Jayati guruvar, jayati guruvar, jayati guruvar pyare.
Glory and all glory to my beloved Guru.

Tu hi Brahma, tu hi Vishnu, tu hi Shankar pyare.
Oh my beloved Guru, you are Brahma, Vishnu and Shankar. (The Guru awakens in his disciple’s heart true devotion to God, he protects that disciple’s spiritual progress, and in the end, he destroys the veil of Maya and bestows upon that disciple divine knowledge and divine love.)

Tere pache chalat Natvar, chahat pad raj pyare.
Natvar Shri Krishna follows behind you because He desires your footdust.

Harihin bhaven shuddha jan tohin, patit bhaven pyare.
Shri Krishna only graces those souls whose hearts are completely purified; but you accept the fallen and impure souls.

Tu to asharan sharan mohun, sharan ley ley pyare.
Oh my beloved Guru, you are the refuge of destitutes. Please give me refuge at your lotus feet.

Main hun shraddha-heen mo sir, dharahun nij kar pyare.
I am completely faithless; please place your merciful hand on my head and bless me with devotion.

Tu jo ho anukoola to Hari bhaje aave pyare.
Krishna runs towards that soul who has favorable and dedicated feelings for you.

Guru hi rinatey urina nahin ko pranahun de pyare.
The Guru does so much for a disciple, that the disciple could not repay this debt, even if he were to give his own life.

Hari ‘Kripalu’ hon tabhi jab, kar kripa guru pyare.
God bestows His grace only when the beloved Guru becomes merciful.

(Excerpted from the Braj Ras Madhuri, written and composed by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj.)

© Radha Govinda Samiti and Bhakti Bliss, 2009-2010

Guru Poornima Celebration
25 July, 2010
Rangeeli Mahal Ashram
Barsana, Mathura District, UP
India

Yesham sansmaranat punsan sadyah-shudhyati vai grihah.
Kim punardarshana-sparshadashoucasanadibhih.

(Bhagwatam, 1/19/33)

The scriptures state that merely by remembering the Guru, one’s heart and mind are purified. To then actually see him, to touch his lotus feet, to be in his satsang, and to have his actual association is our extreme good fortune and the special grace of God.

Etadev hi sacchishyaih kartavyam gurunishkritam.
Yad vai vishudhabhaven sarvarthatmarpanam gurau.

(Bhagwatam, 10/80/14)

A disciple’s highest and greatest duty is to joyfully surrender to his all-gracious Guru. It isn’t possible for a disciple to repay his Guru for everything his Guru has done for him.

Share the joy you feel in your heart with others during the Guru Poornima Celebrations in Barsana. You may offer your deepest respects to the Guru at that time and imbide the graced-filled nectar of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Maharaj’s divine message to his disciples.

For more information please call:

(91) 9759005000
(91) 9720135979
(91) 9690002617

© Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat and Bhakti Bliss, 2009-2010

Large format pages and easy to follow suggested fingerings makes it easy to start learning and playing these notations right away regardless of your skill level. Free audio tutorials of notations and harmonium exercises available.

For more information or to order, click here.

Happy Ramnaumi

Shri ramachandra kripalu bhaju mana harana bhavabhaya darunam.
Navakanja-lochana, kanja-mukha, kara-kanja, pada-kanjarunam.
O my mind! Remember Lord Rama, the gracious Lord who eradicates even the most terrible effects of Maya. His eyes, shaped like new lotus blossoms, are set in his lotus-face. His tender hands are like lotuses and His feet, which are pinkish in hue, are like red lotuses.

Kandarpa aganita amita chabi, navanila-nirada sundaram.
Pata peet manahu tadita ruchi shuci naumi janaka sutavaram.
With utmost humility I bow to Sita Ji’s eternal consort, Ramachandra, whose boundless beauty exceeds the combined beauty of countless kamdevas (celestial gods of beauty). He complexion is as exquisite as a rain-laden cloud. The yellow garments He is adorned with are glorifying His sapphire-blue body just as charming flashes of lighting glorify a dark sky.

Bhaju dinabandhu dinesha danava-daitya-vanssa-nikandanam.
Raghunanda anandakanda kaushalya-chanda dasaratha-nandanam.
Oh, my mind! Meditate on Ram, the delight of the house of Raghu, who is the source of all bliss, soothing as the moon to the Kaushalas, the son of Dasaratha, the friend of the humble, the descendant of the Raghu (solar) lineage and the exterminator of the demons and daityas.

Sir mukut kundal tilak charu udar anga vibhushan.
Ajanubhuja sar-chap-dhara, sangrama-jita khara-dhushanam.
He has a shining crown on His head, glittering pendants in his ears, a lovely tilak on His forehead and resplendant ornaments on His lustrous body. His strong arms, which extend to His knees, are holding the bow and arrows that conquered Khara and Dushana.

Iti vadati tulasidas shankara-shesha-muni-manaranjanam.
Mama hridaya-kanj-nivasa kuru, kamadi khala-dala-ganjanam.
Tulsidas humbly entreats Lord Ram, who is the delight of Lord Shiva and the sages, and slayer of enemies such as lust, pride, greed, and the like, to reside in his heart and make it His home forever.

© Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat and Bhakti Bliss, 2009-2010

January 5-10, 2010-RAMESHWARAM SADHANA CAMP
Venue: P.T. Rajan Hall
Race Course Road
Tallakullam, Madurai
Tamil Nadu
Contact Nos.: 943727341, 9861932008 & 9437273132

January 14, 2010- JAGADGURU CELEBRATION
(On January 14, 1957, the pandits of Kashi honored Shri Maharaj Ji with the title of Jagadguru)
Venue: Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat-Rangeeli Mahal
Barsana, Dist. Mathura, U.P.
Contact Nos.: 9759005000, 9690002620

January 17-23, 2010 -TANGI SADHANA CAMP
Venue: Braj Gopika Dham
Tutumberpalli
P.O. Pariorada
Dist. Khurda, Orissa
Contact No. : 9937139424

February 12-28, HOLI SADHANA SHIVIR
Venue: Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat-Bhakti Dham
VPO Mangarh
Tehsil Kunda
Dist. Pratapgarh, U.P.
Contact Nos. 975900300, 9897060855

Gopashtami or Gopa Ashtami, is observed on the eighth day during waxing phase of the moon (Shukla Paksha) in Kartik month (October – November).

These celebrations commemorate Shri Krishna’s childhood leelas related to tending cows in Braj. Traditionally on this day, cows are bathed and decorated, and “go” or cow puja, a small ceremony, is performed.

A beautiful rangoli design was made with colored powders inside the temporary cow pen

Two cows from the ashram goshala were chosen and decorated for the occasion

Crowd waiting for the festivities to begin

Joyous respected devotees beginning to arrive for the celebration

Shri Maharaj Ji graces the occasion

While proceeding from Ayodhya to Chitrakoot at the beginning of their forest exile, Lord Ram, Sita ji and Lakshman came to this spot, which in that age was situated in the kingdom of Nishadha Raj Guha. Ram and Sita rested here for one night.

The following morning, Ram, Sita and Lakshman approached Kevat, a boatman, to be ferried across the Ganges so they could continue their journey. Kevat knew that Shri Ram was supreme God. At first, Kevat told Shri Ram that he would not take them on the pretext that the dust of Shri Rama’s feet could turn his boat into a woman. This was in reference to Ahalya, the wife of sage Gautama, who was saved from the curse of being turned into stone by receiving Shri Ram’s foot dust.

Kevat said, “If this happens to my boat, how will I survive? It is my only means of income.” Kevat then made a condition that he should be allowed to wash Shri Rama’s lotus feet to free them of any dust. His hidden desire was to have the opportunity to touch his beloved Lord’s lotus feet, which would cause him to be forever free from Maya.

Shri Ram started mildly refusing, because he knew Kevat’s actual intention and that if He were to bestow His divine love on a fully surrendered soul, He would become the servitor of that devotee forever. However, Kevat kept insisting, and finally Lord Ram agreed. This leela is narrated in the Ayodhyakanda section of the Tulsidas Ramayana.

At this important and holy leela place, with the inspiration of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj, a new Ram Darbar temple was constructed. Before dawn on October 24, Shri Maharaj Ji visited this new temple accompanied by 300 devotees. The program consisted of a welcome message from the Temple priest, kirtan, a special abhishek ceremony of the deities, and prasad.

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj vists the new Ram Darbar Temple in Shringaverpur, U.P.

Some of the respected devotees visiting with Shri Maharaj Ji

Shri Maharaj Ji and Ram Darbar Temple priest

Entrance to the Temple

Deities of Shri Ram, Sita and Lakshman - Ram Darbar

Deity of Hanuman Ji

View of courtyard outside the Temple

The grass mat on this cement platform commemorates the place where Lord Ram and Sita ji rested for one evening before starting their forest exile. Five Shesham trees that emerge from the platform are believed to be at least 900,000 years old.

Sakhya bhav ras aisa, Govinda Radhey,
poorn brahm ko ji jiva ghora bana dey.

“The quality of divine love bliss experienced in sakhya bhava, the loving sentiments exemplified by Shri Krishna’s young cowherd friends, causes even supreme God, who is divinely contented, to become a horse for his friends to ride in their play.”

(Kirtan verse written by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on October 18, 2009, at Bhakti Dham, Mangarh)

In the Bhagwatam, Shri Krishna explains that He comes under the control of His devotees love. This is the special characteristic of divine love. During His descension period in Braj, Shri Krishna would play games with His childhood friends. The unique quality of divine love bliss experienced by his friends was called sakhya bhav, the feeling of loving equality found in a friendship relationship.

Shri Krishna played many games with his friends that would have a challenge. The person who lost had to become a horse and the person who won would become the rider and would sit on the loser. Shri Krishna would frequently lose the game and and He would have to become a horse. His friend would sit on Shri Krishna’s back, in the same way a child would sit on his father’s back, and say, “Chal ghore!” “Go, horse!”

This is the same supreme God who is worshiped through Vedic mantras in temples all around the world by the greatest of priests. But under the control of the love of His devotee, Shri Krishna would do anything desire to fulfill that devotee’s loving desire, and so supreme God would become horse.

If Shri Krishna’s friend felt his “horse” was going too slowly, he would also kick Shri Krishna from time to time. When this happened, Shri Krishna eyes would fill with full of tears. He would think, “All my devotees worship Me with love and reverence, and also with fear and formality. But my beloved friend has reached such a level of intimacy with me that He is kicking Me!” Then He would start running fast. After some time, He would slow down. It was not because He was tired. Instead, that kick was so sweet He felt, “I would like to feel it once again, so I can run past and give him joy.” So His friend would again give Him a kick, and again Shri Krishna would starts moving. This is an example of the loving leelas of sakhya bhava revealed in the Shrimad Bhagwatam and in the writings of Rasik Saints.

Rath yatra of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj in Bhakti Dham, Mangarh, on the occasion of Govardhan Puja.

Govardhan Puja is celebrated the day after Divali. It was the custom during Shri Krishna’s descension in Braj for the Brajwasis to offer food to Indra, the king of the celestial abodes, to propitiate him so that he would provide plenty of rain for their crops. The little son of Nand, Krishna, told the Brajwasis to stop worshiping Indra and instead to direct their devotion to Govardhan Hill, which was the form of God Himself.

All the food that was prepared to be offered to Indra was then offered to Govardhan Hill instead. At that moment Lord Krishna appeared on Govardhan Hill as Giriraj Maharaj and accepted all of their offerings. Then all the Brajwasis circumambulated the hill while singing the glories of Govardhan and dancing joyously.

Joyous renactment of Govardhan Leela at Bhakti Dham, Mangarh.

Jagadguru Shri Kripal Ji Maharaj as Giriraj Maharaj during Govardhan Leela, Bhakti, Dham, Mangarh.

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With tears of celebration and love on her birthday, we remember our beloved Amma, Padma Devi, wife of our beloved Guru, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj, who departed for her divine abode on March 13, 2009. Amma – we miss you and love you. You will forever adorn our hearts with your sweet presence.

Amma's mandir in the prayer hall,
Bhakti Dham

Amma's charan paduka