This week is Gundicha Marjanam – a festival celebrated worldwide, commemorating the beautiful pastime where Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, in the role of a devotee, taught us how to truly welcome the Lord into our hearts.

In the Bhagavad-gita (18.61), Krishna assures us: 

“I reside in the heart of every living being.” 

Even when we turn away, He remains – our ever-present, ever-loving friend. And as Krishna teaches us in the Gita (18.54), those who truly recognize Him, naturally extend that same friendship to everyone they meet.

Lord Caitanya’s pastime of Gundicha-Marjanam reminds us that to welcome Krishna into our hearts means to acknowledge Him, please Him, and make our heart a place He is happy to reside. That is the place bhakti-yoga is meant to bring us to: where God – who is within our hearts forever – is pleased to be there!

Through the practice of bhakti-yoga, we gradually cleanse our heart of ego, selfishness and worldly desires. 

As Lord Caitanya beautifully expresses in the Śikṣāṣṭakam:  

“When the heart is clean, then the nature of the soul shines through” 

A spotless heart becomes a perfect mirror that reflects the light, love and beauty of Krishna Himself. 

This reflection awakens our innate natural love for Him – and opens us to the boundless joy of knowing we are infinitely loved by Him in return.