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.
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.