Rupanuga Bhajan Ashram

Among the ten principal Upaniṣads, the Kena Upaniṣad holds a place of great importance. It discusses three central themes — that the Supreme is the controller of all, that He is superior to all, and that He is ultimately unknowable. This commentary by Swami Bhaktivijñāna Giri, drawing upon the Vaiṣṇava interpretations of Madhva, Raṅga Rāmānuja, and the writings of the Gauḍīya ācāryas, seeks to reclaim the Kena Upaniṣad from the grasp of the monists, demonstrating that the Brahman of the Upaniṣads is ultimately a theistic, personal Reality endowed with distinctive transcendental qualities.

Continuing with the explanation on the twenty-six qualities of a devotee by Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. In this article, ‘A Devotee is Peaceful’ (Sajjana Śānta) from Sajjana Toṣaṇī (Vol.21, Issue 2) published in 1918, Sarasvatī Ṭhākura describes how only a devotee is truly peaceful, and gives the example of the tridaṇḍī sannyāsī of Avantī, who remained calm, even in the midst of intense harassment.

In this article, adapted from a class given on 17th August 1989 in Vṛndāvana, Swami B.G. Narasiṅgha Mahārāja asks the question, "Is Śrīla Prabhupāda the Standard?" In other words, if an ācārya does something different from Prabhupāda, can it be accepted? This article is taken from the forthcoming publication, 'Prabhupada Vijaya Volume 2.'

The following is based on two talks given by Śrīpāda B.K. Araṇya Mahārāja — one at the Śrī Caitanya Śrīdhara Seva Āśrama in Govardhana and another at the Rūpānuga Bhajana Āśrama in Vṛndāvana on October 15th, 2025, on the occasion of Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣaka Śrīdhara Deva Gosvāmī Mahārāja’s 131st appearance day celebration.

In this short article, Gaura-Gopāla Dāsa explores the concept of ‘post-turtle gurus’ — inexperienced spiritual masters in various missions, artificially placed in positions of authority — and explains that true qualification and leadership arise from divine inspiration, not from personal ambition or the mandate of unqualified kaniṣṭha-adhikārīs.

Rupanuga Bhajan Ashram in Vṛndāvana was inundated by severe flooding in late August 2025, with water levels rising higher than the 2023 flood. Cleanup and restoration are now in progress, and plans are being made to strengthen the āśrama against future floods.

We have just printed 2 new Hindi books for mass distribution -Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā, and Gītā Sāra (The Essence of Bhagavad-gītā) by Swami B.G. Narasiṅgha Mahārāja. We also reprinted Divya-nāma kā Avataraṇa (The Descent of the Holy Name) and Śri Caitanya Mahāprabhu - Unke Camatkāra Aur Upadeśa (Śri Caitanya Mahāprabhu - His Miracles and Teachings). These books are meant for mass distribution, and we have already distributed over 5000 in the last couple of years to pilgrims, devotees, local schools and colleges. On the first Ekādaśī of the month of Kārttika, we had hari-nāma saṅkīrtana on the parikramā-mārga here in Vṛndāvana and many pilgrims and devotees already began purchasing these books.

Today, on the eve of Lalitā Saptamī, we went with Śrīpāda Araṇya Mahārāja to visit Ucchgaon, the birthplace of Lalitā Devī, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s dearmost associate. After offering respects to Śrī Lalitā, we went to Khaira (Khadiravana) and took darśana of the bhajana-kuṭīra of Śrīla Lokanātha Gosvāmī, the dear associate of Mahāprabhu.

Yesterday we had a beautiful Vyāsa Pūjā remembrance program of Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja. Everyone shared their memories and realisations after which we offered puṣpañjalī, āratī and a bhoga offering.

Yesterday we had a sweet Janmāṣṭamī gathering here at Rupanuga Bhajan Ashram. A new flag was raised on the temple dome, there was reading and kīrtan through the day, the Deities were dressed beautifully, Girirāja was bathed, and we finished with a bhoga offering, āratī and feast together.