Rays of The Harmonist
- Remembrances of Śrīla Vāmana Gosvāmī Mahārāja – Part 2
- Be Undisturbed by Sufferings
- Memories of Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Vāmana Gosvāmī Mahārāja
Remembrances of Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Vāmana Gosvāmī Māhārāja
❝Once, when I (Rasika-rañjana dāsādhikārī) was in Navadvīpa, I went to offer praṇāmas to pūjyapāda Trivikrama Mahārāja in his bhajana-kuṭīra. As we discussed various topics, pūjyapāda Trivikrama Mahārāja said, “Once, in a conversation with Vāmana Mahārāja, I said to him, ‘Mahārāja when I will grow old, who will take care of me and make efforts to help me? I am getting worried about this even now.’ Vāmana Mahārāja replied, ‘You should not worry about this. If nobody will be there, I will personally take care of you and will personally clean your urine and stool. In this regard you need have no worry or anxiety.’ The way Vāmana Mahārāja said this to me actually made me free from any anxiety or worry. And he did not speak mere words. He has actually been very conscientious about this.” While speaking this incident, tears began to roll down from the eyes of pūjyapāda Trivikrama Mahārāja.❞ ...
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by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja
❝O Lord, whether You kill me or have me live, whether You torment me, make me drink the poison of infamy or the nectar of recognition, or whether You keep me happy or distressed, I am Yours and will always remain Yours. The cātaka bird only looks towards the sky, longing for just one drop of water from svāti-nakṣatra. Whether thunder falls from above or whether there is fresh, cooling sweet water to drink, he does not mind. The life of sādhakas is surrendered to the Lord like this.❞ ..
Read MoreMemories of Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Vāmana Gosvāmī Māhārāja
Once, the day before pūjyapāda Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja was to arrive in Kolkata from his first preaching tour abroad, Guru Mahārāja said to everyone, “Go and decorate the temple very nicely. Also nicely decorate the room that Śrīla Mahārāja will be staying in.” In the evening Guru Mahārāja went to the temple for darśana and saw that it had not been decorated. “If none of you have the time to do it, I will personally collect the flowers.” Hearing him say this, the brahmacārīs immediately went to the market and brought many kinds of flowers and other decorations. They nicely decorated Ṭhākurajī’s temple and then went to Guru Mahārāja’s room to decorate it. Guru Mahārāja said, “First ṭhākura-sevā, after that, vaiṣṇava-sevā, and after that, my sevā. Even though there is no need to decorate my room, if Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja sees it not decorated [but that his own room is decorated], it will make him feel uneasy. Our only aim is the pleasure and satisfaction of guru and Vaiṣṇavas, so decorate my room as well.” ...
Read MoreSrila Madhvacarya
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He appeared in a place called Pajaka-ksetra. His father's name was Madhvagaya, his mother's name was Vedavidya, and his childhood name was Vasudeva. He took sannyasa at a very young age, and his sannyasa-name was Purna-prajna...
Sri Madhvacarya's Appearance Day
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Today is the appearance day of Sri Madhvacarya, who is the sampradaya-acarya of our Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya. He appeared in a place called Pajaka-ksetra. His father's name was Madhvagaya, his mother's name was Vedavidya, and his childhood name was Vasudeva. He took sannyasa at a very young age, and his sannyasa-name was Purna-prajna...
The Disappearance of Sripad Svarupa Damodara Maharaja
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He was really a Vaisnava, even from his home-life. I have seen this in Sripad Gour Govinda Maharaja, and he was like this also. They are real Vaisnavas. They followed the principles of their Guru in the real sense. They never accepted what Iskcon is now propagating...
Our Family Goal
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I think always, and I also tell my devotees, that we are in only one family – the family of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu. We should always be together and preach their mission throughout the world. If we are united again, we can preach throughout the world – as in the time of Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja...
The 'Heavenly Damsel' Speaks
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Krsna as the heavenly damsel said, "Oh supremely beautiful Radha, I am actually from Svarga (the heavenly planets). I came here because I have a doubt about a certain subject, and apart from You, nobody in the entire world can completely fulfill My desire to have this doubt dispelled. That is why I have come down to this Earth planet...
The Real Reason
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Yesterday I explained the reasons why Krishna left Vraja and did not return after killing Kamsa; and why He did not even visit there from time to time. I explained why He did not bring the Vrajavasis to Mathura, as He had previously brought the Mathuravasis to Dvaraka-in a moment-during the night. You should know all this first, and then you will be able to taste why Krishna wanted to pacify the gopis...
Why Did Krishna Not Return?
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Krishna has left Vrindavana for Mathura. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has explained in his commentary that all the Vrajabasis, especially the gopas and gopis, and Krishna's father and mother, are feeling so much separation that is beyond the limit of explanation. It is said that the Vrajabasis sent a swan as a messenger to Mathura, and the Puranas say that they sent many messengers; but Srimad Bhagavatam has not told so...
It Will First Sprout For Gurudeva
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How will it be possible for a sadhaka (spiritual practitioner) to attain this possessiveness for Sri Krsna? It will first sprout for Srila Gurudeva, the asraya or associate of Krsna. The sadhaka will feel, “He is my life and soul. He is more dear and intimate than my own soul.” Then, when that possessiveness for Gurudeva gradually matures, Gurudeva will personally transform it into possessiveness for Sri Krsna Himself...
The Love-Box
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By the mercy of Sri Guru and Gauranga we are trying to explain the words of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura in his book called Prema-samput. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is the combined form of Radha and Krsna, stayed for some time in the Gambhira and tasted many varieties of prema in the association of Srila Raya Ramananda and Srila Svarupa Damodara. Srila Rupa Gosvami wrote about some of these jewel-like varieties in his books, especially in Sri Ujjvala-nilamani...
Krishna And Gurukula
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The evening after Krishna killed Kamsa and made Ugrasena king, He and Baladeva met Nanda Baba and tried to satisfy him. Krishna and Baladeva went to Vrindavana in one prakasa and in another stayed in Mathura. In one prakasa Nanda Baba went to Vrindavana alone and was very sad. He was weeping bitterly and feeling so much separation. In another prakasa Krishna returned and played...
Vow to Please Sri Radha
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Urja means power. Srimati Radhika is the Urja-sakti, power, of Krsna. Urja-vrata (vrata means vow) means Radha-vrata. Although we regularly recite Sri Damodara-astakam in the morning and evening, we must keep in mind that this is Sri Radha-vrata. We are attending classes – to please Srimati Radhika. Both in the morning and evening we will sing kirtanas of Radhika, and we will also visit the places of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna’s pastimes – we will go everywhere in Vraja Mandala.
Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Gosvami
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Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhakti Promode Puri Gosvami Maharaja appeared on October 8, 1898 during the auspicious hour of brahma-muhurta. Along with the study of Sanskrit, Promode Bhusan was engaged in worshipping family Deities of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath.
The Tears Of Krishna, Balarama, And Nanda Baba
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Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura is asking, "Is it impossible that Krishna and Balarama and the Vrajavasis can take more than one form?" He is also answering his own question. During Rasa-lila Krishna took millions of forms and danced between millions of gopis. If he does so in Vrindavana, then what to speak of Dvaraka?
To Be One-Pointed
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There was a gopi, and at first she had had no association of Krsna's beloved gopis. Although she was a gopi, she had not seen Krsna nor did she know anything about Him. She was newly married, and by chance her marriage was performed in Yavata. She had recently come to her father-in-law's house, and there she met Visakha, Kundalata, and other gopis...
Krishna Kills Kamsa
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This is Kamsa Tila, the place where Krsna killed Kamsa. Tila mean hill, and it was upon this hill that Kamsa was sitting when Krsna pulled him from his dias. Our temple, Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha, is situated in part of Kamsa's wrestling arena, and it is also where Krsna and Balarama killed the elephant demon...
More Humble Than A Straw
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We want to do bhajana, but at the moment we are doing bhajana of nama-aparadha, and sometimes of nama-abhasa. We cannot do bhajana because we neglect the importance of this third verse of Sri Siksastaka, beginning with trnad api sunicena. In Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi-lila 17.32), Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami says: "I am raising my hand and taking a vow. Please listen, all devotees; hear this: if you want to do bhajana, then make a garland with the thread of nama and the jewels of trnad api sunicena."
