Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

lokanathakhya-gosvami shri-lila-manjari pura    Lokanatha Goswami was known as Lila Manjari in Krishna lila. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 187)    Lokanatha is considered to be Mahaprabhu’s direct disciple and associate. Prior to coming to Navadwip, he lived in the village of Talakharii in … Continue reading →

Shri Vyenkatta Bhatta was a Vaishnava brahmana and an inhabitant of Shri Rangakshetra. He belonged in the disciplic succession of Shri Ramanujacharya. Shri Rangam is one of the places of pilgrimage in the province of Tamila-desha. The inhabitants of that … Continue reading →

Sri Sanatana Gosvami appeared in 1488, five years before Sri Rupa Gosvami, in a Sarasvata brahmana family in Bengal. Sanatana and his two brothers, Rupa and Anupama, were always absorbed in bhava bhakti from early childhood. Remembering Vrndavana, they named the forests … Continue reading →

In the greater Sydney area there are many Bhakti Vrksa and Nama Hatta programs amongst the devotee community. Every month one group, in the Glenfield area, has a program in the community centre there. Venu Vadak prabhu, who is one … Continue reading →

The great festival of Hera Panchami is held on the fifth day after Rathayatra. Lord Jagannatha departs the temple in Jagannatha Puri (representing Dwarka) on the day of the Rathayatra and travels to the Gundica temple (representing Vrindavan). Before departing, … 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 →

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 →

For many years the country town of Lismore has had its annual “lantern festival and parade” with tens of thousands of people filling the streets and parks. Over the last few years the festival has had to be cancelled because … Continue reading →

Srila Srivasa Pandit, the fifth member of the Panca-tattva, appeared in Srihatta, West Bengal, about 30 years before the appearance of Lord Gauranga. Srivasa Pandit lived in Navadvip before the advent of Lord Chaitanya.  Living the traditional brahminical life, he … Continue reading →

CC Adi 6.49-50: Śrīvāsa, Haridāsa, Rāmadāsa, Gadādhara, Murāri, Mukunda, Candraśekhara and Vakreśvara are all glorious and are all learned scholars, but the sentiment of servitude to Lord Caitanya makes them mad in ecstasy. In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (71) it is stated that Vakreśvara … Continue reading →

Srila Shyamananda Prabhu was a great devotee of Lord Chaitanya. He was a contemporary of the great Acharyas Srinivasa Acharya and Narottama Dasa Thakura. The three were eternal associates of Lord Chaitanya incarnated to spread His teachings after the Lord’s … Continue reading →

Snana-yatra is an important pastime of Lord Jagannatha. On this day, Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra allow Themselves to be bathed by all following the original tradition of worship at Jagannatha Puri. This bathing goes on for a few hours in the … Continue reading →

The Chida-dadhi Mahotsava, also known as the Chipped Rice Festival of Panihati, is a yearly celebration of the pastimes of Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami and Lord Nityananda Prabhu. This astonishing pastime took place on the banks of the Ganges at … Continue reading →

Shrimad Baladev Vidyabhusan Prabhu was a pure devotee of the highest order, who cared for nothing but the service of the Lord.  He didn’t have a spot of desire for name and fame. He was the composer of many scriptures … Continue reading →

From her childhood Princess Sachi devi, the daughter of King Naresh Narayana of Bengal, showed unalloyed devotion to Lord Sri Krishna. She even refused to marry on account of her genuine attachment to Krishna. After her father’s demise she ruled … Continue reading →

All glories to the Vyas of Chaitanya Lila, Srila Vrindavan das thakur, a dear devotee of Shri Chaitnaya Mahaprabhu and the disciple of Shrila Nityananda Prabhu, who wrote the Sri Chaitanya bhagawat, a book greatly treasured by all the vaishnavas. … Continue reading →

All glories to the Vyas of Chaitanya Lila, Srila Vrindavan das thakur, a dear devotee of Shri Chaitnaya Mahaprabhu and the disciple of Shrila Nityananda Prabhu, who wrote the Sri Chaitanya bhagawat, a book greatly treasured by all the vaishnavas. … Continue reading →

The Gauraganoddesadipika (120-124) states that Ramananda Raya was Arjuna in his past incarnation.He is also considered to have been an incarnation of the gopi Lalita, although in the opinion of others he was an incarnation of Visakha devi.He was a … Continue reading →

Before Lord Caitanya appeared He sent His eternal associates like Sri Advaita Acarya, Sri Jagannatha Misra, Saci Mata, Madhavendra Puri, Isvari Puri to earth. Sri Madhavendra Puri took initiation from Sri Laksmipati Tirtha in the Madhvacarya sampradaya.  He had many but … 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 →

Janaka Maharaja did not have any children, so the Brahmins suggested to him to do a hola-yajna.  “You take a plough and draw a line around the palace.  When you move the plough, it will get stuck in the mud, and every time it gets stuck you … Continue reading →

Maharaj Bhagiratha had, after great penances, been successful in bringing the most purifying Mother Ganges, whose waters wash the lotus feet of the Lord and are therefore his charanamrita, from the heavenly planets to this earth for the purpose of … Continue reading →

Very important, and related to the name of the festival itself, is the presentation of the Akshaya Patra to Draupadi by Lord Krishna during the visit of numerous saintly guests, including the sage Durvasa. During their exile in the forest, the Pandava princes were famished due to the … Continue reading →

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

vedavyaso ya evasid daso vrindavano’dhuna sakha 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) Vedavyasa described Krishna-lila in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Non-different from Vyasa, Vrindavan Das … Continue reading →

Shri Abhirama Gopal Thakura  was also known as Shri Rama Das. He was a great Devotee of Lord Nityananda.  On the order of Shri Nityananda Prabhu, he became a great acharya and preacher of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. He was a very … 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 in 1466, and everyone sang in great joy at the appearance of such a … Continue reading →

Tulasi Jala Dan can be followed for one month during the hot season in the northern hemisphere. One may hang a pot with a hole in it, fill it with water and drip water over Tulasi and Shaligrama Shila. As … 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 Ramacandra exemplifies an incarnation of Godhead who descends for … Continue reading →

Some disciples of HH Vedavyasapriya Maharaja invited Vasusrestha and I on a boat cruise leaving from a wharf on the Gold Coast. I had been on a few others with Maharaja in Auckland, Brisbane and Melbourne so I knew there … Continue reading →

Ramanujacharya is also known as Ramanuja. He was born in 11th century around 1017 in a Tamil Brahmin family in Sriperumbudur village of Tamil Nadu. His birth name was Lakshmana and was also referred as Ilaya Perumal, that is, ‘the … Continue reading →

Vedavyasapriya Maharaja and I were invited to the wedding ceremony of Gokul Krsna and Natasha at the Beenleigh Events Centre. Both of us attended their engagement a few years back so we were fortunate to be at the wedding. I … Continue reading →

Govinda Ghosh was one of the 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 … Continue reading →

Sri Srivasa Thakur is incarnation of Narada muni. He appeared in Shrihatta and lived there along with his 3 brothers Sripati, Srinidhi and Srirama. The four brothers after sometime came to live in Mayapur – at the house of Srivasa … Continue reading →

The festival of Jagannath Mishra is an observance of the Jata karma samskara for baby Nimai (Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu). Following the fast for Gaura Purnima, which is broken upon the rising of the moon, the next day is held for … Continue reading →

Gaura Purnima is the auspicious appearance day of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (who is also known as Gauranga due to His golden complexion). The Supreme Lord Sri Krishna appeared as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to establish Sankirtana (chanting of the Holy Names) … Continue reading →

During Nityananda Prabhu’s tour of all the holy places of India for the purpose of purifying them, by the will of providence, he happened to meet Madhavendra Puripada somewhere in western India. When Nityananda Prabhu saw Madhavendra Puri he fainted … Continue reading →

Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj appeared in this world at a village in a part of India which is now Bangladesh. He was born in a wealthy family.  Later in his life he was initiated by Jagadananda Goswami. His guru … Continue reading →

Every lunar month on the 13th or 14th day of the dark half of the moon phase there is a Shivaratri but in the Vedic month of Phalgun (February-March) there is a Maha Shivaratri. The ceremony takes place mainly at night, which … Continue reading →

From the time he was a small boy, Purusottama dasa Thakura was dedicated to constantly meditating on the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. In Caitanya-Caritamrta (C.C. adi 11.38—39), Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami has written: “The twenty-third and twenty fourth prominent … Continue reading →