Gauranga Dharma
The Scientific, Universal and
Eternal Nature of the Soul

Gauranga Dharma or Gaurangaism is the spiritual, scientific, universal, constitutional, original and eternal nature, characteristic, dynamic activity and religion of the soul in relation to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul and the Supreme Absolute Truth Lord Shri Gauranga-Krishna, which is practiced and realized through the supreme process of Gauranga Mahayoga comprising of the topmost science of Mahameditation (Mahadhyana), Mahainitiation (Mahadiksha) and Mahapreaching (Mahaprachara) of the most sublime process of chanting of the three Kings of all Mantras in Kali-Yuga: (1) The "Nityananda" Mantraraja, (2) The "Gauranga" Mantraraja and (3) The Hare Krishna Mahamantra (Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare)!

There are many types of sciences, religions, spiritual paths and faiths in this world. According to the Vedic literatures (Brahma-vaivarta Purana), the most ancient of all spiritual literatures in this world, all the above paths are very shortly going to merge for the next 10,000 years which is the Golden Age of Kali Yuga from 1486 to 11486 AD (Kali Yuga has a total duration of 432,000 years) into the topmost of all scientific, universal, spiritual and eternal religions called Gauranga Dharma (Gaurangaism), which is factually the only permanent identification of the spirit soul in relation with God. Dharma can only emanate from God Himself and thus Gauranga Dharma has directly manifested from the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu who is none other than the combined incarnation of the Supreme Lord Shri Krishna and Shrimati Radharani, the original supreme pleasure potency and consort of the Lord, and from Lord Shri Nityananda Prabhu who is none other than the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead Lord Shri Balarama Himself.

The Supreme Absolute Truth, Their Lordships Shri Shri Radha Krishna have combined and advented in this material universe in Their purna Avatari and supremely magnanimous golden form of Lord Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu on the 18th of February 1486 in Shri Navadvipa Dhama (130 kms north of Calcutta, West Bengal, India). Lord Shri Balarama, the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead and the transcendental elder brother of the Lord accompanied the Lord and advented 13 years before the Lord in Shri Ekachakra Dhama on the 11th of January 1473 as the supremely merciful Lord Shri Nityananda Prabhu. The Supreme Abode of Shri Shri Radha-Krishna Shri Goloka Vrindavana Dhama, manifested in Kali Yuga as the causelessly merciful Abode Shri Navadvipa Dhama. All the eternal associates of Shri Shri Radha Krishna advented as the eternal associates of Shri Shri Nityananda Gauranga, Shrimad Bhagavata advented as Shri Chaitanya Bhagavata and most importantly the powerful "Nityananda" and "Gauranga" Mantras advented as the King of All Mantras (Mantrarajas) along with the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, specifically to deliver the entire universe in Kali Yuga. All the above facts are profusely predicted and described in the all the revealed Vedic literatures.

The various "isms" and designations of this world are simply related to our body and thus are temporary and are destroyed with our body. But Gauranga Dharma is the eternal spiritual science of Gauranga Consciousness or Krishna Consciousness, which is the inherent and inseparable characteristic (dharma) of the soul. Thus every soul is constitutionally Gauranga Dasa (servant) or Radha-Krishna Dasa (Gauranga includes Radha-Krishna) i.e. eternal infinitesimal part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga-Krishna. Gauranga Dharma is not an artificial imposition on the soul but it is the original inherent spiritual energy of each and every soul which is presently dormant due to the the eight (five gross and three subtle) coverings of the material energy over the soul. Thus Gauranga Dharma is the factual spiritual religion of every living entity in the spiritual world as well as in this material world belonging to each and every country, caste, cult, creed, race, society and the 8.4 million species of life.

The question arises: what is dharma, really? If we consult the teachings of the sages of ancient India, we find there are two main meanings of Dharma-nature and duty. Let's first consider nature. Everything has its particular nature, a unique and essential quality that defines its existence. In this sense we can say that the dharma of sugar is its sweetness, or the dharma of water is its ability to quench our thirst with its pure taste. Each of us has an essential nature, too, and if we live in harmony with our essential nature, or dharma, we feel deeply satisfied. But as human beings, what is our dharma? According to the timeless wisdom of the Vedas, our dharma is a characteristic not of our body but of our soul-the spark of divine consciousness within. Each of us has this spark within. It emanates from the Supreme Soul, Lord Gauranga-Krishna, who may be likened to a cosmic fire, the source of all the divine sparks that are our very selves.

And the dharma of each spark of divine consciousness is to dance in harmony around the central fire, Gauranga-Krishna, the original supreme personality. We are all unique, individual, and personal manifestations of Gauranga-Krishna, but our dharma is to recognize our source, to celebrate our eternal connection with Him through loving service. In short, our dharma, as eternally conscious selves, is to love and serve Gauranga-Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In material consciousness we lose sight of our real nature. We forget our source and connection with Gauranga-Krishna. And our original dharma of selfless service to Him transforms into the false dharma of competitive selfishness. Because we lose touch with our true dharma, we experience frustration and dissatisfaction. Gauranga Dharma is the supreme process to guide us back to our true nature, our original position as loving servants of Lord Gauranga-Krishna.

Another meaning of dharma is "duty." In the latter part of the twentieth century we've experimented with the abandonment of a sense of duty and responsibility in favor of an ethic of self-gratification-"If it feels good, do it!" But now many of us are sensing that the experiment has failed. People are feeling that they've lost their moral bearings amidst a chaotic sea of hedonism. Duty is once again in favor. But duty to whom, and for what? We can answer these questions only by understanding the other part of dharma-our essential characteristic. If our essential characteristic is to render loving service to Lord Gauranga-Krishna, then our primary duty is to focus our attention on awakening this loving service, or bhakti, in ourselves and helping others achieve the same goal.

Now one may ask why the word "Gauranga"? What is the meaning? "Gauranga" is the most powerful and blissful word in the whole material and spiritual creation and in all the spiritual literatures manifested in the past, present and future. This is because "Gauranga" includes all the potencies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga-Krishna and His own Original Energy and Pleasure Potency Shrimati Radharani. Thus God is completely worshiped in this topmost Name of "Gauranga". This word "Gauranga" includes complete knowledge and realization about God, His Energies and the spirit soul. The whole of creation is contained with the Name "Gauranga" and nothing exists outside the Name. Thus the Name of "Gauranga" is described as the crest-jewel and the most principal amongst the most principal Names of God in all of creation and in all the revealed Vedic scriptures. Therefore Gauranga Dharma is the ultimate spiritual, scientific and universal religion in the whole creation.

Gauranga Dharma is glorified in Krishna Upanishad

sa eva bhagavan yuge turiye 'pi brahma-kule jayamanah sarva upanisadah uddidirsuh
sarvani dharma-sastrani vistarayisnuh sarvan api janan santarayisnuh sarvan
api vaisnavan dharman vijrmbhayan sarvan api pasandan nicakhana. (Krsnopanisad )

In the Krsna Upanisad it is said:

"In Kali-yuga (the fourth yuga), the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga-Krishna Himself will appear in a brahmana family with the purpose of teaching the message of all the 108 Upanisads and expanding and establishing the conclusions of all the dharma-sastras. He will deliver all the living entities in the universe from the cycle of birth and death by manifesting the pure principles of Gauranga Vaishnava Dharma and He will simultaneously subdue all the atheists and offenders and deliver them."

Commentary by Swami Gaurangapada:

Since Dharma or real factual religion can only originate from the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga-Krishna, when the Lord personally and fully advents in the form of Gauranga in Kali Yuga, He remains the original source and founder of pure Vaishnava Dharma known as Gauranga Dharma. The name of this eternal pure religion of the soul in relation to Lord Gauranga-Krishna is Gauranga Dharma.

Thus the name Gauranga Dharma (Gaurangaism) gives full credit to the Supreme Lord who is the origin of everything and the cause of all causes. The names Sanatana Dharma or Bhagavata Dharma or or Vaishnava Dharma or Vaishnavism are synonymous with the name Gauranga Dharma. Simply by chanting the name of Gauranga Dharma the living entities of Kali Yuga get the ultimate benefit of chanting the most merciful and complete Name of Gauranga which does not consider any offenses and thus get instant qualification for love of God and to chant the pure Name of Krishna. That same benefit may not be achieved or granted to others by simply stating the word Sanatana Dharma or Bhagavata Dharma.(end)

(Adapted from the writings and teachings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:) We have purposely denoted dharma as "occupation" because the root meaning of the word dharma is "that which sustains one's existence." A living being's sustenance of existence is to coordinate one's activities with one's eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord, Gauranga-Krishna. Gauranga-Krishna is the central pivot of living beings, and He is the all-attractive living entity or eternal form amongst all other living beings or eternal forms. Each and every living being has his eternal form in the spiritual existence, and Gauranga-Krishna is the eternal attraction for all of them. Gauranga-Krishna is the complete whole, and everything else is His part and parcel. The relationship is one of the servant and the served. It is transcendental and is completely distinct from our experience in material existence. This relationship of servant and the served is the most congenial form of intimacy. One can realize it as our devotional service to Lord Gauranga-Krishna progresses. Everyone should engage himself in that transcendental loving service of the Lord, even in the present conditioned state of material existence. That will gradually give one the clue to actual life and please him to complete satisfaction.

We are all hankering for complete self-satisfaction, or atma-suprasada, but first we must know what the real self is. The word atma, or "self," refers to the body, the mind, and the soul. Actually, we are the spirit soul covered by two kinds of "garments." Just as a gentleman is covered by his shirt and coat, so I, the soul, am covered by a gross body consisting of the physical senses and a subtle body consisting of mind, intelligence, and false ego. A person covered by false ego identifies with his body. When asked who he is, he will answer, "I am an American," or "I am an Indian," etc. But these are bodily designations; they are not his real identity.

The Vedic literature teaches that one begins to understand his real identity when he thinks, aham brahmasmi: "I am Brahman, or spirit soul." Therefore the Vedanta-sutra says, athato brahma jijnasa: "Now one should inquire about spirit." The human form of life is meant for advancing in knowledge of spirit, and this knowledge is the beginning of real happiness. Everyone is hankering for happiness because by nature we are happy: anandamayo 'bhyasat. As spirit souls we are naturally happy, blissful. But we are suffering because we have been covered by five gross material elements-earth, water, fire, air, and ether-and three subtle material elements-mind, intelligence, and false ego. Materialists, identifying themselves with these coverings, seek satisfaction through these gross and subtle elements of the body. In other words, they simply seek sense gratification, the happiness of the body. In the material world everyone is working hard only for this happiness. Some people try to be happy by gratifying the physical senses, and some try to be happy by gratifying the mind in such pursuits as art, poetry, and philosophy. But neither gross nor subtle sense gratification can give us real happiness, because real happiness belongs to the soul. So unless they practice Gauranga Dharma, the only factual and eternal religion of the soul, they will not be able to give real happiness to the soul. And we actually see that although people are endeavoring throughout the whole world for bodily comforts, for sense gratification, they're not happy. They cannot be happy, because the basic principle of happiness which is Gauranga Dharma is missing.

Suppose you have a nice coat. If you simply show the coat and iron the coat and keep it very carefully, you'll never be happy. Similarly, now you are trying to get happiness from gratifying the coat of the body, but that is not possible. Happiness comes only when you make the soul happy. Or, suppose you have a bird in a cage. If you simply polish the cage but do not give the bird any food, the bird will never be happy. Similarly, the material body is the cage of the soul, and if we simply care for the body, the soul will never become happy. So, the beginning of spiritual knowledge is to understand that the soul is encaged within the body and mind and that neither bodily comforts nor mental satisfaction will ever bring the soul real happiness.

Then how can the soul become happy? As stated in the present verse of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the soul can become happy only when living according to the supreme Gauranga Dharma. A common English translation for the word dharma is "religion," but, as mentioned above, a more accurate meaning is "that which sustains one's existence" or "one's essential characteristic." Everything has an essential characteristic. The essential characteristic of chili peppers, for instance, is to taste very hot. When we go to the market to purchase chili peppers, we test how hot they are. If they are not very hot, we reject them. So the dharma of chili peppers is to be very hot. Similarly, the dharma of sugar is to be sweet.

Then what is the dharma of the soul? It is Gauranga Dharma. When entrapped by the material nature, the soul adopts various artificial dharmas based on his false identification with the body. Someone born in a Hindu family will say, I am a Hindu," someone born in a Muslim family will claim, "I am a Muslim," someone born in a Christian family will claim, "I am a Christian," and so on. But one's real identity is the spirit soul-aham brahmasmi: "I am Brahman. I am a spirit soul, part and parcel of Lord Gauranga-Krishna." When we come to that platform of spiritual understanding, our essential characteristic becomes clear. As explained here, sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6]. The supreme dharma of the soul is bhakti, devotional service to the Supreme Lord Gauranga-Krishna. That is our essential characteristic. Everyone is already a devotee-a devotee of his country, his society, his family, his wife, his children, his senses. No one can say, "I do not serve anyone." You must serve, because that is your dharma. If a person has no one to serve, he keeps a cat or dog and serves it. So to render loving service to someone else is our essential characteristic. But we are missing the point. We are loving cats and dogs and so many other things, but we are neglecting to love God. Therefore, we are not getting real happiness. When we shall direct our love toward the proper object-Adhoksaja Lord Gauranga-Krishna-we'll become happy.

When the word dharma is taken to mean "religion," we can understand from this verse of the Srimad-Bhagavatam that rendering transcendental loving service to Lord Gauranga-Krishna is the highest form of religion. The question asked by the sages at Naimisaranya was, "What is the best form of religion, by which anyone can become elevated to spiritual emancipation?" Some people may say that the Hindu religion is best, others may recommend the Christian religion, others may say that the Muslim religion is very good, others may say that Buddhism is very good, and so on. But the Srimad-Bhagavatam does not advocate the Hindu, Christian, Muslim, or Buddhist religion. It gives a general description of the best religion: "The best religious practice is that which enables you to become a devotee of Adhoksaja Lord Gauranga-Krishna which is known as Gauranga Dharma."

"Adhoksaja" is a Sanskrit name for the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga-Krishna. The literal meaning of the name Adhoksaja is "He who defeats, or `pushes down' (adha), all efforts to understand Him by means of knowledge gained through sense perception (aksa-ja)." This name of God-Adhoksaja-is an answer to the mental speculators who research the question "What is God?" and write volumes of books. To them the name Adhoksaja Gauranga-Krishna says, "You may go on speculating for many thousands of years, but you will never be able to understand God in that way."

Generally people say, "God is great." But they do not know how great He is. God's greatness is indicated perfectly by the name "Gauranga-Krsna." If you want a perfect definition of the word "God," then it is Gauranga-Krishna, because the word Gauranga-Krishna means "all-attractive". Unless one is all-attractive, how can He be God, the greatest? If one is great, he must be attractive. For example, John D. Rockefeller and Henry Ford were considered great men because they were very rich, and their great wealth made them attractive. So wealth is one feature of attraction. Therefore God must be the most wealthy person. Beauty is another attractive feature-so God must be the most beautiful person. Many people, when they see a picture of Gauranga-Krishna, are convinced they have never seen such a beautiful golden person. Similarly, Gauranga-Krishna fully possesses the attractive opulences of strength, wisdom, fame, and renunciation. And because these six opulences of infinite wealth, beauty, strength, wisdom, fame, and renunciation make Him all-attractive, God is known by the name "Gauranga-Krishna". With these transcendental opulences He can attract the richest person, the most beautiful person, the strongest person, the wisest person, the most famous person, and the most renounced person. Such infinite attractive features are impossible for us to understand through mental speculation based on sense perception, and so Gauranga-Krishna is also known as Adhoksaja, the name used in this verse of the Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Now, someone may say, "Oh, yes, I love God." But what is the nature of that love? In our experience in this world we commonly see that a man will love a beautiful girl. But for how long? As long as she is beautiful. And a girl loves a boy for how long? As long as his pocket is all right. This is not love: it is lust. "I love your skin, I love your money"-that is not love. Here the Srimad-Bhagavatam states that love of God must be ahaituki, free of selfish motivation. Not that we say, "My dear God, I love You because You supply me my daily bread." Whether in the church, temple, or mosque, people generally offer the same kind of prayer: "O God, give me my daily bread." In India people generally go to a temple and pray, "My dear Gauranga-Krishna, I am in difficulty. Please get me out of it," or "I am in need of some money. Kindly give me a million dollars." This is not love of God. Of course, this kind of religion is far better than atheism. As Lord Gauranga-Krishna states in the Bhagavad-gita (7.16): catur-vidha bhajante mam janah sukrtino 'rjuna. Anyone who goes to God and asks for some benediction is a pious man. But he's not a devotee. He may be counted among pious men because he recognizes the supremacy of God, but he has not developed the highest principle of religion, love of God. Ofcourse even though he or she may go for some material benefits to Lord Gauranga-Krishna, they are directly approaching the Lord. Thus their desires are fulfiled by Lord Gauranga-Krishna as per what is best for them as the Lord knows our past, present and future and the Lord also purifies them for spiritual advancement. Thus Gauranga Dharma is the ideal spiritual religion for all those who want to approach God for fulfilment of material desires and acquiring miraculous powers and/or for getting liberation and/or for achieving the topmost perfection of life which is pure love for Lord Gauranga-Krishna.

So, here the Srimad-Bhagavatam gives a simple definition of Gauranga Dharma, the soul religion: That religion is the best by which you can develop your devotion and love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga-Krishna. How nice this definition is! You may externally follow Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam-it doesn't matter. But the test of your success is how far you have developed love for the Supreme Lord Gauranga-Krishna. Because God in one and is denoted by His topmost Name Gauranga-Krishna which includes all the holy names found in all holy books of the world. You may externally be situated in Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism or Islam but if you have not simultaneously developed your the soul religion of Gauranga Dharma and your sense of love for Lord Gauranga-Krishna, you have not actually followed the religious principles. Religion does not mean that you go to a temple, mosque, or church and as a matter of formality observe some rituals, make some donation, and then come back home and do all kinds of nonsense. That is not religion. Suppose someone is said to be great. What is the proof of his greatness? He must have great riches, knowledge, influence, beauty, etc. Similarly, what is the proof that someone is a man of religious principles? The proof is that he has developed love for Lord Gauranga-Krishna through the practice of Gauranga Dharma. Then he is religious.

Since Gauranga Dharma or Gaurangasim is the scientific, universal and eternal religion of the spirit soul it can be addtionally practiced by everyone and anyone belonging to any nations or religions of this world. This is because every living entity whether it be a American, Indian or Chinese or whether it be a Christian, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist or whether it be a human being, animal, tree, bird or insect, it is a spirit soul, part and parcel of the Supreme Lord Gauranga-Krishna. Since Gauranga Dharma is not a bodily religion but the only factual religion of the soul, it has nothing to do with the process of conversion of a person from one external religion to another. It can be practiced simultaneously in addition to the practice of one's present religion. Gauranga Dharma will help a Christian to become a better Christian, a Muslim to become a better Muslim, a Hindu to become a better Hindu and so on because it stems from the very basic nature of the soul. There is only one actual religion of the soul which is unchangeable and unconvertible since it is the integral nature of the soul. This is to serve and love Lord Gauranga-Krishna and it is thus known as Gauranga Dharma (Gaurangaism) which is also known as Sanatana Dharma or Bhagavata Dharma or Vaishnava Dharma (Vaishnavism) or Gaudiya Vaishnava Dharma (Gaudiya Vaishnavism) and so on. These are all synonymous terms used for the same thing.

Suta Gosvami says, dharmasya hy apavargyasya: the purpose of Gauranga Dharma is to take one along the path toward liberation from birth and death. The word apavarga is very significant: it means the negation of pavarga, the miseries of material existence. In Sanskrit linguistics, pavarga indicates the letters pa, pha, ba, bha, and ma, each of which stands for one of the material miseries. Pa indicates parisrama, hard labor. In this material world, you have to work very hard for sense gratification. And pha indicates phenila, foam. When you work very hard, foam sometimes comes from your mouth. We often see this among horses or other animals. Ba indicates byarthata, frustration. In spite of working very hard, one feels frustration. And bha indicates bhaya, fear. Although one works very hard, still one is fearful about what will happen. And finally, ma indicates mrtyu, death. We work so hard, day and night, and still death comes. The scientific world is working so hard to defeat death, but the scientists themselves are dying. They cannot stop death. They can create some atom bomb to kill millions of people, but they cannot create something that will stop death. That is not possible. So, the word pavarga-indicating the letters pa, pha, ba, bha, and ma-represents five kinds of miseries in this material world.

Here Suta Gosvami says, dharmasya hy apavargyasya: by practicing Gauranga Dharma one will nullify pavarga. No more hard labor, no more foaming at the mouth, no more frustration, no more fearfulness, no more death. In other words, Gauranga Dharma will help us transcend the material world, because in the material world you have to work very, very hard and suffer the subsequent miseries. You cannot think, "Oh, I am such a great man that I'll not work." Na hi suptasya simhasya pravisanti mukhe mrgah. The lion is known as the king of the forest, but he still has to work. The lion cannot simply lie down and hope that some animal will come and say, "My dear lion, please open your mouth and let me enter." No. Even though he is the most powerful animal in the forest, he still must work very hard to acquire his food. Similarly, the President of the United States, though he is the most powerful man in the country, is working very hard in his post.

In Srimad-Bhagavatam Suta Gosvami says, dharmasya hy apavargyasya: the religion of Gauranga Dharma is meant to nullify these five kinds material miseries-hard work, foaming at the mouth, frustration, fearfulness, and death. That is the purpose of dharma. Yet everywhere the Christians are going to church and praying, "O God, O Father, give us our daily bread." But God is supplying food to the cats and dogs and birds and bees and everyone. Why should He not give us our food? The proper prayer is "O God, please engage Me in Your service so I may be freed from these five tribulations." That is a proper prayer.

Of course, anyone who goes to church and prays to God for bread is a thousand times better than the atheists who have no faith in God. They say, "Oh, what is God? I am God. By economic development I shall create so much bread. Why shall I go to church?" One who prays to God for bread is far better than such people because, after all, although he may not know what to pray for, at least he has faith in God. So he's pious. And he or she will gradually be able to come to the spiritual platform of Gauranga Dharma because of the preliminary faith in God.

So, the Bhagavad-gita says that only one who has faith in God is pious, and that among pious persons he who is serious about gaining knowledge of God is the best. Ultimately, spiritual religion, or Gauranga Dharma, is meant for those who are very serious about learning of God and getting out of this material, conditioned life. That is real dharma-not simply to go to a temple or church and ask God for some material benefit. Infact one should go to the church or mosque or temple to pray to the Lord for the liberation of the soul from material bondage and pure love for the Lord. This is real Gauranga Dharma or Gaurangaism.

Preliminary Gauranga Dharma, however, does include such materially motivated aspect of religion as part of the four Vedic goals of life known as dharma, artha, kama, and moksa. In the Vedic civilization, a person is recognized as a human being when he is interested in these four things: religiosity, economic development, sense gratification, and liberation. First of all one must practice gd Gauranga Dharma, because without religious life a human being is simply an animal (dharmena hinah pasubhih samanah). Generally, people think, "If I become pious, my life will be nice. I'll get my subsistence." And actually that's a fact, because from dharma comes artha, money. And why do we want money? For sense gratification. And when we are baffled in our attempts at getting sense gratification, we want moksa, liberation from birth and death. Out of frustration we declare, brahma satyam jagan mithya: "This world is false, only Brahman is true."

So, generally people understand dharma in terms of pious and impious activities, but here the Bhagavatam says, dharmasya hy apavargyasya nartho 'rthayopakalpate: "Ideally Gauranga Dharma should be executed not for material benefit but to nullify the miseries of material existence." Whether you are rich or poor, you have to undergo the tribulations of material existence. You may be a rich man, but still you cannot avoid working hard, you cannot avoid fearfulness, and you cannot avoid disease, old age, and death. And the same miseries are there for the poor man. So what is the benefit of practicing dharma in order to become rich? Real religion means to permanently nullify the material miseries of birth, old age, disease and death: dharmasya hy apavargyasya.

Now, you may object, "But we require some money to maintain our existence." Yes, that's a fact. Therefore our principle is yavad artham: By honest means you should earn as much money as you require to maintain your body and soul together. Don't work very hard simply to accumulate more and more money. That is the ass's life. There should be some higher purpose in life. In India a washerman will keep an ass to carry tons of laundry to the riverbank for washing. There he is let loose to eat a few morsels of grass. But while he's eating freely, waiting to return with the huge load of laundry, he does not think, "This grass is available everywhere, and I am free to go. Why am I working so hard for this washerman?" He has no sense to think like that, and therefore he's called an ass. Similarly, anyone who is working hard day and night simply to maintain himself and his family, without observing any of higher principles of Gauranga Dharma like daily chanting the the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas and the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, is foolish. He or she has been collared by Maya, or illusion.

We should earn as much as we need to keep body and soul together. Then we can use more of our time for getting free from the five miseries of materialistic life-hard labor, foaming at the mouth, frustration, fear, and death. That is Gauranga Dharma. And if by practicing Gauranga Dharma you get more money than you need, don't spend it for personal sense gratification but employ it in the service of Gauranga Dharma to spread the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas and the Hare Krishna Mahamantra all over the world for the ultimate benefit of the suffering humanity. In days gone by, rich men would often construct a church, temple, or mosque. That was the system throughout the whole world because people knew that if they had some extra money they should employ it in the service of God. But at present many churches are being transformed into factories because people have lost religion. And because they have lost religion, they are animals. And how you can have peace and prosperity in a society of animals who are bereft of Gauranga Dharma?

So, here in the Srimad Bhagavatam Suta Gosvami is explaining that to become peaceful and satisfied individually and collectively, one must practice the first-class Gauranga Dharma:

sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata yayatma suprasidati

"If you want peace of mind, if you want full satisfaction, then you must practice this Gauranga Dharma, which is the religion, by which you will advance in unmotivated, uninterrupted devotional service to Lord Gauranga-Krishna, which is the constitutional activity of the soul." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.6).

dharmah svanusthitah pumsam visvaksena-kathasu yah;
notpadayed yadi ratim srama eva hi kevalam.

"If you do not develop your consciousness of God by executing Gauranga Dharma especially through the process of daily hearing and chanting the Name and Pastimes of Lord Gauranga-Krishna, then whatever work and activities you are doing are simply an useless waste of time and labor." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.8).

We will briefly try to explain from the Vedic scriptures why the Name of Gauranga is the most powerful, merciful and supremely encompassing Name of the Lord. Thus merely by saying "Gauranga Dharma" one is getting the supreme spiritual benefit of addressing the full science and creation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga-Krishna.

GAURANGA NAMA IS MOST PRINCIPAL AMONG THE MOST PRINCIPAL NAMES OF GOD

(I) In the Brhad-visnu-sahasranama-stotra, Uttara-khanda, Padma Purana (72.335) it is said:

rama rameti rameti, rame rame manorame;
sahasra-namabhis tulyam, rama-nama varanane.

Lord Siva addressed his wife, Durga: "O Varanana (lovely-faced woman), I chant the holy name of Rama, Rama, Rama and thus constantly enjoy this beautiful sound. This holy name of Ramacandra is equal to one thousand holy names of Lord Visnu (Visnu-sahasra-nama-stotram)."

(II) In the Padma Purana it its mentioned:

visnor ekaika namapi, sarva vedadhikam matam
tadrk nama sahasrena, rama nama samasmrtam

"Each Name of Lord Vishnu is greater and more potent than the entire Vedas combined together, and Lord Rama's Name alone is more superior that a thousand Names of Lord Vishnu."

(III) In the Brahmanda Purana it is stated:

sahasra-namnam punyanam, trir-avrttya tu yat phalam;
ekavrttya tu krsnasya, namaikam tat prayacchati.

"And the pious results (punya) achieved by chanting the thousand holy names of Visnu (Visnu-sahasra-nama-stotram) three times or the Holy Name of Rama thrice can be attained by only one utterance of the Holy Name of Krsna."

(IV) Prabhasa Khanda of Padma Purana states:

namnam mukhyataram nama,
krsnakhyam me parantapa;
prayascittam asesenam papanam mocakam param.

"O Arjuna, the Holy of Krishna is the most principal (mukhyataram) among all Names of God. One can atone for unlimited sinful deeds by chanting the Name of Krishna which is the supreme destroyer of all sins."

(V) Finally in the Brahma-Rahasya it is stated:

krsna-caitanyeti nama, mukhyan mukhyatamam prabhoh;
helaya sakrd uccarya, sarva-nama-phalam labhet.

"The Holy Name Krsna Chaitanya or Gauranga is the topmost or the most principal (mukhyan) even among all the important primary and most principal (mukhyatamam) Holy Names of the Lord Krsna. By chanting this Name just once, a person attains the spiritual results (punya) of chanting all the other holy Names of the Lord."

So from the above five very important verses we can easily come to the following conclusions:

Secondary Names of God like Brahma, Paramatma, Srishtikarta, Allah, Buddha, Christ etc. take us to the heavenly planets or can grant us liberation or mukti. But the following Primary Names of God can elevate the soul to the Vaikuntha planets in the spiritual world:

Vishnu's Name = Principal Name of God more powerful than all the Vedas combined together.

Rama's Name = More Principal Name (Mukhya) of God = 1000 Names of Vishnu

Krishna's Name = Most Principal Name (Mukhyataram) of God = 3 Names of Rama or 3000 Names of Vishnu

Gauranga's Name = Most Principal (Mukhyan) among the Most Principal Names (Mukhyatamam) of Krishna = Sum Total of results obtained by chanting all the Names of Krsna, Rama and Visnu

Please note there is absolutely no difference between the Holy Name of Krishna and Gauranga (They are of equal potency totally non-different) for the liberated souls but for the conditioned souls the Name of Gauranga is even more beneficial than the Name of Krishna. Thus the above difference as described in the scriptures regarding the Names of Krishna and Gauranga is purely due to the difference in benefit achieved by the chanting of These Names by the conditioned souls not the liberated souls. Since there is no difference between Krishna and Gauranga, the liberated offenseless souls get equal benefit form chanting the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas and the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. Thus they can chant any one of them and get the same absolute benefit. But that is not applicable to the conditioned souls because their ten offenses block the full light and power of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra from coming through in the conditioned stage. And as per Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya (aparadha sattva jiva labhe prema dhana and aparadha badha tara kichu nahi kare) the full potency and power of the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas is fully available even to the conditioned and offensive chanters.

Mukhya is the first degree, Mukhyataram is the second degree and Mukhyatamam is the third degree of emphasis. So in the above verses from the scriptures, Rama's Name is Mukhya, Krishna's Name is Mukhyataram and Gauranga's Name is Mukhyan Mukhyatamam.

In theVisnu-yamala it is said:

krsna-caitanya-namna ye, kirtayanti sakrn narah;
nanaparadha-muktas te, punanti sakalam jagat.

"Those who chant the name of Krsna Chaitanya or Gauranga even once, become free from all offenses and purify all the worlds by their very presence."

Srila Jagadananda Pandita says in Prema-vivarta Chapter 4:

gaura ye visala nama sei nama gau;
anya saba nama-mahatmya sei name pau.

"The most powerful name of God is the name of the most merciful incarnation of God, who is known as Gauranga. The glories and power of all the other names of Vishnu Tattvas, God, demigods, goddesses are completely present in the Name of Lord Gauranga and thus His Name should be constantly chanted and sung with happiness."

gaura bina guru nahi ei bhava samsare;
sakala gauranga bhakti shikhau sabare.

"There is no greater Guru in this world then the Name of Lord Gauranga and the Lord Himself. So please teach each and everyone you meet the process of Gauranga Bhakti Yoga through the chanting of the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas and the Hare Krishna Mahamantra."

THE WORD "HINDU" IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE VEDAS BUT THE NAME "GAURANGA" IS THE SUPREME OBJECT OF GLORIFICATION OF ALL THE VEDAS

The verses below from the Vedic scriptures very clearly reveal that Lord Gauranga-Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and Gauranga Dharma is the eternal and constitutional characteristic of every spirit soul.

(Adapted from the writings and teachings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:) Some may feel that Gauranga Dharma is related to Hindusim but it is not exactly like that. Gauranga Dharma is the real Vedic, scientific and universal religion for one and all. It is real and authorized Vedic religion. One will not find the word Hindu in the Bhagavad-gita. Indeed, there is no such word as Hindu in the entire Vedic literature. This word has been introduced by the Muslims from provinces next to India, such as Afghanistan, Baluchistan, and Persia. There is a river called Sindhu bordering the north western provinces of India, and since the Muslims there could not pronounce Sindhu properly, they instead called the river Hindu, and the inhabitants of this tract of land they called Hindus. This word Hindu is not a Sanskrit word. It was given by the Muhammadans. You know that there is a river, Indus, which in Sanskrit is called Sindhu. The Muhammadans pronounce "s" as "h". Instead of Sindhu, they made it Hindu. So Hindu is a term that is not found in the original Sanskrit dictionaries, but it has come into use. The people known as Hindus in the world, the Hindu is a term given by the Mohammedans, from "Indus." Indus River is there. Now it is in Pakistan. So people beyond the Indus River, the Mohammedans in Arabia and other countries, they pronounce "s" as "h". Instead of "Sindhu," they used to pronounce it as "Hindu." So people living, crossing the river Indus or Hindus, they were called "Hindus."

There is a big temple of Mother Durga, Kali, in Bombay. So this Amba-devi was pronounced by the Englishmen as Bamba-devi, and from Bamba-devi it has come to "Bombay." Actually, there is a big temple of Amba in Bombay. From that name, instead of Amba, they have become Bamba. Just like from Sindhu, they have called, they have designated the inhabitants of Sindhu-desa as "Hindu." The Muhammadans, they pronounce s as h. So from "Sindhu," it has come to "Hindu." Otherwise, this "Hindu" name is not mentioned in any Vedic literature.

Hindu means the culture of the Indians. India happens to be situated on the other side of the Indus River which is now in Pakistan which is spelled Indus-in Sanskrit it is called Sindhu. The sindhu was misspelled by the Europeans as Indus, and from Indus the word "`Indian" has come. Similarly the Arabians used to pronounce sindus as Hindus. Thus "Hindu" is neither a Sanskrit word nor is it found in the Vedic literatures. Ofcourse the Vedic culture to some extent is found in the practices of Hinduism. But since the very word "Hindu" does not have its roots in the Vedas that is why it is increasingly becoming very difficult to actually identify the true and pure aspect of Hinduism. And thus it has become gradually distorted into Pantheism due to lack of proper understanding of the Vedas.

Instead of understanding and accepting the ultimate Vedic Truth that the Supreme Absolute Truth Lord Gauranga-Krishna is the One God of all religions, paths and souls and all others including the gods, demigods, demigoddesses, prophets, saints and all other souls are His infinitesimal parts and parcels, Hindusim in general has become more or less deteriorated into a speculated theory of concoted and offensive worship of unlimited number of god and demigods (sometimes even imaginary ones) on the same or even higher level than the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga-Krishna and/or even introduced the most perverted and materialistically egotistic kind of worship of accepting oneself as God Himself. Both these kinds of worship in the name of Hinduism have actually done more harm to the spread of the real Vedic Gauranga Dharma than anything else in this world. Lord Gauranga-Krishna Himself categorically rejects these two kinds of concocted worship in the Bhagavad-Gita but most unfortunate people have twisted and distorted the direct words of the Lord in order to justify their speculative and imaginative worship and religion.

"Hindu" is a vague term. It has actually no meaning in the Sanskrit language. Real religion should originate from God not from some living entities. And thus the real religion has directly the name of God and is called as Gauranga Dharma. And thus Vedic religion of Gauranga Dharma is neither for only the Hindus nor for only the Christians etc. It is meant for the human being and infact all the living entities in this universe.

A handful of the unlimited Vedic references about the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the Supreme Absolute Truth Lord Gauranga-Krishna and Gauranga Dharma are as follows:

Atharva Veda (Third Kanda, Brahma-vibhaga):

ito 'ham krta-sannyaso 'vatarisyami sa-guno nirvedo niskamo bhu-girbanas tira-stho 'lakanandayah kalau catuh-sahasrabdhopari panca-sahasrabhyantare gaura-varno dirghangah sarva-laksana-yukta isvara-prarthito nija-rasasvado bhakta-rupo misrakhyo vidita-yogah syam.

In the Atharva Veda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself says:

"Towards the end of the period between four-thousand to five-thousand years in Kali-yuga, I will descend on the earth as Gauranga, a golden-complexioned saintly brahmana in a place by the Ganges' shore and later become the crest-jewel of all sannyasis, exhibiting all My transcendental qualities including supreme renunciation and complete detachment from material desires. In the form of Lord Gauranga, I will display all the thirty-two bodily symptoms of a great personality with my arms extending to my knees. I will become my own devotee, very advanced in bhakti-yoga and teach the worship of Lord Krsna (Myself) by the chanting of My own holy names and relishing the mellows of My own devotional service. At that time only My most confidential devotees will be able to understand Me."

Atharva-veda (second khanda, third prapathaka, fourth anuvak, fifth mantra):

"visvambhara visvena ma bharasa pahi svaha."

"O Lord Visvambhara Gauranga, the upholder of the universe, please preserve me by sustaining the universe."

Atharva-veda-Purusa-Bodiny-Upanisad (6th Prapathaka):

saptame gaura-varna-visnor ity anena sva-saktya caikyam etya prante pratar avatirya saha dvaih svam anusiksayati.

In the Purusa-bodini Upanisad- Atharva-veda it is said:

"In the seventh manvantara (Vaivasvata Manu), the Supreme Personality of GodheadLord Sri Gauranga-Vishnu will accept a form with a golden complexion due to attaining oneness with His pleasure potency Srimati Radhika and descend on this earth with all His multifarious potencies in the beginning of the Kali-yuga of the twenty-eighth catur-yuga, accompanied by His own eternal associates to teach the chanting of His own holy names in the form of the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas and the Hare Krsna Mahamantra."

Gopala-Tapany-Upanisad (Uttara-vibhaga Verse 63):

hiranmayam saumya-tanum sva bhaktayabhaya-pradam
dhyayen manasi mam nityam venu-srnga dharam tu va

In the Gopala-tapani Upanisad it is said:

"Let my mind constantly meditate on the most gentle, grave and pure Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga who has a complexion of molten gold, who carries a bamboo rod (sannyasa rod) and who bestows fearlessness upon His devotees."

Krsnopanisad:

sa eva bhagavan yuge turiye 'pi brahma-kule jayamanah sarva upanisadah uddidirsuh sarvani dharma-sastrani vistarayisnuh sarvan api janan santarayisnuh sarvan

api vaisnavan dharman vijrmbhayan sarvan
api pasandan nicakhana.

In the Krsna Upanisad it is said:

"In Kali-yuga (the fourth yuga), the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga-Krishna Himself will appear in a brahmana family with the purpose of teaching the message of all the 108 Upanisads and expanding the conclusions of all the dharma-sastras. He will deliver all the living entities in the universe from the cycle of birth and death by manifesting the pure principles of Gauranga Vaishnava Dharma and He will simultaneously subdue all the atheists and offenders."

Samaveda:

tathaham krta-sannyaso bhu-girbano 'vatarisye tire 'lakanandayah punah punar isvara-prarthitah sa-parivaro niralambo nirdhuteh kali-kalmasa-kavalita-janavalambanaya.

In the Sama Veda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga-Krishna Himself says:

"To rescue the helpless people who are being devoured by the sins of Kali-yuga, I will descend to the earth in a saintly brahmana family residing on the shores of the Ganges accompanied by My eternal associates in the form of Gauranga. I will then become an avadhuta-sannyasi and I will teach everyone the process of worshipping Me by the incessant chanting of My own holy names."

Mundakopanisad:

(i) yada pasyah pasyate rukma-varnam
kartaram isam purusam brahma-yonim
tada vidvan punya-pape vidhuya
niranjanah paramam samyam upaiti

In the Mundaka Upanisad (3.1.3) it is said:

"One who is fortunate enough to see that actual object of our vision, the golden-colored Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Lord Gauranga-Krishna who is the ultimate doer, controller and enjoyer of everything and the source of the brahmajyoti (or one who has descended in a brahmana family), immediately becomes the most learned person, free from all material peity, sin, contamination and designations and effortlessly attains the supreme liberation of entering the abode of the Lord."

(ii) hiranmaye pare kose
virajam brahma niskalam
tac chubhram jyotisam jyotis
tad yad atma-vido viduh

"They who actually know the self, know that the supremely effulgent Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga-Krishna, the source of all other splendors, resides in a pure, splendid and transcendental realm which appears golden due to being illuminated by His own golden bodily complexion."

(iii) sa evaitat paramam brahma-dhama
yatra visvam nihitam bhati subhram
upasate purusam ye hy akamas
te sukram etad ativartanti dhirah

"The sober persons who becoming free for all material desires, worship that golden Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga-Krishna, who resides in His topmost effulgent spiritual abode, easily cross over this material world of repeated birth and death. "

[7] svetasvataropanisadi (3.12)

mahan prabhur vai purusah sattvasyaisa pravartakah;
su-nirmalam imam praptim isano jyotir avyayah.

In the Svetasvatara Upanisad it is said:

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead who is supreme enjoyer is known as Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu, who promulgates the transcendental platform of pure goodness through the process of nama-sankirtana. This Supreme Lord is the source of all spiritual purity. Just to be in touch with Him is to be in contact with the indestructible brahmajyoti."

Lord Shri Nityananda Balarama's Name is also glorified in all the Vedic Scriptures:

Ananta-Samhita
Nityanando maha-kayo, bhutva mat-kirtane ratah;
vimudhan bhakti-rahitan, mama bhaktan karisyasi.

In the Ananta-Samhita, the Lord Gauranga-Krishna states to Lord Ananta Balarama: "When I appear in Navadvipa in Kali-yuga , You will become Nityananda. You will have a very tall, beautiful and large body, and You will be constantly absorbed in chanting My name and glories. In this way, by Your causeless mercy You will convert many bewildered fools who are devoid of devotion into My pure unalloyed devotees."

Narada Pancaratra

bhakti-priyo bhakti-data, damodara ibhas-patih;
indra-darpa-haro 'nanto, nityananda-cid-atmakah.

In the Narada-pancaratra, Bala-Krsna-sahasra-nama-stotra, it is said:

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead is known by the names Nityananda, Bhakti-priya, Bhakti-data, Damodara, Ibhas-pati, Indra-darpa-hara, Ananta, Cid-atmaka,. . ."

Vayu Purana

(1) balaramo mamaivamsah, so 'pi mat-prstham esyati;
nityananda iti khyato nyasi-cudamanih ksitau

In the Vayu Purana, the Lord tells Brahma: "Lord Balarama, who is My first expansion and non-different from Me in all ways will also appear by My side as Lord Sri Nityananda. He will become the crest jewel of all renunciants on the earth."

(2) krtvavadhuta-vesam sa, dharman bhagavatan bahun;

grahayitva janan ittham grhinam asramam tatah.

"Assuming the dress of an avadhuta, Lord Nityananda will freely distribute Gauranga Bhagavata Dharma i.e. love of God. He will distribute this pure love through various means and deliver all the living entities. He will do so first as a brahmacari and later as a householder."

(3) jahnavy-adibhir atmanam, darsayisyati manavan.

"Accompanied by His eternal consort Shrimati Jahnavi-devi and many other intimate associates, Lord Nityananda Prabhu will reveal His transcendental pastimes to the people."

(4) rudro 'vatirya mad-bhaktim, srimad-advaita-samjnakah;
grahiyisyati lokams ca, yatnat karunikah prabhuh.

"Lord Sadashiva and Lord Mahavishnu combined will incarnate as My great devotee and His name will be Shrimad Advaita Acharya. Due to His unlimited compassion, He will give pure bhakti to each and everyone with great endeavour."

Urdhvamnaya-Tantra

panca-tattvamakam gauram, krsna-caitanya-samjnakam;
ye bhajanti navadvipe, te me priyatamah kila.

In the Urdhvamnaya-tantra, Lord Shiva declares to Parvati: "They who in Navadvipa worship Lord Gauranga, who is known as Shri Krsna Chaitanya in His five features of Panca-tattva-Shri Krsna Chaitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Shri Advaita Acharya, Shrila Gadadhara Pandita, Shrila Shrivasa Thakura alongwith all other associates of Lord Gauranga-are most dear to me."

Nrsimha-Purana

satye daitya-kuladhi-nasa-samaye simhordhva-martyakrtis
tretayam dasa-kandharam paribhavan rameti namakrtih
gopalan paripalayan vraja-pure bharam haran dvapare
gaurangah priya-kirtanah kali-yuge caitanya-nama prabhuh

In the Nrsimha Purana it is said:

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appeared in Satya-yuga as Lord Nrsimhadeva in the form of half-man and half-lion to destroy Hiranyakasipu, the king of the demons, and who appeared in Treta-yuga as Lord Ramacandra to kill the great ten-headed demon Ravana, and who appeared in the Dvapara-yuga for protecting and maintaining the cowherd men and women of Vrndavana and removing the burden of the earth, will appear again in the Kali-yuga in a golden form. He will fully relish the chanting of His own holy names and His name will be Lord Gauranga."

Padma Purana

kaleh prathama-sandhyayam, gaurango 'ham mahi-tale;
bhagirathi-tate ramye, bhavisyami saci-sutah.

In the Padma Purana, the Supreme Lord affirms:

"In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, I will appear as Gauranga on the earth in a beautiful place by the shore of the Ganges. I will become the son of Sacidevi and My complexion will be golden."

Agni-Purana

prasantatma lamba-kanthas, gaurangas ca suravrtah

In the Agni Purana it is said:

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga will appear in a golden form with a graceful long neck and a peaceful heart, surrounded by His saintly devotees."

Markandeya-Purana

golokam ca parityajya, lokanam trana-karanat;
kalau gauranga-rupena, lila-lavanya-vigrahah.

In the Markandeya Purana, the Supreme Lord declares:

"In the Kali-yuga I will give up My own eternal abode Goloka Vrndavana, and I will assume the form of the most handsome and playful Lord Gauranga to rescue all the living entities in the universe."

Krishna Yamala

gaurango nada-gambhirah, sva-namamrta-lalasah;
dayaluh kirtana-grahi, bhavisyati saci-sutah.

"His limbs will be golden and His voice deep. He will increasingly hanker to taste the nectar of His own holy names and will be completely enchanted by it . He will be the most merciful son of Srimati Sacidevi and His Name will be Gauranga."

Brahma Yamala

gaurangam gaura-diptangam, pathet stotram krtanjalih;
nanda-gopa-sutam caiva, namasyami gadagrajam.

In the Brahma-yamala it is also said:

"With great devotion and folded hands, one should recite the following prayer before Lord Gauranga, whose limbs are as effulgent as molten gold: `I offer my respectful obeisances to Lord Gauranga-Krsna, the the son of the Nanda Maharaja and the elder brother of Gada.'"

brahma-purane

kaleh prathama-sandhyayam, gaurango 'ham mahi-tale;
bhagirathi-tate bhumni, bhavisyami sanatanah.

In the Brahma Purana, the Supreme Lord Himself declares:

"In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, I will appear as Gauranga on the earth in a beautiful place by the shore of the Ganges (*Navadvipa). I will descend in My original eternal form and My complexion will be golden."

Yoga-Vasistha

kaleh prathama-sandhyayam, gaurango 'sau mahi-tale;
bhagirathi-tate ramye, bhavisyati sanatanah.

In the Yoga-vasistha it is said:

"In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Gauranga will appear on this earth on the beautiful banks of the Ganges (Navadvipa), in His eternal golden form."

In the Urdhvamnaya-Tantra, Lord Siva declares to Parvati:

navadvipa-samam sthanam, sri-gauranga-samah prabhuh;
krsna-prema-sama praptir, nasti durge kadacana.

"O Durga, no place in the creation is equal to Navadvipa, no master is as merciful as Lord Sri Gauranga, and no attainment in the whole world is equal to pure love for Krsna."

In Sri Ananta-Samhita, Part Two, Chapter Two entitled Sri Caitanya-janma-khanda, Lord Siva describes to Parvati:

sri-mahadeva uvaca
gaurangam sac-cid-anandam, sarva-karana-karanam;
vaca gadgadayanantam, tustava dharani-dharah

"Lord Anantadeva, the upholder of the whole universe then which a chocked voice full of ecstasy tried to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Cause of all Causes who possesses a transcendental eternal form of truth, knowldge and bliss."

krsnas caitanya-gaurango, gauracandrah saci-sutah;
prabhur gauro gaura-harir, namani bhakti-dani me.

The Lord said:"When I will appear in Kali Yuga, My transcendental names will be: Gauranga, Krishna Chaitanya, Gaurachandra, Shachisuta, Mahaprabhu, Gaura, Gaurahari. etc. Chanting These supreme Names will bring devotion to Me."

vrndavane navadvipe, bheda-buddhis ca yo narah;
tam eva radhika-krsne, sri-gaurange paratmani.

mac-chala-pata-nirbhinna-dehah so 'pi naradhamah;
pacyate narake ghore, yavad ahuta-samplavam.

Lord Shiva said: "With my trident I will cut into pieces anyone who thinks that Vrindavana and Navadvipa are different, or that Radha-Krsna and Gauranga are different, or that Lord Gauranga is not the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a person is most degraded among human beings. He or she will burn in a terrible hell until the time when the universe is flooded with water."

ya eva bhagavan krsno, radhika-prana-vallabhah;
srstyadau sa jagannatho, gaura asin mahesvari.

"O Maheshwari Parvati, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna who is most dear to His Supreme consort Shrimati Radharani and who is known as Lord Jagannatha from the beginning of creation has Himself fully and personally advented in this Kali Yuga as Lord Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu."

vistaran me nigaditah, sruto yah krsna isvarah;
visvadau gaura-kantitvat, gaurangam vaisnavah viduh.

"Please hear attentively, I will describe in detail this most confidential secret. The Supreme Ishvara or Controller Lord Krishna who is the origin of everything is known and worshiped by the learned Vaishnava devotees as Lord Gauranga, when He accepts the golden complexion of Shrimati Radhika."

paratmane namas tasmai, sarva-karana-hetave;
adi-devaya gauraya, sac-cid-ananda-rupine.

"I offer my prostrated obeisances to Adideva, the Supreme Lord Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu who is the ultimate and original cause of all causes, the Paratma or Supersoul of all living entities and who possesses a transcendental eternal form of truth, knowldge and bliss."

koti-kalpar jitaih punyair, vaisnavah syan maha-mate;
tatah syad radhika-krsna-lilasu rucir uttama.

"Those Vaishnava devotees who are Mahamati or very very advanced and who have accumulated spiritual piety for a minimum of 10 millions kalpas (1 kalpa = 8,640,000,000 years) will develop a superior taste for the transcendental pastimes of Their Lordships Shri Shri Radha Krishna."

syad yasya radhika-krsna-lilayam parama matih;
jivan-muktah sa vijneyah, pujyah syad daivatair api.

"In this way those exalted devotees who have developed unflinching attachment (parama matih) for the transcendental pastimes of Their Lordships Shri Shri Radha Krishna are worshipable even by the greatest demigods and are known as jivanamukta or fully liberated souls."

vina sri-gopika-sangam, kalpa-koti-satam param;
sravanat kirtanad visnor, na radha-krsnam apnuyat.

Now the method to achieve Their Lordships Shri Shri Radha Krishna is described by Lord Shiva, "If someone does not serve and associate with the Gopies of Vrindavana, they will not achieve Radha-Krishna even if simply hear and chant about Lord Vishnu for a minimum of 1 billion kalpas (1 kalpa = 8,640,000,000 years)."

gopi-sangam na capnoti, sri-gaura-caranad rte;
tasmat tvam sarva-bhavena, sri-gauram bhaja sarvada.

"And to achieve the service and association of the Gopies of Vrindavana the only way is to worship the lotus of Lord Gauranga and chant His Name. Therefore Parvati, you should worship Lord Gauranga and chant His Name constantly and with sarva-bhava means by full surrender and giving everything to Him."

gauranga-caranambhoja-makaranda-madhuvratah;
sadhanena vina radham, krsnam prapsyanti niscitam.

"The person who is like a transcendental honeybee relishing the supreme ambrosial nectar (makaranda) emanating from the divine lotus feet of Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu will most certainly without a doubt attain Their Lordships Shri Shri Radha Krishna even without performing any sadhana-bhakti practice of bhakti-yoga.

radhika-vallabhah krsno, bhaktanam priya-kamyaya;
srimad-gauranga-rupena, navadvipe virajate.

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna who is most dear to His Supreme consort Shrimati Radharani is situated in Navadvipa in His transcendental combined form of Shrimad Gauranga to fulfil the innermost desires of His most intimate devotees."

This it is established from all the Vedic scriptures that the one and only method in Kali Yuga to awaken this original spiritual nature of the soul is Gauranga Dharma which is pure love for Lord Gauranga-Krishna. This is achieved by transcendental sound vibration through the steady, determined, regular, sincere and increasing practice of chanting the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas and the Hare Krishna Mahamantra daily with great attachment. Gauranga Dharma is the topmost science of Gauranga Yoga and Mahadiksha into the process of Mantra Meditation on the three most powerful King of all Mantras in Kali-Yuga: "Nityananda", "Gauranga" and "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare".

GAURANGA DHAMA PRAVARTAKA ACHARYA (PIONEER PRECEPTOR)

The Seventh Goswami Shrila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura is hereby declared as the Pioneer Preceptor (Pravartaka Acharya) of Gauranga Dharma in the modern age due to his following six great and main contributions to the reawakening of Gauranga Dharma in the present times:

(1) His supreme contribution of writing the greatest classic book Shri Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya in 1890 AD which has solidly established and revealed the supreme glories of chanting the Nityananda and Gauranga Mantrarajas, Gauranga-lila and Gauranga-dhama from all the Vedic scriptures.

(2) His most wonderful classic purport in his wonderful Amrita-Pravaha-Bhashya commentary to Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita Antya-lila 2.31 explaining and revealing to the world that the four-syllable Gaura Gopala Mantraraja is the Gauranga Mantra. This purport was repeated by Shrila Prabhupada is his commentary. Also his great contribution in revealing and publishing Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita to this world with his beautiful commentary Amrita Pravaha Bhashya.

(3) His greatest contribution of discovering Shri Mayapura Dhama and the most holiest birthplace of Lord Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu and revealing the full glories of Shri Navadvipa Dhama in his book Shri Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya (Parikrama and Pramana Khandas) and other writings like the classic Navadvipa Bhava Taranga.

(4) Once when Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura was going to Vrindavana, he took rest at a Shiva temple where in the dream Shiva instructed him to preach and spread the Name and Pastimes of Lord Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu (from the book Lion Guru). Upon waking from that dream he decided not to go to Vrindavana and started searching for the greatest classic Shri Chaitanya Bhagavata. After much searching through different shops and many ashramas, he finally found a copy in a Calcutta store which was, unfortunately, riddled with errors. However, he took that copy to Vrindavana checked it himself and got it checked with some eminent Gaudiya Vaishnavas there, and was finally able to bring out a corrected and final copy of Shri Chaitanya Bhagavata. In this way he delivered the whole three worlds by giving us the most merciful pure scripture ever written, Shri Chaitanya Bhagavata, which is one the main pillars and Dharma Grantha of Gauranga Dharma and which every devotee of Gauranga Dharma should read repeatedly.

(5) He revealed the greatest classic books of Shrila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura to this world: Shri Chaitanya Chandramrita and Shri Navadvipa Shatakam which are the just like Shri Brahma Samhita for Gauranga Dharma and translated them into simple Bengali poem form.

(6) He wrote the superexcellent books on the exclusive glories of chanting the Holy Name like Hari Nama Chintamani (1900 AD) and found, edited and published Prema Vivarta (1906 AD). One of the main holy books of Gauranga Dharma: "Gauranga Nama Chintamani" is being written by Swami Gaurangapada based on these books on the science of the Name.

So the supreme glories of Their Lordships Shri Shri Nityananda Gauranga's Name, Pastimes and Abode were clearly and mercifully revealed by the Seventh Goswami Shrila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura to this world in the above manner. We all should be eternally grateful to his lotus feet for this topmost contribution ever and thus sing his glories and pray to him daily to seek his blessings to spread Gauranga Dharma throughout the whole universe. The above are only some of his great contributions to Gauranga Dharma, the list being unlimited.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION OF GAURANGA DHARMA

Gauranga Dharma is originally manifested and founded by the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead and the Universal and Original Founder Spiritual Preceptor (Jagad Sansthapaka Acharya and Adi Guru) His Lordship Shri Nityananda Balarama who is the first expansion of the Supreme Absolute Truth His Lordship Shri Gauranga Krishna and is thus completely non-different from Him. The topmost Vedic scripture Shri Chaitanya Bhagavata in non-different from Shrimad Bhagavatam, the most merciful abode of Shri Navadvipa Dhama (130 kms north of Kolkata, West Bengal, India) is non-different from Shri Vrindavana Dhama and the magnanimous eternal associates of Their Lordships Shri Shri Nityananda-Gauranga are non-different from the eternal associates of Their Lordships Shri Shri Radha-Krishna.

Gauranga Dharma or Gaurangaism is the original spiritual, scientific, universal, constitutional, fundamental, integral, intrinsic and eternal nature, characteristic, dynamic activity, yoga and religion of the soul in relation to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul and the Supreme Absolute Truth , the ultimate cause of all causes and the origin of everything in creation-His Lordship Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu-the combined form of Their Lordships Shri Shri Radha-Krishna.

Gauranga Dharma is practiced and realized through the supreme bhakti process of Gauranga Mantra Yoga (Gauranga-Krishna Consciousness) embodying the topmost science of Mantra Mahameditation (Mahadhyana), Mahainitiation (Mahadiksha) and Mahapreaching (Mahaprachara) of the three most powerful Kings of all Mantras in Kali-Yuga: (1) "Nityananda" (the 5-syllable Haladhara Balarama or Nitai Mantraraja), (2) "Gauranga" (the 4-syllable Gaura Gopala or Gaura Mantraraja) and (3) "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare" (the 32-syllable Hare Krishna Mahamantra).

Since Dharma or real factual religion can only originate from the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga-Krishna, when the Lord personally and fully advents in the form of Gauranga in Kali Yuga, He remains the Original Source of pure Vaishnava Dharma known as Gauranga Dharma. The name of this eternal pure religion of the soul in relation to Lord Gauranga-Krishna is Gauranga Dharma.

Thus the name Gauranga Dharma (Gaurangaism) gives full credit to the Supreme Lord Gauranga-Krishna who is the origin of everything and the cause of all causes. The names Sanatana Dharma or Bhagavata Dharma or or Vaishnava Dharma or Vaishnavism are synonymous with the name Gauranga Dharma. Simply by chanting the name of Gauranga Dharma the living entities of Kali Yuga get the ultimate benefit of chanting the most merciful and complete Name of Gauranga which does not consider any offenses and thus get instant qualification for love of God and to chant the pure Name of Krishna.

GAURANGA DHARMA ACHARYAS
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Original Source of Gauranga Dharma:

Lord Shri Gauranga-Krishna

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Original Founder of Gauranga Dharma:

Lord Shri Nityananda-Balarama

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Principal Preceptors of Gauranga Dharma:

Lord Shri Advaita Acharya; Shri Gadadhara Pandita; Shrila Shrivasa Thakura & all Gauranga Bhakta Vrinda; Shrila Shivananda Sena (Gauranga Mantra Acharya); Shrila Prabodhananda Sarasvati (Gauranga Tattva Acharya); Shrila Murari Gupta; Shrila Jagadananda Pandita; Shrila Svarupa Damodara; Shrila Ramananda Raya; Shrila Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya (Gauranga Stotra Acharya); the Six Goswamis and Associates headed by Shrila Rupa Goswami; Shrila Vrindavana Dasa Thakura (Gauranga Vyasa Acharya); Shrila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami (Gauranga Lila Acharya); Shrila Lochana dasa Thakura ( Gauranga Rasa Acharya), Shrila Kavi Karnapura (Gauranga Kavi Acharya), Shrila Shrinivasa Acharya, Shrila Narottama dasa Thakura, Shrila Shyamananda dasa and Associates, Shrila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura, Shrila Narahari Chakravarti (Gauranga Bhakta Lila Acharya), Shrila Baladeva Vidhyabhushana and Associates.

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Pioneer Preceptor of Gauranga Dharma in the modern age:

Shrila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura (Gauranga Pravartaka Acharya)

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Main Preceptors of Gauranga Dharma in the modern age:

Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada (Gauranga Senapati Acharya)

Shrila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Gauranga Prachara Acharya)

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Preacher Guru of Gauranga Dharma:

Tridandi Bhikshu Bhaktiratna Sadhu Swami Gaurangapada.

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