Author Archives: H.H. Giriraj Swami

Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s Disappearance Day
Giriraj Swami

For Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s disappearance day, I thought to read one verse and purport about him from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter Ten, “The Branches of the Caitanya Tree”: TEXT 105 sri gopala bhatta eka sakha sarvottama rupa-sanatana-sange yanra prema-alapana TRANSLATION Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, the forty-seventh branch, was one of the great and exalted branches […]

Sri Guru-purnima
Giriraj Swami

Today is Guru-purnima. Srila Prabhupada has explained that the system of honoring the spiritual master is current in all sections of Vedic followers. In the Mayavadi (impersonalist) sects, the disciples offer respect to the spiritual master once a year, on Guru-purnima. And in the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya, the disciples offer homage annually on the appearance […]

His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami—Message from the GBC Executive Committee
Giriraj Swami

Dear Devotees, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. It is with overwhelming heartache that we announce to you the departure of our beloved godbrother and a dearmost servant of Srila Prabhupada, His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami. From his earliest days as a young devotee, Maharaja had the extraordinary privilege of serving […]

How Shall I Take Shelter of One More Merciful Than He?
Giriraj Swami

I will read a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto Three, Chapter Two, Text 23. This verse is very significant. Not only is the verse beautiful, but it also has historical significance, because when Sukadeva Gosvami came out of the womb, after sixteen years, he left home immediately, and his father, Srila Vyasadeva, followed him into the […]

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Disappearance Day
Giriraj Swami

Today we are observing the disappearance day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Sri Gadadhara Pandita. I first learned of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura when I visited the Boston temple. At that time there were only two published books in ISKCON: the abridged edition of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, published by Macmillan, and Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, […]

Chant with Love—Krishna Is Ready to Help
Giriraj Swami

This Krishna consciousness movement is spreading quickly all over the world—within four, five years. Is it my credit? No. It is Krishna’s credit. But because I have tried to do this business, people are automatically giving me the credit. They say, “Swamiji, you have done wonderful.” I have done nothing wonderful. It is Krishna’s business. […]

Srila Srivasa Pandita’s Disappearance Day
Giriraj Swami

Srivasa Pandita is one of the members of the Pancha-tattva: sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasa. Vedic authorities state that in the current Age of Kali, Krishna came as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Balarama came as Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Similarly, Maha-vishnu appeared as Advaita Acharya, Srimati Radharani as Gadadhara Pandita, and Narada Muni as Srivasa Pandita. […]

How to Maintain One’s Enthusiasm Even in Difficult Situations, Zoom Conference with Portuguese Devotees
Giriraj Swami

“On numerous occasions Srila Prabhupada has given the the formula for enthusiasm – which is to follow all the regulative principles strictly. To chant our minimum sixteen rounds, to follow the four restrictive principles, and to engage in all of the activities that we are instructed. That is the way to become enthusiastic and to […]

Always Remember Krishna and Never Forget Him, June 7, Zoom with ISKCON Harrisburg
Giriraj Swami

“These regulative principles should act as servants of the basic principle — that is, one should always remember Krishna and never forget Him. This is possible when one chants the Hare Krishna mantra. Therefore one must strictly chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra twenty-four hours daily. One may have other duties to perform under the direction […]

The Highest Perfection is to Remember Krishna at the End of Life, Zoom Conference with Mauritian Devotees, June 6
Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.16. etevan sankhya-yogabhyam sva-dharma-parinisthaya janma-labhah parah pumsam ante narayana-smrtih Translation The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by practice of mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of […]

Zoom Conference with Bhakti Urban Farm, June 5
Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavtam 1.8.25. “Generally the distressed, the needy, the intelligent and the inquisitive, who have performed some pious activities, worship or begin to worship the Lord. Others, who are thriving on misdeeds only, regardless of status, cannot approach the Supreme due to being misled by the illusory energy. Therefore, for […]

The Present Need of Human Society
Giriraj Swami

In difficult times like these, I feel the urgent need for Srila Prabhupada’s books to be distributed in large numbers, for only such literature can enlighten people how to proceed in the right way. Srila Prabhupada’s preface to Srimad-Bhagavatam is profoundly relevant: “We must know the present need of human society. And what is that […]

The Panihati Cida-dadhi Festival
Giriraj Swami

We have gathered at the lotus feet of the Pancha-tattva on this most auspicious occasion of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami’s cida-dadhi festival. The background to this incident can be found in the early life of Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. His uncle and father, Hiranya and Govardhana Majumadara, were wealthy landlords in Bengal—almost like kings—and had a […]