Hare Krishna Society

Sri Lokanatha Goswami tirobhava [disappearance day]

Tuesday, July 26,.2016 [Los Angeles, California time]

Wednesday, July 27, 2016 [Mayapura, West Bengal time]

compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada glorifies Sri Lokanatha Goswami

Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 1: The Spiritual Masters : Adi 1.19 : PURPORT :

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained this mode of devotional service in three stages, and therefore these worshipable Deities were installed in Vṛndāvana by different Gosvāmīs. They are very dear to the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas there, who visit the temples at least once a day. Besides the temples of these three Deities, many other temples have been established in Vṛndāvana, such as the temple of Rādhā-Dāmodara of Jīva Gosvāmī, the temple of Śyāmasundara of Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī, the temple of Gokulānanda of Lokanātha Gosvāmī, and the temple of Rādhā-ramaṇa of Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī. There are seven principal temples over four hundred years old that are the most important of the five thousand temples now existing in Vṛndāvana.

Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 7: Lord Caitanya in Five Features : Adi 7.164 : PURPORT :

When Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī went to Vṛndāvana, there was not a single temple, but by their preaching they were gradually able to construct various temples. Sanātana Gosvāmī constructed the Madana-mohana temple, and Rūpa Gosvāmī constructed the Govindajī temple. Similarly, their nephew Jīva Gosvāmī constructed the Rādhā-Dāmodara temple, Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī constructed the Rādhā-ramaṇa temple, Śrī Lokanātha Gosvāmī constructed the Gokulānanda temple, and Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī constructed the Śyāmasundara temple. In this way, many temples were gradually constructed. For preaching, construction of temples is also necessary. The Gosvāmīs not only engaged in writing books but also constructed temples because both are needed for preaching work. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted the cult of His saṅkīrtana movement to spread all over the world. Now that the International Society for Krishna Consciousness has taken up this task of preaching the cult of Lord Caitanya, its members should not only construct temples in every town and village of the globe but also distribute books that have already been written and further increase the number of books. Both distribution of books and construction of temples must continue side by side in parallel lines.

Continue reading →

Submitted by: Yasoda nandana Dasa

Srila Prabhupāda’s instructions on editing are in his books themselves

12. March 2014 by Prabhupada News

Srila Prabhupāda’s instructions on editing are in his books themselves

In this article we hope to bring to light how Srila Prabhupāda, the Acharya and Jagat Guru, has personally instructed the proper etiquette to all his followers in how to deal with seeming mistakes, or errors in the writings of an uttama-adhikārī and Acharya.

In this time of confusion and controversy, in regard to the editing of the BBTI, we humbly submit the following at the feet of all the Vaiṣṇava’s for their own contemplation and realization in spiritual life:

In the Caitanya-caritāmṛita, Madhya-līlā 9.358, Srila Prabhupāda cites his spiritual master Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, who points out that in the seventy-fourth verse of this same chapter there is an apparent error made by Kṛṣṇa dāsa, Kavirāja Gosvāmī. Srila Prabhupāda, just to teach us the principle of arsa-prayoga, [please see quotes from Srila Prabhupāda on “arsha-prayoga” at the end of this article] does not touch the words of Kṛṣṇadāsa Kaviraja Goswami, but leaves this apparent error as it is, out of respect for the transcendental book. Even though Srila Prabhupāda’s own spiritual master, the most pure and intimate confidential devotee and associate of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu himself, had clearly pointed out that this is an apparent error and is apparently wrong.

Continue reading →

By Gadadhar Dasa Submitted on 2013/02/12 at 5:47 pm

July 9 Appointments

Temporary or Permanent?

Ritvik or Diksha Gurus?

Available Evidence

My Approach

Attempt is made here to come to conclusion

using direct, simple, and short path.

There is no DOR or TFO in this document except in this line.
I thank these devotees who wrote those two documents.

I thank all devotees who provided me requested information.

Special thanks to Rocana Prabhu

who prodded me into this, encouraged me at times,

and demanded that I produce higher quality product.

I must admit I am no where close to it.

Continue reading →

Submitted by: Yasoda nandana Dasa

Sunday, July 24, 2016 (Mayapur time, India)

Srila Prabhupada describes the glories of Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami

śrī-gopāla bhaṭṭa eka śākhā sarvottama

rūpa-sanātana-saṅge yāṅra prema-ālāpana

Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 1:”Creation” : SB Introduction : SB Introduction :

Thus at the end of His twenty-fourth year the Lord accepted the sannyāsa order of life in the month of Māgha. After accepting this order He became a full-fledged preacher of the Bhāgavata-dharma. Although He was doing the same preaching work in His householder life, when He experienced some obstacles to His preaching He sacrificed even the comfort of His home life for the sake of the fallen souls. In His householder life His chief assistants were Śrīla Advaita Prabhu and Śrīla Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, but after He accepted the sannyāsa order His chief assistants became Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu, who was deputed to preach specifically in Bengal, and the six Gosvāmīs (Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī, Jīva Gosvāmī, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī and Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī), headed by Śrīla Rūpa and Sanātana, who were deputed to go to Vṛndāvana to excavate the present places of pilgrimage. The present city of Vṛndāvana and the importance of Vrajabhūmi were thus disclosed by the will of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 4: “The Creation of the Fourth Order” : SB 4.27: Attack by Candavega on the City of King Puranjana: the Character of Kalakanya : SB 4.27.24 : PURPORT :

“I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Gosvāmīs, namely Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī and Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, who are very expert in scrutinizingly studying all the revealed scriptures with the aim of establishing eternal religious principles for the benefit of all human beings. Thus they are honored all over the three worlds, and they are worth taking shelter of because they are absorbed in the mood of the gopīs and are engaged in the transcendental loving service of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
Continue reading →

Submitted by: Yasoda nandana Dasa

“Even a moment’s association with a pure devotee cannot be compared to being transferred to heavenly planets or even merging into the Brahman effulgence in complete liberation. For living entities who are destined to give up the body and die, association with pure devotees is the highest benediction.”

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.30.34)

Source: https://www.prabhupadaconnect.com/The-Highest-Benediction.html

Taking too long?

Reload document

Open in new tab

Download [30.42 KB]

Taking too long?

Reload document

Open in new tab

Download [45.28 KB]

Taking too long?

Reload document

Open in new tab

Download [5.53 MB]

Submitted by: Yasoda nandana Dasa

Sri Advaita Vata – Place where Sri Advaita Prabhu discovered Madan Mohana

HISTORY OF THE MADANA-MOHANA TEMPLE

Sanatana Gosvami established this temple. It is one of the first temples built in Vrindavan. The Deity of Madana-Mohan was originally known as Madana Gopala. Madan Mohan Temple on the riverside is the oldest structure in Vrindavan.

Advaita Acarya discovered the original Deity of Madana-Mohan at the base of an old vata tree, when he visited Vrindavana. He found this Deity at Advaita Vata, which is the place where he did his bhajana. This place is just below the hill on which the Madana-Mohan temple is located. He entrusted the worship of Madana-Mohan to his disciple, Purusottama Chaube, who then gave the Deity to Sanatana Gosvami. Worshiped along with Madana-Mohan are Radharani and Lalita, who were sent to Vrindavana by Purusottama Jena, the son of Maharaja Prataparudra.

This 20m (60 ft) high temple was opened in 1580 on Aditya Tila, a 16m (50 ft) hill next to the Yamuna. Ram Das Kapoor of Multan (Punjab) paid to build the temple. One day a ship he owned, loaded with salt, went aground in the Yamuna. He was advised by Sanatana Gosvami to pray to Madana-Mohan for help. The ship came free and the owner of the ship made a big profit, which he used to build this temple. Ram Das Kapoor built another temple dedicated to Madana-Mohan in his hometown and installed a replica of Madana-Mohan. This Deity is still being worshiped. His entire family was initiated as Vaishnavas and they were followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Krishna Dasa took care of worshiping Madana-Mohan after Sanatana Gosvami left his body. This temple is considered a historical site and is under the care of the Indian government.

This is the oldest temple in Vrindavan. The temple is closely associated with Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is considered the incarnation of the Supreme Lord Krishna in the iron age of Kaliyuga and spreading the congregational chanting ofthe holy names.

Continue reading →

Submitted by: Damagosha Dasa

Hare Krsna-Below we are attempting to show that spiritual life follows a certain pattern.

Srila Prabhupada has several times used the expression-“things equal to one another are equal to each other” which comes from Euclid, a great mathematician and philosopher who lived thousands of years ago in Greece. His theorems have survived the test of time up to today, because they are true. And our Srila Prabhupada used this particular one to show how anything spiritual is equal to any other thing which is also spiritual.This is called the Absolute nature of Transcendence. It is common for people to think that there is some difference between Vaisnavas-that those who are “brahmana Vaisnavas”, or “sudra Vaisnavas” are “different” but in actuality there is no difference in quality.
We will attempt to show some of these facts by this principle.

69-10-31

My Dear Dinesh,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your letter dated October 21, 1969 along with a contribution of $25. I have already acknowledged receipt of your new record. Regarding the disciplic succession coming from Arjuna, disciplic succession does not always mean that one has to be initiated officially. Disciplic succession means to accept the disciplic conclusion. Arjuna was a disciple of Krishna and Brahma was also a disciple of Krishna. Thus there is no disagreement between the conclusions of Brahma and Arjuna. Vyasadeva is in the disciplic succession of Brahma. The teachings to Arjuna was recorded by Vyasadeva verbatim. So according to the axiomatic truth, things equal toone another are equal to each other. We are not exactly directly from Vyasadeva, but our Gurudeva is a representative of Vyasadeva. Because Vyasadeva and Arjuna are of equal status, being students of Krishna, therefore we are in the disciplic succession of Arjuna. Things equal to the same thing are equal to one another.

——————————-

LA May 7 1970
So this is explained here. This is Vedic mantra. This is the proof, Veda mantra. Why we are attached to Veda mantra? Veda mantra is the proof of everything. Whatever is said in the Vedas, that is fact. Unless you take some axiomatic truth in that way, you cannot make progress. Just like in geometry there are so many axiomatic truths, we have to accept it. “A point has no length, no breadth.” “Things equal to the same thing are equal to one another.” These are axiomatic truths. Similarly the Vedas, they are truth. We have to accept. Just like I’ve given example in my book: The conchshell is the bone of an animal. So Vedic injunction is if you touch the bone of an animal, immediately you become impure and you have to take your bath. But here is a bone which is used in the Deity room. But you cannot argue, “Oh, you said that bone is impure. As soon as you touch it, you become impure. And you are putting into the Deity room?” No argument. You have to accept it. This is Veda. You cannot argue. Similarly, spiritual master’s order, you have to accept. There is no argument. In this way you can make progress.
———————————-
Continue reading →

Submitted by: Yasoda nandana Dasa

Editorial: Sixteen Points to Consider
Regarding the Ṛtvik Issue

By Pratyatoṣa Dāsa (ACBSP), August 30, 1998 (Appearance Day of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī) (Updated: March 2, 2014)

(Pratyatosa.com, pratyatosa@gmail.com)

Dear Prabhus, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!

Concerning the “ṛtvik issue” (initiation on Śrīla Prabhupāda’s behalf by a ṛtvik representative of the Ācārya), please consider the following sixteen points:

1. Follow the Latest Order

From a lecture by Śrīla Prabhupāda on the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Hyderabad, India, April 15, 1975:

I may say many things to you, but when I say something directly, “Do it”, your first duty is to do that. You cannot argue, “Sir, you said me like this before.” No, that is not your duty. What I say now, you do it. That is obedience.

If the captain of the ship says “5° starboard” and the first mate replies, “But captain, before you told me ‘10° port,’” then it can be understood that the first mate has gone insane.

2. The July 9th Letter (https://pratyatosa.com/?P=25)

Letter by Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Gosvāmī to all GBC’s and temple presidents, Vṛndāvana, India, July 9, 1977:

To All G.B.C. and Temple Presidents

Dear Mahārājas and Prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. Recently when all of the GBC members were with His Divine Grace in Vṛndāvana, Śrīla Prabhupāda indicated that soon He would appoint some of His senior disciples to act as ritvik – representative of the ācārya, for the purpose of performing initiations, both first initiation and second initiation. His Divine Grace has so far given a list of eleven disciples who will act in that capacity:

His Holiness Kīrtanānanda Swami

His Holiness Satsvarūpa dāsa Gosvāmī

His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami

His Holiness Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Gosvāmī

His Holiness Hṛdayānanda Gosvāmī

His Holiness Bhavānanda Gosvāmī

His Holiness Haṁsadūta Swami

His Holiness Rāmeśvara Swami

His Holiness Harikeśa Swami

His Grace Bhagavān dāsa Adhikārī

His Grace Jayatīrtha dāsa Adhikārī

In the past Temple Presidents have written to Śrīla Prabhupāda recommending a particular devotee’s initiation. Now that Śrīla Prabhupāda has named these representatives, temple presidents may henceforward send recommendation for first and second initiation to whichever of these eleven representatives are nearest their temple. After considering the recommendation, these representatives may accept the devotee as an initiated disciple of Śrīla Prabhupāda by giving a spiritual name, or in the case of second initiation, by chanting on the Gāyatrī thread, just as Śrīla Prabhupāda has done. The newly initiated devotees are disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, the above eleven senior devotees acting as his representative. After the temple president receives a letter from these representatives giving the spiritual name or the thread, he can perform the fire yajña in the temple as was being done before. The name of a newly initiated disciple should be sent by the representative who has accepted him or her to Śrīla Prabhupāda, to be included in His Divine Grace’s “Initiated Disciples” book.

Approved: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami [signed]

Please note that the above is the last formal instruction that Śrīla Prabhupāda gave on initiations within his beloved ISKCON before his physical departure on November 14, 1977. If someone quotes Śrīla Prabhupāda as having said, “My disciples should become gurus.,” then this obviously does not mean diksha (initiating) gurus within ISKCON, because his last instruction (See point #1 above) for ISKCON was to have ṛtviks (priests) initiate on his behalf “henceforward.” If you search the Vedabase for “henceforward,” you will see that Śrīla Prabhupāda always meant “from this time forth; from now on,” which, according to the dictionary, is the only literal meaning that the word “henceforward” can have.

3. Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Testifies

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Gosvāmī, one of the 11 original, ṛtvik – representatives of the ācārya (See point #2 above) said on December 3, 1980 (Transcribed from a tape recording of the actual conversation):

Actually Prabhupāda never appointed any gurus. He appointed eleven ritviks. He never appointed them gurus. Myself and the other GBC have done the greatest disservice to this movement the last three years because we [falsely] interpreted the appointment of ritviks as the appointment of gurus.

Continue reading →

Hare Krishna Society

Sri Lokanatha Goswami Tirobhava Tithi [disappearance day]

Srila Prabhupada’s instructions on editing are in his books themselves

July 9 Appointments — Temporary or Permanent?

Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami Tirobhava tithi (disappearance day) 07 24.2016

Srila Prabhupada re Association with a pure devotee is the highest benediction

False Ambition: The original sin

Srila Prabhupada’s unparalleled achievements

Sri Sanatana Goswami Madan Mohan temple

Things equal to the same thing are equal to one another-An Axiomatic truth.

Sixteen Points to Consider Regarding the Ṛtvik Issue