26 October 2024 (Saturday) Invitation to Srila Sridhar Maharaja’s 130th Appearance Day Celebration!

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Dear devotees and friends, we humbly invite you to participate in the festival for the Grand 130th Appearance Day Celebration of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math’s Founder President Acharya, Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya-varya Astottara-sata Sri Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Dev-Goswami Maharaja which will take place at the Sri Gaura Vinoda Saraswat Sanga headquarters in New Jersey, USA and at GVSS centers around the world on October 26th 2024 from 7-9 PM.

This festival will include Nama sankirtana, discourses and other all-auspicious activities. Please RSVP by clicking on the contact page and using one of the methods available there.

“Free Books” is Not Authorized

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10/16/24

Dear Sriman Gaura dasa,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

I don’t think I’ve heard from you for about 2 years.

In one of your last emails to me (9/22/22) you wrote:

I apologize to you for asking you if you have any books you would like me to distribute. I had never distributed any of Srila Sridhar Maharaja’s books before, but I thought if I met any professors at any universities I visited along my travels, they might also appreciate them, in addition to Srila Prabhupada’s books.  I have met devotees over the years that have asked me to distribute a box of Srila Prabhupada’s books so I thought to ask if you were interested in having me do that.

I have never been one to generate much profit from distributing books.  When devotees have sponsored a box of BBT books to me in the past, I do not generate profit for myself from the books other than trying to cover  basic vehicle maintenance for any books that I distribute because the maintenance of a vehicle to distribute them, as well as the cost of gas is very high and almost cost prohibitive. I just received a bill of $ 1400 for new tires, oil change, transmission oil change, coolant, undercoating for rust in the winter etc… A brake job soon due is $ 800.… Read More...

11 September 2024 (Wednesday) Invitation to Sri Radhastami. Appearance day of Srimati Radharani!

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Dear devotees and friends: We humbly invite you to participate along with devotees from Sri Gaura Vinoda Saraswat Sanga New Jersey in the grand festival for Sri Radhastami on Wednesday September 11, 2024.

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.”

28 August 2024 (Wednesday) Invitation to Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami’s Appearance Festival!

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You are invited to attend Sri Nandotsava and Thakura Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada appearance day celebrations the morning of Wednesday 28th August 2024 at 1 PM. These festivities will follow the previous evening’s program of Sri Krishna Janmastami, which should conclude around 12 Noon.

The festivals will include kirtana, discourses and other auspicious activities. Please RSVP via our contact page.

27 August 2024 (Tuesday) Invitation to Sri Krishna Janmastami. Appearance of Lord Krishna!

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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 Tuesday August 27, 2024 at 8pm until 12am midnight Wednesday, August 28th 2024.

Complete fast until midnight, then no grains (anukalpa).

Janmastami-vrata paran is at 12:34 AM Wednesday August 28, 2024.

You are also invited to attend Sri Nandotsava and Thakura Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada appearance day celebrations the following morning on Wednesday 28th August 2024.

The festivals will include kirtana, discourses and other auspicious activities. Please RSVP via our contact page.

Giri Makes the News!

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The Russian Giri

Giri village near Belitsa, Russia

Locals report Ukrainian military is in Giri village near Belitsa, Russia.

As the Ukraine army moves to liberate Giri from those intent on repressing it, I wish them well.

Our Giri

All glories to Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Giri-dhari. May They bestow Their blessings upon us all.

Swami B.K. Giri

Gandhi? Yes. Mahatma? No! His God was charka not Kṛṣṇa.

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Yes; there was a Gandhi, but he was no mahatma. Srila Prabhupada explains—

Guest: What about the argument, not [indistinct], but India we see that every great saint personality has surrendered to Kṛṣṇa, even Mahatma Gandhi?

Prabhupāda: No, no, no, no.

Guest: He was also taking his…

Prabhupāda: No, no. Don’t say like that. Surrender of Kṛṣṇa is different. Then you have to understand what is surrender. Mahatma never surrendered to Kṛṣṇa. He surrendered to yourself; therefore you killed him. [Indian laughs] He surrendered to his countrymen, and his countrymen killed him. He was working for his countrymen. That’s all. He never worked for Kṛṣṇa.

Guest: But the Gītā was always with him.

Prabhupāda: But, but, no “but.” You see from the action.

Guest: I also read Gītā. What’s the difference? I mean, Mahatma Gandhi…

Prabhupāda: He never surrendered to Kṛṣṇa. I wrote him letter, “Mahatma Gandhi, you have got so much influence. You just preach the gospel of Kṛṣṇa…, Bhagavad-gītā. Now we have attained svarāj. You don’t be in politics.” But he was still in politics after attainment of svarāj. And his assistants became disgusted because he was interfering, and therefore he was killed.… Read More...

Friday 17 May 2024 – Invitation to the Celebration of the Appearance of Sri Nityananda Prabhu!

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Appearance of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Fast until noon.

Come and participate in the grand festival of Sri Nityannada Prabhu’s Appearance day! Festivities include kirtana, readings from the shastra, discourses and prasadam at our New Jersey branch from 7-9 PM local time.

Please RSVP via our contact page.

For your satisfaction we offer this link to an audio recording of Srila Govinda Maharaja’s talk on Sri Nityananda Prabhu’s Appearance Day from February 24, 1994.

Sri Nityananda Prabhu’s Appearance Day

nityanandam aham naumi
sarvananda-karam param
hari-nama-pradam devam
avadhuta-shiromanim

“I bow down to the Supreme Lord Nityananda Prabhu, who is the awarder of the highest joy to all, the bestower of the holy name and the crest jewel of all paramahamsa mendicants.”

Prabhupada on COVID Vaccines, Doctors & More.

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Revatīnandana: Should we try to avoid getting injections as much as possible?

Prabhupāda: That is my opinion.

 

”Germs are everywhere.” — Srila B.S. Govinda Maharaja

Sometime in 2009 (probably around the time of Gaura Purnima) Srila Govinda Maharaja summoned me to cut his hair.

I was very enthusiastic for the opportunity to serve His Divine Grace in such a personal way. However, I had been suffering for some time with influenza or something that produced similar symptoms. Even though I thought it might ruin my chance to render service to Srila Govinda Maharaja I thought it best to inform him of my hesitation since my being in such close proximity might cause my infection to spread to him. Raising his hand he waived it in a manner of dismissiveness and said ”Germs are everywhere.”

As the panic over the COVID pandemic intensified, pressures arose from many quarters to enforce measures ‘believed’ to limit the spread of the SARS II virus. The first imposition was the wearing of face masks or other cloth coverings.

Two entirely contradictory actions were also imposed: 1) maintain minimum distance of six feet from everyone and 2) remain indoors.

Remembering Srila Govinda Maharaja’s declaration ”Germs are everywhere.”… Read More...