'My Actual Happiness'
'It is the quality that matters: devotees are giving themselves, giving their hearts to their guru... When I see devotees all over the world bowing themselves down at the lotus feet of Gurudev, that is my actual happiness, this is what actually pleases me.'
• Download / listen to the audio (10.8 Mb, 23 min | English | 17 October 2020)

• DIGNITY OF THE DIVINE SERVITOR •

(2.5) PRESENT POSITION, BRIGHTEST PROSPECT
'When we walk along a path we may step on many blades of durvasa grass, but when that same kind of grass is offered to the Lord we take that upon our head. We cannot even think to crush it beneath our feet. Why? We cannot think such a thing because we know it has been offered to Krishna therefore it has assumed a transcendental position. So Krishna says, “If you can do everything for My satisfaction then you will have no debt, and furthermore you will be benefited even while in this mundane plane.” This is the main principle to be followed for our living in this world.'

My Fortune and My Promise
"Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is my real family. I am very fortunate and very grateful. I will try to serve all the devotees to the best of my ability until my death, until the moment I leave this body. That is my promise."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 6 min | 18 October 2020)

• DIGNITY OF THE DIVINE SERVITOR •

(2.6) FORTUNATE INDEED
'We are so fortunate that we have many things, now it is the time to use that “property” properly. I heard from Srila Guru Maharaj the phrase, “religion is proper adjustment.” Everything has been given but it is necessary for us to make proper adjustment: to understand who we are; what our duty is; who is Krishna, and who is His servitor.'

In honour of Sri Sankar Acharya:

Hearing the name of Sri Sankar Acharya, Paramahamsa Babaji Mahasay offered his prostrate obeisance and said:

‘O great soul! “Sankarah Sankarah saksat” (Sankar is Mahadev-Sankar, Lord Siva, himself) – always remember these words. Sankar is a Guru of Vaishnavs, that is why Mahaprabhu spoke of him as an Acharya. Sankar is a perfect Vaishnav. When he made his advent in India, there was a very urgent need in a guna-avatara like him. At that time, discussions of Vedas and practices of varnasrama-dharma had become almost obliterated by the influence of Buddhist voidism, which is extremely atheistic. Although Buddhist doctrine contains some truth about jiva souls, that religion is quite temporal (non-eternal). At that time, almost all brahmans had become Buddhists and had almost completely given up Vedic religion. Filled with wondrous power, the advent of Sankar’s incarnation established the honour of Vedic scriptures and changed voidism into brahmanism. The work he performed is wonderful. India is eternally indebted to Sri Sankar for this great work. All works in the world can be divided into two types. Some works are related to some particular time (temporal), and some are not related to any time (timeless, eternal). The great work of Sankar’s incarnation is temporal, and many good results emerged from it. Sankar’s incarnation created a foundation upon which the incarnations of Sri Ramanuja, Sri Madhva and other great teachers later built the palace of pure Vaishnavism. Therefore, Sankar’s incarnation is the greatest friend of Vaishnavism and a predecessor acharya.

Sri Sankar revealed a conceptual path in this world, and to this day, Vaishnavs easily take advantage of its wealth. Sambandha-jnana (knowledge of the relationship) is extremely necessary for material conditioned souls. Vaishnavs and Sankar Acharya believe that gross bodies existent in this material world are different and separate from transcendental matter, but spiritually, there is no difference between a jiva soul’s internal and external identity. Both agree that giving up material world is called liberation (mukti), and up until attaining liberation, there is very much similarity between Sri Sankar and Vaishnav Acharyas. Sankar Acharya teaches that it is possible to purify one’s heart and attain liberation by practising God consciousness (by serving and worshipping the Lord), but only Sankar is silent about the transcendental path jiva souls face after attaining liberation. Sankar knew very well that if a jiva soul can progress on the path of liberation by serving the Lord, it will gradually, bound by the happiness of spiritual life, become a pure devotee. Therefore, when Sankar showed the path, he did not further reveal the mystery of Vaishnavs. Those who read and consider his commentaries very carefully can understand Sankar’s profound intention. But those who pass their time reading only the external parts of his teachings become driven away from proper Vaishnavism.

(From Jaiva Dharma by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

Rare Jewels
"I always remember so many great souls who are not with us anymore. So many householder devotees have made this kind of sacrifice—actually, they look like householders, but their mind, heart, their everything is more than a sannyasi."
• Download / listen to the audio (7.6 Mb, 18 min | 18 October 2020)

• DIGNITY OF THE DIVINE SERVITOR •

(3.1) THE WRITTEN WORD
'All over the world Srila Guru Maharaj arranged the fire sacrifice of sankirtan and we are the ingredients to fuel the flames of that fire, but if we hide ourselves from there then that is not real saving, but that is suiciding. That is, everything is transcendentally arranged there and therefore we cannot feel the burning sensation. Only we can feel the transcendental joyful nourishment of the mood of sacrifice.'

Root of Devotion
"If you want to conquer illusory environment, it is necessary to have the mercy of Guru and Vaishnavs. Guru-kripa is the root of your creeper of devotion. If you cut your creeper at the root, your devotion, your practice will dry just like a tree dries up when uprooted."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 6 min | 18 October 2020)

• DIGNITY OF THE DIVINE SERVITOR •

(3.2) JEWELS
'Sankirtan means that all together we are chanting the Holy Names and offering service whole-heartedly to our Divine Master and our Lord. Krishna only looks at this qualification and no other. Each one is like an auspicious stick of wood fully dedicating himself for the exaltation of Srila Guru Maharaj by entering into the sankirtan fire sacrifice. These sticks are burning happily because they do not receive pain, only purification. It is my only prayer to you all that you must look to this central Math where there is continuous service to the Deities and Srila Guru Maharaj as well as the living sankirtan fire sacrifice which is always continuing here.'

Download (epub)
Download (pdf)

In honour of Sri Jahnavi Puja (Sri Ganga Puja):

"...While speaking, they went to Jan Nagar and saw the beauty of the hermitage of Jahnu Muni. Nityananda Prabhu said, 'This charming abode is known as Jahnudwip and Bhadravan. Jahnu Muni performed austerities here and saw the golden form of Gaura. Once, when Jahnu Muni sat here to perform his evening meditation, His copper vessel fell into the swiftly flowing River Ganga. The copper vessel fell into the river and floated away. Jahnu Muni then drank all the water of the Ganga with his palm. Maharaj Bhagirath thought, "Where did the Ganga go?" Bewildered, he began to think over the situation. Understanding that Jahnu Muni had drunk all the water of the Ganga, Maharaj Bhagirath became concerned. Sober Maharaj Bhagirath worshipped the sage for some time, and eventually the Ganga broke out of the sage's body. Thereafter, she became known as Jahnavi. The whole world now calls her 'Jahnavi'.'"

(Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya, chapter 13)

Visiting Holy Places: Pleasure Hunting?
"'The trouble of visiting holy places is simply a mental delusion—all possible perfection is the feet of Govinda.' You can ask me, 'Maharaj, then why are you going there, why are taking us with you?' Do you know the answer?"
• Download (1 Mb, 3 min | 7 November 2012 | Bengali)

Glory of Manasi Ganga
"This Haridev Temple is located to the south of Manasi Ganga. When it came to the temple of Asadi Purnima, Nanda Maharaj, Mother Yasoda and other Vraja-basis wanted to travel to the Ganges to bathe in her water..."
• Download (4.3 Mb, 11 min | 6 Nov. 2018 | English & Bengali)

Remembering Right Things
"First practise chanting the Holy Name, concentrate your mind on service, and when you come to the highest position in your worship (bhajan), then you can ask such questions. We must first practise Krishna consciousness properly, chant the Holy Name, because our heart, mind is always busy with nonsense things."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.7 Mb, 12 min | 18 October 2020)

• THE BENEDICTINE TREE OF DIVINE ASPIRATION •

DIVINE BENEVOLENCE ABROAD
'Srila Govinda Maharaj loves every one of us, and if the devotees can come together as a loving, serving family, then a beautiful thing will happen. Whenever strangers will see Srila Govinda Maharaj's disciples they will say, "They are so nice, and so loving to each other. Let's try to arrange something with them so that we can gain their association."'

Shifting Priorities
"Why is it necessary to be sad? It is maya that always makes us unhappy. Whether you are happy or unhappy, always remember Lord Krishna. That is the ultimate advice. Always chant the Holy Name, never forget the Lord—not when you are happy, not when you are sad."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 6 min | 18 October 2020)

• THE BENEDICTINE TREE OF DIVINE ASPIRATION •

UNIVERSAL GRACE
'There we find all happiness, all ecstasy, all beauty, charm, and Divine Love. Whatever we want in this mundane world within our conditioned position—beyond that, in the Transcendental World, that Divine Love is always waiting for us, waiting to embrace us. That is the actual position, and one who can understand this cannot live without giving that gift to others. That is Krishna consciousness. Once we wake up and get connected with that consciousness, we can never leave it.'

In honour of Sri Sita Devi:

"Lord Ramachandra said to Sri Sita Devi, 'Loving devotion to Me is relished in two ways. O Sita, please hear My words. The joy felt during union with Me is called sambhoga. The joy felt during separation from Me is called vipralambha. My devotees, My eternal associates, desire sambhoga, and by My grace, they experience vipralambha. Devotees know that the sadness felt for My sake during vipralambha is actually the greatest joy. When sambhoga occurs after vipralambha, the happiness felt is ten million times greater than before. Separation from Me is the cause of that happiness. Accept this as truth; the four Vedas affirm it. During My Pastimes as Sri Gauranga, Mother Kausalya, who is known in the Vedas as Aditi, will appear as Sachi Devi. You will serve Me as Visnu Priya. In separation from Me, You will make a Deity of My golden form. In separation from You, I will make a golden Sita and worship You in Ayodhya. In exchange, You will make a Deity of My golden form and worship Me in Nadia. O Sita, these profound topics are very confidential. They will not be revealed to the public now. Nabadwip is very dear to Me: neither Ayodhya nor any other place is equal to it.'"

(Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya, chapter 14)

Niti and Priti
"It was Ramachandra's vijay utsav yesterday, and we would like to clarify some things about Rama-tattva and Krishna-tattva. In Rama-lila, rules and regulations are the highest, and love and affection go down, but this is not the highest ideal..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.7 Mb, 9 min | 9 October 2019)

In honour of Sri Jahnava Devi:

Lord Nityananda Prabhu's Sakti
"The Lord has tried to save the souls bounded by maya in so many ways in this Kali-yuga. He was the only child of Hadai Pandit and Padmavati Devi and He left them when He was twelve. Later, He was introduced to Jahnava Devi."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.7 Mb, 14 min | 29 January 2018 | Bengali)

Nityananda Prabhu's Marriage
"Everybody says that for the devotees Nityananda Prabhu never marries, but He has two saktis, Jahnava and Vasudha. They were actually daughters of Surya Das, Gauri Das Pandit's brother..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 3 min | 20 September 2009)

Loving Service
"You are all liberated souls, you are trying to make your Guru happy—you are giving everything for the service of your Guru. You are doing this and getting taste. You can enter your home through your service mood."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 4 min | 25 October 2020)

• THE BENEDICTINE TREE OF DIVINE ASPIRATION •

DEMOLISHING PILLARS OF EGO
'The position of Krishna is that He is very near and dear to every one of us, but why are we not feeling His presence within our heart? What is the cause? We must try to search the cause. We have received the Harinama maha-mantra from a great Guru, but how much actual progress are we making? This is necessary to consider.'

Do Not Jump Into Maya
"If you send a letter to the Lord, you will not get any answer, but if you send a letter to your Guru, you will immediately get an answer from the Lord because Gurudev is the closest, dearmost friend of the Lord. We must proceed in our spiritual life following this process."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 6 min | 25 October 2020)

• THE BENEDICTINE TREE OF DIVINE ASPIRATION •

THE EYE-OPENER
'Material education such as we have in colleges and universities is, we are sorry to say, nothing more than progress in ignorance. We can have true knowledge only when we surrender to the lotus feet of a spiritual master. Real knowledge will make us understand our own self, and God. We will realise our happy position as a servitor, and we will serve accordingly.'

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 bath in the Ganges, attended kirtans, danced, circumambulated the temple and so on. Then, I asked him whether he would take any anukalpa. He replied, 'Generally, I do not take anything, but if you like, then, of course, I must take anukalpa. Your will is greater than my fasting.' That was his decision.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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)

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

• THE BENEDICTINE TREE OF DIVINE ASPIRATION •

LIFE'S DESTINATION
'A proper examination of the Vedic scriptures will leave us with no doubt that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Throughout the whole world people are chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and through that we can also have some understanding. In all the scriptures—the Vedanta, Upanisads, eighteen Puranas, etc.—everywhere we find chanted the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. Still the question arises, "What is Krishna consciousness, and why should we worship Krishna?"'

About Sri Sri Gaura-Gadadhar
"Know your place when you serve, do not cross the line. Sri Sri Gaura-Gadadhar are extremely high Deities. They are worshipped only in very rare places, that is because the relationship between Sri Gaura and Sri Gadai is a very confidential, very high."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.6 Mb, 11 min | 25 October 2020)

• THE BENEDICTINE TREE OF DIVINE ASPIRATION •

REAPING THE ETERNAL FRUIT
'This independence has been given to us by the Lord. Why? So that by our own desire and free wish we can engage ourselves in His service. With as much power at our command, as much as we desire, we can combine everything we have and render divine service to the Lord. The Lord’s feeling is, “I have given you independence, and I will not take it back. If you want to serve Me, you may do so; otherwise you can go to Maya. You may do as you wish. But you will be happy if you render service to Me. Why will you be happy? If you serve the eternal, you will reap the eternal fruit; if you serve the temporal, you must reap the temporary fruit.” '

Some guidance regarding the forthcoming grand festival in honour of Lord Sri Nrisinghadev's Appearance and the holy Vyasa Puja festival of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Tilak Niriha Maharaj:

According to the rules established at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math by our worshippable Sri Guru-varga, the holy day of Lord Sri Nrisinghadev's appearance is observed in the following way:

• Because the holy appearance day of Lord Nrisinghadev coincides with the divine appearance of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.T. Niriha Maharaj, devotees observe these auspicious days by remembering both the Lord and His associate, following the programme outlined above.

Below is an extensive collection of photographs taken during the festival in 2019 which was observed in the shelter and under the guidance of our beloved Sri Gurupadpadma Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj at Sri Nrisingha Palli, Sri Nabadwip Dham, in 2019:

Preparation to Sri Nrisingha Chaturdasi: Bhoga Collection
(17 May 2019 | 11 photographs, 1 Mb)
Sharing first few glimpses from the temple of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Nrisingha Palli where the preparation to the festival is well under way. Arriving in Sri Nrisingha Palli, His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj personally selects and collects bhoga for the festival.

Sri Nrisingha Chaturdasi Adhivas
(17 May 2019 | 39 photographs, 3.4 Mb)
Photographs taken during the eve of the festive programme of Lord Nrisinghadev's appearance and the Temple inauguration anniversary spent by the fortunate devotees in the shade of the holy lotus feet of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj.

Sri Nrisingha Chaturdasi Festival
(18 May 2019 | 39 photographs, 5.2 Mb)
Holy Vaishnavs and devotees observe the appearance of Lord Nrisinghadev and the inauguration anniversary of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga and Sri Laksmi Nrisinghadev Sri Prahlad Maharaj under the guidance and in the association of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj.

Sri Nrisingha Chaturdasi: Vaishnav Seva
(19 May 2019 | 64 photographs, 3.4 Mb)
Photographs taken during the morning and afternoon programmes following Sri Nrisingha-chaturdasi at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Sri Nrisingha Palli arranged by His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj: morning class, first and second initiations, noon programme attended by holy Vaishnavs of Gaudiya Maths, arati and grand prasadam distribution. With all the devotees striving heart and soul to please Sri Gurupadpadma and serve all the Vaishnavs, the festival passes gloriously and gorgeously.

[Addressing a devotee who did not go to the temple but made a festival at home.] Why did you have a home festival? You should have gone to the festival at the temple. If there is a temple in your city or nearby, you must go to the temple. How do you make a festival alone at home? You only cook, offer some bhog, and take prasadam—it basically means cooking too much and eating it yourself... You must always go to the temple. What did Gurudev make the temple for? For preaching, to arranging festivals and for giving you a place where you can gather and take devotees' association. It is necessary to understand this. Everybody have a right to stay at the temple, everybody has a right to go to the temple, and everybody must follow the rules and regulations of the temple—be humble, tolerant, and give honour to others. Follow the rules and regulations that Gurudev has established, that will be perfect. We cannot make our own rules, it is not good. The rules must be always the rules and regulations that Gurudev has set. Always behave very nicely with the devotees, be humble, tolerant, and give honour to others. This is what Gurudev teaches us, these are the main qualities we must have. Be humble, tolerant, and give honour to others, and you must also have proper surrender—do not be a hypocrite, do not practise false renunciation; surrender must be proper.

(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj, Perfect Rules)

— { DAILY PRACTICE } —
Pages dedicated to the spiritual practices that are recommended for the spiritual health of a disciple comprised of eternal instructions emanating from the holy lotus mouths of our Sri Guru-varga:

In honour of Sri Nrisinghadev, Sri Prahlad Maharaj:

Fundamental Mood of Kirtan
"The perfect mood is humility, tolerance and giving honour to others. Chant the Holy Name without offence, try to engage yourself in the service of the mission, of your guru. Chant without offence, serve without offence, and you will succeed in your spiritual life."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 6 min | 25 October 2020)

• THE BENEDICTINE TREE OF DIVINE ASPIRATION •

OUR SUPER BENEFIT
'You have all assembled here to hear the messages of the Lord. The Lord Himself is your own natural wealth, and in your hearts the Lord is gloriously presiding. He has many, many forms, and we have many, many paths to reach Him; but the supreme path is bhakti, devotion.'

In honour of Lord Buddha's appearance:

• SONG: Sri Dasavatar Stotram | দশাবতারস্তোত্রম্
"Showing compassionate heart for killed animals, You decry lamentable scriptural injunctions for sacrifices. O Kesava who assumes the form of the enlightened (Buddha)! Glory to You, O Lord of the universe, O Hari!"

"At the beginning of Kali-yuga, the Lord will appear as Lord Buddha, the son of Anjana, in the province of Gaya, just for the purpose of deluding those who are envious of the faithful theist." (Srimad Bhagavatam, 1.3.24)

In honour of Srila Srinivas Acharya Prabhu:

Time for Sravan
"You must see the sadhu with your ears, because you cannot see a sadhu with your eyes. This is actually not a place for play or tourism, this is a place for sravan and kirtan. You must listen with your heart. One time, Acharya Srinivas was sitting with Narottam Das Thakur in one place..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 7 min)

In Praise of Srila Narottam Das Thakur (From Affectionate Guidance, chapter 17)
Narottam Thakur's close associates and peers were Syamananda and Srinivas. These three great devotees were sent back to Bengal to continue the preaching of Mahaprabhu. The Bengali Vaisnavas were very eager to read the writings of Sri Rupa, Sanatan, Raghunath, Krishna Das Kaviraj, Lokanath Goswami, Gopal Bhatta Goswami, Prabhodananda Saraswati and the other Goswamis; so Narottam, Syamananda and Srinivas travelled from Vrindavan towards Bengal with many copies of those great books...

Composed by Srila Srinivas Acharya:

• SONG: Sri Sad-Goswamy-Astakam | শ্রীশ্রীষড়্­গোস্বাম্যষ্টকম্
• Download / listen to the audio (4.5 Mb)

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Six Goswamis, namely Sri Rupa Goswami, Sri Sanatan Goswami, Sri Raghunath Bhatta Goswami, Sri Raghunath Das Goswami, Sri Jiva Goswami, and Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami, who are always engaged in chanting the Holy Name of Krishna and dancing. They are just like the ocean of love of God, and they are popular both with the gentle and with the ruffians, because they are not envious of anyone. Whatever they do, they are all-pleasing to everyone, and they are fully blessed by Lord Chaitanya. Thus they are engaged in missionary activities meant to deliver all the conditioned souls in the material universe."

Sincere Ego-Free Relationship
"Everybody's focus must be one—everybody must think that we are all godbrothers and godsisters, and our main goal is to serve our Guru, to please our Guru. This is not a competition. This is not some fight. Do not become jealous. If envy comes to you, then you yourself will be getting pain from that—you yourself will be losing."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 9 min | 25 October 2020)

• THE BENEDICTINE TREE OF DIVINE ASPIRATION •

EVERYONE’S REAL FRIEND
'Just as we were so fortunate to have the association of Srila Prabhupada, we are now so lucky to have Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. He is carrying the same current. He is a personality of the same soil, the same land. He can, and is, giving us these teachings.'

Download (epub)
Download (pdf)

About Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj:

divyam dirgha-bhujaravinda-nayanam sarasvatam sundaram
tejo-dipta-vapur budhaika-suhrdam karbura-garvapaham
pasandasura-chanda-danda-dalanam dambhadri-dambholikam
vande vandya-kulabja-bhaskara-vibhum saranga-gosvaminam

"I offer my obeisance unto the beautiful follower of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, Srimad Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj. He has a radiant form, long arms, and lotus eyes. He crushes the pride of the wicked and squashes the cruel oppression of the heretics and demons. He is like a thunderbolt on the mountain of hypocrisy. He is the sole friend of the intelligentsia and a shining sun above the lotus of the aristocracy."

(Composed by Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj)

"You should know who Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj is and what is our connection and relationship with him. You must remember this connection because without the knowledge of the relationship (sambandha-jnana), you will develop neither the knowledge of abhidheya (means to attain the goal) nor the knowledge of prayojana (the goal).

"Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj (his brahmachari name was Sri Aprakrita Prabhu) was a prominent disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. When Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur entered his eternal pastimes, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj (Aprakrita Prabhu at the time), although a very senior brahmachari preacher, left the brahmacharya asram and went back to his house in great distress. His was born in a village called Patrasayer (our Betur temple is situated nearby). After some time, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj come to Sri Aprakrita Prabhu and said, 'Prabhu, you are living a family life now, let it be, but if you stay here, who will preach the conception of Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupad in this world? You have so much qualification for service and preaching – you must come back.' Then, Srila Aprakrita Prabhu said, 'If you give me sannyas, I will leave my home and family and come back.' Srila Sridhar Maharaj agreed and gave him sannyas and the name Sri Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj. From that time, he came back to his preaching services.

"Srila Goswami Maharaj began to preach in various places. Trying to fulfil the earnest desire of Srila Prabhupad to spread Krishna consciousness all over the world, Srila Goswami Maharaj even went to London, where he kept preaching and, eventually, after much effort and having tolerated much austerity, managed to open a small centre. He also has temples in Kolkata, Jalpaiguri and other places. In his lifetime, he established twenty-four centres in various places, among which is the temple in Imlitala, Vrindavan, where Krishna was sitting when He decided that He would steal Radharaṇi's heart and halo and come as Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

"Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj always helped our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in various ways, especially during parikramas and with collection. Later, he finally established this temple here, at the place where the first meeting of Sri Sri Gaura Nityananda Prabhu took place. Srila Sridhar Maharaj had come here together with Srila Goswami Maharaj to see the land, and he gave Srila Goswami Maharaj much advice on what kind of temple to make, on the size of the nat mandir and other aspects.

"There is much that can be said about Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj. After taking sannyas in 1940, he always kept in touch with Srila Sridhar Maharaj. Our Srila Gurudev, Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, said:

"'Once, Srila Goswami Maharaj gave a very special lecture. He explained that he and other great preachers were active in all directions, but they all waited to see what Srila Sridhar Maharaj thought about the quality of their preaching style. He used the phrase simha avalokana (a lion's glance), saying, "We are preaching over the whole world, but from time to time we look back to see whether Srila Sridhar Maharaj is happy with our preaching activities." "Simha avalokana" means when a lion goes some distance, it stops and looks behind to check the environment, then proceeds further, then again looks behind, and so on. In this way, Srila Goswami Maharaj described how all the preachers again and again looked towards Srila Guru Maharaj to see if their preaching had his approval. Srila Goswami Maharaj was the dearmost disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur – Srila Saraswati Thakur depended on his service. At the same time, although Srila Goswami Maharaj takes a unique position in Gaudiya Mission, he was very affectionate to our Srila Guru Maharaj. I have never seen him go against any decision of our Guru Maharaj; we can say he almost blindly followed whatever Guru Maharaj decided, but he was not a blind man – he had much faith in Guru Maharaj.'

"Moreover, one year, during the circumambulation of Vrindavan, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj personally worshipped Srila Sridhar Maharaj with one hundred and eight lamps, incense and other paraphernalia on the occasion of Srila Sridhar Maharaj's appearance day. Srila Goswami Maharaj performed this function, joined by many of his disciples and other godbrothers.

"Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj was Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj's godbrother and sannyas-guru, but it is remarkable what kind of respect he had for Srila Guru Maharaj. Every year, Srila Goswami Maharaj's disciples would arrange a very fine Vyasa-puja celebration on the appearance day of Srila Goswami Maharaj, and Srila Goswami Maharaj would personally go to Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math to invite Srila Sridhar Maharaj to come to his temple on that day. Srila Sridhar Maharaj usually did not go to other temples, but he would always come to the temple of Srila Goswami Maharaj (this very temple where we are sitting now). Srila Goswami Maharaj not only invited Srila Guru Maharaj – he would give whatever presentations, whatever donations or gifts he had received from his disciples on that day to his sannyas-guru, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

"One year, showing a pastime of feeling unwell, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj could not come to the festival in honour of Srila Goswami Maharaj's appearance, and that day Srila Goswami Maharaj said, 'Srila Sridhar Maharaj has been coming every year, and I have been getting one more year of life, but since he could not come this year, I think I will not be alive next year.' And this is what happened – a few months later, on 26 May 1964, Srila Goswami Maharaj entered his eternal pastimes."

(From Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

Reviving Srila Prabhupad's Preaching
"...At that time Srila Sridhar Maharaj decided to go to Vrindavan and do bhajan, but when he got some akash dhvani, "What did I give you sannyas for? For your own self?" he hurried away from Vrindavan..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min)

The Root of Our Fortune
"Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj came in this world to rescue us, and he created our Guru—by his grace we have got shelter of our bona fide Guru. So, we must worship his lotus feet."
• Download / listen to the audio (7.6 Mb, 22 min)

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)

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

• 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: 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?"

Nonsense Sacrifice
"People used to cut people's necks, and now in lieu of that, since it is not possible to kill people, they kill a buffalo... People cannot control their material desires, anger, and many other bad elements within. They will suffer in the age of Kali!"
• Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 7 min | 25 October 2020)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

THE DIVINE SERVICE OF KRISHNA
'There are so many religious conceptions to be found in the world. Some favour santa-rasa (peacefulness), others dasya-rasa (servitude), or sakhya-rasa (friendship), or vatsalya-rasa (parenthood). But madhura-rasa (divine consorthood) is found in the extreme only in the line of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.'

Our Main Problem
"Our main problem is that we are always busy with our body. Almost the entire world is always thinking about their temporary bodies. Such is our situation. Almost everybody here is very much attached to their body."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 4 min | 1 November 2020)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

IN PRAISE OF THE DEVOTEES
'We are not to leave our track to go to see with any other’s vision. The good servitors of Srila Guru Maharaj are the wealth of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. The real wealth is the devotees and I am trying to serve you all with whatever I have. I want your association really. I am receiving transcendental food from you. When I see you I think, “I have service,” but to be alone is not good for anyone, even myself.'

Search For Original Source
"We always want pleasure, happiness, love affection, but we will never get it from this material world. Our Gurudev has told us very clearly how we must practise, how we can attain our destination, where the source is and how to reach that kind of source. Those who can give proper attention to this, must succeed."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.9 Mb, 7 min | 1 November 2020)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

SECURE AT HOME
'If you can think you can make a garland out of all the peaks of the Himalayas and the peaks of all the mountains of the world and offer that to Krishna, and if you think you can make a rope out of spiders’ webs and bind an elephant, then you may be able to understand something of that plane. So it is not necessary to think too much, but instead our main attention is to try to chant "Hare Krishna" properly. This is our main channel to go there and this is our one hope.'

Vyasadev's Gift (1)
"When Gurudev was in Australia in 1992, he gave one lecture. I have got the Bengali translation of that lecture and was proof reading it today. It is a very nice lecture, I want to tell you about it."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 9 min | 1 November 2020)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

OUR LIFE-LINE OF DEVOTIONAL PRACTICE
'We must worship the raga-patha from afar, and our duty at present is to serve that rank of the devotees and to engage in the congregational chanting of the maha-mantra in the association of the devotees. This is the safe and actual process for us to make advancement in our Krishna conscious practising life.'

In honour of Srila Ramananda Ray Prabhu:

Sri Ramananda Ray Prabhu
[By His Divine Grace Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj]
"Ramananda Ray was very strong and a very good administrator. He controlled the whole situation and the whole atmosphere after Mahaprabhu's disappearance and gave full nourishment to the devotees. Ramananda Ray stayed alive until finally, today, when everything had become peaceful and settled, he also disappeared..."

Hari-Katha in Sri Kovvur (Godavari): Part One
"We are very fortunate to be able to come here for the first time, to be able to visit this place. I have no qualification, I am a very fallen soul, but by the mercy of devotees, I have come here with you all and I can pay obeisance such a great place as this..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 10 min | 5 January 2019)

Hari-Katha in Sri Kovvur (Godavari): Part Two
"Today we are briefly reading the chapter that describes the meeting of Raya Ramananda and Mahaprabhu. Listen to it properly, it is the highest conception. 'Mahaprabhu was bathing and chanting the Holy Name, and at that time Ramananda Ray came—he came very gorgeously, with a band and party.'"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 5 min | 5 January 2019)

Hari-Katha in Sri Kovvur (Godavari): Part Three
"Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then embraced Sri Ramananda Ray very firmly. Their natural love for each other was awakened in them both, and they embraced and fell to the ground."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 5 min | 5 January 2019)

Hari-Katha in Sri Kovvur (Godavari): Sri Ramananda Sambad
"Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Ramananda Ray, 'Recite a verse from the revealed scriptures concerning the ultimate goal of life.' Ramananda replied, 'Devotion to the Lord is the execution of the prescribed duties of one's social position'..."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.1 Mb, 12 min | 5 January 2019)

Hari-Katha in Sri Kovvur (Godavari): Sri Ramananda Ray's Answers
"Later, Mahaprabhu again met with Ramananda Ray, and this time Mahaprabhu asked questions and Ramananda Ray gave answers... In the end, Ramananda Ray said, 'My dear Lord, please give up all these serious talks. Please do not conceal Your real form from me.'"
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 7 min | 5 January 2019)

Hari-Katha in Sri Kovvur (Godavari): Sri Ramananda Ray's Expertise
"Later, when Ramananda Ray stayed in Puri, one day a brahman named Pradyumna Misra came to Mahaprabhu and asked Him if he could hear Krishna-katha from Him. Mahaprabhu replied, 'I do not know Krishna-katha. Go to Ramananda Ray...'"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 5 January 2019 | + Kirtan)

At Ramananda Ray's Garden
"Pradyumna Misra came to Mahaprabhu and asked, 'Prabhu, can You speak some Krishna-katha?' Mahaprabhu replied, 'I do not know so much, but Ramananda Ray knows more than Me...'"
• Download / listen to the audio (0.8 Mb, 3 min)

Chapter 16: Reality the Beautiful
[From Search for Sri Krishna, Reality the Beautiful]
Ramananda Raya was a married man, but he was recognized by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as a master of his senses to the extreme degree. Once a brahmana priest named Pradyumna Misra came to Mahaprabhu and told Him, 'I would like to hear about Krishna from Your lips'..."

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

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

Vyasadev's Gift (2)
"Who we are? What must we do? How can we get relief? This is all transcendental knowledge of atma-tattva. Those who do not see anything [who have no real, transcendental vision] ask so many questions, but we must understand what is the main purpose of this life. If you read Srimad Bhagavatam, you will understand it."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.4 Mb, 8 min | 1 November 2020)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

AFFECTION
'If we can follow sadhu-sanga, it will give us relief from so many things and a very good result in the future. But all depends upon sraddha, faith. The translation of sraddha is more than just "faith". It is actually affectionate faith. Not everyone will feel affection. Good fortune will work in the background. With strong good fortune, one can immediately cross over the next three stages after association with the sadhu. But this is possible in very special cases only. Our Guru Maharaj used the word "affection", but it is necessary for us to know the line in which he did so.'

Leave Questioning Mood
"I have told you—there is only one question, and the answer is also only one. Surrender to the Lord. Have full faith. Shyness, shame, fear—keep everything at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna, Srimati Radharani, or Gurudev. Do not see things in the mundane, material way. You must see everything in the transcendental way."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 1 November 2020)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

GOING DEEPER
'In this world we are always playing with fire. Mayadevi is very powerful. She always wants to take our time for her service. But Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has shown us that the path of our life is the practising of Krishna consciousness. That is necessary for our transcendental super-benefit.'

Fancy Living, Shallow Thinking
"People live like cats and dogs—they use their life for animal enjoyment and have no appreciation, no time to respect sadhus and to follow Krishna consciousness. All the great sadhus and all scriptures tell us about devotion to Lord Krishna, but we have no time to read about it—we always think about our body."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 6 min | 1 November 2020)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

Transcendental World
'Only your hankering can give you your share of that property. That is the only price for that, otherwise you cannot achieve it after even billions of lifetimes of merits. So hunger is necessary for that; and hunger will come if you make your stomach empty first. First take some purgative and cleanse yourself. Then gradually hunger will come.'

Service Hankering
"You can make your Guru happy even through some small service. The most important thing is that whatever service you do, you must do it with your heart. Whatever you do, do it properly. This is how you can make your Guru happy with your service."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 8 min | 1 November 2020)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

DIVINE SERVICE
'A brahmachari who lives in the math of the Mission, is in a very safe position because everything he is doing is seva for the Mission. But in the grhastha asram we are doing so much karma, so how can we be safe in our spiritual life?'

In honour of Sripad Santosh Krishna Das-Adhikari Prabhu:

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

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

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

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

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

Prayers to Sri Vaishnav Thakur:

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

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

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

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

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

Our Great Fortune
"Today is a very auspicious day because tomorrow is the appearance day of our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math's Founder Acharya—our Param Gurudev, Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. I am giving my full humble obeisance at the lotus feet of my beloved Gurudev, and our Param Gurudev...."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 7 min | 8 November 2020)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

TRANSCENDENTAL KNOWLEDGE AND THE FORTUNATE SOUL
'We can understand what is the nature of devotion only by the mercy of the Divine Master. Krishna warns the fallen soul, “Don’t offend My devotees, don’t underestimate their position. You cannot see if their position is high or low, so whenever you see My devotee, bow down to him and try to get his mercy. If you can get his grace by any means that will be your greatest fortune.”'

Srila Sridhar Maharaj: Appearance and Early Days
"The name of Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's father is Upendra Chandra Bhattacharya. His birthpalce is in Hapaniya. His mother's name was Sri Gauri Devi. By the will of the Lord, when Srila Sridhar Maharaj appeared, he was the eldest son. How did his parents get this kind of son? There is some history behind it."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 7 min)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

A LIFE OF SERVICE
'Having a human body means we must maintain it nicely, but for what purpose? For the service of Guru, Vaishnav and Krishna—only for seva. And if I can keep up this ideal then no maya can come and overpower me.'

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 bath in the Ganges, attended kirtans, danced, circumambulated the temple and so on. Then, I asked him whether he would take any anukalpa. He replied, 'Generally, I do not take anything, but if you like, then, of course, I must take anukalpa. Your will is greater than my fasting.' That was his decision.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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)

Srila Sridhar Maharaj: Powerful Preaching
"When Srila Sridhar Maharaj left his house and joined Gaudiya Mission, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur was very pleased. Even before taking sannyas, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj was a great preacher. He was always very enthusiastic to preach."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.3 Mb, 11 min)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

EMOTION OR DEVOTION?
'You have left everything—your culture, your allegiance to the country, community, your habits—you have left everything to try and practise Krishna consciousness, so you will have to be serious. And you also need the result. To only practise, that is not your life’s goal; you need the end result—Krishna consciousness—and how will you get that result? It is necessary to first understand this. We are chanting Hare Krishna, but we have not become perfect. Why? We must research this. Why is it not happening? Why is the feeling not coming inside?'

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

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

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

Land of Childhood Pastimes of Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur [From Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-Mukta-Mala] [75 Mb]
An extensive chapter about the pastimes and glory of Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur and two special profound dedicated articles presented in the book from the previous publications of our Math.

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

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

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

Composed by Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur:

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

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

Prayers to Sri Vaishnav Thakur:

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

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

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

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

"Service Is My Vow"
"Many people ask me, many people criticise me, but I am a fallen soul, I only know what Gurudev told me—he told me, 'Service is the vow, service is the life force, and service is the duty.' This is what I am following."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 9 min | 8 November 2020)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

OUR LORD’S BELOVED POWER
'The Rupanuga sampradaya gives some special, unique appreciation of Srimati Radharani. They feel that without the merciful connection of Srimati Radharani, they cannot approach Krishna at all. Only if the order is coming from Her will they move towards Him. They are extremely fanatical about Srimati Radharani, and that is their foremost qualification. Just as without heat we cannot know the sun, so without Srimati Radharani there is no Krishna; the Powerful is Powerless.'

Forgetting Yourself
"Give respect to everybody. Basically, tridandi sannyas means to be humble, tolerant, and give honour to others. However, I am bound to say that sometimes they take sannyas or saffron, and their ego becomes very big. They forget that they must serve more. It makes me very sad."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.2 Mb, 8 min | 8 November 2020)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

THE PLANE OF DEDICATION
'The mind, the consciousness, is being fully cleansed by the performance of Nama-sankirtan. But cleanliness, purity, on its own is not sufficient. When you are cleaning something, all the dirt that will come out as a result, and you will have to do something with that. The dirty things—our mundane wealth, our mundane conceptions, all our evil tendencies—what will we do with them? Bhava-mahadavagni-nirvapanam—you make a fire there, and that fire of Nama-sankirtan will burn all those things to ashes. First you will clean your house and then you will burn all the filth accumulated there. And then in its place you will need to establish something good.'

Joy of Good Association
"I do not want to go preaching alone, when there are only two-three devotees. I always want devotees' association. 'Ekaki amara nahi paya bala hari-nama-sankirtane. When I am alone, I get no strength to chant.' Devotees' enthusiasm gives me inspiration."
• Download / listen to the audio (5.2 Mb, 13 min | 8 November 2020)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

SRILA MADHAVENDRA PURIPAD—THE SPROUT OF LOVE DIVINE
'He was a very intimate devotee of Krishna and Radharani. Radharani Herself fully bestowed Her mercy upon Srila Madhavendra Puri. When Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was on His way to Puri Dham, He told the transcendental story of Srila Madhavendra Puri to His associates as they halted at Remuna, Orissa. Mahaprabhu said that He had heard this from Isvara Puri...'

Core of Life
"We always want the association of the grantha-bhagavat and Vaishnav-bhagavat—if we can get this kind of association, it is very good for us. All Vaishnavs, all guru-varga come to this world to give nourishment to such fallen souls as myself. Otherwise, if such personalities did not come to this world, what hope would we have?"
• Download / listen to the audio (3.9 Mb, 10 min | 22 November 2020)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

THE APPEARANCE OF SRI GAURASUNDAR
'May that Lord who is known as the son of Srimati Sachidevi be transcendentally situated in the innermost chambers of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has appeared in the Age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation ever offered before: the most sublime radiant spiritual conception of the mellow taste of His service.'

Remembering Their Lordships Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Madan-mohan jiu at Dum Dum Park, Kolkata:

jayatam suratau pangor mama manda-mater gati
mat-sarvasva-padambhojau radha-madana-mohanau

'All glory to the merciful Sri Sri Radha-Madan Mohan! Though I am lame and wicked, They are my sole shelter, and Their lotus feet are everything to me.'

Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami
"Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami is an eternal associate of Sriman Mahaprabhu and Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. At first, he lived in Katwa, and later, after Mahaprabhu's disappearance, he moved to a village on the bank of the Ganges...."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 4 min)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

THE FLOW OF MAHAPRABHU'S LINE
'We learn through Kavi Karnapur and other devotees, such as Svarup Damodar, Raghunath Das and Srila Jiva Goswami, that Mahaprabhu Himself gave the power of His sampradaya to Srila Rupa Goswami. Rupa Goswami is the supreme personality in Mahaprabhu Chaitanyadev’s sampradaya, and he carries the preceptorial line of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This is the history, a very serious subject matter. I think you may understand what I have tried to express.'

Appearance of Acharya Srinivas
"Having received Mahaprabhu's blessing and mercy, Chaitanya Das and his wife returned to their house in Gaura-desh. Their son was born and, seeing his beautiful son, Chaitanya Das immediately declared, 'I will give this son to the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu for His service.'"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 4 min)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

IN PRAISE OF SRILA NAROTTAM DAS THAKUR
'Today is the Disappearance Day of Srila Narottam Thakur, so I would like to say a few words to glorify him. Although he wrote many beautiful songs of devotion, Narottam Das Thakur was not just a song writer, he was a great pandit and, more than that, he was a devotee of Sri Chaitanyadev.'

In honour of Srila Bhakti Gaurava Giri Maharaj (Sri Paramananda Prabhu):

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

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

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

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

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

Acharya Srinivas: Collecting Mercy
"Srinivas Acharya received Sri Narahari Thakur and Govinda Gosh Thakur's mercy from his childhood. Later, when Acharya Srinivas's father left his body, Srinivas and his mother then came to his mother's family house in Jajigram..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 5 min)

• AFFECTIONATE GUIDANCE •

MESSAGE TO MASSAGE THE DEVOTEES’ HEARTS
'There are classifications of devotees: first class, second class and general class. But all are worshippable, and when we can see it, we ourselves will be benefited. They are all connected with Mahaprabhu and Krishna consciousness, therefore if anyone comes in this line we shall give good nourishment to them. A heart massage. A message to massage.'