshiped the cows on several occasions, especially on the days of Gopastami and Govardhana-Puja. Go-puja is also done on this day. Devotees visit the Gosala, bathe and clean the cows and the Gosala. The glories of the cow and her protection are discussed by senior devotees. All of them feed the cows and partake of a feast near the Gosala. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) Canto 10: The Summum Bonum SB 10.15: The Killing of Dhenuka, the Ass Demon SB 10.15.1 śrī-śuka uvāca tataś ca paugaṇḍa-vayaḥ-śrītau vraje babhūvatus tau paśu-pāla-sammatau gāś cārayantau sakhibhiḥ samaṁ padair vṛndāvanaṁ puṇyam atīva cakratuḥ Word for word: śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; tataḥ — then; ca — and; paugaṇḍa vayaḥ — the age of paugaṇḍa (years six to ten); śritau — attaining; vraje — in Vṛndāvana; babhūvatuḥ — They (Rāma and Kṛṣṇa) became; tau — the two of Them; paśu-pāla — as cowherds; sammatau — appointed; gāḥ — the cows; cārayantau — tending; sakhibhiḥ samam — along with Their friends; padaiḥ — with the marks of Their feet; vṛndāvanam — Śrī Vṛndāvana; puṇyam — auspicious; atīva — extremely; cakratuḥ — They made. Translation: Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: When Lord Rāma and Lord Kṛṣṇa attained the age of paugaṇḍa [six to ten] while living in Vṛndāvana, the cowherd men allowed Them to take up the task of tending the cows. Engaging thus in the company of Their friends, the two boys rendered the land of Vṛndāvana most auspicious by imprinting upon it the marks of Their lotus feet. Purport: Lord Kṛṣṇa wanted to encourage His cowherd boyfriends, who had been swallowed by Aghāsura and then stolen by Lord Brahmā. Therefore the Lord decided to bring them into the palm-tree forest called Tālavana, where there were many delicious ripe fruits. Since Lord Kṛṣṇa’s spiritual body had apparently grown slightly in age and strength, the senior men of Vṛndāvana, headed by Nanda Mahārāja, decided to promote Kṛṣṇa from the task of herding calves to the status of a regular cowherd boy. He would now take care of the full-grown cows, bulls and oxen. Out of great affection, Nanda Mahārāja had previously considered Kṛṣṇa too small and immature to take care of full-grown cows and bulls. It is stated in the Kārttika-māhātmya section of the Padma Purāṇa: śuklāṣṭamī kārttike tu smṛtā gopāṣṭamī budhaiḥ tad-dinād vāsudevo ’bhūd gopaḥ pūrvaṁ tu vatsapaḥ “The eighth lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kārttika is known by authorities as Gopāṣṭamī. From that day, Lord Vāsudeva served as a cowherd, whereas previously He had tended the calves.” The word padaiḥ indicates that Lord Kṛṣṇa blessed the earth by walking on her surface with His lotus feet. The Lord wore no shoes or other footwear but walked barefoot in the forest, giving great anxiety to the girls of Vṛndāvana, who feared that His soft lotus feet would be injured.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 13:06:35 +0000
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