The ultimate goal of all the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas' sādhanā is to attain the confidential nikuñja-sevā of Śrī-Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava. Although the ācāryas are eternal maidservants in the Vraja-nikuñjas, they have descended along with Śrīman Mahāprabhu to teach the world how to perform rāga-bhajana. By giving a perfect example they have made the practising devotees in this … Continue reading The ultimate goal of all the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas
Essays
The highest step a sādhaka can ascend to on the staircase of relish in the kingdom of bhāva sādhana
Mañjarī bhāva sādhakas desire only Śrī Rādhā's service, and this service automatically includes the service of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Actually, there are no greater servants of Kṛṣṇa than the mañjarīs, for they serve Him with the ingredient of mādanākhya mahābhāva! Their greatest service paraphernalia in Govinda's service is their Śrī Rādhārāṇī, who is dearer to them … Continue reading The highest step a sādhaka can ascend to on the staircase of relish in the kingdom of bhāva sādhana
Fixed determination
Unswerving faith in the words of the saints, the spiritual master and the scriptures is called śraddhā. This śraddhā qualifies the devotee to commence bhajana or devotional practice. A person who doubts the words of the saints, the spiritual master or the scriptures can’t experience anything tanglible as a result from his devotional practice, therefore … Continue reading Fixed determination
Śrī Rādhā meets Her Beloved
On Jaṭilā’s order Śrī Rādhārāṇī leaves Her village Yāvaṭa to go and worship the sungod with Her girlfriends, but instead She goes to Rādhākuṇḍa to meet Kṛṣṇa there. With Her left hand She holds the hand of Her friend Kundalatā and with Her right hand She twirls around Her play-lotus. In this way the Rādhā-Surataraṅginī … Continue reading Śrī Rādhā meets Her Beloved
The crown-jewel of all the sweet adolescent girls of Vraja
Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the emperor of the fullest rasa and Śrī Rādhā is the empress of the fullest bhāva. When we study rasa and bhāva we find that bhāva is the worshipper and rasa is the worshipped. Within this worshipped/worshipper relationship Śrī Rādhā is the crown jewel of all Vraja’s mahābhāvavatī-madhura-kiśorīs , because She can … Continue reading The crown-jewel of all the sweet adolescent girls of Vraja
O Queen of my life…make me your maidservant
hā hā prāṇeśvari! tuyā viccheda anale; niravadhi prāṇa mora dhiki dhiki jvalee duḥkha sāgara hoite uddhāra koriyā; śrī caraṇe rākho more kiṅkarī koriyāheno dina ki hobe tava śrī mukhera vāṇī; karṇete śunibo āra nūpurera dhvanitomāra lāvaṇyāmṛta nayana caṣake; kobe vā koribo pāna parānanda sukheāghrāna koribo tava aṅga parimala; pulake pūrṇita hobe mora kalevarakobe tavocchiṣṭāmṛta dibe … Continue reading O Queen of my life…make me your maidservant
Utkalika Vallari, verse 26
VERSE 26 KVA JANO'YAM ATĪVA PĀMARAḤ KVA DURĀPAṀ RATI BHĀGBHIR APY ADAḤ IYAM ULLALAYATY AJARJARĀ GURUR UTTARṢA-DHURĀ TATHĀPI MĀM Where is a low fool like me? Where is this loving devotional service, that is hard to attain even by the loving devotees? Still I feel a new strong desire for this and this makes me … Continue reading Utkalika Vallari, verse 26
Krishna says: “Wherever I hear the words ‘Śrī Rādhe Śrī Rādhe’ from anyone’s mouth, in that direction My mind runs!”
"I could not get aquainted with She who is everything to me! I never even think of the maidservice of Śrī Rādhā, to whom my merciful Guru has introduced me! My bodily consciousness is so strong, everything is adverse to the mood I desire! What a waste our life is when we don't even get … Continue reading Krishna says: “Wherever I hear the words ‘Śrī Rādhe Śrī Rādhe’ from anyone’s mouth, in that direction My mind runs!”
Those who are most dear to the great Queen of Vṛndāraṇya (Śrī Rādhikā)
tāmbūlārpaṇa-pāda-mardana-payo-dānābhisārādibhir vṛndāraṇya-maheśvarīṁ priyatayā yās toṣayanti priyāḥ | prāṇa-preṣṭha-sakhī-kulād api kilāsaṅkocitā-bhūmikāḥ kelī-bhūmiṣu rūpa-mañjarī-mukhās tā dāsikāḥ saṁśraye "I take shelter of Śrī Rādhikā’s maidservants, headed by Rūpa Mañjarī, who always engage in serving betel leaves, massaging the feet, serving water, and arranging for the Divine Couple’s secret trysts. These maidservants are even more dear to the great … Continue reading Those who are most dear to the great Queen of Vṛndāraṇya (Śrī Rādhikā)
Amazing grace
These days I was meditating quite a lot on how fortunate we are to be able to practice manjari bhava sadhana. Manjari bhava sadhana means everything is about our beloved Svamini Radhika [and to assist Her in pleasing Krishna]. Manjari bhava sadhana means to always identify our own selves as kinkaris (maidservants) of Srimati Radhika. … Continue reading Amazing grace
