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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.
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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.

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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

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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.

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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
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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.
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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.

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VVRS-WVA 2th Index | Intro | News | Publications | Committes | Calendar | Members | Picture Book | Links | Join
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