MONTHLY ARCHIVE OF UPDATES

OCTOBER 2017

Guidance, Issue #12 (EPUB file, 0.8 Mb)
An ePub file for offline reading on mobile phones and tablets containing the lectures of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj published here from July to September 2017. We pray this serves as a source of guidance, nourishment, and life to all the devotees and well-wishers worldwide.

Sri Ekadasi Guidance
Guidelines on how to observe and honour this holy day: Ekadasi takes an indispensible part in the life of a sincere practitioner. At Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Ekadasi and paran are observed with affection and without fail according to the dates given in the Calendar.

• "Sri Ekadasi" (Sri Sri Prema Vivarta)
"One day, Gaurahari left the Gundicha Temple and sat in the Jagannath Vallabha garden. It was pure Ekadasi, and the Lord spent the whole day and night chanting the Name of Krishna..."

• SONG: Suddha-bhakata | শুদ্ধ ভকত-চরণ-রেণু
"I carefully observe the holy days related to Madhava, they are the mother of devotion."

• SONG: Sri hari-vasare | শ্রীহরি-বাসরে হরি
"On the holy day of Sri Hari, Sriman Mahaprabhu, the life and soul of the universe, began dancing..."

ADDITIONAL READING:

• "Observing Ekadasi" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi Vrata: Make Your Guru Happy" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "No Other Shelter" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Mahadvadasi" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi and liberation" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi Tithi: One of the Practices" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

This day in 2011:

Highest Designation
"We do not want to be a master, we do not want to be a Guru—we want to be a servant of the servant. This is the most important thing in our spiritual life. If we can become a servant of a Vaishnav, that is the highest, that is the best qualification..."
Download (1.3 Mb, 3 min | 8 October 2011)

Raghunath Das Goswami's Pastimes: Nectar of Devotion
"In Mahaprabhu's time, and even after that, everybody wanted to be a servant. Das Goswami Prabhu, Jiva Goswami Prabhu, and others, were all servants. If you hear about Srila Raghunath Das Goswami's pastimes you will get nectar."
Download (1.8 Mb, 4 min | 8 October 2011)

Humble and Chaste Service
"Wherever they are living now, we only want them to allow us to serve their associates, associates of our Gurudev, and our Guru. We do not want to enter their party, but we only want their service as a dog..."
Download (2.4 Mb, 6 min | 8 October 2011)

Prayers to Sri Vaishnav Thakur:

• SONG: Ki-rupe paiba seva | কিরূপে পাইব সেবা
"I am so wicked, how will I ever get service? I do not have any attachment to Sri Guru and Vaishnavs! Prabhu, you see no fault in others, you are the saviour of the fallen. Please deliver Narottam this time!"

• SONG: Ei-bara karuna kara | এইবার করুণা কর
"O worshippable Vaisnava, be merciful to me this time. O saviour of the fallen, without you there is no one. In every birth I aspire for the dust of your feet."

• SONG: Ohe Vaisnava Thakura | (ওহে) বৈষ্ণব ঠাকুর
"O worshippable Vaishnav, ocean of grace, be merciful to this servant. Give me the shade of your feet and purify me. I clasp your feet. You can give Krishna, you have that power. Calling, 'Krishna!' 'Krishna!', I run after you."

• SONG: Dhana mora nityananda | ধন মোর নিত্যানন্দ
"The feet dust of the Vaishnavs is where I sport and take bath, Vaishnavs' name is the water oblation. My mind is intently fixed upon the remnants of Vaishnavs, and I am elated hearing the name of Vaishnavs."

• SONG: Ye anila prema-dhana | যে আনিল প্রেমধন
"Where has Advaita Acharya gone? Where are my Svarup, Rupa, Sanatan? Where is my Raghunath? Where are the saviours of the fallen souls?"

Kartik Month: Sri Sri Siksastakam
The eight verses spoken by Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the songs by Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur written on those verses. These songs are chanted at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math during the Kartik month. Complete texts and the audio recordings of Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj singing the songs.

Morning kirtans:
Vandana • Samsara-davanala • Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu jive daya kari • Thakura Vaishnava-gana • Nitai-guna-mani amara • Damodarastakam (part).
Download the audio (10.2 Mb, 30 min | 7 November 2012)

"We have no quality, no qualification to serve the Vaishnavs. If we do not got mercy from Vaishnavs, we cannot acquire, or get, service from the Vaishnavs. That is why we always make Vaishnavs' tirobhav (disappearance) festivals and remember such days. "We are praying to that Vaishnav Thakur [Srila Narottam Das Thakur], 'Wherever you are staying, Prabhu, wherever you are living now, we want to serve your servant! We want to serve your servant's servant.' We pray we can get some mercy and can serve him, can protect his line and preach about him."

• Ki-rupe paiba seva | কিরূপে পাইব সেবা "I am so wicked, how will I ever get service? I do not have any attachment to Sri Guru and Vaishnavs! Prabhu, please deliver Narottam this time!" • Ei-bara karuna kara | এইবার করুণা কর "O worshippable Vaisnava, be merciful to me this time. In every birth I aspire for the dust of your feet." • Thakura vaisnava-gana | ঠাকুর বৈষ্ণবগণ "Narottam Das says, 'Seeing and hearing about my situation, I am stricken with fear. Please rescue me and keep me by your side.'" • Dhana mora nityananda | ধন মোর নিত্যানন্দ "The feet dust of the Vaishnavs is where I sport and take bath. My mind is intently fixed upon the remnants of Vaishnavs, and I am elated hearing the name of Vaishnavs." • Nitai-pada kamala "Always aspire for Nitai's feet. Narottam is very sad: 'O Nitai! Make me happy. Keep me beside your reddish feet.'" • Sri Krsna Chaitanya Prabhu daya kara more "O Srinivas Acharya Prabhu! Be merciful! Narottam Das prays for the association of Ramachandra Kaviraj." • Gaurangera Duti Pada "Whether he lives in a house or in the forest, Narottam Das begs for the association of one who calls, 'O Gauranga!'" • Sri-rupa-manjari-pada | শ্রীরূপমঞ্জরী-পদ "O Rupa! Please be merciful to me, give me shelter at your lotus feet. Narottam is praying for your shelter." • Ye anila prema-dhana | যে আনিল প্রেমধন "Not finding the association of Sri Gauranga, who performed His Pastimes with all these associates, Narottam Das weeps." • Hari haraye nama krsna | হরি হরয়ে নমঃ কৃষ্ণ "Aspiring for the lotus feet of Sri Guru and the Vaisnavas, Narottam Das chants the Holy Name."

Srila Narottam Das Thakur: Bona Fide Benefactor
"Who will you call a Guru? A Guru is not someone whose profession is to make disciples, who only takes your money. The Guru gives a conception, gives some wealth, property, with which you can go to your real home..."
Download (2.7 Mb, 6 min | 4 Nov. 2012)

In Praise of Srila Narottam Das Thakur [From Affectionate Guidance]
"Today is the Disappearance Day of Srila Narottam Thakur, so I would like to say a few words to glorify him. Before Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur most of the Vaisnava songs came from Srila Narottam Thakur. But although he wrote many beautiful songs of devotion, Narottam Das Thakur was not just a song writer, he was a great pandit and more than that, he was a devotee of Sri Chaitanyadev."

Kirtans: • Ye anila prema-dhana • Hari haraye nama krsna.
Download (2.7 Mb, 8 min | 4 November 2012)

In honour of Sripad B.V. Jajavar Maharaj:

Sripad Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj (by Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj)
"Srila Jajavar Maharaj joined the Gaudiya Mission of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur at a very young age. He could sing nicely, and he looked very simple—there was not a shadow of inauspiciousness in his body..."
Download the audio (8.4 Mb, 25 min)

Some preparations that are known to be favourite to His Divine Grace include: natural orange juice (with just a little sugar), cholar dahl (split chickpea dal), alu bhaja (deep-fried potato), muri, puri/luchi with alu bhaja, aloo dum, samosa, pineapple chutney, puspanna, chaunsa mango.

Make the Festival, with Heart and Soul
"I am telling to everyone who is staying in the temple, to every centre: you must make a festival for Srila Sridhar Maharaj. If you want to show that you want to serve Srila Sridhar Maharaj, then make a good festival on this day."
or Download the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 15 July 2012)

Kartik Month Kirtans:
Following the tradition established at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, after the regular morning and evening kirtans, the following kirtans are chanted every day:

Morning:
• Damodarastakam
"To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence, knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro, who is beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who is quickly running from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of Mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed—to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances."
Download
• Sri Sriman Mahaprabhur Sata-Nama (nadiya-nagare nitai)
"In the towns and villages of Nadia, Lord Nityananda ecstatically dances and sings these names of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: Lord Chaitanya is the beloved son of Jagannath Misra; He is Mahaprabhu, the great master, protector, and maintainer of the whole world...."
Download
• Sri Krsner Vimsottara-sata-Nama-Sankirtana (nagare nagare gora gay)
"From village to village Lord Gaura sings these names of Sri Krishna: Krishna is the baby who feeds on the breast of Mother Yasoda. He is the son of Maharaj Nanda, dark blue like and indra-nila gem, and the life of the residents of Vraja."
Download

Evening:
• Sri Sri Siksastakam
"If you aspire to chant the Name of Krishna, then, with great care, become qualified to do so. Give up your false ego, and always consider yourself lower than grass, poor, needy, and mean. Practise tolerance like a tree..."
Song 1: Download
Song 2: Download
Song 3: Download
Song 4: Download
Song 5: Download
Song 6: Download
Song 7: Download
Song 8: Download

Dear and Dearmost
"Krishna said to Radharani, 'OK, so Your kunda is better, and My kunda is all poison, but if we mix some of the water from Your kunda into My kunda, then the kunda will be purified!'"
Download the audio (1.9 Mb, 6 min | 13 August 2009)

In honour of Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's sannyas day:

~ Pranam-mantra ~ gurvvabhista-supurakam guru-ganair asisa-sambhusitam chintyachintya-samasta-veda-nipunam sri-rupa-panthanugam govindabhidham ujjvalam vara-tanum bhakty anvitam-sundaram vande visva-gurun cha divya-bhagavat-premno hi bija-pradam "I offer my obeisance unto he who perfectly fulfils his Gurudev's most cherished desires; who is fully adorned with the blessings of his Gurudev’s associates; who is expert in all aspects of Vedic knowledge, both conceivable and inconceivable; who is the pre-eminent follower of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu's line; who is known as 'Govinda'—Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj; whose beautiful, effulgent, exalted form is infused with pure devotion; who is the Guru of the entire universe; and who is the giver of the seed of divine love for the Supreme Lord."

{ Book Shelf }
An extensive selection of books, articles and poetry by His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj available for online reading and download, as well as purchase from any of our temples worldwide.

Biography of Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj
A glorification article that sprang forth from the interpretation of the Pranam-mantra of His Divine Grace and was originally published as an Appendix to the Revealed Truth.

Sannyas Day (20 photographs, 2.3 Mb)
Archive photographs taken on 6 November 1985, on the day Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj accepted the sannyas order from His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

Jaya jaya gurudever | জয় জয় গুরুদেবের
"All glory to the effulgent arati of Srila Gurudev taking place at the foot of Govardhan for the beneft of the world! All glory to the mine of joy, Sri Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami, who is the crown-jewel of Gurus!"

~ Pranam-mantra ~ devam divya-tanum suchanda-vadanam balarka-chelanchitam sandrananda-puram sad-eka-varanam vairagya-vidyambudhim sri-siddhanta-nidhim subhakti-lasitam sarasvatanam varam vande tam subhadam mad-eka-saranam nyasisvaram sridharam "I offer my obeisance unto my lord, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, whose speech is most pleasing; whose divine form is adorned with garments the colour of the newly-risen sun; who is an abode of intense, ecstatic devotion; who is the sadhus' sole choice; who is an ocean of renunciation and knowledge; who is a treasure-house of perfect conclusions; who is resplendent with pure devotion; who is the best of Srila Saraswati Thakur's followers; who is the giver of all good; who is the leading general of the tridandi-sannyasis; and who is my sole shelter."

{ Book Shelf }
An extensive selection of books, articles and poetry by His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj available for online reading and download, as well as purchase from any of our temples worldwide.

Biography of Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj
Srila Guru Maharaj's extensive recollections of his childhood and youth, as well as the coming to the lotus feet of his Gurudev and later on starting Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

Photo Album: (35 photographs, 3.4 Mb)
A collection of selected photographs of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj is now added to the archive of photographs. (Part 1)

• SONG: Jaya Guru Maharaja | জয় ‘গুরু-মহারাজ’ যতিরাজেশ্বর
"All glory to Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami, the leading general of the tridandi-sannyasis! You revealed your Pastimes in this world as the saviour of the fallen and delivered the sinful and unfortunate souls."

• SONG: Krsna haite chatur-mukha | কৃষ্ণ হৈতে চতুর্ম্মুখ
"Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj is the embodiment of perfect siddhanta and the ultimate refuge for the sadhus who follow Sri Rupa..."

Sri-gaura-mandala majhe | শ্রীগুর্ব্বাবির্ভাব প্রশস্তি
"In Sri Gaura Mandal, there is a village called Hapaniya where my Lord, an abode of all good qualities, appeared. It stands on the bank of the Ganga, who is very merciful to the fallen souls; renowned in the whole world, this abode is a holy repository of knowledge and jewels of logic."

Sri Ekadasi Guidance
Guidelines on how to observe and honour this holy day: Ekadasi takes an indispensible part in the life of a sincere practitioner. At Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Ekadasi and paran are observed with affection and without fail according to the dates given in the Calendar.

• "Sri Ekadasi" (Sri Sri Prema Vivarta)
"One day, Gaurahari left the Gundicha Temple and sat in the Jagannath Vallabha garden. It was pure Ekadasi, and the Lord spent the whole day and night chanting the Name of Krishna..."

• SONG: Suddha-bhakata | শুদ্ধ ভকত-চরণ-রেণু
"I carefully observe the holy days related to Madhava, they are the mother of devotion."

• SONG: Sri hari-vasare | শ্রীহরি-বাসরে হরি
"On the holy day of Sri Hari, Sriman Mahaprabhu, the life and soul of the universe, began dancing..."

ADDITIONAL READING:

• "Observing Ekadasi" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi Vrata: Make Your Guru Happy" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "No Other Shelter" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Mahadvadasi" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi and liberation" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi Tithi: One of the Practices" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

Sri Govardhan Puja: Annakut Maha-Mahotsav
(48 photographs, 3.1 Mb | 20 October 2017)
Photographs taken during the grand auspicious festival of Sri Govardhan Puja observed today at the temple of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Madan-Mohanjiu at Dum Dum Park, Kolkata, under the supreme guidance of Sri Gurupadpadma Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj and in the association of the worshippable Vaishnavs and devotees.

Sri Govardhan Puja Adhivas (23 photographs, 1.8 Mb | 19 October 2017)
Sharing photographs of the programme at the eve (adhivas) of Sri Govardhan Puja celebration conducted joyfully at our Dum Dum Park temple in Kolkata at the lotus feet of Sri Gurupadpadma and in the association of honourable Vaishnavs.

Lord Of the Cows [from the Loving Search For the Lost Servant]
"The Govardhana-sila represents Krsna as the master and keeper of cows. Within Govardhana is that mild and soft conception of God the Beautiful. We beg for His mercy, His affection, and His gracious glance upon us. That may save us from the negative influence of this material environment."

This day in 2014:

Sri Govardhan Puja (Year 2014)
A joyful festival celebrating Lord Krishna lifting Sri Govardhan Hill and a parikrama to the holy places around Sri Govardhan. Day two of the annual Kartik Pilgrimage.

Sri Govardhan Parikrama: Day Two (Year 2014)
The Kartik Pilgrimage continues: the second part of the Parikrama around the holy places at Sri Govardhan. Among the numerous visited places on this day are Sri Uddhav Kunda, Sri Radha Kunda, Sri Kusum Sarovar.

This day in 2015:

Defeating the Pride
A Bengali class of His Divine Grace Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj:
• Mahaprabhu defeating Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, Digvijayi Pandit, tricking thieves, teaching Prakasananda Saraswati a lesson • Bali Maharaj's surrender • teaching Indra a lesson (Govardhan Pastime) • strong faith in Deity service (Gopal Bhatta Goswami, Raghunandan Thakur) • rare and valuable life.
Download the audio (33.2 Mb, 97 min)

Sri Govardhan Puja (15 photographs, 1.1 Mb)
In the shelter of the lotus feet of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj, devotees celebrate Sri Govardhan Puja and worship the cows at Sri Gupta Govardhan temple at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat, Sri Nabadwip Dham. (Photographs taken on 12 November 2015)

Sri Govardhan Puja class (Archive video, Bengali)
An archive video recording of Sri Govardhan Puja day celebrated at Srila Sridhar Seva Ashram in Sri Govardhan Dham, in the shelter of the holy lotus feet of His Divine Grace Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj.

This day in 2016:

• SONG: Sri Gupta Govardhan Arati
"All glories, all glories, to the grand arati of Sri Giriraj! In the midst of Sri Gaura-mandal, it brings auspiciousness to the entire universe."

• SONG: Radha-kunda-tata | করাধাকুণ্ডতট
"The grove-dwelling on the banks of Radha-kunda, Govardhan Hill, the banks of the Yamuna River. I can never leave all these things so dear to me, without them I know I'll surely die."

• SONG: Dasa-avatara-stotram | দশাবতারস্তোত্রম্
"I offer my obeisance unto Sri Krsna, who assumes ten forms and rescues the Vedas, upholds Mandara Mountain, uplifts the earth, rips apart demons, deceives Bali Maharaj, kills the ksatriyas, conquers Ravan, carries a plough, shows compassion, and annihilates the wicked."

• SONG: Damodarastakam | শ্রীশ্রীদামোদরাষ্টকম্
"To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence, knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro, who is beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who [due to the offence of breaking the pot of yogurt that his mother was churning into butter and then stealing the butter that was kept hanging from a swing] is quickly running from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of Mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed—to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances."

• Mayura mukuta | ময়ূর-মুকুট
"He wears a peacock feather crown and yellow garments. He holds the flute and lifts the Govardhan Hill! All glory to the son of Yasoda, Krishna, Murari. Glory to He who holds the flute and lifts the Govardhan Hill!"

 · · • • • · ·

2014:
 JULY
 AUGUST
 SEPTEMBER
 OCTOBER
 NOVEMBER
 DECEMBER

2015:
 JANUARY
 FEBRUARY
 MARCH
 APRIL
 MAY
 JUNE
 JULY
 AUGUST
 SEPTEMBER
 OCTOBER
 NOVEMBER
 DECEMBER