Mahaprabhu's Teachings (4): Pillars of Renunciation
"At first, Mahaprabhu told Srila Raghunath Das Goswami to go back to his house, but after that his house became unfavourable to practising Krishna consciousness, so Mahaprabhu arranged for Srila Raghunath Das Goswami to come and meet with Him. At that time, Mahaprabhu gave him advice, 'What will a vairagi do?'...."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 6 min | 17 May 2020)

In holy remembrance of the chariot festival of Sri Jagannathdev:

"The government may not allow us to go to the chariot festival of Lord Jagannath this year, but Jagannath is always in our hearts, Baladev is in our hearts, Subhadra is in our hearts. They may not allow us to go to Odisha, or Puri, this year, but we can feel, we can realise what is Lord Jagannath's character, what is the mood of Lord Jagannath, and what He wants. You can realise these things if you have a service mood, if you can serve.

"Only Krishna knows it. It is His arrangement. If Jagannath arranges something in a certain way, it is not in our hands. We are controlled by Him. Ratha-yatra will happen, no one can stop Him—Jagannath, Subhadra, and Baladev will go to Gundicha, but devotees cannot join properly this year. What is happening is arranged by the Lord, by the Supreme Absolute. He does everything. So, whether it is to the better or to the worse, who knows it? Only Krishna knows it, Jagannath knows it."

(His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

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 Bhāgīrathī 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'.

In honour of Srila Sachchidananda Bhaktivinod Thakur:

vande bhaktivinodam sri-gaura-sakti-svarupakam
bhakti-sastrajna-samrajam radha-rasa-sudha-nidhim

"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)

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:

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."

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..."

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?"

Mahaprabhu's Teachings (3): No Caste Consideration
"Those who come from a lower caste, who come from a mlechha family, who come from some bad family, are not unfit to worship the Lord—they also have the qualification, the right to chanting the Name of the Lord."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 6 min | 17 May 2020)

Mahaprabhu's Teachings (2): Never Stop Your Krishna-Sankirtan
"Engage in Krishna-seva, Guru-seva, Vaishnav-seva always, non-stop. Chant the Holy Name when you are working, taking prasadam, cooking, cutting vegetables. Always chant the Holy Name, incessantly. Never stop your Krishna-sankirtan."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 17 May 2020)

29 June (Wed). Amavasya. Disappearance of Srila Gadadhar Pandit and Srila Sachchidananda Bhakti Vinod Thakur.

30 July (Thu). Gaura Pratipad. Gundicha Marjan: cleaning at the Gundicha Temple at Sri Puri Dham, and cleaning of all Temples of the Lord.

1 July (Fri). Gaura Dvitiya. Ratha Yatra of Sri Jagannathdev. Disappearance of Srila Svarup Damodar Goswami Prabhu.

Mahaprabhu's Teachings (1): No False Renunciation
"A house is not a place for only enjoyment—your house is Krishna's house, Vaishnavs' house, guru-varga's house, your house is meant for the service of the Lord. It is not necessary to show monkey renunciation—you can keep your house, enjoy your life but without material attachment. Be sincere in your heart, practise with heart and soul."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.9 Mb, 7 min | 17 May 2020)

First Requirement
"Your mind tells you, 'Oh, it is necessary to relax'—do not listen to your mind. Tell yourself, 'I have service, and I must do that service first.' It is necessary to do what is required, and your first requirement is your service."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 3 min | 10 May 2020)

Krishna's Arrangement
"Krishna is always powerful, Krishna can do anything. Even what is meant to happen may not happen, and what is not mean to happen may happen. It is not necessary to be worried about it. Who will commit suicide, who will leave, who will stay—everything is Krishna's arrangement."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.2 Mb, 8 min | 10 May 2020)

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."

(From Golden Reflections, chapter 3)

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."

"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)

Be in Good Association and Be Good Association
"(1) Sometimes, we are staying with some bad association, sometimes we may live together, but we must ignore and avoid such kind of association. (2) It is necessary to be a proper mother—to be a mother like Yasoda, a mother like Sachi Mata, not a mother like Kaikeyi."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 4 min | 10 May 2020)

"May I Always Remain a Disciple"
"Actually, what I am telling is not so easy to practise, but I am also thinking that I must speak about it—if I keep telling about it again and again, then if I listen to it myself all the time, I will be able to practise it properly one day, too."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 4 min | 10 May 2020)

Six Good Qualities
"You must always make yourself busy with the service of the Lord, with all kinds of devotional activities. When we pray in the Vaishnav song, we ask for six good qualities, and it is necessary to have such qualities."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 5 min | 10 May 2020)

Undevotional Lifestyle
"If we think that we have these faults, then we must always try to reduce them, we must always try to avoid these faults because these faults slowly, slowly destroy your devotion. It is necessary to control the six urges and it is necessary to remove the six faults."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 6 min | 10 May 2020)

Devotional Lifestyle
"By the mercy of Gurudev, you get the relationship with the Lord, and if you are a good practitioner, you will take care of your practising life by controlling these six urges. Those who can tolerate these six urges and who take shelter of the Holy Name of Krishna, are always victorious."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 7 min | 10 May 2020)

Life Sacrifice
"Gurudev told me, 'If somebody wants to chant this Holy Name, if somebody wants to join the family of Krishna and wants to spend the rest of their life living a spiritual life, you can give initiation to them.' It is necessary to sacrifice your life for the service of the Lord."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.6 Mb, 9 min | 3 May 2020)

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 Vishna (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."