Sat-Nyāsa – The Ecstatic Life of Pure Devotion (The Authorised Tridaṇḍi-Sannyāsa)
On the occasion of the 50th sannyāsa anniversary of Śrīla B.G. Narasiṅgha Mahārāja, we are pleased to present an excerpt from an unpublished manuscript he began in 1998. Mahārāja had intended to compose a comprehensive work on tridaṇḍi-sannyāsa, including summaries of the seventeen Sannyāsa Upaniṣads, a history of sannyāsa in various sampradāyas, the Bhikṣu-gītā, Mahāprabhu’s sannyāsa-līlā, and Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s teachings on sannyāsa. Due to other service commitments, the complete work did not come to fruition. Nevertheless, Mahārāja left us the first section – unfinished, yet rich with numerous insightful points concerning the sannyāsa-āśrama.
Śrī Caitanyadeva and Communism
This Bengali article, ‘Śrī Caitanyadeva and Communism’ by Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda was first published in Śrī Gauḍīya Patrikā, Vol.5, Issue 8 in 1953. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains how any man-made conception for the good of society is doomed to fail, and only the ‘Communism’ expounded by Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Caitanya Mahāprabhu will truly give benefit to society at large.
Markaṭa Vairāgī (Monkey Renunciates)
Markaṭa Vairāgī (‘Monkey Renunciates’) was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.8, Issue 10 in 1897. In this article, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura discusses Mahāprabhu’s instructions to Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī as well as the two types of fake renunciates found in both the gṛhastha āśrama and the sannyāsa āśrama.
The Kaulīnya Tradition (Kaulīnya Prathā)
This article was written by Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja just after his acceptance of initiation from Sarasvatī Ṭhākura and was first published in Dainik Nadīyā Prakāśa on Monday, June 4th, 1928. Herein, Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja discusses the Kaulīnya tradition established by King Ballāl who desired to create an elite class of brāhmaṇas in Bengal based upon their virtuous behaviour. Such brāhmaṇas were called ‘kulīna’ (noble). Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja asks why the brāhmaṇa caste was initially seminal, and why this is not the case today.
Grow More Food!
This short article, “Grow More Food” by Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda was first published in Back To Godhead magazine, Vol. 3, Issue 6, on May 20th 1956. Śrila Prabhupāda discusses agricultural endeavours by the materialists and states that the main factor for growing more food is not more machinery, but the divine will, or ‘daiva.’
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.
The White Bead Bag
This short article, “The White Bead Bag” was written by Śrīla B.G. Narasiṅgha Mahārāja in December 2010. Mahārāja explains the significance of why Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas use a white bead bag and how this is not just an external tradition without meaning.
The Colour for Sannyāsīs
In this short article, ‘The Colour for Sannyāsīs’ from December 2010, Śrīla Narasiṅgha Mahārāja describes the original colour of the cloth used by sannyāsīs in the line of Sarasvatī Ṭhākura and how in modern times, this has become obsolete.
Become Guru!
The following sannyāsa initiation lecture was given by Śrīla Prabhupāda in Māyāpura on Gaura-Pūrṇimā, March 16th, 1976. On this day, Swami B.G. Narasiṅgha Mahārāja accepted the renounced order of life from His Divine Grace.
Gṛha Praveśa (Entering a House)
In this transcript which first appeared in Bengali in the 9th Volume of The Gauḍīya, published on 18th April 1931, Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains the duty of a Vaiṣṇava householder in relation to hari-bhajana. This article was translated into English by Swami B.V. Giri and Sanātana Dāsa.
