Bombay – Giriraj Swami

Glorifying Krishna’s Devotee Can Please Krishna More than Glorifying Him Directly, June 7, The Bhakti Center, Manhattan, New York

Bombay, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Tamal Krishna Goswami Comments Off

Jun 242015

Giriraj Swami read from Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.10.20 and spoke about His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami, in honor of his birthday.

“One evening on the balcony of the Calcutta temple, Tamal Krishna Goswami opened up to me about many confidential things—especially for a new devotee like me. And he said that the secret of success in spiritual life is to serve and please the spiritual master. Up until then I had been hearing and chanting and reading and doing service and performing so many other items of bhakti-yoga. But they were like items on a list, with no particular focus. But what Tamal Krishna Goswami said gave a focus for all the different items of devotional service—to please the spiritual master, which became the organizing principle for my life.”

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.10.20

Srila Prabhupada’s Sublime Mercy, January 20, Carpinteria, California

Bombay, Lectures, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1 Response »

Jan 202013

This is the audio from the teleconference class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.4.18.

“In a way, one could say that Srila Prabhupada was predicted by Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.11:

tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo
yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api
namany anantasya yaso ‘nkitani yat
srinvanti gayanti grinanti sadhavah

‘That literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world’s misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung, and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.’

“The reason I say this verse anticipates, or predicts, Srila Prabhupada’s contribution, is that when Srimad-Bhagavatam was composed, practically the entire world was under the Vedic kings. At least up until the time of Maharaja Pariksit, the whole world was governed by Vedic principles. So, this ‘misdirected civilization’ developed subsequently. And now it is horrible, everywhere — godlessness. Srila Prabhupada was the first to translate the Vedic literature into English, and from English his disciples and followers have translated it into other languages, and so the world’s misdirected civilization now has access to this literature, which is meant to — and to some extent is — bringing about a revolution in people’s impious lives. Srila Prabhupada is such an extraordinary person. We cannot fathom how great he is or how significant his contribution is.”
Download MP3
[audio:https://www.girirajswami.com/media/2013/01.20.13_SB2.4.18_phone_conf_Carp.mp3 | titles=Srila Prabhupada’s Sublime Mercy]

The Saga of the Opening of the Juhu Temple, January 14, New Dwaraka, Los Angeles

Bombay, Early Days, Lectures, Sadhu, Srila Prabhupada Comments Off

Jan 182013

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Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.21 and narrated some fascinating stories related to the struggles and triumphs in developing the temple at Hare Krishna Land, Juhu Beach, Bombay.

“In the effort to get the land and build the temple for Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari, Srila Prabhupada vividly demonstrated the qualities of a sadhu, or saintly person, as described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.25.21):

titiksavah karunikah
suhrdah sarva-dehinam
ajata-satravah santah
sadhavah sadhu-bhusanah

‘The symptoms of a sadhu are that he is tolerant, merciful, and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime.’

“It is a spiritual principle that you develop the qualities of the persons you serve. It is stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.16):

susrushoh sraddadhanasya
vasudeva-katha-rucih
syan mahat-sevaya viprah
punya-tirtha-nishevanat

‘O twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains affinity for hearing the messages of Vasudeva.’

“Srila Prabhupada had all saintly qualities — he was tolerant, merciful, friendly to all living entities, and peaceful. He exemplified these qualities. And he instructed us to develop them, to manifest them, too. It may take time; it may not happen all of a sudden. But by serving a sadhu like Srila Prabhupada — and that possibility is always open to any of us at any time — we develop these qualities and a taste for hearing about and rendering service to Sri Krishna.”

See the video here:
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Rama Ekadasi, October 23, Juhu, Mumbai

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Oct 252011

Rama Ekadasi is the day when Srila Prabhupada finished his translation of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, at Hare Krishna Land, Juhu.

“Srila Prabhupada would take rest at ten at night and then wake up at midnight, after only two hours of rest. And then, while everyone else was sleeping, he would translate — for us, so that we would have these books to study and apply in our lives. It is a privilege and a blessing to read these books, and also our duty. The time and effort Srila Prabhupada put into writing these books for us will be for naught if we don’t care enough to reciprocate and make the effort to study his books. Srila Prabhupada said that we should not only distribute his books, but we should also read them. He said of his followers that sankirtana would keep them happy and that reading his books would keep them.”

Brijmohan Sethi Remembers His Father, Mr. P. L. Sethi, May 15, Los Angeles

Bombay, Mr Sethi, Srila Prabhupada 1 Response »

Aug 292011

“Humility is the first step to becoming Krishna conscious. And we have the example of Giriraj Swami here. I remember an incident when there was some argument between Giriraj Swami and my father regarding the construction in Bombay. My father said, ‘Giriraj, you do not know anything about construction, you have no knowledge. I know what construction is.’ He was very angry, and he went and sat in his car. Then very nicely, in a soft voice, Giriraj Maharaj went to him and said, ‘You are just like my father, and if the child commits some mistake or does something wrong, the father has the right to scold him.’ See the humility. That is what Srila Prabhupada taught all his disciples and devotees.” –Brijmohan Sethi

Concluding Words: Follow the Instructions, Feel the Presence — November 3, Dallas

Bombay, Caitanya-caritamrta, Dallas, Srila Prabhupada Comments Off

Nov 042010

“Yesterday we fasted for Sri Rama-ekadasi, and twenty six-years ago, in Bombay, something very special happened the morning after Sri Rama-ekadasi. Every morning before six I would walk up the stairs to Srila Prabhupada’s quarters to accompany him on his morning walk. But the morning after the Rama-ekadasi in 1974, when I got to the top of the stairs, the door was locked, which was very unusual. It was the only time I ever climbed the stairs when Srila Prabhupada was there and the door was locked. . . .”