HH Indradyumna Swami Diary Volume III, Chapter 12 :

In 1971, I flew with Srila Prabhupada and several Godbrothers from New York to London. As our plane descended into Heathrow Airport, I was looking forward to seeing the ISKCON temple at 7 Bury Place and participating in the devotees’ reception for Srila Prabhupada. However, when we arrived at the airport, one of Srila Prabhupada’s suitcases was missing. It was the suitcase that contained his books of commentaries by the previous acaryas, and he used those books in his translation work. I was devastated when Syamasundara Prabhu asked me to remain behind to wait for the suitcase and bring it to the temple. As the reception party escorted Srila Prabhupada to his car, I sat dejected on a bench, waiting for the suitcase to show up.

Two hours later it was located and I caught a taxi into London. It was raining as we drove into the city, and by the time we reached the temple it was evening and dark outside. Dragging the heavy suitcase into the temple, I found a number of devotees sitting on the floor finishing the feast. When I asked for prasadam, they sheepishly replied that there was nothing left. When I asked for help to take Srila Prabhupada’s suitcase up to his room, they declined, saying that they were too full from the feast. Tired and hungry, I made an effort to pull the suitcase up the stairs to Srila Prabhupada’s room. Dazed from the exertion, I didn’t think to knock on Prabhupada’s door but simply opened it and proceeded to pull the suitcase into the room backwards.

Suddenly, Srila Prabhupada’s secretary, Nanda Kumara Prabhu, called out, “Watch out, you’re about to bump into Srila Prabhupada!”

Whirling around, I found myself face to face with His Divine Grace. I fell at his lotus feet and offered my obeisances. While reciting my prayers, I suddenly felt a strong slap on my back and heard Srila Prabhupada say a few words. After a few moments, Srila Prabhupada walked away to his bathroom and I cautiously got up. I found Nanda Kumara looking at me, his mouth open.

“Boy, did you get some mercy. Srila Prabhupada slapped you on the back. I never saw him do that before.”

I was amazed and blissful. “What did he say?”

“He told you, ‘So much endeavor in this material world, but when I take you home, back to Godhead, everything will be easy and sublime.”

by Bhakti Vichar Vishnu Maharaja

Once few Sannyasis visited his house, late afternoon.

He invited them, honored them and gave them space to rest. Later, he offered them the food.

The Sannyasis said that they do not eat after Sun-set. And it is the time for the Sun to set.

He looked outside the window towards setting-Sun and then requested the Sannyasis to wait. He went outside the house and climbed the Lemon tree.

Once on the top of the tree, he used his Yogic energy to stop the movement of the Sun thereby preventing the Sun to set.

He returned and told his guests that they may have their meals, as Sun wont set till they have finished their meals.

Since that day He is known as Nimb-aditya or Nimb-ark Acharya.

Sanskrit of Lemon is ‘Nimb’. Sun is also known as ‘Aditya’ or ‘Ark’. Combining these two we get the words Nimbaditya or Nimbarkacharya.

He later on became the Acharya of one of the four Authentic Vaishnav Sampradayas. He was Acharya of Kumar Sampraday.

by Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti

FIRST PREACHERS IN THE COMMUNIST WORLD

When Srila A.C. Bhaktivedant Swami Maharaj (Founder – ISKCON) went to America, the Cold War between communism and capitalism was going on intensively. The communist countries were gaining influence after winning the war in Vietnam and nobody in the world could imagine that there could be a change in the situation. Srila A.C. Bhaktivedant Swami Maharaj systematically sent His followers to penetrate the so-called “iron curtain” behind communism, where an atheistic philosophy and form of government was flourishing.

After several attempts Srila Swami Maharaj was officially invited to Moscow by Professor G. G. Kotovsky, the head of the Indian and South Asian Studies Department of the U.S.S.R. Nevertheless, the five days Srila Swami Maharaj spent on Russian soil provided Him with ample opportunity to establish the movement that would eventually play out in Soviet Russia. His initial strategy emerged when He met a young Russian seeker, Anatoly Pinyayev, who would soon become Ananta Shanti Das. Sri Ananta Shanti was Srila Swami Maharaj’s courageous and lone student in the Soviet Union and would later be responsible for opening many centers all over Russia.

Nandafalva in Hungary became the first Krishna Conscious farm community behind the Iron Curtain. According to one anecdote, pioneering devotees like Sri Krishnananda Das and Sri Janardan Maharaj had to face the local police.

Yugoslavia was a gateway, because even though the country was communist, its border policies were not as strict as those of other countries. In East Germany, preachers could only go in with a 24-hour visa and had to come back the same day; devotees went in at least a hundred times or more. The Library Party also visited communist countries and distributed Srila Swami Maharaj´s books in many universities by gaining recommendations of some professors who could understand the importance of His message.

The first disciple of Srila Swami Maharaj in East Germany was called Eka Das. When Sri Eka Das was arrested for his preaching activities and put in solitary confinement, he chanted 64 rounds of Japa and refused to take the untouchable food. After some months, the communist regime resolved that they could not handle this monk and that it was better to throw him out, so overnight they deported him to West Germany.

Books were smuggled into communist countries, and the Swedish BBT started publishing the books translated into Czech by Paraghati and Turiya and into Russian and Hungarian by Sri Bhakti Abhay Narayan Maharaj.

Who could have imagined that Krishna Consciousness would spread in Russia? But Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu predicted that the Krishna Consciousness movement would spread to every town and village of the world and He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead—so His prediction will never go in vain. It is by His mercy that these fruits of love are meant for everyone and it is up to you, dear reader, to both receive the fruit and to then distribute it to others. Today there are preachers circling the globe from different missions, and the name of Krishna has become a household word. Yoga and Ayurveda are even accepted by the ministers of education in many countries. Nevertheless, we should consider the spreading of the values of Vedic teachings across the whole planet to be only in its very beginning stages.

PIONEERS IN OTHER DANGEROUS PLACES

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedant Swami Maharaj also sent His blessings to China. Sri Dayananda Das was sent to South Arabia where he was also very active. Other disciples were sent to Pakistan and Beirut. Sri Tribuvanath Das was sent to Beirut, Turkey. Others pioneers were sent to Chile and Argentina, which were totally in the grip of military dictatorships.

A MARTYR IN SERVICE TO THE VAISHNAVAS

We want to give special thanks to Srimati Hladini Devi dasi, one of the great pioneers of Krishna Consciousness in Lybia. This valiant disciple of Srila A. C. Bhaktivedant Swami Maharaj lost her life as she tried to defend the African devotees from an enraged dictator. Both, Srimati Hladini Devi Dasi and her boys were shot dead.

Srimati Premavati Mataji was pregnant (in the last month) at the time of arrest. After the birth of her baby, authorities only allowed her to spend 1 hour a day with her baby. Later her infant child was killed by the prison officers wanting to extract information from her regarding the whereabouts of other devotees whom they wished to capture.

Srimati Ananga Manjari came out of ‘home’ with completely white hair as if an old lady, even though she was only 23 years old at that time.

Sri Sachi Suta Das was an amazing personality, his main goal in life was to distribute Srila Swami Maharaja’s books as much as possible, he was eventually captured and tortured to death in jail.

Source: World Vaishnava Association Magazine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDuvecztx-E

This is a humble tribute unto the Divine Lotus Feet of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada on His Auspicious Advent Day. This presentation is based on Sri Prabhupada
Padma Stavakah – A Prayer unto the Divine Lotus Feet of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada composed and sung by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. The images and the
audio have been borrowed from the internet and we the grand and the great-grand disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada express our profound gratitude to all the devotees for
their devotional contribution in uploading the same. This presentation has been made at TGKI Studios.

Sri Prabhupada-padma Stavakah

Written by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj

sujanarvuda-radhita-pada-yugam
yuga-dharma-dhurandhara-patra-varam
varadabhaya-dayaka-pujya-padam
pranamami sada prabhupada-padam [1]

bhajanorjjita-sajjana-sangha-patim
patitadhika-karunikaika-gatim
gati-vanchita-vanchakachintya-padam
pranamami sada prabhupada-padam [2]

atikomala-kanchana-dirgha-tanum
tanu-nindita-hema-mrnala-madam
madanarvuda-vandita-chandra-padam
pranamami sada prabhupada-padam [3]

nija-sevaka-taraka-ranji-vidhum
vidhutahita-hunkrta-simha-varam
varanagata-balisa-sanda-padam
pranamami sada prabhupada-padam [4]

vipulikrta-vaibhava-gaura-bhuvam
bhuvanesu vikirtita-gaura-dayam
dayaniya-ganarpita-gaura-padam
pranamami sada prabhupada-padam [5]

chira-gaura-janasraya-visva-gurum
guru-gaura-kisoraka-dasya-param
paramadrta-bhaktivinoda-padam
pranamami sada prabhupada-padam [6]

raghu-rupa-sanatana-kirtti-dharam
dharani-tala-kirttita-jiva-kavim
kaviraja-narottama-sakhya-padam
pranamami sada prabhupada-padam [7]

krpaya hari-kirtana-murti-dharam
dharani-bhara-haraka-gaura-janam
janakadhika-vatsala-snigdha-padam
pranamami sada prabhupada-padam [8]

saranagata-kinkara-kalpa-tarum
taru-dhik-krta dhira vadanya varam
varadendra-ganarchita-divya-padam
pranamami sada prabhupada-padam [9]

parahamsa-varam paramartha-patim
patitodharane krta-vesa-yatim
yati-raja-ganaih parisevya-padam
pranamami sada prabhupada-padam [10]

vrsabhanu-suta-dayitanucharam
charanasrita-renu-dharas tam aham
mahad-adbhuta-pavana-sakti-padam
pranamami sada prabhupada-padam [11]

If the God or Vaishnava appear in the world, then this is not an ordinary birth, but Their Abirbhava (appearance). Whenever They go away from this world it means it is Their Tirobhava (disappearance).

“The Vedas speak of Abirbhava and Tirobhava only”.

The Sun rises. It does not mean that it takes birth. It is faulty. On the other hand the sun has set. It does not mean that it is no more. It is a faulty deduction. Whenever it comes to us it is its Abirbhava. With its disappearance Tirobhava is meant. They do not come by birth. They do not also breathe their last. Thus it is said in the Gita (4.9):

“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna”.

Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna said that “My appearance and work are divya”.

Divya means transcendental and it is not materialistic. One is customary material. The other is spiritual. It will be an aparadha (offence) if customary and materials matters are united with spiritualism.

— His Divine Grace Parampujyapad Srila Bhakti Kumud Sant Goswami Maharaj ji,

Source – http://srilabhaktikumudsantamaharaj.blogspot.in/

This is the pastime of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj ji – Founder Acharya, Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math

‘Srila Madhav Maharaj is referred as ‘Srila Gurudeva’ in the following texts.’

…………………………………

During His preaching engagement, Srila Gurudeva spent a few days in the Assamese capital, Guwahati. Through the efforts of Sri Krishna Keshava Brahmachari and Sri Chinta Haran Patgiri, He had the opportunity to meet many of Assam’s leading citizens and preach to them. Amongst these people were Assam’s chief minister, Sri Gopinath Bardalai, Sri Durgeshwar Sharma, Sri Kumudeshwar Goswami, and others.

Arrangements were made for Srila Gurudeva to speak on the Bhagavatam at the Chief Minister’s house. The people who came there to hear Him speak the pure doctrines of the Bhagavatam were enchanted. One day after Gurudeva’s lecture, Sri Gopinath Bardalai came to him with great enthusi­asm and praised his explanation of siddhanta. He said, “Upon hearing your Bhagavata-explanation, I am convinced that your objectives and those of Mahatma Gandhi are the same. You give so many examples from scriptures and explain everything logically, and then you tell people to chant the names of Supreme Lord Krishna. Gandhiji also ends his speeches­, in which he talks about so many different things, by engaging everyone in ‘Sri Ram Nam dhun.’ So both of you have the same goal—to make people chant the names of God. I don’t see any difference between your messages. What do you think of this opinion?”

Srila Gurudeva recognized that Sri Gopinath Bardalai had great faith and affection for Him. He did not wish to disturb his mind by saying something that would hurt him, so He decided to instruct him according to his level of understanding. He said, “If you don’t mind, then I will tell you what I think.”

The Chief Minister said, “I have been illuminated by all your valuable instructions. I have never heard such a learned discourse on the Bhagavatam from anyone else before. How could I mind if you say anything at all for my benefit. Speak freely and say whatever you wish to say.”

Srila Guru Maharaj then said, “Before I entered the Math, I used to take part in the Independence movement. Sri Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram used to publish an English newspaper called Young India, which I often read. I remember once that Gandhiji told his audience in a speech that he was ready to abandon even the chanting of the Holy Name for the sake of his country. As far as I can remember, his exact words were, ‘I can even sacrifice Rama-dhun for my country.’

“We, on the other hand, say exactly the opposite: ‘We can sacrifice our country for Sri Rama-dhun’, ‘we can sacrifice anything for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.’ Our worshipable Lord Ram is not there for us and our ends. Everything exists for Him. Western philosophers have defined the Absolute by saying, ‘The Absolute is for itself and by itself.’ We do not have an ‘it-god’. Our Lord is the Supreme Person, the ‘He-God.’ So we prefer to say, The Absolute is for Himself and by Himself.’ The unlimited universes come out of Him, they exist within Him and they are maintained by Him. So their existence is uniquely to fulfill His ends. If anyone wishes to worship the Lord, he must have a prop­er theological understanding.”

Sri Gopinath Bardalai was so influenced by Srila Gurudeva’s powerful personality that he told Him that he want­ed to abandon householder life and live in the Math, dedi­cating his entire life to the service of the Lord. Unfortunately, his associates would not let him leave politics. Not long afterward he died and so was never able to do as he had wished. Politics are so entangling that once one has gotten involved in them, it is very difficult to extricate oneself.

submitted by Bhakti Vichar Vishnu Maharaja

The sound ‘Jaya’ is uttered both at the beginning and at the end of Puja to signify praying of Grace of Guru- Vaishnav-Bhagawan.

The word ‘Jaya’ literally indicates to the conquer.

May Guru-Visahnav-Bhagwan conquer me – make me their own – grace me – bestow me their service.

For devotional performance Grace of Guru – Vaishnav – Bhagawan is essential.

— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj.

Source: http://www.bvml.org/SBBTM/jaan.html

by Bhakti Vichar Vishnu Maharaja

Srila Madhvendra Puripad, a devotee of Supreme Lord Sri Krishna once visited Remuna, a place in Orissa. During his visit to place he went for an audience (darshan) of Sri Gopinath deity.

Seeing the beautiful image of Lord Gopinath in Remuna, Srila Madhavendra Puri was overwhelmed with love, and started singing His names and danced for some time in ecstasy. He asked one of Lord Gopinath’s Brahmin servants what foods were offered to the deity. The Brahmin answered: “In the evening we offer Sri Gopinath twelve bowls of amrit-keli, a thickened milk preparation that is like the nectar of the gods. It is famous everywhere as Sri Gopinath’s khira, and no offering anywhere in the world is its equal. As the Brahmin spoke, other servants of Lord Gopinath started to make the amrita-keli offering to their deity. Srila Puri thought that if he could just get a taste of this preparation, he would be able to one day make it himself and offer it to his own Lord Gopal. However, this very thought shamed him, as it is improper to desire the food intended for the Lord. After watching the arati ceremony, Srila Madhavendra went outside and sat in the empty market-place, chanting the Holy Names.

In the meantime, the pujari had finished his duties and was taking rest when he had a vision of the deity in a dream telling him, “Get up! Open the door. I have put a bowl of amrit-keli khira aside for the sannyasi. It is hidden behind the pleats of My dress. You did not see Me put it there because of My power (maya). The sannyasi, whose name is Madhava Puri, is sitting in the marketplace. Quickly take this khira to him.”

The pujari was startled by the dream and immediately got up. He bathed, opened the door to the altar and found a bowl of the khira behind the deity’s cloth, just a he had been told. He took the bowl and went to find Srila Madhavendra Puri. He wandered through the market, shouting, “I have khira here for Madhava Puri. Lord Gopinath has stolen it for you. Take it and eat it with joy, for there is no person as fortunate as you in the three worlds.”

When Srila Madhavendra heard the pujari shouting in this way, he approached him and identified himself. The pujari gave him the khira and then fell at his feet.. He recounted the whole story to Srila Madhavendra sending him into paroxysms of divine love for Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. He respectfully ate the prasad and then, after washing the clay bowl, broke it into many small pieces and wrapped them up in his outer garment. Each day thereafter, he would eat a piece of the clay bowl and once again feel the same ecstatic love.

Knowing that word of this miracle would spread by morning, Srila Madhavendra Puri became fearful of the celebrity that would inevitably befall him and the crowd of people that would then surround him. So, he paid his obeisance to Lord Gopinath and left for Puri before dawn.

Only those who are fully dedicated to Bhagavan and exclusively surrendered to Sri Krishna are sadhus. The association of such sadhus is the only desirable thing for us, because it alone bestows the highest welfare. In one sense, only sadhus are the life of one’s very life.

— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Pragyan Keshav Goswami Maharaj.

Source

by Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti

One day a devotee asked Srila Sridhara Maharaja why the different Gosvamis were presenting different aspects of the transcendental teachings. Srila Jiva Gosvami worked very hard to find sastric quotes to protect everything taught by his predecessor acaryas. Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was very keen to explain the rituals and all the different processes of deity worship. This is still apparent in his Radha-ramana temple, where high standards are kept to this day. Srila Sanatana Gosvami was very focused on the sambandha aspect of devotional life. Srila Rupa Gosvami is the abidheya acarya and Srila Ragunath dasa Gosvami our prayojana acarya. In this way, each and everyone had something to contribute. Srila Sridhara Maharaja looked very sternly and said, “Do not think that any one of the Gosvamis could not have done any of the things the others did. It’s not that one is higher or lower than the other. It’s just that it developed according to the sweet will of Sri Krsna.”

So, when you look at the acaryas, don’t look down on the ones that did not go around the world, like Srila Prabhupada. This type of classification comes from an “Olympic” consciousness. In the West we often only appreciate the “gold medalists” and disregard everyone else. This mentality is not a Vaisnava mentality. Everybody does what destiny has designed for him. I’ve met many of the disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who fit perfectly into the category of the nirupadhi Vaisnava. The nirupadhi Vaisnava is that Vaisnava who externally doesn’t have any distinction. He may not be an acarya; he may not even be a sannyasi or the founder of a temple, but in his heart devotion lives and shines brightly, just like in the heart of somebody else that has done extraordinary things. If we disrespect such a nirupadhi Vaisnava, our whole process will be in vain.

Source: Sato Vrtteh – Following in the Footsteps of Previous Acaryas

The Appearance Day of Srila Abhirama Thakura (Sri Rama dasa) is observed on April 29th.

pura shridama-namasid abhiramo’dhuna mahan
dvatrimshata janair eva vahyam kashtham uvaha sah

He who was previously known as Sridama is today Abhirama Thakur. He picked up a piece of wood that it took 32 men to lift.
(Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 126)

Abhirama Thakur lived with his wife Malini in the village of Khanakul Krishnanagara in the Hooghly district. Khana refers to the Dvarakesvara River, kula means banks; thus, the village of Krishnanagara on the banks of the Dvarakesvara River is also known as Khanakula Krishnanagara. At the doors of his temple stands a large Bakula tree which is known as the Siddha-bakula, and the place is popularly called Siddha-bakula Kunja. This is the place where Abhirama Thakur first sat down when he arrived in the village. The Gopinath deity was found when digging for a tank first began. This tank goes by the name of Sri Abhirama Kund. The temple also houses the deities of Vrajavallabha, Gopal and a Salagram Sila.

Sri Abhirama Thakur was a very vigorous and powerful acharya. He engaged in preaching on the orders of Lord Nityananda and saved many atheists and people opposed to the Vaishnava religion.

Abhirama Goswami possessed a fiery temper and great spiritual power. The atheists trembled whenever they saw him. He was intoxicated as though he had been possessed by Nityananda, and his enchanting mercies are famed throughout the world.
(Bhakti-ratnakara 4.103-4)

Rama Das Abhirama was fully absorbed in the mood of friendship. He lifted a flute which contained sixteen knots. (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.10.116)

This reference in the Chaitanya Charitamrita is also that found in the Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika which says that Abhirama Thakur lifted a log which would normally have taken 32 people to lift. The Bhakti-ratnakara states that it would have taken hundreds of people. After lifting it, he held it like a flute.

He held in his hands a piece of wood that a hundred men could not move, in the way one holds a flute.
(Bhakti-ratnakara 4.123)

The devotees were greatly astonished when they saw him perform such superhuman feats. According to one legend, whenever Abhirama Thakur paid his obeisances to a stone or statue, if it was not a Vishnu-shila or a consecrated deity, it would crack or be reduced to powder. Non-devotees were also unable to tolerate his pranamas. Nityananda’s son Virachandra Goswami and daughter Ganga Devi survived his obeisances, which confirmed their divinity. These things are written in ashtakas composed by Abhirama Thakur in their name.

Srila Abhirama Thakur possessed an amazing whip which he named Jaya-mangala. Anyone who was touched by this whip would immediately experience the transcendental ecstasies of prema. One day Srinivas Acharya visited Abhirama Thakur who gave him three lashes with that whip. Abhirama’s wife Malini stopped her husband from hitting him again, saying that Srinivas was just a young lad who wouldn’t be able to tolerate the effects of divine love. Nevertheless, Srinivas Acharya was very dear to Abhirama and received many blessings from him. Though not his initiated disciple, he was like a disciple to him. The Jaya-mangala whip is still held in the Krishnanagara temple.

In the Bhakti-ratnakara, the following statement is also made:

O Srinivas! How much more can I say? Abhirama descended into this world in order to deliver it. Taking birth in a Brahmin family, he became a scholar in all the scriptures and was an unequalled musician, not only in song and playing musical instruments, but in dance also. He married at Nityananda Balaram’s request. His wife Malini is also indescribably powerful.
(Bhakti-ratnakara 4.105-8)

Many people say that the Bali Math in Puri was established by Abhirama Thakur. An annual festival is held in Khanakula Krishnanagara on his disappearance day, i.e., the Chaitra krishna saptami.

Our parama-guru, Jagad-guru Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur visited this site when travelling on the parikrama of Sri Gaura Mandala. At that time, the devotees charged with the temple greeted him with great hospitality and honored him and his followers with special treatment.

Source: Sri Chaitanya: His Life & Associates” by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha  Goswami Maharaj

Acharya Sri Nirmal Chandra Goswami was the 15th sevaita acharya of the Sri Radha Damodar mandir. His ancestry can be traced to Sri Krishna Das Goswami, a student of Sri Jiva Goswami who established the worship of Sri Sri Radha Damodar in 1542 CE.

Sri Nirmal Chandra Goswami was born on April 1, 1945 at home, at the Radha Damodar temple premises, to Sri Gaurachand Goswami and his wife Srimati. One of two sons, he received all his education and training directly from his father at the Radha Damodar complex. In 1978, on the passing away of his father, he assumed all responsibilities for the service of Sri Radha Damodar.

Sri Nirmal Chandra Goswami was very attached to mangal arati, the pre-dawn worship of Sri Radha Damodar, and his sons mention that even as his health waned he would try to have darshan of his beloved Lordships at mangal arati.

The Sri Sri Radha Damodar temple is unique in the world of Gaudiya Vaishnavism in several ways. In addition to the deities, and Govardhan sila, that are worshipped here, there are also the samadhis of Sri Rupa Goswami, Sri Jiva Goswami and other prominent acharyas.

Furthermore, to the modern Gaudiya Vaishnav movement is the connection between this temple and Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON. To this day Srila Prabhupada’s room and kitchen are still maintained and preserved adjacent to the temple room.

Acharya Gaurachand Goswami had invited Srila Prabhupada to stay at the Radha Damodar temple, where he lived for several years while he translated the initial volumes of the Srimad Bhagavatam, and as he prayed and meditated on taking his teachings to the west.

Sri Nirmal Chandra Goswami had some sweet dealings with Srila Prabhupada and according to his sons would often accompany him to take their morning bath in the Yamuna. One winter morning when the water was very cold and Nirmal Chandra was reluctant to take a bath in the river, Srila Prabhupada showed him how the water on the banks of the river, at the edges, were cold but that it warmed up as one went further into the water.

On another occasion, Sri Nirmal Chandra went to visit Srila Prabhupada in delhi. He had planned to be there only for the day, but he ended up staying with Srila Prabhupada for upto three days there. Since he had not planned on staying more than a day, he had not taken an extra pair of clothing, and so Srila Prabhupada lent him his sannyas clothes for the rest of the time that he was there.

Often times, while Sri Nirmal Chandra Goswami would offer mangal arati, Srila Prabhupada would play mridanga. Later, Srila Prabhpada also invited Sri Nirmal Chandra Goswami to the west to teach his students deity worship.

Sri Nirmal Chandra often talked to his sons about how Vrindavan had changed from the time of his youth, when it was predominantly forests of trees and huts, and mostly renunciates, to all the large construction that currently seems to dominate the atmosphere.

In his last days, he was very attached to Sri Jiva Goswami’s Gopala Champu, which he would often read. A day before passing away he instructed his sons that their first bhajan was to take care of Sri Radha Damodar’s service, that all the aratis and offerings should be done properly and on time and all the festivals should be conducted nicely, and that with whatever other time they had to meditate on Sri Radha Damodar and do do their chanting.

As his health was failing his family requested him to go to a hospital in Delhi, and on his request he was taken to Jaipur because he felt a deep connection with the deities of Sri Radha Govinda and Sri Radha Gopinath who reside there.

He left this mortal world for the eternal realm on Ekadasi, on Thursday February 4th, 2016, during his favorite time of mangal arati. He is succeeded by his five sons to whom he has entrusted the care and worship of Sri Radha Damodar.

Sri Nirmal Chandra Goswami will be put into samadhi on Feb 15,2016. There will be a festival starting at 9.30 am with pushpanjali, akhanda harinam sankirtan and samadhi pratishta, and a feast at 1 pm. All are welcome.

by Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Even though Goswami had no money and a family of some playful boys, still he always talked about his plans. Nirmal Chandji or “Panchu” as he was affectionately addressed, always spoke with great enthusiasm about his plans. Goswamiji overflowed with confidence and hope, knowing in his heart that surely in time, Damodar would do everything…..

From 1989-1992, I lived in the Radha-Damodara Mandir and had close association with Acharya Sri Nirmal Chand Goswamiji. Sometimes, I would sit with Goswamiji, and he would tell me about his plans and ideas for developing the mandira and improving Thakuraji’s seva. At that time, Goswamiji’s sons were small and Goswamiji had no money. So I really wondered how Goswamiji would ever realize his dreams for improvement.

I will cite an anecdote to show how scarce money was at that time. Just before Kartik in 1989, Goswami met me in the courtyard and greeted me with his usual full-hearted, deep sounding, “Joi Damodar!” Up until this time, kheer bhoga was not being offered to Thakuraji. Goswamij said, “Listen, maharaja. I have no money, but for this Kartik I really want to offer daily kheer to Damodar. Can you help,” he humbly asked. He said the cost was about Rs. 1100 for the month. I agreed and for three consecutive Kartiks, Damodara got His kheer bhoga. Joi Damodara!

In the mornings, I used to see Goswamij taking darshana at mangala aratika. When Kartik came, however, everything changed and I was pleasantly surprised. Goswami himself was personally offering the mangal aratika to Damodarji.

Up until this time, I never saw anyone sitting inside the bhajan kutir of Srila Rupa Goswamipada. One day around 5 a.m., I saw someone inside the kutir, sitting very straight with his back toward the door. Every day during Kartik that person sat there without moving from 5 am until 10 am chanting, meditating, and reciting stotrams and other prayers. I asked Kanika who that was, and as a loving son proud of his father he replied, “That’s my father inside the kutir observing his niyam seva vrata for Kartik!”

During our three years together, Goswami would often sit with me revealing his plans. He told me that if he ever gets any money, he would like to widen the darshan doors of Damodar’s altar; offer a new granite altar with nice chatris above Thakurji; widen the doorway from the samadhi courtyard to the mandir; remove the broken old stones and make a smooth safe parikrama marga; erect a new samadhi for Srila Rupa Goswamipada; install murtis of Sri Jiva and Sri Rupa in their kutir and samadhi; establish murtis of all six Goswamis in a small temple; repair and make new temple entrance gate; cover the darshan mandap with monkey cage; protect entire parikrama marga with monkey cage; build a hari-katha hall before the samadhi; establish Go-Seva; start distribution of kitri (khichari) bhog to the poor neighbors; start a monthly spiritual magazine glorifying Damodarji; improve Thakurji’s bhoga standard, dresses, decorations, lighting and decorations; and build nice guest rooms in the temple for yatris and devotees.

After these meetings, I used to sit in Srila Prabhupada’s kitchen and think, “Here is one devotee who lives and breathes, dreams, thinks and talks only about the seva of his most beloved Thakurji, Sri Damodarlal. I was very, very impressed with the depth of Goswami’s attachment to Damodarji, and his burning desire to please the Lord of his life in every possible way.

Even though Goswami had no money and a family of five playful boys, still he always talked about his plans. Goswamiji always spoke with great enthusiasm about his plans. Goswamiji overflowed with confidence and hope, knowing in his heart that surely in time, Damodar would do everything.

And now 27 years later in 2016, we can all clearly see how Lord Damodar has fulfilled every single plan of Goswami for Thakurji’s seva. This is a miracle of devotion! The grand success of the magnificent Radha-Damodar Mandir clearly shows the amazing bond of love between Lord Damodar and His dearest eternal sevait, Shri Nirmal Chand Goswamiji.

The full moon is cooling, soothing and very beautiful, but flawed by the presence of spots. The full moon of devotion for the Lord, however, the Damodar Bhakti Chandra, is both beautiful and also spotlessly pure. And that Damodar Bhakti Chandra is none other than Shri Nirmal Chand Goswamiji.

Joi Damodara! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

Radha Damodar development project

shri-varuni-revata-vamsha-sambhave
tasya priye dve vasudha ca jahnavi
shri-surya-dasasya mahatmanah sute
kakudma-rupasya ca surya-tejasah
ananga-maïjarim kecij jahnavam ca pracakshate
ubhayam tu samicinam purva-nyayat satam matam

Balaram’s wives Varuni and Revati became Vasudha and Jahnavi, the two wives of Nityananda Prabhu, in Chaitanya-lila. Both of them were the daughters of Surya Das, who was as effulgent as the sun. He was Kakudman, the father of Revati, in his previous birth. According to another opinion, Jahnava was the incarnation of Ananga Mjari. Both these opinions are possible, as we have shown that more than one identity can be joined in associates of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
(Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 65-6)

Jahnava’s father was Surya Das Sarakhela. According to the Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidhana, her mother’s name was Bhadravati. Surya Das’s Shripata is in the village of Shaligrama, which is not far from Nabadwip, situated close to the Muragacha station on the Eastern Railway. Surya Das was the third son of Kamsari Mishra. His older brothers were Damodar and Jagannath, his younger brothers, Gauri Das, Krishna Das Sarakhela and Nrisingha Chaitanya.

Shaligrama is not far from Nabadwip. Surya Das Pandit made his home there. He held an important post in the service of the king of Gauda, as a result of which he was given the title Sarakhela (‘commander’) and earned a large amount of money. Surya Das and his brothers were all very pure in their character and they had a spotless reputation. His virtues are innumerable. His daughters were Vasudha and Jahnava.
(Bhakti-ratnakara 12.3875-8)

Surya Das Sarakhela and Krishna Das were brothers who both had great faith in Nityananda and were filled with love for Krishna. (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.11.25)

Surya Das Sarakhela was a magnanimous devotee whose brother was Gauri Das Pandit. Gauri Das took his permission to come and live in Ambika on the banks of the Ganges.
(Bhakti-ratnakara 7.330-1)

Nityananda Prabhu’s wedding

Narahari Chakravarti Thakur has written about Jahnava Devi’s holy life at length in his Bhakti-ratnakara. Every manifestation of Vishnu-tattva has three energies which are known as Shri, Bhu, and Nila or Lila. Nityananda Prabhu is also Vishnu-tattva and possesses these three energies. In the 12th Taranga of the Bhakti-ratnakara, Lord Nityananda’s wedding is described as taking place according to human custom. The essence of that description is as follows.

A certain kayastha named Krishna Das, the son of Harihoria of Bariagachi, a village near Shaligrama, took the responsibility of seeking a wife for Nityananda Prabhu. A certain elderly Brahmin from Shaligrama saw that Surya Das was worried about finding a suitable husband for his two daughters and made the following suggestion: “In the village of Ekacakra in Rarhadesha are a couple named Hariai Pandit and Padmavati Devi. They were Vasudeva and Rohini in their previous lives in Krishna-lila. Balaram has become incarnate as their son, Nityananda. Nitai traveled to all the places of pilgrimage and performed many austerities and became a great scholar before coming to Nabadwip and becoming Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s dearest associate. He is the eternal husband of your two daughters.”

In a dream, Surya Das also had a vision of Nityananda as Balaram with Vasudha and Jahnava standing to his left and right in their forms as Revati and Varuni. When Surya Das took the Brahmin’s advice seriously and offered the two girls to Nityananda’s lotus feet, Nityananda Prabhu mercifully gave him the same vision directly. Surya Das fainted in ecstasy.

He saw Vasudha and Jahnava as Varuni and Revati, whose forms were more effulgent than mountains of gold and kunkum. Standing to the left and right of Balaram, they were decorated in magnificent jewelry and bedecked in fine, colorful clothes. Nityananda revealed this magnificence to his devotee in order to give him joy, and Surya Das completely forgot himself in his ecstasy.
(Bhakti-ratnakara 12.3908-10)

The adhivasa rituals on the eve of the wedding were conducted in the house of Krishna Das Sarakhela in Shaligrama. All the Brahmins of Bariagachi and Shaligrama were present there.

The fortunate Surya Das Sarakhela gave his two daughters away to Nityananda Prabhu according to the religious rites and popular custom.
(Bhakti-ratnakara 12.3983)

At Sachi Mata’s request, Nityananda Prabhu stayed for some time after his wedding in Shantipur before moving to Saptagram, where he stayed with Uddharan Datta, and then establishing a permanent residence at Khardaha on the banks of the Ganges.

Jahnava Devi herself had no sons, but Nityananda’s Shakti Vasudha Devi gave birth to Virabhadra (or Viracandra) Goswami and Ganga Devi, who are the incarnations of Kshirodakashayi Vishnu and the river Ganges, respectively. According to the Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika (69), Ganga Devi’s husband Madhavacharya is an incarnation of King Shantanu.

Jahnava Devi’s travels

Jahnava was present when Narottama Das Thakur put on a great festival at Kheturi village to install the deities on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s appearance day. Indeed, the installation of the deities took place under her direction. She also supervised and personally participated in the cooking of the first offering and made the first offering to the deities. She served the prasad to the assembled mahantas.

Jahnava Ishvari rose early that morning in great delight and took her bath and did her mantra meditation. Then she began to cook innumerable vegetable preparations with great enthusiasm.
(Bhakti-ratnakara 10.686-7)

All of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s personal associates from Bengal were very happy to see Narottama Das. Jahnava Devi, the daughter of Surya Pandit and wife of Nityananda Prabhu, worshiped by the entire universe, expert in the distribution of the pearl of prema, was delighted to hear his name. Her joy increased when she observed his uncommon love for Krishna and his renunciation. Out of her mercy, she came to Kheturi, satisfying everyone by being present there and giving her darshan to all. How can a fallen person like myself fully describe the compassionate nature of Srimati Jahnava Devi.
(Bhakti-ratnakara 1.429-34)

Jahnava Devi’s travels are described in the eleventh Taranga of Bhakti-ratnakara. On the road from Kheturi to Braj she stopped in a prosperous village where she delivered some atheistic unbelievers and criminals and bestowed Krishna-prema upon them. When she arrived in Vrindavan, she saw the samadhi of Gauri Das Pandit which moved her to tears. When in Vrindavan, the leaders of the Vaishnava community such as Jiva Goswami, Gopal Bhatta Goswami, Lokanatha Gosvami, Bhugarbha Goswami, Madhu Pandit, etc., all came to offer her their respectful greetings. Taking these leaders with her, she visited the principle temples of Vrindavan — Madana Mohana, Govinda and Gopinath — before going to Radha Kund. There she met Raghunath Das Goswami, who was engaged in constant chanting of the Holy Names, and whose body was emaciated by his austerities.

Jahnava remained in Radha Kund for three days engaged in bhajana. She heard the sound of Krishna’s flute while sitting on the banks of the tank and had a vision of Sri Krishna which overwhelmed her with waves of divine love. The ghat where Jahnava bathed and had this vision is today known as Sri Jahnava Ghat. She then took the company of Vaishnavas on a parikrama of Vraja-mandala. During this parikrama she heard Jiva Goswami discourse on Brihad-Bhagavatamrita.

After her visit to Braj, Jahnava returned to Gauda-desha where she visited numerous villages. She spent three or four days in Kheturi (Narottama Das’s home), some time in Budhuri (the home of Ramachandra Kaviraj in Murshidabad district), the place of Nityananda’s birth in Ekacakra (Birbhum), Katwa (where Mahaprabhu took sannyasa and where she met Yadunandana Acharya), Jajigrama (Srinivas Acharya’s home village), Shrikhanda (the home of Raghunandan Thakur, son of Narahari Sarkara Thakur), Nabadwip, Ambika, Saptagram (where she visited Uddharan Datta’s house) before finally returning to Khardaha. There she recounted the story of her entire voyage to Vasudha and Virabhadra Goswami.

By Jahnava Devi’s mercy, Nityananda’s dear associate Paramesvari Das Thakur was fortunate enough to see Gopinath united with Radharani in Vrindavan. When he returned to Khardaha and told what he had seen to Jahnava and Vasudha, Jahnava was overwhelmed with loving ecstasies. She instructed him to immediately go to the village of Satpur and to install deities of Radha and Gopinath there.

Jahnava Devi arranged for Virabhadra’s marriage to Yadunandana Acharya’s two daughters, Shrimati and Narayani, both of whom became disciples of Jahnava.

Nityananda’s shakti, Srimati Jahnava Devi disappeared on the shukla navami tithi of Vaishakh.

Sri Virabhadra Goswami was inundated with Srimati Jahnava Mata’s mercy, becoming Her direct initiated disciple. Sri Nityananda Das writes in his Prema-Vilasa that when Sri Virabhadra saw Srimati Jahnava Devi in a four-armed form, His mind was changed and He decided to accept Her as His diksha Guru.

Without the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu’s energy, Srimati Jahnava Devi, no one is able to cross over the ocean of material life, nor can one obtain the service of Sri Nityananda Prabhu and enter into the loving service of His worshipable Sri Gaurhari and Sri Sri Radha-Krishna.

Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur has written in his Kalyankalpatru:

“O Jahnava Devi! Be merciful today to your servant and deliver me from my pain. Give me a place in the boat of your lotus feet so that I can be sure to cross over the ocean of birth and death. You are Nityananda’s energy. You are devotion to Krishna and my guru. Please give this servant the desire tree of your lotus feet. How numerous are the fallen souls that you have saved? So this fallen beggar seeks a place at your feet.”

Srila Krishna Das in his song that begins as Jaya Radhe Jaya Krishna Jaya Vrindavana, has prayed for Jahnava Devi’s mercy after glorifying Krishna’s name, abode and associates: “Remembering Jahnava Devi’s lotus feet, the lowly Krishna Das sings the name of the Lord”.

Submitted by Bhakti Vichar Vishnu Maharaja

“Chandravali and Srimati Radharani are fighting to make Sri Krsna happy, but we are fighting to accumulate more power”

by Arjun das

In 2005, I decided to visit Jagannath Puri for Rath Yatra. It was my first visit to any Math after Harinam. The first thing I did was to equip myself with a film SLR camera anticipating interesting moments and visuals. Every year from then on, the camera accompanied me – so much so that most of the time, I used to take snapshots more than actually participating.

In 2010 or 11 I was staying in Mumbai. A few devotees wanted to purchase a camera for the Math seva, and, supposing I knew a bit about cameras, I accompanied them along for the purchase. Some research was done, and we picked up a Canon SLR and a couple of lenses.

Soon after that, we went off to Jagannath Puri. We were excited for the visit. It was during Rath Yatra, and Srila Gurudeva was there for some days.

A special darshan was organised for the Mumbai devotees. We walked in and offered pranams. As usual, I was holding the camera and shooting from many angles. At some point, I went closer to become part of the light conversation that was taking place. I showed Guruji the camera and the many pictures I had taken. Guruji smiled and looked at me directly. There was gravity in the tone of his voice as he spoke.

Waving his hand towards his heart, he said, “You should capture it in your heart. That is more important.”

Some understanding began on my part after that. I have not bothered to carry the camera since then on, despite participating in many festival occasions. But, I still await the day when I can capture Him in my heart.

Obtaining the shelter of the lotus feet of a genuine guru is, without a doubt, a matter of both great fortune and great dilemma for the conditioned soul (living being).

If, however, a fortunate soul has a sincere longing and ardency to attain a true guru, he does so by the mercy of Sri Krishna.

— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Srirup Siddhanti Goswami Maharaj,

Sri Guru is not exclusively the same as the Supreme Lord Himself, but he fully represents the essence of the whole normal potency and embodies the most com­prehensive and excellent service and favor of the Lord.

As he is the fittest servitor of the Lord, he is empowered by the Lord to reinstate all misguided souls to their best interest. So, guru is the divine messenger of immortal hope and joy in this mortal and miserable world.

— His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj ji

submitted by Bhakti Vichar Vishnu Maharaja

There is one important incident from Srila Madhavendra Puri’s immaculate life to be told.

Sri Ramachandra Puri and Sri Isvara Puri were two of Srila Madhavendra’s initiated disciples.

However, Sri Ramachandra was unable to receive his spiritual master’s mercy because he showed him disrespect, whereas Sri Isvara Puri was blessed through his single-minded devotion to him and was thus able to attain the highest level of pure love for Krishna. Sri Ramachandra was unable to understand the sweetness and supremacy of his Gurudeva’s feelings of separation and had the audacity to give him advice based on knowledge of Brahma. Srila Madhavendra Puri became so angry that he shunned him completely.

Even though he was such a great loving devotee, Srila Madhavendra Puri became angry with his own disciple when he became offensive chastised him severely, using harsh words. When Sri Ramachandra told him to remember that he was a spiritual being, Srila Madhavendra lost his temper and said,”Get away from me, you most sinful rascal! I am dying from the distress of not having received Sri Krishna’s mercy, of not having attained Mathura, and you come to add to my misery! Go wherever you like, but don’t show your face to me again! If I see you while I am dying I will take a lower birth. I am dying from the distress of not having attained Sri Krishna and this lowly fool is teaching me about Brahma.”

As a result, Srila Madhavendra Puri withdrew his blessings from his disciple, who then started to develop material desires. He became a dry philosopher without any interest in Supreme Personality of Godhead. Not only that but he became critical of everyone, devoting himself to faultfinding.

Srila Prabhupada Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur comments — “Even though Sri Ramachandra Puri saw his own guru suffering of separation from Sri Krishna, he was incapable of recognizing the transcendental nature of his transport of emotions. He judged his guru to be an ordinary man and took his mood to be material, the result of some material insufficiency. As a result he tried to explain to him the value of experiencing the oneness of Brahma. Srila Madhavendra Puri reacted unfavorably to his disciple’s stupidity and disregard for his teachings and thus stopped wishing for his well-being. He abandoned him and drove him away.”

The words material desires means ”the desire for dry knowledge” and from that arose the tendency to criticize the devotees.

On the other hand, Sri Ishvara Puri not only adhered to his guru’s teaching but served him physically and thus received his mercy. He served the lotus feet of his spiritual master, even to the point of personally cleaning, as well as helping him to perform sravan of Sri Krishna’s name and pastimes. In this way he satisfied him completely.

He continuously repeated the name of Sri Krishna and recounted Sri Krishna’s pastimes to him. Srila Madhavendra Puri was so pleased with Sri Ishvara Puri that he embraced him and blessed him, saying, “May you have the wealth of love for Sri Krishna!”

From that time onward, Sri Ishvara Puri became an ocean of love for Sri Krishna, while Sri Ramachandra Puri became a mine of insults. These two personalities thus bear witness to the results of pleasing or displeasing a great soul. Srila Madhavendra Puri taught this truth through them.

He was the spiritual master of the whole world and he gave the gift of love of God.