Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

Sri Advaita Acharya was born in 1434 in Nabagram, Bengal to Sri Kubera Pandit and Srimati Nabha devi. They were originally inhabitants of Nabagram village near Sri Hatta, but later moved to Santipura on the banks of the Ganga. When … Continue reading →

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

Shrila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura took birth in the year 1654 Shaka era (according to the Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidana, Part 3, p. 1370) within the Nadia district of West Bengal in a place called Prasiddha Deva Gram.  He appeared in the Radhiya … Continue reading →

Shri Lochana Dasa Thakura was a disciple of Shri Narahari Sarakara Thakura, a dearest associate of Lord Gaura Raya.  Lochana Dasa Thakura wrote Chaitanya Mangala which tells many pastimes of Lord Chaitanya not revealed by Vrindavana Dasa Thakura or Krishna … Continue reading →

Shri Jayadeva Goswami appeared in either the eleventh or twelfth century of the Shaka era. There is a difference of opinion about his place of birth. The majority opinion holds that he was from the village of Kendubilva, presently in … Continue reading →

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura has sung: “daya koro sri acarya prabhu srinivasa, ramacandra sanga mage narottama dasa—O Srinivasa acarya Prabhu, kindly have mercy upon me; Narottama dasa always prays for the association of  Ramacandra Kaviraja.” Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja was one … 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 →

In Vraja there was a dancer named Candrahasa who was very expert in the tasting of rasa. In Chaitanya-lila, he became Jagadisa Pandit who also took great pleasure in dancing for the Lord.(Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 143) Jagadisa Pandit is considered to be … Continue reading →

Appearing as the nephew of Sri Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis, Sri Jiva Gosvami displayed all the charming features of a mahapurusa (divine person). He had lotus eyes, a high nose and forehead, broad chest, long arms, and a radiant golden body.  In … Continue reading →

Shri Lochana Dasa Thakura was a disciple of Shri Narahari Sarakara Thakura, a dearest associate of Lord Gaura Raya. Lochana Dasa Thakura wrote Chaitanya Mangala which tells many pastimes of Lord Chaitanya not revealed by Vrindavana Dasa Thakura or Krishna … Continue reading →

Shri Lochana Dasa Thakura was a disciple of Shri Narahari Sarakara Thakura, a dearest associate of Lord Gaura Raya. Lochana Dasa Thakura wrote Chaitanya Mangala which tells many pastimes of Lord Chaitanya not revealed by Vrindavana Dasa Thakura or Krishna … Continue reading →

“He who was previously a very munificent cowherd boy has now appeared as Mahesa Pandita. In ecstatic love, he dances like a madman as though intoxicated to the beat of a kettle drum. [C.C. Adi 11.32] According to Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, Mahesa … Continue reading →

“He who was previously a very munificent cowherd boy has now appeared as Mahesa Pandita. In ecstatic love, he dances like a madman as though intoxicated to the beat of a kettle drum. [C.C. Adi 11.32] According to Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, Mahesa … Continue reading →

Sri Devananda Pandit used to live at Kuliya. He was a famous professional reciter of the Srimad Bhagavatam and many people used to study the Bhagavatam under his guidance.    One afternoon, Srivasa Pandita came to hear Devananda Pandit’s recitation … Continue reading →

HDG Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupada was born in the holy pilgrimage place of Jagannatha Puri to HDG Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, a great Vaisnava acarya in the line of succession coming from Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.  Although employed as … Continue reading →

The Perth temple devotees switched from having Rathayatra in Fremantle to down town Perth city. This was right in the main Murray Street mall area where there is a big stage set up, which the devotees took advantage of to … Continue reading →

When I recently visited Melbourne temple I was invited by Bhakta and Bhakti to come and join a couple of programs at the new Wyndham centre out in the west of town. This is in a warehouse rented by members … Continue reading →

Gita Jayanti is the auspicious day of the advent of Srimad Bhagavad-gita. This is the day on which Lord Krishna imparted the essence of Vedic knowledge to Arjuna over 5000 years ago and enlightened him about the ultimate goal of … Continue reading →

Srila Prabhupada explains, “At the beginning of winter, there is a ceremony known as the Odana-sasthi. This ceremony indicates that from that day forward, a winter covering should be given to Lord Jagannatha. That covering is directly purchased from a … Continue reading →

Vraja’s Nāndimukhi became Sāraṅga Ṭhākura in Gaura-lila. Śrī Saranga Ṭhākura is mentioned in the listing of branches of the Chaitanya trunk of the tree of devotional service along with Rama Das, Kavidatta, Gopal Das and Bhāgavata Acharya (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.10.113). … Continue reading →

Srila Kaviraja Goswami writes (Chaitanya Charitamrta-lila Adi 11:37.) that Kaliya Krishna Dasa Thakura was one of the principle devotees of Nityananda Prabhu. He knew nothing other than the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. According to Srila Kavi Karnapura’s Gaura-Ganodesha-Dipika … Continue reading →

 Shri Narahari Sarkar Thakura was born at Shri Khanda. Shri Narahari Sarkar Thakura participated in all of Shri Gaurasundara’s pastimes. Bhakti Ratnakara states: “Shri Sarkar Thakura’s glories are most uncommon. In Braja he is known as Madhumati, whose good qualities are … Continue reading →

All the unmarried gopīs in Vṛndāvana used to daily worship goddess Kātyāyanī early in the morning after taking a bath in the river Yamunā. Kātyāyanī is another name for goddess Durgā. The goddess is worshiped by preparing a doll made of … Continue reading →

Shri Nimbarka Acharya comes in the line of the Kumara Sampradaya and is believed to have lived around the 11th and 12th centuries. Born in the modern Murgarapattam in the southern Dravidian province, he was the son of Aruni and … Continue reading →

Paramahamsa Srila Gaura Kisora Das Babaji Maharaj was born into a Vaisya family on the banks of the Padma River in Bagayana village in Faridpur district in what is now Bangladesh. The names of his parents are unknown. His given … Continue reading →

It is stated in the Kārttika-māhātmya section of the Padma Purāṇa: śuklāṣṭamī kārttike tu smṛtā gopāṣṭamī budhaiḥ tad-dinād vāsudevo ‘bhūd gopaḥ pūrvaṁ tu vatsapaḥ The eighth lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kārttika is known by … Continue reading →

Srila Prabhupada residing in the holy Dham of Sri Vrindavan, on Monday November 14th, 1977, at 7:30 pm., which fell upon the Caturthi of the Gaura (Sukla) Paksa, Mula nakshatra, gave up this mortal frame surrounded by loving disciples engaged … Continue reading →

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.25, explains that Lord Krishna performed Go-puja, worship of cows, as part of Govardhan-puja celebrations which falls the day after Diwali. ‘Go’ means ‘cows’ and ‘vardhana’ means ‘nourishment’. Thus, Govardhan Puja means nourishing the cows. On this day, … Continue reading →

The word Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word of Deepavali, which means a “row or a string of lights”. Diwali or Deepavali marks the victory of light over darkness. There are many different historical events and stories co-relating to … Continue reading →

After killing a bull-demon named Aristasura, Krishna approached Radharani to engage in loving affairs. However, She rebuked Him, stating He was impure because of committing the sin of killing a bull, the symbol of religion. She suggested that to counteract … Continue reading →

Narottama Dasa Thakura wrote many devotional songs about the spiritual master, the Devotees, devotional service, the six Goswamis, Gaura-Nityananda and Radha-Krishna. Although composed with sweet melodies in simple Bengali language, Narottama Dasa’s songs give shastric siddhanta and devotional inspiration. Srila … Continue reading →

Kartik, or the month of Damodar, is considered the best of months and is most auspicious for spiritual advancement. In the Skanda Purana it is stated: “As Satya-yuga is the best of yugas, as the Vedas are the best of … 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 →

Worship of the goddess Durgā is mentioned this way in Brahma-saṁhitā. We should worship the demigods in that spirit. Because the goddess Durgā satisfies Kṛṣṇa, we should therefore offer respects to goddess Durgā. SB 5.7.6, Purport:  Demigod worship is mentioned in Brahma-saṁhitā, … Continue reading →

Many devotees saw Srila Prabhupada drive away small and large dogs by raising his cane and crying out, “Hut!”  When Nanda Kumara was travelling with Prabhupada, he saw Prabhupada do this in a dangerous situation and later he had the opportunity … 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 go … Continue reading →

Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.13.13) states, “If on the full moon day of the month of Bhadra one places Srimad-Bhagavatam on a golden throne and gives it as a gift, he will attain the supreme transcendental destination.” As explained in the purport, “One should place Srimad-Bhagavatamon a … Continue reading →

The divine appearance day of Srimati Radharani, the eternal consort of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Radhastami is a very special day for all the Gaudiya Vaishnavas, as by obtaining the mercy of Srimati Radharani one can easily achieve … Continue reading →

The second day of the Seattle Rathayatra festival continued in the park at Redmond Shire. Thousands of people came through on both days to enjoy stage kirtana, dance and delicious prasadam. There were stalls featuring Srila Prabhupada’s books, Deity darshan, … Continue reading →