1 JANUARY 2021 [EVENING | PART 8]

Internal Purity
"It is necessary to practise Krishna consciousness constantly and earnestly, sincerely. If I cannot love anybody, then nobody will love me. If I do not believe or respect anyone, then nobody will believe or respect me. If I do not want good for anybody, the Lord will not want good for me."

• SRI SRI PREMA-VIVARTA •

(7) THE NAME IS FOR EVERYONE
"Gora Ray says to both householders and renunciants, 'Brothers, see to it that a day does not pass without chanting the Name.' There is no need to perform many practices: purify your life in the shelter of Krishna’s Name."

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Seven, chanted on Fridays)
'He is a holy embodiment of the beautiful reality which is beyond the reach of one’s eyes and ears, which paralyses the very necessity of intelligence and which leaves even firmly fixed consciousness dumbstruck when divine love surges up – even Brahma, Sambhu (Siva), as well as their revealed scriptures, Vedas and tantras cannot conceive of such reality, so they merely keep searching after Him – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

1 JANUARY 2021 [EVENING | PART 9]

Kirtan-Yajna
"Chant five kirtans every morning and every evening. You can offer two flowers, you can offer arati, you can give some incense, but if you chant kirtan extolling Mahaprabhu's glories, Mahaprabhu is more pleased with that."

• SRI SRI PREMA-VIVARTA •

(8) GIVE UP DECEIT
"Serve Gora! Serve Gora! Serve Gora! Brother, there is no Guru in this world other than Gora. If you want to serve Gora, make your heart sincere. Give up deceit and serve Gora’s feet. Gora knows your thoughts, so how will you cheat Him? When you are sincere, you will understand Gora’s teachings."

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part One, chanted on Saturdays)
'Demigods, perfected souls, liberated souls, yogis and Lord’s devotees always sing His praise; He relieves the world from the blazing forest fire of three-fold miseries (caused by the desire for enjoyment, liberation and perfections) brought about by inauspicious actions (performed in aversion to the Supreme Lord); an ocean of generosity, He bestows His own Name from the nectarean storehouse of Lord Sri Krishna’s Names – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

1 JANUARY 2021 [EVENING | PART 10]

Give Up Illusory Luxuries
"Greed is a sin, sin is death. You can live an honest life in your house and eat rice with salt or rice with spinach, that is well and good. It is necessary to live an honest life; it is necessary to live in Krishna's family and give up all bad things and habits."

• SRI SRI PREMA-VIVARTA •

(9) PROPER RENUNCIATION
"When materialists and speculators resort to apathy (towards the world), the wickedness of false renunciation arises in their minds. They develop the mentality that the material world is trifling and begin to oppose material nature. Service to Krishna and the sadhus is relishable to the soul. By simply opposing material nature, you end up completely disheartened."

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Two, chanted on Sundays)
'Very tall, beautiful and infused with divine love, His holy form increases gods’ joy; the lustre of His body, which puts millions of golden lotuses to shame, is worshipped by the Moon; and His intrinsic form is a holy abode of divine pastimes manifest as eternal ever-increasing transcendental ecstatic transformations that spring up as He revels dancing in Sri Krishna-sankirtan – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

1 JANUARY 2021 [EVENING | PART 11]

Who Will You Blame?
"Sri Guru and Vaishnavs come and keep telling us the truth again and again, but if we do not listen to them, if we do not make a step forward – if we do not remember the Lord, if we do not think about the Lord – then we are ruining our own fortune."

• SRI SRI PREMA-VIVARTA •

(10) CASTE AND CLASS
"Brother, when you give up your pride, you will give up the world, and when you give up the world, your heart will become pure. The Lord bestows greater mercy upon the humble; pride and humility cannot co-exist. Pride is the path to hell."

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Three, chanted on Mondays)
'He ardently preached that service performed in various divine relationships (from dasya-, sakhya-, vatsalya- to madhura-rasa) and the (paramount) service beauty of Sri Radha’s servitors in the highest paramour madhura-rasa, as well as any transcendental hankering of the self-realised souls in Sri Vraja Dham, can indisputably be realised in Sri Vrajendra-nandan only – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

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, you will get everything in them. My books are very easy to understand because I am not writing in very high language.

(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

Download (epub)
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(5 August—7 September)

1 JANUARY 2021 [EVENING | PART 12]

Analysis Is Paralysis
"If you want, you will offer bhog to the Lord and take prasad, and if you do not want, then you will make excuses. If you think so much, you will not eat anything, you will not be able to do anything. Do not overthink it. Only be vegetarian, follow ekadasi and practise Krishna consciousness."

• SRI SRI PREMA-VIVARTA •

(11) THE LIGHT OF NABADWIP
"Within the universe, the earth is glorious; on the earth, the land of Gauda is glorious; and within Gauda, Sri Nabadwip is glorious. Its thirty-two miles are revered by the entire world. Those who sincerely want to serve Krishna should serve Gaura, whose wealth is devotion to Krishna, during the eight periods of the day in Gauda."

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Four, chanted on Tuesdays)
'Overcome with strong bouts of divine love surging through Him and becoming unconscious of the world around Him, He dances madly and chants kirtan; the tears streaming incessantly from His eyes flood His body, the colour of molten gold and tall as the mount Sumeru, His clothes, the colour of the newly risen sun, and the earth in all fourteen directions around Him; He glows as He chants, ‘Krishna! Krishna!’, shouts jumbled up words and relishes various postures and behaviours (roaring with laughter, etc.) under the influence of divine love – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

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 bath in the Ganges, attended kirtans, danced, circumambulated the temple and so on. Then, I asked him whether he would take any anukalpa. He replied, 'Generally, I do not take anything, but if you like, then, of course, I must take 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 Krishna, for the cause of their 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 held responsible by 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 not do that, I should be a separatist, a mayavadi, a renunciationist. I shall render maximum service to Krishna, and I must take without any hesitation whatever is necessary to make myself fit for the service; otherwise, I shall be punishable."

"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)

In honour of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu:

Srimad Rupa-Goswami-Prabhura Sochaka
শ্রীমদ্রূপগোস্বামি-প্রভুর শোচক
"O shelter and goal of my life, O Sri Rupa Gosani! You are extremely merciful, an ocean of great qualities. Whoever gets your mercy can come to Sri Chaitanya’s feet and attain Sri Radha-Krishna in Vraja Dham. Your nature was such that you gave mercy to the worst, most sinful, fallen and miserable souls. This wretch Narahari is always suffering in anguish. Please accept me! May I always, at every moment, remember your lotus feet – please hear this prayer of mine!"

Srimad Rupa-pada-rajah Prarthana Dasakam
"When Sri Chaitanyadev saw His very own – His very love, His dearest and beloved associate, the source of His innate joy, His exclusive follower – rolling on the ground together with his younger brother, He quickly came up to him, and, praising him loudly, embraced him tightly, rejoicing at heart – when will this Srimad Rupa Prabhu adorn me with his holy foot dust?"

Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu (1)
"Tomorrow is Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu's and Srila Gauridas Pandit's disappearance day. We want to say something about them because our Guru Maharaj Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj and our Gurupadpadma are Rupanuga-dhara—they are holding Srila Rupa Goswami's flag."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 29 July 2012)

Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu (2)
"We must all pray to Srila Rupa Goswami, 'Prabhu, wherever you are staying now, please forgive our offences. Please engage us to serve your servant, please tolerate us. Prabhu, please accept us as a dog at your lotus feet!'"
• Download / listen to the audio (1.3 Mb, 4 min | 29 July 2012)

Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu
"He is actually an associate of Mahaprabhu. Before that, in Dvapara yuga, he was an associate of Krishna, and Krishna Himself sent him to teach us, the fallen souls. On his disappearance day we can ask him for some mercy so that we can continue our service to the Lord."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.9 Mb, 9 min | 18 August 2013)

Rupa Sanatan: First Encounter
"Rupa and Sanatan stayed in Ramkeli-gram in Malda district, Gauda Mandal and worked for the emperor Hussein Shah. They heard that somebody tried to start kirtan, and, understanding that it had to be Mahaprabhu, they went to meet with Him."
• Download / listen to the audio (2 Mb, 6 min | 13 June 2015)

Service Subordination
"We start service by the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, by the mercy of Radharani. Without Their mercy we cannot do anything. One day, Sanatan Goswami came to Rupa Goswami. He asked him, 'For so many days I have not taken sweet rice..."
• Download (1.7 Mb, 5 min | 21 September 2009)

Dignity of the Divine Servitor: Descent of Knowledge
"When in Vrindavana, Rupa Goswami wanted to offer his Guru, Sanatan Goswami, some sweet-rice. He thought, 'My Gurudeva likes sweet-rice. If I can secure some milk, sugar, raisins, nuts, etc., I shall be able to make some sweet-rice, offer it to Krishna, and then to my Gurudeva.' A little later, a young girl, perhaps twelve or fourteen years of age, came to Rupa Goswami's bhajan-kutir in Kadam Kandi..."

Sri Rupa-Sanatan Siksa (EPUB file, 0.5 Mb)
"Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Sri Rupa-Satana Siksa, read and expounded by His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj." An electronic version of the published previously online matter available now for download, reading and worshipping on phones, tablets, eBook readers, etc.

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

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

• SONG: Sri Guru Parampara | শ্রীগুরুপরম্পরা
"Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is nondifferent from Sri Sri Radha-Krsna and is the very life of Sri Rupa's followers. Srila Svarup Damodar Goswami, Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu, and Srila Sanatan Goswami Prabhu are dear to Visvambhar."

• SONG: Ye anila prema dhana | যে আনিল প্রেমধন
"I will crush my head against a rock, I will enter into fire – where am I to go to find Gauranga, an ocean of all good qualities?! Narottam used to play happily in the company of all those associates, but now he is weeping without their association."

• SONG: Sri Rupa-manjari-pada | শ্রীরূপমঞ্জরী-পদ
"The holy feet of Sri Rupa Manjari are my wealth, my service, my worship, the very treasure of my life, my ornament and the very life of my life."

In honour of Srila Gauri Das Pandit Goswami:

At Gauri Das Pandit's House
"Gauri Das Pandit was a grihastha devotee who lived in Kalna. His brother was the father of Jahnava and Vasudha. Once, Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu came to Kalna by boat and decided to visit Gauri Das Pandit's house..."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.5 Mb, 8 min)

Srila Gauri Das Pandit's Gaura Nitai
The story of how Srila Gauri Das Pandit's Deities manifested Themselves at his house in Kalna.
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min)

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Five, chanted on Wednesdays)
'He reveals (first, to Sri Sanatan and then to Prakasananda) sixty-two interpretations of the famous verse ‘Atmaramas cha… ittham-bhuta-guno harih’ (‘Even self-realised, self-satisfied souls are moved to worship the Lord’) from Srimad Bhagavatam; interpreting the various lexical meanings of the eleven words of this verse, juxtaposed in different ways, He reveals a treasure-mine of multitudinous meanings of this verse in consonance with the precepts of pure devotional conclusions – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

1 JANUARY 2021 [EVENING | PART 12]

Western Idiosyncrasies
"People come from such places to chant the Holy Name and practise Krishna consciousness. Gurudev brought people from such places to this path. Now they live like civilised people, but when you go to public places in those countries, you cannot even look at what is going on there, but it is necessary to preach there..."

• SRI SRI PREMA-VIVARTA •

(12) GLORIES OF THE VAISHNAVS
"Those who have love for Krishna, friendship with devotees, compassion for the ignorant, and disregard for those who are inimical to pure devotees are intermediate practitioners of devotion. By Krishna’s grace, they very quickly become advanced devotees. Those who see the presence of Krishna in all beings, see all beings within Krishna, and have no attachment or aversion to enemies, friends, or the world are advanced devotees. These are Gaura’s teachings."

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Six, chanted on Thursdays)
'Captivated by and afflicted with an intense feeling of separation, He runs swiftly to the simha-dvara gate of Lord Jagannathdev’s holy temple; the next moment He falls down on the spot, His holy figure transformed into that of a tortoise by the influence of deep separation; attracted by the uncommon divine fragrance emanating from His holy figure, the Telangi cows residing at the temple draw near, surrounding Him – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

1 JANUARY 2021 [WORLDWIDE ADDRESS | PART 1]

Grand and Joyous Festival
"I am very happy because the festival was very successful. Actually, we have seen such crowds before only in Gurudev’s time in Nabadwip , and now was the first time we have seen it again, at this Vyasa Puja festival of Srila Gurudev in 2021. Everybody is very happy with this festival."

• SRI SRI PREMA-VIVARTA •

(13) EAGERNESS TO SEE SRI GAURA
"O Gauranga! I left Your feet and went to Vrindavan. Thinking I would see Your previous pastimes, I decided to go there. Why did I think that? Now I am crying and dying. Not seeing You, my heart is leaving me. I do not know what to do now."

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Seven, chanted on Fridays)
'He is a holy embodiment of the beautiful reality which is beyond the reach of one’s eyes and ears, which paralyses the very necessity of intelligence and which leaves even firmly fixed consciousness dumbstruck when divine love surges up – even Brahma, Sambhu (Siva), as well as their revealed scriptures, Vedas and tantras cannot conceive of such reality, so they merely keep searching after Him – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part One, chanted on Saturdays)
'Demigods, perfected souls, liberated souls, yogis and Lord’s devotees always sing His praise; He relieves the world from the blazing forest fire of three-fold miseries (caused by the desire for enjoyment, liberation and perfections) brought about by inauspicious actions (performed in aversion to the Supreme Lord); an ocean of generosity, He bestows His own Name from the nectarean storehouse of Lord Sri Krishna’s Names – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

In honour of Sri Baladev Prabhu:

Understanding Baladev's Glory
'Gurudev appears with the power of Nitai Thakur eternally. Baladev Prabhu does not appear now, Nitai Thakur is also not manifest, so Their pastimes have stopped – this is not true. Gurudev comes in the form of Baladev, in the form of Nityananda and brings the souls who have taken shelter in him to Gaurasundar. Their appearance pastimes are happening eternally – They eternally appear in the form of the guru.'
• Download / listen to the audio (38.7 Mb, 72 min | English | 3 August 2020)

শ্রীশ্রীবলদেব-প্রসঙ্গ (শ্রীউপদেশ, চতুর্থ খণ্ড)
"পরমারাধ্যতম শ্রীল গুরুবর্গের শ্রীপাদপদ্মের কৃপা প্রার্থনা ক'রে শ্রীশ্রীবলদেব প্রভুর ভুবনমঙ্গলময়ী আবির্ভাব – তিথিতে ভগবৎ-কথা শ্রবণ করছি । শ্রীবলদেবই বলরাম, বলভদ্র ইত্যাদি নামে অভিহিত । কৃষ্ণের দ্বিতীয় বিগ্রহ হয়েও, কৃষ্ণ হয়েও ইনি কৃষ্ণের সেবা-বিগ্রহ রূপ ধরেছেন । কৃষ্ণ নিজেই অন্যরূপ ধরেছেন। লীলার পুষ্টিসাধনের জন্য তিনি বলদেবকে পৃথকভাবে প্রকট করেছেন । তাই কৃষ্ণাভিন্ন বলদেব। কৃষ্ণ তাঁর ঐ দেহে বিলাস করেন। আর তিনি কৃষ্ণের সেবাবিগ্রহ—তিনি সর্বশ্রেষ্ঠ সেবা-বিধানকারী ।"

Sri Baladev Tattva (1)
His Divine Grace reads to the devotees about Sri Baladev on Sri Baladev Purnima in 2018: "You cannot prosper in your spiritual life without taking shelter of Baladev. If you take shelter of Gurudev, then you will get everything."
• Download / listen to the audio (5.2 Mb, 15 min | 26 August 2018 | Bengali)

Sri Baladev Tattva (2): Appearance and Pastimes
His Divine Grace reads to the devotees about Sri Baladev on Sri Baladev Purnima in 2018: "In Rama-lila, Laksman is younger than Ramachandra, so could not serve Ramachandra properly because a younger brother is always afraid of the elder brother. Therefore, in the pastimes of Krishna, Baladev became an elder son—when Krishna performed His pastimes, Balaram was always with Him."
• Download / listen to the audio (4.9 Mb, 14 min | 26 August 2018 | Bengali)

Sri Baladev Tattva (3): Later Pastimes
His Divine Grace reads to the devotees about Sri Baladev on Sri Baladev Purnima in 2018: "Although Sri Baladev is Vishnu-tattva, He Himself serves the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna as His foremost servant. He also engages others in the service of Krishna and exhibits the pastime of acting as the original spiritual master. In spite of all this, during His manifest pastimes in this material world, He Himself performed the pastime of accepting a guru in order to teach the importance of taking shelter of a guru."
• Download / listen to the audio (5.3 Mb, 15 min | 26 August 2018 | Bengali)

Baladev Purnima: A Special Day
"In India, some devotees are worshipping Radha-Krishna's Jhulan Yatra today, but we are making a programme for Baladev, who is nondifferent from Gurudev and Nityananda Prabhu. This is our line, the line of Rupanuga Guru-varga."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.7 Mb, 11 min | 13 August 2011)

Devotion Conquers—Ego Repels
Lord Balaram, Kaliya-daman Lila, Saubhari Muni, Sudama Vipra, the sun, a vessel, a drum, a pig, and a drop of water—all these are woven together to guide us towards perfect devotion.
• Download / listen to the audio (10.4 Mb, 30 min | 9 August 2014)

Asraya Vigraha Sri Baladev
"Without the shelter of Nityananda Prabhu, without the shelter of Baladev Prabhu, we cannot think about Krishna. We must understand how to serve, how to give nourishment to Baladev."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.5 Mb, 11 min | 10 August 2014)

Sri Baladev Prabhu: Krishna's Merciful Alter Ego
"What is the glory of this pastime? It shows that Balaram ploughs and cultivates (karsan) and at the same time also attracts, pulls towards Him (akarsan). In other words, Baladev, or Gurudev, removes all bad elements from the hearts of practitioners."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.9 Mb, 8 min | 15 August 2019)

Baladev Lila: "Can We Be Friends?"
"I want to tell a little bit about Baladev's lila from what is written in Srimad Bhagavatam. You have all heard that Kamsa sent so many demons to kill Krishna and Krishna killed them all, but Srimad Bhagavatam describes how Baladev killed Pralambasur."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 7 min | 15 August 2019)

Baladev Purnima: Double Festival in Russia
"Today, everybody is celebrating Sri Sri Baladev Prabhu's appearance day everywhere. Today is also the Deities' installation day in Saint Petersburg temple, our main centre in Russia. Even Madhavendra Puri showed us how important it is to serve the Deities..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.6 Mb, 5 min | 13 August 2011)

Hari-katha of His Divine Grace in a class spoken on the adhivas of Lord Baladev's appearance in 2020:

Step Your Service Up
"We should not waste our time on our own enjoyment, we must give our time for the enjoyment and happiness of our Lord, our Gurudev. I know everybody will be working, it is Monday, the first day of the week days, but we must still do some service for Baladev Prabhu's appearance day. Remember this. If you only fast and give some flower to Gurudev, that is not sufficient."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.8 Mb, 9 min | 2 August 2020)

Disciple's Core Quality
"To receive and digest chastisement, it is necessary to have tolerance. How many devotees can tolerate chastisement? Very few. When Gurudev chastises you, you must be quiet—you have no right to say a single word."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.4 Mb, 4 min | 2 August 2020)

On Cows and Baladev-Tattva
"(1) Krishna likes cows, and if we can make cows happy, Krishna will always be happy. (2) Sachi Mata understood that Nityananda Prabhu was non-different from Baladev—that Baladev Himself had come as Nityananda Prabhu."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.3 Mb, 6 min | 2 August 2020)

Sweeter Than the Sweetest
"Krishna's pastimes are very sweet. Krishna's beauty, Krishna's pastimes, Krishna's love, Krishna's smile, everything about Him is sweet, sweeter, and sweeter than the sweetest..."
• Download / listen to the audio (1.7 Mb, 5 min | 2 August 2020)

Prasadam—Pivot of Practising
"You are not to take what is not offered to the Lord. Always take prasadam, then all your diseases will be removed. Always cook with care and always make sure what you have cooked is edible. If the cook is not good, then neither Krishna, nor Gurudev will be happy."
• Download / listen to the audio (2.8 Mb, 7 min | 2 August 2020)

Clear Conception
"You can read Srila Sridhar Maharaj's book Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam and remind yourself of many good things (practise smaran). I have also given you books—Guidance 4, Guidance 3. You can read all these books and you can get everything in them."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.4 Mb, 8 min | 2 August 2020)

Ideal Service Mood
"In this world, there are all sorts of misconceptions prominent all over the world, but you must establish the conception of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, the conception of Srila Sridhar Maharaj, Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. When you get some pleasure in your heart through service, then no matter how much disturbance comes, nothing will be able to stop you—you will still feel more and more enthusiasm, attachment and enjoyment through that service."
• Download / listen to the audio (3.4 Mb, 9 min | 2 August 2020)

• SONG: Sri Dasa-Avatara-Stotram | দশাবতারস্তোত্রম্
"O Lord of the universe! You have assumed the form of Balaram! All glory to You! On Your white body You wear garments the colour of clouds and the color of the River Yamuna when she is frightened by the striking of Your plough."

1 JANUARY 2021 [WORLDWIDE ADDRESS | PART 2]

Protecting Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math
"I have seen how Gurudev protects his temple, Srila Sridhar Maharaj's temple. On the one hand, I am very unfortunate because even though I have tried so hard to protect Gurudev’s mission after Gurudev, I could not do it. On the other hand, at least I could protect Gurudev’s devotees."

• SRI SRI PREMA-VIVARTA •

(14) CONTRADICTORY TRANSFORMATIONS
"O brother, I could not continue to Vrindavan. I had not seen Gora's face and so was meditating on His form; I lost the way and went in the wrong direction. I turned back and slowly went on. When I came back, I saw I was in the same place!"

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Two, chanted on Sundays)
'Very tall, beautiful and infused with divine love, His holy form increases gods’ joy; the lustre of His body, which puts millions of golden lotuses to shame, is worshipped by the Moon; and His intrinsic form is a holy abode of divine pastimes manifest as eternal ever-increasing transcendental ecstatic transformations that spring up as He revels dancing in Sri Krishna-sankirtan – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

(5 August—7 September)

1 JANUARY 2021 [WORLDWIDE ADDRESS | PART 3]

Unblemished Sacrifice
"Today is Gurudev’s appearance day. You all know everything – where Gurudev was born, how he came to the mission, and so on. I do not want to describe so many things now. However, there are some people who criticise Gurudev, and I would like to give some message to them"

• SRI SRI PREMA-VIVARTA •

(15) MORNING PASTIMES IN NABADWIP
"I write whatever comes to my mind about Gauranga’s pastimes, whenever it does, even if it is out of sequence. Everyone saw the Lord’s morning pastimes, and within them, they saw the essence of Balaram and Krishna’s pastimes. They actually saw Govardhan and Krishna’s cowherding pastimes there on the bank of the Manasa Ganga..."

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Three, chanted on Mondays)
'He ardently preached that service performed in various divine relationships (from dasya-, sakhya-, vatsalya- to madhura-rasa) and the (paramount) service beauty of Sri Radha’s servitors in the highest paramour madhura-rasa, as well as any transcendental hankering of the self-realised souls in Sri Vraja Dham, can indisputably be realised in Sri Vrajendra-nandan only – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

1 JANUARY 2021 [WORLDWIDE ADDRESS | PART 4]

"My Pride, My Joy and My Hope"
"I am very proud of you all. I do not know how many days I will be alive, but I want to preach until my death. And I only beg you for one thing: please give me your mercy so that I can serve my Gurudev and his mission like this until my death."

• SRI SRI PREMA-VIVARTA •

(16) WHAT IS LOVE?
"One day, Raghunath Das asked Svarup Damodar, 'What is love? Please teach me, give me some hint about it. I cannot understand the love that Vidyapati and Chandi Das described. The love that I understand from their words externally is nothing more than the love between a man and a woman. How is that love accepted as spiritual? And why do they call mundane lust divine?'"

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Four, chanted on Tuesdays)
'Overcome with strong bouts of divine love surging through Him and becoming unconscious of the world around Him, He dances madly and chants kirtan; the tears streaming incessantly from His eyes flood His body, the colour of molten gold and tall as the mount Sumeru, His clothes, the colour of the newly risen sun, and the earth in all fourteen directions around Him; He glows as He chants, ‘Krishna! Krishna!’, shouts jumbled up words and relishes various postures and behaviours (roaring with laughter, etc.) under the influence of divine love – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

2 JANUARY 2021 [EVENING CLASS | PART 1]

Advent of Srila Prabhupad
"Tomorrow we are observing one more festival – the festival of Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad’s disappearance. Many of you are leaving early tomorrow, so I will speak about Srila Prabhupad today. He is a grand pillar in the sky of Sri Gaudiya line..."

• SRI SRI PREMA-VIVARTA •

(17) DIFFERENT PRACTICES FOR DIFFERENT DEVOTEES
"Maintaining the body according to the duties of the class in which one is born and the order in which one is situated is the proper conduct. Those who maintain the body in this way and always sincerely serve Krishna, are truly wise, religious, and devoted. Religion without devotion, however, is simply deception."

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Five, chanted on Wednesdays)
'He reveals (first, to Sri Sanatan and then to Prakasananda) sixty-two interpretations of the famous verse ‘Atmaramas cha… ittham-bhuta-guno harih’ (‘Even self-realised, self-satisfied souls are moved to worship the Lord’) from Srimad Bhagavatam; interpreting the various lexical meanings of the eleven words of this verse, juxtaposed in different ways, He reveals a treasure-mine of multitudinous meanings of this verse in consonance with the precepts of pure devotional conclusions – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

• SRI SRI PREMA-VIVARTA •

(18) SRI EKADASI
"We know that the crown jewel of all rites is to stay awake all night without food or water on the day of the Lord. We also know that in Sri Ksetra, Jagannath's prasad should be honoured at all times and should be eaten whenever it is received. We live in Sri Ksetra and are very afraid because of this dilemma, so we pray that You give us a clear instruction. All the Vedas are Your instructions, and Brahma and Siva follow them. Please put an end to our confusion by instructing us."

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Six, chanted on Thursdays)
'Captivated by and afflicted with an intense feeling of separation, He runs swiftly to the simha-dvara gate of Lord Jagannathdev’s holy temple; the next moment He falls down on the spot, His holy figure transformed into that of a tortoise by the influence of deep separation; attracted by the uncommon divine fragrance emanating from His holy figure, the Telangi cows residing at the temple draw near, surrounding Him – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

• SRI SRI PREMA-VIVARTA •

(19) A COLLECTION OF HIDDEN TRUTHS ABOUT THE NAME
"Once, Gaurangachand, shining like the moon, brought the devotees to the bank of the ocean. 'O devotees, hear about the religion in the Age of Kali: there is no duty other than chanting the Name of Sri Krishna. The scriptures say that you will attain transcendental perfection by uttering, remembering, and hearing the Name of Krishna. I will explain the meaning of these of verses in detail. O Svarup and Ramananda, listen attentively.'"

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Seven, chanted on Fridays)
'He is a holy embodiment of the beautiful reality which is beyond the reach of one’s eyes and ears, which paralyses the very necessity of intelligence and which leaves even firmly fixed consciousness dumbstruck when divine love surges up – even Brahma, Sambhu (Siva), as well as their revealed scriptures, Vedas and tantras cannot conceive of such reality, so they merely keep searching after Him – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

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, 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).

• Necessary medication can be taken even if you are fasting (if the medication should not be taken on empty stomach, some anukalpa can be taken).

• 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). Closer to midnight, the pastime of Krishna's birth can be read from Srimad Bhagavatam.

• 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. Another special bhoga offering is made on this day, and the prasad is distributed to the devotees.

• 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."

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."

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."

ADDITIONAL 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, 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).

• Necessary medication can be taken even if you are fasting (if the medication should not be taken on empty stomach, some anukalpa can be taken).

• 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). Closer to midnight, the pastime of Krishna's birth can be read from Srimad Bhagavatam.

• 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. Another special bhoga offering is made on this day, and the prasad is distributed to the devotees.

• 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)

In honour of Sri Krishna Janmastami Festival
(Hari-katha from the holy lotus mouth of
His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj):

— : 2019 : —

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)

— : 2020 : —

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?"

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."

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."

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.'

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.'

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?'

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.'

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part One, chanted on Saturdays)
'Demigods, perfected souls, liberated souls, yogis and Lord’s devotees always sing His praise; He relieves the world from the blazing forest fire of three-fold miseries (caused by the desire for enjoyment, liberation and perfections) brought about by inauspicious actions (performed in aversion to the Supreme Lord); an ocean of generosity, He bestows His own Name from the nectarean storehouse of Lord Sri Krishna’s Names – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

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 paschatya-prachya-tarine visvacharya prabaryaya divya karunya murtaye sri bhagavata-madhurya-gita-jnana pradayine gaura-sri-rupa-siddhanta-saraswati nisevine radha-krsna-padambhoja-bhrngaya gurave namah "I offer my humble obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami 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)

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

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."

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Two, chanted on Sundays)
'Very tall, beautiful and infused with divine love, His holy form increases gods’ joy; the lustre of His body, which puts millions of golden lotuses to shame, is worshipped by the Moon; and His intrinsic form is a holy abode of divine pastimes manifest as eternal ever-increasing transcendental ecstatic transformations that spring up as He revels dancing in Sri Krishna-sankirtan – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

2 JANUARY 2021 [EVENING CLASS | PART 2]

Rescuing Mahaprabhu's Line
"Seeing the deplorable situation in the world, Srila Bhaktivonod Thakur started collecting Vaishnava scriptures. Many years before that, when devotees were bringing scriptures from Vrindavan, they were robbed, and the scriptures ended up getting scattered around. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur rescued and collected those scriptures that contain the authentic teachings of Sriman Mahaprabhu..."

• SRI SRI PREMA-VIVARTA •

(20) THE GLORIES OF THE NAME
"The Lord replied, 'The glories of the Name of Krishna are unlimited. Even Krishna Himself does not know them. So, what can I understand? I am just a fallen soul. I can tell you what I have heard from the scriptures. Listen with faith, and you will cross over material existence. Those who consider the result of chanting the Name to be exaggerated lose their faith in the Name and do not get the proper result; they fall into hell and remain there.'"

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• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Three, chanted on Mondays)
'He ardently preached that service performed in various divine relationships (from dasya-, sakhya-, vatsalya- to madhura-rasa) and the (paramount) service beauty of Sri Radha’s servitors in the highest paramour madhura-rasa, as well as any transcendental hankering of the self-realised souls in Sri Vraja Dham, can indisputably be realised in Sri Vrajendra-nandan only – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

(5 August—7 September)

2 JANUARY 2021 [EVENING CLASS | PART 3]

Acharyas' Arrival in Nabadwip
"When Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur became the magistrate at Krishnanagar, he got a place in Svarupganj and settled in Godrumdwip. It was his vanaprastha life. He left his wife and daughters and came to live there only with his son..."

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, you will get everything in them. My books are very easy to understand because I am not writing in very high language.

(Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj)

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• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITA •

PUBLISHER'S NOTE
'Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam, The Life-nectar of the Surrendered Souls, is the crown-jewel of divine literatures as the eternal elixir of life for the exclusively surrendered souls, the bestower of the perpetual relish of full-fledged nectar, and the awakening and sustaining fountainhead of life in Divine Consorthood.'

FOREWORD
'Surrender is the indispensable necessity in the life of a devotee, and Life-Nectar of the Surrendered Souls will sustain and fortify the surrendered souls as the nectar in their lives of Positive and Progressive Immortality.'

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Four, chanted on Tuesdays)
'Overcome with strong bouts of divine love surging through Him and becoming unconscious of the world around Him, He dances madly and chants kirtan; the tears streaming incessantly from His eyes flood His body, the colour of molten gold and tall as the mount Sumeru, His clothes, the colour of the newly risen sun, and the earth in all fourteen directions around Him; He glows as He chants, ‘Krishna! Krishna!’, shouts jumbled up words and relishes various postures and behaviours (roaring with laughter, etc.) under the influence of divine love – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

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 bath in the Ganges, attended kirtans, danced, circumambulated the temple and so on. Then, I asked him whether he would take any anukalpa. He replied, 'Generally, I do not take anything, but if you like, then, of course, I must take 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 Krishna, for the cause of their 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 held responsible by 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 not do that, I should be a separatist, a mayavadi, a renunciationist. I shall render maximum service to Krishna, and I must take without any hesitation whatever is necessary to make myself fit for the service; otherwise, I shall be punishable."

"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)

2 JANUARY 2021 [EVENING CLASS | PART 4]

Srila Prabhupad's Initiation
"So, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur sent Bimala Prasad (Srila Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad) to this Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj. Srila Saraswati Thakur had grown up by then – he must have been over eighteen. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur told him, ‘Go to the other bank of the Ganges and take initiation from Babaji Maharaj.’"

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITA •

(1) PRELUDE TO APPROACHING NECTAR
'An auspicious invocation, a humble petition, an introduction to the book and its chapters, and the theme of the philosophy of the book have, to the best of my ability, all been entered within this first chapter named Upakramamrtam or Prelude to Approaching Nectar.'

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Five, chanted on Wednesdays)
'He reveals (first, to Sri Sanatan and then to Prakasananda) sixty-two interpretations of the famous verse ‘Atmaramas cha… ittham-bhuta-guno harih’ (‘Even self-realised, self-satisfied souls are moved to worship the Lord’) from Srimad Bhagavatam; interpreting the various lexical meanings of the eleven words of this verse, juxtaposed in different ways, He reveals a treasure-mine of multitudinous meanings of this verse in consonance with the precepts of pure devotional conclusions – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

2 JANUARY 2021 [EVENING CLASS | PART 5]

Illustrious and Loving Service
"Srila Prabhupad is a holy embodiment of kirtan, but he did not chant kirtan so much himself in the sense that he did not like songs, tunes, melodies or anything like that; his kirtan was through Hari-katha. His love is stronger than even that of a father..."

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITA •

(2) NECTAR OF SCRIPTURAL WORD
'This second chapter, Sri Sastra-vachanamritam, The Nectar of Scriptural Word, describes surrender as corroborated in the Revealed Scriptures headed by the Vedas (Sruti) and the Religious Codes (Smrti).'

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Six, chanted on Thursdays)
'Captivated by and afflicted with an intense feeling of separation, He runs swiftly to the simha-dvara gate of Lord Jagannathdev’s holy temple; the next moment He falls down on the spot, His holy figure transformed into that of a tortoise by the influence of deep separation; attracted by the uncommon divine fragrance emanating from His holy figure, the Telangi cows residing at the temple draw near, surrounding Him – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

2 JANUARY 2021 [EVENING CLASS | PART 6]

Srila Sridhar Maharaj's Kirtan
"Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur liked it when Srila Sridhar Maharaj sang kirtan. In the end, he also asked Srila Sridhar Maharaj to chant a kirtan to him. He said about him, ‘I know now that I have left one person in this world who will be able to preach Hari-katha after me.’"

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITA •

(3) ACCEPTANCE OF THE FAVORABLE
'Everything should be done that encourages the service of Sri Krishna and His devotee, and whatever is conducive to the state of exclusive surrender must be executed: such a firm conviction is called anukulyasya-sankalpah—Acceptance of the Favorable.'

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Seven, chanted on Fridays)
'He is a holy embodiment of the beautiful reality which is beyond the reach of one’s eyes and ears, which paralyses the very necessity of intelligence and which leaves even firmly fixed consciousness dumbstruck when divine love surges up – even Brahma, Sambhu (Siva), as well as their revealed scriptures, Vedas and tantras cannot conceive of such reality, so they merely keep searching after Him – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

2 JANUARY 2021 [EVENING CLASS | PART 7]

Advent of Gaura-Saraswati
"Glory, glory to Sri Gaura–Saraswati, the holy embodiment of mercy in the line of Sri Bhaktivinod Thakur. Revealing service to Sri Gaura, which spreads auspiciousness in this world, you presented devotional teachings that radiate self-effulgent pure transcendental knowledge."

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITA •

(4) REJECTION OF THE UNFAVORABLE
'The principle to reject everything opposed to the service of the Lord and His devotee, and to similarly abstain from everything opposed to an attitude of surrender, is known as pratikulya-vivarjjanam—Rejection of the Unfavorable.'

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part One, chanted on Saturdays)
'Demigods, perfected souls, liberated souls, yogis and Lord’s devotees always sing His praise; He relieves the world from the blazing forest fire of three-fold miseries (caused by the desire for enjoyment, liberation and perfections) brought about by inauspicious actions (performed in aversion to the Supreme Lord); an ocean of generosity, He bestows His own Name from the nectarean storehouse of Lord Sri Krishna’s Names – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

2 JANUARY 2021 [EVENING CLASS | PART 8]

Step Towards Lord, Not Maya
"We do not want to associate with those who always talk about themselves and all the material things. We must keep far away from such association. Keep yourselves away from those who talk about material things. Associate with those who speak Hari-katha, who talk about the Lord and all that is related to the Lord."

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITA •

(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 SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Two, chanted on Sundays)
'Very tall, beautiful and infused with divine love, His holy form increases gods’ joy; the lustre of His body, which puts millions of golden lotuses to shame, is worshipped by the Moon; and His intrinsic form is a holy abode of divine pastimes manifest as eternal ever-increasing transcendental ecstatic transformations that spring up as He revels dancing in Sri Krishna-sankirtan – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

2 JANUARY 2021 [EVENING CLASS | PART 9]

Be Kind to Yourself and Others
"What you chant can be the letters of the maha-mantra, but it can never be the real Holy Name if you take outside food and keep bad association. Remember this. You must always keep sadhu-sanga (association of saintly devotees), and you must be kind to others and try to bring people to this line."

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITA •

(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.'

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Three, chanted on Mondays)
'He ardently preached that service performed in various divine relationships (from dasya-, sakhya-, vatsalya- to madhura-rasa) and the (paramount) service beauty of Sri Radha’s servitors in the highest paramour madhura-rasa, as well as any transcendental hankering of the self-realised souls in Sri Vraja Dham, can indisputably be realised in Sri Vrajendra-nandan only – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

3 JANUARY 2021 [MORNING CLASS | PART 1]

Srila Prabhupad's Exclusivity
"Srila Prabhupad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur expressed the gist of all scriptures in a very beautiful way, so much so that nobody can twist it with their arguments after that."

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITA •

(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 SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Four, chanted on Tuesdays)
'Overcome with strong bouts of divine love surging through Him and becoming unconscious of the world around Him, He dances madly and chants kirtan; the tears streaming incessantly from His eyes flood His body, the colour of molten gold and tall as the mount Sumeru, His clothes, the colour of the newly risen sun, and the earth in all fourteen directions around Him; He glows as He chants, ‘Krishna! Krishna!’, shouts jumbled up words and relishes various postures and behaviours (roaring with laughter, etc.) under the influence of divine love – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

3 JANUARY 2021 [MORNING CLASS | PART 2]

Listen and Learn
"To be a good listener means to be able to listen well and to be able to remember what you hear. If you hear Hari-katha from gurudev’s mouth and from Vaishnavs’ mouths, you can realise everything much quicker."

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITA •

(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 SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Five, chanted on Wednesdays)
'He reveals (first, to Sri Sanatan and then to Prakasananda) sixty-two interpretations of the famous verse ‘Atmaramas cha… ittham-bhuta-guno harih’ (‘Even self-realised, self-satisfied souls are moved to worship the Lord’) from Srimad Bhagavatam; interpreting the various lexical meanings of the eleven words of this verse, juxtaposed in different ways, He reveals a treasure-mine of multitudinous meanings of this verse in consonance with the precepts of pure devotional conclusions – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

(5 August—7 September)

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 Chaitanya 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 and Your brother be blessed with a long 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 meet with the Lord – Sri Sita Thakurani would always bring many edibles for the Lord at that time.

3 JANUARY 2021 [MORNING CLASS | PART 3]

Live Exemplary Life
"What is a temple opened for? So that others can practise, and when one practises at the temple, they should then go out to preach. Preaching is not about telling stories, eating fancy food, drinking sherbet, etc.—it is not about eating nice food and sleeping on a nice bed."

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITA •

(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 SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Six, chanted on Thursdays)
'Captivated by and afflicted with an intense feeling of separation, He runs swiftly to the simha-dvara gate of Lord Jagannathdev’s holy temple; the next moment He falls down on the spot, His holy figure transformed into that of a tortoise by the influence of deep separation; attracted by the uncommon divine fragrance emanating from His holy figure, the Telangi cows residing at the temple draw near, surrounding Him – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

3 JANUARY 2021 [MORNING CLASS | PART 4]

Srila Prabhupad: Divine Benefactor
"People forget the Lord and sleep in the lap of illusion. Srila Prabhupad sent messengers from Vaikuntha for such sleeping souls – on his order, they went house to house, calling out, ‘Wake up, brother! Wake up! Stop sleeping!’"

• SRI SRI PRAPANNA-JIVANAMRITA •

(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.'

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Seven, chanted on Fridays)
'He is a holy embodiment of the beautiful reality which is beyond the reach of one’s eyes and ears, which paralyses the very necessity of intelligence and which leaves even firmly fixed consciousness dumbstruck when divine love surges up – even Brahma, Sambhu (Siva), as well as their revealed scriptures, Vedas and tantras cannot conceive of such reality, so they merely keep searching after Him – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

In honour of the worshippable appearance day of Sri Lalita Devi:

radha-mukunda-pada-sambhava-gharma-bindu-
nirmanchanopakarani-krta-deha-laksam
uttunga-sauhrda-visesa-vasat pragalbham
devim gunaih su-lalitam lalitam namami

"When Lalita Devi finds a drop of perspiration at the feet of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda, she furiously engages herself to remove it. 'How has it come there? We are circumambulating Them to see that not the least pain can enter this domain to trouble Them, but how, without our notice, has this perspiration appeared? Perspiration, perspiration!' So she is furiously chastising herself and wants to immediately take birth one lakh (100,000) times—with that force she comes to remove that drop of perspiration from the lotus feet of either of the Divine Couple."

(Sri Lalitastakam, 1, by Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu)

Sri Sri Lalita Astakam
"If anybody studies and reads with pure vision these eight verses about the delightful beautiful qualities of Lalita Devi, Sri Radha – the effulgent wish-fulfilling creeper sprung in the family of Kirtida Mayi and King Vrisabhanu – will very happily take them into Her circle."

Scope of Sacrifice
(By Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj)
'This is the universe discovered by Vaishnavs. It has been brought down to the experience of the senses by the Vaishnavs from above, and it is realised through revelation, "There is a domain of such a conception, and if you like it, you can come by such-and-such way. You are welcome. There is a domain of extreme self-abnegation. This is the country where such persons live – if you would like to be a resident of that land, then come."'

(4) WITHIN THE HOLY DHAM
[From Divine Guidance by Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj]
"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)

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part One, chanted on Saturdays)
'Demigods, perfected souls, liberated souls, yogis and Lord’s devotees always sing His praise; He relieves the world from the blazing forest fire of three-fold miseries (caused by the desire for enjoyment, liberation and perfections) brought about by inauspicious actions (performed in aversion to the Supreme Lord); an ocean of generosity, He bestows His own Name from the nectarean storehouse of Lord Sri Krishna’s Names – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'

In honour of the worshippable appearance day of Srimati Radharani:

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."

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)

• SRI SRI PREMA-DHAMA DEVA STOTRAM •

Sri Sri Prema-Dhama Deva Stotram (Part Two, chanted on Sundays)
'Very tall, beautiful and infused with divine love, His holy form increases gods’ joy; the lustre of His body, which puts millions of golden lotuses to shame, is worshipped by the Moon; and His intrinsic form is a holy abode of divine pastimes manifest as eternal ever-increasing transcendental ecstatic transformations that spring up as He revels dancing in Sri Krishna-sankirtan – I am singing in praise of this beautiful Lord Sri Gauranga-sundar, a worshippable Deity of divine love.'