Spiritual Activities Under The Aegis Of The Gaudiya Mission

The life in the Maths is organized in the from of the household of the Supreme Lord, Who is worshipped in the form of Sound vibration, the Name and the Holy From of Sri Muti. The worship of Sri Murti is directly performed in and through inaudibly taking the Name as Mantra for ritualistic worship. It is preceded by audibly chanting the Name in congregation.

Life in Math

Those members who have renounced the world constitute the nucleus of the Missionary body being the resident inmates of the Maths that have been established in various parts of India and abroad. The Headquarter is situated at Sri Gaudiya Math at Baghbazar, Kolkata. A ‘Math' is a residential home for the training of the neophytes in spiritual living by the imposition of wholetime Missionary activities. Those in residence in the Maths also go out as the inherant preachers for diffusing the knowledge and practice of spiritual loving among the people at large. These wholetime servitors are the living Mission . There are thirty five institutions at present in different parts of India , with one in London under this Mission . Sri Gaudiya Math of Kolkata is at present the most widely known of these institutions, being the working headquarter and the registered office the Mission .

Spiritual Life in Math

The Spiritual life in the Maths consists of holding religious discourses on the Name, the publication of the religious books, pamphlets and journals, and talks to enquirers. The inmates of the Maths visit the people in the neighborhood giving discourses to the people in their homes and for collection of alms. The temple-worship of Sri Murti is performed in accordance with the rules of Satvata Pancharatra. The life of the inmates is that Brahmacharya. No woman member resides in the Maths. The inmates of the Maths are required to give up secular affairs and sex relationship.

DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES OF THE GAUDIYA MISSION

The Headquarters (Registered Office) of the Mission and the most important preaching centre is situated at Kolkata. There are at present about thirty five branches at important places all over India including the one at London . All the branches of Gaudiya Mission are centered on the spiritual activities to convey the transcendental message of peace rendered by the Vedic scripture. It comprises worshiping the deity of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna , Sankirtan (congregational singing of songs written by realized souls) and discourse on the teaching of Sriman Mahaprabhu.

The Mission also involve itself in different welfare activities to remove the suffering and sorrows for the people-in-need. Charitable dispensaries, Medical aid, Leper asylums, Old-age home etc. are some of the many activities of Mission to serve the society as a whole.

Educational Institutions – Paravidyapiths 

The Mission is also conducting an institution for imparting scriptural instructions. The paravidyapith at Sri Gaudiya Math in Kolkata is a teaching academy of the revealed scriptures.

Free Medical Aid Charitable Dispensary

Charitable hospital and dispensaries are maintained at Sri Gaudiya Math, Kolkata and some other branches of the Mission under the charge of qualified medical doctors and their assistans, all of whom are the members of the Mission . Special medical and sanitary arrangements are made on all ceremonial occasions for pilgrims and visitors with voluntary help of members and sympathisers belonging to the medical profession and by means of medicine, generously gifted by benevolent businessmen.

Gaudiya Mission is a religious, charitable organization established with a mission to practice and propagate the philosophy of ‘Bhagabat Dharma' as propounded by Sri Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The Mission engages in ameliorating the afflicted and strives to serve the ailing through its various missionary activities.

The Acharyas of the Mission have maintained the ‘Artashram' and provided spiritual succor to the inmates. Today, under the merciful tutelage of the present Acharya, His divine grace Srimad Bhakti Suhrid Paribrajak Maharaj, the Ashram serves a large number of people afflicted with leprosy.

The ‘Artashram' provides free shelter, Prasadam, clothing and medical assistance to the inmates. The inmates are also rendered spiritual guidance so that they may overcome the trauma caused by the disease and from social rejection.

We appeal to you to show compassion towards the suffering humanity. Rest assured your generosity would bring to you the mercy of the Supreme Lord.

Donation Scheme

How You can help the cows

The Mission spends Rs. Five Lakhs each year to maintain the cows in the Goshalas. Cows can be served and protected only if pious people actively support the cause by their kind gesture.

Sponsor Krishna 's cows and obtain His mercy!

Lord Krishna's love for Cows

Lord Krishna is called Gopala, the protector of cows. Srila Rupa Goswamipad describes His transcendental Form as a cowherd, covered with the dust raised by the hooves of cows. All the nine lakh cows in His father's cowshed received his personal attention and loving care. Thus , by his own example, Lord Krishna teaches the importance of caring for cows. He upholds these harmless and vulnerable animals as symbol of pure maternal love and hence their service.

Mission's contribution to cow welfare

In the Goshalas of the Mission, the cows are offered clean shelter are fed grass, fodder, vegetables, jaggery and prasadam of Lord Krishna. The shelters provide protection even during adverse conditions like heavy rains and floods. The cows live the entire duration of their lives peacefully. All their needs including general health and breeding are looked after with due care and affection.

Special attention is given to the comfort of the cows in the hot summer months. The calves drink milk from their mothers till they are fit and strong. The well cared for cows supply milk that is used in the service of deity and vaishnavas. They are always milked by hand. The Panca-gavya, five products of milk, yoghurt, ghee, cow dung and cow urine received from the cow are used in all ceremonies performed according to the Vedic traditions.

Old- Age Home

Different centers to give shelter for retired and old person are also maintained by the Mission providing them care and helping them to uplift themselves from material sorrows and limitations to plane of transcendence.

Aids to Victims of Natural Calamities

The saints travel long, risking their life, to stretch out their helping hands to reach the suffering people, victims of Natural calamities with foods, clothing and shelters and stands beside them to rehabilitate properly.

Festivals

The Gaudiya Vaishnava Calendar is full of festivals and the Mission observes them with reverence. However, out of these, appearance of Lord Sri Krishna in the month of Bhadra, (Krishna-astami) and appearance of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the month of Phalgun (Holi Purnima) are celebrated with all grandeur and sublimity. Nagar Sankirtan in the company of Sanyasis, Brahmacharis, Mathavasins and devotees is carried out singing devotional songs in glorification of the divine couple Sri Radha Krishna. At Kolkata the Sankirtan Mandali passes through the major parts of the city. Mahaprasad is also distributed among thousands of devotees including poor and the suffering.

During the celebration of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's appearance day, a seven day long Cricumbulation (Parikrama) round the nine dwipas of Sri Navadwip Dham is also taken out with devotional songs glorifying Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Sri Radha Krishna. Thousands of ardent devotees assemble at Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Gaudiya Math ; Godrum Dham (Swaroopganj). Kirtans together with recitals from Sri Bhagvatam are carried on in a highly devotional atmosphere. Thousands of Dhamvasis (residents of Nabadwips) get Mahaprasad during this occasion. The above festivals are celebrated in the various branch Maths also.

Apart from these two holy festivals, Lord Jagannth Snanjatra and Rathajatra at Sri Dham Puri, a month long Urjabrata Utsava at Vrindavan during the month of kartik, Ramnavami, twenty one day long Sri Chandanjatra mahotsava, Sri Annakut, Sri Govardhan puja, Sri Radha Asthami are being celebrated during the year in all the branches.

Ekadasis (the eleventh day during waning and waxing moon) are considered most auspicious days, Ekadasis and other days of fasting are observed with enhanced chanting and listening of the transcendental glories of the Lord. On these days devotee observe fasting from grains, beans and other selected vegetables. The day of the holy appearance of the president Acharya (Gurudeva) and the days of appearance and heavenly abode of the late Acharyas are also observed with all devotion and solemnity.

Other Performances

Apart from the above yearly devotional functions, the Mission organizes some philanthropic activities to help the poor and the down trodden viz. distribution of food & clothings to the poor & floodsticken, medicines to the population suffering from contaminated diseases. At Kurukshetra the Mission celebrates Sri Geeta Jayanti with great pomp and show. A food distribution Camp on the occasion of the Solar eclipse is also carried on. Warm clothes to the pores are distributed in cold places. All these activities are performed with full devotion to the Supreme Lord Sri Kishna.