Svasti No Gaura-vidhur Dadhātu (May the Moon-like Gaura Bestow Auspiciousness)
This Bengali poem, ‘Svasti No Gaura-vidhur Dadhātu,’ (May the Moon-like Gaura Bestow Auspiciousness) written by Śrīla Bhakti Pramoda Purī Gosvāmī, was first published in 1965 in Caitanya Vāṇī magazine, Vol.5, Issue 1. In this composition, Śrīla Purī Mahārāja gives advice to the fallen jīvas to sincerely accept Mahāprabhu's gift of the Holy Name. This poem was translated into English by Sanātana Dāsa and Parameśvarī Devī Dāsī.
Vaiśiṣṭyāṣṭaka (Eight Stanzas of Significance)
We present this important Vyāsa Pūjā offering by Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda on the 150th appearance anniversary of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda. Vaiśiṣṭyāṣṭaka (‘Eight Stanzas of Significance’) was Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Vyāsa Pūjā offering written at the Vaṁśī-Gopāla Temple, on the 86th appearance day of Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. It was first published in Śrī Gauḍīya Patrikā, Vol. 12. Issues 1 & 2 in April 1961. As our readers will see, many points that Prabhupāda addresses in this poem are as relevant today as they were when he wrote it sixty-three years ago.
Vṛndāvane Bhajana (Worship in Vṛndāvana)
This Bengali poem, ‘Vṛndāvane Bhajana’ which was first published in Śrī Gauḍīya Patrikā, Vol.10, issues 9&10 in 1958 was written by Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda while residing as a vānaprastha at the Vaṁśi-Gopāla Temple in Vṛndāvana. Śrīla Prabhupāda talks about the futility of family life, the ineffectiveness of jñāna, karma and yoga, the position of a true Vaiṣṇava and the importance of preaching over solitary bhajana.
Śrīla Sarasvatī Gosvāmyāṣṭakam
This Sanskrit prayer was composed by Śrīla Śrīdhara Deva Gosvāmī Mahārāja in 1949 and was first published in Śrī Gauḍīya Patrikā (Vol.1, Issue 8) and later in the Hindi magazine, Bhāgavat Patrikā (Vol.1, issue 6) in 1955. This rare composition has been translated into English for the first time.
Mā Muñca Pañca-daśakam (Fifteen Verses Praying Not to Be Abandoned)
The following Sanskrit prayer, Mā Muñca Pañca-daśakam, was composed by Śrīla Śrīdhara Deva Gosvāmī Mahārāja in 1967 and first published in Gauḍīya Darśana magazine, Vol. 12, Issue 6. In this touching and humble appeal, Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja begs Kṛṣṇa, who is an ocean of unlimited mercy, not to abandon him.
Ten Prayers to the Foot-Dust of Śrīmad Rūpa Gosvāmī (Śrīmad Rūpa Pada Rajaḥ Prārthanā Daśakam)
With the forthcoming observance of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmi’s disappearance, we present ‘Śrīmad Rūpa Pada Rajaḥ Prārthanā Daśakam’ (Ten Prayers to the Foot-Dust of Śrīmad Rūpa Gosvāmī), a Sanskrit composition by Śrīla Śrīdhara Deva Gosvāmī Mahārāja. first published in Śrī Gauḍīya Darśana magazine, Vol.11, Issue 1 in 1965.
‘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.
Viraha-Gītikā (A Song of Separation)
Viraha-Gītikā (A Song of Separation) was first published in June 1952 in The Gauḍīya, Vol.3, Issue 5, on the occasion of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s disappearance. In this Bengali song, Śrīla Purī Mahārāja narrates the position and achievements of Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda, and prays to him for his mercy. This song has been translated into English by Swami B.V. Giri.
Śrī Śrī Gaura Gopāla Praśasti (In Praise of Śrī Śrī Gaura Gopāla)
‘Śrī Śrī Gaura Gopāla Praśasti’ (In Praise of Śrī Śrī Gaura Gopāla) is a Bengali composition by Śrīla Bhakti Pramoda Purī Gosvāmī, in praise of the pastimes and teachings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrīla Purī Gosvāmī also explains the non-difference between Gaura and Kṛṣṇa and the importance of nāma-bhajana. This was first published on March 29th 1964 in Śrī Caitanya Vāṇī magazine, Volume 2 Issue 4, and translated into English by Swami B.V. Giri.
Śrī Gaura-hari Kusuma Stavāṣṭākam
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.