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CAITANYA VAISHNAVA SANGA
by Saksi Gopal das |
We'd like to welcome all to the website
and activities of Srila Turiya Das Mahasaya, Founder of
The Caitanya Vaishnava Sanga:
Bhagavat-Acarya Sripad Turiya Das Mahasaya met disciples
of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad
in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1969, and received harinam diksa
from Srila Prabhupad in May of that year. As a pioneer
of Srila Prabhupad's Hawaii yatra, Sripad Turiya Das was
the first devotee in the state to wear the traditional
brahmacari vesha and publicly distribute the transcendental
literature
of his spiritual master, also taking Krsna Consciousness
to the outer islands of Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii.
He received brahminical initiation shortly thereafter,
and later, on the request of his Guru for senior disciples
to marry, Srila Prahupad specically directed Sripad Turiya
Das to "be an ideal householder and one of our societies
leaders." Then with the assistance of his wife, Shaktimati
devi dasi, he proceeded to establish Deity worship standards
at ISKCON temples world-wide for the next decade.
Although rendering every needed service --from book distributor,
gurukula teacher, prison preacher to fundraiser-- Sripad
Turiya Das Acarya is best known for his meticulous care
of Lord Krsna's Arca Vigraha. "..You are well-qualified
to worship the Deity at highest standard..please increase
the Deity worship and teach others to become a very good
pujari like you," were the instructions given to him
by Srila Prabhupad, an order which he has faithfully executed,
throughout four continents, to this day. Appointed as head
pujari of Sri Sri Krsna-Balaram Mandir in Vrndaban, India,
Sripad Turiya Das Acarya served until the departure of
Srila Prabupad from this world in 1977, at which he was
present.
Inspired by the tireless preaching efforts of Srila Prabhupad
--even into His last days, Sripad Turiya Das Acarya embarked
on a mission to preach the glories of Bhagavat Dharma,
receiving the inspiration, instruction and blessings of
such Vaishnava luminaries as His Divine Grace B.R. Sridhara
Dev Goswami Maharaj in Nabadwip and Srila Visvambara Goswami
of Radha-Raman Mandir in Vrndaban. In 1984, on the appeal
of several sincere students, and after deep meditation,
Sripad Turiya Das Acarya began formally accepting disciples
in an effort to serve the Chaitanya Vaishnava sampradaya
and to assist in the preservation of its glorious siddhanta.
Thus, the Chaitanya Vaishnava Sanga was manifest for the
purposes of offering the public the philosophical and practical
teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and providing the
facility and support suitable for the application of those
teachings. Firmly established on the dual track of Bhagavat-
and Pancaratrik-viddhis, Sripad Turiya Das Acarya's instructions
emphasize the importance of systematic, regulated worship
of the Lord through His Name, His Deity, His Dhama, His
Bhagavat Purana and His Bhagavat Vaisnava through the processes
expressly delineated by the six goswamis, which are krsnanusilanam,
most pleasing to Krsna.
Sripad Turiya Das Acarya teaches for most of the year at
Sri Vrndaban Gardens, a 6-acre ashram in Maui, Hawaii,
over which Their LordshipsSri Sri Nitai-Gauracandra, Sri
Sri Radha-Kunjabihari andSri Sri Gandharvika-Govardhandhari
preside. In the early mornings, he allows his students
and invited guests to watch the worship of Sri Govardhandhari,
his govardhan-sila and ista-devata, Who he has daily taken
care of since 1979. (On some occasions, he is known to
stamp Govardhandhari's Lotus Foot-prints on the foreheads
of the fortunate onlookers). His classes have included
the complete works of Srila Prabhupad, Srila Guru Maharaj,
and every available work of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura,
as well as the sandarbhas, dramas and prayers of the Six
Goswamis and their spiritual descendents. Additionally,
he oversees the publication of the journal, Bhagavat Siddhanta,
published biannually by CVS.
The Chaitanya Vaishnava Sanga of Sripad Turiyad Das Mahasaya
has also formed a board of trusties in 1995 to oversee
and develop the ancient temple of Shamananda Pandit at
Caklesvar in Govardhana. The Radha Shyamasundar Temple
at Govardhan has been recently renovated, repairing some
dilapidated walls and re-modeling the deity room with marble
walls and floor. CVS has also built an asrama facility
of five rooms with attached baths and a small house for
Gurudev, thus providing better facility for Sripad Turiya
Das Mahasaya, his students and disciples as well as friends
when on pilgimage or retreat.
Prescribing a daily practice of sandhya purification and
meditation as a precursor to approaching the Holy Name
or the Deity, Sripad Turiya Das Acarya personally guides
each student to understand the goal within the eternal
means of bhakti. He leads a yearly CVS pilgrimage ! to
Krsna's Holy Dhamas in an effort to instill within his
students an attatchment for the pristine glories of the
Lord's lila grounds and the spiritual stalwarts who reside
there, ever-encouraging the faithful in the ways of vaisnava
saranagati.
For more info of Srila Turiya Das Mahasaya and the Caitanya
Vaishnava Sanga, visit the website at www.harekrishnatemple.org
Yours in service, Saksi Gopal Das
selahci@yahoo.co.uk |
|
 Vishva Vaishnava Raj Sabha
The Journal of the WVA
(Kartik Issue 2005)
Between the Kali-yuga disasters and the Spiritual world
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 Vishva Vaishnava Raj Sabha
World Vaishnava Association
The WVA was originally known by the Sanskrit name, Vishva Vaishnava Raj Sabha, and was founded in the early 1500s century.
info | order | download |
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 WVA CD-Rom (Rev. 2)
This is the first CD-Rom in the Vaishnava history.
info | order
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