Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

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 →

Śrīvāsa Thakura was a close associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and a member of the Pancha Tattva. 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 … Continue reading →

After Sydney, I visited our Perth temple over Easter and the devotees organized a retreat for that holiday period. This was at the Bickley Camp in the hills, which was only 30 minutes from the temple. There were about 100 … Continue reading →

Gaura Purnima is the appearance anniversary of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is Krsna Himself in the role of His own devotee. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was born in Mayapur in the town of Nadia just after sunset on the evening of … Continue reading →

Buddhimanta prabhu, our host and one of the leaders at Iskcon Noida, Delhi, arranged that I take prasadam at the temple restaurant and give a class in the evening. I went to the opening of our Noida temple about 10 … Continue reading →

Shukratal is a holy town about 2-3 hours (72 km) from Haridwar on the banks of Ganges River in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. Srila Sukadeva Goswami spoke sacred Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana) to Maharaja Pariksit (the grandson of Arjuna and … Continue reading →

Hrishik means senses and ish means master or lord. Hence the word means lord of the senses or Lord Vishnu. The sage Raibhya conquered his senses and attained darshana of Lord Vishnu, the conqueror of senses. Hence the place is … Continue reading →

Located at the foothills of the Himalayas, Haridwar is a city of temples and ashrams and its pious ambience envelops everyone. Haridwar is one of the four holy Indian cities that host the Kumbha Mela, a pious gathering of millions … Continue reading →

It’s been a number of years since the last Sannyasi, Guru, GBC sanga in Mayapur, but it was nice to have such senior association once again in the holy dhama. Srila Prabhupada wanted the devotees to come regularly to Mayapur … Continue reading →

The festivities never end at Sridham Mayapur. The day after the opening of the TOVP Lord Nrsimha wing, there was a grand abhiseka of Panca Tattva, which thousands of devotees attended. The deity bathing went for a more than three … Continue reading →

The opening of the Lord Nrsimha wing at the TOVP was a grand affair. The ceremonies went for three days but the main day was especially spectacular. The devotees also saw how the alters and deities will look in the … Continue reading →

In honour of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s 150th Vyasapuja, the Mayapur management organized a festival that was observed in a huge pandal at the back of Panca Tattva temple. As the event went on, devotees could hardly fit inside. There … Continue reading →

The GBC thought it would be a good idea to meet face to face in Mayapur with Iskcon temple presidents from around the world. Those who couldn’t make it came on via Zoom and cameras and big screens were set … Continue reading →

I had the wonderful opportunity of participating in Lord Nityananda’s appearance celebration at Sri Sri Radha Syamasundara temple in Adelaide. Srila Prabhupada has written in Chaitanya Charitamrta: Srila Nityananda Prabhu was born in the village of Ekacakra, in the district … 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 →

Madhvacharya took his birth in a brahmana (priestly) family at Udupi, a South Indian town on the Arabian Sea. There are some amazing stories surrounding Madhva’s early life. It is said that his father piled up many debts and that … Continue reading →

maha-vishnur jagat-karta mayaya yah srijaty adahtasyavatara evayam advaitacarya ishvarahadvaitam harinadvaitad acaryam bhakti-shasanatbhaktavataram isham tam advaitacaryam ashraye Maha Vishnu is the master of the universe, which He creates through his power of Maya. Advaita Acharya is the incarnation of this form … Continue reading →

Vasanta Pancami, observed February 13th, from ‘Ananda Vrindavana-campu’ by Srila Kavi Karnapura.  The Holi festival is celebrated in Vraja from the Vasanta Pancami until a few days after Phalguna Purnima (Gaura Purnima). During this time Nanda Maharaja gives Krishna and … Continue reading →

The Supreme Lord Visnu has three different Saktis: Sri, Bhu, and Nila. Sri Vishnupriya 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 →

The New Varshana devotees weren’t able to arrange the annual Holi festival, firstly because of the COVID, and last year there was a cyclone that flooded many parts of Auckland. However, this year was a grand success with over 10,000 … Continue reading →

It was great to be back at Sri Sri Radha Giridhari temple (New Varshana) Auckland. The deities were exquisite, as always, and the paddocks, flower gardens and fruit trees were looking wonderful. The number of students at the school has … Continue reading →

Jayadeva Gosvāmī was a contemporary of King Ballāla Sena, who greatly honoured him. Jayadeva’s bhajana-kuṭī was on the Gaṅgā’s eastern bank some distance from Ballāla Sena’s royal palace, but when an obstacle arose in his bhajana, he left there with … Continue reading →

“Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, the forty-seventh branch, was one of the great and exalted branches of the tree. He always engaged in discourses about love of Godhead in the company of Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami.” “Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami … Continue reading →

Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja was one of the internal associates of Narottama Thakura. The two of them were practically inseparable. Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja had obtained the full mercy and blessings of Srinivasa acarya. Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja’s father’s name was Ciranjiva Sena—his … Continue reading →

Srila Prabhupada once explained the festival this way: “Krishna was just a toy in the hands of the Gopis, so one day the Gopis decided that we shall decorate Him. Pusya abhisheka means a ceremony to decorate the deity profusely … Continue reading →