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Post by Nitaidas on Jan 28, 2020 13:39:56 GMT -6
This is interesting, Nilamadhavadas ji. I requested a copy of the letter of Vipin Vihari Goswami from Gauranga Sevaka a month or so ago from the BRC. By accident I gave them the wrong volume number and got a reply from them to the effect that there was no letter from Vipin Vihari in that issue. I checked and realized what I had done. So I wrote back to them with the correct number and I got no reply. I wrote them again and still got no reply. I think they must have found the letter, read it, and decided not to copy it for me. I don't know, maybe they even destroyed it. I am going to try one more time and then ask another friend if she can get a copy from the Path Bari where they have several volumes of the journal. Wow! I didn't know you have the exact volume and number of the Gauranga Sevak Journal! That is great news! If you give me that info, when I get back to India (hopefully very soon --- I'm anxious to get out of here), I will hunt it down. Or at least I will try! It does make sense that they would bury something like that. Maybe you would have been better off just asking for / paying for a scan of that whole issue. Maybe your request would have been a bit more secretive? Nothing wrong with being honest, but what IGM person would want to put that out into the public? I think the guy Sundar was pretty good with me. Maybe I'll also write him and ask for a scan of that issue once I get the info from you. If that doesn't work, I'll show up in person and see if I can take photos of it with my phone. Or I'll try Pathbari temple. Last night I sent them another prod and got an almost immediate response from Balarama Lila Das saying that he had forwarded my request to Gopal Sundar Prabhu and asked him to kindly take care of it. I have not so far received any response from Gopal Sundar, but it is the middle of the night there. Anyway, I am hopeful again. You are right, though, about being more crafty in my requests to them. Asking for the the whole issue would have been wise. Besides, who knows what other delights might have appeared in that same issue. Here is the text of my request to them: Thank you for searching for the letter of Vipinavihari Goswami in the Garuanaga-sevaka Journal for me. I am not surprised to hear that it is not there. It looks like I misread the citation in Kananavihari Gosvami's book, however.The letter was published in the Gauranga-sevaka Patrika in bangabda 1325 (1918) Ashvin sankhya. If you have that issue of the journal, please search for the letter there. I very much appreciate your help on this. I am writing an article for the Journal of Vaisnava Studies and want to be able to refer to the contents of that letter in more detail. I am willing of course to pay for your services.
Those are the numbers you need for the journal issue. Ashvin month is September-October. I mistakenly asked for 1919 before.
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Post by Nityānanda dāsa on Feb 17, 2020 6:50:22 GMT -6
Radhe Radhe! I just came across this place on Google maps and wrote them asking about Gauranga Sevak, Kalikata Little Magazine Library... goo.gl/maps/84RnHfpecXd95cAD9
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Post by Nityānanda dāsa on Feb 17, 2020 7:07:33 GMT -6
Also, I just came across this project to translate the encyclopedia of Haridas das, the Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidhana... brcindia.com/vaishnava-encyclopaedia-project/Looks really cool but I question how authentic it will be since it is hosted by IGM ultimately. Perhaps I'll get involved and see what I can do since I have a copy. They do have a pretty cool 'Caitanya Tree' in the photos on that page. Please let me know what you think. I wonder if it would be worth my time to pose the question of the BRC getting behind a project that ultimately is about a tradition they're not really linked with? Of course I don't need to say it like that, but still...? Jai Nitai! Jai Gaur!
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Post by Ldd on Feb 17, 2020 8:09:24 GMT -6
Also, I just came across this project to translate the encyclopedia of Haridas das, the Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidhana... brcindia.com/vaishnava-encyclopaedia-project/Looks really cool but I question how authentic it will be since it is hosted by IGM ultimately. Perhaps I'll get involved and see what I can do since I have a copy. They do have a pretty cool 'Caitanya Tree' in the photos on that page. Please let me know what you think. I wonder if it would be worth my time to pose the question of the BRC getting behind a project that ultimately is about a tradition they're not really linked with? Of course I don't need to say it like that, but still...? Jai Nitai! Jai Gaur! Anything they put their hand on is to claim it. The Chaitanya tree is described in Chaitanya Charitamrita, why do we have to admire a tree that somebody drew? Academics, scholars and historians all want to share part of that glory. and the researchers will add their name and honor to it. What is the purpose of these encyclopedia collection? Simply a tribute to the devotee who wrote them - how great was their bhakti. Today it's all academic research, facilities etc. This Haridas project will impress curious people in India who are walking in the shadow of darkness, without the guide of a Krishna bhakta. Are we bewildered if a snake dangles an apple or sings Harinam? No, it's trap we must be very certain. Spiritual knowledge has a purpose - to know the end of it and perfect it. But academic knowledge is different, its collected, and you learn what is taught - no experience of anything. Science is the only thing compared to spiritual knowledge you get experience. Other subjects like history (a lot of what they are doing has speculation and false information) I'm certain no one truly knows the original language. Translating and collecting books is a nice hobby that is favorable to bhakti. If you read these books written by great devotees, the science of Krishna is simply emphasized over and over again. It is for their glory we read and keep them. But the ideas come from major texts, we need to master those. Only bhaktas should have access and diffuse, comment, translate etc. I believe knowledge should be restricted. That's only my idea though, maybe the only one on earth thinking this way. Become a good bhakta ( I see signs in you) then the other steps will be clear.
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Post by Nityānanda dāsa on Feb 17, 2020 11:30:59 GMT -6
Books I have books from the Gadadhara-Gaurhari press: In Hindi and Indian languages - if anyone wants to use. Vedānta-darśanam bhāgavata bhāṣyopetam Śrī-sādhanāmṛta-candrikā Śrī-gaura-govindārcana-paddhati Śrī-rādhā-kṛṣṇārcana-dīpikā Śrī-govinda-līlāmṛtam (3 volumes) Aiśvarya-kādambinī Śrī-saṁkalpa-kalpa-druma Catuḥślokībhāṣyam & Śrī-kṛṣṇa-bhajanāmṛta Prema-sampuṭa Śrī-bhagavad-bhakti-sāra-samuccaya Braja-rīti-cintāmaṇi Śrī-govinda-vṛndāvanam Śrī-kṛṣṇa-bhakti-ratna-prakāśa Śrī-hari-bhakti-sāra-saṁgraha Dharma-saṁgraha Śrī-caitanya-sūkti-sudhākara Śrī-nāmāmṛta-samudra Sanat-kumāra-saṁhitā Śruti-stuti-vyākhyā Rāsa-prabandha Dina-candrikā Śrī-sādhana-dīpikā Svakīyātva-nirāsa-parakīyātva-nirūpaṇam Śrī-rādhā-rasa-sudhā-nidhi (mūla) Śrī-rādhā-rasa-sudhā-nidhi (sānuvād) Śrī-Gaurāṅga-candrodaya Śrī-caitanya-candrāmṛtam Śrī-brahma-saṁhitā Bhakti-candrikā Prameya-ratnāvalī evaṁ navaratna Vedānta-syamantaka Tattva-sandarbhaḥ Bhagavat-sandarbhaḥ Paramātma-sandarbhaḥ Kṛṣṇa-sandarbhaḥ Bhakti-sandarbhaḥ Prīti-sandarbhaḥ daśaḥ-ślokī bhāṣyam Bhakti-rasāmṛta-śeṣa Śrī-caitanya-bhāgavata Śrī-caitanya-caritāmṛta-mahā-kāvyam Śrī-caitanya-maṅgala Śrī-Gaurāṅga-virūdāvalī Śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-caritāmṛta Sat-saṅgam Nitya-kṛtya-prakaraṇam Śrīmad-bhāgavata-prathama-śloka Śrī-gāyatrī vyākhyā-vivṛtiḥ Śrī-hari-nāmāmṛta-vyākaraṇam Śrī-kṛṣṇa-janma-tithi-vidhiḥ Śrī-hari-bhakti-vilāsaḥ Kāvya-kaustubhaḥ Śrī-caitanya-caritāmṛta Alaṅkāra-kaustubha Śrī-gaurāṅga-līlāmṛtam Śikṣāṣṭakam Saṅkṣepa-śrī-hari-nāmāmṛta-vyākaraṇam Prayuktākhyāta manjarī Chando kaustubha Hindū-dharma-rahasyam vā sarva-dharma-samanvayaḥ Sāhitya-kaumudī Go-sevā Rāsalīlā Śrī mantra-bhāgavatam Radhe Radhe Didi, Are these titles all in Hindi? And also they're all authored/edited by Sri Haridas Shastriji? Please let me know and I'll add them to the CV Booklist.
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Post by Ldd on Feb 17, 2020 18:34:03 GMT -6
Nila-ji The collection is mostly Gaudiya vaishnava texts and writings of assorted devotees. Maharaj-ji has authored a few, and translated. The language is a type of Sanskritized Hindi.
Jai Sri Krishna.
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Post by Ldd on Feb 18, 2020 3:35:46 GMT -6
NIla-ji. I will make a list of the authors and put it here. The value of reading devotees writing is to see the level of their bhakti and be inspired. I'm reading one "Siddhanta Darpanam" By Sri Baldeva Vidyabhushana with comments by one Sri Nanda Misra, translated to English by two of our devotees. The idea of the book is to defeat people who said that the Bhagawatam is not part of the Vedas, and was written by human. The author uses logical reasoning all the way. Well there are rules to follow. Lots of people think that Puranas was written by conditioned beings. The book defeats false philosophies like Buddhism - which say that the Vedas was written by demons and buffoons (in one text, I didn't realize they were so offensive ) This is how devotees protect the things of the Lord.
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Post by Nityānanda dāsa on Feb 18, 2020 15:11:29 GMT -6
Radhe Radhe! The 64 titles at the start of this thread have been added to the CV Booklist. Many thanks to Lalita Didi! I will also add more info as it becomes available.
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Post by Nityānanda dāsa on Sept 28, 2021 7:50:53 GMT -6
Radhe Radhe!
Quick question for the CV sanga...
Would it be worthwhile to pay someone for finding the issue of Gouranga Sevak that we're looking for? I definitely would be willing to contribute to that. I'm just not sure what would be reasonable. I've met a few people in West Bengal who might be able and willing to track it down. Please share your thoughts! Thanks!
And of course if it's not found by the time I get to India, I plan to spend at least a day or two trying to hunt it down.
Jai Nitai! Jai Gaur!
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Post by Nityānanda dāsa on Sept 28, 2021 8:01:24 GMT -6
AND... we could also potentially utilize such persons for finding any books/periodicals we might want to look for.
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Post by Nitaidas on Sept 29, 2021 17:25:11 GMT -6
Radhe Radhe! Quick question for the CV sanga... Would it be worthwhile to pay someone for finding the issue of Gouranga Sevak that we're looking for? I definitely would be willing to contribute to that. I'm just not sure what would be reasonable. I've met a few people in West Bengal who might be able and willing to track it down. Please share your thoughts! Thanks! And of course if it's not found by the time I get to India, I plan to spend at least a day or two trying to hunt it down. Jai Nitai! Jai Gaur! You might try a lady named Hena Basu. She often works for western scholars in Kolkata doing research. She probably has connections with all the major research libraries. She's worked with Tony Stewart a good deal. I don't know what she charges. It might be somewhat inflated, but I am willing to chip in. You can find her link here.
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Post by Nityānanda dāsa on Sept 29, 2021 17:36:48 GMT -6
I already tried her 🙂
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Post by Nitaidas on Sept 30, 2021 11:54:28 GMT -6
Dang! I was afraid that was true. It seemed to me that I had mentioned her before. I wonder what has gotten into her. Maybe she is afraid of IGM or perhaps is a supporter. Maybe she just wants big accounts, not one that wants just a single article find. It would be great to get the whole journal and see what else is in it, who contributed to it, etc. There were so many Vaisnava journals during that period. There is probably a dissertation or two just on those journals. I wish my friend Tridib were still alive. He would have found that journal article. It is sad. Almost everyone I know back in my Calcutta days is now gone. Life expectancy is really short in India. I received news that my best friend, Sajal Majumdar, closer than a brother to me, passed away eleven years ago and I just found out a few months ago. The only one still alive is this uncooperative Hena Basu. Anyway, we will find that article and translate it and make it available to everyone. I never thought the Nama series of Siddha Manohar Das Baba would be found. But, thanks to intrepid hunters like Nilamadhavadasji it has been found. I am convinced, on he strength of Baba's own words, that it is a powerful sadhana, the daily recital of those two texts. On another note, welcome back Kirtaniya Sada Hari! It has been a long time since we have seen you in these virtual halls. Thanks for your comments on my posting of a few days back. As far as I am able to understand it, you think Krsna and Balaram came to India because of the bhaktas there. That is, of course, only partially true. They came to kill demons as well, as the first chapter of the Tenth Skandha amply demonstrates. Nor does the CC promote the idea that the more advanced a Vaisnava becomes the less one thinks of oneself as a Vaisnava. The CC is the most outrageously sectarian presentation of the life of Sri Caitanya ever written. In that respect it differs from some of the earlier biographies of Sri Caitanya. In my view it represents a sad development in the history of CV, the development of an us and them mentality which is indicative not of advancement in spiritual life, but a deterioration instead. It seems a historical truth that all well-meaning religious movements are weakened, if not destroyed, when small-minded fools are let in and succeed in rising to positions of power and institutionalizing them. The rise of the CC represents that moment in CV history, in my view. Fortunately, there have been a few outliers down through the centuries who have kept the original spirit of the movement alive. What I want to do with my last days on earth is try to excavate that spirit and see it rise again. That is behind my campaign to steal Radha and Krsna from India and draw them here to the US or the West in general. They, it turns out, cannot resist bhakti. Bhakti, however, is hard to come by. Krsna does not bestow it lightly because when he does he is granting his bhakta control over him. Someone with bhakti becomes a source attraction to him and a source of pleasure. He cannot resist. Bhakti is part of Radhika's hladini-sakti. That is why Krsna cannot resist someone who has it. I will almost certainly fail, but what better way to spend one's golden years?
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Post by meeno8 on Sept 30, 2021 18:48:32 GMT -6
Yeah, those 'golden years'. LOL
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Post by Nitaidas on Oct 1, 2021 12:35:15 GMT -6
Sorry for my screed on the Cc yesterday. I know that there are many Cc lovers here. I have, however, developed suspicions about the text over the last several years. I think it needs to be reconsidered in terms of its influence on the CV tradition and in terms of the plausibility of some of its claims. We tend to think that Sri Caitanya actually said the things KdK represents him as saying, as if KdK had clairvoyant vision or something. His presentation of the works of the Gosvamins as if they were given to them by Sri Caitanya is clearly false. They are meant to lend authority to their works in the eyes of the Bengali Vaisnava readers. Otherwise, who would have guessed that those books composed in distant Vraja would have anything to do with Mahaprabhu? It is a fiction in the way that Baladeva's claim that CV is connected with the Madhva tradition is a fiction. Each was created for a specific purpose. And they largely succeeded, but at the expense of the truth.
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