English

From the ancient Vedic scriptures of India comes the famous epic of Prince Prahlad.

In a previous era - long, long ago - there was an evil monarch named Hiranya-kashipu, who succeeded in seizing control of the entire universe. He was extremely cruel, and due to his darkened heart he made life impossible for everyone - from animals to demigods. Only his son Prahlad, who was always absorbed in meditating on the Lord, remained undisturbed by his father's reign of terror. Seeing the boy's natural predilection for spiritual life, and thus taking him as an archenemy, he tried to kill his own child, but was unsuccessful every time.

Through his resolute faith and constant meditation, the young prince conquered fear and remained untouched by death. By following Prahlads's teachings, one can become fearless pure devotee of the Lord.

Same as above but with high resolution pictures. Size is 29MB compared to 7MB above

"A Drop of the Nectarian Ocean of Bhakti-rasa." Composed by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura and translated and commented upon by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami 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, sadhana-bhakti, the stages in the development of prema, the limbs of bhajana, offences committed in the performance of devotional service (sevaparadha), offences against the holy name (namaparadha), vaidhi- and raganuga-sadhana-bhakti, prema-bhakti and bhakti-rasa. Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami 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."

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 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 chanting harinama they sometimes call out these verses, it will increase the bliss in their chanting. This compilation of verses is known as bhakti-rasayana, or the nectar-tonic of bhakti-rasa. (Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami 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 Gosvami Maharaja.

These translated lectures comprise the immaculate commentary of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami 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  in the transcendental land of spontaneous loving devotion to Sri Sri Radha-Govinda, Sri Goloka-Vraja.

Out of the seven hundred verses of the Bhagavad-gītā, Verse 18.65 captures the essence of the entire Gītā:

"Absorb your mind and heart in Me, become My devotee, worship Me, offer your praṇāma to Me, and then certainly you will come to Me. I make this promise to you because you are very dear to Me.”

The first three chapters of Nectar of Govinda-līlā explain the three elements of this verse in relation to our aim to enter Goloka Vṛndāvana. Other chapters contain a colourful description, infused with pure Gauḍīya siddhānta, of Vasanta-pañcami, the first day of Spring, and other nectar.

Issuing from the divine mouth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the eight verses comprising this Sri Siksastaka shine as the supremely radiant transcendental jewel of the entirety of Indian literature. They are the very essence of all the Vedas. Although its Sanskrit language is quite simple, its import is so profound that even if one studies it throughout his life, his study will not come to an end. Each time one reads and deliberates on this subject, newer and newer meanings come to light. This definitive edition with the translation and commentary of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja features the soul-stirring Sri Sanmodana Bhasyam by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and the Vivrti of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada.

Srila Rupa Gosvami, being Sri Gaurahari's topmost associate, was saturated with His mercy. As the acarya of transcendental rasa-sastras, he wrote invaluable literatures, including the most exceptional Sri Stava-mala, "A Garland of Prayers,"which was actually compiled later by Srila Jiva Gosvami. Utkalika-vallari, one of the flowers in this garland, is a poetic entreaty for the service of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. Srila Rupa Gosvamipada's sweet devotion to unnata-ujjvala-madhurya-mayi-bhakti, "the brilliantly shining amorous mellow,“ is a honeybee whose delightful humming, here at its finest, has fully blossomed in this prayer. Utkalika means 'very intense eagerness mixed with extreme restlessness,' and vallari means 'creeper;' hence Utkalika-vallari means "The Vine of Intense Longings."

During his second tour to the United States in May, 1997, our beloved Gurudeva, nitya-lila-pravista om visnupada Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja, delivered a series of eleven lectures in Badger, California, on Srila Rupa Gosvami's Sri Upadesamrita as translated and commented on by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada. He spoke these lectures with the aim of encouraging Srila Prabhupada's disciples and followers to move forward in their devotional practices.

In this book Srila Rupa Gosvami has given a brief yet vital description of the names, forms, qualities and different services of Sri Radha's and Sri Krsna's cherished companions. In the Brhad-bhaga, or first part, of this composition, he describes those in vatsalya-rasa and madhura-rasa, and in the Laghu-bhaga, or second part, he describes those in sakhya-rasa and dasya-rasa. Sometimes, especially in the second part, he depicts in detail the beautiful forms of Sri Radha and Sri Govinda, as well as Their bodily limbs, Their ornaments and the astonishing paraphernalia used by Them. Such a comprehensive description of Sri Krsna and His companions will not be found in any other single scripture.

Morning Walks and Conversations in 2008 with Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja

Harmony is a compilation of excerpts from the discources by our beloved Gurudeva, Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja. His purpose was to give us tools and keys to create an ideal society in which everyone is happy, as well as to inspire in us a longing to achive the ultimate goal of our lives.

The theme of these excerpts is basically centered around the following verses:

"The symptoms of one who chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra are as follows. He is actually very exalted, but he thinks himself lower than the straw in the street. His tolerance is like that a tree, which does not protest when it is cut down and does not ask anyone for water when it is drying up. The tree gives its own wealth of fruits, flowers, and so on to anyone who asks. It gives shelter to others, even while tolerating scorching heat and torrents of rain itself. A Vaisnava is the most exalted of all, but he does not think that he is better than others. On the contrary, he gives all respect to others, knowing that Krsna resides in the hearts of all." Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila (20.21-25)

This small booklet is the translation of an article appearing in Hindi edition of Sri Sri Bhagavata Patrika, Year 4, Issues 7 & 8, September and October 2007 on the glories of Sri Rupa Gosvami.

Vaisnava-siddhanta-mala was originally composed in the Bengali language by the incarnation of auspiciousness upon this world, om visnupada Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura who is to be included as an intimate member among the eternal associates of Sri Saci-nandana Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is the purifier of the age of Kali and the source of all incarnations.

Selected verses from the Vedic literatures have been assembled here to provide the reader with a comprehensive analysis of the question, "From whom should I inquire?"