23 MARCH 2021 [SRI NABADWIP DHAM PARIKRAMA | DAY ONE | PART 8]

At Srivas Angan (1)
"If you worship the Lord, you must remember the Lord... Where else does the Lord stay? In Srivas Angan. The Lord said, 'I stay in Srivas Pandit’s house every day: whenever devotees sing kirtan there, I am present there.'"

• LOVING SEARCH SEARCH FOR THE LOST SERVANT •

Introduction
'The Lord’s Loving Search for His Lost Servants: Great intensity is expressed here in a simple way. It is a mad search—an urgent campaign. With great earnestness Krishna comes to deliver His lost servants. Krishna comes to take us home.'

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Five, chanted on Wednesdays)
'He reveals (first, to Sri Sanatan and then to Prakasananda) sixty-two interpretations of the famous verse ‘Atmaramas cha… ittham-bhuta-guno harih’ (‘Even self-realised, self-satisfied souls are moved to worship the Lord’) from Srimad Bhagavatam; interpreting the various lexical meanings of the eleven words of this verse, juxtaposed in different ways, He reveals a treasure-mine of multitudinous meanings of this verse in consonance with the precepts of pure devotional conclusions – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

23 MARCH 2021 [SRI NABADWIP DHAM PARIKRAMA | DAY ONE | PART 7]

At Sri Yogapith (3)
"Every year when we come here we read from Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya about Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu and the glory of Nabadwip. Please listen carefully."

• LOVING SEARCH SEARCH FOR THE LOST SERVANT •

Invocation
'Here, in one verse, Bhaktivinoda Thakura has given the very gist of Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy. He says, "We are not interested in the opinion of anyone ordinary: there is no value to any opinion other than what is revealed truth (amnaya)."'

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Four, chanted on Tuesdays)
'Overcome with strong bouts of divine love surging through Him and becoming unconscious of the world around Him, He dances madly and chants kirtan; the tears streaming incessantly from His eyes flood His body, the colour of molten gold and tall as the mount Sumeru, His clothes, the colour of the newly risen sun, and the earth in all fourteen directions around Him; He glows as He chants, ‘Krishna! Krishna!’, shouts jumbled up words and relishes various postures and behaviours (roaring with laughter, etc.) under the influence of divine love – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

SRI KARTIK MONTH: 26 October–24 November

'You think, "You all sing, and I will listen." It will not do. You must sing yourself. If I eat, will your stomach be full? You must chant kirtans yourself. When you chant these kirtans, you will be remembering Nityananda Prabhu. You worry that you do not know the tune, but no tune is necessary. Because we have drums and karatals here now, we are playing them, but when I am alone, do you think I sing it like that? I do not. I recite them. Chanting kirtan is not playing drums and karatals – even if you read them, that is also kirtan. So, always chant kirtan.'

(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

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)

KIRTANS SUNG DURING KARTIK MONTH
Morning kirtans: TEXT | AUDIO [17 min, 8.2 Mb]: Sri Damodarastakam, Sri Sriman Mahaprabhur Sata-Nama, Sri Krsner Vimsottara Sata-Nama.
Evening kirtans: TEXT | AUDIO [27 min, 12.5 Mb]: Sri Siksastakam.

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)

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)

Siksastakam
"We are singing the Siksastakam songs every day [in Kartik month]. Mahaprabhu is Radha-Krishna's combined form and Siksastakam is His teaching. It is very nice. We must practise these songs."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 7 min | 25 October 2018)

Service Is Above Rules
'For us, the main thing is service. If you think, "I will stay the whole day fasting, I will not eat anything, and I will not do any service – I will only stay silent and do nothing the whole day," it is wrong. It is wasting time and being lazy. We must take what is necessary for the service of the Lord.'

Unconditional Servitude
'Srila Guru Maharaj and Srila Prabhupad said that the niyom-seva month rules are actually for those who live without following any rules (aniyom). The main thing is that we must always practise sravan and kirtan.'

(26 October—24 November)

In honour of Sri Murari Gupta:

Murari Gupta was a great devotee of Lord Ramachandra. When Mahaprabhu heard Lord Ramachandra's glories from his mouth, He immediately wrote on his forehead 'Rama-dasa [an eternal servant of Lord Ramachandra].'

Sri Murari Gupta wrote a book called Sri Chaitanya-charita. He belonged to a vaidya physician family of Srihatta, the paternal home of Lord Chaitanya, and later became a resident of Nabadwip. He was among the elders of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Lord Chaitanya exhibited His Varaha form in the house of Murari Gupta (described in Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, 2.3). When Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu exhibited His maha-prakasa form, He appeared before Murari Gupta as Lord Ramachandra.

One time, when Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu were sitting together in the house of Srivas Thakur, Murari Gupta first offered his respects to Lord Chaitanya and then to Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Nityananda Prabhu, however, was older than Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and therefore Lord Chaitanya remarked that Murari Gupta had violated social etiquette, for he should have first shown respect to Nityananda Prabhu and then to Him. In this way, by the grace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Murari Gupta was informed about the position of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, and the next day he offered obeisances first to Lord Nityananda and then to Lord Chaitanya. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave chewed paan (betel nut) to Murari Gupta.

Once Sivananda Sena offered food to Lord Chaitanya that had been cooked with excessive ghee, and the next day the Lord became sick and went to Murari Gupta for treatment. Lord Chaitanya accepted some water from the waterpot of Murari Gupta, and thus He was cured. The natural remedy for indigestion is to drink a little water, and since Murari Gupta was a physician, he gave the Lord some drinking water and cured Him.

When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in the house of Srivas Thakur in His chaturbhuja murti, Murari Gupta became His carrier in the form of Garuda, and in these pastimes of ecstasy the Lord then got up on his back. It was the desire of Murari Gupta to leave his body before the disappearance of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, but the Lord forbade him to do so (Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, 2.20). When Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu one day appeared in ecstasy as the Varaha murti, Murari Gupta offered Him prayers. He was a great devotee of Lord Ramachandra, and his staunch devotion is vividly described in Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita (2.15.137–157):

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu embraced Murari Gupta and began to speak about his firm faith in devotional service. This was heard by all the devotees. He said, 'Previously I induced Murari Gupta again and again to be allured by Lord Krishna. I said to him, "My dear Gupta, Lord Sri Krishna, Vrajendra-kumar, is the supreme sweetness. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the origin of all incarnations and the source of everything. He is pure transcendental love itself, and He is the reservoir of all pleasure. Krishna is the reservoir of all transcendental qualities. He is like a mine of gems. He is expert at everything, very intelligent and sober, and He is the summit of all transcendental humors. His character is very sweet, and His pastimes are melodious. He is expert in intelligence, and thus He enjoys all His pastimes and mellows."

'I then requested Murari Gupta, "Worship Krishna and take shelter of Him. But for His service, nothing appeals to the mind." In this way, he heard from Me again and again. By My influence, his mind was a little converted. Murari Gupta then replied, "I am Your servant and Your order-carrier. I have no independent existence."

'After this, he went home and spent the whole night thinking how he would have to give up the association of Raghunath (Lord Ramachandra). Thus he was overwhelmed. Murari Gupta then began to pray at the lotus feet of Lord Ramachandra. He prayed that death would come that night because it was not possible for him to give up the service of the lotus feet of Raghunath. Thus Murari Gupta cried the entire night. There was no rest for his mind; therefore he could not sleep but stayed awake the entire night.

'In the morning Murari Gupta came to see Me. Catching hold of My feet and crying, he submitted an appeal. He told Me, "I have sold my head unto the lotus feet of Raghunath. I cannot withdraw my head, for that would give me too much pain. It is not possible for me to give up the service of Raghunath's lotus feet. At the same time, if I do not do so I shall break Your order. What can I do?" In this way Murari Gupta appealed to Me, saying, "You are all-merciful, so kindly grant me this mercy: let me die before You so that all my doubts will be finished."

'Hearing this, I became very happy. I then raised Murari Gupta and embraced him. I said to him, "All glories to you, Murari Gupta! Your method of worship is very firmly fixed — so much so that even upon My request your mind did not turn. The servitor must have love and affection for the lotus feet of the Lord exactly like this. Even if the Lord wants separation, a devotee cannot abandon the shelter of His lotus feet. Just to test your firm faith in your Lord, I requested you again and again to change your worship from Lord Ramachandra to Krishna." In this way, I congratulated Murari Gupta, saying, "Indeed, you are the incarnation of Hanuman. Consequently you are the eternal servant of Lord Ramachandra. Why should you give up the worship of Lord Ramachandra and His lotus feet?"'

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu continued, 'I accept this Murari Gupta as My life and soul. When I hear of his humility, it perturbs My very life.'

(By Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad)

23 MARCH 2021 [SRI NABADWIP DHAM PARIKRAMA | DAY ONE | PART 6]

At Sri Yogapith (2)
"People used to think that the Ganges had taken Mahaprabhu’s birthplace away. It is true that the Ganges can take some place away, but the Ganges can also return it. I can tell you how this happened..."

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

A Drop of Divine Love
'Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami concludes, “O devotees, come! Like so many swans, you must swim in the lake of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastimes. From that lake krsna-lila is flowing to the world in different streams. Devotees, like clouds, take nectar from that lake, and distribute that nectar freely to the fortunate souls. Come and live in that lake. Ask the swan of your mind to take shelter in that lake. May that swan swim in the nectarine lake of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s life and precepts, from where so many hundreds of streams of nectar are flowing in all directions. O devotees, I offer this humble prayer to you."'

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Three, chanted on Mondays)
'He ardently preached that service performed in various divine relationships (from dasya-, sakhya-, vatsalya- to madhura-rasa) and the (paramount) service beauty of Sri Radha’s servitors in the highest paramour madhura-rasa, as well as any transcendental hankering of the self-realised souls in Sri Vraja Dham, can indisputably be realised in Sri Vrajendra-nandan only – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

23 MARCH 2021 [SRI NABADWIP DHAM PARIKRAMA | DAY ONE | PART 5]

At Sri Yogapith (1)
"By the mercy of Sri Gurupadpadma, we are continuing our parikrama of Sri Antardwip in Sri Nabadwip Dham. We have now come to this temple at the birthplace of Sri Sachinandan Mahaprabhu. This is the place where Mahaprabhu appeared."

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

Union in Separation
'We may be giving our best and find that our offering is being hatefully dishonored. He may embrace us, but at the same time we must be prepared that His dealings may be extremely cruel. He may trample all our offerings beneath His feet. We must be prepared for both His adoration and His hateful negligence. We should be prepared for any adverse circumstances.'

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Two, chanted on Sundays)
'Very tall, beautiful and infused with divine love, His holy form increases gods’ joy; the lustre of His body, which puts millions of golden lotuses to shame, is worshipped by the Moon; and His intrinsic form is a holy abode of divine pastimes manifest as eternal ever-increasing transcendental ecstatic transformations that spring up as He revels dancing in Sri Krishna-sankirtan – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

23 MARCH 2021 [SRI NABADWIP DHAM PARIKRAMA | DAY ONE | PART 4]

At Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan (4)
"There is one more thing that I have not told you about because when we were crossing the Ganges, everybody had not come yet. The place where we came crossing the Ganges is called Ganganagar..."

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

Forever Without You
'In this verse, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu describes how a devotee goes further, awakens a higher conception of Krishna, and then, seeing Krishna just before him but not getting Him, feels this kind of separation. The more He progresses, the more He finds himself in this position of hopelessness.'

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part One, chanted on Saturdays)
'Demigods, perfected souls, liberated souls, yogis and Lord’s devotees always sing His praise; He relieves the world from the blazing forest fire of three-fold miseries (caused by the desire for enjoyment, liberation and perfections) brought about by inauspicious actions (performed in aversion to the Supreme Lord); an ocean of generosity, He bestows His own Name from the nectarean storehouse of Lord Sri Krishna’s Names – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

In honour of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami:

Raghunath Das Goswami's Path
"We have no qualification to serve the Vaishnavs. If we do not got mercy from Vaishnavs, we cannot get service from the Vaishnavs. That is why we always make Vaishnavs' disappearance festivals and remember such days."
• Download (3.7 Mb, 9 min | 8 October 2011)

Srila-Raghunath-Gosvami-Prabhur Sochaka
‘When Raghunath Das heard that Rupa and Sanatan had gone to Vrindavan, he refused from all rights to his estate and the comforts of a happy life like that of Lord Indra and went to Mahaprabhu.’

Highest Designation
"We do not want to be a master, we do not want to be a Guru—we want to be a servant of the servant. This is the most important thing in our spiritual life. If we can become a servant of a Vaishnav, that is the highest, that is the best qualification..."
• Download (1.3 Mb, 3 min | 8 October 2011)

Raghunath Das Goswami's Pastimes: Nectar of Devotion
"In Mahaprabhu's time, and even after that, everybody wanted to be a servant. Das Goswami Prabhu, Jiva Goswami Prabhu, and others, were all servants. If you hear about Srila Raghunath Das Goswami's pastimes you will get nectar."
• Download (1.8 Mb, 4 min | 8 October 2011)

Humble and Chaste Service
"Wherever they are living now, we only want them to allow us to serve their associates, associates of our Gurudev, and our Guru. We do not want to enter their party, but we only want their service as a dog..."
• Download (2.4 Mb, 6 min | 8 October 2011)

Wholehearted Engagement
"This day is a day of Vaishnav seva. Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Prabhu taught us what must be the quality of a Vaishnav and what must be the quality of your practising. What Das Goswami Prabhu showed, how he himself practised, is an example for us."
• Download (2.7 Mb, 8 min | 9 October 2011)

Two Oceans of Pastimes
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj is speaking about the glories and pastimes of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami and Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami on their disappearance day.
• Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 9 min | 5 October 2014)

Srila Raghunath Das Goswami: Breaking Free
"He wanted to take a roundabout zigzag route, avoiding Nityananda Prabhu and going directly to Mahaprabhu, but every time he went to Mahaprabhu, Mahaprabhu rejected him and sent him back to his home...."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 5 min | 25 October 2015)

Real Mercy, Real Service
Real mercy: "Getting mercy means getting service: if you have service, you have mercy."
Real service: "Practise properly, keep proper association, and always avoid the Nama aparadh, seva aparadh, dham aparadh, Vaishnav aparadh. Chant the Holy Name properly, without deceit, and with proper attention and service mood."
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 2 min | 30 May 2015)

In honour of Srila Raghunath Bhatta Goswami:

A Separation Day
"Srila Raghunath Bhatta Goswami was born in Benares. His father's name is Tapan Mishra, he was a very good searcher and devotee of Krishna. Srila Raghunath Bhatta Goswami got an opportunity to serve Mahaprabhu, and Mahaprabhu was very affectionate to Raghunath..."

Srila-Raghunath-Bhatta-Gosvami-Prabhur Sochaka
‘Raghunath Bhattacharya, Tapan Misra’s son, left everything and went to meet with the Lord. Setting off from Kasi, he followed the road leading to Bengal. A servitor came with him, carrying a basket...’

In honour of Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami:

dasa-vrndavanam vande krsna-dasa-prabhum tatha
chhannavatara-chaitanya-lila-vistara-karinau
dvau nityananda padabja-karuna-renu-bhusitau
vyakta-chchhannau budhachintyau vavande vyasa-rupinau
sri-guru-gaura-gandharva-govindas cha ganaih saha
jayanti pathakas chatra sarvesam karunarthinah

'I offer my obeisances to Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur and Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami, who made public the pastimes of the hidden avatar, Sri Chaitanya. They were both adorned with the mercy-dust of the lotus feet of Nityananda. I offer my obeisances to these two inconceivable sages who assumed the form of Vyasadev, one explicitly (Vrindavan Das Thakur) and the other one secretly (Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami). Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda and Their associates are ever victorious, and we, the students, pray for Their mercy.'

Sri Nityananda Prabhu's Glory (4)
"Another person who received Sri Nityananda Prabhu's mercy was Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami. Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami said that there were only three persons in this world who knew Mahaprabhu, but Gurudev said that there was one more person. Who is it? Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami himself."

Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami's Gratitude
"Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami writes, 'I have got Sri Vrindavan Dham by the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. He ordered me to Vrindavan saying I would get all possible benefit there. When I came there, I attained the mercy of Mahaprabhu's dearmost devotees.'"

About Nityananda Prabhu
"Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami says that Nityananda Prabhu's glory is unlimited; if you get a slightest touch of His mercy, you will understand His glory. Nityananda Prabhu freely scattered His mercy to all fallen souls. The Lord came to this world to deliver all fallen souls."

Bhukti, Mukti, Bhakti
What is mukti and what is bhakti? His Divine Grace Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj is reading from Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, Chapters 8 and 10, noting the exceptional character of devotion of Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami and Srila Raghunath Das Goswami.
• Download / listen to the audio (8 Mb, 17 min | 6 November 2010)

Two Oceans of Pastimes
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj is speaking about the glories and pastimes of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami and Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami on their disappearance day.
• Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 9 min | 5 October 2014)

Prayers to Sri Vaishnav Thakur:

Sri Sri Sad-Goswami Astakam
‘Always engaged in chanting the glories of Sri Krishna, singing and dancing, they are oceans of Sri Krishna-prema; appreciated by both the learned and the ignorant, they are always benevolent in their behaviour, pleasing everybody – there is not even a trace of jealousy in them, so they are worshipped by all people; being recipients of Sri Chaitanyadev’s special mercy, they rescue all materialists, relieving the earth of its burden – again and again I worship and bow down at the holy feet of these six goswamis: Sri Rupa, Sanatan, Raghunath Bhatta, Gopal Bhatta, Raghunath Das and Sri Jiva.’

Ei-bara karuna kara vaisnava gosani
'O worshippable Vaishnav, please be merciful to me this time. O saviour of the fallen! I have no one except you. In every birth, I aspire for the dust of your feet. Please mercifully consider Narottam your own.'

(Ohe) vaisnava thakura
'O Vaishnav Thakur! You are an ocean of mercy; please be merciful to this servant – grant me the shade of your feet and purify me. I am clasping your feet.'

Ki-rupe paiba seva
'I am so vile – how will I ever get service? I have not got any attachment to Sri Guru and Vaishnavs! O Master, you never see any fault in others, you are the saviour of the fallen. Please deliver Narottam this time!'

Dhana mora nityananda
'My wealth is Nityananda, my master is Gaurachandra, and my very life is the Divine Couple. Advaita Acharya is my strength, Gadadhar is my family, and Narahari is my play and pastimes.'

Viraha Giti
'Where are my Svarup and Rupa? Where is Sanatan? Where is Raghunath Das? Where are all these saviours of the fallen? Narottam used to play happily in the company of all those associates, but now he is weeping without their association.'

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

Hankering for Perfection
'In this verse, the devotee’s prayer has been granted and he has acquired a position in Krishna’s domain. Now his ambition has no end. Although he is posted in a safe position, he is again praying for further promotion.'

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Seven, chanted on Fridays)
'He is a holy embodiment of the beautiful reality which is beyond the reach of one’s eyes and ears, which paralyses the very necessity of intelligence and which leaves even firmly fixed consciousness dumbstruck when divine love surges up – even Brahma, Sambhu (Siva), as well as their revealed scriptures, Vedas and tantras cannot conceive of such reality, so they merely keep searching after Him – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

SRI EKADASI GUIDANCE

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.

Renunciation of Cowards and Misers
[By Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj]
'What we need is yukta-vairagya: we shall take from the store of Krishna to keep ourselves fit and to do service. It is Krishna's account, and if we do not do that, we will be separatists, mayavadis, renunciationists. We must render maximum service to Krishna, so we must take without any hesitation whatever is necessary to make ourselves fit for the service; otherwise, we shall be punishable.'

"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?
• "Make the Teachings of Sri Guru Non-Different from Your Heart"
• Ekadasi: Devotional Practice
• Ekadasi Struggle?
• Ekadasi Rules

"You do not need to know the meaning of each ekadasi tithi because if you know it, you will want to get this result, that result, etc."

(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

23 MARCH 2021 [SRI NABADWIP DHAM PARIKRAMA | DAY ONE | PART 3]

At Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan (3)
"I saw how devotees did the parikrama, how they walked all the way from our Nabadwip temple, and many of you were there too at that time. I had the fortune to see all these great personalities, but they have left this world now, leaving this fallen soul here with you all…"

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

King of the Land of Love
'“I cannot indulge myself in thinking that I possess such fortune that I may be considered an inseparable part of You. I am a separable part, but I also want Your grace. Please be kind upon me; I invoke Your mercy for a special grant. Accept me in any position in Your connection—even the lowest position. At least this must be sanctioned. Consider me a particle of dust at Your feet. This is my prayer.”'

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Six, chanted on Thursdays)
'Captivated by and afflicted with an intense feeling of separation, He runs swiftly to the simha-dvara gate of Lord Jagannathdev’s holy temple; the next moment He falls down on the spot, His holy figure transformed into that of a tortoise by the influence of deep separation; attracted by the uncommon divine fragrance emanating from His holy figure, the Telangi cows residing at the temple draw near, surrounding Him – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

In honour of Srila Madhva Acharya:

"Madhva Acharya also stayed here with his disciples for some time as a resident of the Nabadwip Dham. Gauranga-sundar mercifully revealed His most enchanting form to Madhva Acharya in a dream. Smiling, Gaurachandra said to Madhva Acharya, 'Everyone knows that you are My eternal servant. When I appear in Nabadwip, I will follow your lineage. Now, carefully eradicate illusionism and false scriptures from all regions, and establish the glory of the Lord's Deity form. Later, I will develop your pure conception.' Saying this, Gaurachandra disappeared. Madhva Acharya awoke and then fainted. Madhva Acharya then cried, wondering, 'Will I ever see that beautiful golden form again?' Then a divine voice came from the clear sky, 'Serve Me secretly, and you will come to Me.' Madhva Acharya became resolute and defeated the mayavadis in all directions."

Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya, Chapter 15

23 MARCH 2021 [SRI NABADWIP DHAM PARIKRAMA | DAY ONE | PART 2]

At Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan (2)
"This place is a very famous and very auspicious place because Gaura and Nityananda Prabhu met here for the first time when Nityananda Prabhu had come to Mayapur from Sri Ekachakra Dham. One day, Mahaprabhu told all the devotees, ‘Srivas, Chandrasekhar! Look, one great personality has come to the dham! You must find Him and bring Him here!’"

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

Unalloyed Devotion
'Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says, “I have no attraction for any of these things, but only for You, my Lord. I don’t even aspire after liberation. I will not even ask, “Give me liberation, for, being liberated, I will be able to serve You better.” That sort of condition must not be placed on divinity. This is the purest of prayers.'

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Five, chanted on Wednesdays)
'He reveals (first, to Sri Sanatan and then to Prakasananda) sixty-two interpretations of the famous verse ‘Atmaramas cha… ittham-bhuta-guno harih’ (‘Even self-realised, self-satisfied souls are moved to worship the Lord’) from Srimad Bhagavatam; interpreting the various lexical meanings of the eleven words of this verse, juxtaposed in different ways, He reveals a treasure-mine of multitudinous meanings of this verse in consonance with the precepts of pure devotional conclusions – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

23 MARCH 2021 [SRI NABADWIP DHAM PARIKRAMA | DAY ONE | PART 1]

At Sri Nandan Acharya Bhavan (1)
"As we proceed with our parikrama, we do not stop and sit at all places, so why have we come and are sitting here? We are sitting here because this is the place where Gaura and Nityananda’s first meeting took place. This temple here was established by Pujyapad Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj..."

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

Humbler Than a Blade of Grass
'We should mainly couch ourselves in this mood: we should think of ourselves as the meanest of the mean. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur has given his analysis of the meaning of this verse as follows: even a blade of grass has its value, but we do not even have as much value as a blade of grass. We have no positive value.'

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Four, chanted on Tuesdays)
'Overcome with strong bouts of divine love surging through Him and becoming unconscious of the world around Him, He dances madly and chants kirtan; the tears streaming incessantly from His eyes flood His body, the colour of molten gold and tall as the mount Sumeru, His clothes, the colour of the newly risen sun, and the earth in all fourteen directions around Him; He glows as He chants, ‘Krishna! Krishna!’, shouts jumbled up words and relishes various postures and behaviours (roaring with laughter, etc.) under the influence of divine love – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

22 MARCH 2021 [NRISINGHA PALLI | EVENING | PART 10]

Live a Sheltered Service Life
"This life is not eternal, and it is full of dangers. You must live this life taking shelter of the Holy Name. As long as you are alive in this world, chant the Holy Name, live your lives serving the Lord."

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

Unlimited Names of God
'Sriman Mahaprabhu says, “O Lord, You have given everything from Your side to lift me up from this mundane world of relativity. Your attempt to deliver me is so magnanimous that all You require from me is a little cooperation in accepting Your grace, but I turn a deaf ear to Your magnanimous call. O Lord, I am hopeless.”'

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Three, chanted on Mondays)
'He ardently preached that service performed in various divine relationships (from dasya-, sakhya-, vatsalya- to madhura-rasa) and the (paramount) service beauty of Sri Radha’s servitors in the highest paramour madhura-rasa, as well as any transcendental hankering of the self-realised souls in Sri Vraja Dham, can indisputably be realised in Sri Vrajendra-nandan only – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

22 MARCH 2021 [NRISINGHA PALLI | EVENING | PART 9]

Follow Vaishnavs' Example
"There must be surrender (tad viddhi pranipata). Once you surrender, you can ask questions. Next comes service mood (sevaya). You must keep yourselves engaged in service. You must live your lives following what your guru and Vaishnavs tell. Follow their examples."

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

The Holy Name of Krishna
'Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the pioneer of Sri Krishna sankirtana. He said, “I have come to inaugurate the chanting of the Holy Name of Krishna, and that Name will reach every nook and corner of the universe.” What are the different stages through which we will pass while chanting the Holy Name of Krishna?'

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Two, chanted on Sundays)
'Very tall, beautiful and infused with divine love, His holy form increases gods’ joy; the lustre of His body, which puts millions of golden lotuses to shame, is worshipped by the Moon; and His intrinsic form is a holy abode of divine pastimes manifest as eternal ever-increasing transcendental ecstatic transformations that spring up as He revels dancing in Sri Krishna-sankirtan – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

22 MARCH 2021 [NRISINGHA PALLI | EVENING | PART 8]

Seva Bhumi
"Just as your devotion depends on your faith, the service you get also depends on your faith. Everybody can take part in service. This is seva-bhumi (land of service). Wherever you go, wherever you stay, you must always, every day, every moment serve the Lord."

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

A Tragedy of Separation
'Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s sannyasa is apparently very cruel to His devotees, and to His family members, but it was meant only to take us to our home. We must return back to Godhead, back to home. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says, “Your home is a beautiful land. You must try for that. Why are you always troubled with the horrors of war, epidemic, earthquake, undesirable disease, stealing, dacoiting, and fighting with so many neighbors? At the bottom of all this is the fact that you have identified yourself with this material world and this body of flesh and blood. You have to retrace your path and go back to your home.”'

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part One, chanted on Saturdays)
'Demigods, perfected souls, liberated souls, yogis and Lord’s devotees always sing His praise; He relieves the world from the blazing forest fire of three-fold miseries (caused by the desire for enjoyment, liberation and perfections) brought about by inauspicious actions (performed in aversion to the Supreme Lord); an ocean of generosity, He bestows His own Name from the nectarean storehouse of Lord Sri Krishna’s Names – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

22 MARCH 2021 [NRISINGHA PALLI | EVENING | PART 7]

Devotional Attachment
"We sing, ‘Dhaitava pachhe pachhe. I will run after You.’ Do not run ahead, do not go shopping. I go at the front, and I can see what is going on. When you go with the parikrama, you must chant kirtan, do not go anywhere; otherwise, you will get lost. Remember why you have come and stick to it firmly."

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

Mad Nimai Pandit
'This intense degree of divine madness was exhibited by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in His last days on this Earth. But even in His life in Nabadwip, when Mahaprabhu was the great boy-scholar Nimai Pandit, everyone thought He had become mad after He had returned from Gaya and had begun showing signs of devotion to Krishna.'

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Seven, chanted on Fridays)
'He is a holy embodiment of the beautiful reality which is beyond the reach of one’s eyes and ears, which paralyses the very necessity of intelligence and which leaves even firmly fixed consciousness dumbstruck when divine love surges up – even Brahma, Sambhu (Siva), as well as their revealed scriptures, Vedas and tantras cannot conceive of such reality, so they merely keep searching after Him – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

22 MARCH 2021 [NRISINGHA PALLI | EVENING | PART 6]

Know the Relationship
"It is necessary to understand relationship. None of us should want to be masters, but the problem is that we are all becoming masters and none of us wants to be a servant. Everybody has become a great Vaishnav now. If we keep practising Krishna consciousness with the knowledge of relationship, then our ego will go away. Ego is the greatest fault."

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

Friend of the Fallen
'If we neglect Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, our aspiration to serve Radha-Govinda will be a dream, an abstract imagination without reality. Nityananda Prabhu is the refuge of all fallen souls. He is the most generous-hearted aspect of guru-tattva; we must bow down our head to Him, accept His holy feet, and surrender to Him.'

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Six, chanted on Thursdays)
'Captivated by and afflicted with an intense feeling of separation, He runs swiftly to the simha-dvara gate of Lord Jagannathdev’s holy temple; the next moment He falls down on the spot, His holy figure transformed into that of a tortoise by the influence of deep separation; attracted by the uncommon divine fragrance emanating from His holy figure, the Telangi cows residing at the temple draw near, surrounding Him – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

22 MARCH 2021 [NRISINGHA PALLI | EVENING | PART 5]

'May You Always Remain In This Line'
"I am paying my full obeisance to them and expressing my gratitude to you. May the Lord bless you. I cannot give you blessings so that you may increase your material wealth, it is an offence, and it is not necessary to do that, but what is necessary, and all I can pray for, is that you may remain attached to Lord Krishna’s lotus feet, so that you may get devotion to Lord Krishna’s lotus feet. Always remain in this line, always stay together, then you will get supreme benefit."

• THE GOLDEN VOLCANO OF DIVINE LOVE •

A Mysterious Incarnation
'At that time, while listening to the explanation of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sarvabhauma gradually saw that he was losing his position. His pride was finished. Astounded, he thought, “This youth, this young boy, is not an ordinary person."'

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Five, chanted on Wednesdays)
'He reveals (first, to Sri Sanatan and then to Prakasananda) sixty-two interpretations of the famous verse ‘Atmaramas cha… ittham-bhuta-guno harih’ (‘Even self-realised, self-satisfied souls are moved to worship the Lord’) from Srimad Bhagavatam; interpreting the various lexical meanings of the eleven words of this verse, juxtaposed in different ways, He reveals a treasure-mine of multitudinous meanings of this verse in consonance with the precepts of pure devotional conclusions – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'