Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada avirbhava mahotsava ki jaya

[Paramananda das]

dear devotees

Please accept my humble obaisences

All glories to Srila  Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada

When ever I think of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada two things come to mind, the Vyasa pujas offerings of Srila  AC Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada to his GuruMaharaja . Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupadas contribution to this world was very great, his real gift to this world was his uncompromising preaching that all devotees should chant 64 rounds..he also gave the Brhad Mrdanga distribution of transcendental literatures,and many writings.



Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada:

"bhagavad-bhakta matrei pratyaha laksha-nama grahana karibena natuva vividha visaye asakta haiya bhagavad-seva karite asamartha haibena."

The Lord continued-"Those who consider themselves devotees of the Lord must compulsorily chant 100,000 names of Krishna everyday otherwise they will gradually but surely become attached to varieties of sense-objects and thus become incapable to rendering any kind of service to the Lord."


Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada:

tajjanyai shri chaitanyadevera ashrita sakalai nyuna kalpe laksha-nama grahana kariya thakena. natuva gaurasunderera udeshya pradatta naivedya tini grahana karibena na.

(Shrila Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada continues) "Therefore all the devotees who have taken shelter of Lord Chaitanyadeva perform the chanting of a minimum of 100,000 names of Krishna daily as their first and primary duty. Because they know that if they don't do so then Lord Gaurasundera will never accept the very bhoga (naivedya) which they cook for Him daily.


(122) "se janera nama ami bali 'lakshesvara'
tatha bhiksha amara, na yai anya ghara."

"Lord Gauranga continued-I call such a person a laksheshvara. I only accept meals in such a person's house. I never go anywhere else."

Purport by Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada:

shri chaitanya bhaktagana abhaktera sahita sambhashana karena na. jini bhaktivyatita karma, jnana o anyabhilashara kathaya pradatta tahara sahita bandhutva karibe na.

"The devotees of Lord Shri Chaitanya never talk with such non-devotees. They never do friendship with those who are engaged in the cultivation of karma, jnana or other desires which are devoid of bhakti.



pratyah laksha-nama grahana na karile patita vyaktiganera visaya-bhoga pravritti vriddhi paya, takhana ara tahara shri gaurasunderarera seva karite pare na.

"Those who don't accept this vow of chanting 100,000 names daily, fall down even more although they were fallen in the first place (due to the contamination of Kali-yuga). Thus their propensity for enjoying the senses and sense-objects continually and steadily increases and ultimately they are not able to render any kind of service even to the most merciful Lord Gaurasundera.


lakshesvara vyatita gaura-bhaktira adarsa gaudiyajana kehai svikara karena na.

"This is the precise reason why the real Gaudiya-bhaktas do not accept any other ideal (adarsa) in Gaura-bhakti or Krishna-bhakti except the process of chanting 100,000 names of the maha-mantra daily.


Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada:

adhapatita va adhapete gana eka-matra bhajana-sabda-vacya shri-nama-bhajane vimukhata-vasata laksha-nama grahana karibara parivarte anya bhajanera chalana korena, taddvara tahadera kona mangala haya na.

"Those spiritual aspirants who are already fallen or will fall down from spiritual life in the future are averse to this sole means of deliverance called nama-bhajana, which is the worship of the sound incarnation of God in the form of chanting 100,000 names of the the Holy Names daily. Coming under the sway of their averseness to chant laksha-nama daily, they duplicitously invent (chalana) other means of devotional service (bhajana) to justify their not chanting 100,000 names daily but it is to be clearly understood that by this action they will not achieve anything auspicious (mangala) in their spiritual life."



Shri Chaitanya-bhagavata Madhya Khanda 15.5,

ushah kale ganga-snana kariya nirjane;
dui laksha krishna-nama laya pratidine.

Purport by Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada:

kathita ache, shri haridasa thakura pratyaha tina-laksha nama grahana karitena. jagai-madhai u pratyaha dui laksha nama grahana karitena. yanhara pratyaha laksha nama grahana karena na, tanhadera nivedita kona vastui shri chaitanyadeva grahana karena na. shri caitany-carananucara-gana pratyaha atyalpa pakshe laksha-nama grahana avasyei kariya thakena, natuva shri krishna tanhadera naivedya grahana na karaya bhagavad-ucchishta praptira vicare vyaghat ghate.

"It is well-known that Namacharya Shrila Haridasa Thakura used to chant 300,000 names daily. Jagai-Madhai also used to chant 200,000 names daily after being delivered by the Lord. Lord Chaitanyadeva does not accept any kind of offering (or vastu) from those who don't chant 100,000 names of Krishna daily, The followers surrendered to the lotus of Lord Chaitanya compulsorily chant a bare minimum of 100,000 names daily. If they don't do so Lord Shri Krishna will not accept any of their offerings and thus they will be obstructed or remain unsuccessful in their attempt to obtain the transcendental remanants (prasadam) of the Lord



Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada made his main temple in Mayapure at the former house of Chandasekhara, Caitanya Sarasvati Matha.At this sacred place Lord Caitanya once assumed the form of a Universal mother and breastdfed all the Bhaktas ,this inconcivabel pastime for mundane logic is described in Caitanya Bhagavata.This is very far away from the understanding of the neophyte devotee,

To understand Lord Caitanya and His pure devotees is not possible for ordinary persons.Jagannatha das babaji once asked for prasadam from the bangis in Vrindavan, they sweep the streets and sometimes eat pigs.But he had a vision that some of the Bhangis had been great Sages and Munis begging Radha Krsna for such a position in Vraja Dhama.Many local Vrijabasis was finding much faults due to their external vision, so to save them from offences Lord Caitanya ordered Jagannatha das babaji to go to Koladvipa.There daily he would give his prasadam first to some local Dhama puppies and after they ate from his plate then only would he take prasadam.In this way he showed us to have love for all residents of the holy Dham.

Srila Sridhara Swami has written a beautiful prayer to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada that is sung daily in many Gaudiya Maths on the instruction of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada.

http://bvml.org/bhajans/Agnideva/index.html this bhajan is here sung by Agnideva Prabhu under rare bhajans



Sri Prabhupada-Padma Stava



Prayer to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada's Lotus Feet



by Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Gosvami



[Note: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was so pleased with this offering

that he ordered it to be sung in all his mathas daily. This poem exhibits a

remarkable rhyme scheme, the second to last syllable always begins the next

line. It also reveals a deep siddhantic understanding of the mission of

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta.]



sujanarbuda-radhita-pada-yugam

yuga-dharma-dhurandhara-patra-varam

varadabhaya-dayaka-pujya-padam

pranamami sada prabhupada-padam (1)



O Srila Prabhupada, your beautiful lotus feet are cherished by millions and

millions of the purest and most qualified devotees, and you are the most

competent personality to preach the recognized process for this era. Your

sacred lotus feet are adorable, as they openly grant fearlessness and bestow

the highest benediction to all living entities. I eternally offer my

respects unto that charming effulgence that shines from the radiant lotus

toe-tips of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada.



bhajanorjjita-sajjana-sangha-patim

patitadhika-karunikaika-gatim

gati-vancita-vancakacintya-padam

pranamami sada prabhupada-padam (2)



You shine forth as the natural leading monarch among the high class of

devotees, and you are the exclusive, ultimate aim of the truly fallen due to

your far-reaching merciful embrace. Your inconceivable lotus feet bestow

full shelter for the cheaters and the cheated.



ati-komala-kancana-dirgha-tanum

tanu-nindita-hema-mrnala-madam

madanarbuda-vandita-candra-padam

pranamami sada prabhupada-padam (3)



Your divine figure is so graceful and delicate, your skin so soft, and your

towering form so radiant and golden. Your overwhelmingly beautiful

appearance mocks the pride of golden lotus stems as countless Cupids offer

their humble respects to your lotus toes which are like glowing white petals

of the radiant moon.



nija-sevaka-taraka-ranji-vidhum

vidhutahita-hunkrta-simha-varam

varanagata-balisa-sanda-padam

pranamami sada prabhupada-padam (4)



LIke the charming moon which pleases its orbiting stars, you are surrounded

by your intimate disciples and are fulfilling their hearts' desires. Your

lion-like roar causes the envious to tremble and quickly flee while your

tender toes gracefully bestow the ultimate benefit for the innocent.



vipuli-krta-vaibhava-gaura-bhuvam

bhuvanesu vikirtita gaura-dayam

dayaniya-ganarpita-gaura-padam

pranamami sada prabhupada-padam (5)



You have widely spread the glories of Sri Gauranga's holy abode, Sri

Mayapura-dhama, and you have openly declared the nature of Sri Caitanya

MAhaprabhu's mercy throughout the universe. Your graceful personality has

planted the lotus of Gauranga's holy feet in the hearts of your deserving

servitors.



cira-gaura-janasraya-visva-gurum

guru-gaura-kisoraka-dasya-param

paramadrta-bhakti-vinoda-padam

pranamami sada prabhupada-padam (6)



As the universal holy master you are the eternal refuge for Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu's devotees. You are always dedicated to serving your holy master

Srila Gaurakisora, and you are a careful servant of Srila Bhaktivinoda

Thakura's lotus feet.



raghu-rupa-sanatana-kirti-dharam

dharani-tala-kirtita-jiva-kavim

kaviraja-narottama-sakhya-padam

pranamami sada prabhupada-padam (7)



The intense magnitude of your devotion allows you a glorious position within

that intimate group of Raghunatha dasa, Sanatana and Rupa Gosvamis. Your

happy and elevated philosophical conceptions have crowned and seated you

along with the esteemed personality, Srila Jiva Gosvami. And you share

friendly relations with Krsnadasa Kaviraja and Narottama dasa, being as dear

to them as their very own lives.



krpaya hari-kirtana-murti-dharam

dharani-bhara-haraka-gaura-janam

janakadhika-vatsala-snigdha-padam

pranamami sada prabhupada-padam (8)



You serve the living entities by mercifully revealing your divine

personality as the embodiment of hari-kirtana, and by so doing, eliminate

the offenses which burden the earth. Your loving disposition to the

followers of Gauranga Mahaprabhu is more affectionate than even a father.



saranagata-kinkara kalpa-tarum

taru-dhik-krta-dhira-vadanya-varam

varadendra-ganarcita-divya-padam

pranamami sada prabhupada-padam (9)



Just like a transcendental desire tree, you fulfill all the desires of the

Lord's unalloyed servants. Your firm and patient nature insults the tolerant

disposition of a tree, what to speak of your benevolence. The purity of your

divine lotus feet attracts the worship of the great demigods like Durga-devi

and Indra.



parahamsa-varam paramartha-patim

patitoddharane-krta-vesa-yatim

yati-raja-ganaih parisevya-padam

pranamami sada prabhupada-padam (10)



Being the storehouse-keeper of life's highest wealth, pure krsna-prema, you

surpass all the other great maha-bhagavata devotees! Simply to rescue the

fallen souls, you accepted the dress of a renunciate. Hence, your divine

lotus feet are adorable in every respect for the greatest stalwart

sannyasis.



vrsabhanu-suta-dayitanucaram

caranasrita-renu-dharas-tam-aham

mahad-adbhuta-pavana-sakti-padam

pranamami sada prabhupada-padam (11)



Since you are an exclusive servitor of Vrsabhanu-nandini Srimati Radhika, my

bold aspiration is to take full shelter as a minute atomic particle of that

shining dust that clings to your beautiful lotus feet. Your wonderful sakti

can deliver the whole world. I eternally offer my respects unto that

charming effulgence that shines forth from the radiant lotus toe-tips of

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada!



Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada avirbhava mahotsava

ki-jaya



There is also another Kirtana also found sung by Agnideva under the same link.



Jaya Sacinandana suramuni vandana
Composed by Srila Bhakti-rasksaka Sridhara Maharaja

jay sacinandana sura-muni-vandana
bhava-bhaya-khandana jayo he
jay hari-kirttana narttana varttana
kalimala-karttana jayo he
All glories to Sri Krsna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the son of Sacidevi. Great sages and demigods always sing His praise, for by doing so, the fear of repeated birth and death is cut to pieces. All Glories to the kirttan of the Holy Name of Krsna, for when one chants the Holy Name of Krsna and dances in ecstasy, the filth of this iron age of Kali disappears.
nayana-purandara visvarupa snehadhara
visvambhara visvera kalyana
jay laksmi-visnupriya visvambhara priyahiya
jaya priya kinkara isana
Sri Chaitanya delights all eyes with His charming beauty. He is the most dearly beloved Lord of all and the intimate brother of Visvarupa. He brings the highest auspiciousness to everyone, for He floods the entire universe
with the nectar of love of Godhead and thus saves all living beings. All glories to Laksmipriya and Visnupriya Devi, who are very dear to Sri Nimai Pandit. All glories to their family servant, Isana.
sri sita-advaita-ray malini-srivasa jay
jay candrasekhara acaryya
jay nityananda ray gadadhara jay jay
jaya haridasa namacaryya
All glories to Sita Thakurani and Sri Advaita Acharyya, all glories to Malini-devi and Srivasa Thakura, and all glories to Acharyya Chandrasekhara. All glories to Srila Nityananda Prabhu, Gadadhara Pandit and Haridasa Thakura, the Namacharyyas.
murari mukunda jay premanidhi mahasaya
jaya jata prabhu parisad
vandi savakara paya adhamere krpa hoy
bhakti saparsada-prabhupad
All glories to Murari Gupta, and all glories to Mukunda Datta. All glories to all the other eternal associates of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. By singing the glories of Srila Prabhupada all those great souls who are eternal associates of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, even the lowest of men can obtain the highest treasure of love



I offer my obaisences to the beautiful lotusfeet of Nayana Manjari (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupadas spiritual form) and remember his holy Samadhi at the house at Chandrasekhara Acarya.(Caitanya Sarasvati Matha)

..may Nayana Manjari cast her glance on this fallen soul, and bless me with chanting the holy name without offences...may the instruction left by her http://www.bvml.org/SBSST/ become my life and soul.Srila Prabhupada has stated if we distribute books we will please his Guru Maharaja.I pray I may be abel to always serve him and His Guru Maharaja eternally purely for their pleasure.Please kindly give me your blessings to do so.. vancha-kalpa-tarubhyash ca kripa-sindhubhya eva ca....

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada left this world while listening to Sri Rupa Manjari pada....

vaisnava das anu das

Paramananda  das



I believe this pranama mantra by BS Govinda Maharaja will make the devotees very happy:



nama om visnupadaya krsna-presthaya bhutale
svami sri bhaktivedanta prabhupadaya te nama
gurvajnam sirasi-dharyam saktyavesa sva-rupine
hare-krsneti mantrena pascatya-pracya-tarine
visvacarya prabaryaya divya karunya murtaye
sri bhagavata-madhurya-gita-jnana-pradayine
gaura-sri-rupa-siddhanta-sarasvati nisevine
radha-krsna-padambhoja-bhrngaya gurave nama


"I offer my humble obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krsna on this Earth, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. Taking the order of his guru on his head, he became empowered by Nityananda Prabhu to act as a saktyavesa avatara. He distributed the Hare Krsna mantra all over the Eastern and Western world, delivering and uplifting all fallen souls. He is the best of millions of jagat-gurus, because he is the personification of divine mercy. He has distributed the sweet nectar of Srimad-Bhagavatam and the transcendental knowledge of Bhagavad-gita all over the world. He is constantly engaged in exclusive devotional service to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, Srila Rupa Gosvami, and Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. I offer my humble obeisances unto Srila Prabhupada, who is like a bumblebee always tasting the nectar of the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha and Govinda."

(Composed by Swami B.S. Govinda Maharaja)

[Paramananda das]

Sri Nama-sankirtana
by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada
In the very beginning of the Srimad Bhagavatam, in its middle and at its end, we have been repeatedly advised about the efficacy of sri nama-sankirtana. The principle of sri nama-bhajana (loving service to the holy name) is deeply set at the root of the limb of devotion called Mathura-vasa, or sri dhama-vasa - residence in the places of Sri Bhagavan’s pastimes - for these holy places are frequently visited by sadhus who are always engaged in sri nama-sankirtana. Furthermore, the principle of chanting the holy name accompanies the service of sri murti, the transcendental deity, for it is conducted with mantras (incantations) framed with Sri Bhagavan’s names. Thus sri nama-kirtana is glorified above all, and all success is available through it.
We also have the statement from Sri Caitanya-caritamrita (Antya-lila 4.70):

bhajanera madhye srestha nava-vidha bhakti
‘krsna-prema’, ‘krsna’ dite dhare maha-sakti
Among all forms of bhajana (loving service to Sri Krsna) the nine limbs of bhakti are best, for they have the great power to bestow both Krsna-prema and Krsna.
The foremost of these nine types of bhajana, again, is nama-sankirtana. One who chants the holy names without making spiritual offences (aparadhas) is sure to gain the wealth of transcendent love.”

In the Bhakti-sandarbha (273) we find the following statement:

Even if, in Kali-yuga, there is some other form of devotion ordained as duty, that duty should be performed along with the limb of bhakti known as kirtana.

No kind of bhakti - such as residence in Mathura, association with holy saints, service to sri murti or hearing the message of Srimad-Bhagavatam - is complete without sri Krsna nama-kirtana. Only one who gives importance to sri Krsna nama-kirtana above everything else has access to the fruit it bears.

In Sri Hari Bhakti Vilasa (11.137), a verse from an ancient scripture is cited:

yena janma-sataih purvam vasudevah samarcitah
tan-mukhe hari-namani sada tisthanti bharata
The holy names of Sri Hari are always present on the lips of a person who has been properly worshipping Him - Sri Vasudeva Krsna - for hundreds of lives.
Indeed, among all spiritual practices, sankirtana is the best and foremost means of attaining the grace of the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna. Other types of sadhana, or devotional practices, are only worthy of being called sadhana if they favourably assist the performance of sankirtana; otherwise they should be known as obstructions to actual sadhana. Whether one is a child or an old or young man, male or female, learned or illiterate, rich or poor, beautiful or ugly, pious or sinful - regardless of the condition of life someone may be in - there is no spiritual practice for him other than sri Krsna nama-sankirtana.

Kirtana is called sankirtana when many people perform it together. But will it be worthy of the name sankirtana if some worthless people, without any ardour for Sri Bhagavan’s service, come together to shout in unison? It will be true hari-sankirtana when we join the sankirtana of true devotees who are serving Sri Bhagavan according to the principles established in the Vedas and allied sastras. Contrastingly, it is not hari-sankirtana when it is conducted for the prevention of the epidemics of cholera or pox, for prosperity in trade, for gain or for respect and fame. This kirtana is maya-kirtana - chanting within the jurisdiction of the illusory potency.

As long as we do not join the perfect Krsna-kirtana conducted by genuine devotees, maya will delude us in various ways. And if we join the kirtana of the blinded self-deceivers who are not anxious for their true well-being then surely we will not attain our own true well-being. If we follow people who never receive instructions from the true Vaisnavas but just imitate them by decorating their bodies with tulasi beads and other marks, and who shout out what appears to be names of God in external sound alone, we will not find sri hari-nama-sankirtana.

From The Gaudiya [Volume 23, Issue 10] and posted by the Rays of The Harmonist team.

[Paramananda das]

Utilize Every Moment to Attain True Well-being
by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada
Sri Bhagavan has said: “A truly intelligent person should shun evil company but seek the association of holy saints who, with their instructions, gnaw away the knot of our mind’s worldly attachments” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.26.26). This means that for our true well-being we should always accept the guidance of the true guru and not be misled by pseudo gurus. The guru never accepts preya-pantha, the path to pleasure, for he is a follower of sreya-pantha, the path to true well-being. And he instructs his disciples and others to walk along this real path as his own true guru instructed him.
If a disciple asks the guru for permission to drink alcohol, the guru is sure to disapprove and never grant it. When the guru does not indulge the disciple in his prayer for the cravings of his mind, he might dismiss the guru. Such disciples accept only those gurus who are ready to supply fuel to their desire to indulge in sense enjoyment. These days, accepting a guru has become a fashion meant not for the disciple’s true well-being, but for getting one’s sensual pleasures approved of. Like selecting a barber or washer-man, such appointments only satisfy social or family customs.

As soon as Truth is ascertained, it should be ardently put into practice then and there. Since the span of our life is very short, we should not misspend even a moment of what still remains of it in attending to worldly affairs. Rather, we should utilize it to perform our service to Sri Hari. King Khatwanga attained his highest good by engaging in Lord Hari’s service for but one muhurta (forty-eight minutes) and Ajamila by serving Him just at the time of death. The following anecdote illustrates this point:

Sivananda Bhattacharya – by faith a Sakta, or worshipper of goddess Kali, or Durga – sent his son Rama-krsna to purchase some sacrificial animals like goats and buffalos and other necessary articles for the upcoming festival of Durga-puja. When Rama-krsna was returning home after purchasing them, he met Srila Narottama Thakura, a holy saint of the highest order. After Srila Narottama Thakura talked with the youth instructively, the youth’s mind was changed altogether. He let the animals go in order to obtain initiation from the Thakura, and went home empty-handed.

Sivananda was waiting expectantly for his son to return with the goats, buffalos and other articles for Devi-worship. Seeing that he returned without them, he anxiously asked about them. Sri Rama-krsna replied that he had been blessed to have gotten the grace of the illustrious Vaisnava, Srila Narottama. Upon hearing this, his father flared up with excessive wrath and called him a disgrace to the family for accepting a guru who had not taken birth in a brahmana family.

Rama-krsna was fortunate enough that upon hearing the Truth from the mouth of the Thakura Mahasaya he was roused from the worldly mire and at once gave up the duties of this world as deplorable and insignificant in order to engage in the service of Hari.

Since we cannot rely on even the duration of a breath, for it may be our last, we should utilise even this moment for attaining our true well-being. For this end, we should not listen to anyone of this world who might give us contrary advice. In the Srimad Bhagavatam (5.5.18) Sri Rsabhadeva teaches us that “We are encompassed by death, and whoever does not deliver us from it cannot be obeyed as our well-wisher, even if he is a guru (like Sukracarya to Bali), a near relative (like Ravana to Vibhishana), a father (like Hiranyakasipu to Prahlada), a mother (like Kaikeyi to Bharata), a demigod (like Indra to Nanda), or a husband (like the yajnika-brahmanas whose wives were devoted to Sri Krsna). Such was the case with Sri Rama-krsna Bhattacharya, who wisely courted his father’s certain displeasure to secure his true well-being.

Adapted from The Gaudiya [Volume 24, No.10] and posted by the Rays of The Harmonist team.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Paramananda das]

Chant the Transcendental Word to Others or He will be Eclipsed
by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada
We shall be enabled to realise our lasting good if only we place ourselves wholly under the protective guidance of Srila Vyasadeva. Note in particular a verse from one of the Upanisads that tells of having vision of the Golden Lord: “yada pasya pasyate rukmavarnam – The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, appears in a form the colour of molten gold. (Mundaka Upanisad 3.1.3).” Our lasting good will be the repercussion of learning to view that Unlimited Entity by means of transcendental service, which links us to Him, engaging our thoughts in Him and seeking to attain knowledge of Him in loyal pursuance of the teachings of Sri Vyasa.
In the act of listening to discourses about the Transcendental Entity, the faculty of hearing will expand and acquire new powers. The Transcendental Word chanted by Devarsi Narada made His way into the cavity of Srila Vyasadeva’s ear. He was thus enabled to have a vision of the Absolute Personality. Under the influence of the domineering aptitude that prevails in this mundane world, we adopt the cults of hero-worship and apotheosis on the one hand, or, on the other hand, we become anthropomorphists, zoomorphists and the like.1 By being infected with these respective modes of thought, Godhead will surely reveal Himself to us in just the way we chose to embellish Him.

1 Apotheosis refers to declaring a mortal man to be God or a god, and conversely, anthropomorphism in this context indicates the tendency to mistake God as a mortal man (or animal as with zoomorphism).

If we abuse the prerogative of human life, if we choose to consider ourselves to be on an equal footing with Sri Krsna, then we shall fall into the snare of delusion and be consigned to perdition. The consequence of conceitedly supposing oneself to be master in one’s own right has been analysed by Srila Vyasadeva in the verses “ye ’nye aravindaksa – those who approach the platform of liberation egoistically claim to be liberated, but they fall down again by neglecting the lotus feet of the Lord (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.2.32)”, “gyane prayasam – one should give up trying to know Godhead through the empirical process (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.3)”, and “sreyah-sritim bhaktim – the effort of cultivating knowledge that is devoid of bhakti is as useless as beating empty husks of grain (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.4)”. We are truly benefited by listening attentively to these discourses of his.

“Without any delay, Godhead enters the heart of one who constantly and faithfully hears and chants the narrations of His transcendental activities.” Our real good is assured if we have the good fortune to hear the Word of Godhead at the lotus-feet of Sri Guru. The divine master constantly chants the Word of Godhead. He has no other function.

It is imperative that we listen to and accept the Word chanted by Sri Guru and yet, even after we have been enabled to receive the Word issuing from the lotus lips of Sri Guru, we still cannot retain Him for He tends to be eclipsed if He is not chanted to others. If we busy ourselves in any unnecessary pursuit by abstaining from chanting the Word received from Sri Gurudeva, we lose our connection to the eternal entity and render ourselves fit for welcoming sorrow.

tat te ’nukampam su-samiksamano
bhunjana evatma-kritam vipakam
hrid-vag-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te
jiveta yo mukti-pade sa daya-bhak
A person is entitled to the treasure of serving the lotus feet of Godhead, who redeems us of our worldly bondage, if he lives with his heart, speech and body submitted to Him and if, through his good vision, he truly sees the Mercy of Godhead in the sufferings he brought about by his own deeds (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.8).
There is no other way of being delivered from this world. Whatever Godhead does is for our good. We can be redeemed if we behold His Mercy in every event and in every activity. But if we notice any defect in His work, or realise any cruelty therein, it is sure to result in evilness and difficulty.

All my difficulty is due to the fact that I happen to be engrossed in activities other than serving Sri Krsna. If my taste for serving Sri Krsna truly increases day by day, then I shall be blessed indeed. He who engages us in activities of this nature is certainly Sri Gurudeva. The line of genuine gurus consists only of persons who are loyal followers of Sri Vyasadeva.

Just by being touched by my Srila Gurudeva’s lotus feet, I lost all sense of this external world. I do not know if any transcendental agent equal to him in greatness has ever appeared in this world. How may those who are busy with the likes of lust and anger present in this world, ever know him?

From The Gaudiya [Volume 24, Issue 5] and posted by the Rays of The Harmonist team.

[Paramananda das]

The Chanters of the Kirtan of Lord Hari
by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada
The sadhu helps the fallen jiva to regain his natural state of freedom from sin, by the constant service of bringing about the descent of transcendental sound in the form of words uttered by his lips and the mahaprasada in the shape of food that is offered by him to the Lord. The sound uttered by the sadhu and the mahaprasada are not things of this world. They are not identical with ordinary sound or ordinary food which are only means for the gratification of our sensuous appetites. The word of God and mahaprasada cannot be enjoyed, or in other words cannot be used for the gratification of the senses, because they are spiritual. Those who enjoy the kirtana, or any spiritual discourse, or eat the mahaprasada for appeasing hunger or for gratification of the palate are guilty of sacrilegious acts which serve only to prolong the state of sin and ignorance. This is the greatest possible calamity that can befall the human soul. The kirtana of Hari is the constant and natural function of all the faculties of the jiva soul in the state of it's freedom from all affinities with this changeable world. Because the absolute truth is identical with Hari, Hari has to be served exclusively, constantly, and by all the faculties of the soul. The only function of the voice is to chant the kirtana of Hari, which is identical with and inseparable from the simultaneous service of Hari by all the other senses. One who does not employ his voice constantly and exclusively in chanting the kirtana of Hari has no access to the service of Hari by any other faculty.
The kirtana of Hari has therefore to be chanted by being humbler than a blade of grass. There can be no trace of worldly vanity. There can be no seeking after any worldly advantage. The only object should be to please Lord Hari.

The absolute truth is a living person and not an abstract principle. He has the power of communicating His commands to us and expressing His approval and disapproval of our activities. No one can understand His command who does not fully submit to Him.

The absolute truth is not anything limited or partial; neither can it be divided. It is not dependent on any condition except itself. It is always one and the same. Listening to or chanting of it is always and necessarily beneficial, being the natural function of the soul. Any other view of its nature will stand in the way of that perfect humility, the outcome of absolute submission which is the indispensable condition of its realization.

A chanter of the kirtana of Hari is necessarily the uncompromising enemy of worldliness and hypocrisy. As a chanter of the kirtana of Hari, it is his constant function to dispel all misconceptions by the preaching of the truth in a most unambiguous form, without any influence of person, place or time. That form has to be adopted which is least likely to be misunderstood. It is his bounden duty to oppose any person who tries to deceive and harm himself or other people by misrepresenting the truth either due to malice or genuine misunderstanding. This will be possible if the chanter of kirtana is always prepared to submit to be trodden on by thoughtless people if any discomfort to himself will enable him to do good to his persecutors by chanting the truth in the most unambiguous manner. If he is unwilling to chant the kirtana under all circumstances due to consideration of self-respect or personal discomfort, then he is unfit to be a preacher of the absolute truth. Humility implies perfect submission to the truth and no sympathy for untruth. A person who entertains any partiality for untruth is unfit to chant the kirtana of Hari. Any clinging to untruth is opposed to the principle of humility born of absolute submission to the truth.

Those who serve the truth at all times, by means of all their faculties, and have no hankering for the trivialities of this world, are always necessarily free from malice born of competing worldliness; and are therefore fit to admonish those who are actively engaged in harming themselves and others by the method of opposing or misrepresenting the truth in order to attain the rewards of such a policy in the shape of a perpetuation of the state of misery and ignorance. The method which is employed by the servant of the good preceptor for preventing such misrepresentation of the truth is a part and parcel of the truth itself. It may not always be pleasing to the diseased susceptibilities of deluded minds, and may even be denounced by them as a malicious act with which they are only too familiar, but the words of truth from the lips of a loyal and humble servant of Hari possess such benefi-cent power that all effort to suppress or obstruct them only serves to vindicate to impartial minds the necessity of complete submission to the absolute truth as the only cure of the disease of worldliness. Humility that is employed in the unambiguous service of the truth is necessarily and qualitatively different from its perverted prototype, which is practiced by the cunning people of this world for gaining their worldly ends. The professors of pseudo- humility have reason to be afraid of the preachings of the servants of Hari (those whose duty it is to expose the enormous possibility of mischief possessed by the many forms of so- called spirituality), when they are taken to task for serving the untruth.

[Paramananda das]

Should One Accept Disciples?
by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada
Question 1: Is it necessary to be in the association of saintly persons (sadhu-sanga) at all times?
Answer: We must be in sadhu-sanga at every moment. I am weak. Without sadhu-sanga I cannot possibly save myself. If I remain far away from sadhu-sanga, then I will fall pray to the ill-mentality that “I am the master.” If we do not live in accordance with the instructions of the sadhu or the guru, then we will be plunged into great calamity. The moment we are without shelter, maya will capture us. Consequently, we will roam here and there in this material world as a servant of maya.

Question 2: How is one delivered from the cycle of material existence (samsara)?

Answer: Without the mercy of Bhagavan, no one can ever be delivered from material bondage. We are the eternally purchased slaves of Krsna. As soon as we forget this, we must become the slaves of maya. Only service to Bhagavan constitutes bhakti. The desire for sense gratification is not bhakti (abhakti); it is entanglement in material existence. The only way to be delivered from this disastrous material existence is to hear krsna-katha from Sri Guru and the Vaisnavas, accompanied by self-surrender, submissive inquiry and a service attitude. By hearing hari-katha with affection (priti), the tendency to get entangled in material existence will come to an end.

Question 3: Should one accept disciples?

Answer: Without becoming a suddha-bhakta* or a mukta (liberated soul), a person should not accept disciples. First, he should become a disciple himself by taking shelter of a bona fide guru, and he should also hear hari-katha from his lips. Then in his own life he should practise all he has heard from Sri Guru. Thereafter, by humbly performing kirtana – that is, repeating to others what he has heard – gradually he may also become a guru himself.

It is self-deception to think “I will intentionally remain laghu (insignificant) forever.” One must become guru.** This means one has to become a true devotee of Krsna, fully engaging all one’s senses in service to Krsna, at every moment.

This does not necessarily mean that one must accept disciples. Still, by the desire of Bhagavan, some suddha-bhaktas impart instructions for the welfare of the people in general. They are devoid of any selfish motive in doing so. Their purpose is to make those who are laghu (insignificant) become guru (significant); to make those averse to Bhagavan inclined towards Him; and to make everyone a devotee of Krsna.

* One of the definitions of suddha-bhakta given by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada is one who is free from the desire for wealth, women and fame.

** A literal definition for guru is heavy, or weighty with significance. In other words, to perform significant service to Krsna, one must accept heavy responsibility. (such as chanting 64 rounds)

Question 4: Is Krsna the wealth of the guru?

Answer: Srila Gurudeva is the proprietor of Bhagavan. Bhagavan Sri Krsna is the wealth of Sri Gurudeva, so only Sri Guru can give us Bhagavan. It is solely by the mercy of Sri Guru that one will attain Krsna’s mercy and have darsana of Him.

Question 5: What does “darsana of Bhagavan” mean?

Answer: To have darsana of Bhagavan means cent-per-cent engagement of the senses in the service of Godhead. In other words, it means to serve Bhagavan with all of one’s senses throughout the twenty-four hours of the day. To be thus engaged is in fact to be established in atma-dharma (the constitutional function of the soul) and is actual bhagavat-darsana. Internal and external sphurti (transcendental vision) of Krsna, which arises by Sri Guru’s mercy as well as by the influence of one’s bhajana, is indeed darsana of Krsna.

Question 6: Is it especially necessary to have antar-darsana (internal darsana)?

Answer: Certainly. To relinquish external vision – vision aimed at enjoying this world – along with the physical forms therein, it is especially necessary to have internal vision. Someone who does not have internal vision will surely have external vision, in which he sees everything as meant for his own enjoyment. Indeed, external vision means seeing maya, or illusion.

When someone is extremely eager to see the contents of the letter, he won’t waste his time staring at the external envelope. If we can perceive the whole universe as engaged in the service of Bhagavan, our external vision of it will be dispelled.

“Bhagavan pervades the whole universe; everyone’s heart is His place of residence. He constantly resides in the temple of my heart to bestow upon me the opportunity to serve Him.”

When this realization intensifies and becomes strong, we will see the whole world as His residence, just as we see our heart – atmavat manyate jagat. We will perceive the presence of our worshipable Lord everywhere. At that time there will be no question of having bahir-darsana, external vision; itara-darsana, separate vision from the interest of Krsna; laghu-darsana, insignificant vision; visva-darsana, objective vision of the phenomenal universe; and so forth. Only then will we perceive the whole world to be full of transcendental happiness.

Question 7: Can I protect myself?

Answer: Never. To think, “I will protect myself,” is a fiendish, non-devotee mentality. As soon as this type of ill-thought comes, one is endangered.

“Sri Krsna is my sole protector. What do I have to fear?” We should exclusively imbibe this exalted conception, just as Bhakta Prahlada Maharaja did. If we become indifferent to the narrations and instructions of Sri Bhagavan, then soon after, our reliance on Him will lessen. As a result of this, our various ill-thoughts and our false-egos would place us in a calamitous situation.

We will constantly busy ourselves in service to Bhagavan without wasting even a single moment. We have to serve, remaining exclusively in the association of sadhus. By constantly remaining in such sadhu-sanga, our aptitude for service will continuously be enhanced.

Bhagavan fulfils every desire of His surrendered bhaktas without fail, and He never rejects them – krsna sei satya kare, yei mage bhrtya [Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 15.166]. Only Sri Bhagavan has the ability to protect us by giving us shelter. Other than He, no one else has such power. With such resolute faith, we can become free from fear and anxiety, and become happy and successful. Krsna is the embodiment of auspiciousness; and therefore, if we have complete faith in His nature to bestow auspiciousness, we will certainly attain such auspiciousness. Words cannot express the kind of great auspiciousness that is obtained by surrendering fully at the lotus feet of Bhagavan.

Question 8: Who will be delivered?

Answer: It is only when we do not engage ourselves in service to Bhagavan that other thoughts, characteristic of the enjoying mentality, grasp us. The embodiment of compassion, Sri Krsna, is always ready to protect us from this danger, but how will we be protected if we do not entirely depend upon Him? As the guru, Krsna protects the jiva. Sri Guru is the embodiment of Krsna’s mercy. Sri Gurudeva, the representative of Sri Krsna, descends to this world to deliver the jiva from material existence and bring him back to Krsna. Only those fortunate seekers of the Truth who whole-heartedly accept the mercy of Sri Gurudeva can be delivered from this material existence and enter into the abode of transcendental peace and happiness.

[Paramananda das]

Sannyasa Garb Will Not Make Things Easier
by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada
Question 1: What is the specific necessity of surrender and determination?
Answer: It is essential to have full confidence in Bhagavan. It is equally essential to have similar firm determination to perform hari-bhajana, the process of devotional service. I must receive His grace. I must not go astray. I must always go on chanting His name. God will undoubtedly help me if I am bona fide. If someone is exclusively surrendered to the lotus feet of Sri Gurudeva, he will certainly attain the fulfilment of all his desires. May the mercy of Sri Gurudeva, who is non-different from Sri Rupa, indeed be our sole support. Only then can we attain our spiritual welfare.


Question 2: Can one perform krsna-bhajana without accepting the shelter and guidance of Sri Guru?

Answer: Never! “We will exclusively perform krsna-anusilana (perpetual, ardent endeavour meant exclusively for Sri Krsna).” This krsna-anusilana is possible only under the guidance, or direction, of Krsna’s devotees. Sri Varsabhanavi-devi (Sri Radha) is anukula – genuinely kind to Sri Krsna. Indeed, Anukula is another name for Sri Radha. All of our divine gurus are none other than the dear most associates of Sri Varsabhanavi-devi. We, the Gaudiya Vaisnavas, are worshippers of that Krsna who belongs to Anukula, Sri Radha. Gaudiya Vaisnavas are more inclined to Sri Radha than to Sri Krsna.

Sri Gurudeva is the non-different manifestation of Sri Radha. Only through the anugatya, or guidance, of Anukula can one perform perpetual and ardent endeavour meant exclusively for Sri Krsna (krsna-anusilana). Wherever the guidance of Anukula, that is, the guidance of Sri Guru, is absent, it will not be possible to ardently endeavour to cause Sri Krsna pleasure out of genuine kindness to Him (anukula krsna-anusilana). Instead, all that will exist will be the devastating desire for one’s own happiness.

Only by relinquishing this conceited propensity, which is opposed to bhakti, while performing service to Sri Krsna under the guidance of Sri Guru, can everything be achieved. Unfortunately however, instead of seeking to provide pleasure to Sri Krsna, we have become busy in the search for our own pleasure. Alas! Denying Krsna as the master of our home, we ourselves have assumed that position and thus have become grha-vrata (someone who has vowed to enjoy their senses by fulfilling their fantasies). But if we wish to attain our real welfare, we will have to become attentive to it within this very lifetime lest we are to be deprived of it and become the loser, despite receiving such a golden opportunity.


Question 3: Will dressing as a sannyasi make things easier for me?

Answer: Not at all! Things will not become easier if one merely acquires the garb of a sannyasi (renunciant). If one becomes gurudevatatma, that is, if he considers Sri Guru to be the devata (worshipful Lord) and as dear as his very atma (soul) and if he thus makes service to Sri Guru his life and soul, then he alone can become a true sannyasi. It is preferable that only a bhakta who has steadfast faith and devotion in the spiritual master (guru-nistha) and steadfast faith in chanting the holy name (nama-nistha) should become a sannyasi.

However, those who do not engage in service to Sri Krsna under the guidance of guru, and instead become involved in bad association, will become completely ruined. They will never be able to understand Bhagavan or attain loving service to Him.

By dressing oneself as a saint it is possible to fool others in this world, but the omniscient Bhagavan, who bestows results according to one’s karma, will never pardon such a person. Those who dress as sadhus but are engaged in asat-sanga (bad association) are harming their very own interests. By not depending on Bhagavan, by relying on someone else, one only invites grief.


Question 4: Is this world really a prison house for the conditioned souls?

Answer: Those who do not desire anything from this material world are called niskincana devotees. In their opinion, there is nothing, no object or entity in this world, that can give us perpetual happiness. This earth is a prison house for the conditioned soul. As a result of our aversion to Krsna we have become prisoners here and are thus suffering so much pain and agony. As prisoners we are under the control of the jailor of this prison house – our mind – and consequently we conceive of our sorrow to be happiness. By this we attain our due distress. Every fool who runs after sense enjoyment in this illusory material world will find himself entangled by nescience in the clutches of maya.

Those who are grha-vrata, who have taken a vow to enter into and enjoy worldly life, think, “We must get a servant and, now that we have become grha-vrata, we shall easily manage everything and easily understand everything with the help of our very own senses.” The desire to become a politician, a litterateur, a scholar, a wealthy person, an altruist, the leader of a nation, an intellectual or a materialist in general is nothing but the desire to become the master of maya.

However, Prahlada Maharaja says, “Do not let your senses wander towards the outside worlds. Do not hold external material objects in esteem.” We have become deha-atmavadis (those who consider the body to be the self) and grha-vrata (those who have taken a vow to enter into and enjoy worldly life), and thus we dress ourselves up as masters of this world. We view this world with eyes that seek selfish gratification and enjoyment, and we think that all should be our servants, ever prepared to wait upon us. All elements like earth, water, fire, air, ether; as well as the moon, the sun, the planets, the constellations; plants, animals, trees and creepers – all are ripe for my enjoyment. We think, “I am the enjoyer of this world; everyone in it is meant to serve me.” But do we ever consider whom this world is actually for? It is an instrument to be used in the service of Jagadisvara, the Lord of the Universe. If we are not engaged in hari-bhajana then we do not even have the right to take a piece of straw from this world.


Question 5: Who does Krsna attract?

Answer: The Being “Krsna” attracts all the three worlds. This substantive entity alone is attractive. Just as a magnet only attracts iron, not wood, Bhagavan, who is most worshipful, only attracts those souls who are inclined to serve Him (seva-unmukha) and those who are already His servants (sevaka). Greed to relish the sweetness of transcendental service to Him attracts both types of souls.

However, if a person who is inclined to serve Him (seva-unmukha) becomes attracted at some point to something else, he will be deprived of that original attraction. On one side is attraction to the material world, which leads to bondage, and on the other side is that most auspicious attraction to Krsna. In this world, attractive forms, tastes, smells, sounds and touches are extremely close by, and due to our feebleness we become attracted to them. But if someone in this condition can incessantly hear hari-katha from the lips of the sadhu-guru, then he can procure his release from the clutches of those nearby enemies.

If we cannot become attracted to the lotus feet of Sri Krsna then we are bound to become attracted to maya. When we become attracted to Sri Krsna’s name, beautiful form and so forth, we may be relieved of our present, self-inflicted inconvenience of assuming the position of the enjoyer, a position which in truth belongs to Sri Krsna alone. To the extent that we engage in hearing, chanting and remembering the narrations of Krsna, our false notions of being the enjoyer will be dispelled, and then we will surely feel attraction to Krsna.