Dear devotees and friends: We humbly invite you to participate along with devotees from Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Global New Jersey in the grand festival for Sri Radhastami on Saturday September 23, 2023.
Fast until noon.
The festival will include kirtana, discourses and other auspicious activities. Please RSVP via our contact page.
Included is a link for the pleasure of the devotees on this most auspicious of days – Sri Radha: “in charge of the domestic affairs of Krishna.”
Dear devotees and friends: We humbly invite you to participate at the Sri Gaura Vinoda Saraswat Sanga Global Headquarters in New Jersey, USA in the celebration of the grand festival of Sri Krishna Janmastami on Friday the 19th September 7, 2023 at 8pm until 12am midnight Friday, September 8th 2023.
Complete fast until midnight, then no grains (anukalpa).
Janmastami-vrata paran is at 6:05 AM Friday September 8, 2023.
You are also invited to attend Sri Nandotsava and Thakura Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada appearance day celebrations the following morning on Friday 8th September 2023.
The festivals will include kirtana, discourses and other auspicious activities. Please RSVP via our contact page.
Date: 2/16/23
On January 27, 2023 I posted “Paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam!” which contained the following text from my email to Srimati Govinda Nandini Devi dasi.
“When I first viewed the video you sent me of your street sankirtana (attached to your email of 12/9/22) I didn’t positively recognize you. I just viewed it again and see that you are playing a harmonium, chanting and looking very energetic, happy and still youthful.”
Yesterday (2/15/23) I received an email from Srimati Govinda Nandini Devi in which she corrected my misunderstanding as follows.
“Today I was at Harinama after a long break. I recorded a video for you so that you wouldn’t confuse me with other young energetic mataji. (Smile) Earlier I sent you a video of Camila playing the harmonium. I am also in this video, but in the background. I will attach photos and videos to you. I play the tambourine in Harinama.”
Included with her email was the photo below.
Unless I am again mistaken, she is pictured playing the tambourine.
Therefore, I issue the following correction.
This sentence-
“I just viewed it again and see that you are playing a harmonium, chanting and looking very energetic, happy and still youthful.”… Read More...
January 27, 2023
Dear Srimati Govinda Nandini Devi,
Please accept my blessings and well wishes in remembrance of my Divine Masters.
I hope I will hear from you soon that your health has recovered.
When I first viewed the video you sent me of your street sankirtana (attached to your email of 12/9/22) I didn’t positively recognize you. I just viewed it again and see that you are playing a harmonium, chanting and looking very energetic, happy and still youthful.
Once I was with Srila Sridhara Maharaja who was speaking with us on his veranda as his kirtana party was returning from morning sankirtana around Navadwipa. As the group came nearer to us and the chanting grew louder his attention was being drawn more and more away from us and towards the sankirtana party. By the time it entered the gate of the Math Srila Sridhara Maharaja was becoming more and more joyful and animated. Finally he broke his talk on the present topic and told us (paraphrasing) ”I cannot dance any more, but in my heart I am dancing.” He was so much pleased to hear the kirtana party.
My feeling was similar while watching and listening to the video of your kirtana group and seeing everyone in a very happy mood.… Read More...
Date: 12/8/22
Subject: “They only sing bhajans . . . so I go to ISKCON for kirtans”
Dear Srimati Govinda Nandini Devi,Please accept my blessings and well-wishes in remembrance of my Divine Masters.In your letter to me dated 7/13/22 you wrote:
Lately, I have been feeling strong need to chant the Holy Name. In our Temple they only sing bhajans, they don’t sing Hare Krishna… so I go to Iskcon for kirtans. Unfortunately, sahajiya is flourishing there. But chanting under the protection and presence of Prabhupada is spiritual association. I was introduced to Krishna Consciousness in 1988 through Iskcon. Prabhupada was and is the Guru for me. So Iskcon is also my family. This is my situation now. My life belongs to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga and I have complete trust in Them. Whatever happens, They will guide me to the right path. For my part, I only accept what is favorable for my spiritual life and reject what is unfavorable.
I have some questions and comments about some of the items you mentioned.
In our Temple they only sing bhajans, they don’t sing Hare Krishna… so I go to Iskcon for kirtans.
When you say ”our Temple”, to what are you referring?… Read More...
Dear devotees and friends, we humbly invite you to participate in the festival for the Grand 94th Appearance Day Celebration of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math’s Sevaite President Acharya, Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya-varya Astottara-sata Sri Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaja which will take place at SCSM Global Headquarters in New Jersey, USA and worldwide centres on Tuesday, December 10, 2022.
This festival will include kirtana, discourses and other all-auspicious activities. Please RSVP by clicking on the contact page and using one of the methods available there.
(Copied word for word on 10/25/95 from a notice posted on the bulletin board of the Calcutta Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.)
Ail glories to Sri Sri Guru Gauranga
Nabadwip Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math & Associated Branch Maths
Compulsory Rules and Regulations for Eastern & Western Resident Servitors of the Math.
1.) As appropriate, everyone should give respect to one another whether junior or senior, and go on witli Hari Kirtan and a chaste life in the Math considering oneself “more humble than a blade of grass and as tolerant as a tree”. To criticize others or, discuss the defects of others, and idle talks are strictly to be avoided.
2) Bad association is to be avoided at all times; especially association of betrayers of the Acharya and the association of persons who are unchaste or of loose character must be shunned like poison. Bad association is the worst enemy and the destroyer of devotion.
3) All persons must always join without fail, Mangal aroti, parikrama, class and kirtan. If anyone fails to do so, they must fast from breakfast prasada.
4) Prasad seva must be punctually attended with full regard. Breakfast prasad 7:30 – 8:30 am.… Read More...
Date: 11/17/22
Dear _______,
Please accept my blessings and well-wishes in remembrance of my Divine Masters.
We received your book order as attached below.
It will be shipped to the address provided therein unless you instruct us differently.
I expect the book to ship Friday morning via Priority Mail with three day (or less) delivery.
You may be receiving our last available copy of Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion Volume Two. It is a beautiful book, both in content and presentation. I must admit to having mixed feelings about sending it to you. I think it is going to a good home, so I’m pleased you’ll be getting it. At the same time I will feel some loss at seeing it leave us.
If you are able to appreciate the content in the way it is meant to be appreciated I’m sure you will receive a great gift you will find both pleasing and inspiring.
I hope this finds you well in all respects.
Sincerely,
Swami B.K. Giri
Dear devotees and friends: We humbly invite you to participate at the Sri Gaura Vinoda Saraswat Sanga Global Headquarters in New Jersey, USA in the celebration of the grand festival of Sri Krishna Janmastami on Friday the 19th August 2022 at 8pm until 12am midnight. Complete fast all day until midnight (then no grains).
You are also invited to attend Sri Nandotsava and Thakura Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada appearance day celebrations the following morning on Saturday 20th August.
The festivals will include kirtana, discourses and other auspicious activities. Please RSVP via our contact page.
[Email to: Sripada Jayadvaita Swami (Date: 6/23/22) as a follow up to our meeting on 6/14/22. ]
My dandavats to you.
Thank you for your latest email (below). I always enjoy reading your responses. Yes, they often frustrate me when I can’t seem to get my points across, but sometimes I do.
Am I ”a little combative” Yes. Thank you. Aren’t we following in a line of combatants? Nikhila-bhuvana-maya-chinnavichinna-karttri ” Slashing and smashing the illusion of the whole mundane plane, Dealing the deathblow to the scholars’ manic search for liberation’s throne . . . ”
Prabhupada Pranama
nikhila-bhuvana-māyā-chinna-vichinna-kartrī
vibudha-bahula-mṛgyā-mukti-mohānta-dātrī
śithilita-vidhi-rāgārādhya-rādheśa-dhānī
vilasatu hṛdi nityaṁ bhaktisiddhānta-vāṇī
[“Slashing and smashing the illusion of the whole mundane plane, Dealing the deathblow to the scholars’ manic search for liberation’s throne; Relaxing calculation, for the realm of Pure Devotion in Love of Śrī Rādhā’s Lord Supreme: O Abode of Divine Love – Divine Message of Śrī-Bhakti-Siddhānta, May you dance and play and sing your song within my heart forever.”] [Śrī Caitanya Saraswatī]
Straight, clear, nikhila-bhuvana-māyā-chinna-vichinna, cutting asunder into pieces, nikhila-bhuvana-māyā, the pleasure of misconceptions of the misconceived world, and vibudha-bahula-mṛgyā, and so many scholars who put their heads together to find out different remedies from the bondage of this mortal charm, but that is nothing but illusion.… Read More...
(Click on image to zoom)