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MONTHLY ARCHIVE OF UPDATES

JANUARY 2021

 

 

Fri, 1 January 2021 (Grand Festival of Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's divine appearance day)
Spiritual Chastity
"Actually, Gaudiya mission is very big, and our line is the line of Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj—we find all perfection, all fulfilment in this line. Do not bring other conceptions to Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. Be chaste to our Guru."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.3 Mb, 11 min | 27 December 2020)

Sri Vyasa Puja Festival at Sri Nrisingha Palli
(1 January 2021 | 50 photographs, 7.8 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj presides at the grand festival of Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's divine appearance day at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Nrisingha Palli. The festival passes gloriously with thousands of fortunate souls in attendance.

 

In honour of the festival of Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's divine appearance:

 

gurvvabhista-supurakam guru-ganair asisa-sambhusitam
chintyachintya-samasta-veda-nipunam sri-rupa-panthanugam
govindabhidham ujjvalam vara-tanum bhakty anvitam-sundaram
vande visva-gurun cha divya-bhagavat-premno hi bija-pradam

"I offer my obeisance unto he who perfectly fulfils his Gurudev's most cherished desires; who is fully adorned with the blessings of his Gurudev’s associates; who is expert in all aspects of Vedic knowledge, both conceivable and inconceivable; who is the pre-eminent follower of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu's line; who is known as 'Govinda'—Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj; whose beautiful, effulgent, exalted form is infused with pure devotion; who is the Guru of the entire universe; and who is the giver of the seed of divine love for the Supreme Lord."

 

Question: It seems that we have one type of fear that having got some connection with your self we may lose that at death. I do not want to have connection with anyone else, I want to stay with you. So, I feel some type of fear...

Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj: Fear? But why have fear? I cannot understand it.

Devotee: Because if we do not finish our sadhana nicely, then next life we do not know where we will go—we may not find Govinda Maharaj there.

Srila Govinda Maharaj: What do you think about Govinda Maharaj?

Devotee: We think that we want to serve you.

Srila Govinda Maharaj: No, it is okay that you want to serve Govinda Maharaj, but what do you think about Govinda Maharaj? He is your guru, but in which form do you think about him? Do you think that Govinda Maharaj is a mundane man or an incarnation of the Lord coming in front of you to give you connection with Him? If you think he is an incarnation of the Lord, then he cannot leave your heart and you cannot leave your Lord. Even if you die, you will get that connection in another form, perhaps, but you will not be able to leave your Lord. When you have faith that the Lord always lives with you, then there will be no fear.

That is the main thing. By the mercy of Vaishnavs I also always feel that my Srila Guru Maharaj (Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj) is present with us. By the mercy of Vaishnavs and the supremacy of Srila Guru Maharaj, such feeling always comes to us that Srila Guru Maharaj has not left us, that he is with us.

I have service of Srila Guru Maharaj, and I must do that. Service to Srila Guru Maharaj is my only goal of life, and whichever way that service comes to me, I will try to serve.

Devotee: In my next life, I want to forever be a blade of grass wherever you walk...

Srila Govinda Maharaj: I do not want to wait for the next life. Actually, we must finish all our job here this life, then we shall all go to Goloka!

(8 June 1992)

 

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

 

 

 

Sri Vyasa Puja, 2010: Bengali Class
Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj's Bengali lecture given on the holy day of Sri Vyasa Puja of Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj on 23 December 2010:
• Download (16.4 Mb, 46 min)

Sri Vyasa Puja, 2011: Morning Kirtans
• Vandana • Krsna haite chatur-mukha • Samsara davanala-lidha-loka • Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu jive daya kari' • Bhaja re bhaja re amara • Thakura vaisnava gana • Nitai-guna-mani amara • Emona durmati.
• Download / listen to the audio (3.7 Mb, 43 min | 12 December 2011)

Sri Vyasa Puja Offering
"That day, in the heart of Gaura-desh, morning, noon, and evening as if merged and there sounded a stupefying song of flute. On this auspicious day, a ray of light fell from the sky. In the district of brahmans, in the house of a brahman, for the sake of jiva souls there took birth an unprecedentedly beautiful child."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.7 Mb, 11 min | 11 December 2011)

Sri Guru's Order
"Wherever you live, you can practise your spiritual life. The main thing is to follow the order of your Guru. When you receive an order from Gurudev, that becomes your duty. Our Rupanuga-sampradaya Guru, he came from the transcendental abode, but when he was here we could not understand that..."
• Download / listen to the audio (5.3 Mb, 16 min | 23 December 2013)

Gurudev: His Example and Teachings
"Gurudev conquered the whole world with his love and affection. Many people throughout the world do not know English language or cannot fully understand it, but they could understand Gurudev through their heart."
• Download / listen to the audio (5.2 Mb, 15 min | 8 December 2014)

Son of Lord Siva
"When Srila Param Guru Maharaj was a young boy, he worshipped Siva, and our Guru Maharaj, Om Vishnupad Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, was a son of Siva. That is why we are making a Siva temple on the bank of Govinda Kunda—for their happiness."
• Download (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 11 August 2002)

Sri Vyasa Puja Festival in 2015
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj is addressing the assembled Vaishnavs on the appearance day of Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj (Bengali classes):
• Adhivas: Download / listen to the audio (32.4 Mb, 95 min)
• Morning: Download / listen to the audio (19.4 Mb, 57 min)
• Noon: Download / listen to the audio (19.3 Mb, 57 min)
• Evening: Download / listen to the audio (19.6 Mb, 57 min)

 

• SONG: Jaya jaya gurudever | জয় জয় গুরুদেবের
"All glory to the effulgent arati of Srila Gurudev taking place at the foot of Govardhan for the beneft of the world!"

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

 

Sat, 2 January 2021
Grand and Joyous Festival
"I am very happy because the festival was very successful. Actually, we have seen such crowds before only in Gurudev's time in Nabadwip, and now is the first time we see it again at this Vyasa Puja festival of Srila Gurudev in 2021. Everybody is very happy with this festival."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 5 min | 1 January 2021)

Sri Vyasa Puja Festival Celebration in Soquel
(1 January 2021 | 14 photographs, 0.7 Mb)
Still undergoing restrictions on public gatherings, devotees observe the holy appearance day of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Soquel, USA, quietly and to the best of their ability under the guidance of His Divine Grace Srila B.P. Janardan Maharaj.

Guidance, Issue #25 (EPUB file, 1.1 Mb)
An ePub file for offline reading on mobile phones and tablets containing the lectures of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj published here from October to December 2020. We pray this serves as a source of guidance, nourishment, and life to all the devotees and well-wishers worldwide.

LIBRARY
As we enter a new year, the Library section of the website has been completely restructured to simplify access to books an publications of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. The section is constantly evolving with more books being added for online access.

Two publications added to the Library Section recently:

Glory of the Holy Name and Ten Offences
The first and foremost booklet that Sri Gurudev gives to all disciples at the time of initiation with the words, "Take this book and memorise it. Take this book also, the ten offences of the Holy Name are written in it. Many people chant the Holy Name, but they do not get the result because they make offences. Mainly there are ten offences, they are written in this book. Read what they are, memorise them, and you must avoid these ten offences. If you chant without offences, you will get the result quickly."

In Search of the Original Source
Printed first in 1999, this is a small introductory booklet that has been distributed all over the world by sankirtan parties and that contains simple and sweet presentation of Krishna consciousness, inspiring for both newcomers and all sincere practitioners.
"It is very rare to get this human body but it has fortunately come to us and it is of utmost importance. With this human form one can understand and find the way for studying the spiritual world, and for seeking the essence of transcendental knowledge. Thus the value of this human body is supreme."

 

Other compilations of His Divine Grace Srila Acharya Maharaj's lectures for offline reading (all posts published on the website since July 2014):

2014
Guidance: Issue #01, 2014 (ePub, 1 Mb): 26 July 2014 to 31 December 2014.
2015
Guidance: Issue #02, 2015/1 (ePub, 0.8 Mb): January to March 2015.
Guidance: Issue #03, 2015/2 (ePub, 0.9 Mb): April to June 2015.
Guidance: Issue #04, 2015/3 (ePub, 0.8 Mb): July to September 2015.
Guidance: Issue #05, 2015/4 (ePub, 0.9 Mb): October to December 2015.
Sri Rupa-Sanatan Siksa (ePub, 0.8 Mb)
2016
Guidance: Issue #06, 2016/1 (ePub file, 0.6 Mb): January to March 2016.
Guidance: Issue #07, 2016/2 (ePub file, 0.6 Mb): March to June 2016.
Guidance: Issue #08, 2016/3 (ePub file, 0.8 Mb): July to September 2016.
Guidance: Issue #09, 2016/4 (ePub file, 0.7 Mb): October to December 2016.
2017
Guidance: Issue #10, 2017/1 (ePub file, 0.7 Mb): January to March 2017.
Guidance: Issue #11, 2017/2 (ePub file, 0.7 Mb): April to June 2017.
Guidance: Issue #12, 2017/3 (ePub file, 0.7 Mb): July to September 2017.
Guidance: Issue #13, 2017/4 (ePub file, 0.9 Mb): October to December 2017.
2018
Guidance: Issue #14, 2018/1 (ePub file, 0.9 Mb): January to March 2018.
Guidance: Issue #15, 2018/2 (ePub file, 0.9 Mb): April to June 2018.
Guidance: Issue #16, 2018/3 (ePub file, 0.9 Mb): July to September 2018.
Guidance: Issue #17, 2018/4 (ePub file, 0.9 Mb): September to December 2018.
2019
Guidance: Issue #18, 2019/1 (ePub file, 0.9 Mb): January to March 2019.
Guidance: Issue #19, 2019/2 (ePub file, 0.9 Mb): April to June 2019.
Guidance: Issue #20, 2019/3 (ePub file, 1.2 Mb): July to September 2019.
Guidance: Issue #21, 2019/4 (ePub file, 1.1 Mb): September to December 2019.
2020
Guidance: Issue #22, 2020/1 (ePub file, 1 Mb): January to March 2020.
Guidance: Issue #23, 2020/2 (ePub file, 1 Mb): April to June 2020.
Guidance: Issue #24, 2020/3 (ePub file, 1.3 Mb): July to September 2020.
Guidance: Issue #25, 2020/3 (ePub file, 1.1 Mb): October to December 2020.

 

Sun, 3 January 2021 (Disappearance of Bhagavan Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad)
Protecting Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math
"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."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 4 min | 1 January 2021)

শ্রীল প্রভুপাদের তিরোভাব তিথি
শ্রীল গুরুপাদপদ্ম ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীলভক্তিনির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের হরিকথামৃত শ্রীনৃসিংহপল্লীতে:
"আজকে প্রভুপাদের তিরোভাব তিথি । আমরা প্রার্থনা করি যেন উনি যেখানে থাকুন না কেন আমাদেরকের কৃপা করুন—তাঁর ধামের সেবা করতে করতে, তাঁর শ্রীচরণে সেবা করতে করতে আমাদের মঙ্গল হয় এবং যেন উনি আমাদেরকে এই জগৎ থেকে উদ্ধার করতে পারেন… এই দিনটা আমাদের পক্ষে খুব গুরুত্বপূর্ণ দিন ।"
• Download / listen to the audio (23 Mb, 55 min | 3 January 2021 | Bengali | ৩ জানুয়ারী ২০২১)

News from Sri Nrisingha Palli: Continuation of Festival
(1-2 January 2021 | 48 photographs, 4.2 Mb)
Photographs taken during the day following the grand Vyasa Puja festival. His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj gives initiations, spends time checking on the temple activities and construction works, as well as speaks to the devotees in the evening during the evening class.

 

Today in the calendar: Krishna Chaturthi. Disappearance festival of the founder of the Sri Chaitanya Math and worldwide Sri Gaudiya Maths, Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupad.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day. We must always remember disappearance and appearance days of all Vaishnavs. If we can remember such personalities, such great souls, it will bring a great benefit to our spiritual life. If you remember the glories of Vaishnavs, if you speak about the glories of Vaishnavs, they can rescue you from all kinds of material bondage. We have heard a hundred times that if we glorify Vaishnavs, it gives great benefit, but even though we have heard it a thousand times, how much are we able to glorify Vaishnavs from our heart? How much can we serve Vaishnavs with heart and soul? This is the question."

 

In honour of Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupad:

On Srila Prabhupad's Disappearance [by Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj]
"It happened at the meeting point between the two years. So many disciples from all over India flocked then, everybody came in pain and weeping mood. The whole small area of the samadhi was full, everybody was crying and weeping...."

 

sri-siddhanta-sarasvatiti vidito gaudiya-gurv-anvaye
bhato bhanuriva prabhata-gagane yo gaura-sankirtanaih
mayavada-timingilodara-gatan uddhrtya jivaniman
krsna-prema-sudhabdhi-gahana-sukham pradat prabhum tam bhaje
"I serve my lord, who is known as Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Within the Gaudiya sampradaya's lineage of Gurus, he shines like the sun in the morning sky. Through the sankirtan of Sriman Mahaprabhu he rescues the souls engulfed within the belly of the timingila of illusionism and bestows upon them the ecstasy of swimming in the nectarean ocean of divine love for Krishna."

About Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad
A brief biographical compilation dedicated to Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad taken from a lecture of Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

 

Srila Prabhupad's Glory (1)
"Acharya-vandana: If you can realise the meaning this song, you can get all glorification of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Sujanarvuda-radhita-pada-yugam: We sing it but we do not realise its meaning because if we realised its meaning, we would get taste singing it. We must sing it every day and be conscious of it."
• Download / listen to the audio (3 Mb, 9 min | 25 December 2010)

Irreparable Loss
"We can pray, 'Wherever you are staying now, please shower your mercy upon us so we can be servants of the servants of your lotus feet, and so that we may not leave this line of devotion. Please, do not reject me. You can make me your foot dust...'"
• Download / listen to the audio (0.7 Mb, 2 min | 25 December 2010)

Srila Prabhupad's Glory (2)
"Mahaprabhu predicted this, and Prabhupad fulfilled it through Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, Srila Gurudev. Now, in every village, all day, all night there is Hari-katha and kirtan going on."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.9 Mb, 8 min | 25 December 2010)

Srila Prabhupad's Glory (3): Current of Pure Devotion
"Nobody can give what he gave to the world. He is the holder of suddha-bhakti-mandakini, holy Mandakini River of pure devotion (the very source current of pure devotion) and he brings its flow into the world."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min | 25 December 2010)

Vaisnav Ke? (An Appeal to Your Mind)
"We do not want to stay in the temple because there are so many rules and regulations—everything has to be maintained at a certain time, and if you live alone, nobody will tell you anything, but you will be losing your devotional activities. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur said that nirjan bhajan is self-deception."
• Download / listen to the audio (6.3 Mb, 19 min | 6 March 2016)

• SONG: Jayare jayare jaya paramahamsa | জয়রে জয়রে জয় পরমহংস
"Glory, glory, glory to Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur, this great swan-like perfect personality, abode of highest mercy, who is the path and refuge for the low and miserable who have no refuge!"

• SONG: Sujanarvuda-radhita-pada-yugam | সুজনার্ব্বুদরাধিতপাদযুগং
"I hold on my head the dust of his tremendous, wondrously purifying feet and eternally offer my obeisance to them."

• SONG: Ye anila prema-dhana | যে আনিল প্রেমধন
"Where has Advaita Acharya, the Lord who mercifully brought the wealth of divine love to this world, gone?"

Sri Sri Dayita Dasa Dasakam (Text and Audio)
A poem composed by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj after the disappearance of his Divine Master Bhagavan Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad: "O Dina-nayana, wherever that great soul may be, please quickly take this servitor there."

 

Mon, 4 January 2021
Unblemished Sacrifice
"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."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.8 Mb, 9 min | 1 January 2021)

শ্রীল প্রভুপাদের তিরোভাব তিথির উপলক্ষে পুষ্পাঞ্জলি নিবেদন
শ্রীল গুরুপাদপদ্ম ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীলভক্তিনির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের হরিকথামৃত শ্রীনৃসিংহপল্লী থেকে online শ্রী শ্রী গৌড়ীয়-বৈষ্ণব সভার জন্য:
"আজকে যাঁর তিরোভাব তিথি সেই মহাপুরুষের আমাদের পরমগুরুদেব ওঁবিষ্ণুপাদ ভগবান শ্রীল ভক্তিসিদ্ধান্ত সরস্বতী ঠকুর প্রভুপাদের শ্রীচরণকমলে বন্দনা করছি কিছু পুষ্পাঞ্জলি নিবেদন করার চেষ্টা করছি মাত্র । আমাদের মত অধমের পক্ষে সেটা সম্ভব নয়, তবুও তাঁদের কৃপায়, গুরুবর্গের কৃপায় ও আদেশে আমি কিছু কথা বলার চেষ্টা করছি মাত্র ।"
• Download / listen to the audio (3.4 Mb, 8 min | 3 January 2021 | Bengali | ৩ জানুয়ারী ২০২১)

 

Tue, 5 January 2021
"My Pride, My Joy and My Hope"
"I am very proud of you all. I do not know how many days I will be alive, but I want to preach until my death. And 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."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.6 Mb, 9 min | 1 January 2021)

শ্রীলগুরুদেবের মঠে আসা ও গুরু-তত্ত্ব-মহিমা
রীল গুরুপাদপদ্ম ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীলভক্তিনির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের শ্রীনৃসিংহপল্লীতে সকালের সময় হরিকথামৃত:
"আজকে মদীয় গুরুপাদপদ্ম ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ জগৎ-গুরু শ্রীল ভক্তি সুন্দর গোবিন্দ দেবগোস্বামী মহারাজের ৮২তম শুভ আবির্ভাব তিথি । এই শুভ আবির্ভাব তিথির উপলক্ষে আপনারা সবাই এখানে উপস্থিত হয়েছেন । গুরুদেবের এই তিথিতে অবলম্বন করে ৮২ বছর আগে বামুনপাড়ায় অবতীর্ণ হয়েছেন..."
• Download / listen to the audio (16.4 Mb, 40 min | 1 January 2021 | Bengali | ১ জানুয়ারী ২০২১)

 

Wed, 6 January 2021
Illustrious Acharya
"I am offering my obeisance at the lotus feet of Bhagavan Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur whose disappearance day took place today. He is not an ordinary person of this material world—he came from Goloka Vrindavan, from the Lord Himself. When his job finished here, he passed the responsibility to his beloved disciples and went back to his own home."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 5 min | 3 January 2021)

 

Thu, 7 January 2021
Advent of Hari-Kirtan Murti
"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."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.7 Mb, 9 min | 3 January 2021)

Sri Vyasa Puja Festival Celebration in Veracruz
(1 January 2021 | 14 photographs, 1.3 Mb)
Photographs of devotees celebrating Sri Vyasa Puja Maha-Mahotsav (the holy appearance day of Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj) in Veracruz, Mexico, in the shelter of Their Lordships Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Nandanandana.

Sri Vyasa Puja Festival Celebration in São Paulo
(1 January 2021 | 10 photographs, 1 Mb)
Sharing several photographs taken during a festive programme in honour of Sri Vyasa Puja (the holy appearance day of Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj) celebration observed by the devotees in the temple in São Paulo.

 

Fri, 8 January 2021 (Tomorrow is Saphala Ekadashi)
Srila Prabhupad's Mission
"Srila Prabhupad taught 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."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 5 min | 3 January 2021)

 

Sat, 9 January 2021 (Today is Saphala Ekadashi, tomorrow paran is 6:25-9:54 a.m.)
Srila Prabhupad's Teachings
"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. Fathers are always very loving and affectionate to their sons, but Srila Prabhupad gave more love and affection that any father could give."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 4 min | 3 January 2021)

 

Today in the calendar: Krishna Ekadashi. Saphala Ekadashi. Fast. Disappearance of Srila Devananda Pandit (associate of Sriman Mahaprabhu's pastimes) and Srimad Bhakti Prakash Aranya Maharaj (a diksa and sannyas disciple of Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur).

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day. We must always remember disappearance and appearance days of all Vaishnavs. If we can remember such personalities, such great souls, it will bring a great benefit to our spiritual life. If you remember the glories of Vaishnavs, if you speak about the glories of Vaishnavs, they can rescue you from all kinds of material bondage. We have heard a hundred times that if we glorify Vaishnavs, it gives great benefit, but even though we have heard it a thousand times, how much are we able to glorify Vaishnavs from our heart? How much can we serve Vaishnavs with heart and soul? This is the question."

 

In honour of Srila Devananda Pandit:

Learn Proper Conception
"Sometimes we can unconsciously make an offence, but through good association we can hear and understand the proper guidance, proper etiquette. If we do not know it, then no matter how much we practise, how much we chant and how much service we do, we can still sometimes be doing some aparadh."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 26 May 2019)

Learn to Give Honour
"Without thinking, we write something, we do something, we think something, and we consider that what we think is the highest. This is Vaishnav aparadh. You must learn to give honour to others. Even if the person is junior, even if they do not know anything, we must learn to give honour to others."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 3 min | 29 May 2019)

 

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

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

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

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

ADDITIONAL READING:

• "Observing Ekadasi"
• "Ekadasi Vrata: Make Your Guru Happy"
• "No Other Shelter"
• "Mahadvadasi"
• "Ekadasi and liberation"		 • "Ekadasi Tithi: One of the Practices"
• "Yogini Ekadasi"
• "Ekadasi: Historical Background"
• "Ekadasi: Main Focus Is Service"
• Ekadasi Struggle?

 

Sun, 10 January 2021 (Disappearance of Sripad Bhakti Bhudev Shrauti Maharaj)
Unimaginable Service
"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."
• Download / listen to the audio (5.1 Mb, 12 min | 3 January 2021)

 

Today in the calendar: Krishna Dvadashi. Paran between 6:25 and 9:54 a.m. Disappearance of Sripad Bhakti Bhudev Shrauti Maharaj (a diksa and sannyas disciple of Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur).

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day. We must always remember disappearance and appearance days of all Vaishnavs. If we can remember such personalities, such great souls, it will bring a great benefit to our spiritual life. If you remember the glories of Vaishnavs, if you speak about the glories of Vaishnavs, they can rescue you from all kinds of material bondage. We have heard a hundred times that if we glorify Vaishnavs, it gives great benefit, but even though we have heard it a thousand times, how much are we able to glorify Vaishnavs from our heart? How much can we serve Vaishnavs with heart and soul? This is the question."

 

Mon, 11 January 2021 (Disappearance of Srila Mahesh Pandit, Srila Uddharan Das Thakur)
Good Mind, Good Heart
"So many things are bound to happen, but our duty is to practise properly, to chant the Holy Name, to follow all the rules and regulations. Sometimes, some problems come, some things can happen in family life, and it gives us a little pain, but when something bad comes, we should always ignore it."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 4 min | 10 January 2021)

Visiting Sri Bankura and Sri Ekachakra
(9-10 January 2021 | 38 photographs, 4.2 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj visits Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math temples in Bankura (Betur) and Sri Ekachakra Dham to see to the maintenance of the temples and commence a small new service project (as well as plan the arrangements for the forthcoming festival of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's appearance day).

 

Today in the calendar: Krishna Trayodashi. Disappearance of Srila Mahesh Pandit and Srila Uddharan Das Thakur (both are great followers of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu).

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day. We must always remember disappearance and appearance days of all Vaishnavs. If we can remember such personalities, such great souls, it will bring a great benefit to our spiritual life. If you remember the glories of Vaishnavs, if you speak about the glories of Vaishnavs, they can rescue you from all kinds of material bondage. We have heard a hundred times that if we glorify Vaishnavs, it gives great benefit, but even though we have heard it a thousand times, how much are we able to glorify Vaishnavs from our heart? How much can we serve Vaishnavs with heart and soul? This is the question."

 

In honour of Srila Uddharan Das Thakur:

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur writes in his Anubhasya, "The Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (129) states that Uddharan Datta Thakur was formerly the cowherd boy of Vrindavana named Subahu. Uddharan Datta Thakur, previously known as Sri Uddharan Datta, was a resident of Saptagram, which is situated on the bank of the Sarasvati River near the Trisabigha railway station in the district of Hooghly.

"In the Chaitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda, Chapter Five, it is said that Uddharan Datta was an extremely elevated and liberal Vaisnava. He was born with the right to worship Nityananda Prabhu. It is also stated that Nityananda Prabhu, after staying for some time in Khadadaha, came to Saptagrama and stayed in the house of Uddharan Datta.

"In Saptagrama there is still a temple with a six-armed Deity of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that was personally worshiped by Srila Uddharan Datta Thakur. On the right side of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is a Deity of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, and on the left side is Gadadhara Prabhu. Uddharan Datta Thakur was the manager of the estate of a big zamindar in Naihati, about one and a half miles north of Katwa. The relics of this royal family are still visible near the Daiìhata station. Since Uddharan Datta Thakur was the manager of the estate, it was also known as Uddharan-pur. Uddharan Datta Thakur installed Nitai-Gaura Deities that were later brought to the house of the zamindar, which was known as Vanaoyaribada. Srila Uddharan Datta Thakur remained a householder throughout his life. His father's name was Srikara Datta, his mother's name was Bhadravati, and his son's name was Srinivasa Datta."

(From a purport to Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita,
by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad)

In honour of Srila Mahesh Pandit:

"Mahes Pandit, the seventh of the twelve gopals, was very liberal. In great love of Krishna he danced to the beating of a kettledrum like a madman."

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura writes in his Anubhasya, "The village of Mahes Pandit, which is known as Palapad, is situated in the district of Nadia within a forest about one mile south of the Chakadaha railway station. It is mentioned that Mahes Pandit joined the festival performed by Sri Nityananda Prabhu at Panihati. Narottam Das Thakur also joined in the festival, and Mahes Pandit saw him on that occasion. In the temple of Mahes Pandit there are Deities of Gaura-Nityananda, Sri Gopinath, Sri Madana-mohan and Radha-Govinda, as well as a salagrama-sila."

 

Tue, 12 January 2021
Uninterrupted Service Life
"Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur so much reduced the rules and regulations. He even relaxed the rules of following ekadasi. All of our guru-varga, all followers of Sri Rupanuga line have already accepted and established all these things. We must try to follow the rules and regulations as much as we can, we must do our best in our practising life."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 5 min | 10 January 2021)

Preaching Programme in Uluberia Area
(12 January 2021 | 34 photographs, 3.8 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj attends a happy preaching programme hosted by a group of devotees in the area of Uluberia. His Divine Grace bestows the grand mercy of his holy association through Hari-kirtan, Hari-katha, by spending time with the devotees and also distributing first invitations to Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's appearance festival.

 

All Glory to Sri Sri Guru Gauranga

— · Sri Ekachakra Dham Festival Invitation · —

ullanghyanghrim hi yasyakhila-bhajana-katha
svapnavach chaiva mithya
sri-nityananda-chandram patita-sarana-dam
gaura-dam tam bhaje 'ham

"By neglecting the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu all sadhana or bhajan (spiritual practices, services or worship) become an illusion, just like a dream. I worship and adore with all my heart that gracious giver of Sri Gaura, the benevolent bestower of His shelter to the fallen souls—Sri Nityanandachandra."
Dear Vaishnavs, Devotees, and Friends,
On behalf of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj, we humbly bow at your holy feet and extend a cordial invitation to please come and join the annual Festival of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's appearance day that is manifest on 22-26 February 2021 and shall be observed grandly at Sri Ekachakra Dham.
Special programmes of worship, kirtan, parikrama, lectures, prasad distribution, as well as many other devotional activities will be held during the Festival. We shall feel obliged to have the kind company of you and your friends to enhance this great annual festival at our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Temple in Sri Ekachakra Dham, as well as the branches worldwide.

Sri Ekachakra Dham
Sree Chaitanya Saraswata
Krishnanushilana Sangha,
Garbhabas, Birchandrapur, Birbhum,
West Bengal, PIN 731245
Phone: +91 9836051708

If you have any enquiries,
you can get in touch with us at
info.at.scsmathinternational.com

Festival in 2015:

• Adhivas (am)
• Adhivas (noon)
• Adhivas (pm)
• Appearance Day

Festival in 2016:

• Arrival
• Appearance Day

Festival in 2017:

• Arriving
• Sri Varaha Dvadasi
• Appearance Day
• Final Day

Festival in 2018:

• Arriving
• Morning, Noon
• Sri Adhivas Day
• Morning
• Parikrama
• Noon Programme

Festival in 2019:

• Arriving
• Sri Adhivas Day
• Morning
• Day After

Festival in 2020:

• Arriving
• First Day
• Varaha-Dvadasi
• Main Festival

 

Wed, 13 January 2021
Accommodating Heart
"(1) Now accommodation in Nrisingha Palli is not a problem for devotees. (2) Even if we do not know anything about the Vaishnav or events mentioned there, we can at least give 'jay' to them. (2) Vishnupriya Devi made a huge sacrifice for us because if she had not left Mahaprabhu, how would we have known about Mahaprabhu's separation pastimes?"
• Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 5 min | 10 January 2021)

 

Today in the calendar: Amavasya. Sriman Mahaprabhu leaves Nabadwip in the night to go to Katwa to take sannyas.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day. We must always remember disappearance and appearance days of all Vaishnavs. If we can remember such personalities, such great souls, it will bring a great benefit to our spiritual life."

"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."

 

In honour of Sriman Maharabhu's last day in Nabadwip:

In a lecture about Sriman Mahaprabhu's sannyas-lila, Srila Govinda Maharaj commented: "We have seen that Srila Guru Maharaj was always deeply intoxicated with Mahaprabhu’s sannyas-lila. He established as a rule in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math that for the three days [after Mahaprabhu takes sannyas and leaves Nabadwip] the devotees will live very simply and eat only some rice and dalma (dal cooked with mixed vegetables)."

Srila Lochan Das Thakur Mahasay
"Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur did not write in Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata very clearly or broadly about the time prior to Sriman Mahaprabhu's taking sannyas, but in his Sri Chaitanya-mangal, Srila Lochan Das Thakur, for example, tells about the talk between Sriman Mahaprabhu and Vishnupriya Devi."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.7 Mb, 9 min | 25 October 2020)

Vishnupriya Devi's Sacrifice
"We must remember in our life the sacrifice that Vishnupriya Devi made. This life is not for enjoyment, this life is for service. We should learn from the sacrifice of Vishnupriya Devi..."

"If You Love Me..."
"Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, 'You think I am going to take sannyas and go far away from Nabadwip, but this is not so. You are always with Me. If you love Me, if you have any love and affection for Me, then always think about Krishna, always chant Hare Krishna and tell others to chant it.'"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 11 October 2020)

The Pain of Broken Hearts
"We always remember Srimati Radharani, Her associates and other Vraja gopis, but we forget about Nanda Maharaj and Mother Yasomati. It has come out of Radharani's mouth: 'We do not consider our heart's pain, but when we see Mother Yasoda's face and Mother Yasoda's situation without Your presence, our heart is breaking after breaking after breaking.' In Mahaprabhu's pastimes, we can see a similar situation."
• Download / listen to the audio (9.2 Mb, 36 min | 14 June 2007)

Ditching the World
"We have come here by a great fortune. Not everybody can come here. We must take the dust of this place, we must take prasad at this place. Do you see our condition? We must cry, 'When will material attachment be removed from my heart? When will that happen?'"
• Download / listen to the audio (5.2 Mb, 15 min | 29 January 2018 | Bengali)

 

 

According to solar calculation, it was on the day of Makara-sankranti, an auspicious conjunction of the stars, that Nimai Pandit went to Katwa to take sannyas, the renounced order of life. After this, He would become known as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Just before this, He told only a few of His friends, including Nityananda Prabhu, Gadadhara Pandit, Mukunda, and others, "The time when I will accept the robe of renunciation is very near."

Just a few days before this, an opposition party had been raised against Nimai Pandit. Those who believed that material nature is the highest principle, and that consciousness is a product of matter, began to abuse Nimai Pandit. He thought, "I came to deliver the lowest of men, but if they commit offenses against Me, there will be not hope for their upliftment." Suddenly, He said, "I came with that medicine which gives the greatest relief, but now I find that their disease is rapidly growing worse and seems beyond treatment. It will take its own course towards doom. The patients are committing offenses by abusing their doctor. They are making arrangements to insult Me. They take it that I am a family man—their nephew. They take Me as one of them. I came with the best medicine for the present degraded age, but now I find that they are plotting against Me. Now they are doomed. At least I have to show them that I am not one of them." He thought, "I shall leave family life and take sannyas and wander from village to village, town to town, preaching the Holy Name of Krishna." That was His decision, and within a few days He went to take sannyas at Katwa from Kesav Bharati Maharaj.

Just the day before He left to take sannyas, from the afternoon until the evening, there was a spontaneous gathering of devotees in the home of Nimai Pandit. Every year in Bengal, that day was celebrated as Laksmi-puja, worship of the goddess of fortune, when special cakes are prepared and distributed. Nimai, knowing that early the next morning He would leave Navadwip to take sannyas, attracted His followers in such a way that almost every leading devotee came to see Him that evening.

They came with flower garlands and many other offerings to be presented to the Lord. Nimai accepted their garlands and then placed them on the necks of the devotees who gave them. Only four of His most intimate devotees knew He was leaving; the ordinary devotees did not know this would be His last night in Navadwip. With His own hands He garlanded the necks of His devotees and appealed to them, "Always chant the name of Krishna. Under no condition should you give up this krsna-nama. And don't do anything else. While working, eating, sleeping or walking, day or night—in whatever you do—continuously take the name of Krishna. Always talk about Krishna—nothing else. If you have any real attraction for Me, then don't do anything without chanting the name of Krishna.

"Cultivate Krishna consciousness. Krishna is the origin of us all. He is our father; we have come from Him. The son who shows no gratitude towards the father is sure to be punished birth after birth. Always chant these names of the Lord:

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

No other religious principle is required. Chant Hare Krishna. This is not an ordinary mantra, but this is the maha-mantra, the greatest of all the great mantras, the very essence of all the mantras known to the world. Only take to this, always. No other prescription is to be followed.

"Remember your Lord, your home. This is a foreign land; you have nothing to aspire after here. Try always to go back home, back to Godhead." In this way, the Lord spoke, and all His devotees intuitively came because it was Nimai Pandit's last night in Navadwip.

Late at night, one devotee named Kholaveca Sridhara arrived. He used to make trade on the plantain tree and its fruit. He would sell the fruit, ripe or green, and the big leaves which are used as plates. Sometimes Nimai would pay him less for his fruits than what they were worth, and sometimes He would snatch the best fruits from him. Sridhara came to see Him late at night to offer Him a choice lau (calabash/bottle gourd). And Nimai thought, "I have spent almost My whole life snatching so many things from him, and now, on this last night he has brought this wonderful lau. I can't resist." He asked Sacidevi, "Mother, Sridhara has given me this lau. Please think of how it can be prepared." At bedtime, someone came with some milk. Nimai said, "Mother, with this milk and this lau, please prepare some sweet-rice." So Sacidevi prepared some pumpkin sweet-rice: pumpkin boiled with milk, rice and sugar.

Late at night, at about three o' clock in the morning, Nimai went away.

From Golden Volcano of Divine Love

 

Thu, 14 January 2021 (Makar Sankranti)
Material Affection
"You are showing some love and affection, but how are you doing it? Always be careful with giving 'love and affection'. There are brahmacharis, sannyasis living at the temple, and you should always keep some distance from them. We will stay together in a temple, but we must be always careful—we will not enter with anyone into a husband-wife relationship."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 7 min | 10 January 2021)

মহাপ্রভুর দুর্ল্লভ দান ও শিক্ষা
রীল গুরুপাদপদ্ম ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীলভক্তিনির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের উলুবেড়িয়াতে হরিকথামৃত:
"জীবকে দয়া করবার জন্য শ্রীকৃষ্ণ চৈতন্য মহাপ্রভু লোকের দ্বারে দ্বারে হেঁটে হেঁটে বলতেন, ‘জীব জাগো, জীব জাগো—জীব আর ঘুমিও না, এবার উঠে পড় !’ যে গোলোক বৃন্দাবদ ধাম থেকে আভিন্না, সেই শ্রীনবদ্বীপ অবলম্বন করে তিনি এই জগতে অবতীর্ণ হয়েছেন । অবতীর্ণ হয়ে তিনি কী দিয়েছেন ? যে অত্যন্ত দুর্ল্লভ প্রেম ব্রহ্মা শিব মহেশ্বরও কৃষ্ণপ্রেম পান না, তিনি সেই কৃষ্ণপ্রেম লোকের দ্বারে দ্বারে বিতরণ করেছেন, কিন্তু সবাই ত সেই প্রেম ধরতে পারে নি—যাদের কৃষ্ণপ্রেম ধরার ক্ষমতা আছে, তারা সেটা ধরতে পারেন ।"
• Download / listen to the audio (43.5 Mb, 1 hr 44 min | 12 January 2021 | Bengali | ১২ জানুয়ারী ২০২১)

Preaching Programme in Basirhat Area
(13 January 2021 | 29 photographs, 2.9 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj attends a preaching programme hosted by devotees in the area of Basirhat and comes to embark on an important and long-awaited project for our Mission. His Divine Grace showers all fortunate souls with his nourishing Hari-kirtan and Hari-katha and distributes invitations to Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's appearance festival.

 

Today in the calendar: Gaura Pratipad. Appearance of Srila Lochan Das Thakur. Mahaprabhu walks to Keshav Bharati's ashram and attempts to take sannyas; devotees raise a ruckus at the ashram of Keshav Bharati.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day. We must always remember disappearance and appearance days of all Vaishnavs. If we can remember such personalities, such great souls, it will bring a great benefit to our spiritual life."

"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."

 

In honour of Srila Lochan Das Thakur:

Srila Lochan Das Thakur Mahasay
"Srila Lochan Das Thakur is a follower of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu—he belonged to His line. Srila Lochan Das Thakur was born in Burdwan district and he was a disciple of Sri Narahari Thakur. The name of Srila Lochan Das Thakur's father is Sri Kamalakar Das, and his mother's name is Sri Sadanandi..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.7 Mb, 9 min | 25 October 2020)

 

 

Today's events:

Clearing the Obstacles
"When Mahaprabhu left His family, do you know who came at that time? Kalanidra. Kalanidra came to the Lord and asked, 'Prabhu, I have come. Why did You call me? What is my duty?' Mahaprabhu told her, 'Now do your duty.'"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 5 min | 12 December 2010)

 

Late at night, at about three o' clock in the morning, Nimai went away. He left Visnupriya Devi asleep in bed. His mother Sacidevi, sensing what was to come, was staying awake all night guarding the door. Nimai bowed down to her and went away. And like a stone figure, Mother Sacidevi sat there by the gate as Nimai left. She could not say anything, but was struck dumb.

A little after three o'clock in the morning, Nimai swam across the Ganges and in His wet cloth went straight to Katwa, a distance of twenty-five miles. He reached there by nine or ten o'clock. There, He approached Kesav Bharati to take sannyas.

In the early morning, the devotees came to see Nimai and found Sacidevi like a statue, sitting at the door. The door was open. Everything was empty. "What's the matter Sachi Devi?" they asked. She told them, "Oh, I was waiting for you devotees. You take possession of the house. I shall go somewhere else. I can't enter this house any more. You are His associates; you are the true heirs. Take possession." They began to throng around her and console her. "You will go? What about the young wife He left? The girl is only fourteen years old. Who will protect her? You can't shun the responsibility given to you. It is on your shoulders." In this way they came and consoled her and tried to give her some hope.

Suddenly the devotees heard that Nimai Pandit, Sri Gauranga, had left Navadwip. They learned that He had gone to Katwa, to Kesav Bharati's asrama to take sannyas, bidding goodbye to the people of Navadwip forever.

A dark shadow came down. Many began to weep and cry for Him. Many of them ran towards Katwa. Nimai Pandit was an unprecedented scholar with beautiful features—tall, fair, and benevolent. He had already made the people mad with the Holy Name of Krishna. He had released the two great sinners Jagai and Madhai from their nasty life. He had checked the Mohammedan ruler, the Kazi, who had broken the mrdanga drum. As a famous Pandit, he had defeated many scholars who came to conquer Navadwip, which was very much renowned for its high culture of learning, especially of logic.

At that time in Navadwip, logic (nyaya), worship of material energy (tantra), and official Hinduism (smrti), were in high culture. Navadwip was highly renowned for scholarship. If Pandits could not defeat the scholars of Navadwip, they could not become famous. From far away in Kashmir, Kesav Kasmiri had to come to Navadwip to get a certificate that he was a Pandit. And he was defeated by Nimai Pandit. Kesav Kasmiri was such a big Pandit that it was rumored he was the favorite child of Saraswati, the goddess of learning. No one could face him. Still, he was defeated by Nimai Pandit.

But Nimai Pandit left Navadwip forever and took sannyas because the people of Navadwip could not appreciate Him. He reached Katwa, where, just on the banks of the Ganges, there was a sannyasi named Kesav Bharati. Nimai went to him and asked him for sannyas. Kesav Bharati suddenly found that his asrama was full of luster. At first, it seemed as if the sun was rising before him; then he saw that it was a bright person approaching. He rose from his seat, and with strained eyes approached in wonder. "What is this?" he thought.

Then he realized that the great devotee-scholar, Nimai Pandit, had come. He appeared before him saying, "I want to take sannyas from you." But Kesav Bharati could not accept Nimai's offer. "I am charmed by Your beauty and personality," he said. "But You are so young, only twenty-four years old. What about Your mother, Your wife, and Your guardians? Without consulting with them, I cannot venture to give You the robe of renunciation."

In the meantime, as it was Makar Sankranti, a famous holiday, many people had come to take bath in the holy waters of the Ganges. They gathered there and the rumor spread like fire: "Nimai Pandit of Navadwip has come to take sannyas." Many men flocked there, until a huge crowd gathered.

They all opposed Mahaprabhu's sannyas. Some of them raised their voices in protest: "You—Kesav Bharati! We won't allow you to give sannyas to this young man. He has a family, his mother and wife. We won't allow it. If you give sannyas to this charming, young, beautiful boy, we will break down your asrama immediately. It can't be!"

But Nimai Pandit kept pressing for sannyas. At last, Kesav Bharati asked him, "So, you are that Nimai Pandit about whom we have heard so much? Many big scholars came to conquer Navadwip, the famous seat of learning, and You have defeated them all. Are You that Nimai Pandit?" "Yes," said Nimai. Kesav Bharati told him, "I can give You sannyas, but You must take the permission of Your mother—otherwise I won't, I can't do it." Nimai suddenly began running towards Navadwip to ask permission, but Kesav Bharati thought, "He has such a commanding personality, He can do anything."

Nimai was called back. Kesav Bharati told him, "With Your most extraordinary personality You can do anything. You will go there, charm Your guardians, get permission, and return. Nothing is impossible for You."

The ordinary public was very much enraged, saying to Kesav Bharati, "We can't allow you, Swamiji, to give sannyas to this young boy. It is impossible! If you do, then we shall smash your ashram." Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu began performing kirtan, chanting Hare Krishna and dancing madly. And the angry mob grew, sometimes creating a disturbance. In this way the whole day passed with no decision. The night passed in sankirtan.

From Golden Volcano of Divine Love

 

Fri, 15 January 2021 (Disappearance of Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu, Srila Jagadish Pandit. Sriman Mahaprabhu's sannyas-lila.)
Coming Before Deities
"When you come in front of the Deities, you must always think, 'I must serve the Deities.' Some other thought can come because our mind is always naughty. What can we do? We will try our best so that only good thoughts come to our minds."
• Download / listen to the audio (0.6 Mb, 3 min | 10 January 2021)

 

Today in the calendar: Gaura Tritiya. Disappearance of Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu and Srila Jagadish Pandit. Remembrance of Sriman Mahaprabhu's sannyas-lila.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day. We must always remember disappearance and appearance days of all Vaishnavs. If we can remember such personalities, such great souls, it will bring a great benefit to our spiritual life."

"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."

 

In honour of Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu:

—: Pranam mantra of Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu :—

yah sankhya-pankena kutarka-pamsuna
vivarta-gartena cha lupta-didhitim
suddham vyadhad vak-sudhaya mahesvaram
krsnam sa jivah prabhur astu me gatih
"With his nectarean teachings, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu revealed the Supreme Lord, Krishna, whose effulgence had been hidden by the quicksand of calculation, the dust storm of fallacious logic, and the ditch of illusionism. May he be my shelter."
—Sri Baladev Vidyabhusan

 

• Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu
"I have no power to say what kind of devotion to his Guru Jiva Goswami had. Jiva Goswami's service cannot be compared to anyone's service. Whatever order he would get, he would place it on his head and do it all the time—his mind never went to any other place."
• Download / listen to the audio (8 Mb, 23 min | 2012)

• Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu: The All-Rounder
"Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu did everything alone—he cooked, did puja, cleaned the temple, brought water from the Yamuna, and also did personal service to his Guru. He was busy with his service from morning to night, and did everything alone."
• Download / listen to the audio (0.6 Mb, 2 min | 9 September 2011)

• Protected Journey
Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj explains the pranam-mantra of Srila Jiva Goswami in the book Dignity of the Divine Servitor: "I offer my full dandavats unto the lotus feet of Srila Jiva Goswami who is the protector of our spiritual life. He rescues us from the whole illusory environment..."

• Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhura Sochaka
A song composed by Srila Narahari Thakur in glorification of Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu's life, character, and service. Bengali verses and English transliteration.

 

 

Today's events:

Will-O'-the-Wisp of Worldly Wishes
"If you give Maya chance, then Maya will attack you. As soon as you get a weak spot, Maya will attack you. It does not matter whether you are young or old. If you try to control your elements, you can control them from a young age."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.1 Mb, 10 min | 5 July 2020)

 

...The next day, Nimai's will prevailed, although there was still some opposition.

Nityananda Prabhu, along with Nimai's maternal uncle Candrasekhara, Mukunda Datta and Jagadananda Pandit, gradually arrived there. And that afternoon, the sannyas function began. Candrasekhara Acarya was asked to perform the ceremony on behalf of Nimai Pandit, who began to chant and dance and charm the audience.

laksa-locanasru-varsa-harsa-kesa-kartanam
koti-kantha-krsna-kirtanadhya-danda-dharanam
nyasi-vesa-sarva-desa-ha-hutasa-kastaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram

"While showers of tears fell from the eyes of millions, He delighted in having His beautiful hair shaved away. Millions of voices sang the glories of Krishna, as Sri Krishna Chaitanya accepted the staff of renunciation. From that time on, wherever He went, whoever saw Him in the dress of a sannyasi cried in grief. I sing the glories of that beautiful Golden God, the giver of divine love."

The scene was at Katwa. Four-hundred and seventy-four years ago, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyas. He was young and beautiful, with a tall figure. He was only twenty-four and had beautiful curling hair. A barber was asked to shave Him, and approached Him, but then withdrew. The barber could not venture to touch Nimai's body. He began to cry. "How can I remove such beautiful hair from such a beautiful head?"

And so many others were also crying aloud, "What a horrible thing is being done here! Who is the creator of this sannyas? Who is so hard-hearted that he created the sannyas-asrama, where one must give up all that is near and dear and go from door to door, begging, leaving his own friends and relatives crying helplessly? What is this creation of the Supreme? Is it logical? Is it a happy thing? It is most cruel!"

Nimai Pandit was smiling. After the barber was ordered repeatedly, somehow he was forced to shave Nimai's head. At first, he could not venture to touch His hair, saying, "I can't touch Him." But at last, he had to do the service of shaving the beautiful, curling hair of the beautiful face of the twenty-four year old genius boy. He began with his shears. Some people could not stand the scene. Some even became mad. In the midst of the weeping, wailing, and crying of the threatening mob, it was done.

Nimai Pandit was senseless. After being only half-shaved, He stood up and began chanting in kirtana and dancing in ecstatic joy. After He was shaved, the barber promised, "I will never again shave anyone with this hand! I would rather live by begging. This is my last service as a barber." After this, that barber took up the occupation of a sweetmaker.

Ultimately Nimai's appeals pacified the mob, and a little before noon the inevitable gradually came: the sannyas function was performed. Chandrasekara Acharya, the maternal uncle of Nimai Pandit, was deputed to take charge of the rituals in the ceremony of sannyas. When the mantra was to be conferred, Nimai Pandit asked Kesav Bharati, "Is this the mantra you will give me? I heard it in a dream." He whispered the mantra in the ear of his guru who accepted, saying, "Yes, this is the mantra I shall give You." Then that mantra was given.

And the name of this sannyasi was not given in an ordinary way either. A most peculiar name came through Kesav Bharati: "Krishna Chaitanya." None of the ten names generally given to sannyasis was given to Nimai Pandit, but the name that was given to Him was Krishna Chaitanya. As soon as they heard that name, the mob began to cry, "Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ki jaya!" "All glories to Sri Krishna Chaitanya!"

The father of Srinivasa Acarya was a class-friend of Nimai Pandit. On his way to his father-in-law's house, he heard that Nimai Pandit had come to take sannyas. He ran there, and seeing everything, he became dumb—he was devastated and went half-mad. After that, nothing came from his mouth but "Chaitanya!" After he heard the name "Krishna Chaitanya," whatever anyone said to him, he would only say, "Chaitanya!" He became mad. After that, his name became Chaitanya dasa. His former name vanished, and everyone used to call him Chaitanya dasa. He could not stand the scene of Nimai Pandit's sannyas.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, newly dressed in red robes, embraced His guru, and both of them began to dance, chanting the name of Krishna. After some time, the meaning of the name was given. Kesav Bharati Maharaja said, "Sri Krishna Chaitanya means that You arouse Krishna consciousness throughout the entire world. You have descended to make all people Krishna conscious. So the most suitable name for You cannot but be Sri Krishna Chaitanya."

Mahaprabhu was very cheerful, thinking, "I am going to relieve so many souls from their eternal misery and affliction. I have promised to deliver the whole world from this ocean of misery and take them to the nectarine world, and now I am going to accept that task." He was cheerful, but everyone around Him was diving in the ocean of despair and sorrow.

Some scholars stress that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyas from Kesav Bharati, who was a mayavadi, an impersonalist. But although Kesav Bharati may have externally showed himself in that way, it is seen that by coming in connection with Mahaprabhu, he became a devotee. Otherwise, we may also think that he was a devotee who came in the garb of an impersonalist to help the preaching of Mahaprabhu by assisting Him with the social formality of taking sannyas. At that time, all over India, mayavadi sannyasis had greater recognition than Vaisnava sannyasis, and Kesav Bharati was already situated in that post. Mahaprabhu took the garb of a sannyasi from him for His own purpose, to help His preaching activity. All these things may be explained in different ways. In any case, after Mahaprabhu took sannyas, Kesav Bharati began to sing and dance with Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He joined in sankirtana and was immediately converted.

In this way, the sannyas of Nimai Pandit took place. What is the meaning of His sannyas?....

From Golden Volcano of Divine Love

 

Sat, 16 January 2021 (Mahaprabhu roams Radadesh after taking sannyas)
Sri Uddharan Datta Thakur and Sri Vakreshwar Pandit
"(1) Sri Uddharan Datta Thakur was a great Vaishnav, maha-bhagavat, and he always worshiped and served Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's lotus feet. (2) 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."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 7 min | 10 January 2021)

Sri Nrisingha Palli: Construction Progress and Happy News
(16 January 2021 | 16 photographs, 1.4 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj pays a brief visit to Sri Nrisingha Palli Temple to check on the guesthouse construction progress, as well as settle the commencement of a new exciting and monumentally important project in the Holy Land.

 

Sannyas Lila: Roaming the Land
"Mahaprabhu would go in a zigzag way—sometimes He went to the East, sometimes to the West, and the devotees followed Him not knowing where He was going..."
• Download / listen to the audio (7.5 Mb, 25 min)

Sri Nimai Sannyas (English, Bengali, an audio recording)
Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's poem expressing the grief-stricken hearts of the residents of Nabadwip: "Vishvambhar, the son of Jagannath Mishra, who resides in Nabadwip, Sachi's Nimai, has taken sannyas. A tumult of cries filled the sky—Sachi's Nimai has taken sannyas!"

 

From Sri Sri Prema Dhama Deva Stotram:
laksa-lochanasru-varsa-harsa-kesa-kartanam
koti-kantha-krsna-kirtanadhya-danda-dharanam
nyasi-vesa-sarvadesa-ha-hutasa-kataram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
"Sri Gaurasundara departed from Nabadwip and went away to become a sannyasi (monk), leaving behind his family members and friends whose eyes were filled with tears. He accepted the staff and waterpot as his only possessions, the emblems of a renunciate. When his long hair was cut off and his head was shaved, thousands of voices sang the holy names. The devotee's eyes shed rivers of tears, since they knew he was going into the world and leaving them behind. From that time, whoever saw him in the red garments of a sannyasi cried out loud in grief. I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love."

 

Sun, 17 January 2021 (Mahaprabhu roams Radadesh for the second day after taking sannyas)
Best Turn In Life
"When I joined Krishna consciousness, my family said, 'That boy has lost his mind!' They did not even want to see my face, but now they understand that I made no mistake. It is necessary for some devotees to leave their family and join full time—it is necessary for the future of the Mission."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.6 Mb, 11 min | 10 January 2021)

হরিভজনময় জীবন
রীল গুরুপাদপদ্ম ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীলভক্তিনির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের কোলকাতায় হরিকথামৃত:
"সঙ্কীর্ত্তন-যজ্ঞের দ্বারা গৌর-নিতাইকে আরাধনা করতে হয় আর সেটা সত্যিকারের নাম হতে হয় । সেই জন্য সব সময় সাধু সঙ্গে থাকা চাই । আমরা শ্রীগুরুদেবের কাছে প্রার্থনা করি, গুরুদেব তুমি আমাকে সহ্যক্ষমতা দাও, ধৈর্যক্ষমতা দাও যেন আমি সব সময় গুরু-বৈষ্ণব-ভগবানের সেবা করতে পারি, হরিনাম কীরত্তন করতে পারি, তাহলে আমার পরম কল্যাণ বস্তু লাভ হয়ে যাবে । সাধু-গুরু-বৈষ্ণবের চরণে শরণাগত হয়ে আমাদের দৈনিক হরিভজন কররতে হবে—আমরা সব সময় কৃষ্ণ নাম করব, কৃষ্ণধাম পরিক্রমা করব ।"
• Download / listen to the audio (52.2 Mb, 2 hr 05 min | 16 January 2021 | Bengali | ১৬ জানুয়ারী ২০২১)

Evening Preaching Programme in Kolkata
(16 January 2021 | 8 photographs, 1 Mb)
A few photographs taken during His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj's evening preaching programme in North Dum Dum, Kolkata. His Divine Grace meets with the devotees, nourishes and encourages them on the path of pure Krishna consciousness, and appeals to everyone with an invitation to the forthcoming festival in Sri Ekachakra Dham.

 

"Passing through the tract of land known as Rada-des, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu recited the following verse in ecstasy:

etam sa asthaya paratma-nistham
adhyasitam purvatamair mahadbhih
aham tarisyami duranta-param
tamo mukundanghri-nisevayaiva

"Avanti Brahman said, 'I shall cross over the insurmountable ocean of nescience by being firmly fixed in the service of the lotus feet of Krishna. This was approved by the previous acharyas who were fixed in firm devotion to the Lord, Paramatma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.'"

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.3.4-5)

 

Mon, 18 January 2021 (Mahaprabhu roams Radadesh for the third day before arriving in Shantipur)
Latest Events
"I am very happy to see you all after one week. I have been doing some preaching programme lately and came last night. It was Sriman Mahaprabhu's sannyas day recently. This year, I had to go to Nabadwip on this day because I have so much service there."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 6 min | 17 January 2021)

Mahaprabhu's Stay in Shantipur
"Nityananda Prabhu understood devotees' feeling and somehow managed to take Mahaprabhu to Shantipur instead of taking Him straight to Vrindavan. In Shantipur, Mahaprabhu gave lecture, He sang and danced the whole day and night without stop..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 8 min | 26 January 2018)

 

Tue, 19 January 2021
Memorable Day In Bamunpara
"One morning Gurudev went to Bamunpara. Only Gurudev, his driver, me, and Gurudev's servant who cooked for him, went at that time. That day, Gurudev showed me that place in Bamunpara where Mahaprabhu passed after taking sannyas..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 4 min | 17 January 2021)

 

Wed, 20 January 2021
Remembering Mahaprabhu's Sannyas-Lila
"Srila Param Guru Maharaj 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."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 6 min | 17 January 2021)

 

Thu, 21 January 2021
Ten Days in Shantipur
"...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..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 6 min | 17 January 2021)

 

Fri, 22 January 2021
Heart-Breaking Decision
"Mahaprabhu's mother, Gadadhar, Brahmananda, Chandrasekhara, and Mukunda. Mahaprabhu told Nityananda Prabhu, 'Nobody except them knows about it.' Sri Sachi Mata cried so much and other devotees also tried to dissuade Mahaprabhu in so many ways..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 8 min | 17 January 2021)

 

Sat, 23 January 2021 (Tomorrow is Sri Putrada Ekadasi)
Deceitless Dealings
"Everything is service, and it is necessary to always do service from your heart. Try to respect each other. It is very important. Do not create so many classes, divisions, and groups among devotees. It is necessary to be simple, without any deceit."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 7 min | 17 January 2021)

 

Sun, 24 January 2021 (Today is Sri Putrada Ekadasi, tomorrow paran is 6:25-10:01 a.m.)
Deficiency in Practice
"We can overcome this situation, but we need to practise properly—we must serve devotees, we must preach for devotees. Practise very nicely. There are so many deficiencies in devotees. It is necessary to learn and practise."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.2 Mb, 8 min | 17 January 2021)

News from Sri Nrisingha Palli: Guesthouse Construction
(23 January 2021 | 28 photographs, 2.7 Mb)
With the Guesthouse construction works steadily continuing, His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj pays a brief visit at the temple of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Nrisingha Palli, Nabadwip, and gives further instructions to the workers and checks on other services around the temple compound.

 

Today in the calendar: Gaura Ekadashi. Putrada Ekadashi. Fast. Appearance of Srila Jagadish Pandit.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day. We must always remember disappearance and appearance days of all Vaishnavs. If we can remember such personalities, such great souls, it will bring a great benefit to our spiritual life."

"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."

 

About Sri Jagadish Pandit:

"Jagadish Pandit was formerly a great dancer in Krishna-lila and was known as Chandrahasa. He belonged to the village of Yasada-gram, in the district of Nadia near the Chakadaha railway station. His father, the son of Bhatta Narayan, was named Kamalaksa. Both his father and mother were great devotees of Lord Visnu, and after their death, Jagadish, with his wife Duhkhini and brother Mahesa, left his birthplace and came to Sri Mayapur to live in the company of Jagannath Misra and other Vaisnavas. Lord Chaitanya asked Jagadish to go to Jagannath Puri to preach the Harinam sankirtan movement. After returning from Jagannath Puri, on the order of Lord Jagannath he established Deities of Jagannath in the village of Yasada-gram."

"Sri Jagadish is described in the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (192) as follows: 'Sri Jagadish and Hiranya previously appeared as the wives of the yajnic brahmans of Vraja. The Lord asked for the grains they offered to Vishnu on the day of Ekadasi. Chandrahasa, the expert dancer and knower of the mellows of Vraja, has now appeared as Sri Jagadish Pandit.' Sri Nityananda Prabhu with His associates are the life and wealth of the most effulgent Sri Jagadish Pandit."

Jagadish Pandit and Hiranya Pandit—lived in Godrumadwip. Their house was some distance from the Lord's house. On the day of Ekadasi they arranged a large offering for the Lord. The injunction for fasting on Ekadasi is meant only for the living entities, but Lord Vishnu is beyond the jurisdiction of the rules and regulations that He has established. Since He is not bound to observe fast on Ekadasi, and since He alone is the enjoyer of all sacrificial offerings, all types of foodstuffs should be offered to Him on Ekadasi. On the day of Ekadasi the Vaisnavs give up all kinds of enjoyment and do not accept the injunction for honoring prasada as on other days, but Lord Sri Hari, the protector of the devotees, accepts the foodstuffs offered by His devotees on His day, Hari-vasara. Sri Gaura-Narayan also revealed His desire to eat those foodstuffs.

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata)

 

No Other Shelter
"One time, when Nimai was three-four years old, He showed He was sick, and was crying so much. It was an Ekadasi day. His mother, Sachi Mata, asked Him, 'What has happened?' Nimai said, 'I want to go to Hiranya-Jagadish's house!'"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 17 June 2001)

 

 

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

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

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

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

ADDITIONAL READING:

• "Observing Ekadasi"
• "Ekadasi Vrata: Make Your Guru Happy"
• "No Other Shelter"
• "Mahadvadasi"
• "Ekadasi and liberation"		 • "Ekadasi Tithi: One of the Practices"
• "Yogini Ekadasi"
• "Ekadasi: Historical Background"
• "Ekadasi: Main Focus Is Service"
• Ekadasi Struggle?

 

Mon, 25 January 2021
Increasing Preaching Scope
"Yesterday I went to Nrisingha Palli for a short time, and 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...."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 4 min | 24 January 2021)

আমাদের পরিচয়
রীল গুরুপাদপদ্ম ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীলভক্তিনির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের পাত্রসায়ের বাঁকুড়ায় হরিকথামৃত (প্রথম ভাগ):
"সাধু-সঙ্গে কৃষ্ণ-নাম এই মাত্র চাই, সংসার জিনিতে আর কোন বস্তু নাই । এই সাধু সঙ্গে কৃষ্ণ-নাম খুবই দুর্ল্লভ বস্তু । শাস্ত্রে বলেছে মেঘাচ্ছন্ন দিন দুর্দিন নয়, হরিকথা বিহীন দিন হয়েছে দুর্দিন । আজকে আমদের এই সুযোগ এসেছে—বৈষ্ণবের মুখে, গুরুর মুখে, সাধুর মুখে কিছু হরিকথা শ্রবণ-কীর্ত্তন করবার আমরা সুযোগ লাভ কারেছি । কৃষ্ণ কৃতায় ? শ্রীহরিকথায় । কৃষ্ণ কোন বনে ? কৃষ্ণ হচ্ছেন সেবনে ।"
• Download / listen to the audio (6.5 Mb, 16 min | 25 January 2021 | Bengali | ২৫ জানুয়ারী ২০২১)

 

Tue, 26 January 2021
Distribute Krishna Consciousness!
"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!"
• Download / listen to the audio (2.9 Mb, 7 min | 24 January 2021)

মহাপ্রভুর ধামের সম্বন্ধে
রীল গুরুপাদপদ্ম ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীলভক্তিনির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের পাত্রসায়ের বাঁকুড়ায় হরিকথামৃত (দ্বিতীয় ভাগ):
"মহাপ্রভুর সন্ন্যাস নেওয়ার আগে নাম ছিল নিমাই, পরে তাঁর নাম হয়েছে শ্রীকৃষ্ণচৈতন্য, অর্থাৎ কৃষ্ণ এই জড় জীব জগতকে চতন্য দিয়েছেন । তিনি গোলোক বৃন্দাবন থেকে কি জন্য এসেছেন ? জীবকে দয়া করার জন্য, আমাদের মত পতিত অধম জীবকে উদ্ধার করবার জন্য ভগবান নিজেই এই কলিযুগে এসেছেন ।"
• Download / listen to the audio (16.2 Mb, 39 min | 25 January 2021 | Bengali | ২৫ জানুয়ারী ২০২১)

Preaching Programme in Sri Bankura
(25 January 2021 | 30 photographs, 2.4 Mb)
Coming to Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Temple in Betur (Bankura) to attend the annual Deity installation festival, His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj arrives at the Temple and shortly afterwards attends a Vaishnav-seva programme near the temple on the first day of the five-day preaching in Betur and Bardhaman as a part of the annual grand Sri Nabadwip Dham Pracharani Sobha campaign.

 

Wed, 27 January 2021
Offering Bhog on Ekadasi
"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. However, if it is a temple with Deities, then we should offer everything, both ekadasi and non-ekadasi preparations."
• Download / listen to the audio (0.9 Mb, 2 min | 24 January 2021)

Anniversary Festival in Sri Bankura
(26 January 2021 | 44 photographs, 5.1 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj presides over the annual anniversary festival at the Temple of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Radha-Raman jiu, and all the devotees joyfully partake of the countless services at the temple for the pleasure Sri Gurupadpadma.

Preaching and Rice Collection
(26 January 2021 | 16 photographs, 1.6 Mb)
As each year, His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj commences the annual rice collection and door to door preaching in Bardhaman district shortly before Sri Gaura Purnima Festival. The first day's preaching campaign has yielded over half a ton of rice for the service of the Temple and Mission donated to Sri Gurupadpadma by the fortunate rice mill owners.

 

Thu, 28 January 2021
Sri Jagadish Pandit
"Born in Guwahati, Assam, Sri Jagadish Pandit came to live in Nabadwip. 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."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.5 Mb, 11 min | 24 January 2021)

Preaching and Rice Collection
(27 January 2021 | 51 photographs, 4 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj continues the grand preaching and collection campaign going door to door, knocking at everyone's hearts and tirelessly inviting everyone for Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama, spreading the message of Sriman Mahaprabhu. The mill owners welcome His Divine Grace warmly and happily donate almost a ton of rice for the service of the Lord and His devotees during the second day of the preaching programme.

 

Today in the calendar: Purnima. Pushyabhisheka Yatra of Sri Krishna. Disappearance of Sripad Bhakti Sharan Vaisnava Maharaj.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day. We must always remember disappearance and appearance days of all Vaishnavs. If we can remember such personalities, such great souls, it will bring a great benefit to our spiritual life."

"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."

 

 

Fri, 29 January 2021
Be Strong and Straight
"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."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.3 Mb, 11 min | 24 January 2021)

Preaching and Rice Collection
(28 January 2021 | 24 photographs, 1.9 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj spends one more day in the area of Bardhaman district continuing preaching and collection campaign. Despite the pandemic situation, the mill owners welcome His Divine Grace warmly and happily contribute to the service of the Lord.

 

Sat, 30 January 2021
Mission's Sustenance
"I want 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. 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."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 8 min | 24 January 2021)

Preaching Programme in Kolkata
(29 January 2021 | 23 photographs, 2.3 Mb)
Returning from the rice collection and Bardhaman preaching, His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj attends an afternoon Vaishnav-seva programme at a devotees' house in Kolkata—performing a fire sacrifice for a recently departed devotee, chanting Hari-kirtan, speaking Hari-katha, His Divine Grace tirelessly goes door to door inspiring everyone to practise pure Krishna consciousness and inviting to join Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama.

 

Sun, 31 January 2021
Learn to Tolerate
"Life is very short and life is very uncertain—so many problems will come, but we will not bow our hear down at the lotus feet of Maya Devi. We must do our service properly. You will have to face so many things, and it is necessary to tolerate everything."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.6 Mb, 9 min | 24 January 2021)

News from Sri Nrisingha Palli
(30 January 2021 | 19 photographs, 1.5 Mb)
Sri Gurupadpadma comes to Sri Nrisingha Palli for a brief visit to give initiation to a very fortunate lady devotee staying now at the temple and to supervise the guesthouse construction progress. Sharing a few glimpses taken throughout the day.

 

Today in the calendar: Krishna Tritiya. Appearance of Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami Prabhu. Disappearance of Srila Ramachandra Kaviraj.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day. We must always remember disappearance and appearance days of all Vaishnavs. If we can remember such personalities, such great souls, it will bring a great benefit to our spiritual life."

"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."

 

In honour of Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswamipad:

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

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

Prayers to Sri Vaishnav Thakur:

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

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

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

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

 

In honour of Srila Ramachandra Kaviraj's disappearance:

Power of Good Association
"You must see the sadhu with your ears. Every day you sing, 'Ramachandra-sanga mage Narottama Dasa: Narottam Das prays for the association of Ramachandra Kaviraj.' What does this mean? Why does Narottam Das always ask for the association of Ramachandra?"
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 12 March 2017 | Gaura Purnima)

 

 

 

 · · • • • · ·

 

 

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• OFFLINE READING, ePub:
(All lectures of His Divine Grace Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj posted here on the website)
Issue #1 (31 Dec '14)
Issue #2 (2015/1)
Issue #3 (2015/2)
Issue #4 (2015/3)
Issue #5 (2015/4)
Issue #6 (2016/1)
Issue #7 (2016/2)
Issue #8 (2016/3)
Issue #9 (2016/4)
Issue #10 (2017/1)
Issue #11 (2017/2)
Issue #12 (2017/3)
Issue #13 (2017/4)
Issue #14 (2018/1)
Issue #15 (2018/2)
Issue #16 (2018/3)
Issue #17 (2018/4)
Issue #18 (2019/1)
Issue #19 (2019/2)
Issue #20 (2019/3)
Issue #21 (2019/4)
Issue #22 (2020/1)
Issue #23 (2020/2)
Issue #24 (2020/3)
Issue #25 (2020/4)
Issue #26 (2021/1)
Issue #27 (2021/2)
Issue #28 (2021/3)
Issue #29 (2021/4)
Issue #30 (2022/1)

 

 

The Soul's Misery
'Illusory environment means we are covered by an illusory net and we forget everything. Overcoming this illusory environment will depend on the quality of our surrender.'

 

Sri Sri Prema-Vivarta
“Ornaments on a dead body are revolting; a non-devotee's chanting and austerity are comparable to such external 'wealth'.”

“Karmis always ask for themselves, for their own desire and interest, but devotees
always think about Krishna's interest. Devotee do not think for their own enjoyment.”

"HUMILITY, TOLERANCE, GIVING HONOUR TO OTHERS | HUMILITY, TOLERANCE, GIVING HONOUR TO OTHERS"