Hari Bol, I am a neophyte devotee currently pursuing engineering from a college in Ahmedabad. I first came in contact with the krishna conscious movement around 5 years ago after attending several Bhakti Vriksha programs. My curiosity and will to progress in Krishna consciousness were not as strong years ago but several months back, I had the urge to follow krishna consciousness and hence I started reading "Krsna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead" I have finished reading the book and I wish to further myself in the Krishna consciousness movement. I would like to ask which book should I read next for furthering myself in Krishna consciousness and why?
PS: I have provided my history on Krishna Consciousness so as to receive better and befitting answers for the appropriate book.
Thank you.
Hare Krishna!
Replies
1. Nectar of Instruction
2. Harinama Cintamani (This is a small and by far most important book ever)
Written by Bhaktivinod Thakur in Bengali and translated into English.
This book is a small portion of Caitanya Caritamrita, where Haridas Thakur and Caitanya Mahaprabhu discuss glories of Hari Nama and how to chant Shudha Nama. No one should skip this book or you will regret many years down the road why you did not read this early on. Remember that this book is not promoted by sadakas in ISKCON because it is published by Gaudiya Matt and not by BBT. This book also discusses in depth Nama Aparadh. This book is an absolute must if you want to progress in Krishna Consciousness. Both for new and advanced sadhakas
3. Bhagavad Gita "As It Is" Unedited 1972 edition
4. Nectar of Devotion
5. Bhagavatam
6. Caitanya Caritamrita
Amazon Kindle version of 5 and 6 are available really cheaply on the net
Hare Krsna, thanks for the reply. Apart from the videos uploaded on YouTube, are there any other video/audio lectures, if yes, can you please provide links to them?
Thank you
Hari Bol!
Hare KRsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
If you want to study systematically, then each shloka of Gita, there are multiple lectures in this website. On the top left of the home page, there is an icon - Bhagavad Gita Classes. Click on that, navigate to the particular shloka and hear lectures from different speakers on that particular shloka.
Apart from this, you could regularly access HG Gaur Gopal Das, HG Shubh Vilas Das on youtube. Other good speakers for beginners are - HH Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj. You could do youtube search on their names. Specifically, lectures in Fiji Islands by Tamal Krsna Goswami Maharaj - Who do you think is God and why? - 2 lectures - one in temple set up, one in auditorium setup - Q&A format. Both are very inspiring.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD
please read only books by Srila prabhupad not by others right now
hari bol
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
My suggestion is to start from small books of Srila Prabhupada like - Chant Hare Krsna and Be Happy, Life Comes from Life, Perfect Questions and Perfect Answers, On the Way to Krsna, The Science of Self Realisation before you graduate to Gita.
My suggestion would be to read Srila Prabhupada from the beginning so that your concepts are crystal clear from the beginning.
You can access online on www.vedabase.com.
Haribol,
Your Servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD
Thank you for such a precise answer.
I look forward to reading the books by Srila Prabhupada.
Hari Bol!
Hare Krishna,
The following link contains list of Srila Prabhupada’s books. One might be having them from various sources, but just thought of sharing here as it may be useful for all of us. Thanks a lot.
https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/suggested-orderscheme-of
- Jai Shri Yashoda-Nandana !! Jai Bhakt Prahlad ki Jai !!
Thank you for providing the concise list of the books. Really helped me to find directions.
Hari Bol!
Thank you for a prompt reply.
It is exactly what I was thinking. I was skeptical about exploring literature like the Bhagavad Gita or the Srimad Bhagvatam as I thought I would not be able to understand it properly.
I'll surely go through the book suggested by you.
Hari Bol!
Please stick to original (unedited) books of Acarya like Srila Prabhupada. At least in the beginning. If you are not careful, in a few years, you may fall victim to worshiping human beings like Saibaba.
Please do not read books by those with material attachments. Unless you dont want to go back to Godhead in this very lifetime. Ask yourself. Do I want Krishna or do I want material benefits?
No offense meant to Neelesh Patel Prabhu. Hope he agrees with me, that his books have less potency than A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada