Event Detail

Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda led a life of incessant labor and activity for Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He effected such immense good in the world that his work is only to be compared with the unbounded works of Lord Śrī Caitanya Himself and the six Gosvāmīs. It was the spiritual attempts and divine writings of this individual that turned the scale and led the intelligent and educated community to believe in the noble precepts and teachings of Lord Caitanya.

If we look back a century and a half, we cannot but be astonished to find how degraded was the condition of the Vaiṣṇava faith which had its pure origin in the deep and majestic spiritual philosophy of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Even vastly learned scholars could not fathom the superexcellent precepts of Lord Caitanya’s philosophy, yet due to incredulity born of the ignorance of uncultured men, the Vaiṣṇava faith had been degraded and was considered a beggar’s excuse for living at the expense of society. It was by sheer love for the Godhead that Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda expounded the deep philosophy which had remained concealed in the pages of the Vedas, the Upaniṣads, the Purāṇas, and the Bhāgavatam. By his action toward divine service and also by his words, set in simple language to be easily understood by readers in general, he has given this philosophy to the world. It is his writings and his divine, unparalleled character that have helped to produce a class of educated and enlightened men who are now proud of their Vaiṣṇava faith and of their acquisition of the spiritual knowledge of the pure and sublime philosophy of Kṛṣṇa, on which the superexcellent teachings of Śrī Caitanya are based.

As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, the Lord says that His appearance, birth, and activities, are all transcendental, and one who understands them factually becomes immediately eligible to be transferred to the spiritual world. Śrī Kṛṣṇa, described by all scriptures as the original source of all incarnations, appeared as a child from Devakī and Vasudeva, some 5000 years ago.

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.11.34-41:

“One should always discuss My birth and activities and enjoy life by participating in festivals, such as Janmāṣṭamī, which glorify My pastimes. In My temple, one should also participate in festivals and ceremonies by singing, dancing, playing musical instruments and discussing Me with other Vaiṣṇavas. One should observe all the regularly celebrated annual festivals by attending ceremonies, pilgrimages and making offerings.”

Janmāṣṭamī is celebrated very gorgeously in International Sri Krishna Mandir. On Janmāṣṭamī day, the mood of a great festival sets in at the temple. There is such a flood of hundreds of visitors and guests that traffic control measures are required to ensure their smooth flow of movement. There are a variety of cultural programs scheduled to entertain the guests. A maha-āratī is performed at midnight and Śrī Śrī Rādhā Madana Mohana will give darśana in a new outfit.

Please join us in this magnificent celebration of Glorification of the Supreme Personality Of Godhead!