Srivasa Thakura, one of the members of the Pancha-tattva, lived in Navadvipa-dhama in Mayapur, near the residence of Jagannatha Mishra and Sacidevi, where Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared. Later, when Lord Chaitanya began His sankirtana movement in Navadvipa-dhama, He and His other most confidential associates would meet at Srivasa-angana, the home of Srivasa Thakura, and have kirtan throughout the night. The kirtans at Srivasa-angana were ecstatic, and only the most intimate devotees of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu were allowed to enter. In fact, the nocturnal kirtans at Srivasa-angana in gaura-lila are compared to the rasa dance in krsna-lila.

In his identity in krsna-lila, Srivasa Pandita is Narada Muni, the great preacher who travels throughout the universe chanting the holy names of Krishna and enlightening the fallen souls in Krishna consciousness. So it is most auspicious that His Holiness Sridhar Swami Maharaja left on Srivasa Thakura’s appearance day—that most auspicious day—in Sri Mayapur-dhama—that most auspicious place.

We now have a special opportunity and responsibility to honor and glorify His Holiness Sridhar Swami Maharaja.

My own association with Sridhar Swami goes back to Bombay, over thirty years ago. Srila Prabhupada had requested disciples from America to come to India to help him there, and in particular with his three main projects—Bombay, Mayapur, and Vrindavan. From 1972, Sridhar Swami served Srila Prabhupada in India, mainly in Bombay.

When we got permission from the municipality to build on Hare Krishna Land in Juhu, Srila Prabhupada wanted Sridhar Maharaja to take charge of the construction materials. Sridhar Maharaja had a hefty build, like a football player, so Srila Prabhupada thought he would be appropriate to keep track of the construction material and make sure none of it was stolen. But Sridhar Maharaja (he wasn’t a sannyasi then, so Sridhar das Brahmachari) said that he didn’t want to look after the construction material; he wanted to preach. I was the temple president in Bombay, so I was going back and forth between him and Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada again said that Sridhar Maharaja should look after the construction materials, so I went back to deliver the message to him, but Sridhar Maharaja insisted, “I want to preach!”

Maharaja had never really preached much in India before then, and we didn’t know how well he could preach to the aristocratic Indian gentlemen we were mainly approaching at that time. But he was so sincere in his desire that he became one of the best preachers in India, one of the best in the world. This story illustrates Maharaja’s sincere desire to preach, and his strong determination to serve Srila Prabhupada and the mission even in ways that he may not have found easy.

In India, Srila Prabhupada had introduced the life-membership program. And he based the society’s progress there on its level of success. He said that making someone a life member was almost as good as making him a devotee. He had introduced the program as a way to distribute his books, he explained, because if someone became a life member by paying a certain subscription, he would get a set of the books and a subscription to Back to Godhead magazine.

Eventually, Sridhar Swami led one of the life-membership teams in Bombay. I was the membership director, and the other team leaders were Maharaja, Lokanath Swami, Jagat-purusa Prabhu, and Haridasa Prabhu. In the early 1980s, Sridhar Maharaja became the Juhu temple president, and so he increasingly joined me in cultivating the most important people in Bombay. And between 1984 and 1990, when I was unable to return to India because of visa problems, Maharaja deepened his relationship with many of our most important members and they came to love him deeply.

In around 1991, Sridhar Maharaja proposed a fund-raising-by-mail program in Juhu. Many devotees criticized the idea, saying it would never work. To prepare the letters and post them would cost more than two lakhs—two hundred thousand—rupees, and there was no guarantee that we would ever get the money back. But in spite of all the negativity, Maharaja took the risk—Srila Prabhupada had said, “To preach means to take risks”—and the experiment proved to be successful. The first effort itself made money, and subsequent mailings proved even more profitable. Soon, Maharaja received invitations from centers in India and abroad to help them organize fund-raising-by-mail campaigns, and the campaigns proved to be successful everywhere. They became one of the most reliable sources of income many temples had. Even today, the BHISMA (Bhaktivedanta Information Services and Mailing) office started by Sridhar Maharaja raises funds for the Juhu temple by mail.

More recently, Sridhar Maharaja started the pioneering Vedic Applied Spiritual Technology (VAST) program, which used the latest multi-media methods to teach the corporate sector stress management and time management—all in relation to Krishna consciousness. Maharaja always tried to find innovative ways to present Krishna consciousness. He studied experts in various fields and applied what he learned to Krishna consciousness.

Many of my most vivid memories of Maharaja, and of his good influence on me and on others, are from the last few years. You may know that in 1977, some months before he left this world, Srila Prabhupada named eleven disciples to initiate devotees on his behalf while he was still here. After he left, the same disciples continued to initiate, and later, slowly, a few more, beginning with three others, were given that responsibility. Sridhar Maharaja was not one of the first to initiate, or even one of the early ones to be added; the attitude in the movement then was quite restrictive. At one stage, he joked that he wanted only three disciples—one to cook, one to do his laundry, and one to collect for him.

Read More https://girirajswami.com/blog/memories-of-his-holiness-sridhar-swami-maharaja-6

By Niranajan And Jayapataka Swami

Memories of His Holiness Sridhar Swami.

Today being the Disappearance day of our most beloved HH Sridhar Swami Maharaj we thought of remembering one of Srila Prabhupada’s favorite sons, his Samadhi is in Mayapur next to the Samadhi of HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaj, and Srila Prabhupadas Pusya Samadhi.

HH Niranajan Swami Maharaj remembers the Jolly Swami:

There are many things more we could say about Sridhar Maharaja. He was a very wonderful devotee and the world is going to experience a great loss. He was a Vaisnava through and through. He had only one attachment. He just wanted to be Prabhupada’s dog.

Of course as we know there is really no cause for lamentation. “He reasons ill who say that Vaisnavas die when thou are living still in sound. Vaisnavas die to live and in living try to spread the holy name around.” (Some difficulty translating and it was taking some time)

Vaisnavas don’t die! That’s the point. They may simply disappear from our vision. But Vaisnavas will always go on, continuing to do what they’ve done in this world, which is serving the Lord. Of course, we lament for the loss of the association of Vaisnavas. But for the Vaisnavas, themselves, there is no cause for lamentation. So in that sense, that’s why we celebrate the disappearance day of great Vaisnavas. Someone might ask, “How is it a cause for celebration?” But it’s a celebration because when a Vaisnava departs from our vision they are simply going on to continue their service for the Lord. When Sridhar Maharaja departed he was fully conscious. Devotees were chanting and he was hearing the holy name. He was completely absorbed in meditation on a picture of Prabhupada. Prabhupada’s dog. That’s all he wanted to see, was Prabhupada. And he departed very peacefully. Devotees who were present with him said that it was a very auspicious departure.

So actually, in a sense, we do lament for the departure of a Vaisnava. Just like Srivas Thakur. Right. Today is his appearance day. There is a very wonderful pastime of Srivasa Thakur. Srivas Thakur as we know, he would conduct kirtans every night in his home with Lord Caitanya and His associates.

Lord Caitanya would appear in four places. He would appear wherever Lord Nityananda was dancing in ecstacy. He would appear in the altar room of Sacimata. He would appear in the home of Raghava Pandit. And He would always appear when there was kirtan in the house of Srivas Pandit. The Lord would appear in different ways. One way is called “saksat”, when he would directly appear. Another was called “avirbhava”. He would manifest due to the strong love of His devotees. They would attract him to come. Not everybody would see His presence. But those whose eyes were deeply imbued with love and who had attracted the Lord could see the Lord’s presence in His “avirbhava” form. And He would also appear in the form called “avesa.” Avesa form is when He would appear in an empowered person. So Lord Caitanya would appear in the house of Srivasa Thakur.

Of course, at this particular time about which we are speaking, He was directly present. And Lord Caitanya would regularly conduct all-night kirtans. He would experience great ecstasy during these kirtans. Only the most confidential associates of the Lord were allowed to participate in these kirtans. Present were Haridas Thakur, Lord Nityananda, Advaita Acarya, Srivasa Pandit, Srivas Pandit’s brothers, Srirama Pandit, Srinidhi, Sripati and so many other associates of the Lord were there. And the Lord, in the presence of these intimate associates would experience such great ecstatic love.

But one night, during one of these kirtans, the son of Srivasa Pandit left his body. Present at the time of the son’s departure were Srivas Pandit’s wife, his brothers and their wives. And when the son of Srivasa Pandit had departed, many of them felt great lamentation within their hearts. They were crying, very distressed at the disappearance of their close son. Srivasa understood that something had taken place in the other room, so Srivasa walked into the other room and saw that his son had returned to the spirtual world. He then turned around and saw that everyone was lamenting, and immediately chastised them, “Why are you lamenting? Why are you crying like this? Don’t you understand? The Supreme Personality of Godhead is here in our home, dancing in kirtan. Anyone who sees His face receives the highest benediction. Anyone who hears His name receives the highest benediction. Why are you lamenting in this way? The Lord is omniscient. He knows everyone’s heart. Please give up your lamentation. Otherwise you will disturb the kirtan of the Lord.” Srivasa Thakur was thinking that the Lord was experiencing so much ecstasy, but if He saw everybody crying and lamenting then His ecstacy would break. He said, “If you do not give up your lamentation right at this minute, I will immediately tie a rope around my neck and I will drown myself in the Ganges.”

So Srivasa Thakur preached very strongly to all of his family members to give up their lamentation and go back in the kirtan and smile. And he threatened them, “If you don’t, I’ll drown myself.” So he returned to the kirtan and he was ecstatic, dancing in ecstasy. And everybody else was also dancing, but within their hearts they were lamenting. But all Srivasa could think of was that he did not want to disturb the ecstasy of the Lord. And so the kirtan continued for many hours.

Then at one moment, all of a sudden Lord Caitanya stopped, and He came to external consciousness. Because usually when He was in such ecstasy, He would lose external consciousness and would go completely into internal consciousness. So He came to external consciousness and said, “I think that something has happened here in this house,” because the Lord could understand what was going on in their hearts. Then Srivasa Thakur immediately spoke up. “Oh Lord, how can there be anything lamentable in my house? You are present. I am seeing Your face! You are dancing in such bliss! Everyone here is so blissful. What could be the cause for lamentation?! Nobody can be lamenting.” And Srivasa Thakur was trying to convince Lord Caitanya that, “Nothing is going on here. Please continue. Chant! Dance! Ecstacy! Ecstacy!” But gradually Lord Caitanya could understand and others began speaking.

They said, “Oh Lord, Srivasa’s son has departed from this world. And Lord Caitanya said, “What? Tell me, when did it happen? How long ago?” The devotees said, “It happened about seven and a half hours ago. But Srivasa, not wanting to disturb your ecstasy, told us all to keep it within our hearts.” When Lord Caitanya heard this he began to cry. He understood how much love Srivasa had for Him. And He said to Srivasa, “How is it possible that you have so much love for Me that you don’t even know grief for your departed son?” So Lord Caitanya then went into the other room and He saw that Srivasa’s son had departed. He approached the son, and He asked, “Tell me, why did you leave?” And everyone was gathered around. Srivasa was gathered there, all his family members were gathered there. So the Lord arranged for the living entity to appear back in the body of Srivasa’s departed son. And then the son began speaking.

He said, “Oh, my Lord. The destined time for my life span in this world is now exhausted. Now it is time to depart from this world and go on to my next destination. Who is anyone’s son? Who is anyone’s father? We are all living beings meant to go on in our journey from one body to the next. Oh my Lord, I simply pray to Your lotus feet. Please forgive me for any offenses I may have committed in your presence, and please allow me to continue to my next destination.” And then he stopped speaking. Everyone that was standing there were overwhelmed. Through the mouth of this young boy, they were all given appropriate instructions and they could all understand that the living entity that was in the body of Srivasa Thakur’s son was simply returning back to the spiritual world. Lord Caitanya arranged this simply to remove everyone’s lamentation. The Lord does not like to see lamentation within the heart of His devotee. So He instructed everyone through the mouth of the departed son of Srivasa Thakur. And when they heard all of these instructions, all of them, folded their hands, they bowed down, touched the lotus feet of the Lord and began offering prayers. “Oh Lord, You are our father, You are our son, You are everything to us! Simply by Your presence we are feeling such great happiness and they began many wonderful prayers in gratitude to the Lord. Then all all the proper rites were performed for the departed son of Srivasa Thakur, and everyone’s lamentation was completely dispelled.

Then Lord Caitanya turned to Srivasa Thakur, and He said again, “Srivas, how can I ever give up the association of one who has so much love for Me? One who does not even know grief for the loss of his own son? From this day, both Nityananda and Myself, We will become your sons. You will never know suffering. Anybody who ever sees you will also never know suffering. Simply by seeing you all their suffering will go away.”

In this way, Lord Caitanya gave the benediction to Srivasa. Because Srivasa was so devoted to the Lord, the Lord benedicted him.

Now Sridhar Maharaja likes prasadam. He’s always been known as somebody who likes prasadam. He was called the “Jolly Swami” also because he had a jolly appearance. So the doctor gave him a very restricted diet and something like that was not easy for Sridhar Maharaja. But the doctor said that, “You should follow this diet and take this medicine for three weeks.” It was a very bland diet. So after a few days of following the treatment, Sivarama called from Vrndavana. And he was asking Sridhar Maharaja how he was feeling. Maharaja replied, “Well my lungs are working all right.” Because he was having some problems with his lungs, too at that time. He said “My liver seems to be working.” Then he said, “But I’m afraid that this diet is going to kill me.”

Prabhupada was like that also, actually. When Prabhupada was very ill the devotees were trying to restrict his intake of food. And they were giving him very bland food. And Prabhupada said, “Get rid of this. Let us die eating prasadam.” Prabhupada also had a similar mood. He did’t like this strict diet.

But still Sridhar Maharaja followed it. So, because the doctor felt so confident, Sridhar Maharaja started to feel more confident. So all the godbrothers who were there in Mayapura started to think, “Well Sridhar Maharaja is feeling so confident.” Then it gradually became the time for most of the devotees to leave because the festival was ending. So Sridhar Maharaja was telling everybody, “Hey, don’t come in here and say good-by to me.” I’m not going anywhere. Get out of here. You should just go do your preaching. Prabhupada wouldn’t want you to stay here.” To many godbrothers who came in, he said, “Don’t say good-by.” To me he said, “I’ll see you in Moscow.” So his disposition completely changed.

And before that many of us were thinking, “How can we leave Mayapura?” In fact, earlier I was thinking that, too. I had changed my ticket to stay a few days longer, because I didn’t know what was going to happen. Many devotees would ask me, “When are you leaving?” and I said, “Well to tell you the truth, I can’t imagine going into the room and saying good-by to Sridhar Maharaja and I can’t imagine leaving and not saying good-by to Sridhar Maharaja. So how can I go anywhere?” So I was also thinking that, “Maybe I’ll stay a little bit longer to see how Maharaja’s health develops.” But Maharaja was getting so positive, that he was telling everybody, “Go, Go. Don’t come in here and say good-by to me.” He wanted everybody to go out and preach.

Even when I called him yesterday. Maharaja said, “Why are you wasting your money calling me?” He said you have more important things to do with your money. So I said, “Maharaja, it’s not my money, it’s Prabhupada’s money and you’re Prabhupada’s dog.” So I said, “Don’t try to get me off the phone. Let’s talk for awhile.” So after some talk, he said, “Call me back in a couple of weeks.” I said, “Maharaja, I’ll call you back in a couple of days.” And even yesterday, Maharaja’s spirits were good. Although he did say to me, “Please, preach to me to keep the faith to stay here, because my faith to stay is getting a little weak right now.”

So, of course, it was very difficult for me. I actually wanted to stay in Mayapura, but because he was feeling so positive, and so was I, I decided to leave. And the irony is that I had left Mayapura, and then flew from Calcutta to Bombay. Two days later I got a phone call in Bombay at about 11:15 at night. I was leaving for the airport to fly to Kiev at 11:30. Vraja Kumara dasa called me and told me, “I just spoke to Mayapura dasa, Sridhar Maharaja’s servant and Mayapura says that Sridhar Maharaja is feeling distressed right now because his godbrothers have left, and he feels that it is a rough night for him tonight. He’s having difficulty breathing and not many of his godbrothers are there right now. So at that particular point, I had to choose to either cancel the flight and go back to Mayapura, although I was leaving to catch my flight literally in 15 minutes, or to leave for Ukraine. I left for Ukraine. And I guess that’s why it was a little extra painful for me this morning when I found out that Sridhar Maharaja had left his body at 6:15 this morning in Mayapura.

Some Memories of HH Srila Sridhar Swami by Jayapataka Swami

When I met HH Srila Sridhar Swami to seek his blessings just prior to going on the South Indian Safari Maharaja was very emphatic! His time was not yet up! He had many things to still do or Srila Prabhupada. I mentioned to him that the Temple of Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur was one such work. Sridhar Swami confirmed. He said he wanted to encourage and help Ambarish Prabhu in building the main Panca Tattva Mandir at Mayapur. Srila Sridhar Swami said many things at that time. How he felt better. His diet was difficult, but it seemed the medicines were working. Tridandi Prabhu, from Italy, had brought an Ayurvedic Doctor (who treated and had cured many hopeless cases in the past) to Mayapur. It was his cure that Srila Sridhar Swami was taking. In fact it was visible that Srila Sridhar Swami was improving. Even his dear brothers had gone on a pilgrimage seeing his improvement.

When Srila Sridhar Swami had arrived in Mayapur his mood was almost resigned to die very soon. But now Srila Sridhar Swami was in a fighting mood! He told me he was planning to fight to stay alive and do some more devotional service for Srila Prabhupada. He was concerned that with his illness it was quite common to go into a coma and then pass away. He said he didn’t want to leave like that in a coma. He wanted to be conscious and hear the holy names and remember Lord Sri Krishna in full consciousness. He said the cure was working and he was feeling better so he was going to fully follow the treatment and hoped to survive this terminal disease if Lord Sri Krishna so desired. That was the last mood I saw Srila Sridhar Swami in when I left Sri Mayapur just over a week ago. On the wall he had a poem which wrote about leaving the world in a fighting spirit to live. Considering that I come to the conclusion that it was only the divine desire of Lord Sri Krishna that has taken our beloved Srila Sridhar Swami from us at this time.

Srila Sridhar Swami was so loving with me during his last period in Mayapur. He always addressed me as “Big Brother” or “older Brother”. He would treat me like a loving Brother. He thanked me for having him do the Arotik to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu on the Maha Installation day, for giving my frequent flyer miles to bring him first class to India now, for so many even insignificant things. He would love to reminisce about times we were together and things we did with Srila Prabhupada or together. I didn’t spend so much time in the room with Srila Sridhar Swami, but would just sneak in now and again or otherwise consult with Mayapur Das, his secretary, if he needed anything. We arranged a hospital bed from Kolkatta, for instance. Still whenever I would come in he was always so friendly and loving. I cannot help but cry to think I won’t be able to see and associate with Srila Sridhar Swami anymore in this lifetime.

Srila Sridhar Swami was a very jolly devotee most of the time. He liked to joke and had his own unique sense of humor. He could surprise devotees with some of his statements. He was not an overly diplomatic person, but would rather speak as he saw things. Sometimes his statements would embarrass the listeners they would be so blunt. Srila Sridhar Swami liked to have a personal relationship with all his god brothers and god sisters. Many can tell about personal dealings received from Srila Sridhar Swami. He sometimes addressed god brothers by nicknames. Often he would say something humorous to a god brother. Sometimes he was very serious and would request some devotional service to be performed for Srila Prabhupada. Sometimes he was impatient and encourage people who were not doing enough or their spiritual life to get active. Srila Sridhar Swami had in the past years given a lot of time to the Balkans and surely the devotees there have much to say about his contributions and association. I have close relationships with many of Srila Sridhar Swami Disciples. Srila Sridhar Swami authorized some to be siksa disciples. He was open and caring, wanting always the best for his disciples and for everyone, for that matter. I don’t think it is possible to explain all the good qualities of Srila Sridhar Swami. So instead I would just share some experiences I had together with him.

I can’t remember even when the first time I met Srila Sridhar Swami was. I also can hardly remember a time since I came to India when he wasn’t somehow involved at one point or another.

One thing happened when we were living in Mayapur in the grass hut in the early 1970’s. Srila Prabhupada was in the grass hut and behind it was a tent which was being used as a kitchen. Srila Sridhar Swami came with a new “high tech” invention which had just hit the market—an automatic puri roller! He was asked to give a demonstration. So we were all sitting around him and he rolled some puris. Whether they would cook properly or not? So someone heated up some ghee and cooked the puris. Seemed they came out quite okay. Let’s try how they tasted! There was nothing to eat any hot puris with. I suggested we take some of the liquid date gur and that was poured on everyone’s leave plate. Maybe we were making some commotion. Like children trying out a new toy. Well Srila Prabhupada was looking out from his window seeing what we were doing. He instructed that it wasn’t proper for people in the renounced order to sit around and eat hot puris like we were doing. Later we explained what was happening, but we always will remember the instruction. Srila Prabhupada also tried some puri rolled on the puri rolling machine.

Like that Srila Sridhar Swami was a player in so many activities. At that time he was a Brahmacari. I don’t know how, but I was present in the room with Srila Prabhupada in Bombay when Srila Sridhar Swami asked Srila Prabhupada or Sannyasa initiation. What I remember was Srila Prabhupada asked him I he was 100% sure he wouldn’t fall down. Srila Sridhar Swami was very humble and straightforward. He said he wasn’t 100% sure he wouldn’t fall down. Then Srila Prabhupada asked him if he was 75% sure he would maintain sannyasa. Sridhara Brahmacari said he wasn’t 75% sure either. Then Srila Prabhupada asked Sridhara Brahmacari if he was 50% sure that he would maintain Sannyasa strictly. Sridhara Brahmacari confirmed that he was 50% sure that he could maintain Sannyasa. Then Srila Prabhupada said it was okay. Srila Prabhupada said he would grant Sannyasa order of life to him in Vrindavana were an initiation ceremony was being planned in the near future. Srila Prabhupada obviously knew the nature of Srila Sridhar Swami perfectly. Srila Sridhar Swami observed his Sannyasa vows very strictly.

Srila Sridhar Swami was a totally Srila Prabhupada man. He was sold out to Srila Prabhupada! He wanted to do whatever he could to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s desires. Srila Sridhar Swami was very active in the Srila Prabhupada Centennial campaign, for instance. Srila Sridhar Swami was also always involved in the Mayapur Project, mainly in the field of fund raising. Talking about fund raising, Srila Sridhar Swami was ISKCON’s Minister in that field for some years. I don’t remember the official title off hand, but I remember attending his seminars. He would use white boards, black boards, flip charts and sometimes computer projections. His presentations inspired me very much. He became my presentation guru. I learned from him how to make presentations. He inspired me to attend the VTE trainers course. Srila Sridhar Swami also inspired me to take up the Monitor-ship and Minister-ship of Congregational Development. We used to work together with the different aspects of cultivating the Congregation. I would do the spiritual side of their development and he would do the devotional service engagement through contributions. Srila Sridhar Swami created direct mail campaign program Bhisma in Mumbai which was very successful in many campaigns. I remember Srila Sridhar Swami having some technical books on the topic of direct mail campaigns. Whatever Srila Sridhar Swami got into he became a real expert on the concerned topic. In this regard I found him a real role model to emulate.

Sometimes I would meet Srila Sridhar Swami at the Croatian Summer camp. He was his jolly self. He would be preaching according to the schedule and then he would also be giving guidance to whoever came up to see him. Like all of us it was a time when many devotees would come and take association. Sometimes I would take prasadam with Srila Sridhar Swami. Other times we would see him taking care of his health by jogging with a walkman on his ears hearing Srila Prabhupada lecture or some spiritual vibrations. He had a saffron colored jog suit and with the big black earphones he was something to see. He didn’t seem to care what people thought about how he looked. Srila Sridhar Swami did what he had to do. His nature was like that.

Some years ago when his liver was suffering from cirrhosis due to having Hepatitis C infection and he was in the Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mera Road, a suburb of Mumbai. He had been to other Hospitals as well. We were all worried about him. It was very serious and his body had filled up with fluid. His liver wasn’t functioning properly. I went to see him in the hospital. Srila Sridhar Swami was happy to see me. He asked me to give him some quality association. He asked me to read some sastra to him. So I read some pastimes of the Lord to Srila Sridhar Swami for over almost an hour. I tried to dramatize it. I was feeling very ecstatic in his association reading sastra. At the same time to see a beloved god brother ill with a life threatening disease was also very heavy. After the reading Srila Sridhar Swami embraced me and thanked me for reading to him. I felt our relationship had grown closer from that simple service.

Srila Sridhar Swami went to some healer in Brazil and it seemed that he was helped by him. He told me the healer would have Srila Sridhar Swami sit and chant japa as he could see Srila Sridhar Swami was a very spiritual person so his prayers would help the healer to heal others. So this healer could also recognize the spiritual strength of Srila Sridhar Swami.

Anuttama das, a god brother and friend of Srila Sridhar Swami, reminded us last night how Srila Sridhar Swami got his famous Narasimha Saligram Sila. Srila Sridhar Swami was visiting Nepal and saw a man with a basket of saligrama Sila’s. Srila Sridhar Swami looked through the basket and found the unique sila of Narasimha with open mouth and crown. He asked the man how to get that one. The man asked for $1000! Srila Sridhar Swami said he was a Sannyasi and didn’t have any money. But the business man said he couldn’t give it free since he was a business man and needed money. Then they began bargaining, as is done in India and Nepal. Finally, miraculously, Srila Sridhar Swami got the man to give him the Saligram Sila free. I was present in the room when Srila Sridhar Swami asked Srila Sivaram Swami to agree to take charge of his sila after his departure.

Sometimes Srila Sridhar Swami would preach very heavy. Generally he could surprise one as to what he would say. Sometimes he would be gentle as well, but generally he would be very straightforward and tell things as he saw them. I remember once we were together a couple of years at the Woodstock Festival in Poland at the camp organized by Srila Indradyumna Swami. Giving lectures to that crowd was the most difficult thing to do as they were mainly tuned to entertainment mode. They wanted to be entertained and were not in a patient mood. It was a music festival so the young people wanted to hear music or see some drama or something. I found it difficult so when it was my turn I tried to present things in a colorful way with a Bharat Natyam dancer demonstrating my points. Srila Sridhar Swami was asked to give a lecture at around 9-10 in the night. That is the most difficult time as many of the young people are already very much under the influence of different intoxicants and become a bit rowdy. For big bands heavy security is put in place at that time. Somehow Srila Sridhar Swami was speaking to them, but then he became impatient with their Maya. He took a heavy tone in his voice and chastised them for wasting their time imitating hippies. I can’t remember all the things he said but he was simultaneously humorous and heavy. Someone through a full beer can on the stage and barely missed Maharaja. He took it lightly and after looking at the beer he told the crown it wasn’t his brand. He was stomping back and forth on the stage and admonishing the crowd to not misuse this valuable human form of life. Sri Prahlad das was a bit anxious as the usual tone of talks is in the mode of “love and peace” and this could get out of control. Then Srila Sridhar Swami closed his speech. I asked him with a smile why he got so heavy in his preaching. He smiled at me and said, “I got in the mood.” Like that Srila Sridhar Swami could sometimes preach very bluntly and very directly. Not everyone could immediately digest everything he said, but I you could it would certainly do you good!

Like that there are so many pastimes with Srila Sridhar Swami. He was a vibrant person. Maybe because I settled down in Canada and he was from Canada, or maybe because we were always brought together for different devotional services, or maybe because we looked similar, he always called me as Brother and I would address him in the same way. Somehow he was always an action person wanting to do something for Srila Prabhupada.

We are all very thankful for how Srila Indradyumna Swami accompanied Srila Sridhar Swami to India and to Mayapur. That was really a wonderful expression of affection. When Srila Sridhar Swami arrived in Mayapur everyone came to receive him in natural affection and love for this great Krsna conscious Warrior and General who had returned home from valiant battles in the War against Maya. He was received with conch shell blowing and a Sannyasi Maharaja reception. When Srila Sridhar Swami got out of the bus he put his arm around me and addressed me as Brother. I was able to accompany him to the temple and to all the Deities. It was a very moving moment.

Although it would have been more wonderful for all of us if Srila Sridhar Swami had been given a miraculous recovery and still been here with us, it is truly wonderful that Srila Sridhar Swami had such a glorious departure from this world. Leaving surrounded by devotees chanting the holy names, in the Holy Dhama of Mayapur, at the Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir, after having performed abhisheka 

and arotika of Panca Tattva, after having met with his disciples and god brothers and sisters, leaving in a positive frame of mind as a great spiritual warrior was truly a wonderful and blessed event. It makes one feel proud of Srila Sridhar Swami in some ways blissful, but then I think, “When will I see my dear brother again?” The tears flow again. Like this I am feeling happy for him and sad for us who are deprived of his transcendental association.

I tried to reach in time to help with the Samadhi ceremony, but there was no way from Rajamundhry, Andhra Pradesh, India that I could have reached prior to late at night long after the program would be finished. So everyone advised me it was no use in my coming. So I advised Mayapur Das over the phone of all the things to be done and he assured me also he had expert guidance there for the details. Last night in Vijayawada we observed and today in Tirupati we are also observing Smriti Sabha’s or remembrance festivals in the memory and glory of Srila Sridhar Swami.

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=84994

The mission statement of HH Sridhara Swami (1995) is very inspirational:

“My mission is to serve my spiritual master, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, with all my heart and soul… .

“To achieve this goal has now become my only reason for living. Out of a great sense of debt for his having shown me the path, I want to become a sharp instrument to be used by Srila Prabhupada in his mission of flooding the world with love of Krishna.

“I will strive to achieve excellence in all my activities… . I will struggle to rise above my lower animal nature, my conditioning of the lowest of births, and my lack of cultural training… . I will study Srila Prabhupada books regularly and thoroughly. I will do my best to follow his teachings perfectly and teach others with whom I come in contact according to my own level of realization.

“I will be forever loyal to his ISKCON, being always positive and ready to help in its development. I will be proactive as a preacher, teacher, facilitator, leader, and spiritual master (servant).

“I will always be ready to, as Srila Prabhupada put it, ‘do the needful,’ …

“I will meditate upon and try to imbibe the twenty-six qualities of a pure devotee.

“I will not over-endeavor but will strive for quality in my work and relationships. I will be constantly on guard against committing offenses to other Vaishnavas.

“Having realized that in previous years of association with devotees I must have committed so many offenses due to my gross and careless nature, I will sincerely try to recognize those offenses, beg forgiveness from those whom I have offended, and atone for these offenses as best I can.

“I will continually evaluate my progress, getting input from my peers. Despite all obstacles, personal and incidental, I will not cease from struggling to improve my character and obtain his mercy, to be finally accepted by Srila Prabhupada.”

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=85002

Ecstatic kīrtans and nectarean discourses on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. All night long this was the typical sight observed in the house of ŚrīvāsaPaṇḍita. Why was ŚrīvāsaĀṅgan chosen? What was its specialty? Dive below to know more.

With hands folded and head finely tilted to its left stands the tall deity of Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita – the fifth member of the Pañca-tattva – at the alter in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur. Hailing from Śrīhaṭṭa[modern day Sylhet], he was the second among the five sons of his father Śrī Jaladhar Paṇḍita, a Vedic Brāhmaṇa. The names of his other brothers were Nalina [the eldest], Śrīrāma, Śrīpati and Śrīnidhi. In due course of time, except Nalina, the others moved in to Navadvip. Over there they became close with Advaita Ācārya and studied Bhāgavatam together. Advaita Ācārya, ŚrīvāsaPaṇḍita and his brothers became close friends with Jagannātha Miśra too. Śrīvāsa Pandit’s wife was Mālinī Devī and together they had a son. Mālinī was also close friends with Śacīmātā, Mahāprabhu’s mother.

During this time, staunch atheists, logicians, and proud Paṇḍit’s were harassing Nādiā, the situation was looking chaotic. Bhakti was followed by not many people. What is going to happen? What’s next? Looking at this scenario Advaita Ācārya and ŚrīvāsaPaṇḍita prayed for the advent of the incarnation of the Lord, so that Vaishnavism can be reignited. And not that late, their prayers were answered and Mahāprabhu took his advent at Jagannātha Miśra’s residence.

Jagannātha Miśra’s residence was not that far away from ŚrīvāsaPaṇḍit’s house. So, every night, Mahāprabhu would enjoy ecstatic kīrtans with his associates at Śrīvāsa’s residence. Once when Mahāprabhu was in the house of Śrīvāsa Pandit, He said “To whom have you performed worship? On whom have you meditated? Now see Him! Look upon the object of your worship! Śrīvāsa!”. Saying this, Mahāprabhu entered the deity room and sat upon the alter and manifested his four handed form. Seeing this ŚrīvāsaPaṇḍita became shocked and prostrated himself and offered Him different prayers. Mahāprabhu was so kind He gave his darshan to him and all the assembled devotees.

Mahāprabhu’s pastimes in ŚrīvāsaĀṅgan are beautifully described by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura in his Śrīmān-Mahāprabhor-Aṣṭa-Kālīya-Līlā-Smaraṇa-Maṅgala-stotram, ‘Auspicious Prayers for Remembering the Eight-fold Daily Pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’. Mahāprabhu’s pastime covers two kālās (time periods) in ŚrīvāsaĀṅgan and they’re as follows:

PERIOD 7 (8:24-10:48 P.M.) : EVENING PASTIMES: In the evening time, the Lord goes to the home of ŚrīvāsaPaṇḍita, accompanied by Śrīla Advaita-candra and other dear associates. Meeting with the multitude of His devotees, He tastes and relishes the nectar of topics concerning Lord Hari, and His mind becomes most agitated with the ecstasies of pure love of Godhead. Then, becoming very lustful to relish the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord, He orchestrates the performance of intensely jubilant saṅkīrtana which attains the summit of passionate glorification of the holy names. I thus meditate on the daily pastimes of Śrī Gaura-sundara.

PERIOD 8 (10:48 P.M. – 3:36 A.M.) : MIDNIGHT PASTIMES: Continuing well into the night, the Lord dances and dances in the courtyard of Śrīvāsa, surrounded by His most intimate devotees. His most ecstatic sing is accompanied by His devotees who are expert in playing rhythms loudly on the mṛdaṅgadrums. He wanders and dances with Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu in the most astonishing way, throughout the night, until just before dawn. Then He returns to His own home, where retires to His bedchamber and falls asleep with His wife. I thus meditate on the daily pastimes of Śrī Gaura-naṭarāja.

Thus, Mahāprabhu would perform such nectarean pastimes in the house of ŚrīvāsaPaṇḍit and as Śrīla Prabhupāda says in his purport to the Pañca-tattva mantra “Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu is always accompanied by…His marginal potency Śrīvāsa Prabhu.” Thus, ŚrīvāsaPaṇḍita played an important role in all of Lord’s important pastimes. So on this day we pray to ŚrīvāsaPaṇḍita to have mercy on us so that we can serve Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu more and more in an unalloyed manner.

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=86401

By HH Bhakti Brhat Bhagavata Swami

Today marks the most auspicious anniversary appearance of Srila Srivasa Pandit or also known as Srila Srivasa Thakura and it also coincides with the anniversary disappearance of one of our Commanders in Srila Prabhupada’s army – Srila Prabhupada is our General – HH Sridhara Swami.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi Lili chapter 7, entitled, Lord Caitanya in Five features, text 15

ei tina tattva, — ‘sarvaradhya’ kari mani caturtha ye bhakta-tattva, — ‘aradhaka’ jani [Adi 7.15]

TRANSLATION: The three predominators [Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu] are worshipable by all living entities, and the fourth principle [Sri Gadadhara Prabhu] is to be understood as Their worshiper.

PURPORT: In his Anubhasya, Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, describing the truth about the Panca-tattva, explains that we should understand that Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the supreme predominator and that Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu are His subordinates but are also predominators. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Lord, and Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu are manifestations of the Supreme Lord. All of Them are visnu-tattva, the Supreme, and are therefore worshipable by the living entities. Although the other two tattvas within the category of Panca-tattva — namely, sakti-tattva and jiva-tattva, represented by Gadadhara and Srivasa — are worshipers of the Supreme Lord, they are in the same category because they eternally engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. [End of Srila Prabhupada’s purport.]

srivasadi yata koti koti bhakta-gana ‘suddha-bhakta’-tattva-madhye tan-sabara ganana [Adi 7.16]

TRANSLATION: There are innumerable pure devotees of the Lord, headed by Srivasa Thakura, who are known as unalloyed devotees.

HH Bhakti Brhat Bhagavata Swami: Srila Prabhupada said that Srila Narada Muni is a perfect brahmacari because his sole purpose is pure devotional service and to distribute pure devotional service. But Srila Narada Muni gave up his brahmacari life and he entered into household life as Srila Srivasa Thakura. So why did he do such a thing? Just like the gopis of Vrindavan gave up their chastity and they ran to Vamsivata to associate with Krishna when He played His flute.

Krishna consciousness is not about moral, social or ethical values of life. We have to transcend dharma to actually enter into real dharma, the eternal identity of the spirit soul. Therefore just as the gopis gave up their chastity and ran to Vamsivata when Krishna played His flute, similarly Narada Muni gave up his brahmacari vows for Vraja-bhakti, to enter into devotional service in terms of the love of the gopis for Krishna. That is the appearance of Srivasa Thakura.

Acc to Narada Purana (2.80.9-32), Skanda Purana (2.6.2-3), & Padma Purana (4.75.25-46), when Narada first heard that Lord Krsna had appeared in Vrndavana, he wandered in Vrndavana’s twelve forests looking for any signs of Syamasundara. With great intensity he ran through the secret bowers in which Krsna would meet with the gopis. But he could not find any evidence of Krsna’s appearance. So Narada Muni is a traveling transcendental spaceman.

In other words from His vantage point(like a map-view) he can see anywhere and everywhere whenever he likes. When he came over Vrajamandala he could not see, although he is an accomplished yogi himself. He is full of mysticism. Although he is trikala-jna – he knows everything, but when he came above Vraja he was completely bewildered. He couldn’t see. Therefore he had to ground himself.

In Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 51, Srila Prabhupada says that when Narada Muni came to the Bhandiravana forest, he saw in one of the trees the famous parrot couple that always accompanies Lord Krsna. The parrots were imitating a discussion they had heard upon the Vedanta philosophy, and thus were seemingly arguing upon various philosophical points. Narada Muni was wonderstruck and he stared at the parrots without moving his eyelids. This is an example of anurasa, or imitation.

Then the two parrots got into an argument. They got into such a heated argument that Narada Muni was trying to intervene and say, “Don’t fight.” But they were not interested in seeing him or neither hearing him. Then he said to himself, “Who are these parrots? They are absorbed in their own consciousness and they cannot see me and I am Narada Muni and I am grounded and I had to see up!” So in other words he lost all his mysticism as a traveling transcendental spaceman.

In the heated discussion the two parrots got into some argument about gramya-katha. That gramya-katha means they reduced the philosophy to say that, “We cannot understand.” Narada Muni said, “These parrots are bewildering me.” And the parrots started to speak about how so many young girls are running after one boy. Immediately Narada Muni tried to close his ears. He said, “Hearing this will make me break my brahmacari vows.” But he couldn’t. He was already contaminated.

From there he wandered through many forests trying to forget what he heard. But the more he tries to forget, the more he remembers. It is paradoxical. The more he forgets, the more he remembers. So with great intensity he ran through every kunja feeling, “The only person who can resolve this is this Syamasundara.” And he started looking for Him, looking for Him, looking for Him.

So that is the feature of the mood of the six Goswamis, he radhe vraja-devike ca lalite he nanda-suno kutah [SVA 1: Sri Sri Sad-gosvamy-astaka (krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau)] Nanda-suno – “O Beloved of Nanda Maharaja, where are You, where are You? Are You at Govardhan? Are You there, here and everywhere?” He was doing that. So he was becoming purified by hearing from the eternal associates or the Lord, these two parrots. So he became purified by their association and he took on the mood of vipralambha-bhava of separation from Krishna. But there is a difference. He did not meet Syamasundara so how can he feel separation? So this type of vipralambha indicates that he is feeling separation by eagerness to meet him for the first time. It is a different type of vipralambha. It is not the vipralambha of the eternal associates of the Lord where they meet (sambhoga) and then vipralambha, separation is there.

Narada Muni became contaminated by anurasa. That means when these parrots were imitating a philosophical discussion and started speaking of gramya-katha, about how so many girls are fighting over one boy. He became contaminated simply by the imitation of the parrots of Vrindavan. So it is called anurasa. Imagine if he gets the real thing! Therefore it is vipralambha-bhava, not with first meeting Krishna, because he is only getting an abhasa or shadow of the reflective consciousness of the eternal residents of Vrndavana. So Narada Muni became completely disturbed that, “I need to see this boy!” So he performed tapasya to please Lord Siva and then he got a boon from Lord Siva. When Siva appeared he said, “You take this mantra, meditate and perform some tapasya in this forest called Puspavan.” Puspavana means a forest of flowers.

Narada Muni meditated and meditated and meditated through austerity, not even drinking water. He was not interested in doing any other activity except the eagerness and earnest desire to get Krishna, Syamasundara Krishna. So at the time, in that particular area, one little girl came with her friends. Prior to this her mother said, “I noticed in this area one Baba is there. You go and see what he needs because he has been there for weeks and months but he is going on without eating. He is always sitting one place. So you go and see.”

She went to Narada Muni and Narada Muni could understand that somebody is around by the tinkling of the ankle bells. So he felt, “My meditation has been broken by some simple tinkling of ankle bells. That must be more powerful than my meditation.” So he opened his eyes and he saw the leader of these girls. When he saw the leader of these girls she entered into his consciousness and he broke his brahmacari vows for the second time. Immediately he tried to compose himself and closed his eyes and go into internal meditation and when he went back into internal meditation he became agitated by the impression, samskara of that little girl. It was in his consciousness. Just like sometimes when we are disturbed, when we try to chant with attention, but we remember more the person or the situation that disturbed us rather than hearing the mantra. So the same thing happened to Narada Muni. He was trying to chant the mantra given to him by Lord Siva but it was not working because he was disturbed by the impression or samskara of that girl. So he pretended he was chanting and slowly he started opening his eyes a little bit and he saw the girls were still there.

Then the leader of the girls said, “Baba my mother sent me. What do you need for your prasada?” So Narada Muni opened his eyes fully. He was not interested in the prasad. He was getting darsan. He said, “How is it I am meditating and now I have come to you and you are the result of my meditation?” So then he explained himself. So the little girl said, “Oh you want to see this Syamasundara?” Narada Muni said, “Yes. Can you show me?” “Oh yes. I will show you. I know this boy. I will show you.” And she said, “Follow me.” Narada Muni said, “I am brahmacari. If somebody sees me in this forest following young girl.” Meanwhile her friends went away. “And you are alone now. Problem!” The girl said, “This is Puspavan. You are a Baba. You are a great sage so therefore how can I cheat you? You will curse me. I don’t want that. So I will go forward and then you come but you must keep distance in such a way that you can see me but I cannot see you.” He said, “How? What if you run away? How will I know?” She said, “Ankle bells tinkling.”

So they came to a clearing where they saw a massive kunda. It was as if the waters were overflowing the banks of the kunda, big lake that was flowing so beautifully. So she was sitting on the banks and she said, “Baba come.” Narada Muni looks this side and that. Nobody is around so then he comes closer. And then she says, “Closer, closer, closer, closer, closer.” He said, “I have already broken my brahmacari vow so many times. Now it is a problem.” She said, “Come sit right next to me now.” Narada Muni was saying, “No”, but he was going nearer because he is eager. “No.” But he is going near. So immediately when Narada Muni comes close this little girl stands up. He sits down and she pushes him in the lake with her hands. When he goes in the lake he becomes completely submerged and he comes out. When he comes out he sees, “Am I a he or a she?” So he sees that his body has become the form of a little girl and then this little girl laughs at him. “You are not Narada. You are Naradi.” [Laughter.] So Narada has become gopi Naradi, little girl. Internally he is Narada Muni and external he is looking, “How is this. This has completely broken all my brahmacari vows. Now I have become one of them. I have become a girl!”

Then this other little girl takes Naradi, he/she – he inside but she outside to another kunda and says, “You sit here. He will come.” And he is embarrassed that he is being instructed by a young girl and he is brahmacari. “You sit here. Don’t move. Syama will come”. So in this lake Naradi is seeing lotus flowers and he sees that these lotus flowers are white and they are moving towards him. When he looks closer and closer, he/she looks closer and closer. It is not lotus flowers. It is Syamasundara with lotus like gopis around Him.

So she, Naradi is about to go into the water and this other gopi says, “No. You cannot. You stay here. You cannot go.” She(Naradi) says, “Why?” This little gopi said, “You only said you want to see. You want to witness but you cannot participate.” So Naradi is feeling, “Oh I have come so far and I am so near yet I am still so far. In other words I am so near yet I am so far. What is this?” And Naradi became angry. This other gopis said, “You cannot be angry. It is not good for you. This is kama. This is lust.”

So Naradi had to compose himself internally and herself externally. Immediately when Naradi became angry and he looked again, because anger means you get bewildered, you get blinded – then she Naradi composed herself again externally and she sees that everything has disappeared.

Then Syamasundara spoke to Narada(in the form of Naradi), “You go back and as Naradi, in that consciousness you write what you saw.” So this other little girl brought Naradi to this huge lake where Narada was transformed into a little girl and she said, ” Nobody will say anything. Just sit next to me now. You are gopi Naradi and if anyone sees us we are two little girls on the bank.” So while this other girl was speaking to Naradi, bewildering Naradi, she pushed her(Naradi) into the lake again. Coming out of lake, Naradi transformed back into Narada Muni and there was no one to be seen around. That area is called Puspavana. That main lake in Puspavan is called Kusuma Sarovara and those twin lakes that Naradi went to with that little gopi, her name is Vrndadevi, who took Narada as Naradi and those twin lakes are Radhakunda and Symakunda.

Narada Muni felt, “I cannot stay here, it is too much!”. So he entered deep into the forest and that area today you can go to is called Naradavana. He bathed there, not to be purified from all these samskaras, but he bathed there to get that darsan again, internally. So that is called Naradakunda. You can go there today. There is a little temple and therein there is a beautiful deity of Narada Muni, in Naradavana, not very far from Kusuma Sarovara. There he followed Syamasundara’s verbal instructions and he wrote the bhakti-sastras. The principle bhakti-sastra that he wrote there is called Narada-bhakti-sutra, which is printed by our BBT.

In Narada-bhakti-sutra, Narada Muni says in text 19,

naradas tu tad-arpitakhilacarata tad-vismarane parama-vyakulateti

Narada, however, says that bhakti consists of offering one’s every act to the Supreme Lord and feeling extreme distress in forgetting Him. [NBS 19]

yatha vraja-gopikanam

The cowherd women of Vraja are an example of pure bhakti. [NBS 21]

And in the purport it is stated that the topmost devotees of all are the gopis of Vraja. So why is he writing these bhakti-sastras like Narada-bhakti-sutra? He is writing in vipralambha bhava because he could not participate. And because he could not participate he was writing in separation and he was craving to participate in Radha Krishna lila but he cannot because he is a Narayana bhakta, “Om namo narayanaya.” With his vina he moves.

So that craving to enter into Radha Krishna lila is the form of Srila Srivasa Thakura. And He does enter. So we find that Narada Muni is a brahmacari eternally and Srivasa Thakur is a householder. Narada Muni is the musician with vina and in the courtyard of Srivasangan, just up the road from our Mayapur Temple, here this sankirtana movement was in full swing of song and dance in the house and courtyard of Srivas Thakura known as Srivasangan. So he is also a musician, Srivasa Thakura who is also known as Srivasa Pandit. Therefore it is simultaneously said that Srivas Thakura is an incarnation of Narada Muni and simultaneously he is not an incarnation of Narada Muni because he is the form of Narada Muni that enters into Radha Krishna lila because Narada Muni himself cannot enter.

Srivasa Thakur had a younger brother named Sri Rama Pandita and he is an incarnation of Parvata Muni who is the eternal associate and accompanying friend of Narada Muni. Srivasa Thakura’s wife’s name is Malini and she is an incarnation of Syamasundara’s nurse named Ambika who fed Syamasundara personally with her breast milk. Srivasa Thakur had one niece. Her name is Narayani and immediately Mahaprabhu in His ecstasy said, “Chant the holy name.” And when she chanted she could not stop and she was dancing in ecstasy. And the ecstatic feature of Narayani became Srila Vrindavan dasa Thakur, her son. Therefore we know that Srila Vrindavan dasa Thakura, has written so much lila about the Panca-tattva Themselves.

So we can understand that after Lord Caitanya’s accepting of sannyasa Srivasa Pandit left Navadvip and he went to another area called Kumarahatta and Mahaprabhu personally visited him there in Kumarahatta. It is not very far from our Mayapur Temple.

Srila Gadadhara is Radharani in separation from Krishna, she feeling she does have not have any love for Krishna. It is said that Gadadhara is an expansion of Radharani, similarly Srivas Pandit is an expansion of Narada Muni and simultaneously he is the devotional energy, the form of the devotee. So I read this verse today,

jaya jaya srivasadi gaura-bhakta-gana [Adi 9.3]

but at the same time when we say,

sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda

And that ‘vrnda’ is the form of Vrndadevi who contaminated Narada Muni with gopi bhava in separation from Krishna although not participating – gaura-bhakta-vrnda. Therefore ‘srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda’ That Srivasa is that person who heads up all the devotees of Lord Caitanya, Gaura-bhakta. So practically our general in the Panca-tattva is Srivasa Thakura. Therefore ‘srivasadi’, adi indicates all others. And who are they? Those devotees of Lord Caitanya headed up by Srivasa Thakura, ‘gaura-bhakta-gana or gaura-bhakti-vrnda.’ So what he wants to do with us? What he wants us to do with him? It is that we have to enter into Vrnda – Vrindavana. Therefore it says all glories to the devotees of Lord Caitanya headed up by Srivasa Thakur. So we are in his line fully.

There is another verse:

jaya jaya srivasadi yata bhakta-gana pranata ha-iya vandon sabara carana

Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Srivasa Thakura and all the other devotees of the Lord. I fall down to offer them respect. I worship their lotus feet. [Adi 8.4]

There in the purport Srila Prabhupada says, “Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami teaches us first to offer respect to the Panca-tattva — Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, Gadadhara Prabhu and Srivasa Prabhu and other devotees. We must strictly follow the principle of offering our respects to the Panca-tattva, as summarized in the mantra,

sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda.

At the beginning of every function in preaching, especially before chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra – Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare — we must chant the Panca-tattva’s names and offer our respects to them.”

Sometimes I see that devotees only chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra for long hours but they actually forget to chant the Panca-tattva mantra. This is an instruction from our founder acarya. You can see it in CC, Adi 8.4.

There is a very interesting thing. When you see the Panca-tattva on the altar what is Srivasa Thakura doing? Is he facing Lord Caitanya? Who is he facing? All of us! Why? Because he feels that he is not worthy to be a member of the Panca-tattva, at the same time he feels that he is not worthy to be called a devotee. Therefore he is praying – that is another meaning of srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda. That means, “I am heading up all of you for you to give me your mercy to some day become a devotee.” So if he is heading up all the devotees srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda what does it mean? It means that we have to get his consciousness because he is heading up all the devotees. But he is saying, “I am heading you all up because I am praying to you that someday I will become a devotee by your mercy.”

trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih [Cc. Adi 17.31]

So that is one meaning. Another meaning when he prays to all the devotees in front he says, “I am begging you. You please come to the lotus feet of Gadadhara, Mahaprabhu, Nityananda and Advaita. You please come to them. You go first and until all of you go first then I will follow. That is how I am qualified to come last.” So he is begging. So srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda, this is the consciousness. Therefore he is the personification of humility, trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna. Why is this so important?

When we chant the Panca-tattva mantra, jaya sri-krsna-caitanya, what does it begin with? Sri-krsna-caitanya. It is implicit that the devotees are there. Krishna Caitanya is a devotee and how does it end? Gaura-bhakta-vrnda. The devotees are there at the beginning and at the end and everything else is Visnu-tattva expansions and rasa in the sandwich. You cannot just eat dry bread. What makes the two slices relishable is the filling, paneer or some subji. But the devotees sandwich that. Mahaprabhu Himself becomes that and the devotees headed up by Srivasa Thakur. So when we chant: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. The mantra begins with Hare and it ends with Hare – again devotees, gaura-bhakta-vrnda. When we chant the prema dhvani prayers,

jaya om visnupada paramahamsa parivrajakacarya astottara-sata sri-srimad His Divine Grace Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada ki jaya.

And next is ananta koti vaisnava vrnda ki jaya. And how does it end? Samaveta bhakta-vrnda ki jaya. How many times is “all glories to the assembled devotees”? Three times. And who are those devotees? Those devotees are those devotees who live with you in your immediate community. That is what it means. Not that ananta koti vaisnava vrnda ki jaya is devotees who visit us. No. They are there with you. So this is srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda.

One such devotee who lived in our midst’s and still lives in separation and in lila in our midst’s is HH Sridhar Swami Maharaj. When at that time Sridhar Das brahmacari, Prthu-putra Das brahmacari and Lokantha Das brahmacari accepted sannyasa from Srila Prabhupada in Vrndavana, they went to Srila Prabhupada’s quarters to ask for blessings and direction. Srila Prabhupada did not give them the name Swami in the yajna. He just gave them sannyasa danda. He didn’t say this is your name. So they were thinking, “Prabhupada forgot to give us the name Swami.” So they asked Prabhupada the first question, “Prabhupada we didn’t get our names.” He said, “Just add Swami.” In his room, “So Lokanath Swami, Sridhar Swami and Prthu-putra Swami. Just add Swami”. So then they asked, “Give us some blessings and direction.” And Prabhupada said, “You have to do four things without duplicity. That is sannyasa.” They said, “Four things without duplicity?”

Without duplicity means what you are inside you are the same outside. So therefore a sadhu’s life is an open book. Nothing to hide! There is nothing under the carpet, no dirt and there is nothing in the closet. If there is any dirt, “This is me.” Expose yourself without duplicity. “This is me as I am. Please help me.” So then they asked, “What are the four things?” So Srila Prabhupada said, “man-mana bhava mad-bhakto is the first thing. Mad-yaji mam namaskuru is the second thing, mam evaisyasi satyam te is number three and pratijane priyo ‘si me is fourth.” [Sanskrit from Bg
18.65].” He said, “When you think of Krishna do it without duplicity, when you want to be His devotee do it without duplicity, when you want to offer homage, praise to Him do it without duplicity and when you offer dandavats, bowing down, do it without duplicity. This is sannyasa.”

So I asked HH Lokanath Swami, “What does it mean?” He said, “The only way you can be without duplicity is to not be duplicitous with the devotees. That is what Srila Prabhupada actually meant.” And HH Sridhara Swami Maharaj was like that. He would call a spade a spade and he said, “You can call me also, like a spade is a spade”. He was inside the same and outside the same. His life was an open book. If he wanted to eat pizza in a public place he would do it. “Why should I hide and eat?” he loved pizzas. “Why should I hide and eat pizzas? I am a sannyasi. I should be open.” He was like that. Wonderful personality. So it is most auspicious that HH Sridhara Swami left on the most auspicious anniversary appearance day of Srila Srivasa Thakura, in the most auspicious place, Sridhama Mayapur.

When Sridhara dasa brahmacari was serving Srila Prabhupada in Juhu, Mumbai, you know him. He had a hefty built. His manifest form to us was a hefty built, like a football player. So Srila Prabhupada said that he must take care of the construction materials because he has this hefty built when he walks around and they know he is in charge of the construction materials, nobody will steal. And you know HH Sridhara Swami he walked like that, “I am looking after Krishna’s paraphernalia.” And what is that paraphernalia? Construction materials – aprakat material to be prakat in the form of this beautiful marble temple for Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari.

When the news came that Srila Prabhupada wanted him to do that, HH Giriraj Swami went to HH Sridhar Swami and he said that Srila Prabhupada wants you to look after the construction materials. He said, “Why me? I want to preach. You go back to Srila Prabhupada and you tell him that.” So back and forth Giriraj Swami was going to Prabhupada and Sridhar Swami. “He wants you to do this.” “No I want to preach.” Then eventually Srila Prabhupada seeing his determination to preach gave him sannyasa. And we see that his desire to preach was without duplicity and he became one of the best preachers practically in India and the whole world. He spent considerable time here in India itself.

At one time HH Sridhar Swami joked about the zonal acarya system, So he joked, “If they make me guru, I will only take three disciples.” And he joked, “One to cook, one to do my laundry and one to collect money for me.” He said, “Why should I take many? I only need three. That is all.”

So here in this Room 851 in the Conch Building, where he left us in his manifest pastimes, the doctor came to him and his stomach was quite bloated. So the doctor was examining him and he was feeling his stomach to asses the situation. While he was doing that he was watching HH Sridhar Swami’s face and Sridhar Swami slowly opens his eyes and he looked at the doctor and said, “You know it’s a boy!”[Laughter.] Because his stomach was swollen. Amazing personality. In the most grave situation he could joke. He just cracked up. Therefore he is known as the Jolly Swami.

He told HH Giriraj Swami on the phone when he was still considering what to do now that it was eminent that he has to leave. And he said, “You know I only have three desires. Everything else is fulfilled. I just want to survive to want to be in Mayapur. And then survive to see the installation of the Panca-tattva. And therafter, if Krishna wills I should leave after Gaura-purnima.” Lord Krishna, Lord Caitanya and the Panca-tattva fulfilled all three desires. He lived beyond Gaura-purnima for the installation of the Panca-tattva and Srivasa Thakur was One of Them. So Krishna fulfilled all three desires.

Therefore we see in the same way when one disciple asked Srila Prabhupada in his last days, “Srila Prabhupada, your Guru Maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, he left early because he was disgusted with the leadership of the Gaudiya Math. Is this the same with you, is it true of you now? That you are leaving us?” And Srila Prabhupada said, “No! If Krishna allows I will be most happy to stay in your company. In fact you all are the best association.” And that includes great personalities like HH Sridhar Swami Maharaj and that also includes all of us even as grand disciples or great grand disciples.

Srila Prabhupada is eager for our association. And how is he eager for our association? Provided we are eager to stay in ISKCON. And why we are eager to stay in ISKCON? When Siddha Svarupananda Swami wanted to leave ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada finally laid down the line. He said, “ISKCON is me”. Then Siddha Svarupananda Swami came to Mayapur and said, “I can’t stand your ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada, but I will always remain faithful to you,” and Srila Prabhupada said, “ISKCON and myself are nondifferent.” Therefore if we really want Srila Prabhupada’s association and we really want Prabhupada to be the best association for us and to reciprocate, we can only find this in ISKCON – The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, just as that great personality, Sripada Sridhar Swami Maharaj who also mercifully gave us his association and has left us on the anniversary of this day.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya! Ananta-koti-vaisnava-vrnda ki jaya! Srila Sridhar Swami Maharaj ki jaya! Srila Srivasa Thakur ki jaya! Nitai-gaura-premanande, hari-haribol!

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=8249

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a personal relationship with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu? To talk with Him face-to-face, and have loving exchanges with Him? It’s not something we can speculate about or artificially induce. But we can hear about such loving exchanges, learn from them and become attracted and attached to entering into them as a humble servant of the servant. Today, let’s visit the world of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His very dear associate and servant, Srivasa Thakura.

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=86264

We human beings have always searched for happiness, which means we know we’re not happy.

Discontent burns within us, but we search for fulfillment outside ourselves.

We’re taught that we’ll feel complete when we get the right things.

But we’re left wanting more things.

The gap between us and true happiness is wider than ever.

But closing that gap is easier than we think.

The secret is simple: Selfless Service.

By giving we grow and enjoy without limit.

Giving service to our divine source nourishes us from within, just as watering the root of a tree nourishes the whole tree.

Such service is called bhakti-yoga, the yoga of love and gratitude.

The more we practice bhakti-yoga, the more our capacity to serve and taste tangible happiness grows.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117499

Bhakti Brihat Bhagavat Swami, introduces a series of classes about the Pancha Tattva leading up to Gaura Purnima, beginning with the glories of Lord Nityananda. He explains scriptural verses from the Chaitanya Charitamrita describing how Lord Nityananda is the same divine expansion as Balaram, who previously appeared as Lakshman, the younger brother of Lord Rama.

In the Ramayana pastimes, Lakshman served Lord Rama with great devotion but often suffered internally because, as the younger brother, he could not question or oppose Rama’s decisions. Several episodes illustrate this suffering, such as losing certain services after Rama’s marriage, the events surrounding Sita’s exile, and other moments where Lakshman had to silently obey. These experiences created a deep desire in Lakshman to serve differently in the future.

When Krishna appeared, Lakshman manifested as Balaram, now the elder brother. However, this also created a challenge: due to cultural norms, Krishna would not accept direct service from his elder brother. Although Balaram still served Krishna indirectly—expanding into Krishna’s environment, paraphernalia, and even as Ananga Manjari serving Radha and Krishna—he still felt unsatisfied. These spiritual dynamics help explain the internal reason for Lord Nityananda’s appearance: he embodies the combined moods of Lakshman’s devoted service and Balaram’s role as elder brother, ultimately serving Lord Chaitanya (who is Krishna combined with Radha).

The speaker also clarifies the meaning of Pancha Tattva. It does not refer to philosophical “principles” in an abstract sense but to five divine truths or manifestations of the Absolute: Lord Chaitanya, Lord Nityananda, Advaita Acharya, Gadadhara Pandit, and Srivasa Thakur. Understanding them is not merely intellectual; real understanding comes through devotional service and relationships, not just philosophical analysis.

During the question session, the speaker emphasizes that the transcendental nature of Krishna’s activities cannot be fully grasped by intellectual reasoning alone. He uses everyday examples, such as not fully understanding family members, to illustrate how much more difficult it is to comprehend divine pastimes. He also explains that in spiritual life one may have multiple gurus in different roles (diksha and siksha), and relationships within the guru-disciple tradition are very important.

The talk concludes with a story about A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada demonstrating the unlimited mercy associated with Lord Nityananda. Even when a disciple had fallen into bad habits, Prabhupada said he could not reject anyone, emphasizing that Lord Nityananda’s compassion and mercy have no limits.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117451

The talk focuses on the nature of spiritual leadership, especially within a devotional community. The speaker explains that true leadership is not about power or control but about service. A real leader wants others to become better than themselves and works to help people grow, become happier, and move closer to Krishna. Leadership is rewarding but also difficult, mainly because it involves guiding people with different personalities, ideas, and backgrounds.

One major challenge for leaders is bringing diverse individuals together to cooperate. Differences in culture, generation, and personal approach can create friction, so leaders must learn how to unify people despite these differences.

The speaker uses examples from the lives of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata to illustrate important lessons for leaders and for life:

Adversity is inevitable. Even righteous and capable people face difficulties. Problems are a natural part of life.

Do not hold negativity. Even when facing betrayal, criticism, or injustice, spiritually advanced people do not become bitter or seek revenge.

See opportunity in problems. Challenges can be transformed into growth, strength, or success.

Personality matters in leadership. Effective leaders combine three qualities: sensitivity (understanding others), strength (resilience and determination), and spirituality (inspiration rooted in devotion).

Unity is essential. Teams can unite through lower motives like fear or material gain, but lasting unity comes from duty and love.

The discussion continues with practical leadership advice. Leaders should build relationships with team members, communicate clearly, resolve misunderstandings, and understand people’s strengths so they can be engaged properly. When leaders say “no” to someone, they should try to offer another opportunity for service. Setting expectations and systems early can prevent conflicts.

The speaker also highlights that leadership means inspiring others through example, selflessness, and consistency. Communities grow when long-term dedication is combined with creativity and new ideas. Diversity within teams can be beneficial because different groups and individuals contribute different strengths.

Overall, the message is that leadership in a spiritual context involves humility, responsibility, unity, and the ability to uplift and inspire others despite challenges.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117455

By Rukmini Devi Dasi 

Radha Krishna Records, the historic record label owned by ISKCON London, is celebrating its 16th year and has released a new album designed for introspection and contemplation amidst the clamor of the modern world. This stripped-back offering primarily features acoustic guitar and bansuri flute, intentionally crafted to bring the sung mantras to the forefront.

The album, entitled Mantra Vibes London, marks the start of a new series. The “Mantra Vibes” project may visit your town or city next to record a future devotional album.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/radha-krishna-records-unveils-reflective-new-album/

By Prema-vilasini Devi Dasi, 

Ranjit Dasa was born on August 31, 1945, in Pretoria, South Africa. He moved to England after graduating from college and later went to a farm near Vancouver, Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. He was initiated there in 1974 and saw Srila Prabhupada four or five times, including in San Francisco, Vrindavan, India, Dallas, and England.

His main service in Nelson was Sankirtan, book distribution, and chopping firewood. From there, he briefly went to Dallas, TX in 1976, then returned to South Africa until 1980. In South Africa, he did Life Membership, sankirtan, and bookkeeping.

His next adventure took him to Mayapur, where he stayed from 1980 to 1983. In Mayapur, he was in charge of Srila Prabhupada’s Pushpa Samadhi construction and bookkeeping.

In 1983, Ranjit worked with ITV in Los Angeles and Yadubara Das in India on videography, camera work, and movies.

Rajit Dasa then spent the next 23 years at the Bhaktivedanta Archives in Sandy Ridge, North Carolina, from 1984 to 2007. He was a member of the team that included His Grace Ekanatha Das, who also departed for the spiritual world a week prior. This team was instrumental in creating the Vedabase and scanning and preserving every image, document, and Krishna Art in existence at that time. The team published 60 volumes of Srila Prabhupada’s conversations, lectures, and other publications.

While in North Carolina, he married Gopisvari Devi Dasi in LA, his wife of 39 years. Prema-vilasini Devi Dasi was born in 1988 and became Ethan’s kid sister.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/remembering-his-grace-ranjit-dasa/
 

Hare Krishna Devotees!

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

On Wednesday, March 11th, we will be celebrating Srivas Thakur’s appearance day. *Please join us at the temple on this special day for the program at 4pm.*

We welcome all the devotees to come hear the glories of Srivas Thakur and participate in the wonderful service of bathing Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Padukas with Ganga jal in honour of the appearance day of Srivas Thakur, by whose mercy we can receive the shelter of Lord Krsna’s lotus feet.

All devotees are also welcomed to prepare and bring bhoga for the pleasure of our Lordships Sri Sri Pancatattva.

Please join us to celebrate Srivas Thakur with your friends and families for the mercy of Panchatattva!

We will have space blocked off for all the devotees so that everyone can gather comfortably and take part in the program.

We hope to see you there!

Your servants,

Pancha-tattva festival celebration team

Source: https://www.mayapur.com/en/blog/please-join-us-for-the-appearance-day-of-srivas-thakur

(1)
cheto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam
shreyah-kairava-chandrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam
anandambhdhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamritasvadanam
sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate shri-krishna-sankirtanam

Glory to the Shri Krishna sankirtana (congregational chanting of the Lord’s holy names), which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. That sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.

(2)
namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-shaktis
tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalaha
etadrishi tava kripa bhagavan mamapi
durdaivam idrisham ihajani nanuragahah

O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names, like Krishna and Govinda. In these transcendental names, you have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach you by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them.

(3)
trinad api sunicena
taror api sahishnuna
amanina manadena
kirtaniyah sada harihi

One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.

(4)
na dhanam na janam na sundarim
kavitam va jagad-isha kamaye
mama janmani janmanishvare
bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi

O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want your causeless devotional service, birth after birth.

(5)
ayi nanda-tanuja kinkaram
patitam mam vishame bhavambudhau
kripaya tava pada-pankaja-
sthita-dhuli-sadrisham vichintaya

O son of Maharaja Nanda [Krishna], I am Your eternal servitor, yet somehow or other I have fallen into the ocean of birth and death. Please pick me up from this ocean of death and place me as one of the atoms at Your lotus feet.

(6)
nayanam galad-ashru-dharaya
vadanam gadgada-ruddhaya gira
pulakair nichitam vapuh kada
tava nama-grahane bhavishyati

O my Lord, when will my eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing constantly when I chant Your holy name? When will my voice choke up, and when will the hairs of my body stand on end at the recitation of Your name?

(7)
yugayitam nimeshena
chakshusha pravrishayitam
shunyayitam jagat sarvam
govinda-virahena me

O Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I am considering a moment to be like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in Your absence.

(8)
ashlishya va pada-ratam pinashtu mam
adarshanan marma-hatam karotu va
yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato
mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparaha

I know no one but Krishna as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly by His embrace or makes me brokenhearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord, unconditionally.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Source: 🗒️ अभी अपना ऑर्डर बुक करें!!! https://brajmela.com/products/hindi-krsna-book-combo

Maharaja explains a holistic view of health based on Vedic philosophy, describing three interconnected aspects of human existence: the gross physical body, the subtle body (mind, emotions, intellect), and the atma (soul). True well-being requires caring for all three levels because they influence one another. Problems in the physical body can affect the mind and spirit, while spiritual or mental disturbances can manifest physically.

Several factors influence health across these levels:

Food: Food carries energies from nature (sun, water, earth), human preparation, and—when offered to God—spiritual energy. In the Vedic tradition, food offered to Krishna becomes sanctified (prasadam), benefiting the body, mind, and soul. Foods also reflect the three gunas:

Sattvic foods promote balance and health.

Rajasic foods stimulate passion.

Tamasic foods (e.g., intoxicants) promote ignorance and harm the body.

Exercise and Yoga: Physical activity maintains bodily health, while yoga works on deeper levels. Through postures, breathing, and meditation, yoga balances the subtle body and chakras, leading to mental peace and eventually spiritual realization.

Association: The people we associate with influence our subtle body through their thoughts, emotions, and energies. Negative associations can spread harmful mental states, while spiritual association (satsanga) elevates consciousness and strengthens devotion.

Environment: Surroundings affect physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Natural and spiritual environments are considered more sattvic, whereas modern urban environments—with pollution and electromagnetic radiation—may disturb bodily and subtle energy systems.

Spiritual Practice: The most powerful practice emphasized is chanting the holy names of Krishna (Hare Krishna mantra), especially congregational chanting (kirtan), taught by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Chanting benefits all levels: it promotes mental peace, can produce measurable physical health effects, and ultimately awakens spiritual love for God.

Scientific studies mentioned suggest that practices like meditation, plant-based diets, exercise, relaxing music, and chanting can improve biological markers such as telomeres, which are associated with longevity and health.

The talk concludes that the Hare Krishna mantra is a simple and accessible practice that benefits the body, mind, and soul, leading ultimately to spiritual realization and eternal bliss.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117512

Devotees across several Middle Eastern countries have faced a week of uncertainty amid rising regional tensions. In a report sent from Abu Dhabi, Tapana Misra Dasa, GBC for the region, shared that devotees in Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Lebanon, and even Saudi Arabia have experienced disruptions in recent days, while devotees in Pakistan have encountered minor difficulties.

“The last seven days have been a period of much turmoil for the devotees in this zone,” Tapana Misra Dasa shared. “By Lord Krishna’s grace, as of this writing, none of our devotees are hurt.” He expressed gratitude to devotees worldwide who have been praying for the community during the crisis. “Your prayers have offered much strength and protection to the devotees here,” he said.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/devotees-in-middle-east-remain-safe-amid-regional-tensions/

By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi, 

Jayapataka Swami has become the first devotee in ISKCON history to receive the Bhakti Sarvabhauma degree, the highest academic qualification of the ISKCON Board of Examinations, earning an A+ grade from the Mayapur Institute.

A Vision Rooted in Srila Prabhupada’s Instructions

The degree system that Jayapataka Swami has now completed at the highest level was established directly by Srila Prabhupada. In a letter to Svarupa Damodara dated January 10, 1976, Prabhupada laid out the full framework:

“I have also suggested for the GBC’s consideration that we introduce a system of examinations for the devotees to take… Bhakti-sastri: (for all brahmanas) based on Bhagavad-gita, Sri Isopanisad, The Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction, and all the small paperbacks. Bhakti-vaibhava: the above plus first six Cantos of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Bhakti-vedanta: the above plus cantos 7–12 Srimad-Bhagavatam. Bhakti-sarvabhauma: the above plus Caitanya-caritamrta.”

The responsibilities Srila Prabhupada attached to these qualifications were clear. In a letter to all Governing Body Commissioners on January 6, 1976, he wrote: “Anyone wishing to be initiated as a brahmana will have to pass the Bhaktisastri exam and anyone wishing to take sannyasa will have to pass the Bhaktivaibhava examination as well…Any sannyasis or brahmanas already initiated who fail to pass the exams will be considered low class or less qualified.”

His deepest aspiration, however, went even further. As he expressed as early as 1969: “I want that all of my spiritual sons and daughters will inherit this title of Bhaktivedanta, so that the family transcendental diploma will continue through the generations.”

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/jayapataka-swami-becomes-first-to-receive-bhakti-sarvabhauma-degree/

Udaipur is known as the city of beautiful lakes. It is said that once during his hunting expedition, Maharana Udai Singh met a holy sage in the Aravalli ranges. The sage directed the king to create a kingdom in this fertile valley, which would be protected by the high-rising Aravallis.

Consequently, Maharana Udai Sing established Udaipur in 1553 AD. It was also constructed for better defense against Mughal expansion.

We had the opportunity to visit the famous Jagdish temple in the city palace complex. It was built in 1651 by Maharana Jagat Singh 1 and dedicated to Lord Vishnu. A premier example of wonderful architecture, featuring intricate carvings, a 79-foot spire, and a bronze image of Garuda.

Source: https://ramaiswami.com/udaipur/

This film is about three Hare Krishna devotees in Ireland and how the Vedic philosophy has changed their lives. Srila Prabhupada, who brought these teachings to the West in 1965, has given the answers to the major questions of life, which are mainly about birth, old age, disease and death. The Bhagavad-gita is the most important book for explaining who we are.
These three Hare Krishna devotees were some of the first to start practising bhakti yoga in Ireland.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117509