A Bengali Vaisnava bhajan - Vibhavari Sesa by powerful Acharya Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura from His book Kalyana Kalpataru.

LYRICS:
(1)
vibhāvarī śeṣa, āloka-praveśa,
nidrā chāri' uṭho jīva
bolo hari hari, mukunda murāri,
rāma kṛṣṇa hayagrīva
 
(2)
nṛsiḿha vāmana, śrī-madhusūdana,
brajendra-nandana śyāma
pūtanā-ghātana, kaiṭabha-śātana,
jaya dāśarathi-rāma
 
(3)
yaśodā dulāla, govinda-gopāla,
vṛndāvana purandara
gopī-priya-jana, rādhikā-ramaṇa,
bhuvana -sundara-bara
 
(4)
rāvāṇāntakara, mākhana-taskara,
gopī-jana-vastra-hārī
brajera rākhāla, gopa-vṛnda-pāla,
citta-hārī baḿśī-dhārī
 
(5)
yogīndra-bandana, śrī-nanda-nandana,
braja-jana-bhaya-hārī
navīna nīrada, rūpa manohara,
mohana-baḿśī-bihārī
 
(6)
yaśodā-nandana, kaḿsa-nisūdana,
nikuñja-rāsa-vilāsī
kadamba-kānana, rāsa-parāyaṇa,
bṛnda-vipina-nivāsī
 
(7)
ānanda-vardhana, prema-niketana,
phula-śara-jojaka kāma
gopāńganā-gaṇa, citta-vinodana,
samasta-guṇa-gaṇa-dhāma
 
(8)
jāmuna-jīvana, keli-parāyaṇa,
mānasa-candra-cakora
nāma-sudhā-rasa, gāo kṛṣṇa-jaśa
rākho vacana mana mora
 
TRANSLATION
1) The night has come to an end and the light of dawn is entering. O jiva soul, arise and give up your sleep. Chant the holy names of Lord Hari, who is the giver of liberation; the enemy of the Mura demon; the supreme enjoyer; the all-attractive one; and the horse-headed incarnation, Hayagriva.
 
2) Lord Hari [Krsna] incarnated as the half-man, half-lion, Nrsimha. He appeared as a dwarf-brahmana named Upendra and is the killer of the Madhu demon. He is the beloved son of the King of Vraja, Nanda Maharaja, and is blackish in complexion. He is the slayer of the Putana witch and the destroyer of the demon
Kaitabha. All glories to Lord Hari, who appeared as Lord Rama, the son of King Dasaratha.
 
3) He is the darling of mother Yasoda; the giver of pleasure to the cows, land, and spiritual senses; and the protector of the cows. He is the Lord of the Vrndavana forest; the gopis' beloved; the lover of Radhika; and the most beautiful personality in all the worlds.
 
4) As Ramacandra He brought about the end of the demoniac King Ravana; as Krsna He stole the older gopis' butter; He stole the younger gopis' clothes while they were bathing in the Yamuna. He is a cowherd boy of Vraja and the protector of the cowherd boys. He steals the hearts of all and always holds a flute.
 
5) Lord Krsna is worshiped by the best of yogis and is the son of Nanda. He removes all the fears of the inhabitants of Vraja. He is the color of a fresh rain cloud, and His form is enchanting. When He wanders about, playing His flute, He looks very charming.
 
6) He is the son of Yasoda and the killer of King Kamsa, and He sports in the rasa dance among the groves of Vraja. Krsna engages in this rasa dance underneath the kadamba trees, and He resides in the forest of Vrndavana.
 
7) He increases the ecstasy of His devotees. He is the reservoir of all love and is the transcendental Cupid who uses His flowered arrows to increase the loving desires of the gopis. He is the pleasure of the gopis' hearts and the abode of all wonderful qualities.
 
8) Lord Krsna is the life of the River Yamuna. He is always absorbed in amorous pastimes, and He is the moon of the gopis' minds, which are like the cakora birds that subsist only upon moonlight. O mind, obey these words of mine and sing the glories of Sri Krsna in the form of these holy names, which are full of nectarean mellows.

Vibhavari sesa ~ Swarupa Damodar dasa

Beautiful kirtan by Acyuta Gopi mataji on Woodstock 

Acyuta Gopi Woodstock 2014

"Krishna explains that this material world is His divine nature. When we forget the relation between a person or things with god then our perception is material..." - Radhanath Swami.

Every Situation Is An Opportunity To Express Love For Krishna

English Translation:

SRI GURV-ASTAKAM:
The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.
Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the sańkīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Srī Srī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
The spiritual master is always offering Kṛṣṇa four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasāda, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Rādhikā and Mādhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopīs, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa's conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vṛndāvana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Srī Hari [Kṛṣṇa].
By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kṛṣṇa. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.
One who, with great care and alteration, loudly recites this beautiful prayer to the spiritual master during the Brahma-muhurta hour obtains direct service to Krsna, the Lord of Vrndavana, at the time of his death.

From: "Stavamrta Lahari" by  Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura.

Srila Prabhupada Bhajans: Sri Sri Gurv-Astaka ~ Prayers To The Spiritual Master

A snippet of kirtana from the 4:30AM mangala arati service at the ISKCON temple and "world spiritual headquarters" in Mayapur, West Bengal, India (11/16/11).

Hare Krsna mahamantra during mangala arati @ ISKCON Mayapur, WB, India

Das Avatar - Shortened Janmastami Drama

Song Name: Madhuram Madhurebhyo ‘Pi
Official Name: Kevalastakam
Author: Anonymous
Book Name: None
Language: Sanskrit
 
LYRICS:
(1)
madhuraḿ madhurebhyo ‘pi 
mańgalebhyo ‘pi mańgalam 
pāvanaḿ pāvanebhyo ‘pi 
harer nāmaiva kevalam
 
(2)
ābrahmā-stamba-paryantaḿ
sarvaḿ māyā-mayaḿ jagat 
satyaḿ satyaḿ punaḥ satyaḿ
harer nāmaiva kevalam
 
(3)
sa guruḥ sa pitā cāpi 
sā mātā bandhavo ‘pi saḥ 
śikṣayec cet sadā smartuḿ
harer nāmaiva kevalam
 
(4)
niḥśvāse nāhi viśvāsaḥ
kadā ruddho bhaviṣyati 
kīrtanīya mato bālyād 
harer nāmaiva kevalam
 
(5)
hariḥ sadā vaset tatra 
yatra bhāgavatā janāḥ
gāyanti bhakti-bhāvena 
harer nāmaiva kevalam
 
(6)
aho duḥkhaḿ mahā-duḥkhaḿ
duḥkhād duḥkhataraḿ yataḥ
kācārthaḿ vismṛtam ratna- 
harer nāmaiva kevalam
 
(7)
dīyatāḿ dīyatāḿ karṇo 
nīyatāḿ nīyatāḿ vacaḥ
gīyatāḿ gīyatāḿ nityaḿ 
harer nāmaiva kevalam
 
(8)
tṛṇī-kṛtya jagat sarvaḿ
rājate sakalopari 
cid-ānanda-mayaḿ śuddhaḿ
harer-nāmaiva kevalam
 
TRANSLATION
1) More sweet than all other sweet things; more auspicious than all other auspicious things; the greatest purifier of all purifying things—The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything.
 
2) The entire universe, from exalted Brahma down to the lowly clump of grass, is a product of the illusory energy of the supreme Lord. The only thing that is reality, reality, again I say reality—The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything.
 
3) That person is a true preceptor, or a true father, a true mother, and a true friend also only if they teach one to always remember—The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything.
 
4) There is no certainty when the last breath will come and put an abrupt halt to all one’s material plans; therefore it is wise to always practice chanting from very childhood—The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything.
 
5) Lord Hari eternally dwells in that place where truly exalted, spiritually advanced souls sing in the mood of pure devotion—The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything.
 
6) Aho! What a sorrow, what a great sorrow! More painful than any other misery in the world! Mistaking it as a mere piece of glass, the people have forgotten this jewel—The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything.
 
7) It should be heard again and again with one’s ears; It should be uttered over and over with one’s voice; It should be perpetually sung and sung anew—The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything.
 
8) It makes the entire universe seem insignificant as a blade of grass; it splendorously reigns supreme over all; it is full of eternally conscious divine ecstasy; it is supremely pure—The holy name of Sri Hari alone is everything.

http://kksongs.org/songs/m/madhurammadhurebhyo.html

Kevalastakam- by Bada_Hari_Das

Chant Together!

The More we Chant Together

Sri Tulasi-Kirtan (Niranjana Swami)

You should honor your shiksha Gurus, you should honor the local temple authorities who are representing Prabhupada and engaging you in service in a very similar way to the way you respect your own Guru. Because it is in serving them that you are serving your Guru. You should understand that the shiksha Gurus who are training you and teaching you are Gurus in your life. Never underestimate them. Give them all honor and respect and please them through your services. Do not be sectarian. Understand that all devotees at ISKCON, we are all brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, whatever, in a family system there is respect, there is affection and we try to show our love and service to every Vaishnava. Why? Because that will please Prabhupada and whatever pleases Prabhupada is what will please your Gurus. It is very important.

How To Please Srila Prabhupada And Guru Parampara?

Radhadesh Mellows 2018

Nadiya Mani, Radhadesh Mellows 2018 - Day 1

Radhanath Swami is a Vaishnava sanyassi (a monk in a Krishna-bhakti lineage) and teacher of the devotional path of Bhakti-yoga. He is author of The Journey Home, a memoir of his search for spiritual truth. His teachings draw from the sacred texts of India such as The Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, and Ramayana, and aim to reveal the practical application of the sacred traditions, while focusing on the shared essence which unites apparently disparate religious or spiritual paths.
Born Richard Slavin, on December 7, 1950, in his teens he came to confront a deep sense of alienation from suburban Chicago life and the civil injustices of mid-century America. At the age of nineteen, while on a summer trip to Europe, his internal struggles culminated in a commitment to search for God wherever it might lead him. Meditating on the Isle of Crete, he felt a supernatural calling and the next morning set off alone to find spiritual India. The Journey Home documents his odyssey as a penniless hitch-hiker though Greece, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and finally India. There he lived as a wandering ascetic, first amongst the forest dwelling Himalayan yogis and later amongst a wide variety of gurus and spiritual practitioners throughout India and Nepal. Ultimately, he was led to the holy town of Vrindavan, where he found his path amongst the Bhakti-yogis.
In Vrindavan he found the teacher he was searching for in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977) the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), and representative of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, (the Krishna-bhakti tradition stemming from the 16th century mystic avatar Sri Chaitanya). In choosing Bhaktivedanta Swami, as his guru, Radhanath Swami felt compelled to shear his matted locks and reenter Western society with a mission to share the sacred wisdom he had received. This return exemplifies the form of devotional yoga which is at the heart of Radhanath Swami’s teachings, a spiritual practice expressed as tangible action meant to bring about personal fulfillment and benefit the world.
At the the age of 31 he took the monastic vows of a Vaishnava sanyassin and became known as Radhanath Swami.
Today Radhanath Swami travels regularly throughout India, Europe and North America, sharing the teachings of Bhakti-yoga. He resides much of the year at the Radha Gopinath Ashram in Chowpatty, Mumbai. For the past twenty-five years he has guided the community’s development and has directed a number of acclaimed social action projects including Midday Meals, which daily serves more than 260,000 plates of sanctified vegetarian food to the children of the slums of Mumbai. He has also worked to establish missionary hospitals and eye camps, eco-friendly farms, schools and ashrams, an orphanage, and a number of emergency relief programs throughout India.
