CENTENARY ANTHOLOGY

Sri Guru-Prasastih

In Glorification of Sri Gurudev

By Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj

sri-gaura-mandala majhe hapaniya grama
yetha avatirna mora prabhu guna-dhama [1]

My Divine Lord and Master, the Abode of all Transcendental Qualities, came down into this world at Village Hapaniya in the Holy Land of Sri Gaura-Mandal.

patita-pavani ganga-tira-sannihita
nyaya-ratna-vidyapitha bhuvana-vidita [2]

'Nyayaratna-Vidyapith' was a famous place of learning, situated near the banks of the Holy River Ganges that purifies the universe.

setha vaise viprabara prasanta udara
sri-upendra-chandra vidyaratna nama yanra [3]

There lived the jewel of Brahmanas, Sri Upendra Chandra 'Vidyaratna', peaceful and magnanimous.

bhattacharya-kula-ravi parama vidvana
nirantara seva-para laksmi-narayana [4]

Like the radiant sun of the Bhattacharyya family line, he was superbly learned; he was ever absorbed in the Divine Service of the Supreme Lord and His Consort, Sri Sri Laksmi-Narayana.

tanra patni gauri-devi parama-pavani
maha-sadhvi jaganmata prabhura janani [5]

His devoted wife was the gracious Srimati Gauri Devi—the great saintly lady, the mother of the universe. And she was the mother of my Lord.

atharasa satera sake saurasvina masa
sanibara chhabbisa divasa parakasa [6]

1817 Saka era, month of Asvin by the sun, on Saturday the 26th, was his Holy Day of Advent.

budha-ditya jiva-yoge tunga-graha-gane
ramachandra-rasyasraye virachandra-dine [7]

At the conjunction of the Sun and Mercury, and the Moon and Jupiter, with many stars in their highest position, my Lord chose the day of Sri Virachandra Prabhu in the shelter of the same sign of the zodiac that the Supreme Lord Sri Ramchandra appeared in.

subhankari pusya-anke kartiki-navami
dharani haila dhanya prabhu-pada chumi' [8]

At the auspicious moment of the eighth star Pusya on the ninth day of the month Kartik, mother Earth was blessed as she kissed the lotus feet of my Lord.

uthila ananda-rola acharya-bhavane
sankha-ghanta hulu-dhvani deya nari-gane [9]

A great joyous vibration filled the house of Acharya Vidyaratna as the pious ladies triumphantly blew the conch-shell and rang the bell.

ajanulambita-bhuja purata-sundara
devi anke sobhe divya-jyoti manohara [10]

His Form was beautiful radiant golden. His long arms reached to his knees, the symptom of the great soul. As he curled up in the lap of his gracious mother, a charming Divine Radiance came forth.

heriya putrera mukha mugdha pitamata
mugdha haila putra-rupe yata pativrata [11]

Seeing their son's beauty, mother and father, and all the chaste wives present were entranced.

ramachandra janma-ksana smari viprabara
rakhila putrera nama ramendra-sundara [12]

That best of Brahmanas remembered the auspicious moment of the Appearance of Lord Ramchandra, and so it was that he named his beloved, beautiful son Sri Ramendra.

apurva balaka sobha vyapila bhuvane
anindya ramendra chandra bare dine dine [13]

The marvellous beauty of the child pervaded the universe. And it was day by day that the spotless moon Sri Ramendra grew and grew.

dekhite dekhite prabhu labhiya yauvana
parama samrddha kari dhana uparjana [14]

All could see as he gracefully bloomed in youth, the supreme treasure of wisdom was his natural acquisition.

divya subimala tanu maha-jyotirmaya
nirakhi sakala loka sadhvasa manaya [15]

Seeing his greatly effulgent Divine Perfect Form, all were moved to offer him all respects with reverence.

vairagya-bhavita-bhakti-purna kalevara
sauvala-pihita yena maha-sarovara [16]

His body, like a great lake covered by moss, was filled with Devotion and absorbed in indifference for the world.

maha-jnani suka-praya virakta-pradhana
heri pita-mata mane chinte anuksana [17]

Seeing the extreme detachment in his nature just like the great savant Sukadev, his mother and father began to feel a constant anxiety.

sannyasi haibe putra na rahive ghare
maha-yogi maha-tyagi laksana sarire [18]

“Our son will be a sannyasi, he won't stay at home. All the symptoms of a Paramhamsa completely indifferent to the world are present in his body."

antare ananda bahye duhkha parakasa
kathodine kaila vipra sri-vaikuntha-vasa [19]

Feeling ecstasy within yet showing sorrow outwardly, the Brahmana Sri Upendra Chandra left the world for the Holy Abode Vaikuntha.

krame krame prabhu mora apana prakasi
svechchhaya vandhana khandi haila sannyasi [20]

Gradually, my Lord revealed himself to the world, and by his sweet will breaking all ties with the world, he became a Sannyasi.

grha-tyaji mayapura karila vijaya
sri-gauranga-janma-bhumi chidananda-maya [21]

Leaving home forever he made his auspicious arrival at Mayapur, the Divine Ecstatic Land of Sri Gauranga's Advent.

sri-bhakti-siddhanta sarasvati prabhu-sthane
laila sannyasa dina-uddhara karane [22]

Just for delivering the poor souls of this world, he accepted Sannyas from Prabhupad Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami.

sri-bhakti-raksaka sankirtana-murti-dhara
sei hetu guru nama rakhila sridhara [23]

Because he is the Guardian of Devotion as the very embodiment of the world chanting of the Glories of the Supreme Lord, his Guru named him Srila Sridhar Maharaj, the Lord of the highest Wealth of the soul.

patita-pavana-rupe tridandira vese
nama-prema vitariya bule dese dese [24]

As the saviour of the fallen, he took the mantle of the medicant holding the triple staff, tridanda, and wandering from place to place he distributed Divine Love for the Holy Name of the Lord.

dina hina papi tapi sabare udhari
amrta sinchila visve, yetha gaura-hari [25]

Delivering the sinners and suffering souls from the worst conditions of life, he showered nectar all over the universe just as did our Lord Sri Gaurahari.

jaya jaya patita-pavana prabhu-bara
nyasi chura-mani bhakti-raksaka sridhara [26]

All Glory, all Glory to the Great Benevolent Lord, the crown-jewel of Sannyasins, Srila Bhakti Rak!ak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

asankhya pranati tava pada-padme mora
krpaya karaha nasa karma-bandha ghora [27]

My countless prostrate obeisances unto your holy lotus feet. Be gracious and break my terrible mundane bondage.

bhavarnave padi sudha habudubu khai
e adhame udhariya deha pade thani [28]

I am drowning in this material ocean. Please rescue this fallen soul and grant him a place at your lotus feet.

vandi avirbhava tithi sri-krsna-navami
yenha dhanya haila prabhu-pada-padma chumi [29]

I sing the Glories of the day of your Advent, the ninth day of the dark moon, who was so blessed to kiss the lotus feet of Your Divine Grace.

vandi hapaniya grama maha-tirtha-vadhi
vandi prabhu sri-upendra-chandra-dayambudhi [30]

I sing the Glories of Hapaniya Village, the great place of pilgrimage, I sing the Glories of the home of Sri Upendra Chandra Prabhu.

vandi nitya bhattacharya kulabdha-bhaskara
vandi vidyaratna putra ramendra-sundara [31]

I eternally sing the Glories of Sri Upendra Chandra Vidyaratna's Divine son who is the merciful radiant sun, Sri Ramendra Sundar, who gave the connection of his Divine Ray to the lotus flower of the Bhattacharya heritage.

sabadhane vando mui gauri-devi mata
yanra anka alo kari prabhu prakasita [32]

Also, I very carefully sing the Glories of Mother Gauri Devi, whose lap was effulgent with the merciful Advent of my Lord.

prabhura sambhandha-dhari yateka sujana
sanande vandana kari sabara charana [33]

With joy I sing the Glories of the feet of all the auspicious souls who had a relationship with my Lord.

sabe krpa kari more kara asirvada
nirvighne hauka labha prabhura prasada [34]

It is my prayer to you all, please be merciful and bless me that I may without obstacles attain the Loving Service of my Lord.

CONTENTS

Foreword: The Exclusive Line of Srila Saraswati Thakur
Introduction: This Extremely Auspicious Day

PART 1
Chapter 1: Siksa-Guru
Chapter 2: Transcendental History
Chapter 3: Srila Guru Maharaj Remembers

PART 2
Chapter 4: Hearing to See
Chapter 5: The Guide
Chapter 6: Specific Service
Chapter 7: The Willing and the Able
Chapter 8: A Wonderful Touch
Chapter 9: Faith and Harmony
Chapter 10: Focussed to Guru
Chapter 11: Unadulterated Purity
Chapter 12: Surrender, Service Dedication
Chapter 13: The Harmonizing Spirit
Chapter 14: Harmony—Beauty's Necessity
Chapter 15: Ambition of Life
Chapter 16: Place of Solution: Sri Nabadwip Dham
Sri Guru-Prasastih