Sandarbhas
Bhakti Sandarbhas

The Importance of Kīrtana in Kaliyuga (1)

Although kīrtana has its importance in all yugas and is independent of time and place, yet it has special significance in the present time, Kaliyuga. In Anucchedas 270 to 274 of Bhakti Sandarbha, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī explains the reason behind the significance of kīrtana in Kaliyuga. The translation and commentaries on these anucchedas will be

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Sandarbhas

Singing Captures Kṛṣṇa’s Heart

Kṛṣṇa is akhila-rasa-mūrti, the personification of all rasas. He is also a singer and dancer, naṭavara. Thus, He naturally loves to hear kīrtana. In Śrīmad Bhāgavata, kīrtana is praised as the best means to become free from material bondage and attain the supreme destination. Kīrtana of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes is especially attractive to Him. Śrī Kṛṣṇa

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Sandarbhas

Hearing and Singing about Kṛṣṇa Is Supreme

Bhagavān has innumerable names, which all have inherent potency in them. Yet not all names have equal potency. The Name of Kṛṣṇa is supreme. Therefore, hearing and singing Kṛṣṇa’s names is most beneficial and effective, and thus constitutes one of the most important parts of bhakti in Gaudīya sampradāya. Moreover, hearing from the mouth of a

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Sandarbhas

The Importance of Hearing Śrīmad Bhāgavata

Hearing about Kṛṣṇa is the first step in bhakti. There are various scriptures that describe stories about Kṛṣṇa. Among them, Śrīmad Bhāgavata Purāṇam is the supreme. Therefore, hearing it is the supreme. Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī states this in the following two short anucchedas of Bhakti Sandarbha. Anuccheda 260 The Preeminence of the Words of Bhāgavata Purāṇa Even

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Sandarbhas

Symptoms of Śraddhā

The following article is based upon Bhakti Sandarbha (Anuccheda 172–173). In these two anucchedas, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī describes śraddhā as the basic qualification of a devotee. According to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, there are only three paths for the ultimate good of human beings, as stated, “These three yogas—jñāna, karma, and bhakti—have been taught by Me with

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Sandarbhas

Importance of the Holy Name

In Anuccheda 256 of Bhakti Sandarbha, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī, writes about the importance of hearing the name of Bhagavān before engaging in meditation on pastimes, līlā-smaraṇam. In the preceding anucchedas, he described the process of hearing about the name, form, qualities and pastimes of Bhagavān. Here he describes the importance of the order. Below I

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Articles by Satyanarayana Dasa Sandarbhas

Is Kṛṣṇa a Warmonger?

Some may read Bhagavad Gītā and think that Śrī Kṛṣṇa spoke in order to inspire Arjuna to fight for dharma. Being a kṣatriya, it was in fact Arjuna’s dharma to fight. However, seeing his teacher Droṇācārya and friends and relatives such as Bhīṣma on the opposing side, he lost his enthusiasm for the battle. Rather

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