The Significance of Hariyali Teej

(Lecture given by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on Hariyali Teej)

Today is an important festival of Shri Krishna, Hariyali Teej.   Some people have asked me as to what we should be doing on this festival.   On every festival, we have to do only one thing –  We have to detach our mind from the world and attach it to God.  

There are three ways of attaching our mind to God – Serving God and  Guru with our body, wealth and mind as specified in the scriptures.  This is the only sadhana that you have to do.  This is how our heart will get cleansed. Serve with your body, as much physical  sewa as you get and serve with wealth, according to your capacity.  And thirdly, you have to serve with your total mind. 

No amount of excuses will work there. You won’t be able to say you don’t have a mind.  Accepted that not everyone gets to do physical sewa, and not everyone has wealth.  However, everyone possesses a mind. Use that mind to do sewa.  That means to do loving remembrance and to always believe that God and Guru are always with you.  

One person has also asked how much wealth one should donate.  One should donate based on one’s own personal capacity.  A billionaire should donate based on how much he has. A millionaire should donate based on how much he has. A beggar should donate based on how much he has.  Everyone has their own limit.  Although the scriptures say that people should donate either 3 crores, 3 lakh, 3 thousand, 300 hundred or 3 rupees – It is up to the individual how much he can do.  

Ved Vyas has explained in the scriptures that this universe belongs to God. Every particle of this universe belongs to God.  He is the true owner.  Even though millions of our ancestors laid claim to their lands, however, the ownership continued to change hands over time. The landlord passed away.  The son inherited the land. Son sold it to someone else and that person became the owner of that land.

In actual fact, the land only belongs to God.  Everything in this world belongs to God. That is why God has instructed that every person should keep only as much wealth that is required for his food, clothing, etc. You are entitled to keep only as much wealth as is required for your bodily needs. You do not have the right to accumulate more than that.  

You are also not allowed to pass your wealth on to your son or daughter.  You are only allowed to take from this world what is required for your needs.  Donate the rest.  If you don’t, the scriptures say that after death, you will be born poor and will undergo suffering.  You will crave for even one morsel of food. When you won’t even get that, then you will resort to stealing, and then you will have to bear the consequences of stealing.   Subsequently, again you will have to take birth, and you will have to bear further negative consequences.  

That is why, considering everything as belonging to God and keeping only as much as is required to upkeep your bodily needs; the rest of your wealth should be donated for your spiritual growth. This is what the scriptures and God tell us to do.  But the individual soul is greedy and ignorant.  It has these two vices.  Because of being greedy, it is busy growing its wealth. And because of being ignorant, he is careless and does not care about what happens after death.  He challenges, “We will see whatever happens after death. Let me enjoy myself right now.  This is mine,  this wealth is mine, this house is mine!”  etc.

Feeling this way, we are responsible for ruining our future in endless lifetimes.  As a result, we are wandering in the 84 million  species of life.  So by utilising our mind, body, and wealth correctly, we should honour and celebrate the true spirit of the festival of Hariyali Teej and most importantly, focus on attaching our mind only  to God.

*A brief introduction of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj*

(Known by His devotees as Shri Maharaj Ji)

The original title of Jagadguruttam (Greatest Spiritual Teacher of the World) was bestowed upon Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on January 14, 1957, by Kashi Vidvat Parishad (a council of 500 greatest scholars saints of India). He composed divine texts like Prem Ras Madira, Prem Ras Siddhant, and Radha Govind Geet to lead us on the right path of devotion. He also gave priceless monuments as gifts to the world which include Bhakti Mandir located in Bhakti Dham, Mangarh, Prem Mandir located in Vrindavan Dham, and Kirti Mandir located in Barsana Dham. Shri Maharaj Ji also built hospitals for the impoverished, the Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Vrindavan, Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Barsana, and another one in Pratapgarh. All three help millions of underprivileged to gain free access to medical care. His Kindergarten, School, and College for impoverished girls Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Education is located in Kunda and provides completely free education.