VVRS-WVA
Introduction
Founded by 33 Sannyasis and members of 19 Vaisnava missions
in Vrindavan on 18 November, 1994 with the first President Param Pujyapad
Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Maharaj, the World Vaisnava Association creates
a common ground for all Vaisnava Missions to share their services.
All Vaisnavas
belong to one family, belong to the same tree of Lord Caitanya.
Srila Rupa Goswami's vision
to use everything of this world in the service of The Supreme Personality
of Godhead Sri Krishna is the inspiration to provide all the Vaisnavas
in this world with a place to communicate. In this spirit the World Vaisnava
Association has established this presence on the Internet. This will also
provide millions of Internet users access to the literature and diversity
of the Vaisnava world.
This Homepage is a link to all
Vaisnava related topics and resources. Sanatan Dharma is the eternal duty
of the soul, so everyone is welcome in the search for this world of transcendental
realities. Vaisnavas, Bhakti Yoga, Hare Krishna, Hinduism, Acaryas, OM,
Gaudiya, Prema, Vegetarianism, Karma, Reincarnation, and Meditation.
Back to top
VVRS-WVA Bio- Data
PURPOSE #1: to continue
the spirit of Srila Jiva Goswami of the VISVA VAISHNAVA-RAJ SABHA.
PURPOSE #2: to glorify
the Supreme Lord and all Vaisnava Acaryas in the light of their contributions
to the Sampradaya.
FIRST PRESIDENT: Pujyapada Srila
Bhakti Promode Puri Mj.
IDEAL: To enable Vaisnavas from
all over the world to communicate with each other. The VVRS-WVA is not
another Branch or Mission of the Sampradaya. The VVRS-WVA will neither
open temples nor promote any particular Acarya.
MEETINGS: Every year the
VVRS-WVA organizes two International meetings:
1. The day before Gaura-Purnima in Mayapur
2. Ram Ekadasi in Vrndavan
We encourage our memebers to hold local VVRS-WVA Chapter meetings in their
respective regions all over the world.
PUBLICATIONS:
VVRS-WVA Newsletter every International Meeting.
MEMBERS:
All those who follow the Gaudiya Vaisnava Siddhanta and appreciate
a joint forum to increase Lord Chaitanya's blessings for the world by
sharing their Sanga and preaching accomplishments with other members.
PROJECTS:
The VVRS-WVA has organized a permanent Vaisnava Mela on the INTERNET to
inform all members and the world about different Vaisnavas and their services.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
VVRS-WVA office, Gopeshwara Road 146, Vrndavana, District MAthura, UP,
India.
The History of the VVRS-WVA
Many times in the history of mankind, Vaisnavas have
organized meetings in order to increase their association and to serve
the world. We daily read in the Srimad Bhagavatam of the great meeting
in Naimisaranya to counteract the age of Kali.
The VVRS-WVA
All Vaisnavas belong to a big wonderful family. In the
past we had not been able to communicate much with each other amongst
the Vaisnava Acaryas, their mission and projects. Geographical distances
and a lack of contacts or any joint Forum limited us to only meet here
and there amongst some godbrothers and friends. In the vedic times no
doubt meetings were held and the fame of certain wonderful contributions
to the Vaisnava world spread all around by the spoken word or holy writings.
The Supreme Lord
and his expansions
Krishna is the Lord of Gokula, Rama the Lord of Ayodhya,
Narayana the Lord of Vaikuntha and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who came as
a renunciate to spread his Samkirtan movement in this age of Kali, all
are different aspects of the one Supreme Lord.
Founding Members (30)
Srila Bhaktivedanta
Trivikrama Maharaja
Sripad Govinda Maharaj (Nandagram)
Sripad Bharati Maharaj (Nandagram)
Sripad Mangal Maharaja (Calcutta)
Sripad B.V. Visnu Maharaj (Vrindavan, Puri)
Sripad Madhava Maharaj (Vrindavan, Gurukul Road)
Srila Bhakti Sadhak Sagar Maharaj
Sripad B. B. Bodayan Maharaj (Mayapur)
Sripad B. Vamana Maharaja (Mayapur)
Sripad B. K. Harijan Maharaj (Mayapur)
Srila Bhakti Surit Akinchana Maharaj
Sripad Bhakti Nandan Swami Maharaja
Sripad B. S. Sroti Maharaj (Nandagram)
Sripad B. Prabhav Mahavir Maharaja(delhi)
Sripad B. Svarup Tirtha Maharaj (Burdwan)
Sriman Bhagavad das (Vrindavan)
Srila Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa
Sripad B.V.
Tripurari Svami (Eugene, USA)
Sripad Narasingha Maharaj (Vrindavan)
Sripad B.S. Visnu Maharaj (Vrindavan)
Sripad Atulananda das (Chile)
Sripad B.A. Paramadvaiti Maharaj (Vrindavan)
Sriman Krsnananda das (Hungary)
Sripad B.K. Tirtha Svami (Hungary)
Sripad Turiya das. (Hawaii)
Sripad B.S. Damodar Maharaj (Manipur)
Sripad Santo Maharaj (Behalar)
Sripad Bhakti Saranga Maharaj (Hawaii)
Sripada Govindanandana Das (mayapur)
Sriman Bhaktisiddha das (Vrindavan)
Sriman Ramdas das (San Francisco)
Sriman Srinivas das (Hawaii)
Sripad B. P. Madhusudana Maharaja (Mayapur)
Sripad KhirodakasayeeVishnu
Maharaja (Vrindavan)
Sriman Anath Bandu das (Delhi)
Sripad Vaisnava Maharaj (Germany)
Sripad Hrishikesh Maharaj (Columbia)
Sriman Ramesh das (Costa Rica)
The Managing Committee
The managing committee
could appoint representatives of the VVRS-WVA to coordinate with other
organizations like the United Nations any facilities to contribute Vaisnava
Wisdom to the world. Such representatives can exist to represent Vaisnava
interests in many fields, such as:
- International Vaisnava Relief
Efforts
- International Vaisnava Education Efforts
- Vaisnava Culture and Art Groups
- Vaisnava Holy Places Restoration Groups
- Vaisnava Scientific Research Groups
- Vaisnava Ecomenic Exchange With Others Religions
- Vaisnava Contacts with Secular Organizations
The managing committee
for the next 5 years
President:
Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha
Maharaj from Sri Chaitanya
Gaudiya Math.
Administrative Secretary:
Sri Acarya Prabhu, disciple of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada and leader of the Chaitanya Mission in the Philippines
for 25 years..
Publisher, Editor:
Sri Ramdas das from Gopinath Gaudiya Math and Sripad B.P. Hrishikesh Maharaj
as Coordinator of Publications.
Treasurer:
Sripad B.V. Ksirodakasayee Visnu Maharaj of the Bhaktivedanta Ashram Vrindavan.
Accountant
Press Secretary:
Sripad Syamasundara das of Chaitanya Mission
General Secretary for India:
Sripad Bhakti Prasun Puri Maharaj of Chaitanya Math
Function and Event Secretary:
Sripad Bhakti Prakash Mahavir Maharaj Haribol Mission
Trustees:
- Sripad Bhakti Kamal Tirtha Maharaj Hungarian Vaisnava Association.
- Sripad Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayanan Maharaj of Gopinath Gaudiya Math
- Sripad Bhakti Vicar Visnu Maharaj of Sri Krishna Chaitanya mission.
- Sripad Bhaktivedanta Vaisnava Maharaj of Vrinda Ecuador.
- Sri Bhakta das of Thailand
Members
of the following missions participated in The Foundation meeting
Chaitanya Math
Gaudiya Vaisnava Society
Sri Chaitanya Math
ISEV
ISKCON
Gaudiya Sangha
Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math
Vedanta Samiti
Sri Caitanya Bhakti Gemeinschaft
VRINDA
Bhaktivedanta Ashram
Hungarian Vaisnava Association
Sri Sri Radha Govindaji Trust
Gaudiya Mission
Bhaktivedanta Institute
Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mission
Gopinath Gaudiya Math
Mantra Meditation Hawaii
Rules of membership
Every member should
give recognition to five transcendental revelations the Lord chooses to
bless the world:
a. The Holy Name of the Lord (Samkirtan)
b. The Holy Scriptures and their regular study (Sastras)
c. The Holy Deities of the Lord (Arca Vigraha)
d. The Holy Places of the Lords pastimes (Dhamas)
e. The Holy Devotees of the Supreme Lord (Bhakta)
Members can be:
1. Acaryas and their disciples.
2. Preaching projects with their leader and members.
3. Individual Vaisnavas anywhere in the world.
4. Any institution or business which is exclusively dedicated to the Lord's
service.
The Rules of VVRS-WVA
The VVRS-WVA DOES NOT PROVIDE
ANY INDIVIDUAL GURU-DISCIPLE RELATIONSHIPS of any kind. The individual
spiritual connection of all members must be outside of the VVRS-WVA. But if
with the blessings of his spiritual master, someone wants to voluntary
cooperate with the VVRS-WVA anywhere in the world, that would be highly welcomed.
The Vaisnava Council
The Vaisnava Council
of the VVRS-WVA is a unique Vaisnava Network using our modern world to
create a net of selfless dedicated servants of God and mankind to help
others on the spiritual path. Every ashram or Vaisnava community could
have one or more members on the Vaisnava Council.
Back to top
|
 |
 |
 |
WVA GENERAL
INFO
WVA
Present President
WVA Previous Presidents
WVA Last News on VINA
WVA
Report 2001
WVA Reports 1998
WVA members, WVA volunteers
Meeting places
WVA First Newsletter 95
WVA Second Newsletter 96
WVA Magazine
WVA Food for thought
WVA Meeting report 1995
WVA Next meeting
WVA picture book
WVA Official Contacts
Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura
On
the nature of sectarianism from the introduction to the Sri Krsna
Samhita
Thinking
about the virtues and faults of this world
Thinking
about the virtues and faults of this world, some moralistic monotheists
concluded that this material world is not a place of unalloyed pleasures.
Indeed, the sufferings outweigh the pleasures. They decided that
the material world is a prison to punish the living entities. If
there is punishment, then there must be a crime. If there were no
crime, then why would there be any punishmen 
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura
We avail of the opportunity offered by the Anniversary Celebrations
of the advent of Thakur Bhaktivinode to reflect on the right method
of obtaining those benefits that have been made accessible to humanity
by the grace of this great devotee of Krishna. Thakur Bhaktivinode
has been specifically kind to those unfortunate persons who are
engrossed in mental speculation of all kinds.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura
Those who are unwilling to show any duplicity, wish to be frank
and straightforward, or in other words to exercise unambigiously
the function of the soul, such really sincere persons are called
sectarian and orthodox by those who practice duplicity. We will
cultivate the society only of those who are straightforward. We
will not keep company with any person who is not so. We must by
all means avoid bad company. We are advised to keep at a distance
of a hundred cubits from animals of the horned species. We should
observe the same caution in regard to all insincere persons.
Sri Krishna
Sankirtan worldwide preaching of the followers of Sarasvati Thakur
"It is the duty of everyone who has the great fortune to take
birth in Bharat ( India ) to preach the glories of Sri Guru & Gauranga
to every one in the world. This is the ultimate altruistic act that
is beneficial for everyone "
Organized
Church
from the Harmonist by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.
A.C.Bhaktivedanta
Swami about Unity in diversity
The
materialist without being able to adjust the varieties and the disagreements
makes everything zero. They cannot come into agreement with varieties,
but if we keep Krsna in the center, then there will be agreement
in varieties. This is called unity in diversity. I am therefore
suggesting that all our men meet in Mayapur every year during the
birth anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. With all GBC and
senior men present we should discuss how to make unity in diversity.
But, if we fight on account of diversity, then it is simply the
material platform. Please try to maintain the philosophy of unity
in diversity. That will make our movement successful.
Vaisnava
Unity - Traditional and Avant-Guard
We are approaching the end of the century and the beginning of the
third millennium. Lord Chaitanya predicted that the chanting of
the holy names of Krishna will reach every corner of the world.
Interview
VVRS-WVA interviewed Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaj, one
of the founding members of the VVRS-WVA,
in Costa Rica, Central America
Back
to top
Vaisnava Acaryas
Acaryas of the
past
Sripada
Nimbarka
Sripada Vishnuswami
Sripada
Ramanujacarya
Sripada Madhvacarya
Sri
Jaya Tirtha
Sri
Purusottama
Sri Vyaasa
Tiirtha
Srila
Jayadeva Goswami
Sri
Madhavendra puri
Sri
Ishvara Puri
Sri
Nityananda Prabhu
Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Srila
Rupa Goswami
Srila
Rupa and Srila Sanatana Goswamis
Srila
Sanatana Goswami
Srila
Jiva Goswami
Sri
Gopala Bhatta Goswami
Sri
Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami
Sri
Gadadhara dasa Thakura
Sri Syamananda
Prabhu
Sri
Sita Thakurani
Srila
Bhugarbha Goswami
Sri
Gopala Guru
Sri
Abhirama Gopala Thakura
Sri
Birchandra Prabhu
Sri
Kaliya Krishna Dasa Thakura
Sri
Devananda Pandita
Sri
Gangamata Goswamini
Sri
Narahari Sarakara Thakura
Srila
Locana dasa Thakura
Srila
Lokanatha Dasa Goswami
Srila
Narottama dasa Thakura
Srila Visvanatha
Cakravarti Thakura
Srila
Baladeva Vidyabhusana
Srila
Jagannatha Das Babaji Maharaja
Srila
Bhaktivinode Thakura
Srila Bhakti Pradip
Tirtha Goswami Maharaja
Srila Gaura Kisora
das Babaji Maharaja
Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur
(Godbrothers
in alphabetical order)
Srila
Bhakti Avadhuta Maharaja
Srila Bhakti
Dayita Madhava Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Hridoy
Bon Maharaja
Srila Bhakti K. Tapasvi Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Keval
Audulomi
Srila Bhakti Kusum
Sraman Maharaja
Srila
Bhakti Prajna Kesava Maharaja
Srila Bhakti
Promode Puri Maharaja
Srila
Bhakti Raksak Sridhara Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Saranga
Goswami Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Srirup
Bhagavat Maharaja
Srila
Bhakti Vedanta Swami Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Vicar
Yajavara Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Vilas
Tirtha Maharaja
Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja
Srila B.A.Narayan
Maharaja (1954-1993)
Acaryas of the
present
Srila
Bhakti Bhusan Bhagavat Maharaja
Srila Bhakti
Sagar Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Sata
Govinda Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Vaibhav
Puri Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Vaibhav
Giri Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Vaibhav
Sagar Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Vedanta
Vamana Gosvami Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Ballabh
Tirtha Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Prasun
Puri Maharaja
Srila
Bhakti Gaurava Narasingha Maharaja
Srila
Bhakti Kamal Tirtha Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Vedanta
Narayana Maharaja
Srila Bhakti
Vedanta Tripurari Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Vistar
Visnu Maharaja
Srila
Atulananda Acarya
Srila Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa
Sripad
B. B. Vishnu Maharaja
Srila B.A.Paramadvaiti Maharaja
Srila
Krsnananda Acarya Prabhu
Srila Turiya das Acarya.
Back
to top
The role of
Sripada Shankaracarya
VVRS-WVA
Letters
Morphological
Manifestation?
The idea of the VVRS-WVA comes from Srila Rupa and Sanatan Goswami
and was brought into formal existence by none other then Srila Jiva
Goswami. It has served as a good common platform for the pluralistic
manifestation of Sri Guru in many moments of Vaisnava history. Even
in the times when these great souls were living in Vrindavan with
their respective disciples, they still embodied the spirit of unity
in diversity.
Letter to
VVRS-WVA Founding Member
A Vaisnava forum without a particular acarya who dominates all activities
is the only forum the western world would accept to give credibility
to our whole sampradaya.
Statement
Regarding Hindu Affiliation
The Religion
of Unity in Diversity, Gaudiya Vaisnavism cannot be justly defined
or completely explained by a word like Hindu or Yoga. Vedic Culture
is a living tradition, with numerous students, teachers and institutions,
manifesting all over the world.
The Rule
of Love
Vaisnavism is no doubt accompanied by so many laws and rules. The
Vedas, Hari Bhakti Vilas and Vaisnava etiquette are full of them.
But in the Vaisnava life we see also that rules and laws are to
be broken again and again by the overpowering influence of the Vaisnava
love and generosity. There are innumerable examples to proof this
point. The voluntary nature of Vaisnava missions, what to speak
of such a body as the Visva Vaisnava Raj Sabha or the Sarasvat Gaudiya
Sammelan, do not drive on rules, but only on Sadhu Sanga, nama kirtan
and Love. 
Links
to Vaisnavas Sites
VVRS-WVA Internet Assistant and Services
Vaisnava calendar of Ekadasis
Ideas of present or future VVRS-WVA net
projects
Advertise Vaisnava
Services
Back
to top
|
SRI SRI GURU GAURANGA JAYATAH
Why
do we need a World Vaisnava Association?
As Century 21 approaches, it is
a very happy reality that many Vaisnava Acaryas, sannyasis and other devotees
have come forward making an unified effort to revive the true spirit of
the Visva-Vaisnav-Raj-Sabha (World Vaisnava Association).
Let us dwell for a moment on the many advantages such an association has
to offer to all of us. After careful consideration, we will realize that
the Association envisioned by Srila Jiva Goswami and our founding fathers
is actually a necessity from many angles of vision. We cannot really go
on well without it. Here are a few points to highlight this thesis.
VVRS-WVA
goals and expectations
We must all try to fulfill the
prediction of Sriman Mahaprabhu, which is, that His Holy Name will
be chanted in every town and village throughout the world...
How can
we reach every town and village with Mahaprabhu's message?
In order that the
prophecy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu be fulfilled we need an Army of
pure preachers. If we desire that the Holy Name be chanted everywhere,
we will need countless Gurus guiding countless disciples in their spiritual
life. All of them will regard their Gurus as transparent, capable representatives
of our Guru-Sastra-Sadhu principle. Since we may never offend a Vaisnava
without spoiling our own spiritual life, we have to adjust our darshan-vision
to allow for neighboring temples, Gurus and disciples...
Intramission
and intermission disputes
The VVRS-WVA will not interfere
with the internal affairs of its affiliated missions nor with conflicts
arising between those missions.This is not the purpose of VVRS-WVA...
The
gaudiya Vaisnavas and other vaisnava groups
At this point it may almost sound
ridiculous to invite other sampradayas to join the VVRS-WVA because
our own Brahma-Gaudiya Sampradaya's growth is recent, mostly
after Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur, whereas some of the other sampradaya
traditions are older, though not as widespread...
The heart
of the Vaisnavas
My spiritual master founded his own Vaisnava mission called ISKCON.
One astrologer in Navadvipa predicted upon seeing his photograph and
handwriting:
"This man can build a house in which the whole world can live peacefully."
At that time, many of his disciples thought that his institution was
that house in which the whole world could find shelter...
United
we stand, divided we loose strength
Since there are distinct differences
between the teachings of the Acaryas, we can only go as far as to apply
the same philosophy which our Supreme Lord and Savior in the present
age has given to us. Inconceivably, simultaneously one and different.
Unity, no doubt is there in our theistic world view, and difference
is there in the variety of divine plans of the one Supreme Lord...
The VVRS-WVA:
promoting love and tolerance
The doctrine of universal love must therefore stand opposed to all
sectarian ideas. A sectarian missionary preaching universal love is
but a great inconsistency. Bhaktivinode Thakur in the Hindu Idols Jan.
1899...
The
identity of a Vaisnava
The sacred relationship
of the Guru with his disciple is the lifeline of all Sampradayas. That
should not be intruded upon. It is complex, because there is the Guru
as the inspired representative of Krishna, the Guru as the servant of
his Guru, the godbrother of his godbrothers and then there's the personal
aspect of his Vaisnava life...
Practical
services of the VVRS-WVA today
Even though the VVRS-WVA does not provide any Guru-disciple relationships
in it's structure, still there are many opportunities to participate
in the preaching of Mahaprabhu's movement, for those who have not yet
found their permanent preaching service after the disappearance of their
Diksa or Siksa Guru...
The holy
places must be protected
Holy places and festivals play an essential role in every Acarya's
mission. Generally he will reunite his Vaisnava Group on holy days such
as Janmastami, Gaura-Purnima etc., after they have been out preaching
and serving worldwide. That meeting becomes the renewed spiritual charge,
the happy festival to look forward to, to see dear friends, and to hear
from outstanding performers in the service world...
Promoting
vaisnava relief work
This proposed goal of the VVRS-WVA is very broad and general. It
gives us the chance to penetrate the world with Vaisnava creativity
in all fields like art, business, communications, sciences etc...
The
dignity of our preceptorial line
Our Acaryas have brought
us divine love. Their dignity can only be detected fully in a Vaisnava
World with the Unity in Diversity characteristic the VVRS-WVA can provide...
The Best Of Vaisnavism
The World Vaisnava Association
Visva Vaisnava Raj Sabha Announcing:
The
Audarya Award
Audarya means the highest magnanimity
for the fallen souls. This is the spirit of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as
expressed by Srila Rupa Goswami. This name was chosen for the Audarya
awards since the main consideration for the choice of the winners will
be the effecting of the contribution to help uplift the fallen souls from
the kingdom of Maya.
Back to top
URGENT
Vrindavan Dhama SEVA Message to
all Brijbasis and visitors to Sri Vrindavan Dham and the Braja Mandal
Cleaning
the Dham
No more plastic should be used as much as possible. Do not accept plastic
bags in shops. Everyone should pick up plastic if he sees it lying around.
Vrindavan
Dham Preservation Committee
Field of activities: - collect funds and other help for preservation of
the holy sites - send representatives to active organisations who work
and control Vrindavan development
India: Vrindavan
Conservation Project
The sacred Yamuna River is now
five per cent water and 95 per cent dirt," laments Banwari Lal Pathak,
one of Vrindavan's leading senior statesmen. "People take sacred baths
in the river, but how sacred can a bath be if the water is filthy? Vrindavan's
pollution and loss of trees are terrible omens."
A Letter About
Plastic
In
my recent visit to Sri Vrindavan Dham it came to my notice that a great
danger is approaching us. The danger is the decay of Gaudiya Math standards
of sattvic recycling material for distribution of Prasadam during Mahotsavas
and Prasadam distribution.
Breakthrough
in Vrindavana
Since the days of Srila
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada bringing his western followers to
Vrindavana 40 years have passed. Srila Prabhupada requested all of his
disciples in those early days to do Braja Seva, service to the Holy Abode
of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.
Back to top
|