Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

The Festival of Jagannath Mishra is an observance of the Jata karma samskara for baby Nimai (Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu). Following the fast for Gaura Purnima, which is broken upon the rising of the moon, the next day is held for … Continue reading →

To protect the devotees and to show everyone the way of love of God, Lord Sri Krishna decided to come to this world. He came in the form of a devotee, as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. First He sent His eternal … Continue reading →

Srila Madhavendra Puri appeared in the 14th century. He was a guru of the Brahma or Madhvasampradaya, one of the four (Brahma, Sri, Rudra and Sanaka) Vaishnava lineages that purify the world in the age of Kali. Madhavendra Puri was … Continue reading →

Around 1590 AD (Sakabda 1512), on the first day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kartik, during the night of the festival Dipamalika, when the houses are decoratedwith rows of lamps, Sri Rasikananda Deva made his appearance in this world. … Continue reading →

Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja lived for one hundred forty-four years. He took diksha from Sri Madhusudana Dasa Babaji and did bhajana for many years at Surya Kunda in Vrindavana. Thakura Bhaktivinoda received valuable instructions on pure devotional service from … Continue reading →

Shiva (Lord Shiva) + ratri (night), so Shivaratri means the night of Lord Shiva. Every lunar month on the 13th or 14th day of the dark half of the moon phase there is a Shivaratri but in the Vedic month of … Continue reading →

Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami writes: “All glories to Madhavendra Puri, the storehouse of all  Krishna-prema! He is a desire tree of bhakti, and it is to him that the seed of bhakti first fructified. The seed of Krishna-prema next fructified in … Continue reading →

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura prayed to Lord Caitanya to send him an assistant and a successor from the Lord’s personal staff of preachers. Answering the prayer of the Thakura, a son was born to him on February 6th, 1874 while he was serving as the … Continue reading →

From the time he was a small boy, Purusottama dasa Thakura was dedicated to constantly meditating on the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. In Caitanya-Caritamrta Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami has written: “The twenty-third and twenty fourth prominent devotees of Nityananda … Continue reading →

Appearing as the son of a king, Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura (Sri Thakura Mahasaya) showed all the bodily symptoms of a mahapurusa (an exalted divine person). He had long arms, a deep navel, golden-complexion, beautiful eyes shaped like the lotus petals. In … Continue reading →

Lord Sri Krishna, as the Vedic literature ultimately explains, is the absolute Personality of Godhead, and His first expansion in a form for pastimes is Sri Balarama. In the age of Kali-yuga, Lord Krishna appears in this material world as Lord Caitanya, … 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. Rumanja passed his childhood days … Continue reading →

Sri Madhvacharya was born in the year 1238 A.D. on the Vijaydasmi day of the month of Aswayuja in a village about 3 miles from Udupi in South Canara. His father was Madhyageha Bhatta a pious Brahmin belonging to Bhagavata … Continue reading →

“While Bhīṣmadeva was describing occupational duties, the sun’s course ran into the northern hemisphere. This period is desired by mystics who die at their will.” SB 1.9.29 “The perfect yogīs or mystics can leave the material body at their own … Continue reading →

The glories of Sri Advaita Acharya are boundless, for His sincere vibrations brought about Lord Caitanya’s descent upon this earth. He liberated the universe by preaching sankirtana [the congregational and devotional chanting of the holy names of God, Krishna]. Thus … Continue reading →

The Supreme Lord Visnu has three different Saktis: Sri, Bhu, and Nila. Sri Visnupriya is the internal potency known as Bhu-sakti. She appeared in Gaura-lila to assist Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with his mission of spreading the holy name of Krsna.  … Continue reading →

Shrila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura took birth in the year 1654 Shaka era within the Nadia district of West Bengal in a place called Prasiddha Deva Gram.  He appeared in the Radhiya line of brahamanas. He had two brothers: Shri Ramabhadra … Continue reading →

(See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.14 and Madhya-lila 16.76-81.) pundarika vidyanidhi——bada-sakha janiyanra nama lana prabhu kandila apani TRANSLATION Pundarika Vidyanidhi, the third big branch, was so dear to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu that in his absence Lord Caitanya Himself would sometimes cry. … 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 →

Lochana Das Thakur was born in 1523 in Kograma, in the Katwa block of Burdwan district.  He was a disciple of Shri Narahari Sarakara Thakura, a dearest associate of Lord Gaura Raya. Lochana Dasa Thakura wrote Chaitanya Mangala which tells … Continue reading →

Jayadeva’s father was Bhojadeva, and his mother’s name was Bamadevi. They lived in the Birbhum district of what is now West Bengal in a village called Kenubilva Gram. He was born at the beginning of the twelfth century AD. Jayadeva … Continue reading →

Ramachandra Kaviraja, the son of Shri Chiranjiva Sena (eternal associate of Lord Chaitanya), appeared in Shri Khanda. Although married, Ramachandra and his wife, Ratanala, had no material attachments. They stayed fully engaged in the loving service of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. They … Continue reading →

During the morning puja, or worship, the Deity or a salagrama is bathed in pure ghee. Srila Prabhupada once explained the festival this way: “Krishna was just a toy in the hands of the Gopis, so one day the Gopis … Continue reading →

The second most popular mela after Kumbha Mela is the Ganga Sagar Mela. It is India’s biggest fair held in Sagardwip, West Bengal and witnesses a large number of people pouring in. Celebrated with great vigour and enthusiasm, the festival … Continue reading →

 Shri Jagadish Pandit took birth in Gohati.  His father’s name was Shri Kamalaksha Bhatta, and he was the son of Bhatta Narayana. Jagadish Pandit’s father and mother were both great devotees of Lord Vishnu. After they passed away, Jagadish Pandit, … Continue reading →

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

Shri Lochana Dasa Thakura was a disciple of Shri Narahari Sarakara Thakura, a dearest associate of Lord Gaura Raya.  “My hope of hopes is to be near the lotus feet of Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura and serve him with my very … 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 →

purāṇānām artha-vettā śrī devānanda-paṇḍitaḥ purāsīn nanda-pariṣat-paṇḍito bhāgurir muniḥ The scholar Devananda Pandit knew the meaning of all the Puranas. Previously, he was Bhaguri Muni, the scholar in Nanda Mahārāja’s court. (Gaura gaṇoddeśa dīpikā 106) Devananda Pandit was a scholar and an ascetic … 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, memorised 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 →

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 →

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 →

“Before meeting Mahaprabhu Narahari had written many Sanskrit and Bengali songs about the vraja rasa of Radha-Giridhari. Later, he and Gadadhara Pandit always stayed with Lord Chaitanya. Narahari used to please the Lord by waving a chamara or a peacock … Continue reading →

Once Tulasi devi descended as the daughter of King Kushadvaja. She was married to Jalandara. Jalandara was married to Tulasi devi and drew strength from her purity and chastity. So firm was her chastity that even Lord Shiva could not … Continue reading →

Once Tulasi devi descended as the daughter of King Kushadvaja. She was married to Jalandara. Jalandara was married to Tulasi devi and drew strength from her purity and chastity. So firm was her chastity that even Lord Shiva could not … Continue reading →

There lived a great ascetic named Aruna Muni in Vaiduryapattnam, on the banks of the Godavari, in Andhra Pradesh in Southern India. He had a pious wife by name Jayanti Devi. Sri Nimbarka was born of Aruna Muni and Jayanti … Continue reading →

Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja was the disciple of Bhagavat dasa Babaji Maharaja, who was a disciple of Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja. In 1897 he came to Mayapur Navadvipa Dhama from Sri Vrndavana Dhama, where he was accredited the exalted … Continue reading →

Lord Krsna wanted to encourage His cowherd boyfriends, who had been swallowed by Aghasura and then stolen by Lord Brahma. Therefore the Lord decided to bring them into the palm-tree forest called Talavana, where there were many delicious ripe fruits. … Continue reading →

At 7:25 p.m., Srila Prabhupada opened his eyes, which were very clear, more so than in many months.  His mouth opened, his tongue moved, and then he became still.  The kaviraja took Prabhupada’s pulse and held a cotton swab to … Continue reading →