MONTHLY ARCHIVE OF UPDATES

JANUARY 2015

A Glimpse from the Dham
Two photographs taken two days ago of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj watching the boat at Sri Govinda Kunda, Nabadwip, being taken out for maintenance and repairs.

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

New Year Message
His Divine Grace Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj addressing the devotees worldwide, expressing his wishes and blessings for the new 2015: "It is necessary to preach, follow, and practise Krishna consciousness more. Next year, with a good heart and good health, continue your service to Gurudev."
• Download / listen to the audio (0.5 Mb, 2 min), watch the video.

Guidance: Issue #01 (ePub, 0.5 Mb)
We are presenting an ePub file for offline reading on mobile phones and tablets containing the lectures of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj published here as of today and pray this serves as a source of guidance, nourishment, and life to all the devotees and well-wishers worldwide.

দুর্লভ মনুষ্য জন্ম ও তাহার অর্থ
"জীব জাগ, জীব জাগ, গোরাচাঁদ বলে, কত নিদ্রা যাও মায়া-পিশাচীর কোলে । তোমারে লইতে আমি হইনু অবতার, এনেছি ঔষধি মায়া নাশিবার লাগি' ।"
• Download / listen to the audio (20 Mb, 60 min)

Kirtans
Chanted on 28 December 2014 by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj:
Sri Guru charana-padma • Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu daya kara more • Ohe Vaishnava Thakura dayara sagara • Nitai-pada-kamala • Emona durmati samsara bhitare • Sarvasva tomara charane sapiya.
• Download / listen to the audio (11.3 Mb, 33 min)

Open Your Eyes
What are you doing with your life? Who are your true family and well-wishers? How to get connection with the Lord? There is an unparalleled gift from the Lord and His associates right in front you...
• Download / listen to the audio (2.6 Mb, 8 min)

Chaste and Selfless
"If you have attachment to service for your own happiness, not for the happiness of your Guru—if your own happiness means more to you than the happiness of your Guru—then it is a problem."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.2 Mb, 13 min; English and Bengali)

সাধন-জীবনের নীতি
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj speaking in Bengali to the devotees on the fundamental principles of a practitioner's life.
• Download / listen to the audio (13.7 Mb, 40 min)

Kirtans
Chanted on 29 December 2014 by His Divine Grace:
Sri Guru charana-padma • Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu daya kara more • Ohe Vaishnava Thakura dayara sagara • Nitai-pada-kamala • Gaurangera duti pada • Gaya Gora madhur svare • Hari haraye Nama Krsna.
• Download / listen to the audio (11.3 Mb, 33 min)

Come What May
"So many obstacles will come, but our life is service to the Lord, our heart is service to the Lord, and we are grateful for anything that happens."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min)

জীবন: অনিত্য, দুর্ল্লভ ও ভগবানের সুখে অর্থে
"যে ভাবে ব্রজগপীর ভগবানকে সখী করেছিলেন, ভগবানকে খুশি করেছিলেন, অমাদের সেই ভাবে ভগবানকে খুশি করতে হবে, ভগবানকে সুখে করতে হবে—ভগবানের খুশি আমাদের ভজন ।
• Download / listen to the audio (12 Mb, 34 min)

Kirtans
Chanted on 30 December 2014 by His Divine Grace:
Sri Guru charana-padma • Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu daya kara more • Ohe Vaishnava Thakura dayara sagara • Parama karuna • Gaurangera duti pada • Hari haraye Nama Krsna.
• Download / listen to the audio (9.3 Mb, 28 min)

Two Photographs
Taken on 5 January 2015 in Sri Nabadwip Dham at the veranda of His Divine Grace during the evening class.

At a Crossroads
Guidance for those who are uncertain about their life situation and those facing an important choice in their life: to join the temple or remain a householder?
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 8 min)

Announcement:

Ganga Sagar Temple Inauguration: Preparation
As the time approaches the auspicious day, the devotees are busy preparing for the festival both at the Ganga Sagar Math and at the place of the Mela (a half-an-hour drive from the temple). Presented here are several pictures capturing the activities at the temple (taken just a short while ago today).

The Significance of Ganga Sagar (by Sripad B.K. Tyagi Maharaj)
A comprehensive article from Sri Gaudiya Darshan explaining the ontological and spiritual significance of Ganga Sagar Mela and appreciation of the Gaudiya Vaishnavs towards this event: "The origin and glory of the Ganges and the Lord’s Pastimes at Ganga Sagar are described in Srimad Bhagavatam and other Gaudiya Vaishnava scriptures. Here they are presented in summary form..."

Correction: Try and Pray
How to help others in their service, when you know they are doing something wrong, without hurting their feelings and discouraging them? Is there anything that can secure your life in Krishna consciousness?
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min)

Kirtan Pastimes
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj reading in Bengali from Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-lila, chapter 17, on 31 December 2014.
• Download / listen to the audio (10 Mb, 29 min)

In a lecture about Sriman Mahaprabhu's sannyas-lila, Srila Govinda Maharaj commented: "We have seen that Srila Guru Maharaj was always deeply intoxicated with Mahaprabhu’s sannyas-lila. He established as a rule in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math that for the three days the devotees will live very simply and eat only some rice and dalma, dal with mixed vegetables."

আমাদের প্রতিজ্ঞ
"দুর্লভ মানব জন্ম লভিয়া সংসারে কৃষ্ণ না ভজিনু দুঃখ কহিব কাহারে । দিন যায় মিছা কাজে নিশা নিদ্রাবশে নাহি ভাবি মরণ নিকটে আছে বসে । অতএব মায়া মোহ ছাড়ি বুদ্ধিমান নিত্যতত্ত্ব কৃষ্ণভক্তি করুন সন্ধান ।"
• Download / listen to the audio (9.3 Mb, 27 min)

Sannyas Lila: Roaming the Land
"Mahaprabhu would go in a zigzag way—sometimes He went to the East, sometimes to the West, and the devotees followed Him not knowing where He was going..."
• Download / listen to the audio (7.5 Mb, 25 min)

Sri Nimai Sannyas (English, Bengali, an audio recording)
Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's poem expressing the grief-stricken hearts of the residents of Nabadwip: "Vishvambhar, the son of Jagannath Mishra, who resides in Nabadwip, Sachi's Nimai, has taken sannyas. A tumult of cries filled the sky—Sachi's Nimai has taken sannyas!"

Sannyas Lila: Breaking the Staff
As Mahaprabhu heads towards Jagannath Puri, more Pastimes unfold. Shortly before entering the Jagannath temple, Nityananda Prabhu breaks the danda of Mahaprabhu. Why did He do it and why did Mahaprabhu allow Him to do it?
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 6 min)

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

Meeting Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya
"...In the meantime, Mahaprabhu reached the Jagannath temple. Chanting 'Jagannath, Jagannath,' He entered the Garba mandir."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min)

Strong Desire
"If you have this kind of strong desire, mercy will come. It is necessary to have such permanent, unflinching desire for service, for chanting or anything else." What kind of desire is it?
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min)

Invitation:

Abhidheya: the Main Practice
"Why do we do kirtan? Why do we do service? We must understand it, then we will get happiness through our service."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 7 min)

সেব-প্রবৃত্তি
ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রী শ্রীল ভক্তি নির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের হরি-কথামৃত ও কীর্ত্তন ।
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj's recent Bengali class and kirtans.
• Download / listen to the audio (15 Mb, 44 min)

The Soul's Misery
"Illusory environment means we are covered by an illusory net and we forget everything. Overcoming this illusory environment will depend on the quality of our surrender."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 7 min)

Adosa-Darasi
"Gurudev said, 'If you criticise somebody, that fault will come to you.' He did not want to hear anybody criticising or anybody being criticised. Criticism takes one to a hellish position."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 5 min)

The Garden of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga
A few glimpses of the flower garden at its blossom at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Sri Nabadwip Dham, captured yesterday.

A Glimpse of the Evening Darshan
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj giving Hari-katha to the assembled devotees.

Sadhu-Sanga: Primary Practice
"Life is very short, we can die any time, so we must realise now what we must do—what Srimad Bhagavatam says, what Srimad Bhagavad-gita says—and follow that."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 4 min)

Full Surrender
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj explains the six limbs, constituents, of surrender.
• Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min)

Ganga Sagar: Temple Inauguration and Preaching
Three pages and over 150 photos taken during the grand preaching programme at Ganga Sagar this year:
Part One (preparation to the temple inauguration; 27 Mb)
Part Two (inauguration, sankirtan, prasad seva, initiations; 29 Mb)
Part Three (Ganga Sagar Mela, worship of Ganga Devi; 14.5 Mb)
Also available for download as a single PDF (25 Mb).

Vibhavari Sesa
"O souls! The night has ended and the light has come. Awake and arise! Chant 'Hari! Hari!' The Supreme Lord Krishna is the bestower of liberation, the demon Mura's enemy, and Sri Radha's lover. He appears as Hayagriva, the horse-headed Avatar."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 7 min)

Reviving Srila Prabhupad's Preaching
"...At that time Srila Sridhar Maharaj decided to go to Vrindavan and do bhajan, but when he got some akash dhvani, "What did I give you sannyas for? For your own self?" he hurried away from Vrindavan..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min)

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)

Proper Positioning
"It is not easy to take sannyas, but it is very easy to fall down: if you can avoid kanak, kamini, pratistha and give them to their proprietors, then you will have no problem and you will not fall down."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 4 min)

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

Kirtans
Chanted on 30 January 2015 at Sri Ekachakra Dham, led by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj:
Vandana • Sri Guru charana-padma • Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu daya kara more • Ohe Vaishnava Thakura dayara sagara • Nitai-pada-kamala • Akrodha paramananda Nityananda Raya • Gaurangera duti pada • Sarvasva tomara charane sapiya • Jaya Radha-Madhava.
• Download / listen to the audio (12.2 Mb, 36 min)

Sri Ekachakra Dham: Varaha Dvadasi (Morning)
Pictures of a chilly late winter morning at Sri Ekachakra temple of Sri Sri Guru Gaura Nityananda on the adhivas day of Sri Nityananda Prabhu's appearance day and Varaha Dvadasi, the appearance of Lord Varahadev.

 · · • • • · ·

2015

 JANUARY
 FEBRUARY
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 MAY
 JUNE
 JULY
 AUGUST
 SEPTEMBER
 OCTOBER
 NOVEMBER
 DECEMBER

• OFFLINE READING, ePub:
(All lectures of His Divine Grace Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj posted here on the website)
Issue #1 (31 Dec '14)
Issue #2 (2015/1)
Issue #3 (2015/2)
Issue #4 (2015/3)
Issue #5 (2015/4)
Issue #6 (2016/1)
Issue #7 (2016/2)
Issue #8 (2016/3)
Issue #9 (2016/4)
Issue #10 (2017/1)
Issue #11 (2017/2)
Issue #12 (2017/3)
Issue #13 (2017/4)
Issue #14 (2018/1)
Issue #15 (2018/2)
Issue #16 (2018/3)
Issue #17 (2018/4)
Issue #18 (2019/1)
Issue #19 (2019/2)
Issue #20 (2019/3)
Issue #21 (2019/4)
Issue #22 (2020/1)
Issue #23 (2020/2)
Issue #24 (2020/3)
Issue #25 (2020/4)
Issue #26 (2021/1)
Issue #27 (2021/2)
Issue #28 (2021/3)
Issue #29 (2021/4)
Issue #30 (2022/1)