Category Archives: Blogs

Hare Kṛṣṇa, In the context of this lesson from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta,  two verses from Śrī Prema Samputa find relevance. Śrī Kṛṣṇa says, “In enjoying pastimes of love, Rādhā is the best, and in love-in-separation, Rādhā is the best millions and billions of times over. These two kinds of love attain their highest purity and intensityContinue reading “Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā Chapter 4.1-28: Two Reasons for the Lord’s Appearance”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, In my humble reflection, I cannot recall encountering another Vaiṣṇava text in which Śrī Rādhā so deeply unveils Her heart. We do read in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta that Śrī Kṛṣṇa longs to understand the glory of Rādhārāṇī’s love, the extraordinary qualities in Himself that only She relishes through Her love, and the happiness SheContinue reading “Śrī Prema-sampuṭa, Texts 62-141”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, My heartfelt gratitude to our dear teachers for introducing us to this gem of a book – Śrī Prema-sampuṭa. I am reading it for the first time, and I am truly delighted by its beautiful and profound subject matter. Curious to understand more about what this book contains—especially the meaning of the wordContinue reading “Śrī Prema-sampuṭa, Texts 1-61”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, I offer my sincere gratitude to our respected teachers for sharing supplementary materials on the rāsa dance pastimes. As I mentioned in my previous forum post, the notion that one lacks adhikāra (eligibility) to study certain books of our ācāryas is another phenomenon often seen in our movement—much like the commonly cited “prohibition”Continue reading “SB 10.29-33: Kṛṣṇa Bhāvanāmṛta + Gopisvara Mahadeva”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, For many years I remained under the impression that the sacred narration of the rāsa-līlā was a subject to be approached only with great hesitation and restraint. Among devotees it was commonly advised that one should set aside the five chapters describing this divine pastime and instead read the remaining portions of theContinue reading “SB 10.33.25-39: Conclusion of The Rāsa Dance”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, This lesson on the conversation between Maharaja Pariksit and Sukadeva Goswami is deeply profound. Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s question to Śukadeva Gosvāmī reveals a crucial theological tension: Parīkṣit Mahārāja said: O brāhmaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord of the universe, has descended to this earth along with His plenary portion to destroy irreligionContinue reading “SB 10.33.26-34: Maharaja Pariksit’s Inquiry About Kṛṣṇa’s Actions”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Lord Caitanya’s remembrance of the rāsa dance lovingly instructs us sādhakas on how to remember and meditate upon Lord Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa-līlā pastimes. The act of reading or meditating on the rāsa-līlā is not forbidden; what is forbidden is to hear these sacred pastimes from non-devotees, devoid of proper realization and devotion. In aContinue reading “Remembering The Rāsa Dance Watersports”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, For one who aspires to study and appreciate the rāsa dance of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs, it is absolutely essential to be firmly situated in proper philosophical understanding—namely, that these divine pastimes are completely devoid of even a trace of material sexual desire. On this point, all our ācāryas speak with oneContinue reading “SB 10.33.17-25: No Question Of Sex Desire During The Rāsa Dance”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, The description of the Rāsa dance becomes progressively more esoteric, confidential, and intimate—so much so that it feels technically beyond my present ability to fully grasp its essence. Nevertheless, the following are some key aspects of this lesson that especially stood out to me: The gopis had only one desire – to pleaseContinue reading “SB 10.33.7-16: Description of The Rāsa Dance”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, It is good to have a proper definition of the rāsa dance as given by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura. “When the actions of singing, dancing, kissing and embracing combine together they produce rāsa. Amusement composed of rāsa is called rāsa-krīḍām or the rāsa dance. Joyfully entwining their arms together, Kṛṣṇa played with those gopis, the jewels among women, who were now favorably disposed (anuvrataiḥ).” (SB 10.33.2:Continue reading “SB 10.31.1-6:  Kṛṣṇa gave the rāsa-līlā the independence to initiate the action”