Spiritual discourses given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram, a traditional Hindu temple, ashram, and seminary dedicated to the worship of the Divine Mother in Laguna Beach, California.
Discourse by Revered Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati given on 28 March 2026 at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram. Swamiji continues his series on the Principles of Bhakti Yoga, reading from the teachings of Narada Muni from the Srimad Bhagavatam, Skanda 51, Discourse 5 (translation by Swami Bhajanananda): 1.5.8 śrī-nārada uvāca bhavatānudita-prāyaḿ yaśo bhagavato 'malam yenaivāsau na tuṣyeta. manye tad darśanaḿ khilam Sri Narada said: "You have not praised the stainless glories of Bhagavan. This does not satisfy Him. I think such philosophy incomplete." 1.5.9 yathā dharmādayaś cārthā.…
Revered Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati continues his series on the Principles of Bhakti Yoga, reading from the teachings of Kapila Muni in the Srimad Bhagavatam, Skanda 3, Discourse 28 (translation by Swami Bhajanananda): 1. śrī-bhagavān uvācayogasya lakṣaṇaṁ vakṣyesabījasya nṛpātmajemano yenaiva vidhināprasannaṁ yāti sat-patham The Blessed Lord said:"O princess, I shall describe the authorized system of yoga, by the practice of which one’s mind becomes joyful and advances on the path of Truth." 2. sva-dharmācaraṇaṁ śaktyāvidharmāc ca nivartanamdaivāl labdhena santoṣaātmavic-caraṇārcanam…
Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati continues his series of discourses on the Principles of Bhakti Yoga, followed by arati and Ramnam Sankirtan. Swamiji expands on the pillars of dharma discussed in last week's class, focusing on truthfulness, compassion, desire, and company.
Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati continues his series of discourses on the Principles of Bhakti Yoga, followed by arati and kirtan. Swamiji expands on the pillars of dharma discussed in last week's class, and expands on tapasya (austerity/self-discipline); the Yamas & Niyamas; austerities of the body, speech, and mind; and truthfulness.
Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati begins a new series of discourses on the "Principles of Bhakti Yoga.", followed by arati and kirtan. This class focuses on a story in the Srimad Bhagavatam about the bull of dharma and the cow of Earth being attached by the demon Kali, the personification of the adharma of Kali Yuga. Swamiji reads and discusses chapters 17 and 18 of Skanda I, and then focuses on some important verse given below: ŚB 1.17.24राजोवाचतप: शौचं दया सत्यमिति पादा: कृते कृता: । अधर्मांशैस्त्रयो भग्ना: स्मयसङ्गमदैस्तव ॥ २४ ॥rājovācatapaḥ śaucaṁ dayā satyam iti pādāḥ kṛte kṛtāḥ…
Revered Swami Chetananandaji Maharaj shares rare reminisces of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi by Swami Ashitananda, Br. Pramesh Kumar, & Golap Ma. Pujya Swami Chetanananda is a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math & Mission and the Spiritual Head of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis.
Revered Swami Chetananandaji Maharaj shares rare reminisces of Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi by her direct disciples Swami Gaurishananda and Swami Haripriyananda. Pujya Swami Chetanananda is a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math & Mission and the Spiritual Head of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis.
Class by Rev. Dr. Mahant Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Book X, chapter 13, verses 6 - 8 of Srimad Bhagavatam given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 21 June 2025. Brahma said: तथापि भूमन् महिमागुणस्य ते विबोद्धुम् अर्हत्य् अमलान्तरात्मभिः | अविक्रियात् स्वानुभवाद् अरूपतो ह्य् अनन्यबोध्यात्मतया न चान्यथा || ६ || tathāpi bhūman mahimāguṇasya te viboddhum arhaty amalāntar-ātmabhiḥ | avikriyāt svānubhavād arūpato hy ananya-bodhyātmatayā na cānyathā || 6 || 6. "Nevertheless, Oh Infinite One (tathāpi bhūman), Your infinite nature beyond the gunas (mahimā aguṇasya te), changeless (avikriyāt),…
Class by Rev Dr. Mahant Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Book X of Srimad Bhagavatam given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 14 June 2025. Brahma said: ज्ञाने प्रयासम् उदपास्य नमन्त एव जीवन्ति सन्मुखरितां भवदीयवार्ताम् |स्थाने स्थिताह्̣ श्रुतिगतां तनुवाङ्मनोभिर्ये प्रायशोऽजित जितोऽप्य् असि तैस् त्रिलोक्याम् || ३ ||jñāne prayāsam udapāsya namanta evajjīvanti sanmukharitāṃ bhavadīyavārtām |sthāne sthitāḥ śrutigatāṃ tanuvāṅmanobhirye prāyaśo'jita jito'py asi tais trilokyām || 3 ||3. "Those who give up the path of knowledge (jñāne prayāsam udapāsya) and simple bow to You (namantaḥ eva),…
Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 2, verses 27-34, given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir via Zoom on 18 June 2025. The Goddess said: तस्मादाकाश उत्पन्नः शब्दतन्मात्ररूपकः |भवेत् स्पर्शात्मको वायुस्तेजोरूपात्मकं पुनः || २७ ||tasmādākāśa utpannaḥ śabda-tanmātra-rūpakaḥ |bhavet sparśātmako vāyus-tejo-rūpātmakaṃ punaḥ || 27 ||27. "Out of that primal substance arose ether, endowed with the subtle quality of sound. Then arose air, characterized by the quality of touch, followed by fire, characterized by visible form." जलं रसात्मकं…
Class by Rev Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Book X, Chapter 14 of Srimad Bhagavatam, given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 7 June 2025. श्रीब्रह्मोवाचनौमीद्̣य तेऽभ्रवपुस्̣ए तद्̣इदम्बराय गुञ्जावतम्́सपरिपिच्छलसन्मुखायवन्यस्रजे कवलवेत्रविस्̣आन्̣अवेन्̣उलक्स्̣मश्रिये म्र्̣दुपदे पशुपाńगजाय śrī-brahmovāca1. naumīḍya te 'bhra-vapuṣe taḍid-ambarāyaguñjāvataḿsa-paripiccha-lasan-mukhāyavanya-sraje kavala-vetra-viṣāṇa-veṇu-lakṣma-śriye mṛdu-pade paśu-pāńgajāya Sri Brahma said:"I worship You, the primordial Lord (naumi īḍya te), whose body is like a dark cloud (abhra vapuṣe); whose…
Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 2, verses 22-26, given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir via Zoom on 28 May 2025. स पुनः कामकर्मादियुक्तया स्रीयमायया | पूर्वानुभूतसंस्कारात् कालकर्मविपाकतः || २२ || sa punaḥ kāma-karmādi-yuktayā srīyamāyayā | pūrvānubhūta-saṃskārāt kāla-karma-vipākataḥ || 22 || 22. "This Self, however, by its own power of Maya conjoined with desires, actions, and the like, through the influence of prior experience ripening in time in accord with the law of karma, ..." अविवेकाच्च तत्त्वस्य सिसृक्षावान्…
Class by Rev Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Book X of Srimad Bhagavatam introducing the story of Brahma stealing the cows and cowherd boya given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 19 May 2025.
Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 2, verses 19-21, given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir via Zoom on 16 April 2025. अपरिच्छन्नताऽप्येवमत एव मता मम | तच्चज्ञानं नात्मधर्मो धर्मत्वे जडताऽत्मनः || १९ || aparicchannatā'pyevamata eva matā mama | taccajñānaṃ nātma-dharmo dharmatve jaḍatā'tmanaḥ || 19 || 19. "Therefore I am regarded truly as an undivided whole, and that consciousness is not an attribute of the Self, for then the Self would be like an object." ज्ञानस्य जडशेषत्वं म दृष्टं न च सम्भवै | चिद्धर्मत्वं तथा नास्ति…
Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 2, verse18, given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir via Zoom on 9 April 2025. मा न भूवं हि भूयासमिति प्रेमात्मनि स्थितम् |सर्वस्याऽन्यस्य मिथ्यात्वादसङ्गत्वं स्फुटं मम || १८ ||mā na bhūvaṃ hi bhūyāsamiti premātmani sthitam |sarvasyā'nyasya mithyātvādasaṅgatvaṃ sphuṭaṃ mama || 18 ||18. "The feeling "Let me not cease to be; let me exist forever," is rooted in love for the Self. Certainly there is no actual relations between me and all else, since all else is false."
Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 2, verses 15 through 17 given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir via Zoom on 2 April 2025. जाग्रत्स्वप्नसुषुप्त्यादौ दृश्यस्य व्यभिचारतः |संविदो व्यभिचारश्च नाऽनुभूतोऽस्ति कर्हिछित् || १५ ||jāgrat-svapna-suṣuptyādau dṛśyasya vyabhicārataḥ |saṃvido vyabhicāraśca nā'nubhūto'sti karhichit || 15 ||15. "The visible world appears and disappears constantly in the various states of waking, dream, and deep sleep." यदि तस्याऽप्यनुभवस्तर्ह्ययं येन साक्शिणा |अनुभूतः स एवाऽत्र शिष्टः संविद्वपुः पुरा || १६…
Discourse by Revered Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati, on names 340 through 344 of verses 42 of the "Thousand Names of Kali", given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 29 March 2025. ऋक्सामाथर्वनिलया रागिणी शोभनस्वरा |कलकण्ठी कम्बुकण्ठी वेणुवीणापरायणा || ४२ ||ṛk-sāmātharva-nilayā rāgiṇī śobhana-svarā |kala-kaṇṭhī kambu-kaṇṭhī veṇu-vīṇā-parāyaṇā || 42 || 340. रागिणी rāgiṇī341. शोभनस्वरा śobhana-svarā 342. कलकण्ठी kala-kaṇṭhī343. कम्बुकण्ठी kambu-kaṇṭhī344. वेणुवीणापरायणा veṇu-vīṇā-parāyaṇā
Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 2, verses 9 & 10 given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir via Zoom on 26 March 2025. एवं नानाविधानि स्युर्नामानि निगमादिषु |तस्या जडत्वं दृश्यत्वाज्ज्ञाननाशात् ततोऽसती ||११||evaṃ nānāvidhāni syurnāmāni nigamādiṣu |tasyā jaḍa-tvaṃ dṛśya-tvāj-jñāna-nāśāt tato'satī ||11||11. Such are its various names found in the Vedic and other sacred texts. Since Māya is something we can perceive, it has the nature of non-conscious matter; since knowledge destroys it, it is not truly existent. चैतन्यस्य न…
Discourse by Revered Swami Chetananandaji Mahara, senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math and spiritual head of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis, given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 25 January 2025.
Discourse by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati, on names 334 through 336 of verse 41 of the "Thousand Names of Kali", given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 15 March 2025. भीमा भयानका भीमनादिनी भीः प्रभावती |वागीश्वरी श्रीर्यमुना यज्ञकर्त्री यजुःप्रिया |४१| bhīmā bhayānakā bhīma-nādinī bhīḥ prabhāvatī |vāgīśvarī śrīr-yamunā yajña-kartrī yajuḥ-priyā |41| vāgīśvarī– She Who is the Supreme Ruler of All Vibrations |334 śrīḥ - She Who is Respect |335 yamunā– She Who Manifests Complete Control |336
Discourse by Revered Swami Chetananandaji Mahara, senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math and spiritual head of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis, given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 18 January 2025.
Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati, on names 320 through 325 of veres 40 of the "Thousand Names of Kali", given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 28 December 2024. सत्यवती धर्मनिष्ठा श्रेष्ठा निष्ठुरवादिनी । गरिष्ठा दुष्टसंहर्त्री विशिष्टा श्रेयसी घृणा ॥ ४०॥satyavatī dharma-niṣṭhā śreṣṭhā niṣṭhura-vādinī । gariṣṭhā duṣṭa-saṃhartrī viśiṣṭā śreyasī ghṛṇā ॥ 40॥ satyavatī |320dharma-niṣṭhā |321śreṣthā |322niṣṭhura-vādinī |323gariṣṭhā |324duṣa-saṁhartī |325viśiṣṭā |326
Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati, on names 314 through 319 of verese 39 of the "Thousand Names of Kali", given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 7 December 2024. चार्वङ्गी चञ्चला लोलजिह्वा चारुचरित्रिणी |त्रपा त्रपावती लज्जा विलज्जा ह्रीः रजोवती |३९|cārvaṅgī cañcalā lola-jihvā cāru-caritriṇī |trapā trapāvatī lajjā vilajjā hrīḥ rajovatī |39| 314. trapā315. trapāvatī316.lajjā317. vilajjā318. hrīḥ319. rajovatī
Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Swami Chetananandaji Maharaj, senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math and spiritual head of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis, given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 17 February 2024.
Discourse by Pujya (Revered) Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati, on names 293 and 294 from verse 37 of the "Thousand Names of Kali", given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 18 May 2023. 293. siddhidā 294. siddhā सर्वेश्वरी सर्वमाता शर्वाणी हरवल्लभा | सर्वज्ञा सिद्धिदा सिद्धा भव्या भाव्या भयापहा || ३७ || sarveśvarī sarva-mātā śarvāṇī hara-vallabhā | sarva-jñā siddhidā siddhā bhavyā bhāvyā bhayāpahā || 37 ||
About Kali Mandir Satsang
Spiritual discourses given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram, a traditional Hindu temple, ashram, and seminary dedicated to the worship of the Divine Mother in Laguna Beach, California.
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