Radhika´s lotus feet

Sri Sri Vraja-Vilasa-Stava VERSE 106: ragena rupa-manjary-araktikrita-muradvishah gunaradhita-radhayah pada-yugme ratir mama May my loving attachment live in the lotus feet of Sri Radha, Who is worshipped by all the divine attributes such as cleverness and to Whom Rupa Manjari has passionately made Krishna very attached. Stavamrita Kana Vyakhya : After praising the holy dhama and … Continue reading Radhika´s lotus feet

Understanding raganuga-bhakti

A general examination of bhakti The word “raganuga” literally means “to follow loving attachment”, love directed towards God. To gain a deeper understanding of the concept, let us first examine the concept of bhakti, loving devotion for God, in general. Bhakti is divided into three main categories in accordance with its development. sa bhaktih sadhanam … Continue reading Understanding raganuga-bhakti

Snippets of nectar – 5

Sri Sri Vraja-Vilasa-Stava (by Sripad Raghunath das Goswami) pura premodrekaih pratipada-navananda-madhuraih krita-sri-gandharvacyuta-carana-varyarcana-balat nikamam svaminyah priyatara-saras-tira-bhuvane vasanti sphita ye ta iha mama jivatava ime Because of having worshiped the beautiful lotus feet of Sri Gandharva and Acyuta with the ever-fresh sweetness of ecstatic spiritual love in their previous lives, some great souls are able to live … Continue reading Snippets of nectar – 5

Snippets of nectar – 4

Srila Thakura Mahasaya (Narottama Dasa Thakura) sings: radhika carana renu, bhushana koriya tanu, anayase pabe giridhari radhika caranasraya, ye kore se mahasaya, tare mui yau bolihari "If you decorate your body with Radhika's footdust, you will easily attain Giridhari. I praise the great soul who takes shelter of Radhika's lotus feet!" The only means to … Continue reading Snippets of nectar – 4

Snippets of nectar – 3

Sri Sri Vraja-vilasa-stava by Sripad Raghunatha das Goswami Verse 87 muda gopendrasyatmaja-bhuja-parishvanga-nidhaye sphurad-gopi-vrindair yam iha bhagavantam pranayibhih bhajadbhis tair bhaktya svam abhilashitam praptam acirad yami-tire gopisvaram anudinam tam kila bhaje I daily worship Gopisvara Sadasiva, who was devotedly worshipped on the bank of the Yamuna by the loving gopis who desired the jewel-like embrace of … Continue reading Snippets of nectar – 3

The role of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu AND Sri Advaita Acarya

Some devotees claim that Sriman Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Advaita Acarya can only "bestow general bhakti" (what is that actually?) and that they have "no role in Vraja-lila". We simply cannot agree. First of all, Srila Narottama das Thakur sings: heno nitāi bine bhāi, rādhā-kṛṣṇa pāite nāi "Unless one takes shelter under the shade of … Continue reading The role of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu AND Sri Advaita Acarya

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu´s “Siksastakam” – Verse 8 (excerpt)

aslishya va padaratam pinashtu mam adarsanan marma-hatam karotu va yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato mat prananathas tu sa eva naparah (Sri Radha said:) “Krishna may embrace this girl, who is devoted to His lotus feet, or He may break Her heart by not showing Himself to Her. He can do whatever He wants. He is, … Continue reading Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu´s “Siksastakam” – Verse 8 (excerpt)

Snippets of Nectar – 2

Pure Vraja-love Mahaprabhu recited this Sikshashtakam to teach the people of the world what are the symptoms of pure love and He personally explained these verses. Srila Kaviraja’s words at the end of the verses of instruction for the people of the world, se prema janaite loke, “This prema He taught to people”, mean that … Continue reading Snippets of Nectar – 2

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu´s “Siksastakam” – Verse 7 (excerpt)

yugayitam nimeshena cakshusha pravrishayitam sunyayitam jagad sarvam govinda virahena me O Govinda! Out of separation from You, the whole world appears to be void. Tears are streaming from My eyes like showers of rain and a single moment appears to Me like a millennium. The Lord now leaves His sadhaka-consciousness and shows His mahabhava-condition by … Continue reading Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu´s “Siksastakam” – Verse 7 (excerpt)

Srila Ananta das Babaji´s teachings series – Episode 10

On raganuga-bhakti Topics covered in this episode: • Sequence of smarana  – On the sequence of remembering the pastimes of Krishna. • Radha as Shyamaa  – A description of Radha as the shyama-heroine. • Sakhis and nayikas  – On the descriptions of the eight sakhis in Dhyanachandra's manual. • On lila-smarana  – On remembering the pastimes of Gaura and … Continue reading Srila Ananta das Babaji´s teachings series – Episode 10