Śrī Gaura Avatār is the best of all Avatārs. Why don’t you serve Him? O mind, you resided beside water, but did not quench your thirst.
download MP3 audio
Srila Gurudev singing Avatara sara on Gaura Purnima day, 28 February 1991. avatāra sāra gorā avatāra kena nā bhajili tā̐re kari’ nīre vāsa gela nā piyāsa āpana karama phere [1]
Śrī Gaura Avatār is the best of all Avatārs. Why don’t you serve Him? O mind, you resided beside water, but did not quench your thirst. You returned to your selfishness. kaṇṭakera taru sadāi sevili (mana) amṛta pā’bāra āśe prema-kalpataru śrī gaurāṅga āmāra tāhāre bhavili viṣe [2]
O mind, desiring to drink nectar, you constantly chewed thorned wood (and mistook the blood in your mouth for nectar). My Lord Gaurāṅga is a wish-fulfilling tree of divine love, but you considered Him to be poison. saurabhera āśe palāśa śuṅkili (mana) nāsāte paśila kīṭa ‘ikṣu-daṇḍa’ bhāvi’ kāṭha chuṣili (mana) kemane pāibi miṭha [3]
O mind, seeking a fragrance, you smelled the odourless palāśa flower, and insects entered your nose. O mind, considering it sugarcane, you sucked dry wood. How will you taste sweetness in this way? ‘hāra’ baliyā galāya parili (mana) śamana kiṅkara sāpa ‘śītala’ baliyā āguna pohāli (mana) pāili vajara-tāpa [4]
O mind, considering it a necklace, you wore death’s attendant serpent around your neck. O mind, considering it to be cooling, you embraced fire and received a scorching burn. saṁsāra bhajili śrī-gaurāṅga bhulili nā śunili sādhura kathā iha-parakāla dukāla khoyāli (mana) khāili āpana māthā [5]
You served your family (mundane ends), forgot Śrī Gaurāṅga, and never listened to the sādhus’ words. O mind, you wasted both this life and your next life. You depraved yourself.
(Śrīla Lochan Dās Ṭhākur)
I have not seen the full figure of my ideal. I may have some sraddha, but I have not really seen my ideal in full. Therefore sometimes I am going this way or that way, but day by day the feeling comes from within me to wake up. I am feeling this and so I cannot leave Krishna Consciousness.
Message of Thakur Bhakti Vinoda Who is your Guru? by His Divine Grace B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaja Theosophy ends in Vaishnavism by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Run towards that high ideal by His Divine Grace Srila B.S. Govinda Maharaja President Acharya Consumerism and spirituality by Swami B.P. Janardan Affectionate dispensation by Swami B.A. Sagar Peace: the enemy of devotion by Swami B.K. Giri Thanks for the memories by Srutasrava dasa Communications by Hasyapriya dasa Tales from the East, Part 1 by Mathuranath dasa
The previous edition can be downloaded here: Sri Vaishnava Toshani, Jan-Feb 1992, Vol 1 #1
If we have a body then some order and some disorder must be there. It is a reactionary world, and so reactions always come and we cannot avoid them. nṛ-deham ādyaṁ su-labhaṁ su-durlabhaṁ plavaṁ su-kalpaṁ guru-karṇadhāram mayānukūlena nabhasvateritaṁ pumān bhavābdhiṁ na taret sa ātma-hā (Srimad Bhagavatam: 11.20.17)
[The human body, which can award all benefit in life, is automatically obtained by the laws of nature, although it is a very rare achievement. This human body can be compared to a perfectly constructed boat having the spiritual master as the captain and the instructions of the Personality of Godhead as favourable winds impelling it on its course. Considering all these advantages, a human being who does not utilise his human life to cross the ocean of material existence must be considered the killer of his own soul.]
This body is like a boat floating in the river, and it has given us the opportunity to be guided in the consciousness of Krishna by a good captain. In the river there are so many waves and so many obstacles, and many things are possible, but a good captain can take us the proper way, and we must be submitted to that captain.
We are fortunate that we have this form of open consciousness. Trees have consciousness, but it is suppressed. Plants have consciousness, mountains have consciousness, but it is suppressed consciousness. Animals, insects, and so on have a little open consciousness. But our consciousness is more open and with the three qualities of willing, feeling, and thinking. We can proceed, we can feel, we can think, and through that so many discoveries in this world have happened. We can divide those in two ways: one is spiritual discovery, and another is material discovery.
Scientists are making material discovery, but the rishis and munis have made so much spiritual discovery and that has been recorded. Through them we can understand that a spiritual world is existing, and it is different from this material world. Our form is actually spiritual, it is not material.
We are trying to promote ourselves from the material to the spiritual plane. It is depending upon a person’s devotion or dedication. Through dedication we will get the help of an elevator. Some persons go up step by step and some persons go by elevator, standing in one place. Fortunate souls get that help. In this way everything is moving.
We are fortunate that we have got this human body. We do not know where we will go after death, because we cannot avoid our reactions. If we put too much salt in our food, then we will suffer, and if we put too much sugar that will also be the cause of suffering. Then as proper and as appropriate we will try to proceed. Spoken by Srila Gurudev in Italy, September 2000, during his Sixteenth World Tour.
Our very first, homemade (i.e. not professional) podcast.
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In this interview Braja Mohini Devi Dasi of USA discusses Srila Gurudev’s love and affection and all-accommodating nature, and of a life consecrated to the service of His Divine Grace.
We apologise for the poor audio quality of this recording. Download mp3 audio Photo: Braja Mohini DD (left) leading Srila Gurudev’s arati song at a preaching/fundraising event for the Soquel Seva Ashram.
This may be a very good and very auspicious day but separation of Guru Maharaj is also giving us pain, now and always. We can try to fulfil his desire, and in that way we can serve him and satisfy him. Now that is our only goal.
Download mp3 audio file The following text has been taken from Srila Gurudev’s talk on the occasion of Sri Sri Nitai Chaitanyadev’s installation in Puri Dham, December 1989.
Today is a very auspicious festival day because Guru Maharaj’s Deities have come from Nabadwip to here, and from today they will accept puja and bhoga every day in this Math. We are very happy to tell this, but in the meantime we are also remembering Srila Guru Maharaj.
Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur’s Anubhasya, commentary on Chaitanya-charitamrta, was a very difficult work and it was his topmost writing. When he finished the Anubhasya it was a very glorious and happy day for him, but in the last chapter he wrote, āji ei sukha-dine bhakati-vinoda vine sukha-vārtā jānāba kāhāre ? ‘anubhāṣya’ śuni’ yei parama praphulla ha-i’ uru-kṛpā vitarila more [3]
[“Today, on this joyful day, to whom shall I convey this joyful news without Śrī Bhakti Vinod? He listened to this Anubhāṣya, was extremely pleased, and bestowed great mercy upon me.”]
When Srila Saraswati Thakur had finished and printed Anubhasya, Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur had already disappeared. Bhakti Vinod Thakur had heard Prabhupad Saraswati Thakur’s commentary, but when it became manifest in a book form he had already disappeared. A year or a few months before it was published Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur left. Then, in poetry in the last chapter of Anubhasya Srila Saraswati Thakur mentioned the date and his Guru-parampara, and especially glorified Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur and Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj. We can read there in his commentary, āji ei sukha-dine bhakati-vinoda vine sukha-vārtā jānāba kāhāre ? ‘anubhāṣya’ śuni’ yei parama praphulla ha-i’ uru-kṛpā vitarila more [3] śrī-gaura kṛpāya dui mahimā ki kaba mui aprākṛta-pāriṣada-kathā [7]
[“They (Śrīla Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākur and Śrīla Gaura Kiśor Dās Bābājī Mahārāj) are manifestations of Śrī Gaura’s mercy. What can I say about their greatness? They are divine associates of the Lord.”]
He also gave his own identification: Sri-Gaura-Kisora-Dasa,yara bhrtya—ei abhajana (verse 1).
On that very happy day and glorious day, without Bhakti Vinod Thakur present, Prabhupad thought, “To whom shall I tell this news? Today I do not see Bhakti Vinod Thakur in front of me. He was always blessing me and he was always merciful to me and distributing mercy everywhere. If he was here today, present in his transcendental body, he would be satisfied to see this, and that would have been more happy for me. But it is not possible.” In separation of Bhakti Vinod Thakur, Prabhupad was feeling both happiness and sadness at the same time.
Today I am feeling great separation from Guru Maharaj
This day is a very happy day no doubt because Guru Maharaj’s Deity has come here. Guru Maharaj was always lying down in his bed, sometimes seated, and would speak only a few words each day—but he was in his seat and in his Math, and through those few words he was distributing his mercy to us. He was always present. Now he is also present, no doubt. He is seeing everything. The ordinary soul is not destroyed. He had a transcendental body and was the dearmost devotee of Krishna, so he can do anything and he can go anywhere at any moment, like Krishna. Then he is listening here no doubt, and he is very happy to see everything, I have no doubt about that—but today I am feeling great separation from Guru Maharaj,
We have been directed by him, however, “Chant Hare Krishna, do service to the devotees, and preach Krishna-nam. In this way you will feel my presence within your heart and in front of you.”
This manifestation, or abhishek, of the Deities is also a part of preaching. You have heard of navadha-bhakti [the nine practices of devotion], śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam archanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam iti puṁsārpitā viṣṇau bhaktiś chen nava-lakṣaṇā kriyeta bhagavaty addhā tan manye ’dhītam uttamam (Srimad Bhagavatam: 7.5.23-24)
These are the nine parts of devotion, and one part is archan [Deity worship].
We are trying to maintain our spiritual lives with these nine kinds of devotion. But the supreme practice is Hari-nam-sankirtan. Mahaprabhu Himself said that if someone cannot do any other practice of devotion, and He can only do Harinam-sankirtan, that will be fully satisfactory for the Lord. Sravanam and kirtanam: hearing and chanting in the proper channel. In Kali-yuga that is enough for the jiva-soul.
Mahaprabhu said, harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā (Brhan-Naradiya-purana)
[“The Holy Name, the Holy Name, the Holy Name, is the only way. In this age of Kali there is no other way, no other way, no other way.”]
Also in Srimad Bhagavatam, kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam
yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ (11.5.32)
In many places, supported by the scriptures and Lord Krishna, we find glorification of the chanting of the Hare Krishna mahamantra. mach-chittā mad-gata-prāṇā, bodhayantaḥ parasparam kathayantaś cha māṁ nityaṁ, tuṣyanti cha ramanti cha (Srimad Bhagavad-gita: 10.9) Kathayantaś cha māṁ nityam:this is also showing Harinam-sankirtan. satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ yatantaś cha dṛḍha-vratāḥ (Srimad Bhagavad-gita: 9.14)
Mahaprabhu Himself said, nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ
If we can do Nam-sankirtan properly, without offence, we will get everything we want through that. Mahaprabhu gave us eight verses for the conditioned souls; the first of those eight verses is, cheto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ śreyaḥ-kairava-chandrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ sarvātma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam
[“Sri Krsna-sankirtan cleanses the mirror of consciousness, extinguishes the raging forest fire of material existence, shines moonlight on the evening lotus of good fortune, is the life of paramour love for the Lord, expands the ocean of ecstasy, is the taste of full nectar at every moment, and soothes the entire self. May Sri Krishna-sankirtan be supremely victorious!”]
Sri Krishna-sankirtan is the highest thing in Kali-yuga, and we have no fear, and we are so fortunate no doubt, because we have received the mahamantram from our Gurudev, Srila Guru Maharaj. But we are also bound by his union and separation and we are always feeling that in our hearts. Separation of the Guru, separation of the Vaishnava, is very hard for the auspicious soul.
Separation from the devotee is the greatest pain in this world
In Ramananda-samvad of Chaitanya-charitamrta you can see Mahaprabhu questioning and Ramananda Ray answering. There is one Bengali sloka, duḥkha-madhye kona duḥkha haya gurutara?
“What is the worst kind of pain?” and Ramananda Ray said, kṛṣṇa-bhakta-viraha vinā duḥkha nāhi dekhi para
“Separation from the devotee is the greatest pain in this world.”
Then, this may be a very good and very auspicious day but separation of Guru Maharaj is also giving us pain, now and always. We can try to fulfil his desire, and in that way we can serve him and satisfy him. Now that is our only goal. And if Gurudev is satisfied, then Krishna is automatically satisfied. Gurudev has no separate interest. Gurudev is only seeing Krishna’s interest, and Gurudev is always, twenty-four hours a day, engaging himself in the service of Krishna, and whoever is helping him and serving him will get the supreme benefit in his life.
Gurudev’s position is like water, the disciple’s position is like a lotus, and Krishna’s position is like the sun.
You heard from Guru Maharaj and I think it is also published in the books, the example of the lotus, sun, and water. When the lotus is in water, the sun cannot burn him. The sun gives enthusiasm to the lotus and the sun himself is very happy to mix with the lotus. The lotus is also happy and blossoms nicely. But if we take that lotus from the water and put it in the earth, then the lotus will be burned by the sun. Gurudev’s position is like water, the disciple’s position is like a lotus, and Krishna’s position is like the sun. Without the connection of Guru, Krishna will burn, not help. If we think this way then we can understand what the relationship is with Krishna, the jiva-soul, and Guru. It is a very good example given by Jiva Goswami in his sad Sandarbha, the Bhakti-sandarbha especially. This is our position.
In the scriptures we can also see that when you go to worship the Deity, you must first worship Gurudev and satisfy your Gurudev, and then you can go to worship the Deity. You must first do puja of your Guru. We will get benefit from Krishna in this way. Krishna Himself said, āchāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān nāvamanyeta karhichit na martya-buddhyāsāyeta sarva-deva-mayo guruḥ (Srimad Bhagavatam: 11.17.27) Sarva-deva-mayo guruh: all the gods are living in Gurudev’s body.
The scriptures say that Krishna and Guru, Bhagavan and Guru, have the same position, sākṣād dharitvena samasta-śāstrair. Gurudev has his own practice, and that is always within the position of service to Krishna, but I must see Gurudev nondifferent with Krishna. sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya (Sri Gurvastakam: 7)
Here the service of Guru is mentioned: what Krishna wants, Guru is doing that. What is preferable to Krishna, Gurudev is maintaining his service within that. In this way Guru, Krishna, and devotee have their Pastimes.
Where are my Svarūp, Rūpa, and Sanātan? Where is my Raghunāth Dās? Where are the saviours of the fallen souls?
Srila Gurudev singing Ye anilo prema dhana on 29 June 1992 in San Jose, USA, on the disappearance day of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur. Download MP3 audio ye ānila prema-dhana karuṇā prachura hena prabhu kothā gelā āchārya ṭhākura [1]
Where has Advaita Āchārya, the Lord who mercifully brought the wealth of divine love to this world, gone? kā̐hā mora svarūpa rūpa kā̐hā sanātana kā̐hā dāsa raghunātha patita-pāvana [2]
Where are my Svarūp, Rūpa, and Sanātan? Where is my Raghunāth Dās? Where are the saviours of the fallen souls? kā̐hā mora bhaṭṭa-yuga kā̐hā kavirāja eka-kāle kothā gelā gorā naṭa-rāja [3]
Where are my Raghunāth Bhaṭṭa and Gopāl Bhaṭṭa? Where is my Kṛṣṇadās Kavirāj? Where has the great dancer Śrī Gaurāṅga suddenly gone? pāṣāṇe kuṭiba māthā anale paśiba gaurāṅga guṇera nidhi kothā gele pāba [4]
I will break my head on a rock, I will enter into fire—where shall I go to reach the reservoir of all qualities, Śrī Gaurāṅga? se saba saṅgīra saṅge ye kaila vilāsa se saṅga nā pāñā kānde narottama dāsa [5]
Not finding the association of Śrī Gaurāṅga, who performed His Pastimes with all these associates, Narottam Dās weeps.
(Śrīla Narottam Dās Ṭhākur)
this humble servant earnestly prays … that this crown-jewel of sacred writings, Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam, may remain with her merciful presence in every land, in every home, and in every heart.
Srila Gurudev’s eloquent glorification of Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam, Life-Nectar of the Surrendered Souls, in his Publisher’s Note to the 1988 English edition.
All glory to the Divine Master
and the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya
Publisher’s Note
Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam, Life-Nectar of the Surrendered Souls, is the crown-jewel of divine literatures as the eternal elixir of life for the exclusively surrendered souls, the bestower of the perpetual relish of full-fledged nectar, and the awakening and sustaining fountainhead of life in divine consorthood. Indeed, who can fittingly portray her holy glory and renown? In the same way we cannot but feel ever inadequate when we attempt to sing the glories of the illustrious author, our most worshipful Divine Master, Om Visnupad Sri Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, the dearmost intimate attendant of the great pioneer pre-eminent among the Gaudiya Acharyas, Sri Gauranga’s transcendental message incarnate—Prabhupad Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur. Even without world itinerancy, the seat of universal Guru (Jagad-guru) of the world’s renowned Gurus has been gracefully won by Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj while presiding in the grand, noble distinction of his venerable years of devotional life at the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math of Nabadwip, his exclusive, personal holy place of bhajan.
Since its first printing, which was in Bengali, this sublime literature has brought heartfelt satisfaction to the stalwart devotees of the highest order, being hailed by them as an essential scripture to be unfailingly sung and cultivated as a daily devotional function in spiritual life, as is customarily practised with the holy scriptures such as the Srimad Bhagavad-gita. In both the Eastern and Western countries, its English publication will doubtlessly be similarly worshipped with the utmost reverence, constantly studied and sung with devotion by the surrendered souls of fine theistic intellect, and by the noble souls engaged in their divine search for the Supreme Lord.
This monumental work was originally composed in the Sanskrit language. The authentic Bengali translation that was sanctioned by the author is extremely developed, profoundly exploring the heart of the book; scholars who know the internal conclusive scriptural purports can alone realise how difficult is its translation and publication into English. However, by the boundless mercy of the most magnanimous Supreme Lord Sri Chaitanyachandra, the fountainhead of all incarnations of Godhead, and by the causeless grace of His most beloved, our Divine Master, and the pure devotees whose hearts are absorbed in divine love—this formidable task has now been fulfilled. Thus, I again and again worship the holy lotus feet of Them all.
For their tireless efforts to usher in the advent of the present edition in its perfectly elegant form, all those godbrothers and godsisters who served in the various facets of the publication have attained the unending graces of our Divine Master and the Vaisnavas. They have bound us in eternal gratitude. For executing the task of the English translation, proofing, and editing, special mention is due to Tridandi Swami Sripad Bhakti Ananda Sagar Maharaj, assisted by Sriman Nimaisundar Brahmachari Vidya Vinod. And for their dedicated effort in securing the necessary funds and assistance for the printing and publishing of the work in a most dignified presentation, special mention is due to Sripad Dayadhar Gauranga Das Brahmachari Bhakti Prabhakar Prabhu and all the good devotees assisting him.
In conclusion, invoking the charming verse of Sri Guru Pada-padma, this humble servant earnestly prays at his holy lotus feet that this crown-jewel of sacred writings, Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam, may remain with her merciful presence in every land, in every home, and in every heart. And in her gracious acquiescence, may she acknowledge the glorious victory of her goodwill by churning and overflooding the entire living universe with her supramundane wave of ecstatic love, to bless all souls with the supreme good fortune. śrī-śrīmad-bhagavat-padāmbuja-madhu-svādotsavaiḥ ṣaṭ-padair nikṣiptā madhu-bindavaś cha parito bhraṣṭā mukhāt guñjitaiḥ yatnaiḥ kiñchid ihāhṛtaṁ nija-paraśreyo ’rthinā tan mayā bhūyobhūya ito rajāṁsi pada-saṁlagnāni teṣāṁ bhaje
“The bees, intoxicated in the festival
of drinking the honey of the Lord’s lotus feet
busily humming the glories of the Lord
drops of honey from their mouths fall and scatter all around;
for my divine prospect, I’ve carefully collected
some of those drops herein—
and thus do I worship the dust
of the holy lotus feet of those saints, again and again”
I beg to remain most humbly,
Tridandi Bhiksu
Sri Bhakti Sundar Govinda
16 October 1987
On the 93rd Holy Appearance Day
of His Divine Grace
Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj
“Failure is the pillar of success.” This is an English phrase. “Failure is the pillar of success.” If I try I must get the success pillar. One time I fall down, and then for all time I will sleep? No.
Whatever is considered good and whatever is considered bad in this mundane world—everything is bad here. Maybe that is affection, or maybe that is enviousness. Maybe that is apparently good or bad, but everything is bad. ‘dvaite’ bhadrābhadra-jñāna, saba — ‘manodharma’ ‘ei bhāla, ei manda’, — ei saba ‘bhrama’ (Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta: 3.4.176)
[“In the material world, conceptions of good and bad are all mental speculations. Therefore, saying ‘This is good’ and ‘This is bad’ is all a mistake.”]
Srila Kaviraj Goswami expressed this very nicely. And Krishna very simply said, mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ āgamāpāyino ’nityās tāṁs titikṣasva bhārata (Srimad Bhagavad-gita: 2.14)
[“O son of Kuntī, the engagement of the senses with their objects produces the sensations of cold, heat, pleasure, and pain. But these effects are temporary—they come and go. Therefore, O Bhārat, you must endure them.”]
“It will come to you and you try to tolerate it. Don’t be foolish and don’t be hopeless.”
Hope is always in my front. We are seeing that now Krishna consciousness has spread all over the world by the mercy of our Gurus. It is not a lie; everybody knows now. Krishna consciousness is spreading all over the world, and how is it possible? Five hundred years ago, or maybe less than five hundred years but around four hundred and seventy years ago, Mahaprabhu said, pṛthivīte āchhe yata nagarādi-grāma sarvatra prachāra haibe mora nāma “All over the world people will chant the Hare Krishna mahamantra.” And a hundred years ago Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur said that in Mayapur the Western devotees and Eastern devotees will dance and chant together in Nabadwip Dham. And we see that that is happening. Where is the lie? It is true, we can see that. Then we must follow their directives. “Chant Hare Krishna” is only the primary teaching of Mahaprabhu. It is the primary teaching. After that there will be many things and we must face those tests. When we get the seed of the bhakti lata [creeper of devotion] we must protect that bhakti-lata-bij. Then nobody can check our fortune. Sometimes some blowing wind will come and give us some disturbance, but without disturbance how will our heart become strong? If you do not exercise then your body will not be strong. If you stay the same way from your birth, if you do not play with your hands and legs then your body will not become strong. “Failure is the pillar of success.” This is an English phrase. “Failure is the pillar of success.” If I try I must get the success pillar. One time I fall down, and then for all time I will sleep? No. And what fault is there? I am a faulty person, I am a fallen soul, we are always saying, “I am fallen soul”. Then if I am always fallen, what loss do I have? What I practise, that is my gain. In this way we must proceed to our destiny. Srila Gurudev speaking in Govardhan, March 1991 This is a continuation of the post ‘Falling down, getting up’.
Our purpose in publishing Sri Vaishnava Tosani is to fulfill the order of our Gurudevas, and since we have been brought to the shore of the ocean of nectar by Their mercy, to try to distribute a drop of that nectar. … We do not claim to have a monopoly on the truth, nor are we the sole agents for Its dispensation, we are only trying to purify ourselves by some absorption in higher subjects, and thus we endeavor in this way.
We are very happy to present here ebook editions of the first Sri Vaishnava Toshani magazine, produced by Sripad B.S. Vaishnav Maharaj and the devotees of California, USA during the 1990s.
Our gratitude to Prabhu Giridhari of Hungary for all the hard work put into preparing the magazine in both pdf and epub format: Sri Vaishnava Toshani Jan-Feb 1992 Vol 1 No 1 pdf format Sri Vaishnava Toshani Jan-Feb 1992 Vol 1 No 1 epub format
As you will find, the text of the pdf edition has been made fully selectable for easy copying and pasting.
Contents of this edition:
Sri Vaishnava Toshani, Jan-Feb 1992, Vol 1 #1
Message of His Divine Grace by Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur We Cannot Forget Our Love For You from a letter of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad to Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj Capture The Infinite by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj Spiritual Life, A Practical Approach by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj The Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Ashram in San Jose by Sripad B.P. Janardan Swami Approval Comes From Above by Yudhamanyu das Seva Vikram The Plurality of Guru by Srutasrava das Puri Math Opens in Splendor by Vidagdha Madhava das Business Sense: Working for Krishna by Hasyapriya das
O my brother! O my brother! No one has told you the glories of Lord Gaura. How great is Lord Brahmā? How great is Lord Śeṣa? They cannot eclipse the greatness of Lord Gaura.
Srila Gurudev singing Kali ghora timire on Gaura Purnima day, 28 February 1991. Download mp3 audio here. kali-ghora timire garasala jagajana dharama karama bahu-dūra asādhane chintāmaṇi vidhi milāola āni gorā boḍo doyāla ṭhākura [1]
The people of this world have now been devoured by the dense darkness of this age of Kali and all good activities have gone far away. Thus they are apathetic to the transcendental gems offered by the greatly merciful Lord Gaura. bhāi re bhāi! gorā guṇa kohone nā jāya koto śata-ānana koto chatur-ānana boroṇiyā ora nāhi pāya [2]
“O my brother! O my brother! No one has told you the glories of Lord Gaura. How great is Lord Brahmā? How great is Lord Śeṣa? They cannot eclipse the greatness of Lord Gaura. chāri veda ṣaḍ-dara-śana kori adhyayana se jadi gaurāṅga nāhi bhaje vṛthā tāra adhyayana lochana vihīna jana darpaṇe andhe kibā kāje [3]
“What use are the four Vedas and the six systems of philosophy if one does not worship Lord Gaurāṅga? Why study them? What use is a mirror to a blind man? veda vidyā dui kichui nā jānata se jadi gaurāṅga jāne sāra nayanānanda bhone sei to sakali jāne sarva-siddhi karatale tāra [4]
“If one knows the two kinds of Vedic knowledge, he still does not know anything. But if one knows Lord Gaurāṅga, he knows the most precious knowledge. Nayanānanda says: Such a person knows everything. All perfections stay in the palm of his hand.” (Srila Nayanananda Das)
guided in the consciousness of Krishna by a good captain. In the river there are so many waves and so many obstacles, and many things are possible, but a good captain can take us the proper way, and we must be submitted to that captain.
