Grand 125th
appearance day celebration of
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math’s
Founder-President-Acharya,
Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa
Parivrajakacharya-varya
Ashtottara-shata-sri
Srila Bhakti Rakshak
Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj
6 pm Tuesday, October 22nd
in Santa Cruz and San Jose
devam divya-tanum suchanda-vadanam
balarka-celancitam
sandrananda-puram sad-eka-varanam
vairagya-vidyambudhim
sri-siddhanta-nidhim subhakti-lasitam
sarasvatanam-varam
vande tam subhadam mad-eka-saranam
nyasisvaram sridharam
“I fall at the feet of Srila Sridhar Dev, who with charming expression sings his songs of sweet nectar. Dressed in fine garments like the newly-risen sun, he is the true saint the devotees have chosen. His detachment and knowledge are just like an ocean, the treasure-house of complete, perfect conclusions. Radiant in pastimes of loving devotion, the abode of pure ecstasy, bestower of good fortune; foremost true follower of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta, foremost great general of the whole renounced order, my lord and my master, and my only shelter. I worship the lotus feet of Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj.”
-Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Maharaj
Dear *|MERGE3|*,
On behalf of Srila Janardan Maharaj I cordially invite you to attend this evening’s festival celebrating the Divine Appearance in this world of our worshippable divine guardian Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, the founder acharya of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.
Join us at 6 pm for worship of Their Lordships Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Giridhari in Santa Cruz or Sri Sri Guru Gaurangasundar in San Jose. There will be special Kartik kirtans, glorification of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, and a sumptous prasadam feast.
6 pm on Tuesday, October 22nd
Santa Cruz and San Jose
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashrams
Yours in the Lord’s service,
Sushila devi dasi
Relevant links
- Extensive selection of articles, audio and photos about Srila Sridhar Maharaj on SCSMath.com
- Autobiography originally published in Centenary Anthology posted on SCSMathInternational.com
- Collection of photos of Srila Sridhar Maharaj on SCSMathInternational.com
Video: Sri Guru: Our Object of Worship and Affection. An informal discourse at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Nabadwip Dham, West Bengali, India in February of 1982 by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.
Watch the video on Youtube
Read the transcript
Video: The Highest Harmony. An informal discourse at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Nabadwip Dham, West Bengali, India in February of 1982 by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.
Watch the video on Youtube
Read the transcript
Video: Our Loving Guardian, His Creation, and the Spirit of His Service. An informal discourse at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Nabadwip Dham on 17 February 1982 by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Portions of this discourse were used to compile the books Loving Search For The Lost Servant and Subjective Evolution of Consciousness.
Watch the video on Youtube
Read the transcript
Video: The Divine Feet of Krishna. Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj discusses the importance of remembering the Lord’s guardianship and the Rupanuga-dhara.
Watch the lecture on Youtube
Video: The Jewel in Your Heart. Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj explains the importance of preserving the gift one receives from Sri Guru.
Watch the video on Youtube
Biography
The following is an excerpt from the biography of Srila Sridhar Maharaj:
“After the passing of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Goswami Prabhupad, Srila Sridhar Maharaj’s Godbrothers, associates, and the public, naturally revered him as the senior-most representative of the Sri Gaudiya Sampradaya, although Srila Sridhar Maharaj himself was more inclined to anonymity as a humble Vaishnava. Nonetheless, by the call of divine duty and divine inspiration, he established the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math at Sri Nabadwip Dham, hinting in a short Sanskrit poem that the Math — as a sanctuary where the holy message of his Gurudev, Sri Rupa, and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was preached — would inevitably become renowned throughout the world amongst the sincere and pious seekers of Unalloyed Truth and Divinity.”
Link to biography on SCSMath.com
Disciplic succession
Among Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupad‘s exalted disciples, two are world-famous: Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Maharaj and Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad. Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad is the great inaugurator of Krishna consciousness in the Western world who spread the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu everywhere. Srila Sridhar Maharaj, the founder of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, was appreciated by Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad for his high realizations and ability to present the most sublime conclusions of Krishna consciousness.
After Srila Sridhar Maharaj’s departure from this world in 1988, his disciple, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Maharaj represented the Gaudiya Vaishnava disciplic succession, and was the chosen successor and President Acharya [Divine Guardian] of Srila Sridhar Maharaj’s Mission, the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. Srila Govinda Maharaj also traversed the globe on many World Tours to preach the message of Mahaprabhu extensively. His ability to purely represent the disciplic succession has distinguished Srila Govinda Maharaj as a jagat guru, or world teacher. Srila Govinda Maharaj established the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram in Santa Cruz. When Srila Govinda Maharaj departed this world he established Srila Janardan Maharaj as the Seva Ashram’s acharya.
Link to read more on SCSMath.com
Kartik month
Audio: This auspicious month of Karttik, Damodar. Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj giving a class at our Saint Petersburg Temple. English lecture with Russian translation by Kundalata Devi Dasi. 9 October 2006:
Download, or listen online (25 minutes, 4.3 MB mp3 audio).
Article: Month of Service — Life of Service. Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj discusses Kartik-vrata and niyom-seva. 13 October 2019:
Article:Kartik Vrata. Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj concisely explains the observance of Kartik in Sri Chaitanya Sāraswat Maṭh.Translated from the Bengali editorial published in Sri Gaudiya Darshan, Issue 3, Volume 3, 14 October 1957:
Audio: Saradiya Rasa Purnima and the beginning of Karttik. Morning informal discourse by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj at our Saint Petersburg Temple, Russia.7 October 2006:
Download, or listen online (4.2 MB mp3 audio).
Audio: Karttik Month begins. Class given by Srila Bhakti Sundar Dev-Goswami Maharaj in 1989 about the Holy Month of Karttik. “This month devotees are getting the chance to consciously follow higher Vaisnavism.” 14 October 1989, in Nabadwip.
Download, or listen online (22+ minutes, 5+ MB mp3 audio)
Audio: Karttik month. Narottam Das Thakur. Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj discusses in 1982 about the month of Karttik especially in relation to Srimati Radharani. His Divine Grace also extensively chants the glories of Srila Narottam Das Thakur in relation to his upcoming disappearance festival.
Kartik kirtan
Audio: Karttik Evening Kirttans. Siksastakam related kirtans composed by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, chanted here at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip, recorded and posted on the web in response to enquiries asking the tune to which these are sung.
Listen online (mp3 playlist)
or download (mp3 audio files):
Siksastakam Kirttans 1, 2 and 3 (9 minutes, 1.6 MB mp3 audio).
Siksastakam Kirttans 4, 5 and 6 (12 minutes, 2.1 MB mp3 audio).
Siksastakam Kirttans 7 and 8 (13+ minutes, 2.4 MB mp3 audio).
The Mahamantra chanted at the end (8+ minutes, 1.5 MB mp3 audio).
Additional Kirttans are chanted throughout Karttik at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math: six in the morning and a series of eight each evening. These are listed in The Daily Programme available here in pdf format (45 K), which refers to the Kirttan Guide book, available in full here in pdf format (650 K). The latest edition of the Kirtan Guide 7th edition is also available.
The following recordings were prepared informally by Sadhu Priya and Manasa Krishna Prabhus and are offered now only to assist newcomers in the temple in learning some of the kartik kirtans:
Please do not share them publicly.
Sri Sriman Mahaprabhu Sata-Nam
(nadiya nagare nitai nece nece gai re jagannath-suta mahaprabhu visvambhara) 10+ minutes
“In the towns and villages of Nadia, Lord Nityananda ecstatically dances and sings these names of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: Lord Chaitanya is the beloved son of Jagannath Misra; He is Mahaprabhu, the great master, protector, and maintainer of the whole world….”
Sri Krsner Vimsottara-Sata-Nam-Sankirtana
(nagare nagare gora gay yasomati-stanya-payi sri-nanda-nandana) 9 minutes
“From village to village Lord Gaura sings these names of Sri Krishna: Krishna is the baby who feeds on the breast of Mother Yasoda. He is the son of Maharaj Nanda, dark blue like and indra-nila gem, and the life of the residents of Vraja.”
Damodarastakam
(namaisvaram sac-cid-ananda rupam) 8+ minutes
“To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence, knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro, who is beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who is quickly running from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of Mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed—to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances.”
Radhe Jaya Jaya Madhava-daite 5+ minutes
“All liberated devotees, the highly qualified mukta-purusa devotees such as Sanaka and Sanatan, always glorify the abode of Krishna with His devotees and particularly the Supreme Servitor of Krishna, Srimati Radharani. O merciful Srimati Radharani, please bestow You mercy on me.”
Vaishnava calendar
Upcoming festivals and ekadasi dates:
October 21 – Bahulastami, Sannyas day of Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj
October 22 – Appearance of Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj and Virachandra Prabhu
October 24 – Ekadasi (fast from grains)
October 25 – Paran 7:27-11:03 am (break fast), Sriman Mahaprabhu’s auspicious arrival in Panihati
October 28 – Dipavali: Offering and placing lamps at mandir
October 29 – Sri Govardhan-puja
October 31 – Disappearance of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad
November 5 – Ekadasi (fast from grains)
November 6 – Paran 6:42-10:08 (break fast), Disappearance of Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji
November 12 – Krishna Rasa Yatra, Arrival of Sri Gaurangasundar in San Jose Seva Ashram
November 22 – Ekadasi (fast from grains)
November 23 – Paran 6:58-10:15 (break fast)
December 7 – Ekadasi (fast from grains)
December 8 – Paran 7:14-10:24 (break fast)
December 14 – Appearance of Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj
December 16 – Disappearance of Bhagavan Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur
December 21 – Ekadasi (fast from grains)
December 22 – Paran 7:37-10:32 (break fast)
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
Dear *|MERGE3|*,
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:
“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….
Watch the video from the festival on Facebook. Click here…
Dear devotees, friends and seekers,
Dear devotees and friends of the Ashram,