Gauranga

Traveling to Mahaprabhu’s Lila-Sthanas – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

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Traveling to Mahaprabhu’s Lila-Sthanas – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

In recent weeks, Indradyumna Swami has had a packed travel schedule between events in Vrindavan, Mumbai, and now Sri Mayapur Dhama. He attended the chakra installation in Sri Mayapur Dhama and also has been taking Devotees and Gurukula students to many places held dear by Devotees of Mahaprabhu.

Just a few days back, Indradyumna Swami took the Devotees to the village of Srikhanda, which is a 3-hour scenic drive from Sridham Mayapura. Srikhanda is mentioned many times in Caitanya Caritamrta. He wrote in his Facebook post covering the trip: “Yesterday we spent 5 hours exploring the village where a number of Lord Caitanya’s personal associates resided 500 years ago. We had kirtan and katha at the exact place where Locan das Thakur wrote Caitanya Mangala. We also visited numerous temples where we had darsan of historic deities connected to the lila’s of Lord Caitanya. The highlight of the day was an exuberant kirtan we held through the entire village. The local people were in bliss seeing us. Here in the holy dhama of Mayapura we are trying our best to follow in the footsteps of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, who wrote:

‘In the company of intimate and beloved devotees, I will go to all the places that Mahaprabhu joyfully visited.'”

[ Suddha-Bhakata, verse 3 ]

The beautiful song composed by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur is taken from his book Saranagati.

katha

Indradyumna Swami often draws from the wisdom of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur in his Diary of a Traveling Monk series.

Quoted by Indradyumna Swami in his facebook post covering the trip to Srikhanda from February 10, 2018.

kirtan

Formula for World Peace – Lecture delivered by Indradyumna Swami

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Formula for World Peace – Lecture delivered by Indradyumna Swami

A few years back, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami gave a wonderful lecture on the formula for world peace. In the class, he spoke about how we are all spirit souls with one common father. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krsna affirms that He is the father of all living entities. Indradyumna Swami quoted from the 14th chapter of the Gita:

“It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father.”

In the class, Indradyumna Swami went on to say that although we are born in different cultures, speak different languages, and look different externally, on the level of the self, we are all part of one larger spiritual family. Realizing this, he said, is the formula for peace in this world.

Gurudeva!

Citing the advanced vision of a humble and realized sage, Indradyumna Swami quoted from the Bhagavada Gita again:

“The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste].”

Indradyumna Swami maintained that the saintly soul sees the true equality of all living beings at the level of the soul and treats every living entity with respect. That’s how we will have world peace—with that vision.

At the end of January, Indradyumna Swami spoke on a similar topic when he was a participant of a  ‘Peace Forum’ along with seven other spiritual leaders in Mumbai. There are many pictures from that event.

Quoted by Indradyumna Swami in his lecture on world peace, delivered on May 28, 2010.

Kirtan_kids

“O tree, the shade of whose glory protects the world” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

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“O tree, the shade of whose glory protects the world” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

One way way of entering into the dhama, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami wrote in a recent facebook post, is to visit lila-sthanas, the holy places where the Lord performed His transcendental pastimes. Visiting various pastime places has made up a large portion of Indradyumna Swami’s time in the last couple of months and certainly recently.

A couple of days ago, he wrote in his Facebook post: “For the last couple of days I have been taking a group of devotees and some very fired-up gurukula boys to a few of my favorite places in Mayapura; such as the samadhi mandir of Srila Bhaktividnode Thakur, Nrsimha-pali—where Lord Nrsimha rested rested after killing Hiranyakasipu and Hari Hara ksetra.”

Bhaktivinode

Indradyumna Swami has quoted previously from many different sastras which place emphasis on the benefits of visiting lila-sthanas. Back in November, he focused on a series of very descriptive excerpts from Srila Rupa Goswami’s Utkalika vallari, one of which was the following:

“O handsome, fragrant tamala desire tree blooming in the Vṛndāvan forest and embraced by the madhavi vine of the goddess ruling this forest! O tree, the shade of whose glory protects the world from a host of burning sufferings, what wonderful fruits do the people find at your feet?”

[ Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Utkalikā-vallarī, A Vine of Hopes, text 66; Indradyumna Swami’s letter to Braja Vallabhi dasi ]

Verses like these have the power to mentally transport Devotees to these lila-sthanas.

Quoted by Indradyumna Swami in his letter to Braja Vallabhi dasi, posted on Facebook on November 15, 2017.

Indradyumna

“Devotees are holy places personified” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

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“Devotees are holy places personified” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

This past September, a portion of Indradyumna Swami’s famous Festival of India tour was brought to America for the first time as the “Discover India” tour. The devotees held programs at Buffalo State University, Corning-Painted Post High School, Dublin Abbey Theater in Ohio, MIT, and other well-known venues, and carried out blissful Harinam Sankirtan in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, etc.

Ratha Yatra

While in Boston, Indradyumna Swami and the tour Devotees made a special trip to Commonwealth Pier, where Srila Prabhupada arrived in the USA in 1965. There, Indradyumna Swami delivered a lecture on the potency of the Sadhu who carries the Lord within his heart to turn any place—even Commonwealth Pier—into a Dhama. He quoted the following verse from Srimad Bhagavatam also:

bhavad-vidha bhagavatas

tirtha-bhutah svayam vibho

tirthi-kurvanti tirthani

svantah-sthena gadabhrta

“My lord, devotees like your good self are verily holy places personified. Because you carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart, you turn all places into places of pilgrimage.”

[ Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.10 ]

Quoted by Indradyumna Swami on his facebook page on September 26, 2017 – To see original post please click here.

Gurudeva_Gita

“The nectar of the service of Sri Radha” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

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“The nectar of the service of Sri Radha” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

His Holiness Indradyumna Swami will soon be traveling more and more on his various preaching missions. As Winter turns into Spring, he’ll begin a journey to the West again, visiting disciples and joining in festival programs all over. Indradyumna Swami commented last year that as the years go by, it is becoming more and more difficult for him to leave the transcendental abode of Vrindavan.

And yet, he wrote last year, leave we must, for it is the order of Srila Prabhupada that his followers share their good fortune all over the world. And it is that very service which qualifies us to come back to Vrindavan in due course of time.

Gurudeva_Prabhupada

As Indradyumna Swami left Vrindavan to begin his preaching activities in the west last year, he reflected on Srila Prabhupada’s austerity and then quoted one of his favorite verses from Srila Prabhodananda Sarasvati:

“One who is extremely fortunate may get the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. As much as one can devote his full attention to the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya, to that extent he will be able to taste the nectarine service of the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani in Vrindavan. The more one engages in the service of Sri Caitanya, the more one finds oneself in Vrindavan, tasting the nectar of the service of Sri Radha.” 

[ Caitanya Candramrta, text 88 ]

Quoted by Indradyumna Swami on his facebook page on April 21, 2017 – To see original post please click here.

Gurudeva4

“My Dear Lord Nitaichand!” – Nectar drops by Indradyumna Swami

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“My Dear Lord Nitaichand!” – Nectar drops by Indradyumna Swami

On the occasion of Lord Nityananda’s appearance, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami posted a beautiful meditation of Lord Nityananda on Facebook. Last year, Indradyumna Swami commemorated the day by focusing on Srila Prabhupada’s vani related to attaining the mercy of Lord Nityananda.

“Nityananda Prabhu approached Jagai and Madhai at the risk of being personally injured and still He definitely delivered them. The world is full of Jagai’s and Madhai’s; namely drunkards, women-hunters, meat eaters, and gamblers, and we will have to approach them at the risk of insult, injury, and similar other rewards. To face such reverse conditions of life and to suffer thereby the results of actions is considered as the greatest penance and austerity in the matter of spiritual advancement of life.”

[ Srila Prabhupada letter, January 27, 1970 ]

Indradyumna Swami

This year, Indradyumna Swami reflected on a bhajan composed by a medieval poet named Kanudas.

Nitai’s Trap of Love

1. Oh my dear Lord Nitaichand! He set up traps of krsna-prema in each and every home.

2. He sprinkled cooling waters from the corners of his eyes on all those living entities that were burning in the fire of material suffering.

3. He bestowed extreme mercy on Gauda Desh. Overcome with bhava while dancing, he forgot everything.

4. His body is whitish with a slightly reddish tinge. His hairs stand on end like the filaments of kadamba flowers.

5. His body is decorated with various ornaments. Gathering together various devotees, he sings joyously.

6. How many times does he not stumble while walking? The movement of his lotus feet resembles the movement of a restless khanjana (wag-tail bird).

7. Hearing of his mercy, my hope of getting delivered increases. This Kanudas begs love at Nitai’s feet

[ Translated by Hari Parshad Das from Vaisnava Padavali, fourth edition, April 2010. Compiled and edited by Hare Krishna Mukhopadhyay. Published by Shishu Sahitya Sansad Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata. Printed in Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, Issue no: 417 ]

Quoted by Indradyumna Swami on his facebook page on January 29th. To see the original post, please click here.

Mumbai_Fest

Mumbai Fest and Memories of Vrindavan – Nectar drops by Indradyumna Swami

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Mumbai Fest and Memories of Vrindavan – Nectar drops by Indradyumna Swami

On January 28th, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami gave a lecture on stage at the Mumbai Fest and then had several interviews with the attending members of the press. Indradyumna Swami was one of seven spiritual leaders holding a ‘Peace Forum’ at the event. Each of the leaders spoke for 10 minutes on how to achieve peace in the world. The Vice President of India and the Minister of Culture were in the audience, as well as millions of people watching on TV. Indradyumna Swami asked for Srila Prabhupada’s blessings prior to the event in a facebook post written a couple of days earlier.

Gurudeva

As Indradyumna Swami began his journey back to his home in Sri Vrindavan dhama, he wrote about how he was reminded of the following verse:

“My dear friend, now I have met my very old and dear friend Krishna on this field of Kurukshetra. I am the same Radha, and now we are meeting together. It is very pleasant, but still I would like to go to the bank of the Yamuna, beneath the trees of the forest there.”

[ Caitanya Caritamrta, Madhya-lila 1.76 ]

Written and quoted by Indradyumna Swami on his facebook page on January 28, 2018. To see the original post, please click here.

Festival

“He saves everyone from Yamaraja’s abode” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

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“He saves everyone from Yamaraja’s abode” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

“By the power of spiritual love for the holy names—love that is the most auspicious thing in all the worlds—[Lord Nityananda] chases away the blinding darkness of Kali Yuga. He saves everyone from the path that leads to Yamaraja’s abode. Only wicked Rama dasa He has not saved. Only fallen Rama dasa remains.” 

[ The third line of Song 69 by Rama dasa, from “Prayers of Vaisnava Acaryas,” translated by Kusakratha dasa ]

Quoted by Indradyumna Swami on his facebook page on June 27, 2017 – To see original post please click here.

Polish tour

“He gives the sweet nectar of ecstatic spiritual love” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

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“He gives the sweet nectar of ecstatic spiritual love” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

“[Lord Nityananda] engages the people of this world in the chanting of Hari samkirtana. He engages the demigods and the humans. He engages even the birds, beasts and snakes. To everyone without exception, He gives the sweet nectar of ecstatic spiritual love – love that is the essence of all the Vedas.” 

[ The third line of Song 69 by Rama dasa, from “Prayers of Vaisnava Acaryas,” translated by Kusakratha dasa ]

Quoted by Indradyumna Swami on his facebook page on June 27, 2017 – To see original post please click here.

Glorious

“Glorious, glorious is His descent into this world!” – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

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Glorious, glorious is His descent into this world! – Verse quoted by Indradyumna Swami

“Seeing the fallen sinners, He casts upon them a glance of mercy. He fills all the worlds with the shoreless ocean of His mercy. He chases away all sins. He breaks into pieces the fear of repeated birth and death. Glorious, glorious is His descent into this world!” 

[ The second line of Song 69 by Rama dasa, from “Prayers of Vaisnava Acaryas,” translated by Kusakratha dasa ]

Quoted by Indradyumna Swami on his facebook page on June 27, 2017 – To see original post please click here.