Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

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 →

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura prayed to Lord Caitanya to send him an assistant and a successor from the Lord’s personal staff of preachers. Answering the prayer of the Thakura, a son was born to him on February 6th, 1874 while he was serving as the … Continue reading →

akumara-brahmacari sarva-tirtha-darshiparama-bhagavatottamah shrila-narottama-dasa     A brahmachari for his entire life, Narottama Das visited all the places of pilgrimage. He was on the highest platform of devotional achievement. (Bhakti-ratnakara 1.256) Narottama Thakur was Champaka Manjari in Krishna-lila. Eternally assisting Rupa Manjari … Continue reading →

Nityananda Prabhu appeared in the village of Ekachakra, in West Bengal, India, around 1474. In the Caitanya Caritamrita and other scriptures He is declared to be the avatar of Lord Balarama, the direct expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, … Continue reading →

Shri Madhvacharya appeared 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 tiger attacked Madhvacharya’s sannyasa disciple, Satya Tirtha. Madhvacharya wrestled … Continue reading →

Advaita Acharya appeared in fifteenth century Bengal, India, as a teacher of Krishna consciousness. He is frequently mentioned in the biography of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Chaitanya Charitamrita, as an intimate associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and as an avatar of Krishna (specifically … Continue reading →

Raghunatha Dasa was born around 1416 Shaka (1494 AD) in the town of Saptagram in Hooghly district of West Bengal. He was the only son of his father Govardhana Majumdar a wealthy landlord of the area. Govardhana Majumdar’s elder brother … Continue reading →

sri-sanatana-misro’yad pura satrajito napa vinˆupriya jagan-mata yat-kanya bhu-svarupiˆi He who was King Satrajit in Krishna lila was Sanatan Mishra in Chaitanya lila.The mother of the universe, the incarnation of the Lord’s bhu-sakti,is his daughter Vishnupriya. (Gaura-gaˆoddesa-dipika 47) Krishna married Satyabhama, … Continue reading →

He who was previously known in Vraja as Vrishabhanu, is known here as Sri Pundarikaksha Vidyanidhi. When Mahaprabhu was in his own mood as Krishna and felt the pain of separation from Radha, he would call him “father!”. Gaurachandra was … 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 Locana Dasa Thakura appeared in this world in 1520 A.D., thirty-four years after the appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Locana Dasa wrote a biography on Lord Caitanya, entitled Sri Caitanya Mangala, and he wrote many devotional songs. Sri Locana … Continue reading →

Approximately three hundred years before the appearance of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Jayadeva Goswami lived in Bengal.  Jayadeva was the court pandit of Sri Lakshman Sena, the King of Bengal. Jayadeva’s father was named Bhojadeva, and his mother’s name was Bamadevi. They … 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 →

Gopal 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. Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami lived for 75 years and left this world to … Continue reading →

During the morning puja, or worship, the Deity or a salagrama is bathed in pure ghee. Srila Prabhupada once explained the festival this way: “Krishna was just a toy in the hands of the Gopis, so one day the Gopis … Continue reading →

The second most popular mela after Kumbha Mela is the Ganga Sagar Mela. It is India’s biggest fair held in Sagardwip, West Bengal and witnesses a large number of people pouring in.  Celebrated with great vigour and enthusiasm, the festival … Continue reading →

“The thirty-first branch was Jagadisa Pandita, and the thirty-second was Hiranya Mahasaya, unto whom Lord Caitanya in His childhood showed His causeless mercy.“ Jagadisa Pandita was formerly a great dancer in Krsna Lila and was known as Candrahāsa. He belonged to the village of Yaśaḍā-grama, in the … Continue reading →

Srila Jiva Goswami was the nephew of Srila Rupa and Sanatana Goswami. He was the son of their brother Anupama. According to some sources, he was born in the year 1511 at the village of Ramakeli where Lord Chaitanya first … Continue reading →

Srila Locana Dasa Thakura appeared in this world in 1520 A.D., thirty-four years after the appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Locana Dasa wrote a biography on Lord Caitanya, entitled Sri Caitanya Mangala, and he wrote many devotional songs. Sri Locana … Continue reading →

Mahesa Pandita used to dance in the ecstasy of krsna-prema just like a madman. In the Gaura-ganodesa-dipika it is written that in vraja-lila he was the cowherd boy named Sriman Mahabahu. He was an especially close friend of Nityananda Prabhu, … Continue reading →

Devananda Pandita lived in Nabadwipa-dhama, in the section known as Kuliya, or Koladwipa (near where the present-day Sri Caitanya Saraswata Math of Srila Sridhara Maharaja is now located). Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu used him to manifest the glories of Srimad-Bhagavatam to … Continue reading →

Jesus Christ was such a great personality—the son of God, the representative of God. He had no fault. Still, he was crucified. He wanted to deliver God consciousness, but in return they crucified him—they were so thankless. They could not … 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 →