Sticking with Pure
Life
'It is very rare to find a soul who can understand these pure things, this
love and affection. A pure guru gives love and affection, gives
shelter, and even if the disciple does something wrong, gurudev still
accepts their service. The guru tolerates everything, and those who
have a pure heart can easily understand it...'
•
Download / listen to the audio (38.7 Mb, 72 min | English | 3 August
2020)
SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM
(5) Confidence in the Lord's Protection '"Certainly Lord Krishna will protect me, because He is the friend of the
devotees. He will definitely bless us with all auspiciousness and success."
Within this chapter, such faith is sustained.'
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Where There Is a Will
There Is a Way
"Answers to questions: How should we act if somebody offends us? How can we
concentrate our mind when chanting? How can we get relief from ego? How
should I instruct my child? How can we develop sincerity and enthusiasm in
our service?"
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 5 min | 28 March 2020)
—: Sri Hari Smaran Month :—
(27 August—29 September)
7 September(Thu)
Appearance of Lord Sri Krishna (Sri Janmastami) (fast until midnight)
8 September(Fri)
Sri Nandotsav, Appearance of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj
Prabhupad
22 September(Fri)
Appearance of Sri Lalita Devi
23 September(Sat)
Appearance of Srimati Radharani (Sri Radhastami) (fast until noon)
26 September(Tue)
Appearance of Srila Jiva Goswami, Lord Vamanadev
27 September(Wed)
Appearance of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur
28 September(Thu)
Disappearance of Srila Haridas Thakur
Sat, 2 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran)
Spiritual
Balance and Maturity
'You must always choose that which Gurudev arranges and take a decision based
on Gurudev's desire. You must surrender properly. You must become a property
of your guru, then you will feel, "I will do whatever gurudev says. It is his
matter how he will use his property." Your desire should not matter. Only his
desire will matter.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (38.7 Mb, 72 min | English | 3 August
2020)
SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM
(6) Embracing the Lord's Guardianship '"O Krishna, please protect me! My dear Lord, kindly accept me as Your
own." Such a prayer, as well as the prayer to obtain Sri Krishna as one's
lord and master, is the supreme solace to the hearts of the pure devotees,
and is known by them as Embracing the Lord's Guardianship.'
Question: We hear that Sri Hari Smaran festival has begun. What
activities or reading do you recommend for us?
You can read Srila Sridhar Maharaj's book
Sri
Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam, that will be good. Sri Sri
Prapanna-jivanamritam is a good book, you can read it and remind yourself
of many good things (practise smaran). I have also given you some
books—Guidance 4, Guidance 3. You can read all these books and you can
get everything in them. My books are very easy to understand, I am not
writing in very high language, so they are easy to understand.
(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Advice to
Householder Devotees
"The husband will work. The wife will cook, offer the bhog, take the
offered prasadam first, and then the husband will take the remnants after
her. That is Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj's advice..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 28 March 2020)
Sun, 3 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran)
Understanding
Gurudev
'Yes, it is very difficult to understand the guru, and it is very difficult
to understand Nityananda Prabhu. On the other hand, Gurudev is always
merciful, he always gives love and affection to everybody, but not everybody
can accept it.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (38.7 Mb, 72 min | English | 3 August
2020)
SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM
(7) Full Self-Surrender 'To summarily offer everything—from body and its paraphernalia up to pure
soul—unto the lotus feet of Sri Hari, is known as Full Self-surrender. All
selfish pursuits are abandoned and every endeavor is for Krishna alone, and
that too, up to the point of completely depending on Krishna for one's
personal means and ends. Having thus cast oneself unto the holy lotus feet of
one's Lord, one can never be swayed from that position, and he engages in
pure devotional service with all his heart forever.'
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
"Try Your Best"
"We must try to rectify ourselves. We are everybody's servants. When you take
initiation, you do not become a devotee—you only get admission into a
spiritual school, but after that you must practise. You will become perfect
through practise."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 28 March 2020)
Mon, 4 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran)
Approaching
Krishna's Pastimes
'Gurudev told us to follow the rules set by Srila Sridhar Maharaj, so we read
Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita all day on this day. In the evening, after
chanting some songs, at 9 or 9.30 p.m., you can read something about the
pastime of Krishna's appearance.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (29.4 Mb, 55 min | English | 12 August
2020)
Previous parts of this lecture, published earlier:
[1]Prayerful
Meditation
"Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani are our meditation, we always worship
Them, but we do not want to become sahajiyas—it is not cheap, it is the
highest attainment! We must pray to the Lord today. We must express what is
our present position. We are in this situation at present—how can the Lord
rescue us from this kind of situation?"
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 6 min | 12 August 2020)
[2]
Misconceptions about Lord Krishna's Appearance
"Without Lord Krishna's appearance life is meaningless. If you read Srimad
Bhagavad-gita, you can easily understand the meaning of Janmastami and
who Krishna is. People can say many things, but our vision is not like
that—we see it in a different way."
•
Download / listen to the audio (8.1 Mb, 20 min | 12 August 2020)
[3]Entering Another
Plane
"If you can fulfil Gurudev's desire, if you can follow everything and become
a 100% devotee, a surrendered soul, then you will have the strongest faith
that what Gurudev said ('If you follow Krishna consciousness properly, you
will not have to come again') is the truth."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 3 min | 12 August 2020)
SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM
(8) Surrender in Humility '"O Lord, please protect me, protect me..." Such an internal sense of
heartbreak in the devotees, which causes their remembrance in love, in all
circumstances, of the extension of grace from the unequaled and unexcelled
ocean of compassion, Sri Hari, and which characteristically causes them to
ever remember their feeling of most lamentable destitution, is known by the
learned as Surrender in Humility.'
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Proper
Service Is Chaste Service
"So, there are different ways to satisfy the Lord or satisfy your guru. There
is not only one source. Whatever service Gurudev gives me, I must do it
attentively, with faith, and without thinking about other things."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 28 March 2020)
Tue, 5 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran)
Devotees' Character
'Can an ordinary devotee appeal to Krishna to help or protect them just as
Prahlad Maharaj appealed to Sri Nrisinghadev? If we should never ask the Lord
for protection, then what about "avasya raksibe krsna visvase palan",
which is one of the six limbs of surrender?'
•
Download / listen to the audio (29.4 Mb, 55 min | English | 12 August
2020)
SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM
(9) Words of Nectar from the Supreme Lord 'Herein, collected from the Holy Scriptures headed by
Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, are words of nectar
directly from the lotus mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is
the nectar to vanquish all sorrow and darkness for the souls surrendered to
the lotus feet of Sri Krishna, and also for those aspiring for exclusive love
for Krishna. It nourishes the lives of the devotees, pleasing their hearts by
fulfilling all their cherished desires for devotional service.'
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Be Careful and
Wise
"Do not worry—Krishna will arrange everything. It is not necessary to think
about anything. None of us knows what His arrangement is, but whatever
arrangement it is, I can say that it will be good for devotees. Krishna is
always with His devotees."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 28 March 2020)
Wed, 6 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran)
Always
Remember, Always Serve
'You will all go to your homes after this festival, but you must serve
Krishna not for this moment only. Remember Krishna always, at every moment.
Do not forget Krishna. Always remember Krishna, always chant His Holy Names
and chant about His beautiful pastimes.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (29.4 Mb, 55 min | English | 12 August
2020)
SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM
(10) Divine Remnants of Nectar 'In the preparation of this book, those who have infused vitality within
my poor heart, or who have assisted in the study, reading, or amendment of
the book, or who have in any other way contributed toward its production—unto
the lotus feet of all those well-wishing Godbrothers and good devotees who
have extended or who may in the future extend their goodwill upon this humble
soul, I hereby offer my obeisances again and again.'
In honour of Sri Krishna Janmastami (Hari-katha from the holy lotus
mouth of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj,
spoken in 2020 and 2019):
Recommendation • Is "Madhava-tithi" only ekadasi? • What is your advice to those who want to take
initiation? • What do we read on Janmastami
day? • Is it possible to take medication on
Janmastami?
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 3 min)
Prayerful Meditation
"Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani are our meditation, we always worship
Them, but we do not want to become sahajiyas—it is not cheap, it is the
highest attainment! We must pray to the Lord today. We must express what is
our present position. We are in this situation at present—how can the Lord
rescue us from this kind of situation?"
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 6 min)
Misconceptions
about Lord Krishna's Appearance
"Without Lord Krishna's appearance life is meaningless. If you read Srimad
Bhagavad-gita, you can easily understand the meaning of Janmastami and
who Krishna is. People can say many things, but our vision is not like
that—we see it in a different way."
•
Download / listen to the audio (8.1 Mb, 20 min | Incl. reading from
Guidance 3)
Entering Another Plane
"If you can fulfil Gurudev's desire, if you can follow everything and become
a 100% devotee, a surrendered soul, then you will have the strongest faith
that what Gurudev said ('If you follow Krishna consciousness properly, you
will not have to come again') is the truth."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 3 min)
Sri
Krishna Janmastami: Celebrate and Realise
"What we are making the Janmastami festival for? To show ourselves and our
big ego? No, we are making this festival to give much nourishment to the
devotees through Hari-katha, through Krishna-katha, by giving good things to
them."
•
Download / listen to the audio (9.3 Mb, 27 min | 22 August 2011)
Sri Krishna Janmastami
Message
"Good things are coming to us in the future. All devotees should stay
together—we must all together celebrate this Janmastami vrata
maha-mahotsav, serving Krishna's devotees with tolerance, humility and
giving honour to others."
•
Download / listen to the audio (0.8 Mb, 2 min | 23 August 2019 |
English)
"Raise the Anchor,
Sir!"
"In the devotional line, this body is compared to a boat, and the helmsman of
the boat is the Guru. If we can stay aboard the boat that Gurudev is sailing,
then we can cross over the Viraja River and come to stay with Krishna in
Goloka Vrindavan."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 8 min | 23 August 2019 |
Bengali)
Gopal's Pastimes
"When Kamsa got the news of the child's birth, he was astonished that it was
a girl, Maya. When he killed her, she rose in the air and said, 'He who will
kill you already lives in Gokula.' After that, Kamsa began his atrocities.
Who did he send first? Putana."
•
Download / listen to the audio (6.3 Mb, 18 min | 23 August 2019 |
Bengali)
Lord's
Stealing and Rewarding
"There are many other pastimes that Lord Sri Krishna performed. There was
also a funny pastime at Chir Ghat. This pastime has a deep meaning. Many
think this is funny, but actually it is not—this pastime is all about
self-surrender."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 5 min | 23 August 2019 |
Bengali)
Mercy Incarnate
"By a great mercy and fortune, we have got the darshan of
sadhus, Guru and Vaishnavs in this lifetime. Having got their
darshan, we have got everything! By getting their darshan,
hearing Hari-katha from such Vaishnavs, hearing about such Vaishnavs'
qualities purifies the heart."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 7 min | 23 August 2019 |
Bengali)
Fall at the Lord's
Feet
"It is my prayer to you all—please, always chant the glories of the
Vaishnavs, Gurudev, and the Lord. We also pray to the Lord that you may all
always engage in service, in Hari-katha, in the kirtan, and that not a
single day may pass in your life without it..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.9 Mb, 6 min | 23 August 2019 |
Bengali)
In honour of the
festival of Sri Krishna Janmastami:
• Complete fast till midnight is
spiritually auspicious and prescribed for all devotees whose health permits
it and provided it does not interfere significantly with their service
duties.
• Those who cannot observe complete
fast, can take anukalpa prasad (similar to what is taken
on ekadasi).
• Medication can be taken even if you
are fasting.
• As per the instruction of and
tradition established by Param Srila Guru Maharaj Om Vishnupad Srila B.R.
Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, devotees spend
the day engaged in various services for the pleasure of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga
and read Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita (not
Bhagavatam) continuously from the beginning to the end (parayan).
• The appearance of Lord Krishna is
at midnight, so, as each year in every branch of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math,
devotees hold a grand celebration offering a special arati and festive bhoga
offering (grain and non-grain) to the Lordships at midnight.
• After the midnight arati, devotees
honour anukalpa prasadam (no grains, like on Ekadashi) and retire to rest to
awaken for the mangal arati and continue the celebration the next day on Sri
Nandotsav. The grain prasadam is kept aside and lovingly distributed to all
the devotees the next day (on Sri Nandotsav, along with another special bhoga
offering prepared on this day).
• His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila
B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "You must understand what we are making the Janmastami
festival for. To show ourselves and our big ego? No. We are making this
festival to give much nourishment to the devotees through Hari-katha, through
Krishna-katha, by giving good things to them.
Sri Krishna Janmastami Kirtans (Year 2020)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj chants holy kirtan
prayers on Sri Krishna Janmastami day in the company of august Vaishnavs and
devotees all over the world: • Jaya Dhvani, Vandana
• Sri Guru-charana-padma
• Kabe Sri Chaitanya more karibena daya
• Ohe Vaishnava Thakura
• Parama Karuna pahu dui jana
• Yasoda Nandana Krishna
• He deva bhavantam vande
• Janama saphala ta'ra
• Suno he rasika-jana
• Gopinath mama nivedana suna
• Jaya Radha Madhava
• Hare Krishna maha-mantra.
•
Download / listen to the audio (20.4 Mb, 49 min | 12 August 2020)
Thu, 7 September 2023 (Sri Krishna Janmastami; fast until
midnight, then anukalpa)
Account of
Krishna's Appearance
'I am telling you what Sri Sukadev Goswami spoke from the tenth canto of
Srimad Bhagavatam. This is a chapter about the mystery of Baladev's and
Krishna's appearance to destroy Kamsa.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (29.4 Mb, 55 min | English | 12 August
2020)
"Without Lord Krishna Life Is Meaningless" A beautiful and extensive chapter from Sri Guidance,
Volume 3 (page 32): "We have no relation to the appearance of Lord
Krishna any more. When a demon of enjoyment is born within our hearts at
every second, what is the necessity of Krishna's appearance? When the soul
becomes again favourable towards Lord Krishna, Lord Krishna appears at that
time in the heart of this soul. By the mercy of Sri Gurupadpadma, Lord
Krishna descends within the hearts of the souls covered by the darkness of
ignorance every year in the rainy season."
Sri Krishna Janmastami Kirtans (Year 2020)
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj chants holy kirtan
prayers on Sri Krishna Janmastami day in the company of august Vaishnavs and
devotees all over the world: • Jaya Dhvani, Vandana
• Sri Guru-charana-padma
• Kabe Sri Chaitanya more karibena daya
• Ohe Vaishnava Thakura
• Parama Karuna pahu dui jana
• Yasoda Nandana Krishna
• He deva bhavantam vande
• Janama saphala ta'ra
• Suno he rasika-jana
• Gopinath mama nivedana suna
• Jaya Radha Madhava
• Hare Krishna maha-mantra.
•
Download / listen to the audio (20.4 Mb, 49 min | 12 August 2020)
Today in the calendar:
Krishna Ashtami. Sri Sri Krishna Janmashtami (Appearance Festival of Lord Sri
Krishna). Complete fast until midnight, then no grains.
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "We should
actually be more affectionate with Nanda Maharaj and Yasoda. Tomorrow is
actually the main day—today we are fasting for the Lord, but tomorrow we are
making a festival for Nanda Maharaj."
(Sri Krishna
Janmastami: Service Festival)
"That child Krsna, who, awakening by the sound of butter-churning,
stealthily enters the homes of the cowherd ladies, swiftly blows out the
lamps with the breeze of His lotus mouth and devours the fresh butter—may He
kindly protect me." (Composed by Sri Krishna
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu)
he krsna karuna-sindho
dina-bandho jagat-pate
gopesa gopika-kanta
radha-kanta namo 'stu te
"O my dear Krishna, ocean of mercy, You are the friend of the
distressed and the source of creation. You are the master of the cowherdmen
and the lover of the gopis, especially Radharani. I offer my respectful
obeisances unto You."
"We futilely enjoy many petty senses and the distress it causes
makes us so thirsty that we create a petty phoney version of Sri Krishna.
Because of our false identification, we are fed the idea that instead of
Supreme Lord Krishna a demon-killer Krishna is born on this day. Being
engrossed in enjoyment, does anyone of us ever think what is the necessity to
worship Krishna? How many forms have we assumed being swooned by enjoyment
and how long have we been rejecting the necessity of Lord Krishna's existence
and appearance! We have no relation to the appearance of Lord Krishna
anymore. We merely spend our lives revolving within the cycle of birth and
death. We are always busy reading the news about floods and famine, and just
to get some happiness we become obsessed with various gross and subtle
enjoyment. When a demon of enjoyment is born within our hearts at every
second, what is the necessity of Krishna’s appearance? When the soul becomes
again favourable towards Lord Krishna, Lord Krishna appears at that time in
the heart of this soul. By the mercy of Sri Gurupadpadma, Lord Krishna
descends within the hearts of the souls covered by the darkness of ignorance
every year in the rainy season (August–beginning of September). His
appearance occurs at midnight on the eighth lunar day of the dark fortnight
in the month of Bhadra. Despite this calculation, Lord Krishna's appearance
day occurs eternally. His appearance is not just some historical fact, it is
an eternal truth."
(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj, Guidance 3)
Some of the kirtans that can be sung on this holy day:
•SONG:
Sri Guru Parampara |
শ্রীগুরুপরম্পরা "By Krishna's association, Brahma became devoted to Krishna's service. By
Brahma's association, Narad Muni became devoted... All the Gurus in this
succession are associates of Sri Gauranga. I pray for their remnants."
•SONG:
Janama saphala ta'ra |
জনম সফল তা'র "The birth of one who, by good fortune, has once seen Krishna is
successful. Developing the heart's eyes and seeing Krishna, such a soul
abandons all delusions. Krishna is expert at play in Vrindavan..."
•SONG:
Suno he
rasika-jana |
শুনহে রসিক জন "The transcendental qualities of Sri Krishna are innumerable. Krishna is
the spiritual master of the entire universe, a wishfulfilling desire-tree,
and the captain of the boat in the ocean of material existence."
•SONG:
He deva bhavantam vande |
(হে) দেব ভবন্তং বন্দে "The transcendental qualities of Sri Krishna are innumerable. Krishna is
the spiritual master of the entire universe, a wishfulfilling desire-tree,
and the captain of the boat in the ocean of material existence."
•SONG:
Jaya
Radha-Madhava |
জয় রাধামাধব "Glory to Radha-Madhava, the beloved of Srimati Radharani! Glory to
Kunja-bihari, the Enjoyer of pastimes in the groves of Vraja."
•SONG:
Yasomati-Nandana |
যশোমতীনন্দন "Sri Krishna, who is known as Kana, is Yasoda's darling son, Vraja's paramour, Gokula's delight, the gopis' life and wealth, the enchanter of Cupid, and the conqueror of Kaliya."
•SONG:
Hari he dayala mora |
হরি হে দয়াল মোর "O Hari! O my merciful Lord! All glories to You, the Lord of Radha! So many times I have avoided You, but this time please take me as Your own."
In honour of the
festival of Sri Krishna Janmastami:
• Complete fast till midnight is
spiritually auspicious and prescribed for all devotees whose health permits
it and provided it does not interfere significantly with their service
duties.
• Those who cannot observe complete
fast, can take anukalpa prasad (similar to what is taken
on ekadasi).
• Medication can be taken even if you
are fasting.
• As per the instruction of and
tradition established by Param Srila Guru Maharaj Om Vishnupad Srila B.R.
Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, devotees spend
the day engaged in various services for the pleasure of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga
and read Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita (not
Bhagavatam) continuously from the beginning to the end (parayan).
• The appearance of Lord Krishna is
at midnight, so, as each year in every branch of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math,
devotees hold a grand celebration offering a special arati and festive bhoga
offering (grain and non-grain) to the Lordships at midnight.
• After the midnight arati, devotees
honour anukalpa prasadam (no grains, like on Ekadashi) and retire to rest to
awaken for the mangal arati and continue the celebration the next day on Sri
Nandotsav. The grain prasadam is kept aside and lovingly distributed to all
the devotees the next day (on Sri Nandotsav, along with another special bhoga
offering prepared on this day).
• His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila
B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "You must understand what we are making the Janmastami
festival for. To show ourselves and our big ego? No. We are making this
festival to give much nourishment to the devotees through Hari-katha, through
Krishna-katha, by giving good things to them.
Sri
Krishna Janmastami: Celebrate and Realise
"What we are making the Janmastami festival for? To show ourselves and our
big ego? No, we are making this festival to give much nourishment to the
devotees through Hari-katha, through Krishna-katha, by giving good things to
them."
•
Download / listen to the audio (9.3 Mb, 27 min | 22 August 2011)
Sri Krishna Janmastami
Message
"Good things are coming to us in the future. All devotees should stay
together—we must all together celebrate this Janmastami vrata
maha-mahotsav, serving Krishna's devotees with tolerance, humility and
giving honour to others."
•
Download / listen to the audio (0.8 Mb, 2 min | 23 August 2019 |
English)
"Raise the Anchor,
Sir!"
"In the devotional line, this body is compared to a boat, and the helmsman of
the boat is the Guru. If we can stay aboard the boat that Gurudev is sailing,
then we can cross over the Viraja River and come to stay with Krishna in
Goloka Vrindavan."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 8 min | 23 August 2019 |
Bengali)
Gopal's Pastimes
"When Kamsa got the news of the child's birth, he was astonished that it was
a girl, Maya. When he killed her, she rose in the air and said, 'He who will
kill you already lives in Gokula.' After that, Kamsa began his atrocities.
Who did he send first? Putana."
•
Download / listen to the audio (6.3 Mb, 18 min | 23 August 2019 |
Bengali)
Lord's
Stealing and Rewarding
"There are many other pastimes that Lord Sri Krishna performed. There was
also a funny pastime at Chir Ghat. This pastime has a deep meaning. Many
think this is funny, but actually it is not—this pastime is all about
self-surrender."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 5 min | 23 August 2019 |
Bengali)
Mercy Incarnate
"By a great mercy and fortune, we have got the darshan of
sadhus, Guru and Vaishnavs in this lifetime. Having got their
darshan, we have got everything! By getting their darshan,
hearing Hari-katha from such Vaishnavs, hearing about such Vaishnavs'
qualities purifies the heart."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 7 min | 23 August 2019 |
Bengali)
Fall at the Lord's
Feet
"It is my prayer to you all—please, always chant the glories of the
Vaishnavs, Gurudev, and the Lord. We also pray to the Lord that you may all
always engage in service, in Hari-katha, in the kirtan, and that not a
single day may pass in your life without it..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.9 Mb, 6 min | 23 August 2019 |
Bengali)
Sri Krishna
Janmastami: No Pain, No Gain
"If we want to get the Lord, we must make an effort—we must practise
bhajan, kirtan, worship, proper behaviour, Vaishnav seva, etc.
We must try our best—we must worship, arrange programmes, practise
sravan and kirtan, serve, offer bhoga, practise daily
well."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 5 min | 3 September 2018 |
Bengali)
Sri Krishna
Janmastami: A Private Pastime
"Gopal performed many pastimes. You all know that it is going to be
Radhastami, the appearance day of Srimati Radhika, in fifteen days. There is
a story about how She appeared."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 6 min | 3 September 2018 |
Bengali)
Sri Krishna
Janmastami: Eternal Pastimes
"Krishna performed so many pastimes in Nanda-gram, but Kamsa would not stop.
Kamsa kept trying to kill Krishna—he had sent many demons (Aghasur, enormous
Bakasur, Vatsasur, etc.), but all of them were defeated by Krishna..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (3.3 Mb, 10 min | 3 September 2018 |
Bengali)
Sri
Krishna Janmastami: Adhikar For Abhisekh
"When people do Durga puja or some other pujas, they usually
fast, so here too—if you are to do the abhisekh of Lord Sri Krishna in
the evening, if you want to get this opportunity, you must fast the whole
day; otherwise you cannot bathe the holy body of Gopal."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 7 min | 3 September 2018 |
Bengali)
Kirtans • Mayura-mukuta pitambara-dhari • Jaya Radhe jaya Krsna jaya Vrndavan • He
deva bhavantam vande (Krsna Vandana) • Hari Haraye Namah Krsna • Hare
Krishna maha-mantra.
•
Download / listen to the audio (6.3 Mb, 18 min | 3 September 2018)
"Tell me
about Krishna!"
"Today is the adhivas of Sri Krishna Janmastami, it is a very good day and we
must tell something about Krishna's pastimes. Who knows Krishna? Only
Krishna's parsad (associate), can understand Krishna's
lila."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 5 min | 13 August 2009)
Dear and
Dearmost
"Today we are speaking about some of Krishna's childhood pastimes. We can
actually get Krishna's mercy only through devotees. We always first take
shelter of our Guru's lotus feet because otherwise, without this shelter, we
cannot get any connection with this line."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.9 Mb, 6 min | 13 August 2009)
Appearance of
Lord Krishna
"This festival is celebrated all over the world, and you heard that even in
Nabadwip Dham many people do not know about Krishna consciousness, do not
know about Rupa Goswami's line, but they know Krishna and they fast the whole
day and night for Krishna."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.1 Mb, 7 min | 14 August 2009)
Emporium of All
Rasa
"In Krishna-lila, everything is there—santa-, dasya-, sakhya-,
vatsalya-, madhura-rasa—that is why Krishna is considered the
Supreme Personality of Godhead."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 20 August 2011)
Sri Krishna
Janmastami: Service Festival
"We should actually be more affectionate with Nanda Maharaj and Yasoda.
Tomorrow is actually the main day—today we are fasting for the Lord, but
tomorrow we are making a festival for Nanda Maharaj."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 6 min | 22 August 2011)
Sri Krishna
Janmastami: Our Fortune and Focus
"We feel very fortunate today to have got a bona fide guru and we are
spending this day for Lord. Many people have a holiday today and are enjoying
with material things, but Krishna's devotees' enjoyment is for Krishna. That
is their hope, that is their fortune."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 6 min | 22 August 2011)
Krishna—Purnatama
Bhagavan
"To protect religion and destroy non-religion, the Lord comes to this world
again and again in different ages. On this day, taking a human form, Krishna
appears to bestow auspiciousness onto the world and rescue the fallen
souls."
•
Download / listen to the audio (6.1 Mb, 17 min | 28 August 2013 |
Bengali)
Connect With the
Centre
"We have some material desires and this is called bhava-rog (heart
disease). Who can remove this disease? Who can be our doctor? Krishna can,
but where will you get Krishna? You should think how many per cent you can
surrender yourself. It depends on you."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 5 min | 28 August 2013)
Sri
Krishna Janmastami: Path Back to Home
"We are taking so many things, but our hunger will not finish, there will
always be some material desire. But if you surrender to Krishna, to His
devotee, and if you worship Krishna, if you chant the Holy Name of Krishna,
you will get real benefit, you can go to your real home."
•
Download / listen to the audio (10 Mb | 18 August 2014)
Fri, 8 September 2023 (Sri Nandotsav; Sri Hari Smaran)
Demolish Wall of Ego
'The sun rises in the east, but if there is a wall in some place, the
sunlight will not come there. So, we all have such walls within us – they are
the walls of ego. Just as the sunlight cannot enter a place that is blocked
by a wall, devotees cannot set their foot into the houses of proud people and
cannot stay in the hearts of such people.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (39.1 Mb, 87 min | Bengali | 4 December
2020)
Today in the calendar:
Krishna Navami. Sri Nandotsav. Sri Janmastami-vrata paran is at
5:23:16–9:30:50 a.m. Appearance of Visva-varenya Tridandi-swami Sri Srimad
Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad.
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Today we are
also making a big festival—we must make Nanda Maharaj happy." "We should
actually be more affectionate with Nanda Maharaj and Yasoda. Tomorrow is
actually the main day—today we are fasting for the Lord, but tomorrow we are
making a festival for Nanda Maharaj."
"Those who fear rebirth in this world may follow the advice of the Vedic
scriptures—others may follow the Mahabharata—but as for
me, I follow Nanda Maharaja, in whose courtyard the Supreme Absolute Truth
plays as a child."
Yasoda's Darling
Krishna
"You know that Krishna was born from Vasudev and Devaki, but how fortunate
Nanda Maharaj and Yasoda Ma are! They got Krishna as their son and could
serve Krishna..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 5 min | 13 August
2009)
Patita-Pavan
"We worship Lord Sri Krishna, who is so merciful, but Gauranga Mahaprabhu is
even more merciful. Nityananda Prabhu said, 'Prabhu, what are you doing? If
You do not rescue them, then why is Your name patita-pavan?'"
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.6 Mb, 6 min | 4 March 2020)
Krishna's
Childhood Pastimes
"Although Krishna lived in Nanda-gram, He spent much time playing with His
cowherd boyfriends in Gokul. He showed so many things in His pastimes—He
played with cows and dust of Vrindavan (dhuli-khela), He ate soil, He killed
demons..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 22 August 2011)
Sri Krishna
Janmastami: Service Festival
"We should actually be more affectionate with Nanda Maharaj and Yasoda.
Tomorrow is actually the main day—today we are fasting for the Lord, but
tomorrow we are making a festival for Nanda Maharaj."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 6 min | 22 August 2011)
Rely On Gurudev
"Gurudev is nondifferent from Krishna; at the same time Gurudev is like
Radharani. Many obstacles will come in our practising life, but if we
remember Krishna, if we remember our Gurudev and if we serve our Gurudev,
then they must protect us."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 6 min | 6 August 2002)
In honour of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad's appearance:
namah om visnupadaya krsna-presthaya bhutale
swami sri bhaktivedanta prabhupadaya te namah
gurvajnam sirasi-dhrtva saktyavesa sva-rupine
hare-krsneti mantrena pascatya-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 Prabhupada, 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 Krishna mantra all over the Eastern and Western world,
delivering and uplifting all fallen souls. He is the best of millions of
Jagad Gurus, because he is the personification of divine mercy. He has
distributed the sweet nectar of Srimad Bhagavatam and the transcendental
knowledge of Srimad 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."
Beacon Light
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj is giving a concise
account of the close relationship between Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and
Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad.
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min | 10 March 2016)
Srila Swami
Maharaj Prabhupad
"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)
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."
Sat, 9 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran)
Live in Hari-Katha
'Spend whatever time you get listening about the Lord, then you will see that
your heart will become purified. Then, if your heart becomes pure – if all
impurities leave your heart – the Lord, or Vaishnavs, will stay in it.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (39.1 Mb, 87 min | Bengali | 4 December
2020)
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Rama-Avatar
"Today is a very good day—the appearance day of Lord Ramachandra. There are
different kinds of moods—santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya, madhura-rasa.
Moreover, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the Lord are also different.
You can easily understand it from the difference between Rama-lila and
Krishna-lila."
•
Download / listen to the audio (3.7 Mb, 9 min | 2 April 2020)
Sun, 10 September 2023 (Tomorrow is Paksavardhini Mahadvadasi;
Sri Hari Smaran)
Do Not Waste Time
'We work so hard day and night always thinking how to protect and save this
body. We are so busy that we do not get time to chant the Holy Name of the
Lord, what to speak of serving the Lord. We have got this body from the Lord,
but we do not have time for Him.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (39.1 Mb, 87 min | Bengali | 4 December
2020)
SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITAM
Selected Gems • Sri Sri Prabhupada-padma Stavakah
• Srimad Bhakti Vinodaviraha Dasakam
• Sri Srimad Gaura-Kisora-namaskara Dasakam
• Sri Sri Dayita Dasa Dasakam
• Srimad Rupa-pada-rajah Prarthana Dasakam
• Sri Dayita Dasa Pranati Pancakam
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Peculiarity
of Lord's Pastimes
"I have read Ramayan, but I am telling you the gist point... There are
many incarnations—Narayan, Ramachandra, Vamanadev, Balaram, and others, but
Krishna is the full Supreme Personality of Godhead. However, Gaura-lila is
even higher..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (7.6 Mb, 18 min | 2 April 2020 | Class & kirtan)
Tue, 12 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran)
Focus on the Lord
'The Lord says, "I have given you a tongue and a mouth only so that you can
chant the Holy Name, but you are not doing it! I will send you into a body
where you can only eat! You will become a cow and only eat grass the whole
day." So, stop all your idle talks and only chant the Holy Name of
Krishna.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (40.3 Mb, 96 min | Bengali | 4 December
2020)
GUIDANCE, VOLUME 3
"Without Lord Krishna Life Is Meaningless" 'Great teachers tells us, "If Lord Sri Krishna had not appeared, the life
of the jiva souls would be useless," but the meaning of these words does not
enter our ears! We futilely enjoy many petty senses and the distress it
causes makes us so thirsty that we create a petty phoney version of Sri
Krishna. Because of our false identification, we are fed the idea that
instead of Supreme Lord Krishna a demon-killer Krishna is born on this
day.'
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Heart of
Devotional Life
"We can leave this world at any moment, we do not even know if we will stay
in this world until tomorrow; but even if we stay only until tomorrow, we can
still chant the Holy Name, we can remember our guru-varga, their
instruction—that will be good for us."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.2 Mb, 6 min | 2 April 2020)
Stepping over
Liberation
'We do not want heaven because we know that if we go to heaven, we will have
to come back once our pious merit finishes. So, we do not want to go to
heaven, neither do we want to attain liberation...'
•
Download / listen to the audio (40.3 Mb, 96 min | Bengali | 4 December
2020)
GUIDANCE, VOLUME 3
The Unrenounceable 'The things that are of paramount necessity for the transcendental body,
or the well-being of the soul, are called spiritual (paramartha), and the
things that are not necessary for the transcendental body are called
unwanted, valueless (anartha). Such unwanted things are to be rejected like
stool, urine, etc. If one gives up all anarthas and there remains one
anartha, it is called parama anartha, or the greatest evil. What is
it?'
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Proper
Receiver and Proper Mother
"(1) To be a proper receiver actually means
you must attentively concentrate your mind, concentrate your life and think
only how to fulfil Gurudev's desire, how to make Gurudev happy, how to make
the Lord happy. (2) If a mother becomes a
good devotee herself, then she will be able to teach her children Krishna
consciousness properly with her good association."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 5 min | 2 April 2020)
Thu, 14 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran)
Beyond
Karma-Misra Bhakti
'People pray to the Lord for material happiness, and the Lord gives them much
happiness. If you ask Krishna for enjoyment or liberation instead of
devotion, the Lord will give you everything, but He will not give you
devotion.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (40.3 Mb, 96 min | Bengali | 4 December
2020)
GUIDANCE, VOLUME 3
What Is Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and Its Distinctions 'To explain to this world what Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is, what its
purpose, preaching matter or distinctions are, is an extremely difficult
task, but it is even more difficult to make those who are engrossed in and
inspired by the commonplace ideas appreciate it even partially.'
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Meaning of
Chastity
"Chastity is a very high thing. Those who have chastity, do not think about
anything else, they do not want to hear anything else, they do not want to
listen to anything else, they do not want to know anything else—they only
know their Guru."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 4 min | 2 April 2020)
Fri, 15 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran)
Evading Maya's World
'Maya Devi herself does not have any power, but when she gets power from Me,
she takes living entities away from Me and engages them in her own service –
she makes everyone forget Me.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (40.3 Mb, 96 min | Bengali | 4 December
2020)
GUIDANCE, VOLUME 3
Sri Radhastami 'To the south of Nandisvara Hill there is a beautiful mountain called
Varasanu. A king of cowherds Vrisabhanu with his virtuous spouse Krtika lived
there, on the plateau of this Varasanu Hill, worshipping the Lord. On the
eighth day of the bright moon in the month of Bhadra, in the naksatra called
Visakha, at midday, a precious jewel-daughter appeared in the house of Raja
Vrisabhanu, illuminating the house, the town and all the ten
directions.'
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Embarking On New Life
"Today is your chance, you have got this opportunity to be admitted to this
spiritual school, but only taking initiation, only taking shelter of a Guru
is not sufficient—you must serve under the guidance of your Guru after
that."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 6 min | 2 April 2020)
Sat, 16 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran)
Descend of Scriptures
'I have told you about the origin of Srimad Bhagavatam briefly. The
whole story is much longer. You can read it in the small book we have
recently published. I have written Upadesh 1, 2, 3 and 4 in
plain language. If you read these four volumes, you can learn everything.
Read these scriptures, you will get benefit.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (40.3 Mb, 96 min | Bengali | 4 December
2020)
GUIDANCE, VOLUME 3
Proper Renunciation 'Dear reader, what Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu expressed in his writing
about the true meaning of proper renunciation (yukta-vairagya) and detachment
(anasakta) and what Mahaprabhu taught about it is fully presented in this
poetry. Many of us swear to have 'detachment', 'proper renunciation', etc.,
but if we look deep within ourselves—if we sincerely look within our hearts,
without cheating ourselves—then we will see and have to say that our
detachment or proper renunciation is just big words and a pretext to enjoy as
we please.'
'We must not become hopeless thinking that we do not have sufficient
sukriti, so we will just resign, sit and do nothing—even if Maya Devi
comes at this time to advise you and whispers into your ear that you should
indulge in such laziness and sluggishness, you must untiringly, constantly
remember to humbly pray to Krishna and the lotus feet of a bona fide
guru to fully surrender in the association of bona fide devotees. How
will I be able to accumulate sukriti if I do not keep the sacrificial
fire of hankering always bright aflame within my heart? If you wait for
sukriti to come on its own while the boat of your life is floating in
the waters of bad fortune, it is virtually impossible to attain any
auspiciousness.'
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Go Forward
"Everybody is now staying at home—what are you all doing? Krishna has given
you this time to practise. Chant the Holy Name, chant all kirtans,
read books. Do whatever you can according to your capacity. Jump to the Lord
and give everything to Him!"
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.6 Mb, 7 min | 2 April 2020)
Sun, 17 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran)
Please Come Home!
'Return to the Lord! Come back to your home! Loving search for the lost
servant: Lord is searching for us all because we are His lost children. When
a father loses his child, the father cries for his son, and the son also
cries for his father. We too must cry like that for the Lord.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (40.3 Mb, 96 min | Bengali | 4 December
2020)
GUIDANCE, VOLUME 3
Astakala-Lila 'Being unable to grasp this subject, many confuse internal mental service
with mano-dharma (concocted ideas) or imagination. Enjoying the Lord
(Hari-bhoga) is not serving the Lord (Hari-seva), as much as mental
speculation is not internal service. Unless you are specifically told and
warned about this matter, your naughty mind will always try to cheat you by
passing off imagination or sensual enjoyment as internal service.'
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Your Golden
Opportunity
"The whole world is shaking thinking we will die, but this is the time to
chant the glories of the Lord—to glorify Bhagavan Krishna's Name, beauty,
pastimes. That is why the Lord has brought this kind of situation (this
lockdown) into our lives."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 4 min | 3 May 2020)
Do Not Live
Like Outside People
'Do not live like people from the outside world. According to them, the Lord
must sleep until ten o'clock. They go to sleep at midnight and sleep until
nine–ten o'clock in the morning. This is all bad habits! You must go to bed
early, not later than ten o'clock, and wake up at four o'clock in the morning
for mangal-arati.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (40.3 Mb, 96 min | Bengali | 4 December
2020)
GUIDANCE, VOLUME 3
Is Religion the Cause of National Downfall? 'We think that uncovering our consciousness (awakening the awareness of
our consciousness), seeking the interest of the soul causes individual and
collective degradation. The truth is that whether it is individual, national,
social or any other downfall, the only reason why it happens is a lack of
spiritual culture. This is the eternal and living historical truth.'
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Pass Your Life
in Service
"It is the religion of the ears, eyes, mind to always want to listen to some
interesting things, to all kinds of stories, bad things; but we have no
attachment to our service... If I am attached to my service, I will always
ignore bad things, bad talks, stories. Now is the time. Pass your life in
service."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 7 min | 3 May 2020)
Tue, 19 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran)
Fruits of faith
'When a jiva's faith grows strong, Maya will leave it and goes away.
Where there is light, there can be no darkness. Where there is Krishna, Maya
has no right to be there. Wherever there is Hari-katha, Maya goes far away
from that place.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (40.3 Mb, 96 min | Bengali | 4 December
2020)
GUIDANCE, VOLUME 3
Householders and Renunciates 'In fact, the house is like a fortress which you can use to fight against
the six enemies, but if you cannot make your house a fortress, if you instead
make your house a dwelling place of your enemies, then what to speak of
having some place to fight against your external enemies—before advancing in
the battle you must first win the place occupied by the enemies within your
house. The problem is that we turn almost 100% of the place in the house into
a place for enjoyment.'
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
How to Increase
Surrender
"Saranagati comes when you follow 100% what Gurudev told—you should
try to follow 200%, then if your attempt will perhaps turn out less, it will
be 100%. Always try to listen to what your Guru says, always think how to
fulfil Gurudev's desire."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 5 min | 3 May 2020)
Wed, 20 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran)
Pure
Sankirtan in Pure Association
'Chanting in bad association may sound like the Holy Name, but such chanting
can never be the real Holy Name. Brother, if you want to chant the Holy Name,
then you must have good association.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (40.3 Mb, 96 min | Bengali | 4 December
2020)
GUIDANCE, VOLUME 3
Provincialism and Service to the Lord 'When people, bound by provincial or national mentality, display
enthusiasm and readiness for devotional(?) activities, they actually have no
eagerness for service to, or love for, the Lord and Vaishnavs—they are more
or less just beggars for sense gratification or selfish opportunism.'
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
No Such
Thing As Personal Affairs
"You must be open—you must give everything to your Guru. Keep all your
personal things, everything at your Guru's lotus feet. We must realise how we
can involve ourselves, involve our own things in the service of the
Lord."
•
Download / listen to the audio (0.8 Mb, 2 min | 3 May 2020)
Today in the calendar:
Gaura Panchami. Appearance of Sri Sita Devi, the consort of Sri Advaita
Prabhu.
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."
"We should always check the calendar, and when we see some dates mentioned
there, even if we do not know anything about the Vaishnav or events mentioned
there, we can at least give 'jay' to them—that also brings some good sukriti,
some purification to us. Seeing the calendar and taking devotees' names early
in the morning, from the beginning of the day, is very good for all
devotees."
"Wake up, look into the calendar and give 'jay' to your Guru and
Vaishnavs. Always pay obeisance to your Guru and Vaishnavs when you wake up
in the morning, always give them 'jay'. Always keep faith and show
respect to them. Always see the calendar—whose appearance day it is, whose
disappearance day it is. Even if you cannot make a festival, at least you can
give them 'jay', it will bring you benefit. When you give 'jay'
to your Guru and Vaishnavs, it brings you sukriti. For example, today
is the disappearance day of a Vaishnav—give 'jay' to him, remember
him. We must always remember the words of Vaishnavs. If I remember the words
of Vaishnavs, I get some benefit, some deposit through that."
In honour of Sri Sita
Thakurani:
Worshippable
Sita Thakurani
"Advaita Acharya's wife, Sri Sita Thakurani, is worshipped by everyone all
over the world. I have not read much about her, but we know that when
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born, Advaita Prabhu sent her with some
gifts to Jagannath Misra's house..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 8 min | 23 August 2020)
Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: "One day shortly after Lord Caitanya
Mahaprabhu was born, Sri Advaita Acharya's wife, Sita Devi, who is
worshipable by the whole world, took her husband's permission and went to see
that topmost child with all kinds of gifts and presentations. When Sita
Thakurani came to the house of Sachi Devi bringing with her many kinds of
eatables, dresses and other gifts, she was astonished to see the newborn
child, for she appreciated that except for a difference in color, the child
was directly Krishna of Gokula Himself. Seeing the transcendental bodily
effulgence of the child, each of His nicely constructed limbs full of
auspicious signs and resembling a form of gold, Sita Thakurani was very
pleased, and because of her maternal affection, she felt as if her heart were
melting. She blessed the newborn child by placing fresh grass and paddy on
His head and saying, 'May You be blessed with a long duration of life.' But
being afraid of ghosts and witches, she gave the child the name Nimai."
Sri Sita Thakurani is an incarnation of Yogamaya, Sri Paurnamasi. In
Dvapar-yuga, when Mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaj celebrated Sri Krishna's
birth, she came to the house of Nanda Maharaj and gave various advice to
Mother Yasoda. In the same way, in Kali-yuga, Sri Sita Thakurani also advised
Sri Sachi Devi about childcare. She always stayed close to Sachi Devi and for
Sachi Devi, she is worshippable. Sri Sita Thakurani is a daughter of Sri
Nrisingha Bhaduri. She has a sister named Sri. Sri Bhakti-ratnakar says,
"Sri Nrisingha Bhaduri was extremely happy to gift his two daughters to Sri
Advaita Prabhu. The two wives of Sri Advaita Prabhu are worshippable for the
entire world—they are known everywhere by the names Sri and Sita." Sri Sita
Devi, being an incarnation of Yogamaya, Sri Paurnamasi, manifests herself as
Sri Sita Devi and Sri Devi. Sri Sita Thakurani loved Nimai as her own son
(vatsalya-rasa). She gave birth to three sons, Achyutananda, Krishna Misra
and Gopal Misra, all of whom were followers of Mahaprabhu. When Mahaprabhu
took sannyas, Sri Advaita Thakur, Sita Thakurani and Achyutananda Prabhu
would come to Puri to with the Lord—Sri Sita Thakurani would always bring
many edibles for the Lord at that time.
Thu, 21 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran)
Covet All, Lose All
'When people hear about the rasa-lila, they think that the pastimes of
Radha-Krishna are the same as when boys and girls in this world fall in love.
But this is not the same! This kind of conscousness only cheats people out of
devotion.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (40.3 Mb, 96 min | Bengali | 4 December
2020)
GUIDANCE, VOLUME 3
Offenders 'Unless we remember this sobering instruction of Sri Gurupadpadma within
our serving hearts, we will lose the power of Baladev (we will become
spiritually weak)—we will become offenders in many ways: instead of serving
in the stance of a servitor, we will become unconsciously possessed by the
ego of a service-taker.'
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Everything Has
Its Limit
"If you do wrong every day and you know it, it is not good. Mercy has its
limit. Gurudev will not say anything, but he can tolerate it for some time,
and if you keep on doing wrong every day, then Gurudev's tolerance has its
limit. One day seva will run away from you."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 3 May 2020)
—: Sri Hari Smaran Month :—
(27 August—29 September)
22 September(Fri)
Appearance of Sri Lalita Devi
23 September(Sat)
Appearance of Srimati Radharani (Sri Radhastami) (fast until noon)
26 September(Tue)
Appearance of Srila Jiva Goswami, Lord Vamanadev
27 September(Wed)
Appearance of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur
28 September(Thu)
Disappearance of Srila Haridas Thakur
Fri, 22 September 2023 (Sri Lalita Saptami; Sri Hari Smaran)
Kali-Yuga Brahmans
'All Vaishnavs are brahmans, but brahmanism stands on the lowest steps
of the ladder of Vaishnavism. Vaishnavs' qualities are much greater than the
qualities of brahmans. If a brahman practises Krishna
consciousness in realisation of sambandha-jnana, he can become a
Vaishnav—by the mercy of Vishnu, he can be saved from the hands of
impersonalists and become an unadulturated brahman, or a
Vaishnav.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (39.1 Mb, 87 min | Bengali | 4 December
2020)
Today in the calendar:
Gaura Saptami. Sri Lalita Saptami. Appearance of Sri Lalita
Devi.
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "Krishna is the
property of the maid servants of Srimati Radharani. All Vedas say this.
Without mercy of Lalita Devi, we cannot think about Krishna. Therefore, we
must also glorify Lalita Devi. We do not have any quality, qualification, or
anything else, but today, on the appearance day of Sri Lalita Devi we can
pray to her that she may please engage us in some service—that she may take
us into her circle and give us some service..."
In honour of the worshippable
appearance day of Sri Lalita Devi:
Divine Guidance, Chapter 4
"We are in the group of Lalita Devi. Our prayer is that she will take us and
engage us in service. We are very hopeful because Lalita Devi's mood is very
open, something like that of Nityananda Prabhu. She is very affectionate with
all, and she is the head of all the sakhis."
Sri Lalita Devi
"This is Uchagaon, Guru Maharaj's dearmost place. He said, 'First go to
Uchagaon, then you can enter Varshana.' He explained that if you do not get
the mercy of Lalita Devi, you cannot get the mercy of Srimati Radharani."
•
Download / listen to the audio (3.2 Mb, 10 min | 15 November 2012)
Sri
Lalita Devi: Prema-Guru
The Appearance Day of she who manages the Pastimes of Sri Radha Krishna,
who is able to teach Srimati Radhika, who is able to intensify the
feelings of the Divine Couple, and without whose mercy we shall never be
able to reach Krishna.
•
Download / listen to the audio (9.5 Mb, 21 min | 12 September 2013)
Approaching,
Not Encroaching
"You cannot get the darshan of Radharani, you cannot get the mercy of
Radharani just by going to Vrindavan. You do not have to go and stay in
Vrindavan—wherever you stay, you can serve the Lord, you can engage in His
service and worship." How?
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 5 min | 12 September 2013)
"Save Me, Enlist
Me!"
"When will Nityananda give me some mercy and my material desires become
removed from my heart?... We do not have any quality, qualification, or
anything else, but on the appearance day of Sri Lalita Devi we can pray to
her that she may take us into her circle and give some us service..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (5.3 Mb, 16 min | 12 September 2013)
Sri Lalita
Devi: Our Service Line
"If you do not worship Lalita Devi properly, you will not get mercy from
Srimati Radharani; if you do not serve Srimati Radharani (Gurudev, Guru
Maharaj) properly, you will not get mercy from the Lord."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min | 20 September 2015)
Sat, 23 September 2023 (Sri Radhastami – fast until noon; Sri
Hari Smaran)
Radhastami:
Careful Worship
'We must always worship Radharani's lotus feet very carefully. Sri Uddhav
Maharaj says in Srimad Bhagavatam that we must be very careful about
Vraja-gopis' footdust. Uddhav Maharaj said, "I cannot worship
Vraja-gopis' lotus feet. I can only worship their footdust."'
•
Download / listen to the audio (5.3 Mb, 14 min | Bengali | 4 December
2020)
Today in the calendar:
Gaura Ashtami. Sri Radhastami: Appearance of Srimati Radharani. Fast until
noon.
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj: "If we cannot
capture Gurudev, who is nondifferent from Srimati Radharani, we cannot
capture Krishna, the Lord. How can we capture Srimati Radharani? Through Her
servants. We must observe this day today very carefully, very respectfully,
with our heart and soul."
In honour of the worshippable
appearance day of Srimati Radharani:
"Would anyone have heard that 'prema' (divine love of God) is the highest
destination? Would anyone have known the glory of the Holy Name? Would anyone
have had access to the kadamba forests of Vrindavan, filled with unfathomable
sweetness? Would anyone have known Sri Varsabhanavi (Sri Radha, the highest
worshippable Deity), who is the resplendent embodiment of superb excellence
of sweet ecstatic love (madhurya-mahabhav)? Sri Chaitanya-chandra has
revealed all this manifesting His supreme magnanimous pastimes. 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. 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 mahamaya, 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 Krsna’s senses. Those who are attracted by the flute of
Sri Krsna but, not waiting for the guidance of Sri Radhika, come to play with
'Dhira Samira' Krsna, have no right to enter the rasa-lila performed at Radha
Kunda—Chandravali has no right to enter there."
Our
Lord's Beloved Power[a chapter from Affectionate
Guidance]
"Today is Sri Radhastami, the Appearance Day of Srimati Radharani. The
Rupanuga Sampradaya gives some special, unique appreciation of Srimati
Radharani. They feel that without the merciful connection of Srimati
Radharani, they cannot approach towards Krishna at all. Only if the order is
coming from Her will they move towards Him. They are extremely fanatical
about Srimati Radharani, and that is their foremost qualification."
Sri Radhastami [From Guidance, Volume 3] 'To the south of Nandisvara Hill there is a beautiful mountain called
Varasanu. A king of cowherds Vrisabhanu with his virtuous spouse Krtika lived
there, on the plateau of this Varasanu Hill, worshipping the Lord. On the
eighth day of the bright moon in the month of Bhadra, in the naksatra called
Visakha, at midday, a precious jewel-daughter appeared in the house of Raja
Vrisabhanu, illuminating the house, the town and all the ten
directions.'
2020
Sri Radhastami
"Srimati Radharani appeared in this world in Dvapar-yuga on this tithi
of Sukla-astami (eighth day of the bright moon), Visakha-naksatra, in the
month of Bhadra. Every year, our temples here in India and all of our temples
all over the world celebrate this festival on this day..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (10.2 Mb, 25 min)
Attainment of Divine
Love
"Krishna and Kasna (the Lord and His devotee) are both transcendental, and
the nature of the relationship between them is called devotion or divine love
(prema). The devotees who take shelter of divine love always serve and
love the object of their love—the Supreme Lord; the Lord also always relishes
loving relationship with His exclusive devotees."
•
Download / listen to the audio (10.4 Mb, 25 min)
Where Angels Fear to
Tread
"In our life, there is too much much lust, too much anger, too much
enjoyment, too much involvement with the material life—how do you think you
will get that transcendental ecstatic taste, how do you think you will
understand those paramour loving dealings? These are very high things. It is
better not to read about those pastimes."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 4 min)
Sri Radha-Tattva
"You can get Krishna-prema by the mercy of Srimati Radharani. Yet people do
not know what is Radha Kunda and what is Shyama Kunda. Materialists and those
who are always engrossed in material enjoyment cannot understand
Radha-tattva. Radha-tattva is an extremely highest topic."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 6 min)
Perfect Service
"We must always remember Vrindavan in our hearts, that is good for us. We
must always meditate on the astakaliya-lila, which means we must
always keep space in our hearts so that Radha-Krishna could play there. Keep
some place for Srimati Radharani, Krishna, and Gurudev in your heart, that
will be a perfect service."
•
Download / listen to the audio (3.2 Mb, 8 min)
2019
Sri
Radhastami and Sons of Nectar
"If we want to see a beautiful life, a beautiful mood, beautiful character,
and a happy life, then we should serve our Guru properly. It is necessary to
have chastity. Without chastity, how can we assert that we are servitors of
Gurudev and Guru Maharaj?"
•
Download / listen to the audio (10.2 Mb, 29 min | 29 August 2019)
On the Bank of the
Yamuna(6 September 2019)
"One must be ignorant to worship only Madhav. If you worship only Krishna,
Gopal, it will only bolster your ego, 'Oh, I am worshipping Krishna! Who is
Radharani? I am better than Radharani!' Never take association of such people
who do not have any regard for the Guru."
শ্রীরাধিকার আবির্ভাব (৬ সেপ্টেম্বর ২০১৯)
শ্রীশাস্ত্র থেকে পড়তে পড়তে এবং কীর্ত্তন করতে করতে ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীল ভক্তি
নির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজ সৌভাগ্যবান উপস্থিত বৈষ্ণব ও ভক্তগণের সম্মুখে শ্রীমতী
রাধারাণীর আবির্ভাব লীলা শ্রীগুরুতত্ত্বের সম্পর্কে পাঠ করে শুনান । "শুনতেই সহজ
কিন্তু কান দিয়ে দর্শন করতে হবে—হৃদয় দিয়ে শুনতে হবে ।"
[Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj reads an
extensive description of the appearance of Srimati Radharani from holy
scriptures and speaks about the Guru-tattva. A Bengali noon class on Sri
Radhastami.]
•
Download / listen to the audio (17.8 Mb, 60 min | 6 September 2019 | বাংলা)
Pure Hearts
Run Behind Krishna(6 September 2019)
"If you have ego, you will never get any result. We must sweep and wipe and
clean these things out of our hearts, and this does not happen
externally—this dirt is removed by hearing Hari-katha. If someone poses as a
Vaishnav but talks gramya-katha, then they can never be a Vaishnav."
Sri
Radhastami: World Beyond Lust
"The lectures are recorded and going to be sent all over the world that is
why it is necessary to say something in English. People write so much about
gopis and Radharani and they enjoy with that, but what they write
about Radharani and who Radharani is, is worlds apart."
•
Download / listen to the audio (6.4 Mb, 18 min | 6 September 2019 | Eng & Beng)
2018
Sri
Radhastami in Sri Hapaniya Dham (1)
"Today is a very auspicious day in our spiritual life, and every year on this
day we make a festival for Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Gopinathjiu in
Hapaniya. This place is very auspicious—it is the appearance place of our
Param Gurudev."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 5 min | 17 September 2018)
Sri
Radhastami in Sri Hapaniya Dham (2)
"Mahaprabhu taught that from time to time one can go to the birthplace of a
holy, divine personality. That is why we come here to Hapaniya, Bamunpara,
and birthplaces of many other holy personalities."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 7 min | 17 September 2018)
Sri Radhastami Bengali Classes(2 September
2014) Morning class and kirtans:
• Download
(30.7 Mb, 67 min) Noon class and kirtans:
• Download
(24 Mb, 52 min)
2013
Krishna's
Dearmost
"Without service to Radharani's lotus feet, no service can be possible. If,
however, we can serve the associate servitors of Radharani, we can get the
supreme benefit. And Gurudev is non-different from Srimati Radharani,
therefore it is necessary to serve the Guru."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 7 min | 13 September 2013)
Appearance of
Srimati Radhika
"She appeared on this day in Raval. Mother Kirtida and King Vrisabhanu lived
in Raval, near Gokula. We often say that Varshana is the birthplace of
Srimati Radharani, but they came there later—Her birthplace is in
Raval..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (5.3 Mb, 16 min | 13 September 2013)
2012
Sri
Radhastami: Do Not Cheat Yourself
"If you chant, 'Radhe, Radhe,' you will not get Radharani. It is necessary to
serve Radharani, that means to serve Gurudev. Radharani's lotus
feet are non-different from the lotus feet of Sri Guru. It is necessary to
know what the real service is."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 23 September 2012)
2011
Sri
Radhastami: Capture the Captor
"If we cannot capture Gurudev, who is nondifferent from Srimati Radharani, we
cannot capture Krishna, the Lord. How can we capture Srimati Radharani?
Through Her servants. We must observe this day today very carefully, very
respectfully, with our heart and soul."
•
Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 9 min | 5 September 2011)
Sri Radhastami Kirtans [শ্রীশ্রীরাধাষ্টমী কীর্ত্তনগুলো ] • Vadana • Sri Guru-charana-padma • Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu daya kara
more • Ohe Vaishnava Thakura dayara sagara • Nitai-pada-kamala • Emona
durmati samsara bhitare • Radhe jaya jaya Madhava dayite • Radha-bhajane yadi
(with purport) • Radhika-charana-padma •
Radha-kunda-tata • Radhe Radhe Govinda • Varaja-vipine yamuna kule (with purport and a word of caution) • Jaya Radhe jaya
Krishna (with purport) • Sri Radhastakam • Jaya
Radha Madhava • Hare Krishna maha-mantra and Sri Radharani's kirtan.
•
Download / listen to the audio (30.3 Mb, 84 min | 6 September 2019)
•SONG:
Jaya Radhe, Jaya
Krishna |
জয় রাধে, জয় কৃষ্ণ "All glory to Radha, Krishna, and Vrindavan! All glory to Sri Govinda,
Gopinath, and Madan Mohan! All glory to Shyama Kunda, Radha Kunda, Govardhan
Hill, the River Yamuna, and Mahavan!"
•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)
•SONG:
Radhika-charana-padma |
রাধিকা চরণ পদ্ম "The lotus feet of Sri Radha are the abode of all auspiciousness, the
supreme goal of life. Without the lotus feet of Sri Radha, one will never
meet Krishna. All the Vedas say that Krishna belongs to the maidservants of
Sri Radha."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb)
•SONG:
Radha bhajane yadi |
রাধা-ভজনে যদি "If one does not develop within his heart the desire for Radha-bhajan,
then his Krishna-bhajan goes for nothing. One who worships Krishna alone is
ignorant. Who does not adore Sri Radha is an egotist."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb)
•SONG:
Varaja-vipine yamuna kule |
বরজ-বিপিনে, যমুনা কুলে "At this time, the Flute Holder (the best of the relishers of rasa) begins
His rasa pastimes. When Madhava-Mohini (Sri Radha) sings, the whole world
loses its soul in Her singing, but today Bhaktivinod senses some calamity as
the rasa-lila broke off today without Radha."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb)
•SONG:
Yadi Gaura na ha'te |
যদি, গৌর না হ'ত "If Sri Gaura had not come, what would have happened? How would we have
maintained our lives? Who would have revealed to the world Sri Radha's glory
and the extremes of Her ecstatic divine love?"
• Download / listen to the audio
(1.3 Mb, 4 min)
Sun, 24 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran; tomorrow is Parsva Ekadasi)
Refine Your
Destination
'There is something that you can get and all your desires will go away – we
must go back to our homes, to the Lord. You think that whatever place you are
staying in at present is your home because your father or grandfather has
built it. But this is not your home.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (11 Mb, 27 min | Bengali | 8 December
2020)
GUIDANCE, VOLUME 3
Hell 'Many ask: is there any physical place called 'hell' or 'heaven'? Is it
present in India or abroad? Are the suffering and enjoyment (happiness,
opulence) that we see in this world hell and heaven? In the present day and
age of advanced material science, many interpret hell and heaven as something
like a 'bogeyman' that 'old-fashioned' authors of scriptures use to scare the
God-fearing people. Some also think that in the twenty-first century hell or
heaven is just an outdated coin that has gone out of use.'
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Affection for
Devotees
"Love and affection for devotees increases by serving without offence, by
chanting the Holy Name without offence, by practising properly and by not
keeping in your heart any bad intention: envy is a disease, pratistha
is a very big disease."
•
Download / listen to the audio (4.8 Mb, 12 min | 3 May 2020)
Mon, 25 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran; Sri Parsva Ekadasi)
Devotional Clothes or Devotional Heart?
'You must learn how you must behave when sadhus, gurus and
Vaishnavs come to you all the way from Nabadwip. You must think how you will
make an effort to serve them, how you will give prasad to them, how
you will arrange everything for them.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (11 Mb, 27 min | Bengali | 8 December
2020)
GUIDANCE, VOLUME 3
Devotional Mood (Bhakta-Bhav) 'The detachment from the material world that is seen within the santa-bhav
(neutral, detached mood) of the nirvisesvadis, or the stone-like unconscious
state of the offenders of the Lord, demons, etc., is not the santa-bhav of
devotees. If one thinks that the neutral mood of devotees is the same as the
state attained in Buddhism and other impersonalist doctrines, then they will
have to fall down due to this grave offence.'
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Life Sacrifice
"Gurudev told me, 'If somebody wants to chant this Holy Name, if somebody
wants to join the family of Krishna and wants to spend the rest of their life
living a spiritual life, you can give initiation to them.' It is necessary to
sacrifice your life for the service of the Lord."
•
Download / listen to the audio (3.6 Mb, 9 min | 3 May 2020)
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.
Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj about fasting on ekadasi and
accepting material facilities:
"One time, a devotee came here from Vrindavan on the day of
ekadasi. He reached in the evening and, after taking a bath in the
Ganges, attended kirtans, danced, circumambulated the temple and so
on. Then, I asked him whether he would take any anukalpa [non-grain
prasadam that is allowed to be taken on ekadasi]. He replied,
'Generally, I do not take anything, but if you like, then, of course, I must
like anukalpa. Your will is greater than my fasting.' That was his
decision.
"My Guru Maharaj (Srila Prabhupad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur)
always wanted maximum energy: you should take good food and do good service.
That was his maxim. Krishna is not a liquidated party: take full
prasadam and do full service. Do maximum service, and you should take
whatever is necessary for that. You are to take it for the cause of Krishna,
not for your own cause. You are Krishna's, so if you grow weak, His service
will be hampered, and both you and Krishna will be losers thereby. 'My
soldiers will be well-fed and well-working.' That was our Guru Maharaj's
principle. Napoleon said, 'One full-fed soldier is equal to ten half-fed
soldiers.'
"So, prasad-seva: if it is service, then it must be taken in a
serving mood, of course. But, at the same time, the individual position of a
devotee should be taken into consideration. Sahajiyas do not fast on
ekadasi at all: "Oh, we are in Vrindavan, and there is no fasting in
Vrindavan." But Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, Srila Prabhupad did not like
that—it is sahajiya (imitation) if you go on feeding your senses in
the name of Krishna-bhakti (devotion to the Lord). For the service to
Krishna, it is necessary to keep up the body and to provide nourishment to
it, so we must take what is necessary for service. We do not like it if by
fasting, a loss of energy is effected. If fasting does not hamper your
service, you may go on fasting—perhaps, your Gurudev wanted
that...
"For service, I must accept what is necessary to make me physically
fit so that I can render more service. So, accepting material things is not
objectionable. It is fruitful, not detrimental. Rather, it produces something
of a pure character, which helps everyone. This is how a disciple receives
and accepts things. At that same time, he may even blame himself, 'I cannot
go on with my worldly life without the help of this or that!' He will blame
himself, but the underlying spirit must be, 'If I do not take it, I shall be
unfit; I will not be able to do my bit of service to the Lord, to my
Gurudev.'
"Moreover, by taking up renunciation, I will be a loser. I will incur
a loss for myself, for the world, and my Guru's service will be hampered. In
this spirit, devotees are to take everything. For the cause of Krsna, for the
cause of his Guru, they will accept anything.
"Suppose there is a very miserly karmachari (manager). Because
he does not want to spend money, he may not attain a particular result; then,
some difficulty comes, and the opportunity is lost. This manager will be
responsible to the proprietor: 'Why did you not spend money? Why are you
afraid of spending money from my store? Because of your miserly habit,
the opportunity has been lost!' 'Why should you not spend My money for My
interest?' So, to render service to Krishna, to my Gurudev, to Vaishnavs, to
the world, to everyone, I must keep up this mundane body, and I am entitled
to take something for that.
"Miserliness is mayavada; it is the renunciation spirit, and it
will mar Krishna's interest. What we need is yukta-vairagya: I shall
take from the store of Krishna to keep myself fit and to do service. It is
Krishna's account, and if I do dot do that, I should be a separationist, a
mayavadi, a renunciationist. I shall render maximum service to
Krishna, and I must take without any hestitation whatever is necessary to
make myself fit for the service; otherwise, I shall be
punishable."
•"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..."
"You do not need to know the meaning of each ekadasi tithi because if
you know it, you will want to get this result, that result, etc."
(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)
Tue, 26 September 2023 (Appearance of Lord Vamanadev; Sri Hari Smaran)
Inside and
Outside
'We do not worship Gora to impress others. It is necessary to awaken your
consciousness. Who am I? Why am I suffering? I am a servant of a servant of a
servant's servant.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (11 Mb, 27 min | Bengali | 8 December
2020)
Today in the calendar:
Gaura Dvadasi. Appearance of Lord Sri Vamanadev.
Ekadasi paran is at 6:56:22–9:28:37 after the worship of Lord Sri Vamanadev.
Appearance of Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu.
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 Lord Vamanadev's
appearance:
chalayasi vikramane balim adbhuta-vamana
pada-nakha-nira-janita-jana-pavana
kesava dhrta-vamana-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
"O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of
a dwarf-brahmana! All glories to You! O wonderful dwarf, by Your massive
steps You deceive King Bali, and by the Ganges water that has emanated from
the nails of Your lotus feet, You deliver all living beings within this
world."
•Lord Vamandev
"Vamandev was a son of Aditi and Kasyap Rishi. Aditi was very sad because all
of her sons had left the heaven because of the torturing of the demons, that
is why Vamandev came to her womb. On the other side, there was Bali
Maharaj..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 3 October 2015)
Lord's Avatar
"It is a very auspicious day today because it is Vamandev's avirbhav.
Every year on this dvadasi, we first perform archan for Vamandev, then
offer some sweet rice, and with that sweet rice prasadam we do the
paran (break our fast) on the dvadasi day...."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 6 min | 30 August 2020 | Bengali&English)
Kasyap Rishi's Advice
to Aditi Mata
"Only those who forgot Krishna have this kind of intelligence, this kind of
sense that they think, 'He is bad, he is good.' If we have any relation with
the Lord, then we will have no enemies. Kasyap Rishi advised his wife Aditi,
'Reject that which is imaginary, which is lies, and worship the Lord.'"
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 4 min)
Appearance of Lord
Vamanadev
"The proper time came and the Lord appeared first in the heart of Kasyap
Rishi and then came to the womb of Aditi Mata. When the Lord Himself entered
her womb, Brahma and all demigods began to pray to the Lord showing a very
exalted mood. Everything around became very auspicious..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.8 Mb, 5 min)
Satisfying the Lord
"Bali Maharaj asked Vamanadev, 'O brahman, what do you want? Tell me,
and I can give You anything you wish.' Vamanadev replied, 'I do not want
much. I know you have everything but I want only something small.'"
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.7 Mb, 7 min)
•বামনদেব ও বলি মহারাজ(Pastimes of Lord Vamanadev and
Bali Maharaj)
ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রী শ্রীল ভক্তি নির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজ ভগবানের লীলা ও বলি
মহারাজের আদর্শস্বরূপের শরণাগতির সম্পর্কে বর্ণনা করেন ।
•বামনদেবের কথা
(ওঁ বিষ্ণুপাদ শ্রীল ভক্তি নির্ম্মল আচার্য্য মহারাজের
হরি-কথামৃত)
"দৈত্যরাজ ছিল বলি মহারাজ । সে বলি মহারাজ দেখতে পারলেন যে, সব অসুররা পরাজিত
হচ্ছে, সবাই মরে যাচ্ছে আর উনি ভাবলেন, 'আমাকে বিরাট যজ্ঞ করতে হবে ।' এদিকে
স্বর্গে অদিতি চিন্তা করলেন, 'হে প্রভু ! তোমার ইচ্ছায় এ সব হচ্ছে, তুমি একটু
ব্যবস্থা করে দাও—আবির্ভুত হও !' আর সে অদিতির গর্ভেই ভগবান বামন-রূপে আবির্ভুত
হলেন..."
In honour of Srila Jiva Goswami
Prabhu:
—: Pranam mantra of
Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu :—
yah sankhya-pankena kutarka-pamsuna
vivarta-gartena cha lupta-didhitim
suddham vyadhad vak-sudhaya mahesvaram
krsnam sa jivah prabhur astu me gatih
"With his nectarean teachings, Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu revealed the Supreme
Lord, Krishna, whose effulgence had been hidden by the quicksand of
calculation, the dust storm of fallacious logic, and the ditch of
illusionism. May he be my shelter."
—Sri Baladev Vidyabhusan
•Srila Jiva
Goswami Prabhu
"I have no power to say what kind of devotion to his Guru Jiva Goswami
had. Jiva Goswami's service cannot be compared to
anyone's service. Whatever order he would get, he would place it on his
head and do it all the time—his mind never went to any other place."
•
Download / listen to the audio (8 Mb, 23 min | 2012)
•Srila Jiva
Goswami Prabhu: The All-Rounder
"Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu did everything alone—he cooked, did puja,
cleaned the temple, brought water from the Yamuna, and also did personal
service to his Guru. He was busy with his service from morning to night, and
did everything alone."
•
Download / listen to the audio (0.6 Mb, 2 min | 9 September 2011)
Early Pastimes of
Srila Jiva Goswami
"Although Jiva Goswami was a very small baby, when he saw Mahaprabhu's
beauty, he keep it in his heart and always thought about it—whether he slept,
ate, or was awake, he all the time was thinking about the beauty of
Mahaprabhu. When he was studying later, he always thought about Gaura Nitai's
form, Gaura Nitai's beauty and pastimes."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 4 min | 30 August 2020)
Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu's
Mercy
"We are giving our full obeisance to him from here. We pray to his lotus
feet, 'We are fallen souls, Prabhu, we have no quality, no qualification.
Wherever you are staying now, Prabhu, please make us your foot dust and keep
us under your feet.'"
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 30 August 2020)
•Protected
Journey
Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj explains the pranam-mantra of
Srila Jiva Goswami in the book Dignity of the Divine Servitor: "I
offer my full dandavats unto the lotus feet of Srila Jiva Goswami who
is the protector of our spiritual life. He rescues us from the whole illusory
environment..."
•Srila Jiva
Goswami Prabhura Sochaka
A song composed by Srila Narahari Thakur in glorification of Srila Jiva
Goswami Prabhu's life, character, and service. Bengali verses and English
transliteration.
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."
Wed, 27 September 2023 (Appearance of Srila Bhaktivinod
Thakur; Sri Hari Smaran)
Beauty of Kirtan
'We are souls ruined by Kali, we do not understand anything. But even those
who have taken initiation also forget that we must be humbler than a blade of
grass, more tolerant than a tree, and it is necessary to give honour to
others.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (11 Mb, 27 min | Bengali | 8 December
2020)
GUIDANCE, VOLUME 3
Home-interest vs Math-interest 'If we do not have the natural feeling that the Math is my home, nobody
can be forcefully taught to love it because love comes naturally and interest
or concern for something also comes naturally. Interest in something does not
come through persuasion, it appears and manifests on its own
account.'
Today in the calendar:
Gaura Trayodasi. Appearance of Srila Sach-chid-ananda Bhaktivinod
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. 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."
"We should always check the calendar, and when we see some dates mentioned
there, even if we do not know anything about the Vaishnav or events mentioned
there, we can at least give 'jay' to them—that also brings some good sukriti,
some purification to us. Seeing the calendar and taking devotees' names early
in the morning, from the beginning of the day, is very good for all
devotees."
"Wake up, look into the calendar and give 'jay' to your Guru and
Vaishnavs. Always pay obeisance to your Guru and Vaishnavs when you wake up
in the morning, always give them 'jay'. Always keep faith and show
respect to them. Always see the calendar—whose appearance day it is, whose
disappearance day it is. Even if you cannot make a festival, at least you can
give them 'jay', it will bring you benefit. When you give 'jay'
to your Guru and Vaishnavs, it brings you sukriti. For example, today
is the disappearance day of a Vaishnav—give 'jay' to him, remember
him. We must always remember the words of Vaishnavs. If I remember the words
of Vaishnavs, I get some benefit, some deposit through that."
In honour of Srila Sachchidananda
Bhaktivinod Thakur:
"I offer my obeisance unto Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur, the embodiment of
Sri Gaurasundar's potency. He is the king of all knowers of the scriptures of
pure devotion and an ocean of the nectar of devotion to Srimati
Radharani."
"The hearts of so many people became cleansed through Srila Bhaktivinod
Thakur's sankirtan—rough, uncultured hearts became refined and clean;
inclinations to sins and all other desires went away; and by hearing his
heart-touching Hari-katha, the hearts of many people became drawn to Krishna
and rejoiced; many felt attachment and attraction towards Krishna; and those
who became fond of saṅkīrtan attained divine love. This is the result of
Krishna-kirtan. Moved by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's Hari-kirtan, many people
started to live their lives practising Krishna consciousness and listening to
Hari-katha.
"Sri Gaurasundar sent Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur to remove all opposing
propensities that throw thorns, obstacles, difficulties, and misconceptions
on the path of devotion. He not only removed all thorns on the path of
devotion, he also cleansed the mirrors of the hearts of fortunate souls and
made pure devotion arise there. The current of Bhaktivinod
(bhaktivinod-dhara) flows within the current of Sri Gaurasundar, there is no
higher current than that of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. His current never
becomes extinct; the current of his mercy remains flowing even today.
His kirtan, like a firework rocket, swooshes up into the sky and, producing a
loud sound, showers a never-expiring light upon the earth. His kirtan does
not produce a sudden flash and then fades out. He himself practised Krishna
consciousness and radiated light. It is not that he left and everything has
become quiet. He made sure that after his disappearance the world would
remain as lit up as it was during his manifest pastimes. Therefore, the
current of pure devotion that he introduced remains flowing even
now."
The Seventh Goswami[By Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj]
A summary account of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's service, life, and character.
Originally published as an introduction to the first edition of Sri
Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya published as The Hidden Treasure of the Holy
Dhama Nabadwipa.
On the
Appearance Day of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur
"In this world there is no comparison or substitute to Srila Bhakti Vinod's
unparalleled gift. He appeared on today's date. Thus this day is also
supremely worshippable, desirable, and merciful. I have no gift with which I
worship this great day..."
Without Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur Our Line Is Nothing
"Today is the disappearance day of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur—he left us and
entered his nitya-lila on this day. He is doing service in his abode
now, but he is still bestowing his mercy on all devotees and on us. We cannot
even think of our line without Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. He is the main
personality in our line."
•
Download / listen to the audio (3.4 Mb, 8 min | 21 June 2020)
Appearance of
Universal Guru
"You all know who is Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur. He is there in our
guru-parampara. Our Param Gurudev Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar
Dev-Goswami Maharaj wrote his pranam mantra, and everything is there
in that mantra..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (3.3 Mb, 8 min | 30 August 2020)
শ্রীল ভক্তিবিনোদ ঠাকুরের ভজনকুটির (স্বানন্দ-সুখদা-কুঞ্জ)
(শ্রীনবদ্বীপধাম মাহাত্ম্য-মুক্তা-মালা)
"শ্রীল গুরুদেবের কৃপায়, সমস্ত ভক্তিবৃন্দের কৃপায় আমাদের শ্রীচৈতন্য সারস্বত মঠ
(আন্তর্জাতিক) পরিক্রমা সঙ্ঘ এখন শ্রীল ভক্তিবিনোদ ঠাকুরের ভজনকুটির ও
সমাধি-মন্দিরে এসেছে । এই গৃহে শ্রীল ভক্তিবিনোদ ঠাকুর থাকতেন ও ভজন করতেন
।"
Online Assembly of Dham-Bhusana
Vaishnavs
"We have got an opportunity to speak and hear about Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur
in this class amidst the pandemic situation through the medium of zoom. Today
is a very auspicious day, and we have all gathered here today to observe this
holy day..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (3.3 Mb, 8 min | 31 August 2020)
Speech at Sri
Surabhi Kunja
"Today is a very good day—the holy appearance day of Sachchidananda Srila
Bhaktivinod Thakur. We have assembled here at this festival hosted by the
Saraswata Gaudiya Vaishnav Sangha on this lunar day at Surabhi Kunja every
year since 1996. This year too we have all assembled here on this very
occasion..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (3.8 Mb, 12 min | 22 September 2018 | Bengali)
Glories
of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur (7 September 2014)
"Unless you have no ego, unless you reject jealousy, you cannot understand
what Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur has given to us. Only a rupanuga
(follower of Srila Rupa Goswami) can understand the glories of Srila
Bhaktivinod Thakur, otherwise it is impossible."
Extraordinary Glories of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur
"Devotion is akinchana-guhya-vidya (sacred education, para-vidya,
suddha-saraswati), and he who enhances devotion, its beauty and charm and
distributes it to us is called Bhaktivinod Thakur. It is his appearance day
that we are celebrating today."
•
Download / listen to the audio (4.3 Mb, 13 min | 7 September 2014)
Srila Bhakti
Vinod Thakur
"If Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur had not come in this world, where, in whose
lotus feet would we have found our shelter? He gave us all these things and
he gave us Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. If you think about it,
you can understand how much he gave to the jiva souls..."
• Download the
audio (3.6 Mb, 11 min | 3 October 2015)
Recognising Guru:
What Is Your Obstacle?
"Brother, you see Bhakti Vinod Thakur as your father, but I see him as my
spiritual master. That is the difference. What you see is a father
(baba), and that is the obstacle (badha) that prevents you from
getting Radharani (Radha)."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min | 24 February 2013)
Srila
Bhaktivinod Thakur's Early Association
"Once, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur met a siddha Raghunath Das Babaji
Mahasay. Raghunath Das Babaji did not like to mix with Srila Bhaktivinod
Thakur and also told others not to mix with him, however later he understood
who Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur was..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.2 Mb, 4 min | 12 September 2019)
The Worship of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur [Sri Gaudiya
Darshan, by Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj] "Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur did so much seva for the sampradaya of Sri
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He lived during a very heavy time period. He was a very
exclusive devotee of Mahaprabhu and specifically worshipped Deities of Sri
Sri Gaura Gadadhar...."
শ্রীপুরীধাম মাহাত্ম্য-মুক্তা-মালা:
শ্রীনারায়ণ ছাতায়
"শ্রীলভক্তিবিনোদ ঠাকুর মহাশয় উলা বা বীরনগর গ্রামে (নদিয়া জেলায়) আবির্ভূত
হয়ে জীবনে অনেক জায়গায় গিয়েছিলেন । চাকরির জন্য তিনি অনেক নগরে ম্যাজিস্ট্রেট
ছিলেন আর তারমাঝে ১৮৭০ সালে তিনি শ্রীপুরীধামেও এলেন । ওই সময় তিনি নারায়ণ ছাতায়
বসা বাস করতেন ।"
শ্রীল
ভক্তিবিনোদ-আবির্ভাব-তিথিতে
"জগতে শ্রীল ভক্তিবিনোদের এই অতুলনীয় দানের কোন উপমা নাই—কোন বিনিময় নাই ।
আজ্কের এই তিথিকে অবলম্বন করিয়াই তিনি প্রকটিত হইয়াছিলেন । অতএব এই তিথিও পরম
পূজনীয়া, বরণীয়া এবং করুণাময়ী । আমার এমন কোন উপায়নই নাই যাহার দ্বারা আমি এই
তিথিবরার পূজা করি ।"
Glories of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur
A Bengali class on the holy appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur spoken
in 2014 by His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya
Maharaj.
•
Download / listen to the audio (18.5 Mb, 41 min | 7 September 2014)
•SONG:
Sri Guru Parampara |
শ্রীগুরুপরম্পরা "...Their dear follower is Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur. His associate is the
best of the topmost devotees, Srila Gaura Kisor Das Babaji, whose sole joy is
Sri Hari's service."
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."
Thu, 28 September 2023 (Disappearance of Srila Haridas Thakur;
Sri Hari Smaran)
Search for Your
Original Home
'Back to God, back to home. Please come back to the Lord, come back to your
home! Search for your own home. If we are to return to the Lord, we must
accept Mahaprabhu's teachings: the Harinama maha-mantra.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (11 Mb, 27 min | Bengali | 8 December
2020)
GUIDANCE, VOLUME 3
Samsara and Bhakti 'We are always encouraged by the common people to become more and more
engrossed in the material life. Mayavadis preach that since all things of the
material world are temporary, the family of Krishna is also temporary. Those
who fall into the whirlpool of both kinds of thinking can never get out of
the material life, neither can they attain devotion.'
Today in the calendar:
Gaura Chaturdasi. Disappearance of Srila Haridas Thakur.
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj: "By
remembering the glory of Srila Haridas Thakur all our impurities will go
out."
In honour of Namacharya Srila
Haridas Thakur:
Namacharya
Srila Haridas Thakur (1)
"Today is a very auspicious day—a grand festival in honour of Srila Haridas
Thakur's disappearance day. How great his glory is! Haridas Thakur was
Mahaprabhu's companion in the preaching of the Hare Krishna
maha-mantra."
•
Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 10 min | 12 September 2019)
Namacharya
Srila Haridas Thakur (2)
"When prasadam came from Jagannath temple, Govinda would serve it to
Mahaprabhu, and every evening, when Mahaprabhu went to bed and Svarup
Damodar, Ray Ramananda returned to their own places, Govinda would take that
prasadam for Srila Haridas Thakur. That was the routine every day. One
day, however..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (5 Mb, 14 min | 12 September 2019)
Srila Haridas
Thakur's Niryan
"Everybody must remember the three wishes of Srila Haridas Thakur. 'I want to
keep Your lotus feet in my heart, to see Your lotus face with my eyes, and
with my my mouth, I want to chant Your name. This is my only hope and
prayer...'"
•
Download / listen to the audio (1.9 Mb, 6 min | 3 October 2015)
Withdrawal of
Srila Haridas Thakur
"On this day Mahaprabhu gave a great festival for Haridas Thakur; on this day
Haridas Thakur left this world. Actually, Haridas Thakur is always with us—he
did not leave this world, only his body left..."
•
Download / listen to the audio (3.1 Mb, 9 min | 11 September 2011)
Disappearance
of Srila Haridas Thakur(24 September
2009)
The sad and loving Pastime of the Lord and His devotee, Namacharya Haridas
Thakur: "Prabhu, do not give me Maya. I know you love me so much, that is
why I do not want to hear from You any further. Please give me some
mercy—I want to go before You. Please, Prabhu, fulfil my
desire."
শ্রীপুরীধাম মাহাত্ম্য-মুক্তা-মালা:
শ্রীল হরিদাসঠাকুর : নামাচার্য্য শিরোমণি
"শ্রীপুরীধামে এসে মহাপ্রভু হরিদাস
ঠাকুরকে তাঁর সঙ্গে শ্রীপুরীতে এনেছিলেন আর তাঁর নিজের ঘরের পাশে একটা ঘর
দিয়েছিলেন । শ্রীলহরিদাস ঠাকুর বলতেন, 'আমার জগন্নাথ দর্শন করবার অধিকার নেই ।
আমি অতি পাপী, যবন, নিচু জাতি, তাহলে আমি কি করে জগন্নাথ মন্দিরে যাব ?' তাই
মহাপ্রভু নিজে প্রত্যেক দিন জগন্নাথদেবের মন্দিরে মঙ্গলারতিতে যাওয়ার পরে হরিদাস
ঠাকুরের কাছে আসতেন ।"
•SONG:
Ye anila prema dhana |
যে আনিল প্রেমধন "I will break my head on a rock, I will enter into fire. Not finding the
association of Sri Gauranga, who performed His Pastimes with all these
associates, Narottam Das weeps."
•SONG:
Ei-bara karuna kara |
এইবার করুণা কর "O worshippable Vaisnava, be merciful to me this time. O saviour of the
fallen, without you there is no one. In every birth I aspire for the dust of
your feet."
•SONG:
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."
Fri, 29 September 2023 (End of Sri Hari Smaran)
Road
to Home Is Paved with Hari-Kirtan
'This life is uncertain and full of many kinds of danger. We may have to
leave this world at any time. At the same time, it is no use living for one
hundred years. Even if you live here for only ten years, it is sufficient if
you chant the Holy Name during this time.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (19.7 Mb, 42 min | Bengali | 8 December
2020)
GUIDANCE, VOLUME 3
Questions and Answers • Who is a sadhu?
• What is wrong about being a non-devotee?
• What happens if I listen to non-devotional talks?
• Is Krishna-sankirtan the only practice?
• What is the reason of our suffering?
• Is the mind the same as the soul?
• How can one get rid of anarthas?
• Do we have to leave all our jobs and daily duties?
• How can one escape from the material world?...
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Devotional Lifestyle
"By the mercy of Gurudev, you get the relationship with the Lord, and if you
are a good practitioner, you will take care of your practising life by
controlling these six urges. Those who can tolerate these six urges and who
take shelter of the Holy Name of Krishna, are always victorious."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 7 min | 10 May 2020)
Sat, 30 September 2023
'Wake Up!'
'You promised that you would serve the Lord, but what did you do instead? You
did not do it! Then, as you sow, so you reap. You have got this fleeting
lifetime, this fleeting human birth, so please worship the Lord genuinely,
think about the Lord.'
•
Download / listen to the audio (19.7 Mb, 42 min | Bengali | 8 December
2020)
—{ Sri Hari-Kirtan Mahatmya }—
'If you do not understand the meaning of kirtans, it will not stay in
your mind then. When you chant, you must understand the meaning of the
kirtan, then it will stay in your heart. Common people do not
understand the meaning of kirtans: they listen to kirtan bands,
enjoy the tune, etc., but this is not the way to practise kirtan. When
you chant kirtan, you must understand the meaning of what you are
singing – some devotional feeling must come to your heart.'
—Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj
'Some gentleman was singing a song of Srila Narottam Das Thakur. When he
finished singing, Srila Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj remarked, "You have only
superficially repeated the sound, but the real influence, the real
impression, the inner voltage is unknown to you. Those who are hit by strong
feeling suggested by this song can know the power underlying it, but you are
merely repeating the sound physically, you do not feel the volt, the energy
within it. The voltage of the meaning of this song has not struck your
heart." He remarked like that. Ordinary men who exist on the surface only
repeat sounds, but those whose hearts have been touched by the deep
underlying meaning, they can understand what that song contains...'
—Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj
Samsara-davanala
'I offer my obeisance unto the lotus feet of Sri Guru, by pleasing whom one
can please the Lord and without pleasing whom there is no other way; I sing
and meditate on his glory at the three junctions of the day.'
—{ Sri Gurupadpadma's Worldwide Address }—
Undevotional
Lifestyle
"If we think that we have these faults, then we must always try to reduce
them, we must always try to avoid these faults because these faults slowly,
slowly destroy your devotion. It is necessary to control the six urges and it
is necessary to remove the six faults."
•
Download / listen to the audio (2.4 Mb, 6 min | 10 May 2020)
'Today is the appearance day of Nitai Gaurachandra in Puri. Actually, you
know that Deities always come through devotees—the Lord takes the hand
of His devotee and comes in the form of a Deity..'