THE GLORIOUS SAINT

SRILA BHAKTIVEDANTA VAMANA GOSVAMI MAHARAJA

&
Excerpts from various spiritual discourses

INSPIRED BY THE LECTURES OF SRIMATI UMA MATAJI

 Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja

Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana

Gosvami Maharaja Gosvami Maharaja

The Glorious Saint & Excerpts from Various Spiritual Discourses

First printing: January 2018 (1,000 copies)

Printed at Thirumagal Printers

FREE COPY DISTRIBUTED BY:

© SRI GURU PUBLICATIONS, 2018
SOME RIGHTS RESERVED
 ABOUT THE PREACHER
Srimati Uma Mataji has been studying the
theory and practice of bhakti-yoga for over four
decades under the guidance of Gaudiya
Vaishnavas. In her youth, she received the
mercy of Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava
Gosvami Maharaja and his eminent disciple
Srila Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Gosvami
Maharaja. In 1970, she accepted diksha
initiation from her divine master Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Vamana
Gosvami Maharaja, who is also a disciple of Srila Bhakti Prajnana
Kesava Gosvami Maharaja. In 1986, Srimati Uma Mataji renounced her
family's home and took up permanent residence in Sri Kesavji Gaudiya
Matha in Mathura, India, where she heard daily classes from Srila
Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja for the next twenty years.
On the order of her beloved siksha guru, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana
Gosvami Maharaja, Srimati Uma Mataji is preaching the message of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, even in her advanced age. Srimati Uma Mataji
imparts the knowledge of unalloyed bhakti that she received from her
spiritual teachers without deviation. Her vast knowledge and experience,
in addition to her sparkling personality, makes her instruction on bhakti-
yoga simply a delight for her audiences.

(Source: www.purebhakti.com)
 PREFACE

By the causeless mercy of Sri Hari, Guru and Vaishnavas, this

booklet became manifest to present the sweet pastimes of Srila
Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja. His exemplary life from
childhood till the time he served in the temple gives the sincere seeker of
the Absolute Truth a glimpse of his immense mercy. By reading the
pastimes of such a great personality who is completely surrendered to
Sri Sri Radha Krsna and Sri Guru, it is hoped that Their Lordships will
bestow mercy upon us. We pray at Srila Gurudeva’s lotus feet that his
pastimes will give us an inspiration in our hearts to always be
surrendered and to be in the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master.
This booklet has been divided into two parts. The first part is the
life story of Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja and
the second part is the excerpts from various spiritual discourses given by
Srimati Uma Mataji in Malaysia. Please excuse any shortcomings in our
humble effort to please Sri Guru and Gauranga. It is hoped that readers
will find this booklet to be of immense spiritual enlightenment.
An insignificant aspirant for the service of Sri Hari, Guru and Vaishnavas,
Ashalata devi dasi
(Completed on the Disappearance day of nitya-lila pravista om visnupada
paramahamsa parivrajakacarya assottara-sata Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta
Narayana Gosvami Maharaja and Appearance day of nitya-lila pravista om
visnupada paramahamsa parivrajakacarya assottara-sata Sri Srimad
Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja – 11 December 2017)
 ~Boyhood Pastimes~

My Guru Maharaja was very calm and quiet in his boyhood. He

did not play any games like other children. He was always reading or
studying some books. Guru Maharaja was very fond of books. It was
Guru Maharaja who established the library at Devananda Gaudiya Math.
Guru Maharaja could remember anything by just reading it once.
He is known as the Gaudiya dictionary. Whenever a sloka, verse, was
quoted, Guru Maharaja could immediately remember it. Each time the
teacher at school gave any lessons; there was no need for him to do any
revision. And he was only around 6 to 7 years old!
Once, a new head teacher came and Guru Maharaja was present at
class. He asked the students to open their books. He wanted to ask the
students some questions. Guru Maharaja did not open his book. The
head teacher noticed this and asked, “Why did you not open your book?”
Guru Maharaja remained silent. After repeatedly asking two to
three times, the head teacher ordered Guru Maharaja to stand on the
bench as a punishment.
Then, one student told the head teacher, “Whatever you ask
Santosh (Guru Maharaja’s boyhood name), he will be able to answer
without looking at the book.”
The head teacher was incredulous, “How is this possible? OK. I
will say out one paragraph and let’s see if you are able to tell it.”
 The head teacher picked a sentence from a paragraph and read it
out loud. Guru Maharaja was able to quote line by line the entire
paragraph. The head teacher became speechless.
~Sweet and Shy Nature~
Once it was about 7:00 a.m. or 8:00 a.m. and Guru Maharaja was
at home studying. After 8:30 a.m., his mother called out to him to have
his breakfast. But Guru Maharaja was so absorbed in his studying that he
did not answer. Then his mother called out loudly, “Come on and have
your breakfast!”
Guru Maharaja then answered, “I will not have anything.”
His mother said, “Come and have at least a little bit.” And she left.
Now it was about 10:00 a.m. Guru Maharaja was feeling very
hungry. But he was thinking how to approach his mother as he told her
firmly that he will not have anything. Guru Maharaja had this shy nature
from boyhood. So, feeling hungry, he went outside and then again he
came inside the house. When Guru Maharaja noticed his mother was not
calling out for him, he decided to lie on his bed. Facing the wall, he
scribbled these words on the wall, “If you call me once, I will come and
have prasadam.”
After some time, his mother came for him and she saw the
scribbling on the wall. She immediately pulled him to her and asked him
to have some prasadam, sanctified food that is offered to the Lord.
 ~Meeting Manosa Devi~
When Guru Maharaja was about 6 or 7 years old, the entire village
was busy making all sorts of preparations as an offering to Manosa Devi.
Each house made at least one preparation. There were at least 200 over
preparations. All these were put in bullock carts to be taken to the
outskirts of the village. Guru Maharaja knew that this preparation will be
taken to some corner of the village to Manosa Devi, the presiding deity
of all the offerings. It was an open place, somewhat like Govardhan
puja, worship. The villagers will put the preparation there and will head
back home. It was believed that if Manosa Devi was happy, no snake
bite will happen in the village. The villagers wanted to satisfy Manosa
Devi.
Guru Maharaja followed the villagers and waited until everyone
went home. He was curious to see Manosa Devi himself. He waited and
waited and looked everywhere for Manosa Devi for at least an hour.
Suddenly, Guru Maharaja saw an effulgent light. It was so blinding that
he could not open his eyes. It was like looking at the sun. Inside the
effulgent light, there was a very beautiful young girl. Guru Maharaja
became unconscious. He only managed to get a glimpse.
Who was this girl? It could be Manosa Devi and that means it
could be Srimati Radhika Herself!
In the meantime, the villagers were concerned about the
whereabouts of Guru Maharaja. They now knew Guru Maharaja was not
with them and they searched everywhere for him. Finally they found
Guru Maharaja lying unconscious.
~Meeting Srila Prabhupada~
When Guru Maharaja was 9 years old, he came to Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada. His family members
were mostly initiated by Srila Prabhupada. His mother and his uncle
were also initiated disciples of Srila Prabhupada. His uncle took
sannyasa, the renounced order, from Srila Prabhupada and was given the
name Srila Bhakti Kusal Nansing Gosvami Maharaja.
When he came for parikrama, pilgrimage, with his mother for the
first time in Mayapur dham, holy land, they went everywhere to take
darshan, audience, under the guidance of Srila Prabhupada. Although
this was the first time in Mayapur dham, Guru Maharaja felt that he was
at his own home and village. During the parikrama, he heard Hari-
Katha, topics related to the Lord, from Srila Prabhupada and he
developed so much attachment that he did not want to go back to his
birth place in Bangladesh.
When the British left India in 1947, it was divided into Pakistan
and India. East Bengal was under the rule of Pakistan but they later
separated from Pakistan and became independent Bangladesh.
Many of our prominent Gaudiya Vaishnavas came from
Bangladesh. Our Paramgurudeva (Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava
Gosvami Maharaja) and Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Gosvami Maharaja
also came from there. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu preached there,
therefore some people in that area follow Mahaprabhu. Srila Narottama
das Thakur is also from Bangladesh.
When the parikrama was over, Guru Maharaja did not want to go
home. All the family members, especially his mother and aunty cried so
much. But Guru Maharaja made up his mind and said that he was at
home. Finally Guru Maharaja’s uncle pacified them and said that Guru
Maharaja could stay there and continue his studies.
Srila Prabhupada admitted him in a school. He was always the first
in class every year.
~Sweet Exchanges with Srila Prabhupada~
Guru Maharaja did extremely well and had excellent results in his
studies. Now he was known as Sajjan Sevaka Brahmacari which was his
harinama initiated name. Those days, diksha, initiation, was only given
after 5 to 6 years or even 10 years later. Once after Guru Maharaja’s
Board Examination, Srila Prabhupada called Sajjan Sevaka Brahmacari
and told him, “I’ve got very bad news.”
“What is it,” Guru Maharaja asked anxiously.
Srila Prabhupada said that Guru Maharaja had failed in his Board
Examination. When Guru Maharaja heard this, he said it was impossible.
He was sure that he passed. Srila Prabhupada then queried how was it
impossible?
 Guru Maharaja said, “I did Vaishnava seva, service, so how am I
to fail? They always bless me. It is not possible for me to fail.”
Srila Prabhupada smiled and said, “You are the top student.”
Guru Maharaja used to be very strict in his sadhana, devotional
practice, and bhajan, worship and devotion. He used to say that without
chanting of the Holy Names, one cannot do any other service. He used to
wash the toilets, cut the vegetables and serve the devotees with salt and
lemon when they were to partake in prasadam.
Srila Prabhupada bought him a pair of short pants and shirt to be
used in school. Guru Maharaja always washed and wore this shorts and
shirt every day. Once it rained all night. Guru Maharaja was worried
how he was ever going to go to school with wet clothes on. While
thinking about this, Guru Maharaja continued to do some service at the
temple.
In the meantime, Srila Prabhupada said, “Go to school!”
Guru Maharaja did not mention that his clothes were wet. He went
upstairs and prayed to Lord Nrsimhadeva. Then, he went to take his
clothes. Surprisingly, his clothes had become dry. It was as though
someone had ironed his clothes! It must be that Lord Nrsimhadeva
Himself ironed his clothes.
When I was in Allahabad, I met with Srila Olim Maharaja who
was the elder brother of Sri Paratpara-guru (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada). I heard this story from Srila Olim
Maharaja. He asked me whether I was the disciple of Srila Bhakti
Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja. When I told him that I am the
disciple of Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja, Srila Olim
Maharaja told me how my Guru Maharaja used to do so much service to
Vaishnavas.
Guru Maharaja used to say that all Vaishnavas blessed him and
that is why he is still in spiritual line.
~Diksha Initiation~
When Srila Prabhupada left this material world, there was some
disarray. Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja (who was
then known as Vinod Bihari Brahmacari) and some devotees were
falsely accused of murder and were put in jail in Krsnanagar. Vinod
Bihari Brahmacari and Sajjan Sevaka Brahmacari had a very intimate
relationship. Vinod Bihari Brahmacari used to encourage the
brahmacaris, celibate students, especially the younger ones, to
remember a sloka a day from the Bhagavad-gita. If they were able to do
so, he would reward them with candy sweets. Every brahmacari used to
remember a sloka a day just to get the candy sweets. But Sajjan Sevaka
Brahmacari used to remember up to 10 slokas a day. As promised,
Vinod Bihari Brahmacari will give candy sweets amounting to the
number of slokas remembered by Sajjan Sevaka Brahmacari, who in
turn will distribute it to the other bramacaris. Vinod Bihari Brahmacari
used to love Sajjan Sevaka Brahmacari very much.
 So, when the devotees were in jail, Sajjan Sevaka Brahmacari used
to go there with important files, taking prasadam for them and to also
meet up with the lawyers. At one time, the cook became very sick. Now,
who was going to cook? Sajjan Sevaka Brahmacari could not cook
because he did not have diksha initiation. Therefore, Srila Bhakti
Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja initiated Guru Maharaja with the
diksha mantras through the jail bars.
Finally, it was concluded that the devotees were wrongly accused
of murder and the victim had actually fallen from a tree. Soon they were
released and Vinod Bihari Brahmacari went to Srila Bhakti Vicar
Jajavara Gosvami Maharaja, who was giving initiation at that time.
Some had this idea that Sajjan Sevaka Brahmacari was a disciple of Srila
Bhakti Vicar Jajavara Gosvami Maharaja. But this is not true. Guru
Maharaja firmly told everywhere that he was a disciple of Srila Bhakti
Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja. So many people do not know this.
At that time, Vinod Bihari Brahmacari was still not a sannyasi.
Srila Prabhupada wanted to give Vinod Bihari Brahmacari
sannyasa but the other devotees wanted him to manage the temple. He
was asked twice to take sannyasa. Then Srila Prabhupada came in a
dream of Vinod Bihari Brahmacari and ordered him to take sannyasa.
Then he finally took sannyasa in Katwa where Mahaprabhu Himself
took sannyasa. Vinod Bihari Brahmacari took sannyasa from Srila
Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Gosvami Maharaja.
 ~Life of Service~
From the very beginning, Sajjan Sevaka Brahmacari stayed with
his Guru Maharaja, Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja,
and followed him like a shadow. Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami
Maharaja established the first temple in Chinsura, produced Gaudiya
Patrika and other books and also a printing press. Sajjan Sevaka
Brahmacari used to look after the press. Those days the printing was
hand pressed.
Once when the printing was going on, Guru Maharaja’s hand was
badly crushed, and nearly the entire top phalanx of his middle finger was
cut off. But Guru Maharaja just continued on with his work.
When Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja knew this,
he wept like a child and took him to the Calcutta Hospital for immediate
treatment. Later on, by the mercy of Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava
Gosvami Maharaja, his finger miraculously grew back!
Once, some of Paramgurudeva’s god brothers came from afar to
visit him at the Chinsura temple after the noon time prasadam. There
were no prasadam left. Paramgurudeva wanted to serve them. When he
went into the kitchen, the cook was not there. So he entered Sajjan
Sevaka Brahmacari’s room. That day, my Guru Maharaja was very sick.
When Paramgurudeva entered his room, he said, “Get up and
cook!”
 Paramgurudeva did not notice that my Guru Maharaja was having
fever. My Guru Maharaja prayed to the Lord and cooked and fed all the
devotees. Later he went into his room to lie down; Guru Maharaja
noticed that his fever was gone. He never skipped in the service of the
Vaishnavas.
Guru Maharaja used to say that there is no “cuti” or holiday or rest
when it comes to seva, service. When we finally get the shelter of Sri
Radha and Krsna, only then there will be eternal rest. Guru Maharaja
was the embodiment of:
trnad api sunicena
taror api sahisnuna
amanina manadena
kirtaniyah sada harih
(Sri Siksastaka, verse 3)

(Thinking oneself to be even lower and more worthless than

insignificant grass which has been trampled beneath everyone’s feet,
being more tolerant than a tree, being prideless, and offering respect to
all others according to their respective positions, one should
continuously chant the holy name of Sri Hari)

~Guru Maharaja’s Magnanimous Mercy~

Although he was acarya, spiritual master, he never showed himself
to be such. He liked to live a simple life. He used to say that he had no
bank balance. If by any accident that he died, then whatever money in
his pocket will be his bank balance. Most of Guru Maharaja’s disciples
are Bengali villagers. They were very poor and had no money.
Sometimes, Guru Maharaja gave money to his disciples to host him.
There was a time, a lady disciple who lived in the border of upper
Bengal. It was a 10 miles distance from where Guru Maharaja was
staying. She arranged for some prasadam and wanted very much Guru
Maharaja to come to her house. Unfortunately, Guru Maharaja’s train
was at 10:00 a.m. and it was quite impossible for Guru Maharaja to go to
her house. So, Guru Maharaja told the lady to make breakfast and offer
it to his picture at 8:30 a.m.
In the meantime, Guru Maharaja’s brahmacari servant made
breakfast and requested Guru Maharaja to have some prasadam. Guru
Maharaja said that he already had his breakfast.
The Brahmacari was surprised. “How is that so? You were staying
here and chanting all the time.”
Guru Maharaja said, “You can ask my lady disciple yourself. She
made all these preparations. Ask her during the Navadwip parikrama.”
The Brahmacari wrote down all the preparations mentioned by
Guru Maharaja. When Navadwip parikrama came, the Brahmacari
asked the lady disciple. She told exactly all the preparations that was
mentioned by Guru Maharaja.
~The Bus Moved~
Once, Guru Maharaja was travelling from Bengal to Assam. There
was not much money in those days and all travelling was by bus. It was
a long wait. All the buses that came were full of people. Finally a bus
was coming to the stop. Guru Maharaja decided that he must board the
bus. The bus was also fully packed, but Guru Maharaja and the
accompanying Brahmacaris managed to board it. It was so packed and
they had no choice but to stand. After some distance, the driver declared
that the Assam border was closed. He ordered all the passengers to alight
the bus. Everyone did so but Guru Maharaja went to the front seat and
sat down. The Brahmacaris thought that Guru Maharaja was resting.
Seeing Guru Maharaja still seated, the driver said, “Today the bus
will not move.”
Guru Maharaja very firmly replied that the bus will move. The
driver was surprised but did not say anything. Again, after a few
minutes, the driver said that the bus will not move. But Guru Maharaja
said that it will. The driver thought that Guru Maharaja had some
problem understanding him.
Later an announcement came that the bus can move. Everyone
boarded the bus. The bus conductor did not ask any money for the
tickets as he knew that Guru Maharaja was not an ordinary person.
~Krsna and Balaram to the Rescue~
There was a time when Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami
Maharaja was in the Mathura Math. He was making some preparations
for Harinama initiation and Guru Maharaja was to give the initiation as
Guru Maharaja was the initiating Guru. During that time, a family
wanted to take darshan of Varshana, Govardhan and perhaps even of the
Madan Mohan temple and then back again to Mathura with Guru
Maharaja. Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja told my
Guru Maharaja to be back by 8:00 p.m. and not to be late.
So Guru Maharaja left with this family in a car to take darshan of
all these holy places. After darshan, when the car left Govardhan, it
suddenly stopped. Apparently the car was out of petrol. The driver
insisted he filled the car with petrol. Then one Brahmacari went in
search for petrol. Guru Maharaja was thinking about what Srila
Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja said; that is to return by
8:00 p.m. The time was already 6:00 p.m. They were all thinking of
what to do next.
Guru Maharaja called his personal servant, Gopi Kanta prabhu
(Now Srila Janardhan Maharaja) over. He said, “Gopi, there is a nearby
village. You can get some petrol over there.”
The Brahmacaris searched for the village. Soon they saw some
lights coming through the shaded trees. They went nearer and saw an old
man smoking a hookah. The old man joked, “Baba, why are you doing
madhukari, begging for alms, at night time?”
The Brahmacaris answered, “Our car broke down. We need some
petrol.”
The old man said, “We got a truck. My son will help you fill up
some petrol.”
 After filling up with petrol, Guru Maharaja wanted to give some
money, but the old man’s son refused. Instead Guru Maharaja gave the
son two packets of prasadam, which he accepted.
When everyone was in the car, the Brahmacaris asked Guru
Maharaja, “How did you know that there is a village here?”
Guru Maharaja replied, “When I was chanting in the car, two boys
came and told me where the village is.”
Perhaps the two boys are Krsna and Balaram. Actually, Guru
Maharaja never told this story. We heard this from the Brahmacaris.

~The Ghostly Wedding~

Once, my Guru Maharaja wanted to visit a devotee in a nearby

village. At that time there was no public transportation. So, Guru
Maharaja used to walk everywhere. He walked for a very long time and
soon it was really late at night. He was passing by a jungle and the time
was almost twelve midnight.

Suddenly, he saw some decorative bright lights. It was as though

some wedding festival was going on. A person approached Guru
Maharaja and asked Guru Maharaja to bless his daughter and son-in-law.
Although, very late, and not thinking anything out of the ordinary, Guru
Maharaja obliged. After the young couple got their blessings, Guru
Maharaja went on his way to the devotee’s house. Soon he reached the
devotee's house and knocked on the door. Upon opening the door, the
devotee was shocked to see Guru Maharaja arriving at his home very,
very late at night.

"Maharaja, you have come so late. What happened?” inquired the

devotee.

"Oh, I went to bless a young couple on their wedding day.”

The devotee looked very puzzled. "But there are no houses

anywhere near here, Maharaja. No matter, we will look into this
tomorrow."

The next day, Guru Maharaja and the devotee went to the spot
where the wedding festival was held. The place was a cremation
ground. This shows that Guru Maharaja not only delivers humans but
also other entities such as ghosts.

~The Foot Bath Water of a Mahajana, a Great Soul~

Once, a brahmacari from Rupa Sanatana Gaudiya Math, temple,

went to stay at his sister’s house, which was nearby the temple. He went
to the Yamuna River to take his bath. As he was dipping himself, he felt
someone was pressing his head down. It was as though a heavy weight
was put on him. He kept coming up to the surface but to his surprise,
there was no one around. Each time he dipped, he felt something heavy
was on him. Feeling a little afraid, he came out of the water and started
off towards the house. He felt someone was following him.
 That night, he saw a female ghost in his room. The ghost said that
it had committed suicide because the man whom it was supposed to
marry did not keep his promise. After seeing the brahmacari, the ghost
said it had fallen in love with him. The ghost also warned the
brahmacari, not to tell anyone of this incident or it will kill him. Fearing
for his life, the brahmacari did as he was told. Soon, the brahmacari
looked pallid. The brahmacari's room was adjacent to his sister’s and
she heard her brother talking to someone at night. Feeling suspicious,
she decided to confront her brother.

"Who were you talking to at night? I hear voices coming from your
room. Tell me honestly!" demanded the sister.

The brahmacari did not reply. The concerned sister then, requested
the help of another brahmacari from the temple to find out what was
actually wrong with her brother. The brahmacari from the temple came
and inquired on what was going on with his god brother.

The disturbed brahmacari told his god brother about the ghost.
The temple brahmacari then asked his god brother to inquire from the
ghost on how it could be appeased.

The ghost said that it will leave the disturbed brahmacari if it can
get the foot bath water of a mahajana. Not any mahajana but the foot
bath water of my Guru Maharaja. The ghost demanded him to bring the
foot bath water in a pot and leave it by the banks of the Yamuna. The
brahmacari was ordered not to look behind after leaving the pot there.
Soon enough, the ghost left the disturbed brahmacari.

~His Service is My Service~

This shows how very powerful, Guru Maharaja was and always is.
We should not think that my Guru Maharaja and Srila Bhaktivedanta
Narayana Gosvami Maharaja are any different. Once Sripad
Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja told our Guru Maharaja that he
wanted to serve Guru Maharaja. Our Guru Maharaja said, "Don't think I
am any different from Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja.
You should serve him. His service is my service."

Seated Left - Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja

Seated Right - Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja
 Excerpts from Various Spiritual Discourses

~Krsna – The Supreme Thief~

Once there lived a young thief. One day, the thief heard a sadhu,
holy man, giving hari-katha about a very beautiful Boy with lovely
curling locks and dark bluish complexion. And that the Boy wears many
types of ornaments. This beautiful Boy goes cow grazing everyday with
His friends. Sometimes He is with all His friends and sometimes He is
alone.
The thief thought of becoming the friend of this beautiful Boy.
And later he will be able to steal all His ornaments. Then, he would not
have to steal anymore and live a very comfortable life.
So, the thief went to Vrndavan. He was searching every day for
this beautiful Boy. Many days passed. The thief's eagerness grew
immensely strong. He was so determined in wanting to meet this Boy
with the ornaments.
After some days had passed, the thief saw the Boy who is after all
Krsna Himself. Beautiful Krsna was decked in His ornaments and He
quickly ran towards the thief and embraced him saying, "O I was
waiting for you for a long time."
The thief thought, "This is going to be easy. I was thinking of
becoming His friend and now He has befriended me instead."
 Soon Krsna and the thief went everywhere together. The thief's
heart was completely purified and forgot all about stealing the
ornaments.
One day Krsna did not come as usual. The thief waited and waited
in separation of Krsna. His heart was burning in intense separation. The
next day Krsna came and again Krsna took the thief here and there in
Vrndavan.
Then, one day, Krsna took all His ornaments and bundled it in a
cloth and said, “O my friend, I want to give you this bundle. Here, take
it."
The thief said, "I don't want anything. I only want You as my
friend forever!"
Purport
When you hear very high class hari-katha from bona-fide high
class Vaishnavas, then greed will come into your heart. Greed is the only
qualification to attain Krsna.
We must first hear all these hari-katha from a bona-fide Sri Guru.
Give your ears and then take darshan of the holy places. Otherwise if
you were to go to Govardhan, you will think of Govardhan as a rock.
You won't know the glories of Govardhan. By hearing all these top most
hari-katha from bona-fide Vaishnavas, you will develop greed.
 ~The Beauty of Radha and Krsna~
In this world we are attracted to very beautiful persons. In the
beginning a man is very attracted to the face of his beautiful wife. Her
face will be like the beautiful moon. After some time, her face will be
like the sun. So much heat is coming. After many years her face will be
like the volcanoes. This means her beauty fades and she is not as
palatable as she was before.
Miss Universe is very beautiful. But how long will her beauty last?
This is material beauty. Nothing lasts. Therefore the beauty of Sri Radha
and Krsna is forever beautiful. It is transcendental beauty. If one has the
good fortune to see Their Beauty, then all material desires will be
vanquished.
Once there was a goonda, ruffian, called Dhanurdasa. Everyone
was afraid of him. He married a very beautiful girl. Her father had to
give her hand in marriage to Dhanurdasa as her father was afraid of the
goonda. Dhanurdasa was enamoured by his wife's beauty.
One day, Dhanurdasa and his wife went to Sri Rangam temple.
Dhanurdasa had his back turned towards the Deities. He was admiring
his wife’s beauty. The temple authorities could not open the curtains
because Dhanurdasa’s back was turned towards the Deities. The temple
priest told the matter to Sri Ramanujacarya.
Sri Ramanujacarya asked Dhanurdasa to take darshan of the
Deities and not turn his back on Them.
 Dhanurdasa said, “Is Thakurji more beautiful than my wife?”
Then Sri Ramanujacarya said, "I will show you the One who is
more beautiful!"
Dhanurdasa ridiculed, "Impossible! If you do, then, I will be your
servant; otherwise you will have to be my servant."
Sri Ramanujacarya placed his hand on Dhanurdasa's head and took
him to have darshan of the Lord. Dhanurdasa was overwhelmed with
the love of God. Now he knew than none can equal the beauty of the
Lord. He immediately became a follower of Sri Ramanujacarya.
~The Greatness of Chanting~
Once, in a village, a young boy was bitten by a snake. His parents
were heart-broken. They wept bitterly. The whole village came over to
see what had happened. Then someone said that he will call a snake
charmer who is an expert in mantras. Soon the snake charmer came. He
kept reciting a mantra loudly. He also put some stones on the boy’s
forehead, arms, and feet and behind the boy’s head. After much
recitation, the stone behind the boy’s head disappeared. Shortly, a huge
snake unwillingly came as if it was being pulled by the stone that
disappeared from the boy’s head. It sucked out all the poison from the
boy's body and died. Thus, the boy was saved. If a worldly mantra can
have so much power, just imagine what the maha-mantra can do.
 Hare Krsna Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna
Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama
Hare Hare

This is the top most mantra. If anyone has taken shelter of a bona-
fide guru, and following all of Sri Guru's instruction, then the disciple
will see the results quickly. He will feel peace and bliss. He will not be
disturbed by the material calamities. The maha-mantra has been infused
by Sri Guru's powers when he initiated the disciple. It is now the duty of
the disciple to follow all the instructions of Sri Guru strictly.
When Srila Gurudeva (Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami
Maharaja) was exhibiting his "sick pastimes," there was a time when he
needed to be operated on.
Doctors normally administer anaesthetic and instruct a patient to
count from 1 to 10. While counting, the patient will start to get weaker
and weaker until he or she completely loses consciousness.
In Srila Gurudeva’s case, he was chanting the maha-mantra.
Instead of getting weaker, Srila Gurudeva was only getting stronger. All
the doctors were amazed. They realized that Srila Gurudeva was not an
ordinary person. Somehow or other the operation did take place. As for
the doctors, they paid their obeisance to Srila Gurudeva every day! You
should never think that the maha-mantra which Sri Guru has given as
something ordinary.
 ~We are like Donkeys~
Once there was a trader. He loaded his donkey with rice, sugar and
other foodstuffs and headed towards a hill. Soon it was almost evening.
The trader found a spot to rest. Before doing so, he took out his ropes
and bound each donkey’s legs to another. The next day the trader went
along his journey. He was already 30 miles away from the place he
rested the previous night. Just then he remembered he left his ropes
behind and it was quite impossible for him to get it back.
Soon it will be night. He was worried his donkeys may wander
away. At that moment a sadhu, holy man, came by.
The holy man asked, "O sir, why do you look so worried?"
The trader said, "I forgot to bring the ropes to bind my donkeys.
Now they may wander off!"
"O, don't worry. Just make hand gestures that you are binding your
donkeys. And they will not move from there,” said the holy man.
The trader did just that. The next morning the trader saw all his
donkeys were there, just like what the holy man had predicated. He soon
loaded his donkeys. Then he slapped the donkeys on their backs so that
they would start to move. Unfortunately the donkeys did not budge at
all.
The trader cried out, "O holy man! Can you give me some mantra
to make my donkeys to move?"
 "Just make the same hand gestures like you are untying the
donkeys," said the holy man.
The trader did as he was told. Soon the donkeys began to move and
the trader was on his way.
Purport
We are all like donkeys in this material world. We think that this is
our actual position when in fact we are the ones holding on to the ropes
of maya. (Maya means that which is not or the illusory energy of the
Lord). So, like donkeys we are going about our work doing hard labour
and thinking that we will be here permanently.
~Always Chant and Be Happy~

In the scriptures, it is mentioned that when Hari-katha, topics

related to Lord Krsna and His devotees, is going on, even the sun cannot
enter. The Sun-god is stealing our time, and upon sun set, our lives
become reduced. As the day passes, our life is diminishing.
When Hari-katha is spoken, even the sun-god has no power to
steal our time. Hari-katha and the Holy Names of the Lord and the Lord
Himself are non-different.
When Hari-katha is going on, then Krsna must be present. Krsna
will be present by the grace of Sri Guru. Krsna enters through our ears
and enters our heart. With attentive listening, some mood will come.
Krsna will clean our hearts. By speaking Hari-katha, it will make our
heart and mind purified. Hari-katha is so powerful.
 Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave instruction to everyone, including
grhastha, householders, to first do Vaishnava seva, service to the
devotees, Hari-seva, service to the Lord and Nagar-sankirtan,
congregational chanting of the holy names.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said to distribute harinama, holy names,
to everyone. What is the benefit? If Hari-Sankirtan, congregational
chanting, is done loudly, the holy names is also benefiting the trees,
animals etc as sabda brahman, transcendental sound.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed Srila Haridas Thakur and Sri
Nityananda Prabhu to give harinama to everyone. He said, "Beg them to
chant."
People used to give Srila Haridas Thakur and Sri Nityananda
Prabhu rice, flour, etc, but Sri Nityananda Prabhu said He does not want
any of these things. He only wants them to chant. Sri Nityananda Prabhu
is guru-tattva, fundamental truths regarding Sri Guru.
Our Srila Gurudeva went everywhere and preached in his
advanced age. Why? So that everyone will chant and become happy.
Even if one person can be turned towards Krsna consciousness, then it is
so great.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that we can be happy by chanting.
Human life is full of miseries. Due to our past life sukriti, spiritual pious
activities, we have come to Krsna consciousness. Then, by more and
more sukriti, taste for Hari-katha shall come.
 What does bhakti, devotion to the Lord, means? Bhakti means no
desire for oneself.
The Gopis, the cowherd girls in Vrndavan, specialty is only to love
and serve Sri Krsna. They have pranaya, very strong and thick love, for
Krsna. Gopis never expect anything from Krsna. They only think about
how to serve Krsna. That is their aim and object.
One who does Krsna bhajan, devotion to Krsna, is always pleased
and happy. Our aim and object should be to attain radha-dasyam, the
service of Srimati Radhika.
But first practice:
vaco vegam manasah krodha vegam
jihva vegam udaropastha vegam
etan vegan yo visaheta dhirah
sarvam apimam prithivim sa sisyat
(Sri Upadesamrta, verse 1)

"A sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the mind's demands,
the actions of anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals is
qualified to make disciples all over the world."

We must have strong faith in Sri Guru. Sincerely follow Sri Guru's
instruction. Then realization will come.
Once someone asked Srila Gurudeva whether mercy is the same
for everyone? Srila Gurudeva said no. It is according to our surrender. If
we want to be cheated, then we will be cheated by Sri Guru. We cannot
do anything by our own endeavour.
 So whatever instruction Sri Guru gives, follow it. First become
guru-dasa, servant of Sri Guru, then Krsna-dasa, servant of Krsna, and
then Radha-dasyam.
~Sri Guru is Always with You~
Once there was a disciple living near the ocean. He was feeling
separation for his Gurudeva, who was of advanced age. The disciple was
worried that his Gurudeva might soon decide to wind up his pastimes.
Therefore the disciple wanted to know how his Gurudeva can always be
with him.
He then went to his Gurudeva and asked him this question.
“Srila Gurudeva, I want you to be with me all the time. But how
am I to understand this?”
His Gurudeva explained, “When you walk on the bank of the
ocean, you will see two sets of footprints. One set is yours and the other
is mine.”
The disciple walked on the beach and saw the two sets of
footprints. He was overjoyed. Soon his Gurudeva disappeared from this
world, meaning Sri Guru was no more physically present in this world.
The disciple went about his duties as usual. After some time, his
business failed. His wife and children and everyone he knew left him.
When business was good, everyone asked him, “How are you?”
Now when he was penniless, everyone looked at him and said,
“Who are you?”
 He lost everything but the disciple had very strong faith in his
Gurudeva. One day feeling utterly sad by this turn of events, the disciple
walked by the banks of the ocean. He was further saddened to see only
one set of footprints. He now thought that even his Gurudeva had left
him.
That night, his Gurudeva came to him in a dream and said, “I have
not left you. You think that you saw your footprints. Actually it is mine.
I am now carrying you. I will never leave you.”
Sri Guru never leaves us. He is always there with us. We have to
realize this someday.
~There’s Money, There’s Respect~
Once there was a wealthy father who accumulated a lot of wealth
for his only son. He decided to sign off his wealth and property to his
son and leave comfortably in his old age with his child.
Soon it was time for his son to be married. Together with his wife,
they found a suitable girl. Everything went well for a while until the
father became very sick.
Seven months into the marriage, the daughter-in-law started to
complain about the father-in-law to her husband. She kept telling her
husband how his father coughed at night which disturbed her precious
sleep.
Soon the son decided to move his father to the store room
downstairs.
 “Father, I think it is best that you sleep in the store room from now
on. We will clean the room so that you will be comfortable. After all it is
not good for your health if you keep climbing up the stairs,” said the son
to the speechless father.
The father now slept in the store room. He felt miserable. The
servants even refrained from giving tea to the father during tea time.
They started to become disrespectful. The father decided to complain to
his son.
“My dear son, the servants don’t even give me tea even when I ask
for it. They throw food at me as though I am a dog,” said the father.
The son got irritated and harshly brushed off his father, “Can’t you
see I am in a hurry to get to work. I have no time to listen to this.”
Heart broken, the father sat quietly in his room, resigned to his
fate.
As for the son’s mother, she was always trying to please her
daughter-in-law in order not to suffer the same fate as her husband.
One day, the father’s friend came for a visit. He was shocked to
see his friend in a sorry state. Soon he hatched an idea where the entire
household will respect the old wealthy man once again.
The friend gave some notes and coins and said, “Each time you see
your son pass by your room, make sure you clank the coins and start
counting the notes loudly. You will soon see a difference!”
 The father did as he was told. The son heard the father counting
notes and clanking lots of coins. The son thought that his father still had
lots of money and not everything was written off to him. The son and his
wife started to treat the father with much kindness. Even the servants
started to be respectful.
Purport
In this kali-yuga, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy, people will
respect you, only if you have money. Otherwise even your own family
members will neglect you.
~Firm Faith in Krsna~
Some time back, I was making some subji, vegetable dish, in the
kitchen of a temple. After I prepared everything, the pujari, priest, asked
whether I used everything for Thakurji, the Deities.
I said I kept some vegetables for tomorrow.
The pujari said, “Please don’t do that. Whatever we get for today,
we will offer everything to Thakurji. If Thakurji desires, He will provide
everything for tomorrow.”
This showed how much firm faith the pujari had in Krsna. He did
not believe that we should save anything for tomorrow. In the same way,
if we are doing everything very nicely, then Thakurji will provide. There
will be enough money coming to maintain the temple. Of this, there is
no doubt.
 AUSPICIOUS DONORS

We would like to immensely thank the auspicious donors to make

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in order to enlighten the well meaning sincere seekers of the Absolute
Truth.

For further information on spiritual topics and excerpts of lectures please

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 Hare Krsna Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna
Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama
Hare Hare

This is the top most mantra. If anyone has taken

shelter of a bona-fide guru, and following all of Sri
Guru's instruction, then the disciple will see the results
quickly. He will feel peace and bliss. He will not be
disturbed by the material calamities. The maha-
mantra has been infused by Sri Guru’s powers when
he initiated the disciple. It is now the duty of the
disciple to follow all the instructions of Sri Guru
strictly.

“Remembrance of Vaishnavas brings auspiciousness

and their forgetfulness brings inauspiciousness”
- Srila Bhakti Vijnana Bharati Gosvami Maharaja