Yesterday my dear godbrother HH Siddhartha Swami Maharaja came to visit me in Carpinteria. He was the head pujari in Juhu for many years when I was the temple president, and we shared many fond remembrances of our time together in service to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari. Now Maharaja is developing a huge […]
Author Archives: H.H. Giriraj Swami
A Blissful Visit
Approaching Sri Krishna Janmashtami and Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa-puja, Hosted by Nitai-Gaurasundara Dasa, Murfreesboro, TN
Giriraj Swami
Remembering Urvasi Dasi
Giriraj Swami
Urvasi Dasi was Srila Prabhupada’s beloved disciple and my dear godsister. His Divine Grace said that when a Vaishnava departs, we feel simultaneously happy and sad—sad because we will miss the Vaishnava’s association, and happy because we know they have gone to serve Krishna. In the last few months, I have had several programs at […]
Urvasi Dasi’s Prabhupada Memories
Giriraj Swami
Our dear Urvasi Dasi, who left her body recently, shares some beautiful memories of Srila Prabhupada.
ISKCON’s Incorporation
Giriraj Swami
Srila Prabhupada incorporated ISKCON on July 13, 1966, in New York City, which corresponds to today on the Vaishnava calendar. One exchange between him and Bhavananda indicates some of its significance: Bhavananda: In Svarup Ganj theres one big astrologer. So, he saw your photograph, and he said, “This is the face of the most powerful […]
Remembering Sripada Bhakti Charu Swami, an Ocean of Mercy, Hosted by ISKCON Mumbai and Surat
Giriraj Swami
ISKCON Deland, Bhakti Charu Swami Memorial Program, Prabhupada Memories.
Giriraj Swami
Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s Disappearance Day
Giriraj Swami
Today I thought to read a verse and purport about Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami 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 of the […]
Guru (Vyasa) Purnima, Srila Sanatana Gosvami’s Disappearance Day, and Sripada Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja’s Second Disappearance Anniversary, Hosted by ISKCON-Malaga.
Giriraj Swami
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 […]
Reflections on Independence Day
Giriraj Swami
While I was leaving the Dallas/Fort Worth airport on July 4, a large American flag flying in the wind caught my eye, and I was surprised by how happy I felt. I reflected on how fortunate we were to live in a country where we have freedom of religion, and how Srila Prabhupada said, “America […]
Books Are the Basis, Interview by Krishna Premarupa Das, Zurich, Switzerland
Giriraj Swami
From Snana-yatra to Ratha-yatra
Giriraj Swami
Today is Ratha-yatra day. It is a great honor, privilege, and pleasure to be here in New Jagannath Puri. The first deities of Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra in ISKCON were discovered in San Francisco in 1967. One of Srila Prabhupada’s early disciples, Malati dasi, saw a small figure in an import store, Cost Plus, and […]
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, […]
The Glories of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Hosted by Nitai-Gaurasundara Dasa, Murfreesboro, TN
Giriraj Swami
Talks by Sacinandana Swami, Vaisesika Dasa, and Giriraj Swami, Long Beach, California
Giriraj Swami
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 Acarya, Srimati Radharani as Gadadhara Pandita, and Narada Muni as Srivasa Pandita. […]
Serving the Father or Spiritual Master
Giriraj Swami
Here are a relevant verse and purport from Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.24.13): etavaty eva susrusa karya pitari putrakaih badham ity anumanyeta gauravena guror vacah “Sons ought to render service to their father exactly to this extent. One should obey the command of his father or spiritual master with due deference, saying, ‘Yes, sir.’ ” Srila […]
Happy Father’s Day
Giriraj Swami
Srila Prabhupada expressed his appreciation for his father in his dedication to his book Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead: “To My Father, Gour Mohan De (1849-1930)—A pure devotee of Krsna, who raised me as a Krsna conscious child from the beginning of my life. In my boyhood ages he instructed me how to play […]
Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.13.3, Vrtrasura’s Demise and Indra’s Unhappiness, Hosted by ISKCON of Central Asia
Giriraj Swami
Sri Vakresvara Pandita’s Appearance Day
Giriraj Swami
Today is the appearance day of Sri Vakresvara Pandita, one of Lord Chaitanya’s most dear associates. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 10.17–20) states, “Vakresvara Pandita, the fifth branch of the [Chaitanya] tree, was a very dear servant of Lord Caitanya’s. He could dance with constant ecstasy for seventy-two hours. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally sang while Vakresvara Pandita […]
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 which can be found in his early life. Raghunatha dasa’s uncle and father, Hiranya and Govardhana Majumadara, were the wealthy landlords in Bengal—almost like kings—and had a huge, opulent riverside palace, […]
Prabhupada Katha, Srila Prabhupada Smaranotsav, ISKCON Pune
Giriraj Swami
Pandava-nirjala Ekadasi
Giriraj Swami
Ekadasi is one of the regular celebrations in the Vaishnava calendar. It is observed eleven days after the full moon and eleven days after the new moon of every month. Even in the thirteenth, or leap, month, called adhika-masa, or purusottama-masa, which comes every three years, during which no other festivals are celebrated, Ekadasi is […]
Srila Prabhupada—A Saint in All Faiths
Giriraj Swami
I was on sankirtana at Botafogo Beach in Rio de Janeiro. At a bar table, there were three fat old men. One told me, “We don’t want to buy anything! I’m an Evangelical. He’s a spiritualist, and he’s a Pai-de-Santo [a priest of Umbanda, an African-Brazilian religion].” I continued the conversation, trying to find my […]
My Godbrother Kshudi Das Prabhu’s Wonderful Dream
Giriraj Swami
My dear godbrother Kshudi Das Prabhu posted this: I had a wonderful dream. In the dream I saw my spiritual master, guide, and teacher, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He was talking with some important people. When he saw me, he came over to me. He took hold of both my hands. He looked right […]
Chanting and Dancing On-Stage, Sadhu Sanga Retreat, Spanish Fork, Utah
Giriraj Swami
Chanting and Dancing, Sadhu Sanga Retreat, Spanish Fork, Utah
Giriraj Swami
Kirtan, Sadhu Sanga Retreat, Spanish Fork, Utah
Giriraj Swami
Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.17, at the Sadhu Sanga Retreat, Spanish Fork, Utah
Giriraj Swami
Srila Vrindavan Dasa Thakura’s Appearance Day
Giriraj Swami
Today is Srila Vrindavan dasa Thakura’s appearance day. Sri Caitanya caritamrta (Adi 11.55) states, “Srila Vyasadeva described the pastimes of Krsna in Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Vyasa of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was Vrndavana dasa.” In his purport Srila Prabhupada elaborates: “Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura was an incarnation of Vedavyasa and also a friendly cowherd boy named Kusumapida […]
Serving Guru Maharaja in Bombay, by Rasa Sundari Dasi
Giriraj Swami
Serving Guru Maharaja in Bombay from 1990 to 1992 was sometimes a real challenge, because we had hardly any facilities. In the beginning there were only three of us, not even initiated then—Bhakta Juan, Bhaktin Manju, and myself, Bhaktin Flor. Cooking was done on the second floor in a small kitchen connected to the Bhaktivedanta […]
Rasa Sundari Dasi
Giriraj Swami
My beloved disciple Rasa Sundari dasi just left her cancer-ridden body in Malaga, Spain. She was surrounded by devotees lovingly serving her and chanting the holy names, and I was present by video call during her last two hours. She left at the auspicious time of Deity greeting, which she never missed. Just before she […]
The Glories of the Holy Name, Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.2.9-13, Hosted by Nitai-Gaurasundara Dasa, Murfreesboro, TN. (Giriraj Swami begins at about 8:30.)
Giriraj Swami
Sri Ramananda Raya’s Disappearance Day
Giriraj Swami
We shall discuss the conversation between Sri Ramananda Raya and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, ramananda-samvada, recorded in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Chapter Eight: “Talks Between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya.” TEXT 1 sancarya ramabhidha-bhakta-meghe sva-bhakti-siddhanta-cayamrtani gaurabdhir etair amuna vitirnais taj-jnatva-ratnalayatam prayati TRANSLATION Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is known as Gauranga, is the ocean of […]
Arjuna’s Perplexity, Bhagavad-gita 1.32–35, Hosted by ISKCON Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Giriraj Swami
Nrsimha-lila, Bhakti SF, San Francisco
Giriraj Swami
Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.19. “My Lord Nrsimhadeva, O Supreme, because of a bodily conception of life, embodied souls neglected and not cared for by You cannot do anything for their betterment. Whatever remedies they accept, although perhaps temporarily beneficial, are certainly impermanent. For example, a father and mother cannot protect their […]
Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.12, ISKCON Berkeley
Giriraj Swami
Sri Nrsimha-caturdasi
Giriraj Swami
We shall read from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto Five, Chapter Eighteen: “The Residents of Jambudvipa Offer Prayers,” from the series of prayers recited by Prahlada Maharaja to Lord Nrsimhadeva. Text 8 is a very important prayer, or mantra, and in it many words are repeated, which gives them great emphasis. TEXT 8 om namo bhagavate narasimhaya namas […]
Sri Rukmini-dvadasi
Giriraj Swami
Today is Rukmini-dvadasi, the appearance day of Srimati Rukmini-devi. There have been wonderful festivities all day, beginning with the special darshan of the Deities in Their flower outfits, and just now a wonderful abhiseka. During the abhiseka I really felt like I was in Vrindavan. There was so much devotion, spontaneous devotion—every time the pujaris […]