The Nectar of Devotion – Chapter 3 Eligibility of the Candidate for Accepting Devotional Service
Chapter 3 Eligibility of the Candidate for Accepting Devotional Service On account of his association with mahātmās, or great souls one hundred percent engaged in the devotional service of the Lord, one may attain a little … Read More
The Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER SIX How to Discharge Devotional Service
CHAPTER SIX How to Discharge Devotional Service Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī states that his elder brother (Sanātana Gosvāmī) has compiled Hari-bhakti-vilāsa for the guidance of the Vaiṣṇavas and therein has mentioned many rules and regulations to be … Read More
The Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER SEVEN – ACCEPTING THE SHELTER OF A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER
CHAPTER SEVEN Evidence Regarding Devotional Principles ACCEPTING THE SHELTER OF A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, third chapter, verse 21, Prabuddha tells Mahārāja Nimi, “My dear King, please know for certain … Read More
The Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER SEVEN – ACCEPTING THE SHELTER OF A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER
CHAPTER SEVEN Evidence Regarding Devotional Principles ACCEPTING THE SHELTER OF A BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, third chapter, verse 21, Prabuddha tells Mahārāja Nimi, “My dear King, please know for certain … Read More
The Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER EIGHT – The offenses against the chanting of the holy name are as follows
The offenses against the chanting of the holy name are as follows: (1) To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives for propagating the holy name of the Lord. (2) To consider the names of … Read More
The Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER EIGHT – The offenses against the chanting of the holy name are as follows
The offenses against the chanting of the holy name are as follows: (1) To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives for propagating the holy name of the Lord. (2) To consider the names of … Read More
The Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER NINE – BLASPHEMY
CHAPTER NINE Further Consideration of Devotional Principles BLASPHEMY One should not tolerate blasphemy of the Lord or His devotees. In this connection, in the Tenth Canto, seventy-fourth chapter, verse 40 of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Śukadeva Gosvāmī tells Parīkṣit … Read More
The Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER NINE – TILAKA AND TULASĪ BEADS
TILAKA AND TULASĪ BEADS In the Padma Purāṇa there is a statement describing how a Vaiṣṇava should decorate his body with tilaka and beads: “Persons who put tulasī beads on the neck, who mark twelve places … Read More
The Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER NINE – Reciting Notable prayers
Reciting Notable prayers According to great learned scholars, the whole Bhagavad-gītā contains many authorized prayers, especially in the eleventh chapter, where Arjuna prays to the universal form of the Lord. Similarly, in the Gautamīya-tantra all the … Read More
The Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER TWELVE – RENDERING SERVICE TO DEVOTEES
RENDERING SERVICE TO DEVOTEES In the Padma Purāṇa, there is a nice statement praising the service of the Vaiṣṇavas, or devotees. In that scripture Lord Śiva tells Pārvatī, “My dear Pārvatī, there are different methods of … Read More
The Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER TWELVE – RESIDING IN MATHURĀ
RESIDING IN MATHURĀ In the Varāha Purāṇa there is a statement praising the residential quarters of Mathurā. Lord Varāha tells the men of earth, “Any person who becomes attracted to places other than Mathurā will certainly … Read More
The Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER TWELVE – HEARING THE REVEALED SCRIPTURES
CHAPTER TWELVE Further Aspects of Transcendental Service HEARING THE REVEALED SCRIPTURES According to Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, any book that gives enlightenment in the matter of advancing in devotional service is considered to be revealed scripture. Śrīla … Read More
The Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER ELEVEN – BEING A SURRENDERED SOUL
BEING A SURRENDERED SOUL In the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa there is the following statement about self-surrender: “My dear Lord, a person who has surrendered himself unto You, who is in firm conviction that he is Yours, and who … Read More
The Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER ELEVEN – PERFORMING ALL ENDEAVORS FOR KṚṢṆA
PERFORMING ALL ENDEAVORS FOR KṚṢṆA In the Nārada Pañcarātra there is a statement of how one can act in all spheres of life for the satisfaction of the Lord. It is stated there that a person … Read More
The Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER ELEVEN – OFFERING A FAVORITE ARTICLE
OFFERING A FAVORITE ARTICLE In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, eleventh chapter, verse 41, Lord Kṛṣṇa tells Uddhava, “My dear friend, if someone offers Me the best thing in his possession, or anything which is very … Read More
The Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER ELEVEN – OFFERING A FAVORITE ARTICLE
OFFERING A FAVORITE ARTICLE In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, eleventh chapter, verse 41, Lord Kṛṣṇa tells Uddhava, “My dear friend, if someone offers Me the best thing in his possession, or anything which is very … Read More
The Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER ELEVEN – SURRENDERING EVERYTHING TO THE LORD
SURRENDERING EVERYTHING TO THE LORD Regarding complete self-surrender, there is a nice description in the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, twenty-ninth chapter, verse 34, where the Lord says, “A person who has completely surrendered unto Me and … Read More
The Nectar of Devotion – CHAPTER ELEVEN – DEVOTIONAL SERVICE IN FRIENDSHIP
DEVOTIONAL SERVICE IN FRIENDSHIP Devotional service in friendship can be divided into two categories: the first is to act as the confidential servant of the Lord, and the other is to act as the well-wisher of … Read More