Like the Puranas, bhakti.today chronicles the pastimes of Vishnu bhaktas of ancient times and today’s diverse global Vaishnava community. Dedicated to glorifying all Vaishnavas and their valuable contributions, providing inspiration, education and news in a family-friendly environment that encourages learning, growth and harmony. Supported by the independent householder community, bhakti.today gives equal voice to all Vaishnavas, regardless of affiliation or ashram.
A place we can send any newcomers without hesitation, where they can learn, engage and experience the wonderful world of bhakti in the association of caring Vaishnavas, enlightening and nurturing each other.
As a decentralized self-publishing platform, you can share your personal, community or organizational stories, creative ideas and questions by posting them here in any of the many formats, including social media embeds. Help spread bliss and love to the worldwide bhakti community. Let’s make this a space where everyone, new or seasoned feels welcome, representing Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s pure teachings and the highest Vaishnava ideals.
Participate in discussions, take on Challenges to strengthen your bhakti and learn from other Vaishnavas who share their experiences and wisdom. Support contributors by earning and donating Punya with Quizzes, Quests, Games, and spread the glory of the Holy Name, by sharing posts on social media.
Register your free account and be part of the Bhakti revolution!
Bhakti means (Wiki: “attachment, participation, fondness for, homage, faith, love, devotion, worship, purity”) and never condemnation, vilification or bullying. While there are problems and disagreements in any community, every Vaishnava, regardless of flaws, deserves respect and kindness. Vaishnavas sometimes disagree on philosophical or practice issues, but respect and feel affection for all Vaishnavas, because in the heart of a Vaishnava, there is never room for hate or animosity. If we neglect how to honor, especially senior Vaishnavas, all our endeavors in Bhakti will be fruitless.
Why Bhakti.today?
Bhaktivinode Thakur had a dream to establish a daily newspaper that would promote the teachings of Vaishnavism and provide a forum for religious and social issues of the time. He launched the Bengali-language newspaper “Sajjana-tosani” (“The Pleasure of the Devotees”) that was published daily and covered a wide range of topics on religion and culture. It is still in circulation today in West Bengal.
To continue this dream for today’s global audience, Bhakti.today was created by the independent Grihasta community. However, members of all ashrams and groups are invited to contribute and create a global brotherhood and sisterhood of Vaishnavas across all nations and groups, as envisioned by Bhaktivinode Thakur here:
“Then as brothers, the people of all castes and countries will spontaneously chant the Holy Names of the Supreme Lord together. At that time, no one will hate anyone or consider others dog-eaters; nor will anyone be overwhelmed by the pride of high birth.”
What is Nama-Hatta – the Marketplace of the Holy Name?
In August of 1891 Bhaktivinode Thakura received approval for a two-year furlough. He wanted to preach the glories of the holy name for the benefit of humanity. His base for this preaching effort was Godruma-dvipa (Bengal – India), which the Thakura dubbed the Nama-hatta, ‘the market place of the Holy Name’.
In his lifetime the Thakura established over five-hundred Nama-hatta sangas (associations), and in his original Nama-hatta essay entitled, Sri Sri Godruma-kalpatavi, he describes the structure of the Nama-hatta. The spirit of his endeavor exactly matched the mood of Lord Nityananda, Who was personally ordered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to preach in Bengal.
Bhaktivinode Thakur on the Householder (Grihastha) ashram:
Only grihastha-bhaktas can possess material objects and utilize them without becoming attached to them. It is most appropriate for jivas in the age of Kali to become grihastha Vaisnavas, for then there is no fear of falling down.
Bhakti can also be developed fully from this position. Many Grihastha Vaisnavas are gurus who are well versed in the fundamental truths of the sastra. This is why the association of grihastha-bhaktas is particularly beneficial for the jivas. – Jaiva Dharma Ch 7
Srila Prabhupada on the Grihastha ashrama:
Generally brahmanas and sannyasis are very proud of their spiritual positions. Therefore, to cut down their false pride, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu preached Krishna consciousness through Ramananda Raya, who was neither a member of the renounced order nor a born brahmana. Indeed, Sri Ramananda Raya was a grhastha belonging to the sudra class, yet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arranged for him to be the master who taught Pradyumna Misra, a highly qualified brahmana born in a brahmana family. Even Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself, although belonging to the renounced order, took instruction from Sri Ramananda Raya. In this way Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu exhibited His opulence through Sri Ramananda Raya.
– CC Antya Lila 5.84 Purport
Insert Mahaprabhu art
Raising His arms, fair Lord Chaitanya declared to the entire world:
“Renouncing criticism of others, everyone please chant Lord Krishna’s name. I will personally deliver anyone who does not criticize others and who once chants ‘Krishna!’ That is the truth. It is the truth.”
– Chaitanya Bhagavata Madhya-khanda – 19.213-214
Lord Kṛṣṇa to Uddhava:
“One should see that because of the meeting of material nature and the living entity, the universe is acting uniformly. Thus one should neither praise nor criticize the characteristics or activities of others.”
– SB 11.28.1
Krishna Das Kaviraja:
Haridas Thakur always accepted the good qualities of Vaiṣṇavas and never found fault in them. He engaged his body, mind and words only to satisfy the Vaiṣṇavas.
Purport
It is a qualification of a Vaiṣṇava that he is adoṣa-darśī: he never sees others’ faults. Of course, every human being has both good qualities and faults. Therefore it is said, saj-janā guṇam icchanti doṣam icchanti pāmarāḥ: everyone has a combination of faults and glories. But a Vaiṣṇava, a sober man, accepts only a man’s glories and not his faults, for flies seek sores whereas honeybees seek honey. Haridāsa Paṇḍita never found fault with a Vaiṣṇava but considered only his good qualities.– CC Adi 8.62
Lord Kapila:
“Devotional service executed by a person who is envious, proud, violent and angry, and who is a separatist, is considered to be in the mode of darkness.”
– SB 3.29.8
Bhaktivinode Thakur:
“Gradually, when the offensive portions of the established religions are destroyed, there will be no more differences in the bhajana (worship) performed by the various Sampradayas (religious groups) nor any quarrel between them. Then as brothers, the people of all castes and countries will spontaneously chant the Holy Names of the Supreme Lord together. At that time, no one will hate anyone or consider others dog-eaters; nor will anyone be overwhelmed by the pride of high birth. The living entities will not forget the principle of natural brotherhood.”
Register your free account and be part of the Bhakti revolution!
