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...

In chapters 13 ,14, and 15 our guru puja yatra in Goloka Nabadwip will take a brief rest so that we can hear about three Gaura parshads who lead Thakur Bhaktivinoda's guru parampara: they are Ramai Thakur, Jahnava Thakurani, and Vamsivadan Thakur. This chapter will present a study of Ramai Thakur's life that his nephew-disciple Rajaballabha Goswami tells in Muralī-vilāsa . As Ramai is nitya-siddha , it is not surprising that Rajaballabha became kṛpā-siddha by his sanga and blessings Muralī-vilāsa 's Story To learn about Ramai, we will first need to know something about Vamsivadan, since Ramai is Vamsi's second avatar. Hence Muralī-vilāsa begins with this mangalacharan: jagad-ākarṣiṇī śaktir nitya-prema-svarūpiṇī tvaṁ vamśīvadanānanda vande tvāhaṁ jagad-guro | śrī-caitanya-priyatamas tadīya-prema-vigrahaṁ vande tac-caraṇāmbhoja-makaranda-pipāsayā || The Vamshi is Krishna's nitya-prema-svarūpiṇī , and her divine shakti produces a melodious vibration t...