In honour of Sri Chaturmasya-vrata:

Chaturmasya
"Chaturmasya is good, but chaturmasya does not mean you must keep a beard, grow long hair and not eat something, but secretly do nonsense. This life is not for enjoyment only. You must be always careful with the food..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 4 min | 1 July 2012)

In honour of Srila Vyasadev:

"You have heard of the Upanisads, Vedas, Vedanta, and the other scriptures which were revealed in India in written form five thousand years ago. Previously, this knowledge existed as sruti-mantram, spoken words, and it was transmitted by rsis and munis to their disciples through sruti-mantram. At that time there were no books. Vedavyas has very mercifully given us the written form of sruti-mantram: the Veda. He divided the Veda (sruti) into four parts: Rg, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva. He also composed the supplementary literatures (smrti) like the Mahabharata, which is called the fifth Veda. The gist of the Vedas can also be found in the hundreds of Upanisads he wrote. The great rsis, Vedic research scholars, have also presented the Vedic knowledge in the Puranas. Thus, through the great rsis, this transcendental knowledge is being revealed in this mundane world, and when necessary, from time to time, an incarnation of the Lord manifests by whose divine mercy we get a connection with that transcendental knowledge.

"These Vedic literatures mainly try to give us transcendental knowledge, and for our benefit they have proclaimed, "Srnvantu visve amrtasya putra: you are all the sons of nectar, transcendental nectar; you are from the nectarean ocean. Dive deep into that nectar!" We are all parts and parcels of the Lord, therefore we are spiritual relatives."

(Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, Original Source)

namo 'stu te vyasa-visala-buddhe
phullaravindayata-patra-netra
yena tvaya bharata-taila-purnah
prajvalito jnana-mayah pradipah [2]

Obeisances unto Srila Vyasadeva—
O Srila Vyasadeva of formidable intelligence, whose eyes resemble the long petals of the blooming lotus flower, and who ignited the lamp of knowledge, filled with the oil of the Mahabharata—I offer my obeisances unto you.

(Mangalacharanam, Srimad Bhagavad-gita)

In honour of Sri Guru Purnima:

Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Vani
A quote of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad that is much appreaciated by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj and is framed and hung in many of the temples: "If someone does not consider it necessary to faithfully follow their Guru and the Vaishnavs, their endeavour to serve the Lord is not service to the Lord—it is service to maya."

Key to Guru Puja
"Gurudev had explained and taught me that when you make a festival not much is necessary—a festival means Vaishnav seva, bhakta-seva. Guru-seva is not engaging your Guru in service—it means serving your Guru, serving his devotees."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.6 Mb, 7 min | 9 October 2018 | Bengali)

Sri Guru's Forgiving Mercy
"Gurudev is always merciful. I can give you an example of how merciful Gurudev is, I can tell you one story. Disciples always do wrong, but Gurudev is always merciful..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 7 min | June 2010)

Part 1: How to See the Guru: Mercy
Clear guidance on how to understand who the Guru is, and how a sincere disciple should see the Guru: the Guru is not only a mahabhagavata (a great devotee), he is nondifferent from Krishna Himself.
• Download / listen to the audio (6.4 Mb, 14 min | 25 September 2014)

Part 2: How to See the Guru: Chastity
The main quality of a sincere disciple explained by several examples: one-pointed attention, rejecting the unfavourable, intense attachment to service and devotees, faith, and careful choice of association.
• Download / listen to the audio (7 Mb, 15 min | 25 September 2014)

Sri Guru and His Grace His Divine Grace Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj has been recently repeatedly stressing the importance of reading this holy book, recalling many examples and guidenlines found therein. Presented here in English for online reading, and in Bengali and English for downloading.

Daily Practice: Observing Festivals
A page of the Daily Practice section dedicated to Vaishnav-seva and observing festivals. "Why are you making a festival? Making a festival means you are inviting many people and you are giving them some prasadam, engaging them in Krishna consciousness—it means practising Krishna consciousness."

• Gurudev! krpa-bindu diya | গুরুদেব! কৃপাবিন্দু দিয়া • Gurudev bada krpa kari | গুরুদেব! বড় কৃপা করি’ • Samsara-davanala | সংসার-দাবানল • Sri-guru-charana-padma | শ্রীগুরুচরণ-পদ্ম • Krsna haite chatur-mukha | কৃষ্ণ হৈতে চতুর্ম্মুখ

In honour of Srila Sanatan Goswami Prabhu:

Sri Sanatan-Siksa
The first lecture in the cycle of lectures given by His Divine Grace Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj in 2015, dedicated to the teachings of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu and Srila Sanatan Goswami Prabhu.

Sri Rupa-Sanatan Siksa (EPUB file, 0.5 Mb)
"Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Sri Rupa-Satana Siksa, read and expounded by His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj." An electronic version of the published previously online matter available now for download, reading and worshipping on phones, tablets, eBook readers, etc.

• SONG: Sri Sad-Goswamy-Astakam | শ্রীশ্রীষড়্­গোস্বাম্যষ্টকম্
"I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Six Goswamis, namely Sri Rupa Goswami, Sri Sanatan Goswami, Sri Raghunath Bhatta Goswami, Sri Raghunath Das Goswami, Sri Jiva Goswami, and Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami, who are always engaged in chanting the Holy Name of Krishna and dancing. They are just like the ocean of love of God, and they are popular both with the gentle and with the ruffians, because they are not envious of anyone. Whatever they do, they are all-pleasing to everyone, and they are fully blessed by Lord Chaitanya. Thus they are engaged in missionary activities meant to deliver all the conditioned souls in the material universe."

• 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: 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: 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?"

All Glory to Sri Sri Guru Gauranga

Dear respected Devotees, Friends and Well-Wishers,

We are offering obeisance at your holy lotus feet and on behalf of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj humbly extend a letter of encouragement to observe the disappearance day of our most worshippable and beloved Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, which manifests on 20 July (Monday) this year, and will be observed in every branch of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math throughout the world.

Considering the ongoing difficult situation all over the world, many temples, centres, and devotees are currently constrained in their capacity to host large programmes, however it is good if this festival can still be observed within each temple, centre and heart of devotees according to their capacity. In India, His Divine Grace comments that the situation is quite difficult because of the enforced national lockdown, however all services at the temples are continuing smoothly and properly.

His Divine Grace has many times instructed on how to hold special programmes and taught it many times by his own example. Usually such programmes consist of: kirtans, lecture or reading of scriptures, arati, pushpanjali (offering of flowers to a photograph), and prasad-seva (cooking a special offering, offering it at the alter or to a photograph, and distributing it to devotees).

We hope all devotees find an opportunity to observe this holy day for the satisfaction of Sri Gurupadpadma keeping the divine Guidance on their heads: "Always sit amidst fire blazing on all four sides. This fire is Hari-katha, kirtan, service to the Lord, and service to the guru. You must progress in your practising life keeping the sacrificial fire of your service ablaze."

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."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min)

In honour of Sripad Bhakti Hriday Bon Maharaj:

Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj remembers:

When I got sannyas, Sripad Bon Maharaj was present there, as well as many others also. Sripad Bon Maharaj remarked, "Prabhupad has got a high satisfaction by giving you sannyas. We have never seen so much satisfaction in him at the occasion of any other sannyasi. He is highly satisfied with conferring sannyas to you."

...At that time, all the preachers had been taken back from the compass of the country and were concentrated to work in Kolkata—they used to have to go door to door collecting bhiksa (alms, donations). Sripad Bon Maharaj's party, he and one or two brahmacharis, went to some part of Kolkata for collection. Generally, seeing some gentleman standing by, one of the members of the party would run up to him and say something like, "We come from Gaudiya Math, we want to make some collection. Dear sir, you are a devoted person of this locality, please make some contribution." So, one time, Bon Maharaj asked some gentleman to give him some addresses of good benevolent gentlemen whom they could approach to get some money for their purpose. The gentleman showed Bon Maharaj the way saying, "Just go to that house, you will find the right person there." Bon Maharaj went there in good faith. When he knocked on the door, the door was open. A lady came out. Seeing him, she said, "Oh, you are a sadhu! What do you want from me?" The gentleman who had directed Bon Maharaj there, was laughing behind him—the lady was a prostitute. Bon Maharaj was perplexed—it was a lady. Anyhow, he still gave her the letter of invitation saying, "We have got such and such festival, we want you to come and we want to ask you for some contribution." I do not know if the lady had given him anything or not, but all the people around were laughing. After that, Bon Maharaj came back to Prabhupad and said, "Prabhupad, I will not go for any collection again." Prabhupad asked him, "Why? What has happened?" Bon Maharaj related the incident saying that some rogues had guided him to a prostitute's house. After that, Prabhupad delivered a lecture: "There are many of you who have left their own property, but still I send you out for collection. Do you think that I am doing wrong? I am not. The visayi (materialists) always want to entrap us within their material life, but we must learn to utilise everything and anything in the service of Krishna, then only are we saved; otherwise, if we leave, give everything away, all this visaya (material elements) will be left there and as soon as it gets any chance, it will come to bite me. So, whatever comes to us, we should deal with everything in such a way that rather, 'Whatever I shall come across, it will give me some impression to remember Krishna—everything should utilise me for a particular service to Krishna.' If left there, they will be enemies, but they should all be turned into friends. They will help me, remind me, excite me in the service of Krishna. We must have this kind of adjustment in this world. So, nothing should be left off. 'Nirbandhah Krsna-sambandhe yuktam vairagyam uchyate: when one is not attached to anything, but at the same time accepts everything in relation to Krishna, one is rightly situated above possessiveness.'"

Prayers to Sri Vaishnav Thakur:

• 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: 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: 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?"

In honour of Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswamipad:

Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami's Miracle
"You have heard about the Deity of Sri Radha-Raman in Vrindavan. When Gopal Bhatta Goswami lived in Vrindavan, he every day worshipped twelve pieces of Govardhan sila..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 7 September 2013 | Bengali)

Strongest Faith (2) Gopal Bhatta Goswami
"You have eyes in your heart, and if you have such feeling towards the Deity in your heart and do your service with such faith, then you can easily see Krishna everywhere, hear Krishna-nama everywhere, nothing else besides Krishna-nama will enter your ears..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min | 10 March 2015)

Prayers to Sri Vaishnav Thakur:

• 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: 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: 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?"

In honour of Srila Lokanath Goswami Prabhu:

In Praise of Srila Narottam Das Thakur
In this chapter of Affectional Guidance, His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj is describing the meeting of Srila Narottam Das Thakur with his Guru, Srila Lokanath Goswami.

Prayers to Sri Vaishnav Thakur:

• 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: 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: 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?"

In honour of Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj:

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."

What Is Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and Its Distinctions
"To explain to this world what Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is, what its purpose, preaching matter or distinctions are, is an extremely difficult task, but it is even more difficult to make those who are engrossed in and inspired by the commonplace ideas appreciate it even partially..."

Do Not Compromise with Maya
"So many problems came in their time, and they did not back off—they spoke the truth; but we are ready to compromise our principles—we compromise what Mahaprabhu teaches us with other things. Srila Sridhar Maharaj saw a big dream that Mahaprabhu's proper conception would be preached all over the world by Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, and that is happening now. We must not surrender to maya."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.8 Mb, 11 min | 7 June 2019)

Autobiography 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.

Our Literary Heritage
An extensive collection of publications and holy books most mercifully presented to us by devotees who tirelessly collected, transcribed, and presented carefully in a book-form the holy transcendental discourses of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj containing unprecedented and much appreciated and extolled by the entire Vaishnava universe siddhanta. We invite everyone to come in touch with the touchstones of these holy books and embrace the supreme nourishment and fulfilment that any sincere seeker shall find therein.

Exalted, Esteemed, and Inimitable
"We have no quality or qualification to glorify Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. He is a super personality. Srila Sridhar Maharaj conquered, possessed the heart of Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur through his service and devotion."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 10 min | 26 July 2014)

Festival of Solemn Service
"Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's disappearance festival is coming soon and all over the world devotees are making some ceremony on this day. No actual disciple wants to see their Gurudev's disappearance day—it is about the love and affection, about a good connection between the Guru and the disciple..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.9 Mb, 9 min | 28 July 2011)

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."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 15 July 2012)

The Root of Our Fortune
"Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj came in this world to rescue us, and he created our Guru—by his grace we have got shelter of our bona fide Guru. So, we must worship his lotus feet."
• Download / listen to the audio (7.6 Mb, 22 min | 22 October 2011)

Suggested kirtans:

This day in 2013 (Bengali):
• Morning Bengali class of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj: (Download, 13.8 Mb, 40 min)
• Morning kirtans: (Download, 15.9 Mb, 47 min)
• Noon class of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj (includes a ten-minute archive recording of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's Bengali lecture at the end, which was played during the class to the assembled audience): (Download, 11.5 Mb, 34 min)

In honour of Srila Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj:

"In 1914, when Srila Prabhupad arrived a few days before the festival of Sriman Mahaprabhu's appearance, he met with Srila Vamsidas Babaji Mahasaya, an affectionate associate of Srila Gaurakishor Das Goswami Maharaj in the yard of a large gymnasium in Kuliya. At that time, Srila Vamsidas did not speak to anyone—he would only constantly sing on his own the verses from ‘Prarthana’ written by Srila Narottam Thakur Mayasaya for his holy Lordships Sri Sri Gaura-Nityananda whom he served with pure loving devotion. Seeing Prabhupad, Srila Vamsidas Babaji Maharaj became extremely happy and, overcome with feelings, said, 'My Gaura's very own has come.' After that, he cordially welcomed Prabhupad, gave him a place to sit and began to sing ‘Prarthana’ by Thakur Mahasay. It was heard that he would every day somehow gather champaka flowers, string them into two garlands and offer them onto the necks of Sri Sri Gaura Nityananda. After Srila Prabhupad had seen this service, he told us much about the loving service of Srila Vamsidas Babaji Maharaj and said that he was constantly engaged in a much cherished service in ardent adherence to Srila Narottam Thakur Mahasaya. Prabhupad also said at the time that outside people could not grasp the unholy practises that Srila Vamsidas Babaji Maharaj displayed in order to deceive the outside people. The activities and actions of a perfected Vaishnav of an unfathomable character can never be perceived by enjoyers, renunciates and imposter devotees."

(From 'Saraswati Jayasri')

Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj remembers:

Srila Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj was the only sadhu who was regocnised by our Guru Maharaj (Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad) as a sadhu. Indifferent to the world, Srila Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj lived a strict life of a babaji. He would be seen smoking publicly and living in his ashram with so many things scattered around it (fish scales, etc.) as he wanted to keep himself aloof from the society. He was indifferent to all those worldly things; he was actually searching after Krishna in his heart. Despite so many contradictory symptoms in his character, he had the recognition of our Guru Maharaj as a real living Vaishnava. Our Guru Maharaj rejected so many Vrindavan babajis as being imitators, but Srila Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj was not an imitator—he really hankered for Krishna.

Another time, some gentleman was singing a song of Srila Narottam Das Thakur. When he finished singing, Srila Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj remarked, "You have only superficially repeated the sound, but the real influence, the real impression, the inner voltage is unknown to you. Those who are hit by strong feeling suggested by this song can know the power underlying it, but you are merely repeating the sound physically, you do not feel the volt, the energy within it. The voltage of the meaning of this song has not struck your heart." He remarked like that. Ordinary men who exist on the surface only repeat sounds, but those whose hearts have been touched by the deep underlying meaning, they can understand what that song contains...

"For a particular purpose it may be all right to keep a beard, but that is not the custom, neither with the sannyasis, nor with the babajis. Srila Sanatan Goswami had a full beard and Mahaprabhu ordered, 'Take him to a barber and remove it.' Neither sannyasis, nor babajis keep such things. So, we do not like to keep it either. During the Chaturmasya, for the vrata, it is mentioned in the sastra that we can keep hair and beard, otherwise generally not. At the same time, it is not that if one keeps long hair and long beard he cannot be a Vaishnav. There was Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj, an independent Vaishnav. Our Guru Maharaj (Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad) also gave respect to him as a Vaishnav, but he had a big beard and did not shave at all. He was very negligent, he did not follow any sort of fashion—he did not allow any barber to shave him. Still, he was a respectable Vaishnav. As for yourself, if you keep a beard only to satisfy the Muslims for the purpose of your service—if you approach them to collect money and you can render good service to your Gurudev through that, then, for this purpose, to keep the safety of your vocation, you may keep a beard."

(Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj)

It can sometimes be very hard for us to accept the different natures of the devotees in this Krishna consciousness mission. If someone will stick to only one attitude then he must be doomed to failure. There are many devotees—and many different natures. As an example you can see in our own Sri Guru-varga that Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur has one kind of nature, Srila Gaura Kisor Das Babaji Maharaj has another kind of nature, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur's nature is of another type, and Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj's nature is yet another. But they are all siddha-mahapurusas—perfected souls. Also Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj has another type of nature, and our Srila Guru Maharaj yet another. So who are you to follow?

Srila Govinda Maharaj: Yes, They accepted. Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj's position was such that he was a paramahamsa Vaishnav in vatsalya-rasa, so Nitai-Gaura could not ignore his offering. But you cannot imitate him.

(Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, Golden Reflections)

Question: It was the disappearance day of Vamsi Das Babaji yesterday. Could you tell us something about that?

Actually, there are many followers of Mahaprabhu. Not so much is written about many of them, but because they are followers of Mahaprabhu we give their name in the panjika (calendar). We always pay obeisance to them because they serve Mahaprabhu. Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj, Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj and others are our line and like many previous Gurus and babajis in our line, they lived and did bhajan in Radha Kunda, but after that they came to Nabadwip. We respect them as our Guru-varga, and that is sufficient for us, it is not so important to know the detailed history of their life. Sometimes, the description of their life is not written anywhere in the scriptures, but we always follow our Srila Sridhar Maharaj's panjika and we give their name in it.

(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj, Odds and Ends)