English

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

Remembrances by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja.

A deep and revealing account of the intimate relationship between Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja and his instructing spiritual master and dear friend, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada, from 1947 up until final instructions given in 1977.

 In this book Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, describes the glories of Sri Navadvipa-dhama. The author himself says:

"Although I am lowly and insignificant, I have described Sri Navadvipa-dhama, only on the order of Sri Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Jahnava-devi."

"It is the verdict of the scriptures that by deliberating on this book at the time of doing parikrama, the benefit one receives increases a hundredfold."

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

Sri Raya Ramananda Samvada (the conversation between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Raya Ramananda) is one of the most shining treasures within Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, written by Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja. Indeed, it is like the Kaustubha-mani, the most brilliant jewel adorning the neck of Sri Krsna Himself. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta is a most unprecedented, gem-like literature containing the siddhanta(trancendental conclusions) of pure devotion. With regards to this, the most repected Srila Narottama dasa Thakura has written the following:

"Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja is an exceptionally high-class devotional poet. He is also bhavuka, one who is immersed in experiencing the more elevated expressions of divine love. He has composed the unprecedented sacred texts, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, which describes the pastimes of Sri Gauranga, and Sri Govinda-lilamrta, which depticts the pastimes of Sri Govinda. Both of these books, being crown jewels of trancendental literature, are the best of all contributions."

Clearing up the confusion

Nowadays some persons claim there are differences in the conclusions taught by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja and Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada. These authoritative responses to many of the objections will help the reader understand things as they are, without any politically motivated interpretation.

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.

Observing the festival days outlined in the Vaisnava calendar is an important aspect of devotional practice. Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja always speaks on the appropriate topic on such days, whether it be the appearance or disappearance day of a prominent Vaisnava acarya, the appearance day of an incarnation of Bhagavan, or any other significant day. Of the eleven lectures included within this book, nine are lectures which Srila Maharaja has spoken on significant dates from the Vaisnava calendar. The word prabhanda means 'an essay' and avali means 'a collection'. We are confident that devotees will find this Sri Prabandhavali helpful to their sincere efforts to honour these important days.

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.

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."

A detailed and nectarean historical account of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada's long-standing relationship with both his sannyasa-guru, Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja, and Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja.

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.

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

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)

By BV Tridandi Svami (based on Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja's teachings)

The purpose of this booklet is to outline three distinct paths that people follow in order to achieve happiness in life. Most people seek pleasure from what is in front of them in the external world of objects and from satisfaction of the body's sensory demands for all kinds of pleasure. The second proposition is to renounce the external material world completely and take shelter of the peace found within the soul. The third, much more rarely followed path, is one traveled by an awakened soul who seeks to know his eternal identity in relationship with God.