Tag Archive | Sri Gopinath Math
World Tour 2018 Brazil
All Glories to Sri Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Saraswata Sampradaya (lineage). All Glories to my beloved Grand Spiritual Master His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Siddhanata Saraswati Goswami Thakur PRABHUPADA & my beloved Spiritual Master His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Thakur.
Dear Devotees,
Please accept my loving affection and convey the same to all members in your association.
After 32-hours journey I reached my destination, Penedo, Brazil. My present phone number: +55-2433511961; after 48-hours from now, I will start for Rio-De. Janeiro (Brazil).
Yours in the Service of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Mission.
B.B.Bodhayan.
Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math(President).
For Lord Sri Balaram’s Appearance Day
Sri Balabhadra-stava-raja
The King of Prayers to Lord Balarama
>From Chp13, Sri Garga Samhita
Text 1
duryodhana uvaca
stotram sri-baladevasya
pradvipaka maha-mune
vada mam krpaya saksat
sarva-siddhi-pradayakam
Duryodhana said: O Pradvipaka, O great sage, please kindly tell me the prayer of Lord Balarama, which grants all perfection.
Text 2
sri-pradvipaka uvaca
stava-rajam tu ramasya
vedavyasa-krtam subham
sarva-siddhi-pradam rajan
chrnu kaivalyadam nrnam
Sri Pradvipaka Muni said: O king, please hear the regal and beautiful prayer of Lord Balarama, a prayer that brings liberation and all perfection.
Text 3
devadi-deva bhagavan
kama-pala namo ‘stu te
namo ‘nantaya sesaya
saksad-ramaya te namah
O master of the demigods, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, O fulfiller of desires, obeisances to You! O Lord Ananta Sesa, obeisances to You! O Lord Balarama, obeisances to You!
Text 4
dhara-dharaya purnaya
sva-dhamne sira-panaye
sahasra-sirase nityam
namah sankarsanaya te
O Lord who maintains the earth, O glorious Lord, O perfect and complete Lord, O Lord who holds a plow in Your hand, O Lord who has a thousand heads, O Lord Sankarsana, eternal obeisances to You!
Text 5
revati-ramana tvam vai
baladevacyutagraja
halayudha pralamba-ghna
pahi mam purusottama
O husband of Revati, O Lord Balarama, O elder brother of Lord Krsna, O Lord who holds a plow-weapon, O killer of Pralambasura, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, please protect me!
Text 6
balaya balabhadraya
talankaya namo namah
nilambaraya gauraya
rauhineyaya te namah
O Lord Balarama, who carries a palm-tree flag, obeisances to You! O son of Rohini, O fair-complexioned Lord dressed in blue garments, obeisances to You!
Text 7
dhenukarir mustikarih
kutarir balvalantakah
rukmy-arih kupakarnarih
kumbhandaris tvam eva hi
You are the enemy of Dhenuka, the enemy of Mustika, the enemy of Kuta, the killer of Balvala, the enemy of Rukmi, the enemy of Kupakarna, and the enemy of Kumbhanda.
Text 8
kalindi-bhedano ‘si tvam
hastinapura-karsakah
dvividarir yadavendro
vraja-mandala-mandanah
You are the Lord who broke the Yamuna and dragged Hastinapura. You are the enemy of Dvivida. You are the king of the Yadavas. You are the ornament of Vraja’s circle.
Text 9
kamsa-bhratr-prahantasi
tirtha-yatra-karah prabhuh
duryodhana-guruh saksat
pahi pahi prabho tv atah
You are the killer of Kamsa’s brothers. You are the supreme master, the Lord who went on pilgrimage, and Duryodhana’s guru. O master, please protect me! Please protect me!
Text 10
jaya jayacyuta-deva parat para
svayam ananta-dig-anta-gata-sruta
sura-munindra-phanindra-caraya te
musaline baline haline namah
O infallible Lord, greater than the greatest, O Lord whose glories are heard in all directions without limit, glory to You! Glory to You! O Lord served by the demigods, the kings of the sages, and the kings of the serpents, O powerful Lord who holds a plow and a club, obeisances to You!
Text 11
yah pathet satatam stavanam narah
sa tu hareh paramam padam avrajet
jagati sarva-balam tv ari-mardanam
bhavati tasya dhanam sva-janam dhanam
A person who regularly recites this prayer attains Lord Hari’s transcendental abode. All the strength in the universe is his. He crushes his enemies. He attains great wealth and a great dynasty.
Varuni Beverage for Lord Balaram
Small amount:
7 litres Milk
6 litres Yogurt
1 litre Cream
5 kg Runny Honey
1 kg White Sugar
1/2 bottle Rose water (7 Roses brand is very nice from Mumbai – 7oz)
Larger amount:
25 litres Milk
15 litres Yogurt
3 litres Cream
10 kg Runny Honey
3 kg White Sugar
1 bottle Rose Water
A Humble Request for a successful Gaura Purnima Festival 2016
Dear Devotees and Well-Wishers,
All glories to Sri Brahman Madhva Gaudiya Saraswat Sampradaya (lineage). All glories to my beloved Grand Spiritual Master His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Swaraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupada, and my beloved Spiritual Master His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Maharaj.
I would like to share my concern about the upcoming Gaura-Purnima festival with you. During the festival we will be hosting mostly economically poor but spiritually sincere devotees. For the most part, these devotees are unable to afford the cost of their food and lodging during the ten days (March 15th to March 24th, 2016) of the festival. This year the program adds a special Nagar Samkirtan program at Kolkata on March 25th. We are expecting even more devotees than last year, an average approximately 2,500 devotees each day. We are therefore also expecting an increase in the quantity of bhoga/ingredients that will be required for the duration of the Gaura-Purnima festival.
The price of all ingredients has increased significantly, more than anticipated, and therefore we are humbly begging for your help (financially, physically, and mentally) in order to maintain the festival as we have maintained it over the last few years. I hope you do not hesitate to become involved, and will help us to collect ingredients or donate financially towards the purchase of ingredients in order to serve the Vaisnavas who will attend the Gaura-Purnima festival this March, 2016.
This year an average of 2,500 devotees will gather daily to participate in Navadwipdham Parikrama and the Gaura-Purnima festival activities under the guidance of Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math.
In order to cater to an average of 2,500 devotees daily, offering them Prasad three times each day, and for other arrangements for the festival, the following items will be needed
| Description | Indian Rupee | USD (60R/$) |
| Deity’s outfits: | INR 70 000.00 | $1166.66 |
| Flower decoration and Deities’ garlands for festival period (10-days) | INR 90 000.00 | $1500.00 |
| Pandal and lighting for the entire festival | INR 130 000.00 | $2166.66 |
| Miscellaneous expenses for preparing prasadam for 2500 devotees (Remuneration of cooks and assistants) | INR 90 000.00 | $1500.00 |
| Rice (5,000 kilograms @Rs.40 per kilogram) | INR 200 000.00 | $3300.00 |
| Dal (1,200 kilograms @ Rs. 120 per kilogram) | INR 144 000.00 | $2400.00 |
| Potato (7,000 kilograms @ Rs. 15 per Kilogram) | INR 105 000.00 | $1750.00 |
| Wheat flour (500 kilograms @Rs.30 per Kilogram) | INR 15 000.00 | $250.00 |
| Paneer (5kg x10days plus 130kg Festival) Rs. 220 per kg | INR 39 600.00 | $660.00 |
| Milk (10 litre x 10 days plus 130 litre festival) Rs.40 per litre | INR 9 200.00 | $153.33 |
| Dahi Yogurt (3kgx10days plus 300kg festival)Rs. 125 per kg | INR 41 250.00 | $687.50 |
| Rasgulla (100x10days plus 6000 pieces for festival) Rs. 6each | INR 42 000.00 | $700.00 |
| Vegetable Oils (500 kilograms@ Rs.120 per Kilogram) | INR 60 000.00 | $1000.00 |
| Ghee (clarified butter) 60 kilograms @Rs.400 per Kilogram | INR 24 000.00 | $400.00 |
| Spices (salt, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger etc.) | INR 85 000.00 | $1416.66 |
| Vegetables (cabbage, pumpkin, tomato, spinach, others) | INR 110 000.00 | $1833.33 |
| Fruits for every days and Ekadasi& Gaur-Purnima’s day | INR 90 000.00 | $1500.00 |
| Mahaprabhu’s bathing ceremony (Mahabhisekh); RajBhog after Mahabhisekh | INR 25,000.00 | $416.66 |
| Sannyasa cloth Rs.300 x80 | INR 24 000.00 | $400.00 |
| Sannyasa Donation Rs. 101 x 80 | INR 8 080.00 | $134.66 |
| Brahmacari Dhoti Rs.350x 250 | INR 87,500.00 | $1458.34 |
| Brahmacari Donation Rs.51x 250 | INR 12,750.00 | $212.50 |
| Bengali (1000 pieces), Hindi (500 pieces) Magazine 1500 copies @ Rs.35 | INR 52,000.00 | $866.66 |
| Fuel (Fire wood @ Rs.7.50kg for 20,000 Kg.) | INR 150,000.00 | $2500.00 |
| Total for the festival | INR 1 704 330.00 |
$28 405.50 |
Please let us know of your financial capacity to help with this Gaura-Purnima festival as you will have the opportunity to serve many Vaisnavas, for Krishna’s pleasure. Your spiritual life will surely blossom by the blessings of the Vaisnavas.
Yours in the service of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Mission,
B.B.Bodhayan
President,
Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math
You can choose to support and serve the Vaisnavas in any of these ways.
When using the Pay Pal link please select Gift.
Even a dollar will help.
Or directly deposit into any of the following accounts:
1) Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math Indian Account
This bank will accept only foreign currency (US Dollars or Euro)
Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math. Post Office : Sri-Mayapur; District : Nadia (West Bengal);
Pin code- 741313; India.
SWIFT CODE: IOBAINBB001
Account Number: A/C. SB 21547
INDIAN OVERSEAS BANK
195/4, Rash Behari Avenue
BALYGUNJ BRANCH
KOLKATA. – 700019
(WEST-BENGAL), INDIA
BRANCH CODE: 013
2) US Bank Account
( This bank accepts only US Dollars)
Name: Asim Kumar Sau (Bodhayan Maharaj’s legal name)
Account # 01820-02328
Routing # 121000358
Bank of America
San Rafael Main Branch
CA4-114-01-01
1000 Fourth Street
San Rafael, CA
94901
3) Canadian Bank Account
Name: Association TerraNation
(Bodhayan Maharaj’s association in Canada)
Account #: 05-65636
Routing #: 00696010
Bank information:
CIBC
275 Main Street, Box 394
Hawkesbury, ON
J6A 2S2, Canada
Thank you for your support!
17th Disappearance Ceremony Invitation letter
Dear Devotees, Friends and Well-Wishers,
All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupada and Guru-Parampara (disciplic succession).
Please accept the blessing of my beloved Srila Gurudeva, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Maharaj, and convey the same to all members in your congregation.
On the 25th of November, 2015 we will be celebrating our Srila Gurudeva’s 17th disappearance festival at our Sri Mayapur Temple, Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math; Ishodyan, Nadia (W.B), India. It is my humble request that you attend the programs along with all your family members and friends so that we may serve our friends, the Vaisnavas.
Our programs will start from the day before the anniversary, the 24th of November, with Mangal Arati and Temple/Tulsi Parikram at 4:00 A.M, then will continue through the evening of the next day.
I was hoping to be able to invite you personally, but my present Kartik-Vrata schedule only allows for sending this invitation letter. Therefore, I am humbly requesting you to please excuse any offence, and graciously attend the programs as per the following schedule to the best of your ability.
Tuesday, November 24th, 2015
4:00a.m Mangal Arati and Temple/Tulsi Parikrama.
6:00a.m Morning prayer then discourses
11:00a:m Lunch Bhog offering and Bhog Arati
12:30p:m Prasadam distribution
5:30p.m Evening Arati, then in front of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath temple discourses on the Glories of Guru and Vaisnavas
7.30p.m non-stop Hare Krishna Mahamantra congregational chanting at Srila Gurudeva’s Samadhi temple.
9:00p.m Honor Prasadam.
Wednesday, November 25th, 2015
4:00a.m Mangal Arati, then Temple/Tulsi Parikrama
7:35a.m Special Puja ceremony of Srila Gurudeva at his Samadhi temple, then Srila Gurudeva’s Arati and Puspanjali (offering a handful of flowers to Srila Gurudeva’s Lotus Feet)
9:00a.m Mahajan Padavali Kirtan, then discourses on the glories of Guru and Vaisnavas.
11:00a.m Lunch Bhog offering and Bhog Arati
12:30p.m Prasadam distribution
5:30p.m Evening Arati, then discourses on the Glories of Guru and Vaisnavas
End of Festival activities.
Sincerely yours in the services of the Supreme Lord and His associates,
B.B.Bodhayan
President of Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math.
Srila Gurudeva’s 17th Disappearance festival humble request
All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupada and Guru-Parampara (disciplic succession).
Please accept the blessing of my beloved Srila Gurudeva, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Maharaj and convey the same to all members in your congregation.
We have a few concerns that we would like to share with you. During the festival we will be hosting mostly economically poor devotees who will be unable to afford food and lodging costs for their stay. We are expecting that a large number of devotees will come, and we are therefore also expecting that a large quantity of bhoga/food and other ingredients will be required. The price of all ingredients has increased significantly in the last few years, and therefore we are humbly begging for your help and support, financially, physically, and mentally. We are hoping that you will get involved by helping us to collect ingredients or financially sponsor them so that we can nicely serve all the Vaisnavas who will be attending the festival.
The festival will continue from November 24th to November 25th, 2015.
We humbly appeal to all of you for your financial support and blessings to provide the items listed in the table below for the successful offering of all these services.
Estimated Cost breakdown of Srila Gurudeva’s 17th disappearance festival:
1. Special Puja (worshiping) on 25th morning : Rs.21,000 ($320US) (flowers, bhog and Puja’s paraphernalia).
2. 150 litters milk for sweet rice @Rs. 50 each litter = Rs.7,500 ($115US)
3. 700 Kilograms rice @ Rs 60 each K.G =Rs. 42,000. ($636US)
4. Vegetable of Rs. 25,000. ($379US)
5. Vegetable Oil 75 K.G @ Rs 200 = 15,000. ($229US)
6. Groceries (sugar, white flour, dhal, spices etc) of Rs. 80,000. ($1211US)
7. Raso-Golla (Sweet ball) 5000 pieces @ Rs 5 each piece = 25,000.($379US)
8. Dahi (yogurt) 100 KG @ Rs. 80 each KG = 8,000. ($122US)
9. Sandesh (special sweet paneer) 100 KG @ Rs.200 each KG = 20,000.($303US)
10, The flower decoration of two temples (Sri Sri Radha Gopinath and Srila Gurudeva’s Samadhi) and special garlands of Deities on 24th and 25th of November, 2015 ; total Rs. 80,000. ($1211US)
11. Surrounding temple campus electric lighting decoration for the two days (24th and 25th of November) of Rs. 25,000.($379US)
12. Miscellaneous other expenses of Rs. 10,000. ($152US)
(The above budget is for serving 4000 devotees Prasadam).
According to the requirements detailed above, we are humbly requesting your contributions toward these seva opportunities. Please use your best ability to allow us to honour Srila Gurudeva’s festival properly.
With our heads bowed low we are humbly begging for your support, financially, physically, and mentally.
We, Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math devotees, are humbly begging again and again that you help us to fulfil our desire to serve and please Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Goswami Maharaj, Vaisnavas, and our Deities.
Please let us know of your donations as soon as possible, as this will allow us to organize all services necessary for the festivals.
Yours in the service of the Supreme Lord,
B.B.Bodhayan (President)
If you wish you can offer your kind donation in any of these ways.
Use PayPal
Even a dollar will help.
Or directly deposit into any of the following accounts:
1) Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math Indian Account
Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math. Post Office : Sri-Mayapur; District : Nadia (West Bengal); Pin code- 741313; India.
SWIFT CODE: IOBAINBB001
Account Number: A/C. SB 21547
INDIAN OVERSEAS BANK
195/4, Rash Behari Avenue
BALYGUNJ BRANCH
KOLKATA. – 700019
(WEST-BENGAL), INDIA
BRANCH CODE: 013
2) US Bank Account
Name: Asim Kumar Sau (Bodhayan Maharaj’s legal name)
Account # 01820-02328
Routing # 121000358
Bank of America
San Rafael Main Branch
CA4-114-01-01
1000 Fourth Street
San Rafael, CA
94901
3) Canadian Bank Account
Name: Association TerraNation
(Bodhayan Maharaj’s association in Canada)
Account #: 05-65636
Routing #: 00696010
Bank information:
CIBC
275 Main Street, Box 394
Hawkesbury, ON
J6A 2S2, Canada
Thank you for your support!
For His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Goswami Maharaj Appearance Day
Originally posted on Gosai.com
In the early years of this century, Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakura set into motion a devotional revival that rapidly spread through Bengal, India, and eventually the world. He put into question the very foundations of present-day theistic thought in a way that has little comparison anywhere in the spiritual record, East or West. Through him, the world was awakened to the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the movement of pure devotion, suddha bhakti.
In orchestrating this modern bhakti revolution, Srila Prabhupada gathered some of the greatest spiritual luminaries in contemporary history into his circle. Such a convergence of exalted spiritual personalities can only be compared to the coming together of Sri Chaitanya’s direct followers in the sixteenth century. One of the devotional giants who entered Srila Prabhupada’s orbit was His Divine Grace Bhakti Promode Puri Goswami Maharaja.
We cannot describe the life of Srila Puri Goswami Maharaja without emphasizing his contribution to the spiritual movement in which he was so integrally involved. The depth of his accomplishments cannot be fathomed outside the context of Sri Gaudiya Math. With his fellow godbrothers, he shared an indomitable faith in the service of his Guru and the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This service was the sole purpose and highest aspiration of his being. This conviction led him to spend his entire life in the pursuit of Srila Prabhupada and Mahaprabhu’s pleasure and the fulfillment of their desires. If we examine his life in this setting, we will see more than just numbers, dates, places and names. We will see how he embodied the very life current that his spiritual preceptors came to give the world.
Srila Puri Goswami Maharaja took birth in the village of Ganganandapur in Jessore district (in present-day Bangla Desh), on October 8, 1898. His parents, Tarini Charan Chakravarti and Srimati Ram Rangini Devi, named him Sri Promode Bhushan Chakravarti. During his childhood, he met his vartma-pradarsaka guru (“one who opens the door to the path of devotion”), Srila Bhakti Ratna Thakura, a godbrother and siksha disciple of Thakura Bhaktivinoda, the legendary architect of the present Gaudiya Vaishnava movement. Through Bhakti Ratna Thakura he was introduced to Sajjana-tosani, Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s own Vaishnava periodical, which was filled with Bhaktivinoda’s commentaries and holy teachings. In this way Srila Puri Maharaja became familiar with the seminal works of the suddha bhakti tradition, such as Chaitanya Charitamrita, Chaitanya Bhagavata and the Srimad Bhagavatam. It was also through Bhakti Ratna Thakura that he first learned of his future guru, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada.
Srila Puri Maharaja was still a young university student when he first came before Srila Prabhupada at the Yoga Pith in Sri Mayapur in 1915. It was a significant occasion, for Srila Prabhupada’s diksha guru, Paramahamsa Thakura Srimad Gaura Kishor Das Babaji, had entered his eternal abode only the day before. Srila Puri Maharaja often recounted that as soon as he saw Srila Prabhupada and paid his obeisances to him for the first time, he knew in his heart that this was his spiritual master. Some years later, on the auspicious day of Sri Krishna Janmastami in 1923, he accepted both Harinam and mantra diksha from Srila Prabhupada and was given the name Pranavananda Brahmachari.
At the time, Sri Gaudiya Math was rapidly establishing itself as a bona fide manifestation of Indian religious culture and transforming the caste-conscious socio-religious world of Hinduism. Srila Prabhupada Saraswati Thakura was bringing together his intimate associates to share the wealth of Sri Krishna sankirtana. He had accepted tridandi sannyasa in 1918 and by the early 1920’s had already assumed a formidable position in the Bengali spiritual firmament. He was fearless when it came to upholding true religious principles. The students and practitioners of the Gaudiya Math aligned themselves with this attitude and led most exemplary lives of devotion, imbued with austerity, discipline and in-depth scriptural learning. This high standard of religious life was the hallmark of Sri Gaudiya Math and would be the thread that guided all of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, including Srimad Puri Goswami Maharaja.
The keystone of success in devotion is to perfectly hear the holy words spoken by one’s spiritual preceptor. Srila Prabhupada would often say, “All that is required of you is that you lend me your ears.” Srila Puri Maharaja was fully committed to this maxim. He had the great good fortune to associate closely with Srila Prabhupada for thirteen years and during that time he served him personally by recording his lectures and conversations, which were later published. The greater part of Srila Prabhupada’s spoken words we are left with today come from the transcriptions of these notes. At the same time, Srila Puri Maharaja cultivated a deep knowledge of the Vaishnava scriptures, with the result that he became a veritable storehouse of the wealth of the preceptorial line coming from Sri Chaitanya and his followers. This led him to become one of the most prolific writers and influential teachers in all of Gaudiya Vaishnava history. His writings reflect the disciplined eye of a scholar who expresses with grace and directness the purest scriptural conclusions supported by his own uncommonly profound realization.
Following Srila Prabhupada’s directives, our Gurudeva edited, wrote for, published and helped distribute countless spiritual publications. He was initially inspired and directed by Srila Prabhupada to start writing and contributing articles to the Gaudiya magazine, the backbone of the Gaudiya Math’s missionary work. For seven years he served as a proofreader and as one of its primary editors. In 1926, he was charged with running the world’s only daily Vaishnava newspaper, Dainika Nadiya Prakasa. He held this service for two years, publishing all of his preceptor’s daily discourses along with articles by fellow students and other contemporaries. His service and learning did not pass unnoticed by Srila Prabhupada who awarded him the titles of maha-mahopadesaka (“great instructor”) and pratna-vidyalankara (“keeper of the wisdom of the ancient scriptural lore”).
After the disappearance of his Gurudeva in 1937, Srila Puri Maharaja continued his vocation of spreading the teachings of Sri Chaitanya through the Gaudiya magazine, first out of the Bagh Bazaar Gaudiya Math and then later the Sri Chaitanya Math in Mayapur. After he founded the Sri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, Srila Puri Goswami Maharaja’s godbrother, Srimad Bhakti Dayita Madhava Maharaja, invited him to head the editorial board of Chaitanya Vani magazine in 1964. Puri Maharaja served in this capacity for thirty-three years, furthering his life’s work of preserving the teachings of his spiritual lineage. Through Chaitanya Vani, he continued to make a deep impact on the devotional world.
In all, our venerable teacher’s wisdom is embodied in over sixty years of writings on Vaishnava philosophy and theology. He penned a rich variety of texts, bringing the Bhagavata dharma to life through hundreds of poems, essays, narratives, diaries, editorials and personal letters, thus creating a storehouse of the wealth of pure devotion for his disciples and the world at large.
In 1942, Srila Prabhupada appeared to Srila Puri Maharaja in a dream vision and imparted to him the sannyasa mantra, ordering him to accept the renounced order. After accepting tridandi-sannyasa from his godbrother Bhakti Gaurava Vaikhanasa Maharaja in Champahati in August of 1946, he toured parts of India with other godbrothers such as Bhakti Hridoy Bon Maharaja and Bhakti Dayita Madhava Maharaja. In the meantime, he continued to write and lecture with dedication. At the behest of his godbrother Tridandi Swami Bhakti Vilasa Tirtha Maharaja, he also served for seven years as chief pujari for the Yoga Pitha temple, the birthsite of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Srila Puri Maharaja took up a more solitary life of worship in the 1950’s. He moved to a humble cottage on the banks of the Ganges in Ambika Kalna. The king of Burdwan was extremely impressed by his saintly ascetic character and, on the appearance day of Srimati Radharani in 1958, presented him with the ancient Ananta Vasudeva temple in Kalna.
In 1989, at the age of 91, Srila Puri Goswami Maharaja established the Sri Gopinatha Gaudiya Math in Ishodyan, Sri Mayapur, for the service of their divine lordships, Sri Sri Gaura-Gadadhara, Jagannatha Deva, Radha-Gopinatha and Lakshmi-Narasingha Deva. In the following years, he established other temples in Jagannatha Puri, Vrindavana, Calcutta and Midnapore.
Srila Puri Maharaja taught through his every action. He excelled in all aspects of devotional practice and there was perhaps no area in which he did not exhibit utmost expertise, diligence and foresight. This ranged from his encyclopedic knowledge of scripture, to maintaining the printing press, to his beautiful singing of kirtan. He was especially recognized for his sensitivity and attention to detail in the performance of deity worship and devotional rites and was thus widely called upon to be the head priest in most of the Gaudiya Matha’s deity installations and ceremonial functions. He was rarely known to rest; his service was an uninterrupted flow. Even in his later years, he would remain awake, writing and chanting through the night while all his youthful disciples were still asleep. When his personal servants came in the morning, they would inevitably find him awake and chanting the Holy Name, arisen before everyone else in the ashrama.
Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Maharaja had outstanding love for his godbrothers and was inspired in his glorification of others. He found richness in everyone he met. He had the quality of making one feel so much wanted and their life so much valued. At the same time, he paid the least attention to himself. He was an emblem of humility and simplicity, and his generosity of spirit and kindness touched the hearts of the whole Vaishnava community. Among his lifetime, intimate companions were Srila Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhara Deva Goswami Maharaja, Srila Bhakti Prajnan Keshava Maharaja, and Srila Akinchan Krishna Das Babaji Maharaja. Toward the end of his sojourn in this world, he was honored by the Gaudiya Vaishnava community for his learning, long life of service and devotion and made president of the World Vaishnava Association in 1995.
“He has love for his Guru; and let it be known that his life is one with his words.” This tribute, coming from Srila Prabhupada himself, is the most revealing statement about Srila Puri Goswami Maharaja’s personality and qualities. He gave credit for all of his accomplishments to the mercy of his Gurudeva alone. Through the blessings of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakura, Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Maharaja attracted the hearts of so many to the Bhagavata religion. People from so many different backgrounds and countries found in him a true spiritual guide and shelter. He upheld the principles of pure Vaishnavism and delineated the path of saranagati. He so embodied pure devotion and service to his spiritual master that one of his disciples once remarked that he was able to “silently lay down Srila Prabhupada’s entire siddhanta.”
We are greatly indebted to His Divine Grace for his gift–a lifetime of pure devotion, spanning over a century, which we can aspire for, learn from, and discuss about for our own spiritual nourishment. Srila Puri Maharaja departed this world for the eternal abode in the predawn hours of Narayana Chaturdasi, October 21, 1999, one day before the Rasa Purnima. His divine body was transported from Jagannatha Puri to the Gopinatha Gaudiya Matha in Ishodyan and there placed in his eternal samadhi shrine. Prior to his departure from this world, Srila Puri Goswami Maharaja appointed his intimate disciple, Sripada Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayan Maharaja as his successor and President-acharya of Sri Gopinatha Gaudiya Matha.
In years to come as more of his words and vision are translated, the world outside of Bengal and India will come to know the spirit of the true Vaishnava religion that he tirelessly shared. May the gentle rain of nectar of his perfect teachings continue to bring auspiciousness into this world. [From Of Love & Separation]
My Safe Arrival in Panama
All Glories to Sri Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Saraswat Sampradaya (lineage). All Glories to my beloved Grand Spiritual Master His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur PRABHUPADA & my beloved Spiritual Master His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Maharaj.
Dear Devotees,
Dandavat Pranams,
I reached here in Panama city timely and safely. My present phone number : +507-67282666. I will leave this place on 14th early morning (as per time zone here in Panama) then start for Costa Rica.
Haribol.
Yours in the Service of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Mission.
B.B.Bodhayan.
Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math(President).
For Krishna Janmashtami HH Srila Bodhayan Maharaj Video file from Quebec Canada 09/08/2012
For Lord Sri Balaram’s Appearance Day
Sri Balabhadra-stava-raja
The King of Prayers to Lord Balarama
>From Chp13, Sri Garga Samhita
Text 1
duryodhana uvaca
stotram sri-baladevasya
pradvipaka maha-mune
vada mam krpaya saksat
sarva-siddhi-pradayakam
Duryodhana said: O Pradvipaka, O great sage, please kindly tell me the prayer of Lord Balarama, which grants all perfection.
Text 2
sri-pradvipaka uvaca
stava-rajam tu ramasya
vedavyasa-krtam subham
sarva-siddhi-pradam rajan
chrnu kaivalyadam nrnam
Sri Pradvipaka Muni said: O king, please hear the regal and beautiful prayer of Lord Balarama, a prayer that brings liberation and all perfection.
Text 3
devadi-deva bhagavan
kama-pala namo ‘stu te
namo ‘nantaya sesaya
saksad-ramaya te namah
O master of the demigods, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, O fulfiller of desires, obeisances to You! O Lord Ananta Sesa, obeisances to You! O Lord Balarama, obeisances to You!
Text 4
dhara-dharaya purnaya
sva-dhamne sira-panaye
sahasra-sirase nityam
namah sankarsanaya te
O Lord who maintains the earth, O glorious Lord, O perfect and complete Lord, O Lord who holds a plow in Your hand, O Lord who has a thousand heads, O Lord Sankarsana, eternal obeisances to You!
Text 5
revati-ramana tvam vai
baladevacyutagraja
halayudha pralamba-ghna
pahi mam purusottama
O husband of Revati, O Lord Balarama, O elder brother of Lord Krsna, O Lord who holds a plow-weapon, O killer of Pralambasura, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, please protect me!
Text 6
balaya balabhadraya
talankaya namo namah
nilambaraya gauraya
rauhineyaya te namah
O Lord Balarama, who carries a palm-tree flag, obeisances to You! O son of Rohini, O fair-complexioned Lord dressed in blue garments, obeisances to You!
Text 7
dhenukarir mustikarih
kutarir balvalantakah
rukmy-arih kupakarnarih
kumbhandaris tvam eva hi
You are the enemy of Dhenuka, the enemy of Mustika, the enemy of Kuta, the killer of Balvala, the enemy of Rukmi, the enemy of Kupakarna, and the enemy of Kumbhanda.
Text 8
kalindi-bhedano ‘si tvam
hastinapura-karsakah
dvividarir yadavendro
vraja-mandala-mandanah
You are the Lord who broke the Yamuna and dragged Hastinapura. You are the enemy of Dvivida. You are the king of the Yadavas. You are the ornament of Vraja’s circle.
Text 9
kamsa-bhratr-prahantasi
tirtha-yatra-karah prabhuh
duryodhana-guruh saksat
pahi pahi prabho tv atah
You are the killer of Kamsa’s brothers. You are the supreme master, the Lord who went on pilgrimage, and Duryodhana’s guru. O master, please protect me! Please protect me!
Text 10
jaya jayacyuta-deva parat para
svayam ananta-dig-anta-gata-sruta
sura-munindra-phanindra-caraya te
musaline baline haline namah
O infallible Lord, greater than the greatest, O Lord whose glories are heard in all directions without limit, glory to You! Glory to You! O Lord served by the demigods, the kings of the sages, and the kings of the serpents, O powerful Lord who holds a plow and a club, obeisances to You!
Text 11
yah pathet satatam stavanam narah
sa tu hareh paramam padam avrajet
jagati sarva-balam tv ari-mardanam
bhavati tasya dhanam sva-janam dhanam
A person who regularly recites this prayer attains Lord Hari’s transcendental abode. All the strength in the universe is his. He crushes his enemies. He attains great wealth and a great dynasty.
Varuni Beverage for Lord Balaram
Small amount:
7 litres Milk
6 litres Yogurt
1 litre Cream
5 kg Runny Honey
1 kg White Sugar
1/2 bottle Rose water (7 Roses brand is very nice from Mumbai – 7oz)
Larger amount:
25 litres Milk
15 litres Yogurt
3 litres Cream
10 kg Runny Honey
3 kg White Sugar
1 bottle Rose Water
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