Grantha Samālocanā (A Book Review)
This article by Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda was first published in Śrī Gauḍīya Patrikā, 5th Volume, Issue 2, on 13th April 1953. Śrīla Prabhupāda writes a letter to a gentleman who has printed two books “full of apa-siddhānta” and points out their philosophical flaws in relation to a well-known 'sādhu'. This article was translated from Bengali by Swami B.V. Giri and Sanātana Dāsa.
Sannyāsa Re-initiation
‘Sannyāsa Re-initiation’ was first published on VNN on January 13th, 1999. In this open letter, Swami B.G. Narasingha explains the circumstances of his change of name, answering the question whether or not he was ‘re-initiated’ by Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja.
Who is Qualified to Succeed the Ācārya?
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)
Guru-Bruva (The Pseudo-Guru)
This article ‘Guru-Bruva (The Pseudo-Guru)’ was first published in 1923 in The Gauḍīya Vol.2 Issue 5. Herein, Prabhupāda Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura exposes the cheating business of imitation gurus who simply collect disciples for money and prestige. This Bengali article has been translated for the first time into English by Swami B.V. Giri and Sanātana Dāsa.
There is Only One Society!
In 'There is only one society!' Gaura Gopāla Dāsa discusses different kinds of society consciousness and how institutions or groups are a means to an end that ultimately have no bearing on the eternal nature of the soul.
Guru-tyāgī, Guru-bhogī and Guru-drohī
In this article, Swami B.V. Giri describes in detail the characteristics of the three types of offenders to Śrī Guru - the guru-tyāgī, guru-bhogī and guru-drohī, and cites the previous ācāryas in explaining the serious offence of guru-avajñā, disobeying the order of the spiritual master.
The Golden Age of the Saṅkīrtana Movement
‘The Golden Age of the Saṅkīrtana Movement’ was written by Śrīla Narasiṅgha Mahārāja in 1999 in response to over-zealous devotees claiming that Śrīla Prabhupāda had been predicted in the Vedic literature and in particular, in Caitanya-maṅgala by Locana Dāsa Ṭhākura. This article was later published in the books ‘Prākṛta-rasa Āraṇya-chediṇī’ and ‘Prabhupāda Vijaya’.
Gīta Govinda Revisited
“Gīta Govinda Revisited” is an unpublished article written in 2010 by Śrīla B.G. Narasiṅgha Mahārāja. In this essay, Narasiṅgha Mahārāja answers a devotee’s questions concerning Jayadeva Gosvāmī’s work who asks if the warnings given by Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja and other ācāryas concerning higher literature are still relevant today. This follows another article on the same topic Gītā-Govinda of Jayadeva Gosvāmī
Dīkṣā Names and Feelings of the Heart
In 'Dīkṣā Names and Feelings of the Heart' written in January 1998, Śrīla B.G. Narasiṅgha Mahārāja answers the question that many ask in regards to śikṣā-gurus and “name changes” amongst previously initiated devotees.
Vairāgya Nāṭaka – A Comedy Drama by Śrīla Prabhupāda
This comedy was written by Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda in 1953 and published in the Gauḍīya Pātrikā, Vol.5, Issue 1. In this play Prabhupāda pokes fun at the so-called ‘renunciation’ of a popular religious institution whom he refers to as the Murgi Mission (‘Chicken Mission’) due to their non-veg diet. This has been translated for the first time into English by Sanātana Dāsa and Parameśvarī Dāsī.