Nitai at Srivas Pandit's House

In honor of Srivas Pandit and his wife Malini Devi on his appearance day. 

Nityananda prabhu used to stay in the house of Srivas Pandit. He loved Srivas and Malini Devi like a father and mother, and they loved him as a son. Nitai always played in their home like an innocent child.

Nitai refused to eat unless Malini fed him with her own hands. Sometimes, in the mood of a child, Nitai would sit in Malini Devi's lap and drink milk from her breast. Malini Devi had long passed the age when nursing was possible, but at Nityananda's touch milk again flowed. She was amazed by this miracle. Sri Caitanya ordered her not to reveal it to anyone. 

One day Visvambhara, Nitai, Gadadhara, Srivasa and Haridasa were sitting together in Srivasa's house. Visvambhara said to Nitai, "Listen Nityananda! Do not act recklessly and cause trouble to Srivas and his family."

Financed by Nitai Chand

Before the time of Dada Mahashay (Sri Radharaman Charan Das Dev) the care and management Jagannath Dev's Mandir was "out of gear." So on the occasion of one Ratha Yatra six days had passed and the ratha still hadn't reached Gundica Mandir. Since it was not possible for Jagannath Dev to eat His usual bhoga, Dada Mahasay felt pained at heart. One morning Dada came for darshan of Jagannath and the panda doing His service gave Dada Mahashay His datun (toothbrush). Upon receiving this prasad the sattvika bhavas appeared all over his body and there was no end to his happiness. He asked Sakhi Maharani (Lalita Sakhi Dasi) to clean out a room adjoining the temple room in Jhanjpita Math. They installed the datun and began to serve it bhoga in earthen pots in the same fashion as in Jaganatha's Temple. The following day he received the toothbrush of Subhadra, and the day after the toothbrush of Baladev which he also had installed. After leaving Gundica Mandir the ratha got stuck for a number of days and again Jagannath was unable to eat properly. The beggars who depended on Jagannatha's free mahaprasad were also without food. Dada Mahashay's kind heart could not bear to see this so he made arrangements in the math to feed them. Someone asked how it was possible to feed two to three hundred people each morning and evening. How is it financed? Dada Mahasay said, "the financier is Nitai Chand. I don't know how He manages. Everyday we find we have exactly enough provisions to feed whoever comes."

A number of days passed in this way and then Sakhi Ma noted that they were all out of money and provisions for the next day. She brought this to the attention of Dada Mahasay and said, "we don't have the funds to make the necessary purchases today, I don't know how we are going to feed the people tomorrow."

Dada Mahasay: "Why tell me about this. It's not my show. Why not go and tell Them who are running the show?"

From Raghav Pandit’s Panihati to Bhagavata Acharyya’s Barahanagar– Eternal Lila of Sri Sri GourSundar

Sri Sri RadhaRamano Jayati(Bhaja) Nitai Gour Radhey Shyam(Japa) Hare Krishna Hare Ram

Two weeks ago, on the 16th of March, 2007, the Gaudiya Vaishnavas in Bengal observed a festival celebrating Mahaprabhu's eternal lila of coming from Raghava Pandit's house at Sripat Panihati to Sri Pathbari at Barahanagar to hear Srila Bhagavat Acharyya's Srimad Bhagavat Path (recitation).

On 15th Chaitra 1341 BS., krishna dashami, Sri Sri Mahaprabhu touched his foot prints at Raghav Bhavan, Panihati. The next day (ekadashi), after revealing the secret tattva of Sri Nitai to Raghava Pandit under the Banyan tree on the bank of the Suradhuni (Ganges), the Lord sang Kirtans round the clock.

On the following day, (17th Chaitra, dwadashi tithi) Sri Sri Mahaprabhu went from Raghav Bhavan to Barahanagar Pathbari, the place of Bhagavat Acharyya.

This year also Mahaprabhu accompanied the devotees from Raghava Bhavan in a well-decorated boat on the Ganges. Devotees performed continuous Kirtan with musical instruments to entertain the Lord on his journey. From the Pathbari of Sri Bhagavat Acharyya, a huge crowd of devotees along with many saints went towards the bank of the Ganges with a decorated throne to welcome Mahaprabhu at their door. All the way the devotees danced with great joy, singing loudly “Gour Haribol,” and “Jay Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ki Jay.”

The devotees then led Mahaprabhu from his boat to the throne they had brought for him. The big sankirtan possession then began to march towards Sri Path Bari. All the devotees were dancing and singing joyfully while bringing Gour from the bank of Ganga to Sri PathBari. This is the place where Sri Mahaprabhu danced continuously for 9 hours about 500 years ago. The saints of Pathbari gave a gala reception to their beloved Gour. The devotees were singing

Disappearance of Sri Srimad 108 Hridayanada Das Babaji Maharaja

Sri Sri RadhaRamano Jayati(Bhaja) Nitai Gour Radhey Shyam(Japa) Hare Krishna Hare Ram

Gurudeva is his youth.

Famous kirtaniya and blessed disciple of the famous Namacharyya Siddha Sri Sri 108 Ram Das Babaji Mahasaya, Sri Sri 108 Hridayananda Das Babaji Maharaja left this mortal world to join his beloved Guru Deva in Nitya Lila on the 23rd of May at 12:33 AM in full consciousness. He was 78.

Sri Srimad 108 Hridayananda Das Babaji was the family descendant of Mahaprabhu’s famous associate Uddharan Dutta who was among the Dwadash Gopalas of Nityanada Prabhu. He was saved at the age of four from a life-threatening disease by Sripad Ram Das Babaji at Jhanjpita Math in Puri, where Babaji Maharaja saved his life by placing his Japa Beads on his head and shouting "Jay Nitai." According to the words of Hridayanada Das Babaji, “When Babaji Maharaja placed his Japa beads on my head, and shouted "Jay Nitai!" a current flowed through my spine and I was completely relieved from suffering.” From that time onwards Babaji Maharaja became his heart and soul for all his last days.

Dandomahatsava lila of Sri Nitai Chand - Dandomahatsava Tala Panihati Westbengal

Sri Sri Radharamano Jayati
( Bhaja ) Nitai Gour Radhey Shyam
( Japa ) Hare Krishna Hare Ram

Jay Nitai,

Last 28th June there was annula celebration of Danadamahatsava Lila of Sri Sri Nityananda Mahaprabhu. Prabhu Nitai performed the lila to blessed Srila Raghunath Das Goswami to attain his beloved Lord Gauhari's Lotus feet. The lila has been celebtared by the all most all Gaudiya Vaishnava devotee at Sripat Panihati. The main attraction of this celebration is the Kirtan of Namacharyaa Sripad 108 Ram Das Babaji, which has been continuing by his followers following his footsteps. It is organised at Dandamahatsava Tala at Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's Mandir. After the Kirtan devotee goes to Sri Raghav Pandit Bhavan for Darshan of Sri Nitaichand as per the lila. This Kirtan of Sripad 108 Ram Das Babaji had become legendary among the Gaudiya world. Almost all Gaudiya Vaishnava Acharyya starting from almost all family descendant Goswami's of Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu , Goswamis of Associates of Sri Sri Nitai Gaur, all most all contemporary Vaishnava Saints such as Kanupriya Goswami, Dr. Radha Govinda Nath , whos who of Vaishnava world used to attained the Kirtan to taste the nector of Babaji Mahasaya's akhar with head down with respect. Devotees used to wondered by seeing the divine ecstacy's Asta Sattwik symptoms that used to appeared in Babaji Mahasaya's body. Still those days of Babaji Mahasaya are being relished with great respect and astonishment by family descendant Goswami Prabhupadas of Sri Nityananda Prabhu.

The Akhar Kirtna of Babaji Maharaja was unique in depeciting the Lila of his beloved Nityananda Prabhu and GaurHari.

Gaura Purnima 2011 Report

Hare Krsna!


We would like to extend our heartfelt greetings and well-wishes to all devotees, friends and well-wishers on the occasion of the Gaudiya Vaishnava New Year Day, the Gaura Purnima 2011 which was observed with great pomp and show at the Sri Krishna Mandir on the 19th of March, 2011.


This year kicks off the 525th Gaurabda year. That means it has been 525 years since the appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in this world.

                                                                                             

The festivities started at 7pm and went all the way until about 11pm with a grand Sandhya Arati, Abhishek, cultural show (including a drama on the pastime of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu known as "The deliverance of Jagai and Madhai") and Prasadam. About 200 people attended the festival.


We pray that the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spread far and wide this year and reach new heights. It is our fervent prayer that the doctrine of Lord Caitanya become famous in this world as the genuine platform of real religion. May He engage all of us in this great mission to the best of our abilities.


We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the devotees and well-wishers for their contributions of various kinds in making this festival a success.


Hare Krsna!

Violence aside, it was Lord Krishna’s birthday

KARACHI - While a number of city areas resonated with gunfire, a soft rhythm of flutes filled the air inside a huge compound in Malir. Young men wore makeup and huge flowing robes and danced to the tunes of bhajans. A large number of families also move to the sound of the music.


A representative organisation, Pakistan Hindu Seva (PHS), had organised a festival in Malir on Tuesday where a large number of families gathered to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna, one of the most popular gods in the Hindu pantheon.


With the city disturbed by deadly violence and law enforcers conducting raids, the local Hindu populace celebrated ‘Janmashtami’ – an important festival marking the birth of Hindu god Lord Krishna – with religious zeal and spirit.


Some young men attired in the costumes similar to that worn by Lord Krishna, played the flute depicting the childhood of Krishna.


PHS chairman Sanjesh Kumar told Pakistan Today that despite the worsening law and order situation in the city, the Hindus enjoyed celebrating their festival.


“We also arranged special prayers for the prosperity and restoration of peace in the city,” he added.
On the occasion, sweets and flowers were offered to the statues of Lord Krishna. A pundit also recited mantras from the holy book and special prayers were arranged for the restoration of peace.

Lord Krishna’s birth anniversary celebrated

LAHORE - A celebration was held to commemorate Lord Krishna’s birth by Lahore’s Hindu community at the Neela Gumbad Temple. Prayers were offered in a function attended by members of all four faiths – Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Sikhism. After the function, representatives of all religious communities spoke in favour of inter-religious harmony and offered tribute to the victims of Karachi’s violence.

'No Lord Krishna temple demolished'

A Hindu organisation in Pakistan today said there were land disputes in some of the temples here, but denied that any shrine of Lord Krishna had been demolished in the county's financial hub. "There is a problem of land occupation with some temples particularly with the Swami Narayan temple located around M.A. Jinnah road but otherwise there has been no case of temple demolition," said Dr Ramesh Kumar, the Patron of Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC).


Kumar and General-Secretary of PHC Hari Motwani denied any knowledge of a temple being demolished in the city.


"If something like this happened we would know about it and we would not keep quiet about it," Kumar told PTI.


He said a portion of the land on which Swami Narayan temple was built, dating back to 150 years, was occupied by transporters who used the land to park their vehicles and as a garage.


"We are constantly in touch with the relevant authorities and also with the Evacuee Board on this issue," he said.


An Indian news channel reported today that a Lord Krishna temple had been demolished in Karachi and its 20 acres land occupied by a nationalist party of Sindh.


However, the Chairman of the Evacuee board, Ahmed Hashmi, denied it.


"There is a Krishna Mandir in frère town and it is used by Hindus for their religious rites. There is a small problem over a boundary wall and nothing more," he said.


Motwani said the problems of land occupation often took place as all temples were looked after by the Hindu council while the evacuee board also claimed control over them.


He said the Hindu Council had asked the authorities in Defence Ministry to allot a plot to the council so that they could build a Gurdwara and Mandir there.

Disappearance of Srimad 108 Madhusudan Das Babaji - Mahanta of Sri Pathbari Kolkata - Disciple of Srimad 108 Ram Das Babaji

Sri Sri RadhaRamano Jayati
(Bhaja) Nitai Gour Radhey Shyam
(Japa) Hare Krishna Hare Ram

Jay Nitai,

With deep grief and pain in my heart I am announcing that my Gurudeva, the Mahanta of Sri Pathbari Asram and the backbone of Radharaman Gan, Sri Srimad 108 Madhusudan Das Babaji has left this world to enter the nitya lila on the moring of 17th December, 2007. He was 92 . Previously, he had been suffering from age-related illness and was admitted to the hospital.

A few years after the disappearance of his beloved Gurudeva Sripad 1008 Ram Das Babaji, he started taking care of Pathbari and all its 40+ branches as Mahanta, head of the Asram. Thus Gurudeva has been serving his Gurudeva's mission for more than 60 years. In such way he has been acting as a big banyan tree under which saints and devotees could take secure shelter for their own bhajan process.

Pathbari and its associated branches has been acting as the main back bone of the Gaudiya Vaishnava samaj specially in Bengal and Orissa by maintaining various lila places of Sri Sri Nitai Gour and by conducting various lila festivals like Jhali Samarpan, Gundicha Marjan, Oriya-Gaudiya Milan, Ratha Yatra etc. as started by Sri Sri Radharaman Charan Das Dev. Thus almost all the gaudiya vaishnava paramparas, Goswamis of Nityananda Prabhu Vamsha and Adwaita Prabhu Vamsha, descendants of associates of Sri Sri Nitai Gour take part in all these festivals arranged by Sri Pathbari for years in Bengal, Orissa and Vrindavan. My Gurudeva acted as a dedicated soldier to maintain all these festivals as started by his Guru Varga. Thus he was very well-known and popular within the Gaudiya Vaishnava samaj for years.

Not only the devotee community but also the community of saints has reserved great respect and love for my Gurudeva. The Prabhupadas of 
Nityanand Vamsa and Adwaita vamsha used to give very special respect to him. He was even loved by saints outside the Gaudiya Sampradaya.

PEARLS OF WISDOM - Divine Discourses of Srimat Ramdas Babaji Mahasaya

Why hanker for this and that? You have nothing more to ask for as you have got your Sri Gurudeva. Did you ever imagine in your dreams of your present situation? Think of your self. That would be more than enough. You do not deserve, nor can you demand what you have been endowed with.

Every morning after rising one has to tell the Lord — Make me as you would like to. I should not be a slave of my nature. Whenever you are derailed from your desired path by your material senses you must immediately pray to your Lord — Sri Gurudeva to lead you from your sins and temptations towards salvation. For He has the power to free you from the slavery of your senses. Likewise before going to bed think of your wrong doings. You should be sincere in your efforts to get receive His blessings. By swimming along with the tide you would not get anything.

When you are devoid of devotion you are left with nothing. This applies to both the material world as well as the world of religion. In the material world after we are disillusioned we turn devoted. In the world of religion devotion is must since the beginning. Surrender self. Everything belongs to the Lord.

SRIMAT RAMDAS BABAJI MAHASAYA — Beyond Barriers

Of the many places visited by Babaji Mahasaya during His lifetime. Bankura enjoys an exalted position. Not only Babaji Mahasaya stayed here in long stretches but also quite frequently. He had a huge number of followers and admirers here . They included the common people, the devoted, the intellectuals as well as people from every sphere of life. In the beginning though, Babaji Mahasaya had His share of non-believers, skeptics and antagonists too. Later on these were won over by Babaji Mahasaya's charm. It is not surprising that Bankura was witness to Babaji Mahasaya's unique feats which at times verged on the supernatural.


Bishnupur, a town in Bankura. The venue- Sarvamangala temple on the banks of Lalbandh. (Bandh means an embankment or dam). Here the Holy name " Hare Krishna. Hare Krishna Hare, Hare" was chanted every year for three days continuously as Naam Yagna was performed. Lot of people gathered here for this joyous occasion which was started by the Late Ramrup Bhattacharya. One of the organizers of this occasion was Kaviraj Rishikesh Dasgupta. Babaji Mahasaya was invited to be present on this occasion by His disciple Lalit Bhattacharya. Babaji Mahasaya obliged, by coming to Bishnupur with His entourage. He reached Bishnupur by train at around 3'O'clock in the afternoon.


Babaji Mahasaya along with His group was put at the local girl's school. The school ,was closed for summer vacation. Within half an hour of Babaji Mahasaya reaching Bishnupur a rumor spread that there could be trouble if the Kirtaan procession proceeded to Lalbandh. All the seniors were very much worried. At night Adwaita Das appraised Babaji Mahasaya of the tense situation and advised Him not to visit Lalbandh with the Kirtaan procession.
Babaji Mahasaya was a bit annoyed and irritated. He replied that Kirtaan was neither His nor Adwaita Das's. It belonged to none other than Radharaman ( Bodo baba ). Hence it was their duty to pray to Radharam and to Nitaichand – the founder of Kirtaan , to overcome all hurdles. Nothing more was spoken that night.

Sreepat Bharatpur - Gadadhar Pandit - Nayanananda Mishra - A Review

Sreepat Bharatpur is situated in Kandi Subdivision of District Murshidabad. It consists of nineteen localities. The holy temple of Gadadhar-Nayanananda is Situated at Goswami Para (Western side of Bharatpur).

Gadadhar Pandit is a widely discussed name in the circle of Gaudiya Vaisnava devotees. His father Madhab Mishra used to stay at Beleti village in Chittagong (now in Bangladesh), where Gadadhar was born, on the auspicious new moon in the summer of 1408 (Shakabda). His brother was Baninath.

Gadadhar spent long twelve years in Beleti; he reached Nabadwip when he was thirteen only. He was younger than MAHAPRABHU. Despite that, he became very much intimate with the latter. They used to attend the same school (Path Sala) and always moved together. No force could separate them. Since his boyhood, Gadadhar was very calm and quiet, reasonably patient in nature and devoid of earthly attractions. He liked lonely atmosphere. MAHAPRABHU was exactly opposite in nature. Always pulsatile and bubbling with energy, he somehow chose someone from somewhere for complicated discussions on Nyayashastra and left him perplexed and a laughing stock. Gaddhar, on the contrary, disliked this mock fight and heckling tendency. He occasionally remained aloof from MAHAPRABHU, but the latter never let their bond loose for even a moment. Instead of getting ashamed, he frequently declared "Dear friend, just see, I will soon prove myself to be such an extraordinary devotee that Lord Brahma, Mahewar, and others will come down to find me out".

Gadadhar's intimancy with Mukunda Dutta was similarly beyond description. At that time, learned people from all corners used to conglomerate in Nadia. Some came for practicing higher level of knowledge, some for residing near the Ganges. Mukunda regularly reached these news to Gadadhar One day, Pundarik Vidyanidhi, the zamindar of Chakrashala (Chittagong) came to Nabadwip. Incidentally, some days back, while singing holy Kirtana, MAHAPRABHU had burst into tears, crying "Pundarik my dear, Pundarik, my dear I" His sudden change of temperament made Gadadhar extremely curious. Subsequently, MAHAPRABHU described about Pundarik in details. According to Him, merely uttering or hearing the name of this Brahmin devotee anywhere made the place holy. In his dress and dealings, he appeared to be a high profile familyman, but his devotion for lord Krishna was so pure that "it floats like a life boat even in the midst of a turbulent sea". And to add more, "He never takes bath in the river Ganges, lest his feet touch Her. He pays Her homage at night (because), even the sight of people polluting the holy river with dirt, cause excruciating pain within him". Mukunda and Gadadhar were present there.

Eventually, inquisitive Gadadhar with his friend, met Pundarik. One day but he was stuck dumb with disgust! What sort of Vaishanava this man was, he asked himself! A well nourished physique, lavishly made up with costly garments and perfume! To him, Pundarik appeared to be as aristocrat as a prince, sitting in the midst of admirers! What a Vaishanava! Mukunda would read his hopelesness. Then, to rectify the misconception, he went in front of Pundarik and recited two slokas on SRIKRISHNA from Sri Bhagabata. As soon as it reached his ears, Pundarik's mood got completely changed, as if some eternal force took him over to an entirely differfent state of mind, tears rolled down his cheeks.

Ananda-murti Vaisnavas

Ananda-murti Vaisnavas

An excerpt from The Life of Love:

RADHARAMANA KUNJA: THE MIRACLE OF MAHAPRASADA

The aforementioned Babu purchased a Math in Puri. The Math was named Radharamana Kunja after the name of the deities installed there. It was situated in a secluded place, where the environment was peaceful, and Babaji Mahashaya often lived in it. One day he called Navadwip Das Babaji and said, "Navadwip, go and invite some ananda-murti Vaishnavas for the prasada of Radharamana."

Navadwip Das was surprised, because Babaji Mahashaya used to say that all Vaishnavas were by nature ananda-murti, that is, they were the very image of ananda. Why then, he thought, did he specify the ananda-murti Vaishnavas? Obviously, he wanted to invite some special category of Vaishnavas. Navadwip Das, who was one with Babaji Mahashaya in thought, word and deed, however, did not lose time in understanding which class of Vaishnavas he wanted to be invited, and said, "The Vaishnavas have been invited." "What?" said Babaji, "You have not yet gone anywhere. How have the Vaishnavas been invited?" "The Vaishnavas were invited the moment you desired them to be invited!" replied Navadwip. This was the conversation between the two siddha-mahapurushas. Each understood what the other meant, but no one else could under-stand it. Babaji added, "Some sweets, curd and pattals will also be required. But you need not bother about that, Nitai will arrange for everything."

GauriDas Pandit And SriPat Ambika kalna in Dist Burdwan West Bengal

The river Ganges occupies the pride of the place. Situated on its banks is Ambika –Kalna. In all probability it was previously known as Ambika only. Mention of Ambika is found in Ain –e–Akbari authored by Abul Fazl the renowned courtier of Mughal Emperor, Akbar. Under the Satgaon Sarkar from 1582 A.D there were 53 Parganas and Ambika's name figured first on the list. Ambika and Kalna were close to each other and a large portion of the sub division of Kalna being within the periphery of Ambika. Pargana, at one time Ambika became more prominent. Later Ambika became subdued and Kalna was well known, so much so that even the rail station was named Kalna Court.With the spin of the wheel of time it was renamed later as Ambika-Kalna.


One of the DWADASA GOPALS and a close associate of SRI CHAITANYA and NITYANANDA PRABHU was Gouridas. After taking permission from his elder brother Suryadas, he shifted his residence from his native place Shaligram to Kalna. At that time the area was more popularly known as Ambika. This fact is authenticated by the famous historical treatise on Gaudiya Vaishnavism "BHAKTIRATNAKAR" penned during the middle ages. Muragacha is a rail station on the Eastern Railway on the Sealdah – Berhampore Court line. From Muragacha one proceeds to Dhan-nada – a small hamlet. On the North East of Dharmada lies Shaligram.


Gouridas's presence at Ambika is also mentioned in " SRI CHAITANYA PARISHAD JANMANIRNAY" and "CHAITANYA SANGITA".


Apart from these three books, Gouridas Pandit's name and his exploits are mentioned in SRI CHAITANYA BHAGWAT, SRI CHAITANYACHARITAMRITA, CHAITANYAMANGAL authored by Jayananda, ADWAITA PRAKAS by ISHAN NAGAR, VAISHNAVA ABHIDHAN, DWADASPAT NIRNAY, ANANTASANHITA, SUBALMANGAL, GOURGANODDESH DIPIKA, BHAKTAMAAL, VAISHNAVAACHAR DARPAAN and VAISHNAVA VANDANA penned by Daibaki Nandan. Gouridas Pandit also finds mention in Brindaban Das Thakur's VAISHNAVA VANDANA. Incidentally, NITYANANDA PRABHU had profound influence on Brindaban Das Thakur and he was also the last disciple of NITYANANDA PRABHU.

Why Doesn’t God Just Appear so we Can See Him?

Why is it that God does not just manifest Himself? Wouldn’t that end all the disbelief in the Lord? Wouldn’t that end atheism completely? I am trying to comprehend this matter Wouldn’t it be a billion times easier for everyone from devotee to doubter if the Lord just manifested himself today before us all? I am very confused on this matter. I am a believer from faith but am still confused. Your friend, Tom

Dear Tom

Hare Krishna! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I have been well. Thanks for asking.

Your question is a very good one. Why does Krishna not just appear before us.

The thing is we do not have the eyes to see Krishna. Krishna does sometimes appear before us in the material world but only the devotees recognize Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You may think it strange but when Krishna was present on this planet 5000 years ago in India very few people recognized Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He displayed so many pastimes impossible for any human to display. He lifted a great mountain when he was only 5 years old. He fought with and killed so many powerful demons, he was so amazingly beautiful that everyone was attracted by Him. But still most were thinking He was some extraordinarily powerful man, perhaps a demigod.

When Lord Caitanya appeared 500 years ago in India also He was not recognized by many as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He purposely did not manifest the opulence’s of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and acted as a pure devotee of Krishna, not as Krishna Himself.

Prabhupada’s Magic: He Got the Whole World Chanting Hare Krishna! (MP3 Audio 1977 Conversation)

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Throughout the whole world we are chanting Hare Krishna. Is not that magic? Foreign countries, foreign religion, and they are accepting Krishna and chanting Hare Krishna. Is not that magic?

Tamala Krishna: He was asking that… He was hoping that because he had heard that you had some mystical powers, so he was hoping that you could help his situation by demonstrating some of these mystical powers.

Prabhupada: Some magic. Our magic is already there. Throughout the whole world we are chanting Hare Krsna. Is not that magic? Foreign countries, foreign religion, and they are accepting Krsna and chanting Hare Krsna. Is not that magic?

Indian man (1): It is.

Prabhupada: And still more magic? The world is chanting Hare Krsna. Boliye?

yoginam api sarvesam
mad-gatenantar-atmana
sraddhavan bhajate yo mam
sa me yuktatamo matah

He is yogi. There are many varieties of yogis. And Krsna concludes, “Of all the yogis, big, big yogis, the person who is always remembering Krsna and chanting Hare Krsna maha-mantrais first class.” This is said by Krsna, not by me. Therefore it is authorized statement. Without Krsna consciousness, all these mystic powers… They may be temporarily some magic, but Krsna says that “One who is always remembering Me,” satatam kirtayanto mam yatantas ca drdha-vratah, “he is first-class yogi.” So all these persons who are chanting Hare Krsna according to the prescribed rules and regulations, without any offense… There are ten kinds of offenses. So in the beginning there may be offenses. It doesn’t matter. It will be rectified. Offenseless chanting means mukti, and then pure chanting means love of Godhead. There are three stages. In the beginning, when one begins chanting, it is not pure. There are so many offenses. But chanting, chanting, the offenses become purified. Offenseless chanting is not purified completely, but it is offenseless. So offenseless chanting makes one liberated, and then pure chanting makes one lover of God. This is the process. So chanting is definite mystic power. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has recommended, ceto-darpana-marjanam: “By chanting, your heart becomes purified.” Ceto-darpana. We are suffering in this material world on account of… (background talking) (aside:) Ask him not to talk loudly. On account of impurities… (aside:) What is the use of talking? The first impurity is identifying… (aside:) Stop him. Don’t talk at all.

Indian man (1): It is one gentle…, one person. He says, “I am Bengali.” And he has got some trouble. He was told that “If you have got any physical trouble, go to the medical practitioners.”

Prabhupada: Yes.

Living With the Devotees (Compilation of Quotes)

One cannot live outside the society of devotees; one must live in the association of devotees, where there is constant chanting and hearing of the glories of the Lord. The Krsna consciousness movement is started for this purpose, so that hundreds of centers may give people a chance to hear and chant, to accept the spiritual master and to disassociate themselves from persons who are materially interested, for in this way

SB 1.5.28 P Narada’s Instructions on Srimad-Bhagavatam for Vyasadeva
Transcendental loving service for the Supreme Lord is the natural inclination of every living being. The instinct is dormant in everyone, but due to the association of material nature the modes of passion and ignorance cover this from time immemorial. If, by the grace of the Lord and the great-souled devotees of the Lord, a living being becomes fortunate enough to associate with the unadulterated devotees of the Lord and gets a chance to hear the unadulterated glories of the Lord, certainly the flow of devotional service takes place like the flow of a river. As the river flows on till she reaches the sea, similarly pure devotional service flows by the association of pure devotees till it reaches the ultimate goal, namely, transcendental love of God. Such a flow of devotional service cannot stop. On the contrary, it increases more and more without limitation. The flow of devotional service is so potent that any onlooker also becomes liberated from the influence of the modes of passion and ignorance. These two qualities of nature are thus removed, and the living being is liberated, being situated in his original position.

SB 1.19.16 P The Appearance of Sukadeva Gosvami
That a devotee of the Lord is the only perfect living being is explained herein by Maharaja Pariksit. A devotee of the Lord is no one’s enemy, although there may be many enemies of a devotee. A devotee of the Lord does not like to associate with nondevotees, although he has no enmity with them. He desires association with the devotees of the Lord. This is perfectly natural because birds of the same feather mix together. And the most important function of a devotee is to have complete attachment for Lord Sri Krsna, the father of all living beings. As a good son of the father behaves in a friendly way with all his other brothers, so also the devotee of the Lord, being a good son of the supreme father, Lord Krsna, sees all other living beings in relation with the supreme father. He tries to bring back the upstart sons of the father to a saner stage and to get them to accept the supreme fatherhood of God. Maharaja Pariksit was certainly going back to Godhead, but even if he were not to go back, he prayed for a pattern of life which is the most perfect way in the material world. A pure devotee does not desire the company of a personality as great as Brahma, but he prefers the association of a petty living being, provided he is a devotee of the Lord.

SB 3.8.2 P Manifestation of Brahma from Garbhodakasayi Visnu
The sage Maitreya proposed to speak on Srimad-Bhagavatam because it was especially compiled, and traditionally comes down in the disciplic succession, for the solution of all the problems of human society. Only one who is fortunate can have the opportunity to hearSrimad-Bhagavatam in the association of pure devotees of the Lord. Under the spell of material energy, the living entities are entrapped in the bondage of many difficulties simply for the sake of a little bit of material happiness. They engage in fruitive activities, not knowing the implications. Under the false impression that the body is the self, the living entities foolishly relate to so many false attachments. They think that they can engage with materialistic paraphernalia forever. This gross misconception of life is so strong that a person suffers continually, life after life, under the external energy of the Lord. If one comes in contact with the book Bhagavatam as well as with the devotee bhagavata, who knows what the Bhagavatam is, then such a fortunate man gets out of the material entanglement. Therefore Sri Maitreya Muni, out of compassion for the suffering men in the world, proposes to speak on the Srimad-Bhagavatam first and last.

The Art of Living (Mayapura 1977 Srimad Bhagavatam MP3 Audio Class)

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We have to train up the mind until we get the another body. That is the art of living. So if you train up your mind simply to think of Krishna then you are safe. Otherwise there is chance of accident…

Prabhupada:

sri prahlada uvaca
brahmadayah sura-gana munaya ‘tha siddhah
sattvaikatana-gatayo vacasam pravahaih
naradhitum puru-gunair adhunapi pipruh
kim tostum arhati sa me harir ugra-jateh

So ugra-jateh means demonic family, passionate. Ugra. There are three qualities within this material world. Therefore it is said guna-mayi. Daivi hy esa guna-mayi. Guna-mayi means threegunas, three modes of material nature: sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna. So our mind is jumping. Everyone knows the nature of the mind, sometimes accepting one thing, again rejecting it, sankalpa-vikalpa. This is the quality of the mind or nature of the mind. Sometimes the mind is jumping over sattva-guna, sometimes on the rajo-guna, and sometime on thetamo-guna. In this way we are getting different types of mentality. In this way, at the time of death the mentality which is just at the moment of leaving this body will carry me to a different body of sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. This is the way of transmigration of the soul. Therefore we have to train up the mind until we get the another body. That is the art of living. So if you train up your mind simply to think of Krishna then you are safe. Otherwise there is chance of accidents. Yam yam vapi smaran bhavam tyajaty ante kalevaram. At the time of leaving this body, if we have not practiced the mind to fix up at the lotus feet of Krsna, then there is… (break) A particular type of body we get.

So Prahlada Maharaja, although he does not belong to this platform of mental speculation… He is nitya-siddha. He has no chance because he’s always thinking of Krsna. (loud electrical noise) (aside:) What is that? Sa vai manah… Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayor. Practice this very simple thing. Krsna is here. We see the Deity daily and see the lotus feet of Krsna. Fix up your mind in that way. Then you are safe. Very simple thing. Ambarisa Maharaja, he was also a great devotee. He was king, very responsible person, politics. But he practiced in such a way that he fixed up his mind on the lotus feet of Krsna. Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayor vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane. This practice. Don’t talk nonsense. (noise again) (aside:) What is the trouble? Take out.

So mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. We can learn Krsna consciousness perfectly well if we follow the mahajanas. Mahajana means great personality who are devotees of the Lord. They are called mahajanas. Jana means person. Just like in ordinary way, in India a person is calledmahajana who is very rich. So this mahajana means one who is rich in devotional service. He is called mahajana. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. So we have got Ambarisa Maharaja. We have got Prahlada Maharaja. There are many, many kings–Yudhisthira Maharaja, Pariksit Maharaja–they are rajarsi. So Krsna consciousness, actually, it is meant for very great personalities.

imam vivasvate yogam
proktavan aham avyayam
vivasvan manave prahur
manur iksvakave ‘bravit

Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh. Actually, sastra is not for the loafer class. For highly learned brahmanas and highly elevated ksatriyas. And the vaisyas and the sudras, they are not expected to become very learned in sastra, but, being directed by proper brahmanaand ksatriya, they are also perfect. The first perfect class, munayo, as it is said, sattvaikatana gatayo munayo, “Great sages…” Generally, “great sages” means brahmanas, Vaisnavas. They are situated on the sattva-guna by devotional service. Rajas, tamo-guna cannot touch them.Nasta-prayesv abhadresu nityam bhagavata-sevaya. The bhadra and abhadra, good and bad… So the rajo-guna and tamo-guna is bad, and sattva-guna is good. If we are situated, as it is said, sattvaikatana-gatayo… If you are always situated on the sattva-guna, then everything is clear to be done. Sattva-guna means prakasa. Everything is clear, full knowledge. And rajo-guna is not clear. The example is given: just like the wood. There is fire, but the first symptom of fire, wood, you’ll find smoke. When you set fire in the wood, first of all smoke comes. So smoke… First of all wood, then smoke, then fire. And from fire, when you engage the fire for fire sacrifice, that is the ultimate. Everything coming from the same source, from earth… The wood is coming from wood, the smoke is coming from smoke, the fire is coming… And fire, when engaged in fire sacrifice–svaha–then it is proper use of fire. If one stays in the wood platform, that is completely forgetfulness. When one stays in the smoke platform, there is little light. When one is staying in fire platform, then full light. And when the light is engaged in Krsna’s service, that is perfect. We have to understand like that.

WATER — This Taste is Krishna!

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“O son of Kunti, Arjuna, I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras. I am the sound in ether and ability in man.”

Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.) Translation: “O son of Kunti, Arjuna, I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras. I am the sound in ether and ability in man.”

Prabhupada:

raso ‘ham apsu kaunteyaprabhasmi sasi-suryayohpranavah sarva-vedesusabdah khe paurusam nrsu

This is all-pervasive nature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We should mark the important word in this verse: aham. Aham means the person. Krsna never says that “I am imperson.” Imperson is the feature of Krsna. Just like in the Ninth Chapter, Krsna says, maya tatam idam sarvam jagad avyakta-murtina. Maya, “I am all-pervasive by My energy.”

We have already explained that Krsna has multi-energies. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate.That is the Vedic version, that the Absolute Truth, Supreme Person, has got multi-energies. In the Visnu Purana also: whatever we are experiencing, that is simply Krsna’s energy. Just like we can experience the heat and light from the sun. We can understand the constitution of the sun globe. Although we are ninety-three million miles, away from the sun, but by his energy, heat and light, we can understand what is the sun. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, He has got multi-energies. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate.

na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyatena tat-samas cabhyadhikas ca drsyateparasya saktir vividhaiva sruyatesvabhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca

This is the version of Upanisad. He has nothing to do. Na tasya karyam. Why? And because…Na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate na tat-samas cabhyadhikas ca drsyate. And nobody is equal to Him. Neither greater than Him. And He hasn’t got to do anything because He has got so many energies. Svabhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca. Everything is being done by His energy very perfectly.

So His energy is working even in the water. You can perceive His energy within the water. We are daily using water. We are tasting water. So you can perceive Krsna’s presence, Krsna’s all-pervasiveness, even while you drink water. Every one of us, we drink water. And… So the taste of the water, Krsna says, “Here I am.” This is impersonal feature, but the person is behind. Mayadhyaksena prakrtih. Water is one of the products of this material nature, but behind this existence of water is Krsna. Then you can understand Krsna. You try to understand by studying His energy. Therefore Krsna is describing that “Although you cannot see Me just now…” Because in the preliminary stage nobody can see Krsna, although Krsna is present everywhere. Andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham. He is present within the atom. But it requires the qualified eyes to see Him or purified senses to perceive Him.

Animal Expertise [MP3 Audio Conversation]

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There are many experts from the lower-grade creatures. Ant hill. You are spending so much money for skyscraper building. The ant, they construct big hill as their residential quarters.

Prabhupada: (referring to ants) Just see. One second, thousands came.

Bhakti-caru: (Bengali)

Prabhupada: How quickly they come! Just see. And wherefrom they get out of?

Tamala Krsna: Yeah, how do they find out about it? That’s what I don’t understand.

Prabhupada: That they know.

Tamala Krsna: They were all over, and the medicine was up here.

Prabhupada: Come just like magic, they come.

Tamala Krsna: Yeah, how is it? I can’t understand it. I really don’t understand it.

Giriraja: Acintya-sakti.

Tamala Krsna: It must be Supersoul telling them…

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: …that there’s something here. Do they smell it? No.

Prabhupada: Anyway, they are also living entities like us. Whenever there is some sense of enjoyment, they flock together.

Tamala Krsna: They are (indistinct).

Prabhupada: They are expert more than us. You cannot go. Suppose there is one lakh of rupees downstairs. You can get it. You cannot go in one minute. They can do.

Tamala Krsna: So they’re better than us?

Prabhupada: They’re expert. Suppose if I, if somebody informs that “In the corner of the temple there is one lakh of rupees. Somebody has left,” you cannot go in one minute. It will take at least ten minutes. But here it is kept–immediately. So how much expert they are. Just imagine. So why you are so proud that you are scientist, you are expert? You nothing.

Tamala Krsna: Here they come again.

The Final Order–A Very Misleading Paper

Krishna Kant has completely misrepresented the teachings of Srila Prabhupada on one specific point. He has attempted to prove Srila Prabhupada did not intend any of his disciples to become initiating gurus, ever. This is his unique addition to the ritvik philosophy. He has attempted to prove this point by selectively quoting from Srila Prabhupada and using much word jugglery.


My intention in this article is not to enter into the politics of the guru issue or give my own opinions or the opinions of any group of followers of Srila Prabhupada. My interest is to simply present the actual teachings of Srila Prabhupada on a specific point. The reason for this presentation is in his paper, "The Final Order," Krishna Kant has completely misrepresented the teachings of Srila Prabhupada on one specific point.


Krishna Kant has attempted to prove that Srila Prabhupada did not intend any of his disciples to become diksa [initiating] gurus, ever. This is his unique addition to the ritvik philosophy. He has attempted to prove this point by selectively quoting from Srila Prabhupada and using much word jugglery. This rather bizarre philosophy is unique to Krishna Kant and his few followers. It is not shared by the general body of the followers of Srila Prabhupada.


We have on a number of occasions presented clear irrefutable evidence of Srila Prabhupada issuing specific orders to his disciples on become qualified diska gurus. However Krishna Kant is not prepared to even consider Srila Prabhupada’s direct instructions on the matter and accept that the conclusion of his paper, "There is no evidence of Srila Prabhupada issuing specific orders for his disciples to become diksa gurus," is completely false and a complete misrepresentation of the teachings of Srila Prabhupada.


761210DB.HYD Lectures
So we got this information from His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and that knowledge is still going on. You are receiving through his servant. And in future the same knowledge will go to your students. This is called parampara system. Evam parampara prap… It is not that you have become a student and you’ll remain student. No. One day you shall become also guru and make more students, more students, more. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission, not that perpetually… Yes, one should remain perpetually a student, but he has to act as guru. That is the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is not that because I am acting as guru, I am no longer student. No, I am still student. Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught us this instruction that we shall always remain a foolish student before our Guru Maharaja. That is the Vedic culture. I may be very big man, but still, I should remain a foolish student to my guru. That is the qualification. Guru more murkha dekhi’ karila sasana. We should be always prepared to be controlled by the guru. That is very good qualification. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah. Ara na kariha mane asa. So we should become always a very obedient student to our guru. That is the qualification. That is the spiritual qualification.

Please do not Kill Your Guru (October 1976 MP3 Audio Class)

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There is one Bengali proverb, guru-mara-vidya, Guru, you learn from him first of all, then kill him. Don’t care for guru. This is demonic. By the grace of guru you learn something. Then when you learn something, then you become greater than him, don’t care for guru. This is demonic. Even if you have learned something, you must feel always obliged. Don’t learn guru-mara-vidya. Even if you become more learned that

Pradyumna: “It was by Dronacarya’s mercy that you learned the military art of throwing arrows and the confidential art of controlling weapons.”

Prabhupada:

sarahasyo dhanur-vedahsavisargopasamyamahastra-gramas ca bhavatasiksito yad-anugrahat

This is also another Vedic civilization, that if you are benefited by somebody, you should always remain obliged to him. Siksito yad-anugrahat. There is one Bengali proverb, guru-mara-vidya. “Guru, you learn from him first of all, then kill him. Don’t care for guru.” This is demonic. By the grace of guru you learn something. Then when you learn something, then you become greater than him, don’t care for guru. This is demonic. Even if you have learned something, you must feel always obliged, atah padarsayat(?).

So this is Vedic civilization. Draupadi advising Arjuna that “You have learned. Feel always obliged,” atah padarsayat. So this is Vedic… “This military art, by his grace, by guru’s grace, now you are expert in the science of military art. And suppose his son has committed some sinful activity. You cannot punish him, retaliate, so that guru’s family will be aggrieved.” This is Vedic culture. Not only he is personally, but in his absence, his wife, his family, you should consider them. So there is nothing about… What is the purport? Read.

MP3 Audio Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.6 Vrndavana, 1975

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In the beginning, in that Second Avenue, 26, when our morning prayer was going on, at seven, not very early, and so many other tenants, half-naked… Mr. Judah was our landlord. Mr. Judah, what is this going on? What is going on? Stop it. Stop it. Stop. So Mr. Judah used to say, No, no, they’ll not stop. I cannot say. You go to the police. So sometimes police were coming

Harikesa: “Every human being’s duration of life is maximum one hundred years. Out of these one hundred years, persons who cannot control the senses misuse half of them. Therefore such persons’ duration of life is fifty years. The other balance, fifty years, is completely lost because at night he sleeps eight to twelve hours.”

Prabhupada:

pumso varsa-satam hy ayus
tad-ardham cajitatmanah
nisphalam yad asau ratryam
sete ‘ndham prapitas tamah

Now, ayur-vyayah. Prahlada Maharaja has already explained how these foolish persons are simply wasting time for economic development: “I shall get money, and with money, dharma, artha, kama, I shall satisfy my senses.” This is going on, dharmartha-kama. Nobody is trying for moksa. Dharma-artha… They come to the temple just to become a dharmi, but the real purpose is: “My dear Lord, I am very poor man. Please give me some money.” Dharma, artha.And what he will do with money? Kama: “I shall satisfy my senses.” This is going on.

So Krishna gives them. Ye yatha mam prapadyante. It is not that Krsna does not give… Krsna satisfies always. For this reason, it is recommended that even if you have got some lusty desires to fulfill, still, you go to Krsna and He will satisfy it. Don’t go to other demigods.Kamais tais tair hrta-jnana yajanty anya-devatah. Generally people go to other demigod for fulfilling their lusty desires: “Mother, Goddess Kali, I am very great devotee of you. Kindly allow me to eat meat.” That’s all. Mother says, “All right, bring one black goat and offer me and then take prasadam.” This is meant for the meat-eaters. The purpose is to restrain him. Instead of purchasing meat from the slaughterhouse, the sastra says, “All right, you meat eat in this way.” This is restriction. This is not indulgence. Loke vyavaya-amisa-madya-seva nityastu jantuh nahi tatra codanah. To eat meat, to have sex life, amisa-madya-seva, and to drink intoxication, these things are naturally there, so why sastra should encourage them? “Yes, you can eat meat by offering puja, worship to Goddess Kali.” “Yes, you may have sex life by marrying.” In this way, they’re sastras. They are mentioned. But this is not encouraging. This is restraining, that if he is not married, he will enjoy sex life like cats and dogs. Therefore sastra says, “All right, don’t become cats and dog. Become a human being and get married and have your sex life under restrain.” Similarly, “If you are raksasa–you want to eat meat–don’t eat like raksasa. Better offer a goat to be sacrificed before Goddess Kali.” This is sastra. Because the goat will be benefited. Because it is offering his life before Goddess Kali, he will immediately get the body of human being, immediately promotion. He is benefited, and he has the right to kill this man. These are the injunction in the sastras.