Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja said that only by the mercy of Srimati Radharani you can reside on the Bank of Radha Kund and do bhajana. Srila Gour Govinda Goswami Maharaja my Guru Maharaja ordered me in 1994 that wherever you stay, whatever your condition may be, try to preach and spread the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Gurudeva Srila Narayana Goswami Maharaja emphasized the instruction of Srila Gour Govinda Goswami Maharaja by instructing me in 2006; whether you are qualified or not, you have to preach, because by preaching you will get the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and that activity is non-different from Bhajana. Like it is said in the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu:

apane acare keha, na kare pracara
pracara karena keha, na karena acara
’acara’, ‘pracara’,namera karaha ‘dui’ karya
tumi—sarva-guru, tumi jagatera arya

“Some behave very well but do not preach the cult of Krsna consciousness, whereas others preach but do not behave properly. You simultaneously perform both duties in relation to the holy name by your personal behavior and by your preaching. Therefore, you are the spiritual master of the entire world, for you are the most advanced devotee in the world.”

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu told to Srila Haridasa Thakura, that both things are needed. You have to do bhajana and preach. Srila Gurudeva assured that preaching is part of Bhajana. This idea is established by our Guru-Varga. To follow their foot steps Radha Govinda Asram was establishedand by Srimati Radharani’s mercy all arrangements have been made. Through Her mercy I could come to Radha Kund and build this Bhajana Kutir.

What is our mission?

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given instructions to all the Indians who are born in Bharata-varsha:

bharata bhumite haila manusya-janma yara
janma sarthaka kari kara para-upakara

“One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India [Bharata-varsha] should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people.”

Especially those who are born in India should make this their utmost duty and make their life successful by adopting pure devotional service in their life. We should help others by preaching and in this way bringing them to this path of Krishna consciousness because only this will make one´s life successful. Actually this is the greatest charity work. Especially the young people should utilize their energy in this manner, but also everybody else born in India should preach to the whole world. From Radha Govinda Asram we strive to fulfil the mission of our Guru-Varga by preaching and propagating Krishna consciousness as it is revealed in Bhagavad GitaSrimad Bhagavatam and all other Gaudiya Vaisnava scriptures coming in the line of our disciplic succession; and further to give an insight and to promote the Sankirtana movement, the congregational chanting of the Holy name of God (Krishna) as revealed in the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

We also want to provide spiritual knowledge to the society and educate people in the technique of spiritual life in order to check the present imbalance of values in life. Only then it will be possible to achieve real unity and peace in society. Therefore we want to:

·         bring the members of society closer together through a simple and more natural way of living,

·         teach about the traditional Vedic culture among the people in villages and towns by regular spiritual programs,

·         spread the Vedic culture and broadcast Krishna consciousness scientifically among academic institutions,

·         renovate or repair any temple or other places that are of historic, archaeological or artistic importance, as well as any place of public worship of renown throughout any states in the Indian sub-continent,

·         open, found, establish, promote, setup, run, maintain or assist in the setting of maintenance or running an institution, lecture halls, other establishments for advancement of spiritual education and of knowledge in Vedic arts, Vedic Science, Vedic literature, humanities and all other useful subjects in all their manifestations.

This is the mission of the Radha Govinda Asram as established by our Guru-Varga. Practicing intense Bhajana, staying in the Holy Dhama and then preaching to the rest of the world. It is very important to practice the five limbs of Bhakti as instructed by Sri Rupa Gosvami-pada:

sadhu-sanga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-sravana
mathura-vasa, sri-murtira sraddhaya sevana

“One should associate with devotees, chant the holy name of the Lord, hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, reside in Mathura-mandala (Vraja) and worship the Deity with faith and veneration.”

These are very powerful aspects of Sadhana Bhakti and further more Srila Rupa Gosvami-pada in his Upadesamrta is saying:

tan-nama-rupa-caritadi-sukirtananu-
smrtyoh kramena rasana-manasi niyojya
tisthan vraje tad-anuragi-jananugami
kalam nayed akhilam ity upadesa-saram

The essence of all advice is that one should utilize one’s full time twenty-four hours a day in nicely chanting and remembering the Lord’s divine name, transcendental form, qualities and eternal pastimes, thereby gradually engaging one’s tongue and mind. In this way, one should reside in Vraja and serve Krishna, under the guidance of devotees. One should follow in the footsteps of the Lord’s beloved devotees, who are deeply attached to His devotional service.”

Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja explains: The word “anu” (anugatya – being under guidance) appears three times in this sloka to emphasize that bhakti must be performed while being continuously under guidance.

One should utilize all his time by sequentially engaging the tongue and the mind in meticulous chanting and remembrance of Krishna’s names, form, qualities and pastimes while residing in Vraja. In Vraja-mandala the topmost place is on the Bank of Radha Kunda at the foot of Giriraj-Govardhan tisthan vraje. Under the guidance of Sri Gurudeva, who is very dear to us, because he is one of the prominent Vraja-vasis and who has an intimate love for Sri Sri Radha Krishna, tad-anuragi jananugami, one should remain there. This is the essence of all instructions given by Srila Rupa Gosvami-pada.

Following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami-pada we are residing here at Radha Kunda, doing Bhajana, preach and spread the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for the benefit of the whole world. This is the mission of Radha Govinda Asram.

By Swami Bhakti Vedanta Muni Maharaj

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