In honour of Sri Jahnavi Puja (Sri Ganga Puja):

"...While speaking, they went to Jan Nagar and saw the beauty of the hermitage of Jahnu Muni. Nityananda Prabhu said, 'This charming abode is known as Jahnudwip and Bhadravan. Jahnu Muni performed austerities here and saw the golden form of Gaura. Once, when Jahnu Muni sat here to perform his evening meditation, His copper vessel fell into the swiftly flowing River Ganga. The copper vessel fell into the river and floated away. Jahnu Muni then drank all the water of the Ganga with his palm. Maharaj Bhagirath thought, "Where did the Ganga go?" Bewildered, he began to think over the situation. Understanding that Jahnu Muni had drunk all the water of the Ganga, Maharaj Bhagirath became concerned. Sober Maharaj Bhagirath worshipped the sage for some time, and eventually the Ganga broke out of the sage's body. Thereafter, she became known as Jahnavi. The whole world now calls her 'Jahnavi'.'"

(Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya, chapter 13)

Visiting Holy Places: Pleasure Hunting?
"'The trouble of visiting holy places is simply a mental delusion—all possible perfection is the feet of Govinda.' You can ask me, 'Maharaj, then why are you going there, why are taking us with you?' Do you know the answer?"
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Glory of Manasi Ganga
"This Haridev Temple is located to the south of Manasi Ganga. When it came to the temple of Asadi Purnima, Nanda Maharaj, Mother Yasoda and other Vraja-basis wanted to travel to the Ganges to bathe in her water..."
• Download (4.3 Mb, 11 min | 6 Nov. 2018 | English & Bengali)

11 FEBRUARY 2021 [TARAKESWAR | EVENING | PART 5]

Rescue Programme
"You bring people to your houses, pay them to do kirtans. So many have come and left, taking your money, but how much benefit have you got? If you do not chant yourself, what benefit is there in others chanting? If you eat, your stomach will be full—if I eat, will that fill your stomach?"

• DIVINE GUIDANCE •

(4) WITHIN THE HOLY DHAM
'Here is one question. Do we want that or not? We hear about Vrindavan Dham, but we hear through our mundane senses and with our mundane feelings. Some essence, however, is coming through that and we express, “We like Vrindavan Dham.” But, like Sri Harinam mahamantra, Vrindavan Dham is also transcendental. If we want to enter there, we need some special mercy of Srimati Radharani through Her associates, and we can only get that with our super-hankering mood.'

• SRI GAUDIYA GITANJALI •

SARANAGATI GITI: Mana re kena ara varna abhimana
‘If you try your best to practise devotion to Lord Krishna, you will get to your perfect destination – the highest aspiration will guide your entire life and will give you all possible attainment in this life and the next. Vinod will chant about the glory of this truth.’

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 Sri Sankar Acharya:

Hearing the name of Sri Sankar Acharya, Paramahamsa Babaji Mahasay offered his prostrate obeisance and said:

‘O great soul! “Sankarah Sankarah saksat” (Sankar is Mahadev-Sankar, Lord Siva, himself) – always remember these words. Sankar is a Guru of Vaishnavs, that is why Mahaprabhu spoke of him as an Acharya. Sankar is a perfect Vaishnav. When he made his advent in India, there was a very urgent need in a guna-avatara like him. At that time, discussions of Vedas and practices of varnasrama-dharma had become almost obliterated by the influence of Buddhist voidism, which is extremely atheistic. Although Buddhist doctrine contains some truth about jiva souls, that religion is quite temporal (non-eternal). At that time, almost all brahmans had become Buddhists and had almost completely given up Vedic religion. Filled with wondrous power, the advent of Sankar’s incarnation established the honour of Vedic scriptures and changed voidism into brahmanism. The work he performed is wonderful. India is eternally indebted to Sri Sankar for this great work. All works in the world can be divided into two types. Some works are related to some particular time (temporal), and some are not related to any time (timeless, eternal). The great work of Sankar’s incarnation is temporal, and many good results emerged from it. Sankar’s incarnation created a foundation upon which the incarnations of Sri Ramanuja, Sri Madhva and other great teachers later built the palace of pure Vaishnavism. Therefore, Sankar’s incarnation is the greatest friend of Vaishnavism and a predecessor acharya.

Sri Sankar revealed a conceptual path in this world, and to this day, Vaishnavs easily take advantage of its wealth. Sambandha-jnana (knowledge of the relationship) is extremely necessary for material conditioned souls. Vaishnavs and Sankar Acharya believe that gross bodies existent in this material world are different and separate from transcendental matter, but spiritually, there is no difference between a jiva soul’s internal and external identity. Both agree that giving up material world is called liberation (mukti), and up until attaining liberation, there is very much similarity between Sri Sankar and Vaishnav Acharyas. Sankar Acharya teaches that it is possible to purify one’s heart and attain liberation by practising God consciousness (by serving and worshipping the Lord), but only Sankar is silent about the transcendental path jiva souls face after attaining liberation. Sankar knew very well that if a jiva soul can progress on the path of liberation by serving the Lord, it will gradually, bound by the happiness of spiritual life, become a pure devotee. Therefore, when Sankar showed the path, he did not further reveal the mystery of Vaishnavs. Those who read and consider his commentaries very carefully can understand Sankar’s profound intention. But those who pass their time reading only the external parts of his teachings become driven away from proper Vaishnavism.

(From Jaiva Dharma by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

11 FEBRUARY 2021 [TARAKESWAR | EVENING | PART 4]

In Search of Real Benefit
"The question that Pariksit Maharaj asked Sukadev Goswami was, ‘How can I get real benefit?’ He asked him only one question. Do you know how you can get real benefit in Kali-yuga? What should you do not to get any birth again?"

• DIVINE GUIDANCE •

(3) ON THE WAY TO SRI VRINDAVAN DHAM
'Even to see the outside of the Dham is beneficial, but if we make aparadh, offence, it is detrimental to our spiritual life. And if we cannot see properly the real transcendental Dham, at least we should try not to see the opposite thing—to see it as only mundane. The Dham is covered by illusion, but even so, there is some brilliance, and that glow or brilliance of the Dham may touch us if we stay there without offence. But if we stay there too long we may become overly familiar and then that glow may leave us.'

• SRI GAUDIYA GITANJALI •

SARANAGATI GITI: Hari-bala hari-bala
‘The Holy Name’s inherent quality is such that you can get all those results without even wishing for them. (Stop striving for such trifle gain!) Vinod says that aspiring after such things is only an offence to the Holy Name. (Give up offences to the Holy Name!)’

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.'

11 FEBRUARY 2021 [TARAKESWAR | EVENING | PART 3]

Listen and Learn
"We must surrender to the Lord. Everybody keeps Gita in their homes, but we do not understand the meaning and the main idea of Gita. We must believe what is written in scriptures and holy books."

• DIVINE GUIDANCE •

(2) ON THE WAY TO SRI PURI DHAM
'We are not going sightseeing but we are going to a place of pilgrimage, a holy place. Going there will purify us—body, mind, and soul. You all pray to Lord Jagannath that He will take us safely there and then bring us all back safely to where we are doing our respective seva. This is our only prayer today. We have nothing else to pray for.'

• SRI GAUDIYA GITANJALI •

SARANAGATI GITI: Anya-abhilasa chhadi’
‘I will serve the Lord with my body and mind, giving up all other desires and pursuits of material benefit and knowledge. I will serve Lord Krishna in sadhus’ association without worshipping any gods or goddesses – this is the ultimate way to attain devotion.’

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.'

11 FEBRUARY 2021 [TARAKESWAR | EVENING | PART 2]

Chad Kazi: Defeated Again
"Mahaprabhu asked politely, ‘What is wrong, Kazi? Why are you sitting behind the closed door? We are your guests. Is this what your religion teaches? Does it say in Quran or Hadith that when guests come, you must close the door and hide?’ Hearing this, Chad Kazi came out..."

• DIVINE GUIDANCE •

(1) UTILISING OUR FORTUNE
'We must be conscious, therefore, about our position and about our service, then we will not be deviated from our position. But even if some deviation does come, if we are sincere we can emerge from that position also. When we live within this body, there is the possibility of deviation everywhere. Deviation will not come to attack us if we do not listen to the demands of our mental and physical bodies—otherwise, deviation is possible for everyone.'

• SRI GAUDIYA GITANJALI •

SARANAGATI GITI: Hari hari! bada sela marame rahila
‘O Lord! My heart is pierced with a thick arrow. I have got a very rare body, but because I have not worshipped Lord Sri Krishna, my life has simply passed in vain.’

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.'

In honour of Srila Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj:

Srila Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj: 'My Oldest Friend'
From the holy lotus mouth of Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj: 'Sripad Jajavar Maharaj is one of my oldest friend, my main old friend. We have lost the association of most of them now, but Sripad Jajavar Maharaj is still here, and he has kindly come here to give me his darshan. He is the last sannyasi disciple of our Guru Maharaj, and he is senior to me.'

Sripad Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj (by Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, spoken on Srila Jajavar Maharaj's disappearance day)
"Srila Jajavar Maharaj joined the Gaudiya Mission of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur at a very young age. He could sing nicely, and he looked very simple—there was not a shadow of inauspiciousness in his body..."
• Download / listen to the audio (8.4 Mb, 25 min)

Sri Sri Nityananda Stuti (by Srila B.V. Jajavar Maharaj)
'O Balaram Nityananda! Please be merciful to me. Who can possibly know Gaura without Your mercy? Without You, I have no other way, no other refuge. Please give me some place at Your holy feet. Please allow me to always chant Your Name. This poor Jajavar is thus singing Your glorification.'

11 FEBRUARY 2021 [TARAKESWAR | EVENING | PART 1]

Mahaprabhu's Order
"When you call the Lord, you must call Him with all your heart and soul, not to impress others – you must call Him with all your heart. You must call the Lord extracting and smearing the mellows of love from the depths of your hearts..."

• THE BENEDICTINE TREE OF DIVINE ASPIRATION •

EVERYONE’S REAL FRIEND
'Just as we were so fortunate to have the association of Srila Prabhupada, we are now so lucky to have Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. He is carrying the same current. He is a personality of the same soil, the same land. He can, and is, giving us these teachings.'

DASA-VIDHA NAMAPARADHA
'Just as we were so fortunate to have the association of Srila Prabhupada, we are now so lucky to have Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. He is carrying the same current. He is a personality of the same soil, the same land. He can, and is, giving us these teachings.'

• SRI GAUDIYA GITANJALI •

SARANAGATI GITI: Hari hari! viphale janama gonainu
‘O Lord! My life has passed in vain. I have got a human birth but have not served Radha-Krishna. I have been consciously drinking poison (I knew it, I heard about it from others, but I still drank it).’

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.'

11 FEBRUARY 2021 [TARAKESWAR | NOON | PART 5]

Pastimes of Lord Siva
"Lord Siva is a great Vaishnav. He took part in the rasa-lila of Lord Krishna. We always offer obeisances to him. We have Lord Siva’s Deity in many temples – there is Gangadhar Siva in Nabadwip, there is Lord Siva in Midnapore, Ganga Sagar and other places. We always offer Lord Govinda’s prasad to Lord Siva..."

• THE BENEDICTINE TREE OF DIVINE ASPIRATION •

OUR SUPER BENEFIT
'You have all assembled here to hear the messages of the Lord. The Lord Himself is your own natural wealth, and in your hearts the Lord is gloriously presiding. He has many, many forms, and we have many, many paths to reach Him; but the supreme path is bhakti, devotion.'

• SRI GAUDIYA GITANJALI •

SARANAGATI GITI: Tatala saikate bari bindu-sama
‘I lived amidst children, friends, beautiful women and society, who are all like drops of water on a scorching sandy beach – forgetting You, I dedicated myself to them, but are they of any use now?’

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.'