Rupanuga Bhajan Ashram Writings
In this article 'The Blame Game' Gaura Gopāla Dāsa explains how suffering can lead to a search for external culprits, but the path of bhakti-yoga emphasizes personal responsibility and humility. We must understand the responsibility we have for our own suffering and how blaming others can distance us from Divinity.
On the occasion of the upcoming Gaura Pūrṇimā festival, we present this Sanskrit song, ‘Śrī-Gaura-hari Kusuma Stavāṣṭākam’ (‘Eight flower-like Prayers to Śrī Gaura-hari’) which was composed by Śrīla Śrīdhara Deva Gosvāmī Mahārāja and originally published in Śrī Gauḍīya Darśana magazine, Volume 8, Issue 9 in 1963.
In verses 41 to 45 of Prema Dhāma Deva Stotram by Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja, Swami B.V. Giri explains the significance of Mahāprabhu's discovery of Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa and His visit to the sacred Imlitalā. The Lord's teachings to Rūpa-Sanātana as well as the conversion of Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī are also described in detail.
In 'Here Be Dragons!' Kalki Dāsa explores the mythical fire-breathing monsters of yore, and discovers that although these creatures are present within many different ancient cultures, the dragon prototype seems to be found in the Vedic literature.
This short article, “The White Bead Bag” was written by Śrīla B.G. Narasiṅgha Mahārāja in December 2010. Mahārāja explains the significance of why Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas use a white bead bag and how this is not just an external tradition without meaning.
This important article from 1939, published in the Gauḍīya magazine after the disappearance of Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, consists of a series of questions and answers between a householder disciple of Sarasvatī Ṭhākura and Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja concerning guru-godbrother relations, succession, and guru-tattva. In the original Bengali, some sections of the article were given emphasis with bold text and we have maintained the same formatting in the English version. This article was translated into English by Swami B.V. Giri and Sanātana Dāsa. (Note: The title ‘Prabhupāda’ in this article refers to Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura)
In 'Lost Ancient Technology' Kalki Dasa argues that the technology of ancient civilisations such as Vedic India may have been more advanced than is currently believed, and that this idea has been dismissed by establishment science due to biases and a belief in linear evolution under the sway of Eurocentricism.
In verses 37 to 40 of Prema Dhāma Deva Stotram by Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's travels to Prayāga and Vraja are described. In particular, His feelings of separation and the famous verse of Śri Mādhavendra Purīpāda are explained in detail by Swami B.V. Giri.
In this short article, ‘The Colour for Sannyāsīs’ from December 2010, Śrīla Narasiṅgha Mahārāja describes the original colour of the cloth used by sannyāsīs in the line of Sarasvatī Ṭhākura and how in modern times, this has become obsolete.
'Śrī Guru-viraha Ṣaṭakam - Six Verses in Separation from Śrī Guru' is a composition written in sanskrit by Swami B.V. Giri on the day of Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja's disappearance.