My wife shared this recipe with me, something she found on Facebook. Such a simple recipe, but so delicious.
The Siksastaka Prayers
10 Oct 2026 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, astaka, catanya-caritamrta, eight verses, faith, God, instructions, Lord Caitanya, siksa, spirituality, Srila Prabhupada
“Simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one can be freed from all undesirable habits. This is the means of awakening all good fortune and initiating the flow of waves of love for Kṛṣṇa. (Cc Antya 20.11)
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the most recent incarnation of Krsna. He appeared 500 years ago in Bengal, in the form of Krsna’s devotee, in the mood of Srimati Radharani. He left only eight slokas (verses) of His instructions in writing. They describe the glories of the holy names of the Lord and the mood one must have to chant and to be a devotee.
The Sri Siksastakam is a collection of eight sanskrit verses written by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1535), the founder of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. In Sanskrit, śikṣā means “instruction” and aṣṭaka means “consisting of eight parts”.
These verses represent the primary written teachings left by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and focus heavily on the practice, philosophy, and spiritual effects of the congregational chanting (sankirtana) of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.
What I found interesting, when reading these verses from the Caitanya-caritamrta, is how the wording is different from the way we all learned it from “The Songs of the Vaisnava Acharya” songbook. The same but different.
“Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. That chanting is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all education. The chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step. (Cc Antya 20.12)
Purport
This is the first verse of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Śikṣāṣṭaka. The other seven verses are found in texts 16, 21, 29, 32, 36, 39 and 47.
“My Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, in Your holy name there is all good fortune for the living entity, and therefore You have many names, such as Kṛṣṇa and Govinda, by which You expand Yourself. You have invested all Your potencies in those names, and there are no hard and fast rules for remembering them. My dear Lord, although You bestow such mercy upon the fallen, conditioned souls by liberally teaching Your holy names, I am so unfortunate that I commit offenses while chanting the holy name, and therefore I do not achieve attachment for chanting. (Cc Antya 20.16)
“One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor but is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord. (Cc Antya 20.21)
“One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor but is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord. (Cc Antya 20.29)
“Oh, My Lord, O Kṛṣṇa, son of Mahārāja Nanda, I am Your eternal servant, but because of My own fruitive acts, I have fallen in this horrible ocean of nescience. Now please be causelessly merciful to Me. Consider Me a particle of dust at Your lotus feet. (Cc Antya 20.32)
“My dear Lord, when will My eyes be beautified by filling with tears that constantly glide down as I chant Your holy name? When will My voice falter and all the hairs on My body stand erect in transcendental happiness as I chant Your holy name? (Cc Antya 20.36)
“My Lord Govinda, because of separation from You, I consider even a moment a great millennium. Tears flow from My eyes like torrents of rain, and I see the entire world as void. (Cc Antya 20.39)
“Let Kṛṣṇa tightly embrace this maidservant, who has fallen at His lotus feet. Let Him trample Me or break My heart by never being visible to Me. He is a debauchee, after all, and can do whatever He likes, but He is still no one other than the worshipable Lord of My heart. (Cc Antya 20.47)
Commentary by A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Prabhupāda:
Lecture Excerpt — Bombay, November 7, 1970
The Supreme Occupation [sanātana-dharma]
09 Oct 2026 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bahkti-yoga, Bhagavad-gita, Devotional Service, dharma, religion, sanatama-dhama, SB 1.2.6, spirituality, Srila Prabhupada, srimad-bagavatam, the-supreme-occupational-duty
I was thinking about the following verse the other day:
“The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.” ( SB 1.2.6)
And in some small way, I was feeling very fortunate. Over the years Srila Prabhupada has kept me engaged in devotional service to Krishna, as a wood worker building different pujari rooms for the Lords paraphernalia, construction projects, maintaining various web pages, gardening, offering food and water to the Lord, worshiping the Lord in our temple room, and washing the Lord’s plates and cups.
Sometimes I think I am just an insignificant servant of my spiritual master, but then I remember what Srila Prabhupada once said about devotional service: “If you had any idea of what you were doing, you would be fainting in ecstasy”.
I was reading from the introduction to the Bhagavad-gita As It is…
the whole purpose of Bhagavad-gita is to revive our sanātana occupation, or sanātana-dharma, which is the eternal occupation of the living entity. We are temporarily engaged in different activities, but all of these activities can be purified when we give up all these temporary activities and take up the activities which are prescribed by the Supreme Lord. That is called our pure life.
The Lord is very kind to the living entities because they are His sons. Lord Krsna declares in Bhagavad-gita 14.4, “sarva-yonisu…aham bija-pradah pita pitā.” “I am the father of all.” Of course there are all types of living entities according to their various karmas, but here the Lord claims that He is the father of all of them. Therefore the Lord descends to reclaim all of these fallen, conditioned souls to call them back to the sanātana eternal sky so that the sanātana living entities may regain their eternal sanātana positions in eternal association with the Lord. The Lord comes Himself in different incarnations, or He sends His confidential servants as sons or His associates or ācāryas to reclaim the conditioned souls.
Therefore, sanatana-dharma does not refer to any sectarian process of religion. It is the eternal function of the eternal living entities in relationship with the eternal Supreme Lord. Sanātana-dharma refers, as stated previously, to the eternal occupation of the living entity. Rāmānujācārya has explained the word sanātana as “that which has neither beginning nor end,” so when we speak of sanātana-dharma, we must take it for granted on the authority of Sri Rāmānujācārya that it has neither beginning nor end.
So in some small way, I am feeling very fortunate.
full text and purport SB 1.2.6
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“Love of Godhead is the Ultimate Benediction for All Human Beings.”
02 Oct 2026 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, faith, God, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Pancha Tattva, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta, Srila Prabhupada
click on image to enlarge
“Love of Godhead is the ultimate benediction for all human beings.”
…The laws of material nature are so strong that none of our material possessions can save us from the cruel hands of death.
…one who is actually advancing must always consider the four principles of miserable life, namely, birth, death, old age and disease. One cannot be saved from all these miseries unless he takes shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is therefore the only shelter for all conditioned souls. An intelligent person, therefore, does not put his faith in any material possessions, but completely takes shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord. (from purport Adi-lila 7.1)
full text and purport
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The Song to the Bumblebee
01 Oct 2026 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam, Srimati Radharani Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bumblebee-and-radharani, faith, God, gopis, Krsna Book, radharani-speaks-with-bumblebee, Sri Caitanya-caritmrta, Srila Prabhupada, Srimati Radharani, writing
I have always enjoyed this pastime of Srimati Radharani’s talks with the Bumblebee. Every time I see a bumblebee in my garden I am reminded of these talks.
The pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa are uncommonly full of transcendental potency. It is a characteristic of such pastimes that they do not fall within the jurisdiction of experimental logic and arguments. (Cc. Antya 19.103)
When transcendental love of Kṛṣṇa awakens in one’s heart, even a learned scholar cannot comprehend one’s activities. (Cc. Antya 19.104)
“The activities and symptoms of that exalted personality in whose heart love of Godhead has awakened cannot be understood even by the most learned scholar.” (Cc. Antya 19.105)
The evidence of the truth of these talks is found in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. There, in the section of the Tenth Canto known as the Bhramara-gītā, “the Song to the Bumblebee,” Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī speaks insanely in ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. (Cc. Antya 19.107)
Just try to hear these topics with faith, for there is great pleasure even in hearing them. That hearing will destroy all miseries pertaining to the body, mind and other living entities, and the unhappiness of false arguments as well. (Cc. Antya 19.110)
The Song to the Bumblebee
When Uddhava arrived from Mathurā carrying a message for the gopīs, the gopīs began talking about Kṛṣṇa and crying. Then one important gopī saw a bumblebee and began speaking to it like someone mad, thinking that the bee was a messenger of Uddhava’s or was someone very dear to him and Kṛṣṇa. The verses are as follows:
“My dear bumblebee, you are a very cunning friend of Uddhava and Kṛṣṇa. You are very expert in touching people’s feet, but I am not going to be misled by this. You appear to have sat on the breasts of one of Kṛṣṇa’s friends, for I see that you have kuṅkuma dust on your mustache. Kṛṣṇa is now engaged in flattering all His young girl friends in Mathurā. Therefore, now that He can be called a friend of the residents of Mathurā, He does not need the help of the residents of Vṛndāvana. He has no reason to satisfy us gopīs. Since you are the messenger of such a person as He, what is the use of your presence here? Certainly Kṛṣṇa would be ashamed of your presence in this assembly.”
How has Kṛṣṇa offended the gopīs so that they want to reject Him from their minds? The answer is given as follows:
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Beyond Samsara
27 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Bhismadeva, samsara, Spiritual Practice, Srimad Bhagavatam Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bhagavad-gita, Bishmadeva, Buddhism, Krishna, Krsna, philosophy, religion, samsara, spirituality, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam, yoga
Beyond Saṁsāra
As I was reading from the Srimad Bhagavatam this morning about the passing of Bhīṣmadeva it was being described how “The perfect yogīs or mystics can leave the material body at their own sweet will at a suitable time and go to a suitable planet desired by them.” And how it is possiable to go beyond Saṁsāra, and go back to Godhead without any doubt?
…In the momentous hour of leaving his material body, Bhīṣmadeva set the glorious example concerning the important function of the human form of life. The subject matter which attracts the dying man becomes the beginning of his next life. Therefore, if one is absorbed in thoughts of the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, he is sure to go back to Godhead without any doubt.
And what is Samsara?
Saṁsāra means material existence. That is called saṁsāra. Bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate (BG 8.19). You take your birth once in some form of body. You live for some time. Then you have to give up this body. Then you have to accept another body. Then again live for some time. Then give up that body. Again accept another body. In this way, it is going on. That is called saṁsāra, rotating within this material world. (Lecture on Gurvastakam at Upsala University by His Divine Grace -Stockholm, September 9, 1973)
The saṁsāra means repetition of different bodies. That is called saṁsāra. (Lecture on SB 1.2.4 -Rome, May 28, 1974)
Saṁsāra means this material entanglement. This is called saṁsāra.
(Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 25.40-50 – San Francisco, January 24, 1967)
Acceptance of the Sannyasa Order
26 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Abhinanda das, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Sannyasa Tags: A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati, order of the spiritual master, sannyasa order, Sannyasi, Srila Prabhupada
Photo: September 17th, 1959, Mathura. (Muni Maharaja, Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Maharaja, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami)
So today, we honor the acceptance of the Sannyasa order of Srila Prabhupada in 1959. We share with you, this post from Facebook by Abhinanda das.
The Sannyasa Order
·
Satsvarupa: One night Srila Prabhupada had a striking dream, the same dream he had had several times before, during his days as a householder. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati appeared, just as Srila Prabhupada had known him, the tall, scholarly sannyasi, coming directly from the spiritual world, from Krishna’s personal entourage. He was asking Srila Prabhupada to take sannyasa.
Srila Prabhupada first had to approach one of his Godbrothers for permission. He decided to turn to Bhaktivilasa Tirtha Maharaja (formerly Kunja Vihari), the leader of the Chaitanya Math in Calcutta. In April 1959, Srila Prabhupada wrote to Tirtha Maharaja, inquiring about sannyasa as well as about the Chaitanya Math’s printing some of his manuscripts. Without printing books and going to the West, sannyasa did not have meaning for Srila Prabhupada. He wanted to go to the West right away, and he had thought the Chaitanya Math would welcome his offer. He thought that with the world’s crying need for Krishna consciousness staring them in the face, they might see that Srila Prabhupada was convinced and enthusiastic and so should be sent right away with whatever he required. But they had other priorities.
Srila Prabhupada next turned to Kesava Maharaja in Mathura, and Kesava Maharaja told Srila Prabhupada to take sannyasa immediately. On the morning of September 17, 1959, in the fifty-by-twenty-five-foot Deity room on the second floor of the Kesavaji Math, a group of devotees sat before the Deities of Radha-Krishna and Lord Chaitanya. Srila Prabhupada sat on a mat of kusa grass beside ninety-year-old Sanatana, also to receive sannyasa that day. Then, to everyone’s surprise, Kesava Maharaja asked Srila Prabhupada to speak. After Srila Prabhupada’s speech, each initiate received his sannyasa-danda, the traditional head-high staff made of four bamboo rods bound together and completely enwrapped in saffron cloth. Kesava Maharaja said that Srila Prabhupada would now be known as Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja.
After the ceremony, the two new sannyasis posed for a photo, standing on either side of their sannyasa-guru, who sat in a chair. Yet Srila Prabhupada knew that to become A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami did not mean merely that he was giving up family, home comforts, and business. Changing from white cloth to saffron cloth, from Abhay Babu to Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, had a special significance: it was the mandate he had required, the irrevocable commitment. Now it was only a matter of time before Bhaktivedanta Swami would travel to the West as Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati had ordained.
Reference: Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta Volume 1 – Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami
Namacharya Srila Haridas Thakur
25 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: Caitanya Caritamrta, Haridas Thakur, India, Lord Caitanya, Namacharya, philosophy, religion, spirituality, Srila Prabhupada
Today we honor the disappearance day of Haridas Thakur.
Haridas Thakur is considered to be the namacarya, the spiritual master in chanting the holy name of Krsna. Though he was born in a low class, Muslim family, Lord Caitanya’s devotees respected him as being better than the best of brahmanas. He would not eat or sleep until he finished his daily quota of chanting the name of Krsna 300,000 times. Along with Lord Nityananda, Haridas Thakur spread the chanting of Krsna’s name throughout Bengal. In Jagannatha Puri, where Haridas Thakur spent his later days, Lord Caitanya would regularly send him prasadam and discuss with him topics of Krsna. Haridas Thakur died chanting Krsna’s name in the presence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. After Haridas Thakur’s death, Lord Caitanya carried his body to the sea and with His own hands buried him in the sand.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition
The Glories of Srila Haridasa Thakura
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu derives great pleasure from glorifying His devotees, and among the devotees, Haridāsa Ṭhākura is the foremost.
The transcendental qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura are innumerable and unfathomable. One may describe a portion of them, but to count them all is impossible.
In Caitanya-maṅgala, Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has described the attributes of Haridāsa Ṭhākura to some extent.
No one can describe all the qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. One may say something about them just to purify himself.
O devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, please hear something about the qualities of Haridāsa Ṭhākura that Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has not described in detail.
After leaving his home, Haridāsa Ṭhākura stayed for some time in the forest of Benāpola.
Haridāsa Ṭhākura constructed a cottage in a solitary forest. There he planted a tulasī plant, and in front of the tulasī he would chant the holy name of the Lord 300,000 times daily. He chanted throughout the entire day and night.
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I Totally Accept as Truth All that You have Told Me
25 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavad-gita As It Is 1972 Edition, Guru & Disciple, guru-tattva, Krsna, Krsna Consciousness, Spriritual Master, Srila Prabhupada, Uncategorized, Vyasasan das Tags: A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, accept as truth, Arjuna, as it is, Bhagavad-gita, guru, guru and disciple, Krishna, Krishna and Arjuna, religion, spiritual master, spirituality, Srila Prabhupada
Last night I woke in the middle of the night , and couldn’t fall back asleep. While laying there, my mind just kinda went to thoughts of Krishna and Arjuna. Arjuna accepted Krishna as his spiritual master with these famous words from the Bhagavad-gita:
O Kṛṣṇa, I totally accept as truth all that You have told me. Neither the gods nor demons, O Lord, know Thy personality. (Bg 10.14)
This lead me to think of our relationship with our spiritual master His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. And I came to the same conclusion as Arjuna. “I totally accept as truth all that You have told me“.
So I was thinking of our unique relationship with Srila Prabhupada. “Neither the gods nor demons, O Lord, know Thy personality”. Maybe the whole world outside of the circle of disciples and followers of His Divine Grace, cannot know his greatness and divine personality, but as disciples and followers, we can began to understand. Our relationship with Srila Prabhupada is much like that relationship between Krishna and Arjuna.
With that last thought, I fell back asleep, reflecting on Srila Prabhupada. -V
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Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur
24 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas, Suddha-bhakata Tags: chanting Hare Krishna, kirtan, sankirtan, Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas, spiritual master, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, sudha bhakta
Today marks the appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. To honor this day, we are posting a very nice song written by Srila Bhaktivinoda entitled “Suddha-bhakta”, and are observing a 1/2 day fast.
The dust of the lotus feet of pure devotees, enthusiastic devotional service, and service to the pure devotees of the highest order are the roots of the creeper of devotion.
When I hear the sound of the mrdanga in my heart I always desire to join in kirtana; and when I hear the bonafide songs describing Lord Caitanya’s pastimes, my heart dances in ecstasy.
Bhaktivinoda concludes by saying: “Whosoever attains the stage of enthusiasm for these devotional practices will be supremely blissful wherever he may be.”
Suddha-Bhakata
by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Full song and lyrics
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Appearance of Lord Vamana
23 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta, appearance-of-lord-vamana, Buddhism, faith, history, Lord Vamana, religion, spirituality, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam, Vamanadeva
Today we celebrate the Appearance of Lord Vamanadeva, the fifteenth Incarnation, wherin Krsna assumed the form of a dwarf brahmana.
“In the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf-brāhmaṇa [Vāmana]…” (SB 1.19.19)
The following is a chapter summary from Srimad Bhagavatam, eight canto, chapter 18, entitled “Lord Vāmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation”, describing the Lord’s appearance and activities, and a verse from the First Canto.
Srimad-Bhagavatam
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Canto One, Chapter 19, Text 19
pañcadaśaṁ vāmanakaṁ
kṛtvāgād adhvaraṁ baleḥ
pada-trayaṁ yācamānaḥ
pratyāditsus tri-piṣṭapam
pañcadaśam—the fifteenth in the line; vāmanakam—the dwarf brāhmaṇa; kṛtvā—by assumption of; agāt—went; adhvaram—arena of sacrifice; baleḥ—of King Bali; pada-trayam—three steps only; yācamānaḥ—begging; pratyāditsuḥ—willing at heart to return; tri-piṣṭapam—the kingdom of the three planetary systems.
TRANSLATION
In the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf-brāhmaṇa [Vāmana] and visited the arena of sacrifice arranged by Mahārāja Bali. Although at heart He was willing to regain the kingdom of the three planetary systems, He simply asked for a donation of three steps of land.
PURPORT
The Almighty God can bestow upon anyone the kingdom of the universe from a very small beginning, and similarly, He can take away the kingdom of the universe on the plea of begging a small piece of land.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Canto 8, Chapter 18
Lord Vāmanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation
This chapter describes how Lord Vāmanadeva appeared and how He went to the sacrificial arena of Mahārāja Bali, who received Him well and fulfilled His desire by offering Him benedictions.
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Message of Godhead
19 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, BBT, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Message of Godhead Tags: A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, BBT, Bhagavad-gita, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Krishna, Krsna, Message of Godhead, religion, spirituality, Srila Prabhupada
I thought I knew about all of Srila Prabhupada’s books, but this one has somehow escaped my attention until this morning. I am looking forward to reading it, and we thought I should share it with all of you. So we have included the entire book in this post. Hare Krishna!
” Message of Godhead” is a short introductory book on Krishna consciousness written by His Divine Grace in the 1950’s and first published by the BBT in 1990.
Message of Godhead
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Introduction
At present, we are concerned primarily with two things: one, ourselves; and the other, the place where we live. In other words, we are concerned with two objects: namely, everything that is related to our gross and subtle bodies; and the world at large, with all its paraphernalia. But there are others above us, the transcendentalists, who are concerned not only with their body and mind and the world at large, but also with the transcendental subject that is above the body and mind and the world at large. The transcendentalists are very much concerned with the Absolute Truth, and much less with relative truths.
These transcendentalists (ordinarily known as saints, philosophers, reformers, messengers, and so forth) appear in various places in the world at various times. They render transcendental service to the Absolute Truth and to humanity, also, by preaching the message of the transcendental world. According to these transcendentalists, even lower animals like cats and dogs are also concerned primarily with two things, namely, themselves and the world at large. Living entities other than human beings have no capacity to understand transcendental subjects. The human being is therefore considered to be the highest of all creations, and we must understand the nature of this higher standing.
When man, who is the highest of all created beings, is fully developed in consciousness, he concerns himself not only with his own self and the world where he lives, but he tries to understand the Absolute Truth. The Absolute Truth regulates man as well as the world, and knowing Him, the transcendentalist regulates his activities on the right path. This regulating process is commonly known as a system of faith or religion. All over the civilized world we find some process or form of religion – when man is devoid of any such religion or of transcendental traits, he is nothing but a beast. This subject matter, which the religionists delineate according to different countries, times, and people, is more or less aimed at the objective of the Absolute Truth.
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The Appearance Day of Srimati Radharani (Radhastami)
18 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Qualities of Srimati Radharani, Radhastami, Srimati Radharani Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta, appearance day of srimati radharani, God, India, Radha Krishna, Radhastami, religion, spirituality, Sri Radha, Srila Prabhupada, Srimati Radharani
Today marks the Appearance of Srimati Radharani. We honor it with a half day fast, discussion on the glories of Srimati Radharani,, followed by a nice vegetarian feast.
The following are just a few of the many quotes from Srila Prabhupada which encourage us to approach Krishna through the mercy of Srimati Radharani, Krishna’s eternal consort. For those of us who feel that there is no hope of making spiritual progress in this lifetime, Srimati Radharani, Who is compassion personified, kindly comes to our rescue if we can humbly invoke Her divine blessings.
tapta-kancana-gaurangi radhe vrndavanesvari
vrsabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye
“I offer my respects to Radharani whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Vrndavana. You are the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and You are very dear to Lord Krishna.” (Sri Radha Pranama)
“So this is our philosophy, to please Krishna through Radharani, and just today is the auspicious day of Radharani appearance. So we should offer puspanjali and pray to Radharani that ‘Radharani, kindly be merciful and tell about me to Your Krishna. To Your Krishna. Krishna is Yours.’ Krishna, Radha-Krishna. Krishna is not independent. Krishna is Radharani’s property. So you have to approach Krishna through Radharani. That is, today is the auspicious day. Worship Radharani very nicely and be happy.” (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, September 5, 1973)
“The beauty of Srimati Radharani’s eyes forcibly devours the beauty of newly grown blue lotus flowers, and the beauty of Her face surpasses that of an entire forest of fully blossomed lotuses. Her bodily luster seems to place even gold into a painful situation. Thus the wonderful, unprecedented beauty of Srimati Radharani is awakening in Vrindavana.” (Caitanya-caritamrita Antya 1.169)
“I emphatically say to you, O brothers, you will obtain your good fortune from the Supreme Lord Krishna only when Srimati Radharani becomes pleased with you.”(Prayer to the Lotus Feet of Krishna, September 13, 1965)
“Actually, because Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is very difficult to approach Him. But the devotees, taking advantage of His compassionate nature, which is represented by Radharani, always pray to Radharani for Krishna’s compassion.” (Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 22)
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Srimati Radharani has Twenty-five Transcendental Qualities
17 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Radhastami, Srimati Radharani, Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta, Krishna, Radha, Radharani, Radhastami, Srila Prabhupada, Srimati Radhrani
Srimati Radharani New Vrindaban
Srimati Radharani has twenty-five transcendental qualities. Her transcendental qualities are as follows:
1. She is sweetness personified2. She is a fresh young girl
3. Her eyes are always moving
4. She is always brightly smiling
5. She possesses all auspicious marks on her body
6. She can agitate Krishna by the flavor of Her person
7. She is expert in the art of singing
8. She can speak very nicely and sweetly
9. She is expert in presenting feminine attractions
10. She is modest and gentle
11. She is always very merciful
12. She is transcendentally cunning
13. She knows how to dress nicely
14. She is always shy
15. She is always respectful
16. She is always patient
17. She is very grave
18. She is enjoyed by Krishna
19. She is situated on the highest devotional platform
20. She is the abode of love of the residents of Gokula
21. She can give shelter to all kinds of devotees
22. She is always affectionate to superiors and inferiors
23. She is always obliged by the dealings of Her associates
24. She is the greatest amongst Krishna’s girlfriends
25. She always keeps Krishna under Her control
The Active Principle in Spiritual Life
15 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Advaita Acarya, Book Changes, Caaitanya-caritamrta, Guru & Disciple, guru-tattva, Spriritual Master, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta, Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta, Acarya, active principle in spiritual life, Advaita Acarya, Gaudiya Matha, guru, schism, spiritual master Iskcon, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta, Srila Prabhupada
I was reading from the Caitanya-caritamrta, and these three verses and purports by His Divine Grace A. C Bhaktivedanta Swami explains much about the division we find in our ISKCON society today.
At first all the followers of Advaita Ācārya shared a single opinion. But later they followed two different opinions, as ordained by providence. (Cc Adi-lila 12.8)
Some of the disciples strictly accepted the orders of the ācārya, and others deviated, independently concocting their own opinions under the spell of daivī-māyā. (Cc Adi-lila 12.9)
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. (Cc Adi-lila 12.10)
Full text and purports
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Radha-Krsna Bol
14 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas Tags: chant Radha Krsna, devotional music, Radha Krsna Bol, songs of the vaisnava acharys, Srila Bhaktivinoda, Srila Prabhupada
Chant, chant “Radha-Krsna!” Everyone chant! When Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda came dancing through Nadia, They gave these teachings: Chant, chant “Radha-Krsna!” Everyone chant! You are caught up in a whirlpool of senseless action and are sinking lower and lower. Chant, chant “Radha-Krsna!” Everyone chant!
If you just understand that the spirit soul is the eternal servant of Krsna, you will never have any more sorrows. Chant Hare Krsna and your eyes will fill with tears and your body will feel transcendental shivering. Chant, chant “Radha-Krsna!” Everyone chant!
Simply chant “Radha-Krsna” and join with us. Those are the only alms we beg. Chant, chant “Radha-Krsna!” Everyone chant! “All dangers will be gone when that Name is chanted,” says Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Chant, chant “Radha-Krsna!” Everyone chant!
Full song lyrics and purport
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May We Always Be Grateful for Great Devotees in our Mist
11 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: in memory of Vani devi dasi, New Vrindaban, Nityodita dasa, Srila Prabhupada, Vani Devi Dasi, Vani Patel
Yesterday we attended the Memorial Celebration here at New Vrindaban for a very special devotee; Vani devi dasi. There were many moving eulogies by Family and Friends. There was one very nice poem delivered by Nityodita Prabhu we would like to share with you:
“May We Always Be Grateful for Great Devotees in our Mist”
by Nityodita Prabhu
When we think of the beloved devotee, our Mother Vani
We are reminded of the qualities of Srimati Radharani
Out of all the mothers you could possibly meet
Vani like Radharani was very very sweet.
Her gentle words and her beautiful smile
Would stay in your heart for a very long while.
She cooked for the Deities, she served with such grace
Bringing a touch of Goloka to this temporary place.
She lived for the service of Guru and Gauranga
Always choosing the shelter of the pure sadhu-sanga.
Though she has left us and gone back to her home
Her memory reminds us we are never alone.
So let us be grateful for the time she was here
And hold her example remarkably dear.
O Mother Vani, please cast your kind glance
And help us onward in this divine dance.
The Supreme Occupation (dharma)
10 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada's Books, Srila Sukadeva Goswami, Srimad Bhagavatam, Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Krishna, Krishna Consciousness, religion, spirituality, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Sukadeva Goswami, Suta Goswami, the-supreme-occupation
The strangest thing happened this morning. While I was chanting my japa, I guess I was a little distracted because I was thinking about work, and the following verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam just popped into my head. I was trying to remember where this verse was…I was pretty sure it was in the First Canto…so I took the first canto off the shelf and just randomly opened it. And to my great surprise, it opened to the exact verse I was thinking about.
The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self. (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.6)
These original books by Srila Prabhupada are definitely transcendental.
Full text and purport
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Spiritual Master
09 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Guru & Disciple, Spiritual Master, Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta, guru, guru disciple, Spiritual Life, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada
“The Spiritual Master is present wherever his sincere disciple is trying to serve his instructions. This is possible by the mercy of Krishna.
In your attempts to serve me, and in all your sincere devotional sentiments I am with you, as my Guru Maharaja is with me. Remember this always…I shall never leave you. You are my disciple and I am your Spiritual Master, so there is no question, as long as you follow my instructions, that I shall never leave you” (Srila Prabhupada)
Nimai
07 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Caaitanya-caritamrta, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta, Adi-lila 13, Lord Caitanya, Nimai, Sri Catanya-caritamrta, Srila Prabhupada
This is probably my favorite picture in our temple room. I don’t know much about the history of it, where it came from or how it appeared in our home, but it has always been hanging in our temple room. My wife Lokadrsti devi dasi, told me that this is a picture of Lord Caitanya in his childhood mood as Nimai. That’s about all I know, but I am enchanted by this painting, it is so beautiful!
The early pastimes of Lord Caitanya can be found in Adi-lila Volume 3, Chapter 13 of the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. You can click on the following link to read the entire chapter.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The Advent of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Cc. Ādi 13
