Pillar of Surrender
'I am not a property of my parents, wife, husband or anybody else – I am a
property of my Guru. I am Gurudev's property and it is his matter how he will
use me. Our duty is that we must always try to serve him, and whether he will
accept this service or not, it is up to him. This is how you can
surrender.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (11.2 Mb, 23 min | 2 August
2020)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Construction
Pastimes
"They have finished the goshala today. We have made a new
goshala here in Ekachakra, because there are so many cows now, and the
old goshala had become too small. So, I have expanded it..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 4 min | 21 February
2021)
In honour of the forthcoming
chida-dahi danda-mahotsav (tomorrow):
"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."
"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."
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.'"
Fri, 2 June 2023 (Sri Danda Mahotsav; Festival in Sri Panihati)
Shift Your Focus
'We only feel skin attachment to our parents, brothers, sisters, husbands and
wives, but we have no connection with the Lord, with our Gurudev. You are
spending energy for your own enjoyment now, but you must instead spend this
energy for the enjoyment of the Lord.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (11.2 Mb, 23 min | 2 August
2020)
Today in the calendar:
Gaura Trayodashi. Danda Mahotsav (‘Punishment Festival’) arranged by Srila
Raghunath Das Goswami at Sripat Panihati.
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."
In honour of Srila Raghunath Das
Goswami Prabhu's Pastime at Sri Panihati:
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)
(This kirtan is usually sung on the day of Sri
Panihati Festival)
"When Raghunath Das heard that Rupa and Sanatan had gone to Vrindavan, he
gave up all rights to his estate and the comforts of a life like that of
Indra, and went to Mahaprabhu."
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)
দণ্ড মহৎসব(ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীল ভক্তি নির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের
হরি-কথামৃত)
"আপনারা বহু ভাগ্যের ফলে আজকে এখনে রঘুনাথদাস গোস্বামীর দণ্ড মহৎসব করতে আসলেন ।
দণ্ড মানে কি ? শাস্তি । এই শাস্তি এই জগতের শাস্তি নয়—এই শাস্তি যদি কেউ পেলে,
ভগবদ-ধামে যাওয়া যায় ।"
মায়ার চিন্তা বা
কৃষ্ণের চিন্তা ?(ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীল ভক্তি নির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের
হরি-কথামৃত)
"আপনার যেটা দরকার প্রযোজন, সেইটা গ্রহণ করেন, এর বেশি দরকার নেই, তা ছাড়া
আপনারা শন্তি লাভ করতে পারবে না । আমরা মায়ার কারা কিন্তু আমরা সবাই এক পরিবারের
লোক—কার পরিবার? আমরা কৃষ্ণের সংসারের মানুষ, আমরা মায়ার সংসারের মানুষ নয়
।"
আমাদের একমাত্র উপায়(ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীল ভক্তি নির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের
হরি-কথামৃত)
"কুটীনাটি যদি বাদ দিয়ে সরল ভাবে বৈষ্ণবের সেবা করেন, তাহলে দেখবেন আপনারা
ভগবানকে লাভ করতে পারেন আর কোন দিন আর এই জন্ম-মৃত্যু-জরা-ব্যাধি ভোগ করতে হবে
না । ভগবানের নাম ছাড়া কোন গতি নাই—এই কৃষ্ণনাম করলে অন্য কোন নামের ফল পাওয়া
যায় ।"
~· FESTIVALS IN SRI PANIHATI : ARCHIVE PHOTOGRAPHS ·~
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.
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.
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.
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!"
In honour of the chida-dahi
danda-mahotsav:
"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."
"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."
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.'"
Give More
Energy and Time
'In our spiritual life, we must take initation from a bona fide Guru, and you
have done it – you have taken initiation from a bona fide guru. Now your duty
is to practise Krishna consciousness properly. You must give more energy and
more time for the service to the Lord, for the service to your Guru.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (11.2 Mb, 23 min | 2 August
2020)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Pride in Our
Identity
"It is unfortunate that people become big, great Ph.D. and become very proud
of that. What should we be proud of? We must be proud of being eternal
servants of the servants of devotees. This is our main pride. Yet we become
proud of our mundane education. Real education is when you learn to be a
devotee."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 5 min | 21 February
2021)
Sun, 4 June 2023
Damodar's Pastimes
'Damodar means "dam-yoga-udar": "udar" means belly and
"dam" is a rope. In this month, Mother Yasoda tied Krishna to a
mortar. That place is still there in Gokula, Vrindavan. When Krishna was tied
to the mortar, He broke two trees. Do you remember who came out of those
trees?'
•
Download / listen to the audio (54.2 Mb, 105 min | 7 November
2020)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Overflowing
and Grand Festival
"I was very busy with the festival of Nityananda Prabhu's appearance day in
Sri Ekachakra Dham last week. So many devotees came to this festival—crowds
and crowds of people. The temple was overflooded. This is only the mercy of
Nityananda Prabhu and Gurudev."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 28 February
2021)
Today in the calendar:
Purnima. Snan Yatra (bathing) of Sri Jagannathdev.
Disappearance of Srila Mukunda Datta.
Disappearance of Srila Sridhar 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."
"Wake up, look into the calendar and give 'jay' to your Guru and
Vaishnavs. Always pay obeisance to your Guru and Vaishnavs when you wake up
in the morning, always give them 'jay'. Always keep faith and show
respect to them. Always see the calendar—whose appearance day it is, whose
disappearance day it is. Even if you cannot make a festival, at least you can
give them 'jay', it will bring you benefit. When you give 'jay'
to your Guru and Vaishnavs, it brings you sukriti. For example, today
is the disappearance day of a Vaishnav—give 'jay' to him, remember
him. We must always remember the words of Vaishnavs. If I remember the words
of Vaishnavs, I get some benefit, some deposit through that."
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 Sridhar Pandit
Prabhu:
(At Sri Sridhar Angan, during Sri Nabadwip Dham
parikrama, 2020)
"Mahaprabhu went there—He would always take bananas from Sridhar Prabhu's
house. Sridhar Prabhu would tell Mahaprabhu, "Are there no other shops here?
Why do You always come here and take things from Me forcefully? What is this?
Some time, Nimai went to Sridhar Pandit's house to ask for some water, but
Sridhar Pandit did not have a proper glass—there was a hole in it; but Nimai
took water from it. Another time, Mahaprabhu took thor mocha [banana stem,
banana flower] from him. It was His favourite, and He would play with Sridhar
Pandit—He would take that thor, but Sridhar Pandit would not want to give it.
Nimai would pull it from Sridhar Pandit's hands, and because thor is
slippery, sometimes Sridhar Pandit would lose it and fall down."
(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
At Sri Sridhar Angan(From Sri
Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala) "Why did Sriman Nityananda Prabhu say that Sridhar Pandit was a great
recipient of Mahaprabhu's mercy? You must know who Sridhar Pandit was, and
you must always remember and keep his mood in your heart."
Having passed through Tantuvaya Gram and seeing the cottage of Kholavecha
Sridhar, Nityananda Prabhu said, "'Here, Sri Gauranga chanted, rested, and
blessed the devotees. This place thus became known as Visram Sthan. You may
rest here in Sridhar's cottage.' When Sridhar heard of Nityananda Prabhu's
arrival, he came, prostrated himself, and worshipped the Lord. He said, 'O
Lord, be most merciful to this servant and rest here. This is my request.'
Nityananda Prabhu replied, 'You are very fortunate: Lord Gauranga has
bestowed His mercy upon you. Today, we will rest here.' Hearing this, Sridhar
was satisfied. With great care, Sridhar collected suitable ingredients and
engaged a Vaisnava brahman to cook. Once Nitai and Srivas had been served,
Sri Jiva joyfully took their prasad. Sridhar laid Nityananda on a bed, and
then he and his family massaged the Lord's feet.'"
"Late at night [on the eve of Nimai Pandit's leaving Nabadwip], one
devotee named Kholavecha Sridhar 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. Sridhar came to see Him late at night to offer Him a choice
lau (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 lau
sweet-rice: lau boiled with milk, rice and sugar."
(Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj)
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 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."
Mon, 5 June 2023
Cannot Have
Foot in Both Camps
'Why will we leave Krishna consciousness? Why do we go to surrender to Maya?
If we surrender to Gurudev, then Gurudev will engage us in the service of the
Lord as surrendered devotees. But if we surrender to Maya, she will keep us
as her prisoners.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (54.2 Mb, 105 min | 7 November
2020)
Today in the calendar:
Krishna Pratipad. Disappearance of Srila Shyamananda Prabhu and Sripad
Rishabdev Das Adhikari.
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."
"Wake up, look into the calendar and give 'jay' to your Guru and
Vaishnavs. Always pay obeisance to your Guru and Vaishnavs when you wake up
in the morning, always give them 'jay'. Always keep faith and show
respect to them. Always see the calendar—whose appearance day it is, whose
disappearance day it is. Even if you cannot make a festival, at least you can
give them 'jay', it will bring you benefit. When you give 'jay'
to your Guru and Vaishnavs, it brings you sukriti. For example, today
is the disappearance day of a Vaishnav—give 'jay' to him, remember
him. We must always remember the words of Vaishnavs. If I remember the words
of Vaishnavs, I get some benefit, some deposit through that."
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)
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.
"When they were only a few miles away from Mathura, they heard that Sanatan
Goswami had passed away. People were saying that that great Sanatan Goswami
who was the prime minister and who had captured all people in the whole of
Vrindavan within his heart—that Sanatan had passed away, a great disaster for
the country. What to do then? Rupa, Raghunath, Jiva and Gopala Bhatta were
still living, so Srinivas, Narottam, and Shyamananda dragged somehow on.
When they reached Mathura, they heard that Srila Rupa Goswami had left the
night before that. Sanatana left on an ashari purnima, and Srila Rupa Goswami
left after that on next dvadasi. They thought, "What hopeless and cursed
souls we are! We have come so near, yet we could not see those two generals
of Mahaprabhu!" Mahaprabhu sent two of his generals to Vrindavan to carry out
His orders and establish the kingdom of the Gaudiya Vaishnavs there... So,
they dragged their bodies to Vrindavan and came to Govinda Mandir. When they
reached it, they found that an evening aroti was going on there in a very
great splendour. There was a great crowd there—Srila Rupa Goswami had just
passed away, so with that feeling of high bereavement, everybody was chanting
his name madly. Srinivas, Narottam, and Shyamananda Prabhu were there, but
Srinivas Acharya could not stand that sort of sentimental wave—he was
standing aside and he fainted. When he regained his consciousness, he saw
Srila Jiva Goswami with some of his followers...
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."
•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?"
Tue, 6 June 2023
Our Highest Treasure
'Srimad Bhagavad-gita is our main scripture, you must have read it.
You will see there sankhya-yoga, karma-yoga, jnana-yoga. It was
written by Vyasadev who wrote so many scriptures. But even having written all
these scriptures, Vyasadev still felt discontented...'
•
Download / listen to the audio (54.2 Mb, 105 min | 7 November
2020)
Today in the calendar:
Krishna Dvitiya. Departure of Sri Gaurahari Bhakti-Sampad Prabhu.
Sri Gaurahari Bhakti Sampad Prabhu[By Srila B.S.
Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj]
"Before I saw how he changed having met with Srila Guru Maharaj, I did not
understand that it was possible—within one moment, we can come in touch with
such a supreme wealth, such a spiritual wealth that we shall feel extremely
fortunate."
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."
"Wake up, look into the calendar and give 'jay' to your Guru and
Vaishnavs. Always pay obeisance to your Guru and Vaishnavs when you wake up
in the morning, always give them 'jay'. Always keep faith and show
respect to them. Always see the calendar—whose appearance day it is, whose
disappearance day it is. Even if you cannot make a festival, at least you can
give them 'jay', it will bring you benefit. When you give 'jay'
to your Guru and Vaishnavs, it brings you sukriti. For example, today
is the disappearance day of a Vaishnav—give 'jay' to him, remember
him. We must always remember the words of Vaishnavs. If I remember the words
of Vaishnavs, I get some benefit, some deposit through that."
Wed, 7 June 2023
Two Books for
Preaching
'You should read this book. I have written so many books. It is necessary to
read them. There are two small books coming out soon, 'Prakrita Utser
Sandhane' (In Search of the Original Source) and
'Parama-ananda-maya Dhamer Dhan' (Gift of Transcendental
Abode). You can take these books and preach what is written in them.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (54.2 Mb, 105 min | 7 November
2020)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Mission in
Sri Ekachakra Dham
"Nityananda Prabhu bestowed his mercy all over the world. We can see the
influence of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu even in Srila Sridhar Maharaj's life
also and we can understand from all of this how glorious Sriman Nityananda
Prabhu is."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 5 min | 28 February
2021)
Thu, 8 June 2023
Clear Message
'It is not necessary to collect an ocean of knowledge from the scriptures.
The only necessity is your chastity and faith in the divine Name of the Lord.
How are we getting email, telephone, and television? Through sound. In this
material world it is possible, so why is it not possible to connect with the
transcendental world through sound?'
•
Download / listen to the audio (54.2 Mb, 105 min | 7 November
2020)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Sriman Nityananda
Prabhu's Line
"Mahaprabhu said to the effect, 'If you worship Nityananda Prabhu, it is the
same as worshipping Me, but if you worship Nityananda Prabhu, I am pleased by
that more than by anything else.' So many nice things are told about Sriman
Nityananda Prabhu...."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 5 min | 28 February
2021)
Today in the calendar:
Krishna Panchami. Appearance of Srila Vakreshvar 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."
"Wake up, look into the calendar and give 'jay' to your Guru and
Vaishnavs. Always pay obeisance to your Guru and Vaishnavs when you wake up
in the morning, always give them 'jay'. Always keep faith and show
respect to them. Always see the calendar—whose appearance day it is, whose
disappearance day it is. Even if you cannot make a festival, at least you can
give them 'jay', it will bring you benefit. When you give 'jay'
to your Guru and Vaishnavs, it brings you sukriti. For example, today
is the disappearance day of a Vaishnav—give 'jay' to him, remember
him. We must always remember the words of Vaishnavs. If I remember the words
of Vaishnavs, I get some benefit, some deposit through that."
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."
Fri, 9 June 2023
Srila Prabhupad's Appeal
'Srila Prabhupad's words are very beautiful, but it is very difficult to
realise this – if you cannot feel the spiritual taste and cannot be like
that, then it is very difficult. Read these things nicely.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (54.2 Mb, 105 min | 7 November
2020)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Sriman
Nityananda Prabhu: Ocean of Mercy
"May those who desire to cross over the material existence and dive in the
ocean of devotion serve Sri Nitaichand. Nityananda Prabhu does not consider
who is good and who is bad, He saves anyone who falls before Him."
•
Download / listen to the audio (4.1 Mb, 10 min | 28 February
2021)
Sat, 10 June 2023
Let Maya Go
'You have come to the ashram to hear Hari-katha, to hear about the Lord, but
if you speak with materialists and think about material things (if your mind
stays outside), then you can never do a parikrama like this. Time is
very short! We have to leave any time. I am praying to you – as long as you
are in this world, speak about the Lord, listen about the Lord.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (16 Mb, 33 min | Bengali | 10 July 2018)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Sri Ekachakra Festival: Beyond Imagination
"The festival lasted finally four days—ekadasi, dvadasi, trayodasi,
and chaturdasi; and everybody started coming one day before that.
2,500 kg rice total for this festival, and 1,000 on Nityananda Prabhu's day.
Everything was finishing all the time. Our idea of the scope of this festival
proved a failure."
•
Download / listen to the audio (3.7 Mb, 9 min | 28 February
2021)
Sun, 11 June 2023
Mahaprabhu's Anger
'You must listen to these things very carefully, with your heart. I have a
question for you. Mahaprabhu distributed transcendental love to everyone, but
how many times did Mahaprabhu become angry and why?'
•
Download / listen to the audio (16 Mb, 33 min | Bengali | 10 July 2018)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Real Family Life
"You must force yourself. Do everything properly. Wake up early in the
morning, do mangal arati, cook bhoga, do the offering, etc. It
must be a real family life without attachment. Ask yourself—do you worship
Krishna or do you worship your material life?"
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.6 Mb, 7 min | 28 February
2021)
Mon, 12 June 2023
Chhota Haridas's
Story (1)
'Do you remember who else Mahaprabhu chastised? Chhota Haridas. He only
brought some good-quality rice from Madhavi Devi, who was an old lady, not a
young girl. Chhota Haridas took some rice from her and brought it for
Mahaprabhu...'
•
Download / listen to the audio (16 Mb, 33 min | Bengali | 10 July 2018)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
"My Life Is for My
Gurudev"
"So many things happened, I even risked my life, everything, but I know that
my life is not for me—my life is for my Gurudev, for the devotees. If I run
away with my life, what is this? I have never run away and I never will. I am
still alive and I am with you all because I live for the devotees and you
also live for me and for Gurudev's service."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 7 min | 28 February
2021)
Thu, 13 June 2023
Chhota Haridas's
Story (2)
'When Chhota Haridas heard about Mahaprabhu's order, he left food and began
fasting. All the devotees came and asked, "Prabhu, Chhota Haridas made a
small mistake, please forgive him. He has given up eating, bathing and
everything else." Mahaprabhu replied, "If you ever speak about it again, you
will also never see Me here again."'
•
Download / listen to the audio (16 Mb, 33 min | Bengali | 10 July 2018)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Current of
Eternal Service
"I am now in Vrindavan, in front of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva
Rasabihari, in the nat mandir. I have been to Govardhan today—I had
some service in Nandagram and at the Govardhan Temple. I also went briefly to
Varshana returning to Vrindavan after lunch."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 5 min | 11 April 2021)
Wed, 14 June 2023 (Sri Yogini Ekadasi)
At Tota
Gopinath's Temple
'We have come to the temple of Tota Gopinath. "Tota" means a garden, so
the Deity here is 'Garden' Gopinath. I have a question to you. Those of you
who know the answer, please raise your hand.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (4 Mb, 9 min | Bengali | 11 July 2018)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Proper
Preaching
"If you practise Krishna consciousness without the guidance of Gurudev, then
your practise will be the practise of Maya (worship of illusion). Always have
chastity, always be sincere. If you make a temple or preach in this way,
Krishna will send people."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 4 min | 11 April 2021)
Today in the calendar:
Krishna Ekadasi. No fast today (because of Mahadvadasi tomorrow).
Disappearance of Sriyukta Rama Devi.
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."
"Wake up, look into the calendar and give 'jay' to your Guru and
Vaishnavs. Always pay obeisance to your Guru and Vaishnavs when you wake up
in the morning, always give them 'jay'. Always keep faith and show
respect to them. Always see the calendar—whose appearance day it is, whose
disappearance day it is. Even if you cannot make a festival, at least you can
give them 'jay', it will bring you benefit. When you give 'jay'
to your Guru and Vaishnavs, it brings you sukriti. For example, today
is the disappearance day of a Vaishnav—give 'jay' to him, remember
him. We must always remember the words of Vaishnavs. If I remember the words
of Vaishnavs, I get some benefit, some deposit through that."
In honour of Sriyukta Rama Devi:
Om Vishnupad Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj remembers:
"I had the direct association of Srila Guru Maharaj [Srila B.R.
Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj] for the last forty two years until his
disappearance and therefore I know first-hand much about his nature. From my
first day here I very fortunately received the affection of Srila Guru
Maharaj and he engaged me in his personal service. If he had a headache I
would massage him. I would also massage his feet and give nerve massage. At
that time no woman, including his sister, Rama Didi, could go inside Srila
Guru Maharaj's room.
On my first day at the Math, I saw Rama Didi arrive from her father-in-law's
house. From outside Srila Guru Maharaj's door she asked, 'Maharaj how are
you? I am Rama offering you my obeisances.' Srila Guru Maharaj then said, 'O,
Rama has come!' But Rama Didi could not enter his room. Srila Guru Maharaj
asked her, 'O Rama, come and see this boy. What qualities do you see in him?
Do you think he can stay here in the Math and maintain his devotional life in
our line?' Rama Didi looked into Srila Guru Maharaj's room from outside and
replied, 'Oh, this boy appears to be very nice. I think that by your mercy
and grace he will be able to stay and maintain his spiritual life.' I can
remember that scene: Rama Didi was wearing white cloth and her age at that
time was twenty nine."
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.
Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj about fasting on ekadasi and
accepting material facilities:
"One time, a devotee came here from Vrindavan on the day of
ekadasi. He reached in the evening and, after taking a bath in the
Ganges, attended kirtans, danced, circumambulated the temple and so
on. Then, I asked him whether he would take any anukalpa [non-grain
prasadam that is allowed to be taken on ekadasi]. He replied,
'Generally, I do not take anything, but if you like, then, of course, I must
like anukalpa. Your will is greater than my fasting.' That was his
decision.
"My Guru Maharaj (Srila Prabhupad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur)
always wanted maximum energy: you should take good food and do good service.
That was his maxim. Krishna is not a liquidated party: take full
prasadam and do full service. Do maximum service, and you should take
whatever is necessary for that. You are to take it for the cause of Krishna,
not for your own cause. You are Krishna's, so if you grow weak, His service
will be hampered, and both you and Krishna will be losers thereby. 'My
soldiers will be well-fed and well-working.' That was our Guru Maharaj's
principle. Napoleon said, 'One full-fed soldier is equal to ten half-fed
soldiers.'
"So, prasad-seva: if it is service, then it must be taken in a
serving mood, of course. But, at the same time, the individual position of a
devotee should be taken into consideration. Sahajiyas do not fast on
ekadasi at all: "Oh, we are in Vrindavan, and there is no fasting in
Vrindavan." But Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, Srila Prabhupad did not like
that—it is sahajiya (imitation) if you go on feeding your senses in
the name of Krishna-bhakti (devotion to the Lord). For the service to
Krishna, it is necessary to keep up the body and to provide nourishment to
it, so we must take what is necessary for service. We do not like it if by
fasting, a loss of energy is effected. If fasting does not hamper your
service, you may go on fasting—perhaps, your Gurudev wanted
that...
"For service, I must accept what is necessary to make me physically
fit so that I can render more service. So, accepting material things is not
objectionable. It is fruitful, not detrimental. Rather, it produces something
of a pure character, which helps everyone. This is how a disciple receives
and accepts things. At that same time, he may even blame himself, 'I cannot
go on with my worldly life without the help of this or that!' He will blame
himself, but the underlying spirit must be, 'If I do not take it, I shall be
unfit; I will not be able to do my bit of service to the Lord, to my
Gurudev.'
"Moreover, by taking up renunciation, I will be a loser. I will incur
a loss for myself, for the world, and my Guru's service will be hampered. In
this spirit, devotees are to take everything. For the cause of Krsna, for the
cause of his Guru, they will accept anything.
"Suppose there is a very miserly karmachari (manager). Because
he does not want to spend money, he may not attain a particular result; then,
some difficulty comes, and the opportunity is lost. This manager will be
responsible to the proprietor: 'Why did you not spend money? Why are you
afraid of spending money from my store? Because of your miserly habit,
the opportunity has been lost!' 'Why should you not spend My money for My
interest?' So, to render service to Krishna, to my Gurudev, to Vaishnavs, to
the world, to everyone, I must keep up this mundane body, and I am entitled
to take something for that.
"Miserliness is mayavada; it is the renunciation spirit, and it
will mar Krishna's interest. What we need is yukta-vairagya: I shall
take from the store of Krishna to keep myself fit and to do service. It is
Krishna's account, and if I do dot do that, I should be a separationist, a
mayavadi, a renunciationist. I shall render maximum service to
Krishna, and I must take without any hestitation whatever is necessary to
make myself fit for the service; otherwise, I shall be
punishable."
•"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..."
"You do not need to know the meaning of each ekadasi tithi because if
you know it, you will want to get this result, that result, etc."
(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
Thu, 15 June 2023
Haridas
Thakur's Bhajan Kutir
'Only by the mercy of Srila Haridas Thakur and if we receive the mercy of
Gurudev, can we say anything about Srila Haridas Thakur. I will try to speak
about him now briefly, and we can speak about his pastimes further in the
evening.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (7.4 Mb, 15 min | Bengali | 10 July 2018)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Srila
Gurudev's Festival Etiquette
"There are many rules and regulations. You can cook something that Gurudev
likes and offer it to Gurudev. Remember him, speak in his glorification. That
is sufficient. Also try to serve the mission Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math
according to your capacity. These are the main things."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 3 min | 11 April 2021)
Fri, 16 June 2023
Haridas
Thakur's Glory
'Srila Haridas Thakur chanted 300,000 Names every day – he would sit here
beneath this siddha-bakul tree and chant. Mahaprabhu would come every
day to see him after the mangal-arati at the Jagannath Temple.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (7.4 Mb, 15 min | Bengali | 10 July 2018)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Quality and
Qualification
"The scriptures, Gurudev, and Guru Maharaj say, 'What is called seva? Service
means we must satisfy Gurudev and the Lord.' If we think how Gurudev, Guru
Maharaj, and the Lord will be satisfied and do that, that will be
service."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 4 min | 11 April 2021)
18 JUNE (Sun).
Amavasya. Disappearance of Srila Gadadhar Pandit Goswami and Srila
Sach-chid-ananda Bhaktivinod Thakur.
19 JUNE (Mon).
Gaura Pratipad. Sri Gundicha Marjan (cleaning Sri Gundicha Temple at
Sri Puri Dham and cleaning all temples).
20 JUNE (Tue).
Gaura Dvitiya. Ratha Yatra of Sri Jagannathdev.
Disappearance of Srila Svarup Damodar Goswami Prabhu.
সূচনা : শ্রীজগন্নাথদেব
"শ্রীজগন্নাথ—দৃশ্য নহেন, জগন্নাথ—দ্রষ্টা । জীবের দ্রষ্ট-অভিমান পরিত্যাগ করিয়া
যখন সম্পূর্ণভাবে জগন্নাথের দৃশ্য বা ভোগ্যরূপে শুদ্ধ স্বরূপগত অভিমান হয়, তখনই
জীব সেবোন্মুখ হইয়া থাকেন এবং সেই সেবোন্মুখ-প্রেম-নেত্রেই শ্রীজগন্নাথের দর্শন
লাভ করেন । যতক্ষণ আমরা মনে করি,—আমরা জগন্নাথকে দেখিয়া লইব, ততক্ষণ আমরা
জগন্নাথ না দেখিয়া কাঠ, পাথর, বৌদ্ধ সাহিত্যিক বা ঐতিহাসিকের ঠুঁটো
ভোগ্য-মূর্ত্তি-বিশেষ দেখিয়া থাকি ; আর যখন সর্ব্বান্তঃকরণে জানিতে পারি,—তিনি
আমাদিগকে দেখিবেন, আমরা তাঁহার ভোগের উপকরণ, তাঁহার ভোগে আমাদের সম্ভোগের কোন
অবগুন্ঠন নাই, তাঁহারই নিরঙ্কুশ যথেচ্ছাচারিতা আছে, তখনই আমাদের নিকট জগন্নাথ
তাঁহাকে প্রকাশ করেন । কিন্তু জগতের লোক “আমি জগন্নাথকে দেখিয়া লইব, আমার
মাংসচক্ষু সচ্চিদানন্দ-বিগ্রহকে মাপিয়া লইবে ও ভোগ করিবে”—জ্ঞাত বা অজ্ঞাতসারে
এই বুদ্ধিতে বিভ্রান্ত হয় । তাই জগন্নাথ-দর্শন ছলনার পরও জগতের নানা কুরূপ
দেখিবার জন্য তাহাদের চিত্তবৃত্তি ধাবিত হইয়া থাকে ।"
Sat, 17 June 2023
At Sri Gambhira
'Where have we come? To Gambhira. Will you remember it? You must keep it in
your heart, not just in your memory, or mind. In this room, Mahaprabhu
manifested His vipralamba pastimes (the pastimes of divine separation).'
•
Download / listen to the audio (4.8 Mb, 10 min | Bengali | 10 July 2018)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Best Worship
"Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's worship is the best and main worship, but first
it is necessary to take shelter of a bona fide Guru. Without the mercy of
Gurudev, without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, it is not possible to
worship Gauranga."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 6 min | 11 April 2021)
Mon, 19 June 2023 (Sri Gundicha Marjan)
Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya's Conversion
'He is the Master of the entire world! The Supreme Lord Himself has come
here! He is Jagannath Misra's son and Nilambar Chakravarti's grandson. Can
you not recognise Him? He is the Lord!'
•
Download / listen to the audio (8.6 Mb, 18 min | Bengali | 10 July 2018)
Observing
Gundicha Marjan
"Tomorrow is Gundicha Marjan, everybody will join it. You should clean the
place where you are staying, and also clean your heart through chanting the
Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Clean your hearts through sravan and
kirtan, through practising."
•
Download / listen to the audio (0.8 Mb, 2 min | 21 June 2020)
Buddhi-Suddhi
"You recite mantras for the archan, you chant that the cloth is clean,
the chamara is clean, the peacock fan is clean, the
pancha-pradip is clean, etc. Everything is clean, but do you ever
think, 'Is my mind clean?'"
•
Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 5 February 2020)
Today in the calendar:
Gaura Pratipad. Gundicha Marjan: cleaning at the Gundicha Temple at Sri Puri
Dham, and cleaning of all Temples of the Lord.
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "On this day,
you should clean the place where you are staying, and also clean your heart
through chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Clean your hearts through
sravan and kirtan, through practising."
Pastime of Gundicha Marjan (A chapter from His Divine Grace's Bengali book Sri Puri
Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala)
"The day before going to Vrindavan-Sundarachal, Mahaprabhu and all the
devotees would clean the temple of Gundicha (that is non-different from
Vrindavan). This is called Gundicha-marjan lila (pastime of cleaning the
temple). Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur wrote very
beautifully about this pastime...."
শ্রীপুরীধাম মাহাত্ম্য-মুক্তা-মালা:
গুণ্ডিচা-মার্জ্জন লীলা
"বৃন্দাবন-সুন্দরাচলে যাওয়ার আগের দিন মহাপ্রভু সমস্ত ভক্তগণকে নিয়ে গুণ্ডিচা
মন্দির (যে বৃন্দাবন থেকে অভিন্ন) পরিষ্কার করতেন । এটা হচ্ছে গুণ্ডিচা-মার্জ্জন
লীলা । প্রভুপাদ শ্রীলভক্তিসিদ্ধান্ত সরস্বতী ঠাকুর খুব সুন্দর ভাবে এই লীলার
রহস্যর সম্বন্ধে লিখে দিয়েছেন :"
Gundicha
Marjan: "Let Jagannath Come to My House"
"Another meaning of Gundicha marjan is cleaning the heart, and Mahaprabhu
Himself was showing how to do it. At first He swept, then poured water and
then with His own cloth, uttariya, He washed the temple. He was showing how
thoroughly you must clean your heart..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 5 min | 5 April 2013)
Gundicha
Marjan: A Seat for Bhakti Devi
"What is the meaning of this Pastime? We have so much dust in our hearts,
we must remove this dust. Once we clean the place in our heart, we can invite
Bhakti Devi, the Lord, to come there. Unless you clean the place, Bhakti Devi
will not come."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 7 min | Kirtan & Bengali class)
Today in the calendar:
Amavasya. Disappearance of Srila Gadadhar Pandit Goswami and Srila
Sachchidananda Bhaktivinod 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."
"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."
"Wake up, look into the calendar and give 'jay' to your Guru and
Vaishnavs. Always pay obeisance to your Guru and Vaishnavs when you wake up
in the morning, always give them 'jay'. Always keep faith and show
respect to them. Always see the calendar—whose appearance day it is, whose
disappearance day it is. Even if you cannot make a festival, at least you can
give them 'jay', it will bring you benefit. When you give 'jay'
to your Guru and Vaishnavs, it brings you sukriti. For example, today
is the disappearance day of a Vaishnav—give 'jay' to him, remember
him. We must always remember the words of Vaishnavs. If I remember the words
of Vaishnavs, I get some benefit, some deposit through that."
In honour of Srila Sachchidananda
Bhaktivinod Thakur:
"I offer my obeisance unto Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur, the embodiment of
Sri Gaurasundar's potency. He is the king of all knowers of the scriptures of
pure devotion and an ocean of the nectar of devotion to Srimati
Radharani."
Srimad Bhakti Vinodaviraha Dasakam | শ্রীমদ্ভক্তিবিনোদবিরহদশকম্ "Alas, alas! O Bhakti Vinoda Thakura, O Supreme Guru, for twenty-two years
this world has been plunged into misfortune, long grief-stricken in your
intolerable separation. You are the divine potency of Sri Gaura, and you
graciously made your advent in this earthly plane, being attracted by the
living beings' virtuous deeds performed throughout many lifetimes. Where am
I, so lowly and fallen, and where are you, the great soul who delivers the
universe!"
Without Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur Our Line Is Nothing
"Today is the disappearance day of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur—he left us and
entered his nitya-lila on this day. He is doing service in his abode
now, but he is still bestowing his mercy on all devotees and on us. We cannot
even think of our line without Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. He is the main
personality in our line."
•
Download / listen to the audio (3.4 Mb, 8 min | 21 June 2020)
Mandakini Dhara
"The main thing is that Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur brought to us the pure
current of Mandakini, proper consciousness, and this current is still flowing
in this world allowing us to get some taste of the nectar that was
distributed by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. What he has given us has never been
given by anybody in this world."
•
Download / listen to the audio (3.9 Mb, 10 min | 21 June 2020)
Srila Bhakti
Vinod Thakur
"If Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur had not come in this world, where, in whose
lotus feet would we have found our shelter? He gave us all these things and
he gave us Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. If you think about it,
you can understand how much he gave to the jiva souls..."
• Download the
audio (3.6 Mb, 11 min | 3 October 2015)
Recognising Guru:
What Is Your Obstacle?
"Brother, you see Bhakti Vinod Thakur as your father, but I see him as my
spiritual master. That is the difference. What you see is a father
(baba), and that is the obstacle (badha) that prevents you from
getting Radharani (Radha)."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 24 February 2013)
The Seventh Goswami[By Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj]
A summary account of
Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's service, life, and character. Originally published as an
introduction to the first edition of Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya
published as The Hidden Treasure of the Holy Dhama Nabadwipa.
The Worship of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur [Sri Gaudiya
Darshan, by Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj] "Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur did so much seva for the sampradaya of Sri
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He lived during a very heavy time period. He was a very
exclusive devotee of Mahaprabhu and specifically worshipped Deities of Sri
Sri Gaura Gadadhar...."
In honour of Srila Gadadhar Pandit Goswami:
— { Pranam mantra of Sri Gadadhar Pandit Goswami } —
nilambhodhi-tate sada sva-viraha-ksepanvitam bandhavam
srimad-bhagavati katha madiraya sanjivayan bhati yah
srimad-bhagavatam sada sva-nayanasru-payanaih pujayan
gosvami-prabaro gadadhara-vibhur-bhuyat mad-eka-gatih
"On the shore of the broad blue ocean Gadadhar Pandit used to read Srimad
Bhagavatam to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who was suffering from the great
internal pain of separation from Himself (Krishna). Gadadhar Pandit supplied
the wine of Krishna-lila to intoxicate his afflicted friend and give Him
relief. As he read, tears would fall from his eyes like flower offerings onto
the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. May the pleasure of that brilliant
personality, Gadadhar Pandit, the best of the Goswamis, be my only object in
writing this book."
(Composed by
Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj)
Sri Gadadhar Pandit: Mahaprabhu's Shadow (A chapter from His Divine Grace's Bengali book Sri Puri
Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala)
"Sri Gadadhar Pandit stayed with Mahaprabhu from his childhood. His father's
name was Madhav Misra, and his mother's name was Ratnavali Devi. They lived
in Mayapur near Jagannath Misra's house. Mahaprabhu could never stay without
Gadadhar Pandit, and Gadadhar Pandit could not stay without Mahaprabhu even a
moment too..."
At Sri
Chatak Parvat and Sri Tota Gopinath Temple
His Divine Grace is speaking at the bhajan-kutir of Srila Bhakti
Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur and Sri Tota Gopinath temple on the first day of
Sri Puri Dham parikrama, telling the pastimes of Srila Haridas
Thakur's disappearance and Srila Gadadhar Pandit.
•
Download / listen to the audio (4.9 Mb, 13 min | 14 July 2015 | Bengali)
Sri Gadadhar Pandit's
Life in Puri
A special discourse given by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda
Dev-Goswami Maharaj for Sri Gaudiya Darshan, 1995, dwelling on "Puri
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math" and "Jagannathdev and His Dham."
Pandit Sri Gadadhar Goswami[From Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-Mukta-Mala]
Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's article on Srila Gadadhar
Pandit's paramount sacrifice: "Pandit Goswami's life is a special offering
of silent and complete self-sacrifice to his beloved. Only those who can
taste unprecedented joy by appreciating the wonder within the ornament of
contradiction in seeing the bag of a beggar on Laksmi Devi’s shoulder are fit
to appreciate the extraordinary glory of Srimat Pandit Goswami's
unprecedented personality..."
পণ্ডিত শ্রীগদাধর
গোস্বামী["Pandit Sri Gadadhar Goswami," the original
Bengali article]
শ্রীল ভক্তিরক্ষক শ্রীধর দেব গোস্বামী মহারাজের প্রবন্ধ: "পণ্ডিত গোস্বামী
চরিত্র নিজ প্রিয়তমের উদ্দেশ্যে একটী নীরব পূর্ণ-আত্মোৎসর্গময় উপটোকন বিশেষ ।
লক্ষ্মীদেবীর স্কন্ধ ভিক্ষার ঝুলি দর্শনে যাঁহারা বিরোধালঙ্কারের চমৎকারিতা
হৃদয়ঙ্গমে যে অপূর্ব্ব সুখাস্বাদনে সমর্থ, তাঁহারাই শ্রীমৎ পণ্ডিত গোস্বামী
অপূর্ব্ব ব্যক্তিত্বের অসাধারণ মহিমা অনুভবের অধিকারী ।"
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?"
Tue, 20 June 2023 (Sri Ratha Yatra Festival)
Strongest
Faith and Devotion
'Srila Sridhar Maharaj said that although Mahaprabhu is very merciful and
came to rescue all the fallen souls, He actually came to rescue mainly Sri
Prakasananda Saraswati, Sri Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya and who else?'
•
Download / listen to the audio (8.6 Mb, 18 min | Bengali | 10 July 2018)
Today in the calendar:
Gaura Dvitiya. Sri Ratha Yatra of Sri Jagannathdev. Disappearance of Srila
Svarup Damodar Goswami Prabhu. Anniversary of establishing Sri Chaitanya
Saraswat Math, Nabadwip.
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."
In holy remembrance of the
chariot festival of Sri Jagannathdev:
Sri Ratha Yatra
Festival (23 June 2020 | 75 photographs, 5.1 Mb)
On the earnest plea of the servitors of Sri Jagannathdev Temple, the Supreme
Court allows to hold Sri Ratha Yatra in Sri Jagannath Puri without public
attendance. Unable to make Sri Puri Dham parikrama this year due to the
national restriction, our beloved Sri Gurupadpadma Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj observes the festival from Kolkata. We
are humbly sharing a few glimpses of the festival in Sri Puri Dham.
Puri Sri Chaitanya Saraswat
Math: Jagannathdev and His Dham
Chapter 23 from Affectionate Guidance by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda
Dev-Goswami Maharaj that relates the history of our Puri Temple, Deities and
the proper mood when visiting Sri Puri Dham.
Lord
Jagannath: Discovery
"The Lord did not give any direction, so King Indradyumna had to find out
himself where the Lord was. All he knew was that the Lord was there and was
waiting for him."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min)
Darshan of Lord
Jagannath
"By the mercy of Guru and Vaishnavs we completed the Ratha-yatra festival
yesterday in a very beautiful and smooth way. Many thought, 'Oh, I will see
the chariots tomorrow,' but tell me do we have the eyes to see it?"
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 7 min | Vandana & Bengali
class)
Appearance of
Lord Jagannath
"Previously, Jagannath, Baladev, Subhadra were one Vishnu-murti, and His name
was Nil-Madhav. He was served about a hundred kilometres away from Puri by
one savar named Vishvavasu..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (5.7 Mb, 15 min | 18 August
2013)
Gundicha
Marjan: "Let Jagannath Come to My House"
"Another meaning of Gundicha marjan is cleaning the heart, and Mahaprabhu
Himself was showing how to do it. At first He swept, then poured water and
then with His own cloth, uttariya, He washed the temple. He was showing how
thoroughly you must clean your heart..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 5 min)
শ্রীপুরীধাম মাহাত্ম্য-মুক্তা-মালা
সূচনা : শ্রীজগন্নাথদেব
"শ্রীজগন্নাথ—দৃশ্য নহেন, জগন্নাথ—দ্রষ্টা । জীবের দ্রষ্ট-অভিমান পরিত্যাগ করিয়া
যখন সম্পূর্ণভাবে জগন্নাথের দৃশ্য বা ভোগ্যরূপে শুদ্ধ স্বরূপগত অভিমান হয়, তখনই
জীব সেবোন্মুখ হইয়া থাকেন এবং সেই সেবোন্মুখ-প্রেম-নেত্রেই শ্রীজগন্নাথের দর্শন
লাভ করেন । যতক্ষণ আমরা মনে করি,—আমরা জগন্নাথকে দেখিয়া লইব, ততক্ষণ আমরা
জগন্নাথ না দেখিয়া কাঠ, পাথর, বৌদ্ধ সাহিত্যিক বা ঐতিহাসিকের ঠুঁটো
ভোগ্য-মূর্ত্তি-বিশেষ দেখিয়া থাকি ; আর যখন সর্ব্বান্তঃকরণে জানিতে পারি,—তিনি
আমাদিগকে দেখিবেন, আমরা তাঁহার ভোগের উপকরণ, তাঁহার ভোগে আমাদের সম্ভোগের কোন
অবগুন্ঠন নাই, তাঁহারই নিরঙ্কুশ যথেচ্ছাচারিতা আছে, তখনই আমাদের নিকট জগন্নাথ
তাঁহাকে প্রকাশ করেন । কিন্তু জগতের লোক “আমি জগন্নাথকে দেখিয়া লইব, আমার
মাংসচক্ষু সচ্চিদানন্দ-বিগ্রহকে মাপিয়া লইবে ও ভোগ করিবে”—জ্ঞাত বা অজ্ঞাতসারে
এই বুদ্ধিতে বিভ্রান্ত হয় । তাই জগন্নাথ-দর্শন ছলনার পরও জগতের নানা কুরূপ
দেখিবার জন্য তাহাদের চিত্তবৃত্তি ধাবিত হইয়া থাকে ।"
While observing and celebrating Sri Ratha Yatra festival, we are also
remembering how, eighty-one years ago, on this day His Divine Grace Om
Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj entered Sri
Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Nabadwip Dham.
'At this supremely enchanting divine ashram, materially destitute and
spiritually loving devotees of Sri Gaura-Saraswati, who are expert at
favourable practices of Krishna consciousness, constantly chant within their
hopeful hearts the glories of Lord Sri Sri Gaurasundar, the greatly
magnanimous source of all incarnations of the Lord, following in strict
adherence the line of Sri Sri Rupa-Raghunath, the inexhaustible storehouse of
the wealth of divine ecstatic consorthood love, being eternally eager to
engage in the loving service of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govindasundar
and Their associates. This effulgent and supremely worshippable king among
all temples Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is situated within Koladwip, which is
non-different from Sri Govardhan, the king of mountains, on the enchanting
bank of the revered Bhagirathi River, who rescues all fallen souls, in Sri
Nabadwip Dham, a holy abode of touchstones that is non-different from Sri
Vrindavan. Capturing Jayasri (the Goddess of Victory — Srimati Radharani), it
exists eternally, leaving the entire creation of moving and non-moving
entities astonished in the extremely cooling and loving shade of the soaring
victory flag of its ever-increasing celebrated renown'.
Golden
Reflections
Published in 1992 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat
Math, the book presents a series of reflections of Srila B.S. Govinda
Dev-Goswami Maharaj on how the Math was founded and developed over the
course of time, as well as affectionate guidance for the practitioners on
how to proceed in their spiritual life.
Photographs of Sri Puri Dham pilgrimage from previous years:
At Sri Alarnath's Temple
'When we were coming here, we were chanting, "O Jagannath, O Alarnath, I have
no eyes to have Your darshan! I am coming inside, but I have no capacity to
have Your darshan. But I am still coming, so please forgive my
offence."'
•
Download / listen to the audio (4.9 Mb, 11 min | Bengali | 11 July 2018)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Latest News
"Last week on Sunday I was in Vrindavan, and today in the morning I came back
to Kolkata. I started from Mathura yesterday in the morning and arrived in
Kolkata very early in the morning today. Tomorrow I have a train to
Siliguri...."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 18 April 2021)
Thu, 22 June 2023
Worship Gauranga
'The highest worship of Sri Gauranga is through sankirtan-yajna (the
sacrifice of congregational chanting). It is necessary to practise and
gradually progress. But first comes faith. This is how you must chant
kirtans also. Chanting kirtans is not about tune.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (24.3 Mb, 55 min | Bengali | 3 November
2020)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Hapless Hindus
"If they worship Krishna, Jagannath et al., all these Deities will not accept
their puja—all their worship becomes useless. Krishna only takes care
of His devotees, He does not take care of anyone and everyone. That is why it
is important to become a proper devotee."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 18 April 2021)
Fri, 23 June 2023
Keep Your Fire Ablaze
'When a soul forgets Krishna, Maya attacks it. In other words, as soon as we
are taken out of the Lord's service, Maya will take this chance and attack
us. We must never stay out of sadhus' association.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (24.3 Mb, 55 min | Bengali | 3 November
2020)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Enter Auspicious
Life
"Always attend to service, that is the main thing. Service is our vow. Our
intention, our strongest desire should be to please our Guru, Vaishnavs, and
Bhagavan (the Lord) in whichever possible way, then it will be service."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.6 Mb, 7 min | 18 April 2021)
Today in the calendar:
Gaura Panchami. Hera-Panchami. Sri Sri Laksmi Vijay (observed in Sri Puri
Dham the next day).
The Hera-panchami festival takes place five days after the Ratha-yatra
festival. Because Lord Jagannath leaves His wife Laksmi Devi, the goddess of
fortune, and goes to Vrindavan (Gundicha Temple) with Baladev and Subhadra,
she becomes angry and comes to the Gundicha Temple on the fifth day to bring
her husband, Lord Jagannath, back. She causes a row and engages in a fight
with the servitors of Lord Jagannath.
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj notes:
Seeing her anger, Jagannathdev and His servitors admit their defeat and Lord
Jagannath promises, "Yes, I shall go back immediately, do not be angry with
us." In this way, satisfied with her victory and the defeat of the battalion
of Lord Jagannath, Laksmi Devi quickly goes back. This day is called Laksmi
Vijay, or Hera Panchami. Jagannath Himself gives this prestige to Laksmi
Devi—we can see that the Lord is always defeated by His power. We too are
situated under the guidance of Supreme Power—Srimati Radharani, chit-sakti,
or hladini-sakti, of the Lord...
Sat, 24 June 2023
Happiness Is Service
'Anxiety, disturbances, and struggle in the material life is the cause of
bondage – it does not bring any benefit to your life. If you can accept all
the disturbances, troubles, and misery for the Lord's service, you will get a
great benefit – your misery is the price for the Lord's happiness.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (24.3 Mb, 55 min | Bengali | 3 November
2020)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Cannot Practise or Do Not Want to Practise? Question: We hear that it is important to be tolerant, humble, etc. but in
our material life we cannot manage if we are always humble; if we are always
in a humble mood, we cannot maintain our life properly...
•
Download / listen to the audio (0.9 Mb, 2 min | 18 April 2021)
Sun, 25 June 2023
Make Kirtan Your
All-In-All
'By studying scriptures you cannot get direct service, but if you chant the
Holy Name, you can get everything directly. Chanting the Holy Name increases
the joy in the Lord's heart – He cannot turn His eyes and look in another
direction when one chants His Holy Name.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (24.3 Mb, 55 min | Bengali | 3 November
2020)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Vaishnavs'
Signature Qualities
"Every time you pay an obeisance to a Vaishnav or Deities, you must always
ask, 'Please forgive my offence.' Whether you are conscious of your offence
or not, you must always ask for forgiveness of your offences. It is necessary
to express this from your heart."
•
Download / listen to the audio (4 Mb, 10 min | 18 April 2021)
Mon, 26 June 2023
Qualification
for Kirtan
'I have to say these things, and who listens to it and who does not, it is
your matter. Those who listen will pass. Those listen to these things and
follow these things will come to the Lord. Mahaprabhu also told
everything...'
•
Download / listen to the audio (24.3 Mb, 55 min | Bengali | 3 November
2020)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Gurudev's
Disappearance[Part 1 | 24 April 2021]
"Today is the holy disappearance day of Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti
Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. He chose this day and left our sight on
this day, at 4:20-30 in the morning. He is present now in his samadhi
form, and he is bestowing his mercy upon us from there. He always stays
within his eternal pastimes...."
Today in the calendar:
Gaura Ashtami. Disappearance of Sripad Ajita Krishna
Brahmachari.
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."
"Wake up, look into the calendar and give 'jay' to your Guru and
Vaishnavs. Always pay obeisance to your Guru and Vaishnavs when you wake up
in the morning, always give them 'jay'. Always keep faith and show
respect to them. Always see the calendar—whose appearance day it is, whose
disappearance day it is. Even if you cannot make a festival, at least you can
give them 'jay', it will bring you benefit. When you give 'jay'
to your Guru and Vaishnavs, it brings you sukriti. For example, today
is the disappearance day of a Vaishnav—give 'jay' to him, remember
him. We must always remember the words of Vaishnavs. If I remember the words
of Vaishnavs, I get some benefit, some deposit through that."
In honour of Sripad Ajita Krishna
Brahmachari:
A Miracle and Wealth
of Our Mission[Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami
Maharaj]
"Ajita Krishna Brahmachari was an ideal servitor of Srila Guru Maharaj. I am
surprised to see his mood of service. I did something, no doubt, but he used
ten times more energy for the service of Guru Maharaj! That was his
peculiarity. That type of all-rounder brahmachari was the wealth of
our mission."
The
Tireless Servitor[Sri Gaudiya
Darshan]
An article written by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj in
honour of the passing of Sripad Ajita Krishna Prabhu Seva Saurabh. It was
first published in Sri Gaudiya Darsan on 19 September 1971.
The
Best of All Servitors[Sri Gaudiya
Darshan]
Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's tribute to Sripad Ajita
Krishna Das Brahmachari Seva Saurabh.
•SONG:
Ye anila
prema-dhana |
যে আনিল প্রেমধন "Where are the saviours of the fallen souls? Not finding Sri Gauranga, who
performed His Pastimes with all His associates, Narottam Das weeps."
•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."
Tue, 27 June 2023
Sadhus' Surrender
'Guru Maharaj said that in Kali-yuga, there are some people who put tilaks on,
wear neckbeads and live as sadhus, but if you get to know them better,
you can see that their actual behaviour is contrary to what a sadhu
should be like.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (24.3 Mb, 55 min | Bengali | 3 November
2020)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
"Everything Plunged
Into Darkness"[Part 2]
"When Gurudev left this world, I thought, 'Now there is no one left in this
world who will chastise me.' I always spoke to Gurudev heart to heart, I told
him about all happy and unhappy things, and when Gurudev left this world, I
could not understand anything—what was going on, what was going to happen,
everything plunged into darkness for me..."
Wed, 28 June 2023 (Tomorrow is Sri Sayan Ekadasi)
You Must Want To Learn
'The problem is that people do not want to study, do not want to to learn
anything. When you come for kirtans, you must take a book with you and
chant from the book. Come, chant and learn the kirtans; otherwise, you
will not get anywhere. If your Guru or Vaishnavs tell you to do something,
but you do not listen, where does that take you?'
•
Download / listen to the audio (24.3 Mb, 55 min | Bengali | 3 November
2020)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Service Alertness[Part 3 | 24 April 2021]
"I was always alert towards Gurudev—I know everything, what he likes, what he
eats, etc. I knew what Gurudev liked to eat, and I would go to the market the
day before his arrival, buy everything and have it kept in his kitchen.
Gurudev always liked trees and cows..."
Today in the calendar:
Gaura Dasami. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Bhakti Kamal Madhusudan Maharaj
(a disciple of Srila Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad, a sannyas disciple and a
dear associate of Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj). Departure of
Sriyukta Krishnamayi Devi. Punar Yatra of Sri Sri Jagannathdev (return
journey of the Chariots).
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."
"Wake up, look into the calendar and give 'jay' to your Guru and
Vaishnavs. Always pay obeisance to your Guru and Vaishnavs when you wake up
in the morning, always give them 'jay'. Always keep faith and show
respect to them. Always see the calendar—whose appearance day it is, whose
disappearance day it is. Even if you cannot make a festival, at least you can
give them 'jay', it will bring you benefit. When you give 'jay'
to your Guru and Vaishnavs, it brings you sukriti. For example, today
is the disappearance day of a Vaishnav—give 'jay' to him, remember
him. We must always remember the words of Vaishnavs. If I remember the words
of Vaishnavs, I get some benefit, some deposit through that."
In honour of Srila Bhakti Kamal
Madhusudan Maharaj:
Pranam-mantra of Srimad Bhakti Kamal Madhusudan Maharaj, composed by Srila
Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj:
"I offer my obeisance unto the great Guru Srimad Bhakti Kamal Madhusudan
Maharaj. His tall, tranquil form, adorned with a tridanda and garments the
colour of the newly risen sun, is the embodiment of mercy. He is an
affectionate king amongst the Gaudiya Vaishnava sannyasis, an ocean of
Vedantic knowledge, and always rapt with the ecstatic taste of Sri Sri
Guru-Gauranga's kirtan."
Godbrothers'
Bond
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj tells about
the close and reverent relationship that Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar
Dev-Goswami Maharaj had with his godbrothers, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami
Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Kamal Madhusudan Maharaj, and Srila Krishna Das Babaji
Maharaj.
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 4 min | 19 September
2009)
Invoking
Vaishnavs' Mercy
"Today is Srimad Bhakti Kamal Madhusudan Maharaj's appearance day. Wherever
he is staying now, whether in Goloka Vrindavan or anywhere else, we are
praying to him, 'Wherever you are now, please give us some mercy.'"
•
Download / listen to the audio (4.1 Mb, 13 min)
In honour of Sri Krishna Mayi Devi Dasi:
Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj remembers:
"When Krishnamayi Didi's son and son-in-law both died. She was in great
distress and came here to take shelter. Her son and myself were both the same
age. Krishnamayi Didi saw that Srila Guru Maharaj gave me much affection,
therefore she treated me as her son and would always give me much
enthusiasm.
"She came from a very high family. Both her father's family and her husband's
family were very high brahmanas, but they were smarta and so none of them
liked the Vaishnav Temples. Krishnamayi Didi was previously coming here but
hiddenly. Because her family were smarta they did not give her permission to
come, but she came anyway. Her family knew Srila Guru Maharaj since childhood
as Srila Guru Maharaj was their relative and also came from a very prominent
smarta brahmana family. Outwardly, therefore, they did not say anything wrong
to Krishnamayi Didi but they expressed their objection in many ways. She did
not listen to them but told, 'I have a great Guru and I cannot leave his
lotus feet.' When her very good son-in-law died she became very distressed
and could not remain living in her house. She came to take shelter of Srila
Guru Maharaj and offered her house to him. She said to me, 'Please you sell
my house.' I eventually was able to sell it for a good price and, according
to her wish, gave the money to Srila Guru Maharaj. He made one small
single-roomed bungalow for her to live in. It is known as Govinda Dham and is
where she now stays.
"The first lady to help Srila Guru Maharaj in the Math was Rama Didi. When
she would go to stay with her relatives, Krishnamayi Didi would help to look
after Srila Guru Maharaj. It was necessary to cook in a very precise way for
Srila Guru Maharaj otherwise he would get a headache. Krishnamayi Didi learnt
to cook for him from Rama Didi. We would offer Srila Guru Maharaj her
preparations, but after maybe two or three years she herself would take him
his prasadam and offer it directly to him. At that time Srila Guru Maharaj
could not see very well. One day Krishnamayi Didi was giving something to
Srila Guru Maharaj and by chance her finger and Srila Guru Maharaj's finger
touched. Immediately she paid her obeisances to Srila Guru Maharaj saying,
'Oh, I have made a great offence!' I was there and saw Srila Guru Maharaj
smile a little, thinking, 'She has acted perfectly.'
"Srila Guru Maharaj was becoming old, his pulse and blood pressure were low
and his health was deteriorating. And after that incident Krishnamayi Didi
became close in the service to Srila Guru Maharaj. So from that first
situation where no lady could enter his room we have seen how presently
Krishnamayi Didi began rendering service to Srila Guru Maharaj, and later
Rama Didi and so many others also came and served him in various ways."
Digesting
Gurudev's Love
"They cannot understand how much love and affection Gurudev has for them.
They think Gurudev loves his disciples but not his godbrothers and
godsisters, and that is why they left..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min | 11 March 2016)
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?"
Thu, 29 June 2023 (Sri Sayan Ekadasi)
Sincerely, Conscientiously and Without Offences
'The Hare Krishna maha-mantra is a sound vibration. If we can chant this
sound vibration sincerely, conscientiously and without offences, why can we
not reach the Lord? This is what our Guru and Vaishnavs tell us. We can reach
the Lord through the medium of the Holy Name if we can chant the Holy Name
genuinely.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (21.6 Mb, 52 min | Bengali | 13 November
2020)
Follow the
Footsteps of Great Souls
"Association with the Guru means listening to what Gurudev says and following
it in your life. We must live in the same way that great personalities lived.
This is how you take sadhu-sanga, holy association."
•
Download / listen to the full class (52.2 Mb, 2 hr 05 min | 16 January
2021 | Bengali)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Service Milestones[Part 4 | 24 April 2021]
"Gurudev brought me up, he taught me everything. Gurudev told about Vaishnav
seva—how one must serve Vaishnavs, how one must serve devotees, how to manage
the temple, etc. I have learnt everything from Gurudev. I always did whatever
Gurudev told me."
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.
Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj about fasting on ekadasi and
accepting material facilities:
"One time, a devotee came here from Vrindavan on the day of
ekadasi. He reached in the evening and, after taking a bath in the
Ganges, attended kirtans, danced, circumambulated the temple and so
on. Then, I asked him whether he would take any anukalpa [non-grain
prasadam that is allowed to be taken on ekadasi]. He replied,
'Generally, I do not take anything, but if you like, then, of course, I must
like anukalpa. Your will is greater than my fasting.' That was his
decision.
"My Guru Maharaj (Srila Prabhupad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur)
always wanted maximum energy: you should take good food and do good service.
That was his maxim. Krishna is not a liquidated party: take full
prasadam and do full service. Do maximum service, and you should take
whatever is necessary for that. You are to take it for the cause of Krishna,
not for your own cause. You are Krishna's, so if you grow weak, His service
will be hampered, and both you and Krishna will be losers thereby. 'My
soldiers will be well-fed and well-working.' That was our Guru Maharaj's
principle. Napoleon said, 'One full-fed soldier is equal to ten half-fed
soldiers.'
"So, prasad-seva: if it is service, then it must be taken in a
serving mood, of course. But, at the same time, the individual position of a
devotee should be taken into consideration. Sahajiyas do not fast on
ekadasi at all: "Oh, we are in Vrindavan, and there is no fasting in
Vrindavan." But Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, Srila Prabhupad did not like
that—it is sahajiya (imitation) if you go on feeding your senses in
the name of Krishna-bhakti (devotion to the Lord). For the service to
Krishna, it is necessary to keep up the body and to provide nourishment to
it, so we must take what is necessary for service. We do not like it if by
fasting, a loss of energy is effected. If fasting does not hamper your
service, you may go on fasting—perhaps, your Gurudev wanted
that...
"For service, I must accept what is necessary to make me physically
fit so that I can render more service. So, accepting material things is not
objectionable. It is fruitful, not detrimental. Rather, it produces something
of a pure character, which helps everyone. This is how a disciple receives
and accepts things. At that same time, he may even blame himself, 'I cannot
go on with my worldly life without the help of this or that!' He will blame
himself, but the underlying spirit must be, 'If I do not take it, I shall be
unfit; I will not be able to do my bit of service to the Lord, to my
Gurudev.'
"Moreover, by taking up renunciation, I will be a loser. I will incur
a loss for myself, for the world, and my Guru's service will be hampered. In
this spirit, devotees are to take everything. For the cause of Krsna, for the
cause of his Guru, they will accept anything.
"Suppose there is a very miserly karmachari (manager). Because
he does not want to spend money, he may not attain a particular result; then,
some difficulty comes, and the opportunity is lost. This manager will be
responsible to the proprietor: 'Why did you not spend money? Why are you
afraid of spending money from my store? Because of your miserly habit,
the opportunity has been lost!' 'Why should you not spend My money for My
interest?' So, to render service to Krishna, to my Gurudev, to Vaishnavs, to
the world, to everyone, I must keep up this mundane body, and I am entitled
to take something for that.
"Miserliness is mayavada; it is the renunciation spirit, and it
will mar Krishna's interest. What we need is yukta-vairagya: I shall
take from the store of Krishna to keep myself fit and to do service. It is
Krishna's account, and if I do dot do that, I should be a separationist, a
mayavadi, a renunciationist. I shall render maximum service to
Krishna, and I must take without any hestitation whatever is necessary to
make myself fit for the service; otherwise, I shall be
punishable."
•"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..."
"You do not need to know the meaning of each ekadasi tithi because if
you know it, you will want to get this result, that result, etc."
(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
Fri, 30 June 2023
Greatest Benefactors
'If you have no fortune, you will not be able to get it. Unless you have such
fortune, you cannot serve the Lord, you cannot serve Vaishnavs, you cannot
hear Hari-katha, you cannot take shelter at the holy lotus feet of a bona
fide guru. It takes spiritual merit of thousands and thousands of
births.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (21.6 Mb, 52 min | Bengali | 13 November
2020)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Service Challenges[Part 5 | 24 April 2021]
"In my life I had to do all these hard, hard, very difficult jobs, and I was
always successful. Anyhow but I did it. Whether it was getting building plans
approved, whether it was any other job, everything was unhampered in the
end."
Krishna Pratipad. Disappearance of Srila Shyamananda Prabhu and Sripad
Rishabdev Das Adhikari.
"Wake up, look into the calendar and give 'jay' to your Guru and
Vaishnavs. Always pay obeisance to your Guru and Vaishnavs when you wake up
in the morning, always give them 'jay'. Always keep faith and show
respect to them. Always see the calendar—whose appearance day it is, whose
disappearance day it is. Even if you cannot make a festival, at least you can
give them 'jay', it will bring you benefit. When you give 'jay'
to your Guru and Vaishnavs, it brings you sukriti. For example, today
is the disappearance day of a Vaishnav—give 'jay' to him, remember
him. We must always remember the words of Vaishnavs. If I remember the words
of Vaishnavs, I get some benefit, some deposit through that."
VIDEO: 
Krishna Ekadasi. No fast today (because of Mahadvadasi tomorrow).
Disappearance of Sriyukta Rama Devi.
•
SONG:
Suddha-bhakata |
শুদ্ধ ভকত-চরণ-রেণু
Gaura Pratipad. Gundicha Marjan: cleaning at the Gundicha Temple at Sri Puri
Dham, and cleaning of all Temples of the Lord.
Amavasya. Disappearance of Srila Gadadhar Pandit Goswami and Srila
Sachchidananda Bhaktivinod Thakur.
'At this supremely enchanting divine ashram, materially destitute and
spiritually loving devotees of Sri Gaura-Saraswati, who are expert at
favourable practices of Krishna consciousness, constantly chant within their
hopeful hearts the glories of Lord Sri Sri Gaurasundar, the greatly
magnanimous source of all incarnations of the Lord, following in strict
adherence the line of Sri Sri Rupa-Raghunath, the inexhaustible storehouse of
the wealth of divine ecstatic consorthood love, being eternally eager to
engage in the loving service of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govindasundar
and Their associates. This effulgent and supremely worshippable king among
all temples Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is situated within Koladwip, which is
non-different from Sri Govardhan, the king of mountains, on the enchanting
bank of the revered Bhagirathi River, who rescues all fallen souls, in Sri
Nabadwip Dham, a holy abode of touchstones that is non-different from Sri
Vrindavan. Capturing Jayasri (the Goddess of Victory — Srimati Radharani), it
exists eternally, leaving the entire creation of moving and non-moving
entities astonished in the extremely cooling and loving shade of the soaring
victory flag of its ever-increasing celebrated renown'.
Golden
Reflections
Gaura Dasami. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Bhakti Kamal Madhusudan Maharaj
(a disciple of Srila Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad, a sannyas disciple and a
dear associate of Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj). Departure of
Sriyukta Krishnamayi Devi. Punar Yatra of Sri Sri Jagannathdev (return
journey of the Chariots).