Planet ISKCON

Alachua Temple Live: ATL 2026-10-23 Nagaraja dasa SB 3.26.2
Listen to a class given by Nagaraja dasa on text 2 of the Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana), canto 3, chapter 26, entitled " Fundamental Principles of Material Nature " given on October 23, 2026 at the Hare Krishna temple in Alachua, Florida. The Srimad-Bhagavatam is a sacred Vaishnava text from India that narrates the history of God (Krishna) and His devotees.

Alachua Temple Live: ATL 2026-10-27 Mitrasena dasa SB 3.26.3 Part 2
Listen to a class given by Mitrasena dasa on text 3 b of the Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana), canto 3, chapter 26, entitled " Fundamental Principles of Material Nature " given on October 27, 2026 at the Hare Krishna temple in Alachua, Florida. The Srimad-Bhagavatam is a sacred Vaishnava text from India that narrates the history of God (Krishna) and His devotees. It is translated with elaborate purports by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

1st Nov. '26 | H.H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj | S.B. 3.19.31 | ISKCON Chowpatty Mumbai.

Channel: Radha Gopinath Media – ISKCON Desire Tree

Srimad Bhagavatam Class | 1st Nov. '26 | H.H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj | S.B. 3.19.31 | | ISKCON Chowpatty Mumbai.  … more

Morning Class SB 10.13.9 – HG Navina Nirada Prabhu – 1 November 2026

Channel: Hare Krishna Melbourne

Morning class audio files at   / user-221822525   Śrīmad Bhāgavatam morning class is streamed daily at 7:30am.  … more

Srimad Bhagavatam Text 3.29.21 Speaker – H.G. Pancharatna Das

Channel: Mayapur TV – English

Welcome to our live broadcast. Join us as we stream devotional classes directly from Sri Dham Mayapur. … more

Contributor Louise Guthrie explores the unique dynamic between rock royalty and devotion, focusing on Shyamasundar Das, a devotee of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness who traveled to Britain to meet The Beatles … was part of Radha Krishna Temple, which ended up recording for The Beatles’ Apple Records … and became a friend of George Harrison.

“Hare Krishna, Hare Rama,” sang Shyamasundar, a young, vibrant American Hare Krishna pioneer, from the top of a ladder at Friar Park, Henley-on-Thames.

Back in 1970, the handyman disciple later said, he was up at a mildly dizzying height in the early hours, scraping paint from work around the kitchen fireplace inside George Harrison’s neo-gothic mansion — just as the Beatle returned home from Abbey Road Studios with Billy Preston and Klaus Voormann in tow.

Far from spent, the three musicians began practicing gospel chord changes to chorus lines of “Hallelujah” and “My Sweet Lord” directly underneath him.

Seizing the moment, Shyamasundar spontaneously threw his favorite Sanskrit phrasing into the mix. George eagerly took up the refrain, and somehow the Hare Krishna Mantra wove its way neatly into the fabric of what became “My Sweet Lord”, Harrison’s debut solo single.

When the pop hymn took off and soared to No. 1 around the globe, Harrison went fully public with his newfound faith.

Nice bit of handiwork, Shyamasundar.

For Harrison, the revelation was strategic. In a September 1982 interview with Mukunda Goswami, one of the other Krishna crusaders he befriended in 1968, Harrison explained that “my idea in ‘My Sweet Lord,’ was, because it sounded like a ‘pop song,’ to sneak up on them a bit.

To read the full article: https://beatlefansomethingnew.wordpress.com/2026/10/21/from-atop-a-ladder-at-harrisons-friar-park-to-apples-rooftop-the-legacy-of-shyamasundar-das/

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 22, No. 43

By Krishna Kripa Das

(Week 43: October 22–28, 2026)

New York City, Washington, DC, Potomac, MD, Philadelphia
(Sent from Brooklyn on October 31, 2026)

Where I Went and What I Did

For week 43 of 2026 I was based at ISKCON NYC in Brooklyn, and I chanted Hare Krishna with Rama Raya Prabhu’s NYC Harinama party every day, except Sunday.

Sunday I went to Washington, D.C. to chant with my friend, Sankarsana Prabhu, in front of the Natural History Museum, and I stopped in Philadelphia briefly on Monday on my way back to New York.

I share quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, and The Teachings of Queen Kunti. I share quotes from Improvisations to Music, Books 2 and 3 by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami and notes on classes by Arcita Prabhu, Chatamayi Devi Dasi, Sri Gopal Pran Prabhu, and Surabhi Kunja Devi Dasi. I share a nice point made by Nandamukhi Devi Dasi during a Zoom meeting discussing Sadaputa Prabhu’s book God and Science. I share remembrances and glorification of Drutakarma Prabhu, from a memorial service at New Dvaraka in Los Angeles on Zoom and YouTube on October 24, by Mukunda Goswami, Jayapataka Swami (represented by his followers), Hridayananda Dasa Goswami, Devamrita Swami, Yogesvara Prabhu, Nrsimhananda Prabhu, Dravida Prabhu, Akhandadhi Prabhu, Anuttama Prabhu, Brahmatirtha Prabhu, and Arjun Gopal Prabhu. I also have some notes on a video of Drutakarma Prabhu showed at that memorial service.

Thanks to Sarabha Prabhu of ISKCON DC for his kind donation. 

Thanks to Bhakta Brett for delivering the headphones I left in Philadelphia to me at 30^th Street Station and dropping me nearer to where I could get my senior SEPTA transit card. 

Thanks to Sankarsana Prabhu for the maha-prasadam burfi and to his wife for the tasty chickpea, rice, and vegetable dish. Thanks to Subhadra Prabhu of Kadamba Kafe for the spinach pies and granola that nourished me for at least three meals on my journey to Washington and back.

Itinerary

September 23–December 31: NYC Harinam 
– November 1–???: serve Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami at Stuyvesant Falls

Chanting Hare Krishna in New York City

One older man was smiling as he filmed our party at Washington Square Park. After he finished, I went up to him and asked him if he knew about Hare Krishna from the ’70s. He said he moved to New York in 1961 at age 15, and in the late 1960s he saw many little groups of people doing music in Washington Square Park and the Hare Krishnas were prominent among them. He said he had seen many protests and many groups advocating their message, but none were as peaceful as the Hare Krishnas and that truly impressed him. He later returned to Norway, where he lives now with his family. I told him I had a 6-hour layover in Oslo last spring while flying Norwegian to Brussels, and I showed him a video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3xQq7KdQLw) of myself chanting with two devotees in front the Oslo central train station, a venue he immediately recognized. It was a friendly conversation, and his appreciation of the devotees was rewarding.

I met a woman who was planning a trip to India. She asked about places to visit. I mentioned that the childhood home of Krishna, Vrindavan, was just 90 miles southeast of Delhi. It is near Agra, where the famed Taj Mahal is. To give her faith that it was worth seeing I told her a story. A young black lady at the Quaker Meeting my mother attended in Albany, seeing my brahmacari dress said, “The last time I saw someone dressed like you was in Vrindavan!” I asked how she ended up going to Vrindavan. She was going to India and had some Hare Krishna friends who told her that Vrindavan was a sacred place and she should visit it. Although she did not believe in sacred places, she rented an apartment for a month next to our temple there. When she left, she said she realized that there really are sacred places and that Vrindavan is a sacred place. 

Then because Rama Raya Prabhu lived in Vrindavan for years, I encouraged the woman to talk to him to get more conviction to visit Vrindavan.

I recognized Valentina to be French from her accent. She found the sound of the kirtan to be joyous, and she listened for a while. She had done meditation and was looking for a group to attend, having recently moved to The City to work with the Red Cross, and she was happy to encounter the devotees. She asked if we were chanting for peace, and I said that is one of the things we were chanting for. She said, “If they are chanting for peace, you should tell them to chant louder.” Because of all the wars, she felt the world is in great need of peace. I gave her “On Chanting Hare Krishna,” which has an article on the peace formula, and the invitation to our temple and restaurant. Since she liked the sound of the chanting, I told her we chant four hours a day, six days a week, and I could add her to the list of people we inform about the day’s location, and she was happy to be added to the list.

Sevika Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/R9tTRY_C1IQ?feature=share):

Madhurya Rasa Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/N8m0bXOE5-E?feature=share):

Keshava chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/mxiz0ZOst8s?feature=share):

Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/RE0HGxIIx6I):

Krishna Rai chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/zoQHc-Ajo6A?feature=share):

Luis chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/TvSMKScw8jo?feature=share):

Maha Mantra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan, and a kid dances (https://youtube.com/shorts/eGC_aZRQbGI):

Srikar chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan, and passersby dance (https://youtube.com/shorts/7NpvXgoEUQM):

Rama Raya Prabhu and Srikar chant Hare Krishna in Manhattan, and people box and dance (https://youtube.com/shorts/6nJOml7XYnI):

While Rama Raya Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna there, several other people danced (https://youtube.com/shorts/GDiUpKT6epg?feature=share):

Chatamayi Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/T3PavfQlVYw?feature=share):

Maha Mantra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan, and a kid plays shakers (https://youtube.com/shorts/c6yvDtgo_DY?feature=share):

Maha Mantra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan, and two women play shakers (https://youtube.com/shorts/Fccv9tsEovo?feature=share):

Maha Mantra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan, and a couple plays shakers and dances (https://youtube.com/shorts/Mlfn5vL0SP8?feature=share):

Ananta Govinda chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan (https://youtube.com/shorts/nklhIACmLto?feature=share):

While he was chanting two young musicians played the shakers (https://youtube.com/shorts/VZQCFpLSRV0?feature=share):

Later the woman tried the harmonium and did well.

Ananta Govinda chants Hare Krishna, and a woman dances (https://youtube.com/shorts/HMB-Ka-q1Lw?feature=share):

Srikar chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan, and two young women play shakers and dance (https://youtube.com/shorts/APc67Y1Qrqw?feature=share):

Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in Manhattan, and a guy plays shakers and dances (https://youtube.com/shorts/6pr42UQHno0?feature=share):

Chanting Hare Krishna in Washington, D.C.

Sankarsana Prabhu chants Hare Krishna by the Natural History Museum in Washingotn, D.C., and I dance and chant the response (https://youtube.com/shorts/j8oJusmwqvs?feature=share):

I was amazed that Sankarsana Prabhu brought all that equipment on a bus and a metro from Potomac!

That was the first day of the month of Karttika, and I was happy to go to the evening program at ISKCON DC in Potomac, and participate in “Damodarastakam” and the offering of lamps. On Monday morning I got to lead the kirtan at mangala-arati and to lead “Damodarastakam” later in the morning. 

I learned there that Srila Prabhupada visited Washington, D.C., in July 1976 and celebrated the tenth anniversary of the founding of ISKCON.

Notes on a Memorial Service for Drutakarma Prabhu
At New Dvaraka in Los Angeles on October 24, 2026

Drutakarma Prabhu:

From a video played at the memorial service:

Srila Prabhupada’s life could be summarized as hearing his guru tell him to spread the message of Krishna consciousness in the west and then executing that order without any retirement.

Mukunda Goswami:

I knew him in San Diego. We would walk and chant japa together and became good friends. We published Divine Nature. Drutakarma did most of the writing. We will publishing an updated version, and Kalachandji will do the writing. Drutakarma allowed me to have my name mentioned on that book.

Jayapataka Swami (represented by his followers):

He was a pillar of ISKCON. I will miss him very much.

Hridayananda Dasa Goswami:

He was exemplary as a Vaishnava.

He was uncompromisingly rigorous, both spiritually and scientifically.

Drutakarma understood that there is nothing that science actually knows that is against Krishna consciousness.

A lot of people have said that what goes on as science is just materialism.

Acheology means the science of very old things.

The saddest thing is that he is practically irreplacable.

Many of us are alive today because of science.

If we bash aspects of science that are not inconsistent with Krishna consciousness that may not be helpful to Prabhupada’s mission.

Devamrita Swami:

I met Drutakarma during our BBT days in Los Angeles in the 1970s when he was with Back to Godhead (BTG).

He demonstrated integrity and commitment to becoming Krishna consciousness.

He was a calm, quiet, and lucid genius.

He had great courage and determination.

Yogesvara Prabhu:

My connection was through the Mayapur planetarium exhibits.

He was an intelligent, insightful, and calming influence. He had ideal dispute resolution skills.

At a program in Long Island for about sixty wealthy people he did an amazing powerpoint showing calmly and logically how humans have been around a lot longer than scientists think, and everyone’s jaw dropped.

Nrsimhananda Prabhu:

We were friends from the 1970s. He was a confidant of mine, and I hope vice versa.

He encouraged me to belong the Sabha, the Sastric Advisory Committee to the GBC,

although we had not much contact for years, and he even promoted me to become chairman.

His passing was sad because I lost a friend.

Dravida Prabhu:

He immediately became a main writer for BTG.

He wrote intros to Science of Self-Realization and Journey of Self-Discovery.

[Dravida Prabhu read first paragraph of the one for Science of Self-Realization which follows:]

“‘Who is Srila Prabhupada?’ people often ask, and it is always a hard question to answer. For Srila Prabhupada always eclipsed conventional designations. At various times people have called him a scholar, a philosopher, a cultural ambassador, a prolific author, a religious leader, a spiritual teacher, a social critic, and a holy man. In truth, he was all these things and more. Certainly no one could ever have confused him with the modern entrepreneurial ‘gurus’ who come to the West with slickly packaged, watered-down versions of Eastern spirituality (to satisfy our urge for instant well-being and exploit our well-documented spiritual naivete). Srila Prabhupada was, rather, a true holy man (sadhu) of deep intellectual and spiritual sensitivity—he had deep concern and compassion for a society which, to such a large degree, lacks real spiritual dimension.”

He was a Prabhupada man, an ISKCON man.

Akhandadhi Prabhu:

His Origins is a great contribution still.

He was a great writer.

He didn’t have special feeling for science. He jokingly considered himself a hired gun for the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT).

He was humorous.

He enjoyed prasadam.

Anuttama Prabhu:

[He read great quotes reviews of The Hidden History of the Human Race from Midwest Book Review and the Journal of Field Archeology.]

He encouraged all devotees to read The Hidden History of the Human Race.

Brahmatirtha Prabhu:

Drutakarma combined the best of Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami, with his skills at dealing with people and making them favorable, and Sadaputa Prabhu, with his skills of research and writing in the field of science.

Arjun Gopal Prabhu:

We cooked dinner for him for several months.

He was always humble and grateful.

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.23.54, purport:

“In Caitanya-caritamrta Lord Caitanya says that sadhu-sanga [Cc. Madhya 22.83], the association of a great saintly person, is very important, because even if one is not advanced in knowledge, simply by association with a great saintly person one can immediately make considerable advancement in spiritual life.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.23.55:

“Association for sense gratification is certainly the path of bondage. But the same type of association, performed with a saintly person, leads to the path of liberation, even if performed without knowledge.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.23.55, purport:

“It is generally said that the gopis were attached to Krishna for sense attractions, and yet they became first-class devotees of the Lord. Kamsa, Sisupala, Dantavakra and other demons, however, were related to Krishna as enemies. But whether they associated with Krishna as enemies or for sense gratification, out of fear or as pure devotees, they all got liberation. That is the result of association with the Lord. Even if one does not understand who He is, the results have the same efficacy.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.23.56:

“Anyone whose work is not meant to elevate him to religious life, anyone whose religious ritualistic performances do not raise him to renunciation, and anyone situated in renunciation that does not lead him to devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must be considered dead, although he is breathing.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.23.56, purport:

“Everyone is by nature inclined to some sort of work, and when that work leads one to religious life and religious life leads one to renunciation and renunciation leads one to devotional service, one attains the perfection of work.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.24.4, purport:

“It is explained here that spiritual knowledge vanquishes the knot of the heart. Matter and spirit are knotted by false ego.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.24.5, purport:

“It is also stated that the Lord is situated in everyone’s heart. One does not have to seek the Lord outside; He is already there. One simply has to concentrate on one’s worship in good faith, as instructed by the bona fide spiritual master, and one’s efforts will come out successfully.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.21.42, purport:

“A perfect Vaishnava, or Krishna conscious person, is always in this transcendental position because he speaks according to Krishna and His representative. Because Vaishnavas speak exactly according to the tune of Krishna, whatever they say is free from these four defects.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.30.20, purport:

“Always engaging in the activities of devotional service, devotees feel ever-increasingly fresh and new in all their activities. The all-knower, the Supersoul within the heart of the devotee, makes everything increasingly fresh. This is known as the Brahman position by the advocates of the Absolute Truth. In such a liberated stage [brahma-bhuta], one is never bewildered. Nor does one lament or become unnecessarily jubilant. This is due to the brahma-bhuta situation.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 5.104, purport:

“Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana says that although Vishnu is the predominating Deity of the quality of goodness in the material world, He is never affected by the quality of goodness, for He directs that quality simply by His supreme will.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 5.112, purport:

“[Lord Krishna said:] ‘My dear Uddhava, you may know that My transcendental form of Vishnu in Svetadvipa is identical with Me in divinity. Anyone who places this Lord of Svetadvipa within his heart can surpass the pangs of the six material tribulations: hunger, thirst, birth, death, lamentation and illusion. Thus one can attain one’s original, transcendental form.’ [Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.15.18]”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 5.120, purport:

“This quotation indicates that the Sankarsana of the quadruple form descends with Lord Rama as Laksmana. When Lord Rama disappears, Sesa again separates Himself from the personality of Laksmana. Sesa then returns to His own abode in the Patala regions, and Laksmana returns to His abode in Vaikuntha.”

From The Teachings of Queen Kunti, Text 3, purport:

“If one takes to Krishna consciousness, in the beginning there will be many disturbances caused by Maya, the material energy of illusion. Maya will test us to see how firmly we are fixed in Krishna consciousness. Because she is also an agent of Krishna, she does not allow anyone the freedom to disturb Krishna. Therefore she tests very rigidly to see whether we have taken to Krishna consciousness to disturb Krishna or are actually serious. That is Maya's business. So in the beginning there will be tests by Maya, and we shall feel so many disturbances while making progress in Krishna consciousness. But if we follow the rules and regulations and chant regularly as prescribed, then we shall remain steady. If we neglect these principles, Maya will capture us immediately. Maya is always ready. We are in the ocean, and at any moment we may be disturbed. Therefore one who is not disturbed at all is called paramahamsa.”

“This is the test—when one is free from lusty desires and greed, then he is situated in bhakti-yoga and is actually a paramahamsa.”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

From Improvisations to Music, Book 2:

“I tell you this life has had
fascinatin’ rhythm
but don’t tap your foot.
Piece by piece it has been built
like boards creating an altar,
and I have been happy
most of the time
to wait for it to be completed.”

“May I dive for the eternal
because my Swami accepted me
gave me a name
so I could be saved
at death. He will take me
forward for my next life,
and I will pursue Krishna
like the Lord’s servant.”

“You need a Krishna-guide
to inspire you and
to kick out all else.”

“Simply be who you are and follow your
guru. Serve Krishna with heart
and purify whatever you have
through love and
His help.”

“I write this for relief,
but it is for Him and
no one else.”

“O Lord You are never lazy on my
account trying to save me and
take me back to You.
I have refused You, but nonetheless
You do not become angry.
You try incessantly to take me back.”

“I talk and plead my case,
and Krishna and Prabhupada for
the time being refrain from crushing
my arguments to pieces.
I assume they love me.
Krishna gives me a measure of time to
see what I will do with this gift of
human life, the double gift (triple—more)
of association with Krishna’s dearmost
servant, Prabhupada.”

“I’m sorry I am not giving you
the whole Mahabharata
or esoteric Vraja secrets
although I wish I was
but chant Krishna’s names direct
and keep your ear holes filled
with that right sound and
live in grace.”

“We can’t promise that you’ll get your way. Just
chant Hare Krishna and remember
Lord Caitanya, be absorbed
in preaching. Then whatever happens
you’ll get through in good consciousness.
(Easier said than done.) We quote
perfect scripture and have seen it in others
but how do we do it?”

“I
sing these ditties although
they may not befit
the Supreme Majesty.
But we worship a Vraja prince
who teases gopis and
who pleases His neighbors
by stealing their butter.”

“We were happy to work on the journey
to Krishna consciousness and get corrected
by a cowherder of
erring calves and cows. Get into the
camp with all your brothers and sisters on the
KC way.”

“We’re on the right track when we converse with
devotee friends of Krishna
on preaching tactics and falling quiet.
When prajalpa enters
plan an attack on maya.”

“Krishna, I see this page and bow
to You, my Lord
although secular states
declare no God allowed.
I repeat only what
my master taught.”

“We suffer in these bodies and
seek release in joke or food or rest,
but when we learn to turn instead to Krishna
in our distress, we will do better.
There will be pain for each to endure
car accidents
death of friends
and a wrenching of the world order—we
can’t even imagine it all. So now while we
feel ease, use it to build layer upon layer
of Krishna-thought onto the psyche to
pray.”

“O Govinda
I won’t be afraid
when I have to give up everything
to rest my mind in Your names.”

“Similarly, we can make our own songs
even though so many have already composed
such songs in one tradition or another.”

“Prabhupada said, ‘Do not say, “I am ill and therefore I cannot live
with devotees.” Because no matter where you go for health,
you cannot leave the universe. So why
leave the devotees?’”

“We want to think of Krishna
we want to live peacefully in this world
but we don’t receive both
because we aren’t sincere or greedy
enough
for either.”

“We want to go to Krishna
and don’t mind whatever ordeal is required
for us to reach our goal.”

“O Krishna, You want us to report
for duty to the best devotees and
to serve them and
gradually learn their secrets.
How else will we develop the Gaudiya mood?
We don’t want to be Westerners forever, do we?”

“O Krishna, I’m here for You
if You will just reveal Yourself
to me and even
if You don’t.”

“Someone sings of a woman, but we
devotees want to hear Krishna’s flute.
We are besmirched but feel cleansed
by hari-nama.”

“I liked the taste of cleaning my soul
in the days when I scrubbed floors.”

From Improvisations to Music, Book 3:

“I am tiny, so I live
joyful in the Krishna conscious times
that are with me
serving my master
and knowing that each devotee
has his own mission, his solo
to perform according to his own scale
and desire
to please Lord Krishna.”

“Illusion is apart from Him
so we must see Krishna
in this scene.”

“O tree, you are stronger and
more long-lived than
me, but we’re both vrksa—
easily cut down.”

“Krishna is the tree that doesn’t
die. He’s the people and air
and music and sun and rain and
He leaves the judging to
maya while He plays.”

“Krishna is best
and Radha is better.”

“Promise to follow the master
and don’t give up
ever.”

“Then I promise starting now.
Oh forget it. Just be who you are,
and you ain’t no Arjuna no
Bhisma who could promise and then knock out
the world before reneging.
You are just a small fella
who can’t stand pain.”

“Off alone—I would always leave the gang.
One of them usually turned and mocked me
a joke aimed at a loner, but I didn’t care and
still don’t. I’m bent on being alone. I would go
back to my apartment or to the streets
all the time being saved by God. I was never so utterly
destroyed and corrupted that I missed the Swami’s call. If I
had been madly in love, intoxicated by a beautiful woman,
thinking I’d won her!—I wouldn’t have had the eyes to see
my eternal guru.”

“I was waiting to grow up
just to discover I was no ordinary Joe.
I could take the Swami’s offer
and love him.
O Vrindavan-dhama, holy land
my Swami has washed me clean.”

“You are my Lord, and I don’t
forget that much.
Please retain me a
little life to make songs in
this world
Hari Om
Hare Krishna.”

“If only I could get that
one thing I want—love of God
love of God
then all I did and do
may come alive before it’s too late
and Krishna will
save me.”

“I want to be something of a true person.
An artist has to be content with
every moment as inspired by God
and can’t be the best at all
times.”

“But each soul is alone
to turn in eternal true moment
to his worshipable God,
and a few are fortunate to
meet the sad-guru.”

“We can’t change our past, even ISKCON’s years—
they also we can’t improve once they are gone.
Although we can learn from our mistakes
as long as we remain in the present.”

“We want Krishna to accept this sincere prayer: ‘I’m lonely in this world, and it’s because I’m not with You. Please lift me up. Let me know You accept me. Especially, make me aware that my purpose is to serve You in love.’”

“Krishna, I’m fighting the forces of opposition and doubt—this age of doubt, disbelief, materialistic science. May You accept my fighting
as seva.”

“Tell them Krishna is sweet and savory,
and we can eat to be His
devotees. Easy, isn’t it?”

“I want the Church to be
nonviolent and Jesus a son
of Krishna but they don’t
want it that way.”

Arcita Prabhu:

We see our body disintegrating before our eyes, but we do not take our impending death seriously.

When Dravida taught how to learn a verse, he would say, “Learn the translation first, then the word meanings, and then the Sanskrit verse.”

If you have no desire, then how can Krishna fulfill your desire?

This is my 74^th birthday. Please pray that this year I finally surrender to Krishna.

Everyone wants to be 100% healthy. No one will settle for being 50% healthy. In the same way, we should desire to be 100% Krishna consciousness.

Comment by me:

You mentioned that it is valuable to dress as a devotee. Because I was dressed as a brahmacari when I moved from Pennsylvania to San Diego, I was able to sell some of my personal books of Srila Prabhupada to someone at the airport, who came up to me asking if I had any.

Nandamukhi Devi Dasi:

From a Zoom meeting discussing Sadaputa Prabhu’s God and Science:

I do not know that we will be able to understand what Sukadeva was seeing when he was describing the universe or what Maharaja Pariksit was understanding when he was hearing it.

Chatamayi Devi Dasi:

We have been given the opportunity to get off the train of sense gratification and get on the train back to Godhead. We should bow down and thank Srila Prabhupada every day for this.

Srila Prabhupada could see Krishna face-to-face 24/7, and that was the cause of his superhuman abilities.

Comments by me:

Different verses highlight different qualities of the brahmanas:

“My dear son, we are all brahmanas and have become worshipable for the people in general because of our quality of forgiveness. It is because of this quality that Lord Brahma, the supreme spiritual master of this universe, has achieved his post. The duty of a brahmana is to culture the quality of forgiveness, which is illuminating like the sun. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is pleased with those who are forgiving.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.15.39–40)

“O chief of the Kuru dynasty, the Vedic wisdom became manifested from the mouth of the virat, the universal form. Those who are inclined to this Vedic knowledge are called brahmanas, and they are the natural teachers and spiritual masters of all the orders of society.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.6.30)

“The main qualification of a brahmana is to be inclined to the Vedic wisdom.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.6.30, purport)

Srila Prabhupada was talking in the purport to today’s verse (SB 4.21.42) about mangala (auspicious). That reminded me of this verse:

tasmat sankirtanam vishnor 
jagan-mangalam amhasam 
mahatam api kauravya 
viddhy aikantika-niskrtam

“Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King, the chanting of the holy name of the Lord is able to uproot even the reactions of the greatest sins. Therefore the chanting of the sankirtana movement is the most auspicious activity in the entire universe. Please try to understand this so that others will take it seriously.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.3.31)

Sri Gopal Pran Prabhu:

Raghunath Das Goswami shows how to spend one’s life completely engaged in the service of the Lord.

I personally experienced smasana-vairagya. One relative after a funeral of another relative said he felt like renouncing his family and going to Hardwar. After a few days when I mentioned this, he just spoke of visiting visiting Hardwar for a day.

Lord Caitanya advised Raghunatha to do his material duties but to internally hanker for the service of the Lord.

In Ananda Bazaar they distribute the prasadam of Jagannatha. That is why it is called Ananda Bazaar.

Raghunath Das Goswami was so renounced that he ate the old food that wasn’t sold and was thrown to the cows but which the cows themselves rejected.

As a kid, Raghunath Bhatta Goswami, when Lord Caitanya stayed at his father Tapan Misra’s home, would dance in Mahaprabhu’s kirtanas.

Lord Caitanya encouraged Raghunath Das Goswami to leave his parents, who were materialists, but He encouraged Raghumath Bhatta to serve His parents, who were elevated devotees.

We can pray to these acaryas to be able to serve the Lord nicely in our old age as they did.

Comment by me:

Kaviraja Goswami mentions Raghunath Das Goswami at the end every chapter of Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, along with Rupa Goswami:

sri-rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa

caitanya-caritamrta kahe krishnadasa

“Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always desiring their mercy, I, Krishnadasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, following in their footsteps.”

I did madhukari once. I was on parikrama with Indradyumna Swami and B. B. Govinda Swami. The leaders instructed us to bring our own breakfast the next day. I was too lazy to get it together to do this. At the time of breakfast, when the swamis saw I did not have anything, they suggested I do madhukari. I did and received roti and sabji, but I felt guilty as I had 50 euros in my money belt that Sri Prahlada had given me on the Polish tour, and yet I was begging for food.

Surabhi Kunja Devi Dasi:

It rare to meet a pure devotee, and even rarer to get the seed of bhakti from such a person.

Commiting offenses to Vaishnava is like having your bank account frozen. You may have some devotional assets, but you cannot access them until your become free from your offenses to Vaishnavas.

The association of devotees is stressed because with it we get so many other devotional opportunities.

-----

This verse spoken by Sukadeva Goswami to Maharaja Pariksit at the end of the Ajamila pastime cannot be emphasized enough.

tasmat sankirtanam vishnor

jagan-mangalam amhasam
mahatam api kauravya
viddhy aikantika-niskrtam

“Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King, the chanting of the holy name of the Lord is able to uproot even the reactions of the greatest sins. Therefore the chanting of the sankirtana movement is the most auspicious activity in the entire universe. Please try to understand this so that others will take it seriously.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.3.31)

Thus the NYC Harinam party chants the Hare Krishna mantra in public congregationally for four hours a day and six days a week, to benefit many hundreds of people every day by freeing them from their karma and plantng a seed of bhakti in their hearts.

Indradyumna Swami's Spiritual Journey - Inspiring Videos

Big Fish, Little Fish” is an ISKCON classic, and the story has evolved over five decades.
Imagine you’re a fish, happily swimming along in the water. Life is good, everything is just fine. But then, one day, you start wondering: “What’s the rest of the world like? Maybe I want to experience something different.”
So, deep in your heart, you press for a change…
And suddenly — WHOOSH! — a massive wave throws you onto a sandy beach.
There, you meet Māyā — and that’s where the trouble begins.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GVPjPwt19I&w=1177&h=662]

Earn With Integrity, Share With Generosity | SB Keshava Swami | Artha Forum | Singapore

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flZzeg554e0?feature=oembed&w=960&h=540]

Channel: Artha Forum Singapore

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Words can scarcely capture the glory of Her Grace Shanti Rupa Mataji, an exalted Vaishnavi whose entire life was a radiant offering at the lotus feet of Guru, Gauranga, and the Vaishnavas. Where can I begin, and where can I possibly end, in glorifying a soul whose every thought, word, and action was dedicated to devotional service?

As I write these words, I am seated in Mataji’s home, awaiting the arrival of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva, and Srimati Subhadra Devi for tomorrow’s Ratha Yatra in Johor Bahru. Just last week, Mataji personally entrusted me with this seva. Even now, her voice echoes vividly within my heart, lovingly instructing me on how everything should be arranged for Their Lordships’ arrival. Such was her nature. She lived to serve, and through her example, she taught us all how to serve.

I was profoundly blessed to receive Mataji’s intimate association. The countless moments spent in her home remain among the most treasured memories of my spiritual life. Whether I was helping her cook, clean, bathe the home Deities, or dress Them, Mataji never discouraged any sincere desire for devotional service. Whether it was kirtan, abhisheka, cooking, offering bhoga, or any other spiritual activity, her answer was never limitation, but inspiration. She would encourage us to do more, serve more, and love Krishna more.

Mataji taught not merely through words, but through the power of her personal example. Long before I became an initiated devotee, she inspired me to tie saree and embrace Vaishnavi culture. She would often recount how His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj had encouraged her to tie saree, and from that day onwards she faithfully did so, even in her professional life. Krishna consciousness was never something separate from her daily activities. It was the very essence of her existence.

When I received my Deities, Mataji’s joy knew no bounds. She would insist that I bring Them whenever I came for seva, especially during Ratha Yatra preparations. Her enthusiasm to serve the Lord was contagious. She saw every opportunity as an opportunity to glorify Krishna.

Mataji utilized every moment of her life in the service of Guru, Gauranga, and the devotees. Not a single moment was wasted in frivolous or mundane pursuits. Her life was a continuous offering. She possessed extraordinary wisdom, diplomacy, and emotional intelligence. Over the years, she quietly resolved countless misunderstandings among devotees and brought harmony where there was difficulty. So many devotees continued coming to the temple because of her encouragement, guidance, and affection. Young and old alike found inspiration in her.

What made her even more remarkable was her incredible tolerance. Despite enduring immense physical suffering and undergoing the hardship of dialysis almost daily, Mataji never sought sympathy and rarely spoke of her pain. Instead, she greeted everyone with her signature radiant smile. She carried her burdens silently while giving strength to others. Such was the depth of her faith and surrender.

Mataji possessed a unique elegance and refined devotional taste in every service she rendered to Their Lordships. She always sought the very best for Krishna. Yet her greatest quality was her genuine care for devotees. She remembered everyone’s favourite preparations and would lovingly cook for them, ensuring they received Krishna prasadam prepared with affection. She cared for every devotee as though they were a member of her own family. Through her calls, messages, and heartfelt concern, she constantly reminded us that we were loved, valued, and never alone.

As a true disciple of Guru Maharaj, she embodied every instruction she received. Devotee care was one of Guru Maharaj’s foremost teachings, and Mataji carried that instruction deeply within her heart. She often said that her professional experience had greatly assisted her in serving devotees, and this was evident in everything she did. Whether it involved her time, energy, expertise, financial support, or personal attention, she gave freely and selflessly. Her generosity, especially in supporting temple projects and devotional activities, knew no limits.

One unforgettable memory remains etched deeply in my heart. Last year, while assisting Mataji with some computer related seva at her home, I came across old photographs of her with Guru Maharaj in the JPS archives. As I showed them to her, she smiled and said, “Keep these pictures for my Smriti Sabha.”

I was stunned.

“Mataji,” I replied, “you will live a very long life.”

She simply smiled.

Only now do I understand the depth of that moment.

There were countless intimate exchanges such as this. Countless memories. Countless lessons. Yet today, what remains most powerfully are her teachings and example. Mataji shaped each of us with extraordinary care. She understood our strengths, recognized our weaknesses, and lovingly guided us toward becoming better servants of Krishna. She moulded devotees as a skilled sculptor shapes a masterpiece, offering each one as a beautiful gift to Their Lordships.

The departure of such a great Vaishnavi is truly devastating. Though we know philosophically that this day must eventually come, none of us could have imagined it would come so soon. No one can ever prepare for the loss of a devotee like Her Grace Shanti Rupa Mataji.

And yet, she has not truly left us.

She lives on through her teachings, her example, her service, and the countless lives she transformed. Her dedication to Guru and Gauranga was beyond anything I thought possible. One moment she would be serving in the general kitchen, the next in the Deity kitchen. One moment overseeing Deity outfits and ornaments, the next coordinating a temple programme or caring for devotees. The list was endless. She performed the service of many devotees within the body of one devotee.

Everything she did was executed with excellence, devotion, and attention to detail. She had a remarkable ability to see the bigger picture and orchestrate many moving parts into a beautiful symphony of devotional service for Their Lordships. As a leader and manager, she engaged devotees according to their nature and capacity. She encouraged us when we felt discouraged, uplifted us when we struggled, and offered constructive guidance that helped us grow spiritually. She saw potential where others saw limitations.

Above all, Mataji’s heart and soul were inseparably connected to her beloved spiritual master, His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaj. Her devotion to Guru Maharaj was unwavering, unconditional, and absolute. She lived every day striving to fulfil his instructions and bring pleasure to him. She was, in every sense of the word, a perfect spiritual daughter.

And because she perfected her relationship with her spiritual master, she naturally excelled in every relationship she had with others. She loved without expectation, served without hesitation, gave without calculation, and cared without condition.

Therefore, although we grieve her physical absence, we also rejoice in her glorious accomplishment. As Guru Maharaj teaches, the perfection of human life is to return home, back to Godhead. Just as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu celebrated the glorious departure of Srila Haridasa Thakura, we too should honour and celebrate the life of this exalted Vaishnavi who touched countless hearts through her sincerity, compassion, service, and unconditional love.

Her Grace Shanti Rupa Mataji was more than an exemplary devotee. She was a living embodiment of devotee care, devotional excellence, humility, compassion, and unwavering surrender.

Her life was her preaching.

Her service was her glory.

Her love was her legacy.

May we honour her not merely with tears, but by carrying forward the values she lived for: wholehearted service to Guru and Krishna, selfless care for the Vaishnavas, and unwavering faith under all circumstances.

All glories to Her Grace Shanti Rupa Mataji.

All glories to her eternal service to Guru, Gauranga, and the Vaishnavas.

Hare Krishna.

Your spiritual daughter always at your service,

Taruni Radhe Devi Dasi

🌺 Today's LIVE Program 🌺

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura, whose picture we have here on the cover of the book Prarthana, one of the books he wrote, is a great acharya, spiritual teacher, in our Gaudiya Vaishnava spiritual heritage—one of the great acharyas of our sampradaya, particularly after the time of the Gosvamis. The Gosvamis were the direct disciples of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. There are six who are famous, but there are others who were also present during that time, such as Bhugarba Gosvami and Lokanatha Gosvami. Then after them there was another generation of acharyas who continued the mission of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and particularly three are prominent: Srinivasa Acharya, Syamananda Pandit, and Narottama dasa Thakura. For our line of spiritual preceptors—Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, Baladeva Vidyabhusana, Jagannath dasa Babaji, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and Srila Prabhupada, Narottama dasa Thakura is most prominent, because he is the parampara guru of Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura.

During Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastimes, as described in Bhakti-ratnakara, at one point when Mahaprabhu was in Kheturi, in what is now Bangladesh, He started to chant the name, “Narottama! Narottama!” Nara-uttama means topmost man, just like we have Nara-simha, man-lion. So, Nara-uttama is a topmost human being, and the Vaishnavas asked Mahaprabhu, “Who is this Narottama? Who is this Narrotama that you are glorifying, whose name you are chanting?” Mahaprabhu replied that in in this place the future a great acharya would appear and would continue the sankirtana mission for all of us. At that time Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took His bath in the river, the Padma River, which is right next to Kheturi, and He invested His spiritual potency with Padma-devi. Padma-devi, the personified deity of that river, appeared before Him, and He gave her charge of his prema—at least it is described like this—and instructed her to keep it for Him until that time when Narottama would come and take his bath in the river, and when that should happen, to give that prema to him.

And so it came to be, as Mahaprabhu had said, that many years later within a kayastha family in Kheturi—kayasthas are not royalty, but they are aristocracy, a high-class vaishya community, like kings—a child, Narottama, was born with all the symptoms of a maha-purusa. There are symptoms, features of bodily physiognomy—one can read the personality of a person by their physiognomy. So, this person had all the physical symptoms of a greatly elevated soul, and the jyotisa, the astrologer, came to read the chart, and he said that this was a very great personality. He would be a very great man, and he would be honored and respected by all for his great learning, but great care should be taken, because there were indications of madness. “You should be very careful,” the jyotisa said, “that he not go near water—rivers, streams, ponds. Keep him away from such environment; otherwise he could become mad.”

And so it was that the child’s parents were very careful to raise him and keep him away from such bodies of water, and they were successful for quite some years, until one day he had a dream that an effulgent brahmana, if not Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, appeared before him and told him to go immediately and take his bath in the Padma River. So in the middle of the night Narottama got out of bed, ran down to the river, and dove in to that water. Padma-devi appeared (she is present in the form of the river) and gave him the prema that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had left with her for him, and he became completely transformed. He became filled with transcendental ecstasy. He started to cry. His hair was standing on end. He was trembling, shaking, and shivering, calling out, “Krishna! Krishna!”—calling out the name Krishna, calling out the name Gauranga, again and again and again. Then he returned to the bank of the river and fell unconscious. He was going between consciousness and unconsciousness, exhibiting all the symptoms in the middle of the night, and calling out, “Krishna! Krishna!”

So the people ran. They heard some commotion, and they ran and they found it was the son of the king; he had gone mad. So, his parents came. “All these years we were endeavoring to keep him away from the river,” they said, “but now we have been unsuccessful. Just see—the prince has gone mad.” So, they kept him inside the palace. They were trying to cure him. They brought a very qualified physician, a kaviraja. He felt his pulse to diagnose the madness, the disease that was there, and his parents asked him, “Will you able to cure him? Will you be able to save him?” And he apologized, “I am very sorry, but there is no cure for prema, for love of God. I cannot help you.” And so Narottama’s parents became very worried.

Narottama was just crying for Krishna. He wanted to see Krishna, to meet Krishna, to be with Krishna, to serve Krishna. He was filled with love for Krishna and for Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Nityananda Prabhu appeared to him in a dream and instructed him to go, and so, again, in the middle of the night, he got up, walked out of the house, and just started walking towards Vrindavan. Along the way, he had another vision of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, instructing him to learn from Jiva Gosvami, who is in Vrindavan writing his transcendental literature. We are summarizing things here. So, Narottama went to Vrindavan. He took shelter of Srila Jiva Gosvami, who started to teach him the science of devotional service, particularly the Bhagavatam, the science of bhakti as taught by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, by Srila Sanatana Gosvami, by Srila Rupa Gosvami. Jiva Gosvami is famous in Gaudiya Vaishnava history. He is famous as the most systematic of the followers of Chaitanya. His Sat Sandarbhas are still today studied in the Benares Hindu University, where there is an entire division, a faculty, devoted to their study, and Srila Jiva Gosvami is renowned as one of India’s greatest philosophers.

There were two other students, comrades, with whom Narottama was studying: Syamananda and Srinivasa. And there are wonderful stories about these two personalities, but today we are focused on describing the glories of Srila Narottama dasa Thakura. After some time, in Vrindavan, Narottama became very attracted to the personality of Srila Lokanatha dasa Gosvami, who is sometimes called the Seventh Gosvami. (We have Bhaktivinoda Thakura; I guess like that). When Krishna dasa Kaviraja Gosvami was writing Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, he went to the Six Gosvamis individually and asked, “Please give me your blessings. I am going to compile Caitanya-caritamrta, the glories of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Please give me your blessings,” and so they all individually gave their blessings. Sri Sri Radha-Manada-mohana also gave Their blessings with the falling of Their flower garland. And he went to Lokanatha Gosvami, who is one of the first of the Gosvamis to arrive in Vrindavan on the order of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu—he and Bhugarba arrived first, before Rupa, Sanatana, Raghunatha dasa, or Gopal Bhatta—sent by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu when He was still a grihastha in His Navadvipa lila. They were actually from East Bengal, Bangladesh. Finally, after giving up their responsibility in East Bengal, they came to Navadvipa and said to Sri Chaitanya, “Now we are surrendered to You. We just want to stay with You and serve You here in Your sankirtana mission.” “I want you to go to Vrindavan,” He told them. So very reluctantly they dragged themselves away from Him and settled in Vrindavan. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had two missions—many missions, internal and external—but of His external missions, to preach the chanting of the holy name and then in Vrindavan to rediscover the pastime places of the Lord in His manifest pastimes five thousand years ago.

So, Narottama was entrusted to the Gosvamis, beginning with Bugarbha and Lokanatha Gosvami. Narottama became very attracted to, very inspired by, Lokanatha Gosvami. When Kaviraja Gosvami asked Lokanatha, “Please bless me to write Caitanya-caritamrta,” Lokanath Gosvami said, “Yes, you have my blessings, but you mustn’t mention my name in the book.” And so Kaviraja Gosvami was bound by this instruction that he couldn’t mention Lokanatha Gosvami’s name, and thus it doesn’t appear, although he was contemporary to the other Gosvamis.

So, Narottama approached Lokanatha Gosvami. He is so humble. He approached him and requested, “Please, will you accept me as your disciple? Will you give me diksa?” But Lokanatha Gosvami refused: “No, I am not accepting any diksa disciples. Please do not entertain this thought any longer. It is impossible.” Narottama was heartbroken. He approached him again and again and again, and repeatedly Lokanatha Gosvami refused him. He tried to render different services to Lokanatha, but Lokanatha always refused those services as well. Finally he took it upon himself to clean the area of the forest where every morning Lokanatha Gosvami would answer nature’s call. He would keep water there, and in this way he was rendering very, very humble and intimate service to Lokanatha, and this went on for a whole year. Lokanatha didn’t know who was doing it. One day Lokanatha, who was very old, decided to hide himself in the forest to see who it was that was doing this, which from his perspective was humiliating, and when Narottama came and started to clean the area and make different arrangements, Lokanatha called out, “Who is there?” “It is I, Narottama dasa, your servant.” “Why are you doing this? Don’t do it anymore.” And then Narottama fell at Lokanatha’s feet and said, “Please accept me as your disciple.” Lokanatha Gosvami was also requested by Jiva Gosvami to accept Narottama, and he had also received other indications that he should make one exception to his rule not to accept any disciples, and accept Narottama dasa. And so it was that he gave initiation to Narottama dasa Thakura. Thus in Narottama’s song Guru-vandana, which we sing daily—sri-guru-carana-padma, kevala bhakati-sadma—at the end we have lokanatha lokera jivana: “May the glories of my spiritual master be spread all over the world.” Lokanatha means “lord of the world,” and so he glorifies his spiritual master and then indirectly glorifies his spiritual master—lokanatha lokera jivana. Jiva Gosvami is also there; he was Narottama’s siksa-guru.

After some time, the Vaishnavas of Bengal, headed by Jahnava Mata, the wife of Nityananda Prabhu, requested Jiva that “Please, you are there in Vrindavan,”—by this time Rupa, Sanatana, Raghunatha dasa, Raghunatha Bhatta, and Gopal Bhatta had all left. Jiva was younger; he was the nephew of Rupa and Sanatana, and so he was the head of the Vaishnavas in Vrindavan—“and have all these wonderful literatures written by the Gosvamis. In Bengal we are deprived of this nectar, so please will you make arrangements that we can have this nectar in Bengal.” And so Jiva had all of the books transcribed and then instructed his three prominent students—Narottama, Srinivasa, and Syamananda—“Go to Bengal and spread the teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, spread the teachings of the Gosvamis, everywhere.” He had graduated them as his students and given them each different titles: Srinivasa became Srinivasa Acharya, Syamananda became Syamananda Pandit, and Narottama became Narottama dasa Thakura. They were given their degrees and sent out preaching with the books.

And so the three travelled from Vrindavan to Bengal by bullock cart. Along the way, there were different adventures that took place, including all the books being stolen by a king who was also a dacoit, a thief. That’s another story, a great calamity: all of the books were stolen—what to do? They were retrieved after much endeavor, and the king was made into a Vaishnava by Srinivasa Acharya, who stayed in that kingdom and initiated thousands of disciples, establishing Gaudiya Vaishnavism there.

Syamananda Pandit went on to Orissa, where he established Vaishnavism far and wide and temples all over the place. His headquarters were in Gopijanavallabha Pura. He also initiated kings. And Narottama returned to Kheturi, where his cousin had become king and inherited his family’s wealth. Narottama sat under a tree outside the village, and when the people came and saw him, they exclaimed, “He! Narottama is back!” The news spread that Narottama had returned and had become a great acharya and devotee and sadhu and saint. So thousands of people flocked there for his blessings. His nephew also came and laid his fortune at Narottama’s feet. Of course, Narottama didn’t accept, but he did have his cousin build a beautiful temple in Kheturi and use his wealth to organize the first Gaura-purnima festival.

Invitations were sent all over India. Wherever there were Gaudiya Vaishnavas, followers of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, messengers were sent with invitations. And so for Gaura-purnima there was a huge camp set up with accommodations and prasada for thousands and thousands of Vaishnavas. All the acharyas and mahants of that time were present, and for days there were discussions of Krishna katha and Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy and siddhanta. Because all the Gaudiya Vaishnavas were so spread out in different places and quite isolated from one another, there were different understandings, but through this meeting and istagosthi and discussion, together they were able to discuss and understand things in a common way according to the teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the Gosvamis. Jahnava Ma presided over the assembly as the honored chairperson. During the day they would discuss, and then in the evenings they would have wonderful kirtans.

Narottama dasa Thakura—of course, many of the bhajanas we sing today are his compositions. He had a very, very beautiful singing voice and was a very expert transcendental musician. He developed his own kirtans, called Garanhati, and our own kirtan style is taken from that Garanhati style of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu—not the same, but derived from it. There are other kirtan styles that are more ornamental and extensive in their articulation of the syllables, more meditational, but this is faster moving and shorter, more suited to the common masses of people to chant and hear and take the maha-mantra and the different songs that are there. So, all of these great personalities were in these wonderful kirtans. Narottama led the kirtans, and his followers played the instruments, and in the middle of one of these kirtans many exalted devotees—not everyone, but many—saw the Panca-tattva appear, dancing in ecstasy. Hundreds of devotees saw this with their own eyes, and so an indescribable ecstasy flooded everyone’s heart. Imagine if in New Dvaraka Srila Prabhupada appeared in the middle of the kirtan—what it would do to the Vaishnavas? If in the Mayapur festival Prabhupada appeared in the middle of the temple room, what would you do? How the news would spread all over the world! Devotees would go crazy with ecstasy. That’s what happened in that festival. The Panca-tattva appeared in that kirtan and were dancing in great ecstasy and reciprocating with the loving affection of the Vaishnavas.

Narottama dasa Thakura initiated thousands of disciples, including many caste brahmans. This invoked the anger of the caste brahmans, because Narottama was a kayastha, a vaishya. How could a vaishya initiate brahmans and be their guru? This was their caste consciousness. Obviously, Narottama didn’t think much of this brahman-by-birth philosophy and neither did Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. So, the caste brahmana communities wanted Narottama punished for this offense, going against dharma, going against Vedic injunctions, and they went to one king and told him, “You are the king, you are the protector of dharma, you have to punish this heretic for his misbehavior. He has gone against Vedic injunctions, and you have to uphold the Vedic injunctions by punishing him.” The king said, “Well, how can I be sure that what you are saying is true? I am sure he has his explanations as well. Let us take all the leading pandits of the region and debate with him, and if he loses the debate, then we should punish him.”

And so it was that the king set out with an army not only of soldiers but also of pandits towards the place of Narottama dasa Thakura. While they were on the way, however, some of Narottama’s leading disciples got wind of what was taking place, and they didn’t want their guru to be disturbed by this unnecessary debate. They were regularly debating with these caste brahmanas, and they had had enough of it. They didn’t want him to be disturbed by the arrogance of the king and the army and all that. It’s a funny story: Two of his leading disciples set up a shop along the way, selling commodities that a traveling party would need—leaf cups and plates, clay pots, things that they could use for eating. So, some of the king’s people came into the village, and the shop was there at the entrance. “Oh, there are plates, there are cups,” they said, and they went over and asked, “What is the price?” The shopkeepers responded in very high Sanskrit, and so these brahmans were impressed: “Oh, how do you know Sanskrit?” “What do you mean?” the shopkeepers asked. Everyone here speaks Sanskrit.” The caste brahmans heard the perfect compositions of sentences and pronunciation of Sanskrit words—better than theirs—and then and there the shopkeepers started to debate with them, first about Sanskrit and then about language and logic, and the pandits were feeling very uneasy, that these shopkeepers are so learned, so eloquent. “We shouldn’t be embarrassed by them defeating us,” they considered,  and so they left and reported to the king that it appeared that there were very, very learned people in that area. Even the shopkeepers were such great pandits; imagine how the pandits themselves must be. And so they decided not to humiliate themselves and voided the encounter with Narottama and his disciples.

There was one great pandit among the caste brahmanas who were causing trouble—Ganganarayana Cakravarti. He went and debated with Narottama, and Narottama defeated him, and he surrendered and became Narottama dasa Thakura’s leading disciple.

There was another personality, Ramachandra Kaviraja, who was a disciple of Narottama’s godbrother, or associate, Srinivasa Acharya, and Narottama was very, very attached his association. They were so intimate that they would eat from the same plate. They were constantly together. We have ramacandra sanga mage narottam dasa. While he is lamenting the disappearance, ye anilo prema-dhana karuna pracura, heno prabhu kotha gela acarya-thakura. This song is a lament. I heard that Srila Prabhupada said that Narottama’s songs were like the blues, full of lamentation. This song is full of lamentation, viraha-bhava, full of lamentation in separation. He is lamenting, “Where is Gauranga, the great dancer? Where is Svarupa Damodara? Where is Rupa, where is Sanatana? Feeling the separation of all these personalities, I can only weep. I will smash my head against a rock and enter into fire.” And in another song, ramacandra-sanga mage narottama-dasa: “Narottama dasa always desires the company of Ramachandra Cakravarti.”

These two personalities, Ganganarayana and Ramachandra, were very intimate. Ganganarayana was a disciple, and so he went in one way, to the Northeast, to Manipur, and spread Krishna consciousness all over Manipur. Even to this day, in every town and village of Manipur there are Gaudiya Vaishnava temples with Radha-Krishna Deities; Gaura-Nitai Deities; Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra. Everyone wears Gaudiya Vaishnava tilak, even though they don’t know what it is. I was there a few years ago—very wonderful. This is all due to the preaching of Narottama dasa Thakura’s disciple Ganganarayana Cakravarti, and with him was Ramachandra Kaviraja.

At one point, Srinivasa Acharya decided that he would go from Visnupura, where he discovered those books, to Vrindavan to see his guru, Gopal Bhatta Gosvami, and he wanted his disciple Ramachandra Kaviraja to go with him, and so he sent a note to Narottama, “I am going on this pilgrimage, and I want my disciple Ramachandra to come with me.” Narottama was heartbroken that his intimate companion, friend, and associate was going. Ramachandra had to go; it was the order of his guru. And after Ramachandra left, Narottama became internally absorbed. When they were in Vrindavan, Srinivasa Acharya left his body, entered into samadhi, and almost immediately after that Ramachandra Kaviraja also entered into samadhi.

When the news came back to Narottama dasa Thakura’s disciples in Kheturi, they were in a great dilemma. They had to inform Narottama that Ramachandra had entered into samadhi, but at the same time they knew that if they informed him, he would also enter into samadhi. So it was very difficult for them, but they had an obligation. Their guru would want to know, and he would be angry if they didn’t inform him. So they informed him, and predictably he felt completely lost in the absence of his dear friend and associate. He entered into samadhi, and so, full of woe, his disciples started to prepare the funeral pyre. It’s interesting that they wanted to cremate his body, because usually a spiritual master was placed in samadhi.

Devotee: I think that I remember hearing a story that actually he told them to bury him.

Giriraj Swami: Sometimes they did it because they were afraid that the Muslims would come and desecrate the remains.

Sri Prahlada dasa: Anyway, they were placing his body unto the funeral pyre, and some caste brahmans came and started saying, “Just see this Narottama; he made such an offense of initiating brahmans, and now the Lord has punished him justly by killing him.” They were speaking in this way, and the disciples were so hurt hearing this harsh criticism of their guru. Ganganarayana Cakravarti and the other disciples started to pray: “Dear Narottama dasa Thakura, this person is there criticizing; surely they are paving their way to hell. Will you not give them your mercy? Will you not deliver them?” Very elevated prayer, rather than thinking, “Will you not kill them or punish them?” And so Narottama he came back to life, sat up on the funeral pyre, got down, and initiated those brahmans. They paid their obeisances to him and completely surrendered to him, and he initiated them. But still he was bereaving the loss, the departure, of Ramachandra Kaviraja, and so some time later he was taking bath in the Padma River with his disciples and instructed them, “I want you to pour water over me and don’t stop.” And so they poured water over him and he started to melt, to turn to milk actually, and as they were pouring he was dissolving, and so it was impossible for them, that “Here we are the ones who are causing him, our guru, to disappear, at the same time we have been ordered not to stop.” And so, with tears in their eyes, they continued to pour the sacred water over him, and their guru was dissolving, turning into milk. Someone took a lota of that milk, and so if you go to Kheturi to this day, you can see the temple with his deities, who were installed during the Gaura-purnima festival, and you can also see the dudh-samadhi of Narottama dasa Thakura where that milk was placed into samadhi and a memorial was constructed.

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura ki jaya!

[A lecture by Sri Prahlada Dasa, October 26, 2002, Carpinteria, California]

Appearing as the son of a king, Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura (Shri Thakura Mahasaya) showed all the bodily symptoms of a mahapurusha (an exalted divine person). He had long arms, a deep navel, golden-complexion, beautiful eyes shaped like lotus petals.

In school, he was a sruti dhara (able to memorise whatever he hears) Although he quickly mastered Sanskrit and the Vedas, he hankered to serve Krishna. He was a lifelong brahmachari.

By the mercy of the Holy Name Gaura-Nitai, Narottama became detached, left his opulent family, and ran to Vrindavana. He took diksha from Shri Lokanatha Goswami and siksha in Gaudiya philosophy from Shri Jiva Goswami.

After visiting all of Gauranga’s pastime places in Gaura Mandala, Narottama Dasa did the same in Shri Kshetra Dhama (Jagannatha Puri). Then he went to see the Devotees and Shri Chaitanya’s pastime spots in Shantipura, Shri Khanda, Kanthak Nagar, Ekachakra, and Kheturi Gram.

In Kheturi, Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura arranged the famous Kheturi Mahotsava. This was the first “Gaura-Purnima” festival to honor the divine appearance day of Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. During the festival six Deities were installed: Shri Gauranga Deva, Shri Vallabhi Kanta, Shri Vraja Mohana, Shri Krishna, Shri Radha Kanta, Shri Radha Ramana.     .

With his sweet voice Narottama Dasa began a wonderful kirtana. His chanting filled the heavens, and brought down tears of prema from the eyes of the Devotees, who were all sporting in the ocean of ecstasy.

“In the midst of their kirtana, the munificent Shri Chaitanya Himself and all His personal associates appeared and joined in the sankirtana. Like a flash of lightning in the midst of a mass of beautiful blue clouds, Shri Chaitanya Himself appeared in the crowd of Devotees through a divine manifestation.” (Bhakti-ratnakar)

Narottama Dasa Thakura wrote many devotional songs about the spiritual master, the Devotees, devotional service, the six Goswamis, Gaura-Nityananda and Radha-Krishna.

Although composed with sweet melodies in simple Bengali language, Narottama Dasa’s songs give shastric siddhanta and devotional inspiration. Shrila Prabhupada often sang these bhajanas. Considering them non-different from Vedic shastra, He quoted them in his Bhagavatam lectures. Prarthana and Prema-bhakti-chandrika are Narottama’s most famous works.

Narottama Dasa serves Shrimati Radhika as Chamaka-manjari. His samadhi is in Radha Gokulananda’s Temple courtyard.