Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.4.18 for Srila Prabhupada’s appearance day in Los Angeles.

“Although it is very simple instruction — ‘Chant and be happy’ — it has deep significance. To actually be happy, one must chant properly. And it is easy to chant properly: just chant and don’t commit offenses. Offenses are really what hold us back. Because if we chant and then commit offenses, out hearts don’t get purified — especially if we commit the worst offense: vaisnava-aparadha, or sadhu-ninda (offending devotees, or blaspheming devotees). If we can avoid that and chant, we can chant and be happy, and we can make others happy by our association. And the best way to avoid criticizing devotees is to appreciate them. We are around them all the time, so we are going to be talking about them. So we should glorify them. We should appreciate their service, however big or small, and glorify them. That will also purify our hearts and enable the purifying process of chanting and hearing about Krishna to act with full force.”

Today is the most auspicious appearance day celebration of our spiritual master Srila Giriraj Swami Maharaja. He will observe the occasion with the devotees in ISKCON Houston.

Guru Maharaja, we are all thinking of you and wish you a wonderful day and a fruitful year in your service to Srila Prabhupada and Krsna.

To honor the day we have attached a 30 minute MP3 file of Giriraj Swami chanting japa.

“The spiritual master is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Srimati Radharani or a manifested representation of Srila Nityananda Prabhu.”–Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 1.47 purport

My dear Srila Prabhupada,

Please accept my prostrated obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace. All glories to your causeless mercy.

“Lord Nityananda,” as you taught us, “is the original spiritual master.” He is an incarnation of Balarama, the first expansion of Krsna and the first being to perform the functions of a spiritual master–to serve Krsna and give knowledge of Krsna. While acting as a spiritual master, Nityananda manifests His own nature, which is most merciful (nityananda sahaje dayamaya: “Nityananda was by nature very merciful.” [Cc Antya 6.49]). And we think of your mood of compassion, which you demonstrated as you acted as a spiritual master and world acarya, and how close it is to Lord Nityananda’s.

Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, the author of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, said of Srila Nityananda Prabhu, preme matta nityananda krpa-avatara/uttama, adhama, kichu na kare vicara: “Because He is intoxicated by ecstatic love and is an incarnation of mercy, He does not distinguish between the good and the bad.” Ye age padaye, tare karaye nistara/ataeva nistarila mo-hena duracara: “He delivers all those who fall down before Him. Therefore He has delivered such a sinful and fallen person as me.” (Cc Adi 5.208-209) We pray to be worthy to say the same of you. Continue reading »