Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

kaler doṣa-nidhe rājann asti hy eko mahān guṇaḥ kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet – SB 12.3.51 “My dear King, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa … Continue reading →

The essence of the complete Vedic scriptures carefully handed down through the disciplic succession, has become ever so nectarean, being touched by Srila Prabhupada’s own lips. Prabhupada said: “The books are just like sugar doll. Anywhere touch – it is … 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 … Continue reading →

Bhaktivinoda Thakur (2 September 1838 – 23 June 1914), born Kedarnath Datta was a leading philosopher and spiritual reformer of Gaudiya Vaishnavism who almost single-handedly effected its resurgence in India in the late 19th and early 20th century and was … 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 goddesses of … Continue reading →

Lalita Devi was born in the village of Karhala, and later on her father brought her to Uccagaon, which is known as the place of her pastimes. There are still many remains of her having lived there, like a rock containing … Continue reading →

Srimati Sita Thakurani is to be worshiped just as much as Sacidevi herself, as the mother of the universe. She is the eternal wife of Sri Advaita Acharya. She was the daughter of Sri Nrishinga Baduri. She was married to … Continue reading →

Srila Prabhupada was born Abhay Charan De on September 1st 1896 in Calcutta, India. His father was Gour Mohan De, a cloth merchant, and his mother was Rajani. His parents in accordance with Bengali tradition, employed an astrologer to calculate … Continue reading →

In the Bhagavad-Gita the Lord says that His birth and activities are all transcendental and that one who factually understands them becomes immediately eligible to be transferred to the spiritual world.  The Lord’s appearance or birth is not like that … Continue reading →

Sri Baladeva is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. He is equal insupremacy to the Supreme Godhead, yet wherever Krishna appears, Sri Baladevaappears as Krishna’s brother, sometimes elder, sometimes younger. In his vaibhava-prakasa feature, Lord Krishna manifests Himself as Balarama. … Continue reading →

Shrila Rupa Goswami, the foremost of the six Goswamis of Vrindavan, was an incarnation of Rupa Manjari, the most important of the eight confidential maidservants of Shrimati Radharani in the eternal spiritual Vrindavan. Shrila Rupa Goswami’s lineage can be traced … Continue reading →

Ajita invited Bhanu Maharaja, Vasusrestha, Ganga and I to the opening of the new Govindas restaurant at Kingscliff NSW. New Govardhan already has another two restaurants, one at Burleigh and the other at Coolangatta. The new restaurant is in a … Continue reading →

Vamsidasa was born as Bhairab Chandra in the year 1859 in the village of Majitpur in current Bangladesh. He was the oldest of the seven children of Sanatana Mallabrahma and Srimati Sarvasundari. As the son of a poor fisherman, 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.  Shri Raghunandana Thakura made his appearance within this world in Shri Khanda.  … Continue reading →

ISKCON (the International Society for Krishna Consciousness) was incorporated in New York City, in the State of New York in the US, on 13 July 1966, around 54 years ago. This first incorporation of ISKCON was executed at Srila Prabhupada’s … Continue reading →

lokanathakhya-gosvamishri-lila-manjari pura     Lokanatha Goswami was known as Lila Manjari in Krishna lila. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 187)     Lokanatha is considered to be Mahaprabhu’s direct disciple and associate. Prior to coming to Navadwip, he lived in the village of Talakharii in Jessore … Continue reading →

Shri Gopal Bhatta Goswami, one of the six Goswamis of Vrindavan, was born in 1503 on the 13th day of the dark moon in the month of Pausha. Gopal Bhatta Goswami lived for 75 years and left this world to … Continue reading →

Born in Bengal in 1945, Bhakti Charu Swami spent most of his early life in the city of Calcutta. In 1970, he left India to study chemistry in Germany. Coming across Vedic literatures while in Germany, he discovered the richness … Continue reading →

Sri Sanatana Goswami appeared in 1488, five years before Sri Rupa Goswami, 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 … Continue reading →

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

Sri Svarupa Damodara is an eternal associate and friend of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Previously his name was Sri Purushottama Acarya. He lived in Navadvipa. He always stayed with Mahaprabhu.   When Sriman Mahaprabhu took sannyasa, he became half-mad.  He went to … Continue reading →

Sivananda Sena, the twenty-fourth branch of the Caitanya tree, was an extremely confidential servant of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Everyone who went to Jagannatha Puri to visit Lord Caitanya took shelter and guidance from Sri Sivananda Sena. Srila Sivananda Sena has … 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 →

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 →

Adi-lila 10: The Trunk, Branches and Sub-branches of the Chaitanya TreeText 17-19 Vakresvara Pandita, the fifth branch of the tree, was a very dear servant of Lord Chaitanya’s. He could dance with constant ecstasy for seventy-two hours. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu … Continue reading →

khola-becataya khyatah panditah shridharo dvijahasid vraje hasya-karo yo namna kusumasavah(Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 133) One of the twelve Gopals in Krishna lila was named Kusumasava. He appeared in Gaura-lila as Sridhara Pandit, who was given the nickname khola-beca, “bark-seller.” Sridhara Pandit was a resident … Continue reading →

Sri Mukunda Datta was born in the Cattagrama district, in the village of Chanhara, which is under the jurisdiction of the police station named Patiya. This village is situated ten krosas, or about twenty miles, from the home of Pundarika … Continue reading →

The holy day of Pandava Nirjala is very special. The word Nirjala means without water and Ekadasi means the eleventh day of the lunar month. On this sacred day, devotees of the Lord observe a fast without consuming water, offer prayers … Continue reading →

Ganga Devi emanates from the lotus feet of Lord Krishna and she compassionately appeared in this material world pleased by the austerities of Maharaj Bhagiratha. As she flowed down from the heavenly planets, Lord Shiva took her in his matted … 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 →

Recently, I gave a class via the Brisbane Temple facebook page. Devotees have been giving classes every Saturday since the CoVid 19 restrictions came into place. I spoke mainly on Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s song, “Suddha Bhakata.”  As Prarthana and Prema … Continue reading →

Sri Vrindavan Das Thakura’s mother’s name was Sri Narayani Devi. Narayani Devi was the daughter of Srivas Thakura’s brother. When Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu revealed his divinity in the house of Srivasa, showing his true self to the assembled devotees … Continue reading →

Before Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu met Ramananda Raya, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya told the Lord that no other devotee’s knowledge of Radha-Krishna’s madhurya rasa [devotion in the mood of love] compares with Ramananda Raya’s. Although Lord Caitanya was a lot younger than forty year old … Continue reading →

“Madhavendra Puri’s body was completely full of divine love; so were his followers. He displayed uncommon love of God. Seeing a dark blue raincloud, he would fall down unconscious. Day and night he was intoxicated from drinking the ambrosia of … Continue reading →

Lord Narasimha is the fourth incarnation of Lord Maha Vishnu who incarnated to kill the demon Hiranyakashipu and save his devotee Prahlada. According to the Bhagavata Purana, Lord Maha Vishnu in his avatar as Varaha killed the demon Hiranyakshya. Hiranyakshya’s brother … Continue reading →

Sri Nityananda’s two wives, Sri Vasudha and Sri Jahnava Devi, are expansions of Lord Balarama’s eternal consorts Varuni and Revati. Srila Thakura Bhaktivinoda offers this prayer to Jahnava Mata in Kalyana-kalpa-taru:  “Oh Jahnava Devi! By the power of your divine … Continue reading →

Maharaj Bhagiratha had, after great penances, been successful in bringing the most purifying Mother Ganges, whose waters wash the lotus feet of the Lord and are therefore his charanamrita, from the heavenly planets to this earth for the purpose of … Continue reading →

Gadadara Pandit was a childhood friend of Nimai and both were students in the same ‘Tol’ or school. Gadadhar’s parents Madhav Mishra and Ratnawati were natives of Chattagram district but later on moved to Navadwip. Gadadhara Pandit was born in … Continue reading →

Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur was born in Mamgachi in Navadwip, West Bengal. His mother was Sri Narayani Devi, the niece of Srivasa Pandita, an ardent follower of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Vrindavana Das Thakur’s father, Vaikunthanatha Vipra, was from Sylhet in … Continue reading →

Sri Abhirama Gopal Thakura  was also known as Sri Rama Das. He was a great Devotee of Lord Nityananda.  On the order of Nityananda Prabhu, he became a great acharya and preacher of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.  He was a very influential … Continue reading →