Monthly Archives: April 2026

Speaker : H.H Lokanath Goswami Maharaj
Date: 20/04/2026

Theme : Importance of Akshay tritiya

For some time we were singing. I was thinking that it would be nice if we could continue singing. These thoughts came to mind because I had a feeling that now we have to start daily conversation. From poetry to pros. From songs to speeches. Hari Hari ! We can turn the speech into a song. Ideally Bhagwat Gita is a speech but it is named as Bhagwat Gita – it is a song. It is not called talk but it is actually a song. Lord’s song. The stories of the divine world are known as songs. Talk becomes songs ! Walking (gamanam) turns into dance. Speech turns into song. Hari Hari !

Now where are we ? In the material world or the divine world ? Do you know about the laukik world ? We have to begin from here for all of you. This is Govind dham so this is not Noida. It is beyond Noida. Lord Himself stays here. Hence this is not a mundane world but it is a transcendental spiritual world. Actually a speech in this place must become a song. It could sound like a song. We should experience this. Hari Hari !

Sub theme : coming to temple is home coming

You are welcome ! Is it ok we welcome you all. You are not accepting the welcome. ! You all are sitting quietly. As if you are not realising whom we are welcoming. You all have arrived here at Brahma muhurat so we should welcome you twice. Hari Hari ! I am pleased to see all of you. I always keep saying that I am happy to see you all because the Lord is pleased by your presence. Lord has noted that you have come here. This is your home coming. Do you understand homecoming. ? Especially in Uttar Pradesh this is going on – ghar vapasi ! Those who have left their home or religion – they have returned to their religion. They have become Hindu or sanatani again , so what do we call this ? It is home coming. And here this is lord’s home and you all have come back here. When a child or devotees returns then is the Lord happy or not ? We are also happy when the Lord is pleased and then those who come to the temple are also happy. Okay ! Today I want to speak about many things. Today is a special day.

Sub theme : Akshay tritiya and Chandan mahotsav

Akshay tritiya Mohotsav ki jai !

And along with this chandan yatra mahotsav ki jai !

Akshay tritiya is for one day only. Tomorrow it will be Chaturthi. Yesterday it was dwitiya – tritiya is for today only. This is the beginning of the Chandan yatra. It will continue for 21 days. Hari Hari ! Both these festivals are special and important. Akshay Tritiya is one of the most auspicious days among the three-and-a-half auspicious days of the year. Today’s whole day is auspicious. Sometimes we have auspicious time for a few hours or for a few minutes in a day. But today the whole 24 hours are auspicious. Its name is Akshay. It means whatever we earn today will never get exhausted, instead it will keep increasing. We have one disease named kshay rog ? Do you know about it. ? It is TB !In this disease a strong person will become thin and then he will deteriorate to bones only in his body. This is kshay – deterioration. Now this tritiya is Akshay ! Opposite of kshay – not reducing but increasing.

On Akshay tritiya – in the entire universe during different yuga and time many auspicious events happened. It is all recorded in our scriptures. It is a long list. Would you like to know about it ? Today many events took place in various places therefore it is the most important day. We have made a small list of these events after some research.
We will discuss the Chandan yatra festival that is beginning from today. Okay !

Sub theme : Beginning of treta yug

Treta yug begins from Akshay tritiya. People of this world do not know about yug. People are so ignorant that we can not speak about it. They assume that humans have existed since five or ten thousand years only. Darwin’s theory of evolution supports it. They consider the ameba to be the first creature. They do not know that before that vithoba – Vitthal Bhagwan existed. In this way they count the time. Recently it was the Stone Age. They talk about age that is yug – but how it is – Stone Age ! They were so backward that they used stones for fighting. They used to live in a den. Etc. anyway !

Actually this world is full of two types of people therefore it is said – ya gyo ya means – wise and gyo means illiterate. Hence the people who are ignorant they do not know anything about

paritranaya sadhunam
vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge

Translation

To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.[Bg. 4.8]
They do not know that four types of millennium are existing. All four types of millennium together are known as mahayug. And with thousands of mahayug together makes One-Day of Brahma.

Here we are learning that As satyug ends and treta yug begins on the day of Akshay tritiya. Treta yug always begins on Akshay tritiya. Everything is designed and planned like that. And the it is designed by

Mayadhyaksenamayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ
sūyate sa-carācaram
hetunānena kaunteya
jagad viparivartate

Translation
This material nature, which is one of My energies, is working under My direction, O son of Kuntī, producing all moving and nonmoving beings. Under its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.[Bg. 9.10]

Lord is a perfect organiser or manager. As we see, the Sun rises at a definite time. Like that ! In this way treta yug begins on Akshay tritiya. If you want to check whether it is correct or not then you be alive till what ? This kaliyug will end and then satyug begins. After it ends then tetra will begin. Like that. ! After eleven o clock comes 12 o clock and after that it is back to 1 o clock again. In the same way kaliyug will end and satyug begin. Then if you are alive then you will see the beginning of tetra yug. If you want any proof then you can become a witness. You will see that tetra yug begins exactly on Akshay tritiya. What an amazing arrangement ?

Sub theme : Lord Parshuram,s birthday

Translation
0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a tortoise! All glories to You! In this incarnation as a divine tortoise the great Mandara Mountain rests upon Your gigantic back as a pivot for churning the ocean of milk. From holding up the huge mountain a large scarlike depression is put in Your back, which has become most glorious. [from Sri Dasavatara-stotra]

Who is Bhrigupati? He is Parashuram. Parshuram was born on Akshay tritiya. Our Ashwin – who has made the movie Maha Avatar Narsingh, have you watched that movie ? He is going to make ten movies on 10 avatars. The next movie is Parashuram. And today on the occasion of Akshay tritiya and birth anniversary of Parashuram the trailer of the movie will be released. He is also calculating properly. He has selected today’s day specifically. Maha avatar Parashuram!
Today the making of the movie will begin.

Sub theme: Surya bhagwan gave Akshay patra to Pandavas

After 12 years of axile Pandavas were on one year of living in incognito (agyat vas). On Akshay tritiya surya Bahgwan gave Akshay patra to Pandavas. This pot has the ability that the food in it would never exhaust. Today Pandavas got this pot. Hari Bol ! You may imagine that if anyone recognized them as Pandavas then they would have to go for another 12 years of exile. They had to hide from everyone. They could not go out and ask for bhiksha for food because if anyone recognized them, then it was a huge problem for them. Therefore, surya Narayan Bhagwan gave them Akshay Patra so that they can keep having Prasad and it will not be exhausted. You don’t need to go anywhere. Hence no one will know you and your living in incognito will be successfully completed.

Sub theme : Sudama and Sri Krishna meeting.

On today’s day Sudama met Sri Krishna in Dwarka. Krishna ate the poha brought by Sudama. In exchange, the Lord did everything for Sudama. Lord gave him a city like Dwarka which is Porbandar. Mahatma Gandhi was born here. Few people say that Sudama came as Gandhi. But this is not possible. Sudama was an exalted devotee !!
Sudama visits Krishna to demand some wealth. But after meeting Krishna and being in His association, Sudama forgot to request anything. He was remembering the Lord all the time, so he did not remember to ask for anything. Give me money or extra. Actually, his wife sent him to meet Krishna to ask for money and wealth. But Sudama did not demand anything. Afterwards he was returning to Sudamapuri and suddenly it sparked his mind – that he forgot to ask for money. He thought I had not asked for anything and the Lord had not given me anything. Sudama was praising himself – well done Sudama ! You did not ask for anything. !

na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ
kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye
mama janmani janmanīśvare
bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi

Translation
O Lord of the universe, I do not desire material wealth, materialistic followers, a beautiful wife or fruitive activities described in flowery language. All I want, life after life, is unmotivated devotional service to You.’ ( cc antya 20.29 Shikshatakam )

True devotees of the Lord never ask for anything. Then he was thinking that I did not ask anything and the Lord has not given me anything. It is not that the Lord has forgotten. He has purposely not given me anything. He must have thought that if I give money to Sudama then he will start shopping. And he will go to Dubai and he might forget Me. Sudama is thinking like this and assumes that the Lord has thought like this. Good that the Lord has not given me anything. Anyway !! They met on Akshay Tritiya Hari Hari. The meeting was not unsuccessful. Lord has given him a complete city. The Lord indirectly gives to His devotees. Directly He might give or not but He always gives indirectly.

Sub theme : Composition of MAhabharat began

On Akshay tritiya Srila Vyasdev began composition of Mahabharat. Vyasdev is shaktavesh incarnation of the Lord. All the scriptures are composed by Vyasdev. In Bhagwat Geeta Lord says

bṛhat-sāma tathā sāmnāṁ gāyatrī chandasām aham
māsānāṁ mārga-śīrṣo ’ham ṛtūnāṁ kusumākaraḥ

Translation
Of the hymns in the Sāma Veda I am the Bṛhat-sāma, and of poetry I am the Gāyatrī. Of months I am Mārgaśīrṣa[November-December], and of seasons I am flower-bearing spring. [Bg. 10.35]

Sub theme : Ganga appeared on earth.

Shivji held Ganga on his head. Ganga was coming from heaven directly with tremendous speed. Shivji held Ganga on his head therefore one of his names is Gangadhar.

Ganga Maiya ki jai !

Sub theme : Opening of temple doors at Badrinath

On Akshay tritiya darshan of Gangotri, Jamnotri and Badrikashram is opened. First they are closed so that now they are open. In the beginning of winter, they are closed. It is Himalaya – what is the meaning of hima? It is snow. So during winter Badrikashram darshan is closed and all priests and care takers of the temple come down. They stay at Hrishikesh or some other places. The temples are closed and during this time Narad muni becomes a priest. Bells are ringing and a couch blowing sound is heard by army men. Army men must stay there because it is our China India border. The army men often mention that they keep hearing sounds of conch from the temples. No one is there as the temple is closed. Anyways ! Today the darshan is open for everyone.

Sub theme : The transition period from (Vasant) spring season to (Grishma) summer season.

Vasant season is spring season. Lord has said that in seasons I am Vasant.

bṛhat-sāma tathā sāmnāṁ gāyatrī chandasām aham
māsānāṁ mārga-śīrṣo ’ham ṛtūnāṁ kusumākaraḥ

Translation
Of the hymns in the Sāma Veda I am the Bṛhat-sāma, and of poetry I am the Gāyatrī. Of months I am Mārgaśīrṣa[November-December], and of seasons I am flower-bearing spring. [Bg. 10.35]

We have six seasons of two months each. After spring we will have Summer. Do you think Summer has arrived? Caution ! From today summer will become intense. Officially from today summer begins therefore we apply sandal wood paste on Lord’s deities so as to give a cooling effect to the Lord. And the Lord should have to experience the hot summer so His loving devotees apply sandal wood paste. It has already been applied today so the darshan is not open till now. You might think that because of my class the darshan is not open. “Actually, they have granted me some extra time for today’s class.”
What is the time ? When will it open ? 9:30. !

What !! Oh ok ok !
Are you shocked to hear 9:30 ! I was not aware of this. You might have got a shock ! We will see. Be patient!

Sub theme : Chandan yatra begins

As summer begins from today, so does the Chandan yatra.
Madhvendrapuri ki jai !

You have heard this name. This is the right time for remembrance of Srila Madhvendra Puri. This happened in Goverdhan. Lord Gopal was performing His pastime with Madhvendra Puri. Gopal came in the dreams of Maghvendra puri. And instructed him to bring sandal wood paste for the Lord. I am feeling very hot. This happened around 500 years ago. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared around 540 years ago. It has not been a long time. If you think of it , we are really very fortunate. Only five hundred years ago Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was present here on this earth. Ishwar puri was the spiritual master of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Madhvendra puri was the spiritual master of Ishwar puri. This incident took place just five hundred or six hundred years ago. Madhvendra puri went to Jagganath Puri. He went there to bring sandal wood. On his way to Jagganath puri he halted at Remuna. It is a place near Paleshwar in Bangal- Orissa border. Recently I was there. We are going to mention a few more places here. Recently in the last two or three months I went there. There is Gopinath temple. Earlier the name of the temple was Gopinath temple. After that Lord stole kheer for Maghvendra puri. Then this Gopinath was known as sher chor Gopinath. You may imagine that the Lord stole for His devotee. He used to steal butter for Himself in Vrindavan. And originally He is chitchor also. For Maghvendra puri He stole sheer so He became sheerchor Gopinath. Hari Hari !

He stole sheer for Madhvendra puri. At midnight Madhvendra puri got this sheer and he had it. You should know Maghvendra puri and you should learn about him. He was thinking that , after sunrise everyone will know that the Lord stole sheer for Madhvendra puri. So people will come in search of me. Where is Madhvendra puri ? Press might also come , television crew may come. They would like to print it in their newspapers or that would like to broadcast it as Breaking news ! In order to avoid this Madhvendra puri left for Jagannath puri at night. This is the humbleness of Madhvendra puri. Did you understand how humble he was from this instance? As he reached Jagganath puri many people, devotees, and pandas gave me sandal wood. Now where does he have to take this sandal wood ? Where ? You all should know ? Yes ! Govardhan !
Giriraj Govardhan ki jai !

On his return journey he again comes to Remuna – sheerchor Gopinath mandir. In Remuna Lord again gave darshan to Madhvendra puri in his dreams and instructed him Lord said
“ Me as Gopal and Gopinath of Remuna are no different. We are one and the same. We keep hearing that all deities are the same and one. All are God. Here the Lord Himself is saying that Myself Gopal from Vrindavan and Gopinath from Remuna are the same. You do one thing , the sandal wood that you have brought, make a paste of it and offer it to Gopinath. Along with this I will also receive this. Hari Bol ! I will also feel cool here and will feel the fragrance of the sandalwood also. Sandal wood has cooling properties and it has a nice fragrance also. I feel both of this here in Vrindavan. Who said this ? Gopal said this. The devotees who are sleeping have not answered me ! Either you are sleeping or you have not listened properly. We have such types of issues in front of us.

Today Madhvendra puri applied sandal wood paste on Gopinath. Hari Bol. ! This is not a story , it is history. This instance happened today. Madhvendra puri was there in Remuna. Actually there we have Radha Madan Mohan, Radha Govinddev and Radha Gopinath also. Not only Gopinath but all three sacred deities of Gaudiya Vaishnavas are present in Remuna. But Gopinath is prime because it is a prayojan deity. In this way the first Chandan yatra was celebrated there today in Remuna. Maghvendra puri is the first acharya of gaudiya vaishnavas. Before him Gaudiya vaishnavas sampradaya did not exist. He has started it. He was the first acharya. All the Gaudiya vaishnavas celebrate Chandan yatra the same as he did. We keep following that method. Today it is celebrated outside gaudiya vaishnav also. Today Bankebihari has a special Chandan yatra darshan. All temples of Vrindavan have special darshan. Therefore today I am going to Vrindavan to have Radha Shyamsunder darshan. I heard that there we get Chandan yatra darshan in the afternoon. I will reach there by that time. You are also welcome there.

Krishna-name wealth. Meditation is also wealth. The knowledge of Gita and Bhagavatam is also wealth, it is property. Today, acquired, this type of property, then definitely what will happen? Its decay (Kshaya) is not going to happen, no, it is not.

Like this, ‘Kshaya’ (decay) and ‘Akshaya’ (imperishable)—this is a duality and this matter is of this world. Decay, imperishable. But the wealth related to Krishna, Hari Nama (Holy Name), this does not apply to it. This is Akshaya only. Its decay is not possible at all. Not possible.
Its increase only has to happen.

avatīrṇe gaura-candre vistīrṇe prema-sāgare
suprakāśita-ratnaughe yo dīno dīna eva saḥ

Translation:-
“The advent of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is just like an expanding ocean of nectar. One who does not collect the valuable jewels within this ocean is certainly the poorest of the poor.”

Anandambudhi-vardhanam (The ocean of bliss increases). In the appearance of Gaurachandra (Chaitanya Mahaprabhu), He expanded—He expanded the Prema Sagar (Ocean of Love).
And this which is wealth, Prema-dan (the gift of love) or Krishna-wealth—to earn this, we do not have the necessity of the waiting for Akshaya Tritiya. On any day. Na kala-niyamas tatra (There is no rule of time for this). It has no time. All times, every day, this you can earn.

And every day, this wealth—spiritual, divine, transcendental wealth—acquired, its what? Decay is going to happen at all? It cannot happen. This worldly, intellectual, one type of knowledge’s decay may happen also.

But this Hari Nama wealth, Krishna wealth, the knowledge in the form of the wisdom of Gita and Bhagavatam… This Satsang also, Satsang is also wealth. Sadhu-sanga (the association of saints), this is also wealth.

teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ
bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam

Translation:-
To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me. [BG 10.10]

Satat we have to do this.

So, in conclusion, this is said: that this is a day of the upliftment of the soul (Atma-utthan). The fruit of Krishna Bhajan (devotional worship) and Japa (chanting) is Akshaya—this is also coming in this list.

uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ
nātmānam avasādayet
ātmaiva hy ātmano bandhur
ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ

Translation:-
One must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well. [BG 6.5]

Atma-utthan. Atmano atmanascha—Krishna said in the Bhagavad Gita what we should do: Atmaiva hy atmano bandhur atmaiva ripura atmanah. Our mind either can become our friend, or our own mind, our very own mind can become our enemy. Be careful.

So what should be done? Uddharet—Uddhared atmanatmanam. This is the advice of God: Uddhared atmanatmanam. The soul’s deliverance should be done. By whom? By the soul. By the soul, the soul’s deliverance should be done.

With the help of your mind and intelligence, one should remain engaged in the deliverance of one’s soul.
And make sure—God is saying—no degradation. Make sure that your mind and your intelligence do not become the cause of your destruction, of your downfall. Make it the cause of your deliverance. Not of the downfall.

And this, so this is also the day of soul upliftment. It is also the day of Krishna Bhajan. It is also the day of Japa. And all these have been called Akshaya. Krishna Bhajan is also Akshaya. Japa is also Akshaya. Krishna Consciousness is Akshaya. Hari Bol!

Japa Talk by Guru Maharaj
Date- 13th April 2026
Theme- Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s South India Tour

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda!

hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare!!

Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu ki Jai! Today morning, I was remembering Him. We should always remember Him. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Lord Himself.

pañca-tattvātmakaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ bhakta-rūpa-svarūpakam
bhaktāvatāraṁ bhaktākhyaṁ namāmi bhakta-śaktikam

Translation-
I offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, who is nondifferent from His features as a devotee, devotional incarnation, devotional manifestation, pure devotee, and devotional energy.[CC Adi 1.14]

Sub-theme: Jiyaḍa-nṛsiṁha Ksetra
Although He is the Lord, He has become a devotee or has taken a role of a devotee. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Lord, but He plays a role of a devotee and remembers the Lord. He kept going on pilgrimages and taking darshans of the Lord. During His pilgrimage He reached Vishakhapattanam. There is historical, very famous Varaha Narasimha temple. There Lord Narasimha gave darshan to Prahlad Maharaj. Shortly before this, the Lord had appeared in the Varaha form and had killed Hiranyaksa. And now He appeared as Narasimha to kill Hiranyakasipu. Prahlad Maharaj said, ‘Earlier You appeared as Varaha, so I also want to have darshan of Your Varaha form’. Therefore Lord gave him darshan, two in one, Varaha and Narasimha. This is the speciality of this place known as Jiyaḍa-nṛsiṁha Ksetra. Last month I was fortunate to go there. All bureau members of ISCKON were there and one morning we went to that place where Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu had gone and had darshan, which was given to Prahlad Maharaj, the darshan of Lord Varaha Narasimha.

Sub-theme: Glorification by Caitanya Mahaprabhu
When Caitanya Mahaprabhu reached there, He glorified the Lord.

śrī-nṛsiṁha, jaya nṛsiṁha, jaya jaya nṛsiṁha
prahlādeśa jaya padmā-mukha-padma-bhṛṅga

Translation-

All glories to Nṛsiṁhadeva! All glories to Nṛsiṁhadeva, who is the Lord of Prahlāda Mahārāja and, like a honeybee, is always engaged in beholding the lotuslike face of the goddess of fortune. [CC Madhya 8.5]

In Mayapur devotees sing this prayer daily during Sringar darshan of Lord Narasimha, which was sung by Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Jiyaḍa-nṛsiṁha ksetra mandir. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is saying prahlādeśa, you are Prahlad-isa, Lord of Prahlad Maharaj. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is taking darshan and expressing His realisations in the form of glorification.

prahlādeśa padmā-mukha-padma-bhṛṅga, Goddess Laksmi resides on the chest of Lord Narasimha. Laksmi- Narasimhadeva ki Jai! Caitanya Mahaprabhu is saying, ‘Mahalaksmi’s face is like a lotus flower, and You, O Lord Narasimha, has become a Padma-bhringa, a bee. You are hovering around that lotus face and relishing its beauty. Or perhaps, in the form of a bee, You want to kiss Laksmi. What does a bee do? He kisses the flower and relishes the nectar of the flower, and for this reason he is also called Madhukar, one who relishes madhu, honey. O Lord Narasimha, you have become padmā-mukha-padma-bhṛṅga and You are kissing the lotus face of Laksmi. This is the glorification done by Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Sub-theme: Darshan through hearing
Caitanya Mahaprabhu offered obeisances at the lotus feet of Varaha Narasimha. The Pujari came and offered the Lord’s maha-garland to Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Can you see it? This is darshan for us. When we do sravanam, hearing, we get darshan through this hearing. We take darshan not with the eyes but through the ears. Ears show us. We should have darshan through hearing. This is vidhi, the proper method.

Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami has compiled Caitanya Caritamrta and he has narrated Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s visit to Jiyad Nrsimha temple, His offering obeisances there, how the Pujari came and offered Maha-garland to Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami is narrating this, he wants us to have darshan of this pastime. ‘Look at Varaha-Narasimha, see Caitanya Mahaprabhu has arrived and is offering dandavat pranams, and is glorifying the Lord. Whatever Caitanya Mahaprabhu is realising, He is expressing it through the glorification. Look, Mahalaksmi’s face is like a lotus and the Lord being a bee is circling around this lotus.’ When we hear and remember this glorification, images form in our mind and we get darshan. That is the idea.

As I am narrating this pastime from 500 years ago, it does not remain 500 years old. Puranam api navam, it becomes new. News of the day! When we are reading and narrating this pastime, how Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited there and how He did glorification, that same darshan appears on the screen of our mind, just like on a television. All this has happened just for us, so that we can have such a darshan. In the future, in Pandharpur, or at the zoom temple, on the day of Ekadashi, when this pastime will be narrated, that same darshan will appear before us.
Pratyaksha darshan, prati-aksha, in front of our eyes, in front of our antah cakshu or atma cakshu, eyes of the heart or soul. The soul also has eyes. Just as this body is having these eyes, one of the jnana-indriya, knowledge acquiring senses, sound, touch, form, taste and smell, among these is the knowledge of form. These material eyes have limitation. It can see only up to a certain distance. They cannot see what is happening behind a wall. Or they can show only those things which are happening right in front of them. But if we want to see the incidents happened in the past, we need transcendental eyes.

premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti
yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṇa-svarūpaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

Translation-
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is Śyāmasundara, Kṛṣṇa Himself with inconceivable innumerable attributes, whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love. [BS 5.38]

Syamasundar will appear for us today and right now, if our antah-caksu, eyes of the soul are open.

Sub-theme: Eye operation by Acaryas

Translation-
[I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who with the torchlight of knowledge has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance.]
The Acaryas who come in the parampara open our eyes, the eyes of the soul. ajñāna-timirāndhasya, we are still blind and cannot see. Then what do the Acaryas do? jñānāñjana-śalākayā, salaka is a kind of instrument used during eye operations. Salakaya, with the help of salaka, gurus open the eyes. And that is happening even now. What is ISKCON temple? Here vision is given to the blind people. Eye operations are performed here. Every day we organise camps here, nityam bhagavata sevaya.

naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu
nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā
bhagavaty uttama-śloke0
bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhikī

Translation-
By regular attendance in classes on the Bhāgavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact. [SB 1.2.18]

This is the time for an eye operation. Siksa Guru, Diksa Guru open our eyes and put jñānāñjana, anjan, ointment of jnana in our eyes, the knowledge, jnana from sastras.

rāja-vidyā rāja-guhyaṁ
pavitram idam uttamam
pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyaṁ
su-sukhaṁ kartum avyayam

Translation-
This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed. [BG 9.2]

Or
sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo
mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca
vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedānta-kṛd veda-vid eva cāham

Translation-
I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedānta, and I am the knower of the Vedas. [BG 15.15]

Or
śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ
kṣāntir ārjavam eva ca
jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyaṁ
brahma-karma svabhāvajam

Translation-
Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness — these are the qualities by which the brāhmaṇas work. [BG 18.42]
They put ointment of this knowledge in our eyes.

Sub-theme: jnana-anjana to prema-anjana
Then we apply this knowledge, we use this knowledge and then this jnana-anjana transforms into prema-anjana. Only jnananjan is not enough. We need premanjana. By acquiring knowledge we will become jnana-yogi, but we have to become bhakti-yogi. We have to get the darshan of the Lord. For that we need premanjan and then we will have darshan. We will have darshan means the soul will have darshan; the soul will have realisation. It is said in Marathi- yachi dehi, yachi dola, right in this body and with these eyes. Yeah, we need to have an operation of these eyes, as we are discussing. Sadhakas, practitioners must set a goal, right in this body and with these eyes, after undergoing an eye operation and receiving jnanajana from gurus, and before that.

tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti tad jnanam
jnaninas tattvadarsinah

Translation-
Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth. [Bg. 4.34]

We need to surrender to a spiritual master, pariprasnena need to ask questions, so that the tattvavetta, enlightened Gurus will impart knowledge to us.

evaṁ paramparā-prāptam
imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ
sa kāleneha mahatā
yogo naṣṭaḥ paran-tapa

Translation-
This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost. [BG 4.2]

viduḥ, means to know; we will understand. Goal is to have darshan.

Sub-theme: Meeting with Ray Ramananda
Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu moved forward and reached at the bank of Godavari, Godavari Maiya ki Jai! Seeing Godavari, He remembered Yamuna. This is Krishna consciousness. Upon seeing any river, He remembers Yamuna. And there was a garden, trees and plants; seeing that garden Vrindavan Dham ki Jai! He remembered Vrindavan. ‘This is Yamuna and at her bank this must be Vrindavan. I have reached Vrindavan.’ Thinking this, Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to sing and dance. ‘I am in Vrindavan.’ And we, even after reaching Vrindavan, think that we are in Solapur. But this is Krishna consciousness (of Caitanya Mahaprabhu).

aṣṭādaśa-varṣa kevala nīlācale sthiti
āpani ācari’ jīve śikhāilā bhakti

Translation-
For eighteen continuous years, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained at Jagannātha Purī and, through His personal behavior, instructed all living entities in the mode of devotional service. [CC Madhya 1.22]

Through His personal behaviour Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught the entire world. Caitanya Mahaprabhu crossed the river and there he saw a palanquin. In that palanquin a special person was coming. That person got down from the palanquin. Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw this person and thought this must be Ramananda Ray. Before leaving Jagannath Puri, Sarvabhaum Bhattacarya had requested Caitanya Mahaprabhu, ‘when You will go to Andhra Pradesh, at the bank of Godavari, there lives Ray Ramananda. Please You do meet him.’ So, after seeing him, they never had met before, yet just by looking at him, Caitanya Mahaprabhu thought, ‘he must be Ray Ramanand.’ Sarvabhaum Bhattacarya had told Him, how he looks and that he is the governor of Uttar Pradesh, etc. He did not say that Ray Ramananda is Vishakha. Vishakha is living as Ray Ramananda.

lalita visakha-adi jata sakhi-brinda
ajnaya koribo seba caranaravinda

Translation-
With the permission of all the sakhis, headed by Lalita and Visakha, I will serve the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna. [From Radha Krsna Prana Mora by Narottama Das Thakur]
Vishakha, one of the Ashtasakhis, has appeared. Seeing him, Caitanya Mahaprabhu became very eager. I was asked to meet him. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya told Me, ‘You must meet him’. I must meet him right now. But He controlled Himself. ‘I am a sannyasi, I must be serious. This eagerness and restlessness will not be good for Me.’ Thinking so, Caitanya Mahaprabhu stopped right where He was. And then Ray Ramanand looked at Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

sūrya-śata-sama kānti, aruṇa vasana
subalita prakāṇḍa deha, kamala-locana

Translation-

Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya then saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to be as brilliant as a hundred suns. The Lord was covered by a saffron garment. He was large in body and very strongly built, and His eyes were like lotus petals. [CC Madhya 8.18]

aruṇa vasana, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a sannyasi, He was in saffron robes. Ray Ramananda took His darshan from distance. sūrya-śata-sama kānti, He was as brilliant as hundred suns. Koti surya sama prabhā, pra-bhā, bhā means light or effulgence and pra, prakrshta rupena, in the most excellent form, prabhā, radiant like millions suns. He is visualising such scene before his eyes. prakāṇḍa deha, Caitanya Mahaprabhu is having strong built body, very tall person, white complexion and long arms.

ājānu-lambita-bhujau kanakāvadātau
saṅkīrtanaika-pitarau kamalāyatākṣau
viśvambharau dvija-varau yuga-dharma-pālau
vande jagat priya-karau karuṇāvatārau

Translation-
I offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, whose arms extend down to Their knees, who have golden yellow complexions, and who inaugurated the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord. Their eyes resemble the petals of a lotus flower; They are the maintainers of the living entities, the best of the brāhmaṇas, the protectors of religious principles for this age, the benefactors of the universe, and the most merciful of all incarnations. [CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 1.1]
Other people were not having such darshan of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but Ray Ramanand is having such darshan.

ye yathā māṁ prapadyante
tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham
mama vartmānuvartante
manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ

Translation-
As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pṛthā. [Bg 4.11]

nāhaṁ prakāśaḥ sarvasya
yoga-māyā-samāvṛtaḥ
mūḍho ’yaṁ nābhijānāti
loko mām ajam avyayam

Translation-
I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent. For them I am covered by My internal potency, and therefore they do not know that I am unborn and infallible. [BG 7.25]
Lord has told this clearly, ‘I do not appear before everyone. I cover Myself by Yogamaya.’ But how could He hide from Ray Ramanand. Other people could have seen Him and thought, ‘A man is standing there. Let him stand. Who cares; we have seen many people like him.’ But this person has attracted the mind of Ray Ramanand by His presence. Gauranga Mahaprabhu is paying a role of a devotee, and if someone will call Him ‘Lord’, He would say, ‘keep quiet. Don’t say that.’ But devotees like Ray Ramananda do not want to remain silent, even after asking them to keep quiet. They will certainly express their realisation.

Ray Ramananda immediately ran towards Caitanya Mahaprabhu and offered his dandavat pranams, in exactly the same way that Caitanya Mahaprabhu was offering obeisances to Varaha Narasimha. While offering his obeisances, he is having darshan of the Lord. Gaur Bhagavan ki Jai!

uṭhi’ prabhu kahe, — ūṭha, kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’ ‘kṛṣṇa’
tāre āliṅgite prabhura hṛdaya satṛṣṇa

Translation-
The Lord stood up and asked Rāmānanda Rāya to arise and chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very eager to embrace him. [CC Madhya 8.20]
Caitanya Mahaprabhu stepped forward and said ‘Rise! Get up!’ But Ray Ramanand continued to offer dandavat pranam. Dandavat pranam is not done only by the body, but we should also do it with speech, we should chant the pranam mantra, like namah om visnupadaya.. Tongue and speech should be utilised and the mind as well. His mind, speech and body were offering obeisances. He was absorbed in that bhava. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, ‘enough is enough; now get up’. So he gets up and Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraces him and then because of the touch of each other’s bodies, they are becoming ecstatic. They are shivering. The various symptoms of ecstasy, devotion are visible in them. How many symptoms of ecstasy are there? Eight! One of these symptoms is crying; tears are flowing and they both are bathing each other with their tears. They are in embrace, they remained stunned like a pillar, and suddenly that pillar fell down. Both of them fell down on the ground and began rolling on the ground. These are the symptoms of ecstasy.

Sub-theme: Talks between Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ray Ramananda
After long time, when both of them came back to the external senses, there will be now conversation between them. This conversation will continue for ten days. It was not happening day and night, but it was mostly at night time because Ray Ramanand was doing his duty of governor in the day and in the evening was meeting and conversing with Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This conversation between Ray Ramanand and Caitanya Mahaprabhu is given in the eighth chapter of Madhya Lila of Caitanya Caritamrta. Caitanya Mahaprabhu had dialogues with many devotees, many special dialogues, but this conversation with Ray Ramananda is very special conversation. Matchless conversation! There has been much discussion on the topic of rasas, mellows.

anarpita-carīṁ cirāt karuṇayāvatīrṇaḥ kalau
samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasāṁ sva-bhakti-śriyam
hariḥ puraṭa-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandīpitaḥ
sadā hṛdaya-kandare sphuratu vaḥ śacī-nandanaḥ

Translation-
May the Supreme Lord who is known as the son of Śrīmatī Śacī-devī be transcendentally situated in the innermost chambers of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has appeared in the Age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation has ever offered before: the most sublime and radiant mellow of devotional service, the mellow of conjugal love. [CC Adi 1.4]

One of the main reasons of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’a appearance is to give unnatojjvala-rasāṁ, madhurya rasa to the world. This rasa became the subject between talks of Ray Ramanand and Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There were many questions and answers, but here Caitanya Mahaprabhu is not giving answers. In His other conversations Caitanya Mahaprabhu is taking the lead and giving His talks, instructions. His talks with Sanatan Goswami, Rupa Goswami, Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya or Prakasananda Saraswati, etc. where He becomes the speaker, but here He made Ray Ramananda the speaker. Whatever He wanted to share with this world, He made Ray Ramananda to speak that. Ray Ramananda has said here that, ‘I am a stringed instrument and You are its player. Whatever You want me to vibrate, I will do it.’

Sub-theme: Caitanya Mahaprabhu revealed His real form
During this conversation, one night, as he used to meet Caitanya Mahaprabhu every day and took His darshan in the form of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but one time Ray Ramananda saw that Caitanya Mahaprabhu has disappeared and in His place Radha Krishna are standing. Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave such darshan only to Ray Ramananda. śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya rādhā-kṛṣṇa nahe anya: ‘Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa combined together are Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu.’ We keep saying this again and again, but is there any proof where Caitanya Mahaprabhu has revealed this? Yes, that incident took place here at the bank of Godavari, at Kohur where Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave darshan to Ray Ramananda, darshan of Radha and Krishna. And now there is Radha Krishna temple of Gaudiya Math. In 1972, Srila Prabhupada went there with his foreign disciples. It was Puri Maharaj’s Math. From there Prabhupada went to Mayapur, and that time the first Mayapur festival, Gaur Purnima festival was held.

‘This is Vrindavana, Dakshin (South) Vrindavan’; just as Pandharpur is called ‘Dakshin Dwarka’. That Dwarka is in the west, in Gujarat and this Dwarka is in South. Similarly Vrindavan is in North, Uttar-pradesh, and in Kohur, at the bank of Godavari where Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave darshan in the form of Radha-Krishna, there with great transcendental pride, they say, ‘this is Dakshin Vrindavan’. Is there any other place where Lord appeared as Radha- Krishna? One is Vrindavan and the other is Kohur, where Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave darshan of Radha-Krishna.

Sub-theme: Similar pastime of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Ram
Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed in Srirangam for four months. At other places Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to stay only for one night, sometimes not even for a night. He used to get up at midnight and moved forward, because if He will leave in the morning, all the residents of that village would be ready to go with Him.

When Lord Rama left for exile, entire Ayodya followed Him. That same Rama when appeared as Caitanya Mahaprabhu, to avoid this He used to leave when everyone is sleeping. Rama did the same thing. Residents of Ayodhya followed Him. He let them come; what could be done, it was not possible to stop them. At night when everyone was taking rest, Rama also pretending to sleep, He was not sleeping, but He showed that He is also sleeping. Everyone else fell asleep, because they were tired. They had been walking all day. When everyone was in deep sleep, Ram, Laksman and Sita got up and chariot was ready for Them. Rama did not want to, yet He sat in the chariot and left from there. In the morning, when the residents of Ayodhya woke up, they asked, ‘where is Ram? Where is Ram?’ Ram first took His chariot towards Ayodhya, so seeing the marks of chariot wheels, the residents of Ayodhya thought, ‘look, They have returned back to Ayodhya’, and all of them ran towards Ayodhya. But upon reaching there, they realized that Ram is not here. In the middle of the journey, They took diversion, changed the route and went towards Prayag, Triveni Sangam, by crossing Ganges.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu who used to spend one night at other places, as per information given in Caitanya Caritamrta, only at three places He stayed more than a night. Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed in Kohur, where dialogues between Ray Ramananda and Caitanya Mahaprabhu took place for ten days. In Srirangam, there is big pith of Ramanujacarya. There Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed for Caturmas. And in Pandharpur, He stayed few days more than Kohur, Pandharpur Dham ki Jai! Ray Ramananda wanted Caitanya Mahaprabhu to stay for a few more days. ‘Please stay for few more days and give Your association. We will discuss more and there will be more bodhayantah parasparam (BG 10.9).’ Caitanya Mahaprabhu told Ray Ramananda, ‘why only ten days? I want to spend my entire life with you.’ He also said that, ‘now I am going to South India tour. I need to find My brother, Sankararanya Swami.’ Using this as an excuse Caitanya Mahaprabhu had left from Jagannath Puri. ‘When I complete that work, I will return to Jagannath Puri, then you also come there. Then rest of our lives we will stay together.’

Sub-theme: Caitanya Mahaprabu’s Maharastra tour
Then Caitanya Maharabhu did South India tour, toured Maharashtra, Kolhapur, Pandharpur, on the way He also went to Arawade. Then He went to Satara, Krishna-Vena sangam (confluence). It is heard that He also went to Mumbai, gave darshan to Mumbadevi. From there He also went to the banks of Narmada. His last stop was Nasik.

Sub-theme: Ray Ramananda and Swarup Damodar joined Caitanya Mahaprabhu
From Nasik when Caitanya Mahaprabhu was going back to Jagannath Puri, He again met Ray Ramananda. ‘Come, Let’s go. I told you that, when I will complete My tour, we will spend rest of our lives together in Jagannath Puri.’ Ray Ramananda said, ‘just now coming. I am the governor. If I will come now, many people will follow us. That will not be good for You. There will be crowd. So You go ahead, I will come very soon.’ Caitanya Mahaprabhu proceeded, reached Jagannath Puri and Ray Ramananda came after Him. Jagannath Puri Dham ki Jai! Now they are going to stay together. Then Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed in the mood of Radharani. Ray Ramananda gave up his governor post and now came to Jagannath Puri. He was Vishakha. In Gambhira, he stayed with Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the mood of Vishakha. Swarup Damodar, who used to live in Navadvipa, he also went to Varanasi for education, and now he also leaving everything came to Jagannath Puri. Who was he? He was Lalita. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was Radha.

rādhā kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtir hlādinī śaktir asmād
ekātmānāv api bhuvi purā deha-bhedaṁ gatau tau
caitanyākhyaṁ prakaṭam adhunā tad-dvayaṁ caikyam āptaṁ
rādhā-bhāva-dyuti-suvalitaṁ naumi kṛṣṇa-svarūpam

Translation-
The loving affairs of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are transcendental manifestations of the Lord’s internal pleasure-giving potency. Although Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are one in Their identity, previously They separated Themselves. Now these two transcendental identities have again united, in the form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. I bow down to Him, who has manifested Himself with the sentiment and complexion of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī although He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. [CC Adi 1.5]

rādhā-bhāva-dyuti-suvalitaṁ, He is Radha and He got company of Swarup Damdar, who is Lalita, and Ray Ramananda, who is Vishakha. For the last twelve years Caitanya Mahaprabhu spent most of His time, day and night with these two personalities. Radha along with Lalita and Vishakha, this team! Ray Ramananda ki Jai! Swarup Damodar ki Jai! Gauranga! Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu ki Jai! Nitai Gaur Premanande Hari Hari Bol! Today’s Ekadashi festival ki Jai!