Bhaktisiddhanta Vani Seva.

1 week ago | [YT] | 9

Bhaktisiddhanta Vani Seva.

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲

by His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhakti Pramoda Purī Gosvāmī Mahārāja

During His tour of South India, Śrīman Mahāprabhu had converted many local people of that part of the country into Vaiṣṇavism by distributing love of Godhead, purifying such places with the resounding chant of the Holy Names of God. Finally, in His wanderings, He came to the place called Kurma. And as a matter of due course, He took darśana of the presiding Deity, Lord Kurmadeva.

Śrīla Prabhupāda (His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura) writes in his commentary with regard to this place:

“The place Śrī Kurmam is 8 miles east of the V.N.R. line, Gañjam Jela, Cika Kola Road Station. This is the most famous pilgrimage spot in the area where this Deity of Kurma is present.”

During the 11th century, Śrī Rāmānuja Ācārya (Rāmānujācārya), being flung or transported out from Puri by Lord Jagannātha, landed in this very place. Initially believing the presiding Deity to be Lord Śiva, he began to practice several vows like fasting in indignation. But later, in his meditations, he came to realize this Deity was none other than that of Lord Viṣṇu and began to serve this Deity with enthusiasm.

A pious brāhmaṇa named Kurma, living at that place, had invited Śrīman Mahāprabhu and, with other members of his family, attended to Him with the most loving service and care.

At the time of Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s departure, this good soul was overcome by the pangs of loving separation, which made him implore Śrīman Mahāprabhu to take him along on His journey. Śrīman Mahāprabhu, being satisfied with the nature of his kind service and adoration, remarked gravely:

prabhu kahe —
eiche bāta kabhu nā kahiba
gṛhe rahi kṛṣṇa-nāma nirantara laiba
yāre dekha, tāre kaha “kṛṣṇa”-upadeśa
āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra ei deśa
kabhu nā bāndhibe tomāya viṣaya-taranga
punarapi ei ṭhāni pāibe mora saṅga

Śrīman Mahāprabhu, who had performed the pastime of taking alms from the brāhmaṇa’s house, gravely told this brāhmaṇa to take the Holy Names constantly and, side by side, to preach this Name to others. In this way, if he would engage in welfare activities for others, the material energy would not be able to influence him in any way, and he would be able to associate with the Lord in the near future.

Likewise, Śrīman Mahāprabhu Himself, traveling from the holy place of Nīlācala right up to Setu Bandhu, preached the Holy Names in every village along the way, making all dance to the sound of the Holy Names in spiritual ecstasy.

Śrīman Mahāprabhu, after staying one night in the house of the brāhmaṇa, on the following morning, after His daily purificatory activities, took His leave — with His good host following Him for some distance.

After bidding farewell to the Lord and returning to his house, the brāhmaṇa noticed nearby another brāhmaṇa named Vāsudeva, who had been afflicted with an abominable disease — leprosy in its latent stage. He was beating his breast and rolling on the ground with grief for not having had the audience of the Lord, which he had eagerly anticipated.

Lord Gaurasundara had already gone some distance ahead, yet, being the indwelling Supersoul within the hearts of all beings, He returned to that very place to bestow His mercy upon this brāhmaṇa.

Not only was the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva awarded the sight of His transcendental form, but he was also embraced with great affection by Lord Gaurāṅga. Miraculously, all the symptoms of that despicable disease disappeared from the body of the brāhmaṇa, and he regained his beautiful appearance upon contact with the spiritual body of Śrīman Mahāprabhu.

The wonder-struck brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva, with tears in his eyes, then began to quote verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.81.16) as spoken by the devotee Sudāmā:

kvāham daridraḥ pāpīyān
kva kṛṣṇaḥ śrī-niketanah
brahma-bandhur iti smaham
bāhubhyāṁ parirambhitaḥ

Meaning: 𝗦𝘂𝗱ā𝗺ā 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 — “𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗿ā𝗵𝗺𝗮ṇ𝗮, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, Ś𝗿ī 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗶? 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗛𝗲, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀, 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻.”

Then he, Vāsudeva, crying in sobbing tones, again spoke:

“Only the Original Lord, the Saviour of the fallen and lowly, can perform this most magnanimous deed. I have been afflicted with this disgusting disease, and the odor of my affected limbs would even make the lowliest person flee from me. Still, the Independent Controller, whose nature is to be distressed at witnessing the misery of others, has mercifully embraced me in my wretched condition.

O Lord Hari! I deem my former untouchable state to be a more superior position, for now the knowledge of my high birth could give vent to false pride, which might make me forget the shade of Your lotus feet.”

Hearing these gentle words, Śrīman Mahāprabhu consoled him, saying:

(Madhya 7.147–148)

kabu tomāra nā habe abhimāna
nirantara kaha tumi kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa-nāma

“𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀; 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝗻𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱 Ś𝗿ī 𝗞ṛṣṇ𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.”

After comforting him in this way, Śrīman Mahāprabhu disappeared, leaving the two brāhmaṇas to embrace and weep in the mood of separation.

In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, this incident is referred to as the deliverance of Vāsudeva. Here we have seen specifically how Śrīman Mahāprabhu gave instructions to the brāhmaṇas to chant the Holy Names constantly, and to preach them while showing proper example to others.

The most worshipable Śrīla Prabhupāda comments:

“One who surrenders to Śrīman Mahāprabhu and decides to serve Him, Lord Gaurasundara surely accepts their devotional service. But there are certain rules to be strictly observed. While in household life, one should practice chanting, giving up the false pride of being a great devotee. Further, he should, in the proper mood, remain intent on the preaching of the Holy Names of Kṛṣṇa for the welfare of others. He should never think that his devotional service would be impaired by the growth of pride in making disciples and preaching, but continue preaching humbly and faithfully.”

Consequently, he would be benedicted in the sense that false prestige and material desire would never overcome him.

Many stalwart devotees like Śrī Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura, Rāmānujācārya, etc., have been criticized by ignorant people for accepting many disciples — who view this as a sign of material desire and not conducive to proper devotion.

This category of foolish people thus incurs offense at the lotus feet of the pure devotees of the Lord. These offenders should bear these specific instructions of Śrīman Mahāprabhu in mind and try to progress by following in His footsteps — namely, by preaching the Holy Names and giving up all sense of false humility.

This parting instruction of the Lord was specifically meant for their ears.

To be continued…

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 21

Bhaktisiddhanta Vani Seva.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 15

Bhaktisiddhanta Vani Seva.

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Bhaktisiddhanta Vani Seva.

Ś𝐑Ī Ś𝐑Ī𝐋𝐀 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐇𝐔𝐏Ā𝐃𝐀

By Śrīla Bhakti Pramode Purī Gosvāmī Maharaj


Continuation…

The personal associate of Lord Gaurāṅga, Śrī Dvijavānīnatha, used to previously worship the Deities of Śrī Gour-Gadādhara in Champahati, but the existing worship after this became temporarily abandoned for some period of time. The worship of these Deities was again reinstated by Śrī Śrīla Prabhupāda. By this gesture he established that formal devotional practice to worship Śrī-Gour-Gadādhara with attachment was more than essential for us. Śrī Śrīla Prabhupāda used to view Śrīdhāma Mayapur, the birthplace of Śrīman Mahaprabhu, as the original Gokula Mahavana of Vraja. Śrīvasangan, the place of congregational chanting was considered the loving playgrounds of devotional mellows of Vraja. Chandrasekhara Bhavan or Śrī Chaitanya Maṭha was observed as the original Govardhana Hill. Thereafter he constructed a tank by the side of this Govardhana Hill which he named as ‘Rādhā Kunda’. It was at this very place, after building his place of devotions in the form of a small hut by the side of this ‘Rādhā Kunda’, that he began to exhibit intense renunciation. He then demonstrated the method of intense devotions by taking earnestly three lakhs of Holy Names daily and completed the vow of chanting 1000 million Names altogether at that place. Even after the successful completion of that vow, Śrī Śrīla Prabhupāda always maintained intact the practice of chanting the Holy Names seriously. 𝐇𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 Ś𝐫ī Ś𝐫ī𝐥𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐡𝐮𝐩ā𝐝𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞, 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐇𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 Ś𝐫ī𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐡𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐬, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝, 𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞. 𝐇𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 Ś𝐫ī𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐡𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬.


In the manner Śrī Śrīla Prabhupāda exhibited a model example and behaviour, he would preach just as effectively. He never did give support to preaching without the prerequisite proper behaviour. He never did approve of pure devotional conclusions being adulterated in any way with the other processes and took pains to safe-guard them. He would never dream of acting contrary to devotional etiquette (Vaiṣṇava) at any cost just to acquire followers or to be part of the club, nor did he condone others doing so. Ś𝐫ī Ś𝐫ī𝐥𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐡𝐮𝐩ā𝐝𝐚 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦. Ś𝐫ī Ś𝐫ī𝐥𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐡𝐮𝐩ā𝐝𝐚, 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐲. 𝐇𝐞, Ś𝐫ī Ś𝐫ī𝐥𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐡𝐮𝐩ā𝐝𝐚, 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 𝐇𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐇𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 (𝐂𝐂. 𝐌 𝟏𝟐/𝟏𝟑𝟓) 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥’𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲. 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝, 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐈𝐧 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐫, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐥𝐝, Ś𝐫ī𝐥𝐚 𝐁𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐝𝐚 Ṭ𝐡ā𝐤𝐮𝐫𝐚, 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍ṛ𝐬𝐢ṃ𝐡𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐢 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐢 𝐛𝐲 Ś𝐫ī𝐥𝐚 𝐁𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐝 Ṭ𝐡ā𝐤𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦.

To be continued…

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 7

Bhaktisiddhanta Vani Seva.

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝!!!

To

All those sincere - honest and loyal Gauḍīya devotees

(Date 05.11.2025)

Dear/Blessed devotees,

Daṇḍavat pranam to you all. Really this is a matter of great joy for us Gauḍīya devotees as a whole to discover the next very special excellent issue (Issue No.13) of the magazine —“𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐚𝐮ḍī𝐲𝐚 𝐆𝐮𝐫𝐮𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚” where we can find all in detail what our Sarasvat Gaudiya Guruvarga said about the following topics—

- What is the difference between maṭh and home interest?

- The actual meaning of gṛha-praveśa

- What is the duty of an ideal gṛhastha

- Marriage and āśrama

- What are the pros and cons in gṛhastha life, etc. etc.

All this very relevant and important topics are beautifully addressed within this issue to help us to rectify any prejudiced or misguided perceptions we may unknowingly hold.

Thank you all

Truly yours in the service of Śrī Śrī Guru-Gaurāṅga and Go-Mata

All the loyal and sincere servant of The Prabhupāda

Please follow the link below, where you can download the E-Magazine—

drive.google.com/file/d/1gPg0v63IXiwKT6FFZl4iX_AHt…

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 2

Bhaktisiddhanta Vani Seva.

Ś𝐫ī 𝐆𝐮𝐫𝐮 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐬 Ś𝐫ī Ś𝐢ṣ𝐲𝐚

On March 26, 1929, on the occasion of the 35th conference of the Śrī Śrī Navadvīpa Dhāma Pracāriṇī Sabhā Śrīla Prabhupāda Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura glorified his dear disciple, Śrīla Bhaktipramoda Purī Gosvāmī Mahārāja, here is the transcript:

"We present to our audience the mention of another gem. This gem is none other than Pratnavidyālaṇkāra Paṇḍita Śrīpāda Pramodabhūṣaṇa Cakravartī (old name of Śrīla Bhaktipramoda Purī Gosvāmī Mahārāja), the esteemed editor of "Vaikuṇṭhavārtāvaha", the sole representative publication of Śrīdhāma Navadvīpa, also known as "Dainika Nadiyā Prakāśa."

The task of editing a daily newspaper is one of immense responsibility and laborious effort, something only those who have experienced it firsthand can truly understand. Yet, Pratnavidyālaṇkāra Prabhu shoulders this entire responsibility on his own, exemplifying extraordinary and tireless service. He is neither a paid editor nor a hypocritical or deceitful person who writes one thing with pen and paper while doing something entirely different in action.

His scholarship is not limited to mere preaching for the sake of others. He is a Vedic luminary of exceptional intellect, a preacher of impeccable conduct, an ideal renunciate (vairāgī) who has forsaken material pleasures for the sake of Kṛṣṇa, and a great devotee (bhāgavata mahāpuruṣa). Whatever he hears from the lotus mouth of his Guru, he faithfully reproduces in his writings and fully practices in his own life.

He has demonstrated the ideal of the scriptural principle:

"kāma tyaji kṛṣṇa bhaje śāstra ājñā māni,
deva ṛṣi pitṛādikera kabhu nahe ṛṇī."

("Renouncing personal desires and following the commandments of scripture, one who worships Śrī Kṛṣṇa is not indebted to the gods, sages, ancestors, or anyone else.")

Pratnavidyālaṇkāra Prabhu has embodied this scriptural ideal in his life. In my personal journey, I owe him a debt of gratitude in numerous ways. His ideals of renunciation, detachment, and service to the Guru inspire and captivate me every day."

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 6

Bhaktisiddhanta Vani Seva.

Ś𝐑Ī Ś𝐑Ī𝐋𝐀 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐇𝐔𝐏Ā𝐃𝐀

By Śrīla Bhakti Pramode Purī Gosvāmī Maharaj

The most worshipable Śrī Śrīla Prabhupāda is the dynamic manifest form of the merciful potency of Lord Gaurāṅga Deva. I have heard that in his childhood he used to be referred by his Spiritual Preceptors - who were self-realized souls - by the name Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī. Later in the year 1918, when he entered into the renounced order of life, he used to be called Tridandī Svāmī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī. Hereafter, in different Holy pilgrimage places he used to identify himself as Śrī-Vṛṣabhānavi Dayitā Dās He is the non-different expansion of Śrīmati Rādhārani Herself, always joyfully exhibiting the nature pleasing to Śrīmati Rādhikā which is the mood of service to Lord Krishna. The verses of the devotional song Vilapkusumanjali, expressing lamentation in separation from Śrīmati Rādhārani, were known to him by rote. In the description of the glories of Śrīmati Rādhikā, or sometimes at the very mention of Her name, he would be overcome by emotion, and tears would stream profusely from his eyes. He would become transfixed in overwhelming emotion on hearing certain popular verses of the song Vilapkusumanjali, like ‘vairagya-yug bhakti-rasam, asa bharair-amrtasindhumayaih’ or the verse ‘yasyah kadapi vasunancha lakhelanotha’ from Śrī Rādhārasa Suddhaniddhi. He frequently used to sing the lyrics of the song below.

rādhā-dāsye rahi’ chāda bhoga
ahi-pratiṣṭhā-sā nahe kīrtana-gaurava rādhā-nityajāna tā’hā chāḍi’mana kena vā nirjana-bhajana-kaitava

“One should remain the servant of Śrīmati Rādhārani, giving up all sense of material enjoyment and trying to humbly preach the glories of the Name. The pure devotees do not merely practice solitary bhajan, which is a form of cheating.”

𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞: “𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡, 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫-𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 (āś𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐡𝐚) 𝐢𝐬 Ś𝐫ī𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢 𝐑ā𝐝𝐡ā𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞: 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐛𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 Ś𝐫ī𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢 𝐑ā𝐝𝐡ā𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫.”

At Purī Dhām, a few days before his disappearance into his eternal pastimes, he chanted the verses of two well-known prayers in glorification of Śrī Govardhana Hill. They were Śrī Rūpa Goswāmī’s ‘pratyasam me tvam kuru govardhana purnam’ and Śrīla Raghunātha Dās Goswāmī’s ‘nija nikata nivasam dehi govardhana tvam’. By means of these prayers, he showed us by personal example the method of the worship of Śrī Govardhana Hill. Likewise, Śrī Śrīla Prabhupāda used to offer fresh water and Tulasi leaves in worship of Śrī Govardhana (Stone Deity) before taking his meals in his room at the Chaitanya Maṭha. I personally had the chance of witnessing this event. The sacred Hill of Govardhana and the holy pond of Śrī Rādhā Kunda used to be his highest objects of veneration and worship. The Chattak hill is very near to the temple of Totā-Gopinātha, where previously Śrī Gadādhara Paṇḍita (an expansion of Śrīmati Rādhārani) used to serve his Deities. This Chattak hill is considered non-different from the Govardhana Hill and it was for that reason Śrī Śrīla Prabhupāda built his place of devotions on top of that hill. In Vraja Mandala Śrī Śrīla Prabhupāda constructed the flower tomb (Puṣpa Samādhi) of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, named “Vrajāsvananda Sukhada Kuñja”, by the side of the existing Rādhā Kunda. There he also exhibited a model example by practice of the remembrance of Śrī Krishna’s pastimes during the eight periods of the day (aṣṭa-kāliya līlā).

To be continued…

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