Krishna Seva

[Pushtidas]

Jai Shree Krishna

What is Astakshar? What philosophical meaning of this Mahamantra was relayed by Shree Gusainji, Shree Gokulnathji and Shree Hariraiji.
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Dasa nu das
Pushtidas

[Sital]

Asthakshar Mantra is the divine Maha mantra which has been bestowed to us by Shree Vallabh; “Shree Krishna Sharanam Mama”. When written in its original language Shree Krishna Sharanam Mama has eight letters hence it’s called Asthakshar mantra. Asth means 8 and askshar means letters. Each letter has a divine meaning and has been discussed in depth by Shri Gusainji, gokulnatji and Hariraiji.

Shree Krishna Sharanam Mama can be recited anywhere and at anytime as it does not start with Omcar. Prayer which involves omcar cannot be recited in an impure state according to the scriptural laws. With the grace of god we were blessed with this divine mantra so we wouldn’t miss out on bhagvad naam even for a second in this era “Kalyug”.

In Kunj Shri Thakorji amd Svaminiji were involved in a maan lila and during this play the utmost beautiful swaroop of svaminji appeared from within Shri Thakorji heart on his chest and the most attractive swaroop of Shri Thakorji appeared on her chest. , the burning fire of their passionate desire for reunion emerged in the shape of Shri Vallabh who witnessed the divine couple's entire lilas.

He escorted Svaminiji to Shri Thakorji and feeling thrilled by the reunion of the divine couple, the first thing he said was: “Shree Krishna Sharanam Mama”. Following Thakorji's wishes, Shree mahaprabuji came on earth and gave vaishnavs this mantra at the time of initiation.

Vaishnavs please elaborate as there is a lot more to add and please correct my mistakes

JSK
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Madhurkomalkant padavali namami
Sital

[Vasant Punjabi]

Jai Shri Krishna,

Well said Sitalji.

This mantra was very nicely explained by our Prabhucharan Shri Gusainji showing compassion for the suffering jivas.

He has explained the meaning of the 8 Syllbles of this mantra as follows-

SHRI -----When a Jiva utters this syllable he will achieve blessedness and will also obtain both, worldly and other worldly benefits.

KRU------- by pronouncing this syllable one will bring an end to his sins.

SHNAH------- This syllable will help him keep the three fold afflictions at a distance.

SHA ------This will grant freedom from the cycle of birth and death.

RA------- This gives an insight into the spiritual sports (lilas) of Bhagwan together with an understanding of the form of Guru.

NAM --------This will give birth to firm and unique devotion in the heart of a devotee.

MA--------- This will encourage deep and ardent love in the devotees for VRAJ and also for the Guru who brightens the knowledge about the form of Divinity.

MA---------- This will help in obtaining "SAYUJYA" or the intimate union with Shri Hari. Thus the eight letter syllable mantra turns out to be the giver of all accomplishments

This syllable will help him keep the three fold afflictions at a distance. Let me clarify this meaning the three types of worries Adhibhautik, Adhyatmika and Adhidaivik are removed.

The Three fold miseries in person’s life are Bodily, Mental, and Spiritual The bodily misery should be borne thinking it worthless like wheng (cow dung). The misery on account of one's passion in the form of insult, dishonour etc., should be borne without making one's mind ruffled like Jad Bharat who borne insults from King Rahugan. The spiritual misery due to Gods will in delaying His Grace should be borne like the Gopies of Gokul, who were forsaken by GOd after making them participants in His Divine Joy. If any remedy is found by God's Will for any of these sufferings the devotee should not hesitate in making use of it.

Please feel free to do correct me Pushtidasji.
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Vasant Punjabi.

"Shri Vallabh Shri Vithal Sukh-kari naa-me nishpap thai nur-nari,
------Nitya Lila nitya nautam shruti na pame par."----

[unnati]

Jai jai shri gokulesh

Sitalji and Vasantji, thanx for the beautiful explanation and the word to word break down.

Also in other words by uttering Shri - It brings Wealth and Fortune.
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Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....Shri Vitthala Nam Vina Mantra Kya Thi Paou......Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....
Unnati M. Kadakia

[Sital]

Jai Shree Krishna Vallah Vaishnavs

Thankyou Vasantji, that was a nice explanation and Unnatiji for the added information

Hariraiji wrote;

Us humans are always involved in bad deeds, when we walk and move throughout the day we are unknowingly killing so many insects such as ants, beetles, spiders etc. If Thakorji’s name is repeated at that time in our heart then that soul will be liberated with the power of Bhagvad naam and we will be saved from the sin of killing a soul. So if you recite the asthakshar mantra constantly with humbleness our lovely Thakorji will take of all fault and sins as you have surrendered to him. Imbibing into the Lord’s name constantly keeps you away from gossip and bad thoughts.

This is not even a fraction of what Hariraiji has written, perhaps a senior vaishnav could elaborate

Thanks

JSK
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Madhurkomalkant padavali namami
Sital

[Hoshil]

Jai Shree Krishna,

Interesting, but I am slightly confused.

If Shri provides you with with worldy benefits then isn't this like a Moksh? If I'm totally wrong I apologise...but thats how I interpreted it.

The reason why I say this is since wordly things are temporary and the benefit of this word is temporary then could we not see this as Moksh?
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Jai Shree Krishna

[Sital]

Jai Shree Krishna,

Hoshilji, that is a good question, maybe it means that when you recite Shri Krishna Sharanman Mama Thakorji looks after your lokik and alokik life so we can happily indulge into seva without any worldly obstacles. Thakorji gives us enough wealth to meet our needs so we don’t waste our time hankering after worldly pursuits. Wealth can take us away from Thakorji so if we work hard and recite the Maha-mantra he will sort out our income.

Also it could indicate alokik wealth which is a vaishnav’s case is Thakorji and Bhagvad naam. We need to build our alokik account so when we reach our destination, we can use that wealth for Thakorji’s seva.

Vaishnavs please elaborate

Thanks

JSK
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Madhurkomalkant padavali namami
Sital

[Pushtidas]

Jai Shree Krishna

Hoshilji, the Ashtakshar Maha Mantra is really to remind us that we are in Pushtimarg and one's belonging has to be at Shree Krishna's lotus feet. Although all the elements described in Vasantbhai's posting are virtually bestowed with Shree Krishna's grace, but they are not SADHAN and that means these element cannot be construed to be as Moksha,

If you look at the literary meaning of this Maha mantra it means O Krishna and Radhaji, I am at your service, I have surrendered to you. So When we have Tadiyatva and Tadashraya, there is no need to worry about Moksha, and as this Mantra is just a normal reminder to oneself as "O Shree Krishna I am at your mercy and I surrender to You, that means das bhava which depicts that ardent surrender and acknowledge that I have now chosen a path and Krishna is your destiny.

[Hoshil]

JSK,

Thanks for clearing that up, I knew I was wrong...but some of the explanations threw me (not to say these explanations weren't any good becuase they were, just my limitations).

So other than inventing this mantra because we can do this mantra in any state (i.e. when unbathed etc) was there any other reason? I understand from your qoute it has more substance then this, but there are other ways as well to claim surrendership and das bhava.

JSK
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Jai Shree Krishna

[unnati]

Jai jai shri gokulesh

How did this Astakshar mantra existed?
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Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....Shri Vitthala Nam Vina Mantra Kya Thi Paou......Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....
Unnati M. Kadakia

[Vasant Punjabi]

Jai Shri Krishna,

Just practising my Gujrati so please correct me.

Shri Acharyaji our guru (Shri Mahaprabhuji) blessed us with this Astashar Mahamantra and Prabhucaharan Shri Gusainji explained us the gud bhav of this Aloukik Mantra (“Nama-mantra-Diksha”. Astakshara-Maha-Mantra' is the Sharana-Diksha-mantra of Pushti-Bhakti-Marga.

As this Mantra consists of 8 (eight) letters, it is called ‘Astakshara-Maha-Mantra’.) Meaning as given by our Prabhucharan ahrnish, dinta purvak aa mantra nu ratan karvathi jiv na badha rog, dukh, pap dur thay che, uprant ae jev ne vaibhav, kirti, laukik sukh male and saujaupuri alaukik mox male Aa mantra na darek shabd no aarth.

SHRI---------- saubhagy ni prapti, dhan ni prapti, raja ne priya thavay.

KRU ---------- Pap no nash
SHNA ---------- adibhautik, adidevik, adhyatmik dukho no nash
SHA ---------- Janam maran nu dukh tale
RA ---------- Prabhu sambhadi gnan ni prapti
NAM ---------- Bhagwan Krishna ma drath bhakti thay
MA ---------- Guru ma priti thay
MA ---------- Shri Hari sathe sayujay thay

Let us all recite together SHRI KRISHNA SHARANMAMA. The bhaav is considered gopya as explained by Shri Gusainji and the best method is to recite within your heart fully understanding the deep meaning behind it. (Please excuse my broken gujarati).

Unnatiji, is your question refering when it first developed in Golok Dham ?or that story when it appeared in Bhutal?
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Vasant Punjabi.

"Shri Vallabh Shri Vithal Sukh-kari naa-me nishpap thai nur-nari,
------Nitya Lila nitya nautam shruti na pame par."----

[unnati]

Jai jai shri gokulesh

Vasantji, your Gujju Language is much better than mine

I want to know both:
1) When it first developed in Golok Dham?
2)And the story when it appeared in Bhutal?
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Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....Shri Vitthala Nam Vina Mantra Kya Thi Paou......Shri Vallabha Charan Vina Sharan Koni Jaou.....
Unnati M. Kadakia

[Vasant Punjabi]

Jai Jai Shri Gokulesh,

Unnatiji, let me try one

Astakshar mantra was developed in Golokdham Nikunj.

When Shri Thakurji broke maan of Shri Swaminiji, Shri Swaminiji hugged Shri Thakurji with love and happiness and chanted the Panchakshar Mantra.

But Shri Mahaprabhuji chanted the astakshar mantra while doing darshan of this Ugal Swaroop.

Vaishnavs do please correct me.
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Vasant Punjabi.

"Shri Vallabh Shri Vithal Sukh-kari naa-me nishpap thai nur-nari,
------Nitya Lila nitya nautam shruti na pame par."----

[Vasant Punjabi]

Jai Shri Krishna,

Now I hear Palnaji, Sitalji, Trushaji and Trushnaji all want to know how Panchakshar Mantra took place and where?.

Ok lets try this out too!

Once, In Goluk dham Shri Thakurji was sitting in "virah" of Shri Swaminiji, Then suddenly Shri Swaminiji came to Shri Krishna's Nikunj. Swaminiji saw the Pratibimb of "Stree Bhavatmak Swaroop of Shree Swaminiji "on Shri Krishna's chest and Swaminiji felt that some Shyam Gopi is sitting there.

So without meeting Shri Krishna, Swaminiji went back to her Nikunj sad and heart broken.

Then her sakhi Shri Vishakhaji when she came to know this she immediately tried to help and remove maan of both Shree Swaminiji and Shri Krishna. But she was not able to do it. Then "Stree Bhavatmak Swaroop of Shree Swaminiji in Shri Krishna" and "Pun Bhavatmak Swaroop of Shri Krishna in Shri Swaminiji" came out of their agni jwala virah bhav and they joined together becoming "Shri Vallabh".

"Shri Vallabh" then removed maan of both Shree Swaminiji and Shri Krishna. At this time Shri Swaminiji spoke out the "Panchakshar Mantra."
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Vasant Punjabi.

"Shri Vallabh Shri Vithal Sukh-kari naa-me nishpap thai nur-nari,
------Nitya Lila nitya nautam shruti na pame par."----

[palna]

Jai Shree Krishna,
Vasantji you read our minds Im sorry this might sound like a very silly question but Astakshar mahamantra is of 8 letters so Panchakshar is of 5, letters but what is it?? What did Shree Swaminiji say??
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Prem Bandhan Ajab Gajab, Brahmaganth sami aa ganth, na tutai na chutai

Palna na Koti Koti Jai Shree Krishna