At the end of one lecture Srila Prabhupada told the devotees, "If you become 90% Krishna conscious, you will go back home, back to Godhead." Looking out into his audience, he saw that the devotees looked crestfallen. So then he said, "If you become 80% Krishna conscious, you will go back home, back to Godhead." Still the devotees expressed doubt that theycould become even 80% Krishna conscious. So then Srila Prabhupada said, "Ok,70%," and then the devotees responded with a big Jaya! But as Srila Prabhupada was returning to his quarters, another devotee expressed concern that he would not be able to become even 70% Krishna conscious. So then Prabhupada said, "Ok, you just hold on to my dhoti. I have the key to the back door."
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Srila Prabhupada quoted the following Bhagavad-gita verse at the time of giving sannyasa to Srila Gour Govinda Swami:
sri-bhagavan uvaca anasritah karma-phalam
karyam karma karoti yahsa sannyasi ca yogi ca
na niragnir na cakriyah
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: One who is unattached to the fruits of his work and who works as he is obligated, is in the renounced order of life, and he is the true mystic, not he who lights no fire and performs no duty.” (BG, 6.1)
He uttered this verse and said, “He is a real sannyasi,” then gave him the sannyasa mantra and danda. Shortly thereafter, many sannyasis and GBC members started complaining, “How has he taken sannyasa? He is a new man!” Then Srila Prabhupada told them, “He is a devotee from birth - you are new men!"
The Anantha chaturdashi-vrata (Bhadrapada shukla Chaturdashi) is widely observed in India. It is also called ‘Ananthapadmanabha-vrata’. Lord Vishnu appeared on this day as Padmanabha lying on the couch of Anantha Sesha (the thousand-hooded serpent).
Anantha vrata is observed with the intention of fulfillment of worldly desires (‘kamya vrata’). This vrata is mainly observed for regaining lost prosperity. On the day of Anantha Chaturdashi, the frequencies of Sri Vishnu are active in the Universe. It is easy for average people to attract and absorb these frequencies on this day. Performing Ananta puja means absorbing the action-energy of Sri Vishnu.
| The presiding Deity of Anantha vrata is Anantha, that is, Sri Vishnu. The Deities Yamuna and Shesha also accompany Sri Vishnu. |
Anantha Vrata, is dedicated to Lord Anantha Padmanabha Swamy. It is observed on the fourteenth day in Shukla Paksha during Bhadrapada month. Anantha means the infinite and endless. Anantha Padmanabha is Lord Vishnu recli
One day, Govinda went in great jubilation to deliver the remnants of Lord Jagannatha's food to Haridasa Thakura. However, upon his arrival, Govinda saw that Haridasa Thakura was lying down on his back and chanting his rounds very slowly. Govinda said, Please rise and take your maha-prasada.
Haridasa Thakura replied, Today I shall observe fasting for I have not yet finished my prescribed number of rounds. How then can I eat? On the other hand, you have brought me maha-prasada. How can I neglect it?
After saying this, Haridasa Thakura offered prayers to the maha-prasada and ate a little portion.
The next day, Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu went and inquired, My dear Haridasa, are you well? Haridasa Thakura offered his obeisances unto the Lord and replied, My body is all right, but my mind and intelligence are not well.
Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu asked, Can you ascertain what your disease is? Haridasa Thakura replied, My disease is that I cannotcomplete my prescribed number of rounds. The Lo
Sri Sacidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura appeared in 1838 in a wealthy family in the Nadia district, West Bengal. He revealed that he is an eternal associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by his extraordinary preaching activities and prolific writing. Living as a, mahabhagavata Vaisnava, he stayed in the grhasta ashram until the last few years of his life. Then he renounced everything, accepted babaji, and entered samadhi, totally absorbed in the loving service of Gaura-Gadadhara and Radha-Madhava. "He had a responsible government position as the District Magistrate (high court judge), maintained a Krishna conscious family, and wrote almost one hundred books on Krishna consciousness. At the same time, he served the Supreme Lord in so many ways. That is the beauty of his life. After a full day of government service he would sleep four hours, get up at midnight and write until morning. That was his daily program." (Srila Prabhupada)
Thakura Bhaktivinoda took Vaisnava diksa from Sri Vipinvihari
Sri Sanatana, Sri Rupa and Sri Vallabha were three brothers, all employed in the service of the Badsa Hussain Shah. Amongst the three, there was only one descendent, Sri Jiva. Having been rewarded richly by the Badsa for their sevices, their household life was very opulent. There was nothing lacking in whatever was necessary for the upbringing of the only son. The house was illuminated by the effulgence of the child's golden complexion; his eyes were like the expanded petals of the lotus; every part of his body was graced with a lusterous, radiant splendor.
When Sri Gaurasundara came to Ramakeli, Sri Jiva was blessed by having darshana of His worshipable lord, though he was just a baby at the time. Placing the dust of His lotus feet on the child's head, Mahaprabhu indicated him to be the future sovereign preceptor of the Gaudiya sampradaya. Though he was only a child, Sri Jiva kept the form of the Lord, which fascinates all the world, within his heart. As he grew up, while eating, lying
Chandra Suryotu nayaney Dyouh Shirascharanou kshitih Padaangulyahalyah Pishaachaastu Hastaangulya –scha Gruhakaah/ Vishvedevaascha jaanusthaa janghey Saadhyaah Surottamaah, Yakshaa nakheshu sambhutaa rekhaapsaraastathaa/ Drushtirrukshaanya seshaani keshaah Suryamshvah Prabhoh, Taarakaa romakupaani romeshu cha Maharshayah/ Baahavo vidishatasya Dishaah Shrotrey Mahatmanah, Ashvinou Shravaney tasya naasaa Vayurmahaatmanah/ Prasadey Chandramaa Devo Mano Dharmah samaashritah, Satyasyaabhavad Vaani Jihvaa Devi Saraswati/ Greevaarditirdeva mataa Vidyaastadvalaya -stathaa, Swargadwaaramabhunmaitrah twashtaa Pushaa cha vai bhruvou/ Mukhe Vaishvaanarschaascha vrushanou tu Prajaapatih, Hridayamcha Param Brahma Pumstwam vai Kashapo Munih/ Prushthesya Vasavo Devaa Marutah Sarva saandhishu, Vakshasthaley tathaa Rudro Dharryachaasya Mahaarnavah/ Udarey chaasya Gandharvaa Marutascha Mahaabalaah, Lakshmirmedhaa Dhrutih Kaantih Sarv Vidyaascha vai Katih/ Sarvajyoteesham Yaaneeha Tapascha P
Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 3: "The Status Quo" : SB 3.25: The Glories of Devotional Service : SB 3.25.38 : PURPORT :
The reason for freedom from destruction is also described. The devotees accept the Supreme Lord as the most dear personality and reciprocate with Him in different relationships. They accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the dearmost friend, the dearmost relative, the dearmost son, the dearmost preceptor, the dearmost well-wisher or the dearmost Deity. The Lord is eternal; therefore any relationship in which we accept Him is also eternal. It is clearly confirmed herein that the relationships cannot be destroyed, and therefore the opulences of those relationships are never destroyed. Every living entity has the propensity to love someone. We can see that if someone has no object of love, he generally directs his love to a pet animal like a cat or a dog. Thus the eternal propensity for love in all living entities is always searching for a place to reside. From this
Kothaya Go Prema-Mayi
by TVP BOOKS
Kothāya Go Prema-Mayī
Sung by Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swami kothaya_go_prema-mayi_19-03-92 kothāya go prema-mayī rādhe rādherādhe, rādhe go, jaya rādhe rādhe dekhā diye prāṇa rākho rādhe rādhe
tomāra kāṅgāla tomāya ḍāke rādhe rādhe niyama kore sadāī ḍāke, rādhe rādhe
eka-bār ḍāke keśī-ghāte ābār ḍāke vamśī-vaṭe eka-bār ḍāke nidhu-vane ābār ḍāke kuñja-vane
eka-bār ḍāke rādhā-kuṇḍe ābār ḍāke śyāma-kuṇḍe
eka-bār ḍāke kusuma-vane ābār ḍāke govardhane
eka-bār ḍāke tāla-vane ābār ḍāke tamāla-vane
“Where is the incarnation of love, Rādhe Rādhe! All glories to Śrī Rādhā. Show Yourself to Me, Rādhā, give Me back My life. I have become a beggar for You, O Rādhā, and I am always calling You, ‘Rādhe! Rādhe!’ Sometimes at Keśī-ghāṭa, sometimes at Vaṁśī-vaṭa. Sometimes in Nidhuvana, sometimes in Sevā-kuñja. Sometimes at Rādhā-kuṇḍa, sometimes at śyāma-kuṇḍa. Sometimes at Kusuma Sarovara, sometimes at Girirāja Govardhana. Sometimes at Tālavan, sometimes
by Srila Krsnadas Kaviraja Gosvami
kumkumakta kancanabja garvahari gaurabhapitananci tavja gandha kirti nindi saurabhaballavesa
sunu sarva banchitartha sadhikamahyamatma pada padma dasya-dastu radhika
"May that Srimati Radhika--whose bodily complexion snatches away the pride of a golden lotus flower tinged with kunkuma, whose bodily fragrance reproaches the fame of a fragrant lotus sprinkled with saffron powder, and who fulfills all the desires of the prince of Vraja, Sri Krishna--always bestow upon me the service of Her lotus feet.
kauravinda-kanti-nindi-citrapatta satikakrsna matta bhringa keli phulla-puspa batikakrsna nitya
sangamartha padma bandhu radhikamahyamatma pada padma dasya-dastu radhika
"May that Srimati Radhika--whose dazzling, colorful silk sari defeats the splendour of coral, who is a garden of all varieties of blooming flowers which attract the maddened bumblebee Sri Krishna who comes to play amongst Her flowers, and who worships the sun-god in order to meet with Krishn
Eight Prayers Glorifying Sri Radhika
by Shrila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami
Text 1
rasa-valita-mrgaksi-mauli-manikya-laksmih pramudita-muravairi-prema-vapi-marali vraja-vara-vrsabhanoh punya-girvana-valli snapayatu nija-dasye radhika mam kada nu
When will Sri Radhika, who is a splendid ruby in the crown of all nectarean doe-eyed girls, a swan swimming in the lake of love for jubilant Lord Krsna, and a celestial vine sprouted from Vraja's exalted King Vrsabhanu, bathe me in Her service?
Text 2
sphurad-aruna-dukula-dyotitodyan-nitamba- sthalam abhi vara-kanci-lasyam ullasayanti kuca-kalasa-vilasa-sphita-mukta-sara-srih snapayatu nija-dasye radhika mam kada nu
When will Sri Radhika, who makes the sash of bells dance on Her hips splendid with red silk, and whose necklace of large pearls plays on the waterpots of Her breasts, bathe me in Her service?
Text 3
sarasija-vara-garbhakharva-kantih samudyat- tarunima-ghanasaraslista-kaishora-sidhuh dara
Radha-Stuti
radha raseshvari ramya rama cha paramatmanah rasodbhava krishna-kanta krishna-vaksha-sthala-sthita
"Beautiful Shrimate Radharani is the queen and the origin of the rasa dance. She is the giver of pleasure to Krishna, who is the Supersoul in the hearts of all. She is the lover of Krishna and is always situated upon the chest of the Lord."
krishna-pranadhidevi cha maha-vishnoh prasur api sarvadya vishnu-maya cha satya nitya sanatani
"She is the presiding Deity of Krishna's very life, and She is the first of all persons, the energy of Lord Vishnu, the embodiment of truthfulness--eternal and ever-youthful."
brahma-svarupa parama nirlipta nirguna para vrinda vrindavane tvam cha viraja-tata-vasini
"Her form is spiritual, therefore She is transcendental and beyond mundane qualities. She is divine energy and is unattached. O Radha, in Vrindavana You are the leader of the gopis, and You reside on the banks of the Viraja River."
goloka-vasini gopi gopisha gopa-matrika sananda paramanand
Vyasa-Puja Commemoration
by TVP BOOKS
Vyasa-Puja
Commemoration
The Vyāsa-pūjā celebration for our beloved Gurudeva, His Divine Grace Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swami Mahārāja was held in Murwillumbah (Tweed Valley area), where many devotee families live. Numerous devotees attended the program, regardless of group affiliation, race, age or gender. All that attended received the booklet “The Meaning of Vyāsa-pūjā”, which was specially printed for the occasion of the Vyāsa-pūjā ceremony of our beloved Gurudeva. Everyone also received the booklet ‘Gour Govinda Swami Who Was He’.
Hari Bhakti prabhu sang very nice bhajans at the beginning of the Vyāsa-pūjā celebration, Kalyāṇa prabhu played very nice mṛdaṅga and cooked and organised the feast. Priya decorated the vyāsāsana ver nicely. Nandinī and Anurādhā Mātājīs made some really beautiful garlands. Dhriti Gopī Mātājī made two very wonderful cakes, decorated
with hand made edible flowers, for our beloved Gurudeva and Hṛṣīkeśa prabhu led two v
1. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. She worships the perspiration of Sri Sri Radha-Mukunda's lotus feet and acts boldly, out of intense feelings of friendship for Them.
2. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. Her face defeats the beauty of the ambrosial corona of the full moon, her eyes are like those of an alarmed deer and she is expert in the art of decorating Sri Radhika.
3. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. She wears a wonderful silk dress colored like a peacock with outstretched feathers, as well as a nice blouse, and her complexion defeats the golden splendour of gorocana.
4. I offer my obeisances to Lalita devi, who has many wonderful qualities. She teaches Sri Radhika the art of a left-wing heroine saying: "Radhe! Firmly reject this shrewd son of the king of Vraja, O immoral girl! Listen! Don't be weak! I'm saying it for Your own good. Don't submit to Him!"
5. I offe
View of Lalita's temple in Uncha Gaon from Varsana.
Photo by BB Govinda Swami.
Right next to Varsana is the village of Uncha Gaon, which is where Radharani’s best friend, Lalita, took birth two days before she did. Her birthday is to be celebrated on 11th of September.
According to the tradition, Radharani has unlimited numbers of sakhis or girlfriends. Just like a lotus flower has eight petals, so Varsana mountain is surrounded by eight villages where the eight principal sakhis took birth. These eight are called Radha’s prana-preshtha sakhis, or friends who are dearer than life itself to her. Of these, Lalita Devi is the most important, for she is Radharani’s guide in dealing with Krishna. Without her permission, Radha and Krishna cannot come together.
Lalita’s birthday marks the beginning of Radhastami festivities in the Varsana area.
Every year In the midst of the kirtan of “Radhe Radhe”, Lalita’s murti is bathing in nearly 50 kilograms of milk, ghee, yogurt and other ingred
According to the tradition, Radharani has unlimited numbers of sakhis or girlfriends. Just like a lotus flower has eight petals, so Varsana mountain is surrounded by eight villages where the eight principal sakhis took birth. These eight are called Radha’s prana-preshtha sakhis, or friends who are dearer than life itself to her. Of these, Lalita Devi is the most important, for she is Radharani’s guide in dealing with Krishna. Without her permission, Radha and Krishna cannot come together.
Lalita’s birthday marks the beginning of Radhastami festivities in the Varsana area.
Every year In the midst of the kirtan of “Radhe Radhe”, Lalita’s murti is bathing in nearly 50 kilograms of milk, ghee, yogurt and other ingred
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati; The church that has the best chance of survival in this damned world is that of atheism under the convenient guise of theism. The churches have always proved the staunchest upholders of the grossest form of worldliness from which even the worst of non-ecclesiastical criminals are found to recoil.
It is not from any deliberate opposition to the ordained clergy that these observations are made. The original purpose of the established churches of the world may not always be objectionable. But no stable religious arrangement for instructing the masses has yet been successful. The Supreme Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in pursuance of the teachings of the scriptures enjoins all absence of conventionalism for the teachers of the eternal religion. It does not follow that the mechanical adoption of the unconventional life by any person will make him a fit teacher of religion. Regulation is necessary for controlling the inherent worldliness of conditional souls.
"Ganaanaam Twam Ganapathi Gam Havaamahe
Kavim Kaveenaam Upamasra Vastamam
Jyeshta Raajam Brahmanaam Brahmanaspatha
Aanashrunvanna Oothibhi Seedha Saadanam"
Meaning of Sloka: The Lord of spiritual faith, son of Lord Shiva, is the wisest among the wise. Ganesha has no comparison. He is the senior Lord of the Vedic mantras, who listens to the devotee's prayers. I invite Lord Ganesha to visit my home with prosperous things and be seated here.
