Author Archives: H.H. Giriraj Swami
Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.7.39, Hosted by Asia Vayragi
Appreciation of HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja on the Fourth Anniversary of His Disappearance
Giriraj Swami
Appreciation of HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja on the Fourth Anniversary of His Disappearance
Giriraj Swami
From Snana-yatra to Ratha-yatra
Giriraj Swami
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 brought it to him. […]
From Snana-yatra to Ratha-yatra
Giriraj Swami
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 brought it to him. When Prabhupada saw the figure, his eyes opened wide. He folded his palms and bowed his head in respect. Then he said, “You have brought Lord Jagannatha, the Lord of the universe. He is Krishna.” He said that Lord Jagannatha was worshipped with two other deities: His brother, Balarama, and His sister, Subhadra. Malati confirmed that there were other, similar figures at the store, and Prabhupada asked her to go and buy them. So she and her husband, Shyamasundar, immediately went and brought the other two figures. Srila Prabhupada placed them with Lord Jagannatha on his desk and told the devotees about Jagannatha’s appearance in India thousands of years ago, and how He was still worshipped in a great temple in Puri and taken on an annual procession with His brother and sister, each in a huge chariot, in the Ratha-yatra festival. Prabhupada chanted, jagannatha-svami […]
Sri Gundica-marjana
Giriraj Swami
The observance of Gundica-marjana, the washing and cleansing of the Gundica temple, takes place on the day before Ratha-yatra, in preparation for the arrival of the Lord. The history of Ratha-yatra goes back thousands of years, to a previous age, but for us, the specific significance of the Ratha-yatra and the cleaning of the Gundica […]
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, […]
Reflections on Independence Day
Giriraj Swami
One year, when 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 […]
Sri 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. […]
Sri Vakresvara Pandita’s Appearance Day
Giriraj Swami
Today is the 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 [Caitanya] 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 danced, and […]
Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.21, Hosted by Nitai-Gaurasundara Dasa, Murfreesboro, TN
Giriraj Swami
Santa Barbara Ratha-yatra, June 22, 2024
Giriraj Swami
Giriraj Swami’s Talk at the Santa Barbara Ratha-yatra.
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 wealthy landlords in Bengal—almost like kings—and had a huge, opulent riverside palace, with […]
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 and during which no other festivals are celebrated, Ekadasi […]
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 […]
Allah Told Her to Take “The Song of God”
Giriraj Swami
Just outside the city of Kazan in Tatarstan, a Muslim state in the Russian Federation, I was distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books near a market with a friend. We had planned to distribute for about three hours and then leave for lunch, but by the end of the third hour, I still hadn’t distributed a single […]
The Appearance of Lord Nrsimhadeva, Hosted by ISKCON Bhagavatam Mahavidyalaya North America
Giriraj Swami
Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.44, Hosted by Hare Krishna Africa
Giriraj Swami
Management Lessons from Srila Prabhupada, Hosted by the GBC College
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 in krsna-lila. In […]
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 […]
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 […]
Chandana-yatra and Sri Madhavendra Puri’s Appearance Day
Giriraj Swami
Today is a very auspicious day, for many reasons. One reason is that today is Chandana-yatra. It is also Sri Madhavendra Puri’s appearance day. So, I thought to read about Sri Madhavendra Puri’s pure devotional service and how he brought candana for the Deity of Gopala and ultimately offered it to the Deity of Gopinatha, […]
Nrsimha-caturdasi at ISKCON Dallas, Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Giriraj Swami
The Mercy of Lord Nrsimhadeva
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 […]
Jayananda Prabhu’s Disappearance Day, Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.8-9, Nitai-Gaurasundara Dasa’s Program, Murfreesboro, TN
Giriraj Swami
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Bhagavad-gita 18.65-66, Sunday, May 19, ISKCON Dallas
Giriraj Swami
Bhagavad-gita 3.10. Home Program, Dallas, Texas
Giriraj Swami
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 […]
Questions and Answers with Students and Preachers at the University of Texas in Dallas
Giriraj Swami
Sri Sita-navami
Giriraj Swami
Today is Sita-navami, the appearance day of Srimati Sitadevi, the eternal consort of Lord Ramachandra. She appeared as the daughter of King Janaka, one of the twelve mahajanas, great authorities in Krishna consciousness, and thus one of her names is Janaki. In Valmiki’s Ramayana, Sita is said to have been discovered in a furrow in a ploughed […]
Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.22, Hare Krishna Africa, Nigeria
Giriraj Swami
Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23, House Program, Dallas, Texas
Giriraj Swami
Mother Arca-vigraha’s Disappearance Day
Giriraj Swami
Today is a most auspicious occasion. Mother Arca-vigraha was a very special devotee, and she really gave everything to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna and the devotees. I think of the verse akamah sarva-kamo va, moksa-kama udara-dhih/ tivrena bhakti-yogena, yajeta purusam param, that akamah, whether one has no desires, sarva-kamo; or is full of desires, moksa-kama; […]
Happy Mother’s Day
Giriraj Swami
“There are very exalted spiritual understandings in Krishna consciousness. They are not fictional, imaginary, or concocted. They are facts, and every devotee can have the privilege to understand and indeed take part in Krishna’s pastimes if he is actually advanced. We should not think that the privilege given to Mother Yasoda is not available to […]
Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.17, Home Program, Dallas, May 10, Akshaya-tritiya
Giriraj Swami
Aksaya-tritiya
Giriraj Swami
The day known as Aksaya-tritiya occurs on the third day (tritiya) of the waxing moon in the month of Vaisakha. Every second of this blessed day is completely auspicious, and so there is no consideration of any one period (muhurta) being better than another. Aksaya means “inexhaustible”—anything a devotee undertakes on the day of Aksaya-tritiya […]
Initiation Lecture, Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.11, ISKCON Dallas, May 7, 2024
Giriraj Swami
Sri Gadadhara Pandita’s Appearance Day
Giriraj Swami
Today is the most auspicious occasion of Sri Gadadhara Pandita’s appearance day. As many of you know, Lord Chaitanya is Krishna Himself in the role of His own devotee. He is Krishna, but with the complexion and in the mood of Srimati Radharani. There are different purposes for the Lord’s advent. The internal reason for […]