All Glory to Sri Sri Guru Gauranga

GUIDANCE

Issue #26

A compilation of holy discourses emanating

from the holy lotus mouth of

His Divine Grace

Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru

Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj

published from Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

at SCSMathInternational.com during January-March 2021

CONTENT

Grand and Joyous Festival

Protecting Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

Unblemished Sacrifice

"My Pride, My Joy, and My Hope"

Illustrious Acharya

Advent of Hari-Kirtan Murti

Srila Prabhupad's Mission

Srila Prabhupad's Teachings

Unimaginable Service

Good Mind, Good Heart

Uninterrupted Service Life

Accommodating Heart

Material Affection

Material Affection

Sri Uddharan Datta Thakur and Sri Vakreshwar Pandit

Best Turn In Life

Latest Events

Memorable Day In Bamunpara

Remembering Mahaprabhu’s Sannyas-Lila

Ten Days in Shantipur

Heart-Breaking Decision

Deceitless Dealings

Deficiency in Practice

Increasing Preaching Scope

Distribute Krishna Consciousness!

Offering Bhog on Ekadasi

Sri Jagadish Pandit

Be Strong and Straight

Mission's Sustenance

Learn to Tolerate

"I Want to Surrender"

Our Plight and Plea

Wealth of Nanda Maharaj's Yard

Pure Sambandha

Blessing In Disguise

Unconditional Life

Jewel of Sincerity

"Guru-mukha-padma-vakya chitete kariya aikya"

Internal and Eternal

Clearing the Path

Cause of All Causes

Do Not Be Disheartened

Forthcoming Festivals

On Importance of Chastity

Study and Learn

Holy Vasanta Panchami Day

Extraordinary Qualities of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami

Hanker and Aspire

Keep Your Head at Vaishnavs' Lotus Feet

"Please Forgive Me"

Renounce Pride, Not Practice

Lord's Arrangement

Service Field

Gist of Guru-Mahima

Eternal Bond with Sri Ekachakra Dham

Sri Gauda Mandal Parikrama

Construction Pastimes

Pride in Our Identity

Pride in Our Identity

Mission in Sri Ekachakra Dham

Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's Line

Sriman Nityananda Prabhu: Ocean of Mercy

Sri Ekachakra Festival: Beyond Imagination

Real Family Life

"My Life Is for My Gurudev"

Perfect Mood

What Are You Doing With Your Life?

Sell Your Heart

Tottering Intelligence

Escaping Maya

Two Important Questions

Embracing the Fortune

Take Care

Sreyo-Katha

Sreyo-Katha

Sri Guru's Shelter

Be Studious, Be Serious

Tolerate and Manage

Be Strict and Straight In Your Behaviour

Niskam Bhakti

Keep Your Guard Up

Clear Vision

Cries of a Fallen Child

Exclusive Current

Mahaprabhu's Teachings

Practise What Is Preached

Know Best

Best News

Sri Gaura Purnima Address (1)

Sri Gaura Purnima Address (2)

Grand and Joyous Festival

Nrisingha Palli, 1 January 2021, part 1

Dandavat.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
His auspicious appearance day ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj ki jay
Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Niskam Shanta Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Vijan Muni Maharaj ki jay
All the assembled sannyasi-vrinda ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay!
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

I am very happy to see you all. I have just got free and have this opportunity to meet with you all. So many people have been coming here from all over Bengal starting from yesterday and the day before yesterday. There are still five-six hundred devotees staying this night, some are leaving tomorrow, and three-four hundred devotees are staying for the disappearance festival of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur (the day after tomorrow, 3 January 2021).

I am very happy because the festival was very successful. All Gaudiya Maths from Nabadwip and Mayapur also came. Actually, my original assumption was a little wrong because it is lockdown period and also 1 January (many pilgrims usually come to every temple at this time of the year), so I thought many would not be able to come, but by the mercy of Gurudev more than a hundred brahmacharis and sannyasis came from Mayapur. I thought seventy or seventy-five devotees would come and prepared presentations (bags) and pranami (donation) for this number of guests, but then I saw that it was too less. Later, Sripad Niriha Maharaj had to go and quickly get more bags.

Every year when we make Gurudev's Vyasa Puja, I always want to give some presentation to all the Vaishnavs—I always want to take the opportunity to do some sadhu-seva, Vaishnav-seva. This year I have got this opportunity too, and this year Gurudev actually 'overfulfilled' my desire because so many devotees have come again since last Gaura Purnima. Actually, the attendance at the Vyasa Puja festival this year was even more than at Gaura Purnima. I thought it was winter season and not so many people would come, but so many devotees came from all over Bengal and they are all very happy. As I have already said, a few hundred devotes will stay until the festival the day after tomorrow.

I feel very happy because all the brahmacharis and sannyasis who came from Mayapur are very happy—they came and stayed in a very happy mood. We have been inviting them all for many years, from the times when we were in the mul-math Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math at Srila Sridhar Maharaj's bhajan-kutir, and when they come here now they have got here the same kind of hospitality, warmth, love, and affection that they used to get before, in Gurudev's time. They saw that the nat mandir here is full and even more than that—some people had no place and they had to even stand outside in the street. In this way, everybody was very happy with this festival. It is only possible by the mercy of Gurudev. They have all actually come to see Gurudev—they want to see Gurudev's appearance day and what kind of festival I can make now that I have left mul-math Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

This year also, there was special prasadam. Devotees made many varieties of prasadam and not only Indian style, but also some western style prasadam. All Vaishnavs were very happy with it. There were two types of paneer (chilli paneer and cauliflower paneer), veg pulao (fried rice), a good quality of rice (basmati rice), posta bora fried in ghee, etc. This festival was very great. Actually, this kind of crowd has come again for the first time since Gurudev's disappearance. We have seen such crowds before only in Gurudev's time in Nabadwip (mul-math of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math), and now is the first time we see it again at this Vyasa Puja festival of Srila Gurudev in 2021. It is also the beginning of a new year. Happy new year to everyone.

Devotees also 'inaugurated' the new guesthouse (Sri Bhakti Sundar Angan)—I gave nineteen rooms there and they stayed there for the first time. Here also, all rooms, verandas, and nat mandir are full of devotees. I have also made a pandal for prasadam. At the festival, we distributed prasadam to all the Vaishnavs here at the veranda of the second floor. We feel great happiness after this festival.

That is the news from here, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Nrisingha Palli, Nabadwip. This is what happened today.

* * *

Protecting Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

Nrisingha Palli, 1 January 2021, part 2

...That is the news from here, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Nrisingha Palli, Nabadwip. This is what happened today. All this is only possible by the mercy of Gurudev.

I have seen how Gurudev protects his temple, Srila Sridhar Maharaj's temple. In one sense, I am very unfortunate because I tried so hard to protect Gurudev's mission after Gurudev but could not do it. In another way, at least I could protect Gurudev's devotees. Also, I heard some news this afternoon that some of those whom Gurudev did not like were not present today at the festival at the mul-math Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. So, Gurudev protects this mission...

Gurudev made his declaration on 4 December 2009, and shortly after that he sent me with Srila Ashram Maharaj to Australia, but when I left somebody gave Gurudev a very bad letter that gave a very deep pain to his heart. I remember when I was on my way to Australia (when I was in the Kuala Lumpur airport in Malaysia), Gurudev phoned me and asked, "Where are you now?" I said I was in Kuala Lumpur at the airport, going to Australia, and Gurudev said, "There is a big problem here. I will manage something from here, but you must cut your foreign tour shorter. You are supposed to be away fifteen days, but you must come back in seven days, Srila Ashram Maharaj can stay there." So, I left Australia earlier and went back to India. Upon arrival, I went straight to Nabadwip and came to Gurudev. Gurudev then gave me that letter, and I saw how many bad words they used—they told Gurudev very bad and painful words, I could not even repeat it. After that, Gurudev said, "I cannot stay here any more. I will leave Nabadwip tomorrow early in the morning."

The next day Gurudev left, and normally he always went to the Deities and samadhi mandir of Srila Sridhar Maharaj to pay his dandavat, but that time he did not even go to the samadhi mandir. He only stopped for a few seconds at the Centenary building and, looking up at Srila Guru Maharaj's room with folded palms, he said, "Guru Maharaj, please protect this mission." This is how Gurudev left Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

You all know what happened after that better than me. So many things happened. All foreign devotees, all senior leaders were harassed by them so much. You are giving so much energy, so much money for Chaitanya Saraswat Math, but what to speak of giving any respect to you, they actually beat you all! It is very painful. I stayed there for as long as I could, and I would have tried to stay more and more, but those who stayed near me heard some message that they would kill me, so they forcefully removed me from Nabadwip saying, "You will die if you stay here!" This is how I left Nabadwip and came to Dum Dum Park.

This is what happened, and now Gurudev's mission is still running, I am very happy about it. All the devotees, all Gurudev's disciples are with us—you all always keep Gurudev and myself also in your heart, and Gurudev also keeps you in his heart. I have told all my disciples who live here that I always want to be a disciple—I do not want and have never wanted to be a guru. All I want is to always be a disciple. If I think that I have become a guru, then my ego (abhiman) will come. That is why, I always want to be a disciple. Such is my situation.

* * *

Unblemished Sacrifice

Nrisingha Palli, 1 January 2021, part 3

Today is Gurudev's appearance day. You all know everything—where Gurudev was born, how he came to the mission, etc. I do not want to describe so many things now. However, there are some who criticise Gurudev, and I would like to give some message to them.

Actually, Gurudev said that we are all paraphernalia. For example, when you do the Deities' arati, you sometimes use a pancha pradip, sometimes a candle, etc.—you take some pot or some vessel, clean it and then use it for the worship. Gurudev said that he did leave Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math at some point, but he never left his Guru. Gurudev said, "I may have left Chaitanya Saraswat Math, but I always keep Chaitanya Saraswat Math in my heart."

When Gurudev lived as a householder, he had a printing press—he used a little bit from whatever money he earned for his family and sent the rest for Srila Sridhar Maharaj's Mission. Moreover, Srila Sridhar Maharaj himself never changed his mind—from the beginning, Gurudev was the secretary of Chaitanya Saraswat Math and Srila Sridhar Maharaj was the president, and Srila Sridhar Maharaj never removed Gurudev from this position. Gurudev may have changed his cloth only, but Srila Sridhar Maharaj decided that Gurudev would be his successor from the beginning, from the time when Gurudev was a brahmachari, and he never changed his decision.

Many years later, Srila Sridhar Maharaj brought Gurudev back and said that he had been waiting to give his chair to Gurudev for thirty years and did not want to wait any longer. Gurudev tried to argue saying, "My lifetime is very short, my horoscope says I will live only fifty-five years. Why are you giving this position to me?" But Srila Sridhar Maharaj did not listen, he said, "Throw your horoscope away! I am giving you eighty-two years of life." In his own life also, Srila Sridhar Maharaj was told by an astrologer that he would die early, but Srila Sridhar Maharaj ended up living ninety-two years. In the end, Srila Sridhar Maharaj wanted to give his chair to Gurudev and leave this world, but Gurudev did not want that. Gurudev said, "If Guru Maharaj stays longer and longer, it will be good for all devotees and all the world too. He must stay longer in this world because even all the Gaudiya Vaishnavs, all the Gaudiya acharyas come to Srila Sridhar Maharaj to hear his Hari-katha!" They all knew that if you wanted to hear Hari-katha of Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, then you should come to Srila Sridhar Maharaj, and they came. In this way, Gurudev got an opportunity to serve all the Vaishnavs, all the godbrothers of Srila Sridhar Maharaj—he was Srila Sridhar Maharaj's servitor at that time, and when all the godbrothers came to see Srila Sridhar Maharaj, Gurudev served everybody.

Gurudev told me many things, and I know that he protected the Mission in so many ways. He told me some of his childhood stories from his brahmachari life, and he taught me so many things.

Once, I came to complain to Gurudev about something, and Gurudev told me, "I have kept an Alsatian dog downstairs and when some danger comes, that Alsatian dog jumps on my shoulder and cries, 'Please save me! Please save me!'" Gurudev taught me in this way. When you are a manager, you must be humble, but sometimes you also have to take a stick in your hand. Both is necessary for management if you want to protect the Mission.

I remember Gurudev told one story from the time when he was a brahmachari. Srila Sridhar Maharaj had given Gurudev a bicycle, and Gurudev would always go everywhere by bicycle. (I kept that bicycle in the museum in Nabadwip, but I do not know if it is still there or not, I do not know what they did to it. There was Gurudev's name carved on it.) One day, when Gurudev was about to leave on his bicycle, one surveyor, or overseer, came from the Nabadwip municipality office to measure the kitchen building. Srila Sridhar Maharaj was upstairs at that time, so Gurudev spoke to him. Gurudev told him, "All right, you can take the measurement from outside!" If he measured from outside, the territory, and subsequently tax, would be bigger, so the surveyor should be happy with that, but the surveyor said, "Why I cannot enter the kitchen?" He was going to go there with his shoes on, so Gurudev said, "It is the kitchen of the Deities, so you cannot go inside." The man got angry, "Why not? I am a brahman!" Then Gurudev said, "If you try to enter the kitchen again, I will cut your leg!" The man went to Srila Sridhar Maharaj and complained, "This small boy threatened that he would cut my leg! What is this?" Srila Sridhar Maharaj asked calmly, "What boy? Bring him here, maybe he has made a mistake, it happens..." The boy came and Srila Sridhar Maharaj saw it was Gurudev (Gaurendu Brahmachari at that time). Srila Sridhar Maharaj asked him, "Gaurendu, did you say you will cut his leg?" Gurudev said, "Yes, I did." "Why did you say it?" Gurudev explained, "He says he is a brahman, but he wants to enter the kitchen with his shoes on!" Then Srila Sridhar Maharaj said to the surveyor, "Oh, then he is right. You cannot enter the kitchen. He told you not to go, but you still wanted to enter the kitchen forcefully. If you want to measure the building for taxation, you can measure it from outside. Why is it necessary for you to enter the building? The boy is right. He did not make any mistake. If you try to enter forcefully, what to do? He will cut your leg..."

This is how Gurudev protected this mission, this Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

There was also another story. It happened in 1978 when there was a big flood at Chaitanya Saraswat Math, just like in 2000. In 1978, there was no boundary wall at the temple (the temple was very poor), so all the territory of the temple was heavily flooded. Gurudev made a raft from some banana trees tied together and would move around the temple on that raft. One day, he saw a man who was about to cut some banana tree. Gurudev went to the man in the raft and said, "What are you doing here?" The man said, "Oh, my cow is hungry, I wanted to ask for a banana tree to give it some food." Gurudev said, "You did not ask me for it before. You have already come to the temple compound and you came from behind, not from the front. Because you have come to steal, I will not give you any banana trees." The man got angry and tried to protest, but Gurudev said, "No problem, I am the security of the temple, and you are a thief. Let us see how you will steal this banana tree!" This is another example how Gurudev protected Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

Gurudev said also: Like a dog, I have fallen into a hole, a big well, and was barking for help. Nobody came to my rescue, but my Guru Maharaj caught me by my hand and took me out of that well—he cleaned me and used me again for the service to Chaitanya Saraswat Math...

I say, what is the problem? You know, even Mahaprabhu Himself told Sri Govinda Ghosh to get married and live as a householder. Moreover, Mahaprabhu told Sri Raghunath Das Goswami,

sthira haya ghare yao, na hao batula
krame krame paya loka bhava-sindhu-kula
markata-vairagya na kara loka dekhana
yatha-yogya visaya bhunja' anasakta hana

"Be sensible, go back to your home. Do not be crazy. One reaches the shore of material existence gradually. Do not show your false renunciation to people. Serve accepting material things, but without attachment."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.16.237-238)

Go back to family life, but do not show so much attachment to family life—give your life, sacrifice your life for service. Do not be so much attached to material things. Do you understand? Mahaprabhu told Srila Raghunath Das Goswami not to behave like a monkey.

In this way, Gurudev told me so many things and taught me in so many ways, and I am very happy because I realise I am very fortunate to have got this kind of Gurudev, and I think that you all are also fortunate because you have got this kind of personality, this kind of representative of the the Lord. Gurudev is not an ordinary person! He is sent here by the Lord, and we have got the fortune to take shelter at his lotus feet. This is our greatest fortune.

I am a simple beggar, and I pray to you all, I beg you all to give me some mercy so that I can serve my Guru until my death. This is all I beg you for. Please give me some mercy that I can increase my service position day by day, so that I can serve the mission of my Gurudev, the devotees and Deities of my Gurudev more and more every day. I am begging you all for this mercy.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

* * *

"My Pride, My Joy, and My Hope"

Nrisingha Palli, 1 January 2021, part 4

...Krishna Sundari Didi (Australia) made a special sweet rice for this festival, and all the sadhus said, "We have never tasted this kind of sweet rice in our Gaudiya Math!" I told them, "Gurudev himself has come and cooked it!" Sudevi Didi also made fried rice (with capsicum, beans, etc.) and chilli paneer, it was also special for them. They made very nice preparations. (Fried rice is not puspanna, it is a dish called veg pulao.) They also made beguni fried in ghee, kochu sak, etc. I did not let them use any potato this festival, so today at noon there was no potato cooked, and everybody was happy. Everything was cooked very nicely.

I observed how they served prasadam to all the Vaishnavs, and I saw that all groups of devotees did it very nicely. Madhumangal Prabhu came with thirteen young boys from Jharkhand, and they helped so much. I am very happy with them. They are very helpful. Actually, I have got this group, and I am always worry-free—I have no headache, I do not have to think about distributing prasadam and cleaning the pots. They serve prasadam to all the Vaishnavs very nicely. There was also another group of devotees downstairs, many ladies also helped to distribute prasadam to everybody.

Actually, when we were in Nabadwip, so many outsiders and non-devotees (not initiated people) used to come, but I am very happy that here all the initiated people come. I am very glad and happy about it. Even when I speak Hari-katha, if the audience's mood goes another way, if the audience does not like Hari-katha, then some disturbance comes, people become absent-minded, etc. But this year all the devotees came, and there was no problem. In Nabadwip, many outsiders would come and start fighting for prasadam, but it was not like that here. There was no fighting, no crowds—they served prasadam in two-three places, and people came one by one and took prasadam happily. It was very nice.

[Somebody asks about coronavirus.] What corona? You are sitting in your room, then you are thinking too much about corona, but if you come outside, there is no corona. You must remove Coronasur from your head, from your brain. You know, all the political parties gather huge meetings—they dance and drink whiskey in parks. They have no rules and regulations, but if some sadhu is making a programme, then they come up with rules and regulations! What is the problem? I was ready to face them today if they had come to disturb us.

I am always moving—I always go one place, another place, here, there. I do not stay in one place. Sometimes, I stay four-five days in one place, sometimes three days, sometimes two days. I always go door to door and knock at everyone's doors—if somebody kicks me out, if somebody tells me not to come, I will go to their house ten time more. This is my situation.

Devotee: Like Nityananda Prabhu!

Not Nityananda Prabhu. Nityananda is Nityananda! I cannot think myself even as His foot dust. If I could get His foot dust, it is such a great thing! On the one hand, we are actually unfortunate because our mind is always very fickle, very unsteady—we always think about bad things. If we cannot think good about everybody, then Krishna will not think good about us. Even though we always think bad about others, the Guru and Vaishnavs are very merciful—they give us "amanda-daya kripa." 'Manda' means 'bad' and 'amanda' means 'good.' They always give us pure mercy. So, on the other hand, it is my fortune that Gurudev has kept me at his lotus feet. That is my only hope (ei mora chitte bharasa), that is the main thing in my life. Still, Srila Prabhupad say, "Prana achhe yara, sei hetu prachara (প্রাণ আছে যার সেই হেতু প্রচার): you have life, you are alive, then you must preach." I do not know how many days I will be alive, but I want to preach until my death—I want to approach everyone, I want to go everywhere, I do not want to stop my preaching.

I do not want to take more of your time, I only want to say two-three words more in conclusion. Gurudev is always very proud of you. He always said very happily: "By the mercy of Srila Guru Maharaj (Srila Sridhar Maharaj) I have got so many good souls as my friends and companions. It is unbelievable that Srila Guru Maharaj has kept all charge for the foreign devotees in my hand. I do not know English, I do not know their culture, but Srila Sridhar Maharaj gave all charge to me. In this way, I have got so many devotees like Srila Janardan Maharaj, Srila Ashram Maharaj, Sripad Yudhamanyu Prabhu, Sripad Srutasrava Prabhu (Sripad Vaishnav Maharaj later), Srila Avadhut Maharaj, Srila Trivikram Maharaj in Brazil, and so many other foreign devotees. So, I do not worry how Chaitanya Saraswat Math will run—when Srila Guru Maharaj has given me such good souls, Chaitanya Saraswat Math will run automatically, and the preaching will continue in the future." In this way, Srila Gurudev is very proud of you all. He also said, "I am a village boy, I have no qualities, I did not even go to school, but my Guru Maharaj gave me this position, and when I have got such good souls as you all, who come to me and serve me as their Guru, I must say I am a very fortunate soul." Srila Gurudev always said this.

So, I feel very happy today. I do not want to take more of your time today. We can discuss Srila Gurudev's festival, as well as Srila Prabhupad's glroification and Gurudev's glorification, another time, during our online Sunday programme, it will be good for everybody. Please forgive my offence. I have told you that I am a beggar, but I do not come to beg for money, I only beg you for one thing—please give me your mercy so that I can serve my Gurudev and his mission like this until my death. This is all I am begging you all for.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Jay Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj ki jay
Jay Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj ki jay
Jay Sripad Bhakti Niskam Shanta Maharaj ki jay
Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's holy appearance day festival maha-mahotsav ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay

Some of our Bengali godbrothers do not follow Gurudev properly. When Gurudev became sick and left Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, when he was in Dum Dum Park, he was very sad. One day, he called me. I came and sat there beside his bed, and he was lying down—at that time, Gurudev told me, "Maharaj, you are bringing so many people from villages, and I have initiated them, but can you tell me how many of them have become disciples?" I am thinking also that Indian devotees only think, "Hari bol! Hari bol!—they only say, "Hari bol! Hari bol! Doyal Nitai! and dance, but it is the foreign devotees who can show us how many per cent of those who have taken initiation have actually become disciples because foreign devotees never betrayed me, they follow Gurudev's word 100%, and I am very proud of you all—I am very happy that Gurudev has given such 'fruits' in my hand, and I can happily 'take' them.

My dandavat to everyone. Please forgive my offence.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

* * *

Illustrious Acharya

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur's disappearance
Nrisingha Palli, 3 January 2021, part 1

Dandavat. Please accept my humble obeisance. I am very happy to see you all.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
All the acharya-varga ki jay
Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj ki jay
Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj ki jay
Srila Bhakti Vijay Trivikram Maharaj ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Niskam Shanta Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Nandan Sadhu Maharaj ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

mukam karoti vachalam pangum langhayate girim
yat krpa tam aham vande sri-gurum dina-taranam

"The dumb can speak, the lame can climb a hill—all it takes is mercy from Gurudev."

(Bhavartha Dipika)

First, I am offering my full obeisance at the lotus feet of my beloved Gurudev Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, then I am giving my full obeisance to all the guru-varga, acharya-varga, all the sannyasis, all the Vaishnavs, all distinguished devotees, all assembled devotees. Finally, I am offering my obeisance at the lotus feet of Bhagavan Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur whose disappearance day took place today, and who is a great personality. He is not an ordinary person of this material world—he came from Goloka Vrindavan, from the Lord Himself, and when his job finished here, he passed the responsibility to his beloved disciples and went back to his own home.

Our Param Guru Maharaj (Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj) wrote a beautiful pranam-mantra of Srila Saraswati Thakur,

nikhila-bhuvana-maya-chhinnavichchhinna-kartri
vibudhabahula-mrgya-mukti-mohanta-datri
sithilita-vidhi-raga-radhya-radhesa-dhani
vilasatu hrdi nityam bhakti-siddhanta-vani

"With his first step, he vigorously cut asunder the whole plane of exploitation, and with his second, he put a stop to all the calculations of the different scholars with their different conceptions of liberation. With his third step, he eased the hard rules and regulations by a touch of the Divine Love: he gave us the worship of Sri Sri Radha and Govinda. The real existence of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad is in his divine teachings. May those teachings dance eternally within the core of your heart."

Srila Prabhupad declared a totalitarian war against maya and also reduced some rules and regulations. There used to be so many rules and regulations before, but he relaxed the rules and regulations and distributed proper pure devotion.

sthane sthane kata matha sthapiyachha niskapata
prema-seva sikhaite jive
mathera vaisnava-gana kare sada vitarana
hari-guna-kathamrta bhave

"Sincerely, you established so many temples to teach the souls loving service to the Lord. The Vaishnava residents of these temples incessantly spread the nectar of the glories of the Lord."

Srila Prabhupad opened sixty-four temples, or branches, of Gaudiya Math—he collected people from Maya, turned them into brahmacharis and sannyasis and then again sent them back to preach to householder people—he utilised them in the service of Srimati Radharani, Sri Sri Radha-Govinda. Our Param Guru Maharaj also wrote another beautiful sloka in glorification of Srila Prabhupad where he says,

gaude ganga-tate nava-vraja-navadvipe tu mayapure
sri-chaitanya-math-prakasaka-varo jivaika-kalyanadhih
sri-siddhanta-sarasvatiti-vidito gaudiya-gurvanvaye
bhato bhanuriva prabhato-gagane rupanugaih pujitah

"You have manifested Sri Chaitanya Math in the land of Gauda, on the bank of the Ganges, in Mayapur that stands in Nabadwip, non-different from Sri Vraja. Renowned among great Gaudiya Vaisnava teachers as Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, you have appeared like a radiant sun rising in the morning sky and you are worshippable to all followers of Sri Rupa Goswami."

He gave a great benefit to all the jiva souls (us) by establishing Chaitanya Math on the bank of the Ganges, and he is worshipped by all followers of the Rupanuga line.

One day, sitting under a jackfruit tree in Chaitanya Math, he made a promise to complete 'sata-koti nama-yajna'—he made a promise to chant a billion Holy Names (a hundred koti, or crores; one crore is ten million). After that, Srimati Radharani (Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Giridhari) came in front of him and ordered, "You must preach!" Srila Prabhupad said, "How? I have no wealth, no manpower... How can I preach?" Srimati Radharani said, "Do not worry. I am sending My associates to you." Then, all the acharya-varga came one by one to this world. So many great acharyas (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Alok Paramahamsa Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Gaurava Vaikhanash Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Prajnan Keshav Maharaj, Srila Tirtha Maharaj, et. al.)—so many great scholars and great personalities—came as Srila Prabhupad's disciples. However, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur was always very humble, so he never thought they were his disciples; on the contrary, he always said, "You have come in front of me to take initiation, so you are coming to give me some mercy. You are all my gurus, my masters, you are not my disciples." And he would give obeisance to everyone. Such was his quality. Not only that—

kuliyate pasandira atyachara kaila ya'ra
ta sabara dosa ksama kari'
jagate kaile ghosana 'taroriva sahisnuna'
hana 'kirtaniyah sada harih'

"You [Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad] forgave all the atheists of Kuliya village, despite their bad behaviour. Loudly you proclaimed to one and all: one who is more tolerant than a tree can always chant the glories of Lord Hari."

* * *

Advent of Hari-Kirtan Murti

Srila 2Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur's disappearance
Nrisingha Palli, 3 January 2021, part 2

"Kuliyate pasandira atyachara kaila ya'ra": Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur was harassed for his strong preaching against misconception that prevailed that time. You know that there were thirteen prominent apa-sampradayas (misconception lines) at that time, and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was greatly distressed to see that.

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was a very learned personality. When he was the deputy magistrate in Krishnanagar, he collected many books about Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, including Sri Chaitanya-charitamita and many other books. Reading all these books, seeing the true conception of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and seeing what was going on at that time in Bengal, he understood that it was all misconception (wrong teachings), it was all maya—he saw that what people distributed and preached in the name of religion was absolutely wrong. Eventually, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur and his wife prayed to Bimala Devi in Sri Jagannath Dham for a son who could preach proper conception in this world, and by the mercy (prasad) of Bimala Devi, they soon got a child, a son.

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur appeared in this world in Sri Puri Dham, the abode of Utkale Purusottam. Because he appeared by the mercy (prasad) of Bimala Devi, he was named Bimala Prasad at birth.

You know that Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's house in Puri is on the same street where Jagannathdev's chariot passes during Ratha-yatra. That year when Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur appeared, the chariot of Lord Jagannath stayed in front of his house for three days (miraculously, nobody could move the chariot from there for three days). This was the meeting of the Lord and the Lord's devotee, there is an intimate connection between them. At that time, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was in charge of Ratha-yatra festival, in other words, he arranged everything for the festival, so during those three days he arranged for all bhoga, etc. to be cooked and offered in front of his house. At some point during that time, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur came out with his wife and new-born child to pay dandavat to Jagannathdev, and when small Bimala Prasad was placed at the lotus feet of Jagannathdev, he suddenly crawled up and caught hold of Lord Jagannath's feet. Such was the meeting of bhakta and Bhagavan—the devotee and the devotee's Lord; there is an intimate connection and acquaintance between the two of them. When Bimala Prasad caught Lord Jagannath's feet, Jagannath gave His own garland to Bimala Prasad (it fell from the Lord's neck onto Bimala Prasad). Seeing this, all the pandas (priests and servants of Lord Jagannath) were astonished, they thought, "This boy is not an ordinary person! This boy will be a great preacher in this world. He will preach about Jagannath all over the world!" This is how Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, Bimala Prasad, came to this world.

We have heard about so many glories of Bhagavan Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur from many Vaishnavs, many scholars, and our Param Guru Maharaj (Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj) also described everything in his poetry.

sri-gauranga-parisada thakura bhakti-vinoda
dina-hina patitera bandhu
kali-tamah vinasite anilena avanite
toma' akalanka purna indu

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur brought to this world a friend of all fallen souls, a spotless moon who excels the power and beauty of the moon because even the moon may have some spots, some dirtiness, but he is spotless, there is no dirt in him—this spotless moon dispelled all darkness of this world.

Srila Sridhar Maharaj told so many things about Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, he also told about the day of his disappearance. A disappearance day is also called viraha-tithi, a separation day. Viraha, separation, comes if there is relation—if you have some relation with the person, then separation comes. When and how relation comes? It comes through service. If you have no service, you have no relation; if you have service, then you have relation, and when there is relation, separation comes. No service—no relation. Remember this. Srila Param Guru Maharaj always spoke about it in a very beautiful way.

One day, Srila Param Guru Maharaj asked our beloved Gurudev, "You sing the kirtan 'Sujanarvuda-radhita-pada-yugam,' but which part of this kirtan do you like the most?" Gurudev was a little puzzled at first, he thought, "What do I say?" Then, he quoted this verse,

krpaya hari-kirtana-murti-dharam
dharani-bhara-haraka-gaura-janam
janakadhika-vatsala-snigdha-padam
pranamami sada prabhupada-padam

"He is the embodiment of Hari-kirtan. He mercifully relieves Mother Earth of the burden upon her. He is an associate of Sri Gaura, and more kind and affectionate than a father. Eternally I offer my obeisance to my master's feet."

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur gave so much mercy to the fallen souls through his Hari-katha—he a deity of kirtan, a deity of Hari-katha. He removed so many of our offences, so many of our faults. He is an associate of Sri Gaura and more loving and affectionate to jiva souls than a father!

This kind of glorification of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur is written by Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. These are very beautiful things. I read some of poems in the morning and explained the meaning.

bhayabhanjana jayasamsana-karunayatanayanam
kanakotpala janakojjvala-rasasagara-chayanam
mukharikrta-dharanitala-harikirtana-rasanam
ksitipavana-bhavatarana-pihitaruna-vasanam
subhadodaya-divase vrsaravija-nija-dayitam
pranamami cha charanantika-paricharaka-sahitam [1]

He (of divine form) came forth from the birthplace of the golden lotus—the ocean of the mellow of divine consorthood. His large, merciful eyes dispel (the suffering souls') fear and proclaim (the surrendered souls') victory. His tongue (constantly) vibrates the whole Earth planet with Sri Krishna-sankirtan, his beauty resplendent in the robes of the sun's radiance (saffron) that purifies the universe and dispels the suffering of material existence. On his Holy Day of Advent, I (again and again) bow down unto that beloved associate of Sri Vrisabhanu-nandini, and the servitors of his lotus feet.

This poem is very beautiful. If you see the meaning of this poem, you will see how beautiful it is. It is very difficult for me to explain it in English. The meaning of this poem is actually eternal, its meaning develops from deep to deeper and deepest—what is written here is eternal.

saranagata-bhajanavrata-chirapalana-charanam
sukrtalaya-saralasaya-sujanakhila-varanam
harisadhana-krtabadhana janasasana-kalanam
sacharachara-karunakara-nikhilasiva-dalanam
subhadodaya-divase vrsaravija-nija-dayitam
pranamami cha charanantika-paricharaka-sahitam [2]

The devotees surrendered in pure devotion are eternally protected at his lotus feet. He is worshippable by the pure souls endowed with sincerity and good fortune, and he accepts (even) those who obstruct the service of Sri Hari, just to rectify them. As the very fountainhead of mercy upon all mobile and immobile beings, he crushes the inauspiciousness of the whole universe. On his Holy Day of Advent, I (again and again) bow down unto that beloved associate of Sri Vrisabhanu-nandini, and the servitors of his lotus feet.

atilaukika-gatitaulika-ratikautuka-vapusam
atidaivata-mativaisnava-yati-vaibhava-purusam
sasanatana-raghurupaka-paramanugacharitam
suvicharaka iva jivaka iti sadhubhiruditam
subhadodaya-divase vrsaravija-nija-dayitam
pranamami cha charanantika-paricharaka-sahitam [3]

Like a miracle, his body moves with a joyful elegance and charm beyond the world's understanding, fulfilling the artist's aspiration. (Or, dancing in pastimes transcendental to the world, his artistic form incites divine love's hankering). His intellect surpasses that of (even) the demigods, and he is nobility incarnate as the commander-in-chief of the Vaisnava sannyasis (tridandi-yatis). The sadhus of profound intellect describe the nature of his personality as meticulously in the line of Sri Sanatana, Sri Rupa, and Sri Raghunatha, and they speak of him as being on the same plane as Sri Jivapada (being superbly replete in perfect theistic conclusions). On his Holy Day of Advent, I (again and again) bow down unto that beloved associate of Sri Vrisabhanu-nandini, and the servitors of his lotus feet.

sarasitata-sukhadotaja-nikatapriyabhajanam
lalitamukha-lalanakula-paramadarayajanam
vrajakanana-bahumanana-kamalapriyanayanam
gunamanjari-garima-guna-harivasanavayanam
subhadodaya-divase vrsaravija-nija-dayitam
pranamami cha charanantika-paricharaka-sahitam [4]

On the bank of Sri Radha Kunda at Svananda Sukhada Kunja, he is devoted to the service of his Beloved, and (furthermore) he is greatly endeared to the divine damsels of Vraja headed by Lalita. He is most favorite to Kamala-manjari who is pre-eminent in Vrndavana, and with the glorious qualities of Guna Manjari he builds the residence of Sri Hari. On his Holy Day of Advent, I (again and again) bow down unto that beloved associate of Sri Vrisabhanu-nandini, and the servitors of his lotus feet.

vimalotsavam amalotkala-purusottama-jananam
patitoddhrti-karunastrti-krtanutana-pulinam
mathurapura-purusottama-samagaurapuratanam
harikamaka-haridhamaka-harinamaka-ratanam
subhadodaya-divase vrsaravija-nija-dayitam
pranamami cha charanantika-paricharaka-sahitam [5]

He is immaculate joy incarnate, or, he is the graciousness or the joy of Vimala Devi. He manifested the pastimes of his Advent at Purusottam Ksetra in the holy land of Orissa, and he revealed his pastimes of delivering the fallen souls and extending his mercy upon them (by awarding them the gift of divine love) at the 'new isles,' or Nabadwip. Circumambulating Gaura Dham in the same way as traditionally done at Vraja Dhama and Purusottam Dham, he continuously propagates—the loving desire of Vraja, the divine abode of Vaikuntha, and the holy name of Krishna. On his Day of Holy Advent, I (again and again) make my obeisance unto that dear associate of Sri Vrisabhanu-nandini, and the servitors of his holy lotus feet.

This poem was written by Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. It is very hard to render it into English—these words express the highest truths.

* * *

Srila Prabhupad's Mission

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur's disappearance
Nrisingha Palli, 3 January 2021, part 3

When Mahaprabhu finished His pastimes, Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Sanatan Goswami and others stayed in this world and preached Mahaprabhu's conception. After them, there were Srila Narottam Das Thakur, Srila Srinivas Acharya, Srila Shyamananda Prabhu, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu—they preached and distributed Mahaprabhu's conception in a proper and pure way. When Mahaprabhu left, when Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Sanatan Goswami left, when Srila Narottam Das Thakur, Srila Srinivas Acharya, Srila Shyamananda Prabhu and others left too, then so much misconception came to this world and spread everywhere. There appeared various bogus sampradayas (aul, baul, kartabhaja, nera, darvesh, sani, sahajiya, sakhibekhi, smarta, jata gosai, atibari, churadhari, gauranga-nagari), and as a result of their wrong preaching, the whole of Bengal started to hate Vaishnav society.

After that, many years later, in 1838, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was born in Nadia district near Krishnanagar. I do not want to describe his life history in great detail now, but Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was a magistrate in Krishnanagar, and during that time he collected many books, many scriptures about Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu—reading those books, he saw what Mahaprabhu wanted to distribute in this world and he understood that what people who claimed to be His followers were doing was all absolutely wrong, it was all misconception. Then, at some point, when Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was staying in Puri Dham, he prayed to Bimala Devi and Lord Jagannath, "Please send someone who can preach the pure conception!"

After that, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur got the mercy (prasad) of Bimala Devi—Srila Prabhupad was born in this world. Srila Prabhupad and Lord Jagannath have an intimate relation, this is bhakta and Bhagavan (the Lord's devotees and the Lord)...

Later, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur came to Godrumdwip, and he brought Bimala Prasad (Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur) with him. They stayed in a small house that is now called Svananda-sukhada-kunja. Some time later, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur took a vow to chant one billion (a hundred crores) Holy Names, and upon the completion of this vow, so many scholars and associates of Srimati Radharani came to this world. Our entire guru-varga (Srila A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad, Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, and all the other acharyas) came to this world. I do not want to repeat all the names again, I have already mentioned them today. All these great souls started preaching for Mahaprabhu and Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, and we see that this preaching is still going on in this world.

sthane sthane kata matha sthapiyachha niskapata
prema-seva sikhaite jive
mathera vaisnava-gana kare sada vitarana
hari-guna-kathamrta bhave

"Sincerely, you established so many temples to teach the souls loving service to the Lord. The Vaishnava residents of these temples incessantly spread the nectar of the glories of the Lord."

Srila Prabhupad taught everyone what pure service is—he taught that everything could be used and is meant for the service of the Lord. He established sixty-four temples, and all the brahmacharis, sannyasis of these temples preached house to house and distributed Hari-katha. Srila Prabhupad told, "Uthare uthare bhai ara ta samaya nai: wake up, you have no time in your hand!" Wake up, do not sleep in the lap of Maya! Chant the Holy Name, worship the Holy Name in this age!

Srila Prabhupad proclaimed Mahaprabhu's conception,

trnad api sunichena taror api sahisnuna
amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih

"One who is humbler than a blade of grass, more forbearing than a tree, who gives honour to others without desiring it for himself, is qualified to always chant the Holy Name of Krishna."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 6.239)

"Humility, tolerance, giving honour to others." Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur was beaten, they tried to kill him in Kuliya (Nabadwip), but Srila Prabhupad proclaimed, "They can beat me, but my declaration to those who come to torture me is 'taror iva sahisnuna!'—'tolerance!'" Such is his glory.

kuliyate pasandira atyachara kaila ya'ra
ta sabara dosa ksama kari'
jagate kaile ghosana 'taroriva sahisnuna'
hana 'kirtaniyah sada harih'

"You [Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad] forgave all the atheists of Kuliya village, despite their bad behaviour. Loudly you proclaimed to one and all: one who is more tolerant than a tree can always chant the glories of Lord Hari."

This is such a beautiful expression. Our Srila Param Gurudev also wrote a very beautiful song (we sing it every day) where he says,

jayare jayare jaya gaura-saraswati
bhakativinoda nvaya karuna murati

"All Glory, all Glory to Sri Gaura-Saraswati, Of the Line of Bhakti Vinod—Pure incarnate Mercy."

prakasile gaura-seva bhuvana mangala
bhakatisiddhanta suddha prajnana ujjvala

"You revealed Sri Gaura's Service—the world's greatest fortune, Brilliant as the Perfect Teaching, Perfect Truth—Devotion."

Some Gaudiya acharyas tried to object once, but our Gurudev said, "No, what Srila Sridhar Maharaj said is right. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur is not an ordinary person. He is Bhagavan Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. He is the Lord Himself!"

Then, when Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj was in Bagbazar Gaudiya Math, Srila Prabhupad was a little sick (he was showing his pastime of sickness), and in his last moments he wanted to hear the viraha (separation) song "Sri Rupa-manjari pada", and he wanted to hear it from Srila Sridhar Maharaj. Devotees called Srila Sridhar Maharaj, but because he came a little late, somebody ordered another Prabhu to sing it. Srila Prabhupad became excited and shouted, "Stop it! I do not want to hear any tune. I want to hear the song, and only Srila Sridhar Maharaj is to sing it." Then, Srila Sridhar Maharaj came and sang it. Twenty-four hours later, on 1 January 1937, Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur left this world...

* * *

Srila Prabhupad's Teachings

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur's disappearance
Nrisingha Palli, 3 January 2021, part 4

Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj often said that Srila Prabhupad's word was very hard, like a stone or thunderbolt, but inside he could be soft as a lotus. Everybody knows that fathers are always very loving and affectionate to their sons, but Srila Prabhupad gave more love and affection that any father could give.

Srila Prabhupad told, "You may not like what I am saying, but you will remember me after my death."

"We have not come to this world to become masons, marble workers, or carpenters—we have come to this world to distribute Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's message everywhere."

"You must go door to door, knock at every door of the materialists who are averse to Lord Krishna—bring these people, change them and turn them into devotees for the service of the Lord."

"You can make millions and millions of hospitals, you can serve so many patients or work in a hospice, it is good, but if you can change one single materialist and make a devotee of them, then it is a far greater achievement."

"Tosamod kari' kakhon guru hate pare na. Those who flatter others can never be a Guru." A flatterer can never be a guru.

"In this world, 99% people will not come to Krishna consciousness, but you must not be disheartened—do not lose your enthusiasm, try to preach more and more."

"So many problems will come, so many dangerous situations will come in your life (sata ganjana, sata lanchana—you will be humiliated and abused hundreds of times), but you must not leave Krishna consciousness. You must stay in Krishna consciousness."

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur established Nama-hatta (the market of the Holy Name), and Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur increased and expanded this Nama-hatta programme.

"Those who want to practise Krishna consciousness, must be eternal servants of their guru, eternal servants of their Lord—they will serve forever under the guidance of their guru. If you practise Krishna consciousness without the guidance of the Guru and Vaishnavs, then it is not Hari-bhajan (worship of the Lord)—it is maya-bhajan (worship of Maya, illusion). You can do so many things perfectly—you can practise so many things, chant three million Holy Names every day, you can visit so many holy places, you can practise all sixty-four types of bhaktyanga (limbs of devotion), you can practise great renunciation, observe many vows and penances, practise so much meditation, but if you do all this without anugatya of the Guru (if you do not have faith in your Guru and you do not live under the guidance of your Guru), then all your attempts are nothing but attempts to satisfy yourself and your own desires. It is not Krishna consciousness—it is mere deception of your own self and of others."

"What is the root of Hari-bhajan (practise of Krishna consciousness)? Guru- and Vaishnav-anugatya—you must live and practise under the guidance of your Guru and under the guidance of Vaishnavs. If you try to worship the Lord without following the guidance of the Guru, it is the same as trying to eat by jumping over the plate."

So, on this day, we pray to Srila Prabhupad: wherever you may be, wherever you may be staying, please let us be servants of the servants of your disciples or followers. We only wish to serve them. I am a beggar, and I am begging you all: please, give me some mercy so that I can serve my guru-varga and Vaishnavs. This is all I am praying for...

* * *

Unimaginable Service

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur's disappearance
Nrisingha Palli, 3 January 2021, part 5

Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj spoke about Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur's disappearance describing what happened in 1937. I would like to speak a little about what happened that day.

[His Divine Grace reads from Bengali translation of the article 'On Srila Prabhupad's Disappearance' transcribed from an informal conversation spoken at Nabadwip, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, on 4 January 1983.]

Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj also wrote Sri Sri Dayita Dasa Dasakam after Srila Prabhupad's disappearance (after Srila Prabhupad left his body).

nite yasmin nisante nayana-jala-bharaih snata-gatrarvvudanam
uchchair utkrosatam sri-vrsakapi-sutayadhiraya sviya-gosthim
prthvi gadhandhakarair hrta-nayana-manivavrta yena hina
yatrasau tatra sighram krpana-nayana he niyatam kinkaro 'yam

"At the end of the night of Sri Sri Vrisabhanu Nandini, She suddenly took him to her entourage, withdrawing him from the company of throngs of grief-stricken souls. A great cry of lamentation arose, their bodies were bathed by their tears. When he was thus stolen away, this world was plunged into the deep darkness of one whose eyes have been stolen away. O Dina-nayana, wherever that great soul may be, please quickly take this servitor there."

Srila Sridhar Maharaj wrote so many things, but I do not want to take more of your time today. I spend a lot of time in zoom today—Gaudiya Vaishnav Association made a programme on behalf of ISKCON, and I was there in zoom from 4 until 6:30 p.m.. All the leading Gaudiya Vaishnavs, all the Gaudiya acharya-vrinda joined this programme in honour of Srila Prabhupad's disappearance festival. I saw that everybody is doing OK, it was a nice programme.

I remember *** always sends me some poems at every festival, but this time I did not get any poem from him for Srila Gurudev's festival. [Addressing one of the devotees.] I do not know his email, but you can send him an email, tell him on my behalf, "How are you, Maharaj? I am very worried about you. Where are you? How are you?" Ask. Sometimes they get lost, and I have to search them out. I must search where they are hiding and reach out to them. They may kick me, but I will go to them again and again. I do not mind it. "Sata ganjana, sata lanchana"—so many problems, so many dangers will come, but we are not to leave Krishna consciousness. We must always remember Krishna. This is the main thing.

...I know some devotees are trying to send some money, and they have already sent something for me to buy a new land in Nrisingha Palli. I am going to make a prasadam hall (a place for taking prasadam). I have got the money you sent, thank you for that. Actually, I am not only giving 'thank you'—to say 'thank you' is a simple matter. When somebody told 'thank you' to Gurudev, Gurudev would often ask, "Oh, only 'thank you'?" So, I do not want to say thank you—to say 'thank you' is a simple thing, we only say it out of courtesy and tradition. From my heart, I am giving my love and affection to you, and I am engaging you in service. I have just said that where there is service, there is relation; no service—no relation.

Everybody may not have the capacity to help with money. Somebody can help with their money, and somebody can help through their mind, through their heart. Many devotees come from Bokaro, from all over Bengal—they cook, help in many ways, serve prasadam, clean, decorate the temple, clean the Deities' room. Devotees come and do so many services. You have seen the nat mandir here, this year they made all the decorations anew. All old decorations were taken down and thrown away, and Kamalendu Prabhu, Sripad Sadhu Maharaj, Krishna Sundari Didi, Sudevi Didi did so much service decorating everything again. You can see Srila Gurudev's vyasa-asan has turned out very powerful—they made an amazing decoration. I heard that they had worked all night until 4 a.m., then they went to sleep at 4 a.m. and woke up again at 7:30-8 a.m.—after that, they cooked, etc. They served very nicely in every way, and they did so much service. Even those who are far also send some money for Gurudev's festival and to buy a new land, they also serve in this way.

This year I had to make a pandal again for prasadam. It is very difficult to give a class and serve prasadam at the same place (in the nat mandir), that is why I am trying to make some arrangement for Indian devotees—next week I want to buy a small land of five thousand square feet in the middle and make there a place for prasadam. I have heard that many devotees have been collecting money for it and have sent their donation. Those who have capacity and those who want to do some service, they send. I am very happy with them, I am happy to see that everybody is serving happily. Srila Gurudev has given so many good souls in my hand...

We have here Krishna Sundari Didi from Australia—even though she is an old lady, she is also helping out with her pension! Gurudev said, "When one door closes, another door will open." She is staying here and she is helping so much—she is doing a lot of service. You know, all banks were closed here on 31 December and 1 January—I was a little short of cash money at that time, and Krishna Sundari Didi gave me some money and did so much service here. She did so much, it is unforgettable. We do not know who Krishna and Gurudev take service from—only those who have some sukriti, who have some great fortune, can participate in service in their life. There are so many rich people, there are so many big people, but only a fortunate soul can do service. Even poor ladies, even poor people sometimes send two dollars, five dollars, ten dollars, and they are helping in their own capacity. I know that in Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela, the situation is very difficult (their dollar rate is the worst), but they still serve their Gurudev's mission. It is unimaginable.

Anyhow, by the mercy of Gurudev we hope that 2021 will be good for us all, that some very nice things are coming in future for everybody. I do not want to take more of your time now. I am going to Kolkata tomorrow, then I must visit Ekachakra to make some arrangements there, and after that I will start village preaching again.

Dandavat pranam. Please accept my humble obeisance, please forgive my offence.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay.

* * *

Good Mind, Good Heart

Kolkata—Worldwide, 10 January 2021, part 1

Haribol. Dandavat.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Vrinda Devi Tulasi Devi Sri Bhakti Devi ki jay
Sri Shyama 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 Jagannathjiu ki jay
Akar Math-raj Sri Chaitanya Math Mayapur Yogapith ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay!
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

Please accept my humble obeisance. I am meeting you all again after one week, and I am very fortunate to be always able to meet with you all, with all the devotees.

"Vaishnava sangete mana anandita anuksana. My heart rejoices in the association of Vaishnavs." When we get the association of Vaishnavs, the association of great souls, we always feel pleasure and all dirty things become removed from our hearts. That is why, we always need good association.

We must always think good about everybody. If you think good about everybody, then Krishna will think good about you. It is important to understand this. We must think good about everybody—everybody can join Krishna consciousness, everybody can chant the Holy Name. I see that, despite the situation now, all the devotees are OK, everybody is doing some service in some small way, everybody is joining this programme. It gives us happiness.

I went to Bankura temple (Betur) yesterday and from there I went to Ekachakra. I had some service there. The goshala in Ekachakra has become a little too small—some cows are living now in the big kitchen I made last year, so today I started the works to extend the goshala a little. Three cows gave calves, so the number of our cows in Ekachakra has increased, that is why I had some small job there to extend the goshala, and I also arranged some preparation for the festival of Lord Nityananda Prabhu's appearance.

It is Kali-yuga now, and everything is changing—when it is winter season, winter does not come, and when it is summer season, summer weather does not come. So many things are happening in this world, these things are bound to happen, but our duty is to practise properly, to chant the Holy Name, to follow all the rules and regulations. It was ekadasi yesterday, but I travelled three hundred kilometres, and I am fine—we must never stop our service.

I pray that all the devotees' health will be good and that everybody stays very happy in their life. Sometimes, some problems come in family life, some things can happen, and it gives us a little pain, but when something bad comes, we should always ignore it.

* * *

Uninterrupted Service Life

Kolkata—Worldwide, 10 January 2021, part 2

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur said, "Prana achhe yara, sei hetu prachara: you have life, you are alive, then you must preach." As long as we have life in this body, for as long as we are alive, we must preach Krishna consciousness to people. In this age of Kali, so many people will not come to Krishna consciousness because of maya, because of the influence of Kali, but Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur said we should not be disheartened—we must do our job.

Srila Param Guru Maharaj, Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, said: when you are giving a class in the nat mandir, there may be no people listening, but you can realise that the Deities are listening, even every pillar in the nat mandir is listening to your Hari-kahta. So, we must preach—we must tell our message, tell and tell it every day, and one day people will listen. Because the influence of Maya (illusory environment) is very strong, people cannot easily accept Mahaprabhu's message—they are not eager to hear about such things.

"Sithilita vidhi"—Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur so much reduced the rules and regulations. He even relaxed the rules of following ekadasi—he said if you are hungry, you can take some fruit or potato, it is not necessary to fast the whole day without water. If it is not possible for you to do a complete fast, you can take some anukalpa (non-grain prasad, permissible on ekadasi). We all know our temple's rule that we must fast until noon, but sometimes, for health reasons, some people have to take something earlier because they suffer from acidity, for example, and if they fast, then so much problem comes; or sometimes we must take some medicine in the morning and to take that medicine we have to eat something first—in such cases we can take anukalpa earlier also. Other than that, we must try to follow the rules and regulations as much as we can, we must do our best in our practising life. All of our guru-varga, all followers of Sri Rupanuga line have already accepted and established all these things. There are many rules and regulations, and we must continue our service life.

I have seen also when Gurudev travelled by aeroplane, he would even take the food from the servant at the aeroplane. Gurudev is not some simple, ordinary person—he is the representative of the Lord Himself! The air-host could be a Muslim, a Christian or even an atheist (a person without any religious creed), but Gurudev did not cringe to take food from their hand. He was never like that. Gurudev is not an ordinary person—it is not like he will take food from others and thereby lose his caste. No! When somebody comes near Gurudev (if somebody gets mercy from Gurudev), they become purified. We must understand it in this way. If some nurse or an air-host gives food to Gurudev because they had accumulated sufficient sukriti and got this chance to serve Gurudev, then their heart will be satisfied and they will be ultimately purified by the association of Gurudev. These people got this kind of fortune to give food to Gurudev! This is how we take it.

On the other hand, some smartavadis, some other ordinary people can criticise Gurudev for taking such food. There are also people who criticise for every small thing. We see that Ramachandra Puri also criticised Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. There are always such people in this world, their duty will always be to criticise—what can you do? You cannot stop their mouth. There are such people whom Krishna has given a mouth not for chanting the Holy Name, but for criticising. There are such people in this world, but you must be careful—always try to avoid the association of such people.

* * *

Accommodating Heart

Kolkata—Worldwide, 10 January 2021, part 3

Now accommodation in Nrisingha Palli is not a problem for devotees. It is not necessary to go to a hotel, not necessary to stay in somebody else's house any more. A very nice building ('Sri Bhakti Sundar Angan') is coming out now in the land.

Actually, some devotees (mostly foreign devotees) are helping to make the construction, otherwise how could I be doing it? Even though I left the mul-math (main temple) of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, all the devotees are with me, they are giving their mercy to me, that is why I am able to do something for them. How did Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math appear? Gurudev went abroad and many foreign devotees gave him money for the Centenary Buidling, the two guesthouses at the Govinda Kunda, the prasadam hall—they gave so much money to Gurudev and for the temple, but now they cannot even stay there. It is giving me very much pain. Not only that, those asuras (demons) even beat them! That is why I am trying to make new arrangement now. Devotees come every year for Gaura Purnima, Ekachakra Festival, Gurudev's Vyasa Puja, and I am thinking that I must do something for them, I must arrange their accommodation, and it is happening by the will, by the desire of Gurudev.

Today is the disappearance day of Sripad Bhakti Bhudev Shrauti Maharaj, a disciple of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, and tomorrow is the disappearance day of Srila Mahesh Pandit and Srila Uddharan Datta, both are Nityananda Prabhu's associates. We should always check the calendar, and when we see some dates mentioned there, even if we do not know anything about the Vaishnav or events mentioned there, we can at least give 'jay' to them—that also brings some good sukriti, some purification to us. Seeing the calendar and taking devotees' names early in the morning, from the beginning of the day, is very good for all devotees.

Question: We hear that Mahaprabhu experienced His greatest spiritual ecstasy when He was a sannyasi in Jagannath Puri, but we also hear that devotees do not like to remember Mahaprabhu as a sannyasi. Why is that so? Should not the devotees be happy that Mahaprabhu is experiencing much more ecstasy when He is a sannyasi than in His married life?

It is not the question of married life. Nabadwip-basis (residents of Nabadwip) do not want to see Mahaprabhu leave Nabadwip and take sannyas. It is a matter of feeling separation from Mahaprabhu. Nabadwip-basis always think, "Mahaprabhu will stay as it is! We do not want Him to take sannyas and leave Nabadwip!" Mahaprabhu rejected Nabadwip and accepted Puri, but Nabadwip-basis do not want that. Before, they used to neglect and criticise Mahaprabhu, even all the brahmans also criticised Him, but after Mahaprabhu left, they understood their mistake and they were very sad because of that.

It actually has nothing to do with Mahaprabhu's married life. Mahaprabhu took Vishnupriya Devi and Laksmi Priya Devi as His sakti for His pastimes (lila). If you mix the married life of us, ordinary householder people, and the pastimes of Mahaprabhu, it is not good. Some think, "Oh, Mahaprabhu got married, everybody accepts it, so I will get married too!"

You must understand how much Vishnupriya Devi sacrificed in her life. Vishnupriya Devi made a huge sacrifice for us because if she had not left Mahaprabhu, how would we have known about Mahaprabhu's Radha-bhav, separation pastimes in Gambhira?

Everybody understood that—Jagadananda Pandit, Nityananda Prabhu, and others knew who Mahaprabhu was, they knew He is the Lord Himself. Mahaprabhu is the Lord Himself, but He comes in this Kali-yuga to practise and preach, so He had to show practising life. If He had stayed with His wife, who would have listened to Him? Nobody would. They used to say, "Oh, He is a householder, and I am also a householder, why must I listen to Him?" That is why Mahaprabhu decided, "I have to leave My family life and take sannyas." In this way, He showed practising life. Moreover, when He left Vishnupriya Devi, He sang and cried at that time,

ami yai yai mane kari
yaite nahi pari
ami yaibo sadhane paribo kemone
maha-maya pichhanete taya

"I am thinking, 'I will leave! I will leave!' but I cannot do it! How will I enter exclusive practising life when Mahamaya is pulling Me back?"

Mahaprabhu would say like this...

* * *

Material Affection

Kolkata—Worldwide, 10 January 2021, part 4

Question: I have read that they passed an abortion law in Argentina and there are many people in favour of it. What advice can you give about preaching in this region?

It depends upon the culture and upon a particular country. Every country has its own rules. In general, abortion is very bad and we are not going to tell anyone to kill a baby.

Here in India, if an unmarried girl has a baby, the society or the community simply boycotts her—such girls get no position, they become outcasts, and they cannot even say who the baby's father is. It is a big problem here. That is why, because of the social pressure, girls secretly do abortion in some hospital, a nursing home or in some small hospital. Boys and girls mix, make a baby, and if that boy does not marry the girl, the girl can also sometimes commit suicide, or she can secretly do an abortion within two-three months. This is what is happening here in India. I do not know other countries' law. I have heard that in some countries, like in Australia for example, they have a baby and get some money from the government. Many of our devotees also have babies, but they do not even get married. Sometimes, a girl wants to be a mother, so she gets a baby—the boy runs away and she takes care of the baby on her own with the government's support. Here in India, nobody gives any support in such cases.

I cannot say if it is good or bad, all I can say is that it is better if you do not make any sexual contact with anyone before marriage or without marriage. In our spiritual life also, such relations are called illegal sex, and our scriptures also tell that it is not good to enter into such relations. If you are not married, you cannot have sex with your girlfriend—it is illegal sex. It is important to understand this.

Question: When I develop affection for a devotee who lives at the temple, I see that they show indifference or try to avoid my association. What attitude should I have towards such devotees?

You are showing some love and affection, but how are you doing it? Sometimes, there are brahmacharis, sannyasis living at the temple, and you should always keep some distance from them. You can pay dandavat to them, you can hear their Hari-katha, but it is necessary to have a proper mood. We must see that every girl is our mother, we must see that we are all godbrothers and godsisters—we must see ladies as our mothers or our own sisters.

So, always be careful with giving 'love and affection'. It is actually a very difficult situation. Here in India also, ladies stay at the temple with brahmacharis, and people sometimes see some bad things, they criticise. It is not good for them and not good for you also. So, we will stay together in a temple, but we must be always careful—we will not enter with anyone into a husband-wife relationship. Always be careful about it. It is necessary for everyone to understand this.

One time, one of the disciples of Gurudev, a lady from Mexico, was sick—she had hepatitis B, and she asked me to go with her to the doctor. I agreed, but first I went to ask Gurudev for permission to go with her. Gurudev said, "You can go with her, but not in the same rickshaw." I told Gurudev, "Yes, I have already arranged two rickshaws." I was not going to go with her in the same rickshaw. So, Gurudev always warns us to be careful, he always protects us.

Question: When a disciple does not practise properly complaining that they do not have guidance of senior devotees, is it correct that they blame the environment or should they be blaming themselves?

It is not correct. We must always see our own fault—we must not see others' faults. If we only take initiation but do not practise, then what kind of a disciple is that? Suppose you get admitted to a school, but you do not learn anything, you do not practise anything, what result will you get? Taking initiation means getting admission to a school, college or university, but if you do not study properly, if you do not practise properly, do not chant the Holy Name properly, then you will fail—you will not get a a good result. The result will be bad. A year later, or some time later, you will face an exam, and you can understand how much you have progressed, how much you have learnt by the result of that exam. Your result depends on what you are doing. If you do not practise your sadhana properly, you will not get a good result—the result will be bad.

* * *

Material Affection

Kolkata—Worldwide, 10 January 2021, part 4

Question: What should we think of when we stand before the Deity?

That depends upon the practitioner.

When you come in front of the Deities, you must always think, "I must serve the Deities." Sometimes some other thoughts come—sometimes some bad thoughts can also come, sometimes some good thoughts can come. It is not really offensive, you should just ignore that. What is offensive? If you shout in front of the Deities, if you do nonsense things in front of the Deities, if you stretch your legs in front of the Deities, etc.—these things are offences, and we must not do that.

Sometimes you come in front of the Deities many times a day—every time you come in front of Them, you must always pay obeisance to them: it can be a sastanga dandavat (full, prostrated obeisance; touching the ground 'with eight limbs'), a panchanga dandavat (not full obeisance, like the obeisances paid by ladies; touching the ground 'with five limbs'), or at least fold your palms. Always pay obeisance to the Deities, every time you see Them—that is good. We must do that. We must give respect to the Deities.

When we come before Gurudev, we always give him respect—no matter how many times we see him, we offer our obeisance to him every time. You must have the same attitude to the Deities—always pay obeisance to Them, every time you come before Them.

If some other thought comes to your mind, it can come because our mind is always naughty, even some bad thoughts can come. What can we do? We cannot do anything, but we will try to be good and we will do our best so that only good thoughts come to our minds. We can only try...

* * *

Sri Uddharan Datta Thakur and Sri Vakreshwar Pandit

Kolkata—Worldwide, 10 January 2021, part 6

Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami writes,

maha-bhagavata-srestha datta uddharana
sarva-bhave seve nityanandera charana

"Uddharan Datta Thakur, the eleventh among the twelve cowherd boys, was an exalted devotee of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. He worshiped the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda in all respects."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 1.11.41)

Sri Uddharan Datta Thakur was a great Vaishnav, maha-bhagavat. He always worshiped and served Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's lotus feet. In Sri Gaura-ganodesa-dipika that is written by Sri Puri Das (Sri Kavi Karnapur, a son of Sivananda Sen), it is said that Sri Uddharan Datta Thakur is an incarnation of a cowherd boy named Subahu. In Vraja-lila, he is a friend of Krishna, and in this age he comes as Sri Uddharan Datta Thakur.

Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur writes in Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat, or Sri Chaitanya-mangal (3.5.443),

kata-dine thaki' nityananda khadadahe
saptagrama ailena sarva-gana-sahe

"After passing some days at Khadadaha, Nityananda went with His associates to Saptagram."

When Sriman Nityananda Prabhu visited Khadadaha and then came to Saptagram (Adi-saptagram, the birthplace of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami), He stayed in the house of Sri Uddharan Datta Thakur, on the bank of the Triveni River, a confluence of three rivers—Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. At that time, Sri Uddharan Datta Thakur was a servant of the king of Naihati, but despite his material occupation and position, he received Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's mercy.

Sri Uddharan Datta Thakur was a householder, and he established a sad-bhuj (six-armed) Deity of Gauranga, next to Him are Nityananda, and Gadadhar, and on another altar he established Sri Sri Radha-Govinda. These Deities are still there.

Later, Jahnava Devi, Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's sakti (or wife, as we commonly say) also visited the house of Sri Uddharan Datta Thakur, but at that time he was already not alive.

Today is the day when Sri Uddharan Datta Thakur left his body...

When Mahaprabhu was in Nabadwip, before He took sannyas, a devotee named Sri Vakreshwar Pandit stayed with Him. Later, when Mahaprabhu left Nabadwip to take sannyas, Sriman Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Vakreshwar Pandit accompanied Him. When Mahaprabhu stayed in Puri, Sri Vakreshwar Pandit also stayed there. The birthplace of Sri Vakreshwar Pandit is in Guptipara, near Kalna. Sri Vakreshwar Pandit always danced during Mahaprabhu's kirtans—he was a great singer and dancer. When Mahaprabhu went to Ramakeli to meet with Srila Sanatan Goswami and Srila Rupa Goswami, Sri Vakreshwar Pandit was with Him.

You know the story of Devananda Pandit's offence. One time, Devananda Pandit was giving a class when Srila Srivas Pandit suddenly began to show ecstatic mood (he became overwhelmed by transcendental feelings). Some of the followers of Devananda Pandit did not like it, so they kicked Srivas Pandit from that assembly, and Devananda Pandit did not stop them. This is the offence Devananda Pandit made to Srivas Pandit. Some time later, Sri Vakreshwar Pandit said to Devananda Pandit that he had made a grave mistake and told him to ask Srivas Pandit for forgiveness—then his offence would be removed. Devananda Pandit did not make a direct offence to Srivas Pandit, but the offence was committed through his followers. As a result of that offence, Mahaprabhu always ignored Devananda Pandit and did not give him any mercy. One time, Sri Vakreshwar Pandit came to Nabadwip and was chanting and dancing at the house of one of the devotees. Devananda Pandit was there too, and when Sri Vakreshwar Pandit also started to show his transcendental mood, Devananda Pandit picked up a stick and started to check the crowd—he told people not to crowd so much around Sri Vakreshwar Pandit and not to disturb his dancing and chanting. When Sri Vakreshwar Pandit sat down after the kirtan, Devananda Pandit paid obeisance to him, and Sri Vakreshwar Pandit bestowed some mercy upon him—he advised him to go to Srivas Pandit and apologise to him. Devananda Pandit did so, and some time later, when Mahaprabhu came to Nabadwip from Puri to see His mother and the Ganga, Mahaprabhu finally bestowed His mercy on Devananda Pandit.

As I have mentioned earlier, Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur also says in Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata that Sri Vakreshwar Pandit stayed with Mahaprabhu when He was in Nabadwip, and when Mahaprabhu went to Puri, Sri Vakreshwar Pandit also came there and stayed with the Lord. There are many pastimes of Sri Vakreshwar Pandit described in the scriptures. In Vraja-lila, Sri Vakreshwar Pandit is a gopi named Tunga-vidya. Sri Vakreshwar Pandit also composed a book called Sri Sri Gaura-Krishnodaya that was later reprinted by Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur.

Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur writes,

jivera bhagye avani aila gaura-hari
bhuvana mohana rupa sonara putali
harinamamrta diya karila chetana
kali-yuge chhila yata jiva achetana
nityananda advaita acharya gadadhara
sakala bhakata majhe saje pahubara

"Fortunately for all the jiva souls, Sri Gaura Hari came to this world assuming the form of a beautiful golden doll that enchants the entire world. He bestowed the nectar of the Holy Name on all unconscious jiva souls of Kali-yuga and brought them to consciousness. The Lord comes in the garb of Nityananda, Advaita Acharya, Gadadhar, and all the associate devotees."

Sri Vakreshwar Pandit was a close associate of Sriman Mahaprabhu. During the festival of Sri Ratha-yatra in Sri Puri Dham, Mahaprabhu divided all the devotees into four groups, and Sri Vakreshwar Pandit was the leader of one of the groups. He was a great dancer, as I have already said. Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami also glorified Sri Vakreshwar Pandit in very beautiful words (1.10.17)

vakresvara pandita—prabhura bada priya bhrtya
eka-bhave chabbisa prahara yanra nrtya

"Vakreshwar Pandit, the fifth branch of the tree, was a very dear servant of Lord Chaitanya. He could dance with constant ecstasy for seventy-two hours."

Sri Vakreshwar Pandit could chant and dance for three days at a time without stopping. Such are the glories of Sri Vakreshwar Pandit...

* * *

Best Turn In Life

Kolkata—Worldwide, 10 January 2021, part 7

All the devotees know how to cook, what is there to it? When Nityananda Prabhu is in Ekachakra, He likes roasted and mashed eggplant (begun pora), and when Nityananad Prabhu comes to Venezuela or Colombia, He takes arepa there. What is the problem? Nityananda Prabhu's taste is different—He can take different things from everybody and from everywhere provided you cook it with heart. The main thing is to serve with heart—not to do anything artificially. When you do any service or cook anything, you must do it with heart, then it will be good for everybody, and then Mahaprabhu, or Krishna, or Nityananda Prabhu will be happy—They will enjoy, and Gurudev will also enjoy. This is the main advice how to do everything. It is necessary for us to understand this.

[Addressing one of the devotees.] Oh, it is too cold? Then come here!

Devotee: But it is not possible to get the visa to India now...

Oh... You are talking about the material visa, but the transcendental visa is not necessary—you have already got your transcendental visa from Gurudev, that is sufficient. You can start walking then. Why not? Six months and you will come here. What is the problem? [His Divine Grace laughs.]

In one-two months, there will be election here in Bengal—many politicians are gathering so many meetings, etc. without any restriction, so our festival will not be stopped this year. Our Gaura Purnima will take place, and the parikrama will be five days starting from this year.

I have not heard from *** for many days, but I heard the message that *** had left home. It is not a problem—if he wants to live a brahmachari life, what is the problem? [Addressing the mother of the boy.] This is why you are a little sad, are you not? You know, when I joined Krishna consciousness, my family also said, "Oh, that boy has lost his mind! He is crazy!" They did not even want to see my face. I heard recently that my mother's sister had died (last time I saw that lady was thirty-five years ago). I was going to Ekachakra yesterday and decided to find her house. I had actually forgotten the address, but anyhow I managed to find a shopkeeper who told me the address because that family are big landlords, very rich people, so it was not difficult to find them. When I came there yesterday, I saw that lady had six sons and two daughters, and they were doing the last rites for her. They have a very big family now—there are maybe more than a hundred people in that family. I saw them and said, "What to do? Krishna will take everybody one day." Before, they used to say I had become crazy, but now they understand that I had not made a mistake. I left my family and came to help Gurudev—I made no mistake.

Before, *** wrote saffron colour, he was a brahmachari, and I wanted to make him the leader of London Temple, but now he has gone to family life. He is still serving as much as he can, but he cannot serve full time—he can serve maybe 30-50%. Yet, those who become brahmacharis and sannyasis can give their whole life forever, until death for service, and their mothers and fathers should be proud of them—their son has become a sannyasi! Gurudev also said that when a son becomes a sannyasi, twenty-one generations become liberated from any illusory bondage and go to Vaikuntha. Your son is now sixteen years old, maybe going on seventeen—for now you can tie him with a rope, but once he turns eighteen, you cannot tie him anymore, he will be free. I am praying to Gurudev that this boy will be the next leader of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in London. I will be very happy with that. Try to understand that.

When I meet with devotees, I know they have a family life, they have daughters, sons, I come to beg them, but I do not beg just for some money—sometimes I beg them, "You have more than one child, can you give me one of them forever for service?" When they hear it, mothers become afraid, "If I give him my son, what if he never gives him back to me?" Some may even curse me, "If Maharaj dies, I can get my son back!" And there is another problem also. Once, I asked ***, "You have six sons, can you give one son to me?" She did—she gave me a good boy, but then somebody stole my son. When brahmachari left (got married), Gurudev would also say, "Somebody has stolen my son."

One time, when I was in Russia, I met there one of the main devotees (that was then, I do not know what she is doing now). That devotee had many children, I think she had just had her third child at that time, and there was not much of an age gap between the children—one year difference, I think. She was very disturbed by them and struggled to manage them. I was quite foolish and naive at that time, so I asked her, "Why are you making so many babies??" And she said, "Oh, I am making brahmacharis for you!" After that, I have not got any news from her, I do not know where she has gone. That was in 2000, so twenty-one years have passed, all the babies have grown up and must be twenty-one, twenty-two years old now. If saw her, I would ask her, "You promised that you were making brahmacharis, so where is my brahmachari??"

It is necessary for some devotees to leave their family and join full time—it is necessary for the future of Srila Guru Maharaj's Mission, Srila Gurudev's Mission. If Srila Sridhar Maharaj had not got Gurudev, how would he have made this Mission? How would Srila Sridhar Maharaj's Mission have been maintained, expanded, and continued? After that, Gurudev also eventually got me—no doubt, I am a fallen soul, but Gurudev got me as his servant, and I am also trying to find somebody who will come to carry on this Mission. Unfortunately, not every mother will agree to give her son for the service of the Lord, such is Indian culture here—they can give their own house, they can give their own land, but they will not give their child for service. It is very unfortunate.

Now *** and *** must be afraid thinking when I will ask for their son for service. You must understand that this body will be the next generation in our Mission, and I am very, very happy with Doyal Nitai's mood. I am very, very happy with his humility, tolerance, and giving honour to others. It is a very happy mood. ***'s sons are also good, but I see their mood now and I understand that they want to be householders. When I see devotees, I can discern their mood and I can detect where their mood is going. *** was a very simple-hearted boy, the other boy too, but now I see that the way their mood is going they are thinking, "If I become a sannyasi or brahmachari, who will take care of me? Who will massage my feet when I become old? I want my wife to massage my feet." They are thinking like that...

These are very heavy words, and not everybody can digest it...

When I heard that *** wanted to get married, he told me, "Maharaj, if I get married, I can serve you together with my wife. What is the problem?" Yes, no problem, you can come and join, and both can serve the Mission. I have no problem with that, but the problem is that now they are doing some cake business in their country instead. Why is it necessary to make cakes? For their baby...

It takes a great fortune and a great sukriti to be able to join full time and forever. Otherwise, without special fortune, who could have thought that I myself would become a sannyasi? When I was a school boy, I was very naughty—if I saw some person with shaved head putting on tilaks, I used to throw stones at their heads! Even all the village people from my birthplace are astonished, "This boy has become a sadhu?! The boy who used to fight for a piece of food in this childhood?!" Who would have known?

All right, I am finishing the programme for today. We will try to make a programme next Sunday from wherever we are, it will be good.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj ki jay
Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Niskama Shanta Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Bandhav Puri Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Nandan Sadhu Maharaj ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay!
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

Please forgive my offence. I want to see you all again next Sunday. Jay Srila Gurudev. Dandavat.

* * *

Latest Events

Kolkata—Worldwide, 17 January 2021, part 1

Hari bol.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Om Vishnupad Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj ki jay
Sachchidananda Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur ki jay
Sarvabhauma Sri Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj ki jay
Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Vrinda Devi, Tulasi Devi, Sri Bhakti Devi ki jay
Sri Shyama 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, Jagannathjiu ki jay
Akar Math-raj Chaitanya Math ki jay
Mayapur Yogapith ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
Tandiya sakha Math samuha ki jay
Sri Mather sevak vrinda, bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Ananta-koti Vaishnav vrinda ki jay
Sri Gaudiya Acharya vrinda ki jay
Tridandi-pad-gan ki jay
Saparsada Sriman Nityananda Prabhu ki jay
Saparsada Sriman Mahaprabhu ki jay
Bhakta-prabara Prahlad Maharaj ki jay
Suddha-bhakti-vighna-vinasankari Bhagavan Nrisinghadev ki jay
Sri Sada-Siva Gangadhar, Giriraj Govardhan ki jay
Jay saparikara Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Sundarjiu ki jay
Jay saparikara Sri Sri Guru Gaura Nityananda Prabhu ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
All the sannyasi-vrinda ki jay
All the brahmachari bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Matri-mandali ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

I am very happy to see you all after one week. I can see that all the devotees are here. I have been doing some preaching programme lately and came back to Kolkata last night. It is Sunday, and I decided to take a day off today, so today is my holiday [His Divine Grace laughs]—I am taking a little rest. I have not had any time to take rest, so I thought that I would take some rest today, and it happened so.

It was Sriman Mahaprabhu's sannyas day recently. It happened on poila magh as we call it in Bengal (the first day of the magh month), or 15 January this year (the day before yesterday). The date of this day actually never changes. Mahaprabhu's sannyas day (poila magh) is always on the same date every year. It is not calculated as tithi (lunar day). Sankranti is in paush mas (month of paush), this is the day when Mahaprabhu left Nabadwip for Katwa to take sannyas from Srila Keshav Bharati to teach us all, and Srimati Visnhupriya Devi gave her Lord, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, to all fallen souls like us—she showed such a great sacrifice in her life.

This day and time is extremely pathetic for all residents of Nabadwip. Even those who used to criticise Mahaprabhu also cried for Him later—at first they thought that what Mahaprabhu was doing was not good, but later, when Mahaprabhu left Nabadwip, they thought about it and understood that they had made a mistake, they had treated Mahaprabhu in a rude way. So, even those who treated Mahaprabhu bad cried for Mahaprabhu in the end.

In the times of our Param Guru Maharaj, Srila Sridhar Maharaj did not come out of his bhajan kutir for three days. During these three days, he would take only rice and some subji mixed with dal. He would not take anything opulent. Sometimes, we go out for some preaching programme and we cannot observe this—devotees make so much prasadam for us... What can we do?

This year, I had to go to Nabadwip on this day. I was in Nabadwip on 15 and 16 January because I have so much service there—I had to start the construction of a Prasadam Hall and see to the construction of the guesthouse. I have bought a land for the Prasadam Hall near the outbuilding kitchen, right next to the temple. Some money was due for that land, and I came to give the money to the owner of the land. Now I must start the construction there.

* * *

Memorable Day In Bamunpara

Kolkata—Worldwide, 17 January 2021, part 2

I remember one time when Gurudev was in Nabadwip, he asked me, "You have made a temple at my birthplace in Bamunpara, but can I go to Bamunpara? A sannyasi is not supposed to go to his birthplace—he can only go there one time, not more than that. I have already been there once, so can I go there again?" Then, Gurudev said, "But I will not go to my birthplace! You have made a temple there, so I will go to the temple. Can you take me there?" Then, one morning Gurudev went to Bamunpara. Only Gurudev, his driver, me, and Gurudev's servant who cooked for him, went at that time. I sent some vegetables and Gurudev's favourite rice with another car and warned the devotees at the temple in Bamunpara that Gurudev was coming and asked them to prepare his room.

When Gurudev arrived in Bamunpara, he stayed at the temple for only a few minutes, after that he said, "OK, I want to see Bamunpara village. You brought me here only at the festival time and it was very crowded, I could not see the village properly after so many years. I want to see the places where I used to play and I want to show you some places also." I remember Gurudev was standing at the corner of the pond (Nityananda Kunda) next to the temple and pointed at the other side of the pond where there was a large banyan tree. Then, Gurudev told me, "Only you come with me." And we got into Gurudev's car (Gurudev, his driver, servant, and me), and went around the village. Gurudev stopped the car under one banyan tree, got out of the car and told me, "You know, this is a very ancient banyan tree. It was here even before Mahaprabhu's times." That tree must be more than five-six hundred years old. Gurudev also said: after Mahaprabhu took sannyas from Keshav Bharati in Katwa, He was going to go to Vrindavan. However, because the residents of Nabadwip (all the devotees of Nabadwip) had so much love and affection for Mahaprabhu and also due to some cleverness and trickery of Nityananda Prabhu, Mahaprabhu instead went from Katwa through Bamunpara and then directly to Kalna and Shantipur.

Nityananda Prabhu knew that Mahaprabhu wanted to go to Vrindavan, but He wanted to keep Mahaprabhu in Gaura-mandal, so Nityananda Prabhu walked first and He was trying to avoid Nabadwip because Mahaprabhu knew all the places and He would understand where He was if He went there.

So, Mahaprabhu took sannyas last Friday (15 January), and He reached Advaita Prabhu's house in Shantipur at night almost three days later. Gurudev told me that Mahaprabhu went through Bamunpara, then went to Kalna. There, one bank of the Ganges is Gauri Das Pandit's house in Kalna, and on the other side is Shantipur, Advaita Prabhu's house. Kalna is situated just opposite Shantipur, across the Ganges. Gurudev showed me that place in Bamunpara where Mahaprabhu passed...

* * *

Remembering Mahaprabhu’s Sannyas-Lila

Kolkata—Worldwide, 17 January 2021, part 3

Mahaprabhu's sannyas is described in Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata also. There, it is said that Vakreshwar Pandit, Mukunda, Nityananda Prabhu left Nabadwip together with Mahaprabhu. In Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, it says five people, and in Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata it says three people. Everything is possible. Three or five people knew that Mahaprabhu was going to take sannyas—both is correct.

One time, Sripad Bhakti Ananda Sagar Maharaj (later, Svarupananda Prabhu) was composing something based on Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, and he asked me what was correct—Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami said five people knew about Mahaprabhu's intention to take sannyas, and Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur said three people. What is the truth? Is it five people or three people? I said both was the truth. We cannot deny either of it. It is not a question, everything is possible.

So, when we were in Bamunpara, Gurudev showed me the place that Mahaprabhu was passing. Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata also described Mahaprabhu's sannyas-lila. After Mahaprabhu took sannyas and left Keshav Bharati's ashram, He thought He went to Vrindavan, so when He came to Bamunpara and saw many cowherd boys, He was very pleased thinking He was close. Even now too you can see in some places many cows grazing and some cowherd men walking with them. So, coming to Bamunpara, Mahaprabhu sat under a banyan tree and called some of the cowherds. (Nityananda Prabhu knew that Mahaprabhu would ask them, so He had spoken to them before that and asked them, "Mahaprabhu will come here, if He asks you whether He was going the right way to Vrindavan, say yes.") As Nityananda Prabhu expected, Mahaprabhu asked the cowherds the same question, "Do you know which way is Vrindavan? Am I going the right way?" As promised, the cowherds replied, "Yes, Prabhu, You are going the right way."

In this way, Mahaprabhu came to Bamunpara, after that to Katwa, and then finally to Shantipur. He had walked for more than two days, almost three days, and He had not eaten anything during this time—He only drank some water, nothing else. When He came to the bank of the Ganges, He thought it was the Yamuna, so He entered the water and, standing in the water in wet clothes, recited the pranam mantra of Yamuna Devi. When He finished, He suddenly saw Advaita Prabhu there. Greatly surprised, He asked him, "Advaita, you? How did you know I was here? How did you know I would come to Vrindavan?" Advaita Prabhu replied, "Prabhu, wherever You are, that is where Vrindavan is." "What? What do you mean wherever I am, that is where Vrindavan is?! Is it not Vrindavan?" Then Mahaprabhu understood, "Oh, Nityananda Prabhu has brought Me here! I wanted to go to Vrindavan, but instead He has brought Me to Shantipur through Kalna! Now I understand!"

Sri Advaita Prabhu knew everything because Nityananda Prabhu had sent some devotees before that to inform Advaita Prabhu that Mahaprabhu was coming to Shantipur, and Sita Devi (Advaita Prabhu's sakti) had prepared all prasadam and everything else to receive Mahaprabhu at their house. Otherwise, how would he know? There were no telephones, no mobile phones at that time. How could it be possible? So, Nityananda Prabhu had sent a message to Shantipur saying, "Somehow or other, I am taking Mahaprabhu to your house." This is how Advaita Prabhu knew about it, and this is how Mahaprabhu reached Shantipur.

Srila Param Guru Maharaj also said that during this time Nabadwip was covered by thick clouds—there was no sun in the sky and everything was very dark. Even the sun too cried because the Lord had left Nabadwip. It was such a sad time, everybody felt very deep separation.

One time, I asked Srila Gurudev what Krishna-katha Keshav Bharati and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had talked about the whole night before Mahaprabhu's sannyas, and Gurudev told me many things about that pastime. How does one take sannyas? The scriptures say that one must practise brahmacharya until twenty-five years, then live as a grihastha from twenty-five to fifty years, then as a vanaprastha from fifty to seventy-five years, and only then one can take sannyas and practise sannyas from seventy-five to a hundred years. However, the main conception is that if you cannot control the ten senses (five bodily senses, karmendriya, and five mental senses, jnanendriya), then you cannot take sannyas even if you are a hundred years old. If you cannot control kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, matsarya (lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness, envy), ego, etc. then you cannot take sannyas no matter how old you are.

In this way, Mahaprabhu explained so many things, He explained why He wanted to take sannyas, etc. In the end, knowing everything, Keshav Bharati told Mahaprabhu, "You are the Lord Himself, but You are taking sannyas from me—actually, You are giving mercy to me in this way." Not only that, Keshav Bharati had actually first taken the sannyas mantra from Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu—he had asked the Lord to teach him that mantra—and then he gave that same mantra to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

The conversation between Keshav Bharati and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went on in this way the whole day and night....

* * *

Ten Days in Shantipur

Kolkata—Worldwide, 17 January 2021, part 4

...When Mahaprabhu came to Shantipur and the news about it spread everywhere, so many devotees started coming there—so many boats, full of people, came to Shantipur to see Mahaprabhu...

They came and saw Mahaprabhu in His sannyas clothes, with His head shaven... You know how extremely beautiful His hair was—the barber (named Madhu Sila) cried shaving Him. Usually, when shaving, the barber must use some water to wet the hair, but Madhu Sila did not need any water as he cried so much that the tears from his eyes made Mahaprabhu's hair wet. Everybody was actually afraid to shave Mahaprabhu, but Madhu Sila has a great sukriti (fortune), so he was able to shave Mahaprabhu for His sannyas.

Mahaprabhu came to Shantipur, and everybody who came there cried to see Mahaprabhu—Mukunda, Nityananda Prabhu and many other devotees danced and chanted the whole day and night. So many things happened there... Anyhow, Mahaprabhu very happily took prasadam—Sita Devi, Advaita Prabhu's sakti, prepared thirty-two items for Mahaprabhu. Later, Sachi Mata came there too and she sadly asked Mahaprabhu through Srivas Pandit, "I know He will not stay in Nabadwip, in His birthplace, I know He will leave because He has taken sannyas. Now I cannot cook for Him... Can I cook for Him now, here?"

This is very sad and painful—Mahaprabhu left taking sannyas, and Sachi Mata and Vishnupriya Devi got so much pain in their hearts. You can see that when Mahaprabhu came to Shantipur, Sachi Mata could at least come to see Him, but Vishnupriya Devi did not do that—she controlled herself. She did not even go to see Mahaprabhu in His sannyas garb, sannyas life. She did not want to see that. She stayed at home and cried in her bedroom all the time—she continuously shed tears.

So, when Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took prasadam at Sri Advaita Prabhu's house, He was very happy because He had not taken any proper prasadam for three days. After taking sannyas, He took prasadam at Srivas Acharya's house at noon, and after that He did not take anything until He reached Advaita Prabhu's house in Shantipur. When Sachi Devi came there a few days later, she asked Srivas to ask Mahaprabhu for permission to cook for Him, and Mahaprabhu said, "Yes, if My mother wants permission from Me, she can cook. I am still her son, and I will always be her son, there is no doubt about it. Even though I have become crazy and taken sannyas, it does not change anything—I am still her son. Therefore, for as long as I am here, she can cook for Me."

Mahaprabhu stayed in Shantipur during ten days—first, three days, then two more days, then again five days more. Sachi Mata cooked for Him there. Feeling sympathy for His mother, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said to Srivas Pandit, "Srivas, I have chosen two places, Vrindavan and Puri; please ask My mother where I shall stay." Sachi Mata thought, "Vrindavan is so far from here, but Nabadwip devotees always go to Puri to see Jagannath at Ratha-yatra every year, then I will always get some news about Him. If He stays in Puri, it will be better. First Visvarup left me, and now Nimai too—I do not know how many more days I will be alive in this world with so much pain in my heart... Anyhow, if He stays in Puri, it will be good for me." Mahaprabhu accepted His mother's word and soon started off for Puri along with Nityananda Prabhu, Mukunda, and a few other devotees.

On the way to Sri Puri Dham, Mahaprabhu visited many places because Nityananda Prabhu had been there before and knew them—Nityananda Prabhu had travelled all over India with a sannyasi (many say it was Madhavendra Puripad).

This is how the pastime of Mahaprabhu's sannyas took place...

* * *

Heart-Breaking Decision

Kolkata—Worldwide, 17 January 2021, part 5

Mahaprabhu had actually beforehand given a signal that He wanted to leave Nabadwip and take sannyas. Otherwise if He had not taken sannyas, Krishna's desire would not have been fulfilled.

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam
sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair
yajanti hi su-medhasah

"Those of sharp intellect will worship Krishna who appears with a non-black bodily hue, who is armed and surrounded by His associates and servants, and who always chants the Holy Names."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 11.5.32)

There is also another sloka in Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita,

sri-radhayah pranaya-mahima kidrso vanayaivasvadyo
yenadbhuta-madhurima kidrso va madiyah
saukhyam chasya mad-anubhavatah kidrsam veti lobhat
tad-bhavadhyah samajani sachigarbha-sindhau harinduh

"'What is that great glory of Sri Radha's love? What is My extraordinary loving sweetness and charm that Sri Radha enjoys? And what is the joy Sri Radha feels by experiencing My sweetness and charm?' Yearning to taste these three sentiments, the moon—Krishna-chandra—was born from the ocean of the womb of mother Sachi."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 1.6)

Krishna thought, "Why does Radharani cry so much taking My Name? Why does She cry so much for Me? I want to taste and relish this kind of mood!" So, Krishna comes in this world as Gauranga Mahaprabhu, a combined form of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, and if He had not taken sannyas, this desire would not have been fulfilled.

Besides that, Mahaprabhu understood, "If I do not take sannyas, I cannot preach Krishna consciousness properly. Even if I leave Nabadwip, Nityananda Prabhu is there, He can see to this part—Nityananda Prabhu, Srinivas Pandit and other devotees can take care of Gaura-mandal; whereas I must go to so many other places. I must go to Vrindavan. I have a job there—the pastimes that I did before are almost all hidden now, so I must go and show those places to everyone. I must show devotees where Radha Kunda is, where Shyama Kunda is, where My birthplace is, etc. I must also go to South India." So, having taken sannyas, Mahaprabhu visited South India, North India, Vrindavan, and all the other important places.

In this way, Mahaprabhu went everywhere establishing the proper conception, and He Himself showed us the example how to practise. He Himself practised sannyas life—He slept on the floor (not on a bed), He followed all the rules and regulations, He did everything. When Krishna is in Vrindavan, He plays with His associates in madhurya-rasa, madhurya-lila; when He is in Mathura and in Dvaraka, He shows other pastimes; and when He is in Nabadwip Dham as Gauranga Mahaprabhu, then He shows His Krishna-prema, love and affection, and preaches humility, tolerance and giving honour to others.

na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagadisa kamaye
mama janmani janmanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi

"I do not want wealth, I do not want knowledge, I do not want beauty, I do not want to be a poet. I only want causeless devotion to Your lotus feet. Give me that kind of devotion to Your lotus feet so that I could do Your service life after life."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 20.29)

This is what Mahaprabhu showed all the devotees. Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur describes Mahaprabhu's decision to take sannyas and what happened in the 26th chapter of Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat (Madhya-lila). You can find it there, everything is described there very nicely.

Sriman Mahaprabhu told Sriman Nityananda Prabhu,

prabhu bale,—"suna nityananda mahasaya!
tomare kahiye nija hrdaya nischaya

The Lord said, "Listen, Nityananda Prabhu! Let Me confidentially reveal My heart to You."

bhala se ailana ami jagata tarite
tarana nahila, ami ailun samharite

"I came to deliver the living entities of this world, but I could not do so, and it appears that I came to destroy them."

ama' dekhi' kotha paibeka bandha-nasa
eka guna baddha chhila—haila koti-pasa

"They were supposed to be freed from material bondage by seeing Me, but they were previously bound by one rope and now they are bound by millions."

amare marite yabe karileka mane
takhanei padi' gela asesa bandhane

"As soon as they decided to beat Me, they were immediately entangled in unlimited bondage."

bhala loka tarite karilun avatara
apane karilun saba jivera samhara

"I incarnated to deliver the people of the world, but it appears that I am destroying them."

dekha kali sikha-sutra saba mudai
yabhiksa kari' vedaimu sannyasa kariya

"Soon You will see Me shave My head and give up My brahman thread. I will wander about begging as a sannyasi."

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat, 2.26.127-132)

"I will take sannyas and go begging door to door, 'Krishna bala sange chala! Chant Hare Krishna maha-mantra, come with Me!' I will go to the houses of even those who want to kill Me—I will come begging to their door! Seeing My sannyas life, they will have to pay obeisance to Me, so they will not beat Me any more. Do not be sad that I am taking sannyas. If You want all the fallen souls to be rescued, then You will not forbid Me, You will not stop Me from taking sannyas." Nityananda Prabhu replied, "Yes, Prabhu, as You wish. Who can stop You?"

svatantra paramananda tomara charita
tumi ye karibe, se-i haibe nischita

"You are independent and full of transcendental bliss, therefore whatever You wish to do will certainly be done."

tathapiha kaha saba sevakera sthane
ke va ki balaye tahasunaha apane

"Still You may ask Your servants to see what they have to say."

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat, 2.26.148-149)

Actually, Nityananda Prabhu knew Mahaprabhu would take sannyas and leave His house, but He always thought about Mahaprabhu's mother (Sachi Mata). He worried because Visvarup had already left and now Nimai Visvambhar was going to leave—how would Sachi Mata bear it? After that, Mukunda also sang many songs saying, "Please do not leave Your mother. Do not take sannyas." This is described in the 27th chapter of Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat.

jaya jaya visvambhara sri-sachinandana
jaya jaya gaurasimha patita-pavana

"All glories to Visvambhar, Sri Sachinandana! All glories to the Golden Lion, the deliverer of the fallen souls!"

"kotha yaibena prabhu sannyasa kariya
kotha va amara saba dekhibana giya

"Where will the Lord go after taking sannyas, and where will we go to see Him?"

sannyasa karile grame na asibe ara
kon dike yayena va kariya vichara"

"If He takes sannyas, He will not return to the village. Who knows which direction He will decide to go?"

prabhu bale,—"tomara chintaha ki karana
tumi saba yatha, tatha ami sarva-ksana

The Lord said, "Why are you all worried? Wherever you are, I am always there."

tomara va bhava 'ami sannyasa kariya
chalibana ami toma'-sabare chhadiya'

"You are all thinking that I will leave you after taking sannyas."

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat, 2.27.1, 2.27.3-4, 2.27.7-8)

Mahaprabhu said, "I am going to take sannyas and you are thinking that I will leave you. No. I will always stay with you. Do not ever think that I will leave you. I will always stay with you in your heart. Because I want to teach the general people, I am taking sannyas, but do not think that I am leaving you all."

When Sachi Mata heard Mahaprabhu was going to take sannyas, Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur says she said,

"na yaiya na yaiya bapa, mayere chhadiya
papa jiu achhe tora sri-mukha chahiya

"My dear son, do not leave. Do not leave Your mother. This sinful person is surviving only by looking at Your face."

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat, 2.27.22)

"What kind of religion is it to make Your mother miserable?" Sri Sachi Mata cried so much and tried to dissuade Mahaprabhu in so many ways.

kamala-nayana tora sri-chandra-vadana
adhara suranga, kunda-mukuta-dasana
amiya varikhe yena sundara vachana
na dekhi vanchiba ki se gajendra-gamana

"How will I survive without seeing Your lotus eyes, Your moonlike face, Your reddish lips, Your pearly teeth resembling kunda flowers, or Your elephantlike gait? And how will I survive without hearing Your words that shower nectar?"

advaita-srivasa-adi tora anuchara
nityananda achhe tora pranera dosara
parama bandhava gadadhara-adi-sange
grhe rahi' sankirtana kara tumi range

"Stay at home and happily perform sankirtan in the company of Your followers headed by Advaita and Srivas, Your intimate companion, Nityananda, and Your dear friends (Gadadhar and others)."

dharma bujhaite bapa, tora avatara
janani chhadiba e kon dharmera vichara?

"You incarnate to preach religious principles, but what kind of religious principle is it to leave Your mother?"

tumi dharma-maya yadi janani chhadi
bake-mate jagate tumi dharma bujhaiba?”

"You are the personification of religious principles, yet You will leave Your mother? How then will You teach religious principles in this world?”

prema-soke kahe sachi, sune visvambhara
premete rodhita kantha, na kare uttara

"Sachi was grief-stricken with love as she spoke. As Visvambhar listened, His throat became choked, and He was unable to answer."

"tomara agraja ama' chhadiya chalilavai
kunthe tomara bapa gamana karila

"Your elder brother has left me, and Your father has gone to Vaikuntha."

toma' dekhi' sakala santapa pasarilun
tumi gele prana muni sarvatha chhadimu

"Yet I forgot all grief by looking at Your face. If You leave me, I will certainly die."

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat, 2.27.23-31)

She said, "Your father has already left for Vaikuntha. If You leave too, how will I be able to stay alone?" Chandrasekhara Acharya, Mukunda and others also knew about Mahaprabhu's decision. Here it is written that five devotees knew about it—Mahaprabhu's mother, Gadadhar, Brahmananda, Chandrasekhara, and Mukunda. Mahaprabhu told Nityananda Prabhu, "Nobody except them knows about it."

There are so many things written about this pastime in Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata. Chapter 26-28 of Madhya-lila (middle part) describes Mahaprabhu's sannyas. You can read and understand it...

Jay Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ki jay.

* * *

Deceitless Dealings

Kolkata—Worldwide, 17 January 2021, part 6

They have started vaccinating, but actually it is those who always worry about their lives that go for the vaccine first... We do not think about our life (we rely on the Lord and we think about our service). This is the main thing. Start preaching, chant the Holy Name, and run the mission together. Everybody should leave their egos.

Everything is service, and it is necessary to always do service from your heart. Try to respect everybody, try to respect each other. It is very important. Do not create so many classes, divisions, and groups among devotees. Classes and discrimination started appearing even in Mahaprabhu's time, and later in Prabhupad's time (in the time of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur) many disciples could not tolerate each other and there appeared so many problems. However, our Param Gurudev and our Gurudev love everybody. Our Gurudev is an example for us. He loves and accepts everyone.

So many devotees, so many good friends came to our Mission from ISKCON, and Gurudev accepted and welcomed them all. In this way, they joined our Mission and in this way our Mission expanded so much by the mercy of Gurudev and by the mercy of foreign devotees who had come from ISKCON. I always remember them—Srila Janardan Maharaj, Srila Ashram Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Sudhir Goswami Maharaj, and so many other devotees like Yudhamanyu Prabhu, Srutasrava Prabhu (Sripad Vaishnav Maharaj), also Sripad Tapasvi Maharaj from Brazil, Hasyapriya Prabhu. So many exalted devotees came to our Mission.

I sometimes chastise devotees, but this is how I show my love and affection to them. Gurudev said that I was sometimes very rude to devotees, but he also said, "Not everybody can understand your heart, but I can understand your heart and I know how soft you are." The thing is that I do not pretend—like, showing one thing outside and keep other things inside, I am not like that. That is called kapata, deceit. I cannot be like that in my life. I pay a full dandavat to you in front of you, and behind your back I swear. This is called a mask or a disguise (mukhosh). You are a bad man, but externally you behave and look like a good man. This is a drama. You are not a sadhu, but you pretend to be a sadhu. Such behaviour and life is very bad. If we do one thing but there is another thing in our heart, it is a big problem. You cannot progress or proceed in your spiritual life properly if you behave like that. A sadhu will always be saral (simple-hearted). Gurudev says that simplicity is the main quality. Gurudev said, "My Guru Maharaj liked me because of my simplicity." 'Saralata' means 'vaishnavata'—simplicity is Vaishnavism. These are Gurudev's words. It is necessary to be simple, without any deceit.

You know, Gurudev came to the Mission in 1947, at that time his name was Gaurendu Brahmachari. Three years later, in 1950, Srila Sridhar Maharaj once sent Gurudev back to visit his home. Before that, some villagers came to the temple and tried to forcefully take Gurudev back to his family life—not to become a grihastha, but to take care of his mother, etc. So, Srila Sridhar Maharaj said, "Go and show them how much your spiritual life has increased during these three years." And Srila Sridhar Maharaj did not send Gurudev alone—he sent him with a disciple of Prabhupad (Gurudev said he was not actually Prabhupad's disciple, he was a disciple of Ananta Vasudev Prabhu, but he claimed to be a disciple of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur). Gurudev was a very clever and naughty boy, and everybody in the village loved him very much. There was one lady in the village whom Gurudev always called 'jethima' (auntie). When she saw Gurudev after three years, she was so happy that she hugged Gurudev. Gurudev was seventeen-twenty years old at that time, he was like a child to her, so now when Gurudev came back after three years, she hugged him out of deep affection. However, the brahmachari saw it and later reported to Srila Sridhar Maharaj, "You sent me to that village with him, but he was hugging with a woman!" Srila Sridhar Maharaj laughed, "What kind of conception is that? This boy went to his previous home where he is everybody's affectionate son, and the lady who hugged him is like his mother, but they still criticise him!"

Those who cannot tolerate Gurudev always find faults. I remember Gurudev used to say, "Yake dekhte nari, tara chalana banki. Faults are thick where love is thin (lit. if you cannot stand seeing somebody, their gait will always be crooked to you.)" If we cannot tolerate somebody, we always say that they are not walking straight—we always say they are walking crooked.

Gurudev told so many things, I am remembering some of his pastimes...

* * *

Deficiency in Practice

Kolkata—Worldwide, 17 January 2021, part 7

Are there any questions from anyone today?

Question: I have been reading about the holy places in Ekachakra Dham and I have two questions. Is Bankaray also a son of Srimati Padmavati and Hadai Pandit?

No, Bankaray is Krishna.

Question: There is a place at Janu Kunda where a dome is showing, is it Bankaray's samadhi?

No, it is not correct. Bankaray disappeared there. He was playing there and after that He disappeared at that pond. Actually, Nityananda Prabhu is non-different from Balaram, and Krishna and Balaram are inseparable—wherever Balaram is, Krishna is always there. Once, some village people noticed that a boy was playing with Nityananda Prabhu at the pond, but later only Nityananda Prabhu came from that place, and the boy disappeared. Many years later, Jahnava Devi went to the Yamuna River in Ekachakra Dham and she found two Deities there. This is how she got Bankaray Krishna's Deity. So, Bankaray is not a son of Padmavati Devi and Hadai Pandit. In another way, you can say He is their son because even in the pastimes of Krishna and Balaram, both Balaram and Krishna called Mother Yasoda "mother." "Ek-i dehe dui rupa"—Their body is actually one, but They expand themselves into two different forms. Such is the relation between Gaura-Nitai and Krishna-Balaram. So, in one way, you can say that about Bankaray, but Bankaray does not actually come from mother Padmavati. Bankaray came when many years later Jahnava Devi found the Deities of Krishna and Balaram.

Are there any other questions?

Question: How can I develop affection for devotees?

You can develop affection through practising Krishna consciousness. Everybody in this world are sons of nectar (amrtasya putra). We all belong to one family, to the family of Krishna. You have affection for your mother, father, and you should feel the same affection towards all devotees because they are also your family, as much as your parents are. You should not see any difference between your parents, etc. and all the other devotees.

...You are very fortunate because you got the association of devotees. You are now in this zoom meeting and you are getting association of so many devotees. It is very nice to see you, I am very happy. You are a very fortunate soul because you have come to this programme from very far away. You can join again and again, and if you have any questions about Krishna consciousness, you can ask them.

...Who can avoid death? Death is not just death of this body—death means you leave this family and go to another family life, and next life you will again face death. It is necessary to overcome this kind of death—not just the death of this body, but the life of repeated births and deaths. We do not want to face this. We can overcome this situation, but we need to practise properly—we must serve devotees, we must preach for devotees, we can give some message to the devotees. These are the main things. Practise very nicely. Krishna is always with you, I also always think about you. Do not worry.

Question: If some devotee who wants to leave the temple asks me to help them leave the temple, should I support them?

You can give them some advice, explain to them that it is not necessary to move out of the temple, they can speak to the senior devotees also. You can ask the leader or the temple manager in your area. It is necessary to consult with senior devotees in such cases.

Question: How can I identify whether I am ready to take the second initiation?

It is not necessary for you to identify that. The guru is always the one who will identify whether you are ready or not. Your Guru can understand that.

If you want to engage in puja and cooking services more, or if you want to learn puja, cooking, etc., if you have this desire, then you can take second initiation. If you only show you have taken the second initiation but after that do not practise properly, it is not good. After you take the second initiation, you must recite the gayatri mantras every day, you should do some cooking and puja services. This is what the second initiation is mainly necessary for. If you feel, "I should do some puja, I should offer bhoga to the Deities on my altar," then it is necessary to take the second initiation.

Taking the second initiation or taking sannyas only for the sake of taking it is meaningless. It is meaningless if you take sannyas and do not preach—if you instead always think about your health, always think about your own things, etc. Sannyas means always preaching. This is the main service of a sannyasi. Even brahmacharis should also always take this position—they must be determined to preach Krishna consciousness. Even householder devotees who have taken the second initiation, must first learn to do puja themselves and then teach others also how to do it. It is very important. I have seen so many devotees who have taken the second initiation, but one-two, five, etc. years pass and they cannot even remember the gayatri mantras, they have not learnt how to do puja, they cannot even say the Jay Dhvani. There are so many deficiencies in devotees. It is necessary to learn and practise.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

* * *

Increasing Preaching Scope

Kolkata—Worldwide, 24 January 2021, part 1

Haribol. Dandavat.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Sri Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Vrinda Devi, Tulasi Devi, Sri Bhakti Devi ki jay
Sri Shyama 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 Jagannathjiu ki jay
Akar Math-raj Chaitanya Math ki jay
Mayapur Yogapith ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay!
Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Niskam Shanta Maharaj ki jay
Sripad Bhakti Nandan Sadhu Maharaj ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

Yesterday I went to Nrisingha Palli for a short time—I went yesterday as I had some job there, and after that I came back here to Dum Dum Park the same day. Tomorrow I am again going preaching for five days in Bankura and Bardhaman.

In the meantime, Sripad Sajjan Maharaj is doing book distribution here in Kolkata. There are two small books in Bengali, 'Prakrita Utser Sandhane' (In Search of the Original Source), and another one is 'Parama-ananda-maya Dhamer Dhan' (Gift of Transcendental Abode). These two small books are two full lectures that Gurudev gave in Mexico and Australia. I printed 5,000 copies each (10,000 total), and Sripad Sajjan Maharaj distributes a hundred copies every day. There is my phone number in the books, and all the people are calling me now and asking so many questions, I have to answer their questions. Sripad Sajjan Maharaj does not speak Bengali or English, but he distributes a hundred books every day—despite his old age, he is doing so well. Every day, he goes to the Diamond Plaza on Jessore Road and stands there. Many people go there to buy things, there is a large Big Bazar store there, and he distributes books to all the shoppers. He is a very nice distributor. And he goes out to distribute books every day, he does not stop. He went out even during the lockdown period—he is not afraid of the corona...

Many people are very afraid of the corona. I have sent Sripad Niriha Maharaj, two brahmacharis and one-two more devotees (five-six devotees in total) with Sripad Ashok Prabhu, and they are now doing preaching in Bardhaman villages. I have given Sripad Niriha Maharaj some of the preaching service—he has taken over preaching in the places where Hari Charan Prabhu and myself used to preach. Sripad Niriha Maharaj is now preaching about Gaura Purnima, and he says some people are afraid—they do not give them place to stay, fearing, "Oh, maybe corona will come!"

You must understand one thing. Birth and death are not in our hands. The date when we will leave our body is already written for us. It is not necessary to be afraid. "Prana achhe yara, sei hetu prachara: you have life, you are alive, then you must preach."

* * *

Distribute Krishna Consciousness!

Kolkata—Worldwide, 24 January 2021, part 2

"Prana achhe yara, sei hetu prachara: you must preach for as long as you are alive." I saw some photographs from Singapore yesterday—they had a very nice programme attended by many young devotees, and Sripad Ravindra Krishna Prabhu was explaining the guru-parampara to them. I heard him give the lecture—he was saying, "This line comes from Krishna to Brahma, from Brahma to Narad, from Narad to Vyasadev, from Vyasadev to Madhvacharya," and so on. I like seeing what kind of lecture devotees give, I like to listen to it because I want to see how expert they are in Krishna consciousness and preaching. It is very important because when you take initiation, your spiritual life does not finish there.

Even Srila Sridhar Maharaj at first wanted to live a quiet life without preaching, but then he heard a sky message from Srila Prabhupad one day. Srila Sridhar Maharaj was living in Nandagram, thinking, "Now that my Gurudev has left and I have been ousted from Sri Chaitanya Math, I have come to Vrindavan and will stay here for the rest of my days." Such was his desire, but Srila Prabhupad did not want that. Srila Prabhupad wanted him to preach, so he sent a message from the sky to Srila Sridhar Maharaj, "Have you come to this world only to eat yourself and not share with anyone? Having taken initiation, do you think you will go to Goloka Vrindavan or Vaikuntha without taking anyone with you? There are so many fallen souls in this world, what will you do for them? You must go to Nabadwip, stay there in one place on the bank of the Ganges and start preaching from there." This is how Srila Sridhar Maharaj came to Nabadwip and started the mission of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in 1941. After that, many of his godbrothers found him and came to stay with him.

A few years after that, our Srila Gurudev came—having much energy and inspiration, he started to preach and take Srila Sridhar Maharaj out of Koladwip to various places (the chara-dham, four holy abodes, Sri Vrindavan, and others). Srila Gurudev took Srila Sridhar Maharaj everywhere for preaching. This is how Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math appeared, but now the preaching is going on all over the world by the mercy of Gurudev because after Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad left his body, so many foreign devotees came to Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and took shelter of Srila Sridhar Maharaj. Srila Sridhar Maharaj was actually a little hesitant to accept them, but then he gave everything, all foreign devotees into the hands of our Gurudev. This is how our Mission has expanded all over the world, and we are all a big family now—a big family of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

I would like to tell something to all the devotees all over the world. It does not matter where you live, for example, many devotees have left Venezuela because of their financial condition, because the situation in Venezuela is very bad—they went to many different countries, but, wherever you are, when you go to some country, you must go there not only to live, sleep, and enjoy! Whatever country you go to, you must preach there. If ten devotees go to ten different countries, then they must increase the preaching, there must be more and more preaching, in those ten countries. It is necessary to do this. Try to understand it.

There are so many villages in this world, so many people live there... You must read the biography of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad—he went to America alone, but how big the mission of ISKCON has become now! Read it and you can understand this. It is necessary to try, to make an effort—if you have a great desire to preach, then people will come. Srila Prabhupad said that in this world not so many people will come to Krishna consciousness, but you must not be disheartened, you are not alone.

There are so many people suffering in this world—they too are searching for the main source, they too are searching for the hidden treasure. They wait for somebody to come and distribute it to them. Go and distribute this hidden treasure to everyone!

Wherever you go, even if you go to the market, to work or anywhere else, keep some books in your bag. You can talk to people and give them a small book. If they read it, they can realise something, they can ask some questions. I see Sripad Sajjan Maharaj distributing small books—people read them and call me, they say they want to see me, they want to join me. You must distribute Krishna consciousness. You cannot sit in one place and only do deity puja—you do only mangal-arati and then sit all day in one place. Go and preach. Whether you are a sannyasi, a brahmachari, or a householder, it does not matter. Go door to door! It is necessary for you and necessary for everyone.

You can see my example—to this day I still go door to door. Tomorrow I am going for preaching again. I go door to door and invite people to come for Gaura Purnima. Why did Srila Prabhupad start 'Sri Nabadwip Dham Pracharani Sobha'? He wanted to preach the glories of Sri Nabadwip Dham. So, make some small programmes for ten-twenty people, speak about Sri Nabadwip Dham, and if somebody has a great fortune, they will come and join Gaura Purnima—and those who come must join Krishna consciousness because once you go for Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama you cannot forget it...

You know, in this age of Kali you can reach your real home just by chanting the maha-mantra. This is a very, very high thing! It is not the age of Satya-yuga, Treta-yuga, or Dvapar-yuga! Before, people had to practise so much austerity to reach spiritual perfection, but in this age of Kali, all you must do is practise chanting the Holy Name and preach Krishna consciousness. People suffer so much eating meat, fish, etc.—even in terms of health, they suffer so much. In general, people like vegetarian food, but only vegetarian food is not sufficient—if you can give them some prasadam, then it will give them benefit.

Follow what I am saying, preach in this way, and it will be very nice. You can preach very nicely if you follow this.

* * *

Offering Bhog on Ekadasi

Kolkata—Worldwide, 24 January 2021, part 3

Today is a very auspicious day—I see so many devotees are here. Today is also an ekadasi day. Everybody must follow ekadasi. Is everybody following ekadasi?

Question: When we offering bhog to the Deity on ekadasi, should we offer something that is non-ekadasi (some grain, etc.) as well?

Yes, it is necessary. If somebody lives with you and does not follow ekadasi, what can you do? You can give them some sweet or something. Sometimes, devotees live in their house and if they offer rice, dal, or kitchuri on ekadasi, how will they take it? They do not want to throw away food, so they do not offer grains on this day. If you offer non-ekadasi preparations, then you must give what you cannot take to somebody else, to some other place.

However, if it is a temple with Deities, then we should offer everything, both ekadasi and non-ekadasi preparations. The same applies to the places where Gurudev's Deity is established. For example, I have established Gurudev's Deity in Venezuela, Govardhan, Nabadwip, and Siliguri, and we offer to Gurudev rice, dal, subji, etc. even on ekadasi.

Whether you do it on your personal altar or not, it is not a problem. Both ekadasi and non-ekadasi must be offered to Deities, it is a strict rule, but if you have an altar where you keep a photograph of the Deities, then there is no emergency to follow this rule so strictly. You can offer rice, dal, subji, and if you have some small children in the house who cannot follow the rules and regulations properly, you can give it to them, those children who cannot follow ekadasi can take it. That is also possible.

* * *

Sri Jagadish Pandit

Kolkata—Worldwide, 24 January 2021, part 4

It is ekadasi day today, a very nice day, and it is also the appearance day of Sri Jagadish Pandit today.

Sri Jagadish Pandit was older than Mahaprabhu, and he was a great devotee. Born in Guwahati, Assam, Sri Jagadish Pandit came to live in Nabadwip, but when Mahaprabhu took sannyas, Sri Jagadish Pandit left Nabadwip and settled in Chakdaha. There is a house (sripat) of Sri Jagadish Pandit in this place—later, Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj established a temple there. Chakdah is situated between Kolkata and Krishnanagar—when you go to Nabadwip through Krishnanagar, you pass Chakdaha on the way.

One time, Mahaprabhu took rice in Sri Jagadish Pandit's house on an ekadasi day. At that time, Mahaprabhu was a very small boy, and He was crying because it was ekadasi and His mother had not cooked any rice—she had cooked only ekadasi food. So, Mahaprabhu started to cry and shout very much. Then, His father, Jagannath Misra, took Him to Sri Jagadish Pandit's house.

Hiranya and Jagadish are two brothers, you may have heard their names mentioned in Sri Chaitanya-bhagavatam. Sri Jagadish Pandit is a very nice devotee.

When Mahaprabhu took sannyas, Sri Jagadish Pandit could not tolerate it, so he left Nabadwip. Sri Kavi Karnapur writes that Jagadish Pandit was a yajna-patni in Dvapar-yuga. Yajna-patni means a wife of a brahman engaged in performing fire sacrifices. You know this pastime of Lord Sri Krishna and Balaram.

One time, Lord Sri Krishna, together with Lord Balaram and other cowherd boys (Sridam, Sudam, Vasudam, Subal, Madhumangal, and others) went to graze the cows. Somehow, they came to a forest where there was nothing to eat, they could not even find any fruit. Krishna (the Lord Himself!) got very hungry and said, "Listen, we have come to a village of brahmans. Go to them and ask them for some food on My behalf." Krishna sent Balaram and others to bring some food from the brahmans' houses.

In the meantime, all the brahmans were doing a fire sacrifice—they were chanting the mantras, "Om svaha, Om svaha, Om svaha," etc. The boys came and saw them busy with the fire sacrifice, so they sat and waited, waited, waited. When the yajna finished, they asked the brahmans, "Give us some fruit! Give us some some sweets! We are very hungry!" All the brahmans became very angry, "What?! How dare you, cowherds, come here and disturb the fire sacrifice! We have not even made the offering for Lord Narayan, and you dare come here and ask us for food?! Get out of here!"

The boys came back to Krishna and complained, "Oh, we went there, but they chased us away. They said we would not get anything there because we are cowherd boys and do not know any rules and regulations—they scolded us for asking for food before the puja was done!" Krishna replied, "You went to a wrong place! You should go to those brahmans' houses! Their wives are at home, cooking so many things for the Lord. Go and ask them, tell them I am hungry."

So, the boys went to the brahmans' houses and asked the wives of the brahmans for some food. Hearing Krishna's Name, the wives became very happy, "Oh, Krishna has sent you to get something to eat?" They began to fuss, "What do we have? What can we give to Him?" At that time, they were cooking, and they took everything they had—what was cooked, what was not cooked—and went with the boys. They were very anxious to see Krishna. Seeing their wives going out, the brahmans were very angry, "They do not obey us! They left home without even asking us for permission! They are going with those cowherd boys! What is this?!"

Anyhow, the brahmans' wives brought so much food to the forest—so many pancakes, so much paneer, butter, cake, curd, cheese, etc. Krishna was very happy. He took all the food, and all the boys, all His friends also took the food that the brahmans' wives had brought, and after that Krishna said, "OK, you can go home now." The brahmans' wives, however, did not agree, "We did not come here to go! We came to stay here with You!" Krishna tried to reason the ladies, "You are brahmans' wife, I am a kayastha. It does not look right for you to stay here, people will start talking nonsense. It is better if you go." The brahmans' wives replied, "No, no, no. Our husbands are very angry, they will not take us back. They will kick us out of our homes..." Then, Krishna created some illusion, some Maya Devi came, and the brahmans felt attachment to their wives, so when the evening came, they started worrying, "Where have our wives gone? Why are they not coming back?"

Actually, there are many things described in Srimad Bhagavatam—there was a long conversation between the brahmans' wives and Krishna. Krishna told them, "You do not have to stay with Me. Make My murti (vigraha, or Deity), and worship Me at home." Then, the brahmans' wives said, "Oh, You only like the Vraja-gopis, You do not like us! OK, then we will serve the gopis! We will become their servants." Krishna thought, "They are very clever! They want to become servants of the gopis! They want to stay here one way or another." In the end, Lord Krishna created some illusion to arrange for the brahmans' wives to return to their homes. This is how the yajna-patnis got mercy from the Lord. After that, they started worshipping Bala-Gopal.

This month (magh month, according to Bengali calendar) I am going to a place in Basirhat where all housewives do puja of Gopal. They say that every year one thousand Gopals come to that programme, which means one thousand families will be joining this programme. Every family will bring their Gopal, and we will offer bhog and make a sankirtan programme. They told me to fix the date and to come this year—every year another (sahajiya) sampradaya comes to this festival, but this year they asked me to come...

So, Sri Kavi Karnapur writes that Sri Jagadish Pandit and Sri Hiranya were two yajna-patnis, two wives of brahmans. In another book, it is also written that Sri Jagadish Pandit is Chandrahash, a dancer, and now he became renowned as 'Nritya-vinodi' Jagadish Pandit.

I have already told you that the birthplace of Sri Jagadish Pandit is in Guwahati in Assam, and his father was a brahman named Sri Kamalaksa Bhatta. Sri Jagadish Pandit also had a brother named Sri Mahesh Pandit. Sri Jagadish Pandit and Hiranya lived together on the bank of the Gages near Sri Jagannath Misra's house, and Mahaprabhu would often come to visit them.

It is written in Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, that once Sri Gaurasundar told Jagadish Pandit, "You can come to Nilachal and preach about the Holy Name of Krishna there." Following the Lord's order, Sri Jagadish Pandit came to Puri. He came to see Jagannath temple and prayed to Lord Jagannath, and when he came back to Chakdah, he saw that there were Deities of Jagannath, Baladev, and Subhadra in his house! Those Deities remain at his house to this day. He also established a Deity of Gaura Gopal there.

Sri Gaurasundar and Nityananda Prabhu often came to the village of Yasor (Chakdah) and chanted and danced at the house of Sri Jagadish Pandit. There are many things described in Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, as well as Sri Gopal-champu. Sri Jagadish Pandit and Hiranya were two dear friends of Sri Jagannath Misra, and both of them knew that it was the Lord Himself who had been born in Jagananth Misra's house. That day, when Mahaprabhu cried a lot and His mother and father took Him to the house of Sri Jagadish Pandit, Sri Jagadish Pandit and Hiranya said, "We were making an offering to the Lord, and now we see that Krishna Himself has come to take our offering!" When Mahaprabhu came and took that offering, they actually had the darshan of Bal-Gopal at that time. Seeing the beautiful form of the Lord, Sri Jagadish Pandit and Hiranya began to chant, "Hari bol! Hari bol!"

Every year when Gaudiya devotees went to Sri Puri Dham, Sri Jagadish Pandit would go there with them. Also, when Nityananda Prabhu came to Panihati for the festival of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, Sri Jagadish Pandit was also present there.

So, these are some of the glories of Sri Jagadish Pandit that I wanted to tell you about today...

* * *

Be Strong and Straight

Kolkata—Worldwide, 24 January 2021, part 5

I am going for preaching to the Bankura Temple. We will take prasadam in the afternoon at the temple, and in the evening there is a programme outside the temple, in a village near Bankura; and the next day there will be an anniversary (Deity installation) festival at the temple. They make this festival every year, but this year they could not make it at the usual time because of the pandemic situation. The Bankura Temple has the Kaikhali Deities installed—Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Radha-Raman. Bankura is about fifty kilometres from Bardhaman, it is the village where Sripad Bhakti Kiran Giri Maharaj stayed and it is also very close to the birthplace of Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj.

The house where Sripad Giri Maharaj stayed in Bakura, was later given to Gurudev. Somebody had also donated some nearby land to Sripad Giri Maharaj, but he could not do anything with that land, and it was soon possessed by some local gundas. I managed to rescue that land and it is now used as a cultivation land. It is a very nice piece of land, more than five-six acres. The house where Sripad Giri Maharaj lived, was subsequently occupied by a school teacher who later met with Gurudev and decided to give it to him. Gurudev said he was too old and could not do anything with the house, so he requested the school teacher to transfer the land in my name. Now this land is a very good temple, our Bankura Temple. There are four-five cows now there, and also the cultivation land. Rasaraj Prabhu from Ukraine stayed there and did the puja for more than six months last year, starting shortly before Gaura Purnima. He liked it there and wants to come there again....

The people in that area are very simple-hearted, not like here in Kolkata—here, people show one thing and have something else inside. There, the people are very simple-hearted. So, there is an outside programme tomorrow night, the anniversary festival, and after that I will make programmes in the nearby area of Bankura and Bardhaman, both districts together. I will be going out for preaching for the next five days.

[Addressing one of the devotees:] Where have you got the golden chain on your neck from? Oh, it is headphones... OK, good. I thought you have forgotten your Tulasi beads and are wearing a golden necklace now.

Devotee: No, the Tulasi beads are around my neck, it is just headphones.

OK. But I am thinking you'd probably like to have a golden necklace...

Devotee: No, it is not really my style...

OK. It is necessary to be a brahmachari. Stay in brahmachari life, it is good. The problem is that it is very difficult to stay as a brahmachari in the West. There are too many kamini-kanchana (temptations of women and wealth), are there not? Yes... Yes! Kamini-kanchan is there. If they see saffron clothes, they start joking...

[Addressing another devotee:] I know that *** has already left the temple because he wants to be a householder. I want to see you live as a proper householder. It is necessary to live a proper householder life.

When you live at the temple, you engage only in sravan, kirtan, you take prasadam, and when you live in your house, you must engage yourself in the same way—even if you live as a householder, you should still do everything that we do at the temple. As a householder, you must provide income for the family—you must go to work or do some business, and when you earn money, you must give something to the temple, you cannot use everything for your family only. This is the duty of every householder. Help the temple according to your capacity, and you must also join the temple programmes at the weekend or when you have time. You must do something to maintain your spiritual practice.

It is not a problem if you get married, but it is necessary to be properly married, do not just move in and live together. This is illegal and it is not good. It is necessary to get properly married. I do not like it when you take a wife, use her, and then throw her away. I do not like such things. I know many devotees do that—they change wives or husbands in the same way that they change their clothes every day. I am saying harsh words, and not everybody can digest it, but Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj used even worse words, the words that I cannot even repeat. He would always say, "Rascals!" I cannot use this word, but I have heard from our Srila Gurudev that Srila Swami Maharaj would use it.

It is necessary to harmonise with your wife or husband. Stay with your husband/wife until death. That is good. If you get married, it is not a problem. I am not saying that it is illegal or prohibited to get married. You can have a householder life. I have just said that it is very difficult to keep a brahmachari or sannyasi life in foreign countries, especially when you are young. I know it is very difficult. Moreover, I have seen one old devotee who got married many times, and his last wife (he has already died) was younger than his granddaughter! They do not think. In their old age they have children, but if they die when the child is five-six years old, who will take care of this child? They do not think about it. A sixty-seventy year old man gets married and makes a baby, he does not think who will take care of that baby when he dies. They think everything that happens, happens by the wish of the Lord!

[Addressing a devotee:] I see how much service your father, Sripad Sajjan Maharaj, does for the temple—he lives here and does a lot of service. As his son, you must become an example for others too.

Question: What rites should be performed for devotees when they die? Should they be cremated with the kanthi-mala and japa-mala?...

Before cremation, you must bathe the body properly with water, then smear (massage) some ghee on the body, put on tilaks, the kanthi-mala should be there, etc. It is not necessary to keep the japa-mala with the body—do not cremate the body with the japa-mala (you can keep that mala and remember that devotee, that will be good). Other than that, everything can be used—kanthi-mala, tilaks, etc. This is how we do it. I saw many devotees leave their bodies in Nabadwip in Gurudev's time, and this is what Gurudev told to do. I saw this is what devotees did. The body can be cremated with the kanthi-mala if that is the question.

Are there any other questions?

Question: If a devotee leaves the temple or leaves their service, is it because of the offences they have committed or is it because of their lack of faith?

Because of seva-aparadh. Sometimes, we say that somebody basically left because of this or because of that, but actually Gurudev says that when somebody leaves it is natural—some seva-aparadh comes and they leave their service. This is the work of Maya Devi. Maya Devi always wants to take us and use us in her own service. This is Maya Devi's duty. So, whenever somebody leaves their service, it happens only because of seva-aparadh. When seva-aparadh happens, then service automatically leaves. That is why I tell everybody—if you have got an opportunity to do some service, do not leave that service, always continue doing your service.

One time, I was very disturbed in Nabadwip (it happened in Gurudev's time), and I left the temple and went to Bamunpara (Gurudev's birthplace). At that time there were no mobile phone, so nobody could reach me. I stayed away for one day, twenty-four hours, and I felt too much disturbance—too many bad things came to my mind. At night, I dreamed Gurudev was calling me back, and I went back to the temple in Nabadwip the next day. This happened in my life only once—I left my service for twenty-four hours (I had no service in Bamunpara, but I left Nabadwip and went there that day). Those twenty-four hours were a very difficult time for me—not just one Maya Devi, so many Maya Devis attacked me at that time. This is my experience. I can share that with you. When I left my service, I felt so much disturbance... It was a kind of an exam for me—Gurudev was testing me, and the question is whether I passed or failed it. Anyhow, I came back to Nabadwip within twenty-four hours...

* * *

Mission's Sustenance

Kolkata—Worldwide, 24 January 2021, part 6

Somebody lives a brahmachari life but then thinks, "Oof, it is very difficult to remain a brahmachari! I would rather become a grihastha!" They go to grihastha life and now they repent, "What have I done! What a mistake it was..."

I thought before that *** would be brahmacharini because I have taken her to preaching and she knows good Hari-katha, but after that she entered householder life... Now they can understand how much austerity there is in that householder life. First, they think it is very sweet, but after that everybody sooner or later realises that it is actually very bitter. I spoke to two girls yesterday. Both are quite young, one is twenty-five or twenty-six, and the other one is twenty-three or twenty-four; both are graduates. One of them was married last year on Ratha-yatra day at one devotees' house, but after that she could not tolerate it—she said she was not allowed to cook there, or even make garlands, etc., so she left that house and joined the temple. Both of them now cook at the temple (one cooks and the other one helps—she is not fully initiated). They have already understood how austere that householder life is.

One time, Gurudev's servant (koka) had made some mistake, and Gurudev told him with folded hands (I saw Gurudev pleading with him so much), "Please, koka, forget the mistake you have made. I can manage it, it is OK. Please do not leave service." He did not listen—he left his service, went abroad and made many babies, then that woman kicked him out, and he got married again! What kind of life is this? And he is an Indian boy...

To be able to stay within service full time is very rare—it is necessary to have a very great fortune to be able to serve from childhood. I am also trying to make full-time servitors from some boys... I gave sannyas to two brahmacharis when they were very young (Sripad Niriha Maharaj and Sripad Vishnu Maharaj), they were not even twenty-four years old at that time, but they are still serving very nicely—they do proper service, following all rules and regulations, doing everything properly. Now they go for preaching and doing very well. There are two more brahmacharis, one of them, Abhay Chaitanya Prabhu, is a very good boy. He was the pujari at the Tarakeshwar temple, and now he preaches, and he is very happy to preach. He is very nice too. There are two more new devotees who came to Nrisingha Palli, I initiated them yesterday. And another boy came from ISKCON, but he says he is not interested ISKCON, he likes Gaudiya Mission, Gaudiya Math, so he came to our temple and does service there.

Proper soul will come—Krishna will send somebody from His place to serve this mission. I am becoming old day by day, but I still have to watch everything to this day—to this day I have to see to all the kitchen needs (I must see how much oil is necessary, how much rice is necessary, etc.). I have to do everything with my own hands.

Gurudev also wanted a helping hand—he needed somebody on whose shoulders he could transfer the burden. When I joined the temple in 1992, Gurudev told me, "I am making you the security guard—take care of my temple. My Guru Maharaj placed me in charge of this Mission in 1985. He left in 1988, four-five years have passed now and foreign devotees want me to visit their countries, but I could not go before because I worried who would take care of this temple." So, when I came to the temple, Gurudev kept me as the security guard of Sri Chaitnaya Saraswat Math, and to this day I still think that I am a security guard of the devotees.

I sometimes chastise you, but who can chastise? Only a family member, the guardian of the family can chastise one. I sometimes chastise devotees—I tell them what is bad, what is good. If I do not chastise you as your younger brother, elder brother, as your father, or as your guardian, who will chastise you? I sometimes tell harsh words to you, but actually everything I tell you, I tell it for your benefit, for your own good. I want all Gurudev's devotees, all Gurudev's family members to be good and to be going in the proper way because they are the ones who will carry the flag of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math all over the world, in every country of the world. That is my vision. I have not taken up any other flag—Gurudev gave me his flag, and I am proceeding and going everywhere carrying that very flag.

When an opportunity comes, I will also visit foreign countries. I too want to reach out to everyone, I want to see every country. I only went abroad to Australia, Brazil, Venezuela, and Mexico in 2009 or 2010—but I have not visited Colombia, South America, I have not visited many countries in Europe, I have not been to Turkey, Mauritius, South Africa, etc. I want to go to every country and preach. Yet, everything depends on the mercy of Gurudev, on the will and mercy of devotees. How many days I will be alive in this world depends upon the Lord, depends upon Gurudev—as long as Gurudev keeps me in this world, I will try my best. That is my desire.

* * *

Learn to Tolerate

Kolkata—Worldwide, 24 January 2021, part 7

It is necessary to have much tolerance when you are young. I also was a university student. I also thought about different things, I have seen university life, had many friends, etc. But Krishna has taken me from there. Even my parents did not want me to come to Krishna consciousness and become a sannyasi.

I started reading Srimad Bhagavad-gita when I was twelve years old, and my father always hid the book, he did not allow me to read it. From my childhood I knew a lot about Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, He is famous in the area where I was born, so in my childhood I staged some pastimes, we did some drama and acted as Nimai, Gaura Sundar. I knew and liked Gauranga very much in my childhood.

I used to read Srimad Bhagavad-gita, but I did not understand it so much—when I came to Gurudev, I heard some very nice explanation of Srimad Bhagavad-gita. Even Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita is a very hard book, but Gurudev explained Sri Raya Ramananda sambad, how Srila Sanatan Goswami and Srila Rupa Goswami left their kingdom and joined Mahaprabhu, how many problems Srila Raghunath Das Goswami had to face and how he finally reached Mahaprabhu. All this gives me very much enthusiasm in my life. The pastimes of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, the pastimes of Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Sanatan Goswami—all this gives very much inspiration to me in my life. Srila Gurudev also told his own life history—when he left his house, he was giving twenty rupees per month to his mother, and when he came to the temple his family, his mother came to the temple to take him away, and Gurudev held onto some window bars with one hand, and the family (his mother) came and pulled his other hand—he did not want to go. This also gave me a lot of inspiration.

So many problems come, you will have to face so many things, and it is necessary to tolerate everything. It is necessary to have much patience to be able to stay in a temple. If you live alone, you do what you like, but when you live in a temple, you have to follow all the rules and regulations properly, and that should give you more example, more benefit in your spiritual life. For this reason I pray to devotees—you come for the Gaura Purnima festival from time to time, you stay for a few days and immediately get a return ticket, but you should try to stay here for some time. We have opened many temples and branches, you can stay in any of the temples and do some service there for one-three months at least. It is will be good for you. If you come only for four-five days at Gaura Purnima and then immediately leave, you will not be able to learn to be an example for others.

You can see the example—there is a Colombian boy, Amrita Krishna Prabhu. He has been here for more than a year now, and he is doing very nice cow seva. He sends me photographs from Nrisingha Palli every day. His wife Dharitri Didi also cooks very nicely. Even I can give you the example of Sudevi Didi. When I first went to Venezuela, I did not have a good cook with me, and I could not tolerate some food there, but now Sudevi cooks so well that no Indian lady could cook like her. She could defeat anybody, any best cook in India. She made fried rice and chilli paneer on Gurudev's appearance day—I can say that no one can cook it in such a way. Perhaps, some professional cook at a hotel or a restaurant can cook like this, otherwise nobody can compete with her. Even when Krishna Sundari Didi cooked sweet rice, it was an incredible sweet rice and it has become very famous now. So many sannyasis came from various Gaudiya Maths, and they said that they had never tasted such sweet rice before. They have many temples, they all came from various temples, but they kept asking me, "Who has cooked this? We know Nimai cannot cook like this!" I did not tell them Krishna Sundari Didi's name or Sudevi Didi's name—I had to say that I had cooked it because if I had told them the truth, they would squirm thinking she is a mlechha, and they may not have taken it. They have this mentality—they can say, "Oh, they come from the West, they are mlechhas, we will not take anything from their hands!" You know, when Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad opened the Mayapur Temple, many foreign devotees had come at that time, and Gaudiya Maths did not join the inauguration...

All right, I am paying my full obeisance to you all. I am very happy to see you all. Please forgive my offence. I am chastising you today a lot about householder life...

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur said,

jivana anitya janaha sara
tahe nana-vidha vipada-bhara
namasraya kari' yatane tumi
thakaha apana kaje

"Understand the essence: life is temporary and filled with all sorts of adversity. Carefully taking shelter of the Name, engage in your work."

(Gitavali, Arunodaya kirtan, 1.3, by Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

Life is very short and life is very uncertain—so many problems will come, but we will not bow our head down at the lotus feet of Maya Devi. We must do our service properly. All right, thank you very much. Jay Srila Gurudev.

Oh, I have not seen *** for a long time. Where has he gone? Send him a message, say that I am searching for him. OK? Actually, we need everybody—we do not want to lose anyone. OK? Sometimes it is necessary to chastise, and sometimes it is also necessary to harmonise with everyone...

Devotee: I do not think he is angry. He just lives far from the temple...

No, he is not angry, but a little sad. We must learn to tolerate and to be patience. Sometimes it happens that we can neither digest, nor vomit some things. What can we do? It is necessary to tolerate... Anyway, my dandavat to you all. Thank you so much.

* * *

"I Want to Surrender"

Kolkata—Worldwide, 31 January 2021, part 1

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Vrinda Devi, Tulasi Devi, Sri Bhakti Devi ki jay
Sri Shyama 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 Jagannathjiu ki jay
Akar Math-raj Sri Chaitanya Math ki jay
Mayapur Yogapith ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
Tandiya sakha Math samuha ki jay
Sri Mather sevak vrinda, bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Ananta-koti Vaishnav vrinda ki jay
Sri Gaudiya Acharya vrinda ki jay
Tridandi-pad-gan ki jay
Saparsada Sriman Nityananda Prabhu ki jay
Saparsada Sriman Mahaprabhu ki jay
Bhakta-prabara Prahlad Maharaj ki jay
Suddha-bhakti-vighna-vinasankari Bhagavan Nrisinghadev ki jay
Sri Sada-Siva Gangadhar, Giriraj Govardhan ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay!
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

Everything is going on well by the mercy of Gurudev. We are all meeting today this morning, it is a very nice day, and I would like to sing a little bit now. Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay. Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay.

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur writes, "Gurudev, you have been so merciful to me—you have given me a place in Godrumdwip." I have also left Koladwip and I am now staying in Nrisingha Palli, Godrumdwip...

gurudeva!
bada krpa kari', gauda-vana-majhe
godrume diyacha sthana
ajna dila more, ei vraje vasi',
harinama kara gana

Gurudev! Bestowing a great mercy on me, you have given me a place in Sri Godrumdwip amidst the forests of Gauda. You ordered me: "Reside in this abode which is non-different from Vraja and chant the Lord's Name."

"You have ordered me to stay in this Vraja-dham (Nabadwip is non-different from Sri Vraja-dham, Vrindavan) and chant the Holy Name."

kintu kabe prabho, yogyata arpibe,
e dasere daya kari'
chitta sthira habe, sakala sahiba,
ekante bhajiba hari [2]

But when, O master, will you mercifully grant this servant the qualification to do this? Then my heart will become steadfast, I will tolerate everything, and I will serve the Lord sincerely.

But I ask Gurudev, "Gurudev, when will you give me the qualification to chant the Holy Name? When will you give me your mercy to chant the Holy Name?" It is not possible to chant the Holy Name without the qualification of being humble, tolerant and giving honour to others. It is necessary to have this qualification. When will Gurudev give this qualification to me? When will my mind become steady? My mind is always fickle, I cannot concentrate my mind. When will I be able to give my full attention, my everything to chanting of the Holy Name? My mind is always fickle and I cannot tolerate anything. When I learn to tolerate everything, then my mind will become quiet and I will be able to chant the Holy Name...

saisava-yauvane, jada-sukha-sange,
abhyasa ha-ila manda
nija-karma-dose, e deha ha-ila,
bhajanera pratibandha [3]

In my childhood and youth, I always indulged in material happiness and I have become habituated to bad things. Because of my own sins, this body has become an impediment to spiritual practice.

From my young age, from my childhood, I have acquired so many bad habits—some material happiness comes and we enjoy it, and in this way our habits become very bad. It is all my fault! It is my fault that I have got this body! This body is an obstacle for worshipping the Lord and chanting the Holy Name! From an early age my habits have been bad, and now this body has become an obstacle for chanting the Holy Name, an obstacle for practising...

vardhakye ekhana, pancha-roge hata,
kemane bhajiba bala'
kandiya kandiya, tomara charane
padiyachhi suvihvala [4]

Now aged, I am afflicted by five-fold diseases. Tell me, how shall I serve? Crying incessantly, I have fallen at your feet, utterly bewildered.

Now I have become old and I am suffering from five diseases (pancha-roga). These are not material diseases, these are transcendental diseases. There are many material diseases in this world, such as cancer, some stomach problem, etc. and there are five transcendental diseases—avidya (ignorance), asmita (false identification), raga (misdirected love), dvesa (aversion to anything that goes against one's enjoyment), and abhinivesa (being unable to give up unfavourable habits). (1) Avidya means ignorance. We think we are not a jiva soul, we think we are this body. (2) Asmita means too much attachment to the material body, to the family life, to your wife, husband, father, mother, etc. (3) Raga means too much attachment to that which is favourable to the body. For example, you think, "Oh, I need now so many things for the body!" (4) Dvesa-buddhi means you do not like to always accept that which is favourable to devotion. (5) Instead, we are always attached to that which is favourable to the body (abhinives). These are the five diseases that we are always attacked by.

Now I am crying, "Prabhu! I am falling down at your lotus feet! I want to surrender to you because without you I have no other way, you are my only hope! Only you can rescue me from this situation!" We always pray to Gurudev like this. Jay.

* * *

Our Plight and Plea

Kolkata—Worldwide, 31 January 2021, part 2

kabe sri chaitanya more karibena daya
kabe ami paiba vaisnava-pada-chhaya

"When will Sri Chaitanya be merciful to me? When will I reach the shade of the Vaishnavs' feet?"

kabe ami chhadiba e visayabhimana
kabe visnu-jane ami kariba sammana

"When will I give up this mundane ego? When will I honour the Lord's devotees?"

gala-vastra krtanjali vaisnava-nikate
dante trna kari' dandaiba niskapate

"With a cloth around my neck, joined palms, and straw between my teeth, I will sincerely submit myself at the Vaishnav's feet."

We have a chaitya-guru in our heart, and we constantly pray, "When will Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu give some mercy to me? When will I get the shelter of Guru and Vaishnavs?" We cannot reach the Lord (our real home) without Guru and Vaishnavs.

"Kabe ami chhadiba e visaya-abhimana? When will I leave this material ego?" We all have so much ego (abhiman)—everyone has some ego, even I also have ego. Those who have much wealth, property, have ego; those who are very beautiful have ego; those who are very educated have ego. There are so many kinds of ego in this world, and actually we must have ego, but what ego should we have? Our ego should be "I am an eternal servant of the Lord! I am an eternal servant of my Guru and the Vaishnavs!" It is necessary to have this kind of ego. If somebody thinks, "I am a guru!", "I am an acharya!" that is also ego. Srila Narottam Das Thakur says, "Sisya thakibo sarvada. I will always remain a disciple." We always want to be disciples, not guru.

"Kabe visnu-jane ami kariba sammana?" When will I give respect to all Vaishnavs? "Gala-vastra krtanjali"—with much humility; "dante trna kari'"—taking grass into my mouth like a cow; when will I stand in front of Vaishnavs without any deceit (niskapate)?...

kandiya kandiya janaiba duhkha-grama
samsara-anala haite magiba visrama

"Weeping, I will convey my sorrows to the Vaishnav and pray for shelter from the fire of material existence."

We always want respite from family life (from samsara anala, the wild fire of material life). Sometimes, those who do some government service say, "Oh, Maharaj, I will join Krishna consciousness after I retire." And the truth is that when they finally retire they end up more and more involved with their family life. Yet, we cry for some respite. What is our sadness? We do not know anything, we cannot worship Lord Krishna properly, we cannot worship our Guru properly, we cannot practise properly, we cannot chant on our beads properly, we cannot chant our gayatri three times a day properly—that is our sadness, and this is true sadness. People become sad worrying, "Oh, I cannot eat properly," "I cannot sleep properly," "Oh, I have this problem," "Oh, I have that problem," "This happened," "That happened"—we always grumble and worry about such things. Yet, our real problem, our real sadness is that we cannot get respite from the fire of material existence. That is why, we pray to Vaishnavs. If you approach the Lord directly, the Lord will not listen to what you are saying—the Lord will not accept your prayer. However, if you submit your appeal, or application, to Vaishnavs, if you tell them what your requirement is, then your application will be accepted. Vaishnav Thakur is very merciful—he will pray to the Lord for you.

suniya amara duhkha vaisnava thakura
ama' lagi' krsne avedibena prachura

"Hearing of my sorrow, the worshippable Vaishnav will thoroughly pray to Krishna on my behalf."

If Vaishnav Thakur accepts my application, he will pray to the Lord for me, and hearing a request of a Vaishnav, Krishna is very kind, He will listen to their prayer. Krishna says in Srimad Bhagavad-gita that He knows only His devotees, and His devotees also know only Lord Krishna. "Devotees" means Vaishnav Thakur.

So, if Vaishnav Thakur gives us his mercy, the Lord will grant our application.

vaisnavera avedane krsna dayamaya
e hena pamara prati habena sadaya

"Satisfied by the Vaishnav's prayer, Krishna will be merciful to this sinner."

vinodera nivedana vaisnava-charane
krpa kari' sange laha ei akinchane

"Bhakti Vinod prays at the feet of the Vaisnavas: "Mercifully take this lowly soul with you."

* * *

Wealth of Nanda Maharaj's Yard

Kolkata—Worldwide, 31 January 2021, part 3

It is very nice to sing in the morning. You must worship the Lord through sankirtana-yajna. Practise singing devotional songs, it is good for you. Try to understand it. Always remember the Lord and His devotees. Sing five songs in the morning, five songs in the evening—practise in this way, and it will be very good for you, it will give you much energy for service. You must understand this. Practice gives energy. For example, we sing every morning,

sri-krsna-chaitanya prabhu jive daya kari'
svaparsada sviya dhama saha avatari

"Being merciful to the souls, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu descends with His associates and abode."

atyanta durlabha prema karibare dana
sikhaya saranagati bhakatera prana

To distribute the most rare form of divine love, He teaches surrender, which is the life of the devotees.

That love and ecstasy, that paramour love that even Lord Brahma and Lord Siva always aspire for but cannot get—that very love and paramour love is found in the yard of Nanda Maharaj, in the yard of Sachi Mata and Jagannath Misra; and the Lord comes Himself to distribute that kind of Krishna-prema. It is very rare to get it, it is not so easy to get it, but Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu distributes this Krishna-prema to everybody, going door to door. He comes and teaches us saranagati—He teaches us what surrendered mood is:

dainya, atma-nivedana, goptrtve varana
'avasya raksibe krsna'—visvasa palana
bhakti-anukula matra karyera svikara
bhakti-pratikula bhava—varjanangikara

"Humility, self-submission, embracing the Lord's guardianship, maintaining the faith that 'Krishna will certainly protect me', engaging only in activities that are favourable to devotion, rejecting everything unfavourable to devotion."

It is necessary to have a strongest faith. "Sraddha-anusari bhakti-adhikari. The quality, or degree, of devotion depends upon one's faith." If you have much faith, then your devotion is high, and if you have no faith, then you have no devotion. Somebody may be a junior devotee, somebody may be of a very young age, but if they have a very strong faith, they have more devotion than those who may be externally senior in age or position.

Devotion (bhakti) is of three main types—karma-misra-bhakti, jnana-misra-bhakti, jnana-sunya-bhakti (devotion mixed with material pursuits, devotion mixed with intellectual pursuits, and devotion free from intellectual pursuits). Accordingly, there are also three kinds of devotees—kanistha-adhikari (those who have little faith), madhyam-adhikari (those who have more faith), and uttam-adhikari (those who have the greatest faith). So, devotion does not depend on one's seniority or juniority.

Somebody may be senior—somebody may have got initiation fifty-sixty years ago—but if they do not practise properly, if they do not have a proper faith, then they actually have no proper devotion—one day they end up losing faith and losing their devotion. Srila Gurudev always tells about it.

You know, sometimes Indian people boast, "Oh, my father lived 120 years!", "Oh, my father lived 130 years!" What for were they alive for 120 or 130 years?! Somebody can live just ten years, and that can be sufficient—if you chant the Holy Name for just ten years, then even ten years is sufficient. Yet, somebody lives 120 years, but their life is like hell, then what is the benefit of such a life? What is the use getting this human body then? It is useless! You may live only ten years—you can be even a small girl or a small boy—but if you chant the Holy Name, if you worship the Lord, if you practise Krishna consciousness, it is good. If you live 90-100 years but do not practise, then what is the benefit living in this world for 100 years? There is no value. It is very easy to understand this.

'sraddha'-sabde—visvasa kahe sudrdha nischaya
krsne bhakti kaile sarva-karma krta haya

"Sraddha is firm, determined faith that by service to Krishna all actions are accomplished."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 22.62)

Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita also says,

chari varnasrami yadi krsna nahi bhaje
svakarma karileo se raurave padi maje

"Whatever varna (a priest, fighter, manager, or worker) or asram (a celibate, householder, renouncer of the household life, or monk) you may belong to, if you do not worship Krsna but engage in your prescribed duties, you will have to fall into a terrible hell."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 22.26)

It does not matter to which order of life you belong to (you can be a brahmachari, a grihastha, a vanaprastha, or even a sannyasi—there are many mayavadi-sannyasis in this world), if you do not worship the Lord, then you are simply paving your way to hell! This is said very strictly in the scriptures.

chari varnasrami yadi krsna nahi bhaje
svakarma karileo se raurave padi maje

"Whatever varna (a priest, fighter, manager, or worker) or asram (a celibate, householder, renouncer of the household life, or monk) you may belong to, if you do not worship Krsna but engage in your prescribed duties, you will have to fall into a terrible hell."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 22.26)

Raurav means hell, and there are many types of hell. I have written about it in the third volume of Guidance (Upadesh).

* * *

Pure Sambandha

Kolkata—Worldwide, 31 January 2021, part 4

Devotional life does not depend on whether one is senior or junior.

krpa kara vaisnava thakura
sambandha janiya bhajite bhajite
abhimana hau dura

"O Vaishnav Thakur! Please be merciful! Knowing the true relationship I will worship You and my ego will go far away."

Somebody thinks, "Oh, he is junior, and I am senior," "I am Srila Sridhar Maharaj's disciple!", "I am Srila Prabhupad's disciple!", "Why will I pay obeisance to him?" Such people do not know the relationship (sambandha). What is the relation? Even a father must give obeisance to his son! Even a father will pay dandavat, will pay respect to his son because he must see that his son has the qualities that he himself does not have. A father should respect his son. This is sambandha. Sambandha means, "I give you full respect—you are my master, and I am your servant." This is very important to understand, but we forget it,

krpa kara vaisnava thakura
sambandha janiya bhajite bhajite
abhimana hau dura

"O Vaishnav Thakur! Please be merciful! Knowing the true relationship I will worship You and my ego will go far away."

If I pay obeisances to junior devotees, then my ego will be removed, otherwise ego will not go. That is why, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur said, "Everybody is my guru. Nobody is my disciple. I am your servant." It is necessary to understand this, otherwise your ego will not go away. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur also says that when you see each other first thing in the morning, you must pay dandavat to each other, you must greet each other, "Dandavat, Prabhu." In this way, "Bhajite bhajite abhimana hau dura. By worshipping you, my ego will go away." This is a nice song, a very nice prayer to Vaishnav Thakur. I always recite this song "Krpa kara Vaisnava Thakura."

krpa kara vaisnava thakura
sambandha janiya bhajite bhajite
abhimana hau dura

"O Vaishnav Thakur! Please be merciful! Knowing the true relationship I will worship You and my ego will go far away."

It is necessary to be established in the proper relationship. What is sambandha? We know the relationship that "Oh, I am Srila Sridhar Maharaj's disciple (I am Prabhupad Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj's disciple), and you are a disciple of Srila Govinda Maharaj—you are junior!" This is the relation that we know, but this is not the actual sambandha. The true sambandha is, "You are my master, I am your servant." When we realise this sambandha, then our ego will go away. But the problem is that we hold onto our ego—we think, "I am Srila Sridhar Maharaj's disciple, you are Srila Govinda Maharaj's disciple (or: you are Srila Acharya Maharaj's disciple, or: you are Srila Ashram Maharaj's disciple, etc.)"—we discriminate and make such division. We cannot see, "He is my master, and I am his servant" because we do not have this kind of eyes—our eyes are full of dust, full of ego, full of all kinds of illusion, illusory dust; we think we are Vaishnavs.

"ami ta' vaisnava," e-buddhi ha-ile,
amani na ha'ba ami

"If I think, 'I am a Vaishnav,' then I will never stop expecting honour from others (I will never become void of the desire for honour)."

(Kalyan-kalpataru, Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

If I think that I have become a Vaishnav, then I cannot respect others.

'ami ta vaisnava' e buddhi haile
amani na ha'ba ami
pratisthasa asi' hrdaya dusibe
haiba nirayagami

"If I think, 'I am a Vaishnav,' then I will never stop expecting honour from others (I will never become void of the desire for honour)—my heart will become polluted by the desire for fame and I will end up in hell."

Then, pratistha will come to me and I will go to hell.

tomara kinkara apane janiba
'guru'-abhimana tyaji'

"I will consider myself Your servant and give up the ego of a guru."

You must renounce, you must reject all guru-abhiman, acharya-abhiman (ego of a guru, ego of an acharya). "I am your servant!"

tomara uchchhista pada-jala-renu
sada niskapate bhaji

"I will always earnestly take Your remnants, Your foot dust, the water that has washed Your feet."

We cannot take others' remnants, it is very difficult for us, but Kalidas did that!

You know that there is a washing place in front of Jagannath Temple where all devotees, and even Mahaprabhu Himself, would first wash their feet and then enter the temple. So, one day, when Mahaprabhu went to Jagannath Temple and was washing His feet, suddenly Kalidas came and touched Mahaprabhu's feet, trying to wash them. Everybody jumped at him, "No, no, no! Do not touch Mahaprabhu's feet!" But Mahaprabhu said, "Do not stop him." Mahaprabhu knew the story of Kalidas and Jhadu Thakur—He knew Kalidas was a perfect Vaishnav because Kalidas had taken everybody's remnants at Vaishnav festivals. He would never sit with everyone in one line to take prasadam; instead, he would hide in some place and after everyone finished taking prasadam, he would go to the place where everybody threw their plates and take everybody's remnants. This is Kalidas's example.

nije srestha jani' uchchhistadi dane
habe abhimana-bhara
tai sisya tava thakiya sarvada
na laiba puja ka'ra

"If I, loving myself more than anyone else, bestow my remnants, etc. on others, then I will become filled with ego. Therefore, I will always remain Your disciple, I will not take worship from anyone."

If we start distributing our remnants, etc., then so much ego will come to us. Sometimes, people become gurus and say, "Oh, you must worship me every day! You must do an arati for me every morning and evening! You must give me a garland every day!" What for is this all necessary? We will not take puja (worship) from others.

amani manada haile kirtane
adhikara dibe tumi
tomara charane niskapate ami
kandiya lutiba bhumi

"When I become free from the desire for honour and be able to give honour to others, you will give me the right to chant Your kirtan. I will earnestly roll on the ground and cry at Your holy feet."

When we become humble and tolerant, then Vaishnav Thakur will give us the right to chant the Holy Name. Do you understand what it says? This is a very nice song. If you sing such songs every day, you will understand perfect things. All right?

* * *

Blessing In Disguise

Kolkata—Worldwide, 31 January 2021, part 5

Question: One of my friends left his body in Mayapur recently. He was doing cow seva there, and he has left behind a wife and two small children. I find it hard to understand why Krishna has taken him away...

Krishna always tests us to see how much tolerance we will have in this situation. You can read the description of Sudam Vipra's life. Sudam is a pure devotee of the Lord, but how much austerity Krishna gave to him! You can see my example also. How much austerity Krishna gave me after Gurudev's disappearance: I am talking now to you here, but I was on deathbed in hospital—I almost died and the doctors did not have much hope because there was a very big haemorrhage in my brain and because I have diabetes I also had a severe neurological problem. It is too much! Do you see how much austerity Krishna has given me? I cannot tell everyone what kind of austerity Krishna has made me go through because of them. I am sitting now in Dum Dum Park, but at some point I did not have even one rupee on me to buy some food outside (let alone to cook)—they had taken everything from here. They had taken everything first from Nabadwip and the second time from here too. It is so much austerity, so much headache. How many court cases they have put against me! You will think that death is better than such life. Yet, Krishna brought me back to life, and I understand why He did that—there is still some service to Gurudev due, for that Krishna gave me a new life. Krishna is like that. When Santosh Prabhu got into that car accident, he also left his wife and a young son here. They cannot understand what is Krishna consciousness, but now that they are struggling so much without Santosh Prabhu and they start thinking. To give you some idea, when Santosh Prabhu died, they did not even have food in their house.

There is also another example that Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur gives.

One time, two men went to bathe in a pond early in the morning. One man was going to the mangal arati, so he came to the pond to bathe before the arati, and the whole night before that (it was ekadasi) he had been chanting the Holy Name. On the way home from the pond, that man was suddenly bitten by a snake (the snake was not poisonous, so he did not die, but he was bitten). The other man went to the pond to bathe too and on the way back he found a small piece of gold. What kind of man was he? He had spent the whole night stealing—people slept, and he went house to house stealing. So, why did Krishna send austerity to the man who had been chanting the Holy Name the whole night, while the bad man (the thief) was rewarded with some gold? This question came to Yudhisthir Maharaj, and Yudhisthir Maharaj said that the man who had been bitten by the snake was supposed to die that day but because he had been chanting the Holy Name, he got only a little punishment, while the thief was supposed to become a billionaire that day, but instead he was very poor and only found some small piece of gold.

Then you can think about it—the man who did cow seva will get benefit, and his children and wife must practise Krishna consciousness now, they must think how to manage their life without him. They have to go through this austerity, and they must tolerate it. You can say this is a kind of an exam. Austerity will always come:

jivana anitya janaha sara
tahe nana-vidha vipada-bhara
namasraya kari' yatane tumi
thakaha apana kaje

"Understand the essence: life is temporary and filled with all sorts of adversity. Carefully taking shelter of the Name, engage in your work."

(Gitavali, Arunodaya kirtan, 1.3, by Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

Krishna will give so much austerity, but 'sukhe duhkhe bhule na ko' (in happiness or distress, never forget the Lord)! When you are sad (when you are in a bad position or in hospital), you only think about Krishna, but when you are happy (when you are in good health), you do not remember Krishna, you do not pray to Krishna. So, Krishna always tests us in this way.

In another way, this is also some karma-phal. We think we have done something bad, some bad karma, and as a result of it we are suffering now. My father died, my husband died, etc.—that happens because we had done some bad karma.

Finally, you think now that you are husband and wife, you have two children, etc.—you had some connection with each other in this life, but in your previous births you were not husband and wife, you had no connection with each other. So, there is no need to show too much attachment for each other. You must try to understand all this.

* * *

Unconditional Life

Kolkata—Worldwide, 31 January 2021, part 6

Question: Is it proper to make an offering with some prayer for those of us who do not have an altar in the house?

But why do you not keep an altar? You have a house, or a flat—you must keep a photograph of Gurudev's Deities and guru-parampara. You can even keep Tulasi tree as well. Otherwise, when you offer something, it is necessary to offer it in front of somebody, but if you have no altar, who are you offering the food to? Try to understand this. Cooking and offering the bhoga at the altar is a part of devotional practice. You must make an altar in your house, I tell it all the time. Find some place in your house and make an altar, it is a simple matter. You can take a picture of Gaura Nitai, Nabadwip Deities' picture or a picture of the Deities of any of our temples, print it out and put the guru-parampara picture below it, and worship according to the level that you can. This is how you practise spiritual life. It is necessary to do this.

ye dina grhe bhajana dekhi
grhete goloka bhaya

On the days when I see devotional service taking place in my home, I feel that Goloka has manifested there.

('Suddha-bhakata-charana-renu' by Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

Are there any other questions from anyone?

Question: Could you please speak about forgiveness and unconditional love?

What is forgiveness? What is the question? Vaishnavs are always forgiving, they do not take any offence. We make many offences, but Gurudev and Vaishnavs are merciful, they do not accept our offences, rather they always remove them. At least that is our hope. One thing we must careful about is 'truti-yukta seva' (ত্রুটিযুক্ত সেবা, faulty, or deficient, service). We must try to do our service without any faults. If we do our service wrong, with mistakes, day after day, then everything has its limit—even Gurudev's tolerance has its limit. So, try not to make any offences. It is very important. If you think you can make the same offence day after day and, as Gurudev is merciful, he will forgive all offences, it is not good. We must try to serve Gurudev without any offence. Sometimes, some offence can happen by mistake, in that case Krishna and Gurudev are merciful, they will remove our offence.

As for unconditional love, our Gurudev and Vaishnavs always give us unconditional love, but what we see here in this material world is karma-misra bhakti—conditional devotion, condition love.

One time, in Srila Sridhar Maharaj's time, one man came from Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj's ISKCON mission and gave Srila Sridhar Maharaj very much money (four lakhs [four hundred thousand] rupees). Srila Sridhar Maharaj took the money and immediately gave it to Gurudev. At that time, Gurudev wore white clothes, he was in householder life, and that man did not like that Srila Sridhar Maharaj had given the money directly to Srila Govinda Maharaj. Unhappy, he complained about it to somebody, and when he later again came to Srila Sridhar Maharaj to ask him for sannyas, Srila Sridhar Maharaj called our Gurudev and said, "Give that money back to him. He wants to buy sannyas with this money, it is impossible."

Srila Sridhar Maharaj said that, in Srila Prabhupad's words, we always try to turn our Guru and the Lord into bribe-takers (ghuskhor, ঘুষখোর)—we come to worship the Lord and in lieu of that we want to get our material problems solved. Both here in India and in the West, although mostly here, people pay obeisance to the Lord and think, "Oh, take care of my health!", "Take care of my wife's health!", "Take care of my son's health!", "May my son find a good job!", "May You send a baby to my daughter!" and so on. People always ask the Lord for something, but it means that they turn Krishna into their menial servant, they make business with Krishna. This is what conditional love is, and unconditional love is the opposite.

Devotee: In the West, they also go to the church every week and pray for the sins be forgiven for their sins, and after that they again sin the next week.

It is one of the Nama-aparadhas. "Nama bole papachar. To sin and chant." It is like selling ghee mixed with dalda (adulterated with some cheap vegetable oil). You think, "No problem! I can commit sins the whole day and I will chant some Holy Names in the evening—all the sins will be removed!" This is called "Nama bole papachar. To sin and chant."

* * *

Jewel of Sincerity

Kolkata—Worldwide, 31 January 2021, part 7

...I have heard that two boys and two girls have run away from the temple [in the West]. They left because we say we are searching for Sri Krishna, but in lieu of that we are searching for boys and girls. These are very hard words for me to say. They think, "If you join Krishna consciousness, you will get a beautiful wife or a beautiful husband." If you want a wife, go outside and take some girl from outside, why do you do this at the temple? Marry some non-devotee and turn them into a devotee; in this way, one more person will come to Krishna consciousness, which is good. Do you understand what I am saying?

Recently two young Bengali girls have come to Nrisingha Palli and stay at the temple now. One of them has been married for six months, and the other one was going to get married, but then she refused. She told me, "I know what family life is, I do not want to go to hell. I am fine as I am, I do not want to get married. Save me, Gurudev." I said, "Yes, I can save you—if you do not want to get married, then come and join full time, you can stay at the temple." She received initiation many years ago, and now her parents wanted to arrange her marriage. I told her that she was twenty-five years old, so it was ultimately her decision. I was ready to help arrange her marriage—I had given initiation to one family and already agreed with them about the marriage, but then she refused; she came to me and said crying, "Gurudev, save me! Why are you throwing me into family life? I have come to you to beg you to save me, but you are throwing me into family life..." What can I do? I stopped her marriage, and now she is doing the best service—she is cooking at the temple very nicely. Both girls are living now in the temple. And I have told them: if any brahmachari or sannyasi disturbs them, if they say anything untoward to them, I will not hesitate to change [the colour of] their clothes. Srila Prabhupad did not hesitate to do so, neither will I. (Gurudev told me that Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur once took back one devotee's sannyas. Guru can give one sannyasi or brahmachari clothes, and Guru has the power to take it back also.)

...I am very sad because foreign devotees seem to be unable to come for Gaura Purnima this year... The Indian government stopped giving visa and this law is extended until the end of February now. I do not know if they will extend it again after that or not, but they do not give visa to anyone this whole month. It looks like this year we will have to make the parikrama without foreign devotees. Srila Ashram Maharaj comes for this parikrama every year, and we will mainly miss him this year. Anyhow, try to come last moment—if Krishna gives the visa, you can buy the ticket and come. This year we are doing the parikrama during five days because we are going to visit Rudradwip...

...Please forgive my offence. I have told you too many strong words, but I am telling this for your benefit—what I have said is very good for your spiritual life. I practised proper brahmachari life, and I am telling you about my experience. It is very necessary to hear this. Follow this properly in your life, and it will be very good.

[His Divine Grace speaking to Singapore devotees:] Mahalaksmi Didi worried about Doyal Nitai before because he was naughty at the beginning, but now he is a very quiet boy, he does not ask anything. He has grown to be a very good boy. When I visited Rajeswari Didi's house, Doyal Nitai came at that time and I saw he was very naughty, but now he is a very quiet, a very gentle boy. I told Mahalaksmi Didi at that time that she should not worry. And he is not only a good mridanga player—he has sincerity. When we did Govardhan parikrama, he had been walking several kilometres and, even though he was exhausted and nearly crying, he could not stop—he kept walking. I saw it and took him into my car with the mridanga...

All right, I am finishing for today. Thank you very much, I was very happy to see you all.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay

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"Guru-mukha-padma-vakya chitete kariya aikya"

Kolkata—Worldwide, 7 February 2021, part 1

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Jay Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa-kula-churamani Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Jay saparikara Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Sundarjiu ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Vrinda Devi, Tulasi Devi, Sri Bhakti Devi ki jay
Sri Shyama 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 Jagannathjiu ki jay
Akar Math-raj Chaitanya Math ki jay
Mayapur Yogapith ki jay
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ki jay
Tandiya sakha Math samuha ki jay
Sri Mather sevak vrinda, bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Ananta-koti Vaishnav vrinda ki jay
Sri Gaudiya Acharya vrinda ki jay
Tridandi-pad-gan ki jay
Saparsada Sriman Nityananda Prabhu ki jay
Saparsada Sriman Mahaprabhu ki jay
Bhakta-prabara Prahlad Maharaj ki jay
Suddha-bhaktir-vighna-vinasankari Bhagavan Nrisinghadev ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

I am giving my full obeisance to all the devotees, all the sannyasi-, all the brahmachari-bhakta-vrinda, as well as all of my well-wishers and friends. I am very happy to see you all today. I see that so many devotees are joining this programme from their homes—they connect to this Zoom programme through the internet. I know the situation in some countries is still bad and some countries still have lockdown, so devotees cannot go to the temple; I have also heard the news from London—devotees there cannot go to the temple so much, and those who live in the temple, they only do some daily programmes and puja. It is necessary to continue regular programmes and worship the Deities properly.

Scriptures tell what is sadhu-sanga and what is asadhu-sanga (good association and not good association).

There are six main practices, and among them sadhu-sanga is listed first:

sadhu-sanga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-sravana
mathura-vasa, sri-murtira sraddhaya sevana

"One should associate with devotees, chant the holy name of the Lord, hear Srimad Bhagavatam, reside in Mathura and worship Deities with faith and veneration."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 22.124)

I was at a programme the day before yesterday, and I was telling them that I had read a lecture of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur where somebody asked a question, "What is good association? What is not good association?" Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur gave the following answer to that question. There is nava-vidha bhakti (you know that when we go on Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama, we always tell about nava-vidha bhakti—we describe what kind of devotion exists at each of the nine islands), and if you practise at least one of these nine kinds of devotion, it means you are doing good association (sadhu-sanga), and if somebody does not practise any of these kinds of devotion (not even one), they are doing bad association (taking asadhu-sanga).

That is why, it is necessary to practise minimum one kind of devotion every day. The nine kinds of devotion are sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, pada-sevanam, archanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, atma-nivedanam (hearing, chanting, remembering the Lord, serving the Lord's lotus feet, worshipping the Deity of the Lord, offering obeisance, rendering service as a servitor, as a friend, and self-submission).

We go to work every day early in the morning, we sometimes do not get time to do much, but at least practise smaranam (remembering), vandanam (praying), or sravanam-kirtanam (hearing and chanting). Listen to some lectures in the morning. Sometimes, devotees do not get time to do archan (worship the Deities), they do not get time to do vandanam (recite prayers), or chant all rounds properly—understanding this situation, Gurudev always said that you must chant minimum four rounds every day. But only this is not enough—even sravan and kirtan must be practised every day. We work the whole day and get time to hear a lecture only once a week—not like that. You must practise minimum one kind of devotion every day. You may not get time to cook every day, but you must practise minimum one kind of devotion every day, that will bring a great benefit and a great association in your spiritual life. It is very important.

There is smaranam, kirtanam, doing arati, doing archan, puja, doing all kinds of Deity worship—there are sixty-four types of devotion in total, but you must practise minimum one bhaktyanga every day. It is very important for your spiritual life.

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Internal and Eternal

Kolkata—Worldwide, 7 February 2021, part 2

First, it is necessary to have sraddha (faith). It is not necessary to show externally how much faith for the Lord you have—the question is how much faith do you have for your Guru, for your Master and for the worshippable Lord internally? How much faith do you have? "Sraddha-anusari bhakti-adhikari: the quality of devotion depends upon faith." (Cc, 2.22.64)" The other day, I was explaining one of the songs from Sri Gaudiya Gitanjali,

krpa kara vaisnava thakura
sambandha janiya bhajite bhajite
abhimana hau dura

"O Vaishnav Thakur! Please be merciful! Knowing the true relationship I will worship You and my ego will go far away."

The problem is our ego (abhiman). Ego disturbs everything, and ego damages your devotion—it can take everything away from you. It is very important to understand this. You must know what is the relationship between you and your Master, your Guru, and Vaishnavs. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur said to everyone, even to his disicples, "Everybody is my guru." Such was his vision. He would say, "I am giving initiation to you—it does not mean I am giving mercy to you—in fact, you have come to take initiation from me, so you are giving your mercy to me." So, the true relationship is that everybody is our master, even those who took initiation yesterday.

If you took initiation thirty years ago and somebody took initiation yesterday, you cannot discriminate against them—you cannot dishonour or disrespect to them. Somebody may have joined Krishna consciousness a very short time ago, and you may have joined Krishna consciousness thirty years ago—you must still give respect to all devotees; they are your masters, so you must always address them as "Prabhu" or "Didi." Give proper respect to everyone. Do not look at who is a disciple of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj, who is a disciple of Srila Sridhar Maharaj, who is a disciple of Gurudev, who is a disciple of some other acharya. Do not discriminate against others or separate others into groups. They are all your friends, they are all your relatives. We all belong to the same family. Anyone who comes to Krishna consciousness is an 'amritasya putra', a son of nectar—they all come from the Lord. This is actually true for anyone, even those who are not initiated. Everybody in this world come from the same place—we all belong to the same place. The only difference is that somebody may not have come to Krishna consciousness yet because of the influence of maya.

Jiva souls forget the Lord and their own identity under the influence of maya. This is ajnanata or avidya (ignorance). We have no knowledge—whatever education we get in this world is mundane education, and you cannot understand the real things through that. Mundane education only tells you that your identification is that you are this body, but this is not our identification! Even Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says that the true form, or identity, of the jiva souls is that they are eternal servants of the Lord (jivera svarupa haya krsnera nitya-dasa—C.c., 2.20.108).

We are eternal servants of the Lord; this is our identity. Sometimes even those who have already come to Krishna consciousness may forget it because of the influence of maya. When we know or remember our identification, we come and surrender, but after some time we can again forget it by the influence of maya. That is why, it is said,

mayare kariya jaya chhadana na yaya
sadhu-gurur krpa vina na dekhi upaya

"It is not possible to conquer maya by engaging in maya. I see no other way to get relief except for the mercy of sadhus."

There is no other way to conquer the illusory environment except for the mercy of the sadhus, Guru, and Vaishnavs. Without their mercy we cannot overcome the illusory environment. That is why, we must always remember sadhus, our Guru, and all Vaishnavs. This is the main thing for us in our life.

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Clearing the Path

Kolkata—Worldwide, 7 February 2021, part 3

'

"ami ta' vaisnava," e-buddhi ha-ile,
amani na ha'ba ami

"If I think, 'I am a Vaishnav,' then I will never stop expecting honour from others (I will never become void of the desire for honour)."

If I think that I have become a Vaishnav, then I will not be able to give respect to others, and the result will be "haiba nirayagami"—I will clear for myself the road to hell.

''ami ta vaisnava' e buddhi haile
amani na ha'ba ami
pratisthasa asi' hrdaya dusibe
haiba nirayagami

"If I think, 'I am a Vaishnav,' then I will never stop expecting honour from others—my heart will become polluted by the desire for fame and I will end up in hell."

It means the road to hell will become cleared for me. If somebody thinks, "I have become (or I am becoming) a great Vaishnav!" "I have become a sannyasi!", "I am a brahmachari!", "I am a grihastha (householder)!", or even, "I am a devotee!" This is all wrong. Our only identification is, "I am a servant of devotees."

sambandha janiya bhajite bhajite
abhimana hau dura

"Knowing the true relationship I will worship You and my ego will go far away."

It is crucial to understand this. Ego always creates problems. We say that we have six enemies (sad-ripu) inside us—kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, matsarya (desire, anger, greed, illusion, madness, envy), and ego is also there, it is number five—mada.

Matsaryata (envy) is also a big problem. We must think about others' good, about others' benefit. We must always think, "How can I help him/her come to Krishna consciousness?" Even Sriman Mahaprabhu's teachings are like that. "Pratihimsa tyaji anye karabi palana: stop ill-treating others, nurture everyone." It means that if somebody says anything bad to you, you must not talk back. If somebody does any harm to you, you must not do harm to them—you must not become the judge because there is already somebody there above you who gives judgement, and that somebody is the Lord, so you cannot take the law in your own hands. We must control ourselves.

We must not see anyone's faults. This is very important. We must always see our own faults. "Vaishnav habe adosa-darasi—a Vaishnav will not see others' faults, he will see his own faults." Gurudev also says that we must not be drain inspectors. If you go to a drain, you will always get a bad smell, and the more you dig in the drain, the more stench will come. Do not think about anyone's faults. Do not waste your time on this.

When I am saying all this to you, I am not giving advice to you—I am actually giving advice to myself to make myself clean. If I tell, tell, tell, then one day I too will become clean. I am not saying I am perfect, so when I say something to you, I am giving advice to myself. I know that all these things are easier said than done—it is easy to say it, but to follow it is very hard. So, I am saying all this for my own benefit.

It is necessary to have all these good qualities...

* * *

Cause of All Causes

Kolkata—Worldwide, 7 February 2021, part 4

Our problem is that we suffer from avidya (ignorance), asmita (false identification)—we always identify ourselves with the material body. We always think, "Oh, I am doing this," "This has happened thanks to me!" etc. When you say things like that, it is also a kind of false ego. Everything that exists in this world, everything that is happening in this world—everything is under control of the Supreme Lord. You all know this sloka,

isvarah paramah krsnah sach-chid-ananda-vigrahah
anadir adir govindah sarva-karana-karanam

"Krishna, who is known as Govinda, is the supreme controller. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin, for He is the prime cause of all causes."

(Sri Brahma-samhita, 5.1)

Sarva-karana-karanam. He is the cause of all causes. The Lord does everything—He is the doer; and He sees everything. Everything is written in His diary, He can see and say anything.

Nonetheless, you can ask yourself, "Is my devotion increasing?" There is karma-misra bhakti, jnana-misra bhakti, janna-sunya bhakti (devotion mixed with pursuit of material gain, devotion mixed with pursuit of knowledge, and devotion free from any desire for knowledge). We always seek our own benefit. At the same time, we understand the relationship with our father, mother, sister, brother, daughter, husband, wife, et. al. very well, but we cannot understand our Gurudev—we are not even trying to understand our Gurudev. How much our Gurudev has given to everybody! He has given his very life for everybody—for your spiritual benefit; he threw himself for your spiritual benefit.

You must keep some place for the Lord, for Gurudev in your heart. Our heart is always dirty with kanak, kamini, pratistha (desire for money, women, and fame), kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, matsarya (lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness, envy), rupa, rasa, gandha, sabda, sparsa (desire for enjoyment through eyes, tongue, nose, ears, and skin). If you invite Gurudev to your house, you must first vacate some place to keep him; in the same way, you must vacate your heart to be able to keep Gurudev in your heart. It is important to understand this. This is the main thing in our spiritual life.

We show so much devotion externally, but how much love for our Gurudev, how much attachment to our Gurudev do we have internally? How much time do we give to him every day? Every day, we work the whole day running behind some kanak, kamini, pratistha (money, women, fame), behind some establishment. But how much time do you have in this world? Do you have any time to spare for the Lord, for your Gurudev?

I was saying today that the main thing is sraddha, visvas (faith). I have told you that first come a strongest faith (sraddha). We must develop our faith because if faith is gone, then everything will be gone. Just as when you are making a building, you must have some foundation, in the same way the devotion foundation is sraddha (faith). If the foundation of your devotion is weak, then your devotion will gradually be demolished from your heart. That is why, our first and foremost necessity is to establish faith. After that, it is necessary to keep good association—it is necessary to practise nava-vidha bhakti. I have already told you about it. These are the most important things in our spiritual life.

Sometimes we feel tired, we cannot do so much, but in this case you must read books. Read Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam, read Gurudev's books, Guru Maharaj's books. Read Srimad Bhagavatam, the main devotional scripture in our line. You cannot reach your real home without devotion—you cannot reach it through any material activities, any mystic practices, any knowledge. Only devotion can grant you entrance there. How can you improve your bhakti? Through good association. "Bhaktis tu bhagavad-bhakta-sangena parijayate (Brhan-naradiya Purana)—you can get devotion through the association of devotees."

I have told you—you cannot join a zoom programme every day or at all times, but you must always keep good association. There are nine kinds of devotional practices—sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, pada-sevanam, archanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, atma-nivedanam (hearing, chanting, remembering the Lord, serving the Lord's lotus feet, worshipping the Deity of the Lord, offering obeisance, rendering service as a servitor, as a friend, and self-submission). You must practise minimum one of these practices every day.

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Do Not Be Disheartened

Kolkata—Worldwide, 7 February 2021, part 5

[Addressing one of the assembled devotees:] How is your brother? When will he give his full time to the temple? It has been lockdown for many months—what has he been doing there all this time? Why did he not come? He thinks he will study and become an engineer, he will make so many buildings; or maybe he will become a doctor and treat so many patients—but we must first treat ourselves. All over the world, we are all patients, and we must go to a proper, real doctor who can cure us from birth and death. That is why, it is necessary to join full time, to stay at the temple and practise properly...

I could not go to Nepal this year because of the covid situation, I do not know if the border is closed or open now. [Devotees say it is closed.] Oh, it is not open yet, OK... Yes, so many foreign devotees also cannot get Indian visa. The government says they will start giving visas from March. Anyhow, even if you cannot come, this year you will make this parikrama mentally from your own country. You know, we sometimes go to some villages where we do not get an opportunity to do Tulasi parikrama (the house may be small, or there are too many people, etc.), in such situations we do Tulasi parikrama mentally.

Those who cannot bodily join Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama this year, can make this parikrama from their house. It is not a problem. When Srila Sanatan Goswami became old and could not walk properly, could not do Sri Govardhan parikrama, Srila Rupa Goswami gave him a Govardhan sila and said, "Take this sila and you can do Sri Govardhan parikrama as many times as you want now."

When you come to India, you can take the soil from the nine islands, keep it in a small pot, and do Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama at home every day. Otherwise, you can print a photograph of the nine islands and do the parikrama of the nine islands in this way. You can do that.

This year, many devotees are unhappy, "Oh, this year we cannot join Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama." Do not be disheartened. This year you can make this parikrama in this way, and if you have a great desire and a great fortune, you will be able to come and join Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama next year. This is how you can adjust yourself.

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Forthcoming Festivals

Kolkata—Worldwide, 7 February 2021, part 6

There is no problem with the accommodation in Sri Nrisingha Palli this year. Everybody will get many rooms now—Krishna has given us an opportunity to make a house this time. We have been doing the parikrama from Sri Nrisingha Palli for many years now, starting from 2017, and there was always a problem with accommodation—the temple accommodation is very small, and we had to always rent some houses outside, and the houses are not good, etc. It was a big problem. But this year by the mercy of Gurudev, by the mercy of all the devotees, by the mercy of Lord Nrisinghadev and Prahlad Maharaj, they have given some good accommodation to us. More than one hundred rooms should be ready before this Gaura Purnima.

Next week I am going for annual potato collection in Tarakeshwar area for four-five days starting from Tuesday. I will leave in the afternoon and stay there for four days. That is my programme. Actually, some devotees are collecting potato, but all these people want me to come to their house, they want to see me, that is why I go there myself. I can still walk, so it is not a problem—when I cannot walk anymore, then I can let others do this. I go door to door and this is also a good preaching for Gaura Purnima—we come and invite everyone to come for Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama, and also the potato for the whole year comes in this way.

Actually, this year I had to give some potato to Mayapur temples, some to poor people, and some to devotees because there were not so many big festivals this year—Janmastami, Radhastami, even Srila Param Guru Maharaj's tirobhav festival was not so big. Festivals started actually from Srila Gurudev's appearance day. We did make all the other festivals in our temples, but only a small number of people could join (perhaps, one-two hundred people), and only Srila Gurudev's appearance festival was a big festival. That is why, we had to also sell some of the potato this year (this year, potato was very expensive).

Our Uluberia temple is now almost finished. I think we will inaugurate the temple of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Sundar soon after Gaura Purnima festival. This is what I am thinking. Uluberia is a part of Howrah district, a very famous place, and there are so many devotees in Uluberia (many disciple of Srila Gurudev). That is why, I chose a place on the bank of the Ganges and made a temple there. I was offered another land, but that land was not quite suitable because the area was not good, and then one very old devotee gave his land for Srila Gurudev's mission and I chose to build the temple there, on the bank of the Ganges. That devotee is a householder, he took initiation when I had just joined Krishna consciousness.

When I lived in Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Nabadwip, I sometimes went to swim in the Ganges. One time Gurudev also went to swim in the Ganges, and I went with him. I remember when we were swimming in the Ganges, Gurudev lost some stone [from his armlet or a ring]. When Gurudev came out onto the bank, he saw that stone came to his lotus feet. He said, "Oh, Mother Ganga Devi has taken it, and Mother Ganga Devi has given it back to me." I was swimming in the Ganges with Gurudev at that time... After I got diabetes, I started swimming in the Ganges, but later I had no time to go to the Ganges. Now I see we have got a land for a temple on the bank of the Ganges, and I was thinking I could sometimes go swimming in the Ganges—I could bathe in the Ganges instead of the bathroom. Anyhow, I chose that land, and now, within almost two years, the temple is finished. Almost everything there is clean now, only painting and the electrical wiring is left to do (there is electricity, but it is necessary to divide it).

You can come and join Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama. You have a great fortune to do so. Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama starts from 22 March this year. 22 March is the adhivas, and the parikrama starts from 23 March. Come, you will get a special benefit. You can come alone or you can bring along your friends, relatives, it is not a problem. Everybody will get accommodation. Come for seven-eight days—the parikrama itself is five days, one day is Gaura Purnima (the main festival), and the next day is the mahotsav. Join, it is good for you.

Are there any questions today?

You can use cow dung as fertiliser—if you have cow dung, do not use any chemical fertiliser; if you use only cow dung, it is good. In Nrisingha Palli, Sri Prahlad Maharaj now has so many cows—there are ten-elven cows now in Sri Nrisingha Palli. One cow had a calf there, one cow had a calf in Hapaniya, one more cow had a calf in Bankura, and three(!) cows recently had calves in Ekachakra. We now have so many cows in Ekachakra too (more than fifteen!)—initially, I brought only one cow, Padmavati, and now Padmavati has a very big family. Three cows there are giving milk, and the temple is getting so much milk. Also, I received a phone call today from Hapaniya—one more calf was born. And it is actually a miracle—I do not really like bulls, and the miracle is that all the cows are giving female calves, not bulls. [His Divine Grace laughs.]

The holy appearance day of Sri Nityananda Prabhu is coming soon—there will be a big festival in Ekachakra on Nityananda Prabhu's trayodasi tithi. Ekachakra is the birthplace of Nityananda Prabhu, and we have a temple of Sri Sri Guru Gaura Nityananda Prabhu there. This temple was founded on the appearance day of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. We are inviting you all to join this festival—if you cannot come physically, you can join this festival through your heart, through your mind. I will try to make a live programme from there—if we get a chance and the signal is good, we can do that.

"Nitaiyer karuna habe Vraje Radha Krsna pabe, dhara nitaiyer charana duhkhani—When Nitai bestows His mercy on you, you will reach Radha-Krishna in Vraja. Grasp Nitai's feet, O miserable soul!"

This festival will take place on 25 February, this month. I will go there five-six days before to arrange the grand festival. You know what a great festival takes place there every year—those who have been there, know it, they have seen it with their own eyes. Afraid of covid, the government told me not to make it four days—they asked to make it three days only. I agreed—there will be only a small festival on ekadasi, after that dvadasi, tryodasi, and chaturdasi will be a three-day festival. I told the officials that 25,000 people will take prasad every day—75,000 people in total...

* * *

On Importance of Chastity

Kolkata—Worldwide, 7 February 2021, part 7

Question: Why is chastity to the Guru important?

I can give some very exact example. If a lady has many husbands, she cannot give her heart fully to any of them—she will think how to please everybody. However, if a lady has only one husband, she can give her heart to him fully, she can properly take care of him, she can serve her husband properly. The same applies to men—sometimes some men have many wives, but in this case they cannot give proper attention to any particular wife because they have many other women to think about. Therefore, those who have many wives or many husbands cannot fully satisfy each of the wives or husbands.

In the same way, here in Bengal people worship Durga, Kali, etc. Sometimes you go to people's altar room, and you can see so many demigods there—they make a museum of demigods! They put mother Durga, Kali, Ganesh, Kartik, Siva, Parvati, Lord Krishna, Gauranga, Nitai, everybody on their altar! It is necessary to have chastity. I asked Gurudev what chastity means, and Gurudev said that it means 'satitva' in Bengali.

You can see that even Krishna Himself says in Srimad Bhagavad-gita, "My devotees only know Me, they do not know anything or anyone else besides Me; and I too do not know anyone except My devotees." Even Krishna Himself has chastity, then why will you have no chastity? Krishna says that He is chaste to His devotees, and if you want to be a devotee of Lord Krishna, then you too must have chastity. If you want to please everybody, you cannot actually please anybody then.

'sraddha'-sabde—visvasa kahe sudrdha nischaya
krsne bhakti kaile sarva-karma krta haya

"Sraddha is a firm, determined faith that by service to Krishna all actions are accomplished."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 22.62)

We sometimes want to please our parents, husbands, wives, but Krishna says, "If you please Me, you will please everybody." And Gurudev is non-different from Krishna—Krishna Himself comes in the form of a Guru, you know that. Even Srila Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakur also says,

saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair
uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih
kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

"I offer my obeisance unto the lotus feet of Sri Guru, who is said by all the scriptures to be the Lord Himself, and considered to be so by the sadhus, yet is also the Lord's beloved devotee."

(Sri Sri Gurvastakam, 7)

On the one hand, Gurudev is the Lord Himself, and on the other hand, Gurudev is the dearmost friend of the Lord. If you have some question to the Lord and try to send a letter directly to the Lord, you will not get any answer in this way—but if you ask your Guru, he can tell Krishna about it. Guru can also tell you what Krishna eats, where Krishna stays, what Krishna likes. You cannot know these things on your own, but the Guru can tell you all this. Gurudev knows what Krishna likes. So, if you want to serve the Lord, you must first go to Gurudev, who can actually control Krishna. Devotees can control the Lord.

man-mana bhava mad-bhakto, mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi yuktvaivam, atmanam mat-parayanah

"Always think of Me, be My devotee, always worship Me and offer obeisances to Me. Thus offering yourself to Me and taking refuge in Me, you will come to Me."

(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 9.34)

You all know this sloka from Srimad Bhagavad-gita. So, Gurudev always knows what Krishna likes, what Krishna does, where Krishna stays, where His home is. You must find the address of the Lord, and only Gurudev knows what His address is. Therefore, it is necessary to be chaste to your Guru. It is very important to understand this.

Gurudev also says that if somebody has, for example, five husbands, here in Bengal we call such ladies 'prostitutes'. Krishna says, "If you think only about Me, I will also think only about you," so if you give your heart, your everything to the Guru, if you fully surrender to your Guru—if you think about the Lord, about your Master, about your Gurudev—then Gurudev will also think about you.

Sometimes, I would complain to Gurudev, "I want to follow your order, but some devotees are not happy when I do it..." Gurudev said to me, "You do not have to make everybody happy! Your only duty is to make me happy."

All right, are there any other questions?

Question: My friends and I distribute prasadam to some homeless people. How can I preach to these people who do not know what prasadam is?

You can tell them:

Sukhe duhkhe bhule nako vadane Harinam koro re: in happiness or sadness always chant the Holy Name! How did you come to this position? You made some problem before, you have some previous karma, that is why you are suffering now—you have no home now. I am bringing some prasadam to you: you think you are getting some food, but this is also the will of the Lord, the will of Krishna. You live in this world, but how are you living? How are you talking? You can see a dead body—can it talk or not? Only the body is there, but if there is no life in this body, if there is no soul in this body, the body cannot do anything on its own. Therefore, you have a soul, and you have a relationship with the Lord.

There are so many things, so many points you can tell them. If somebody does not want to understand, what can you do? You can only give them some prasadam—their jiva soul will get some benefit through that, and you also get some benefit. It is OK. Sometimes here in India also people do not like prasadam or do not understand what is prasadam, but we distribute prasadam to them. Tell them, tell, tell, and tell, and one day they can understand it.

You know, even in the case of Lord Indra it took him time to understand these things. One time, Indra's Gurudev cursed him to be born in a pig's body. When Brahma came to him to rescue him, Indra did not understand who is Brahma, who is Indra—he could not remember his previous life. It took him over twelve years to understand what Brahma was telling him. Therefore, Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur says that if you want to turn one non-devotee, who does not believe in God or anything else, into a devotee, it is necessary to shed gallons of gallons of blood to do that. It is necessary to try very hard. It is not easy to turn one into a devotee. Those who have some sukriti, come easily, but those who have no sukriti will not come to Krishna consciousness so easily, and it is necessary to preach to them again and again...

brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija

"Having travelled throughout the universe and got the mercy of Guru, Krishna, a fortunate soul receives a seed of the devotional creeper."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 19.151)

You must understand that it is not so easy to get this seed. Only those who have some sukriti get it. So, do not be disheartened. You must not stop your service. Try your best, that is my advice.

Even when I went village to village for collection in Gurudev's time, people would tell us not to come to their house, they would swear us, say so many bad things, sometimes they said, "Oh, you are begging house to house making business on pretext of being a saint!" They would say so many things, but we never stopped, and I am still doing this service. You know that. I still go door to door, I go to so many rice mills, I go for rice and potato collection. Sripad Sadhu Maharaj sends some photos, you can see the photos. When we do rice collection, we go door to door.

Not everybody believes in God. They have so many conceptions here in India, and especially in Bengal. Here, people are surrounded by so many demigods. In the foreign countries, there is only Christianity, and they come to Krishna consciousness after Christianity, it is OK, but here Hindu people follow so many demigods! Somebody worships Brahma, somebody Siva, somebody Ganesh, somebody worship the God of Sun, somebody the God of Moon. They worship so many things here, that is why it is very difficult to preach here in Bengal. That is why also Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur started preaching from Kolkata—he said that Kolkata means Kali, it is a place of Kali. There is so much influence of Kali here.

Abroad, it is a little easier to preach because, as Gurudev said (I heard it from his own lotus mouth), foreign devotees do not have so much attachment to their families, even householder devotees are not so much attached to their families—they can immediately divorce their wife or divorce their husband; whereas here in India, the wife can be beaten by her husband every day, but she tolerates everything and continues serving her husband. I have seen so many families in the villages—sometimes the wives tolerate so much, but when they cannot tolerate anymore they commit suicide; sometimes the husband burns his wife, sometimes the husband stifles his wife and then hangs on a fan saying, "Oh, she has committed suicide!" These things happen every day here.

So, you can try your best to preach to these people, and one day you will succeed.

* * *

Study and Learn

Kolkata—Worldwide, 7 February 2021, part 8

Question: I want to take your shelter and ask you for instruction...

My instruction is jive daya, Name ruchi, Vaishnava-seva. Preach in your country, in this way you can practise jive daya; chant the Holy Name, Name ruchi; and Vaishnav-seva—serve Vaishnavs, serve devotees. These are the main things. If you can follow this, it will be good.

I want to say to the devotees that it is necessary to make a centre in Spain so that everybody could join the programmes. Everybody together should try to make a centre there, if you can do it, it will be good, because so many devotees left Venezuela and went to other countries. More than 50% went to Spain, so try to make a centre there. You can start from renting a house. Start preaching there. I am telling this to everybody—try to stay together. It is not necessary to think who will be the president, who will be the secretary, etc. These things are not necessary—it is only necessary to establish and maintain Gurudev's mission.

[A devotee makes a complaint.] ...Those who do not harmonise, are doing a sin, but if you are telling about it, you are doing an even bigger sin. It is not necessary to tell about these things. OK? Those who do wrong will reap the result, but why must you bring the reaction for their actions into your own life? Always remember—ku-dekhibo na, ku-bolibo na, ku-sunibo na: we must not hear bad things, we must not say bad things, we must not see bad things. Close your eyes and only see the Deities—see your Guru, see the devotees, do not see any other things. It is very important. "Aparadha-phale mama chitta bhela vajra-sama, tuya name na labhe vikara (অপরাধ-ফলে মম চিত্ত ভেল বজ্রসম তুয়া নামে না লভে বিকার): as a result of offences, my heart has become as hard as a thunderbolt, and when I chant Your Name, it does not produce any transformation in me." Our offences are so strong that our heart has become very hard, like a stone—when we chant, tears do not come to our eyes. It is not necessary to say what others are doing—we are offenders ourselves, we do not see others' offences. We must consider ourselves the worst offenders, the most fallen souls. Who am I to talk about others' faults?!

Question: My diksa-guru has abandoned his vows, and as I have been very attracted to Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, to the devotees there and to Your Divine Grace, I would like to ask you to please grant me shelter and engage me in some service to your disciples...

Yes, no problem. If your diksa-guru has made some offence to Srila Sridhar Maharaj, you can come and join Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math—you can come and serve here, it is not a problem. You have already joined Krishna consciousness, and if you take shelter under the guidance of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math anywhere all over the world, it will be your great fortune. If you serve Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, if you serve this mission of Srila Sridhar Maharaj, I will be even happier.

I am finishing for today, we will make another programme next Sunday. I will be here on Sunday—I have a programme at noon and will come back in the evening to attend this zoom programme. After that, I will again go for preaching on Monday or Tuesday, and then to Ekachakra... Please forgive my offence, I am telling some hard things, but it is necessary to know the proper teachings. Devotees must understand the proper teachings. Be humble, tolerant, and give honour to others—this is the main thing for us. Srila Gurudev also always told about it.

You can see how much Gurudev tolerated, and you can see also my example—how much I am tolerating also... Gurudev always said: I am teaching so many things, I am teaching Mahaprabhu's conception, but what have they understood? Like, somebody has been reading Ramayan the whole year, and after having finished the whole Ramayan, they ask, "Whose father was Sita Devi?" So, Gurudev said, "I have been teaching them Mahaprabhu's conception (be humble, tolerant, and give honour to others), and one year later they are asking such questions..." They beat devotees, they throw devotees out of the temple—it is a very big problem. Both beating and kicking devotees out is wrong. Who gave them permission to beat them? Who gave them permission to throw them out? Both are not right. It is necessary to tolerate and tolerate—somebody does something wrong, first see, see, and see. Anybody can make a mistake, it is necessary to tolerate, tolerate, and tolerate. You cannot take the law into your hands. Sometimes we have to digest so many things. Gurudev tolerates us so much—he does not tell us to get out. Only when it becomes too much, then he can tell to get out.

I can remember also one example that Gurudev told me. Once, ants made a nest in a tree, and some outsider people broke their nest and used the ants' eggs as fishing bait (they used to fish in Govinda Kunda when Govinda Kunda had not manifested so much). Somebody came and complained to Srila Sridhar Maharaj about it. Then, Srila Sridhar Maharaj called those men and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why are you giving so much austerity to these ants? They did not go to your home—they took shelter here at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, then why do you come to disturb them?" I heard this from Gurudev.

So, Gurudev always said: if somebody offends me, I can tolerate it, but I cannot tolerate those who offend my Guru Maharaj. I also cannot tolerate those who offend our Gurudev. It is sometimes a problem for me. On the other hand, if somebody offends me, I do not have any problem with that—they can swear me, they can say so many bad things, I do not mind it, I am happy to digest that. That is why, I always pray to Gurudev, "Please give me some power! I have no strength, no intelligence (ami sakti-buddhi-hina), please give me some mercy so that I can tolerate everything!" That is sufficient for me...

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

* * *

Holy Vasanta Panchami Day

Kolkata—Worldwide, 14 February 2021, part 1

Haribol. Dandavat.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Jay saparikara Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Sundarjiu ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
All the sannyasi-vrinda ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

Dandavat. I am offering my humble obeisance to all the devotees, please accept my humble obeisance. I have come again in front of you after one week. I have returned from preaching today—the last preaching programme was today at noon, and I came back to Dum Dum Park at 4-4:30 p.m.. On Tuesday, I am going for preaching again. I have some more preaching programmes before Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's festival. I have quite a busy schedule now. 25 February is Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's appearance day, and also the inauguration anniversary of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Temple in Ekachakra and the holy appearance day of Sri Sri Guru Gaura Nityananda Prabhu. I must attend so many preaching programmes before that. Also, the day after tomorrow [16 February] is the appearance day of Sriman Mahaprabhu's sakti Srimati Vishnupriya Devi, Sri Pundarik Vidyanidhi, Sri Raghunath Das Goswami, Sri Raghunandan Thakur, as well as Srila Visvanath Chakravarti Thakur's disappearance day.

Sri Pundarik Vidyanidhi Prabhu was a King Vrisabhanu, the father of Srimati Radharani, in Dvapar-yuga. So, he is the incarnation of King Vrisabhanu. Sri Pundarik Vidyanidhi Prabhu was a great Vaishnav. His appearance place is in Bangladesh, in a town called Chattogram. Some of our devotees also joined Krishna consciousness from Chattogram, and ISKCON made there a small preaching centre, a temple. At some point, Sri Gadadhar Pandit Goswami wanted to take initiation and he approached Mahaprabhu for initiation, but Mahaprabhu told him, "Your guru is coming soon, you must wait for him." When Sri Gadadhar Pandit first met Sri Pundarik Vidyanidhi Prabhu, he did not really like him because externally Sri Pundarik Vidyanidhi Prabhu looked very much like a materialist, a gross householder. (That is why it is repeatedly said that you cannot recognise a Vaishnav by his dress only.) Sri Gadadhar Pandit saw Sri Pundarik Vidyanidhi Prabhu always chewed pan supari (betelnut), which made his mouth red, he wore a babu dress (like that of a zamindar, or a materialist). However, later Sri Gadadhar Pandit understood that he had misjudged Sri Pundarik Vidyanidhi Prabhu and took initiation from him. Sri Gadadhar Pandit is an incarnation of Srimati Radharani, and this Sri Gadadhar Pandit took initiation from Sri Pundarik Vidyanidhi Prabhu, an incarnation of Srimati Radharani's father, King Vrisabhanu. Sri Pundarik Vidyanidhi Prabhu is a great Vaishnav—he may look like a materialist, but he is a great Vaishnav.

It will also be the appearance day of Sri Vishnupriya Devi. Sri Vishnupriya Devi is a daughter of Sri Sanatan Misra. When Laksmi Priya Devi (Sriman Mahaprabhu's sakti, or first wife) left, Sri Sachi Mata and Sri Jagannath Misra wanted Nimai to marry again, and they wanted Him to marry Sri Vishnupriya Devi. Actually, Sri Vishnupriya Devi always worshipped Mahaprabhu from her early childhood (from her father's home). She would regularly come to the Ganges to bathe, and she saw Mahaprabhu there (Mahaprabhu used to come to the Ganges to bathe too). At that time, she was a very young girl. When Mahaprabhu later took sannyas, she was only thirteen years old, a very young girl.

Srila Lochan Das Thakur wrote something about Sri Vishnupriya Devi's lamentation in his book Sri Chaitanya-mangal. I read something to you from this book on the appearance day of Srila Lochan Das Thakur recently. Srila Lochan Das Thakur described the conversation that happened between Mahaprabhu and Sri Vishnupriya Devi before Mahaprabhu left to take sannyas. Sri Vishnupriya Devi cried bitterly when she heard that Mahaprabhu wanted to take sannyas. Mahaprabhu explained to her everything, He told her what for He was going to take sannyas, and He said, "I will never leave you. You are always with Me. Take care of your bhajan, your sadhan, your practising life. And you must think that I am always with you." Mahaprabhu gave her some nourishment in this way. However, He did not tell her what day He was going to leave.

At night, before Mahaprabhu left, He called Maya Devi (Kalanidra), and Maya Devi plunged Sri Vishnupriya Devi into a deep slumber so that she could not wake up and prevent Mahaprabhu from leaving. When leaving, Mahaprabhu left His ankle bells by the side of the bed, and when Sri Vishnupriya Devi finally woke, it was very dark in the room—finding herself was alone in bed, she was surprised and immediately became anxious, and when she put her leg on the floor, she touched Mahaprabhu's ankle bell and then she understood that Mahaprabhu had left. Taking these ankle bells, she began to cry so much... Srila Lochan Das described this in Sri Chaitanya-mangal.

Sri Vishnupriya Devi made too much sacrifice. Srila Gurudev said once on this day that if Sri Vishnupriya Devi had not made this sacrifice (if she had not allowed Mahaprabhu to take sannyas), then how would we have got Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu? How would we have seen Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's achar-dharma, prachar-dharma (the example of His practice and preaching)? Having taken sannyas, Mahaprabhu went to Puri, and there He spoke about sadhyan-sadhan tattva with Srila Sanatan Goswami and Srila Rupa Goswami, He spoke about prayojana-tattva with Raya Ramananda. The conversation that took place between Mahaprabhu and Raya Ramananda is very important for our line.

So, Sri Vishnupriya Devi made a huge sacrifice in her life. When we go for Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama and come to Koladwip, we visit Sri Vishnupriya Devi's sevita vigraha of Mahaprabhu. Everybody calls this place 'Mahaprabhu's house' (Maharabhur bari), but it is actually Srila Sanatan Misra's house. When Sri Vishnupriya Devi was getting Mahaprabhu's Deity made, she would go to the murti-valla every day to see how the Deity was turning out. Then, she installed the Deity and would every day make an offering. She would chant the Holy Name and keep a grain of rice aside—in this way, chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and counting rice grains, she would then gather all the rice she got in this way during the day, cook it, and offer to the Deity with some salt. She did not use so many spices, chilli, masala, etc. She showed too much sacrifice in her life, too much austerity. This is how she continued her life...

Actually, nobody has been able to trace when Sri Vishnupriya Devi left this world. Nobody knows it—we have not heard it mentioned anywhere in the scriptures. We only know the appearance (avirbhav) of Sri Vishnupriya Devi...

So, it is a very good day coming the day after tomorrow...

* * *

Extraordinary Qualities of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami

Kolkata—Worldwide, 14 February 2021, part 2

Materialistic people, especially here in Bengal, do Saraswati Puja on this day—those who want to capture knowledge and education, worship Saraswati Devi, the education minister, or the knowledge minister. All Bengal is worshipping that day, but all devotees are worshipping this day as Vasanta Panchami and the appearance day of Srimati Vishnupriya Devi. This day is also the appearance day of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami is a very great Vaishnav.

jaya rupa, sanatana, bhatta-raghunatha
sri jiva, gopala-bhatta, dasa-raghunatha

"All glory to Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Sanatan Goswami, Srila Raghunath Bhatta Goswami, Srila Jiva Goswami, Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami, and Srila Raghunath Das Goswami!"

You all know the history of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami's life. He left everything like stool and urine. People always pass urine, pass stool, and Srila Raghunath Das Goswami left everything—all his property, all his name, fame, everything he had.

Srila Raghunath Das Goswami was born in Adisaptagram, a place in the Hooghly district (it is not very far from our temple in Tarakeshwar). He first met Mahaprabhu in Srila Advaita Prabhu's house when he was just five years old—at that time, Mahaprabhu had just taken sannyas and came to Srila Advaita Prabhu's house in Shantipur. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami is a very extraordinary personality. He was extremely humble, tolerant, and always gave honour to others. He had all these qualities.

Actually, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami tried and tried so many times to come to Mahaprabhu, but Maya Devi always gave some trouble to him. Finally, he got the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, and after that he was able to come to Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu accepted him and made him a servitor of Srila Svarup Damodar Prabhu. He gave him this service saying, "Stay and serve Svarup Damodar." So, when Srila Raghunath Das Goswami stayed in Puri, he served Srila Svarupa Damodar Prabhu, and everybody called him 'Svarup's Raghu'—he became famous throughout Puri as Svarup's Raghu.

When Srila Raghunath Das Goswami stayed in Puri, he always paid obeisance to all Vaishnavs—he could see the same Vaishnav ten times during the day, and each time he saw him he would pay him obeisance. Such was his quality.

At first, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami's father sent him some money, and Srila Raghunath Das Goswami used that money to make Vaishnav-seva. After some time, however, he understood that Mahaprabhu did not like it because he was taking a materialist's money and used it to make Vaishnav-seva, as a result of which some ego (abhiman, ahankar) could come to him, "Oh, I am spending my father's money! I am doing Vaishnav-seva!" So, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami rejected his father's money and started begging instead. At first, he would stand in front of Jagannath temple and beg for alms. Then, he thought, "Simha-dvare bhiksa-vrtti—vesyara achara (Cc, 3.6.284) I need some food for my stomach, and I am standing here like a prostitute! It is not good!" Then, he started going to the place where food was sometimes distributed to all beggars...

When Srila Raghunath Das Goswami left for Puri, he walked for twelve days, and I was thinking how much austerity he got at that time. We also walked recently for four days, visiting 120-130 houses every day, and we sometimes felt tired, our legs sometimes swelled, but I was thinking that we are walking wearing shoes, and Srila Raghunath Das Goswami went to Puri without shoes. Not only that, he walked for twelve days, and he took rice only three times during that time. Yet, we walked four days and we took prasadam three times a day, but still we became very tired. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami walked for twelve days non-stop, he only stopped during the night and slept somewhere outside or maybe in somebody's goshala, and he took rice only three times during those twelve days. Such was his quality. He had an extremely strong attraction to Mahaprabhu—he had the highest, the strongest desire to come to Mahaprabhu, and when he got the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, he immediately went to Mahaprabhu. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami's desire to get service was extremely strong.

Mahaprabhu taught certain things to Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, and everybody must learn from those instructions of Mahaprabhu's to Srila Raghunath Das Goswami.

gramya-katha na sunibe, gramya-varta na kahibe
bhala na khaibe ara bhala na paribe
amani manada hana krsna-nama sada la'be
vraje radha-krsna seva manase karibe

"Do not listen to the mundane talks, do not listen to the mundane news. Do not eat fancy food, do not wear fancy clothes. Do not expect honour to yourself, but offer all respect to others. Always chant the Holy Name of Krsna, and in your mind serve Radha-Krsna."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 6.236-237)

Do not wear fancy clothes, do not eat fancy food. Do not gossip. This is what Mahaprabhu taught Srila Raghunath Das Goswami.

sthira haya ghare yao, na hao batula
krame krame paya loka bhava-sindhu-kula
markata-vairagya na kara loka dekhana
yatha-yogya visaya bhunja' anasakta hana

"Be sensible, go back to your home. Do not be crazy. One reaches the shore of material existence gradually. Do not show your false renunciation to people. Serve accepting material things, but without attachment."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.16.237-238)

Go back to your home, do not become crazy. It is not necessary to show false renunciation. Mahaprabhu told him very good instructions. He also said that we must give respect to whatever is necessary for service: yatha-yogya visaya bhunja' anasakta hana.

We sometimes need certain things—for example, we use a car for preaching, and somebody can say, "Oh, this is too much!" For example, Indian foolish or jealous people like to say, "Oh, Mahaprabhu walked door to door, Nityananda Prabhu also went door to door on foot, but in this age of Kali sadhus are so degraded that they use cars and aeroplanes!" Such people are very foolish—they do not know that everything is meant for the service for the Lord. Everything must be used for service. It is necessary to understand this.

Everybody must think about Srila Raghunath Das Goswami's lifestyle, how much austerity he faced. You must also remember Srila Sanatan Goswami's character. Srila Sanatan Goswami Prabhu refused from taking new clothes—Sri Chandrasekhara Acharya wanted to give him some new clothes, but he refused, instead he said, "If you can, give me some old cloth of Mahaprabhu." Sri Chandrasekhara Acharya gave him an old cloth of Mahaprabhu, and Srila Sanatan Goswami tore it into two parts—he would wear one and use the other one as a chadar. Such was his lifestyle.

So, I was thinking when I am walking my legs swell, I cannot walk, etc. but I am wearing shoes, I am taking prasadam three times a day, but Srila Raghunath Das Goswami went to Puri barefoot, walking non-stop for twelve days, and he took prasadam only three times during all twelve days. This is what I wanted to say to everybody. Practise what is preached. You must understand Mahaprabhu's teaching: not to wear fancy clothes, not to eat fancy food. Yet, we always follow the whims of our tongue (jihva-lalasa)—what fallen souls we are!

* * *

Hanker and Aspire

Kolkata—Worldwide, 14 February 2021, part 3

[Addressing one of the devotees:] Who lives in the temple and does puja permanently? Oh, there are different pujaris on different days?... And nobody stays in the temple permanently? And when the Deities are sleeping, nobody is staying there?! It is necessary to have a security guard for the Deities. Minimum one person must always stay at the temple. Somebody needs to stay here. If the Deities are thirsty at night, if They need some water, who will give Them water? Do you understand? It is necessary to keep somebody at the temple.

I have a three-day preaching programme starting this Tuesday, after that I will come to Kolkata for one day, and the next day I will go to Ekachakra. I will go there very soon. I came from a preaching programme at 4:30 p.m. today because I have job here in Kolkata tomorrow. The potato collection is almost finished—after the Ekachakra festival, I will have to go there for one more day, and then it will be finished. We have collected almost five hundred bags of potato so far. We went house to house every day, visiting 120-130 houses a day. These are all devotees' houses, and they want me to come, that is why I go there. We had to walk too much during these days, but anyhow for the service of Gurudev, it is happiness,

tomara sevaya, duhkha haya yata,
seo ta' parama sukha

"All the distress I encounter in Your service is also my greatest happiness."

(Saranagati 16.4)

When there is no service, I feel unhappy, and when service comes, I feel happiness. I always wait for service, I always hanker and aspire for service.

...When Sriman Mahaprabhu and Srila Svarup Damodar Prabhu left, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami left Puri and wanted to commit suicide—he wanted to climb Govardhan Hill and jump from there. But Srila Sanatan Goswami and Srila Rupa Goswami protected him, they gave him some nourishment, and in the end Srila Raghunath Das Goswami said, "I have got far more from Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Sanatan Goswami than even from my Guru (Mahaprabhu and Svarup Damodar)." In this way, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami passed his life, and at the end of his life he always prayed,

pramada-madana-lilah kandare kandare te
rachayati nava-yunor dvandvam asminn amandam
iti kila kalanartham lagnakas tad-dvayor me
nija-nikata-nivasam dehi govardhana tvam

"O Govardhan, the Divine Couple liberally enact Pastimes of mad love in your caves. Please grant me a dwelling beside you so I can see Their Pastimes."

It is a very nice sloka about Govardhan. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami lived the last part of his life there, at Radha Kunda. Every year, when we go for Vrindavan parikrama, we always come to pay obeisance at the samadhi mandir and bhajan kutir of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami...

If we try to get even one tiny drop of his mercy, that is sufficient for us. We always pray for his mercy because without the mercy of such Vaishnavs we cannot proceed in our spiritual life. We must try to get his mercy. We say these things, and it is very easy to say, but it is very hard to do this. Still, we say it for our own purification. I am not telling all this to you only, I am telling it for myself also, for my own purification. I am not giving advice to you only, I am actually giving advice to myself. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami also got mercy from Sriman Nityananda Prabhu whose appearance day is coming very soon.

I know that you cannot come for the Ekachakra festival this year because of the covid situation, but you must observe this day from your house. Make glorification of Nityananda Prabhu, speak about His glories, make some good prasadam for Nityananda Prabhu. Observe this day in this way, it will be good for you. You can make this festival from your house, you can remember this day very nicely. The festival is on 25 February, it is Thursday, a working day, but what can you do? Make the festival in the evening or in the morning then, it will be good, but you must remember Sriman Nityananda Prabhu all day, it will be good for you. We are very fallen souls—we cannot proceed in our spiritual life without Nityananda Prabhu's mercy. Therefore, we must remember Nityananda Prabhu properly, full day, on His appearance day.

* * *

Keep Your Head at Vaishnavs' Lotus Feet

Kolkata—Worldwide, 14 February 2021, part 4

Whether you are staying in a hot area or in a cold area where there is snow, it is not a problem—wherever you are, you must practise properly.

I have seen some very cold places—I had some experience of cold weather in Russia. It is a very cold place, there is five-six feet thick ice on the streets. And it is also an astonishing place because there are some days in a year when there is no night—the sun sets only for fifteen minutes, and then again rises; the day lasts twenty-three hours forty-five minutes. We have a temple in that place (Saint Petersburg). I have seen how cold it is there. Still, it is not a problem.

Anyhow, it is a very good day coming this Tuesday. We must pray for the mercy of Srila Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakur, Sri Pundarik Vidyanidhi, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami. Always sing, "Kripa koro Vaishnav Thakur!"

krpa kara vaisnava thakura
sambandha janiya bhajite bhajite
abhimana hau dura

"O Vaishnav Thakur! Please be merciful! Knowing the true relationship I will worship You and my ego will go far away."

"ami ta' vaisnava," e-buddhi ha-ile,
amani na ha'ba ami

"If I think, 'I am a Vaishnav,' then I will never stop expecting honour from others (I will never become void of the desire for honour)."

Sing this song and read its meaning in Gaudiya Gitanjali (Kirtan Guide). It is a good song.

In this way, today I have spoken a little about the glories of Vaishnav Thakur—Sri Vishnupriya Devi, Sri Pundarik Vidyanidhi, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, and Srila Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakur.

We sing Srila Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakur's song every day,

samsara-davanala-lidha-loka
tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam
praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

"I offer my obeisance unto the lotus feet of Sri Guru, the ocean of goodness who assumes the form of a cloud of mercy to deliver the souls burning in the blazing fire of material existence."

(Sri Sri Gurvastakam, 1)

We always sing this Guru-vandana [offering of prayers to Sri Guru], which is composed by Srila Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakur. I like this song.

saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair
uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih
kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

"I offer my obeisance unto the lotus feet of Sri Guru, who is said by all the scriptures to be the Lord Himself, and considered to be so by the sadhus, yet is also the Lord's beloved devotee."

(Sri Sri Gurvastakam, 7)

* * *

"Please Forgive Me"

Kolkata—Worldwide, 14 February 2021, part 5

Actually, all Deities are non-different from each other. We give jay to many Deities—Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govindasundar, Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Madan-mohan, Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Damodar, Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Ramanasundar, Radha Gopinath, and others. There are so many Deities, but They are all non-different from each others.

One time, a devotee asked Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, "Whom am I to worship, Gauranga Mahaprabhu or Lord Krishna?" And Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur said, "Do not differentiate. They are non-different." So, do not see who worships Lord Krishna, who worships Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu. You must not make such artificial rules and division. It is not good.

We always sing this song written by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur

gopinath, mama nivedana suna
visayi durjana sada kama-rata
kichhu nahi mora guna

"O Gopinath, hear my prayer. I am a wicked, constantly covetous materialist. I do not have any good qualities."

It is a very nice song, a prayer to Radha Gopinath. You can sing it.

gopinath, mama nivedana suna
visayi durjana sada kama-rata
kichhu nahi mora guna

"O Gopinath, hear my prayer. I am a wicked, constantly covetous materialist. I do not have any good qualities."

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur sings in this way, and it is a very nice song. You can recite it regularly. The main point is that we always pray for mercy. Devotees do not ask for anything for their own interest—they always feel, "We are always making offences to the Deities. We do not give enough respect to the Deities!" That is why, they pray for mercy.

You must understand that Gaura Nitai in Parama Karuna (Venezuela), Nitai Gauranga here in Ekachakra, Gaura Nitai in Nrisingha Palli, Nimai Nitai in Malaysia, and Nitai Gaura Deities in Singapore are not separate—They are all non-different from each other. They the same Deities. So, Parama Karuna's Deities are non-different from the Deities in Ekachakra.

Our main prayer is, "I have no devotion, I do not have any qualities or qualification to serve You! I am a fallen soul, I am always torturing You so much (I cannot serve You properly), but You can digest all my torturing... I always make offences to You, but I am begging You to please forgive me my offences." This is all you can ask the Deities for. You can ask Gurudev and the Deities only this—"Please forgive my offences."

From Guidance, Volume Four:

It is necessary to be very careful and very clean on the path of worshipping Deities. This cleanliness must be in the kitchen, in the storeroom, and in the temple. If everything in the service of the Lord is not clean, it will be an offence (aparadh). If the servitor's leg accidentally touches the offering plate, it is necessary to wash the plate immediately. Somebody may think to themselves, "Well, what to do? It often happens when one does some service." This leads to offences. There should be much respect and reverence in Deity worship. Those who commit such offences, lose their service.

You do not become a brahman just by hanging a brahman thread on your body. When this sense of reverence, sense of cleanliness comes, then you can understand that some brahmanic qualities have come to you. Otherwise if you still have the qualities of a meat-eater, what will wearing a brahman thread change? You must be careful even with the items you procure for the worship.

The Lord is happy when His devotees approach His service with care. Service is rewarded with more service—when this happens, you will no longer know any leisure. When the Lord accepts somebody's service, He gives them even more service; and when He does not accept somebody's service (when there are offences in the service), then the service goes away from them. The result of the offences committed in the course of service (seva-aparadh) is losing one's service. If the Lord does not accept somebody's service, it means He does not like the person—service to the temple goes away from such people. He does not open His mouth and say anything, but He will awake such a mood in you that it will become impossible for you to stay at the temple. This is a very important point. When you are doing something that He does not want—if He does not accept your service—then material desires will come to you, your desire to enjoy material life will be growing, you will be doing fine, your name and fame will grow, wealth will grow, or such mood will come to your mind that you will not be able to serve any more or your health will go down—you will get such a disease that will forever remove you from your service. These things are the results of offences.

On the other hand, when the Lord accepts your service, then your material desires will be weaker and weaker. When He accepts your service, you will feel humility, detachment from the material world; you will feel you are low and bereft, a beggar, a renunciate; floating in divine love, tears will always fall from your eyes, your heart will be melted—you will feel enthusiasm for your service.

Those who have got some experience of the conscious (transcendental) domain, can see all these things. However, if you commit offences when you do service, your heart will become hard—there will be unconsciousness, materialism within you. The Lord keeps away those whose mind, heart does not get excited, who does not become overwhelmed with enthusiasm doing their service. For example, if your foot touches some items used for the Lord's service and you do not give it any importance (Oh, what to do?), you do not feel any fear—this is a symptom of callousness, hardness. When your heart becomes very hard, you will not be afraid of your Gurudev or the Lord. If you become daring, you are standing on the path leading to death; even if you are born in a family of brahmans, you will become an atheist (hard-hearted). Those who have no humility, fear and sense of reverence, have no right to worship Deities.

The Lord is antaryami: He is all-knowing, He is the Supersoul. He can understand everything, He can see everything—you cannot cheat Him. Those who have the eyes can see it when Sri Gaurasundar indicates something to them secretly. If He accepts your service, you will be getting more service—after one service another service will come. He will keep you submerged forever through such service, He will keep you by His side—He will hijack you.

* * *

Renounce Pride, Not Practice

Kolkata—Worldwide, 14 February 2021, part 6

Question: When people read too many books, too many scriptures, they may become a little proud of all that knowledge. It makes me a little scared, why then should we read books?

It happens, but it did not happen to Gurudev, neither did it happen in the case of Srila Sridhar Maharaj. You can see their example. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Jiva Goswami and so many others did not go crazy. Why are you scared of that? We must not be proud. That is why Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur says that we will not go to read so many books, so many scriptures—it can sometimes make us crazy.

Devotee: Because of that I sometimes feel some rejection, I feel I do not want to know anything at all.

No, no, no. We can read. Reading is not bad. And if you do not read, it is also not bad—then it will be jnana-sunya bhakti, "I do not want to know anything, I only know service." I have told many times that Srimati Radharani never went to Oxford University or Cambridge University.

At the same time, it is sometimes necessary to learn something for preaching. For example, Sripad Shanta Maharaj preaches to scientists, but if somebody asked me anything about biology, I would not be able to say a single word—I do not know anything about biology. I know some mathematics, but not biology.

So, reading is not a problem, but we must remember that we should not become proud. Everybody has their own limitation, and if we cross our limit, we will be in a very dangerous position. I was explaining today,

'ami ta vaisnava' e buddhi haile
amani na ha'ba ami
pratisthasa asi' hrdaya dusibe
haiba nirayagami

"If I think, 'I am a Vaishnav,' then I will never stop expecting honour from others—my heart will become polluted by the desire for fame and I will end up in hell."

Do you understand the meaning? These are very strong words. If you want name and fame—if you think you know everything, if you think you are a great scholar, a very big pandit—this desire for pratistha will pollute your heart, and the road to hell will be open for you (you will clear your way to go straight to hell). This is the result of desire for pratistha. This is what Vaishnav Thakur writes. Therefore, we must always give up false ego (guru-abhimana tyaji)—we shall always remain disciples (sisya thakibo sarvada). Some crazy person may become crazy—somebody knows some slokas and they think, "I am a very great personality, I know everything!" Somebody reads Srimad Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, learns to recite some slokas, and they think they have become great scholars, great pandits, or Vaishnav. If they like, they can do that—we do not want to criticise anyone, but as for us, we are their humble servants. This is our position. We only want to be humble servants.

...There are not so many devotees in Memari (Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal). They used to go to some rich people for collections, but rich people's behaviour is not good, so I stopped this several years ago (perhaps, three-four years). We have now a temple nearby, in Tarakeshwar, and many devotees go to the temple, many people have got initiation, and their behaviour is good. Our experience of going to their houses is very nice. Every house we go to, they give much respect to every one of us, and we are happy to visit them. I am also more interested in going to poor people's houses and collected a little from each person. If we collect five hundred bags of potato from five hundred people, it is good, what is the problem? This is Mahaprabhu's style. Mahaprabhu would not take so many things from rich people, but He would take bananas, banana flowers, etc. from Sri Sridhar Prabhu.

bhakter jinish prabhu lutiputi khay
abhakter jinish prabhu ulti nahi chai

"The Lord eats anything and everything when a devotee offers it, but He does not want anything from a non-devotee."

Non-devotees, rich people actually have much ego. They are puffed up thinking, "Oh, we are giving top quality potato!", "We are giving ten bags!", "We are giving twenty bags!" If a poor farmer gives us one bag, that is sufficient. Not only that—they will give you a bag of potato and they will carry it to the car on their own heads also. It is good. Yesterday we went to the house of one disciple of Gurudev (or perhaps my disciple), and they gave us two bags of potato. Kamalendu carried one bag and the man carried the other bag. On top of that, they gave us some nice sweet, some samosas, etc., they also gave some money for the temple. They are all very nice people.

Question: How can I overcome depression?

Only by chanting the Holy Name. Take shelter of a bona fide Guru and chant the Holy Name, then you can overcome depression. Whatever comes, good or bad, it is not a problem—depend on the Lord in everything. You must surrender to the Lord, surrender to your Guru. It is necessary to have saranagati,

sad-anga saranagati ha-ibe yahara
tahara prarthana sune sri-nanda-kumara

Sri Krishna hears the prayers of those who surrender in this six-fold way.

If you have six types of surrender (if you surrender fully) to Gurudev and the Lord, then Lord Krishna will hear you.

I am finishing for today. Please forgive my offences. Make some festival and remember the Vasanta Panchami day—the appearance day of Sri Vishnupriya Devi, Sri Pundarik Vidyanidhi, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami; remember Srila Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakur. You must always remember them. Also, Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's appearance day is coming soon... We will meet again next Sunday before the festival. I do not know where we will be on that day, in Nrisingha Palli or Ekachakra, but we will be here next Sunday and we can make a programme from wherever we are. It is not a problem.

Everybody should try to serve Nityananda Prabhu. Please pray for me so that I can continue serving like this until my death. I am very happy to go house to house, door to door. Somebody said, "Oh, you are becoming old day by day, how will you go?" When I cannot go, if I cannot walk, no problem—then I will make a wheelchair and go door to door in a wheelchair.

Jay Gurudev. Jay Nrisinghadev.

* * *

Lord's Arrangement

Ekachakra—Worldwide, 21 February 2021, part 1

Dandavat.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Jay Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

Dandavat. Haribol. Today the connection may not be very good as I am in a very rural area. I am now in Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's appearance place in Sri Ekachakra Dham, so the connection here is a little not so good. I was in Nrisingha Palli yesterday, and today we have came to Ekachakra. I still need one more day for rice collection and one more day for potato collection—I will go after the festival in Ekachakra. Other than that, the collection is now almost finished.

Here is Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu from Ukraine. How are you, Prabhu? Dandavat. I have got the donation you have sent for the Ekachakra festival. It is of a very great help. It is very helpful for this festival because some devotees had sent something previously, and I have expended it on the guesthouse and Prasadam Hall construction in Nrisingha Palli, so I was a little short of money, and Krishna has sent some funds—'Krishna' means Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu sent it. It was very helpful. Satya Sundari Didi has also sent some donation for Ekachakra, I have got it too. If each devotee sends a little, a little, it is sufficient.

Gurudev said from time to time, "If one door closes, another door will open." This is my hope. If some devotees do not help, it is not a problem—Krishna arranges everything for His service Himself.

I have been going for rice and potato collection for many years, and some people who used to donate before do not give anything now, but then some new people appear and they start giving more and more. It is happening here, and it is happening abroad also—some devotees used to help so much, but now they are not helping. Somebody thinks that I have lost the main temple in Nabadwip, that I do not live there anymore, so why must they give anything now? You know what Gurudev said. He told me, "If you are alive, that is sufficient for me." So, I cannot kill myself for the main temple. That is why I left it, and so many devotees are still with me, that is my happiness.

Those who are in the front field know how much I tolerated when I was at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. In the end, I became very sick and almost died. My body, everything finished. Yet, by the mercy of Gurudev, by the mercy of the Lord and all the devotees' prayers, I am still alive and I am always with you all. That is sufficient for me. I realise that this is only the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu and Gurudev because my doctors (all big, big doctors) later told me about what had happened to my health—they said that only maybe one person out of ten thousand people can survive this kind of disease. This is the kind of disease that happened to me when I got sick, but I am still alive, I am still working as before and I can walk without a stick. You can see it. Through devotees' prayers for me I am getting life and am able to function as before, as in my brahmachari life. Otherwise, I went on foot and visited 125-140 houses every day—it is impossible without the blessing of the devotees.

So, I do not have any problem. Actually, when I left Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, I had to start from zero, and you can see now how many temples have happened and how many devotees serve properly all over the world and here in India also. Everybody is happily doing their service, and by the mercy of Gurudev we have opened many new temples since then. All this is impossible without the mercy of the devotees.

* * *

Service Field

Ekachakra—Worldwide, 21 February 2021, part 2

I have come today here to Sri Ekachakra Dham to arrange the grand festival here. You have all heard about it. In the coming three-four days, thousands and thousands of people will come and take prasadam every day here at the Ekachakra Temple. A huge number of people will come to take prasadam, to chant the Holy Name. We make a very big festival here every year.

There are not so many foreign devotees this year because of the covid situation. They miss this festival so much, I know that. They think about this festival from their heart—they may not be able to come bodily or physically, but they are all here in Ekachakra mentally. If you can remember Lord Nityananda Prabhu, even being very far away, that is your happiness, and Nityananda Prabhu will also be very happy. Also, you contribute to this festival from far away—you are sending money for this festival; it is good for you, and it pleases Lord Nityananda Prabhu.

You know that I spend everything for my Gurudev's service—even my life, my ego, my everything. I have surrendered everything at the lotus feet of my Gurudev, who is non-different from Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. I have given my life to Gurudev. I joined Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math thirty years ago, and I never once have seen my family in all these years. They are calling me and saying I must come to see them one day, but I am not really interested in it because they are actually not my family—all the devotees all over the world and here in India also are my real family. I am a member of this family, and that is my happiness. I have got so many well-wishers and good friends all over the world, and it is the source of my happiness. You give your life and whatever you earn for the service of the Lord (when I ask you, you always give), it makes me very happy. You are all my family. Those who are real family, they help in this situation. Although I have left the main temple of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, you all are helping me, and I am very happy with you.

I have recently made a big festival in Nrisingha Palli on Gurudev's appearance day, and after that I went to many places for collection—I preached and spoke about my Gurudev. Some 'devotees' are crazy (pagal)—they say that it is not necessary to take initiation, it is not necessary to accept a Guru. Srila Narottam Das Thakur says,

asraya la-iya bhaje, tare krsna nahi tyaje
ara saba mare akarana

"Krishna never leaves those who take shelter in Him and serve Him—all others die in vain."

It is necessary to take shelter of a bona fide Guru, to take initiation, to receive the Holy Name from a proper source, etc. When you are born in this world, you have to learn some things and you need others' help—sometimes we learn from our parents, sometimes from our elder brothers, elder sisters. We learn so many things from so many people around us. Even if you want to learn to cook, you need a teacher. If you want to get school, college or university education, you also need a teacher. The same is true about the spiritual life. It is necessary to have a teacher. In my life, I have got a bona fide Guru, and I have got the best spiritual master, that is my great fortune, great luck. Everybody must understand the importance of accepting a Guru—only those who are crazy do not believe it and say it is not necessary.

brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija

"Having travelled throughout the universe and got the mercy of Guru, Krishna, a fortunate soul receives a seed of the devotional creeper."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 19.151)

They think we have spent so many years, so many lives as it is, so why is it necessary to take a guru? We call this 'pagal' in Bengali, foreign devotees call it 'crazy' and South American people call it 'loco'. There are such people in this world...

Dandavat, Srila Ashram Maharaj, please accept my humble obeisance.

Srila Ashram Maharaj: Dandavat, Maharaj. Please accept my humble obeisance also at your holy feet. How is your health?

My health is good, Maharaj. I have been preaching a lot, doing a lot of rice and potato collection—I have been walking a lot, and it is good for my health. I still need one more day to finish the collection, I did not get time to finish everything. They were making the roof of the fourth floor of the guesthouse in Nrisingha Palli, and I came there to see it. I came there on Friday late in the evening (eleven o'clock), and the works had almost finished. I could not come earlier because I had been very busy. Every day we started off at eight o'clock from the place where we were staying, then drove for one hour and started the collection from nine o'clock. We took lunch with us and had prasadam in the car. If we had gone back to take prasadam, it would have taken two hours to drive there and back and one hour to take prasadam, so three hours would have been lost, and I did not want to lose time. So, some devotees made chapati and alur dam in the morning and we (Sripad Sadhu Maharaj, Kamalendu Prabhu, Ananda Moy Prabhu, one Bengali devotee Ashok Prabhu, and myself) would stop the car in a field some time between twelve and two o'clock and took prasadam in the car. Ashok Prabhu helped us with the collection because he knows this area, the rice fields and rice mills there.

Actually, I no longer go house to house to collect rice in villages, Sripad Niriha Maharaj is doing it now. Rice mills give 25 kg, 50 kg of rice, and if you go to a house, they give one kg or two kg at a time. It takes too long to collect, and I do not have so much time. That is why, I go to big mills and the collection goes very well. After the Ekachakra festival I will need one more day for rice collection and one more day for potato collection. We have already collected six hundred bags of potato, and it is necessary to collect one hundred more.

Sripad Niriha Maharaj and one more devotee did the rice collection for the Ekachakra festival, and I collected for Gaura Purnima and the whole year. This rice and potato will last the whole year for all the branches of the Mission. I divide this rice and potato among the temples and send to Ekachakra, Tarakeshwar, Kalna, Nrisingha Palli, Kolkata, etc. I go on collection only one time a year, so this rice and potato will be used for all festivals, all temples throughout the year. We keep the potato in a cold storage and the rice in Nrisingha Palli, and whenever we go to some temples we take some rice and potato from there and bring it to the temples.

So, I have come to Sri Ekachakra Dham today, and I must sing at least one song of Guru-vandana... [His Divine Grace then sings 'Gurudev, krpa bindu diya', 'Nitai-pada-kamala', and 'Gaya Gaura madhura svare'.]

* * *

Gist of Guru-Mahima

Ekachakra—Worldwide, 21 February 2021, part 3

Sriman Mahaprabhu told about Sri Nityananda Prabhu,

madira yavani yadi nityananda dhare
tathapi brahmara vandya kahila tomare

"Even if Nityananda Prabhu takes a drunk lady by Her hand, He is always worshippable even for Lord Brahma."

When some brahman was saying some bad things about Nityananda Prabhu, Mahaprabhu gave him this advice. He said, "If Nityananda Prabhu takes whiskey, takes some alcohol and goes to a Muslim lady, Brahma will worship Him even then." This is what Sriman Mahaprabhu said about Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. Not only that, Mahaprabhu told that brahman, "Go and tell all your friends, all citizens of Nabadwip, everybody in this world what I have told you about Nityananda Prabhu!"

Try to understand the meaning of these words. That is Guru-Mahima (glories of Sri Guru), and that came from Mahaprabhu's lotus mouth. He told for everybody,

madira yavani yadi nityananda dhare
tathapi brahmara vandya kahila tomare

"Even if Nityananda Prabhu takes a drunk lady by Her hand, He is always worshippable even for Lord Brahma."

Even Lord Brahma also worships Nityananda Prabhu. And now, so many devotees have come to the holy appearance place of this Nityananda Prabhu...

* * *

Eternal Bond with Sri Ekachakra Dham

Ekachakra—Worldwide, 21 February 2021, part 4

Actually, the first time I came here was in 2004. Gurudev had come here in 1989 or 1990 when he was preaching in Bengal—he stayed in a nearby village here in Ekachakra during two days; at that time he visited this place of Nityananda Prabhu's appearance. After that, I came here in 2004. From the beginning, it was my desire to make a temple here, but Gurudev did not agree—he was not so much interested in making a temple here because there are a lot of sahajiyas in this area. Despite that, in Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's time, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj would send the birthplace temple of Nityananda Prabhu a money order for five rupees every year, on the appearance day of Nityananda Prabhu.

When Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj came back from Vrindavan and started Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Koleganj, aparadh-bhanjan-pat in Koladwip, many of his godbrothers wanted to take sannyas from him, and there were also some well-wishers who wanted to take initiation from Srila Sridhar Maharaj. At first, Srila Sridhar Maharaj did not agree to give anyone initiation or sannyas, but then he came here, to the birthplace of Nityananda Prabhu, and when he prayed to Nityananda Prabhu for His guidance and mercy ("What should I do now? Please give me Your mercy"), he heard a message from the sky—Nityananda Prabhu told him, "You have already got so much mercy from Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad. First distribute that mercy, and after that, when you finish distributing it, you can ask Me for mercy again." Hearing these words, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj returned to Kolerganj and started giving initiations. This is the past history that I have heard from Srila Gurudev.

As I have said, Gurudev visited Ekachakra before he started visiting foreign countries, and in 2007, when Gurudev was in America, he called me and said, "You wanted to start a temple in Ekachakra. Now I am telling you that if you can find a good land, you can make a temple there." I bought this land here in Ekachakra in 2008. So many things have happened since then...

Before starting the construction of the temple, Gurudev told me to first make a guesthouse, a place of residence for the devotees. In this way, I started the construction of this building where I am staying right now. Actually, I made this very room where I am sitting now for Gurudev, but due to his health condition, Gurudev could not come (Gurudev was very sick in 2007, you all know it). 2007 was Gurudev's last world tour, during which he stayed in America for many months, and then came to Thailand. I was also in a world tour preaching in Singapore and Malaysia at that time when Gurudev called me from Thailand and told me to come. I came to Thailand and Gurudev told me there to buy the land in Ekachakra. This is how, in 2008, I purchased this land here and started the construction.

Gurudev saw this guesthouse building, and he was very happy. He could not come himself, but he saw the video of the programme in 2008-2009. When I just got this land in 2008, it was a vacant land that used to be a wheat field. I cleared the land, made a big pandal here, and did the first grand festival. Gurudev saw the video broadcast—he saw that so many thousands of people came here—and he was very happy at that time. Gurudev gave the name to this guesthouse; he told me to call it with the name of Nityananda Prabhu's parents—Sri Sri Hadai Padmavati Smriti Kunja.

After that, I started to make the nat mandir and the temple, but in the meantime Gurudev left this world and I could not finish the construction before his departure. The inauguration of the temple took place in 2011. According to Gurudev's instruction, the size of the Deities here is very big—Gurudev ordered to make the life-size Deities. He chose a man who does Deities in Nabadwip to make these Deities in Ekachakra and instructed about the size the Deities had to be—Mahaprabhu is 7'6 (228.6 cm) and Nityananda Prabhu is 7'4 (223.5 cm).

The Deities were installed in 2011, after Gurudev's disappearance. So many devotees came here that year, and since then, many devotees have been coming every year also. It makes me very sad that foreign devotees cannot come this year because of the covid situation. Mainly, Venezuelan devotees always come and join this festival because their Deity is also Parama Karuna Nitai Gaurachandra, so they always come here and help during the anniversary festival. Still, there are some Venezuelan devotees here with me now—Sripad Sajjan Maharaj, Sripad Sadhu Maharaj, Sudevi Didi, Ananda Moy Prabhu; there are also some Colombian devotees—Kamalendu Prabhu and others. I know many cannot come this year because of the situation, what can I say? It makes me very sad, and I miss them, but I hope that they will celebrate this day in their own centres, at their own homes. Every house should make a programme on this day, that is our happiness because we cannot conceive of anything in our life without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu. If we give most of our attention to making Nityananda Prabhu's festival, then Gurudev and Gauranga Mahaprabhu will be very happy.

Gauranga Mahaprabhu told Nityananda Prabhu to preach about Krishna, but Nitynanda Prabhu preached about Gauranga.

bhaja gauranga, kaha gauranga, laha gaurangera nama re
ye jana gauranga bhaje, sei amara prana re

"Worship Gauranga! Say Gauranga! Take Gauranga's Name! Those who worship Gauranga are My heart and soul!"

Nityananda Prabhu preached about Mahaprabhu all over Bengal and other places in India. Without His mercy, it is impossible to conceive of anything in our life. It was also Nityananda Prabhu who started preaching Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama when He first did this parikrama of the nine islands of Nabadwip with Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu speaking about the glories of Mahaprabhu and Mahaprabhu's pastimes that took palce in Nabadwip, which is non-different from Sri Vrindavan.

sri-gauda-mandala-bhumi yeba jane chintamani
tara haya vraja-bhume vasa

"Those who always think about Sri Nabadwip Dham, reside in Sri Vrindavan."

* * *

Sri Gauda Mandal Parikrama

Ekachakra—Worldwide, 21 February 2021, part 5

sri-gauda-mandala-bhumi yeba jane chintamani
tara haya vraja-bhume vasa

"Those who always think about Sri Nabadwip Dham, reside in Sri Vrindavan."

Gauda Mandal is Ramakheli (where Mahaprabhu first met Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Sanatan Goswami) in the north, Nityananda Prabhu's appearance place (Ekachakra) in the west, and Pichalda in the south. Actually, I wanted to make a Gauda Mandal parikrama this year, but I wanted to make it with foreign devotees, and because not so many devotees are coming for Gaura Purnima this year, I cannot make this Gauda Mandal parikrama this year. I was also going to rent a ship and go from Nabadwip to Ganga Sagar, but I have decided to postpone it until next year because foreign devotees cannot come and join it this year. If they can come for Ekachakra festival next year, then I hope we will visit Ganga Sagar, the place of Kapil Muni and Indradev.

When I was in Russia and Mexico, I went with some devotees by speed boat. There were not so many devotees with us at that time, but I want to go on a boat ride with two-three hundred devotees in a big two-deck ship. Mahaprabhu also travelled by boat—He went to Kalna with Nityananda Prabhu, and He rowed the boat Himself. I have seen a part of that wooden oar (boitha, বৈঠা) that Mahaprabhu used, it is still kept in Kalna, Gauri Das Pandit's place. Kalna is about thirty kilometres from Nabadwip, we have a temple (ladies' ashram) nearby. It is a very nice place.

Come before Ekachakra festival, and after Ekachakra we will go to Ganga Sagar (the ocean)—we will rent a boat from Nabadwip with big rooms, bathrooms, toilets, etc. You can even get an attached bathroom in the lounge. We will make good prasadam, kirtan. The ride will take one whole day. We will stop at some place for the night, have a proper sleep, and then continue the way the next morning reaching Ganga Sagar, the place where the Ganga mixes with the ocean, in the afternoon. On the way, we will be passing Kalna, Kolkata, etc. there are many places along the bank of the Ganges. We can stop at our Uluberia Temple for lunch. We can visit Gauri Das Pandit's place, which is a walking distance from the bank of the Ganges (it is a fifteen minute walk, and if somebody cannot walk, we can arrange a rickshaw for them). On the one side of the Ganges (west side) there is Kalna, and on the other side (east side), opposite Kalna, there is Shantipur, Sri Advaita Prabhu's place. It will be a very nice tour. And after Gaura Purnima we can make Gauda Mandal parikrama visiting Ramakheli, Ekachakra, Nabadwip, Pichalda, and many other places. I have a list of all the places.

Sri Gauri Das Pandit is an exceptional devotee from the side of Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu; he is actually an associate (parsada) of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. There is also Acharya Srinivas, Shyamananda Prabhu, Narottam Das Thakur, they are all exceptional devotees. There are places of Sri Ramachandra Kaviraj, Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur, the birthplace of Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami. There are many nice places still existent in Bengal. The birthplace of Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami is situated near Katwa where Mahaprabhu took sannyas. Two-three kilometres from Katwa, there is Acharya Srinivas's place, and another three-four kilometres from there is Sri Narahari Chakravarti's place, Vasu Ghosh's place.

yadi gaura na ha'ta tabe ki ha-ita
kemane dharitam de
radhara mahima, prema-rasa-sima
jagate janata ke?

"If Gaura had not come, then what would have happened? How would we have maintained our lives? Who would have revealed to the world Radha's glory and the extremes of Her ecstatic divine love?"

(Srila Vasudev Ghosh Thakur)

Vasu Ghosh is the one who composed this song. There is also Govinda Ghosh. They are all related, they are all very nice devotees from Mahaprabhu's time. There is also the place of Srila Narahari Chakravarti (Narahari Thakur), the place of Mukunda's son, Raghunandan Prabhu. Mukunda Prabhu is Mahaprabhu's dearmost devotee. There are places of Abhiram Thakur, Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakur, Prabhodananda Saraswati. There are so many associates of Mahaprabhu...

Going on the tour down the Ganges, we do not have to stop in Kolkata, but we can stop in Panihati instead...

* * *

Construction Pastimes

Ekachakra—Worldwide, 21 February 2021, part 6

They have finished the goshala today. We have made a new goshala here in Ekachakra, because there are so many cows now, and the old goshala had become too small. So, I have expanded it.

In 2011-2012 I made the boundary wall on top of nat mandir. Before that, I planned that I would rent a helicopter for Gurudev to come and the helicopter was supposed to land on top of the nat mandir. A helicopter driver had come to inspect the place and told me not to make the boundary wall on the roof. Unfortunately, Gurudev was very sick and could not come. So, last year I made another floor there for the Indian devotees. The nat mandir is very big, so we could make additional twenty-two rooms, and each room is four-five hundred square feet. It is a very big dormitory to provide accommodation for the Indian section.

Actually, it all happened by the mercy of Gurudev and by the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu. When I first came here to buy the land, I spent one night sleeping under the bakul tree (the place where Nityananda Prabhu played, it is also called nari-pota). I slept under some tarpaulin one night. I remember I could not sleep the whole night because of mosquitos—sometimes I slept under the tarpaulin and sometimes went to the car, and the whole night I was waiting when the morning would come. The next day I rented a house to stay in.

Question: Do we fast on Nityananda Trayodasi or can we take breakfast?

Actually, we fast. If somebody cannot fast, they can take something, but actually we fast until noon on this day. The Gaudiya Math temples fast on this day like on Nrisingha-chaturdasi—Nityananda Prabhu is Lord Baladev's avatar, so they fast from morning to evening, and they take some anukalpa in the evening. But Gurudev said, "Nityananda Prabhu's appearance is at noon, like Srimati Radharani's appearance, so you can fast until noon and then take prasadam." This is what we do. We follow what Gurudev said, we do not follow what other temples do. That is some distinction of our temple. We follow what Gurudev says. Other temples fast the whole day from morning to evening on Vamana-dvadasi, Baladev Purnima and on Nityananda Trayodasi, but we follow what Gurudev told us.

Are there any other questions from any devotees today?

Srila Janardan Maharaj: I have one question. When are you going to start construction in Mayapur?

Maharaj, I have started it, but then there is some problem related to the political party. When the election results are declared, I will be able to resume the construction. Also, it is necessary to collect more money. If more devotees can help, then it will be possible. If every devotees gives about one thousand dollars one time, then it is possible to resume the construction. Some devotees give more than that—they give five, ten, twelve thousand dollars, but there are only few of them. If everybody gives one thousand dollars, then it will be sufficient. Indian devotees cannot help so much—they come and give five hundred, two hundred or one hundred rupees' pranami...

* * *

Pride in Our Identity

Ekachakra—Worldwide, 21 February 2021, part 7

Question: We are going to speak in one college about identity. Is there any message we can give to them?

The message is what Gurudev tells. They are studying to become a doctor, an engineer... An engineer can make a big construction, a big building that will stand for many years, but they do not know how many days they will be alive this world—how many days they will stay in this world. They have got a human body by a great fortune, and they use this body only to eat, enjoy, and sleep, but this is not what this body is for. When you got this human body, you promised to Lord Krishna that you would remember Him, that you would practise Krishna consciousness. A doctor treats other people, but this is only physical help. First you must treat yourself. You must understand that you are not this body. You think you are this body, but it is not true, you are actually a jiva soul, an atma. To improve the position of your atma, to bring benefit to your atma, it is necessary to chant the Holy Name, to follow what Krishna tells us. Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We always pray to the Lord for our own physical, mundane benefit, we never think about our spiritual benefit.

These are the main things you can tell them. It is unfortunate that people become big, great Ph.D., get doctorate and become very proud of that. We forget that we are eternal servants of the Lord. What should we be proud of? We must be proud of being eternal servants—eternal servants of the servants of devotees. This is our main pride. Yet, we become proud of our education—this education is mundane. Real education is when you learn to be a devotee.

If you do not practise Krishna consciousness, then even if you live for one hundred or two hundred years, such a life is nothing. On the other hand, you may stay in this world for only ten years, and that can be sufficient if you chant the Holy Name, if you practise Krishna consciousness. It is necessary to understand this.

I would like to finish now, I still have some things to arrange for tomorrow. I must give service to some devotees because it is ekadasi tomorrow and all the devotees will start coming. Actually, devotees have already started to come today (Sripad Niriha Maharaj is giving them class now). Sripad Niriha Maharaj came three-four days ago, and some devotees have come today also. So, I am finishing here, and I am asking you all for forgiveness—please forgive my offences. Please remember this festival and always chant the Holy Name. That is the main thing.

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay.

* * *

Pride in Our Identity

Kolkata—Worldwide, 28 February 2021, part 1

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Visva-varenya Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Vrinda Devi, Tulasi Devi, Sri Bhakti Devi ki jay
Sri Shyama Kunda, Radha Kunda, Sri Giri Govardhan ki jay
Sri Mayapur Dham, Sri Nabadwip Dham, Sri Vrindavan Dham, Sri Mathura ki jay
Sri Ekachakra Dham ki jay
Jay Sri Sri Guru Gaura Nityananda jiu ki jay
All the assembled devotees ki jay
All the worldwide devotees ki jay
All the sannyasi, brahmachari, bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

I am very happy to see you all after one week. I was very busy with the festival of Nityananda Prabhu's appearance day in Sri Ekachakra Dham last week. So many devotees came to this festival—there were crowds and crowds of people. This is first time such a crowd has come since last Gaura Purnima and the beginning of the pandemic situation. Even the local government had to stop all traffic in the area because there were too many crowds. So many devotees came to Sri Ekachakra Dham to observe this day, and so many devotees also stayed at our temple.

The temple was overflooded. So many people came from all over Bengal, and outside also (Jharkhand and other areas) and stayed for four-five days joining this holy appearance day.

I came back to Dum Dum Park (Kolkata) last evening, and I had a preaching programme scheduled in Vasirhat, so I went there in the morning and came back at about four o'clock. I must go to another place for preaching tomorrow also. Anyhow, I am very happy that all devotees joined this festival, they chanted kirtan, listened to the class, took prasadam, joined the programme. So many thousands of devotees came; not just a few thousand—many thousands of devotees joined the appearance day of Sri Nityananda Prabhu this year. People overflooded the temple. This is only the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, the mercy of Gurudev.

We also went on parikrama with so many people joining us. There were no outside people during this festival—mostly devotees joined it. The number of devotees at the parikrama of Ekachakra Dham was huge, more than even at Gaura Purnima time! Yet, I am very sad because many foreign devotees could not join this parikrama and the appearance day...

Still, they made this festival in their house. I have seen some photographs from various countries—I saw devotees made some festivals, even if they made a small festival in their own house or at the temple in their country, that is their happiness...

I was very tired after the festival, and I am also a little tired today, but I meet with you all every Sunday and I do not want to miss this holy meeting with you all in zoom. That is why, I did not schedule any programmes for this evening.

* * *

Mission in Sri Ekachakra Dham

Kolkata—Worldwide, 28 February 2021, part 2

Nityananda Prabhu bestowed his mercy all over the world. Our Param Gurudev Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj was first to recognise that Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad was a saktya-vesha avatar of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. He gave this title to Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad.

We can see the influence of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu even in Srila Sridhar Maharaj's life also. When he got a message from Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur and finished his bhajan in Nandagram, Pavan Sarovar, he came to Koladwip, Nabadwip, and opened a centre, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. After that, many godbrothers and many followers wanted to receive (sannyas or diksa) initiation from Srila Sridhar Maharaj, but Srila Sridhar Maharaj did not agree. Then, one day he went to Ekachakra to ask Sriman Nityananda Prabhu whether he should give initiation or not. When he came there an asked Sriman Nityananda Prabhu for His mercy, Sriman Nityananda Prabhu told him, "You have already got so much mercy from Bhagavan Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. First distribute the mercy you have got, then you can come and ask Me for mercy." After that, Srila Sridhar Maharaj came back to the temple and started to give initiations and sannyas.

We can understand from all of this how glorious Sriman Nityananda Prabhu is. I have also heard from Gurudev that in Srila Sridhar Maharaj's time the temple condition was very poor—at that time, Sakhi Charan Prabhu Bhakti Vijay (a disciple of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur and godbrother of Srila Sridhar Maharaj) used to give Srila Sridhar Maharaj ten rupees per month for the expenses of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. Srila Sridhar Maharaj used to save something from that money and send a five rupee money order through the post office to Ekachakra on every appearance day festival of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. I have heard about this from Gurudev.

I came to Ekachakra for the first time in 2004, and Gurudev also visited Ekachakra before that. Before starting his world tours, Gurudev went to preach in some village near Ekachakra, and at that time he came to visit Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's appearance place—he came to pay obeisance there. Gurudev started his world tours in 1992, so this was 1989 or 1990. Later, when I came with some foreign devotees to Ekachakra in 2004, I decided to make a branch of Chaitanya Saraswat Mat there, but at that time Gurudev did not agree so much. However, when Gurudev went on his last world tour in 2007, he was very sick in America. He phone called me from America and gave me permission to try to buy a land in Nityananda Prabhu's place and start the mission branch there.

I bought the land where our temple stands in January 2008. That year, the land was vacant, and we made a festival programme in a pandal. Gurudev saw the programme through live video broadcast, and he was very happy. He was always very eager to come to Ekachakra, but due to his health condition he could not come. He saw the guesthouse building though. He told me, "Before making the temple, you must first make a guesthouse for devotees, and its name will be Sri Sri Hadai Pandit Padmavati Smriti Kunj." This is how Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math happened in Ekachakra.

The temple was finished and the Deities were inaugurated after Gurudev left this world. The Deities there are Sri Sri Guru Gaura Nityananda jiu (Gaura Nitai). They are very beautiful and very big deities. Everybody knows it, everybody has seen Them. Actually, Gurudev gave the measurement for the Deities, it was not my idea. Gurudev made the Deities of the actual measurement as Gauranga and Nityananda are. Gurudev also personally chose the person who would make the Deities and gave the measurement to that man. It is all Gurudev's vision—everything is coming from Gurudev. The Deities in Ekachakra manifested Themselves in a very beautiful form. All acharyas from various Gaudiya Maths, from Iskcon also, have seen those Deities and they were all very impressed to have the darshan of Sri Sri Gaura Nityananda jiu. This is how Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Ekachakra Dham appeared...

* * *

Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's Line

Kolkata—Worldwide, 28 February 2021, part 3

Srila Sridhar Maharaj glorified Sriman Nityananda Prabhu in his poem Nityananda Dvadasakam. Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur composed Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat where he profusely glorified Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami expressed Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's glorification in Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita. Advaita Prahbu also sang Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's stuti (glorification). Even Sriman Mahaprabhu Himself glorified Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. You know about it. So many nice things are told about Sriman Nityananda Prabhu.

Mahaprabhu said to the effect, "If you worship Nityananda Prabhu, it is the same as worshipping Me, but if you worship Nityananda Prabhu, I am pleased by that more than by anything else." This Sriman Nityananda Prabhu in turn says, "You can buy Me if you worship Gauranga!"

Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur composed Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat, and there he very nicely described Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's glorification. Moreover, Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami says, "By the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, I have got Vrindavan, I have got Rupa, Sanatan, Jiva Goswami, Raghunath Das Goswami—I have got the mercy of every great Vaishnav by the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu!"

Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami was born and lived most of his life in Jhamatpur Baharan. This place is situated a little far from Nabadwip—it is two stations after Katwa, the place where Mahaprabhu took sannyas. One time, Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami's brother arranged some kirtan at their house and he engaged a brahman named Gunarnav Misra to do the puja. In the meantime, a servant of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu named Ramdas Minaketan came to their house, but Gunarnav Misra showed no respect to him—everybody treated Ramdas Minaketan respectfully except for Gunarnav Misra. Understanding that Gunarnav Misra did not like him because he was a servant of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu, Ramdas Minaketan was quite unhappy. Later, he spoke to Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami saying, "What is your brother doing?! This is ardha-kukkuti nyaya (half-hen logic)! He worships Gauranga, but he does not worship Nityananda! What is this? It is not good for him!" Later, Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami chastised and quarreled with his brother—he told him straight, "What are you doing? You are doing wrong! You have arranged some kirtan where Nityananda Prabhu is not respected! It is not good. What you are doing is all bogus! You say you obey Gauranga, but you do not obey Nityananda. It is not good for your life." Later in the night, Nityananda Prabhu Himself came to Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami in a dream and said, "Krishna das, wake up, wake up! Come to Vrindavan, do not stay here in Jhamatpur with your brother. His association is bad." In the morning, Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami left his home and went to Vrindavan despite his old age. It was there, in Vrindavan, that he composed Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita. As you know, at the end of each and every chapter he famously wrote,

sri-rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa
chaitanya-charitamrta kahe krsna-dasa

"Always desiring the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Raghunath, Krishna Das is narrating this Chaitanya-charitamrita."

There are so many pastimes related to Sriman Nityananda Prabhu...

Another time, a brahman came to Mahaprabhu and started criticising Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. Mahaprabhu stopped him and said, "Listen, brahman. Even if Nityananda Prabhu takes a Muslim woman and drinks alcohol, He is still worshippable—even Lord Brahma will worship Him! Go and tell all citizens of Nabadwip what I have told you about Nityananda Prabhu!"

Later, following the advice of Mahaprabhu, Sriman Nityananda Prabhu accepted Jahnava Devi and Vasudha Devi. They were both His sakti before—this is not like the mundane married life that we know of. They were daughters of Gauri Das Pandit's brother Surya Das Sarkhel from Kalna. Nityananda Prabhu accepted his two daughters, Jahnava and Vasudha, as His wives, but they are His sakti even before that.

Nobody knows how or when Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's disappeared—nobody know where He went bodily. He finished His lila and left. After that, Jahnava Devi continued Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's line. Vasudha Devi had a son named Virachandra Prabhu. Virachandra Prabhu took initiation from Jahnava Devi (she accepted disciples), and when Jahnava Devi finally went to Vrindavan, Viracahnara Prabhu held and carried Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's line. This is how this line continued. Not only that, we say that the village where Nityananda Prabhu was born is Ekachakra Dham, but it is actually officially known as Virachandrapur...

* * *

Sriman Nityananda Prabhu: Ocean of Mercy

Kolkata—Worldwide, 28 February 2021, part 4

So many things happened in Nityananda Prabhu's pastimes...

Every time we go for Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama, we always come to see the place where Mahaprabhu first met with Nityananda Prabhu. It is situated in Sri Nandan-acharya Bhavan, which is now Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj's temple. When Nityananda Prabhu came to that place, Mahaprabhu told everybody, "You must go and search Him out! Some big personality has come to Mayapur! Go and find Him!" Devotees went to look for Him, but nobody could find Him—Sriman Nityananda Prabhu is very mystic, esoteric, nobody can find Him so easily. Then, Mahaprabhu went to search Him out Himself, and He went straight to Sri Nandan-acharya Bhavan because He knew everything. Eki dehe dui rupa: Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu are One—They are nondifferent from each other, only one is ashraya-vigraha (the embodiment of shelter), and the other one is visaya-vigraha (the embodiment of worshippable Deity)—and to satisfy and nourish Their pastimes, They become two, one is Gauranga, and one is Nityananda.

There are many pastimes that happened in Mayapur after Their meeting. When Nityananda Prabhu came to Mayapur, He lived in the house of Srivas Pandit, and He would call Srivas Pandit's wife Malini Devi 'mother.' Not only that, although she was a very old lady at that time, when she heard Nityananda Prabhu calling her 'ma' (mother), milk would come from her breast. She felt extremely strong parental affection to Nityananda Prabhu. One time, Srivas Pandit's wife Malini Devi was cleaning some paraphernalia of the Deities when a crow came and took away a pot. Malini Devi began to cry, and Nityananda Prabhu said, "Mother, do not cry—I will tell the crow and it will give it back!" And that happened.

Another time, when Nityananda Prabhu came to the house of Sri Advaita Prabhu, Nityananda Prabhu fought with Sri Advaita Prabhu! Nityananda Prabhu was hungry that day, and when Sri Advaita Prabhu gave Him some prasadam, Nityananda Prabhu ate everything and then demanded more. Sri Advaita Prabhu said, "I am a very poor brahman, and You are eating too much! How can I give You more?" Then Nityananda Prabhu threw prasadam into Advaita Prabhu's face saying, "You have invited Me, but you are not feeding Me! You are giving only half stomach prasadam to Me!" Such was their sweet pastime of playful fighting.

Actually, Nityananda Prabhu is knowns as avadhut. 'Ava' means 'very fallen souls' and 'dhut' means 'cleaning'—He who cleans fallen souls, who gives mercy to fallen souls, is called avadhut.

samsare para hai' bhaktira sagare
ye dubibe, se bhajuka nitaichandere

May those who desire to cross over samsara and dive in the ocean of devotion serve Sri Nitaichand.

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat, Adi-khanda, 1.77)

uttama, adhama, kichhu na kare vichara
ye age padaye, tare kraye nistara

Nityananda Prabhu does not consider who is good and who is bad, He saves anyone who falls before Him.

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 5.208-209)

When somebody comes to Mahaprabhu, Mahaprabhu judges whether they follow all the rules and regulations properly or not, He sees what they do, etc. His judgement is quite strict, but Nityananda Prabhu does not judge anyone—whoever comes to Him and pays obeisance to Him, He embraces them. His personality is like that. Nityananda Prabhu accepts even those whom Mahaprabhu cannot accept—then, even Mahaprabhu cannot avoid such persons, Mahaprabhu says, "If Nityananda Prabhu has accepted him, then what can I do? I cannot shun away from them now." So, when Nityananda Prabhu accepts somebody, Mahaprabhu cannot reject them after that—He cannot give any objection.

You know that Nityananda Prabhu came as Laksman in Treta-yuga, and He was Ramachandra's younger brother. At that time, Ramachandra followed many rules and regulations very strictly—so much so that He even went to live in the forest without giving any objection to His father's decision. Laksman tolerated everything because He could not contradict or cross His elder brother. So, when Lord Ramachandra, Laksman's elder brother, wanted to go to the forest along with Sita Devi, Laksman had to go too. Actually, Rama did not ask Sita Devi to go with Him—Sita Devi said she wanted to go with Him to serve Him. Laksman also went with them to serve Rama. Kaikeyi also actually wanted only Ramachandra to go to the forest, but Laksman and Sita Devi went with Him of their own accord... So, Ramachandra is sometimes very strict, He is maryada-purusottama (the Supreme Lord who strictly follows all moral rules). To please His kingdom's subjects He put Sita Devi into fire, He even sent her to live in the forest! Although it was unbearable for Laksman, He could not protest because He was younger. That is why, in the age of Dvapar and Kali, He comes as elder to the Lord. Laksman said, "I do not want to be Your younger brother again! I want to be elder!" So, when in Dvapar-yuga Lord Krishna sometimes did something naughty, Baladev could chastise Him, Baladev could give Him a slap also—He is elder, so He can control the Lord. In the same way, Nityananda Prabhu also sometimes crosses Mahaprabhu—Mahaprabhu can be strict, but Nityananda Prabhu is always merciful...

One time, Nityananda Prabhu came to Sachi Mata's house stark naked. Sachi Mata and Vishnupriya Devi were there—seeing Nityananda Prabhu come like that, they quickly hid going to another room, and Mahaprabhu put His own cloth on Nityananda Prabhu to cover Him. Nityananda Prabhu came like a child, a baby without any clothes. Such things happened sometimes in His pastimes.

You know the pastimes of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, you know about Sri Sivananda Sen. When Sivananda Sen was going to Puri with all the devotees and Nityananda Prabhu, Nityananda Prabhu was going first and at some point He felt very hungry. Sivananda Sen was walking far behind and by the time He reached Nityananda Prabhu, Nityananda Prabhu had lost His patience and cursed Sivananda Sen's two sons to die. Sivananda Sen's wife was there and when she heard it, she began to cry. But when Sivananda Sen came, he paid a full obeisance and apologised for coming late, and Nityananda Prabhu kicked him—Nityananda Prabhu put His leg on Sivananda Sen's head! Such was His mercy. Sivananda Sen began to jump out of intense joy, but his Srikantha got angry and rushed to Mahaprabhu to complain about Nityananda Prabhu, but when Srikantha came to Mahaprabhu he could not do that.

Another time, Mahaprabhu decided to test Srivas Pandit. He told him once, "Listen, Srivas, you are giving shelter to Nityananda Prabhu in your house, but you do not know where He is from, who He is—what if some problem comes, what will you do?" Srivas Pandit replied, "Oh, so You are testing me! I know why You are asking—You want to see how much I love Nityananda Prabhu, how much affection I have for Him!" Mahaprabhu was very happy to hear that.

You also know the story of Jagai and Madhai. Mahaprabhu rejected Madhai, but Nityananda Prabhu accepted him. Mahaprabhu said, "I will not forgive him, I will not save him because he has beaten My friend!" But Nityananda Prabhu earnestly appealed to Mahaprabhu, "Please, save him! You have come to this world as patita-pavan, saviour of the fallen. If You do not rescue him, who will do that?" Nityananda Prabhu accepted Madhai and He begged Mahaprabhu on behalf of Madhai. Such is the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, and He is guru-tattva, ashraya-vigraha (He embodies shelter and the Guru). The Lord may not tolerate something, but Vaishnavs and the Guru accept everybody.

There are so many pastimes of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu... You know what happened in Srila Raghunath Das Goswami's life. He could not overcome Maya, but after he made the chira-dahi mahotsav in Panihati, it became possible for him to overcome Maya. He made Vaishnav-seva on the order of Nityananda Prabhu, and Nityananda Prabhu put His leg on his head. This is how Nityananda Prabhu bestowed His mercy on Srila Raghunath Das Goswami.

There are also many pastimes of Nityananda Prabhu in Sri Ekachakra Dham. One time, some dacoits came to Ekachakra and wanted to rob Nityananda Prabhu's house. The first night, when they were about to do so, many insects, dust, etc. attacked them—they could not see anything, so they did not go. When they wanted to break into the house on the second day, they saw all the roads had become flooded and because there was water everywhere, they could not go again. On the third day, they saw many guards at the house, so they could not break into the house again. Finally, on the fourth day those dacoits became blind. Then they understood their mistake, and they came to Nityananda Prabhu and prayed to Him, "Please forgive our offence—we wanted to burgle your house. Please forgive us!" Nityananda Prabhu said, "All right, I can forgive your offence. Do you want to serve here?" The dacoits said, "Yes, we do!" What service did Nityananda Prabhu then give them? He said, "There are many dacoits in this area, you must covert and purify them! Take them to the proper line. This is your service."

Another time, there happened one pastime at the land of Nityananda Prabhu's father (it is near our temple). The land was used for cultivation and many labour workers were employed to do the farming. One day, Nityananda Prabhu's mother Sri Padmavati Devi sent her son (He was eleven-twelve years old at that time) to the field with a bucket of rice for the workers. On the way, Nityananda Prabhu suddenly felt very hungry and He ate all that rice (He alone ate twelve people's rice!). Later that day, the workers came to Sri Padmavati Devi and Sri Hadai Pandit and complained, "You have not sent any food for us today! We cannot work!" Sri Padmavati Devi was surprised, "I did send food for you with Nitai." Then she asked Nityananda Prabhu, "Nitai, what happened? I sent that rice with You..." Nityananda Prabhu told the truth, "I was very hungry, so I ate it!"

There are so many pastimes that happened in Sri Ekachakra Dham. Nityananda Prabhu performed so many pastimes in His childhood there. Eventually, one day, a sannyasi came to Sri Hadai Pandit and Sri Padmavati Devi. When a sannyasi comes, he cannot leave without taking anything, and that sannyasi begged Sri Hadai Pandit and Sri Padmavati Devi for their son...

* * *

Sri Ekachakra Festival: Beyond Imagination

Kolkata—Worldwide, 28 February 2021, part 5

The big festival lasted finally four days—ekadasi, dvadasi, trayodasi, and chaturdasi; and everybody started coming one day before that. It is very difficult to maintain so many people. One thousand kilograms of rice was cooked on Nityananda-trayodasi. Prasadam was served beginning from twelve o'clock and until six o'clock in the evening, and many people came again late in the evening. People came from many areas—from all over Bengal, from Jharikand, and five-six hundred people came from Siliguri. Mostly, devotees (disciples of Gurudev and other devotees) joined this festival and stayed at the temple.

Srila Ashram Maharaj: How many kg rice did you distribute?

2,500 kg rice total for this festival, and 1,000 on Nityananda Prabhu's day. I left Ekachakra yesterday in the morning, and there were still about two hundred people staying there—some left yesterday after lunch, and some of them left today. This year, they had to buy a special train ticket with reservation, they could not buy the ticket at the station as before.

Now the cows in Ekachakra are very happy and stay much more comfortably. It was getting too crowded for them before that (there are now much more cows). I had got some land some years ago, to the south of the guesthouse, in the direct of the Pandav Tala. Actually, now it is hard to understand where is what because so many people are buying the nearby land now and start to live there. The temple used to stand alone, surrounded by vacant land, but now all land is getting covered—people build many houses and start to live there. People want to stay near our temple, and also it is now becoming a tourist place—people are going to Tarapith and other places, and on the way they come to our temple, pay obeisance, etc. Ekachakra is getting quite crowded now.

If you read Nityananda-mahimamrita (The Nectarean Glories of Sri Nityananda Prabhu), you can find there descriptions of so many pastimes in Nityananda Prabhu's life and also many very nice songs written by Srila Lochan Das Thakur, Srila Kanu Ram Thakur, Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur. You can see there how much mercy Nityananda Prabhu distributed in Gauda-mandal, Gauda-desh.

When Mahaprabhu took sannyas, He told Nityananda Prabhu to preach Krishna consciousness, but Nityananda Prabhu likes to preach about Gauranga Mahaprabhu,

bhaja gauranga, kaha gauranga, laha gaurangera nama re
ye jana gauranga bhaje, sei amara prana re

"Worship Gauranga! Say Gauranga! Take Gauranga's Name! Those who worship Gauranga are My heart and soul!"

Nityananda Prabhu bestowed His mercy to us, fallen souls. If you read the lectures of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, Srila Guru Maharaj, Srila Gurudev, if you see what they saw about Nityananda Prabhu, you will see that they always stress that we cannot enter Vrindavan without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu. His mercy is the main thing for us. Without Nityananda Prabhu's mercy, we cannot enter devotional life.

First, it is necessary to understand that Nityananda Prabhu is non-different from guru-tattva,

asraya la-iya bhaje, tare krsna nahi tyaje
ara saba mare akarana

"Krishna never leaves those who take shelter in Him and serve Him—all others die in vain."

It is necessary to first surrender (to have sarangati), to have faith (sraddha, visvas). Faith is the main thing. It is necessary to have the strongest faith and proper chastity. If you do not have proper chastity, you will not be able to understand Nityananda Prabhu, understand who is Nitai because His behaviour and everything about Him is inconceivable. Those who have some simple-hearted sukriti, some proper sukriti, can understand Nityananda Prabhu.

Sri Ekachakra Dham is non-different from Sri Dham Vrindavan. There is Sivji Maharaj (Ekachakreshwar Sivji Maharaj) here who is worshipped by Sri Hadai Pandit, Nityananda Prabhu's father. There is also Lord Jagannath, Baladev, Subhadra... You know, this year our parikama managed to go inside the birthplace of Nityananda Prabhu ('Nitai bari') with the loud speaker—this year, they did not stop us. Actually, the situation at that temple is not so good now because the babaji from the temple died from coronavirus. There was no virus in Ekachakra (nobody had it there), but that babaji got it and died from it. So, the temple went through this bad experience. Before, they used to impose too many restrictions every year, they would stop our microphone, kirtan, etc. But this this time they did not stop us. I was very surprised at this.

During the festival I did not answer so many phone calls because my schedule was very busy—I gave the class two times a day, many people came to take initiation, I had to manage everything, preach, etc. I had to handle so much. Some foreign devotees helped with the decoration—mainly, Kamalendu Prabhu and Sudevi Didi. Sripad Sajjan Maharaj and Krishna Sundari Didi sold many books this festival. Sripad Sajjan Maharaj had brought six hundred copies of Original Source alone, and all were sold during the festival. Many bigger books were also sold—Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat, Nityananda-mahimamrita, and others. This is brihad-mridanga preaching. Krishna Sundari Didi was at the bookshop, and Sripad Sajjan Maharaj was preaching and distributing brochures and books in front of the temple to all the people who came. Jharikand and many other devotees helped distribute prasadam. There were twenty cooks who worked day and night. Twenty-five people continuously cut vegetables in shifts twenty-four hours a day. This is how the festival went. We brought only cabbage, cauliflower, pumpkin, eggplant, beans, tomatoes, and potatoes. So many people came to take prasadam that all wood had finished, we had to bring more, all vegetables finished, we had to bring more two-three times. Everything was finishing all the time. Our idea of the scope of this festival proved a failure.

Actually, so many people are coming as a result of preaching. If I did not preach, people would not join Krishna consciousness. We preach because Srila Prabhupad said, "Prana achhe yara, sei hetu prachara (প্রাণ আছে যার সেই হেতু প্রচার): you must preach for as long as you are alive. Go door to door."

People worry about coronavirus, but you see—two of my disciples took the vaccine and now they are sick. They say they felt good before, but when they went for vaccine, they became sick. Whether you take a vaccine or not, what does it change? You can get vaccinated, and then another disease will come. You are always thinking about the vaccine, but you cannot think about Nityananda Prabhu. You always think, "Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine! When will the vaccine come?" It is not necessary to wait for the vaccine—wait for service! It is necessary to be anxious about, "When will service come to me?" We must wait for service!

ara kabe nitaichand karuna karibe
samsara-vasana mora kabe tuchha ha'be

"When will Nitaichand give mercy to me? When will all my material desires become insignificant?"

('Prarthana' by Srila Narottam Das Thakur)

visaya chhadiya kabe suddha habe mana,
kabe hama heraba sri-vrindavan

"When will my mind, leaving the material world, become clean? When will I see Sri Vrindavan?"

kabe nityananda more kari' daya
chhadaibe mora visayera maya

When will Nityananda be compassionate to me and relieve me from the mundane illusion?

("Kabe habe bolo se dina amar" by Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

When will Nityananda Prabhu give His mercy to me, when will my family attachment go far away? This is what we must be always thinking about. Kabe habe bolo se dina amar? When will that day be mine?

ara kabe nitaichand karuna karibe
samsara-vasana mora kabe tuchha ha'be

"When will Nitaichand give mercy to me? When will all my material desires become insignificant?"

('Prarthana' by Srila Narottam Das Thakur)

* * *

Real Family Life

Kolkata—Worldwide, 28 February 2021, part 6

Does anyone have any questions?

Question: I do not really like reading so much, but I understand that it is necessary to read. Should I force myself to read?

Of course. You must force yourself. Do not follow your mind. Your mind tells you not to read, but you must read—I am telling you that you must read. Do not follow your mind. You must read, you must practise kirtan and everything else. Do everything properly. Wake up early in the morning, do mangal arati, cook bhoga, do the offering, etc. It must be a real family life without attachment (asakti vihina samsar). "Yatha-yogya visaya bhunja' anasakta hana: serve accepting material things, but without attachment." (Cc, 2.16.238)

We say all this, but in reality:

samsara bhajili sri-gauranga bhulili
na sunili sadhura katha
iha-parakala dukala khoyali (mana)
khaili apana matha

You served your family (mundane ends), forgot Sri Gauranga, and never listened to the sadhus' words. O mind, you wasted both this life and your next life. You depraved yourself.

('Avatara sara Gora avatara' by Srila Lochan Das Thakur)

We forget Gauranga! Instead, we worship and become deeply attached to material family life. Ask yourself—do you worship Krishna or do you worship your material life? People always think what they will eat tomorrow, what they will cook tomorrow, etc.

deha-geha-kalatradi-chinta avirata
jagichhe hrdaye mora buddhi kari hata

Constant thoughts of my body, home, wife, and so on, arise in my heart and spoil my intelligence.

haya, haya! nahi bhavi—anitya e saba
jivana vigate kotha rahibe vaibhava?

Alas! Alas! I never considered that all of these things are temporary. When my soul departs, where will all these opulences remain?

They always think how to get more property, more wealth, more things! But what will happen to all that after they die? We must think about Gurudev's service... The other day, I spoke to one of my disciples. I told the lady, "Your husband has died, your two daughters have already got married and live in their own house—what for do you live alone? You cook, offer the bhog, take prasadam on your own—it is better if you go to stay at the temple. One Didi has some problem with her finger in the Tarakeshwar temple—you can come and serve there." She did not agree, she said, "I do some labour work..." What labour work? I told her, "You get two hundred rupees per day, what will you do with your money? You are alone now. You must go and stay at the temple, you can do some service there, and you will get prasadam and anything else you need." She did not come—she made some excuse that she was working from time to time (not even every day!)... Then, on Nityananda-trayodasi day, as Gurudev used to say, 'she picked the patal' [Beng. idiom—once patal is picked, the patal tree dies; Eng.—kicked the bucket]. She was sitting and then went to the bathroom and left her body suddenly there, and she was relatively young—only fifty years old. I told her to do service, but people have too much attachment to their houses. She lived in a small house, and it was not even a thatched house—she lived in a mud house. So, even if they live in a not very good house, they still cannot leave it, they are very much attached. Such is their misfortune.

[Addressing one of the devotees.] ...I have got your message today. Do not worry, everything will be good. We are praying for the soul of your son. You know, one day Srivas Pandit's only son had died. Srivas Pandit did not inform Mahaprabhu about that, but when Mahaprabhu was doing kirtan at Srivas Pandit's house that day, He chastised Srivas Pandit, "What has happened? Why is the kirtan not going well today? Something must have happened." When Mahaprabhu heard that Srivas Pandit's son had died, He spoke to the dead boy asking him why he had left, and the dead boy said, "I have been here for as long as You have kept me here, but now You are calling me to some other place, and I am going there." This is what happened at Srivas Pandit's house. Mahaprabhu was very pleased with Srivas Pandit—at first Mahaprabhu chastised Srivas Pandit, but inside, in His heart, He was very pleased because He understood that Srivas Pandit had not told anything not to disturb the Lord's kirtan—this is how much attachment Srivas Pandit had towards kirtan and Mahaprabhu...

Are there any other questions?

Question: We hear that Sriman Nityananda Prabhu is very merciful and that His son is Virachandra Prabhu is even more merciful. How can we even begin to understand the meaning of that?

You can understand it from the example of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami. When Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Svarup Damodar Prabhu left, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami was very sad and wanted to commit suicide. However, after he met Srila Sanatan Goswami and Srila Rupa Goswami, they protected his life and gave him very much nourishment. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami said in the end, "What I have got from Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Rupa Goswami is so much more than what I got even from my Guru-varga (Mahaprabhu and Svarup Damodar)."

There are many people who claim to be disciples of Srila Sridhar Maharaj—they proudly tell with their mouth, "I am a direct disciple of Srila Sridhar Maharaj!" but actually it was Gurudev who protected them. Srila Sridhar Maharaj could not deal or control foreign devotees and he gave everything to the hands of our Gurudev, so devotees got so much more mercy from Gurudev—they got the mercy they never got from Srila Sridhar Maharaj. They must admit and understand that. In the same way, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur had given so much mercy to Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, and we have got so much more from Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur than from Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur himself. That is why, Sivji Maharaj also says, "Aham vetti, Suka vetti, Vyasa vetti na vetti va." Vyasadev composed Sriman Bhagavatam, but who did we actually get Srimad Bhagavatam from? From Srila Sukadev Goswami, it was his mercy. So, Sivji Maharaj says, "I know the meaning of Bhagavatam, Sukadev knows it, but Vyasadev may or may not know it."

In short, sometimes so much more mercy is bestowed and distributed through the successor...

* * *

"My Life Is for My Gurudev"

Kolkata—Worldwide, 28 February 2021, part 7

There are some devotees who are helping, who have sent some donation to buy the land for the Prasadam Hall, but obviously I do not always mention their names...

I remember many years ago, when Gurudev left this world and gave the charge for the temple into my hands, some sannyasi told the Venezuelan leader not to give any money to Acharya Maharaj. That is one of the reasons why I do not tell any names, why I always try to hide the names of the devotees who give donations. I do not tell their names publicly because there some jealous persons who will try to create some confusion. This is like chanachur (Indian spicy snack, like crisps)—all these rumours, confusion, etc. may taste nice, but it will not fill your stomach. Do you understand what I am saying? There are people who like to hear such gossips and like to speak about such gossips...

That is why I do not want to tell the names of the devotees who are helping me. Who is giving, who is not giving—I do not tell their names publicly because those who have less faith will be attacked by others. It is also not necessary to want to know who says like that.

All I can say is that I left Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math empty-handed, I had zero. Somebody says that I do not serve Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math anymore, somebody does not help Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math anymore, but Gurudev's mercy is always with me—I can understand the meaning of what Gurudev told me before, "One door will close, but another one will open." So, it is not a problem for me. I know some devotees from Ireland say things like that because they have been brain-washed, and I know by whom. I do not want to complain against anyone, all I know is that I always ask them to please forgive my offence.

I am a very naughty, a very bad boy, but it is not my fault that Gurudev has chosen me. If you can see why he has chosen me, you will understand. At the same time, it is Gurudev's will, he can do whatever he pleases, he is independent and can do anything he wants—I can be a crow and he can make me Garuda; I am his goat, and he can cut my tail or my head... I want to serve devotees, I have never wanted to be a guru. Gurudev has given me this service in this life, that is why I sometimes give initiations, but when I give somebody initiation, it does not mean I am giving somebody my mercy, on the contrary, they come to give mercy to me. I want to be their servant, and they come and give me an opportunity to be a disciple. That is why I always tell everyone—please respect everybody, please give honour to everybody.

But for the help of the devotees, how would I be able to buy the land in Mayapur and do all the other services? Those who stayed close to Gurudev know better than me whether Gurudev gave me any money or not because they lived near him whereas I did not—I was always far, and Gurudev bestowed only mercy on me. Sometimes they say that Gurudev must have given me a lot of money, this is how I am able to do so much construction, and in one way it is true, Gurudev has given me money—through the devotees. So many devotees are helping me despite this pandemic situation. Even though I did not go abroad, I did not go on collection here in India also, so many foreign devotees are helping me to buy the land and build the guesthouse, build the Prasadam Hall, etc.

I do not want to mention everyone's names one by one because it is not good for them also, but what I want to say is that I want to serve you all, I want to engage you all in service, and even if one rupee comes to me from you, I want to use that rupee for the service to the devotees, for the service to my Gurudev, for the service to the Deities and the temple. If you did not help, how would so many temples have expanded, how would so many devotees have appeared after Gurudev left?

Whatever was the situation, I did not run away. So many things happened, I even risked my life, everything, but I know that my life is not for me—my life is for my Gurudev, for the devotees. If I run away with my life, what is this? I have never run away and I never will. They wanted to kill me, and I almost died—the doctors said, "It is a miracle that you are alive now. When this disease happens, only one in a hundred thousand patients may stay alive!" Such was my condition, but by the will of all the devotees, by the will of Gurudev I am still alive—I am talking to you all, I am preaching, I am making parikramas, I am walking miles and miles. This all is only the mercy of the devotees, the mercy of Guru, Vaishnavs, and Bhagavan. All the senior devotees—Srila Ashram Maharaj, Srila Janaradan Maharaj, all of my Guru-varga, and so many of my godbrothers and godsisters also—are all here, and they are giving so much mercy and support to me. Owing to their support I am still alive.

You are all my family. I do not know my biological family, I have not met them for more than thirty or thirty-five years. Not only that, after I came to Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and took sannyas, they actually did a sraddha (funeral) ceremony for me at the house in my birthplace. Yet, I am still alive and I am with you all because I live for the devotees and you also live for me and for Gurudev's service.

I would like to finish for today. Please forgive my offence. I will try to meet with you all next Sunday. I may be in the preaching field on that day, but anyhow I will make time for you all next Sunday.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay

* * *

Perfect Mood

Begampur, 7 March 2021, part 1

krpa kara vaisnava thakura
sambandha janiya bhajite bhajite
abhimana hau dura

"O Vaishnav Thakur! Please be merciful! Knowing the true relationship I will worship You and my ego will go far away."

I told this today in the morning. Sambandha, or relationship, means realising that we are always eternal servants of the Lord, servants of the devotees. Yet, we always want to be masters—we do not want to be servants.

Suppose somebody takes sannyas—if their father is a householder or even a non-devotee, he must still pay obeisance to his son because his son has taken sannyas. This is Mahaprabhu's teachings, and we should follow it. Even if a ten-year-old boy takes initiation and practises Krishna consciousness, you must address him as 'Prabhu'. This is the rule. Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur often said, "Everybody is my guru, and I am only a disciple. I want to always remain a disciple." "Sambandha janiya bhajite bhajite abhimana hau dura: if we practise Krishna consciousness understanding this proper relation, then our ego will be removed." Sometimes we like to say, "Oh, we are disciples of Srila Sridhar Maharaj!", "We are disciples of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj!"—some people have this ego, thinking they are disciples of a bona fide guru, and somebody else is a disciple of a smaller guru. People discriminate others based on who their guru is, and this is not right. Whoever comes to Krishna consciousness, you must give them an opportunity to come.

kiniba lutiba, hari-nama-rasa,
nama-rase mati' ha-iba vivasa

"When will I buy and festively scatter the rasa of the Lord's Name? When will I become intoxicated and overwhelmed with that rasa?"

(Saranagati, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

You will 'buy' and then you will distribute what you have received. After you have received initiation from your guru, you must distribute what you have got to others. This is very important. If each devotee preaches to at least one other person and brings at least one more devotee per year, then there will be so many devotees in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat math. But the problem is that we do not even know how to practise. It is necessary to practise properly. "Sambandha janiya bhajite bhajite abhimana hau dura." Ego always creates problems. We think, "I am a sannyasi, and he is a householder (or a brahmachari)—I am senior, and he is junior!" This is not the right behaviour. If somebody takes initiation and serves their Guru, then even if it is a ten year old boy, you must address them as 'Prabhu' (master)—"You are the master, and I am your servant."

In this way, Sri Vaishnav Thakur says,

krpa kara vaisnava thakura
sambandha janiya bhajite bhajite
abhimana hau dura

"O Vaishnav Thakur! Please be merciful! Knowing the true relationship I will worship You and my ego will go far away."

'ami ta vaisnava' e buddhi haile
amani na ha'ba ami
pratisthasa asi' hrdaya dusibe
haiba nirayagami

"If I think, 'I am a Vaishnav,' then I will never stop expecting honour from others (I will never become void of the desire for honour)—my heart will become polluted by the desire for fame and I will end up in hell."

If I think I am a Vaishnav—if this feeling comes to me—then I will not be able to give respect to others. Mahaprabhu's conception is humility, tolerance, giving honour to others. Sometimes, I give somebody initiation and then sannyas, and they start thinking, "I am a sannyasi now, and my Guru is also a sannyasi. We are equal, our position is the same." This is pratistha. We are always running behind name and fame. Most people in this world pray, "Dhanam dehi, vidyam dehi, rupam dehi, bharyam dehi, yasam dehi: make me rich, make me clever, make me beautiful, give me a good wife, make me famous." This is kanak, kamini, pratistha—we always want gold, women, and fame.

kanaka-kamini, pratistha-baghini,
chhadiyachhe yare sei ta vaisnava

"Those who have given up money, women, and fame, are the true Vaishnavs."

(Vaishnav Ke? 11)

Who is a Vaishnav? A Vaishnav is somebody who can avoid kanak, kamini, pratistha. If I think I have become a Vaishnav, then I will not be able to give honour to others. Somebody thinks, "I know everything!"—I was reading Srimad Bhagavatam today and saw there one sloka that says: Who can be a guru? Having a lot of knowledge, being a great scholar or pandit, knowing the conception very well does not make one a guru. Srimad Bhagavatam says that first one must become a proper disciple, then only can one become a guru. You cannot be a proper guru without being a proper disciple. That is why, we pray to Vaishnav Thakur, "I will always be a disciple." Otherwise, "pratisthasa asi' hrdaya dusibe"—when pratistha (desire for fame and prestige) comes, our heart will become dirty and we will go to hell.

tomara kinkara apane janiba
'guru'-abhimana tyaji'
tomara uchchhista pada-jala-renu
sada niskapate bhaji

"I will consider myself Your servant and give up the ego of a guru. I will always earnestly take Your remnants, Your foot dust, the water that has washed Your feet."

We must worship the feet dust of Vaishnavs. You know, in Bengal people sometimes try to wash your feet, but we always stop them because I do not consider myself a Vaishnav—why will they wash my feet? I am a servant of servants of Vaishnavs. Why must they wash my feet? Why will they touch my feet? I never think I am a Vaishnav. It is also a tradition in Bengal to touch one's feet when offering an obeisance, but we do not accept this. We always consider ourselves servants (tomara kinkara). We must always avoid and reject the ego that "I am a guru!", "I am an acharya!" (guru-abhiman). It is necessary to give it up. "Tomara uchchhista pada-jala-renu"—we always worship our masters' remnants, and we do it without any deceit (niskapate).

nije srestha jani' uchchhistadi dane
habe abhimana-bhara
tai sisya tava thakiya sarvada
na laiba puja ka'ra

"If I, loving myself more than anyone else, bestow my remnants, etc. on others, then I will become filled with ego. Therefore, I will always remain Your disciple, I will not take worship from anyone."

We like to think that we belong to a very high class, that we have the greatest position (srestha)—if I take prasadam and then distribute my remnants to others, then my ego will grow ("I take prasadam, and you take my remnants!"). That is why we do not distribute our prasad (remnants)—this is not the proper etiquette for a guru. If somebody distributes their remnants, they are not a proper guru. We always consider ourselves fallen souls, we are servants of servants. Even Mahaprabhu Himself said,

naham vipro na cha nara-patir napi vaisyo na sudro
naham varni na cha grha-patir no vanastho yatir va
kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramananda-purnamrtabdher
gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah

"I am not a brahman, I am not a ksatriya, I am not a vaisya or a sudra. Nor am I a brahmachari, a householder, a vanaprastha or a sannyasi. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna, the maintainer of the gopis. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 13.80)

"I am not a brahman, I am not a ksatriya, I am not a vasya, I am not a sudra. I am a servant of devotees' servants."

nije srestha jani' uchchhistadi dane
habe abhimana-bhara
tai sisya tava thakiya sarvada
na laiba puja ka'ra

"If I, loving myself more than anyone else, bestow my remnants, etc. on others, then I will become filled with ego. Therefore, I will always remain Your disciple, I will not take worship from anyone."

I will always be a disciple. I will not take worship from anyone. Sometimes somebody becomes a guru and says, "You must do arati for me every day!", "You must give me 'jay'!", "You must give me a garland!" Whatever I take, whatever I accept, even if it is a simple garland, I must give 'jay' to Gurudev—I place that garland or whatever else I get at Gurudev's lotus feet.

Who is the proprietor of kanak (money)? Narayan. Who is the proprietor of kamini (women)? The only proprietor of kamini is Krishna—all kama-sakti (power of lust) is for Krishna. As for pratistha, all pratistha belongs to Gurudev. Therefore, we pray, "I will always be a disciple." Gurudev always says, "If you are thinking of becoming a guru, then first you must be a proper disciple, then only can you be a guru." We do not want to be gurus—we always want to be disciples. We are servants of devotees. This is the best position. Therefore, we will not accept worship from anybody—we do not want anyone to worship us.

amani manada haile kirtane
adhikara dibe tumi
tomara charane niskapate ami
kandiya lutiba bhumi

"When I become free from the desire for honour and be able to give honour to others, you will give me the right to chant Your kirtan. I will earnestly roll on the ground and cry at Your holy feet."

Who is qualified to sing kirtan? Those who have a good voice, tune, etc.? No. Those who follow the rules and regulations properly. What are the rules and regulations? Humility, tolerance, and giving honour to others. Mahaprabhu said, "Who is qualified (who has the right) to chant the Holy Name?"

trnadhika hina, dina, akinchana chhara
apane manabi sada chhadi' ahankara

"Give up your false ego, and always consider yourself lower than grass, poor, needy, and mean."

vrksa-sama ksama-guna karabi sadhana
pratihimsa tyaji anye karabi palana

Practise tolerance like a tree. Stop ill-treating others, instead nurture them.

jivana-nirvahe ane udvega na dibe
para-upakare nija-sukha pasaribe

Do not trouble others for your own upkeep, and forget your own happiness in the course of helping others.

(Sri Siksastakam Giti)

"Amani manada haile kirtane adhikara dibe tumi: you will give me the right to chant kirtan if I give honour to others." "Tomara charane niskapate ami kandiya lutiba bhumi." What is devotion? Devotion must be without deceit.

diksa-kale bhakta kare atma-samarpana
sei-kale krsna tare kare atma-sama

"At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders unto the service of the Lord, Krishna accepts them as His very own."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 4.192)

We pay obeisance to Gurudev, but our devotion is deceitful. It is very rare to come across devotion that would be without deceit. Our devotion is such that outside, or externally, we do or say one thing, and we have something else inside, in our heart. This is called kapata-bhakti, or chhala-bhakti (deceitful, or pretending, fake devotion):

suddha bhakta-palana suska-jnana-tadana,
chhala-bhakti-dusana-rama

"He is the maintainer of the pure devotees and the dispeller of dry knowledge. He is the eradicator of pseudo-devotion and the reservoir of all pleasure."

We sing this every morning during the mangala-arati,

kali-kukkura-kadana yadi chao he
kali-yuga-pavana kali-bhaya-nasana,
sri-sachi-nandana gao he

If you want to tame the dog Kali, then chant 'Sri Sachi Nandan!' He is the saviour and destroyer of fear in Kali-yuga.

Mayavadis have suska-jnana, and chhala-bhakti means kapata-bhakti—it means you say one thing with your mouth, and you have something else in your heart. Such devotion is not good. Vaishnavs must be always simple.

suddha bhakta-palana suska-jnana-tadana,
chhala-bhakti-dusana-rama

"He is the maintainer of the pure devotees and the dispeller of dry knowledge. He is the eradicator of pseudo-devotion and the reservoir of all pleasure."

* * *

What Are You Doing With Your Life?

Begampur, 7 March 2021, part 2

parama karuna pahu dui jana
nitai gaurachandra
saba avatara-sara siromani
kevala ananda-kanda

Nitai and Gaurachandra are the two most merciful Lords. They are the best, the crest-jewels, of all Avatars and the only source of joy.

So many incarnations of the Lord have come to this world, but in this age of Kali, Krishna takes Srimati Radharani's heart and halo and becomes Gauranga, Radha-Krishna's combined form.

mahaprabhu sri chaitanya radha-krsna nahe anya
rupanuga janera jivana

"Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is nondifferent from Sri Sri Radha-Krsna and is the very life of Sri Rupa's followers."

Who is Sri Krishna Chaitanya? He is Mahaprabhu, none other than Radha-Krishna, and He is the crest-jewel of all avatars (incarnations of the Lord).

bhaja bhaja bhai chaitanya nitai
sudrdha visvasa kari'
visaya chhadiya se rase majiya
mukhe bala hari hari

Brother, serve, serve Sri Sri Chaitanya-Nitai with firm faith! Leave aside worldly affairs, merge into this rasa, and chant aloud, 'Hari! Hari!'

We must leave material world, material ego,

kabe sri chaitanya more karibena daya
kabe ami paiba vaisnava-pada-chhaya

"When will Sri Chaitanya be merciful to me? When will I reach the shade of the Vaishnavs' feet?"

kabe ami chhadiba e visayabhimana
kabe visnu-jane ami kariba sammana

"When will I give up this mundane ego? When will I honour the Lord's devotees?"

Those who are rich have ego, those who are beautiful have ego, those who are powerful have ego. But how will we leave this ego? When will we be able to give respect to Vaishnavs?..

This is a very good song. We always sing it, but we may sometimes not understand its meaning.

It says here, "Bhaja bhaja bhai chaitanya nitai sudrdha visvasa kari'. Brother, serve, serve Sri Sri Chaitanya-Nitai with firm faith!" It is necessary to have the strongest faith. Faith is the main foundation in devotional life. When I am born, my mother tells me, "This is your father," and we believe that. In the same way, sastra, grantha, so many scriptures, all the rishis, all the munis tell us something, and we must believe that. It is necessary to have the strongest faith. There are four types of faith—kamala-sraddha, taranga-sraddha, drdha-sraddha, sudrdha-sraddha (tender faith, fickle faith, strong faith, and the strongest faith). If somebody has little faith, they can leave this line very quickly, but it is necessary to have the strongest faith. Sudrdha visvasa kari—always keep the strongest faith.

Mahaprabhu told about Nityananda Prabhu,

madira yavani yadi nityananda dhare
tathapi brahmara vandya kahila tomare

"Even if Nityananda Prabhu takes a drunk lady by Her hand, He is always worshippable even for Lord Brahma."

"Even if Nityananda comes drunk, even if He takes a Muslim lady, He will be still worshippable even for Lord Brahma." That is why, it is necessary to have the strongest faith in your guru—Nityananda means guru-tattva. Keep the strongest faith in your guru.

visaya chhadiya se rase majiya
mukhe bala hari hari

Leave aside worldly affairs, merge into this rasa, and chant aloud, 'Hari! Hari!'

Giving up all visaya means,

'asakti-rahita,' 'sambandha-sahita,'
visaya-samuha sakali 'madhava'

"When you are free from material attachment and establish relationship with the Lord, then you will see that everything around you is Lord Madhav Himself."

('Vaishnav ke?' verse 12)

You must be detached. It is not necessary to be materially attached. One time, somebody asked Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj when he was staying in a public toilet, "Babaji Maharaj, why are you staying here? Are you not getting the bad smell?" Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj said, "Yes, I am getting a bad smell, but this smell of stool and urine I can tolerate, but what I cannot tolerate is the smell of gross materialists—that smell is very dangerous!"

visaya chhadiya se rase majiya
mukhe bala hari hari

Leave aside worldly affairs, merge into this rasa, and chant aloud, 'Hari! Hari!'

We tell many things, but how much time do we spend chanting the Holy Name? How much time do we spend practising properly? And how many hours do we spend on our own self, on our own body?

bhala manda khai, heri, pari, chinta-hina
nahi bhavi, e deha chhadiba kona dina

I eat luxuriously, look around, and dress carelessly, never considering that one day I will leave this body.

We think, "I will never leave this body! I will eat fancy food, wear fancy clothes!" This is what we are doing, but Sriman Mahaprabhu told Srila Raghunath Das Goswami,

gramya-katha na sunibe, gramya-varta na kahibe
bhala na khaibe ara bhala na paribe
amani manada hana krsna-nama sada la'be
vraje radha-krsna seva manase karibe

"Do not listen to the mundane talks, do not listen to the mundane news. Do not eat fancy food, do not wear fancy clothes. Do not expect honour to yourself, but offer all respect to others. Always chant the Holy Name of Krsna, and in your mind serve Radha-Krsna."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 6.236-237)

Therefore, it says here

visaya chhadiya se rase majiya
mukhe bala hari hari

Leave aside worldly affairs, merge into this rasa, and chant aloud, 'Hari! Hari!'

We must always think about the Lord! It is not necessary to think about anything or anyone else. We must go back to our home! Amritasya-putra—we are all relatives because we are all sons and daughters of nectar, and we must go back to that nectar. We have lost our own address, we have lost our home...

dekha ore bhai tribhuvane nai
emana dayala data

O brother! Look! There are no benefactors in the three worlds as merciful as Them.

(eman dayal ke va achhe)
(nitaira gaurer mata)
(eman dayal ke va achhe)
(mar kheyeo nam prema yache)
(eman dayal ke va achhe)

Who else is so merciful? Who is as merciful as Nitai and Gaura? They endure even being beaten, and yet They ask Their aggressors to accept the Holy Name and divine love. Who else is so merciful?

They are very kind! We are fallen souls, and Nityananda Prabhu is perfect for fallen souls—only He can rescue us from this situation. We are constantly attacked by the illusory environment (we have fallen into the nets of illusion), and He is our only hope. Madhai beat Him, but Nityananda told him, "You can beat Me, I have no objection, but chant the Holy Name!" Even Mahaprabhu was very angry with Madhai, but Nityananda begged Mahaprabhu for Madhai, "Give him to Me! Please give him to Me as alms!" How merciful Nityananda Prabhu is!

sri-krsna-chaitanya-daya karaha vichara
vichara karile chitte pabe chamatkara

"If you consider the mercy of Sri Krishna Chaitanya, you will be wonder-struck to realise it."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 8.15)

How much mercy of Chaitanya-chandra He bestowed all over the world! Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj, Srila Gurudev, they all distributed Chaitanya's mercy, Prabhupad's mercy everywhere all over the world.

pasu pakhi jhure pasana vidare
suni yara guna-gatha

Hearing of Their glory, birds and animals cry and stones melt.

Hearing the glorification of Nityananda and Gauranga, even birds cry! When Mahaprabhu went to Jharikhand, all tigers and deer sat together and chanted, "Hari bol! Hari bol!" When Mahaprabhu was walking down the street, even birds would cry, but our heart is as hard as a rock! Our heart never gets melted. Even though we hear about Nitai-Gaura, even though we hear the glorification of Nityananda, our heart, our mind remain very hard, as hard as a rock! Even birds and beasts start crying, but our heart does not melt!

samsare majiya rahili padiya
se pade nahila asa

"Fallen and immersed in samsara, I never aspired for Their feet."

We are too much attached with family life—we always think about kanak and kamini (money and women). Yet, we do not think about Nityananda Prabhu's mercy, we do not think about Gurudev's mercy. We are so engrossed into material life that we have no time, no energy to think about Nityananda Prabhu's mercy, about Gauranga's mercy. We have no time for anything! But,

dina yaya michha kaje nisa nidra-base
nahi bhavi marana nikate achhe base

My days are passed in useless work and nights are wasted on sleeping. It never occurs to me that there is death sitting next to me.

('Durlabha manava janma labhiya' by Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

Day by day our life is passing, and each day our age is not increasing—our age is decreasing! Day by day our lifetime is becoming less. We are suffering from the results of our actions that we did in previous lives and in this life also.

Srila Lochan Das Thakur composed this "Parama Karuna" song, it is a very nice song.

samsare majiya rahili padiya
se pade nahila asa
apana karama bhunjaya samana
kahaye lochana dasa

"Fallen and immersed in samsara, I never aspired for Their feet. Now Yamaraj subjects me to my karma." So says Lochan Das.

bhaja bhaja nitai bhaja
nitai bhajle gaura pabe bhaja bhaja nitai bhaja
nitai bhajle gaura pabe bhaja bhaja nitai bhaja
doyal nitai doyal nitai doyal nitai

"Worship, worship Nitai! If you worship Nitai, you will get Gaura. Worship, worship Nitai! O Merciful Nitai!”

* * *

Sell Your Heart

Begampur, 7 March 2021, part 3

gaurangera duti pada yara dhana sampada
se jane bhakati-rasa-sara
gaurangera madhura-lila yara karne pravesila
hrdaya nirmala bhela tara [1]

One whose wealth is Sri Gauranga's feet knows the essence of devotion's rasa. The heart of one who hears Sri Gauranga's sweet Pastimes becomes pure.

Gauranga's pastimes as sweet as honey! If you read about Gauranga's pastimes, if these pastimes enter your ears—if you hear about it with your mind, with your heart—then your heart will become clean, your heart will become pure. If you only listen to the pastimes of Gauranga and Nityananda! Their pastimes are very beautiful, They perform audarya-lila—They are so magnanimous that They always bestow their mercy all over the world. Not only that, if you say, "O Gaura! O Gauranga!" then a surge of ecstasy and paramour love will awaken within you.

ye gaurangera nama laya tara haya premodaya
tare muni yai bali hari
gauranga-gunete jhure nitya-lila tare sphure
se jana bhakati-adhikari [2]

One who chants Sri Gauranga's Name develops divine love. To him, I say, "Bravo!" The eternal Pastimes are revealed to one who cries over Sri Gauranga's qualities. Such a soul is qualified for devotion.

Always chant the glory of Gauranga and His pastimes—not just for one day. You must chant about His pastimes every day, regularly. Those who do it get the right for devotion—they actually get devotion. You cannot buy bhakti (devotion) in the market or a supermarket with money; the price of devotion is faith (sraddha-mulya). How do you 'buy' devotion? "Bhakta-sangena parijayate: devotion comes from devotees' association." (Brhan-naradiya Purana) Devotion comes through good association. What is good association? Those who practise the nava-vidha bhakti properly (who practise at least one of the nine devotional practices) are good associaton. The nine devotional practices are sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, archanam, pada-sevanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, atma-nivedanam—hearing, chanting, remembering, worshipping, serving lotus feet, offering prayers, engaging in service as a servitor, as a friend, and self-submission. If somebody does not follow a single one of these practises, they are bad association. So, every single one of you must practise properly. You have taken initiation, but only taking initiation is not sufficient for spiritual life—this is only admission; having taken initiation, you must then practise properly every day. When students enter university or college, they only get enrolled, but after that they must study. Here too, you must practise spiritual life, it is necessary to study. You cannot practise spiritual life without studying and learning. Practice is necessary.

So, those who stay in the association of Gauranga, are eternally perfected beings (nitya-siddha).

gaurangera sangi-gane nitya-siddha kari mane
se yaya vrajendra-suta-pasa
sri-gauda-mandala-bhumi yeba jane chintamani
tara haya vraja-bhume vasa [3]

One who considers Sri Gauranga's associates to be eternally liberated reaches Krsna. One who always thinks about the holy land of Gauda resides in the land of Vraja.

The land of Sri Gaura Mandal is non-different from Sri Vrindavan—those who know that, who think that, who always practise that, live in Vraja. You must think about it every day.

I know you cannot come this year because of the covid situation—you cannot get the visa this year because of the government restrictions. Still, if you are thinking about this Nabadwip Dham Parikrama and do Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama with us—if you read about the places we will go to every day, if you read and remember Sri Nabadwip Dham—it will be good for you. We will first go to Antardwip, then Simantadwip, Rudradwip, Madhyadwip, Godrumdwip, Koladwip, Ritudwip, Modadrumdwip, and Jhanudwip. If you remember Sri Nabadwip Dham from far away, then you will think that you are actually in this Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama. I know you will feel very sad every day because you cannot come, but you must remember Sri Nabadwip Dham from far, it will be very nice for you. This is the proper practice and proper etiquette for you. It is very important.

sri-gauda-mandala-bhumi yeba jane chintamani
tara haya vraja-bhume vasa

"Those who always think about Sri Nabadwip Dham, reside in Sri Vrindavan."

If you circumambulate Sri Nabadwip Dham, it is the same as circumambulating Sri Vrindavan Dham. When you circumambulate Tulasi Devi, you get the result of doing the parikrama of Vrindavan. So, if you do Tulasi parikrama every day, you do Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama every day.

When Srila Sanatan Goswami Prabhu became very old and could no longer do the parikrama of Govardhan, Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu brought him a small Govardhan sila saying, "Circumambulate this Govardhan sila, then you will be doing the parikrama of Govardhan." Some devotess have Govardhan sila at home and you can do Govardhan parikrama every day. This is a part of the sixty-four types of bhaktyanga. The main practices among them are

sadhu-sanga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-sravana
mathura-vasa, sri-murtira sraddhaya sevana

"One should associate with devotees, chant the Holy Name of the Lord, hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, reside at Mathura and worship the Deity with faith."

Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 22.124

Sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, pada-sevanam, archanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, atma-nivedanam—hearing, chanting, remembering the Lord, serving the Lord's lotus feet, worshipping the Deity of the Lord, offering obeisance, rendering service as a servitor, as a friend, and self-submission. Read about all this all the time.

gaura-prema-rasarnave se tarange yeba dube
se radha-madhava-antaranga
grhe va vanete thake 'ha gauranga' bale dake
narottama mage tara sanga [4]

One who swims in the waves of the nectarean ocean of divine love for Sri Gaura is an intimate associate of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava. Whether he lives in a house or in the forest, Narottam Das begs for the association of one who calls, 'O Gauranga!'

"Grhe va vanete thake"—wherever you are, you must practise Krishna consciousness. I came to Kolkata, Dum Dum Park, the day before Gurudev left his body, and I asked him at that time, "Gurudev, you have so many disciples and followers all over the world. What is your message for everybody?" Gurudev said at that time:

Whatever your situation is, wherever you are staying—on the train, bus, flight, or anywhere else, no matter what your position is, no matter what problem happens—you must chant the Holy Name, you must remember the Lord, remember your practising life. Do not forget your practising life. Practise Krishna consciousness wherever you are. Whether you are in a jungle, forest, room, house, whether you are staying in a rich house or a poor house, whatever your position is, always call out to Gauranga.

Narottam is begging for the association of such devotees. Srila Narottam Das Thakur is a highest Vaishnav, and he is praying for the associaiton of such devotees who always think about Gauranga.

Moreover, Nityananda Prabhu said, "You can buy Me if you worship Gauranga!" He was the one to start chanting,

bhaja gauranga, kaha gauranga, laha gaurangera nama re
ye jana gauranga bhaje, sei amara prana re

"Worship Gauranga! Say Gauranga! Take Gauranga's Name! Those who worship Gauranga are My heart and soul!"

Sriman Mahaprabhu told Sriman Nityananda Prabhu to preach Krishna consciousness, but Sri Nityananda Prabhu thought the people in this world would not take the Holy Name of Krishna so easily, so He chanted and spread the Name of Gauranga. This is the proper line.

jaya gaura hari, jaya gaura hari
gaura hari, jaya gaura hari

* * *

Tottering Intelligence

Begampur, 7 March 2021, part 4

bhajahu re mana sri-nanda-nandana
abhaya-charanaravinda re
durlabha manava janama sat-sange
taraha e bhava-sindhu re [1]

O mind, serve the son of Nanda's lotus feet, which make one fearless. Having attained this rare human birth, cross over the ocean of material existence by associating with sadhus.

It is very rare to get this human body!

durlabha manava-janma labhiya samsare
krsna na bhajinu—duhkha kahiba kahare?
'samsara' 'samsara' ka're michhe gela kala
labha na ha-ila kichhu ghatila janjala
kisera samsara ei, chhayabaji praya
ihate mamata kari' vrtha dina yaya

I have got a very rare human life in this world, but I have not worshipped Lord Krishna. Whom can I tell of my misery? Time has passed in the affairs of material household life, and I have got nothing—only became burdened... As if spellbound, I was attracted to this pointless material life, and being so much engrossed into it I pass my days in vain.

Kalyan-kalpataru, 3.2.4

jalaja nava-laksani sthavara laksa-vimsati
krmayo rudra-sankhyakah paksinam dasa-laksanam
trimsal-laksani pasavah chatur-laksani manusah

"There are 900,000 species living in the water. There are also 2,000,000 nonmoving living entities, such as trees and plants. There are also 1,100,000 species of insects and reptiles, and there are 1,000,000 species of birds. As far as quadrupeds are concerned, there are 3,000,000 varieties, and there are 400,000 human species."

(Parma Purana)

After 8 400 000 species you have got this human body, and you have also got good association—you got a bona fide guru, our Gurudev! Even though you have got all this, you need to practise. It is necessary to practise and to have patience. We sometimes lose patience thinking, "Oh, I took initiation thirty years ago!" We think about that and start reducing our practice. You have got this rare human birth—you can cross the Viraja River and go to your real home. How? By spending this life in sat-sanga, good association. How much we are struggling! Winter and summer come and go, and we are suffering so much from heat, cold, rain, etc. This is how our days are passing.

sita atapa vata varisana
e dina yamini jagi re
viphale sevinu krpana durajana
chapala sukha-lava lagi' re [2]

Day and night I remain awake, suffering from the heat and the cold, the wind and the rain. For a moment of flickering happiness I have uselessly served wicked and miserly men.

We struggling so much serving others all in vain. Who do we worship? Who do we serve? We serve material life!

gardabhera mata ami kari parisrama
kara lagi' eta kari, na ghuchila bhrama

I toil laboriously like a donkey. For whom am I doing this? Still my illusion has not been dispelled.

For whom or for what do we struggle so much? We will have to leave everything here—money, wealth, house, etc—we will leave everything and go to the cremation ghat.

smasane sarira mama padiya rahibe
vihanga-patanga taya vihara karibe [10]

My body will be laid to rest at the crematorium. There birds and insects will enjoy it.

You keep saving what you earn, but you must spend what you earn on the Lord, on the service to the Lord and devotees. Some people tell me, "Why do you build so many big buildings? You have already made so many buildings at the main temple and you had to leave it! Now you are making another building!" What must I do with the money then? Hoard it? I make buildings so that devotees can come and stay there, otherwise where will they go? Besides, I did not leave the main temple of my own accord—they forcefully removed me. They wanted to kill me, this was their plan, but the Lord gives us lifetime, so they could not do it.

sita atapa vata varisana
e dina yamini jagi re
viphale sevinu krpana durajana
chapala sukha-lava lagi' re [2]

Day and night I remain awake, suffering from the heat and the cold, the wind and the rain. For a moment of flickering happiness I have uselessly served wicked and miserly men.

Why must we be misers? For the sake of your so called relatives who are all disguised dacoits svajanakya-dasyu? They call me and ask, "Why do you not answer my call?" They are disguised dacoits, that is why. They look like relatives, but in fact they always suck your blood. You know, if the husband gets pension and dies, the wife will get his pension after his death—even after his death, he does not get free, she will be taking his pension (sucking his blood) even after his death! Who do you do so many things for? No matter what we do, our illusion does not go away, instead of that we are only losing our intelligence.

e dhana, yauvana, putra, parijana
ithe ki achhe paratiti re
kamala-dala-jala jivana talamala
bhajahu hari-pada niti re [3]

What is there in having wealth, youth, sons, and family? Life is tottering like water on a lotus petal (it is here, and then it is gone). O mind, serve the Lord's feet.

When we are young, many girls look at us, but once we become old, nobody looks at us anymore; when girls are young, everybody looks at them, and when they get old, nobody looks at them. So, wealth, youth—all this will go, you will not be able to take anything with you. If you have money, everybody will spend that money after you—and if you have no money, nobody will stay by your side. Have you ever seen a Muslim funeral? So many people come! When a poor man dies, not even four people come, but when a rich man dies, two hundred people will come to eat and feast and drink wine at his funeral, and they also bring a goat with them! I have seen it in Nabadwip. They go to the cremation ghat with some goats by the side—they kill them after cremation and eat their meat. What for are you struggling so much? Have you seen water on a lotus? It totters, totters and as soon as you touch it, it falls down. Our life is just as uncertain. Once you step on the street, nobody guarantees that you will return—you walk with death in your pocket.

sravana, kirtana, smarana, vandana
pada-sevana, dasya re
pujana, sakhi-jana, atma-nivedana
govinda-dasa-abhila sare [4]

Govinda Das desires to engage in the nine practices of devotion: hearing about, glorifying, remembering, praying to, attending to, serving, worshipping, befriending, and surrendering to the Lord.

There are nine types of devotion: sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, pada-sevanam, archanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, atma-nivedanam—hearing, chanting, remembering the Lord, serving the Lord's lotus feet, worshipping the Deity of the Lord, offering obeisance, rendering service as a servitor, as a friend, and self-submission. When Hiranyakasipu asked Prahlad Maharaj, "What is the highest thing you have learned at school?" Prahlad Maharaj answered saying that the highest thing he had learned was this nava-vidha bhakti (nine-fold devotion). Prahlad Maharaj was only five years old at that time. This is the highest thing in life—to hear and chant the glories of the Lord, to take the Name of the Lord. That is the only aim in life. Sravanam, kirtanam, good association is our main goal in life. This is what we need the most in our life.

[His Divine Grace then chants 'Jaya Radha Madhava' and concludes the kirtans with the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.]

* * *

Escaping Maya

Begampur, 7 March 2021, part 5

Please tell me, does anyone have any questions?

Question: How to know when Gurudev manifests in the heart of a devotee?

That is a good question for you. If you practise properly, if you always follow Gurudev's order, and if Gurudev is pleased with the service you are doing, then you can realise, you can understand that Gurudev has touched, has covered your heart. This realisation will come automatically. When Gurudev is happy with your service, when you can please him properly, then you can understand Gurudev has touched your heart. Also, it is necessary to surrender properly. If you surrender to your Guru properly, fully (sad-anga saranagati), then you can realise that Gurudev has touched your heart.

...I am actually now in the preaching field. I have been attending an almost week-long preaching programme before Sri Gaura Purnima—it is called Dham Pracharani Sobha. Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur first started preaching at small programmes before Sri Gaura Purnima, and it was called Dham Pracharani Sobha. We come to different places and tell everyone about Sri Nabadwip Dham, about the glories of Sri Nabadwip Dham, glories of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, glories of Srila Prabhupad, Gurudev. We try to attract and call everyone to come for Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama.

Question: How can a conditioned soul escape the nets of illusion (uncover its consciousness)?

There are different types of consciousness, or chetan sakti—achchhadita-chetan (fully covered consciousness), sankuchita-chetan (closed, subdued consciousness), mukulita-chetan (budding consciousness), vikachita-chetan (blooming consciousness), and purna-vikachita-chetan (fully blossomed consciousness). Everybody's consciousness is not the same. Gurudev gave one example. When somebody slaughters goats, the goats are killed one by one and while some goats are being killed, other goats sit by the side and eat—they never think that they are going to be next. Humans have a more developed consciousness (vikachita-chetan), but it can sometimes be covered by the illusory environment.

The thing is that the soul is an eternal servant of Lord Krishna, but when we forget about it, at that time Maya, who is always near us, grabs us.

''krsna-nitya-dasa'—jiva taha bhuli' gela
ei dose maya tara galaya bandhila

"When the jiva soul makes the mistake of forgetting that it is an eternal servant of Krishna, Maya captures the soul by its neck."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 22.24)

krsna-bahirmukha hana bhoga vanchha kare
nikatastha maya tare japatiya dhare

"When souls become averse to Krishna and desire enjoyment, nearby Maya seizes them."

(Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 6.2)

When we forget that we are eternal servants of the Lord, Maya Devi gets her chance and she uses that hole to catch us. We must always remember that we are not this body—we are jiva souls. This body and ourselves is not one and the same thing. I am a soul and the body is pancha-bhautik (made of five material elements: earth, water, fire, air, ether). As soon as we forget this—as soon as we forget that we are eternal servants of the Lord and start to think that I am such-and-such Maharaj, I am a brahmachari, I am a man, I am a woman, etc.—then Maya attacks us. If you practise and practise, if you always keep good association, if you always read scriptures and keep practising, Maya Devi will run away.

tad viddhi pranipatena, pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam, jnaninas tattva-darsinah

"You will be able to attain knowledge by satisfying the divine master with submission, relevant inquiry, and sincere service. The enlightened souls who are learned in scriptural knowledge and endowed with direct realisation of the Supreme Absolute Truth will impart divine knowledge to you."

(Bhagavad-gita, 4.34)

And

daivi hy esa gunamayi, mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante, mayam etam taranti te

"My alluring, 'trimodal,' illusory potency is practically insurmountable. However, those who take shelter in Me can overcome this powerful obstacle."

(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 7.14)

When jiva souls surrender to the Lord and realise that they are eternal servants of the Lord, eternal servants of devotees, at that time Maya Devi always runs away. Maya cannot stay where there is sadhu-sanga, when there is kirtan. Maya has the right to stay only where there is darkness—Maya has no right to stay where there is light. That is why, it is necessary to always keep good association.

There are different ways you can get good association—you can associate with pure devotees, you can also get good association by reading scriptures. We should always read scripture—Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam, Sri Guru and His Grace, we also have so many Guidance books composed. Read these books and always think about what is written in them.

If you can surrender to the Lord properly, fully, then Maya Devi will run away. Maya always attacks those who cannot surrender, who have a lack of surrender. That is why it is said

mayare kariya jaya chhadana na yaya
sadhu-gurur krpa vina na dekhi upaya

"It is not possible to conquer maya by engaging in maya. I see no other way to get relief except for the mercy of sadhus."

There is no other way to conquer Maya (illusory environment) without the mercy of the devotees, sadhus, the Guru. The mercy of the Guru and Vaishnavs is always necessary. Their mercy is the main thing in our life.

* * *

Two Important Questions

Begampur, 7 March 2021, part 6

Question [from a Spanish-speaking devotee]: I have lately received some friend requests on Facebooks from some Gaudiya Missions, and I do not want to sound arrogant by not accepting those requests. Should I agree to associate with them?

This depends on your faith. Actually, if you have proper chastity to your guru, you will listen only to your Guru. This is the main point. Those who have chastity listen to what Gurudev says. Sometimes, other Gaudiya Maths may not like our Gurudev, somebody can be offensive to our Gurudev, offensive to Srila Sridhar Maharaj—we always avoid such association. We may sometimes show some formal respect to other Gaudiya Maths, but we do not associate with them. It is good to show respect, but do not become too close, or too attached, to them. It is necessary to understand this.

Besides, we have so many devotees of our own Mission—there are so many Spanish devotees, you can get good association from them. What is the problem? There are so many Spanish devotees all over the world—Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, Spain, etc. I think 80% of all devotees in our Mission are Spanish speaking. Do you not find anybody to associate with among them?

Srila Guru Maharaj used to say, "You cannot take one tree's bark and attach it to another tree..."

If somebody is an offender to the holy lotus feet of Gurudev, it is better not to associate with them. That is called chastity. Must I pay obeisance to those who kick my Guru on his head? If somebody comes and hits your father, will you pay obeisance to them? Tell me. Such is the rule.

[His Divine Grace explains the question and answer in Bengali.] What can I say? I do not like to say such things, but they ask me about it, so I must give an answer.

Question: When I read Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, I cannot pronounce the Sanskrit verses properly. Is that very bad if I make mistakes?

What is the problem? The answer to this question is this. When Mahaprabhu went to Kurmaksetra in South India, He met there a brahman who was reading Srimad Bhagavad-gita and crying, but his pronunciation was not right—he read the slokas wrong, and everybody laughed at him. However, Mahaprabhu did not laugh—remaining serious, Mahaprabhu asked that brahman, "O brahman, what are you reading?" The brahman replied, "I am foolish, I do not know anything." Mahaprabhu asked again, "Then why are you crying?" The brahman explained, "I do not know what I am reading, but when I am reading, I can see Krishna driving Arjuna's chariot." Then, Mahaprabhu said, "Yes, you are the one who has the right to read Srimad Bhagavad-gita!"

So, proper or wrong pronunciation is not a question. You must have devotion, faith. Do you think we all have proper pronunciation? Those who have studied Sanskrit, who are big pandits, they can pronounce these verses properly, but we do not know anything about wrong or right pronunciation. Only Gurudev knows it...

* * *

Embracing the Fortune

Begampur, 7 March 2021, part 7

Question: What should be our consciousness when we go for Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama?

When you are doing parikrama, you must think that this land is not an ordinary land. 'Agartala' and 'Choukirtala' is not the same thing! [A Bengali saying meaning where is Agartala, a famous grand city, and where is 'the floor under your bed'?] This holy dham is a place where Mahaprabhu, the Lord Himself, appeared; this is an extremely pure land, non-different from Goloka Vrindavan.

We must always pay obeisance to all dham-basis and pray for their mercy, pray that we may not commit any offence to them ("dhama-basi jane pranati kariya magiba krpara lesa). We must not contaminate the holy abode.

How does one do the parikrama of a dham? On one's head. We must do parikrama with our heads. We must take the dust of the holy dham on our heads. All demigods reside here—Bhagavan Sri Krishna, Gauranga Mahaprabhu Himself joins this parikrama, Nityananda Prabhu and all other associates of Gauranga Mahaprabhu come for this parikrama, but we have no eyes to see that. Our eyes are always covered by the illusory environment, our eyes are full of illusory dust. We do not know anything, we cannot see anything, we cannot understand who and when comes to this parikrama—we cannot recognise what demigod, what devotee comes to this parikrama. We cannot recognise it when Mahaprabhu comes, when Srivas Pandit comes, when Advaita Acharya, Gadadhar Pandit and other devotees come. They all come to this parikrama, but we cannot recognise them. So, we must always pay our obeisance at all the places of the parikrama, and we must be always serious about Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama.

It is necessary to have this kind of consciousness. We must not do anything bad when we come to the dham. That is all there is to it.

[Addressing one of the devotees.] ...How is your preaching going? Try and try, and you will be successful. If you are to make one devotee, you have to shed gallons and gallons of blood. Do you think people come to this path so easily? Everybody is too much attached to their material life—all foreign countries are very materialistic, and India now also looks like that too. Anyhow, you must try to preach and recruit devotees. It is not easy, but you will try and try, and you will be successful. Try and try, you will successful. You can see my example. I preach village to village going door to door; on some days I go to 140 houses a day—I come and tell everyone to come and join Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama. I started preaching like this from my brahmachari life in 1992 when Gurudev sent me for village preaching, and I am still doing the same thing.

Practise properly. Everybody should practise properly. The problem is that we practise properly but then we sometimes also accept that which is unfavourable for devotion. There are six faults, six urges that we suffer from. Atyahara, people eat too much, keep too much money—if you always save money, it means you have no faith that Krishna will protect you. Money cannot save you. Prajalpa, we always talk and gossip.

Gurudev says that if you pour milk into a pot and see that the level of milk is slowly going down, it means there is a hole in the pot. So, you can practise properly following all rules and regulations, but if you also accept that which is not proper for practising life, then you will be reducing the result you get from your spiritual practice. That is why, it is necessary to practise properly. Practise properly accepting that which is favourable to devotion (bhakti-anukula karya) and reject that which is not favourable—we have to always reject and avoid such things. Always gossiping, always seeing others' faults and not seeing your own fault—this is a problem. Vaisnav habe adosa darasi. Vaishnavs will never see others' fault—they will always think about their own fault.

Question: Is Govinda Das who wrote Bhajahu re mana different from Govinda Das who was Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's servitor?

Yes, they are different. Mahaprabhu's servitor is from Odissa, and the other Govinda Das is from Bardhaman District. Govinda Das who composed this song was a worshipper of Ma Kali before, and his brother worshipped the Lord. One day, when Govinda Das was offering a flower to Ma Kali, Ma Kali did not accept it and indicated that he had to worship her Lord instead. After that, he gave up worshipping Ma Kali and started to worship Lord Krishna composing this song, "Bhajahu re mana sri-nanda-nandana abhaya-charanaravinda re. O mind, serve the son of Nanda's lotus feet, which make one fearless."

Does anyone else have any questions?

Question: Can a person take initiation if they sell meat, etc.?

What to do? They can take the Holy Name and they must not eat the meat themselves. Sometimes somebody sells eggs, but as long as they do not kill animals, they can take initiation. If somebody kills animals (cut cows, goats, etc.), they should not take initiation—they are too sinful, and the Holy Name does not want to come to such people. If somebody finds himself in such a situation, they must cry out to the Lord, "O Lord please save me from this job!"

Many ladies come to take initiation but their husbands do not come to this line, and the ladies have to cook for them. Gurudev had one disciple whose husband would put meat in the fridge on ekadasi just out of spite. Moreover, when Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj, the founder of ISKCON preached abroad, he went to the USA alone—at first, when he stayed in the house of a non-devotee, he would cook something in the morning, take prasadam and then go out to preach the whole day, and he would keep some prasadam in the same fridge where the host kept cow's meat! Was his spiritual life distroyed by that? No, it was not. Srila Sridhar Maharaj said about him that he was a saktya-vesa avatar of Nityananda Prabhu! He gave him this title.

So, if somebody wants to come to this line, we must give them a chance to come. It is not easy to come to Krishna consciousness. Almost all foreigners who come used to eat cow's meat before, but look what service they do now! Can devotees from India serve like them? You must have seen at the Math how one sannyasi (although he is a sannyasi!) would come from abroad, get off the place, come to the temple and go to clean bathrooms. If I told some sweeper to clean the bathrooms, he would get upset, "You have taken my service from me!" They have this kind of attachment to service. Here in India nobody practises Krishna consciousness like they do. As they say, there is always darkness beneath a candle light...

Indian people do not understand so much and they do not come to this path so easily. I was asked about preaching recently, and I was saying that it is easy to preach to those who come from Christian or Muslim background, but it is very difficult to preach to those who come from Hindu background—people worship Durga, Kali, Laksmi, Ganesh, Kartik, Manasa, etc. Brahma took initiation from Krishna and then instructed many others, but all disciples are not the same, so if somebody does not hear one's guru properly, then some misconception starts spreading. Yet Brahma did what he was instructed to do by Krishna—he created this world according to that. So, people worship Kali, Durga, Laksmi, Ganesh, somebody is a kasatriya, somebody is a brahman, somebody is a vaisya, etc.

I have to go to Kolkata, Dum Dum Park today, so I would like to finish a little earlier, please forgive my offence. I am requesting everybody to participate in Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama. You must all contribute to your Nabadwip Dham Parikrama. You cannot come this year, but I do not want to stop your service to Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama because of that. If you contribute your service for Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, I will be very happy and it will be good for you also. I will be thinking about you all every day, especially about Srila Ashram Maharaj, Srila Janardan Maharaj, Sripad Puri Maharaj... Sripad Shanta Maharaj and Sripad Muni Maharaj are coming, and I also invited ***, but I do not know if he will come or not. He told me he had not decided yet. I told him to please come, but anyhow, I do not want to give pressure to him because he is mature now, he is not below eighteen any more, he can do as he decides. I told him, "This is Gurudev's, Guru Maharaj's, and Srila Prabhupad's big festival, and you have an opportunity to come because you are in Vrindavan. You should come and join this parikrama..."

Srila Prabhupad told that secluded practice (nirjan bhajan) is mere self-deception (kevala kaitav, atma-vanchana). We sometimes want to practise in a secluded place (we want to go to some cave or stay in Vrindavan at Radha Kunda), but Srila Prabhupad says it is all self-deception.

vrndavane giya na thakiya chira kala
govardhane uthiya na dekhiya gopala

"When you go to Vrindavan, do not stay there for a long time and do not climb the Govardhan Hill to see Gopal."

But

kirtana-prabhave, smarana haibe,
ta kale nirjjan bhajana sambhav

"Chanting of the Holy Name (kirtan) arouses remembrance (smarana), and at that time it becomes possible to practise nirjan-bhajan."

Vaishnav Ke? 19

When you practise remembering through kirtan, at that time you become a babaji and you can practise this privately, it is not a problem. However, Srila Prabhupad has given him an opportunity to preach. He has accepted sannyas life, and it is necessary to preach. You must preach what you have received—you have some knowledge and you must preach. Srila Sridhar Maharaj also went to Nandagram, stayed in Vrindavan, but when he later got a message from Srila Prabhupad, he left and came to Nabadwip. After that, one day he went to Ekachakra to beg Nityananda Prabhu for mercy, but Nityananda Prabhu told him, "You must first distribute the mercy, the wealth that you have got from Srila Prabhupad! First distribute what you have got!"

Anyhow, *** thinks that he is not a proper person to distribute, he feels he is not ready to distribute it. In another way it is good also—he is thinking in a very humble way, so it is OK, no problem...

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

[His Divine Grace then chants 'Sarvasva tomara charane sampiya', ' Hari Haraye Krsna' and finished the programme.]

* * *

Take Care

Evening class, Sri Nrisingha Palli
6 March 2020, part 3, translated from Bengali

We have no enthusiasm, no eagerness to chant the Holy Name. Some say, "I cannot chant," but the question is—is it that you cannot chant or is it that do you not want to chant? Sometimes I call out someone's name saying, "You chant now, I will listen," but they do not chant—they only keep talking. You always think about food, clothes, women, about your wife, sons, daughters, you always nurture and care for your relatives, but I feel much pain seeing this plight of the jiva souls. How will they ever get relief?

Mahaprabhu once asked Srila Haridas Thakur, "How will all the yavans [people of other beliefs] be rescued in this age?" Srila Haridas Thakur replied, "Namabhase mukti paibe. They will be liberated through Nama-abhas (chanting the shadow of the Holy Name)." If somebody chants the Holy Name, even if it is negligently, they can get benefit. You can see the example of Chand Kazi. You know that Muslim people would not take the Name of Rama, but they always say, "Haram [abonimable, unacceptable]." They call some unacceptable food "haram", when they hear about a pig or pig's meat, they also say "haram". Yet, Mahaprabhu took it in such a way that "haram" can also mean "Ha Ram! [O Rama!]" In this way, through Nama-abhasa, they can get liberated. So, when Chand Kazi broke a mridanga at the house of Srivas Pandit and Mahaprabhu heard about this, He was sad, "How will all these rich, distressed people get benefit? They do not think how to get relief from this illusion and suffering?" Such is our position—we do not think about it...

How many people from Nabadwip know about Mahaprabhu these days? When I was telling you about Simantadwip, I told you that when they celebrate Durga-puja behind our temple in Kolkata, they put up posters of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Vivekananda, Rama Krishna Paramahamsa, Subhas Chandra Bose, Mamata, Narendra Modi, Indira Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi, and along with all these pictures they also place Mahaprabhu. They think Mahaprabhu was an ordinary man, a sannyasi. Who understands Mahaprabhu these days? Everybody says it is "dol purnima" but we never say that—we always say it is "Gaura Purnima." I went to the market the other day to bring some things here, and I saw them selling sacks and sacks of coloured powder (abir/gulal). You must not do wrong—do not do all these things. Do not play with colours. Never make this mistake, and do not go outside on this day (Gaura Purnima). Stay only here. These colours and this play are dirty. People see some pretty girls and want to play with them, but this is bad. Come to the temple early in the morning and do not go outside. If you are staying outside, stay in your room and come here at three-four o'clock (tomorrow is a fasting day), but do not come out in the morning from eight o'clock until one in the afternoon. In the name of playing, you will only become dirty.

Try to always remember what I am saying. Also, during the parikrama I heard that many devotees have lost money today (dollars, rupees, etc.). How does this happen? Because you keep your bags behind, then two people come—one pushes, and one takes the bag away. Do not keep your bags behind, always keep your things in front of you. You must be always careful. Your money is Gurudev's money, Lord's money, so always take care.

You know, Gurudev did not give me little money—he gave me millions of rupees, and I have never ever lost even one rupee. I even faced robbers in my life, but fortunately I could find a way to escape them. The Lord gives the intelligence—when you surrender to the Lord, the Lord teaches you what to do. When I was making the temple in Bamupara, there was a robbery in a bus (at that time I used to go there by bus, I did not have a car)—I was returning late in the evening and some robbers attacked the bus. I jumped out of the bus and sat quietly at the bus stop. Later, after everything got quiet, I came out of the bus stop and started walking. Only one time in my life, when I was studying at university, some pickpocket stole twenty rupees from my pocket. I made such a fuss at that time—I went to the bus driver and said to him, "You have pickpockets in your bus, and you must be a part of their gang! If you do not stop all this, I will set your bus on fire!" The driver got scared and gave me my twenty rupees back! In my life, that was the only time my money was stolen.

I do not know how people can steal so much money—somebody lost one million rupees, one and a half million rupees, etc. I guess when you have too much attachment to money, the Lord takes that money away and makes you unhappy, but if your money gets stolen, you must not be upset—you must think, "OK, it was all Maya, and not the Lord has taken it away. The Lord has taken my last wealth."

Tomorrow we are going to do the parikrama of Koladwip. Always practise Krishna consciousness—having taken shelter of a bona fide Guru, you must practise Krishna consciousness. This is the main thing in our life. There are so many gurus in this world, but when the guru is himself sitting in a hole, how can he pull you out of there? There are so many kaulik, laukik gurus in this world, but there are very few bona fide spiritual masters. People get proud, "Oh, I have taken initiation!" but when I asked them why they eat and fish then, they say, "My guru said I can eat it!" Such gurus are bogus. Such gurus are not gurus. They are Guru-Maya. I wrote about this in one of my books. If you read Guidance 4, you will see that this book is mostly about guru-tattva and how to become a disciple. Read it. It is written there what the duty of a disciple is. Initiation is not just taking the mantra. It is necessary to take the mantra, no doubt, but initiation is not only taking the mantra. Remember this. It is necessary to take shelter of a bona fide guru. A disciple will always follow the disciplining of his guru—he always takes the disciplining of his guru on his head.

Do you remember how Nityananda Prabhu gives mercy? Srila Raghunath Das Goswami made the chira-dahi mahotsav and asked Him for His mercy, and Nityananda Prabhu put His legs on his head saying, "Yes, now you have got mercy! You can go now." Sivananda Sen had worked so hard, had done so much, and Nityananda Prabhu got hungry—Sivananda Sen got a little late and did not give Him food timely, and Nityananda Prabhu became angry and cursed Sivananda Sen's sons to die. Hearing this, Sivananda Sen's wife began to cry, "This sadhu has cursed my sons to die! What will happen now?!" But Sivananda Sen came and said, "Prabhu, it is all my fault. I did wrong, because of me You had to suffer," and when Nityananda Prabhu heard this, He kicked Sivananda Sen's head! Sivananda Sen's nephew saw this and got angry, "What kind of sadhu is He?" He went straight to complain about it to Mahaprabhu, but Mahaprabhu understood what had happened, and by Mahaprabhu's influence, Srikantha could not say anything when he came. In the meantime, when Nityananda Prabhu kicked Sivananda Sen, Sivananda Sen began to dance, "I have been serving for so many days, and today I have got the result!" So, if Gurudev chastises you, this is your mercy—he chastises you for your own good. He always thinks about your benefit. He warns you, "You are going the wrong way, this is not the way of devotion." If you are driving a car and start turning the wheel to one side, Gurudev warns you and tells you to turn to another side. You must take it well. When pratistha or some material desires come to you, when your mood becomes bad, you must become very careful at this time—you are in danger. And Gurudev warns you about it. Beware!

Always remember this. I will not take more time now, others will speak now, and I would like to take some rest. I came today together with you in a bus because my car broke on the way, so I managed to catch the last bus and came here with you all. You can see how foolish this is—the driver saw the old car was faulty, he could have taken the new one (what if we could not return from the parikrama?). What would have happened if there were no buses? Anyway, the Lord always takes care of everything. I have faith that whatever danger I face, the Lord always protects me. It was the last bus—the other buses saw my car broke, but they did not stop (they did not think, "Oh, Maharaj is standing on the road, something must have happened"). No matter what danger happens, the Lord protects me—I always see this. My Gurudev is always with me, so no matter what danger comes, nothing will ever happen. I know that when I go, I will feel it is time for me to go, then I will tell everybody and leave. Anyhow, I am finishing here,

vanchha-kalpatarubhyas cha krpa-sindhubhya eva cha
patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah

"Again and again I offer my obeisance unto the Supreme Lord's devotees, who are saviours of the fallen, oceans of mercy, and wish-fulfilling trees."

* * *

Sreyo-Katha

Evening class, Sri Nrisingha Palli
7 March 2020, part 1, translated from Bengali

Today, we have done the parikrama of Sri Koladwip, aparadh-bhanjan-pat, Sri Gupta Govardhan in a very beautiful way. You have got to hear many things today, you have heard about Sri Vishnupriya Devi. Not so much was actually said, but you should buy the book Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala, there are many more things written there. When we come to different places, sometimes we cannot stay there for so long, and we also need to speak in different languages, but you can take this book and read it every day at home. You can study and learn in this way. You only need to have a desire to learn.

People like to buy big-big volumes of Bhagavad-gita, big-big volumes Bhagavatam, etc. and I can remember one incident in this relation. When I first joined the Mission and was a brahmachari, Gurudev sent me to a festival at Pujyapad Sri Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Maharaj's Math (it was his appearance day festival). Gurudev gave me some books written by our Param Guru Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj (I do not remember now which books they were, perhaps Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam, or Search for Sri Krishna Reality the Beautiful, or Loving Search for the Lost Servant)—Gurudev told me to give these books to Pujyapad Srila Puri Maharaj. I came and told him, "My Gurudev has sent me to give you these books written by our Param Gurudev, please kindly accept them." Then, Puri Maharaj took Srila Sridhar Maharaj's book on his head and said, "Your Gurudev goes to great pains to print all these books, but how many people read them? People end up using books to make paper bags for chanachur..." And what he said is the truth. There were many books kept at our Math, but they threw some books into the Govinda Kunda—one of our devotees went there and took something out.

These books are written and printed with so much effort and struggle. We cannot always remember everything, but when you have time, instead of gossiping and talking nonsense, if you study, it will be good for you. When you come here, you spend a few days listening to classes, chanting kirtans, listening to Hari-katha, and when you go back home you watch TV and series every evening. Men, women, everyone sits together and listen to material talks. Bad or good, people listen to everything. Our problem is that we do not want to hear Hari-katha. Even if somebody is not speaking clearly or is speaking in another language, we do not like it. If you do not like it, you must make it so that you like it. If the medicine tastes bitter, you still have to take it (you know that it will cure your disease, so you take it even if you do not like it). So, if you do not feel like listening to Hari-katha or do not like to listen to it, you must still listen to it. Sravan is not preyo-katha—it is sreyo-katha. Preyo-katha means something that gives satisfaction to the speaker and the listener, it is meant to please the audience. But that is not the real thing. Sreyo-katha is something else. Sreyo-katha is when you hear something and that brings benefit to your soul and at the same time it also pleases the Lord.

We must listen to devotional talks. We should not like to listen to different poets, singers, etc. If somebody comes in front of the Lord and recites mundane poetry, etc., such people are guru-aparadhi. Anyhow, try to proceed always remembering these things. If you listen to all sorts of sahajiya kirtans, to some hired singers, to lila-kirtan, pala-kirtan, poets and mundane songs, it is wrong. It is necessary to have nistha (sincere attachment, firmness) towards devotional talks. If there is no Bhagavat-katha in some place, then you will be simply pouring water uselessly and end up killing your devotional seed. Like, people wake up and start pouring water on Tulasi Devi—you know that the Tulasi tree here at the temple died in this way. People like to show off they have so much devotion, "Look, I am watering Tulasi tree!" But instead of nurturing and serving Tulasi Devi, you are killing her.

Anyhow, what I want to say is that there are two types of katha—sreyo-katha and preyo-katha. Do not listen to what pleases your mind; listen to what gives benefit to your soul and pleases the Lord. Water, rice, vegetables are food for the body, and Hari-katha is food for the soul—the Lord is pleased through that. Always remember this. Always listen to Hari-katha—the talks about the Lord and His devotees. The Lord Himself says, "I am more pleased when I hear the glories of My dear devotees." When somebody glorifies Srimati Radharani in front of Krishna, Krishna is even more pleased with that. If we glorify Sri Vishnupriya Devi, it gives pleasure to Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Always remember this. We sing in one of the kirtans,

vaisnavera guna-gana karile jivera trana
suniyachhi sadhu-guru-mukhe

"Singing the glories of the Vaishnavs rescues and protects the jiva soul. I heard this from the mouth of sadhus and my Guru."

We must always glorify Vaishnavs.

* * *

Sreyo-Katha

Evening class, Sri Nrisingha Palli
7 March 2020, part 1, translated from Bengali

Today, we have done the parikrama of Sri Koladwip, aparadh-bhanjan-pat, Sri Gupta Govardhan in a very beautiful way. You have got to hear many things today, you have heard about Sri Vishnupriya Devi. Not so much was actually said, but you should buy the book Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala, there are many more things written there. When we come to different places, sometimes we cannot stay there for so long, and we also need to speak in different languages, but you can take this book and read it every day at home. You can study and learn in this way. You only need to have a desire to learn.

People like to buy big-big volumes of Bhagavad-gita, big-big volumes Bhagavatam, etc. and I can remember one incident in this relation. When I first joined the Mission and was a brahmachari, Gurudev sent me to a festival at Pujyapad Sri Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Maharaj's Math (it was his appearance day festival). Gurudev gave me some books written by our Param Guru Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj (I do not remember now which books they were, perhaps Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam, or Search for Sri Krishna Reality the Beautiful, or Loving Search for the Lost Servant)—Gurudev told me to give these books to Pujyapad Srila Puri Maharaj. I came and told him, "My Gurudev has sent me to give you these books written by our Param Gurudev, please kindly accept them." Then, Puri Maharaj took Srila Sridhar Maharaj's book on his head and said, "Your Gurudev goes to great pains to print all these books, but how many people read them? People end up using books to make paper bags for chanachur..." And what he said is the truth. There were many books kept at our Math, but they threw some books into the Govinda Kunda—one of our devotees went there and took something out.

These books are written and printed with so much effort and struggle. We cannot always remember everything, but when you have time, instead of gossiping and talking nonsense, if you study, it will be good for you. When you come here, you spend a few days listening to classes, chanting kirtans, listening to Hari-katha, and when you go back home you watch TV and series every evening. Men, women, everyone sits together and listen to material talks. Bad or good, people listen to everything. Our problem is that we do not want to hear Hari-katha. Even if somebody is not speaking clearly or is speaking in another language, we do not like it. If you do not like it, you must make it so that you like it. If the medicine tastes bitter, you still have to take it (you know that it will cure your disease, so you take it even if you do not like it). So, if you do not feel like listening to Hari-katha or do not like to listen to it, you must still listen to it. Sravan is not preyo-katha—it is sreyo-katha. Preyo-katha means something that gives satisfaction to the speaker and the listener, it is meant to please the audience. But that is not the real thing. Sreyo-katha is something else. Sreyo-katha is when you hear something and that brings benefit to your soul and at the same time it also pleases the Lord.

We must listen to devotional talks. We should not like to listen to different poets, singers, etc. If somebody comes in front of the Lord and recites mundane poetry, etc., such people are guru-aparadhi. Anyhow, try to proceed always remembering these things. If you listen to all sorts of sahajiya kirtans, to some hired singers, to lila-kirtan, pala-kirtan, poets and mundane songs, it is wrong. It is necessary to have nistha (sincere attachment, firmness) towards devotional talks. If there is no Bhagavat-katha in some place, then you will be simply pouring water uselessly and end up killing your devotional seed. Like, people wake up and start pouring water on Tulasi Devi—you know that the Tulasi tree here at the temple died in this way. People like to show off they have so much devotion, "Look, I am watering Tulasi tree!" But instead of nurturing and serving Tulasi Devi, you are killing her.

Anyhow, what I want to say is that there are two types of katha—sreyo-katha and preyo-katha. Do not listen to what pleases your mind; listen to what gives benefit to your soul and pleases the Lord. Water, rice, vegetables are food for the body, and Hari-katha is food for the soul—the Lord is pleased through that. Always remember this. Always listen to Hari-katha—the talks about the Lord and His devotees. The Lord Himself says, "I am more pleased when I hear the glories of My dear devotees." When somebody glorifies Srimati Radharani in front of Krishna, Krishna is even more pleased with that. If we glorify Sri Vishnupriya Devi, it gives pleasure to Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Always remember this. We sing in one of the kirtans,

vaisnavera guna-gana karile jivera trana
suniyachhi sadhu-guru-mukhe

"Singing the glories of the Vaishnavs rescues and protects the jiva soul. I heard this from the mouth of sadhus and my Guru."

We must always glorify Vaishnavs.

* * *

Sri Guru's Shelter

Evening class, Sri Nrisingha Palli
7 March 2020, part 2, translated from Bengali

Today is the disappearance day of a great Vaishnav—Pujyapad Srila Madhavendra Puripad. You have heard his name before. In our Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya, he is a part of the main root, of the seed of the bhakti-lata bij (the seed of the devotional creeper). Sri Ishwar Puri took initiation from Sri Madhavendra Puri, and then Mahaprabhu Himself took initiation from Sri Ishwar Puri. You have heard the kirtan,

madhavendra puri-vara, sisya-vara sri-isvara,
nityananda, sri-advaita vibhu
isvara-purike dhanya, karilena sri-chaitanya,
jagad-guru gaura mahaprabhu

The best disciples of the great Madhavendra Puri were Isvar Puri, Lord Nityananda, and Lord Sri Advaita. Jagad-guru Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu blessed Isvar Puri (by accepting him as His Guru.)

We must listen to the glories of Sri Madhavendra Puri—Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (the Supreme Lord Himself) gave His mercy to and took initiation from his disciple.

Madhavendra Puripad had one disciple named Ramachandra Puri. One time, when Madhavendra Puripad was overwhelmed by the mood of separation, Ramachandra Puri came to give him some advice based on Brahma-jnana, and Madhavendra Puri got angry, "Get out from here, you sinner!" After that, because his guru had rejected him, Ramachandra Puri became a very big offender of Vaishnavs. As a result of his numerous offences, he made offence to Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu himself.

Mahaprabhu usually treated Ramachandra Puri with my respect teaching everyone that even if somebody criticises you, you must give them a good seat (simhasan) and all honour. However all devotees did not like him because he always gossiped about others, always criticised others and even spoke ill of Mahaprabhu Himself. Everybody told Mahaprabhu, "Prabhu, he is offending You behind Your back. Why are You giving him such a high place?"

One day, Ramachandra Puri came to Mahaprabhu's room in Gambhira and saw there were many ants in His room. Noticing the ants, Ramachandra Puri said, "O young sannyasi (navin-sannyasi)! Are You eating lots of sweets? How come there are so many ants in Your room?" Then Mahaprabhu thought, "Oh, all the devotees say that he is talking nonsense things about Me behind My back, and now I see he is saying nonsense in front of Me!" Another day, Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya's wife (the mother of Sathi) invited Mahaprabhu to their house and offered Mahaprabhu a lot of different kinds of prasadam. Ramachandra Puri saw this from a hiding place, and thought, "My, my! A sannyasi is eating so much!" He told this to Mahaprabhu's face, and then Mahaprabhu told everyone, "Yes, what he is saying is correct. Does a sannyasi accept so much? He is right, why are you getting annoyed? A sannyasi does not take so much food. From now on, do not invite Me any more. If you ever invite Me again, do not make more than one-two items!" All the devotees cried, "Oh no, will we not be able to invite Mahaprabhu now? And will we not cook more than one-two items?" Then, everybody went to Jagannath and prayed, "O Jagannath, please remove this man from Puri!" In this way, Ramachandra Puri was ousted from Puri Dham.

We must learn from his example—from what became of him. If you give up your guru, what will become of you? There is a saying in Bengali, "Krsna rusta hale Guru rakhibare pare, Guru ruste hale Krsna rakhibare nare—if Krishna, the Lord, becomes angry, Gurudev can protect; if Gurudev becomes angry, Krishna cannot protect you." I have written something on the back cover of Guidance 4, I would like to read it now:

"Sri Gurudev is the only shelter for a disciple. Those who have become disciples live in complete adherence to their guru. If one retains independence, they cannot be called a 'disciple'—they can take the mantra, they can take initiation, but if they do not accept guidance or disciplining of Śrī Gurudev, they cannot be called a real disciple. Gurudev has a vast wealth. Those who are born into his lineage, can get the right for his wealth. Gurudev's wealth is not temples, buildings, houses, money; his wealth is faith, devotion and love.

"What happens after initiation? It is necessary to practise hearing and chanting, worship Deities and do service. You must serve with love, affection, extracting loving devotion from your very life. You must always think about what makes Him happy. You must be anxious to make Him happy and always be alert and conscious of His happiness. Sacrifice your selfish interests for His happiness, serve for His happiness.

"Sannyasis 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."

I am finishing here for today.

vanchha-kalpatarubhyas cha krpa-sindhubhya eva cha
patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah

"Again and again I offer my obeisance unto the Supreme Lord's devotees, who are saviours of the fallen, oceans of mercy, and wish-fulfilling trees."

* * *

Be Studious, Be Serious

Evening class, Sri Nrisingha Palli
8 March 2020, part 1, translated from Bengali

Today is the adhivas (eve) of Sriman Mahaprabhu's holy appearance day. Tomorrow, the whole world and every Gaudiya Math will be observing Sri Gaura Purnima tithi.

You have completed Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama today in a very beautiful way. Those of you who want to take initiation, I will start tomorrow at 8 a.m. A barber will come tomorrow in the morning, and all male grihasthas who have taken first or second initiation should shave their heads at least on this one day in a year. Those of you who are going to take second initiation must shave heads anyway—it is not obligatory for those who are taking first initiation, but Gurudev said that those who take second initiation must shave their heads nicely at least on this day. At first, it is necessary to follow viddhi-marga in everything. If you do not follow viddhi-marga (rules and regulations of devotional practice), you will be in a difficult situation.

For all these days I have been trying to engage you in listening to Hari-katha about the Lord, I have scolded you a lot also saying that you must listen to Hari-katha properly—this is for your own benefit. Hari-katha always brings spiritual benefit and auspiciousness. You should not listen to gossiping, nonsense talks, etc. It is better to speak less, then you will get energy to chant the Holy Name. Those who know how to speak Hari-katha are habituated to studying. Mind always wants to go another side, to do other things, but you must try to study Krishna consciousness. You must practise chanting kirtans—take karatals with you or just sit and clap your hands, but practise and chant kirtans...

Who can say what happens to one at some point, what position one comes to... Hearing and hearing Hari-katha, one can be totally transformed. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur says,

kabe navadvipe, suradhuni-tate,
'gaura-nityananda' bali' niskapate
nachiya gaiya, bedaiba chhute,
vatulera praya chhadiya vichara

"When will I wander along the banks of the Ganges in Nabadwip, sincerely calling out, 'Gaura-Nityananda!', while dancing, singing, and running about, without any thinking as though mad?"

"When will I become crazy chanting the Holy Name?" This can happen...

Anyhow, you have been listening to Hari-katha about the Lord all these days, and today is the adhivas-tithi of the holy 535th appearance day of Sriman Mahaprabhu. On this day, you must stay at home (at the temple) and engage in eternal service, eternal practice of Krishna consciousness. The more you go towards Maya, towards material life, the more suffering and misery you will get—Maya will give you misery and suffering. Do not see Gurudev as an object of enjoyment instead of serving him. Do not see the things that are meant for the service to the Lord as objects for your enjoyment. Everything in this world belong to the Lord, but we cannot understand this—out of ego we keep on trying to enjoy everything and use everything for our own purpose, but we do not take anything (do not consider that something is ours) on pretext that it is the Lord's prasad. Try to always serve Guru and Vaishnavs. Do not listen to bad talks, do not criticise or gossip about others. Chant the Holy Name as much as you can. Try to do service.

I always tell you—many think, "Oh, I have brought Gurudev to my house!", "I want to take Gurudev to my house," "I have money, but Gurudev did not come to my house"—this is all not a big deal, actually those who think in this way have a wrong conception. Gurudev is pleased when you follow what Gurudev's word. You must understand what is service and what is not service. That is why I always keep warning you to be careful. Get the books I have written, this time I wrote about guru-tattva (Guidance 4). Also, Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala has come out (in Bengali), buy this book. You do archan at home, and we have Archan-kan booklet—buy it and try to read the mantras from there, try to recite and memorise them. There are mantras that are chanted when bathing, cleaning, when waking the Lord up, how to put the Lord to rest,when waking the Lord up at the time of mangal-arati, etc. You should learn these mantras...

* * *

Tolerate and Manage

Evening class, Sri Nrisingha Palli
8 March 2020, part 2, translated from Bengali

I saw today one devotee from ISKCON from far when we were near our Nabadwip Temple. He used to come at every Gaura Purnima and rent some room near our temple, and this time I saw he was doing parikrama on his own with two carts or vans—one for Radha Krishna, and one for Gaura Nitai. He was sitting and doing parikrama in this way. As you know, there is coronavirus now, and because of the virus he was wearing a mask, and I saw that he also put masks on Gaura Nitai's faces!

What kind of crazy people there are in this world! He puts a mask on the Deities' faces! Have you not seen it? I noticed it. How many people there in this world like this—this world is so variegated. What to say? I am myself a very low and very fallen soul, but Gurudev has given me such a heavy duty, and I am going everywhere carrying it on my shoulders. It is necessary to tolerate so many things and to have so much patience.

You must all be very careful. One boy in a house near our temple got pox, I told them to keep him in the house and not him let go out so much. Try to be careful. When you have a body, you have to struggle and suffer—everyone struggles with their bodies in various ways and then leaves. Yet we always see that those who are Vaishnav-aparadhi (who criticise Vaishnavs) suffer much more. So, we must try to steer clear of all this...

* * *

Be Strict and Straight In Your Behaviour

Evening class, Sri Nrisingha Palli
8 March 2020, part 3, translated from Bengali

You have been chanting kirtans, you have been listening about the Lord today very nicely. Do not forget to take calendars with you. I will also give some calendars. If you live in an area where there are many devotees, you should make sure everyone gets a calendar.

You are here, you have become disciples of this temple, but how many people serve sincerely, seriously? Even ladies can come to serve the temple, to serve with a good mood. Those who do not have so many problems in their family, can come and serve at the temple. I will not keep you prisoners here. You can come and stay at the temple for one-two, three-four months, you can visit your home. Many of our temples need servitors. If you can live in the temple and practise Krishna consciousness—wake up in the morning, listen to kirtans, class, etc.—you will get benefit. Those of you who cannot practise properly at home, who do not get a chance to practise properly at home, you have this opportunity to come to the temple.

When you live at home, you always have to worry, "When do I need to go shopping?", "When do I need to cook?", "What will I eat?", "Where and when will I get money?" You do not need to worry about all this when you are at the temple. If you take advantage of this opportunity and if you truly, with heart and soul, want to come to the temple, then come and serve. Yet, those who want to play and pretend with the guru, see guru as a mere human—such people are offenders of the Holy Name, they can never chant the Holy Name. In this case, people take initiation but instead of taking initiation they only put on an act.

Some people see Gurudev's things as objects for their enjoyment—they do not try to serve the temple, instead of serving the temple they steal the property of the temple. They waste or steal the money of the temple. There are many people like that. Somebody enjoys with the guru, somebody renounces the guru. People steal Gurudev's things, Deities' things and use them for their own enjoyment. I have seen this many times—I have been in this temple for thirty years continuously, and I know that people see the things at the temple as some things for their own enjoyment.

Gurudev told me one thing, "If somebody gives you even one rupee pranami, you must give it to me. Later, if you need even one lakh rupees, you can take it from me." From that day I never ever took anything—whoever gave pranami to me, no matter how much or how little it was, I always gave it to Gurudev. Foreign devotees also do this. Some devotees come for preaching with me, and at the prasadam time the hosts sometimes give them twenty-fifty rupees, but the devotees give it to me. Did you know this? I am not afraid to speak the truth—there is a lack of this quality among the Bengalis. The Bengalis like to keep things for themselves. They do not understand that this is harmful for them. They think, "I have got twenty rupees, I have profited," but this is not true—if you take these twenty rupees, there is no benefit for you, rather you will be damaged by that. You take this money, but you do not know how this money will come out (will affect you) after that. Somebody becomes a demon, somebody becomes very sick, somebody's money gets stolen or lost—in one way or another, you will suffer and lose because of this. Remember this. It is said in the scriptures that if somebody steals the Lord's money, they will have to be born as Brahmaraksasi in their next birth. It is something worse than an ordinary demon (raksasi). I have read it in some book. I do not know what Brahmaraksasi exactly is—I have not been a demon, and even if I have been, I do not remember it now.

Always be careful. You put tilaks, chant the Holy Name on the beads, but be careful, make sure you do not behave in such a way that somebody can see your behaviour and say that you are doing wrong. At least, keep looking at your Guru's face—you must think, "If I do something wrong, it will tarnish my Guru's name." Always be careful with your behaviour. 'Sadhu' means 'sat', they will always live a pure (sat) live. Always try to live a clean, pure life.

Sometimes, however, those who are temple managers have to also tolerate certain things. One time, Gurudev said to one sannyasi, "Maharaj, you are pure gold, but you cannot make a piece of jewellery with pure gold. It is necessary to give some alloy. I have given you a temple, but you will not be able to manage a temple because you will not be able to keep the servitors." If you give somebody one rupee to buy green chilli and demand the receipt, is it possible to bring the receipt? Of course not. And when no receipt is brought, then a quarrel begins. That is why, we have to tolerate many things that are happening at the temple. Many think (and I have written about this in Guidance 4), "I do wrong but Gurudev is not saying anything to me. Gurudev does not know about it." Gurudev knows everything. He knows and he does not say anything to you. Why? Because you will be upset, your ego will be hurt.

If Gurudev does not say anything to you so easily, does it mean you will continue doing wrong time and time again? If you do something wrong, you must correct yourself; if you continue doing wrong, you cannot get away with that. Always remember this. Gurudev can understand everything—who is doing what, who is not doing what. I can easily say it. How somebody offers obeisance, how somebody comes to me—I can understand everything, and the Lord also can understand it. Gurudev is the Lord's representative, and he can understand everything easily. Therefore, when somebody comes to steal something from the Lord, the Lord can understand everything. You cannot cheat Him—one day you will be caught.

Those who go out for preaching must be always very careful with deceit, misappropriation, etc. in their behaviour; and the householder devotees must be even more careful because they live at home and they must turn their home into a temple.

From Guidance, Volume Four:

It is necessary to be very careful and very clean on the path of worshipping Deities. This cleanliness must be in the kitchen, in the storeroom, and in the temple. If everything in the service of the Lord is not clean, it will be an offence (aparadh). If the servitor's leg accidentally touches the offering plate, it is necessary to wash the plate immediately. Somebody may think to themselves, "Well, what to do? It often happens when one does some service." This leads to offences. There should be much respect and reverence in Deity worship. Those who commit such offences, lose their service.

You do not become a brahman just by hanging a brahman thread on your body. When this sense of reverence, sense of cleanliness comes, then you can understand that some brahmanic qualities have come to you. Otherwise if you still have the qualities of a meat-eater, what will wearing a brahman thread change? You must be careful even with the items you procure for the worship.

The Lord is happy when His devotees approach His service with care. Service is rewarded with more service—when this happens, you will no longer know any leisure. When the Lord accepts somebody's service, He gives them even more service; and when He does not accept somebody's service (when there are offences in the service), then the service goes away from them. The result of the offences committed in the course of service (seva-aparadh) is losing one's service. If the Lord does not accept somebody's service, it means He does not like the person—service to the temple goes away from such people. He does not open His mouth and say anything, but He will awake such a mood in you that it will become impossible for you to stay at the temple. This is a very important point. When you are doing something that He does not want—if He does not accept your service—then material desires will come to you, your desire to enjoy material life will be growing, you will be doing fine, your name and fame will grow, wealth will grow, or such mood will come to your mind that you will not be able to serve any more or your health will go down—you will get such a disease that will forever remove you from your service. These things are the results of offences.

On the other hand, when the Lord accepts your service, then your material desires will be weaker and weaker. When He accepts your service, you will feel humility, detachment from the material world; you will feel you are low and bereft, a beggar, a renunciate; floating in divine love, tears will always fall from your eyes, your heart will be melted—you will feel enthusiasm for your service.

Those who have got some experience of the conscious (transcendental) domain, can see all these things. However, if you commit offences when you do service, your heart will become hard—there will be unconsciousness, materialism within you. The Lord keeps away those whose mind, heart does not get excited, who does not become overwhelmed with enthusiasm doing their service. For example, if your foot touches some items used for the Lord's service and you do not give it any importance (Oh, what to do?), you do not feel any fear—this is a symptom of callousness, hardness. When your heart becomes very hard, you will not be afraid of your Gurudev or the Lord. If you become daring, you are standing on the path leading to death; even if you are born in a family of brahmans, you will become an atheist (hard-hearted). Those who have no humility, fear and sense of reverence, have no right to worship Deities.

The Lord is antaryami: He is all-knowing, He is the Supersoul. He can understand everything, He can see everything—you cannot cheat Him. Those who have the eyes can see it when Sri Gaurasundar indicates something to them secretly. If He accepts your service, you will be getting more service—after one service another service will come. He will keep you submerged forever through such service, He will keep you by His side—He will hijack you.

* * *

Niskam Bhakti

Evening class, Sri Nrisingha Palli
8 March 2020, part 4, translated from Bengali

[To a devotee coming to the front to pay obeisance.] You should not pay obeisances in front of everybody to impress everyone. Call out to Gurudev in your heart, in your mind. It is not necessary to say anything out loud. If you come to tell this to me in front of everyone, it means you want everyone to know it. I also call out to my Gurudev, but I do that in my heart.

I always think about everyone's benefit, I always want the best for you all.

Once, there was a scorpion on the bank of the Ganges which was about to fall into the water. In the meantime, there was also a sadhu sitting nearby, chanting the Holy Name on his beads. Seeing the scorpion heading to its death, the sadhu kept his mala to the side and went to save the scorpion. When the sadhu picked up the scorpion, it bit him. Having kept the scorpion in a safe place a little far from the water, the sadhu went back to chanting the Holy Name, but the scorpion again went towards the Ganges. This repeated many times, and the sadhu kept saving the scorpion from its death. Some boy saw this and asked the sadhu, "O sadhu, what do you get by saving this scorpion? If it dies, what is it to you?" The sadhu replied, "If this scorpion does not change its nature, why must I change mine? My nature is to be kind to jiva souls, to save jiva souls, and its nature is to bite and harm." So, if somebody bites me, I will not bite back in return. I always want the best for everyone, I always want some good intelligence to awaken in everyone. May you all keep well. Always practise Krishna consciousness properly. Most of the time, instead of Krishna consciousness people put on a show and pretend. That is why it is said that there is niskam bhakti (selfless, unconditional devotion) and there is sakam bhakti (selfish devotion mixed with material desires)—unconditional service is not the same as conditional service.

I have told you this story many times. Once, a gentleman gave Gurudev two cheques for twenty-four lakhs rupees (2,400,000 rupees—at that time, it was worth much more than now). Gurudev turned the cheques and saw it was written there how he was supposed to spend that money—a certain sum for Bamunpara, a certain sum for Nabadwip, a certain sum for Hapaniya, and a certain sum for Puri. Having seen this, Gurudev tore both cheques, threw it in front of that man and told him to leave. I was there at that time, and I actually brought that man to Gurudev. I knew that the man had given a lot of money for Dum Dum Park, but after the story with those two cheques, Gurudev told him not to ever come to him again. Our Gurudev was like that. He threw away twenty-four lakhs rupees as something trifle because he knew, "He is giving me this money, but with some conditions. He is giving this money for the Lord, and it is my business how I will spend it."

Many of you are doing service, sometimes some of you want to give some land to the temple, but you have some conditions. That is conditional service, and that is not good. It is not service. This is sakam bhakti (devotion mixed with other, selfish desires). "O Lord, I have given you ten rupees, and I want to get something in return." This is a business transaction between a shopkeeper and a customer. Therefore, if you give something to your Guru and Vaishnavs or you do something for them, it is not necessary to say anything about it, to do anything about it, etc. Remember this relationship.

* * *

Keep Your Guard Up

Sri Nrisingha Palli, 21 March 2021, part 1

[His Divine Grace recites Jaya Dhvani and Sri Vandana.]

We are going to start Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama in two days, and tomorrow is adhivas (eve, inauguration of the festival). Many devotees have already come, and you all have got an opportunity to hear about the Lord, to chant kirtan, and today I will speak something for you benefit, for everyone's benefit and most of all for my own benefit. Now we are going to chant some kirtans.

[His Divine Grace sings 'Sri Guru-charana-padma'.]

"Sri-guru-charana-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma, vando muni savadhana mate : I worship the lotus feet of Sri Gurudev, an abode of pure devotion, with great care." Why must we worship and pay obeisance to Sri Gurudev with great care?

[Noise in the audience.] Please keep quiet. Do not speak. You must not speak, especially any gramya-katha, sitting in front of the Deities, and keep your mobile phones switched off. You must listen to the class, it is for your own benefit, for the benefit of your family, for the benefit of all your children, etc. It is necessary to worship the lotus feet of Sri Guru with great care. You have taken so much trouble coming here amidst the lockdown by the mercy of Gaura Hari, by the mercy of Gurudev. Do not waste your time. Take prasadam, take rest, do everything as you are habituated, and amidst that every day when we return from the parikrama, come here and listen to Hari-katha. Even when you go for the parikrama, you will hear about Vaishnavs, about the Lord, and you must take it in, you must take it into your heart. You must keep and take all this katha with you. When you want to cross a river, you give some money to the boatman and you get transported across the river, but here you cannot make it with money—you can cross the ocean of material existence only with devotion. You must listen to Hari-katha through devotion. It is necessary to engage yourself in sravan, kirtan. So, if you speak during the class, it is a sin against the Lord, the Lord gets offended. You are sitting in the Lord's house, you must not talk.

So, I was saying, "Sri-guru-charana-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma, vando muni savadhana mate: I worship the lotus feet of Sri Gurudev, an abode of pure devotion, with great care." We always make offences to the Guru—we do not follow what our Guru tells us, Gurudev tells us to do something or not to do something and we always go against that.

guru-mukha-padma-vakya, chittete kariya aikya,
ara na kariha mane asa

Make the teachings from Sri Guru's lotus mouth one with your heart, and do not desire anything else within your heart.

We were singing this just now and I heard you were singing earlier (after the arati),

karuna na ha-ile kandiya kandiya
prana na rakhiba ara

"Your mercy is everything. If you are not merciful to me, then, crying, I will no longer maintain my life."

We sing all this, but how many people cry because they do not get service? We say, "I will cry and give up this life," but how many people actually cry when they do not get service? Even if Gurudev gives them mercy, they cannot keep it! I always tell you—you want to keep some water or milk in a pot but if that pot has holes, all water or milk will come out. There are some holes in our service, and all our effort comes out through these holes. No matter how much we try to serve, because we at the same time also do wrong and do other things more (we speak gramya-katha, do what is unfavourable to devotion—bhakti-pratikul), we do not get any result. We are doing everything, but sometimes we also make mistakes—you want to keep water in a pot, but the pot has holes and all the water will come out through the hole, the pot will be empty. This is how we become deceived and deprived of Gurudev's mercy. This is how all kinds of dangers and bad things come to our life. If you do service and at the same time you do other, bad things more, then you are in for trouble. You must remember this. That is why we chant in the kirtan, "Vando muni savadhana mate: I worship the lotus feet of Sri Gurudev with great care." We pray, we worship and pay obeisance to Sri Guru's feet with great care. Once we lose our guard—if we do not watch out for any holes, all water will fall through the holes; in the same way, we must watch out if there are any mistakes in our service, we must watch out that we do not cheat and try to deceive the Lord while doing service, we must watch out whether we want something from the Lord or not. We must always be aware of this and watch out for this.

"Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, chittete kariya aikya ara na kariha mane asa—make the teachings from Sri Guru's lotus mouth one with your heart, and do not desire anything else within your heart." You must keep what Gurudev says in our heart, and it is not necessary to want or expect anything else. If you can just keep his word in your heart, that is sufficient...

* * *

Clear Vision

Sri Nrisingha Palli, 21 March 2021, part 2

yahara prasade bhai e bhava tariya yai
krsna-prapti haya yaha haite

"Brother, by his mercy we cross over this world and reach Krishna."

How does one get Krishna? Worshipping Lord Gauranga without worshipping Sri Gurudev gets one nowhere. "Guru bada diye Gauranga bhaje, sei papi raurave padi maje: the sinner who worships Gauranga without the Guru will fall into a terrible hell." I have told you many times about this, I have also written about this in the books; if you read my books, you will see it there. One does not become a disciple just by getting the mantra or taking initiation. You may take initiation, but this only does not make you a disciple. Proper disciples will always live and serve following the guidance of their Guru.

There is service (seva) and there is karma. People come to the temple and do many things—they do this, this, that, they do what they want to do, they always do what they like to do. I have seen many devotees like that—they always think about their own benefit. But this is not right. There is karma and there is seva. If you do what Gurudev tells you to do, that will be service, and if you do something that Gurudev did not tell you to do, that will be karma. Karma and seva look the same. Materialists always do karma—they always live following the whims of their minds, they do everything for their own pleasure.

I heard once some sannyasi give a class saying, "Karma is the dharma." No. This is wrong. Karma is not dharma (religion). Mahaprabhu never said that. You did not come here to learn such things. When you do something (some action, or karma) for the Lord, that is called dharma. It is necessary to live for the Lord, then it will be service (seva), not karma (reactionary actions). Service is when you live following the guidance of your Guru and Vaishnavs not for your own pleasure but for the pleasure of your Guru. Service means pleasing your Guru. If you go about trying to satisfy your own self, that will be karma. You must remember this. If your Guru is taking prasad and asks you for some water or salt and you quickly supply what he wants, that will be service. Guru Maharaj gave an example at a lecture. If your Guru says, "I like singara (samosa)," then no problem—you must make some singara or arrange for some singaras to be made. But you think, "No, better I give something sweet to Gurudev." This is not right. If Gurudev says singara, you must give him a singara. Gopal says, "Give me a laddu," then you must give Him a laddu—you cannot give Him a singara instead. You must remember these things. It is necessary to hear what Gurudev wants.

guru-mukha-padma-vakya, chittete kariya aikya,
ara na kariha mane asa

Make the teachings from Sri Guru's lotus mouth one with your heart, and do not desire anything else within your heart.

We must not have any other desires or expectations. What should we do?

sri guru charana-padma kevala bhakati-sadma
vando muni savadhana mate
yahara prasade bhai e bhava tariya yai
krsna-prapti haya yaha haite

"I carefully offer my obeisance to Sri Guru's lotus feet, which are an abode of exclusive devotion. O brother! By his mercy we cross over this world and reach Krishna."

We keep on coming to this material world. Having crossed 8,400,000 species we have got this human birth, and if you do not want to keep on coming and going through all these species, you must do something about it. How many species we have already crossed! It is said in the scriptures that we have crossed 8,400,000 species, but who knows how many more births we have crossed due to our offences. We have got a human birth, and we may not get it again—if we get this human birth and do not worship the Lord, we will have to go back again to all this ceaseless roaming. How many times we come and go, there is no end to this roaming—who can say when it will end? Therefore, you must remember, "Yahara prasade bhai e bhava tariya yai krsna-prapti haya yaha haite. By Gurudev's mercy we cross over this world and reach Krishna." We can attain Krishna! How? By Gurudev's prasad—does it mean you can make it if Gurudev simply gives you his prasad (food remnants)? No. Prasad means mercy. Mercy means service. If Gurudev gives me service, if Gurudev engages me in something, that is his mercy—in whichever way, in whatever work, but if he engages me in any kind of service, that is our highest aspiration.

guru-mukha-padma-vakya chitete kariya aikya
ara na kariha mane asa
sri guru-charane rati ei se uttama-gati
ye prasade pure sarva asa

"Make the teachings from Sri Guru's lotus mouth one with your heart, and do not desire anything else within your heart. Attachment to Sri Guru's feet is the best path. By his mercy all desires are fulfilled."

We sing this kirtan all the time, but we do not understand its meaning. We must think about the meaning of kirtans. Moreover, if you for example read or give class on Srimad Bhagavad-gita, this is also not sufficient—you must apply Srimad Bhagavad-gita in your own behaviour, in your own life! For example, it is said in Srimad Bhagavad-gita,

sarva-dharman parityajya, mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo, moksayisyami ma suchah

"Give up all kinds of religion and surrender to Me alone. I will liberate you from all sins, do not despair."

(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 18.66)

Yet we think we must follow mano-dharma, pita-dharma, mata-dharma (we think it is our duty to do what we please, to serve and follow our father, our mother, etc.), this dharma, that dharma—we please everyone, but Gita never told you to do that. Gita says, "Sarva-dharman parityajya, mam ekam saranam vraja. Leave all religions and surrender to Me!" Gita does not tell you to follow any pita-dharma, bandhu-dharma, brahman-dharma, Christian dharma, Buddha dharma, or your own concocted dharma. "Leave all religions and surrender to Me. I will look after you, there is no sin in that!" This is what Gita teaches, but how many people actually follow this?

Anyhow, I have spoken a lot, we must continue with the kirtans. "Sri guru-charane rati ei se uttama-gati ye prasade pure sarva asa."

chaksu-dana dila yei janme janme prabhu sei
divya-jnana hrde prakasita

"He who gave me the gift of eyes is my lord, birth after birth. He manifested divine knowledge in my heart."

Everybody gets a father, a mother, some friends, etc.—when I was a goat, a cow, I had a mother, a father and many friends. Even when I was a pig, I had parents. My parents give me a body, but they do not produce myself—they do not give me birth. They only give me a body, nothing else. They call this a "biological father." Parents give only a body, they do not give me myself. You get parents in every birth, you get friends in every birth, you get family, relatives in every birth, but it is not in every birth that you can get a guru. You can get a guru only in this human birth. If you can practise Krishna consciousness taking shelter of a bona fide guru, you will get supreme benefit. We must think about the benefit of our soul.

We always think about food, clothes, about some temporary happiness, but we do not think about the spiritual benefit of our soul. Even the scriptures say that such souls (who think about their eternal benefit) are very rare. "Out of ten million workers you will get one wise person; out of ten million wise people you will get one liberated soul, and out of ten million liberated souls you will get one devotee of Krishna." There are very few such souls in this world. That is why Mahaprabhu bestows so much mercy on us by coming to this world in Kali-yuga to save such low fallen souls as myself, and He comes in this Kali-yuga together with Nityananda Prabhu.

What more can we say? You have come to do the parikrama of this very holy abode, non-different from Sri Vrindavan Dham, where Mahaprabhu Himself appeared!

The place where you are sitting is called Devapalli or Nrisingha Palli. Lord Nrisinghadev appeared in this world and, having protected His devotee Prahlad Maharaj and defeated Hiranyakasipu, He took rest in this place. People from all over the world come to this place. People come here from thousands and thousands of miles. You can see that this year many could not come because of covid. You know, it is almost night here now, but in some places the sun is only rising, and devotees come from these very far away places and join us. What pulls them to come here? We do not understand this. Because our eyes are blind, we cannot understand the glory of this place. 'Agartala' and 'Choukirtala' is not the same thing! [A Bengali saying meaning where is Agartala, a famous grand city, and where is 'the floor under your bed'?] For some, muri (puffed rice) and murki (chicken) is the same. People think everything is the same, but when they get some sukriti, when the Lord bestows His mercy upon them by the mercy of Guru and Vaishnavs, then they will understand it.

Therefore, try to understand these things. For as many days you are here in this world, try to practise Krishna consciousness and engage in service. Washing dishes, sweeping, cutting vegetables, etc. is also service. Tomorrow is adhivas and so many more people will come to do this Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama. I have been going house to house in many places with Dham Pracharani Sobha, inviting everyone to come. "Please come! Come to this Nabadwip Dham where Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared!" We must do this parikrama walking on our heads. We are going to start the parikrama the day after tomorrow, and we must prepare ourselves in this way...

* * *

Cries of a Fallen Child

Sri Nrisingha Palli, 21 March 2021, part 3

[His Divine Grace chants 'Sri Krishna Chaitanya doya koro more'.]

sri krsna chaitanya prabhu daya kara more
toma vina ke dayalu jagata majhare

"O Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu! Be merciful to me. Other than You, who is merciful in this world?"

patita-pavana-hetu tava avatara
mo sama patita prabhu na paibe ara

"You have descended to save the fallen souls. O Lord, You will not find another soul as fallen as I am."

How can you recognise a Vaishnav? Gurudev said that you can recognise a Vaishnav by his quality. The higher a Vaishnav is, the more humility they have. Vaishnavs are always humble, they always stay in the background. Do you see what is said in this kirtan? "Mo sama patita prabhu na paibe ara." It says here, "Mahaprabhu, You have come to this world to rescue the fallen souls, but You will not find a soul as fallen as I am. I am so fallen." Do you know what foreign devotees always write in their letters? They always sign their letters "your fallen servant." I also signed my letters to Gurudev as "naradham", "patita adhama", but these things should not be just written—your behaviour should be like that. We must always feel, "I am your fallen child."

ha ha prabhu nityananda premananda sukhi
krpa valokana kara ami bada duhkhi

"O Nityananda! You are overjoyed with divine love. Give me Your merciful glance. I am very sad."

I told you this when we were in the holy dham of Nityananda Prabhu—without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, you cannot get mercy from Gauranga Mahaprabhu. If you get the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, you will get Gauranga, and if you get Gauranga Mahaprabhu's mercy, you will get Radha-Krishna. "Nitaiyer karuna habe Vraje Radha Krsna pabe: when Nitai bestows His mercy, you will reach Radha-Krsna in Vraja." That is why, we pray, "O Nityananda Prabhu, please bestow Your merciful glance on me! Please look at me, give some mercy to me!" When we pray for "mercy" it means we pray for service, "Please give me the right to serve Your lotus feet. Please make me qualified for some service. Please give me an opportunity to serve You."

Service is not only feeding, clothing your Guru, or massaging the Guru's feet. Even if you are far, you can serve—many devotees are very far, but they arrange for some funds for this parikrama. They are staying so far, but they are serving from far. I can give give you one example. There is one small boy of perhaps thirteen-fourteen years old, he every day saves a little money from his pocket money—he saves, saves, and then sends it to me (he called me just today and said, "Maharaj, it is Sunday today, I will send it tomorrow.") He saves little by little in this way and has accumulated ninety thousand rupees in one year! And that is coming from just a small boy! He gets some money for ice-cream, chocolates, etc., but he saves that money for his Gurudev thinking, "I will go for Nabadwip Dham parikrama and give it to my Guru." He could not come this year, so he said he would send it tomorrow. This is what service mood is. There are such devotees among Bengali devotees too. Some devotees here also do a lot of collection. I told that foreign devotees cannot come, and many devotees did collections here, going and begging door to door every day. I also sent Sripad Niriha Maharaj and Ashok Prabhu to go house to house. They returned late at night yesterday—I was waiting for them, and when they came I saw they had brought much rice, dal, potato, some money, etc. I cannot go to all houses and programmes myself, I had to cancel some programmes also, but devotees went to many houses and did all that collection. Somebody gave dal, somebody gave sugar, oil, etc.—they give whatever they can, according to their capacity. Everybody helped this Nabadwip Dham parikrama in this way. I give everyone an opportunity to serve. Everybody can come and serve.

You know that when Gurudev gives second initiation he sends everyone to beg to teach them how to do that, and Gurudev told me to go outside for collection after I got initiation. Since then I have been going on collection all the time. This time when I went for potato collection, sometimes I went to 130-140 houses a day! I did not even struggle or feel any austerity in doing it. I would go out in the morning, collect, take prasad in the afternoon, rest for one hour, and then again go out at four o'clock and do collection till late evening. In this way, we collected six hundred bags of potato.

In this way, I give everyone an opportunity to serve, and those who have some fortune serve, and those who have no fortune do not get such a chance. Therefore, we pray here, "O Nityananda Prabhu, please bestow Your merciful glance on me! Please give some mercy to me, please look at me! I am very sad (ami bara duhkhi), there is no one sadder than me in this world, why? Because I have not been able to get the Lord's mercy! I could not get the Lord's mercy!"

daya kara sita-pati advaita gosani
tava krpa-bale pai chaitanya-nitai

"O Advaita Gosai, Lord of Sita Thakurani! Be merciful to me. By Your mercy, I will reach Sri Chaitanya and Nitai."

Sri Advaita Prabhu is one of Pancha-tattva: Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhar, Srivasadi Gaura-bhakta-vrinda. If Advaita Prabhu had not come to this world, how would we have got Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu? It was Sri Advaita Prabhu who brought Mahaprabhu to this world. Mahaprabhu Himself said, "I was sleeping, but then My sleep was broken by the cries of My caller." Mahaprabhu called Advaita Prabhu 'nera' (caller—he who calls and invites). The Lord resides in Goloka-dham, and Sri Advaita Prabhu brought Him from Goloka to this world, "My Lord, You must come now. This world has become void of religion." It is said in Srimad Bhagavad-gita,

yada yada hi dharmasya, glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya, tadatmanam srjamy aham

"O Bharata, whenever there is a decline of religion and an uprising of irreligion, I personally make My advent."

(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 4.7)

When irreligion become prominent in the world, the Lord makes His advent. This happens in every age—the Lord came in Satya-yuga, Treta-yuga, Dvapar-yuga, and He came in Kali-yuga too. Srimad Bhagavatam contains the proof that Gauranga Mahaprabhu is the Lord Himself.

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam
sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair
yajanti hi su-medhasah

"Those of sharp intellect will worship Krishna who appears with a non-black bodily hue, who is armed and surrounded by His associates and servants, and who always chants the Holy Names."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 11.5.32)

Mahaprabhu came to this world 536 years ago, but Bhagavatam existed long before that. Yet, Sukadev Goswami says in this Bhagavatam that Krishna, the Supreme Lord, comes in Kali-yuga with His associates, and what are His weapons in this age? His devotees. Lord Ramachandra killed, Krishna killed, but in this age the Lord only gives Krishna-prema (transcendental love for the Lord). Gauranga Mahaprabhu comes in this Kali-yuga as a combined form of Radha and Krishna. We sing in one of the kirtans,

yadi gaura na ha'ta tabe ki ha-ita
kemane dharitam de
radhara mahima, prema-rasa-sima
jagate janata ke?

"If Gaura had not come, then what would have happened? How would we have maintained our lives? Who would have revealed to the world Radha's glory and the extremes of Her ecstatic divine love?"

(Srila Vasudev Ghosh Thakur)

Even Srimad Bhagavatam does not mention Radharani's Name—this is such a high conception that Sukadev Goswami, Vyasadev did not want to pronounce Her name! They thought, "We have no right, no qualification to utter Her name!" That is why they never mentioned Her name in Srimad Bhagavatam. But Sri Vasudev Ghosh writes that Mahaprabhu comes to tell the whole world about Srimati Radharani. Gauranga Mahaprabhu is a combined form of Radha and Krishna—Krishna steals heart and halo of Srimati Radharani and comes to this world as Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

Coming to this world, what does Mahaprabhu tell everyone? "Krsna bolo, sange chala, ei matra bhiksa chai. I am begging you only for one thing: come with us and chant 'Krishna'!"

jiva jaga, jiva jaga, gorachanda bale
kata nidra yao maya-pisachira kole

Sri Gorachand says, "O souls, awake! O souls, awake! How much longer will you sleep in the lap of the witch Maya?"

Stop sleeping! Wake up! Worship Krishna! You have no time! Yet we keep on sleeping... We pray, "Give me Krishna-prema" but we have no attachment, no real hankering for that...

daya kara sita-pati advaita gosani
tava krpa-bale pai chaitanya-nitai

"O Advaita Gosai, Lord of Sita Thakurani! Be merciful to me. By Your mercy, I will reach Sri Chaitanya and Nitai."

gaura-premamaya-tanu pandit gadadhara
srinivasa haridasa dayara sagara

"O Gadadhar Pandit, embodiment of love for Sri Gaura! O oceans of mercy, Srivas Pandit and Hari Das Thakur!"

ha ha svarupa sanatana rupa raghunatha
bhatta-yuga sri jiva ha prabhu lokanatha

"O Svarup Damodar, Sanatan, Rupa, Raghunath Das, Raghunath Bhatta, Gopal Bhatta, and Sri Jiva! O Lokanath Prabhu!"

daya kara sri-acharya prabhu srinivasa
ramachandra-sanga mage narottama dasa

"O Srinivas Acharya Prabhu! Be merciful! Narottam Das prays for the association of Ramachandra Kaviraj."

(daya kara prabhupada sri-gaura-prakasa)
(tava jana krpa mage ei adhama dasa)

"O Srila Prabhupad, manifestation of Sri Gaura! Be merciful. This fallen servant prays for the mercy of your associates."

* * *

Exclusive Current

Sri Nrisingha Palli, 21 March 2021, part 4

ha ha svarupa sanatana rupa raghunatha
bhatta-yuga sri jiva ha prabhu lokanatha

"O Svarup Damodar, Sanatan, Rupa, Raghunath Das, Raghunath Bhatta, Gopal Bhatta, and Sri Jiva! O Lokanath Prabhu!"

Mahaprabhu sent Srila Sanatan Goswami and Srila Rupa Goswami to Vrindavan. Before that, Mahaprabhu went to Ramkeli in Malda to collect His associate friends. Mahaprabhu is a combined form of Radha Krishna. As you know, there are gopis, sakhis, and manjaris. Gopis are a little older, for example Mother Yasoda; sakhis are Lalita, Visakha, and others, they are about the same age as Srimati Radharani; and manjaris are nine-ten year old girls. When Radharani experiences separation, only Rupa Manjari, Lavanga Manjari, Guna Manjari, Nayana Manjari stay with Her at that time. Only manjaris know what this mood of separation is. Therefore, Mahaprabhu comes together with His associates,

sri-krsna-chaitanya prabhu jive daya kari'
svaparsada sviya dhama saha avatari

"Being merciful to the souls, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu descends with His associates and abode."

All those associates who participate in Krishna's pastimes in Dvapar-yuga, come together with Mahaprabhu to this world in this Kali-yuga.

sri krishna chaitanya prabhu nityananda
sri advaita gadadhara srivasadi gaura bhakta-vrinda

jaya rupa sanatana bhatta raghunatha
sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasa raghunatha

"All glory to Sri Rupa, Sanatan, Raghunath Bhatta, Sri Jiva, Gopal Bhatta, and Raghunath Das!"

And there are many others—Srila Narottam Das Thakur, Ramachandra Kaviraj, Lokanath Goswami and many others. All of them come to this world to preach about Mahaprabhu. In the case of Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Sanatan Goswami, Mahaprabhu Himself went to Ramkeli in Malda. He roamed and searched, "Where are My own? Where are My dearest associates?" In the meantime, Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Sanatan Goswami were working for a Muslim emperor Hussein Shah as chief ministers and they were known as Dabir Khas and Sakar Mallik, but Mahaprabhu rescued them. He met with them and took them to Vrindavan to preach about the Lord, yet they preached about Mahaprabhu. Srila Sanatan Goswami was first to install Mahaprabhu's Deity in Vrindavan. After that, Srila Jiva Goswami came, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami came, they preached Mahaprabhu's message in this world. It is said,

yadi gaura na ha'ta tabe ki ha-ita
kemane dharitam de
radhara mahima, prema-rasa-sima
jagate janata ke?

"If Gaura had not come, then what would have happened? How would we have maintained our lives? Who would have revealed to the world Radha's glory and the extremes of Her ecstatic divine love?"

(Srila Vasudev Ghosh Thakur)

After Mahaprabhu left, this current flowed in a proper and pure way until Srila Narottam Das Thakur. After that, this line gradually became extinct and corrupted. At some point, people hated Vaishnav-dharma. I have been to many places and people often call holy temples "akhra", which means a club or a place for musical or sports exercises (a dirty place). This line had become extinct but seeing this Jagad Guru Srila Prabhupad and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur came to this world to revive this line. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was deputy magistrate in Krishnangar, and before that he worked in Puri, where he was in charge of Ratha-yatra festival and where he also got a son by the mercy of Bimala Devi (his name was at first Bimala Prasad, and after that Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, he is Gurudev of our Param Gurudev). Srila Prabhupad is Nayana Manjari and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur is Guna Manjari. They came to this world to preach about Mahaprabhu.

(daya kara prabhupada sri-gaura-prakasa)
(tava jana krpa mage ei adhama dasa)

"O Srila Prabhupad, manifestation of Sri Gaura! Be merciful. This fallen servant prays for the mercy of your associates."

We pray for the mercy of this Srila Prabhupad. If this Prabhupad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur had not come, this current, this line would have been lost. He came and cleared all misconceptions—there were thirteen prominent apa-sampradayas in this world at that time (aul, baul, kartabhaja, neda, darvesh, sani, sahajiya, sakhibekhi, smarta, jata gosai, ativadi, churadhari, gauranga-nagari), and now there must be thirteen thousand different conceptions. There are so many conceptions and lines now in this world, but leave all this—accept only Mahaprabhu's line, which is the line of Jagad Guru Srila Prabhupad.

* * *

Mahaprabhu's Teachings

Sri Nrisingha Palli, 21 March 2021, part 5

We have just sung,

(ohe) vaisnava thakura dayara sagara
e dase karuna kari
diya pada-chhaya sodha he amare
tomara charana dhari

"O worshippable Vaisnava, ocean of grace, be merciful to this servant. Give me the shade of your feet and purify me. I clasp your feet."

"Prabhu, I am your servant." We are not anyone's master. We are all servants. Why do we call each other 'Prabhu'? Because he is my master, and I am his servant. You must always remember this. Even if you do not get on well with somebody, you must still offer each other obeisances so that you do not make any Vaishnav-aparadh. This is the remedy—the only way to save yourself from Vaishnav-aparadh is to offer obeisance to each other. This is the custom.

We have come to this line, we have not come for fighting. There had been so much fighting there before—I fled and came here, "Good luck to you, I am going." I have no greed for big buildings. We made everything ourselves, and they are themselves spoiling everything now. It is painful to see this because it is all the Lord's property. I made everything on the order of Gurudev—Gurudev gave his order, and I made whatever he wanted. Anyhow, I am happy to be here, at least I can sleep now peacefully. You know what was my position when I left that temple, I was on the verge of death. I am not sad about anything because I know you are all with me, everybody accepted me as their servant, that is my happiness. There are many senior devotees from the times of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj, there are many of his disciples in our society—after Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad they came to Gurudev, Gurudev accepted them, and they are also accepting me as their menial servant, that is my happiness. They have given me a place at their feet, and this is my happiness—I do not need any money, great buildings, wealth, etc.

nahi magi deha-sukha, vidya, dhana, jana
nahi magi svarga ara moksa nahi magi
na kari prarthana kona vibhutira lagi

"I do not pray for bodily pleasure, learning, wealth, or followers. I do not pray for heaven, I do not pray for liberation, and I do not pray for any supernatural powers."

(Sri Siksastakam, 4.1-2, Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

This is Mahaprabhu's kirtan. Mahaprabhu put it so nicely.

na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagadisa kamaye
mama janmani janmanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi

"I do not want wealth, I do not want knowledge, I do not want beauty, I do not want to be a poet. I only want causeless devotion to Your lotus feet. Give me that kind of devotion to Your lotus feet so that I could do Your service life after life."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 20.29)

Outside people will not understand all this. They always say, "Dhanam dehi, vidyam dehi, rupam dehi, bharyam dehi, yasam dehi: make me rich, make me clever, make me beautiful, give me a good wife, make me famous."

nahi magi deha-sukha, vidya, dhana, jana
nahi magi svarga ara moksa nahi magi
na kari prarthana kona vibhutira lagi

"I do not pray for bodily pleasure, learning, wealth, or followers. I do not pray for heaven, I do not pray for liberation, and I do not pray for any supernatural powers."

(Sri Siksastakam, 4.1-2, Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

This is Mahaprabhu's teachings, it is necessary to hear it. Read Siksastakam nicely, learn what is said there. What does Siksastakam say?

chetodarpanamarjanam bhavamahadava nirvapanam
sreyah kairava chandrikavitaranam vidyavadhujivanam
anandambudh ivardhanam pratipadam purnamrtasvadanam
sarvatmasnapanam param vijayate srikrsnasankirtanam

"The Holy Name of Krishna cleanses the mirror of the heart and extinguishes the fire of misery in the forest of birth and death. As the evening lotus blooms in the moon's cooling rays, the heart begins to blossom in the nectar of the Name. And at last the soul awakens to its real inner treasure a life of love with Krishna. Again and again tasting nectar, the soul dives and surfaces in the everincreasing ocean of ecstatic joy. All phases of the self of which we may conceive are fully satisfied and purified, and at last conquered by the all-auspicious influence of the Holy Name of Krishna."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 20.12)

trnad api sunichena taror api sahisnuna
amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih

One who is humbler than a blade of grass, more forbearing than a tree, who gives due honour to others without desiring it for himself, is qualified to always chant the Holy Name of Krishna.

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 6.239)

Who has the right to chant kirtan? Those who can sing well? Whom does Mahaprabhu give the right to chant kirtan? To those who are humbler than a blade of grass, who are more tolerant than a tree. Be humble, tolerant, and give honour to others. Those who have these qualities, they have the right to chant kirtan. Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur says, "Kirtana chhadiba pratistha magiba—I will give up kirtan and seek prestige. O naughty mind, what kind of a Vaishnav are you?" You think you have become a Vaishnav, but ask your mind—has your mind become a Vaishnav or not? We always suffer from greed, lust, we always pray, "Dhanam dehi, vidyam dehi, rupam dehi, bharyam dehi, yasam dehi: make me rich, make me clever, make me beautiful, give me a good wife, make me famous." Can we give all this up? Can we give up kanak, kamini, pratistha? Are our senses controlled? Have we controlled our eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin, mind, intelligence, ego? Have we learnt to control our mind? Is your mind sitting here now or is it sitting at home or in some other bad place? Many are here, but many people's minds are not here. So, if you cannot control and conquer your senses, then how is it that you have become a Vaishnav? Who of us is a Vaishnav here? We have all come here to become servants of Vaishnavs, not Vaishnavs. You must remember this.

nahi magi deha-sukha, vidya, dhana, jana
nahi magi svarga ara moksa nahi magi
na kari prarthana kona vibhutira lagi

"I do not pray for bodily pleasure, learning, wealth, or followers. I do not pray for heaven, I do not pray for liberation, and I do not pray for any supernatural powers."

(Sri Siksastakam, 4.1-2, Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur)

I do not pray for any extraordinary riches or powers. This is Mahaprabhu's teaching.

* * *

Practise What Is Preached

Sri Nrisingha Palli, 21 March 2021, part 6

Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur writes in his poem "Vaishnav ke?", "Dusta mana, tumi kisera vaisnava? Kirtana chhadiba pratistha magiba—My wicked mind, what kind of a Vaishnav are you? You think you will give up kirtan and instead seek name and fame!" Those who chant lila-kirtans, pala-kirtan, have ego, they think, "I can chant kirtan!" This is not kirtan, this actually means you give up chanting kirtan. What does such chanting give? Nothing. When you chant kirtan, you chant it to please the Lord, to please your Gurudev—not for your own fame.

We were singing just now,

(ohe) vaisnava thakura dayara sagara
e dase karuna kari
diya pada-chhaya sodha he amare
tomara charana dhari

"O worshippable Vaisnava, ocean of grace, be merciful to this servant. Give me the shade of your feet and purify me. I clasp your feet."

chhaya vega dami' chhaya dosa sodhi'
chhaya guna deha' dase

"Subjugate the six urges, rectify the six defects, and bestow the six good qualities upon this servant."

You all know what the six urges are, what the six defects are, what the six good qualities are. This all is written in the [Bengali] Calendar. What is favourable to devotion, what is unfavourable, everything is there. The six urges are mana-veg, krodha-veg, jihva-veg, udar-vega, upastha-veg, vakya-veg (mental urge, urge of anger, tongue, stomach, genitals, speech). The six defects are (1) Eating too much, hoarding things (atyahara); (2) Engaging in material activities that are not favourable to devotion (prayas); (3) Talking too much or talking nonsense (prajalpa); (4) Following inferior practices or neglect of activities favourable to devotion (niyamagraha); (5) Associating with non-devotees (janasanga); (6) Being fickle-minded (laulya). We must always pray for six good qualities, "Please cut off these six urges and faults, please give me six good qualities—give me that which is good for practising." This is what we must pray to Vaishnavs. The six good qualities are (1) enthusiasm; (2) firm faith; (3) perseverance; (4) engaging in activities that satisfy the Lord and His devotees; (5) abandoning all bad association and wrong attachment; and (6) following the behaviour prescribed by pure devotees.

chhaya vega dami' chhaya dosa sodhi'
chhaya guna deha' dase
chhaya sat-sanga deha' he amare
basechhi sangera ase

"Subjugate the six urges, rectify the six defects, and bestow the six good qualities upon this servant. Grant me the six kinds of good association. I have sat at your feet, desiring that association."

We always pray for the good association of devotees—without good association you can never be successful. We always want to keep good association, we always want to practise. We must read and study Gurudev's books, listen to Gurudev's lectures. Always remember this.

ekaki amara nahi paya bala
hari-nama-sankirtane
tumi krpa kari sraddha-bindu diya deha' krsna-nama-dhane

Alone I do not have the ability to properly chant the Lord's Name. Mercifully give me a drop of faith and bestow upon me the wealth of Krsna's Name.

krsna se tomara krsna dite para
tomara sakati achhe
ami ta' kangala 'krsna krsna' bali
dhaitava pachhe pachhe

Krishna is yours. You can give Krishna. You have that power. I am very poor. Calling, 'Krishna!' 'Krishna!', I run after you.

Who can give Krishna? You always sing in one of the kirtans, "Vaisnaver hridaye Govinda visram: Govinda always rests in the heart of a Vaishnav." Govinda always stays with Vaishnavs, and one does not become a Vaishnav just by putting on tilaks and wearing Tulasi beads.

"gorara ami, gorara ami" mukhe balile nahi chale
gorara achara, gorara vichara la-ile phala phale

Just saying, "I am Gora's! I am Gora's!" does not do. Only when you follow Gora's practices and Gora's conception will you get the proper result.

(Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 8.6)

Those who live in Nabadwip are proud, "We are from Mahaprabhu's land!" but do they follow what Mahaprabhu teaches? In Ekachakra it is the same—people proudly say they are from the same place as Nityananda Prabhu, but they do not follow Nityananda Prabhu's teaching. Many people say that Mahaprabhu went to Puri Dham being overwhelmed by the mood of Radharani, but Gurudev says that Mahaprabhu rejected Nabadwip and accepted Puri. The mood of Nabadwip people was very bad, they even tried to kill Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu said,

kiba vipra, kiba nyasi, sudra kene naya
yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya

"Whether one is a brahman, a sannyasi, or a sudra, regardless of what one is, one can become a spiritual master if he knows the science of Krishna."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 8.128)

And all the brahmans opposed it, "Never! Brahmans are the highest caste people, only they can be gurus!" Then all the big famous brahmans of the time came to Nitai and said, "Hey, You are one of us, but why do You speak against Your own kin? All the chandals, sudras must sit down, and we, brahmans, must be given a higher seat!" Mahaprabhu said, "No. If a sudra knows Krishna consciousness, he can be given a higher seat, and if a brahman is not a devotee of Krishna, he must be given a lower seat." The brahmans could not accept this. They started torturing Mahaprabhu, and Mahaprabhu left, "They do not have to kill Me. I will take sannyas and leave."

That is why it is said

"gorara ami, gorara ami" mukhe balile nahi chale
gorara achara, gorara vichara la-ile phala phale

Just saying, "I am Gora's! I am Gora's!" does not do. Only when you follow Gora's practices and Gora's conception will you get the proper result.

(Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 8.6)

People say with they mouth, "We are devotees of Mahaprabhu," "We are devotees of Gurudev," "We are disciples of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj," "We are disciples of Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj," but we are not following his word. We say, "Guru-mukha-padma-vakya chitete kariya aikya ara na kariha mane asa: Make the teachings from Sri Guru's lotus mouth one with your heart, and do not desire anything else within your heart"—but we do not follow what Gurudev says.

"gorara ami, gorara ami" mukhe balile nahi chale
gorara achara, gorara vichara la-ile phala phale

Just saying, "I am Gora's! I am Gora's!" does not do. Only when you follow Gora's practices and Gora's conception will you get the proper result.

(Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 8.6)

It is necessary to accept Gora's practice (achar) and Gora's conception (vichar). We must follow what Gauranga Mahaprabhu says in our lives, we must learn how to practise it, otherwise you will not get anything. There are many people who show they worship Gaura. People drink tea, alcohol, they smoke, eat meat, fish, etc. and when somebody hires them, they dress up as Vaishnavs and come to sing kirtans. What will you learn from them?

loka dekhana gora bhaja tilaka matra dhari'
gopanete atyachara gora dhare churi

You show the world you serve Gora simply by wearing tilak but secretly you misbehave. Gora will catch you, you thief!

(Sri Sri Prema-vivarta, 8.7)

You cannot cheat Gora, He knows what you are doing. Jagadananda Pandit wrote it so beautifully in his Prema-vivarta.

So, what does it say in this kirtan we have just sung? "O Vaishnav Thakur! Please remove six faults, six bad urges from me. Please give me six good qualities, give me six types of good association. Alone I do not have the ability to properly chant the Lord's Name. Please give me a drop of your mercy so that I can chant the Holy Name...."

* * *

Know Best

Sri Nrisingha Palli, 21 March 2021, part 7

I have sung Nityananda Prabhu's kirtan,

nitai-pada-kamala, koti chandra-susitala,
ye chhayaya jagata judaya

"Cooling like ten million moons, Nitai's lotus feet soothe the world with their shade."

The sun gives light, but it gives light and at the same time it heats, its rays are hot; but the moon never produces heat—it gives light, but it is not hot. Lord Nityananda Prabhu's feet are compared to ten million moons. One moon is cooling, but if you take shelter of Nityananda Prabhu's lotus feet or the lotus feet of Sri Gurudev (Gurudev is non-different from Nityananda-tattva), you will feel the invigorating, soothing coolness of ten million moons.

Anyhow, our programme is as follows. Tomorrow is adhivas, do not go roaming here and there, our parikrama starts the day after tomorrow. We will go from here to the ghat by bus, will take prasadam during the parikrama. This year we are going to a new place—Sri Rudradwip. We have not been going there every year because we did not have enough time, but we are going by bus, so we can go there this year. We will take prasadam, and after that we will get on the bus and go there. I went there the other day by car, it is several kilometres from the place where we usually take afternoon prasadam. I spoke to the Maharaj who is in charge of the temple, I told him we would come and asked him not to close the temple. The temple is situated on the bank of the Ganges (in the north of Nabadwip, a little to the north-west of Antardwip). So, the day after tomorrow is the parikrama of Sri Antardwip, Sri Simantadwip, and Sri Rudradwip—three islands in one day. When you go to Mayapur, you only go to ISKCON, but we do not do that—we go with the parikrama and visit all the places of Mahaprabhu's pastimes, all the places where Mahaprabhu walked.

gaura amara ye-saba sthane
karala bhramana range
se-saba sthana heriba ami
pranayi-bhakata-sange

"In the company of loving devotees, I behold all the places my Gaurasundar roamed during His ecstatic Pastimes."

Last year we also went to a new place—Khalovecha Sridhar's house. Mahaprabhu would often take rest at his house. We searched that place out and found it in the jungle. We will go there this year too. Sridhar Prabhu was a very poor brahman, Mahaprabhu went there and took water from a glass with a hole. You know that Krishna took banana skin at Vidura's house, but He did not take Duryodhan's raj-bhog. Mahaprabhu also did not accept any raj-bhog, but He would go to the house of Sridhar Prabhu and forcefully take bananas, fruit, banana stem, banana flowers, etc. from him.

bhakter jinish prabhu lutiputi khay
abhakter jinish prabhu ulti nahi khay

"The Lord eats anything and everything when a devotee offers it, but He does not take anything from a non-devotee."

The Lord accepts everything from His devotees, but He does not even look at non-devotees no matter what they try to give Him. Krishna says in Srimad Bhagavad-gita also, "I only know My devotees, and My devotees also do not know anyone except Me—they only know Me." You can read Srimad Bhagavad-gita, and you will see it there. Therefore, we must all try to become servants, slaves of the Lord's devotees.

I have arranged everything for you—you have come to Sri Nabadwip Dham from far, so I have taken care of everything so that you do not have to struggle. We are far from the ghat, so we will go there by bus, and when we finish the parikrama, it is also very far from here, so the buses will bring you all back. Do not worry. Everybody must try to go for the parikrama.

When we will go by bus, not everyone will get a seat, but the ride is not very long, you can stand for 10-20 minutes. You know how people go by bus in the villages. When I go by car, I see it—so many people get on the bus, everybody is standing on each other's head. Even when young people go to school or college, they struggle so much in the crowded buses, I see that. There are maybe fifty seats in a bus, and another fifty people go standing. Everybody cannot get a seat. Do not be mean to each other—give seats to the elderly, to the elderly ladies, to the children. This is the general etiquette. Give respect to everyone,

sakale sammana karite sakati,
deha natha! yatha yatha

"Gurudev! Please give me such power that I can give due honour to everyone."

We sing this in the kirtan. "Even if I cannot sit myself, I will let others sit." These days everything has become topsy-turvy—the school master will stand, and all the students sit. The students take after the school masters. When we were students, as soon as we saw our teacher, everybody would keep a big distance from him. When I used to teach, when the students saw me, they would flee (They would say, "Oh man, he is coming! Run!")! They were afraid of me because I would catch them truanting school or college lessons. And now students smoke, and the teachers smoke with them at the lessons; the teacher looks at photos in his phone, and the students also look at photos in their phones. Like teachers, like students. Like guru, like disciples.

You must learn these things.

sakale sammana karite sakati,
deha natha! yatha yatha

"Gurudev! Please give me such power that I can give due honour to everyone."

Give due respect to everyone—everybody should be given some particular respect, and you must give that due respect to everyone. We always sing this in the kirtan, but you must remember this—you must not only sing it with your mouth, you must follow it in your own life and behaviour. Now we will sing one more kirtan, Mahaprabhu's kirtan...

[His Divine Grace sings 'Emona durmati...'.]

* * *

Best News

Sri Nrisingha Palli, 21 March 2021, part 8

[His Divine Grace sings 'Emona durmati...'.]

(prabhu he!)
emana durmati samsara bhitare
padiya achhinu ami
tava nija-jana kona mahajane
pathaiya dile tumi [1]

O Lord! I am very wicked-minded and have fallen into this material world, but You have sent a great soul, Your associate (to rescue me).

daya kari more patita dekhiya
kahila amare giya
ohe dina-jana suna bhala katha
ullasita ha'be hiya [2]

"Seeing me so fallen and being merciful, he came to me and said: O humble soul, listen to this wonderful message and your heart will rejoice."

tomare tarite sri-krsna-chaitanya
navadvipe avatara

"Sri Krishna Chaitanya has appeared in Nabadwip to deliver you.

Why will we feel happy in our heart? Hearing what will we feel happy? Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Nimai, Sri Sachinandan Gaurahari—after taking sannyas, His name became Sri Krishna Chaitanya) has come to save me! He personally comes in Kali-yuga to awaken the consciousness (chetan) of such fallen, low souls as myself—that is why His name is Chaitanya (He who awakens consciousness).

toma hena kata dina-hina jane
karilena bhava-para [3]

"He has brought many humble souls just like you to the shore of the ocean of material existence."

The place where we are sitting now is also Nabadwip—it is called Godrumdwip and it is part of Nabadwip. All temples, all pilgrims come to this place. Those of you who have come before, know it, and you will see tomorrow also—so many parikrama parties will come here.

vedera pratijna rakhibara tare
rukma-varna vipra-suta
mahaprabhu name nadiya mataya
sange bhai avadhuta [4]

"To fulfil the prophecies of the Vedas, He has appeared with a golden complexion as a brahman's son bearing the name 'Mahaprabhu' and driven all of Nadia (all the world) mad with divine love in the company of His brother Nityananda.

nanda suta yini chaitanya gosani
nija-nama kari' dana

"Sri Chaitanya, who is Krishna Himself, has distributed His own Name and delivered the world."

The Holy Name is non-different from Him whose Name it is (Sri Krishna). The Lord's Name, the Lord's form, the Lord's pastimes, the Lord's associates, the Lord's features, even the books about the Lord are completely non-different from the Lord Himself. The Lord comes personally to give His Holy Name to everyone. He went door to door saying,

harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha

"Only chanting the Holy Name, chanting the Holy Name, chanting the Holy Name—there is no other way, no other way, no other way."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 7.76)

There is no other path or way in Kali-yuga except for chanting the Holy Name.

toma hena kata dina-hina jane
karilena bhava-para [3]

"He has brought many humble souls just like you to the shore of the ocean of material existence."

vedera pratijna rakhibara tare
rukma-varna vipra-suta
mahaprabhu name nadiya mataya
sange bhai avadhuta [4]

"To fulfil the prophecies of the Vedas, He has appeared with a golden complexion as a brahman's son bearing the name 'Mahaprabhu' and driven all of Nadia (all the world) mad with divine love in the company of His brother Nityananda.

nanda suta yini chaitanya gosani
nija-nama kari' dana
tarila jagat tumi-o yaiya
laha nija paritrana [5]

"Sri Chaitanya, who is Krishna Himself, has distributed His own Name and delivered the world. Go also and accept your deliverance."

The Lord has come to this world to rescue everyone in it, and you too can go. If you want to save yourself from the endless parikrama of this material world, you too can take shelter at the Lord's lotus feet! That is why it is said, "Bhagavata pada Vaisnavera sthane, ekanta asraya kara Chaitanya-charane: Read Bhagavatam under guidance of a Vaishnav and take exclusive shelter of the lotus feet of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu." You too can go there! If you go, you too can be rescued from the agony of this material world. We sing every morning,

samsara-davanala-lidha-loka
tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam
praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

"I offer my obeisance unto the lotus feet of Sri Guru, the ocean of goodness who assumes the form of a cloud of mercy to deliver the souls burning in the blazing fire of material existence."

We always suffer and struggle in this material world, but there is only one way to get relief from all this, "Bhagavata pada Vaisnavera sthane, ekanta asraya kara Chaitanya-charane: Read Bhagavatam under guidance of a Vaishnav and take exclusive shelter of the lotus feet of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu." There is no other way, there is no other shelter. That is why Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur says, "Go also and accept your deliverance. Take shelter at the Lord's lotus feet, you will be delivered!

se katha suniya asiyachhi, natha!
tomara charana-tale
bhakati-vinoda kandiya kandiya
apana-kahini bale [6]

O Lord, hearing this message, Bhakti Vinod has come to the soles of Your feet. Crying, he tells his story.

Sriman Nityananda Prabhu first started this Nabadwip Dham Parikrama together with Srila Jiva Goswami. When Mahaprabhu was leaving Nabadwip and going to go to Puri having taken sannyas, He begged all devotees for one thing. Everybody cried and lamented, "Please do not leave us! Please do not leave us!" What did Mahaprabhu tell them?

yadi ama'-prati sneha thake sabakara
tabe krsna-vyatirikta na gaibe ara

"If you have any love and affection for Me, then only say 'Krishna'—do not say anything except 'Krishna.'"

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, Madhya-khanda, 28.27)

This is what Mahaprabhu told to all the residents of Sri Nabadwip. He said, "You can still see Me here, I am not going anywhere." It is widely known that Mahaprabhu is always present at the house of Srivas Pandit (Srivas-angan), at the house of Raghav Pandit (Raghava-bhavan), in the dance of Nityananda Prabhu (Nitayananda-nartana), and in the kitchen of Sri Sachi Mata (Sachir randhansala). The Lord says, "Wherever Nityananda Prabhu dances, I am present there." When Mahaprabhu chanted kirtans, He would divide devotees into four groups and these four groups would chant kirtan with mridanga, kartals, etc., and Mahaprabhu was present in each of the groups—everybody could see Mahaprabhu was present in their group. Somebody said, "Oh, Mahaprabhu was in our group," and somebody else from another group said, "Oh, we have also seen Him!"

adyapiha sei lila kare gora raya
kona kona bhagyavane dekhibare paya

Gora Ray continues performing His Pastimes, and those who are fortunate can see it.

Even now His pastimes are going on, but not everyone is fortunate enough to see it. Everybody's fortune is not the same. Fortunate souls can see it, but our situation is,

andhibhuta chaksu yara visaya dhulite
ki rupe se paibe para-tattva dekhite

"Our eyes have become blind by the dust of visaya, the material world—how can we see the transcendental world?"

Our eyes are blind with the dust of material life. What can you see through illusory eyes? Nothing! You cannot understand anything through material eyes. How will we see when our eyes are blinded by the dust of material life? That is why, if you listen, listen, listen, and listen to Hari-katha, if you serve, serve, and serve, then your heart will become clean.

kabe habe bala se dina amara
aparadha ghuchi suddha name ruchi
krpa-bale ha'be hrdaye sanchara

"Please tell me, when will that day be mine? When will my offences be removed? When will the taste for the pure Name arise in my heart by the power of mercy?"

Gurudev has placed the Holy Name in my heart, but when will this Holy Name come to my tongue?

kabe navadvipe, suradhuni-tate,
'gaura-nityananda' bali' niskapate
nachiya gaiya, bedaiba chhute,
vatulera praya chhadiya vichara
kabe habe bala se dina amara

"When will I wander along the banks of the Ganges in Nabadwip, sincerely calling out, 'Gaura-Nityananda!', while dancing, singing, and running about, without any thinking as though mad? Tell me, when will that day be mine?"

kabe habe bala se dina amara

"Please tell me, when will that day be mine?"

You must always sing kirtan in your heart in this mood.

Anyhow, much has already been said. Our first day parikrama will be three islands—Antardwip, Simantadwip, and Rudradwip, and the next day will be Koladwip. The third day is ekadasi, I have told everyone that it is not necessary to struggle walking in the sun, fasting. You will take rest for one day on ekadasi, and after that we will continue the parikrama. There will be a day of rest in the middle. Rest means not sleeping, it means Hari-katha! There will be Hari-katha, kirtans the whole day here. When we go on parikrama, we do not get time to speak for long at each place, then we can speak about all the places here on this ekadasi day.

[His Divine Grace chants 'Hari Haraye Nama Krsna' and finished the class.]

* * *

Sri Gaura Purnima Address (1)

Spoken on Sri Gaura Purnima day
Sri Nrisingha Palli, 28 March 2021, part 1

mukam karoti vachalam pangum langhayate girim
yat krpa tam aham vande sri-gurum dina-taranam

"The dumb can speak, the lame can climb a hill—all it takes is mercy from Gurudev."

(Bhavartha Dipika)

First I am giving my full obeisance at the lotus feet of my beloved Gurudev Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, to all my Guru-varga, godbrothers, godsisters, and all the devotees.

Many foreign devotees could not come this year due to the current pandemic situation with covid-19, but they could see our parikrama through the internet, skype, etc., they could see the photographs from our programmes, and I know they are very happy with that.

My Gurudev gave me the responsibility for arranging Sri Gaura Purnima Festival and Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama in 1994, and Gurudev always checked everything, always gave me so much mercy all these years. I have also got the mercy, the love and affection from all foreign and Indian devotees. Owing to all that, we have never stopped this Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama and Sri Gaura Purnima Festival since 1994 (this parikrama has been going on non-stop from 1994 until present, 2021). When I left the headquarters of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Nabadwip in 2017, the temple here in Sri Nrisingha Palli had not been finished at that time, but we still did this parikrama from here in 2018. Many foreign devotees also came that year...

Many of the Gaudiya Maths did not make a parikrama this year fearing the coronavirus and worrying whether the government would give permission or not. I never depend on the government's permission—I always depend on and get the permission from my Gurudev, from devotees, and from Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The only permission that is necessary to get is the permission from Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu—if I can get permission from Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, that is sufficient to make this festival.

Although many Indian and foreign devotees could not come this year, they still helped this grand festival financially and in many other ways. I miss Srila Ashram Maharaj, Srila Janardan Maharaj, Srila Trivikram Maharaj this year, but they are giving me enthusiasm to make this parikrama, and they have also helped to make this temple, to make the guesthouse. Many devotees from Venezuela, America, Mexico, Colombia, Spain, Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Mauritius, South Africa and other countries helped so much to make this festival and to build the guesthouse. You will see in the future also—we are making a Prasadam Hall now next to the temple, and I want to make a guest house for Indian devotees above it—I will make another three or even more floors (total seventy rooms). Then, you will not have to go so far next year. Foreign devotees can stay in the guesthouse that is a little distance from the temple. I know everybody is a little reluctant to live so far and it is not comfortable for you all to come here walking all the time. Next year, you will be able to stay near, above the Prasadam Hall.

Actually, there is something I want to tell you all. When somebody comes to me to take initiation, I do not think that I am giving initiation to them—I think that they have actually come to give me their mercy. I want your mercy, I want your help, your assistance. I always need it. This is your home, your real home, so you can come here at any time and stay here. You stay 365 days a year in a place that you think is your home, but you must come and stay here every two-three months. You can come here for seven days every three months, do some service here, etc. It would be very good. This is your real home here. You must come.

You think you are taking care of your family, but I am also your family member—you must come here and take care of the temples. If you come only once a year, dance, chant, "Hari bol! Hari bol!" and when the festival finishes, you go back to maya, to the land of illusory environment, and you forget you must come next year. Come from time to time and do some service directly here. This is what the relationship between the guru and the disciple is. This relationship must be tight, it must be established and maintained properly. It is not like you sprinkle some water on a banana leaf and then brush it off. Not like this. You must tie your devotion through your service.

So, come from time to time, keep connection with your Guru. You come thinking, "I have given some fruit, some money on a plate, took initiation and got my beads, now I can go away—I have taken initiation and become a disciple!" If you want to become a disciple, you have some responsibility. When a father gets a son, the relationship does not end there; his son has some duty—he must serve his father, he must help and look after his father, etc. In the same way, disciples also have to serve their Guru.

You have got a devotional seed from your Guru and you need to cultivate it. If you plant some fruit tree, some rice paddy, etc. and do not take care of that seed after that, the seed will dry. The same is true to spiritual life. You have entered this relationship with your Gurudev—Gurudev has planted the holy seed of devotional creeper (bhakti-lata-bij) in your heart, and you must take care of that seed through nava-vidha bhakti—sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, pada-sevanam, archanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, atma-nivedanam (hearing, chanting, remembering the Lord, serving the Lord's lotus feet, worshipping the Deity of the Lord, offering obeisance, rendering service as a servitor, as a friend, and self-submission). You must cultivate your devotion through these practices, through surrender, through developing real faith (sraddha). Otherwise, if you do not take care of this seed, it will eventually dry or rot, and die...

* * *

Sri Gaura Purnima Address (2)

Spoken on Sri Gaura Purnima day
Sri Nrisingha Palli, 28 March 2021, part 2

You have taken initiation, but this is not sufficient—you must now take care of the devotional seed properly. It is necessary to practise sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam, pada-sevanam, archanam, vandanam, dasyam, sakhyam, atma-nivedanam (hearing, chanting, remembering the Lord, serving the Lord's lotus feet, worshipping the Deity of the Lord, offering obeisance, rendering service as a servitor, as a friend, and self-submission). Sravan and kirtan are the main practices. Listen to lectures, buy some books from the temple, take Vaishnav calendars, and come to festivals from time to time, keep connection through mobile phone, etc. In this age, you can keep connection with your Guru through mobile phone and other technology. Call from time to time, ask, "How are you?" etc. This is necessary to maintain a relationship. Suppose you have a daughter, you live with her for twenty years at your home, then you get her married—if you do not care after that, if you do not call or visit her to get news from her, if you do not bother to know whether her husband is beating her or taking care of her properly—then all relationship will be gone. When you enter a relationship with somebody, you must maintain connection with them, you must keep in touch. If you do not keep in touch with some relative for one-five years, if you do not hear anything from them, then all the relationship will be gone. So, when you take initiation from your Guru, you enter a relationship with him, and you must maintain that relationship, you must keep in touch with him. You will get a father, mother, daughter, son, wife, husband, etc. in every birth, but you will not get a guru in every birth. So, fortunately for you, you have taken initiation from a guru, and you must keep this connection properly after that. Ultimately, it depends on your faith. There are four types of faith—kamala-sraddha, taranga-sraddha, drdha-sraddha, sudrdha-sraddha (soft lotus-like faith, wave-like faith, strong faith and the strongest faith). Those who have the strongest faith have the strongest devotion (sraddha-anusare haya bhakti-adhikari, your devotion depends on how strong your faith is).

There are many types of sahajiya gurus in this world. You come to them, take initiation, and then these gurus will come to you once a year saying, "Give me some money (pranami)." This the relationship you get, but the relationship between a bona fide Guru and a disciple is not like that. You can easily get a kaulik guru, laukik guru (ancestral, common gurus), and many other kinds of guru in this world, but it is very rare to find a paramarthik guru (a truly spiritual guru). If a guru cannot rescue you from the deathly world of birth and death, he is not a guru. If a father cannot bring his son to the path of devotion, he is no fit to be called a father.

gurur na sa syat svajano na sa syat
pita na sa syaj janani na sa syat
daivam na tat syan na patis cha sa syan
na mochayed yah samupeta-mrtyam

"It is not your guru, it is not your family, it is not your father, it is not your mother, it is not your god, it is not your husband if that person cannot save you from the world of birth and death."

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 5.5.18)

If a woman, a wife, cannot bring you to the path of devotion, you must not even touch the water that comes from her hand.

Sriman Mahaprabhu's line is Srila Rupa Goswami's line. Sriman Mahaprabhu's conception comes only through Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Sanatan Goswami, Narottam Das Thakur, Shyamananda Prabhu, et.al. and it then comes to our Gaudiya sampradaya, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. This is the perfect line, this is the proper line—any other line is bogus!

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur also arranged Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama, like we have had here, and after the parikrama all the devotees were looking for him, "Oh, I want to give some pranami to Gurudev before I leave," but Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur was very sad thinking, "They come, chant, and dance for seven days, they stay here with Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, Maheswar, Vyasadev, Sukadev, and many others, but after that they leave everything and jump back into the ocean of illusory environment!" When the devotees found him, they saw Srila Prabhupad was crying! Srila Prabhupad told thim, "You are going away, but you must not forget me! Do not cheat me!"...

It is said about Sriman Mahaprabhu's mercy,

sri-krsna-chaitanya-daya karaha vichara
vichara karile chitte pabe chamatkara

"If you consider the mercy of Sri Krishna Chaitanya, you will be wonder-struck to realise it."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, 8.15)

And this Mahaprabhu said,

prthivite yata achhe nagaradi grama
sarvatra prachara haibe mora nama

"My Name will be spread in every town and village of the world."

This is what Mahaprabhu said, but who is preaching now all over the world? Mahaprabhu first sent Srila Sanatan Goswami and Srila Rupa Goswami to preach in Vrindavan area. As for Mahaprabhu Himself, He came to this world for two reasons—one is the main reason, and one is a hidden reason. First of all, Mahaprabhu wanted to give His own Name (to preach Krishna's Name) in this world, and another reason is that He came as a devotee taking on Srimati Radharani's heart and halo.

yadi gaura na ha'ta tabe ki ha-ita
kemane dharitam de
radhara mahima, prema-rasa-sima
jagate janata ke?

"If Gaura had not come, then what would have happened? How would we have maintained our lives? Who would have revealed to the world Radha's glory and the extremes of Her ecstatic divine love?"

(Srila Vasudev Ghosh Thakur)

If Mahaprabhu had not come, who would have been able to understand Srimati Radharani and preach about Her? Her name is not mentioned anywhere in Srimad Bhagavatam, so how would the world have known about Her then? That is why, Krishna Himself comes to this world as Gauranga Mahaprabhu, a combined form of Sri Sri Radha Krishna—taking the heart and halo of Srimati Radharani, Krishna becomes Gauranga Mahaprabhu and He comes to express in this world Sri Radha's heart and halo, the feelings of Srimati Radharani. The Lord comes to taste and relish Her mood. Along with Him, there were also Svarup Damodar and Raya Ramananda, who are Lalita and Visakha. In their company, Mahaprabhu revealed Srimati Radharani's form in this world—He showed how much separation She feels from Lord Krishna.

varaja-yuvati bhavera bhakati
sakati ha-ita kara?

Who would have the great expertise needed to enter into the sweetness of sweet Vrindavan? Who would have any qualification for the Vraja-gopis' ecstatic devotion?

Who can understand these things? Who has the power to preach about all this? Who can feel these things? Only Mahaprabhu can, and He comes to this world and shows this mood to the entire world.

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur are Nayana Manjari and Guna Manjari, they too come to this world to preach this conception of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur made so many disciples in this world—in his time, so many digpals, great acharyas who were like pillars of the Mission, appeared in this line. Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Vilas Tirtha Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Prajnan Keshav Goswami Maharaj, and so many other pillars came at that time—they all preached Mahaprabhu's line. Before Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj's demise, he told all foreign devotees, "You can go to Srila Sridhar Maharaj after I leave." Following his instruction, many foreign devotees came to take shelter at the lotus feet of Srila Sridhar Maharaj. Srila Sridhar Maharaj said at that time that he could not manage the foreign devotees and gave all responsibility for them to our Gurudev, Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Later, our Gurudev, Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, preached all over the world in twenty-five world tours and he brought so many great souls to this Mission who are now preaching for Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. For this reason, I consider myself a very fortunate soul because I have got not only such a great and bona fide Guru, but I am also fortunate to have got so many well-wishers and good friends who are helping me preach about Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

I am also very happy with all the Indian devotees—everybody has helped this Nabadwip Dham parikrama in so many ways, they have come to make this festival and helped in so many ways. I do not need you to only come and give money, wealth, etc.—if you come and help this Nabadwip Dham parikrama with your heart and soul, that is my greatest happiness.

Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol!

...I would like finish here and start the kirtan. Srila Sridhar Maharaj would always sing some particular verses from Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita on this day, and later Gurudev would also sing them every year after the class on Sri Gaura Purnima. In his lifetime, he ordered me to chant these verses too at every Gaura Purnima, so I would like to start now.

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