Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

All the unmarried gopīs in Vṛndāvana used to daily worship goddess Kātyāyanī early in the morning after taking a bath in the river Yamunā. Kātyāyanī is another name for goddess Durgā. The goddess is worshiped by preparing a doll made of … Continue reading →

Accurate biographies are difficult to find, yet authorities agree that Shri Nimbarkacharya preached Krishna consciousness about three-hundred years before the adventure of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.  In Navadwipa Dhama Mahatyam, Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that Nimbarka had previously worshiped Lord Shiva … Continue reading →

When Babaji Maharaja was living in the grhastha-asrama, his name was Vamsi dasa. At that time he was maintaining his life by farming corn, in this way doing honest work and living a regulated life according to the principles of … Continue reading →

Gopastami puja is observed on the eighth day of the bright half of Kartika month (Kartika Shukla Astami). Sri Krishna Puja and Go Puja are the main ceremonies of the day. According to the Srimad Bhagavatam, on Gopastami day, Lord … Continue reading →

“My dear Lord Krsna…. How will I make them understand this message of Krsna consciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified, and the most fallen. Therefore I am seeking Your benediction so that I can convince them, for I am powerless … Continue reading →

Govardhan Puja is celebrated the day after Diwali. It is the day Lord Krishna defeated Indra, the King of Heaven and deity of thunder and rain. As per the story, Krishna saw huge preparations for the annual offering to Lord … Continue reading →

Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Rama, King of Ayodhya, with his wife Sita and brother Laksmana to Ayodhya after a 14 year exile, and a war in which he killed the demon king Ravana. It is believed that the people of Ayodhya lit ghee lamps along the way … Continue reading →

Sri Virachandra or Virabhadra Prabhu appeared on the ninth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Kartika. Krsna dasa Kaviraja Gosvami has given this description of Him in the C.C. Adi 11.8-12 Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura writes in … Continue reading →

On the eighth day of the waning phase of the damodara month the appearance day of Radha Kunda is celebrated by the residents. Bathing in Radha Kunda is especially benefical on this day. By this one gains the favor of … Continue reading →

Narottama Dasa Thakura was a lifelong brahmacari. He was born in a Kayastha caste family, the son of King Shri Krishnananda Datta, who ruled the area of Gopalpura in Rajashahi district of modern day Bangladesh, his capital being Khetri on the Padma River. … Continue reading →

murāri-gupto hanumān aṅgadaḥ śrī-purandaraḥ / yaḥ śrī-sugrīva-nāmāsīd govindānanda eva saḥ Murari Gupta was Hanuman in Ramachandra’s lila; Purandara was Angada and Govindananda Sugriva. — Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā 91 The word gupta means “hidden”, so the name Murari Gupta indicates that Murari (Sri Chaitanya Deva) had secretly … Continue reading →

“Raghunatha Bhatta fell straight as a rod at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Then the Lord embraced him, knowing full well who he was.” (Caitanya Caritamrta Antya 13.101) Sri Raghunatha Bhatta’s father’s name was Sri Tapana Misra.  In … Continue reading →

Madhva was born around 1239 in a village called Pajaka, situated near the coast on the southerm part of the sate now called Karnataka. He was originally called Vasudeva. There are many references to his being an incarnation of Vayu … Continue reading →

The festival of Dussehra, also known as Vijaya dashmi, is one of the fascinating festivals of India and is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm. According to the great scripture, the Ramayana, Lord Rama performed chandi-puja (holy prayer). This was carried … Continue reading →

Srila Prabhupada: I planned that I must go to America. Generally they go to London, but I did not want to go to London. I was simply thinking how to go to New York. I was scheming, “Whether I shall go … Continue reading →

Sri Sacidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura appeared in 1838 in a wealthy family in the Nadia district, West Bengal. He revealed that he is an eternal associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by his extraordinary preaching activities and prolific writing. Living as a, … Continue reading →

Lord Vamana, the dwarf, is the fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is also the first incarnation of Treta Yuga. The Srimad Bhagavatam states that Lord Vishnu descended as the Vamana avatar to restore the power of Lord Indra in … Continue reading →

In the Brihad-Gautamiya Tantra, Radharani is described as follows: devi krishna-mayi prokta radhika para-devata sarva-lakshmi-mayi sarva kantih sammohini para “The transcendental goddess Srimati Radharani is the direct counterpart of Lord Sri Krishna. She is the central figure for all the … Continue reading →

Srimati Sita Thakurani was the wife of Sri Advaita Acarya Prabhu, and she lived in Santipur. She had three sons: Achyutananda, Krishna Mishra and Gopala Mishra were devotees of Mahaprabhu.  Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu came to visit Santipur … Continue reading →

nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine  nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His … Continue reading →

Thus the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the Supersoul of all living entities and who vanquishes all the fear of His devotees, entered the mind of Vasudeva in full opulence. While carrying the form of the Supreme Personality of … Continue reading →

Lord Balarama is Krishna’s elder brother and His appearance day takes place on the full moon day (purnima), before Krishna Janmastami. Krishna and Balarama were the darlings of Vrindavan/ Vraja. Together They would spend the day enjoying the company of … Continue reading →

Sri Sanatana Gosvami appeared in 1488, five years before Sri Rupa Gosvami, in a Sarasvata brahmana family in Bengal. Sanatana and his two brothers, Rupa and Anupama, were always absorbed in bhava bhakti from early childhood. Remembering Vrndavana, they named the forests … Continue reading →

Vamsi Das Babaji was born in Majitpura in the subdivision of Kisoraganja in the district of Mayamanasimha. His father’s name was Sanatana Malovrahma. His former name was Bhairavacandra. According to usual custom, he married at an early age but he … Continue reading →

Shri Mukunda Dasa, Shri Madhava Dasa and Shri Narahari Sarakara Thakura were three brothers who lived in Shri Khanda. Shri Mukunda Dasa Thakura’s son was Shri Raghunandan Thakura. Mukunda Dasa Thakura was the doctor in the court of the muslim … Continue reading →

Devotees from the Bhakti Centre on the Gold Coast organised a Jagannatha Rathayatra at Broadwater Parkland in Southport. The location was great and many devotees from Brisbane, New Govardhana and the Gold Coast attended. The first event was the parade … Continue reading →

Shri Gopal Bhatta Goswami was the son of Vyenkatta Bhatta, a brahmana resident of Shri Rangam, who was initiated in the Shri Sampradaya. In the year 1511, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at the house of Vyenkatta Bhatta. Vyenkatta Bhatta lived … Continue reading →

Sri Sanatana Gosvami appeared in 1488, five years before Sri Rupa Gosvami, in a Sarasvata brahmana family in Bengal. Sanatana and his two brothers, Rupa and Anupama, were always absorbed in bhava bhakti from early childhood. Remembering Vrndavana, they named the forests … Continue reading →

Hera Panchami is a unique festival associated with famous Rathayatra of Puri. ‘Hera’ means to ‘see’ and ‘Panchami’ means the ‘fifth day’. It is celebrated at Gundicha temple on the fifth day from the start date of the cart festival. This festival … Continue reading →

Srila Svarupa Damodara Goswami was Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s personal secretary and always stayed with Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He is the eternal associate and friend of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He fully understood the Lord’s conclusions on Krishna-tattva and Krishna-bhakti, and could fully represent … Continue reading →

Every year one month before caturmasya (four month period of the rainy season) Sivananda Sena would lead a party of two hundred devotees from Bengal to Jagannatha Puri to attend the annual Ratha-Yatra festival. He would pay for everyone’s food, tolls, ferries, … Continue reading →

On September 2nd, 1838 on a Sunday in the ancient village of Biranagara (Ulagrama) located in the district of Nadia, Thakura Bhaktivinoda took his birth in the family of Raja Krishnananda Datta, who was a great devotee of Lord Nityananda. … Continue reading →

From the time that he was a boy, Gadadhara Pandita was always in the association of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sri Gadadhara Pandita’s father’s name was Sri Madhava Misra; his mother’s name was Sri Ratnavati Devi. They lived close to the … Continue reading →

According to Sri Gaura Gannoddesha Dipika, Srivasa Pandita is none other than the incarnation of Narada Muni, who had appeared to assist Sri Caitanya, his beloved Lord, enact the heart melting pastimes of Navadvipa.  Srivasa pandita and his family members … Continue reading →

In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (71) it is stated that Vakreśvara Paṇḍita was an incarnation of Aniruddha, one of the quadruple expansions of Viṣṇu (Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Aniruddha and Pradyumna). He could dance wonderfully for seventy-two continuous hours. When Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu played in dramatic … Continue reading →

It was in Vrindavan that Shyamananda Prabhu met and befriended Shrila Narottam das Thakur and Shrinivas Acharya, and thus became the famous trio of the second generation of Vaishnava acharyas after the six Goswamis.     These three were empowered by … Continue reading →

A special bath of Lord Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra devi takes place on the Purnima of Jyestha month to commemorate the appearance day of Lord Jagannath. According to the Skanda Purana, when King Indradyumna installed the wooden deities he arranged … Continue reading →

From her childhood Princess Sachi devi, the daughter of King Naresh Narayana of Bengal, showed unalloyed devotion to Lord Sri Krishna. She even refused to marry on account of her genuine attachment to Krishna. After her father’s demise she ruled … Continue reading →

Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana was born in the early part of the 18th century (1720-1790) in a village near Remuna, Balasore District of Orissa. Even though he was the son of a ‘vaishya’ (farmer), in his youth he received a very … Continue reading →

The Covid pandemic has affected ISKCON’s operations around the world, especially in regard to international travel. The New Govardhana devotee community usually has the Sacred Sounds festival in April every year, which devotees from around the world attend. However, the … Continue reading →