Hare Krishna, best wishes to all of you on Rukmini Dvadashi.

When Lord Shri Krishna is in His majestic form, he is called Dwarkadhish and Rukmini Devi is in the form of His internal potency. The appearance of that Rukmini Devi is celebrated as Rukmini Dvadashi in the Shukla Paksha of Vaishakh month. Rukmini Devi’s father was King Bhishmak of Vidarbha and her mother’s name was Sudhimati.

Though the Lord has many divine and sweet Leelas, but one of his divine Leelas is the episode of His marriage with Rukmini Devi, which has many teachings for us. Many saints and sages used to come to Maharaj Bhishmak’s court and narrate the stories and leelas of the Lord, which Rukmini Devi used to listen to from behind the curtain. She had never seen Shri Krishna directly. But she used to listen to Shri Krishna’s character with full concentration. If we also start listening about the Lord, then we can deliver our lives.

Thus, just by hearing this, Rukmini Devi decided to marry God, if not in this life then in the next life, but if I marry, then only Krishna. In this way, we should also make only Krishna the goal of our life. When the goal of our life is only Krishna, then he definitely comes and we do not need to doubt this. Further, Rukmini Devi wanted to surrender to God, but her elder brother Rukmi wanted to marry her to Shishupal due to his hatred for Krishna. So what should Rukmini Devi do, whom should she tell, then she wrote a letter to Shri Krishna. She gave it to a Brahmin and requested him to introduce Krishna to her.

What did Devi Rukmini write about Shri Krishna in her letter?

It was written in the letter that O Tribhuvan Sundar, your divine qualities enter the heart of all the listeners through their ears and quench the heat, sorrow, grief, pain of many births and the living beings who see Your divine beauty get full benefit i.e. the fruits of all the four Purusharthas. By hearing about You, my mind is leaving all shame and shyness and entering You. Thus, after telling the whole situation, Rukmini Devi requested Krishna to come and take her.

This teaches us that when we listen to the pastimes of God and his qualities with attention and intensity, then we should take shelter in the devotees of God and resolve all the doubts of our heart from them, as Rukmini Devi did. When Lord Shri Krishna heard Rukmini Devi’s letter from the Brahmin, He said that I will kill all the kings and bring Rukmini. In one night, Lord reached Vidarbha directly from Dwarka. When Sri Krishna met Rukmini Devi, he held her hand, made her sit in the chariot and he himself began to fight.

In this way Lord Sri Krishna conquered all the kings and brought Vidarbha princess Rukmini to Dwarka and married her according to the rituals. If there is such a strong desire to attain God in human life, then God is certainly found and the loving devotion of God begins by hearing about Him. So on this Rukmini Dvadashi, let us take shelter of Mother Rukmini Devi with all our heart and pray to her to attain God’s devotion and His love.

“Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare”

“Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”

Glories of Srimati Jahnava Devi – Nityananda Swarupini

1. Identity and Divine Role

Srimati Jahnava Devi is the eternal consort of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, who is the manifestation of Lord Balarama in Chaitanya Leela. In the spiritual text Shri Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika by Kavi Karnapur, Jahnava Devi is identified as Revati, the divine consort of Balarama in Krishna Leela, while her co-wife Vasudha Devi is described as Varuni. Jahnava Devi is affectionately addressed by devotees as “Maa Jahnava” and is revered as “Nityananda Swarupini,” signifying that she embodies the very energy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu.

2. Her Role After the Disappearance of the Pancha Tattva
After the divine departure of the Pancha Tattva – Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Acharya, Sri Gadadhar Pandit, and Sri Srivas Pandit – Srimati Jahnava Devi assumed a prominent role in the propagation of Krishna consciousness. With deep love and unwavering dedication, she preached the glories of the Holy Name and uplifted numerous fallen souls and non-believers, bringing them into the fold of Vaishnavism through her pure devotion.

3. Kheturi Festival: First Gaur Purnima Celebration
The first public celebration of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s appearance, now known as Gaur Purnima, took place in the village of Kheturi in present-day Bangal. This historic event occurred after the departure of the Pancha Tattva. During this festival, Srimati Jahnava Devi not only organized a massive Maha Hari Naam Sankirtan but also personally prepared and served prasad to thousands of Vaishnavas with her own hands. Witnessing this unparalleled level of devotion, it is said that both Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu manifested during the event, blessing all who were present.

4. Pilgrimage and Preaching Journey
After the Kheturi festival, Srimati Jahnava Devi undertook a sacred journey to various holy places with the intention of preaching and rejuvenating the sankirtan movement. Her first destination was Ambika Kalna, her maternal home. She then visited Sri Navadwip to take the blessings of Srimati Sachi Devi, the mother of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Continuing her journey, she again visited Kheturi and eventually moved to Vrindavan Dham, where she spent her time in divine remembrance and service.

5. Divine Vision of Shyamsundar
While residing in Vrindavan, Srimati Jahnava Devi experienced a divine vision while bathing in the sacred waters of the Yamuna. A dark-skinned hand gently held her garment, and upon looking, she saw it was none other than Lord Shyamsundar Himself. Lord Krishna revealed to her that she would find Him in the form of the Gopinath deity on the banks of the Ganga River. This mystical encounter further confirmed her intimate connection with the Lord.

6. Discovery of Gopinath Deity and Final Travels
Following the Lord’s divine instruction, Jahnava Mata resumed her journey. She traveled through Ekachakra Dham, the birthplace of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, and then reached Khardaha, the residence of her stepson Sri Veerbhadra. On the banks of the Ganga, in a village called Jirat in the Hooghly district of Bengal, she discovered the deity of Gopinath exactly as the Lord had promised. This sacred deity is still worshipped today and is cared for by the descendants of Ganga Devi, the daughter of Nityananda Prabhu.

7. Legacy and Worship
Srimati Jahnava Devi’s life remains a glowing example of divine service, humility, and empowered leadership in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. She played a crucial role in preserving and spreading the mission of Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda Prabhu. To this day, devotees seek her blessings to attain pure devotion, or shuddha bhakti, and consider her a motherly guide on the spiritual path. Her influence continues through sacred sites and the deity of Gopinath she unearthed, inspiring countless Vaishnavas across generations.

Conclusion

For those following the Gaudiya tradition, the life of Srimati Jahnava Devi remains a beacon of divine grace, humility, and empowered service. Remembering her glories is not only an offering of respect but a source of inspiration for anyone dedicated to the mission of Bhagavad Gita, Harinam Sankirtan, and the path of bhakti.

Also Learn – Mohini Ekadashi

The nine islands surrounded by Mother Ganga located in the Nadia district of Bengal are collectively known as Sri Navadvipa Dham, where Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared. The name of one of these nine islands is Jahnudvipa.

In the 13th chapter of Sri Navadwip Mahatmya by Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur, it is described that Sri Nityananda Prabhu, who is Sankarshan himself, tells here that the supreme ascetic Jahnu Muni performed penance in this island and received the darshan of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

The Story of Jahnu Muni & Mother Ganga – Why Ganga is Called Jahnavi

We all know that Mother Ganga takes away the sins of everyone and makes us free from sins. Once, Mother Ganga asks Shri Krishna that O Lord, in Kaliyug, sins will increase, then what will happen, in response to which Lord Shri Krishna says that in Kaliyug, sins will definitely increase and Mother Ganga will also have to wash the sins of the people, but when any pure Vaishnav takes a bath in Ganga ji, then Ganga ji will become more pure and will attain purity.

Conclusion

On this auspicious day, knowing Mother Ganga to be very dear to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the devotees offer respects and perform puja to Srimati Ganga devi to get her mercy and the mercy of Jahnu muni. In this way they may also be able to some day serve in the pastimes of Sri Gaurahari.

Hare Krishna. Every month, the Sun enters different zodiac signs. When it enters Aries, it is called Aries Sankranti and from here begins the Keshav month. That is, if someone worships Lord Madhusudan in this month, it is said that the person gets the fruits of worshiping God for the whole year. That is, for those who have not started Bhakti, this month is the best month to start Bhakti.

What to do is chant the holy name of lord, hear to the pastimes of God and especially install Lord Shaligram inside the Tulsi plant and hang an earthen pot or a brass pot on it and fill it with water which keeps falling drop by drop from 4 am to 9 pm and then fill the pot again the next day. In this way, the whole month in the summer areas where it is very hot and hot winds blow, special festival are done to provide pleasure to God, such as boat festival. Taking the Lordships around in a Boat, Chandan Yatra, Lord with sandalwood paste etc. to provide coolness to the body and also to serve the God by Jala Dana.

Why special Tulsi-Shaligram Jala Dana seva?

It is said that there was a story in Brahma Vaivarta Purana that there was a king named Dharamdhwaj who had a wife named Madhavi and they had a daughter who was named Vrinda. She was engrossed in penance since childhood and went to the Badrinath Ashram and did her penance. It is said that in summers she used to light a fire and sit around it and in winters she used to do penance by sitting in cold water. For the first 20,000 years she did penance by eating fruits. After that, she again did penance for 30000 years by eating leaves, after that for 40000 years she did penance by taking only air in her mouth and for the last 10000 years she did penance by standing on one leg without eating anything.

She did such a tough penance but what was her wish that Krishna should accept her as his wife or that she should get Krishna as her husband. So let us see that at the end of the penances when so many years had passed, Brahma ji came to her riding on his swan and said to ask for a boon. Then Vrinda told that I was one of the favorite gopis of Lord Krishna and Shrimati Radharani in Golok Dham whose name is Tulsi Gopi and I once tried to establish a very close relationship with Lord Krishna which Shrimati Radha Rani did not like and she said if you have so much desire then go and get a human body, do penance and get Shri Hari and Radha Rani sent me to this world, that is why I have done this penance. I want only one boon that I want to live with Lord Shri Hari as his wife. All these are called Leelas.

Leela Behind Tulsi Devi Marriage to the Demon Shankhchud

Due to Leela, Lord Krishna and Shrimati Radharani performed this type of pastimes. Brahma Ji gave her a mantra. She chanted it for 12 years and it is said that after that they were told that she will marry a person named Shankhchud or Jalandhar due to which she will get Shri Hari later. So with great joy she married Shankhchud i.e. Jalandhar who was a demon. He was a great ascetic. It is said that when he also did penance of Brahma Ji, he received a shield from Brahma Ji through penances which is called Krishna Kavach and there was so much power inside the shield that no one could cut it, even Krishna himself could not cut his shield.
After getting a very powerful armor, Shankhachud told Brahmaji that I am also a friend named Sudama in Golok Dham among the cowherd friends of Lord Krishna. I wanted to marry Tulsi, so Shrimati Radharani sent me to earth. Due to Leela, she said that you go down and get a human body and marry Tulsi. So this Shankhachuda got married to Tulsi and due to her chastity, no one could kill that Shankhachuda. Due to getting Krishna Kavach, he became more powerful than even the demigods. Lord Shiva was sent for him. The war between lord Shiva and Shankhachuda continued for a year but Shankhachuda could not defeat Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva could not defeat Shankhachuda.

Then Lord Shiva prayed to Lord Vishnu that you only do something Lord. God knew because all this was his Leela. Taking the form of a Brahmin, God went to Shankhchud and said, Shankhchud, I have come to ask for alms from you. He was a great lover of Brahmins. He was of demon nature but was a lover of Brahmins. He asked what do you want. And he asked for Krishna Kavach, which Shankhchud gave considering him to be a Brahmin. Lord Vishnu took his Kavach too and after acquiring his form, wearing it around his neck, Lord Vishnu reached his house to break the chastity of his wife Vrinda. When he went there and showed it to Vrinda, she was surprised to see, “Oh my husband has come, the war was going on for so many years, what happened, what was the result of the war, what were the results, Shankhchud says, sit down, sit down. He was Lord Vishnu only. Sit down, I will tell you everything now, Shivji went to his abode. Brahmaji explained to me that there is no need to fight, I have come.

As soon as He touched his wife Vrinda, she understood that you are not Shankhachud, who are you, come in your real form, you are a divine man, God showed his Narayan form, then Vrinda started crying and said what have you done, you have broken my chastity. He said there was only one way to kill Shankhachud. You were very devoted to your husband and due to your power Shankhachud was not being killed and it was your wish that you wanted to marry Me, then Vrinda understood and she sacrificed her life and God blessed her that this body of yours will be known as Gandaki river and your hair will be known as Tulsi tree and I will stay here in your Gandaki river as Shaligram rock.

Conclusion

So there is a worm called Vajrakit, which performs various types of arts inside the stones and presents several incarnations of God like Sudarshan Shaligram Shila, Gopal Shaligram Shila, Narasimha Shaligram Shila, many types of Shaligrams are found in the Gandaki river, so in this way people marry Tulsi and Shaligram, so Shaligram Jaldaan is done in this month. Tulsi Maharani is very purifying, it is said that the soil of Tulsi provides results like Vraj dust and the Shaligram Shila is God himself, if someone serves the Shaligram stone, then he has served Lord Krishna Himself. The stones of Shaligram Bhagwan do not require Pran Pratishtha, Vasudev who is the Jagatguru always resides inside it, so this is a very powerful month, serve Shaligram and Tulsi in this and get the blessings of the God and make your life blissful. 

Hare Krishna!

Fast opening time check here

The literal meaning of Sita is a plough. Mithila state was drought-ridden. When King Janaka was ploughing the field, he found one baby girl. He took care of her and raised her as his daughter. Because the mother of the entire world, Janaki, appeared from the earth when Janaka was ploughing the field, he named her ‘Sita’.

Mother Sita has 12 transcendental names –

मैथिली जानकीः सीता वैदेही जनकात्मजा | कृपापियूषजलधिः प्रियार्हा रामवल्लभा ||
सूनायाना सुता विर्यशुल्काअयोनी रसोद्भवा | द्वादशैतानि नमामि वाञ्छितार्थप्रदानि हि ||

Maithilī Jānakīḥ Sītā Vaidehī Janakātmajā |
Kṛpā-Piyūṣa-Jaladhiḥ Priyārhā Rāmavallabhā ||

Sūnāyānā Sutā Vīrya-śulkā-Ayonī Rasodbhavā |
Dvādaśaitāni Namāmi Vāñchitārtha-Pradāni Hi ||

(From Shri Janaki Charitamritam)

1. Maithili
2. Janaki
3. Sita
4. Vaidehi
5. Janakatmaja
6. Kripapiyushajaladhi
7. Priyarha
8. Ramavallabha
9. Sunayanasuta
10. Viryasulka
11. Ayoni
12. Rasodbhava

Mother Sita could effortlessly pick up Shiv Ji’s bow in her childhood, placed on an eight-wheeled cart that could only be picked up by 500 people together. The condition of her marriage was to put a string on the same bow. No one among big-big demigods, Gandharvas, demons, etc., could even move the bow an inch.

Lord Ramchandra not only put the string on the bow in a moment but also very sportingly broke the bow from the middle. Thus mother Sita was married to Lord Ramchandra.

After marriage, when Lord Ramchandra was exiled to live in the forest for 14 years, mother Sita considered it auspicious to go with the Lord. Sitaji, who had lived in comforts since childhood, accepted the harsh and challenging life of the forest graciously and, without a second thought, accompanied Lord Ramchandra Ji.

Ravana abducted Her from the forest, and several female demons tortured Her in Lanka. Even after that, She forgave them. She also had to undergo agnipariksha. She constantly faced challenges one after another. Mother Sita is the embodiment of sacrifice and dedication. The character of mother Sita portrays us as an ideal wife, a pious, dutiful woman with a forgiving, compassionate, and humble heart.  

Mother Sita has presented an example of a character that is exemplary for all of us. There was no reason for Her to grieve, but She certainly did it to educate us.

And the biggest lesson that Mother Sita Ji teaches us is this, just as the deer of gold attracted Her, She had to turn away from God. In the same way, we are also attracted to the golden deer of material desires. Thus, we leave God’s company and come into this world and struggle. We then have to pay the price for it throughout our lives, just as mother Sita had to pay in Lanka. So, as long as the living entities obey God’s will and His instructions, the living entities would remain happy, but when we separate from God and go against His will, then there would be the same problems as mother Sita had to face Lanka. 

We all have this human form of life, and if we don’t take advantage of this life, If we don’t serve God, then what to say? And for such people, scripture says that they are committing suicide. So that’s why we all should take shelter from the Lord’s internal potency on Sita Navami and make this human form of life victorious. 

According to the Vedic calendar, Akshaya Tritiya falls on the Tritiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the auspicious month of Vaishakha. In 2025, this sacred occasion begins on 29th April at 5:31 PM and continues until 30th April at 2:12 PM. As per Vedic tradition, the day is observed based on the sunrise tithi, and thus, this year Akshaya Tritiya will be celebrated on 30th April.

Akshaya Tritya is considered the most auspicious day to start any new activity. It appears on the third day of Shukla paksha of Vaishakh month. The third day of Akshaya Tritya is utsava tithi, which means it falls on the same day every year. This utsava tithi in the Hindu calendar corresponds with the third day of Shukla paksha, which begins at sunset of each lunar day. The date will be determined based on various factors, such as which Vedic deity is worshipped that night and whether any auspicious event occurred on that particular moonless night.

In the Hindu religion, Akshaya means that which is unlimited, unbroken. Therefore, this day is celebrated for eternal and permanent happiness, peace, and prosperity. Many great things happened on this day. For instance, 1500 years ago, Buddha was born in India, and he would later teach people about mindfulness and meditation and become known as the “Gautama Buddha.”

1.) Lord Parshuram Ji appeared on the day of Akshaya Tritya which is also known as Parshuram Jayanti. He is also known as Lord Krishna, and he is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Lord Keshav had a son named Sri Krishna, who became his 6th incarnation. Lord Parshuram was born to Queen Renuka and King Kushadhwaj, high-ranking devotees of Lord Vishnu.

kshatriya-rudhira-maye jagad-apagata-papam
snapayasi payasi samita-bhava-tapam
kesava dhrita-bhrigupati-rupa jaya jagadisa hare (Sri Dasavatara Stotra)

“0 Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who has assumed the form of Bhrigupati [Parasurama]! All glories to You! At Kurukshetra, You bathe the earth in the rivers of blood from the bodies of the demoniac Kshatriyas that You have slain. The world’s sins are washed away by You, and because of You, people are relieved from the blazing fire of material existence.”

2.) On Akshaya Tritya, Demigod Sun presented Akshaya Patra to Draupadi and Pandavas. This vessel was a divine vessel where Draupadi could prepare unlimited foodstuffs till she took prasadam.

However, it is essential to note that this vessel was not helpful on other days of the year, and on different days of the year, it would be filled with flowers and incense to cleanse it of its ill-gained impurities.

3- The Holy river Ganga appeared in this material world from the spiritual world on this day. First and foremost, the flow of the Ganga river was controlled by Lord Shiva on his matted hair, and then he released it on Gangotri.

Thus, mother Ganga and Gangotri Dham appeared on Akshaya Tritya.

4.) Akshaya Tritya is the day on which Lord Shri Krishna was welcomed back to Dwarka. Sudama, a close friend of Lord Shri Krishna, came to meet the Lord to secure his and his family’s future.

He presented the Lord with puffed rice, which he had received from friends from afar. The Lord was pleased to accept and consume those puffed rice. Thus the Lord gave him benediction for all his opulence.

5- On Akshaya Tritya, Lord Ganesha started writing Mahabharata, a great epic, under the supervision of Vedvyas Ji. Mahabharata is one of the important scriptures and contains Bhagavad Gita.

This tells the tale of a warrior prince named Arjuna who strives to win his throne from his wicked uncle. Vedavyas first wrote down this epic on this auspicious day.

6.) On the day of Akshaya Tritya, the day before the summer solstice and significant because it is the first day of Anant Chaturdashi, a new cart is built for Lord Jagannatha. This cart will be used in rath yatra.

In this tradition, Lord Jagannatha and His brother Lord Baladeva Ji are taken on a procession from Jagannatha temple to Gundicha temple every year. The construction for this cart starts on that day.

7- Shri Madhvendra Puri Ji is an Indian spiritual master who was in his late 20s when he began exploring the path of spirituality. At 27, he renounced the world and became a wandering ascetic for five years before settling at Jagannath Puri. Shri Madhvendra Puri Ji is regarded as a perfect model of devotion to Lord Krishna. He has been celebrated in religious texts from various Gaudiya Vaishnavism traditions and has influenced other religious figures like Sri Radha Krsna devotees and Hare Krishnas.

Madhvendra Puri is an Indian spiritual leader born in Mumbai and lived there until he was eight years old. He proceeded to Jagannath Puri to get some sandalwood, but on the way, he stopped in a small village named Remuna. In Remuna, there was a magnificent and divine temple of Lord Gopinatha Ji, famous for His mahaprasad. It was said that His mahaprasad Kheer, sweet rice, was just like nectar. 

Once, a pure-hearted devotee named Madhavendra Puri visited a temple where a special sweet rice dish (ksira) was being offered to Lord Gopinatha. Seeing the offering, he thought, “If I could taste it, I would learn how to make it and offer the same to Lord Gopala in Vrindavan.” But right after that thought, he felt deep regret. He had wished to taste the offering before it was given to the Lord — something he knew was not right.

Feeling sorry for his thought, Madhavendra Puri quietly left the temple, without speaking to anyone. His heart was full of repentance. That night, Lord Gopinatha appeared in a dream and told the priest to take the sweet rice to Madhavendra Puri. The Lord was pleased with his honesty and devotion.

This beautiful story teaches us two important things: First, true devotion means putting God before ourselves. And second, we should never delay doing the right thing — because waiting too long can take us away from our purpose.

Lord Gopinatha, or Krishna, is a prominent deity of Hinduism. He is also known as Gopinath, Govinda, and Keshava. He is a God of love and devotion who is considered the greatest avatar of Vishnu. In a dream that the temple priest had on that night, Lord Gopinatha instructed him to go to Madhavendra Puri and give him the pot of sweet rice which he had hidden under his garments. So the priest went to Madhavendra Puri, where Lord Gopinatha was so overwhelmed by ecstasy to learn everything from him that he continued his journey and reached Puri, collecting sandalwood and camphor.

Madhavendra Puri had gone on a pilgrimage to Haridwar, but he returned to Remuna on his way back. There, he had a dream in which the Gopala Deity at Vrindavan told him to grind the sandalwood into pulp, mix with camphor and apply it to the body of the Gopinatha Deity. Lord Gopala said that He was non-different from the Deity of Gopinatha. So Madhavendra Puri made all arrangements to carry out the order of Lord Gopala.

A tradition popularly known as Chandan yatra starts from the day of Akshaya Tritya and lasts for 21 days. Chandana-yatra celebrations, Chandana (sandalwood pulp) is applied to the Lord. It is considered very auspicious to start anything, and most people purchase gold on Ashaya Tritya. In Spiritual life, God’s name and His devotional loving service are priceless. That is why today, we should chant the names of God more and more or start chanting the names of God.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rāma Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma Hare Hare