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Madhukar das

Madhukar das

BGD Week 3: Turning Routine into Remembrance

BGD Week 3: Turning Routine into Remembrance

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura ki jaya! It is written in Padma Purāṇa (42.103) and Nārada-pañcarātra (4.2.23): smartavyaḥ satataṁ viṣṇur vismartavyo na jātucit sarve vidhi-niṣedhāḥ syur etayor eva kiṅkarāḥ "Always remember Viṣṇu, and never forget Him. All other prohibitions and recommendations are servitors of these two instructions."

Beyond the Translation: Learning the Language of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s Songs

Beyond the Translation: Learning the Language of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s Songs

The songs of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura are not just lyrics; they are glimpses into the bhajana of an eternally perfected topmost rūpānuga, revealing the moods in his sādhaka and siddha forms. But they can only be truly accessed when we approach them with honor, a mood of surrender, and through

BGD Week 2: Turning the Mind into a Friend

BGD Week 2: Turning the Mind into a Friend

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura ki jaya! Last week, we began our journey at the entrance to the path of bhakti: Śaraṇāgati (Surrender). On the platform of śaraṇāgati, wherein one embraces the Lord’s guardianship (goptṛtve varaṇam), one becomes strongly established in their relationship (sambandha) with the Lord. What comes next? Ideally,

BGD Week 1: Śaraṇāgati

BGD Week 1: Śaraṇāgati

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura ki jaya! Today we begin our journey through the songs of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. As we prepare to enter the flow (dhārā) of his songs (gīti), we must start at the very entrance: Śaraṇāgati, or complete surrender. Over the next five weeks, I will send out a

Our 5-Week Journey Through the Songs of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura

Our 5-Week Journey Through the Songs of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura

Hari Haribol! All Glories to Śrī Śrī Guru and Gaurāṅga! I am excited to announce that we are kicking off 2026 by restarting the daily Bhaktivinoda-gīti-dhārā program. I want to invite you to join us for five weeks—from January 1st until February 14th—as we dive into the ocean

A Long Overdue Update and Looking Ahead to the Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura Retreat

A Long Overdue Update and Looking Ahead to the Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura Retreat

It has been a long, long time since I’ve written here on Vine of Devotion, and I finally got a chance, so I wanted to share a little life update and my plans for the near future. For many months, I kept telling myself, “I just need to focus

Caturmāsya Begins—Planning Out Our Śikṣāṣṭaka Program

Caturmāsya Begins—Planning Out Our Śikṣāṣṭaka Program

Caturmāsya begins tomorrow—or, if you’re among those who start on Śayana Ekādaśī, then it’s already underway. Personally, I’ve found that unless I’m following a vrata with others, I struggle to keep it going. Since I’m kind of on my own this year, I’m