Dear friends,

We wholeheartedly invite you to the divine celebration of the 12th anniversary of Sriman Gauranga Sundar’s installation at His permanent home, “His own home,” as Srila Govinda Maharaj said–at 269 East Saint James St. in San Jose on Wednesday, November 28, 2012.

After being established in San Jose in the 1980s, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math took firm root near San Jose State University and Santa Clara University at 269 East Saint James St.

Srila Gurudev Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj inaugurated Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Sundar on the day of celebrating Sri Krishna’s divine Rasayatra in 2000. His Divine Grace arrived at the new ashram a few days earlier and oversaw all of the final preparations for Sriman Mahaprabhu to take up permanent residence.  Mahaprabhu arrived by a palanquin parade, accompanied by His devotees performing Harinam Sankirtan through downtown.

Sri Gauranga Sundar’s 12th Installation Anniversary
“In His own home”

24 November 2007 San Jose, USA. Talks by Srila Govinda Maharaj and Sripad Goswami Maharaj during the Anniversary Celebration of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Sundar’s Auspicious arrival at the San Jose Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram.
Video captured and prepared by Vaidehi Devi Dasi:
32+ minutes, 63 MB ‘mov’ video

A short video clip of the kirtan during the procession in 2000 captured by Sripad B.C. Parvat Maharaj

All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

Dear devotees and friends,

Please join the devotees in Soquel and San Jose on Thursday, November 8th for the grand celebration of the Appearance festival of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Founder-Acharya Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj has returned from India and will lead the festivities.

Thursday at 6 pm in Soquel
5:30 pm in San Jose
November 8, 2012

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, my only shelter, I worship his feet, Srila Sridhar Dev.”

(Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj)

Also, please note the following upcoming dates (which are posted on the Seva Ashram News homepage and in the Vaishnava Calendar online here):

November 9, 2012 – Ekadasi
November 14, 2012 – Sri Govardhan-puja
November 17, 2012 – Disappearance of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad
November 23, 2012 – Ekadasi

Yours in the Lord’s service,

Sushila devi dasi

If you would like to learn more about Srila Sridhar Maharaj you can read his pranam mantram and a brief biography here.

The following is an excerpt from His Divine Grace’s biography:

…In 1926, Srila Sridhar Maharaj joined the Sri Gaudiya Math, and became an initiated disciple of its founder, the illustrious Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Goswami Prabhupad (1874-1937). He later accepted the holy order of sannyasa (monkhood) in 1930. Recognizing him as a faithful stalwart preacher of the perfect precepts of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupad conferred upon him the name “Sri Bhakti Rakshak,” which means “Guardian of Devotion.” Further echoing the statement of the great Vaishnava Preceptor, Srila Jiva Goswami–who referred in his Sanskrit writings to the renowned Srimad Bhagavatam commentator, Sri Sridhar Swami, as bhakti eka raksaka (Supreme Guardian of Devotion)–Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupad gave him the tridandi-sannyas title of “Sridhar.” Thus, he became Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Maharaj…

Upon reaching his eighties, not only Indians, but persons from America, Europe, and the world over, became attracted by Srila Sridhar Maharaj’s teachings and personality. He was known as a pure saint of the most simple living habits. He was respected and loved for his saintly simplicity, and his affectionate nature and dealings. He was revered by his Godbrothers, disciples, other devotees, and the general public, and was unanimously venerated for his formidable encyclopedic command of the revealed scriptures, and his unique and unprecedented style of casting newer and newer light upon the most internal philosophical and revelatory purports of pure Sri Gaudiya Vaishnava siddhanta.

A vast library of Srila Sridhar Maharaj’s taped discourses has been compiled by his disciples, and from such recordings, the exquisite English books–Search for Sri Krishna, Sri Guru and His Grace, The Golden Volcano of Divine Love, Loving Search for the Lost Servant, and Srila Sridhar Maharaj’s unique commentary and interpretation of Srimad Bhagavad-gita: The Hidden Treasure of the Sweet Absolute–and many other books have been published….

original excerpt:

Vaishnava Seva Society wishes to present  Shraddhaanjali (an affectionate offering to our teachers)–a Festival of Dance in Santa Clara County, performed in the traditional classical dance form of ‘Kathak’.

This festival is geared especially toward the South Asian communities in the area. This event will give a unique opportunity for individuals, especially parents to keep themselves and their children connected with the rich culture and heritage of India. All children, youth, and adults may enjoy and participate in this event simply as a colorful cultural festival while enriching their lives with the beauty, charm and grace of this classic dance form.

Dear devotees and friends,

Please join the devotees in Soquel and San Jose on Tuesday October 16th for the grand celebration of the Appearance festival of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Acharya and Sevaite, Sri Srimad Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj. Vidura Krishna Prabhu will lead the Soquel program and there will be sumptuous feasts at both festivals.

 Tuesday at 6 pm in Soquel
5:30 pm in San Jose
October 16, 2012

pujya-sri-guru-varga-vandita-
mahabhavanvitayah sada
paurvaparya-parampara-
prachalita-prajya-pramurtakrteh
bhakter nirmala-nirjharasya
nibhritam samrakshakam sadaram
vande sri-gurudevam anata-sira
acharya-varyam nijam

(Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj)

“I bow my head in eternal obeisance to my Gurudev, the best of Acharyas, Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj. He is the ever vigilant, stalwart guardian of the current of pure devotion whose highest form flows from our most worshippable Sri Rupanuga Guru-varga in their exclusive dedication to Mahabhava, Srimati Radharani.”

prerakam prachya paschatya

sisyanam bhakti-vartmani

bhakti-nirmalam-acharyya-

swaminam pranamamy aham

(Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj)

“I offer my respectful obeisances to Swami Bhakti Nirmal Acharya, who is energetically inspiring all of Eastern and Western disciples on the path of pure devotion.”

If you would like to learn more about Srila Acharya Maharaj you can read his pranam mantrams and a brief biography here.

Also, please note the following upcoming dates:
•    October 25, 2012 – Ekadasi
•    November 8, 2012 – Appearance of Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj
•    November 9, 2012 – Ekadasi

Yours in the Lord’s service,
Sushila devi dasi

Sri Lalita Saptami~Divine Appearance of
Lalita Devi
Saturday, September 22
5:30 pm in San Jose
11 am in Soquel (Santa Cruz)

Sri Radhastami~Divine Appearance of
Srimati Radharani
Sunday, September 23
10 am in San Jose
Noon in Soquel (Santa Cruz)

Dear devotees and friends of the Ashram,

Please join us for the very auspicious celebrations of Sri Lalita Saptami, the appearance day of Srimati Lalita Devi on Saturday September 22nd and Sri Radhastami, the holy appearance day of Srimati Radharani on Sunday September 23rd.Recently Srila Janardan Maharaj said, “This will be a big festival and everyone is invited to both of our temples, our San Jose Ashram and the Soquel Ashram. We got the title to our property on Radhastami; it was delivered to us on that day so it is a special day for us Soquelites.”Below Bhakti Lalita Devi Dasi cautiously and humbly shares her insights about Srila Govinda Maharaj’s appreciation for Sri Lalita Saptami.

Yours in the Lord’s service,
Sushila devi dasi

~~~~~

“This is the favorite day of Srila Gurudev…. We’ve heard him say how Lalita Saptami was in his personal opinion more exclusive than Radhastami. More specific. We are in the line of Lalita Devi and anyone who has connection to Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj and his mission through Srila Gurudev and our acharyas will automatically go to the service group of Lalita Devi….

It’s a very exclusive day that we observe with care and attention. Some cautiousness…. We take our Gurudev’s lotus feet on our head and try to remember the glories he shared with us and pray not to make any offense in the attempt…. In Gurudev’s language she is the chief super-guardian of the service and the pastimes of Radha and Govinda.”

Listen to the whole lecture…