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MONTHLY ARCHIVE OF UPDATES

SEPTEMBER 2023

 

Fri, 1 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran)

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)


 

dadhi-mathana-ninadais-tyakta-nidrah prabhate
nibhrta-padam agaram ballavinam pravistah
mukha-kamala-samirair asu nirvapya dipan
kavalita-navanitah patu mam bala-krsnah

"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."

OTHER RELATED SONGS:
Dasavatara Stotram | দশাবতারস্তোত্রম্
Mayura mukuta | ময়ূর-মুকুট
Yasomati-Nandana | যশোমতীনন্দন
Sri Damodarastakam | শ্রীশ্রীদামোদরাষ্টকম্

 

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,
2019
(Tarakeshwar)
Sri Nandotsav,
2019
(Tarakeshwar)
     Sri Krishna
Janmastami,
2018
(Nrisingha Palli)
Sri Nandotsav,
2018
(Nrisingha Palli)

 


 

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: Surrender and Practise Daily
"We have to understand Krishna's Pastimes. We have to be niskama bhakta: we must have no material desire, and we must not ask Krishna for anything."
Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb | 18 August 2014)

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."


 

In honour of Sri Nandotsav:

srutim apare smrtim itare
bharatam anye bhajantu bhava-bhitah
aham iha nandam vande
yasyalinde param brahma

"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)

 

Wed, 13 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran)

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)

 

Mon, 18 September 2023 (Sri Hari Smaran)

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)

Kirtans at Uchagaon
• Radhe Jaya Jaya • Radhe Govinda.
Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 8 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."

(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj, Guidance 3)

 


 

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)

2015

Ultimate Prayer
What should we pray for on the great auspicious days like Sri Lalita Saptami and Sri Radhastami?
Download / listen to the audio (0.6 Mb, 2 min | 20 September 2015)

2014

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: Worship with Extreme Care
"How to worship Radharani—how? Gurudev said, 'You must walk in Radharani's place on your head, not on your legs.' It is that kind of place, but how can we see it?"
Download / listen to the audio (5.4 Mb, 16 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: Radhe Radhe Govinda | রাধে রাধে গোবিন্দ
"Please may you all together give me your mercy, I am extremely wicked!"
Download / listen to the audio (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..."

ADDITIONAL READING:

"Observing Ekadasi"
"Ekadasi Vrata: Make Your Guru Happy"
"No Other Shelter"
"Mahadvadasi"
"Ekadasi and liberation"
"Ekadasi Tithi: One of the Practices"
"Yogini Ekadasi"
"Ekadasi: Historical Background"
"Ekadasi: Main Focus Is Service"
Ekadasi Struggle?
"Make the Teachings of Sri Guru Non-Different from Your Heart"
Ekadasi: Devotional Practice
Ekadasi Struggle?

 

"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 ।
Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 9 min | 31 May 2015 | Bengali)

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:

— { Pranam mantra of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur } —

vande bhaktivinodam sri-gaura-sakti-svarupakam
bhakti-sastrajna-samrajam radha-rasa-sudha-nidhim

"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."

(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj, Guidance 4 | Click/tap to read the chapter)

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)

 

 

 

 

 · · • • • · ·

 

 

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OFFLINE READING, ePub:
(All lectures of His Divine Grace Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj posted here on the website)
Issue #1 (31 Dec '14)
Issue #2 (2015/1)
Issue #3 (2015/2)
Issue #4 (2015/3)
Issue #5 (2015/4)
Issue #6 (2016/1)
Issue #7 (2016/2)
Issue #8 (2016/3)
Issue #9 (2016/4)
Issue #10 (2017/1)
Issue #11 (2017/2)
Issue #12 (2017/3)
Issue #13 (2017/4)
Issue #14 (2018/1)
Issue #15 (2018/2)
Issue #16 (2018/3)
Issue #17 (2018/4)
Issue #18 (2019/1)
Issue #19 (2019/2)
Issue #20 (2019/3)
Issue #21 (2019/4)
Issue #22 (2020/1)
Issue #23 (2020/2)
Issue #24 (2020/3)
Issue #25 (2020/4)
Issue #26 (2021/1)
Issue #27 (2021/2)
Issue #28 (2021/3)
Issue #29 (2021/4)
Issue #30 (2022/1)

 


 

Distributors of Mercy
'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..'

 

Sri Sri Prema-Vivarta
“Accept everything favourable to devotion to Krishna, and reject everything unfavourable to devotion to Krishna.”

All that glitters is not gold.

"HUMILITY, TOLERANCE, GIVING HONOUR TO OTHERS | HUMILITY, TOLERANCE, GIVING HONOUR TO OTHERS"