Guru Parampara
kṛṣṇa hoite catur-mukha, hoy kṛṣṇa-sevonmukha,
brahmā hoite nāradera mati
nārada hoite vyāsa, madhwa kohe vyāsa-dāsa,
pūrṇaprajña padmanābha gati
1) In the beginning of creation the science of devotional service was received by the four-headed Brahma from the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna. Devarsi Narada's understanding of this divine science was obtained from Brahma. The great sage Krsna Dvaipayana Vyasa, who was empowered to compile the Vedic literatures, became a disciple of Devarsi Narada. Sripada Madhvacarya, the founder of the suddha-dvaita school of Vedanta philosophy, who visited Vyasadeva at Badarikasrama in the thirteenth century to learn from him Vedanta philosophy, calls himself a servant of Krsna Dvaipayana Vyasa. Purnaprajna Tirtha [Madhva] is the guru and sole refuge of Padmanabha Tirtha.
nṛhari mādhava-baḿśe, akṣobhya paramahaḿse,
śiṣya boli' ańgīkāra kore
akṣobhyera śiṣya jaya-tīrtha nāme paricaya,
tāra dāsye jñānasindhu tore
The two other principal disciples of Madhva are Nrhari Tirtha and Madhava Tirtha. Madhava Tirtha accepted the great paramhamsa Aksobhya Tirtha as a disciple. The principal disciple of Aksobhya Tirtha was known as Jayatirtha. Jayatirtha's service was for his disciple Jnanasindhu.
tāhā hoite dayānidhi, tāra dāsa vidyānidhi,
rājendra hoilo tāhā ha'te
tāhāra kińkora jaya-dharma nāme paricaya,
paramparā jāno bhālo mate
Dayanidhi received the science of devotional service from Jnanasindhu, and the servant of Dayanidhi was Vidyanidhi [Vidyadhiraja Tirtha]. Rajendra Tirtha became a disciple of Vidyadhiraja Tirtha. Rajendra Tirtha's servant was known as Jayadharma or Vijayadhvaja Tirtha. In this way you should properly understand this disciplic succession.
jayadharma-dāsye khyāti, śrī puruṣottama-jati,
tā ha'te brahmaṇya-tīrtha sūri
vyāsatīrtha tāra dāsa, lakṣmīpati vyāsa-dāsa,
tāhā ha'te mādhavendra purī
The great sannyasi Sri Purusottama Tirtha received his knowledge in the service of his guru, Vijayadhvaja Tirtha [Jayadharma]. The principal disciple of Purusottama Tirtha was Subrahmanya Tirtha. His servant was the great Vyasatirtha [Vyasa Raya]. Vyasatirtha's servant was Laksmipati Tirtha, whose disciple was Madhavendra Puri Gosvami.
mādhavendra purī-bara, śiṣya-bara śrī-īśwara,
nityānanda, śrī-adwaita vibhu
īśwara-purīke dhanya, korilen śrī-caitanya,
jagad-guru gaura mahāprabhu
The chief disciple of Madhavendra Puri was Isvara Puri, and two of his other disciples were the renowned incarnations of Godhead Sri Nityananda and Advaita Acarya. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the spiritual preceptor of all the worlds made Isvari Puri greatly fortunate by accepting him as His spiritual master.
mahāprabhu śrī-caitanya, rādhā-kṛṣṇa nahe anya,
rūpānuga janera jīvana
viśwambhara priyańkara, śrī-swarūpa dāmodara,
śrī-goswāmī rūpa-sanātana
Mahaprabhu Sri Caitanya is non different from Sri Sri Radha and Krsna and is the very life of those Vaisnavas who follow Sri Rupa Gosvami. Sri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, Rupa Gosvami, and Sanatana Gosvami were the givers of great happiness to Visvambhara [Sri Caitanya].
rūpa-priya mahājana, jīva, raghunātha hana,
tāra priya kavi kṛṣṇadāsa
kṛṣṇadāsa-priya-bara, narottama sevā-para,
jāra pada viśwanātha-āśa
The great souls Jiva Gosvami and Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami became very dear to Rupa Gosvami. Jiva Gosvami was a disciple of Rupa Gosvami, and Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami, a disciple of Advaita Acarya's disciple Yadunandana Acarya, was accepted by Rupa and Sanatana as their third brother. Raghunatha dasa Gosvami's beloved student was Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami. Krsnadasa Kaviraja was an intimate friend of Lokanatha Gosvami. They lived together in Vrndavana and always discussed the topics of Krsna with one another. Lokanatha Gosvami, a disciple of Gadadhara Pandita, had only one disciple, whose name was Narottama Dasa. Narottama Dasa was always engaged in the service of his guru, and he also engaged himself in the service of his guru's intimate friend. Thus he became very dear to Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami. To serve I the feet of Narottama Dasa Thakura was the only desire of Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, who was the fourth acarya in disciplic succession from Narottama Dasa.
viśwanātha-bhakta-sātha, baladeva jagannātha,
tāra priya śrī-bhaktivinoda
mahā-bhāgavata-bara, śrī-gaurakiśora-bara,
hari-bhajanete jā'ra moda
Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura was the siksa-guru [instructing spiritual master] of Baladeva Vidyabhusana, to whom he taught the precepts of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Jagannatha Dasa Babaji was a very prominent acarya after Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana and was the beloved siksa-guru of Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Bhaktivinoda Thakura's intimate friend and associate was the eminent maha-bhagavata Sri Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji, whose sole joy was found in hari-bhajana.
īhārā paramahaḿsa, gaurāńgera nija-baḿśa
tādera caraṇe mama gati
āmi sebā-udāsīna, nāmete tridaṇḍī dīna
śrī-bhaktisiddhānta saraswatī
These treat saintly Vaisnavas are all paramahamsas, or devotees of the highest order, and they are all part of Lord Gauranga's own spiritual family. Their holy feet are my refuge. I have no real interest in devotional services and I am a poor and lowly tridandi sannyai named Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.
śrī-vārṣabhānavī-barā, sadā sevya-sevā-parā,
|tāhāra dayita-dāsa-nāma|
tāra pradhān pracārako, śrī-bhaktivedānta nāmo,
patita-janete doyā-dhāma
The renowned Sri Varsabhanavi-dayita dasa [the initiated name of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati] is always engaged in the service of his spiritual master, Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji. His foremost disciple preacher is Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who has spread the message of Lord Caitanya throughout the world and is thus a reservoir of mercy and compassion for all fallen souls.
Ekhona Bujhinu (Bhaktivinoda Thakura)
ekhona bujhinu prabhu! tomāra caraṇa
|aśokābhoyāmṛta-pūrṇa sarva-kṣana
I know now Your divine feet are a refuge free from all sorrow and fear, eternally full of sweet nectar.
sakala chāḍiyā tuwā caraṇa-kamale
poḍiyāchi āmi nātha! tava pada-tale
At the soles of those lotus feet I surrender myself and all I possess.
tava pāda-padma nāth! rokṣibe āmāre
ār rakṣā-kartā nāhi e bhava-saḿsāre
O Lord, there is no other protection but You in this world of birth and death.
āmi tava nitya-dāsa—jāninu e-bāra
āmāra pālana-bhāra ekhona tomāra
At last I know myself to be Your eternal servant, whose maintenance You have assured.
baḍo duḥkha pāiyāchi swatantra jīvane
duḥkha dūre gelo o pada-varaṇe
Life before, without You, held nothing but sorrow. Now I live free from all misery
je-pada lāgiyā ramā tapasya korilā
je-pada pāiyā śiva śivatwa lobhilā
Laksmi, desiring such a place at Your lotus feet, executed austerities. Only after securing a place by Your lotus feet did Lord Siva attain his sivatva, or quality of auspiciousness.
je-pada labhiyā brahmā kṛtārtha hoilā
je-pada nārada muni hṛdoye dhorilā
Upon obtaining those feet Lord Brahma became successful in life, and the great sage Narada Muni held those two feet to his heart.
sei se abhoya pada śirete dhoriyā
parama-ānande nāci pada-guna gāiyā
Your lotus feet drive away all fear. Having held them to my head, I dance in great ecstasy, singing their glories.
saḿsāra-vipada ho’te avaśya uddhār
bhakativinoda, o-pada koribe tomār
Your lotus feet will deliver Bhaktivinoda from the perils of worldly journey.
Bolo Hari Bolo(Bhaktivinoda Thakura)
bolo hari bolo (3 times)
maner ānande, bhāi, bolo hari bolo
bolo hari bolo (3 times)
janame janame sukhe bolo hari bolo
Chant the name of Hari! O brothers, with blissful minds chant the name of Hari! Chant the name of Hari! Birth after birth in happiness, chant the name of Hari!
bolo hari bolo (3 times)
mānava-janma pe’ye, bhāi, bolo hari bolo|
bolo hari bolo (3 times)
sukhe thāko, duḥkhe thāko, bolo hari bolo
Chant the name of Hari! O brothers, you have obtained a human birth, now chant the name of Hari! Chant the name of Hari! Whether you are in happiness or distress, chant the name of Hari!
bolo hari bolo (3 times)
sampade vipade, bhāi, bolo hari bolo
bolo hari bolo (3 times)
gṛhe thāko, vane thāko, bolo hari bolo
kṛṣṇaera saḿsāre thāki’ bolo hari bolo
Chant the name of Hari! O brothers, whether in prosperity or misfortune, chant the name of Hari! Chant the name of Hari! Whether you live at home or in the forest, chant the name of Hari! Remaining in this material world for Krsna's purposes, chant the name of Hari!
bolo hari bolo (3 times)
asat-sańga chāḍi’, bhāi, bolo hari bolo
bolo hari bolo (3 times)
vaiṣnava-caraṇe poḍi’ bolo hari bolo
Chant the name of Hari! O brothers, give up the association of non-devotees and chant the name of Hari! Chant the name of Hari! Falling at the feet of the Vaisnavas, chant the name of Hari!
bolo hari bolo (3 times)
gaura-nityānanda bolo (3 times)
gaura-gadādhara bolo (3 times)
gaura-advaita bolo (3 times)
Chant the name of Hari! Chant the names of Gaura and Nityananda! Chant the names of Gaura and Gadadhara! Chant the names of Gaura and Advaita!
Akordha Paramananda Nityananda Ray(Locana Dasa Thakura)
akrodha paramānanda nityānanda rāya
abhimāna śūnya nitāi nagare beḍāya
The noble Lord Nityananda is never angry, for He is the personification of supreme transcendental bliss. Devoid of any concept of false ego, Nitai wanders about the town.
adhama patita jīvera dvāre dvāre giyā
harināma mahā-mantra dicchena bilāiyā
Going from door to door in the residences of the most fallen and wretched souls, He freely distributes the gift of the Hari-nama mahamantra.
jā’re dekhe tā’re kahe dante tṛṇa dhari’
‘āmāre kiniyā laha bala gaurahari’
He exclaims to whomever he sees while holding straw between his teeth, “Please purchase me by worshipping Gaurahari!”
eta bali’ nityānanda bhūme gaḍi’ jāya
sonāra parvata jena dhūlāte loṭāya
Saying thus, Nityananda Prabhu rolls about on the ground, appearing like a golden mountain tumbling in the dust.
hena avatāre jā’ra rati nā janmila
locana bale sei pāpī ela āra gela
Locana Dasa Thakura says, “Whoever has not experienced the awakening of affection for such an avatara as this, that sinful person simply comes and goes uselessly in the cycle of repeated birth and death.”
Dhana Mor Nityananda(Narottama Dasa Thakura)
dhana mora nityānanda, pati mora gauracandra
prāṇa mora yugala kiśora
advaita ācārya bala, gadādhara mora kula,
narahari vilasai mora
Lord Nityananda is my wealth. Lord Gauracandra is my master. The youthful Divine Couple is my life. Advaita Acarya is my strength. Gadadhara is my family. Narahari Sarakara is my glory.
vaiṣṇavera pada dhūli, tāhe mora snāna keli
tarpaṇa mora vaiṣṇavera nāma
vicāra koriyā mone, bhakti rasa āsvādane
madhyastha śrī bhāgavata purāṇa
The dust of the devotees' lotus feet is my bathing water. The chanting of the devotees names is my satisfaction. Considering the merits of all Vedic literatures in the light of devotional service, I have concluded that the Srimad Bhagavatam is the best of all scriptures.
vaiṣṇavera ucchiṣṭha, tāhe mora mona niṣṭha,
vaiṣṇavera nāmete ullāsa
vṛndāvane cabutārā, tāhe mora mona gherā,
kohe dīna narottama dāsa
My mind is firmly convinced of the spiritual benefit obtained by eating the remnants of foodstuff left by the devotees. The names of the devotees are my happiness. The land of Vrndavana is the enclosure within which I keep my mind. Poor-hearted Narottama dasa speaks in this way.
Bhaja Re Bhaja Re Amar (Bhaktivinoda Thakura)
bhaja re bhaja re āmār mana ati manda
(bhajan vinā gati nāi re)
(bhaja) braja-bane rādhā-kṛṣṇa-caraṇāravinda
(jñāna-karma parihari’ re)
(bhaja) (braja-bane rādhā-kṛṣṇa)
My dear mind, how foolish you are! Oh just worship, oh just worship the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna in the forests of Vraja! (Oh, without such worship there is no means of spiritual advancement!) Just worship the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna in the forests of Vraja! (Oh, giving up all speculative knowledge and materialistic activities!)
(bhaja) gaura-gadādharādwaita guru-nityānanda
(gaura-kṛṣṇae abheda jene’ re)
(guru kṛṣṇa-preṣṭha jene’ re)
(smara) śrīnivās, haridās, murāri, mukunda
(gaura-preme smara, smara re)
(smara) (śrīnivās haridāse)
Just worship Gaura, Gadadhara, Advaita, and Lord Nityananda, the original spiritual master! (Oh, knowing Lord Gaura and Lord Krsna to be the same!) (Oh, knowing the spiritual master to be very dear to Krsna!) Just remember the dear associates of Lord Caitanya, namely Srivasa Thakura, Haridasa Thakura, Murari Gupta, and Mukunda Datta! (Oh, in deep love for Lord Gaura, you should remember, just remember!) (Just remember the two great personalities Srivasa Thakura and Haridasa Thakura!)
(smara) rūpa-sanātana-jīva-raghunātha-dvandva
(kṛṣṇa-bhajan jadi korbe re)
(rūpa-sanātane smara)
(smara) rāghava-gopāla-bhaṭṭa swarūpa-rāmānanda
(kṛṣṇa-prema jadi cāo re)
(swarūpa-rāmānande smara)
Just remember Sri Rupa Goswami, Sanatana, Jiva, and the two Raghunathas! (Oh, if you are engaged in worshiping Lord Krsna!) (Just remember the two great souls Sri Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami!) Just remember Raghava Pandita, Gopal Bhatta Goswami, Svarupa Damodara Goswami, and Ramananda Raya! (Oh, if you really seek love of Krsna!) (Just remember Svarupa Damodara Goswami and Ramananda Raya!)
(smara) goṣṭhi-saha karṇapūra, sena śivānanda
(ajasra smara, smara re)
(goṣṭhi-saha karnapūre)
(smara) rūpānuga sādhu-jana bhajana-ānanda
(braje bās jadi cāo re)
(rūpānuga sādhu smara)
Just remember Srila Kavi Karnapura and all his family members, especially his father, Sivananda Sena! (Oh, always remember, always remember!) (Sri Kavi Karnapura and his family!) Just remember all the sadhus who follow the path of Sri Rupa Goswami and who are absorbed in the ecstasy of bhajan! (Oh, if you actually want residence in the land of Vraja!) (Just remember the sadhus who are followers of Srila Rupa Goswami!)
Ei Baro Karuna Koro (Narottama Dasa Thakura)
ei-bāro karuṇā koro vaiṣṇava gosāñi
patita-pāvana tomā bine keho nāi
O Vaisnava Goswami, please be merciful to me now. There is no one except you who can purify the fallen souls.
jāhāra nikaṭe gele pāpa dūre jāy
emona doyāla prabhu kebā kothā pāy
Where does anyone find such a merciful personality by whose mere audience all sins go far away?
gańgāra paraśa hoile paścate pāvan
darśane pavitra koro-ei tomāra guṇ
After bathing in the waters of the sacred Ganges many times, one becomes purified, but just by the sight of you, the fallen souls are purified. This is your great power.
hari-sthāne aparādhe tāre hari-nām
tomā sthāne aparādhe nāhi paritrāṇ
The holy name delivers one who has committed an offense to Lord Hari. But, if one commits an offense to you, there is no means of deliverance.
tomāra hṛdoye sadā govinda-viśrām
govinda kohena-mora vaiṣṇava parāṇ
Your heart is always the resting place of Lord Govinda. Lord Govinda says, "The Vaisnavas are in My heart."
prati-janme kori āśā caraṇera dhūli
narottame koro doyā āpanāra boli'
I desire the dust of your holy feet in every birth I may take. Please consider Narottama yours, and be kind upon him.
Vrndavana Vasi Jata Vaisnavera Gana (Devakinandana Dasa Thakura)
vṛndāvana-vāsī jata vaiṣṇavera gaṇa
prathame vandanā kari sabāra caraṇa
First of all I offer glorifications to the feet of all of the Vaisnavas of Vrndavana.
nīlācala-vāsī jata mahāprabhura gaṇa
bhūmite poḍiyā vandoń sabāra caraṇa
Praising of all of Mahaprabhu’s Nilacala associates, I prostrate at their feet.
navadvīpa-vāsī jata mahāprabhura bhakta
sabāra caraṇa vandoń haiyā anurakta
I pray for loving attachment to the lotus feet of all of Mahaprabhu’s Navadvipa bhaktas.
mahāprabhura bhakta jata gauḍa-deśe sthiti
sabāra caraṇa vandoń kariyā praṇati
I offer pranamas at the feet of all of Mahaprabhu’s Gaudadesa (Bengal) devotees.
je-deśe je-deśe baise gaurāńgera gaṇa
ūrdhva-bāhu kari vandoń sabāra caraṇa|
With upraised arms I pray to the feet of all of Gauranga’s bhaktas, in whichever country they may reside.
haiyāchena haibena prabhura jata dāsa
sabāra caraṇa vandoń dante kari’ ghāsa
Holding a straw between my teeth, I submit at the feet of all the servants of Mahaprabhu that were or will be.
brahmāṇḍa tārite śakti dhare jane jane
e veda purāṇe guṇa gāya jevā śune
I have heard their glorification in the Vedas and Puranas, which proclaim that each one of His devotees has the sakti to deliver an entire universe.
mahāprabhura gaṇa saba patita-pāvana
tāi lobhe mui pāpī lainu śaraṇa
(Hearing of their glory) I have come with great eagerness to surrender to Mahaprabhu’s bhaktas, who are all patita-pavana for sinners like me.
vandanā karite mui kata śakti dhari
tamo-buddhi-doṣe mui dambha mātra kari
What power do I have to glorify them? But out of my ignorance and un-mitigating pride I do so anyway, thinking myself so qualified.
tathāpi mūkera bhāgya manera ullāsa
doṣa kṣami’ mo-adhame kara nija-dāsa
Even though I am dumb and unable to express their greatness, still my heart is joyful due to my great good fortune (that the Vaisnavas have accepted me as their own and Sri Gurudeva has given me harinama full of blissful pastimes). Forgive the faults of this fallen soul and make me your servant.
sarva-vāñchā siddhi haya yama-bandha chuṭe
jagate durlabha haiyā prema-dhana luṭe
They award the perfection of all desires, including freedom from death, and even that rarest treasure not found in this world – prema!
manera vāsanā pūrṇa acirāte haya
devakīnandana dāsa ei lobhe kaya
All of one’s pure, heartfelt desires will be fulfilled without delay. Devaki-nandana dasa, intensely eager for this, glorifies and prays to the Vaisnavas.