A Song of Vraja (Vrajera Gīti)
In this article, Śrīla Bhakti Pramoda Purī Gosvāmī contrasts the spiritual atmosphere of Vraja-maṇḍala and Gaura-maṇḍala, arguing that Vraja-maṇḍala has preserved exclusive devotion to Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, whereas Gauḍa-maṇḍala has been influenced by Śākta ideas. Its central theme is that the name ‘Śyāmā’ properly refers to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, not Mahāmāyā. To illustrate this point, he quotes a traditional devotional song from Vraja in which ‘Śyāmā’ unmistakably refers to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. This article was first published in The Gauḍīya in 1950.
Thirty-Two Prayers to Śrī Yoga-Vīra Narasiṁha
This year is the 25th appearance anniversary of Śrī Yoga-Vīra Narasiṁha, the personal Deity of Swami B.G, Narasiṅgha. To commemorate this occasion, a 32 verse prayer - Śrī Śrī Yoga-Vīra-Narasiṁhā Dvātrimśat Stavakam - has been composed in His praise and offered to the lotus hands of Narasiṅgha Mahārāja. Many thanks to Paṇḍita Śrī Gautam Prasad Tiwari for editing.
Śrī Śrī Bhakti Gaurava Vilāsa – The Pastimes of Swami Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha (Chapter 2)
Today being the disappearance day of Śrīla B.G. Narasiṅgha Mahārāja, we present the second chapter of Śrī Bhakti Gaurava Vilāsa (The Pastimes of Swami B.G. Narasiṅgha) - a summary of the life of Narasiṅgha Mahārāja rendered in Sanskrit poetry along with Bengali verse translations. This second chapter discusses Mahārāja undergoing difficulties in Salt Lake City, his joining the Denver temple, meeting Viṣṇujana Swami, and finally being deceived by Brahmānanda and Bali-mardana to go to Africa.
Śrī Śrī Bhakti Gaurava Vilāsa – The Pastimes of Swami Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha (Chapter 1)
Today being the auspicious appearance day of Śrīla B.G. Narasiṅgha Mahārāja, we present the first chapter of Śrī Bhakti Gaurava Vilāsa (The Pastimes of Swami B.G. Narasiṅgha) - a summary of the life of Narasiṅgha Mahārāja rendered in Sanskrit poetry along with Bengali verse translations. This first chapter begins with a maṅgalācaraṇa (auspicious invocation), Namaskāra (offering of obeisance), and Vastu-nirdeśa (an indication of the subject matter of the work, then proceeds with a narration of the early life of Swami Narasiṅgha up to his initiation by Śrīla Prabhupāda. Subsequent chapters will be posted later.
Śrī Māyāpura Prasaṅgaḥ (Topics Concerning Śrī Māyāpura)
This Sanskrit poem was composed by Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja just after accepting initiation in 1927 and was published in the daily Nadīyā Prakāśa newspaper. Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja narrates the disappearance of Śridhāma Māyāpura after Mahāprabhu’s sannyāsa, its rediscovery by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, and the preaching by Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura.
Śrīla Prabhupāda Dvādaśakam
The following Sanskrit poem (originally entitled ‘Śrīla Prabhupāda Avirbhāva Śata-varṣa Pūrtai Tadīya Vandana Dvādaśakam’) by Śrīla Śrīdhara Deva Gosvāmī Mahārāja was composed in honour of the 100th appearance day celebrations of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda in 1974. It was published in January of that year in two journals – ‘The Gauḍīya’ and ‘Śrī Caitanya Vāṇī.’
Śrī Ārati-Kīrtana Vivaraṇa – A Commentary on Śrīla Narasiṅgha Mahārāja’s Ārati Kīrtana
Today, being the fifth anniversary of the disappearance of Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja, we present this commentary to Mahārāja's ārati-kīrtana by Swami Bhaktivijñāna Giri. This commentary provides a philosophical interpretation of each verse, accompanied by personal anecdotes from the life of Narasiṅgha Mahārāja.
Śrī Śrīla Prabhupāder Viraha-Tīthi Smaraṇa (A Remembrance of Śrī Śrīla Prabhupāda on This Day of Separation)
The following Bengali poem was written in 1970 by Śrīla Bhakti Pramoda Purī Gosvāmī on the occasion of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda’s thirty-third disappearance day. It was first published in Caitanya Vāṇī Magazine, Vol. 9, Issue 12. In this composition, Śrīla Purī Mahārāja gives a brief synopsis of the life of Sarasavatī Ṭhākura and presents his last instructions to his disciples.
Rasa Saṅketa (The Indications of Rasa)
For the upcoming appearance of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, we present a rare poem by the Ṭhākura called Rasa Saṅketa (‘Indications of Rasa’). This was printed as an appendix to the first edition of his songbook, Kalyāṇa Kalpataru, published in 1880, but was not included in subsequent editions. This poem gives a synopsis of the blossoming of rasa according to the rasa-śāstras of the Gosvāmīs, and includes footnotes written by the Ṭhākura himself. This was later published in 'The Gauḍīya' magazine of Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, and has now been translated into English for the first time.
O Keśava! Your World is Very Wonderful! – With Illumination by Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja
In this illumination on Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s song, 'Keśava! Tuyā Jagata Vicitra' (O Keśava! Your World is Very Wonderful!) from Śaraṇāgati, Śrīla Śrīdhara Deva Gosvāmī Mahārāja explains how the jīvas are tempted by various heretical doctrines, and ultimately why Kṛṣṇa makes arrangements to promote atheistic philosophies. This illumination is adapted from various talks given by Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja.
