Kali Mandir Satsang

Discourse by Revered Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati given on 28 March 2026 at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram. Swamiji continues his series on the Principles of Bhakti Yoga, reading from the teachings of Narada Muni from the Srimad Bhagavatam, Skanda 51, Discourse 5 (translation by Swami Bhajanananda):

1.5.8

śrī-nārada uvāca

bhavatānudita-prāyaḿ yaśo bhagavato 'malam

yenaivāsau na tuṣyeta. manye tad darśanaḿ khilam

Sri Narada said:

"You have not praised the stainless glories of Bhagavan. This does not satisfy Him. I think such philosophy incomplete."

1.5.9

yathā dharmādayaś cārthā. muni-varyānukīrtitāḥ

na tathā vāsudevasya mahimā hy anuvarṇitaḥ

"You have repeatedly described dharma and the rest (dharma, kama, artha, moksha) as the goals, but although a great sage, have not described the glories of Vāsudeva."

1.5.10

na yad vacaś citra-padaḿ harer yaśo. jagat-pavitraḿ pragṛṇīta karhicit

tad vāyasaḿ tīrtham uśanti mānasā. na yatra haḿsā niramanty uśik-kṣayāḥ

"Words, however beautiful, that do not describe the glories of Hari, which purify the world, are places of pilgrimage to crows, and not to swans who take pleasure in transcendental bliss."

1.5.11

tad-vāg-visargo janatāgha-viplavo

yasmin prati-ślokam abaddhavaty api

nāmāny anantasya yaśo 'ńkitāni yat

śṛṇvanti gāyanti gṛṇanti sādhavaḥ

"But those words, however badly composed each verses is, that describe the names etc (name, form, abode, qualities, activities) of the Infinite, destroy the sins of all people. Such words are heard, sung, and accepted by sadhus."

Revered Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati continues his series on the Principles of Bhakti Yoga, reading from the teachings of Kapila Muni in the Srimad Bhagavatam, Skanda 3, Discourse 28 (translation by Swami Bhajanananda):

1. śrī-bhagavān uvāca

The Blessed Lord said:

2. sva-dharmācaraṇaṁ śaktyā

"One must perform one’s dharma with all one’s strength and avoided prohibited actions. One should be satisfied with what one has through destiny  and worship the lotus feet of the Self-realized."

3. grāmya-dharma-nivṛttiś ca

"Giving up worldly activities one should then develop a taste for activates that lead to liberation. One should always eat pure food in moderation and stay in a secluded and peaceful dwelling."

4. ahiṁsā satyam asteyaṁ 

"One should practice nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, possessing only what is necessary, celibacy, austerity, cleanliness, self-study, and worship of the Supreme Person."

5. maunaṁ sad-āsana-jayaḥ

"One should practice silence, attain mastery of a proper and steady posture, control the breath/prana, gradually withdraw the senses from sense-objects, and focus the mind on the heart."

6. sva-dhiṣṇyānām eka-deśe

"One should fix the mind and prana  in one place in a chakra in the body and meditate upon the pastimes of Lord of Vaikunta and thus become absorbed in the self."

7. etair anyaiś ca pathibhir

"By these and other ways  this wicked mind on the path of illusion must be gradually controlled by the intelligence and one’s prana should be carefully focused."

8. śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya

"Spreading a proper seat in a pure place and sitting in an easy posture, with body erect , engage in practice."

9. prāṇasya śodhayen mārgaṁ

"One should purify the passages of prana by inhaling, retaining and exhaling and then reversing the process , thus making the mind-stuff (cittam yathā) steady and unwavering."

10. mano ’cirāt syād virajaṁ

"When a yogi’s breath is thus controlled then the mind is soon freed from disturbance, just like gold in an air-fanned fire becomes free of impurities."

11. prāṇāyāmair dahed doṣān

"Through pranayama, one overcomes faults; by concentration, sins; by withdrawal of the mind, worldliness; and by meditation, ungodly qualities."

12. yadā manaḥ svaḿ virajaḿ

"When one’s mind is purified by yoga, gazing at the tip of the nose, with full concentration one should meditate upon the Supreme Lord."

____________

34. evaḿ harau bhagavati pratilabdha-bhāvo

T"hus one will develop intense love for Bhagavan Hari, the heart will melt, hairs stand erect from excessive joy and tears will flow constantly from one’s eyes due to longing . Thus overcome , the mind, which has acted as a hook, begins to withdraw."

Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati continues his  series of discourses on the Principles of Bhakti Yoga, followed by arati and Ramnam Sankirtan.  Swamiji expands on the pillars of dharma discussed in last week's class, focusing on truthfulness, compassion, desire, and company.  

Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati continues his  series of discourses on the Principles of Bhakti Yoga, followed by arati and kirtan.  Swamiji expands on the pillars of dharma discussed in last week's class, and expands on tapasya (austerity/self-discipline); the Yamas & Niyamas; austerities of the body, speech, and mind; and truthfulness.

Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati begins a new series of discourses on the "Principles of Bhakti Yoga.", followed by arati and kirtan.

This class focuses on a story in the Srimad Bhagavatam about the bull of dharma and the cow of Earth being attached by the demon Kali, the personification of the adharma of Kali Yuga. Swamiji reads and discusses chapters 17 and 18 of Skanda I, and then focuses on some important verse given below:

ŚB 1.17.24

ŚB 1.17.25

ŚB 1.17.38

ŚB 1.17.39

ŚB 1.17.41

Revered Swami Chetananandaji Maharaj shares rare reminisces of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi by Swami Ashitananda, Br. Pramesh Kumar, & Golap Ma.

Pujya Swami Chetanananda is a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math & Mission and the Spiritual Head of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis.

Revered Swami Chetananandaji Maharaj shares rare reminisces of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi by her direct disciples Swami Gaurishananda and Swami Haripriyananda.

Pujya Swami Chetanananda is a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math & Mission and the Spiritual Head of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis.

Class by Rev. Dr. Mahant Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Book X, chapter 13, verses 6 - 8 of Srimad Bhagavatam given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 21 June 2025.

Brahma said:

तथापि भूमन् महिमागुणस्य ते विबोद्धुम् अर्हत्य् अमलान्तरात्मभिः |

अविक्रियात् स्वानुभवाद् अरूपतो ह्य् अनन्यबोध्यात्मतया न चान्यथा || ६ ||

tathāpi bhūman mahimāguṇasya te viboddhum arhaty amalāntar-ātmabhiḥ |

avikriyāt svānubhavād arūpato hy ananya-bodhyātmatayā na cānyathā || 6 ||

6. "Nevertheless, Oh Infinite One (tathāpi bhūman), Your infinite nature beyond the gunas (mahimā aguṇasya te), changeless (avikriyāt), formless (arūpataḥ), and self-effulgent (hi ananya bodhya can be known by self realization (ātmatayā viboddhum) by one whose mind and senses are pure and in-drawn (arhati amala antar-ātmabhih), through one's own direct perception (sva anubhava), and not otherwise (na ca anyathā)."

गुन्̣आत्मनस् तेऽपि गुन्̣आन् विमातुं हितावतीर्̣नस्य क ईशिरेऽस्य |

कालेन यैर् वा विमिताह्̣ सुकल्पैर् भूपांशवह्̣ खे मिहिका द्युभासह्̣ || ७ ||

guṇātmanas te 'pi guṇān vimātuḿ hitāvatīṛnasya ka īśire 'sya |

kālena yair vā vimitāḥ su-kalpair bhū-pāḿśavaḥ khe mihikā dyu-bhāsaḥ || 7 ||

7. "Oh Self of the gunas (guṇa-ātmanaḥ), to count Your qualities ( te api guṇān vimātum) -- You who have incarnated for the good of all ( hita-avatīrṇasya ) -- is like a geniuses, for all eternity, counting (asya kālena yaiḥ vā vimitāḥ su-kalpaiḥ) all the grains of sand on the earth (bhū-pāḿśavaḥ), all water drops in the air ( khe mihikāḥ), and all the stars in the sky (dyu-bhāsaḥ)."

तत् ते ऽनुकम्पां सुसमीक्स्̣अमान्̣ओ भुञ्जान एवात्मक्र्̣तं विपाकम् |

ह्र्̣द्वाग्वपुर्भिर् विदधन् नमस् ते जीवेत यो मुक्तिपदे स दायभाक् || ८ ||

tat te 'nukampāṃ su-samīkṣamāṇo bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṃ vipākam |

hṛd-vāg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te jīveta yo mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk || 8 ||

8. "Therefore (tat) whoever lives (jīveta yaḥ) depending upon Your compassion (te anukampām su-samīkṣamāṇaḥ), tolerating the results of their own actions (bhuñjānaḥ eva ātma-kṛtam  vipākam) and surrendering to You with heart, words and body (hṛt vāk vapurbhiḥ vidadhan namaḥ te), becomes the rightful heir of liberation (mukti-pade saḥ dāya-bhāk)."

Class by Rev Dr. Mahant Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Book X of Srimad Bhagavatam given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 14 June 2025. 

Brahma said:

ज्ञाने प्रयासम् उदपास्य नमन्त एव 

श्रेयह्̣स्र्̣तिं भक्तिम् उदस्य ते विभो

पुरेह भूमन् बहवोऽपि योगिनस्

Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 2, verses 27-34, given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir via Zoom on 18 June 2025.

The Goddess said:

तस्मादाकाश उत्पन्नः शब्दतन्मात्ररूपकः |

जलं रसात्मकं पशात् ततो गन्धात्मिका धरा |

शब्दस्पर्शरूपगुणं तेज ईत्युच्यते बुधैः |

शब्दस्पर्शरूपरसगन्धैः पञ्चगुणा धरा |

सर्वात्मकं तत्सम्प्रोक्तं सूक्ष्मदेहोऽयमात्मनः |

यस्मिन् जगद्बीजरूपं स्थितं लिङ्गोद्भवो यथः |

पञ्चसङ्ख्यानि जायन्ते तत्प्रकारस्त्वथोच्यते |

एकैकं भागमेकस्य चतुर्धा विभजेद् गिरे |

तत्कार्यं च विराड्देहः स्थूलदेहोऽयमात्मनः |