Our Master - His Life
A most endearing hallmark of his preaching was the heart-stealing affection he showed to all. As an uttama-bhāgavata, he entered the deepest recesses of the heart to give the unmistakable reassurance that he is one's eternal well-wisher. The depth of his affection is a tangible reality for all who have experienced it, and this in itself bears subjective testimony to the fact that he was a true emissary of the Supreme Lord.

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Namah
As long as Śrīla Gurudeva, the beloved of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is physically manifest, it is wise to render intimate service to him, and thereby attain perfection. But if we are not able to attain perfection because we have failed to develop attachment to him, attachment wherein we consider him to be the lord of our heart; if we have failed to serve him by giving him our full heart in complete sincerity and selflessness, then we have certainly been deprived...

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The Most Compassionate
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is certainly more intelligent than each and every one of us, and He knows how to make the fallen souls of Kali-yuga best understand His high-level teachings. Indeed, His teachings are comprehensible by all. Still, our misfortune prevails. First, we do not accept His teachings. Second, to impress others with our prowess we mix something of our own with them...

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Sri Guruvastakam

I want to give an explanation of Sri Guru – what are the symptoms of a bona fide guru – and to show you examples that have been given in the epics [Vedic scriptures]. You can apply this to your own guru. Our Sri Guru is akhanda-guru-tattva, Sri Baladeva Prabhu or Sri Nityananda Prabhu, so all teachings should be applied to him and to others who are following this...

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Rays of The Harmonist

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“Speciality Aṣṭaka”

tn srila bhakitsiddhanta thumb thumbby Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda

❝On today’s auspicious day, in order to worship
I have brought this palmful to offer, remembering thy lotus feet.

Mahāprabhu’s conceptions are all predominated by renunciation*
Yet charitable gifts [of Mahāprabhu's conception] must be given to all.

One at the neophyte level cannot reconcile this.
[But] you, a mahā-bhāgavata, have given the clues.❞

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Śrī Guru-pūjā

tn srivp kesavaby Śrī Śrīmad Bhakti-prajñāna Keśava Gosvāmī Mahārāja

Śikṣā-guru gives instruction on how to serve the dīkṣā-guru. One who is averse to giving instruction on service to the dīkṣā-guru cannot be called a śikṣā-guru. He cannot even be a Vaiṣṇava, as he has not learned how to honour the dīkṣā-guru.❞

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Taking Care of God

by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda

When the Absolute wants something, we are morally bound to offer our services to Him and to attend to His needs. If He thinks that He is the Husband, all should be His wives. The soul should attire her body according to the taste of her Husband; she should apparel herself in such a way as to please her Master....

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Viśuddha Sārasvata
Śrī Caitanya Pañjikā
Vaiṣṇava Calendar - 2024-2025
Śrī Gaurābda 537-538

Presented under the authority of

Tridaṇḍisvāmī
Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmi Mahārāja

Bhaktivedānta Trust International

Śrī Gopīnāth Bhavan, Sevā Kuñj, Vṛndāvan (U.P.) 281121 INDIA
Last updated: 2nd March 2024
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Read Additional Information here



Rules for Fasting and Miscellania

Standard for Ekādaśī Break-fasts

If you have observed a complete fast (without even water) you do not need to break it with grains. You can break it with caranamrita or fruit. But if you have observed Ekādaśī by eating fruit, vegetables, etc., then it should be broken on the following day by taking grains at the times mentioned herein.

Mahā-dvādaśi is observed like Ekādaśī.

Ekādaśī

The essence is to eat simply, once or twice, so that one can spend as much time as possible hearing, chanting and remembering Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. Never eat meat, fish, eggs, onions, garlic, carrots, red lentils (masūr-dal), green flat lentils, mushrooms or products thereof.

  • Restricted foods on Ekādaśī:
  • Tomatoes, eggplants, cauliflower, broccoli, bell peppers, beets, bitter melon (karela), loki, parmal, toroi, kunli, drumsticks, bindī (ladies' fingers) and banana flowers
  • Peas, chickpeas and all types of beans, including products made from beans (e.g., papadams, tofu, tempeh)
  • All leafy vegetables (e.g., spinach, salads, cabbages) and leafy herbs like parsley, coriander leaves, celery and curry leaves
  • Grains (e.g., millet, barley, farina, pasta, rice, corn) and all types of flour made from grains and beans (e.g., rice flour, chickpea flour, urad dahl flour)
  • Starches from corn or grains, and products made from or mixed with these starches like baking soda, baking powder, certain soft drinks with corn syrup, custard, certain yoghurts and puddings, certain varieties of cream and cottage cheese, certain sweets and candies, and tapioca balls
  • Oils made from grains (e.g., corn oil, mustard oil, sesame oil) and products fried in these oils (e.g., fried nuts, potato chips and other fried snack foods)
  • Honey, and sweets made with starches
  • Spices used on Ekādaśī: black pepper, fresh ginger, pure salt and fresh turmeric, all taken from a new and clean package
  • Spices not used on Ekādaśī: hing (asofetida), sesame seeds, cumin, fenugreek, mustard, tamarind, fennel, cardamom and nutmeg
  • Foods that can be taken all days of the year, including Ekādaśī and Cāturmāsya:
  • All fruits (fresh and dried), all nuts and all oils made from nuts
  • Potatoes, pumpkin, cucumber, radish, squash, lemon, avocado, olives, coconut, buckwheat, all sugars
  • All pure milk products (except yoghurt during the 2nd month of Cāturmāsya and milk during the 3rd month)
  • For sannyāsīs, brahmacārīs and vānaprasthas: shaving head and cutting nails is to be done on full moon days

Cāturmāsya

  • Restricted foods during the entire four months of Cāturmāsya:
  • Eggplants, tomatoes, loki, parmal, urad dahl and honey
  • Particular foods that are restricted during each of the four months:
  • First month: No leafy vegetables, such as spinach, salads of all types, cabbages of all types, kale, leafy herbs like coriander, mint, parsley, curry and powdered leafy herbs and teas
  • Second month: No yoghurt (if one requires it for health, it can be mixed with water)
  • Third month: No milk (if required, it can be mixed with a drop of lemon juice)
  • Fourth month: No mustard oil or sesame seeds

Purusottama Masa

  • Restricted foods during the  month of Puruṣottama:
  • Eggplants, tomatoes, loki, parmal, urad dahl, honey, mustard oil or sesame seeds
  • No shaving for brahmacārīs and sannyāsīs

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