Your Place of Residence and the three modes of material nature

 the place if residence could be in mode of ignorance, if the house is not clean its dirty its smelling, laundry just thrown all over, cockroaches around then the house will develop ignorance, cultivation of ignorance, house is dark not enough light, ok then another. The house could also be passionate house everything is dazzling, shining, cultivation of passion, house could be good also, even kind of pet you use, even these 3 modes of material nature they have their own colors. Ignorance is represented by black color, passion – red, goodness - white. So from the color also we could immediately say O! This black, but this doesn’t apply to Krishna. So house could be also, the place of residence could be ignorant, could influence you and make you ignorant, passionate or mode of goodness or your house could also cultivate pure mode of goodness, you have a good house at the country side, greenery around, flowers around, cool breeze flowing, no dogs making noise, there is no sign beware of dogs. Beware of dogs means house is ignorant and house is passionate bho…bho…..(Dogs sound).

If sahanai is being played that is good house, but as soon as you have temple in the house immediately that house is transcendental house. Off course you have to keep not only temple clean but your kitchen should be as clean as the temple, your temple room not this temple. Your house has a temple, altar keep that clean and kitchen is also clean, house is clean, the music is being played “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare” (maharaj singing Prabhupada tune) you could get little machine now in few hundred rupees, Prabhupada,s tape, 24 hours, some devotees 24 hours their house is purified by chanting Hare Krishna by Prabhupada. So your house could be in 3 modes of material nature and in such a house you stay in ignorant house you stay and you cultivate mode of ignorance and Vaikuntha like house you stay in that will have influence on you, your mind, your intelligence, your ego will evaporate or dismantle, “dasosmi – I am servant, “dasanu das” ok then what else is influencing us?

Reference:

Lecture by HH Lokanatah Maharaj

Yamuna Devi, Srila Prabhupada and Cleanliness

Another thing about Yamuna-devi struck me as amazing. About the time of the first Bombay pandal, when we staying in Akash Ganga, a high-rise apartment building in an affluent part of central Bombay, she would stay back and clean. She would clean the whole place, for hours. And while cleaning, she would sing in a very ecstatic mood. The rest of us were going here and there—for service, of course, but there were incidental benefits: seeing exotic India, meeting all sorts of cultured and interesting people, tasting varieties of delicious prasada—and she was staying back and cleaning. She put her heart into it and would be singing in an ecstatic mood.

Later, in April 2007, when she visited me in Carpinteria, I asked her about this, and she said that Srila Prabhupada had put greater emphasis on bhagavata-marga because he wanted his books produced, so they would be there for all time, and because he wanted his books distributed, so the income from the sales would support the expansion of the mission. So he didn’t have much time to personally train disciples in pancaratrika-vidhi. But he did train her, and she considered personal service to him to be in the same category as personal service to the Deity. And of course, she is right. Once, a devotee came forward to fan Srila Prabhupada and Srila Prabhupada stopped him, saying that he wasn’t a brahmana. So, cleanliness is one of the basic principles of Deity worship. But Yamuna-devi didn’t distinguish between cleaning the guru’s ashram and cleaning the Deity room. As she told me, “In Bombay, I learned to take joy in that cleaning. Whether you are serving the spiritual master or the arca-vigraha, the cleaning is external and internal. It is a very spiritual engagement—as powerful as distributing books.”

She explained that Srila Prabhupada would teach each servant about the importance and standards of cleanliness according to the servant’s capacity to understand. And she told me how strictly he had trained her. He had his four-tiered cooker, and if he found a black spot on the bottom of any of the pots, he would really chastise the servant. She would use the word “whipping.” He would chide the servant, “This is not Vaisnava. This is Muslim. [laughter] No Vaisnava will ever leave a black spot on any of the pots in the kitchen.” Prabhupada’s cooker was always to shine like gold.

Based on Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, Yamuna developed a whole system for cleaning his quarters in Vrindavan—an elaborate five-step procedure, going from bottom to top and top to bottom. First, she would get the big dirt off the bottom, then she would go up as far as she could reach, dusting, and then she would go back to the bottom, cleaning everything as perfectly as she could. If there was anything wrong, Prabhupada would notice and tell her about it. And keeping the rooms clean in Vrindavan was very hard: with the simmering sands of Ramana-reti and the whole place being a construction zone, there was always dirt and corrosion—everywhere. The walls of Prabhupada’s rooms were pale yellow, and the floors were black stone. The floors were covered with rugs, and the rugs were covered with white sheets.

One morning when Srila Prabhupada came back from his walk, after Yamuna had gone through her five-step procedure and everything looked as clean as could be, he told her, “Please clean my room, Yamuna. Haven’t I taught you to clean?” “No, Srila Prabhupada,” she said. “How may I improve my cleaning?” He didn’t say anything. On his desk were a picture of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, his eyeglass case, his tilaka, pens, a flower vase, and a staple gun. Srila Prabhupada took the staple gun, which was about two and a half inches long, removed it from its plastic case, lifted up the metal staple holder, and ran his little finger, his pinkie, across the thin metal strip between the staple holder and the hinge. . . . Dust. Dust. “When will you learn how to clean?”

Reference:

Yamuna-devi — Serving Vani and Vapuh

http://www.dandavats.com/?p=11173

Cleanliness of Pots: Prevention, Process and tools: Scrubs, Metal scouring pads, Wire gauze, Scrapers

Cleanliness and Home Care: Narada Muni's Instructions for Women

Narada Muni instructs:

SB 7.11.26-27: A chaste woman must dress nicely and decorate herself with golden ornaments for the pleasure of her husband. Always wearing clean and attractive garments, she should sweep and clean the household with water and other liquids so that the entire house is always pure and clean. She should collect the household paraphernalia and keep the house always aromatic with incense and flowers and must be ready to execute the desires of her husband. Being modest and truthful, controlling her senses, and speaking in sweet words, a chaste woman should engage in the service of her husband with love, according to time and circumstances.

KEEPS HOUSE

• She should sweep and clean the household with water and other liquids. The entire house should be always pure and clean.

• Your Place of Residence and the three modes of material nature
• Yamuna Devi, Srila Prabhupada and Cleanliness
• Clean to Please: Its Krishna's Home- Laxmi Devi is also engaged in cleaning
• Why Cleanliness?Importance of sweeping, vaccuming.
• Prevention and Cleaning
• Mopping with water, soaps, oils, disinfectants, essential oils
• Green Bhakti- Virata Purusha - Make your own surface and wall cleaning agent
• Cleaning is good exercise
• Cleanliness: Kitchen 
• Cleanliness: Bedroom, Sleeping area
• Cleanliness: Bathrooms

o    Cleanliness of Pots: Prevention, Process and tools: Scrubs, Metal scouring pads, Wire gauze, Scrapers

• She should collect the household paraphernalia (keep it in order).
• She should keep the house always aromatic with incense and flowers.
• She must be very expert in handling household management.

Reference:
domesticdevotion108.blogspot.com

Cleanliness: Bathrooms

IN THE BATHROOM 
Because we are not meat eaters, instead of harsh chemicals for killing germs, hot water and antibacterial dish soap should be sufficient if the bathroom is cleaned every day. For a finishing touch, I might add something like Nimyle Neem detergent to my final rinse. It contains an alcohol base, but i consider it a lot less dangerous to work with than bleach and other chemical detergents.

The best time for me to clean a bathroom, I've discovered, is right before I take my morning bath. It only takes five minutes if done regularly. Other times, extra effort (such as dusting or washing walls) may be needed some other time of day.

THE BIGGEST BATTLE 
How to keep the scum off? Scum has been my biggest bathroom battle. One suggestion is to spray the shower stall and floor generously with a mixture of water and dish soap each night before bed and scrub each morning before bathing. Done regularly, the surface gets and stays clean. For quicker relief, make a strong solution of water and citric acid to spread over the area that needs cleaning. Citric acid is an ingredient in shower scum removers and works amazingly well. You may want to use gloves though, if you have sensitive skin, or be careful to rinse your hands immediately after using. If you choose to use a spray bottle rather than apply directly, cover your nose so not to inhale any mist.

THE SINK
Wash well and rinse with very hot water. Drying with a towel afterwards helps keep the fixtures shiny.THE TOILET
Here's my method: First, fill and pour (with the top cut off) a milk jug full of water down the toilet or use the toilet brush to push the water down to a lower level. Next, add antibacterial soap full strength. Now, fill another bucket full, this time with very hot water. Slowly pour the hot water into the toilet bowl while swishing with a toilet brush. Use the last bit of water to rinse the toilet brush. 

A good way to store the toilet brush is near the toilet in a clean milk jug with its lid cut off. That way you can replace the container as needed, cost free.

Next, wipe down the entire toilet with hot water, diluted soap and a sponge. A separate sponge should be kept for cleaning the toilet only.

The advantage of an Indian bathroom is a drain in the floor near the toilet. That way hot water can be poured over the entire exterior of the toilet as it runs down to the drain. Excess water can then be assisted toward the drain by a large squeegee to keep the floor dry. 

Ideally, there should be a window in the bathroom to let in fresh air and to keep the bathroom dry.

Wipe the floor and walls as needed.

Do not use bathroom cleaning rags anywhere else in the house and change them regularly.

Reference:
Care of Rooms Domestic Devotion

Cleanliness: Bedroom, Sleeping area

IN THE BEDROOM
Now for suggestions in bedroom care:
If you sleep on a futon, the floor should be wiped after folding and putting the bedding away, a habit I was taught in my woman's asrama days. In any case, wiping the bedroom floor daily is a good habit.
If you sleep on a regular bed, it is a good idea to fix the bed right after getting up. 
Fluff pillows or put them out in fresh air and sunshine to freshen.
Whenever possible, hang bedding outside or at least once a month.
Flip the mattress over once a month for even wear.
I was initially trained to wash my sheets daily, but now washing takes place at least once a week. 
It's important to sleep with a top sheet or duvet to prolong cleanliness and the life of a blanket. 
Preferably, change into clean bedclothes before sleeping. 

A SIMPLE BEDMAKING SUGGESTION
1. Lift up and shake out the bottom or fitted sheet from the lower end of the bed, then tuck or fit it securely and smoothly once again. 
Here's the old fashioned way to secure the corners of a sheet when there is no fitted sheet:

2. Fluff the pillows. 
3. Fold the blanket used and put it away or carefully fold and place it at the foot of the bed. 

Ideally, the blanket should have a washable cover or duvet. Then an additional top sheet becomes unnecessary. The blanket also should be aired out often on sunny days.
4. Finally, smooth the bed skirt at the bottom of the bed (if any).

Reference:
Care of Rooms Domestic Devotion

Cleanliness: Kitchen

The most important room that needs cleaning every day-next to the Lord's personal residence, the family altar- would have to be the kitchen, the place where all His daily offerings are cooked. Since Krishna’s kitchen is considered an extension of the altar, one should strive never to leave it in an untidy state.

THE KITCHEN SINK
First of all, within the kitchen, the kitchen sink is perhaps the most essential thing to keep clean. 

When there are no dirty dishes and pots lying around, the whole house feels and smells better, and one's consciousness is clearer. Therefore, after every use, the sink should be cleansed. It can be dried also for a nice shine. Now, occasionally a pot or two may have to soak in it, but it shouldn't be for long. Especially the sink should be sparkly clean when first entering into the kitchen each morning. It really makes a difference. 

FIVE STEP POT WASHING 
1. Soak a pot if food is stuck on it. 
2. Scour away all food scraps, then wash with soap and water.
3. Scrub anything remaining with a fine kitchen scrub pad (Scotchbrite is best) or using baking soda with a dish cloth.
4. Rinse well.
5. Clean and shine the bottoms of the pots as needed.

SEVEN STEP STOVE CARE
Another very important area of kitchen cleanliness would be the stove, the place where Krishna's offerings are cooked. Here are ways to keep a stove looking like new...and get compliments on it:

1. First of all, if you have the chance to purchase a new stove, buy what'sEasy to Clean. Choosing black grates, for example, makes easier maintenance. Avoid gray colored ones as pictured below. 

Also an oven window means extra cleaning. It is not really necessary. For this reason, the oven door below is a better choice, although its lovely fixtures may still present problems.


Also, if you can't get a new stove and are stuck with one previously owned that looks neglected, there's still hope, beginning with step 4.

2. Prevention- The number one rule to remember is that a clean stove is easy to clean. Be careful about drips or spills or grease from the bottom of a pan. Cook carefully. Wipe up any spills immediately. Use a large spoon rest after stirring something. Use lids that fit. And (I am famous for this in regards to milk boiling over) do not leave something cooking unattended. 

3. Diligent Clean up- Resist leaving any spills or drips to cook onto the stove surface during more than one cooking session. That means diligently wiping the stove top after preparing every offering.

4. Soak it- If an area is heavily soiled, either spray generously with diluted soapy water (or plain water) or soak a wet rag and let it sit before wiping.

5. Baking Soda- The number one choice. Tough spots can be safely scrubbed without harming the finish by using baking soda and a cloth for wiping, especially textured cloth like terry cloth or a plastic scrubber. 

6. Shine it- Thoroughly wipe down the entire stove nightly and shine with a soft cloth.

7. Read the manual included with a new stove, or search the Internet for more tips and safe guards. 

MORE KITCHEN CLEANLINESS
Use a clean dish rag and towels everyday.
Clean out the refrigerator whenever new groceries arrive.
Wash the garbage can after emptying. 
If you use a dish rack, a little spray with dish soap in the evening and rinsing it in the morning helps to keep it clean and mold free.

SRILA PRABHUPADA SAYS:
" Food which has been offered should never be put back into the refrigerator with the unoffered foods, or brought back into the kitchen. You should prepare as much as can be consumed, and after offering, nothing should be put back in the refrigerator, or kitchen. Refrigerator should always be very cleansed and pure. Everyone should be careful to make only as much as they can eat; they cannot keep any leftovers in refrigerator. I know this is a practice in your country, but in the temples or at homes of any Krishna Consciousness persons, a person should not indulge in such unclean habits. If there is any food extra, that should be kept separately; and if there is a separate refrigerator, not within the kitchen and not having in it any unoffered foods, then you may have such special refrigerator for leftover prasadam. But it cannot be kept within the same refrigerator as the unoffered, unprepared foods. That cannot be. One should never eat within the kitchen, there is ample place to eat so why should one eat in the kitchen? Kitchen should be considered as good as the Lord's room, and nobody should wear shoes in the kitchen, smelling and tasting of foods being prepared for the Lord should never be done, talking within the kitchen should be only what is necessary for preparing the prasadam, or about the Lord, and dirty dishes (those taken from kitchen and eaten from) should not be brought back into the kitchen (but if there is no other place to wash them, then they should be put into sink and washed immediately.), hands should always be washed when preparing prasadam, and in this way, everything shall be prepared very cleanly and pure.

"What is the difficulty of enforcing these rules? They are rules, and they are simple rules, and must be followed. One must be prepared to follow the rules for Krishna. Otherwise where is the proof that he loves Krishna. And they are not very difficult to follow." -letter, 6/16/68, Montreal

Reference:
Care of Rooms Domestic Devotion