Shrila Prabhupada in Shrimad-Bhagavatam Lecture 2.1.2, Vrindavana, March 17, 1974:

“Then you become gosvami. Then, as Narottama dasa Thakura says, grhe va banete thake ha gauranga bole dake. Ha gauranga, ‘Always chanting Nitai-Gaura, and thinking of Nitai-Gaura,’ such person, Narottama dasa Thakura says… Grhe va… ‘He may be a sannyasi, or he may be a grhastha. It doesn’t matter. Because he is absorbed in the thought of Nitai-Gaura.’ So narottama mage tanra sanga: ‘Narottama is always desiring to associate with such person.’”

Shrila Prabhupada is saying here that if we constantly chant the names of Lord Nityananda and Lord Gauranga, we will become pure to that extend that we will attain association of such saintly persons like Shrila Narotama dasa Thakura.

As we said before, all our Acharyas used the word “chant” to indicate both, kirtana and japa practice.It is childish to propagate that it sometimes means kirtana, not japa or otherwise. If a person is adviced by Prabhupada  to ‘Always chant Nitai-Gaura, and think of Nitai-Gaura, ‘ that also includes time of our japa practice.

How we should always chant the Names of Lord Nityananda and Gauranga if this does not include our japa time? There is no difference in the statements -’Always chant Hare Krishna, and think of Radha-Krishna and ‘Always chant Nitai-Gaura, and think of Nitai-Gaura, just as there is no practical difference between the process of chanting Hare Krishna and Nitaai and Gaura Naam daily on japa mala beads.

The main point is – ‘Always chanting Nitai-Gaura, and thinking of Nitai-Gaura,’ as Shrila Prabhupada  instruts us. So, a person who  always thinks about Nityananda and Gauranga is a devotee of the highest rang, worth of association with such great devotees like Shrila Narottama dasa Thakura.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

The Second offense in the process of chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is described as follows:

OFFENSE TWO

shivasya shri-vishnor ya iha guna-namadi-sakalam;
dhiya bhinnam pashyet sakhalu hari-namahita-karah.

“In this material world, the holy name of Vishnu is all-auspicious. Vishnu’s name, form, qualities, and pastimes are all transcendental absolute knowledge. Therefore, if one tries to separate the Absolute Personality of Godhead from His holy name or His transcendental form, qualities, and pastimes, thinking them to be material, that is offensive. Similarly, to think the names of demigods such as Lord Shiva to be as good as the name of Lord Vishnu-or, in other words, to think Lord Shiva and the other demigods to be other forms of God and therefore equal to Vishnu-is also blasphemous. This is the second offense at the lotus feet of the Lord. Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the source of all the Vishnu tattvas.”

ANTIDOTE TWO:

We can fully eradicate the second offense by completely understanding the eternal position of Lord Gauranga-Krishna and the unique nature of His Names. Carefully studying of devotional literature will bring understanding that all demigods are actually devotees of the Lord, including Lord Shiva. Reading Shrimad Bhagavatam  it  is stated that Sambhu, Lord Shiva is the greatest of all Vaishnavas.That  is specially recommended in this regard.

There are numerous examples where we may finnd that Lord Shiva and Parvati are eternal devotees of the Lord.

sarve vayam navadvipe
tishthaamah prema-laalasaah
gaura gaureti gaayantah
sankirtana-paraa bhuvi
Shri Navadvipa Dhaam Mahatmya, Pramana Khanda Verse 19

Lord Shiva states: “We all eternally reside in Navadvipa. Overwhelmed and intoxicated with the desire to dive deep in pure love, we constantly perform Paraa Sankirtana, singing “Gaura! Gaura!” eternally in Navadvipa on the earthly sphere.”

gauri saha siva gauranga-nama;
gaiya gaiya puraya kama.

“In Navadvipa, Lord Shiva is constantly chanting the Gauranga Mantraraja along with his wife Gauri and thus fulfilling his innermost desires.”

Shri Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya, Chp 8,

Also in  Shri Ananta-samhita, Lord Shiva tells Parvati:

dharayamy urdhva-vadane,
devesi samhitam imam;
mantram ca gauracandrasya,
namedam sarva-mangalam.

A.S. Shri Chaitanya-janma-khanda, 2.3.54.

“O Parvati, the controller of all the demigods, I always recite with great enthusiasm this Ananta-samhita alongwith the Gauranga Mantraraja which is the most auspicious in this world.”

In that way, a devotee may fully understand that Lord Shiva is eternally engaged in the process of chanting Nityananda Gauranga and Hare Krishna. Then what to speak about demigods, like Vayu, Indra or Chandra. On that way a devotee may fully understand the eternal position of the Holy Name of Lord Gauranga-Krishna end never consider it equal to the names of demigods.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

Today is Shri Krishna Janmasthami, transcendental birthday and appearance of Supreme Lord Shri Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Devotees all over the world are celebrating this most auspicious day and speak about Shri Krishna and His appearance. In the Bhagavad-Gita, Shri Krishna is telling Arjuna that if a person simply understands His appearance, he or she will go to Him, in the spiritual kingdom, Goloka-Vrindavana. What is the nature of His appearance?

janma karma ca me divyam
yo janati tattvatah
tyaktva deham punar janma
naiti mam eti kaunteya
[Bg. 4.9]

The words mam eti indicates that a fortunate jiva will go to Lord Krishna, in the transcendental abode. The Supreme Lord Shri Krishna appeared on this planet 5000 years ago, but still it is the greatest festival on earth. It is so because his appearance is fully transcendental. His activities are all transcendental. In this verse word divyam means transcedental.

In the tenth Canto of Shrimad Bhagavatam we may find detailed description of Lord Krishna’s appearance, also in Krishna-book we may find abridged versions of the same chapters, so we should try to read them and remember such pastimes today.

In this article, just to glorify Lord Shri Krishna, we will, shortly try to remember this pastime.

On the day of his wedding, King Kamsa found out that Devaki’s eighth child would be born to kill him. He heard a  celestial voice and immediately wanted to kill his sister Devaki. at that moment, Vasudeva, her husband, jumped down from the chariot and proposed Kamsa to imprison them and made them promise to give each child to Kamsa.

In that way, Devaki and Vasudeva were putted in the prison by Kamsa. They gave all six children to Kamsa, and he killed them all out of fear that some of them may be his killer. Then, under influence of Yogamaya Devaki’s seventh child was transferred into the womb of Rohini, a second wife of Vasudeva, and foolish Kamsa thought that Devaki had miscarriage. In that way Balarama, Rohini-nandana appeared.

The Supreme Lord Shri Krishna appeared on a stormy night in the prison where Devaki and Vasudeva were locked. Vasudeva and Devaki could not tolerate to give the baby Krishna to Kamsa, so when the guards fall asleep, they hidthe baby in the basket and Vasudeva lefte toward Gokula, where his old friend Nanda Maharaja lived, together with Yashoda. That night was a stormy, rainy night.

While passing the river Yamuna, the water became turbulent and waves were very strong and wild, so Vasudeva was very frightened not to lose the baby in the river. When the lotus feet of baby Krishna touched the water, the river became peacefuller, and then Vasudeva realized that his son is not an ordinary person. He took baby Krishna to Nanda and Yashoda and returned to prison with Yashoda’s newborn daughter. When Kamsa wanted to kill her, she manifested Her form as Yogamaya and disappeared, saying that the eighth son of Devaki is born and it is safe in Gokula.

On this most auspicious day let us glorify Lord Krishna and chant Nityananda, Gauranga and Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Krishna Janmasthami ki jay!

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

Lord Nityananda is very easily pleased with devotees who serve Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. If we are trying to serve Lord Gauranga, we will get the mercy of Lord Nityananda. What is the best way to do it? Lord Nityananda Himself is teaching us:

.bhaja gauranga, kaha gauranga, laha gaurangera naam re…"Worship Lord Gauranga by chanting and speaking His Holy Name constantly and become my life and soul."

Lord Nityananda is the life and soul of Lord Gauranga, and Lord Gauranga is the Life and soul of Lord Nityananda. They are in fact unseparate Truths. Nitaai knows all about Gaura, and Gaura knows all about Nitaai. So, Lord Nityananda externaly disobeyed the order of Lord Chaitanya to preach chanting of the Hare Krishna in Bengal and started to preach chanting of Gaura Naam. He knew that fallen persons in this age of Kali are so degraded, without any qualifications, that they are unable to properly perform chanting of Hare Krishna in order to overcome ten offenses. Therefore He preached chanting and worshiping Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu, because only on that way fallen souls may attain a level of pure chanting of Hare Krishna, and really enter into the realm of Shri Shri Radha and Krishna.

Lord Nityannada is happy when we are chanting the Names of Gauranga, as he personally instructed us. Also those devotees who are chanting the Name of Lord Nityananda are the life and soul of Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

Prabhupada: No. We are recommending “Chant the holy name of God.” So if you have got the holy name of God, you can chant that.

Prabhupada: Anyway, if one chants Allah or Jesus Christ, we have no objection. We don’t say that you stop it. We say that you chant the holy name of God. If that name is of God, you chant.”
from Shrila Prabhupada  Room Conversation, August 14, 1971, London.

Shrila Prabhupada is in a direct way saying that a person should chant the Holy Name of God.  Nitaai and Gaura Naam are the most direct Names of God, non-different from Lord Nityananda and Lord Gauranga, who are Lord Balarama and Lord Shri Krishna, Shyamasundara Themselves. There are millions of evidences and examples that Nityananda and Gauranga are the Names of God, therefore we are adviced to chant them, according to this statement of Shrila Prabhupada.

It is worth to notice, that many religions, like Islam or Christianity are custom to chant different Names of the Lord on beads, like Allah, or Jesus. It is specific chanting on rosary or on beads. And Shrila Prabhupada is saying here that he has no objection to that practice, so what to say about regular chanting Nitaai and Gaura Naama on beads?

We must understand that an Acharya as Shrila Prabhupada may not directly implement all the instruction which he gives in his books,  but all his instructions are absolute and can be universally applied. There is also progressive theology. Spiritual  truths are eternal, but they were not always manifested. In the same way, the truth about this process is eternal, yet not fully manifested in this world, but it is spreading like a blasting forest fire under the power of Nitaai-Gaura-Harinama Sankirtana and the desire of previous acharyas.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

There are ten offenses in the process of chanting Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. The most powerful way of completely destroying them is the chanting of Nitaai and Gaura Naam:

chaitanya-nityanande nahi esaba vicara,
nama laite prema dena, vahe asrudhara

Chaitanya Charitamrta Adi 8.31

“But if one chants, with only some slight faith, the two holy names of Lord Gauranga and Nityananda, very quickly he or she is quickly cleansed of all offenses. Since in the chanting of the names of Nityananda and Gauranga there is no consideration of offenses, one will very quickly come to the stage of love of God, simply by chanting Their names and tears of pure love for Krishna will flow from the eyes.”

Even if we take full shelter of the most powerful Nitaai and Gaura Naam we must always be extremely careful not to commit any of ten devastating offenses. The best way is to act opposite, to understand what each offense means and act in an opposite – positive way. In this article we will present in short, all of the ten offenses and the antidote for their poisonous effect. This antidote is more like a prevention. If we act in that way we will be on the safe side and rapid success in our spiritual life will be guaranteed. So, we need to fully surrender to Nitaai and Gaura Naam and to take care not to commit any of the ten offenses in the future. In that way we may attain all perfection. The descriptions of offenses are from the book “Introduction to Maha Mantra Yoga” written by our Gurudeva His Holiness Tridandi Bhikshu Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada. For detailed description and explanations of all ten offenses, please read that book /you can find it in Nitaai Veda/.

OFFENSE ONE:

satam ninda namnah paramam aparadham vitanute;
yatah khyatim yatam katham u sahate tad-vigarham.

“To blaspheme the great saintly persons who are engaged in preaching the glories of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is the worst offense at the lotus feet of the holy name. One should not criticize a preacher of the glories of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. If one does so, he is an offender. The Nama-prabhu, who is identical with Krishna, will never tolerate such blasphemous activities, even from one who passes as a great devotee.”

ANTIDOTE ONE:

The first and most powerful elixir is glorification of rare devotees that are preaching the glories of chanting the Holy Names. Persons who are engaging in the distribution of the Holy Names, in this Nitaai Gaura Harinama sankirtana in any way, are the holiest persons of all. When we glorify such devotees, the Supreme Lord Gauranga-Krishna is very pleased, even more then we are trying to glorify Him directly.

We should regularly drink this elixir by glorifying our previous Acharyas, by appreciating their teachings and examples, trying to serve Vaishnavas in any possible way we can. We should develop natural attitude of servitude toward all Vaishnavas, spiritual master and previous acharyas and always honor and glorify them.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

What’s the world without Srimad Bhagavatam?

What’s the world without Srila Gurudeva?

What’s the world?………… a lump of clay.

ara eka gudha katha suna sarva-jana
kali-jive yogya-vastu gaura-lila-dhana

“”Please hear a most confidential secret. The most suitable thing for the
conditioned souls in Kali-yuga is the treasure of Gauranga-lila.”

Shrila Bahktivinoda Thakura in his Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya is telling us the most confidential secret of all times. He himself is telling us that this is the most confidential secret. Nobody should think that he is making some exaggeration.

And here, he is personally saying that this secret is very confidential. More then that he is saying that this secret you will not find in any other book! That is very important for us to understand. This secret is revealed by Shrila Bhaktivinoda in his book Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya and he personally is saying that to us! In any, scripture, even in the Shrimad-Bhagavatam,Bhagavad-Gita, Vedas, you will not find that secret. That is the power of great acharya and Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura mercifully reveaedl that top-most confidential secret to us.

We should have the faith in the words of Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. All the followers of Bhaktivinoda-parivara must accept his words as a fact, otherwise what is the use of following him? And he is addressing all people of this world -“suna sarva–jana,” – “Please,listen, all of you, all people”. His desire is that all people of this world hear about this secret. That is what we are humbly trying to do. We are simply trying to present this words of Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura to this world, We are not inventing anything, we are just saying – “Please, hear what Shrila Bhaktivinoda said!” That is the power of Nitaai-Gaura-Harinaam Sankirtana.

He is directly saying that the most suitable thing for Kali-yuga is to take shelter in gaura-lila. The word dhana means treasure. Gaura-lila dhana means the treasure of gaura-lila. Fallen jivas of this age of Kali should open that chest and take advantage of this gaura-lila, of His Name, Form, Pastimes etc.

What is this secret? It is chanting of the Names of Nityananda and Gauranga!

Shrilla Bhaktivinoda Thakura revailed this top-most secret of all times in his book Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya in Chapter one, verses 38-52. We will try in a systematic way to present those important verses in a form of short articles in the following days in order to serve our spiritual master Shrila Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada. Please, listen his lectures available on this portal and read his commentaries in Nitaai-Veda about this most important topic. In that way every person may fully understand what is this top-most confidential secret, revealed by Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

Chanting is our ultimate service, our life and soul. Without chanting we would be lost. All philosophy, elaborate studies, austerities, charity, all auspicious activities, rules and regulations, Deity worship, and all other spiritual activities depend on the quality and quantity of our chanting.

There is an important question – what is more important – quality or quantity? Of course, they are both essential, but what is more important? What we should try to do in order to achieve higher levels of chanting? Should a beginner stress more on quality or on quantity.

It is the fact that quantity is more important then quality in terms that quantity brings quality. Quantity will bring quality in our chanting. If you are chanting 4 rounds with full attention that is very nice. But if you are able to chant 16 or 32 rounds you will feel the difference. The mind may wander here and there, but under the influence of the sound of Nityananda, Gauranga and Hare Krishna Maha Mantra and our constant focusing on that sound, it will surrender and finally listen to the Naam. It is of greatest importance for all of us to develop unstoppable determination in chanting Nityananda, Gauranga and Hare Krishna. If we have strong determination in japa, we will also have strong determination in our service to Vaishnavas, Guru and Supreme Lord Gauranga-Krishna. Our japa sadhana is essential to our spiritual advancement, and the strongest pillar of our spiritual life.

Our chanting should be also done in a servitude mood, as service. We should feel that we are chanting for the pleasure of  Lord Gauranga-Krishna and that His Name is non-different from Himself.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

ninda nahi nityananda sevakera mukhe
aharnisha caitanyera yasa gaya sukhe

“The devotees who have received the great fortune to serve Lord Nityananda Balarama never engage in criticism or blasphemy of other Vaishnavas. Day and night their only activity is to blissfuly sing the name and glories of Lord Gauranga.”

nityananda-bhakta saba dike savadhana
nityananda-bhrtyera chaitanya dhana-prana

“Thus the devotees of Lord Nityananda and always extremely cautious from all directions to totally avoid criticism of other Vaishnavas. Actually they have no time to criticze others because they are busy in chanting the glories of the names and pastimes of Lord Gauranga, who is their life and wealth.”

In this two wonderful verses eternal characteristics of devotees of Lord Nityananda are described. The first characteristic of devotee who received the mercy of Lord Nityananda Balarama is that such devotee is free from any kind of criticism toward other devotees. He is just like a honey-bee, always sees good qualities in the words and activities of other devotees. That is the first characteristic of such a devotee.

The second characteristic is that a devotee of Lord Nityananda is blissfully engaged in chanting Gaura Naam – Gauranga, Gauranga. That is another symptom of devotees of Lord Nityananda-Balarama. The third  is that such rare devotees are so much absorbed in chanting Nitaai and Gaura Naam, and preaching about Nityananda and Gauranga that they have no time even to think of criticizing even an ant, what to say about Vaishnavas. Devotees of Lord Nityananda are always making fresh and new ways of expanding the flow of mercy toward fallen jivas.

In Chaitanya Charitamrta CC Adi 11.59: the specific power of devotees of Lord Nityananda is described.

“All these devotees had unlimited strength to deliver unobstructed, unceasing love of Krishna. By their own strength they could offer anyone Krishna and love of Krishna.”

This Nitaai Gaura Harinama Sankirtana is one of the main rivers of such distribution, and therefore we may conclude that it is maintained and expanding due to the mercy of Lord Nityananda Balarama and His devotees.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

In my opinion,  the maximum speed one can finish 1 round of hare krishna mahamantra while pronuncing the names completley and correctly is: 11-12 minutes.
                                                                                                                                                                                           \
Some people say it 1 round can be chanted in 6-7 minutes but that chanting would rush the mantra + how long can a human being chant loudly at the speed of 1 mantra per 4 seconds?

Dear devotees, in your experience, How long does the chanting of 1 round of the hare Krishna maha mantra take? and how long does 16 and 64 rounds take?                                                                                                                                                                                                

In Kali yuga most people have to work 8 hours a day and have to rest at least 7 hours at night is sometimes not easy to chant 64 rounds a day since it leaves only 9 hours of the day to do Japa and or other basic necesities of live. But a devotee can start with a vow of chanting a minimum of 16 rounds of hare Krishna togheter with 10 rounds each of Nityananda and Gauranga mantrarajas and increasing the rounds as far as time permits. And the mahamantra wil gradually fulfill the devotees desire of chanting more by giving him the means and the time. according to a story told by a devotee to me when Lord Rama was building Setu bandha a Squirrell was helping by carrieng small pebbles and sand to the shore LordRama was very pleased with the squirrel because it was using its full capacity, however small to work for the Lord and got his blessings. in the same way by putting our effort to the max we can Please the lord by chanting as many rounds as possible.

 Hari Bol
jefferson

hetha aparadhi paya prema-tattva dhana;
ataeva ei gaura-lila sarvopari dhana.

“In Vrindavan the offenders are killed by the Lord and they achieve
liberation. In Navadvipa however, the offenders achieve pure love for
Lord Gauranga. That is why the pastimes of Lord Gauranga is the topmost
treasure in this universe.”

From Shri Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya Chapter 6

In this verse Lord Nityananda Prabhu is describing the unique glory of Gauranga-lila, the divine pastimes of Lord Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In Krishna-lila, all offenders like Putana, Dhenukasura, Bakasura and Kamsa were immediately killed by Lord Krishna or Lord Balarama. But, in Gaura-lila offenders like Jagai and Madhai are given the highest mercy – pure love for Lord Gauranga-Krishna. That is so unique!

That is the mercy far beyond all limits and expectations -the highest mercy – pure love for the most fallen. That is the unique characteristic of Gaura-lila and therefore it is topmost treasure in this universe.

Similar, in chanting Krishna Naam, offender of the Naam, a person who commits Naama aparadha is immediately punished and cannot attain the goal of chanting – pure love for the Lord. But in chanting of Nitaai and Gaura Naam, the sadhaka is delivered from such  offenses by the power of those Names and empowered to further chant Hare Krishna.

In such way Gauranga-lila and His Name are the most valuable treasure of this universe.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

When you are feeling down, having many worries or you are feeling a lack of energy, motivation etc. the best way to became full of spiritual energy and enthusiasm is to chant Nitaai and Gaura Naam with vigor, loudly and intensive.

Try to chant on that way at least 10 rounds of Nityananda and Gauranga and you will be amazed how full of spiritual energy you will be. It is so effective. You will see things differently. The same problem will look different before and after such chanting.

It is so because during chanting we are in the direct contact with the Lord and His energies. And the more we are chanting the more we will be filled with that spiritual energy that will help us all the day long.

I noticed that when chanting is right, intensive – my whole day is guided by that force, sometimes wonderful situations occur without our effort. And if chanting is not intensive – the mind is trying to play different games, and the whole day is in a lack of focus, goal and energy. Then everything is without life, like slow motion.

You may go anywhere where you may be alone, in a room, or park etc and just chant with intensity, with energy. That will give you shakti, real spiritual energy for everything in your life.

Intensive chanting is helping us to render focused service, dedication to service is helping us to chant with more intensity. That is a wonderful circle of increasing and supporting. When you are focused 100 percent on your service you will notice that you will chant with amazing intensity or focus. Similar, when you are chanting with vigor and enthusiasm, you will render your service in the same spirit.

The clouds of doubts, lethargy, hesitation, mind speculations, etc all disspell under the powerful Sun of intensive chanting. Try for your self and you will see the results. In such way every day may be great day for you simply by accepting this process of chanting Nityananda Gauranga and Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

The chanting of Nitaai and Gaura Naam are so powerful that even if a person unknowingly chants Them, all their sins will be destroyed. That is the unique power of the Names of Nityananda and Gauranga.

gauranga nitai jei bale eka bara
ananta karama dosha anta haya tara

Anyone who chants Gauranga Nityananda Nityananda even once, unlimited sinful reactions of unlimited lives are destroyed instantly.

Two phrases in this verse are very important. Ananta karama dosha means unlimited sinful reactions. What does -unlimited mean ? We are in this material world from the past of inmemoral, making so many sinful activities and offenses that it is unable to count all of them. That is ananta- unlimited. Like a mountain made of mustard seed. Who can count how many mustard seeds would be there? It is simply not possible. Our karmic reactions are so gigantic that they are unlimited.

But, then it is said – “eka bara”. Eka means one. If anyone chants “Nityananda, Gauranga” even once, eka bara, that mountain of sinful reactions will be destroyed.

This preaching mission of Nitaai-Gaura-Harinama Sankirtana is the greatest welfare and humanitarian work for any person in this planet. Everybody is trying to do some benefit on a physical level, to help others to feel better, more comfortable, to feed poor and hungry persons, to cure diseases etc. But this sankirtana mission is saving humanity from unlimited numbers of repeated births and deaths and is giving solution for every problem of the modern world. We are simply passing the message of our acharyas. We are just trying to distribute that treasure. “O jivas, why are you suffering so much? You are in constant agony of birth and death and constant struggle for existence. Just chant Nityananda, Gauranga and Hare Krishna and stop this agony of material disease. Just chant!”

In fact it is easy to be saved from such circle of birth and death. It is possible by chanting Nityananda, Gauranga and Hare Krishna, as it is described in this verse.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

sulapani sama yadi vaishnavere ninde
tathapiha nasa paya — kahe shastra vrinde

“Even if someone of the level of the supremely powerful devotee and gunavatara Lord Shiva blasphemes a devotee, he will soon be destroyed. This is the verdict of all the scriptures.”
Chaitanya Bhagavata Madhya 22.56

In material life we are customed to find faults in others. That is the nature of materialistic mind -always engage in finding faults. Even if a person does something nice, his or her mind will try to find faults and  criticize in some way. Just like a fly. In the field full of flowers a fly will search for some dirt place like a horse stool and go there. That is the nature of a material oriented mind.

In spiritual life we should be like bees. On the same field bees collect nectar from flowers. They do not see the dirt. Only flowers. That is the mind of a devotee. We should be like a bee, looking for flowers.

Blasphemy against a devotee is like an atomic bomb in our spiritual life, because devotees are the life and soul of Lord Gauranga-Krishna and He never tolerates any criticism on them. The best policy is to always be engaged in the fire of devotional service, focused on the instruction of the spiritual master and on personal spiritual life and activities. In that way the mind will not have any time to speculate and measure others, to play games in finding faults in others. We should always see other devotees as holy persons who came to help our Gurudeva in his mission. It is not our role to measure their purity or impurity, we should try to serve them. In material life everybody is trying to show himself or herself in the best possible way, to force and exploit environment.” Relatives, neighbors, friends etc., they are all full of faults and their main reason is to serve me. ” That is material life. In spiritual life we are trying to serve other devotees. We are trying to see them as our best well-wishers, as helpers of our gurudeva in this path.

The destructive power of criticism of other devotees is so powerful that even the spiritual master can not protect us:

vaisnavera ninda karibeka yara gana
tara raksa-smarthya nahika kona jana

“A Vaishnava or a Guru is unable to protect any of his followers who engage in blasphemy of the Vaishnavas.”

In modern times, many are wondering – “Why are there so many fall-downs, even great gurus, sanyasis,  fall down. How is that possible?” The answer is given in the above verse.

We are a servants. Not judges. We placed our heart in the mission of our Gurudeva and should try to inspire each other, to help. We should see each other through the service to guru. Not on some material level. That is the only proper way how criticism may be avoided. We should always have non-sectarian spirit toward other vaishnavas and embrace them if they are open-minded and noncritical toward Nitaai and Gaura Naam and our Gurudeva.

When we see some fault from our limited perspective we must ask ourselves – Do I have some fault? If I have some defect myself, then why to find fault in others?” In this spiritual process we are all ill. We are suffering from a material disease and greatest amnesia – total forgetfulness about the Lord. We all have a different degree of that illness. And under special treatment of the doctor-spiritual master we are recovering from our illness under the medicine of spiritual activities like chanting, reading scriptures etc. So, if we are ill, it is nonsense to criticize our fellow, the other patient. We should help him, not criticize him because he or she is in a bad position, just like we are.

We need to learn to see what is bad in ourselves, and see what is good in others.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

The Supreme Lord is most pleased with pure devotion, with intense affection. He Himself is saying that such feelings are satisfying Him more then even opulence and service in Vaikuntha:

aisvarya-jnanete saba jagat misrita
aisvarya-sithila-preme nahi mora prita

Chaitanya Charitamrta Adi-3.16.

“I am not so pleased by devotion mixed with awe and reverence of Vaikuntha, Ayodhya and Dvaraka as I am with intimate devotion without awe and reverence of Vrindavana.”

In the opulent planets on Vaikuntha there is constant worshiping of the Supreme Lord, but that worshiping is filled with awe and reverence. Just like worshiping the big King. There is no intimacy, no secrets. Close contact and exchanges of emotions never take part.

In Vrindavana, only pure devotion exists, without a trace of awe and reverence. We should not think that cowherd boys and gopis of Vrindavana are not aware of the Supreme Glories of Lord Krishna. That knowledge is also there, but it does not affect their devotional mood of pure devotees. Full knowledge is always needed. Without knowledge a person risks to take devotion cheaply and rush into intimate pastimes of Shri Shri Radha-Krishna in Vrindavana without proper understanding, just like sahajiyas are trying to do. Knowledge about the Lord is a must, but that knowledge does not stop the nectar flow of devotion.

Is there anything higher then love? Yes, there is. There is mercy. Causeless mercy. That is actually the highest manifestation of love, and in that term we may say that it is higher then relishing or testing that love alone. This merciful distribution of love to most fallen persons is extraordinary and unique! Therefore Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared to taste the love of Shri Radha and to give mercy, unconditioned mercy.

Just as the Lord is more pleased with intimate devotion then with devotion mixed with awe and reverence of Vaikuntha, so is He more pleased with selfless distribution of such devotion, then just relishing it.

In that way, love is higher then majesty, and mercy is then higher love.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

In this process of chanting we first take full shelter of Nitaai Naam – Nityananda by daily chanting His Name on japa mala beads and on kirtana. That is our first step of everyday process – we first take shelter of Lord Nityananda’s Name. Then, we are chanting Gaura Naam – Gauranga, the Name of Lord Chaitanya, and the third part is chanting  Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. Even there are no hard and fast rules in this process, we are following that order because only via the mercy of Nitaai Naam we may attain Lord Gauranga and Radha-Krishna. It is confirmed in Shri Chaitanya Charitamrta, Adi Lila 6.48:

nityananda avadhuta sabate agala
caitanyera dasya-preme ha-ila pagala

“Nityananda, the wandering mendicant, is the foremost of all the servants of Lord Chaitanya. He is like the gateway through which all service to Lord Chaitanya must pass. He became mad in the ecstasy of service to Lord Chaitanya.”

Only through Lord Nityananda Balarama we may approach Lord Gauranga-Krishna. In this verse he is compared with a large gateway through which all services must pass. We can not jump over Him. Therefore, we are taking shelter of His Name, and by chanting Nityananda, Nityananda we are making some progress, and with His mercy we are chanting Gaura Naam and Hare Krishna.

It is confirmed in hundred of verses and examples that Lord Nityananda is our only hope and this process of chanting His Holy Name is ultimate way of being in constant conctact with Him.

Shrila Narottama dasa Thakura is saying that those who are in no relation with Lord Nityananda are simply wasting their lives:

se sambandha nahi ja’r, brtha janma gelo ta’r
sei pasu boro duracar
nitai na bolilo mukhe, majilo samsara-sukhe
vidya-kule ki koribe tar

“Anyone who has not established his relationship with Nityananda Prabhu by chanting His name ‘Nityananda’ is understood to have spoiled his valuable human birth. Such a human being is actually an uncontrollable animal.
Because he never uttered the holy name ‘Nityananda’, he has become merged into so-called material happiness. What can his useless education and family tradition do to save him from the cycle of birth and death?”

The Name of Nitaai – Nityananda, is the begining and end, life and wealth of our devotional service and practice. Therefore let us chant and dance -”Nityananda, Nityananda, Nityananda!”

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

To find a vaishnava in this world is rare. To find a pure devotee of Lord Krishna is very rare. To find a pure devotee who understands that Lord Shri Krishna Chaitanya is  Shri Shri Radha -Krishna is very, very rare. To find an extraordinary, elevated pure devotee who fully realized that Lord Gauranga and Lord Nityananda are non-different from Their Names, a devotee who knows Nitaai-Gaura Naam Tattva, is almost impossible.

If we  somehow, by our unlimited fortune came in contact with such pure devotee we must consider that we are receiving the greatest gift of all, and that we are the luckiest person in this world. We should hold the lotus feet of such devotee, of our spiritual master on the throne of our heart.

Shrila Bhaktivinoda is joyfully singing and teaching us:

ohe!
vaishnaba thakura, doyara sagara,
e dase koruna kori’
diya pada-chaya, shodho he amaya,
tomara carana dhori

from Sharanagati

“O venerable Vaishnava, O ocean of mercy, be merciful unto your servant. Give me the shade of your lotus feet and purify me. I hold on to your lotus feet”

In order to understand this spiritual science we must approach a pure devotee, who is the representative of God. We should inquire, search, ask, but when we are feeling within our heart, when Super-soul, paramatma is pushing us forward and arranging situations to meet our eternal spiritual master, we should approach to such pure devotee. Without that we will be lost in endless speculations and searchings for answers. The pure devotee is doyara sagara, ocean of mercy. Unlimited ocean of mercy? If we take shelter of the lotus feet of that pure devotee who is always carrying the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga-Krishna in his heart, we will automatically be thrown in that ocean of mercy.

The mercy comes in two ways, as cold spring water and sweet honey. When we are impure, a cold chilly shower will remove the dust, but the process of bathing is not always enjoyable. The result is that we have no dirt anymore. In such ways, difficult times are there for us to show our determination and sincerity. Otherwise our dedication, our love would be cheap. Even in the material world persons are saying -”If you are with me in the hard times, when I am poor or ill, then I will know that you  really love me.” In the same way, if we are showing to Krishna, that we are serving him, in difficult times, and hard situations, that is sure proof of our dedication and love for Him. There is one proverb -” Only on the great pains, the true hero may be recognized.” The hard times are there in our lives to make advancement.

Mercy also comes in a sweet, ambrosial way. When we are inspired, enthusiastic, when we get a drop of taste for chanting, when some beautiful realization comes into our heart, when we somehow do something right for guru and Krishna,the heart fills with joy. In such way we are diving deeper and deeper into that ocean of transcendental servitude, in the realm of spiritual life.

And actually this process is fully blissful. susukham kartam avyayam. In Bhagavad-Gita Lord Krishna is saying to Arjuna that this proces is very nice, full of ectasy. That is true. This process is full of bliss, knowledge and eternity opposite to this materially oriented civilizations and activities that are so grey and full of miseries. Every enjoyement in the material world is a form of forgetfullness or self-deception, whereas in the spiritual life that enjoyement is real. Who would not like to dance, chant, associate with nice persons, honor prasadam. Acctually in comparison with material dull lifestyle, our every day is like a festival. So full of life and colors. All what is purest and highest may be found in association of devotees and in the service of  Lord Gauranga-Krishna.

Narottama dasa Thakura is singing: chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba: “Who has been elevated without rendering service to a pure Vaishnava?”

In order to become happy we must grab the lotus feet of vaishnavas and our spiritual master, embrace them within the heart and smear our bodies with the transcendental dust of such pure vaishnavas.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

The term dharma is world-widely known, just as the word karma became even known to  children in this modern time. But do we really know what  our dharma is?

There are two basic understandings of this term. The first one is  nature, and second one is  duty.

If we examine our nature, we must realize that we are not this body. We are a spirit soul? If we examine the nature of that spirit soul we will undertstand that we do not belong to this temporary, material realm. We will see that we are in prison here. So, our nature is spiritual and to recognize our source, to reestablish our connection with the Supreme, that is our dharma. That is the true dharma of the soul.

The second meaning of the word dharma is duty. There are thousands and millions of interpretations what  our duty as human beings is. Some are proclaiming that we are here just to continue the human rase, others are saying that duty is to worship the desire of ancestors, to serve the political systems etc. So many “duties” we have and we are supposed to follow them according to our environment, time and circumstances.

But if our eternal characteristic is to serve the Supreme Lord Gauranga-Krishna then our most important duty must be to wake up and attain and maintain that devotional service. That must be our most important duty. All others are temporary duties with temporary results of performing them, whereas bhakti is internal and the result is the eternal.

All our frustrations and dissatisfaction are here because we forgot what our main duty is. We are living a complicated life-style nowadays with the tendency to become even more complicated, we are tided with thousands of false duties and obligations that will only entangle us more and more. What is the real use of such duties? Endless frustrations are the only result.

In the Shrimad Bhagavatam 1.2.6, spotless Purana, real dharma is described:

sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata
yayatma suprasidati

Translation:

“The supreme occupation, dharma for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.”

So, this process of chanting Nityananda, Gauranga and Hare Krishna is our real dharma because it is placing us in the position of our real nature and directly connects us with the Supreme Lord Gauranga-Krishna. It is the highest dharma of the soul, and the only activity that may give us eternal results of transcendental bliss, happiness and pure love.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

Shrila Haridasa Thakura is our worshipable Namacharya. Naama means the Name – Name of the Lord Krisha, Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, and acharya means great spiritual master who is preaching. Shrila Narottama dasa Thakura preached by his nonparallel example of constant chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rana Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

He was so effective in the process of chanting that Mayadevi personally came to test him, but he was so advanced that she became a devotee and started to chanting Hare Krishna sitting in front of tulsi plant. She became his disciple.

Therefore there is no greater authority in the process of chanting Hare Krishna than Shrila Haridasa Thakura.

There are ten dangerous offenses in this process. They are just like borders, walls that are stopping us from our goal – Krishna and pure love for him.

In the Hari-nama-chintamani, Namacharya Shrila Haridasa Thakura explains how we may surpass such offenses:

avisranta name nama-aparadha jaya;
tahe aparadha kabhu sthana nahi paya.

“Only by continuous chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra day and night can the ten offenses against Krishna’s Name be obliterated. By the constant chanting of Krishna’s Name, the ten offenses will not be able to again implicate the chanter.”

That is the medicine prescribed by Shrila Narotama dasa Thakura. There are several important points that we must realize in order to understand how we may surpass mountain of offenses.

The first thing is avisranta nama – a devotee must chant continuosly in order to attain goal of pure chanting. Not only that, but Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains that only one who chants the name with great feeling all the time, constantly, is able to destroy the ten offencess.

Constantly means non-stop, except the time needed for fulfilling the basic bodily necessities like a little sleep or drink a glass of milk. All the other time, a person is supposed to chant Hare Krishna, not mechanically but with deep concentration and devotion.

If a person is chanting inattentively, it is one of the obstacles, so a devotee must chant with full focus constantly day after day, year after year to attain the pure love for Shri Krishna.

Now, let us be sincere toward ourselves. When will we be able to accomplish this sadhana? Otherwise we may not overcome the ten offenses in chanting Hare Krishna! We may see that even advanced devotees are having problems, even that they are chanting 16.32.or more rounds of Hare Krishna for decades, but still prema is not coming. In this Kali-yuga only very, very rare, pure persons may be able to attain pure love for Krishna by solely chanting Maha Mantra.

The advice of our great acharya, Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura is that a devotee takes shelter of regular chanting of Gaura Naam:

kali jivera aparadha asankhya durvara;
gauranga-nama vina tara nahika uddhara.

from Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya Chapter 1.

“The offenses and sins of the living entities in Kali-yuga are unlimited and absolutely insurmountable. That is why the souls can never ever be delivered without the regular chanting the most merciful name of Gauranga.”

That is the advice and instruction of Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. When we practically consider his words we must accept them as a firm fact. Indeed, the offenses, aparadhas, are unlimited. Even the purest devotees unfortunately commit apparadhas in the process of chanting Hare Krishna. That is fact. Nobody should try to close his eyes before that. Many devotees are saying – just keep on chanting, don’t worry, but a devotee is trying, chanting, for decades almost without developing a taste for Krishna, tears are not coming naturally in his eyes, material desires are still strong etc. Was Prabhupada right?- he is asking. Maybe this process is not working etc. That is all because by constant chanting of Hare Krishna or impure level we are constantly making naama aparadhas. That is the fact. Accept this with logic. Those are the statements of our acharyas, not mental speculations. And see by the result. See on your own example.

From the other side, if a devotee takes shelter in the chanting of Nityananda, Gauranga and then Hare Krishna, purest Krishna prema will come in the heart of a devotee:

nitai-chaitanya bali yei jiva dake;
suvimala krishna-prema anvesaye thake.

“If one chants the names of Nityananda and Gauranga, the purest Krishna-prema (pure love of Krishna) comes searching after such a person.”

aparadha badha tara kichu nahi kare;
nirmala krishna-preme tara ankhi jhare.

“The offenses (which may be present in the heart) don’t create any obstacles in path of achieving this love and tears start flowing from his or her eyes in pure ecstatic love simply by chanting Nityananda and Gauranga.”

The best way to test it is to try it. Try it. It is not offensive, it does not cost anything. In chanting Nityananda and Gauranga there is no harm. If you are a devotee and chant Hare Krishna but still without effect, take full shelter in the Names of Nityananda and Gauranga and then chant Hare Krishna. There will be no difference in your sadhana, you will still be chanting the same number of Hare Krishna. But there will be difference in quality. Realizations will simply come. Your rapid advancement will be guaranteed.

Therefore, we must conclude that the only way for any person who wants to attain the pure level of chanting Hare Krishna and pure love for the Lord, is to take shelter in regular chanting of Nitaai and Gaura Naam and then to chant Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. Only in that way, practically the ten offenses in  chanting  the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra may be completely eradicated and a person may obtain the goal of life – pure prema for Shri Shri Radha and Krishna in Vrindavana.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

Some people and devotees become bewildered when they see that pure devotees of the Lord  sometimes cry  while chanting Nityanada, Gauranga or singing and dancing Hare Krishna! O Radha! O Krishna! But actually such symptoms are manifestations of love, of separation. That genuine devotee is feeling:

‘gauranga’ bolite habe pulaka-sharira
‘hari hari’ bolite nayane ba’be nira

from Prarthana by Shrila Narottama dasa Thakura

TRANSLATION

“When will that opportune moment come to us when there will be shivering of the body as soon as we chant Lord Gauranga’s name?  While chanting Hare Krsna, when will there be tears in the eyes?”

Our Acharya, Shrila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada wonderfully explained such ecstatic manifestations of devotion;

“As soon as one will chant the name of Shri Krishna Chaitanya, there will be shivering. This is the first symptom that one is getting advanced in the perfect stage of Krishna consciousness. So Narottama dasa Thakura says, gauranga bolite habe pulaka sarire. He was expecting. Although he was a great acharya, still, he was expecting, “When that stage will come?”

In the same lecture later on he is saying:

“The meaning is that there will be not only shivering as soon as I utter the name of Gauranga, but there will be torrents of tears in my eyes as soon as I chant Hare Krishna. This is the explanation.”

Purport to Gauranga Bolite Habe
Los Angeles, January 9, 1969

Devotees of the Lord are always trying to serve the Lord in a way they may attract the largest number of jivas to Him. Evan uttama-adhikari devotees, top-most devotees are acting on madhyama-adhikari levels in order to preach, otherwise they will constantly cry and call names of Nitai and Gaura and Radha and Krishna. So, they are external acting on lower , madhyama-adhikari level, while internally constantly relishing intensive spiritual emotions.  But, sometimes such intense devotion, such feelings are becoming too strong that they are breaking any considerations and the devotee starts to crying, unable to control himself. Shrila Prabhupada stated in the above quotation that such manifestations are symptoms that one is getting advanced in spiritual life.

We should not imitate those simptoms but try to follow the examples of such great souls in chanting, service and preaching. When we attain  that level of total surrender to Lord Nityananda, Lord Gauranga and Radha Krishna, our eyes will naturally be constantly filled with tears of pure love for the Lord.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

There is great disharmony in the material world, because there are so many centers. Everyone is thinking -”I am the center, you should serve me”. Thus there are unlimited disturbances in this world.

In spiritual life everybody is serving one center, Lord Shri Krishna. There is one goal – how to please Him, and by constantly circulating around that goal servants are becoming connected among themselves. That is divine harmony in all aspects.

In materially based relationships, there are always problems and disturbances. That is because we are looking trough the prism of I and Mine, and trying to make our environment to serve us, on a subtle or gross way. That only leads to frustration, or if a person is successful in making others to serve him, by force, money power etc. it leads to accumulation of devastating, negative sinful reactions and entanglement in the circle of birth and death.

In spiritual life, we are looking at everything from a completely different position. We are looking through the prism of Guru and Krishna. We are trying to serve others around us, our god-brothers and god-sisters, our spiritual master, all vaishnavas. That leads toward supreme satisfaction and devotion. It is our real life.

Our real family is the family of the devotees. We have maybe never seen each other materially, may have different bodies, culture etc, but we are all belonging to the eternal family of our spiritual master. That is of greatest importance.

Our unity is in the service. It is our force, source of inspiration. We should always try to inspire each other, help in difficult times, try to do something nicely for our spiritual master and Krishna. We may be different personalities, with different abilities, but looking on a higher perspective we will see that all together we are doing very important things because this Nitaai-Gaura-Naama sankirtana requires so many dedicated devotees, and it is not possible to be fully manifested without the support of all.

For example one devotee has the service to serve the Deities and sing melodious songs, the other one is expert in cooking and may prepare delicious preparations for the Lord, others are translating and printing books about Nitaai and Gaura Naam and trying to open little namma-hatta-center, some devotee may be dedicated to editing, or technical support because in today’s world we can not spread this Nitaai-Gaura-Naam Glories without modern technology etc. etc. There are such great variety of activities and they are all unique, all are glorious. Each and every part is needed for this Nitaai-Gaura-Naam sankirtana. That is the nature of spiritual life.

In material life everybody is criticizing – “Oh, you rascal, what have you done! You are useless!” while in spiritual life a devotee is appreciating the service of other devotees toward spiritual master and  Lord -”Oh, you made a wonderful preparation for Lord, or you made a very inspirative video. So great.” In material life when we  see that someone is successful we  become envious. In spiritual life when we  see that someone is serving guru and Krishna, we  become inspired and thankful.

Looking through a material prism is leading into frustration and solitude, looking through spiritual prysm is leading toward happiness, joy and eternal friendship and cooperation between living entities who have one goal – how to please Lord Gauranga-Krishna. That divine unity is in the service.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

It is the nature of a human to always search for proof, some kind of evidence. It is so because the living entity was cheated unlimited numbers of times in his previous lives that he became almost obsessed with that. Science , mathematics, biology, literature require some evidence or proof  in order to accept or authorize something.

The Sanskrit word for evidence is pramana. The term evidence is not an appropriate translation, as pramana means “that by which the truth is confirmed”.That is a definition of pramana.

There are different kinds of pramana. The first one is our direct perception or pratyaksa – what we can see.

But the problem is that our perception is limited. In the dark we may see something and shout -”A snake, a snake is here, beware!” But when we turn the lights on we may see that our snake is just a rope. Many persons in modern world are asking us -”So, I did not see a God, therefore He does not exist. I only believe in that I can see.”

The second type of evidence is anumana, what we can see with our mind. For example – You can see that someone is wearing a winter coat and therefore conclude – “It is cold outside. It will be snowing, I saw a man wearing a coat.” But the problem is that our logic is not always the right one – If you go outside it may be warm, and we may understand that a person in winter coat was ill so he was feeling cold.

In that way we must understand that pratyaksa and anumana – what we may see with our eyes and mind is a limited process. Mistakes often occur. By those two processes a person actually cannot understand this science of God, this spiritual science. Why? Just like a fish in aquarium is not able to understand the difference between Windows and Linux, or Opera, Firefox and Chrome. That knowledge is simply unattainable for fish. A golden fish may look for millions of years, or speculate,but such topics will always remain mystery.

There is also a third type of evidence called shabda. The word shabda means sound.  All the Vedic scriptures are evidences in the form of spiritual sound. It is a descendant knowledge, originating from the Supreme Lord Himself. Such knowledge is perfect and fully transcendental. It is not a product of mental speculation or limited sensual perception, but knowledge that surpasses all material limitations.

If we really want to understand who we are, what this world is, who God is, where He is etc, we must accept the path of listening. We must listen from self-realized persons, read scriptures like Bhagavad Gita,  Shrimad Bhagavatam, Shri Chaitanya-Bhagavata etc. We cannot invent God. We must receive knowledge about Him. In that way we may hear what the ultimate evidence is – praman and make our life succesfull.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

tomara krpa vina keha’caitanya’ na paya;
tumi krpa kaile tanre adhameha paya.

Chaitanya-charitamrita Antya 6.131:

“No one can attain the shelter of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu without Your (Lord Nityananda’s) mercy, but if You are merciful, even the lowest of men can attain shelter at His lotus feet.”

The Glories of Lord Nityananda are endless and unlimited. He Himself is Lord Balarama, Rohini-nanadana, Carrier of the plough. His shining face is the object of constant meditation of His devotees who are just like honey-bees always chanting His glories. Lord Nityananda-Balarama is our only way to approach Shri Shri Radha-Krishna because we may not approach directly. And Lord Balarama is accepting unlimited Forms and ways to serve Shri Shri Radha and Krishna. He is therefore the Supreme Lord and Supreme servant.

Who can describe His glories? He eternally manifested Himself as Vrindavana to serve Shri Shri Radha-Krishna, He is manifesting in millions forms of Vishnu-tattva. He is the original guru of all and source of all spiritual strength.

In this verse it is said that without His mercy nobody can attain the shelter of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Directly, It is not possible. We must first take full shelter of Lord Nityananda-Balarama. How? In every possible way, by surrendering to the spiritual master who is a representative of Lord Nityananda Balarama, by direct chanting of His Name, by reading about Him and by associating  and rendering service to His devotees. In such way, we will get attention and mercy of Lord Nityananda Prabhu.

And then, tumi krpa kaile tanre adhameha paya -  even the lowest of men can attain shelter of Lord Gauranga, of Shri Shri Radha Krishna-by the mercy of Nitaai. That is why He is Nityananda Balarama, He has that power, bala, to give us shelter of Lord Gauranga-Krishna.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

Our mind is restless, like a child. A small child is restless, now it is here, then jumps there, full of energy and different activities. Our mind is just like that – always active, producing thousands of thoughts. It is almost impossible to subdue the mind, but a person must do it, just as Lord Shri Krishna is saying in Bhagavad-Gita:

uddhared atmanatmanam
natmanam avasadayet
atmaiva hy atmano bandhur
atmaiva ripur atmanah

Translation:

“A man must elevate himself by his own mind, not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.”

The main problem is that we must somehow or other control our mind. Otherwise mind will bring us in a very dangerous positions, just like wild horses who are running in stampede. They do not know where they are running. If a person does not subdue the mind all kind of troubles come – endless speculation and lamentation, indecision and inertia, sufferings of all kind etc.

The only way how we may powerful subdue the mind is to become engaged, with maximum concentration in  chanting Nityananda, Gauranga and Hare Krishna. The mind is like a ping-pong ball, it will bounce here and there, but if we  constantly focus on the sound – miracles will happen in our lives. The mind will change. We will start to think differently. In contact with pure spiritual energy produced by our chanting our mind will become peacefuller and full of spiritual energy. When we are chanting Nityananda, Gauranga Hare Krishna we are begging – “O lord, please engage me in your service!”. So we will want to become engaged in some kind of service. We will not just want to sit all day! No, we will be full of energy, enthusiasm – “What I can do for guru and Krishna, what service I may do. They are giving me so much, now what may I do for them? They gave me this knowledge, this process. Otherwise I would be ignorant and there would be no end for this circle of repeated birth and deaths. Now, what I may do for them?” in that way.

The real trick is to always keep the mind busy with spiritual activities, like hearing, reading, chanting, meditating on the Lord, cooking for the Lord etc. Activity is the nature.  It is its nature. It can not be stopped. Impersonal meditation is non-sense. The only way to subdue the mind is to engage it more and more in spiritual service. We may practically experience that. When you have so much service to be done, that you are on the edge, but you somehow do it for the satisfaction of Guru and Krishna, you will notice that you are completely satisfied. You will see that for 5-6 hours the mind was so focused, so sharp, that your whole being was fully spiritualistic under the power of service. It is so intense. The six Goswamis in Vrindavana were so much dedicated to their service that they did not almost sleep or eat. That was not pretending or some show. That is genuine, transcendental service. In that position the mind is engaged – “Oh, what should we do for Krishna. .Let us do it”.

Those two things are the key for attaining success in spiritual life – attentive chanting of the Names Nityananda, Gauranga and Hare Krishna and as much as possible engaging in the activities of devotional service. Then we will be thrown into that spiritual energy and all other activities will become tasteless.

Everything may be used in our service in this Nitaai-Gaura-Harinama Sankirtana. There are unlimited ways to use our resources, abilities, talents, mind, senses etc. to satisfy the spiritual master and Supreme Lord Gauranga-Krishna. Whatever ability or possibility you possess try to use it.

Impersonal yoga systems that are trying to peace and clear the mind by some manufactured ways are not successful because the original nature of mind is not to be quite and motionless or inactive. The original nature of mind is to be very active in the transcendental service to the Lord Gauranga-Krishna.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krsna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

If we  engage ourselves in this process of transcendental chanting and distributing the Holy Names of Lord Nityananda, Lord Gauranga and Shri Shri Radha-Krishna, Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, what will be the result? What are the characteristics of this sankirtana movement?

Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu is teaching us personally in the first verse of Shiksashtaka

ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha–davagni-nirvapanam
sreyah-kairava-candrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam
anandambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamrtasvadanam
sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate shri-krishna-sankirtanam

Verse 1 Translation by Swami Gaurangapada:

“All Glories, supreme victory and all-prevailing triumph to Shri Krishna Sankirtana, the ecstatic and loud chanting of the supreme glories of the Holy Names (Hare, Krishna, Radha, Gauranga, Nityananda etc.), Forms, Pastimes, Qualities, Abodes and Associates of the Supreme Absolute Truth Lord Shri Krishna performed by following in the footsteps of the great Associates of the Lord. Shri Krishna Sankirtana is the summit of all spiritual practices and is characteristized by the attainment of the following seven superexcellent and matchless results:”

This verse is so deep, like an endless ocean. Briefly, we will present the main characteristics. First, if we start with this process, chanting and connecting with Lord Gauranga-Krishna, what will be the first result? Cheto darpana marjanam. Our heart will become pure. All impure things will go away and we will be again placed in to the eternal position as the servant of the Lord.

Then second is bhava maha davagni nirvapana. This shower, this merciful shower of Nitaai Gaura Harinaama Sankirtana is so powerful that it will stop all nescience, all speculations that are dominant in the modern world. The painful circle of birth and death, the fire of suffering will be completely removed by this sankirtana. This is not phantasy. Just imagine that you are living in a country where there are 50%, or even 10% of devotees chanting Holy Names and act as exemplary vaishnavas. What to say about 100%! All fire of suffering would intermediately stop. All criminal, drugs, violence etc., that are unsolvable problems of modern society, they would be all stopped at once. That is the power of Nitaai Gaura Naam Sankirtana movement.

Then Lord is saying  – shreya kairava chandrika vitarana.  This Nitaai–Gaura-Harinaama Sankirtana is shining like silver moonlight to all souls in creation. Chandrika means moonlight. It is very pleasurable to stay in the autumn night under the rays of moon. In such way this sankirtana movement will bring  auspiciousness and peace to all souls in creation.

There are many forms of transcendental knowledge and worship, but this sankirtana movement is the highest form of all – vidya vadu jivanam. It is the highest activity of the soul.
Anandambudhi vardhana. In the material world everything has an end, even the Roman empire ended etc. But Nitaai-Gaura-Harinaam Sankirtana has no end. It is like a gigantic, ecstatic ocean of transcendental happiness.

If we participate in this sankirtana movement -pratipadam purnamritasvadana – we will soon, without any doubt, get direct audience of Lord Gauranga-Krishna and attain pure prema. We will drink that ambrosial nectar of divine love, amrta. Then sarvatma snapana – this sankirtana movement will overwhelm the soul with pure love for Krishna. Everything will be revealed to us – the Lord’s Name, Form, Pastimes etc. That is the power of sankirtana movement . It is so unique and so great. We should try to understand that and take our part in it.

All glories, and all triumph to this Nitaai-Gaura-Harinaam sankirtana! Param vijayate Shri Krishna Sankirtanam

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

In this age we are all fallen. There is no question about some qualifications, some purity. In this age we are all shudras – kalau sudra sambhava. That is the verdict of Shrimad Bhagavatam. Therefore we do not have any qualification. Those who may think that they have any qualifications are under the influence of maya, the illusory energy.

But there is mercy available for us. That is completely different. This whole movement, this Sankirtana of Lord Gaurahari is eternally based on mercy. His mercy toward fallen jivas, the mercy of our previous Acharyas, the mercy of the devotees. We should understand that we are here because we received that mercy in some form.

We have put our heart in attaining the highest destination – Goloka Vrinadavana, and by the mercy of Naam, guru, devotees , shastras etc, by causeless mercy of Gaura-Nitaai we all will be there soon. That is our greatest benefit – the causeless mercy of Lord Nityananda and Gauranga. That mercy is such that when you once heard about it all other things will become tasteless. A person may try to go back, to material life, to enjoy, but she or he chanted Gauranga, Nityananda, Hare Krishna, so all impure things will start to go out from the  heart. Life will start to change, situations will change -all in order for us to embrace this process fully. All surroundings will start to act only in one direction – to help you to surrender more and more to Lord Gauranga-Krishna. If you think that there is still some enjoyment in this material world, soon you will be shown the real picture, the real nature of this world and understand -”Yes, Lord, I realize that this world is full of misery and pain. You showed me that I do not belong here. Now let me embrace your lotus feet and chant Your name.”

If we are aware of that fact, that by the mercy of  Shri Guru and Shri Gauranga we have accepted the rarest gift- a ticket to the spiritual world and pure, eternal bliss, we should try to show our gratitude in some way. The best way of showing our thankfulness is to give this understanding to others, somehow or other to distribute this sublime, ecstatic, highest knowledge of chanting Nityananda, Gauranga and Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. We should not think anymore about ourselves. We are in the hands of Shri Guru and Shri Gauranga. If they want we will go anywhere to serve Krishna, we do not need to worry about our destination.

But, what we can do is to participate in this divine sankirtan mission of Lord Nityananda and Lord Gauranga, for Their pleasure. By taking part in this activity we will surely satisfy our guru, the previous Acharyas, all devotees and, above all the Supreme Lord Gauranga-Krishna. That is actually the secret of our spiritual life. We are not going anywhere upon our own qualifications. The fact that we are all here is only due to mercy. So, we should be thankful and transfer that mercy to others.

This prema-mango is grown high above, In Goloka-Vrindavana. Disciple succesion, and pure devotees of the Lord are transferring that mango from hand to hand, down for us. When we are to get that mango, that gift, we should not think -” Oh, I am not qualified, I will not give it to others, I will simply eat it myself, or throw away. No. We should immediately try to give it to other persons and by doing that we may feel some attraction for spiritual life. The secret is that we  advance in this spiritual life only if we are distributing. Only if we are distributing this prema mango. Then we may advance under the power of Nitaai-Gaura -Naam Sankirtana. If we are selfish and try to eat it ourselves we will not be able to relish and understand.

This Nitaai-Gaura-Harinaama Sankirtana is our greatest possibility to attain attention and mercy of  the Supreme Lord Gauranga-Krishna. It is the ultimate manifestation of mercy . We should say -” I am most fallen, O Lord, I do not really know anything, but please, somehow engage me in this service, in this mission. That is my only hope.” In that way we should try to embrace any opportunity to participate in these activities in any form we can. In that way the success in spiritual life is guaranteed due to the mercy of Shri Guru and Shri Gauranga.

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi

Sometimes devotees are saying that the term Gauranga-kirtana means Hari-kirtana or chanting Hare Krishna specifically.
In Krishna Chaitanya Charita Mahakavya, Shrila Murari-Gupta is, one and for all, directly teaching all devotees that Gauranga-kirtana means congregational chanting of Lord Gauranga’s Names :

tatash ca prema-gosvami
sammantrya sva-janaih saha
navina gaura-candrasya
nama-sankirttana shubham

karoti mandali-ktya
harena vainavaih saha
ntyati paramoddanda
garjjati dhavati kvacit

Shri Chaitanya Charita Maha-kavya, Parikrama 4, Sarga 19

Translation :

“Then Shri Advaita Acarya, the gosvami of prema assembled His own men and created a new form of sankirtana from the names of Gaura Candra. He jubilantly formed a circle of all the vaishnavas, and within it He danced very high, sometimes roaring and sometimes running.”

Lord Advaita was not fully satiated by chanting the Holy Names of Lord Krishna alone, therefore He assembled His Associates and began Nitaai Gaura Naam Sankirtana. The word navina is significant in this verse because it means that that the form of kirtana introduced by Shrila Advaita Acharya was something new, different from Hari-kirtana.

The Holy Names of Lord Nityananda and Lord Gauranga are full of ever- fresh and unlimited transcendental feelings. Lord Advaita was so anxious to relish that unique, highest form of worshiping His Lord Gauranga-Krishna, that he joyfully performed congregational chanting of Lord Gauranga’s Name.

In His Gaura-lila, Lord Chaitanya came to give us the chanting of the Holy Names –Hare Krishna, but the confidentional part of His lila is that His Own Name – Gauranga is the real savior of all fallen souls, and that only via His Names, Pastimes, Dhamas etc. persons of this age may approach Vrindavana. That was very well hidden because this knowledge in public  would  create disturbance in Lord Chaitanya’s feelings of separation from Krishna.

The Lord wanted to perform his pastimes as a devotee and Acharya first. Direct worshiping from thousands persons in Krishna Dvaraka style would disturb His confidential pastimes of separation.
We may see that Lord Advaita and Lord Nityananda were so anxious to chant Gauranga-kirtana, that they manifested chanting  His Name in kirtana, while Lord Chaitanya was performing His pastimes as adevotee. That was such intense desire.

kurvvan sarva-janan
kna-chaitanya-rasa-bhavitan
gauranga-kirttananando
nanartta sva-janaih saha

Krishna Chaitanya Charita Mahakavya,Prakrama 4  Sarga23

Translation:

“He inspired all men to taste the rasa of munificence and service to the name, as taught by Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and as He danced with His associates, His heart was filled with the joy of Gauranga-kirtana.”

In this verse it is confirmed that Lord Nityananda was performing Gauranga kirtana -  congregational chanting of Lord Chaitanya’s Names. The words Gauranga-kirtana-ananda without any doubt confirm that Nitaai chanted and danced in blissful joy shouting – “Gauranga, Gauranga”. That is Gauranga-kirtana.

Shrila Murari Gupta, who is the eternal Associate of the Lord, in his Krishna Chaitanya Charita Mahakavya in many ways is describing to us that Gauranga-kirtana  means chanting  Lord Chaitanya’s Names – Gauranga, Gauranga, as demonstrated personally by Lord Advaita and Lord Nityananda Prabhu .

Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Daaso’smi,
Ishana Thakura dasa
Edited by Jagannatha dasi