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Saturday, August 9th, 2008
| Time |
Event |
| 2:03p |
Key Events in the Life of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
(1486-1533 AD - 47 years)
* February 18, 1486 - His birth in Sri Mayapura
* August, 1486 (age 6 months) ceremony of giving first grains, and ceremony of offering coins and the Srimad-Bhagavatam (He chose the Bhagavatam)
* 1494 (age 8) - He begins His schooling under Ganga Dasa Pandita
* 1496 (age 10) - He becomes a scholar; His brother Visva-rupa takes sannyasa
* 1500 (age 14) - He marries Srimati Laksmi-Priya
* 1502 (age 16) - He starts His own school, teaching Sanskrit grammar
* 1503 (age 17) - He travels to Gaya and accepts initiation from Isvara Puri
* 1509 (age 23) - He propagates the sankirtana movement; He delivers Chand Kazi
* 1510 (age 24) - He formally accepts the renounced order of sannyasa
* February 1510 (age 25) - He travels to Puri, Orissa; He visits the Deity Saksi-Gopala
* March 1510 - He meets with Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and converts him to vaisnavism
* April 1510 - He continues toward South India; He meets Ramananda Raya
* August-November 1510 - He spends Caturmasya in Ranga-ksetra
* June 1511 (age 26) - He returns to Jagannatha Puri
* October 1514 (age 28) - He travels to Bengal and meets Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis
* June 1515 (age 29) - He returns to Puri via Santipura; He starts for Sri Vrndavana
* June 1516 (age 30) - He returns to Puri, remaining there for His final 17 years (to 1533)
* 1516-1522 - He inspires active preaching work while based in Puri
* March 1517 (age 31) - Sri Rupa Gosvami arrives from Vrndavana; then Sri Sanatana
* July 1517 - Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami is freed from family duties and comes to Puri also
* March 1518 (age 32) - Sri Sanatana is sent Vrndavana; Vallabhacarya arrives
* 1520 (age 34) - The passing away of Sri Haridasa Thakura is celebrated
* 1532 (age 46) - The Mahaprabhu's distressful separation from Lord Krsna increases markedly
* 1533 (age 47) - His disappearance pastime in the temple of Tota Gopinatha | | 2:06p |
Books about Lord Caitanya and His pure eternal associates
srimad-bhagavatam divyam
puranam vacanam tada
gauranvayasya sampraptir
bhavisyati na samsayah
"Then he will hear the splendid Srimad Bhagavatam Purana, which predicts
that the Supreme Personality of Godhead will appear in a fair-complexioned form. Of this there is no doubt." (Garga Samhita 5.24.83)
(1) Sri Caitanya-bhagavata by Srila Vrindavan das Thakura
(2) Sri Caitanya-caritamrta by Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja
(3) Sri Caitanya-mangala by Srila Locana das Thakura
(4) Sri Krsna Caitanya-caritamrta-maha-kavyam
by Caitanya Dasa (elder brother of Kavi Karnapura)
(5) Sri Caitanya-candramrta by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati
(6) Sri Caitanya-candrodaya natakam by Kavi Karnapura
(7) Bhakti Ratnakara by Narahari Cakravarti
(8) Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's incarnation is authorized, compiled by Kusakratha Das
(9) Glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, many prayers compiled by Kusakratha Das
(10) Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika by Kavi Karnapura
(11) Gaura-caritra-samudra by Narahari Cakravarti
(12) Sri Gaura-krsnodaya by Srimad Govinda-deva Kavi
(13) Sriman Mahaprabhor Asta-kaliya-lila Smarana Mangala Stotram (daily eight-fold pastimes of Lord Gauranga, Sanskrit) by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, Rupa Gosvami's Gauranga-smarana-mangala-astakam and Visvanatha's Svapna Vilasamrta.
(14) Commentary on Sriman Mahaprabhor Asta-kaliya-lila Smarana Mangala Stotram in Bengali (Krsna das, disciple of Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura).
(15) Sri Gauranga-lila-smarana-mangala-stotram by Bhaktivinoda Thakura
(16) Navadvipa-bhava-taranga by Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Bhaja godruma kanana
(17) Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya Pramana Khanda & Parikrama Khanda by Bhaktivinoda Thakura
(18) Navadvipa-sataka by Prabodhanada Sarasvati
(19) Narottama Vilasa by Narahari Cakravarti
(20) Rasika Mangala by Gopijana-vallabha Das
(21) Srinivas-carita by Narahari Cakravarti
(22) Shyamananda Prakash by Krsnacaran Das
(23) Shyamananda-satakam by Rasikananda Deva
(24) Karnananda by By Yadunandana Das
(25) Prema-vivarta by Jagadananda Pandit
(26) Namamrta Samudra by Narahari Cakravarti
(27) Sri Gaura-premollasa-stotram by Nandakisora Gosvami
(28) Prema-vilasa by Nityananda Dasa
(29-33) Gitavali, Saranagati, Kalyana-kalpataru, Gitamala, Baul-sangit by Bhaktivinoda Thakura
(34) Hari-nama-cintamani by Bhaktivinoda Thakura
(35) Krsna-prema-tarangini (full Bhagavatam in Bengali) by Bhagavatacarya | | 2:08p |
Memorial Paraphernalia from the Caitanya Era
Dasaratha-suta Das
(A) Personal Items
(1) Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's wooden sandals, clay water-pot and quilt - in His room called Gambhira at the Sri Radha-Kanta Matha, Jagannatha Puri.
(2) Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's shawl (upper cloth) - at the Sri Madana-Mohana Mandira, Saithiya Bhadrak District, Orissa (on the bank of the Salindi River).
(3) Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's wooden sandals, cloth and water-pot - at the Grantha-Mandira Sri Bhagavatacarya-Patabadi, Varaha-nagara, Calcutta.
(4) A wooden seat (asana) that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sent to Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami - at Sri Radha-Ramana Mandira, Vrndavana (mentioned in many biographies).
(5) Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's wooden sandals - at Udaya Giri near Bhuvanesvara in Orissa.
(6) Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's wooden paddle (that He used to cross the Ganga) - at Sri Gauridasa Pandita's Mandira, Ambika Kalna, Bengal, Nadiya District (mentioned in Bhakti-Ratnakara, 7.335).
(7) Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's turban - at Sri Haridasa Gosvami's home Navadvipa.
(8) Sriman Nityananda Prabhu's Ananta-Sila, Tripura-Sundari-Yantra, and wooden walking-stick - at Khadadaha Mandira, Bengal.
(9) Sri Sanatana Gosvami's fine Bhutanese blanket - at Etoya on the Yamuna River.
(10) Sri Abhirama Thakura's whip named Jaya-Mangala and his stick named Brahma-Danda - at his temple in Khana-kula Krsna-nagara, Bengal.
(11) Sri Haridasa Thakura's bead-bag and walking stick - at the Haridasa Thakura Matha, Jagannatha Puri, Orissa.
(12) Sri Raghu-nandana Thakura's ankle-bells - at the Mahanta Bati in Kudui-grama, Varddhamana, Bengal.
(13) Srinivasa Acarya Prabhu's wooden sandals - at Vana-Visnu-Pura, Bankuda.
(14) Sri Rasikananda Prabhu's neck-beds and quilt - at Sripata Gopi-vallabha-pura.
(15) Sri Locana Dasa Thakura's stone sitting-place that he had used when writing Sri Caitanya-Mangala - at Ko-grama, Varddhamana District.
(16) Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's piece of dhoti - kept in the family of Lokanatha Swami (ISKCON). Part of it also keeps Indradyumna Swami.
(B) Original Handwriting
(1) Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's handwritten Bhagavad-Gita - at Ambika Kalna in Gauridasa Pandita's Mandira (mentioned in Bhakti-Ratnakara, 7.340)
(2) Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's handwritten notes between the lines of Bhagavad-Gita that was handwritten by Sri Gadadhara Pandita Gosvami - at Bharata-Pura.
(3) Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's handwritten notes on Srimad-Bhagavatam manuscript - Denuda, Varaha-nagar at Patabadi Library, Varddhamana District.
(4) Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's handwritten copy of the book Candi-Grantha - at Buru-grama, District Sri Hatta, Bengal.
(5) Sri Gadadhara Pandita's handwritten Srimad-Bhagavatam - at Denuda.
(6) Handwritten books by Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami - at Sri Radha Damodara Mandira in Vrndavana and at Haribol Kutira, Navadvipa,
(7) Sri Vrndavana Dasa Thakur's handwritten Sri Caitanya-Bhagavatam - at Denuda.
(8) Sri Bhagavat Acarya's handwritten Prema-Tarangini - at Varaha-nagara Patabadi.
(9) A letter written by Sri Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami pertaining to Sri Radha-Kunda - at Radha Kunda and in the library at Panihati.
(10) A bill of sale for some land in Vraja, written from a local resident to Sri Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami - at Varaha-nagara Library.
(11) An old letter written by Humayuna Bada Shah regarding the prohibition of killing animals in Vraja - at Sri Vrndavana.
(C) Sacred Footprints
(1) Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's footprints in stone - at the Jagannatha Mandira, Puri, Orissa. Formerly, these were next to the pillar called Garuda-stambha, but they were moved to a small temple near the north gate of Mandira.
(2) Impression of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's body offering full dandavat (prostrated obeisances with all limbs) - at the Alalanatha Mandira, 14 miles from Puri.
(3) Sri Advaita Prabhu's footprints - upon a grindstone at Jhadu-Mandala in Sri Vrndavana.
(4) Sri Krsna's footprints - atop the mountain called Carana-Pahadi in Kamyavana (one of the 12 forests of Vraja).
(5) Footprints of Sri Krsna and hoofprints of His cows - at carana-pahadi in the village of Baithana in Vraja.
(6) Rocks from Govardhana Hill bearing Sri Krsna's footprint - at the Radha-Damodara Mandira in Sri Vrndavana and also in Jaipura.
(7) Sri Krsna's footprints in rock atop the hill of Nandisvara (Nanda-grama) in Vraja.
(8) A rock from Govardhana Hill bearing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's thumb-print, which He gave to Sri Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami - at Radha-Gokulananda Mandira, Vrndavana.
(D) Early Deities
(1) Deity of Sri Gaura established by Sri Visnu-priya - at Navadvipa (mentioned by Murari Gupta in Caitanya-Carita, 4.14.8).
(2) Sri Nitai Gaura established by Gauridasa Pandita - at Ambika Kalna (mentioned by Murari Gupta in Sri Caitanya-Carita, 4.14.12).
(3) Sri Nitai-Gaura established by Murari Gupta - at Bana-Khandi Mahadeva, Vrndavana.
(4) Sri Gaura-Govinda established by Sri Kasisvara Pandita - at Sri Govinda Mandira in Vrndavana (mentioned in Sadhan-Dipika, Ch. 2, page 24).
(5) Sri Gaura-Nityananda established by Sri Mahesa Pandita - at Cakadaha, Palapada.
(6) Sri Gaura-Gopala established by Sri Jagadisa Pandita - at Yasoda, Nadiya.
(7) Three Deities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that were made during His presence - one installed by Narahari Sarakara Thakura at Srikhanda; one installed by Sri Gadadhara Dasa at Katoya and one installed by Sri Kamsari Ghosa at Ganga-nagara (Baguda).
(8) Sri Laksmi-priya and Gauranga discovered in an abandoned barn by Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura - at Khetuda (mentioned in Bhakti-Ratnakara, 10.191-203).
(9) Sri Sri Yaso-Madhava discovered by Sri Jagannatha Thakura - at Adiyala, Daka.
(10) Sri Meyo-Krsna served by Sri Gadadhara Pandita Gosvami - at Bharata-pura, Mursidabad Districts.
(11) Sri Bala Gopala served by Sri Satya-bhanu Upadhyaya (the wandering vipra mentioned in Sri Caitanya-Bhagavata) - at Sri Haridasa Gosvami's home, Navadvipa.
(12) Sri Ksira-cora Gopinatha - at Remuna Orissa.
(13) Sri Gopinatha served by Sri Abhirama Thakura - at Khana-Kula Krsna-nagara.
(14) Sri Tota-Gopinatha found by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Yamesvara Tota - at Jagannatha Puri, Orissa
(15) Sri Saksi-Gopala - formerly at Kataka, now at a temple near Puri.
Deities Established By The Gosvamis
(16) Sri Govinda installed by Srila Rupa Gosvami at Vrndavana - now in Jaipura.
(17) Sri Madana-Mohana installed by Srila Sanatana Gosvami at Vrndavana - in Karauli.
(18) Sri Radha Damodara installed by Srila Jiva Gosvami in Vrndavana - in Jaipura.
(19) Sri Radha-Ramana installed by Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami - in Vrndavana.
(20) Sri Gopinatha installed by Srila Madhu Pandita Gosvami at Vrndavana - in Jaipura.
(21) Sri Radha-Vinoda installed by Srila Lokanatha Gosvami - now in Jaipura.
(22) Sri Syama-Sundara installed by Srila Syamananda Prabhu - now in Jaipura.
(23) Sri Gokulananda installed by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura - in Vrndavana along with Sri Radha-Vijaya-Govinda of Srila Baladeva Vidya-bhusana and Sri Caitanya of Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura.
Deities Established In Vraja By Vajra-nabha, Sri Krsna's Great-grandson
(24-27) Four Devas - (in Vrndavana) Sri Govinda-deva; (in Mathura) Sri Kesava-deva; (in Govardhana) Sri Hari-deva; (in Maha-vana) Sri Baladeva.
(28-31) Four Gopalas - (in Vrndavana) Saksi-Gopala, Gopinath-Gopala, Madana-Gopala; (in Govardhana) Srinatha-Gopala.
(32-35) Four Sivas - (in Mathura) Bhutesvara; (in Vrndavana) Gopisvara; (in Govardhana) Cakresvara; (in Kamya-vana) Kamesvara.
(36-39) Four Devis - (in Mathura) Maha-Devi; (in Vrndavana) Vrnda-Devi; (in Cira-Ghata) Katyayani; (in Sanketa) Sanketak Sanketa-Vasini.
Other Famous Early Deities
(40) Sri Syama-sundara in Khadadaha; (41) Sri Gaura-Nitai in Sukacara; (42) Sri Madana-Mohana in Panihati; (43) Sri Nanda-Dulala in Saibona; (44) Sri Jagannatha in Mahesa; (45) Sri Mahaprabhu in Catara; (46) Bala-Gopala in Endedaha; (47) Sri Radha Vallabha in Vallabha-pura; (48) Sri madana-Gopala in Santi-pura; (49) Mohana-Raya and Krsna-Raya in Baharampura; (50-55) the six sets of Deities established during Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura's celebration of the first Gaura-Purnima festival (appearance day of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu) in Khetari - Gauranga, Vallabhi-Kanta, Radha-Ramana, Vraja-Mohana, Radha-Kanta, and Sri Krsna; (56) Sri Nanda Dulala in Jalala-pura; (57) Sri Laksmi-Visnu-priya established in Rajasahi, Khetari, by Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura; (58) A Deity established in the King's palace of Puri by Maharaja Pratapa Rudra; (59) A Deity established in Campahati, Varddhamana, by Sri Vaninatha Thakura.
(E) Early Paintings
(1) Famous painting done by Sri Visakha Devi herself of Sri Madana-Gopala, painted for the pleasure of Srimati Radharani - as mentioned in Srila Rupa Gosvami's Vidagdha-Madhva-Nataka.
(2) Painting of Sriman Mahaprabhu - at Ma Jahnava Ghata next to Sri Radha-Kunda.
(3) Painting of Sri Mahaprabhu with His associates - at the King's palace in Kunja-ghata, Baharampura.
(4) Life-size painting of Sri Mahaprabhu - in the King's palace at Puri.
(5) Painting in Bhonsala House in Bombay (bought from Vargira Bangala).
(6) Painting of Rasa-Raja-Mahabhava at Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami's bhajana-kutira in Radha-kunda; upon the request of the Muslim emperor of Delhi, the royal artist of the King of Orissa went before Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and painted His portrait exactly true to the Lord's countenance.
(7) Painting of Sri Caitanya Sankirtana done in the mid-17th century; it used to be Srinivasa Acarya's house in Yaji-grama, but is now in Mallika Mahasaya Thakura's house in Endedaha. | | 2:11p |
Sri Nathaji
Mukunda Datta Das
The Deity now known as Sri Govardhana-nathaji, or Srinathaji, who now stays in Nathadvara, is the same Deity once worshiped by Srila Madhavendra Puri, the parama-guru of Lord Caitanya.
Probably the wealthiest Deity in North India, Srinathaji has always been enthusiastically pampered with elaborate and aesthetically refined seva, offered with great affection by many devotees. Especially notable are His diverse sringara (dressing and decoration) and bhoga offerings. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura suggests that we can all learn the art of Deity worship from those who worship Srinathaji. His lotus feet are seen by those who chant Hare Krsna without offense. He is in the pose of holding Govardhana hill aloft with His left hand (cf. CC Madhya-lila 18.38). Like in case of many ancient Deities, there is a pitha (rectangular frame) around His transcendental form, and it is decorated with various auspicious figures and symbols. The Lord's complexion is blackish, like monsoon clouds ready to burst and He often holds lotus flowers. He appears as a charming, seven year old boy. His eyes are also like lotus petals, or, according to Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami (Gopala-raja-stotra, 3), like the bow of Kamadeva; still others explain His downward gaze as His merciful glance, looking down upon us all (krpavalokana).
As described in the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Srinathaji was previously known as Gopala (cf. CC Madhya-lila 4.1). His worship was taken over by devotees in the Vallabha sampradaya shortly after Srila Madhavendra Puri's disappearance. However, this transfer is somewhat controversial, as Vallabhite literature reports that it was a forced takeover: the pujaris' homes were set on fire and while they went to put out the fires, new pujaris took over the temple. But an edition of the Bhaktiratnakara says the Deity service was given to Vitthalanatha Gosvami (Vallabhacarya's son) by Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. Whatever happened, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami clearly recognized the love Vitthalanatha and his followers had for the Gopala Deity (Gopalaraja-stotra, 13-14), as did Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura a couple centuries later (in his Gopaladevastaka, 7). It seems that many of our acaryas previously had closer association with the Pusti-marga acaryas and several of them also saw Srinathaji when He stayed at the home of Vallabha's son near Mathura (cf. CC Madhya-lila 18.47).
Srinathaji, or Gopala, was evidently quite popular with other medieval devotees as well as there were Gaudiya preachers who founded Srinathaji temples in present-day Pakistan (Dera Ghazi Khan). Srinathaji was even worshiped as far away as Russia (in the lower Volga region) and other places on the Central Asian trade routes. About three hundred years ago, the Deity moved from Govardhana to Rajasthana, like many other Deities of Vraja. He has been opulently worshiped there (in the town that has built up around Him) ever since. Tradition holds that He will one day return to Govardhana, though only He really knows when.
From Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura's Gopaladevastaka, 8:
prati-dinam adhunapi preksyate sarvadapi
pranaya-su-rasa-carya yasya varya saparya
ganayati kati bhogan kah krti tat-prayogan
sphuratu hrdi sa eva srila gopala-devah
Every single day, even now, transcendental varieties of nectarean, loving service are offered (to Gopala); in this regard, who is the pious person who could count all the offerings? May that very same Lord, Sri Gopala, manifest within your heart! | | 2:12p |
Hare Krsna Mahamantra - references
Vedic mantra on the same level as "om", so powerful that it needs (contrary to other mantras) no rsi, devata, nyasa etc.
The mahamantra is mentioned in various scriptures as the only means of deliverance in this age of Kali:
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
iti sodasakam namnam kali-kalmasa-nasanam
natah parataropayah sarva-vedesu drsyate
The sixteen names of the Hare Krsna mahamantra: hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare, hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare destroy all the inauspiciousness of the age of Kali. This is the conclusion of all the Vedas. (Kali-santarana Upanisad from Krsna Yajur Veda)
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
ratanti halaya vapi te krtartha na samsayah
Hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare: Whoever chants this mantra, even neglectfully, will attain the supreme goal of life. Of this there is no doubt. (Agni Purana)
harir eva samaradhyah sarva deve suresvarah
hari nama maha mantrair nasyatpapa pisacakam
All the grievous sins of one who worships Lord Sri Hari, the Lord of all lords, and chants the holy name, the Mahamantra, are removed. (Padma Purana, Svarga Khanda 50.6)
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
sodasaitani namani dvatrimsad varnakani hi
kalau yuge maha-mantrah sammato jivatarane
varjayitva tu namaitad durjanaih parikalpitam
chandobaddham susiddhanta viruddham nabhyaset padam
tarakam brahma-namaitad brahmana gurunadina
kalisantaranadyasu sruti-svadhigatam hareh
praptam sri brahma-sisyena sri naradena dhimata
namaitad-uttamam srauta-paramparyena brahmanah
utsrjyaitan-maha-mantram ye tvanyat kalpitam padam
mahanameti gayanti te sastra-guru langhanah
tattva-virodha-sanprktam tadrsam daurjanam matam
sravatha pariharyam syadatma-hitarthina sada
hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare
Hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare, hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare: This sixteen-name, thirty-two syllable mantra is the mahamantra in the age of Kali by which all living beings can be delivered. One should never abandon chanting this mahamantra and take to other so-called purificatory processes which are practiced by rascals, or engage in chanting other metrical compositions of the name of Krsna that are against the pure conclusions of the scriptures, or are filled with rasabhasa. About this divinely spiritual mahamantra, which delivers one from material existence, the original guru, Lord Brahma, has said, kali-santararadi srutite, "The srutis have declared this mantra to be the best means of deliverance in the age of Kali". Having all heard this from Brahma, the sons and disciples of Brahma, beginning with Narada, all accepted the Hare Krsna mahamantra and, having meditated on it, attained perfection. (Ananta-samhita)
Ananta-samhita is a Pancaratra agama, part of the pancaratra corpus known collectively among Gaudiya Vaisnavas as the Narada Pancaratra)
Mahamantra is further mentioned in CC 1.7.83 (krsna-nama maha-mantrera), CC 3.9.56 ('hare krsna, hare krsna' kahe avisrama), Narada Pancaratra, etc.
Some object that Sri Caitanya didn't chant it as it is not recorded in CC in full. This refute His contemporary devotees (also see CC 1.7.149p.):
hare krsna krsneti krsneti mukhyan
mahascarya-namavali-siddha-mantran
krpa-murti-caitanya-deva upagitan
kadabhyasya vrndavane syan krtartha
When will my heart become satiated by perfecting the chanting of the Hare Krsna mahamantra in Sri Vrndavana Dhama, which the most merciful Sri Caitanyadeva personally chanted and distributed to the fallen souls out of compassion? This wonderful mahamantra is mixed with the mellows of love and is the chief and the perfection of all other mantras. They are full of spiritual energies and glories. (Sri Vrindavana Mahimamrta by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati 17.89)
hare krsna rama nama gana dana karinim
soka moha lobha tapa sarva vigna nasinim
pada padma lubdha bhakta vrnda bhakti dayinim
gaura murtim asu naumi nama sutra dharinim
"He makes the gift of the song of the names 'Hare, Krsna and Rama', and destroys all obstacles such as sorrow, delusion, greed and suffering. He gives the devotional service of Lord Krsna to the multitude of devotees who are eager for the shelter of His lotus feet. I fall down swiftly to offer my prostrated obeisances to the Lord in His golden form, who holds a string of meditation beads." (Srila Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Susloka-Satakam 23)
sri-radhar bhave ebe gora avatar
hare krsna nam gaura korila pracar
(Vasudev Ghosh's bhajan "Jaya Jagannatha Sacira-nandana", text 4)
CB Madhya-khanda 23.75-80: (trans. Kusakratha Das) |
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