Vamanadev – Giriraj Swami

Srila Prabhupada and Krishna’s Tests, New Vraja Dhama, Hungary, September 18

Srila Prabhupada, Vamanadev Comments Off

Sep 212010

Giriraj Swami read and spoke on Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.22.27.

“I thought to discuss Vamanadeva’s appearance and how Srila Prabhupada considered his life to have followed principles enunciated in this section of Srimad-Bhagavatam.

“In this history of Bali Maharaja we see that the Lord gave him material opulence, or allowed him to acquire it, and then the Lord took it away from him. Then the Lord gave him even greater opulence than he had before. . . . Later, Srila Prabhupada commented, ‘First the Lord tested me by taking everything away from me, and then He tested me by giving me everything.”

Vamana Dvadasi

Lectures, San Diego, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Vamanadev Comments Off

Sep 072009

Giriraj Swami spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.7.17 on the appearance day of Lord Vamanadeva at ISKCON San Diego on August 31. “Lord Vamana covered all the lands of the universe with His first two steps and then asked Bali Maharaja where to place the third step. Bali Maharaja was very glad to receive the Lord’s remaining step upon his head, and thus Bali Maharaja, instead of losing everything he possessed, was blessed by the Lord’s becoming his constant companion and doorman. So, by giving everything to the cause of the Lord, one does not lose anything, but he gains everything that he could never otherwise expect.” (SB 2.7.17 purport)