With humble obeisances,
on behalf of SCSMathInternational.com

Question: We hear that Sri Hari Smaran festival has begun. What activities or reading do you recommend for us?

You can read Srila Sridhar Maharaj's book Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam, that will be good. Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam is a good book, you can read it and remind yourself of many good things (practise smaran). I have also given you some books—Guidance 4, Guidance 3. You can read all these books and you can get everything in them. My books are very easy to understand, I am not writing in very high language, it is easy to understand.

(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

(19 August—20 September)

In honour of Sri Sita Thakurani:

Worshippable Sita Thakurani
"Advaita Acharya's wife, Sri Sita Thakurani, is worshipped by everyone all over the world. I have not read much about her, but we know that when Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born, Advaita Prabhu sent her with some gifts to Jagannath Misra's house..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 8 min | 23 August 2020)

Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: "One day shortly after Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was born, Sri Advaita Acharya's wife, Sita Devi, who is worshipable by the whole world, took her husband's permission and went to see that topmost child with all kinds of gifts and presentations. When Sita Thakurani came to the house of Sachi Devi bringing with her many kinds of eatables, dresses and other gifts, she was astonished to see the newborn child, for she appreciated that except for a difference in color, the child was directly Krishna of Gokula Himself. Seeing the transcendental bodily effulgence of the child, each of His nicely constructed limbs full of auspicious signs and resembling a form of gold, Sita Thakurani was very pleased, and because of her maternal affection, she felt as if her heart were melting. She blessed the newborn child by placing fresh grass and paddy on His head and saying, 'May You be blessed with a long duration of life.' But being afraid of ghosts and witches, she gave the child the name Nimai."

Sri Sita Thakurani is an incarnation of Yogamaya, Sri Paurnamasi. In Dvapar-yuga, when Mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaj celebrated Sri Krishna's birth, she came to the house of Nanda Maharaj and gave various advice to Mother Yasoda. In the same way, in Kali-yuga, Sri Sita Thakurani also advised Sri Sachi Devi about childcare. She always stayed close to Sachi Devi and for Sachi Devi, she is worshippable. Sri Sita Thakurani is a daughter of Sri Nrisingha Bhaduri. She has a sister named Sri. Sri Bhakti-ratnakar says, "Sri Nrisingha Bhaduri was extremely happy to gift his two daughters to Sri Advaita Prabhu. The two wives of Sri Advaita Prabhu are worshippable for the entire world—they are known everywhere by the names Sri and Sita." Sri Sita Devi, being an incarnation of Yogamaya, Sri Paurnamasi, manifests herself as Sri Sita Devi and Sri Devi. Sri Sita Thakurani loved Nimai as her own son (vatsalya-rasa). She gave birth to three sons, Achyutananda, Krishna Misra and Gopal Misra, all of whom were followers of Mahaprabhu. When Mahaprabhu took sannyas, Sri Advaita Thakur, Sita Thakurani and Achyutananda Prabhu would come to Puri to with the Lord—Sri Sita Thakurani would always bring many edibles for the Lord at that time.

In honour of the worshippable appearance day of Sri Lalita Devi:

Divine Guidance, Chapter 4
"We are in the group of Lalita Devi. Our prayer is that she will take us and engage us in service. We are very hopeful because Lalita Devi's mood is very open, something like that of Nityananda Prabhu. She is very affectionate with all, and she is the head of all the sakhis."

Sri Lalita Devi
"This is Uchagaon, Guru Maharaj's dearmost place. He said, 'First go to Uchagaon, then you can enter Varshana.' He explained that if you do not get the mercy of Lalita Devi, you cannot get the mercy of Srimati Radharani."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.2 Mb, 10 min | 15 November 2012)

Kirtans at Uchagaon
• Radhe Jaya Jaya • Radhe Govinda.
• Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 8 min | 15 November 2012)

Sri Lalita Devi: Prema-Guru
The Appearance Day of she who manages the Pastimes of Sri Radha Krishna, who is able to teach Srimati Radhika, who is able to intensify the feelings of the Divine Couple, and without whose mercy we shall never be able to reach Krishna.
• Download / listen to the audio (9.5 Mb, 21 min | 12 September 2013)

Approaching, Not Encroaching
"You cannot get the darshan of Radharani, you cannot get the mercy of Radharani just by going to Vrindavan. You do not have to go and stay in Vrindavan—wherever you stay, you can serve the Lord, you can engage in His service and worship." How?
• Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 5 min | 12 September 2013)

"Save Me, Enlist Me!"
"When will Nityananda give me some mercy and my material desires become removed from my heart?... We do not have any quality, qualification, or anything else, but on the appearance day of Sri Lalita Devi we can pray to her that she may take us into her circle and give some us service..."
• Download / listen to the audio (5.3 Mb, 16 min | 12 September 2013)

Sri Lalita Devi: Our Service Line
"If you do not worship Lalita Devi properly, you will not get mercy from Srimati Radharani; if you do not serve Srimati Radharani (Gurudev, Guru Maharaj) properly, you will not get mercy from the Lord."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min | 20 September 2015)

In honour of the worshippable appearance day of Srimati Radharani:

Our Lord's Beloved Power [a chapter from Affectionate Guidance]
"Today is Sri Radhastami, the Appearance Day of Srimati Radharani. The Rupanuga Sampradaya gives some special, unique appreciation of Srimati Radharani. They feel that without the merciful connection of Srimati Radharani, they cannot approach towards Krishna at all. Only if the order is coming from Her will they move towards Him. They are extremely fanatical about Srimati Radharani, and that is their foremost qualification."

Sri Radhastami and Sons of Nectar
"If we want to see a beautiful life, a beautiful mood, beautiful character, and a happy life, then we should serve our Guru properly. It is necessary to have chastity. Without chastity, how can we assert that we are servitors of Gurudev and Guru Maharaj?"
• Download / listen to the audio (10.2 Mb, 29 min | 29 August 2019)

Sri Radhastami in Sri Hapaniya Dham (1)
"Today is a very auspicious day in our spiritual life, and every year on this day we make a festival for Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Gopinathjiu in Hapaniya. This place is very auspicious—it is the appearance place of our Param Gurudev."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 5 min | 17 September 2018)

Sri Radhastami in Sri Hapaniya Dham (2)
"Mahaprabhu taught that from time to time one can go to the birthplace of a holy, divine personality. That is why we come here to Hapaniya, Bamunpara, and birthplaces of many other holy personalities."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 7 min | 17 September 2018)

On the Bank of the Yamuna (6 September 2019)
"One must be ignorant to worship only Madhav. If you worship only Krishna, Gopal, it will only bolster your ego, 'Oh, I am worshipping Krishna! Who is Radharani? I am better than Radharani!' Never take association of such people who do not have any regard for the Guru."

Pure Hearts Run Behind Krishna (6 September 2019)
"If you have ego, you will never get any result. We must sweep and wipe and clean these things out of our hearts, and this does not happen externally—this dirt is removed by hearing Hari-katha. If someone poses as a Vaishnav but talks gramya-katha, then they can never be a Vaishnav."

Sri Radhastami: World Beyond Lust
"The lectures are recorded and going to be sent all over the world that is why it is necessary to say something in English. People write so much about gopis and Radharani and they enjoy with that, but what they write about Radharani and who Radharani is, is worlds apart."
• Download / listen to the audio (6.4 Mb, 18 min | 6 September 2019 | Eng & Beng)

Krishna's Dearmost
"Without service to Radharani's lotus feet, no service can be possible. If, however, we can serve the associate servitors of Radharani, we can get the supreme benefit. And Gurudev is non-different from Srimati Radharani, therefore it is necessary to serve the Guru."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 7 min | 13 September 2013)

Appearance of Srimati Radhika
"She appeared on this day in Raval. Mother Kirtida and King Vrisabhanu lived in Raval, near Gokula. We often say that Varshana is the birthplace of Srimati Radharani, but they came there later—Her birthplace is in Raval..."
• Download / listen to the audio (5.3 Mb, 16 min | 13 September 2013)

Sri Radhastami: Do Not Cheat Yourself
"If you chant, 'Radhe, Radhe,' you will not get Radharani. It is necessary to serve Radharani, that means to serve Gurudev. Radharani's lotus feet are non-different from the lotus feet of Sri Guru. It is necessary to know what the real service is."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 23 September 2012)

Ultimate Prayer
What should we pray for on the great auspicious days like Sri Lalita Saptami and Sri Radhastami?
• Download / listen to the audio (0.6 Mb, 2 min | 20 September 2015)

Sri Radhastami: Capture the Captor
"If we cannot capture Gurudev, who is nondifferent from Srimati Radharani, we cannot capture Krishna, the Lord. How can we capture Srimati Radharani? Through Her servants. We must observe this day today very carefully, very respectfully, with our heart and soul."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 9 min | 5 September 2011)

Sri Radhastami: Worship with Extreme Care
"How to worship Radharani—how? Gurudev said, 'You must walk in Radharani's place on your head, not on your legs.' It is that kind of place, but how can we see it?"
• Download / listen to the audio (5.4 Mb, 16 min | 5 September 2011)

Sri Radhastami Bengali Classes (2 September 2014)
Morning class and kirtans: • Download (30.7 Mb, 67 min)
Noon class and kirtans: • Download (24 Mb, 52 min)

Sri Radhastami Kirtans [শ্রীশ্রীরাধাষ্টমী কীর্ত্তনগুলো ]
• Vadana • Sri Guru-charana-padma • Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu daya kara more • Ohe Vaishnava Thakura dayara sagara • Nitai-pada-kamala • Emona durmati samsara bhitare • Radhe jaya jaya Madhava dayite • Radha-bhajane yadi (with purport) • Radhika-charana-padma • Radha-kunda-tata • Radhe Radhe Govinda • Varaja-vipine yamuna kule (with purport and a word of caution) • Jaya Radhe jaya Krishna (with purport) • Sri Radhastakam • Jaya Radha Madhava • Hare Krishna maha-mantra and Sri Radharani's kirtan.
• Download / listen to the audio (30.3 Mb, 84 min | 6 September 2019)

• SONG: Jaya Radhe, Jaya Krishna | জয় রাধে, জয় কৃষ্ণ
"All glory to Radha, Krishna, and Vrindavan! All glory to Sri Govinda, Gopinath, and Madan Mohan! All glory to Shyama Kunda, Radha Kunda, Govardhan Hill, the River Yamuna, and Mahavan!"

• SONG: Radha-kunda-tata | করাধাকুণ্ডতট
"...I know all these things are nourishing the pastimes of the Divine Couple, I can never leave all these things so dear to me, without them I know I'll surely die."
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb)

• SONG: Radhika-charana-padma | রাধিকা চরণ পদ্ম
"The lotus feet of Sri Radha are the abode of all auspiciousness, the supreme goal of life. Without the lotus feet of Sri Radha, one will never meet Krishna. All the Vedas say that Krishna belongs to the maidservants of Sri Radha."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb)

• SONG: Radha bhajane yadi | রাধা-ভজনে যদি
"If one does not develop within his heart the desire for Radha-bhajan, then his Krishna-bhajan goes for nothing. One who worships Krishna alone is ignorant. Who does not adore Sri Radha is an egotist."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb)

• SONG: Radhe Radhe Govinda | রাধে রাধে গোবিন্দ
"Please may you all together give me your mercy, I am extremely wicked!"
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb)

• SONG: Varaja-vipine yamuna kule | বরজ-বিপিনে, যমুনা কুলে
"At this time, the Flute Holder (the best of the relishers of rasa) begins His rasa pastimes. When Madhava-Mohini (Sri Radha) sings, the whole world loses its soul in Her singing, but today Bhaktivinod senses some calamity as the rasa-lila broke off today without Radha."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb)

• SONG: Yadi Gaura na ha'te | যদি, গৌর না হ'ত
"If Sri Gaura had not come, what would have happened? How would we have maintained our lives? Who would have revealed to the world Sri Radha's glory and the extremes of Her ecstatic divine love?"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min)

Question: We hear that Sri Hari Smaran festival has begun. What activities or reading do you recommend for us?

You can read Srila Sridhar Maharaj's book Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam, that will be good. Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam is a good book, you can read it and remind yourself of many good things (practise smaran). I have also given you some books—Guidance 4, Guidance 3. You can read all these books and you can get everything in them. My books are very easy to understand, I am not writing in very high language, it is easy to understand.

(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

(19 August—20 September)

All Glory to Sri Sri Guru Gauranga

ANNOUNCEMENT

Humbly,
On behalf of scsmathinternational.com

In honour of Lord Vamanadev's appearance:

• Lord Vamandev
"Vamandev was a son of Aditi and Kasyap Rishi. Aditi was very sad because all of her sons had left the heaven because of the torturing of the demons, that is why Vamandev came to her womb. On the other side, there was Bali Maharaj..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 3 October 2015)

In honour of Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu:

• Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu
"I have no power to say what kind of devotion to his Guru Jiva Goswami had. Jiva Goswami's service cannot be compared to anyone's service. Whatever order he would get, he would place it on his head and do it all the time—his mind never went to any other place."
• Download / listen to the audio (8 Mb, 23 min | 2012)

• Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu: The All-Rounder
"Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu did everything alone—he cooked, did puja, cleaned the temple, brought water from the Yamuna, and also did personal service to his Guru. He was busy with his service from morning to night, and did everything alone."
• Download / listen to the audio (0.6 Mb, 2 min | 9 September 2011)

• Protected Journey
Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj explains the pranam-mantra of Srila Jiva Goswami in the book Dignity of the Divine Servitor: "I offer my full dandavats unto the lotus feet of Srila Jiva Goswami who is the protector of our spiritual life. He rescues us from the whole illusory environment..."

• Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhura Sochaka
A song composed by Srila Narahari Thakur in glorification of Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu's life, character, and service. Bengali verses and English transliteration.

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."

In honour of Srila Sachchidananda Bhaktivinod Thakur:

Appearance of Universal Guru
"You all know who is Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. He is there in our guru-parampara. Our Param Gurudev Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj wrote his pranam mantra, and everything is there in that mantra..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.3 Mb, 8 min | 30 August 2020)

শ্রীল ভক্তিবিনোদ ঠাকুরের ভজনকুটির (স্বানন্দ-সুখদা-কুঞ্জ) (শ্রীনবদ্বীপধাম মাহাত্ম্য-মুক্তা-মালা)
"শ্রীল গুরুদেবের কৃপায়, সমস্ত ভক্তিবৃন্দের কৃপায় আমাদের শ্রীচৈতন্য সারস্বত মঠ (আন্তর্জাতিক) পরিক্রমা সঙ্ঘ এখন শ্রীল ভক্তিবিনোদ ঠাকুরের ভজনকুটির ও সমাধি-মন্দিরে এসেছে । এই গৃহে শ্রীল ভক্তিবিনোদ ঠাকুর থাকতেন ও ভজন করতেন ।"

Speech at Sri Surabhi Kunja
"Today is a very good day—the holy appearance day of Sachchidananda Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. We have assembled here at this festival hosted by the Saraswata Gaudiya Vaishnav Sangha on this lunar day at Surabhi Kunja every year since 1996. This year too we have all assembled here on this very occasion..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.8 Mb, 12 min | 22 September 2018 | Bengali)

Glories of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur (7 September 2014)
"Unless you have no ego, unless you reject jealousy, you cannot understand what Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur has given to us. Only a rupanuga (follower of Srila Rupa Goswami) can understand the glories of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, otherwise it is impossible."

Extraordinary Glories of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur
"Devotion is akinchana-guhya-vidya (sacred education, para-vidya, suddha-saraswati), and he who enhances devotion, its beauty and charm and distributes it to us is called Bhaktivinod Thakur. It is his appearance day that we are celebrating today."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.3 Mb, 13 min | 7 September 2014)

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)

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's Early Association
"Once, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur met a siddha Raghunath Das Babaji Mahasay. Raghunath Das Babaji did not like to mix with Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur and also told others not to mix with him, however later he understood who Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min | 12 September 2019)

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.

On the Appearance Day of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur
"In this world there is no comparison or substitute to Srila Bhakti Vinod's unparalleled gift. He appeared on today's date. Thus this day is also supremely worshippable, desirable, and merciful. I have no gift with which I worship this great day..."

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...."

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!"

Glories of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur
A Bengali class on the holy appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur spoken in 2014 by His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj.
• Download / listen to the audio (18.5 Mb, 41 min | 7 September 2014)

• SONG: Sri Guru Parampara | শ্রীগুরুপরম্পরা
"...Their dear follower is Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur. His associate is the best of the topmost devotees, Srila Gaura Kisor Das Babaji, whose sole joy is Sri Hari's service."

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."

In honour of Namacharya Srila Haridas Thakur:

Namacharya Srila Haridas Thakur (1)
"Today is a very auspicious day—a grand festival in honour of Srila Haridas Thakur's disappearance day. How great his glory is! Haridas Thakur was Mahaprabhu's companion in the preaching of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 10 min | 12 September 2019)

Namacharya Srila Haridas Thakur (2)
"When prasadam came from Jagannath temple, Govinda would serve it to Mahaprabhu, and every evening, when Mahaprabhu went to bed and Svarup Damodar, Ray Ramananda returned to their own places, Govinda would take that prasadam for Srila Haridas Thakur. That was the routine every day. One day, however..."
• Download / listen to the audio (5 Mb, 14 min | 12 September 2019)

• Srila Haridas Thakur's Niryan
"Everybody must remember the three wishes of Srila Haridas Thakur. 'I want to keep Your lotus feet in my heart, to see Your lotus face with my eyes, and with my my mouth, I want to chant Your name. This is my only hope and prayer...'"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.9 Mb, 6 min | 3 October 2015)

• Withdrawal of Srila Haridas Thakur
"On this day Mahaprabhu gave a great festival for Haridas Thakur; on this day Haridas Thakur left this world. Actually, Haridas Thakur is always with us—he did not leave this world, only his body left..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 9 min | 11 September 2011)

• Disappearance of Srila Haridas Thakur (24 September 2009)
The sad and loving Pastime of the Lord and His devotee, Namacharya Haridas Thakur: "Prabhu, do not give me Maya. I know you love me so much, that is why I do not want to hear from You any further. Please give me some mercy—I want to go before You. Please, Prabhu, fulfil my desire."

• SONG: Ye anila prema dhana | যে আনিল প্রেমধন
"I will break my head on a rock, I will enter into fire. Not finding the association of Sri Gauranga, who performed His Pastimes with all these associates, Narottam Das weeps."

• 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."

In honour of Srila Bhakti Vilas Tirtha Maharaj:

His Divine Grace Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj:

"When Kunja Babu [later, Srila Bhakti Vilas Tirtha Maharaj] came to meet Srila Prabhupad, Srila Prabhupad could recognise that this young man would be able to help him a great deal. Our Guru Maharaj's nature was like that of a philosopher—he did not like to mix with the public, but Kunja Babu filled that side as he could mix with public and bring persons to Srila Prabhupad, enabling thus Srila Prabhupad to speak about the sastra. Srila Prabhupad wanted to speak about Mahaprabhu, but his temperament was such that he did not like to become involved with inviting people and taking responsibility for looking after them or their accommodation, feeding, etc. So, when Kunja Babu joined, he took up that responsibility. Srila Prabhupad got educated society ready to hear his speech about Mahaprabhu, and his style of speaking was a little philosophical, so he preferred educated society as his listeners. Kunja Babu did that service—he took the trouble of inviting, accommodating, and feeding the public. All these troublesome burdens were taken on by Kunja Babu.

"Gaudiya Mission had gradually grown from this combination—the material help of Kunja Babu and the spiritual work of Srila Prabhupad. They were the father and the mother of the mission, the cofounders of Gaudiya Math. The practical, material side of the service was done by Kunja Babu. Srila Prabhupad once said in Benares (I heard it directly from his mouth), "I only want a good audience, and Kunja Babu has done that service to me the best. Amongst all my disciples, Kunja Babu has served me the best by bringing to me a good audience. I only want a good audience, nothing else, in this world, and in that direction, Kunja Babu has helped me greatly.

"In the end, Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur's order was to form a governing body of ten or twelve, and Kunja Babu had to manage as long as he lived. 'Kunja Babu's intelligence excells that of all,' this was told about him. We took it as Kunja Babu was the manager during Prabhupad's lifetime, but he was actually managing the whole institution, so he should be respected even though he was a grihastha and we were sannyasis. Later, many complaints were heard against him, but Srila Prabhupad had told us that Kunja Babu had to manage as long as he lived and that he should be respected. Srila Prabhupad did not select anyone as his follower acharya, that is why there was eventually a difference of opinions amongst us. There were also many ambitious sannyasis who were eager to go on as acharyas themselves. There were generally two parties, one accepting Vasudev Prabhu as the acharya, and the other one accepting Kunja Babu..."

His Divine Grace Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj:

"Sri Bimala Prasad got initiation from Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj and later, when he took sannyas, he became known as Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. At some point, he promised that he would complete chanting one hundred crores Holy Names and after that start preaching Mahaprabhu's proper conception, but as he was chanting the Holy Name, one day Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Giridhari came in front of him and Srimati Radharani said, 'You must preach pure conception of Gauranga Mahaprabhu, the combined form of Radha-Krishna.' Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur said, 'I am alone, how will I preach?' After that so many great scholars (dig-pals) came to help him—our Param Gurudev Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Vilas Tirtha Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Prajnan Keshav Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Kamal Madhusudan Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Kumud Shanta Maharaj and many others. This is how Prabhupad started preaching the proper conception in this world.

"In Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswat Thakur's time, the secretary of Chaitanya Math was a grihastha, his name is Kunja Bihari Prabhu (affectionately known as Kunja Babu), later he became Srila Bhakti Vilas Tirtha Maharaj. Kunja Babu could not always stay at the temple, but he always served Chaitanya Math from his householder life. Moreover, when he would come to visit Chaitanya Math, to see Prabhupad, at that time almost all sannyasis would give him their full obeisance.

"Guru is the divine messenger of immortal hope and joy in this mortal and miserable world. His advent is the most auspicious and happy event to the suffering animation and can be compared to the rising of the morning star that can guide the traveller lost in the desert. A gentle touch of Sri Guru's merciful hand can wipe away the incessant tears from all weeping eyes. Oh the day when this poor soul realises the causeless grace of Sri Gurudev."

(Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, Sri Guru and His Grace)

All Glory to Sri Sri Guru Gauranga

Dear Devotees, Friends, and Well-Wishers,

Please accept our humble obeisance at your holy feet.

Bowing down at your holy feet, we would like to extend a humble and earnest invitation to your holy self to join the grand celebration of the divine appearance day of Sri Gurupadpadma Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Sri Srimad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj that manifests this year on 7 October 2021 (Thursday).

Considering the calamitous circumstances we are placed in following the disappearance of our beloved Sri Gurupadpadma, we pray that every sincere devotee of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math may find a possibility to observe this day immersed in Sri Hari-katha, Hari-kirtan, and Hari-seva, which are so extremely dear to our Sri Gurupadpadma, who continues to guide, protect and watch over us, albeit unseen to our mundane eyes.

Although there is currently no bona fide centralised outlet for service contributions in the Mission, we pray that devotees can render assistance to the festivals observed in their communities and focus eternally in their lives on contributing the core ingredient of every service endeavour—one's entire being, mind, heart and soul. In the words of His Divine Grace, "Surrender to the Lord. Have full faith. You must surrender and give everything—your shyness, shame, fear, everything; keep everything at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna, Srimati Radharani, or Gurudev. Give your everything, cent per cent."

Taking your feet dust on our heads, we humbly pray that this supremely worshippable divine appearance day of Sri Gurupadpadma, celebrated with much joy and grandeur by the fortunate souls throughout the entire manifest creation, may pass auspiciously in every house and heart.

Your aspiring servants,
on behalf of SCSMathInternational.com

Email address for enquiries:

Satisfying the Lord
"Bali Maharaj asked Vamanadev, 'O brahman, what do you want? Tell me, and I can give You anything you wish.' Vamanadev replied, 'I do not want much. I know you have everything, but I want only something small.'"
• Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 7 min | 30 August 2020)