Rays of The Harmonist
- Symptoms of Degradation
- "There is no way I can imagine a separate institution"
- Why are we not realizing Bhagavān?
by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja
❝Unnecessary gossip about others (paracarcā) and acts of hypocrisy and deceit (kuṭīnāṭī) are symptoms of degradation. These disturbances are bound to occur if there is no taste for harināma and hari-kathā. Those who are desirous of progressing in hari-bhajana must keep distance from the association of anyone who indulges in paracarcā. If they don’t, the dirtiness of their hearts can also affect the hearts of those associating with them.❞ ..
Read More
by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Vāmana Gosvāmī Māhārāja
❝Many preaching centres of the Gauḍīya Maṭha have been established today in the East and West, yet I consider all of them to be a single indivisible unit. I know those who have been favoured by jagad-guru Śrīla Sarasvatī Prabhupāda and those who are his disciples and grand-disciples to be my own people, and I convey my obeisance to them, knowing them to be Gauḍīyas. I know every Vaiṣṇava who is bathed in the current of Śrī Gaura-vāṇī-vinoda (the delight of Śrī Gaura’s message) to be my supreme well-wishing friend and most intimate relative, but there is no way I can imagine a separate institution.❞ ...
Read Moreby Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda
❝Service to the devotees promises more than service to the Lord Himself. The association of the bhaktas is even more beneficial than the association of the Lord. The living place of the bhakta, the abode of śrīla gurudeva, is more favourable for śuddha-bhajana (pure, loving devotional service) than the abode of the Lord.❞ ...
Read MoreNo Part To Disregard
- Details
Srimad-Bhagavatam is Krsna Himself, and it is the essence of the entire Vedic literature – Veda, Vedanta, the Upanisads, the Puranas, and so on. Being the essence of all Vedic scriptures, there is nothing in it to be disregarded. It is a nectarean fruit coming through the guru-parampara from transcendental Vrndavana...
Are All Manjaris?
- Details
My request is: do not be mad to be a manjari. Try to follow Sri Upadesamrta first, and then the other writings of Srila Rupa Gosvami. You can then gradually go to the top of the bhakti tree. Don’t try to jump at once to the top of the tree. Otherwise, you may fall down, break your arms and legs, and crack your head. Be careful.
The Vrajavasis Are The Most Fortunate
- Details
Why is it that Krsna never did anything to relieve the Vrajavasis from their suffering, whereas they did everything for Him? Srimati Rohini-maiya gave the answer. The Vrajavasis are mohita, bewildered. They are not bewildered, but "like" bewildered. They came under the control of Krsna as if hypnotized or as if under the control of a magician...
Visva-Vaishnava-Raja-Sabha
- Details
More than two hundred devotees had descended upon Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha, eager to witness this unique event and hear the inevitable flow of Hari-katha. As host of the assembly, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja welcomed and honoured all the respectable speakers with asanas, sandal paste, flower garlands, pranama and sweet words...
The Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja
- Details
Today is a very sacred day. It is Nandotsava (the celebration of Krsna’s birthday). Nanda Baba, Yasoda Maiya, and all the elder Vrajavasis had as their son the Supreme Lord Krsna Himself. Krsna took birth on the previous day, at midnight, and today, one of the associates of Krsna, Abhaya Caranaravinda, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja took birth. How many years before? 109+.
The Divine Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja
- Details
Without power from Krsna, no one can preach all over the world in a couple of years as he did. The power and inspiration of Krsna and the power of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu were with him, and that is why his Gurudeva told him to write articles in English and to preach in Western countries...
Prabhupada's Appearance Day
- Details
One special quality I saw in him was that he was very simple, and always smiling. Before him, other preachers from India had gone to Western countries. They were very intelligent and knew all philosophical truths, but they were not so simple that they could mingle with everyone, including children. I have seen Srila Swami Maharaja; he used to play with little children and he was so funny. He had no false ego...
For Srila Prabhupada's Appearance Day
- Details
Here is the place of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, just off the courtyard of Sri Sri Radha-Damodara. Srila Svami Maharaja took sannyasa in Mathura, and then he moved near to here and would sometimes go to Delhi. At last he came to this place – the place of Srila Rupa Gosvami’s samadhi and bhajana kutira. Here, he used to write books...
Sri Nandotsava And Prabhupada's Avirbhava Tithi
- Details
Today is very auspicious. Last night Nanda Baba and Yasoda had a very beautiful son, and they were so happy. Vasudeva and Devaki also had a son, in jail, and they also became happy, but not as happy as they could have been - because there were guards. Who were the guards? Demons on the caliber of Putana, Aghasura, Bakasura, Canura, Mustika, Sala, Kosala, and so many others. And even now Janma-Bhumi is like a jail. Due to the intensified situation...
The Appearance Day Of Srila Prabhupada
- Details
Today is the auspicious birthday of nitya-lila pravista om visnupada Sri Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja Prabhupada. Jagat-guru nitya-lila pravista Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Thakura Prabhupada, following the order of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, wanted the glories of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, and krsna-nama-sankirtana to be preached all over the world...
The Inner Meaning of a Song
- Details
Sri Krsna takes shelter of kamala. Srita means shelter, and here, kamala means Radharani. Kuca-mandala means that Krsna is taking shelter of the breasts of Radharani. Dhrta-kundala. Krsna's kundala (earrings) are not ordinary. His kundala is the glories of Radharani, and He is always "wearing" that...
Sri Krsna Janmastami
- Details
Every verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam is also a mantra, and one can attain siddhi (perfection) from each of them. These verses can fulfill even the topmost desire, but unfortunately we have no faith in this. We are chanting the maha-mantra and we have no faith in it; but this and all other mantras are truly kalpa-vrksa, desire trees. Every sloka of Srimad-Bhagavatam is like the kama-dhenus (the cows of Goloka Vrndavana, who can fulfill all of one's desires). Not only one kama-dhenu – each sloka can be compared to millions of kama-dhenus...
A Report for Janmastami and Nandotsava
- Details
For several days leading up to the Appearance Day of Bhagavan Sri Krsna, thousands of sadhus and pilgrims were finding their way to Mathura Dhama to observe the Janmastami-vrata (vow), to have darsan of Kamsa's Dungeon where Vasudeva Krsna appeared 5000 years ago, to bathe in the sacred Yamuna, and to perform parikrama of the many significant tirthas in and around Mathura. By the causeless mercy of...
A Report On Janmastami Celebrations
- Details
If you will please Krsna, He will give you this wealth. Today you must not criticize any Vaisnava even if his behavior is rude or bad -- Krsna will punish him Himself. Do not make fun of Vaisnavas. Always remain in such sat-sanga where you get such teachings. Today in Kali-yuga a pure Vaisnava guru and disciple is very hard to find. If you are not following the bhajana of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada then how will you do bhajana?
Srimati Radharani Blames Krsna
- Details
Srimati Radhika is the crest-jewel of Krsna's beloveds, and She is now speaking citra-jalpa. Within citra-jalpa, She is speaking kataksa, sarcasm, as She criticizes the ladies of Mathura. Sent by Krsna to Vrndavana from Mathura, Uddhava witnesses Her madness in separation, and, kneeling at a distance, he thinks...
Krsna Reciprocates
- Details
Of all types of separation, which is the most painful? It is the separation from Vaisnavas. We know that the jiva has no birth or death, but we can feel separation for the Vaisnava. Who will feel separation? Only the person who has mamata, a sense of "mine-ness" towards that Vrndavana, or one who can understand the greatness of that Vaisnava...
