Hare Krishna Society

khaṇḍavāsī mukunda-dāsa, śrī-raghunandana

narahari-dāsa, cirañjīva, sulocana

ei saba mahāśākhā–caitanya-kṛpādhāma

prema-phala-phula kare yāhāṅ tāhāṅ dāna

Śrī Khaṇḍavāsī Mukunda and his son Raghunandana were the thirty-ninth branch of the tree, Narahari was the fortieth, Cirañjīva the forty-first and Sulocana the forty-second. They were all big branches of the all-merciful tree of CaitanyaMahāprabhu. They distributed the fruits and flowers of love of Godhead anywhere and everywhere

Śrī Mukunda dāsa was the son of Nārāyaṇa dāsa and eldest brother of Narahari Sarakāra. His second brother’s name was Mādhava dāsa, and his son was named Raghunandana dāsa. Descendants of Raghunandana dāsa still live four miles west of Katwa in the village named Śrīkhaṇḍa, where Raghunandana dāsa used to live. Raghunandana had one son named Kānāi, who had two sons-Madana Rāya, who was a disciple of Narahari Ṭhākura, and Vaṁśīvadana. It is estimated that at least four hundred men descended in this dynasty. All their names are recorded in the village known as Śrīkhaṇḍa. In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 175, it is stated that the gopī whose name was Vṛndādevī became Mukunda dāsa, lived in Śrīkhaṇḍa village and was very dear to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. His wonderful devotion and love for Kṛṣṇa are described in the Caitanya–caritāmṛta, Madhya–līlā, Chapter Fifteen. It is stated in the Bhakti-ratnākara (Eighth Wave), that Raghunandana used to serve a Deity of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Narahari dāsa Sarakāra was a very famous devotee. Locana dāsa Ṭhākura, the celebrated author of Śrī Caitanya–maṅgala, was his disciple. In the Caitanya–maṅgala it is stated that Śrī Gadādhara dāsa and Narahari Sarakāra were extremely dear to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, but there is no specific statement regarding the inhabitants of the village of Śrīkhaṇḍa.

Cirañjīva and Sulocana were both residents of Śrīkhaṇḍa, where their descendants are still living. Of Cirañjīva’s two sons, the elder, Rāmacandra Kavirāja, was a disciple of Śrīnivāsācārya and an intimate associate of Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura. The younger son was Govinda dāsa Kavirāja, the famous Vaiṣṇava poet. Cirañjīva’s wife was Sunandā, and his father-in-law was Dāmodara Sena Kavirāja. Cirañjīva previously lived on the bank of the Ganges River in the village of Kumāranagara. The Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 207, states that he was formerly Candrikā in Vṛndāvan.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 10: The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree : Adi 10.78-79

pura madhumati prana-sakhi vrindavane sthitadhuna narahary-akhyah sarakarah prabhoh priyah

   She who was previously Radha’s intimate girlfriend named Madhumati is today Narahari Sarkar, the Lord’s dear associate. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 117)

Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, Mahaprabhu’s personal representative, confirmed this in his Gaura-arati:

narahari adi kare camara dhulay

saïjaya, mukunda, vasu ghosha adi gay

   Narahari and the other residents of Shrikhanda fanned with the camara, while Sanjaya, Mukunda and Vasu Ghosh sang.

– See more at: http://gaudiyahistory.com/narahari-sarakara-thakura-biography/#sthash.9d3TbtxG.dpuf

Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, Mahaprabhu’s personal representative, confirmed this in his Gaura-arati:

  ———————-

Srila Narahari Sarkar Thakur in Sriman Mahaprabhu’s Pastimes

In glorification of Narahari Sarkar Thakur on his Disappearance day.References from Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita.
Translation and purport by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad.

Adi-lila 10: The Trunk, Branches and Sub-branches of the Chaitanya Tree
Text 78-79:

Sri Khandavasi Mukunda and his son Raghunandana were the thirty-ninth branch of the tree, Narahari was the fortieth, Chiranjiva the forty-first and Sulochana the forty-second. They were all big branches of the all-merciful tree of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. They distributed the fruits and flowers of love of Godhead anywhere and everywhere.

Purport by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad:

Sri Mukunda Das was the son of Narayan Das and eldest brother of Narahari Sarakar. His second brother’s name was Madhava Das, and his son was named Raghunandana Das…

…Narahari Das Sarakar was a very famous devotee. Lochan Das Thakur, the celebrated author of Sri Chaitanya-mangal, was his disciple. In the Chaitanya-mangal it is stated that Sri Gadadhar Das and Narahari Sarakar were extremely dear to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, but there is no specific statement regarding the inhabitants of the village of Srikhanda.

Madhya-lila 1: The Later Pastimes of Lord‚ Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Text 132:

Eventually, Narahari Das and other inhabitants of Khanda, along with Shivananda Sen, all arrived, and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu met them.

Madhya-lila 10: The Lord’s Return to Jagannath Puri
Texts 88-90:

Advaita Acharya then held a festival that lasted two or three days. Thereafter, they all made a firm decision to go to Jagannath Puri.

All the devotees met together at Navadvip and, with mother Sachi’s permission, departed for Niladri, Jagannath Puri.

The inhabitants of Kulina-grama – Satyaraja, Ramananda and all the other devotees there – came and joined Advaita Acharya.

Mukunda, Narahari, Raghunandana and all the others came from Khanda to Advaita Acharya’s home to accompany Him to Jagannath Puri.

Madhya-lila 11: The Beda-kirtan Pastimes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Text 90:

Gopinath Acharya continued to point out the devotees. “Here is Suklambar. See, there is Sridhar. Here is Vijay, and there is Vallabha Sen. Here is Purusottam, and there is Sanjaya.”

Text 92-93:

“Here are Mukunda Das, Narahari, Sri Raghunandana, Chiranjiva and Sulochana, all residents of Khanda.

“How many names shall I speak to you? All the devotees you see here are associates of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is their life and soul.”

Madhya-lila 13: The Ecstatic Dancing of the Lord at Ratha-Yatra
Text 46:

Another party was formed by the people of Khanda. These people were singing in a different place. In that group, Narahari Prabhu and Raghunandana were dancing.

Madhya-lila 15: The Lord Accepts Prasada at the House of Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya
Text 112:

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then turned His attention to three persons – Mukunda Das, Raghunandana and Sri Narahari – inhabitants of the place called Khanda.

Text 132

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then ordered Narahari: “I wish you to remain here with My devotees. In this way the three of you should always execute these three duties for the service of the Lord.”

Purport by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad:

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu set forth three duties for three different people. Mukunda was to earn money and follow the religious principles, whereas Narahari was to remain with the Lord’s devotees, and Raghunandana was to engage in the Lord’s service in the temple. Thus one person worships in the temple, another earns money honestly by executing his professional duty, and yet another preaches Krishna consciousness with the devotees. Apparently these three types of service appear separate, but actually they are not. When Krishna or Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the centre, everyone can engage in different activities for the service of the Lord. That is the verdict of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Antya-lila 10: Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Accepts Prasada from the Devotees
Texts 59-60:

In each of the seven groups was a principal dancer like Advaita Acharya and Lord Nityananda.

The dancers in the other groups were Vakresvar Pandit, Acyutananda, Pandit Srivas, Satyaraja Khan and Narahari Das.

 ——————-

Sva-Niṣṭha
by Śrīla Narottam dās Ṭhākur

dhana mora nityānanda pati mora gaurachandra

prāṇa mora jugala-kiśora
advaita āchāryya bolo gadādhara mora kula
narahari vilasai mora

1) Lord Nityānanda is my wealth. Lord Gaurachandra is my master.

The youthful Divine Couple is my life. Advaita Āchāryya is my strength.
Gadādhara is my family. Narahari Sarakara is my glory.

vaiṣṇavera pada-dhūli tāhe mora snāna-keli

tarpaṇ mora vaiṣṇavera nāma
bichāra koriyā mane bhakti-rasa āsvādane
madhyastha śrī-bhāgavata purāṇa

2) The dust of the devotees’ lotus feet is my bathing water.

The chanting of the devotees’ names is my satisfaction. Considering the
merits of all Vedic literatures in the light of devotional service, I have
concluded that the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is the best of all scriptures.

vaiṣṇavera uchiṣṭa tāhe mora mano-niṣṭha

vaiṣṇavera nāmete ullāsa
vṛndāvane chaturā tāhe mora mano-gherā
kohe dīne narottama dāsa

3) My mind is firmly convinced of the spiritual benefit obtained

by eating the remnants of foodstuff left by the devotees. The names
of the devotees are my happiness. The land of Vṛndāvan is the enclosure
within which I keep my mind. Thus speaks the lonely servant Narotta

pura madhumati prana-sakhi vrindavane sthita
adhuna narahary-akhyah sarakarah prabhoh priyah

She who was previously Radha´s intimate girlfriend named Madhumati is today Narahari Sarkar, the Lord’s dear associate. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 117)

Please find attached the very first issue of our monthly newsletter.

By a Group of Śrīla Prabhupāda Disciples, followers:

Dear Jayādvaita Swami, Draviḍa Prabhu & Company,

Please explain why you have made the following rotten changes on Śrīla Prabhupad’s Macmillan Bhagavad Gītā As It is:

(1) Why is it in the revised edition of the Bhagavad Gītā, you and company have completely removed the foreword by Professor Edward Dimock that was printed in the Original Macmillan Version of the Bhagavad Gītā As It Is which Śrīla Prabhupāda regularly read from?

Readers, please see the following video:https://youtu.be/nhPSzfs15i8

Śrīla Prabhhupada is lecturing on the Bhagavad Gītā. There, in the very immediate beginning ( very first few minutes) of this video, you will find Śrīla Prabhupāda praising the foreword by Professor Edward Dimock. This particular video clip is taken from one of the 19 Double layer DVDS produced by ITV Nrshinghanandana Prabhu and his associates. It is the particular DVD named Bhagavad Gītā as It Is, with Krishna and Arjuna on the Chariot, and Sky background, and is in the very first part called “Introduction”.

Śrīla Prabhupāda is reading the foreword himself, praising it, mentioning Edward Dimock’s name, and praising Edward Dimock for a particular comment that he had made, namely as follows:

“Swami Bhaktivedanta comments upon the Gītā from this point of view, and that is legitimate. More than that , in this translation the Western reader has the unique opportunity of seeing how a Kṛṣṇa devotee interprets his own texts”

Śrīla Prabhupāda in the video explains this particular statement by Edward Dimock, on how a Kṛṣṇa devotee interprets his own texts, by explaining that just as a family member only is qualified to give the best knowledge to others about his own family, similiarly, only a Kṛṣṇa devotee can properly explain one to others about Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda appreciates this particular point made by Edward Dimock, in the video.

Thus, not only has Śrīla Prabhupāda authorized this particular foreword in the Macmillan Bhagavad Gītā, but had himself read, it, and praised certain points made by the person who wrote this foreword.

Yet you, Jayādvaita Swami, Draviḍa Prabhu & company have the audacity to remove this foreword completely in their revised version. The proof of how you both have offended your Spiritual Master is on public video record, as those who watch will sadly, but easily be able to understand this particular deviation of yourselves in either revising or omiting your spiritual master’s works and words by using your fertile imaginations.

(2) Why have you Jayādvaita Swami, Draviḍa Prabhu & Company omitted 47 out of 48 of the original color pictures inside from the Original Macmillan Bhagavad Gītā As It Is? Why have you omitted the pictures of the bonafide disciplic succession Gurus coming before Śrīla Prabhupāda, namely Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Saraswati Thakur, Śrīla Gaur Kisore Das Bābājī Maharaj, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thakur, with a brief description of their character and achievements . Śrīla Prabhupāda wanted very much for every Iskcon member to understand their spiritual family roots, i.e. to understand the previous Disciplic succession Gurus, that is why he arranged to put these pictures there.

Śrīla Prabhupāda also wanted everyone, both devotees and Karmī readers to understand that he, as the author of this Macmillan version of Bhagavad Gītā was authorized, and a student of these bonafide spiritual Masters , thus giving genuine authority to this book. Yet you, Jayādvaita Swami and company have audaciously removed these most important disciplic Guru pictures. The other 43 pictures with their respective writing descriptions below were also very useful for the reader to relate to what he was reading in the different chapters of the Bhagavad Gītā, They were also painted with the guidance and authority of Śrīla Prabhupāda who blessed them with his constant glance whenever he used the book. Yet you have unfortunately removed all of them with the exception of one.

(3) Why have you Jayādvaita Swami, Draviḍa Prabhu & Company removed and replaced the original front cover of the Macmillan Version of the Bhagavad Gītā As It Is with your own version? In that original picture, Kṛṣṇa is holding the conchshell which is mentioned in the 1st chapter of the Bhagavad Gītā , how when both Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna blew their respective conchshells, it aroused fear and shattered the hearts of the enemies. Śrīla Prabhupāda and all the thousands of devotees, including the Karmīs who bought this book were delighted to see this spiritual picture which is the one of the chief attractions of the whole book. The horses in the Macmillan version look strong stout, and healthy,as they should be, considering that they were gifted by the fire god Agni to Arjuna by the blessings of Kṛṣṇa. This is mentioned in the Kṛṣṇa book in the Chapter titled “Five Queens married by Kṛṣṇa”..

Yet in your revised version picture, your horses look all so thin with very skinny legs, it is as if they have not had prasādam for a long time. They are half the size in bodily structure as opposed to the Original Macmillan horses. They really do not look celestial and gifted by a celestial demigod, Readers, please compare for yourselves. Yet you Jayādvaita, Draviḍa, & Company have removed this wonderful picture, and replaced it with yours. You have also replaced the original Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, with Kṛṣṇa now holding a whip instead of a conchshell. What was the need for this change, just so that you all could show to everyone in the world that you could do something different and new than what your spiritual master has done?

(4) why have you Jayādvaita Swami, Draviḍa Prabhu & Company, in the back cover of your revised version of Bhagavad Gītā put a commentary by Mohandas K Gandhi, so called praising the Bhagavad Gītā, when you very well know how much Śrīla Prabhupāda condemned Gandhi especially in relation to the Bhagavad gītā. Śrīla Prabhupāda comments that Gandhi was the greatest hypocrite, that on one hand while posing himself as a student of the Bhagavad gītā, he never even had any faith that Lord Krishna even existed. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes Gandhi as having no spiritual consciousness whatsoever. Gandhi also did not even care to stop the millions of cows being slaughtered daily, when he had an excellent chance to do so, thus he was directly defying Lord Krishna’s instructions on cow protection described in the 18th Chapter of the Bhagavad Gītā . Readers, please see the particular conversations below mentioned on folio about what Śrīla Prabhupāda said about Gandhi in relation to Bhagavad Gītā and cow killing:

(A) Room Conversation March 2 1975 Atlanta:

Prabhupāda: “No, no. No shortage. That is everything supply. You have got the Vedic knowledge. You don’t take care of that. You now manufacture your own knowledge. Now there is knowledge, this Bhagavad-gītā is perfect knowledge, but even a political leader like Gandhi, he says that I don’t believe that there was anybody like Kṛṣṇa living. This is your leader. All the ācāryas, previous ācāryas, big, big ācāryas, Śaṅkarācārya, big, big, stalwart, learned, they have accepted Kṛṣṇa. Now Gandhi says, “I don’t believe.” Now you are guided by Gandhi, you are not guided by the ācāryas. That is your misfortune. You are not guided by Kṛṣṇa. You are guided by Dr. Radhakrishnan. That is the misfortune. Andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānāḥ [SB 7.5.31], one blind man is being, is following another blind man. That is going on. That is going on all over the world, not only in India.

Guest (2): I think Mahātmā Gandhi followed the Gītā, all these…

Prabhupāda: But he did not believe in Kṛṣṇa and he followed Gītā. Just see.

Guest (2): (indistinct)

Prabhupāda: No, just try to understand the psychology. He (Gandhi) says plainly that I do not believe there was anybody Kṛṣṇa, living ever. And he’s following Kṛṣṇa’s instruction. Just see his position.

Guest (2): No, he must have also answered this question.

Prabhupāda: No, no, there is no questioning. If you do not believe in somebody, how you are reading His book of knowledge?

Guest (2): That’s my point also.

Prabhupāda: Yes, so therefore. This kind of leader we are following, contradictory. That is our misfortune.

(B) March 10th 1972 Vṛndāvana: Prabhupāda:

“Useless speaking. In India also, so many fools, they are accepted as very perfect. Just like Gandhi, take Gandhi. Where was Gandhi? In spiritual consciousness, he is nothing. Nothing, no value. But if we say in the public, they will be angry, “Oh!” But actually there is no value, no spiritual value. He is known all over the world as a great spiritualist. He was a moralist, that’s all. That is not a qualification for understanding God”.

(C) March 5 1975 New York: Prabhupāda:

”Even Gandhi, such an exalted man, he says that “I have no belief. I do not believe that there was any person as Kṛṣṇa ever living.” Just see. All the big, big ācāryas of India who are practically controlling the destiny of the Hindu civilization or Vedic civilization, they all believe. Gandhi became more than them. Who made him, that is another thing. But he thinks like that, and because Gandhi thinks, just imagine how many millions of people have been misled”.

(D) January 23rd 1977 Bhuvaneśvara: Prabhupāda:

“Yes. No, anything, if you can understand very clearly, where is the question of interpretation? But it has become a fashion that “If I can interpret in my own way, I become a big scholar.” This is going on. If you have got your philosophy, you can speak. Everyone is free. Why you should take Bhagavad-gītā and distort it? Kṛṣṇa never meant that “In future Gandhi will come,” or “Dr. Radhakrishnan will come, and he will explain My ideas.” What is this nonsense? Kṛṣṇa was a foolish person that he left it for Gandhi for distortion? He could not explain Himself that Kurukṣetra means this body? Gandhi has to interpret? Do you think it is right?”

(E) Dec 16th 1975 Bombay: Prabhupāda:

“Karl Marx maybe. Even your Gandhi-ism, that is also concoction. Gandhi invented nonviolence; it is also concoction. It is impossible. Everyone is doing this—something manufacturing. That is not sanātana dharma. Sanātana dharma is never manufactured. It is already there. You have to accept it, that’s all. Otherwise everyone is manufacturing some conncoction. This is going on. Kṛṣṇa is teaching, “Fight.” And Gandhi is teaching from Bhagavad-gītā nonviolence. Just see ! Is it possible

(F) January 9th 1977 Bombay:

Prabhupāda: “The people approached him that “Mahatmaji, you have got influence over the Muslims, why not stop cow-killing?” “I cannot touch on their religious principles.” Just see. Cow-killing is religious? Their religious principle. If I say my father-killing, mother-killing is my religion, so Gandhi will say, “Yes, you can do that. Nonviolent.” Kill nonviolent. This nonsense contradiction can be tolerated by the fools and rascals. That’s all. That is…”

(5) Why have you Jayādvaita Swami, Draviḍa Prabhu & Company removed the words below the picture of Śrīla Prabhupāda in the Original Macmillan Bhagavad Gītā, namely “ greatest exponent of Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the western world”. Is this also one of the many ‘stupid mistakes made by some raw editors at the time, namely Hayagrīva Prabhu, or some raw typist such as Bhakta Neal, and you have mercifully corrected it for all our spiritual welfare.? Even a person with half a brain can understand that you have done the greatest offence to your spiritual master by enviously removing these words “greatest exponent of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness in the western world”.

Awaiting your reply…

Originally posted at https://prabhupadavision.com/2012/04/18/jayadvaita-changes/

In London, Prabhupada had a program at Conway Hall. Conway Hall was a 500-seat auditorium in Red Lion Square.

One night an extraordinary thing happened. Prabhupada led the first kirtana and then gave a lecture. I sat on the floor just to his right with the harmonium, and after the lecture, I began leading the second Hare Krishna kirtana. All of a sudden, Srila Prabhupada’s voice cut through the auditorium with the potency of Lord Nrsimha right in the middle of my chanting. I had never heard Prabhupada do that, nor had I heard the words he chanted.

“Narada muni bhajay vina radhika-ramana-name,” he sang. And then again he repeated it.

I looked up, and he looked down at me, signaling me to carry on. So I continued chanting Hare Krishna, and he continued singing his prayer to Narada Muni into his microphone. I closed my eyes and carried on, not knowing what was happening. Then he started leading with me. We could all understand that something inexplicable but amazing was happening. Everyone was literally jumping off the ground, leaping in the air ; even little baby Saraswati was two feet off the ground, and the audience was leaping into the air. We jumped off the stage and all of us began running around the perimeter of the auditorium with the audience! The next morning I asked Prabhupada what had happened the previous night. “Didn’t you see?” Srila Prabhupada said. “Narada Muni came to our kirtana.” “No, I didn’t see him,” I answered. “Yes, Narada Muni came.”

A recollection by,

Yamuna devi dasi.

Hear me my dear friends
our love never ends
to ever heal and mend
and lift us to transcend.

Simply believe the truth
we are loving servants me and you
within ourselves is all the proof
see within is all you have to do.

By hearing from him fully awake
to our love beyond this poison lake
Srila Prabhupada his most divine grace
reveals the path we must embrace.

Everyone pray to Srila Prabhupada
please take me on the path you trod
please accept me as your sold out dog
and let me hear your words from God.

Yes everyone pray to Prabhupada
O you who are fully self realized
I beg you please force open my eyes
to see whats seen by the pure and wise.

Pray O dearest preacher of Krishna God
Ac Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada
living in your law books to reveal our job
please kindly help me rise beyond all odds.

Pray O most worshipable guru of the universe
please let me hear all your most important words
so this ocean of suffering we may easily traverse
we must know in our hearts you always come first.

Yes pray O servant of the servant of Lord Krishna
O my dear eternal father and ever well wisher
we are fully dedicated to you birth after birth
to you ordered by Krishna to reveal our life’s worth.

No don’t stop praying our life is a prayer
to set the perfect example of living everywhere
by simply following our savior who loudly declares
just you obey Krishna’s laws with no faults or errors.

Yes life is a prayer we must live with great care
not waisting a moment for we have no time to spare
this is the sincerity to Krishna we must manifest
by just studying Prabhupada’s life most greatly blessed.

Born in to a family of pure devotee parents
he was enabled to appear to us pure and transperent
as the external manifestation of God or Krishna 
to train disciples how to leave this material existence.

Prabhupada was sent here by Lord Krishna above
to reveal to the world perfectly pure unalloyed love 
for he lives in his words, real disciples and pictures
and his purely translated authentic Vedic scriptures.

I believe it was Lord Jesus who revealed Him to me
because of my prayers for illumination most desperately
Lord Jesus entered my heart when I prayed for him to
and from there real life did start when I knew he was true.

Real life begins when we know them beyond sin
for us to aim in the only direction to win
over the obstacles that we have in this place
having forgotten Krishna we fell from grace.

And thus our only hope is Prabhupada’s scope
purely passed down through a pure disciplic succession
he sees always the Lord who must not be ignored
so possesses the full power to give perfect directions.

In conclusion my dear godbrothers and sisters
its our duty to bless souls with Prabhupada’s assistance
by knowing and distributing his books his greatest wishes
we are blessing the world with the world’s greatest riches.

And its best we cooperate as much as we can together
because Prabhupada said that is how we show him our love
he said we are his limbs that make all possible for him
so if we think were not his limbs is that not a sin?

He said Iskcon is me but is it really now
since Prabhupada departed us please tell me how?
it seems iskcon was stolen like Sita from Ramachandra
so now we have fake iskcon now fallen into blunder.

We know its only those who take Prabhupada seriously
who know just what happened not at all mysteriously
and behold it reveals even in our sacred scriptures
that all goes down when gone is the pure servant of Krishna.

But that is only for those who think he is gone
for Prabhupada’s real servants forever he lives on
most strongly through his texts he makes his readers blessed
to know our real problems are repeated births and deaths.

And so now its up to us to give up anger greed and lust
and come together to show the world our real must
we must wake up to see all life is one family under God
and our differences are illusions to behave just like dogs.

Yes we must take most seriously Lord Gauranga’s wake up call
and parade through the streets to spread God’s names to all
and trust all is possible when we perform this sacrifice
all wars can be diverted and the world can be paradise.

But if we remain asleep we only call all disaster
we heard this loudly preached by our spiritual master
if he had a few sincere disciples this world could be saved
but being absorbed in Maya this world becomes a grave.

One pure devotee Prabhupada said can save a universe
like most humble Jayananda always most eager to serve
he did not put down his fallen brothers he fed them prasad
and was always busy in the service of Srila Prabhupada.

This is our duty to praise pure devotees like him
who show us the way Prabhupada’s full mercy we win
everyone who met him loved him baring not his absense
this is the nature of the one who truly spiritually advances.

Now in seperation of Prabhupada I can’t help but beg
please return to me you made me live and know what is dead.
I now realize my most glorious days was when you were here
when oh when will I realize you really never disappeared.

I have no love nor devotion drowning in material emotion
still by remembering you I feel I’m stepping in a nectar ocean
please push me on O all victorious servant of Bhagavan
so I stop being like a crow and become just like a swan.

All I see is faults I can not see the good in all
like you could see to engage us in the service of Gopal
if not for you I would not be striving the right direction
because by the grace of God I saw in you all perfection.

Yes just because I saw you time then did stand still
you revealed to me a divine person is very very real
with out you Prabhupada I would only follow my mind
to nothing but distractions from life’s very goal divine.

So I beg you please stay with this cripple minded freak
and with you I believe I’ll climb the highest mountain peak
and overcome all obstacles to surrender to Krishna’s feet
but with out you I must most sadly remain in bed asleep.

Thank you for giving me something good to say
please come in closer is all that I can pray
please send your good servants to inspire me on
I can not stand alone with out going wrong.

I pray my readers got your blessings here
as I lean on you to speak what all must hear
the real purpose to life completely clear
chant Krishna’s holy names fully sincere.

Sincere meaning Lord engage me for Your pleasure
so I may realize life’s most precious treasure
service unto You my real love for ever and for ever
to know my real pleasure that grows forever better.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Again we must thank Srila Prabhupada
for bringing us together to come closer to God
please do not leave me my most precious friends
I pray I did you service with a love to never end.

A poem written by,

Anubhava Ananda dasa

How Many Persons are Benefitted from Book Distribution?

Srila Prabhupada: Whoever gets a book is benefitted. If he reads the book he is benefitted still more, or if he gives the book to someone else for reading, both he and the other person is benefitted. Even if one does not read the book but simply holds if and sees it, he is benefitted. If he simply gives small donation towards the work of Krsna consciousness he is benefitted. And anyone who distributes these transcendental literatures, he is also benefitted.

(Letter to: German Disciples — Bombay May 6, 1977)

Our only misfortune
is we forgot our dear most friend
who assist us with everything
and teaches how to transcend.

Lord Krishna is everything
and at the same time aloof
our inconcievable friend
the supreme absolute truth.

With out accepting He’s inconcievable
you can’t understand Him at all
although you can never fully understand Him
our unlimited Friend Lord Gopal.

It is only by His servant’s intervention
Krishna sends here from above
that we may know of our only perfection
by Krishna’s servant’s pure love.

Our perfection starts with hearing
the transcendental sound vibration
from the mouth of pure devotee
who is the guru of civilization.

This perfection is knowing our dearest friend
Who resides in every soul’s heart
Who makes everything possible we desire
and of Him we are an eternal spark.

Only when we speak this truth
we gradually realize its proof
by the purification of its sound
so kindly spread it all around.

For this truth is nothing new
it is eternally a part of me and you
as eternal divine loving servants of Krishna
our dearest friend Whose always with us.

Our very souls are full of bliss and wisdom
because we are parts and parcels of Krishna
but everyone is small before Lord Gopal
and only for that reason it’s possible to fall.

And because we did fall we forgot all
therefor we need to urgently call
always on Krishna’s all powerful names
to wake up our souls to our love again.

Everyone here seeks their love
because love is all we are part of
but we are seeking the wrong place
because we need His divine grace.

Ac Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada
carries perfectly the torch leading back to God
living in his lawbooks to guide human kind
to force open the eyes now spiritually blind.

Now we can not see our future
for we need the eyes of Vedic scripture
now we can not see Krishna or God
because we need to follow Prabhupad.

The very breathing of Lord Krishna
are the eternal Vedic scriptures
but we need Krishna’s servant’s help
in order to get the proper picture.

Everyone is already getting perfect guidance
but we need now Prabhupada to know the very science
of percieving the wisdom everywhere and in our hearts
Krishna says approaching the guru is where knowledge starts.

Still without humility we will only meet futility
we must first admit we are total fools
and when we seek sincerely with all our ability
Lord Krishna all kind will send us our guru.

We must be careful not to seek for something cheap
something that is impossible to really ever keep
when reality itself is divine and eternally deep
and we’re currently unaware because we are asleep.

Lord Krishna fulfills our every desire
so we must learn lessons not wanting Him none higher
and that is why now we are in great illusion Maya
believing we are these bodies and in their lusty fire.

Still there is release if we seek eternal peace
but we will be cheated if we seek something cheap
but if we want wisdom we’ll get Prabhupada to lead
us beyond all miseries to Lord Krishna’s lotus feet.

And so take great care and fill your life with prayer
is the advice of your real friends most wise and rare
we do not a thing without the sanction of Him supreme
and unaware of this we are truly living in a dream.

And because this most sadly is the case
we are desperately in need of his divine grace
Srila Prabhupada only hope for the human race
we must pray to him from the most humble place.

I am lower than the worms in stool
is the mentality of the greatest sage
I am always a fool before you Prabhupada
please force open my eyes and guide my ways.

Nothing I wrire here is my imagination
I am simply repeating him in full self realization
please stay in my heart and drag me back home
my dearest Srila Prabhupada I feel all alone.

Please Prabhupada bless me to always chant
Krishna’s holy names to destroy all my offenses
please surround me with your strict disciples
so I may witness all your unlimited blessings.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

A poem by,

Anubhavananda dasa

śrī-rūpa, sanātana, bhaṭṭa-raghunātha

śrī-jīva, gopāla-bhaṭṭa, dāsa-raghunātha

SYNONYMS

śrī-rūpa—Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī; sanātana—Sanātana Gosvāmī; bhaṭṭa-raghunātha—Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī; śrī-jīva—Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī; gopāla-bhaṭṭa—Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī; dāsa-raghunātha—Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī.

TRANSLATION

The instructing spiritual masters are Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Bhaṭṭa Raghunātha, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī, Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī.
Books: Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition: Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 1: The Spiritual Masters : Adi 1.36

mathurāte pāṭhāila rūpa-sanātana

dui senā-pati kaila bhakti pracāraṇa

SYNONYMS

mathurāte—toward Mathurā; pāṭhāila—sent; rūpa-sanātana—the two brothers Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī; dui—both of them; senā-pati—as commanders in chief; kaila—He made them; bhakti—devotional service; pracāraṇa—to broadcast.

TRANSLATION

Lord Caitanya dispatched the two generals Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī to Vṛndāvana to preach the bhakti cult.

PURPORT

When Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī went to Vṛndāvana, there was not a single temple, but by their preaching they were gradually able to construct various temples. Sanātana Gosvāmī constructed the Madana-mohana temple, and Rūpa Gosvāmī constructed the Govindajī temple. Similarly, their nephew Jīva Gosvāmī constructed the Rādhā-Dāmodara temple, Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī constructed the Rādhā-ramaṇa temple, Śrī Lokanātha Gosvāmī constructed the Gokulānanda temple, and Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī constructed the Śyāmasundara temple. In this way, many temples were gradually constructed. For preaching, construction of temples is also necessary. The Gosvāmīs not only engaged in writing books but also constructed temples because both are needed for preaching work. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted the cult of His saṅkīrtana movement to spread all over the world. Now that the International Society for Krishna Consciousness has taken up this task of preaching the cult of Lord Caitanya, its members should not only construct temples in every town and village of the globe but also distribute books that have already been written and further increase the number of books. Both distribution of books and construction of temples must continue side by side in parallel lines.
Books: Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition: Cc. Adi-lila Adi 7: Lord Caitanya in Five Features Adi 7.164

tāṅra madhye rūpa-sanātana–baḍa śākhā

anupama, jīva, rājendrādi upaśākhā

SYNONYMS

tāṅra—within that; madhye—in the midst of; rūpa-sanātana—the branch known as Rūpa-Sanātana; baḍa śākhā—the big branch; anupama—of the name Anupama; jīva—of the name Jīva; rājendra-ādi—and Rājendra and others; upaśākhā—their subbranches.

TRANSLATION

Among these branches, Rūpa and Sanātana were principal. Anupama, Jīva Gosvāmī and others, headed by Rājendra, were their subbranches.

PURPORT

In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 195, it is said that Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī was formerly Vilāsa-mañjarī gopī. From his very childhood Jīva Gosvāmī was greatly fond of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. He later came to Navadvīpa to study Sanskrit, and, following in the footsteps of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, he circumambulated the entire Navadvīpa-dhāma. After visiting Navadvīpa-dhāma he went to Benares to study Sanskrit under Madhusūdana Vācaspati, and after finishing his studies in Benares he went to Vṛndāvana and took shelter of his uncles, Śrī Rūpa and Sanātana. This is described in the Bhakti-ratnākara. As far as our information goes, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī composed and edited at least twenty-five books. They are all very celebrated, and they are listed as follows: (1) Hari-nāmāmṛta-vyākaraṇa, (2) Sūtra-mālikā, (3) Dhātu-saṅgraha, (4) Kṛṣṇārcā-dīpikā, (5) Gopāla-virudāvalī, (6) Rasāmṛta-śeṣa, (7) Śrī Mādhava-mahotsava, (8) Śrī Saṅkalpa-kalpavṛkṣa, (9) Bhāvārtha-sūcaka-campū, (10) Gopāla-tāpanī-ṭīkā, (11) a commentary on the Brahma-saṁhitā, (12) a commentary on the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, (13) a commentary on the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi, (14) a commentary on the Yogasāra-stava, (15) a commentary on the Gāyatrī-mantra, as described in the Agni Purāṇa, (16) a description of the Lord’s lotus feet derived from the Padma Purāṇa, (17) a description of the lotus feet of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, (18) Gopāla-campū (in two parts) and (19-25) seven sandarbhas: the Krama-, Tattva-, Bhagavat-, Paramātma-, Kṛṣṇa-, Bhakti- and Prīti-sandarbha. After the disappearance of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī in Vṛndāvana, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī became the ācārya of all the Vaiṣṇavas in Bengal, Orissa and the rest of the world, and it is he who used to guide them in their devotional service. In Vṛndāvana he established the Rādhā-Dāmodara temple, where we had the opportunity to live and retire until the age of sixty-five, when we decided to come to the United States of America. When Jīva Gosvāmī was still present, Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī compiled his famous Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Later, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī inspired Śrīnivāsa Ācārya, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura and Duḥkhī Kṛṣṇadāsa to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness in Bengal. Jīva Gosvāmī was informed that all the manuscripts that had been collected from Vṛndāvana and sent to Bengal for preaching purposes were plundered near Viṣṇupura, in Bengal, but later he received the information that the books had been recovered. Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī awarded the designation Kavirāja to Rāmacandra Sena, a disciple of Śrīnivāsa Ācārya’s, and to Rāmacandra’s younger brother Govinda. While Jīva Gosvāmī was alive, Śrīmatī Jāhnavī-devī, the pleasure potency of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, went to Vṛndāvana with a few devotees. Jīva Gosvāmī was very kind to the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas, the Vaiṣṇavas from Bengal. Whoever went to Vṛndāvana he provided with a residence and prasāda. His disciple Kṛṣṇadāsa Adhikārī listed all the books of the Gosvāmīs in his diary.

The sahajiyās level three accusations against Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī. This is certainly not congenial for the execution of devotional service. The first accusation concerns a materialist who was very proud of his reputation as a great Sanskrit scholar and approached Śrī Rūpa and Sanātana to argue with them about the revealed scriptures. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī, not wanting to waste their time, gave him a written statement that he had defeated them in a debate on the revealed scriptures. Taking this paper, the scholar approached Jīva Gosvāmī for a similar certificate of defeat, but Jīva Gosvāmī did not agree to give him one. On the contrary, he argued with him regarding the scriptures and defeated him. Certainly, it was right for Jīva Gosvāmī to stop such a dishonest scholar from advertising that he had defeated Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī, but due to their illiteracy the sahajiyā class refer to this incident to accuse Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī of deviating from the principle of humility. They do not know, however, that humility and meekness are appropriate when one’s own honor is insulted but not when Lord Viṣṇu or the ācāryas are blasphemed. In such cases one should not be humble and meek but must act. One should follow the example given by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Lord Caitanya says in His Śikṣāṣṭaka (3):

tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror ivasahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ

“One can chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking himself lower than the straw in the street. One should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.” Nevertheless, when the Lord was informed that Nityānanda Prabhu was injured by Jagāi and Mādhāi, He immediately went to the spot, angry like fire, wanting to kill them. Thus, Lord Caitanya has explained His verse by the example of His own behavior. One should tolerate insults against oneself, but when there is blasphemy committed against superiors such as other Vaiṣṇavas, one should be neither humble nor meek; one must take proper steps to counteract such blasphemy. This is the duty of a servant of a guru and Vaiṣṇavas. Anyone who understands the principle of eternal servitude to the guru and Vaiṣṇavas will appreciate the action of Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī in connection with the so-called scholar’s victory over his gurus, Śrīla Rūpa and Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī.

Another story fabricated to defame Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī states that after compiling Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī showed the manuscript to Jīva Gosvāmī, who thought that it would hamper his reputation as a big scholar and therefore threw it into a well. Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī was greatly shocked, and he died immediately. Fortunately, a copy of the manuscript of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta had been kept by a person named Mukunda, and therefore later it was possible to publish the book. This story is another ignominious example of blasphemy against a guru and Vaiṣṇava. Such a story should never be accepted as authoritative.

According to another accusation, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī did not approve of the principles of the pārakīya-rasa of Vraja-dhāma and therefore supported svakīya-rasa, showing that Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are eternally married. Actually, when Jīva Gosvāmī was alive, some of his followers disliked the pārakīya-rasa of the gopīs. Therefore, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, for their spiritual benefit, supported svakīya-rasa, for he could understand that sahajiyās would otherwise exploit the pārakīya-rasa, as they are actually doing at the present. Unfortunately, in Vṛndāvana and Navadvīpa it has become fashionable among sahajiyās, in their debauchery, to find an unmarried sexual partner to live with to execute so-called devotional service in pārakīya-rasa. Foreseeing this, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī supported svakīya-rasa, and later all the Vaiṣṇava ācāryas also approved of it. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī was never opposed to the transcendental pārakīya-rasa, nor has any other Vaiṣṇava disapproved of it. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī strictly followed his predecessor gurus and Vaiṣṇavas, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī, and Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī accepted him as one of his instructor gurus.
Books: Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila Adi 10: The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree : Adi 10.85

“…So if you want to understand Bhagavad-gītā, then we must understand in the same way as the person who directly heard from him. This is called paramparā system. Suppose I have heard something from my spiritual master, so I speak to you the same thing. So this is paramparā system. You cannot imagine what my spiritual master said. Or even if you read some books, you cannot understand unless you understand it from me. This is called paramparā system. You cannot jump over to the superior guru, I mean to say, neglecting the next ācārya, immediate next ācārya.

Just like our this Gau…, Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s cult; we cannot understand Caitanya Mahāprabhu directly. This is not possible. We have to understand through the Gosvāmīs. Therefore you’ll find in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, in…, at the end of every chapter, the writer says, rūpa-

raghunātha-pade… What is that?

Yaśomatīnandana: Caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe.

Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa-dāsa.

rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa
caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇa-dāsa
[Cc. Ādi 1.110]

This is the process. He does not say that “I have understood Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu directly.” No. That is not understanding. That is foolishness. You cannot understand what is Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore repeatedly he says,

rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa
caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇa-dāsa”
[Cc. Ādi 1.110]

Audio link for this lecture given by his divine grace on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.30 in Los Angeles, Dec. 8, 1973: https://prabhupadavani.org/transcriptions/731208sbla/

Compiled by,

Balarama dasa