The Story of Gopal Jiu
Posted June 5, 2004

In the remote village of Gadeigiri, east-central Orissa, ISKCON has constructed a large temple to glorify the village Deity, Gopal. The Giri family of Gadeigiri village has worshiped Gopal for more than 250 years and witnessed Gopal's many unique and amazing pastimes.

Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja was born to a daughter of the Giri family and from his early childhood rendered various services to Gopal. Throughout his life Gour Govinda Swami would always go to visit Gopal whenever possible. He left this world while gazing at a photo of Gopal. The last word he spoke was, "Gopal." The following account is adapted from the book, Gopal Jiu: The Beloved Deity of Srila Gour Govinda Swami.

More: Click here or on title

The following article appeared in issue number 68 of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, the free fortnightly email magazine from ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications.

Everything takes place according to the will of Krishna. If He doesn't will it, a blade of grass will not shake. So it is a question of faith. But why do we lack faith? Dhruva immediately put forth strong faith. He was not afraid of any situation. "Where is that Narayan? Where is Narayan?" The example is also there in the story about the young boy and Gopal.

But we can't put forth any faith. What is the reason?

More: Click here or on title

Lord Shiva,
the Greatest Vaishnava, Part One
Posted May 12, 2004

ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications is pleased to announce the release of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Magazine issue number 7: "Vaishnavanam yatha sambhuh, Lord Shiva the Greatest Vaishnava, Part One." This issue provides an in-depth look at the mysterious and often misunderstood Lord Shiva.

Topics include

• The story of how Srimad Bhagavatam was first spoken by Lord Shiva to Parvati.
• Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's ecstatic prayers to Lord Shiva from Murari Gupta's Sri Chaitanya Charita.
• Prabhupada Srila Saraswati Thakur on the ancient Vaishnava holy place Sri Bhubaneswar.

More: Click here or on title

Gopal and the Schoolboy
As told by Sri Srimad Gour
Govinda Swami Maharaja
Posted April 15, 2004

The following article appeared in issue number 68 of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, the free fortnightly email magazine from ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications.

A mother had a small six- or seven-year-old son. She wanted to admit him into primary school so he could get some education, but the school was a little far away, half a mile from their house. Still she told the boy that he should go to school every morning.

So, the boy started going. On the path to school he had to pass through a jungle where there were some ferocious animals like tigers and snakes. Being a small child, he was afraid. He came to his mother and said, "Oh mother, when I was going through that jungle on the way to school I was very afraid. So many ferocious animals are there. I can't go any more."

More: Click here or on title

The Flight of the Crow
From Madhavananda Das
Posted December 26, 2003

The following story appeared in issue number 57 of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, the free fortnightly email magazine from ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications.

The following story, told by Salya to Karna, from the forty-first chapter of the "Karna-parva" of Mahabharata nicely illustrates the dangers of pride.

There once lived a wealthy vaisya by the side of the ocean. He performed many sacrifices and gave generously in charity. He was quiet, observant of the duties of his order, and was pure in his habits and mind. The vaisya had a number of sons all of whom were pious and kind to all living creatures. Living in a place that was ruled over by a pious king, the vaisya was peaceful and free from anxiety.

More: Click here or on title

Why the Feet of Sri Guru Are Compared to a Lotus— Part Two
By Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja
Posted January 21, 2003

This article appeared in issue number 41 of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, the free fortnightly email magazine from ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications.

Sri Guru is saksad-dharitvena, he is as good as Lord Hari. He does not belong to this material world. He belongs to the spiritual world, Krishna's world. He comes down here out of his causeless mercy, either voluntarily to deliver the fallen souls or when the Lord sends him. Whether he comes here voluntarily or by the will of the Lord, that guru-pada-padma descends here to shower his mercy on the suffering conditioned souls who have been drowning in the dreadful ocean of materialistic existence since time immemorial. That guru-pada-padma descends and stays here in the material world.

More: Click here or on title

The following article appeared in issue number one of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, the free fortnightly email magazine from ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications.

Janaka Maharaja is the father of Sita and a great devotee of Lord Ramachandra. It is described in Srimad Bhagavatam (6.3.20) that he is one of the twelve great authorities on religious principles in this universe. The following story from Padma Purana (patalakhanda 18.31-77) of how Janaka Maharaja once visited hell illustrates the supreme potency of the holy name and the association with saintly persons.

More: Click here or on title

Devotee: Srila Prabhupada always emphasized that he was eternally present in his books, instructions, tapes, and letters. So when you say we should take association of a sadhu can we do that through Srila Prabhupada's books?

Gour Govinda Swami: If Prabhupada says he is there, then you try to see him, associate with him, and listen from him. Do you see Prabhupada? Do you hear from Prabhupada? Is he speaking to you?

Devotee: Through his books.

Gour Govinda Swami: Through his books, yes. All sadhus speak through their books. Jiva Goswami, Rupa Goswami, Sanatana Goswami, Bhaktivinode Thakur, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, and Srila Prabhupada all say that they speak through books. This is not a new thing. This is our Vaisnava procedure. But you should see him. Can you see Bhaktivinode Thakur? Can you see Jiva Goswami? You may say, "Oh I have read their books; I have their association." That won't help you.

More: Click here or on title

This article appeared in issue number 40 of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, the free fortnightly email magazine from ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications.

One should understand what is sri-guru-carana-padma. The words "sri-guru" are very significant. "Sri" means sobha, beauty; sampada, transcendental wealth, or asset; and srestha, the topmost. "Sri-guru" means that guru who is endowed with sri, with prema-bhakti. The word "sri" is used because there is no question of Sri Guru disappearing or not being manifest. It is only applicable to a guru who is eternally manifest. Otherwise such a word would not be used.

More: Click here or on title

The following article appeared in issue number twelve of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, the free fortnightly email magazine from ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications.

Girish Babu, the owner of a dharmasala in Nabadwip, once came with his wife to see Srila Gour Kishor Das Babaji Maharaja. Girish Babu's wife asked Babaji Maharaja, "Please instruct us how we can construct a small cottage for your bhajan. We feel pained to see you suffering throughout the rainy season and the hot season with very little shelter."

More: Click here or on title