Jagat

In chapters 13, 14, and 15, our guru puja yatra in Goloka Nabadwip rested as we examined the teachings of the leading acaryas in Thakur Bhaktivinoda's guru parampara. Before our yatra continues on, however, let us review what has happened so far to get a clear idea about what is going on. We started in Thakur Bhaktivinoda’s eternal abode, Svānanda-sukhada Kunj, which is located just south of Nityananda's large estate in the Dham's southeastern section. Within Svānanda-sukhada Kunj is a sub-kunja named Anaìga-sukhada. This is where we first offered guru puja to the Thakur's beloved son and disciple, Lalita Prasad Thakur. Then, after we performed Bhaktivinoda Thakur's guru puja, we followed him as he entered Sri Nityananda Prabhu's transcendental abode through the southern gate. From here we could see His marvelous sunstone palace in the distance. Situated around it are the many gardens and palatial residences belonging to Nitai's descendants. They begin fr...

The ghat where Jahnava bathed and had this vision is today known as Shri Jahnava Ghat. Photo: Iskcon Desire Tree .. I hope that everyone has been enjoying this series as much as I have. This is now the last post for this set of installments. I have no idea when the book will be completed, but I hope that our readers will have had the opportunity to study these 12 chapters thoroughly, as they will find a great deal there that is little known about the nature of rāgānugā bhajana , the  āmnāya -siddha-parampar ā , and the unique character of this disciplic succession in particular.  Gadadhar Pran promises many exciting new things in the upcoming chapters, where  we will learn about the four nitya-siddha founding members of this  parampar ā  -- Ramai Thakur, Vamsivadanananda Thakur, Jahnava Thakurani and Vishnupriya Devi and their mood and teachings, Bhaktivinoda Thakur's worship of Gaura Gadadhar, the worship of Vishnupriya and Lakshmipriya with Ga...

Nitai Chand murti in the Sutika Griha, Ekachakra, Birbhum. Previous posts in this series. 1: Guru Nishtha 2: Raganuga Sadhana following Bhaktivinoda Thakur's Manjari Parampara 3: Svarasiki Bhajan 4: Attaining Siddhi 5: Learning about Siddha Krishnadas Baba's Gutika 6: The Gutika's Contents 7: Bhaktivinoda’s nistha to the Vamsivadana Guru Parampara 8: The Author’s svārasikī sthiti 9: Following Thakur Bhaktivinoda’s Guru Parampara in Golok Nabadwip Seeing their Gurudeva and Parama Gurudeva seated together and heading towards Nitai Chand’s abode stirs overwhelming ecstasy in the bhaktas. Thus while singing with great feeling, they come dancing down the road with leaps and bounds. Then while following along one of the high golden walls that surround Nitai’s estate, the procession arrives at the southern gate and stops. Bhaktivinoda quickly gets down and starts rolling in the dust! But his amazing bhakti arouses the same feeling in the bhaktas who n...

Sunset on the Ganga at Gadai Gauranga Kunj, Ishodyan, Mayapur Previous posts in this series. 1: Guru Nishtha 2: Raganuga Sadhana following Bhaktivinoda Thakur's Manjari Parampara 3: Svarasiki Bhajan 4: Attaining Siddhi 5: Learning about Siddha Krishnadas Baba's Gutika 6: The Gutika's Contents 7: Bhaktivinoda’s nistha to the Vamsivadana Guru Parampara 8: The Author’s svārasikī sthiti Sri Guru-pūjā As we previously mentioned, bhaktas generally only have one parivara in the transcendental abode of Golok Nabadwip, which is formed by the members of their Guru-paramparā. Though in our case we have two. Apart from our Guru-parivāra, we have a family tie with Gadadhar Pandit also since my father is his uncle. So before our family leaves this morning to perform Guru-pūjā, I want to visit Gadadhar first to secure his blessings. This won’t take long since he lives almost next door. The beautiful abode of Madhava Mishra and Ratnavati Devi, Gadadhar’s pare...