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Our Disciplic Succession:
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"The Sun Never Sets on Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math":
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Mon, 20 January 2025
Starting Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math
'Srila Prabhupad was calling him, "Sridhar Maharaj, what are you doing there
in Vrindavan? Why are you feeling so dejected? Why do you only think about
yourself? I have left my men in this world – what will become of them? Have
you ever thought about them?"'
Exclusive Conception of Srila Prabhupad's Line
[By Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj]
'I think I have done something today to give vent to the feeling of my
gurudev, to make his position clear. You are helping me to take so
many beautiful and so many valuable things out of my inner heart. It is
through your help that these old memories are becoming again fresh to me, and
I am forced to take these things that I have got from my gurudev's
wealth out of the inner nature of my previous life. I am again given an
opportunity to see that treasury.'
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—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Step Up Your
Service
"We should not waste our time on our own enjoyment, we must give our time for
the enjoyment and happiness of our Lord, our Gurudev. I know everybody will
be working, it is Monday, the first day of the week days, but we must still
do some service for Baladev Prabhu's appearance day. Remember this. If you
only fast and give some flower to Gurudev, that is not sufficient."
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Download / listen to the audio (3.8 Mb, 9 min | 2 August 2020)
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—{ Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's Treasury }—
• CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY •
(6) SPECIFIC SERVICE
'According to the disciple's inner awakenment he will have fitness for a
particular class of service. That will be considered and he will be taken,
under guidance, into that particular type of service. There is
oneness—unity—but more efficient service may be drawn from a particular point
rather than a higher point. Everyone has their particular capacity in service
and if they serve from there they will be best utilised. If located in a
higher circle for which he has no such fitness, enmity will be created and he
will be the loser.'
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Today in the calendar:
Krishna Sasthi. Disappearance of Srila Jayadev Goswami Prabhu.
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do
not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must
still give them 'jay' on this day. We must always remember disappearance and
appearance days of all Vaishnavs. If we can remember such personalities, such
great souls, it will bring a great benefit to our spiritual life."
"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."
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In honour of Sri Jayadev
Goswami:
"When Laksman Sen was the king of Nadia, Jayadev Goswami was one of His
subjects in Nabadwip. The wise Jayadev built a cottage on the bank of Ballal
Dirghika and resided there with his wife Padmavati. While there, he wrote the
Dasa-avatara-stotram, and this poem once came to the hand of Laksman Sen. The
king read the poem with great joy and then asked, 'Who wrote this?' Govardhan
Acharya said to the king, 'The great poet Jayadev wrote it.' The king asked,
'Where is this poet Jayadev?' Govardhan replied, 'He lives in Nabadwip.'
Hearing this, the king secretly searched for Jayadev's home and then came
there in the evening.
The king entered the cottage in the dress of a Vaisnava. He bowed to Jayadev
and sat on one side. Jayadev understood that this man was the king and that
he had come to him as a beggar in the dress of a Vaisnava. Within a short
time, the king introduced himself and requested Jayadev to go to his palace.
The wise Jayadev was extremely detached, and he did not agree to go to the
home of any materialist. Jayadev, the great devotee of Krishna, then said, 'I
will leave your province and go elsewhere. 'Association with materialists
never results in good fortune, so I will cross the Ganga and go to Nilachal.'
The king said, 'O master, listen to my words. Please do not ever leave
Nabadwip. 'Please be merciful to me and act in such a way that your words
will come true and my desire will also be fulfilled. On the other side of the
Ganga, there is a beautiful place known as Champa Hatta. Please stay there
for a couple of years. I will not go there according to my own desire; I will
come to see your feet only when you desire it.' Hearing the words of the
king, the great poet immediately replied in agreement. 'Although you are a
materialist and this kingdom is yours, you are a devotee of Krishna and you
have no material attachment. I called you a materialist to test you, but you
heard this and tolerated it. I have now understood that you are a devotee of
Krishna. You engage in material affairs but remain detached. I will stay in
Champaka Hatta for some time. In secret, leaving your opulence behind, you
may come to see me.'
"Through one of his ministers, the king happily had a house constructed in
Champaka Hatta. The poet Jayadev stayed there for some time and served Sri
Krishna according to the path of divine love. Padmavati Devi would bring
loads of champak flowers, and Jayadev worshipped Krishna, the son of Nanda,
with them. Jayadev offered worship with intense love, and eventually he saw
Sri Krishna appear before him in a form the colour of a champak flower. The
Lord's beautiful, golden lustre was completely enchanting, and His extremely
beautiful face belittled millions of moons. He had wavy hair, long arms, and
a beautiful flower garland around His neck. His body illumined the thatched
hut of Jayadev. Seeing the form of Gauranga, Jayadev, the best of poets,
fainted in divine love as tears streamed from his eyes. Seeing the Lord's
form, Padmavati Devi fainted and fell to the ground.
"The Lord raised them both with His lotus hands and then mercifully spoke
nectarean words. 'You are both My highly exalted devotees, and I desired to
reveal Myself to you. Very soon I will take birth from the womb of Sachi Devi
in Nadia. With all the devotees of all My previous Avatars, I will distribute
the wealth of divine love through Sri Krishna-kirtan. At the age of
twenty-four, I will take sannyas and then reside in Nilachal. There, immersed
in intense divine love, I will deeply relish your Sri Gita-govinda with My
devotees. I am telling you the truth: your Gita-govinda is extremely dear to
Me. Nabadwip Dham is spiritual and supreme; I promise you that you will come
here after leaving your body. For now, you two will go to Nilachal. Serve
Jagannath there, and you will attain the fruit of divine love.'
Saying this, Gaurachandra disappeared. In separation from the Lord, Jayadev
and Padmavati fainted. Regaining consciousness, they began to cry profusely.
Crying and crying, they offered prayers. 'Alas! What a form we have seen! How
will we now live in separation from Him? Why did the Lord order us to leave
Nadia? We understand that we must have made some offence here. Nabadwip Dham
is spiritual and supreme, and our hearts are dismayed at the thought of
leaving. It would be better to become an animal or bird and remain here
forever, meditating on the Dham. We can give up our lives, but we cannot give
up the Dham—our attachment is so intense. O Lord! Sri Gauranga! Be merciful
and keep us here at Your holy feet.' While speaking in this way, they cried
aloud, and then they heard a divine voice. 'Go to Nilachal, and do not be sad
or unsteady at heart. I will tell you two things. Some time ago, you both
desired to stay in Nilachal for a few days. Jagannath has fulfilled this
desire of yours, and He wants to see you. You two will please Jagannath,
again leave your bodies, and then reside in Nabadwip eternally.'
Upon hearing the divine voice, Jayadev and Padmavati immediately left, and
after some time, they turned and looked back at Nabadwip. They wept, and
tears streamed from their eyes. Humbly, they spoke to the residents of
Nabadwip. 'Please be merciful to these two souls. Please forgive us for the
offences we have committed.' They walked away, looking back again and again
at the eight-petalled lotus of Nabadwip. They went ahead and eventually did
not see Nabadwip anymore. Crying, they crossed outside the land of Gauda.
Some time later, they arrived in Nilachal and saw Jagannath with cheerful
hearts. Glory to the poet Jayadev! Glory to Padmavati! Glory to Sri
Gita-govinda! Glory to love for Krishna!"
(Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya, chapter 11)
Who Will Understand
This? (Continuation of "My Grief")
"Jayadev Goswami started composing this Gita Govinda in some other
place, but he could not finish it there, so he came to Nabadwip to finish it.
He sat there in Champa-hatti, but then he suddenly forgot what to write
next..."
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Sun, 19 January 2025
Joining
Prabhupad's Mission
'If you want to preach about our Math, if you want to tell others about our
guru-varga, then you must know that there is a peculiar distinction
between our Math and other missions. You cannot preach about the Math telling
others about the Math's great buildings and that you can come, stay and eat
there. This is not what attracts people.'
What
Is Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and Its Distinctions
"To explain to this world what Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is, what its
purpose, preaching matter or distinctions are, is an extremely difficult
task, but it is even more difficult to make those who are engrossed in and
inspired by the commonplace ideas appreciate it even partially..."
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—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Royal Road to
Success
"As many days we are alive, we will always remember our Guru, we will always
chant the Holy Names and we will always concentrate our mind on the service
of the Lord. That is the main thing for us, and this is what everybody should
follow."
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Download / listen to the audio (3.6 Mb, 9 min | 26 July 2020)
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—{ Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's Treasury }—
• CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY •
(5) THE GUIDE
'It is not impossible that some sort of anarthas may come again to attack. It
is like a fight. Sometimes one party gains ground, and sometimes that same
party is losing. And ultimately the real party will win the battle. It is a
battle. In everyone's heart there will be a battle because we are sadhakas
not siddhas—we are not fully realised souls, but we are following the
process to realisation.'
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Sat, 18 January 2025 (Mahaprabhu roams Rarhdesh for the
third day before arriving in Shantipur)
Remember, Love and Serve the Lord
'You must serve devotees and Vaishnavs, it will give you great benefit. There
is nothing else in this world. The only way to come to the Lord and to rescue
yourself from this material world in this age is through
Harinam-sankirtan. It must be genuine sankirtan – not only
chanting the alphabet, the letters of the Holy Name.'
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Download / listen to the audio (40 Mb, 82 min | 23 February
2019)
Love for
Gaudiya
[by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad]
"We pray that your practice, behaviour, language, taste, moral regulations
and religious faith become aligned with the precepts of Gaudiya. Please
gradually give up non-gaudiya elements within your Gaudiya identity and show
the ideal of Gaudiya to the entire world. May you not mutilate the paramount
ideal of the Gaudiya precepts by coveting to participate in that which is not
Gaudiya."
গৌড়ীয়ে
প্রীতি
(ভগবান ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীল ভক্তিসিদ্ধান্ত সরস্বতী
ঠাকুর প্রভুপাদের হরি-কথামৃত)
"গৌড়ীয় ভাষার পাঠক, গৌড়-দেশের অধিবাসি, তোমাদিগের আচার, ব্যবহার, ভাষা, রুচি,
নীতি ও ধর্ম্মবিশ্বাস গৌড়ীয়ের মত হওয়াই প্রার্থনীয় । তোমাদের গৌড়ীয় পরিচয়ে যাহা
কিছু অগৌড়ীয়ের মত আছে বা হ’তে চলিয়াছে, তাহা ক্রমশঃ পরিহার করিয়া গৌড়ীয়ের আদর্শ
সমগ্রজগতের দেখ্বার মত কর ।"
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Mahaprabhu's
Stay in Shantipur
"Nityananda Prabhu understood devotees' feeling and somehow managed to take
Mahaprabhu to Shantipur instead of taking Him straight to Vrindavan. In
Shantipur, Mahaprabhu gave lecture, He sang and danced the whole day and
night without stop..."
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Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 8 min | 26 January 2018)
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—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Adjustment
of Consciousness
"You are the property of your Guru, you are not anybody else's property.
Devotees always practise wherever they go. If you are staying with some
nondevotees for some purpose, you are not going to stay there for a long
time, so stay there but you must practise there—you must chant,
etc."
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Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 6 min | 26 July 2020)
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—{ Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's Treasury }—
• CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY •
(4) HEARING TO SEE
'Without knowing the real meaning, what we feel and read is the wrong reading
of the environment—it is maya. We miss the universal purpose, and from local
interest we read, "Oh, this is for this purpose, this is for that purpose."
But this is local interest. What we conceive, feel, trust and believe, is not
in consonance with the universal reading....'
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Fri, 17 January 2025 (Mahaprabhu roams Rarhdesh after
taking sannyas for the second day)
Managers'
Mania
'We act like we are the mangers, but the Manager is already there. Because we
are full of ego, we become "managers" and try to manage everything. But
nothing is under our control. Think about it. We must live following what the
scriptures say.'
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Download / listen to the audio (40 Mb, 82 min | 23 February
2019)
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"Passing through the tract of land known as Rarhdesh, Sri Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu recited the following verse in ecstasy:
etam sa asthaya paratma-nistham
adhyasitam purvatamair mahadbhih
aham tarisyami duranta-param
tamo mukundanghri-nisevayaiva
"Avanti Brahman said, 'I shall cross over the insurmountable ocean of
nescience by being firmly fixed in the service of the lotus feet of Krishna.
This was approved by the previous acharyas who were fixed in firm devotion to
the Lord, Paramatma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.'"
(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.3.4-5)
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Today in the calendar:
Krishna Chaturthi. Disappearance of Sripad Yadavendu Bhakti-Chandan.
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."
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In honour of Sripad Yadavendu
Bhakti Chandan:
Sripad Yadavendu Bhakti Chandan
"...He was a senior man, he was very experienced and honourable, but he
treated me with humility and all his other good qualities. Later, I was his
servant for one month in Vrindavan. Sometimes Srila Guru Maharaj told me, 'In
the evening, give him a garland.' Guru Maharaj gave him the title 'Bhakti
Chandan'."
In Remembrance of Sri Bhakti Chandan Prabhu
"Today, being separated from the direct affection of Srimat Yadavendu Bhakti
Chandan Prabhu, we are bearing jewel-less hearts. Personally, I received so
much of his auspicious association. When we have teeth, we do not understand
their value. Today, if I could meet him again, then, just by getting a touch
of his good association, I would attain even greater good fortune."
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—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Cooking: Integral Part of Practising Life
"You must understand that when you come to practising life, you will get some
austerity. Try to practise properly. Try to change yourself. This is how you
can proceed in your spiritual life. I know it is sometimes very difficult,
but you must still try to follow what I am saying, you must still try to
cook, try to serve. That is good for you—you will get more energy for
service, you will get more happiness in your heart."
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Download / listen to the audio (4.9 Mb, 12 min)
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—{ Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's Treasury }—
• CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY •
(3) SRILA GURU MAHARAJ REMEMBERS
'I was born at midnight, Saturday 10th October, 1895. Navami tithiunder the
same sign as Lord Ramchandra. Krishna-paksa [dark moon fortnight]. Sriman
Mahaprabhu was also born on a Saturday. I was the second child. The first was
a daughter, but she died early, so Ram Kavach [a protective mantram and
amulet] was given to my mother for the protection of the next child, that is,
myself. So I was born after my mother took Ram Kavach....'
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Thu, 16 January 2025 (Mahaprabhu roams Rarhdesh after
taking sannyas)
Wasted Time,
Wasted Life
'You must dry rice paddy when there is sun; in the same way, you must
practise Krishna consciousness while you still have time. That is my prayer
to you all. I keep telling this to you with folded palms, again and
again.'
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Download / listen to the audio (40 Mb, 82 min | 23 February
2019)
Today in the calendar:
Krishna Tritiya. Appearance of Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami Prabhu and
disappearance of Srila Ramachandra Kaviraj.
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do
not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must
still give them 'jay' on this day. We must always remember disappearance and
appearance days of all Vaishnavs. If we can remember such personalities, such
great souls, it will bring a great benefit to our spiritual life."
"We should always check the calendar, and when we see some dates mentioned
there, even if we do not know anything about the Vaishnav or events mentioned
there, we can at least give 'jay' to them—that also brings some good sukriti,
some purification to us. Seeing the calendar and taking devotees' names early
in the morning, from the beginning of the day, is very good for all
devotees."
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In honour of Srila Gopal Bhatta
Goswamipad:
Srila Gopal
Bhatta Goswami's Miracle
"You have heard about the Deity of Sri Radha-Raman in Vrindavan. When Gopal
Bhatta Goswami lived in Vrindavan, he every day worshipped twelve pieces of
Govardhan sila..."
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Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 7 September 2013 | Bengali)
Strongest
Faith (2) Gopal Bhatta Goswami
"You have eyes in your heart, and if you have such feeling towards the Deity
in your heart and do your service with such faith, then you can easily see
Krishna everywhere, hear Krishna-nama everywhere, nothing else besides
Krishna-nama will enter your ears..."
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Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min | 10 March 2015)
In honour of Srila Ramachandra Kaviraj's disappearance:
Power of Good
Association
"You must see the sadhu with your ears. Every day you sing,
'Ramachandra-sanga mage Narottama Dasa: Narottam Das prays for the
association of Ramachandra Kaviraj.' What does this mean? Why does Narottam
Das always ask for the association of Ramachandra?"
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Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 12 March 2017 | Gaura Purnima)
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—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Sanctity of
Initiation
"What is called initiation? What is initiation about? People say, 'We all
know the Hare Krishna maha-mantra—we can chant it easily on our own
and get our benefit.' This is not so. We can chant, we can do service and
other things, but without proper guidance, without a guru, all our attempts
will be unscientific."
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Download / listen to the audio (6 Mb, 15 min | 26 July 2020)
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—{ Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's Treasury }—
• CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY •
Part 1. Chapter 2. Transcendental History
'The Ocean of the Pastimes of Srila Guru Maharaj is unlimited. How many
drops of that ocean can a mere sparrow extract? In this world, time is not on
our side. Ordered by my Gurudev, I have tried—in my own random way—to present
some of these drops of honey for the bumblebee devotees of the Lord. Whoever
hears the nectarean Divine Pastimes and Teachings of Srila Guru Maharaj
cannot but attain the Supreme Wealth of life itself—Love for the Supreme Lord
Sri Krishna.'
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In memory of today's events related to Sriman Mahaprabhu's
sannyas-lila:
Memorable Day In
Bamunpara
"One morning Gurudev went to Bamunpara. Only Gurudev, his driver, me, and
Gurudev's servant who cooked for him, went at that time. That day, Gurudev
showed me that place in Bamunpara where Mahaprabhu passed after taking
sannyas..."
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Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 4 min)
Remembering
Mahaprabhu's Sannyas-Lila
"Srila Param Guru Maharaj said that during this time Nabadwip was covered by
thick clouds—there was no sun in the sky and everything was very dark. Even
the sun too cried because the Lord had left Nabadwip. It was such a sad time,
everybody felt very deep separation."
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Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 6 min)
Ten Days in Shantipur
"...When Mahaprabhu came to Shantipur and the news about it spread
everywhere, so many devotees started coming there—so many boats, full of
people, came to Shantipur to see Mahaprabhu..."
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Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 6 min)
Heart-Breaking Decision
"Mahaprabhu's mother, Gadadhar, Brahmananda, Chandrasekhara, and Mukunda.
Mahaprabhu told Nityananda Prabhu, 'Nobody except them knows about it.' Sri
Sachi Mata cried so much and other devotees also tried to dissuade Mahaprabhu
in so many ways..."
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Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 8 min)
Sannyas
Lila: Roaming the Land
"Mahaprabhu would go in a zigzag way—sometimes He went to the East,
sometimes to the West, and the devotees followed Him not knowing where He
was going..."
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Download / listen to the audio (7.5 Mb, 25 min)
Sri Nimai Sannyas
(English, Bengali, an audio recording)
Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's poem expressing the
grief-stricken hearts of the residents of Nabadwip: "Vishvambhar, the son
of Jagannath Mishra, who resides in Nabadwip, Sachi's Nimai, has taken
sannyas. A tumult of cries filled the sky—Sachi's Nimai has
taken sannyas!"
From Sri Sri Prema Dhama Deva Stotram:
laksa-lochanasru-varsa-harsa-kesa-kartanam
koti-kantha-krsna-kirtanadhya-danda-dharanam
nyasi-vesa-sarvadesa-ha-hutasa-kataram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
"Sri Gaurasundara departed from Nabadwip and went away to become a
sannyasi (monk), leaving behind his family members and friends whose eyes
were filled with tears. He accepted the staff and waterpot as his only
possessions, the emblems of a renunciate. When his long hair was cut off
and his head was shaved, thousands of voices sang the holy names. The
devotee's eyes shed rivers of tears, since they knew he was going into the
world and leaving them behind. From that time, whoever saw him in the red
garments of a sannyasi cried out loud in grief. I sing with joy the
unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and
only divine abode of pure love."
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Wed, 15 January 2025
Surrender Comes
First
'So, if you are looking for a shortcut (looking for places where you can do
anything you want), you will not get anything there. If you cannot give up
trifle things, you can never get any great benefit. Until and unless you
surrender to the Lord, all these things will not enter your ears...'
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Download / listen to the audio (40 Mb, 82 min | 23 February
2019)
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—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Our Programme
"My service is that I want to make everybody happy. You are all Gurudev's
devotees, well-wishers, friends, that is why I want to serve you all. We
still cannot gather many people, but we are trying to preach and serve
devotees from afar as much as possible."
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Download / listen to the audio (3.2 Mb, 8 min | 26 July 2020)
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—{ Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's Treasury }—
• CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY •
(1) SIKSA-GURU
'Constantly associating, whether in Allahabad, Calcutta, or other parts of
India, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj and Srila Sridhar Maharaj's
relationship continually developed. Throughout his life, Srila Bhaktivedanta
Swami Maharaj always maintained the highest respect and confidence in Srila
Sridhar Maharaj. He considered that whenever it was not possible for his
disciples to proceed directly under his guidance, that they should take
direction from Srila Sridhar Maharaj.'
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Today in the calendar:
Remembrance of Sriman Mahaprabhu's sannyas-lila.
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Today's events:
Will-O'-the-Wisp
of Worldly Wishes
"If you give Maya chance, then Maya will attack you. As soon as you get a
weak spot, Maya will attack you. It does not matter whether you are young or
old. If you try to control your elements, you can control them
from a young age."
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Download / listen to the audio (4.1 Mb, 10 min | 5 July 2020)
...The next day, Nimai's will prevailed, although there was still some
opposition.
Nityananda Prabhu, along with Nimai's maternal uncle Candrasekhara, Mukunda
Datta and Jagadananda Pandit, gradually arrived there. And that afternoon,
the sannyas function began. Candrasekhara Acarya was asked to perform the
ceremony on behalf of Nimai Pandit, who began to chant and dance and charm
the audience.
laksa-locanasru-varsa-harsa-kesa-kartanam
koti-kantha-krsna-kirtanadhya-danda-dharanam
nyasi-vesa-sarva-desa-ha-hutasa-kastaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
"While showers of tears fell from the eyes of millions, He delighted in
having His beautiful hair shaved away. Millions of voices sang the glories of
Krishna, as Sri Krishna Chaitanya accepted the staff of renunciation. From
that time on, wherever He went, whoever saw Him in the dress of a sannyasi
cried in grief. I sing the glories of that beautiful Golden God, the giver of
divine love."
The scene was at Katwa. Four-hundred and seventy-four years ago, Sri
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyas. He was young and beautiful, with a tall
figure. He was only twenty-four and had beautiful curling hair. A barber was
asked to shave Him, and approached Him, but then withdrew. The barber could
not venture to touch Nimai's body. He began to cry. "How can I remove such
beautiful hair from such a beautiful head?"
And so many others were also crying aloud, "What a horrible thing is being
done here! Who is the creator of this sannyas? Who is so hard-hearted that he
created the sannyas-asrama, where one must give up all that is near and dear
and go from door to door, begging, leaving his own friends and relatives
crying helplessly? What is this creation of the Supreme? Is it logical? Is it
a happy thing? It is most cruel!"
Nimai Pandit was smiling. After the barber was ordered repeatedly, somehow he
was forced to shave Nimai's head. At first, he could not venture to touch His
hair, saying, "I can't touch Him." But at last, he had to do the service of
shaving the beautiful, curling hair of the beautiful face of the twenty-four
year old genius boy. He began with his shears. Some people could not stand
the scene. Some even became mad. In the midst of the weeping, wailing, and
crying of the threatening mob, it was done.
Nimai Pandit was senseless. After being only half-shaved, He stood up and
began chanting in kirtana and dancing in ecstatic joy. After He was shaved,
the barber promised, "I will never again shave anyone with this hand! I would
rather live by begging. This is my last service as a barber." After this,
that barber took up the occupation of a sweetmaker.
Ultimately Nimai's appeals pacified the mob, and a little before noon the
inevitable gradually came: the sannyas function was performed. Chandrasekara
Acharya, the maternal uncle of Nimai Pandit, was deputed to take charge of
the rituals in the ceremony of sannyas. When the mantra was to be conferred,
Nimai Pandit asked Kesav Bharati, "Is this the mantra you will give me? I
heard it in a dream." He whispered the mantra in the ear of his guru who
accepted, saying, "Yes, this is the mantra I shall give You." Then that
mantra was given.
And the name of this sannyasi was not given in an ordinary way either. A most
peculiar name came through Kesav Bharati: "Krishna Chaitanya." None of the
ten names generally given to sannyasis was given to Nimai Pandit, but the
name that was given to Him was Krishna Chaitanya. As soon as they heard that
name, the mob began to cry, "Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ki jaya!" "All
glories to Sri Krishna Chaitanya!"
The father of Srinivasa Acarya was a class-friend of Nimai Pandit. On his way
to his father-in-law's house, he heard that Nimai Pandit had come to take
sannyas. He ran there, and seeing everything, he became dumb—he was
devastated and went half-mad. After that, nothing came from his mouth but
"Chaitanya!" After he heard the name "Krishna Chaitanya," whatever anyone
said to him, he would only say, "Chaitanya!" He became mad. After that, his
name became Chaitanya dasa. His former name vanished, and everyone used to
call him Chaitanya dasa. He could not stand the scene of Nimai Pandit's
sannyas.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, newly dressed in red robes, embraced His guru, and
both of them began to dance, chanting the name of Krishna. After some time,
the meaning of the name was given. Kesav Bharati Maharaja said, "Sri Krishna
Chaitanya means that You arouse Krishna consciousness throughout the entire
world. You have descended to make all people Krishna conscious. So the most
suitable name for You cannot but be Sri Krishna Chaitanya."
Mahaprabhu was very cheerful, thinking, "I am going to relieve so many souls
from their eternal misery and affliction. I have promised to deliver the
whole world from this ocean of misery and take them to the nectarine world,
and now I am going to accept that task." He was cheerful, but everyone around
Him was diving in the ocean of despair and sorrow.
Some scholars stress that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyas from Kesav
Bharati, who was a mayavadi, an impersonalist. But although Kesav Bharati may
have externally showed himself in that way, it is seen that by coming in
connection with Mahaprabhu, he became a devotee. Otherwise, we may also think
that he was a devotee who came in the garb of an impersonalist to help the
preaching of Mahaprabhu by assisting Him with the social formality of taking
sannyas. At that time, all over India, mayavadi sannyasis had greater
recognition than Vaisnava sannyasis, and Kesav Bharati was already situated
in that post. Mahaprabhu took the garb of a sannyasi from him for His own
purpose, to help His preaching activity. All these things may be explained in
different ways. In any case, after Mahaprabhu took sannyas, Kesav Bharati
began to sing and dance with Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He joined in
sankirtana and was immediately converted.
In this way, the sannyas of Nimai Pandit took place. What is the meaning of
His sannyas?....
From Golden Volcano of Divine Love
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GUIDANCE 2021 (epub)
(Last update: 7 Apr. '24)
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A Humble Heart
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'It is necessary to give honour to others. If you make so many offences, your
heart becomes as hard as a thunderbolt, and as a result, kirtan,
chanting of the Holy Name will not come to your mouth.'
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CALENDAR FOR 01/2025
MADHAV
20 JANUARY (MON).
Krishna Sasthi.
Disappearance of Srila Jayadev Goswami Prabhu.
22 JANUARY (WED).
Krishna Astami.
Disappearance of Srila Lochan Das Thakur.
25 JANUARY (SAT).
Krishna Ekadasi.
Fast on Sat-tila Ekadasi.
26 JANUARY (SUN).
Krishna Dvadasi.
Ekadasi paran is at 6:23:37–10:00:39.
29 JANUARY (WED).
Amavasya.
30 JANUARY (THU).
Gaura Pratipad.
Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Gaurava Vaikhanash Maharaj and
departure of Sri Haripada Chaudhuri Das-Adhikari.
31 JANUARY (FRI).
Gaura Dvitiya.
Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Saran Santa Maharaj.
FEBRUARY 2025
2 FEBRUARY (SUN).
Gaura Chaturthi.
Appearance of Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj.
3 FEBRUARY (MON).
Gaura Panchami.
Sri Krishna's Vasanta Panchami. Appearance of
Sri Sri Visnupriya Devi. Appearance of Srila Pundarik Vidyanidhi, Srila
Raghunath Das Goswami and Srila Raghunandan Thakur. Disappearance of Srila
Visvanath Chakravarti Thakur. Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad
Bhakti Vivek Bharati Maharaj and Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Svarup Parvat
Maharaj. Sri Saraswati Puja.
4 FEBRUARY (TUE).
Gaura Saptami.
Appearance of Sri Mahavisnu Avatar Sri Advaita Acharya.
5 FEBRUARY (WED).
Gaura Astami.
Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Prapanna Parivrajak Maharaj and
departure of Sripad Virendra Krishna Prabhu.
6 FEBRUARY (THU).
Gaura Navami.
Disappearance of Sripad Madhvacharya.
7 FEBRUARY (FRI).
Gaura Dasami.
Disappearance of Srila Ramanuja Acharya.
8 FEBRUARY (SAT).
Gaura Ekadasi.
Fast on Bhaimi Ekadasi and in
honour of Lord Sri Varahadev's appearance (tomorrow).
9 FEBRUARY (SUN).
Gaura Dvadasi.
Appearance of Lord Sri Varahadev. Ekadasi
paran is at 6:17:41–9:59:51 after offering worship to Lord Varahadev.
10 FEBRUARY (MON).
Gaura Trayodasi.
Appearance of Sri Sri Nityananda Prabhu.
Fast until noon. Annual
festival in honour of the manifestation anniversary of Sri Guru Sri Gaura Sri
Nityananda at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Ekachakra Dham.
12 FEBRUARY (WED).
Purnima.
Sri Krishna's Madhurotsav. Appearance of Srila Narottam Thakur.
GOVINDA
15 FEBRUARY (SAT).
Krishna Tritiya.
Disappearance of Tridandi-swami Sripad Bhakti Premik Siddhanti Maharaj.
17 FEBRUARY (MON).
Krishna Panchami.
Grand Sri Sri Vyasa-puja festival in honour of the
holy appearance day of Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami
Thakur. Annual festival at Sri Gupta-Govardhan Mandir (Sri Govinda Kunda,
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip). Disappearance of Srila Purusottam
Thakur.
18 FEBRUARY (TUE).
Krishna Sasthi.
Appearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj.
19 FEBRUARY (WED).
Krishna Saptami.
Annual three-day festival in honour of the manifestation of Sri Sri Gaura
Nityananda and Sri Sri Gandharva Govinda-sundar jiu at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat
Seva-sadan in Sri Ganga Sagar.
24 FEBRUARY (MON).
Krishna Ekadasi.
Fast on Vijaya Ekadasi.
Passing away of Sripad Krishna Govinda Das-Adhikari.
25 FEBRUARY (TUE).
Krishna Dvadasi.
Ekadasi paran is at 6:07:06–9:55:38.
27 FEBRUARY (THU).
Krishna Chaturdasi.
Sri Sri Sivaratri-vrata (optional fast).
Departure of Srimad Bhakti Nivas Bhagavat Maharaj and Sripad Yudhamanyu
Prabhu Seva-Vikram.
28 FEBRUARY (FRI).
Amavasya. Sri Sivaratri paran for those
who fasted is at 6:04:31–6:55:23. Manifestation anniversary of Sri Sada-Siva
Gangadhar on the bank of Sri Govinda Kunda at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in
Nabadwip; manifestation anniversary of Sri Sri Guru Gaura Radha Madan-Mohan
jiu at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Tarakeswar; and manifestation
anniversary of Sri Sada-Siva in Sri Kadigachha.
Gaura Pratipad (falls on the same day).
Disappearance of Vaishnav Sarvabhauma Srila
Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj, Srila Rasikananda Dev-Goswami and
Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Dayita Madhav Maharaj.
MARCH 2025
1 MARCH (SAT).
Gaura Dvitiya.
Appearance of Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj.
2 MARCH (SUN).
Gaura Tritiya.
Manifestation anniversary of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva
Radha-Raman-sundar at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Krishnanusilana Sangha in
Kaikhali, Kolkata.
3 MARCH (MON).
Gaura Chaturthi.
Appearance of Srila Purusottam Thakur. Departure of Sripad Tulasi Das
Das-Adhikari Prabhu.
4 MARCH (TUE).
Gaura Panchami.
Disappearance of Sriyukta Tarangini Devi.
8 MARCH (SAT).
Gaura Navami.
Adhivas festival of Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama.
Beginning of the annual seven-day gathering and festival.
9 MARCH (SUN).
Gaura Ekadasi.
Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama begins.
Parikrama of Sri Antardwip (darsan of Sri Chaitanya Math, Sri
Nandan Acharya Bhavan, puspa-samadhi mandir of Srila A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad, Sri Yogapith, Srivas Angan, Sri
Advaita Bhavan, Sri Gadadhar Pandit Bhavan, Sri Chaitanya Math, Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad's samadhi mandir, Srila
Gaura Kisor Das Babaji Maharaj's samadhi, Sri Chd Kazi's samadhi) and
Sri Simantadwip (darsan of Sri Jagannath Mandir, Sri Sridhar
Angan).
10 MARCH (MON).
Gaura Ekadasi.
Fast on Amalaki Ekadasi.
Parikrama of Sri Simantadwip and Sri Rudradwip.
11 MARCH (TUE).
Gaura Dvadasi.
Ekadasi paran is at 5:54:28–9:29:39. Disappearance of Sripad
Madhavendra Puripad. Parikrama of Sri Koladwip: darsan of
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Sri Vriddha Siva, Sri Prauddha MAYa, Sri
Visnupriya Devi's Deity of Sri Gauranga, the samadhi mandir of Srila
Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj.
12 MARCH (WED).
Gaura Trayodasi.
Parikrama of Sri Godrumdwip and Sri Madhyadwip: darsan of Sri
Surabhi Kunja, Svananda-sukhada Kunja, Sri Suvarna Bihar Gaudiya Math, Sri
Harihara Ksetra, Hamsa-vahan and Sri Nrisimha Palli.
13 MARCH (THU).
Gaura Chaturdasi.
Adhivas of the grand festival of Sri Gaura Purnima: the eve of Sri
Gauranga's appearance. Parikrama of Sri Koladwip, Sri Ritudwip, Sri
Jahnudwip and Sri Modadrumdwip: darsan of Sri Samudragad, Sri Sri
Gaura-Gadadhar Mandir (Sri Champahati), Vidyanagar (Sarvabhauma Gaudiya Math,
Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya's birthplace), the Deity served by Sri Saranga
Murari and Sri Vasudev Datta Thakur, Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur's appearance
place.
14 MARCH (FRI).
Purnima.
Sri Gaura Purnima: Divine appearance of Sri
Gauranga. Fast until moonrise, then no grains
(anukalpa).Vasanta-utsav and Dol Yatra of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda. Special
offering of bhoga, worship and arati at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math
and all its branches worldwide, continuous reading of Sri
Chaitanya-charitamrita and a great festival of sankirtan.
Start of 539 Sri Gaurabda.
VISHNU
15 MARCH (SAT).
Krishna Pratipad.
Sri Gaura-Purnima paran is at 5:50:36–9:47:24. Anandotsav (great, joyful festival) of Sri Jagannath
Misra. A grand festival and mahaprasad distribution at Sri
Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Nabadwip Dham.
19 MARCH (WED).
Krishna Panchami.
Manifestation Anniversary of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Gopinath jiu at Sri
Chaitanya Saraswat Asram in Sripat Hapaniya Dham and Pancham Dol festival.
Appearance of Tridandi-swami Srimad Bhakti Saran Santa Maharaj.
FULL CALENDAR >>
Sri Gaudiya Calendar 2024–2025 (pdf)
THE TEN OFFENCES TO
THE HOLY NAME:
1) Criticise sadhus, Vaishnavs
2) Consider Lord Siva and gods to be independent of Lord Krishna
3) Consider Guru to be an ordinary mortal man
4) Criticise scriptures
5) Interpret the Name with the help of a dictionary, etc.
6) Consider the Name imaginary.
7) Sin and chant to remove the sin.
8) Consider chanting equal to pious activities.
9) Instruct faithless people in chanting; inattentive chanting.
10) Remain attached to things, your body, etc.
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"HUMILITY, TOLERANCE, GIVING HONOUR TO OTHERS | HUMILITY, TOLERANCE, GIVING HONOUR TO OTHERS"
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