MONTHLY ARCHIVE OF UPDATES

DECEMBER 2015

জীব উঠে কর!
ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রী শ্রীল ভক্তি নির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের হরি-কথামৃত: কর কৃষ্ণের সংসার চ্ছাড়ি' অনাচার, ভক্তি-যোগ, পাঁচ-প্রকার সাধন-ভক্তি, মহাপ্রভুর ধারণা ও শিক্ষ ।
• Download / listen to the audio (12.5 Mb, 37 min)

Vaishnavs' Wealth and Glory
"'Singing the glories of the Vaishnavs rescues and protects the jiva soul. I heard this from the mouth of sadhus and my Guru.' If we give some honour, give some glorification to the Vaishnavs, it is actually for our benefit, for our spiritual life."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 6 min)

News from Sri Nabadwip Dham (14 photographs, ~1 Mb)
Among the news are continuing the painting of Sri Sevak Bhavan, Sri Govinda Kunda marbling, husking the paddy, as well as the commenced renovation of Sri Acharya Bhavan.

Clearing the Obstacles
"Depend upon Me. How you will come out of that illusory environment is not your business, it is not for you to think about. If you follow what I am telling you, then when the time comes Krishna will show you how to come."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 5 min)

"Take Care of My Property"
"We are not enjoyers, we are not renunciants. When you surrender to your guru, you give this body to your Guru to serve the Lord, that is why you have no right to leave this body without food."
• Download / listen to the audio (0.6 Mb, 2 min)

শ্রীমদ্ভগবদ্গীতা • দ্বিতীয়োঽধ্যায়ঃ : সসাংখ্যযোগ (প্রথম অংশ)
"হে অর্জ্জুন ! এই বিষম যুদ্ধ সময়ে কি জন্য তোমার অনার্য্যোচিত, অস্বর্গকর ও কীর্ত্তি নাশক এই মোহ উপস্থিত হইল ? কাতরতা ত্যাগ কর, কাতরতা তোমার উপযুক্ত নহে । ক্ষুদ্র হৃদয়দৌর্ব্বল্য পরিত্যাগ করিয়া যুদ্ধার্থ উত্থিত হও ।"

• SONG: Thakura vaisnava-gana | ঠাকুর বৈষ্ণবগণ
• AUDIO: Download (1.2 Mb, 4 min)
• LISTEN ONLINE

Simple. Sincere. Sufficient.
"Srila Prabhupad said, 'Do not read so many books, and do not practise so many things.' Simple books are sufficient. You can recite, sing, and memorise daily songs, and practise every day.
• Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 6 min)

News from Sri Ekachakra Dham and Sri Nabadwip Dham
(23 photographs, 1.8 Mb)
Recent photographs of the Sri Ekachakra temple, lush garden, and the cows, as well as a few photographs around Sri Nabadwip temple.

Practise What You Preach
"A lady had a little grandson who ate too much molasses and nobody could stop him—he would not listen to anybody. Somebody advised her, 'Take the boy to Hazrad Muhammad. He is a big personality and if he tells him he will listen.'"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min)

News from Sri Nabadwip Dham (21 photographs, 1.7 Mb)
Photographs taken around Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip, this morning: views from the roofs, rice threshing, goshala, and more.

— { Invitation to Sri Ratha Yatra } — We would like to extend a cordial invitation to all devotees and well-wishers worldwide to kindly join the Sri Ratha Yatra Festival that is held annually with the blessings of Sri Gurupadpadma Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj at our Malaysian Sri Chaitanya Sridhar Govinda Seva Ashram temple. The Festival is on 19 December (Sat.) from 5 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. at the address: No. 7 Jalan 18/16, Taman Kanagapuram, 46000, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

Bad Habit vs Sincere Heart
"You may have a very bad habit, but if you practise, everything will be removed. 'I will practise, I will follow the scripture, I will follow Gurudev's word'—this kind of mood must be there."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min)

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

• SONG: Sri Krsna-Chaitanya Prabhu jive | শ্রীকৃষ্ণচৈতন্য প্রভু জীবে
"Sri Krsna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu descends with His associates and abode. He teaches surrender, which is the life of the devotees."

Sri Ekadashi Guidance (Updated)
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.

Be Clear, Not Clever
"You must remember that the instruction comes from above. If Krishna says, 'Give Me a laddu,' then give Him a laddu, it is not necessary to think about a samosa. If Gurudev says, 'Use white,' why will I go to see any other colour?"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min)

Holy Darshan
Two photographs of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj and Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Sundarjiu, taken yesterday.

শরণাগতি ও জীবনের উদ্দেশ্য
ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রী শ্রীল ভক্তি নির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের হরি-কথামৃত: "এ ঘোর-সংসারে পড়িয়া মানব না পায় দুঃখের শেষ, সাধুসঙ্গ করি' হরি ভজে যদি তবে অন্ত হয় ক্লেশ ॥"
• Download / listen to the audio (13.3 Mb, 39 min)

Glimpses of Sri Govinda Kunda (7 photographs, 0.3 Mb)
Several photographs taken from the roof of Sri Sevak Bhavan at Sri Govinda Kunda: finishing the marbling and the painting works, as well as the beautiful growing gardens.

Get Cracking
"'Time has passed as I have been busy in my material life, and I have got nothing—only became burdened. What sort of world is this?' In this world there is no want of food, no want of money, no want of anything except only one thing..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 6 min)

• SONG: Durlabha manava janma | দুর্লভ মানব জন্ম
"I have got a very rare human life in this world, but I have not worshipped Lord Krishna. Whom can I tell of my misery?"

Around Sri Nabadwip Dham (19 photographs, 1.2 Mb)
Photographs taken this morning: beautiful Mahaprabhu's garden, finished marbling, sacks of thrashed rice, and a happy camel.

Samsara: False and Worthless
"When we die, we will have to leave everything, and where will we go then? Wherever we go, we will again have to take birth, again have to die." What is the solution?
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 9 min)

শ্রীমদ্ভগবদ্গীতা • দ্বিতীয়োঽধ্যায়ঃ : সসাংখ্যযোগ (দ্বিতীয় অংশ)
"হে কেশব ! স্থিতপ্রজ্ঞ, সমাধিস্থ বা স্থিতধীগণের লক্ষণ কি ? তাঁহারা কিরূপ বলেন ; বাহ্য বিষয় ভোগ-সম্বন্ধে কি প্রকারই বা আচরণ করেন, তাহাদের গমন-ভাব অর্থাৎ চেষ্টাই বা কিরূপ তাহা জানিতে ইচ্ছা করি ?"

Holy Darshan
Two photographs of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj at Sri Govinda Kunda on a misty winter morning in Sri Nabadwip Dham.

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)

Renovation, Goshala, and Prasad Seva (28 photographs, 1.7 Mb)
Photographs taken around Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Sri Nabadwip Dham early this morning and yesterday morning and noon.

Srila Raghunath Das Goswami: Running From Pratistha
"You can give up kanak, you can give up kamini, but it not easy to give up pratistha. Mahaprabhu teaches to be humble, tolerant, and give honour to others, but if you think you are a great Vaishnav, you cannot give honour to others."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min)

Sri Vaishnav Seva (41 photographs, 2.8 Mb)
This morning His Divine Grace Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj led a Vaishnav Seva programme in honour of late Sarojini Devi Dasi of Singapore. Presenting here the photographs of the sweet and well-attended programme held in the assembly of auspicious Vaishnavs.

Watch What Your Wish For
"People pray, 'I want wealth, I want knowledge, I want a beautiful wife, I want to be admired.' And what did Mahaprabhu teach? "I do not want wealth, knowledge, beauty, or to be a poet. I only want causeless devotion to Your lotus feet."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 4 min, mostly Bengali)

Sri Vaishnav-Seva
"We have gathered here today on a special occasion, to hold Vaishnava-seva for Sarojini Devi Dasi, the late mother of our Chaitanya Saraswat Math's Singaporean leaders..."
• Download / listen to the audio (7.9 Mb, 23 min, two parts, Bengali)

Power of the Holy Name: Nothing Else
"'If you have any love and affection for Me, then only say "Krishna".' Without Krishna Nam, there is nothing else in this age of Kali. All inauspiciousness will be removed through chanting."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 4 min)

Sri Acharya Bhavan Renovations (14 photographs, 1 Mb)
As the Vyasa Puja festival is approaching, the renovations (cleaning, plastering, painting, and repairing) of the bhajan-kutir of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj are almost complete.

Power of the Holy Name: Love Is the Weapon
"You promised that in this age You would give love and affection to the conditioned souls. In this age of Kali, there are no weapons. Mridanga, kartal, love, and affection are the weapons—not shouting, beating, or killing."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 4 min)

Sri Puri Dham: Page 1 | Page 2
Darshan of Sri Sri Nitai Chaitanyadev and Their Chaitanya Saraswat Math temple in Sri Puri Dham (photographs taken and posted earlier during this year at the time of Sri Puri Dham pilgrimage).

• SONG: Parama karuna | পরম করুণ
"Nitai and Gaurachandra are the two most merciful Lords. They are the best, the crest-jewels, of all Avatars and the only source of joy."

Power of the Holy Name: Abode of Sweetness
"If you chant this Name of Krishna so many times but still there is no love, there are no tears streaming from your eyes, then as I understand there are too many offences and the seed of Krsna's Name does not sprout."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min)

শ্রীমদ্ভগবদ্গীতা • তৃতীয়োঽধ্যায়ঃ : কর্ম্মযোগ
"ফলাসক্তি পরিত্যাগ পূর্ব্বক সর্ব্বদা অবশ্য কর্ত্তব্যরূপে বিহিত কর্ম্মের অনুষ্ঠান কর । যেহেতু অনাসক্তভাবে কর্ম্ম করিতে করিতে জীবের মোক্ষ লাভ হয় । নিষ্কাম কর্ম্ম সকলের চরম পরিপাক্কাবস্থায় যে পরমাভক্তি জন্মে তাহাই মোক্ষ।"

Nat Mandir Front Facelift (6 photographs, 0.4 Mb)
The front of the nat mandir looking spanking new after the fresh coat of paint and a few patches of plastering. Photographs taken today and on Wednesday.

• SONG: Parama karuna | পরম করুণ
"Nitai and Gaurachandra are the two most merciful Lords. They are the best, the crest-jewels, of all Avatars and the only source of joy."

Invoking Vaishnavs' Mercy
"Today is Srimad Bhakti Kamal Madhusudan Maharaj's appearance day. Wherever he is staying now, whether in Goloka Vrindavan or anywhere else, we are praying to him, 'Wherever you are now, please give us some mercy.'"
• Download / listen to the audio (4.1 Mb, 13 min)

Initiations (11 photographs, 0.6 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj is giving initiation to the fortunate souls from Malaysia and Venezuela last Friday and Saturday (yesterday).

Free and Happy
"You want to get the Holy Name and go back to your own home, that is very nice. If you chant the Holy Name with sincerity, you will get a real benefit—you can go to the service planet and get the service of your Guru."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.9 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.

New Life
"You have come to take initiation from me, but actually you are going to become a member of the Lord's family. The illusory environment will always want to remove you from this family, but through practising you must always renew that membership."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.6 Mb, 11 min)

News from Sri Nabadwip Dham (5 photographs, 0.5 Mb)
A few photographs taken over the past two days: evening darshan of Sri Gurupadpadma, the flourishing garden at Sri Govinda Kunda and the peaceful deer.

"May Krishna Always Bless You"
"Not everybody has that kind of fortune—not everybody can do service, not everybody can join service and do proper preaching. Preaching is the main thing: many people can make a temple, but it is necessary to preach."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.9 Mb, 6 min)

Your Home Is Ready—Are You?
"If you can practise continuously, with tolerance, humility, giving honour to others, removing all material desires, chanting the Holy Name properly, then Gurudev already has your home made there."
• Download / listen to the audio (3 Mb, 9 min)

In honour of the upcoming festival:
Sri Guru's Order
"Wherever you live, you can practise your spiritual life. The main thing is to follow the order of your Guru. When you receive an order from Gurudev, that becomes your duty. Our Rupanuga-sampradaya Guru, he came from the transcendental abode, but when he was here we could not understand that..."
• Download / listen to the audio (5.3 Mb, 16 min, English and Bengali)

News from Sri Nabadwip Dham (3 photographs, 0.3 Mb)
A few photographs taken today at Sri Nabadwip Dham: serene Sri Govinda Kunda and the bhajan kutir of Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj that has just got a fresh coat of painting.

Sri Vyasa Puja Festival Is Coming (16 photographs, 1.1 Mb)
On the eve of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's Vyasa Puja Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is brimming with happy service and devotees. From all over India, Vaishnavs are coming to their Home to honour the grand and auspicious day of Srila Gurudev's appearance.

Sri Vyasa Puja Adhivas (15 photographs, 1 Mb)
The evening aratis and class on the eve of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's grand Sri Vyasa Puja festival. Crowded. Joyful. Glorious.

Sri Vyasa Puja Mahamahotsav (45 photographs, 3.3 Mb)
In the shelter of the lotus feet of Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj, devotees and fortunate souls joyfully celebrate the auspicious appearance day of Jagad Guru Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

• SONG: Jaya jaya gurudever | জয় জয় গুরুদেবের
"All glory to the effulgent arati of Srila Gurudev taking place at the foot of Govardhan for the beneft of the world!"

• SONG: Ei-bara karuna kara | এইবার করুণা কর বৈষ্ণব গোসাঞি
"O worshippable Vaisnava, be merciful to me this time. If anyone comes to you, their sins go away. Where can such a merciful master be found?"

gurvvabhista-supurakam guru-ganair asisa-sambhusitam chintyachintya-samasta-veda-nipunam sri-rupa-panthanugam govindabhidham ujjvalam vara-tanum bhakty anvitam-sundaram vande visva-gurun cha divya-bhagavat-premno hi bija-pradam "I offer my obeisance unto he who perfectly fulfils his Gurudev's most cherished desires; who is fully adorned with the blessings of his Gurudev’s associates; who is expert in all aspects of Vedic knowledge, both conceivable and inconceivable; who is the pre-eminent follower of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu's line; who is known as 'Govinda'—Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj; whose beautiful, effulgent, exalted form is infused with pure devotion; who is the Guru of the entire universe; and who is the giver of the seed of divine love for the Supreme Lord."

• SONG: Gopinath | গোপীনাথ
"O Gopinath, is this Your judgement? Seeing me averse to You, You abandon Your servant and do not grant him even a trace of mercy? O Gopinath, sit down in my heart, subdue my mind, and bring me towards You!"

Sri Bamunpara Pilgrimage (36 photographs, 3.1 Mb)
Photographs taken today as His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj takes the devotees to the holy Sri Nandan Ghat and Sripat Bamunpara Dham.

Sri Bamunpara Pilgrimage (2014) (56 photos, 7.8 Mb)
Photographs of the last year's pilgrimage: Every year, on the day following the Vyasa Puja of Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, devotees come to Sri Bamunpara, the birth place of His Divine Grace, Nadan Ghat, the place of Srila Gurudev's childhood pastimes, as well as the nearby Sri Haritaki tree and Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur's house.

Temple Inauguration in Betur

sri-siddhanta-sarasvatiti vidito gaudiya-gurv-anvaye bhato bhanuriva prabhata-gagane yo gaura-sankirtanaih mayavada-timingilodara-gatan uddhrtya jivaniman krsna-prema-sudhabdhi-gahana-sukham pradat prabhum tam bhaje "I serve my lord, who is known as Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Within the Gaudiya sampradaya's lineage of Gurus, he shines like the sun in the morning sky. Through the sankirtan of Sriman Mahaprabhu he rescues the souls engulfed within the belly of the timingila of illusionism and bestows upon them the ecstasy of swimming in the nectarean ocean of divine love for Krishna."

Concluding Pastimes
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj is requested to speak on the concluding poetry composition found in Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad's purport to Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, that Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj recited at the programme following the disappearance day of Srila Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad in 1937.
• Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 9 min)

Sri Sri Dayita Dasa Dasakam (Text and Audio)
A poem composed by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj after the disappearance of his Divine Master Bhagavan Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad: "O Dina-nayana, wherever that great soul may be, please quickly take this servitor there."

• SONG: Sujanarvuda-radhita-pada-yugam | সুজনার্ব্বুদরাধিতপাদযুগং
"I hold on my head the dust of his tremendous, wondrously purifying feet and eternally offer my obeisance to them."

• SONG: Ye anila prema-dhana | যে আনিল প্রেমধন
"Where has Advaita Acharya, the Lord who mercifully brought the wealth of divine love to this world, gone?"

Sri Bamunpara Dham
"Actually, I first came to this place in 1993. Gurudev told me, 'If you want to do something in my birthplace, first make a house for Gopinath, I will be very happy.' Gurudev ordered it to me, and I did it..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.7 Mb, 11 min; two parts)

Sri Bamunpara Temple (201 photographs, 7.5 Mb)
A dedicated photo album of Sri Bamunpara Temple, the holy birthplace of Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, manifest by the mercy and energy of Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj.

Odds and Ends (4)
Several excerpts from the lectures of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj that were not included in the main posts:
• Bankura Temple • Ramanuja Acharya's bed • Parikrama thoughts • Moustache • More than meets the eye • Always with you • The Highest Ambition • No hodge-podge • 'Thanks' is not enough • What is intelligence? • Let Gurudev choose.
• Download / listen to the audio (4.7 Mb, 14 min)

Sri Rupa-Sanatan Siksa (EPUB file, 0.5 Mb)
"Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Sri Rupa-Satana Siksa, read and expounded by His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj." An electronic version of the published previously online matter available now for download, reading and worshipping on phones, tablets, eBook readers, etc.

One More Year Passed
As one more years draws to its end, His Divine Grace Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj muses on the value and meaning of life, quoting several Vaishnav songs: "Life is shaky—it is here now, and then it is gone. Serve the Lord's feet!"
• Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 7 min | 31 Dec 2010)

New Year Message
"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 (0.6 Mb, 2 min | 21 Dec 2014)

 · · • • • · ·

2015

 JANUARY
 FEBRUARY
 MARCH
 APRIL
 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)