Sri Sri Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi - Sripada Prabodhananda Sarasvati VERSE 1: NINDANTAM PULAKOTKARENA VIKASAN NIPA PRASINA CCHABIM PRORDDHIKRiTYA BHUJA DVAYAM HARI HARITY UCCAIR VADANTAM MUHUH NRiTYANTAM DRUTAM ASRU NIRJHARA CAYAIH SINCANTAM IRVI-TALAM GAYANTAM NIJA PARShADAIH PARIVRiTAM SRI GAURACANDRAM NUMAH I offer my obeisances unto Lord Gauracandra, Who is surrounded by all His associates and Whose body … Continue reading “If Gaura had not come…”

Madhurya-kadambini, verse 1 (Srila Vishvanatha Cakravartipada)hrid-vapre nava-bhakti-sasya-vitateh sanjivani svagama- rambhe kama-taparttu-daha-damani visvapagollasini duran me maru-sakhino ’pi sarasi-bhavaya bhuyat prabhu- sri-caitanya-kripa-nirankusa-maha-madhurya-kadambiniTRANSLATION: The causeless and completely independent mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is like a cloud bank of exquisitely sweet nectar that infuses life in the grains of ninefold bhakti in the devotee’s heart, from the very … Continue reading The cloud bank of exquisitely sweet nectar – Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu´s mercy

What is‘Rasa’? ‘Rasa’ is something unearthly and beyond the Laws of Nature. Like Brahman, Rasa is inconceivable and inexpressible. We can only realize Rasa and cannot arrive at it with logic. Rasa transcends all thought-processes and gives us relish when our chitta has attained the state of pure goodness and shines brilliantly. Those who do … Continue reading Rasa-tattva-vijnana (by Radhakunda Mahanta Sri Srimat Ananta das Babaji)

mahajanera yei patha,           tate hobo anurata, purvapara koriya vicara sadhana smarana lila,          ihate na koro hela kaya mane koriya susara (14) "I will remain dedicated to the path outlined by the mahajanas, the great authorities, distinguishing between the former and the later. Do not neglect the … Continue reading Following the great souls & the power of rememberance

jaya sanatana rupa,                         prema bhakti rasa kupa yugala ujjvalamaya tanu yahara prasade loka,                       pasarilo sab soka, prakata kalapa taru janu (8)   "All glories to Sanatana and Rupa Gosvami, the wells of the nectar of loving devotion! Their bodies are filled with the blazing flavours of the pastimes of the Divine Couple! By their … Continue reading The glories of Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Sanatana Goswami

vaishnava carana renu, bhushana koriya tanu, yaha hoite anubhava hoy marjana hoy bhajana, sadhu sange anukshana, ajnana avidya parajaya (7) - Sripad Narottama das Thakur Mahasaya (Prema Bhakti Chandrika) "Adorn your bodies with the foot dust of the Vaishnavas, so you will gain transcendental experience. By constantly performing bhajana in the company of the saints … Continue reading The glories of the foot dust of the Vaishnavas

TEXT 3: vaidhi bhaktir bhavet sastram bhaktau cet syat pravartakam raganuga syac ced bhaktau lobha eva pravartakah  "When devotion is prompted by scriptural injunctions, then that is called vaidhi-bhakti, but when it is prompted simply by spiritual greed, then it is called raganuga-bhakti." Kripa-kanika Vyakhya: We have explained that there are two kinds of sadhana … Continue reading Raganuga-bhakti and vaidhi-bhakti (excerpt from “Raga-Vartma-Chandrika” by Sripad Vishvanatha Cakravartipad)

yugala carana sevi, nirantara ei bhavi, anuragi thakibo sadaya. sadhana bhavibo yaha, siddha-dehe pabo taha raga pathera ei se upaya (55) "I will always think of the devotional service of the lotus-feet of the Divine Pair, and I will always remain attached to that. Whatever I think of during my spiritual practice, I will attain … Continue reading The similarity of practice (sadhana) and perfection (siddha) – excerpt from Sri Sri Prema Bhakti Chandrika

What is raganuga-bhakti? We have learnt about sadhana-bhakti in the chapter ‘A Scientific Study of Bhakti’. Sadhan- bhakti is of two types - - Vaidhi - Raganuga Vaidhi-bhakti is when we perform bhakti because of scriptural injunctions, while raganuga-bhakti has only one qualification – greed. When we are greedy for Sri Krishna-prema and this is the sole reason why we practice bhakti, then we call it … Continue reading Raganuga-tattva-vijnana (Srila Ananta das Babaji)