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30 January 2004
 Disappearance of Sri Madhvacharyya

  • Audio: Telephone interview with Yudhamanyu Prabhu Seva Vikram, reflecting on his recent stay in China, and his arrival at the lotus feet of Srila Govinda Maharaj in Kolkata. 7+ minutes, 1.4 MB mp3 audio.
  • Initiations of Prabhu Nilamani and Devaki Devi Dasi of USA at our Temple in Dum Dum Park, Kolkata.
 

29 January 2004
   

28 January 2004
 Appearance of Mahavishnu Avatar, Sri Advaita Acharyya.

  • Brazil: Week of Yoga at the Krishna Shakti Ashram near Sao Paulo. Eleven new yogins are initiated as Srila Gurudev's disciples. Pictures, special report and web-page by Sripad Bhakti Vijay Trivikram Maharaj.
  • St. Petersburg Temple in the snow. (Recent pictures.)
    From The Golden Volcano of Divine Love by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, in relation to this day:
     

    Advaita Acharyya was a great scholar and the most senior among Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's followers. He appeared in Navagrama in Sri Hatta, in the eastern province of Bengal, and resided in Santipura. Ontologically speaking, Sri Advaita Acharyya is the Avatara of Mahavisnu, who creates the material cosmos through the agency of His illusory energy. Advaita Acharyya is the devotee who earnestly invited Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to descend here as the Yugavatara to look after the welfare of all souls. He began to worship the Lord with Ganges water and Tulasi leaves and invoked His grace, praying, "0 Lord, please come and deliver these people; the time has come to relieve them by the distribution of the sweet Name of Krishna. Come, my Lord—they are most poor!" In this way Advaita Acharyya attracted Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by pleading the cause of the fallen souls. Of course, the time had come for the advent of the incarnation for this age, the Yugavatara, but still Advaita Acharyya performed the function of inviting and welcoming Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

    And when the Supreme Lord was about to appear, Advaita felt in His heart, "My prayer is going to be satisfied—He is coming!" Ultimately, He detected that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, had personally appeared in the house of Sri Jagannatha Misra and Sachidevi as their newborn boy, Nimai Visvambhara. And so, Advaita Acharyya went to pay due respects to the child and His parents on the divine advent day.

    When the boy was a little grown up, Sri Advaita Prabhu came to bow at the feet of the child, Nimai. Sachidevi, Nimai's mother, shuddered: "What are you doing? You are an old pandita, a Vedic scholar. If you show this kind of respect to my young boy it will spoil His future! What are you doing?" It was said that whenever Advaita Acharyya used to bow down His head to a Deity, the statue would shatter into pieces if it was a sham, if there was no genuine presence of the Lord. But here, when Advaita put His head at the feet of the boy, Nimai put one foot on Advaita Acharyya's head. Everyone was astounded and wondered, "What kind of spiritual power does this child have? Such a great devotee-scholar and senior man as Advaita has bowed down to this child, and the child has stepped on Advaita's head, but the child is quite unaffected! Who is this child?"
   

27 January 2004

  • Village preaching last weekend in Kurumba, West Bengal. Two pages of pictures, diary captions and web-page by Prabhu Shyamasundar of Israel.
 

26 January
Sri Krishna Vasanta Panchami. Sri Saraswati Puja. Appearance day of Sri Vishnu Priya Devi. Appearance of Srila Pundarik Vidyanidhi, Srila Raghunath das Goswami, and Srila Raghunandana Thakur. Disappearance of Srila Viswanath Chakravarti Thakur, Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhakti Viveka Bharati Maharaj and Tridandi Swami Srimad Bhakti Swarupa Parvat Maharaj.
 
From Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion, Vol. II, by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj in relation to this day:
 

Chapter Seven: A Holy Day

1. The Appearance of Srimati Visnupriya Devi

Today is the Holy Day of Vasanta-pancami (the fifth day of the light fortnight of the moon, month of Magh, when Krsna is worshiped with the new flowers of spring. On this day, the holy advent of Srimati Visnupriya Devi occurred. Her father was Sri Sanatana Misra of Nabadwip, who was a Brahmana and great devotee of Lord Visnu. Srimati Visnupriya Devi is the Eternal Consort of Sri Gaurasundar in His feature of Gaura-Narayana, and according to Sri-Gauraganoddesa-dipika she is directly Satyabhama in Krsna's Dvaraka-lila.

She was the second wife of Sriman Mahaprabhu in the householder period of His Pastimes. From childhood, she was devout in the Divine Service of the Supreme Lord. Kasinatha Pandit was the intermediary in Her marriage to Mahaprabhu.

She was the ideal of Divine Self-surrender at the Lotus Feet of Mahaprabhu. When she was only fourteen, Mahaprabhu took sannyasa, and after that she lived the rest of Her life in penance. From early morning she would take the Holy Name the whole day, and for every Mahamantra that she chanted, she would put one grain of rice into a clay pot. After chanting her quota, she would take that rice and cook it and offer it to the Lord. That was all she would take for her subsistence, so gradually she became emaciated. She passed her days in this way.

Her brother was her guardian after Sachi-devi departed, and ultimately she had a Sri-Murti (Deity) of Mahaprabhu, and she would worship Him in that Form. And since the time of Visnupriya, that worship is being continued up to the present in the Temple here in Nabadwip known as 'Mahaprabhura Bari' (the Home of Mahaprabhu). So this day of the year is connected with her holy memory, and we may achieve her Grace if we honor this time in her name, discussing her Pastimes. She will be propitiated and Sri Chaitanyadev will also be pleased with us, giving us a step forward in our transcendental march towards Him.

2. The Appearance of Sri Pundarika Vidyanidhi

Today is also the appearance day of Sri Pundarika Vidyanidhi. He is considered to be Vrsabhanuraja of Varsana, Vrndavana, the father of Srimati Radharani. Sri Pundarika Vidyanidhi was born in a Brahmana family at Chattagram, and he bore the title 'Vidyanidhi' on account of his scholarship....
  Continuation of this chapter, with descriptions of other special personalities associated with today: http://www.mandala.com.au/sermons2/7.htm

 

25 January

 
From Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion, Vol. III, by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj:
  In history we find a precedent in Maharaj Khatvanga. He had only one moment left of his life but he so perfectly engaged himself that he gave himself for ever to the Lord. Without any reservation he surrendered to the feet of the Lord and he achieved the desired end. He achieved Hari. And who is Hari? Abhayam: when we get Him, then all apprehension, all fear and every undesirable thing will be vanquished for ever. That is the meaning of ‘Hari.’ ‘Hari’ means sachchidananda: eternal existence, perfect consciousness and also the fulfillment of life in ecstatic joy. Maharaj Khatvanga achieved all that within a moment!
  sarvva-dharmman parityajya, mam ekam saranam vraja
 (Bg. 18.66)
  So the problem is, how can we surrender, giving up our mundane attraction and our ignorance about our own interest? How can we jump into the Absolute Good—the ocean of our real interest? That is the problem and our questions should be of such a general character. Only there is this one question.

 

24 January 2004
 

23 January

 

21 January

  • Bhagavat Darshan, the latest book by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, is now available for purchase on the Web. Produced by Prabhu Srutasrava of California, USA, 'Bhagavat Darshan' contains a personal introduction by Krishna Kanta Devi Dasi of Italy. As an introductory offer until 1st February this book is available for three for the price of two, including registered airmail postage. (Printed in India. Hardbound. 64 + xxii pages, 22 illustrations.)
 

19 January

  • Veracruz, Mexico: Construction progress of the Seva Ashram. Pictures sent by Madhuchanda Devi Dasi, heading this new project.
 
From Divine Guidance by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj:
  Sravanam-kirttanam, etc. is bhakti-sadhana, but other kinds of sadhana exist under the guidance of different departments of Vedic knowledge, such as yoga-sadhana, j–ana-sadhana, karmma-sadhana, etc. The intention of all these types of practice is to take us to a higher position. But the topmost position, and the actual need for our supreme transcendental benefit, is only bhakti-yoga. Without bhakti-yoga, other kinds of sadhana such as bhukti or mukti cannot give us the proper result. So if we try to practise sravanam, kirttanam, smaranam, vandanam, etc. — the nine kinds of bhakti-sadhana under the guidance of a proper sadhu then we will easily receive the good result.
  This navadha-bhakti-pitha is Nabadwip-Dham. Each of the nine islands of Nabadwip gives some special facility for our practising life. This place, Koladwip, is called pada-sevana ksetra, the place where we can gain direct connection with Krsna through the worship of His lotus feet. But if we really want that then we should sincerely try to get it through the expert — then easily we can have His connection.

   

18 January

  • Govardhan pictures of Manasa Ganga and of construction progress at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Govardhan.
 

17 January

 

16 January
Festival in remembrance of Sriman Mahaprabhu’s sannyas-lila.
   
From The Golden Volcano of Divine Love by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, in relation to this day:
 

laksa locanasru-varsa-harsa-kesa-kartanam
koti-kantha-krsna-kirtanadhya-danda dharanam
nyasi-vesa-sarua-desa-ha-hutasa-kartaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram

"While showers of tears fell from the eyes of millions, He delighted in having His beautiful hair shaved away. Millions of voices sang the glories of Krsna, as Sri Krsna Caitanya accepted the staff of renunciation. From that time on, wherever He went, whoever saw Him in the dress of a sannydsi cried in grief. I sing the glories of that beautiful Golden God, the giver of divine love."

Mahaprabhu's Sannyasa

The scene was at Katwa. Four-hundred and seventy-four years ago, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa. He was young and beautiful, with a tall figure. He was only twenty-four and had beautiful curling hair. A barber was asked to shave Him, and approached Him, but then withdrew.
 
 

15 January

  • Nabadwip, pictures and web-pages by Jagamohini Devi Dasi as she takes a walk around Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.
 
From The Golden Volcano of Divine Love by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, in relation to this day:
 

But Nimai Pandita left Navadwipa forever and took sannyasa because the people of Navadwipa could not appreciate Him. He reached Katwa, where, just on the banks of the Ganges, there was a sannyasi: Kesava Bharati. Nimai went to him and asked him for sannyasa. Kesava Bharati suddenly found that his asrama was full of luster. At first, it seemed as if the sun was rising before him; then he saw that it was a bright person approaching. He rose from his seat, and with strained eyes approached in wonder. "What is this?" he thought.

Then he realized that the great devotee-scholar, Nimai Pandita, had come. He appeared before him saying, "I want to take sannyasa from you." But Kesava Bharati could not accept Nimai's offer. "I am charmed by Your beauty and personality," he said. "But You are so young, only twenty-four years old. What about Your mother, Your wife, and Your guardians? Without consulting with them, I cannot venture to give You the robe of renunciation."

In the meantime, as it was Makara-sarikranti, a famous holiday, many people had come to take bath in the holy waters of the Ganges. They gathered there and the rumor spread like fire: "Nimai Pandita of Navadwipa has come to take sannyasa." Many men flocked there, until a huge crowd gathered.
 

 
 

14 January

Late tonight, Nimai Pandit left Nabadwip "bidding goodbye to the people of Nabadwip forever." This is a particularly sad time for the residents of Nabadwip. Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj would be particularly reserved during these coming days, and the devotees would all observe simple eating for three days until Mahaprabhu broke His fast at Advaita Acharyya's home in Shantipur on the day after Ekadashi. This tradition is followed to this day at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

  • Special preparations made for noon Prasadam today in remembrance of the last day at home of Sri Nimai Pandit, include dhud-puli, chiti-pite, baje-pite and narkel-pite. In the evening the offering included the pumpkin and milk sweet rice preparation mentioned in the following excerpt.

    From The Golden Volcano of Divine Love by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj:
 
From The Golden Volcano of Divine Love by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, in relation to this day:
 

According to solar calculation, it was on the day of Makara-sankranti, an auspicious conjunction of the stars, that Nimai Pandita went to Katwa to take sannyasa, the renounced order of life. After this. He would become known as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He swam across the Ganges and in wet cloth ran towards Katwa. Just before this. He told only a few of His friends, including Nityananda Prabhu, Gadadhara Pandita, Mukunda, and others, "The time when I will accept the robe of renunciation is very near."
 

 
 

Updates for:

13 January 2004

  • Santa Clause in Santa Cruz: the Annual Charity Christmas Dinner organised by the devotees of our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram, Soquel, California.
  • Nabadwip 'Sri Chaitanya Book Fair' devotional report by Jagamohini Devi Dasi of USA, focusing on the successful seva of our participating devotees this year.
    From Divine Guidance by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj:
      When attachment and attraction for mundane things live within our heart, they are called pisachi, witches. If witches have us under their spell, then how can Krishna-bhakti live there? Srila Rupa Goswami says it is not possible. Still, if we try with our best mood of service to attain that position, we must get it. It may be sudden or it may be after a long time, but if we try we must get that position, there is no doubt. That attempt is called sadhana. Sadhana is ‘the means to the end.’ Generally our sadhana guides us to the upper level, and prevents us from falling down to a lower level.
 

12 January

Crops
 

10 January

 

09 January 2004

  • Bamunpara additional album pictures, submitted by Prabhu Nilamani and Prabhu Kalachand of USA. Preparing for the Bamunpara Festival, and more inauguration pictures on the big day of the installation of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Gopinathjiu.
  • Ukraine, new Centre, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram, Zaporozh'ya, has manifest by the dedication of the local devotees drawn together in service inspired by the recent visit of Prabhu Srutasrava.

    From Divine Guidance by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj:
      Hankering is the main thing necessary to gain that transcendental knowledge. When that will reveal itself in our heart fully, other disturbances will automatically leave us, just as when the sun rises in the east, all darkness is dispelled from our section of the Earth. So it is necessary for us to have hankering for Krishna-bhakti.
   

08 January 2004

  • Sri Vyasa-Puja Offerings, Volume 2. Over 100 more offerings in glorification of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj on the occasion of his recent Sri Vyasa-Puja. Compiled and presented to His Divine Grace by Vrindavanesvari Devi Dasi of USA, and now available here in a series of PDF files.

    From Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion, Vol. III, by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj:
      King Pariksit had only seven days more to live but Sukadeva Goswami told him: “You say that you have no time, only seven days. But that does not matter at all. Seven days is time enough, only the necessity is your particular attention for the solution. Only a moment is enough. There are so many trees, mountains and hills, they are living years and years, ages after ages, but to no benefit. So what is the necessity of such a long life? It is not a question of longevity or a question of time but what is necessary is the attention to one’s own self: ‘What am I and what is mine?’ With that sort of attitude our attention will be drawn to our own real interest. That is the factor, and not the question of time. There is enough time.”
      So seven days is enough, but the peculiar necessity is to find out how our attention can be drawn towards the reality. When that is discovered, then and there our real interest will be satisfied. And only by sadhu-sanga, the association of the higher, highly realized souls, is that possible.
 

07 January

  • Nabadwip: Sri Chaitanya Book Fair. Pictures taken at our busy booth last night.

    From Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion, Vol. III, by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj:
      One of proper, normal understanding will therefore accept the necessity of revealed truth. Revealed truth does not rely on the majority consideration of the abnormal thinkers. Srauta-pantha means revealed truth, and that must come from the perfect realm: from God Himself. So here is established the indispensable necessity of the srauta-pantha, the method of revelation. It must come from the perfect realm, from sarvajña, from the quarter of omniscience. We find that there are thousands of engagements in those that are unconscious of their own real interest. They are very busy, but very busy about nothing.
   

06 January

  • Additional album pictures of Sri Vyasa-Puja of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, held here in Nabadwip last month.
 

04 January

  • California, USA: the devotees of our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram, Soquel, usher in the New Year with midnight Harinama Sankirttan in downtown Santa Cruz. (Pictures.)
    From Divine Guidance by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj:
      We are always between hopefulness and hopelessness! Hope comes when we are correcting ourselves in line with the transcendental world, but when we are disconnected from that level, then a hopeless position comes to us. It is, therefore, always necessary to keep connection with that transcendental level,and if we try in the way of service we will gain relief very easily.
   

03 January 2004

  • Audio: Sripad Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj's address to the gathering at the Disappearance Festival of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, held here on 13th December. 10+ minutes, 1.3 MB mp3 audio.
 

02 January 2004

 

01 January 2004

  • Audio: Sripad Bhakti Sudhir Goswami Maharaj's address to the gathering at the Disappearance Festival of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, held here on 13th December.
    Part one: 16+ minutes, 1.9 MB mp3 audio.
    Part two: 15+ minutes, 1.8 MB mp3 audio.
 
Wishing all the Devotees a special, successful New Year in Krishna consciousness....
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