Dear Maharajas, prabhus, didis, please accept my obeisances.
I had heard that our Srila Prabhupada had said that we could approach two persons for knowledge: His Godbrother Srila BR Sridhara Maharaja, and Srila Narayana Maharaja of the Kesavaji Gaudiya matha in Mathura.
When HH Tamal Krishna Goswami personnally admitted to me in early 1985 that Srila Prabhupada had not appointed any of them as gurus, I was about to leave ISKCON due to the ‘gurus politics’. I was then intensely praying to Srila Prabhupada to send me some genuine sadhu to help me. I then met Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja, and was so impressed by his devotion, knowledge and saintly character that I decided that as long as there was a sadhu like him in ISKCON, I didn’t have to leave and take shelter of a saintly Vaisnava. I approached him for siksa and he plainly told me that since I was praying Srila Prabhupada for help, Prabhupada had told him to help me. I took siksa from him for ten years.
When we asked him why he didn’t go to Vrindavan and only stayed very shortly in Mayapura, he answered that he didn’t have to go to Vrindavan to preach since Srila Narayana Maharaja was there, nor to Mayapura since Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Maharaja was there, and that the three of them were ‘covering’ the preaching needs in the three main dhamas of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas.
We asked him about Srila Narayana Maharaja and he said that he was a pure Vaisnava.
When we objected that he was not in ISKCON, he replied, “Are baba! ISKCON, not ISKCON…, Vaisnavism is not so narrow! Vaisnavism means broad-minded, not sectarian.”
So, when Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja departed in 1996, I immediately went to consult Srila Narayana Maharaja in Mathura, telling him that I was bereaved, mourning my siksa-guru. With great compassion he told me that if he could help me in any way, he would gladly do so. I started to read his books and was impressed. But, as all of us in ISKCON , I had been vaccinated, with boosters, against the Gaudiya Matha, so I was uncomfortable in spite of the attraction I was feeling from his benevolent and unassuming personality. After visiting him in England on his first tour in 1996, I had the surprise to see him coming in France the next year. I saw that all the French devotees, including blooped godbrothers we had not seen for ten, fifteen or twenty years came. It seemed that our Srila Prabhupada had gathered everyone, giving everyone a chance to hear from him. I was translating his lectures, and he was literally pouring forth showers of nectar and displaying great compassion and care for all. His indian disciples said that they were amazed and had never heard speak like this even in India.
I started to translate his books as a seva, as Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja had drilled us about the importance of sadhu-sanga and sadhu-seva. I found no difference whatsoever in siddhanta, just a different angle of approach, and upon debating with the many senior godbrothers following him, all my doubts were cleared. I had the good fortune to attend many parikramas and to receive from him a lot of attention and many personal instructions which, I feel, have tremendously helped me to deepen my attachment to and understanding of our Srila Prabhupada. Isn’t this the role of the siksa-guru, to make devotees into better disciples of their diksa-guru? I have never heard anyone glorifying our Srila Prabhupada in such a profound, non-superficial way.
I believe Srila Narayana Maharaja is giving the next dipensation of knowledge and mercy that we need to progress further in our understanding and realization of our Gaudiya Vaisnava teachings. Our Srila Prabhupada begged him a few days before departing to help his disciples, as he had no time to train them all sufficiently. Maharaja has helped ISKCON tremendously, counselling many senior devotees, saving ISKCON in the Bombay court case by witnessing. For years he refrained from giving initiations to disillusioned or disenfranchised ISKCON members, not wanting to create any confusion in the institution of our Srila Prabhupada whom he considered as a personal friend and among his siksa-gurus. It is only when he was ignominiously criticized and blasphemed by Iskcon leadership that he started to give.
I cannot understand, or rather I think I only understand too well why all these politics and criticisms against him, as I heard the same against Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja: When saintly persons, highly qualified as gurus, preach all over the world, it seems that those who have assumed the position of guru prematurely feel threatened to be exposed as students playing teachers next to real teachers. The rest seems to me to be just words and political games.
As far as others criticizing someone who at 88 is still compassionately travelling all over the world to extend his association and, it is simply a display of their misfortune, which they aggravate by vaisnava-aparadha, or a display of duplicity disguised as loyalty to our Srila Prabhupada “Do not read blasphemy; read his publications, come to see for yourself, associate with his followers, write to him to dissipate your doubts.”
Humbly,
your servant,
Bv Suddhadvaiti Swami, (formerly Jayanta Krishna dasa or Jayantakrid dasa)
Dear Sripad Sudhadvaiti Maharaji and other devotees,
Regarding Srila Bodhayan Swami…
Ramesh does not have it on tape in the words that are used ‘Rasika Vaisnava’ or Rasika’ Acharya. Ramesh can never have prove for this, because these are simply not the words that my Gurudev used to glorify a exalted Vaisnava like Srila Narayan Maharaj. When Questioned by some Rusian devotees in our Math about Srila Narayana Maharaj, our Guru Maharaj had said that we should be aware not to criticize Srila Narayana Maharaj for the sake that he is not preaching (raga-marga/ vaidhi-marga) in the way his Gurudeva (Srila Bhakti Prajnan Keshavij Maharaj did) for he knows the siddhanta well and is an great scholar. Our Gurudeva whole-heartedly told all the devotees present not to commit any Vaisnava Aparadha against anyone, not to ISKCON, Srila Narayana Maharaj
or any other Vaisnavas, even Jiva-aparadha would create a lot of obstacles on the path of devotion. In that time Ramesh was having a good relationship with Bhagavat Maharaj and influenced by him. Bhagavat Maharaj was making lots of politics against Srila Bodhayan Maharaj, he wanted to become the successor of our Gurudev. This is a well known fact in our Math.
At a certain point after our Gurudev made the announcement that Srila Bodhayan Maharaj would be his Successor. Bhagavat Maharaj started with lots of anger to yell at our Gurudev, why he made his choice in this way and that he had the right etc…, Bodhayan Maharaj is of lower caste etc… Our Gurudev kept silence. Later on in Puri just prior to my Srila Gurudeva’s his Vyasa-Puja in 1997 when Ramesh and Bhagavat Maharaj came again back to math, our Gurudeva came to know about it and asked Bhagavat Maharaj to give back his Sannyas-vesa and danda, our Gurudeva told him that he was behaving like a poisonous snake full of envy and asked them to leave the Math and let him die Peacefully.
Some small history prior to these events. In 1996, 5 months after the disappearance of my Siksha-Gurudev Srila Gour Govinda Swami I went for my service at the tape-ministry to Calcutta to let the duplicating machine be repaired after the Machine had broken down. It had been a turbulent time in Orissa in the Krishna Balarama Mandir and it was my strong desire to meet Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami for his Divine association in Sridhama Mayapur. (for many times I remembered how in 1995 Raghava Pandit Prabhu, Madhavananda Prabhu and Gokulananda Prabhu; disciples of Srila Gour Govinda Swami brought my for my first darshan at Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math to my later Srila Gurudev Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami whose effulgence had filled up his Bhajan Kurti with Divine Prem). I had to wait for a minimum of 3 days before the people in Calcutta could tell me if the broken part could be replaced and if it was available in Japan, so I toke the opportunity to go for His Darshana and advice. After 3 days I came to know that the machine could not be repaired and I stayed for a few days more in the Math. I asked if it was possible to come back and life in the Math and take shelter by Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami (to receive in the future Harinam-initiation from Him) because I was very much inspired by his presence and example… the answer was, yes it is possible and this was by the Grace of Srila Bodhayan Maharaj. Later on in a private conversation with my Srila Gurudev (1996 august) he told me personally that I should follow whatever Bodhayan Maharaj asked me to do (whole-heartedly) and that his blessing (my Gurudeva’s blessings) are with him. If Bodhayan gives recommendation then he would initiate me and other devotees. Later on I came to know much more of Srila Bodhayan Maharaj (his background, family members etc.) and I know if the words of my Gurudeva are (in this case already for a long time) not properly quoted he will defend this, like in the case of Ramesh Prabhu. And Srila Bodhayan Maharaj has the right to do this since he knows our Gurudeva heart. One should not feel offended otherwise his spiritual progress will be blocked. I know Srila Bodhayan Maharaj is of spotless Character and Mahaprabhu has give him full Blessings. Our Gurudev has always be reserved to propagate other Vaisnava’s rather He would glorify them from his hearth (like many times I have heard him speaking the glories of his exalted Godbrothers like, Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar dev Goswami, Srila Bhakti Daita Madhav Goswami, Bhakti Kumud Santa Maharaj, Bhakti Kusum Sraman Maharaj, Bhakti Prajnan Kesava Goswami, Bhakti Hridaya Bon Maharaj, Bhakti Vilas Titha Goswami etc…) also our Gurudeva has lots of affection and regard for Srila Bhakti Ballabha Titha Goswami who he also recommended as Siksha Guru for senior devotees (by age) in our Math. In that time Srila Bodhayan was 32 years of age and some devotees served longer in the Math and had more matured age. Now a days everyone is reconnected to our Math with lots of faith in Srila Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayan Maharaj. If someone doubts Srila Bodhayan Maharaj his intensities I personally invite this devotee that he or she should go to Maharaji for clarification en not become involved in any politics. Our Gurudev has always had a Krishna conscious point of view in relation to all and especially towards the Vaisnava’s. This also counts for Srila Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayan Swami
Koti koti Pranam, Dasanudas,
Madhava das
All Glories to Sri Guru and Guaranga!
Please let go of all of your attachments. Cast aside all variety and simply serve with an open heart. Long for seperation and beg for forgivness. Krsna is our world, our universe, our light. Harmony and unity is the only way.
Your Servant,
Vrajadhama
Satam prasangan mama virya samvido CC Adi 1.60, Sri Radhe
Dandavats, Prabhuji,
I don’t understand your reference to Bodhayana Maharaja criticizing Gurudeva. He has always shown the highest respect when I have been around him. I understand he is a disciple of Bhakti Pramoda Puri Maharaja, so he may have some differences. But without a doubt I know for sure that he gives honor and respect to Srila Narayana Maharaja. I think the problem has been amongst our sanga is that some of the younger and more zealous of our devotees are only seeing bhakti through the eyes of Srila Gurudeva. Just as Krsna extended Himself in the Rasa dance (or quickly danced), He was no different, so a Guru via Krsna’s power can show Himself through other Gurus. The problem is mainly in our own reception of Guru’s words. Jaya Srila Gurudeva! Jaya Sri Guru and Gauranga!
Dandavat pranams Maharaja!
Thank you for this beautiful description of your personal experiences. I think that any sincere and open-hearted person can gain much from simply reading it. I simply love the quote from Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja “Vaishnavism is not so narrow.” It reminds me of how Srila Prabhupada preached in his 1936 Vyasa Puja offering. Of course he always preached like that, but we children couldn’t understand. We lived in our father’s house and couldn’t comprehend that an uncle or a cousin may also have a house that we are welcomed to. But the father expects the children to grow and learn and excel. So by great fortune, we are given such opportunities and we see how Srila Prabhupada has made arrangements for us by guiding us to many exalted Vaishnavas. Gaura Premanande Hari bol!
good! jay radha kripa!!
now is time when we can also stop our aparadha towards other vaishnavas from other parivaras. of course we are not able to see how we act in the same stile like this iskcon guys. “we and our guru are the best, others don’t understand at all” this aparadh mood is from the begining of GM!!! i have many times tolked to acaryas from other GM groups or with vaishnavas from other parivaras or “apasampradayas”. and mostly they feel more ofendet by ofensive mood of our sanga then by iskcon’s. maharaj try to ask srila bodhayan mararaj how he feels regardin your moods last year in france…
i think that in our sanga we can use wise words, but we are not able to extract humility from it!!! i agree what you have wroten but just little apeal to use this wise words in our sanga too.
please don’t be offended.
jay guru gaur
lalit
Dear prabhuji,
thanks for your nice piece of advice.
As far as Bodhayan Maharaj is concerned, I didn’t want to associate with him as he directly minimized then criticized Gurudeva to my face the previous year when I went out of my ways on tour with him in France to translate his lectures. He told me it was a rumour that Bhakti Promode Puri Goswami had said that Gurudeva was a rasika vaisnava, when Ramesh prabhu of Costarica has it on video!!??
dasanudasa
yes, i know. tomorow he comes to our place… somehow i try to harmonize.. about rasik topiks of our gurudev, here is one his (bodhayan’s) godbrother in slovenia, who was with swami bp hrisikesh when srila puri maharaj told him to go to srila narayan maharaj for shiksa.. although i have not seen swami hrishikesh for long long time…
i had good tolks with srila bhagavat maharaj from gopinath gm more than 10 years ago and he was also very offended how iskcon treats gurudeva srila narayana maharaj…
ah, who cares..just political jam… hehe. now is time (i feel) when things are forced to become harmonized.. the nature of audarya avatar is covering the nature of kali.. do you feel how people long for harmony and love in diversity? or is just a trick of my mind, just my desire?
thanks maharaj for reply… love..
lalit
jay radhe syam
Well may you say “who cares”, prabhu but I for one am not interested in “harmonizing” with those deviates and reprobates who insult my Gurudeva (and many other vaisnavas also).
If that’s what you call “love in diversity” then I’ll have to restrain myself from adding cyanide to my kichari, thanks all the same.
Jaya Srila Gurudeva!
Dear Lalit Kishore das,
pranams. Yes, Love in diversity, but, as Sudarsana ji wrote, no compromise when there’s such blatant vaisnava-aparadha (not from Bhodayana Swami)from our godbrothers or nephews in Iskcon.
ys
BV Suddhadvaiti
Suddadvaita Swami,
Dandavat. Pranams.
Jai Shree Guru & Shree Gauranga!
Thank you for revealing these words from your heart which were so articulately written. I don’t think there is a person out there who reads this whose heart will not be touched by your letter.
I applaud your courage and spiritual brilliance. Thank your for taking a stand in support of my Gurudeva, Srila Narayana Maharaja.
Most devotedly,
Krsnapriya
Dear Maharaja
Please accept my dandavats pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva
All glories to Sri Sri Radha Vinode Bihariji
All glories to Sri Sri Radha Govindaji and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai
(my deities)
Thank you. The memory that each original Iskcon guru gave him self the title “divine grace” as soon as Srila Prabhupada passed away and also positioned himself on high up vyasasans, accepting hapless disciples, has edged itself firmly into my mind. This fact alone,exposes the whole thing from the start. At the time I was bewildered and like so many of us was traumatised by Srila Prabhupadas absence. When I think about it, knowing that some of the original (abusers of the system) are still in position today and are worshipped as good as god, one original sex abuser in an advisory position, it is ridiculous. Taking away the high vyasasan and the title HDG makes no difference to me, neither does the display of big temples and big festivals and lots of knowledge confidently spoken or getting celebrities to join.
For me its like the false Sita, because at the core is big Vaisnava aparada, not just to Srila Narayana Maharaja but also to other pure devotees like Him and countless of rank and file devotees.
Ys Devarsirat das
I feel very much lucky that I fell in the hands of Gaudiya math devotees.It was really an arrangement of Krishna. I mean, there is only one Gaudiya matha devotee here in our city and all the hare krishna devotees are iskcon. wherein 20:1. but then I am with the gaudiya. This politics. very shallow. Right now the ISKCON MAKATI PHILIPPINES is intensely criticizing the devotees and so as the guru of Gaudiya Matha.I dont know how to describe them if still they have that vaishnava etiquette and if they are really living with the scriptures and not just reading them and understanding them very shallow. they are using the writings for their selfishness. WE are very hurt of what they did, criticizing our beloved gaudiya and beloved Narayan Maharaj… WE love our Narayan… we are in love with him. I am desiring to meet him one day…,,and take diksha initiation.
I feel really mad at the ISKCON devotees. forgive me if im at anger. We are only hurt but what they did. criticizing intensely in front of so many devotees…they didnt even respect us. We are helping them and in return this is what they are offering us, disrespect, fault finding, stomping us and criticizing us… they are telling us that they are superior coz their practice is much strict and pure.i want to ask that braman who was telling those things, about humility…
Beautifully put Maharaja, especially the last paragraph. That says it all. This cheating propensity by the so called “leaders” of ISKCON has created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. They have been doing this against vaisnavas for 30 to 40 years, these child rapists and their co-conspiritors are still calling the shots it’s about time to end all this nonsense.
Sashtang Dandavat Pranams Maharaja.Very good post , all glories to your seva
JAYA SRILA PRABHUPADA, JAYA SRILA GURUDEVA!
GREAT MY BROTHER, COUNTLESS THANKS TO YOU!!! BUT ALAS , ONE REGRET …..IT TOOK SO LONG FOR ALL THIS TO BE REVEALED…….THOSE RASCALS SHOULD BE BEHIND BARS SINCE YEARS…….
beautiful words and beautiful pic of Maharaj in Gauravani Gaudiya Math, Brasil
Wah! Just beautiful….I have to share this.
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Yrs
Raghava