The philosophical sections of the Vedic hymns are meant to enable one to distinguish the Supreme Personality of Godhead from Maya. After indicating the position of Maya, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is approached in pure devotional service. That is the purpose of philosophical speculation. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad Gita in the 7th Chapter, Bahunam janmanam ante… "The philosophical speculators and empiric philosophers, after speculating fo...

Avatars of Sri Krishna Bhagavan must: 1. Comply with predictions in authoritative scriptures 2. Display 32 auspicious markings on the body and feet 3. Have long arms that past the knees. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is 7 ft tall and also known as Sri Gauranga because he has the complexion of molten gold. He has auspicious markings on His body and His feet and his slender arms extend down to His knees which are further evidence that He is an avatar of the Supreme Lord.

We know a great deal about the life and teachings of Lord Caitanya because His immediate followers wrote many books, all authoritatively based on the Vedic scriptures. His chief literary followers were known as the six Gosvamis. Among them, Jiva, Sanatana and Rupa especially wrote dozens of scholarly spiritual books proving bhakti, or love of Krsna, to be the ultimate goal of the Vedas. Krsnadasa Kaviraja and Vrndavana dasa Thakura also wrote authoritative biographies of Sri Krsna Caitanya, and many of their learned followers have...

Reflecting back I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed my four months stay and I will be forever grateful for being asked to perform this rare service for the Lord during a time of need. Luckily I have been able to continue my pujari service, even though somewhat limited because of ongoing UK lockdown rules and the responsible policies of the Temple management.

Eight Verses Glorifying Srila Prabhupada by Sriman Kusakratha dasa, inspired by a Sanskrit poem, with versification by Dravida dasa. An ocean of compassion, he has taken shelter of Sri Nanda's Son with all his being in everlasting love. He lives on by his words, with him his followers remain The vast renown of Srila Prabhupada I now proclaim. I pray that those who hear this hymn, which shines the brilliant light Of Srila Prabhupada's renown in Kali-yuga's night, Will soon attain firm faith in his instructions so that they May one day join him in Golok, and there with Krs...

To launch Sacred Street Party’s mission to distribute 108 sets of Sri Caitanya Caritamrta as part of the BBT’s Be A Gardener campaign, HG Sutapa Das took us on a journey to connect with this most important scripture. The story of how Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami was empowered to write.

Victory to the sacred sound, that cleanses all around. There’s filth in the heart, piled up from the start. Many births of desires, have burst up like fires. Therefore, the kirtan charge, is for humanity at large. It’s a practice so cool, like the rays of the moon. It’s the fruit of wisdom, with joy that’s arisen, So sweet to the taste, we go there in great haste.

It was good to see a scholar tackling the uncertain area of morality in Vaishnavism, as did Ms Chatterjee with her essay, 'The Chaitanya School: Role of Ethics'. I found her essay thought provoking and a valuable contribution to what I feel is an area requiring much discussion. Although, as Ms Chatterjee rightly pointed out, Vaishnavism holds that 'spiritual progress is hardly possible without moral endeavour', the first requirement being of course the 'four regu...

Any discussion on religion remains incomplete without a reference to moral and ethical values. The case of Gaudiya Vaishnavism is no exception to that. It is true that ethics has not been systematically treated by the Gaudiya philosophers and that the issue in question has not been discussed independently, yet the fact remains that morality or ethics remains the sheet-anchor in their thought system. The philosophers of this school maintain that spiritual progress i...

Many times in life we have heard the saying, “A single twig will break, but the bundle of twigs is strong.” For practicing devotees the connotation was that we always live, practice, and teach in the society of like-minded Vaisnavas. Then we will maintain spiritual strength. Yet, this past year has given us a new perspective on the simple understanding that in unity we remain strong and withstand weakness.