Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math International

Thu, 26 November 2020 (Today is Sri Utthan Ekadasi, tomorrow paran is 6:03-8:16 a.m.)

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 | 22 November 2020)

SRI NABADWIP DHAM MAHATMYA MUKTA MALA : ANTARDWIP
Srimad Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj's Sri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math
"Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Maharaj was a very dear godbrother of the Founder Acharya of our Math, Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Before taking sannyas, Srila Madhav Maharaj's name was Sri Hayagriva Brahmachari. We have heard about him from the lotus mouth of our Srila Guru Maharaj..."

SRI NABADWIP DHAM MAHATMYA MUKTA MALA : ANTARDWIP
Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj's Samadhi Mandir
"Before, I knew that anyone who assumes a human form is as contemptible and vile as myself, but when I observed the character of my Lord [Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj], I could gradually understand that a perfect Vaishnav could exist in this world. Through the words and pastimes of saintly persons such deficient jiva souls as myself can become enriched in many ways. Hearing about the character of saintly persons and their pastimes can cleanse many unsaintly hearts. With this hope I am writing a few words about Paramahamsa Babaji."

Today in the calendar: Gaura Ekadashi. Sri Utthan Ekadashi. Fast. Disappearance of Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Sri Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj. Appearance of Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj. Sri Bhishma Panchaka.

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. If you remember the glories of Vaishnavs, if you speak about the glories of Vaishnavs, they can rescue you from all kinds of material bondage. We have heard a hundred times that if we glorify Vaishnavs, it gives great benefit, but even though we have heard it a thousand times, how much are we able to glorify Vaishnavs from our heart? How much can we serve Vaishnavs with heart and soul? This is the question."

In honour of Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj:

namo gaurakisoraya
bhaktavadhuta murtaye
gauranghri padma-bhrngaya
radha-bhava-nisevine

"I offer my obeisance unto the divine form of the devotee-avadhut Srila Gaura Kisor Das Babaji Maharaj, who is a honey-bee at Sri Gaurasundar's lotus feet and a servant of Srimati Radharani imbued with deep loving attachment."

Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj
The transcendental pastimes and character of a great Vaishnav of our sampradaya: "'Why are you staying here in Radha Kunda? You must come to Nabadwip. My lila is not in Vrindavan, now My lila is going on in Nabadwip, so you must come here.' And he came here...."
• Download / listen to the audio (5.1 Mb, 15 min | 17 November 2010)

Srila Gaurakishoradas Babaji Maharaj
(An article written by Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad and published in the Harmonist in honour of the disappearance day of Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj)
"We cannot be eligible for the discipleship of Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode, whom we may be disposed to honour on account of his display of scientific scholarship, unless we are cured of all our scholastic vanities through the realisation of the knowledge of transcendence by unconditional submission to the feet of Srila Gaurakishoradasa Babaji."

Sri Srimad Gaura-Kishor-Namaskar Dasakam | শ্রীশ্রীমদ্গৌরকিশোরনমস্কারদশকম্
"O Divine Master of my Divine Master, my most venerable preceptor, you are supremely worshippable in the group of the foremost associates of Sri Gauranga. Although I remain deep in the mud of offenses, I (a fallen soul) am begging you for your causeless mercy. O Gaura Kisora, again and yet again do I make my obeisance unto you."

In honour of Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj:

Reforming Others
Three educational stories from the life of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur and his disciple Sripad B.D. Madhav Maharaj.
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 5 min | 12 May 2012)

Guru Consciousness, Service Consciousness
"I heard from Gurudev, one time it was Janmastami, and Madhav Maharaj (his brahmachari name was Hayagriva Prabhu) had some service in Delhi, so he had to travel by train on the Janmastami day...."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 25 December 2010)

Continuous Service
"It happened after Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur's time. One time, Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj and one more sannyasi—three disciples of Prabhupad—were sitting in one room..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 5 min | 7 August 2011)

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?"

Sri Ekadasi Guidance
Guidelines on how to observe and honour this holy day: Ekadasi takes an indispensible part in the life of a sincere practitioner. At Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Ekadasi and paran are observed with affection and without fail according to the dates given in the Calendar.

• "Sri Ekadasi" (Sri Sri Prema Vivarta)
"One day, Gaurahari left the Gundicha Temple and sat in the Jagannath Vallabha garden. It was pure Ekadasi, and the Lord spent the whole day and night chanting the Name of Krishna..."

• SONG: Suddha-bhakata | শুদ্ধ ভকত-চরণ-রেণু
"I carefully observe the holy days related to Madhava, they are the mother of devotion."

• SONG: Sri hari-vasare | শ্রীহরি-বাসরে হরি
"On the holy day of Sri Hari, Sriman Mahaprabhu, the life and soul of the universe, began dancing..."

ADDITIONAL READING:

• "Observing Ekadasi"
• "Ekadasi Vrata: Make Your Guru Happy"
• "No Other Shelter"
• "Mahadvadasi"
• "Ekadasi and liberation"

• "Ekadasi Tithi: One of the Practices"
• "Yogini Ekadasi"
• "Ekadasi: Historical Background"
• "Ekadasi: Main Focus Is Service"
• Ekadasi Struggle?

Wed, 25 November 2020

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 | 22 November 2020)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 2. Chapter 11. Unadulterated Purity
"Chastity is faithfulness to the cause for which we have come. It is a relative term. Chastity in the absolute sense is unchangeable adherence to Krishna consciousness. There also may be relative chastity, such as when someone sincerely pursues his interest in a particular plane. However that type of sincerity is not complete."

Tue, 24 November 2020

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)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 2. Chapter 10. Focussed to Guru
"Everything is His will, and it is the greatest adventure to search for Krishna, to search for the root of the whole infinite. It needs sufficient courage and preparedness to face the risk. Internal courage—spiritual courage—is necessary. We are to have soul's courage and have the confidence of deep faith. We are to understand the noble character of the faith within us."

Mon, 23 November 2020

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)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 2. Chapter 9. A Wonderful Touch
"Here in the mundane plane, eliminating God, everyone is self-centred therefore there is clash and reaction. But in the higher realm, with harmony, there is no clash. In that plane any apparent clash exists to promote inner wealth. In this mundane plane there is apparent friendship but inner animosity, but in the God-centred plane there is apparent competition but inner friendship because the flow of God-service is common to everyone."

Sun, 22 November 2020

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)

সেবার প্রতি আর্তি
শ্রীল গুরুপদপদ্ম ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীলভক্তিনির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের হরিকথামৃত শ্রীনৃসিংহপল্লীতে :
"গুরুদেবের দয়াল সাগর, তিনি আমাদের মত অধম পতিত জীবকে উদ্ধার করবার জন্য সব সময় বসে আছেন । কিন্তু আমরা নিজেরা সেই গুরুপাদপদ্মের কৃপা মনে রাখতে পারছি না । আমরা ভাগ্যহীন । নিজের সুখ-দঃখ নিয়ে আমরা সব সময় পড়ে থাকি । ভালো-মন্দ খেয়ে সব সময় পড়ে আছি—কখনও ভাবি না যে, এই দেহ আমাদের ছেড়ে চলে যেতে হবে । সাধু-গুরু-বৈষ্ণবের সেবা আমরা যদি করতে পারি, তাহলে আমাদের পরমকল্যাণ বস্তু লাভ হবে । জন্ম-জন্মমৃত্যুজরাব্যাধি যদি আমরা পেতে চাই, তাহলে ভগবান আমাদেরকে যে কথা বলেছেন সে কথা অনুসারে আমাদের চলতে হবে । যদি সেটা না শিখি, না বুঝি, তাহলে কী লাভ ? আমাদের নিজেরে তৌরি করতে হবে—ভগবান আমাদের ধুয়ে মুছে পরিষ্কার করে তাঁর কাছে নিয়ে যাবেন । আমাদের কাঁদতে হবে, তাঁর কাছে প্রার্থনা করতে হবে—হে প্রভু তুমি আমাকে কবে তোমার কাছে নিয়ে চলে যাবে ?"
• Download / listen to the audio (26.7 Mb, 64 min | 20 November 2020 | Bengali | ২০ নভেম্বর ২০২০)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 2. Chapter 8. A Wonderful Touch
"It is recorded that the highest test comes when a jiva is passing out from the clutches of maya, illusion. Nature is indomitable, so it is quite natural that one may fall prey to his own previous nature, but how can we be saved from the results of our past activities—our acquired previous tendencies? Each sense has its corresponding external attractive objects. If you can stop the tendencies just as they are beginning, you can be successful, but if you allow them to progress, you will be undone."

Today in the calendar: Gaura Ashtami. Disappearance of Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami, Srila Dhananjay Pandit, and Srila Srinivas Acharya Prabhu. Sri Gopashtami, Sri Goshthastami, Go Puja, and Go Gras-dan.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day."

In honour of Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami:

Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami, an eternal associate of Sriman Mahaprabhu and Sriman Nityananda Prabhu, resided on the bank of the Ganges. In Sri Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, he is stated to be the incarnation of bodily beauty of Srimati Radharani. Although he was a follower of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu, he did not manifest sakhya-rasa, instead he manifested the mood of a gopi—sitting on the bank of the Ganges, he would scoop some Ganges water into a pot and cry out with a laugh, "Who wants to buy some milk?", "Who wants to buy some yoghurt?"

When Sriman Mahaprabhu ordered Sriman Nityananda Prabhu to preach Krishna consciousness in Bengal, He sent Sri Ram-das and Sri Gadadhar-das to Gauda-desh with Sriman Nityananda Prabhu.

Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur describes a pastime in which Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami delivers the Kazi of Endiyadaha who vehemently opposed sankirtan:

One day, overwhelmed by divine love for the Lord, Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami came to the house of Kazi chanting sankirtan and said, "Where is that Kazi? Come, chant the Holy Name at once, otherwise I will cut your neck!" Furious, Kazi came out to him, but seeing the divine form and mood of Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami, he became astounded and his anger subsided. Kazi said then,

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to speak to you," answered Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami.

"What do you want to say?" asked Kazi.

"Gaura-Nityananda have appeared on this earth and are giving the Holy Name to anyone and everyone, but why are you not taking this nectarian Holy Name?"

"Go home, I will take it tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Why not today? I have come to give you the Holy Name and to rescue you. Take this supremely beneficial Holy Name! It will rescue you from all your sins today!"

Kazi felt embarrassed to refuse him, so he sniggered, "Well, I will say 'Hari' tomorrow."

Then, hearing Kazi say 'Hari', Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami became overwhelmed by divine love and said, "Now why tomorrow? You have just said 'Hari'! All your sins have been removed, you have become supremely pure." Saying this, Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami began to dance.

In this way, Kazi became purified and took shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami. At the end, Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur concludes, "Saintly persons did not want to be touched by the air that touched the Kazi, for they felt that such contact would make them lose their caste. Yet, Gadadhar Das Mahasaya glanced mercifully on that most sinful Kazi, who took away the caste of any Hindu he encountered. When such a person gives up his envious nature, it is to be understood that this is the potency of Krishna consciousness."

This was how Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami delivered many sinners and inauspicious people by bestowing the Holy Name upon them.

In honour of Srila Dhananjay Pandit:

"Dhananjay Pandita was an extraordinary devotee, and Nityananda always resided in his heart. He is the sixteenth dear servant of Nityananda Prabhu and he was very much renounced and always merged in love of Krishna. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Swaraswati Thakur writes in his Anubhasya, 'Dhananjay Pandit was a resident of the village in Katwa named Sitala (Burdwan district). He was one of the twelve gopalas. His former name, according to the Sri Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (127), was Vasudama. It is said that for some time Dhananjay Pandit was in a sankirtan party under the direction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and then he went to Vrindavan. After returning from Vrindavan to Sitala-gram, he established a Deity of Gaurasundara in the temple. The descendants of Dhananjay Pandit still live in Sitala-gram and look after the temple worship."

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...

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

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

"When they were only a few miles away from Mathura, they heard that Sanatan Goswami had passed away. People were saying that that great Sanatan Goswami who was the prime minister and who had captured all people in the whole of Vrindavan within his heart—that Sanatan had passed away, a great disaster for the country. What to do then? Rupa, Raghunath, Jiva and Gopala Bhatta were still living, so Srinivas, Narottam, and Shyamananda dragged somehow on.

When they reached Mathura, they heard that Srila Rupa Goswami had left the night before that. Sanatana left on an ashari purnima, and Srila Rupa Goswami left after that on next dvadasi. They thought, "What hopeless and cursed souls we are! We have come so near, yet we could not see those two generals of Mahaprabhu!" Mahaprabhu sent two of his generals to Vrindavan to carry out His orders and establish the kingdom of the Gaudiya Vaishnavs there... So, they dragged their bodies to Vrindavan and came to Govinda Mandir. When they reached it, they found that an evening aroti was going on there in a very great splendour. There was a great crowd there—Srila Rupa Goswami had just passed away, so with that feeling of high bereavement, everybody was chanting his name madly. Srinivas, Narottam, and Shyamananda Prabhu were there, but Srinivas Acharya could not stand that sort of sentimental wave—he was standing aside and he fainted. When he regained his consciousness, he saw Srila Jiva Goswami with some of his followers...

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

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."

Sat, 21 November 2020

Internal and External Evolution
"No matter what problems may come, you must not leave your service. Today doing, tomorrow not doing—not like that. You are an eternal servant, you are not a servant for two hours. Everybody wants to get to their destination, but some come late or miss their train."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 9 min | 15 November 2020)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 2. Chapter 7. The Willing and the Able
"On the banks of the Ganges there may be neem trees, tamarind trees, mango trees, etc. They all draw the same Ganges water for nourishment but the produce of one is bitter, another is acidic, and another gives sweet fruits. They all are nourished from the same source but according to their nature their produce vary. It is not that if I have the tape recording [of my Guru] I have received everything from him: that I have full possession of his property. It cannot be done like that. Electricity cannot pass through anything and everything."

In honour of Sri Damodar Month:

Damodar Month
"This Kartik month (Damodar month) is Krishna's dearmost month. There is Radha-Damodar temple near our Vrindavan temple and every Kartik we go for parikrama in Vrindavan. This year also we have a great wish to start Vrindavan parikrama in Damodar month."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 7 min | 25 October 2018)

Month of Service—Life of Service
"Today Kartik-vrata, or niyom-seva, starts. Our temple observes it from purnima to purnima, and some other temples do it from dvadasi to dvadasi. One day I asked Gurudev what niyom-seva meant..."
• Download / listen to the audio (6.4 Mb, 14 min | 13 October 2019)

Damodarastakam
"We sing Damodarastakam about the pastimes of the Lord written by Satyavrata Muni every Kartik month. That is a very important song in our spiritual life."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 25 October 2018)

Attend to Kirtan—Attain Kirtan
"Who can understand these songs? We cannot even understand 'trnad api sunichena...' then can we proceed to the other songs? If we want to chant the Name of Krishna, then we must become like this—trnad api sunichena...—as we sing in this kirtan."
• Download (0.7 Mb, 2 min | 7 November 2012 | Bengali)

Kartik Month Kirtans:
Following the tradition established at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, after the regular morning and evening kirtans, the following kirtans are chanted every day:

Morning:
• Damodarastakam
"To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence, knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro, who is beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who is quickly running from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of Mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed—to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances."
• Download
• Sri Sriman Mahaprabhur Sata-Nama (nadiya-nagare nitai)
"In the towns and villages of Nadia, Lord Nityananda ecstatically dances and sings these names of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: Lord Chaitanya is the beloved son of Jagannath Misra; He is Mahaprabhu, the great master, protector, and maintainer of the whole world...."
• Download
• Sri Krsner Vimsottara-sata-Nama-Sankirtana (nagare nagare gora gay)
"From village to village Lord Gaura sings these names of Sri Krishna: Krishna is the baby who feeds on the breast of Mother Yasoda. He is the son of Maharaj Nanda, dark blue like and indra-nila gem, and the life of the residents of Vraja."
• Download

Evening:
• Sri Sri Siksastakam
"If you aspire to chant the Name of Krishna, then, with great care, become qualified to do so. Give up your false ego, and always consider yourself lower than grass, poor, needy, and mean. Practise tolerance like a tree..."
• Song 1: Download
• Song 2: Download
• Song 3: Download
• Song 4: Download
• Song 5: Download
• Song 6: Download
• Song 7: Download
• Song 8: Download

Fri, 20 November 2020

Gupta Govardhan and Other Esoteric Pastimes
"There are nine islands in Nabadwip, and Srila Sridhar Maharaj discovered the aparadh-bhanjan-pat and Gupta Govardhan in Koladwip. It is Govardhan as it is, but Srila Sridhar Maharaj himself identified Sri Govinda Kunda and said that it was Gupta Govardhan...."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 7 min | 15 November 2020)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 2. Chapter 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."

Thu, 19 November 2020

Do Not Play With Fire
"If you commit aparadh, you can lose your service. You must control yourself. Give up ego. You think you are managing the temple? Who are you? Have you forgotten your identification that you are a servant of the Lord? Please do not fight. You have so much service in this world—do your service. Do your service within your capacity, and do not cross the line. This is very dangerous for your spiritual life."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.4 Mb, 8 min | 15 November 2020)

Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad's Mission
His Divine Grace Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj reads and translates from Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala [the text of the chapter is presented below], "We have heard a hundred times that if we glorify Vaishnavs, it gives great benefit, but even though we have heard it a thousand times, how much are we able to glorify Vaishnavs from our heart? How much can we serve Vaishnavs with heart and soul? This is the question. I do not know such words to describe the glory of this kind of personality, but I have heard something from Gurudev's lotus mouth and I want to say something from what I have heard..."
• Download / listen to the audio (8.4 Mb, 20 min | 18 November 2020)

SRI NABADWIP DHAM MAHATMYA MUKTA MALA : ANTARDWIP
Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad's Mission
"Srila Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad has made a channel to the West, and so many devotees come now through that channel. Without his mercy we would not have been able to think anything today, but now, getting the association of international devotees, we feel very happy."

Disappearance Festival of Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad in Soquel
(18 November 2020 | 22 photographs, 1 Mb)
Sharing photographs of the festival held in honour of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad's disappearance day. Devotees partake of the service festival in the shelter of the holy lotus feet of Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj whose association is especially valuable on this day as His Divine Grace personally spent much time in the association of Srila Prabhupad.

Today in the calendar: Gaura Panchami. Disappearance of Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhakti Aloka Paramahamsa Maharaj.

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."

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj remembers [mentioned in Centenary Anthology: "There was a very dear disciple of Srila Saraswati Thakur who lived in the same room with Srila Saraswati Thakur and received much affection from him—his name was Mahananda Brahmachari. We saw that lastly he came to Srila Guru Maharaj and said, 'Maharaj, I want to take sannyas from you. Please give me sannyas.' Srila Guru Maharaj gave it very happily and his name became Srila Bhakti Alok Paramahamsa Maharaj."

Wed, 18 November 2020

Sri Govardhan Puja
"Tomorrow is the day when Nanda Maharaj made Govardhan puja, and after that, in Kali-yuga, this annakut utsav was arranged by Sriman Madhavendra Puri. Everybody must worship Govardhan to the best of your capacity."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 8 min | 15 November 2020)

শ্রীগোবর্দ্ধন পূজা ও আত্মাপরিচয়
শ্রীল গুরুপদপদ্ম ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীলভক্তিনির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের হরিকথামৃত শ্রীনৃসিংহপল্লীতে :
"অহংকারীকে ভগবান দেখেন না, অহংকারীর কাছে ভগাবান থাকেন না । 'দীনেরে অধিক দয়া করে ভগবান্ কুলীন, পণ্ডিত, ধনীর বড় অভিমান ।' এটা মনে রাখতে হবে । কেন আমরা হরি ভজন করব ? কেন আমরা হরিনাম করব ? কেন আমরা বৈষ্ণব সেবা করব ? এই কলিযুগে আমরা এসেছি—আমরা কলিহত জীব…."
• Download / listen to the audio (26.6 Mb, 63 min | 17 November 2020 | Bengali | ১৭ নভেম্বর ২০২০)

Preaching Programme in Radhapur
(17 November 2020 | 16 photographs, 1.7 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj visits a village on the outskirts of Shyampur (to the south-west of Kolkata) to nourish devotees with the nectar Sri Hari-katha, Sri Hari-kirtan and Sri Hari-seva.

Today in the calendar: Gaura Chaturthi. Disappearance festival of Vishva-varenya Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day."

In honour of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Srila Prabhupad:

vaisnavera guna-gana karile jivera trana
suniyachhi sadhu-guru-mukhe

"Singing the glories of the Vaishnavs rescues and protects the jiva soul. I heard this from the mouth of sadhus and my Guru."

"If we give some honour, give some glorification to the Vaishnavs, it is actually for our benefit. It is for our own benefit that we do some ceremonies, some festivals, glorifying the Vaishnavs. It is necessary for our spiritual life, and it is one of the bhaktyanga, one of the practising processes. That is why we make Vaishnavs' disappearance and appearance festivals."

(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

namah om visnupadaya krsna-presthaya bhutale
swami sri bhaktivedanta prabhupadaya te namah
gurvajnam sirasi-dhrtva saktyavesa sva-rupine
hare-krsneti mantrena paschatya-prachya-tarine
visvacharya prabaryaya divya karunya murtaye
sri bhagavata-madhurya-gita-jnana pradayine
gaura-sri-rupa-siddhanta-saraswati nisevine
radha-krsna-padambhoja-bhrngaya gurave namah

"I offer my humble obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad, who is Krishna's beloved associate and who came down to this plane from Goloka. Taking the order of his guru on his head, he is the saktyavesa (empowered) avatar of Nityananda Prabhu personified. He distributed the Hare Krsna mantra all over the Eastern and Western world, delivering and uplifting all fallen souls. He is the best of millions of jagat-gurus, because he is the personification of divine mercy. He has distributed the sweet nectar of Srimad-Bhagavatam and the transcendental knowledge of Bhagavad-gita all over the world. He is constantly engaged in exclusive devotional service to Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura, Srila Rupa Goswami, and Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. I offer my humble obeisances unto Srila Prabhupada, who is like a bumble-bee always tasting the nectar of the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha and Govinda."

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj: Intimate Friend and More
"Srila Prabhupad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj gave much respect to Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. You know when Srila Sridhar Maharaj and our Gurudev were in Kolkata, they lived together with A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj for many years..."
• Download (0.7 Mb, 2 min | 22 October 2011)

Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad (Spoken on the appearance day)
"Without his mercy we would not have been able to think anything today, but we are very happy and we are making today a festival for Srila Swami Maharaj, on his appearance day. Everybody must pray for his mercy."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.9 Mb, 9 min | 15 August 2009)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 1. Chapter 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."

Prayers to Sri Vaishnav Thakur:

Tue, 17 November 2020

Appearance of Sri Giriraj Govardhan
"There is one island province to the west of India called Salmalidvip. This is the place where Govardhan appeared as a son of Drona Parvat, Drona Hill. When Govardhan appeared there, all demigods became very happy and showered flowers from the sky..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 6 min | 15 November 2020)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 2. Chapter 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."

Sri Govardhan Puja Celebration in Kolkata
(16 November 2020 | 14 photographs, 1 Mb)
Devotees joyfully celebrate Sri Govardhan Puja in the shelter of the holy lotus feet of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj at the Sevak Bhavan in Kolkata.

Sri Govardhan Puja Celebration in Bokaro
(16 November 2020 | 12 photographs, 1.1 Mb)
Bokaro bhakta-vrinda joyfully observe Sri Govardhan Puja for the pleasure and satisfaction of of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj. Sharing photographs taken during the programme of Sri Hari-katha, Sri Hari-kirtan, and Sri Hari-seva.

Sri Govardhan Puja Celebration in Orizaba
(16 November 2020 | 10 photographs, 1.2 Mb)
Sharing photographs of devotees at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Orizaba, Mexico, observing Sri Govardhan Puja for the pleasure and satisfaction of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj.

Sri Govardhan Puja Celebration in São Paulo
(16 November 2020 | 9 photographs, 0.8 Mb)
Sharing photographs of devotees at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in São Paulo, Brazil, observing Sri Govardhan Puja for the pleasure and satisfaction of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj.

Today in the calendar: Gaura Dvitiya. Disappearance of Srila Vasudev Ghosh Thakur. Disappearance of Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhakti Sarvasva Giri Maharaj (a diksa and sannyas disciple of Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur). Bhratri Dvitiya krityam.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav [event] mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day."

For the eternal benefit and pure nourishment of all living souls, we humbly present the links to the book-form compilations of holy discourses and articles emanating from the holy lotus mouth and hand of Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj, available now for online reading, download, and distribution. May the divine glory of the transcendental treasure trove of these publications forever reside within the hearts of all fortunate souls:
Guidance 1 (PDF, 1.5 Mb)	Guidance 2 (PDF, 3.8 Mb)	Guidance 3 (PDF, 3.7 Mb) Additional: SPANISH Edition	Guidance 4 (PDF, 4.7 Mb)

Sri Upadesh 1 (Bengali)	Sri Upadesh 2 (Bengali)	Sri Puri Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala (Bengali)	Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala (Bengali)

Ради распространения вечного блага и чистой, духовной пищи всем живым существам мы смиренно представляем ссылки на собрания святых бесед и статей, исходящих из святых лотосных уст и написанных святой лотосной рукой Ом Вишнупада Джагад-гуру Шрилы Бхакти Нирмала Ачарьи Махараджа. Книги находятся в свободном доступе для скачивания, чтения и распространения. Мы молимся о том, чтобы божественная слава этой трансцендентной сокровищницы жила вечно в сердцах удачливых душ:
Наставления, 1 (PDF, 5.5 Mb)	Наставления, 2 (PDF, 5.6 Mb)	Наставления, 3 (PDF, 4.5 Mb)	Наставления, 4 (PDF, 9.9 Mb)

• Archive of Updates
• Ekadashi Guidance
• Rules and Regulations
• Chanting the Holy Name

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বাংলা আপডেট

Spanish translations

Русские переводы

Kirtan Guide

Sri Sri Prema-Vivarta
“Never criticise or gossip about others; serve Sri Gaura's feet resolutely and exclusively.”

Ups and Downs of Spiritual Life
'We want quality, we do not want quantity. Do not follow, do not run behind maya (illusion)—do not run in a zigzag way after things, do not run behind gorgeous things. Simple living, simple heart, and without deceitful devotion—these are the main things in spiritual life.'

CALENDAR FOR 11/2020

22 November (Sun). Gaura Ashtami. Disappearance of Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami, Srila Dhananjay Pandit, and Srila Srinivas Acharya Prabhu. Sri Gopashtami, Sri Goshthastami, Go Puja, and Go Gras-dan.

26 November (Thu). Gaura Ekadashi. Sri Utthan Ekadashi. Fast. Disappearance of Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Sri Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj. Appearance of Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj. Sri Bhishma Panchaka.

27 November (Fri). Gaura Dvadashi. Paran between 6:03 and 8:16 a.m.

29 November (Sun). Gaura Chaturdashi. Disappearance of Srila Bhugarbha Goswami and Srila Kashishvar Pandit.

30 November (Mon). Purnima. Rasa Yatra of Sri Krishna. Installation anniversary of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Rasa Bihari Jiu, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and Mission, Sri Vrindavan. Disappearance of Srila Sundarananda Thakur. Appearance of Srila Nimbarka Acharya. End of Chaturmasya and Niyama-seva vratas.

CALENDAR FOR 12/2020

11 December (Fri). Krishna Ekadashi. Trisprisha Mahadvadashi. Fast. Disappearance of Srila Narahari Sarkar Thakur and Srila Kaliya Krishnadas. Disappearance of Sriyukta Dhananjay Das Prabhu.

12 December (Sat). Krishna Trayodashi. Paran between 6:13 and 9:45 a.m. Disappearance of Srila Saranga Thakur.

14 December (Mon). Amavasya. Disappearance of Srila Jagabandhu Bhakti Ranjan.

20 December (Sun). Gaura Shashthi. Oran Shashthi. Grand festival for honouring the appearance of Sri Sri Nitai-Chaitanya Jiu at Sri Puri Dham, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

22 December (Tue). Gaura Ashtami. Disappearance of Srila Madhusudan Das Babaji Maharaj.

23 December (Wed). Gaura Navami. Appearance of Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhakti Kamal Madhusudan Maharaj.

24 December (Thu). Gaura Dashami. Disappearance of Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhakti Kusum Shraman Maharaj.

25 December (Fri). Gaura Ekadashi. Moksada Ekadashi. Fast.

26 December (Sat). Gaura Dvadashi. Paran between 8:38 a.m. and 9:53 p.m.

CALENDAR FOR 01/2021

1 January (Fri). Krishna Dvitiya. The grand 92st appearance day celebration of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math's Sevaite-President-Acharya, Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya Sri Srimad Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. New Year's Day.

2 January (Sat). Krishna Tritiya. Festivals at the appearance place of Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj and his youth Pastimes place: Bamunpara and Nadan Ghat.

3 January (Sun). Krishna Chaturthi. Disappearance festival of the founder of the Sri Chaitanya Math and worldwide Sri Gaudiya Maths, Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupad.

FULL CALENDAR >>

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.

Parama karuna
'Is there anyone as as merciful as Nitai and Gaura? They are beaten and yet bestow divine love.'
পরম করুণ

“I am giving you now some advice, but you cannot understand it.
When I am no more not in this world, then you will remember it.”

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE | HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE