MONTHLY ARCHIVE OF UPDATES

NOVEMBER 2016

Observing and Celebrating Sri Govardhan Puja
Photographs of Sri Govardhan Puja festival observed at the temple of Mahaprabhu's Divine Water Play at Sri Nabadwip Dham in the shelter of the holy lotus feet of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Sri Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj.
(22 photographs, 1.3 Mb | 31 October 2016)

Tackling the Mind
"Mind is very naughty, you must control it with your intelligence. You think you are here, but it can be so that only your body is here because if your mind is somewhere else, you cannot hear anything..."
• Download (0.7 Mb, 2 min | 25 September 2009)

Some of the preparation known to be favourite to Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad whose disappearance day we are observing tomorrow include: kachoris (deep-fried pastry stuffed with vegetables or dal), sandesh, rasagullas, simply wonderfuls, karela, deep-fried eggplant, fried potato with tumeric, kitchri with vegetables, luchi, yoghurt, rice, etc.

Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad (Spoken on the appearance day)
"Without his mercy we would not have been able to think anything today, but we are very happy and we are making today a festival for Srila Swami Maharaj, on his appearance day. Everybody must pray for his mercy."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.9 Mb, 9 min | 15 August 2009)

namah om visnupadaya krsna-presthaya bhutale swami sri bhaktivedanta prabhupadaya te namah gurvajnam sirasi-dhrtva saktyavesa sva-rupine hare-krsneti mantrena paschatya-prachya-tarine visvacharya prabaryaya divya karunya murtaye sri bhagavata-madhurya-gita-jnana pradayine gaura-sri-rupa-siddhanta-saraswati nisevine radha-krsna-padambhoja-bhrngaya gurave namah "I offer my humble obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad, who is Krishna's beloved associate and who came down to this plane from Goloka. Taking the order of his guru on his head, he is the saktyavesa (empowered) avatar of Nityananda Prabhu personified. He distributed the Hare Krsna mantra all over the Eastern and Western world, delivering and uplifting all fallen souls. He is the best of millions of jagat-gurus, because he is the personification of divine mercy. He has distributed the sweet nectar of Srimad-Bhagavatam and the transcendental knowledge of Bhagavad-gita all over the world. He is constantly engaged in exclusive devotional service to Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura, Srila Rupa Goswami, and Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. I offer my humble obeisances unto Srila Prabhupada, who is like a bumble-bee always tasting the nectar of the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha and Govinda."

• 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. If anyone comes to you, their sins go away."

• SONG: Vaisnava thakura dayara sagara | বৈষ্ণব ঠাকুর দয়ার সাগর
"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. Mercifully give me a drop of faith and bestow upon me the wealth of Krishna's Name."

• 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! It is not possible to conquer maya by engaging in maya. I see no other way to get relief except for the mercy of sadhus."

Q&A's: Exploring Possibilities
"Everything happens by the will of the Lord. The Lord is very merciful—even if you are a demon, whatever kind of bad work you do, if at any time you surrender to Him just once, He will take you into His heart..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 7 min | 25 September 2009

Clear Conception, Clear Practice
His Divine Grace answers the questions: How to prove supremacy of Krishna consciousness? How fast can one free oneself from illusion? Can other kind of yoga help improve service? What should be the attitude to those who trade the Holy Name?
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 25 September 2009)

Bond of Hearts
"Before, I could not understand how much love and affection you have in your heart. But now everywhere I go I will tell about the glories of all the devotees of Venezuela and I will remember you wherever I am. At the same time, I have a request to all the devotees..."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.5 Mb, 13 min | 26 September 2009)

— · Sri Vyasa Puja Invitation · — Dear Godbrothers and Sisters, Devotees and Friends, This year, the supremely auspicious day of the divine advent of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Ananta-sri-vibhusita Paramahamsa-kula-chudamani Jagad-Guru Sri Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj manifests on a Thursday, 15 December 2016. On this day, the members of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, under the guidance and in the shelter of the holy lotus feet of the worshippable President-Acharya, Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Sri Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj, are holding a special programme of worship, revered offerings, kirtan, lectures, glorification of Sri Guru-Vaishnav, prasad distribution, as well as many other devotional activities at the central Sri Nabadwip Math and Sri Bamunpara. We shall feel obliged to have the kind company of you and your friends for this celebration to enhance this great festival. SRI CHAITANYA SARASWAT MATH Kolerganj, P.O. Nabadwip Pin 741302, W. Bengal, India Email:

Good Association: the Pivot of Life
"Everything comes by the will of the Lord, but Krishna puts everything in front of us—He gives stool and He also gives some food—we must understand what we should take. To understand this, good association is totally necessary."
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 2 min | 26 September 2009)

Ekadasi and Tulasi: Be Mindful
How important is it to fast on Ekadasi? Can we do the offering Gurudev without Tulasi leaves or we must always put Tulasi? Is there any reaction if we do not break the fasting the day after Ekadasi?
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min | 26 September 2009)

Tarakeswar Temple: Construction Progress
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Sri Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj takes devotees to the new temple in Tarakeshwar to supervise the construction works that are already very near their end.
(11 photographs, 0.5 Mb | 8 November 2016)

namo gaurakisoraya bhaktavadhuta murtaye gauranghri padma-bhrngaya radha-bhava-nisevine "I offer my obeisance unto the divine form of the devotee-avadhut Srila Gaura Kisor Das Babaji Maharaj, who is a honey-bee at Sri Gaurasundar's lotus feet and a servant of Srimati Radharani imbued with deep loving attachment."

Keep Proper Hours
"Always do sravan, kirtan, and do not sleep in the daytime. Some devotees stay up until 2-3 o'clock at night, gossiping, working and after that sleep until 9 o'clock. This is not good for the devotional life. All our Guru-varga go to sleep early in the evening and wake up at 3-4 o'clock. You must follow their example."
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 26 September 2009)

Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj
The transcendental pastimes and character of a great Vaishnav of our sampradaya: "'Why are you staying here in Radha Kunda? You must come to Nabadwip. My lila is not in Vrindavan, now My lila is going on in Nabadwip, so you must come here.' And he came here...."
• Download / listen to the audio (5.1 Mb, 15 min | 17 November 2010)

Srila Gaurakishoradas Babaji Maharaj
(An article written by Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad and published in the Harmonist in honour of the disappearance day of Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj:)
"We cannot be eligible for the discipleship of Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode, whom we may be disposed to honour on account of his display of scientific scholarship, unless we are cured of all our scholastic vanities through the realisation of the knowledge of transcendence by unconditional submission to the feet of Srila Gaurakishoradasa Babaji."

Sri Srimad Gaura-Kishor-Namaskar Dasakam | শ্রীশ্রীমদ্­গৌরকিশোরনমস্কারদশকম্
"O Divine Master of my Divine Master, my most venerable preceptor, you are supremely worshippable in the group of the foremost associates of Sri Gauranga. Although I remain deep in the mud of offenses, I (a fallen soul) am begging you for your causeless mercy. O Gaura Kisora, again and yet again do I make my obeisance unto you."

• 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: Vaisnava thakura dayara sagara | বৈষ্ণব ঠাকুর দয়ার সাগর
"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. Mercifully give me a drop of faith and bestow upon me the wealth of Krishna's Name."

• 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! It is not possible to conquer maya by engaging in maya. I see no other way to get relief except for the mercy of sadhus."

Adjusting Mind, Ego, and Heart
His Divine Grace answers questions and concludes the class: • Why does Mahaprabhu not come in every Kali-yuga? • Playing football with Krishna or Gurudev? • Giving up ego • Prayer, hope, and invitation
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 5 min | 26 September 2009)

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.

• "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..."

• "Observing Ekadasi"
"Mahaprabhu told everybody how to observe Ekadasi, and our Guru-varga also follow it. We must understand how to follow the Ekadasi day. Why do you leave your food? Not to please yourself, but to please the Lord."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min)

• "Ekadasi Vrata: Make Your Guru Happy"
"Mahaprabhu told us to follow the Ekadasi vrata and we follow it to please our Guru, to please our Guru-varga, and make Mahaprabhu happy."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 5 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 hari-vasare | শ্রীহরি-বাসরে হরি
"On the holy day of Sri Hari, Sriman Mahaprabhu, the life and soul of the universe, began dancing..."

Srila Gurudev's Mood
His Divine Grace recollects two pastimes of Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, including the famous construction of the temple in Sri Govinda Kunda.
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 27 September 2009)

Vaishnav Aparadh: Seek Shelter
"Vaishnav aparadh can come in many ways. If you make an offence to the Lord, Vaishnav can rescue you, but if you make an offence to a Vaishnav, even Krishna, Lord Himself, cannot remove that."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 27 September 2009)

রস পূর্ণিমা (Bengali class on Rasa Purnima)
His Divine Grace speaks about Lord Siva entering rasa-sthali, Mahaprabhu coming to taste the mood of Srimati Radharani, the value and purpose of the human life, as well as recollecting pastimes of Duhkhi becoming Sukhi, Mukunda Prabhu, gopis' quest to feed Durvasa Muni, sadhu and a scorpion, and explains the meaning of power transmission.
• Download / listen to the audio (22.3 Mb, 65 min | 20 November 2010)

Truthful Village
"One time, Narad Goswami came in this world to visit the villages. He came to a village and asked a man, 'What is the name of this village?' The man said, 'This village's name is Truthful, nobody here tells a lie'..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 27 September 2009)

Power to Recognise Holy Places and Vaishnavs
"If you get real sandalwood and you rub it, some good smell will come, but if you get some fake sandalwood and rub it, no smell will come. Every shopkeeper will tell you, 'My shop's sweets are very nice,' but..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 10 min | 27 September 2009)

Keep the Fire On
"Start the fire and keep the fire on, the wind will come. Even if your boat is going to sink, you must still continue rowing. So, do not stop, you must continue going forward. Until you get to the bank you must continue swimming!"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 23 December 2012)

A Fortunate Day
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Sri Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj bestows mercy onto two fortunate souls serving our Math in Sri Ekachakra Dham: Vasudev Prabhu and Abhay Charan Prabhu.
(9 photographs, 0.5 Mb | 17 November 2016)

Daily Practice
Taking the holy footdust of Sri Gurupadpadma Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj on our fallen head we are presenting pages dedicated to the spiritual practices that are recommended for the spiritual health of a disciple. We pray that this compilation gives nourishment, energy, and assistance to the devotees and sincere seekers worldwide.
(The permanent link to these pages is added to the top menu of the website.)

Service Enthusiasm
"I keep myself busy—I do not want to be a sick person or lazy. If you sing with love, and continue in this way, your heart will be good, then disease will never come to your heart. And by hook or by crook, you must engage people in service to Krishna consciousness."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 5 min | 23 December 2012)

Be Careful and Conscious
"You must be careful when you worship your Guru, be careful so that an offence does not come. Even birds, even beasts chant and cry, but our heart is harder than a stone because we hear about Lord Nitai, Lord Gauranga, but we are not crying..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min | 28 September 2009)

Preaching Programme at Tehatta
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Sri Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj takes devotees and the banner of Mahaprabhu to the fortunate souls in Tehatta, a small town on the outskirts of West Bengal, two-hour's drive from Nabadwip.
(15 photographs, 1 Mb | 22 November 2016))

Power of Devotees' Hearts
"This is the main thing—devotees' affection to Mahaprabhu... Mahaprabhu always said, 'Devotees are binding Me with their hearts. Without their permission I cannot go anywhere...' I am also thinking the same thing today."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 28 September 2009)

Pratistha: Self-Destruction
"If you want to get mercy from Gauranga, mercy from Gurudev, mercy from Krishna, it is not necessary to want to be a guru or to have any big position—through just some little service you can be a great devotee or go to your real destination."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 5 min | 29 May 2013)

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.

• "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..."

• "Observing Ekadasi"
"Mahaprabhu told everybody how to observe Ekadasi, and our Guru-varga also follow it. We must understand how to follow the Ekadasi day. Why do you leave your food? Not to please yourself, but to please the Lord."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min)

• "Ekadasi Vrata: Make Your Guru Happy"
"Mahaprabhu told us to follow the Ekadasi vrata and we follow it to please our Guru, to please our Guru-varga, and make Mahaprabhu happy."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 5 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 hari-vasare | শ্রীহরি-বাসরে হরি
"On the holy day of Sri Hari, Sriman Mahaprabhu, the life and soul of the universe, began dancing..."

Reforming Lifestyle
"It is necessary to be strict because he does not know what will be good for him. I also do not know what will be good for me—my Gurudev knows it, and my Gurudev gives me inspiration every day. But if he does not follow his Gurudev's instruction..."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.1 Mb, 12 min | 1 July 2013)

• SONG: Dhana mora Nityananda | ধন মোর নিত্যানন্দ
"My mind is intently fixed upon the remnants of Vaishnavs, and I am elated at the name of Vaishnavs. Advaita Acharya is my strength, Gadadhar is my family, and Narahari is my play and pastimes."

Service Anxiety
"Sometimes we are afraid of the Lord, but you should not be afraid of Him. When we have a family, a husband, children, etc. we take care of them as our own family, so a devotee also takes care of Krishna as a member of his family."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 29 May 2013)

Surrender: "You Are Not Independent"
"What does surrender mean? We say we have surrendered, or we are surrendering, we have renounced everything, but it may be false renunciation, false surrender. The main thing about surrender is not to follow your mind, but to follow your Gurudev's instruction."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 29 May 2013)

Beyond Material Environment
"They talk about pollution, about environment, saving the nature, saving health, but this is not high thinking. If we preach to them, if we tell them something about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Mahaprabhu's conception, they will easily understand that they are actually wasting their time..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 29 May 2013)

Clear Your Mind
"Lord Nrisinghadev wants to give you what you want, and we are foolish, but Prahlad Maharaj is not foolish: he did not ask for anything. Your Gurudev's hand is already on your head—you have got his mercy, you always have his shelter; but now you are drying up..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 8 min | 29 May 2013)

 · · • • • · ·

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• 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)