Author Archives: H.H. Giriraj Swami

Brahmananda prabhu said that his only qualification was that whatever Prabhupada asked him to do he would say yes. Even if he couldn’t do it he would say yes. So, Srila Prabhupada agreed that he should leave Africa and go ahead with the project in Juhu beach. About one month later Brahmananda prabhu left Africa and went to […]

Yesterday, August 13, 2015, marked fifty years since Srila Prabhupada embarked on his momentous, historic voyage from India, Calcutta, to America, Boston and then New York. Although he came by himself, he did not come “empty-handed.” As he explained in his rooms at the Radha-Damodara temple in Vrindavan in Karttika 1972: “It was in Vrindaban […]

Yesterday the first printed copies of the Hebrew edition of my book Life’s Final Exam: Death and Dying from the Vedic Perspective were received from the printer in Israel. Rabbi David Rosen, International Director of Interreligious Affairs of the Global Jewish Advocacy and International President of the World Conference of Religions for Peace—a renowned figure […]

“A Thunder bird will only drink water from the cloud. In India it is called a Chatak bird. Sometimes the cloud doesn’t give water but gives thunder and lightning but still the Chatak bird will not go anywhere else for water. So, the example is given that a devotee will take mercy only from Krishna. He does […]

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, disciples offer respect to the spiritual master once in a year, on Guru-purnima. And in the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya, disciples also offer homage annually—on the appearance day of […]

Today we will travel with Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra in procession, and we will chant the holy names of the Lord and dance for His pleasure. So we shall read from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Chapter Thirteen: “The Ecstatic Dancing of the Lord at Ratha-yatra.” TEXT 1 sa jiyat krsna-caitanyah sri-rathagre nanarta yah yenasij jagatam […]

We pray to Lord Jagannatha, hara tvam samsaram druta-taram asaram sura-pate hara tvam papanam vitatim aparam yadava-pate aho dine ‘nathe nihita-carano niscitam idam jagannathah svami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu me “O Lord of the demigods, please quickly remove this useless material existence I am undergoing. O Lord of the Yadus, please destroy this vast, shoreless ocean of […]

We continue our discussion of the cleansing of the heart, again from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Chapter Twelve, “The Cleansing of the Gundica Temple”: TEXT 135 ei-mata puradvara-age patha yata sakala sodhila, taha ke varnibe kata SYNONYMS ei-mata—in this way; pura-dvara—of the gateway of the temple; age—in front; patha yata—as many avenues; sakala—all; sodhila—were cleansed; taha—that; […]

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 […]

As the most sacred month of Purusottama draws to a close, our minds turn toward Purusottama-ksetra, Jagannatha Puri, and the celebration of the Ratha-yatra and other related festivals there. Jaya Jagannatha! —Giriraj Swami Ratha-yatra Address 4.13.13 Dallas

Today, on the holy Parama Ekadasi day, in the sacred Purusottama month, I fulfilled the Vedic injunction to take bath by sprinkling water from the Pacific Ocean in Carpinteria on my head, remembering Srila Prabhupada at Juhu Beach during Purusottama-adhika-masa. As described by Dr. C. P. Patel in a Back to Godhead magazine article: “I […]

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.14. “Even after liberation the disciple depends on the instructions of the spiritual master. Srila Prabhupada gives the example of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu who said to His spiritual master, Srila Isvara Puri. ‘I have been following your instruction to chant the holy names but I have become overwhelmed by different […]

On this date in 1969, Srila Prabhupada initiated me—probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. He accepted me as his disciple and chanted on my beads in Los Angeles, while I was in Boston. And he sent me the following instructive letter. —GS My dear Giriraj, Please accept my blessings. I beg […]

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.17. “This verse indirectly confirms the greater importance of utilizing the human form of life to realize our lost relationship with the Supreme Lord by acceleration of devotional service. Time and tide wait for no man. So the time indicated by the sunrise and the sunset will be uselessly […]

Giriraj Swami read from Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.10.20 and spoke about His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami. “One evening on the balcony of the Calcutta temple, Tamal Krishna Goswami opened up to me about many things that were confidential–especially to a new devotee like me. Amongst other things he said that the secret for success in spiritual life is to serve […]

We were out on the street when I suddenly had a clear and real realization that I was not the body— that I was something completely different.  It was a very joyful and blissful experience: brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kankshati samah sarveshu bhuteshu mad-bhaktim labhate param Translation: One who is thus transcendentally situated at […]

Today I think of Srila Prabhupada’s letter to a disciple, “You have accepted me as father, so I have also accepted you as my dear and real son. Relationship of father and son on spiritual platform is real and eternal; on the material platform such relationship is ephemeral and temporary. Although I cannot give you […]

Yesterday Bhurijana Prabhu sent me an audio message about Brahmananda Prabhu, which acted as a balm for my heart: “Gargamuni told Dharmatma—and I heard from Dharmatma—that when Brahmananda and he took Srila Prabhupada out of the hospital in 1967, Prabhupada told them, ‘Because you have rescued me from the hospital, you won’t have to be […]

The memorial program for Brahmananda Prabhu in Los Angeles was wonderful. For almost six hours, devotee after devotee shared their experiences and realizations of how Brahmananda had touched their hearts and changed their lives with his care for them and his love for Srila Prabhupada—and how he had now gone to rejoin Srila Prabhupada. Sri […]

“The first time Srila Prabhupada came to Boston Brahmananda prabhu was there. As he saw Srila Prabhupada come through the front door he started to cry like a baby. It was so touching — he had a large body but such a soft heart and so much affection for Srila Prabhupada — throughout. Especially in the […]

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.8.5-6. “Peter ran up to the car and Srila Prabhupada rolled down the window and looked at him and said, ‘Yes?’ Peter put his hand in his pocket to take out the $300 but it turns out that in the rush he forgot the money and there was nothing […]

Upon awaking this morning, my heart was flooded with emotion in appreciation of Srila Prabhupada and his divine gifts to us, and I knew it was Brahmananda Prabhu’s mercy. Any association with Brahmananda Prabhu—whether by vani or vapuh—had that effect: it enhanced my loving feelings for Srila Prabhupada. While hearing Sri Caitanya-bhagavata this morning, I […]

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Caitanya-caritamrta Antya-lila 8. “This is an example of how we can serve each other as devotees. We can serve each other physically, emotionally, and spiritually—especially as the devotee approaches the time of death when everything is more critical. Of course we never know when we will die and therefore every […]

Giriraj Swami spoke on the second day of this year’s annual Gita Nagari retreat with Radhanath Swami. He read and spoke from Sri Bhaktya-loka by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. “Because a householder is engaged in earning, saving and protecting the family, he cannot completely give up talking about others. It is best for the householder to live in […]

Giriraj Swami spoke on the first day of the the Gita Nagari Annual Retreat. “To be authentic means to distinguish between the devotional creeper and the weeds. Because the weeds can resemble the devotional creeper we may not be able to distinguish easily and therefore we can take help from an expert gardener. To learn more about […]

Today we remember Sripada Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaja on his birth anniversary–in New York City, his birthplace. I plan to speak about him at The Bhakti Center in Manhattan tomorrow morning, and the next day to visit the place where he grew up. His life was completely devoted to service to Srila Prabhupada–and through Srila Prabhupada, to all of […]

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.8.6 and Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta. “This was exhibited by Lord Nityananda when He delivered the two fallen souls Jagai and Madhai, and similarly Lord Jesus Christ was crucified by the nonbelievers. But such difficulties are very gladly suffered by the devotees in preaching because in such activities, although […]

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Bhagavad-gita 10.9 for the morning program. “We are completely dependent on the association of devotees, because in their association we can chant the holy name, discuss Srimad-Bhagavatam, and make plans to spread Krishna consciousness. Our acaryas have prayed that if we have to take birth again, let us take […]

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.4.18. “We see that everyone has the potential to engage in devotional service to Lord Krishna. So, we want to encourage them, and those that are already engaged we also want to encourage them. Once there was a temple where there was some conflict among the devotees. They asked Srila […]

“The wisdom of the devotee is that he bows down to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If one can do that it is special mercy. That is achieved through reception of the dust of the lotus feet of the Lord’s pure devotee. Generally that means to follow the instructions of the devotee. One cannot fully […]

“In 1976 Srila Prabahupada came to Detroit. We had just purchased the Fischer Mansion and opened it as a temple. We had put a couple of million dollars into refurbishing it and making it first class. My parents were freaking out that I had become a Hare Krishna and was spending so much money. So, Srila […]

“During the kirtan my mind was preoccupied—I was disappointed after a long day in Bombay without success. Then Srila Prabhupada  looked at me and said. ‘You should dance in the kirtan even if we don’t get the no-objection.’ So, these things go on—and what to do? We have to tolerate. And not just tolerate but—shanta—we […]

In honor of Jayananda Prabhu’s disappearance day on May 1, we submit the following account, derived from a letter by Kalindi Dasi to her spiritual master, Candramauli Swami.                                             — Giriraj Swami A Hospice Miracle—Serving […]

Getting out of the car to begin my walk today, I found myself before a white picket gate leading to a small, beautiful garden. The gate was flanked on either side by the most lovely rose bushes, but the flowers were past their prime and were falling apart. I thought, “They would have made such […]

 Giriraj Swami spoke with devotees from Mumbai over Skype. “Mother Arca-vigraha loved Vrindavan. She just loved being in Vrindavan. And she wished that other devotees could have the same opportunity that she had to spend their last days in Vrindavan. She asked me to take up that project and I said I would. From that desire […]

Today, April 25, Jhanu Saptami, is the disappearance anniversary of Arca-vigraha dasi, a renowned artist from South Africa who left her cancer-ridden body in Vrindavan twenty-one years ago. Her desire that other devotees also have a proper facility to spend their last days in the beautiful spiritual atmosphere of the dhama inspired the creation of […]

Giriraj Swami spoke at Nilamadhava dasa and Madhuri Radha dasi’s wedding. “I will quote one authority on marriage who said that marriage is not meant to make you happy—marriage is meant to make you married. Once you are safely and wholly married, you have a structure of security and support from which you can find happiness. […]

TRUST THE SIMPLE PROCESS “People don’t get to have any fun in this world. If you go to LAX Airport with a garland like this on everyone will look at you like. ‘You cant do that! where did you get that anyway buddy? Why do we have to wear these polyester things and you get […]

Many devotees have requested that my books be made available in e-book editions. I am pleased to announce that Watering the Seed (Revised and Expanded) and Life’s Final Exam: Death and Dying from the Vedic Perspective are now available as e-books on Amazon. And we hope to have them available soon in other formats, from […]

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23. “In other words, Lord Sri Krsna is the property of His pure, unconditional devotees, and as such only the devotees can deliver Krsna to another devotee; Krsna is never obtainable directly. Lord Caitanya therefore designated Himself as gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah, or “the most obedient servant of the […]