New Goloka Community Report for 2024 – Presented by HH Bir Krishna Goswami Today, we have a special presentation by various devotees who are contributing to the New Goloka community. I’ll begin with some philosophy before introducing the presentations. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness was founded by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
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This video features HG Akandadhi Prabhu discussing Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (SB 1.9.40) and Bhīṣmadeva’s final moments, focusing on meditation on Krishna at death. It highlights Bhīṣma’s detachment, devotion, and the importance of remembering Krishna. Akandadhi explains devotional practices, the eternal nature of consciousness, and falling in love with Krishna through sincere devotion and persistent practice.
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So, the question is that due to various experiences in life where the mind has become become somewhat averse to everything mundane, I feel attracted more to the impersonal and there are also statements from scripture which seem to point toward it. Like there’s that absolute has not a sampati maasti or naithi naithi. There’s something more beyond this. This is not the ultimate. So, see first is that we need to always look at ourselves positively.

Ultimately, we are our only asset. In the sense that, just as we need to have a healthy relationship with others, similarly, we need to have a healthy relationship with ourselves. And that means, we need to understand that this is where I am at and appreciate that this far we have come. So, for example, if we have had bad experiences in relationships and interactions with people, it is, we could react to that in 3 broad ways. In sattva, rajas, and tamas.

In tamas, one can become hateful of the whole world, or one can just start feeling sorry for oneself. And just it becomes some people just burning with resentment and anger and hatred. They can’t don’t do anything about it, but just as soon as they start talking, there’s so much poison in their heart that comes out. So in general, everyone gets a raw deal in life. And of course, some people may suffer much more than others, no doubt about it.

But everyone gets feels that I have not been treated properly by others. That feeling is there, but more importantly is how we respond. In rajaogona, the person becomes very power hungry, where I will become so strong that no one will be able to mess with me in the future. And then, they just that becomes their single-minded quest. And unfortunately, power doesn’t really fulfill that promise or address that need, but that becomes one reaction.

In Sathva, one starts realizing that actually what I’m looking for is not only to be found in this world and in the relationship with the people in this world. There has to be something more in life. So, in one sense, detachment and resentment are very opposite. Resentment is, I don’t want things to be like this, but I don’t have the power to do anything about it. So I’m burning inside.

I can’t do anything to change these things. But detached so resentment is more like, I am not good enough for the world. That is resentment. Detachment is the world is not good enough for me. There has to be something more to life.

So broadly, even if one is attracted to the impersonal, it is, if it is not filled with too much negativity toward the world and toward the people in it, then that is a sattvic reaction. If it is filled with too much negativity toward the world, then that could be tamasik. And then the key to that is try to cultivate more sattva kona. I read more about how everybody in life goes through difficulties, and that we need to work to go beyond those difficulties. So by that we learn and grow.

That’s one aspect to it. Okay? So to have a positive relationship toward yourself means see that whatever we have come to is a good place. We come to sattvic level of realisation. And now, beyond that, what is the nature of the ultimate reality?

That there is something beyond this world. And what is it? So, if anyone gets any understanding, there has to be something more beyond this. That is auspicious thing. Krishna in 6/14, the Bhagavita says that such people are kalyana krut kashit.

That you know, there are such few people, not many who can do this. They are kalyana krut. They are engaged in auspicious work. And this includes all kinds of seekers, not just bhakti yogis, but even gyan yogis, dhyana yogis. Anybody who is seeking something beyond this world is well situated.

And Krishna says such people will never meet within auspiciousness. That neither in this world nor in the next world will they ever meet with destruction and nor will they meet with any inauspiciousness. So, appreciate that the experiences of your life have brought you to a positive place where you have become detached from the things of this world and you are focused on something higher. Now, regarding the nature of the higher, at this point, it is possible that our understanding may be more reactionary than revelatory. Revelatory means we have got some higher experience.

Revelation Not revolution, revelation. Revelation means it is some realization, some higher experience. So revelation. And reactionary means based on the reaction to what has happened to us in this world. These 2 are very different things.

So when it is reactionary, at that time, it is not very healthy. Because it’s often some people have had bad experience with dogs. Suppose some dog has bitten them. They hate all dogs. I’ll never have a dog as a pet.

Okay. That’s good. There’s no need for a pet research in life. But that doesn’t mean all animals are bad. Doesn’t mean all dogs are bad.

So reactionary is little short sighted. It may be based on what we have experienced in life, but reactionary conceptions. You did this to me, so I’ll do that to you. So, reactionary conceptions are not very evolved. That is how, hatred and biases and prejudice happen.

You know, you did this to me like this, your family did this to me, therefore I will destroy your entire kul. And hate wars start like that. So at this stage, it is possible that our conception of the spiritual may be based a little bit more on reaction. So, rather than worrying too much, is it that right now I don’t feel attracted towards the personal and the spiritual and the personal activities over there? So don’t worry too much about that lack of attraction.

Right now, we’re just moving from the material towards the spiritual. So don’t see that you are following this path or that path. The difference between personal and impersonal, it is important, but when we are caught in the material world, that may not be the most important thing. See, we can understand that there is some higher reality that is guiding our life. Isn’t it?

So that is not very difficult to understand. So now whether that higher reality is personal, impersonal, let’s put it aside. There is some higher reality guiding our life and by that higher reality we have come to some spiritual path. So rather than thinking I am following this path, think that it is that higher divinity that has opened this path for me. Let me explore this path right now, diligently.

And if this path is right for me, well and good. If this path is not right for me, I’ll get that understanding. So, the desire to be alone or the desire to not want to engage in activities, that could be possibly an indication of our deep inner inclination itself, or it could be just a result of the kind of people we have met and the kind of experiences we have had with people. We don’t know which one it is right now. So let’s be open and focus more on just moving ahead in life.

So continue the path you are following and just be open to what experiences come, what realizations come, how we move forward. So, over a period of time, that same ultimate reality, same God who has brought us here will take us ahead from here also. To this point where we have been brought, from this point we will be taken ahead. That’s one side of it. Now the other side of it will be that as far as scriptural statements are concerned.

We can discuss them more in detail, but I’ll just give some broad ideas. See the Naithi, Naithi is generally to move from the material toward higher reality that the forms of this world are not the ultimate thing. The taste of this world are not the ultimate thing. There has to be something more in life. So now, does that pen and the forms of the spiritual world also fall in that category?

Maybe, maybe not. The key difference is that when we have no experience of a spiritual form right now. We have no experience of spiritual activities. We may come to a temple and we may feel a little peaceful, we may feel a little nice, but what is actually spiritual love? That is a very different experience.

Because right now, almost all the relationship that we have experienced have some level of selfishness within them. And to have experienced relationship beyond, this is not easy. So that’s why rather than making a categorical decision about what we want to do, just continue on in your practice right now. And if you continue on that practice, then it will be revealed to you. So with respect to, naithi means that what we have in this world, there is something more than that.

Now, in the scriptures only, where there are descriptions, for example, of this world being false, forms being false, in those same scriptures there is also description of some higher reality. There are great saints who are worshipping a form. There are of course, impersonalists, but there are also saints worshipping a form. Isn’t it? So there are both conceptions of reality that are described.

And natasya pratimaasti. Now what does that mean? Pratima is a representation. So with respect to the spiritual and the material, there are 2 different connections or with respect to God and forms in the world. There is a representation and there is a manifestation.

They are 2 different things. So in the Chetan sartham there is verse pratimanahitumi sakshatvajendraannam. That is prayers being made to the deity, you are not a pratima. You are actually the Lord Himself. So, what is the meaning of a Pratima?

This is a built conceptual. I’ll try to explain it. See, there are two kinds of representations. There is bottom up and top down. Bottom up means what?

See the concept of nationhood. Say India love for India patriotism. Now feel patriotic. You tell them, someone. How do you feel patriotic?

There has to be some symbol. So we have the flag. We see the flag, we salute. Right? Saluting is a way, saluting the flag is a way of expressing the emotion.

So now, emotion is inside us and the concept of nation or it’s it’s a little abstract. We have a physical map. But you know, we don’t look at the map and salute the map. We need some representation. For the flag is Indian flag is for example having 3 colors.

Now if tomorrow India becomes very industrially progressed, or we become more of a service economy, we may decide that, no, we don’t want the green colour in our flag. Because the we are not so much of a economic we are not so much of a farming economy. Now we may decide we want to have some other colour, say, a white colour which indicates or a black colour which indicates technology. I assume. So now can we change the colour of the flag?

We can, you know. Does the Indian government have to pass a resolution? The color of the flag will be changed. So the connection between the flag and the country, that is a result of the human imagination. There is no intrinsic connection between the America has a particular flag.

They can change the flag by a by a resolution of their parliament. So there are some symbols which can be changed. So your our school might have a particular sim symbol. Like, there are people who are in branding companies. A company is a particular logo.

When you see the logo, we remember that company. But some of the company want to rebrand themselves. They’ll change their logo. So between the logo and the company, there is no intrinsic connection. The logo can be changed.

The company will still remain the same. This is one kind of symbolism. And this is referred to as pratima. Pratima means, there is some abstract reality which we can’t really connect with, and so we have a symbol. We have some representation, some image which connects the 2.

But there is another kind of representation. Let’s say the photo of a person. Now the photo of the person is not exactly the person. You cannot talk with the photo and the photo will talk back to you. But now if if, husband is working on a traveling job, and he comes back home and his wife is taking cleaning his clothes, she sees in his wallet, there is a picture of some other woman other than him.

What is this? Hey, you know, actually I am thinking of you only, but I skipped a picture of someone else. Now, that won’t work. Isn’t it? There is a intrinsic connection between the picture of the person and the person.

So, this is not a connection of imagination. So, when we talk about the deity of the Lord, the deity of the Lord is directly connected with the form of the Lord. So, it is not a pratima and the word used for this is vigraha. So, pratima and vigraha, they are like the difference between representation and manifestation. So, pratima is representation and one thing can have some pratima and pratima can be changed, but the manifestation is not the pratima.

Manifestation is directly that person appearing in a particular way over here. So, when the scripture says that, no, natya satyapati maasti. What it means is don’t represent that higher reality in your own way over here. That don’t concoct the images of it. So that is a universal prohibition.

Don’t imagine how it is like. But when it is described in scripture, we can certainly build on that. So that way, it is a scriptural statement. There can be a lot of analysis that can be done. If you want, I have written a book on this topic called Idle Worship or Ideal Worship.

So, the idea of the form of God, the idea of can the ultimate reality have a form at all? All these things I have elaborately discussed over there. So, if you want you can have a look at that book also. But broadly speaking, it is that say somebody who is in, you are right now in junior college, assume. No, no, assume you are in junior college.

Then if there is 2 Nobel laureates who have 2 different theories of physics, you know somebody has quantum physics, one interpretation, somebody has another interpretation. The student in a junior college doesn’t really have to worry who is right right now. See, there is one famous physicist who said that, there is this kind of debate. He said, the opposite of a normal truth is a falsehood. It is true and it is false.

But the opposite of one great truth is another great truth. The other great truth is not a false. This is also true, this is also true, they are from different perspectives. So that the ultimate reality is personal is the truth. The ultimate reality is impersonal.

That is also truth. It is not that the absolute truth is only this or only that. It is both. So, right now you may not be attracted towards the impersonal more than the personal. But is this something on which you want to build your lifelong commitment?

Maybe, maybe not. Just focus on your spiritual growth right now. Like you are in junior college, in Physics, just continue on college, complete your junior college, complete your senior college. By that your understanding of Physics will improve and then you can decide whether this scientist theory is right or that scientist theory is right and you can commit at that time. Right now, don’t let it discourage you in your spiritual journey.

And in the spiritual group that we have, we can keep growing. Try to understand, it’s not accident that you have come to a particular path right now. It is by some divine arrangement and just explore this path and see how it helps you to grow as a person. How it evolves helps you evolve your understanding of the ultimate reality and then take whatever decision you want. Okay?

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Kalakantha Prabhu discusses SB 1.9.27-28, focusing on duties of kings, women, devotees, and charity. Charity, a householder’s duty, purifies energy when offered to Krishna. Leadership requires high character; poor leadership degrades society. Women’s role in nurturing is vital in protected environments. Spiritual life is personal and transcends material systems like varnashrama. Plans should align with
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Translation Thus the King, Mahārāja Parīkṣit, sat to fast until death. All the demigods of the higher planets praised the King’s actions and in pleasure continually scattered flowers over the earth and beat celestial drums. Purport Even up to the time of Mahārāja Parīkṣit there were interplanetary communications, and the news of Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s fasting
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HH Bhaktimarga Swami’s talk, part of a bi-weekly program, explores Bhagavad Gita 3.40 and themes of love, lust, and spirituality. He emphasizes self-discipline, mindful living, and connection with Krishna. Stories, analogies, and practical advice highlight how to navigate distractions, prioritize service, and integrate spiritual practices like chanting and training into daily life for inner growth.
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The epic video serial on the life of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. High Quality 45 episodes of each 30 minutes It is produced and distributed by Veda Foundation, the public charitable trust of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami. The serial, based on the biography Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta by His Holiness Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami,
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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 the district of Birbhum. Others claim that he was born in either Orissa or South India.

Kendubilva is situated about twenty miles south of Siuri on the banks of the Ajaya River. In the Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidhana, it is stated that Jayadeva found his Radha Madhava Deities in this river’s waters. It is also stated there that he used to rest and worship at the temple of Shiva known as Kusheshwar, which is also on the banks of the Ajaya River. Jayadeva’s father was named Bhojadeva and his mother, Vama Devi.

Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakur writes in his Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya that Lakshman Sen was delighted when he heard Jayadeva’s hymn to the ten incarnations, the Dasavatara-stotra. When Govardhan Acharya notified the king that it was Jayadeva who had composed the hymn, he became desirous to meet the poet. 

He went incognito to Jayadeva’s house and when he saw him, he noticed that Jayadeva possessed all the characteristics of a great and powerful spiritual personality. Deeply impressed and attracted to Jayadeva, the king revealed his identity to him and invited him to come and live in the royal palace. Jayadeva was leading a very renounced life and was therefore unwilling to live in the opulent environment of the palace. He told the king that he preferred to live in Jagannath Puri.

Lakshman Sen was disappointed by Jayadeva’s intentions. He quickly suggested that he take up residence in the village of Champa Hati, saying that it was a place suitable for a person who wished to lead a meditative life. He also promised him that he would never come to disturb him again. 

When Jayadeva agreed, Lakshman Sen had a cottage built for him in the village that was formerly known as Champaka-hatta, named after the beautiful garden of champa trees and the village market where Mahaprabhu’s associate Dvija Baninath received a vision of Him in the Satya Yuga, seeing Him in the form of a Brahmin whose skin was the color of champa flower. 

Similarly, Jayadeva had a vision here, first of Radha-Madhava, then of Their combined form as the golden champa-colored Gauranga Mahaprabhu. 

After the Lord gave Jayadeva this vision, He told him to go to Jagannath Puri. Although Jayadeva was sad to leave the future abode of his Lord, he obeyed the Lord’s command and made his way to Puri, where it is said that he was engaged as the king of Orissa’s court poet. 

He spent the remainder of his life in the abode of Lord Jagannath, where he wrote the transcendental poem based on the sentiment of love in separation known as Gita-govinda or Astapadi. Indeed, Mahaprabhu told Jayadeva while giving him the vision of Navadwip that after appearing there, He would take sannyas and go to Jagannath Puri where He would relish the Gita-Govinda.

According to legend, Jagannath Himself ordered Jayadeva to marry his wife, Padmavati. The story is told in the Visvakosa as follows: there once was a Brahmin who was without offspring despite having worshiped Jagannath for many years in the hope of having a son. Finally, he and his wife had a daughter and they named her Padmavati. 

When she came of marriageable age, the Brahmin brought her to Lord Jagannath to offer her to his lotus feet. When He saw them, Jagannath said to the Brahmin, “I have a servant whose name is Jayadeva. He has given up family life and has dedicated himself to chanting My names. Give your daughter to him in marriage.”

The Brahmin took his daughter to Jayadeva and asked him to marry his daughter. However, since Jayadeva had no desire to get married, he refused to agree to any such arrangement. The Brahmin then told him that it was Jagannath Himself who had arranged this marriage; and without another word, he left, leaving his daughter behind. Jayadeva found himself totally unprepared for this situation and told the girl, “Tell me where you want to go and I will take you and leave you there. You cannot stay here.”

Padmavati started to cry and said, “My father brought me here to marry you on Jagannath Deva’s order. You are my husband, my all in all. If you do not accept me, then I will fall down at your feet and die right here. You are my only hope, my Lord.” The poet and scholar Jayadev could not abandon her after such a heartfelt plea. So he became a householder.

[Later], Jayadeva took his Deities Radha and Madhava with him, and set off on a long journey. Once in Vrindavan, he began to serve his Deities in an area near Keshi Ghat. When the residents of the Dham heard Jayadeva sing the Gita-Govinda in his sweet voice, they were entranced. One merchant built a large temple for the Deities on that site.

It is said that Jayadeva returned to his birthplace in Kendubilva after living in Vrindavan for many years. He spent the rest of his life there, worshipping his Deities and performing his bhajan. He would make the long walk to the Ganges every day to take his bath there. One day, for some reason or another, he was unable to make it. Ganga Devi was so kind to him that she came personally to the village of Kendubilva so that he would bathe in her holy waters. It is said that Jayadeva died in Kendubilva and every year on the first day of the month a Magh, a large festival, is held there in his memory.

There is, however, a difference of opinion about where Jayadeva finished his life. Though some say he returned to Kendubilva, others claim it was Puri, and still others say that he went to Vrindavan. Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur has stated his opinion that Jayadeva left this world from Jagannath Puri. 

Though some people say that Jayadeva returned to Kendubilva to spend his last days, there is no indication anywhere that he brought his Radha-Madhava Deities with him. In fact, these Deities were taken by the king of Jaipur to a place named Ghati sometime after Jayadeva’s passing away and they are still being served in the Jaipur area.

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Sri Gopal Bhatta Goswami, one of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, was a prominent Vaishnava saint and a direct disciple of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He is known for his humility, devotion, and scholarly contributions to the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition.

Gopal Bhatta Goswami was born in 1503 and is renowned for his role in preserving and propagating the teachings of Lord Chaitanya. He was known for his exceptional cooking, sweet singing of the Bhagavatam, and his strict adherence to devotional practices.

Despite his significant contributions, Gopal Bhatta Goswami remained humble and requested not to be prominently mentioned in the Chaitanya-charitamrita, showcasing his self-effacing nature. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the Bhakti cult in Vrindavan and left behind a rich legacy of spiritual literature.

Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami contributed to Gaudiya Vaishnavism through his service and writings. He was responsible for writing treatises that exposed aberrant philosophies and practices adulterating the teachings of pure srngara-rasa, while also emphasizing the importance of vaidhi-bhakti. Additionally, he installed one of the seven principal Deities of Vrndavana, the Radharamana Deity, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Radharamana temple. His contributions are significant in the development and preservation of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

The deity of Radha Ramana appeared when the Damodara Shila manifested Himself as the beautiful Radha Ramana Deity. This manifestation occurred in 1542, and since then, Radha Ramana has been worshiped with pure devotion following precise sastric rituals. Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami played a significant role in the worship and installation of the Radha Ramana Deity. The deity is worshipped with great reverence and devotion in Vrndavana.

Gopal Bhatta Goswami’s life exemplifies the essence of devotion and surrender to the Supreme Lord. His dedication to spreading the message of love and devotion continues to inspire generations of spiritual seekers.

For Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s appearance day, I thought to read a verse and purport about him from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter Ten, “The Branches of the Caitanya Tree”:

TEXT 105

sri gopala bhatta eka sakha sarvottama
rupa-sanatana-sange yanra prema-alapana

TRANSLATION

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.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was the son of Venkata Bhatta, a resident of Sri Rangam. Gopala Bhatta formerly belonged to the disciplic succession of the Ramanuja-sampradaya but later became part of the Gaudiya-sampradaya. In the year 1433 Sakabda (A.D. 1511), when Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was touring South India, He stayed for four months during the period of Caturmasya at the house of Venkata Bhatta, who then got the opportunity to serve the Lord to his heart’s content. Gopala Bhatta also got the opportunity to serve the Lord at this time. Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was later initiated by his uncle, the great sannyasi Prabodhananda Sarasvati. Both the father and the mother of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami were extremely fortunate, for they dedicated their entire lives to the serviceof Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They allowed Gopala Bhatta Gosvami to go to Vrndavana, and they gave up their lives thinking of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When Lord Caitanya was later informed that Gopala Bhatta Gosvami had gone to Vrndavana and met Sri Rupa and Sanatana Gosvami, He was very pleased, and He advised Sri Rupa and Sanatana to accept Gopala Bhatta Gosvami as their younger brother and take care of him. Sri Sanatana Gosvami, out of his great affection for Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, compiled the Vaisnava smrti named Hari-bhakti-vilasa and published it under his name. Under the instruction of Srila Rupa and Sanatana, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami installed one of the seven principal Deities of Vrndavana, the Radharamana Deity. The sevaits (priests) of the Radharamana temple belong to the Gaudiya-sampradaya.

COMMENT

Actually, one of the families entrusted with the Deity service at the Radha-ramana Mandir has a history of relations with the line of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. Vishwambhar Goswami’s father or grandfather had relations with Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, the family maintained relations with Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and then Vishwambhar Goswami had very friendly relations with Srila Prabhupada. And he spoke very nicely about Srila Prabhupada. Now Vishwambhar Goswami’s son Padma Nabh Goswami is also very favorable to ISKCON. In fact, ISKCON devotees often honor prasada at his home at the Radha-ramana Mandir. When I took prasada there with His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami, Padma Nabh Goswami showed us a letter that Srila Prabhupada had written to his father, Vishwambhar Goswami, about how all Vaishnavas should cooperate. So, not only does the Radha-ramana temple belong to the Gaudiya-sampradaya, but at least some of the sevaits have had close relations with the line of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

PURPORT (concluded)

When Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami took permission from all the Vaisnavas before writing Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami also gave him his blessings, but he requested him not to mention his name in the book. Therefore Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami has mentioned Gopala Bhatta Gosvami only very cautiously in one or two passages of the Caitanya-caritamrta. Srila Jiva Gosvami has written in the beginning of his Tattva-sandarbha, “A devotee from southern India who was born of a brahmana family and was a very intimate friend of Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami has written a book that he has not compiled chronologically. Therefore I, a tiny living entity known as jiva, am trying to assort the events of the book chronologically, consulting the direction of great personalities like Madhvacarya, Sridhara Svami, Ramanujacarya,and other senior Vaisnavas in the disciplic succession.” In the beginning of the Bhagavat-sandarbha there are similar statements by Srila Jiva Gosvami. Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami compiled a book called Sat-kriya-sara-dipika, edited the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, wrote a foreword to the Sat-sandarbha and a commentary on the Krsna-karnamrta, and installed the Radharamana Deity in Vrndavana. In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (184) it is mentioned that his previous name in the pastimes of Lord Krsna was Ananga-manjari. Sometimes he is also said to have been an incarnation of Guna-manjari. Srinivasa Acarya and Gopinatha Pujari were two of his disciples.

COMMENT

Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami ki jaya!

One story about Gopala Bhatta Gosvami is that on the eve of Nrsimha-caturdasi all the other Gosvamis and Vaishnavas in Vrindavan were preparing to worship their Deities and hold festivals. Gopala Bhatta Gosvami had only a salagrama-sila; he didn’t have a Deity with arms and legs and a body that he could dress and decorate. So he was feeling deprived of the opportunity to serve like the other devotees who had Deities they could serve in these ways. And out of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s strong desire, a salagrama-sila became manifest in the form of Radha-ramana. Radha-ramana is considered the most beautiful Deity of Krishna. He is the one original Deity of the Gosvamis that has remained in Vrindavan, while the others had to be taken elsewhere for fear of the Muslim invaders. And near the temple of Radha-ramana in Vrindavan is the samadhi of Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami.

Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s uncle and siksa-guru was Prabodhananda Sarasvati. His samadhi is also located in Vrindavan, just off the parikrama path near Kaliya-ghata, quite near our Krishna-Balaram Mandir. So, often when we go on parikrama down the path near the Yamuna, we visit Prabodhananda Sarasvati’s samadhi and bhajana-kutira. And then we proceed to Srila Sanatana Gosvami’s samadhi. Srila Sanatana Gosvami was the most senior of the Gosvamis and was also a close associate and instructor of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. In fact, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami worked with Sanatana Gosvami to produce the great treatise Hari-bhakti-vilasa.

I feel that Gopala Bhatta Gosvami has been especially merciful to me on two occasions. On one, I visited his bhajana-kutira at Sanketa, a place between Nandagrama and Varsana where Radha and Krishna used to meet and sometimes perform rasa-lila. Gopala Bhatta would sit and chant underground in a deep cavern accessible only through a long, narrow passage. At the end of the passage was a somewhat roomier place where Gopala Bhatta used to chant, now marked as his bhajana-sthala. I remember going there with Tamal Krishna Goswami and others on a very hot day and struggling to crawl through the passage to the bhajana-sthala. It was difficult, but when I finally reached there, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was very merciful: he allowed me to chant with a glimpse of taste. And after all the devotees emerged from the cavern, I stole back in. I crawled back to Gopala Bhatta’s lotus feet, and I sat there chanting. I will never forget his mercy to me there, and I pray that he will enable me to chant with relish and love.

On the other occasion, during Kartik of 1999, shortly before my surgery, I visited Gopala Bhatta’s samadhi near the Radha-ramana Mandir. We arrived just after raja-bhoga-arati, and the pujari was closing the doors to the samadhi-mandira. But he was kind enough to open them for us and allow us darshan of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. He gave us some flowers and caranamrta and invited us to stay for prasada. Thus our small party, along with some local sadhus, honored Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s maha-maha-prasadam with great relish, and we even stayed to take a little rest before we continued on our way, filled with bliss. So, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami is very kind.

Years later, when some of my disciples from Bombay went to Vrindavan on pilgrimage, they visited the samadhi. They told the pujaris about me, how my health no longer allowed me to visit Vraja, and asked for some prasada for me. And one of the pujaris kindly gave them a piece of cloth from the samadhi. It is very special. Now, twice a year, once on Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s appearance day and once on his disappearance day, we bring it out and touch it. So now we shall pass it around and touch it to our heads and to our hearts—and pray to Gopala Bhatta Gosvami for his sublime mercy.

Thank you.

Hare Krishna.

By Dandavats Staff Writer

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 Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 21, No. 2
By Krishna Kripa Das
(Week 2: January 8–14, 2025)

Tallahassee, Alachua
(Sent from Gainesville, Florida, on January 18, 2025)

Where I Went and What I Did

For the second week of 2025, I remained living at ISKCON Tallahassee and chanting three hours each day on Landis Green, behind the main Florida State University library. Only one day did another devotee chant with me. I distributed five books along with forty-four little cups of halava to promote our Krishna Lunch at the campus. I added five students to our mailing list. I was happy to go to Alachua for the Sunday feast and to stay through the morning program on Monday.

I share lots of quotes from the books, lectures, conversations, and letters of Srila Prabhupada, many I read in Bhakti Vikasa Swami’s soon-to-be-published book on the mood and mission of Srila Prabhupada. I also share notes on an ISKCON NYC class by Jayadvaita Swami, which I heard online. I share quotes from Vyasadeva, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, and O. B. L. Kapoor (Adi-kesava Prabhu, disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura). I share notes on articles in Back to Godhead magazine, Volume 59, Number 3, by Srila Prabhupada and Visakha Dasi. I share notes on classes at ISKCON of Alachua by Acyutananda and Ekadasi Vrata Prabhus.

Thanks to Ramiya Prabhu for letting me stay at his place in Alachua. Thanks to Ananga Mohan Prabhu for driving me from Tallahassee to Alachua and back.

Itinerary

January 6–April: Tallahassee harinama and FSU college outreach
– January 17–20: Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies, Evolution Conference
– January 24: Chanting Hare Krishna at UF Krishna Lunch and with Alachua devotees
– January 25: Gasparilla harinama and Ratha-yatra in Tampa
– January 26–29: Tampa harinama and USF college outreach
– March 9–16: Krishna House Gainesville harinama and UF college outreach

Chanting Hare Krishna in Tallahassee

A Christian girl I talked to the previous day came back the next day. This time she was not with the Christian guy who I had been talking to when she came before. She asked to hear about my whole spiritual journey, took another promotional halava, and bought The Higher Taste. When I told her religion is what distinguishes humans from animals, a common theme in Srila Prabhupada’s writing and speech, she completely agreed.

On Ekadasi afternoon as I chanted Hare Krishna on Florida State University’s Landis Green, I saw the waxing moon rising above a tree.

On Saturdays there are fewer students on the campuses, but they have more time to talk. I did not used to chant on the campuses on the weekends, but after trying it, I found I always have nice experiences. I talked to a student who was getting a PhD in biology. He was a Christian who was open to hearing about other beliefs. With the biologists, I often talk about how complicated the cell is, and how inconceivable it is that it could come about by random physical processes alone. The mechanism for complex development is natural selection, but that does not take place until you have reproduction, and how do you get reproduction? He appreciated the argument. He seemed philosophical so I recommended Beyond Illusion and Doubt, in which the views of fifteen Western philosophers are contrasted with Bhagavad-gita, and he gave $5 and took the book.

On Sunday, although it was only 45°F (7°C) out, with a wind chill of 41°F (5°C), four girls were eating lunch at a table 30 feet from where I was chanting Hare Krishna. I decided I should invite them to Krishna Lunch. I came up to them and said, “You seem to enjoy eating together!” to which they responded positively.
I said I was promoting Krishna Lunch, a vegan meal, all you can eat for $8. We have a promotion “bring a friend get one free” so you would only have to pay for two meals. Three took the promotional halava, all but the gluten intolerant one.
Because they seemed so happy together, I asked, “Did you know each other before?”
One answered, “Yes.”
“From the same high school?” I asked.
“Yes, and the same soccer team.”
Hopefully the four will soon enjoy eating Krishna Lunch and taking steps toward Krishna together. Please give them your blessings!

I generally have nice experiences every day chanting Hare Krishna on the campuses, both here at FSU in Tallahassee and at USF in Tampa.

Chanting Hare Krishna in Alachua

I came to ISKCON Alachua for the Sunday feast and the Monday morning program by the kindness of Ananga Mohan Prabhu, an initiated Indian FSU student with a car, who loves coming to Alachua on the weekends.

I was so busy dancing to Adikarta Prabhu’s kirtan during the first arati that I forgot to take a video of it, and I was too busy talking to the many friends I have from living there for eleven years that I missed the Gaura arati altogether. Fortunately I caught two hours of Hare Krishna chanting after that and took videos of the last two singers.

Here Tulasi Nadia chants Hare Krishna after the Sunday feast in Alachua (https://youtu.be/y8rThqqtKAU):

Here Jahnavi Jivana Dasi chants Hare Krishna after the Sunday feast in Alachua (https://youtu.be/7Ml1K2lNe1Q):

The next morning, Caitanya Dasi, who loves chanting at the Gainesville Krishna Lunch each week, chanted Hare Krishna and played ukulele after the Guru Puja arati was over in Alachua (https://youtube.com/shorts/kLwgDalHwA4):

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.9.29, purport:

“Any person authorized by either the Lord or His bona fide representative is already blessed, as is the work entrusted to him. Of course, the person entrusted with such a responsibility should always be aware of his incapability and must always look for the mercy of the Lord for the successful execution of his duty. One should not be puffed up because he is entrusted with certain executive work. Fortunate is he who is so entrusted, and if he is always fixed in the sense of being subordinate to the will of the Supreme, he is sure to come out successful in the discharge of his work. Arjuna was entrusted with the work of fighting on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra, and before he was so entrusted, the Lord had already arranged for his victory. But Arjuna was always conscious of his position as subordinate to the Lord, and thus he accepted Him as the supreme guide in his responsibility. Anyone who takes pride in doing responsible work but does not give credit to the Supreme Lord is certainly falsely proud and cannot execute anything nicely.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.50, purport:

“Although the impersonalists are always engaged in the worship of Lord Shiva, they are unable to understand the prayers offered by Lord Shiva to the bodily features of Lord Vishnu.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.51, purport:

“Here Lord Shiva kindly describes the details of the Lord’s bodily features. Thus the impersonalists’ argument that the Lord has no form cannot be accepted under any circumstance.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 8.31, purport:

“Considering the position of the people of this age, however, the chanting of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s name is more essential than the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra because Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the most magnanimous incarnation and His mercy is very easily achieved. Therefore one must first take shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by chanting sri-krishna-caitanya prabhu nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda.”

From a class on Bhagavad-gita 16.2–7 in Bombay on April 8, 1971:

“Why these American boys are coming to us? Because they did not get the advantage of spiritual life, but they are seeking after spiritual life. Athato brahma jijñasa.

They are fed up with this materialistic way of life. They want something spiritual. But because there is no such information, there is no such leader, they are becoming hippies—frustrated, confused. And because here is something substantial, they are taking it. This is the secret of success of this Krishna consciousness movement.”

From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.16 in Bombay on November 16, 1974:

“We give chance to the people to hear about Krishna. . . . Therefore we have specifically mentioned: Krishna consciousness. We don’t talk any other nonsense things. . . . We have no other business. Simply we talk of Krishna. That will purify. Srnvatam sva-kathah krishnah punya-sravana-kirtanah [SB 1.2.17]. . . . Even if you do not understand a single word, if you simply hear, then you become pious. It is so nice.”

From a Vyasa-puja lecture in London on August 22, 1973:

“Therefore, a so-called philosopher, scientist’s knowledge is always imperfect. The perfect knowledge can be received through this parampara system—from Krishna, Krishna to Brahma, Brahma to Narada, Narada to Vyasa, Vyasa to Madhvacarya. In this way, from Caitanya Mahaprabhu, six Gosvamis, then our Guru Maharaja, in this way. And our business is just to present whatever we have heard. This is very important point.

And because we do not speculate mentally, just like so many swamis comes from India, they make their own presentation by speculation. So whatever little success I have got, it is due to this process, that I do not present anything which is created by me. That is the secret of success. All these rascals, I say, declaring this. All these rascals come, they manufacture. A spiritual thing cannot be manufactured—as God cannot be manufactured. God is always God, and the words of God is also God. If we present as it is, then it will be effective.”

From “They Have Created an Animal Civilization” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 59, No. 3:

[This is an edited transcript of a morning walk in Johannesburg on October 18, 1975.]

“We have little anxieties, simply because we have to deal with this rascal world. Otherwise, we have no anxiety. But we have taken this mission, to go and approach people and tell them the truth. Therefore we have got a little anxiety. Otherwise there is no question of anxiety. Because we are mixing with these rascals – and we have to do that, we who have taken up this mission – therefore we have some little anxiety. That is also not very much.”

From a morning walk in Paris on June 11, 1974:

“Unless you think yourself helpless, you cannot surrender. Surrender is complete when you think yourself helpless. ‘I am helpless, but because I am surrendered to Krishna, He’ll save me.’ This faith also must be there, that ‘Although I am helpless’ – Not although I am factually helpless, but ‘because I am surrendered to Krishna, I have no danger. He’ll help me, protect me.’”

From a letter to Tulsi on December 18, 1975:

“My only credit is that I have presented Bhagavad-gita as it is, without any speculation, or interpretation, therefore for the first time in the history of the world people are accepting it and living practically according to the principles of Bhagavad-gita.”

From an initiation lecture in Bombay on March 17, 1972:

“This Krishna consciousness movement is especially meant for preaching Bhagavad-gita as it is.”

From “Success at the Time of Death” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 59, No. 3:

[This is an edited transcript of a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.2.13 in Vrindavan on September 15, 1975.]

“And [another offense against the holy name is] sruti-sastra-nindanam, to disobey the injunctions of the Vedic literature. One may think, ‘Oh, there are so many rules; it is not possible to follow them.’”

“If at the time of death one chants Hare Krishna, then you know certainly that he has gone to Vaikuntha. There is no doubt about it. And even if there is aparadha, offense, that is not taken into consideration, because he has uttered Hare Krishna at the time of death. This is a special consideration. Anta-kale: at the time of death.”

“Why should we stress only upon seeing Krishna? That is a most foolish proposal. You have other senses. Krishna is prepared to be perceived by you by other senses. How? If you hear Krishna’s name, then you must know there is Krishna. Krishna is not different from His name or His form or quality or paraphernalia – anything. He is absolute. There is no duality in Him. Anything you perceive is Krishna. This Krishna temple is also Krishna. But we have no sufficient knowledge about how to understand Krishna. Krishna is prepared to be understood by us in so many ways.”

“The only qualification is that we must be very sincere. If even by symbolic chanting or by joking one can get the benefit, why not do it carefully? What is the wrong there? Be serious and chant Hare Krishna very carefully in order to get the success of life at the time of death.”

From a letter to Upendra on November 26, 1968:

“The leader in charge of a temple must learn to successfully deal with the other persons there. No one is working as a paid servant so if the dealings are not friendly everyone will decide to leave.”

From a letter to Karandhara on December 22, 1972:

“The future of this Krishna consciousness movement is very bright, as long as the managers remain vigilant that sixteen rounds are being chanted by everyone without fail, that they are all rising before four in the morning and attending mangala-arati. Our leaders shall be careful not to kill the spirit of enthusiastic service, which is individual and spontaneous and voluntary. They should try always to generate some atmosphere of fresh challenge to the devotees, so that they will agree enthusiastically to rise and meet it. That is the art of management: to draw out a spontaneous loving spirit of sacrificing some energy for Krishna. But where are so many expert managers? All of us should become expert managers and preachers. We should not be very much after comforts and become complacent or self-contented. There must be always some tapasya, strictly observing the regulative principles. The Krishna consciousness movement must be always a challenge, a great achievement to be gained by voluntary desire to do it, and that will keep it healthy.”

From a letter to Satsvarupa on September 9, 1975:

“I want that all centers follow the following procedure for handling the money. Whatever income is there, every cent must be given to the treasurer. Immediately he records it in the book. Then daily he deposits everything in the bank. For the expenditures, he withdraws from the bank the petty cash by check, signed by himself and the president. Then the expenditures are checked by the president to see how the money is being spent. The important thing is that all monies must be given to the treasurer and he records it and every day deposits everything in the bank. And whatever is spent that also is withdrawn from the bank. This will stop the embezzling that is going on. Please arrange for this and inform me.”

From a morning walk at Marina del Ray near Los Angeles on July 13, 1974:

Prabhupada: Politics, diplomacy, fraud, cheating. These things are the general qualification of the Western people. Do you admit or not?Devotees: Yes.Prabhupada: If . . . these things come within our movement, then it will not be successful.

From a letter to Brahmananda on November 11, 1967:

“If a sincere soul goes out and opens a center in any part of the world, Krishna will help him in all respects. Without being empowered by Krishna, nobody can preach Krishna consciousness. It is not academic qualification or financial strength which helps in the matter, but it is sincerity of purpose which helps us always. . . . I was prepared to chant even if there were no men present to hear me. The principle of chanting is to glorify the Lord and not to attract a crowd. If Krishna hears nicely then he will ask some sincere devotee to gather in such place. Therefore be advised that thousands of centers may be started if we find out a sincere soul for each and every center.”

From a letter to Himavati on June 15, 1972:

“I don’t know who has given you this idea of shaving your head and wearing white garments. In India only the widows are allowed to shave head. I have never suggested your husband to take to sannyasa, but we can discuss this matter further when we shall meet again in London for Ratha Yatra. You remain the beautiful maid servant of Krishna. That is your business, and you should dress yourself always very nicely so that Krishna by seeing you will be pleased.”

From a letter to Damodara on March 30, 1970:

“My idea is to train up many devotees and as soon as they are ready send them for starting new branches.”

From a letter to Giriraj on June 8, 1972:

“If we make our deity worship program extremely opulent and gorgeous, and if all of the devotees are always attending arati and holding kirtana in front of the deities, that will be the best program for attracting the Indian people to the Krishna consciousness movement.”

From a letter to Bhavananda on March 17, 1971:

“I wish that the number of devotees in every temple be more and more increased. . . . Make all our temples full with many devotees, and after being trained they should be sent to every town and village in your country so that they will be benefited as well as all others.”

From a letter to Gaura Hari on July 9, 1971:

“New men may not always behave so nicely but we must be tolerant. To train a new man is like training a wild animal to be a pet.”

From a letter to Sukadeva on December 13, 1972:

“The secret will be to engage them as they like to be engaged. Suppose I have got some education, I am a business student, or I have got some skill or talent, I am a typist or musician or something like that; so I will like to utilize these things for Krishna only if I am encouraged in a certain way, very tactfully, and I must not be discouraged by too much forcing me to accept everything at first: shaving the head, rising very early, going for street sankirtana, like that. No, let me come gradually; let me also study Krishna consciousness and see how it is practical and sublime. Gradually I may get some taste for these other things and agree to do them voluntarily and intelligently. We are not dogmatic or like an army-camp, no. We are servants of Krishna. That means because we understand that Krishna is our protector under all circumstances, we have no more any anxiety, so we become very liberal and tolerant upon seeing others’ sinful activities, and we see them innocent victims of maya, and we try to help them understand the real position of life.”

Srila Vyasadeva:

From Skanda Purana:

“By a scrutinizing review of all the revealed scriptures and a judgment of them again and again, it is now concluded that Lord Narayana is the Supreme Absolute Truth and thus He alone should be worshiped.”

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura:

From his commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.16.31:

“One invokes the Lord by the Rg Veda, performs sacrifice by the Yajur Veda, and praises the Lord by the Sama Veda.”

O. B. L. Kapoor (Adi-kesava dasa), disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:

From The Saints of Bengal:

“While Krishna is more interested in the dispensation of justice, Gaura is more interested in the dispensation of mercy. From this point of view, Gaura-kirtana is also more useful than Krishna-kirtana.”

Jayadvaita Swami:

When the glories of the Lord are chanted loudly, the demons flee just like cockroaches when you turn on the light. They like the dark.

It is good to do book distribution during harinama because the chanting preselects people. You can see who is favorable and approach them.

Why settle for their money? Why not their life? We have our words, our intelligence, our wealth, and our life to give to Krishna. Sometimes we just get people to donate their wealth, but it is actually better if they give their life.

If we preach, money will follow. If we just pursue money, sometimes everything falls apart.

When the devotees got an elevator at the Juhu project, Srila Prabhupada insisted that the devotees not use it to go down or to go up just one or two flights because it is a waste of money.

Acyutananda Prabhu:

I selected for the Vaishnava song book the most commonly sung songs in Vrindavan and Navadvipa.

I like how Lord Nityananda’s feet are described as millions of cooling moons.

Hare Krishna is not like anything else, but we have never stopped.

In Vrindavan in the beginning [the late 1960s] there were no cars and no radios, only temple bells.

The songs are not replacements for the maha-mantra but expansions of the maha-mantra.

I brought a Bengali mrdanga player who could make the mrdanga talk. Srila Prabhupada smiled more and more upon hearing him play.

Something simple done well is better than something complicated not done well.

In India there was 15 minutes of news in Sanskrit on the radio.

In South India you have to quote Sanskrit, otherwise they do not take you seriously.

Navadvipa was like Satya-yuga, and in South India some of the temples were like Satya-yuga.

We heard some people chanting “Siksastaka” in South India. We learned that some followers of Lord Caitanya went there and stayed.

I built the Prabhupada kutira in Mayapur. Srila Prabhupada told me how much sand and how much cement.

I traveled with Srila Prabhupada alone in India for three months in 1967 until he recovered his health. Srila Prabhupada would carry a book of Baladeva Vidyabhusana.

Dharma is the natural function of anything.

Prema bhakti is our natural function.

The Vedas are arranged so that if you follow them you will quickly become elevated.

Narada told Vyasa, “You have described so many things but not pure bhakti.”

The first verse I heard from Srila Prabhupada was sarvopadi vinirmuktam.

So many religions tell you how to get saved, but now that you are saved, what do you do? That is Krishna bhakti.

There are thousands of nigamas and thousands of agamas.

Vyasa writes in the Padma Purana, caitanya rasa vigraha. And then 4,500 years later, Caitanya appeared. You can’t make this stuff up.

One envious godbrother of Srila Prabhupada’s said, “If Lord Caitanya wanted His name spread all over the world, then why did He not do it Himself?”
Srila Prabhupada replied, “Because He saved it for me.”

Once I noticed that the pujari put the flute in backward. I told Srila Prabhupada. He said that Krishna is all powerful. He can even play it from the other side.

Visakha Dasi:

From “Lower Than Straw” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 59, No. 3 (May/June 2025):

“Unlike those who are higher and are afraid of falling, the person on the ground is unafraid. When we’re at the lowest point, we’re finally on a solid platform for spiritual progress.”

“Since Krishna’s devotees have no wish except to serve Him with devotion, they don’t hanker for what they lack or lament for what they’ve lost. Rather, they’re absorbed in their sacred service.”

“Krishna’s devotees pray to Him to keep them from getting proud. They don’t want to lose the satisfaction and happiness they feel in chanting Krishna’s names and serving Him, for nothing is more valuable or important than these opportunities and privileges.”

“Srila Prabhupada replied, ‘Humility means that you are convinced beyond any doubt that there is nothing in this world, absolutely nothing in this world – not your money, not your family, not your fame, not your gun, not your education –nothing will save you except the mercy of Krishna. When you are convinced like this, then you are humble.’”

Ekadasi Vrata Devi Dasi:

Anthropomorphic is used to describe Biblical references to God as having human attributes, for example, “the outstretched arms of God” protect Israel from the Egyptians.

Prayer helps a lot when we encounter things that are difficult to accept in the scripture.

Bhakti Vijnana Swami was saying that Gayatri is the source of the Vedas.

Comment by Prana Govinda Prabhu:

The four kinds of miscreants [Bhagavad-gita 7.15] are also in me. Also we see people come to this movement and then leave because of these four tendencies.

Comments by me:

Regarding the Lord being seen when the heart is pure, that is mentioned in the Bible: “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

One example of mayayapahrita-jñana that came to mind I learned from Sadaputa Prabhu. In the 1960s some mathematicians presented to some biologists that according to their calculations of the probabilities, evolution could not have occurred. The biologists replied saying that we know evolution occurred; and therefore, the mathematicians must have made some mistake in their calculations. After that the mathematicians understood the sort of people they were dealing with and did not again approach the biologists.

I believe I have heard something like 80% of the Vedas are karma-kanda. Thus it is not surprising that their followers are just interested in going to heaven and not knowing and attaining God and His kingdom.

The idea that Gayatri is the source of the Vedas in mentioned in Brahma-samhita 5.27:

“Then Gayatri, mother of the Vedas, having been manifested by the divine sound of Sri Krishna’s flute, entered the lotus mouth of Brahma.”

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It is important to keep progressing in our spiritual life up to the stage of devotional service to the Supreme Lord. That point is made in this powerful verse spoken by Devahuti, the mother of the divine incarnation, Lord Kapila:

neha yat karma dharmaya

na viragaya kalpate
na tirtha-pada-sevayai
jivann api mrito hi sah

“Anyone whose work is not meant to elevate him to religious life, anyone whose religious ritualistic performances do not raise him to renunciation, and anyone situated in renunciation that does not lead him to devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must be considered dead, although he is breathing.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.23.56)

By Dandavats Staff Writer

HH Indradyumna Swami discusses Krishna’s glances, highlighting their enchanting nature. HG Deena Bandhu Prabhu takes us through Peru’s Ollantaytambo and its Inca ruins. HH Bhaktimarga Swami shares insights on overcoming obstacles through Krishna’s guidance. ISKCON events include a Wellbeing Retreat at Bhaktivedanta Manor, Padayatra at Kumbh Mela, and Sati’s story on pride and forgiveness. Food for Life in Hungary continues its outreach, while children visit Krishna-liike ISKCON Helsinki Continue reading "Spiritual insights and ISKCON related news for Jan. 17
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His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami departed this world to join his beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, on May 4, 2024. ISKCON has lost a great warrior servant and ‘Prabhupada Man’, but he has left behind a legacy of devotion to the mission of His Divine Grace and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thus, we have dubbed him the ‘Jewel of Devotion’ (Bhakti Ratna).

This seva campaign is an opportunity for all ISKCON devotees, whether Maharaja’s disciple or not, to honor one of Srila Prabhupada’s eminent disciples and give to the TOVP at the same time. As one of the most supportive ISKCON leaders to actively assist the project, he constantly spoke about and personally fundraised for ongoing construction. He also attended all the major TOVP milestone events and encouraged all devotees to finish the temple for Srila Prabhupada.

“I would request you to consider if you can construct a temple at the birthplace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.”

Srila Prabhupada to H.H. Gopal Krishna Goswami, 1969

Devotees can sponsor one of three Bhakti Ratna Medallions (Bronze, Silver or Gold). They will be shipped worldwide to sponsors.

Help finish the TOVP by sponsoring a Bhakti Ratna Medallion today in honor of the project’s great supporter and dedicated servant of Srila Prabhupada

  Note: Medallions will be available to ship to donors at the end of February.

 

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 Ramachandra Kaviraja, the son of Shri Chiranjiva Sena (eternal associate of Lord Chaitanya), appeared in Shri Khanda. “Ramachandara Kaviraja was especially earnest, beautiful, intelligent, energetic, and enthusiastic,” said one biographer.

Although married, Ramachandra and his wife, Ratanala, had no material attachments. They stayed fully engaged in the loving service of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. They had no children. With steadfast devotion he served his spiritual master, Shrinivasa Acharya. In Vrindavana, Shri Jiva Goswami gave him the title, kaviraja, “king of poets.”

Ramachandra Kaviraja was one of the eight kavirajas, famous poet disciples of Shrinivasa Acharya. Ramachandra wrote Smarana Darpana, Smarana Chamatkara, Siddhanta Chandrika. He preached widely and initiated many disciples. Narottama Dasa Thakura and Ramachandra lived together as best friends.

Narottama Dasa wrote, doya kore shri acharya prabhu shrinivasa; ramachandra sanga mage Narottama Dasa, “0 Shrinivasa Acharya Prabhu, please give me your mercy. Narottama Dasa always prays for the association of Ramachandra Kaviraja.”

In the form of Karna manjari, he serves Shrimati Radharani in Vraja lila. His samadhi is in Dhira Samira Kunja next to Shrinivasa Acharya. 

By Dandavats Staff Writer

Mukunda Goswami discusses Bhagavatam 3.21.5 on creation, karma, and devotion. ISKCON Navi Mumbai temple was inaugurated by PM Modi, praising ISKCON’s work. Achyutananda and Kalakanta discuss Vaishnava songs. Paraguay’s ISKCON temple hosted India’s ambassador. Sundar Caitanya Swami explores Lord Vishnu’s beauty. Amogha Lila Prabhu wins ZEE Hero Award and plans media collaborations Continue reading "Highlights of ISKCON News for Jan. 16
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View this post on Instagram A post shared by ISKCON News (@iskcon.news) Here is the text transcription: Hare Krishna, this is Anuttama Dasa reporting for ISKCON News. Today is Wednesday the 15th of January. I’m here at the Kharghar ISKCON temple, Radha Madan Mohan Mandir. You can see the beautiful temple behind me. Today, there’s
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By Dandavats Staff Writer

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the Sri Sri Radha Madanmohanji Temple. ISKCON Dwarka serves millions at Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 - Times of India. "Star of Eger" - Govinda Restaurant Shines Bright! (Hungary). I attended this temple opening not knowing what to expect! The Journey Behind the Making of Mahavatar Narasimha. ISKCON's presence in Kumbha Mela 2025. Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: Global Media Coverage Devotee. Family Displaced by LA Wildfires. Continue reading "Global ISKCON News for Jan. 15
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The video titled “When Good Fortune Arises” by Svayam Bhagavan Keshava Maharaja features a spiritually enriching discussion emphasizing service, devotion, and spreading love through Krishna Consciousness. Speaking in Cambridge, UK, Maharaja reflects on his experiences and the progress of the movement over the past 20 years. Key points include: The Power of Devotion: Every devotee,
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The video shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the Sri Sri Radha Madanmohanji Temple, an ISKCON temple located in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. The temple took 12 years to build, with a cost exceeding ₹170 crore. Constructed under the “Glory of Maharashtra” project, the temple features exquisite architecture made from white and brown marble. Dashaavatar Temple:
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ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) is making a significant impact at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj, India, which runs from January 13 to February 26, 2025. With an expected attendance of around 400 million pilgrims, ISKCON’s initiatives aim to provide both spiritual nourishment and essential services to attendees. Key Initiatives by ISKCON
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Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, commenced on January 13 and will continue until February 26, 2025, in Prayagraj, India. This iteration of the festival is particularly significant, occurring once every 12 years, and is expected to attract around 400 million visitors due to a rare celestial alignment
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