SRI GAUDIYA CALENDAR

538 Sri Gaurabda
2024-2025
(বাংলা সংস্করণ)

English (16 Mb)

SRI GAUDIYA CALENDAR (English) শ্রীগৌড়ীয়-পর্ব্ব-তালিকা (বাংলা) Calendar for the next year, prepared by His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Tilak Niriha Maharaj for Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math devotees worldwide (based on P.M. Bagchi calculations, as followed by our guru-varga). Presented here as a downloadable electronic illustrated PDF booklet in English and Bengali, as well as full text (below).

Bengali (14 Mb)

EKADASI LISTS:
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MARCH 2024

VISHNU

26 MARCH (TUE). Krishna Pratipad. Sri Gaura Purnima paran is at 5:39:46–9:41:36. Anandotsav (joyous festival) of Sri Jagannath Mishra. A grand festival and mahaprasad distribution at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Nabadwip Dham.

30 MARCH (SAT). Krishna Panchami. Manifestation Anniversary of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Gopinath jiu at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Asram in Sripat Hapaniya Dham and Pancham Dol festival. Appearance (avirbhav) of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Saran Santa Maharaj.

APRIL 2024

2 APRIL (TUE). Krishna Astami. Appearance of Srila Srivas Pandit.

3 APRIL (WED). Krishna Navami. Disappearance (tirobhav) of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Vigraha Bhiksu Maharaj.

5 APRIL (FRI). Krishna Ekadasi. Fast on Papa Vimochani Ekadasi.

6 APRIL (SAT). Krishna Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 5:28:53–7:22:16. Festival in honour of Sriman Mahaprabhu's auspicious arrival (vijay-mahotsav) at Varaha Nagar. Disappearance of Srila Govinda Ghosh Thakur. Departure (niryan) of Sripad Satyendrachandra Bhattacharya Mahodaya.

8 APRIL (MON). Amavasya.

13 APRIL (SAT). Gaura Panchami. Appearance of Sripad Ramanuja Acharya. Appearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Hriday Bon Maharaj.

15 APRIL (MON). Gaura Saptami. Appearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Vilas Tirtha Maharaj.

17 APRIL (WED). Gaura Navami. Sri Rama Navami: Appearance of Lord Sri Sri Ramachandra. Fast until noon.

19 APRIL (FRI). Gaura Ekadasi. Fast on Kamada Ekadasi.

20 APRIL (SAT). Gaura Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 5:15:35–9:28:55. Festival in honour of the disappearance of Om Visnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya-varya Astottara-sata-sri Sri Srimad Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Lord Krishna's Damanaka-ropana festival.

23 APRIL (TUE). Purnima. Vasanta Rasa of Sri Krishna. Rasa Yatra of Sri Sri Balaram. Appearance of Srila Vamsi-vadananda Thakur and Srila Syamananda Prabhu.

MADHUSUDAN

29 APRIL (MON). Krishna Panchami. Disappearance of Srila Krishnadas Babaji Maharaj.

30 APRIL (TUE). Krishna Saptami. Disappearance of Srila Abhiram Thakur.

MAY 2024

3 MAY (FRI). Krishna Dasami. Disappearance of Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur.

4 MAY (SAT). Krishna Ekadasi. Fast on Varuthini Ekadasi. Disappearance of Sriyukta Saurindranath Bhakti Varidhi Prabhu.

5 MAY (SUN). Krishna Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 5:05:06–9:23:52.

6 MAY (MON). Gaura Trayodasi. Manifestation anniversary of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Vrindavan-chandra jiu at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Uluberia.

7 MAY (TUE). Krishna Chaturdasi. Festival in honour of the disappearance of Om Visnupad Parivrajakacharya-varya Astottara-sata-sri Sri Srimad Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj.

8 MAY (WED). Amavasya. Appearance of Srila Gadadhar Pandit Goswami.

9 MAY (THU). Gaura Pratipad. Appearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Aloka Paramahamsa Maharaj.

10 MAY (FRI). Gaura Dvitiya. Appearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj. Gaura Tritiya (falls on the same day). Aksaya Tritiya (an auspicious day to start some works). Beginning of the 21-day Chandan Yatra of Sri Sri Jagannathdev.

12 MAY (SUN). Gaura Panchami. Appearance of Sripad Sankaracharya. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Vilas Gabhastinemi Maharaj.

15 MAY (WED). Gaura Saptami. Jahnu Saptami: Sri Jahnavi Puja (worship of the Ganga).

17 MAY (FRI). Gaura Navami. Appearance of Sri Jahnava Devi (Sri Nityananda-sakti) and Sri Sita Devi (Sri Rama-sakti).

19 MAY (SUN). Gaura Ekadasi. Fast on Mohini Ekadasi.

20 MAY (MON). Gaura Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 4:56:50–9:20:56.

22 MAY (WED). Gaura Chaturdasi. Sri Nrisimha Chaturdasi: appearance of Lord Sri Nrisimhadev. Full fast until sunset; then no grains (anukalpa). Sri Vyasa-puja festival in honour of the divine appearance day of Om Visnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya-varya Astottara-sata-sri Sri Srimad Bhakti Tilak Niriha Maharaj, the current successor President-Acharya of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. Manifestation anniversary of Sri Sri Guru Gaura Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Prahlad Maharaj and Sri Sri Laksmi Nrisimhadev at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Nrisingha Palli.

23 MAY (THU). Purnima. Nrisimha Chaturdasi-vrata paran is at 4:55:45–9:20:41. Sri Krishna's Phul-dol and Salila-vihara. Buddha Purnima: appearance of Lord Buddha. Disappearance of Srila Paramesvari Das Thakur. Appearance of Srila Srinivas Acharya.

TRIVIKRAM

24 MAY (FRI). Krishna Pratipad. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj.

28 MAY (TUE). Krishna Panchami. Disappearance of Srila Ramananda Ray.

JUNE 2024

1 JUNE (SAT). Krishna Navami. Departure of Sripad Santos Krishna Das-Adhikari Prabhu.

2 JUNE (SUN). Krishna Ekadasi. No fast.

3 JUNE (MON). Krishna Dvadasi. Fast on Apara Ekadasi. Appearance of Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur.

4 JUNE (TUE). Krishna Trayodasi. Ekadasi paran is at 4:54:40–9:21:20.

6 JUNE (THU). Amavasya.

7 JUNE (FRI). Gaura Pratipad. Manifestation anniversary of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Madan-mohan jiu at Sri Chaitanya Saraswata Krishnanusilana Sangha, Dum Dum Park, Kolkata.

10 JUNE (MON). Gaura Chaturthi. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Gaurava Giri Maharaj (Sripad Paramananda Vidyaratna Prabhu).

16 JUNE (SUN). Gaura Dasami. Dasahara, Sri Ganga Puja. Appearance of Sri Ganga Mata Goswamini. Disappearance of Srila Baladev Vidyabhusan Prabhu.

17 JUNE (MON). Gaura Ekadasi. No fast.

18 JUNE (TUE). Gaura Dvadasi. Fast on Vyanjuli Mahadvadasi.

19 JUNE (WED). Gaura Dvadasi. Vyanjuli Mahadvadasi paran is at 4:54:26–5:51:09.

20 JUNE (THU). Gaura Trayodasi. Danda Mahotsav ('Punishment Festival') arranged by Srila Raghunath Das Goswami at Sripat Panihati. Departure of Sripad Bhakti Vaibhav Parivrajak Maharaj.

22 JUNE (SAT). Purnima. Snan Yatra of Sri Sri Jagannathdev. Disappearance of Srila Mukunda Datta and Srila Sridhar Pandit.

VAMAN

23 JUNE (SUN). Krishna Pratipad. Disappearance of Srila Shyamananda Prabhu. Departure of Sripad Rsabhdev Das-Adhikari Prabhu. Krishna Dvitiya (falls on the same day). Departure of Sri Gaurahari Bhakti-Sampad Prabhu.

26 JUNE (WED). Krishna Panchami. Appearance of Srila Vakresvar Pandit.

JULY 2024

2 JULY (TUE). Krishna Ekadasi. Fast on Yogini Ekadasi. Departure of Sriyukta Rama Devi.

3 JULY (WED). Krishna Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 4:58:42–7:01:55.

5 JULY (FRI). Amavasya. Disappearance of Srila Gadadhar Pandit Goswami and Srila Sach-chid-ananda Bhaktivinod Thakur.

6 JULY (SAT). Gaura Pratipad. Sri Gundicha Marjan (cleaning Sri Gundicha Temple at Sri Puri Dham and cleaning all temples).

7 JULY (SUN). Gaura Dvitiya. Ratha Yatra of Sri Jagannathdev. Disappearance of Srila Svarup Damodar Goswami Prabhu.

11 JULY (THU). Gaura Panchami. Hera-Panchami, Sri Sri Laksmi Vijay (observed in Sri Puri Dham the next day).

14 JULY (SUN). Gaura Astami. Disappearance of Sripad Ajita Krishna Brahmachari.

16 JULY (TUE). Gaura Dasami. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Kamal Madhusudan Maharaj. Departure of Sriyukta Krishnamayi Devi. Punar Yatra of Sri Sri Jagannathdev (return journey of the Chariots).

17 JULY (WED). Gaura Ekadasi. Fast on Sayan Ekadasi. Sri Hari retires to take rest (sayan).

18 JULY (THU). Gaura Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 5:04:06–9:29:48.

21 JULY (SUN). Purnima. Sri Guru Purnima. Appearance of Srila Vyasadev. Disappearance of Srila Sanatan Goswami Prabhu. Beginning of Chaturmasya Vrata.

SRIDHAR

23 JULY (TUE). Krishna Dvitiya. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Hriday Bon Maharaj.

26 JULY (FRI). Krishna Panchami. Disappearance of Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami Prabhu.

28 JULY (SUN). Krishna Astami. Disappearance of Srila Lokanath Goswami Prabhu.

31 JULY (WED). Krishna Ekadasi. Fast on Kamika Ekadasi.

AUGUST 2024

1 AUGUST (THU). Krishna Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 5:09:44–9:31:46.

4 AUGUST (SUN). Amavasya. Festival in honour of the disappearance of Om Visnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya-varya Astottara-sata-sri Sri Srimad Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

8 AUGUST (THU). Gaura Chaturthi. Srila Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj's disappearance.

10 AUGUST (SAT). Gaura Sasthi. Appearance of Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Vijay Trivikram Maharaj.

11 AUGUST (SUN). Gaura Saptami. Departure of Sripad Ananga Mohan Das-Adhikari Prabhu.

13 AUGUST (TUE). Gaura Navami. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Bhakti Prasun Bodhayan Maharaj.

16 AUGUST (FRI). Gaura Ekadasi. Fast on Pavitraropani Ekadasi. Beginning of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda's Jhulan Yatra. Beginning of the month-long Sri Hari Smaran Festival at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

17 AUGUST (SAT). Gaura Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 5:15:51–5:17:56. Disappearance of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu and Srila Gauri Das Pandit Goswami. Sri Sri Krishna's Pavitraropana Festival (the day when the holy thread is bestowed).

19 AUGUST (MON). Purnima. End of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda's Jhulan Yatra. Appearance of Lord Sri Baladev. Fast until midday.

HRISHIKESH

27 AUGUST (TUE). Krishna Astami. Sri Sri Krishna Janmastami: Appearance of Lord Sri Krishna (midnight). Complete fast until midnight, then no grains (only anukalpa).

28 AUGUST (WED). Krishna Navami. Janmastami-vrata paran is at 5:19:11–9:31:37. Sri Nandotsav. Appearance of Visva-varenya Tridandi-swami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad.

29 AUGUST (THU). Krishna Ekadasi. No fast.

30 AUGUST (FRI). Krishna Dvadasi. Fast on Paksavardhini Mahadvadasi.

31 AUGUST (SAT). Krishna Trayodasi. Paksavardhini Mahadvadasi paran is at 5:20:17–9:31:23.

SEPTEMBER 2024

2 SEPTEMBER (MON). Amavasya.

8 SEPTEMBER (SUN). Gaura Panchami. Appearance of Sri Sita Devi, the consort of Sri Advaita Prabhu.

10 SEPTEMBER (TUE). Gaura Saptami. Sri Lalita Saptami: Appearance of Sri Lalita Devi.

11 SEPTEMBER (WED). Gaura Astami. Sri Radhastami: Appearance of Srimati Radharani. Fast until noon.

14 SEPTEMBER (SAT). Gaura Ekadasi. Fast on Parsva Ekadasi and in honour of Lord Sri Vamandev's appearance. Sri Hari's parsva-parivartan: the Lord turns on His other side.

15 SEPTEMBER (SUN). Gaura Dvadasi. Appearance of Lord Sri Vamanadev. Ekadasi paran is at 5:25:15–9:29:41 after the worship of Lord Sri Vamanadev. Appearance of Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu.

16 SEPTEMBER (MON). Gaura Trayodasi. Appearance of Srila Sach-chid-ananda Bhaktivinod Thakur.

17 SEPTEMBER (TUE). Gaura Chaturdasi. Disappearance of Srila Haridas Thakur.

18 SEPTEMBER (WED). Purnima. Visvarup Mahotsav. End of the month-long Sri Hari Smaran Festival at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

PADMANABHA

19 SEPTEMBER (THU). Krishna Dvitiya. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Vilas Tirtha Maharaj.

28 SEPTEMBER (SAT). Krishna Ekadasi. Fast on Indira Ekadasi.

29 SEPTEMBER (SUN). Krishna Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 5:29:47–9:27:57.

OCTOBER 2024

2 OCTOBER (WED). Amavasya.

3 OCTOBER (THU). Gaura Pratipad. Grand festival in honour of the appearance of Om Visnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya-varya Astottara-sata-sri Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj.

5 OCTOBER (SAT). Gaura Tritiya. Departure of Sriyukta Radharani Devi Chaudhurani.

6 OCTOBER (SUN). Gaura Chaturthi. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Sripad Bhakti Dayita Damodar Maharaj.

12 OCTOBER (SAT). Gaura Dasami. Vijay Utsav of Sri Ramachandra and appearance of Sri Madhvacharya.

13 OCTOBER (SUN). Gaura Ekadasi. No fast.

14 OCTOBER (MON). Gaura Dvadasi. Fast for Papankusa Ekadasi. Disappearance of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, Srila Raghunath Bhatta Goswami and Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami.

15 OCTOBER (TUE). Gaura Trayodasi. Ekadasi paran is at 5:36:17–9:27:05.

17 OCTOBER (THU). Purnima. Saradiya Rasa-Yatra of Lord Sri Krishna. Disappearance of Srila Murari Gupta. Beginning of urjja-vrata, damodar-vrata, kartik-vrata or niyom-seva.

DAMODAR

20 OCTOBER (SUN). Krishna Tritiya. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Srirupa Puri Maharaj.

22 OCTOBER (TUE). Krishna Panchami. Disappearance of Srila Narottam Thakur.

23 OCTOBER (WED). Krishna Sasthi. Disappearance of Srila Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj.

25 OCTOBER (FRI). Krishna Astami. Bahulastami. Manifestation day of Sri Radha Kunda. Sannyas day of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

26 OCTOBER (SAT). Krishna Navami. The grand appearance day celebration of Om Visnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajak-acharya-varya Astottara-sata-sri Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Appearance of Srila Virachandra Prabhu. Disappearance of Sripad Sakhi-Charan Das Babaji Maharaj.

28 OCTOBER (MON). Krishna Ekadasi. Fast on Sri Rama Ekadasi.

28 OCTOBER (TUE). Krishna Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 5:43:16–9:28:02. Festival in honour of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu's auspicious arrival at Sripat Panihati.

31 OCTOBER (THU). Krishna Chaturdasi. Offering and placing of lamps (or candles) on the temples of the Lord.

NOVEMBER 2024

1 NOVEMBER (FRI). Amavasya. Dipavali. Offering and placing of lamps (or candles) on the temples of the Lord.

2 NOVEMBER (SAT). Gaura Pratipad. Sri Sri Govardhan Puja (in the morning). Grand Annakut Mahotsav ('Rice Mountain Festival') at Srila Sridhar Swami Seva Asram (Govardhan) and Sri Gupta-Govardhan Temple (Nabadwip). Go-Puja (worship of cows) and Go-Krida (pleasing cows). Worship of Sri Bali Daityaraj.

3 NOVEMBER (SUN). Gaura Dvitiya. Disappearance of Srila Vasu Ghosh Thakur. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Sarvasva Giri Maharaj. Bhratri-dvitiya krityam (the day when brothers and sisters honour each other).

5 NOVEMBER (TUE). Gaura Chaturthi. Disappearance of Visva-varenya Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad.

6 NOVEMBER (WED). Gaura Panchami. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Aloka Paramahamsa Maharaj.

9 NOVEMBER (SAT). Gaura Astami. Sri Gopastami, Sri Gosthastami. Disappearance of Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami, Srila Dhananjay Pandit and Srila Srinivas Acharya Prabhu.

12 NOVEMBER (TUE). Gaura Ekadasi. Fast on Sri Utthan Ekadasi. Disappearance of Om Visnupad Paramahamsa Srila Gaura Kisor Das Babaji Maharaj. Appearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Dayita Madhav Maharaj. Sri Bhisma Panchaka. Awakening (utthana) of Lord Sri Hari.

13 NOVEMBER (WED). Gaura Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 5:52:03–9:32:19.

14 NOVEMBER (THU). Gaura Chaturdasi. Disappearance of Srila Bhugarbha Goswami and Srila Kasisvar Pandit. Departure of Srimad Bhakti Pramod Puri Maharaj.

15 NOVEMBER (FRI). Purnima. Rasa Yatra of Sri Krishna. Disappearance of Srila Sundarananda Thakur. Appearance of Srila Nimbarka Acharya. Manifestation anniversary of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Rasa-Bihari jiu at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and Mission, Sri Vrindavan. End of chaturmasya, urjja-vrata, damodar-vrata, kartik-vrata or niyom-seva and Bhisma-panchaka.

KESHAVA

26 NOVEMBER (TUE). Krishna Ekadasi. Fast on Utpanna Ekadasi. Departure of Sriyukta Dhananjaya Das Prabhu.

27 NOVEMBER (WED). Krishna Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 10:26:49–14:01:00. Disappearance of Srila Narahari Sarkar Thakur and Srila Kaliya Krishnadas.

28 NOVEMBER (THU). Krishna Trayodasi. Disappearance of Srila Saranga Thakur.

DECEMBER 2024

1 DECEMBER (SUN). Amavasya. Disappearance of Srestharya Srila Jagabandhu Bhakti Ranjan.

7 DECEMBER (SAT). Gaura Sasthi. Sri Sri Jagannathdev's Odan-Sasthi. Manifestation Anniversary of Sri Sri Nitai Chaitanya at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Sri Puri Dham.

8 DECEMBER (SUN). Gaura Astami. Disappearance of Suryakunda-basi Srila Madhusudan Das Babaji Maharaj.

9 DECEMBER (MON). Gaura Navami. Appearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Kamal Madhusudan Maharaj.

10 DECEMBER (TUE). Gaura Dasami. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Kusum Sraman Maharaj.

11 DECEMBER (WED). Gaura Ekadasi. Fast on Moksada Ekadasi.

12 DECEMBER (THU). Gaura Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 6:11:45–9:44:05.

15 DECEMBER (SUN). Purnima.

NARAYAN

17 DECEMBER (TUE). Krishna Dvitiya. Grand festival in honour of the appearance day of Om Visnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya Sri Srimad Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

18 DECEMBER (WED). Krishna Tritiya. Festivals at Bamunpara and Nadan Ghat, the places of Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's holy appearance and childhood pastimes.

19 DECEMBER (THU). Krishna Chaturthi. Festival in honour of the disappearance of Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupad.

26 DECEMBER (THU). Krishna Ekadasi. Fast on Saphala Ekadasi. Disappearance of Srila Devananda Pandit and Srimad Bhakti Prakas Aranya Maharaj.

27 DECEMBER (FRI). Krishna Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 6:20:54–9:52:08. Disappearance of Sripad Bhakti Bhudev Srauti Maharaj.

28 DECEMBER (SUN). Krishna Trayodasi. Disappearance of Srila Mahesh Pandit and Srila Uddharan Datta Thakur.

30 DECEMBER (MON). Amavasya.

31 DECEMBER (TUE). Gaura Pratipad. Appearance of Srila Lochan Das Thakur.

JANUARY 2025

2 JANUARY (THU). Gaura Tritiya. Disappearance of Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu and Srila Jagadis Pandit.

10 JANUARY (FRI). Gaura Ekadasi. Fast on Putrada Ekadasi. Appearance of Srila Jagadis Pandit.

11 JANUARY (SAT). Gaura Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 6:24:10–7:42:48.

13 JANUARY (MON). Purnima. Pusyabhisek Yatra of Sri Krishna. Departure of Sripad Bhakti Saran Vaisnav Maharaj.

MADHAV

14 JANUARY (TUE). Krishna Pratipad. Makar Sankranti. Remembering Sriman Mahaprabhu's pastime of leaving home.

15 JANUARY (WED). Krishna Dvitiya. Sriman Mahaprabhu takes sannyas. A three-day remembrance festival in honour of Sriman Mahaprabhu's sannyas-lila.

16 JANUARY (THU). Krishna Tritiya. Appearance of Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami Prabhu and disappearance of Srila Ramachandra Kaviraj.

17 JANUARY (FRI). Krishna Chaturthi. Disappearance of Sripad Yadavendu Bhakti-Chandan.

20 JANUARY (MON). Krishna Sasthi. Disappearance of Srila Jayadev Goswami Prabhu.

22 JANUARY (WED). Krishna Astami. Disappearance of Srila Lochan Das Thakur.

25 JANUARY (SAT). Krishna Ekadasi. Fast on Sat-tila Ekadasi.

26 JANUARY (SUN). Krishna Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 6:23:37–10:00:39.

29 JANUARY (WED). Amavasya.

30 JANUARY (THU). Gaura Pratipad. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Gaurava Vaikhanash Maharaj and departure of Sri Haripada Chaudhuri Das-Adhikari.

31 JANUARY (FRI). Gaura Dvitiya. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Saran Santa Maharaj.

FEBRUARY 2025

2 FEBRUARY (SUN). Gaura Chaturthi. Appearance of Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj.

3 FEBRUARY (MON). Gaura Panchami. Sri Krishna's Vasanta Panchami. Appearance of Sri Sri Visnupriya Devi. Appearance of Srila Pundarik Vidyanidhi, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami and Srila Raghunandan Thakur. Disappearance of Srila Visvanath Chakravarti Thakur. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Vivek Bharati Maharaj and Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Svarup Parvat Maharaj. Sri Saraswati Puja.

4 FEBRUARY (TUE). Gaura Saptami. Appearance of Sri Mahavisnu Avatar Sri Advaita Acharya.

5 FEBRUARY (WED). Gaura Astami. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Prapanna Parivrajak Maharaj and departure of Sripad Virendra Krishna Prabhu.

6 FEBRUARY (THU). Gaura Navami. Disappearance of Sripad Madhvacharya.

7 FEBRUARY (FRI). Gaura Dasami. Disappearance of Srila Ramanuja Acharya.

8 FEBRUARY (SAT). Gaura Ekadasi. Fast on Bhaimi Ekadasi and in honour of Lord Sri Varahadev's appearance (tomorrow).

9 FEBRUARY (SUN). Gaura Dvadasi. Appearance of Lord Sri Varahadev. Ekadasi paran is at 6:17:41–9:59:51 after offering worship to Lord Varahadev.

10 FEBRUARY (MON). Gaura Trayodasi. Appearance of Sri Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Fast until noon. Annual festival in honour of the manifestation anniversary of Sri Guru Sri Gaura Sri Nityananda at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Ekachakra Dham.

12 FEBRUARY (WED). Purnima. Sri Krishna's Madhurotsav. Appearance of Srila Narottam Thakur.

GOVINDA

15 FEBRUARY (SAT). Krishna Tritiya. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Sripad Bhakti Premik Siddhanti Maharaj.

17 FEBRUARY (MON). Krishna Panchami. Grand Sri Sri Vyasa-puja festival in honour of the holy appearance day of Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur. Annual festival at Sri Gupta-Govardhan Mandir (Sri Govinda Kunda, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip). Disappearance of Srila Purusottam Thakur.

18 FEBRUARY (TUE). Krishna Sasthi. Appearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj.

19 FEBRUARY (WED). Krishna Saptami. Annual three-day festival in honour of the manifestation of Sri Sri Gaura Nityananda and Sri Sri Gandharva Govinda-sundar jiu at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva-sadan in Sri Ganga Sagar.

24 FEBRUARY (MON). Krishna Ekadasi. Fast on Vijaya Ekadasi. Passing away of Sripad Krishna Govinda Das-Adhikari.

25 FEBRUARY (TUE). Krishna Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 6:07:06–9:55:38.

27 FEBRUARY (THU). Krishna Chaturdasi. Sri Sri Sivaratri-vrata (optional fast). Departure of Srimad Bhakti Nivas Bhagavat Maharaj and Sripad Yudhamanyu Prabhu Seva-Vikram.

28 FEBRUARY (FRI). Amavasya. Sri Sivaratri paran for those who fasted is at 6:04:31–6:55:23. Manifestation anniversary of Sri Sada-Siva Gangadhar on the bank of Sri Govinda Kunda at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Nabadwip; manifestation anniversary of Sri Sri Guru Gaura Radha Madan-Mohan jiu at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Tarakeswar; and manifestation anniversary of Sri Sada-Siva in Sri Kadigachha. Gaura Pratipad (falls on the same day). Disappearance of Vaishnav Sarvabhauma Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj, Srila Rasikananda Dev-Goswami and Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Dayita Madhav Maharaj.

MARCH 2025

1 MARCH (SAT). Gaura Dvitiya. Appearance of Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj.

2 MARCH (SUN). Gaura Tritiya. Manifestation anniversary of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Radha-Raman-sundar at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Krishnanusilana Sangha in Kaikhali, Kolkata.

3 MARCH (MON). Gaura Chaturthi. Appearance of Srila Purusottam Thakur. Departure of Sripad Tulasi Das Das-Adhikari Prabhu.

4 MARCH (TUE). Gaura Panchami. Disappearance of Sriyukta Tarangini Devi.

8 MARCH (SAT). Gaura Navami. Adhivas festival of Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama. Beginning of the annual seven-day gathering and festival.

9 MARCH (SUN). Gaura Ekadasi. Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama begins. Parikrama of Sri Antardwip (darsan of Sri Chaitanya Math, Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan, puspa-samadhi mandir of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad, Sri Yogapith, Srivas Angan, Sri Advaita Bhavan, Sri Gadadhar Pandit Bhavan, Sri Chaitanya Math, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad's samadhi mandir, Srila Gaura Kisor Das Babaji Maharaj's samadhi, Sri Chd Kazi's samadhi) and Sri Simantadwip (darsan of Sri Jagannath Mandir, Sri Sridhar Angan).

10 MARCH (MON). Gaura Ekadasi. Fast on Amalaki Ekadasi. Parikrama of Sri Simantadwip and Sri Rudradwip.

11 MARCH (TUE). Gaura Dvadasi. Ekadasi paran is at 5:54:28–9:29:39. Disappearance of Sripad Madhavendra Puripad. Parikrama of Sri Koladwip: darsan of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Sri Vriddha Siva, Sri Prauddha MAYa, Sri Visnupriya Devi's Deity of Sri Gauranga, the samadhi mandir of Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj.

12 MARCH (WED). Gaura Trayodasi. Parikrama of Sri Godrumdwip and Sri Madhyadwip: darsan of Sri Surabhi Kunja, Svananda-sukhada Kunja, Sri Suvarna Bihar Gaudiya Math, Sri Harihara Ksetra, Hamsa-vahan and Sri Nrisimha Palli.

13 MARCH (THU). Gaura Chaturdasi. Adhivas of the grand festival of Sri Gaura Purnima: the eve of Sri Gauranga's appearance. Parikrama of Sri Koladwip, Sri Ritudwip, Sri Jahnudwip and Sri Modadrumdwip: darsan of Sri Samudragad, Sri Sri Gaura-Gadadhar Mandir (Sri Champahati), Vidyanagar (Sarvabhauma Gaudiya Math, Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya's birthplace), the Deity served by Sri Saranga Murari and Sri Vasudev Datta Thakur, Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur's appearance place.

14 MARCH (FRI). Purnima. Sri Gaura Purnima: Divine appearance of Sri Gauranga. Fast until moonrise, then no grains (anukalpa). Vasanta-utsav and Dol Yatra of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda. Special offering of bhoga, worship and arati at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and all its branches worldwide, continuous reading of Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita and a great festival of sankirtan. Start of 539 Sri Gaurabda.

VISHNU

15 MARCH (SAT). Krishna Pratipad. Sri Gaura-Purnima paran is at 5:50:36–9:47:24. Anandotsav (great, joyful festival) of Sri Jagannath Misra. A grand festival and mahaprasad distribution at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Nabadwip Dham.

19 MARCH (WED). Krishna Panchami. Manifestation Anniversary of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Gopinath jiu at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Asram in Sripat Hapaniya Dham and Pancham Dol festival. Appearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Saran Santa Maharaj.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's Main Teachings

amnayah praha tattvam harim iha param sarva-saktim rasabdhim
tad-bhinnamsams cha jivan prakriti-kavalitan tad-vimuktams cha bhavat
bhedabheda-prakasam sakalam api hareh sadhanam suddha-bhaktim
sadhyam tat pritim-evety-upadisati janan gaurachandra svayam sah

(Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

Sriman Gaurachandra personally instructed all jivas the following ten postulates:

Steps to Pure Devotion

(From Sri Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu by Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu)

The Sixty-Four Practices of Devotion

(Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur's Amrta-pravaha-bhasya on Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta)

(1) Taking shelter at the lotus feel of Sri Guru
(2) Receiving initiation into the mantra
(3) Serving Sri Guru
(4) Learning pure religion and making honest enquiry
(5) Following the path of the sadhus
(6) Giving up personal enjoyment out of love for Krishna
(7) Residing in a holy place of Lord Krishna
(8) Accepting only whatever allows you to carry on your life, and only as much as required
(9) Fasting on ekadasi
(10) Honouring the dhatri and asvattha trees, cows, brahmans and Vaishnavs
(11) Summarily giving up offences to service and the Holy Name
(12) Rejecting the association of non-devotees
(13) Not taking many disciples
(14) Not trying to become skilled in many scriptures (i.e. giving up haphazard reading or listening to parts of scriptures and attempts to philosophise about their meaning)
(15) Having the same attitude to loss and gain
(16) Not being overcome by grief and other undesirable feelings
(17) Not showing disrespect to other gods or scriptures
(18) Not listening to the criticism of Lord Visnu and Vaishnavs
(19) Not listening to 'village talks' (family news and talks of husbands and wives that revolve around sense-pleasure)
(20) Not troubling the minds of other living entities, not behaving miserly and not feeling zealous when starting some material work
(21) Hearing about the Lord
(22) Chanting the Lord's Name and glories
(23) Remembering the Lord
(24) Worshipping the Lord
(25) Offering obeisances to the Lord
(26) Serving the Lord
(27) Serving the Lord in the mood of a servant
(28) Serving the Lord in the mood of a friend
(29) Self-submission to the Lord
(30) Dancing in front of Deities
(31) Singing in praise of the Lord
(32) Speaking humbly
(33) Offering prostrate obeisances
(34) Standing up when seeing the Lord or His devotee enter
(35) Walking behind to see off a devotee or the Lord when they travel or go away
(36) Coming to the holy place and homes of devotees and the Lord
(37) Circumambulating holy places
(38) Reciting verses in glorification of the Lord
(39) Chanting the Holy Name on beads
(40) Chanting congregationally
(41) Honouring the smell of incense and flowers that have been offered to the Lord
(42) Serving to mahaprasad
(43) Taking darsan of aratis and great fesitvals
(44) Taking darsan of the Lord's holy Deities
(45) Offering the Lord that which is dear to yourself
(46) Meditating
(47) Serving Tulasi
(48) Serving Vaishnavs
(49) Serving Mathura and other holy places
(50) Relishing Bhagavatam
(51) Dedicating all efforts to Krishna
(52) Hankering for the Lord's mercy
(53) Observing birthdays and other festivals together with devotees
(54) Surrendering in all ways
(55) Physically observing Kartik and other vratas
(56) Applying Vaisnav symbols on your body (tilak marks on twelve parts of the upper body and tulasi beads on the neck)
(57) Applying the Names of the Lord and His devotees, such as the 'Hare Krishna' maha-mantra or the Pancha-Tattva Names, on your upper body (when applying sandalwood)
(58) Maintaining purity ('tvayopabhuktah srag-gandha...')
(59) Drinking charanamrita
(60) Associating with saints (sadhu-sanga)
(61) Chanting the Holy Name (Nama-kirtan)
(62) Listening to Bhagavatam (bhagavat-sravan)
(63) Residing in Mathura (mathura-vas)
(64) Serving Deities with faith (sraddha-purvaka sri-murti-seva).

Four Kinds of Anarthas (Unwanted Elements)

(From Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's Sri Bhajana-rahasya)

(1) Misconception:
   (a) misunderstanding one's own identity and nature;
   (b) misunderstanding the Lord;
   (c) misunderstanding the goal and the means to attain the goal;
   (d) misunderstanding what is unfavourable, or opposing.

(1) Inauspicious, false hankering:
   (a) longing (desire or search) for worldly attainments;
   (b) inauspicious, unhealthy hankering for spiritual attainments;
   (c) desire for mystic powers and liberation.

(1) Offences:
   (a) offences to the Holy Name;
   (b) offences to service;
   (c) offences to Vaishnavs;
   (d) offences to the holy place;
   (e) offences to living entities.

(1) Weakness of the heart:
   (a) negligence (indifference towards Krishna);
   (b) hypocrisy (duplicity);
   (c) envy (feeling upset or envious seeing others' opulence or progress);
   (d) desire for name and fame.

Five Diseases (Pancha-Roga)

(1) Ignorance: forgetfulness of one's own transcendental form.
(2) False identification: considering oneself to be the gross, material body and loving attachment to other perishable bodies (men, women, etc.).
(3) Misdirected love: deep attachment to the material things that are favourable to the body.
(4) Aversion: aversion to the material things that are unfavourable to material enjoyment.
(5) Misdirected attention: being attached to, or engrossed in, that which is favourable and when it is to be given up, being unable to tolerate it.

Four Faults of Conditioned Souls

(From Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita)

(1) Misconception: false presumption about the non-existent (mistaking a rope for a snake, or a pearl for a piece of silver);
(2) Madness: negligence, carelessness; understanding, hearing or saying something in a different way;
(3) Deception: desire to lie and cheat;
(4) Imperfection of senses: short-sightedness, far-sightedness, distorted perception of colour due to jaundice and other diseases, inability to hear things far, etc.

Ten Kinds of Offences to the Holy Name

(1) Criticising sadhus;
(2) considering gods independent of Lord Krishna;
(3) disrespecting (disobeying) Sri Guru;
(4) criticising revealed scriptures;
(5) discussing the meaning of the Holy Name;
(6) considering the Holy Name to be imaginary;
(7) behaving in a sinful way relying on the purifying strength of the Holy Name;
(8) considering, delusionally, that chanting the Holy Name is equal to other pious works;
(9) giving the Holy Name to those who have no faith because of material attachment;
(10) even after having heard about the glories of the Holy Name, being infatuated with the material life of 'me' and 'mine' and having no love for the Holy Name.

Four Types of Sadhu-Ninda (Offences to Saints)

Offenders of Vaishnavs are those who find faults in Vaishnavs due to their 1) caste (origin), 2) occasional slips (resulting from being overpowered by material influence), 3) almost eradicated mistakes, 4) mistakes committed before surrender.

Thirty-Two Types of Seva Aparadhas (Offences to Service)

(1) Entering the house of the Lord on a vehicle or wearing shoes
(2) Not making festivals on the birthdays of the Lord and devotees
(3) Not paying obeisance in front of the Deity
(4) Glorifying the Lord in an impure state of mind and body
(5) Paying obeisance with one hand
(6) Strolling in front of the Deity
(7) Stretching your legs out in front of the Deity
(8) Slouching: sitting front of a Deity embracing your knees with your arms
(9–17) Lying down, eating, telling lies, speaking loudly, speaking privately to another person, crying, quarrelling, harassing and treating another person partially in front of the Deity
(18) Behaving with or speaking to common people in a cruel way
(19) Covering yourself with a blanket when doing service
(20–23) Criticising others, praising others, using harsh or foul words towards others or behaving with others in a nasty way and passing wind in front the Deity
(24) Miserliness: having means but being stingy when arranging festivals, worship and other services
(25) Accepting unoffered things (eating unoffered food)
(26) Not offering seasonal fruit, crops and other produce
(27) Giving part of what you collect first to others and then using the rest for cooking for the Lord
(28) Sitting with your back to the Deity
(29) Greeting others in front of the Deity
(30) Keep silence in front of Gurudev: not offering him praise, etc.
(31) Praising yourself in front of Sri Gurudev
(32) Criticising gods.

Ten Kinds of Dham-Aparadh (Offences to Holy Places)

(1) Disrespecting (disobeying) Sri Guru and sadhu, the revealers of Sri Dham
(2) Considering Sri Dham temporary, non-eternal
(3) Feeling envious or prejudiced towards the residents or pilgrims of Sri Dham
(4) Engaging in material activities in Sri Dham
(5) Instead of serving Sri Dham, using the Deities in Sri Dham for making business and earning money
(6) Pursuant to material vision, trying to analyse and equal material places or other places of demigods to Sri Dham
(7) Behaving in a sinful way relying on the purifying potency of Sri Dham
(8) Discriminating between Sri Nabadwip and Sri Vrindavan
(9) Criticising scriptures containing the glories of Sri Dham
(10) Having no faith in the glories of Sri Dham and considering them imaginary

Four Pillars of Dharma

(1) Truthfulness
(2) Mercy
(3) Cleanliness
(4) Austerity

The Four Pillars of Irreligion

(1) Falsehood
(2) Pride
(3) Selfish desire
(4) Violence (envy)

Five Places of Kali

(From Srimad Bhagavatam)

Unfavourable to Devotion

(From Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's Piyusa-varsini Vritti commentary to Sri Upadesamrita)

(1) Urge of speech (vakya-vega): using words that disturb any living entities in the creation.
(2) Urge of mind (mana-vega): various desires and hankering.
(3) Urge of anger (krodha-vega): using harsh language.
(4) Urge of tongue (jihva-vega): craving for any of the six tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, salty, astringent, pungent).
(5) Urge of stomach (udara-vega): eating very much.
(6) Urge of genitals (upastha-vega): craving for sexual intercourse.

Thorns in Devotion

(From Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's Piyusa-varsini Vritti commentary to Sri Upadesamrita)

(1) Overeating (atahara): eating or trying to accumulate much.
(2) Over-endevouring (prayasa): run behind material things or striving to do what goes against devotion.
(3) Idle talks (prajalpa): engaging in unnecessary common talks that steal time.
(4) Attachment to rules (niyamagraha): eagerness to follow inferior rules when superior rules can be followed and not doing that which nurtures devotion.
(5) Bad association (jana-sanga): associating with anyone except pure devotees.
(6) Greed (laulya): being fickle-minded (unsteady in your conception, wavering when coming in touch with various other conceptions) and being attracted to trifle material things.

Favourable to Devotion

(From Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's Piyusa-varsini Vritti commentary to Sri Upadesamrita)

Jay Dhvani

Jay saparikrara Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda-sundar jiu ki jay.
Jay Om Visnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya-varya Astottara-sata-sri Srimad Bhakti Tilak Niriha Maharaj ki jay.
Jay Om Visnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya-varya Astottara-sata-sri Srimad Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj ki jay.
Jay Om Visnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya-varya Astottara-sata-sri Srimad Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay.
Jay Om Visnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya-varya Astottara-sata-sri Srimad Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay.
Jay Om Visnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya-varya Astottara-sata-sri Bhagavan Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur ki jay.
Jay Om Visnupad Srila Gaura Kisor Das Babaji Maharaj ki jay.
Jay Om Visnupad Srila Sach-chid-ananda Bhaktivinod Thakur ki jay.
Jay Om Visnupad Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj ki jay.
Srila Baladev Vidyabhusan Prabhu ki jay.
Srila Visvanath Chakravarti Thakur ki jay.
Sri Narottam, Syamananda, Srinivas Acharya Prabhu ki jay.
Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur ki jay.
Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami ki jay.
Sri Rupa, Sanatan, Bhatta Raghunath, Sri Jiva, Gopal Bhatta, Das Raghunath – sad-goswami – ki jay.
Sri Rupanuga Guru-varga ki jay.
Namacharya Srila Haridas Thakur ki jay.
Srila Svarup Damodar, Srila Ray Ramananda, Sri Gaura-sakti-varga ki jay.
Premse kaho Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhar, Srivas-adi Gaura-bhakta-vrinda ki jay.
Ganga, Yamuna ki jay.
Grantha-raj Srimad Bhagavatam, Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita ki jay.
Vrinda Devi, Tulasi Devi, Sri Bhakti Devi ki jay.
Sri Syama Kunda, Radha Kunda, Sri Giri-Govardhan ki jay.
Sri Mayapur Dham, Sri Nabadwip Dham, Sri Vrindavan, Mathura ki jay.
Sri Purusottam Ksetra ki jay.
Baladev, Subhadra, Jagannath jiu ki jay.
Akar Math-raj Sri Chaitanya Math ki jay.
Mayapur Yogapith ki jay.
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay.
Tadiya sakha matha-samuha ki jay.
Sri mather sevak-vrinda, bhakta-vrinda ki jay.
Ananta-koti vaisnav-vrinda ki jay.
Sri Gaudiya-acharya-vrinda ki jay.
Tridandipad-gan ki jay.
Sa-parsada Sri Nityananda Prabhu ki jay.
Sa-parsada Sriman Mahaprabhu ki jay.
Bhakta-prabara Prahlad Maharaj ki jay.
Suddha bhaktir vighna vinasa-kari Bhagavan Sri Nrisimhadev ki jay.
Sri Sada-Siva Gangadhar, Giriraj Govardhan ki jay.
Samagata Sri Gaura-bhakta-vrinda ki jay.
Visvavyapi bhakta-vrinda ki jay.
Harinama-sankirtana ki jay.
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol.

How to Observe Sri Hari-Vasar Tithi (Lord's Days)

Question: When should one observe Sri Hari-vasar tithi?

Answer: Bhagavan Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur wrote: 'When ekadasi is overlapped (viddha) by the sunrise, it is given up, and when it is not (aviddha), then it is observed.' Following Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa, one can find all pure fasting days of the year in the Visuddha-Sarasvata Gaudiya Calendar.

Question: Why must we fast on Sri Ekadasi?

Answer: Srila Sanatan Goswami Prabhu, one of the six goswamis, wrote about four standing reasons for fasting on ekadasi:

tachcha krsna-prinanatvad-vidhi-prapta-tvatas-tatha
bhojanasya nisedhach-chakarane pratyavayatah

(Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa, 12.4)

'1) Out of love for Sri Krishna, 2) because this is a directive of the scriptures, 3) because it is prohibited to eat (grains) on fasting days, 4) because not fasting is punishable.' He wrote in his commentary that although the rule of 'not fasting is punishable' is the main unbreakable principle, for pure devotees, the principle of 'doing it out of love for Sri Krishna' is main. Therefore, he states this principle first and also mentions:

tatra vratasya nityatvadavasyam tat samacharet
sarva-papaham sarvarthadam sri-krsna-tosanam

(Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa, 12.3)

'Fasting on the holy days of Sri Hari destroys all sins, bestows all desired results and pleases the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna; therefore, it must definitely be observed fully.'

ekadasi-vratam nama sarva-kama-phala-pradam
kartavyam sarvada viprair-visnu-prinana-karanam

(Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa, 12.7, quoted from Brihan-Naradiya Purana)

'It is brahmans' duty to always observe Sri Ekadasi, which grants all wishes, for the satisfaction of Lord Vishnu.' When concomitant four-fold attainments come (religion, prosperity, enjoyment or liberation), exclusive, pure devotees consider them trifle and do not become attached to them: they remain anxious to attain the fifth foal of human life – prema.

Question: Why is it prohibited to take rice and other grains on Sri Ekadasi?

Answer: It is written in the scriptures:

yani kani cha papani brahma-hatya-samani cha
annamasritya tisthanti samprapte hari-vasare
tani papanya-vapnoti bhunjano hari-vasare

(Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa, 12.19, quoted from Brihan-Naradiya Purana)

'On the holy days of the Lord (Sri Hari-vasar), all possible sins, including murder of brahmans, take shelter in grains. Therefore, those who eat grains on ekadasi commit all these sins.'

so' snati parthivam papam yo' snoti madhubhirddine

(Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa, 12.20, quoted from Brihan-Naradiya Purana)

'Those who eat grains on Sri Hari-vasar commit all sins that are possible to commit in this world.'

matriha pitrha cha iva bhratriha guruha tatha
ekadasyantu yo bhunkte visnu-lokachchyuto bhavet

(Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa, 12.21, quoted from Brihan-Naradiya Purana)

'Those who eat grains on ekadasi commit the sin of killing their own mother, father, brother and guru. Such person can never reach the holy abode of Lord Vishnu; neither can they become genuine adherents of the Vaishnav teachings and attain the association of Vaishnavs.'

Following this and other scriptural evidence, it is our duty to fast on Sri Ekadasi.

Question: What does 'fasting' mean?

Answer: Fasting (upavas) means 'sitting near' (nikate vas). It means putting aside all material and household activities and sitting near the Lord.

upavrttasya papebhyo yastu vaso gunaih saha
upvasah sa vijneyah sarva-bhoga-vivarjitah

(Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa, 13.35, quoted from Brihan-Naradiya Purana)

'Fasting (upa-vas: "a higher seat") is when you become free from all sins and stay with all auspicious qualities (sad-guna): all enjoyment must be abandoned.'

vaisnavo yadi bhunjita ekadasyam pramadatah
visnvarchchanam vrtha tasya narakam ghoramapnuyat

(Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa, 12.32, quoted from Brihan-Naradiya Purana)

'If a Vaishnav by mistake takes grains on ekadasi, his worship of the Lord becomes useless and he must enter a terrible hell.'

Question: How must one observe the holy days of the Lord?

Answer: On the holy days of the Lord, our main duty is to practise the nine devotional practices (sravan, kirtan and so on). For example, Sriman Mahaprabhu says (Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 18.19, 18.21):

sri-hari-vasara-dine krsna-nama-rasa-pane
trpta haya vaisnava sujana
anya rasa nahi laya anya katha nahi kaya
sarva-bhoga karaye varjana

'On the day of the Lord, pure devotees are satisfied by drinking the nectar of Krishna's Name. They do not partake of any other tastes or speak about anything else. They avoid all forms of enjoyment.'

sri-nama-bhajana ara ekadasi vrata
eka-tattva nitya jani' hao tahe rata

'Knowing service to the Name and ekadasi fasting to be eternally one, practise them both.'

On the holy days of the Lord, two kirtans are sung: 'Sri Hari-vasare Hari kirtana-vidhana' in the morning and 'Suddha bhakata-charana-renu bhajana-anukula' in the evening. On the holy days of the Lord, it is necessary to both fast and to break your fasting timely (observe paran). For instance, it is written in Sri Sri Prema-vivarta (18.11):

prasada bhojana nitya, suddha vaisnavera krtya,
aprasada na kare bhaksana
suddha ekadasi yabe, nirahara thake tabe,
paranete prasada bhojana

'Taking prasad is an eternal, daily activity of pure Vaishnavs. They do not eat anything that is not prasad. But on the days of pure ekadasi, they fast and take prasad during the paran time the next day.'

It is necessary to take mahaprasad, etc. to break Sri Ekadasi fasting during the paran time given in the calendar. As one should stay engaged in service activities the whole day on the holy days of the Lord, it is allowed to take anukalpa (Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 18.11):

anukalpa-sthana-matra, niranna prasada-patra,
vaisnavake janiha nischita

'It is certainly known to Vaishnavs that non-grain prasad is the only food that can be taken (anukalpa) on ekadasi.'

There is a provision for the following anukalpa (non-grain) food on Sri Ekadasi days:

astaitany-avrataghnani apo mulam phalam payah
havir-brahmana-kamya cha gurorv-vachanam-ausadham

(Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa, 12.40, quoted from Mahabharata)

'Water, fruit, roots, milk, ghee, if a brahman wants you to take something, if your guru tells you to take something, and taking medicine – these eight do not break the fast.' At Sri Math, devotees take the following anukalpa:

Morning – full fast.
Noon – potato and pawpaw cooked with salt, black pepper, cumin and ginger; fried chips; a variety of fruit (bananas, cucumbers, etc.); nuts; pawpaw and potato or sago (tapioca) cooked with sugar and milk [a preparation called 'payesh'].
Evening – cooked potato and pawpaw; fried chips; nuts; milk.

Only ghee, nut oil, sunflower seed oil can be used. No items containing grains, such as ground spices, sago (tapioca) mixed with flour, etc., are to be taken. Home-made ghee, curd and coconut sweets can be taken. These five grains are never taken:

1) paddy and its produce: rice, flat rice, puffed rice, etc.
2) wheat: wheat flour, wholewheat flour, etc.
3) barley: barley flour, etc.
4) lentils (dal): mung, masoor, chickpea, pea, pigeon pea, black dal, khesari (grass pea), etc.
5) mustard oil and sesame oil.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj on observing ekadasi:

We will take no grains, and we will not take food many times unless it is necessary for someone for health reasons. Maintain your body and take some food, and if someone can do ekadasi without food, that is the best. What does 'best' mean? It is Krishna consciousness, so service to Krishna must not be hampered – this is first of all; after that, we can take some physical austerity to supply more enjoyment to Krishna. Ekadasi is a special day when Krishna's hankering for enjoyment increases, and devotees supply that enjoyment to Him ignoring their own happiness. This is ekadasi.

As for what is permissible:

astaitany-avrataghnani apo mulam phalam payah
havir brahmana-kamya cha gurorv-vachanam-ausadham

(Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa, 12.40, quoted from Mahabharata)

Apo means water, mulam means what grows underground (roots), phalam means fruit, payah means milk and all dairy products, havir is also a product of milk (ghee), and there are three other things. 'Brahmana kamya cha' means if a brahman is in a dangerous position and wants you to take some food, through which he will get relief, then you can take it. 'Gurorv-vachanam' means if your Gurudev says, 'Take this and go!' then there is no question – you must take it. And ausadham, medicine: there are many ingredients inside medicine, but it is permissible to take it because it is necessary to maintain your health.

So, we can seethat the point is there, and that point is to maintain your health and serve Krishna as must as possible. We can also add that you can take what grows under the ground, some potato, etc. As for carrots, I have seen in Hari-bhakti-vilasa that carrots are restricted, but we take it and do not feel anything bad. In Uttar Pradesh, unlike Bengal, where people follow ekadasi, you can see they sell carrot halwa in the shops on ekadasi day. There you will get ekadasi food on the streets, and they follow ekadasi properly, they do not give any imitation, and they take carrots. You can also cook some tapioca with milk.

I like very simple ekadasi, but my fortune is very bad – when I go somewhere and see that it will be ekadasi, I become fearful because every time ekadasi disturbs me with food. They make so many things, but I do not like it. Guru Maharaj's plan for ekadasi is one subji and tapioca, that is all, nothing else. Now our friends have promoted peanuts, so they also make peanuts on ekadasi. It is agreeable food on ekadasi, it can be taken. And also some fruit. Sago (tapioca) is good for stomach. If someone's stomach is not strong, they can take tapioca boiled in water and milk, it is very simple. It depends upon one's health.

On ekadasi, actually, you should not take too much of anything. Give some rest to your stomach. Medical science also says that if you can give a complete rest to your stomach on ekadasi, it is good for your health. So, everyone will choose for themselves what is necessary for them and what is not.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj about fasting on ekadasi:

'One time, a devotee wrote to Gurudev asking, "Gurudev, early in the morning I have to go to work, and my work is very heavy (I work for a ship company and have to work with a very big, heavy hammer). How should I observe ekadasi?" Gurudev replied, "Early in the morning, before you go to work, you can take five kg of potato."'

'Practising life is necessary, and actually Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur made it a little loose for us, as in the case of ekadasi for example. When people do ekadasi, they fast the whole day and do not even take water, but Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur said that we could fast at least from morning to noon and take some anukalpa at noon. This was told by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, and our temple follows that. Sometimes, Gurudev also said that if somebody was sick (for example, if somebody has an acidity problem and cannot fast or has to take medicine, or somebody has diabetes), then it was OK to take anukalpa in the morning also. Otherwise, for as many years as you can tolerate it with your health, you must follow full ekadasi. I saw that Gurudev himself practised in this way – he followed full ekadasi. Anukalpa prasadam is allowed, but not for everybody – those who are not sick must follow proper fasting.'

'You do not need to know the meaning of each ekadasi tithi because if you know it, you will want to get this result, that result. Gurudev, the Lord and Mahaprabhu told us to fast on ekadasi, so we fast. It is not necessary to know anything about the result of ekadasi.'

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj about fasting on ekadasi and accepting material facilities:

One time, a devotee came here from Vrindavan on the day of ekadasi. He reached in the evening and, after taking bath in the Ganges, attended kirtans, danced, circumambulated the temple and so on. Then, I asked him whether he would take any anukalpa. He replied, 'Generally, I do not take anything, but if you like, then, of course, I must take anukalpa. Your will is greater than my fasting.' That was his decision.

My Guru Maharaj (Srila Prabhupad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur) always wanted maximum energy: you should take good food and do good service. That was his maxim. Krishna is not a liquidated party: take full prasadam and do full service. Do maximum service, and you should take whatever is necessary for that. You are to take it for the cause of Krishna, not for your own cause. You are Krishna's, so if you grow weak, His service will be hampered, and both you and Krishna will be losers thereby. 'My soldiers will be well-fed and well-working.' That was our Guru Maharaj's principle. Napoleon said, 'One full-fed soldier is equal to ten half-fed soldiers.'

So, prasad-seva: if it is service, then it must be taken in a serving mood, of course. But, at the same time, the individual position of a devotee should be taken into consideration. Sahajiyas do not Fast on ekadasi at all: 'Oh, we are in Vrindavan, and there is no fasting in Vrindavan.' But Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, Srila Prabhupad did not like that – it is sahajiya (imitation) if you go on feeding your senses in the name of Krishna-bhakti (devotion to the Lord). For the service to Krishna, it is necessary to keep up the body and to provide nourishment to it, so we must take what is necessary for service. We do not like it if by fasting a loss of energy is effected. If fasting does not hamper your service, you may go on fasting – perhaps, your gurudev wanted that...

For service, I must accept what is necessary to make me physically fit so that I can render more service. So, accepting material things is not objectionable. It is fruitful, not detrimental. Rather, it produces something of a pure character, which helps everyone. This is how a disciple receives and accepts things. At that same time, he may even blame himself, 'I cannot go on with my worldly life without the help of this or that!' He will blame himself, but the underlying spirit must be, 'If I do not take it, I shall be unfit; I will not be able to do my bit of service to the Lord, to my gurudev.'

Moreover, by taking up renunciation, I will be a loser. I will incur a loss for myself, for the world, and my guru's service will be hampered. In this spirit, devotees are to take everything. For the cause of Krishna, for the cause of their guru, they will accept anything.

Suppose there is a very miserly karmachari (manager). Because he does not want to spend money, he may not attain a particular result; then, some difficulty comes, and the opportunity is lost. This manager will be held responsible by the proprietor: 'Why did you not spend money? Why are you afraid of spending money from my store? Because of your miserly habit, the opportunity has been lost! Why should you not spend My money for My interest?' So, to render service to Krishna, to my gurudev, to Vaishnavs, to the world, to everyone, I must keep up this mundane body, and I am entitled to take something for that.

Miserliness is mayavada; it is the renunciation spirit, and it will mar Krishna's interest. What we need is yukta-vairagya: I shall take from the store of Krishna to keep myself fit and to do service. It is Krishna's account, and if I do not do that, I should be a separatist, a mayavadi, a renunciationist. I shall render maximum service to Krishna, and I must take without any hesitation whatever is necessary to make myself fit for the service; otherwise, I shall be punishable.

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