Only with very intimate devotees will the Deity interact in such a manner as took place between Pundarika Vidyanidhi and Lord Jagannath. A very similar exchange recently took place between Jananivasa Prabhu in Mayapur and the Lord Jagannath Deities. It is a most intimate loving exchange!

{For the contemporary context: see below.}

Also Consider-

Srimad Bhagavatam 1.10.16

prasada-sikhararudhah
kuru-naryo didrksaya
vavrsuh kusumaih krsnam
prema-vrida-smiteksanah

SYNONYMS
prasada—palace; sikhara—the roof; arudhah—ascending; kuru-naryah—the ladies of the Kuru royalty; didrksaya—seeing; vavrsuh—showered; kusumaih—by flowers; krsnam—upon Lord Krsna; prema—out of affection and love; vrida-smita-iksanah—glancing with shy smiles.

TRANSLATION

Out of a loving desire to see the Lord, the royal ladies of the Kurus got up on top of the palace, and smiling with affection and shyness, they showered flowers upon the Lord.

PURPORT

Krishna is only pleased with love

Reading Assignment
After receiving initiation at Gaya from Srila Iswara Puri, Sri Gaurasundar, the son of Mother Sachi, returned to Nadiya with a happy heart. One day, Vishwambhar gave transcendental knowledge to some pure brahmin boys of Nabadwip who were his students. Lord Gaura Hari said:

pana eka satya vastu - krsnera carana
sei vidya - yathe hari-bhaktira laksana

You should study only the one truth - Krishna's feet. One who knows that truth has the ornament of devotion for the Lord. (Text 11)

The sastras describe that anything other than this is ignorance. Do not study anything other than devotion to Sri Sri Radha-Krishna! (Text 12)

On Janmastami day, in anticipation of the appearance of Lord Krishna, it is nice to meditate upon the prayers offered by the demigods just prior to Krishna's appearance while still in the womb of Devaki.

I gave the Janmastami talk on this verse below, inspired both by the poetry of the Bhagavatam (read the sanskrit of this verse!), as well as its message.

Self-honesty and truthfulness are essential to advance in Krishna consciousness. I gave a whole seminar on this topic at Christmas time 2008 to the Soul Connection youth group in Chicago. That seminar should be available online, and the Janmastami lecture should be online soon.

Reading Assignment

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.2.27

TRANSLATION

The text below was sent to me as an appreciation of the superlative nature of Srimad Bhagavatam, directly expressed within the king of sattvic Puranas, namely the Padma Purana.

Moreover, I often speak of the beautiful poetry of the Bhagavatam, and how the message of the Bhagavatam responates resounding messages like a grand symphony.

Both are touched upon here, so I thought to share this with you, just as it was shared with me.

Reading Assignment

In Srimad Bhagavatam purport for verse 2.9.4 Srila Prabhupada describes "The sound of Srimad-Bhagavatam is transcendental, and the resonance of Srimad-Bhagavatam is as good as that of the Vedas."

In this text from Ray of Visnu chapter 13, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati discusses the difference between Idolatry and worship of Sri Murti with an American Professor.

Reading Assignment

Introduction to the discussion:

[Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, herein clearly describes the situation that he, and later, Srila Sarasvati Thakura were forced to combat in their preaching. Bengalis, in particular, and Indians, in general, had largely been made into foreigners in their own land, due to the British Sanskritists and educators,

"I am overjoyed to hear that your enthusiasm for chanting is increasing. As our contaminations are removed by chanting, the Lord's form, qualities, and pastimes will be revealed to us in the holy name. There is no point in making a separate effort to artificially remember the Lord's form, qualities, and pastimes. The Lord and His name are one and the same. This will be understood clearly when the coverings in your heart are removed. By chanting without offenses you will personally realize that all

In this short passage, I wish to show how Srila Prabhupada uniquely and uncharacteristically reveals the super-confidential relationship that he had with his guru maharaja. Only by receiving the very special mercy of a great personality can one understand their inner feelings and purpose.

Reading Assignment

There is a passage in the Caitanya-Caritamrita about the confidental verse Mahaprabhu sang while dancing in front of Lord Jagannatha, to which Srila Rupa Goswami composed a complimentary verse which described the meaning of the originally composed verse. He wrote it on a palm leaf and stuck it unto the roof of his hut.

The two verses are as follows.

The principle of association is what determines elevation or degredation of character and consciousnes. "We take on the qualities of those with whom we associate", Srila Prabhupada often taught us. This is confirmed by Rupa Goswami in his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. We should *very carefully* select our association. And we should meticulously seek quality exchanges with those provide good association for us. For those who we become well-wishers of, but who may be victims of Kali yuga's influence in various way, the very best benefit we can offer them is to become good association for them -- by the grace and mercy of those more elevated than ourselves. Below are direct quotes from Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu on this topic.

Reading Assignment

This letter was read aloud at our GBC meeting, related to the capacity Srila Prabhupada had to impart inspiration and empowerment to young Western devotees to expand the mission of Lord Caitanya. Hundreds of such letters are there. It was expressed that commonly devotees would only *see* Srila Prabhupada once every few years! Yet they sacrificed their sense of 'security of future' and their whole lives, inspired by the teachings and the love they received from Srila Prabhupada.

As Srila Prabhupada wrote, "we require so many hundreds of thousands of sincere young men like yourself to take (the spreading of Lord Caitanya's mission) up."