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The following article appeared in issue number 15 of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, the free fortnightly email magazine from ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications.

Question: How can we have unalloyed devotion to our guru and also see the godbrother of our spiritual master as our spiritual master?

Gour Govinda Swami: We will offer the same respect to him as we pay to our spiritual master. But as Hanuman says, "Rama has occupied my heart":

ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications is pleased to announce the release of Sri Krishna Kathamrita magazine issue 6: "Vaishnava Aparadha, The Mad Elephant Offense." This long-awaited issue provides an in-depth look at this serious obstacle on the devotional path through stories from the lives of Sachi-mata, Devakinandan Das, Jahnava Devi, Srila Rupa Goswami, and Krishna-priya Thakurani; special artwork; and several never-before-seen translations. As in every issue of Sri Krishna Kathamrita magazine, one will find articles by Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode, Prabhupada Srila Saraswati Thakur, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and other previous acaryas, as well as articles by Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami and other contemporary Vaishnavas.

A few comments:

Srila Gour Govinda Swami, 
the Pride of ISKCON
By Nruhari dasa

Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja made his appearance as Braja Bandhu Manik in a Vaisnava family on 2nd September 1929. He appeared in the village of Jagannathapur, not far from Jagannath Puri Dham, in Orissa, India, but as his mother was descended from the Giri family of the village Gadeigiri, Braja Bandhu spent his childhood there. His grandfather was a paramahamsa whose only business was to chant Hare Krishna and cry before the local Deity of Krishna known as Gopal Jiu. He taught Braja Bandhu how to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra by counting on his fingers. In the company of his uncles, Braja Bandhu would travel from village to village chanting Hare Krishna and singing the songs of Narottam Das Thakur.

The Brahmachari 
and the Chaste Wife
Adapted from the Nrsimha Purana

The following story from the Nrsimha Purana appeared in issue number 11 of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, the free fortnightly email magazine from ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications. It illustrates the negative effects of pride as well as the power of a chaste lady.

There was once a righteous brahmana named Kasyapa. He had mastered all of the scriptures and was expert in explaining them. Disinclined to performing another's duty, he was daily absorbed in the worship of Lord Narasimha and was always engaged in performing yajna. Every morning and evening he would offer oblations into the sacred fire and he would always show proper hospitality to the brahmanas and guests at his residence.

His wife was named Savitri. She was a high-minded lady, was honored for her virtue, and led a spotless life in service to her husband. Due to her chastity and devotion she was endowed with the power of knowing things beyond the range of the senses.

Crooked Disciples
Told by Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami

Gour Govinda Swami

The following article appeared in issue number 10 of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, the free fortnightly email magazine from ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications.

Once a guru went to the house of one of his disciples. The disciple prepared nice food, and after the guru had eaten, the disciple wanted to show his guru-bhakti. In Ayurveda the haritaki fruit is recommended for good digestion, so the disciple came with haritaki for his guru. The guru said, "All right. Remove the unnecessary things and give me the necessary part."

That disciple was a speculator, a crooked person. He thought, "Oh, the outer portion of the haritaki is unnecessary and the inner portion is necessary." So he threw away the outer skin and gave the inner portion, the hard seed, to the guru. But with haritaki the outer skin is necessary and the inner portion is thrown away. That disciple did the opposite because he was a speculator— bharavahi, saragrahi nahin— he always accepted the unnecessary things that are not the essence.

ISKCON Gopaljiu Publications is pleased to announce the launching of Sri Krishna Kathamrta Bindu, a free bi-weekly email mini-magazine, published every ekadasi, dedicated exclusively to Krishna Katha.