By: Mahesh Raja (UK)
>
In the Sampradaya Sun, Rochana Prabhuji says, "Personally, I think that Srila Sridhara was a bona fide diksha guru, but not on the same level as Srila Prabhupada. Of course, it's impossible for me to determine exactly what spiritual level he reached, whether he's uttama-adhikari, through sadhana. It appears that he reached a very high level of Krishna consciousness, through sadhana."
Sridhara was not diksha guru. Rochana says, "I think" that
means he has no clear understanding – at all! It is just his
mental speculation that Sridhara Maharaja was bonafide diksha guru. So where did he find evidence to support this bonafide diksha guru's qualification as per shastra?
Even if we use just a little common sense we can understand one who disobeys his guru how can he be diksha guru? Sridhara Maharaja disobeyed his guru. The
following letter was used to support Sridhara Maharaja’s position by
one of his disciples in Sampradaya Sun - so we will analyze:
Letter to: Satsvarupa, October 26, 1967
Please accept my blessings. I have already duly received the invitation from Harvard University. It is understood that they are scheduling me for 20 Nov. between 6 and 10 PM. I can start immediately on the strength of my visitor’s visa, but I am waiting for Mukunda's reply who is trying for my permanent visa. Yesterday we have all come to Navadvipa. This place is another establishment of one of my God brothers. It is a very nice and extensive place and my God brother, B.R. Sridhara Maharaja has spared one entire nice house for my stay. He has also agreed to cooperate with our society. We shall observe his birthday ceremony tomorrow and the brahmacharis shall learn how to celebrate spiritual master's birthday. I hope to reach your state by the 20 of November. Hope you are well.
Please accept my blessings. I have already duly received the invitation from Harvard University. It is understood that they are scheduling me for 20 Nov. between 6 and 10 PM. I can start immediately on the strength of my visitor’s visa, but I am waiting for Mukunda's reply who is trying for my permanent visa. Yesterday we have all come to Navadvipa. This place is another establishment of one of my God brothers. It is a very nice and extensive place and my God brother, B.R. Sridhara Maharaja has spared one entire nice house for my stay. He has also agreed to cooperate with our society. We shall observe his birthday ceremony tomorrow and the brahmacharis shall learn how to celebrate spiritual master's birthday. I hope to reach your state by the 20 of November. Hope you are well.
Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
1) In 1967 Sridhara Maharaja agreed to cooperate - but later on we find he did just the opposite.
2) Note very carefully Srila Prabhupada states in the above letter
"his birthday ceremony” he did not say his Vyasa puja ceremony. Vyasa
puja is for diksha guru whereas birthday can be for anyone. When Srila Prabhupada stated, "tomorrow and the brahmacharis
shall learn how to celebrate spiritual master's birthday." This means
even by observing from the false you can learn. Or as Chanakya pandit
says, you can pick gold from a filthy place.
Lectures, September 26, 1972, Los Angeles
Just like Chanakya, in his moral lessons, he says that visad apy amrtam grahyam. When there is a tub of poison, but, if there is little nectar, then you take it. Don't think that "It is in the poison pot, why shall I take it?" No, you can take it. Visad apy amrtam grahyam amedhyad api kancanam. Suppose in a very filthy place where people pass stool, urine, there is some gold. So you should take it. Don't think that because the gold is in the polluted place, gold has become polluted. No. You take it.
Just like Chanakya, in his moral lessons, he says that visad apy amrtam grahyam. When there is a tub of poison, but, if there is little nectar, then you take it. Don't think that "It is in the poison pot, why shall I take it?" No, you can take it. Visad apy amrtam grahyam amedhyad api kancanam. Suppose in a very filthy place where people pass stool, urine, there is some gold. So you should take it. Don't think that because the gold is in the polluted place, gold has become polluted. No. You take it.
Letter: Rupanuga, April 28, 1974
You are right about Sridhara Maharaja's genuineness. But in my opinion he is the best of the lot. He is my old friend; at least he executes the regulative principles of devotional service. I do not wish to discuss about activities of my God brothers but it is a fact they have no life for preaching work. All are satisfied with a place for residence in the name of a temple, they engage disciples to get foodstuff by transcendental devices and eat and sleep. They have no idea or brain how to broadcast the cult of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. My Guru Maharaja used to lament many times for this reason and he thought if one man at least had understood the principle of preaching, then his mission would achieve success. In the latter days of my Guru Maharaja he was very disgusted. Actually, he left this world earlier; otherwise he would have continued to live for more years. Still he requested his disciples to form a strong governing body for preaching the cult of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He never recommended anyone to be acharya of the Gaudiya Math. But Sridhara Maharaja is responsible for disobeying this order of Guru Maharaja, and he and others who are already dead, unnecessarily thought that there must be one acharya. If Guru Maharaja could have seen someone who was qualified at that time to be acharya he would have mentioned. Because on the night before he passed away, he talked of so many things, but never mentioned an acharya. His idea was acharya was not to be nominated amongst the governing body. He said openly you make a GBC and conduct the mission. So his idea was amongst the members of GBC who would come out successful and self effulgent acharya would be automatically selected. So Sridhara Maharaja and his two associate gentlemen unauthorizedly selected one acharya and later it proved a failure. The result is now everyone is claiming to be acharya even though they may be kanistha adhikari with no ability to preach. In some of the camps the acharya is being changed three times a year. Therefore we may not commit the same mistake in our ISKCON camp. Actually amongst my God brothers no one is qualified to become acharya. So it is better not to mix with my God brothers very intimately because instead of inspiring our students and disciples they may sometimes pollute them. This attempt was made previously by them, especially Madhava Maharaja and Tirtha Maharaja and Bon Maharaja but somehow or other I saved the situation. This is going on. We shall be very careful about them and not mix with them. This is my instruction to you all. They cannot help us in our movement, but they are very competent to harm our natural progress. So we must be very careful about them.
You are right about Sridhara Maharaja's genuineness. But in my opinion he is the best of the lot. He is my old friend; at least he executes the regulative principles of devotional service. I do not wish to discuss about activities of my God brothers but it is a fact they have no life for preaching work. All are satisfied with a place for residence in the name of a temple, they engage disciples to get foodstuff by transcendental devices and eat and sleep. They have no idea or brain how to broadcast the cult of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. My Guru Maharaja used to lament many times for this reason and he thought if one man at least had understood the principle of preaching, then his mission would achieve success. In the latter days of my Guru Maharaja he was very disgusted. Actually, he left this world earlier; otherwise he would have continued to live for more years. Still he requested his disciples to form a strong governing body for preaching the cult of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He never recommended anyone to be acharya of the Gaudiya Math. But Sridhara Maharaja is responsible for disobeying this order of Guru Maharaja, and he and others who are already dead, unnecessarily thought that there must be one acharya. If Guru Maharaja could have seen someone who was qualified at that time to be acharya he would have mentioned. Because on the night before he passed away, he talked of so many things, but never mentioned an acharya. His idea was acharya was not to be nominated amongst the governing body. He said openly you make a GBC and conduct the mission. So his idea was amongst the members of GBC who would come out successful and self effulgent acharya would be automatically selected. So Sridhara Maharaja and his two associate gentlemen unauthorizedly selected one acharya and later it proved a failure. The result is now everyone is claiming to be acharya even though they may be kanistha adhikari with no ability to preach. In some of the camps the acharya is being changed three times a year. Therefore we may not commit the same mistake in our ISKCON camp. Actually amongst my God brothers no one is qualified to become acharya. So it is better not to mix with my God brothers very intimately because instead of inspiring our students and disciples they may sometimes pollute them. This attempt was made previously by them, especially Madhava Maharaja and Tirtha Maharaja and Bon Maharaja but somehow or other I saved the situation. This is going on. We shall be very careful about them and not mix with them. This is my instruction to you all. They cannot help us in our movement, but they are very competent to harm our natural progress. So we must be very careful about them.
Srila Prabhupada’s God brothers
Room Conversation, January 19, 1976, Mayapur
Bhavananda: People are attracted by the Westerners coming to the matha. So if we're up at that matha, any of us, and then they say, "Just see." They say in Bengali, "Just see. They are coming. To see our Guru Maharaja, they are coming."
Bhavananda: People are attracted by the Westerners coming to the matha. So if we're up at that matha, any of us, and then they say, "Just see." They say in Bengali, "Just see. They are coming. To see our Guru Maharaja, they are coming."
Prabhupada: That was the policy of Madhava Maharaja
and Sridhara Maharaja, that, “although Bhaktivedanta Swami is
propagating throughout, he is subordinate to us, under our instruction.”
So all these three...
Viraha Ashtaka 1958 (note: Ananta Vasudeva was the THIRD above mentioned)
2) Your so-called disciple, the jackal named Ananta Vasudeva,
disobeyed your final instructions to keep the mission united, and
thereby created a scandalous fiasco.
The result of this philosophical deviation is evident to this day as imitative sahajiyas are being worshiped as gurus in your temples.
3) Is there a single temple to be found where your instructions are still being followed?
As it is said: "punar musiko bhava"- Everyone has "again become a mouse."
As it is said: "punar musiko bhava"- Everyone has "again become a mouse."
4) The lion's food has been stolen away by the deceptive tricks of the jackal.
Now caught in Maya's mighty clutches, everyone is reduced to wailing and weeping.
Now caught in Maya's mighty clutches, everyone is reduced to wailing and weeping.
Morning Walk, February 3, 1976, Mayapur
Prabhupada: At least historically it be proved. (break) ...cause of envy of my God brothers. I was known. Although they knew that Prabhupada liked me very much, because I am grihastha, I was known as paca-grihastha. Paca-grihastha means a rotten grihastha. And now they say, "This grihastha has come out more than us? What is this?" (break) Sridhara Maharaja's chief disciple...?
Prabhupada: At least historically it be proved. (break) ...cause of envy of my God brothers. I was known. Although they knew that Prabhupada liked me very much, because I am grihastha, I was known as paca-grihastha. Paca-grihastha means a rotten grihastha. And now they say, "This grihastha has come out more than us? What is this?" (break) Sridhara Maharaja's chief disciple...?
Bhavananda: Gaura.
Prabhupada: He always used to say to Sridhara Maharaja that, “You are seeing Abhay Babu as grihastha, but he is more than many yogis.” He was telling.
Room Conversation, April 22, 1977, Bombay.
Prabhupada: He cannot make any comment These are facts. Two parties there were. One party, to use guru as their instrument for self-aggrandizement, and another party left guru. So both of them are offenders. This Kunja Babu, this Tirtha Maharaja's party, he wanted to enjoy senses through guru. And the Bagh Bazaar party, they left.
Prabhupada: He cannot make any comment These are facts. Two parties there were. One party, to use guru as their instrument for self-aggrandizement, and another party left guru. So both of them are offenders. This Kunja Babu, this Tirtha Maharaja's party, he wanted to enjoy senses through guru. And the Bagh Bazaar party, they left.
Tamala Krishna: Vasudeva.
Prabhupada: So both of them are severe offenders.
Tamala Krishna: What about Sridhara Maharaja?
Prabhupada: Sridhara Maharaja belonged to the Bagh
Bazaar party. And I was living aloof. My Guru Maharaja approved. He
said, "It is better that he is aloof from them."
Tamala Krishna: He could understand that his disciples were not...
Prabhupada: No, he was very sorry. At the last stage he was disgusted.
Letter to Gaurasundara, August 26, 1972.
All along I have been discouraged by my God brothers, but still I have stuck to my duty, keeping my Spiritual Master always in front.
All along I have been discouraged by my God brothers, but still I have stuck to my duty, keeping my Spiritual Master always in front.
Letter to Krishna dasa, September 9, 1972.
My God brothers always discouraged me, but I did not give up. I am doing my duty and always keeping my spiritual master in front. Even there is some difficulty or hardship, or even my God brothers may not cooperate or there may be fighting, still, I must perform my duty to my spiritual master and not become discouraged and go away, that is my weakness.
My God brothers always discouraged me, but I did not give up. I am doing my duty and always keeping my spiritual master in front. Even there is some difficulty or hardship, or even my God brothers may not cooperate or there may be fighting, still, I must perform my duty to my spiritual master and not become discouraged and go away, that is my weakness.
Room Conversation, June 18, 1976, Toronto.
Prabhupada: Daily night. And he was shocked. One of my Gaudiya Matha God brothers, big, he became the head of this Bhag Bazaar Gaudiya Matha. So his wife was debauched, and she was bringing new paramour, and the child protested.
Prabhupada: Daily night. And he was shocked. One of my Gaudiya Matha God brothers, big, he became the head of this Bhag Bazaar Gaudiya Matha. So his wife was debauched, and she was bringing new paramour, and the child protested.
Pusta Krishna: New?
Prabhupada: Paramour. And the boy, he was ten years
or twelve years old, he could understand: "Who is this man?" So he
protested and said, "I shall tell all these things to my father." And he
was killed.
Pusta Krishna: The boy was killed?
Prabhupada: By the mother.
Hari-sauri: She murdered him?
Prabhupada: Yes. Killed means given poison. And the
father, that is, my God brother, seeing this, he also took poison. This
is the end of Gaudiya Matha scandal. He was also one of the trustees.
This Tirtha Maharaja was a trustee, and another God brother and this
man. In the beginning, they were made trustees. In the beginning,
Prabhupada was to undergo surgical operation. So he was a little
nervous, that "I may die." So he made a scrap paper, that "In case I
die, these three disciples will be trustees of the Gaudiya Matha
Institute." That's all. So this Kunja Babu kept this. There are many
long histories. So one of the so-called Trustees was this Vasudeva. So
he died, his end was like this.
Pusta Krishna: His son was killed, isn't it?
Prabhupada: His wife was a regular prostitute, and she killed her child, and on this shock, he took poison and died.
Pusta Krishna: He killed himself, oh.
Prabhupada: Naturally, he became shocked, that "This
is my family life - the wife is prostitute and son is killed. What is
the value of my life?" This was his spiritual realization. Just see.
(laughs) And he was made the chief, and one of the supporters was
Sridhara Maharaja.
Pusta Krishna: Vasudeva Sridhara?
Prabhupada: No, no. He was made chief. Guru Maharaja
did not make him chief. But after his passing away, some of our God
brothers voted him chief.
Pusta Krishna: Am I mis...? You had told me once,
I'm not certain. Maybe I made a mistake. You said that Vasudeva, it was
known fact that he was homo sex?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Pusta Krishna: Vasudeva.
Prabhupada: He was homo sex and sex, everything.
Letter to Pradyumna, February 17, 1968.
Regarding the book list: Lord Gauranga, by S.K. Ghose and Veder Panchaya by Bon Maharaja are useless and you may not get them. The other books and the Gaudiya paper are acceptable. If you have free use of Xerox machine you may make copies, of some of the smaller works. Regarding Bhakti Puri, Tirtha Maharaja, they are my God brothers and should be shown respect. But you should not have any intimate connection with them, as they have gone against the orders of my Guru Maharaja.
Regarding the book list: Lord Gauranga, by S.K. Ghose and Veder Panchaya by Bon Maharaja are useless and you may not get them. The other books and the Gaudiya paper are acceptable. If you have free use of Xerox machine you may make copies, of some of the smaller works. Regarding Bhakti Puri, Tirtha Maharaja, they are my God brothers and should be shown respect. But you should not have any intimate connection with them, as they have gone against the orders of my Guru Maharaja.
Letter to Niranjana, November 21, 1972.
If you are serious to be an important assistant in our Society you should fully engage yourself in translation work, and do not mix yourself with my so-called God brothers. As there are in Vrindavan some residents like monkeys and hogs, similarly there are many rascals in the name of Vaishnavas, be careful of them. And do not dare to question imprudently before your Spiritual Master. Further talks we may discuss when we meet.
If you are serious to be an important assistant in our Society you should fully engage yourself in translation work, and do not mix yourself with my so-called God brothers. As there are in Vrindavan some residents like monkeys and hogs, similarly there are many rascals in the name of Vaishnavas, be careful of them. And do not dare to question imprudently before your Spiritual Master. Further talks we may discuss when we meet.
Room Conversation, September 21, 1973, Bombay.
Prabhupada: Yes. If by the dress of sannyasi, you take some money and eat and sleep, then it is transcendental fraud. (SP laughs) (Hindi) Just like others are toiling, and we are getting money by some dress. That's all. They are getting money by labouring hard, and we are getting money... In India, mostly the sannyasis, they do that. The priests also, they do that. This is our profession, just... My Guru Maharaja said that thakura dekhiye paya rasta karache, rastaye 'yandiya jivika badram karam bhari (?). Instead of earning livelihood by showing the Deity in the temple, it is better to take the profession of a sweeper in the street and live honestly. He said like that. The sweeper is working hard toiling and getting some money and living. This is honest living. But just like in Vrindavana, all the Goswamis. They have got their Deity. People are coming, contributing. Typical example, Gaurachanda Goswami. Thakura dekhiye paisa rasta. (?) All the sevaites, they are meant for... Our Kunja Babu also planned like that. He thought, "By cheating all the God-brothers, I have got now Chaitanya Matha. And people will come to see Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's birthplace, and I will get good income. And it will be distributed amongst my brothers and sons and myself. That's all." That is his scheme.
Prabhupada: Yes. If by the dress of sannyasi, you take some money and eat and sleep, then it is transcendental fraud. (SP laughs) (Hindi) Just like others are toiling, and we are getting money by some dress. That's all. They are getting money by labouring hard, and we are getting money... In India, mostly the sannyasis, they do that. The priests also, they do that. This is our profession, just... My Guru Maharaja said that thakura dekhiye paya rasta karache, rastaye 'yandiya jivika badram karam bhari (?). Instead of earning livelihood by showing the Deity in the temple, it is better to take the profession of a sweeper in the street and live honestly. He said like that. The sweeper is working hard toiling and getting some money and living. This is honest living. But just like in Vrindavana, all the Goswamis. They have got their Deity. People are coming, contributing. Typical example, Gaurachanda Goswami. Thakura dekhiye paisa rasta. (?) All the sevaites, they are meant for... Our Kunja Babu also planned like that. He thought, "By cheating all the God-brothers, I have got now Chaitanya Matha. And people will come to see Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's birthplace, and I will get good income. And it will be distributed amongst my brothers and sons and myself. That's all." That is his scheme.
Tamala Krishna: Perfect material plan.
Prabhupada: Yes. It is another way of earning money.
And he was always after Guru Maharaja only for this purpose. Guru
Maharaja took that "Oh, this man is helping me." But he had no such
plan, to help Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. He had the plan, "Keep
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati in front, earn money, and put it in my
pocket." That was his very beginning. He was taking money like anything.
But he was a good manager. Other God brothers complained, sannyasis.
Guru Maharaja used to say that "Why you are complaining? You cannot
reform him, your God brother? And if I would have to keep expert manager
like him, I would have to pay something. Suppose he is taking
something, why do you grudge?" (Prabhupada laughing) He would say like
that. So nobody could say anything. But after the demise, everything
burst out. "Kunja Babu must be driven out." That was the whole plan of
Gaudiya Matha breakdown. The grudge was against Kunja Babu.
Tamala Krishna: Who is Kunja Babu?
Prabhupada: That Tirtha Maharaja. His name is Kunja
Vihari Sar. So that was boiling in everyone's heart. So as soon as Guru
Maharaja passed away, so that burst out. And the whole plan was how to
get out this Kunja Babu.
Tamala Krishna: Not how to preach.
Prabhupada: No. This was the cause of breakdown.
This was suppressed by Guru Maharaja under his influence, but the
rebellious was there during his lifetime. And it burst into... Therefore
he advised that "You make a governing body and Kunja Babu should be
allowed to remain manager." This was directly spoken. He never asked
anybody to become acharya. He asked that "You form a governing body of
twelve men and go on preaching, and Kunja Babu may be allowed to remain
manager during his lifetime." He never said Kunja Babu should be acharya.
None, none of them were advised by Guru Maharaja to become acharya.
His idea was, “let them manage; then whoever will be actual qualified
for becoming acharya, they will elect. Why I should enforce
upon them?” That was his plan. “Let them manage by strong Governing
Body, as it is going on. Then acharya will come by his qualifications.”
But they wanted that... Because at heart, they were, "After demise of
Guru, I shall become acharya." "I shall become acharya." So all the acharyas began fight. One side, that Vasudeva Acharya and Sar Kunja Babu Acharya.
And Paramananda, he thought that "Whoever will be powerful, I shall
join them." (laughing) He only thought. But Guru Maharaja never asked
that these three men should be trustees. He wanted governing body. So
the rebellion broke out immediately after his passing away. And then
fight in the High Court. And Kunja Babu, he is very intelligent man. So
from the very beginning he knew that, "There will be fight after the
demise of Guru Maharaja. So fight will be in the High Court. So at the
expense of Guru Maharaja, let my brother and sons become attorneys and
barrister so I will not have to pay all these things." It was a planned
thing. And that is being done. He was a clerk, it was not in his power
to make his brother and sons attorneys and barristers. They were all
made at the cost of Gaudiya Matha to fight with (indistinct) in favour
of Tirtha Maharaja. These were the planned things. But I was a rotten grihastha.
I did not join any one of them. (Prabhupada laughs) I was rotting in my
household life. That's all. But I was planning how to make, how to make
this. That was my desire from the very beginning, since I heard it. But
I was never with them, either this party or that party. And Guru
Maharaja also recommended, apnader tasturi tublia thaki bhavan. Takhona (?).
"When there will be need, he will do himself. There is no need of
living with you. It is better to live apart from you." When I was
recommended by Goswami Maharaja to live in the Matha, that, "He is so
nice." Sometimes he recommended. In Bombay, here in this Bombay. That
house. Yes. He (Guru Maharaja) said, "Yes, he is very expert. He can do.
So it is better to live apart from you. And he will do everything when
there is need." He said. I could not understand. Although I was apart
from them, a grihastha. In this Bombay I was doing business.
Letter to Gurudasa, August 29, 1972.
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 23, 1972, and I have noted the contents carefully. Do not be depressed. All along my God brothers gave me only depression, repression, compression – but I continued strong in my duty.
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 23, 1972, and I have noted the contents carefully. Do not be depressed. All along my God brothers gave me only depression, repression, compression – but I continued strong in my duty.
Philosophy Discussions with Shyamasundara dasa, The Evolutionists.
Prabhupada: Unless you surrender, where is the cooperation? Where is the cooperation? Just like all my disciples, because they have surrendered, so there is cooperation. Therefore this movement is increasing.
Prabhupada: Unless you surrender, where is the cooperation? Where is the cooperation? Just like all my disciples, because they have surrendered, so there is cooperation. Therefore this movement is increasing.
Letter to Tirtha Maharaja, November 8, 1965.
Kindly accept respectful obeisances at your lotus feet. Since I have come to the United States of America, I had several correspondences with Sripada Govinda Maharaja. While I was in Calcutta at that time as well as in our different exchange of letters there was some hint from Sripada Govinda Maharaja, I should work in cooperation with your holiness and in my last letter I have already expressed my readiness to cooperate with your holiness and I had to ask from Govinda Maharaja as to the basic principle of that cooperation. Before I took sannyasa perhaps you will remember it that I proposed to join you if my publications were taken up. But somehow or other it was not possible and we missed the chance.
Kindly accept respectful obeisances at your lotus feet. Since I have come to the United States of America, I had several correspondences with Sripada Govinda Maharaja. While I was in Calcutta at that time as well as in our different exchange of letters there was some hint from Sripada Govinda Maharaja, I should work in cooperation with your holiness and in my last letter I have already expressed my readiness to cooperate with your holiness and I had to ask from Govinda Maharaja as to the basic principle of that cooperation. Before I took sannyasa perhaps you will remember it that I proposed to join you if my publications were taken up. But somehow or other it was not possible and we missed the chance.
Letter to Jayapataka, February 23, 1971.
So far as cooperating with my God brothers is concerned, that is not very urgent business. So far until now my God brothers have regularly not cooperated with me and by the grace of my spiritual master, things are still going ahead. So cooperation or non- cooperation, it is the desire of Bhaktivinode Thakura to preach the Chaitanya cult all over the world and in 1875 he predicted that someone would come very soon who would individually preach this cult all over the world. So if his benediction is there and my Guru Maharaja’s blessings are there, we can go ahead without any impediment but all of us must be very sincere and serious. We have been a little inflicted by public criticism that we God brothers do not work together. My Guru Maharaja also wanted us to work together but somehow or other it hasn't happened until now. So your program of cooperating with Madhava Maharaja is not so important. Best thing is that all we God brothers work together. Then the criticism will stop, otherwise even we join together, criticism will go on. So this has been going on for the last 24 years, but every one of us is doing his best keeping Lord Chaitanya in the centre. We should be satisfied so much.
So far as cooperating with my God brothers is concerned, that is not very urgent business. So far until now my God brothers have regularly not cooperated with me and by the grace of my spiritual master, things are still going ahead. So cooperation or non- cooperation, it is the desire of Bhaktivinode Thakura to preach the Chaitanya cult all over the world and in 1875 he predicted that someone would come very soon who would individually preach this cult all over the world. So if his benediction is there and my Guru Maharaja’s blessings are there, we can go ahead without any impediment but all of us must be very sincere and serious. We have been a little inflicted by public criticism that we God brothers do not work together. My Guru Maharaja also wanted us to work together but somehow or other it hasn't happened until now. So your program of cooperating with Madhava Maharaja is not so important. Best thing is that all we God brothers work together. Then the criticism will stop, otherwise even we join together, criticism will go on. So this has been going on for the last 24 years, but every one of us is doing his best keeping Lord Chaitanya in the centre. We should be satisfied so much.
Letter to Achyutananda, June 8, 1974.
You should not write anything to Madhava Maharaja's camp. You may have talked many things with Mangala Niloy but why write him in black and white. The letter must not be sent. Their policy has been all along to suppress me and take credit for himself. Their proposal for cooperation is a myth. They haven’t done anything which is cooperative. You know in a recent article they managed to write in such a way that Madhava is doing the world movement and we are his subordinate. From the beginning that has been their mentality. So there is no possibility of cooperation with them. Rather you should avoid strictly meeting with them. They are not after preaching but material gain and reputation and adoration. Otherwise why they are non cooperating with me? So no cooperation is possible. Do not think or indulge in loose talks. Be careful always. Let us do the duty of propagation sincerely and seriously on our own principles. Krishna and Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura are our only hope and they and helping us. If anything has to be done it is to be talked on the higher level between Madhava Maharaja and myself, but I know his mentality is different and there is no possibility of cooperation.
You should not write anything to Madhava Maharaja's camp. You may have talked many things with Mangala Niloy but why write him in black and white. The letter must not be sent. Their policy has been all along to suppress me and take credit for himself. Their proposal for cooperation is a myth. They haven’t done anything which is cooperative. You know in a recent article they managed to write in such a way that Madhava is doing the world movement and we are his subordinate. From the beginning that has been their mentality. So there is no possibility of cooperation with them. Rather you should avoid strictly meeting with them. They are not after preaching but material gain and reputation and adoration. Otherwise why they are non cooperating with me? So no cooperation is possible. Do not think or indulge in loose talks. Be careful always. Let us do the duty of propagation sincerely and seriously on our own principles. Krishna and Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura are our only hope and they and helping us. If anything has to be done it is to be talked on the higher level between Madhava Maharaja and myself, but I know his mentality is different and there is no possibility of cooperation.
Letter to Pradyumna, February 17, 1968.
Regarding the book list: "Lord Gauranga" by S.K. Ghose and Veder Panchaya by Bon Maharaja are useless and you may not get them.
Regarding the book list: "Lord Gauranga" by S.K. Ghose and Veder Panchaya by Bon Maharaja are useless and you may not get them.
Letter to Sukadeva, November 14, 1973.
Regarding the Gaudiya Math books being circulated there, who is distributing? Who is sending these books? The Gaudiya Math does not sell our books, why we should sell their books. Who has introduced these books? Let me know. These books should not at all be circulated in our society. Bhakti Vilas Tirtha is very much antagonistic to our society and he has no clear conception of devotional service. He is contaminated. Anyway, who has introduced these books? You say that you would read only one book, if that was all that I had written, so you teach others to do like that. You have very good determination.
Regarding the Gaudiya Math books being circulated there, who is distributing? Who is sending these books? The Gaudiya Math does not sell our books, why we should sell their books. Who has introduced these books? Let me know. These books should not at all be circulated in our society. Bhakti Vilas Tirtha is very much antagonistic to our society and he has no clear conception of devotional service. He is contaminated. Anyway, who has introduced these books? You say that you would read only one book, if that was all that I had written, so you teach others to do like that. You have very good determination.
Letter to Visvakarma, November 9, 1975.
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 3, 1975 with the enclosed statement about Van Maharaja. So I have now issued orders that all my disciples should avoid all of my God brothers. They should not have any dealings with them nor even correspondence, nor should they give them any of my books or should they purchase any of their books, neither should you visit any of their temples. Please avoid them.
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 3, 1975 with the enclosed statement about Van Maharaja. So I have now issued orders that all my disciples should avoid all of my God brothers. They should not have any dealings with them nor even correspondence, nor should they give them any of my books or should they purchase any of their books, neither should you visit any of their temples. Please avoid them.
Sridhara Maharaja is responsible for disobeying this order of Guru Maharaja.
In the following letter Srila Prabhupada gives a huge amount of information.
1) Notice how he gives Sridhara Maharaja – credit—for only - he
executes the regulative principles—so we can understand Sridhara
Maharaja was not on prema bhakti level - this is why Srila Prabhupada again says amongst my God brothers no one is qualified to become acharya. How can a person disobey the Guru and become Guru?
2) Srila Prabhupada knew the mentality of his “disciples” fully well
—this is why he says therefore we may not commit the same mistake in our
ISKCON camp—they all had the same acharya disease. As a representative of the Super soul – he could fully understand their desire to be worshipped as acharya
- but as the Bhagavad–gita says from lust rises anger then memory is
bewildered then – intelligence is lost - so they went to the extent of
poisoning Srila Prabhupada - to grab the “acharya” disease.
Letter to Rupanuga, April 28, 1974.
You are right about Sridhara Maharaja's genuineness. But in my opinion he is the best of the lot. He is my old friend, at least he executes the regulative principles of devotional service. I do not wish to discuss about activities of my God brothers but it is a fact they have no life for preaching work. All are satisfied with a place for residence in the name of a temple, they engage disciples to get foodstuff by transcendental devices and eat and sleep. They have no idea or brain how to broadcast the cult of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. My Guru Maharaja used to lament many times for this reason and he thought if one man at least had understood the principle of preaching, then his mission would achieve success. In the latter days of my Guru Maharaja he was very disgusted. Actually, he left this world earlier, otherwise he would have continued to live for more years. Still he requested his disciples to form a strong Governing body for preaching the cult of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He never recommended anyone to be acharya of the Gaudiya Math. But Sridhara Maharaja is responsible for disobeying this order of Guru Maharaja, and he and others who are already dead unnecessarily thought that there must be one acharya. If Guru Maharaja could have seen someone who was qualified at that time to be acharya he would have mentioned. Because on the night before he passed away he talked of so many things, but never mentioned an acharya. His idea was acharya was not to be nominated amongst the governing body. He said openly you make a GBC and conduct the mission. So his idea was amongst the members of GBC who would come out successful and self effulgent acharya would be automatically selected. So Sridhara Maharaja and his two associate gentlemen unauthorizedly selected one acharya and later it proved a failure. The result is now everyone is claiming to be acharya even though they may be kanistha adhikari with no ability to preach. In some of the camps, the acharya is being changed three times a year. Therefore we may not commit the same mistake in our ISKCON camp. Actually amongst my God brothers no one is qualified to become acharya. So it is better not to mix with my God brothers very intimately because instead of inspiring our students and disciples they may sometimes pollute them. This attempt was made previously by them, especially Madhava Maharaja and Tirtha Maharaja and Bon Maharaja but somehow or other I saved the situation. This is going on. We shall be very careful about them and not mix with them. This is my instruction to you all. They cannot help us in our movement, but they are very competent to harm our natural progress So we must be very careful about them.
You are right about Sridhara Maharaja's genuineness. But in my opinion he is the best of the lot. He is my old friend, at least he executes the regulative principles of devotional service. I do not wish to discuss about activities of my God brothers but it is a fact they have no life for preaching work. All are satisfied with a place for residence in the name of a temple, they engage disciples to get foodstuff by transcendental devices and eat and sleep. They have no idea or brain how to broadcast the cult of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. My Guru Maharaja used to lament many times for this reason and he thought if one man at least had understood the principle of preaching, then his mission would achieve success. In the latter days of my Guru Maharaja he was very disgusted. Actually, he left this world earlier, otherwise he would have continued to live for more years. Still he requested his disciples to form a strong Governing body for preaching the cult of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He never recommended anyone to be acharya of the Gaudiya Math. But Sridhara Maharaja is responsible for disobeying this order of Guru Maharaja, and he and others who are already dead unnecessarily thought that there must be one acharya. If Guru Maharaja could have seen someone who was qualified at that time to be acharya he would have mentioned. Because on the night before he passed away he talked of so many things, but never mentioned an acharya. His idea was acharya was not to be nominated amongst the governing body. He said openly you make a GBC and conduct the mission. So his idea was amongst the members of GBC who would come out successful and self effulgent acharya would be automatically selected. So Sridhara Maharaja and his two associate gentlemen unauthorizedly selected one acharya and later it proved a failure. The result is now everyone is claiming to be acharya even though they may be kanistha adhikari with no ability to preach. In some of the camps, the acharya is being changed three times a year. Therefore we may not commit the same mistake in our ISKCON camp. Actually amongst my God brothers no one is qualified to become acharya. So it is better not to mix with my God brothers very intimately because instead of inspiring our students and disciples they may sometimes pollute them. This attempt was made previously by them, especially Madhava Maharaja and Tirtha Maharaja and Bon Maharaja but somehow or other I saved the situation. This is going on. We shall be very careful about them and not mix with them. This is my instruction to you all. They cannot help us in our movement, but they are very competent to harm our natural progress So we must be very careful about them.
Letter to Subala, October 15, 1974.
This is the motto of our spiritual life: yasya prasadad bhagavata prasadao. My other God brothers they are concerned with litigations, politics and diplomacy, so what is the prachara? As far as I am concerned, I have the blessings of my Guru Maharaj. I do not need anything else. That is how I went to your country, just to try to carry out his order. By his blessings it has come out successful.
This is the motto of our spiritual life: yasya prasadad bhagavata prasadao. My other God brothers they are concerned with litigations, politics and diplomacy, so what is the prachara? As far as I am concerned, I have the blessings of my Guru Maharaj. I do not need anything else. That is how I went to your country, just to try to carry out his order. By his blessings it has come out successful.
Letter to Gangamayi, October 18, 1974.
You are right that politics should be avoided. In my personal life I did not participate in the political diplomacy of my God brothers. I was simply thinking how to fulfil the order of my Guru Maharaj. He gave me his blessings, and I was saved from any implication. Now I am trying to carry out his instructions strictly, and it has come out successful.
You are right that politics should be avoided. In my personal life I did not participate in the political diplomacy of my God brothers. I was simply thinking how to fulfil the order of my Guru Maharaj. He gave me his blessings, and I was saved from any implication. Now I am trying to carry out his instructions strictly, and it has come out successful.
Narayana Maharaja and Sridhara Maharaja insulted Srila Prabhupada
From the letter below one can see that history repeats itself because they are conditioned souls they ventured to initiate Srila Prabhupada’s disciples. Thus, they were caught out as Srila Prabhupada clearly says of the action “So it is deliberate transgression of Vaishnava etiquette and otherwise a deliberate insult to me. I do not know why he has done like this but no Vaishnava will approve of this offensive action.”
Letter to Mukunda, March 26, 1968.
In meantime, I have also received one letter which is very depressing from Hrisikesa. I understand that he has been induced by Bon Maharaja to be initiated by him for giving him shelter, and this foolish boy has accepted his inducement. This isn't very happy news, and I have replied Hrisikesa's letter in the following words, which please take note, and in the future, we shall be very cautious about them.
In meantime, I have also received one letter which is very depressing from Hrisikesa. I understand that he has been induced by Bon Maharaja to be initiated by him for giving him shelter, and this foolish boy has accepted his inducement. This isn't very happy news, and I have replied Hrisikesa's letter in the following words, which please take note, and in the future, we shall be very cautious about them.
"My Dear Hrisikesa, Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt
of your letter of March 14, 1968, and I am greatly surprised. I am
greatly surprised for Bon Maharaja’s initiating you in spite of his
knowing that you are already initiated by me. So it is deliberate
transgression of Vaishnava etiquette and otherwise a deliberate insult
to me. I do not know why he has done like this, but no Vaishnava will
approve of this offensive action. I very much appreciate your
acknowledgement of my service unto you and you will always have my
blessings, but you must know that you have committed a great blunder. I
do not wish to discuss on this point more elaborately now, but if you
are desirous to know further about it, I shall be glad to give you more
enlightenment. Mukunda is not here. He has gone to L.A. Hope you are
well." If Hrisikesa writes you letter I think you may avoid reply. I do
not approve both Hrisikesa's and Bon Maharaja’s this offensive action.
Hoping you are both well.
Note: In venturing to initiate Srila Prabhupada’s
disciples - they could not even have understood the philosophy properly.
As it is clearly stated: A devotee must have only one initiating
spiritual master because in the scriptures acceptance of more than one
is always forbidden. For them to initiate Srila Prabhupada’s disciples
they would be falling into a trap of rejecting Srila Prabhupada as the
Initiating Guru – direct insult - committed both by the so-called
disciple of Srila Prabhupada and their conditioned soul guides (Narayana
Maharaja or Sridhara Maharaja).
The Spiritual Masters, Adi 1.35
The expert spiritual master knows well how to engage his disciple's energy in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and thus he engages a devotee in a specific devotional service according to his special tendency. A devotee must have only one initiating spiritual master because in the scriptures acceptance of more than one is always forbidden.
The expert spiritual master knows well how to engage his disciple's energy in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and thus he engages a devotee in a specific devotional service according to his special tendency. A devotee must have only one initiating spiritual master because in the scriptures acceptance of more than one is always forbidden.
