Srila Rupa Gosvami

The topmost maidservant of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna is Sri Rupa Manjari who appeared as the head of the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya, Srila Rupa Goswami (1489-1588). Sri Rupa appeared in East Bengal, the son of a pious brahmana named Kumaradeva along with his brothers, Sanatana and Anupama. The three brothers later moved to Ramakeli where they were solicited by the powerful Nawab Hussein Shah to join his government. Due to their association with the Muslim king, Rupa and Sanatana became known by the Muslim names Dabir Khas and Sakir Mallik.

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to Ramakeli, the three brothers petitioned the Lord to alleviate their suffering condition and grant them His mercy. Mahaprabhu pacified them and told them that Krsna would deliver them very soon.

Not long afterwards, an intense feeling of renunciation awakened in the hearts of Rupa and Sanatana. Finally Rupa resigned from the Nawab’s service and sent messengers to Puri to find out when Mahaprabhu planned to travel to Vrndavana. When the messengers returned with the news that Mahaprabhu had left already for Vrndavana, Rupa wrote to Sanatana and requested him to extricate himself from the Nawab’s service as soon as possible and meet him in Prayaga. Rupa and Anupama then traveled to Prayaga where they met Sri Caitanyadeva who was staying at the house of a South Indian brahmana.

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Writings

Upadesamrta

Rupa Goswami

This essential work by Srila Rupa Goswami is presented along with the deep realizations of Srila Sridhara Maharaja. Powerful reading for either the serious devotee or beginner. » more

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Upadesamrta of Srila Rupa Goswami with illuminations by Swami B R Sridhar

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Rupanuga Bhajana

Swami B.G. Narasingha

Dec 12 2013 - Krishna Talk 174

We have to conduct ourselves in such a way that naturally we can connect with that highest, purest spiritual conception from here. » more

The Ontological Position of Srila Prabhupada’s Place of Bhajana at Sri Sri Radha-Damodara Mandira

Haridasa Babaji Maharaja

Sep 19 2009 - Krishna Talk 89

Shortly after taking sannyasa in 1959, His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada took residence at the most important temple in Vrndavana, the Sri Sri Radha-Damodara Mandira at Seva Kunja. Sri Nirmal Candra Gosvami, the present Sevaite-acarya of Radha-Damodara Mandira, who was a... » more

Ujjvala-nilamani

Swami B.R. Sridhara

Mar 7 2009 - Krishna Talk 86

We did not venture to enter the details of madhurya-rasa. Our Guru Maharaja did not like it. But it will come irresistibly within you, you go on, sravana kirtana. Pujala raga-patha gaurava-bhange. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. It is so high. When it will come it will awaken within you.... » more

Dawn of the Age of Love?

Swami B.G. Narasingha

Feb 24 2009 - Krishna Talk 85

Numerous opinions abound about there being or not being an advent of Kalki-avatara at the end of Kali-yuga. Although Srimad Bhagavatam has mentioned the appearance of Kalki-avatara at the end of this Kali-yuga, some preachers are of the opinion that due to ‘the dawn of the age of love’ there will... » more

Raga-patha is Above All

Swami B.G. Narasingha

May 5 2008 - Krishna Talk 77

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura composed the verse, matala hari-jana visaya range pujala raga-patha gaurava-bhange, in 1930 on the occasion of moving the Deities of Sri Gaurasundara and Sri Sri Vinoda-Anandajiu from the old house at Ultadanga Junction Road to the new temple in Bagh Bazaar,... » more

The True Spirit of Separation

Swami B.P. Puri

Nov 17 2002 - Krishna Talk 40

After Gaura Hari, who descended to purify this age of Kali, made Himself invisible to the eyes of the world, the preaching of His religion of love carried on more or less uninterruptedly up until the time of Baladeva Vidyabhushan. In the time that followed, though there were still many advanced... » more

The disciples mentality (Art of Sadhana - Ch XV)

Swami B.P. Puri

Aug 17 2002 - Krishna Talk 33

The primary characteristic of a disciple who has received initiation and direction in the practice of worship from his spiritual master is visrambha, an honest desire for faithful and loving service to the spiritual master, the Vaishnavas and the Supreme Lord. The secondary characteristic is... » more

This Sankirtana Movement Is the Lila of Mahaprabhu

Swami B.G. Narasingha

Mar 30 2002 - Krishna Talk 23

If you were to examine the list of personalities in the Caitanya Sarasvata Parampara, our Parampara, who would you find? Who is in the sankirtana movement? Who is Mahaprabhu? Who is Gadadhara; who are all these personalities? Then you would come to the six Goswamis; who are they? » more

We Are Suddha Saktas

Swami B.G. Narasingha

Aug 20 2001 - Krishna Talk 22

Once we counted Raghunatha Dasa Goswami’s gurus, and we found that he had nine gurus. So then the question is, “Which one of his gurus is most important?” » more

The Standard for Higher Lila

Swami B.B. Vishnu

May 3 2001 - Krishna Talk 18

In the recent controversies amongst some of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas, those who present isolated and unusual examples of preaching as the rule, rather than as the exception to the proper Gaudiya conception, have simply increased the level of confusion. In particular the subject of the necessity of... » more