Indradyumna_Swami

“Reside permanently in Sri Purushottam Kshetra” – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

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“Reside permanently in Sri Purushottam Kshetra” – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

Before the 3rd annual kirtan mela at New Govardhan, Australia began, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami was reflecting on the Holy Dhamas and their potency. 
In a beautiful facebook post, Indradyumna Swami quoted Sri Murari Gupta:

yāvat syāc cañcalaṁ cittaṁ na syād yāvat sunirmalam
tāvat tīrthāni puṇyāni vicaret sarvataḥ pumān

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, “As long as the heart is fickle and has not become steadfast in nature, till that time one should wander around everywhere in all the holy places.”

tataḥ sunirmale citte sthira-dhīḥ puruṣottame
nivāsaṁ kurute nityaṁ pathikaḥ svāśrame yathā

“Once the heart has attained a steadfast nature, one should reside permanently in Sri Purushottam Kshetra, just as a traveler finally comes back to live in his own permanent home.”

[ Sri Murari Gupta’s Kṛṣṇa-caitanyacaritāmṛtam (3.13.9 – 10) Translated by Hari Parshad Das from the Sanskrit available at Gaudiya Grantha Mandira (www.granthamandira.net) Found in Sri Krishna Kathamrta Bindu, Issue number 421 ]

Now Indradyumna Swami’s travels in the West have officially begun. Before he left the Holy Dhama, Indradyumna Swami visited Surya Kunda, Varsana, and Radha Kunda, among other holy places.

Excerpted from a Facebook post written by Indradyumna Swami on March 28, 2018.

Indradyumna_Swami

“The Lord of the Raghu Dynasty” – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

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“The Lord of the Raghu Dynasty” – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

In honor of Rama Navami, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami quoted from the Sita-Rama pranama mantra:

“I offer my respectful obeisances unto
Lord Ramacandra, who is all-auspicious,
the Lord of the Raghu Dynasty and the
husband of Sita-devi.”

[ Sita-Rama pranama mantra – Verse 27 of the Rāma-rakṣā-stotram by the sage Budhā-kauśika. ]

As of this past week, Indradyumna Swami’s travels in the West have officially begun. Before he left the Holy Dhama, Indradyumna Swami visited Surya Kunda, Varsana, and Radha Kunda, among other holy places. He wrote on his Facebook page that, “Before leaving for my preaching duties in the west in a few days I am visiting various sacred places to receive blessings. I began with Radha Kunda – the topmost holy place in creation.”

Now Indradyumna Swami’s preaching pastimes in the western world have begun.

 Excerpted from a Facebook post written by Indradyumna Swami on March 20, 2018.
Radha_Ramana

“I pray I may remain among them” – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

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“I pray I may remain among them” – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

Before leaving for Australia last Wednesday, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami quoted a beautiful verse written by Raghunatha das Goswami and reflected on how his pain of leaving Sri Vrindavan Dhama is mitigated only by the hope that he can bring the Dhama to others.

As of this past week, Indradyumna Swami’s travels in the West have officially begun. In May, he’ll be in the United States for the Sadhu Sanga Kirtan Retreat and he’ll remain in the U.S. for some time after that before the Polish Tour begins over the summer.

“Even if I have the opportunity to bathe in the ocean of pure love of Krishna, and even if I have the pure devotees of the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead as my associates, I will not consent to live even for a single moment in any sacred place other than Vrajabhumi. Even if the residents of Vraja appear to be ordinary, and even if they fill my ears with useless gossip, I pray I may remain among them, eternally residing here in Vraja.”

[ Raghunatha Dasa Goswami ]

 Excerpted from a Facebook post written by Indradyumna Swami on March 20, 2018.
Indradyumna_Swami_Surya_kuna

“The central jewel in the necklace of Goloka” – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

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“The central jewel in the necklace of Goloka” – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

Before leaving for Australia last Wednesday, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami visited Surya Kund and he reflected on the pastimes that had previously taken place at this special place in a Facebook post. 
Indradyumna Swami wrote that Surya Kund where the Sun God performed austerities to see and serve Lord Krsna. His wish was fulfilled when Srimati Radharani asked him to warm the Lord’s transcendental body with his rays after Krsna came out of the water from battling the Kaliya serpent. Srimati Radharani visits Surya-kund every Sunday to worship Surya-deva. It is also a place where Radha and Krsna meet regularly for Their pastimes.
Indradyumna Swami wrote that he said prayers while gazing at the beautiful lake, begging to keep Vrindavan in his heart as he leaves that transcendental abode for the time-being. He quoted this verse, which is actually one that he quotes quite often:
sri rasa rangasya vikasa candrika
dipavalir ya vrsabhanu mandire
goloka cuda mani kantha bhusanam
dhyatva param tam bhuvi paryatamy aham

“I wander over this earth meditating on Her, who is a moon shining in the rasa-dance arena, who is a host of bright lamps in Vrsabhanu’s palace, and who is the central jewel in the necklace of Goloka.”

[ Narada Muni, Garga Samhita 1.8.12 ]
 Excerpted from a Facebook post written by Indradyumna Swami on March 18, 2018.
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Igniting a forest fire with the Holy Names – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

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Igniting a forest fire with the Holy Names – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

His Holiness Indradyumna Swami lectured on Srila Haridas Thakur recently while he was in Sri Mayapur Dhama last month. In it, he spoke a lot on the potency of the Holy Names and on the practice of chanting.

He mentioned that Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakur said that if upon chanting the Maha Mantra, tears don’t flow from your eyes, that means you are committing one or more of the ten offenses to the Holy Name. He also mentioned that it’s a long, lonely road alone, but that “many hands make small work,” so therefore we have the congregational chanting of the Holy Name.

Indradyumna Swami cited one powerful verse from the Skanda Purana in which a mahatma says:

“I see that Kali Yuga is a like a black poisonous snake with a gaping mouth and fangs, but please don’t be disturbed, dear devotees, and listen with faith. Once the Holy Name of Lord Govinda is being chanted it is like igniting a forest fire which will burn to ashes the poisonous snakes within the forest.”

A verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami in February, 2018 and available on Narottama.

Indradyumna_Swami_Santipur

“The Charioteer, Lord Gaura’s lotus feet” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

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“The Charioteer, Lord Gaura’s lotus feet” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

On February 17th came the highlight of His Holiness Indradyumna Swami’s trip the holy land of Sridhama Mayapur, as he related in a Facebook post. He took a large group of devotees to Santipura on February 16th. There, in the temple of Madan Gopal, they had darshan of the original salagrama-sila worshipped by Advaita Acaraya to invoke the advent of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu!

Salagram

Indradyumna Swami wrote that by some incredible and causeless mercy the pujari kindly placed that most worshipable salagrama-sila on his head for several minutes. Meanwhile, he wrote that he prayed feverishly for more service in spreading the holy names of Krsna all over the world. It was an amazing experience, Indradyumna Swami said, and the highlight of his visit to Mayapura.

Indradyumna_Swami_salagram_sila

Continuing in his meditation on Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Indradyumna Swami quoted from a beautiful bhajan about fixing the mind of Mahaprabhu just a few days prior to this ecstatic experience.

so rasa-jaladhi mājhe maṇi-geha
tahiṁ rahu gori suśyāmera deha

In the middle of the ocean of bhakti-rasa is a house decorated with precious jewels in which brilliant complexioned Radha and dark complexioned Shyam reside.

sārathi leī milāyaba tāya
govinda-dāsa gaura-guṇa gāya

The charioteer, Lord Gaura’s lotus feet, will help you meet these two, Radha and Shyam. It is for this reason that Govinda Das sings the glories of Gaura.

[ Translated by Hari Parshad Das from Vaiṣṇava-padāvalī, fourth edition, April 2010. ]

Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami on his facebook post from February 13, 2018.

Mahaprabhu

“Bathe thoroughly in the waves of prema” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

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“Bathe thoroughly in the waves of prema” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

The last week was filled with kirtan in the holy land of Sridhama Mayapur, as His Holiness Indradyumna Swami related in a Facebook post. He wrote that he took a large harinam party of international devotees through the streets of Navadwip in Mayapura. Remembering that Lord Caitanya Himself chanted and danced through the same town 500 years ago the devotees were in ecstasy.

Indradyumna Swami related that the people of Navadwip loved the Devotees’ harinam. They also had the fortune of taking darshan of the famous deity of Lord Caitanya worshipped by Visnupriya after the Lord took sannyasa. There they had kirtan for hours! He mentioned that the Devotees ended the day by visiting the samadhi of Srila Jagannatha das babaji.

Many pictures were taken of the ecstatic kirtans that resulted!

Kirtan

Continuing in his meditation on Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Indradyumna Swami quoted from a beautiful bhajan about fixing the mind of Mahaprabhu.

ratha-rohana karu prāṇa-turaṅga
āśā-pāśa jori naha bhaṅga

Engage your five life-airs (prāṇa, apāna, udāna, vayāna and samāna) as the five horses driving this chariot. Let āśā, the hope of attaining the Lord, be the strong rope controlling these horses so that the chariot may never break down.

līlā-jaladhi tīre calu dhāī
prema-taraṅge aṅga avagāī

Using this chariot, go quickly towards the shore of the unlimited ocean of the Lord’s loving pastimes. Having reached there, bathe thoroughly in the waves of this ocean of prema.

rasa-taraṅgī saṅgī hari-dāse
rati-maṇi deī puraba abhilāṣe

In this ocean, you will swim along with other servants of Hari who are delighting in the waves of bhakti-rasa. These servants of Hari will fetch you the rare jewel of prema from the depths of this ocean and will thus fulfil your most cherished desire.

[ Translated by Hari Parshad Das from Vaiṣṇava-padāvalī, fourth edition, April 2010. ]

Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami on his facebook post from February 13, 2018.

Indradyumna Swami

“Make the feet of Lord Gaura your charioteer” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

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“Make the feet of Lord Gaura your charioteer” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

While in Sridhama Mayapur last week, Indradyumna Swami wrote in a Facebook post that the Devotees took darshan of the samadhi where Lord Caitanya’s hair is kept, as well as the samadhi of Kesava Bharati Maharaja. They prayed at the historic tree under which Lord Caitanya’s beautiful long hair was shaved and also bowed down to the samadhi of Das Gadadhar. Naru Gopal Prabhu explained that Lord Caitanya had kirtan where the Devotees were for 3 days straight after taking sannyasa. 

Following in His footsteps, Indradyumna Swami and the Devotees chanted and danced for hours in front of a beautiful deity of Lord Caitanya in a large temple on the grounds.

Sankirtan

Continuing in his meditation on Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Indradyumna Swami quoted from a beautiful bhajan about fixing the mind of Mahaprabhu.

re mana! kāhe karasi anutāpe
pahuṁka pratāpa-mantra karu jāpe

yo kichu vicāri mano-rathe caḍabi
pahuṁka caraṇa-yuga sārathi karabi

O mind! Why do you keep burning repeatedly in the fire of worldliness? Simply keep chanting the mantra of your dear Lord.

Think carefully about the ultimate aim of your life and then climb on the chariot of the [purified] mind. Make the feet of Lord Gaura your charioteer.

[ Translated by Hari Parshad Das from Vaiṣṇava-padāvalī, fourth edition, April 2010. ]

Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami on his facebook post from February 13, 2018.

Harinam

“The joyous waves of prema” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

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“The joyous waves of prema” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

Recently, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami was in Sridhama Mayapur. He wrote in a Facebook post that ever since taking sannyasa in 1979, he has had a strong desire to visit the town of Katwa, where Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa 500 years ago. On February 11th, he was able to make the journey from Sridham Mayapur to Katwa.

Indradyumna Swami wrote that Naru Gopal Prabhu took the Devotees to the exact spot where Mahaprabhu was shaved up by a barber and where He took His sannyasa vows from Kesava Bharati Maharaja (pictured below).

Kesava Bharati

A few days later, Indradyumna Swami quoted from a beautiful bhajan focused on Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu:

śrī-pada-kamala-sudhā-rasa-pāne
śrī-vigraha-guṇa-gaṇa kari gāne
śrī-mukha-vacana-śravaṇa-anuṣaṅgī
anubhavi kata bhela prema-taraṅgī

By drinking the nectarean honey of the lotus feet of Sri Gaura, by singing the glories of Sri Gaura’s deity, by listening to the instructions of Sri Gaura, and by associating with devotees who follow his instructions, so many fortunate individuals experienced the joyous waves of prema.
[ Translated by Hari Parshad Das from Vaiṣṇava-padāvalī, fourth edition, April 2010. ]

Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami on his facebook post from February 13, 2018.

Gurudeva

“Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krsna Himself” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

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“Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krsna Himself” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

On the appearance day of Srila Narottama das Thakur, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami delivered a lengthy lecture on Narottama das Thakur. At the beginning of the class, Indradyumna Swami discusses how Narottama was the second generation from Caitanya Mahaprabhu and was personally chosen by Mahaprabhu to keep the sankirtan movement going.

Indradyumna Swami quoted from the Srimad Bhagavatam:

kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ
sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam
yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair
yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ

“In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.”
[Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.32 ]
One of the special associates of Caitanya Mahaprabhu was of course Srila Narottama das Thakur, and Indradyumna Swami went on to say that with each generation, the world is a little different, so the Devotees have to adapt the process of Bhakti Yoga without compromising the philosophy. He said that this is actually the duty of the Acarya. Each generation of devotees has something unique to do and to offer and Narottama das Thakur displayed this, as did Srila Prabhupada and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta before him, et al.

Indradyumna Swami

Indradyumna Swami often refers to Srila Narottama das Thakur as his hero and has explained why in lectures and articles previously.

Srimad Bhagavatam verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami in his lecture on Srila Narottama das Thakur from January 31, 2018.