Five of the sixty-four devotional service activities are particularly important: associating with devotees, chanting the holy names, listening to Srimad Bhagavatam, living in Mathura, and worshiping the deity with devotion. Of these five activities, the … Read More
Preface by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Sri Bhajana-rahasya was compiled by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura. With this book, the great teacher gives us a hint of his own method of bhajana, a guide for his sincere followers. … Read More
3. Trtiya-yama Sadhana Bhajana before noon niamjjato ‘nanta-bhavarnavantas ciraya me kulam ivasi labdhah tvayapi labdham bhagavann idanim anuttamam patram idam dayayah Oh Ananta! Oh Hari! I’ve been drowning in this material ocean since time … Read More
7. Saptama-yama Sadhana Bhajana during the late evening On the feeling of vipralambha, purva-raga and pravasa: The attachment produced in both, in the lover and in the beloved, before their meeting by seeing each other, by … Read More
5. Pancama-yama Sadhana Bhajana in the afternoon Krishnasakti (Attachment to Krishna) We find the description of an eternal servant of Krishna chanting the holy name and how he prays in the Siksastaka (5): ayi … Read More
Mukunda-mala-stotra (37) says that identification with the material body should be renounced: idam sariram sata-sandhi-jarjaram pataty avasyam parinam-apesalam kim ausadham prcchasi mudha durmate niramayam krishna-rasayanam piba A person should free himself from false identification with … Read More
There are four kinds of material desires: aihikesvaisana para- trikesu caisana ‘subha bhuti-vancha mumuksa ca hy asat-trsnas catur-vidhah The desire for material objects, for heavenly comforts, for mystical powers, and the desire for liberation are … Read More
The level of bhava is gradually attainable with Krishna’s mercy and regular chanting of the holy names practiced without offense. In Srimad Bhagavatam (1.2.17-19) it is written: srnvatam sva-kathah krishnah punya-sravana-kirtanah hrdy antah stho hy abhadrani … Read More
Sraddha (Faith) krishna-varnam tvisakrishnam sangopangastra-parsadam yajnaih sankirtana-prayair bhajami kali-pavanam nijatve gaudiyan jagati parigrhya prabhur-iman hare krsnety evam ganana-vidhina kirtayata bhoh iti prayam siksam carana-madhupebhyah paridisan saci-sunuh kim me nayana-saranim yasyati padam (Stavavali) “I adore, through … Read More
After paying homage to Tulasi, chant the Hare Krishna mantra on Tulasi beads with sambandha-jnana (knowledge of relationship). There are no strict rules regarding time, place, purity or impurity when chanting Hare Krishna. The holy name … Read More
Tulasi is necessary for the execution of the arcana. The mantra for grasping tulasi is: tulasy-amrta-janmasi sada tvam kesava-priye kesavartham cinomi tvam varada bhava sobhane Venerate Tulasi: nirmalya gandha-puspadi-paniya-jalam idam-arghyam sri-tulasyai namah Tulasi mantra: … Read More
After finishing the puja, recite the yugala-gayatri-mantra: klim krishnaya vidmahe damodaraya dhimahi tan no krishnah pracodayat klim radhikayai vidmahe premarupayai dhimahi tan no radha pracodayat Then the tributes to Krishna: he krishna karuna-sindho dina-bandho jagat-pate … Read More
One should worship Sri Sri Radha Krishna thinking that they can carry out such activities for the mercy of Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga. Begin meditating on Vrndavana with this mantra: tato vrndavanam dhyayet paramananda-varddhanam kalindi-jala-kallola … Read More
After this worship Sri Gauranga, who is complete in the Panca-tattva with this mantra: sriman mauktikadama-vaddha- cikuram susmera-candrananam sri-khanda-guru-caru-citra- vasanam srag divya-bhusancitam nrtyavesa-rasanumoda- madhuram kandarpa-vesojjvalam caitanyam kanaka-dyutim nija-janaih samsevyamanam bhaje Worship Gauranga like this: idam … Read More
Meditate thus, sitting next to Lord Gurudeva, and performing the arcana, offer sixteen objects while chanting the appropriate mantra. idam asanam aim gurudevaya namah idam padyam aim gurudevaya namah idam arghyam aim gurudevaya namah idam acamaniyam … Read More
Samksepa-arcana-paddhati The chanting of the holy names leads to total perfection, yet in one’s devotional life the various activities related to the arcana are very important. In the morning, after washing, the sadhaka should sit on … Read More
The happiness of seeing Krishna is described in the Jagannatha-vallabha-nataka. The gopis here express their contentment at having met Krishna after suffering from His separation. yada yato daivan madhu-ripur asau locana-patham tadasmakam ceto madana-hatakenahrtam abhut punar … Read More
In the Stavavali, Vraja-vilasa-sta (38) is written: tambularpana-pada-mardana-payo-danabhisaradibhir vrndaranya-mahesvarim priyataya yas tosayanti priyah prana-prestha-sakhi-kulad api kilasankocita bhumikah keli-bhumisu rupa-manjari-mukhas ta dasikah samsraye By offering Them betel nuts, massaging Their feet, bringing Them water, arranging Their secret … Read More
One is introduced to the deep love of the gopis for Krishna by listening to the great pain that the gopis in wandering through the forests of Vraja feel while thinking about Krishna. They express their … Read More
The various pastimes performed during the meeting of Radha and Krishna are described in the Ujjvala-nilamani as follows: te tu sandarsanam jalpah sparsanam vartma rodhanam rasa-vrndavana-krida-yamunady-ambu-kelayah nau-khela-lilaya-cauryam-ghatta-kunjadi-linata madhu-panam vadhu-vesa-dhrtih kapata suptata dyuta-krida-patakrstis-cambaslesau-nakharpanam bimbadhara-sudhapanam-samprayogadayo matah When Radha … Read More
