MONTHLY ARCHIVE OF UPDATES

JUNE 2017

Sincere and Eternal Service
"Govinda always rests in the heart of His devotee. Always remember it and serve sincerely. On the days when there is service going on in some place, that place is Goloka Vrindavan, and this is not a matter of one day only—you serve the Lord constantly, eternally."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 6 min | Bengali | 27 May 2017)

Irresistible Devotion
What kind of devotion and humility has the power to capture the Lord? What should be our attitude and mentality? His Divine Grace says, "This is what the scriptures say and it is necessary to listen to these things."
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 6 min | Bengali | 27 May 2017)

Devotees' Deities
His Divine Grace reminds us of the common grand heritage of Srila Sanatan Goswami, Rupa Goswami, Swami Haridas, Gauri Das Pandit, Dvijavaninath, Vishnupriya Devi, Srila Prabhupad and Srila Gurudev.
• Download / listen to the audio (0.8 Mb, 3 min | Bengali | 27 May 2017)

Sri Gita: Primary Scripture
"You can read Gita at any time, no problem. Gita is our primary scripture. Read Gita—memorise it and keep it in your heart; and not only to learn it by heart and keep it in your heart, it is necessary to follow what is written in Gita."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 4 min | Bengali | 27 May 2017)

In honour of Sri Ganga Mata Goswamini and Srila Baladev Vidyabhusan Prabhu, from the archive:

Ganga Mata Goswamini
"There was once a young girl, a daughter of a good Odisha king, who got much mercy from Jagannath. She always served in the Jagannath temple—made garlands and did whatever other service there was..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 24 September 2009)

From Sri Guru and His Grace:
"Srila Baladev Vidyabhusan's contribution to the sampradaya is no less important than that of the other great stalwarts in the line. Baladev Vidyabhusan was very akin to the Madhva sampradaya, but when he came in connection with Visvanath Chakravarti Thakur, he showed great interest in Gaudiya–Vaisnavism. He has also commented on the Srimad Bhagavatam and Jiva Goswami's Sat-sandarbha, and that enlightened thought is a valuable contribution to our sampradaya. We cannot dismiss him, he is our Guru."

Sincere Practice
His Divine Grace speaks on what sincere devotional practice is and what it is not: "Do not keep material desires in your heart. You must remove all dirty things from your heart by continuously hearing Hari-katha—then the seed of devotion will sprout."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 7 min | Bengali | 27 May 2017)

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.

• "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..."

Jada-Vidya
"Material knowledge means all knowledge besides the knowledge about devotion. Our prayer is, 'When will we be able to give up such knowledge?'"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min | Bengali | 27 May 2017)

• Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Sochaka | শ্রীল-রঘুনাথদাস-গোস্বামি-শোচক

(This kirtan is usually sung on the day of Sri Panihati Festival)

"When Raghunath Das heard that Rupa and Sanatan had gone to Vrindavan, he gave up all rights to his estate and the comforts of a life like that of Indra, and went to Mahaprabhu."

Panihati
"We have been to Panihati for chira-dadhi mahotsav, it is the place where Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Prabhu received mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. It is not so far from Dum Dum Park, and it is a very nice place, on the bank of the Ganges..."
• Download / listen to the audio (3 Mb, 8 min | 3 November 2010)

Treading the Wrong Path
Trying to cut a shortcut and fostering chauvinism will not take you far: without getting mercy of Gurudev, your attempts to reach the goal will be thwarted; by discriminating against householders you can end up in hell.
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 3 June 2015)

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)

~· FESTIVALS IN SRI PANIHATI : ARCHIVE PHOTOGRAPHS ·~
2009-2014 (105 photographs, 8 Mb) Photographs of the festivals taken over the past several years when our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math joined under the caring guidance of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj.		2015 (10 photographs, 1 Mb) Photographs taken at the annual chida-dahi festival in Panihati, where Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Prabhu received mercy of Nityananda Prabhu.		2016 (17 photographs, 1.3 Mb) Surrounded by his associates, servitors, and devotees, His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj takes part in the annual festival of flat rice and yoghurt in honour of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami.

Unpretentious Mood
"It is not necessary to show detachment, just as it is not necessary to [externally] show love and affection. The jiva soul wants to serve the Lord, but it cannot because the illusory environment is always pressuring it—it cannot get out of it."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min | June 2010)

From the archive:

Parama Karuna Nitai Gaurachandra
"I am always with you, and truly my love and affection are always with you—I cannot forget your service, your love and affection, and how Nitai Gaurachandra constantly bestow Their mercy on you all."
• Download the audio (3.3 Mb, 10 min | 15 June 2011)

Glorious Parama Karuna
"It is such a glorious and happy day! Gaura Nitai wanted to come but They were searching who They would come with. When They finally got Gurudev's good association, They suddenly caught Gurudev's hand and came to Caracas."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 6 min | 3 June 2015)

• SONG: Parama karuna | পরম করুণ পহুঁ দুই জন
"Nitai and Gaurachandra are the two most merciful Lords. There are no benefactors in the three worlds as merciful as Them. Hearing of Their glory, birds and animals cry and stones melt."

Sripad Rishabdev Prabhu's Message
"Dive deep, do not be satisfied with the surface understanding. It is necessary for us to go to the core, and this is beyond all visual, mental, and objective understanding... I have no hope, or even necessity, to know Krishna, but if I can serve guru or the servant of the guru, then I feel this is the perfection."

VIDEO: Sripad Risabdev Prabhu's Message (~40 Mb | 23 min)
Sripad Risabdev Prabhu is speaking a few weeks before his departure on 17 June 2000 sharing his memories of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad and the sum and substance of his practising life in Krishna consciousness.

Your Chance—Your Choice
"When you become old and so many diseases come, how will you serve? When your health is bad, you do not feel like doing anything, you know it yourself. Now your health is good, but every day we waste our time on other things."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 5 min | 20 May 2017 | Bengali)

Going Home
Webpages with some useful information and advice for those travelling to India, as well as directions to our 'transit station' temple in Kolkata and the central Math at Sri Nabadwip Dham. The permanent link to these pages can be found on the "Contact us" page.

Successful Life
"We have got a great fortune to serve the Guru and Vaishnavs, to follow and be chaste to the Guru and Vaishnavs, to live as the Guru and Vaishnavs tell us to live, and if we can use this opportunity, then our life will be successful."
• Download / listen to the audio (0.9 Mb, 3 min | 20 May 2017 | Bengali)

Chant and Remember
"Chant the Holy Name. Please always remember this. There are many kinds of devotional practices, it is not necessary to practise everything—if you can practise only one thing, it is sufficient."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min | 20 May 2017 | Bengali)

The Only Hope and Aspiration
"We have so many hopes—hundreds and hundreds of hopes appear within us—and how much suffering we get in return... Whatever your situation is, you must be happy and satisfied with that because whatever the Lord does, He does it for our benefit."
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 20 May 2017 | Bengali)

Treading Wrong Path
"We want the mercy of Gurudev—'If you give me your mercy, then everything is possible, otherwise not.' You have heard also what happens to those who make offence to the feet of Guru and Vaishnavs..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min | 20 May 2017 | Bengali)

Translations of the letter into Spanish and Russian are available here.

Love the Lord
"Do you think if you have no money, no wealth, the Lord will not come to you? Those who have a high birth, knowledge and wealth are so proud of themselves, but the Lord is very merciful to those who are poor and needy."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 20 May 2017 | Bengali)

Chant and Be Chaste
"You must feel taste for the Holy Name, such taste must come. If you chant the Holy Name without offence, then taste will come. We always make offences, but if you chant the Holy Name more and more, then offences will go away."
• Download / listen to the audio (0.6 Mb, 2 min | 20 May 2017 | Bengali)

• SONG: Sujanarvuda-radhita-pada-yugam | সুজনার্ব্বুদরাধিতপাদযুগং
"He is the embodiment of Hari-kirtan. He mercifully relieves Mother Earth of the burden upon her. He is an associate of Sri Gaura, and more kind and affectionate than a father. Eternally I offer my obeisance to my master's feet."

Rare Quality
"It is necessary to learn what the teachings of Mahaprabhu is and accept it. A devotee of Krishna is very rare, but one devotee is capable of delivering the entire universe."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min | 20 May 2017 | Bengali)

Why Can We Not Get It?
"At Srivas Pandit's house there was a maidservant Duhkhi—she got Mahaprabhu's mercy. There was a Muslim tailor near Srivas Pandit's house—he too got Mahaprabhu's mercy. A great sinner Chand Kazi broke a mridanga, but even he got Mahaprabhu's mercy. Why can we not get it?"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min | 20 May 2017 | Bengali)

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.

• "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" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi Vrata: Make Your Guru Happy" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "No Other Shelter" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Mahadvadasi" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi and liberation" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
• "Ekadasi Tithi: One of the Practices" (by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

Sri Puri Dham Parikrama | Day One

Arrival at Sri Puri Dham
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj, accompanied by his associates, fortunate devotees and pilgrims, arrives safely at Sri Puri Dham at the holy lotus feet of Sri Sri Nitai Chaitanya and gives the first evening class.
(20 June 2017 | 18 photographs, 1 Mb)

Visited this morning:
Samudra, the holy ocean		Samadhi-mandir of Srila Haridas Thakur		Sri Chatak Parvat Bhajan-kutir of Srila Prabhupad		Sri Tota-Gopinath Bhajan-kutir of Srila Gadadhar Pandit

Sri Puri Dham Parikrama | Day Two

Visited today:
Bhajan-kutir of Srila Jagadananda Pandit	Bhajan-kutir of Srila Haridas Thakur	Sri Gambhira	House of Srila Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya

Sri Puri Dham Parikrama | Day Three

Visited today:
Sri Alarnath Temple	Sakhi Gopal Temple	Bindu Sagar Kunda	Sri Ananta Vasudev Temple	Sri Lingaraj Mandir

Sri Puri Dham Parikrama | Day Four

Visited today:
Birthplace of, Srila Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad		Ramananda Ray's home and garden		Sri Jagannath Mandir	Sri Gundicha Temple		Sri Indradyumna Sarovar

In honour of Sri Gundicha Marjan:

Gundicha Marjan: A Seat for Bhakti Devi
"What is the meaning of this Pastime? We have so much dust in our hearts, we must remove this dust. Once we clean the place in our heart, we can invite Bhakti Devi, the Lord, to come there. Unless you clean the place, Bhakti Devi will not come."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 7 min | Kirtan & Bengali class)

In honour of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur:

Srimad Bhakti Vinodaviraha Dasakam | শ্রীমদ্ভক্তিবিনোদবিরহদশকম্
"Alas, alas! O Bhakti Vinoda Thakura, O Supreme Guru, for twenty-two years this world has been plunged into misfortune, long grief-stricken in your intolerable separation. You are the divine potency of Sri Gaura, and you graciously made your advent in this earthly plane, being attracted by the living beings' virtuous deeds performed throughout many lifetimes. Where am I, so lowly and fallen, and where are you, the great soul who delivers the universe!"

Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur
"If Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur had not come in this world, where, in whose lotus feet would we have found our shelter? He gave us all these things and he gave us Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. If you think about it, you can understand how much he gave to the jiva souls..."
• Download the audio (3.6 Mb, 11 min | 3 October 2015)

Recognising Guru: What Is Your Obstacle?
"Brother, you see Bhakti Vinod Thakur as your father, but I see him as my spiritual master. That is the difference. What you see is a father (baba), and that is the obstacle (badha) that prevents you from getting Radharani (Radha)."
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 24 February 2013)

The Seventh Goswami [By Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj]
A summary account of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's service, life, and character. Originally published as an introduction to the first edition of Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya published as The Hidden Treasure of the Holy Dhama Nabadwipa.

The Worship of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur
[Sri Gaudiya Darshan, by Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj]
"Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur did so much seva for the sampradaya of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He lived during a very heavy time period. He was a very exclusive devotee of Mahaprabhu and specifically worshipped Deities of Sri Sri Gaura Gadadhar...."

In honour of Srila Gadadhar Pandit Goswami:

At Sri Chatak Parvat and Sri Tota Gopinath Temple
His Divine Grace is speaking at the bhajan-kutir of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur and Sri Tota Gopinath temple on the first day of Sri Puri Dham parikrama, telling the pastimes of Srila Haridas Thakur's disappearance and Srila Gadadhar Pandit.
• Download / listen to the audio (4.9 Mb, 13 min | 14 July 2015 | Bengali)

Sri Gadadhar Pandit's Life in Puri
A special discourse given by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj for Sri Gaudiya Darshan, 1995, dwelling on "Puri Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math" and "Jagannathdev and His Dham." Later, this article was included in the compilation of lectures Affectionate Guidance (Chapter 23).

Pandit Sri Gadadhar Goswami
[Sri Gaudiya Darshan, by Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj]
"Pandit Goswami's life is a special offering of silent and complete self-sacrifice to his beloved. Only those who can taste unprecedented joy by appreciating the wonder within the ornament of contradiction in seeing the bag of a beggar on Laksmi Devi’s shoulder are fit to appreciate the extraordinary glory of Srimat Pandit Goswami's unprecedented personality..."

Prayers to Sri Vaishnav Thakur:

• 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: Ohe Vaisnava Thakura | (ওহে) বৈষ্ণব ঠাকুর
"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. You can give Krishna, you have that power. Calling, 'Krishna!' 'Krishna!', I run after you."

• 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! Prabhu, you see no fault in others, you are the saviour of the fallen. Please deliver Narottam this time!"

• SONG: Dhana mora nityananda | ধন মোর নিত্যানন্দ
"The feet dust of the Vaishnavs is where I sport and take bath, Vaishnavs' name is the water oblation. My mind is intently fixed upon the remnants of Vaishnavs, and I am elated hearing the name of Vaishnavs."

• SONG: Ye anila prema-dhana | যে আনিল প্রেমধন
"Where has Advaita Acharya gone? Where are my Svarup, Rupa, Sanatan? Where is my Raghunath? Where are the saviours of the fallen souls?"

While observing and celebrating Sri Ratha Yatra festival, we are also remembering how, seventy-six years ago, on this day His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj entered Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Nabadwip Dham. In honour of this worshippable day we are presenting Srimad Bhagavad-gita for online reading:

Srimad Bhagavad-gita,
The Hidden Treasure of the Sweet Absolute
"Everyone who has got some faith in Lord Krishna is trying to study it, but if those who are suffering in this material world try to understand what is inside Srimad Bhagavad-gita, if they try to search what Krishna gave us inside it, they will be very benefitted."

srimach-chaitanya-sarasvata-mathavara-udgita-kirtir jaya-srim bibhrat sambhati ganga-tata-nikata-nabadwipa-koladri-raje yatra sri-gaura-sarasvata-mata-nirata-gaura-gatha grnanti nityam rupanuga sri-krtamati-guru-gauranga-radha-jitasa "On the banks of the Ganges in Koladwip, Nabadwip, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math stands resplendent. The flag flies high, singing its glories around the world. There, the residents chant the glories of Lord Gauranga and aspire to serve Sri Sri Radha-Govinda in the line of Sri Rupa."

Sri Ratha-Yatra Festival
Accompanied by devotees, associates and servitors, His Divine Grace Jagad Guru Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj attends the grand festival of the Lord's chariots in Sri Puri Dham and manifests his divine pastimes to the fortunate souls.
(25 June 2017 | 21 photographs, 1.7 Mb)

Mercy Is Not Always Sweet
"Just look how Nityananda Prabhu gave His mercy to Sivananda Sen—He kicked him! If I, on the other hand, chastise any of you, you will say, 'I do not need such a Guru!' My Guru must love me.' What is love? What is love to a child?"
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 19 July 2017 | Bengali)

Our Spiritual Lifestyle
"Gurudev said, 'Anywhere you stay, you must maintain your spiritual life.' You can make your family Krishna's family. It does not matter where we live, we can live anywhere, it is not a problem. What is necessary is to maintain our spiritual life."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 5 min | 16 October 2011)

Cementing Your Faith
"It is necessary to have strongest faith. Strongest faith comes through service, through practising. Our faith will be strong if we follow Gurudev's instruction. If you do not believe Gurudev's words, then you will gradually lose your faith."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 6 min | 16 October 2011)

Practise and Preach
"Everybody works, I also work, but what do we work for? Work is for the service to the Guru. If you offer everything to Gurudev, then it becomes service. And preach—you will be benefitted and they will be benefitted through you."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min | 16 October 2011)

 · · • • • · ·

2017

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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)