Author: HH Bhakti Vikas Swami

  1. The opulence of Krsna’s Vrndavana

    Bilvamangala Thakura in Krsna-karnamrta addressed Krsna thus: “My dear Lord, what can I say about the opulence of Your Vrndavana? Simply the ornaments on the legs of the damsels of Vrndavana are more than cintamani, and their dresses are as good as the heavenly parijata flowers. And the cows exactly resemble the surabhi cows in […]
  2. Initiation: four no’s and one yes

    This initiation by the grace of guru and Krsna, do not take it very leniently. Take it very seriously. It is a great opportunity. Whatever you have promised before the Lord, before your spiritual master, before fire, before Vaisnavas, never deviate from this promise. Then you will keep fixed up in your spiritual life: no […]
  3. Saintly persons and politics

    Saintly persons are not interested in political matters, yet they are always thinking of the welfare of the people in general. Consequently they sometimes have to come down to the political field and take steps to correct the misguided government or royalty. However, in Kali-yuga, saintly persons are not as powerful as they previously were. […]
  4. Srila Prabhupada’s pranama mantra

    The pranama-mantra of Srila Prabhupada was humbly recited by his followers in every conceivable instance such as when a disciple was introduced to another swami, or in the occasion of bowing down in any church of place of worship, and sometimes before parents and other startled relatives and friends. When Deity worship began in the […]
  5. Protection from demoniac rulers

    Krsna appears in this world for two purposes, paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam: [Bg. 4.8] to protect the innocent, religious devotees of the Lord and to annihilate all the uneducated, uncultured asuras, who unnecessarily bark like dogs and fight among themselves for political power. It is said, kali-kale nama-rupe krsna avatara. The Hare Krsna movement […]
  6. Srila Prabhupada whacked him hard with his cane

    Once on a morning walk in Melbourne, a devotee who was following close behind, eager to hear everything that Srila Prabhupada said, made the blunder of accidentally stepping on his guru’s heel. Srila Prabhupada stopped, turned around, looked admonishingly at disciple, then turned back and continued walking. Shortly thereafter, that disciple made the same mistake. […]
  7. Mother Yasoda’s Krsna anxiety

    Pusta Krsna: Anxiety for one’s self is maya? Prabhupada: That is material. Pusta Krsna: And anxiety for Krsna? Prabhupada: That is spiritual. Rupa Gosvami’s sloka, krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matih kriyatam yadi kuto ‘pi labhyate  [Cc. Madhya 8.70]: “The anxiety for Krsna, if it can be purchased, immediately purchase it.” Rupa Gosvami said. Krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matih kriyatam: “Just purchase […]
  8. Advice to Indira Gandhi

    Brahmananda: What would be your advice to her? [Indira Gandhi] Prabhupada: My first step will be to capture all the hoarders and distribute the grains free. Immediately public will be obliged to… There are immense food grains; they are simply hoarded. They are not selling without good price. This is going on. Immediately she can […]