The Story of Parsurama the Saktyavesa Avatara of God
SB 9.15 summary…The son of Jamadagni was Rāma, or Paraśurāma. When a king named Kārtavīryārjuna stole Jamadagni’s desire cow, Paraśurāma, who is ascertained by learned experts to be a saktyāveśa incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, killed Kārtavīryārjuna. Later, he annihilated the kṣatriya dynasty twenty-one times. After Paraśurāma killed Kārtavīryārjuna, Jamadagni told him that killing a king is sinful and that as a brāhmaṇa he should have tolerated the offense. Therefore Jamadagni advised Paraśurāma to atone for his sin by traveling to various holy places. SB 9.16.9-My dear King Parīkṣit, the sons of Kārtavīryārjuna, who were defeated by the superior strength of Paraśurāma, never achieved happiness, for they always remembered the killing of their father.PURPORTJamadagni was certainly very powerful due to his austerities, but because of a slight offense by his poor wife, Reṇukā, he ordered that she be killed. This certainly was a sinful act, and therefore Jamadagni was killed by the sons of Kārtavīryārjuna, as described herein. Lord Paraśurāma was also infected by sin because of killing Kārtavīryārjuna, although this was not very offensive. Therefore, whether one be Kārtavīryārjuna, Lord Paraśurāma, Jamadagni or whoever one may be, one must act very cautiously and sagaciously; otherwise one must suffer the results of sinful activities. This is the lesson we receive from Vedic literature. SB 9.16 18-19 purport.…Paraśurāma is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and his eternal mission is paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām [Bg. 4.8]—to protect the devotees and annihilate the miscreants. To kill all the sinful men is one among the tasks of the incarnation of Godhead. Lord Paraśurāma killed all the kṣatriyas twenty-one times consecutively because they were disobedient to the brahminical culture. That the kṣatriyas had killed his father was only a plea; the real fact is that because the kṣatriyas, the ruling class, had become polluted, their position was inauspicious. Brahminical culture is enjoined in the śāstra, especially in Bhagavad-gītā (cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ [Bg. 4.13]). According to the laws of nature, whether at the time of Paraśurāma or at the present, if the government becomes irresponsible and sinful, not caring for brahminical culture, there will certainly be an incarnation of God like Paraśurāma to create a devastation by fire, famine, pestilenceor some other calamity. Whenever the government disrespects the supremacy of the personality of Godhead and fails to protect the institution of varṇāśrama-dharma, it will certainly have to face such catastrophes as formerly brought about by Lord Paraśurāma.
Tuesday, June 23, 2020 [ Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]Srila Prabhupada glorifies Sri Svarupa Damodara Goswamicompiled by Yasoda nandana dasa
Srila PrabhupadaSri Svarupa Damodara Goswami trying to revive Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Śrī CaitanyaMahāprabhu is none other than the combined form of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. He is the life of those devotees who strictly follow in the footsteps of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī are the two principal followers of Śrīla SvarūpaDāmodara Gosvāmī, who acted as the most confidential servitor of Lord Śrī KṛṣṇaCaitanyaMahāprabhu, known as Viśvambhara in His early life. A direct disciple of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī was Śrīla Raghunāthadāsa Gosvāmī. The author of Śrī Caitanya–caritāmṛta, Śrīla KṛṣṇadāsaKavirāja Gosvāmī, stands as the direct disciple of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Raghunāthadāsa Gosvāmī.Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 1: The Spiritual Masters Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 4: The Confidential Reasons for Lord Caitanya’s Appearance : Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī was the principal figure among Lord Caitanya’s confidential devotees. The records of his diary have revealed these confidential purposes of the Lord. These revelations have been confirmed by the statements of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in his various prayers and poems. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 4: The Confidential Reasons for Lord Caitanya’s Appearance : Adi 4.41 : PURPORT : Lord Caitanya has accepted the role of Rādhārāṇī, and we should support that position, as Svarūpa Dāmodara did in the Gambhīrā (the room where Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed in Purī). He always reminded Lord Caitanya of Rādhā’s feelings of separation as they are described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and Lord Caitanya appreciated his assistance. But the gaura-nāgarīs, who place Lord Caitanya in the position of enjoyer and themselves as His enjoyed, are not approved by Lord Caitanya or by Lord Caitanya’s followers. Instead of being blessed, the foolish imitators are left completely apart. Their concoctions are against the principles of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The doctrine of transcendental enjoyment by Kṛṣṇa cannot be mixed up with the doctrine of transcendental feeling of separation from Kṛṣṇa in the role of Rādhārāṇī. rādhā kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtir hlādinī śaktir asmādekātmānāv api bhuvi purā deha-bhedaṁ gatau taucaitanyākhyaṁ prakaṭam adhunā tad-dvayaṁ caikyam āptaṁrādhā-bhāva-dyuti-suvalitaṁ naumi kṛṣṇa-svarūpam SYNONYMS rādhā—Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; kṛṣṇa—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; praṇaya—of love; vikṛtiḥ—the transformation; hlādinīśaktiḥ—pleasure potency; asmāt—from this; eka–ātmānau—both the same in identity; api—although; bhuvi—on earth; purā—from beginningless time; deha–bhedam—separate forms; gatau—obtained; tau—these two; caitanya–ākhyam—known as Śrī Caitanya; prakaṭam—manifest; adhunā—now; tat–dvayam—the two of Them; ca—and; aikyam—unity; āptam—obtained; rādhā—of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; bhāva—mood; dyuti—the luster; suvalitam—who is adorned with; naumi—I offer my obeisances; kṛṣṇa–svarūpam—to Him who is identical with Śrī Kṛṣṇa. TRANSLATION“The loving affairs of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are transcendental manifestations of the Lord’s internal pleasure-giving potency. Although Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are one in Their identity, They separated Themselves eternally. Now these two transcendental identities have again united, in the form of Śrī KṛṣṇaCaitanya. I bow down to Him, who has manifested Himself with the sentiment and complexion of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī although He is Kṛṣṇa Himself.” PURPORTThis text is from the diary of Śrīla SvarūpaDāmodara Gosvāmī. It appears as the fifth of the first fourteen verses of Śrī Caitanya–caritāmṛta.Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 4: The Confidential Reasons for Lord Caitanya’s Appearance : Adi 4.55
rādhā-kṛṣṇa eka ātmā, dui deha dhari’anyonye vilase rasa āsvādana kari’SYNONYMSrādhā–kṛṣṇa—Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa; eka—one; ātmā—self; dui—two; deha—bodies; dhari‘-assuming; anyonye—one another; vilase—They enjoy; rasa—the mellows of love; āsvādanakari‘-tasting. TRANSLATIONRādhā and Kṛṣṇa are one and the same, but They have assumed two bodies. Thus They enjoy each other, tasting the mellows of love.PURPORTThe two transcendentalists Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are a puzzle to materialists. The above description of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa from the diary of Śrīla SvarūpaDāmodara Gosvāmī is a condensed explanation, but one needs great spiritual insight to understand the mystery of these two personalities. One is enjoying in two. Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the potent factor, and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the internal potency. According to Vedānta philosophy, there is no difference between the potent and potency: they are identical. We cannot differentiate between one and the other, any more than we can separate fire from heat.Everything in the Absolute is inconceivable in relative existence. Therefore in relative cognizance it is very difficult to assimilate this truth of the oneness between the potent and the potency. The philosophy of inconceivable oneness and difference propounded by Lord Caitanya is the only source of understanding for such intricacies of transcendence. In fact, Rādhārāṇī is the internal potency of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and She eternally intensifies the pleasure of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Impersonalists cannot understand this without the help of a mahā–bhāgavata devotee. The very name Rādhā suggests that She is eternally the topmost mistress of the comforts of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. As such, She is the medium transmitting the living entities’ service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Devotees in Vṛndāvana therefore seek the mercy of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī in order to be recognized as loving servitors of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Lord CaitanyaMahāprabhu personally approaches the fallen conditioned souls of the iron age to deliver the highest principle of transcendental relationships with the Lord. The activities of Lord Caitanya are primarily in the role of the pleasure-giving portion of His internal potency.The absolute Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is the omnipotent form of transcendental existence, knowledge and bliss in full. His internal potency is exhibited first as sat, or existence-or, in other words, as the portion that expands the existence function of the Lord. The same potency while displaying full knowledge is called cit, or samvit, which expands the transcendental forms of the Lord. Finally, the same potency while playing as a pleasure-giving medium is known as hlādinī, or the transcendental blissful potency. Thus the Lord manifests His internal potency in three transcendental divisionsSri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 4: The Confidential Reasons for Lord Caitanya’s Appearance : Adi 4.56 ati gūḍha hetu sei tri-vidha prakāradāmodara-svarūpa haite yāhāra pracāra SYNONYMSati—very; gūḍha—esoteric; hetu—reason; sei—that; tri–vidha—three; prakāra—kinds; dāmodara–svarūpahaite—from SvarūpaDāmodara; yāhāra—of which; pracāra—the proclamation. TRANSLATIONThat most confidential cause is threefold. SvarūpaDāmodara has revealed it. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 4: The Confidential Reasons for Lord Caitanya’s Appearance : Adi 4.104
svarūpa-gosāñi–prabhura ati antaraṅgatāhāte jānena prabhura e-saba prasaṅga SYNONYMSsvarūpa–gosāñi—SvarūpaDāmodaraGosāñi; prabhura—of Lord CaitanyaMahāprabhu; ati—very; antaraṅga—confidential associate; tāhāte—by that; jānena—he knows; prabhura—of Lord CaitanyaMahāprabhu; e-saba—all these; prasaṅga—topics. TRANSLATIONSvarūpaGosāñi is the most intimate associate of the Lord. He, therefore, knows all these topics well. PURPORTPrior to the Lord’s acceptance of the renounced order, PuruṣottamaBhaṭṭācārya, a resident of Navadvīpa, desired to enter the renounced order of life. Therefore he left home and went to Benares, where he accepted the position of brahmacarya from a Māyāvādīsannyāsī. When he became a brahmacārī, he was given the name Śrī DāmodaraSvarūpa. He left Benares shortly after, without taking sannyāsa, and he came to Nīlācala, JagannāthaPurī, where Lord Caitanya was staying. He met CaitanyaMahāprabhu there and dedicated his life for the service of the Lord. He became Lord Caitanya’s secretary and constant companion. He used to enhance the pleasure potency of the Lord by singing appropriate songs, which were very much appreciated. SvarūpaDāmodara could understand the secret mission of Lord Caitanya, and it was by his grace only that all the devotees of Lord Caitanya could know the real purpose of the Lord.SvarūpaDāmodara has been identified as Lalitā–devī, the second expansion of Rādhārāṇī. However, the authoritative Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā of Kavi–karṇapūra describes SvarūpaDāmodara as the same Viśākhā–devī who serves the Lord in GolokaVṛndāvana. Therefore it is to be understood that Śrī SvarūpaDāmodara is a direct expansion of Rādhārāṇī who helps the Lord experience the attitude of Rādhārāṇī.Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 4: The Confidential Reasons for Lord Caitanya’s Appearance : Adi 4.105 _śeṣa-līlāya prabhura kṛṣṇa-viraha-unmādabhrama-maya ceṣṭā, āra pralāpa-maya vāda SYNONYMSśeṣa–līlāya—in the final pastimes; prabhura—of Lord CaitanyaMahāprabhu; kṛṣṇa–viraha—from separation from Lord Kṛṣṇa; unmāda—the madness; bhrama–maya—erroneous; ceṣṭā—efforts; āra—and; pralāpa–maya—delirious; vāda—talk. TRANSLATIONIn the final portion of His pastimes, Lord Caitanya was obsessed with the madness of separation from Lord Kṛṣṇa. He acted in erroneous ways and talked deliriously. PURPORT Lord Śrī Caitanya exhibited the highest stage of the feelings of a devotee in separation from the Lord. This exhibition was sublime because He was completely perfect in the feelings of separation. Materialists, however, cannot understand this. Sometimes materialistic scholars think He was diseased or crazy. Their problem is that they always engage in material sense gratification and can never understand the feelings of the devotees and the Lord. Materialists are most abominable in their ideas. They think that they can enjoy directly perceivable gross objects by their senses and that they can similarly deal with the transcendental features of Lord Caitanya. But the Lord is understood only in pursuance of the principles laid down by the Gosvāmīs, headed by SvarūpaDāmodara. Doctrines like those of the nadīyā-nāgarīs, a class of so-called devotees, are never presented by authorized persons like SvarūpaDāmodara or the six Gosvāmīs. The ideas of the gaurāṅga-nāgarīs are simply a mental concoction, and they are completely on the mental platform.Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 4: The Confidential Reasons for Lord Caitanya’s Appearance : Adi 4.107
yabe yei bhāva uṭhe prabhura antarasei gīti-śloke sukha dena dāmodara SYNONYMSyabe—when; yei—that; bhāva—mood; uṭhe—arises; prabhura—of Lord CaitanyaMahāprabhu; antara—in the heart; sei—that; gīti—by the song; śloke—or verse; sukha—happiness; dena—gives; dāmodara—SvarūpaDāmodara. TRANSLATIONWhenever a particular sentiment arose in His heart, SvarūpaDāmodara satisfied Him by singing songs or reciting verses of the same nature.Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 4: The Confidential Reasons for Lord Caitanya’s Appearance : Adi 4.110
Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 7: Lord Caitanya in Five Features : Adi 7.11 : PURPORT : Although Kṛṣṇa is the reservoir of all pleasure, He has a special intention to taste Himself by accepting the form of a devotee. It is to be concluded that although Lord Caitanya is present in the form of a devotee, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. Therefore Vaiṣṇavas sing, śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya rādhā-kṛṣṇa nahe anya: Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa combined together are Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Caitanyākhyaṁ prakaṭam adhunā tad-dvayaṁ caikyam āptam.Śrī Svarūpa-dāmodara Gosvāmī has said that Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa assumed oneness in the form of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.______________________________________________________________________________________ When Svarupa Damodara came from Kashi, he submitted a verse before the Lord, glorifying Him. This verse has been recorded by Kavi Karnapura in his Chaitanya Chandrodaya Nataka as follows:
heloddhunita khedaya vishadaya pronmila-damodaraushamyacchastra vivadaya rasadaya cittarpitonmadayashashvad-bhaktivinodaya sa-madaya madhurya-maryadayashri chaitanya dayanidhe tava daya bhuyadamandodaya “O Ocean of Mercy, Shri Chaitanya! Let that which easily drives away whatever pain we have been experiencing in this material world; that which is all purifying, that which manifests the greatest transcendental bliss; that which by its sunrise casts away all the doubtful conclusions of the shastra; that which rains rasa on our hearts and minds, rules our consciousness and thus causes jubilation; that all-liberating, all-auspiciousness-giving, the limit of madhurya-rasa mercy of yours-let it arise within our hearts. “ ________________________________________________Sri Sivananda sena tirobhava tithi
Srila Prabhupada explains the potency of Rathayatra
Srila Prabhupāda: Melbourne, Tokyo, and many other places. And India also, in Calcutta also. So this festival, taking part in these festivals means a step forward for our self-realization. Rathe ca vāmanaṁ dṛṣṭvā punar janma na vidyate. Simply by seeing the Lord on the chariot, one makes advancement for stopping the repetition of birth and death.So I am very glad that you have taken so much trouble to come here. Now will you chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra along with the devotees and take part in honoring the prasādam? The prasādam is also one of the programs. Our Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is standing on three principal things: chanting, dancing, and eating prasādam. It is not very difficult. It is very enjoyable to chant, dance, and take prasādam. And if you like, you can hear a little philosophy of this movement. Or even if you do not understand the philosophy, even you do not read the books, simply if you take part in these three things, chanting, dancing, and taking part in eating the prasādam, your life will gradually progress in spiritual advancement of life. And if you continue this, then some day will come, even in this life it may come, that you will understand what is Kṛṣṇa. And as soon as you understand Kṛṣṇa, then after leaving this body you go back to home, back to Godhead, directly (?). This is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā. Those who have read Bhagavad-gītā… Lord Kṛṣṇa says, janma karma me divyaṁyo jānāti tattvataḥ tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti kaunteya [Bg. 4.9
Simply by understanding Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa’s appearance, Kṛṣṇa’s disappearance, Kṛṣṇa’s activities. This Rathayātrā is one of the activities of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore to take part in the Rathayātrā festival means to associate with Kṛṣṇa directly. So in this way, if we associate with Kṛṣṇa’s name, Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, Kṛṣṇa’s qualities, Kṛṣṇa’s form, then, gradually, we transcend this material existence. Janma karma me divyaṁ yo jānāti tattvataḥ. If we simply try to understand about Kṛṣṇa’s movement, then the result is, Kṛṣṇa says, tyaktvā dehaṁ: we have to give up this body. But if we give up this body after being elevated into Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then Kṛṣṇa says, tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. Then, after giving up this body, you haven’t got to accept another material body. Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. Then where shall I go? Kṛṣṇa says, mām eti: “He comes to Me. There is planet beyond this material sky. There is another sky. That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gītā. Paras tasmāt tu bhavo ‘nyo ‘vyakto ‘vyaktāt sanātanaḥ [Bg. 8.20]. There is another sky, which is eternal. This sky is temporary. Just like your body, my body, or anything in this material world, they are temporary. They have got a date of birth, and they grow, they stay, they produce some by-products, then dwindle, and then vanishes. That is material nature. But there is another nature, which is called spiritual nature. Even when everything is annihilated, that nature stands. So that spiritual nature, or spiritual sky, is described in the Vedic literature, in the Upaniṣads, that there is no need of sunshine, there is no need of moonshine, there is no need of electricity. That is another sky. So our only business is to transfer ourself from this sky to that sky, that illuminating sky. That is the Vedic injunction. Tamasi mā jyotir gamaya: “Don’t remain in this darkness, in this world of darkness. Come to the world of light.” So this movement is very important movement. We are trying to educate people how to transfer one from this world of darkness to the world of light, which is called Goloka Vṛndāvana. So I am very much thankful to you that you have given me your time. So we have got our books; our devotees are preaching. Take advantage of this opportunity and make your life successful.Thank you very much.Devotees: Haribol!
Srila Prabhupada lectures : Festival Lectures : Ratha-yatra — London, July 13, 1972 Srila Prabhupāda: There were not many. The Rathayātrā is very nice. He was chanting with a group of devotees, and while the car festival is going on. And sometimes car used to stop. It still stops. That is the fashion of Jagannātha. And nobody could, even an elephant could not draw it. Then Caitanya Mahāprabhu will say, “All right, come on.” So He would push it with His head and it will go on 1969 Conversations : August, 1969 : Lord Caitanya Play — August 4, 1969, Los Angeles
Srila Prabhupada explain the glories of Srila Svarupa Damodara Goswami
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 1: The Spiritual Masters : Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is none other than the combined form of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. He is the life of those devotees who strictly follow in the footsteps of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī are the two principal followers of Śrīla Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, who acted as the most confidential servitor of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, known as Viśvambhara in His early life. A direct disciple of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī was Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī. The author of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, stands as the direct disciple of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmi
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 4: The Confidential Reasons for Lord Caitanya’s Appearance : Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī was the principal figure among Lord Caitanya’s confidential devotees. The records of his diary have revealed these confidential purposes of the Lord. These revelations have been confirmed by the statements of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in his various prayers and poems.
Srila Sac Cid Ananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura TirobhavaTithi [disappearance]. Mayapura, West Bengal time . Monday, June 22, 2020 [Amavasya dark moon] Srila Gadadhara pandita Tirobhava Tithi
A few gems from Srila Prabhupada about Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. After fulfilling his responsibility to produce a nice child, one should take sannyāsa and engage in the perfectional paramahaṁsa stage. paramahaṁsa refers to the most highly elevated perfectional stage of life. There are four stages within sannyāsa life, and paramahaṁsa is the highest order. The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is called the paramahaṁsa-saṁhitā, the treatise for the highest class of human beings. The paramahaṁsa is free from envy. In other stages, even in the householder stage of life, there is competition and envy, but since the activities of the human being in the paramahaṁsa stage are completely engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or devotional service, there is no scope for envy. In the same order as Kardama Muni, about one hundred years ago, Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda also wanted to beget a child who could preach the philosophy and teachings of Lord Caitanya to the fullest extent. By his prayers to the Lord he had as his child Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Mahārāja, who at the present moment is preaching the philosophy of Lord Caitanya throughout the entire world through his bona fide disciples.Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 3: “The Status Quo” : SB 3.22: The Marriage of Kardama Muni and Devahuti : SB 3.22.19 : PURPORT
When Lord Viṣṇu appeared in the great arena of sacrifice at the time when King Pṛthu was performing a great sacrifice (aśvamedha), He predicted that the Kumāras would very soon come and advise the King. Therefore Pṛthu Mahārāja remembered the causeless mercy of the Lord and thus welcomed the arrival of the Kumāras, who were fulfilling the Lord’s prediction. In other words, when the Lord makes a prediction, He fulfills that prediction through some of His devotees. Similarly, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu predicted that both His glorious names and the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra would be broadcast in all the towns and villages of the world. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Prabhupāda desired to fulfill this great prediction, and we are following in their footstepsBooks : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 4: “The Creation of the Fourth Order” : SB 4.22: Prthu Maharaja’s Meeting with the Four Kumaras SB 4.22.42
The living entity’s position is herein likened to a dog’s. By chance a dog may have a very rich owner, and by chance he may become a street dog. As the dog of a rich man, he will live very opulently. Sometimes in Western countries we hear of a master leaving millions of dollars to a dog in his will. Of course, there are many dogs loitering in the street without food. Therefore, to liken the conditional existence of the living entity to that of a dog is very appropriate. An intelligent human being, however, can understand that if he has to live the life of a dog, he had best become Kṛṣṇa’s dog. In the material world a dog is sometimes elevated and is sometimes on the street, but in the spiritual world, Kṛṣṇa’s dog is perpetually, eternally happy. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has therefore sung: vaiṣṇava ṭhākura tomāra kukura baliyā jānaha more. In this way Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura offers to become a Vaiṣṇava’s dog. A dog always keeps himself at his master’s door and does not allow any person unfavorable to the master to enter. Similarly, one should engage in the service of a Vaiṣṇava and try to please him in every respect. Unless one does so, he does not make spiritual advancement. Apart from spiritual advancement, in the material world if one does not develop his qualities in goodness, he cannot be promoted to the higher planetary system. As confirmed by Bhagavad-gītā (14.18)Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 4: “The Creation of the Fourth Order” : SB 4.29: Talks Between Narada and King Pracinabarhi : SB 4.29.30, SB 4.29.31, SB 4.29.30-31
Thakura Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. And so-called educated, they practically guide. You’ll be surprised to know that in 1950, one of my students, he was a government statistics officer. So he went to some village, and he gave me report that the villagers inquired from him that “Babuji, agar angarej ko vote diyayai pasatela (?)”Dr. Arnold Toynbee: Yes.Srila Prabhupāda: You understand Hindi? No.Dr. Arnold Toynbee: No, I don’t. No, no, no.Srila Prabhupāda: No. The inquiry was that “If we again give votes to the Englishmen, will they come and do.” (laughs)Dr. Arnold Toynbee: Yes, yes, yes.Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. So they were feeling the… Actually, in India… In our childhood, we know. Every Indian felt very secure. They never expected that Britishers will go. They were so sympathetic. And now they… This is the pulse felt by that statistics officer. They are not very much satisfied with the present system of government. British administration was very much appreciated by the Indians. Even Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura appreciated. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, he has written in something, somewhere, that “The Britishers also very nice because they don’t interfere with the religious affairs.” So as soon as they changed their views and tried to divide the Hindus and Muslims, the British Empire lost. According to Queen’s declaration, the Britishers pledged that “They will not interfere with your religious affairs.” Later on, for political purposes, when they interfered with this Hindu-Muslim question, then the British Empire lost.Conversations : 1973 Conversations : July, 1973 : Room Conversation with Dr. Arnold Toynbee, Famous Historian, at his home or office — July 22, 1973, London
Srila Prabhupāda: We are translating the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and other Vedic literature. You have seen the sample, original verse, word to word meaning, then translation, then giving a purport.Professor La Combe: You wrote the commentary.Srila Prabhupāda: Yes.Professor La Combe: What is the paramparā from Caitanya?Srila Prabhupāda: From CaitanyaMahāprabhu? Yes. The Six Gosvāmīs: Rūpa, Sanātana, BhaṭṭaRaghunātha, Śrī Jīva, GopālaBhaṭṭa, DāsaRaghunātha. The Six Gosvāmīs. Then from the Gosvāmīs there is Śrīnivāsācārya. Then from him, I think, this KṛṣṇadāsaKavirāja Gosvāmī, and then Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura. Then Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, then Jagannāthadāsa Bābājī, then Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, then GauraKiśoradāsa Bābājī Mahārāja, then my GuruMahārāja. Next we are. I am the tenth or eleventh, eleventh from CaitanyaMahāprabhu.Conversations : 1974 Conversations : June, 1974 : Room Conversation with Professor Oliver La Combe Director of the Sorbonne University — June 14, 1974, Paris :
Srila Prabhupāda: Vedas, when Lord Buddha wanted stop animal killing, these rascals came with Vedas. “Vedas there is sacrifice, there is animal killing.” So he thought that these rascals will create botheration. By bringing Vedas, there is… He said, “I don’t care for it.”vedanāmāniyābauddhahayatanāstika vedāśraya nāstikya–vādabauddhakeadhikaSimilarly, these rascals are giving evidence of Rūpa Gosvāmī’s advice, that “Here is Rādhā–kuṇḍa…” But whether you have followed other things.Guest: Vāco vegaṁmanasaḥ…Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. Vāco vegaṁmanasaḥkrodha–vegaṁ, pṛthivīṁsaśiṣyāt. Etānvegān yo viṣa… You are manipulated by the udara–vegam, upastha–vegam. First there is test: etānvegān yo viṣahetadhīraḥ [NoI 1]. Then for him Rādhā–kuṇḍa. Dhīras tatranamuhyati [Bg. 2.13]. He has got three dozen sevā–dāsī, and living in Rādhā–kuṇḍa. My GuruMahārāja wanted to publish Govinda–līlāmṛta. He asked permission of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. So first of all Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, “I’ll tell you some day.” And when he reminded, he said, “Yes you can print one copy. If you are so much anxious to print it, print one copy. You’ll read and you will see that you have printed. Not for distribution.” So we are printing all these books for understanding properly. Not that “Here is Rādhā–kuṇḍa. Let us go.” Jump over like monkey. “Here is rāsa–līlā. Immediately…”Acyutānanda: Even in Kṛṣṇa book rāsa–līlā should not be told in public.Srila Prabhupāda: No, why? Kṛṣṇa book must be there, in the book must be there.Acyutānanda: But in public…Srila Prabhupāda: But you should go gradually. You should go gradually. You first of all understand Kṛṣṇa, then kṛṣṇa–līlā. If you have not understood Kṛṣṇa, then you’ll think Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa–līlā is just like we mix with young women. And that becomes as polluted. Because they do not understand Kṛṣṇa. Manuṣyāṇāṁsahasreṣu kaścid yatatisiddhayeyatatāmapisiddhānām [Bg. 7.3]. Kṛṣṇa understanding so easy? If you do not understand Kṛṣṇa how can you go to the Kṛṣṇa’s confidential activities?Acyutānanda: Some of the devotees, they said that it is for liberated souls. So they said, “Well, we are all liberated.”Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. Liberated for going to hell.Devotee: In your Kṛṣṇa book, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you’ve given such clear explanations along with the stories of Kṛṣṇa that it’s very difficult to misinterpret, because you use such clear explanation.Srila Prabhupāda: No, you read all the books first of all. Then you’ll be able to understand.Conversations : 1976 Conversations : August, 1976 : Room Conversation — August 16, 1976, Bombay Rāmeśvara: In the Fifth Canto, you’ve quoted from Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura that the most sacred place in the whole universe is Śrī Māyāpura-dhāma.Srila Prabhupāda: Yes.Rāmeśvara: In all the universe.TamālaKṛṣṇa: In each universe there is a Vṛndāvana and a Māyāpura. That means in each universe there’s a planet earth like this planet?Srila Prabhupāda: Yes. There are so many planets. Each universe full of planets. Koṭiṣu vasudhādi-vibhūti–bhinnam. There are millions of universes, and in each universe there are millions of planets. Koṭiṣu vasudhādi-vibhūti–bhinnam. (end) Conversations : 1976 Conversations : June, 1976 : Morning Walk — June 7, 1976, Los Angeles :
Ambassador: What was your connection with McGill? I heard from…Srila Prabhupāda: (Sic:) McGill. McGill I was…Ambassador: You preached (?) first in McGill?Srila Prabhupāda: No, I was lecturing only.Atreya Ṛṣi: Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s [break]Srila Prabhupāda: He sent his first book…Ambassador: Yes.Srila Prabhupāda: …in 1896. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura was the first origin of this movement. But he simply thought of it. And he was expecting some others that willing to take up the work. Well, somebody says that I am the same man. And I was born in 1896. So he wanted to combine the whole civilized nations under this Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s cult, HareKṛṣṇa movement. I think I have given this hint in the Teachings of Lord Caitanya.Conversations : 1975 Conversations : March, 1975 : Room Conversation with Canadian Ambassador to Iran — March 13, 1975, Iran
Srila Prabhupāda: He gave so much service to Kṛṣṇa. From his family maintenance… He could have renounced, but he said that the family has to be maintained. So he… Markaṭa-vairāgya. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura was against giving sannyāsa. He didn’t like these bābājīs. They were markaṭa-vairāgya, superficially… Markaṭa-vairāgya means monkey. They live naked, eat fruits, live in the jungle. That is vairāgya. But three dozen wives. Markaṭa-vairāgya. Markaṭa means monkey. Superficially vairāgya, nāgā-bābā. They eat vegetables, fruits, live in the jungle, no house, or, all, everything like vairāgya. But sex. We have… I have seen in Vṛndāvana. They have got a party, each monkey, women’s party, and the male will come to any female, “Now ready,” “Enter.” You can see it. Markaṭa-vairāgya nāhi paraloka dasaya(?).So this should not be encouraged. Then gradually it will deteriorate into… April, 1977 : Conversation: Vairagya, Salaries, and Political Etiquette — April 28, 1977, Bombay ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: List of Books of Thakura Bhakti vinodaFollowing is a list of selected writings of Srila Bhaktivinoda, which number more than one hundred books, poems and articles authored by the Thakur. 1849 Ula-candi-mahatmya (Bengali) – Verses glorifying the Ula-candi deity of Birnagar 1850 Hari-katha (Bengali) – Topics of Lord Hari – a poem 1850 Llla-kirtana (Bengali) – A poem glorifying the Lord’s Pastimes 1851 Sumbha-Nisumbha-yuddha (Bengali) – Verses about Durga’s battle with the two demons, Sumbha and Nisumbha 1855 This year commenced the beginning of articles published in various periodicals and magazines 1860 Maths of Orissa (English) – Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s visits to various Orissa temples, monasteries 1863 Hjana-grama (Bengali) – The Deserted Village – Thakura Bhaktivinoda’s poem about Ula, the village of his birth. He returned to find it’s population decimated from cholera. 1863 Sannyassi (Bengali) – Poem 1866 Speech (English) – Gautama – Lecture about Gautama Muni and the philosophy of nyaya (logic) 1868 Sac-cid-dnanda-premalankara (Bengali) – Poem composed by The Thakura after his first reading of Caitanya-caritamrta 1869 The Bhagavat: Its Philosophy, Its Ethics, and Its Theology (English) Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam (PDF)writings/bhagavata.pdf 1870 Garbha-stotra-vyakhya (Bengali) – Prayers by the Demigods for Sri Krsna, in the womb. From the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam 1871 Thakura Haridasa (English) – About Namacarya Haridasa Thakura’s disppearance, from the engravings on the samadhi tomb at Jagannatha Puri 1871 The Temple of Jaganntha at Puri (English) – The history of the establishment of the great temple in Puri, Orissa, and the hypocrisy of temple priests as opposed to sincere devotional worship in pure love of God.writings/mandir.htm 1871 The Akharas in Puri (English) – Criticisms on monasteries in Jagannatha Puri 1871 The Personality of Godhead (English) 1871 Saragrahi (English) – Poem about the mood of a devotee who knows how to extract the essence of Krsna consciousness from all things 1871 To Love God (English) – An article describing Bhakti as the religion of the soul, based on Christ’s teachings. 1871 The Attibaris of Orissa – Editorial letter challenging a sect of pseudo Vaisnavas in Orissa. 1872 Vedantadhikarana-mala (Sanskrit) – Verses on Vedanata with Srila Bhaktivinoda’s Bengali translations and purports. 1874 Datta-kaustubham (Sanskrit) – 104 verses on philosophy with Sanskrit purports. 1876 Datta-vamsa-mala – A description of the Thakur’s family tree; genealogy of the Datta family of Bali Samaj. 1878 Bauddha-vijaya-kavyam (Sanskrit) – Poem on the defeat of atheistic Buddhism 1880 Sri Krsna-samhita – A major treatise on Lord Krsna and the science of Krsna consciousness. Long introduction on philosophy and historical development of Indian religion. Samhita is 281 Sanskrit verses with purports. Srila Bhaktivinoda explains that his conclusions were revealed to him while in deep spiritual trance.writings/non-sectarian.htm 1881 Sri Sri Kalyan Kalpa-taru – Songbook of 63 Bengali songs describing the Desire-Tree of spiritual life in service to Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai. (RTF)writings/kalyana.rtf 1881Sajjana-tosani (Bengali) – Monthly periodical, 17 volumes extant. 1883 Review of Nitya-rupa-samstha-panam, a book on the eternal nature of the Lord’s Deity form.writings/vigraha.htm 1886 Srimad Bhagavad-gita – Included Sanskrit commentary on Gita by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura entitled Sarartha-varsini, along with the Thakura’s elaborate Bengali introduction and Bengali translation and purport of verses, entitled Rasika-ranjana. 1886 Sri Caitanya-siksamrta (Bengali) – Prose work on Lord Caitanya’s instructions and their application in the modern world. 1886 Sri Sanmodana-bhasyam (Sanskrit) – commentary of Lord Caitanya’s Siksastakam, with a Bengali song for each verse that expands on Lord Caitanya’s devotional moods. (RTF)writings/sanmodaya.rtf 1886 Bhajana-darpana-bhasya (Sanskrit) – Commentary on Srila Raghunatha das Gosvami’s Manah-siksa. 1886 Dasopanisad-curnika (Bengali) – Prose book on the essentials from ten principal Upanisads. 1886 Bhavavali (Sanskrit) – Verses about rasa, as written by different Acaryas, published along with Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s Bengali song translation of the verses. 1886 Prema-pradipa (Bengali) – A philosophical novel about three men from Calcutta who travel to Vrndavana to meet a Vaisnava. Two are impersonalists who gradually develop devotion to the Supreme Lord, but the third is misled by the mystic yoga process. (Word)writings/pradipa.doc 1886 Sri Visnu-sahasra-nama-stotram – 1,000 names of Lord Visnu from Mahabharata, published by the Thakura with Sanskrit commentary of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana. 1887 Sri Krsna-vijaya (Bengali) – The pastimes of Lord Krsna, composed in the 1470’s by Maladhara Vasu (Gunaraja Khan), with Bhaktivinoda’s Bengali introduction. This book was one of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s favorite books. 1887 Sri Caitanyopanisad (Sanskrit) – Nineteen verses with Bhaktivinoda’s Sanskrit commentary, on Sri Krsna’s appearance as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. 1890 Amnaya-sutram (Sanskrit) -130 aphorisms from Upanisads, with commentary and quotes from various ancient scriptures. Bhaktivinoda’s own Bengali translation called the Laghu-bhdsya on the principle truths of Vaisnava philosophy. 1890 Sn Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmyam (Bengali) – Eighteen chapters describing the complete tour of the land of Navadvipa as traversed by Lord Nityananda. (RTF)writings/navadvip.rtf 1890 Siddhanta-darpanam (Bengali) – Translation of the Sanskrit work by Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana. It quotes from many scriptures that Srimad-Bhagavatam is the crown jewel of all the Puranas. 1891 Srimad Bhagavad-gita – With Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana’s Sanskrit commentary, Gita-bhusana. 1891 Sri Godruma Kalpatavi (Bengali) – Collected essays describing Srila Bhaktivinoda’s program of Nama-hatta, the Market Place of the Holy Name. He describes the personnel of the marketplace, how the holy names are purchased, various officers of the market, qualifications of the participants, and descriptions of his actual preaching activities. 1892 Sri Hari-nama – A pamphlet for public distribution, describing the transcendental glories of the holy names, and the ten offenses against the chanting of the holy names. 1892 Si Nama – A pamphlet for public distribution, describing the 100 names of Lord Caitanya in eight songs meant to be sung in kirtana, with three more songs on Lord Caitanya’s glories, and a Bengali essay from Lord Caitanya’s instructions. 1892 Sri Nama-tattva-siksastaka – A pamphlet for public distribution, describing Lord Caitanya’s Siksastaka, with Bengali rpose translation and songs. 1892 Sri Nama-mahima – A pamphlet for public distribution on the eight-verse Sanskrit prayer by Srila Rupa Gosvami called Sri Namastakam, describingthe glories of the holy name of the Lord. Accompanying each verse is the Thakura’s Bengali prose translation and songs. 1892 Sri Nama-pracara – A pamphlet for public distribution with various songs he composed for the general public to sing in kirtana and bhajana, containng the basics of Lord Caitanva’s teachings. 1892 Sriman Mahaprabhur Siksa (Bengali) – Describing Lord Caitanya’s philosophy in eleven chapters (dasa-mula), with purports. (RTF)writings/siksamrta.rtf 1892 Vaisnava-siddhanta-mala (Bengali) – Summary of the basic tenets of Gaudlya Vaisnava philosophy, composed for the general public.writings/mala.htm 1893 Sri Tattva-viveka – A treatise on Realizations of Eternity, Knowledge and Bliss, discussing Lord Caitanya’s teachings compared to other Oriental and Western philosophers. (RTF)writings/viveka.rtf 1893 Soka-satana – A book of 13 Bengali songs for the general public. 1893 Saranagati (Bengali) – A book of 50 songs about Love of God, it has became very famous in India, and its songs are sung daily in hundreds of temples. (RTF) (Balarama font)writings/saranagati.rtf 1893 Gitavali (Bengali) – A book of 73 songs to be sung regularly by devotees. Used as part of daily devotional practice. (RTF)writings/gitavali.rtf 1893 Gita-mala (Bengali) – A book of 80 songs, arranged in five chapters. (RTF)writings/gitamala.rtf 1893 Baula-sangita (Bengali) – A book of 12 songs, intended to help the public understand the difference between the false Baulas (wandering fakirs) and the real Baulas. 1893 Dalaler Gita (Bengali) – A song describing Lord Nityanana’s opening of the Marketplace of the Holy Name in Navadvipa. 1893 Jaiva Dharma (Bengali) – A philosophical novel in 40 chapters, this question and answer dialogue discussions in-depth aspects of the philosophy. (Word)writings/jaiva_dharma_1-6.doc Chapters 1-612-1718-2324-3233-401893 Tattva-sutram – 50 Sanskirt aphorisms with commentary in Sanskrit and Bengali. (Balarama font)writings/tattwa.htm 1894 Vedarka-didhiti – commentary on the Isopanisad, including various commentary and purports on Isopanisad. 1894 Tattva-muktavali – 119 Sanskrit verses composed by Sri Madhvacarya to refute the Sankaracarya impersonalists, with Bhaktivinoda’s Bengali translations. 1895 Amrta-pravaha-bhasya (Bengali) – commentary on Krsna dasa Kaviraja’s Sriu Caitanya-caritamrta. 1895 Hari-bhakti-kalpa-latika (Sanskrit) – A work on pure devotion by an unknown author, which Thakura Bhaktivinoda edited and published in Puri. 1895 Sodasa Grantha (Sanskrit) – Sixteen works by Sri Vallabhacarya, edited and published by the Thakura. 1895 Sri Gauranga-stava-kalpataru (Sanskrit) – A twelve verse poem by Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, edited and published by the Thakura. 1895 Manah-santosani (Bengali) – A translation of the Sanskrit Sri Krsna Caitanyodayavali by Pradyumna Misra, a close relative of Lord Caitanya. 1895 Mukunda-mala-stotram (Sanskrit) – Sixty-two verses glorifying the Lord’s transcendental position, composed by King Kulasekhara. 1895 Sri Laksmi-carita (Bengali) – A short work by Sri Maladhara Vasu, edited and published by Bhaktivinoda Thakura. 1895 Bala-Krsna-sahasra-nama (Sanskrit) – The 1,000 names of Baby Krsna; 1,000 names of Cowherd boy Krsna; 108 names of Krsna; and 1,000 names of Srimati Radharani. 1895 Sriman Mahaprabhor Asta-kaliya-lila-smarana-mangala-stotram (Sanskrit) – An eleven verse poem for Remembrance of Lord Caitanya’s day-long pastimes. 1896 Sri Gauranga-lila-smarana-mangala-stotram (Sanskrit) – 104 Sanskrit verses describing all the pastimes and teachings of Lord Caitanya found in Sri Caitanya-bhagavata and Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, with English introduction on life and precepts of Lord Caitanya. 1896 Sri Ramanuja-upadesa (Bengali) – Sanskrit verses on the life teachings of Sripad Ramanujacarya, with Bengali translation. 1896 Artha-pancaka (Bengali) – Explanatory notes on Sri Pillai Lokacarya’s book on the five principle points of Ramanuja’s philosophy. 1896 Sva-likhita Jivania (Bengali) – A 200-page prose letter written to his son, Lalita Prasad Datta, who requested the details of his father’s personal life. 1897 Brahma-samhita (Bengali) – Edited and published by Srila Bhaktivinoda, with original Sanskrit verses, Srilaq Jiva Gosvami’s commentary, and the Thakura’s Bengali introduction, translations and purports, called Prakasini. 1898 Sri Krsna-karnamrta (Bengali) – Original Sanskrit verses and commentary on Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s conjugal pastimes by Sri Bilvamangala Thakura, published and edited by the Tahkura with introduction, final Bengali translations and summary. 1898 Piyusa-varsini-vrtti (Bengali) – A commentary on Srila Rupa Gosvami’s Upadesamrta (Nectar of Instruction). 1898 Srimad Bhagavad-gita – edited and published by Srila Bhaktivinoda, with Sanskrit commentary Dvaita-bhasyam by Sripada Madhvacarya. 1898 Sri Goloka-mahatmyam (Bengali) – Original Sanskrit text and Bhaktivinoda’s translations of Sanatana Gosvami’s Brhad-bhagavatamrta. 1899 The Hindu Idols (English) – A 32-page letter of rebuttal to a Christian articile slandering Kali, Durga and Lord Siva. 1899 Sri Bhajanamrta (Bengali) – Original Sanskrit by Srila narahari Sarakara Thakura, an associate of Lord Caitanya, with Srila Bhaktivinoda’s Bengali translation. 1899 Sri Navadvipa-bhava-taranga (Bengali) – 168 verses glorifying the area of Navadvipa. (RTF)writings/taranga.rtf 1900 Sri Harinama-cintamani (Bengali) – Srila Haridasa Thakur’s teachings on the Holy Name. (RTF)writings/harinama.rtf 1901 Srimad Bhagavatarka-marici-mala (Bengali) – Original Sanskrit verses with Bengali prose translations and purports. 1901 Padma Purana (Sanskrit) – Original Sanskrit verses, edited and published by Srila Bhaktivinoda. 1901 Sankalpa-kalpadruma (Bengali) – Original Sanskrit verses, edited and published with Bengali translationsby Srila Bhaktivinoda. 1902 Padma Purana (Bengali) – Published as a supplement to his Harinama-cintamani. 1904 Sat-kriya-sara-dipika (Bengali) – A Sanskrit work from Hari-bhakti-vilasa by Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, with Bhaktivinoda’s prose translation. 1906 Prema-vivarta (Bengali) – Edited and published by Bhaktivinoda Thakura, this book by jagadananda Pandita discusses Sri Caitanya’s philosophy on divine love, and various types of devotees and service. 1907 Sva-niyama-dvadasakam (Bengali) – The last literary work of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura before he retired to his cottage at Jagannath Puri. This book of verses of self-imposed vows is Sanskrit verses with Bengali translationsThe following works of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur either have no specific publication dates, are extracts from larger works, or are otherwise miscellaneous:
This is an incomplete list of Thakura Bhaktivinoda’s works, excerpted from various sources, including the list compiled by Dasaratha-suta dasa for the book, “The Seventh Goswami”.
Sudarshana cakra SB 9.5 summary…What is this Sudarśana cakra? The Sudarśana cakra is the glance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by which He creates the entire material world. Sa aikṣata, sa asṛjata. This is the Vedic version. The Sudarśana cakra, which is the origin of creation and is most dear to the Lord, has thousands of spokes. This Sudarśana cakra is the killer of the prowess of all other weapons, the killer of darkness, and the manifester of the prowess of devotional service; it is the means of establishing religious principles, and it is the killer of all irreligious activities. Without his mercy, the universe cannot be maintained, and therefore the Sudarśana cakra is employed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When Mahārāja Ambarīṣa thus prayed that the Sudarśana cakra be merciful, the Sudarśana cakra, being appeased, refrained from killing Durvāsā Muni, who thus achieved the Sudarśana cakra’s mercy.
May 5 1960 BTG magazineThe Lord said to Durbasha Muni who picked up a quarrel with a great householder devotee namely King Amburish. As a result of misunderstanding between the King and the Muni, the latter tried to kill the King when Sudarshan Chakra, the celebrated weapon of Godhead, appeared on the scene for protection of the devotee King. When Sudarshan Chakra attacked Durbasha Muni he fled away frightened by the weapon and sought shelter practically from all big Gods of the heaven. Everyone was unable to protect him so ultimately he approached the Personality of Godhead who also sent the Muni to beg pardon from the King and glorified His devotees by saying, “The saints are my heart and I am also their hearts. They do not know anything besides myself and reciprocally I also do not know anyone else besides them.”
The Power of mantra chanting Hare Krsna-Below we have arranged a series of quotes starting with material sound vibrations which have the power to circle the earth 7 times in one second . Going from there to spiritual vibrations which can penetrate the hearts and ears of all living entities and also travel all the way to the Vaikuntha planets in the spiritual sky. Also included is the process of how to chant these mantras as given by the bona fide spiritual master Srila Prabhupada
.Hare Krsna
damaghosa das—————————————
Aug 21 1973 london Just like electricity is everywhere, electrons. One who can tackle the electrons, they can talk without any direct connection by electronic method, thousand thousand miles away. Just like radio message, television message. So similarly, Kṛṣṇa is also everywhere. Just like the waves of sound wave is going on. As soon as you produce, I produce one sound, immediately within a second the sound goes round the earth seven times. So if a material thing has got so much power, just think how much power God has got. SB 1.8.13 purport The brahmāstra, the supreme weapon released by Aśvatthāmā, was something similar to the nuclear weapon but with more radiation and heat. This brahmāstra is the product of a more subtle science, being the product of a finer sound, a mantra recorded in the Vedas. Another advantage of this weapon is that it is not blind like the nuclear weapon because it can be directed only to the target and nothing else. Aśvatthāmā released the weapon just to finish all the male members of Pāṇḍu’s family; therefore in one sense it was more dangerous than the atomic bombs because it could penetrate even the most protected place and would never miss the target. Madhya 17.45-When the Lord loudly chanted “Hari bol!” the trees and creepers became jubilant to hear Him. PURPORT-The loud chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra is so powerful that it can even penetrate the ears of trees and creepers-what to speak of animals and human beings. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu once asked Haridāsa Ṭhākura how trees and plants could be delivered, and Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied that the loud chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra would benefit not only trees and plants but insects and all other living beings. One should therefore not be disturbed by the loud chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, for it is beneficial not only to the chanter but to everyone who gets an opportunity to hear.
“The living entities [jīvas] are divided into two categories. Some are eternally liberated, and others are eternally conditioned. “Those who are eternally liberated are always awake to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and they render transcendental loving service at the feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa. They are to be considered eternal associates of Kṛṣṇa, and they are eternally enjoying the transcendental bliss of serving Kṛṣṇa. “Apart from the ever-liberated devotees, there are the conditioned souls who always turn away from the service of the Lord. They are perpetually conditioned in this material world and are subjected to the material tribulations brought about by different bodily forms in hellish conditions. “Due to his being opposed to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the conditioned soul is punished by the witch of the external energy, māyā. He is thus ready to suffer the threefold miseries-miseries brought about by the body and mind, the inimical behavior of other living entities and natural disturbances caused by the demigods. TRANSLATION Madhya 22 14-15 “In this way the conditioned soul becomes the servant of lusty desires, and when these are not fulfilled, he becomes a servant of anger and continues to be kicked by the external energy, māyā. Wandering and wandering throughout the universe, he may by chance get the association of a devotee physician, whose instructions and hymns make the witch of external energy flee. The conditioned soul thus gets into touch with the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and in this way he can approach nearer and nearer to the Lord.
PURPORT An explanation of verses 8 through 15 is given by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya. The Lord is spread throughout the creation in His quadruple expansions and incarnations. Kṛṣṇa is fully represented with all potencies in each and every personal extension, but the living entities, although separated expansions, are also considered one of the Lord’s energies. The living entities are divided into two categories-the eternally liberated and eternally conditioned. Those who are ever-liberated never come in contact with māyā, the external energy. The ever-conditioned are always under the clutches of the external energy. This is described in Bhagavad-gītā: daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā “This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome.” (Bg. 7.14) The nitya-baddhas are always conditioned by the external energy, and the nitya-muktas never come in contact with the external energy. Sometimes an ever-liberated personal associate of the Supreme Personality of Godhead descends into this universe just as the Lord descends. Although working for the liberation of conditioned souls, the messenger of the Supreme Lord remains untouched by the material energy. Generally ever-liberated personalities live in the spiritual world as associates of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and they are known as kṛṣṇa-pāriṣada, associates of the Lord. Their only business is enjoying Lord Kṛṣṇa’s company, and even though such eternally liberated persons come within this material world to serve the Lord’s purpose, they enjoy Lord Kṛṣṇa’s company without stoppage. The ever-liberated person who works on Kṛṣṇa’s behalf enjoys Lord Kṛṣṇa’s company through his engagement. The ever-conditioned soul, provoked by lusty desires to enjoy the material world, is subjected to transmigrate from one body to another. Sometimes he is elevated to higher planetary systems, and sometimes he is degraded to hellish planets and subjected to the tribulations of the external energy. Due to being conditioned by the external energy, the conditioned soul within this material world gets two kinds of bodies-a gross material body and a subtle body composed of mind, intelligence and ego. Due to the gross and subtle bodies, he is subjected to the threefold miseries (ādhyātmika, ādhibhautika and ādhidaivika), miseries arising from the body and mind, other living entities, and natural disturbances caused by demigods from higher planetary systems. The conditioned soul subjected to the threefold material miseries is ceaselessly kicked by māyā, and this is his disease. If by chance he meets a saintly person who works on Kṛṣṇa’s behalf to deliver conditioned souls, and if he agrees to abide by his order, he can gradually approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.
SB 2.7.53-The Lord’s activities in association with His different energies should be described, appreciated and heard in accordance with the teachings of the Supreme Lord. If this is done regularly with devotion and respect, one is sure to get out of the illusory energy of the Lord.PURPORTThe science of learning a subject matter seriously is different from the sentiments of fanatics. Fanatics or fools may consider the Lord’s activities in relation with the external energy to be useless for them, and they may falsely claim to be higher participants in the internal energy of the Lord, but factually the Lord’s activities in relation with the external energy and the internal energy are equally good. On the other hand, those who are not completely free from the clutches of the Lord’s external energy should devoutly hear regularly about the activities of the Lord in relation with the external energy. They should not foolishly jump up to the activities of the internal energy, falsely attracted by the Lord’s internal potential activities like His rāsa-līlā. The cheap reciters of the Bhāgavatam are very much enthusiastic about the Lord’s internal potential activities, and the pseudodevotees, absorbed in material sense enjoyment, falsely jump to the stage of liberated souls and thus fall down deeply into the clutches of external energy.Some of them think that to hear about the pastimes of the Lord means to hear about His activities with the gopīs or about His pastimes like lifting the Govardhana Hill, and they have nothing to do with the Lord’s plenary expansions as the puruṣāvatāras and Their pastimes of the creation, maintenance or annihilation of the material worlds. But a pure devotee knows that there is no difference between the pastimes of the Lord, either in rāsa-līlā or in creation, maintenance or destruction of the material world.Rather, the descriptions of such activities of the Lord as the puruṣāvatāras are specifically meant for persons who are in the clutches of the external energy. Topics like the rāsa-līlā are meant for the liberated souls and not for the conditioned souls. The conditioned souls, therefore, must hear with appreciation and devotion the Lord’s pastimes in relationship with the external energy, and such acts are as good as the hearing of rāsa-līlā in the liberated stage. A conditioned soul should not imitate the activities of liberated souls. Lord Śrī Caitanya never indulged in hearing the rāsa-līla with ordinary men.In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the science of God, the first nine cantos prepare the ground for hearing the Tenth Canto. This will be further explained in the last chapter of this canto. In the Third Canto it will be more explicit. A pure devotee of the Lord, therefore, must begin reading or hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from the very beginning, and not from the Tenth Canto. We have several times been requested by some so-called devotees to take up the Tenth Canto immediately, but we have refrained from such an action because we wish to present Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as the science of Godhead and not as a sensuous understanding for the conditioned souls. This is forbidden by such authorities as Śrī Brahmājī. By reading and hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as a scientific presentation, the conditioned souls will gradually be promoted to the higher status of transcendental knowledge after being freed from the illusory energy based on sense enjoyment.
Sudarshana cakra SB 9.5 summary…What is this Sudarśana cakra? The Sudarśana cakra is the glance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by which He creates the entire material world. Sa aikṣata, sa asṛjata. This is the Vedic version. The Sudarśana cakra, which is the origin of creation and is most dear to the Lord, has thousands of spokes. This Sudarśana cakra is the killer of the prowess of all other weapons, the killer of darkness, and the manifester of the prowess of devotional service; it is the means of establishing religious principles, and it is the killer of all irreligious activities. Without his mercy, the universe cannot be maintained, and therefore the Sudarśana cakra is employed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When Mahārāja Ambarīṣa thus prayed that the Sudarśana cakra be merciful, the Sudarśana cakra, being appeased, refrained from killing Durvāsā Muni, who thus achieved the Sudarśana cakra’s mercy.
May 5 1960 BTG magazineThe Lord said to Durbasha Muni who picked up a quarrel with a great householder devotee namely King Amburish. As a result of misunderstanding between the King and the Muni, the latter tried to kill the King when Sudarshan Chakra, the celebrated weapon of Godhead, appeared on the scene for protection of the devotee King. When Sudarshan Chakra attacked Durbasha Muni he fled away frightened by the weapon and sought shelter practically from all big Gods of the heaven. Everyone was unable to protect him so ultimately he approached the Personality of Godhead who also sent the Muni to beg pardon from the King and glorified His devotees by saying, “The saints are my heart and I am also their hearts. They do not know anything besides myself and reciprocally I also do not know anyone else besides them.”
SB 3.1.23 purport…The Lord expands Himself in innumerable forms, but all of them are nondifferent from one another. Lord Viṣṇu has four hands, and each hand holds a particular item—either a conchshell, wheel, club or lotus flower. Of these four emblems, the cakra, or wheel, is the chief. Lord Kṛṣṇa, being the original Viṣṇu form, has only one emblem, namely the wheel, and therefore He is sometimes called the Cakrī. The Lord’s cakra is the symbol of the power by which the Lord controls the whole manifestation. The tops of Viṣṇu temples are marked with the symbol of the wheel so that people may have the chance to see the symbol from a very long distance and at once remember Lord Kṛṣṇa SB 3.15.27 purport…The significance of the doormen’s being of the same age is that in the Vaikuṇṭha planets there is no old age, so one cannot distinguish who is older than whom. The inhabitants of Vaikuṇṭha are decorated like the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, with śaṅkha, cakra, gadā and padma (conch, wheel, club and lotus).SB
Phalgun Krsna Pancami of Srila PrabhupadaThird Vasistya
21. If everyone simply sat down together and considered these things what nice preaching there could be.
22. What is your order also, that everyone, coming together, should merge in your message and preach it to the world.
23. If everyone just initiates then there will only be a contradictory result. As long as it goes on, there will be only failure.
24. Now even, my God brothers, you return here to the order of our master, and together we engage in his puja.
25. But simply a festival of flowers and fruits does not constitute worship. The one who serves the message of the guru really worships him.
The service of the message is the real meaning of the Vedas. Don’t be proud, brothers, Come back to this.
Adi 12.10-The order of the spiritual master is the active principle in spiritual life. Anyone who disobeys the order of the spiritual master immediately becomes useless.PURPORTHere is the opinion of Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī. Persons who strictly follow the orders of the spiritual master are useful in executing the will of the Supreme, whereas persons who deviate from the strict order of the spiritual master are useless.
Hare Krishna Dear Prabhu, The other morning during japa, it occurred to me to put together two jewels of information. One is that Krishna resides in the heart and supplies knowledge, remembrance and forgetfulness. The second is that Srila Prabhupada is the external manifestation of the Lord in the heart. This idea of “external manifestation of the Lord in the heart” is certainly something to contemplate. To me it means that Srila Prabhupada is non-different from the Lord in the heart, but appearing before us in a form composed of the material elements. He appears before us in this way just as the arca-vigraha appears before us on the altar, so that we can relate to God in a form that our senses can perceive. If my understanding is correct, simply by meditating on Srila Prabhupada as we go through our days, all intelligence and remembrance will be supplied. If we think that Srila Prabhupada is non-different from his instructions, this kind of meditation may not be an easy thing to accomplish. Just to remember a list of instructions …… one can become easily distracted, caught up in a fruitive mode of endeavor, forgetful, etc But if we meditate on Srila Prabhupada through the agency of a connection of love, a loving embrace, we are buoyed up by a sense of on-going reciprocation that is sweet and that causes us to desire not to lose that sense of love. Then we begin to do everything in a way that is pleasing to His Divine Grace, which is the essence of all his instructions. Attachment to his lotus feet is the perfection that fulfills all desires Then, this morning, another thought occured to me: “Do we follow his instructions so that we can achieve our liberation from this material world, advance in devotional service, attain Krishna Loka; or do we follow his instructions as an expression of our love for him, while wanting nothing in return other than to have that sense of loving service?”
CC Madhya-lila 11.26-28
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, “My dear Rāmānanda Rāya, you are the foremost of all the devotees of Kṛṣṇa; therefore whoever loves you is certainly a very fortunate person. Because the King (Maharaja Prataparudra) has shown so much love for you, Lord Kṛṣṇa will certainly accept him.”
‘A disciple who has actual love for his spiritual master, is endowed by the blessings of his spiritual master with all confidential knowledge’. Srila Sridhara Swami has commented that the word ‘snigdhasya’ means ‘prema-vatah’. The word ‘prema-vatah’ indicates that one has great love for his spiritual master.
Therefore we are assured that by cultivating feelings of love for our spiritual master he will reciprocate with us by blessing us with “all confidential knowledge”. Then there is another aspect of our relationship with our spiritual master which is essential in order to progress spiritually:
Teachings of Lord Caitanya Chapter: The Ecstasy of the Lord and His Devotees
Thus Sanatana Gosvami prayed for the Lord’s confirmation that the Lord’s teachings would actually evolve in his heart by His grace. Otherwise Sanatana knew that there was no possibility of his being able to describe the Lord’s teachings. The purport of this is that the acharyas are authorized by higher authorities. Instruction alone cannot make one an expert. Unless one is blessed by the spiritual master, or the acharya, such teachings cannot become fully manifest. Therefore one should seek the mercy of the spiritual master so that the instructions of the spiritual master can develop within oneself. After receiving the prayers of Sanatana Gosvami, Lord Caitanya placed His feet on the head of Sanatana and gave him His benedictions so that all His instructions would develop fully.
In other words, following the prescribed sadhana program of Deity worship, japa, and participation in Harinam sankirtan and book distribution, following the four regulative principles of no illicit sex, no intoxication, no meat eating and no gambling…….these are not the full prescription. We are also encouraged to cultivate a heartfelt transcendental loving relationship with our spiritual master, and also to pray for the benediction that his instructions will develop within us. These more subtle aspects of our relationship with him are also part and parcel of his instructions to us. And therefore when we contemplate the understanding that “He lives forever by his divine instructions and the follower lives with him.”, we should understand that the above instructions are essential facets of the overall prescription.
