Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

The devotees at New Gokula invited me to come for their two day festival of Diwali and Govardhana puja. The events were outdoors and the weather was glorious so everyone was happy enjoying the transcendental atmosphere. Around two or three … 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 →

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 →

Kartika, also known as the month of Damodara, is a month for deepening one’s love for Krishna. It is considered by devotees of Krishna to be the holiest month of the year. During this month, devotees make extra vows, perform … Continue reading →

With great affection, Tapana Misra brought the Lord to his home. There he washed the Lord’s lotus feet and then drank that holy water along with his family.  His ecstasy knew no bounds. He placed his little son Raghunatha at … Continue reading →

Shri Madhvacharya appeared in 1238 A.D. near Udupi, Karnataka in South India. He was considered an incarnation of Vayu (wind god). He had an unusually strong physique and extraordinary intellectual power. Once a fierce Bengali tiger attacked Madhvacharya’s sannyasa disciple, … Continue reading →

On the tenth day of the waxing moon of Padmanabha (Asvina) month, occurs Vijayotsava. On this day Lord Ramacandra heard from Hanuman beneath the sami tree that he had found and seen Sita on the Island kingdom of Lanka. Hearing … Continue reading →

On the tenth day of the waxing moon of Padmanabha (Asvina) month, occurs Vijayotsava. On this day Lord Ramacandra heard from Hanuman beneath the sami tree that he had found and seen Sita on the Island kingdom of Lanka. Hearing … Continue reading →

Once upon a time, by the arrangement of providence, an extra month came to this world. Every one took this month to be most inauspicious, and even saw it as a stool-like month. Just as one should not touch stool, … Continue reading →

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 →