Spiral Bound Edition
- Spiral Bound; 142 pages; 5.5 x 8.5 (inches)
- no index
- Publisher: The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust; First issue: 1975; Reissue: 1996
- Suggested Audience: Advanced
- Original Language: Bengali
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Songs of the Vaishnava Acharyas is a collection of prayers by some of the prominent acharyas—teachers—in the lineage of Krishna consciousness throughout history. It contains all of the standard songs sung in Krishna temples every day, as well as many bhajans (devotional songs) traditionally sung during special occasions, festivals, and other devotee gatherings.
This book was compiled by Acyutananda Dasa, one of Srila Prabhupada's early disciples; Srila Prabhupada himself authorized the project and wrote the book's Foreword. He mentioned many times that such songs are nondifferent from the Vedic mantras:
"I am greatly pleased to see this collection of songs composed by Thakura Bhaktivinoda, Narottama dasa, and other great acharyas of the Gaudiya Vaishnava community . . . Songs composed by the acharyas are not ordinary songs. When chanted by pure Vaishnavas who follow the rules and regulations of Vaishnava character, they are actually effective in awakening the Krishna consciousness dormant in every living entity. I have advised Sriman Acyutananda Swami to sing more songs of the Vaishnava padavali and record them in books so that my disciples and others in the Western countries may take advantage of this chanting and thus advance in Krishna consciousness more and more."
Spiral Bound Edition
Available at the Krishna.com Store
Foreword
Introduction
A Glimpse into the Life of Thakura Bhaktivinoda
Standard Prayers
Song 1: Sri Sri Gurv-ashtaka
Song 2: Sri Sri Sad-gosvamy-ashtaka
Song 3: Sri Sri Sikshashtaka
Song 4: Prayer unto the Lotus Feet of Krishna
Song 5: Markine Bhagavata-dharma
Songs of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Song 6: Arunodaya-kirtana I
Song 7: Arunodaya-kirtana II
Song 8: Sri Nama
Song 9: Gopinatha
Song 10: Gurudeva
Song 11: Manasa Deha Geha
Song 12: Sakhi-vrinde Vijnapta
Song 13: Vidyara Vilase
Song 14: Tumi Sarveshvareshvara
Song 15: Prasada-sevaya I
Song 16: Prasada-sevaya II
Song 17: Kabe Ha’be Bolo
Song 18: Bhoga-arati
Song 19: Jaya Radha-Madhava
Song 20: Radha-Krishna Bol
Song 21: Shuddha-bhakata
Song 22: Gaura-arati
Song 23: Sri Nama-kirtana
Song 24: Ohe! Vaishnava Thakura
Song 25: Vibhavari Shesha
Song 26: Amar Jivan
Song 27: Anadi Karama Phale
Song 28: Bhuliya Tomare
Song 29: Narada Muni Bajay Vina
Songs of Srila Narottama dasa Thakura
Song 30: Ishta-deve Vijnapti
Song 31: Lalasamayi Prarthan
Song 32: Nama-sankirtana
Song 33: Sakhi-vrinde Vijnapti
Song 34: Saparshada-bhagavad-virahajanita-vilapa
Song 35: Savarana-sri-gaura-mahima
Song 36: Sri Guru-vandana
Song 37: Savarana-sri-gaura-pada-padme
Song 38: Vasanti-rasa
Song 39: Manah-shiksha
Song 40: Sri Rupa Manjari Pada
Song 41: Vaishnave Vijnapti
Song 42: Gaura Pahu
Songs of Other Vaishnava Acharyas
Song 43: Sri Radhika-stava
Song 44: Sri Dashavatara-stotra
Song 45: Sri Guru-parampara
Song 46: Sri Sri Gaura-Nityanander Daya
Song 47: Bhajahu Re Mana Sri Nanda-nandana
Song 48: Sri Damodarashtaka
Song 49: Sri Jagannathashtaka
Song 50: Hari He Doyal Mor
Song 51: Sri Vraja-dhama-mahimamrita
Song 52: Jaya Radha-Krishna Giti
Song 53: Nitai Guna Mani
Song 54: Sri Tulasi-arati
Song 55: Sri Tulasi-kirtana
Song 56: Sri Tulasi Pranama
Song 57: Sri Tulasi Pradakshina Mantra
Song 58: Sri Nrisimha Pranama
Song 59: Prayer to Lord Nrisimha
(from Sharanagati)
Text One
ohe!
vaishnaba thakura, doyara sagara,
e dase koruna kori’
diya pada-chaya, shodho he amaya,
tomara carana dhori
SYNONYMS
ohe! vaishnava thakura—O venerable Vaishnava!; doyara sagara—O ocean of mercy!; e dase—to me, your servant; koruna kori’—be merciful; diya pada-chaya—giving the shade of your lotus feet; shodho he amaya—O purify me!; tomara carana—your feet; dhori—I humbly hold.
TRANSLATION
O venerable Vaishnava, O ocean of mercy, be merciful unto your servant. Give me the shade of your lotus feet and purify me. I hold on to your lotus feet.
Text Two
chaya bega domi’, chaya dosha shodhi’
chaya guna deho’ dase
chaya sat-sanga, deho’ he amare
boshechi sangera ashe
SYNONYMS
chaya vega—the six urges; domi’—controlling; chaya dosha—the six faults; shodhi’—purifying; chaya guna—the six good qualities; deho’ dase—please give to your servant; chaya sat-sanga—the six kinds of holy association; deho’ he amare—O give me!; bosechi—I have sat down here; sangera—of having your company; ashe—in the hope.
TRANSLATION
Teach me to control my six passions*; rectify my six faults, bestow upon me the six qualities, and offer unto me the six kinds of holy association.
Text Three
ekaki amara, nahi paya bala
hari-nama-sankirtane
tumi kripa kori’, shraddha-bindu diya
deho’ krishna-nama-dhane
SYNONYMS
ekaki—alone; amara—my; nahi paya bala—have no strength; hari-nama-sankirtane—to chant the holy name of Lord Hari; tumi—you; kripa kori’—being merciful; shraddha-bindu—a particle of faith; diya—bestowing; deho’—please give; krishna-nama-dhane—the great treasure of the holy name of Krishna.
TRANSLATION
I do not find the strength to carry on alone the sankirtana of the holy name of Hari. Please bless me by giving me just one drop of faith with which to obtain the great treasure of the holy name of Krishna.
Text Four
krishna se tomara, krishna dite paro
tomara shakati ache
ami to’ kangala, ’krishna’ 'krishna’ boli’
dhai tava pache pache
SYNONYMS
krishna se—that Krishna; tomara—is yours; krishna dite paro—you are able to give Krishna; tomara shakati—your power; ache—is; ami—I; to’—indeed; kangala—am wretched; ‘krishna’ �krishna’ boli’—crying Krishna! Krishna!; dhai—I run; tava pache pache—behind you.
TRANSLATION
Krishna is yours; you have the power to give Him to me. I am simply running behind you shouting, “Krishna! Krishna!”
*The six passions are those pertaining to words, the mind, anger, the tongue, the stomach and the genitals. The six faults are overeating, attachment to material things, inability to follow regulative principles, sense gratification, useless idle talk, and impure habits. The six positive qualities are enthusiasm in practicing devotional service, firm faith in devotional processes, a strong desire to attain prema-bhakti, a favorable service attitude, avoidance of non-devotees, and appreciation of the company of devotees. The six methods of association are to go to an assembly of devotees, to invite devotees into one's home, to discuss and hear devotional topics, to take the maha-prasada of devotees and to offer maha-prasada to devotees.
by Govinda Dasa Kaviraja
Text One
bhajahu re mana shri-nanda-nandana
abhaya-caranaravinda re
durlabha manava-janama sat-sange
taroho e bhava-sindhu re
SYNONYMS
bhajah—just worship; re mana—O mind!; shri-nanda-nandana—of the son of Nanda; abhaya-caranaravinda—the lotus feet which make one fearless; re—O!; durlabha manava-janama—this rare human birth; sat-sange—in the association of saintly persons; taroho—cross over; e bhava-sindhu—this ocean of worldly existence; re—O!
TRANSLATION
O mind, just worship the lotus feet of the son of Nanda, which make one fearless. Having obtained this rare human birth, cross over this ocean of worldly existence through the association of saintly persons.
Text Two
shita atapa bata barishana
e dina jamini jagi re
biphale sevinu kripana durajana
capala sukha-laba lagi’ re
SYNONYMS
shita—the cold; atapa—the heat; bata—the wind; barishana—the rain; e—this; dina—the day; yamini—the night; jagi—I remain sleepless; re—O!; biphale—uselessly; sevinu—I have served; kripana durajana—miserly and wicked men; capala—flickering; sukha-lava—a fraction of happiness; lagi’—for the purpose of; re—O!
TRANSLATION
Day and night I remain sleepless, suffering heat and cold, wind and rain. For a bit of flickering happiness I have vainly served wicked and miserly men.
Text Three
e dhana, yaubana, putra, parijana
ithe ki ache paratiti re
kamala-dala-jala, jivana talamala
bhajahu hari-pada niti re
SYNONYMS
e—this; dhana—wealth; yauvana—youthfulness; putra—sons; parijana—family members; ithe—in these; ki ache—what is it?; paratiti—understanding; re—O!; kamala-dala—on a lotus petal; jala—like a drop of water; jivana—this life; talamala—is tottering; bhajah—you should always worship; hari-pada—the divine feet of Lord Hari; niti—the practice; re—O!
TRANSLATION
What assurance of real happiness is there in all of one’s wealth, youthfulness, sons, and family members? This life is tottering like a drop of water on a lotus petal; therefore you should always serve and worship the divine feet of Lord Hari.
Text Four
shravana, kirtana, smarana, vandana
pada-sevana, dasya re
pujana, sakhi-jana, atma-nivedana
govinda-dasa-abhilasha re
SYNONYMS
shravana—hearing the glories of Lord Hari; kirtana—chanting those glories; smarana—constantly remembering Him; vandana—offering prayers to Him; pada-sevana—serving the Lord’s lotus feet; dasya—serving the Supreme Lord as a servant; re—O!; pujana—worshiping Him with flowers and incense and so forth; sakhi-jana—serving Him as a friend; atma-nivedana—and completely offering the Lord one’s very self; govinda-dasa-abhilasha—(these nine processes of devotion are) the desire and great longing of Govinda dasa; re—O!
TRANSLATION
It is the desire and great longing of Govinda Dasa to engage himself in the nine processes of bhakti, namely hearing the glories of Lord Hari and chanting those glories, constantly remembering Him and offering prayers to Him, serving the Lord’s lotus feet, serving the Supreme Lord as a servant, worshiping Him with flowers and incense and so forth, serving Him as a friend, and completely offering the Lord one’s very self.
Forgetting You
(from Saranagati)
Text One
bhuliya tomare, samsare asiya
peye nana-vidha byatha
tomara carane, asiyachi ami
bolibo duhkehera katha
TRANSLATION
O Lord, forgetting You and coming to this material world, I have experienced a host of sins and sorrows. Now I approach Your lotus feet and submit my tale of woe.
Text Two
janani jathare, chilama jakhona
bishama bandhana-pashe
eka-bara prabhu! dekha diya more
vancile e dina dase
TRANSLATION
While I was bound up tightly in the unbearable confines of my mother’s womb, O Lord, You once revealed Yourself before me. After appearing briefly, You abandoned this poor servant of Yours.
Text Three
takhona bhavinu, janama paiya
koribo bhajana tava
janama hoilo, padi’ maya-jale
na hoilo jnana-lava
TRANSLATION
At that moment I thought, “After my birth this time, I will surely worship You with undivided attention.” But alas, after taking birth I fell into the entangling network of worldly illusions; thus I possessed not even a drop of true knowledge.
Text Four
adarera chele, sva-janera kole
hasiya katanu kala
janaka janani-snehete bhuliya
samsara lagilo bhalo
TRANSLATION
As a dear son fondled in the laps of attentive relatives, I passed my time smiling and laughing. The affection of my father and mother helped me forget You still more, and I began to think that the material world was a very nice place.
Text Five
krame dina dina, balaka hoiya
bhelinu balaka-saha
ara kichu dine, jnana upajilo
patha podi ahar-ahah
TRANSLATION
Day by day I gradually grew into a young boy and began playing with other boys. Soon my powers of understanding emerged, so I diligently studied my school lessons every day.
Text Six
vidyara gaurave, bhrami’ deshe deshe
dhana uparjana kori
sva-jana palana, kori eka-mane
bhulinu tomare, hari!
TRANSLATION
Proud of my accomplished education, I later traveled from place to place and earned much wealth. Thereby maintaining my family with undivided attention, I forgot You, O Lord Hari!
Text Seven
bardhakye ekhona, bhakativinoda
kandiya katara ati
na bhajiya tore, dina britha gelo
ekhona ki have gati?
TRANSLATION
Now in old age, this Bhaktivinoda very sadly weeps as death approaches. I failed to worship You, O Lord, and instead passed my days in vain. What will be my fate now?
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