Srila Prabhupada: These books are representative of God

May 12, 2023 in Articles by Yasoda nandana dasa

Amogha: Śrīla Prabhupāda? When people in the street hear Kṛṣṇa’s name, the chanting, or they get some literature, does that mean they will not take birth as an animal?

Srila Prabhupāda: No. They’ll get birth in a good family. Śucīnāṁ śrīmatāṁ gehe [Bg. 6.41]. If they simply appreciate “It is very nice,” then in the next life, human life is guaranteed. In a very nice family. Simply if he appreciates, “Yes, it is very nice”—that’s all. Then he’ll get another chance.

Amogha: Many people think the pictures are very nice.

Srila Prabhupāda: Anything they say nice, that means it is guaranteed, next life. Or even in this life it will definitely help. As soon as he reads some pages, then it is guaranteed. Those who are enquiring, that means they are liking. Their life is guaranteed.

Amogha: One man who joined us about Rathayātrā time last year was a solicitor. He used to buy our books but he never read them. But he would keep them on his bookshelf. And he used to always think, “Those are such beautiful books.” He used to think like that.

Srila Prabhupāda: This is appreciation.

Amogha: He never got time to read it.

Srila Prabhupāda: It doesn’t matter. If he keeps the books with appreciation, that makes his life sure, insured. He immediately becomes in touch with God. Who keeps the book with reverence and love, immediately he becomes in touch with God. Because these books are representative of God.

[Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, May 9, 1975, Perth, Australia]

Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord

May 12, 2023 in Articles by Venkat A

compiled by Aprakrta dasa [vedaveda@vedaveda.com]

“Translation: Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one must not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.”

Prabhupāda: Now, here is a statement that everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. What you are, inanimate or animate?

Devotees: Animate.

Prabhupāda: Animate. Do you think you are controlled or not controlled?

Devotees: Controlled.

Prabhupāda: Is there any person here who is not controlled?

Devotees: No.

Prabhupāda: Or anywhere within this universe who is not controlled? Can anyone say that “I am not controlled”? Nobody can say. So, if you are controlled, then why you are going to declare yourself that “I am uncontrolled. I am independent. I am God”? Why this nonsense? If you are controlled… Is God, does it mean that He is controlled? They are claiming that “I am God.” Is there any meaning? If I am controlled, then how I can become God? This is commonsense affair. Therefore, this Māyāvādī philosophy that “Everyone is God. I am God; you are God…,” Just like the other, who was speaking, that Meher Baba’s… Yes. That he was speaking, “I am God, you are God.” So, God is never controlled. If somebody is controlled, immediately he is not God. This is simple definition, that God is not controlled. If somebody claims that he is God, then first of all question “Whether you are controlled or not controlled?” Common sense. Nobody can say that he’s not controlled. I have seen a rascal, he has got a society and he is preaching this, that “I am God.” But one day I saw him, he had some toothache, and he was doing, “ohhh.” (laughter) So I questioned him that “You claim that you are God, and now you are simply under the control of toothache. So, what kind of God you are?” (laughter) You see. So, these societies, those who are claiming that “I am God. You are God. Everyone God”—God has become so cheap that everyone is God—you immediately should know he’s a rascal number one. Immediately. As soon as he says, “I am God,” you must know that “Here is a rascal number one.”

So nobody is uncontrolled. Now, so many big, big planets, huge planets… This earth planet is only… It’s a minute, small planet, and still, you’ll see, on this planet there are so big oceans like Atlantic and Pacific, and so big mountains, and what to speak of your skyscraper buildings. With all this load it is floating in the air just like a swab of cotton. Who is controlling? Can you float even a small piece of grain in the space? You can say “Law of gravity” and so many other things, but you cannot utilize it. Or you can put it in… Your machine, airplane, is running on the space—but so long the machine is working. As soon as your petrol is finished, immediately it will fall down. Immediately. But these big, big planets… This is only one of the small. The sun planet is fourteen hundred thousand times bigger than this planet. So that is also… We can see the sun is floating in one corner of this big space. So how you can say that it is not controlled, it is floating out of its own self? No. The answer is there in the Bhagavad-gītā, that “I enter into this material planets, and then I keep it floating.” Gām āviśya aham [Bg. 15.13], dhārayāmy aham ojasā. Dhārayāmy aham ojasā. Something mak… Just like you float this airplane; so somebody has entered within it, that driver or pilot. So actually, he is keeping this airplane floating, not the machine. This is simple truth. So, if you take this analogy, then this planet is floating, there must be somebody entering here. Somebody must have entered. So Kṛṣṇa says, “I have entered.” So, what is the difficulty to understand how it is keeping floating? The analogy is there. Everyone can understand that this big airplane is floating in the sky because the pilot has entered within it. Similarly, if this planet is floating, then somebody, either you or somebody, God, has entered it. And that answer is there in the Bhagavad-gītā, that “I enter into these planets and therefore I keep them floating.” That is our answer. And the scientists, they say the law of gravitation… How far it is true…

This is a lecture from the book Sri Isopanisad (Mantra 1) that Srila Prabhupada gave on April 29, 1970 in Los Angeles.

 

Srila Prabhupada: So there is no doubt about it that I am the representative of God

May 11, 2023 in Articles by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada states that HE is the representative of God.

Pṛthu-putra: …to show me. They were telling me that “You are going to see the representative of God.” And when I came to that vision, I saw the person. At that time I didn’t know who (it) was. But I had some doubts in my mind, and I was thinking, “Oh, that’s probably another kind of propaganda.” This was all in the dream. But when I came to that person sitting on the elevated seat in that forest, surrounded by many, many devotees, that person looked at me and proved to me that he was the representative of God. But after, I forgot. Maybe one year or something like this. One or two years after…

Srila Prabhupada: So there is no doubt about it that I am the representative of God.

Pṛthu-putra: Yes. But when I was…

Srila Prabhupada: Either you dream or not dream, I claim.

Pṛthu-putra: Yes. But this thing was just confirming. When I saw you the first time in Amsterdam, you were the same person that I saw in my dream one or two years previously.

Srila Prabhupada: That… You have read Caitanya-caritāmṛta? Guru-tattva. Guru-tattva. So there it is clearly said that guru is the manifestation of God. So it is confirmed in the śāstra. And all the ācāryas accept it. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ **.

Devotee: But is it possible to also learn spiritual truths from this…, from representatives on the subtle plane?
Srila Prabhupada: There is no question of subtle plane. You are on the gross plane. You first of all study gross things, and subtle, we shall see later on.

[Srila Prabhupada Conversation, January 28, 1977]

Original Rules and Regulations for Devotees Posted by Śrīla Prabhupāda at 26 Second Ave., New York

May 9, 2023 in Articles by Yasoda nandana dasa

Love and Trust

May 8, 2023 in Articles by Yasoda nandana dasa

Love and trust, by Haripada dasa

In general, people think that love means giving in love affairs as much as they receive from the other person. They are simply business deals, selfish or self-centered, and when this fails, violence enters, and they kill each other. Sincere love can be seen when parents love their children despite their children’s rejection.

Then there are the self-satisfied people, they do not require anybody’s love, these people are absorbed in thoughts about the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus they do not care if someone loves them or not. These people are oceans of mercy, and they try to help human society so that people become pure devotees of God or Krishna, these people are full of love for God or Krishna, and as there are only God AND His energies, naturally they love everyone already.

Everything, to understand this point there are two examples, when one waters the root of a plant, the branches, stems, leaves and flowers naturally benefit and by feeding the stomach, all the senses are satisfied. The goal of human life is to awaken the latent love that we all have for God or Krishna, and God or Krishna reciprocates giving us bliss, spiritual knowledge and eternity.

Unfortunately there are ungrateful people, it is said that they are insensitive. They rebel against superior people, which means that they receive favors from their parents or the spiritual master, and even then they neglect them. Srila Prabhupada said that relationships between devotees should be based on LOVE AND TRUST, and by establishing these relationships wonderful things will be done to serve and please God or Krishna and His devotees.

In spiritual relationships based on love and trust there is harmony and happiness, there is no selfishness or envy, and in material relationships there is only selfishness, envy and a lot of suffering.

Trust is lost when there is betrayal. Trust is only possible between pure devotees of God or Krishna, because only devotees of God or Krishna have good qualities, materialistic and atheistic people do not have good qualities, we see in practice that they fight each other for nothing. The relationships between materialists and atheists are based on deceiving each other, everyone understands and accepts that materialists and atheists are scammers.

Sri Narasimha Caturdasi – May 4, 2023 Mayapur time

May 3, 2023 in Articles, Yasoda nandana Dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada explains Sri Narasimha Lila
compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

As described in this chapter, Hiraṇyakaśipu was ready to kill his own son Prahlāda Mahārāja, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared in front of the demon as Śrī Nṛkeśarī, half lion and half man, and killed him.

Following the instructions of Prahlāda Mahārāja, all the sons of the demons became attached to Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When this attachment became pronounced, their teachers, Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, were very much afraid that the boys would become more and more devoted to the Lord. In a helpless condition, they approached Hiraṇyakaśipu and described in detail the effect of Prahlāda’s preaching. After hearing of this, Hiraṇyakaśipu decided to kill his son Prahlāda. Hiraṇyakaśipu was so angry that Prahlāda Mahārāja fell down at his feet and said many things just to pacify him, but he was unsuccessful in satisfying his demoniac father. Hiraṇyakaśipu, as a typical demon, began to advertise himself as being greater than the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but Prahlāda Mahārāja challenged him, saying that Hiraṇyakaśipu was not God, and began to glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead, declaring that the Lord is all-pervading, that everything is under Him, and that no one is equal to or greater than Him. Thus he requested his father to be submissive to the omnipotent Supreme Lord.

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Glories to Srila Jayananda Prabhu

May 2, 2023 in Articles, Haripada dasa by Yasoda nandana dasa

Glories to Srila Jayananda Prabhu
by Haripada dasa

We celebrate the disappearance of Srila Jayananda Prabhu, I share this glorification of Jayananda Prabhu, this great devotee is the example of the perfect disciple of Srila Prabhupada.

This is a great devotee who will be a great inspiration for future generations of devotees of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna.

Just as I I understand, the essence of this great soul is that all he did was for Srila Prabhupada to be happy, and he never did anything that displeased Srila Prabhupada.

He was not a politician, I like him, he is my friend, he was humble, tolerant and everyone’s friend, and never criticized anyone. Srila Prabhupada said that I am very proud to have had a disciple as good as Jayananda prabhu.

 

Everyone should follow his example. This great devotee enjoyed serving Srila Prabhupada and Krishna and the whole world, and that is the perfection of Krishna consciousness.

That can only be done when one has awakened his great love for Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. As I understand it, only people who have sacrificed their lives to make Srila Prabhupada happy can receive the mercy of Krishna, if you want see a video about Jayananda Prabhu this is the link:

Sri Jayananda Prabhu (1939-1977)

After the series of previous notes on various aspects of the Jagannatha-lila and the Ratha-yatra celebrated at this time, I considered it fair to publish something in homage to our esteemed spiritual brother Sri Jayananda Thakur, a beloved disciple of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. With his admirable pioneering effort, he contributed greatly to the celebration of the Ratha-yatra festivals, being loved by all devotees and recognized by Srila Prabhupada.

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Sri Vrindavana dasa Thakura tirobhava tithi (disappearance day)

April 15, 2023 in Articles by Yasoda nandana dasa

Disappearance day of Sri Vrindavana dasa Thakura, April 15, 2023

Compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada glorifies the unique position of Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura




Vrindavana dasa Thakura’s birth
nārāyaṇī–caitanyera ucchiṣṭa-bhājana tāṅra garbhe janmilā śrī-dāsa-vṛndāvana SYNONYMS

nārāyaṇī—of the name Nārāyaṇī; caitanyera—of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu; ucchiṣṭa-bhājana—eater of the remnants of food; tāṅra—of her; garbhe—in the womb; janmilā—took birth; śrī-dāsa-vṛndāvana—Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Thākura.
TRANSLATION Nārāyaṇī eternally eats the remnants of the food of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura was born of her womb.
PURPORT In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, a book written by Kavi-karṇapūra that describes all the associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and who they previously were, there is the following statement regarding Nārāyaṇī: ambikāyāḥ svasā yāsīn
nāmnā śrīla-kilimbikā
kṛṣṇocchiṣṭaṁ prabhuñjānā
seyaṁ nārāyaṇī matā When Lord Kṛṣṇa was a child, He was nursed by a woman named Ambikā, who had a younger sister named Kilimbikā. During the time of Lord Caitanya’s incarnation, the same Kilimbikā used to eat the remnants of food left by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. That Kilimbikā was Nārāyaṇī, who was a niece of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura’s. Later on, when she grew up and married, Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura was born from her womb. A devotee of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is celebrated in terms of devotional service rendered to the Lord; thus we know Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura as the son of Nārāyaṇī. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura notes in this connection that there is no reference to his paternal ancestry because there is no need to understand it.
Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 8: The Author Receives the Orders of Krsna and Guru : Adi 8.41 : PURPORT :

Vrindavana dasa Thakura as the author of Sri Caitanya-Bhagavata

vṛndāvana-dāsa–nārāyaṇīra nandana‘caitanya-maṅgala’ yeṅho karila racana
SYNONYMS vṛndāvana-dāsa—Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura; nārāyaṇīra nandana—son of Nārāyaṇī; caitanya-maṅgala—the book of the name Caitanya-maṅgala;yeṅho—who; karila—did; racana—composition.
TRANSLATION
Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, the son of Śrīmatī Nārāyaṇī, composed Śrī Caitanya-maṅgala [later known as Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata]

Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 11: The Expansions of Lord Nityananda : Adi 11.54 :





bhāgavate kṛṣṇa-līlā varṇilā vedavyāsacaitanya-līlāte vyāsa–vṛndāvana dāsa
SYNONYMS

bhāgavate—in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam;kṛṣṇa-līlā—the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa; varṇilā—described; veda-vyāsa—Dvaipāyana Vyāsadeva; caitanya-līlāte—in the pastimes of Lord Caitanya; vyāsa—Vedavyāsa; vṛndāvanadāsa—Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura.
TRANSLATION
Śrīla Vyāsadeva described the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. The Vyāsa of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was Vṛndāvana dāsa.

PURPORT

Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura was an incarnation of Vedavyāsa and also a friendly cowherd boy named Kusumāpīḍa in kṛṣṇa-līlā. In other words, the author of Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, the son of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura’s niece Nārāyaṇī, was a combined incarnation of Vedavyāsa and the cowherd boy Kusumāpīḍa. There is a descriptive statement by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura in his commentary on Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata giving the biographical details of the life of Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 11: The Expansions of Lord Nityananda : Adi 11.55 : PURPORT

vṛndāvana-dāsa ihā ‘caitanya-maṅgale’vistāri’ varṇilā nityānanda-ājñā-bale
SYNONYMS

vṛndāvana-dāsa—Ṭhākura Vṛndāvana dāsa; ihā—this; caitanya-maṅgale—in his book Caitanya-maṅgala;vistāri‘-expanding; varṇilā—described; nityānanda—of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu; ājñā—of the order; bale—on the strength.
TRANSLATION

By the order and strength of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has elaborately described in his Caitanya-maṅgala all that I have not.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 17: The Pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His Youth : Adi 17.330


Srila Prabhupada explains the glories of Sri Caitanya-Bhagavata
ore mūḍha loka, śuna caitanya-maṅgalacaitanya-mahimā yāte jānibe sakala
SYNONYMS

ore—O all of you; mūḍha—foolish; loka—people; śuna—just hear; caitanya-maṅgala—the book of this name; caitanya—Lord Caitanya’s; mahimā—glories; yāte—in which; jānibe—you will know; sakala—all.
TRANSLATION O fools, just read Śrī Caitanya-maṅgala! By reading this book you can understand all the glories of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
PURPORT
Śrī Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura’s Caitanya-bhāgavata was originally entitled Caitanya-maṅgala, but when Śrīla Locana dāsa Ṭhākura later wrote another book named Caitanya-maṅgala, Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura changed the name of his own book, which is now therefore known as Caitanya-bhāgavata. The life of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is very elaborately described in the Caitanya-bhāgavata, and Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī has already informed us that in his Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta he has described whatever Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has not mentioned. This acceptance of Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata by Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī indicates his acceptance of the disciplic succession. A writer of transcendental literature never tries to surpass the previous ācāryas. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 8: The Author Receives the Orders of Krsna and Guru : Adi 8.33 : PURPORT

Srila Prabhupada explains the great potency of hearing Caitanya-Bhagavata


vṛndāvana-dāsa kaila ‘caitanya-maṅgala’ yāṅhāra śravaṇe nāśe sarva amaṅgala
SYNONYMS

vṛndāvana-dāsa—of the name Vṛndāvana dāsa; kaila—compiled; caitanya-maṅgala—the book named Caitanya-maṅgala;yāṅhāra—of which; śravaṇe—by hearing; nāśe—annihilated; sarva—all; amaṅgala—inauspiciousness.
TRANSLATION

Ṭhākura Vṛndāvana dāsa has composed Śrī Caitanya-maṅgala. Hearing this book annihilates all misfortune.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 8: The Author Receives the Orders of Krsna and Guru : Adi 8.35


Srila Prabhupada explains the result and benefit of hearing Caitanya-Bhagavata


caitanya-nitāira yāte jāniye mahimāyāte jāni kṛṣṇa-bhakti-siddhāntera sīmā
SYNONYMS caitanya-nitāira—of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu; yāte—in which; jāniye—one can know; mahimā—all glories; yāte—in which; jāni—I can understand; kṛṣṇa-bhakti—of devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa; siddhāntera—of the conclusion; sīmā—limit.
TRANSLATION By reading Śrī Caitanya-maṅgala one can understand all the glories and truths of Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda and come to the ultimate conclusion of devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
PURPORT Śrīmad-Bhagavatam is the authoritative reference book from which to understand devotional service, but because it is very elaborate, few men can understand its purpose. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the original commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra, which is called nyāya-prasthāna. It was written to enable one to understand the Absolute Truth through infallible logic and argument, and therefore its natural commentary, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, is extremely elaborate. Professional reciters have created the impression that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam deals only with Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa-līlā, although Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa-līlā is described only in the Tenth Canto (chapters 29-35). They have in this way presented Kṛṣṇa to the Western world as a great woman-hunter, and therefore we sometimes have to deal with such misconceptions in preaching. Another difficulty in understanding Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is that the professional reciters have introduced bhāgavata-saptāha, or seven-day readings of the Bhāgavatam. They want to finish Śrīmad-Bhagavatam in a week, although it is so sublime that even one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, if properly explained, cannot be completed in three months. Under these circumstances, it is a great aid for the common man to read Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura’s Caitanya-bhāgavata, for thus he can actually understand devotional service, Kṛṣṇa, Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has said: śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi-
pañcarātra-vidhiṁ vinā
aikāntikī harer bhaktir
utpātāyaiva kalpate

\\”Devotional service to the Lord that ignores the authorized Vedic scriptures like the Upaniṣads, Purāṇas, Nārada-pañcarātra, etc., is simply an unnecessary disturbance in society.\\” Due to misunderstanding Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, people are misled regarding the science of Kṛṣṇa. However, by reading Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura’s book one can very easily understand this science.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition: Cc. Adi-lila The Author Receives the Orders of Krsna and Guru : Adi 8.36

_______________________________________________________

vedavyaso ya evasid daso vrindavano’dhuna
sakha yah kusumapidah karyatas tam samavishat

Vedavyasa became Vrindavan Das Thakur. Krishna’s friend Kusumapida also entered into him for special purposes. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 109) Vedavyasa described Krishna-lila in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Non-different from Vyasa, Vrindavan Das described Mahaprabhu’s lila in his Chaitanya Bhagavat. His book was first called Chaitanya Mangala, but when Locana Das gave the same name to his biography of the Lord, it was dubbed “Chaitanya Bhagavat”.
Vrindavan Das’s mother, Narayani
Vrindavan Das was born on the Krishna-dvadashi of the month of Vaishakh in 1429 of the Shaka era (1507 AD). Some say he was born in Mamgachi in the Nabadwip area, others say his birthplace was in Kumarahatta. His father was Vaikunthanatha Vipra, who originally came from Sylhet (Sylhet), his mother Narayani Devi. Narayani was the daughter of Srivasa Pandit’s elder brother, Shrinalina Pandit. Kavi Karnapura has also mentioned her name in his Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika: ambikayah svasa yasin namna shrila-kilimbika
krishnocchishtam prabhuïjana seyam narayani mata

Kilimbika, who used to eat Krishna’s remnants, was the younger sister of Krishna’s nurse Ambika (Srivasa’s wife, Malini). In Mahaprabhu’s lila, she became Narayani. Narayani also achieved fame because she received Gaurasundara’s mercy when he gave her his remnants. When the Lord displayed his divine form in the Mahaprakasha in Srivasa Angan, Narayani was only a small child of four, but the Lord made her intoxicated with the ecstasy of prema. Whether born in Mamagachi or in Kumarahatta, Vrindavan Das later lived in the village of Denuria, within the Matreshvara precinct of Burdwan district. Thus Denuria is considered to be his Shripata. He spent some of his childhood with his mother in Mamagachi, at the home of his maternal grandparents where Narayani was married. Vrindavan Das’s Gaura-Nitai deities are still worshiped at the Mamagachi home. When his father died, he and his mother moved to Srivasa’s house where he received Mahaprabhu’s special blessings.

Because of the copious blessings he received from Nityananda Prabhu, Vrindavan Das is said to have been his initiated disciple. Vrindavan Das is the recipient of Nityananda’s blessings. He is the original Vyasa of Chaitanya’s pastimes. (Chaitanya Charitamrita 3.20.82) He wrote Chaitanya Bhagavat in 1535 AD. Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami, the author of Chaitanya Charitamrita, has written the following in praise of Vrindavan Das Thakur:
Vrindavan Das, the son of Narayani, wrote the Chaitanya Mangala. Vedavyasa described Krishna’s life in the Srimad Bhagavatam and Vrindavan Das is the Vyasa of Chaitanya-lila. (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.11.54-5) Just as Vyasadeva compiled Lord Krishna’s pastimes in Srimad Bhagavatam, Thakur Vrindavan Das depicted Lord Chaitanya’s pastimes. His Chaitanya Mangala annihilates all misfortune. From it, I learned the wonders of Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda and came to know all the most subtle doctrines of devotional service to Krishna. Vrindavan Das Thakur has summarized the essence of the teachings of the Srimad Bhagavatam in his Chaitanya Mangala. If even a Muslim or an atheist should listen to Chaitanya Mangala, he immediately becomes a great Vaishnava. An ordinary human being could not have composed such a sublime work; Lord Chaitanya himself has spoken through the mouth of Vrindavan Das. I offer millions of obeisances unto the lotus feet of Vrindavan Das Thakur who has delivered the entire universe through his book. He was born in the womb of Narayani who eternally enjoys Sri Chaitanya’s remnants. How wonderful is his description of the activites of the Lord, simply by hearing which the three worlds have become sanctified! (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.8.34-42) Vrindavan Das became so absorbed in the description of Nityananda Prabhu’s lila that he did not elaborately relate all of Mahaprabhu’s activities, only summarizing them in abbreviated form. Krishnadas then elaborated on these undescribed activities in his Chaitanya Charitamrita. Vrindavan Das the authorized biographer of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and equal to Srila Vyasadeva. He has described the Lord’s pastimes in such a way as to make them sweeter and sweeter. I shall try as far as possible to fill in the accounts he left out out of fear of excessively enlarging his book. (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.13.48-9)
Vrindavan Das’s criticisms of Vaishnava aparadha \ Vrindavan Das primarily Mahaprabhu’s early activities such as his pastimes as a student, his childhood, his chastisement of the Qazi, his departure from Nabadwip, as well as some aspects of his life in Puri. Vrindavan Das Thakur demonstrated infinite mercy on the fallen souls by warning them:

eta parihare-o je papi ninda kare
tabe lathi maron tar shirera upare
Even after being told how objectionable it is, if someone still blasphemes the Vaishnavas, then I will kick him in the head.
These same words are repeated in the Adi, Madhya and Antya-khandas of the Chaitanya Bhagavat. Some foolish and arrogant persons misunderstand such statements and criticize Vrindavan Das for having made them. Such criticism leads them into the mud of offensiveness. In this connection, the remarks of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur, the founder of the Sri Chaitanya Math and all the Gaudiya Maths, are well worth studying: “‘I am ready to kick the heads of those envious and hellish persons who blaspheme Nityananda Prabhu, if by so doing I will be able to forever prevent them from repeating their attempts to show disrespect for the Supreme Lord. Not only that, but if by so doing I can bring about a slear conception of the truth, I will be performing them the greatest service.’
“So says Vrindavan Das, the incarnation of Vyasa and acharya of the Vaishnava faith. If even a single fleck of dust should fall from his foot on the head of a sinful blasphemer, then that person will be blessed and all his sinful conditioning will inevitably be eradicated. In words which embody the Goddess of Learning and a flood of pure devotion, the Thakur reveals compassion for even the most atheistic blasphemer with the unswerving faith appropriate to a servant of Nityananda Prabhu, the supreme guru. He tells them that though they should be the object of indifference due to their foolishness, nevertheless, because of their ignorance of the truth of Nityananda, their insistence on rushing headlong on the path to hell, and their reluctance to act in their own real self-interest, he and other compassionate Vaishnavas like him who practice and preach the Lord’s doctrines unselfishly and disinterestedly act for their welfare. The compassion which is manifested in Vrindavan Das’s statement is beyond the comprehension of those who have no understanding of what is truly in their own self interest. Anyone who follows in the footsteps of Vrindavan Das, the incarnation of Vyasa, and both practices and preaches the Vaishnava religion is always engaged in an effort to bring about the ultimate well-being of everyone. Though he may make a superficial show of wishing to punish the enemies of the Lord, in fact he harbors a compassion toward them which knows no limit.”
Vrindavan Das Thakur’s disappearance day is the Krishna Dashami of Vaishakh. There is some dispute the exact year of his disappearance which was likely 1511 Shaka (1589 AD).

MAIN ENTRANCE TO SRI VRINDAVAN DAS THAKURA’S BIRTHPLACE AT MAMGACHHI. THIS PLACE IS THE ANCESTRAL HOME OF MALINI DEVI, THE WIFE OF SRIVASA PANDITA.

DEITIES AT SRI VRINDAVAN DAS THAKURA’S BIRTHPLACEOn left-side are NITAI-GAURANGA. “NITAI-GAURANGA” are the original deities worshiped by Sri Vrindavan Das Thakura.On right-side are SRI SRI RADHA-KRISHNA installed by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Gosvami.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura also installed the deity of Sri Vrindavan Das Thakura (white in color).

The Only Hope

April 12, 2023 in Articles by Yasoda nandana dasa

The only hope, by Haripada dasa

The only hope to go back to God or Krishna is to obey the instructions given by Srila Prabhupada, there are many people who think that they are gurus without the authorization of God or Krishna, these people are deceiving themselves and others, Srila Prabhupada always said that this is a great impediment for Krishna consciousness to expand, the only hope to lead a simple life with elevated thoughts is to obey the instructions given by Srila Prabhupada, the only hope to achieve the goal of human life that is to have love for God or Krishna, it is to obey the instructions given by Srila Prabhupada, the only hope to get to live with Srila Prabhupada, is to obey the instructions given by Srila Prabhupada, the only hope to lead a pure and sinless life, it is obeying the instructions given by Srila Prabhupada, the only hope to come to love your enemies, is to obey the instructions given by Srila Prabhupada.

By His mercy God or Krishna sends His closest devotees from the spiritual world to the material world to reestablish the principles of religion, religion means the Laws of God, and the result of obeying God’s laws is that one is freed from entanglement material. When Srila Prabhupada was born the astrologer said that this boy when he is 70 years old will leave India to go to the western countries to preach Krishna consciousness, he will open more than one hundred Krishna temples, he will write 80 books and these books will be the law books for the next 10,000 years for all of humanity. To date, more than 500 million of his books have been distributed in all the languages of the world. Srila Prabhupada did not come to make a new religion, but to preach concepts and truths that are eternal, as Jesus Christ said that I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. When humanity obeys these eternal truths there will be peace and prosperity in the world.

I am going to try to expose those eternal truths that Srila Prabhupada taught us, the first lesson to be understood and accepted is that we are not the temporal material body but eternal spiritual souls, we are parts and portions of God or Krishna, and our happiness is in serving God or Krishna and His devotees taught us that God is Krishna and gave us a process to awaken our latent love that we all have for God or Krishna, and how there is only God or Krishna and His energies in a natural way when we love God. o Krishna, we will love everyone and everything, taught us that everything is from God or Krishna because He has created everything, and that a person becomes honest and wise when he uses everything to serve God or Krishna and His devotees, taught us that The spiritual world exists, and that the goal of human life is to go back home to God. He taught us that the real problems are freeing us from birth, death, old age and disease, he taught us that the only spiritual process in Kali yuga or the present age is chanting The Maha-Mantra Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna , Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare (the H reads J for jota), and he taught us that the pure and intimate devotees of God or Krishna never die, they live eternally on his instructions, and those who obey them live with them.

The Lord either descends personally from His abode or deputes some of His devotees to remodel the fallen condition of human society

April 4, 2023 in Articles by Yasoda nandana dasa

Srila Prabhupada explains that the Lord deputes some of His devotees to remodel the fallen condition of human society:

“…When there are too many asuras in the world, then it becomes a hell for those who are devotees of the Lord. Due to the growth of the asuras, the mass of people who are generally devoted to the Lord by nature and the pure devotees of the Lord, including the demigods in higher planets, pray to the Lord for relief, and the Lord either descends personally from His abode or deputes some of His devotees to remodel the fallen condition of human society, or even animal society. Such disruptions take place not only in human society but also among animals, birds or other living beings, including the demigods in the higher planets…”
[Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.13.50]