Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s Appearance Day
Giriraj Swami

Sri Prahlada Dasa:

Today is the holy appearance day of our grandfather or great-grandfather spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja Prabhupada. On Giriraj Maharaja’s instruction, I will attempt to say something about Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s history and share my realizations regarding his contribution and mood. I pray for the mercy of the Vaishnavas that this realization aligns with his authentic teachings.

The appearance of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati is most significant. His father, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, emerged as a great spiritual reformer at a time when Gaudiya Vaishnavism had become marginalized and in many ways perverted. While not universal, there were deviations from the mature teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in various areas. Recognizing this, Bhaktivinoda Thakura sought to reestablish Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission in this world.

In his personal endeavors Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote extensive literature and established nama-hatta, the marketplace for the holy name, organizing sangas to facilitate the association of Vaishnavas. He also prayed for assistance in this significant task. Bhaktivinoda Thakura harbored a vision to spread Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement to the Western world, and he prayed to Krishna for help in its realization. It is understood that the appearance of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was the fulfillment of that prayer.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura was living in Puri at the time of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s appearance on February 6, 1874. The site of his birth lies on the Grand Road between the Jagannatha and Gundica temples, where Jagannatha’s chariot procession takes place each year. Biographies recount various significant signs indicating the transcendental nature of his appearance. One such sign was the umbilical cord draped over his left shoulder and then across his chest resembling an upavita, or what is often called a “brahman thread.” Another indication was an incident that occurred during the chariot festival. The procession halted right in front of Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s house for a significant duration, unable to move. Seizing the opportunity, Bhaktisiddhanta’s mother, Srimati Bhagavati Devi, took her baby, then named Bimala Prasada, onto the chariot, placing him at the lotus feet of Jagannatha Swami. As she prayed at Jagannatha’s lotus feet, a garland fell around Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, interpreted as Jagannatha’s benediction upon the child.

As a side note, Brahmananda Prabhu recounted a story of when Srila Prabhupada paid his obeisances to Radha-Krishna deities and Krishna’s garland fell not around Prabhupada but in front of him. Prabhupada turned to Brahmananda and exclaimed, “Did you see? Krishna’s garland has fallen. He is pleased with me!”

At a very young age Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati learned the entire Bhagavad-gita. It is said that at the age of seven he could recite the entire Gita and explain its verses. Evidently, he received thorough training from his father. Bhaktivinoda Thakura also performed the upanayana samskara, Vedic initiation into the Gayatri mantra, for him at around the same age. Additionally, he entrusted Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura with the service of worshipping a Varaha sila.

The Varaha salagrama was unearthed while excavating the site for Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s home, Bhakti Bhavan, in Calcutta. Bhaktivinoda presented the salagrama to his son, Bimala Prasada Datta, along with a mantra to Lord Nrsimhadeva. This mantra was revealed to Bhaktivinoda Thakura either in meditation or in a dream, wherein Nrsimhadeva bestowed it upon him. Later, when Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati sent three sannyasis as preachers to the West, he gave them a salagrama sila, a Govardhana sila, a Dvaraka sila, and this Nrsimha mantra to protect the mission.

There is a famous story of how Bhaktivinoda Thakura was strict with Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. Once, when some fruits and vegetables were brought into the house, the young child selected a mango and said, “This one is for me.” Bhaktivinoda Thakura replied, “What is this? Before Radha-Giridhari have been offered this fruit, you are already claiming it as yours.” The Deities worshipped in Bhakti Bhavan were Radha and Giridhari. The young child, Bimala Prasada Datta, took this correction very seriously, and he made a vow to never eat mangoes again. Whenever he was offered mangoes or preparations made with mangoes, he would respond, “No. I am an offender.” That too was a sign of his spiritual seriousness and determination.

During his college years Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati exhibited remarkable brilliance and acquired knowledge in astrology and astronomy. He translated, if not commentated upon, the Surya Siddhanta, a shastra on astronomical science and Vedic cosmology. He also learned Sanskrit and assisted his father by proofreading and editing various publications Bhaktivinoda Thakura produced in English and Bengali.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati once described himself, saying, “I am not only a proofreader of the press; I am a proofreader of men—I see their faults and try to correct them. I am also a proofreader of religion. I have appeared in the zodiac sign of the crab, so whenever I see anything nondevotional, I act like a crab. If I see any so-called devotion, not actually in the true unalloyed spirit, I shall pierce it!” Thus, he functioned as both a literal and metaphorical editor and proofreader.

In college he formed a student society called the August Assembly, for which the key requirement for membership was maintaining celibacy, or brahmacharya. The society would meet and discuss philosophy and, I suppose, social issues as well.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati gave up his college studies prior to graduating due to concerns that his father would get him married if he had a degree and potential for a job. As a staunch naistika-brahmachari, committed to lifelong celibate life, he wished to avoid entanglements. Consequently, he quit his studies early and left home to work for one of the maharajas of India, serving as the court astrologer and administrator. In this role he conducted an extensive review of the maharaja’s administration to eliminate corruption and to reorganize the systems. Although the circumstances of his leaving that post are unclear, at a certain point he decided to redirect his focus toward his father’s mission of establishing and preaching Krishna consciousness.

When Bhaktivinoda Thakura discovered the Yogapitha, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati took up residence there in a grass hut and pledged to chant a billion names of the Lord. To complete this vow, he engaged in chanting the same number of rounds as Haridasa Thakura—192 rounds each day. Once, during a visit in the rainy season, someone noticed a leak in the roof of the grass hut. Instead of taking the time to repair the hole, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati simply sat in the hut with an umbrella and continued chanting his japa. This vow was a long-term commitment that took him several years to complete.

Around the same time, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati took spiritual initiation from Gaurakisora dasa Babaji—possibly before he undertook the vow mentioned earlier. Gaurakisora dasa Babaji had a policy of not accepting any disciples. However, Bhaktivinoda Thakura urged Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati to seek initiation from him.

Initially, when Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati approached Babaji Maharaja, Maharaja did not agree. After some time, Bhaktivinoda Thakura encouraged Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati to approach Babaji Maharaja again. This time, Gaurakisora dasa Babaji responded, “I will have to ask Gauranga. We will see what Gauranga decides.” On another occasion, when Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati inquired about Gauranga’s decision, Gaurakisora dasa Babaji did not provide a direct answer.

Giriraj Swami: He said he forgot to ask.

Sri Prahlada Dasa: Oh, yes. Finally, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati expressed that if Gaurakisora dasa Babaji did not give him spiritual initiation, he would end his life. Understanding Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s unwavering determination, Gaurakisora dasa Babaji agreed to initiate him. Often when this story is recounted, it is mentioned how Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was illiterate, while Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was a highly erudite scholar. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was sometimes referred to as a walking encyclopedia due to his extensive knowledge on a wide range of topics.

After completing that vow to chant one billion names, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati began his preaching mission. I’m not sure, but I believe disciples had already approached him while he was chanting. In either case, he began his preaching mission. He started to travel to Calcutta and Puri. Eventually he founded a matha in Calcutta at Ultadanga Road, and more and more devotees, disciples, started to come and take shelter of him and assist him in preaching work.

There is an incident relating to Gaurakisora dasa Babaji’s disappearance. In his humility, he had expressed a desire: “When I die, I should be tied in rope and dragged through the streets of Navadvipa and then I will get some benefit.” Upon his disappearance, the babajis of Navadvipa wanted to do that—tie him with a rope and drag his body through the streets. When Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati came to hear of it, he crossed the river from Mayapur with a couple of disciples and strongly opposed the babajis’ plan.

The babajis were insistent but could not agree on the final resting place. A dispute had arisen among them regarding who would get to make his samadhi in their matha. Knowing that he was a great soul, pilgrims would come and offer donations, and so there was this quarrel amongst them. When Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati came, he forbade any of them to touch the holy body of Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. He said, “As a disciple, I have the right to honor the body of my spiritual master after his disappearance.” The babajis did not appreciate that argument. In response to their resistance, he challenged them, and as far as I understand, the local police constable was with him as well. He issued a challenge: “If there is anyone here that has not had illicit sex in the past six months, then you can come forward and touch the body of my spiritual master.” No one stepped forward. He then reduced the time frame: “If there is anyone that has not engaged in illicit sex in the past month, then you can come forward.” And no one came forward at that either. Then he then asked, “Anyone who has not had illicit sex in the past week, come forward.” And no one did. He asked about the past two days, and then the past day, and finally the past night—and none of the babajis came forward. With this, he picked up the body of his spiritual master and carried it to the banks of the Ganges, where he placed it in samadhi. Later, he relocated the samadhi to Sridhama Mayapur to the Chaitanya Matha, where the samadhi remains today.

After the disappearance of Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati felt a need to reestablish the sannyasa order in the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya to further the preaching mission. He sat before a picture of Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja and performed his own sannyasa ceremony according to the rites that he had researched while in South India during an earlier visit. There, in the Sri Sampradaya, Vaishnava sannyasa is still present and has been practiced for a long time. At the time of his spiritual initiation he had received the name Varsabhanavi-devi-dayite dasa, and on taking sannyasa he assumed the name Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.

As a sannyasi, he continued his dynamic preaching, and he started awarding the sannyasa order to his disciples. I know of one case when a disciple of Bhaktivinoda Thakura took sannyasa from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati—Bhakti Pradipa Tirtha Maharaja. Bhakti Pradipa Tirtha Maharaja was one of the preachers who visited the home of Prabhupada in Allahabad. After that visit, Prabhupada became more actively involved in the Gaudiya Matha.

There is one other really wonderful story, out of chronology now, about Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s preaching—a famous incident. A debate arose concerning the position of a Vaishnava and the position of a brahman, and Bhaktivinoda Thakura was invited to speak at a sabha assembly of learned scholars, pandits who would present their views and debate with the other pandits holding opposing views. Bhaktivinoda Thakura was to represent the Vaishnavas and present the Vaishnava conclusions, but due to illness, he was unable to attend and requested Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati to go in his place.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati delivered a masterful presentation that is currently available as a book called Brahman and Vaishnava. He initiated his presentation by glorifying the brahmans, quoting numerous Vedic texts from the shastras glorifying the exalted position of the brahman. This was the first day of his presentation, and all the brahmans were pleased. They were all very happy after the first day of his presentation.

On the second day, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati began quoting verses establishing the position of the Vaishnava, highlighting how the Vaishnava was even more glorious than the brahman. He emphasized that whether the Vaishnava was born in a family of even dog-eaters or even in the family of a non-Aryan race, their position was still exalted, even higher than the brahman. When he concluded his presentation, the crowd that had assembled there rushed forward to touch his feet and take the dust. Organizers were worried about the danger of the crowd pressing forward, prompting one of them to pour water over Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s feet, mix it in with a larger container of water, and throw it over the crowd. And the people in the crowd were satisfied that they had received the mercy of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s lotus feet. It is also said that at the other side of the pandal where that program had taken place, as the crowd dispersed, Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was seen. He had been watching the entire proceedings and giving his mercy, his blessings, to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.

Now I want to touch on some things—first Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati organizing a mission, organizing a religion. In a sense, that was not done prior to him—in the sense of institutionalizing Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Before him, Gaudiya Vaishnavism had always been practiced informally, without the structure of an institution. In Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s time there was no established institution as such, and at the time of the gosvamis as well, it remained an informal association. When Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati established the matha at Ultadanga Road, he said that he was not creating a new institution but rather reviving that which had been already organized by Rupa Gosvami as the Vishva Vaishnava Raja Sabha. Vishva means universal or . . .

Giriraj Swami: Worldwide.

Sri Prahlada Dasa: Worldwide, international. Vaishnava Raja Sabha means the world assembly of the Vaishnavas. We would have it later translated as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. But Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati made that statement that he was reviving that Vishva Vaishnava Raja Sabha. Later he formalized it as the Gaudiya Matha. He thus formalized Gaudiya Vaishnavism in that sense, and he also reestablished varnashrama. It was always there, particularly in the time of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu—there were brahmacharis, grihasthas, sannyasis. But for a period after Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s disappearance pastime, Gaudiya Vaishnavism had been practiced mainly by monastic babajis residing in holy places—Navadvipa, Vrindavan, Radha-kunda—doing their solitary bhajana, or meditation, chanting, hearing.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati organized groups of brahmacharis living in a city who would go out with the sannyasis and preach to the grihasthas. In that way he gave a different face to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission. He would strongly criticize the babajis, as we have heard in the story of Gaurakisora dasa Babaji’s disappearance. He saw most of them as hypocrites. In encouraging varnashrama, he made the practice of Krishna consciousness practical and acceptable to common people. The teaching, or the practice, of the babajis was that one should remain in a single place, live very simply, and just do bhajana. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s point was that for most people that is not possible. He wrote a song, or a book, in which he addresses the mind—dusta mana! tumi kisera Vaishnava?—“Crooked mind, what type of Vaishnava are you?” He spoke about the difficulties of trying to do nirjana-bhajana, sitting in one place and just focusing on hearing and chanting. He said, “You are sitting. You have the externals of a Vaishnava, but your mind is thinking of sense gratification. Your mind is thinking of the opposite sex, of money, of position and respect.” He saw that that practice of Krishna consciousness as it was attempted by the babajis was impractical for the conditioned souls of this age and that those who were attempting it were mostly cheaters of others and cheaters of themselves.

The other group that he preached against was the caste gosvamis. These were lines of devotees that had descended from a significant personality in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastimes—a line descended from Advaita Acharya, Advaita-vamsa; a line descended from Nityananda Prabhu, Nityananda-vamsa; and lines descended from the disciples of the gosvamis of Vrindavan. The teaching of these caste lines is that unless you are initiated by someone who is born in one of these families, you can’t make advancement in Krishna consciousness, receive the seed of love of God, and go back to Godhead. The qualification for a guru, according to this view, is to be born as a descendant of one of these personalities, and unless one had taken shelter there, there is no chance of awakening love of God.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati preached against both of these perversions of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings. One does not find that theory or that teaching in any of the scriptures or the teachings of Caitanya-caritamrta or Caitanya-Bhagavata. These perversions developed after Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s time. Many of the personalities born in these lines did not have much or any spiritual qualifications other than their birth. They were shallow in terms of learning or realization of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings and the practice of sadhana. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura reestablished the pure understanding—kiba vipra, kiba nyasi, sudra kene naya yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei ‘guru’ haya—that one may be a brahman or a sannyasi or a sudra, but if one understands the teachings of Krishna consciousness—yei krsna-tattva-vetta—that person is spiritual master. He spoke very strongly on these topics, on the practices of both the gosvamis and the caste brahmans, and therefore he made enemies as well as friends.

In speaking truth, he had enemies. It is said that Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati developed a hernia and was considering an operation. In fact, arrangements had already been made for an operation in the hospital when a high-level policeman came to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and informed him that he had been offered a bribe by some of the people from this group. They planned that when Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati went for the operation, the doctors would kill him and that, as the high-level police officer, he should not investigate or convict them for the murder. Accordingly, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati did not undergo that operation; he remained with the hernia for the rest of his preaching mission.

It is also said that when he organized a parikrama around Vraja-mandala, the caste gosvamis and the others who saw him as an enemy would boycott the parikrama. Pressure would be put on the shopkeepers not to sell any food or supplies to the devotees in the group. At other times, the devotees would be pelted with stones and bricks as they made their parikrama.

There is one story that once when Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was lecturing on parikrama a band of ruffians came and attacked the group. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was implored by one of his leading disciples, Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Maharaja, to exchange clothes. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati put on Kesava Maharaja’s brahmachari clothes, for Kesava Maharaja was a brahmachari at that time. And Kesava Maharaja wore Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s sannyasa clothes. And in the clothes of a brahmachari, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati escaped from that situation, and Kesava Maharaja risked his life for his spiritual master.

In another story, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was at Radha-kunda and one of the brahmans there—perhaps one of the brahman guides—was insisting that Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati respect him. Because the brahman was not receiving the attention that he believed was his due, he said, “The gosvamis, they respect.” Even if you go to Radha-kunda today, they will tell you, “My grandfather was Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja’s priest. And I was Prabhupada’s guide.” And “I am the guide of Sivarama Maharaja and Giriraj Maharaja.” This brahman told Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, “Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was offering his obeisances to us brahmans here at Radha-kunda. Why are you not respecting us?” Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati took offense at that statement of that brahman as belittling the position of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, and he refused to eat. He said, “Unless that brahman apologizes, I am not going to eat.” In the camp, because the acharya was not eating, the disciples also would not eat.

Hundreds of devotees were fasting, and so they went to that brahman and said, “Please come and apologize to our guru maharaja, because hundreds of devotees are fasting.” It was a long period of fasting, but eventually the brahman came and apologized to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. In response, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati said, “I have no personal grievance to be affected by your words, but as an acharya, as a teacher of disciples, I am obliged to establish the proper siddhanta and maintain the proper etiquette. Therefore, if someone speaks against or belittles the position of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, it is my duty to respond; I am not allowed to ignore it. Therefore, please don’t be offended by my response; it was my duty to respond in this way.” Once the brahman made his apology and begged forgiveness, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati took prasada. And all the Vaishnavas on his parikrama took prasada as well.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was very strict and uncompromising. Sometimes the devotees would call him “simha guru.” It is said that when he would come to town, the Mayavadis and the hypocrites would leave. Or, if they saw him walking on one side of the street, they would cross to the other side, or they would turn around and go in the opposite direction—so that they would not have to encounter him. He was very strict in establishing the pure teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and challenging wherever he saw perversion or misrepresentation.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati had a great desire that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings could come to the West. We all know how he instructed Srila Prabhupada in their first meeting on the rooftop at Ultadanga Road, Calcutta. As Prabhupada rose from paying obeisances, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati said to him, “You are an intelligent young man. You should preach Sri Chaitanya’s message of Krishna consciousness in the English language.” Prabhupada felt it his duty also to challenge and test what Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was saying, so he replied, “Who will hear Sri Chaitanya’s teachings while we are still an occupied country? Who will hear the teachings of an occupied country? First, we need to be liberated; then we can show India’s glory to the world.” Prabhupada appreciated Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s strong reply: “Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings are too important to wait for political change. Political situations will always be in flux. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings don’t depend on an ideal political situation. Regardless of the political situation, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings must be spread.” Prabhupada appreciated that answer. He felt defeated and he felt happy—happily defeated. It is said that Prabhupada did not generally accept defeat, but in this instance Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati quickly defeated him and Prabhupada felt very happy. On leaving that meeting, Prabhupada’s friend Naren Babu asked him, “So what did you think?” And Prabhupada replied, “Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings are in very capable hands.”

At different times Prabhupada received from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati the same instruction to preach in the English language. Just weeks before Bhaktisiddhanta’s disappearance, Prabhupada wrote to him and asked, “Do you have some instruction for me? How can I serve you?” And he received the same response: “Preach Krishna consciousness in the English language.” Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati sent three disciples to England to establish Krishna consciousness, and he maintained them there, in London. He would regularly send them money so that they could establish a mission. But they were mostly unsuccessful, and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati eventually called them back to India.

We have spoken about Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s preaching drive, his missionary spirit. He also instructed Prabhupada to print books. This is an instruction Prabhupada heard from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati at Radha-kunda: “If you ever get money, print books.” On the Gaudiya Matha logo, there is a six-pointed star in the middle with Krishna’s six qualities—beauty, wealth, fame, strength, detachment, and knowledge—in each triangle. To the right there is depiction of Radha and Krishna with the word Raga. Just beneath them is depicted a printing press and a mridanga with the word Kirtanam, and above them is a book with the word Bhagavatam. To the left, there are deities of Lakshmi-Narayana and the word Vidhi. Just beneath them is depicted a bell and a lamp with the word Archanam, and above them is another book with the word Pancaratra.

This logo reflects Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s teachings on bhagavata-vidhi and pancaratrika-vidhi. Pancaratrika-vidhi is temple worship, vaidhi seva, service of the Lord according to strict Vedic rules and regulations. Bhagavata-vidhi means to hear about, remember, and glorify Krishna, particularly by hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati also explained preaching and book distribution as bhagavata-marga—hence the printing press in the logo. It is in the same line of spontaneously hearing and remembering Krishna, not according to the strict rules and injunctions of temple worship and Vedic injunctions, but motivated by feeling in the heart. Pancaratrika-vidhi, or temple worship according to the regulated duty of service, is particularly important for neophytes. It is often overlooked by the babajiis who focus solely on the bhagavata-marga. They are meant for hearing about, chanting the names of, and remembering Krishna—or at least they are supposed to be. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, while emphasizing that bhagavata-marga is superior to the pancaratrika-vidhi, nonetheless explained that both are necessary for advancement in Krishna consciousness.

As I said earlier, he gave more emphasis to varnashramabrahmacharis living in the matha, trained in the matha according to a regulated program; the sannyasa ashrama; and grihasthas who lived around the matha. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati had thousands of grihastha disciples. I heard a figure, 60,000 disciples. Is that right?

Giriraj Swami: I hadn’t heard that. That is a lot.

Sri Prahlada Dasa: By equating preaching activity with bhagavata-marga, he gave it a very high position of significance. He taught that devotees can advance in the bhagavata-marga by actively engaging their senses in the preaching mission. He traveled tirelessly all over India and in Burma. To establish the preaching in bhagavata-marga, he employed means that were not always understood by the kanistha-adhikari or the neophyte, caught up in the rules and regulations of vaidhi-bhakti even though they may have thought of themselves as advanced bhagavatas. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati would drive an expensive automobile when the occasion called for it, especially in Calcutta. He wore expensive shoes, even polished leather shoes. A large Sikh man served as his driver and bodyguard. He exhibited opulence in that way to make Krishna consciousness acceptable, respectable, and understandable both to the British who held significant influence in India at that time, and to the educated Indians, many of whom were embarrassed to be associated with less sophisticated presentations of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati organized large functions, including exhibitions of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings and dioramas in different cities across India. He also hosted government leaders and scholars. There is a famous photo of the governor of Bengal being received in Mayapur at the Chaitanya Matha, where a prominent gate bears a sign that reads, “God Save the King.” As I heard the story, not everything at the banquet was prasada; some items on the menu were according to the taste of the British governor. In that picture you can see some of his brahmachari preachers dressed in distinctive attire—a black robe or suit with a white collar, complemented by pocket watches dangling from chains, and black turbans. This uniform reflected a smart appearance for the preachers interfacing with the British during that period in India’s history.

When Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati relocated his matha from Ultadanga Road to Bagh Bazaar, he hired a marching band to perform and play their music, as the Deities went in procession from Their old temple to Their new one in the heart of Calcutta. He would also preach and give lectures on the All India Radio in Calcutta, often on Saturdays. With these activities, he was recognized as a very powerful preacher dedicated to furthering Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s sankirtana mission.

There is a story about Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. Subhas Chandra Bose was a radical nationalist, a freedom fighter. He had a different approach than did Gandhi, who was a pacifist, fighting the British by non-violent resistance. Subhas Chandra Bose advocated armed struggle. During World War II he had an agreement with Hitler that as the Indian soldiers fighting for the British were captured, rather than being kept as prisoners of war in a Nazi prison camp, they would be given to Subhas Chandra Bose for his Indian National Army being organized in Japan. From Japan they marched into Burma and fought the British, hoping to liberate India.

Subhas Chandra Bose once approached Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and said, “You have so many men. You are engaging them in chanting and preaching Srimad-Bhagavatam while our country is occupied by the British. Why don’t you give me some of your men and we will make them into soldiers to liberate India?” Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati replied, “No, these men are too weak. They are not strong enough to be soldiers. They are not suitable for your purposes, so don’t think about them.” What is significant here is that a political leader would consider making this request for Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s collaboration in liberating India from British rule.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was a powerful and revolutionary spiritual leader, teacher, and reviver of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission. At the end of his manifest pastimes, he resided at Cataka-parvata, near the Tota-Gopinath temple in Jagannatha Puri. Cataka-parvata is considered nondifferent from Govardhana Hill. According to one biography, while residing there he was often heard to say, nija nikata nivasam dehi govardhana tvam, “O Govardhana, please give me residence near to you.” That was his prayer and meditation near the end of his manifest pastimes. Finally he made his disappearance in Calcutta on January 1, 1937, and he was placed in samadhi at the Chaitanya Matha in Sridhama Mayapur.

In conclusion, we have contemplated Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s transcendental appearance, inspired by the prayers of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. His unwavering courage in preaching Krishna consciousness and his revolutionary methods to reestablish Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission, all while maintaining strict adherence to and intolerance of any deviation from Lord Chaitanya’s teachings, reflect his extraordinary spiritual commitment. Upon reflection, it becomes evident that he must be most pleased with Srila Prabhupada’s monumental achievement—successfully bringing Krishna consciousness to the West, establishing it as a household word worldwide without change or deviation, and subsequently returning to revive Krishna consciousness in India. It appears to be gaining momentum year by year—Krishna consciousness in India is like an explosion. We can be sure that Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati is most pleased with that success. Srila Prabhupada consistently attributed his success to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, saying, “If I have any credit, it is that I followed the instruction of my spiritual master,” or “I had faith in the teaching of my spiritual master.” On occasion, he even stated that his disciples were sent by his spiritual master. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati is therefore pleased with this movement and actively watches over it. According to Prabhupada’s statement, he is aware of the movement and consequently is also aware of our service and prayers for his mercy. We aspire to be instruments in his mission, set examples for others, inspire them, and advance in the process of Krishna consciousness as he taught it.

There is a beautiful prayer, a poem that Srila Prabhupada wrote called “Viraha Astakam.” He offered it on Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s disappearance day in 1959, some twenty-two years after his physical departure from this world. In this lament, Prabhupada expresses concern over the degradation of modern society and the increasing sinfulness of people as Kali-yuga advances. He also laments the lack of unity and preaching focus in what remained of the Gaudiya Math. The refrain of this prayer—“You personally suffer to see the suffering of the fallen conditioned souls. On this day of your separation, I am utterly despondent”—conveys a strong sense of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s mood of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls and his desire to help the conditioned souls by preaching Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission. This also provides insight into how Prabhupada was able to imbibe Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s mood, compassion, and understanding of how Krishna consciousness can save the world. Both Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and Prabhupada shared that conviction.

My final concluding point is that by reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and understanding his mood as it is, one can also understand the mood and teachings of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati very clearly—because they are the same. Large passages of Caitanya-caritamrta are almost directly translated from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s commentary on the Caitanya-caritamrta. If you read The Nectar of Instruction, Upadesamrta, you will notice that the second half of Prabhupada commentary for each verse is a paraphrase of the commentary of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura on the same verse. Of course, he did that according to time, place, and circumstance. Prabhupada took Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s teachings as they were and translated them into our language in a way that we could understand. He gave them to us “as it is” without any distortion or dilution, watering down, or adding his own ideas from his studies or readings. He was a very faithful disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. This is also an example to us that if we are faithful followers of Srila Prabhupada, we will be placed as followers of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and we will be successful in practicing and teaching Krishna consciousness.

Giriraj Swami:

Thank you very much for that flow of nectar, Sri Prahlada.

Just two points about the history. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was such a brilliant student that one of the colleges in Calcutta offered him a post as a teacher when he graduated. That was another reason why he left college before he graduated—otherwise, they would have put pressure on him to join their faculties, which he did not want to do. Another point is that when his spiritual master left his body and he went to the site to claim the body and challenged the people that wanted the body to stay with them, according to the report of a brahmachari who accompanied him, when he challenged them, no one protested. They just walked away, one by one, and the police officer who had been there was so struck . . . Of course, the challenge itself was very bold and very telling, but the officer was also struck by the spiritual power of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. The opposition lost their spirit to fight with him.

My first experience of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s appearance day came in February of 1970. Srila Prabhupada instructed us, his disciples, to write offerings to his guru maharaja. I took the instruction seriously, as did the other devotees, and not really knowing much, two facts struck me. One was that Srila Prabhupada, who was such an intelligent and powerful and realized soul, saw fit to surrender himself to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. I thought, What must be his position, that someone like Srila Prabhupada had surrendered to him? And the other fact that struck me was that he was the one who gave the order to Srila Prabhupada to come to the West and preach, and where would we have been if Srila Bhaktisiddhanta had not sent Srila Prabhupada to us?

The next year on Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s appearance day, we were with Srila Prabhupada in Gorakhpur. Prabhupada had us fast until noon and then break the fast, but he wanted to have a program in the evening so that more people could attend—mainly our friends from the Gita Press—and have the feast then. The feast was served downstairs on a veranda outdoors. So, we were honoring prasada. Others may have too, but I definitely had digestive problems then—drinking the water—so it was a mixed experience, relishing the feast but wondering what the consequences would be. Toward the end of the feast, Srila Prabhupada’s servant Nanda Kumar dasa came down. He would always bring us some remnants—at least some maha salt and maha ginger—and news. He informed us that while Srila Prabhupada was honoring prasada he had made two comments. “This prasada was so good that I could not control my senses.” And “My guru maharaja is pleased with all of you.”

One significant incident for me took place in 1989 or ’90, after I had just gotten back into India after seven years of visa problems, and I was on my way to Mayapur. I stopped at Chaitanya dasa’s house in Calcutta to spend the afternoon and night, and he received a phone call from a devotee in Bombay who asked him to get some books from the Gaudiya Matha. So, he said that he was going to go to the Bagh Bazar Matha to get the books and asked if I would like to come. So, I joined him, and while he was downstairs, I went up to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s quarters. He had two rooms: a bedroom with the bed from which he left the world, and an office with a table and chair and cupboards with books and personal effects. I could feel his presence there very strongly. Then later I visited his quarters in Mayapur. Standing on the balcony of his house, looking toward ISKCON’s Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir, I felt how pleased he was with Srila Prabhupada and how Srila Prabhupada was really the one who had carried on his line and mission.

As far as his teachings, there is subtle point. He made adjustments and established the necessity both for pancaratrika-vidhi and bhagavata-marga, while at the same time he said that bhagavata-marga was more important and that bhagavata-marga included preaching. Ultimately, preaching is kirtan—glorification of Krishna and Krishna’s message. And the business of advanced devotees is to preach and write books. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura really took up the mood of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura to preach and to establish the proper understanding of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the proper presentation of His teachings.

Still, perhaps partly because people were becoming more influenced by the lower modes of nature and partly because Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was establishing an institution that had to have the same standards and principles for everyone, he somewhat avoided some of the practices about which Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura himself had written, especially siddha-pranali. Thus, some people concluded that Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was not being faithful to Bhaktivinoda Thakura, was not continuing in the same line, and they criticized him for that.

Even now, although not in the exact same terms, there is criticism of ISKCON because we don’t emphasize certain esoteric topics (and perhaps practices). How does this criticism fit with the fact that we emphasize bhagavata-marga over pancaratrika-vidhi? The answer is that we do want to chant and hear, but we want to chant and hear about topics that are considered appropriate for us by our masters, by Srila Prabhupada and by his spiritual master, Sarasvati Thakura. And they have given emphasis to the holy name and to the philosophy of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. Everything is included in what they have given us, but in a certain proportion.

Now, there may be some truth to the idea that we need to hear and chant more. Of course, ISKCON is a big society, and different leaders in different places give more or less emphasis to hearing and chanting. But overall, there may be a point to be made that there should be more hearing and chanting. Yet at the same time, the hearing and chanting should be of the topics that are considered appropriate for us. There are many statements by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura to the effect that one can attain the highest realizations of Krishna consciousness just by chanting the holy names and that everything will be revealed through pure chanting. Sri Bhakti-sandarbha also confirms that the highest sentiments in bhakti are best evoked through congregational chanting, sankirtana.

So, I feel very grateful, ultimately to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and more immediately to Srila Prabhupada, for placing me in a situation where there are devotees nearby—especially Sarvatma Prabhu, who is such a qualified singer and speaker—so that we can meet together and engage in the most important process of hari-nama-sankirtana.

Srila Prabhupada sometimes said that the grandfather is more kindly disposed to the grandchildren than is the father, and he told us that he asked his guru maharaja to take care of us. At the same time, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta was very strict. Srila Prabhupada himself said that his guru maharaja was very strict but that he himself was very liberal. So, ultimately, we can just try to serve Srila Prabhupada. Of course, even Srila Prabhupada did not tolerate hypocrisy or any obstacle that would interfere in our relationship with him. But ultimately his goal was to encourage us in devotional service and help us in our efforts to serve his servant. So, I believe, as you said, that he is pleased with Srila Prabhupada and that if we are connected with Srila Prabhupada, somehow we form some small part of his effort, knowingly or unknowingly.

Also, on this date Srila Prabhupada began Back to Godhead magazine.

We can take advantage of this occasion to pray to His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura to help us in our service to Srila Prabhupada and to bless us with his mercy that we can chant and hear without offense and be instrumental in his hands and in the hands of his servants to further his mission—the only panacea for the world’s problems.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura did things that were shocking. In those days hardly anyone—only the richest people—had a car. It would be comparable today to having your own jet. And then the way he dressed. So, that was in Srila Prabhupada. His original idea for Vrindavan was to build a skyscraper, which really would have shocked local people. That was there, but again, time, place, and circumstance, I feel that Srila Prabhupada was not as confrontational, and his mood in Vrindavan was actually quite different. Of course, his preaching was the same. Once, he told Gurudas and Yamuna, “In Vrindavan there are five thousand babajis, five thousand gosvamis, and five thousand widows. We have to keep good relations with all of them.” I think part of it may have been because we were foreigners, we were guests.

In Bombay, when the police commissioner refused to give permission for the temple because the kirtans were a “nuisance,” Prabhupada became furious. A group of disciples came down from Vrindavan (they had been there for the Mayapur-Vrindavan festival), and Prabhupada was saying, “We will have satyagraha. We will march to the police commissioner’s office and go on a hunger strike.” He was getting us to hold meetings all over the city and preach. He really got us going. That side was there. But in the end, he said, “Maybe we shouldn’t do that.” Then he cited the saying “Don’t pick a fight with an alligator while in the jurisdiction of the water.” It was like, “We’re in India, and this is their territory,” and if they don’t like us, they can just say, “We don’t want you. Get out.” So, certainly, his preaching was like that. It was completely pure and without compromise, but in terms of his interaction with others . . . But even Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, when Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose came, he did not say, “What is this nonsense, freedom movement? You should preach the message of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.”

I guess that is always the challenge: to preserve the integrity and purity of the teachings and the spirit of not compromising, as well as to adjust according to time, place, and circumstance. Because of that order to preach in the English language, Srila Prabhupada’s priority really was that. But he was perfect: he did everything perfectly. But considering us, he had to take care in certain ways that Srila Bhaktisiddhanta did not have to worry about with his disciples.

[Talks by Sri Prahlada Dasa and Giriraj Swami on Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s appearance day, February 21, 2005, Carpinteria, California]

​World’s Largest Indoor Nityananda Trayodashi Celebrations Held in Kolkata
→ Dandavats

(More photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZDPF2oqL021aV1SwkR4T8oM-4M5gohFZ )   On February 10th 2025, ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Gita Academy (BGA) Kolkata hosted the World’s Largest Indoor Nityananda Trayodashi Celebrations at the prestigious Nazrul Mancha Indoor Auditorium. The grand event was held under the direction of HH Bhakti Purushottama Swami and organized under the leadership of HG Lakshmi Govinda Das and Team,
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Dharma Endowment Fund
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Hare Krishna, Please accept my obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada. I hope this message finds you well. My name is Khushi, and I’m reaching out as a representative of the Dharma Endowment Fund (DEF). Whilst DEF is a global initiative, it was founded by a group of UK devotees (Navina Krishna Prabhu and Rasa
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Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Appearance
→ Ramai Swami

On the fifth day of the dark lunar fortnight of the month of Govinda [corresponding to February 6th, 1874 A.D. by the western calendar], at 3:30 in the afternoon, Bimala Prasad Datta, later to be known as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, made his appearance in Purusottama Ksetra [Jagannatha Puri] in the state of Orissa, not far from the temple of Lord Jagannatha.

He was the fourth son of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Sriyukta Bhagavati Devi, and at the time of his birth all thirty-two bodily symptoms of a maha-purusa, a great personality, were pointed out by an experienced astrologer. Furthermore, the boy was born with his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck like a Brahmin’s thread.

The astrologer commented at his birth, “I have done many horoscopes in my life, but I have never before seen such a horoscope filled with all the signs of a great personality. This child will become world famous as a brilliant teacher of life’s ultimate goal.”

When the child was six months old, Lord Jagannatha’s Rathayatra Festival was in procession, and the cart stopped in front of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s house for three days. Following the instructions of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Bhagavati Devi brought the child before the cart and an offered garland fell from the neck of the Lord, encircling the boy.

This was taken as a sign of special favor by all present. The grain ceremony was observed on the cart at this time and was done with Jagannatha prasada. When the boy’s vocational inclination was tested, he immediately embraced the Srimad-Bhagavatam, indicating his future as a preacher.

Therefore, from the very beginning of his appearance, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura exhibited all the signs of an exalted, eternal associate of the Lord, who had descended in answer to Srila Bhaktivinoda’s prayer for a “ray of Visnu” to help him spread the Krsna Consciousness Movement.

Today’s ISKCON: Growth, Teachings & Sacred Journeys. February 16
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By Dandavats Staff Writer

Iskcon, Our Vaikuntha Airplane - HG Govardhan Prabhu. IC Newsletter - February 2025. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati - Appearance Day. Please Maintain My Japa. Quantum Physics, Maya, and Krishna Walk Into a Class. My Visit to TOGO, West Africa - HH Kavicandra Swami. Feedback from a happy inpatient Sri Mayapur Community Hospital. Revival of Brahminical Culture in Kali Yuga. Harinama - Kali Yuga's "spiritual soundtrack". When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced... As a spider creates, maintains and winds up its web. The Kali Yuga in Ancient Texts and Modern Reality. Continue reading "Today’s ISKCON: Growth, Teachings & Sacred Journeys. February 16
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Spiritual Milestones: ISKCON’s Impact Today. February 15
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By Dandavats Staff Writer

Bali Maharaja - HG Bhakta Prabhu. 25 Years of Spiritual Legacy - Mayapur Institute Celebrations. What exactly happens at the moment of death. Kirtan Love Fest. Sri Purusottama Thakur. Free Write Journal. Spiritual Energy: Now You See It, Now You Don't! Lord Chaitanya's glories - HG Radha Mohan Prabhu. Hema Sundari Devi Dasi distribution. Harinama in Australia. Iskcon Balaramdesh photos. The great sage Maitreya. Continue reading "Spiritual Milestones: ISKCON’s Impact Today. February 15
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Travel Journal#21.6: Tallahassee and Alachua
→ Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 21, No. 6
By Krishna Kripa Das
(Week 6: February 5–11, 2025)
Tallahassee and Alachua
(Sent from Tallahassee, Florida, on February 15, 2025)

Where I Went and What I Did

For the sixth week of 2025, I remained living at ISKCON Tallahassee and chanted three hours each day on Landis Green, behind the main Florida State University library. I was joined on Sunday by an aspiring devotee who learned three of my harmonium tunes at one sitting. During the week, I distributed four books along with fifty-five little cups of halava to promote our Krishna Lunch at the campus. I added four students to our mailing list. I describe some special interactions I had with some of the students and with the Sister Cindy, the famous Tik Tok preacher. 


We had a three-hour kirtan in place of our usual Saturday program, and I would dance in the back, as that is the only opportunity I have to dance in Tallahassee the whole week as usually I am doing the arati or playing the instruments. 

On Monday I went to Alachua to celebrate Nityananda Trayodasi.

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 share quotes from Sanatana Goswami’s Brhad-bhagavatamrita and a quote from Vrindavana Dasa Thakura’s Caitanya-bhagavata. I share quotes from Writing Sessions in the Depths of Winter: A Literary Medley, the latest book of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, which is in the production stage. I share notes on a Bhagavatam class by Govinda Kaviraja Prabhu, our temple president here in Tallahassee.

Thanks to Ananga Mohan Prabhu for driving me to Alachua for the auspicious festival of Nityananda Trayodasi.

Itinerary

January 6–April 15: Tallahassee harinamas and FSU college outreach
– March 9–16: Krishna House Gainesville harinamas and UF college outreach
– March 15: Daytona Beach Ratha-yatra
– April 12: St. Augustine Ratha-yatra
April 16–20: Washington, D.C., harinamas with Sankarsana Prabhu
April 21–22: NYC Harinam
April 23: Flight to Brussels with a layover in Oslo
April 24–25: Kadamba Kanana Swami Vyasa-puja at Radhadesh
April 26: King’s Day in Amsterdam
April 27–May 6: European harinamas and either Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan or Amsterdam Kirtan Mela
May 7: Flight from Brussels to New York City
May 8–June 15: NYC Harinam
mid June–mid August: Paris
– June 22: Paris Ratha-yatra
– July 4: Amsterdam harinama
– July 5: Amsterdam Ratha-yatra

Chanting Hare Krishna in Tallahassee

On Thursday a friendly young man bought a Gita, giving me twice the price I asked, signed up to hear of our weekly meetings, took a flyer for Krishna Lunch at FSU, and later came by and told me how much he liked the chili we served for lunch.


I chanted at First Friday at the Railroad Square Art Park. They have redesigned it so there are a lot of parking opportunities there now, which saves time for us on harinama.

My first interaction was with a security guard who liked the music and was happy to try the halava. Events go better when the security guards are favorable.

At least four groups of high school students were attracted by my one-man band, playing the portable harmonium and chanting the holy names. In two of the groups, all four sets of shakers I brought were played by the students, who often also moved their bodies with the music. In another group two girls played the shakers while standing on a wall and dancing and a friend of theirs took a video of it. One girl happily sang at least seven mantras with me as she played the shakers. When I told her about the FSU veggie Krishna Lunch, she said she was vegetarian. She was the most enthusiastic of all.

One FSU student commiserated with me about the rude Christian who criticized Krishna.

A couple of FSU students were happy to hear about the lunch program, and one tried the halava.

All together five people were brave enough to try the blueberry halava, and only one did not really like it so much.

I just spent one hour there as I chanted two hours at the campus in the afternoon, and it is stressful for me to do events all by myself because I am not so social by nature.

We decided to do a three-hour kirtan once a month for our Saturday program, and because Lord Nityananda’s appearance was coming up, we decided to do it the Saturday before. It was great to see several different devotees enthusiastic to chant the holy names.

I chanted for the first fifteen minutes, and then I explained the meaning of the verse beginning “iti sodasakam namnam” from the Kali-santarana Upanisad, in which Lord Brahma tells Narada Muni that if you look through all the Vedas you will not find a better religious practice for this fallen age of Kali than the chanting of the sixteen-word Hare Krishna mantra, which destroys all its anomalies.

Krishna chants Hare Krishna at ISKCON Tallahassee Saturday program (https://youtube.com/shorts/QGloWHc6gQc?feature=share):


Kirti Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna there too (https://youtube.com/shorts/cTOv_ymJsMI?feature=share):


Govinda Kaviraja Prabhu chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/6gVtHUbjwzw):


Here is a video of him in portrait orientation (https://youtu.be/TXl7WNufMqg):


Satyaraja Govinda Prabhu chants Hare Krishna (https://youtube.com/shorts/tJE9EF8WORA?feature=share):


One student was so happy to get the free dessert and Krishna Lunch invite she gave me a beautiful thank you card she had made from recycled materials.


I think she gave the card to me because she really appreciated that I realized she was an artist. She was dressed better than 90% of the students, so I asked her if she was majoring in art, and she laughed and said, “I wish I was majoring in art!” Then as a parting gesture she gave me that card.

One aspiring devotee equipped with a personal harmonium learned three of my two-part Hare Krishna melodies in five minutes each. One young woman played the shakers as her friend filmed her. Twelve people took halava. It was a good Sunday.


On Tuesday, s
eeing a crowd up ahead, a student asked, “What’s happening?”
I replied, “Sister Cindy, the famous Tiktok preacher, is here.”
He responded, “I think I'd rather listen to you.”
Then he sat down and listened to ten minutes of Hare Krishna kirtan.

Last year when Sister Cindy came to FSU I thought of a question to ask her, but I didn't want to take time from my harinama and Krishna Lunch promotion. This year I asked a student who liked the halava to ask her the question for me, “What is the goal of life and do we attain it?” 


He liked the question and returned after at least 30 minutes with the answer, “To know God through a relationship with Jesus.” We might answer like that except replacing Jesus with one’s guru. Not satisfied with the Tattvavadi
acarya’s answer to the same question which Lord Caitanya had asked him, Lord Caitanya gave His own answer: “According to the verdict of the sastras, the process of hearing and chanting is the best means to attain loving service to Krishna.” (Cc. Madhya 9.258)

When asking the question to Sister Cindy for me, the student had prefaced it by saying, “My Hare Krishna friend told me to ask you this question.” In the course of her answer, she told the student to invite his Hare Krishna friend to come. Thus I decided when the devotees came to take me back to the temple, I would give them the table, chair, and the sign, and I would stay on the campus to visit Cindy and her crowd of listeners with my harmonium, halava, and books. Jiva Goswami Prabhu from Venezuela, who cooks the Krishna Lunch here, decided to join me.

As we walked toward the green where Cindy was, we passed some Mormons who asked the students, “What brings you PEACE?”


I wrote on their chalkboard, “CHANTING HARE KRISHNA,” while Jiva wrote, “Surrendering to RADHA’s will.”


Cindy was asking how many students were virgins, and at most three out of
sixty raised their hands. Someone asked her about President Trump, and I was surprised to see her enthusiasm for him, despite his possession of a number of the demoniac qualities listed in Bhagavad-gita.

I thought about what to ask her and decided on this question. “Three places in the Bible it is said, whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. In different traditions God is known by different names. Do you think Jesus is happy if we chant these?”
She responded to that by saying, “No, only the name of Jesus Christ.”

I was not impressed. One of the references about being saved by calling on the name of the Lord is in the Old Testament, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.” (Joel 2:32) That was before the appearance of Jesus Christ, and thus that cannot be the name that is being referred to. A Gainesville rabbi once told me that in the Jewish Kabbalah, God has 72 names. Later someone told me that “Hari” and “Rama” are two of these. The Muslims have 100 names of Allah, and in the Hindu tradition the “Vishnu Sahasra Nama” tells of 1000 names of Vishnu. Thus I am never impressed by those who claim to have the only true name of God. Even in Bhagavad-gita alone, Krishna is referred to by several names like Govinda, Madhava, and Madhusudana, to name a few.

After answering my question she gave me an autographed “Ho No Mo” button. Later on the Internet, I learned that “Ho No Mo” is an abbreviation for “hoe no more” where “hoe” is slang for prostitute. Among other things, she is campaigning against premarital sex, and thus that is her slogan. After accepting her button to make her happy, I offered her a free dessert. She declined to accept it but encouraged me to offer it to the crowd of students around her. I distributed all I had left! 


Maia, my last customer, asked what the dessert was. When I replied, “halava,” she was excited. Her father ate Krishna Lunch as a UF student from 1987 to 1991, and she had
halava several times, most recently when touring UF at age 15. Hopefully we will see her at Krishna Lunch at FSU!

Chanting Hare Krishna in Alachua

Godruma Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Nityananda Trayodasi festival in Alachua (https://youtu.be/Cbfr6yyWK38):


Bhadra Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the Gaura Arati kirtan at the Nityananda Trayodasi festival in Alachua (
https://youtu.be/13MSR0XTOM0):


Twenty-seven minutes later, Bhadra Prabhu was still chanting Hare Krishna in that ecstatic Nityananda kirtan, occasionally letting another devotee lead for a mantra or two (https://youtu.be/X0vUbcBmJnI):


Photos

We invited this Indian student to the temple when we encountered his car at a red light. Jiva, who runs Krishna Lunch at FSU, gave him “On Chanting Hare Krishna.”


As of the end of this week, February 11, I chanted by myself 20 days out of 24 this spring semester in Tallahassee. That is not as relishable as chanting with others, but on the bright side, I do get all the blueberry halava I want!


Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.10.3, purport:

The conception of one world state can only be fulfilled if we can follow the infallible authority. An imperfect human being cannot create an ideology acceptable to everyone. Only the perfect and infallible can create a program which is applicable at every place and can be followed by all in the world.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.4.18, purport:

The politicians of the world may remain in their respective positions because the pure devotees of the Lord are not interested in political leadership or diplomatic implications. The devotees are interested only in seeing that the people in general are not misguided by political propaganda and in seeing that the valuable life of a human being is not spoiled in following a type of civilization which is ultimately doomed. If the politicians, therefore, would be guided by the good counsel of the devotees, then certainly there would be a great change in the world situation by the purifying propaganda of the devotees.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.21–22, purport:

The brahmanas should always be worshiped, and under their guidance the ruler should discharge his duty and rule the citizens. Unfortunately, in this Age of Kali, the executive is not selected by very intelligent people, nor is he guided by qualified brahmanas. Consequently, chaos results. The mass of people should be educated in Krishna consciousness so that according to the democratic process they can select a first-class devotee like Bharata Maharaja to head the government. If the head of the state is guided by qualified brahmanas, everything is completely perfect.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 5.14, purport:

The disease of the modern civilized man is his disbelief of everything in the revealed scriptures.”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 4.93, purport:

When the people are Krishna conscious, naturally the government will be so also.”

From a garden conversation in New Vrindaban on June 22, 1976:

Everyone will be benefited. Simply you have to preach. You have to preach in the same way that where there is no necessity, there also the preaching will go on. You have to become like cloud. Therefore you sing every day, samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam. Ghanaghanatvam means deep cloud. You have to become deep cloud and pour water. This blazing fire will be extinguished. When there is blazing fire in the forest, the small fire brigade or bucketful of water will not help. It requires cloud, ghanaghanatvam, to pour water—finished. You have to do like that. . . . One who can do this, he is guru.”

From a letter to Sukadeva on December 13, 1972:

Enter into the universities and colleges wherever possible and preach there with a view to recruiting some first-class devotees for helping me manage and push on this movement all over the world. Overall there is shortage of first-class, experienced men to manage things just to the highest standard, as you are doing. Therefore I am calling upon you the big leaders to push this idea forward, namely, to attract some educated men to join us.”

From Science of Self-Realization, Chapter 1:

At present, human society is being misled by leaders who are blind, for they do not know the aim and objective of human life, which is self-realization and the reestablishment of our lost relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the missing point.”

From a morning walk in Mauritius on November 5, 1975:

Actually, the Supreme Lord is the source of everything. So if one is actually scientist, by his scientific explanation he will point out, ‘Here is the cause of all causes.’ By scientific knowledge he will point out that God is the origin of everything. Then his scientific study is perfect.”

From a morning walk in Los Angeles on May 3, 1973:

The whole world is running on a false theory that life is born out of matter. But that is not a fact. So how to defeat this theory? That is our business. We have to defeat this rascal theory. We have to challenge all these rascals and defeat them. How it is possible? By logic, by science. . . . We have to make program. Because this is most misleading. The whole human society is affected by this misleading theory. We have to make program, go from place to place and invite all big men, all scientists. That program we have to make. We cannot allow this nonsense theory to go on.”

From a conversation with Raymond Lopez, Wally Strobes, and Bob Bourne in Melbourne on May 22, 1975:

You are putting this theory, that life has come from chemical[s]. So science means observation and experiment. Now experimentally prove that the chemicals have produced a life.”

From a letter to Svarupa Damodara on December 17, 1975:

So try to prove that chemical combination can never bring about life, this is our main argument. If we can prove this particular subject matter, that the soul cannot be manufactured by combination of chemicals, then gradually we can prove that vedic knowledge is perfect, while other sources of knowledge by speculation and imagination are all wrong.”

From a morning walk in Johannesburg on October 20, 1975:

Experimental science is condemned. . . . You are imperfect. What is the value of your experiment? Therefore it is rejected. Whatever you’ll do, that is imperfect. First of all you become perfect; then you make experiment. But you . . . remain imperfect, and you [are] making experiment, what is the value of it? ”

From a letter to Svarupa Damodara on December 17, 1975

Why should we blindly accept imperfect scientists, they are imperfect because they are changing their position in the name of progress. The word progress is used when there is imperfection at the beginning. So this regular changing of standard knowledge in the name of progress proves that they are always imperfect. It is a fact that they are imperfect, because they gather knowledge with imperfect senses.”

From a letter to Dr. W. H. Wolf-Rottkay on February 7, 1977:

More and more in the future Svarupa Damodara and others like him will be working to force the educated public to accept that there is God. Whatever cooperation you can give in this connection will help your own spiritual life and will give the greatest benefit to others.”

From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.19 in Los Angeles on June 15, 1972:

The only opportunity of becoming happy is that you preach this Krishna consciousness movement among the people, so if the people become educated in Krishna consciousness, and if they decide that ‘we shall vote for a Krishna conscious leader,” then there will be happiness.”

The humble servants of Srila Prabhupada:

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.87.21:

My Lord, some fortunate souls have gotten relief from the fatigue of material life by diving into the vast nectar ocean of Your pastimes, which You enact when You manifest Your personal forms to make known the unfathomable science of the self. These rare souls, indifferent even to liberation, renounce the happiness of home and family because of association with devotees who are like flocks of swans enjoying at the lotus of Your feet.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.22.10:

[Krishna speaking to Uddhava] “Because a person who has been covered by ignorance since time immemorial is not capable of effecting his own self-realization, there must be some other personality who is in factual knowledge of the Absolute Truth and can impart this knowledge to him.”

Sanatana Goswami:

From Brhad-bhagavatamrita 2.3.27, commentary:

One would normally think that to attain liberation one must reject material nature; but in fact one achieves liberation when material nature chooses to release one.”

From Brhad-bhagavatamrita 2.3.28, commentary:

Pure Vaishnavas do not care for liberation, but still they respect Prakriti for other reasons. She is Lord Vishnu’s humble servant and sister, born as Subhadra from the womb of Yasoda, and she helps Lord Vishnu’s devotees make progress in devotional service. Although Maya is not identical with Lord Vishnu’s internal energy (antaranga-shakti), she is the expansion of that energy, embodied in the external elements.”

From Brhad-bhagavatamrita 2.3.41, commentary:

The Supreme Personality of Godhead always invites His part-and-parcel jivas to share loving reciprocations with Him, even in the abode of liberation. He kindly considers the liberated souls who surround Him there His bhaktas, but actually they are hardly interested in personal service. The only bhakti they offer the Lord is to decorate Him as particles of His effulgence.”

From Brhad-bhagavatamrita 2.3.50, commentary:

Lord Shiva’s garland of bones was in fact auspicious and beautiful because it was made from the bones of departed Vaishnavas.”

From Brhad-bhagavatamrita 2.3.158–159:

Of the many ways to chant Krishna’s glories, foremost is His nama-sankirtana. It is deemed the best because it can evoke at once the treasure of pure love for Krishna. When relished with love in countless ways through service rendered constantly by the tongue, the nectar of Sri Krishna’s name delights the heart. Who can describe the unequaled excellence of that nectar of Sri Krishna’s holy name?”

From Brhad-bhagavatamrita 2.3.165, commentary:

Nama-sankirtana so quickly and infallibly leads to prema that the two are considered virtually identical. Wherever prema is seen to have developed, one can presume that nama-sankirtana must have been performed. Nama-sankirtana is the necessary and sufficient cause of prema.

From Brhad-bhagavatamrita 2.4.188, commentary:

Since Sri Krishnadeva is the boundless ocean of all superexcellent glories, why doesn’t every devotee serve Him and Him alone to obtain the highest possible happiness? The answer is that every Vaishnava, no matter what form of Vishnu he worships, achieves a special individual happiness, suited exactly to his own attitude, and this completely fulfills his heart’s desires. All the Supreme Lord’s pure servants know such perfect satisfaction, so they all attain the ultimate limit of happiness available in their own rasas.

From Brhad-bhagavatamrita 2.4.207–209, commentary:

If persons doing devotional service to Me happen to fail to execute some of their karmic duties, thirty million exalted sages carry out those obligations on their behalf.” (Padma Purana)

From Brhad-bhagavatamrita 2.4.210:

One can reach perfection by honoring even a blade of grass—provided one sees within it the presence of the Supreme Lord—or by just once uttering or hearing even a faint semblance of the Lord’s name.”

Vrindavana Dasa Thakura:

From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 13.58:

[Lord Nityananda, observing the condition of the two drunken brothers, said:] “Now they are fully intoxicated and do not know themselves. If only they could become intoxicated like this under the influence of Krishna’s names.”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

From Writing Sessions in the Depths of Winter: A Literary Medley:

The children of the Krishnas are growing up. No one is writing to me anymore. But I have new friends.”

Let me be with my friends and not be bitter about those who have scorned me, and those who I did not treat well.”

Humility is one of the gems of a devotee’s life. Being humble can make up for one’s faultiness and pride. Krishna is very pleased when one of His devotees is truly humble. A truly humble bhakta or bhaktin gains great credit in the eyes of the Lord. I wish I were humble! Then I could make up for my pride and my blunders and mistakes in performing so-called Krishna consciousness.”

Double It!

Prabhupada wanted us to be active. On his order we went into the streets, and we chanted the Hare Krishna mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. It didn’t take us long to print and produce our own magazine, Back to Godhead. This was a great tool for preaching. Devotees took it into the streets, approached people and made a short pitch for buying a copy of Back to Godhead. They were attractive magazines, and they sold easily.

Prabhupada asked that each issue have one of his lectures featured, and also he asked that his own students write for the magazine, sticking straight to parampara philosophy, which was what Prabhupada was speaking in his lectures, and what he said in his printed magazine articles and books. Back to Godhead was the first tool for preaching, and devotees were given credit by how many magazines they sold. We were limited in how many copies we could print by our crude equipment.

How joyful it was to circulate the crowds and streets distributing BTG. Those who did the most were able to boast. Prabhupada encouraged those who could distribute many magazines, and he wished them to do many and more. Some of the devotees even devised a saying, ‘Double it.’ They meant take the quota your spiritual master may give you and ‘double it.’ He wanted more. Double it! Do more!

He recognized those who did the most. In other words, he encouraged competition. Krishna conscious activities were not above competition. He liked competition among devotees, and would even publicly point out who had done more than others. Double it! His devotees took up the cry.

Many magazine sellers could not meet the call of ‘Double it!’ They became tired, or they got headaches just by pushing themselves too much to meet what they thought was Prabhupada’s standard.”

Dear Swamiji,

I will remember and treasure one of the high points that occurred between you and I early in our relationship. You saw that I was a good prospect, but that I also had some misgivings toward you. I was certainly displaying utsaha, eagerness to serve you. I did this by typing your manuscripts and giving money from my welfare job. But the high point I’m thinking of was your acknowledgement of my favorable acts. One time, after I had accumulated a great deal of typing, I brought it to you. (It happened to me the day after Janmastami in 1966, and I missed the first initiation.) Prabhupada, you said nothing to criticize my missing initiation. You just took all the typing and gave me a few grapes in return. Then you said some words to me that I will always treasure. You said, ‘This typing is not automatic. If you love me, then I will love you.’ When you said this, you broke through all my remaining misgivings toward you. I automatically loved you in a natural, spontaneous way. We now became close companions, although you were the guru and I was just your servitor. I was so happy at your words I exploded in glee. You gave me some more typing, and then I went downstairs overcome with happiness. I went to the basement and picked up my huge double-bass from my jazz days. I began to strum it and sing Hare Krishna with a happy beat.”

I don’t ever want to forget those stellar moments with Prabhupada, and so I press them either on the letters or verbal exchanges, or sheer touching memories.”

In the Bhagavad-gita Krishna declares that even if one commits ‘an abominable act,’ if he surrenders to Krishna and stays fixed in acts of devotional service, the Lord will forgive him and purify his soul. If a person doesn’t forgive a sincere, repenting devotee, then he is making a great mistake and Krishna is not pleased with him.”

Govinda Kaviraja Prabhu:

When my wife was pregnant she would listen to the kirtan tapes of Aindra Prabhu all the time. After our son was born and grew to be a child, the boy’s grandmother gave the boy a tape player, and he would play the three Aindra kirtan tapes we had all the time. Now as an adult in his twenties he is really into kirtan.

The samskaras help us to put our consciousness in state so we can progress.

When we are covered we cannot understand it until someone else points it out and then we can realize it.

-----

Srila Prabhupada gives special attention to this verse which stresses the power of hearing from realized souls. In the previous verse, Krishna describes three kinds of people who attain the perfection of seeing the Lord within themselves, those who perform the yogas of meditation, knowledge, and action. Here He describes how the bhakti-yogi attains perfection.

anye tv evam ajanantah
srutvanyebhya upasate
te ’pi c
atitaranty eva
mṛtyu
m sruti-parayanah

Again there are those who, although not conversant in spiritual knowledge, begin to worship the Supreme Person upon hearing about Him from others. Because of their tendency to hear from authorities, they also transcend the path of birth and death.” (Bhagavad-gita 13.26)

Srila Prabhupada comments, “This hearing process is very important. Lord Caitanya, who preached Krishna consciousness in the modern world, gave great stress to hearing because if the common man simply hears from authoritative sources he can progress, especially, according to Lord Caitanya, if he hears the transcendental vibration Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.” (Bhagavad-gita 13.26, purport)

On harinama-sankirtana we give people the chance to hear the Hare Krishna and purify their consciousness. Thus they will make more spiritually advantageous choices spontaneously and gradually advance in Krishna consciousness.

Mayapur GBC Meeting
→ Ramai Swami

The GBC body, Sabha, GBC Deputies and other leaders once again assembled in Sridham Mayapur for the annual conference. The first day comprised of many topics and one was a progress presentation of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium.

A construction update was given, along with the financial income and expenditure for the last few years. It was explained how much more money was needed to open the temple at the end of 2027. This, of course, means that fund raising would need to continue around the world in earnest.

TOVP A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Legacy Museum Opening February, 18 – Braja Vilasa Shows Us What’s Inside
- TOVP.org

The first phase of the TOVP A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Legacy Museum is opening on February 18, 2025, showcasing rare personal paraphernalia, artifacts, books, letters, and other historical material for the glorification and perpetuation of the spiritual legacy of ISKCON Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

In keeping with our understanding that His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was the greatest proponent of Vedic wisdom in history, and specifically the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition following in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Legacy Museum will be a world-class museum displaying his life and teachings for the benefit of millions of pilgrims visiting Mayapur for generations to come. Utilizing state-of-the-art means to present the above, the museum will be a sanctuary of divine inspiration through Srila Prabhupada’s vani and vapu in various forms. In its final phase the museum will be an immense 21,000 sq. ft., the largest museum for any single person in history.

For more information and to gift Srila Prabhupada paraphernalia to display go to the A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Legacy Museum page.

Grand Opening Schedule

February 18, 2025

4:30pm – Procession bringing Srila Prabhupada to the museum
5:00pm – Srila Prabhupada welcome arati
5:20pm – Opening of the museum with lamp lighting
5:30pm – Speeches by senior ISKCON leaders and devotees
7:30pm – Prasadam / Devotees can begin viewing the museum

View, download and share the schedule:

Download the A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Legacy Museum schedule.

View the A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Legacy Museum schedule online.

 


 

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Transforming Lives Through ISKCON’s Spiritual Teachings. February 14
→ Dandavats

By Dandavats Staff Writer

Stimulation for Ecstatic Love - Locks Of Dark Blue Hair. Sanskrit, Latin And Greek: is there a relation between them? Meaning of the Mahamantra. Who is qualified to hear the transcendental pastimes of the Lord. Spirituality & Responsibility: Fitting it all in. See God Clearly with the Lens of Devotion! A nicely made video about Mahakumbh 2025 . "Pariksit's Horoscope" with Devaprastha Prabhu. Bhaktivedanta Academy Gurukul NEWSLETTER. Hare Krishna News - Iskcon Durban. Krishna attracts everyone. Glories of Lord Narasimha & Prahlad Maharaj. Continue reading "Transforming Lives Through ISKCON’s Spiritual Teachings. February 14
→ Dandavats"

Krishna Consciousness: Teachings, Leadership & Liberation. February 13
→ Dandavats

By Dandavats Staff Writer

Be Always Respecrful! HH Bhakti Chaitanya Swami - ISKCON New Town, Kolkata Surrender to Krishna-No More Maya Drama! (by HG Arcita Prabhu). Lead Like Prabhupada (by HG Mahatma Prabhu) Quotes from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Class - ISKCON of Houston (by HH Hanumat Prekasa Swami). From Oxford Street Chaos to Blissful Chanting! Lord Raval makes Oath of Allegiance with Bhagavad Gita As It Is. The importance of taking shelter of Guru. Class by HH Bhakti Prabhava Swami - Mayapur. Sukhada devi dasi Sunday Feast Lecture. Class by H. G. Kasturika Mataji - Vrindavan Continue reading "Krishna Consciousness: Teachings, Leadership & Liberation. February 13
→ Dandavats"

Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura Appearance
→ Ramai Swami

Appearing as the son of a king, Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura (Shri Thakura Mahasaya) showed all the bodily symptoms of a mahapurusha (an exalted divine person). He had long arms, a deep navel, golden-complexioh, beautiful eyes shaped like the  lotus petals. 

In school, he was a sruti dhara (able to memorise whatever he hears). Although he quickly mastered Sanskrit and the Vedas, he hankered to serve Krishna. He was a lifelong brahmachari. By the mercy of the Holy Name Gaura-Nitai, Narottama became detached, left his opulent family, and ran to Vrindavana. He took diksha from Shri Lokanatha Goswami and siksha in Gaudiya philosophy from Shri Jiva Goswami.

When he arrived in Navadwipa-dhama all the devotees asked him about the health and activities of the Goswamis in Vrindavana. Then he went to see the devotees and Shri Chaitanya’s pastime spots in Shantipura, Shri Khanda, Kanthak Nagar, Ekachakra, and Kheturi Gram.

In Kheturi, Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura arranged the famous Kheturi Mahotsava. This was the first “Gaura-Purnima” festival to honor the divine appearance day of Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. During the festival six Deities were installed: Shri Gauranga Deva, Shri Vallabhi Kanta, Shri Vraja Mohana, Shri Krishna, Shri Radha Kanta, Shri Radha Ramana.     

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 Prabhupada often sang these bhajans, considering them non-different from Vedic sastra and quoted them in his Bhagavatam lectures. Prarthana and Prema-bhakti-chandrika are Narottama’s most famous works.

Narottama Dasa serves Shrimati Radhika as Chamaka-manjari. His samadhi is in Radha Gokulananda’s Temple courtyard. 

Lessons, Legends & Liberation: Wisdom for the Soul. February 12
→ Dandavats

By Dandavats Staff Writer

Where is my attention right now? HG Kalakantha Prabhu. Yadus, Gulab Jamuns, and Bhakti Blunders! Holi Surprise: NZ Prime Minister Turns Technicolor Hero! Devotion and Delight: Tales of the Godly. Brahmanas? Nope! Just Ksatriyas Playing Dress-Up! From Big Bang to Bhakti: Cosmic Chronicles. HG Visakha Devi Dasi: The Supreme Lord's Guide to Breaking Free. Spirituality: Not a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme. HG Madan Gopal Prabhu: Why Mundane Heroes Flop and Krishna Always Wins .Applied Bhagavatam - The Art & Heart of Praying. "Pariksit Sees Krsna" with Gopal Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu. Cultural Program - Vrindavan Continue reading "Lessons, Legends & Liberation: Wisdom for the Soul. February 12
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Jaya Nitai Gaura!!!
→ Mayapur.com

Jaya Nitai! With hearts brimming with gratitude, we extend our deepest thanks for your kind contribution towards the grand celebration of Sri Nityananda Trayodashi. Your generosity helped create an atmosphere of divine joy, filling the day with kirtan, devotion, and the boundless mercy of Lord Nityananda. The festival began at Mangal Arati, where the temple […]

Virtual Pilgrimage to Ekacakrā Dhāma!
→ Mayapur.com

Śrīla Prabhupāda instructed, “If you are actually serious about going back to home, back to Godhead, then please seek after the mercy of Nityānanda.” Inspired by this instruction, the Mayapur Master Plan Office is delighted to introduce the Virtual Pilgrimage to Ekacakrā Dhāma, the sacred birthplace of Lord Nityānanda. This initiative allows devotees around the […]

Spiritual Hacks for a Life Beyond Limits! February 11
→ Dandavats

By Dandavats Staff Writer

The mood of humility. From Caṇḍāla to Celestial: Tales of Heavenly Upgrades! Krishna: The Ultimate Judge-No Bribes Accepted! Free Bliss! Just Chant and Collect Your Grace! Chant, Breathe, Repeat-Yogi Life Ain't Easy! Guru: The Firefighter of Samsara! Ideal Family Life. Nityananda Ashtakam, New Goloka. Srila Prabhupada's room @ RadhaDamodar. Unity Among Diverse Personalities. Spiritual Lessons From Flying. Full Live Stream - Mayapur Mellows. Krishna's Wealth - Harinamananda Prabhu. CC Adi Lila by HH Candramauli Swami. Self-Advocacy and Empowerment - HH Radhanath Swami Continue reading "Spiritual Hacks for a Life Beyond Limits! February 11
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Sri Nityananda Trayodashi celebrations all over the world, February 10
→ Dandavats

By Dandavats Staff Writer

Sri Nityananda Trayodashi - Class. Dhule Dhule Gaur Chand - Madhavas. Krsna's Waiting-But Is Your Attention Missing? Catholic Granny vs. Krsna: Plot Twist of the Century! From Foxholes to Hare Krishna: Grandpa's Final Voyage. Day or night, London dances to the Hare Krishna beat. Sri NItyananda Trayodashi Maha Abhishek - Vrindavan. Live Darshan & Kirtan Sri Dham Mayapur. Sri Nityananda Trayodashi Celebration Sri Dham Mayapur (photos) Class by HH RADHANATH SWAMI. Funny story: Lord Nityananda and a Thief . A meeting wth Narendra Modi! Continue reading "Sri Nityananda Trayodashi celebrations all over the world, February 10
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Sri Nityananda-trayodasi
Giriraj Swami

We welcome you on this most auspicious occasion of the appearance day of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. According to the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, the Absolute Truth is realized in three features. Preliminary is Brahman, the impersonal light that emanates from the transcendental form of the Lord. Next is Paramatma, the localized Supersoul within the hearts of all living entities. And the last word in realization of the Absolute is Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. Jnanis, who realize the impersonal Brahman, experience only the sat, eternal, aspect of the Absolute Truth. Yogis who realize the Paramatma within the heart experience the eternal, sat, and cognizant, cit, features of the Absolute Truth. Only devotees, who realize Krishna, experience ananda, bliss, which is the goal and ultimate nature of every living entity.

When an interviewer once asked Srila Prabhupada, “What is the goal of life?” Srila Prabhupada replied, “The goal of life is to enjoy.” Now, the effort to enjoy materially, through the mind and senses, leads only to frustration and misery, but spiritually one can enjoy in relation to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and that pleasure, unlike the temporary so-called happiness of the material world, is eternal, and that eternal happiness can be realized through the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Nitya means “eternal” and ananda means “bliss.” So, if we can come in touch with Lord Nityananda, we can realize that eternal bliss for which we are hankering.

How do we become eligible for Lord Nityananda’s mercy? That we can learn from the description of His qualities and pastimes in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, the most authorized book, biography, about the teachings and activities of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda and Their associates. There are a number of verses that summarize the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda, but one is especially instructive, from Adi-lila, Chapter Seventeen: “The Pastimes of Lord Caitanya in His Youth”:

TEXT 17

tabe saci dekhila, rama-krsna—dui bhai
tabe nistarila prabhu jagai-madhai

TRANSLATION

Thereafter Mother Sacidevi saw the brothers Krsna and Balarama in Their manifestation of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda. Then the Lord delivered the two brothers Jagai and Madhai.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

One night Sacidevi dreamt that the Deities in her house, Krsna and Balarama, had taken the forms of Caitanya and Nityananda and were fighting one another, as children do, to eat the naivedya, or offering to the Deities. On the next day, by the will of Lord Caitanya, Sacidevi invited Nityananda to take prasada at her house. Thus Visvambhara (Lord Caitanya) and Nityananda were eating together, and Sacidevi realized that They were none other than Krsna and Balarama. Seeing this, she fainted.

COMMENT by Giriraj Swami

The story is that Sacidevi had a dream and told her son Nimai, “Last night I had a wonderful dream, and in this dream You and Nityananda went into my Deity room, and You picked up the Deity of Balarama, and Nitai picked up the Deity of Krishna, and the Deities started to protest, ‘You can’t take Us from the altar. You can’t take Us out of the Deity room.’ And You and Nityananda replied, ‘Your days of stealing butter and playing pranks are over. Now You are appearing as brahmans to chant the holy names.’ ” Then They started to fight over Mother Saci’s offerings, and Krishna and Balarama said, “These are meant for Us. You can’t have these.” And Gaura and Nitai were saying, “But now You have appeared as Us, so We can take them.”

Mother Saci asked Lord Chaitanya, “What do You think of this dream?” and Lord Chaitanya said, “This is a very wonderful dream, but don’t tell anyone about it.” Because He was concealing His identity as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He didn’t want anyone to know that He was Krishna and Nityananda was Balarama.

Then Lord Chaitanya said, “I would go into the Deity room to have maha-prasada and see that half of it was gone.” His wife, Vishnu-priya, was listening to this, and He knew that she was listening, so He said, “When I would see that half of the offering was gone, I would suspect that it was Vishnu-priya who took the maha-prasada, but now I am seeing that these Deities are very mystical, and I am suspecting that They Themselves might be eating half of the remnants meant for Us.” He continued, “Anyway, I think tomorrow you should invite Nityananda for lunch.” So, she did, and as They were having lunch, she saw Them transform Themselves into Krishna and Balarama, and she fainted.

PURPORT (continued)

Jagai and Madhai were two brothers born in Navadvipa in a respectable brahmana family who later became addicted to all kinds of sinful activities. By the order of Lord Caitanya, both Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa Thakura used to preach the cult of Krsna consciousness door to door. In the course of such preaching they found Jagai and Madhai, two maddened drunken brothers, who, upon seeing them, began to chase them. The next day, Madhai struck Nityananda Prabhu on the head with a piece of earthen pot, thus drawing blood. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard of this, He immediately came to the spot, ready to punish both brothers, but when the all-merciful Lord Gauranga saw Jagai’s repentant behavior, He immediately embraced him. By seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face and embracing Him, both the sinful brothers were at once cleansed. Thus they received initiation into the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra from the Lord and were delivered.

COMMENT

This is a very important pastime of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda, and it is worth considering in detail, because it will give us an insight into the actual mission of Gaura-Nitai and, through parampara, disciplic succession, the mission of Srila Prabhupada and consequently the mission of his followers.

So, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa Thakura to go into Navadvipa to approach whomever they met on the way and to go door-to-door and approach people at home and request them to chant the name of Krishna, to worship Krishna, to accept Krishna as their life and soul and the treasure of their wealth—and not to distinguish between who was qualified and who was not. Many people in Navadvipa were pious, and when Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa Thakura approached them, they accepted the request. And they all developed pure love for Krishna.

One day, as Nityananda and Haridasa Thakura were making their way around Navadvipa, they saw a large crowd of people watching a spectacle from a distance. When they approached, they saw two drunken brothers, Jagai and Madhai. “They were born in a respectable brahman family,” the townspeople explained, “but in their youth they fell into bad association and have engaged in all sorts of sinful, horrible activities. They drink wine, they murder people, they burn down their houses, they loot and rob and plunder them. They rape women. They eat cows’ flesh. There’s not a sin they have not committed. They are extremely dangerous, and the whole of Navadvipa lives in fear of them.”

Nityananda Prabhu thought, So far, we have been approaching pious folks and they’ve taken up the order of Mahaprabhu and become pure lovers of Krishna, but no one really knows the glories of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy. If we can convert Jagai and Madhai, then everyone will know the magnitude of Mahaprabhu’s mercy. So, Nityananda, accompanied by Haridasa, approached the drunken brothers and delivered the message: “Chant Krishna’s name, worship Krishna, follow Krishna’s instructions, glorify Krishna, and give up your sinful activities.” The two were physically powerful, though—very powerful and very arrogant—and they became enraged: “Who are these people to tell us to worship Krishna and give up our activities?” They decided to kill Haridasa and Nityananda and started to pursue them, shouting, “Kill them! Kill them!” They were running after them, and Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa Thakura were running for their lives.

While they were fleeing, Nityananda Prabhu said, “Haridasa, I think this is the end of both of us. This is it.” And Haridasa replied, “I think You are right.” Then Nityananda said, “But you were caned in twenty-two marketplaces and Krishna saved you, so why don’t you pray to Krishna to save us now?” And Haridasa said, “Yes, that’s true, but at that time I wasn’t associating with a madman like You. You went up to the two biggest demons on the planet and told them to chant Hare Krishna and give up their sinful activities! All the townspeople told us, ‘Stay away from them; they are very dangerous,’ but You didn’t listen.”

Nityananda defended Himself: “You are blaming Me, but actually I’m not the one to blame. It’s your master, Gauranga Mahaprabhu, who’s responsible. Never in the history of the world has a brahman acted like Him, like a king ordering people to go out in the town and approach people whether they are pious or sinful and ask them to chant Hare Krishna. I was just following His order. So don’t blame Me; blame Him.” And He added, “If we don’t obey His order, we’re finished, and if we do obey His order, we’re finished.” Like that, they were joking and laughing as they were fleeing for their lives, Jagai and Madhai in hot pursuit.

Eventually Jagai and Madhai, though strong and powerful and angry, couldn’t keep up. They were a little heavy and quite drunk, so eventually they fell behind, and Nityananda and Haridasa Thakura ran to Mahaprabhu. The Lord had asked them to come report to Him every evening after their preaching, and they told Him what had happened. When He asked, “Who are these Jagai and Madhai?” Gangadasa Pandita and Srivasa Thakura explained, “They are most sinful. The whole of Navadvipa lives in terror because of them. They kill people, they rape women, they burn down people’s houses, they plunder their riches, they drink strong liquor, and they eat cows’ flesh.” Mahaprabhu said, “I will kill them. I will cut them to pieces.” But Nityananda Prabhu—and this is His extreme mercy—said, “No, Lord, don’t do that. Don’t harm them. In Kali-yuga our mission is not to kill the demons but to deliver them. And in Kali-yuga pretty much everyone will be like Jagai and Madhai. So don’t kill them. You give them to Me; I will take charge of them.” Gauranga Mahaprabhu agreed, “All right, I put them in Your charge, and because You want to give them mercy, I predict that very soon they will be delivered.”

While Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was speaking with Nityananda, Haridasa Thakura, who was sitting with Advaita Acharya, said, “You do not know how difficult it is to have a sankirtana partner who is a madman. He is an avadhuta. He goes to people’s houses and steals their butter and yogurt.” If the householder came out and pursued them, Nityananda Prabhu, who was younger, would be gone, and they would catch Haridasa. Sometimes Nityananda would ride on people’s bulls and say, “I am Mahesh!” And sometimes He would milk the cows and drink all the milk. Sometimes He would approach small boys and say, “I’m going to beat you!” and they would become frightened and run home to their parents, and their fathers would come out with sticks to protect their child. And Nityananda would escape, but they’d catch Haridasa, and he would fall at their feet and plead, “Please, please, it’s not what you think.” And sometimes Nityananda would go up to innocent young girls and say, “I want to marry you.” “But the worst was today,” Haridasa said. “Everyone told us to stay away from these drunken demons, and He went right up to them and said, ‘Give up your sinful activities, surrender to Krishna, and chant Krishna’s name.’ They almost killed us! We barely escaped with our lives.”

Advaita Acharya began to laugh in ecstasy but with a little anger and said, “Why are you surprised? It is the nature of drunkards to associate with other drunkards. Nityananda Prabhu is always intoxicated with krsna-prema, prema-rasa, so it’s natural for Him to want to associate with other drunkards. But you are a naistika-brahmachari, sober and learned, so why are you associating with those three? You let them associate with one another. Why should you get involved with them?” Then He said, “I know the power of My Nityananda, and you will see within one or two days that these rogues will be chanting and dancing in kirtan with us.”

A day or two later, as Nityananda Prabhu was wandering around Navadvipa in His playful mood, He again came upon the two drunk brothers. And again He approached them and delivered the same message, and again Madhai was enraged: “Who is this person? We almost killed him the other day, and still he is coming back. Who does he think he is?” Then he asked, “Who are you? What is your name?” Nitai replied, “I am avadhuta.” And that was it. Madhai picked up a clay pot, and with all of his immense strength he smashed the head of Nityananda Prabhu and cut a big gash. Blood covered Nitai’s face and gradually His whole body. “I don’t mind that you struck Me,” He told Madhai, “but what really pains Me is how much you are suffering in ignorance. Please accept the mercy of Gauranga Mahaprabhu and you’ll be happy.”

That infuriated Madhai even more, so he picked up another pot, wanting to kill Nitai—he was ready to smash Him—but Jagai intervened and said, “Stop it! Can’t you see that this is a genuine saintly person, that he actually has love for you and feels compassion for you? He is trying to help you. What will you gain by killing such an innocent soul?”

Meanwhile, the news of Madhai’s attack reached Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and He rushed to the scene—as Prabhupada said, angry as fire—and immediately called for His Sudarshan chakra to kill the brothers. The chakra came like the blazing sun, but Nityananda Prabhu intervened. “Lord, don’t kill them,” He beseeched Mahaprabhu. “I am going to,” Lord Chaitanya replied. “They have harmed My Nitai, and I am going to kill them.” Still, Nityananda said, “But Jagai saved Me. Madhai was wanting to kill Me, but Jagai stopped him; he saved My life.”

When Mahaprabhu heard that, His heart melted and the chakra immediately disappeared. He embraced Jagai and said, “You have saved My Nitai. You have saved My Nitai. I forgive you for all that you have done.” After embracing him, He manifested a four-armed form with the symbols of Vishnu—the club, disc, lotus, and conch—placed His lotus foot on the heart of Jagai, and filled him with ecstatic love for Krishna. And Jagai was weeping in ecstasy.

Then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu turned His attention back to Madhai. He was still angry and ready to kill him, but Madhai’s heart had also changed. The Caitanya-bhagavata describes that the two of them, Jagai and Madhai, were so close that they were like one soul in two bodies. So, by Jagai’s heart changing, Madhai’s heart also changed. And, of course, he didn’t want to be killed. He said, “You have given mercy to Jagai, but we’re together; we’ve done everything together. Whenever we plundered someone’s house, we did it together. Whenever I burned down someone’s house, he was with me. Whenever I drank liquor, he was with me. Whenever I ate cows’ flesh, he was with me. We did everything together, so why are You giving him mercy and not me? You should give me mercy, too.” Mahaprabhu replied, “No, I will not give you mercy, because you have hurt My Nitai.” Madhai said, “We’ve read in scriptures that so many demons attacked You with weapons and You delivered them all. So You should deliver me too.” And Mahaprabhu replied, “No, I will not deliver you. Nityananda’s body is more dear to Me than My own. Those demons attacked My body and I delivered them, but you attacked Nitai’s body, which is more dear to Me. I will not forgive you.”

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was poised to kill Madhai, and Madhai pleaded for mercy. Then Mahaprabhu showed the way: “You beg for Nitai’s mercy. If He gives you mercy, then I will spare you.” So Madhai prayed to Nityananda Prabhu, and Mahaprabhu told Nitai, “If You actually forgive him, then You should embrace him.” And Nityananda, His whole body still covered with blood, picked up Madhai, who had prostrated himself, and embraced him. That is how merciful He is. Then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, “All right, I will spare you.” Nitai said, “Now I give him to You.” Then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave Madhai prema-bhakti. This is inconceivable—He gave him something that Lord Brahma doesn’t have. He gave him something that great rishis and sages and devas are endeavoring to get. He gave it to Madhai and Jagai, and they were the most horrible, sinful reprobates.

So, all that Nitai wanted came true. Later, back at Mahaprabhu’s house, the devotees had sankirtana, and Mahaprabhu said that all of Nitai’s desires would come true. Nitai was thinking, If these two demons, the worst on the planet, could receive Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy, then My traveling everywhere and preaching will be successful. He thought, If I can convert these two demons to accept the mercy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, then I can actually consider Myself a servant of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. And if these two demons can chant and dance in ecstasy with the Vaishnavas, I can consider that My name, Nityananda, has value and is true.

There was a big festival of kirtan, and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, “Don’t any of you think that Jagai and Madhai are sinful. I will accept all their sinful reactions. Just watch.” And as Gauranga, in His beautiful golden form, began to accept their sinful reactions, His body turned black. “What do You see? What do I look like?” He asked Advaita Acharya. “I see Syamasundara,” Advaita replied. “Gaurasundara has become Syamasundara.” Then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked, “Now how will I get free from these sinful reactions? It will be through hari-nama-sankirtana. So, all of you do hari-nama-sankirtana, and I will be relieved of these sinful reactions. But then where will the sinful reactions go? Into the hearts of those who blaspheme Vaishnavas, who criticize devotees.”

So, they had ecstatic kirtan, and Mahaprabhu with His black form was dancing in ecstasy, and gradually the black went away; His form became lighter, and He resumed His original beautiful fair Gauranga golden hue.

After this, the Vaishnavas accepted Jagai and Madhai, but especially Madhai felt guilty, because he had tried to kill Nityananda Prabhu, who was the cause of his deliverance. He was very sad. Nityananda Prabhu could see this and inquired, “You’ve been liberated, you’ve been given prema-bhakti—why are you so sad? Don’t be sad.” Madhai replied, “When I think that I tried to kill You, I feel terrible. I just can’t forgive myself.” Nityananda told him, “I accept you like My son. Sometimes a child will hit the parent, but the parent doesn’t take it seriously. I forgive you.” Madhai said, “But what about all the other people I wronged and caused pain to? I was so intoxicated, I don’t even know who they are. I don’t even know how to ask them to forgive me. I hurt so many.” And Nityananda Prabhu said, “You should make a ghat—a very beautiful ghat—with your own hand, and when people come to take bath, you prostrate yourself before them and ask them to forgive you. And serve whoever comes, in any menial way. Being close to the Ganga, you will be purified.”

So, Madhai did that, and when people saw how humble he and his brother had become, their hearts melted and they gave them all affection and respect. But there were some people who were still angry, who had been so hurt by the brothers, by Madhai in particular, and seeing him in that humble position, they would take up a stone and throw it at his head. Madhai was now so meek, however, that he would pick up the stone and return it to them, saying, “I am so sinful. I’ve caused so much pain to others. Once is not enough; you should hit me again.” Even the people who were the most upset and angry had to forgive him and embrace him.

This is the mercy of Gaura-Nitai, and that was what Nityananda Prabhu wanted: that people should understand the glory of Mahaprabhu’s mercy. Srila Prabhupada took up the same mood of approaching anyone and everyone—pious or sinful, qualified or unqualified—without discrimination. As Nityananda Prabhu said, in Kali-yuga practically everyone will be like Jagai and Madhai. That may be more apparent in America and Europe than in India—though I did hear a talk in which Srila Prabhupada was discussing how demonic Western civilization is and how the leaders, and pretty much everyone, are demons, but then added, “Actually in my country also, 80 percent are demons.” But still, what Prabhupada encountered in 1965 when he came to America was something that people now, especially people in India, can’t even imagine.

Krishna Chandra Prabhu (Hrishikesh Mafatlal), from Mumbai, used to say that people cannot imagine who Srila Prabhupada faced when he went to America. He recommended that everyone see the DVDs of Srila Prabhupada when he came to America, first at 26 Second Avenue in New York, then at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. You just can’t believe, can’t imagine, the type of people he was approaching. And they didn’t always receive him well.

There was one incident when Srila Prabhupada was in New York—I hope you’ve read Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta; everyone should read the Lilamrta, as well as see the series Following Srila Prabhupada—living in a loft in the Bowery, which was the most degraded part of the city, its “Skid Row,” inhabited mostly by drunks. But even they had a little respect. They would be sprawled out on the sidewalk and on the stairs leading up to Prabhupada’s apartment, but somehow they sensed that Prabhupada was a saintly person, and they would try to move over and make room for him to pass.

Prabhupada was staying with a young man who seemed interested in Krishna consciousness. In fact, Prabhupada thought, I’ll train him as a Vaishnava. But one day the young man went crazy, probably from taking LSD or something—the 1960s equivalent of the strong wine that Jagai and Madhai were taking five hundred years ago. He went crazy and wanted to attack Srila Prabhupada. And he was ready to kill him, like Madhai was ready to kill Nityananda Prabhu. Srila Prabhupada bolted out of the room and ran down the stairs, with this young man in pursuit—very similar.

It is quite a history, how Srila Prabhupada stayed in different people’s places; and what he endured for the sake of delivering the mercy of Gaura-Nitai is inconceivable. On the boat to America he had suffered two heart attacks, and even in America he had a lot of physical problems. But he endured everything—all these attacks of maya—for the sake of delivering Gaura-Nitai’s mercy to us. And what Nityananda Prabhu wanted in India has been fulfilled by Srila Prabhupada outside India. What Nityananda Prabhu wanted was fulfilled in Bengal, but through Srila Prabhupada it’s been fulfilled throughout the world. So, Srila Prabhupada is really the embodiment of that mercy of Nityananda Prabhu. There’s no one in the history of our sampradaya, no one after Nityananda Prabhu, who has taken up that mood of approaching anyone and everyone without discrimination, without considering who is qualified and who is not.

And it’s the same message: chant Krishna’s name, worship Krishna, follow Krishna’s instructions (bolo krsna, bhaja krsna, koro krsna-siksa)—but not in so many words, because the people that Srila Prabhupada was approaching didn’t even know who Krishna was. When Nityananda approached people in Navadvipa, “Chant Krishna’s name, worship Krishna, accept Krishna as your life and soul,” they knew who Krishna was, they knew what He was saying, but in America and Europe nobody knew who Krishna was. So even “Chant Krishna’s name, worship Krishna” had to be explained in detail in books, and thus Srila Prabhupada wrote so many books to explain who is Krishna, what is Krishna’s name, how to chant Krishna’s name, how to worship Krishna, why we should accept Krishna as our life and soul, why we should surrender to Krishna—the same message that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked Nityananda Prabhu to deliver to everyone, but in an expanded form, because the people Prabhupada was approaching had no idea of Krishna’s identity or instructions.

When we go out with Srila Prabhupada’s books, it is like when Mahaprabhu sent Nityananda and Haridasa to approach people with that message. Sometimes devotees are not well received, but even Nityananda and Haridasa were not always well received. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would have nocturnal kirtans in Srivasa Thakura’s house, and if anyone was proud, he was not allowed to enter. Only humble, pure devotees were allowed. So, all these proud people in Navadvipa were upset and angry that they weren’t allowed to join the kirtan, and when Nityananda and Haridasa came, they were angry with them—“Oh, you’ve come from that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Srivasa Thakura”—and they spread rumors about them: “They are thieves. They come to your door and say to chant Krishna’s name and worship Krishna, but really what they’re doing is looking in your house to see what you have so that they can come back at night and steal it.” They were spreading a lot of false propaganda. So, we have to accept that, expect it and accept it, without being deterred. It didn’t stop Nityananda Prabhu, and it didn’t stop Srila Prabhupada, and it shouldn’t stop any of us.

So, this is the continuation of Nityananda Prabhu’s mission, and Srila Prabhupada really had that mood. When one of his early disciples came to India and the Calcutta temple president phoned Prabhupada in Bombay to tell him that the devotee was smoking ganja, marijuana, and asked what to do, Prabhupada told his secretary to relay his response: “Tell him that if he doesn’t stop smoking ganja, I will reject him.” Afterwards, Tamal Krishna Goswami asked Prabhupada, “Is it true that if he doesn’t stop smoking ganja, you will reject him?” And Prabhupada said, “No—I cannot reject anyone.” Tamal Krishna Goswami asked, “But don’t you have to draw the line somewhere?” And Prabhupada replied, “The mercy of Lord Nityananda is unlimited.” So that was Srila Prabhupada’s mood; he was in the mood of Nityananda Prabhu.

We are the recipients of Gaura-Nitai’s mercy through Srila Prabhupada. By Prabhupada’s mercy, we are chanting Krishna’s name and worshipping Krishna, accepting Krishna as the goal of our lives. And it is also by Prabhupada’s mercy and order that we should preach the same message to others. We can speak to our capacity, and whatever our capacity to speak may or may not be, we can give people Srila Prabhupada’s books, which convey the same message of Mahaprabhu. We just elaborate on it and present it in a way that people without any background in Vedic knowledge can understand.

So, on this most sacred and blessed occasion, we can pray to Nityananda Prabhu to inspire and empower us with His mood of humble persuasion. When He approached people, after giving an instruction He would say, “If you accept this instruction, I will consider you more dear to Me than My own life.” And if someone did not accept His sacred instruction, He would prostrate Himself at their feet and beg them to take it. He is Lord Balarama, the first of all of Krishna’s expansions; He is the origin of Maha-Sankarsana, who is in turn the origin of Maha-Vishnu, Karanodakasayi Vishnu, by whose breathing universes are generated from the pores of His body. And then a portion of that Maha-Vishnu is Garbhodakasayi Vishnu, and He enters into every universe and gives birth to Brahma and engineers the creation of every universe. And Ksirodakasayi Vishnu is the Supersoul in everyone’s heart. Nityananda is that Original Supreme Person, and He is rolling in the dust of people’s feet and begging them, “Just chant Hare Krishna.”

I saw that mood in Srila Prabhupada. He often instructed us, but I saw it personally. When we first came to Bombay, there was a program on the terrace of the house where we were staying—Seksaria Bhavan, on Marine Drive. It was very nice, very glamorous, near the sea, and our host, Kailash Seksaria, had invited all the elite, affluent aristocratic people he knew in Bombay. And with the same humility as Nityananda Prabhu, Prabhupada implored them, “I am taking the straw in my mouth and begging you, please chant Hare Krishna”—just like Nityananda Prabhu.

Prabhupada often quoted a verse by Prabodhananda Sarasvati about how we should approach people the way Nityananda Prabhu approached them. The verse is, dante nidhaya tånakam padayor nipatya: “I take a straw in my mouth.” It is a sign of utter humility. “And I bow at your feet.” kaku-sataà krtva caham bravimi. “And I flatter you a hundred times.” He sadava: “O great learned man.” Sakalam eva vihaya durad: “Whatever you have learned, you keep it far away from you.” And caitanya-candra-carane kurutanuragam: “Just accept the mercy of Lord Gauranga, just surrender to Lord Gauranga, become attached to Lord Gauranga’s lotus feet.” And Srila Prabhupada did it himself.

There was a big shipper in Bombay who was avoiding me. I had been successful with many big people in Bombay, but I just couldn’t get through to him at his office—too many secretaries and too many doors. So, one weekend I took a chance and went to his house. The man was totally unprepared, and when he opened the door and saw me, there was a little respect, or etiquette: he didn’t slam the door in my face; he invited me in. I could see that he was very smug, and the first thing he said was, “What can I do for you?” I responded, “I haven’t come so you can do something for me. I’ve come to do something for you.” And he said, “You’ve come to do something for me? What can you do for me?” “I’ve come to engage you in Krishna’s service.”

That evening, when I gave my report to Srila Prabhupada (as Haridasa and Nityananda would give their reports to Mahaprabhu), Prabhupada said, “To preach, you have to be very humble. If you approach a materialistic person and say . . .” Of course, sometimes Prabhupada would say the opposite, so it really depends on the context, but in this case he said, “If you approach someone and say, ‘Everything is Krishna’s property—you’ve stolen it all from Krishna, and you should return it to Krishna, the sooner the better,’ they will get angry: ‘What do you mean? It’s my hard-earned money. What do you mean it belongs to Krishna?’ But if you say, ‘We’re building a temple—I’ve come as a beggar to your door,’ ‘Oh, a beggar has come. Oh, okay, take something and go.’ ”

So, in that humble mood, Nityananda was begging. He wasn’t begging for money; He was begging for people to take the holy name—literally begging, falling at their feet, rolling in the dust, and begging them. And that, in essence, is what Prabhupada did with us.

And none of us would be here today if Srila Prabhupada hadn’t done what he did.

Many Indians have told me, “I’m so glad I met the devotees here in America and became Krishna conscious here.” They say, “I can’t be Krishna conscious like this in India, because of the association of the family members.” I have devotee friends who, when their family members and friends want them to drink alcohol and eat meat, refuse and are questioned, “What’s wrong with you? You went to America and now you’ve come back. You’re supposed to be the leader in these things. Now you won’t even touch them.” So, people everywhere are pretty fallen.

I’ll conclude with one of my favorite statements of Srila Prabhupada’s. He said, “To approach Radha and Krishna, you need the mercy of Lord Chaitanya, and to get the mercy of Lord Chaitanya, you need the mercy of Lord Nityananda, and to get the mercy of Lord Nityananda, you have to approach people like Jagai and Madhai.” So, if we ever feel, “Oh, I’m too high, I’m too holy, I can’t approach these people,” we should think of that instruction and of Srila Prabhupada’s own example and Nityananda Prabhu’s example and really pray, beg, to be humble instruments of their love and mercy and compassion. As Srila Prabhupada’s guru maharaja told him, that will be good for you and good for the people who hear you. Most of all, we should loudly chant the holy names: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Hare Krishna.

[A talk by Giriraj Swami on Nityananda-trayodasi, February 12, 2014, San Diego]

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When a Boar Saves the World—Literally! February 9
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By Dandavats Staff Writer

For those with equal vision. The Lord is all-powerful! The supreme enjoyer of all sacrifices accepted the incarnation of a boar. Surrender Now! (Terms and Conditions Apply). Desires? Let Krishna Handle Your Wish List! Varaha Bhudevi Sridevi Niladevi from 13th Century Orissa. HH Bhaktimarga Swami: Divine Boar Alert: Lord Varāha Saves the Day! G. Daivishakti Mataji: Stay High for Ever! Monk on the Move: Walking, Laughing, Chanting! Looking for love! Ranchor Prime Continue reading "When a Boar Saves the World—Literally! February 9
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Desires? Let Krishna Handle Your Wish List!
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The video discusses the lifestyle of a Sadhu, emphasizing discipline, spiritual practice, and detachment from material desires. It explains the cycle of ignorance, passion, and goodness, contrasting devotees with non-devotees in their approach to desires. True peace comes from detachment, devotion, and realization, attained through chanting, service, and surrender to Krishna.
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The Lord is all-powerful
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Translation The sage Maitreya said: The Lord, being thus worshiped by all the great sages and transcendentalists, touched the earth with His hooves and placed it on the water. Purport The earth was placed on the water by His inconceivable potency. The Lord is all-powerful, and therefore He can sustain the huge planets either on
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Sri Varaha-dvadasi
Giriraj Swami

Today is Varaha-dvadasi, the appearance day of the boar incarnation, Varahadeva. To celebrate His appearance, we shall read one verse about Him from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto Two, Chapter Seven: “Scheduled Incarnations with Specific Functions.”

TEXT 1

                       brahmovaca

yatrodyatah ksiti-taloddharanaya bibhrat
    kraudim tanum sakala-yajna-mayim anantah
antar-maharnava upagatam adi-daityam
    tam damstrayadrim iva vajra-dharo dadara

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma said: When the unlimitedly powerful Lord assumed the form of a boar as a pastime, just to lift the planet earth, which was drowned in the great ocean of the universe called the Garbhodaka, the first demon [Hiranyaksa] appeared, and the Lord pierced him with His tusk.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

Since the beginning of creation, the demons and the demigods, or the Vaisnavas, are always the two classes of living beings to dominate the planets of the universes. Lord Brahma is the first demigod, and Hiranyaksa is the first demon in this universe.

COMMENT by Giriraj Swami

From the beginning of creation, there have been two classes of human beings in the universe. One is the demigods, or the devotees, who are favorable to Lord Vishnu, and the other is the demons, who are against Lord Vishnu. The difference between them has existed from the beginning of creation, and the competition between them has continued until now. There are always struggles and fights between the devotees and the demons.

Even to get the place where we are so comfortably sitting now, Hare Krishna Land, Juhu, there was a great struggle. Srila Prabhupada, the devotee, wanted to purchase the land to build a temple for Radha and Krishna, and so many enemies, demons, joined together to oppose him. Month after month, the struggle continued, until ultimately Srila Prabhupada and the devotees were successful.

Even after they acquired Hare Krishna Land, the struggle continued. So many enemies tried to stop the construction of the temple, but again, in the end, the devotees were successful and Srila Prabhupada was able to build this temple for Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihariji.

Even after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance, so many enemies tried to capture Hare Krishna Land and take the management of the temple from the devotees. They accused the devotees: we were CIA, we were spies, we were smugglers, we were this, we were that. They even claimed that the chakras on top of the temple domes were radio antennas for sending and receiving secret messages, and such ridiculous stories were published all over the newspapers. Finally these enemies induced the police to make a thorough search of the entire premises.

The police came to look for radios, contraband, and whatnot, and eventually they wanted to search Srila Prabhupada’s personal quarters on the fifth floor of the west tower. His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami was the GBC for Bombay, so he accompanied the officer to Prabhupada’s quarters. When the officer saw the quarters, he paused and asked, “Do you know why we are searching Hare Krishna Land?” Goswami Maharaja replied, “Because there are so many foreigners here.” The inspector in charge of the investigation said, “There are more foreigners at the Holiday Inn, so why are we not searching there?” Tamal Krishna Goswami replied, “I don’t know. Maybe you should say.” Then the officer said, “At the Holiday Inn they eat meat, they take intoxicants, they gamble, and they have illicit sex, so no one bothers about them. But here you don’t eat meat, fish, or eggs; you don’t take intoxicants; you don’t have illicit sex; and you don’t gamble. And you broadcast very loudly that people should not eat meat, should not take intoxicants, should not have illicit sex, and should not gamble. That is why we are investigating you. People are comfortable with sense gratification, so where there is sense gratification they feel comfortable. But you are giving up sense gratification, announcing it, and telling others to give it up as well. So, people get disturbed, become suspicious, and want to know what’s happening, because they can’t understand how people can actually give up sense gratification. That’s why we are investigating you.”

Shortly thereafter, I happened to read a purport in Srimad-Bhagavatam in which Srila Prabhupada states that the demons want to create a godless society in which they can enjoy sense gratification without restriction: “Demons are very much disturbed when devotees worship the Lord in the prescribed ways recommended in the scriptures. In the Vedic scriptures, the devotees are advised to engage in nine kinds of devotional service, such as to hear and chant the holy name of God, to remember Him always, to chant on beads Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, to worship the Lord in the form of His Deity incarnation in the temples, and to engage in various activities of Krsna consciousness to increase the number of godly persons for perfect peace in the world. Demons do not like such activity. They are always envious of God and His devotees. Their propaganda not to worship in the temple or church but simply to make material advancement for satisfaction of the senses is always current. . . . Demons are always anxious to have a godless society for their sense gratification.” (SB 3.18.5 purport)

So, that is the motive of the demons. They want to create a state of godlessness where they can indulge in sense gratification without restriction, and the devotees stand opposed to godlessness, opposed to sinful activities in defiance of God’s laws. Therefore there is always conflict and struggle. From the beginning of creation to the present, there is always a struggle between the devotees and the demons. The devotees want to establish the order of God, and the demons want to tear down God and God’s order.

Hiranyaksa is described as the first demon, and he was killed by the boar incarnation at the beginning of the creation.

PURPORT (continued)

Only under certain conditions do the planets float as weightless balls in the air, and as soon as these conditions are disturbed, the planets may fall down in the Garbhodaka Ocean, which covers half the universe. The other half is the spherical dome within which the innumerable planetary systems exist.

COMMENT

The universe is a hollow sphere. In the lower half of the sphere is the Garbhodaka Ocean, and in the upper half is space, and within space so many planets are floating or orbiting. There is a very delicate balance that keeps the planets in space, and if the balance is disturbed, the planet may fall down into the Garbhodaka Ocean.

PURPORT (continued)

The floating of the planets in the weightless air is due to the inner constitution of the globes, and the modernized drilling of the earth to exploit oil from within is a sort of disturbance by the modern demons and can result in a greatly harmful reaction to the floating condition of the earth.

COMMENT

The demons do not appreciate the order of the universe created by God. They take everything for granted. They think they can transgress the laws of God without any reaction. They do not know that the creation is engineered very precisely and that if they disturb the natural order, there could be severe consequences. Now people are becoming aware of the threat to the planet and the environment. Just a slight shift in the earth’s axis or orbit will completely change the temperature, change the seasons, change the climate, and affect the ecology. But the demons don’t understand or care that by drilling the earth and extracting oil they can actually disturb the orbit of the earth, what to speak of other harmful effects. The devotees understand the laws of God and the laws of nature and try to act accordingly. And the demons defy the laws of God and do whatever they want. But the result of such independent activities is that they create disturbance for themselves and for others. The earth is surrounded by air and space. We cannot measure the atmosphere around the earth, it is so vast. But the biggest things we know—the oceans and the air—are now being polluted because of disregard for the laws of God and nature.

It is not that the devotees are competing with the demons because they want to enjoy supremacy. Actually, devotees have no selfish interest. They just want to see that the people of the universe, all living entities in the universe, are peaceful and happy. But they know that people can be happy only if they surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead and follow His orders. So, out of compassion for others—not for any personal self-interest—they want society to be organized according to the laws of God. And because the demons disturb the natural order and cause innocent people to suffer, devotees feel concerned, and therefore, if necessary, they intervene. They fight with the demons to place the universe in the right hands, in the hands of persons who are submissive to the will of God, to the scriptures.

PURPORT (continued)

A similar disturbance was created formerly by the demons headed by Hiranyaksa (the great exploiter of the gold rush), and the earth was detached from its weightless condition and fell down into the Garbhodaka Ocean. The Lord, as maintainer of the whole creation of the material world, therefore assumed the gigantic form of a boar with a proportionate snout and picked up the earth from within the water of Garbhodaka.

COMMENT

Sri Varaha Bhagavan ki jaya!

The Lord is the creator of the universe. As the father of all living entities, He is concerned for all of His children in the universe. So, when the earth fell down into the Garbhodaka Ocean, the Lord assumed the form of Lord Varaha in order to pick it up. He assumed a form that was suitable for the purpose—the form of a boar with a long snout, which could enter into the water and lift up the earth planet.

PURPORT (continued)

Sri Jayadeva Gosvami, the great Vaisnava poet, sang as follows:

vasati dasana-sikhare dharani tava lagna
sasini kalanka-kaleva nimagna
kesava dhrta-sukara-rupa
jaya jagadisa hare

“O Kesava! O Supreme Lord who have assumed the form of a boar! O Lord! The planet earth rested on Your tusks, and it appeared like the moon engraved with spots.”

Such is the symptom of an incarnation of the Lord. The incarnation of the Lord is not the concocted idea of fanciful men who create an incarnation out of imagination. The incarnation of the Lord appears under certain extraordinary circumstances like the above-mentioned occasion, and the incarnation performs a task which is not even imaginable by the tiny brain of mankind. The modern creators of the many cheap incarnations may take note of the factual incarnation of God as the gigantic boar with a suitable snout to carry the planet earth.

COMMENT

As any sensitive and intelligent devotee would notice, most of the public media is controlled by demons. They use the media to promote materialism, and quite often they use the media to defame spiritualism. During the struggle for Hare Krishna Land, the demons were very active. And apart from the articles that appeared against us, there were many articles that were designed to make a farce of religion. There was a newsmagazine, The Illustrated Weekly of India, that was very popular, and based on its editorial policy, the editor, Khushwant Singh, seemed to be a demon. “Demon” doesn’t mean having ten heads and twenty arms. Demons can also look like you or me. But they are considered demons because they are against the supremacy of the Lord. So, this Khushwant Singh published an article by Dr. Agehananda Bharati, an Austrian scholar who had become a sannyasi, in which Dr. Bharati gave his account of his debate with our Hridayananda dasa, in which he had claimed that Lord Shiva was supreme and advocated the chanting of Lord Shiva’s name.

I could understand that the idea of the article was to make both Bharati and us look foolish—religious fanatics fighting like children over nothing: “Krishna is supreme.” “No, Shiva is supreme.” “You should chant Hare Krishna.” “No, you should chant Shiva Shiva.” So, I wrote Srila Prabhupada what the editor had done, and Srila Prabhupada agreed: “Yes, Giriraj is right. Bharati is a fool, but Singh is a demon.”

Demons try to make religious people look silly so that intelligent people reject religion. Of course, much of what passes as religion is actually fanaticism, and Srila Prabhupada commented that in the present age intelligent people will be skeptical because so many cheaters adopt the guise of religious leaders. But then again, Srila Prabhupada also said that just because there is counterfeit money, it doesn’t mean there is no real money. Just because there are false religious leaders or false incarnations, it doesn’t mean there are no true representatives of God or true incarnations of God.

A real incarnation of God does things that no one else can do, that ordinary human beings cannot even imagine. The Lord assuming the form of a boar and lifting the earth from the bottom of the Garbhodaka Ocean? We can’t even imagine it. These are the activities of real incarnations—not making ashes. Anyone can make ashes just by burning agarbatti, incense. You don’t need an incarnation to make ashes. So, we should judge. Who is an incarnation? One who can do something that no one else can do.

In one sense, Srila Prabhupada is also an incarnation—saktyavesa-avatara. He did what no one else could do: spread Krishna consciousness to every town and village in the world. Of course, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the incarnation of Krishna for the age of Kali described in the scriptures, had desired it: prthivite ache yata nagaradi-grama / sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama: “In every town and village in every country of the world, the glories of My name will be chanted.” (Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya 4.126) But five hundred years passed, and it was actually Srila Prabhupada who fulfilled the prediction and desire of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, which no one else had been able to do. Therefore Srila Prabhupada is accepted as saktyavesa-avatara, a living entity who is imbued with the potency of God. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 7.11) confirms:

kali-kalera dharma-krsna-nama-sankirtana
krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana

“The fundamental religious system in the Age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Krsna. Unless empowered by Krsna, one cannot propagate the sankirtana movement.” The religious system for Kali-yuga is the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, sankirtana. And krsna-sakti vina nahe tara pravartana: unless one is blessed with krsna-sakti, the energy of Krishna, one cannot spread the chanting of the holy name all over the world. Because Srila Prabhupada was blessed with krsna-sakti, he was able to spread the sankirtana movement throughout the whole world.

Still, Srila Prabhupada presented himself as the humble servant of the servant of the servant of the Lord, and generally we also worship him as the humble servant of the servant of the servant of Lord Krishna. And we want to be his servant, or the servant of his servants. That is the position of a Vaishnava: gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah. Even Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu presented Himself as such:

naham vipro na ca nara-patir napi vaisyo na sudro
   naham varni na ca grha-patir no vanastho yatir va
kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramananda-purnamrtabdher
   gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah

“I am not a brahmana, I am not a ksatriya, I am not a vaisya or a sudra. Nor am I a brahmacari, a householder, a vanaprastha or a sannyasi. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krsna, the maintainer of the gopis. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance.” (Cc Madhya 13.80)

“But if you are not a brahman, not a kshatriya, not a vaishya, and not a sudra, if you are not a brahmachari, not a grihastha, not a vanaprastha, and not a sannyasi, then what are you?” Gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah: “I am the servant of the servant of the servant of Krishna, the maintainer of the gopis of Vrindavan.” So, that is the identity of a Vaishnava. He has no other identity. He doesn’t identify with the material varnas and ashramas. He identifies himself as the servant of the servant of the servant of the Lord.

In fact, Sisupala, who was also a great demon, criticized Lord Krishna, “No one knows Your caste. Sometimes You act as a cowherd boy, and sometimes You act as a warrior. So nobody knows Your caste, whether you are a kshatriya or a vaishya or what.” In Vedic civilization, to accuse someone of being without a caste is a great insult. Yet although Sisupala meant to criticize Krishna, indirectly he was glorifying Him, because the Lord—and the Vaishnava—is transcendental; he doesn’t belong to any caste. He doesn’t belong to any varna or any ashrama. So, mundane people or demonic people may criticize, “What are you? You are not a brahmana, not a kshatriya, not a vaishya, not a sudra. What are you? You don’t fit into our categories.” Or in the West, when we used to perform hari-nama-sankirtana in the streets of major cities, people would come up to us and shout, “Get a job!” But our business is to serve Krishna, and Krishna’s business is to enjoy transcendental bliss. Actually, Krishna and Krishna’s devotees are beyond material designations and categories. Although materialists may try to fit them into some category and then become bewildered or disturbed that they don’t fit, devotees know their own identities: they are just the servants of the servants of the servants of Krishna, the maintainer of the gopis of Vraja.

PURPORT (concluded)

When the Lord appeared to pick up the earth, the demon of the name Hiranyaksa tried to create a disturbance in the methodical functions of the Lord, and therefore he was killed by being pierced by the Lord’s tusk. According to Srila Jiva Gosvami, the demon Hiranyaksa was killed by the hand of the Lord and after being killed by the hand of the Lord, the demon was pierced by the tusk. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura confirms this version.

COMMENT

The Lord is absolute: He can perform any function with any limb. But He chose to kill the demon with His hand, and then He pierced the demon’s body with His tusk.

Now, what can we as devotees learn from this pastime? Of course, there are many lessons to learn from every pastime of the Lord. But we are also like planets in the sense that we stay afloat in Krishna consciousness by a delicate balance, and if there is a disturbance to that balance, we may fall down into the ocean of material existence. So, we have to be careful to maintain our wholesome condition in spiritual life. And what is the balance? In general, Srila Prabhupada said that the balance is between hearing and chanting about Krishna in the morning and the evening and working for Krishna during the day. Thus Srila Prabhupada established the daily schedule for ISKCON: every morning from 4:30 to 8:30 the devotees come together in the temple and hear and chant about Krishna, and then again every evening from 7 to 9 they gather in the temple to hear and chant about Krishna, and during the day they engage in so many different activities for the spreading of Krishna consciousness. I don’t know if Srila Prabhupada himself used the term, but some devotees call it a “transcendental sandwich.” A sandwich is two pieces of bread with a filling in the middle. Similarly, we have the morning and evening programs, and in the middle we have our practical activities to spread Krishna consciousness. So, we have to keep the balance. We cannot imitate Haridasa Thakura and think that we can sit down and chant 300,000 names daily, because we can’t do it and don’t have the time to do it. Nor should we work like materialistic people, just keeping busy going here and there to get and spend money with no time to hear and chant about Krishna. We need to do both: hear and chant about Krishna and engage in practical service to spread Krishna consciousness.

And we should cultivate favorable relationships with devotees. Because we are social animals, if we don’t develop relationships with devotees, we will make relationships with nondevotees. Relationships with nondevotees will lead us into nondevotional activities or sinful activities, and ultimately we will commit offenses against devotees. So, to maintain the delicate balance, we need the association of devotees. Otherwise, if our outside engagements become too much and our spiritual association becomes too little, we may fall down into the material ocean.

But even if we fall down, grossly or subtly, the Lord, who is very kind, will pick us up. Specifically, the spiritual master will come and pick up the devotee if by chance the devotee falls from the standard of pure Krishna consciousness. So, we are not alone in our struggle. We do our best to follow the instructions we have received from sadhu, shastra, and guru. Still, because the material energy is very powerful, we may become bewildered and fall from the pure principles of Krishna consciousness. But the spiritual master will not leave us. As long as we are sincerely trying to serve him, he will not leave us; he will pick us up again and again. Just like a child who is learning to walk—because the child is weak, sometimes he or she might stumble and fall, but the parent will pick up the child and help him or her to walk again. The parent will actually hold the hand of the child, and the child, being helped by the parent, will walk without any fear or difficulty. So, in Krishna consciousness we are not alone. We don’t try to succeed by our own strength or our own intelligence. Rather, we are helped by the hand of the Lord, who extends Himself in the form of the spiritual master. And if we allow ourselves to be guided by the spiritual master, we can be relieved from all distress and disturbance.

For example, Arjuna was so confused; he did not know what to do. He saw arrayed on the battlefield before him his uncle, his cousin-brothers, his teachers, his superiors—people who loved him, who had fed him, who had trained him—and he was thinking, “How can I fight with them? How can I kill them? Even if I win the kingdom, how will I be able to enjoy it?” People want to enjoy some kingdom or some success or some facility with people they love. He was thinking, “Even if I win the battle and gain the kingdom, I won’t be able to enjoy it, because all the people I would want to enjoy it with will be dead, and I will be responsible.” He was bewildered, and eventually he became overwhelmed with grief. His limbs were shaking, and his eyes were full of tears. Although Arjuna was such a powerful kshatriya, such a fierce warrior, the material energy is so strong that even he was trembling, his eyes brimming with tears.

And then Arjuna made a critical decision. He decided to surrender to Krishna and accept Him as his spiritual master. He had been enjoying a relationship of friendship with Krishna. They would sit together as equals, dine together as equals, and in general enjoy together as equals. And Arjuna had relished that friendly relationship. But when he was bewildered about what to do and what not to do, he could not get any solution just by being friends with Krishna and talking with Him as equals. It was only when Arjuna decided to surrender to Krishna and accept Him as his spiritual master and take instruction from Him that Lord Krishna began to teach him the knowledge of the Bhagavad-gita. Arjuna said, “I am confused about my duty—I do not know what to do—so now I am surrendering unto You. Please instruct me.”

karpanya-dosopahata-svabhavah
   prcchami tvam dharma-sammudha-cetah
yac chreyah syan niscitam bruhi tan me
   sisyas te ‘ham sadhi mam tvam prapannam

“Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.” (Gita 2.7) When Arjuna surrendered to Krishna, he asked Krishna to instruct him—what to do, how to solve this problem. And when he accepted Krishna’s instructions, all of his problems were solved.

Srila Prabhupada once wrote to a disciple, “Your enthusiastic response to my instructions is very encouraging. Actually, the disciple is supposed to find relief from all of his problems just by carrying out the orders of the spiritual master. In the beginning Arjuna was completely confused and lamenting, but after accepting Krishna and hearing from Him he said, ‘Now my illusion is over, and I am prepared to do whatever You say.’ If the guru is a representative of the Supreme Lord in disciplic succession and the student is sincere, only then he can get him out of the clutches of the material energy to become situated in spiritual happiness above all material desires, in Krishna consciousness.” (SP letter dated 4.5.1974)

So, this is our process. We don’t try to stay afloat by our own efforts, by our own intelligence. We take help from Krishna and Krishna’s representatives, and that will lift us up. Even if we have fallen down and become bewildered and confused—we don’t know what to do and what not to do—when we surrender to Krishna’s representative, he will pick us up by his guidance and mercy.

Today I read a letter from a devotee in Mauritius. In the beginning he related how, after spending a few minutes with me and discussing some problems he had, his chanting improved. But then, after some time, the same problems came again—not as bad as before, but still, the same problems returned. I had given him five instructions, and he was not following one. So he wrote, “Please give me your mercy that I may follow your instructions.” Now, that appeal may sound nice, but in one case when a disciple prayed to Srila Prabhupada, “Please give me your mercy that I may follow your instructions,” Srila Prabhupada replied, “It is like a man who has fallen to the bottom of a well. I come and send down a rope to pull him out, and the man at the bottom prays, ‘Please give me your mercy. Please make my fingers curl around the rope.’ ” And with that, Srila Prabhupada made such a face of disgust. The person is giving you his mercy by sending down the rope. All you have to do is hold on to it and he will lift you up, and you are praying, “Please give me your mercy that my fingers will curl around the rope.” So, the spiritual master comes and sends down the rope of his instructions, and all you have to do is follow his instructions and he’ll lift you out of the deep, dark well of material existence and situate you at the lotus feet of Krishna. But at least you have to hold on to the rope. At least you have to try to follow the instructions—not even to follow perfectly, but at least try to follow the instructions—and he will lift you up.

Actually, our process, the descending process, is very easy. Knowledge descends from above. Mercy descends from above. We just have to accept it, and then the Lord will lift us up out of our abominable condition, just as Lord Boar lifted up the earth when it had fallen into the Garbhodaka Ocean. This is the mercy of Krishna. Sometimes Krishna comes personally, as one or another of so many incarnations, but generally He sends His representatives. And for us, the rope that can take us out of the material world back to Krishna is the disciplic succession. If we just hold on to the rope of the disciplic succession—the instructions of the disciplic succession—the disciplic succession will lift us out of the well of material existence and situate us at the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari in pure devotional service.

Hare Krishna.

Are there any questions or comments?

Mataji: [inaudible]

Giriraj Swami: The question is: When we do something wrong, is it misuse of our free will, or is it the Lord’s arrangement to purify us?

Both may be true. We may misuse our free will and come into difficulty, but even then we are not alone. The Lord is there, and He wants us to learn from our mistake and rectify it. So, although the Lord is not responsible for our mistakes (nadatte kasyacit papam)—we are responsible—by the Lord’s mercy we can learn from our mistakes and be reinstated in our constitutional position and be stronger and better than we were before we made the mistake. Because we have learned from the mistake, we are actually better situated than before.

Devotee 1: [inaudible]

Giriraj Swami: Yes, by the misuse of the free will we make the mistake, and by the mercy of the Lord we get the intelligence to realize our mistake and rectify it. Of course, the Lord’s mercy is open to everyone; it is the devotee’s openness to receiving the Lord’s mercy and being rectified that allows the devotee to be reinstated. Not everyone who makes a mistake is purified. But it is to the credit of the devotee that even after making the mistake he or she tries to take shelter of the Lord, to take shelter of the spiritual master, and by the mercy of the Lord and the spiritual master is able to improve, to come back to the proper standard.

Devotee 1: [inaudible]

Giriraj Swami: She says that in Mumbai people work late at night and then sleep late in the morning, so how to make our transcendental sandwich—how to strike a proper balance between spiritual activities and the material world?

Everyone has their minute independence. In most cases, if someone wants to take rest early and get up early, they can. Although there may be some jobs that require one to work late, still, if we give priority to hearing and chanting about Krishna, we will be able to find time. “Be there a will, and wisdom finds a way.” Many people watch television at night, or read the newspaper or go to clubs. They find time, because nobody can work day and night without recreation. They need some recreation. Generally, people work in the mode of passion, so they want relief from that mode. Sinful people get relief through the mode of ignorance: they go to a bar and get drunk; they engage in meat-eating, illicit sex, and gambling. They try to get relief from the mode of passion by plunging themselves into ignorance. And pious people get relief through the mode of goodness. They want to rise early, to chant Hare Krishna, to attend mangala-arati, to read Srimad-Bhagavatam. So, there is time for recreation. Nobody can work day and night, without recreation. And according to the person’s desire, he or she can seek recreation in sinful life or spiritual life.

If someone is really confused about how to organize their time, they can speak to some experienced devotee and get some suggestions. There are many devotees, even in Mumbai, who work during the day, but they still chant sixteen rounds, come to the temple, attend satsangas, and read Prabhupada’s books. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Devotee 2: [inaudible]

Giriraj Swami: He says that he read in an article by Khushwant Singh himself that Singh came to Hare Krishna Land, stayed in the guesthouse, closed the doors so that he wouldn’t be disturbed by conchshells, and drank whisky. He himself has written so.

When the sun rises, the owl goes into the cave; the owl doesn’t like sunlight, so he goes into the darkness of the cave. Krsna—surya-sama; maya haya andhakara / yahan krsna, tahan nahi mayara adhikara. Godhead is light, and nescience is darkness. Where there is Godhead, there is no nescience, or darkness. Singh came here; he could have been in the light of Krishna consciousness, in the glory of Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari. But he went to his room, closed the door, and drowned himself in the bottle. That was his free will. We do not force. Even Krishna does not force. After explaining everything to Arjuna, Krishna did not force him to fight. Rather, He told Arjuna, “Now you have heard everything that I have said; now yathecchasi tatha kuru—whatever you like you can do.” And immediately Arjuna replied, smrtir labdha: Now my memory has come back; now I remember my actual position. Now I am prepared to act as You instruct me. Karisye vacanam tava: I am prepared to act according to Your order. Krishna never forces. He gave Arjuna the choice. He explained everything, but in the end He gave Arjuna the choice, and Arjuna voluntarily surrendered: Karisye vacanam tava: Now I am prepared to act according to Your order.

So, I am sure that those who want to take the benefit of Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari’s splendor and mercy and glory will do so. And those who want to close the door and open the bottle—they too have their free will. They too are free to do as they like—and enjoy or suffer the consequences.

Sri Varahadeva ki jaya!
Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari ki jaya!
Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai ki jaya!
Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

[A talk by Giriraj Swami on Sri Varaha-dvadasi, February 8, 1998, Juhu, Mumbai}

Advancements in Robot Vacuums Highlighted at CES
→ Tech Tomorrow

Every year, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas serves as a global platform for the most cutting-edge technological innovations. Among the many exciting product categories, robot vacuums have consistently captured the attention of tech enthusiasts and homeowners alike. The 2023 CES was no exception, with a plethora of advancements in robot vacuums that promise to revolutionize the way we clean our homes. This article delves into the latest innovations, highlighting the features that set these new models apart from their predecessors.

The post Advancements in Robot Vacuums Highlighted at CES appeared first on Tech Tomorrow.

Lord Nityananda Appearance
→ Ramai Swami

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, Krishna.

As a child He was called Nitai and had a close circle of friends. Together they used to imitate the pastimes of Krishna and His associates. On one occasion, one of the boys dressed as Akrura and took Krishna and Balarama away from Vrindavana on the order of Kamsa. 

Nitai cried in grief, feeling the separation of the cowherd girls from Krishna. Tears of love flowed from His eyes. His acting was so authentic that it made all who watched question whether He was merely acting or in some way experiencing the part He played. 

Just before His thirteenth birthday, however, a traveling mendicant came to His home and was welcomed as a guest by Hadai Pandita, Nityananda’s affectionate father. With deep respect and hospitality, Hadai Pandita offered his eminent guest all that he had. “Please feel free to take whatever you like,” he said. “My home is your home.” 

The visiting ascetic explained that his was a simple life, and that his needs were minimal. However, he said, he needed a traveling companion, and young Nitai would be an appropriate person for such a service. Nitai was eager, and reluctantly, Hadai Pandita agreed to let his son go.

Nitai traveled from holy place to holy place for the next twenty years, until He was thirty-two, receiving instruction and friendship from His elderly sannyasi companion. He journeyed the length and breadth of India and sanctified the subcontinent by His presence. As Nitai continued to travel, feeling the ecstasy of these sacred places, He more and more took on the character of an avadhuta, a spiritually elevated person who is aloof to material surroundings and appears crazy to the uninformed. 

In Pandarapura (present-day Maharashtra), Nityananda Prabhu met the saintly guru Lakshmipati Tirtha. It is said that Lakshmipati Tirtha was given to intense dreams about Lord Balarama, and when he met Nityananda, he was convinced that this beautiful young personality was none other than Balarama Himself. 

They soon developed a deep, devotional relationship. According to some authorities, Lakshmipati initiated Nityananda Prabhu at this time, giving Him the student name “Svarupa.” Lakshmipati’s most famous disciple was Madhavendra Puri, who received direct instructions and gifts from the deity of Gopinatha. Because Madhavendra Puri was His senior, Nityananda Prabhu always treated him as though he were His spiritual master.

The year was 1506, and after arduous travel through dense forests in a trance-like state of devotion, Nityananda Prabhu reached the land of Nadiya, where Chaitanya Mahaprabhu resided. When the two Lords finally saw each other for the first time, they were immediately overtaken by waves of ecstasy. 

Nityananda Prabhu, who is identical with Lord Balarama, the first expansion of Krishna, is considered to be the original guru for all of mankind. Thus, soon after their initial meeting, Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu tried to honor Nityananda Prabhu with a Vyasa-puja worship ceremony befitting a great spiritual master. However, Nityananda Prabhu protested and grabbed all of the worship articles from Mahaprabhu and worshiped Him instead.

From this point until Mahaprabhu left Navadvipa for Jagannatha Puri, Nityananda Prabhu was always at His side. The two biographers Vrindavana dasa Thakura and Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami clearly assert that Nityananda Prabhu holds the key to Mahaprabhu’s heart. The teaching of the Chaitanya tradition is emphatic: One who thinks that he can attain love of God without first attaining the mercy of Lord Nityananda Rama is living in a hallucination.

Joyful Hearts Unite in Love and Harmony, February 8
→ Dandavats

By Dandavats Staff Writer

Prasadam distribution at Mahakumbh. What is illicit sex by HH Gour Govinda Swami. Grand Opening of the Srila Prabhupada Legacy Museum in the TOVP. Nityananda Trayodasi. Appearance of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Free Write Journal. How Worthy Of Being Loved Am I. Varahadeva's Appearance Day. Appearance of Sri Varahadeva. Vyasa-puja Book 2025. SB Keshava Swami Addresses Parliamentary Leaders in Australia. Super Ecstatic Kirtan. Nityanandastakam Continue reading "Joyful Hearts Unite in Love and Harmony, February 8
→ Dandavats"

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Manobhista to Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
- TOVP.org

Reproduced from the Sri Mayapur Dhama website

For the most auspicious occasion of the appearance of His Divine Grace Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, we present the final instructions to him from his glorious father and spiritual mentor, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, which include the importance of Sridhama Mayapur, and establishing and serving the holy dhama.

In 1914, just a few weeks before passing away, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura had expressed his manobhista to Sri Siddhanta Sarasvati, instructing him to establish daiva-varṇasrama, preach Suddha-bhakti, develop Sridhama Mayapur, and publish Vaisnava writings:

“Worldly people who are proud of their aristocratic birth cannot attain to actual aristocracy. Therefore, they attack pure Vaisnavas, claiming that they have taken birth in low-class families because of their sins. Thus, they commit offenses. The means to rectify this situation is to institute daiva-varṇaSrama- dharma. You have started to do that. Know it to be real service to Vaisnavas.

“Due to lack of suddha-bhakti-siddhanta pracara, all manner of womanish bad theories and instructions are being called devotion by pseudo-sampradayas such as sahajiya and ativadi. Always crush these anti-devotional conceptions by bhakti-siddhanta pracăra and proper acara. Try to begin the parikrama of Sridhama Navadvipa as soon as possible. Thereby everyone in the universe can receive Krsna-bhakti. Diligently endeavor to ensure that service to Sri Mayapur becomes permanently established and more resplendent each day. Genuine service to Sri Mayapur is not nirjana-bhajana, but to establish a printing press and to propagate devotional books and Nama- hatta. Do not for your own sake undertake nirjana-bhajana and thus impede preaching and service to Sri Mayapur.

“When I am no longer present, take care to serve your dear Sri Mayapur-dhama. This is my special instruction to you. People who are like animals can never attain devotion; never accept their advice. But do not let them know this, either directly or indirectly.

“I had a special desire to propagate the importance of such books as Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sat-sandarbha, and Vedanta-darsana. Now you must assume that responsibility. Sri Mayapur will prosper if you inaugurate an educational institution there.

“Never try to amass knowledge or money for your own sense gratification; they should be acquired only for Krsna’s service. Never take bad association, either for money or any personal interest.” *

* – In Prabhupada Saraswati Thakura (p. 18) these instructions are presented as having been given in a letter by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, but in a missive of 1 April 1926 (Patravali 2, Page 50-52) Sri Siddhanta Sarasvati stated that they were imparted verbally.
(“Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava” Volume One by HH Bhakti Vikasa Swami, Chapter ‘Early Days of the Mission’, Page 63-65)

The Sri Mayapur Dhama website is part of the Mayapur Master Plan initiative. For more information about the Mayapur Master Plan and the glories of Sridham Mayapur, visit the Sri Mayapur Dhama website: https://srimayapurdhama.com/

View the Sri Navadwip-dhama Parikrama flipbook.

View the Sri Chaitanya Cultural World Heritage Center flipbook.

 


 

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Travel Journal#21.5: Tallahassee
→ Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 21, No. 5
By Krishna Kripa Das
(Week
5: January 29–February 4, 2025)

Tallahassee
(Sent from Tallahassee, Florida, on February 8, 2025)

Where I Went and What I Did

For the fifth week of 2025, except for the first day when I was in Tampa, which I described in the last journal, I remained living at ISKCON Tallahassee and chanted three hours each day on Landis Green, behind the main Florida State University library. 


M
iraculously on Sunday four people chanted with me for part of the time. During the week, I distributed three books along with thirty-nine little cups of halava to promote our Krishna Lunch at the campus. I added six students to our mailing list. I describe some special interactions I had with some of the students and with the “Tally Preacher.” I also gave the talk at our Saturday program on the last verse of Bhagavad-gita, where Sanjaya assures us that if Krishna and Arjuna are present in our lives, we will be victorous as Arjuna was.

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 share quotes from Sanatana Goswami’s Brhad-bhagavatamrita and Vrindavana Dasa Thakura’s Caitanya-bhagavata and its commentary by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. I share quotes from Writing Sessions in the Depths of Winter: A Literary Medley, the latest book of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, which is in the production stage. In particular, I share his remembrances of the Boston center which he started. I share a Facebook post where Tirtharaj Prabhu lists several places in the Bible where Jesus Christ refers to himself as the son of God and not God the Father as many Christians claim he is.

Thanks to Ananga Mohan Prabhu for picking me up at the bus when I returned from Tampa. Thanks to Satyaraj Govinda Prabhu, Krishna, Shyam, and Andrew for chanting with me on Sunday at the campus for some time.

Itinerary

January 6–April 15: Tallahassee harinamas and FSU college outreach
– March 9–16: Krishna House Gainesville harinamas and UF college outreach
– March 15: Daytona Beach Ratha-yatra
– April 12: St. Augustine Ratha-yatra
April 16–20: Washington, D.C., harinamas with Sankarsana Prabhu
April 21–22: NYC Harinam
April 23: Flight to Brussels with a layover in Oslo
April 24–25: Kadamba Kanana Swami Vyasa-puja at Radhadesh
April 26: King’s Day in Amsterdam
April 27–May 6: European harinamas and either Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan or Amsterdam Kirtan Mela
May 7–June 15: NYC Harinam
mid June–mid August: Paris

Chanting Hare Krishna in Tallahassee


This young Christian Navigator reminded me that human life has a higher purpose by the slogan on her shirt. She happily accepted the blueberry halava when Brett, the Campus Crusade for Christ guy I was talking to, who she knows from church, recommended it.

Brett, who advocates for Christianity on the campus, said, “According to our Christian theology, Jesus is God Himself. What do you think of that?”

I replied, “Well, we have this philosophy of acintya-bheda-abheda-tattva, of simultaneous oneness and difference. Jesus is one with God as he is coming from the kingdom of God, teaching the message of God, and embodying that message, but many times Jesus said he was the son of God and thus an entity different from God Himself.” Actually upon thinking about it, both in the Bible and in the notion of the trinity, Jesus is thought of as inconceivably simultaneously one with and different from God Himself.


This junior majoring in international relations and public health was happy to get the free blueberry halava I was giving. She’d brought lunch from home but was just lamenting she didn't have any dessert when she heard my call, “Free dessert!”

Here Ayusha chants Hare Krishna at the ISKCON Tallahassee Saturday evening program (https://youtu.be/S6xEy5ZkAek):


Sunday was special as four people joined me on harinama on the FSU campus. It was the first day we numbered more than two. Satyaraja Govinda Prabhu came with his son, Krishna, who is singing here (https://youtu.be/P4bo5RkksD0):


Andrew, the dancer, was teaching yoga on the green, and Shyam was one of his students. Before getting a job in Tallahassee, Shyam ate Krishna Lunch as a student at University of Florida.

Earlier on Sunday one young woman I was talking to about Krishna Lunch said, “I enjoy listening to you play whenever I come by here. I turn down my music to listen to yours!”


Apparently Jay, the Tally Preacher, was upset to find that my table was set up near where he likes to preach.

He took the trouble to write a message blaspheming Lord Krishna on the sidewalk. He also criticized Krishna verbally in the course of promoting Christianity. I decided to chant as loud as I could so neither I nor others would have to listen to it. One guy asked if he could listen to me, and he lay with his eyes closed on the grass, his head on his knapsack, listening to the kirtan for 5 or 10 minutes with Jay ranting in the background. That guy took a halava and a Krishna Lunch flyer when he left. Some students smiled to see the scene. A girl said she liked the kirtan, had never seen a harmonium played before, and took a lunch flyer. 


When Jay left, I edited his sign with water. 


When I saw it 25 hours later my edited version was still intact. 

If you want to tell Jay what you think of his preaching style, you can find him on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook by searching for Tally Preacher.

Photos


It is amazing to me that although the university was closed three days for a snowstorm two weeks before, this very pious nearby tree is still providing flowers for the worship of Gaura Nitai.




Q: What do you say to someone who says “I love my meat!”?
A: Watch out! Next life someone is going to love your meat!

Poor chickens!


I can understand Krishna prasadam is not ordinary food.
Otherwise I couldn’t have eaten this khicri 5 meals in a row.

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.37, purport:

Mixtures do not take place automatically, just as a mixture of colors does not take place automatically, without the touch of the living painter. The automatic system is factually activated by the glancing touch of the Lord. Living consciousness is the final word in all physical changes. This fact is mentioned in the Bhagavad-gita (9.10) as follows:

mayadhyaksena prakrtih

suyate sa-caracaram
hetunanena kaunteya
jagad viparivartate

The conclusion is that the physical elements may work very wonderfully to the laymen’s eyes, but their workings actually take place under the supervision of the Lord. Those who can mark only the changes of the physical elements and cannot perceive the hidden hands of the Lord behind them are certainly less intelligent persons, although they may be advertised as great material scientists.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.38, purport:

Persons averse to a loving relationship with God are more or less condemned by their own actions.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.40, purport:

The way of devotional service is neither sentimental nor mundane. It is the path of reality, by which the living entity can attain the transcendental happiness of being freed from the three kinds of material miseries—miseries arising from the body and mind, from other living entities and from natural disturbances. Everyone who is conditioned by material existence—whether he be a man or beast or demigod or bird—must suffer from adhyatmika pains (those caused by one’s body or mind), adhibhautika pains (those caused by other living creatures), and adhidaivika pains (those due to supernatural disturbances). One’s happiness is nothing but a hard struggle to get free from the miseries of conditional life. But there is only one way he can be rescued, and that is by accepting the shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.42, purport:

Even such materialistic men, with a little eagerness for hearing about the Lord’s transcendental name, fame, qualities, etc., can surpass all other methods of attaining knowledge and detachment.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.44, purport:

Even a person perpetually condemned to the miseries of material existence can get relief from bondage if he simply agrees to hear only krishna-katha. In this Age of Kali, the process of hearing krishna-katha is the most effective means of gaining release from unwanted family affection and thus finding permanent freedom in life. The Age of Kali is full of sinful reactions, and people are more and more addicted to the qualities of this age, but simply by hearing and chanting of krishna-katha one is sure to go back to Godhead. Therefore, people should be trained to hear only krishna-katha—by all means—in order to get relief from all miseries.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.45:

O great Supreme Lord, offensive persons whose internal vision has been too affected by external materialistic activities cannot see Your lotus feet, but those feet are seen by Your pure devotees, whose one and only aim is to transcendentally enjoy Your activities.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.45, purport:

The Lord’s devotees, however, do not mind the offenses of the foolish in their many gross and subtle bodily endeavors. The Lord’s devotees continue to bestow the blessings of devotion upon all such offenders without hesitation. That is the nature of devotees.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.46:

O Lord, persons who, because of their serious attitude, attain the stage of enlightened devotional service achieve the complete meaning of renunciation and knowledge and attain the Vaikunthaloka in the spiritual sky simply by drinking the nectar of Your topics.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.46, purport:

With a serious attitude, the devotee throws away all other achievements like so much dust, and he accepts only devotional service, the transcendental culmination.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.47, purport:

The devotees keep their individuality to exchange feelings in relationship with the supreme individual Lord. Such reciprocation of feelings takes place in the transcendental Vaikuntha.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.48, purport:

The cosmic creation is working under the influence of the three modes of the external potency of the Lord. Different creatures are also under the same influence, and therefore they cannot act concertedly in satisfying the Lord. Because of this diverse activity, there cannot be any harmony in the material world. The best policy, therefore, is to act for the sake of the Lord. That will bring about the desired harmony.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.49, purport:

It is the duty of human beings to acknowledge the mercy of the Lord. As a matter of gratitude, they should feel obliged to the Lord for their supply of foodstuff, and they must first offer Him food in sacrifice and then partake of the remnants.”

Famine is not due to an increase in population, as less intelligent economists think, but is due to the ingratitude of human beings. When human society is grateful to the Lord for all His gifts for the maintenance of the living entities, there is certainly no scarcity or want in society. But when people are unaware of the intrinsic value of such gifts from the Lord, surely they will be in want. A person who has no God consciousness may live in opulence for the time being due to his past virtuous acts, but if he forgets his relationship with the Lord, certainly he must await the stage of starvation by the law of the powerful material nature. One cannot escape the vigilance of the powerful material nature unless he leads a God conscious or devotional life.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.51, purport:

The expansions of Vedic wisdom give the nitya-baddhas, the conditioned living entities, a chance to improve, and those who take advantage of such transcendental knowledge gradually regain their lost consciousness of rendering transcendental loving service to the Lord.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.9.11:

O my Lord, Your devotees can see You through the ears by the process of bona fide hearing, and thus their hearts become cleansed, and You take Your seat there. You are so merciful to Your devotees that You manifest Yourself in the particular eternal form of transcendence in which they always think of You.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.32, purport:

The entire material manifestation began from sound, and sound can also end material entanglement, if it has a particular potency. The particular sound capable of doing this is the transcendental vibration Hare Krishna. Our entanglement in material affairs has begun from material sound. Now we must purify that sound in spiritual understanding. There is sound in the spiritual world also. If we approach that sound, then our spiritual life begins, and the other requirements for spiritual advancement can be supplied. We have to understand very clearly that sound is the beginning of the creation of all material objects for our sense gratification. Similarly, if sound is purified, our spiritual necessities also are produced from sound.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.10.6, purport:

If one is advanced in knowledge, he must always be prepared to sacrifice anything for a better cause. At the present moment the entire world is in a dangerous position under the spell of a godless civilization. The Krishna consciousness movement needs many exalted, learned persons who will sacrifice their lives to revive God consciousness throughout the world. We therefore invite all men and women advanced in knowledge to join the Krishna consciousness movement and sacrifice their lives for the great cause of reviving the God consciousness of human society.”

From Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.14.16, purport:

One who has education and wealth must use them to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead by helping the sankirtana movement that has already begun – the Hare Krishna movement, or Krishna consciousness movement. All educated and wealthy persons must join this movement, since money and education are meant for service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If money and education are not engaged in the service of the Lord, these valuable assets must be engaged in the service of maya. The education of so-called scientists, philosophers, and poets is now engaged in the service of maya, and the wealth of the rich is also engaged in maya’s service. The service of maya, however, creates a chaotic condition in the world. Therefore the wealthy man and the educated man should sacrifice their knowledge and opulence by dedicating them for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord and joining this sankirtana movement (yajhaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah [SB 11.5.32]).”

From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 14.50:

Our propaganda is simply meant to enable intelligent people to understand the distinction between matter and spirit and understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the whole spiritual identity. That is our mission.”

From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 11:

Srila Rupa Gosvami describes one who is fit for becoming engaged in devotional service. He says that persons who are neophytes and who have developed a little love of Godhead are not interested in the activities of sense gratification, in proportion to their devotion. But if there is still some attraction for sense gratifying activities, then the result of such activities should be offered to Krishna. This is also called engagement in the service of the Lord, with the Lord as the master and the worker as the servant.”

In the Skanda Purana there is another statement about tulasi, as follows: ‘Tulasi is auspicious in all respects. Simply by seeing, simply by touching, simply by remembering, simply by praying to, simply by bowing before, simply by hearing about or simply by sowing this tree, there is always auspiciousness. Anyone who comes in touch with the tulasi tree in the above-mentioned ways lives eternally in the Vaikuntha world.’”

From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 12:

A similar statement is in the Third Canto, Seventh Chapter, verse 19, of Srimad-Bhagavatam: ‘Let me become a sincere servant of the devotees, because by serving them one can achieve unalloyed devotional service unto the lotus feet of the Lord. The service of devotees diminishes all miserable material conditions and develops within one a deep devotional love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.’”

Sukadeva Gosvami tells Maharaja Pariksit, ‘My dear King, if one is spontaneously attached to the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, it is to be understood that he has attained the highest perfectional stage.’”

The same thing is confirmed in the Adi Purana by Krishna. While addressing Arjuna He says, ‘Anyone who is engaged in chanting My transcendental name must be considered to be always associating with Me. And I may tell you frankly that for such a devotee I become easily purchased.’”

For persons who are not inclined to clean the dust from their hearts and who want to keep things as they are, it is not possible to derive the transcendental result of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. One should, therefore, be encouraged to develop his service attitude toward the Lord, because this will help him to chant without any offense.”

From an ad Srila Prabhupada placed in a local Indore newspaper:

Wanted: Qualified brahmanas to preach Bhagavad-gita all over the world. Educated candidates accepted without discrimination of caste, color, or creed. Apply ISKCON.”

You can go to the jail and lecture about Krishna consciousness and the values of life. . . . And the same can be done in the mental hospital as well. . . . Preaching at these and other big institutions is solid work, so try to increase this activity.”

From a letter to Mukunda on December 27, 1972:

We want that the mass shall support us, but that the class shall preach for us – that is the distinction.”

From a room conversation in Bombay on January 8, 1977:

First of all we must attract people, then give them prasada. . . . Let them do whatever nonsense they are doing. Let them chant and take prasada. We don’t mind what they are doing. . . . Let them come, chant Hare Krishna. Caitanya Mahaprabhu stressed on mass kirtana every night. He was not speaking philosophy. Philosophy was with Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Prakasananda Sarasvati, not with the mass of people. To the mass of people – “Come on! Chant!” Give them prasada. . . . What philosophy will they understand?”

From a lecture at MPV College in Surat on December 24, 1970:

I tried to start this movement in India. I saw Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, I saw President Radhakrishnan, I saw Lal Bihari Shastri, many prominent men, and requested them that this is Indian original culture—Krishna consciousness—and if we present this Krishna consciousness movement in its right form, people will accept it, and the whole world will be benefited.

But… Of course, I was sympathetically received by Lal Bihari Shastri. He was very much sympathetic with me. And our President Radhakrishnan, he promised that ‘Swamiji, maybe after retirement I shall join you.’ Anyway, I could not get any help either from the politicians or from any other party. Then I decided that I should go to America. And I was dreaming that if the American people will accept this Krishna consciousness movement, maybe our Indian brothers may follow them.”

From a discussion with Shyamasundara on the philosophy of John Dewey:

We are presenting this Krishna consciousness movement as the solution of all problems. Let any intelligent man come and discuss with us, and we think that we shall be able to convince him that this is the only solution. ”

From a letter to Mukunda on June 28, 1969:

I want the people of the whole world to come to God consciousness and be happy. Without God, there is no question of happiness, and without God, there are no good qualities in a person. So the leaders of the human society are missing this point, and here is a program of Krishna Consciousness that if sober and truthful men join, certainly we shall be able to give something very sublime to the suffering peoples of the world.”

From a letter to Madhudvisa on September 7, 1972:

The president of the United States, the Queen of England, the Communist leaders, all business magnates, all should have taken this movement seriously for the upliftment of human society, but because most of them are miscreants, rascals, lowest of the mankind, and lost of all real knowledge, they are still unaware of the importance of the Krishna Consciousness Movement. Indeed, however, it is our duty to enlighten them in different ways through our Sankirtana movement, so that one day may come very soon that they may be enlightened and take this movement with all seriousness and do the best thing for humankind.”

From a letter to Karandhara on July 10, 1973:

In London we have instituted a program where important men are coming to meet me in the evening for discussion of Krishna consciousness. I have talked with a very famous sculptor and a teacher of a boys’ college, and today George Harrison is supposed to visit. Syamasundara is arranging for visits by many other famous men. Wherever I shall go now this policy of important men being invited to talk with me about our Krishna consciousness movement should be implemented.”

From “Who Is Krishna?” in Journal of Self-Discovery, Chapter 2, Part 4:

This movement can solve all the problems of life, all the problems in the world. Social, political, philosophical, religious, economical – everything can be solved by Krishna consciousness. Therefore we request those who are leaders . . . try to understand this Krishna consciousness movement.”

From a conversation with Allen Ginsberg in Columbus, OH, on May 12, 1969:

Our mission is that intelligent persons of the world may know that . . . simply seeking after sense gratification is not the aim of human life.”

From a letter to Kancanbala on April 20, 1970:

Regarding your preaching work in the schools, colleges, and universities, try to attract the students, they are our great future hope.”

Sanatana Goswami:

From Brhad-bhagavatamrita 1.6.19–21, commentary:

The ecstasies of pure Vaishnavas, which appear on their bodies as perspiration, trembling, horripilation, and so on, are the priceless treasure of those Vaishnavas, a treasure whose value can be estimated only by Vaishnavas following in their footsteps.”

Devotees in the conjugal mood become even more blissfully attached to Krishna when jealous of His other lovers.”

Vrindavana Dasa Thakura:

From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.256:

Whatever you have said has been spoken by Me. Otherwise how could those statements come from your mouth? O Mukunda, you have simply repeated My words. Because you are an unalloyed devotee, no statement other than the truth can come from your mouth.”

From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.260:

Wherever I incarnate, you will accompany Me as My singer. You are My eternal companion, and you always sing for Me. Wherever I incarnate you will appear as My associate to sing the glories of Hari.”

From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.263:

Anyone who hears Mukunda's prayers and the benediction awarded to him will become a singer with him.”

From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.312:

One who chants the names of Krishna without blaspheming anyone will easily conquer the unconquerable Lord Caitanya.”

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.246–48:

The entire world is under the control of providence. Birth, activities, the results of pious and impious actions, and the meeting and separation of all living entities are under the control of providence. Therefore there is no force superior to providence. Yet Lord Krishna is greater than providence. Since providence is under the control of Lord Krishna, saintly persons worship Krishna, who is the Supersoul and Supreme Personality of Godhead. Through His pastimes, Sri Krishna can diminish or expand this providence. Therefore the devotees of Lord Krishna are not bound by providence. They are imperishable and transcendental.”

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.249:

The Kaivalya Upanisad states: sraddha-bhakti-dhyana-yogad avaiti—‘Faithful sadhakas attain Lord Krishna by meditating on His form with devotion.’”

In his commentary on the Vedanta-sutra (3.3.54) Sri Madhvacarya has quoted the following verse: bhakti-sthah paramo vishnus – “Lord Vishnu dwells in devotional service. The Supreme Lord Vishnu is controlled only by devotional service. Only through devotional service does He give His darsana to His devotees, and only by devotional service does He award liberation to the living entities. Intense affection for Lord Vishnu is called devotional service. This devotional service is the supreme method for achieving the darsana of the Supreme Lord Vishnu.”

In the Mundaka Upanisad (3.18) it is stated: jñana-prasadena visuddha-sattvas tu tam pasyate niskalam dhyayamanah—‘If a pure-hearted, self-realized sadhaka meditates through the knowledge of the scriptures on the unchangable Supreme Lord, then he can directly see Him.’”

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.250:

Failing to achieve My darsana, the nondevotees cannot see My personal form; they are perpetually bereft of My darsana because they maintain impersonal conceptions. Due to

foolishness they follow mundane conceptions, and without understanding the need for having darsana of the seer and the object of sight they accept the philosophy of monism as the goal of life. Therefore they simply become perpetually bereft of the happiness of serving the form of eternity, knowledge, and bliss.”

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.251:

One who becomes an offender by opposing devotional service can never develop the propensity for service. Being thus cheated of the service attitude, his darsana of the Lord goes in vain. Other than those who are inclined to the service of the Lord, no one can possibly achieve happiness from the Lord’s darsana. Since others consider the Supreme Lord as an object of enjoyment, they lack a service attitude and are unable to achieve eternal happiness, which is the actual fruit of the Lord’s darsana.

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.279:

Even if one accumulates name and fame by making many disciples, by organizing many Vaishnava gatherings, and by performing welfare activities for people like constructing many temples, one does not achieve the mercy of Sri Caitanyadeva. The four Vedas declare that Sri Caitanyadeva is controlled only by nonduplicitous loving devotional service.”

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.280:

Being puffed-up with the prestige of scholarship, the society of learned scholars monopolized the glories of Navadvipa, yet they were unable to understand the appearance and activities of Lord Gaurasundara.”

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.283–84:

In the Laghu-bhagavatamrta (Purva 391) it is stated: ‘Even today if one of His dear devotees intensely desires to see one of His particular pastimes, the merciful Lord immediately exhibits that pastime for him.’”

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.285:

In order to see any particular pastime, persons who desire deliverance from their mental concoctions may chant the appropriate mantra to see the Lord’s corresponding pastime. Sri Caitanyadeva manifest in different forms before different devotees.”

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.286:

By displaying the pastimes of Vishnu's various incarnations, Mahaprabhu taught His devotees that He was the fountainhead of all incarnations. Those who realized this imparted it in turn to others.”

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.289:

The devotees can accept the remnants of garlands, sandalwood pulp, and other items that are first offered to the Lord. While accepting the Lord’s remnants such as betel nuts, which are ingredients of His enjoyment, the service propensity of the living entity is enhanced. If while accepting such remnants of the Lord a living entity becomes happy, thinking, “The Lord has enjoyed these items,” then his happiness derived from material enjoyment is vanquished. If a conditioned soul under the pretext of service accepts those ingredients of enjoyment in order to fulfill his desire for material enjoyment, then he invites inauspiciousness.”

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 10.320:

O Gauracandra, I offer my obeisances at the lotus feet of those Vaishnavas who attained the happiness of Your association and who have become glorious by engaging in Your service.”

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 11.96:

In the Rg Veda it is stated: ananta-saktih paramo ananta-viryah so ’nantah.

He who possesses unlimited energies, who is the supreme controller of all controllers, and who possesses unlimited strength is known as Ananta.’”

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 12.18:

In the Brhad-yamala Lord Krishna speaks as follows:

balaramo mamaivamsah

so 'pi tatra bhavisyati
nityananda iti khato
nyasi cudamanih ksitau

Sri Balarama, who is My expansion, will also appear in Navadvipa as the crest jewel among the sannyasis and will be known as Sri Nityananda.”

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 12.39–40:

After drinking on the order of Sri Gaurasundara the water that had washed the feet of Sri Nityananda, someone said, ‘The water from Nityananda’s feet is very tasty. After drinking this water its sweet taste does not vanish. Even after drinking this water the sweetness remains in the mouth for a long time.’”

From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya, Chapter 13 summary:

Without the mercy of a Vaishnava, even Krishna’s holy names, which are the best form of atonement, cannot nullify an offense committed against a Vaishnava. All the scriptures have warned everyone by boldly declaring this fact.”

From that day on Mahaprabhu included Jagai and Madhai among His own associates, and He personally begged all the Vaishnavas to forgive their offenses and bestow mercy on them. After falling at the feet of all the devotees and receiving their blessings, Jagai and Madhai became free from all offenses. Their sinful reactions were then deposited with those who blaspheme the Vaishnavas. By the order of Mahaprabhu, all the devotees then began a huge kirtana, in which Mahaprabhu and the two brothers danced. At the end of the kirtana, everyone sat down, their bodies covered in dust, and Mahaprabhu declared that Jagai and Madhai were “maha-bhagavatas.” After ordering everyone to respect them as maha-bhagavatas, He warned that if anyone acted to the contrary or criticized the two they would be ruined as a result of that vaishnava-aparadha.

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 13.7:

Since Navadvipa was the residence of many classes of foreigners coming from beyond the Sindhu River, there was a great deal of discrimination amongst the residents of Navadvipa. That is why the exemplary preacher, Lord Gaurasundara, engaged two great personalities [Lord Nityananda and Haridasa Thakura] who were fully absorbed in devotional service to preach amongst the communities of persons belonging to both faiths. Realizing that people of the Aryan culture and the Yavana culture would not listen to each other, the qualification for chanting the name of Hari was given to both to make it known that both have an equal right to engage in devotional service.”

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 13.8:

The Lord’s order is meant for everyone—those who are outside varnasrama, those who follow varnasrama, those who are beyond varnasrama, all living entities, all plants, the animate, and the inanimate. Individually and collectively, according to their ability, all should accept Mahaprabhu’s orders.”

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 13.21

Inclination towards Krishna is the source of all good manners in this world. Persons who are decorated with good manners obtain transcendental happiness by engaging in the service of Krishna.”

From his commentary on Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 13.23:

As a result of distorting the actual meaning of good counsel one obtains inauspiciousness.”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

From Writing Sessions in the Depths of Winter: A Literary Medley:

Pioneering in Boston

Prabhupāda sent me off to Boston, and I started a temple there around the time Mukunda started one in San Francisco. I could talk a little bit about starting Boston, I may have talked about it before, but … Boston didn’t exist in ISKCON, it was just 26 Second Avenue. But there was an event held in Boston called the ‘Be-In,’ in hippie language. A Be-In, and it was a successful Be-In, with hundreds and maybe thousands of young people gathering, and they just sat in and smoked and gathered. So it was in the newspapers, the “Boston Be-In” at the Franklin Park Zoo. That’s a big open zoo in Boston. So devotees from New York, who were a little numerous, went to the Boston Be-In, and they brought their instruments, and it was reported in the newspaper that they took over the Be-In, they were so dominant with their musical instruments and their singing, and ‘Wow! The Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is here!’ For the first time we appeared in a different city, Boston, and took over the show. So Prabhupāda heard and saw our excitement when we came back reporting how wonderful it was, and he said, ‘Oh, we should open a center there.’ So that was still around the time they were opening a center in San Francisco (Los Angeles was on the way, too). But I was picked because it seemed like a good place to open yet another center, where the Be-In had been held. But I was all by myself. They didn’t send anyone else with me. And I had my Navy duffel bag with me, it was my luggage. And straight from the USN I had carried my belongings and books and things in my duffel bag. And I went up, all by myself, to Boston with the same bag. I rented a room in central—let’s see, there’s Harvard Square, that’s at the end of the road, and then in the middle of Boston there’s Central Square, and that’s where I went. And I rented a furnished room—they’re famous, they’ve got some furniture in them, and a young person or an older person rents a room, usually not for a wealthy person but usually for a person who doesn’t have any big ties. But I went there and one day I found a place and I rented it. They looked me over and found that I was respectable enough to be given an apartment in Central Square. The first night there I was on my own, and I thought, “I should do something.” So, I took some Back to Godhead magazines and I went to an event, which was an indoor dance that was being held. And I was really shy. But I brought these magazines, and I circulated among the crowd. A little later, maybe not that night, but I used to hawk my wares, and say, ‘Back to Godhead magazine! Article by Allen Ginsberg, Swami Bhaktivedanta, twenty-five cents!’ And I’d go around and hawk. And I wouldn’t get much—twenty-five cents if I was lucky—for a kind of interesting-looking Back to Godhead magazine. We had already some illustrated covers and sometimes—who did we have there? —the Beach Boys were interviewed, and the famous illustrator, Rick Estrada producing art for one of my articles, and he was gained by a connection of a Hare Kṛṣṇa fellow who knew him and who himself was a story-writer and illustrator, Raymond Marais.”

I wanted to go to Boston, but I had a city job in New York. So I went up in one day to the Boston office of welfare, and I told them I wanted to transfer and take a job in the Boston Department of Welfare. And the woman said to me, ‘Why?’ 
And I said, ‘I don’t like New York City. It’s a dirty place and a violent place, and I think I will like Boston better.’
She liked that, she took to me for liking Boston, and in one day she gave me a job. So right away I was a member of the Boston Department of Welfare. And I ran back to the Lower East Side in New York City and with much glee I told Prabhupāda, ‘I got the job! I got it in one day!’
And he was kind of dry, and he said, ‘By Kṛṣṇa’s grace.’ But he was pleased. So I got the job and moved at once. I had a paper in my record at Boston that recorded that I did not go on strike when all the welfare workers went on strike. They made a big strike and practically stopped the giving out of welfare in New York City. The people would come to get money, but there were no welfare workers to go to their apartments and see how they were living. So they really locked them down. But I didn’t go on strike and that was noticed, and it was put into my record. So when I tried to transfer, that went in my favor. It was just me, I was a caseworker, and the supervisors who didn’t quit, they went to work because they had to pay family bills. And I became friends with them, I remember in particular a black man, he and I became closer, when I didn’t quit and he didn’t quit. So then I was a Boston welfare worker, and I moved to Boston.

The next step was finding a place. So there were, I think, three of us looking, including a boy named Dan Clark, he was a movie maker, avant-garde with a small camera, not a big one, 8mm. And they really were avant-garde, he would make a movie of an apple, or something like that. And he was a caseworker in the welfare department, and he came to Boston with me. And I went to Boston, and Jadurani came to Boston too. She didn’t like the men in New York, the men workers, so much. They hampered her painting. So about three of us declared that we were moving, but we had no place. And then we went around and looked for a place, and Dan found a little storefront just like the one at 26 Second Avenue—small, not upper class. And we rented that one, not a good place. But we rented it and Prabhupada came there, made an official visit, and didn’t criticize it. I’ve written about it in Prabhupada-lilamrita, ‘A Visit to Boston,’ and how he made an examination of the oil burner in the basement, how he saw our facilities for bathing, which was that Jadurāṇī would use a bath made out of—what are those bricks called? —cinder bricks. And they were piled up, and only she could use that place at women’s hours, that was her bathtub, and we used it at other hours. And it was not a clean, nice place. We had an oil burner to keep the place warm. And I would go to work every day, and Jadurāṇī would stay back painting, and Dan would stay back, we made him the temple president. And then one day Dan came up to me in the temple and said, ‘I don’t think I want to stay here anymore. My wife is really upset that I’m not staying at home but I’m temple president in Boston, so I’m quitting.’ So I was left to be temple president. And then there was just me, Jadurāṇī, and Pradyumna, the famous ‘Panditji.’ He was averse to regular work. He liked to just learn Sanskrit and learn more Sanskrit, and he didn’t like chores. He was a kind of burden on the temple, so it was kind of below him to go to people’s homes and ask if they needed a refrigerator. So there were only about three of us, and then gradually four, five … Not long after Pradyumna came, Prabhupāda wanted him to get married, so he told him to get married to Arundhati, and she says (she told me that Prabhupada told her, ‘You should marry a sage.’ So she figured she did.) Arundhati—I meet her occasionally at New York gatherings.

There was a competition for the salary I was getting from the welfare department, but that stopped because of Jadurani forcefully yelling at Brahmananda that he had no business to take the money of Boston and use it for New York. Boston was not a branch of New York (although formerly New York money used to go to New York.) From now on Boston’s money would not go to New York. Brahmananda just accepted it; he was pretty tough. So then we had our own money, anyway. It wasn’t long before the Boston center was functioning as a temple; people would come by, and people would attend. And then we would go out to the Boston Commons, every Sunday, the park, for kirtana, and that became popular. But there was always a kind of hostility in the air in Boston between the devotees and the nondevotees, who were not nice people. Some people joined and lived with us in the storefront. After a while the storefront wasn’t enough, with a woman too, so I had earned enough at least to rent an apartment across the street from the storefront, and that could be used for men and women. Not as exciting I guess, as New York, but it was a happening place. As I say there was hostility. Once we were attacked by a Hells Angels group in the park. They came around us while we were singing, and one of them grabbed our karatalas and threw them around my neck, and another stopped us in another way and completely disrupted the kirtana, and so we stopped. And then they did things like break windows and yell at us from the street, a somewhat unfriendly place. But then we had the universities there and so we made friends with professors and had engagements in the classes, and they were friendly to us, seeing young people who were learning a little bit about the Vedic culture and want to be accepted by the professors. They were friendly to us. One was named Professor O’Connell, Joseph O’Connell (whom Anuradha has had some association with). So Harvard grad students would gather around us and befriend us. And also the wonderful O’Connell, who recently passed away. He was a very close friend to the Hare Krishnas. He bought the first three Bhagavatams before the devotees even knew what they were. So we had some friends and some enemies. The academic world was friendly.

About two years we stayed at the storefront and paid the rent, and then they wanted to raise the rent, and we couldn’t manage to do that. So we hustled to find a new place, and one of devotees was lucky and he found a big old mansion; it used to be used as a display place for coffins, a funeral parlor. And it was quite a step up for us, in a big hall for kirtana and Deity worship. Andy Day (Mathuresa dasa) joined not long after that, he was a student but more like a hippie. He lived in Boston, I don’t think he was going to the university. So Boston had its own place in the gallery of ISKCON temples. Prabhupada came five times to visit, gave lectures, initiated devotees—four or five times he made devotees. And that’s the first place where he made brahmanas—the Boston Brahmanas. I was one of them, and three or four other boys, including Pradyumna, and then in a revolutionary mood, two girls, Govinda dasi and Jadurani, managed to change Prabhupāda’s mind, and he agreed to award them brahmana initiation, but no thread. So, he made women brahmanas; now there are many women brahmanas. The first place he did it was Boston. Govinda dasi was his secretary, and she was part of the ‘women’s revolution’ to get initiated by Prabhupāda into brahmana initiation.

I was in Boston for at least two years, and I was there with ISKCON Press. We were together a little uneasy alliance, because the temple devotees wanted the Press devotees to attend all the programs and to be regular brahmanas. But the Press devotees would wear brown pants and shirts and not attend the programs, until Prabhupāda heard about it and he said, ‘If they don’t go to the programs, shut down the Press.’ There was a triple wedding, which was a first in ISKCON. Prabhupada thought that the girls looked too skinny, his disciples, they looked anemic, and he said it was because they weren’t married. So as a father he got them married, a girl named Rukmini, a girl named Jahnava, and I can’t remember the third girl offhand, but they got married to three devotee men, all in the temple. Rukmini was married to Bharadvaja at first, and then years later to Anuttama. She told me that I saved her life. I don’t know what she meant by that, but she meant that I was just a protective temple president and I gave her all shelter. So I said that, and Anuttama said, ‘You have saved her life, but you’ve saved my wife.’ Rukmini was an outstanding Boston devotee; so was Arundhati, Pradyumna’s wife, and Jahnava (married to that man who passed away, Nanda Kisora). That was a triple wedding, an outstanding thing to happen, we had wood spread out in three, Prabhupada himself performing the marriage. Just spectacular. It may have been performed since then, but up to then it had never been done. Boston story is not as spectacular as 26 Second Avenue, and the Boston story is connected with the New York temple, but it’s got its own notoriety. It was daunting, non-Hare Krishna devotees entering a city and going out into the street and doing what devotees do. I feel I’m not giving you so much as I did when we were talking about 26 Second Avenue, or other things, but that’s Boston. Prabhupāda came there many times, though, it was surprising how many times, maybe four or five regular visits to the Boston temple, stayed in quarters we provided him, and gave lectures and initiations. He really paid attention to Boston.

In Boston, I was a writer, so I wrote articles along with Jayadvaita Maharaja that got published in Back to Godhead magazine. We didn’t do art layouts, stuff like that, mostly we wrote articles and prominent in selling them on the streets, selling Back to Godhead magazine. I did a lot of that, went out with a stack of magazines and did hawking in the beginning, was just going up to people and trying to fast-talk them: ‘Back to Godhead magazine! Allen Ginsberg!’ To the degree that we had learned the philosophy and were loyal to Prabhupāda, we could sit down and tell people about it, show them the books, show them his pictures. The Second Canto ‘chapter books’ were produced in Boston by ISKCON Press and distributed on the street. They mostly consisted of chapters of the Bhāgavatam. We tried to get people interested in the Teachings of Lord Caitanya (TLC), printed by Dai Nippon in Japan. I typed TLC from beginning to end, with Gaurasundara dāsa and Govinda dasi doing the illustrations.

I was pleased to remember my part in those early days over fifty years ago when I took part in the opening of the Boston temple.”

I have been a disciple of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada for maybe almost sixty years. Sometimes I fail him. But I always bounce back and fall at his feet. It is a terrible thing that I sometimes do not have the highest love for him. It is a terrible thing. Actually, however, I never fall away from him. He always comes and catches me and brings me back to his loving arms.”

Tirtharaj Prabhu:

From a Facebook post:

[Although Christian preachers often claim that Jesus Christ is God Himself, many times Jesus referred to himself as the son of God and not God Himself.]

Jesus said, ‘The Father is greater than I.’ (John 14:28) Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.’ (John 8:42–44) Jesus said: ‘Now this is eternal life; that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.’ (John 17:3) Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing’ is a prayer that Jesus said while being crucified. (Luke 23:34) Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ [(Luke 23:46)]”

-----

Sometimes we becomes despondent when sharing Krishna consciousness because there does not seem to be much interest. That is actually predicted by Krishna in Bhagavad-gita in this verse so we should not be surprised or feel so bad.

manusyanam sahasresu

kascid yatati siddhaye
yatatam api siddhanam
kascin mam vetti tattvatah

Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.” (Bhagavad-gita 7.3)

Krishna’s Grace Illuminates Hearts, Bringing Love, Harmony, and Happiness, February 7
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By Dandavats Staff Writer

The Flowing Hair Of Lord Krishna. Walk through fire. The King who had four wives... The Highest Compassion. Yudhisthira Maharaja. Our lives with Krishna in the center! 7th Annual Bhagavad-gita Sloka Recitation Competition. The magnificence of Sri Ramanujacharya. Bhaimi Ekadashi. The spirit of the Bhagavad Gita. Our Srila Prabhupada by HG Malati Devi. Srimad-Bhagavatam Class by HG Brahmatirtha Prabhu .Nandini Radha Mataji: Always Remember Krishna and never forget Him Continue reading "Krishna’s Grace Illuminates Hearts, Bringing Love, Harmony, and Happiness, February 7
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Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja, whose enemy was never born
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Translation After defeating many kings with their prowess, these heroic brothers brought back abundant wealth for Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja, who was intent on performing the sacrifice, O King. Purport Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “It may be noted that by dispatching his younger brothers to conquer in different directions, King Yudhiṣṭhira did not actually intend that they declare
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Lord Varaha Appearance
→ Ramai Swami

brahmovāca
yatrodyataḥ kṣiti-taloddharaṇāya bibhrat
krauḍīṁ tanuṁ sakala-yajña-mayīm anantaḥ
antar-mahārṇava upāgatam ādi-daityaṁ
taṁ daṁṣṭrayādrim iva vajra-dharo dadāra

Lord Brahmā said: When the unlimitedly powerful Lord assumed the form of a boar as a pastime, just to lift the planet earth, which was drowned in the great ocean of the universe called the Garbhodaka, the first demon [Hiraṇyākṣa] appeared, and the Lord pierced him with His tusk.

vasati daśana-śikhare dharaṇī tava lagnā
śaśini kalaṅka-kaleva nimagnā
keśava dhṛta-śūkara-rūpa
jaya jagadīśa hare

“O Keśava! O Supreme Lord who have assumed the form of a boar! O Lord! The planet earth rested on Your tusks, and it appeared like the moon engraved with spots.”

Such is the symptom of an incarnation of the Lord. The incarnation of the Lord is not the concocted idea of fanciful men who create an incarnation out of imagination. The incarnation of the Lord appears under certain extraordinary circumstances like the above-mentioned occasion, and the incarnation performs a task which is not even imaginable by the tiny brain of mankind.

The modern creators of the many cheap incarnations may take note of the factual incarnation of God as the gigantic boar with a suitable snout to carry the planet earth.

When the Lord appeared to pick up the earth, the demon of the name Hiraṇyākṣa tried to create a disturbance in the methodical functions of the Lord, and therefore he was killed by being pierced by the Lord’s tusk.

According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, the demon Hiraṇyākṣa was killed by the hand of the Lord. Therefore his version is that after being killed by the hand of the Lord, the demon was pierced by the tusk. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura confirms this version. – SB 2.7.1-2

True Happiness: Transcending Illusions with Bhakti, February 6
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By Dandavats Staff Writer

Cooking for Krishna at ISKCON Salem. Bhakti vs. Illusion: Finding Lasting Happiness. Awakening Faith: The Power of Devotion. When the King is a pure devotee of the Lord. Remember Krishna Always: The Key to Liberation. Inhabitants of the most pious planets - the Jana, Tapas and Satya lokas. Material Joy or Maya? Discover Real Happiness. SADHU SANGA RETREAT in Goa. Ask Mahāprabhu to Steal Your Heart & Give It Back With Kṛṣṇa Prema. Mayapur Mellows. Padayatra's new initiative Continue reading "True Happiness: Transcending Illusions with Bhakti, February 6
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Material Joy or Maya? Discover Real Happiness
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Drutakarma Prabhu discusses Srimad Bhagavatam 3.28.36, explaining how the mind, purified through yoga and devotion, transcends material happiness and distress. He emphasizes that both are illusions caused by false ego. True happiness comes from realizing one’s eternal relationship with Krishna. He contrasts material pleasure with spiritual bliss, urging devotees to seek higher, lasting fulfillment.
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