Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the fountainhead of all incarnations. Lord Balarama is His second body. They are both one and the same identity. They differ only in form.  Balarama is the first bodily expansion of Krishna, and … Continue reading →

Of all the festivals in Vrindavan, Lord Krishna’s favourite is the Jhulan Yatra. During this season, Srimati Radharani and Krishna meet in the sylvan woods of Vrindavan, where the sakhis have prepared a gorgeous flower-bedecked jhula hanging from the high … Continue reading →

The kirtan programs at the Bhakti tree in Newcastle are going nicely.  Things kick off at 6.00pm and the crowd builds up right through till just after 7.00pm when prasadam is served. I always enjoy leading these kirtans because of … Continue reading →

Vamsidas Babaji was a Gaudiya Vaishnava sadhu who lived at Swarupa Gunj, Nabadwip during the time of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. He was respected by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, and he used to see to it that Vamsidas Babaji was provided with … Continue reading →

Raghunandan Thakur was born in Sri Khanda, West Bengal, but he was a Vrajavasi in his previous life. In fact, he was the incarnation of one of Sri Krishna’s sakhas. His father, Mukunda Das, was the incarnation of Vrnda Devi, the … Continue reading →

Lokanatha Goswami was the eldest of the Goswamis living in Vraja-bhumi. He shunned name and fame so much that he asked Krishna Dasa Kaviraja to keep his name out of Caitanya-Caritamrita. “Anyone who reads the Srimad Bhagavatam,” said Lokanatha Goswami, … Continue reading →

Gopala Bhatta Goswami (the son of Vyenkata Bhatta, a Sri Vaisnava brahmana) appeared in Sri Rangam, South India. Lord Caitanya once stayed for four months in his home and converted the family to Gaudiya Vaisnavism. A boy at this time, … Continue reading →

The Bali Rathayatra was celebrated by at least 4,000 devotees who came from all over Indonesia to participate.  The parade itself was on the second day and everyone assembled in front of one of three chariots –  Lord Jagannatha, Lord … Continue reading →

The Rathayatra Festival in Denpasar was held over two days at one of the city’s main parks in the centre of town. The park was also full with people picnicking and exercising etc. The devotees organised everything wonderfully and on … Continue reading →

The ISKCON Indonesia National Council had it’s annual general meeting (AGM) in July just before the Rathayatra parade in Denpasar. This took place over a couple of days and representatives from Java, Sumatra, Lombok, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali and Iranian Jaya … Continue reading →

It was nice to be in Bali again. As usual, I visited the temples, gave class, led kirtan and met with the devotees. The last time I was at Jagannatha Gauranga temple, the leaders told me that the Lord Nrsimha … Continue reading →

It was in Srivasa Pandita’s house that Sri Caitanya enacted His pastimes of sankirtana. Those four brothers (Srivasa, Sri Rama, Sripati and Srinidhi) were continuously engaged in singing the names of Sri Krsna. They worshipped Sri Krsna and bathed in … Continue reading →

Sri Vakresvara Pandit was present with Sriman Mahaprabhu during His pastimes in Navadwipa and after his acceptance of Sannyasa he also accompanied Him to Jagannath Puri. During the time of the Lord’s residence in Puri he continued to live with … Continue reading →

On the full-moon day, sixteen days before Rathayatra, Lord Jagannatha is bathed. He becomes sick and is confined to rest for fourteen days. He is then offered special care until He comes out for Rathayatra. A special bath of Jagannatha takes place … Continue reading →

Bhimasena said to Srila Vyasadeva, “Only when I eat to my full satisfaction does the fire in my stomach become satisfied. Oh great sage, I might possibly be able to fast only once, so I beg that you tell me … Continue reading →

Disciples of Vedavyasapriya Maharaja organised a boat cruise for the devotees. I was also invited and more the 170 devotees booked on the boat named “The Lady” which left from Southport Marina on the Gold Coast. The cruise, which lasted … Continue reading →

Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana appeared in the 1600’s near Remuna, Orissa. In his youth, he mastered Sanskrit grammar, poetry, and logic. After carefully studying the commentaries of Sankara and Madhva he took initiation in the Tattva-vadi disciplic succession of Sripad Madhvacarya. … Continue reading →

On the last day of Purusottama month, many devotees in Adelaide assembled at the temple to worship and offer candles to the Lord. A deity of Lord Purusottama was placed on the altar and devotees came forward to worship Him, … Continue reading →

On a recent visit to New Gokula farm the devotees told me that the area was experiencing the worst drought in the last one hundred years. There had been some light rain but not enough to change the situation much. … Continue reading →

Shyamananda Krsna and family have been living in Newcastle for the last couple of years. Previously they were in Adelaide but moved when he got a new job as a lecturer at Newcastle University. The family started off in a … Continue reading →

The ancient Vedic calendar is calculated by the movement of the moon. Lunar months are shorter than solar months so every three years a month is added called Purushottama month.  Once, long ago, Sri Narada Muni reached Badrika Ashram, the … Continue reading →

The meeting of ISKCON Australia leaders takes place every year at one our temples or rural communities. This time it was held at ISKCON Mahaprabhu Mandira in Melbourne and went for three days. As usual, there was robust discussion about … Continue reading →

Every year, devotee leaders from around New Zealand meet at New Varshana, Auckland, for the AGM. This is held near the library at the school. Many devotees who live in the area, taking advantage of the leaders presence, come to … Continue reading →

On Friday before our AGM in Auckland, two devotees, Krishna das and Sangita Priya dasi had their wedding ceremony in the temple room. Both are from devotee families. Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha Giridhari, Jagannatha, Baladeva, Subhadra and Gaura Nitai … Continue reading →

ISKCON Wellington’s Higher Taste restaurant has been operating for many years and is still going strong. There are lots of people who come throughout the day, right up until 8.00pm, Monday to Saturday. TP Jagjivan took me in one evening … Continue reading →

Five hundred years ago in the district of Puri, in the village of Bentapur, there lived a great devotee named Bhavananda Raya. Bhavananda had five sons, the eldest of which was Ramananda. It is said that Lord Caitanya visited the birth-place of … Continue reading →

I was fortunate to be able to attend Lord Nrsimha’s appearance day festival at New Govardhan, which was a wonderful experience. Around five hundred devotees and guests participated in watching a play by the children, beautiful dance and sumptuous prasadam. … Continue reading →

Lord Nrsimhadeva’s appearance festival was celebrated with great enthusiasm at the Southport Centre on the Gold Coast. Over 100 devotees and guests came for the arati, lecture, drama, puspanjali, feast and prasadam. The drama was especially nice with some of … Continue reading →

The annual Brisbane Rathayatra is becoming a more popular festival every year. There were probably a thousand devotees and friends chanting and dancing in front of Lord Jagannatha as His cart was pulled through the streets of the city. Kalasamvara … Continue reading →

Madhu Pandit, a disciple of Sri Gadadhara Pandit, established the temple of Gopinatha in Vrndavana, India. Before Srinivasa Acharya, Narottama dasa Thakura, and Syamananda Prabhu went to bring the books of the Goswamis from Vrndavana to Bengal, Madhu Pandit blessed … Continue reading →

Sita devi, the wife of Lord Rama, was not born in the normal way, but of the Earth Goddess, Bhumi devi herself. In Maharishi Valmiki’s own words, Ramayana is known as the noble story of Sita — “Sita-Ayah Caritam Mahat”. … Continue reading →

Recently, I attended a fund raising dinner for the Sydney West temple construction project. The dinners are organised three times a year as a means to raise much needed laksmi. Special guest was my godbrother, Yasomatinandana das, who is the … Continue reading →

vedavyaso ya evasid daso vrindavano’dhuna sakha yah kusumapidah karyatas tam samavishat Srila Vedavyasa became Vrndavan Das Thakur. Krishna’s friend Kusumapida also entered into him for special purposes. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 109) Vrndavan Das Thakur’s famous book was first called Chaitanya Mangala, but … Continue reading →

I recently visited our New Gokula farm and although there has been a severe drought in the area for last few months, finally a good downpour of rain came. As you can see from the pictures, Radha Gokulananda’s cows and … Continue reading →

Christian, Mohammedan, Hindu – it doesn’t matter. If he is simply speaking on behalf of God, he is a guru. Lord Jesus Christ, for instance. He canvassed people, saying, “Just try to love God.” Anyone – it doesn’t matter who … Continue reading →

Feeling very sad (dukhi) over losing several children before his birth, his parents named him Dukhi Krishna Dasa. Upon taking diksha from Hrdaya Chaitanya he became known as Krishna Dasa. In Vrindavana, he joined Narottama Dasa Thakura and Shrinivasa Acharya … Continue reading →

The appearance of Lord Ramacandra, Rama Navami, is enthusiastically celebrated in India and around the world. The devotees in western Sydney invited me for the Rama Navami at a hall they hired for the evening. I led kirtana and gave … Continue reading →

On the way to the Saturday evening Brisbane temple program I stopped off for a lunch program at Rupa Vilasa’s house on the Gold Coast. He and and his family operate a preaching centre in Southport, which has been going … Continue reading →

Rupa Raghunatha is well known to devotees all over Australia. He has been regularly going out on book distribution for over 25 years. Some time ago he moved to Murwillumbah near our New Govardhana temple. When gurus, sannyasis and senior … Continue reading →

Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula at New Govardhan is in the process of constructing more high school facilities. This includes relevant earthworks and building of eight classrooms, science lab, art studio, hard court outdoor basketball court, play areas and a toilet block. … Continue reading →