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MONTHLY ARCHIVE OF UPDATES

NOVEMBER 2020

 

 

Sun, 1 November 2020
Fundamental Mood of Kirtan
"The perfect mood is humility, tolerance and giving honour to others. Chant the Holy Name without offence, try to engage yourself in the service of the mission, of your guru. Chant without offence, serve without offence, and you will succeed in your spiritual life."
Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 6 min | 25 October 2020)

 

—: INVITATION :—
Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's Appearance Festival

Dear Devotees, Vaishnavs, and Well-Wishers,

On behalf of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj, the Sevaite-President Acharya of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, we are bowing down at your holy feet and extending an invitation to join us on the occasion of the grand festival in honour of the holy appearance day of our supremely worshippable Om Vishnupad Sri Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, the founder and eternal guardian of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, that falls on 9 November 2020 (Monday) this year.

Due to the current government restrictions, it may still not be possible to hold a full-fledged festival with a grand large gathering, yet the festival of Hari-kirtan, Hari-katha, and prasad-seva will be held in every temple, house and jubilant heart where Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is established, and we shall feel blessed to have your holy association on this holy day.

Taking your feet dust on our heads, we humbly pray that this supremely worshippable appearance day of Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, celebrated with much joy and grandeur by the fortunate souls throughout the entire manifest creation, may pass auspiciously in Hari-katha, Hari-kirtan, and Hari-seva that are so dear to the hearts of Sri Guru, Vaishnavs, and the Lord.

Your aspiring servants at
scsmathinternational.com

Email address for enquiry:
info.at.scsmathinternational.com


Make the Festival, with Heart and Soul
"I am telling to everyone who is staying in the temple, to every centre: you must make a festival for Srila Sridhar Maharaj. If you want to show that you want to serve Srila Sridhar Maharaj, then make a good festival on this day."
Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min)

Some preparations and items that are known to be favourite to His Divine Grace Srila Sridhar Maharaj include: natural orange juice (with just a little sugar), cholar dahl (split chickpea dal) or kolai dal (urad dal), alu bhaji (deep-fried potato chips), sukta, muri, puri/luchi with alu bhaja, aloo dum, samosa, pineapple chutney (anaraser chutney), puspanna, figs (dumur), chaunsa mango.

 

 

Mon, 2 November 2020
Sincere Ego-Free Relationship
"Everybody's focus must be one—everybody must think that we are all godbrothers and godsisters, and our main goal is to serve our Guru, to please our Guru. This is not a competition. This is not some fight. Do not become jealous. If envy comes to you, then you yourself will be getting pain from that—you yourself will be losing."
Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 9 min | 25 October 2020)

 

Tue, 3 November 2020
Nonsense Sacrifice
"People used to cut people's necks, and now in lieu of that, since it is not possible to kill people, they kill a buffalo... People cannot control their material desires, anger, and many other bad elements within. They will suffer in the age of Kali!"
Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 7 min | 25 October 2020)

ভালো অন্বেষী হউক
শ্রীল গুরুপাদপদ্ম ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীলভক্তিনির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের হরিকথামৃত শ্রীনৃসিংহপল্লীতে :
"আমি একটা সাধারণ মানুষ হতে পারি, কিন্তু গুরুদেব যে আমাকে সম্পত্তি দিয়েছেন, সেটা আমি অস্বীকার করতে পারি না । ঈশ্বরের কৃপায়, গুরুদেবের কৃপায় যে সম্পদ আমি পেয়েছি, সেটা আমি আপনাদেরকের বলিয়ে দিচ্ছি । সেটা যদি গ্রহণ করতে পারেন, তাহলে বার বার এখানে আসতে হবে না । চাতক পাখি যেমন এক ফোঁটা বৃষ্টির জলের জন্য অপেক্ষায় তাকিয়ে থাকে, তদ্রূপ গুরু-সেবার জন্য আমাদের অপেক্ষায় তাকিয়ে থাকতে হবে । কোন অজুহাত চলবে না ।"
Download / listen to the audio (16.1 Mb, 40 min | 2 November 2020 | ২ নভেম্বর ২০২০)

 


Today in the calendar: Krishna Tritiya. Disappearance of Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhakti Srirup Puri Maharaj. (A sannyas disciple of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad)

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day."


 

Wed, 4 November 2020
Our Main Problem
"Our main problem is that we are always busy with our body. Almost the entire world is always thinking about their temporary bodies. Such is our situation. Almost everybody here is very much attached to their body."
Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 4 min | 1 November 2020)

Deity Installation 13th Anniversary Festival in Veracruz
(31 October 2020 | 33 photographs, 2.7 Mb)
Fortunate devotees partake of the joyous beehive festival of service activities preparing and celebrating the grand festival in honour of the thirteenth installation anniversary of the presiding Lordships in Veracruz, Mexico—Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Nandanandana in the holy shelter of Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj.

"কীর্ত্তনের ধামে সব সময় কীর্ত্তন করতে হবে"
শ্রীল গুরুপাদপদ্ম ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীলভক্তিনির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের হরিকথামৃত শ্রীনৃসিংহপল্লীতে :
"সব সময় গৌরহরির বন্দনা করতে হবে, গৌরহরির কীর্ত্তন করতে হবে । কীর্ত্তন করাবার কে অধিকারী ? দৈন্যতা থাকতে হবে, অপরের দিকে দয়া করতে হবে, অন্যে মান দিতে হবে, নিজের প্রতিষ্ঠা বর্জ্জন করতে হবে । ভক্তের জীবনে সেবাটাই হচ্ছে ব্রত । নিয়ম-সেবার ব্রত পালন কছেন ? সেবাটাই হচ্ছে ব্রত । সেবাই ব্রত, সেবাই প্রাণ, সেবাই নিয়ম । এইটা নিয়ম সেবা করা ।"
Download / listen to the audio (19.7 Mb, 47 min | 3 November 2020 | Bengali | ৩ নভেম্বর ২০২০)

 

Thu, 5 November 2020 (Disappearance of Srila Narottam Das Thakur)
Search For Original Source
"We always want pleasure, happiness, love affection, but we will never get it from this material world. Our Gurudev has told us very clearly how we must practise, how we can attain our destination, where the source is and how to reach that kind of source. Those who can give proper attention to this, must succeed."
Download / listen to the audio (2.9 Mb, 7 min | 1 November 2020)

A pearl of guidance: Courtyard of Vrindavan
"The kind of kirtan you can chant depends upon your adhikar, and the quality of your kirtan depends upon your devotion. Srila Narottam Das Thakur sings, 'Vrndavane chabutara tahe mora mano-ghera—My entire mind dwells within the courtyard of Vrindavan.' But we all know where our mind goes..."
Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 5 January 2020)

 


Today in the calendar: Krishna Panchami. Disappearance of Srila Narottam Das Thakur.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day."

 

 

 


 

In honour of Srila Narottam Das Thakur:

Whole-Hearted Service
"Narottam Das Thakur was born in Sripat Keturi (Bangladesh) and in his life he composed many Vaishnav songs. Actually, all our Guru-varga serve the Lord and serve their Guru whole-heartedly, with body, mind, and speech."
Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 6 min | 16 June 2010)

Narottam Das Thakur: Our Guru, Our Protector, Our Shelter
"Narottam Das Thakur is our Guru-varga. If you think how much he tried to preach, you will wonder, 'How is it possible?' You can understand how much he preached and how he protected our line if you think about his songs."
Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 9 min | 4 November 2012)

Srila Narottam Das Thakur: Bona Fide Benefactor
"Who will you call a Guru? A Guru is not someone whose profession is to make disciples, who only takes your money. The Guru gives a conception, gives some wealth, property, with which you can go to your real home..."
Download (2.7 Mb, 6 min | 4 November 2012)

Srila Narottam Das Thakur's Separation
"How did he leave his body? It was unbelievable. It happened on the panchami (fifth) day of the Kartik month, that is today... One day, he was chanting and the devotees could see that he was saying, 'I want to go, I want to go.' He said this in front of everybody..."
Download (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 4 November 2012)

Srila Narottam Das Thakur: His Mission in Bengal
"Three persons had promised to stay in Vrindavan, but they left their promise and came to Bengal. When Narottam Das Thakur came to Bengal he found so many great devotees who were not getting good association. He kept Mahaprabhu's conception properly. We pray we can get some mercy and can serve him, protect his line and preach about him."
Download (2.6 Mb, 8 min | 4 November 2012)

Beware of Maya
"After some days there will come Guru Maharaj's appearance festival. We must honour his appearance day properly... Always, at all times, be alert, be aware of Maya. Maya does not mean some girl or a woman..."
Download (1.9 Mb, 6 min | 4 November 2012)

Kirtans: • Ye anila prema-dhana • Hari haraye nama krsna.
Download (2.7 Mb, 8 min | 4 November 2012)

Beware Imitation
"If you follow Narottam Das Thakur's advice, this is good, but if you think you want to do what Narottam Das Thakur did, if you want to become Narottam, then it is a very big problem. Do not imitate Nityananda Prabhu."
Download / listen to the audio (0.7 Mb, 2 min)

 

In Praise of Srila Narottam Das Thakur [From Affectionate Guidance]
"Today is the Disappearance Day of Srila Narottam Thakur, so I would like to say a few words to glorify him. Before Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur most of the Vaisnava songs came from Srila Narottam Thakur. But although he wrote many beautiful songs of devotion, Narottam Das Thakur was not just a song writer, he was a great pandit and more than that, he was a devotee of Sri Chaitanyadev."

 

"We have no quality, no qualification to serve the Vaishnavs. If we do not got mercy from Vaishnavs, we cannot acquire, or get, service from the Vaishnavs. That is why we always make Vaishnavs' tirobhav (disappearance) festivals and remember such days.

"We are praying to that Vaishnav Thakur [Srila Narottam Das Thakur], 'Wherever you are staying, Prabhu, wherever you are living now, we want to serve your servant! We want to serve your servant's servant.' We pray we can get some mercy and can serve him, can protect his line and preach about him."

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, please deliver Narottam this time!"

Ei-bara karuna kara | এইবার করুণা কর
"O worshippable Vaisnava, be merciful to me this time. In every birth I aspire for the dust of your feet."

Thakura vaisnava-gana | ঠাকুর বৈষ্ণবগণ
"Narottam Das says, 'Seeing and hearing about my situation, I am stricken with fear. Please rescue me and keep me by your side.'"

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

Nitai-pada kamala
"Always aspire for Nitai's feet. Narottam is very sad: 'O Nitai! Make me happy. Keep me beside your reddish feet.'"

Sri Krsna Chaitanya Prabhu daya kara more
"O Srinivas Acharya Prabhu! Be merciful! Narottam Das prays for the association of Ramachandra Kaviraj."

Gaurangera Duti Pada
"Whether he lives in a house or in the forest, Narottam Das begs for the association of one who calls, 'O Gauranga!'"

Sri-rupa-manjari-pada | শ্রীরূপমঞ্জরী-পদ
"O Rupa! Please be merciful to me, give me shelter at your lotus feet. Narottam is praying for your shelter."

Ye anila prema-dhana | যে আনিল প্রেমধন
"Not finding the association of Sri Gauranga, who performed His Pastimes with all these associates, Narottam Das weeps."

Hari haraye nama krsna | হরি হরয়ে নমঃ কৃষ্ণ
"Aspiring for the lotus feet of Sri Guru and the Vaisnavas, Narottam Das chants the Holy Name."

 

Fri, 6 November 2020 (Disappearance of Srila Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj)
Vyasadev's Gift (1)
"When Gurudev was in Australia in 1992, he gave one lecture. I have got the Bengali translation of that lecture and was proof reading it today. It is a very nice lecture, I want to tell you about it."
Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 9 min | 1 November 2020)

 


Today in the calendar: Krishna Shashthi. Disappearance of Srila Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj (a disciple of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad and a dear associate of Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj).

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day."

 

 


 

In honour of Srila Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj:

— { Pranam mantra } —

saumyam suddha-tanum sudhamsu-vadanam sarasvatam sundaram
namananda-puram prasanta-manasam samsara-santarakam
abalayad-bhagavat-padabja-madhupam dinarti-ham daivatam
vande bhakti-vicharakam prabhu-varam yayavara-svaminam

"I offer my obeisance unto my great master, the worshippable Srimad Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj. He is a beautiful follower of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur and has been a bee in the lotus feet of the Lord since his youth. He has a divine form and a moonlike face. He is filled with the Name's ecstasy and his heart is tranquil. He is gentle, he relieves the fallen of their distress, and he delivers the world."

(Composed by Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj)

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 Bhakti Siddhanta 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)

 

Sat, 7 November 2020
Vyasadev's Gift (2)
"Who we are? What must we do? How can we get relief? This is all transcendental knowledge of atma-tattva. Those who do not see anything [who have no real, transcendental vision] ask so many questions, but we must understand what is the main purpose of this life. If you read Srimad Bhagavatam, you will understand it."
Download / listen to the audio (3.4 Mb, 8 min | 1 November 2020)

 

Sun, 8 November 2020
Leave Questioning Mood
"I have told you—there is only one question, and the answer is also only one. Surrender to the Lord. Have full faith. Shyness, shame, fear—keep everything at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna, Srimati Radharani, or Gurudev. Do not see things in the mundane, material way. You must see everything in the transcendental way."
Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 1 November 2020)

 


Today in the calendar: Krishna Ashtami. Bahulashtami. Manifestation day of Sri Radha Kunda. Sannyas day of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day."

 

 


 

In honour of Sri Radha Kunda's manifestation day:

 

"Srila Prabhupad laid a special stress on this and expressed it in very appropriate Gaudiya terms and conclusions. Unless we serve the transcendental Govardhan, we will not be able to realise the supremacy of Sri Radha Kunda that lies beside Govardhan and is inundated with the nectar of divine love. 'Go' means senses or knowledge. If you serve the external, physical Govardhan, i.e. cultivate knowledge merely to increase or indulge your selfish material senses, then you are actually dunking yourself into the waters of Niraya Kunda (Hell Pond) that is created by the maha-maya, the external shadow potency of Sri Radha; only when you foster transcendental senses and cultivate transcendental knowledge can you consider it service to Govardhan for the pleasure of Krishna's senses."

(Guidance 3, 'Sri Radhastami')

 

Dear and Dearmost
"Krishna said to Radharani, 'OK, so Your kunda is better, and My kunda is all poison, but if we mix some of the water from Your kunda into My kunda, then the kunda will be purified!'"
Download / listen to the audio (1.9 Mb, 6 min | 13 August 2009)

 

SONG: Radha-kunda-tata | করাধাকুণ্ডতট
"...I know all these things are nourishing the pastimes of the Divine Couple, I can never leave all these things so dear to me, without them I know I'll surely die."
Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb)

 

"Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur says, 'Sri Vrindavan and its surroundings so intensely awaken my remembrance of Krishna; and if these things are taken away from me, I shall lose my very life. They are sustaining me, because they are encouraging me to take to Krishna consciousness.'

radhakundatata-kunjakutira
govardhanaparvata yamunatira
kusumasarovara, manasaganga
kalindanandini vipula-taranga

vamsivata, gokula, dhirasamira
vrndavana-taru latika-vanira
khaga-mrgakula, malaya-batasa
mayura, bhramara, murali-vilasa

venu, srnga, padachihna, meghamala
vasanta, sasanka, sankha karatala
yugala vilase anukula jani
lilavilasa-uddipaka mani

esaba chhodata kaha nahi yau
esaba chhodata parana harau
bhaktivinoda kahe, suna kana
taya uddipaka hamara parana

The grove-dwelling on the banks of Radha-kunda,
Govardhana mountain, the banks of river Yamuna;
Kusuma-sarovara lake, Manasa-ganga river,
The rolling waves of Yamuna, daughter of the sun;

Place of the Rasa dance, and Gokula, the gentle breezes,
The trees, vines, and Vetasa palms of Vraja;
The birds and animals, the sweet air of spring,
The peacocks, bumblebees, the flute's sweet song;

Flute, horn, His footsteps, range of clouds in the sky,
Season of spring, the moon, the conch, hand-cymbals;
I know all this nourishes the pastimes of the Divine Couple,
I can feel they arouse the holy pastimes of the Lord;

I can never leave all these things so dear to me,
Without them I know I'll surely die;
Hear me, O Kan, says Sri Bhaktivinoda:
You are the only light of my life.

This is Vrindavan. Vrindavan is so friendly, so sweet, so near to us, and such a well-wisher of ours. We are quite at home there—sweet, sweet home. Svarupe sabara haya, golokete sthiti: in our innate and innermost existence, we are members of that plane. Now we have come out, and we have scattered our consciousness all over the surface. Cover, cover, cover—there are so many layers, and they are all dry things. And the substance, the spirit, is within. Eliminating this bodily cover, the mental cover, the liberation cover, the Vaikuntha cover—then I may enter into the land of Vraja. Vrindavan resides within me, if I can find my friends everywhere. They are my friends and relatives, and they will give me all-pleasing experience, ecstasy. Mahaprabhu came with this news for us. 'Oh, you are a child of that soil; why do you suffer here, my children, my boys? Why do you suffer? Amrtasya-putrah: you are a child of that soil, and you are suffering so much, coming in the desert? Your home is so resourceful, so sweet, and you are running in the desert? What is this? Come! Leave this poisonous charm, this suicidal charm. This charm, maya-charm, misunderstanding charm—this is suicidal. Leave this apparent charm! This is poisonous, like a witch. The witch has charmed you here and made you spellbound. Come along with Me! I shall take you to your home which is so very sweet!'"

(Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion 1, chapter 11)

 

In honour of Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's sannyas day:

 

~ Pranam-mantra ~

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."

 

"The day after Srila Guru Maharaj gave Srila Govinda Maharaj sannyasa was Guru Maharaj's own Appearance Day and he was very happy on that day. Early that morning I went to see him and said, 'Srila Guru Maharaj, yesterday you gave Srila Govinda Maharaj sannyasa; but I think he took sannyasa many, many lifetimes ago.' He replied, 'Oh, you want to say that this is only being done to show the people who he is, but actually he is much more than that?' Srila Guru Maharaj was smiling and laughing, and on that morning, his own Appearance Day, he sat on his chair and for maybe two or three hours he talked about Srila Govinda Maharaj. This was the Appearance Day of the Guru but the Guru was doing kirtan of the disciple!"

{ Book Shelf }
An extensive selection of books, articles and poetry by His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj available for online reading and download, as well as purchase from any of our temples worldwide.

Biography of Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj
A glorification article that sprang forth from the interpretation of the Pranam-mantra of His Divine Grace and was originally published as an Appendix to the Revealed Truth.

Sannyas Day (20 photographs, 2.3 Mb)
Archive photographs taken on 6 November 1985, on the day Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj accepted the sannyas order from His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

 

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! All glory to the mine of joy, Sri Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami, who is the crown-jewel of Gurus!"

 

Mon, 9 November 2020 (Appearance day of Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj)
Our Great Fortune
"Today is a very auspicious day because tomorrow is the appearance day of our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math's Founder Acharya—our Param Gurudev, Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. I am giving my full humble obeisance at the lotus feet of my beloved Gurudev, and our Param Gurudev...."
Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 7 min | 8 November 2020)

 


Today in the calendar: Krishna Navami. The grand 126th appearance day celebration of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math's Founder-President-Acharya, Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya-varya Ashtottara-shata-sri Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Appearance of Srila Virachandra Prabhu. Disappearance of Sripad Sakhi Charan Das Babaji Maharaj.

 

 


 

In honour of Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj:

~ Pranam-mantra ~


devam divya-tanum suchhanda-vadanam balarka-chelanchitam
sandrananda-puram sad-eka-varanam vairagya-vidyambudhim
sri-siddhanta-nidhim subhakti-lasitam sarasvatanam varam
vande tam subhadam mad-eka-saranam nyasisvaram sridharam

"I offer my obeisance unto my lord, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, whose speech is most pleasing; whose divine form is adorned with garments the colour of the newly-risen sun; who is an abode of intense, ecstatic devotion; who is the sadhus' sole choice; who is an ocean of renunciation and knowledge; who is a treasure-house of perfect conclusions; who is resplendent with pure devotion; who is the best of Srila Saraswati Thakur's followers; who is the giver of all good; who is the leading general of the tridandi-sannyasis; and who is my sole shelter."

 

Biography of Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj
Srila Guru Maharaj's extensive recollections of his childhood and youth, as well as the coming to the lotus feet of his Gurudev and later on starting Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

What Is Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and Its Distinctions
An exquisite and profoundly fundamental chapter from Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj's book Guidance, Volume 3, dwelling on the mission and distinctive characteristics of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

The Root of Our Fortune
"Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj came in this world to rescue us, and he created our Guru—by his grace we have got shelter of our bona fide Guru. So, we must worship his lotus feet."
Download / listen to the audio (7.6 Mb, 22 min | 22 October 2011)

Make the Festival, with Heart and Soul
"I am telling to everyone who is staying in the temple, to every centre: you must make a festival for Srila Sridhar Maharaj. If you want to show that you want to serve Srila Sridhar Maharaj, then make a good festival on this day."
Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 15 July 2012)

{ Book Shelf }
An extensive selection of books, articles and poetry by His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj available for online reading and download, as well as purchase from any of our temples worldwide.

 

Photo Album: (35 photographs, 3.4 Mb)
A collection of selected photographs of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj is now added to the archive of photographs. (Part 1)

 

 


SONG: Jaya Guru Maharaja | জয় ‘গুরু-মহারাজ' যতিরাজেশ্বর
"All glory to Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami, the leading general of the tridandi-sannyasis! You revealed your Pastimes in this world as the saviour of the fallen and delivered the sinful and unfortunate souls."

Sri-gaura-mandala majhe | শ্রীগুর্ব্বাবির্ভাব প্রশস্তি
"In Sri Gaura Mandal, there is a village called Hapaniya where my Lord, an abode of all good qualities, appeared. It stands on the bank of the Ganga, who is very merciful to the fallen souls; renowned in the whole world, this abode is a holy repository of knowledge and jewels of logic."

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: Sri Rupa-manjari-pada | শ্রীরূপমঞ্জরী-পদ
"The lotus feet of Sri Rupa Manjari are my wealth, my bhajan (service), my puja (worship), the wealth of my life, and whatever ornaments I may have. Her lotus feet are the very life of my life."

Some preparations and items that are known to be favourite to His Divine Grace Srila Sridhar Maharaj include: natural orange juice (with just a little sugar), cholar dahl (split chickpea dal) or kolai dal (urad dal), alu bhaji (deep-fried potato chips), sukta, muri, puri/luchi with alu bhaja, aloo dum, samosa, pineapple chutney (anaraser chutney), puspanna, figs (dumur), chaunsa mango.

 

 

Tue, 10 November 2020 (Tomorrow is Sri Rama Ekadasi)
Srila Sridhar Maharaj: Appearance and Early Days
"The name of Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's father is Upendra Chandra Bhattacharya. His birthpalce is in Hapaniya. His mother's name was Sri Gauri Devi. By the will of the Lord, when Srila Sridhar Maharaj appeared, he was the eldest son. How did his parents get this kind of son? There is some history behind it."
Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 7 min | 8 November 2020)

 

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: The Exclusive Line of Srila Saraswati Thakur
Written and formerly printed in the form of a Centenary Sri Vyasa-puja offering by Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj: "I offer my dandavat-pranams at the lotus feet of Srila Guru Maharaj, Srila Govinda Maharaj, and their eternal associates and followers. They are all capable of flooding this entire universe with that Krishna-prema that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and his Parsada devotees came to give. They are each an ocean of mercy and are the only shelter for the fallen souls. I pray that they will not leave me behind. My prayer is that they will ever keep me near to them."

 

Srila Sridhar Maharaj's Appearance Festival in Kolkata
(9 November 2020 | 18 photographs, 1.6 Mb)
Photographs of the festival observed in the association of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj in Kolkata (due to virus restrictions, a large festival in Nabadwip and Hapaniya was not possible this year).

Srila Sridhar Maharaj's Appearance Festival in Bokaro
(9 November 2020 | 17 photographs, 1.4 Mb)
Devotees happily celebrate the holy appearance day of Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj in Bokaro, filling the day and their hearts with Hari-katha, Hari-kirtan, and Hari-prasad-seva for the pleasure of Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj.

Sri Gurupadpadma Visits Tarakeshwar
(6-7 November 2020 | 15 photographs, 1.1 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj visits Sri Tarakeshwar Temple to nourish the devotees after a long time of absence and to perform a fire sacrifice for a departed devotee.

Srila Sridhar Maharaj's Appearance Festival in Soquel
(9 November 2020 | 13 photographs, 0.7 Mb)
Devotees happily observe the holy appearance day of Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj in the shelter of the holy feet of Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj. As the lockdown restriction ease, devotees are happily able to gather again in small groups at the temple.

 

In honour of Sri Damodar Month:

Damodar Month
"This Kartik month (Damodar month) is Krishna's dearmost month. There is Radha-Damodar temple near our Vrindavan temple and every Kartik we go for parikrama in Vrindavan. This year also we have a great wish to start Vrindavan parikrama in Damodar month."
Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 7 min | 25 October 2018)

Month of Service—Life of Service
"Today Kartik-vrata, or niyom-seva, starts. Our temple observes it from purnima to purnima, and some other temples do it from dvadasi to dvadasi. One day I asked Gurudev what niyom-seva meant..."
Download / listen to the audio (6.4 Mb, 14 min | 13 October 2019)

Damodarastakam
"We sing Damodarastakam about the pastimes of the Lord written by Satyavrata Muni every Kartik month. That is a very important song in our spiritual life."
Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 25 October 2018)

Attend to Kirtan—Attain Kirtan
"Who can understand these songs? We cannot even understand 'trnad api sunichena...' then can we proceed to the other songs? If we want to chant the Name of Krishna, then we must become like this—trnad api sunichena...—as we sing in this kirtan."
Download (0.7 Mb, 2 min | 7 November 2012 | Bengali)

 

Kartik Month Kirtans:
Following the tradition established at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, after the regular morning and evening kirtans, the following kirtans are chanted every day:

Morning:
Damodarastakam
"To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence, knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro, who is beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who is quickly running from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of Mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed—to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances."
Download
Sri Sriman Mahaprabhur Sata-Nama (nadiya-nagare nitai)
"In the towns and villages of Nadia, Lord Nityananda ecstatically dances and sings these names of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: Lord Chaitanya is the beloved son of Jagannath Misra; He is Mahaprabhu, the great master, protector, and maintainer of the whole world...."
Download
Sri Krsner Vimsottara-sata-Nama-Sankirtana (nagare nagare gora gay)
"From village to village Lord Gaura sings these names of Sri Krishna: Krishna is the baby who feeds on the breast of Mother Yasoda. He is the son of Maharaj Nanda, dark blue like and indra-nila gem, and the life of the residents of Vraja."
Download

Evening:
Sri Sri Siksastakam
"If you aspire to chant the Name of Krishna, then, with great care, become qualified to do so. Give up your false ego, and always consider yourself lower than grass, poor, needy, and mean. Practise tolerance like a tree..."
Song 1: Download
Song 2: Download
Song 3: Download
Song 4: Download
Song 5: Download
Song 6: Download
Song 7: Download
Song 8: Download

 

Wed, 11 November 2020 (Today is Sri Rama Ekadasi, tomorrow paran is 5:52-9:31 a.m.)
Srila Sridhar Maharaj: Powerful Preaching
"When Srila Sridhar Maharaj left his house and joined Gaudiya Mission, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur was very pleased. Even before taking sannyas, Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj was a great preacher. He was always very enthusiastic to preach."
Download / listen to the audio (4.3 Mb, 11 min | 8 November 2020)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: This Extremely Auspicious Day
A Sri Vyasa-puja address by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj: "If we need Ganges water we must go to the Ganges. Similarly it is necessary that if we want the conception given by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as well as Srila Saraswati Thakur we must come to Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. This was also the expression of all the devotees of Srila Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada. We can say we are very fortunate that Srila Guru Maharaj bestowed his mercy upon us, but if we cannot worship him in a proper way and cannot respect him properly, then we will go to hell, actually."

News from Sri Nrisingha Palli: Construction Progress
(10 November 2020 | 19 photographs, 1.6 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj pays a visit to Sri Nrisingha Palli Temple to check on the rapidly progressing construction of 'Sri Bhakti Sundar Angan' guesthouse—with the first floor now completed and plastered, His Divine Grace comes to supervise the casting of the roof of the second floor.

 


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"
"Ekadasi Vrata: Make Your Guru Happy"
"No Other Shelter"
"Mahadvadasi"
"Ekadasi and liberation"
"Ekadasi Tithi: One of the Practices"
"Yogini Ekadasi"
"Ekadasi: Historical Background"
"Ekadasi: Main Focus Is Service"
Ekadasi Struggle?

 

Thu, 12 November 2020
Srila Sridhar Maharaj: Expanding Gaudiya Math
"Even though I have heard about this a hundred times, it is still my bad fortune—I am a fallen soul—I still have no quality, no qualification to glorify Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Despite this, I will try, by the mercy of Gurudev and devotees, to describe something that I did not mention yesterday."
Download / listen to the audio (4 Mb, 10 min | 9 November 2020)

Three exclusive Sanskrit poems composed by Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj in eternal glorification of Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj which were recited by Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj at the appearance festival of Srila Sridhar Maharaj, are now added to Sri Gaudiya Gitanjali section of the website:
1) Sri Pranati Dasakam
2) Sri Guru Prasasti
3) Sri Stava Kusumanjali

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 1. Chapter 1. Siksa-Guru
"Constantly associating, whether in Allahabad, Calcutta, or other parts of India, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj and Srila Sridhar Maharaj's relationship continually developed. Throughout his life, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj always maintained the highest respect and confidence in Srila Sridhar Maharaj. He considered that whenever it was not possible for his disciples to proceed directly under his guidance, that they should take direction from Srila Sridhar Maharaj."

 


Today in the calendar: Krishna Dvadashi. Paran between 5:52 and 9:31 a.m. Festival in honour of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu's auspicious arrival at Sripat Panihati.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav [event] mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day."


 

In honour of Sriman Mahaprabhu's arrival in Sripat Panihati:

"Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes are all uncommon. Whoever listens to His activities becomes glorious, and his life becomes perfect. The Lord finally reached Panihati, and as an act of mercy He gave the captain of the boat one of His personal garments. The place called Panihati was located on the bank of the Ganges. After hearing that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had arrived, all kinds of men assembled both on land and on the water. At length Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was taken away by Raghav Pandit. There was a great crowd assembled along the way, and the Lord reached Raghav Pandit's residence with great difficulty...."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita)

 

[On another occasion:] "....After staying a few days at Srivas Pandit's house, the Lord went to Raghav's house in Panihati. While Sri Raghav Pandit was engaged in the worship of Krishna, Sri Gaurasundara came there before him—when Sri Raghav Pandit saw the Lord of his life, he fell to the ground and offered obeisances. Raghavananda cried in ecstasy as he firmly grabbed the Lord's lotus feet, which are cherished by Rama, the goddess of fortune.

"The Lord then embraced Raghav Pandit and soaked his body with tears of ecstatic love, and Raghav's body was filled with such ecstasy that he did not know what he should do. When the Lord of Vaikuntha saw Raghav's display of devotion, He glanced mercifully on Raghav. The Lord said, 'After coming to Raghav's house and seeing Raghav, I have forgotten all My troubles. I have obtained the same satisfaction at Raghav's house as one gets by taking bath in the Ganges.' The Lord smiled and said, 'Listen, Raghav Pandit! Go and quickly cook for Krishna.'

"Sri Raghav was greatly pleased to receive the Lord's order, and he became absorbed in the mellows of ecstasy as he went to cook. Following the dictates of his heart, that brahman cooked unlimited varieties of foods. Mahaprabhu then came with Nityananda and other associates to eat. Gaurachandra, the husband of Laksmi, lavishly praised each of the vegetable preparations as He ate. The Lord said, 'How wonderful is Raghav's cooking! I have never eaten sak [spinach] like this before.' Raghav knew that the Lord was fond of sak, so he had cooked various kinds of sak.

"After joyfully finishing His meal, the Lord washed His hands and mouth and sat down. As soon as Gadadhara Das heard that Sri Gaurasundar was at Raghav's house, he quickly came there. Gadadhar Das was extremely dear to the Lord. His body was filled with the happiness of devotional service. When the Lord saw fortunate Gadadhar, He placed His lotus feet on his head. At that time Purandar Pandit and Paramesvari Das, in whose Deity Gaurachandra manifest Himself, quickly came there. On seeing the Lord, they both cried in ecstasy. Sriman Mahaprabhu manifest in the Gauranga Deity worshiped by Paramesvari Das, who lived in the village of Tada-antapur. He began the worship of the Deity form of Sri Gaurasundar. Raghunath Vaidya also came at that time. He was a great Vaisnava with unlimited good qualities. In this way Vaisnavas came from wherever they were to meet the Lord. The village of Panihati became filled with ecstasy, for Lord Gaurachandra was personally present there.

"Sri Gaurasundar spoke some confidential topics to Raghav Pandit in a solitary place. 'O Raghav, I have something confidential to tell you. Nityananda is nondifferent from Me. I tell you, I do whatever Nityananda wants Me to do. I tell you frankly that all My activities are performed through Nityananda. There is no difference between Myself and Nityananda. Everyone in your house will come to know this. From Nityananda you will easily obtain that which is rarely attained by the best of the mystic yogis. Therefore you should very carefully serve Nityananda, knowing Him to be the Supreme Lord Himself.' Sri Gauranga then said to Makaradhvaja Kara, 'You should serve Sri Raghavananda. Know for certain that your love for Me will be shown by your love for Raghav Pandit.'

"In this way Lord Gauranga made the village of Panihati glorious by staying there a few days."

 

Fri, 13 November 2020
Srila Sridhar Maharaj: Scriptural Expertise
"Srila Sridhar Maharaj wrote many articles, many works in this life. Srila Prabhupad told about his writing, 'If you can publish this kind of Hari-katha in our monthly newspaper, it will increase the value of our publication.' Srila Prabhupad also remarked that Srila Sridhar Maharaj was 'sastra-nipun' [expert in scriptures]."
Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 6 min | 9 November 2020)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 1. Chapter 2. Transcendental History
"The Ocean of the Pastimes of Srila Guru Maharaj is unlimited. How many drops of that ocean can a mere sparrow extract? In this world, time is not on our side. Ordered by my Gurudev, I have tried—in my own random way—to present some of these drops of honey for the bumblebee devotees of the Lord. Whoever hears the nectarean Divine Pastimes and Teachings of Srila Guru Maharaj cannot but attain the Supreme Wealth of life itself—Love for the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna."

 

Sat, 14 November 2020 (Offering lamps, candles, at the temples.)
Srila Sridhar Maharaj: Emporium of Greatness
"Even Srila Sridhar Maharaj's godbrothers wanted to hear his Hari-katha because only he could explain Srila Prabhupad's teaching authentically. Srila Sridhar Maharaj did not want to be a king, but he made so many kings in his life. We hear of many symptoms of a Vaishnav, and we see that Srila Sridhar Maharaj possesses all of them."
Download / listen to the audio (3.9 Mb, 10 min | 9 November 2020)

নিজের পরিচয় জানুন
শ্রীল গুরুপাদপদ্ম ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীলভক্তিনির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের হরিকথামৃত শ্রীনৃসিংহপল্লীতে :
"এই জগতে অনেকে অনেক কথা বলে কিন্তু সত্যিকারের আত্মাতত্ত্ব জ্ঞান, আত্মার কথা, নিজের পরম মঙ্গলের কথা অনেকে বলে না, অনেকে বুঝে না । প্রথম নিজের পরিচয় জানুন । নিজের পরিচয় না জানলে ভগবানকে জানতে পারব না । আমরা নিজের পরিচয় ভুলে গিয়েছি । আমাদের পরিচয় কী ? জানেন ? আমরা নিত্যকৃষ্ণদাস । সারা জীবন ধরে আমরা কৃষ্ণদাস—দুইদিনের জন্য নয়, তিনদিনের জন্য নয়, এক ঘন্টার জন্য নয়—জন্মজন্মান্তরে আমাদের পরিচয় হয়েছে আমরা নিত্যকৃষ্ণদাস ।"
Download / listen to the audio (21.6 Mb, 52 min | 13 November 2020 | Bengali | ১৩ নভেম্বর ২০২০)

Preaching Programme
(13 November 2020 | 36 photographs, 4.6 Mb)
Accepting a long-standing invitation of the devotees, His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj attends a preaching programme near Panskura village in Purba (East) Medinipur district, bestowing the greatest fortunate of hearing pure Sri Hari-kirtan and Sri Hari-katha on the assembled fortunate souls.

Sri Uluberia Temple: Construction Progress
(13 November 2020 | 18 photographs, 1.9 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj visits Sri Uluberia Math to supervise the construction progress and evaluate the further steps and note the required materials. Each time we get fortunate glimpses of the temple, we rejoice to see this beautiful temple manifest its divine form.

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 1. Chapter 3. Srila Guru Maharaj Remembers
"I was born at midnight, Saturday 10th October, 1895. Navami tithiunder the same sign as Lord Ramchandra. Krishna-paksa [dark moon fortnight]. Sriman Mahaprabhu was also born on a Saturday. I was the second child. The first was a daughter, but she died early, so Ram Kavach [a protective mantram and amulet] was given to my mother for the protection of the next child, that is, myself. So I was born after my mother took Ram Kavach...."

 

Sun, 15 November 2020 (Dipavali. Offering lamps, candles, at the temples.)
"Service Is My Vow"
"Many people ask me, many people criticise me, but I am a fallen soul, I only know what Gurudev told me—he told me, 'Service is the vow, service is the life force, and service is the duty.' This is what I am following."
Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 9 min | 8 November 2020)

 

"Formally, we are placing some lights in front of the temple and in front of the Deities today, and I am praying to Gurudev, praying to the Lord for everybody so that light may come to our hearts, our minds and all our darkness will be removed from our hearts and minds. We pray to Gurudev, to the Lord, to Govardhan for everybody. People are suffering so much all over the world because of their life in darkness, please remove darkness from their hearts and minds and always keep light in their hearts and minds."

(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj, 15 November 2020)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 2. Chapter 4. Hearing To See
"Without knowing the real meaning, what we feel and read is the wrong reading of the environment—it is maya. We miss the universal purpose, and from local interest we read, "Oh, this is for this purpose, this is for that purpose." But this is local interest. What we conceive, feel, trust and believe, is not in consonance with the universal reading...."

 


Today in the calendar: Amavasya. Dipavali. Offering and placing of lamps (or candles). on Vishnu Mandirs. Go Puja (cow-worship). and Go Krida (the pleasure of the cows).

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Today is dipavali—you must offer lamps at the temple. Please buy lamps in clay pots, light them and place them on the four sides of the temple where we are staying. It is 'deep-dan mahotsav' ('festival of offering lamps'). You can offer lamps today and tomorrow, for two days."


 

 

Mon, 16 November 2020 (Grand Festival of Sri Govardhan Puja)
Sri Vraja-Mandal Tattva
"When Krishna wanted to appear in this world, He ordered Srimati Radharani to also come to this world, but Srimati Radharani said, 'I cannot come to a place where there is no Vrindavan, no Yamuna, no Giri Govardhan!' So, Sri Krishna personally brought some land from His own abode. That is why Sri Vraja-mandal is non-different from Goloka Vrindavan."
Download / listen to the audio (3 Mb, 8 min | 15 November 2020)

 


Today in the calendar: Gaura Pratipad. Sri Govardhan Puja (before 9:04 a.m.). Grand Annakut Mahotsav ('Rice Mountain Festival') at Srila Sridhar Swami Seva Ashram in Sri Govardhan and in the Temple in Sri Gupta Govardhan and all temples worldwide.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: " The Lord accepts everything and anything from His devotees. You will see tomorrow also—tomorrow is the day of that Govardhan Puja, and people will be offering so many things on this day. What does 'annakut' mean? It means 'a mountain of rice'—'kut' means 'a hill' or 'a mountain', and 'anna' means rice. Devotees offer Govardhan a mountain of rice on this day."


 

Glory and Pastimes of Sri Govardhan:

Loving Search for the Lost Servant:
(Chapter 6) LORD OF THE COWS
'Different material tendencies and mental impulses may attack us—even Indra himself, the king of heaven and the controller of all ordinary activities, may attack us—but if we are attentive towards our goal, if we are careful to read the order of Krishna, He will protect us in the shade of His lotus feet. He will give us shelter under the shade of Govardhana Hill, where no Indra will be able to touch our heads. And with full faith that Krishna will give us protection, we should try to take shelter under Govardhana Hill and pray: "O Krishna, give me protection from all the difficulties that may come to attack me because of my leaving behind my ordinary obligations."'

Sri Govardhan Puja (1): Sevya and Sevak
"Today is a very auspicious day—today is Sri Giriraj Govardhan Puja. By the mercy of Gurudev, we are present here in Govardhan. Gurudev writes that Giriraj assumes the form of both sevya and sevak..."

Sri Govardhan Puja (2): Seva-Adhikar
"Krishna Himself said, 'I am Govardhan!' Sometimes people say that worshipping Govindaji and worshipping Govardhan is different, but this is a misconception. You must serve Govardhan with sincerity and following all rules of service."

Sri Govardhan Puja (3): Full Service
"I have told you before that it is not necessary to know any mantra to worship the Lord—it is necessary to have a clean heart. Also, service is necessary, but service must be full. You start something and then leave it half-way—not like this."
Download / listen to the audio of the entire class (7.5 Mb, 18 min | বাংলা)


Sri Govardhan-astakam
His Divine Grace reads Sri Govardhan-astakam composed by Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Prabhu.
Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min)

SONG: Sri Gupta Govardhan Arati
"All glories, all glories, to the grand arati of Sri Giriraj! In the midst of Sri Gaura-mandal, it brings auspiciousness to the entire universe."

 

SONG: Radha-kunda-tata | করাধাকুণ্ডতট
"The grove-dwelling on the banks of Radha-kunda, Govardhan Hill, the banks of the Yamuna River. I can never leave all these things so dear to me, without them I know I'll surely die."

SONG: Dasa-avatara-stotram | দশাবতারস্তোত্রম্
"I offer my obeisance unto Sri Krsna, who assumes ten forms and rescues the Vedas, upholds Mandara Mountain, uplifts the earth, rips apart demons, deceives Bali Maharaj, kills the ksatriyas, conquers Ravan, carries a plough, shows compassion, and annihilates the wicked."

SONG: Damodarastakam | শ্রীশ্রীদামোদরাষ্টকম্
"To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence, knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro, who is beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who [due to the offence of breaking the pot of yogurt that his mother was churning into butter and then stealing the butter that was kept hanging from a swing] is quickly running from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of Mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed—to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances."

Mayura mukuta | ময়ূর-মুকুট
"He wears a peacock feather crown and yellow garments. He holds the flute and lifts the Govardhan Hill! All glory to the son of Yasoda, Krishna, Murari. Glory to He who holds the flute and lifts the Govardhan Hill!"

 


"Surrender to Giriraj"
"You must leave everything to the Lord, to Giriraj. If you make your own arrangements, then the Lord says, 'You are making your own arrangements, therefore I will not look after you.' Remember this—those who have no one, have the Lord; and those who have many things, have nothing, the Lord is not by their side."
Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 5 min | 7 Nov. 2018 | English & Bengali)

Appearance of Sri Giriraj
"...When I was doing Govardhan parikrama, I was looking both sides, thinking (Gurudev was also thinking), 'You have made the temple in Govinda Kunda, but how you will bring Govardhan? How will you get Him?'"
Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min)

Parikrama of Sri Govardhan
"How do we do parikrama? Govardhan is like a peacock, our temple is near Manasa Ganga, at the mouth of Govardhan, and we start the parikrama from the tail and do half portion one day, and the second half the next day."
Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 8 min)

The Aanyor Village
"During the parikrama, we pass a village called Aanyor when we go to see Govinda Kunda. One day, Madhavendra Puri was sitting there and chanting all day..."
Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 6 min)

Holy Places for Holy Deeds
"As long as there are the glories of the Lord in the world, there will be Ganga, there will be Yamuna, there will be Govardhan, but now is Kali-yuga, and the time is coming when the Ganges will disappear, Govardhan will disappear..."
Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 6 min)

First Part of Sri Govardhan Parikrama
"Yesterday, we went to the Manasi Ganga. After that, we went to Haridev mandir, then Brahma Kunda. Then, there is Santan Goswami's bhajan-kutir and Chakleshwar Mahadev on the bank of the Manasi Ganga. Today, we went to Govinda Kunda."
Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min | 7 November 2018)

Govardhan's Appearance in Vrindavan
"Yesterday and today also, we were explaining how Govardhan was brought to Vrindavan by Pulastya Muni. Govardhan was a son of Drona Parvat (Dronachal), and actually Govardhan was originally in Salmaladvipa..."
Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min | 7 November 2018)

His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj speaking in English and Bengali about the Govardhan Pastime of Lord Sri Krishna.
Download (11 Mb, ~23 min | 14 November 2012)

 

 

 


This day in 2014:

Sri Govardhan Puja (Year 2014)
A joyful festival celebrating Lord Krishna lifting Sri Govardhan Hill and a parikrama to the holy places around Sri Govardhan. Day two of the annual Kartik Pilgrimage.

 

Sri Govardhan Parikrama: Day Two (Year 2014)
The Kartik Pilgrimage continues: the second part of the Parikrama around the holy places at Sri Govardhan. Among the numerous visited places on this day are Sri Uddhav Kunda, Sri Radha Kunda, Sri Kusum Sarovar.

 


This day in 2015:

Defeating the Pride
A Bengali class of His Divine Grace Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj:
• Mahaprabhu defeating Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, Digvijayi Pandit, tricking thieves, teaching Prakasananda Saraswati a lesson • Bali Maharaj's surrender • teaching Indra a lesson (Govardhan Pastime) • strong faith in Deity service (Gopal Bhatta Goswami, Raghunandan Thakur) • rare and valuable life.
Download / listen to the audio (33.2 Mb, 97 min)

Sri Govardhan Puja (15 photographs, 1.1 Mb)
In the shelter of the lotus feet of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj, devotees celebrate Sri Govardhan Puja and worship the cows at Sri Gupta Govardhan temple at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat, Sri Nabadwip Dham. (Photographs taken on 12 November 2015)

 

Sri Govardhan Puja class (Archive video, Bengali)
An archive video recording of Sri Govardhan Puja day celebrated at Srila Sridhar Seva Ashram in Sri Govardhan Dham, in the shelter of the holy lotus feet of His Divine Grace Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj.

 

 


This day in 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)

 


This day in 2017:

Sri Govardhan Puja: Annakut Maha-Mahotsav
(48 photographs, 3.1 Mb | 20 October 2017)
Photographs taken during the grand auspicious festival of Sri Govardhan Puja observed today at the temple of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Madan-Mohanjiu at Dum Dum Park, Kolkata, under the supreme guidance of Sri Gurupadpadma Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj and in the association of the worshippable Vaishnavs and devotees.

 


This day in 2018:

Sri Govardhan Puja Festival
(8 November 2018 | 108 photographs, 7.7 Mb)
The grand Annakut Mahotsav observed by the extremely fortunate devotees in the shade of the holy lotus feet of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj and in the association of Vaishnavs from all over the world at the temple of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Govardhan Dham, Uttar Predesh.

 


This day in 2019:

Sri Govardhan Puja: Annakut Mahotsav
(29 October 2019 | 72 photographs, 5.3 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj presides over the annual grand festival of Sri Giriraj Govardhan in the assembly of Vaishnavs and fortunate devotees. The first half of the day is spent in various services and devotional programmes culminating with the noon arati and prasad-seva.

Sri Govardhan Parikrama, Day Two
(29 October 2019 | 49 photographs, 3.4 Mb)
During the second day of Sri Govardhan Parikrama, His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj takes the devotees around the north-east part of Govardhan taking the darshan of Sri Uddhav Kunda, Sri Gaudiya Math, samadhi of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami Prabhu, Sri Radha Kunda, Sri Shyama Kunda, Vraja Svananda Sukhada Kunja, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu's bhajan kutir, Sri Lalita Kunda, and Sri Kusum Sarovar.

 

Tue, 17 November 2020
Appearance of Sri Giriraj Govardhan
"There is one island province to the west of India called Salmalidvip. This is the place where Govardhan appeared as a son of Drona Parvat, Drona Hill. When Govardhan appeared there, all demigods became very happy and showered flowers from the sky..."
Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 6 min | 15 November 2020)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 2. Chapter 5. The Guide
"It is not impossible that some sort of anarthas may come again to attack. It is like a fight. Sometimes one party gains ground, and sometimes that same party is losing. And ultimately the real party will win the battle. It is a battle. In everyone's heart there will be a battle because we are sadhakas not siddhas—we are not fully realised souls, but we are following the process to realisation."

Sri Govardhan Puja Celebration in Kolkata
(16 November 2020 | 14 photographs, 1 Mb)
Devotees joyfully celebrate Sri Govardhan Puja in the shelter of the holy lotus feet of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj at the Sevak Bhavan in Kolkata.

Sri Govardhan Puja Celebration in Bokaro
(16 November 2020 | 12 photographs, 1.1 Mb)
Bokaro bhakta-vrinda joyfully observe Sri Govardhan Puja for the pleasure and satisfaction of of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj. Sharing photographs taken during the programme of Sri Hari-katha, Sri Hari-kirtan, and Sri Hari-seva.

 


Today in the calendar: Gaura Dvitiya. Disappearance of Srila Vasudev Ghosh Thakur. Disappearance of Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhakti Sarvasva Giri Maharaj (a diksa and sannyas disciple of Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur). Bhratri Dvitiya krityam.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav [event] mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day."


 

 

Wed, 18 November 2020
Sri Govardhan Puja
"Tomorrow is the day when Nanda Maharaj made Govardhan puja, and after that, in Kali-yuga, this annakut utsav was arranged by Sriman Madhavendra Puri. Everybody must worship Govardhan to the best of your capacity."
Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 8 min | 15 November 2020)

শ্রীগোবর্দ্ধন পূজা ও আত্মাপরিচয়
শ্রীল গুরুপাদপদ্ম ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীলভক্তিনির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের হরিকথামৃত শ্রীনৃসিংহপল্লীতে :
"অহংকারীকে ভগবান দেখেন না, অহংকারীর কাছে ভগাবান থাকেন না । 'দীনেরে অধিক দয়া করে ভগবান্ কুলীন, পণ্ডিত, ধনীর বড় অভিমান ।' এটা মনে রাখতে হবে । কেন আমরা হরি ভজন করব ? কেন আমরা হরিনাম করব ? কেন আমরা বৈষ্ণব সেবা করব ? এই কলিযুগে আমরা এসেছি—আমরা কলিহত জীব…."
Download / listen to the audio (26.6 Mb, 63 min | 17 November 2020 | Bengali | ১৭ নভেম্বর ২০২০)

Preaching Programme in Radhapur
(17 November 2020 | 16 photographs, 1.7 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj visits a village on the outskirts of Shyampur (to the south-west of Kolkata) to nourish devotees with the nectar Sri Hari-katha, Sri Hari-kirtan and Sri Hari-seva.

 


Today in the calendar: Gaura Chaturthi. Disappearance festival of Vishva-varenya Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day."

 

 

 


 

In honour of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Srila Prabhupad:

 

vaisnavera guna-gana karile jivera trana
suniyachhi sadhu-guru-mukhe
"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. It is for our own benefit that we do some ceremonies, some festivals, glorifying the Vaishnavs. It is necessary for our spiritual life, and it is one of the bhaktyanga, one of the practising processes. That is why we make Vaishnavs' disappearance and appearance festivals."
(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

 

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."

 

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj: Intimate Friend and More
"Srila Prabhupad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj gave much respect to Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. You know when Srila Sridhar Maharaj and our Gurudev were in Kolkata, they lived together with A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj for many years..."
Download (0.7 Mb, 2 min | 22 October 2011)

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)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 1. Chapter 1. Siksa-Guru
"Constantly associating, whether in Allahabad, Calcutta, or other parts of India, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj and Srila Sridhar Maharaj's relationship continually developed. Throughout his life, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj always maintained the highest respect and confidence in Srila Sridhar Maharaj. He considered that whenever it was not possible for his disciples to proceed directly under his guidance, that they should take direction from Srila Sridhar Maharaj."

 

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?"

 

Thu, 19 November 2020
Do Not Play With Fire
"If you commit aparadh, you can lose your service. You must control yourself. Give up ego. You think you are managing the temple? Who are you? Have you forgotten your identification that you are a servant of the Lord? Please do not fight. You have so much service in this world—do your service. Do your service within your capacity, and do not cross the line. This is very dangerous for your spiritual life."
Download / listen to the audio (3.4 Mb, 8 min | 15 November 2020)

Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad's Mission
His Divine Grace Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj reads and translates from Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala [the text of the chapter is presented below], "We have heard a hundred times that if we glorify Vaishnavs, it gives great benefit, but even though we have heard it a thousand times, how much are we able to glorify Vaishnavs from our heart? How much can we serve Vaishnavs with heart and soul? This is the question. I do not know such words to describe the glory of this kind of personality, but I have heard something from Gurudev's lotus mouth and I want to say something from what I have heard..."
Download / listen to the audio (8.4 Mb, 20 min | 18 November 2020)

SRI NABADWIP DHAM MAHATMYA MUKTA MALA : ANTARDWIP
Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad's Mission
"Srila Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad has made a channel to the West, and so many devotees come now through that channel. Without his mercy we would not have been able to think anything today, but now, getting the association of international devotees, we feel very happy."

Disappearance Festival of Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad in Soquel
(18 November 2020 | 22 photographs, 1 Mb)
Sharing photographs of the festival held in honour of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad's disappearance day. Devotees partake of the service festival in the shelter of the holy lotus feet of Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj whose association is especially valuable on this day as His Divine Grace personally spent much time in the association of Srila Prabhupad.

 


Today in the calendar: Gaura Panchami. Disappearance of Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhakti Aloka Paramahamsa Maharaj.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day."

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj remembers [mentioned in Centenary Anthology: "There was a very dear disciple of Srila Saraswati Thakur who lived in the same room with Srila Saraswati Thakur and received much affection from him—his name was Mahananda Brahmachari. We saw that lastly he came to Srila Guru Maharaj and said, 'Maharaj, I want to take sannyas from you. Please give me sannyas.' Srila Guru Maharaj gave it very happily and his name became Srila Bhakti Alok Paramahamsa Maharaj."


 

 

Fri, 20 November 2020
Gupta Govardhan and Other Esoteric Pastimes
"There are nine islands in Nabadwip, and Srila Sridhar Maharaj discovered the aparadh-bhanjan-pat and Gupta Govardhan in Koladwip. It is Govardhan as it is, but Srila Sridhar Maharaj himself identified Sri Govinda Kunda and said that it was Gupta Govardhan...."
Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 7 min | 15 November 2020)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 2. Chapter 6. Specific Service
"According to the disciple's inner awakenment he will have fitness for a particular class of service. That will be considered and he will be taken, under guidance, into that particular type of service. There is oneness—unity—but more efficient service may be drawn from a particular point rather than a higher point. Everyone has their particular capacity in service and if they serve from there they will be best utilised. If located in a higher circle for which he has no such fitness, enmity will be created and he will be the loser."

 

Sat, 21 November 2020
Internal and External Evolution
"No matter what problems may come, you must not leave your service. Today doing, tomorrow not doing—not like that. You are an eternal servant, you are not a servant for two hours. Everybody wants to get to their destination, but some come late or miss their train."
Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 9 min | 15 November 2020)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 2. Chapter 7. The Willing and the Able
"On the banks of the Ganges there may be neem trees, tamarind trees, mango trees, etc. They all draw the same Ganges water for nourishment but the produce of one is bitter, another is acidic, and another gives sweet fruits. They all are nourished from the same source but according to their nature their produce vary. It is not that if I have the tape recording [of my Guru] I have received everything from him: that I have full possession of his property. It cannot be done like that. Electricity cannot pass through anything and everything."

 

In honour of Sri Damodar Month:

Damodar Month
"This Kartik month (Damodar month) is Krishna's dearmost month. There is Radha-Damodar temple near our Vrindavan temple and every Kartik we go for parikrama in Vrindavan. This year also we have a great wish to start Vrindavan parikrama in Damodar month."
Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 7 min | 25 October 2018)

Month of Service—Life of Service
"Today Kartik-vrata, or niyom-seva, starts. Our temple observes it from purnima to purnima, and some other temples do it from dvadasi to dvadasi. One day I asked Gurudev what niyom-seva meant..."
Download / listen to the audio (6.4 Mb, 14 min | 13 October 2019)

Damodarastakam
"We sing Damodarastakam about the pastimes of the Lord written by Satyavrata Muni every Kartik month. That is a very important song in our spiritual life."
Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 25 October 2018)

Attend to Kirtan—Attain Kirtan
"Who can understand these songs? We cannot even understand 'trnad api sunichena...' then can we proceed to the other songs? If we want to chant the Name of Krishna, then we must become like this—trnad api sunichena...—as we sing in this kirtan."
Download (0.7 Mb, 2 min | 7 November 2012 | Bengali)

 

Kartik Month Kirtans:
Following the tradition established at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, after the regular morning and evening kirtans, the following kirtans are chanted every day:

Morning:
Damodarastakam
"To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence, knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro, who is beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who is quickly running from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of Mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed—to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances."
Download
Sri Sriman Mahaprabhur Sata-Nama (nadiya-nagare nitai)
"In the towns and villages of Nadia, Lord Nityananda ecstatically dances and sings these names of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: Lord Chaitanya is the beloved son of Jagannath Misra; He is Mahaprabhu, the great master, protector, and maintainer of the whole world...."
Download
Sri Krsner Vimsottara-sata-Nama-Sankirtana (nagare nagare gora gay)
"From village to village Lord Gaura sings these names of Sri Krishna: Krishna is the baby who feeds on the breast of Mother Yasoda. He is the son of Maharaj Nanda, dark blue like and indra-nila gem, and the life of the residents of Vraja."
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Evening:
Sri Sri Siksastakam
"If you aspire to chant the Name of Krishna, then, with great care, become qualified to do so. Give up your false ego, and always consider yourself lower than grass, poor, needy, and mean. Practise tolerance like a tree..."
Song 1: Download
Song 2: Download
Song 3: Download
Song 4: Download
Song 5: Download
Song 6: Download
Song 7: Download
Song 8: Download

 

Sun, 22 November 2020
Fancy Living, Shallow Thinking
"People live like cats and dogs—they use their life for animal enjoyment and have no appreciation, no time to respect sadhus and to follow Krishna consciousness. All the great sadhus and all scriptures tell us about devotion to Lord Krishna, but we have no time to read about it—we always think about our body."
Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 6 min | 1 November 2020)

সেবার প্রতি আর্তি
শ্রীল গুরুপাদপদ্ম ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীলভক্তিনির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের হরিকথামৃত শ্রীনৃসিংহপল্লীতে :
"গুরুদেবের দয়াল সাগর, তিনি আমাদের মত অধম পতিত জীবকে উদ্ধার করবার জন্য সব সময় বসে আছেন । কিন্তু আমরা নিজেরা সেই গুরুপাদপদ্মের কৃপা মনে রাখতে পারছি না । আমরা ভাগ্যহীন । নিজের সুখ-দঃখ নিয়ে আমরা সব সময় পড়ে থাকি । ভালো-মন্দ খেয়ে সব সময় পড়ে আছি—কখনও ভাবি না যে, এই দেহ আমাদের ছেড়ে চলে যেতে হবে । সাধু-গুরু-বৈষ্ণবের সেবা আমরা যদি করতে পারি, তাহলে আমাদের পরমকল্যাণ বস্তু লাভ হবে । জন্ম-জন্মমৃত্যুজরাব্যাধি যদি আমরা পেতে চাই, তাহলে ভগবান আমাদেরকে যে কথা বলেছেন সে কথা অনুসারে আমাদের চলতে হবে । যদি সেটা না শিখি, না বুঝি, তাহলে কী লাভ ? আমাদের নিজেরে তৌরি করতে হবে—ভগবান আমাদের ধুয়ে মুছে পরিষ্কার করে তাঁর কাছে নিয়ে যাবেন । আমাদের কাঁদতে হবে, তাঁর কাছে প্রার্থনা করতে হবে—হে প্রভু তুমি আমাকে কবে তোমার কাছে নিয়ে চলে যাবে ?"
Download / listen to the audio (26.7 Mb, 64 min | 20 November 2020 | Bengali | ২০ নভেম্বর ২০২০)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 2. Chapter 8. A Wonderful Touch
"It is recorded that the highest test comes when a jiva is passing out from the clutches of maya, illusion. Nature is indomitable, so it is quite natural that one may fall prey to his own previous nature, but how can we be saved from the results of our past activities—our acquired previous tendencies? Each sense has its corresponding external attractive objects. If you can stop the tendencies just as they are beginning, you can be successful, but if you allow them to progress, you will be undone."

 


Today in the calendar: Gaura Ashtami. Disappearance of Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami, Srila Dhananjay Pandit, and Srila Srinivas Acharya Prabhu. Sri Gopashtami, Sri Goshthastami, Go Puja, and Go Gras-dan.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day."


 

In honour of Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami:

Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami, an eternal associate of Sriman Mahaprabhu and Sriman Nityananda Prabhu, resided on the bank of the Ganges. In Sri Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, he is stated to be the incarnation of bodily beauty of Srimati Radharani. Although he was a follower of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu, he did not manifest sakhya-rasa, instead he manifested the mood of a gopi—sitting on the bank of the Ganges, he would scoop some Ganges water into a pot and cry out with a laugh, "Who wants to buy some milk?", "Who wants to buy some yoghurt?"

When Sriman Mahaprabhu ordered Sriman Nityananda Prabhu to preach Krishna consciousness in Bengal, He sent Sri Ram-das and Sri Gadadhar-das to Gauda-desh with Sriman Nityananda Prabhu.

Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur describes a pastime in which Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami delivers the Kazi of Endiyadaha who vehemently opposed sankirtan:

One day, overwhelmed by divine love for the Lord, Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami came to the house of Kazi chanting sankirtan and said, "Where is that Kazi? Come, chant the Holy Name at once, otherwise I will cut your neck!" Furious, Kazi came out to him, but seeing the divine form and mood of Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami, he became astounded and his anger subsided. Kazi said then,

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to speak to you," answered Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami.

"What do you want to say?" asked Kazi.

"Gaura-Nityananda have appeared on this earth and are giving the Holy Name to anyone and everyone, but why are you not taking this nectarian Holy Name?"

"Go home, I will take it tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Why not today? I have come to give you the Holy Name and to rescue you. Take this supremely beneficial Holy Name! It will rescue you from all your sins today!"

Kazi felt embarrassed to refuse him, so he sniggered, "Well, I will say 'Hari' tomorrow."

Then, hearing Kazi say 'Hari', Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami became overwhelmed by divine love and said, "Now why tomorrow? You have just said 'Hari'! All your sins have been removed, you have become supremely pure." Saying this, Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami began to dance.

In this way, Kazi became purified and took shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami. At the end, Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur concludes, "Saintly persons did not want to be touched by the air that touched the Kazi, for they felt that such contact would make them lose their caste. Yet Gadadhar Das Mahasaya glanced mercifully on that most sinful Kazi, who took away the caste of any Hindu he encountered. When such a person gives up his envious nature, it is to be understood that this is the potency of Krishna consciousness."

This was how Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami delivered many sinners and inauspicious people by bestowing the Holy Name upon them.

In honour of Srila Dhananjay Pandit:

"Dhananjay Pandita was an extraordinary devotee, and Nityananda always resided in his heart. He is the sixteenth dear servant of Nityananda Prabhu and he was very much renounced and always merged in love of Krishna. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Swaraswati Thakur writes in his Anubhasya, 'Dhananjay Pandit was a resident of the village in Katwa named Sitala (Burdwan district). He was one of the twelve gopalas. His former name, according to the Sri Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (127), was Vasudama. It is said that for some time Dhananjay Pandit was in a sankirtan party under the direction of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and then he went to Vrindavan. After returning from Vrindavan to Sitala-gram, he established a Deity of Gaurasundara in the temple. The descendants of Dhananjay Pandit still live in Sitala-gram and look after the temple worship."

In honour of Srila Srinivas Acharya prabhu:

Time for Sravan
"You must see the sadhu with your ears, because you cannot see a sadhu with your eyes. This is actually not a place for play or tourism, this is a place for sravan and kirtan. You must listen with your heart. One time, Acharya Srinivas was sitting with Narottam Das Thakur in one place..."
Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 7 min)

In Praise of Srila Narottam Das Thakur (From Affectionate Guidance, chapter 17)
Narottam Thakur's close associates and peers were Syamananda and Srinivas. These three great devotees were sent back to Bengal to continue the preaching of Mahaprabhu. The Bengali Vaisnavas were very eager to read the writings of Sri Rupa, Sanatan, Raghunath, Krishna Das Kaviraj, Lokanath Goswami, Gopal Bhatta Goswami, Prabhodananda Saraswati and the other Goswamis; so Narottam, Syamananda and Srinivas travelled from Vrindavan towards Bengal with many copies of those great books...

His Divine Grace
Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj
:

"Srinivas Acharya, Narottam Das Thakur, and Shyamananda Prabhu started for Vrindavan to have the darshan of Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Sanatan Goswami, Srila Gopala Bhatta Goswami, Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami and others who were there.

"When they were only a few miles away from Mathura, they heard that Sanatan Goswami had passed away. People were saying that that great Sanatan Goswami who was the prime minister and who had captured all people in the whole of Vrindavan within his heart—that Sanatan had passed away, a great disaster for the country. What to do then? Rupa, Raghunath, Jiva and Gopala Bhatta were still living, so Srinivas, Narottam, and Shyamananda dragged somehow on.

When they reached Mathura, they heard that Srila Rupa Goswami had left the night before that. Sanatana left on an ashari purnima, and Srila Rupa Goswami left after that on next dvadasi. They thought, "What hopeless and cursed souls we are! We have come so near, yet we could not see those two generals of Mahaprabhu!" Mahaprabhu sent two of his generals to Vrindavan to carry out His orders and establish the kingdom of the Gaudiya Vaishnavs there... So, they dragged their bodies to Vrindavan and came to Govinda Mandir. When they reached it, they found that an evening aroti was going on there in a very great splendour. There was a great crowd there—Srila Rupa Goswami had just passed away, so with that feeling of high bereavement, everybody was chanting his name madly. Srinivas, Narottam, and Shyamananda Prabhu were there, but Srinivas Acharya could not stand that sort of sentimental wave—he was standing aside and he fainted. When he regained his consciousness, he saw Srila Jiva Goswami with some of his followers...

In this way, Srinivas Acharya, Narottam Das Thakur, and Shyamananda Prabhu stayed in Vrindavan for one year—Srinivas Acharya took initiation from Gopala Bhatta, Narottam Thakur from Lokanath Goswami, and Shyamananda Prabhu from Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu..."

Composed by Srila Srinivas Acharya:

SONG: Sri Sad-Goswamy-Astakam | শ্রীশ্রীষড়্­গোস্বাম্যষ্টকম্
Download / listen to the audio (4.5 Mb)

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Six Goswamis, namely Sri Rupa Goswami, Sri Sanatan Goswami, Sri Raghunath Bhatta Goswami, Sri Raghunath Das Goswami, Sri Jiva Goswami, and Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami, who are always engaged in chanting the Holy Name of Krishna and dancing. They are just like the ocean of love of God, and they are popular both with the gentle and with the ruffians, because they are not envious of anyone. Whatever they do, they are all-pleasing to everyone, and they are fully blessed by Lord Chaitanya. Thus they are engaged in missionary activities meant to deliver all the conditioned souls in the material universe."

 

Mon, 23 November 2020
Service Hankering
"You can make your Guru happy even through some small service. The most important thing is that whatever service you do, you must do it with your heart. Whatever you do, do it properly. This is how you can make your Guru happy with your service."
Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 8 min | 1 November 2020)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 2. Chapter 9. A Wonderful Touch
"Here in the mundane plane, eliminating God, everyone is self-centred therefore there is clash and reaction. But in the higher realm, with harmony, there is no clash. In that plane any apparent clash exists to promote inner wealth. In this mundane plane there is apparent friendship but inner animosity, but in the God-centred plane there is apparent competition but inner friendship because the flow of God-service is common to everyone."

 

Tue, 24 November 2020
Core of Life
"We always want the association of the grantha-bhagavat and Vaishnav-bhagavat—if we can get this kind of association, it is very good for us. All Vaishnavs, all guru-varga come to this world to give nourishment to such fallen souls as myself. Otherwise, if such personalities did not come to this world, what hope would we have?"
Download / listen to the audio (3.9 Mb, 10 min | 22 November 2020)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 2. Chapter 10. Focussed to Guru
"Everything is His will, and it is the greatest adventure to search for Krishna, to search for the root of the whole infinite. It needs sufficient courage and preparedness to face the risk. Internal courage—spiritual courage—is necessary. We are to have soul's courage and have the confidence of deep faith. We are to understand the noble character of the faith within us."

 

Wed, 25 November 2020
Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami
"Sri Gadadhar Das Goswami is an eternal associate of Sriman Mahaprabhu and Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. At first, he lived in Katwa, and later, after Mahaprabhu's disappearance, he moved to a village on the bank of the Ganges...."
Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 4 min | 22 November 2020)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 2. Chapter 11. Unadulterated Purity
"Chastity is faithfulness to the cause for which we have come. It is a relative term. Chastity in the absolute sense is unchangeable adherence to Krishna consciousness. There also may be relative chastity, such as when someone sincerely pursues his interest in a particular plane. However that type of sincerity is not complete."

 

Thu, 26 November 2020 (Today is Sri Utthan Ekadasi, tomorrow paran is 6:03-8:16 a.m.)
Appearance of Acharya Srinivas
"Having received Mahaprabhu's blessing and mercy, Chaitanya Das and his wife returned to their house in Gaura-desh. Their son was born and, seeing his beautiful son, Chaitanya Das immediately declared, 'I will give this son to the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu for His service.'"
Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 4 min | 22 November 2020)

SRI NABADWIP DHAM MAHATMYA MUKTA MALA : ANTARDWIP
Srimad Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj's Sri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math
"Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Maharaj was a very dear godbrother of the Founder Acharya of our Math, Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Before taking sannyas, Srila Madhav Maharaj's name was Sri Hayagriva Brahmachari. We have heard about him from the lotus mouth of our Srila Guru Maharaj..."

SRI NABADWIP DHAM MAHATMYA MUKTA MALA : ANTARDWIP
Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj's Samadhi Mandir
"Before, I knew that anyone who assumes a human form is as contemptible and vile as myself, but when I observed the character of my Lord [Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj], I could gradually understand that a perfect Vaishnav could exist in this world. Through the words and pastimes of saintly persons such deficient jiva souls as myself can become enriched in many ways. Hearing about the character of saintly persons and their pastimes can cleanse many unsaintly hearts. With this hope I am writing a few words about Paramahamsa Babaji."

 


Today in the calendar: Gaura Ekadashi. Sri Utthan Ekadashi. Fast. Disappearance of Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Sri Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj. Appearance of Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj. Sri Bhishma Panchaka.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day. We must always remember disappearance and appearance days of all Vaishnavs. If we can remember such personalities, such great souls, it will bring a great benefit to our spiritual life. If you remember the glories of Vaishnavs, if you speak about the glories of Vaishnavs, they can rescue you from all kinds of material bondage. We have heard a hundred times that if we glorify Vaishnavs, it gives great benefit, but even though we have heard it a thousand times, how much are we able to glorify Vaishnavs from our heart? How much can we serve Vaishnavs with heart and soul? This is the question."


 

In honour of Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj:


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."


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."

 

In honour of Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj:

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 | 12 May 2012)

Guru Consciousness, Service Consciousness
"I heard from Gurudev, one time it was Janmastami, and Madhav Maharaj (his brahmachari name was Hayagriva Prabhu) had some service in Delhi, so he had to travel by train on the Janmastami day...."
Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 25 December 2010)

Continuous Service
"It happened after Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur's time. One time, Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj and one more sannyasi—three disciples of Prabhupad—were sitting in one room..."
Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 5 min | 7 August 2011)

 

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?"

 


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"
"Ekadasi Vrata: Make Your Guru Happy"
"No Other Shelter"
"Mahadvadasi"
"Ekadasi and liberation"
"Ekadasi Tithi: One of the Practices"
"Yogini Ekadasi"
"Ekadasi: Historical Background"
"Ekadasi: Main Focus Is Service"
Ekadasi Struggle?

 

Fri, 27 November 2020
Acharya Srinivas: Collecting Mercy
"Srinivas Acharya received Sri Narahari Thakur and Govinda Gosh Thakur's mercy from his childhood. Later, when Acharya Srinivas's father left his body, Srinivas and his mother then came to his mother's family house in Jajigram..."
Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 5 min | 22 November 2020)

Construction News from Uluberia Temple
(24 November 2020 | 17 photographs, 1.5 Mb)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj pays a visit to Sri Uluberia Math to observe the ongoing construction works: with the plastering works now completed, the marbling and tiling has commenced at the altar, in the nat mandir, and on the residential floor.

 

Sat, 28 November 2020
Acharya Srinivas: Rescuing Scriptures
"So many things are written about Acharya Srinivas. There is a famous pastime of Srila Srinivas Acharya and Raja Birhambir. Srila Srinivas Acharya, Srila Narottam Das Thakur, and Srila Shyamananda Prabhu were once travelling with all the books of Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Sanatan Goswami, and others..."
Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 5 min | 22 November 2020)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY:
Part 2. Chapter 12. Surrender, Service, Dedication—all done through sraddha
"Self-giving is the symptom of sraddha, faith. Without self-giving, intellectualism will have no value. Reading Scriptures will have no value, and also the physical association of the sadhu will have no value if there is no sraddha. To have sraddha means to have the mood that if we dedicate everything to Krishna, we will get everything."

 

Sun, 29 November 2020
Take Care of Yourself
"Always do service, always think about your Guru, think about your spiritual life. This is what I want from you. Devotees go to work, but they must think about their spiritual life—they must set some time for their spiritual life, spiritual benefit."
Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 6 min | 22 November 2020)

An Eventful Day at Sri Nrisingha Palli
(28 November 2020 | 66 photographs, 6.2 Mb)
Sharing photographs taken during a memorable day at Sri Nrisingha Palli: His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Jagad Guru Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj comes to bestow his divine mercy on the devotees and happily engages in various services in the temple.

জীবে দয়া, নামে রুচি, বৈষ্ণব সেবা
শ্রীল গুরুপাদপদ্ম ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীলভক্তিনির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের হরিকথামৃত শ্রীনৃসিংহপল্লীতে :
"কীর্ত্তন করে দিয়ে হরিকথা বেশি বলবেন কারণ এই কলিযুগের লোক ত পড়াশোনাই করতে চায় না, বই পড়তে চায় না, মোবাইল নিয়ে, পরিবেশ নিতে ব্যস্ত থাকে । কলিযুগের লোকের মন সব সময় চঞ্চল, বিকৃত । ভজন-কীর্ত্তন করলে মনটা শান্ত হয়ে যাবে । বৈষ্ণব সঙ্গেতে মন আনন্দিত অনুক্ষণ সদা হয় কৃষ্ণ পরসঙ্গ ।"
Download / listen to the audio (12.8 Mb, 31 min | 27 November 2020 | Bengali | ২৭ নভেম্বর ২০২০)

 


Today in the calendar: Gaura Chaturdashi. Disappearance of Srila Bhugarbha Goswami and Srila Kashishvar Pandit.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day. We must always remember disappearance and appearance days of all Vaishnavs. If we can remember such personalities, such great souls, it will bring a great benefit to our spiritual life. If you remember the glories of Vaishnavs, if you speak about the glories of Vaishnavs, they can rescue you from all kinds of material bondage. We have heard a hundred times that if we glorify Vaishnavs, it gives great benefit, but even though we have heard it a thousand times, how much are we able to glorify Vaishnavs from our heart? How much can we serve Vaishnavs with heart and soul? This is the question."


 

 

Mon, 30 November 2020 (Last day of Chaturmasya-vrata and Sri Kartik Month)
Ongoing Agenda
"By the mercy of Gurudev, I am today in Nrisingha Palli. I know that it is our zoom programme today, but I also had so much service here at the construction site today and there is still much left to do tomorrow—and it turned out that the connection here is very nice. So, I am giving this online class today from here."
Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 4 min | 29 November 2020)

CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY: Part 2. Chapter 13. The Harmonizing Spirit
"Why should you think your neighbour to be undesirable? You are not to complain against the environment but you are to control yourself and come to the proper understanding. With proper adjustment you will find everything to be harmonious: the desired land of your life. So, set yourself right—not others—and real peace you will find. And never try to enjoy the result of your actions. This is the key to a successful life, and happiness will flow from that."

 


Today in the calendar: Purnima. Rasa Yatra of Sri Krishna. Installation anniversary of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Rasa Bihari Jiu, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and Mission, Sri Vrindavan. Disappearance of Srila Sundarananda Thakur. Appearance of Srila Nimbarka Acharya. End of Chaturmasya and Niyama-seva vratas.

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Even if you do not know anything about the Vaishnav mentioned in the calendar, you must still give them 'jay' on this day. We must always remember disappearance and appearance days of all Vaishnavs. If we can remember such personalities, such great souls, it will bring a great benefit to our spiritual life."


 

In honour of Srila Sundarananda Thakur:

"It is stated in Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata that Sundarananda Prabhu was an ocean of love of Godhead and the chief associate of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (127) he is stated to be Sudama in Krsna-lila. Thus he was one of the twelve cowherd boys who came down with Balarama when He descended as Sri Nityananda Prabhu. The holy place where Sundarananda lived is situated in the village known as Mahespur (Jessore, Bangladesh). Among the relics of this village, only the old residential house of Sundarananda still exists. Sundarananda Prabhu was a naisthika-brahmachari: he never married in his life. Therefore he had no direct descendants except his disciples, but the descendants of his family still reside in the village known as Mangaladihi in the district of Birbhum. In that same village, there is a temple of Balarama, and the Deity there is regularly worshiped. Sundarananda Prabhu is a branch of Sri Nityananda Prabhu; he is Lord Nityananda's most intimate and chief servant. Lord Nityananda Prabhu perceived the life of Vrajabhumi in his company."

 

In honour of Srila Nimbarka Acharya:

"There is an enchanting place within Sri Nabadwip Dham called Bilvapaksa. Everyone calls it Bel Pukhariya. Siva, the lord of bael, resides here. After a group of noble brahmans satisfied him, having worshipped him with bael leaves for a fortnight, Siva gave them the boon of devotion to Krishna. Amongst the brahmans was Nimbaditya, who worshipped Siva exceptionally well. Mercifully, Siva said to him, 'On the edge of this village is a divine bael forest. The four Kumaras are meditating in that forest, and by their grace, you will attain divine knowledge—they will be your Gurus, and through their service, you will attain everything here.'

"Saying this, Siva disappeared. Nimbaditya then searched out that place and there, in the bael forest, saw the sages Sanak, Sananda, Sanatan, and Sanat Kumar seated on a beautiful platform beside Siva, unseen by others. They were unclothed, very young, and of noble character. Greatly excited upon seeing them, Nimbaditya Acharya happily called out, 'Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna!' Hearing the Name of the Lord, their meditation broke, and they saw the form of a Vaisnava in front of them.

Seeing the Vaisnava, they were pleased, and one by one they embraced Nimbaditya. 'Who are you? Why have you come here? Please introduce yourself. We will certainly fulfil your prayers.' Hearing their words, Nimbaditya prostrated and humbly introduced himself. Upon hearing Nimbarka's introduction, Sri Sanat Kumar spoke with a smiling face. 'Knowing that Kali-yuga would be dark, the merciful Lord decided to preach devotion. He empowered four devotees and sent them to preach devotion throughout the world. Ramanuja, Madhva Acharya, and Visnu Swami are three of them. You are the fourth of these great devotees. Laksmi Devi accepted Ramanuja, Brahma accepted Madhva Acharya, and Siva accepted Visnu Swami. Today, we have met you personally. We will make you our disciple and thus become fortunate. This is our purpose. Previously, we meditated on nonduality, but by the grace of the Lord such sin has left us. We now understand that pure devotion is supremely relishable, and we have written a scripture about it. Its name is Sanat-kumara-samhita. You will certainly be initiated into its teachings.'

Seeing the grace of his Guru, the wise Nimbarka immediately bathed in the Ganga and returned. He prostrated himself and humbly said, 'O lord! Saviour of the fallen! Deliver this lowly soul.' The four Kumaras gave him a mantra to worship the Divine Couple and taught him how to worship on the path of love. Receiving the mantra, Nimbaditya performed worship in this holy place according to the teachings of the Sanat-kumara-samhita.

Mercifully, Radha and Krishna revealed Themselves to him, and the lustre of Their forms illuminated the four directions. Gently smiling, They said, 'O Nimbaditya, you are fortunate: you have performed worship here. Nabadwip is very dear to Us. Here, We are present in one form as the son of Sachi Devi.' As They spoke, They revealed Their form as Gauranga. Seeing this form, Nimbaditya was overwhelmed. He said, 'I have never seen or heard of this extraordinary form anywhere!' Mahaprabhu then mercifully said, 'O great soul, for now, keep this form a secret. Preach devotion to Krishna and the Pastimes of the Divine Couple. Their Pastimes are My greatest joy. When I appear in the form of Gaura, I will find great pleasure in Pastimes of scholarship. At that time, you will take birth in Kasmir and travel throughout the land of Bharat, conquering all directions. Everyone, everywhere, will call you Kesava Kasmiri and praise you for being highly learned. While travelling, you will come to Nabadwip Dham and stay in the village of Mayapur. Hearing your name, the greatest scholars in Nabadwip will flee. At that time, immersed in Pastimes of scholarship, I will defeat you and feel great pleasure. By the grace of Saraswati, you will understand My identity, take shelter of Me, and give up your pride. Then, I will give you devotion and send you to preach devotion again. So for now, satisfy Me by preaching the conception of dualistic nondualism and keep My identity secret. When I start My sankirtan Pastimes, I will preach the essence of your conception. I will accept two essential principles from Madhva Acharya. One is his refutation of exclusive nondualism. O great soul, know the second essential principle to be serving Krishna's Deity form, knowing the Deity to be eternal. From Ramanuja, I will take two essential principles: exclusive devotion and service to the devotees. From Visnu Swami, I will accept two essential principles: surrender to the Lord and the path of love. From you, I will accept two most essential principles: taking shelter of Radharani exclusively and serving in the mood of the gopis.' Saying this, Gaurachandra disappeared, and Nimbaditya cried profusely with divine love.

Nimbaditya then bowed at the lotus feet of his Guru and travelled elsewhere, intent upon preaching devotion to Krishna."

 

 

 

 · · • • • · ·

 

 

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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)

 


 

Service and Karma
'Sometimes some service comes to you, and you are not satisfied with it, you want to do something else, but here is an example from Gurudev's times..'

 

Sri Sri Prema-Vivarta
“Krishna gives the [surrendered souls] His spiritual power, and Maya, becoming powerless, stops attracting them.”

You have to become crazy about Nityananda Prabhu, then you will get
that kind of [unlimited] energy.

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