Celebrations
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Avirbhava Tithi
February 6, 2026
All Glories to Shree Shree Guru and Gauranga!!
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Avirbhava Tithi Celebrations
When: Friday, February 6th, 2026 @ 6:30 PM
Where: 4040 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30005
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, the guru of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, appeared in Sri Ksetra Dhama.(Jagannatha Puri) on 6 February 1874 as the son of Srila Sacidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura. In his childhood he quickly mastered the Vedas, memorized the Bhdgavad-gita, and relished his father's philosophical works. He became known as "The Living Encyclopedia" for his vast knowledge.
He preached convincingly against casteism and philosophical deviations from Gaudiya Vaisnavism. He tried to unite the four Vaisnava sampradayas by publishing their teachings. Srila Saraswati Thakura earned the title Nrisimha Guru for his fearless and powerful delivery of the Vaisnava siddhanta. Mayavadis would cross the street to avoid confronting the "lion guru." Besides being a courageous preacher, he was ornamented with all divine qualities and full of ecstatic love of God. He established 64 Gaudiya Math temples in India and centers in Burma, England, Germany.
Srila Saraswati Thakura excavated Lord Caitanya's appearance place at the Yogapitha in Sridhama Mayapur, despite heavy opposition from the money-hungry caste Goswamis of Navadvipa. He built a beautiful Gaudiya Math temple there.
His three "Brhat-mrdangas" (printing presses) in Madras, Calcutta, Krishna-nagara used to pump out books, magazines, and newspapers to spread the message of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu.
When asked why he printed a daily spiritual newspaper entitled Nadia Prakash, Srila Saraswati Thakura replied, "If an insignificant city can produce five daily newspapers, then why can't we publish a newspaper every 'Second about the eternal, ever-fresh transcendental activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His unlimited spiritual planet, Goloka Vrindavana?"
Apart from his father's writings, he published many authorized sastras: Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Caitanya Bhagavata, Caitanya Mangala, Prema-bhakti-candrika, and his favorite book Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. He predicted that foreigners would learn Bengali to relish the nectar left by Srila Krishna Dasa Kaviraja in the Caitanya-caritamrta.
He introduced many innovations to expand preaching. All over India he staged free theistic exhibits and dioramas depicting the pastimes of, Sri Krishna and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Employing the latest technology, he even had animated dolls. To commemorate the many holy places visited by Lord Caitanya he installed marble impressions of the Lord's lotus feet. Breaking tradition, he let his sannyasis wear tailored kurtas and overcoats, ride in cars and motor-boats, and carry Mahaprabhu's message across the sea to Europe.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati's revolutionary preaching ideas sprang from the sastrie principle of yukta-vairagya set forth by the rasa acarya, Srila Rupa Gosvami. Being an eternally liberated soul, Srila Saraswati Thakura knew how to perfectly engage Maya (the illusory energy) in the service of Lord Krishna.
Following Srila Thakura Bhaktivinoda's footsteps, he preached daivi varnashrama to harmonize society and provide spiritual fulfillment for all. Advocating the teachings of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswamis, he taught the science of devotional service, and showed thousands how to attain pure love for Sri-Sri Gandharvika-Giridhari (Radha-Krishna).
Aside from his phenomenal preaching success in India, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura's greatest. contribution was Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, whom he initiated and inspired to distribute Krishna consciousness all over the world. When Srila Prabhupada was asked to describe his spiritual master Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, he said, "What can I say? He was a Vaikuntha man."
In Radha-Govinda's eternal pastimes in Goloka Vrndavana, Srila Saraswati Thakura serves as Nayana-mani manjari. His pushpa samadhis are at Radha-kunda and Radha Damodara.
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Srila Param Gurudeva Tirobhav Tithi
February 8, 2026
All Glories to Shree Shree Guru and Gauranga!!
Srila Param Gurudeva Tirobhav Tithi Celebrations
When: Sunday, February 8th, 2026 @ 4:30 PM
Where: 4040 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30005
His Divine Grace Bhakti Shrirupa Bhagavat Maharaj (1906-1993), a disciple of His Divine Grace B.S. Saraswati Prabhupada. He was one of the greatest exponents of the Srimad Bhagavata Maha Purana and a connoisseur of the highest order in the field of loving devotion to Lord Sri Krishna.
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Gaura Purnima
March 3, 2026
All Glories to Shree Shree Guru and Gauranga!!
Gaura Purnima - Appearance of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Celebrations
When: Sunday, March 3th, 2026 @ 6:30 PM
Where: 4040 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30005
Significance of Gaura Purnima:
Gaura Purnima is the sacred appearance day of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Golden Avatar who descended in 1486 AD in Sridhama Mayapur, West Bengal. He is Krishna Himself in the mood and golden complexion of Srimati Radharani, appearing to spread the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and deliver pure love of God (prema) to every living being.
This festival marks one of the most important celebrations in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Mission
- To teach pure devotion (suddha-bhakti) through the chanting of the Holy Names
- To reveal the highest spiritual truth: Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- To distribute Krishna-prema freely, without discrimination
- To establish the yuga-dharma for Kali-yuga: sankirtana-yajna, the congregational chanting of the Lord’s Holy Names
- To taste the internal mood of Srimati Radharani’s love for Krishna
He inaugurated the Hare Krishna movement, which continues today through the disciplic succession.
Fasting & Spiritual Practice
- Devotees fast till moonrise
- Chant extra rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the most merciful incarnation, giving the highest spiritual gift through the simplest method. Even those with no qualification can be uplifted just by chanting:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
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