The Voice of Sri Chaitanyadev (2)

© 1994 Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math
All rights reserved by the Successor President-Acharya

Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip, West Bengal, India

Compiled by Sripad Bhakti Ananda Sagar Maharaj and published on 21 August 1994, this book contains discourses of Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj and many photographs commemorating His Divine Grace’s worldwide preaching activities. Many of the photographs were not included in this electronic version but can be viewed and downloaded in the PDF version of the book.

This electronic version is prepared in 2025 as part of service to His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj.

Web address: www.scsmathinternational.com

Email: info@scsmathinternational.com

CONTENTS

Publisher’s Note

Introduction

Our Fortunate Association

Awakening Our Hearts to Eternal Joy

Transcendental Chronicle

The Logo of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math’s Mission

Headquarters of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

Books and Publications of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

nikhila-bhuvana-maya-chhinna-vichchhinna-kartri

vibudha-bahula-mrgya-mukti-mohanta-datri

sithilita-vidhi-ragaradhya-radhesa-dhani

vilasatu hrdi nityam bhaktisiddhanta-vani

—Srila Sri Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj

‘Slashing exploitation and illusory liberation,

Relaxing calculation to invite Pure Devotion

Unto Sri Sri Radha-Krishna playing in Vrindavan,

Sing They Song within my heart, O Gurudev. Amen.’

All Glory to the Divine Master

and the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya

Publisher’s Note

By their Grace, I bow to the Holy Lotus Feet of Sri Gurudev, the Vaishnavas, and the Supreme Lord Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, and all Their Associates.

The first publication of this Sri Chaitanya Saraswati—The Voice of Sri Chaitanyadev was in 1990. It has taken four years to bring out this second edition. With interruptions, it has been about two years in the making. I felt a strong necessity to include the Hindi, Gujarati and Bengali translations in the earlier part of the magazine, prompted by many friends and well-wishers of our Mission. To establish the positive [siddhanta-sthapana] as well as negate the negative [atan-nirasana] are both integral parts of preaching. Until a fitting environment is established for the Unalloyed Prema-dharma of Sri Chaitanyadev to have its free and magnanimous play in the world of today and tomorrow, the true preachers of His Mission often feel the need of negating the negative. Still, they cannot but feel a kind of spiritual vacuum without a sufficiently generous quota of the positive. After all, what Sri Chaitanyadev came down to give in this world is the greatest and most noble gift ever known to mankind and the whole universe. How can an aspirant of becoming a preacher of that glorious gift feel peace of mind without even the most incidental participation in its dispensation? At least the hope of a tiny place on the receiving end of it must be a hope of grace and mercy. And that gift was, and is, eternally most generously distributed to the world by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, and His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj, and their illustrious predecessors. The divine dispensation of Srila Govinda Maharaj has already become a worldwide phenomenon, a marvel of direct divine intervention. Srila Sridhar Maharaj's indefatigable and illustrious position in the sampradaya defies our power of intellect, our words’ powers of description. And Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad, by the irrevocable fact, is intimately associated with both in such a depth of intimacy—They are parsadas, or eternal intimate associates, of the Supreme Lord Himself. Why should the sincere seekers be denied the chance of receiving Their unalloyed grace?

By Their Grace may this Sri Chaitanya Saraswati bless the hearts of all the good souls who have waited so long for genuine Divine Guidance, and may They and Their Associates by pleased with this offering to Their lotus hands.

My eternal obeisances unto Their lotus feet and unto the lotus feet of all the Bhaktas who helped me and are eternally helping me to invite Sri Saraswati.

—Tridandi-Bhikshu Sri B.A. Sagar,

London, 21 August 1994,

Sri Baladeva-avirbhav.

Introduction

Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj appeared in the world in 1929 at Brahmanpara, District Burdwan, West Bengal. He came to the lotus feet of his Gurudev Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj in 1947, and remained faithfully in his service ever since. History tells us that from the very beginning he held the unrivalled position of the most intimate and faithful servitor of Srila Sridhar Maharaj, and from the beginning Srila Sridhar Maharaj revealed his wish that Srila Govinda Maharaj would occupy the position of his successor in the future. Srila Govinda Maharaj also enjoyed the long and intimate association of Om Vishnupad Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj as mentioned in the following pages.

Fulfilling a wish he cherished for about forty years, Srila Sridhar Maharaj conferred sannyasa upon Srila Govinda Maharaj in 1985, giving his final and irrevocable decision of his selection of Srila Govinda Maharaj as his successor President-Acharya of his Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math of Nabadwip, with all of its branches in India and internationally.

Like his illustrious Divine Master, Srila Govinda Maharaj has given us numerous pure devotional compositions in Sanskrit and Bengali, most valuable for the cultivation of spiritual life. His holy talks are also being brought out in book form.

From all over the world sincere spiritual aspirants are flocking by the hundreds to Nabadwip to hear the holy delivery of Hari-katha of Srila Govinda Maharaj. As a special blessing on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee [fiftieth anniversary] of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and to fulfill the thousands of requests of the sincere devotees, Srila Govinda Maharaj began his first international tour in 1992.

Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj is the Founder-Acharya of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Nabadwip, West Bengal, India. He appeared in the world in 1895 at Hapaniya, Burdwan, West Bengal. From his childhood he had inner faith in Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, with a natural attraction and affinity for Nama-sankirtan; his scholarship and worldly detachment was formidable.

His first contact with Sri Gaudiya Math was in 1923, and he fully committed himself to this Mission of his Guru, Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada, in 1926. About 1930 his Guru gave him sannyasa, giving him his transcendental name meaning ‘the Guardian of Devotion.’ He took a prominent part in the founding, organizing and preaching of many of Sri Gaudiya Maths all over India.

Seeing his Sanskrit writings, his Guru referred to him as ‘a fit person to continue my divine succession,’ and ‘Sastra-nipuna Sridhar Maharaj’ or ‘Scriptural Genius Sridhar Maharaj.’ On another occasion his Guru also referred to him as ‘niveditatma’ or ‘a pure soul fully surrendered unto the Supreme Lord.’

When Srila Sridhar Maharaj founded Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in 1941, it was no more than a thatched hut on the banks of the Ganges river. Yet, he composed this verse, mysteriously predicting the universal renown the Math would know in the future:

srimach chaitanya-sarasvata-mathavara udgita-kirtir jaya-srim

bibhrat sambhati ganga-tata-nikata-navadvipa-koladri-raje

yatra sri-gaura-sarasvata-mata-nirata gaura-gatha grnanti

nityam rupanuga sri-krtamati-guru-gauranga-radha-jitasa

In the Holy Abode of Transcendental Touchstone

Sri Nabadwip Dham—the selfsame Sri Vrindavan,

in the land of Koladwip, whose inner identity

is the King of mountains Sri Govardhan,

near the charming shores of the Holy River Bhagirathi

who delivers all the fallen souls

stands that grand and glorious King of all Temples—

Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

In that beautiful retreat, the surrendered devotees

whose lives are the Message of Sri Gaura,

are eternally absorbed in the Loving Service

of the Divine Master, the Golden Lord Gauranga

and the Loving Lord Sri Govindasundar

with His Consort Srimati Gandharva,

accompanied by all Their Dear Associates.

With hearts always filled with good hope

to attain the Grace of the Lord,

following faithfully in the Line

of Sri Sri Rupa and Raghunath—

the Storekeepers of the Unlimited Treasure

of Pure, Sweet Love Divine,

those surrendered souls ever sing the unending Glories

of the Transcendental Name and Qualities

of the Most Magnanimous, Original Supreme Lord

Sri Sri Gaurangasundar.

As they take shelter in the soothing, affectionate shade

of the victory flag that flies aloft

and sings wholeheartedly to the world

the ever-expanding renown of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math;

bearing that banner of all Transcendental Benedictions,

Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math ever shines resplendent

in all its Divine Magnificence.

Srila Sridhar Maharaj also composed many unique spiritual prayers and commentaries in Sanskrit and Bengali revealing a devotional stature in common with that of the famed Goswamis of Vrindavan. Often thought even more amazing was his special ability to represent those thoughts in the international language of English. In this way much of his holy teachings have been published in book form.

Srila Sridhar Maharaj departed from the eyes of the mortal world in 1988. Thousands from all over the globe had by this time taken shelter in him as disciples. Prior to his departure, publicly and in his Last Will and Testament he named his beloved Divine Servitor Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj as his successor.

His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj and His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupada￼ sharing the Vyasa-asana at the opening ceremony of Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupada’s Sri Mayapur Chandrodoy Mandir.

Lower left is His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj who is now the President-Acharya of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. In this photo he is seen leading the kirtan by singing the Sanskrit prayer ‘Pranamami sada Prabhupada-padam’ (Sri Sri Prabhupadapadma-stavakah), a devotional prayer to Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada, the Guru of both Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj and Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj. The prayer was written by Srila Sridhar Maharaj and is venerated and sung in Gaudiya Vaishnava Temples throughout India and the world.

At this most memorable occasion Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupada stated, “I consider Srila Sridhar Maharaj to be my Siksa Guru, and Sripad Govinda Maharaj to be my dearmost son.”

He sang the glories of Srila Sridhar Maharaj by saying, “Jay Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Maharaj ki jay!”—a glorification that is only ever offered to one’s Guru.

This trio of holy personalities is again pictured—Srila Sridhar Maharaj at left, Srila Swami Maharaj at right, and Srila Govinda Maharaj in the middle. Their intimate past history is most valuable and interesting to all true devotees.

They resided together at Srila Swami Maharaj’s Sita Kanta Banerjee Lane house in Calcutta for about eight years. This was prior to Srila Swami Maharaj’s sannyasa. It was during that time that Srila Govinda Maharaj, on the order of Srila Sridhar Maharaj, studied the Sri Bhagavad-Gita from Srila Swami Maharaj.

Later Srila Swami Maharaj accepted sannyasa from Srila Bhakti Prajnan Kesav Maharaj, Srila Kesav Maharaj having already received sannyasa from Srila Sridhar Maharaj.

After travelling to the West in 1965 and spreading Krishna consciousness in a miraculous way previously unseen in the history of the world, whenever he returned to India, Srila Swami Maharaj who had become known by his disciples and many admirers world-wide as “Prabhupada”, would stay with Srila Sridhar Maharaj at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Nabadwip. On those visits some special points that he spoke about Srila Sridhar Maharaj to his disciples follow:

“By both age and experience he is senior to me. I was fortunate to have his association since about 1930…. Krishna and Prabhupada [referring to his Diksa Guru—the Guru of both Srila Sridhar Maharaj and Srila Swami Maharaj] liked him to prepare me.

“Srila Sridhar Maharaj lived in my house for many years, so naturally we had very intimate talks and he was my good advisor. I took his advice and instructions very seriously because from the very beginning I knew him to be a pure Vaishnava, a pure devotee…. our relationship is very intimate.”

Prior to his departure from the world in 1977, Srila Swami Maharaj instructed his followers to take spiritual consultation and guidance from Srila Sridhar Maharaj.

After the departure of Srila Swami Maharaj, Srila Sridhar Maharaj remarked, “I consider him to be Saktyavesa Avatara…. Krishna came down to help him…. Divine Power came down to help him, otherwise it is impossible. It is not a thing of the ordinary level that anyone will do, but the highest thing has been taken down to the lowest position [distributed] so extensively [by him]. It cannot but be the Divine Power embodied and in a great intensity and magnitude; so Saktyavesa Avatara, I cannot but take him to be so.”

Later, Srila Govinda Maharaj asked Srila Sridhar Maharaj, “You have told us that Srila Swami Maharaj was Saktyavesa Avatara, but he was Saktyavesa Avatara of who?”

Srila Sridhar Maharaj quietly replied, “Nityananda Prabhu.”

Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupada was the Guru of both Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj and His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj. In the thirties he established sixty-four Gaudiya Maths in India and preached the ideal of pure Vaishnavism in the line of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He had a vision to construct a magnificent temple in London where this ideal could be practised and preached for the supreme benefit of all; he also sent preachers from India to the U.K.

His Guru was Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj who engaged in solitary divine service without any public interaction; and his [Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada’s] father, who he also took as his Guru, was Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur.

Om Vishnupad Srila Sachchidananda Bhaktivinod Thakur [1838–1914], a great teacher and scribe of transcendental literature in Sri Gaudiya sampradaya, he envisioned the world dispensation of the chanting of the Names of God as predicted in the scriptures Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat, Srimad Bhagavatam and others. He personally foretold that the finer thinkers or intelligentsia of the entire globe must inevitably be attracted to the religion of divine love for God as given exclusively by Sriman Mahaprabhu.

The following Sanskrit verse clearly delineating the basic principles of the perfect teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was written by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur:

These Ten Fundamental Divine Teachings have been taught by the Supreme Lord Sri Gaurachandra to the faithful souls:

1. The supreme holy teachings are the Vedas received in divine succession of spiritual masters. The divine authority is the Vedas and allied holy scriptures headed by Srimad Bhagavatam, along with the general relative proofs of perception, verbal evidence and inference when in compliance with those scriptures. By that authority it is established that:

2. Sri Hari [Krishna] is the Supreme Truth.

3. He is full with all potencies.

4. He is the ocean of all divine ecstasy.

5. The individual souls are His separated spiritual particles.

6. Some of those souls are captivated by Maya.

7. Some of those souls are liberated from Maya.

8. The entire creation, material and spiritual, is an inconceivable simultaneously different yet identical manifestation of Sri Hari.

9. The singular means is devotion for Krishna, or bhakti.

10. The singular attainable objective is divine love for Him.

All Glory to the Divine Master

and the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya

Our Fortunate Association

Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj

[San Jose, U.S.A., 28th June, 1992]

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya

chaksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

kanaka-suruchirangam sundaram saumya-murtih

vibudhakula-varenyam sri-gurum siddhipurtim

taruna-tapanabasam bhaktidan-chid-vilasam

bhaja bhaja tu manore! sridharam samvidhanam

vanchha-kalpatarubhyas cha krpa-sindhubhya eva cha

patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah

pancha-tattvatmakam krsnam bhakta-rupa-svarupakam

bhaktavataram bhaktakhyam namami bhakta-saktikam

namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te

krsnaya krsna-chaitanya-namne gaura-tvise namah

he krsna karuna-sindho dina-bandho jagat-pate

gopesa gopika-kanta radha-kanta namo 'stu te

tapta-kanchana-gaurangi radhe vrndavanesvari

vrsabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye

Jay Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa-Parivrajakacharya-varya Astottara-sata-sri Srimad Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay.

My dear Godbrothers and affectionate, respectable Vashnavas, gentlemen, ladies and merciful devotees, I am feeling so fortunate that by the mercy of the devotees I have been able to visit you all here at this Branch of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in America. I think myself very fortunate because you are all following Srila Guru Maharaj’s and Srila Swami Maharaj’s conception, and you have given me the position that was desired by Guru Maharaj and Srila Swami Maharaj as well. But I am a very insignificant and fallen soul. Actually, I have no capacity to continue the line and conception of Srila Guru Maharaj without the mercy of the devotees. You are all very affectionate to me, and by your mercy I think it must be possible to continue our programme for preaching the conception of Srila Guru Maharaj. You have given me a chair, and Srila Guru Maharaj also gave that to me. You are following what he gave. But I am very shy, because actually I have no qualification. I can only depend upon the mercy of the Vaishnavas, and by their mercy it will be possible to continue. This is my only hope.

When His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj came to the West, he was alone. For one year, he tried very hard to preach Krishna consciousness. He didn’t have a single man to assist him. But he was not hopeless. Keeping full faith in His Gurudev, Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sidhhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupada, and his order to him—“You are qualified in the English language, and especially you have the heart to preach; so try to preach Krishna consciousness in the English-speaking world"—that was his wealth, and through that he was never hopeless. But I heard from him directly that in the beginning when he tried to preach, he had to face many trials.

I joined when I was seventeen years old, in 1947. I feel that at that time I got his mercy. Although he was a grhastha, I could see that his preaching tendency was very unique. Srila Swami Maharaj was a businessman at that time. He had a laboratory, ‘Vimaltone Laboratories,” and above that laboratory he gave two rooms for Guru Maharaj's preaching. Actually he wanted to bring Guru Maharaj out for preaching, in Calcutta and other places. Guru Maharaj did not want to preach again in a very wide way, but Srila Swami Maharaj was very enthusiastic to bring him out because he knew that especially Guru Maharaj could preach Krishna consciousness, and he knew that Guru Maharaj was exclusively devoted without any other distractions. Their friendship was very nice, and very intimate. He tried to preach with the help of Guru Maharaj, but Guru Maharaj was not showing so much enthusiasm at the time. But he kept trying. With a few brahmacharis Srila Swami Maharaj started to preach in Calcutta. He was a businessman, and when customers came to see him for business, he would preach Krishna consciousness. In this way, his business was not very successful. Actually, that was the difficulty for him to continue his business nicely. He could not do it because his mood was very high and his tendency was always to preach—even in the newspaper he gave many advertisements, to the effect that ‘if anyone wants to give their temple or if anyone wants to help us, we are ready to take that’; and from many places calls came, and he took a few brahmacharis, of which I was one, and one or two others, and he tried to preach. It was very difficult. He was in the form of a grhastha, and at that time I was a brahmachari in saffron cloth, and he would give me the Vyasa-asana, and he would beforehand teach me a few slokas of Srimad Bhagavatam. He told me, “Recite these verses, and then I shall explain them afterwards.” This was the preaching method.

His tendency was very exclusive to preach Krishna consciousness. And Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, and Prabhupada are not blind—They noted his tendency. Eventually he left home. His sister, Srimati Bhavatarini Didi had much devotional regard for Srila Guru Maharaj. She had also served Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada. She wanted to take mantra initiation from Srila Guru Maharaj, but at that time Guru Maharaj was not initiating anyone and he sent her to Srila Goswami Maharaj. She considered Srila Guru Maharaj as her Guru; so she took initiation from Srila Goswami Maharaj, but always continued serving Srila Guru Maharaj. So both—brother and sister—were both very affectionate with Srila Guru Maharaj.

So when Srila Swami Maharaj wanted to preach exclusively, and nobody helped him, still he was not hopeless. After taking sannyasa, he came to the West, to America. He decided to start in America because he thought that his Guru Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada tried to preach in England and Europe by sending a very qualified sannyasi and lastly Sripad Aprakrita Prabhu, after sannyasa known as Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj; they had preached there, but apparently that was not very noticeable. They established a math, and preached to some of the higher echelons of society, that is, the royalty, etc., but in a general way that preaching was not so noticeable in fact. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada tried very hard to preach. Generally it was thought that if anyone accomplished any work in London—known in Bengal at that time as ‘Bilat’, on returning to India they would get much respect. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada wanted to take that opportunity, ‘If we can establish our mission firmly in England, then all Indians must give much respect to the Gaudiya Mission’s conception.’ But his will was fulfilled later, after his departure, by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Who is Prabhupada?

‘Prabhupada’ was first Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur, and later, in the form Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. Srila Guru Maharaj happily agreed with that—‘Yes, Prabhupada—He can uphold that title.’ Some other disciples of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada were not happy to hear that word Prabhupada used for anyone but directly their Guru. Still, we find that in a general sense the word Prabhupada is not the extremely highest title. We address devotees as Prabhu, and Prabhupada refers to a sannyasi. We address brahmacharis as Prabhu, and Pada is the title of a sannyasi. Of course, it is very respectable. It is also a title inherited by the Jati-Goswamis’ Gurus. They refer to all their Gurus as Prabhupada. So there are many Prabhupadas in India. But when Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur preached the conception of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu all over India in a very grand way, and everyone addressed him as Prabhupada, then the title assumed a special position. But when we address our Gurudev as Om Vishnupada, the word Vishnupada is higher than Prabhupada. But now, the word Prabhupada has been given a new connotation—‘one who can preach real Krishna consciousness all over the world’ is now the meaning of Prabhupada. And this has happened through the greatness of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur and later Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj.

Anyhow, Srila Swami Maharaj’s intention was to preach Krishna consciousness by the order of his Gurudev Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur, and he tried very hard. But he was alone. No one helped him, not even his Godbrothers. Still, Guru Maharaj was always behind him, and always gave him much inspiration. He wanted to make a mission headed by Guru Maharaj, and he proposed it many times. First there was the ‘League of Devotees,’ then the ‘International Society for Krishna Consciousness.’ He proposed that Guru Maharaj head a mission in 1948–49, but Guru Maharaj was not so enthusiastic to accept such a post because he wanted to retire. And he had already accepted retirement. But he ‘again got his service’ after Srila Swami Maharaj’s preaching, in fact!

So when Srila Swami Maharaj first came to the West, he tried very hard to preach Krishna consciousness for one year. I heard directly from his lotus mouth, “In New York I had no food, no money….” He had such a heartfelt desire, so Nityananda Prabhu, Mahaprabhu, and his Gurudev could not tolerate his hardship. So they gave him the most glorious and super position of a preacher of Krishna consciousness. About two days ago in Hawaii, when the devotees arranged a meeting for me in a park, I saw two big trees there, and I immediately remembered how Srila Swami Maharaj started, sitting under a tree with a only a pair of karatals, chanting Hare Krishna. But seeing that, Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu could not tolerate it, and gave him the position of a supreme preacher of Krishna consciousness. He got much austerity when he came here, and he tried so hard. But I remember the day when I first came to the West. I have so many well-wishing friends, Srila Guru Maharaj’s and Srila Swami Maharaj’s disciples, they have given me so much affection and chance to preach Krishna consciousness. They are wholeheartedly inviting me to these Western countries. How have these things come to me?The only cause is Srila Swami Maharaj. He blasted a tunnel through the mountain of the Western ego! He blasted a big tunnel, and I have come through that tunnel. Although it was extremely difficult for him when he started, I am getting much encouragement. So we cannot but feel grateful to him for this.

By the mercy of Srila Guru Maharaj and Srila Swami Maharaj I have many devotee friends in this Western world, and also the Southern world like Australia. All these friends are now very enthusiastic to preach Krishna consciousness. I may be a very insignificant and unqualified fallen soul, but they are following the instruction of Srila Guru Maharaj. He gave me the charge of his mission and everybody knows it, and when Guru Maharaj has said that ‘this man is qualified and will be able to continue my succession’ I cannot deny him. But although I cannot feel myself to have such a qualification it is not noticeable because I have so many friends who are qualified devotees of Srila Guru Maharaj and Srila Swami Maharaj—they know what is what and they can make a crow into Garuda. I am very indebted to you all. You are giving me much respect, you are giving me everything, but what shall I give to you? I have nothing to give you. Srila Swami Maharaj has given you so much, and Srila Guru Maharaj gave even more. For the general conditioned souls Srila Swami Maharaj arranged many facilities for the preaching of Krishna consciousness, and Guru Maharaj supplied nourishment.

It is my special conception that of both the Gurus, one is as avatara [incarnation], and one is as avatari [origin of all Incarnations]. Actually, Mahaprabhu came as yuga-avatara, and Srila Swami Maharaj came like a yuga-avatara preacher. But within Mahaprabhu there was another form. So I can see Srila Swami Maharaj and Srila Guru Maharaj in a nondifferent way—one form as an avatara, another as avatari. You all know that Guru Maharaj gave us the finest conception, and Srila Swami Maharaj made all the arrangements—he arranged for the recipients of Krishna consciousness; he made the ground and the field, and he planted the seed; he gave the chance. And Guru Maharaj gave very good nourishment. That is my idea, and I consider that I have in both my Siksa- and Diksa-Gurus. But that is a general or more external matter. The internal meaning is much deeper. No doubt, there are a few who may be denied, but most of the fortunate souls will get, or have already gotten, that wealth of Krishna consciousness.

Now, the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is all over the world. Who knew about it before? Who knew of the Names of Mahaprabhu Chaitanyadev, Nityananda Prabhu, the Pancha-Tattva, and Radha-Krishna—before Srila Swami Maharaj? No one knew anything about them. In that way they are very fortunate. Now, they not only know about Them, but they are giving their lives to Them as well. Guru Maharaj always used to mention a song of Vasudev Ghosh,

yadi gaura na ha’ta, tabe ki haita,

kemane dharitam de

radhara mahima, prema-rasa-sima,

jagate janata ke?

“If Gauranga Mahaprabhu had not appeared in this world, how would we have understood the position of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna and Their prema—that supreme love and beauty? We would never have known about that.”

In this way we are so fortunate that now we have gotten that conception—it may not be full, it may be only some percentage, but really that is enough for the tiny soul. Eka bindu jagat dubaya—only one drop of such mercy and Krsna-prema can inundate the world. They have given that, and by their mercy we are becoming enlightened, and we are trying to practise Krishna consciousness. Krishna consciousness is the deepest conception of the form of Godhead. We can hear of many, many forms of the Lord, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna—His Love, Beauty, Effulgence, everything—is extreme, and supreme. And this knowledge has been given to this world by Srila Guru Maharaj and Srila Swami Maharaj.

I also consider myself to be very fortunate that I got their mercy, and from my youth they were very merciful and affectionate to me. I received so much from them, and this is why I am always alert to how I may serve them and how I may serve the devotees. Their conception was service to the Vaishnavas, service to Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga-Gandharva-Govindasundar, and Their Mission. This was Guru Maharaj’s desire. When he gave initiation to a sincere seeker, when they asked him what service he required of them, Guru Maharaj always replied, “Serve the Deity, the devotees, and Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.” Service to the Vaishnavas and Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga is our life’s goal, and through that we will achieve everything—Sri Sri Radha-Krishna and Their pastimes in Vrindavan. Although from here we cannot see and feel these things, when we properly serve the Guru and the Vaishnava, we will get everything. That was their conception, and in the finest way they gave us many things. Everyone gave much respect to Srila Guru Maharaj's conception, and gave him the highest position. Not only the disciples of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur, but Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur himself gave an extremely high position to Srila Guru Maharaj. So naturally many of his (Srila Guru Maharaj’s) Godbrothers were very affectionate to him and gave him that high position. The last day before Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur wanted to leave this world he called his very intimate associates, and when they gathered in his room he ordered Srila Guru Mahargj to sing,

sri-rupa-manjari pada, sei mora sampada,

sei mora bhajana-pujana

Guru Maharaj was not in the room at the time, and Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur said, “Call Sridhar Maharaj.” Guru Maharaj was at that period doing night duty in the room of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur. Everyone did two hours of duty, and Guru Maharaj took the most difficult time of duty, which was 2.00 to 4.00 a.m. Everyone feels sleepy at that time, and Guru Maharaj accepted that time for his duty. After 4.00 a.m., when the man on the next shift had come, Guru Maharaj went to lie down for a while. He did not sleep at that time, but he just rested, because within an hour would be arati time, and everyone would join there. So when he was resting in this way, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur’s call came. Guru Maharaj went there and his Gurudev ordered him, “O Sridhar Maharaj, sing ‘Sri-Rupa-manjari pada, sei mora sampada.’” Everyone knew that Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur would leave the world, and all were in a most attentive mood. Guru Maharaj could not sing very nicely in the sense that he felt shy, and he somewhat hesitated to sing that high song. At that time, Sri Kunja-bihari Vidyabhusana Prabhu, the secretary of the Gaudiya Math [later Srimad B.V. Tirtha Maharaj] was the leader in management; and he indicated that a certain brahmachari could sing very nicely, so he directed him to sing instead. Of course, that was his right to direct who would sing—he was an intimate servitor of Prabhupada, and secretary as well. But Prabhupada denied. When that Brahmachari Prabhu started to sing, Prabhupada said, “I don’t want to hear the tune, Sridhar Maharaj will sing this song.” Everyone was stunned. Guru Maharaj was also very anxious, but he started to sing, and after completing the whole song Prabhupada said,“I am happy.” Then he ordered others to sing some songs ‘Tuhu daya-sagara tarayite prani’ and others. But from that day all the Godbrothers of Guru Maharaj said many times, and I heard it from them directly,“We have not seen before how heart transmission was possible; but that day we saw how Prabhupada transmitted his power of the Rupanuga sampradaya [to Guru Maharaj].” After that, everyone gave high respect to Guru Maharaj as a sampradaya acharya of the Rapanuga line.

At that time there were many exalted and highly qualified sannyasi and grhastha disciples of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur. Of course, there were also many brahmacharis as well. After the departure of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur many of those exalted brahmachari and grhastha disciples took sannyasa from Srila Guru Maharaj.

Srila Swami Maharaj also wanted to take sannyasa from Srila Guru Maharaj and approached him for that. But their friendship was very close, and Guru Maharaj knew his whole family history. After all, they lived together practically like the same family for so long. So Guru Maharaj said that if he were to give him sannyasa immediately, he would be held responsible by Srila Swami Maharaj’s family if problems arose as a result; if this happened he would feel much difficulty. He advised Srila Swami Maharaj to go to Vrindavan and wait six months first. But Srila Swami Maharaj said, “No, I have no time! I need sannyasa immediately, and I shall go after that.” Then Srila Swami Maharaj said that Srimati Bhavatarini Didi, his sister, had already promised to look after his family. She had told him, “Dada, you take sannyasa. Business is not your life. You cannot do business. Go out and preach.” She gave him the hope that somehow she would manage for his family. But because Srila Swami Maharaj and Srila Guru Maharaj were very intimate, dear friends, Srila Guru Maharaj hesitated. But when he persisted, Guru Maharaj said, “I gave sannyasa to Srila Kesav Maharaj, so if you want sannyasa from me you can take the mantram from him, and it will be as good, no problem.”

The Origin of the Name ‘Bhaktivedanta’

Then Srila Swami Maharaj asked what name he would take, and Srila Guru Maharaj said, “Bhaktivedanta—this is your name, and you can take any title along with that.” That name had also been given to him by Srila Guru Maharaj previously. In this way, Srila Guru Maharaj was very exalted in the sampradaya of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur, and everybody gave much honour to him. Not only that, if there was any disturbance in the sampradaya, or if anyone encountered any particularly difficult question, they would immediately come to Srila Guru Maharaj for consultation, after which they would follow his advice. In fact practically all the prominent Godbrothers took sannyasa from Guru Maharaj after the departure of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur, and those who did not do so took advice from SrilaGuru Maharaj on the appropriate person to take sannyasa from, where the proper honour of their Sannyasa-Guru would be preserved. Srila Madhav Maharaj was also a very exalted personality. He said to Guru Maharaj, “After Prabhupada, you are my Guru.”Although Srila Guru Maharaj did not give him sannyasa, he asked him,“I still think you are my Sannyasa-Guru, but even if you don’t give me sannyasa, give my name.” And Guru Maharaj gave two proposals, one of which was Sri Bhakti Dayita Madhava, the one he accepted. Then Srila Madhav Maharaj gave Guru Maharaj his full dandavat [prostrate obeisance] and went to take sannyasa from another sannyasi. All the devotees were very exalted at the time of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada, but after his departure they all gave supreme respect and honour to Srila Guru Maharaj as their Guru.

Guru Maharaj was very firm in the deepest conception of the Rupanuga sampradaya, and for that everyone gave him much respect; but he was never very eager to receive it. Still, they always gave it. Guru Maharaj did not go anywhere, but everyone would come to see him, and they were always highly satisfied. For example, Srila Goswami Maharaj held a very high position at the time; and he gave a lecture, which I taped, in which he said, “We are very enthusiastic to preach Krishna consciousness. And when we are preaching, from time to time we are eager to know the opinion of Srila Sridhar Maharaj about our preaching. We are eager to know how he considers our preaching. If he thinks it is good, then we feel that we are getting double energy!”

When the lion walks, after a while he looks behind. Then he goes so far, and again looks behind. That is the nature of the lion. This is called ‘simha-avalokanam’ in Sanskrit. So in effect Srila Goswami Maharaj was saying, “We are preaching with our full energy, but then we are looking behind to see, ’What does Srila Sridhar Maharaj think about it?’”And he added, “This is the feeling of us all in this meeting today.”

Srila Swami Maharaj, after a world tour, when returning to India would always meet with Srila Sridhar Maharaj. When he would describe the events and results of his tour, Guru Maharaj was very happy to hear, and Srila Swami Maharaj was also very happy that “everything was accepted by Srila Sridhar Maharaj.” They had many discussions on the finest points of Krishna conception. Those discussions were very high, and I am fortunate I had the opportunity to hear them. They were also very affectionate to me. It is natural. We were very few brahmacharis, and I stayed with Guru Maharaj all the time, so automatically they gave their affection to me. In my youth I stayed with Srila Swami Maharaj in his house, and I was in charge of the Chaitanya Saraswat Math branch there, at 7 Sita Kanta Banerjee Lane. And Guru Maharaj ordered me to learn Srimad Bhagavad-Gita from Srila Swami Maharaj whenever Guru Maharaj was away from Calcutta. Guru Maharaj also sent me many times with him for preaching. Not only that, I would go to preach shop to shop at Bara Bazaar, but at that time I had no books for distribution. Srila Swami Maharaj told me,“You distribute this Back to Godhead.” He had published two or three editions, but due to lack of funds he could not continue it. So he had a fairly large quantity stored in his room. Who would distribute it? There was no one. So when I joined, Srila Swami Maharaj told me, “Take the Back to Godhead and distribute it door to door.” And so I was the first distributor of Back to Godhead.

So wealth has come to me in many ways. Wealth means—the affection of the Gurus. Maybe I am very unqualified. I did not even study at school. I was a very naughty boy. The teacher would beat me every day, so I would stay away. So, no schoolwork. But what qualification has come to me is from Guru Maharaj. I have no fear. Many are fearful to invite questions, but I feel it is very good for me if anyone asks me questions. It is by the mercy of Guru Maharaj and the Vaishnavas. I am always declaring,“Questions are very good for me, you can ask any question about Krishna consciousness.” I have no fear because I heard for so long from Guru Maharaj, so some idea has grown in me; and by their mercy what I do not know will also come to me. Like English—I can speak now, but my friend here remembers very well the days when we travelled in the train together, but we could not speak a single word to each other! But now I can speak….

By the mercy of Srila Guru Maharaj—after Srila Swami Maharaj departed, Guru Maharaj accepted his servitors and followers in many ways. He was the very affectionate and close friend of Srila Swami Maharaj, and that is why after Srila Swami Maharaj's departure he accepted his followers, his associates, and tried to continue the movement of Krishna consciousness happily. And now, as you can see, it is continuing.

All Glory to the Divine Master

and the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya

Awakening Our Hearts to Eternal Joy

Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj

[Canberra, Australia, 19th June, 1992]

Actually, we have come here to give something of the essence of what is already present in your heart.

uttisthata, jagrata, prapya varan nibodhata

This is Upanisad-vani—the message of the Upanisads: “It is your property, take it. It is not the property of any human body. Actually it is the property of the jiva (soul). That is Krishna consciousness. Uttisthata—you are sleeping. You do not know who you are. It is necessary to give some consciousness to you—you are sleeping, and you must wake up. You are sons of the nectarean ocean, and there are many beautiful jewels within the ocean; and that is your own property. You take it!” The Upanisads, Vedas, Vedanta—every scripture helps to remind us of this truth.

uttisthata, jagrata, prapya varan nibodhata

ksurasya dhara nisita duratyaya

durgam pathas tat kavayo vadanti

(Kathopanisad 1.3.14)

There is no doubt that everyone is sleeping in the illusion of this environment. Actually, we are jiva-souls, but now our position is that of conditioned souls. The existence of the jiva-soul is always in freedom, and with willing, feeling and thinking. He is not dead matter at all, but, he is sleeping. If someone sleeps and dreams that a tiger has come to attack him, or some robber has come to attack him, in that state he is very disturbed, and he cries, “Save me, save me!” But no intelligent person will take up any weapon or defence. He will only try to wake him up.“You are only dreaming. This is not your actual position, get up! See where you are.” So this is the necessity. Upanisads, Veda, Vedanta—everywhere we see that they make us ready for the service of Krishna. That’s the attitude of all the scriptures. In Vedanta Darshan we see the first two phrases:

athato brahma-jijnasa, janmadyasya yatah

(1.1.1,2)

This is the first question, and the answer is also given. The question is, “What do you need? You need the Brahma conception. You are living here, and you have seen many things here. You have much experience about this world. Maybe you cannot remember your previous life, or you cannot know your future life, but in the present life you have seen many things. What have you seen?”

ahany ahani bhutani

gachchhanti yamamandiram

sesa-sthiratvam ichchhanti

kim ascharyam atah param

Many questions were asked by Dharma, Yamaraj [lord of final judgement], to Yudhisthir Maharaj in the Mahabharata. There, it is told that one day Yudhisthir Maharaj and his brothers were feeling very thirsty. He sent his brothers to a lake to fetch some water. But present there in the form of a bird was Dharmaraj. That bird said to Sahadev, “Before taking any water, answer my questions, otherwise you will die.” Sahadev thought, “Oh, he is just a bird, and he’s trying to control me?” He ignored it and took water. Immediately he fell dead there. In this way, the four Pandavas—Sahadeva, Nakula, Arjuna and Bhima—all ignored the bird. They were all laid down dead. Yudhisthir was waiting, but nobody came. He was very disturbed, and anxiously he went there. He was also very thirsty. When he reached he found his four brothers lying down as corpses. He proceeded to the lake, and the bird made a sound, “Oh, Yudhisthir, please wait! First answer my questions and then take water. Your brothers did not pay me any heed, and so they have died. You will also die if you don't listen to me.” Yudhisthir thought, “My brothers are very powerful. This is no ordinary bird. Maybe he’s some demigod taking the form of a bird before me.” Then he asked the bird, “What are your questions?” One by one the bird asked his important questions to Yudhisthir Maharaj, who gave him the answers. Lastly, there were four questions that are especially famous.

ka cha vartta, kim ascharyam,

kah pantha, kah sukhi?

The first question was, “What's the news?” Anyone will say to read the newspaper, but Yudhisthir Maharaj knew that this bird was no ordinary bird. He thought, “If he were ordinary, how could he have killed my brothers?” So he replied, “Yes, this is the news—

masartu-darvi parighatanena

suryagnina ratridivendhanena

asmin maha-moha-maye katahe

bhutani kalah pachatiti vartta

“This is the real news: with the rising and setting of the sun, the jiva-soul is like uncooked food, and that food is being cooked by Kala or Yamaraj. How does he do this? Through the months and seasons he cooks that food; fire is necessary for cooking, and the sun is like the fire, and the days and nights are like the wood; and this world is like the big pot in which the living beings are being fried by Kala. This is the news.”

The bird was satisfied. The next question was, “What is the wonder of this world?” Yudhisthir Maharaj could have named the seven wonders of the world, but he didn’t. What he described as miraculous was this:

ahany ahani bhutani

gachchhanti yamamandiram

sesa-sthiratvam ichchhanti

kim ascharyam atah param

“The embodied souls are day by day going to the house of Yamaraj, that is, they are always advancing towards death. We see maybe father, or mother, or grandmother, grandfather or neighbour—every day many are dying in the hospital. In front of me many insects are dying, many trees are dying, many animals are dying, many humans are dying. Practically every day this is happening in front of us. But we are thinking we will stay so long. We are making many nice plans for ourselves, and that is the real wonder! It is so mysterious. The jiva-soul cannot understand that, “At any moment I may die, and after death what will be my fate?” They don’t think about this. They think, “Maybe grandfather or grandmother died, maybe this or that died, but I shall stay forever.” And they are making many preparations for that stay. That is the wonder of this world. They cannot understand that at any moment Yamaraj can take them.”

The answer to the second question was given. The third question was, “What is the way?” Yudhisthir did not give any vague direction. He said,

veda vibhinna smrtayo vibhinna

nasav rsir yasya matam na bhinnam

dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam

mahajano yena gatah sa panthah

Yudhisthir answered in this way: “In the Vedas you will see several kinds of advice for the jiva-souls—do fire sacrifice, do chandrayana-vrata [eating regulated according to the phases of the moon], etc. We see that many things are advised in the Vedas. And the interpreters, or the rishis, are also showing the path of their own realization. Some advise to do karma, some advise to do yoga, some advise the line of jnana, and some advise us to take the line of bhakti-marga. But we do not know the real path of life. ‘What is the way?’ we cannot understand.”

Yudhisthir Maharaj said, “There’s no need to proceed haphazardly like that. You must proceed on the real path of the mahajan who is firm in consciousness and properly practising Krishna consciousness. You follow that. That is the only way.” Mahajan means one who is firm within his spiritual consciousness and proceeding to his destination. So Yudhisthir Maharaj said, “Follow the saints. Really, by reading the Veda, Vedanta, Upanisadas, Puranas, Mahabharata, etc., we cannot understand. We will only spend our time without understanding the thought within; we can know that only with the help of an expert person.”

The last question was, “Who is happy?”

Yudhisthir Maharaj said,

divasasyasthame bhage

sakam pachati yo narah

arni apravasi cha sa

nara hi sukhi bhavet

“One who can work the whole day, but doesn’t take much for his maintenance. One who gains something, but won’t borrow money from others; and he has some place to reside. He practises Krishna consciousness within his own zone. He doesn’t disturb others, himself, or his family. He is a very happy man. This is the happy man in the world.”

Yudhisthir Maharaj answered that bird in this way. Then the bird showed his original form of Yamaraj, Dharma, who had come to examine them. Being pleased, he offered Yudhisthir a boon. Then Yudhisthir said, “My brothers are not ordinary men, but by your influence they have now fainted—lost all consciousness; you please give life to them.” Yamaraj gave life back to the four brothers, and Yudhisthir Maharaj happily took the water and went his way.

Search for the Absolute

We have seen many things in this mundane world. If we try to realize for ourselves what is good and what is bad, we shall also understand. It won’t be necessary to take help from outside. Still, that is not sufficient for our human life. We need even more than that, and that is Krishna consciousness, enquiry after God. This is especially necessary in the human stage of life. We have power for realization and we have the tendency to worship and serve. Amongst jungle-dwellers it has been seen that some worship fire, others worship the sun or the moon. It is their tendency. Every soul has the tendency to give honour to what is greater than himself. That tendency is coming from their own heart.

A goat or any animal has no need to be taught how to reproduce in this world. They are automatically involved in propagating their species. Similarly it is natural for every jiva-soul to search for what is superior to themselves. Ultimately, they must try to find out the Supreme Power. But because they don't find it directly before them they search haphazardly, and their only reward is death and birth.

The Lord is very merciful to every jiva-soul. From time to time He comes to this mundane world Himself or sends some saint on His behalf to awaken the residents back to their senses; they are all sleeping, dreaming. He Himself gives them back their sense, or sends His ambassadors, and they also give something to help them awaken from that dream. That is the real matter, and that is reality.

Reality is the Beautiful, and we need Him. Now, the second sutra of Vedanta Darshan says, “Janmadyasya yatah. From Him everything emanates, by Him everything is maintained, and by Him all is annihilated.”

If you could search throughout this whole universe you would find that there is One who creates the whole universe. There is the sun, moon and stars—many manifestations in the universe. Millions of bodies are in outer space, yet they never suffer any collision. All run their own orbit. There must be some power for this to happen. Who has created that power?We need to realize this, and we have the capacity to do so. Without some power in control millions of planets cannot continue their orbits at high speed without colliding. And when one day there is a collision, we call that the maha-pralaya, the annihilation. That time is selected—by someone. Who is that person? We must search. In our search we find many searchers comment about that creator, but they cannot actually touch His lotus feet. Only when that upper level comes down to us is it possible for us to understand that Infinite Power.

An ant is walking. He has no power to know himself; yet, I have the power to touch that ant. When I touch him, he feels something from the ‘upper level’ upon himself. When I remove my hand, he feels the absence. Again, I can touch him. In that way, when the power of knowing Him comes from the upper level, only then can we understand that Infinite Power. Scriptural experts have tried in many ways, and some have had a revelation of that Power; and immediately, for the benefit of others, they noted their findings in their books. But through that knowledge, everyone cannot understand everything.

One who wishes to know the theory of mathematics can gain that knowledge through a mathematician. In all fields, whether mathematics, literature, etc., we need to contact an expert in that line. Similarly, if we want transcendental knowledge, we must follow one who is proficient in that line. Then we can understand what ultimate form that Supreme Power possesses.

Through the scriptures such as Srimad Bhagavad-Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, eighteen kinds of Puranas, and the Mahabharata we can learn that He is the Originator, Sustainer and Annihilator of everything. In many places in the scriptures His qualities are also expressed as satyam, sivam, sundaram. Satyam means that His existence is eternal; sivam means mangalam—He can always do good for others; and sundaram means that He is the Supreme Beautiful. And reality is the Beautiful. This is the expression of our Guru Maharaj when explaining satyam, sivam, sundaram.

Search for Sri Krishna—Reality the Beautiful. We need beauty, love, happiness, joy; and we can find all these things in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. Srimad Bhagavatam says,

ete chamsa-kalah pumsah krsnas tu bhagavan svayam

indrari-vyakulam lokam mrdayanti yuge yuge

That Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead is openly declared by Bhagavatam. And Krishna Himself says in Gita (9.24),

aham hi sarva-yajnanam bhokta cha prabhur eva cha

na tu mam abhijananti tattvenatas chyavanti te

“I alone am the Enjoyer and Rewarder of all sacrifices; those who cannot know Me as such again undergo birth, disease, infirmity and death. I am the Personality of Godhead—take shelter in My lotus feet and I shall protect you from any offence or sin, don’t worry. Take shelter under My umbrella, then no rain of mundanity can ever disturb you. My lotus feet are like a big umbrella—take shelter there.” This is the way of the expression of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita. The Upanisadas are showing us:

nayam atma pravachanena labhyo

na medhaya na bahuna srutena

yam evaisa vrnute tena labhyas

tasyaisa atma vivrnute tanum svam

(Kathopanisad 1.2.23)

“You cannot capture that Supreme Lord—by speaking and speaking, or preaching and preaching, you cannot get His mercy; you may have much intelligence, but you will not get Him through that; and you may have great scriptural knowledge, but that won’t get you His mercy. Then how can you get Him? Only if He wants to come into your heart can you understand Him. If He comes willingly—that is, mercifully—then you can understand Him.

This is our position. So the Lord said, “Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te. If you want liberation from this illusory environment you must take shelter unto My lotus feet. Sarva-dharman parityajya—leave what you know as religion or non-religion. Leave the bad, but also leave the good. You cannot digest all the good, so it is not necessary to try to digest everything. So leave good, bad, and everything. Sarva-dharman means this. But mam ekam saranam vraja—I have previously given you many guidelines; maybe you can follow them, maybe you cannot. Now leave both ideas and take shelter in Me.”

man mana bhava mad-bhakto mad yaji mam namaskuru

mam evaisyasi satyam te pratijane priyo ’si me

(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 18.65)

“Think of Me, worship Me, offer your very self unto Me, and surely you will reach Me. Sincerely, this is My promise to you because you are My dear friend. Because you are My dear friend, I am telling the very naked truth to you. It is a very stark matter—for others. Nobody can say, ’Take shelter in my lotus feet.’ But I am saying it openly. You may not know everything and it is not necessary for you to know everything. Take shelter in Me and I shall do the needful for you.” But after that, Krishna said to Arjuna,

idam te natapaskaya nabhaktaya kadachana

na chasusrusave vachyam na cha mam yo ’bhyasuyati

(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 18.67)

“You should never disclose this hidden treasure to those devoid of sacrificing temperament, the faithless, those averse to My service, or those malicious persons who are envious of Me.”

“It’s not necessary to tell everyone this conception. They can't believe it. They have no capacity to receive it in their hearts, so it will incur offence to tell it to others. But I have told you everything because you are My very dear friend, and I want to do good for you.” Then Arjuna said,

nasto mohah smirtir labdha tvat prasadan mayachyuta

sthito ’smi gata-sandehah karisye vachanam tava

(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 18.73)

“Now I am taking shelter unto Your Lotus Feet, and I have gotten relief from illusion. By Your grace I am firmly set in Your conception. I have no doubt now. I shall do whatever You tell me to.”

That is called surrender and devotion. And this is the final advice of Krishna in Bhagavad-gita. So if we search for someone He must be Reality, and Reality the Beautiful. Otherwise we are attracted by beauty and trying to get happiness and joy. If beauty is not present in the origin, how do we think of these things? It must be within the origin. So the Upanisadas have said,

raso vai sah, rasam hy evayam labdhvanandi bhavati

(Taittiriyopanisad 2.7)

“All ecstasy, all nectar is within Him, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; and who gets His connection will get that ananda, rasa—divine ecstasy, nectar.”

So we are searching. But what are we searching for? We shall first try to realize this. This is the meaning of athato (athato brahma-jijnasa) in the Vedanta Darshan. First atha (atha-atah, brahma-jijnasa) signifies ‘auspicious invocation,’ and following that, atah indicates what is to be known—that is Brahma. What is the Brahma conception? If we try to realize it we will see, jyotir abhyantare rupam atulam syama-sundaram. Brahma or the Supreme God never has the position of nirakara, nirvisesa or nihsaktika—He is never formless, undifferentiated or impotent. We always see power working in everything, and the origin can never be powerless. The origin must be powerful. Further, in this world everyone is searching for love, whether through a relationship with one’s father, mother, wife or daughter. This would not be felt in us if it were not in the origin. It is such a simple matter. So the statement of the Upanisadas is perfect. “That Supreme Truth is ecstasy. Attaining Him, the soul attains all joy.” This is the Krishna conception.

How and Why Krishna?

And why Krishna conception? Krishna proclaims Himself the Supreme, but will others believe it? Still, if we try to realize the truth of Krishna's words by going to a master of realization, by his association we can immediately understand that satyam, sivam and sundaram—the full-fledged All-good, Reality the Beautiful—is possible only in the Krishna conception. All other conceptions show some deficiency.

There are five kinds of rasas, or ecstatic divine relationships with the Lord, playing everywhere in the transcendental world. He is not formless, undifferentiated or impotent. He has form, qualities and power. If we are searching for quality, how can our origin not have quality? It is not possible. If we are searching for beauty, beauty must also be in our origin. In this way, if we try to have some realization, we must ultimately come to Krishna consciousness. There is no other way. This is the advice of the Vedic scriptures. It is so very good for us if we can spend some time for the realization of Krishna consciousness. We are trying to get it within our hearts. We are chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra as given by Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanyadev, and this is the main goal of life. We need all that is good, not bad, and this is possible by coming into the line of Sriman Mahaprabhu; and Mahaprabhu has taught us humility, tolerance and giving honour to others. This is the process to proceed to our destination. This is the way to proceed to the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the transcendental world.

All Glory to the Divine Master

and the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya

Transcendental Chronicle

Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj

[Sri Nabadwip Dham, 10th March, 1981]

All the top sages and saints were assembled there; and Pariksit Maharaj put the question, “Death is sure for me within seven days. How can I utilize my time? You are so many authorities, and by the grace of the Lord you have fortunately assembled here. I am at your disposal. Help me so that after this certain death I may attain blissful life.”

Then according to their stages of realization, they gave advice. Some recommended yoga [or meditation], some tapasya [religious penance], some danam [charity], and so on. But Pariksit Maharaj again very humbly submitted, “You, of course, please give some unanimous verdict so it will be easy for me to follow your advice.” They were discussing and consulting amongst themselves, but differences were going on in their opinions. At that very time, Sukadev Goswami appeared.

A young man of sixteen, without any dress—quite naked—but a good figure. Beautiful, stout and strong. Appearing as though half-mad, he entered the assembly. Some boys ran behind him, throwing dust and this and that, just as to a madman. The whole assembly stood in respect. The boys disappeared. All conjectured, “This must be that Suka about whom we have heard, but not had the chance of seeing. Perhaps that boy has come?” So all rose in respect, and then they could recognize him. Vyasadeva was also there. So Sukadev Goswami was welcomed, and unanimously he was given the chair of the speaker.

Then all the leading gentry of religious India of the time unanimously said, “We are all very eager to hear from this youth. Maharaj, you are greatly fortunate. Your fortune has attracted him; so put questions to him, and let us all hear submissively. We have got a very good opportunity, and we want to hear him speak. We have waited for a long time to know his realization. In his eyes there is no distinction of man or woman. Women do not see anything in his eyes that they feel the necessity of shyness—such is his vision, which is not fixed in any worldly plane. There is no charm of any worldly thing in his heart. His eyes, his everything is meant for something transcendental. So we are very eager to know his realization. Put your questions to him.”

Sukadev Goswami also gave his own introduction. He expressed his own position: “Parinisthito ’pi nairgunya. I was standardly trained in transcendental knowledge, and I am established there. But, uttama-sloka-lilaya grhita-cheta. My attention has been forcibly snatched to some higher cosmos, above the transcendental impersonal conception.”

Generally, the philosophers of this world take the transcendental to be impersonal. Infinite and zero are of the same characteristic. So it is an area in which we cannot have any entrance as a subject for investigation. The subject has its stand far below; he can only conjecture some hazy thing. This is the position of the jiva-soul. So his view is only something cloudy, like sky. The spiritual sky is also seen as one sees an infinite blue sky, that is, Brahma. Non-differentiated, non-specified, infinite space, which we cannot have any practical experience of. Nirguna. That is the summation of all negation. To us, the positive experience is confined only to this world. This ear-experience, this eye-experience, touch-experience, etc. Our property here is the sum total of these experiences and something drawn from the mental world. This is saguna. And all this experience fails to have any conjecture of that background, so that is nirguna. All experiences are absent there. The positive knowledge of our experience is completely absent there. So that is nirguna. Or so we are told by the philosophers of this world.

“Parinisthito ’pi nairgunye. I am well established there. ‘Pari’ means sampurna-rupena, ‘perfectly’ I am established there, always in connection of what you call negation of all these positive things we experience in this world. Uttama-sloka-lilaya grhita-cheta rajarse. But O King, here I give vent to my real stage: uttama-sloka-lilaya. Some extraordinarily higher wave, current, has carried me to some other world, and that cannot be a part of this world of experience. Uttamah—‘ut’ means ‘utgathas tamo’. No nescience is to be traced there, no darkness, no ignorance. Of that I am sure. That sphere is all light, all knowledge. All else is below. That is rather the foundation. He is all consciousness, pure consciousness. Nothing mundane is to be traced there. This is beyond all conceptions of ignorance, beyond misconception. ‘Uttamaye slokyate’ and ‘uttama-sloka’. Sloka means charitra, ‘conduct.’ A flow of life is to be traced there which cannot be compared with anything of this mundane jurisdiction. A higher conception of life, rather the highest conception of life. I am captured totally by the charm of that sort of life, that sort of pastimes, that sort of flow of nectarine activity. I have come in connection with this. Grhita-cheta rajarse—my understanding has been forcibly carried and engaged there. I can’t come away, I can’t come down from that charming land. Akhyanam yad adhitavan—so I had to come to my father, Vedavyasa. Before this, he tried his best to take me to that direction, but I didn’t care to know about it. I had to return to my father, and as a regular student I had to study the ways and nature of that Higher Entity.

“Tad aham te ’bhidhasyami, maha-paurusiko bhavan—you are a great personality, and it is befitting you have the highest prospect of life, the highest end. You are fortunate to receive that sort of attainment. I shall just try to give you the news of my experience of the transcendental lila of the Reality the Beautiful. Divine love.”

The Teachings of Sri Sukadev in Seven Days

With this introduction he began to deliver his lecture which continued for seven days. Through different questions and answers Krsna-lila was established, and all the religious authorities of the time very submissively gave their hearing to the teachings of Sukadev Goswami, Srimad Bhagavatam. Krsna-lila is meant for whom? The lila is transcendental. It has much similarity with the lustful movements of this world, but it is just the opposite.

atmendriya-priti-vanchha—tare bali ‘kama’

krsnendriya-priti-ichchha dhare ‘prema’ nama

ataeva kama-preme bahuta antara

kama—andhatamah, prema—nirmala bhaskara

“The desire to gratify one's own senses is kama (lust), but the desire to please the senses of Lord Krishna is prema (love). Thus there is a vast difference between kama and prema: kama is like dense darkness, and prema is like the shining sun.”

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 1.4.165, 171)

For the souls in bondage, their aspiration is mostly men for women, and women for men. Because we find there the most food for the senses. The food of the major portion of our senses is to be found there. So natural attraction is there, in all of nature, even in the trees, the beasts, human beings—we find this everywhere. But this is a perverted reflection. And just the opposite—like Sumeru and Kumeru—South pole and North pole—one is desperately searching after sense-pleasure, and another, the opposite: the highest dedication one can command for the satisfaction of the Centre. In this plane there is provincialism, selfishness, and extended selfishness. But in the infinite, extended selfishness has no value. I may be self-interested, or have at heart the interest of the family members, or the society, or the country; or even the whole globe or the whole solar system. But that is only an infinitely small part. In comparison with the infinite existence it has no value. So what is the conception of the whole? We must dedicate everything. Even an atom of our energy should go to the Centre, and nothing less than that will do. And what sort of centre? In Srimad Bhagavad-gita, Krishna says to Arjuna,

athava bahunaitena, kim jnatena tavarjuna

vistabhyaham idam krtsnam, ekamsena sthito jagat

(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 10.42)

“What more shall I try to enumerate to you, Arjuna? I am here, I am there, everything is within Me; know in a nutshell that whatever you can conceive of is contained in but a fraction of Me.” This is the conception of the Infinite.

We once read, “Everywhere there is centre, nowhere circumference; this is the infinite.” This offers us some suggestion of the infinite. So whatever the smallest energy I can command, it must be directed toward the Centre who represents the whole infinite, and more—so many infinities constitute a part of Him. How to connect with that most difficult to conceive Reality?

It can only come down by the deductive method—srauta-pantha, and never by the empirical method. He can come, but we cannot go there. We can only submissively accept that by our free will, and free will must be guided by sukrti, fortune, jnata or ajnata—knowingly or unknowingly. Then it comes to the level of sraddha, faith proper. “Krsne bhakti kaile sarva karma krta haya. If I serve the Centre, everything is served, and perfectly. Otherwise if I serve anything else, that is like a conspiracy between two robbers or thieves.” Nothing more than that. Misguided, they combine for a conspiracy. So the centre of welfare of the whole must be detected, otherwise our energy will be lost. How is it possible? Is it possible at all? The unknown and unknowable, the nth degree. Can we reckon on entering the infinite?

The Infinite can be known by the finite?

I mentioned several times before, I was challenged by one ‘Vedic’ leader, “If the finite can know the infinite, He's not infinite.” And I could reply, by the grace of my Guru Maharaj, “If the infinite cannot make Himself known to the finite, then He’s not infinite.”

So in that direction the connection may come—from the direction of the infinite. And we have to catch that. Only His agents can help us to catch the thread. This is the gist of the matter.

Every sincere offering will be considered when everything of high value is offered to the feet of God and Gurudev. For so long our minds have been captured by the charm of the beauty of this world. All of it should be dedicated to God and the Guru, and that way we can get relief from the charm of those bright things in this world. Everything considered to be good must be devoted to Them.

yat karosi yad asnasi, yaj juhosi dadasi yat

yat tapasyasi kaunteya, tat kurusva mad-arpanam

“O Kaunteya, whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer in sacrifice, whatever you give and whatever vow you may keep—do everything as an offering unto Me.”

(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 9.27)

Varnasrama-dharma is to dedicate everything to Krishna but in an indirect way. So in the dialogue with Sri Ramananda Ray, Sriman Mahaprabhu said, “Eho bahya, age kaha ara. This is also superficial, go deeper.” Then Ramananda Ray said, “Krsna-karmarpana, sarva-sadhya-sara. We must be fully conscious that all the activities of varnasrama have not indirect but direct connection with Krishna.” If the fruits of all work are offered with a mantra like ‘ite tat karma phalam sri-krsnaya samapitam astu’, that is only the indirect way to ‘touch the nose’ as such. But directly, everything is meant to satisfy Krishna. We should discharge any sort of duty in this world, merged with that consciousness. With Krishna consciousness at heart. So everything considered charming and beautiful must be devoted to the service, and then only can we get out of the charm of those things. By the utilization of the present environment for the service of the Lord, we can cross this world successfully and go up towards a more conscious and spiritual area—the soul area. Bhur, Bhuvar, Svar, Mahar, Janar, Tapo, Satya—these are the planes (lokas) of this world.

I asked Swami Maharaj to construct a temple where the whole Gaudiya Vaishnava Philosophy will be demonstrated. I had a mind to construct such a temple here, but that was too ambitious and I could not do it. When I was told that he would build a temple there [in Mayapur], I humbly put forward my desire. I wanted a temple to be built according to Brihad-Bhagavatamritam of Srila Sanatan Goswami. The whole structure of Gaudiya Vaishnava Philosophy will be represented there in that temple. Bhur, Bhuvar, Svar, Mahar, Janar, Tapo and Satyaloka will be shown in a spiral way, and then Viraja, Brahmaloka, Paravyoma, Goloka-Vrindavan. The idea is to demonstrate the structural position of Gaudiya Vaishnava theology, and from where Krishna has come down to this world to very kindly give us the clue to how we can be uplifted there, to the highest place. That should be dealt with in a scientific way.

Whoever comes to have the darsan of the temple will leave with an idea of the whole structure of all the religious conceptions to ever come into the world. The development is in a scientific basis. What is Bhurloka? The land of experience of the five senses. Bhuvarloka? Without this body, the mental experience world, and there are further gradations Svar, Mahar, Janar, Tapo. Bhurloka is somewhat Prithviloka [Earth]; there is also Pretaloka, the world of the dead; there is Devaloka or Svarloka, heaven; above Devaloka is Maharloka where resides Bhrigu and other rishis. Then there is Tapoloka where the Chatuhsana reside, and then Satyaloka of Lord Brahma. Then Viraja, the highest position aspired for by the Buddhists, prakrti-laya. And above that, brahma-laya, the end aspired for by the Sankarites; then Sivaloka, Bhakta-Siva, and Vaikuntha, the land discovered and made known to the world by Sri Ramanujacharya. In that area of Paravyoma, there are so many Vaikunthas in so many different phases of the pastimes of Lord Narayana who resides in the centre. Then above is Ayodhya with Ramachandra with the first introduction of vatsalya-rasa [divine parenthood]. Then there is Krishna with many Queens in Dvaraka, and Krishna in Mathura. Again, in the Mathura sphere is Vrindavan, Govardhan, Radha Kunda. From what standpoint does the theistic conception develop higher and higher—this is to be depicted.

He accepted this plan and asked his followers to construct such a temple. But I am too old. He could not see it fulfilled, and perhaps I too may not see it. Still, [addressing Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupada’s visiting disciples] your combination is greatly encouraging, and what you are doing is a very big thing beyond our expectations. We could not imagine the success as was attained by my revered Godbrother Swami Maharaj. So much so that I cannot but think of him as Saktyavesa-Avatara. Some higher power came and inspired him and worked for him. Otherwise such a tremendous action in the plane of such a high degree of theology can never be expected to happen. Some super, higher divine power worked in him. There is no doubt of this.

muktanam api siddhanam narayana-parayanah

sudurlabhah prasantatma kotisv api maha-mune

“O great sage! Among millions of such liberated and perfected beings, it is extremely rare to find a self-satisfied devotee (devoid of material desires and filled with happiness coming from their pure self) who worships Lord Narayan.”

(Srimad Bhagavatam 6.14.5)

tapasvibhyo ’dhiko yogi jnanibhyo ’pi mato ’dhikah

karmibhyas chadhiko yogi tasmad yogi bhavarjjuna

yoginam api sarvesam mad gatenantaratmana

sraddhavan bhajate yo mam se ma yuktatamo matah

“The yogi is superior to persons engaged in severe austerities (such as the Chandrayana vow), superior to the person of knowledge who worships Brahman, and superior to the person of action. Know this to be My conclusion. Therefore, O Arjuna, be a yogi. The best of all yogis is the devotee who has full faith in the authoritative pure devotional scriptures, and who adores Me with all his heart, hearing and singing My divine glories, rendering all services unto Me. This is My opinion.”

(Srimad Bhagavad-gita, 6.46–47)

Wealth from the highest plane was taken in and distributed so lavishly in the world. It is a supernatural activity of supernatural power. You all represent him, and you are present before me today. I am so happy, and think myself fortunate to be in your midst. As Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur told, “In the near future the Westerners will join the Indians here under the common banner of Lord Chaitanya, and go on with Krsna-kirtan. And Prabhupada—our Guru Maharaj—began, and what was half fulfilled was completed in a great magnitude by Swami Maharaj. This is unbelievable for us! Hare Krishna, Gaur Hari bol, Nitai Chaitanya, Dayal Nitai, Gaur Hari bol!

Visiting devotee: I am very grateful to you for reminding me of Prabhupada, and enlightening me further about His Divine Grace.

Srila Sridhar Maharaj: Yes, around 1944, he was in business. Whenever he had some money in his hand, an issue of Back to Godhead would come to us. And every now and then he would say, “Oh, let us go and attack Jawaharlal and Gandhi! What are they doing? If they really want to do good for the people why don’t they take the line of Mahaprabhu, the line of Gaudiya Math? They are wild-goose chasing and getting so much name and fame—let us go and attack!” And he wrote letters to them now and then. Sometimes he received a reply, sometimes not, but he wouldn’t let up. He also had to fight with his worldly life as well, not only in the matter of property, but the characteristic of his family was not very favourable. Yasyaham anugrhnami harisye tad-dhanam sanaih—to attract one wholesale to Himself, Krishna arranges things in such a way that the environment may not be favourable for worldly life.

He also had some original thinking in the business line. He created, from oil, some medicine for injection. One doctor told him that oil could never be injected, but he replied that milk could whereas ghee couldn’t. His logic was that ghee comes from milk, so although oil cannot be injected it has a more fundamental state from which it may be prepared for injection to give the result of that particular oil. That was his original conception, as a chemist—to harness oil for injection.

And when he was an agent of Bengal Chemicals he came into real connection with Prabhupada, his Gurudev. Before that he had, with his friend, only a cursory view of Prabhupada in Calcutta once only, perhaps for an hour or so. But he actually came to connection with his Guru in Allahabad. Just before that, Sripad Tapasvi Maharaj [at that time Sri Atulananda Brahmachari], was the Math commander at that Allahabad Math, and I visited there for some particular devotional activity. He took me to Swami Maharaj [later initiated as] Sri Abhaya Charanaravinda Das. Then I arranged for one evening of Bhagavata-patha [recitation of the Bhagavatam]. It was also arranged for us to take prasadam there. His father, Gour Mohan, was living, and he also was very happy to see us. From that time was the beginning of his permanent connection with Gaudiya Math.

Guru Maharaj came back to Allahabad from Vrindavan after the completion of the Vrindavan parikrama, and that was when Swami Maharaj took initiation and came into closer connection. Perhaps that was in 1933 or so, when the foundation was laid by the governor of Allahabad for the Rupa Gaudiya Math Lecture Hall. Then Swami Maharaj went to Bombay, leaving that previous service, and took the business line independently. I was in his association there as well. Then later he left Bombay and came to Calcutta, and there we were his sub-lessee and next-door neighbour. There were four rooms. The ground floor was his laboratory. So, I had closer connection with him than any other Godbrothers. We also had deep discussions—about Bhagavad-Gita, the Gaudiya Math principles and Mahaprabhu, all these things.

Once I remember he sent a postcard from Allahabad to me, in which he said, “I am disgusted with human society. Rather the birds and the beasts seem to be very friendly to me, but I am disgusted with human society.” Then, after he took sannyasa, he devoted himself totally to his Bhagavatam translation, and gradually Prabhupada’s [Prabhupada Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur's] inspiration came and he went to your land.

Prabhupada had sent his men to England, but he wrote in Gaudiya, “Markin-muluk—the country of America—has not yet been attempted for Mahaprabhu’s service.” And he expressed his heartfelt desire that Mayapur, the land of Mahaprabhu, must be decorated with gold and diamonds. When Prabhupada had acquired some land for constructing Gaura Kunda, one of his old disciples arranged an exchange of that land for another piece of land nearby just on the East side, where presently Nitai Kunda is situated. Then Prabhupada told him, “I asked you to purchase the land, not exchange it for another, because the land you are offering for a swap is also necessary for a future purpose of mine.” In this way, a little heated discussion came up, and in the course of that a very transcendental sentiment arose in Prabhupada and he said, “The land of Mahaprabhu, the temple—superconsciously higher materials—will all be transcendentally decorated with diamonds and gold. I shall discover the whole of the dhama, and reveal it to the eyes of the people of the world. So much so, that if I need money, just by selling one brick of the temple I shall get millions, and with that I shall restore the whole dhama and show to the people what sort of opulence and majesty the dhama has.” So feelingly he expressed this. Madly he expressed such a desire to reveal the land of Mahaprabhu Chaitanyadev in a golden colour. “What was He? Radha-Govinda-milita-tanu—Radha-Govinda combined in One—the lustrous expression of the land of love and Beauty—and He who was so magnanimous came to distribute Himself to the people at large. That highly valuable thing was arranged to be given to the people at large. So magnanimous, so kind, it must be brought to the consciousness of the people that they may have such a prosperous prospect, and that they can attain that. And that is being distributed from here.” That was his feeling.

“We are chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra as given by Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanyadev and this is the main goal of life. We need all that is good, not bad, and this is possible by coming into the line of Sriman Mahaprabhu and Mahaprabhu has taught us humility, tolerance and giving honour to others.

“This is the process to proceed to our destination. This is the way to proceed to the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the transcendental world.”

—Swami B.S. Govinda

* * * * *

The Logo of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

By His Divine Grace
Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj￼

Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, where sankirtan is always going on, is inside Krishna’s flute, and the sound om, which is the very gist meaning of gayatri, comes from Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, radiating merciful rays. Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj explains that everything is found within om—coming from Krishna’s flute, its meaning is “Gayatri muralista-kirtana-dhanam Radha-padam dhimahi. Krishna’s flute does not make any other sound except for the glorification of Srimati Radharani.” That is the real meaning and gist of the gayatri mantram.

The position of the guru is like water; the servitors of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math are like lotuses; and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, worshipped in His divine form of Radha-Krishna (om), is the sun. The sun’s merciful rays nourish the lotus, but if there is no water—if one cannot take shelter of Sri Guru and His grace—then the lotus becomes burnt by the rays of the sun.

Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math’s Mission

srimach-chaitanya-sarasvata-mathavara-udgita-kirtir jaya-srim

bibhrat sambhati ganga-tata-nikata-nabadwipa-koladri-raje

yatra sri-gaura-sarasvata-mata-nirata-gaura-gatha grnanti

nityam rupanuga sri-krtamati-guru-gauranga-radha-jitasa

‘At this supremely enchanting divine ashram, destitute and spiritually loving devotees of Sri Gaura-Saraswati, who are expert at favourable practices of Krishna consciousness, constantly chant within their hopeful hearts the glories of Lord Sri Sri Gaurasundar, the greatly magnanimous source of all incarnations of the Lord, following in strict adherence the line of Sri Sri Rupa-Raghunath, the inexhaustible storehouse of the wealth of divine ecstatic consorthood love, and being eternally eager to engage in the loving service of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govindasundar and Their associates. This effulgent and supremely worshippable King among all temples, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, is situated within Koladwip, which is non-different from Sri Govardhan, the King of Mountains, on the enchanting bank of the revered Bhagirathi River, who rescues all fallen souls, in Sri Nabadwip Dham, a holy abode of touchstones, non-different from Sri Vrindavan. Capturing Jayasri (the Goddess of Victory – Srimati Radharani), it exists eternally, leaving the entire creation of moving and non-moving entities astonished in the extremely cooling and loving shade of the soaring victory flag of its ever-increasing celebrated renown.’

(The translation of the verse is rendered from the original Bengali translation written by Srila B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.)

Headquarters
of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Road,

Kolerganj, W.Bengal, 741302

Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

Bhanjipur, Tarakeshwar,

Hooghly, West Bengal, 712410

Phone: +91 96093 02310

Please see scsmathinternational.com for other addresses in India and worldwide.

Books and Publications of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

(English language)

(Available at scsmathinternational.com)

By Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj:

Search for Sri Krishna Reality the Beautiful

Sri Guru and His Grace

The Golden Volcano of Divine Love

Subjective Evolution of Consciousness

Loving Search for the Lost Servant

Centenary Anthology

Divine Aspiration

Exclusive Guardianship

Golden Staircase

Heart and Halo

Holy Engagement

Home Comfort

Inner Fulfillment

Ocean of Nectar

Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamaritam

Sri Sri Prema-dhama-devam Stotram

Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion – Volumes I, II, III, IV

By Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj:

Divine Servitor

Dignity of the Divine Servitor

Divine Guidance

Golden Reflections

The Benedictine Tree of Divine Aspiration

Affectionate Guidance

Life’s Destination

In Search of the Original Source

Nectarean Glories of Sri Nityananda Prabhu

Religion of the Heart

Revealed Truth

By Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj:

Guidance – Volumes I, II, III, IV

Guidance (Issues 1–30): collections of lectures (electronic)

Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya-mukta-mala

By Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur:

Saranagati

Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya

Dasa-mula Tattva

The Bhagavata

Other scriptures:

Sri Gaudiya Gitanjali (Kirtan Guide)

Holy Name and Offences to Be Avoided

Service Life

Srimad Bhagavad-gita

Sri Sri Prema-vivarta

Sri Brahma-samhita

(Many more publications in various languages are available at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in India and abroad. Please contact any of the Mission’s temples for further information.)