Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

vedavyaso ya evasid daso vrindavano’dhunasakha yah kusumapidah karyatas tam samavishat  Vedavyasa became Vrindavan Das Thakur. Krishna’s friend Kusumapida also entered into him for special purposes. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 109)  Vrindavan Das was born on the Krishna-dvadashi of the month of Vaishakh in … Continue reading →

The leaders of the Australian Yatra came to New Govardhana for the annual general meeting. This year it was held in the special seminar room above the new goshala so we had the benefit of having mother cow and bull … Continue reading →

I’ve been visiting Govindas Asrama in Darlinghurst for years and the kirtan, lecture, prasadam program is still going strong. The crowd is mixed, but mainly westerners with half regulars and half new guests. Everyone is enthusiastic to chant the Hare … Continue reading →

ugro ’py anugra evayam sva-bhaktanam nr-kesari kesariva sva-potanam anyesam ugra-vikramah Although very ferocious, the lioness is very kind to her cubs. Similarly, although very ferocious to non-devotees like Hiranyakasipu, Lord  Nrsimha-deva is very, very soft and kind to devotees like … Continue reading →

Even though our New Gokula farm is about two hours drive from Sydney and about an hour from Newcastle, many people visit, even through the week. I was there for a Sunday program and around one hundred guests came through … Continue reading →

This year’s Rathayatra in Brisbane was held down town again with the beginning and end point being King George Square.  The parade went through the city streets for about an hour and Their Lordships, Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi rode … Continue reading →

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

Vedavyasapriya Maharaja and I were invited to Gokule and Natasha’s engagement celebration at Southport, Queensland. They are both from devotee families, one side from Fiji and the other side from India. I have known them both since they were young … Continue reading →

It’s always a pleasure visiting our Perth temple. Although a long way across to the west coast of Australia, the devotees are enthusiastic to receive visitors. I was able to attend three or four Bhakti Vrksa and Namahatta programs where … Continue reading →

I was fortunate to be visiting Adelaide temple when my god-brother, His Holiness, Navayogendra Maharaja was there. It was Maharaja’s first visit to Australia and everyone was happy to have his transcendental association. Maharaja is usually based in Kashmir, India, … Continue reading →

The dynasty of Maharaja Raghu is glorified because Lord Ramacandra appeared in that family. Lord Ramacandra appeared in the Iksvaku, or Raghu dynasty. He became King during Treta-yuga, but because of His good government, the age was like Satya-yuga. Lord … Continue reading →

While travelling to Sydney and Melbourne temples, I was able to go to some nama hatta home programs. Bhakti das and Bhakti devi dasi invited me to their weekly Bhagavad-Gita course, which they study chapter by chapter. Their presiding home … Continue reading →

I attended another fund raising dinner for the new temple project in Vineyard, West Sydney. The ground breaking ceremony was held the week before on the new land and although I was unable to attend, the devotees reported that it … Continue reading →

While I was in Brisbane recently, I caught up with my old friend and god-brother, Bhanu Maharaja, who was on a tour of Australia and New Zealand. Maharaja gives wonderful classes and I enjoy listening to his scholarly presentation of … Continue reading →

Srivasa Pandit represents the marginal living entity (tatastha shakti ). The devotees headed by Srivasa are described as Lord Chaitanya’s smaller limbs (His face, eyes, hands, disc, other weapons)  They all took part in Sri Gaurasundara’s pastimes. With them, Lord Gauranga … Continue reading →

The devotees at Southport on the Gold Coast celebrated Gaura Purnima on the weekend after the actual day. This, of course, was to enable those who work during the week to attend the function fully. Attendance started off a little … Continue reading →

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is none other than Supreme Lord Sri Krishna, who appeared in this Kali-yuga to inaugurate the Yuga dharma for this age – Sankirtana, the congregational chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared … Continue reading →

The new goshala at New Govardhana was finally completed and the devotees organised an official opening just before Gaura Purnima. This, for many years, was the dream of my God-brother, Venugopal das, who passed away last year. Many devotees attended … Continue reading →

Apart from the meetings and presentations at Mayapur, there was, of course, the regular festival going on, that is, kirtan mela, parikrama and various activities like the elephant procession. This all continued culminating in the grand festival of Gaura Purnima. … Continue reading →

ISKCON leaders were invited to attend a presentation by the committee for the ToVP Planetarium. This important aspect of the new temple was very much desired by Srila Prabhupada who wanted to show Vedic cosmology and the underlying spiritual aspect … Continue reading →

As usual at the Mayapur GBC meeting, the first section is dedicated to hearing about the progress of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium. This was headed up by the chairman of the ToVP, Ambarish das and he was followed by … Continue reading →

Every two years at Mayapur there is a SGGS ( Sannyasi, Guru, GBC, Sanga) where devotees come from all of the world to associate with each other and discuss philosophy and exchange ideas on spreading Krsna Consciousness. The three day … Continue reading →

Every five years the Mayapur devotees organise a Maha Abhiseka for Sri Panca Tattva during the festival time. There were so many devotees and guests who came that they couldn’t all fit into the temple but spilled outside by the … Continue reading →

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura appeared at Jagannatha Puri on 6 February 1874 as the son of Srila Sacidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura. In his childhood he quickly mastered the Vedas, memorised the Bhagavad-Gita, and relished his father’s philosophical works. He became known … Continue reading →

I celebrated Lord Nityananda’s appearance festival with the devotees at Brisbane temple. Although a week night, hundreds came for the abhiseka, lecture, drama, kirtana and feast. Lord Nityananda is, of course, the incarnation of Lord Balarama who came to assist … Continue reading →

The day after the Food Festival, the devotees at New Varshana organised a Holi celebration. This has been going on for a number of years and the attendances has gown significantly. This year, more than 10,000 people came and about … Continue reading →

I was at New Varshan for the “Food festival.” A couple of years ago, the devotees had an idea to invite the public to come to the temple to purchase and experience a variety of fine prasadam cuisine. It started … Continue reading →

As I am traveling this time, I have been getting a fair few invitations to outside programs, either Nama Hatta style or Bhakti Vrksa.  It’s always a pleasure being in the association of devotees who are sincere to advance in … Continue reading →

There are many devotees in Wellington serving in various capacities, such as Devamrta Maharaja’s disciples doing harinama, book distribution and running the Bhakti Lounge Ambarish Maharaja is a leader of namahatta and bhakti vrksa programs. Every Friday he has a … Continue reading →

I always enjoy visiting Sri Nitai Gauracanda temple in Christchurch. The dieties are beautiful in Their dancing pose and the devotees so welcoming when visitors come. The temple here had to be rebuilt after the big earthquake in 2011 and … Continue reading →

Whenever I visit Melbourne temple I like to go to some home programs if possible. Fortunately, there are twenty seven Bhakti Vrksa groups (meaning fruit-bearing tree of bhakti) in the suburbs where regular gatherings take place. The evening usually starts … Continue reading →

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

In Vraja there was a dancer named Chandrahasa who was very expert in the tasting of rasa. In Caitanya-lila, he became Jagadisa Pandit who also took great pleasure in dancing for the Lord. Jagadisa came with his wife Duhkhini and … Continue reading →

Once, when King Sagara wanted to perform an ashvamedha yajna, Indra stole his sacrificial horse.  The king sent his 60,000 sons to find it, and they found it next to Kapila Muni’s ashram, where Indra had hidden it. Mistaking Kapila … Continue reading →

Canberra is, of course, the capital city of Australia and has a growing population. Our temple is a small residence in the suburb of Ainslie. The devotees organise regular Sunday and midweek programs, as well as festivals, Food for Life … Continue reading →

There was a severe drought at New Gokula, the worst in more than 2 decades, throughout the winter and spring. Although, there has been some rain, it wasn’t enough to normalise the situation. Now with the summer in full swing … Continue reading →

There’s always plenty of kirtan going on with devotees from Govindas Asrama in Sydney, from harinama downtown to programs back at the asrama itself. I visit quite regularly and it’s always a pleasure to be able to participate with leading … Continue reading →

In the course of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s travels throughout India he became much pained at the erroneous teachings of many pseudo sects and sahajiya groups.  There arose in his heart a burning desire to widely preach the true siddhanta according … Continue reading →

The auspicious day on which the Bhagavad Gita was revealed to Arjuna by Lord Krishna at Kurukshetra, 5000 years ago, is celebrated as Gita Jayanti. It is observed on the Shukla Ekadasi, the 11th day of the waxing moon of … Continue reading →

Sri Sri Radha Madhava and Sri Sri Radha Gopinath temples in Bali are both very beautiful with a large community devotees living just nearby. This is ideal because the grhasthas, although working in day jobs, are close enough to attend … Continue reading →