RAYS OF THE HARMONIST IṢṬA-GOṢṬHĪ.

Refine your understanding of Gauḍīya siddhānta.

Hare Krishna. In honor of the upcoming grand celebration of the 150th Vyāsa-pūjā of Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Prabhupāda, we are pleased to announce a Rays of The Harmonist Iṣṭa-goṣṭhī.

Each month, we will read and discuss four articles by our guru-varga from the Rays of The Harmonist. In this way, we can extend our celebration of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Vyāsa-pūjā beyond his appearance day into the years ahead.

I explain the details in this video:
https://youtu.be/VhH6VP8bjs4?si=PknwwIZm9yiaYMiq

Here is the current format of the program:

•⁠  ⁠At 7 AM India time, you’ll receive the article for the next iṣṭa-goṣṭhī, giving you a chance to read it before our live session. (Find the corresponding time for different time zones at the bottom of this message.)
•⁠  ⁠Twenty-four hours later, we’ll send out the Zoom and YouTube links to join the live Iṣṭa-goṣṭhī session via our WhatsApp group.

Our Iṣṭa-goṣṭhī sessions take place four times a month on particular tithis, or days of the lunar calendar.

Visit raysoftheharmonist.com to subscribe to the mailing list, join the WhatsApp groups, view the calendar schedule, and peruse the inaugural article scheduled for reading on February 29th.

We look forward to seeing you in the next reading session!

Madhukar das
(on behalf of Rays of The Harmonist team)
_______
Iṣṭa-goṣṭhī meeting time in different time zones:

UTC • 1:30 – 3:00 AM
British Summer Time • 1:30 – 3:00 AM
Central European Summer Time • 2:30 – 4:00 AM
South Africa Standard Time • 3:30 – 5:00 AM
Eastern European Summer Time • 3:30 – 5:00 AM
India Standard Time • 7:00 – 8:30 AM
Hong Kong Time • 9:30 – 11:00 AM
Australian Eastern Time • 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Hawaii Daylight Time • prev. day 3:30 – 5:00 PM
Pacific Time • prev. day 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Central Time • prev. day 7:30 – 9:00 PM
Eastern Time • prev. day 8:30 – 10:00 PM
Brazil Time • prev. day 10:30 PM – 12:00 AM

If the timing doesn’t suit you, you have the option to watch the reading later on the Rays of The Harmonist YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/@RaysofTheHarmonist



SRI KRISHNA JANMASTAMI 2023

Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja

WHAT TO THINK ABOUT WHILE CHANTING

Dear Readers,

This year, 2023, the observance of Sri Krsna Janmastami is on Thursday 7th September here in the UK. We pray that you find spiritual nourishment in reading this darsana of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja, spoken in France, on April 27, 1998:]

Sri Sri Radha and Krishna



Ratha Yatra 2023

Please Google for festival dates in your city

The records of Sri Jagannatha Temple in Puri reveal that after Maharaja Indradyumna had the deities installed in the temple, he requested Lord Brahma to prescribe the proper worship of Lord Jagannath (seva, puja and niti), which included twelve annual yatras, of which ratha yatra is the main one.
The records of Sri Jagannatha Temple in Puri reveal that after Maharaja Indradyumna had the deities installed in the temple, he requested Lord Brahma to prescribe the proper worship of Lord Jagannath (seva, puja and niti), which included twelve annual yatras, of which ratha yatra is the main one.

The Ratha Yatra cart



GAUḌĪYA-DARŚANA

Śrī Prem Prayojan Prabhu

Excerpt from a class by Śrī Prem Prayojan Prabhu on Gauḍīya-darśana, spoken in Alachua (day 3), USA, 6 May 2023. Please see the link for the book in the right colum.

Now, we are coming to some of the meanings of Gauḍīya-darśana. The word darśana comes from dṛś dhātu and lyuṭ pratyaya- the suffix lyuṭ is added to dṛś dhātu, making the word darśana. So this word darśana means ‘avalokana, to observe’. Generally, people think that the word darśana means ‘philosophy’ but actually it means ‘avalokana, to observe’. It means ‘sākṣātkāra, direct experience’, and it also means ‘upalabdhi, to attain, to perceive or to understand’.



KRISHNA IS THE SUPREME PERSONALITY. THE VEDAS CONFIRM IT.


There is so much evidence it is impossible to put it all into even a book. Here are just a few evidences. Hare Krishna

People in tama guna worship many deities,…

Kurma Purana 2.43.49+ Skanda Purana 7.1.2.87-88 + Matsya Purana (53.68-69)  state as follows:

sättvikesu purānesu mähätmyamadhikam hareh

rājasesu ca māhātmyam adhikam brahmano viduh

tadvadagnesca mahatmyam tämasesu sivasya ca

“In the Puranas in the mode of goodness, the focus is the glories of Lord Hari. Those in the mode of passion, the focus is on the glories of Lord Brahma, Similarly, those in the mode of ignorance, the focus is on the glories of Lord Siva and Agni,”



THE APPEARANCE DAY OF JAHNAVA-MATA AND SITA-DEVI

Today is the appearance day of Jāhnavā-mātā, Lord Nityānanda’s consort (Nityānanda-śakti). It is also the appearance day of Sītā-devī, the consort of Lord Rāmacandra. The following is an excerpt from a bhāva anuvāda of the kathā given by Śrīla Bhakti Vijñāna Bhāratī Gosvāmī Mahārāja on the same tithi on May 8, 2014 and May 5, 2017.

Śrīla Bhakti Vijñāna Bhāratī Gosvāmī Mahārāja



THE SUPERIORITY OF SRI NAVADVIPA DHAMA

Evidence from scripture about Lord Chaitanyas appearance
Gaura Purnima Part 1
https://youtu.be/jrR4VIKnPZE

Gaura Purnima Part 2
https://youtu.be/bsedvAATTHM

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/devarsiY Herbal of course

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR GAURA PURNIMA

Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja
THE SUPERIORITY OF SRI NAVADVIPA DHAMA

Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Math:
Koladvipa, Navadvipa-dhama: March 17, 2005
What is the glory of Navadvipa? The original Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna appeared in this world and performed His astonishing pastimes in Vrndavana. Yet, all of His desires were not fulfilled at that time. Those desires that were not fulfilled by Him during His pastimes in Vrndavana were fulfilled when He appeared here in Navadvipa-dhama in the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In Vrndavana He tasted prema (pure love of God) as the object of the

THE APPEARANCE DAY OF PŪJYAPĀDA SRILA BHAKTIVEDĀNTA NĀRĀYAṆA MAHĀRĀJA

 

 

The appearance day of Pūjyapāda Srila Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja by Syamarani dasi

[January 21, 2023 is the appearance day of Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāj in Vṛndāvana, India. The following is a bhāva anuvāda of a lecture spoken on January 3, 2016, by Śrī Śrīmad Bhakti Vijñāna Bhāratī Gosvāmī Mahārāja at Śrī Madana-mohana Gauḍiya Maṭha, Bangalore. Editors’ input: Additional text has been included in square brackets to facilitate the flow of content.] First of all, I beg forgiveness from the assembled Vaiṣṇavas. Although I feel my position to be lowly, my physical condition necessitates my sitting in a chair, which forcibly places me at a level higher than that of you all.

Today is a very auspicious occasion, for we are celebrating the disappearance day of pūjyapāda Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja. It is an offense not to observe the appearance and disappearance days of our guru-vargas to our utmost capacity. Glorifying Vaiṣṇavas on these days is our true wealth, because doing so engages us in remembering them



SRILA BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASWATI MAHARAJA ON THE NEED FOR KAMSA’S AGENTS TO CHANGE SHASTRA

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

"Putana"
(Published in "The Harmonist", circa 1932)

Sri Krsna manifests His eternal birth in the pure cognitive essence of the serving soul who is located above all mundane limitations. King Kamsa, the typical aggressive empiricist, is ever on the lookout for the appearance of the truth for the purpose of suppressing Him before He has time to develop. This is no exaggeration of the real connotation of the consistent empiric position. The materialist has a natural repugnance for the

 

LIVING STILL IN SOUND
By Sripad Bhaktivedanta Bhagavat Maharaja
Written on Srila Haridasa Thakuras Disapperance day in 2015


So I thought I would discuss the Poem that Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura wrote regarding his disappearance. I am in the process of writing my thesis on transcendental sound vibration, its difference from material sound and how it manifests in this world. Oddly enough I was recently focusing on a statement of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura concerning the continuation of the manifest presence of the transcendental sound vibration within this world. I would like to present to you some of the realizations I have had regarding this….



TODAY THE 10/04/2022 IS RAMA NAVAMI

By Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaja
After Ravana was killed, Sita devi had to undergo the agni pariksa, fire test. Of course, Maya-Sita entered the fire, and the real Sita devi remained unharmed – proving that she was completely pure and chaste. Rama then gave the kingdom of Ravana to Vivisana, Ravana's brother, and after that he took Sita devi and all their associates to Ayodhya on a mystic airplane. There were millions and billions of associates, but this air plane was able to expand so that they could all fit on it.



GAURA PURNIMA THE APPEARANCE OF LORD CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

This year on the 18th of March 2022 is Lord Caitanyas appearance day. It is a wonderful festival that is observed annually in February March by Krishnas devotees all over the world and mostly in Mayapur India, the place where Mahaprabhu appeared in the year 1486. Lord Chaitanya is the Absolute Truth The Supreme Lord Himself, who appeared as His own devotee to teach us that we can go back home to be with God simply by chanting Holy Names.

"Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare"

Please click the More button to read a class by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja a pure devotee of Krishna, given at Sri Keshavaji Gaudiya Matha, on the divine birthday of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Navadvipa, India March March 14, 2006



THE VYASA PUJA DAY OF SRI SRIMAD BHAKTIVEDANTA NARAYANA GOSWAMI MAHARAJA

A Vyasa Puja Lecture

The meaning of the gayatri-mantra has been clearly revealed by Srila Vyasadeva in the first verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Had he not come to this world, ‘everything would have been nothing.’ He revealed this gayatri-mantra, as well as the catur-sloki of Srimad-Bhagavatam and its explanation, and he especially revealed the highest love of the mahabhava of Srimati Radhika. He revealed the meaning of Srimad-Bhagavatam, he manifested all Puranas and especially the Mahabharata, and the essence of all these scriptures is the same.



VYASA PUJA LECTURE BY SRI SRIMAD BHAKTIVEDANTA NARAYANA GOSWAMI


Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja

The Deep Meaning Of Vyasa-puja


Murwillumbah, Australia: February 7, 2008 am

I have seen how my Gurudeva and his god-brothers used to observe their Vyasa-puja. They used to worship their guru and entire guru-parampara, because the knowledge of Krsna and bhakti, or pure devotion, to Krsna does not come only from guru. Where did guru receive this from? He received it from his gurudeva, His gurudeva received from his gurudeva, and so on. In the end, we see that Krsna is jagat-guru: "Krsnam vande jagat-gurum."



THE DISAPPEARANCE DAY OF SRILA BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI PRABHUPADA

SRILA PRABHUPADA

SPOKEN BY SRILA BHAKTIVEDANTA NARAYANA GOSWAMI MAHARAJA IN BOMBAY INDIA 1994

At the time of his divine departure from this world, Parama-pujyapada Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja ordered me, "You should serve me by performing my samadhi ceremony." He knew the meaning and significance of entering samadhi, as well as the proper procedures to be performed at that time.

Samadhi is a Sanskrit word consisting of the two syllables, sama-dhi. Sama means "the same" and dhi means "intelligence." When the pure devotee takes samadhi, it means that upon departing from this world he enters the same level, position and spiritual mood as the personal associates of his worshipful Deity. He is serving in that realm according to his own svarupa (constitutional form), with equal qualities, intelligence and beauty as those associates. Srila Swami Maharaja’s worshipful Deity is Srimati Radhika, and he serves Her under the guidance of Her personal associates, the manjaris.

SRILA NARAYANA MAHARAJA

Your Srila Prabhupada has preached about Lord Jagannatha-deva, Sri Krsna-Balarama and various manifestations of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. But from his writings, books and personal meetings and visits, I am absolutely sure that his worshipful Deity is Srimati Radhika, and he sees Sri Krsna as Her Beloved.

The Complete Conception
At the time of Srila Swami Maharaja’s entering samadhi, his desire was to assist Srimati Radhika in that very place where She renders Her services to Sri Krsna. He was one with the mood of Her maidservants, and he requested my service at that time.

The leader of the manjaris, Sri Rupa-manjari, serves Srimati Radhika when Radhika wants to meet with Krsna. In the dark of night she dresses Radhika in black clothes, and ties Her ankle-bells in such a way that they will not make any sound. At the time of dressing Radhika, she may decorate Her with a necklace, with the Syamantaka jewel as its centerpiece. At that time she may say, "This jewel is the friend of Sri Krsna’s Kaustubha jewel." In this way, Radhika is reminded of Her pastimes with Lord Krsna and bestows all Her mercy upon Sri Rupa-manjari­­, who always gives so much uddipana (inspiration) to Her bhava.

SRI SRI RADHA AND KRISHNA

If one has the mood to assist in his Guru’s service to Sri Rupa-manjari or Srimati Radhika, he renders the best service. I do not know why Srila Swami Maharaja gave me the mercy of giving him uddipana as he entered samadhi. I performed this service by decorating him with tilaka and by writing certain sacred mantras with sandlewood paste on his chest. These decorations indicated his personal services to his worshipful Deity, Srimati Radhika.

Just before his departure from this world, he requested me to sing Sri Rupa-manjari-pada:

    sri rupa-manjari-pada, sei mora sampada,
    sei mora bhajana-pujana

    The lotus feet of Sri Rupa-manjari are my dearmost treasure. They are the topmost object of my worship and inner devotional practices. (Sri Rupa-manjari-pada 1)

    sei mora prana-dhana, sei mora abharana,
    sei mora jivanera jivana

    Her lotus feet are my most cherished wealth, more dear than my own life. They are the exquisite ornament of my life, and indeed, the very essence of my existence. (Sri Rupa-manjari-pada 2)

This is the best sankirtana of Sri Rupa-manjari, who can lead us to Radhika’s service. While I sang this bhajana, I saw that Srila Swami Maharaja’s face was sometimes colored with one transcendental mood and sometimes with another. I requested my brahmacari, Sesasayi prabhu, to sing with me as I personally performed this kirtana for him – just as I did for my Gurudeva at the time of his entering samadhi. There were many similarities between my diksa-guru, Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja, and Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja. I did what Srila Swami Maharaja ordered me to do for him, and I feel so fortunate that he gave me this service.

Also just before his departure, he ordered me: "You should advise and help my disciples, all GBC (Governing Body Commision) devotees, and all devotees connected with me."

I did not think I could help them at that time, for I considered them higher in rank than myself. I thought, "They have so much guru-nistha, faith in the lotus feet of their Gurudeva. They are far more advanced than I am. They know the conclusive truths of the Krsna Consciousness philosophy better than I. How can I help them?" But my siksa-guru gave some inspiration in my heart.

By Srila Swami Maharaja’s inspiration I came to know that many disciples were misunderstanding his real identity. They were guessing that his constitutional form is that of a cowherd friend of Krsna. When I heard this, I experienced so much pain in my heart for them – they did not have accurate knowledge or feelings about him. I realized that it is my duty to give them faith in the complete conception of him, that he is in madhurya-rasa. Sakhya-rasa is included within madhurya-rasa, so sakhya-bhava is also within him.

How Deep is the Mountain
There are two ways to see our Gurudeva, and in this connection an analogy can be given of the Himalayan Mountains. The height of the Himalayas is one thing and its depth is another. We can somewhat see its height, but we cannot see what is hidden deep within the ground. We saw that Srila Swami Maharaja collected a large number of disciples throughout the world in practically no time; we saw all varieties of his height. He loved everyone, and everyone felt, "He loves me so much." We also saw this in our Guru Maharaja.

However, we cannot know how deep Sri Guru is. Srila Swami Maharaja used to sing Sri Gurvastakam with a profound mood and tears in his eyes – in samadhi. He did not see who was looking at him and who was not, who was taking part and who was not. He was simply absorbed in singing and playing his karatalas.

The first four verses of Sri Gurvastakam contain very high subject matter that we can realize and see. But at present we cannot realize the next two verses:

    sri-radhika-madhavayor apara-
    madhurya-lila-guna-rupa-namnam
    prati-ksanasvadana-lolupasya
    vande guroù sri caranaravindam

    At every moment Sri Gurudeva is experiencing intense greed in his heart to taste the unlimited sweetness of the holy names, forms, qualities, and pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava in Vrndavana. I offer my prayers unto the lotus feet of Sri Gurudeva. (Sri Gurvastakam, verse 5)

    nikunja-yuno rati-keli-siddhyai
    ya yalibhir yuktir apeksaniya
    tatrati-daksyad ati-vallabhasya
    vande guroh Sri caranaravindam

    Sri Gurudeva is always present with the sakhis, planning the arrangements for the perfection of Yugala-kisora’s amorous pastimes (rati-keli) within the kunjas of Vrndavana. Because he is so expert in making these tasteful arrangements for Their pleasure, he is very dear to Sri Radha and Krsna. I offer my prayers unto the lotus feet of Sri Gurudeva. (Sri Gurvastakam, verse 6)

Only one who is equal to his self-realized Guru can understand his depth. A kanistha-adhikari (novice devotee) and a madhyama-adhikari (intermediate devotee) cannot guess how deep his feelings are. They cannot begin to imagine the fathomless moods of krsna-prema and radha-prema in their Guru’s heart. Without being an uttama-adhikari, a topmost pure devotee, one cannot understand.

Kanistha- and madhyama-adhikari devotees can see his height, his aisvarya (opulence), the way in which he collected disciples and very quickly preached all over the world. But it is more valuable to see his depth. He has not collected disciples just so we can experience his height. Ultimately, he brought us to him with the sole aim of giving us his deep thoughts. Of course this will take time; it could take many births to realize this.

When I look towards him and remember his orders, I become moved, knowing that he is engaged in nikunja-yuno rati-keli-siddhyai. The main reason he came was to give this very same service. He came to obey the orders of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, but he had to spend a great deal of time laying the groundwork for this.

His Gurudeva was in a similar situation. Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura has said, "I came to give some valuable conceptions in raganuga-bhava, but I could not do so in the way I desired. Most of my life was spent in sweeping and cutting jungles."

This type of preaching is essential. Without preaching vaidhi-bhakti the main thing cannot be given, because vaidhi-bhakti is a prerequisite for further advancement. Srila Sarasvati Thakura also used to say that when the Mayavada philosophy is present, there can be no preaching of bhakti. We will therefore have to cut the jungles of atheism, Mayavada, sahajiyaism and other non-Vedic philosophies. We will have to spend time defeating their arguments.

Now I think that by obeying Srila Swami Maharaja’s orders, I have been fortunate to play a small role in this deeper mission. If I can inspire raganuga-bhakti in the hearts of devotees, I will see that I have fulfilled the orders he gave me. This is the best service I can render to his lotus feet.

When you are situated in raganuga-bhakti, you will be able to factually see his relationship with Sri Sri Radha and Krsna in gopi-bhava. Then you can deeply think of his services to the Divine Couple in nikunja-yuno rati-keli-siddhyai.

He used to sing daily, "Jaya radha-madhava jaya kunja-bihari gopi-jana-vallabha jaya giri-vara-dhari."

Srila Swami Maharaja has so much transcendental greed to serve Kunja-Bihari. A cowherd boy does not have these sentiments and exalted conceptions. The reference to gopi-jana-vallabha in this song is also in our gopala-mantra, and it filled his heart. He desired to give the service of gopi-jana-vallabha as performed by the gopis.

He saw that there were only a few in this world who were qualified for this; the number could be counted on one’s fingers. Thus, in order to gradually bring his audiences to a level of understanding, he preached about Lord Jagannatha-deva and established Deities of Sri Sita-Rama and Sri Krsna-Balarama.

The gopis also spoke about Rama-Krsna in Srimad-Bhagavatam, but they were not referring to Balarama. Balarama is sometimes called Rama, but the gopis were indicating Ramaniya-Krsna, that is, Sri Krsna the enjoyer of Sri Radha. The gopis’ Rama is Krsna. Qualified devotees, who have actually received the mercy of their Gurudeva, will understand this.

The best service I can render to his lotus feet is to give even an atom of the feelings of these exalted conceptions to his disciples and followers.



EVERYDAY ON LINE LIFE KARTIKA 2021

*Kartika 2021*

*EVERYDAY THROUGHOUT KARTIK*
 LIFE CYBER PARIKRAM
*Śrī Śrī Guru-Gaurāṅgau Jayatah!*
🙏 🙏 🙏

VARIOUS ADVANCED SPEAKERS
SANYASIS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

*Zoom Details:*
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87027695376
Meeting ID: 870 2769 5376
Passcode: 108

*Facebook*
_The BhaktiZOOM Seva Team_
https://www.facebook.com/groups/146013487380713/?ref=share

*YouTube*
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTC9m6lBOLY0XHjE_VFyZLw

*Schedule*
https://docs.google.com/…/185LftJjTGNJtVH5cnfKF…/edit…
🙏 Praying for the mercy of Śrī Guru and the Vaiṣṇavas🙏
The BhaktiZOOM Seva Tea

 



GAURA PURNIMA 2021

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

This year on the 18th of March 2021 is Lord Caitanyas appearance day. It is a wonderful festival that is observed annually in February March by Krishnas devotees all over the world and mostly in Mayapur India, the place where Mahaprabhu appeared in the year 1486. Lord Chaitanya is the Absolute Truth The Supreme Lord Himself, who appeared as His own devotee to teach us that we can go back home to be with God simply by chanting Holy Names.

"Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare"

Please click the More button to read a class by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja a pure devotee of Krishna, given at Sri Keshavaji Gaudiya Matha, on the divine birthday of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Navadvipa, India March March 14, 2006



FOR THE DISAPPEARANCE DAY OF SRILA JAYADEVA GOSVAMI

FOR THE DISAPPEARANCE DAY OF SRILA JAYADEVA GOSVAMI
by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaja
Los Angeles, Los Angeles, May 12, 2003

Sri Jayadeva Gosvami was a very high class of maha-bhagavata, and he wrote a book called “Gita-govinda,” meaning “The Glories of Govinda.” When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw this book, He made a copy and instructed His followers to also obtain one. At that time there was no press – books were reproduced by hand – so Mahaprabhu ordered His followers to write it down and then preach. In Jagannatha Puri, all the Vaisnavas and associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wrote down that book and made a necklace for themselves of the beautiful songs therein.



The amazing appearance day of Lord Nrsimhadeva

From the the Harikatha team

Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja
May 10, 1998
Wales, UK

The at least 2160000 years old deity of Lord Nrsimhadeva is worshipped in Nrsimha palli Navadvipa Dham, Godrumadvipa in India since that time.

Respected Harikatha Readers,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

This year, 2020, the auspicious appearance day of Lord Nrsimhadeva is on the 5th May around the world. Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja gave an amazing discourse on the Lord’s appearance day in 1998, in Wales, and he is sharing this with you for the occasion this year.  (To hear the audio lecture click here.)



SRI GADADHARA PANDITA AND TOTA GOPINATHA

Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja
SRI GADADHARA PANDITA AND TOTA GOPINATHA
[This year, 2020, the appearance day of Sri Gadadhara Pandit is April 22 and 23 (in America and India).  We pray that you will enjoy reading the following discussion that took place at the Tota Gopinath temple in Jagannath Puri in 1993:]
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu lived in the cave at Gambhira, He was always thinking of Krsna and weeping. He came to this world to taste radha-bhava, and His activities while in Gambira comprise a drop of the ocean He experienced. While living in Gambira He gave the deity of Gopinatha to Srila Gadadhara Pandita and told him, “Today I will give you a very good thing. Will you accept it?”



RAMA NAVAMI 2020

Sri Sri Sita Rama Laksman and Hanuman

Sri Sri Sita Rama Laksman and Hanuman

Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja
RAMA-NAVAMI
Bangkok, Thailand: April 11, 2003

Do you know the history of Ramayana? Maharaja Dasaratha had three hundred-sixty queens, but no sons. One day he went hunting, and in the evening he met a friend of his who was



STATEMENTS REGARDING WOMAN BASED ON MIS-EDITING AND BAD GRAMMAR

For anyone who has ever been disturbed about statements in Srila Prabhupada’s books seemingly putting down women and blacks and appearing to say that women enjoy being raped: please read this realised, loving explanation by Narayana Maharaja.
It is so important. Every devotee who reads this will have doubts dispelled.
Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja does not hold back. He states he has read all the books and He places the blame on mis-editing and bad grammar that distorts true meaning and more.

Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

 

Lecture by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaj: The Hague, Holland: July 13, 2005
Some persons have told me that when they read Pujyapada Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja’s translations of Srimad-Bhagavatam, and especially his purports, they lose their faith in Krsna-consciousness. They say this is because his books state that ladies are inferior, and that black people are all sudras and cannot have bhakti. So many people who were in ISKCON left because of this



SRI ADVAITA ACARYA APPEARANCE DAY

January 31, 2020

Transcript

[February 1, 2020 is the appearance day of Śrīla Advaita Ācārya in Vṛndāvana, India. The following is an excerpt of a bhāva anuvāda of a discourse by Śrīla Bhakti Vijñāna Bhāratī Gosvāmī Mahārāja on August 30, 2014. Editors’ input: Additional text has been included in square brackets to facilitate the flow of content.]

Śrīla Bhakti Vijñāna Bhāratī Gosvāmī Mahārāja



NEW BOOK, THE ART Of SPIRITUAL LIFE

Obeisances everyone!

Al glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga!

On the divine disappearance day of Srila Prabhupada, Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, we offered Srimati Jadurani/Syamarani didis memoirs, The Art of Spiritual Life to Srila Prabhupada in his room at Radha Damodara. It was such a moving ceremony.

She has been writing this since the 1980s, and the mood and beauty of witnessing and being a part of the beginning of the Hare Krsna movement in the West is exemplified in this masterpiece. Reading it is a journey that makes one laugh and cry and feel many ranges of emotions. When I read how she broke the first mrdanga sent to the West, I cringed, and when she describes her heart feelings while at Los Angeles airport in 1977 upon hearing when Srila Prabhupada departed from this world, it is so heart-wrenching.

They are available in India and UK and on January 14th, they will arrive in America and be available to ship out by the end of January.

Orders can be placed here:

https://www.theartofspirituallife.com

Or, write to Vasanti dasi at vasantidasi@gmail.com (or on FB)

Aspiring for the service of Sri Guru and the Vaisnavas,
Vasanti dasi



WRONG DEMIGOD WORSHIP. THE DEMIGODS ARE NOT GOD



The demigods are not God

Bhagavad Gita 9.23. What does it mean when Krishna says “Those who are devotees of other gods and who worship them with faith actually worship only Me, O son of Kuntī, but they do so in a wrong way.”

“Persons who are engaged in the worship of demigods are not very intelligent, although such worship is offered to Me indirectly,” KRISHNA says. For example, when a man pours water on the leaves and branches of a tree without pouring water on the root, he does so without sufficient knowledge or without observing regulative principles. Similarly, the process of rendering service to different parts of the body is to supply food to the stomach. The demigods are, so to speak, different officers and directors in the government of the Supreme Lord. One has to follow the laws made by the government, not by the officers or directors. Similarly, everyone is to offer his worship to the Supreme Lord only. That will automatically satisfy the different officers and directors of the Lord. The officers and directors are engaged as representatives of the government, and to offer some bribe to the officers and directors is illegal. This is stated here as avidhi-pürvakam. In other words, KRISHNA does not approve the unnecessary worship of the demigods.


“Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures.” (Bhagavad gita 7.20)



THE IMPORTANCE OF SADHU SANGA

 


108 Srila Prabhupada Quotes compiled by Isa prabhu

“There are many societies and associations of pure devotees, and if someone with just a little faith begins to associate with such societies, his advancement to pure devotional service is rapid.” From the Nectar of devotion by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Chapter 19

On the Importance of Having the Association of Pure Devotees “Only a pure devotee of the Lord can show one the right way of progressive life” “Only in the association of such devotees are the transcendental glories of Lord Krsna properly discussed” “Only one who is fortunate can have the opportunity to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam in the association of pure devotees of the Lord”



The appearance day of Śrī Gaṅgāmātā Gosvāminī

[June 12, 2019 is the appearance day of Śrī Gaṅgāmātā Gosvāminī in Vṛndāvana, India. The following is an excerpt from a bhāva anuvāda of the kathā given by Śrīla Bhakti Vijñāna Bhāratī Gosvāmī Mahārāja on June 8, 2014.

Glorification of Sri Sita-Rama

             

Sri Sri Sita Rama laksman and Hanuman

Mathura, April 13, 2000

Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja

Janaka Maharaja had given the definition of bhakti to Lord Rama’s brother, Bharata. “Anyabhilasita-sunyam, jnana-karmady-anavrtam, anukulyana krsnanu-silanam bhaktir uttama. One who has no other desire than to please Krsna, and who is not influenced by the process of jnana-marga (cultivation of knowledge) karma, and so on, is situated in pure bhakti.” The king told him that nothing can control prema (pure love of God); it has its own law. One who has prema will always consider the desires of his object of love. He has no personal interest. He will always think, “How will my beloved be pleased?” Our real purpose is to please our worshipful deity, God and Guru; not to please ourselves.



GAURA PURNIMA…THE DIVINE APPEARANCE DAY OF LORD SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

This year on the 28th of March 2021 is Lord Caitanyas appearance day. It is a wonderful festival that is observed annually in February March by Krishnas devotees all over the world and mostly in Mayapur India, the place where Mahaprabhu appeared in the year 1486. Lord Chaitanya is the Absolute Truth The Supreme Lord Himself, who appeared as His own devotee to teach us that we can go back home to be with God simply by chanting Holy Names.

"Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare"

Please click the More button to read a class by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja a pure devotee of Krishna, given at Sri Keshavaji Gaudiya Matha, on the divine birthday of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Navadvipa, India March March 14, 2006

Please also watch the above video for much scriptural evidence about Lord Caitanya Maha Prabhu

 



SHIVA RATI 2019



Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja
The Post and the Person
Holland: July 3, 1997

Sri Narada desired to proclaim the glories of Lord Siva. As previously
described, he praised Siva as the greatest devotee of Lord Krsna and
most dear to Him, and Lord Siva became upset by hearing those praises. Siva then related a number of incidents which, according to him, were
evidence that he was not dear to Krsna at all.



FOR THE APPEARANCE DAY OF SRILA BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASVATI MAHARAJA

[The following lecture was given by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja in Germany, on February 21, 2003]

Today is a very auspicious day. It is the very holy birthday of Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Thakura. I want to speak something of his glor

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Maharaja


If this great self-realized soul had not descended in this world, no one would have known the meaning of pure bhakti. No one would have known the identity of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, the book Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, or the books and glories of the Gosvamis.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gave us two jewels, the first one being the holy birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He manifested Gaura-dhama. Before him, no one knew where

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had taken birth. No one knew where Sridhama Mayapura was actually located



HE KEPT HIS LIFE IN HIS HANDS

[This year, 2019, February 21 is the appearance day of Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja, the initiating and sannyasa guru of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja and the god-brother and sannyasa guru of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja. In honor of this most auspicious day, please accept this lecture spoken by Srila Narayana Maharaja in Murwillumbah, Australia, February 9, 2004:] 

Srila Narayana Maharaja : “Today is a very auspicious day. It is the birthday of my spiritual master, om visnupada Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja. I have seen


with my own eyes how he used to observe Vyasa-puja on his birthday, by offering respects to all other Vaisnavas – especially to senior Vaisnavas, but also to juniors.

FOR SRI KRISHNA JANMASTAMI 2023

Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja

WHAT TO THINK ABOUT WHILE CHANTING

Dear Readers,

This year, 2023, the observance of Sri Krsna Janmastami is on Thursday 7th September here in the UK. We pray that you find spiritual nourishment in reading this darsana of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja, spoken in France, on April 27, 1998:]

Sri Sri Radha and Krishna



THE VYASA PUJA DAY OF SRI SRIMAD BHAKTIVEDANTA NARAYANA GOSWAMI MAHARAJA

A Vyasa Puja Lecture

SRI SRIMAD BHAKTIVEDANTA NARAYANA GOSWAMI MAHARAJA

Dear visitor
This year, 2022, the divine appearance day of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja is on February 1st. Please accept this lecture that he gave on this day in Feb.1 2003, in Florida, Listen

Narayana Gosvami Maharaja: "My heartly dandavat pranama at the lotus feet of my spiritual master, nitya-lila pravista om  visnupada Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja, my entire guru-paramapara, and my siksa-guru, nitya-lila-pravista om visnupada Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja.

Today we are going to observe guru-puja, or Vyasa-puja. First of all we should know what is guru-puja and what is Vyasa-puja. Both are the same. Sri Krsna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa divided the one

Wrong Demigod Worship

The demigods are not God

Bhagavad Gita 9.23. What does it mean when Krishna says Those who are devotees of other gods and who worship them with faith actually worship only Me, O son of Kuntī, but they do so in a wrong way.
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RADHA TATTVA

Radha Krishna and the Gopies


 



MADHURYA KADAMBINI

    

 

MADHURYA KADAMBINI
By Sripad Bhaktivedanta Ashram Maharaja