Srimati
Radharani - From Srila Prabhupada's Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi Lila.
FROM: panihatideva1896@yahoo.com
DATE: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 17:19:29 -0700 (PDT)
SUBJECT: Srimati Radharani
Srila Prabhupada's Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi Lila:
TEXT 69
mahabhava-svarpa
Sri-radha-thakurani
sarva-guna-khani
krsna-kanta-siromani
TRANSLATION
Sri Radha Thakurani is the embodiment of mahabhava. She is the
repository of all good qualities and the crest jewel among all the
lovely consorts of Lord Krsna.
PURPORT
The unadulterated action of the hladinisakti is displayed in the
dealings of the damsels of Vraja and Srimati Radharani, who is the
topmost participant in that transcendental group. The essence of the
hladini sakti is love of Godhead, the essence of love of Godhead is
bhava, or transcendental sentiment, and the highest pitch of that bhava
is called mahabhava. Srimati Radharani is the personified embodiment of
these three aspects of transcendental consciousness. She is therefore
the highest principle in love of Godhead and is the supreme lovable
object of Sri Krsna.
TEXT 70
tayor apy ubhayor madhye
radhika sarvathadhika
mahabhava-svarupeyam
gunair ativariyasi
TRANSLATION
"Of these two gopis [Radharani and Candravali], Srimati Radharani
is superior in all respects. She is the embodiment of mahabhava, and She
surpasses all in good qualities."
PURPORT
This text is verse 2 of the Ujjvala-nilamani of Srila Rupa Gosvami.
TEXT 71
krsna-prema-bhavita yanra cittendriya-kaya
krsna-nija-sakti radha kridara sahaya
TRANSLATION
Her mind, senses and body are steeped in love for Krsna. She is Krsna's
own energy, and She helps Him in His pastimes.
PURPORT
Srimati Radharani is as fully spiritual as Krsna. No one should consider
Her to be material. She is definitely not like the conditioned souls,
who have mental bodies, gross and subtle, covered by material senses.
She is all-spiritual, and both Her body and mind are of the same
spiritual embodiment. Because Her body is spiritual, Her senses are also
spiritual. Thus Her body, mind and senses fully shine in love of Krsna.
She is the personified hladinisakti (the pleasure-giving energy of the
Lord's internal potency), and therefore She is the only source of
enjoyment for Sri Krsna.
Sri Krsna cannot enjoy anything that is internally different from Him.
Therefore Radha and Sri Krsna are identical. The sandhini portion of Sri
Krsna's internal potency has manifested the all-attractive form of Sri
Krsna, and the same internal potency, in the hladini feature, has
presented Srimati Radharani, who is the attraction for the
ail-attractive. No one can match Srimati Radharani in the transcendental
pastimes of Sri Krsna.
TEXT 72
ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhis
tabhir ya eva njja-rupataya
kalabhih goloka eva nivasaty
akhilatma-bhuto
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
TRANSLATION
"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who resides in His own
realm, Goloka, with Radha, who resembles His own spiritual figure and
who embodies the ecstatic potency [hladini]. Their companions are Her
confidantes, who embody extensions of Her bodily form and who are imbued
and permeated with ever-blissful spiritual rasa."
PURPORT
This text is from the Brahma-samhita (5.37).
TEXT 73
krsnere karaya yaiche rasa asvadana
kridara sahaya yaiche, suna vivarana
TRANSLATION
Now please listen to how Lord Krsna's consorts help Him taste rasa and
how they help in His pastimes.
TEXT 74-75
krsna-kanta-gana dekhi tri-vidha prakara
eka laksmi-gana, pure mahisi-gana ara
vrajangana-rupa, ara kanta-gana-sara
sri-radhika haite kanta-ganera vistara
TRANSLATION
The beloved consorts of Lord Krsna are of three kinds: the goddesses of
fortune, the queens, and the milkmaids of Vraja, who are the foremost of
all. These consorts all proceed from Radhika.
TEXT 76
avatari krsna yaiche kare a vatara
amsini radha haite tina ganera vistara
TRANSLATION
Just as the fountainhead, Lord Krsna, is the cause of all incarnations,
so Sri Radha is the cause of all these consorts.
TEXT 77
vaibhava-gana yena tanra anga-vibhti
bimba-pratibimba-rupa mahisira tati
TRANSLATION
The goddesses of fortune are partial manifestations of Srimati Radhika,
and the queens are reflections of Her image.
TEXT 78
laksmi-gana tanra vaibhava-vilasamsa-rupa
mahisi-gana vaibhava-prakasa-svarupa
TRANSLATION
The goddesses of fortune are Her plenary portions, and they display the
forms of vaibhava-vilasa. The queens are of the nature of Her
vaibhava-prakasa.
TEXT 79
akara svabhava-bh ede vraia-devi-gana
kaya-vyuha-rupa tanra rasera karana
TRANSLATION
The Vraja-devis have diverse bodily features. They are Her expansions
and are the instruments for expanding rasa.
TEXT 80
bahu kanta vina nahe rasera ullasa
Iilara sahaya lagi' bahuta prakasa
TRANSLATION
Without many consorts, there is not such exultation in rasa. Therefore
there are many manifestations of Srimati Radharani to assist in the
Lord's pastimes.
TEXT 81
tara madhye vraie nana bhava-rasa-bhede
krsnake karaya rasadika-lilasvade
TRANSLATION
Among them are various groups of consorts in Vraja who have varieties of
sentiments and mellows. They help Lord Krsna taste all the sweetness of
the rasa dance and other pastimes.
PURPORT
As already explained, Krsna and Radha are one in two. They are
identical. Krsna expands Himself in multi-incarnations and plenary
portions like the purusas. Similarly, Srimati Radharani expands Herself
in multi-forms as the goddesses of fortune, the queens and the damsels
of Vraja. Such expansions from Srimati Radharani are all Her plenary
portions. All these womanly forms of Krsna are expansions corresponding
to His plenary expansions of Visnu forms. These expansions have been
compared to reflected forms of the original form. There is no difference
between the original and reflected forms. The female reflections of
Krsna's pleasure potency are as good as Krsna Himself.
The plenary expansions of Krsna's personality are called vaibhava-vilasa
and vaibhava-prakasa, and Radha's expansions are similarly described.
The goddesses of fortune are vaibhava-vilasa, and the queens are
vaibhava-prakasa of Radharani. The personal associates of Radharani, the
damsels of Vraja, are direct expansions of Her body. As expansions of
Her personai form and transcendental disposition, they are agents of
different reciprocations of love in the pastimes of Lord Krsna, under
the supreme direction of Srimati Radharani. In the transcendental realm,
enjoyment is fully relished in variety. The exuberance of transcendental
mellow is increased by the association of a large number of
personalities similar to Radharani, who are also known asgopis or sakhis.
The variety of innumerable mistresses is a source of relish for Sri
Krsna, and therefore these expansions from Srimati Radharani are
necessary for enhancing the pleasure potency of Sri Krsna. Their
transcendental exchanges of love are the superexcellent affairs of the
pastimes in Vrndavana. By these expansions of Srimati Radharani s
personal body, She helps Lord Krsna taste the rasa dance and similar
other activities. Srimati Radharani, being the central petal of the rasa-
lila flower, is also known by the names found in the following verses.
TEXT 82
go vindanandini radha, go vinda-mohini
govinda-sarvasva, sarva-kanta-siromani
TRANSLATION
Radha is the one who gives pleasure to Govinda, and She is also the
enchantress of Govinda. She is the be-all and end-all of Govinda, and
the crest jewel of all His consorts.
[BACK]
From
Vaisnava Ke - What kind of a devotee are you
Vaisnava Ke is a bengali poem
written by HDG Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada and
translated into english by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
The purports have been written by HH Jayapataka Maharaj with extensive
quotes from Srila Prabhupada's books.
Verse Four
Translation by HDG A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
My dear mind, beware of your desire to attain material reputation.
It is misleading you with its attractive vision like an oasis of green
trees, but it is simply a mirage in the desert of this world of repeated
birth and death. It will cause your utter spiritual destruction.
Remember how Ravana, the powerful demon, was bewildered due to false
pride and in spite of all his efforts to achieve temporary material
prominence he was destroyed by Raghava (Lord Ramachandra). The
only position you should desire is to become a true Vaisnava, a pure
devotee of the Lord. Give all your care and attention for
obtaining this ! If instead you neglect to purely worship the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, due to your offenses, for all your hard
endeavors your life will simply be hellish.
Purport by HH Jayapataka
Maharaj:
Fame, position and material acquisitions appear beautiful to a person
under the grips of material desires. Together they loom before him
like a beautiful garden of enjoyment. The materialistic person
longs to go there and enjoy all the varieties of pleasures. He
thinks: "If I had this position, if I had this wealth, if I had
this fame, then I would be truly happy." But in fact, when he
arrives there the mirage vanishes and he finds only dry, waterless
desert. Being thirsty, he wants to be satisfied and chases the
mirage, imagining that position, wealth and fame will bring him
happiness. For all his endeavor, however, for all his running
after the false oasis of happiness, he only achieves the sand of the
desert-like material world.
The real position of happiness is to be a Vaisnava, a servant of the
servant.
...
The sincere devotee works to cleanse his heart. The heart is
always yearning for money, women and prestige. It yearns to be a
leader, a minister, or even a guru. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu
has instructed - ceto darpana marjanam - first cleanse the heart! This
is again stated in the Srimad Bhagavatam: "By regular attendance in
the classes of the Srimad Bhagavatam and by rendering service unto the
pure devotees, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely
destroyed." (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.18). A devotee must daily
read and hear Srimad Bhagavaatam and Bhagavad Gita. Then his heart
will be cleansed and he will understand his relationship with Krishna,
and by acting in that relationship his life will be perfect.
[BACK]
Leadership
Excellence, July 2001 - From the Institute for Applied Spiritual
Technology led by HH Bhakti tirtha Maharaj.
From: "Akrura (das)"
Leadership Excellence 2001
Excellent Quote
"Leaders can view their role as one of coordinating the activities
of those for whom they are responsible. To do so properly requires the
constant awareness of being a servant to others. Being a servant entails
keeping abreast of the people's problems, needs and goals, in order to
be in a position to stimulate growth and develop useful projects that
enhance the quality of life." - Bhakti-tirtha Swami
Leadership Qualities in Bhagavad-gita
Leader is a sage of steady mind
Bg. 2.56 - One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold
miseries or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from
attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind.
Leader is a man of steady intelligence
Bg. 2.61 - One who restrains his senses, keeping them under full
control, and fixes his consciousness upon Me, is known as a man of
steady intelligence.
Leader is devoid of false ego
Bg. 2.71 - A person who has given up all desires for sense
gratification, who lives free from desires, who has given up all sense
of proprietorship and is devoid of false ego - he alone can attain real
peace.
Leader works in the mode of goodness
Bg 18.26 - One who performs his duty without association with the modes
of material nature, without false ego, with great determination and
enthusiasm, and without wavering in success or failure is said to be a
worker in the mode of goodness.
Leader has unbreakable determination
Bg 18.33 - O son of Prtha, that determination which is unbreakable,
which is sustained with steadfastness by yoga practice, and which thus
controls the activities of the mind, life and senses is determination in
the mode of goodness.
Varnasrama College - Vision of Srila Prabhupada:
The Varnasrama College has to be established immediately. Everywhere,
wherever we have got our center, a Varnasrama College should be
established to train four divisions: one class, brahmana; one class,
ksatriya; one class, vaisya; and one class, sudra. But everyone will be
elevated to the spiritual platform by the spiritual activities which we
have prescribed. There is no inconvenience, even for the sudras.
So everywhere, in each center, this system should be introduced, and
there must be practical application of the varnasrama. At the same time,
this program of devotional service. Then it will go on very nicely. But
if you show that you are actually doing something ideal, then they will
appreciate. Make a small unit of community and show ideal life, not idle
life. Ideal life. [Morning Walk, Vrndavana 12 March 1974]
[BACK]
Radhastami
& 31 years of Sannyas Order of Jayapataka Maharaj - New Talavana,
Mississippi
Tue 08/28/2001, 11.40am
This message is from Sriman Bhadra Jagannatha Prabhu (formerly Bhakta
Brian, from our very own New Panihati Dhama)...also our former Atlanta
devotees, Rasa Nitai Prabhu and his wife Mother Mary are mentioned !
Hari bol!
From: "Bhadra Jagannath das" to HH Jayapataka Maharaja.
My most beloved Spiritual Father,
Please accept my respectful obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Your disciples here at New Talavana joined together on the auspicious
occasion of Radhastami and Your anniversary of 31 glorious years of
sannyasa.
We began by worshiping Srimati Radharani. She was especially dazzeling
on this day. Several of the devotees had created a flower outfit for all
the deities (Sri Sri Gaur- Nitai and Sri Sri Radha- Radha Kanta). While
all of the deities were captivating, Srimati Radharani was especially
sweet. She captured your attention and just would not let go.
All of the devotees were fortunate enough to participate in bathing
thier Lordships Sri Sri Radha- Radha Kanta. This was done while
different devotees led kirtana. The kirtana continued until the bathing
area was cleaned up... and then the curtains opened to again reveal
Thier Lordships. We had more kirtana in which two sets of small whompers
showed up. It made me think of you and all the times we have been
fortunate enough to participate in kirtans with Your Grace.
Following the Radhastami celebration a sumptous prasadam feast was
served out. All of the devotees feasted "to the neck." Then,
at 7:00pm Your disciples met at Rasa Nitai and Bhaktin Mary's house. We
had a sweetly intimate guru puja. The kirtana was led by your most
qualified disciple, Prahlada Nrsimha das. His entire family also joined
us.
After Guru Puja and kirtana, Mother Haridvani dd offered You the Maha
reminents from Srimate Radharani. While this was going on, some of the
devotees recalled pastimes with You and realizations they have had. Some
of the sweetest pastimes were of you sharing prasadam and also of your
latest South Indian Safari.
Gurumaharaja, we are so fortunate in this age to have Your association
and mercy. We are so unqualified and undeserving, and still you
generously shower us with Your kindness and blessings. Many of the
devotees even commented that Your mercy is above bodily conception. You
treat each of us with so much care and attention without restriction of
bodily appearance (i.e. white, black, indian, man, woman, child, etc).
Thank you for this blessing.
Many of us also recommitted ourselves not only to You, Gurudeva, but
also to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON. We are feeling very passionate
about being members of ISKCON, the organization that Srila Prabhupada
set up as His body. This also shows His greatness as he was following
the instructions of His spiritual master. These realizations and
blessings are coming to us through Your mercy. Thank you again and
again.
Again Gurudeva, congratulations on your anniversary! May the blessings
of Srimati Radharani and Srila Prabhupada continue to protect and guide
you.
I remain your most undeserving servant,
Bhadra Jagannath das
New Talavana, Mississippi, USA
[BACK]
Radhastami
at Kuala Lumpur and memories of Srila Jayapataka Swami.
From: "Marici (das) JPS (Mayapur
- IN)"
Dear devotees: Pamho. AgtGM! AgtSP!
Today at Kuala Lumpur temple we had an ecstatic celebration for the
appearance day of Srimati Radharani. We also celebrated the 31st
anniversary of Guru Maharaja Srila Jayapataka Swami. He was only 21
years old when He took Sannyasi with the special blessings of Srimati
Radharani on Her appearance day. He is now the oldest standing sannyasi
in ISKCON. I have had many realizations while serving HDG for so many
years and I would like to take the opportunity on this special day to
share a few of them with you.
Guru Maharaja is always happy in Krishna Conciseness and a very
exemplary sannyasi. Guru Maharaja doesn't have a private life. You will
always see HDG surrounded by a few devotees from the time He wakes up
till He goes to sleep late at night. His life is completely public and
open. He has nothing to hide!
Guru Maharaja is always ready to give shelter to anyone. Guru Maharaja
is not only very responsible with His own disciples, He also takes the
time to care for devotees who are disciples of other Gurus and any other
person who approaches Him. He sees the whole of ISKCON as His family (Srila
Prabhupada's family). He is the Caring Mood personified!
Guru Maharaja is always very particular to follow HDG Srila Prabhupada
footsteps . Once I heard a devotee say that since HDG JPS is so busy
travelling and preaching that He may not have time to chant His daily 16
rounds of Japa. He couldn't be more wrong jumping to such conclusions! I
am witness as to how our beloved Guru Maharaja is chanting even more
than 16 rounds daily. As many of you may have noticed Guru Maharaja has
2 sets of counting beads tied to His japa-bag. One of them is to count
His daily japa-mala and the other is to count "extra rounds".
Some time ago, He made a vow to Srila Prabhupada to chant more than 108
extra rounds in a year (Gaurabda Calendar).
There are 4 kinds of sannyasis, one of them being the parivrajakacharya
sannyasi who is always travelling and preaching the glories of Sri Sri
Radha Madhava and Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga. You can see that this
qualification is very prominent in Guru Maharaja. He never stays more
than 3 days in the same place and I am sure He has the world record of
being the most travelled person in the world. To please His Guru
Maharaja, godbrothers and other devotees, He is constantly travelling
and preaching in a blissful mood. Also, I am sure that He holds the
record for having the most visas and chops in His passport than any
other person in this world..... and probably in this universe! Because,
pure devotees like Narada Muni who also travel and preach from planet to
planet probably don't need visas to the places that He visits.
Unfortunately we are now in Kali yuga and Guru Maharaja holds an Indian
passport which means each time he enters a foreign country he has to go
through the lengthy process of obtaining a visa for tt country. Despite
all these hassles Guru Maharaja is always enthusiastic in His mission to
>help spread Krsna Consiousness to every town and village in the
World as predicted by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Guru Maharaja has so much
compassion for all souls!
Although Guru Maharaja travels everywhere, He actually never leaves Sri
Mayapur Dham. Wherever He goes the whole atmosphere of the Dhama is
there with Him and wherever He plays His transcendental wompers Sri Sri
Nitai Gauranga are dancing in His heart. Today I spoke to
Srila JPS Guru Maharaja. He had just arrived in Moscow after having an
ecstatic Ratha Yatra Festival in Amsterdam. I told Him how devotees from
so many different places in the world celebrated His sannyasi
anniversary. I also described the festival in Kuala Lumpur and how
devotees offered Him the whole maha-prasadam plate of Srimati Radharani
and He answered:
"please send my humble blessings to all the devotees in Malaysia
and every where else in the world. Here in Moscow it is about 4pm and I
haven't taken my lunch yet but I am not hungry. I think it is because
the devotees from all around the world have offered me so much nice
Prasadam that must be the reason why I am feeling so full and
satisfied"
All glories to Guru Maharaja!
All glories to Srimati Radharani!
Ys
Marici das
[BACK]
An
open letter to Sriman Cakrapani das Prabhuji.
FROM: panihatideva1896@yahoo.com
DATE: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 09:00:11 -0700 (PDT)
SUBJECT: Desperate Request!
An open letter to Sriman Cakrapani das Prabhuji!
Sriman Cakrapani Prabhu: Please accept my most humble obeisances. All
glories unto Srila Prabhupada, at whose lotus feet all the greatest
preachers assemble. May we always be situated at those precious lotus
feet of the greatest preacher of all time, the Supreme Personality of
Servitor Godhead.
I would like to request you something that I am personally desperate
for. At work, I am far away from my Lords Sri Sri Radha-Madana Mohana,
Sri Sri Gaura- Nitai, Sri Sri Sri Jagannatha-Baladeva-Subhadra Mayi. The
atmosphere is one of corporate business, not of Harinam and book
distribution! I am surrounded by people who are interested in sense
enjoyment and enjoying the material world. I don't say this scornfully,
but truthfully. I am eager to hear the glories of preaching Krishna's
name, fame, fortune, abode, and paraphernalia. I am thirsty and hungry,
in famine, because of lack of Lord Gauranga's name uttered even once
there.
I humbly request, as you are the great head of preaching at New Panihati
Dhama, if you will kindly let us know about how your preaching is going.
Please allow us to taste the nectar of preaching, of the results of
preaching, of who you met, of who you chanted to...of where you went...I
remember my first spiritual book, Srila Prabhupada's Srimad Bhagavatam,
6th canto, part 1...which made me a devotee...in Text 22's purport,
Srila Prabhupada writes, "The members of this disciplic
succession-in other words, the members of the Krsna consciousness
movement-should follow in the footsteps of Narada Muni by chanting the
transcendental vibration of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna,
Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. They should go
everywhere to deliver the fallen souls by vibrating the Hare Krishna
mantra and the instructions of Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam and
Caitanya-caritamrta."
Please, dear Cakrapani Prabhu, allow us to taste the nectar of
preaching!
Your humble servant, waiting desperately for that nectar,
Hardik.
[BACK]
Harinama
Yajna ki jaya - From Cakrapani Prabhu
FROM: cakra108pani@hotmail.com
DATE: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 21:21:41 -0400
SUBJECT: Harinama yajna ki jaya!
Dear Devotees,
Please accept my humble obeisances
Glories to Srila Prabhupada !!!
Yesterday was an ecstatic moment , New panihati dhama chanting party
consisting of Maitreya, Visvambhara, Mr. Sangara and my self , took to
chanting in the streets of little five points. Distributing the Holy
Names , flyers and books we inundated the town. Culminating in an
uproarious kirtan at the Gypsy Market. Two mrdangas and three kartels
chased the dogs of doom far away and love of Godhead Prevailed. One
Bhagavad Gita went out to a very interesed person.
Come share this experience with us tommorrow,(Friday) at 11:00 am . We
will be leaving the Temple to go to Downtown , led by Balabhadra Prabhu
to chant and dance to Honor the Appearance Day Of Lady Srimati Radharani!
We will return at about 1:00 and have Prasada!
Please join us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hari bol
Your servant
Cakrapani dasa
[BACK]
Non-Hindus
too can have darshan of Puri deity - From Hardik
Tuesday 8/28/01, 11.30 AM
Wowsers! Muy importante!
From: "Vaikuntha Pati (das) JPS (Mayapur - IN)"
Now, non-Hindus too can have darshan of Puri deity !
There is good news for non-Hindus desiring to have a glimpse of the lord
in Puri's famous Jagannath temple.
Gopinath Mohanty, director of the Orissa tourism department, said the
government has decided to build an elevated swing tower with a platform
on the northern side of the world famous temple to enable non-Hindus to
pay their respects to the lord without entering the temple.
It will be the closest that non-Hindus will ever get to the lord.
The temple is probably the only one in the country where the pandas
(priests) are still opposed to the entry of non-Hindus inside its
premises.
In fact, the priests enjoy the Puri Shankaracharya's support on this
matter.
At the temple's main entrance, guarded by stone lions, a small marble
plate proclaims - Only Hindus are allowed.
About ten years back, the pandas prevented Dr Kamalesh Choudhry, a Pune-based
friend of well-known Oriya writer Prativa Ray, from entering the temple.
The pandas suspected Dr Choudhry of being a Christian. It was only after
much pleading by Ray that she was allowed to enter the temple.
Several such cases have been publicised in recent times. Members of
ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) are also not
allowed to enter the temple.
From Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi to former prime minister Indira
Gandhi, the pandas have spared no one. Mahatma Gandhi was prevented from
entering the temple as he was accompanied by Harijans while Acharya
Vinobha Bhave faced the wrath of the pandas for being accompanied by
Muslims. Indira Gandhi's fault was that she was married to a Parsi.
It is said that Biswanath Das, a former prime minister of Orissa (before
independence, the chief minister of the state was called prime
minister), did not visit the temple protesting against the denial of
admission to non-Hindus to the inner sanctum of the temple.
According to temple sources, the first converted Hindu who entered the
inner sanctum of the temple, in 1950, was Shri Shri Dayamata, an
American woman who succeeded Shri Shri Pramananda Yogananda as head of
the Yogananda Sangha Math.
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