For the consolation and guidance of the perturbed:

Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj: Our Guru-parampara, disciplic succession, follows the ideal, not the body; it is a succession of instructing Spiritual Masters, not formal initiating Spiritual Masters. The highest truth of Krishna consciousness comes down through the channel of Siksa-gurus, instructing Spiritual Masters. Those who have the standard of realisation in the proper line have been accepted in the list of our disciplic succession. It is not a Diksa-guru-parampara, a succession of formal initiating gurus.

Diksa, or initiation, is more or less a formal thing; the substantial thing is siksa, or spiritual instruction. There are different gradations of Spiritual Masters. In the scriptures, the symptoms of the Guru and the symptoms of the disciple have been described. What is Krishna consciousness? We must examine the standard of knowledge. The Guru should try to impart to his disciple the capacity of reading what Krishna consciousness really is. Krishna consciousness is not a trade; it is not anyone's monopoly.

We have to forget material considerations when we consider the spiritual line. Here in this plane, the spiritual current is always being disturbed and interrupted by material obstructions. Whenever truth is interrupted by a material flow and becomes mixed or tampered with, Krishna appears to again reinstate the truth in its former position of purity (yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati Bharata). That attempt is always being made by the Lord and His devotees.

Here in the material world, the material consideration is always tampering with the spiritual current; the purity of the truth is always being disturbed. So, sometimes Krishna has to come Himself, and sometimes He sends His personal representative to again reestablish the truth in its former and pure state. When the truth is sufficiently covered, disturbed, and mutilated by the influence of maya, the illusory energy, then an attempt is made by the devotees of the Lord, or by the Lord Himself, to rejuvenate it and return it to the previous standard of purity. We cannot expect truth to continue here in this world of misunderstanding without any tampering or interruption. It is not possible.

The disciplic succession is not a bodily succession. Sometimes it is present, and sometimes it is lost and only appears again after two or three generations, just as with Prahlad Maharaj. He was a great devotee, but his son was a demon; then again his grandson was a devotee. Even in the physical line we see such interruptions. In the spiritual line we also see the channel of truth affected by the influence of maya, or misconception.

....Those who cannot understand this simple point are guided by physical considerations. They do not understand what is real spiritual truth. For them, the physical continuation is the Guru-parampara. But those who have their spiritual eyes awakened say, "No. What was there in the first Acharya is not found in the second or the third. But again we find the same standard of purity in the fourth Acharya." The Gaudiya sampradaya of Mahaprabhu is one, and whoever contributes to that real line will be accepted.

We give respect to Ramanuja, who is the head of another school of Vaisnavas, but we do not give respect to a sahajiya, an imitationist who is in the line of Mahaprabhu only in the physical sense, but who is mutilating and tampering with the real teachings of Mahaprabhu. The imitationists are not considered. Although in a physical sense they are in the line of Mahaprabhu and Rupa and Sanatan, when we go to judge the very spirit of the line, we see that they are nowhere. Their connection with Mahaprabhu is only a physical imitation.

We don't consider the body connection important in the Acharyaship. It is a spiritual current, and not a body current. The disciple of a true devotee may even be a nondevotee. We admit that, because we see it, and the Lord Himself says in Bhagavad-gita (4.2): "Sa kaleneha mahata yogo nastah parantapa. The current is damaged by the influence of this material world." In the line, some are affected, go astray, and may even become nondevotees. So, the continuation through the physical succession is not a safe criterion to be accepted. We must trace only the current of spiritual knowledge. Wherever we can get that, we must accept it, even if it comes from the Ramanuja, Madhva, or Nimbarka sampradaya. As much as we get from them substantially, we accept, and we reject the so-called followers of our own tradition if they are mere imitationists. The son of a political leader may not be a political leader. A political leader may also have a political succession, and his own son, although brought up in a favourable environment, may be rejected. A doctor's son may not be a doctor. In the disciplic order also, we admit the possibility that they may not all come up to the same standard. Those who do not should be rejected.

And if the truth is found in a substantial way somewhere else, that should be accepted. Wherever there is devotion and the correct consideration about Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, our Guru is there. Who is our Guru? He is not to be found in the physical form; our Guru is to be traced wherever we find the embodiment of the pure thought and understanding which Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu imparted to save us.

We have left all social concerns and so many other shackles. For what? For the Absolute Truth. And wherever I shall find that, I must bow down my head. And if a great soul shows us, "This is the path to where you will find your thirst quenched. The line is in this zigzag way", we must accept that for our own interest. We are worshippers not of form, but of substance. If the current of spiritual substance comes another way, but I think that I must try to go this way to reach my goal, it is only jealousy, blind tenacity, to stick to the physical thing. We must free ourselves from this material contamination and try to understand the value of spiritual truth. We should always be prepared for that. We must follow what is necessary, for our own interest.

I am not a servant of A, B, C, or D. I am a servant of Mahaprabhu. I may have to turn this way or that way, or whatever way will be favourable to reach my Lord. Wherever I feel the presence of my Lord in an intense form, I must be attracted to that side. We are out for that thing, and not for any fashion or formality; that will hamper our cause.

If we are sincerely searching after real truth, then wherever we go may be a contribution to our experience for further preaching in the future. If we go somewhere, hoping with all sincerity that our thirst may be quenched there, but find that it is not quenched, and feel some uneasiness, then, by the grace of the Lord, a connection with higher truth will come, and we will go somewhere else, thinking that there our thirst will be quenched. Gradually we will again find dissatisfaction, the need for something higher, and again we will progress further.

"Anyone, regardless of caste or social position, may become Guru if he knows the science of Krishna." Sometimes the father may not be our guardian. Our uncle may be our guide, and not the father. It is possible. The line of interest is to be considered the most important. So, our line is the Siksa-guru-parampara.

I am thankful to those that are helping my spiritual understanding not only in a formal way, but in the real sense. Whoever is untying the knots of our entanglement in this material world, giving us light, and quenching our thirst for inner understanding and satisfaction is our Guru. In this way, we live on the contribution of all these Spiritual Masters. They are all our Siksa-gurus. All the Vaisnavas are more or less our instructing Spiritual Masters. Our spiritual life may live on their contribution. But we do not accept the imitationists. They are our enemies, asat-sanga, bad association. They will take us away from the real path of understanding and progress.

We must ask our sincere hearts, "From whom do I really get the benefit of spiritual life?" Our sincere consciousness will be the best judge, not form. If in an earthen pot there is Ganges water, and in a golden pot there is ordinary water, which should we select? In a case like that, brahmans, the intelligent class of men, take the holy Ganges water in the earthen pot. So, the substance contained, and not the container, should be given the real importance.

First there must be sukrti, accumulated merit, and then sraddha, faith, will guide us. The quality of faith must be examined. Sraddha, faith, is a general term, but sraddha may be defined into different classes. A high form of faith will be our fare on the way back to Godhead. Sometimes we may find co-workers, and sometimes we may have to go alone. What of that? We cannot but go to the goal because we shall have the grace of so many unseen Gurus. There are others also who are working, and their ideal will inspire me, although physically I am not seeing any companion or any follower with me. The inspiration of the unseen Gurus will be our fare. They will inspire us to go on with the journey. And our own sincere hankering for the truth will be our real guide. That is Guru-parampara.

Who is Guru? Is Guru a body? Or is the Guru a vairagi, a renunciant? Or is the guru only a formal guise, a hypocrite who is showing the appearance of a sadhu, but within is doing something else? Who is a Guru? Only one who will exclusively guide me to Krishna and Mahaprabhu, with devotion. He is my Guru, whatever he may be.

(Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj,
Sri Guru and His Grace, from Chapter 'Instructing Spiritual Masters')

All Glory to Sri Sri Guru Gauranga

Dear Devotees, Vaishnavs, and Well-Wishers,

Please accept our humble obeisance at your holy feet.

In view of the ongoing events taking place in the holy Mission of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math International, we would like to appeal to the worldwide devotee community of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math with an earnest request to use wise devotional discretion in the present situation. While, as everyone is no doubt aware, no formal declaration of succession has been made by our worshippable Sri Gurupadpadma Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj in either oral or written form and therefore no formal declaration of the Successor Acharya is being made at this time, we would like to present the following quotations from the holy lotus mouth of Sri Gurupadpadma spoken in the recent years clearly indicating the desire and vision of His Divine Grace for the future of the Mission:

About His Holiness Sripad Bhakti Tilak Niriha Maharaj
"Those who are fit for being disciplined are called disciples. They want to be chastised, they get chastised—such disciples become gurus. If somebody wants to be chastised, has been chastised, and if Gurudev has made and is making a disciple from them, then such a disciple has the qualities of a guru."
• Download / listen to the audio (0.9 Mb, 2 min | 1 May 2021)

In addition, we would like to convey the position of His Holiness Sripad Bhakti Tilak Niriha Maharaj himself. Very humble and extremely unassertive by nature, His Holiness has expressed that he is prepared to take the charge of the Mission but only if this decision is supported by the members of the Mission. Therefore, we appeal to the members of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math to consider this matter judiciously and not be misled amidst the trying times we are facing right now. May the desire of our beloved Sri Gurupadpadma prevail and his eternal teaching continue flowing unobstructed throughout the fourteen worlds.

Humbly,
on behalf of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math International
4 June 2021

In honour of Sripad Santosh Krishna Das-Adhikari Prabhu:

"Many do not know about the service of late Sripad Santosh Krishna Prabhu and he himself also during his life often said that he had not been able to become even an insignificant servant of the Math; but seeing how strong was his attachment to the interest of the Math in the many small services he did, it puts us to shame now. He never once even saw the accounts of his material property; neither did he ever try to increase his wealth even by a cent; but it is inconceivable how much this person tried, with heart and soul, to collect and beg for the Math. Nobody ordered him, nobody encouraged him—he took care of the Math's various paraphernalia like an expert householder of his own accord, he would be always seen very busy with all kinds of works of the Math; at the same time, he never once gave anyone even a slightest hint of the service and works he was doing. Some of us help the Math's preaching with some money, etc., give physical labour, but if we do not see any mention about us in a newspaper column, at the preachers' assembly at a holy dham, or in an eulogy written by Sri Guru and Vaishnavs, then we decide, 'There is no use serving the Math. They are prejudiced. They do not praise me, do not give me 'jay', so I better rough it at home than waste time, money and life for the interest of the Math.' However, the great soul who we have mentioned before, gave so much money for the service of 'Jayasri', continuously toiling as a low menial worker—it is impossible to mention everything. However, he never once said anything that would give a slightest hint that he wanted to see his praise in a newspaper column or even more so to see his name included in the Math's Calendar; but we have seen that his effort to look after the interests of the Math was gradually making him great."

(Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj, Guidance, Volume 3)

On passing away of Sripad Santosh Prabhu
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj's written statement addressing the worldwide devotee community in relation to the passing away of Sripad Santosh Krishna Prabhu, written on 2 June 2016.

Photo Album: In Honour of Sripad Santosh Prabhu
(45 photographs, 5.3 Mb)
A dedicated photo album prepared in memory and honour of Sripad Santosh Krishna Prabhu whose glories devotees remember and worship today all over the world.

Gaudiya Darshan: The Wonderful Nature of the Vaisnava
"There is no doubt that our Guru is supreme in our life, but the Vaisnava is also not less than that. The Vaisnava can give us Krsna. Guru always lives on a higher level of honour, but the Vaisnava is the general helper for the conditioned soul. The Vaisnava's position is very merciful for the conditioned soul. The Vaisnavas also very affectionately try to help each other..." >>>

Prayers to Sri Vaishnav Thakur:

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

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

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

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

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

In honour of Sri Chaitanya-Vyas Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur:

~ Pranam-mantra ~ dasa-vrndavanam vande krsna-dasa-prabhum tatha chhannavatara-chaitanya-lila-vistara-karinau dvau nityananda-padabja-karuna-renu-bhusitau vyakta-chchhannau budhachintyau vavande vyasa-rupinau sri-guru-gaura-gandharva-govindas cha ganaih saha jayanti pathakas chatra sarvesam karunarthinah "I offer my obeisances to Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur and Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami, who made public the pastimes of the hidden avatar, Sri Chaitanya. They were both adorned with the mercy-dust of the lotus feet of Nityananda. I offer my obeisances to these two inconceivable sages who assumed the form of Vyasadeva, one—explicitly (Vrindavan Das Thakur), another—hiddenly (Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami). Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda and Their associates are ever victorious and we, the students, pray for Their mercy." (Composed by Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj)

Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur
His holy birthplace (Mamgachhi), his holy Deities (Sri Sri Gaura Nitai), his holy pastimes place (haritaki tree), and his holy samadhi (Denur)...

Under a Haritaki Tree
"Vrindavan Das Thakur's mother's name is Narayani, and she was a niece of Srivas Pandit. Mahaprabhu always held kirtans in the house of Srivas Pandit, and Narayani lived in that same house. When she was very little, she got Mahaprabhu's mercy..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.6 Mb, 8 min | 31 December 2012)

Clasping Nityananda Prabhu's Feet
"Nityananda is nondifferent from Guru-tattva: without mercy of the Guru you cannot get the mercy of Krishna. When will Nityananda Prabhu give me some mercy? When will He be compassionate to me and relieve me from the mundane illusion?"
• Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 6 min | 20 October 2015)

Vrindavan Das Thakur: A Life of Chastity
"Vrindavan Das Thakur is a disciple of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu and is the main servitor of Nityananda Prabhu. He has so much chastity for Him..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 5 min | 18 May 2015)

Composed by Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur:

• SONG: Nitai amara dayara avadhi | নিতাই আমার দয়ার অবধি
"O brothers! My Lord Nitai's mercy is limitless! Bestowing His mercy upon the souls of this world He wanders from place to place perpetually offering the great treasure of ecstatic spiritual love to all."

• SONG: Bimala hema-jini | বিমল হেমজিনি
"His spotless figure defeats pure gold! Various flowers garlands adorn Him highlighting His beauty, and, in His ecstatic thrill, the hairs on His body standing erect defeat the stamens of kadamba flowers! His body is covered with drops of perspiration..."

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 Bhakti Gaurava Giri Maharaj (Sri Paramananda Prabhu):

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj remembers:

(1) "Pramananda Prabhu came to Srila Prabhupad as a child. His age was thirteen only when he came to live with Srila Prabhupad. He was a very intimate devotee of Srila Prabhupad. One day, he came to Prabhupad after a walk in Radha Kunda and reported to Prabhupad that the Diwan of Bhaghpur state and the whole of his family were circumambulating Radha Kunda—he and his wife would lie down, place a stone ahead, get up, go forward, and again lie down at the place marked by the stone. Paramananda Prabhu said very ardently, 'They also regard Radharani so much!' Then Prabhupad came out from his inner quarter and said, 'Yes, but their concern for Radharani and our concern for Radharani is quite different. They come to Radharani because She is favourite to Krishna, but our position is the opposite—our interest is Radharani, and we worship Krishna only because He is favourite to Radharani (we have to connect with Krishna only because She likes Him).'"

(2) "One time, a letter came from one devotee with some complaint. Srila Prabhupad asked his servitor, 'Who has told this news to him?' The servitor said, 'Prabhupad, you yourself have written this news to him.' Prabhupad denied it, 'No, no, no. I never wrote this to him!'The servitor explained humbly, 'I remember how you dictated it and I wrote it. You gave the news to him.' Prabhupad denied, 'No, I do not remember it.' Then I [Srila Sridhar Maharaj] spoke—I said, 'Vyasa vetti na vetti va (He who has composed all Vedas may or may not know them).' Prabhupad laughed when he heard it. Paramananda Prabhu was there too, and he said, 'Sridhara sakalam vetti (Sridhar Maharaj knows everything).' I said, 'Paramananda prasadatah. (By the mercy of Paramananda Prabhu).'"

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj remembers:

"Paramananda Prabhu was a very dearmost, intimate disciple of Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, Prabhupad had given him very much affection. When Paramananda Prabhu came to Srila Guru Maharaj [Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj], Srila Guru Maharaj was always very happy to see him. That Paramananda Prabhu said, "Maharaj, my only shelter now is your book Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam. I do not read Srimad Bhagavad-gita or Bhagavatam, or anything else, I only read Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam every day. I read a chapter a day, and I read it continuously—when I finish it, I start from the beginning again."

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!"

In honour of Sri Baladev Vidyabhusan:

Protected Journey [A chapter from Dignity of the Divine Servitor, by His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.]
"...This is the history of the Govinda-bhasya, and this is how Baladev Vidyabhusana made his commentaries. Since that time Baladev Vidyabhusana, though he was a young man, has been worshipped by the Gaudiya-Vaisnava-sampradaya. His contribution is our wealth."

Instructing Spiritual Masters [A chapter from Sri Guru and His Grace, by His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.]
"Srila Baladev Vidyabhusan's contribution to the sampradaya is no less important than that of the other great stalwarts in the line. Baladev Vidyabhusan was very akin to the Madhva sampradaya, but when he came in connection with Visvanath Chakravarti Thakur, he showed great interest in Gaudiya–Vaisnavism. He has also commented on the Srimad Bhagavatam and Jiva Goswami's Sat-sandarbha, and that enlightened thought is a valuable contribution to our sampradaya. We cannot dismiss him, he is our Guru."

Sriman Nityananda Prabhu said: "O Jiva, there is no need for a separate commentary on the Brahma-sutra now. The Bhagavatam explains the sutras and is considered the sutras' natural commentary. In time, when there is a need for another commentary, the Sri Govinda-bhasya will be revealed. Sarvabhauma's relative, Gopinath Acharya, heard the Lord's commentary with Sarvabhauma. In time, by the will of the Lord, he will take birth as Baladev Vidyabhusan and conquer Jaipur. There, he will compose a commentary spoken by Sri Govinda, serve the feet of Gauranga, and deliver the souls."

(Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya, chapter 4)

• SONG: Sri Guru Parampara | শ্রীগুরুপরম্পরা
"The foremost devotees of Srila Visvanath Chakravarti Thakur are Srila Baladev Vidyabhusan and Srila Jagannath Das Babaji. Their dear follower is Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur. His associate is the best of the topmost devotees, Srila Gaura Kisor Das Babaji, whose sole joy is Sri Hari's service."

In honour of Sri Ganga Mata Goswamini:

Ganga Mata Goswamini
"There was once a young girl, a daughter of a good Odisha king, who got much mercy from Jagannath. She always served in the Jagannath temple—made garlands and did whatever other service there was..."
• Download/listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 24 September 2009)

In honour of Sri Ganga Mayi:

When the Lord came to the boundary of Antardwip, He showed Sri Ganga Nagar to Jiva. Nityananda Prabhu said, "Listen Jiva, this is Ganga Nagar. It was established by Maharaj Bhagirath, a forefather of Lord Ramachandra. When the Ganga, who is also known as Bhagirathi, came here, Maharaj Bhagirath went ahead of her blowing a conch. Arriving in Nabadwip Dham, the Ganga stopped, and Maharaj Bhagirath saw that she would not proceed. Overwhelmed with fear, Maharaj Bhagirath retraced his course and came before the Ganga. He stayed in Ganga Nagar and began to perform austerities. Pleased by them, Ganga personally appeared before him. Maharaj Bhagirath said, 'O Mother, if you do not continue, my ancestors will never be delivered.' Ganga said, 'Listen, my child, O heroic Bhagirath! Peacefully stay here for some time. We have come to Nabadwip Dham in the month of Magh. At the end of Phalgun, I will deliver your ancestors. O Bhagirath, I am the water that washes the feet of the Lord. Here in His abode, I will first fulfil my own desires. The full moon day in Phalgun is the birthday of the Lord, and I should perform a rite on that day. I will complete this rite, and then certainly I will go with you. Do not be afraid.' Maharaj Bhagirath resided in Ganga Nagar until the full moon day in Phalgun. Anyone who stays in Ganga Nagar on the full moon day in Phalgun, bathes in the Ganga, fasts, and worships Sri Gauranga crosses over material existence, as do their ancestors. Along with one thousand of their ancestors, they attain Sri Goloka, regardless of how or where they died. O Jiva, the glories of this place are unlimited. Sri Chaitanya danced here many times."

(Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya, chapter 6)

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!"

If they do nirjal ekadasi (eat nothing all day), it is not bad. If they can fast more, it is OK, but if they fast and sleep all day and do not do any service, it is not good. You can do a full fast on the ekadasi day, but you must also do more service—cooking, cleaning, making subji, and so on. You must do every service for the Deity, do not allow your Deity to fast. I have seen some brahmacharis in the temple doing nirjal ekadasi: they do not eat anything and stay all day in the room—they do not think about the Guru, about the temple or the Deities. This is not our conception.

(Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj)

In honour of the forthcoming chida-dahi danda-mahotsav this Wednesday:

"Srila Raghunath Das Goswami brought chipped rice, yogurt, milk, sweetmeats, sugar, bananas and other eatables and placed them all around. Seeing the crowd increasing, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami arranged to get more eatables from other villages. He brought two-four hundred large, round earthen pots and five-seven especially large earthen pots—a brahmana began soaking chipped rice in these pots for the satisfaction of Lord Nityananda. The chipped rice was soaked in hot milk in each of the large pots, then a half of the chipped rice was mixed with yogurt, sugar and bananas and the other half was mixed with condensed milk, champa-kola bananas (short, fat ones), then sugar, ghee, and some camphor were added. Everyone was offered two earthen pots. In one was put chipped rice with condensed milk, and in the other chipped rice with yogurt."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, chapter 6)

"Raghunath Das Goswami was very happy. Raghunath Das was rich and he immediately arranged dadhi (yoghurt), chida (flat-rice), milk, ksira, sandesa, rasagulla, mango, banana, and so many other foodstuffs. Everyone honoured all these preparations in clay pots. Raghunath Das fed all the devotees, and not only that, he gave pranami to them all in the form of gold coins."

(The Divine Pastimes of Sri Nityananda Prabhu,
Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj)

Panihati
"We have been to Panihati for chira-dadhi mahotsav, it is the place where Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Prabhu received mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. It is not so far from Dum Dum Park, and it is a very nice place, on the bank of the Ganges..."
• Download / listen to audio (3 Mb, 9 min | 3 November 2010 | Bengali)

Traditionally, at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, under the guidance of His Divine Grace, devotees make an offering of soaked chipped rice mixed with a variety of juicy/pulpy seasonal fruit (mango, jackfruit, bananas), a variety of sweets and savouries; also, kitchuri.

"When Raghav Pandit came there and saw the situation, he began to laugh in great surprise. He brought many kinds of food cooked in ghee and offered them to the Lord. He first placed this prasadam before Lord Nityananda and then distributed it among the devotees. Raghav Pandit said to Lord Nityananda, 'O Lord, I have already offered food to the Deity for You, but You are engaged in a festival here, and so the food is lying there at home untouched.' Lord Nityananda replied, 'Let Me eat all this food here during the day, and I shall eat at your home at night. I belong to a community of cowherd boys, and therefore I generally have many cowherd associates with Me. I am happy when we eat together in a picnic like this by the sandy bank of the river.'"

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, chapter 6)

In honour of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Prabhu:

Sri Panihati: Place of Prime Pastimes
"It is written in our calendar that tomorrow is the chida-dahi danda mahotsav. Only a fortunate soul who wants to get the mercy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu can come here. Without a great fortune no one can come here, no one can serve Sriman Nityananda Prabhu."
• Download/listen to the audio (5.7 Mb, 16 min | 25 June 2018)

Grand Festival in Panihati
"Here in Panihati, near this place, is where Srila Raghunath Das Goswami made the festival of flat rice and yoghurt, mango, jackfruit, etc. on the order of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu... Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math preaches in this way also every year at this festival."
• Download/listen to the audio (1.9 Mb, 6 min | 15 June 2019)

• Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Sochaka | শ্রীল-রঘুনাথদাস-গোস্বামি-শোচক

Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Sochaka
Seated amidst fortunate souls and holy Vaishnavs, His Divine Grace chants the unlimited glories of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami and elaborates on his coming to and stay at the lotus feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, adding at the end a summary about the famous 'Raghaver-jhali'.
• Download/listen to the audio (25.2 Mb, 70 min | 25 June 2018 | Bengali)

Panihati
"We have been to Panihati for chira-dadhi mahotsav, it is the place where Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Prabhu received mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. It is not so far from Dum Dum Park, and it is a very nice place, on the bank of the Ganges..."
• Download/listen to the audio (3 Mb, 8 min | 3 November 2010)

Treading the Wrong Path
Trying to cut a shortcut and fostering chauvinism will not take you far: without getting mercy of Gurudev, your attempts to reach the goal will be thwarted; by discriminating against householders you can end up in hell.
• Download/listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 3 June 2015)

Srila Raghunath Das Goswami: Breaking Free
"He wanted to take a roundabout zigzag route, avoiding Nityananda Prabhu and going directly to Mahaprabhu, but every time he went to Mahaprabhu, Mahaprabhu rejected him and sent him back to his home...."
• Download/listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 5 min | 25 October 2015)

Real Mercy, Real Service
Real mercy: "Getting mercy means getting service: if you have service, you have mercy."
Real service: "Practise properly, keep proper association, and always avoid the Nama aparadh, seva aparadh, dham aparadh, Vaishnav aparadh. Chant the Holy Name properly, without deceit, and with proper attention and service mood."
• Download/listen to the audio (1 Mb, 2 min | 30 May 2015)

Grand Festival in Panihati
"Here in Panihati, near this place, is where Srila Raghunath Das Goswami made the festival of flat rice and yoghurt, mango, jackfruit, etc. on the order of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu... Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math preaches in this way also every year at this festival."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.9 Mb, 6 min | 15 June 2019)

~· FESTIVALS IN SRI PANIHATI : ARCHIVE PHOTOGRAPHS ·~
2009-2014 (105 photographs, 8 Mb) Photographs of the festivals taken over the past several years when our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math joined under the caring guidance of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj.		2015 (10 photographs, 1 Mb) Photographs taken at the annual chida-dahi festival in Panihati, where Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Prabhu received mercy of Nityananda Prabhu.		2016 (17 photographs, 1.3 Mb) Surrounded by his associates, servitors, and devotees, His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj takes part in the annual festival of flat rice and yoghurt in honour of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami.
2017 (10 photographs, 0.6 Mb) His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj is attending the annual preaching festival in Sri Panihati distributing the mercy of the Lord in all fourteen directions. 2018 (41 photographs, 3.3 Mb) Photographs from the grand flat rice and yoghurt festival at Sri Panihati held annually in honour of the pastimes of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami and Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. Chira-Dahi Mahotsav at Sri Panihati (15 June 2019 | 51 photographs, 4.1 Mb) Photographs from the grand festival of flat rice and yoghurt celebrated annually in memory of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami and Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. Darshan of Sri Panihati (4 June 2020 | 4 photographs, 0.5 Mb) Sri Gurupadpadma Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj comes to Sri Panihati Dham to offer his obeisances to the Deities of Sri Raghav Pandit, his samadhi mandir and the legendary meeting place of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami and Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Due to the government restrictions, this year this holy eternal festival is taking place in an unmanifest way.

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!"

All Glory to Sri Sri Guru Gauranga

ANNOUNCEMENT

Humbly,
On behalf of scsmathinternational.com

In honour of Sri Mukunda Datta Prabhu:

Devotional Heart
"If we serve our Gurudev (serve not for our own interest, but for his interest), if surrender to Krishna, then we must get Krishna through that service. You do not need to think about yourself. If you think about Krishna, Krishna will thinking about you."
• Download/listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 6 min | 16 June 2001)

Strong Faith—Strong Future
"If you want to make a building, first the pillar must be strong. If you have a strong faith, then you will never fall down from this practising life. We are godbrothers and godsisters, we have come from the same place. Why must we fight? All these things are nothing."
• Download/listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min | 11 August 2002)

Lacking Mercy or Lacking Faith?
"When you come in Krishna consciousness life, nobody is going to give you an examination to show your progress. You can do this examination yourself. How?"
• Download/listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 11 August 2003)

In honour of Sri Sri Parama Karuna Nitai Gaurachandra Prabhu, Caracas:

A Miracle. A Joy.
"It gives me so much happiness, so much enthusiasm, and so much energy to see you all. You are adamant to take shelter of Gurudev, to take shelter of Parama Karuna Nitai Gaurachandra—what can I say? If I say it makes me glad, it is not sufficient to describe the joy I feel. You are showing a miracle to the whole world."
• Download/listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 9 June 2019)

Example for the World
"You are tolerating so much in this situation—you are suffering so much, facing a very bad and difficult condition—and you set an example for the entire world. I am sure that you will get the result and you will be successful. I will give you one example of service mood..."
• Download/listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 10 min | 28 June 2018)

Two kirtans
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj chanting "Gurudev, krpa bindu diya" and "Parama Karuna" kirtans with the devotees online at the end of the darshan.
• Download/listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 8 min | 28 June 2018)

"Nitai Gaurachandra! Nitai Gaurachandra!"
"...We are very fortunate that we can chant Their Names. Now is the age of Kali, so many things are coming, but if you chant Nitai Gaurachandra all your offences will be removed."
• Download/listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 26 June 2010)

Parama Karuna Nitai Gaurachandra
"I am always with you, and truly my love and affection are always with you—I cannot forget your service, your love and affection, and how Nitai Gaurachandra constantly bestow Their mercy on you all."
• Download/listen to the audio (3.3 Mb, 10 min | 15 June 2011)

Glorious Parama Karuna
"It is such a glorious and happy day! Gaura Nitai wanted to come but They were searching who They would come with. When They finally got Gurudev's good association, They suddenly caught Gurudev's hand and came to Caracas."
• Download/listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 6 min | 3 June 2015)

• SONG: Parama karuna | পরম করুণ পহুঁ দুই জন
"Nitai and Gaurachandra are the two most merciful Lords. There are no benefactors in the three worlds as merciful as Them. Hearing of Their glory, birds and animals cry and stones melt."

In honour of Sri Syamananda Prabhu:

"Srinivas Acharya, Narottam Das Thakur, and Shyamananda Prabhu started for Vrindavan to have the darshan of Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Sanatan Goswami, Srila Gopala Bhatta Goswami, Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami and others who were there.

In this way, Srinivas Acharya, Narottam Das Thakur, and Shyamananda Prabhu stayed in Vrindavan for one year—Srinivas Acharya took initiation from Gopala Bhatta, Narottam Thakur from Lokanath Goswami, and Shyamananda Prabhu from Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu..."

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

"Sri Gauri Das Pandit is one of the twelve cowherd friends of Krishna in Vrindavan. Shyamananda Prabhu was his disciple and followed him in the sakhya-bhav (transcendental mood of friendship with the Lord), however when he later entered the association of Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu, who was a follower of Sri Rupa Goswami, he exhibited madhura-bhav (transcendental mood of paramour relationship with the Lord). Shyamananda Prabhu was promoted to the manjari group by the mercy of Lalita Devi. Later, Shyamananda Prabhu went to preach with Srila Narottam Das Thakur and Srila Srinivas Acharya. Srila Narottam Das Thakur preached in Bangladesh, Srila Srinivas Acharya Prabhu preached in the north, and Srila Shyamananda Prabhu preached in Midnapore. They preached and protected our line, Rupa Goswami's line, the main conception."

(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj, Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj)

In honour of Sripad Rishabdev Prabhu Das-Adhikari:

Sripad Rishabdev Prabhu: A Miracle Personality
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj is remembering the character and disappearance of Sripad Rishabdev Prabhu: "I have seen so many miracles in my life, and Rishabdev Prabhu is also one kind of a miracle personality. If you see what your scriptures say (they show so many rules and regulations) and if you see Rishabdev Prabhu's case, you will not be able to harmonise it."

Sripad Rishabdev Prabhu's Message
"Dive deep, do not be satisfied with the surface understanding. It is necessary for us to go to the core, and this is beyond all visual, mental, and objective understanding... I have no hope, or even necessity, to know Krishna, but if I can serve guru or the servant of the guru, then I feel this is the perfection."
• Download/listen to the audio (8.1 Mb, 23 min | 9 June 2019)

VIDEO: Sripad Risabdev Prabhu's Message
Sripad Risabdev Prabhu is speaking a few weeks before his departure on 17 June 2000 sharing his memories of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad and the sum and substance of his practising life in Krishna consciousness.
(~40 Mb | 23 min)

Prayers to Sri Vaishnav Thakur:

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

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

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

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

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

In honour of Sri Vakresvar Pandit:

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)

"It is said that Vakresvar Pandit was Mahaprabhu's mantra-sisya. We find in Gaura-Krishnodaya, a Sanskrit book written by an Oriyan devotee named Govinda Das that after Mahaprabhu departed, the devotees consulted within them who is to be made the acharya of the Radha Kanta Math where Mahaprabhu lived. They consulted, and Vakreshvar Pandit was selected. He was the first acharya of the Radha Kanta Math."

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

"In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (71) it is stated that Vakresvar Pandit is an incarnation of Aniruddha, one of the quadruple expansions of Vishnu (Vasudev, Sankarsan, Aniruddha and Pradyumna). On the other hand, it is said that he is an incarnation of Sri Tungavidya gopi and also Sri Sasirekha gopi would enter him. Vakresvar Pandit would please the Lord through his dancing. He could dance wonderfully for seventy-two continuous hours. When Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu played in dramatic performances in the house of Srivas Pandit, Vakresvar Pandit was one of the chief dancers, and he danced continuously for that length of time. Mahaprabhu would also often come to dance at his house in Nabadwip."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, purport)

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."