Matt Holmes is quite the world traveler who hails from Los Angeles. He is a visitor to Suriname, like myself, and we were on the same plane landing at Paramaribo. I hit it on with him right off the bat. We brought him to the Krishna temple, let him have a taste of a Krishna meal, and drove him to the hostel downtown.
I made more friends at the temple including Anita who was awarded the Sanskrit name Advika, which means ‘Earth’. I was hoping to meet more friends in the form of those adorable s
Our false ego prevents us from looking at our own faults. It makes it difficult for us to acknowledge our faults and therefore, instead of being introspective, we see those faults in others. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur said, “Because I am myself honeycombed with faults, I see the faults of others”.
If you spot it, you have got it
In the realm of psychology it is said that if something about someone really bothers you, it’s usually because you have that fault. Of course, we usually do
When we talk about sankirtana, we are, of course, talking about the congregational chanting of the Lord’s holy names, specifically in the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. For many people, this is the first way they come in contact with the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, and with Lord Chaitanya’s sankirtana movement, by hearing the devotees chanting the holy names. But what is it about this process that makes it so effective, and so important in the way people are first exposed to it?
To answer th
Sree Vairankode Bhagavathi Temple is one of the oldest Bhadrakaali temples situated in Kerala. The deity honored here is the goddess Bhadra Kaali. Approximately 1500 years ago, the Vairankode Temple was founded by Azhvanchery Thamprakkal.
As per the temple legends, Vairankode Bhagavathi is said to be the sister of Kodungallur Bhagavathi or the sister (another self) There is a legend that the divine presence of the Goddess (Devi Chaithanyam) of Angadipuram Bhagavathy appeared before the Aazhvanch
Śrīla Prabhupāda instructed, “If you are actually serious about
going back to home, back to Godhead, then please seek after the
mercy of Nityānanda.” Inspired by this instruction, the Mayapur
Master Plan Office is delighted to introduce the
Virtual Pilgrimage
to Ekacakrā Dhāma, the sacred birthplace of Lord Nityānanda.
This initiative allows devotees around the world to explore holy
Lord Nityananda is considered to be the most merciful manifestation of the most merciful incarnation of the Lord. The most merciful incarnation is Lord Chaitanya and he manifested his mercy most exuberantly through Lord Nityananda. Though these two transcendental brothers are non-different, still one takes on the mood of the servant of the other – Lord Nityananda considers service to Lord Chaitanya the supreme treasure of his life, indeed, the very purpose of his life.
In his service to Lord Ch
From Back to Godhead
A gang intent on stealing Lord Nityananda’s jewelry eventually surrenders to Him, and He mercifully awards them pure love of God.
When I was eight or nine years old, my parents took me to the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. After meandering through myriad halls and galleries, we came across an exhibit of valuable gemstones in the Museum of Natural History. I remember being particularly struck by the famous Hope Diamond, a large bluish diamond pendant surrounded by s
By Srila Krishna Das Kaviraja Goswami
(from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter 8)
Whether he is offensive or inoffensive, anyone who even now chants “sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda” is immediately overwhelmed with ecstasy, and tears fill his eyes. Simply by talking of Nityananda Prabhu one awakens his love for Krsna. Thus all his bodily limbs are agitated by ecstasy, and tears flow from his eyes like the waters of the Ganges.
There are offenses to be considered while chanting t
The Supreme Mercy of The two Lords
In Vedanta Sutra there is a famous – “anandamyo bhyasat”. This sloka explains the constitutional position of every living being. Everyone is looking for pleasure. The soul and it’s natural condition is Sachidananda, eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss, full of ecstasy. Therefore the heart of every living being is constantly seeking beauty, charm, and ecstasy. Therefore the Lord descends into this world to distribute prema bhakti divine love. Becaus
Nitai Guna-Mani amar
Srila Locana Dasa Thakura
Sri Caitanya Mangala
“My Lord Nityananda is the Jewel of all Transcendental Qualities”
(1)
nitai guna-mani amar, nitai guna-mani
aniya premer banya bhasailo avani
(2)
premer banya loiya nitai aila gauda-dese
dubilo bhakata-gana dina hina bhase
(3)
dina hina patita pamara nahi bachhe
brahmar durlabha prema sabakare jache
(4)
abaddha karuna-sindhu nitai katiya muhan
ghare ghare bule prema-amiyar ban
(5)
lochan bole hena nitai jeba na bhajilo
jani
Lord Nityananda descended to assist Lord Caitanya in spreading the chanting of the holy names of Lord Krishna in harinama-sankirtana, or the congregational chanting of the Lord’s holy names, and to bring the mercy of Lord Krishna to the fallen, materially conditioned souls.
Sri Nityananda was born to a pious brahmana family. His father was Hadai Ojha and mother Padmavati. He also had a brother named Banka Raya. He appeared in the second half of the 15th century, before the appearance of Sri Cai
We welcome you on this most auspicious occasion of the appearance day of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. According to the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, the Absolute Truth is realized in three features. Preliminary is Brahman, the impersonal light that emanates from the transcendental form of the Lord. Next is Paramatma, the localized Supersoul within the hearts of all living entities. And the last word in realization of the Absolute is Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of
He is indeed by far
The mercy avatar
For he bore the blood
During the love flood
As companion to Gaur
Life was less is more
Distributing a wealth
For everyone's health
Committed to the name
And establishing its fame
He went door to door
In the effort to explore
He went with Haridas
Many gains, no loss
With interesting reception
Prepared for any rejection
Jagai/Madai, there in queue
The loud obnoxious two
Met more than their match
When Nitai did dispatch
Totally drunk as hell
T
The story of Varaha Dvadasi begins in a time when the universe was facing a great crisis. The demon Hiranyaksha had gained enormous power through severe austerities. With his strength and pride, he attacked the demigods and defeated them one by one. His heart was filled with greed, and his actions were driven by ego and cruelty. He looted gold, wealth, and sacred resources, disturbing the natural balance of creation. His destructive behavior did not stop with material theft. He went so far as to
So today is Nityananda Prabhu’s appearance day – Nityananda Trayodasi therefore we will start our class with a verse from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 1.7
sankarsanah karana-toya-sayi garbhoda-sayi ca payobdhi-sayi sesas ca yasyamsa-kalah sa nitya- nandakhya-ramah saranam mamastu
TRANSLATION: May Sri Nityananda Rama be the object of my constant remembrance. Sankarsana, Sesa Naga and the Visnus who lie on the Karana Ocean, Garbha Ocean and ocean of milk are His plenary portions and the porti
By Bhakti Vigna Vinasa Narasimha Swami
Jaya Jaya Sri Caitanya Jaya Nityananda!
Jaya Advaitacandra Jaya Gaurabhakta vrnda!
So today the auspicious day of the appearance day of Lord Nityananda. We will attempt to speak some of the glories of Lord Nityananda for the pleasure of the devotees.
Lord Nityananda appeared in Ekacakra dhama. Lord Nityananda was the son of Hadai Ojha and Padmavati. Hadai Ojha was brahmana. Padmavati was the daughter of a king, Mukuta Roy. I had the opportunity last wee
Topic: Lord Varahadeva’s Appearance Anniversary
Verse: SB 3.18.2
Speaker: HH Bhakti Sundar Goswami
dadarsa tatrabhijitam dhara-dharam pronniyamanavanim agra-damstraya musnantam aksna sva-ruco ‘runa-sriya jahasa caho vana-gocaro mrgah
TRANSLATION: He saw there the all-powerful Personality of Godhead in His boar incarnation, bearing the earth upward on the ends of His tusks and robbing him of his splendor with His reddish eyes. The demon laughed: Oh, an amphibious beast!
PURPORT: In a previous ch
So on the occasion of Varaha’s appearance day, we are reading a verse in relation this pastime. This is from Canto Three, Chapter Eighteen “The Battle Between Boar and Hiranyaksa”, Text number two.
dadarsa tatrabhijitam dhara-dharam
pronniyamanavanim agra-damstraya
musnantam aksna sva-ruco ’runa-sriya
jahasa caho vana-gocaro mrgah
Translation:
“He saw there the all-powerful Personality of Godhead in His boar incarnation, bearing the earth upward on the ends of His tusks and robbing him of his
Varahadeva’s Appearance Day
Sri Varaha deva mahatosav ki
Let us begin by considering the philosophical truth of Krishna’s incarnations, so that way we will get the perspective on His descent to this material world.
Srila Prabhupada spoke about this in 1977. This is exactly 40 years ago in Bhubaneshwar, right? He spoke about Varaha’s appearance. He said “Ramadi murti su kala niyamena.” Krishna, the original adi pursua, is taking various forms. Ramadi murtisu, especially three Ramas, Parasuram
