Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

One of the most popular events in the holy town of Vrindavan, India – where Lord Krishna appeared 5,000 years ago – is the celebration of Jhulan Yatra, the Radha-Krishna swing festival. In Vrindavan among the local villagers and inhabitants … Continue reading →

subalo yah priya-sresthah sa gauridasa-panditah | In Vraja, Gauri Das Pandit was Subala, one of the twelve Gopals. He is one of Nityananda Prabhu’s dearest associates. (Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika 128) Gauri Das’s first residence was in the village known as Shaligram, not … Continue reading →

Many years ago, our function in the Gianyar region of Bali was held in Pradhyumna Prabhu’s house. A downstairs room served as the temple and we were graced with small Gaura Nitai deities. It was a remote location in the … Continue reading →

Vamsi Das Babaji was born in Majitpura in the subdivision of Kisoraganja in the district of Mayamanasimha. His father’s name was Sanatana Malovrahma. His former name was Bhairavacandra. According to usual custom, he married at an early age but 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. Mukunda Dasa Thakura was the doctor in the court of the muslim … Continue reading →

Srila Prabhupada gives the following information about Lokanatha Goswami: ” Lokanatha Goswami was a personal associate of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and a great devotee of the Lord.  He was a resident of a village named Talakhadi in the district of … Continue reading →

Shri Gopala 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. Shrila Gopala Bhatta Goswami lived for 75 years and left this world … Continue reading →

Guru Purnima is observed on the full moon day in the month of Ashadha in honour of the sage Vyasa, by keeping a fast, worshipping him for His blessings and to gain wisdom. Formerly on this day, gurus who were … Continue reading →

Sri Kumara-deva had many sons, amongst whom Sri Amar (Sanatana), Sri Santosh (Sri Rupa) and Sri Vallabha (Anupama) were great devotees. Sri Sanatana was born in the Christian year 1488 (Sakabda 1410). He, along with his brothers, began his studies … Continue reading →

As usual, Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi rode on Their newly renovated Ratha cart at New Govardhana starting near the bridge at the bottom of the hill. This year there were more devotees than ever, some even coming from … Continue reading →

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

Every year one month before caturmasya (four month period of the rainy season) Sivananda Sena would lead a party of two hundred devotees from Bengal to Jagannatha Puri to attend the annual Ratha-Yatra festival. He would pay for everyone’s food, tolls, ferries, … Continue reading →

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

Sri Sacidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura appeared in 1838 in a wealthy family in the Nadia district, West Bengal. He revealed that he is an eternal associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by his extraordinary preaching activities and prolific writing. Living as a … Continue reading →

Srivasa Thakura is understood as tatastha-shakti, a marginal energy of Bhagavan, Krishna in person. Devotees who are headed by Srivasa Thakura are described as ‘parts’ of transcendental body of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (his eyes, ears, hands, disc/cakra, etc.). They all participated in … Continue reading →

Once in the house of Srivasa Thakura Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sang while Vakresvara Pandit danced in constant ecstasy for seventy-two hours. At that time Lord Caitanya said, “Vakresvara, I have only one wing like you, but if I had another … Continue reading →

The Snana yatra bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannatha has become one of the most popular festivals on the Iskcon calendar over the years since His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada introduced it to the world outside of India. … Continue reading →

The Panihati Chida-dahi festival is a joyful celebration unique to the followers of the Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya. It originated around 500 years ago in the village of Panihati, situated 10 miles north of Kolkata in West Bengal. This festival is … Continue reading →

Once Bhimasena, asked the Srila Vyasadeva, the grandfather of the Pandavas, whether it was possible to return to the spiritual world without having observed fasting for Ekadashis. Bhimasena said to Vyasadeva, “O learned grandfather, my brothers Yudhisthira, Arjuna, Nakula and … Continue reading →

The temples in Bali like Radha Madhava and Radha Kunjabihari were constructed reflecting local Balinese architecture style and beauty. The weather is generally warm so the areas are left open and covered just enough to protect from the hot sun … Continue reading →

Most grhastha devotees in Bali have deities at home and according to their means worship them regularly. They are also very fond of arranging different types of yajnas, from vastu, Nrsimha and other types of ceremonies. I get numerous invitations … Continue reading →

Bali has six main Iskcon temples and of course a few smaller centres. It’s always a privilege visiting for darshan, kirtan, lectures and associating with devotees. Last week 63 Malaysian youth devotees stayed at our Radha Gopinatha temple in the … Continue reading →

Srimad Vrndavan dasa Thakura’s mother’s name was Sri Narayani Devi.  Narayani Devi was the daughter of Srivas Thakura’s brother.  After the disappeareance of  Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Srivas Thakura went to live in Kumar Hatta. Srivasa Thakura had three brothers: Sripati, … Continue reading →

Young devotees from the Jagannatha Gauranga Temple in Bali organized a camping trip at the beautiful lakes area, half way between Denpasar and Singaraja. The accommodation was comfortable cabin style and over one hundred youth and parents attended. Kavicandra Maharaja … Continue reading →

Akshaya Tritiya marks the beginning of Chandan yatra, in which the Lord is smeared with sandalwood paste due to the scorching heat of the summer season. This Chandan yatra festival is celebrated over a period of 21 days in which … Continue reading →

Five hundred years ago in the district of Puri, in the village of Bentapur adjacent to Brahmagiri Alalanatha, there lived a great devotee named Bhavananda Raya. Bhavananda had five sons, the eldest of which was Ramananda. Descendants of this family-line … Continue reading →

shri nrisimha, jaya nrisimha, jaya jaya nrisimha prahladesha jaya padma-mukha-padma bringa “All glories to Nrisimhadeva, who is the Lord of Prahlada Maharaja and, like the honey bee, is always engaged in beholding the lotus-like face of the goddess of fortune.” … Continue reading →

On May 1, 1977, the day before the festival honoring the appearance of Lord Nrisimha, Srila Prabhupada’s dear disciple Jayananda Dasa passed from this world. Shortly thereafter, Srila Prabhupada wrote in a letter, “Jayananda’s death is glorious. . . . … Continue reading →

Srimati Sita Devi is the daughter of the Earth goddess, Bhumi Devi, and central figure of the Ramayana. In Maharishi Valmiki’s own words, Ramayana is known as the noble story of Sita “Sita-ayah Charitam Mahat”. Janaka Maharaja did not have … Continue reading →

Shri Suryadasa Sarakhela had two daughters.  The older of the two was named Shri Vasudha and the younger was named Shri Jahnava.  The Gaura-Ganodesha-dipika says: shri varuni revatyoramshasambhave, tasya priye shrivasudha cha jahnava, shri suryadasakhya-mahatmanah sute, kakudmirupasya cha suryatejasah, kecit shri … Continue reading →

The very word Akshaya means, “that which never diminishes”. Any service or charity one performs on this day will be paid back many times over. On this day, Sudama gave the Lord a tiny portion of chipped rice and was … 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 →

This year’s Brisbane Rathayatra was attended by the largest number of devotees and friends yet. It was a rainy day but the weather didn’t dampen anyone’s enthusiasm to join in the parade and festivities in King George Square. Kalasamvara from … Continue reading →

Sri Abhirama Thakura, also known by the name Sri Rama das, was one of the twelve gopalas or cowherd boys, of Vraja. In the eternal lila he is Sridama, one of the key members of Krishna and Balarama’s gopas. One … Continue reading →

On the Caitra Purnima, the full moon day of the month of Caitra, Sri Vamsivadananda Thakura took birth within this world. It was a sweet moon and everyone sang in great joy at the appearance of such a great soul. … Continue reading →

Shri Shyamananda, Shrinvasa and Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura are all eternal associates of Shri Gaurasundara.  For the purpose of preaching the holy message of Sri Caitanya all over the earth they appeared within this world. Sri Syamananda made his appearance … Continue reading →

A few days on the weekend after the actual day of Rama Navami, the devotees from Toowoomba, a regional Queensland city, celebrated a festival in a local school sports stadium. It was well attended and everyone enjoyed kirtan, drama, dance, … Continue reading →

Sri Rama-navami is the holy birthday of Lord Sri Ramachandra. He is known as Maryada-purushottama for He always set an excellent example of how to be a king, husband and individual person. He appeared with His three brothers, Bharata, Laksmana … 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. Ramanuja passed his childhood days … Continue reading →

Govinda Ghosh was one of three brothers Govinda, Vasudev and Madhav, who were all dear associates of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu. According to Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (188), Sri Govinda Ghosh is a sakhi named Kalavati in Goloka Vrindavan who beautifully … Continue reading →