Sankalpa-Kaumudi, Sivarama Swami

Inspired by Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī’s Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta and the tireless effort of its central character, Gopa-kumāra, to perfect his devotional service, Saṅkalpa-kaumudī, «A Moonbeam on Determination», casts a unique light on four aspects of sādhana-bhakti that arise from the pages of Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta: saṅkalpa, the determination that enables progress through the stages of devotional service; ekāgratā, the careful attention needed for each successful saṅkalpa; bhāva-sevā, the underlying mood of a saṅkalpa corresponding to the mood of vraja-bhakti; and kṛpā, the divine grace by which practice finally transforms to ecstasy. Saṅkalpa-kaumudī is an attempt to elaborate on these four themes.

Extracting the philosophical essence from the writings of Śrīla Prabhupāda and the previous ācāryas, Śivarāma Swami brings together their teachings with a unique analysis of bhakti in a most practical and digestible style that everyone – from aspiring sādhakas to pure devotees – will find inspiring, revealing, and life-changing.

Based on the commentaries of Rupa Goswami, Sanatana Goswami, Jiva Goswami, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, Bhaktivinoda Thakur, Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur and Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.