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 March 2015 - Issue 2

Contents
3 Editorial 27 Addressing Bhakti-sastri Student

4 Nityänanda! Nityänanda!! 25 Remembering Çréla Prabhupäda

Addressing JSSS - New Delhi -Mäyäpur Memories-

8 Contracting Lord Caitanya’s Disease 27 Hari-hara Kñetra

Initiation Lecture - Hyderabad -Çré Navadvépa Maëòala Parikramä-

10
Naughty Nimäi & Agaraja Viçvarüpa 29 Every Town and Village
Çravaëa Utsava - 2015 A Travelling Preacher’s Diary

13 On TOVP Projects 31 Vaiñëava Ke?

– Service opportunities galore – What Kind of Devotee Are You?

14 Flag-hoisting Ceremony Address

15 Addressing
the Saìkértana Parties of Mäyäpur

17 Homage to His Holiness

Tamäl Kåñëa Goswämé

20 The Importance of the TOVP Project

Cover Page Picture

22 Parikramä Ädivas Speech
February 13th, 2015
Çravaëa Utsava - Çré Mäyäpur Dhäma

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Çré Guru Prasaìga u u March 2015 P
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 EDITORIAL
consciousness worldwide. He always attributed his
accomplishments to Kåñëa’s and his spiritual
sädhavo na hi sarvatra /candanam na vane vane master’s mercy.
Neither saints are found everywhere, nor Following in the footsteps of Çréla Prabhupäda,
sandalwood trees in every forest.– Çré Cäëakya Paëòita our beloved Guru Mahäräja has been selflessly
The devotees of Kåñëa are greatly concerned propagating Kåñëa consciousness and making
about the plight of the conditioned souls’ thousands of conditioned souls like us blissful,
unenviable lot in this world of illusory dazzle and taking the many risks that preaching entails. And
design. Therefore they go out of their way and take even at present, when his state of health is the least
all kinds of risks to save people from the miserable enviable, he is full of enthusiasm for preaching– he
experiences sandwiched between birth and death. continues to inspire thousands of people in general,
disciples and well-wishers worldwide. We are sure
Çréla Prabhupäda took his spiritual master’s
that Lord Gauräìga and Çréla Prabhupäda are very
instruction to preach in the West seriously and did
proud of our selfless, magnanimous, compassionate
it, but before he reached Boston’s Commonwealth
Guru Mahäräja, who has sacrificed himself in the
Pier, he had two heart attacks and had been on
fire of Saìkértana Yajïa. The popular saying, “Like
the verge of leaving his body. Most men his age
father, like son” is most apt in this context, as our
would have simply retired from the din and bustle
Guru Mahäräja has proven himself a worthy son
of active life and found themselves a cozy corner
of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
in their home in a cozier chair. Conversely, Çréla
Prabhupäda. Of course, this statement of ours in no
Prabhupäda chose to head out into the impious
way insinuates that Guru Mahäräja is equal to Çréla
world afflicted with materialism masquerading as
Prabhupäda; rather it merely points to our Guru
civilization, when he could so easily have remained
Mahäräja’s perfect emulation of Çréla Prabhupäda,
in våndävana and done his solitary bhajana. But
who famously instructs, “Do as I have done.”
why? What did a pure devotee like His Divine Grace
have to do with people who were not at all Kåñëa The words “All glories to Guru Mahäräja” will
conscious? Well, Çréla Prabhupäda left våndävana hardly suffice to glorify someone so purely and so
and went to the West to give the people there the inimitably Gauräìga conscious as our beloved Guru
most precious gem: Kåñëa consciousness. Mahäräja. Rare is our beloved spiritual master!
Indeed, it is no overstatement to say that no high
How many among today’s population would
readily sacrifice their own happiness for the sake praise will suffice to glorify him. Nevertheless, by
of giving others happiness? Very few. And even the repeatedly saying “All glories to Guru Mahäräja,”
select few who do engage in philanthropic activities we ensure rapid purification of our contaminated
crave fame, adoration and distinction, which are the selves. Therefore, on the eve of our loving spiritual
by-products of altruism and philanthropy. Therefore master’s Vyäsa-püjä celebrations, let us all proclaim,
even altruists and philanthropists ultimately want “All glories to Guru Mahäräja! All glories to Guru
subtle sense gratification. In contrast, purely out Mahäräja! All glories to Guru Mahäräja!” and start
of the desire to give people the ever-blissful life of turning the pages of this issue of Çré Guru prasaìga
Kåñëa consciousness, Çréla Prabhupäda circled to see what he has to say…
the world fourteen times. Never once did he take Yours in the service of Guru Mahäräja,
credit for his glorious feat of spreading Kåñëa The Editor
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 Ekacakrä After Lord Nityänanda Leaves devotees repeat after him.)
It’s nice to see all the devotees. Since it is Lord Guru Mahäräja Continues Speaking:
Nityänanda’s appearance day, I will say something What can Häòäi Ojhä do? He has given his
about Lord Nityänanda first, then something word… And he doesn’t want his son to think
about the Guru. Then we’ll have a question-and- that it is okay to lie. But he cannot live without
answer session. Nityänanda! So he was in a great dilemma. But
As you might know, Lord Nityänanda’s father, he knew there was no choice. He had to give
Häòäi Ojhä, spoke with a sannyäsé who was a Nityänanda away. So Häòäi Ojhä let his son go
Vaiñëava and promised to offer him whatever he with the sannyäsé.
desired. But the sannyäsé said, “You don’t really The sannyäsé accepted Lord Nityänanda
mean that.” and walked on, with Nityänanda following him.
Nityänanda’s father replied, “No, no! I’m not Although Lord Nityänanda was just 12 years old,
like that. I will definitely give you whatever you he steadily walked behind the sannyäsé, not once
would like.” looking back.
And the sannyäsé again said, “You don’t really Häòäi Ojhä and Padmavaté, Lord Nityänanda’s
mean that.” parents, kept watching as He walked further and
“But I do mean it. I am a brähmaëa who always further away… They followed Him to the edge
tells the truth. Please tell me what you would like. of the village and stood there, still watching their
I will certainly give you whatever you may desire.” son going, until all that could be seen was dust.
“Then give me Nityänanda.” (Guru Mahäräja Immediately after that Häòäi Ojhä collapsed, and
now chants “Nityänanda” three times and has the was no more. He had died because of separation

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from his beloved son. is present. Maybe if he is not, you have a reason
Around 40 or 50 years later, Çrématé Jähnavä- to be sad. But when he is present, you will have
devé, the wife of Lord Nityänanda, visited all your questions answered. So why are you sad?
Ekacakrä, the birthplace of her husband. There And I order you the order to be happy.”
she saw an old man coming, using a stick to support I had never heard Çréla Prabhupäda give such
himself. She also noticed that he was murmuring orders before. But it was a very special order. And
something. As he came closer, she could hear him someone told me that he’s been chanting for two
saying, “Nityänanda! Nityänanda! Nityänanda! years but that he still hasn’t been able to see Kåñëa.
Nitäi! Nitäi! Nitäi!” (Devotees repeat after Guru It may take a little longer. Çréla Prabhupäda said
Mahäräja as he mimics the old man’s weepy that it took him twenty years! So, who can say how
chanting of “Nityänanda” and “Nitäi.”) She long it will take us? If it took Çréla Prabhupäda
stopped him and asked him why he was chanting twenty years, how many more years would it take
Nityänanda’s name, while noticing that there were you? So we should be patient and enthusiastic.
tears in the old man’s eyes. We should also be deeply convinced that we
“When Nityänanda left,” replied the old man, can be successful by practicing bhakti-yoga. We
“He was the life of our village! When Häòäi Ojhä should associate with pure devotees, follow the
gave Nityänanda away, the whole village died–all regulative principles, and be straightforward in our
the children left. Why did he give Nityänanda dealings. These actions and attitudes have been
away?” (Guru Mahäräja simultaneously cries like recommended by Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé. But one
the old man from Ekacakrä) And he wept and said, should especially chant Hare Kåñëa. Lord Caitanya
“Nityänandaaaaaa! Nityänanda, Nityänanda!” ordered everyone, “bolo kåñëa, bhajo kåñëa, karo
Then he walked on. kåñëa çikñä,” which translates to “Chant the holy
I have been thinking about Nityänanda. names of Kåñëa (so we chant Hare Kåñëa Hare
Nityänanda! Nityänanda! (Guru Mahäräja’s Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare/ Hare Räma Hare
voice at this point is filled with emotion) This was Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare), serve Kåñëa (we
Ekacakrä after Nitäi left. render devotional service) and study Kåñëa (we
The Guru, Bhakti-yoga, and Special Mercy read topics related to Kåñëa)”
Nityänanda is the ädi-guru. A guru is We read last night that one could be delivered
considered to be a confidential associate of Lord by Lord Jagannätha in eight different ways. We
Nityänanda; or a representative of Rädhäräëé. So don’t want the impersonal liberation. If we get
the disciple sees the dékñä -guru as both dékñä- liberation, we only want that to increase our
guru and çikñä-guru. And any question he may service to Kåñëa.
have about spiritual life can be answered by the Kåñëa is sometimes in the spiritual world and
guru. One may have other çikñä-gurus, but usually sometimes in the material world. Pure devotees
with the dékñä-guru’s permission. want to serve Kåñëa, no matter where He is. Of
Once, the secretary to Çréla Prabhupäda, for course, one can have good fortune bestowed
some reason, was sad. So Çréla Prabhupäda asked on him by chanting. But the devotees want only
him, “Why are you sad?” service to Kåñëa as benediction. By seeing the
He said, “Do not be sad, when your dékñä-guru Lord, by circumambulating the Lord, by visiting

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the Lord’s dhäma, by taking prasädam, by doing Jagannätha Miçra and chant Hare Kåñëa Hare
some service to the Lord, by leaving the body in Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare/ Hare Räma Hare
the dhäma and, in many other ways, one can attain Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare (Guru Mahäräja
the lotus feet of the Lord. We have been blessed sings the first few words of the mahä-mantra and
with the great good fortune of chanting the names the devotees take it from there and finish singing it).
of the Lord. The Lord and His name are identical, Wise brähmaëas have a discussion in the back
He and His glories are identical, He and His lélä and finally arrive at a decision. In deference to
are identical, and He and His dhäma are identical. their instruction, Mother Çacé, along with her son,
All of you have visited the Lord’s holy dhäma, friends and relatives, takes Jagannätha Miçra to
have visited Mäyäpur and Våndävana and taken the bank of the Ganges.
Kåñëa Prasädam, have read the Gétä and the Although the Lord is the Supreme Personality
Bhägavatam. Therefore you have received a lot of Godhead, He acts like a responsible son. He
of mercy. And by reading the pastimes by leading asks His father, “Where are you going now? If you
the bhakti-våkña also, all of you will obtain special go now, the house will be empty and I will have
mercy. none to affectionately call “father” anymore! I
At the moment, I am translating Çré Kåñëa cannot, with my hand in your affectionate hand,
Caitanya lélä with the help of some devotees. go out with you to school anymore! Why are you
Recently, we translated one of the pastimes of the going, dear father?”
Lord. Eight books were needed. Each book had Jagannätha Miçra wants to speak, but he chokes
some different aspect to add to the topic. Some had up and cannot speak.
forty çlokas, some eight, and some only two. Every
Then Mother Çacé, grabbing Jagannätha Miçra’s
verse in every book had something different. The lélä
feet, says, “You are going back to Godhead. Take
I am referring to is the passing of Jagannätha Miçra.
me with you. I have been serving you all my life,
After having spent some time in his Guru’s cooking, cleaning, making arrangements for you to
äçrama studying the çästra, Jagannätha Miçra rest… All of my life, I have been your companion.
returns home. Suddenly he contracts a very high And look at your son. He is the pride of the whole
fever. He looks very sick. So his wife, Çacédevi, universe! Who has a son like Him? How can you
starts crying. And Visvambara, who is about 8 leave us? If you must leave, then please take us
years old, says, “Even the Himalayas, the oceans, with you.”
Indra, Varuna, Agnideva, Lord Brahma, everyone,
Jagannätha Miçra then says, “There’s something
with the passage of time, has to die. So, even if
I want to tell you, and I can’t go without saying it.”
he dies, why should you be bewildered? We know
that everyone is destined to die.” Then he advises, Mother Çacé waits for him to go on.
“Call your friends and relatives and have them “I offered,” continues Jagannätha Miçra, “this
sit around Jagannätha Miçra and chant the holy- boy to Rämacandra. And Rämacandra will take
names. What are friends for, anyway?” Therefore, care of Him. You will be happy.”
all the friends and relatives of Jagannätha Miçra Then all of Jagannätha Miçra’s friends and
come to his house to help him think of Kåñëa relatives take him to the Ganges and chant Hare
at the time of leaving his body. They sit around Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare/Hare

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Räma Hare Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare (Guru Rädhäräëé is also all-pervasive like Kåñëa and
Mahäräja sings the first few words of the mahä- Balaräma. So Çréla Prabhupäda said that the
mantra and the devotees take it from there and Guru could be called the representative of either
finish singing it). Jagannätha Miçra is on the verge Nityänanda or Çrémati Radaharani. He didn’t
of leaving the body. Deväs shower flower petals differentiate one from the other. I’ve never heard
on Jagannätha Miçra and his friends. At this this [theory of the guru representing only one
auspicious moment, as everyone chants the Hare personality at a time]. Whenever Çréla Prabhupäda
Kåñëa mahä-mantra, he leaves his body. Jagannätha was asked, he always said both [Nityänanda and
Miçra is the eternal associate of Lord Caitanya. Rädhäräëé are represented by the guru].
He doesn’t have to go through death. But just to Question: You mentioned that Häòäi Ojhä
teach the conditioned souls how to leave the body, died in separation when Lord Nityänanda went
he does it. Celestial air-plane comes down and with Lakñmépati Tértha; so what we should learn
takes him back to the spiritual world. Then they from this pastime?
bathe the dead body in the sacred waters of the Guru Mahäräja: Don’t make any promises that
Ganges and bring it onto the bank. Again, Mother you cannot keep. Häòäi Ojhä is the eternal associate
Çacé reveals her heart, expressing her sorrow. Then of Lord Nityänanda. And Lord Nityänanda
the ladies comfort her. Lord Caitanya also cries. travelled all over India for a number of years.
From His lotus eyes, tears stream down, forming
Then He joined Lord Caitanya to participate in
necklace of valuable pearls. Then, as would a
the saìkértana-yajïa. Later on, Lord Caitanya sent
responsible son, He does all the rituals under the
Him back to Bengal to finish the pastime of giving
guidance of the brähmaëas, including a fire yajïa,
out the holy name. And Lord Caitanya Himself
observing the çräddhä ceremony. In this way, the
travelled all over India – south India, Maharastra,
pastime of Jagannätha Miçra’s pastime ends. Of
Gujarat, Utter Pradesh, Bihar, Våndävana, etc. So
course, I may have missed a few details. But, the
when Häòäi Ojhä’s pastime was finished, he was
heart of anyone who hears this pastime will be
taken back to the spiritual world. We see that he
purified, and anyone who hears this pastime will
left in separation. That separation means he had
also get the special mercy of Lord Caitanya.
pure love of Kåñëa. But actually, his presence was
Are there any questions? no longer needed. This was a leaving a scene.
Question: Spiritual Master is the representative When you have a drama, enter, exit, and on and
of Lord Nityänanda Prabhu and Çrématé on. In the same way, he entered and exited the
Rädhäräëé; but is he simultaneously representing Lord’s pastime. Having 12 years of the role of
Lord Nityänanda and Çrémati Rädhäräëé or only Nitäi’s father, he was acting as the father of
one personality? Lord Nityänanda. When Lord Nityänanda went
Guru Maharaj: The spiritual master is said travelling to join Lord Caitanya, then Häòäi Ojhä
to represent both, because Lord Nityänanda went back to Godhead. This is his part in this lélä.
is empowered to give out devotional service, Lila means transcendental drama. How many of
and Rädhäräëé is bhakti or Premä personified. you would like to participate in this lélä? (A lot
Generally, we say that both Rädhäräëé and of hands are raised and Guru Mahäräja says,
Nityänanda are represented by the Guru because “Haribol!!!”)

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 His Divine Grace Prabodhänanda Sarasvaté dekho täre kaho kåñëa-upadeça, ämärajïäya guru
Mahäräja says that the pastimes of Lord Caitanya haiya tärasarva-desa, which means “I order you to
are like an ocean of transcendental mellows and become a Guru and tell whomever you meet about
those who have not been touched by the waves Kåñëa and thereby deliver this country.”
of that ocean are very, very unfortunate and, At one’s home, the son is very dear to everyone,
for yugas and yugas (almost eternally), they will but if he dies, his dead body is taken out. Kåñëa is
remain in this unfortunate condition. the soul of all the souls. Therefore He is so dear to
We know that Kåñëa comes once in a day of all. Lord Caitanya predicted that He would send
Brahmä. So I calculated how many earthly years someone to the places He didn’t visit to spread the
that is. It is 4,320,000000; one night of Brahmä message all over the world.
is just as long. That means that Kåñëa comes to This year we are celebrating the 50th
this universe once in a day of Brahmä, or after anniversary of Prabhupäda’s departure from India
8,640,000000 years. To get love of Kåñëa one has and travel to the West. Lord Caitanya only ate at
to simply surrender to Kåñëa. Sometimes Lord pukka brähmaëas’ houses. Çréla Prabhupäda ate
Caitanya comes after Kåñëa, but not every time. prasädam at any vegetarian’s house even when
That means that only after 8,640,000000 years will they were not brähmaëas. Of course, he cooked
Kåñëa come again; but whether Lord Caitanya the bhoga and taught the devotees how to do that
will also subsequently appear is uncertain. too. We see on the television that various terrorists
Kåñëa wants to take the mood of Rädhäräëé. shoot innocent people and kill them. But don’t
Just like Rädhäräëé is so merciful, Lord Caitanya think that Prabhupäda didn’t have bullets. He also
also gives out His mercy freely. He gave His mercy had bullets, but they were non-violent ones. He
to a Buddhist monk who wanted to kill Him. He would give sweet balls, gulab jamuns, which He
travelled all over Andhra Pradesh. He visited the called “the ISKCON bullets.” If you take those,
various temples. He gave His famous order: yäre your heart will melt. How many of you would

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like to taste one of Prabhupäda’s sweets? I can’t said, “You will be the teacher of teachers – a great
arrange that directly. Maybe Vedanta Caitanya Bhaööäcärya.”
(Hyderabad Temple President) can. Lord Caitanya then humbly replied, “What is
Since it is late, I will tell you all just one short not possible if we have your blessings?”
pastime. As Lord Caitanya sat with His brahmin thread
After Jagannätha Miçra (the father of Lord draped over His shoulder, one could see that His
Caitanya) left this world, Mother Çacé brought her complexion was golden and His eyes resembled
son to the pundits to request them to teach Lord lotuses and seemed to extend to His ears; He
Caitanya. had attractive curly hair, and all His teeth were
She said, “I’m entrusting my son with you all. arranged faultlessly symmetrically within His
Please teach him. He doesn’t have a father. So lotus mouth. Everything about Him was beautiful
please treat him as your own son. Do not keep and perfect!
Him far. Keep Him close. And please teach Him When people saw Him, they couldn’t take their
whatever you know. Upon hearing her entreaties, eyes off Him and simply wanted to keep seeing His
one of the pundits felt much moved by her words beautiful form.
and said: “Your son is a very good student. One
Enchanted by his beauty, they would exclaim,
day, He will be the teacher of teachers. I wouldn’t
Dhanya! Dhanya! “Wonderful! Wonderful!” This
be surprised if you yourself ask to be taught by
was when Lord Caitanya was nine or ten years old.
Him. He will be a great Bhaööäcärya. This is my
The Supreme Lord He came down from the
word.” Then Çacémätä went back to her house.
spiritual world to distribute His mercy freely. He
Lord Caitanya now had begun studying alongside
went to Gaya to perform the piëòa ceremony for
the other students. First, He studied under Viñëu
His father. There, He met éçvara-puré, the famous
Paëòita, then under Sudarçana Paëòita, and
disciple of Mädhavendra Puré and took His
finally under Gaìgädäsa Paëòita. Because these
initiation. After His initiation, He was changed.
pundits were teaching so many young brahmins,
He wanted to give them spiritual blessings by He was now a devotee and He went to see Çréväsa,
studying under them. who was the incarnation of Närada Muni. Many
devotees like Hanuman, Prahläda Mahäräja, and
Sometimes the Lord would chat and joke with
various other devotees from the spiritual world
the other students as he was jocular by nature.
(and from all over the universe) came down to join
Announcing that the East Bengal dialect was very
Lord Caitanya in giving out the mercy.
sweet and very tasteful, He began to speak in it,
smiling at everyone. When He was studying under “Dear Çréväsa,” said Lord Caitanya, “people
Gaìgädäsa Paëòita, whatever He learnt one day say I have a disease. So I want to consult you and
He did not need to review. And He always held the find out if I have any disease or not.”
çästras under one of His arm, regardless of where “What are Your symptoms,”Çréväsa asked.
He went and what he did; so much so that even Then Lord Caitanya answered: “Well, whenever
while eating, sleeping, or just taking a walk, one I hear the holy names of Kåñëa, My hairs stand
could see the çästras under His arm. on end, my voice gets chocked up, and tears start
To Lord Caitanya, Gaìgädäsa Paëòita once pouring out of my eyes. (Continued on page 16)

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 I have been in Delhi under hospital care. I is someone special.” And some others speculated
would go once a week for a check-up. In the that He was some Devä from the heavenly planets.
morning, I would work on Caitanya lélä book and Little Nimäi would keep on pulling on His
in the evening, on Prabhupäda lélä. We had done brother, saying “mä òäkche mä òäkche!” which
up to the beginning of Lord Caitanya’s paugaëòa means “Mother’s calling, mother’s calling!” Then
years some time back. Since then, I have been Viçvarüpa would go home with Nimäi and take his
translating texts that describe Lord Caitanya’s prasädam.
childhood (six through ten years of age).
Viçvarüpa didn’t like the materialists. He
Sometimes mother Çacé would send Him over
liked to associate only with Vaiñëavas. And all
to get Viçvarüpa, (His elder brother) who would
the Vaiñëavas liked to associate with Viçvarüpa.
be listening to the Bhägavatam class by Advaita
In this way, years passed by and then, one day,
Äcärya. Viçvarüpa was an expansion of Balaräma.
Jagannätha Miçra saw Viçvarüpa in a different
He was the Saìkarñaëa in the first catur-vyüha.
light. Jagannätha Miçra thought it was about time
So, while Balaräma came as Nitäi, his expansion
he got his older son married as he, Viçvarüpa, was
came as Viçvarüpa. Nimäi, as a child of three,
now a young, handsome man.
would go to the class and ask His brother to go
home with Him. “I think we should get Viçvarüpa married,”
Jagannätha Miçra said to Mother Çacé.
Nimäi would go and, pulling on His brother’s
cädar, would say, “Mother is calling you. Lunch Viçvarüpa could sense some change in the way
is ready.” When Lord Caitanya went to the class his father looked at him nowadays. So he thought,
to get his brother, everyone there kept looking “Let me take sannyäsa. I don’t want to get
at Him because He was so beautiful. Everyone entangled in family life. I want to focus completely
stared at Him; some people wondered who this on Lord Krsna.” So he swam across the Ganges
boy was. And Advaita Gosäi said, “Surely, this boy and, on the other side, accepted sannyäsa.

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 Soon after Viçvarüpa had taken sannyäsa, Nimäi now said, “Viçvarüpa came in my dream
news of it somehow reached Jagannätha Miçra and told me to take sannyäsa. He said, ‘Follow
and mother Çacé. They couldn’t imagine how they me; come on, chalo.’ But I said, ‘I’m just a child.
could live without seeing Viçvarüpa. Çacé Mata had What do I know about sannyäsa? I am going to get
eight daughters, but each daughter had died soon married and watch over my parents. And that will
after birth. And Jagannätha Miçra had offered a be very pleasing to Lakñmé and Näräyaëa.’ Dear
special püjä to Lord Viñëu to get a son. Only then mother, I am here. Don’t worry; I will take care
was Viçvarüpa born. After him came Viçvambara, of you.”
Gaurahari. Then Jagannätha Miçra wondered what
Advaita Gosäi’s students continued to attend guarantee was there that Nimäi too won’t take
His classes, but their hearts were elsewhere. sannyäsa. Therefore he decided not to allow
“Do you want to hear more?” Advaita Gosäi Nimäi to study any more. “I will maintain Him,
asked his students who appeared to be listless and I will give Him whatever He needs and keep Him
answered the question himself by saying, “I don’t home. I can’t live without Him. Jagannätha Miçra
think you want to hear the Bhägavatam anymore.” thought that education might very well encourage
Many of Advaita Gosäi’s students were Nimäi to take sannyäsa. Therefore he told Nimäi:
adults who were very attached to Viçvarüpa. “For you no more studies. I will give you whatever
So they all very acutely felt the separation from you need.”
him. Therefore, one day, all the students began While Nimäi did want to study, He did not
chanting Hare Kåñëa, while Lord Caitanya was want to disobey his father. But he became very
playing outside with His friends. As soon as Lord mischievous. He would put some water into the
Caitanya heard the chanting, He ran into the room. ear of a baby and the baby would cry; the mother
Then they asked, “What do you want, child? of that baby would come out and try to find out
“Did you call me?” Lord Caitanya asked. what was wrong with her baby but would find
that nothing was. Nimäi would stay out at night
“No no,” the students replied in unison.
with his friends and other naughty children. He
“All right,” said Lord Caitanya and went out
would put some cloth over some of the boys and
to play.
would make them look like bulls. He would run
The students didn’t know that when they said into some gåhastas’ garden and, bellowing like a
“Hare Kåñëa,” they were calling Lord Caitanya. bull, would kick some banana trees down. And the
Jagannätha Miçra and Çacé Mata were feeling gåhasta would think it was a real bull and come out
great separation. Talking to her dear Viçvarüpa in to chase the “bull” away, but by then Nimäi and his
her mind’s eye, she said, “What did I do? Why did friends would have run away.
you leave me? What wrong did I commit? Ohhh… In those days, people used out-house
Then the older relatives said, “The taking bathrooms. At nighttime Lord Caitanya would
of sannyäsa by your son will have millions and bolt the doors from outside when some gåhasta
millions of your families delivered.” was inside the bathroom, busy answering nature’s
“Has my son done so much for me?” Mother call. When the gåhasta was done and would try
Çacé said with awe. to open the door, it wouldn’t open. The unlucky

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gåhasta would be locked in. I don’t know if we are still using that traditional
“Who bolted the door? Who bolted the door? cooking facility. Anyway, the disposed pots are
Hurry up! Someone open the door!” the presioner considered to be impure because worms eat the
would say. remnants of the food in them, and so Çacémätä
And Nimäi and his friends would have fun. said, “Viçvambara, what are you doing!? You are
sitting in that dirty place. You are a Brahmin. You
In this way, Nimäi was creating some mischief
certainly should know better. That is an unclean
or other every day, but Jagannätha Miçra remained
place!”
silent. He had decided his son would not study.
“What is pavitra and apavitra (pure and
One day, Nimäi came and sat in the sooty pit
impure), I don’t know. I am not allowed to study,
of used cooking pots made of terracotta. The then
so I don’t know anything. I am an idiot. Anyway
system was to cook in terracotta pots and, after
I know that these pots were used to cook bhoga
serving out the prasädam, throw them away. The
which were offered to Lord Viñëu. So this is all
terracotta cooking pots were disposable. The
Viñëu prasädam so this must be pure.”
ladies would not have to wash pots. How do you
like that system? They are still using this system So Çacémätä said “No, no! Get off the pots and
in Jagannätha Puré. I don’t know if we do it at come here.”
Jagannätha Mandir in Räjäpur. I hired a Paëòä “Tell father and if he says so, I will get off and
from Puré to come and teach them how to do it. come.”
The fire is the installed yajïa fire (which is never Then Çacémätä took her son’s hand in hers and
put out) and the pots are the clay pots. So we said, “Come with me. We will have a bath in the
were following that system for some time, but Ganges,” and took him to the Ganges.
Jagannätha Miçra had heard the whole story
and had now come to the bank of the Ganges. The
men there surrounded him and began talking to
him.
“We try,” they said, “to get our sons to study
but it is very hard; they don’t want to study. Your
son wants to study and is good a student. How
fortunate you are! But then you are not letting him
study. It doesn’t make any sense. You should let
him study.”
One of them then said “Now your son should
get the sacred thread and continue his studies.”
Jagannätha Miçra then said, “Well, all of you
are my well-wishers, and if all of you want me to
let my son study, then I will let him do so.”
What you have just heard is only a sample of
Lord Caitanya’s childhood pastimes.

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 O n T OV P P r o j e c t s we would have a glorious opening of this temple.
Then his eyes opened wide and he said, “Bhakti-
– Service opportunities galore – vinod Öhäkura will be very pleased, and he can
In 1968, Prabhupäda had formed the MVT take you back to the spiritual world hand in hand.
(Mäyäpur Våndävana Trust). His Holiness Gopäla Haribol! Haribol! Haribol! (devotees respond
Kåñëa Mahäräja was one of the trustees. At that with “Haribol” thrice).
time, he had no land in Våndävana or in Mäyäpur. This Mäyäpur dhäma is non-different from
But he had a plan to have a grand temple built Våndävana. But Mäyäpur dhäma is more merciful.
in Mäyäpur. He came to Mäyäpur in 1971 or Rädhäräëé made Mäyäpur dhäma for the pleasure
so, when two people sold their land. The lotus of Lord Kåñëa. And here, she plays the flute to
building is on the center of the land going up to attract Kåñëa. Usually it is Kåñëa who plays the
the road and Prabhupäda then marked a place flute but here He get’s attracted to the playing of
for the temple to be built on. He also laid the the flute by Rädhäräëé.
ananta çeña who would support the whole temple.
Entering his room after having just arrived in
Over the years, more land was procured. He also
Mäyäpur, Prabhupäda had some water to drink
requested the Government to give him 350 acres.
and said, “Ahh..! I am drinking Mäyäpur water.
In 1977, which was Çréla Prabhupäda’s last Gaura
Living and dying in Mäyäpur is all the same!”
Pürëimä festival, he laid another ananta çeña and
the foundation stone for the temple of the Vedic “What does that mean?” I asked naively. “How
planetarium. He would always say that this was is living and dying here are the same?”
the karma-sthäna. Kåñëa talks about it in the He said, “If you live in Mäyäpur, you are living
Bhagavad-gétä: janma and karma ca me divyam. in the holy dhäma, the spiritual abode. And if you
The site of the temple kept changing according die here, you go back to the spiritual world.”
to how much land we had. But Prabhupäda’s desire Haribol! So we know from the Brahma-vaivarta
to please the previous äcäryas did not. So now we Puräëa that Prabhupäda has come to spread Lord
have the great opportunity to help Prabhupäda. Caitanya’s message around the world; that with
Someone may help by giving millions or crores, him comes the golden age of 10,000 years, during
some may help by giving lakhs or thousands; which we can say that the doors to the spiritual
or someone may give just one square foot– world are wide open. This is because the gift that
everybody has a chance to help Çréla Prabhupäda. Kåñëa would not ordinarily give out so freely, the
Who doesn’t want to help Çréla Prabhupäda? Or gift of love of God, Kåñëa gives out freely when
who wants to help Çréla Prabhupäda, let me ask. He comes as Lord Gauräìga. When this temple
Having this temple built was a long-standing desire is completed, which would be as soon as possible,
of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami we can attract numerous people! And they will get
Prabhupäda. He said that here, there will be a guru the blessings of Lord Caitanya (golokera prema-
parampara on the left, Panca tattva in the center dhana, hari-näma-saìkértana), and hear the holy
and, on the right, would be Rädhä Madhava and names. Therefore helping to finish the building
añöa- sakhis. The deities are waiting to be moved to of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium is a great
their permanent place. Now it is up to us to finish opportunity to do some sevä for Çréla Prabhupäda,
the temple. And Prabhupäda was asked whether Lord Caitanya, and the previous äcäryas. Haribol!

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 We know that things connected with the living or dying in the dhäma is the same. If you
Lord, like His name and dhäma, are non-different live here, you live in the spiritual world. And if
from Him. you leave here, you will go back to Godhead. Çréla
This festival is also dedicated to the Lord. And Prabhupäda also says that by serving here, you get
this raising of the flag of Lord Garuda puts the one thousand times the benefit gotten elsewhere.
whole festival under the protection of Garuda. So, if you don’t do anything, which our master of
And it means that the festival is also non-different ceremonies alluded to, then… What is a thousand
from Kåñëa. This is Lord Kåñëa Caitanya’s holy times zero? (“ZERO!!!” devotees respond) Ten
place. Våndävana is non-different from Mäyäpur. million times zero? (some devotees laugh) How
But here we see that Kåñëa is in the mood of much? (“ZERO!!!” many respond) So while you
Rädhäräëé. He is very accessible and devotees have are here, you should do as much as service you can.
different pastimes with the Lord. Great devotees And everything gets multiplied by the thousand.
like Hanuman, Çrédhäma, and all the associates Someone told me that according to the
from the spiritual world, the higher planets and all çästras, for those who live within two miles of the
the previous devotees who have been here in this Ganges, the benefit is a hundred thousand times.
world, come together and enjoy pastimes with the So one thousand times a hundred thousand is
Lord. about a million times. But a million times zero
The important thing is, they are giving out Kåñëa is zero. And if you chant, dance and feast, go on
Premä in the form of Hari-näma. So while here parikramä and listen to the classes, participate
during the festival, you can get spiritual doses of in different festivities, then the benefits of such
Kåñëa Premä. We read in the Båhad-bhägavatämåta activities get multiplied. If you can feel that this
that Gopa-Kumär svarüpa would transfer himself dhäma is non-different from the spiritual world,
from Goloka Våndävana to Gokula Våndävana. then, by the blessings of Mäyäpur dhäma, you can
Since there is no difference, sometimes he liked enter deeper into Våndävana Dham. Hare Kåñëa!
to stay there, and sometimes here. Mäyäpur Million times the benefit of feasting, but not a
dhäma is non-different from the Çvetadvépa and single extra calorie(devotees laugh).
Goloka Våndävana. Çréla Prabhupäda says that Hare Kåñëa!

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 Addressing the Saìkértana Parties of Mäyäpur
–Mäyäpur Saìkértana Award Ceremony–
February 19th, 2015

We want to offer our respects to all the devotees to ask His Holiness Gopäla Kåñëa Mahäräja
who have been distributing books. The Saìkértana in Delhi for the blessings to win. But they have
parties of Mäyäpur have received blessings every man, woman, child, (everybody out there)
from His Holiness Gopäla Kåñëa Mahäräja. distributing books! You are a sleep!” After that
I saw Mahäräja tell the Delhi temple president, they got some devotees and mobilized them into
“Mäyäpur wants to beat you!” action. This year they are already talking about
As soon as the temple president heard that, he buses in Delhi. So don’t rest on your laurels.
went and bowed down to the three deities. Then It is a new year, and we need everyone in the
he came to me and asked for blessings. That shows community– all the schools, all the departments,
whose blessings are more powerful (devotees everybody out there – to distribute books. Maybe,
laugh) The secret is His Holiness Gopäla Kåñëa they do the same thing in Delhi. And maybe you
Mahäräja’s blessings. Mahäräja told us that more get will get by. Remember: you lost the Marathon.
than 2,700 devotees were out. The Mäyäpur book- Delhi came first.
distributors are stable. But every year, they lose. Çré Caitanya caritämåta says that Lord
They come second. Delhi gets 2,700 devotees Caitanya came down to distribute something

who are from bhakti-våkñas, näma-haööas, çästra caréà cirät or “very rare.” He distributes the kind
groups, extension centers, you name it. They were of mercy that has never before been distributed.
all out there distributing books. I just made one We know that Kåñëa comes once in a day (daytime
call to Mäyäpur and said, “You have the audacity and nighttime) of Brahma, which is 8,640,000000

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years. And only sometimes does Lord Caitanya preaching have come to me with their criticisms
come to this world after Kåñëa. Not every time. and complaints and have demanded, “Why are
So, 8,640,000000 years means it’s the duration you making our children Kåñëa conscious?” But
of a whole new creation already... So, during this I have seen that after I talk to them about Lord
time of 10,000 years, Lord Caitanya makes it very Caitanya and give them Çréla Prabhupäda’s books,
easy to adopt Bhakti-yoga. And He predicted they leave happy. And they even defend their
that someone, a devotee, a senäpati-bhakta, children’s position of being Kåñëa conscious from
would come and distribute the holy name and the others’ criticism by saying, “No, nothing is wrong
philosophy of Kåñëa consciousness all over the with my children! They have taken up Kåñëa
world. That Devotee General is Çréla Prabhupäda. consciousness, and that’s very, very good!
How come we are able to distribute so many Anyway, we need all the devotees around the
books? It is because of the mercy of Lord Caitanya whole world to give out the mercy of Lord Caitanya
and Çréla Prabhupäda. Everyone down the and Çréla Prabhupäda. In the form of books, they
parampara line have empowered Çréla Prabhupäda. get this mercy. Gåhastas need to be somehow
Kåñëa wants His devotees to be more glorious engaged in preaching through books, näma-haööas
than Him. So, He wanted Çréla Prabhupäda to get and bhakti- våkñas. Then the little errors they
the credit for distributing the holy name around commit are overlooked. But if they don’t preach,
the world. And the books contain the teachings of they don’t make as much progress. So, I want to
Lord Caitanya and teachings about the holy name; thank all the book distributors again, especially all
they are the Brihat-mådaìga. By their mercy, the Mäyäpur schools, divisions, departments who
we can give out the mercy freely. Through our also distributed books. Everyone counted! Every
distribution of Çréla Prabhupäda’s books, people participant in the book distribution was important.
are getting unlimited blessings. People against our Hare Kåñëa!

(Continued from Page 9) to practice Kåñëa consciousness and achieve this

Sometimes I laugh, and sometimes cry. Such perfection in the association of devotees very
are my symptoms.” soon. And this ceremony is being performed to
“You have the disease of love for Kåñëa. Even give you a special blessing of the Guru paramparä.
And by the mercy of Prabhupäda and Lord
Lord Brahma and Lord Çiva want that disease,”
Caitanya, this Kåñëa consciousness process is
Çréväsa said.
now available. The Brahma-vaivarta Puräëa
Therefore, my dear devotees, you can get this
says that the gateway to the spiritual world will
disease from Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityänanda
be shut after ten thousand years and Çréla
very easily. Chant Hare Kåñëa, follow the nine
Prabhupäda’s Guru told him that he could get
processes of the Bhakti-yoga (or at least some of Lord Caitanya’s special mercy by spreading the
the major ones) without offenses. saìkértana movement all over the world. He also
Prabhupäda said it took him twenty years to told Prabhupäda that not only he (Prabhupäda),
get perfection. Therefore it may take a little time, but also all those who help Prabhupäda
but other methods take many, many, many, many would the Lord Caitanya’s special mercy.
births (Bahünäà janmanäm ante). We want you Gauräìga! Nityänanda!!!

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 I would like to offer my respectful, humble Then 1971, I was the temple president in Kolkata,
obeisances to His Holiness Tamäl Kåñëa Goswämé. when Çréla Prabhupäda founded the GBC. Then
I joined the Kåñëa consciousness movement Tamäl Kåñëa Mahäräja was my GBC. He removed
in 1968. And hearing Her Grace Mälaté Devé me ten times and Çréla Prabhupäda put me back
Däsé reminded me that when I came to the San each time; but the eleventh time, Çréla Prabhupäda
Francisco temple, I met Tamäl Kåñëa Mahäräja. himself removed me. Çréla Prabhupäda came and
He wasn’t a Mahäräja then, but he was there with said, “Well, all right. Send him to Mäyäpur.” And
Viñëujana and they had Jagannätha Baladeva and I’ve been here ever since. Tamäl Kåñëa Mahäräja
Subhadrä deities. would strive to do everything just right for Çréla
Then I saw the saìkértana party. In fact, when Prabhupäda. Çréla Prabhupäda wanted some land
one of the devotees looked at me, I saw the tilaka in Mäyäpur. But no one had done it. And the
on his forehead and something went wyish! And Gauòéya Maöhas were not willing to help– at least
ahhh!!! I felt [a sudden] fear and all the hairs the ones that he contacted weren’t. I was asked
on my back stood on end! I turned around and to worship the deities. And at that time, Çréla
ran! And ran!! And ran!!! Then I stopped and Prabhupäda used to travel with his small Rädhä-
wondered why I was running (devotees laugh). I gopénätha deities. And Tamäl Kåñëa Mahäräja
went back to the same place, but they were gone. (he was not a Mahäräja then) came out to buy the
Then I asked someone there who those people land. The land tracts of where the TOVP is and
were, and he said, “Oh those wearing bed-sheets? the land where the long building is now (from the
Those are the Hare Kåñëas. They come here and lotus building to the road) were purchased.
sing.” At that time I had some distant association In those days, the land price was Rs. 1,100 for a
with the devotees. bighä. A bighä is one third of an acre, approximately

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the size of Çréla Prabhupäda Park. Twenty kaöha into the truck and rode on. No more milk (Guru
is equal to one bighä and one kaöha is 10 lakh. At Mahäräja laughs). Such were the memorable times
that time, land was a bit cheaper, but still Çréla we had together.
Prabhupäda wanted Tamäl Kåñëa Mahäräja to be For many years, Mahäräja preached in Texas.
very careful. So Tamäl Kåñëa Mahäräja purchased And later on, Çréla Prabhupäda told him to preach
the land from and Amalak Shek and Adalat Shek
in China and he did. Tamäl Kåñëa Mahäräja’s
who were brothers. And the brothers came in a
service of preaching in China came to him when
pick-up truck, carrying stick and swords to take
he least expected it. As he continued to serve in
the money and Tamäl Kåñëa Mahäräja was in front
Texas, some complaints about him kept coming
of the Registrar to hand over the money to them.
to Prabhupäda from there, and when Prabhupäda
He had the serial number on every hundred rupee
asked him to explain. Tamäl Kåñëa Mahäräja
note written on the deed, on page after page after
admitted his mistake and said, “What do you
page (Guru Mahäräja laughs)! Nobody ever does
that, but by doing that he wanted to show Çréla want me to do? Where do I go? To China or
Prabhupäda that the money was paid and say, ‘’It’s somewhere?”
your land now, Prabhupäda!” Çréla Prabhupäda then said, “Kåñëa spoke
He made sure that whatever he did pleased Çréla through you! Yes, go to China!”
Prabhupäda. We went out for the first time and It was a difficult task, but he simply surrendered
bought some stone chips, brick, and steel for the
construction of a new building. On our way back
to Mäyäpur, I remember that we forgot to keep an
eye on the steel. There were three trucks. I was in
one truck and Tamäl Kåñëa Goswämé Mahäräja
was in another truck, but someone else was in the
third truck. Tamäl Kåñëa Mahäräja wanted to be
sure that all the steel got back to Mäyäpur, as we
had heard that they were stealing the steel. About
halfway down the road, the driver said, “You must
be very thirsty; we would like to give you some
milk to drink.” So we stopped at a roadside cafe
and were about to have some milk, and someone
came up to us and whispered, “They are stealing
your steel! Throwing it all into a ditch!” If anyone
had removed just a bundle of steel, we wouldn’t
have known. And since we had three trucks, a
bundle of steel from each truck could have added
up to 500 kilograms. That’s a lot of money! So we
rushed to the trucks and Tamäl Kåñëa Mahäräja
shouted, “No! No!” and got them to move all the
steel back up into the truck. Then we got back

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to Çréla Prabhupäda and accepted the heavy Not that the management is anything other than
responsibility of preaching in China. And he transcendental, but it that the chanting and
would go and preach in China for years together. reading has more rasa.
In the beginning, he familiarized himself with the In this way, he was always ahead. He was a
method of getting into China and did whatever natural leader. And there are many others here
was required of him to get into China. He wore who can share with us their experiences with him.
suit and tie, etc. I happened to meet him in Hong I very much miss his association. On the day
Kong a few times. But before that, he was also one he passed away, they just told me, “Tamäl Kåñëa is
of the GBCs in Mäyäpur for some time. He used hurt. We have to go there and help him.”
to help along with our development. He would go
I rushed down and was on my way. The accident
to the meetings we had in London sometimes. spot was on the outskirts of Ranaghat. When we
And when he was in China to have some books got there, the doctor said, “He is gone! Would you
printed, they offered him a cake. like to see the other ones who are still alive?”
“What is this?” he asked. Then I went to see the other devotees who were
“It’s been made according to your diet: no left. One of them was Våndävaneçvari, the wife
fish, no meat, no eggs!” they said, quite proud of of Kälasamvara. I tried to help in whatever way
what they had made. I could. Tamäl Kåñëa Goswämé was now covered
and, as we got ready to take him back to Mäyäpur,
“What does it have in it?” Mahäräja asked to
the villagers blocked the road and said, “No, you
be sure.
can’t take him!” There were about 400 of them!
“No fish, no meat, and no eggs!”
“But why not? We want to take him,” we said.
“What does it have in it?” He pressed on, just
“Just give us one darçan! When again are we
to be on the safe side.
going to have the chance to take darçan of a pure
“Oh, just some cockroaches (Guru Mahäräja devotee? Let us have just 10 seconds of darçan.
and devotees laugh)! Then you take him.”
I wasn’t there, but that’s what I heard. Tamäl Even in his passing away, Mahäräja was
Kåñëa Mahäräja would come back from China transcendental.
with these funny stories and tell us.
Finally, for the villagers and everybody else, he
Later on, He decided that he should get a Ph.D. gave his last darçan and they all paid their respects
So he went to Cambridge to do it. to him. They all started chanting.
Then somehow he came up with a plan for the Living or dying, Tamäl Kåñëa Mahäräja was
GBCs to have an afternoon session of chanting always Kåñëa conscious. And the contribution
and lélä-reading and thereby associate with one he made by way of touching devotees’ lives is
another on a completely transcendental level. incalculable.
“A devotee of Kåñëa is desireless. Therefore he is peaceful. He is desireless because he desires neither
liberation nor material sense gratification; nor does he desire mystic powers. The devotee simply desires Kåñëa’s
seva, service of Kåñëa – “kåñëa-bhakta – niñkäma, ataeva ‘çänta’ bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kämé – sakali ‘açänta’”
– His Holiness Jayapatäkä Swami (Çrémad-Bhägavatam.4.19.37 June 14th, 1981 - Montreal, Canada)

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 We heard a lot of nice messages from His temple in Mumbai. People had gathered before
Holiness Bhakti cäru Swami, His Holiness Gopäla Çré Çré Rädhä Räsabihäré and Çré Çré Sétä Räma
Kåñëa Goswämé, His Grace Praghoña däsa, (our Lakñmaëa Hanumän. But before the Nitäi Gaura
present Chairman of the GBC) and His Grace altar, the place was empty. The deities were there,
Rädhä-jévan das. but no people. I told all the people that the secret is
I remember that once Rädhä-jévan Prabhu to get the mercy of Nitäi Gaura first; that then they
was swimming with us across the Ganges and, could easily get the mercy of Rädhä-Räsabihäré.
suddenly, he got a cramp or something and started Then some people went over to Nitäi Gaura and
drowning. prayed for their mercy.
Somehow, I was able to grab him, hold him up, Here in India, very few people understand that
and drag him to the side. But now we can see that Lord Caitanya is Kåñëa Himself. And someone
he is holding up the TOVP fund-raising. Clearly, asked me why that is so.
he has gotten the blessings of the Ganges. I said, “That is our fault. We are not publicizing;
Rädhä-jévan Prabhu quoted Çréla Prabhupäda we are not spreading the message enough.”
as saying that each äcärya in our line has done We heard that if we distribute books, people
something for developing Mäyäpur. would spend hours and hours reading it, which is a
And talking about himself, he said, “I also have more effective way of preaching. And this temple is
decided to do something in a humble way. I am being built by the collection made by distributing
very grateful to whoever is helping me.” Then he millions of books, and with the great contribution
choked up and he started crying. by Ambaréña prabhu.
This is the chance for all of us to help Çréla Just as a book has more effect on people than
Prabhupäda to do something to make Lord just our preaching of a few minutes, this Temple
Caitanya well-known around the world. Even in of Vedic planetarium will have more effect and
India, people know Lord Caitanya only as a saint people from all over the world will recognize Lord
or a sannyäsé. How many know Him as a special Caitanya.
avatar? Very few. Prabhupäda is very liberal. He said that the
I was sitting and giving a class at the Juhu Muslims could stay here if they chant their rounds

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and attend the aratis; that he wouldn’t mind if they and by reading books and preaching, devotees
did their daily, five-time namäs. get the special mercy of Lord Caitanya. Here is
Çréla Prabhupäda ki jai! our opportunity to do something to help build
In those days, we only had a grass hut. Çréla the TOVP. Let people know how merciful and
Prabhupäda used to say, “Here, we will build how wonderful Lord Caitanya is. He delivers
a big temple – one of the biggest in the world.” conditioned souls of all types. When He was In
He had this vision. Now we can play our part to Mäyäpur He delivered all these people: a farmer,
see it manifest. And Bhakti-Siddhänta Sarasvaté an offensive criminal, an offensive brähmaëa, a
Öhäkura told Prabhupäda that spreading Kåñëa Tantric and a drunkard. He also delivered many
consciousness around the world would be very fallen brähmaëas.
good for him and all those who helped him. So this Although Lord Caitanya didn’t reveal who He
is our special opportunity to do something for the was except on a couple of rare occasions, He is
TOVP. actually Kåñëa and Rädhäräëé combined. And He
Kåñëa likes to reciprocate with His devotees. gives out His mercy so freely. This place is non-
I remember reading that a devotee came and different from Våndävana. Here, there is a door
surrendered at the feet of Kåñëa. And Kåñëa way to the spiritual world. And people come here
thought “This devotee has given his life to me, to live in the spiritual world. And when they come
what can I give him?” Then He took off His and die here, they go back to the spiritual world.
Kaustubha maëi and other ornaments (which are This temple will help people develop their bhakti
never given away) and gave them to this devotee and go back to the spiritual world. Therefore my
and embraced him with tears in His eyes. Kåñëa humble message and request is: let’s build this
is so wonderful! But if we have a hard heart, we temple for the pleasure of Prabhupäda, which in
may not immediately sense how wonderful Kåñëa turn will please all the previous Acharyas. And
is. That’s why Kåñëa as Lord Caitanya gives love when Çréla Prabhupäda and the previous äcäryas
freely. By chanting Hare Kåñëa and dancing, are pleased, the whole world will be blessed.

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 This holy place is known as the Yogapéöha. This
is where the Supreme Personality of Godhead
appeared from the spiritual world. It is here that
He connected with the material world. Therefore
this is known as Yogapéöha, or a holy place of
connection. Yoga means the link or connection,
and péöha means a holy place. So Yogapéöha means
the holy place from where the Lord connects.
We come here before our parikramäs. Since our
devotees are spread out in these nine islands, we
go around in a circle. The dhäma-mähätmya says
we should start the parikramä here and end it here
and everything will pan out perfectly. We start here
and when we come back, we end here.
Now we meet in Mäyäpur ISKCON, because
here there is no space. Now you should do a
parikramä around Çacémätä and Jagannätha
Miçra and Gauräìga. Behind the grass hut of
Çacémätä and Jagannätha Miçra, there is a Çiva
mandir. We worship Çiva as the greatest vaiñëava
– vaiñëavänäà yathä çambhuù. He is known as
the Kñetrapäla, the protector of the Holy dhäma.
So we should pray to him to allow us entry into
the esoteric realization of the Holy dhäma. This
island is known is as Antardvépa and the 8 petals
around are: (1) Antardvépa, (2) Sémantadvépa, (3)
Godrumadvépa, (4) Madhyadvépa, (5) Koladvépa,
(6) Åtudvépa, (7) Jahnudvépa, (8) Modadruma-
dvépa and (9) Rudradvépa. In Simanta dvipa and
Kola dvipa, there is a Devé Mandir and she is the
protectress of the dhäma. So we ask her blessings
also to enter the dhäma. The dhäma is non-different
from the Lord. Here, we should realize that we are
not this body, but that we are the eternal servants
of Kåñëa. This place is also considered the whorl
of the lotus. Lord Brahma came here after stealing
the calves and the cowherd boys. We heard that
Lord Caitanya is here all the time. But He is in
His aprakaöa -lélä. That means Lord Caitanya
is now present amongst you (devotees respond

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with, “Haribol!”). But He is invisible. To make Öhäkura. He looked across at this spot and saw a
Him visible, Brahma started to chant, “Gauräìga brilliant light from his home and when came here
Gauräìga! Gauräìga! Gauräìga! Gauräìga! to see what it was, he found this place overgrown
Gauräìga! Gauräìga! Gaura Hari! Gaura Hari! with Tulasé plants. He asked the local cultivators
Gauräìga! Gaura Gaura! Gaura Gaura! Gauräìga! about this land.
(devotees repeat Guru Mahäräja’s “Gauräìga/ They said: “Oh this land is useless! Regardless
Gaura Hari/ Gaura Gaura) And Lord Gauräìga of what we plant (potal bhindi, lady’s finger), all
appeared before Lord Brahma. Haribol! Haribol! that comes out is Tulasé plant. What a worthless
(Guru Mahäräja chants “Haribol! Haribol!” and piece of land! We can’t even grow any egg plants!”
devotees repeat)
Then Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura carried on his
Then Lord Caitanya asked, “Why are you head Çréla Jagannätha däsa Bäbäjé (who was then
calling me, Brahmä?” 113 years old) in a basket and brought him here.
Brahmä replied, “More than half of my life is He was so old that he used match sticks to keep
over, and I still have the tendency to offend You. his eyes open. And when Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura
I stole Your calves and gopas. So I want to get walked across the Tulasé garden and reached the
purified. I want to have pure love for You. I heard place near the neem tree, Jagannätha däsa Bäbäjé
that your are coming here during the next Kali- suddenly jumped up, chanting, “Gauräìga!
yuga and I want to be part of your léläs.” Then they knew right away that that was
Lord Caitanya blessed him by saying, tathästu the actual birthplace of Lord Caitanya. Then
or “So be it!” and further said: “You will take this house here (the small one) was built by
birth in a non-Hindu family. This will teach you Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura. He would take donations
humility. And you will chant 300,000 names of but not more than 1 rupee from each person. In
Kåñëa a day. You will be known as the äcärya of this way, he collected about 30,000 rupees, bought
the holy name. By chanting Hare Kåñëa, you will the land and built this temple. He also established
get the pure love of Kåñëa and you, as Haridäsa, Nåsiàhadeva and Gaura-Gadädhara here. Later,
will be an associate of mine.” (Guru Mahäräja Bhakti-siddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura built this
chants “Haribol! Haribol!” and devotees repeat) Yogapéöha temple. When he left, this kértana hall
So here Brahma meditated on Lord Caitanya. had not been built. Prabhupäda offered to build
So wherever Brahmä sits is considered the centre the hall. Then the other followers of Çréla Bhakti-
of a lotus. There are many other speakers. So just siddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura built it. Prabhupäda
in conclusion, the birthplace of Lord Caitanya is building the TOVP with the help of all the
was seen from Godrumadvépa by Bhaktivinoda devotees. Hari Oà tat sat.

“Kåñëa judges every devotee according to his surrender and sincerity; according to how
committed he is to his service. When he takes more responsibly, he is given more mercy,
which he needs to overcome the trials that come with his responsibility. If you don’t want
more responsibility [of trials], you won’t get the mercy.”
– His Holiness Jayapatäkä Swami (Darshan, September 15th, 1981 - Murari Sevak Farm, Tennessee, USA)

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 Addressing Bhakti-çästré Students
- February 21st, 2015 -
I was much moved by what Anuttamä Prabhu may ask, “What does this book say? And if we
said. In our recent GBC Committee deliberations, haven’t read the book, we might just say, “I don’t
where laws and values were discussed. And know. I just sell them.” Prabhupäda didn’t want
Anuttamä Prabhu just stated that true knowledge that. He wanted the devotees to know the books,
changes the values of the world. There could be a practice the books, and preach the books!
law that if one misses maìgala aräti, then he has
Through this teaching, I think everybody got
to sweep the floor. Showing mercy and having
the opportunity to enter deep into the books.
tolerance are adherence to values. That true
Usually, some groups give some gifts to the
knowledge changes the values of the world is an
teachers, because after four months, they know the
interesting point.
teachers inside out. Since now you are all either
Çréla Prabhupäda desired very much to have the
Bhakti-Çästrés or Bhakti-Vaibhavas, the next level
devotees study his books systematically. I am very
is Bhakti-Vedänta. It entails the complete study of
glad that the MI (Mäyäpur Institute) is engaging
the Bhägavatam. Bhakti-Vaibhava is the study of
so many devotees in the systematic study of
the first six cantos and Bhakti-Vedänta is the study
Prabhupäda’s teachings. Devotees come from all
of the last six. Then there is Bhakti-Särvabhauma.
over the world and stay here between November
This gives one a chance to dive into the nectar. I
and February, but the MI also offers courses for
the residents of Mäyäpur in Bengali. It offers recently read that Lord Caitanya and His teachings
courses in English and some other languages. The are like an ocean of mercy or an ocean of nectar.
MI teachers also travel to places like the Middle And one who hasn’t been touched by the waves of
East to teach their courses there. that ocean has really missed out on life. Therefore
You have had the great opportunity to stay in we can spread the knowledge we have gained and
Mäyäpur, in the holy dhäma. Therefore your study thereby give people a chance to make their life
is a thousand times more beneficial. Prabhupäda perfect.
didn’t want the devotees to be ignorant of what I am so happy to see that so many students
his book say. While we distribute books, someone have participated this time.

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 disturbing you?” He says, “No. It’s Kåñëa’s name.”
Activities in the mode of ignorance like slamming
the door and snoring are what he dislikes.
It is another day in Mäyäpur. I am sitting
in the room. The Mäyäpur building has been
Çréla Prabhupäda is on the second floor room constructed in such a way as to face east-west,
in Mäyäpur and, hearing someone slamming the allowing the wind to blow north-south, so that the
door, he rings the bell, has his servant come in, and wind goes racing through the room as a forceful
demands, “Who slammed the door? It goes to my breeze. The powerful breeze blows hard against
heart like an arrow.” He has his servant stay next unbolted window panes or doors and slams
to him. Now at night, one of the secretaries starts them (Guru Mahäräja makes the noise of door
snoring. Prabhupäda rings his bell and complains. slamming), because the whole building is made
I’m not there but I hear it all. out of reinforced steel and concrete. If one hits any
The snoring secretary now has to go to the part of the building at one end, the sound could be
ground floor and, finally, he is sent upstairs. heard at the other.
Prabhupäda has such sharp ears– he hears So Prabhupäda has had a little doorstop put in
someone snoring a hundred feet away, beyond at all the doorways. It is a little wedge on a hinge,
five walls! Right next door, the secretary is typing a weight that wedges itself between the doorway
and making the “typewriter noise.” Prabhupäda frame and the door itself. When the devotees open
is asked, “Prabhupäda doesn’t that disturb you?” the door, they are expected to put the doorstop
And he says, “No. They are doing some work for in place for the door to catch on. But devotees
Kåñëa.” The typing noise doesn’t disturb him so continually forget to use the doorstop. Gradually,
much. Sometimes a kirtan sound reaches us from the wind is blowing against the unlatched door
downstairs and we ask, “Prabhupäda, is the kértana more and more forcefully until finally the wind has

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pushed the door 45 degrees, when it gets slammed! It is dawn. I go to the area of attack to find
Hearing this, Prabhupäda says, “Shooo! Who is that out what was their modus operandi, concerned
rascal?” We search entire building to find out who because Prabhupäda is here in Mäyäpur. I look
has let the door slam and to prevent a recurrence; around, find lots of shrapnel, and bring some
but nobody admits to letting the door slam. back with me. Prabhupäda calls me in and wants a
Another time in Mäyäpur. I am sitting and report. So I go to him and show him the shrapnel
talking with Çréla Prabhupäda and BAM!!! A and explain the situation. Prabhupäda now tells us
door’s slammed. Prabhupäda rings his bell and that we should get some guns (which in India is a
Satsvarüpa däsa Goswämé comes in. great ordeal– we have to get a license by applying
“Why is this door slamming?” Prabhupäda to the government for the ownership of a gun) and
asks. tells the story of Närada Muni and his non-violent
Actually, these days, Satsvarüpa däsa Goswämé disciple. The story runs like this: Närada Muni
is Prabhupäda’s next door neighbor. takes pity on a snake and accepts it as a disciple
by initiating it. The snakes becomes a Vaiñëava
“Um, Prabhupäda… the wind caught the
and decides not to hurt anyone as Vaiñëavas are
door,” was Satsvarüpa däsa Goswämé’s contrite,
embarrassed reply. non-violent. So the children take advantage of the
snake’s kindness and start tormenting it by hitting
Then Prabhupäda, visibly upset, said, “Be
it, spitting on it, poking it with a stick, etc. But
careful. Don’t do this again.”
the snake Vaiñëava simply tolerates the children’s
It is very unfortunate that the door has slipped
torment and does not retaliate, deciding that
from Satsvarüpa Mahäräja’s hand and slammed
Vaiñëavas should be non-violent. Gradually the
just at this time. Now he comes pays his obeisances
snake loses its health and becomes very weak
to Çréla Prabhupäda and apologizes. The situation
because of the children’s constant harassment.
is intensely grave. The point that Prabhupäda
Some months pass in this way. One day, Närada
makes is: everyone in the building should be
Muni visits his snake disciple and is horrified to
conscious of the presence of the deities and the
find his disciple in such a miserable state. Then
spiritual master, especially during Prabhupäda’s
the snake tells his Guru what has been happening
stay here. Another thing is, it is not safe for the
and Närada Muni gives his disciple a solution by
building. if the doors keep slamming, they quickly
saying, “Next time these naughty boys come, by
fall apart.
all means, raise your hood and hiss at them and
It is one dark night in Mäyäpur. A gang of
pretend to bite, but don’t actually bite.” Then the
dacoits attack a family’s house in Mäyäpur with
snake disciple follows Närada Muni’s advice and
guns and homemade bombs. Their makeshift
the children then stop bothering it, afraid that it
bomb is a hard ball made with scrap iron and
might bite them and kill them.
explosive substances wound up with jute twine.
They throw these bombs at the area around the After narrating the story, Prabhupäda says that
house, and they explode everywhere and, anyone we should follow Närada Muni’s advice and use
standing about 5 or 6 feet from the spot of guns only to scare dacoits away, not to actually
explosion may die. All through the night, I hear shoot them. Jai Çréla Prabhupäda!!!
the bombs exploding BOM!!! BOM!!! BOM!!! (Meditation will continue)

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 With International Parikramä Party Gauré could not agitate him. But Mohiné mürti
This place known as Hari-hara Kñetra is on the overpowered him. So he sat down here and
eastern bank of the Alakanandä river. This place meditated, feeling very bad. So Lord Hari came
is also known as Mahä Väräëasé. The Mäyävädé and said, “There is no reason for you to feel bad
sannyäsés do jïäna-yoga in Väräëasé and achieve because after all, you are non-different from Me.
the impersonal liberation through the process. So you are defeated by yourself. No reason to feel
Devotees here eschew impersonal liberation. sad.” Thus the deities here are combined form
And here, Lord Siva gives out Gauräìga premä. Hari and Hara, Hari is Lord Viñëu and Hara is
Gauräìga! (devotees repeat) So here, in a very Lord Çiva. So please take darçana of these deities.
short time, one can achieve spiritual perfection. Another pastime happened on the western
If someone leaves the body here, he is elevated side of the Alakanandä river. After school, Lord
to the highest level of spiritual liberation. And Caitanya suddenly ran into the forest. He was
if someone is about to leave his body near this followed by Jagadänanda Paëòita and Gadädhara.
Hari-hara Kñetra, Lord Çiva personally goes there And there was a brilliant parrot on the tree. Then
and, into his ears, chants, “Gauräìga!”(devotees Lord Caitanya said, “You are the son of Vyäsadeva.
repeat). Thus they are liberated. So here when You are Çukadeva Goswämé. So please glorify
Lord Nityänanda came, Çré Jéva and Çréväsa Rädhä and Kåñëa.” So the parrot, perched on His
Öhäkura started to chant Hare Kåñëa and dance. hand, started chanting. But the bird wasn’t chanting
Lord Nityänanda told the others also to dance. the name of Rädhä and Kåñëa. It instead chanted,
They flooded the place with tears. Lord Çiva and “Gaura Gaura! Gaura Gaura! Gaura Gaura! Gaura
Gauré came and begged Lord Nityänanda for Gaura! (devotees repeat after Guru Mahäräja).
mercy. He gave them the blessing of Gaura premä, And Lord Caitanya threw the parrot away.
and all their desires were fulfilled! The parrot was still chanting Gaura Gaura!
This is a very ancient place. It is mentioned Gaura Gaura! Gaura Gaura! (devotees repeat
in the puräëas that after Lord Çiva was attracted after Guru Mahäräja).
by Mohiné mürti, he felt very embarrassed. Even Then Lord Caitanya (a small boy then) said,

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“This place is non-different from Våndävana. So this place of sixteen kroça or thirty two
Then why don’t you chant the glories of Rädhä miles known as Navadvépa is not different from
and Kåñëa and make us all happy?” Våndävana. If people chant the names of Gauräìga
“Since time immemorial,” the parrot said, “I and feel the presence of Rädhä and Kåñëa in
have been living in this forest and I do my regular them, and if the name, the dhäma, the léläs, and
sädhana and chant the holy name here, and this the characteristics of Lord Caitanya inspire them,
place is not different from Våndävana. But here then they are very dear to me; but if they are not
Rädhä and Kåñëa have come as Gaura Hari. So inspired by Lord Caitanya, if they refuse to accept
you are my Kåñëa and Gada is my Rädhä and I that He is divine, if they differentiate Nanda and
chant Gaura Gaura! Gaura Gaura! Gaura Gaura! Yaçodä from Çacémätä and Jagannätha Miçra, then
Gaura Gaura! Gaura Gaura! (Devotees repeat those people’s lives are just a social burden. Why
after Guru Mahäräja).” do they bother to live? They are wasting their time.
Then Lord Caitanya said, “I am a devotee They are atheistic and argumentative, and don’t
of Rädhä and Kåñëa. If I hear any other name, understand the great mercy of Lord Caitanya at
I feel sad. “Rädhä” and “Kåñëa” are the names all. So here, in the holy place of Mahä Väräëasé
you should chant.” Having said this, He grabbed and Godruma-dvépa or Navadvépa-dhäma, please
Gadädhara’s hand and ran off. chant Gaura Gaura! Gaura Gaura! Gaura Gaura!
(devotees repeat after Guru Mahäräja).”
But the parrot said, “You chant whatever name
you like to chant. I will chant whatever name I like Please also chant: Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa
to chant,” and went back to chanting of “Gaura Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare / Hare Räma Hare Räma
Gaura! Gaura Gaura! Gaura Gaura! Gaura Gaura! Räma Räma Hare Hare. (Guru Mahäräja chants
Gaura Gaura! Gaura Gaura! Gaura Gaura! Gaura and devotees chant along with Him).
Gaura!” (Devotees repeat after Guru Mahäräja.) Thank you very much.

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28 March 2015 P
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 Taraganj, Syedpur, Bangladesh pouring water over me as well.
26 May 1997, Monday I chant my gäyatré and chant [my rounds]. I
My dear spiritual children and well-wishers, meet the leading, local devotees. Now I have to
get to the work at hand. The temple’s PA system
Please accept my blessings and best wishes.
is broadcasting beautifully rendered bhajans and
All glories to Çréla Prabhupäda!
kértanas sung by devotees. Here in Gaura Maëòala
Taraganj Bhümi, I am moved to remember Lord Gauräìga’s
My touring in Bangladesh continues. It’s pastimes in east Bengal– His mercy towards the
morning. I hear the maìgala-ärätrika going on in fallen souls.
the temple. I’m late. Time to get up! Çréla Prabhupäda wanted us to preach here in
The sky is lighting up gradually. I see grass Bangladesh. He said that by preaching here, we
huts around the yard of the house I am staying in. could get thousands of times the benefit obtained
Maybe this house is the only brick house in this by preaching in other places. This is now a Muslim
village of 163 households. The aspiring disciple in country. Hindus here are a minority, about 12%
whose house I am staying is Chief of Police at a to 20% at the most. The government doesn’t
police station in South Bengal, and has come over publish the true figures. It is hard to be exact. The
to receive me, but asks for permission to return to Muslims are quite gentle here. The Hindus are so
his station this morning as he is on duty. devotional that it defies description.
Around the house I am in, there are two ISKCON is in the forefront of preaching in this
jackfruit trees, one neem tree, and four papaya country, but there’s more work than it is within our
trees. Another building serves as a kitchen and he capacity to do. We need so much help. So many
also has a small 5-meter temple and a tulasé stand. preachers could be engaged. For many years, Çréla
A tube well with an open area urinal nearby is Prabhupäda personally gave money every month
10 meters from the house and an outhouse toilet from his guru dakñiëä to maintain the preaching
is about 25 meters from the house at the far end here. It was so important to Çréla Prabhupäda. Now
of the plot. No running hot and cold water here. we have hundreds of Näma-haööa s and thousands
Running tube well (hand-pumped) water! I take of devotees.
my open area bath from a half-drum of cold water. The sky is filled with clouds. The government
Pouring water from a mug, I shout “Gaìgä” again turns off the electricity. The local villagers say that
and again!!! Three brahmacärés come and start they are afraid that a storm will cause lightening

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to hit the high-tension wires and rip the power myself. It starts raining softly. I go back into the
transformers. So now I have to stop. I am on house to complete the interviews.
battery again. Might need it for other urgent I am not going to make this read like a
matters. Haribol! travelogue. Watch the videos for the visual effects.
I go to Govinda Darshana aräti. The small The filming assistants, the secretaries, the video
Rädhä-mädhava Deities are very merciful, ministry staff, and many others work together to
accepting worship in a simple manner. The temple bring the videos to you, so that you can spend time
is clean, simple but well-maintained. I look around with me by watching the videos. It is frustrating
and see all the devotees. Ever since this year’s that in spite of all the efforts to produce the videos,
Gaura Pürëimä, my heart has gone through many most disciples who have television sets don’t have
changes. Seeing the devotees… How wonderful all copies of the videos.
the ISKCON Näma-haööa devotees are! Their I have a TELEVISION TAX for my disciples
bright faces, decorated with nicely applied tilaka, and followers. If you have a TV, then you have to
shine like moons. How fortunate I am to be with have all my videos, or at least be regularly receiving
Kåñëa’s devotees!! How merciful Çréla Prabhupäda them. And watching them too! That doesn’t mean
and Nitäi Gaura are!!! I can’t control the tears that I give a license to watch mäyä shows. No mäyä,
from welling up; my heart is overwhelmed… I please! Essential use and Kåñëa conscious videos.
circumambulate the Deities and try to control That’s all. (to be continued)

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 the “sublime science of devotional service” was
brought to the Western world by Çréla A. C.
Bhaktivedänta Swämé Prabhupäda. Seeing the
dangers a devotee faces in this age of Kali, Çréla
Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura has mercifully
written Vaiñëava Ke? Careful study of this book
will protect devotees practicing devotional service
to Lord Kåñëa from the dangers of being misled by
mäyä, the material illusory energy, and going off
the path of pure devotion.
Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the
Vaiñëava devotees of the Lord who are like desire
trees in fulfilling the desires of pure devotees of the
Lord. By their inspiration, Vaiñëava Ke? is being
presented in the English language with this title
taken from Çréla Prabhupäda’s own translation of
the first stanza, i.e. “What Kind of Devotee Are
Introduction You?”
With the purpose of invoking all auspiciousness, Let me offer my respectful obeisances to Lord
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus Caitanya Mahäprabhu, the Most Munificent
feet of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedänta Avatära, and Their Lordships Çré Çré Rädhä-
Swämé Prabhupäda, who is the servitor of His Mädhava, the Supreme Form of the Absolute
Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura. Truth. Let Their rain of mercy be upon the
He has carried Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s execution of this sublime study of the science of
transcendental teachings to towns and villages all devotional service, so that aspiring devotees may
over the world and out of His mercy has delivered quickly attain the shelter of Their lotus feet.
the impersonalists and voidists of the Western
Vaiñëava Ke? is referred to frequently in the
world. By his mercy, a lame man can climb over
writings of Çréla A. C. Bhaktivedänta Swämé
mountains, a deaf and dumb man can become a
Prabhupäda. It gives a unique view of a devotee’s
great orator and a blind man can see the stars. Let
introspection while traversing the path of devotional
His Divine Grace’s merciful glance be upon us in
service. Devotional service is a unique science
the humble execution of completing the translation
wherein what often appears to be the truth to the
and writing purports to Vaiñëava Ke? (What Kind
uninitiated is actually the opposite, i.e., nescience.
of Devotee Are You?) written in the Bengali
It seems perfectly natural that retreating from the
language by His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhänta
bustling activities of everyday life would be in fact
Sarasvaté Öhäkura.
the best environment for pursuing spiritual life.
Let me offer my respectful obeisances However, for a practitioner of bhakti-yoga, leaving
unto the lotus feet of His Divine Grace Çréla the association of like-minded transcendentalists
Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura, my to practice nirjana-bhajana, or solitary worship,
‘grandfather’ spiritual master, on whose order

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can have a suicidal effect. Çréla A. C. Bhaktivedänta the mind in devotional reasoning. This is done by
Swämé Prabhupäda has warned of this many times spiritually enlightened intelligence. The necessity
in his writings. The following verse from Vaiñëava of uplifting and guiding the mind is expressed by
Ke? is just one example of this: Lord Kåñëa himself in the Bhagavad-gétä:
“This nirjana-bhajana, which is the silent A man must deliver himself with the help of
worship of the Supreme Lord, is not possible his mind, and not degrade himself. The mind
for a neophyte devotee. Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his
Sarasvaté Öhäkura never advised a neophyte enemy as well. For him who has conquered the
devotee to go to a solitary place to engage in mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one
devotional service. Indeed, he has written a who has failed to do so, his mind will remain
song in this connection; the greatest enemy. For one who has conquered
duñöa mana! tumi kisera vaiñëava? the mind, the Supersoul is already reached,
pratiñöhära tare, nirjanera ghare, for he has attained tranquillity. To such a man
tava hari-näma kevala kaitava happiness and distress, heat and cold, honour
My dear mind, what kind of devotee are you? and dishonor are all the same.
Simply for cheap adoration, you sit in a solitary Bhagavad-gétä 6.5-7
place and pretend to chant the Hare Kåñëa Vaiñëava Ke? is uniquely presented as a devotee
mahä-mantra, but this is all cheating.’ Thus talking or preaching to his mind. Through
Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura advocated penetrating statements presented to the mind,
that every devotee, under the guidance of an Çréla Bhakti siddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura vividly
expert spiritual master, preach the bhakti cult, and practically illustrates various ways the mind
Kåñëa consciousness, all over the world. falls down from pure devotional service. The
Purport to Çrémad-Bhägavatam 4.28.33 personal dealings with the mind portrayed in
There are many ways in which a practicing What Kind of Devotee Are You? demonstrate the
devotee’s mind can subtly influence and bewilder above mentioned statement from the Bhagavad-
the intelligence, entrapping even a seasoned gétä whereby the mind can be a friend or an enemy
devotee in the spider-like webs of illusion. to the advancing devotee. The essential need to
Devotional service is easy to perform, but it is conquer the mind’s subtle and gross deviations
equally easy to be diverted from the path of pure from the path of pure devotion becomes more
devotional service if one is not careful. Human and more evident with each progressive verse.
intelligence is the most precious gift on this The ultimate goal of pure devotion and the ideal
earth, and the final test to applied intelligence activity for pure devotees is taught to the mind in
is directing one’s life towards self-realization. the concluding verses. (to be continued)
The body and mind are both mechanical in their
function although one is gross and the other subtle.
Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa
A bhakti-yogé, or practicing devotee engages his Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare
body in various activities of devotional service, Hare Räma Hare Räma
but that is not enough. To achieve success in
Räma Räma Hare Hare
devotional service, he must also train and educate

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