Author: Purushottam Nitai Das

Srimad Bhagavatam at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata – May 2026

Below are important points from morning Srimad Bhagavatam class at Iskcon Newtown Temple, Kolkata given in May 2026.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Mukund Lila Prabhu on 1st May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.10.22
• Chapter Name: The Nature of Fruitive Activity

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• If one performs Vedic sacrifices and fruitive rituals without any mistake or contamination, one will achieve a heavenly situation in the next life.
• But even this result, which is only achieved by perfect performance of fruitive rituals, will be vanquished by time.
• Any material situation, from the worst to the best, is imperfect.
• Thus, one should strive only for pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Important Points from Class

• Srila Prabhupada explains that when fruitive goal is the focus then one transports himself into a tottering plane where there is every chance of gliding down from the direction of the Vedas.
• Vedic sacrifices are royal road but there can be accidents on royal roads too.
• Fruitive activities are injected into the heart as slow poison.
• For e.g. if one’s goal is to get daily bread, then one get it easily by going to a shop rathe than going to a temple or performing meditation.
• Fruitive mentality is dangerous and risky.
• Person infected with fruitive mentality keeps on doing the same thing again and again – punar api marnam, purn api jananam.
• In Australia I saw, people marry at 22-23 and divorce by 27-28. I thought it is nice that they free themselves from ghastly experiences of material life at an early age.
• But then I found that they again marry at 32-33. And the chain continues. Once I saw a marriage ceremony was going on beach and I thought that what the grandfather & grandmother are doing on the stage but then I found that they are the bride & the groom.
• In BG 2.55 Krishna explains that all material desires arise from mental concoction. Mental concoction is illusion. Something arising from illusion will lead to only one result i.e. illusion.
• Something coming from reality leads to 3 results– reinstate one to further reality, one may mistake to some other reality, one may go into illusion.
• If one is not properly guided, then reality may lead to illusion. For e.g. Krishna Consciousness is joyful but people get fried out. How is it possible? This happens when we do not take proper guidance.
• From illusion there is not much option. An illusioned person may go into more suffering and will forever continue to suffer.
• Reality is specific, illusion is infinite. For e.g. to become proud is very easy.  One can be proud that he gave 10 BG to temple 10 years back. One can be proud of one’s humility.
• sthita-prajñaḥ stage is when a person is done with illusion. At this stage steadiness comes.
• Sage Narada says, “What is present in this 14 planetary system is not worth endeavoring.”
• Dukha (sufferings) comes without wanting and it keeps us haunting. Similarly, material happiness too will come to us on its own.
• What modern day technology has given us? It has accelerated death, disease and old age. Automobile causes death. Pollution causes disease. Today young people are getting old.
• Accelerating suffering with the endeavor to remove suffering.
• For e.g. when we start using mobile, then our consciousness goes into it. Mobile is a trap; it’s like a black hole. Anything that goes into black hole is lost forever.
• Srila Prabhupada never compromised on his sadhana, on his preaching. Prahlada Maharaja never compromised. As a sadhaka, we should also not comprise. All our time and energy should be used for cultivating Krishna Consciousness.
• Illusion to reality happens by the causeless mercy of pure devotees.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Radharaman Prabhu on 2^nd May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.10.23 – 29
• Chapter Name: The Nature of Fruitive Activity

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• Until his pious results are used up, the performer of sacrifice enjoys life in the heavenly planets.
• When the pious results are exhausted, however, he falls down from the pleasure gardens of heaven, being moved against his desire by the force of eternal time.

Important Points from Class

• In the beginning knowledge and renunciation helps to develop foundation.
• But important point is desire, sincerity for devotional service. Sincerity is more important than knowledge and austerity.
• We may have some sincerity, but our sincerity is mixed with other desires.
• Vallav Bhat or Valabhavacharya was a great scholar, but he started thinking that his commentary on Srimad Bhagavatam is better than Sridhar Swami. This displeased Lord Chaitanya.
• Spiritual master’s heart is as soft as rose petals and also hard as a thunderbolt.
• Bhakti Vinod Thakura says, devotees are introspective and non-devotees are speculative.
• When Vallabh Bhatt got into introspective mood, he understood his fault, he then has transformation of heart.
• Vallabh Bhatt was scholarly, had done lots of preaching but Lord Chaitanya only wanted humility from him.
• Spiritual master is there for us to relieve us from the great burden of false ego.
• Srila Prabhupada would chastise HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja and Maharaja never complained. In fact Maharaja would say to Prabhupada that if you do not chastise me then who will correct me.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Prem Gopal Prabhu on 4^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.10.31
• Chapter Name: The Nature of Fruitive Activity

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• The material senses create material activities, either pious or sinful, and the modes of nature set the material senses into motion.

Important Points from the Class

• One does not get addicted to liquor in a day.
• Many people do not drink liquor because they like drinking; they drink because they do not have anything better to do.
• We may not get all the answers, but by chanting constantly, we will get revelation.
• Activities that enhance our goodness are very few in this world. Most things in this world are in passion and ignorance.
• This is why one may be a devotee but still practice bhakti in ignorance or passion.
• The first quality required for bhakti is humility.
• Most devotees begin practicing devotional life because they got the association of a devotee.
• To change society, internal transformation is required. This is why Chaitanya Mahaprabhu started Harinam.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Acharya Ratna Prabhu on 5^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.10.32
• Chapter Name: The Nature of Fruitive Activity

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• According to the karma-mīmāṁsā philosophers, there is no transcendental living entity who is the background of all existence.

Important Points form the class

• In Catur Sloki Bhagavatam, Krishna says that before creation I existed, in middle I exist and at the end I will exist – SB 2.9.33
• Nothing is of value without connection to supreme Lord – SB 2.9.34
• Krishna says to Brahma, always search me.
• Biggest loss is when we forget Krishna even for a moment. If we do so, then we are in maya.
• One should try to see Lord everywhere and in everything.
• Anyone who sees this world separate from Krishna is in maya. Earth, water, fire, air, ether are Krishna’s energy.
• For e.g. Srila Prabhupada explains that if you see my spectacles, you will remember me.
• Material energy, spiritual energy everything comes from Krishna. We should see everything in relation to Krishna. If we do so we will be saved from maya.
• This land, this earth does not belong to us.
• It belongs to Krishna – aham sarvasya prabavo. One who understands this worships, Krishna.
• Krishna is the essence of everything, Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, “I am strength of the strong, intelligence of the intelligent.” He says, “I am the taste of water, light of sun and moon.”
• Krishna is the best dancer, fighter, philosopher. He can satisfy us completely.
• Krishna is the best cheater. If we try to cheat Krishna, we get cheated.
• In Krishna book, George Harrison, is writing, “Everyone is looking for Krishna, some know it and some do not know about it.”
• It is advertised by LIC – Jivan ke sath bhi, jivan ke bad bhi. But who can be there after death? Only, Krishna can be there, no one else.
• There is an ad which say, “Complete man.” But can one be complete by wearing Raymond dress. Definitely not.
• HH Loknath Swami Maharaja attended cross maidan program of Srila Prabhupada and became a devotee.
• George Harrison after meeting Prabhupada, wrote songs related to Krishna.
• Yugaetma nimisena – feeling deep separation. George Harrison has written..
• People have false pride. But we devotee should have real pride, we should be proud that we are connected to guru parampara.
• Real luxury is to have trustworthy friends and proper shelter which is possible in Krishna Consciousness.
• People want happy and eternal life; this is possible only in the kingdom of God.
• Kingdom of God is that place where there is always hearing and chanting the names of Krishna.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Rajgopinath Prabhu on 8^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.10.34
• Chapter Name: The Nature of Fruitive Activity

Important Points from Class

• Once some devotees had gone to Prabhupada asking him if he would like to write an article for Back to Godhead magazine. Prabhupada asked, “Are you writing the same what you hear from me?” Devotees said, “Yes.”  Prabhupada said, “Then my writing and your writing is same.”
• Mayavadis says Brahman is satya, truth, and the world is illusion. If we do not understand that this creation is non – different from the Lord, then we will become Mayavadi.
• Or else we will be come under Abrahamic religion like Islam and Christian. They say that this world and the Lord is completely different.
• Once Narada Muni asked Brahma about the creator, sustainer, destroyer of the Universe.
• Narada said, “I think that you only know the truth. But then I see you meditating, so want to know what the source of your knowledge is. Is there anyone controlling you or are you independent?
• Brahma then tells to Narada that Krishna is above me and he is the real creator, sustainer and destroyer.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Sri Ram Raghav Prabhu on 11^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.11.1
• Chapter Name: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• Due to the influence of the material modes of nature, which are under My control, the living entity is sometimes designated as conditioned and sometimes as liberated.
• The living entity imagines a false connection with the three modes of nature and accepts the material body as the self.
• The living entity therefore suffers the consequences of his own imagination, just as one suffers the illusory activities of a dream.

Important Points from Class

• Because we identify with this body, we are conditioned.
• Material body is dead; spirit soul is aloof.
• Who is suffering? Who is feeling happiness and distress? It is our false identification.
• Liberation is when we keep ourselves aloof from the body.
• Spiritual activities are bliss producing but because of our conditioned life we consider it pain producing.
• Since we have been in this material world for millions of lives, we think not engaging in spiritual activities is bliss giving.
• HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja says that free time means danger. Because material modes are very strong, it will drag us down especially during free time.
• Krishna says that we can transcend the modes of nature by engaging in Krishna Conscious activities.
• “One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.” Bhagavad Gita 14.26
• When the living entities give up this false identification that I am this body but thinks himself as spirit soul then
• Once while travelling on a train, I saw everyone had same 2 hours. I was reading Bhagavatam, but someone was watching cricket match, someone was sleeping, someone was busy watching reels and so on.  We have to decide how to utilize our time.
• We can free ourselves from entanglement when we absorb ourselves in hearing, reading and chanting.
• When Nityananada Prabhu came to Bengal, they forgot hunger and thirst because they had so much absorption in holy name.
• Vakreswar Pandit continuously danced for 72 hours in sankirtan.
• When a devotee Parmeswar Thakura was dancing joyfully, then some threw dead fox on sankirtan party. Parmeswar Thakura glanced at the fox and the fox came to life. Fox too began dancing and ran away from the place. Parmeswar Thakura is an associate of Nityananda Prabhu.
• Spirit soul is never conditioned. Because of false identification, spirit soul gets conditioned.
• During festivals devotees get absorbed in service and forgets to take prasad, still do not feel any misery.
• Madhavendra Puri would take little milk in the entire day but was happily serving the devotee.
• Material activities and inconveniences will not disturb us if we are absorbed in Krishna Consciousness.
• HH Jaypataka Swami Maharaj once said, “I am not feeling happy with this material body but I am feeling bliss in Krishna Conscious activity.”
• One time Maharaj had not taken prasad, when devotees requested him to first take prasada and then give class then Maharaja said, “No class no prasad.”
• We cannot imitate pure devotees.
• But by genuinely practicing Krishna Conscious activities we will immediately feel we free from pain.
• Lord never comes under the modes. He is the controller of the modes – mayadaksena prakriti. We should never think that when Lord comes to this world, he is under the influence of the modes.
• Sometime to bewilder the atheistic people, who want to say that the Lord has material body, it looks like lord is under the influence of material modes, like Lord Krishna being shot by the hunter.
• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says that we should not be lazy in reading scriptures.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Maharasa Prabhu on 12^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.11.2
• Chapter Name: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• Just as a dream is merely a creation of one’s intelligence but has no actual substance, similarly, material lamentation, illusion, happiness, distress and the acceptance of the material body under the influence of māyā are all creations of My illusory energy.
• In other words, material existence has no essential reality.
• Although material objects are subject to transformation and thus have no permanent existence, the material energy is real because it comes from the supreme reality, Lord Kṛṣṇa.
• It is only our false acceptance of the material body as the factual self and our foolish dream that the material world is meant for our pleasure that have no real existence.
• They are merely mental concoctions.

Important Points from Class

• A person in dream may become millionaire but what is its use.
• Yoga sutra of Patanjali, says, there are 3 types of suffering –
• 1^st is parinamvad, changing. Everything transforms in this world. Like relationship transforms.
• 2^nd suffering is tapa which means everything ultimately is exhausted. Old age takes away our ability for enjoyment. Rockefeller contracted a disease. He had difficulty in passing urine. When someone asked him, “How he is feeling?” He said, “I am feeling horrible.” Similarly, situation is of Dhritrashta, SB 1.13.22
• 3^rd suffering is samskara – everything we try to enjoy gives an impression in the mind, so normal life becomes miserable. Eg. Pururva.
• Once after HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja’s class, a person said to Maharaja, “After hearing your class, I am feeling miserable and hopeless.
• Maharaj said, “In Krishna Consciousness there is so much hope.”
• When we meet a person more qualified than us then we should offer service. When we are happy, we want to do something. Vaisnava naturally thinks that everyone is more qualified than him. Generally, in this world natural tendency is to become envious. So, if we serve than envy eventually goes away.
• Envy is painfully acknowledging that someone is more qualified than me.
• Correction should be done with compassion.
• What it means to be servant of servant by HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja? Servant of servant means genuinely being well-wisher of everyone. It also means to be respectful & encouraging to everyone.
• We should appreciate devotees’ contribution even if it is small.
• We should have friendship with those who are equally qualified.
• Human beings are social.
• Psychologists say, need to be understood by others is as important as taking breath.
• When Dhruva expressed his vengeance then Narada did not first correct him but first, he heard him then offered solution.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Nila Kamala Prabhu on 13^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.11.3
• Chapter Name: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• Uddhava, both knowledge and ignorance, being products of māyā, are expansions of My potency.

Important Points from Class

• Prabhupada, in one lecture, says, “The Krishna Consciousness movement is to bring the nitya-baddha to the nitya-siddha stage.”
• To understand Krishna, we have to know maya.
• How to become free from maya is explained in CC Madhya 20.120.
• No one is naturally attracted to Krishna-katha, but by serving the spiritual master and Vaishnavas, one gets mercy and can begin to develop a taste for hearing Krishna-katha.
• The ears are now blocked with anarthas, so Krishna-katha is not entering our hearts. But when we surrender to Vaishnavas, our anarthas start going away, and our ears begin to open.
• We should cultivate the mood to hear Srimad Bhagavatam.
• By surrendering to pure devotees, one develops a taste for hearing Krishna-katha.
• Our daily schedule should include 6 hours of sadhana, 6 hours of service, and 6 hours of rest. Sadhana should be performed in the morning.
• 99.9% of people are karma-adhikaris, i.e., karmis. Karmis are in passion and ignorance. Their minds are not peaceful, and they cannot sit continuously even for an hour.
• The mind should be engaged in the service of Krishna by chanting Krishna’s name.
• When we chant daily for 2 hours, we should observe how much we think of Krishna.
• With body, mind, and words, we should serve with dedication.
• Deity worship helps engage all the senses in the service of Krishna.
• Madan Mohan Malaviya had a question, and he approached Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura, who told him to do some service. After doing service, he got the answer to his question.
• By service, one gets realization.
• Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura told one sannyasi disciple to hear Krishna-katha from Gaur Das, who was a gardener.
• The sannyasi was thinking, “I am so learned; what can a gardener teach me?” Gaur Das was also thinking the same.
• But surprisingly, Gaur Das started speaking Krishna-katha eloquently, which surprised both him and the sannyasi.
• Mercy comes through service.
• A Krishna conscious person does not become tired of work but wants to work more and more.
• When one develops a taste for service, one does not become tired of serving.
• Sense gratification means excessive identification with the material body.
• Dham is also a consciousness.
• The mind tells us, “I will be happy here and there.” The only solution is service to Krishna and the devotees.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HDG AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada on 14^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 5.5.3
• Chapter Name: Lord Ṛṣabhadeva’s Teachings to His Sons
• Lecture Link: https://prabhupadavani.org/transcriptions/730909sbsto/

Important Points from Prabhupada’s lecture

• What is the use of keeping big, big paraphernalia? Bahvārambhe laghu kriyā. Ārambha, arrangement is very big, but work is no. No work. What is the use of keeping useless machine? So that is going on. In the material world, everything is bahvārambhe laghu kriyā. 
• So here it is suggested that in this human form of life, you have got two choices = either you again go to hell, or you go back to home, back to Godhead. 
• By evolutionary process you come to the human form of life after going through 8,000,000 forms of lower-grade life. Then you come to this human form of life, when your consciousness is developed. You are not exactly like animals. The animal propensities are there, but it is decent. Because you have got good, advanced consciousness. 
• How this developed consciousness should be utilized, that education is lacking. 
• In Paris, there are clubs, very, very big men, politician, businessmen, they go to nightclub. They pay fifty dollars for entering club, and they spend hundreds of dollars for wine and women.
• Therefore, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is needed—to give these rascals the chance of associating with devotees.
• The material condition of life, as soon as you get a certain type of body, your pains and pleasure already fixed up within the body routine work. You cannot make any change. 
• So according to the body, everyone’s happiness and distress is already fixed up. You cannot change it. That is called fate. That is called fate. But you can change your fate if you take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is possible. 
•  Finish your business of Kṛṣṇa consciousness perfectly, whatever little duration of life you have got. That is stated here = nūnaṁ pramattaḥ kurute vikarma yad indriya-prītaya āpṛṇoti na sādhu manye [SB 5.5.4].
• Because we have got this miserable condition of life, this body… This is due to our past action. Now if you create again the same action, then you’ll have to accept another body. Then your this miserable condition of life will continue. Will continue. Just finish it.
• Otherwise, you’ll have to accept this material body if you have got any desire to enjoy in this material world.
• Therefore anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam. Except becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious, except this desire, no more other desires.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Nimai Anand Prabhu on 15^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.11.4
• Chapter Name: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• The living entities are part and parcel of Krishna but due to ignorance he has been suffering in material bondage since time immemorial.
• By knowledge, however, he can be liberated.

Important Points from Class

• Everyone wants some sense of belongingness. We need some identification.
• It is important to think who we are because all our activities are based on our understanding of who we are.
• We can’t live without any identity at any moment.
• World pushes us to different identities – I am his son, I am his father, I am a girl or a boy, I am employee, I belong to this place or this nation.
• Corresponding to identity there is belongingness to something. Even a renunciate may identity that I am residing in Himalaya or I am a sage.
• The problem is that belongingness is temporary, and the biggest problem is that we know it is temporary. And because of this we are always in fear.
• When intelligence is hooked to temporary things, one always remains in anxiety.
• Even a jnani, comes to know, I am a Brahman, aham brahmasmi, but for him there is no belongingness and so he cannot act even after having that understanding.
• In this verse Krishna is saying, “Living entities are part and parcel of Me.”
• Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, mamaivāṁśo jīva-loke..that all living entities are mine.
• Jīva Kṛṣṇa dāsa, ei viśvāsa, korle to āra duḥkha nāi
• But unfortunately, we have so many faiths. And so, Krishna says in this verse, “because of ignorance living entities are suffering.”
• But there is hope. Bhakti Vinod Thakura says this covering is not endless.
• It is important for preacher to bring hope in people’s life. Material life is full of hopelessness.
• Once a person was going in bus, had many problems, he was planning to commit suicide.
• People do not commit suicide because of failure but because of relationship issues with others – wife, children, mother, father or friends. So, we should give hope that even if no one is there Krishna and Krishna’s devotees are always there.
• In the bus, devotees were distributing Bhagavad Gita, that person purchased Gita. In the book, he saw a statement, “We all have eternal relationship with Krishna.” So, he thought let me read the book. And by reading the book, he came to Krishna Consciousness and was thus saved from committing suicide.
• Preaching means to help people understand that we have eternal relationship with Krishna.
• Śrīla Vyāsadeva saw the supreme Lord along with his external energy. “Thus, he fixed his mind, perfectly engaging it by linking it in devotional service [bhakti-yoga] without any tinge of materialism, and thus he saw the Absolute Personality of Godhead along with His external energy, which was under full control.”  SB 1.7.4 https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/1/7/4/
• We are struggling with maya but maya is under the control of Krishna. For example, mayadevi, could not tempt Haridas Thakura. Haridas Thakura gave her Krishna nama.
• By hearing about Krishna, we develop relationships with Krishna and by serving Krishna we develop attachment for Krishna.
• We develop attachment for Krishna by serving and hearing from spiritual master.
• In SB 1.2.16 it is said, “O twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains affinity for hearing the messages of Vāsudeva.”
• In CC Madhya 14.18, Srila Prabhupada writes, “The greatest achievement for a devotee is to become a servant of the servants of the Lord.”
• We need to follow the instructions of spiritual master.
• Once HH Gaur Govind Swami Maharaj was very sick, his disciples were serving him physically but since they had to serve for long hours, it was becoming difficult for them. Maharaja then told them, “Serving the instructions of spiritual master is easy than serving him physically.” Maharaja wanted to teach this important lesson to his disciples.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Anand Vardhan Prabhu on 18^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.11.7
• Chapter Name: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities

Important Points from Class

• Two birds on the same tree, one who is busy eating the fruits is jivatma and one seeing is paramatma.
• Paramatma waits when the jivatma will turn towards him.
• If we do service based on pride, then we will not get the complete benefit for doing that service.
• Those who have not indulged in drug will not have inclination for taking drugs. But those who indulged into it have strong inclination for drugs.
• If someone thinks that I am senior, then understand that this is dangerous sign.
• If we have humility, we will think whatever I am doing is by the mercy of guru, devotees and Krishna.
• Service comes by the mercy of Lord.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Prem Swarupa Prabhu on 19^th May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.11.8
• Chapter Name: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• One who is enlightened in self-realization, although living within the material body, sees himself as transcendental to the body, just as one who has arisen from a dream gives up identification with the dream body.
• A foolish person, however, although not identical with his material body but transcendental to it, thinks himself to be situated in the body, just as one who is dreaming sees himself as situated in an imaginary body.

Important Points from Class

• Bhaktivinoda Thakura sings a beautiful song, “emona durmati, saṁsāra bhitore, poḍiyā āchinu āmi.”  It means, “A wicked mind brought me into this world, O Lord, but one of Your pure and elevated devotees has come to bring me out.”
• Bhakti Vinod Thakura says that this material world is a dream.
• Srila Prabhupada says that the moment the living entities desire to enjoy, māyā casts her spell.
• The whole material world is the dream of Mahā-Viṣṇu.
• Great devotees enter the dream to awaken those who are dreaming.
• Living entities have many desires, and those desires affect both the gross body and the subtle body.
• Prāṇa-vāyu also goes with the soul when a person dies.
• All the senses function because of prāṇa-vāyu. Prāṇa-vāyu helps us move physically and even move our eyelids.
• Maraṇa-jvara refers to a condition in which a person has a temperature of 107 degrees.
• Prācīnabarhi is in the lineage of Dhruva Mahārāja.
• People think that if they leave, things will not go properly. Therefore, even in old age, people do not want to give up their position as controller.
• Kapila Deva says that the ultimate weapon that binds the jīva to this world is sexual attraction. If one can free oneself from this attraction, then one becomes jīvan-mukta.
• Like Nārada Muni, we should preach and then move to another place.
• For a devotee, there is no impediment from high fever or old age. An example is Srila Prabhupada, who had great enthusiasm even at an advanced age.
• SP says that if you want to know what you were in your previous life and what you will be in your next life, you can understand it by minutely observing your karmendriyas and jñānendriyas.
• By the end of life, our citta should be attached to guru and Krishna.
• The result of a lifetime of successful Krishna consciousness is to feel separation from guru and Krishna.
• If there is no attachment, then there will be no feeling of separation.
• Dreams are also reflections of our mental condition.
• Pure devotees are conscious that this world is a dream, and they are able to help awaken the souls affected by it.
• Absorption in this world is irresistible.
• Waking up means to be constantly Krishna conscious. Therefore, SP says, “Chant Hare Krishna and be happy.” The mind has to hear the holy name; for the mind to hear, the ears must hear; and for the ears to hear, the tongue must chant properly. If we come into constant contact with Krishna, then our problems are solved.
• Once, a Prime Minister went to a mental asylum. There were many compartments, and one compartment was completely isolated. The PM went to that isolated compartment. One person was there, and he said, “I am the Prime Minister. Today is my birthday, and I have declared a holiday, but still people are working here.” So, the only solution was to make him understand that he was not the Prime Minister.
• Misidentification creates intense suffering.
• Preaching means to awaken people.
• I am a soul within the body, influenced by the mind and intelligence. Therefore, I have to use the body and mind for spiritual benefit. As long as I remain dependent on the body and mind, I will continue to suffer.
• We have to perform sādhana-bhakti and cultivate Krishna bhakti.
• Whether the experience is good or bad, we should use it to associate with Krishna.
• Circumstances and situations are not in our control.
• Arjuna says that it is difficult to control the mind.
• We should use our mind in the service of Krishna.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Sri Ram Raghav Prabhu on 22^nd May 2026

• Verse Number: SB 11.11.10
• Chapter Name: The Symptoms of Conditioned and Liberated Living Entities

Important Points from Translation & Purport

• An unintelligent person situated within the body created by his previous fruitive activities thinks, “I am the performer of action.”
• Srīla Madhvācārya states that just as a king punishes a rebellious subject, the Supreme Lord punishes the sinful living entity by forcing him to transmigrate from one body to another in the network of the illusory energy.

Important Points from Class

• We left Krishna and came to this material world thinking that we could independently accomplish something here.
• One thing is reality and another is imagination. Much of what we learn in schools and colleges is based on temporary material imagination.
• To fulfill their dreams, many Indians go abroad, yet end up doing menial jobs such as cleaning toilets.
• Once, a devotee had a severe stomachache and was taken to the hospital. After treating him, the doctor asked, “Did Krishna save you, or did I save you?” The devotee replied, “A few days ago, a patient died in your hospital. Why were you unable to save him?” The doctor answered, “Because his time had come.” The devotee then said, “Similarly, my time has not yet come, therefore you were able to treat me. You are only an instrument.”
• Until Krishna sanctions something, we cannot do anything independently.
• Suppose there is no power supply. Even if we switch on the fan or bulb, will it work?
• Krishna is the ultimate source. Whatever we are able to do is possible only by His mercy.
• Prahlada Maharaja told Hiranyakashipu that the strength both of them possessed came from the same supreme source.
• The body does not function according to our own likes and dislikes. We are simply residing within the body, just as a passenger sits inside a car.
• Therefore, we should not become proud or egoistic.
• We desire something, and then the Lord sanctions it. The Lord resides within the heart as Paramatma. He directs material nature, and material nature then acts to fulfill the desires of the living entities.
• We suffer because of our own desires.
• If we place ourselves in an environment dominated by passion, we develop passionate qualities such as greed. In an environment of ignorance, ignorant desires develop. In the mode of goodness, good desires develop. Therefore, we must be careful about the association we keep.
• We often say that material nature is responsible, but first we desire, and then material nature acts accordingly.
• The first principle is to understand that we are not the actual doers; the Lord is the doer. At the same time, we must take responsibility for our wrong actions because we desired them.
• Due to pride, people lose many valuable things even in this world.
• Once in Puri, a wealthy devotee from South India came with the prideful thought that he would donate so much money to Lord Jagannath that it could never all be used in the Lord’s service. He instructed the pujaris to fully engage his wealth in seva. The pujaris thought that regardless of how many bhoga preparations they made, the money would still remain unused. The head pujari fasted and prayed. That night, Lord Jagannath appeared to him in a dream and instructed him to ask the wealthy man to prepare pan using a special lime made from the rare pearl-like substance found on the forehead of an elephant during a particular condition. Only those elephants who had followed celibacy, could have pearl on their forehead. When the rich merchant heard this, he was shocked because it was practically impossible to find such an elephant. Realizing his pride, he begged forgiveness from Lord Jagannath.
• We should always live with humility in this world.
• The moment the mentality of being the doer enters our heart, our falldown begins.

Radhanath Swami’s Spiritual Message at ISKCON Newtown Kolkata: Let the Vaishnava Family Grow

Devotees were blessed to get the association of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja on 15 April 2026 at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata. During the visit, Maharaja addressed the devotees. Scores of devotees came to take darshan of Maharaja and hear his talk.

During the visit, Maharaja first took darshan of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga and Srila Prabhupada and offered them arati. After that Maharaja addressed the devotees who were eagerly waiting to hear from him.

Below is what Maharaja said during the class.

From Nimai Pandit to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: The Journey of Divine Love

1. The Scholarly Brilliance of Nimai Pandit

I believe today is the Bengali New Year. We are together in the Bengali town of New Town. As far as I remember, this pandal is new too.

This is a new goshala. By the blessings of Sri Sri Radha Govind, we will have a new temple too. When Nimai Pandit was living in Sri Navadvipa-dhama, he was the most learned and most skilled of all scholars.

He would challenge all the Chakravartis and Bhattacharyas. He was very expert in debate. All the great pandits, with all their logic, would have their arguments defeated by him. Nimai Pandit would rip all their arguments to shreds, totally defeating them to the extent that those who would never accept defeat became unable to say a single word in front of him.

Then he would ask, “Does anyone have any more arguments?” He would ask them, “Do you accept what I say is true?” The pandits would say, “What you have established, no one can defeat.” Nimai would ask, “Do you accept it?” They would say, “Yes, it is irrefutable.” Then Nimai Pandit would completely dismantle what he himself had said and prove that it was wrong.

He would then ask the pandits, “Do you think this is truth?” The pandits would become speechless. Then he would ask, “Do you want to establish the previous argument?” The pandits would say no. Then Nimai would again establish the previous arguments. Again, when he questioned the pandits, they would remain silent.

Nimai was only a teenager, while the pandits were senior scholars and professionally accomplished. Navadvipa was the greatest seat of learning at that time. So, Keshava Kashmiri came there to challenge them.

---

2. Keshava Kashmiri Meets Nimai Pandit

Everyone knew that Goddess Sarasvati had given Keshava Kashmiri a great boon. All the pandits were hiding. He carried a Digvijaya paper on which all those he defeated had to sign.

One evening, while he was walking near the Ganges, he saw Nimai Pandit with his students. Nimai Pandit said, “Keshava Kashmiri, I have heard about you. They say Sarasvati sits on your tongue. Can you glorify Mother Ganges?”

Keshava Kashmiri immediately composed new poetry — one hundred verses glorifying the Ganga. No one could do it, not even the demigods. The children were astonished.

Nimai Pandit said, “It is very good, but please analyze your own poem. What are the beautiful ornaments, and what are the faults?” Digvijaya Pandit replied, “There are no faults.” Nimai then recited one of the verses and pointed out a technical fault that no one else could identify.

Keshava Kashmiri said, “I spoke one hundred verses like the blowing wind. How did you memorize them?” Nimai replied, “As you are empowered to compose, so I am empowered to remember.”

Keshava Kashmiri was the greatest debater in the world. No one could compete with him. He was a great devotee of Sarasvati. But when Nimai pointed out the mistake, for the first time in his entire life, he was unable to speak a single word.

His mind went blank, and he became bewildered. The children began laughing, but Nimai stopped them. Nimai said, “You must be tired, as you composed such great poetry.”

---

3. The Humbling of Pride Through Divine Grace

Keshava Kashmiri was crying, thinking, “What offenses have I committed? I could not speak a single word in front of this child. I am a master, a champion.” Then Goddess Sarasvati appeared to him in a dream and said, “Because you are my great devotee, I have blessed you to take darshana of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

She instructed him to surrender his life unto Nimai. Early the next morning, Keshava Kashmiri came to Nimai and offered his obeisances. He had been so proud that he would ride on elephants and chariots while brahmanas glorified him.

Keshava Kashmiri told Nimai Pandit about the revelation of Goddess Sarasvati. Nimai said, “Do not tell this to anyone.” Nimai explained that the real goal of life is bhakti to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

At that moment, Keshava Kashmiri became a pure devotee. Without his entourage, he left and became a great devotee of Krishna. He later became an acharya in the Nimbarka sampradaya.

Soon, Nimai went to Gaya for śrāddha. There he saw the beautiful lotus feet of Lord Vishnu. He sat inside the temple while all the priests were chanting the glories of Vishnu’s lotus feet.

At that moment, Nimai began to exhibit ecstatic love — the mahabhava of Sri Radha — which He had hidden from the world.

---

4. Nimai Receives the Mercy of Isvara Puri

At that moment, Isvara Puri entered the temple. Nimai bowed to him and, with all humility, prayed, “Please bestow upon me the treasure of love of God. Please bless me with pure, unalloyed devotional service. I accept you as my guru. Please allow me to become your servant.”

Nimai’s request was accepted, and Isvara Puri initiated Him into the sacred mantra. One day, Isvara Puri came to the place where Nimai was staying. Nimai had cooked something for him. He offered him a seat and served everything to him.

Isvara Puri knew He was God. Yet he accepted the role of guru because the Lord desired to teach the world the importance of accepting a spiritual master.

Nimai massaged the lotus feet of His guru and received instructions to chant the holy names and spread their glories.

Nimai returned to Navadvipa. He had now become the most humble devotee, constantly crying in ecstatic love for Krishna and always chanting the holy names.

He told the devotees that in Kanhai Natashala He had seen Krishna, but when He was about to surrender to Krishna, Krishna disappeared. Seeing His love, Gadadhara Pandit fainted.

Nimai told Gadadhara, “You have always been a pure devotee of Krishna, but I wasted my youth thinking myself a scholar. Please bless me so that I may become your devotee.”

---

5. The Awakening of Sankirtana in Navadvipa

Before going to Gaya, Nimai would challenge devotees like Murari Gupta to arguments. They were not interested, so when they saw Him they would hide. Yet they were attracted to Him just as people are attracted to Krishna.

Before going to Gaya, He would meet Srivasa Thakura, who was the age of His father. Srivasa would say, “Why are You wasting Your life? Why don’t You practice pure devotion to Krishna?” Nimai would reply, “By your blessings, one day I will become a great devotee of Krishna.”

After returning from Gaya, He revealed His heart to a few devotees. The devotees who had met Nimai said, “We have very auspicious news. Nimai has become a devotee. We have never seen any devotee like Him. Tears fall from His eyes like the Ganges. When He chants the name of Krishna, He faints.”

Srivasa Pandit smiled blissfully and said, “Now Nimai is a devotee. Let our family expand.”

Before the appearance of Lord Caitanya, Advaita Acharya was worshipping the Lord to appear on earth. Haridasa Thakura was chanting 300,000 names of Krishna daily, praying for Krishna to come.

Srivasa Pandit and his brothers would perform sankirtana in Srivasa Angana, praying for the Lord to deliver the world.

---

6. Srila Prabhupada appears to fulfil the mission of Lord Caitanya

All these great personalities were filled with ecstatic love. In their ecstasy, they suffered upon seeing the condition of the people of the world.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote “Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: His Life and Precepts” in Kolkata and sent it to universities around the world. For the first time in history, publications in the English language about Lord Caitanya went outside India.

In 1896, Srila Prabhupada appeared under a jackfruit tree in Kolkata. Later, in 1966, he established ISKCON and fulfilled the prophecy of Lord Caitanya that the holy name would be chanted in every town and village.

On Ultadanga Junction Road in 1922, Srila Prabhupada met Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and received the instruction to preach in English.

From the dockyard, Srila Prabhupada boarded the Jaladuta to spread Krishna consciousness throughout the world. After establishing temples in America and Europe, he returned to India and opened the first ISKCON temple in Kolkata.

He established Sri Sri Radha Govinda and gave all credit to his disciples.

---

7. Let the Vaishnava Family Grow

We have a great opportunity to receive the blessings of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda.

So, whatever has been spoken is for this purpose: let our family grow.

For our family to grow, first it is important to have a Vaishnava family spirit. We see how Srila Prabhupada and his followers were united, loving one another and not misbehaving with others.

It is important to come together as Vaishnavas, helping others in their challenges and having faith in Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda.

Family means everyone is united with higher principles, chanting the names of Krishna, and helping each other.

There are so many wars, conflicts, and battles in the world. We can help rescue society by expanding the Vaishnava family with real spiritual culture.

That is why we are here. This is my prayer.

Inauguration

During his visit to Iskcon Newtown Kolkata temple, HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja inaugurated Bhaktivedanta Clinic, Sankirtan stall, Donor facilitation centre and the cowshed.

Brahmotsava – Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga 4th Anniversary Festival – 2025 – 2026

Brahmotsava i.e. Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga 4th Anniversary Festival – 2025 – 2026 was celebrated at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata on 9^th and 10^th May 2026. On both the days program was in the evening from 4 pm – 8 pm. In this two-day festival hundreds of devotees participated.

9^th May Brahmotsava Program

On 9^th, just before the start of the program, there was a heavy downpour, it appeared as if the rain God, Indra, was carrying a desire to perform abhishek of the Lord and also wanted to sanctify the temple premise. The rain and the cool wind did not dampen the spirit of the devotees. Hundreds thronged to the temple to celebrate the festival.

The program began with melodious kirtan followed by drama on the life of Srila Prabhupada and spiritual talk by HG Sri Nitai Prabhu. There was Iskcon Youth Forum (IYF) presentation and CDMC presentation on congregation preaching.

They showed how preaching is going on in various prominent educational institutes and how today’s youths along with their academics are also interested in pursuing spiritual life. CDMC devotees gave a report on congregation preaching. Many congregation devotees have taken to Krishna Consciousness and are connected to Iskcon Newtown Kolkata. They are also actively engaged in many services in the temple.

After the presentation, prizes were given to devotees for distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books.

The program concluded with Gaur Arati. After Gaur Arati devotees honoured delicious Krishna prasadam.

10^th May Brahmotsava Program

On 10^th May too large number of devotees came for the program.  Program started with kirtan followed by abhishek of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga.

After the abhishek, HG Acharyaratna Prabhu addressed the devotees. Prabhuji said that we are very fortunate because we have got an opportunity to serve in Kolkata which is the birthplace of Srila Prabhupada.  

Quoting a verse from Srimad Bhagavatam 11.27.49, Prabhuji said that although Lord is present everywhere but because of our impurity, we cannot see him everywhere, but we can definitely see him in the temple. So, it is important that we come to temple, take darshan of the Lord and serve the Lord. If we do so then we can perfect our life.

“By worshiping Me through the various methods prescribed in the Vedas and tantras, one will gain from Me his desired perfection in both this life and the next.” Srimad Bhagavatam 11.27.49

There was offering of “Annual Report: May 2025 – April 2026” to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga. The report was offered by HG Mukund Lila prabhu and HG Gauranga Smaranam prabhu.

After offering the report, there was presentation by various departments of the temple. In front of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga, Srila Prabhupada and the assembled devotees, it was shown how the temple performed in 2025-2026. The presentation covered Iskcon Youth Forum, CDMC, Well Wisher Forum, Kitchen, Deity, Sankirtan, Annakshetra, Value Education Program.

Presentation also covered the visit of prominent disciples of Srila Prabhupada like HH Jaypataka Swami Maharaja, HH Bhakti Chaitanya Swami Maharaja, HH Devamrita Swami Maharaja, HH Radhanath Swami Maharaha, HH Subhag Swami Maharaja to Iskcon Newtown Kolkata.

Felicitation of Devotees

Those devotees who been helping temple financially were thanked and appreciated on this auspicious day.   

Dharma Siromani, Dharma Raksha and Dharma Adikari devotees were called on the stage and given special gifts.

After honouring the devotees, there was presentation on Abhay Tirtha project. When the presentation was going on, HH Subhag Swami Maharaja, a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada, arrived giving joy to all the devotees.

In front of Maharaja a special video on Abhay Tirtha was shown. The video showcased how the Abhay Tirtha project is gradually manifesting and it is just a matter of time that we will have very gorgeous temple for the Lord at Iskcon Newtown.

There are devotees who have been helping financially in the development of Abhay Tirtha. These devotees were felicitated by Maharaja.

After felicitation, there was a class by Maharaja. Maharaja is around 86 years old but still he travels all around the world to preach the message of Krishna Consciousness. Maharaja had a busy day, immediately after landing in Kolkata, he had come for the class. Maharaja’s class was inspiring, motivating, touching, and also humorous. Everyone could connect with what he spoke.

Below is what is Maharaja said:

Remain spiritually joyful twenty-four hours a day

We are bound by the three modes of material nature — goodness, passion, and ignorance. Since birth, we do not possess real spiritual knowledge. ISKCON teaches us this knowledge and guides us toward a spiritual life.

Devotional life begins with simple but powerful practices: rising during brahma-muhurta, keeping ourselves clean, applying tilak while chanting the holy names of the Lord, honoring prasadam, and associating with devotees.

We do not need to reject the world; rather, we should use everything in the service of the Lord, just as Maharaja Ambarisha did.

“Golokera prema-dhana hari-nama-sankirtana” — the congregational chanting of the holy name is the treasure of divine love descending from Goloka Vrindavan.

By sincerely practicing bhakti, we gradually come to the stage of brahma-bhuta prasannatma — the joyful spiritual platform. A person absorbed only in material life is always suffering because material existence is based on endless desires and demands.

We associate directly with the Lord by chanting the maha-mantra:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

People work very hard for material enjoyment, but even animals such as elephants do not labor in the same anxious way. Human life is meant for something higher.

By eating prasadam, visiting the temple, taking darshan of the Lord, and hearing about Krishna’s nama, rupa, guna, and lila, the heart becomes purified.

Maharaja Parikshit had only seven days left before death. He asked Sukadeva Goswami what a person should do at the time of death, and Sukadeva Goswami instructed him to hear Krishna-katha.

“Yad gatva na nivartante” — one who goes to Krishna’s abode never returns to this material world.

Even Sankaracharya, an incarnation of Lord Shiva, reminds us:

“Punar api jananam punar api maranam” — repeated birth and death continue in this material existence.

No one can predict what body they may receive in the next birth if they remain absorbed in material life.

Some people may say, “I am Christian,” “I am Buddhist,” or “I will not chant.” Still, everyone is welcome to come, hear about Krishna, and take prasadam.

The material world is described as:

“Padam padam yad vipadam” — danger and suffering exist at every step.

In the beginning, we are attached to the body and bodily pleasures, especially sense gratification. To become free from these attachments, one should perform hari-bhajana, chant the holy name, and honor prasadam.

“Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam” — we are not merely Indian, Bengali, engineer, businessman, or any other temporary designation. We are eternal servants of Krishna.

Through chanting, worshiping the Lord, and serving devotees, the heart becomes purified:

“Ceto-darpana-marjanam” — the chanting of the holy name cleanses the mirror of the heart.

Thousands of young boys and girls in countries such as Ukraine and Russia are chanting Krishna’s names and giving up sinful habits. Why? Because they are experiencing a higher taste.

A material position is temporary. There is a story of Indra becoming a hog and becoming so attached to his hog family that he did not want to return to heaven when Lord Brahma came to take him back. Whatever body we get, we become attached to it.

If we simply eat, sleep, mate, and defend like animals, then what is the difference between human life and animal life?

Human life is meant for tapo divyam — divine austerity for spiritual realization.

What is tapasya?

• Giving up meat-eating
• Avoiding intoxication
• Avoiding sinful habits
• Living a pure life centered on Krishna consciousness

Srila Prabhupada would sometimes mention how sinful activities affect consciousness. One devotee distributing Back to Godhead once met a butcher slaughtering chickens, and the man’s face itself appeared almost like a chicken due to his consciousness.

We should examine whether we are becoming free from kama-vasana, material lust and selfish desire.

Rupa Goswami teaches:

“Anyabhilasita-sunyam” — pure devotion means becoming free from material desires.

Since we are living beings and not stones, desires will always exist, but our only desire should be to serve Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada narrated the story of Arjunacharya while explaining the verse:

“Yoga-ksemam vahamy aham” — Krishna personally carries what His devotee lacks and preserves what he has.

Arjunacharya was reading Bhagavad-gita when his wife told him there was no food at home. Doubting the meaning of Krishna’s promise, he crossed out the words “vahamy aham.”

Later, two beautiful boys arrived carrying rice, milk, vegetables, sugar, and many other items. They told his wife, “Arjunacharya has sent these.” She also noticed scratches on their bodies.

When Arjunacharya returned home, his wife asked why he had been so cruel to those boys. Hearing the entire incident, Arjunacharya understood that the boys were Krishna and Balarama themselves. Tears filled his eyes in repentance and devotion.

The Lord’s name, form, qualities, and pastimes are nondifferent from Him.

Therefore, keep coming to the temple. Associate with devotees, honor prasadam, and participate in harinama-sankirtana.

This is true spiritual happiness.

“Ramante yogino ’nante” — the yogis derive unlimited pleasure in spiritual life.

The topmost yogi is the bhakti-yogi.

There is no need to leave the world. Instead, make your home Krishna conscious, make your family devotees of Krishna, and help others become devotees.

Then one can remain spiritually joyful twenty-four hours a day.

Gaur Arati and special prasadam for all

After the class there was Gaur Arati. The beautiful deity of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga was worshipped by HG Acharyaratna Prabhu. Devotees reverentially participated in the arati.

After arati there was special delicious Krishna prasadam for all who had come for the festivals.

Difficult to Deal with People Driven by Pride: A Personal Experience

It is not easy to deal with people driven by pride. Such people are not interested in understanding or knowing what is right or wrong but more interested in putting you down.

Yesterday or rather today at around 1 a.m. I had this experience while working on a production issue.

Although I spent hours in the night to fix an issue but the client who owns the application was quite upset. In fact, he was devastated and in frustration he started asking me that why I solved the problem in the way I did.

The issue was not with the solution which I proposed but his issue was that why I did not do the things as per his “instructions.”  I did explain the reason to him, and he too was understanding that the approach I took was not wrong, but he was constantly saying “my instructions should have been followed.”  This continued for 10-15 minutes. I said that if you are not happy with my solution then we can go with your approach. But he did not have any issue with my solution, his point was, “my instruction.”

I was feeling irritated and angry but at the same time I was also laughing from inside. I was thinking how people become so ego driven. I am not saying that he is bad and I am good. But the issue was very simple, he could have either accepted my approach which was finally accepted and implemented. Or he could have insisted on his approach for which I did not have problem.

Me taking a different approach hurt his ego. And I did not have any intention to prove that he is wrong and I am right. It was 1 a.m. in the morning, I just wanted to finish my work and go to sleep.

But I learnt a very important lesson which I have read in the scriptures many times that one of the most important reasons why we suffer in this world is because of our arrogance and pride.

People driven by pride are always agitated from within, they have superiority complex and they deal with others improperly.

Krishna in Bhagavad Gita 16.4 says that people full of pride are demoniac in nature. So, we should do our best to give up pride and cultivate humility.

Pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance – these qualities belong to those of demoniac nature, O son of Pṛthā. Bhagavad Gia 16.4

Narasimha Caturdashi celebration at ISKCON Newtown, Kolkata on 30th April 2026

Narasimha Caturdashi, the appearance day of Lord Narasimhadeva, was celebrated at ISKCON Newtown, Kolkata, on 30th April 2026.

Scores of devotees came together to celebrate the festival and receive the mercy of Lord Narasimhadeva. The altar was beautifully decorated with flowers, festoons, and numerous lamps. The Deities of Sri Sri Lakshmi Narasimhadeva were placed at the center of the altar and adorned with flowers, garlands, Tulasi leaves, and manjari. There was also a Deity of Prahlada Maharaja. Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga were also beautifully dressed and decorated with gorgeous garlands.

Many devotees gathered in the temple hall during darshan arati to seek the divine blessings of the Supreme Lord.

On this auspicious day, devotees were fortunate to receive the association of HH Bhaktivedanta Rukmini Krishna Goswami Maharaj.

Maharaj delivered the morning Srimad Bhagavatam class on verses 7.4.31–32, which describe the transcendental qualities of Prahlada Maharaja. He explained, “Hiranyakasipu was the ruler of the entire world, yet he was miserable because he lacked bhakti. On the other hand, Prahlada Maharaja faced many difficulties but remained in bliss because he possessed bhakti, and his heart was filled with auspicious desires received from his guru, Narada Muni.”

Following Maharaj, HG Acharyarata Prabhu spoke. He began his class with the Vaishnava song “Gurudev Kripa Bindu Diya.” In his class, he elaborated on the glories of Prahlada Maharaja and the mercy of Lord Narasimhadeva.

In the afternoon, Rajbhoga was offered to Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga and Sri Sri Lakshmi Narasimhadeva, followed by arati. Meanwhile, devotees continued arriving at the temple to take darshan of the Lord and offer pushpanjali.

Evening Program

The evening program commenced at 5:15 pm with the abhishek of Sri Sri Lakshmi Narasimhadeva. Pancamrita, pancagavya, fruit juices, kesar water, rose water, candana water, Ganga water, and colorful flower petals of rose and juhi were used for the abhishek.

Many devotees assembled to participate in the ceremony. As the abhishek was performed, devotees sang melodious Hare Krishna kirtan and the Narasimha arati.

After the abhishek, Maharaj delivered a Narasimha katha, narrating several pastimes of Lord Narasimhadeva. He shared the story of a young girl who was especially attracted to Lord Narasimhadeva and was protected by Him during a dangerous incident. While playing, she accidentally came onto the road and was struck by a heavy vehicle. Miraculously, she remained unharmed. Later, she described that a person with the face of a lion had lifted her at the moment of impact. There were also markings resembling claw marks on her back.

Following Maharaj’s katha, the Maha Arati of Sri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha was performed, during which devotees sang “Namas te Narasimhaya.”

On this special occasion, a Narasimha Caturdashi Maha Yagya was also organized. A beautifully constructed yajna kunda was prepared, the sacred fire was lit, and the brahmanas chanted auspicious Vedic mantras to invoke the blessings of Lord Narasimhadeva. Many devotees participated in the yajna and concluded by performing parikrama around the yajna kunda while singing the Narasimha arati.

At the end of the program, sumptuous prasadam was served to all the devotees.

Purify senses, mind and false ego by engaging them in Krishna Consciousness.

An old man was hospitalized, he was bedridden, many tubes were inside his body. When people asked him, “How he is?” He said, “I am fine.”  Srila Prabhupada would say, “How can someone be fine in such a deplorable condition?”

In Bangalore one person got massive heart attack and died in the night around 9:30 pm. His wife called her parents. The parents said that by the time they will come, it will be morning. Wife was fearful to stay with her husband now with whom she had spent so many years because the husband was now dead.

When a person is dead, even when he is kicked, he does not react. Only when the soul is inside the body, body has value.

Understanding difference between body and soul

We have to understand the difference between body and soul.

An intelligent person never becomes proud of anything.  He knows that body is temporary – a child grows and becomes young then old and finally dies.

So, do not be proud of your wealth, your youth, today it is there tomorrow it won’t be there.

In NCC, we were given horseshoes, while walking it made sound.  We felt proud that we are young, but how long youth will remain.

When we become 50-60 years old, we know how the body is. We do not have to become old to understand this. In youth only we can understand this truth.

We see that in the morning flower blossoms and by the end of day it dwindles.

Vigyan is not bookish knowledge. We get realization when we apply the knowledge.

Some may sit and say aham brahmasmi again and again. But realization does not come by this.  Srila Prabhupada says by saying aham brahmasmi one will not get realization. It’s like a computer engineer saying “I am computer engineer” again and again. By this he won’t get understanding.

For realized knowledge, one has to serve with the senses – hrisikesa hrikesena.

We should absorb our mind in Harinam sankirtan.

Before coming to Krishna Consciousness, we might have attraction for some movie actors but after coming to Krishna Consciousness, our actors become Sri Sri Radha Govinda.

Negation does not help. We have to replace it. Like earlier we sang movie songs, now we sing Krishna conscious songs. People would go to discotheque but now they dance in the kirtan.  

Flood your mind with Harinam

By engaging senses in Krishna Consciousness, senses become pure, just as iron rod in fire becomes fiery.

Our body may be material but will start acting as spiritual. Devotees’ taste, thought, character, and activities become totally different.

To purify senses, mind and false ego, engage them in Krishna Consciousness.

Giving up false ego is very difficult. But when our ego is Jivera Svarup Hoye Krishnera Nitya Das, then our false ego gets purified.

When Hanuman was asked by Ravana, “Who are you?” then Hanuman did not say that “I am Anjani putra or vayu putra.” He did not talk about his glories, that he is so powerful that he had once devoured the sun.  Hanuman said, “Daso aham kaushalay putra, I am servant of Lord Rama.”  If you are insulting me then it is insult of Lord Rama. Hanuman have sense of belonging in relation to Lord Rama.

When we think we are in the Parampara of great acharya like Srila Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakura then our ego is purified.

Mind engaged in Lord’s name is purified. In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says, “You will rise when you focus your mind on me.” Flood your mind with Harinam.

All senses are servants of mind. They give input to mind. When ears listen to beautiful songs, then it gives input to mind. When tongue tastes nice prasadam, it gives input to mind.

If mind is impure, senses go towards impurities. If mind is pure then senses go towards purity.

When it became easy for the prince to control his senses

There was a King. His son did not have control over his senses. He was engaged in wanton enjoyment. The king was worried. So, he sent his son to a sage and requested him to train his child. The sage lived in a hut. His life was simple; he ate simple food and was always engaged in chanting and reading. The prince was not ready to live such a simple life. 

He called his servants and got a nice bungalow built; he got a cook who prepared palatable dishes for him. In this way 3-4 months passed. Once when king came, he asked the sage, “How is his son doing?” The sage said, “There is no change in his son.” The sage said that he is living a luxurious life and busy eating nice food.

King immediately called the cook and asked him to stop preparing food for the prince. The king told the prince that he would have to leave his luxurious bungalow and live with the sage in the hut and eat whatever the sage eats. Prince began living like the sage, ate like him, chanted mantras, read books. Then the prince slowly began learning good things. And his life began changing.

When king asked, sage said it is same who he was earlier. He lives lavish life, he is not controlled in eating and living. King asked cook not to cook food and prince should eat what sage eats. Asked him to live in hut. Prince lived in hut, like him, ate like him, chanted names. Then prince began learning good things. He realized now I m learning good things.

In this story, the king is the soul, prince is the mind, prince’s servants are the senses, sage is intelligence.

Lesson to learn from the story

Many times, mind even does not listen to intelligence. It takes our senses for enjoyment.

Earlier prince was not listening to sage. But later king told him to listen to sage.

So, we say – guru mukha padma vakya..

If we accept a guru with seriousness, then our life will change.

Right now, on sat indriya there is covering of asat indriya. For example, if we put red paper on bulb then the colour which comes out of the bulb will be red.

Impure mind is like prince. If we have to come from bhoga to seva, we hv to follow the advice of the sage. For that to happen, senses should not be the servant of the mind. Above senses is mind, above mind is intelligence and above intelligence is soul.

Senses should be engaged in the service of Krishna – hrisikesa hriskena

Mind should be engaged in chanting the names of Krishna.

There are two types of intelligence – kubudhi (kaikeyi, karna) and subudhi. For eg. Kaikeyi because of association with Manthra and karna because of association with Duryodhana developed Kubudhi.

When we read Srila Prabhupada books, hear his lecture, our intelligence is nourished.

A truck driver may laugh at luna driver thinking his vehicle is so small. But if we make luna driver, truck driver and even a pilot stand in same line then we will find that all three drivers are people although they are driving different vehicles.

Similarly, a soul may be in an insect body, an elephant body but they are same The same paramatma is there in all living beings.  So, we should respect them all. When we misbehave with other living beings then we should remember that Lord will be displeased.

When we see souls with paramatma, our respect increases for jiva.

First Regulate the senses

We should read sastra and give up sense gratification.

When body dies, it is death, when subtle body dies then it is moksha.

As body is burnt one day, similarly the subtle body gets burnt one day.

Till the time we have material desires we need subtle body. For e.g. we need warm clothes in winter and not in summer.

Karna had daivi pravrtti and also asuric pravrtti. Since he chose to associate with  Duryodhana, his asuric bhav increased.

Choice of association decides direction and direction will be your destination.

Vibhishan gave good advice to Ravana but Ravana kicked him out.  Vibhishan did not know if Rama will accept him or not. But he was fully convinced that he would choose right path.

For example, a devotee student will not resort to cheating even if others are cheating. We should not intentionally indulge in sinful activities.

Monkey is hyperactive, but Hanuman was not hyperactive because he chants the name of Lord Rama always.

It is easier to engage our senses in the service or Krishna than mind. When one comes to take darshan of the Lord, mind takes him somewhere else, but senses are in the temple.

If we regulate our activities, then senses are regulated and if senses are regulated then it is easy to control the mind. So, we should sleep at right time, wake up at right time, eat at right time. We should being with regulating the senses.

Above article is based on Srimad Bhagavatam Class given by HG Radheshyam Prabhu at Iskcon Kolkata on 17^th April 2026.  Prabhuji was speaking SB 11.19.6-7.

Unflinching Faith in Lord Chaitanya and Loyalty to the Parampara by HH Bhakti Chaitanya Swami Maharaja

During his morning Chaitanya Charitamrita class at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata on 24th Feb 2026, HH Bhakti Chaitanya Swami Maharaja spoke in detail about the pastime of Sanatana Goswami and Jagadananda Pandit.

Maharaja spoke how it is important to practice devotion in association of devotees who are coming in parampara i.e. in disciplic succession.

Below is what Maharaja said.

Exclusive Devotion & Proper Association

Jagadananda  Pandit says, “I shall beat with a stick anyone who offers respect to some other sannyasi while neglecting Lord Chaitanya, and I shall put fire in the mouth of one who discusses frivolous topics instead of the nectarean pastimes of Lord Chaitanya.”

Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami were sent by Lord Chaitanya from Jagannath Puri to Vrindavan. Sanatana Goswami was in Vrindavan. One devotee, Jagadananda Pandit, was sent by Lord Chaitanya to stay with Sanatana Goswami in Vrindavan. When Jagadananda Pandit was sent to Vrindavan, Lord Chaitanya instructed him to stay with Sanatana Goswami and not mix with the local people.

Srila Prabhupada says, “Vrindavan is a place of 5000 temples.” Any person or organization who has any type of affiliation with anything related to Krishna is in Vrindavan.

Just as New York is a concrete jungle, similarly Vrindavan is like a religious jungle with unusual ideas about who Krishna is and what Krishna Consciousness is.

There is one temple in Vrindavan where on the altar they have kept a hookah. Every day they offer hookah to Krishna because, according to their understanding, Krishna smokes a pipe. People have wrong ideas. Many have Mayavada and impersonalistic ideas.

Devotees have the right idea, but there are different varieties of ideas. They may not be wrong, but not fully right either, certainly not as per our parampara and not as per the instruction of Srila Prabhupada.

Loyalty to Prabhupada & Parampara

Srila Prabhupada is our acharya; he is our Founder-Acharya. In Vedic terms, a Founder-Acharya is a person who appears in a parampara i.e. disciplic line. Srila Prabhupada is a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura ; this disciplic succession goes back to Lord Chaitanya, then Madhvacharya, and finally to Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada gave the idea of how to practice Krishna Consciousness. He did a few things according to time, place, and circumstance which were extremely powerful and revitalized our parampara.

Of course, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura was very active, but after he left, unfortunately Prabhupada’s godbrothers drifted somewhat from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura’s teachings. They did not institute a Governing Body. They returned to the old traditional Indian system that every ashram should have a leader.

Many groups came up; each subgroup under Gaudiya Math became separate from the others. Differences became very prominent, although they were followers of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura. Prabhupada inspired them to work together to spread Krishna Consciousness, which even Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura wanted, but they did not really do much.

Gaudiya Math had a place in London in 1970. One devotee visited that place in 1973; it was run by only one elderly lady who had been initiated 40 years earlier. The devotee explained that he was from International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), and she let him in.

Srila Prabhupada said, “A few of my godbrothers went to Germany and England but failed. So, if I have to fail, let me fail at a different place, so I went to the USA.” During 1970, England had much more prominence than today.

---

The Loving Anger of Jagadanand Pandit

In this particular incident, Lord Chaitanya instructed Jagadananda Pandit to stay with Sanatana Goswami. He asked him not to get involved with local people.

One day Jagadananda Pandit invited Sanatana Goswami for lunch. Sanatana Goswami agreed. Before coming for lunch, Sanatana Goswami met a sannyasi, Mukunda Saraswati. Mukunda Saraswati gave him an outer garment like a chadar. When Sanatana Goswami came for lunch, he had the outer garment wrapped around his head like a turban.

Jagadananda Pandit, knowing how dedicated Sanatana Goswami was to Lord Chaitanya, assumed that he had received it from Lord Chaitanya. Sanatana Goswami would not buy anything; he lived on prasadam and whatever was given to him. Jagadananda Pandit became ecstatic and asked Sanatana Goswami, “Where did you get the reddish cloth on your head?” Sanatana Goswami said, “Mukunda Saraswati gave it to me.”

Hearing this, Jagadananda Pandit immediately became very angry and took a cooking pot, intending to beat Sanatana Goswami. Sanatana Goswami understood how deeply attached Jagadananda Pandit was to Lord Chaitanya.

After taking prasadam, Lord Chaitanya said to Jagadananda Pandit, “You cook nicely when you are angry.”

Sanatana Goswami said, “Unless you demonstrated your anger, how could I have learned it? My purpose in accepting the cloth is now fulfilled; I could see your love.”

Jagadananda Pandit offered food to Lord Chaitanya, and both ate prasadam.

Learning – Srila Prabhupada is central in our life. We should have a similar type of attachment, appreciation, and relationship with Srila Prabhupada.

---

Preaching Spirit and Accepting Difficulties as Mercy

Sometimes we may find ourselves in circumstances we did not expect. We may have no other choice than to deal with such situations.

A couple of our godbrothers went to Lebanon in the 1970s to preach Krishna Consciousness. They were arrested by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). The devotees were held for months and were to be executed. They saw people being killed in front of them. They were made to stand before a firing squad; the trigger was pulled, but there were no bullets. It was psychological torture. Eventually, they were released.

Something like this will not happen to you all unless you go to Pakistan or Bangladesh.

When we find ourselves in extreme situations, we have to accept them as educational experiences.

When I used to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books in London, I was arrested many times (around 75 times). They would take us to the police station and give a ticket to return the next day.

Once I was arrested on a Friday. Since I was not British, they thought I might leave the country, so they held me until Monday. Devotees brought mahaprasadam and the Sixth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. I read the whole canto, chanted japa on my fingers, and scratched the wall with a broken brick to count my rounds. On Monday, they released me with a 5-pound fine.

I felt I did not have enough time to read, so I thought getting arrested helped me read more and get mahaprasadam.

As a new devotee in London, I never ate anything that was not offered to the Deity.

Teachings on Grihastha Life, Chanting and Vaishnava Seva by HH Bhakti Chaitanya Swami Maharaja

During his morning Chaitanya Charitamrita class at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata on 23^rd Feb 2026, HH Bhakti Chaitanya Swami Maharaja spoke about the duties of a Grihasta, importance of chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra and vaisnava seva.

Below is what Maharaja said

---

1. Grihastha Life and Generosity

Householders have the opportunity to invite devotees to take prasadam at their place.

“As the devotees invited the Lord Chaitanya to take His meal in their houses, the Lord took the opportunity to teach them all these topics.” Chaitanya Bhagavata Antya-khaṇḍa 9.116.

Devotees wanted to invite Lord Chaitanya to eat at their residence.

One time at Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK, Srila Prabhupada was present. One devotee from South America had been leading a staunch brahmachari life, but now he had decided to become a householder. It was quite embarrassing for him. So, on the top he would wear a saffron kurta and, on the bottom, a white dhoti.

This devotee took the opportunity to ask Srila Prabhupada, “What are the duties of a householder?”

Srila Prabhupada said, “A householder should be generous, not miserly.”

He was expecting some detailed instruction from Srila Prabhupada. Maybe a week later, during a morning walk with Srila Prabhupada, hoping to get an in-depth answer, he asked the same question. Srila Prabhupada looked at him and said, “A grihastha must be generous and not miserly.” Srila Prabhupada turned and walked away.

In grihastha life, when you have children, it becomes challenging to maintain the family. Arranging for food and shelter makes life difficult. A householder may become anxious because of financial burdens. But the fact is that Srila Prabhupada made it clear that generosity should be important for a householder.

So, the grihastha devotees wanted to invite Lord Chaitanya for prasadam. Lord Chaitanya smiled and said, “First become lakṣeśvaras.” Lakṣeśvaras means one hundred thousand.

When I first came to India in 1976, it was Rs 8 per dollar, but now it is around Rs 100. In those days, one lakh rupees was a big amount. When I first visited Russia after it had just switched to capitalism, you could buy a small house for 15 roubles.

Earlier you could buy potatoes in India for paisa, but now they cost much more.

When devotees heard this, they were shocked. They thought, “What has happened to our Lord? Now He wants to associate only with wealthy people.” Devotees were devastated.

---

2. Importance of Chanting the Holy Name

The Lord replied, “Do you know who is a lakṣeśvara? He is someone who daily chants one hundred thousand holy names.”

The brahmanas said that they would chant one hundred thousand holy names, so they requested the Lord to come and take prasadam at their house.

Lord Chaitanya made it clear that if you want to be taken seriously, then chant one hundred thousand names.

Srila Prabhupada insisted that we chant a minimum of 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.

In the book Miracle at 22nd Avenue, Mukunda Maharaja writes that everyone was chanting on beads every day.

Then one day Srila Prabhupada said that everyone should chant 64 rounds. Devotees said it was too much. Srila Prabhupada said, “At least chant 32 rounds.” Devotees again said it was too much. Then SP said, “16 rounds and no less.”

Once on the roof of the Lotus Building in Mayapur, Srila Prabhupada said that the whole world would come there. Krishna told me to come to this material world. I told Him that this world is so hellish. Then Krishna said that you have to go because people need your books.

As devotees become more advanced, they develop a relationship with Krishna.

In Atlanta, Srila Prabhupada said, “If you want to go back home, back to Godhead, you have to be 100% pure.” Devotees became discouraged. Srila Prabhupada said, “At least 90% pure.” Devotees were still morose. Srila Prabhupada then said, “At least 80% pure,” and in this way he came down to 50%. Then he said, “Just hold my dhoti and I will take you back, because I have the key.”

There was one devotee in America, Jay Gopala. He died in a traffic accident. He was a young man and a householder. When he died, his wife was devastated. Srila Prabhupada tried to encourage her. He told her that even though Jay Gopala was not an advanced devotee, he went back home, back to Godhead. And if she continued practicing devotional life, she could go too. When she came out of Prabhupada’s room, some devotee said to her, “Obviously it is not possible. SP said it just to encourage you.”

But the other devotees who were present in the room said that after she left, Prabhupada said that although Jay Gopala was not qualified, Krishna made an exception. Danavir Goswami has also mentioned it in one of his books. We should accept what SP says.

If we chant at least 16 rounds seriously and attentively, and spend the rest of the time doing our service seriously, we can be qualified too. Krishna may accept us and take us home, back to Godhead.

Mother Malati said to Srila Prabhupada, “You say that if we chant 16 rounds and follow the four regulative principles, then we can go back to Krishna. It looks so easy.” SP gave one look and said, “Do you think I will cheat you?” It was very deep.

---

3. Vaishnava Seva and Offenses

Once Haridas Thakura was invited by the uncles of Raghunath Das Goswami, who were wealthy and pious. They had invited many people to discuss the glories of chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra. They requested Haridas Thakura to come and explain the glories of the holy name.

Devotees were saying that by chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra one gets freedom from sinful life and liberation from material bondage. Haridas Thakura said that these two are not the real results. He said that chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra without offenses dissipates all reactions just as the sun removes darkness.

Haridas Thakura said that liberation is an insignificant result derived from offenseless chanting.

Just by a glimpse of chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra, one gets freedom from fear. He gave the example of Ajamila.

At that gathering there was Gopal Chakrabarty. He was a tax collector. He was intelligent and proud of his good looks. When he heard that a glimpse of chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra gives liberation, he said, “Just hear the discussion of this emotional devotee.”

Haridas Thakura said that this is stated in the scriptures.

Gopal Chakrabarty said, “If a person is not liberated by a glimpse of the holy name, be certain I will cut off your nose.”

Haridas Thakura said, “If whatever I am saying is wrong, then I will cut off my nose myself.”

Devotees were on the side of Haridas Thakura. With this disagreement, the meeting ended. Three days later Gopal Chakrabarty got leprosy and his nose melted.

Once a leper came before Lord Chaitanya. He bowed down and begged Him to cure his leprosy. Lord Chaitanya angrily said, “Go away from here. Seeing you brings misfortune. You are a wretched sinner, an offender. Much more suffering is going to come to you.” This person had offended Srivas Thakura.

By uttering the name of a Vaishnava, the entire universe is purified.

Devotees are so dear to Lord Chaitanya. Mother Earth feels bliss when Vaishnavas dance upon her.

We should be respectful to devotees and always have a serving attitude.

Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura says, “Lack of qualification should not become an excuse for us to criticize others.”

Srila Jiva Goswami says that serving devotees is an effective way to develop love for Krishna.

Each Hare Krishna mantra is an opportunity to cultivate seriousness and chant offenselessly.

By the mercy of Lord Chaitanya, many wonderful things may happen in our life.

In Damodar-lila, the rope was always short by two fingers. One finger represents our endeavor and the other finger represents the Lord’s mercy. The Lord’s mercy is most important.

“Work as if everything depends on you and pray as if everything depends on Krishna.”

Offense to Krishna’s devotee brings great misfortune

HH Bhakti Chaitanya Swami Maharaja spoke in detail as how offense to devotees brings great misfortune. Maharaj said that offense bring misfortune to not just a devotee but to entire community.

He was giving morning Chaitanya Charitamrita class at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata on 20^th Feb 2026.

Before starting the class, Maharaja said that devotees should take notes during the class. He said, “Without taking notes, you retain 7%; with notes, 50%; and when you revise the notes, you retain 93%.”

Below is what Maharaj said in the class.

When a devotee makes an offense to an advanced devotee, then the entire temple is affected. We get the benefits of good things done, and similarly we get negative effects when someone does wrong. We all have the responsibility to at least help correct the situation.

---

Offense to Devotees – The Case of Ramachandra Khan

Ramachandra Khan, a Hindu, was proud, arrogant, wealthy, influential, and the top man in his village. He had heard of Haridas Thakura and that Hindus were appreciating and glorifying him. Ramachandra Khan did not appreciate this. He thought Haridas Thakura was putting on a show.

So, he thought, “I must make arrangements so that people see what he really is.” He believed Haridas Thakura was not a real devotee and should not be appreciated or glorified as an advanced devotee because he was sure that he was not an advanced devotee.

Ramachandra Khan hired a prostitute and sent her to Haridas Thakura. When a beautiful girl comes and shows her physical features, he was sure that Haridas Thakura would fall upon seeing her. He had policemen behind the bushes and probably some reporters. The purpose was to inform others that Haridas Thakura was bad and should be treated like that.

The prostitute came and spoke in a certain way. She tried, but nothing happened to Haridas Thakura. He continued chanting. If you are approached, then do not follow what Haridas Thakura did and say that first you have to chant. He said, “I want to enjoy, but I have to chant my rounds.” In the middle of the night she fell asleep.

In the morning, when the rooster made sound, she asked Haridas Thakura, “Have you not finished your rounds?” Haridas Thakura said that it was yesterday’s rounds and he had to complete today’s rounds. She sat and began listening to the chanting. Her heart got purified, and she eventually became a transformed person.

Our chanting is not at that level. When we chant, we are distracted by so many things – what we have to do and what not to do. The propensity for getting distracted from japa is prominent. Haridas Thakura’s chanting was pure.

Work on your chanting

First lesson – we need to work on our chanting. It is an ongoing process.

Srila Prabhupada was once asked, “How long did it take you to perfect your chanting?” Srila Prabhupada said, “About 25 years.” He asked the students, “How old are you?” The students said, “20.” Srila Prabhupada answered, “You have time.”

We may think 25 years is fine, but it depends on whether we are working on it or not.

The prostitute became an advanced devotee in hours. Haridas Thakura left that place. The lady came and started living in the same hut and became a famous devotee. She asked him, “How will I maintain myself?” Haridas Thakura said, “Don’t worry. If you do so, Krishna will supply.” It was a fact. Many people saw that she had become a devotee, and local people supplied what she needed.

Later Maya Devi herself came with the complete potency of material energy, and the same thing happened. She could not bewilder Haridas Thakura.

Ramchandra Khan offends Lord Nityananda

Later on, Lord Nityananda, accompanied by a whole group of His disciples and devotees traveling around India, happened to pass through that area. They came to the town where Ramachandra Khan was living, and he was a big man in the town with wealth and influence.

Lord Nityananda and the devotees entered. Some asked local people if there was any place where their large group could be accommodated. They were advised to go to Ramachandra Khan’s place, as there was room there.

Lord Nityananda arrived there with devotee.

“Lord Nityānanda, who is omniscient because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, came to the house of Rāmacandra Khān and sat down on the altar of the Durgā-maṇḍapa.”
CC Antya-lila 3.150

When Lord Chaitanya had Mahaprakash lila at Srivas Thakura’s place, He moved the Saligram sila to the side and sat on the altar. Often Lord Chaitanya’s activities are exemplary, and sometimes they are not. It is called the Isvara principle. Srila Prabhupada said Lord Krishna does exemplary things which we should follow, but sometimes He does things that are not exemplary, such as dancing with the gopis. Because He is the Lord, if He wants to do something He can do it.

We should have transcendental intelligence to understand what to follow and what not to follow.

Srila Prabhupada was traveling for the first time with foreign devotees. There was no temple, and they were staying with devotees. But those devotees had some sahajiya ideas. They asked Srila Prabhupada to tell about rasa dance. Every day they asked the question, and Srila Prabhupada avoided it. When they kept on persisting then Srila Prabhupada said, “You may be qualified to hear it, but I am not qualified to speak about it.”

Ramchandra Khan suffers

As Lord Chaitanya did during the beginning of Mahaprakash lila, similarly Lord Nityananda sat on the Durga Mandap.

A servant came and asked what they could do. Lord Nityananda said, “Can we stay here tonight?” The servant went in and told Ramachandra Khan, but Ramachandra Khan did not come out.

Uninvited guests should be taken as God.

And here Lord Nityananda is God. Ramachandra Khan was so ignorant that he did not come out to meet or greet the Lord. The servant came out and said that Ramachandra Khan had asked him to accompany them to a local house, a cowshed, because this place was not spacious. It was very offensive.

Lord Nityananda said: “Rāmacandra Khān has spoken rightly. This place is unfit for Me. It is fit for cow-killing meat-eaters.” CC Antya 3.155

Ramachandra Khan ordered the servant to dig up the dirt in the place where Lord Nityananda had sat. He wanted to throw away the dirt. To purify the place, he sprinkled water and used cow dung. Ramachandra Khan went berserk. But Lord Nityananda is God. Because of making such offenses, things went downhill for Ramachandra Khan.

Ramachandra Khan was in the practice of hiding taxes. The Muslim minister of finance understood this and came to his place, the same place where Lord Nityananda was refused to stay. The minister arrested Ramachandra Khan, killed a cow there, and cooked the meat in that place. He continuously plundered their house and village for three days.

Ramachandra Khan lost his position, money, and followers, and the village became abandoned.

“Wherever an advanced devotee is insulted, for one man’s fault the entire town or place is afflicted.” CC Antya-lila 3.164

---

Because of Sringi’s fault whole Brahminical society suffered

Maharaj Parikshit was cursed by Sringi, the son of Samika Rsi. Samika Rsi was a devotee. Not only Maharaj Parikshit died, but the whole brahminical society gradually went downhill because of the fault of Sringi.

It takes a village to educate a child. Sringi was not qualified. He was proud and got carried away. Maharaj Parikshit was a pure devotee of the Lord and was ruling as a first-class Vaishnava. Like Ramachandra Khan, Sringi insulted Maharaj Parikshit.

At least locally everyone should have tried correcting Sringi.

Samika Rsi had not trained him properly. He had only trained him to curse. The village brahmanas were also negligent in correcting him.

One difficulty is how to deal with faults effectively. For example, when we see a senior breaking principles, if you are junior then do not try to correct them unless it is an emergency.

We should try to get a suitable devotee to correct the situation. If someone sincerely tries to correct, there may not be any reaction.

Lord Nityananda wanted to deliver Jagai and Madhai to glorify Lord Chaitanya. Since Lord Nityananda’s devotees were not properly treated, He behaved in this way with Ramchandra Khan.

Few examples of Vaishnava Etiquette

On 21^st Feb 2026, HH Bhakti Chaitanya Swami Maharaja spoke on the topic of Vaishnava Etiquette at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata. Maharaja explained the topic with few examples from scriptures especially Chaitanya Charitramrta.

Below is what Maharaj said during the class.

1. Lord Chaitanya and Govinda – The Mood of Service

Lord Chaitanya had been having a big kirtan with many devotees. During the kirtan, he was spinning, and tears from his eyes were coming out to the point that everyone surrounding him was getting wet. He led an amazing kirtan. After the kirtan, Lord Chaitanya was transcendentally tired.

We might say how the Supreme Personality of Godhead can feel tired. But the Lord can feel tired. If He really wants to feel tired, He can feel even more tired. For example, we know that once Lord Krishna had a headache. When Lord Krishna has a headache, then He has the best headache.

Lord Chaitanya was tired, and he came to Gambhira. Like every day, Govinda came to massage his feet after lunch. This was Lord Chaitanya’s routine.

Govinda, Lord Chaitanya’s personal servant, was a disciple of Isvara Puri. So he was the godbrother of Lord Chaitanya, but Isvara Puri instructed Govinda to become the personal servant of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. So, Lord Chaitanya accepted him as a servant.
Rather than accepting service from a godbrother, we should render service.

Lord Chaitanya would doze off transcendentally, Govinda would stop the massage, and Govinda would go and eat the remnants of Lord Chaitanya.

But this time Lord Chaitanya was more tired, and what happened was that he lay down across the doorway of Gambhira. If Govinda had to go, he had to step over Lord Chaitanya.

As per Vaishnava etiquette, we do not step over anyone’s body.
We should not step over anything sacred.

Govinda said, “Could you please let me go through?” But the Lord said, “I do not have the strength to move.” Govinda asked repeatedly, and Lord Chaitanya repeatedly said, “I do not have the strength.”

Lord Chaitanya dozed off. Govinda put a wrapper over the Lord’s body and entered inside the room, and Govinda massaged the Lord’s legs, back, and so on, relieving the Lord of his fatigue.

Srila Prabhupada in his 70s would have massage sometimes twice a day. It helped him physically to function.

The Lord slept nicely for 45 minutes. When he woke up, he saw Govinda sitting. Lord Chaitanya was somewhat angry: “Why are you sitting so long? Why did you not take your meal?”

Govinda said, “You were blocking the door, so I could not go.” So Lord Chaitanya asked, “How did you get in there? Why don’t you go out the way you came in?” Govinda did not say anything but was thinking:

“I am willing to commit thousands of offenses to serve the Lord, but not the tiniest offense for myself.”

“These are some of the finer points of etiquette in devotional service. Only one who has received the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu can understand these principles.” Chaitanya Charitamrita Antya 10.100

Lord Chaitanya did not pursue it when Govinda did not say anything.

An important lesson in Krishna Consciousness is not to step over anything sacred.

It was the plan of the Lord to make us understand what to do and what not to do and to glorify the devotees.

---

2. Sanatana Goswami – Ornament of Vaishnava Etiquette

Sanatana Goswami was staying some distance away from Lord Chaitanya. Sometimes Lord Chaitanya would come to visit Sanatana Goswami and vice versa.

One day when Sanatana Goswami arrived, Lord Chaitanya noticed that Sanatana Goswami had blisters on the bottom of his feet. Lord Chaitanya asked what happened.

Sanatana Goswami explained that he came to visit, and there was a direct route that required walking in front of Lord Jagannath. But at that time Sanatana Goswami had sores on his body which were painful; maggots and insects would be there, and if they fell Sanatana Goswami would put them back.

Sanatana Goswami said if he walked in front of the temple, some people might get contaminated and may go to serve Lord Jagannath, which would be a great offense. So he chose to walk around. It seems that it was summer, and he was walking under the sun.

Sanatana Goswami accepted difficulty to avoid Vaishnava offense.

When Lord Chaitanya heard this, he was pleased. He said:

“Maintenance of the Vaishnava etiquette is the ornament of a devotee.”

By not observing Vaishnava etiquette, you lose respect in this world and the next world.

After saying this, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu embraced Sanatana Goswami and moisture from the sores smeared Lord Chaitanya’s body. Sanatana Goswami was distressed.

A little later Lord Chaitanya embraced him again, and the sores on Sanatana Goswami’s body disappeared.

In England, English people, particularly the higher classes, are very attached to doing the right thing. There are books about what to do and what not to do.

When Queen Victoria visited India once, there was a state dinner. All important people were there. At the end, everyone was given a finger bowl. But Queen Victoria was not familiar with it, so she drank it. Other people, seeing her, drank it too.

---

3. Essence of Bhagavad Gita – Pure Devotion

A story when Lord Chaitanya was staying in Sri Rangam during the rainy season with Venkatta Bhatta and Gopala Bhatta.

Lord Chaitanya was staying in their house, a few hundred meters from the Ranganath temple. Lord Chaitanya would go to the temple many times. He noticed that there was a devotee looking at Bhagavad Gita. Lord Chaitanya noticed him every day.

Lord Chaitanya noticed that some locals would joke with him and make fun of him. Sometimes, while looking at the book, tears would come from the devotee’s eyes.

Lord Chaitanya went to speak with him. While reading verses he pronounced them incorrectly. Some found it amusing. The devotee did not care and continued reading the book.

While reading, his body was manifesting transcendental symptoms: the body trembled, and there were tears and perspiration.

Lord Chaitanya asked, “Why are you in transcendental ecstasy? Which part of the Bhagavad Gita gives you transcendental pleasure?”

The devotee said, “Sometimes I read properly, sometimes improperly. But my spiritual master asked me to read daily.”

Following the order of the spiritual master is real devotion.

Lord Chaitanya asked, “Which part stimulates you in the Bhagavad Gita?”

The devotee replied:

“When I see Lord Krishna as Arjuna’s chariot driver, I become overwhelmed with devotion.”

Even though others make jokes, I am not distracted.

Lord Chaitanya said:

“Although you may not be able to read the Bhagavad Gita properly, you have understood its essence.”

“You are the authority on the Bhagavad Gita.”

The devotee said, “You are the same Lord Krishna.” Somehow or other he got this realization too.

Lord Chaitanya taught him thoroughly and said, “Please don’t tell anyone that I am Lord Krishna.” For four months he was in the company of Lord Chaitanya.

Lord Krishna intervenes in the lives of His devotees.

Maybe you all would have had such experiences.