Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Thakur

Today we celebrate the Appearance of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, the son of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and Spiritual Master of our Srila Prabhupada. We will honor it with a half day fast, rememberances and readings.

From the Library of Gargamuni das

”My Guru Maharaj” (Part-7)

Srila A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada: Whatever little success is in our movement, the cause is I have not tried to cheat. Honestly, what I knew, I heard it from Guru Maharaja and scripture, I took it. There was no cheating. (Room Conversation — April 16, 1977, Bombay)

Srila Prabhupada: My Guru Maharaja said that Instead of earning livelihood by showing the Deity in the temple, it is better to take the profession of a sweeper in the street and live honestly. He said like that. The sweeper, he is working hard, toiling, and getting some money and living. This is honest living. (Room Conversation — September 21, 1973, Bombay)

Srila Prabhupada: My Guru Maharaja used to use to place so many examples, [laughs] I do not know all of them. No, there is a book, Nyaya-sastra, logic. You’ll find all these things.(Morning Walk — July 5, 1976, Washington, D.C)

Srila Prabhupada: My Guru Maharaja used to say,I think I have explained many times,that “Don’t try to see God. Do in such a way that God will see you.” Similarly, don’t try to advise God, but follow the advice of God. That is our way. (Morning Walk — January 22, 1976, Mayapur)

Srila Prabhupda: That is the world. Therefore the whole world is the society of cheater and cheated. That is the version of my Guru Maharaja. The whole so-called human society means a bunch of cheaters and cheated. That’s all. So don’t be cheater; don’t be cheated. That is intelligence. ( Morning Walk — March 14, 1976, Mayapur)

Srila Prabhupada: That we have been taught by our Guru Maharaja, twenty-four hours engagement with Krsna. So maya has no scope to enter in our mind. She always remains aloof: “Oh, here is fire. I cannot touch.” (Room Conversation — May 13, 1969, Columbus OH)

Nearly Everyone Is Ritvik


It is essential for devotees to understand that all ISKCON members are first and foremost followers of Srila Prabhupada and that it is by his blessings that we advance in Krishna consciousness. The eternal spiritual master is a resident of Vaikuntha and is our ever well-wisher. It is he who is preparing a place for us in the spiritual world.

Nearly Everyone Is Ritvik
Bhaktisiddhanta Dasa – Vrndavan:

Has everyone forgotten what happened in the past? In the early ‘70’s Srila Prabhupada started his own ritvik system, surprise! At some point it became too much to chant on everyone’s beads and give the new spiritual names so what to do? He appointed some of his senior men to cover these details so he could go on with his writing and management of a world organization.

My wife and I were initiated in 1975 in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada had left the day before to go to San Francisco, by this time he deputed his personal secretary and Sanskrit scholar to look up the names; and then he would approve or disapprove.

During the fire sacrifice it was Hridayananda Maharaja that was standing next to the Vyasasana and handed out the beads and asked for the four regulative principles. Each time a new name was given there was a loud HARIBOL and everyone applauded.

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