Category: Gaudiya Vaishnavism

Kanistha, Madhyama, Uttama adhikari – Vaishnava classification

Post author By gaudiya
Post date March 20, 2022

vaishnava vaishnavism krishna

Grhita visnudiksako vishnu pujaparo narah
Vaisnavo bhihito bhijnairitaro smadavaisnavah
(Padma Purana)
–
One who is initiated into the Vaishnava mantra and who is devoted to worshiping Lord Vishnu is a Vaishnava. One who is bereft of these practices is not a Vaishnava.

Dvedha hi bhagavata sampradaya pravrttih
Ekatah samksepatah sri narayanad brahma naradadidvarena
Anyatastu vistaratah sesat sanat kumara sankhyayanadi dvarena
(Sridhara Svami’s commentary)
–
Vaishnavas are classified into different sampradayas or lineages according to their inclinations. The first of these sampradayas have originated from Lord Narayana by way of Brahma, Narada, and so on. Another sampradaya comes from Sesha Bhagavan and has been delineated by the Sanat Kumaras.

Gaudiya Vaishnavism - An overview Radha Krishna

Radha Rani – Topmost devotee of Krishna

Post author By gaudiya
Post date March 13, 2022

In this article we shall try to cite evidence from Vedic scriptures to ascertain the exalted position of Radha Rani and the stature of her devotion.

#1 Prahlada is the best of the devotees

Kvaham rajah prabhava isa tamo dhike smin
Jatah suretara kule kva tavanukampa
Na brahmano na tu bhavasya na vai ramaya
Yan me rpitah sirasi padma karah prasadah
(Srimad Bhagavatam, 7.9.26)
–
O my Lord, O Supreme, because I (Prahlada) was born in a family of atheists and demons where the modes of passion and ignorance are dominant, what is my position? And what is to be said of Your causeless mercy, which You never offered even to Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva or the goddess of fortune, Lakshmi? You never put Your lotus hands upon their heads, but You have mercifully put it on mine.

Gaudiya Vaishnavism - An overview Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma) Vaishnava acharyas

Guru (spiritual master) – Why a Guru is Essential and how can he transform your life?

Post author By gaudiya
Post date March 12, 2022

siddha bakul guru

Who is a Guru ? Why do we need a Guru? How to identify a real Guru ? What is the difference between a real Guru and a Bogus Guru? In this article, we shall try to discuss, cite Vedic scriptures and find answers to these above questions.

#1 Why do you need a Guru ?

Tad vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet
Samit panih srotriyam brahma nistham
(Mukunda Upanishad 1.2.12)
–
One who desires to know the absolute truth must approach a bonafide spiritual master and offer him everything required for sacrifice. Such a spiritual master must be fixed in the absolute truth, having heard it in disciplic succession.

bhaktivinoda thakura's house bhakti kuti guru

Yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau
Tasyaite kathita hy arthah prakasante mahatmanah
(Svetasvatara Upanishad 6.23)
–
Only unto those great souls who possess implicit faith upon Guru and Krishna are all the imports of the Vedas fully revealed.

Janana-maranadi-samsaranala santapto dipto sira
Jala rasim iva upahara panih srotriyam
Brahma nistham gurum upasrtya tam anusarati
(Vedanta Sara 11)
–
Just as a person whose head is afire runs towards water, similarly one burning from the fire of material existence birth, death, old age, and disease must run to a Guru for relief. Such a guru must be well versed in the conclusions of Vedic literature. One should strictly follow the Guru’s instructions and become subservient to him.

Brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva
guru-Krsne prasade paya bhakti lata bija
(CC, Madhya, 19-151)
–
Wandering throughout the universe, by the mercy of Guru and Krishna, a fortunate living entity receives the seed of the plant of devotion.

Gaudiya Vaishnavism - An overview Lord Nityananda

Who is Lord Nityananda ? | Doyal Nitai

Post author By gaudiya
Post date March 6, 2022

nitai gaura nityananda trayodashi

Sri Nityananda Prabhu is none other than Lord Balarama, the first expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Narottam das Thakur sings ‘vrajendra nandana yei, saci suta haila sei, balarama haila Nitai’. Vrajendra Nandana is Lord Krishna, the master of Vraja (Vrindavana) and Saci suta means the son of mother Saci.So the same person who previously had been the darling of Vrindavana has now incarnated as Sri Chaitanya, the son of Saci mata. Similarly, the person who previously had been Lord Balarama has now appeared as Nityananda Prabhu.

Lord Nityananda was born on shukla trayodashi tithi of 1474 AD (the year 1395 of the Saka era) in the village of Ekachakra (Birbhum, West Bengal, India). Nityananda Prabhu freely distributed the treasure of the Lord’s love, attaining which is rare even for demigods like Brahma, to one and all without judging one’s qualification (Brahma-ra durlabha prema sabakare yache). His uncommon unique pastimes moved even the atheists to cry tears of love.

Lord Nitai was almost completely devoid of any external consciousness and remained intoxicated in an ecstatic love of God. In such a state of utter ecstasy, He would sometimes jump high up in the air or at other times roll over the ground, while continuously glorifying the Supreme Lord.

Gaudiya Vaishnavism - An overview Radha Krishna

Vishnu Avatars | Types & Details of all Incarnations

Post author By gaudiya
Post date March 2, 2022

purusha avatar vishnu incarnations

Krishna is also referred to as ‘Bhagavan Swayam’ in Srimad Bhagavatam, thereby implying that He is the source of all avatars (incarnations) of Godhead. Krishna is ‘Svayam rupa’ or the original supreme personality of Godhead, and is also referred to as ‘puskala’ or the most complete. When various forms of the Supreme Lord (Krishna) manifest their appearance in this material world for various purposes, they are known as ‘avatars’. We have previously discussed the various forms of the Supreme Lord (Svayam rupa, tad ekatma rupa, avesha) and they are known as avatars when they descend from the spiritual to the material world. These various forms of the Supreme Lord are eternally existing in their own spiritual abodes. Vishnu avatars can appear through parents, as expansions, or without the help of any agency.

For example, Lord Krishna and Ramachandra appeared as the sons of Vasudeva and Dasaratha respectively. Garbhodakasayi Vishnu originates as an expansion of Maha-Vishnu. While among those Vishnu avatars who appear without help are Matsya and Hamsa avatars.

There are six types of avatars of the Supreme Lord namely –

Purusha avatar
Guna avatar
Lila avatar
Manvantara avatar
Yuga avatar
Shaktyavesha avatar

We shall discuss briefly about each of them in this article.

Gaudiya Vaishnavism Radha Krishna

Different Forms of Krishna – Svayam, Ekatma and Avesha

Post author By gaudiya
Post date February 20, 2022

devotee of krishna association chaitanya forms

Srila Rupa Goswami explains in Laghu Bhagavatamrita that Krishna, the Supreme Lord, manifests three kinds of forms. These three kinds of forms are classified as – Svayam rupa, tad-ekatma-rupa, and avesha. Krishna, the Supreme Lord, can manifest Himself into unlimited forms without forsaking His essential oneness. This is confirmed throughout the Vedic scriptures.

Eko vasi sarva-gah Krishna idya
Eko pi san bahudha yo vibhati
(Gopala Tapani Upanishad, Purva 20)
–
Krishna is the supreme controller who exists everywhere and is worthy of worship. Although He is one, He appears as many.

Vishnu Purana (1.2.3) speaks of the Supreme Lord as ‘ekaneya swarupaya’ – You who have one identity and many. Srimad Bhagavatam (10.40.7) refers to Him ‘bahu murty eka murtikam’ – One Supreme Lord who manifests in multiple forms. The Supreme Lord transforms Himself without changing. There is no contradiction between the Vedic texts emphasizing His oneness and those highlighting His varieties.

Gaudiya Vaishnavism Hare Krishna Mahamantra spiritual stories

Namahatta – Marketplace of the Holy name

Post author By gaudiya
Post date February 19, 2022

namahatta holy name hare krishna

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura provides a thorough description of ‘Namahatta’ in his newsletter ‘Godruma Kalpatavi’ (the desire-tree groves of Godruma). ‘Godruma’ is the second island of Nabadwip dham representing Kirtana (chanting). Composed about 120 years ago, this newsletter talks of a transcendental market of holy names (Nama-Hatta) wherein the holy names of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, are systematically sold to customers who are willing to accept such a spiritual product. Based upon the currency of one’s faith and devotion for the Supreme Lord, anyone, regardless of one’s caste, creed, background, education, nobility, religion, etc is qualified to purchase the holy name from Namahatta. This article outlines the commodities, modes of Payment, and the roles and responsibilities of various devotees in charge of Namahatta, as described by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur in his Godruma Kalpatavi.

Gaudiya Vaishnavism - An overview Mayapur Nabadwip dham navadvipa_bhava_taranga Pastimes of Chaitanya

Mayapur Nabadwip Dham Darsana | Virtual Tour

Post author By gaudiya
Post date February 12, 2022

Virtual Tour of all the sacred places of Mayapur Nabadwip dham. To know more about Mayapur Nabadwip dham, please refer to our articles in this category.

Gaudiya Vaishnavism - An overview Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma)

Discover the Secrets of the Bhagavad Gita: A Journey to Self-Discovery

Post author By gaudiya
Post date August 8, 2021

vaishnava vaishnavism krishna bhagavad gita

The Bhagavad Gita appears as an episode of Mahabharata, the great Sanskrit epic (itihasa) portraying the history of the ancient world. Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna about 5000 years ago at the onset of the great war of Kurukshetra and their discussion is considered to be one of the most celebrated philosophical and religious dialogues known to man. The following article presents the summary and the essence of the Bhagavad Gita. Relevant Slokas from the Bhagavad Gita have been cited below to help explain these principles.

Gaudiya Vaishnavism

Elevation to Krishna consciousness | 5 Stages of Bhakti

Post author By gaudiya
Post date July 25, 2021

There are five stages that a devotee goes through in his journey of ‘elevation to Krishna Consciousness’ and towards achieving pure ecstatic love for Krishna (The Supreme Personality of Godhead). These 5 stages of Bhakti (Krishna consciousness) are as follows.

5 Stages of Bhakti | Elevation to Krishna Consciousness :

Sravana dasa – Hearing (1st stage of Bhakti)
Varana dasa – acceptance (2nd stage of Bhakti)
Smarana dasa – remembrance (3rd stage of Bhakti)
Bhavapana dasa – attainment of ecstatic spiritual emotions (4th stage of Bhakti)
Prema Sampatti dasa – attainment of ecstatic love for Krishna (5th stage of Bhakti)

To put it very briefly, hearing about the Absolute truth from one’s spiritual master is termed as ‘Sravana dasa’. When the spiritual practitioner accepts these instructions as the truth, then he reaches a stage called ‘Varana dasa’. When he cultivates that mood along with blissful remembrance of the lord and His pastimes, he reaches ‘Smarana dasa’. When the spiritual practitioner is able to invoke that blissful mood within himself spontaneously, it is called ‘Bhavapana dasa’. And finally, when one completely detaches himself from the temporary material existence and obtains his desired constitutional form, by the mercy of Krishna, he attains ‘Prema Sampatti dasa’.

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