Author Archive for Sushila Devi Dasi
Please bring your family and friends to join the grand festival on Thursday at 10:30 am for the Divine Appearance of the Seva Ashram’s Founder-Acharya and affectionate Spritual Master Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj at the Soquel Seva Ashram. There will be kirtan, discourse and prasadam. Come to remember and share Srila Gurudev’s glorious qualities or come to learn more about him from his many qualified disciples.
Sunday, May 21st10 am – 1 pm
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!
This Sunday, May 21, 2023 we will celebrate the 27th anniversary of the installation of Their Lordships Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Giridharijiu here in Soquel. We are most blessed by Srila Gurudev to have such beautiful manifestations of His mercy here.
Their Lordships are served by our large family of devotees who come throughout the week to offer seva in the forms of cooking, puja, collections, cleaning, flower garlands, classes, gardening, maintaining the property and of course honoring prasadam.
Bring your family and friends the special celebration with discussion, kirtan and prasadam on Sunday 10 am to 1 pm. There will be an activity for children.
Sri Nrisingha Chaturdasi
Fast until dusk
Festival and anukalpa feast
Thursday, May 4, 2023
6-9 pm
Vyasapuja of Srila Bhakti Tilak Niriha Maharaj
Actual date is May 4th but the
celebration will be on May 5th, 2023
Sumptuous vegetarian feast
10:30 am – 1 pm
Dear devotees and friends of the Ashram,
There will be many festivals this month. Monday, May 1st is Ekadasi. Thursday, May 4th there will be a joyful evening festival for Sri Narasingha Chaturdasi, the divine appearance day of Lord Nrisinghadev beginning at 6 pm.
This is also the appearance day of Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj’s divine successor, Srila Bhakti Tilak Niriha Maharaj. This is the first time that we will honor him here at the Soquel Seva Ashram, under the direction of Srila Janardan Maharaj. Since Thursday is a fast day, Srila Janardan Maharaj has decided to celebrate the Vyasapuja festival on Friday when the devotees can prepare a big feast.
Srila Bhakti Tilak Niriha Maharaj’s facebook page
About Srila Bhakti Tilak Niriha Maharaj on SCS Math International
Please note another festival on the horizon. May 21st is the anniversary of the installation of Their Lordships Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Giridharijiu here at the Soquel Seva Ashram.
I hope you will be able to join in all the celebrations and watch on Facebook if you can’t make it in person.
Yours in the Lord’s service,
Sushila Devi Dasi
May calendar with ekadasi dates
Sri Nityananda Prabhu’s Divine Appearance
Friday, February 3, 2023 at 6 pm
Please join us at the Soquel Seva Ashram this Friday evening at 6 pm for the Appearance of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Join in the kirtan, hear the glories of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, and partake of a sumptuous vegetarian feast. There will be planned activities for children.
sri-krsna-premanama parama-sukhamayah ko 'pyachintyah padartho
yad gandhat sajjanaugha nigama-bahumatam moksam apy aksipanti
kaivalyaisvaryya-seva-pradagana iti yasyangatah premadatuh
sri-nityananda-chandram bhaja bhaja satatam gaura-krsna-pradam tam
My dear heart, please eternally worship that gracious giver of Gaura-Krishna—Sri Nityanandachandra. It is He who bestows upon us pure unalloyed divine love for the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna (Sri-Krishna-prema) composed of the most supreme and intense ecstasy. The love that He distributes carries an inconceivable import—it is of such ecstasy that the sadhus who may experience only a hint of its fragrance, hatefully cast away all thought of liberation in the ‘One’ as propounded in the Vedas. Furthermore, His Avataras, who bestow the divine love of service in the transcendental majesty of Vaikuntha, are but expansions of His expansion.
Sriman Nityananda Dvadasakam
By Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj
Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj
Vyasapuja Celebration
Wednesday, January 25th
10 am – 2 pm
Dear Friend of the Ashram,
I pray for your good association tomorrow at the Soquel Seva Ashram for a morning program celebrating the appearance of our acharya, Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj. He is always steady in his service to Srila Govinda Maharaj and very affectionate to the devotees and friends of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math the world over.
Yours in the Lord’s service,
Sushila Devi Dasi
Dear devotees and friends of the Ashram, we are open and look forward to seeing you, your family and friends. We have public programs every Sunday from 11-2 and on all the Vaishnava holidays. We offer evening classes Saturdays and Wednesdays. Call the Ashram for the latest schedule at (831) 462-4712.
Tune in on social media:
Live broadcasts of lectures and kirtans on Facebook
Daily readings of Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita on Youtube
Darshan photos of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Giridhari on Instagram
Stay current with the latest updates on Instagram
On the occasion of the 93rd anniversary day of the Divine appearance of Srila Govinda Maharaj, we would like to present these wonderful stories about the miraculous events that sometimes occurred around him.
On the occasion of the 85th anniversary day of the Divine appearance of Srila Govinda Maharaj, we would like to present these wonderful stories about the miraculous events that sometimes occurred around him. Read Story…
Srila Trivikram Maharaj tells the most wonderful story of the many miracles that happened during Srila Govinda Maharaj’s trip to the Krishna Shakti Ashram in Brazil in 1998 when a dead boy miraculously came back to life. Read Story…
Sripad Madhusudan Maharaj tells the miraculous story when the dead phone spoke, giving Srila Govinda Maharaj the news about acquiring the land in Vrindavan adjacent to the Sri Sri Radha Damodar Temple. Read Story…
Srila Govinda Maharaj tells the miraculous story of when Lord Shiva gave him the medicine to cure Srila Sridhar Maharaj who, due to ill health, was on the verge of departing from this world. Read Story…
At the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Govardhan, when they started plowing the gardens with a big tractor suddenly a very large Giriraj Shila came out of the land! Read Story…
In 1967 the land of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math was being threatened by the communist government in West Bengal. Here is the story of how Srila Govinda Maharaj had to prove in court who were the real owners of the Math’s land to protect it from the threat of government seizure. Read Story…
10:30 am – 1:30 pm
Tuesday, December 21st
Please join us for this most auspicious celebration of the Divine Vyasa-Puja Appearance Day of our dear most friend and guardian Sri Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. The program will be led by one Srila Gurudev’s most dedicated servitors, Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj.
You can watch from home on our Facebook page. You do not need a Facebook account to watch.
Pranam-mantra:
gurvvabhista-supurakam guru-ganair asisa-sambhusitam
chintyachintya-samasta-veda-nipunam sri-rupa-panthanugam
govindabhidham ujjvalam vara-tanum bhakty anvitam-sundaram
vande visva-gurun cha divya-bhagavat-premno hi bija-pradam
“I offer my obeisance unto he who perfectly fulfils his Gurudev’s most cherished desires; who is fully adorned with the blessings of his Gurudev’s associates; who is expert in all aspects of Vedic knowledge, both conceivable and inconceivable; who is the pre-eminent follower of Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu’s line; who is known as ‘Govinda’—Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj; whose beautiful, effulgent, exalted form is infused with pure devotion; who is the Guru of the entire universe; and who is the giver of the seed of divine love for the Supreme Lord.”
Audio, video and texts in glorification of Srila Gurudev:
The following posts are from the archives of scsmath.com:
Audio: Glories of Srila Govinda Maharaj. Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj tells several stories in praise of Srila Govinda Maharaj including his impressive lecture at the opening of the Chandradoya Mandir, Mayapur; the story of the miser from Rarhadesh who gave Srila Gurudev a cartload of rice saying that he had filled his heart with joy; the medicine he gave to Srila Sridhar Maharaj when he was very sick which, in the words of Srila Guru Maharaj, “gave me new life”; among others. Srila Sridhar Maharaj confirms “He has got something from his previous life… he has got some siddhi”.
A talk given on the occasion of Srila Sridhar Maharaj’s Vyasa Puja, a day after Srila Govinda Maharaj’s sannyas ceremony. Nabadwip, 7 November 1985:
16+ minutes, 3.8 MB mp3 audio
Audio: Sri Vyasa Puja, 1989. Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj is glorified by Sripad Janardan and Sripad Ashram Maharaj, then Srila Govinda Maharaj speaks to the devotees in English and in Bengali. “Now Guru Maharaj is not in form of human body in front of us, but I know that his divine direction is always guiding us… We shall try to maintain our devotional life with the service of Guru, Vaishnava, Bhagavan. This is my birthday and I am very happy that all the Vaishnavas are very merciful and blessful to me. I am giving my full dandavats to all the Vaishnavas, Gurudevas and well-wishers. They do not take my offences, I know. My prayer is that, until death, if i can serve the Deities, devotees and the Math I shall be very happy.”
Informal discourse by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, introduced by Sripad B.P. Janardan Maharaj and Sripad B.K. Ashram Maharaj. Nabadwip, 14 December 1989:
33 minutes, 7+ MB mp3 audio
Audio: Srila Govinda Maharaj speaking two days before his Sri Vyasa-Puja in 1999. “I am expecting so many devotees to come to my birthday festival and they will bring so many gifts to me, but what shall I give to them? … I think I can give some relief to them if they will follow me. … What is necessary to remove the obstacles in the path of devotion? Obstacle is asat-sanga, bad association. How much it can do wrong, we cannot conceive it.”
22 December 1999:
11+ minutes, 2 MB mp3 audio
Audio: Srila Govinda Maharaj speaking two days before his Sri Vyasa-Puja in 1999. “I am expecting so many devotees to come to my birthday festival and they will bring so many gifts to me, but what shall I give to them? … I think I can give some relief to them if they will follow me. … What is necessary to remove the obstacles in the path of devotion? Obstacle is asat-sanga, bad association. How much it can do wrong, we cannot conceive it.”
22 December 1999:
11+ minutes, 2 MB mp3 audio
Video slides. Sri Vyasa Puja festival of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj celebrated in Nabadwip on 4th December 2009, with soundtrack of ‘Sri Guru Arati’. Srila Gurudev graced the devotees with his divine presence in the nat mandir on this historic occasion.
8 minutes, 14 MB ‘wmv’ video slide-show
(Download, or stream if you have the speed. View with VLC, Windows Media Player, etc. Mac users can also view with QuickTime Player after installing the free Flip4Mac.)
Srila Gurudev visits Sripat Bamunpara, the village of his holy appearance, and Nadanghat from where he came to Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in 1947. Much to the delight of the devotees His Divine Grace Srila Govinda Maharaj personally attended these festivities continuing the celebrations of Sri Vyasa-Puja. Five web-pages including pictures, synopsis of events and interviews with devotees about the significance of Bamunpara.
Talk by Pujyapada Satprasangananda Prabhu (later to become Sri Nayanananda Das Babaji Maharaj) in glorification of Srila Govinda Maharaj in Nabadwip in 1986.
“Our Govinda Maharaj is now the chief inspiration behind that [Srila Sridhar Maharaj’s] preaching … He was an expert in kirtan and playing the mrdanga; his kirtan was always ecstatic. From the time of his coming here to Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, the Transcendental Service of the Deities Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govindasundar became manifest more and more beautifully and gloriously. This gave us much joy. For this, Srila Sridhar Maharaj delegated all service responsibility of his Math, preaching and devotees to Govinda Maharaj…”
Vaishnava Thakur. Excerpt from Dignity of the Divine Servitor. Glorification of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Maharaj from a lecture given by Sripad B.S. Goswami Maharaj on the Appearance Day of Srila Govinda Maharaj in San Mateo, California, 1990. (2.2 MB pdf file.)
Audio:Preparing for Sri Vyasa-Puja. Morning class by Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj two days before the grand 82nd Appearance Festival of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.
Nabadwip, 21 December 2010:
30 minutes, 5+ MB mp3 audio
Audio: Sri Vyasa Puja discourses by Sripad B.B. Avadhut Maharaj and Sripad Mahananda Prabhu with translation to Bengali by Sripad B.P. Tirtha Maharaj, on Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj’s 84th Appearance Festival. In addition Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj, Sripad B.P. Tirtha Maharaj and Sripad B.K. Tyagi Maharaj all spoke extensively, mainly in Bengali, chanting Srila Gurudev’s glories.
Nabadwip, 30 December 2012:
31+ minutes, 7+ MB mp3 audio
Audio: Three additional recordings of Srila Gurudev Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj posted on AbsoluteSweetness.org along with photos, notes and subscribe-able podcast link to the audio.
Spoken 28 March 2007 in Nabadwip, 30 minutes
Spoken 30 March 2007 in Nabadwip, 39 minutes
Spoken 1 April 2007 in Nabadwip, 50 minutes
Thursday October 7th at 10:30 am
Please join Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj in the temple at 10:30 am on Thursday, October 7th celebrate the Vyasapuja of Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj.
The following selections are posted on scsmathinternational.com
His Divine Grace’s Sri Vyasa Puja Festival in 2013:
Sri Vyasa Puja Day: My Mood and Request
“Every day is a service day for me, but today is the day when I must serve devotees more. I do not know how much I can surrender, but Gurudev made me his dog, and that is why I am serving as his dog—I am still serving and protecting the temple as a dog…”
• Download / listen to the audio (1.5 Mb, 5 min)
Sri Vyasa Puja Day: Appreciating Mercy
“You have already got it from Gurudev. We have lost our address and Krishna sent Gurudev to take us to our address. So, we already understand what is our real home. Always be successful in your spiritual life, always proceed in your spiritual life.”
• Download / listen to the audio (1.1 Mb, 3 min)
Sri Vyasa Puja Day: My Only Prayer
“I am very happy to see you all. You are celebrating this festival, but actually for me this day is not a day to take puja from others, but today is the day when I must give puja to all the devotees…”
• Download / listen to the audio (1 Mb, 3 min)
Chaste and Selfless
“If you have attachment to service for your own happiness, not for the happiness of your Guru—if your own happiness means more to you than the happiness of your Guru—then it is a problem.”
• Download / listen to the audio (4.2 Mb, 13 min; English and Bengali)
Dear devotees,
We are happy to announce the upcoming arrival of dear Vishakha Devi Dasi. She will be staying in America for a month, which gives us a wonderful opportunity for Vaishnava association. This is her schedule:
August
16th-19th— SCS Seva Ashram, San Jose, CA
18th — Namahatta at the 497 N. 17th Street Ashram, San Jose, CA
19th — Outdoor kirtan concert with Jayadeva das at SCS Seva Ashram, San Jose, CA
(Please RSVP with Kumkum Didi if you plan on attending this event. This is a CDC-compliant program. Masks will be required indoors. https://covid19.sccgov.org/public-health-orders)
20th-25th — SCS Seva Ashram, Soquel, CA
20th — Pleasure Point Yoga, Santa Cruz, CA 7:30 pm
26th-31st — Austin, Texas
27th — Casa De Luz, Synergy Room, Austin, TX 6:30 pm
28th — Open House at Sridhar Govinda Seva Sanctuary, Dripping Springs, TX 11:30-3 pm
September
1st-6th — Salt Lake City, UT
7th-11th — Programs in Santa Barbara, CA
11th — Namahatta in Dana Point, CA 3:30-7:30 pm
12th-14th — Tijuana, Mexico
15th-17th — Ojai, CA
16th — Kirtan and pool party at the Ananda Verandah, Ojai, CA
18th — Namahatta at the house of Krishnashraya Prabhu, Berkeley, CA
19th-20th — SCS Seva Ashram, Soquel, CA
For any questions, please contact Cinmoy Dev das: (831) 239-0235
Join us at the Seva Ashram at 10:30 am on Sunday, August 8th to honor His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. The program will be broadcast on Facebook as well.
Read the biography of Srila Sridhar Maharaj Click here…
For a library of Srila Guru Maharaj’s downloadable books Click here…
devam divya-tanum suchanda-vadanam balarka-chelanchitam
sandrananda-puram sad-eka-varanam vairagya-vidyambudhim
sri-siddhanta-nidhim subhakti-lasitam sarasvatanam varam
vande tam subhadam mad-eka-saranam nyasisvaram sridharam
I offer my obeisance unto my lord, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, whose speech is most pleasing; whose divine form is adorned with garments the colour of the newly-risen sun; who is an abode of intense, ecstatic devotion; who is the sadhus’ sole choice; who is an ocean of renunciation and knowledge; who is a treasure-house of perfect conclusions; who is resplendent with pure devotion; who is the best of Srila Saraswati Thakur’s followers; who is the giver of all good; who is the leading general of the tridandi-sannyasis; and who is my sole shelter.
kanaka-suruchirangam sundram saumya-murtih
vibudhakula-varenyam sri-gurum siddhipurtim
taruna-tapanabasam bhaktidan-chid-vilasam
bhaja bhaja tu manore! sridharam samvidhanam
I am always worshipping with great joy within my heart Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, whose limbs are of the radiant golden colour and form is beautiful and moon-like gentle; Sri Guru who excels among the most learned and who is filled with all perfections; who is adorned by the garments the colour of the rising sun and who is engaged in the joyful Pastimes of bestowing bhakti, devotion.
Disappearance of Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharyya-varyya Astottara-sata
Sri Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj
Monday, July 20th
Virtual festival at 11 am
Dear friend of the Ashram,
Please tune in to join Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj at the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram this Monday at 11 am to honor the Divine Disappearance festival of our most worshippable Param Guru Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.
The program will be broadcast on our Facebook page (no login required).
Many beautiful resources are linked on SCSMath.com for today.
“The destination has been settled, but how shall I reach it? When shall I reach it? Those who come to my aid to take me there–they are my masters, my Gurus: Siksa-gurus and Diksa-guru. Whoever helps me to go there is my Guru. He is my guide who will help me to reach my located destination, the station of my innermost hankering….
He has helped me to locate my destination; he has educated me how and what to aspire after, and how to reach that highest aspired shelter. I have attained all these things through him. He is my all-in-all in life, the master of my life. There is a boat, and he is the helmsman (guru-karna-dharam). I have surrendered unto him, I have accepted him. I have boarded his boat and he is taking me towards the goal of my life.”
-Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami
Sunday, April 5th Virtual program at 11 am ~ observe at home
If you would like to write an offering email it to Krsnapriya DD: krsnapriya@sevaashram.net
Dear Friend of the Ashram,
Due to the current shelter-in-place order the Santa Cruz Seva Ashram is closed. Temple residents need to be protected as well as anyone else so please refrain from visiting.
The Divine Disappearance Day of our dear Divine Master and Gurudev, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj will be April 5th. Please observe this important day at home and tune in to the program on Facebook. If you would like to write an offering emails can be sent to krsnapriyadd@sevaashram.net.
Videos are on our Facebook page
(no login required)
The new vaishnava calendar is linked below.
Yours in the Lord’s service,
Sushila Devi Dasi
Vaishnava calendar:
Booklet format calendar for 2020-2021 version 2
Seva-Ashram-wall-calendar-April-2020
Bookmark the calendar webpage
Public programs are on hold for now at the temple. There will be no Sunday program today. However, Janardan Maharaj will broadcast a class that you can watch from the comfort of your own home. Please continue to tune in online for all your favorite programs.
Videos are on our Facebook page
(no login required)
New vaishnava calendar:
Booklet format calendar for 2020-2021 version 2
Seva-Ashram-wall-calendar-March-2020
Seva-Ashram-wall-calendar-April-2020
Bookmark the calendar webpage
Please navigate to our calendar page to see the 2020-2021 Gaudiya Vaishnava Calendar for Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.
Sri Gauranga Sundarjiu
worshipped at the San Jose Seva Ashram
Sri Gaura Purnima
Divine Appearance of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu
Monday, March 9th
6 pm in Santa Cruz and San Jose
Anandotsav Feast of
Sri Jagannath Mishra
Tuesday 12:30-1:30 pm in Santa Cruz
Virtual parikramas hosted by
Srila Janardan Maharaj
from the Santa Cruz Seva Ashram
(watch online!)
Thursday-Saturday 7-8:30 pm
Sunday 10:30 am-1 pm
Dear Friend of the Ashram,
Please join us for Sri Gaura Purnima. Bring your friends and family for the most auspicious celebration of the divine advent of the Golden Avatar Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, who appeared in this age of quarrel to distribute Divine Love to all the fallen souls and initiate the chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra as the yuga-dharma.
There will be virtual parikramas of Sri Nabadwip Dham led by Srila Janardan Maharaj at the Soquel Seva Ashram every evening Thursday-Saturday from 7-8:30 pm and Sunday 10:30 am -1 pm.
You can watch all the virtual parikramas and Monday’s festival on our Facebook page.
On Tuesday there will be a feast after the 12:30 pm arotik for Anandotsav of Sri Jagannath Mishra.
Yours in the Lord’s service,
Sushila Devi Dasi
Divine Appearance of Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj
Sevaite-Acharya of the
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram
Wednesday, January 29th
6 pm at the Soquel Seva Ashram
Dear Friend of the Ashram,
On Wednesday, January 29th at 6 pm please come out to celebrate our dear spiritual guide Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj, acharya of this Ashram and long time leader and inspiration to so many practitioners of bhakti yoga in the mission of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.
This event is a joyful opportunity to give due honor to Srila Janardan Maharaj and cherish our good fortune to have his spiritual guidance and leadership in our lives. There will of course, be a delicious feast afterwards.
I pray for your good association and that everyone will join together affectionately on this very happy and important day for our community.
Yours in the Lord’s service,
Sushila Devi Dasi
Watch the video of last year’s festival on Facebook. Click here…
Jivana Devi Dasi said on this occasion a few years ago:
“We have had the supreme good fortune of knowing Janardan Maharaj for so many years in ISKCON and even beyond. Not to embarrass Janardan Maharaj, but his depth of humility is so astonishing and so deep and so inspiring. Even when he was in ISKCON he was very well known and he had temples and money and all kinds of devotees at his disposal, but when Srila Prabhupad departed and he heard about Srila Guru Maharaj, he wanted to come to Srila Guru Maharaj. He felt something in his heart so strong for Srila Guru Maharaj and he very easily just left everything behind him to come to Srila Guru Maharaj….
He has so much affection for Srila Gurudev and Srila Gurduev loved Janardan Maharaj so much. He would always say so many beautiful things about him and just considered him one of his dear-most friends as well as a very qualified person for our mission. We are very fortunate for that. Srila Gurudev would sometimes comment how Janardan Maharaj at one point turned everybody over to Srila Gurudev with no hesitation, with great happiness, and Srila Gurudev was always very astonished at his beautiful humble mood and his genuine affection for him. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Janardan Maharaj, how much love and affection he’s given us, how much guidance he’s given us. He’s stuck through so many things, through thick and thin–never caring that we give him the proper respect or not. So many times we are always joking with him in so many ways, but deep in our hearts we are very grateful for Janardan Maharaj….”
About Srila Janardan Maharaj:
Have you ever listened to Janardan Maharaj’s daily reading of Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita by Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami? Here’s the first chapter of this incredible scripture:
120724 Adi 1a The Spiritual Masters.mp3 (64 minutes, 44.6 MB)*
120725 Adi 1b The Spiritual Masters.mp3 (48 minutes, 33.3 MB)
The first chapter begins with fourteen Sanskrit verses giving ontology so that we can understand the pastimes and what is going to be presented in the Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita. The first six verses describe Mahaprabhu, then the next five describe Nityananda Prabhu. The next two verses describe the truth of Adwaita Prabhu and the following verse describes the Pancha-tattva.
Listen to hundreds of lectures on our website. Click here…
Biography of Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj Click here…
An excerpt: “Srila Janardan Maharaj continued to travel and preach on behalf of Srila Govinda Maharaj and his relationship with him developed more and more and became deeper and deeper as the years went by. Srila Janardan Maharaj would visit India regularly and personally collected donations on behalf of the central Math. He would also participate in the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Nabadwip Dham Parikrama in a glorious way bringing so much inspiration to the devotees and much joy to Srila Govinda Maharaj’s heart.
Finally, before leaving this world, Srila Govinda Maharaj declared in his Last Will and Testament “And in America Sripad Janardan Maharaj is a perfect personality. He is a perfect gentlemen. He will be Acharya. He is Acharya already but has given all the respect to me; I am giving in return to him. Sripad Janardan Maharaj will become the Acharya and Sevaite of the Soquel Math.” So, under Srila Govinda Maharaj’s instruction, Srila Janardan Maharaj has continued to care for and serve his divine mission.”
Dear Friend of the Ashram,
Please accept my humble obeisances. Srila Bhakti Ranjan Madhusudan Maharaj will be visiting the Seva Ashram soon and there will be several opportunities to have his inspiring association.
Srila Madhusudan Maharaj is always engaged in selfless service to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga and was the longtime secretary of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math under the loving direction of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.
All over the world he is affectionately remembered by anyone who traveled to Sri Navadwip Dham, as he kindly and diligently accommodated everyone who stayed at the Math for 27 years. Please take advantage of the opportunity to serve and hear from Srila Madhusudan Maharaj on his upcoming visit.
Yours in the Lord’s service,
Sushila Devi Dasi
Schedule of events
Wednesday, January 15th
6 pm arotik followed by a class by Srila Madhusudan Maharaj in the Santa Cruz temple.
Friday, January 17th
Namahatta at the home of Bilwa Mangal Prabhu and Vaidehi Devi Dasi with guests of honor: Srila Janardan Maharaj and Srila Madhusudan Maharaj
Saturday, January 18th
Daytime hike/harinam. Call for details (831) 462-4712. Evening program at the San Jose Seva Ashram starting with 6 pm arotik.
Sunday, January 19th
Sunday feast in Santa Cruz 10:30 am – 1 pm followed by a hike on new trails and kirtan to the top of the hill.
Wednesday, January 22nd
6 pm arotik followed by a class by Srila Madhusudan Maharaj in the Santa Cruz temple.
Looking ahead, please note that at the end of the month there will be a festival:
January 29th
Appearance Day Celebration
Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj
Srila Bhakti Ranjan Madhusudan Maharaj
His Holiness Srila Bhakti Ranjan Madhusudan Maharaj is one of the foremost preachers in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and head of the Math’s ashram in Sri Vrindavan Dham, the holy place of Lord Krishna’s Pastimes.
Srila His spiritual quest led him first to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, and then to lotus feet of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, the founder-acharya of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.
In the early 80s he became an initiated disciple of Srila Sridhar Maharaj, was given the name Mahananda Das and began to lead a monastic life serving Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in India and Malaysia.
His valuable service to the community of devotees was acknowledged by Srila Sridhar Maharaj who gave him the title “Bhakti Ranjan,” “pleasing the Lord’s devotees.”
For many years Sripad Mahananda Bhakti Ranjan Prabhu was the secretary of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in service to Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. In that capacity he produced the Math’s website, published books, recorded many audio books, and organized so many things in the background. Perhaps he is most famous for lovingly and diligently caring for thousands of pilgrims from around the world when they stayed in Sri Navadwip Dham.
In his last will, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj wrote: “Sripad Mahananda Bhakti Ranjan Prabhu will be head in respect to spiritual matters of the devotees. He will be respected as the Chief Secretary of Srila Guru Maharaj and as my faithful friend. Specially the foreign devotees will respect and obey him and not cross over him.”
In 2013 Sripad Mahananda Prabhu took sannyas (monkhood) from Srila Bhakti Sudhir Goswami Maharaj and received the name “Bhakti Ranjan Madhusudan.”
Currently Srila Madhusudan Maharaj preaches around the world and serves as the head of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math’s temple in Vrindavan, in Northern India.
Relevant links
Lectures by Srila Madhusudan Maharaj posted by Infiniti Media on Youtube
Lectures by Srila Madhusudan Maharaj posted by Bhakti Connect on Youtube
Vaishnava calendar
Click the links below to view or download wall calendars for the rest of the year.
Seva-Ashram-wall-calendar-January-2020
Seva-Ashram-wall-calendar-February-2020
Seva-Ashram-wall-calendar-March-2020
Sri Govinda Mela 2019
Videos of lectures and events on our Facebook page
Photos from day 1
Photos from day 2
Photos from day 3
Photos from day 4
Photos from day 5