Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

Govinda Ghosh was one of the three brothers Govinda, Vasudev and Madhav, who were all dear associates of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu. According to Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (188), Sri Govinda Ghosh is a sakhi named Kalavati in Goloka Vrindavan, who … Continue reading →

Srivasa Thakura is understood as tatastha-shakti, a marginal energy of Bhagavan, Krishna in person. Devotees who are headed by Srivasa Thakura are described as ‘parts’ of transcendental body of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (his eyes, ears, hands, disc/cakra, etc.). They all participated in … Continue reading →

The day after Gaura Purnima, Jagannath Mishra festival is celebrated. Just as Nanda-baba celebrated Nandotsava on the appearance of Lord Sri Krishna, similarly, the wonderful appearance of the Lord increased the happiness of everyone in Srimati Sacidevi’s house. Both Sri … Continue reading →

Caitanya Mahaprabhu was born in Mayapur in the town of Nadia just after sunset on the evening of the 23rd Phalguna (1407 Sakadba), answering to the 18th of February 1486 of the Christian Era. The moon was eclipsed at the … Continue reading →

Before Lord Caitanya appeared He sent His eternal associates like Sri Advaita Acarya, Sri Jagannatha Misra, Saci Mata, Madhavendra Puri, Isvari Puri to earth. Sri Madhavendra Puri took initiation from Sri Laksmipati Tirtha in the Madhvacarya sampradaya.  He had many but … Continue reading →

After Kurukshetra we made our way back to Delhi and then on to Govardhana for a tour of the holy places in the area. I hadn’t visited in many years so it was our great fortune to again have the … Continue reading →

After visiting our Iskcon Jyotisar temple, we went for a tour of some of the holy sites at Kurukshetra. Of course, the most important was the holy place where Lord Krishna spoke Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna five thousand years ago. With … Continue reading →

After the Mayapur meetings I traveled with my god-brother, Vasusrestha, to Delhi and then drove up to Jyotisar, where Krsna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna 5000 years ago. I haven’t visited here in over twenty years and I was … Continue reading →

Many devotees came from all over the wold to attend the 2025 Leadership Sanga in Sridham Mayapur. The conference went for four days with morning and afternoon sessions. The first part of each day comprised presentations like empowering future leaders, … Continue reading →

On the fifth day of the dark lunar fortnight of the month of Govinda [corresponding to February 6th, 1874 A.D. by the western calendar], at 3:30 in the afternoon, Bimala Prasad Datta, later to be known as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati … Continue reading →

The GBC body, Sabha, GBC Deputies and other leaders once again assembled in Sridham Mayapur for the annual conference. The first day comprised of many topics and one was a progress presentation of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium. A construction … Continue reading →

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-complexioh, beautiful eyes shaped like the  lotus … Continue reading →

Nityananda Prabhu appeared in the village of Ekachakra, in West Bengal, India, around 1474. In the Caitanya Caritamrita and other scriptures He is declared to be the avatar of Lord Balarama, the direct expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, … Continue reading →

brahmovācayatrodyataḥ kṣiti-taloddharaṇāya bibhratkrauḍīṁ tanuṁ sakala-yajña-mayīm anantaḥantar-mahārṇava upāgatam ādi-daityaṁtaṁ daṁṣṭrayādrim iva vajra-dharo dadāra Lord Brahmā said: When the unlimitedly powerful Lord assumed the form of a boar as a pastime, just to lift the planet earth, which was drowned in the … Continue reading →

Ramanuja was born in India during the year 1017 A.D. when, according to astrological calculations, the sun was in the zodiacal sign of Cancer. His parents were Asuri Keshava and Kantimati, both from aristocratic families. Ramanuja passed his childhood days … Continue reading →

In Chaitanya Charitamrita, Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami quotes the following evidence from the diary of Swarupa Damodar to describe the ontological principle of Advaita Acharya: maha-vishnur jagat-karta mayaya yah srijaty adah tasyavatara evayam advaitacarya ishvarah advaitam harinadvaitad acaryam bhakti-shasanat bhaktavataram … Continue reading →

sri-sanatana-misro’yad pura satrajito napa visnupriya jagan-mata yat-kanya bhu-svarupini  He who was King Satrajit in Krishna lila was Sanatan Mishra in Chaitanya lila.The mother of the universe, the incarnation of the Lord’s bhu-sakti,is his daughter Vishnupriya. (Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika 47) Krishna married Satyabhama, the … Continue reading →

Raghunatha Dasa was born around 1416 Shaka (1494 AD) in the town of Saptagram in Hooghly district of West Bengal. He was the only son of his father Govardhana Majumdar a wealthy landlord of the area.  Govardhana Majumdar’s elder brother … Continue reading →

Shri Lochana Dasa Thakura was a disciple of Shri Narahari Sarakara Thakura, a dearest associate of Lord Gaura Raya. He appeared in this world in 1520 A.D., thirty-four years after the appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Lochana Dasa Thakura wrote … Continue reading →

Shri Jayadeva Goswami appeared in either the eleventh or twelfth century of the Shaka era. There is a difference of opinion about his place of birth. The majority opinion holds that he was from the village of Kendubilva, presently in … Continue reading →

Sri Gopal Bhatta Goswami, one of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, was a prominent Vaishnava saint and a direct disciple of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He is known for his humility, devotion, and scholarly contributions to the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition. Gopal … Continue reading →

 Ramachandra Kaviraja, the son of Shri Chiranjiva Sena (eternal associate of Lord Chaitanya), appeared in Shri Khanda. “Ramachandara Kaviraja was especially earnest, beautiful, intelligent, energetic, and enthusiastic,” said one biographer. Although married, Ramachandra and his wife, Ratanala, had no material … Continue reading →

According to Vedic scriptures, in the past age, in Satya Yuga lived a king named Sagara, King of Oudh, the 13th ancestor of Lord Ramachandra. He performed a holy yajna, the Ashwamedha yajna or horse-sacrifice 99 times. This ceremony consisted … Continue reading →

In Vraja there was a dancer named Candrahasa who was very expert in the tasting of rasa. In Chaitanya-lila, he became Jagadisa Pandit who also took great pleasure in dancing for the Lord. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 143) Jagadisa Pandit is considered to … Continue reading →

Appearing as the nephew of Sri Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis, Sri Jiva Gosvami displayed all the charming features of a mahapurusa (divine person). He had lotus eyes, a high nose and forehead, broad chest, long arms, and a radiant golden body.  In … Continue reading →

I was again present for the ecstatic New Year’s eve Harinama that went around the Circular Quay, Opera House, Rocks area of Sydney. This was organized by Pratapana prabhu and the devotees from the Govinda’s asrama in Darlinghurst. As usual, … Continue reading →

Uddharana Datta Ṭhākura, the eleventh among the twelve cowherd boys, was an exalted devotee of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. He worshiped the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda in all respects. The gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 129, states that Uddharana Datta Ṭhākura was formerly the cowherd boy of Vrndavan named Subāhu. Uddharana Datta Ṭhākura, previously known … Continue reading →

Srila Prabhupada writes, “The village of Mahesa Pandita, which is known as Palapada, is situated in the district of Nadia within a forest about one mile south of the Cakadaha railway station.” Mahesa Pandita used to dance in the ecstasy … Continue reading →

“Jesus Christ was such a great personality—the son of God, the representative of God. He had no fault. Still, he was crucified. He wanted to deliver God consciousness, but in return they crucified him—they were so thankless. They could not … Continue reading →

Living in Kuliya during Sri Chaitanya’s pastimes, Sri Devananda Pandit gave professional readings of Srimad Bhagavatam tainted with Mayavada philosophy. One day Shrivasa Pandit heard his Bhagavata-katha, began crying, and fell to the ground.  Becoming disturbed by this display, the … Continue reading →

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, the guru of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, appeared in Sri Ksetra Dhama.(Jagannatha Puri) on 6 February 1874 as the son of Srila Sacidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura. In his childhood he quickly mastered the Vedas, memorized the … Continue reading →

Gita Jayanti is the auspicious day of the advent of Srimad Bhagavad-gita. This is the day on which Lord Krishna imparted the essence of Vedic knowledge to Arjuna over 5000 years ago and enlightened him about the ultimate goal of … Continue reading →

The new Adelaide temple extension, with its beautiful deity room, high ceilings, chandeliers and artwork, is a wonderful addition to the temple complex. Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara, Gaura Nitai and Prahlada Nrsimha were graciously bestowing Their mercy to one and … Continue reading →

Sri  Caitanya Caritamrita – Madhya 16.78 -81 gadadhara-pandite tenho punah mantra dila odana-shashthira dine yatra ye dekhila TRANSLATION Pundarika Vidyanidhi initiated Gadadhara Pandita for the second time, and on the day of Odana-shashthi he saw the festival. PURPORT At the … Continue reading →

It was my pleasure to visit our New Gokula farm in Australia’s Hunter Valley, which is about two hours away from Sydney. Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda, Jagannatha, Baladeva, Subhadra and Gaura Nitai are always beautiful to behold. There … Continue reading →

Sri Saranga Murari Thakura used to reside at Modadrumadwipa Mamagachi, where his Deities of Sri Sri Radha-Gopinath are still present. There is also a Bakula tree there which is perhaps existing since the time of Saranga Thakura. There is a … Continue reading →

Perth temple celebrates Lord Jagannatha’s Rathayatra in the summer and the devotees observed the Lord’s Snana Yatra Festival a few weeks before. According to Skanda Purana, when King Indradyumna installed the wooden deities he arranged this bathing ceremony. This day … Continue reading →

During the month of Margasirsha, (November-December) every day early in the morning the young daughters of the cowherds would take one another’s hands and singing of Krishna’s transcendental qualities, go to the Yamuna to bathe. Desiring to obtain Krishna as … Continue reading →

According to the legend, Tulasi Devi was a devoted and chaste woman named Vrinda. She was married to the demon King Jalandhar, who had obtained immense power due to his wife’s chastity. Jalandhar’s power became a threat to the demigods, … Continue reading →

Bhugarbha Goswami was a disciple of Gadadhara Pandita. Sri Kavikarnapura writes in his Gaura-ganodesa-dipika that Bhugarbha Goswami was formerly the gopi named Prema Manjari in Vrindavana. While in Vrindavana, Bhugarbha Goswami passed away and entered into the unmanifest pastimes of … Continue reading →