The marriage ceremony, vivāha-saṁskāra, according to Vedic or Hindu tradition, is a lengthy process that may take weeks for completion. One of the most important parts performed on the day of the actual marriage ceremony is called kanyā-dānam. To execute kanyā-dānam, the bride’s father takes the left hand of the bride and places it into
The Name Is Not To Be Equated with Pious Works Bhakti and karma are two distinct paths. The qualifications needed for the two paths are also different. It is important to know this distinction. One should not use the chanting or kīrtana of holy name as a replacement for a Vedic dharmic ritual. That is
Question: Sometimes I don`t experience the presence of Bhagavān in the mūrti, and think that the mūrti is material. At other times, when I am out of my house, it seems that the spiritual is everywhere. Is this normal? Answer: No, this is not normal. It is normal to feel the presence of Bhagavān in
This quiz is designed to motivate you to study the Gaudiya Vaishnava scriptures in specific, and the Sad Darshanas in general, which are necessary to understand Gaudiya philosophy properly.
Question: Although I have practiced bhakti for many years, these days I have been having bad dreams at night. What can be the cause? It even happened when I kept a Hare Kṛṣṇa recording playing softly at the bed while sleeping. Answer: Dreams are of various types. They generally come from the saṁskāras, or imprints
In Anuccheda 238 of Bhakti Sandarbha, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī describes the importance of service and association with Vaiṣṇavas. Citing the statements of Śrī Kṛṣṇa to Uddhava, he shows how sādhu-saṅga captures the heart of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Incidentally he also talks about how to deal with a situation if one has accepted an unqualified guru. Below
I receive many questions related to śīkṣā-guru and dīkṣā-guru. At present, the general understanding in the devotee community is that these two are different persons. I do not know the reason behind such an understanding, nor the history related to it. Moreover, there is not a very clear understanding of who is a śīkṣā-guru. In Anucchedas 206 and
