A compilation of essays which illuminate the subject of Sri Guru Tattva and glorify Gaudiya Vaishnava siddhanta.

The guru - disciple relationship
"Even Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, wants to be controlled by love and affection." — Srila Narayana Maharaja

"The Song of Krsna's Flute" is translated from the Hindi commentary of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja reveals the depth of the commentaries of Srila Jiva Gosvami and Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura. The Srimad-Bhagavatam is the fully ripened, nectarian fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literature which comprises the entirety of Indian thought. Within Srimad-Bhagavatam, gopi-prema has been ascertained to be the ultimate objective. A few towering waves of gopi-prema can be seen from the Venu-gita portion of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Rasika bhaktas drown themselves in these waves and even lose all consciousness of their own bodies. Greed to be immersed in this nectarian ocean sprouts even in the hearts of the faithful devotees who are situated on the shore of this ocean.

The basic principle of the living condition is that we have a general propensity to love someone. No one can live without loving someone else. This propensity is present in every living being. Even an animal like a tiger has this loving propensity at least in a dormant stage, and it is certainly present in the human beings. The missing point, however, is where to repose our love so that everyone can become happy. At the present moment the human society teaches one to love his country or family or his personal self, but there is no information about where to repose the loving propensity so that everyone can become happy.

This incomparable narrative poem has been painted with the soft brush of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura's supremely sweet and natural prema-bhakti and the color of the all enchanting nectar of rasa. This literary composition consists of four astonishing and delightfully charming stories of the mischievous meetings of the Divine Couple, Sri Radha-Krsna. It is presented for rasika and bhavuka readers, as well as sadhakas who desire to taste vraja-rasa.

"A Drop of the Nectarian Ocean of Bhakti-rasa." Composed by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura and translated and commented upon by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, the crown prince of illustrious teachers among the Gaudiya Vaisnava acaryas is the author of what is considered to be one of the greatest treasures of Vaisnavas. In this great book there is a description of the nature of uttama-bhakti, its divisions, saddhana-bhakti, the stages in the development of prema, the angas of bhajana, offences committed in the performance of devotional service (sevaparadha), offences against the holy name (namaparadha), vaidhi and raganuga-saddhana-bhakti, prema-bhakti, and bhakti-rasa. Srila Narayana Maharaja has written in his preface, "I have complete faith that those who are possessed of yearning for bhakti and especially the sadhakas of raganuga-bhakti who are captivated by vraja-rasa will receive this book with great reverence. Faithful persons who study this book will obtain qualification to enter into the wealth of prema of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu." Over 285 pages.

In the final chapter of Sri Brhad-bhagavatamrta, after the story of Gopa-kumara has been completed (see Going Beyond Vaikuntha), Sanatana Gosvami has quoted verses from the tenth canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam which Pariksit Maharaja spoke to his mother Uttara. They are verses of very beautiful poetry which stimulate the sentiment of bhakti. Stringing these verses together, Sanatana Gosvami has composed a necklace for the benefit of the sadhakas of this world, and when sadhakas keep these verses in their hearts, it is as if they are wearing this necklace around their necks. And if while taking Harinama they sometimes call out these verses, it will increase the ananda in their chanting. This compilation of verses is known as bhakti-rasayana, or the nectar-tonic of bhakti-rasa. — Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja.

Composed originally in Bengali by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, Bhakti-tattva-viveka is a collection of four essays. By understanding the true nature of suddha-bhakti (pure bhakti), one can relish the ultimate goal of all scriptures, the pure nectar of krsna-prema as exhibited and preached by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Translated from the Hindi edition of Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja.

These translated lectures comprise the immaculate commentary of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja on Srila Sanatana Gosvamipada's Sri Brhad-bhagavatamrta. Descriptions given tell how, having recently arrived in Sri Vaikuntha-dhama, the most desirable of places and which entrance into is sought after by unlimited saintly persons, Gopa-kumar is feeling despondent and cannot even ascertain the cause of his own dissatisfaction. At that time he is approached by Sri Narada Rsi, who becomes his siksa-guru (instructing spiritual master) and enlightens him with the tattva necessary to complete his spiritual journey and thereby attain the fulfilment of all his long cherished internal desires — the transcendental land of spontaneous loving devotion to Sri Sri Radha-Govinda, Sri Goloka-Vraja.

Written by Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami — the eternal associate of Sri Gauranga, Sri Manah-siksa is a collection of eleven verses which offer instructions to the mind. In a very concise manner Srila Das Gosvami has surcharged these eleven verses with the teachings of Sri Gaurasundara, the prema-intoxicated embodiment of the combined forms of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, His intimate associate Srila Svarup Damodara, and rasacarya Srila Rupa Gosvami. Included is the commentary of Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja and the expanded purport of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

This compilation of discourses by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja beautifully describe the deep inner meanings of the famous Srimad Bhagavad-Gita sloka 18.65:

"Offer your mind to Me; become My bhakta by hearing and chanting, etc. about My names, forms, qualities and pastimes; worship Me and offer obeisances to Me. In this way, you will certainly come to me. I promise you this because you are very dear to Me." Also included are three discourses on Basanta Pancami, Nisanta-bhajana, Sriya Suka.

Sri Vraja-mandala parikrama, originally inaugurated by Sriman Mahaprabhu Himself, has been conducted for over fifty years under the supervision and guidance of Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja. This book is a beautiful exposition of the confidential places of Sri Krsna's sweet pastimes in Vraja. The sincere devotee who has a deep thirst to enter into the sweetness of the land of Vraja will find ambrosial nectar flowing through these pages.

"Blessed is the land of Vraja, where the creator of the universe, Lord Brahma, dwells in the form of a mountain range in Varsana, to have the dust of the Divine Couple Sri Radha-Krsna's lotus feet on the head: where the maintainer, Lord Visnu, has assumed the forms of Govardhana and Visnu-parvata: where the moon-crested Lord Siva has taken up residence as Nandisvara Hill in Nandagrama: and where Sri Uddhava, the best of Hari's servants, lives as a blade of grass, a small shrub or a creeper on the bank of Kusuma-sarovara."

Today I am most joyful to be able to present this English edition of Sri Prema-samputa to the faithful reader. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, the highly exalted preceptor and crown jewel of Sri Gaudiya Vaisnava acaryas, has masterfully crafted this incomparable narrative poem in language that is simple, yet replete with deep meaning. Once, Sri Krsna, disguised in the attire of a heavenly damsel, came to Srimati Radhika and stood before Her completely silent. The sight of this incredibly beautiful celestial damsel filled Srimati Radhika with bliss and She became most eager to befriend Her. Srimati Radhika asked Her several questions, but the girl offered no reply...