10 September 2024

Sri Lalita Saptami. Appearance of Sri Lalita Devi.

Audio: Sri Lalita-saptami, Moscow, 1996: informal discourse by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.
"When Sri Radha Govinda are playing as paramour couple, at that time, if one drop of sweat comes in Their lotus feet, Lalita Devi takes lakhs of forms and quickly wants to remove that... That type of service eagerness and service capacity has Lalita Devi. For that, she is the General of all the sakhis and manjaris. They are respecting Lalita Devi as their guardian for the service of Radha Govinda."
Moscow, Russia. 19 September 1996.
25+ minutes, 6 MB mp3 audio

Audio. Sri Lalita Saptami, 2004. Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj recites Srila Rupa Goswami's Sri Sri Lalitastakam slokas in glorification of Lalita Devi in which he lets us know of her supreme servitor position. Only by the mercy of Lalita Devi can one get service to Sri Sri Radha Krishna. All eight principle sakhis of Radha Krishna are under the guidance of Lalita Devi. Her position is such that she sometimes chastises Srimati Radharani and Sri Krishna, but it is all for Their satisfaction and joy, she has no other intention.
Informal discourse by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj on Sri Lalita Saptami at our Soquel Ashram, California, 19 September 2004.
26 minutes, 6 MB mp3 audio

Lalita Devi's Glory. Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj explains the position of the dearmost of Sri Rupa and Sri Radha. Posted on the Math's gaudiyadarshan.com website.

Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam completed 70 years ago today (Lalita-saptami 2013). Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami writes at the conclusion of the book:
"At the charming new temple of the name Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, situated on the banks of the holy river Ganga, at Sri Dham Nabadwip, and in the association of the devotees, in the shelter of the lotus feet of the Divine Master and the Supreme Lord Sri Chaitanyadev this work was completed on the Holy Advent Day of Sri Lalita Devi - the seventh day of the bright moon of Bhadra in the year 457 Gaurabda (7th September 1943)."
And Srila Govinda Maharaj describes that this book "is the crown-jewel of divine literatures as the eternal elixir of life for the exclusively surrendered souls, the bestower of the perpetual relish of full-fledged nectar, and the awakening and sustaining fountainhead of life in Divine Consorthood."
(Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamritam is available as a 14.7 MB pdf document.)

Audio: Sri Lalita-saptami, 2006. Morning informal discourse by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj at our Dum Dum Park Temple, Kolkata. Included in this talk His Divine Grace chants the glories of Lalita Devi and relates his visit with Srila Guru Maharaj to the place of Lalita Devi in Vrindavan.
Download, or listen online (44+ minutes, 5.1 MB mp3 audio)
or:
higher quality (10.2 MB mp3 audio).

In glorification of Srimati Lalita Devi. An extract from 'Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion, Volume I' by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.
With additional links to three webpages posted on this day last year: 'We must follow the service mood of Lalitadevi' from 'Divine Guidance' by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.


Audio: Sri Lalita Saptami. Informal discourse by Sripad B.S.Goswami Maharaj in Nabadwip in the early morning of Sri Lalita Devi's Appearance Day.
14 September 2010 in Nabadwip:
12+ minutes, 2.9 MB mp3 audio

Lalita-saptami talk, 2011, by Bhakti Lalita Devi Dasi at our San Jose Seva Ashram, USA.
"This is the favorite day of Srila Gurudev... We've heard him say how Lalita Saptami was in his personal opinion more exclusive than Radhastami. More specific. We are in the line of Lalita Devi and anyone who has connection to Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj and his mission through Srila Gurudev and our acharyas will automatically go to the service group of Lalita Devi."
29 minutes, 19.9 MB mp3 audio (originally posted on the Californian sevaashram.com website).

8 September 2024

Appearance of Sri Sita Devi, the consort of Sri Advaita Prabhu.

Srimati Sita Thakurani, the Consort of Sri Advaita Prabhu. An extract from The Advent of Sri Gaurasundar, describing her going to the Lord just after His appearance. First published in Counterpoint (Vol. 1 No. 6), edited by Sripad Devashis Prabhu.

Darshan matutino: El día de la Aparición de Sita Thakurani con Su Divina Gracia Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj el día viernes 17 de septiembre de 2004. Traducción al español: Jai Balai Prabhu.

28 August 2024

Sri Nandotsav. Appearance of Vishva-varenya Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad.

Audio. Nandotsav and Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj's Appearance, 2000. Informal discourse by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.
"Today is Nandotsav, Nanda Maharaj's house festival for the birth of Lord Krishna. When Mother Yasoda got her senses back and she saw her child, a very sweet child, playing within His bed, she was very stunned to see the beauty of Lord Krishna as baby Krishna. Then she called everyone to see the new-born boy... Not only the cowherd boys and girls came to see the Lord, but also Shiva, Brahma, Indra and so many demigods also came in the form of humans as cowherders and they also danced in the courtyard of Nanda Maharaj."
24 August 2000, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
36+ minutes, 8+ MB mp3 audio

Audio: Historic recording from 1973 of Srila Sridhar Maharaj and Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad discussing together in Nabadwip, and Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad describing to the devotees how he came in touch with the Gaudiya Math and Vaishnavas. He describes the background history of his long relationship with Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj and very affectionately glorifies Srila Guru Maharaj: "from the very beginning I knew he was a pure Vaishnava and devotee..."
March 1973:
23+ minutes, 5.5 MB mp3 audio

Audio: Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad - grand Guru of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's sampradaya.
Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj recalls their intimate relationship and the lecture he gave when suddenly asked to speak at the opening of the Chandradoya Mandir in Mayapur. "There were many good and big servitors of Srila Saraswati Thakur present at that time, but Krishna chose Abhay Charan De (Srila Swami Maharaj), who was an unknown person. And now he is famous as a Devotee General of Srila Saraswati Thakur ... Everybody must pay obeisance to him."
Informal discourse. 20 July 1990:
29 minutes, 6+ MB mp3 audio

Audio: Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupad, always in Vrindavan. Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj tells about a letter he received from Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad asking instruction from Srila Sridhar Maharaj whether he should stay and continue his preaching in the West or go to Vrindavan to leave his body there.
Excerpt from an informal discourse by Srila Govinda Maharaj, 12 March 1992:
8+ minutes, 2 MB mp3 audio

Old pictures of a visit of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad to Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip. Pictures kindly sent by Jagamohini Devi Dasi in remembrance of Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad on his Disappearance Day Festival today (17 November 2012).

Historic photo of Srila Guru Maharaj with Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad on Srila Guru Maharaj Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Maharaj's veranda, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip. This photo was received in response to the recent audio posting recording their informal discussion in Nabadwip.

Transcription: Srila Swami Maharaj's Unlimited Glories are being sung from World to World. Lecture by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj on the Appearance Day of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, 21 August 2003, in St. Petersburg, Russia. Download here.

Excerpt from 'Our Fortunate Association' by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj about Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad. Illustrated article retyped and laid out by Parama Bhakti Dasi: 2.1MB PDF

Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad and Srila Sridhar Maharaj's relationship and an excerpt from the Guardian of Devotion magazine of San Jose, USA.

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad inundated the world with Krishna consciousness. In the excerpt The Universal Conception of Guru from one of his essays, he smashes the sectarian misconception that the Spiritual Master is limited to a particular person, form, or institution, and establishes the universal conception of Guru. This lecture was originally published in The Harmonist in 1936, on the Advent Day of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. It was reprinted as the Preface to Srila Sridhar Maharaj's Sri Guru and His Grace in 1983.

27 August 2024

Sri Sri Krishna Janmashtami. Full fast until midnight, then no grains.

Krishna's Supernatural Birth. Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj describes Vasudev's vision in Mathura. Posted on the Math's gaudiyadarshan.com website.

Audio: Sri Krishna Janmastami, 2008. Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj describes Krishna's janma-lila, birth Pastimes, and affirms that many research scholars, with their sadhana, have got much realistic ideal of Krishna, and that is the form of Krishna divided within three characters. One is He who is the Supreme, Brajeswar tanaya, the son of Nanda Maharaj and of Mother Yasoda; second is the son of Vasudev and Devaki, the Mathura Krishna; and third is Krishna the hero of the special kings' group and the creator of Kurukshetra fighting arrangements, the Dwaraka Krishna. These three characters of Krishna are positive and progressive and always eternal, transcendental. But Krishna who is Nanda Maharaj and Yasoda Devi's son is not leaving Vrindavan.
Informal discourse on Sri Krishna Janmastami, speaking live with the St. Petersburg Math via Internet from Kolkata on 24 August 2008:
30 minutes, 6+ MB mp3 audio

Audio: Janmastami evening class in St. Petersburg, 2007, by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj during his World Tour. Translated into Russian by Sripad Avadhut Maharaj in real time.
Download, or listen online (40+ minutes, 4.6 MB mp3 audio)
or:
higher quality (7.3 MB).

Audio: Sri Krishna Janmastami morning, 2006. Morning informal discourse by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj at our Dum Dum Park Temple, Kolkata. Later in the day His Divine Grace accepted the invitation mentioned in this talk, and went to lead the festival at our Kaikhali Temple, near Kolkata Airport.
"We will take anukalpa (a small amount of non-grains food) on Ekadasi, twice we are taking. But on Janmastami we are not taking that. On Janmastami we are completely fasting."
And:
"Vedavyasa very cleverly expressed the character of Lord Krishna... Then we can understand what is the position of Lord Krishna and what is the position of Krishna's Rasa-lila. First we will see Him like a sun, from far, the fireball. The sun is a big fireball, but lookable from far, not near. Krishna's character is like that." (First uploaded on 16 August 2006, Sri Krishna Janmastami.)
Download, or listen online (27 minutes, 3.1 MB mp3 audio)
or:
higher quality (6.2 MB mp3 audio).

Video. Sri Janmastami day 2008, kirtan led by Srila Gurudev, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, in Kolkata after delivering an informal discourse by Internet to the devotees gathered in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Captured and prepared by Vaidehi Devi Dasi:
24 minutes, 26+ MB 'mov' video
(To download, right-click on the link, then 'Save Target As...' or similar wording.)

Illustrated seven page article about Sri Krishna Janmastami, prepared in 2006 by Parama Bhakti Dasi for the devotee children: 440 K PDF file.

19 August 2024

Purnima. Appearance of Sri Baladev. Full fast until noon. End of Jhulan Yatra of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda.

Audio: Appearance of Sri Baladeva. Morning informal discourse by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj at our Dum Dum Park Temple, Kolkata, 9 August 2006.
Download, or listen online (13+ minutes, 1.6 MB mp3 audio)
or:  higher quality (3.1 MB).

Audio: Sri Balaram Pranam Mantra. Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj reciting Baladev's pranam mantra, His names, His glories, His powers.
Download, or listen online (5+ minutes, 1.3 MB mp3 audio)

Sri Balaram's Pranam Mantram quoted by Srila Govinda Maharaj from Sri Garga-Samhita is given here.


Audio: "Sri Balaram and Sri Nityananda Prabhu are non-different like Krishna and Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu's Pastimes without Nityananda Prabhu are not full... Baladev comes before Krishna and He is arranging everything for the service of Lord Krishna." Informal discourse by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, 12 August 2003.
Download, or listen online (20 minutes, 4.6 MB mp3 audio)

Excerpts related to Sri Baladev compiled from books by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

Audio. Lord Baladev's appearance day, Thailand, discourse in 2009 by Sripad Vaishnav Maharaj (Srutasrava Prabhu at that time) glorifying the position of Sri Baladev, Nityananda Prabhu, and Sri Guru. A lecture on 5 August 2009 given during Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's last visit to Bangkok.
"So that Baladev, all of that shakti, all of that energy, is changed into merciful dispensation in the form of Nityananda Prabhu. And then Nityananda Prabhu has come to us as our Gurudev. The position of guru is the embodiment of Nityananda Prabhu's mercy dispensation, and in that way it is coming to all of us, without any consideration."
53+ minutes, 12 MB mp3 audio

17 August 2024

Disappearance of Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Gauri Das Pandit Goswami.

Audio. Srila Gauri Das Pandit. Srila Sridhar Maharaj describes how Srila Gauri Das Pandit, being Subal Sakha in Krishna's lila, could recognise Sriman Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu when They presented Themselves in his quarters in Kalna. They lived there for a while, but when They wanted to go from there, Gauri Das Pandit couldn't tolerate the prospect of separation. So, the Lords promised They would stay with him. Two murtis were carved in wood according to Their figures. They installed the murtis and were about to take leave. Still Gauri Das Pandit couldn't accept that, so Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu took the murtis' places and the murtis took leave. Yet, that was also not tolerable by Gauri Das Pandit. Finally, the murtis stayed with him for his worship.
Excerpt from Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's informal discourse Nabadwip, 3 January 1982:
14+ minutes, 3.4 MB mp3 audio

Who is Srila Rupa Goswami? Excerpt from Sri Guru and His Grace by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. "The most sacred type of pure service, which is not open even to the sakhis, is open to the manjaris. That is found in Radharani's camp. So, the position of the Rupanugas, the followers of Sri Rupa, is the most profitable position. That has been given out by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. That has been shown by Him, and that is fixed as the highest limit of our fortune in Krishna's concern. This is unexpectable, undesignable and beyond hope, but our prospect lies there in that subtle camp of Sri Rupa Manjari, Rupa Goswami."

Srila Rupa Goswami - The Flow of Mahaprabhu's Line. Excerpt from Affectionate Guidance by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. 120 K pdf file.
"Rupa Goswami Prabhu is supreme in the preceptorial line of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Actually, no one says, 'Chaitanya Sampradaya'. Rather, the correct name is 'Rupanuga Sampradaya'. Mahaprabhu wanted to establish Rupa Goswami as the Guru of His sampradaya."

Sri Rupa's Feet. Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj explains Srila Narottam Thakur's prayers to Sri Rupa. Posted on the Math's gaudiyadarshan.com website.

Audio. Srila Rupa Goswami disappearance discourse, 1994. Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj talks about the exclusive position of Srila Rupa Goswami and the special affection Mahaprabhu had for him. Srila Gurudev says that Mahaprabhu, after reading the sloka Srila Rupa Goswami composed about His feelings in Jagannath Kshetra, asks Srila Swarup Damodar: "Oh Swarup, in which way can Rupa understand My mind?" Swarup Damodar replies: "Oh it is very easy to know, that is, Your full blessings he has got in Prayag. You have given everything to him." (09:55/14:47)
Informal discourse, 18 August 1994.
31+ minutes, 7+ MB mp3 audio

Audio: Rupa Goswami Prabhu's disappearance day, and disappearance of Gauri Das Pandit, a very good day for me. Morning informal discourse by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj at our Dum Dum Park Temple, Kolkata, 6 August 2006.
Download, or listen online (27+ minutes, 3.2 MB mp3 audio)
or:
higher quality (6.3 MB).

16 August 2024

Beginning of Jhulan Yatra of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda and start of the one month festival of Sri Hari Smaran at Nabadwip, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

I do not make any show of Jhulana-lila. An excerpt by Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj from the article Fools Rush In Where Angels Fear To Tread:
 

   
Fools Rush In Where Angels Fear to Tread, by Srila B.R. Sridhar Maharaj. Originally published in Sri Gaudiya Darshan magazine, Srila Sridhar Maharaj's 8th Disappearance Anniversary Edition, 1996, this is the full article from which the above I do not make any show of Jhulana-lila was extracted. (15 pages, 98 K pdf/Acrobat Reader document.)

8 August 2024

Disappearance of Srila Vamshi Das Babaji Maharaj.

Audio. Srila Vamsi Das Babaji Maharaj. Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj gives an informal discourse on this day in 1985.
"He was the only 'sadhu' who had recognition from our Guru Maharaj as sadhu - Vamsi Das Babaji. He was living in the strict sense the life of a babaji, indifferent to the world."
20 August 1985:
16 minutes, 3 MB mp3 audio

4 August 2024

Amavasya. Festival in honour of the disappearance of Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya-varya Ashtottara-shata-sri Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

Sri Pranati Dasakam.Ten Prayers in glorification of Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, composed by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, and prepared here as an illustrated web-page by Jagamohini Devi Dasi of USA in remembrance Srila Guru Maharaj's Disappearance Festivals.

Archive Photos: Meditations in Pictures and Words. Five pages of extensive quotes and black and white photos of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

Audio. Srila Guru Maharaj's disappearance festival 1999. Kirtan and informal discourse by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj on the Disappearance Festival day of Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, 1999.
"Srila Guru Maharaj's godbrothers like Krishna Das Babaji Maharaj, Madhusudan Maharaj, Paramahamsa Maharaj, etc. when they were giving lecture they would consider Guru Maharaj not only as Guru but as representative of Vrindavan Dham, and that he was born here as a manifestation of non-different form with Radharani. They were all godbrothers and we were very surprised to hear."
Srila Gurudev speaking in Saint Petersburg, 11 August, 1999:
33 minutes, 7.8 MB mp3 audio

Spoken: Pranam mantra and glories of Srila Guru Maharaj described in the Appendix of Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion Volume 2:
14 minutes, 3+ MB mp3 audio

Audio. Srila B.R. Sridhar Maharaj's disappearance festival, 1994, USA. Srila Govinda Maharaj glorifies Srila Sridhar Maharaj and relives the very day of his beloved Srila Guru Maharaj's disappearance.
These are two different recordings on the same disappearance festival day at our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram, Soquel, California, 6 August 1994:
Part 1, 26+ minutes, 6 MB mp3 audio. Srila Govinda Maharaj describes how Srila Guru Maharaj nourished and harmonised Srila Saraswati Thakur's disciples of all ranks.
Part 2, 42+ minutes, 9.9 MB mp3 audio. Includes a description of Srila Guru Maharaj's disappearance. After the earthquake that shook Nabadwip Dham, Srila Gurudev knew that Srila Guru Maharaj was about to leave this world. Srila Gadadhar Pandit and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur took this dark moon day, amavasya, for their disappearance. Srila Sridhar Maharaj had special affection for Gadadhar Pandit and Bhaktivinod Thakur, and chose this amavasya day to join with them.

Audio: Disappearance Festival Lecture in the nat-mandir of our Dum Dum Park Temple, by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj in glorification of Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. 25 July 2006:
Download, or listen online (32 minutes, 3.7 MB mp3 audio)
or:
higher quality (7.4 MB).

Audio: Srila Govinda Maharaj singing 'Sri Guru Arati-stuti' and 'Sri Rupa Manjari Pada' and 'Viraha-giti' at Srila Guru Maharaj's Disappearance Festival, 2006.
Download, or listen online (16+ minutes, 3.8 MB mp3 audio)

The Jewel in the Garland. Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj speaking in 1992 on the Fourth Anniversary of the Disappearance Day of Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. This article first appeared in the 'Sri Govinda Dham Magazine, Sri Vyasa-puja Edition, 1994' published in Australia. Plus additional links in remembrance of Srila Guru Maharaj.

'The Sun Never Sets on the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math'Transcription of a talk given by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj on this Holy Day in 2003, at the Villa Govinda Ashram in Milan, Italy.

Audio. Srila Sridhar Maharaj's Disappearance Day discourse 2012 by Sri B.P. Janardan Maharaj at our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram, Soquel, California. "So many of the exalted Vaishnavas in the line of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur came to get Srila Sridhar Maharaj's association at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. A multitude of many exalted Vaishnavas."
56 minutes, 32 MB mp3 audio, posted on California's sevaashram.com website.

In Glorification of Srila Guru Maharaj, an article by Sripad Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj speaking in glorification of Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj in 1994.

Remembering His Divine Grace. In honour of Srila Sridhar Maharaj's Disappearance Day, an article prepared by Jagamohini Devi Dasi in glorification of Srila Guru Maharaj: Remembering His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

Excerpts from Affectionate Guidance in glorification of Srila B.R. Sridhar Maharaj by Srila B.S. Govinda Maharaj. His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj talks about Srila Sridhar Maharaj's position among his Godbrothers, his active preaching and the beginning of the Math's Sri Gaudiya Darshan magazine.
Srila Govinda Maharaj quotes one of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur's principal preachers, Sripad Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj: "We are preaching over the whole world, but from time to time we look to see whether Srila Sridhar Maharaj is happy with our preaching activities."

28 July 2024

Disappearance of Srila Lokanath Goswami Prabhu.

Audio. "Lokanath Goswami Prabhu was a strict vairagi, so much so that he kept himself aloof from the public... He wouldn't keep company with anybody. He wanted to follow a strict programme of bhajan."
Excerpt from an informal discourse by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj in Nabadwip, 6 November 1982.
6+ minutes, 1.5 MB mp3 audio

Excerpts related to Srila Lokanath Goswami from Golden Staircase by Srila Sridhar Maharaj and Affectionate Guidance by Srila Govinda Maharaj.

26 July 2024

Disappearance of Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami Prabhu.

An excerpt from Sri Guru and his Grace, written by Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, about an important prayer found in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa of Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami.

Audio. "Gopal Bhatta Goswami was a very honourable Vaishnava and Mahaprabhu's parshad... He was always giving so much protection for Rupa-Sanatan's writings and Mahaprabhu's conception." Excerpt from Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's informal discourse over the phone to Sripad Madhusudan Prabhu on Srila Jiva Goswami's appearance day, 19 September 2002.
6+ minutes, 1.5 MB mp3 audio

Sri Gopal Bhatta Goswami was the son of Venkata Bhatta, a resident of Sri Rangam. Gopal Bhatta formerly belonged to the disciplic succession of the Ramanuja-sampradaya but later became part of the Gaudiya-sampradaya. Read more... Description given by Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad in his purport to Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adi-lila 10.105.

Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami's samadhi, his Temple and Deity of Sri Radharaman and related photographs taken in Vrindavan on his disappearance day festival 2012. Web-page of pictures.

23 July 2024

Disappearance of Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhakti Hriday Bon Maharaj.

Srimad Bhakti Hriday Bon Maharaj. In remembrance of the first godbrother of Srila Srila Sridhar Maharaj to be sent by Srila Saraswati Thakur to preach in the West. Two excerpts from our publications: one by Srila Sridhar Maharaj, the other by Srila Govinda Maharaj.

21 July 2024

Purnima. Sri Guru Purnima. Appearance of Srila Vyasadev. Disappearance of Srila Sanatan Goswami Prabhu. Beginning of Chaturmasya (when started on Purnima as followed in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math). Appearance of Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhakti Bimal Avadhut Maharaj.

Audio. Vedavyas. Informal discourse by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.
"All the scholars in the world at present they admit that Vedavyas has distributed so many different thoughts. There is no one to compete with him in that matter... So many types of thoughts are represented by Vedavyas, in Mahabharat, Srimad Bhagavatam, so many Puranas, Vedas, Vedanta; all possible representations and considerations of all possible thoughts are represented by him alone. So he is master of all sorts of understandings. And he has given in his last days what is written in Bhagavatam: that love is all, Bhagavat Prem, Krishna Prem... 'The inner most hankering of every jiva soul is for this, for beauty and love, affection and harmony, not for power, not for knowledge or anything else.'"
11+ minutes, 2.5 MB mp3 audio

Audio: Sri Guru-Purnima day discourse. Amongst other topics, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj describes a remarkable debate between Srila Guru Maharaj Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj and a big pandit. That pandit was so impressed by Srila Guru Maharaj that he wanted his association at the time of passing from this world.
And:
"Today is Sanatan Goswami Prabhu's tirobhav (disappearance), and Vyasadev's avirbhav (appearance) happened on this purnima (full moon). And Nityananda Prabhu today did Vyasa-Puja in the house of Srivas Pandit, and ... Srivas Pandit organised this by order of Mahaprabhu."
Srila Gurudev speaking on Sri Guru-Purnima, 30 July 2007:
9 minutes, 4 MB mp3 audio

Audio: Chaturmasya begins. Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj speaks in 2005 about the rules of chaturmasya and our position as a practitioner. He affirms that vedic knowledge appears through Krishna and Vedavyas; and other great scholar personalities have notated it. He tells how Narad Muni instructed Vedavyas to feel in his heart through meditation and to write the pastimes of Lord Krishna for his full satisfaction; and how Jiva Goswami has shown us that when Mahaprabhu appeared everyone could understand what was the final advice of the scriptures, that chanting the Holy Name of the Lord is the process for all religions.
21 July 2005.
19+ minutes, 4.6 MB mp3 audio.

Srila Vyasadev. Selected excerpts by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj taken from the Sermons of The Guardian of Devotion series and Sri Guru and His Grace.

Srila Sanatan Goswami. Excerpts from Sermons of The Guardian of Devotion Volumes 1 and 2 by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

Audio: Vedavyas had so much experience. Informal discourse by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj at our Dum Dum Park Temple, Kolkata, 24 July 2006.
Download, or listen online (13 minutes, 1.6 MB mp3 audio)
or:
higher quality (3.1 MB)

A short excerpt about chaturmasya by Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in his edition of Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita (Madhya-lila 4.169).

Audio: Beginning of Chaturmasya, the four months of the rainy season. Early morning informal discourse by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, 11 July 2006, on his veranda at our Dum Dum Park Temple, Kolkata. The background sound is rain falling on the neighbouring roof.
Download, or listen online (16+ minutes, 1.9 MB mp3 audio)
or:
higher quality (3.9 MB).

Sanatan Goswami and the sweet-rice from the book 'Dignity of the Divine Servitor' by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

Sri Vyasa-Puja of Srila Bhakti Bimal Avadhut Maharaj appointed by Srila Gurudev Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj as one the successor Acharyas of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, with specific responsibility for Russia and the Eastern Block.

14 July 2024

Disappearance of Sripad Ajita Krishna Brahmachari.

Audio: Glorification of Ajit Krishna Brahmachari Prabhu who passed away over thirty years ago. Morning informal discourse on Ajit Krishna Prabhu's disappearance day, 2006, by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj at our Kolkata Dum Dum Park Temple. His Divine Grace mentions, "Happily he was doing everything. That type of brahmachari was the wealth of our Mission." And: "I am fortunate that I have seen like him - a great Vaishnava. Very rare to get." While listening, please note that in Bengal the expression 'too much' generally means 'very much.'
Download, or listen online (26 minutes, 3.2 MB mp3 audio)
or:
higher quality (6.4 MB).

11 July 2024

Hera Panchami. Sri Sri Laksmi Vijay in Sri Puri Dham.

Audio: Sri Laksmi Vijay morning discourse by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj at our Kolkata Dum Dum Park Temple, 30 June 2006. The talk starts with Srila Govinda Maharaj describing Laksmi Devi's 'victory' over Lord Jagannath.
Download, or listen online (18+ minutes, 2.2 MB mp3 audio)
or
higher quality (4.4 MB).

7 July 2024

Ratha Yatra of Sri Jagannathdev. Disappearance of Srila Svarup Damodar Goswami Prabhu.

The Temple of Jagannath at Puri(880 KB pdf file), an essay by Srila Sachchidananda Bhakti Vinod Thakur first published in September 1871, and reprinted in the Spring 1994 edition of 'Counterpoint' magazine.

Sri Jagannathdev, by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. An excerpt posted on jayasri.org from the Spring 1994 edition of 'Counterpoint' published by Sripad Devashis Prabhu.

Audio: Sri Jagannath Rathayatra. Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj points out the generous opportunity given by Lord Jagannath for Westerners to have His darshan during this festival, and describes the correct mood for us when we come in front of Him.
Originally posted by Madhusudan Prabhu as part of his krsna.cc Internet Radio series. Srila Gurudev speaking on 8 July 2005:
12 minutes, 3 MB mp3 audio

United Through Affection. Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj summarises the hidden messages exchanged during Ratha Yatra. Posted on the Math's GaudiyaDarshan.com website.

Audio: "Krishna is autocrat - not democrat, communist, or our servant." Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj speaking from Kolkata with particular reference to Sri Jagannath Rathayatra, for Madhusudan Prabhu's Internet Radio website, krsna.cc, 28 June 2006. (20+ minutes, 2.4 MB mp3 audio.)

Audio: Srila Govinda Maharaj's discourse in our Kaikhali, Kolkata, Temple discussing Sri Jagannathdev's Rathayatra and the disappearance of Sri Swarup Damodar Goswami. Informal discourse, 19 June 2004.
Download or listen online (mp3 audio files):
Part 1 | Part 2 (Total 17 mins, 3.1 MB mp3 audio)

Audio: Srila Govinda Maharaj's message to the devotees over the phone with Madhusudan Prabhu from Hawaii. "When outside devotees want to go to Jagannath Puri, I am happily giving my consent to them, but they must be conscious about their transcendental feelings."
Quoting a sloka he says: "Who will see Jagannath in His chariot, they will never come back to this material feelings or world, they are all going to the transcendental plane."
A most encouraging talk by Srila Govinda Maharaj, 1 July 2008.
5+ minutes, 1.2 MB mp3 audio

On the Way to Puri (50K pdf file) chapter of the book Divine Guidance. Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj addresses the mood pilgrims should adopt for their pilgrimage to Puri.
This article is also available as web-pages of gif images of the text.

Puri Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Jagannathdev and His Dham - excerpt from Affectionate Guidance. His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj advises the pilgrims about how to see Purusottam Dham. "They will see these places (of the Pastimes of Mahaprabhu and His associates) and try to feel in their heart the mood of union in separation shown by Sriman Mahaprabhu, and they will offer prayers to the associates of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. If they cannot go inside any of the places then they can see these places from outside."

Srila Govinda Maharaj in our Puri Math. Picture page of His Divine Grace on 30 June 2003 soon after his arrival in preparation for this year's Ratha Yatra programme.

Ratha Yatra Festival, Puri. Webpage of the Ratha Yatra Festival day 13 July 2003: Lord Jagannath in His chariot, the King of Orissa doing puja to Lord Jagannath, and our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math party in the middle of the crowd of over a million people.

Audio: "Swarup Damodar, Mahaprabhu's second body." Sripad Bhakti Sudhir Goswami Maharaj speaking from Kolkata about Ratha Yatra day, Swarup Damodar's disappearance and his intimate relationship, 25 June 2006.
(47+ minutes, 5.5 MB mp3 audio.)

---

Extensive write-up of our Math's Sri Jagannath Rathayatra Pilgrimage including pictures and descriptions of many of the places visited by our annual pilgrimage. This is a ten-part lively, descriptive diary from 2005 by Malini Devi Dasi of Malta, which includes five pages of references from the Scriptures.

---

Lord Jagannath's Advent in brief. An article researched and compiled by Tusta Krishna Prabhu of Australia attending this year's pilgrimage, and amended by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Maharaj Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

6 July 2024

Gundicha Marjan: cleaning at the Gundicha Temple at Sri Puri Dham, and cleaning of all Temples of the Lord.

Sri Gundicha Marjan Lila Rahasya. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur explains the secret behind the cleansing of the Gundicha Temple. An English translation of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur's commentary on Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita: Madhya-lila, 12.135 posted on the Math's Sri GaudiyaDarshan website.

Excerpts from Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita about the pastimes of cleansing the Gundicha Temple, Madhya Lila 12.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu washed and cleansed the Gundica temple with His devotees and associates. In this way He made the temple as cool and bright as His own heart, and thus He made the place befitting for Lord Sri Krsna to sit. Read more..

Pictures of Srila Govinda Maharaj in Gundicha. Srila Gurudev visiting Their Lordships outside the Gundicha Temple in the evening of Ratha Yatra Festival. 01 July 2003, Jagannath Puri, Orissa.

5 July 2024

Amavasya. Disappearance of Srila Gadadhar Pandit and Srila Sachchidananda Bhakti Vinod Thakur.

Audio: Glorification of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur and Srila Gadadhar Pandit. During this hour long informal discourse Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj describes fine points of Srila Gadadhar Pandit's and Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur's moods of devotion.
Srila Govinda Maharaj humbly then discusses, with examples, how he composed slokas, built Srila Guru Maharaj's Samadhi Mandir, etc. due to reciprocation with the transcendental plane.
1 July 1992:
63 minutes, 14+ MB mp3 audio

Srila Gadadhar Pandit's and Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's Disappearance Day. Extensive informal discourse by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj on this day during his fifth world tour.
"Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur has shown exclusive service of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, that is: Gaura Gadadhar worship. Gadadhar Pandit and Mahaprabhu's connection was very intimate and affectionate..."
Venezuela, 8 July 1994, with Spanish translation.
Part 1, 38+ minutes, 9 MB mp3 audio
Part 2, 50+ minutes, 11.6 MB mp3 audio

Srimad Bhaktivinod-viraha Dasakam. Prayer of ten verses in separation from Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur composed by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Illustrated webpage prepared by Jagamohini Devi Dasi.

The Ocean of Sri Radha's Devotion. Comprehensive compiled webpage in glorification of Srila Sachchidananda Bhaktivinod Thakur in remembrance of his disappearance this day in 1914. Content and layout prepared by Jagamohini Devi Dasi.

A wonderful excerpt about Sri Gadadhara Pandit from the book "Heart and Halo" by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

Disappearance of Srila Gadadhar Pandit and Srila Sachchidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakur. Two webpages compiled from Srila B.R. Sridhar Maharaj's writings, including links to further reading.

"Srimad Bhaktivinoda-viraha Dasakam" - "Prayer in Separation of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura" composed by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Upon reading the original Sanskrit verse, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada commented, "Now I am confident that we have one man who is qualified to uphold the standard of our Sampradaya."

Srila Sachchidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakur, the nineteenth century pioneer of Krishna consciousness, was born in 1838 in Bengal. He worked tirelessly to preserve the spiritual tradition and literature of India...

2 July 2024

Disappearance of Sriyukta Rama Devi.

Sriyukta Ramaa Rani Bhattacharyya passes away from this world. Soon after sunrise on Saturday 10 July 1999, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's sister, Sriyukta Ramaa Rani Bhattacharyya, passed away from this world after being hospitalised for a short time.

...earlier updates >>

If this is your first visit, you may be interested in the following articles:

• 'His Life and Mission in brief,' an article by Sripad B.P. Janardan Maharaj introducing our Sevaite President Acharya, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.
  
• A brief introduction and history to the Temple and our Guardians.
• 'Focusing on our fortune' — an excerpt by our Founder President Acharya, Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.
• Disciplic Succession, explaining our line of Spiritual Masters.
  
  And two small introductory pamphlets (in Acrobat PDF format):
• Our Trinity of Gurus and Dive Deep into Reality

If you are looking for news, you may be interested in these:

• What's New? — for what's happening here at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip, India, and affiliated centres around the world. Includes topical pictures, dispatches, current events.
• What was New? to look at entries over the last couple of years.
• Archive Memories. Mainly with pictures going back to 1999.
• World Tours page with information, dispatches and photos from all recent tours made by Srila Govinda Maharaj. News of any pending tours will also be posted here.

If you are looking for information, books, publicity material, etc. these may be helpful:

• Books — for purchases, downloads, descriptions and excerpts.
• Donations — can now be made efficiently on-line too.
• Audio: several lectures by our Acharyas as well as morning classes by our sannyasi section, and kirttans. Spoken Books are also now available for free download.
• Useful downloads, for pictures of our Gurudevas, pamphlets, diacritic fonts, mini-posters of quotations.
• Tips for pilgrims — with practical information for pilgrims planning to visit our Temples in India.

Plus more! Look around, use the 'SCSMath Search Engine,' and please also let us know what you would like to see here. Feedback, suggestions, dispatches, material — all are welcome.

This website is a part of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math's aspiring devotees' humble attempt to provide more information about devotional service and to facilitate the connection of devotees worldwide.