THEIR LASTING R E L AT I O N

An Historical Account

From lectures and letters by r rmad Bhaktivednta Swami Prabhupda

and

r rmad Bhaktivednta Nryaa Mahrja

Websites: www.gaudiya.net www.purebhakti.com

Vndvana, Uttar Pradesh, India

r rmad Bhaktivednta Nryaa Mahrja

r rmad Bhaktivednta Swami Prabhupda

TABLE
A BRIEF HISTORY

OF

C ONTENTS

ITV Interview with rla Nryaa Mahrja at the r Rdh-ramaa Temple

MY MISSION

IN THE

WEST
12

Excerpt from a San Francisco Lecture

A LOCKED TREASURE CHEST

Excerpt from a Lecture at the tmnanda Yoga Center

14

THE DIVINE DISAPPEARANCE OF RLA BHAKTI PRAJNA KEAVA GOSVM

A Lecture by rla Prabhupda October 1968

15

LETTER

OF

CONDOLENCE
18
AND

rla Prabhupdas Letter to rla Bhaktivednta Trivikrama Mahrja

PRABHUPDA'S FINAL ORDER: ON ISKCON RLA NRYAA MAHRJA BECAUSE

OF

23

HIS DIVINE GRACE

34

Excerpt from a Lecture in Badger, California

A B RIEF H ISTORY
In June 1996, at the r Rdh-ramaa Temple in Orange County, California, Siddhnta dsa of Illumination Television (ITV) interviewed rla Nryaa Mahrja regarding his relationship with rla Prabhupda.

Interviewer: Please tell us how you first met rla Prabhupda, and any circumstance you may have had with him when any characteristics of the pure devotee may have been exhibited. rla Nryaa Mahrja: I was the personal servant of my gurudeva, rla Bhakti Prajna Keava Gosvm Mahrja, and I always traveled with him. We had a maha (preaching center and rama) in Calcutta, called Gauya Vednta Samiti. It was there that I met rla Bhaktivednta Swm Mahrja in 1946 or 1947. Whenever Gurudeva used to come to Calcutta, rla Swm Mahrja would come to see him. Both were disciples of rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat Gosvm hkura, and they were also bosom friends. rla Swm Mahrja met rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura Prabhupda in about 1922, and about four years before that, in 1918, Guru Mahrja took initiation from him. So Guru Mahrja was the elder godbrother of rla Swm Mahrja, and they were intimate friends from the beginning. When there were some problems in the Gauya mission in 19391940, Guru Mahrja went to Prayga (Allahabad), to the house of rla Swm Mahrja. At that time, rla Swm Mahrja had a very good medical shop there, and he was also very renounced. Guru Mahrja spent about five to six months with him there. In 1941, our gurudeva, along with rla Bhaktivednta Swm Mahrja, established the Gauya Vednta Samt in Calcutta. At that time, rla Swm Mahrja was Abhaya Babu. I went to the maha in 1946, and perhaps at the same time, or maybe one month after, I arrived in Calcutta. rla Swm Mahrja again
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T HEIR L ASTING R ELATION

came there. I was the personal servant of my gurudeva and I also served rla Swm Mahrja. rla Swm Mahrja was so happy to see my service to Gurudeva. He asked some questions and became very pleased with my replies. He asked me, What is your name? From where have you joined? And thus I began to serve him. In 1953, Guru Mahrja started two magazines, called r Bhagavata Patrika and Gauya Patrika. Gauya Patrika was in Bengali and r Bhagavat Patrika was in Hindi. Guru Mahrja requested rla Swm Mahrja to be the editor-general of both journals. rla Swm Mahrja accepted and began to write many good articles, especially regarding Bhagavad-gt from beginning to end. Those who are not actually following Ka and Vednta are not really religious persons. This is especially how rla Swm Mahrja wrote about myvds in his Gt articles. Those who think that Ka and His body are the same are Vaiavas. But those who think that Kas soul and body are different are myvds. They dont know anything about the meaning of Gt. One learned doctor, the president of India, Dr. Sarvapalli Rdhkrishnan, was very famous in Western countries for his philosophy, but he wrote that Kas body was one thing and the spirit soul of Ka was another. rla Swm Mahrja wrote against this. He wrote very strongly in regard to Vednta, and especially about the Gt and rmad-Bhgavatam. He wrote that Ka, His body, His possessions and everything in relation to Him is the same sat-cid-nanda substance. One copy was sent from Mathur to Dr. Radhakrishnan and one to each of the learned persons of the parliament. Dr. Radhakrishnan did not reply. They cannot reply, because myvda is against the path of bhakti. There are so many arguments, but it would take time to explain. rla Swm Mahrja gave me his articles in Bengali, and I used to translate them into Hindi. I had a very close relationship with him. I knew him as a very good and staunch philosopher. He had not gone to any colleges for learning Sanskrit, Gt or Vednta.
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A B RIEF H ISTORY

He was a born philosopher and a pure devotee. He was a mahbhgavata, but he played the role of a madhyama-adhikr Vaiava to give help and initiation to others. An uttamaadhikari does not give initiation to anyone, because he thinks that everyone is a mah-bhgavata and always serving Ka. rla Bhaktivednta Swm Mahrja was in this position, playing the role of a madhyama-adhikr. I realized who he was by his words and his association. In 1955, rla Swm Mahrja lived in our maha in Mathur for more than five months, and he gave daily classes there. He would read rmad-Bhgavatam and speak on the pastimes of Prahlada, Citraketu, Kapila and Devahti, and child Krsna as Dmodara. I used to cook for him then and assist him in many other ways. I used to give him many books from my library room to assist him in his translating of rmad-Bhgavatam, and after some time he went to Delhi and published three volumes of the First Canto. Then, with no money, not a farthing, he came to the West. When he was in New York in 1965, he requested me by letter, You should come with me. I am alone and I will have to do something here; so you should come. I replied My gurudeva is here, and I am serving him. When he will return to Bengal I may come. rla Swm Mahrja wrote back, Very good. You should serve your gurudeva, but when you have the chance you should certainly come and join me. I replied, Yes, I will come. After that I sent all his books Bhagavad-gt, Rmnujacaryas bhya (r-bhya), akaras bhya (rraka-bhya), and other bhyas (commentaries) to New York. A few days ago I saw those books in Los Angeles. Not all, but some of them are there. I also sent him mdagas, karatlas, vigrahas of r RdhKa, and also ten kilos of sweet pera every month. In 1967, when rla Swm Mahrja returned to India with Krtannanda, I was the only person to meet him at the airport in Delhi. We went to the Rdh-Ka temple in Delhi, and I used to
3

T HEIR L ASTING R ELATION

live there at his request so that I could render various services to him. Then, when Acyutnanda came, rla Swm Mahrja told me, I am not well; Im tired. So you go with Krtannanda and Acyutnanda to some persons homes; and you will have to give the lectures there. I did so. Later, after rla Swm Mahrja returned to Vndvana, to the Rdh-Dmodara temple, I often came to visit him. There he discussed so many things about Vednta, and especially about rmad-Bhgavatam. He discussed many principles of bhakti, and he explained that r Caitanya Mahprabhu came to this world especially to taste rmat Rdhikas mood: anarpita-car cirt karuayvatra kalau samarpayitum unnatojjvalaras sva-bhakti-riyam. He gave such high-class, deep association there, and he loved me so much. Later, in 1968, our gurudeva disappeared from this world, and I sent a message to rla Swm Mahrja, who was at that time in Seattle. When he received it, he at once replied to me, as though he was weeping while writing. He wrote, I am so much aggrieved because of this. He composed a loka and explained, rla Raghuntha dsa Gosvm was weeping for his gurudeva, rla Santana Gosvm, and I am feeling like this: vairgyavidy-nija-bhakti-yoga; apayayan mm anabhipsu andhm; r-keava-bhakti-prajna-nma. I was not in a mood to take the renounced order. I was fearing so much. My family rejected me and I was penniless, but still I was not ready to take sannysa and fulfill my gurudevas order to go to Western countries to preach his mission. But pjyapda Bhakti Prajna Keava Gosvm Mahrja gave me sannysa, the renounced order, and he told me, You must accept this. rla Swm Mahrja wrote me that this was his raddhnjali to Gurudevas lotus feet. The renounced order is not a play. It changes ones entire life and it means that one is aspiring for gop-bhva. Some say that rla Swm Mahrja was only a cowherd friend of Ka, but I strongly oppose this. His sannysa-mantra was a gop-mantra, and he has also taken gopal-mantra. Those who are second
4

A B RIEF H ISTORY

initiated know the meaning of gopal-mantra. Without it, no one can have the mood that r Caitanya Mahprabhu wanted to give. So I have heard from him directly, and also by hearing his lectures I know, that he has come in the line of r Caitanya Mahprabhu to give this mission. This was also the mission of rila Bhaktivinoda hkura and rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura. They are both associates of Ka and Mahprabhu. They are not of this world. So rla Swm Mahrja has not come only to give dharma (religious principles). He has not come only to give the yuga-dharma of harinma. This was not the primary mission of Mahprabhu; it was the mission of Mah-Viu, or Advaita crya. When r Caitanya Mahprabhu comes, taking the mood of rmat Rdhik, He teaches gopi-prema. It is that prema which He wanted to give to the jvas.
prema-rasa-nirysa karite svdana rga-mrga bhakti loke karite pracraa rasika-ekhara ka parama-karua ei dui hetu haite icchra udgama The Lords desire to appear was born from two reasons: He wanted to taste the sweet essence of the mellows of love of God, and He wanted to propagate devotional service in the world on the platform of spontaneous attraction. Thus He is known as supremely jubilant and as the most merciful of all. [r Caitanya-caritmta, di-ll (4.1516)]

rla Swm Mahrja has come to the Western countries only to establish the mission of his guru-parampara nothing new only their mission. He has not written any new books. He has translated the Gt, and he has given its purports. He has also given purports to rmad-Bhgavatam, r opaniad and other books. He has given the names of the parampar, from Nrada to r Caitanya Mahprabhu, and down to rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura. So he was not out of the Gauya Vaiava
5

T HEIR L ASTING R ELATION

line. He is a Gauya Vaiava. We should not try to cut his link with the Gauya mission or the Gauya Maha: our disciplic order. I can tell something about his mission in Western countries. He was always connected with the sampradya. At first he has plowed and turned barren land into cultivated land thus fertilizing it. He planted seeds, and these seeds should never stay the same. They should sprout, they should grow, and they should give sweet fruits. We should increase our devotional activities our Ka consciousness. We should not remain third-class Vaiavas. rla Swm Mahrja has written everything in his books, including what he could not speak much about at that time. Those who think that he is dead are themselves dead. He is always giving inspiration to the whole world. If we serve him, we will see his books with quite new meaning. Then we can properly read these books and become more qualified. I learned from him that we should associate with devotees who are more bona fide and advanced than ourselves. We should honor them. We should see that all devotees are in one family, Lord Caitanyas family. If we do not think in this way, we cannot be devotees. We should think that we are in one family, and there are so many hands. Ka, r Caitanya Mahprabhu, and rla Swm Mahrja have thousands and thousands of hands, and we should honor all their hands; we should honor all those who are chanting the name. I heard him say that those who are chanting the holy name, even if they have not taken initiation, should also be honored. Those who have taken initiation and are chanting should be more honored. And those who are mah-bhgavata should be served by all means. rla Swm Mahrja has written all this in his translations. So I pray that those who were initiated by rla Swm Mahrja be very broad- minded. They should know that I am actually the first disciple of rla Swm Mahrja, from before ISKCON was founded. There are two kinds of gurus ik and dk and both are
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A B RIEF H ISTORY

the same. Sometimes the ik-guru is superior, and sometimes the dk-guru may be. The relationship with the ik-guru is very friendly; he is like a bosom friend. The dk-guru should be very much respected, and so we may somewhat fear him. But the ik-guru is like a friend, sometimes sitting on the same seat as us. I used to sit with rla Swm Mahrja on the same bed or sana. Then, during his last days, I went to Vndvana to see him. Taking my hands and putting them in his hands, he told me that I should sit on his bed, but I offered prama to it and sat on a chair. He told me, I have got so many disciples, but they dont know very much. You should try to help them. Especially my samdhi should be given by your own hands. I want this. Tears came to his eyes as he was ordering this, and I told him, You are my ik-guru. Though you and I are friends, I always consider you my ik-guru. I will always follow your instructions, word for word, letter for letter. Then I told all the disciples present, especially the leading disciples, You should not think that rla Swm Mahrja is going to die. You should think that he has a mission to help the Western countries. After his going, you should be united and try to honor each other. Give his mission to the countries where he could not go. Dont cheat his mission. It is most high level to follow his orders. You should all try to be broad-minded and dont try to control anyone. You cant get sneha and prem, love and affection, by controlling and accumulating money. You cant control by giving orders. rla Swm Mahrja called them, Come on, come on. Listen to Nryaa Mahrja. Hear what he has to say. Just after rla Swm Mahrjas departure, many devotees came from Mathur to Vndvana and we performed nagarasakrtana. I lead the krtana, and then I put rla Swm Mahrja in samdhi with Vedic mantras and all other Vedic arrangements. Most of the renounced people of Vndvana, including bbjs from all four sampradyas, came there, and I organized everything, including who should do the public
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T HEIR L ASTING R ELATION

speaking and in what order people should speak. I honored all, just as rla Swm Mahrja asked me to do in his final words. Interviewer: Of all the qualities rla Prabhupda exhibited, does one stand out in your mind? rla Nryaa Mahrja: The symptoms of guru have been written in rmad-Bhgavatam and Gt, and I saw these symptoms in rla Swm Mahrja:
tad-vijnrtha sa gurum evbhigacchet samit-pi rotriya brahma-niham To understand things properly, one must humbly approach, with firewood in hand, a spiritual master who is learned in the Vedas and firmly devoted to the Absolute Truth. [Mundaka Upaniad (1.2.12)]

He was brahma-nih, one who has given up all other activities and has dedicated his life to working only for Ka.
tasmd guru prapadyeta jijsu reya uttamam bde pare ca nita brahmay upaamrayam Therefore, any person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of the bona fide guru is that he has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, should be understood to be bona fide spiritual masters. [rmad-Bhgavatam (11.3.21)]

We see that one symptom of guru is that he knows Vednta, Upademta, rmad-Bhgavatam, Bhagavad-gt,
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A B RIEF H ISTORY

etc. He should be siddhnta-vit (knower of all philosophical conclusions), so that he can clear all the doubts of his disciples. I know that rla Swm Mahrja was very much qualified in this. He knew everything. He was perfect in this. Second, guru should be detached from worldly things, and I know that rla Swm Mahrja had no attachment. He had attachment to those who are thoroughly attached to Ka. The guru should have realization of his iadeva, r r Rdh-Ka and r Caitanya Mahprabhu. One cannot preach without realization. If he is not factually practicing bhakti, and he has no realization, then his words will vanish into the air. No one will be able to truly follow his instructions. I have realized this: that any disciple, or anyone else, who came to rla Swm Mahrja was overpowered by him. He conquered their hearts with love and affection. Without realization of Ka, no one can do this. It has been said in Bhagavad-gt (4.34):
tad viddhi praiptena paripranena sevay upadekyanti te jnaj jninas tattva-darina Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.

Who is tattva-dari? One who knows all siddhnta in all the Vedas, Upaniads and other stras. Praiptena paripranena. You should go to such a guru, again and again, very honorably questioning and serving him. I see how rla Swm Mahrja went to rla Prabhupda Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura, how he accepted him as his gurudeva, and especially how, in a very short time, he spread his prema, his mission, Caitanya Mahprabhus mission, to the whole world. This was the akti
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the energy, the potency of Caitanya Mahprabhu and his gurudeva that he could do all this. No common person could have done what he did. I remember another instance. The last time I saw rla Swm Mahrja (the evening before he departed from this world) he was so friendly to me. He told me, I have done something wrong in my life, so I want to be forgiven. You should especially forgive me, because you have served me and you are so dear to me. I said, No, dont say this. Anyone who comes in a special situation, at a special time, can say anything to encourage new devotees. We also say things like this. So I dont think you have done anything wrong. Then he told me, You should forgive me, and you should tell all my godbrothers to forgive me. When I told some disciples, Dont mix with anyone; dont mix with my godbrothers, it was in a letter, not in my books; and I told this only for a special time. rla Swm Mahrja was a first-class Vaiava, a mah-bhgavata; and he wrote like this only for third-class, kaniha, devotees. I had once asked him, Mahrja, we are friends. I want to know why your Deities have names which are not siddhntic, like Rdh- Prtha-srathi and Rukmi-Dvrakdha. Regarding Rukmi-Dvrakdha, I know that in 1968 you established and performed pra-pratih (the installation ceremony) of RdhKa with peacock feather and flute, and with Rdh there on His left side. He replied, When I established Rdh-Ka in Los Angeles, I gave Them the name Rdh-Ka, and then I left Los Angeles to go to India. When I returned I saw that someone had changed the name to Rukmi-Dvrakdha. I became very angry with that person. I was against this name, but now this name has come about. Regarding Rdh-Prtha-srathi, he told me he was very ill at the time and his disciples gave this name without his actual approval. I read in his books that this is rasa-bhsa. rla Swm
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A B RIEF H ISTORY

Mahrja has written this, not only in one place but in many places. He told me not to think that this was his idea, and I told him, My doubt is gone, and I pray that you bless me so that I may be like you in Ka consciousness. He benedicted me, and I felt so glad, so fortunate, to think that he ordered me to always serve him. Interviewer: I understand that rla Prabhupda was having many difficulties and harassments in Bombay to keep his centers, and you took some role to keep ISKCONs property? rla Nryaa Mahrja: Some years ago rla Swm Mahrjas son told the Bombay court that he was a vaiya, a businessman that he was not a sannys. His son said that only a brhmaa can take sannysa. Because rla Swm Mahrja was a businessman, he went to the West for business, and ISKCON is a family business. The sons conclusion was that he himself is the master of all of ISKCONs property. An ISKCON leader came and told me, If you dont give evidence, this son will take all of ISKCON, all over the world. He told me that I should go immediately. I told him that I only want to serve rla Swm Mahrja, so I will go. After that I went to Bombay several times and sat in court the entire day. Every day I would take prasdam early in the morning, at about 7 A.M., and then immediately go to the court. I want to always serve the mission of rla Swm Mahrja.

11

M Y M ISSION

IN THE

W EST

This is an excerpt from a lecture given during rla Nryaa Mahrjas first Western preaching tour. The lecture took place in San Francisco on June 30, 1996.

I have come from Mathur, Vndvana, but I do not feel I have left there. Everywhere I see very bona fide devotees, just as in Vndvana. rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura ordered rla Swm Mahrja to go to the West to spread the holy name of Rdh and Ka and the message of r Caitanya Mahprabhu, and he came about forty years later. rla Swm Mahrja similarly ordered me and I have also come, about twenty years later. He has ordered me and I have come. My mission in the Western countries has three purposes. First, I want to take the dust from rla Bhaktivednta Swm Mahrja`s lotus feet by going to the places he preached in Europe and here in America. He first came to New York, so I also wanted to go there. When he came he was penniless, singing r Ka Caitanya and Hare Ka, Hare Rma on the streets. He wrote me from there, and I sent him the books he wanted, as well as many pairs of deities of Gaura-Nitynanda Prabhu and RdhKa. I also sent him karatlas, mdagas and many other paraphernalia. Second, I have come here to give his message to the entire world. He has planted the seeds and they have somewhat grown, but they are lacking water. rla Swm Mahrja has given me that water, which is his hari-kath, and according to my ability I am carrying this water everywhere. I am so happy to carry out his instructions, and to take his foot-dust from the places he has sanctified. The third purpose of my traveling is to help the sincere devotees who are unhappy due to long-term lack of good association. I have come to tell them, You should see that your
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M Y M ISSION

IN THE

W EST

Prabhupda is here among you. You must again become powerful and energetic, just as you were at the time of his manifested appearance. Think neither that he is dead, nor that he is not here. I did not know any of you before, but rla Swm Mahrja has done such marvelous things that on this Pacific seacoast, from Los Angeles to San Francisco to Vancouver, and to wherever I go, many devotees are coming to see me. I am grateful to rla Swm Mahrja, and I am offering the lotus flowers of my devotion to his feet. He has performed a miracle, and if he were here today, he would preach more and more. He has written and translated so many books, which have been translated into over forty languages. Now, however, eighty or ninety percent of the devotees have left ISKCON. I want that ISCKON become more and more powerful. Everyone should be strengthened and everyone should preach all over the world, just as rla Prabhupda Bhaktivednta Swm Mahrja has preached. I will speak some hari-kath from Sri Caitanya-caritmta and rmad-Bhgavatam, and I will try to quench your thirst so that the bona fide honor and appreciation you have for your Prabhupda will increase. He will bless us all, and he will be so happy that you have come.

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A L OCKED T REASURE C HEST

This is an excerpt from rla Nryaa Mahrjas lecture at the tmnanda Yoga Center in New York City on July 12, 1996.

rla Swm Mahrja has given everything in his books. He knew that a child of one year, or two years, or even five years, could not retain all the information. A father or mother save money for their child, keeping it in a locked box. When the child is mature, he will be qualified to take the treasures inside. Before maturity, however, the child would waste that treasure. Similarly, rla Swm Mahrja kept all his treasures in his books. If you want to open them, you should know that the key is in the hands of the bhgavata (the pure, self-realized devotee). There are two bhgavatas grantha-bhgavata, the Vedic scriptures, and bhakta-bhgavata, the pure devotee who embodies those scriptures. Bhakta-bhgavata is superior, as the key to understanding the scriptures is with bona fide bhaktas who have prema. They can open the lock. rla Swm Mahrja has kept the treasure which rla Rpa Gosvm left in Bhaktirasmta-sindhu and his other books, and his own books are full of treasures. In his purports we see all the teachings that are in rla Rpa Gosvms books. r Upademta (Nectar of Instruction), for example, gives the process by which we can go to Vndvana and follow rla Rpa Gosvm. Some persons say, We are not qualified, and we will never be qualified, to hear about Goloka. I think that is quite wrong, because rla Swm Mahrja has written about it in his books. When we are matured and qualified, then we can actually taste that nectar and go to that place which rla Rpa Gosvm, rla Kadsa Kavirja Gosvm, r Vysadeva, and rla Bhaktivednta Swm Mahrja have written about.

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T HE D IVINE D ISAPPEARANCE OF R RMAD B HAKTI P RAJNA K EAVA G OSVM

The following is a lecture given by rla Prabhupda in Seattle, Washington, on October 21, 1968, just after he was infromed of the disappearance of his intimate godbrother and sannysa-guru.

One has to accept the renounced order from another person who is in the renounced order. I never thought that I shall accept this renounced order of life. In my family life, when I was in the midst of my wife and children, sometimes I was dreaming that my spiritual master was calling me, and I was following him. When my dream was over, I was thinking I was little horrified: Oh, Guru Mahrja wants me to become a sannys. How can I accept sannysa? At that time I was not very satisfied that I will have to give up my family and become a mendicant. At that time, it was a horrible feeling. Sometimes I was thinking, No, I cannot take sannysa, but again I saw the same dream. So in this way I was fortunate. My Guru Mahrja (Prabhupda begins to cry and his voice is choked) pulled me out from this material life. I have not lost anything. He was so kind upon me. I have gained. I left three children, and I have got now three hundred children; so I am not a loser. It is material conception to think that we shall be losers by accepting Ka. Nobody is a loser. I say this from my practical experience. I was thinking, How can I accept this renounced order of life? I cannot accept so much trouble. But I retired from my family life, and I was sitting alone in Vndvana, writing books. My godbrother insisted Bhaktivednta Prabhu... This title was given in my family life. It was offered to me by the Vaiava society. So he insisted. Actually it is not he who insisted to me. Practically my spiritual master insisted to me through him, saying, You accept. Without accepting the renounced order of life, nobody can become a
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preacher, and he wanted me to become a preacher. So he forced me through this godbrother, who said, You accept. Unwillingly I accepted; and then I remembered that he wanted me to go to the Western countries. So I am feeling now very much obliged to my godbrother, because he carried out the wish of my spiritual master and forced me to accept this sannysa order. This godbrother, His Holiness r rmad Bhakti Prajna Keava Gosvm Mahrja, is no longer in this world. He has entered Kas abode. So I wish to pass a resolution of bereavement and send it to them. I have also composed one verse in this connection. All of you present, you sign this. I shall send it tomorrow. The verse I have composed is in Sanskrit: vairgya-vidynija-bhakti-yoga. This Ka consciousness is vairgya-vidy. Vairgya-vidy means to become detestful of this material world. That is called vairgya-vidy, and that is possible simply by bhakti-yoga. Vairgya-vidy-nija-bhakti-yogam apayayan mm. The child is afraid to take medicine, and that also I have experienced. In my childhood, when I became ill, I was very stubborn and I would say, I wont accept any medicine. So my mother used to force medicine into my mouth with a spoon. I was so obstinate. Similarly, I did not want to accept this sannysa order, but this godbrother forced me and said, You must. Apayayan mm; he forcefully made me drink this medicine. Anabhipsu andham. Why was I unwilling? Anabhipsu means unwilling. Andham means one who is blind, who cannot see his future. Spiritual life is the brightest future, but the materialists cannot see this. The Vaiavas and the spiritual master therefore forcefully say, Drink this medicine. Apayayan mm anabhipsu andham. r-keava-bhakti-prajna-nama. So my godbrother his name is Keava, Srila Bhakti Prajna Keava Gosvm Mahrja did this favor for me because he was an ocean of mercy, kpmbudhi. We offer our obeisances to Vaiavas: vch-kalpa-tarubhya ca kp-sindhubhya eva ca.
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D ISAPPEARANCE

OF

RLA K EAVA M AHRJA

The Vaiavas, the representatives of the Lord, are so kind. They bring the ocean of mercy to distribute it to suffering humanity. Kpmbudhir yas tam aha prapadye. So I am offering my respectful obeisances unto this His Holiness, because he forcefully made me adopt this sannysa order. He is no more in this world. He has entered Kas abode, and therefore I am offering my respectful obeisances, along with my disciples. On the first day of my sannysa, I remembered that Ill have to speak in English. I remembered this on that sannysa day, when there was a reception, so I first of all spoke in English. This was all the arrangement of higher authority, of Ka. We are writing this: Resolved that we, the undersigned members and devotees of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Incorporated, in a condolence meeting under the presidency of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivednta Swm, today, the 21st of October, 1968, at our Seattle branch, express our profound bereavement on hearing of the passing of His Divine Grace Om Visnupda r rmad Bhakti Prajna Keava Gosvm Mahrja, the sannysa-guru, preceptor, of our spiritual master, on October 6th, 1968, at his headquarter residence in Navadvipa, West Bengal. We offer our respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of r rmad Bhakti Prajna Keava Gosvm Mahrja, with the following verse composed on this occasion by our spiritual master. This verse I have already explained to you. So I wish that you all sign it, and I will send it tomorrow by air mail. Have you got a pencil? Govinda ds: Yes. (sound of Prabhupda signing)

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LETTER

OF

CONDOLENCE

This letter by rla Prabhupda was originally written in Bengali on the occasion of the disappearance of rla Bhakti Prajna Keava Gosvm Mahrja. It was addressed to rla Bhaktivednta Trivikrama Mahrja, one of the prominent disciples of rla Bhakti Prajna Keava Gosvm Mahrja. It was then translated into Hindi by rla Bhaktivednta Nryaa Mahrja and printed in r Bhagavat Patrika magazine in December 1968. The following is the English translation of that letter.

All Glories to r Guru & Gaurga Seattle, Washington October 22, 1968 I offer my humble prostrated obeisances at the lotus feet of all the Vaiavas. rpda Trivikrama Mahrja,1 Yesterday I received your letter dated October 12, and its contents were heart-breaking. Kindly inform me of the details of the sudden disappearance of pjyapda Mahrja (rla Bhakti Prajna Keava Gosvm Mahrja). I had a very longstanding intimate relationship with rla Mahrja. I used to visit rpda Narahari Dd2 and rpda Vinoda Dd3 with great affection. They were my extremely loving friends. Also in Calcutta, senior Tirtha Mahrja, Professor Nishikanta Sannyala, and Vasudeva Prabhu were very dear to me. Afterwards I used to visit and associate freely with rpda rdhara Mahrja, as if we were the closest of family members. Except for rpda rdhara Mahrja, all of the above-mentioned Vaiavas have gradually disappeared. Our time is also approaching, so it will be best to have the opportunity to serve rla Prabhupad as long as possible. I have a very close connection with r Gauya Vednta Samiti.4 Yourself, and particularly rpda Vamana Mahrja,5
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L ETTER

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C ONDOLENCE

know well that I am one of three persons who founded r Gauya Vednta Samiti at Bosapada Lane, Calcutta, even before rla (Bhakti Prajna Keava) Mahrja accepted sannysa. Within a few days of the formation of the Samiti, r Narottamnanda Brahmacr (presently Tridai Swm r rmad Bhakti Kamala Madhusdana Mahrja) separated himself from it. At that time rpda Vmana Mahrja, who was then a brahmacr, visited our home at Sitakanta Banaraji Lane. He made me the president of the Bengali magazine, r Gauya Patrika.6 Respecting the order of rla Mahrja, I started writing articles for the Gauya Patrika regularly, and rla Mahrja greatly appreciated whatever I wrote. Thereafter, I was also appointed as the president of the Hindi magazine, r Bhagavata Patrika, and many of my articles were published in that. Afterwards I could not submit articles due to lack of time. Now I have become a resident of foreign lands and I have to travel twenty thousand miles every year. The greatest compassion of rla Bhakti Prajna Keava Gosvm Mahrja upon me was to make me a sannys. I had taken a vow that I would never accept sannysa, but rla Mahrja forcibly gave it to me. He would certainly have been most pleased today to see the success of my preaching. Last year I visited him in Calcutta along with my disciples, and despite his being bed-ridden, he was very pleased to receive us. I have complete confidence that both in his manifest presence and after his disappearance he must be very pleased to see my widespread preaching of the message of rman Mahaprabhu in Western countries like America, Canada, England, Germany, and Hawaii (Honolulu), situated in the Pacific Ocean, as well as in Eastern countries like Japan (Tokyo) and so on. I was a staunch ghamed (one whose intelligence is absorbed in household affairs). rla Prabhupda used to come to me in dreams from time to time, and call me to renounce family life and come along with him. The dreams would frighten me and
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make me think that I would have to accept sannysa. I didnt have any desire to take sannysa. However, upon the repeated insistence of rpda Nryaa Mahrja, rla Bhakti Prajna Keava Gosvm Mahrja bestowed boundless mercy upon this unwilling and blind person, by forcibly giving me sannysa. It seems that this desire of rla Prabhupda was transmitted into his heart, and thus that my sannysa was accomplished. So I am eternally indebted to rla Mahrja. Therefore, immediately after receiving your letter, I organized a virahasabh, a meeting at the Seattle temple to honor his disappearance. I am sending the condolence resolution of the meeting along with this letter. Kindly accept it as our raddhnjali, humble homage. In my other centers (the list is enclosed), particularly London, Hamburg, and Honolulu, I have given instruction to arrange a viraha-sabh and offer raddhnjali homage likewise. You will be glad to know that I have formed three sakrtana parties comprising American youths and couples under my guidance. One such party is currently traveling to cities in America, and I am also with this party. The second party, of six devotees, is performing krtana at different places in London. The Indians living there are amazed to see them. Those Indians have given up their homeland and come all the way to the Western world to attain wealth and reputation, but the Americans are performing harinma-sakrtana. Somehow the preaching activities are going on very nicely. I am interested to know what kind of constitution you are forming. In this matter you will receive my complete cooperation, because I am a man of constructive ideas. I do not like destructive policies. It was the desire of rla Prabhupda and rla Bhaktivinoda hkura that Americans perform krtana in rdhma Mypura, and that opportunity has now come. Unfortunately, those who have intruded into Mypura consider it to be their personal property, and these days others are restricted from visiting that
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L ETTER

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C ONDOLENCE

place. rla Bhakti Prajna Keava Gosvm Mahrja used to deal with these guru-tygs (those who renounce their guru) and guru-bhogs (those who enjoy the property of their guru) with sword in hand. In this regard, last year he mentioned that he would arrange five acres of land for me in rdhma Mypura. You were present at that time. If you help me in this matter, I intend to make an rama in Mypura. American boys and girls can visit and stay there and receive proper training. By our cooperation, preaching activities can be done very nicely. Therefore, I am eager to know the details of your constitution. I am going to Montreal tommorow. From there I will go to Santa Fe (New Mexico) and to Los Angeles. I am sending the addresses of our centers with this letter. We are executing a plan to build New Vndvana on three hundred acres of land. Kindly reply to the Los Angeles-Hollywood address, as I will be staying three days in Montreal, seven days in Santa Fe, and almost one month in Los Angeles.
pthivte che yata nagardi grma sarvatra pracra haibe mora nma In every town and village, the chanting of My name will be heard. [r Caitanya-bhgavata (Antya-khaa 4.126)]

Preaching can be spread extensively throughout the world on the basis of this system. I think that your constitution must be directly in accordance with the above prediction. I hope your bhajana is going on nicely. Your obedient servant, r Bhaktivednta Swm
Footnotes:
1

rla Trivikrama Mahrja is one of the three prominent disciples of rla Bhakti Prajna Keava Gosvm Mahrja. He took sannysa from rla Keava Mahrja at the same time as rla Nryaa Mahrja and rla Vamana

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Mahrja did, and since that time they have preached together and enthused hundreds of thousands of devotees.
2

rla Narahari Dd was a senior and intimate disciple of rla Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvat hkura. He was considered the mother and Florence Nightingale of the Gauya Maha. He always made arrangements for the care and nourishment of all devotees. Dd means elder godbrother.

Vinoda Dd is the brahmacr name of rla Bhakti Prajna Keava Gosvm Mahrja. His full name was Vinoda-bihr Brahmacr. He was manager of the Gauya Maha during the time of rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura.
4

After the disappearance of rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura Prabhupda, rla Keava Mahrja wanted to preach vigorously on his behalf. rla Sarasvat hkura had previously been so pleased by rla Keava Mahrjas preaching and scholarship in scriptures that he gave him all his scriptures, and rla Keava Mahrja understood the meaning that his gurudeva wanted him to preach the real meaning of Vednta as bhakti. He therefore desired to establish a society for preaching from Vednta, what r Gaurasundara wanted to give the world rpnuga-bhakti. Therefore he started Gauya Vednta Samiti.

rla Vmana Mahrja was the right-hand man of rla Keava Mahrja and he is now the crya of Gauya Vednta Samiti, as per the will of rla Keava Mahrja. He is also the societys president.

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P RABHUPDA ' S F INAL O RDER : O N I SKCON AND RLA N RYAA M AHRJA

The following is a transcription, translated from a cassette-taped Bengali conversation between rla Prabhupda and rla Nryaa Mahrja. On this cassette, made in OctoberNovember 1977, we hear from rla Prabhupda himself about his final order in this regard. Because the original conversation is in Bengali, with only small parts in English, it is probably a cassette you have never heard before.

rla Prabhupda: Nryaa Mahrja. He will come tomorrow? Tamla-ka Gosvm: He will come when we (discussing with others). If we pick him up he might come tonight. rla Prabhupda: Hmm. Tamla-ka Gosvm: If we go just now with the car. Bhakticaru is going just now with the car. Mahrja may come tonight. [Someone begins to sing, Govindam di-purua...] Tamla-ka Gosvm: Should we put a little fan on? A little bit. [The conversation with rla Nryaa Mahrja begins:] rla Prabhupda: Srila Prabhupda (rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat Thakura) had a desire to preach all over the world in Europe, America and so on. I tried my best to fulfill his desire. Now we should preach together. rla Nryaa Mahrja: Yes. rla Prabhupda: We have got experience that if we endeavor
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collectively, there is great possibility to spread the message of kara matha, the mission of Mahprabhu, pthivte che, everywhere in the world. I have contributed to this end to the best of my ability. I wish that my godbrothers forgive my offenses.While preaching, many times we say things contrary to each other, or we cut each others philosophical arguments. That happens. Please ask my godbrothers to forgive my offenses. (inaudible) rla Nryaa Mahrja: Whatever you will order I accept completely. I consider you my guru. rla Prabhupda: (inaudible) rla Nryaa Mahrja: It has been done very beautifully. This is the proper way. Its good that you have raised this point that everyone should protect the mission of Mahprabhu which you have established in Western countries, by good cooperation. Though you have taught them, still, in the future, if everyone helps them, a wonderful movement can be established on the Earth. rla Prabhupda: (inaudible)...I have brought these mlecchas and yavanas. They are like monkeys (banaras), very expert in quarreling. Accepting those who were sent to me by the arrangement of Ka, and considering their qualifications and disqualifications, I tried educating them, just to get things going. And they learned to their capacity. Things can be done in good cooperation. There is enough land, big, big temples and no shortage of money...(inaudible) rla Nryaa Mahrja: Its proper for everyone to help in this matter. Everything will be still better if they are also humble and try to cooperate with everyone, with each other as well as with other Vaiavas. I will do my best to help. Whenever and
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 RLA P RABHUPDA S F INAL O RDER

whatever they will ask, I will try my best to help them. Whenever they will call me, any advice they will want, wherever they may want me to go, although my qualification is limited I will try to help to the best of my ability. rla Prabhupda: Are any of my godbrothers in Vndvana now? rla Nryaa Mahrja: Yes. rla Prabhupda: Who? rla Nryaa Mahrja: Vana Mahrja might be there, as well as Indupati Prabhu from Caitanya Gauya Maha. rla Prabhupda: Any more? rla Nryaa Mahrja: Only these two at the moment. rla Prabhupda: Who is Indupati? rla Nryaa Mahrja: Indupati. He comes here often. Bhakticaru Swm: From Mdhava Mahrjas Maha? rla Nryaa Mahrja: Yes. No one else is here. rla Prabhupda: Please call both of them. Vana Mahrja and him. rla Nryaa Mahrja: This is very good proposal by you. rla Prabhupda: Please sit down. They will call them. rla Nryaa Mahrja: All right.
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rla Prabhupda: This cutting of arguments happens sometimes... rla Nryaa Mahrja: These are insignificant matters in such a substantial worldwide mission. A little something here and there is of no consequence. You have done this wonderful preaching work for the benefit of the whole world. There was no self-interest. You did everything only in devotional service to Ka for benefitting all people at large. rla Prabhupda: It is all by your blessings. rla Nryaa Mahrja: You have done a wonderful thing. It is necessary to care for and preserve this mission, and to see that it is managed skillfully. rla Prabhupda: Kindly instruct them in this matter. Im unable to speak. rla Nryaa Mahrja: Yes. Please take rest. rla Prabhupda: Please sit a little longer. rla Nryaa Mahrja: Yes. Im here. rla Prabhupda: Your health is all right? rla Nryaa Mahrja: Yes. You please keep remembering Krsna. These are all very qualified men. They will manage nicely. rla Prabhupda: There is some problem (disturbance) in Mypura. rla Nryaa Mahrja: That will all be worked out. The gus have done that for their selfish motives. Everything will be all right. Some obstacles are always there in any work.
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 RLA P RABHUPDA S F INAL O RDER

rla Prabhupda: Twenty thousand people gathered for the meeting. Have you heard anything about it? rla Nryaa Mahrja: Yes, I have heard something. It was painful. The Communist Party people have done that nonsense. They have done utmost injustice. But now be free to peacefully remember r Rdh-Ka and Their sweet pastimes. Your people will take care of the necessities. All will be well by the wish of the Supreme Lord, r Ka. No need to think about it at all. rla Prabhupda: Hmm. rla Nryaa Mahrja: Dont worry. rla Prabhupda: You have some affection for me? [This is an Indian expression of love.] rla Nryaa Mahrja: Affection! What to speak of affection, I regard you as my guru. rla Prabhupda: I know that. Thats why I beg you to please forgive my offenses. rla Nryaa Mahrja: You kindly forgive our offenses, so that our intelligence may be fixed at the lotus feet of Ka. Please give us this blessing. rla Prabhupda: Where is... rla Nryaa Mahrja: He has gone to Bengal. rla Prabhupda: When did he go?

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rla Nryaa Mahrja: He went about a month ago. eay has come with me to take your darana. He has rendered some services to you. rla Prabhupda: Brahmacr? rla Nryaa Mahrja: Yes, eay Brahmacr. Sometimes he has cooked for you. rla Prabhupda: Where is Tamla? Devotee: He is just coming, rla Prabhupda. He is in the other room. rla Prabhupda: (inaudible) rla Nryaa Mahrja: Yes, I can see that. It is very good that you have returned to Vraja from overseas. rla Prabhupda: They wanted to keep me there, but I said, No. My health is not fit for any more travel... [Tamla-ka Gosvm enters the room.] rla Prabhupda: Have you consulted with Nryaa Mahrja? Tamla-ka Gosvm: Yes. This morning. Bhakticaru Swm, Bhaktiprema Swm and rdhara Swm went to see him, and Nryaa Mahrja described the ceremony. rla Nryaa Mahrja: I have told them everything needed to be done. I told them, Whenever you need me, Ill come here.

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 RLA P RABHUPDA S F INAL O RDER

rla Prabhupda: (inaudible)...When you enter the gate on the right side? Tamla-ka Gosvm: On the entrance on the left side. On entering, looking towards the deities. In other words, when you come into the temple. There is a big open... rla Prabhupda: You must put salt around the body. rla Nryaa Mahrja: I have explained everything to them. Tamla-ka Gosvm: Its on the same side as the vyssana. rla Prabhupda: Flowers should be placed in Mypura. rla Nryaa Mahrja: I have told them to keep some flowers, and wherever you desire those can be... rla Prabhupda: You will be there. rla Nryaa Mahrja: Yes, Ill be there. Tamla-ka Gosvm: He described the entire ceremony in detail, rla Prabhupda. rla Prabhupda: (inaudible) Has eay taken sannysa? rla Nryaa Mahrja: No. He is still a brahmacr. rla Nryaa Mahrja: All of your duties are completed. You have fulfilled everything in your lifetime. There is no need to worry about anything. Only remember the lotus feet of r RdhKa. rla Prabhupda: By Their blessings only.
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rla Nryaa Mahrja: Yes, you have done everything. Nothing is left unfinished. rla Prabhupda: Hm. rla Nryaa Mahrja: Only one thing. They should be told not to fight with each other for self-interest. They should work in cooperation to spread your mission. rla Prabhupda: Dont fight among yourselves. I have given you my will. Execute that...Today is Ekda? rla Nryaa Mahrja: Yes, today is Ekda. rla Prabhupda: How is the service of Mahprabhu going on? rla Nryaa Mahrja: Hmm. rla Prabhupda: Of Jhansi. Now He is at your place. rla Nryaa Mahrja: Yes, your Mahprabhu is with me. His service is going on nicely with great affection. rla Prabhupda: At first I was trying to do something in Jhansi, but Ka had bigger plans. Now we have got so many places. rla Nryaa Mahrja: Why should you be confined to Jhansi? Ka wanted you to preach everywhere. rla Prabhupda: I wanted to live like a nikicana Vaisnava in Vndvana; but Ka inspired me to go out and preach at the age of seventy with only forty rupees in my pocket. And then it took a grand shape. rla Nryaa Mahrja: Yes, you have received the special mercy of r Rpa Gosvm, and also that of r Rdh-Dmodara.
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rla Prabhupda: (inaudible) rla Nryaa Mahrja: Do you have any pain in the body? rla Prabhupda: Its so so. (inaudible) rla Nryaa Mahrja: (speaks to the devotees:) Give him caramta when he feels thirsty. Also, keep some tulas leaves under his head. rla Prabhupda: Yei bhaje sei bao. [This is an excerpt from a verse from r Caitanya-caritmta:] One who worships Ka is exalted. rla Nryaa Mahrja: Hmm. Sei bao. He is exalted. rla Prabhupda: Abhakta hna chra. One who is a nondevotee is low-class and abominable. rla Nryaa Mahrja: chra. Abominable. rla Prabhupda: (inaudible) rla Nryaa Mahrja: They are fortunate. If one has singlepointed devotion to Lord Hari, then, even if he has any fault, api cet su-durcro bhajate mm ananya-bhk / sdhur eva sa mantavyah samyag vyavasito hi sa. This is the principle. [Indupati Prabhu enters in the room.] Indupati Prabhu: Hare Ka. rla Nryaa Mahrja: Please come. Has Vana Mahrja also come? Indupati Prabhu: (inaudible)
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rla Nryaa Mahrja: Indupati Prabhu has come. rla Prabhupda: Nryaa Mahrja has called you on my request. I was saying to Nryaa Mahrja that I beg forgiveness from you.... rla Nryaa Mahrja: (speaking softly to Indupati Prabhu) Mahrja is having difficulty in speaking. Ill tell you. rla Prabhupda: I beg forgiveness for my offenses. I did not wish to offend anyone. While preaching sometimes we cut each others arguments... rla Nryaa Mahrja: (softly explaining rla Prabhupdas desire to Indupati Prabhu) rla Prabhupda: Will you forgive me? rla Nryaa Mahrja: (to Indupati Prabhu) Will you? rla Nryaa Mahrja: (to rla Prabhupda) Mahrja, you have not committed any offense. Please be merciful to us. You havent committed any offense. Indupati Prabhu: (inaudible) rla Nryaa Mahrja: If anyone considers that you have committed an offense, he himself is at fault. rla Prabhupda: Hmm...? rla Nryaa Mahrja: (speaking softly to Indupati Prabhu about rla Prabhupda) He has just returned from London. rla Prabhupda: They had arranged the world tour program, but I had to return...
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rla Nryaa Mahrja: I will speak about your wish to those disciples of rla Prabhupda (Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat Thakura) who are not here. Everyone should try to help and give them (your disciples) the needed guidance, so they can manage nicely. Please do not worry about anything. Remember only the lotus feet of r Rdh- Ka. rla Prabhupda: Please guide them in arranging the festival properly and giving appropriate donations to the gosvms. rla Nryaa Mahrja: (to Bhakticaru Svm) Have you understood what he is saying? Bhakticaru Swm: Yes. (softly speaks with rla Nryaa Mahrja) rla Nryaa Mahrja: I have a special request. Please do not worry about these matters anymore. They are qualified, and they know your desires. Now only think about Ka. Everything will be taken care of. You have made the whole world dance in ka-nma. Now Ill take leave. rla Prabhupda: First take some prasda. rla Nryaa Mahrja: Yes, Ill take. Bhakticaru Svm: rla Prabhupda, Im arranging that. [rla Nryaa Mahrja leaves.]
[Credit for the translation is due mostly to the efforts of rpd Mdhava Mahrja, rpda Puarka dsa Brahmacr, rpda Ka-ka dasa Brahmacr, and rpda Tanmoy Chakravarty. Although the volume of the original cassette was improved by digital technology for the ease of the translators, still some parts remained inaudible, and they are labeled as such in the above transcription.]

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BECAUSE

OF

HIS DIVINE GRACE

The following is an excerpt from a lecture spoken by Srila Narayana Maharaja in Badger, California.

Not only here, but wherever I go throughout the world, whether in the East or the West, I see the result of the inspiration he has given. In a very remote place in Canada, in a deep forest in the mountains, I went to a devotee village named aragati; and I was so pleased to see the many devotees there following varrama-dharma and the principles of bhakti. I also went to a remote village in Australia, also among the hills, in a very beautiful setting. It often rained there, and it was always vasanta, springtime. Although this place is so far away from India, I saw that by rla Swm Mahrjas grace, by his preaching, a very large devotee village had been established. Everyone there was so inspired: women, men, old persons, and very little boys and girls. All were wearing tilaka and neck beads and everyone was dancing, chanting, and remembering in Ka consciousness. Even in India we dont generally see such exhibition of enthusiastic energy. But here I am seeing this everywhere, and this is the miracle of rla Swm Mahrja. Without actually coming to these places and personally seeing what he has done, it would be difficult to imagine. We should understand that backing rla Swm Mahrja is his guru-varga, the disciplic succession rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura, rla Bhaktivinoda hkura, rla Kadsa Kavirja Gosvm, rla Svarpa Dmodara, rla Rya Rmnanda and r Caitanya Mahprabhu. Acting as their hands, their instrument, rla Swm Mahrja did not come here to propagate his own independent mission. He came to spread the mission of his beloved Radha-Ka and Gaura-Nityananda, and particularly the mission of rla Svarupa Damodara, rla Rya Rmnanda and rla Rpa Gosvm.
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B ECAUSE

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Who is r Caitanya Mahprabhu? Anarpita-car carat karuayvatra kalau. After a very long period, after one complete day of Brahma, which comprises 1000 Kali-yuga cycles, r Caitanya Mahprabhu appeared. He is Ka Himself, but enriched with the beauty and mood of rmat Rdhik and Ka. He is rasarja-mahbhva. Perhaps you have heard this name before. It contains a very special and esoteric description of the form of acnandana Gaurahari, as given in r Caitanyacaritmta. Lord Caitanya advented in Mypura, r Navadvpa-dhma, only to give a most confidential and hidden treasure. Even for greatly exalted devotees such as Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana and Sanat-kumara, for Prahlda Mahrja, and even for Narada and Uddhava, this treasure is very mysterious. Lord Caitanya came to distribute this with His own two hands not only with two hands, but with hundreds of thousands of hands. In other words, all the pure devotees of r Caitanya Mahprabhu were His hands. The Lords associates did not consider anyones qualification, and even tigers, bears, serpents, creepers and trees became blessed. Whoever saw the lovely appearance of r Caitanya Mahprabhu, and whoever heard Him calling, O Ka, where are You? Where are You? became devotees. They began to sing and weep, and they received ka-prema. r Caitanya Mahprabhu has descended to this world particularly to give this prema. He did not only come to establish the yuga-dharma, or to simply act as bhakta-raka, protecting His devotees from demons. The primary purpose of His advent was to establish this:
anarpita-car cirt karuayvatra kalau samarpayitum unnatojjvala-ras sva-bhakti-riyam hari puraa-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandpita sad hdaya-kandare sphuratu va ac-nandana May the Supreme Lord, who is known as the son of rmat acdev, be transcendentally situated in the innermost chambers of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has 35

T HEIR L ASTING R ELATION appeared in the Age of Kali by His causeless mercy, to bestow what no incarnation has ever offered before: the most sublime and radiant mellow of devotional service, the mellow of conjugal love. [r Caitanya-caritmta (di-ll 1.4)]

r Caitanya Mahprabhu has come only for unnatojjvalarasa. What is this unnatojjvala-rasa? It is the gops mood of service to Ka, and particularly it is the mood of rmat Rdhika. Dont think that the use of the word gop is sahajiyism. If this were the case, then rla Kadsa Kavirja (the author of r Caitanya-caritmta), rla Rpa Gosvm (the author of this loka), and r Caitanya Mahprabhu (the embodiment of r Caitanya-caritmta) would all be sahajiyas; because this verse is the magalcaraa (invocation) and main verse of r Caitanya-caritmta. Unnatojjvala-rasa is of two kinds: the mood of rmat Rdhik and gops like Lalit,Vikh, Citra, etc., and also the mood of the plyadss, the maidservants of rmat Rdhik. Her plyadss do not want to serve Ka if He is without Rdhik. If Ka, alone, is calling them, they will not go to Him; and they do not want to personally taste Him in any way. r Caitanya Mahprabhu has come to distribute the mood of these maidservants, like Rpa Majar and Lavanga Majar, in their service to rmat Rdhik and Ka. rmat Rdhikas mood cannot be given; it is Hers exclusively. As r Caitanya Mahprabhu, Ka fully tasted Her three moods:
r-rdhy praaya-mahim kdo vnayaivsvdyo yendbhuta-madhurim kdo v madya saukhya csy mad-anubhavata kda veti lobht tad-bhvhya samajani ac-garbha-sindhau harndu Desiring to understand the glory of Rdhrs love, the wonderful qualities in Him that She alone relishes through Her love, and the happiness She feels when She realizes the 36

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sweetness of His love, the Supreme Lord Hari, richly endowed with Her emotions, appeared from the womb of rmat acdev, as the moon appeared from the ocean. [r Caitanyacaritmta (di-ll 1.6)]

The pleasure that rmat Rdhika experiences in serving and seeing Ka cannot be given to anyone, but the mood of the maidservant gops can be given. r Caitanya Mahprabhu has therefore come only to give this. Prior to r Caitanya Mahprabhus appearance, r Rmnujcrya, r Madhvcrya and so many other Vaiava cryas had already appeared. Incarnations like Lord Rma and Lord Nsiha had also descended. All of Them gave a very special contribution to the world, but none of them gave this prema, called bhakti-rasa, which r Caitanya Mahprabhu gave through rla-Rpa Gosvm.
r-caitanya-mano-bha sthpita yena bh-tale svaya rpa kad mahya dadti sva-padntikam When will rla Rpa Gosvm Prabhupda, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet?

Mah-Viu or Mahprabhu?
All the cryas in the Gauya sampradya beginning from Mdhavendra Purpda and vara Purpda, down to rla Svarpa Dmodara, and from them down to rla Bhaktisiddhnta Sarasvat hkura, rla Bhakti Prajna Keava Gosvm Mahrja and rla Bhaktivednta Swm Mahrja have not come only to establish vaidh-bhakti. Rather, they have preached about r Caitanya Mahprabhus descending to distribute that prema, that vraja-bhakti, vraja-rasa. If they were
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preaching only vaidh-bhakti, they would have been representing the r-sampradya, Madva-sampradya, Viusvm-sampradya, Nimbditya, or any other sampradya. rman Mahprabhu also established the yuga-dharma through nma-sakrtana. He did this through the medium of Mah-Viu, Nryaa, Nsihadeva, and the other avatras, who were all contained within Himself within His own body. Because all the avatras were within Him, no other incarnation was required to perform the function of establishing the yugadharma and giving mercy to Jagi and Mdhi. r Caitanya Mahprabhu did all this Himself. He fulfilled the wish of Advaita crya that He appear very soon. He preached and gave ka-prema through the chanting of the holy name. He tasted the moods of rmat Rdhika, and He fulfilled all His other purposes. Among all His purposes however, two were prominent, as described in r Caitanyacaritmta to give ka-prema and to taste the moods of rmat Rdhika.
prema-rasa-nirysa karite svdana rga-mrga bhakti loke karite pracraa rasika-ekhara ka parama-karua ei dui hetu haite icchra udgama The Lords desire to appear was born from two reasons: the Lord wanted to taste the sweet essence of the mellows of love of God, and He wanted to propagate devotional service in the world on the platform of spontaneous attraction. Thus He is known as supremely jubilant and as the most merciful of all. [r Caitanyacaritmta (di-ll 4.1516)]

Ka is rasika-ekhara. Do you know the meaning of rasikaekhara ? He is the taster, the enjoyer, of all rasas. He is the ocean of prema-rasa. Lord Rama has some rasa, but He is not an unlimited ocean of rasa. Lord Nsihadeva has one rasa. When He appeared, He was raudra, angry, and the entire world was
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fearful. But Ka is rasika-ekhara, an endless ocean of rasa, and there is no limit to the depth of that ocean. In a general sense, all scriptures glorify Ka in this way. However, according to Gauya siddhnta (the disciplic succession coming from Lord Caitanya), rmat Rdhik is a greater ocean of rasa than Ka. If He were to dive into that ocean, He Himself would not be able to fathom its depth. Actually, the rmad-Bhgavatam was only presented for the purpose of glorifying rmat Rdhik and the gops. So many Puras and other literatures were previously written to glorify Ka. In rmad-Bhgavatam, glorifying Ka is not the supreme objective; rather it is to glorify the prema of the vrajabhaktas. Ka is not the object of life. Ka-prema is our object. Kasa also had darana of Ka, but he had no prema and therefore he could not satisfy or serve Ka. In r Caitanyacaritmta it has been revealed that ka-prema is the supreme goal of all jvas, and that rdh-prema is the supermost prema. Ka, as r Caitanya Mahprabhu, came only to taste that prema, and to give the moods of Rpa Majar, Rati Majar and all the plyadss of rmat Rdhik. The jva cannot possess the mood of rmat Rdhik. He cannot digest more than the mood of plyadss but that mood is the highest position. rla Rpa Gosvm, rla Raghuntha dsa Gosvm, and all the Gosvms were absorbed in this internal mood of a servant of rmat Rdhik. rla Rpa Gosvm, rla Santana Gosvm, and all the Six Gosvms chanted and rolled on the ground in Vndvana sometimes in Rdh-kua or yma-kua, sometimes in Vndvana or Bandhiravana, and sometimes in Nandgao or Var. They were weeping profusely and calling out everywhere, O Rdhik, where are you? With very deep feelings, they daily chanted not less than one lkha of harinma. They were absorbed in thinking of Kas names and pastimes, and they were offering hundreds of thousands of daavat39

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pramas. They prayed: O Rdh! O Rdh! O Ka! Karusindhu! Dna-bandhu! Jagat-pate! All of our cryas are rpnuga Vaiavas. They have not come to preach vaidh-bhakti. They did so, however, in order to first cut the jungles of philosophical misconceptions, then to establish the yuga-dharma, and then to give these deeper conceptions. Without having done this preliminary work, no one would be able to understand.

The Essence of All Advice

rla Rpa Gosvm states:
tan-nma-rpa-caritdi-sukrtannusmtyo kramea rasan-manas niyojya tihan vraje tad-anurgi jannugm kla nayed akhilam ity upadea-sram The essence of all advice is that one should utilize ones full time twenty-four hours a day in nicely chanting and remembering the Lords divine name, transcendental form, qualities and eternal pastimes, thereby gradually engaging ones tongue and mind. In this way one should reside in Vraja [Goloka Vndvana-dhma] and serve Ka under the guidance of devotees. One should follow in the footsteps of the Lords beloved devotees, who are deeply attached to His devotional service. [r Upademta 8]

You should read rla Swm Mahrjas splendid explanation of this loka. He writes that r Caitanya Mahprabhu has descended to this world only to distribute ka-prema. If you want this prema, you must follow the principles of this loka. Here, rla Rpa Gosvm has briefly given the sum and substance of the teachings of Caitanya Mahprabhu. If you want ka-prema, then chant the names of Ka. And what are the best names? The best names are those in relation to tihan vraje tad-anurgi jannugm Ka in Vndvana, in relation to His dearmost devotees there.
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he ka karu-sindho dna-bandho jagat-pate gopea gopk-knta rdh-knta namo stu te O my dear Ka, You are an ocean of mercy. You are the friend of the distressed and the source of creation. You are the master of the gopas. You are the lover of the gops. You are the beloved of Rdhr. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

The author is praying, O Ka, You are very kind, merciful, charming and beautiful. I beg you to bestow your mercy. If one is very dna-hna, humble, then the Lords mercy can be obtained otherwise not. Rain falls on the top of a hill, but it does not remain there. It eventually collects in a pit or a valley. The pit represents the humble devotee, and the rainfall represents Kas mercy. If we are not humble, then although mercy is always everywhere, we cannot gather it. The author therefore says: dna-bandho! I am not qualified or humble, but you have so much mercy for everyone. Dna means fallen and I am certainly one of the fallen souls. I have so much false ego, however, that I dont consider myself a wretched person. Jagatpate. I am in this world, but you are jagat-pate, master of the entire universe. You nourish and support everyone in the universe, and I am one of those you support. The above names are names of Vsudeva-Ka, and now the author calls out to Ka of Vndvana. He says O Gopea, You are the Lord of the gopas and gops of Vndvana, Vraja but I am not among them. He wants to be among them, and therefore he now prays, You are also the dearly beloved of the gops. This name is more prominent, but the most prominent name is the final name of the prayer, Rdh-knta. Rdh-knta means that Ka is controlled by Rdh. So we should chant these names and remember the pastimes of Ka connected with them. If you chant the name Dmodara, what will you remember? Yaod-maiy is binding Ka to the the grinding mortar, and He
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is weeping because she is chastising and controlling Him. But there is also another Dmodara Rdh-Dmodara, or Ka who is controlled by rmat Rdhik. One can remember how rmat Yaod controls Ka, or how rmat Rdhik controls Him. It is better to live only in Vndvana, where these pastimes were performed; and if you cannot live there, then be there by mind. That alone is not sufficient, however, for rla Rpa Gosvm gives still another rule. We will have to be under the guidance of a rasik tattva-ja Vaiava, that is, under the guidance of fully realized souls like rla Rpa Gosvm and his rpnuga Vaiava followers who have complete knowledge of stra and who experience their loving relationship (rasa) with Ka. Otherwise, it is not possible to advance on this path.

rla Prabhupdas Glory

r rmad Bhaktivednta Swm Mahrja has come to give these elevated principles through the holy name. For less qualified persons he also gave vaidh-bhakti through the name, but his innermost mood was to give this kind of ka-prema. As I explained in Vndvana, rla Swm Mahrja was not in the line of Advaita crya, Mah-Viu, who comes in each Kaliyuga to establish the yuga-dharma of the general chanting of nma (which only awards the chanter vaikuntha-prema). r Caitanya Mahprabhu established nma with vraja-prema, and this was His speciality. It was also the speciality of paramapjyapda rla Swm Mahrja, so I have glorified him by establishing that he has come in the line of r Caitanya Mahprabhu and rla Rpa Gosvm. Just as r Caitanya Mahprabhu did, he has also established yuga-dharma, and he was a rpnuga Vaiava, a follower of Rpa Gosvm, Rpa Majar. Although I explained this previously, some devotees could not understand. They told me: Oh, you are not glorifying our
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gurudeva. But he is my gurudeva also, not only yours. I have shared my love for him with you, only to sprinkle more mercy upon you. He has given me a special opportunity to serve him, and I am therefore offering my heartfelt pupjali at his lotus feet here. You should try to obey all of rla Swm Mahrjas principles, and try to have the same internal mood and objective as he has vraja-prema, or gop-prema. This is our goal. You should begin from the very preliminary stages, and ultimately give up all material desires to please Ka. I offer my daavatpramas to His Divine Grace rla Bhaktivednta Swm Mahrja.

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