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Characteristics of Pure Devotional Service:

In Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Kapiladeva, while instructing His mother, has given the following characteristics of pure devotional service: "My dear mother, those who are My pure devotees, and who have no desire for material benefit or philosophical speculation, have their minds so much engaged in My service that they are never interested in asking Me for anything--except to be engaged in that service. They do not even beg to live in My abode with Me."

Rup

Gita Govinda - Sakhi's request to Krsna
Song by Jayadeva Gosvami

When Radha saw Krsna enjoying affectionate exchanges with all the cowherd maidens in the groves of Vrndavana, she became indignant because he had not acknowledged her eminence. She immediately departed for another part of the forest and hid herself inside a shady bower that resounded with the drone of bumblebees.

atha tam gantum asaktam ciram anuraktam lata-grhe drstva
tac-caritam govinde manasija-mande sakhi praha
Translation
Radha was

Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

The Stealing of the Boys and Calves by Brahma

1. The incident of Krsna's saving Himself and His associates from death and of giving deliverance to Aghasura, who had assumed the form of a python, took place when Krsna was five years old. It was disclosed in Vrajabhumi after one year, as if it had taken place on that very day. It happened like this:

2. After saving the boys and calves from the mouth of Aghasura, who was death personif

Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati's
Sri Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi
(The Nectar Moon of Sri Radha's Sweetness)

1. O Radha, if You affectionately show me to Your beloved, who walks on the path of debauchery, then please hear how I will faithfully serve You. With smiling sidelong glances, and with the hairs of my body standing up with joy, I will tightly embrace Your beloved. In this way I will taste the nectar of service to Your feet.

2. "You like the dark sky when the moon is waning, the newly blossoming blu

Narada as a Gopi

After Narada heard the glories of gopi-bhava (the exalted moods of the gopis) from the mouth of Vrnda-devi, the presiding deity of Vrndavana, an intense desire to lovingly serve the Divine Couple Sri Radha-Krsna as a gopi in Their most elevated amorous pastimes arose in his heart. He received the gopala-mantra from Brahma, the Grandsire of the world, and began to perform meditation and worship in raga-marga, the path of spontaneous attachment, in the wake of the gopis.
After doing

Sri Prathama Kunja-vihary-ashtaka
by Srila Rupa Gosvami

indranila-mani-manjula-varnah
phulla-nipa-kusumancita-karnah
krishnalabhir akrisorasi hari
sundaro jayati kunja-vihari
All glories to Sri Krishna, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vrindavana forest. His complexion is as splendid as sapphires, He wears kadamba-blossom earrings, and His broad chest is decorated with a garland of gunja.

radhika-vadana-candra-cakorah
sarva-ballava-vadhu-dhriti-caurah
carcari-caturatancita-cari
caruto jayati kunja-vi

Gita Govinda - Radha’s feelings of separation from Krsna
Song by Jayadeva Gosvami

When Radha saw Krsna enjoying affectionate exchanges with all the cowherd maidens in the groves of Vrndavana, she became indignant because he had not acknowledged her eminence. She immediately departed for another part of the forest and hid herself inside a shady bower that resounded with the drone of bumblebees. When the sakhi saw Radha powerless to go to Krsna despite her being fervently desirous of his company, sh

At a recent farewell gathering for a departed Vaisnava, God brothers spoke. One sannyasa-guru Godbrother said that his Godbrother has gone Back To Godhead. Another sannyasa-guru Godbrother said that his Godbrother has gone to take another birth in Krishna or Gaura-lila, which seemed to put a dampener on things. Are they saying two different things?

They are both right. They are both saying the same thing in different ways. One is a simple conviction and the other is more elaborate. Srila Pra

I have been collecting clippings and articles written by His Holiness Radhanath Swami maharaj from the Mumbai edition of ‘The Free Press journal newspaper, I collected his writings for a few months and to share them with everyone, so here I present this compilation nam ed ‘Gems of Wisdom’. 

(Name of the muslim girl has been changed to protect her identity)

I met her on a leading social networking website, her name was Nazia Mujeeb and she had a picture of Krishna in her profile, it surprised me that how a young muslim girl living in Mumbai had Krishna’s picture on her page. I sent her a friend request which she accepted as even I had Krishna in my profile, I started telling her more about Krishna and ISKCON on that website. She gave me her mobile number and invited her to ISKCON

TEXT 5

na ca mat-sthani bhutani
pasya me yogam aisvaram
bhuta-bhrn na ca bhuta-stho
mamatma bhuta-bhavanah

SYNONYMS

na--never; ca--also; mat-sthani--situated in Me; bhutani--all creation; pasya--just see; me--My; yogam aisvaram--inconceivable mystic power; bhuta-bhrt--maintainer of all living entities; na--never; ca--also; bhuta-sthah--in the cosmic manifestation; mama--My; atma--Self; bhuta-bhavanah--is the source of all manifestations.

TRANSLATION

And yet everything that is created does not rest

Special lecture on Valentine’s Day by Chaitanya Charan Das (The Spiritual Scientist)

(He is a editor of Back to Godhead and  member of ISKCON's Shastric Adivsory Council (SAC). His writings have been published in newspapers like Times of India, Indian Express, Economic Times, Hindustan Times, and Sakaal Times.)
To Listen and Download - click here

Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

Lord Balarama Slays the Demon Pralamba

1. While Krsna and Balarama were enjoying life in Vrndavana in the guise of ordinary cowherd boys, the summer season gradually appeared. Because the Supreme Personality of Godhead was personally staying in Vrndavana along with Balarama, summer manifested the qualities of spring.

2. Intending to engage in pastimes, Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, accompanied by Lord Balarama and

SRI VILAPA KUSUMANJALI
(Prayers to Sri Radha)

1. O queen, please rescue this unfortunate person, drowning in an ocean of pain. Place him on the strong
boat of your mercy and carry him to the wonderful realm of Your lotus feet.

2. O queen, with the medicine of the red lac from Your lotus feet, please bring back to life this person now dead from the bites of the black snake of not seeing You.

3. O queen, with the nectar of a moment's glance please restore the life of this gopi maidservant of Your lotu

Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - toll-tax

Once, Sri Bhaguri Rsi was performing a sacrifice for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord. The cowherd boys and girls were bringing ingredients for the sacrifice from distant places. Srimati Radhika and Her sakhis were also bringing yoghurt, milk, butter and various kinds of milk-sweets, such as rabadi. Sri Krsna along with Subala, Madhumangala and other sakhas, obstructed their path and forcibly demanded toll-tax, and the sakhas and gopis began

Guru-varam mukunda-presthatve (smara):
Meditate on Sri Gurudeva as very dear to Sri Mukunda

Sri Gurudeva is known as mukunda-prestha or one who is very dear to Sri Mukunda, who bestows mukti or liberation from material bondage. Devotees should think, "Sri Krsna, who is an ocean of mercy, has sent His very dear associate as my gurudeva in order to deliver me." It is, therefore, fully appropriate to consider Sri Gurudeva as a priya sakhi of Srimati Radhika. According to the statement of the sastras,

Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

The Forest Fire

1. After the killing of demon Pralamba, while the cowherd boys were completely absorbed in playing, their cows wandered far away. They hungered for more grass, and with no one to watch them they entered a dense forest.

2. Passing from one part of the great forest to another, the goats, cows and buffalo eventually entered an area overgrown with sharp canes. The heat of a nearby forest fire made them thirsty, and they

Sri Radhe-Krsna's playful pastimes (vihara) - Sankari-khor

At this dana ghati, Sri Krsna and His gopa friends would become tax collectors and demand milk, yoghurt and butter
as toll-tax from the gopis. When the gopis refused to give any tax, Krsna would forcibly plunder and relish their milk products.

The gopis, being tired of these daily encounters, decided one day to retaliate strongly. They decided that on a chosen day they would all hide in the caves and dense kunjas on the hill on both sides

Story of Lord Krishna - SRIMAD BHAGAVATA by Krsna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

The Gopis Glorify the Song of Krsna’s Flute

1. During the rainy season the Vrndavana forest had become resplendent, filled with ripe dates and jambu fruits,
Lord Krsna, surrounded by His cows and cowherd boyfriends and accompanied by Sri Balarama, entered that forest to enjoy.

2. The cows had to move slowly because of their weighty milk bags, but they quickly ran to the Supreme Personality of Godhead as soon as He called them, their