Śrīmatī Vṛṣabhānu-nandinī – The Daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu
For Śrī Rādhāṣṭamī, we present this lecture by Prabhupāda Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura given on Thursday, 26th August, 1925, at Kolkata Gauḍīya Maṭha, on the occasion of Rādhāṣṭamī. Amongst other topics, Sarasvatī Ṭhākura talks about the pre-eminent position of Rādhārāṇī, how Rūpa Gosvāmī’s descriptions of the afternoon pastimes of Rādhā-Govinda surpasses the narrations of Nimbārkācārya, the prerequisite to understand higher topics, and Śrī Rūpa and Jīva Gosvāmī’s opinions on Svākiya and Parakīya-rasa.
What is the Process to Understand Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s Appearance?
On the eve of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Janmāṣṭamī, we present this article, which was first published in Śrī Caitanya Vāṇī magazine (Vol. 1, issue 7) in 1961. Herein, Śrīla Bhakti Pramoda Purī Mahārāja discusses the realisation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa through the process of bhakti and how the heart must be fully pure in order to become conscious of the ‘eternal Janmāṣṭamī.’
The Proper Standard of Deity Worship
In this previously unpublished article from May 1999, Swami B.G. Narasiṅgha explains to an ISKCON devotee the proper standard for worshipping Govardhana-śilā (or any Deity) as established by our previous ācāryas. Śrī Caitanya gave Govardhana-śilā (Kṛṣṇa) and guñja-mālā (Rādhārāṇī) to Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī, setting the standard for worship. Swami Narasiṅgha stresses that independent of guru or senior Vaiṣṇava guidance, one should not engage in deity worship.
Śrī Śrī Rādhāṣṭamī
For the upcoming Rādhāṣṭamī festival, we present the following article written by Śrīla Bhakti Pramoda Purī Gosvāmī which was originally published in Caitanya-vāṇī magazine (Vol. 16, Issue 8) in 1968. Śrīla Purī Mahārāja describes the glories of observing Rādhāṣṭamī, the various accounts of Rādhārāṇī’s appearance, and the importance and efficacy of rādhā-nāma.
The Birth of Śrī Kṛṣṇa
In this early article by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Prabhupāda from The Gauḍīya (Vol.1, Issue 1) published in 1922, Sarasvati Ṭhākura compares Kṛṣṇa’s appearance during the rainy season in Vṛndāvana to His appearance in the heart of a receptive jīva. He also gives a warning about neglecting to observe the appearance of the Lord.
‘The Best of Thieves’ – An Illumination
Śrīla B.R. Śrīdhara Deva Gosvāmī comments upon a Sanskrit prayer attributed to Śrī Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura entitled Caurāgragaṇya-Puruṣāṣṭakam (Eight Prayers to that Personality Who is the Best of Thieves). In his explanation, Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja explains that Kṛṣṇa’s inherent nature as a thief is in the jīva’s best interests.
The Ontological Position of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda
In 'The Ontological Position of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda', Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja describes the glories of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govindadeva, and the special characteristic of Govinda within the Gauḍīya sampradāya in relation to Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī Prabhu and in comparison with Gopīnātha and Madana-mohana. This article is based upon a talk given in January 1982.
Kṛṣṇa-tattva (The Fundamental Reality of Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
In this rare article written in 1928 for The Gauḍīya, Volume 7, issue 28, Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura describes the attributes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, explaining what Kṛṣṇa is, and what He isn’t. This article was translated from Bengali by Sanātana Dāsa.
Śrī Śrī Rādhā Kṛṣṇa – The Fountainhead of All Tattvas
Śrīla B.P. Purī Mahārāja delves into the ontology of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa according to the Nārada Pañcarātra and other śāstra demonstrating the nature of non-difference between Them. In particular he discusses the supremacy of Śrī Rādhā. This was originally published in Bengali in Śrī Caitanya Vāṇī, 16. 7 on 1st September 1976 and translated by Swami B.V. Giri and Sanātana Dāsa.
Śrī Govardhana Pūjā
The following talk was given by Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja on the day of Govardhana Pūjā on 16th November 1982 at Śrī Caitanya Sārasvata Maṭha, Navadvīpa-dhāma, West Bengal. Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja elaborates upon a śloka from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam describing Kṛṣṇa's lifiting of Govardhana Hill.