Our Remarkable Godbrother – An Appreciation of Gour Govinda Maharaja

By Patita Pavana das Adhikary

It was thirty-five years ago, and today my memory is a bit vague, but I recall the incident went something like this.

The Meeting

Vrindavana, 1974-5: It might have been the always-blissful English brahmachary Gunarnava or maybe the philosophical Scottish devotee Smara Hari who approached me with the news. “Hey, Patit,” he called, “A sadhu just asked Shrila Prabhupada for initiation.” “Wow, good luck to that Maharaja,” I chuckled pessimistically. After all, we had both been Prabhupada’s disciples for a number of years, and had been in India long enough to know that most sadhus preferred to keep their distance from us “phoren bhaktas”.

Sure, most of the yogis and renunciates appreciated the fact that we were doing our level best, but they were reticent about mingling; maybe rightfully so. There were the wild rumors that we were foreign spies, or that we had strange parties into the night, but I doubt any intelligent person took those seriously.

I think what really kept the genuine article at arm’s length from us was that we were neophyte students of an ancient culture. And–truth be told–in the length and breadth of India and the whole wide world, too, only Prabhupada possessed the bell-metal-into-gold savvy to tame the savage white man and create devotees from base mlecchas. Maybe the other so-called gurus who were preaching in the West had some following, but generally they wore their Western students the way Boy Scouts wear merit badges.*(1)

Though the number of our Hindu well-wishers in India was growing–especially among the vaishyas–the brahmanas and sadhus remained wary. And who could blame those pious sadhus and brahmanas anyway? When it came to preaching Vedic philosophy we Americans and Europeans were often overbold, sometimes even rude. For some of us, preaching did not go far beyond that all-purpose admonition, “You’re in Maya!” Hindus naturally wondered at the presumptuousness of foreigners telling them a thing or two about a culture they felt “flowed in their blood”, while we felt that they had compromised away the value of their Vedic heritage. Although we had learned something about prachar (preaching), what we lacked was achar–a standard of behavior acceptable to Indian sensibilities. We had seen a few sadhus join us, only to turn and leave within the week when asked to mop the ashram or clean the pots. So I might not have been blamed for being skeptical when told that a sadhu had approached Shrila Prabhupada for initiation. However, my Godbrother cautioned me to avoid snap judgments, “Not so fast, Prabhu, he seems very sincere. Somehow he’s different.”

As events would unfold, this sadhu who had approached Shrila Prabhupada–and who would soon become Shrila Gour Govinda Swami–was not at all like the others who had come and gone away. The wandering pilgrim who was signing on as one of Shrila Prabhupada’s men was neither a mayavadi yogi nor a dry renunciate given over to abstract meditation. He did not imagine that religious philosophies can be opportunistically manufactured by selecting wise-sounding homilies from professional gurus, then knitting them together into a patchwork doctrine of convenience. Neither had he approached the acharya like some profit-motivated broker with the baited offering of conditional service. He did not want a green card, nor was he looking to hang with a fraternity of foreigners. No boasting masked ulterior motives. Neither was he some New Age “guru collector” who imagines his spiritual advancement hinges upon meeting many yogis for bragging rights. He was not seeking respect, which in fact appeared to be the greatest obstacle of those who felt themselves superior by dint of some tapasya or high birth. I was humbled to discover that his motive was unconditional surrender and service at the lotus feet of the empowered representative of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

As I would learn many years later, Gour Govinda Maharaja sprang from a family of famous Orissan Gaudiya kirtan leaders, devotional mystics and Vaishnava renunciates. There in Vrindavana after a long, long search he had immediately recognized Shrila Prabhupada as the acharya, the very embodiment of Lord Chaitanya’s worldwide movement. Full surrender took only a moment. Devotees would see him ascend to the post of guru in his own right. He would rise from the ranks to become a victorious preacher and modern sampradaya link, proving his mettle over again in the fire of bhakti-yoga.

And by the time he would suddenly leave this world in Mayapur in January 1996 at the calling of Lord Shri Krishna, he would enhance the glory of ISKCON by founding two major centers of pilgrimage on behalf of his worshipable Guru Maharaja.

A Life of Devotion

His life is briefly described in the inspiring little book “Gopalju, the Beloved Deity of Gour Govinda Swami” penned by his ever-faithful disciple Shriman Madhavananda Das. At birth, his pious parents had pointed to his future by giving him a name of Lord Krishna. Braja Bandhu Manik came into this world in the interior village of Jagannathpur, Orissa. His earliest memories were of his love for the family Deity Gopaljiu of the nearby village Gadegiri. It was his relationship with Shri Gopaljiu that would guide and shape every moment of his life.

By the age of eight, Braja Bandhu was discoursing from the Gita and the Bhagavat. Married at twenty-three, he raised a large family, supporting them on a school teacher’s salary. Then in 1974 at forty-five he took the name of Gour Gopal and suddenly walked out of his house to search the length and breadth of India for a bona fide spiritual master. Penniless, he wandered as a pilgrim from India’s tip at Kanya Kumari where the waters of three great oceans mingle, to the Himalayas where he discoursed with countless yogis on the mysteries of life and its goal. Satisfaction eluded him, for he found in his journey that India’s so-called spiritual preceptors were ignoring the command of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself in His full avatara as Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The Lord’s sankirtan movement had been overlooked in favor of shadowy spiritual practices that are wholly unsuitable for the present age. Rejecting the many impersonalists he met along the way, Gour Gopal turned his footsteps toward the land for which he had been named. At last the seeker arrived in Vraja Mandala.

Ironically, at a Gaudiya Math temple in Mathura the brahmacharis mistook him for a mayavadi and abruptly showed him the door. Later, in Vrindavana he spotted a sign that led him to the construction site of ISKCON’s proposed Krishna Balarama Mandir. There a devotee handed him a Back to Godhead. Looking through the magazine, Gour Gopal was delighted to find the three things he was looking for in his prospective guru: Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the mahamantra and Shrimad Bhagavatam. As if by Providence, Shrila Prabhupada happened to be there as though waiting for him.

When Gour Gopal offered his obeisances, Shrila Prabhpada’s first words were, “Have you taken sannyasa? I will give you sannyasa.” In this way the World Guru immediately knew the mind of the sincere candidate and offered the pilgrim what he had left home for. Less than a year later, His Divine Grace would offer him cloth and danda, as Braja Bandhu, now Gour Gopal, became transformed into Shrila Gour Govinda Swami on the holy day of Rama Navami at the opening of the Shri Krishna Balarama Temple in Vrindavana.
Lord Gopaljiu of Gadeigiri

Spiritual initiation from Shrila Prabhupada only deepened Gour Govinda Swami’s devotion to his beloved Deity of Shri Gopaljiu back in Gadeigiri. This village of Gadeigiri was founded in the late 1600’s by an ancestor of Shri Gour Govinda Maharaja named Shri Gadai Giri. Gadai Giri used to come down from Midnapur, today part of West Bengal, to sell door to door brass and metal items. While on one such trip, he heard coming from the jungle, the auspicious sounds of a flute, the tinkle of ankle bells and the blowing of a conch intermingling with the calls of various birds. A local sadhu whom Gadai Giri had befriended recommended that he make his home in that very spot, advising him that Lord Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must be present there. And wherever Krishna lives, there dwells Goddess Lakshmi.

Hence, all of Gadai Giri’s needs would be met if he were to simply remain there in adoration of the Supreme Lord. Thus Shri Gadai Giri made a clearing from the jungle and built a thatched-roof home. He gave up his business, constructed a small temple to Dadhi Baman* (2) and engaged full time in the glorification of the Supreme Lord through kirtan and study of the Shrimad Bhagavatam.

Gadai Giri’s only son was Gopal Giri, who became a great devotee of Lord Jagannath and a master of kirtan. Gopal Giri intensely desired to worship a Deity of Lord Krishna from Vrindavana, but in those days, long before trains and buses, he had no way to make the pilgrimage to Vrajabhumi. Hence he shifted from Gadeigiri to Puri thinking that somehow Lord Krishna would come to him there. At the temple of Lord Jagannath he was employed by the king as the poddar or cashier. At Puri he frequently met sadhus whom he used to request to bring him a Deity of Gopal from Vraja, but his wish remained unfulfilled.

At that time there was a Vaishnava mendicant in far away Vrajabhumi who was worshipping a Deity of Lord Gopal. While the sannyasi went for begging alms daily, the Deity would accompany him in a cloth bag. One night the sadhu had a vision in which Lord Gopal ordered the renunciate to take Him to Puri where He desired to accept the adoration of Gopal Giri. At first the sadhu disregarded the command of the Lord as a mere dream. So a few days later, the Lord appeared again, this time soundly beating the sadhu across the legs till they bled. The Vaishnava awoke in pain and fervently apologized to Lord Gopal for ignoring His order. He immediately began the 2½ month trek walking to Puri. Gopal Giri was well known in Puri and there the sadhu had no difficulty in locating him.

When they met, the sadhu handed over his Gopal Deity as per the divine instruction. When he showed the wounds on his legs, Gopal Giri healed them by his mere touch. Gopal Giri offered the sadhu as much money as he liked, but he declined, requesting instead that he remain with Lord Gopal as his pujari. Gopal Giri had a brass Deity of Shrimati Radharani made for the Deity’s pleasure, and resigned from his post, returning to Gadeigiri to engage in kirtan. The sadhu remained there in seva for twenty years and when he departed this world, a samadhi was built for him. Gopal Giri’s kirtan in the Odissi Gaudiya style of Shri Rasikananada and Shri Shyamanada Prabhus became so famous that it would be inscribed in the history book of the Jagannath Temple at Puri that the Gadeigiri kirtan group should always be allowed to perform in the temple.

The tradition of employing a sannyasi pujari for Shri Gopaljiu of Gadeigiri continued for generations. In the mid-1800’s a crooked sannyasi engaged in His seva kidnapped the Deities in the still of night. Meanwhile, Lord Gopal alerted Gadai Giri’s great-great grandson Bhagavat Charan in a dream that He was being stolen away. By the will of Providence, the fleeing sadhu was bitten on his way by a poisonous snake. Bhagavat Charan found the thievish pujari lying dead, and returned Lord Radha-Gopal to the temple. Afterwards, he only engaged married brahmanas in Thakur-seva.

In the early 1900’s, care of the temple fell to the great-great-great-great-great-grandson of Gadai Giri, named Bauri Giri. Even government officers would come for the darshan of Bauri Giri, a paramhamsa bhakta said to have mystic powers to heal illness by the grace of Lord Gopajiu. One deputy magistrate named Bal Mukunda Kanungo used to come for his darshan, and it was his grand daughter who would hand over her property to Shrila Prabhupada for the future ISKCON Bhubaneshwara.

ISKCON Bhubaneswar

In the latter half of the Twentieth Century the grandson of Bhauri Giri, Ghanashyam, took over the seva of Gopaljiu. One day in a dream, the Deity instructed Ghanashyam to turn over His seva to Gour Govinda Maharaja. There had been discussion of Lord Gopaljiu’s seva coming under the banner of ISKCON, but Ghanashyam had been a little reluctant. Now his wife heard him telling Lord Gopaljiu in his sleep, “I will give, I will give.” Upon waking, Ghanashyam told her of how Lord Gopaljiu spoke to him from the window.

A few days later Gour Govinda Swami arrived at Gadeigiri for darshan, and Ghanashayam Giri, honoring the Lord’s request, donated Lord Gopaljiu, His paraphernalia and His property to our dear Godbrother. Shrila Gour Govinda Maharaja immediately put everything in the name of ISKCON for the pleasure of Shrila Prabhupada setting the example that everything in the disciple’s possession is the property of Shri Guru. Then during his conversation with Ghanashyam Giri, Gour Govinda Maharaja revealed that Lord Gopaljiu had spoken with him at the same time as He had ordered Ghanashyama to offer Him to ISKCON.

Shrila Gour Govinda Maharaja’s Divine Legacy

Like several of his mystical ancestors, Gour Govinda Swami predicted his own departure and, like many of them, it would prove to be in the holy month of Magha. That is a time when the sun is in uttarayana, described in the Gita as one of the prerequisites for liberation. Like the other mahabhagavatas in his family tree who departed this world of their own accord, our remarkable Godbrother accepted maha-samadhi after Gopaljiu’s darshan. And so it was in Magha of 1996 after a visit to Gadeigiri that His Holiness Shrila Gour Govinda Thakur confided in a few devotees that he would soon leave this world. He departed soon thereafter at Shridham Mayapur on the sacred appearance day of Shrila Shri Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur.

Our revered Godbrother left behind a notable legacy of service and accomplishments for the pleasure of his spiritual master, for the expansion of ISKCON and for benefit for the entire world. He is remembered primarily for the place of pilgrimage he developed at Bhubaneshwar, celebrated as ISKCON’s second Shri Krishna Balarama Mandir. By the wish of Shrila Prabhupada, the Deities of the Supreme Lord and His elder brother are of brass, and there is also a Deity of Lord Govinda in the same Divine Form as Shri Gopaljiu. Many had wondered at the remote spot Shrila Prabhupada chose for the temple. However, the all-knowing Shrila Prabhupada answered with a prediction that the area would become a major part of the city and an internationally-recognized tirtha-bhumi, which has now come to pass. Indeed, Shrila Prabhupada spent seventeen days in Bhubaneshwara with Gour Govinda Maharaja domiciling in a hut our Godbrother built for the pleasure of his Guru Maharaja. At that time Shrila Prabhupada encouraged him by telling of a prediction that Gaudiya Vaishnavism would spread all over the world from Orissa. Then, of course, there is the Deity Who guided his every step of his life and Who brought him to Shrila Prabhupada. Shri Gour Govinda Swami’s beautiful Radha-Gopaljiu Temple at Gadeigiri has also become a major ISKCON place of pilgrimage.

Gadeigiri Temple

For the pleasure of Shrila Prabhupada, our illustrious Godbrother introduced an Oriyan flavor of Gaudiya Vaishnavism into the family of ISKCON adding to the movement’s divine glory. By this he demonstrated that devotional service is not robotic, rather it is a personal expression of the individual devotee’s love for Shri Guru expressed through unalloyed service. Yet, more importantly, H.H.Gour Govinda Maharaja always emphasized the necessity of maintaining the Society as desired by Shrila Prabhupada. While not the goal in and of itself, the foundation and structure of ISKCON serves as a base that shores up the spiritual needs of both the preachers and the public they enlighten. Maharaja remained always a staunch and vigilant opponent of outside influences that would only weaken the minds and newfound faith of the Society’s worldwide members. Regarding devotees running for support and shelter outside the Society against the will of the founder-acharya, His Holiness offered this advice in a letter:

“It is a fact that if an elevated Vaishnava is there, then one should go and take his association. There is no harm in that. But in this case there is a danger that the discipline in our organization will be affected adversely. If the leaders are going outside of ISKCON, how will we be able to maintain discipline? Srila Prabhupada has formed this society, and this threat to his society will only cause him pain.”

Then in another letter he advised along the same lines:

“My opinion is that Srila Prabhupada will not be happy with these senior devotees going outside of ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada has said that everything is in his books. If you try to understand this, then by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada it will all be made clear to you.”

His Holiness made the following statement in 1994:

“There are three things that are very important to me. One is that I want to preach to the preachers. It causes me so much pain to see the devotees falling down and going away. The second thing is that I want to show how everything is in Prabhupada’s books. Those persons who are saying that Srila Prabhupada only gave ABC, it causes me so much pain in my heart. I want to make them silent. And the third thing is that I want to show how everything is in ISKCON and that devotees do not have to go elsewhere for higher teachings.”

Our remarkable Godbrother also left behind a grand legacy of noteworthy Vaishnava literary contributions of his own. To read Godbrothers’ reviews of his masterful The Embankment of Separation and Mathura Meets Vrindavana, click here:

http://www.gopaljiu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=121&Itemid=87

Today from Bhubaneshwar his disciples continue to preach his unsullied parampara message of pure love of God through Krishna consciousness. Always emphasizing scripture, whatever he said he always backed up with shastric references, and he came down heavily on those who did not follow suit. His disciples emulate his example that utmost tolerance is realized when the mind is placed at feet of Shri Guru in an attitude of service. They never find fault with the overall organization in an understanding that the Society remains as strong as its weakest links, and strengthening that structure rests upon each disciple’s personal tolerance. The journal called Shri Krishna Kathamrita produced by his disciples from ISKCON Bhubaneshwar is celebrated as among the finest current Vaishnava periodicals in the world. And any devotee who reads the book Gopaljiu will find his heart transformed.

Today, some thirty-five years after the briefest of encounters, it has become this Godbrother’s ardent desire to someday visit the dual tirthas that HH Gour Govinda Maharaja established by the grace of Shrila Prabhupada and Lord Gopaljiu. By his example and activities, he is celebrated by his disciples as a modern-day acharya in his own right, a tireless preacher of Krishna consciousness, and a saint known for tolerance who never deviated from the order of Guru Maharaja.

To learn more about the work of HH Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja, visit www.gopaljiu.org. While there, sign up for the free online fortnightly Shri Krishna Kathamrita Bindhu and thereby enhance your Krishna consciousness. For more on ISKCON Gadeigiri , visit www.gopaljiutempel.com. Lectures by His Holiness can be accessed via www.youtube.com.

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*1. As evidence of this, even today many hundreds of thousands of pages of parampara literature have emerged from the pens of Prabhupada’s Western Vaishnavas, yet all the millions of Western fashion yogis world wide together have produced hardly a word of bona fide Vedic text whatsoever. That is the value of parampara disseminated via the bona fide spiritual master surcharged with the power and glory of the great Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradya.

*2. In Orissa, whenever Lord Jagannath is worshipped without the Deities of Goddess
Subhadra and His brother Lord Balarama, He is called Dadhi Baman or Patita Pavana.

Smriti Sabha of HG Uttama Caitanya Pr

By Rasika Murari Das

Sri Sri Radha Syamasunder ki, Jaya

Sri Sri Jaganath Baladeva Subhaadra Maiya ki,Jaya

Sri Sri Gaura Nitai ki,Jaya

Sri Sri Nrsinghadev ki,Jaya

Srila Prabhupada ki, Jaya

It was a cool overcast morning with the promise of rain unfulfilled on the Sunday morning of 26 July 2009, that greeted family, friends, admirers and well wishers from all over Malaysia and a few parts of the world who were all gathered at Sri Jaganath Mandir Kuala Lumpur to attend the glorious Smrthi Sabha ceremony of its late beloved president and visionary leader, His Grace Uttama Caitanya Das Brahmacari. This was a celebration of his outstanding life and work, and in a way, the marking of a close of an era in the chapter of ISKCON Kuala Lumpur and of ISKCON Malaysia as a whole.

The service began as in a typical Sunday morning with Darshan Arati. The Deities were very sweet and resplendent in the very colors and dresses that were the personal favorites of His Grace Uttama prabhu during the times he used to do the dressing service. This was followed by Guru Puja and Kirtan. Shortly after recitation of Sri Sikshastakam prayers and group Japa, the memorial ceremony began proper with a discourse given by HG Ajamila prabhu, a very senior Prabhupada disciple, who spoke on the deep philosophy concerning the disappearances of Vaishnavas. He spoke very poignantly of how devotees are always protected by the Lord in all circumstances and how the effect of the process of chanting the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra throughout ones life can be practically seen working at the time of death especially in the manner of one’s passing.

After a short breakfast, at about 9.30am, HG Mulakarnam prabhu presented a PowerPoint slide show showcasing a collection of photographs about the life and activities of HG Uttama Caitanya prabhu, right from his early childhood (then known as Umakanthan), through his college days and social work years, all the way through his ISKCON life till his passing and cremation. The collection of memories immortalized in those photographs left quite a number of people in the audience blurry eyed and overcome with grief.

Soon after, the eulogies began. This was the day all of us came together and were united not only in our desire to pay our respects to His Grace Uttama Caitanya prabhu, but rather in our need to do so, for the outpouring of offerings were numerous and almost all were heart rending and yet inconceivably sweet, which left us washed and purified in its wake, leaving only a sense of deep loss.

HG Simheswara prabhu as ISKCON Malaysia Secretary General was given the honor of first offering to HG Uttama Caitanya pr, followed by HG Vrndavan Candra prabhu who was visibly emotional. HG Markandeya pr who was his close friend made a beautiful offering in Tamil about how the Lord brings his dear devotee back. HG Uttama pr’s sister gave a heart rending homage describing his early qualities and activities and left most of us in tears with a heart wrenching thank you to the SJMKL congregation for giving our love to him. This was followed by HG Tyaga Caitanya pr who was the first one to welcome him to SJMKL back in 1986. He spoke on how they used to stay in Vrndavan together and have many intimate conversations sharing their realizations of the Dham. HG Dvija Gauranga pr from Bukit Mertajam, also spoke about their close friendship. HG Uttama pr’s aunty then spoke of his determination in taking up Brahmachari vows many years back when he was staying at her home in Singapore. She spoke on many memories on how simple and austere he was and encapsulated the essence in a sweet Tamil poem which she read. In honor of His Grace’s eloquence in giving spiritual discourses in Tamil, Her Grace Shanti Rupa mataji offered a beautiful poem in Tamil glorifying him in how he lived up to the purport oh his name “Uttama” which means topmost, in all that he did. Many others submitted their offerings as well, we had HG Devaki Nandana pr the temple president from Singapore, HG Ravilocan pr, HG Tatvavit pr and others. Notably, Tan Seri Datuk Seri Dr. Mahadevan who was present also gave his short address in glorifying the departed. Amongst others present was Datin Paduka Mother Manggalam of the Pure Life Divine Society who knew him personally. HG Krishna Candra pr, who was the facilitator, shared with us many light memories of HG Uttama pr.

A small skit was planned and performed at about 11.30am by Vraja Arts Theatre in tribute of His Grace Uttama Caitanya pr who was also the founder. It was about the passing of Haridas Thakur, a very apt theme for the occasion, masterfully performed, and sending forth a powerful and soothing message that the passing of a Vaishnava is always glorious.

The culmination of the ceremony was at noon with the offering of Arati and ghee lamps by HG Tatvavit pr and HG Tyaga Caitanya pr to the photo of HG Uttama Caitanya Pr amidst the singing of “Ohe Vaishnava Thakura” by the congregation. This was followed by Puspanjali amidst ecstatic Kirtan in the very temple hall where in life, memories of HG Uttama pr himself leading the kirtan was in our thoughts.

HG Uttama prabhu would always ensure that guests of the temple were always fed prasadam sumptuously. In his honor, an enormous feast was served at the end of the ceremony.

We especially would like to thank HG Simheswara pr, National Council leaders, leaders from Singapore and other parts of Malaysia, Tan Seri Datuk Seri Dr. Mahadevan, Datin Paduka Mother Mangallam, and devotees from Thailand, Bali and India who were there to grace the occasion.

Much appreciation is lauded to HG Mathura Lilesvari mtj for her thoughtfulness in starting a tribute Blog that sees more than 50 offerings from world ISKCON community and Maharajas, HG Mulakarnam pr for preparing the PowerPoint show, to HG Krsna Chandra pr for coordinating the homage’s, to Kamalanthan pr and Bhakta Nadesh and team for the skit performance, to Sriman Mayur and team for wonderful service of taking care of the guests and HG Uttama Caitanya Pr’s family members, to HG Shanti Rupa mtj and team for the excellent feast, to HG Sarva Tirta pr and Team for the prasad serving coordination, To HG Vishnu Caitanya pr and HG Ravi Locana pr for the overall planning and coordination of the Smrti Sabha ceremony and also to HG Ramananda Gaura pr and team for the seating arrangements.

On behalf of SJMKL management we would also like to thank all the various sponsors and devotees who assisted in making this Smrthi Sabha ceremony of our beloved and much missed president an unforgettable event etched forever in our hearts, for such was his presence in life as was befitting his glorious passing. He was like the cool breeze that blew in and touched everyone and alike, and which suddenly left us at a thought leaving a vacuum in our hearts. However, his legacy and his instructions will live on, and armed with the presence and support of each other, we will traverse the uncharted waters of a new era in ISKCON KL and Malaysia as would have been his ardent desire, as is our responsibility to him, Guru and Gauranga.

Hare Krsna

Vaisnavism in Sikhism

By Radhikakrpa Devi Dasi

This is a cover story for recent Indian BTG and that would help preaching all over the world.

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As Arjuna was blessed with “Divya Chaksu” (special eyes to see Krsna) ;Srila Prabhupada blessed me to fathom the depth of scriptures with the special eyes of real knowledge.
For me, accepting Krishna consciousness was not hard, but being in it became a challenge. I am a progeny of Sikh parents and married into a Hindu Punjabi family. My transformation from Randeep Anand to Radhika-kripa Devi Dasi was the most decisive moment of my life. I was quite apprehensive of taking a right path at that crossroad of life. Inspiration, courage, and determination played a vital role.
I had to confront queries, doubts, arguments that were often hit with a view to defy. Not ready to be defeated I stood the trial. I sought a solution which could pacify all, as I was amidst two different so-called man-made faiths. With the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and my spiritual master His Holiness Gopala Krishna Gosvami, I drowned myself into the ocean of scriptures.
I gravely engrossed myself in the study of Sri Guru Granth Sahib (the religious scripture of Sikhs) as well as Bhagavad-gita As It Is. I prayed to Sri Sri Radha Syamasundar to let me derive a conclusion that would satisfy all the rivals. They answered my prayers enlightening me to fathom the depth of both the scriptures. I could now clear most of the doubts and suspicions quite authentically quoting from the scriptures.
Here are some enlightening thoughts and quotes I would like to share that reveal a lot for the common intelligentsia.

The following are mystical lines unraveled from the sacred scripture of the Sikh faith Sri Guru Granth Sahib. This is a compilation of verses sung in the praise of Hari, Govinda, Rama and guru. The scripture recommends the human being to become a “Sikh” (sishya), or a disciple of the spiritual master, in order to attain the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord. Sri Guru Grantha Sahib is composed in a poetic form in various classical ragas.

Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh guru, recites in the Raga Ramakali Mahala 1, Dakhni Omkar as follows:

Ik omkara satgur prasada
Omkara brahma utpatti
Omkara kian jin cit
Omkara sail jug bhaya
Omkara ved nirmaya
Omkara sabad udraya
Omkara gurmukh taraya
Onam akhar suno bicara
Onam akhar tribhuvan sara
Sun pandey kia likhau janjala
Likh rama nama gurmukh gopala

Translation:
God is one, realized by the grace of the guru.
Absolute Truth Om is the creator of Brahma.
Brahma kept Om in his heart, in his consciousness.
Absolute Truth is the creator of mountains, eras (yugas).
Absolute Truth is the one from whom Vedasa come.
Omkara is the word that liberates.
Omkara liberates the ones who follow the instruction of their spiritual master.
Om is the word you listen and ponder.
Om is the word—the essence of the three worlds.
Listen O pandita! Why you pen down all worldly deeds
Write only the name of Rama and Gopala attributed by the mercy of guru.

Lord Krishna declares in Bhagavad-gita (7.8), pranavah sarva-vedeshu: “I am syllable om in the Vedic mantras.”

Guru Grantha Sahib also mentions how Krishna is the source of Brahma.
Nabh kamal tey brahma upjaya ved padaya mukh kantt sawar
Ta ko antt na jai lakhna awat jat rahaye gubar
Pritam kiu visrahaymeray prana-adhar
Jaki bhagat karahay jan puray muni jan seway gur vicar||1|| Rahau
Ravi sai dipak ja key tribhuvan eka jyot murari
Gurmukh hoi su ahinis nirmal manmukh rain andhar

Translation:
After appearing from the lotus stem originating from Vishnu’s naval Brahma cleared his
throat and got absorbed in the Vedas. But he could not fathom the mysteries of the Supreme and was entangled in the cycle of coming and going (birth and death). O my beloved Lord! How can one forget the Supreme on whom all are dependant? The devotees are absorbed in His devotion. The sages, the saints under their guru’s instructions are engrossed in serving the Supreme. Sun, moon and stars all belong to Him and in all the three worlds only Murari is pervading. Only one who follows guru’s instruction is purified but the one who is a mental speculator always wander in darkness.
The lines below quite clearly portray the Supreme Lord leaving nothing to wild imagination.

“Kanval nain madhur bain kot sang sai sobh kahat ma yasoda jisaih dahi bhata khai jiu
Dekh rupa ati anupa moh maha mug bhai kinkni
Sabad jhanatkara khayl pahi jiu

kala kalam hukam hatha kahuhu kaun mayt sakai eis braham jnana dhiyana dharat hiay chaeh jiu
sat sac srinivasa adi purukh sada tuhi vaha guru vaha guru vaha guru vaha jiu ||1||6||

Rama naam parama dhama sudh budh nireekar baysumar sarbar ka-o kahi jio
Suthar cit bhagat hit bhekh dhari-o hirnaksha hari-o nakh bidara jiu

sankha-cakra-gada-padma- apa ki-o chadama aprama para parbhrama a lakha-ee kaun tahey jiu

sat sac srinivasa … ||2||7||

pita basan kund dasan priya sahit kanth mala mukuta sisa mor pankh cahih jiu

bey vazir bade dhira dharma ang alakh agam khel kia apna-i uchah jiu

akath katha na ja-i tina lok rahiya samae sutah sidh rupa dhario sahan kai sah jiu

sat sac srinivasa … ||3||8||

Translation:
Lord has lotus eyes, speaks sweet words like honey, millions are in His congregation, glorifying Him and Mother Yasoda feeds Him with curd and cooked rice.
Seeing the beauty of most beautiful and listening to the melodious sound of anklets and the waistband, she (Yasoda) captivated by the motherly love plays with Him.
The pen that writes the order of death is in Your hand O Lord!
Tell! Who can escape it? Siva and Brahma with a happy heart learn knowledge and want to meditate upon You.

You are the Absolute Truth. Goddess Laxmi is Your maidservant and You are the oldest person (adi purusha) parabrahman and I glorify You. You are vaha guru vaha guru vaha guru. ||1||6||

Rama’s name is the ultimate abode. You are pure wisdom, You are infinite and can take any form. Who can match You?

For the love of Your devotee You disguised to kill Hiranyakasipu with Your nails.

You created the conch, disc, mace, lotus to bind by Your spell. O Infinite Supreme God who can know You ?

You are the Absolute Truth…………………………||2||7||

You wear yellow clothes, Your teeth look like jasmine buds; You enjoy with Your consort (Srimati Radharani).You wear a long garland and a crown decorated with peacock feathers.

You require no minister to render advice, most patient; You are inaccessible, creator of the whole play O Lovable!

O king of the kings, lovable, Your story cannot be narrated; You are pervading in the three worlds, and You can adopt any form You desire.

You are the… ||3||8||

Nestled in the Swayyaa Mahalley 4 on page 1402 of the scripture these lines quoted above define and glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord is addressed here as vaha guru.

The meaning of word vaha guru is well put forth by Bhai Gurdasa ji who is a contemporary of the fifth Sikh guru Arjun Dev ji. He is the one who penned down the Granth Sahib while the fifth guru recited it.
Bhai Gurdasa has authored a book called ‘Vaara’ where he elaborates on the compilation of the mantra vaha guru.
In his book in the section of 1 Varaa, Pauri 49 he says:

Satyuga satgur vasdev va-va vishna nama japavey
duapara satgur hari krishna ha ha hari hari nama japavey
trete satgur rama jii ra ra rama jape such pavey
kaliyuga nanak gur govinda ga ga govinda nama alavey
care yagi cahu yugi panchin vic jai samavey
caro akshara ik kar vahaguru jap mantara japavey
Jaha te upjia phir taha samavey

Translation:

In Satyayuga to attain the Lord, meditation on the Vasudeva form is advocated. The letter ‘v’ of vaha guru reminds of Vishnu. In Dvapara yuga Hari Krishna appeared; the letter ‘h’ of vaha guru reminds of Hari. In Treta yuga Rama appeared; the letter ‘r’ of vaha guru reminds of Rama. In Kali yuga came Nanak as a guru to make others chant Govinda. The letter ‘g’ of vaha guru reminds of Govinda.
Thus the four yugas have concluded this.
The four letters combined together to form this mantra (vaha guru)
By chanting this mantra the living entity goes back from where he has come.

Holy name
Non different to the maha-mantra Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, the Granth Sahib describes the glories of singing: “Hari Hari Hare …Hare Hrishikesa Hare…,Hare Govinda Hare Govind…,Hare Nar Narhare Nar Narhare…is the highest devotion.
The Granth Sahib in Var, Raga Kanra Mahalla: 4 recites;

Rama nama nidhan hai hari gurmat rakh ur dharad
dasan dasa hoay rahu hau-may bikhi-a mara
janam padarath jiti-a kaday na avai hara
dhan dhan vadbhagi nanka jin gurmat hari rasa sara
govinda govinda govinda hari govinda guni nidhan
govinda govinda gurmat dhiai-ai ta dargah pai-ai mana

govinda govinda govinda jap much ujla para dhana
… Sabh kahhu mukhahu hari hari hare hari hari hare hari bolat sabh papa lahogia

Translation:
The name of Rama is the treasure; in the wisdom of the guru keep it in mind
Live as a servant of His (Rama’s) servants, and kill the poison of false ego from within. Thus you will win the wealth of life and never face defeat
Nanak says, “Those deeply blessed are greater than the great and who in wisdom of the spiritual master enjoy the nectar of Hari.”

Recite Govinda Govinda Govinda, one gains purity and radiance…
All join together to chant Hari’s (Krishna’s) name and Hare (His internal potency) as this would lead to the forgiveness of the past sins.

Further it says:

hari hari hari hari nama hai gurmukh pavai ko-ay
hau-may mamta nasa ho-ay durmat kadhay dho-ay
..sabh kahhu mukhahu hrishikesa hare hrishikesa hare jit pavahi sabh fal falna

Translation:
Only some are fortunate enough to be blessed by the spiritual master with the name of Hari Hari Hari Hari as this is the only name.
By chanting this, the false ego, worldly ties and bad qualities get cleansed…Let us all chant Hrishikesa (one of the many names of Krishna) and Hare (His consort) so as to obtain all rewards.

Vaishnava
A Vaishnava has the topmost human consciousness as described in the scriptures. Same has been advocated in the Granth Sahib. In the 9th verse (Astapati) of a hymn Sukhmani Sahib composed by Guru Arjun Dev, the word vaishnava has been well defined: “who is bound to attain parama gati, the highest destination.”

It recites as:

mitha nahi rasna paras
mann mein prita niranjan daras
par stri rupa na pekhey netr
sadha ki tahal satsang heyt
karan na suneh kahu ki ninda
sabh tay janay apas ko manda
gur prasad bhikhi-da parharay
mann ki vasna mann tey taray
indrijita panch dokh tey rahata
nanak kotmadhay ko aisa apras ||1||
vaishnava so jis upara suparsan
bishan ki maya tay ho-ay bhinn

karma karat hovai nihkarama
tis vaishno ka nirmal dharma
kaho phal ki ichcha nahi ba-cacai
kayval bhagat kirtana sung rachay
mann tan antar simran gopala
sabh upar hovat kirpala
apa driya avroh nama japavai
nanaka oh vaishnava parama gati pavay

bhag ut bhagvant bhagat ka rung
sagal tiagay dusat ka sung
mann tay binsaisagla bhrahm
kar pujay sagla parbhraham
sadh sung papa mal khovay
tis bhagat ki mat utam hovay
bhagvant ki tahal kay nit nita
mann tan arpay bishan ki parita
hari kay carana hridaya basavay
nanak aisa bhag uti bhagvant ko pavaya

Translation:
A vaishnava is the one whose tongue does not touch falsity.
In mind who loves the Lord and longs for His glimpse.
Whose eyes don’t see the beauty of other women.
Who serves the saints and remains in their association.
Who doesn’t do or listen to any criticism.
By the grace of the spiritual master he is able to remove the covering of illusion.
Lust leaves his mind as he conquers his senses and saves oneself from those five enemies (the senses).
Nanak says, “One among millions is such a detached soul”.
Such a Vaishnava is the one with whom the Lord is pleased.

He is untouched by the worldliness created by the Lord .
He acts without any worldly motive.
Vaishnava religion is purity.
He works with no aspiration for fruits.
He is engrossed in devotion and kirtana of the Supreme.
In his mind and body always resides Gopala.
He is compassionate to all.
He himself chants and makes others also to so.
Nanaka says, “Such a Vaishnava attains the holy abode”.

The devotee is engrossed in the Lord’s love—the adorable
He abdicates the company of the wicked.
All doubts vanish from his mind.
He performs puja (worship) of the Lord .
In the association of saints he washes the dirt of his sins.
On such a devotee, the wisdom shall reign.
He always serves the Lord .
He surrenders his mind, body at the altar of the love of Vishnu.
He adorns Hari’s lotus feet in his heart.
Nanaka says, “Such a devotee is blessed to meet the Lord”.

These revelations put at rest all the antagonistic sentiments; instilling thus a novel, innovative approach. Vaishnavism is no wonder the language of Sikhism. Such literary endeavors build up bridges and break walls leading to communal harmony resulting in peace and universal brotherhood, with no doubt the core being Krishna consciousness.

Stumbling blocks and steping stones

By Bhakti Charu Swami

Being enlivened by so many thought-provoking observations and concepts on the subject of guru-tattva and the ISKCON institution I feel inspired to express some ideas and understandings on this issue.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, while reviving Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Sankirtana movement, realized that the massive task of spreading Krsna Consciousness all over the world, in every town and village, would not be possible without the collective endeavors of committed devotees for generations to come. Therefore he saw the need for an institution, and gave the blueprint of that institution in the form of his “Namahatta” (the market place of the holy name) and “Visva Vaisnava Raja-Sabha.” (the Royal Assembly of the Vaisnavas from All Over the World). Srila Bhaktisidhanta Sarasvati Thakura gave a shape to that concept in the form of his “Gaudiya Matha” and when that institution fell apart, Srila Prabhupada revived the spirit of his Guru Maharaja through ISKCON.

It is important to note that Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur, Srila Bhaktisidhanta Sarasvati Thakura and Srila Prabhupada, all three of them, gave more importance to the institution than to their own authority – in spite of being the founders and organizers of their institutions they placed themselves as ordinary members of their respective institutions. For example, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura indentified himself as the sweeper of the Namahatta. Srila Bhaktisidhanta Sarasvati Thakura called himself the servant of the Gaudiya Matha, and Srila Prabhupada identified himself as a mere member of the Governing body of ISKCON.

Although Srila Prabhupada spread Krsna Consciousness all over the world within the amazingly short span of ten years time, he knew that he would not be able to spread it in every town and village during his lifetime; rather, it would take generations to achieve that. That is why he was so emphatic about the effective continuity of his mission through his ISKCON. Personalities such as Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Srila Bhaktisidhanta Sarasvati Thakura and Srila Prabhupada come to grace this world only once in a blue moon. It is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s causeless mercy that those three personalities came in such a succession. Their appearances on this planet was actually Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s divine arrangement for reviving His Sankirtana movement and fulfill His prediction that Krsna Consciousness movement would spread in every town and village on this planet. Although, being empowered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they could achieve anything and perform incredible miracles, yet, for the sake of fulfilling the ultimate purpose of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission they emphasized the collective continuity of the movement through an institution. Srila Bhaktisidhanta Sarasvati Thakura was an extremely brilliant personality who attracted countless luminaries of his time within the fold of his Gaudiya Matha. However, soon after his disappearance when the Gaudiya Matha disintegrated, in spite of all those luminaries the propagation of Krsna Consciousness practically stopped.

Srila Prabhupada explained that, that happened because most his prominent followers could not understand the importance of continuing his mission through the institution he established. They held on to the traditional concept and concluded that a spiritual heritage could not effectively continue through an institution managed by a bunch of mundane managers, they defied the instruction of their spiritual master and appointed an acarya [who eventually fell down] the institution that he so meticulously structured collapsed.

Srila Prabhupada, in order to protect his ISKCON from such an unfortunate possibility, emphatically told us not to make the same mistake that his god-brothers made after his Guru Maharaja’s disappearance. He advised us to continue the mission under the authority of a collective management structure. Nevertheless, after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance, we in ISKCON also made a similar mistake. Thinking that Srila Prabhupada had appointed 11 successors we also plunged in to the same syndrome of appointing spiritual heads of the institution presuming that after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance they inherited ISKCON.

In 1987, about 10 years after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance, this mistake was addressed by concerned leading devotees of ISKCON, but was not fully corrected. Just by adding more gurus and allowing them to initiate wherever they could attract disciples, that mistake was only diluted to some extent but was not really corrected.

Recently, the GBC body became painfully aware that through that mistake a parallel line of authority has been created in ISKCON which is causing a considerable amount of damage to the institution and is stifling the growth of the movement. It is very laudable of the GBC body that they have taken this issue very seriously and are working hard to rectify it.

In order to effectively establish an institution we need two essential elements – the head of the institution, and its management structure. In ISKCON we have to be absolutely clear that Srila Prabhupada is the head of the institution and he will continue to be that as long as the institution lasts, and the management structure Srila Prabhupada established – the GBC, temple presidents, departmental heads, etc, must be fully functional without any deviation.

If we compare the institution of ISKCON to a corporate structure, then we must recognize that Srila Prabhupada is the proprietor of ISKCON, and the other leaders of this institution are the managers. The managers manage, and although they get their remunerations and incentives for that, the profit belongs to the proprietor. In ISKCON, it is important that we clearly recognize the fact that everything in ISKCON, including even all the devotees, belongs to Srila Prabhupada, then only this mistake that is stifling the growth of our institution will be rectified and Krsna Consciousness movement will start to spread once again, all over the world, in leaps and bounds.

Siddhanta’s Das’ “Memories” Series: Sacred Recollections of Shri Guru

By Patita Pavana das Adhikary

One evening back in ’69 at Boston’s ISKCON Press, about a dozen of us devotees were honoring lunchtime left-overs of dal and chapattis in the prasadam room. Discussion naturally centered upon the most outstanding personality any of us would ever meet, Shrila Prabhupada. Who could be more remarkable than a pure devotee who had come from Vaikuntha to drag us one and all back to home, back to Godhead? Suddenly, a bearded intellectual who had followed us back from sankirtan at the Commons obliquely interjected into our conversation, “I don’t think your Swami would appreciate you constantly going on about him like this.” There was a sudden cold hush as a dozen sets of eyes turned to rivet upon the newcomer, now fidgeting restlessly. Then a Mataji returned her attention to the guru-katha and, as though nothing had happened, continued transcendental narrations as though there had been no interruption. Mildly chastised, the bearded fellow fell silent, and learned to accept for the first time the pleasure felt by devotees when they hear the glorification of the spiritual master.

Today, forty years later, conversations and recollections honoring the pure devotee are as relevant as they were then, perhaps even more so. As the Bhagavatam warns us, with each rising and setting of the sun, we find ourselves one day closer to our last moment on this earth. At that time, our faith in Shri Guru alone will save us. Indeed, conversation concerning the merits of the pure devotee is as good as discussions regarding the glories of the Lord, because the Lord is pleased when His devotee is honored. Our faith in Shri Guru as master and savior is honed and strengthened through katha.

I recently dedicated two blissful weeks catching up with dozens of my old Prabhus and fellow sankirtan devotees via the wonderful “Memories of Shrila Prabhupada” series produced by Shriman Siddhanta das Prabhu. Knowledge is gained via submissive aural reception, Prabhupada often told us, and hearing from devotees about their love for Shri Guru is no different.. Just as each soul is an individual part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Shri Krishna, so the “Memories” series reveals each devotee’s distinctive connection to Shri Guru. Far-sighted to the point of being visionary, Siddhanta Prabhu’s “Memories” videos have preserved for posterity thousands of little episodes in the pure devotee’s manifest appearance that might have been otherwise lost to time. Like Lord Matsya who saved the Vedas, Siddhanta’s technical skill used in Krishna’s service is a Godsend.

What wealth of this Earth can for a moment equal a single word that glorifies Krishna’s most confident eternal servant? So far, over four dozen CDs—averaging about an hour and a half each—have been produced, and the collection keeps expanding. In one interview, my old GBC Shyamsundar shook uncontrollably as tears shot from his eyes as he remembered how Shrila Prabhupada nearly breathed his last in his arms, then within a few hours miraculously arose to take a walk as though nothing happened. The interview with Transcendental Diary author Hari Sauri answers the question, “After a year and a half of constant association, which episodes would the personal servant of the paramhamsa find most noteworthy? And once again I touched bases with my old Prabhus like Indradyumna Swami and Jayadwaita Swami who, when asked to narrate topics the pure devotee’s unlimited glories, find it difficult to stop speaking.

From the street humor of Guru Kripa and Brahmananda, to the heart-warming and intimate narrations of Gurudas about Prabhupada’s hippie days of the Haight, these glorifications reaffirm our commitments to forever remain a part of the great transcendental family created by a pure devotee of Krishna. In Vrindavana, Daivishakti devi takes us on a tour Prabhupada’s of quarters from where His Divine Grace left the planet, and she shares her experience of dedicating her entire life—in vapu and in vani—as the maidservant at the personal quarters of Shri Gurui. The late lamented Mother Mulaprakriti, author of the superbly research Shrila Prabhupada: A Friend to All, shares with humor and loving detail her revelations about the real position of Shrila Prabhupada’s mission. Arjuna, Malati, Bahushiras, Dhananjaya and many others each recall hisorical events that demonstrate Shrila Prabhupada’s hidden supernatural abilities or mystic siddhis. Jayapataka Maharaja describes a little known episode of helping Shrila Prabhupada when he was being attacked by a venomous snake.

Find out what a little boy felt when Prabhupada gave him a cookie, now that he’s old enough to relate that experience. Listen while Suereshwara tells why Prabhupada preferred American Airlines to flying on a pigeon. Learn why Prabhupada hung up the phone on Tamal Krishna Goswami. Whether he was curing devotees of warts, pimples, indigestion or boils; or accepting flowers from a poor laborer in front of Bombay’s wealthiest men, Shrila Prabhupada’s taught us a new lesson with every word that came from his lotus lips. Since each devotee has a different relationship with Shri Guru, we find that some stories are heart rendering while others are sidesplitting. For Shrutakirti, Vamana Jana and Kuladri narrations of the spiritual master’s sense of humor take on the tone of New York stand-up. The “Memories” series even brings us the memories of devotees who never met Shrila Prabhupada, but are sure they have.

Devotees’ narrations of their interaction with the acharya are so instructive that they easily teach us many lessons that augment our advancement in Krishna consciousness. It is sadhu-sangha pure and simple. Siddhanta’s work is of the highest professional quality, and as a video editor he has worked with many celebrities and has won a number of prestigious awards. To learn about the professional aspect of Siddhanta’s work, goto: www.itvproductions.com. To learn about the “Memories of Shrila Prabhupada” series, goto: www.itvproductions.org. Or dial 1800.310-VIDEO.

A guru in the life of a disciple

By Jaganmohini Devi Dasi

Today July 7th 2009 is Guru Purnima.
Srila Prabhupada was little skeptical of celebrating Guru Purnima the way several other sects in India do, i.e. by quoting Vedic tradition. Whenever Srila Prabhupada was asked about celebrating Guru Purnima, he would reply, “We do gurupuja every day”, and that the idea behind doing Guru Purnima is to offer gratitude to the spiritual master by the disciple once in a year. But as per Gaudiya Vaisnavas, we offer all our gratefulness to the spiritual master on his ‘Appearance Day Ceremony’, which is called Vyasa Puja.

But spiritual practitioners who are part of other spiritual organizations, hold immense reverence for Guru Purnima. Sermons are made on scriptures such as Gita and many other puranas, which goes on past midnight, in most of the centres in India. Besides, even other categories of teachers from academics, or art and culture or parents are given sometimes veneration on this day.
How do they benefit through all this? To understand this we need an insight about who is a guru and what is the role of a guru in a disciple’s life?

Undoubtedly our Vedic tradition lays emphasis on the need of a guru in the life of a person to attain liberation from the material existence and also to go beyond liberation.
The tradition also accepts all those teachers who impart various guidance and education as one’s guru. That means every education we receive in our life since our birth from different sources must be directed towards releasing us from the consciousness of material existence.

Srila Prabhupada was clear about the fact that a guru is someone who imparts transcendental knowledge and that he must appear in the Parampara system or disciplic succession beginning with God or Sri Krishna Himself. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad Gita, chapter 4, text 2: “Evam parampara praptam imam rajarsayo viduh”.

Srila Prabhupada said, the word Guru means ‘heavy’, ‘heavy with knowledge’ called ‘tad-vijnana’ by which he becomes ‘brahma-nistha’, simultaneously cognizant and attached to all three phases of the Absolute Truth namely ‘Brahman’, ‘Parabrahman’ and ‘Bhagavan’. Thus convinced of his power, he is given the ‘power of attorney’ by the Lord to cultivate his disciple’s life. Therefore nobody can become a guru all of a sudden, self-made gurus cannot be called a guru, and hence, observing guru worship of self-made guru is ineffective.

Referring Srila Narada Muni as an ideal guru, Srila Prabhupada often glorified Srila Narada Muni and affirmed that Gaudiya-Madhava-sampradaya is in the disciplic succession from Narada Muni.
The pious king Yudhistra Maharaja also acknowledged Narada Muni as the supreme spiritual master of human society, who taught the path of spiritual liberation leading to the understanding of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The great sage Parvata Muni called Narada Muni a touchstone because, by his touch even a hunter, who was the lowest among men, became an elevated and perfect saint. He had so many disciples like Dhurva Maharaja, Prahlada maharaja, Valmiki, Vyasadeva, hunter, King Chitraketu and so on, and each one became an exalted saint by perfectly following his instructions. He is described as a perfect man and a saint who is comparable to himself alone. His approach towards his disciples was extremely versatile based on their quest of a desired goal, but still he elevated everyone to pure devotion in the same life confirming the power of attorney vested over him by the Lord.
In the process of transforming them, he imparted several instructions which are universal by substance, above time and space and even applicable to contemporary mankind. He taught by his example, what it means to be a guru and why a disciple must approach a guru. He set a role-model as to how a guru focuses on transforming his student to a saint, or a perfect human being and subsequently adapts himself in a pluralistic society, without being influenced by the negative aspects of the society, and that the Guru is not a part of any missionary based religions, whose focus is conversion to a narrow ideology or faith.

In his approach to transform his disciples, the strategy adopted towards the great king Chitraketu, is something which can be connected with today’s world. This was more of an instruction supported by adequate test and experimentation.
When we study the life of king Chitraketu, we see how an ordinary mortal, a human being; the king was disturbed and was chasing happiness based on ‘Preya’. He didn’t have a son and felt the birth of a son would bring full joy in his life as well as his kingdom. He thought this happiness would give him complete satisfaction, and he would then become truly happy. He didn’t mind approaching an elevated sage like Angira Muni to fulfill this worldly desire. Angira Muni did his part very well. He realized that since the king’s mind was absorbed in material things, he was not yet eligible to receive transcendental knowledge. Hence, he didn’t introduce him to Narada Muni to awaken him on transcendental subject matter. Instead he blessed and guided him, to proceed with his pursuit of worldly happiness, but with a warning, about the consequence of such happiness. Since Chitraketu didn’t have higher goal beyond pursuing worldly happiness, the warning was also understood within this boundary. He was allowed to experiment with worldly pleasures. Consequently, sorrow followed in his life which he had not anticipated and his queen even blamed the providence for this sorrow.
This is a typical situation in today’s World where one believes, if God exists then there must be no suffering or sorrow, ditto with a guru too, that if a guru blesses, then one must not undergo any suffering and any contradictions to this objective of approaching God or guru leads to losing faith in God or guru. As a result in our country and around the globe so many Godmen have sprung up to facilitate the weak understanding of the purpose of a guru and to solemnize their own worship.
But realistically it is at this point, when a human being fails to understand the role of Guru, a real Guru by the mercy of the Lord, plays a significant role in transforming the consciousness of the conditioned human and makes him cognizant of ‘para vidya’.
That is what precisely Narada Muni did to King Chitraketu. He awakened the King and his queens by giving life to his dead son(prince) who had died soon after his birth, and made the child prince instruct them in a very simple way, the Science of transmigration of a living entity or self and various relationships it shares in the process of transmigration. As he was hearing them; Chitraketu got awakened and became cognizant about the nature of material existence. Soon after he surrendered fully and thus became eligible to accept Narada Muni as his spiritual master. It was only then, Narada Muni accepted him as his disciple and gave him the prayers or mantra which is called maha-vidya or higher knowledge about the Absolute Truth. By chanting this maha-vidya he could thus attain the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Sankarsana.
Through his disciple Chitraketu, Narada Muni is also instructing mankind that as long as a human being is not convinced of the ultimate goal in human form, he cannot comprehend the purpose of a guru and cannot assimilate the raja vidya or superior knowledge, as imparted in the scriptures or by a Guru and vice versa, a guru can impart superior knowledge or para-vidya to his disciple only when he becomes eligible.

When enquired by Yudhistra maharaj on how those who cannot understand the goal of life, move towards the path of liberation.
In this regard one of the practical instructions which Narada Muni gave to mankind was,
“An intelligent man in human society should make his own program of activities very simple. If there are suggestions from his friends, children, parents, brothers or anyone else, he should externally agree, saying, “Yes, that is all right,” but internally he should be determined not to create a cumbersome life in which the purpose of life will not be fulfilled.”

Narada Muni has thus exemplified the role of an ideal guru in our Vedic tradition, hence, it would benefit all sects of the Indian tradition if they study Narada Muni’s role as a guru, as well as his instructions on eligibility of a disciple.

Article taken from Dandavats: http://www.dandavats.com/

Url to Article:http://www.dandavats.com/?p=7440

Rath Yatra KL Taman Yarl

By HG Uttama Caitanya Das

Hare Krsna
Pamho AGTSP AGTSGG

Lord Jagannatha Ratha Yatra ki, jaya!

Despite the unabated rain from the beginning of the procession till the end, over 500 devotees followed the chariot procession in Taman Yarl, Tmn Tan Yew Lai and Taman OUG as part of the annual Ratha Yatra Mahotsava in Kuala Lumpur.

The manifestation of Their Lordships after 16 days of convalesence is the
highlight of Lord Jagannatha’s pastimes from time immemorial.

At SJMKL, on a smaller scale, this festival has attracts many patrons. At
least 1000 over devotees and guests attended this event yesterday.

We especially thank HG Simheswara pr, yatra leaders such as HG Kripa Sindhu pr, HG Punyasloka pr, HG Ramagopinatha pr and Perumal pr who graced the occasion as well as all the devotees from various yatras.

Their kind presence added flavour to the utsava.

We also thank all the various sponsors and devotees who assisted in making this festival a success.

May Lord Jagannatha, by the dint of His own sweet will, shower His mercy
upon all of us.

Thank you.

Dasanudasa

Preaching In Mid Air

By Radhikakrpa Devi Dasi

“Is it Sai Baba?” a bold voice questioned me over my shoulder aboard the Cathay Pacific flight from Sydney to Hong Kong. I lifted my head out of the book I was reading and turned my face towards the speaker to find a tall lady dressed in an official attire with a pleasing personality stood indicating at the ring in my second finger. The lady seemed Chinese. Instantly I replied, “no, it’s of my spiritual master.” I could read the blank look on her face as she repeated, “who?”

As a preacher I often look forward to indulge in such conversations. To make things easier for her to understand I quoted the phrase “Hare Krsna” and now that sounded familiar to her. But she had no clue to it’s philosophy or so and she seemed interested.

The book in my hand was the best thing I thought at that time to make her aware of the message I wanted to give. The book I had grabbed to read on flight though read many times always inspires me was “Your everwellwisher” with Srila Prabhupada’s picture on the cover. She took the book from my hand and stared in to the back page of the cover as if reading through the gist of the novel. Then looking at me she introduced herself saying she was Wendy Lease; the flight manager for Cathay Pacific. She resided in Hong Kong and she often traveled far and wide to inspect Cathay flights.

I appreciated her intelligence both in the material sphere as well as in spiritual ( seeing her interest in me). In the meantime I also introduced myself briefing her on my family and about my attire and the makeup ( the tilaka and neck beads).This intrigued her . She now sat on her knees in the slim passage in between the two rows of the seats. The plane was all packed on this side of her existence with all seats occupied. Wendy said that she had passed across me many times during her inspection as it was a 9 hour flight and she said my appearance attracted her to halt to talk to me. Strictly no self glorification ( all Guru and Krsna’s mercy), to her I looked pretty unlike other co-passengers serene and calm.

I gave all the credit to the man on the cover, the founder acharya of International Society for Krsna Consciousness. She was now fascinated with Prabhupada. Her interest overtook the discomfort she was going through with sitting on her knees in the passage frequently rising up to give way to other passengers and the moving food and drink trolleys.

She patiently listened to the spiritual doctrine put forth in Bhagavad Gita. She even went ahead in going through a power point presentation in my laptop on the scripture not paying any attention to the rows of people from various nationalities including Australians, Irish, French and even Indians wondering what was going on. It was for nearly two hours she engrossed herself into such a grave discussion.

Wendy disclosed that she had no children and was glad when I gave her the ‘darsan’ of ‘Bal Gopal’ on my computers; it simply stole her heart. She now longed to have the picture which I promised to mail her soon.

An announcement by the pilot took our attention; broke the spell of the divine aura. She had to now bid goodbye to me as now her duty demanded her as the plane was about to land in a short while. With a promise to be in touch we exchanged email id’s and hugged lovingly.

The plane landed at Hong Kong and I had to rush to the exit door as the connecting flight to New Delhi ; my destination was about to leave in half an hour .At the exit door was standing my dear friend Wendy Lease with other air hostess giving farewell smiles. As she saw me approaching she said “Hare Krishna”with a big grin on her face. I asked to have a picture with her to which she nodded her head and one of her juniors jumped ahead and took the camera from my hand and clicked that memorable picture with a friend made in mid-air.

I boarded the next plane smiling to myself with my day being made.