Gaudiya Vaishnavas
Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Gaudiya Vaishnavas

Memories of Kurma Rupa Prabhu

by Satyanarayana Dasa When I first joined Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula, Vrindavan in 1987 as a Sanskrit teacher, Kurma Rupa prabhu was the first faculty member who was introduced to me by Shri Dhanurdhara Swami, the Principal of the gurukula. We became friendly from our first meeting. Initially, I was only supposed to teach Sanskrit to

Read More
Events Gaudiya History Gaudiya Vaishnavas

Babaji Awarded the Position of Mahanta in Vrindavan

On January 25th 2015, thousands of renounced Vaishnavas and other guests gathered at Jiva Institute to commence the official installment of Babaji Sri Satyanarayana Dasa as a Mahanta. This position is awarded by an organization called Catuh Sampradaya Virakta Vaishnava Parisad (“Association of the Renounced Vaishnavas of the Four Sampradayas,” CSVVP) presided over by Prahlad

Read More
Gaudiya Vaishnavas Questions & Answers

Shastric References for the Proper Use of Tulasi?

Question: Can Tulasi also be used for consumption, in food and beverages? Answer: Vaisnavas do not use Tulasi plant or leaves as food or beverage. They use it for worship and take it as prasada. Question: Are there any shastric references? Answer: I have not come across any shastric reference prohibiting to use Tulasi leaves

Read More
Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Gaudiya Vaishnavas Philosophy

The Self and Free Will in the Caitanya Sampradāya – Part 6

Different Types of Vṛttis - All acquired knowledge, valid and invalid, is a product of the mind (mano-vṛtti). Śrī Kapila says that there are five types of vṛttis (SB 3.26.30): saṁśayo 'tha viparyāso niścayaḥ smṛtir eva ca svāpa ity ucyate buddher

Read More
Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Gaudiya Vaishnavas Philosophy

The Self and Free Will in the Caitanya Sampradāya – Part 3

Ātmā is nitya-nirmala, ever pure. This means it never mixes with the qualities (gunas) of matter (prakṛti), it is always distinct from matter, factually untouched by it. This is evident from a statement in Bhāgavata Purāna (5.11.12): “The pure self witnesses the activities of the impure mind.”

Read More
Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Gaudiya Vaishnavas Philosophy

The Self and Free Will in the Caitanya Sampradāya – Part 1

By Satyanaryana Dasa Part 1: The Nature of Ātmā - Different schools of Indian philosophy and theology present different doctrines regarding the agency, enjoyership and knowership of ātmā, the individual self. Among them, the Vedānta schools accept the authority

Read More
Gaudiya Vaishnavas Questions & Answers Vedic Culture

Pitfalls in Approaching Indian Thought

Question:  Having, recently, read Rajiv Malhotra’s Being Different and your excellent, soon be published, commentary to Bhagavat Sandharba I have come to realize that there are some pitfalls for western people approaching Indian thought, including Gaudiya siddhanta, which can lead to gross and subtle misunderstanding of key concepts in Indian schools of philosophy. In your

Read More