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Hare Kṛṣṇa, Another splendid section of the Gopī-gītā. The gopīs’ separation from Kṛṣṇa—their anguish, their glorification of Him, and their extraordinary poetic genius—seem to deepen with every verse. In this lesson, I was able to draw two striking parallels to the pastimes of Śrī Mahāprabhu. The gopis said, “O Kṛṣṇa, You exactly resemble Dhanvantari, theContinue reading “SB 10.31.10-18: Songs by the Gopīs (Gopī-gītā) – Texts 10-18”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, One of the twenty-six qualities of a devotee is that he or she is naturally poetic. We see this quality beautifully manifested in our ācāryas and ultimately in the gopīs themselves. The Gopī-gīta stands as a sublime example—an unparalleled outpouring of devotion expressed through poetry of the highest order. Every Sanskrit poetry hasContinue reading “SB 10.31.6-9: Songs by the Gopīs (Gopī-gītā) – Texts 6-9”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, The gopī-gītā are the wonderful songs sung by the gopīs overwhelmed by feelings of separation from Kṛṣṇa. My material mind thinks that separation is typically painful; it is devoid of joy and blisṣ. At times I  wonder how could the gopīs live in constant pain and misery. Even Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, during HisContinue reading “SB 10.31.1-5: Gopī-gītā, Part One (Texts 1 thru 5)”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, CC Madhya 8.160: “The essential part of love of Godhead is called mahābhāva, transcendental ecstasy, and that ecstasy is represented by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. CC Adi 4.69: Śrī Rādhā Ṭhākurāṇī is the embodiment of mahābhāva. She is the repository of all good qualities and the crest jewel among all the lovely consorts of LordContinue reading “CC Madhya-lila 8.151-197: Glories of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī — Part 3”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Even though this lesson is titled ‘Glories of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’, it describes Krsna’s glories more. Which makes sense since we must understand and appreciate Krsna’s glories fully before understanding and appreciating Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī glories. “The name Madana refers to Cupid, but Kṛṣṇa is the spiritual Madana. His body is not material like theContinue reading “CC Madhya-lila 8.135-150: Glories of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī — Part 2”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Text 98: “Among the loving affairs of the gopīs,” Rāmānanda Rāya continued, “Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s love for Śrī Kṛṣṇa is topmost. Indeed, the glories of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī are highly esteemed in all revealed scriptures.” yathā rādhā priyā viṣṇos tasyāḥ kuṇḍaṁ priyaṁ tathā sarva-gopīṣu saivaikā viṣṇor atyanta-vallabhā Text 99: “ ‘Just as Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is mostContinue reading “CC Madhya-lila 8.98-134: Glories of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī — Part 1”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, This chapter and lesson contain multiple layers of profound philosophical insights woven together. There is an important lesson on how pride is not a desirable quality in bhakti. Srimati Radharani, like the other gopis, was also intoxicated with pride over Her good fortune on associating with Kṛṣṇa alone. This is when Kṛṣṇa disappearedContinue reading “SB 10.30.34-44: How Finding Rādhārāṇī Changed the Gopīs’ Attitudes”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, “Remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet destroys everything inauspicious and awards the greatest good fortune. It purifies the heart and bestows devotion for the Supreme Soul, along with knowledge enriched with realization and renunciation.” (SB 12.12.55) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu further inquired, “Out of many types of meditation, which is required for all livingContinue reading “SB 10.30.24-33: Meditating on the Lotus Feet of the Lord”

Hare Kṛṣṇa “In four verses (19-22) Sri Sukadeva Gosvāmī describes how the gopis, who were totally absorbed in meditating upon and acting out Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, came under the sway of the saṇcāri-bhāva known as unmāda. Thus they lost their own self-awareness and totally identified themselves with Kṛṣṇa, exclaiming, “I am Kṛṣṇa and walk around with My arm resting on the shouldersContinue reading “SB 10.30.11-23: Phases of the Sancari-bhava called Unmada”

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Today marks the last day of Śrī Bhīṣma Pañcaka. The final five days of Kārtika, known as Bhīṣma Pañcaka, are especially recommended for reciting the prayers of Śrī Bhīṣmadeva (SB 1.9.32–42). While chanting these verses, I was particularly drawn to one prayer in which Bhīṣmadeva recalls the actions of the gopīs when KṛṣṇaContinue reading “SB 10.30.1-10: Kṛṣṇa Disappears from the Dance”