Guest guest Posted April 10, 2002 Report Share Posted April 10, 2002 >"Krsna Talk" <options ><vedic108 >Krsna Talk Issue 26: Sridhara 'Deva' Gosvami >Tue, 9 Apr 2002 16:41:42 -0400 > >Dear Prabhu >Here is your latest Krsna Talk. > >The Guardian Sevaite Asrama, the Boston chapter of Sri Narasingha >Caitanya Matha, is happy to announce that their quarterly magazine >'Tridandi' is now available on-line in PDF format. Further information >and download available here ><http://www.gosai.com/chaitanya/html/events_fs.html> as well as updated >events for Gaura Purnima. > >Ê > >Sridhara 'Deva' Gosvami > >by > >Sripada Bhakti Gaurava Narasingha Maharaja > > _____ > > > > > Question: There has been some discussion on the use of the honorific >title 'Deva' as in the name of Srila B.R. Sridhara Deva Gosvami >Maharaja, to the extent that some parties say that it is appropriate, >while others say that it is not. Could you please say something that >would shed some light on this topic? > >Answer: According to the tradition of the Gaudiya sampradaya we cannot >find fault with the honorific title 'Deva' as in the case of an >extremely advanced and revered Vaisnava such as Srila B.R. Sridhara Deva >Gosvami Maharaja. > >The name 'Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja' was >printed on the covers of and in many books of Srila Sridhara Maharaja, >such as 'Bhagavad-gita,' 'Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu,' 'Sri Kirtana >Manjusa,' 'Prema-dhama-deva-stotram,' 'Sri Guru and His Grace,' 'Search >for Sri Krsna Reality the Beautiful,' 'The Golden Volcano of Divine >Love,' 'Loving Search for the Lost Servant,' 'Sermons from the Guardian >of Devotion' and more. All this was done in the living presence of Srila >Sridhara Maharaja and was approved by him. To say, as some persons have >said, that the suffix 'Deva' is an insult to such a great acarya as >Srila Sridhara Maharaja has no real basis and is obviously false. > >The root of the word 'deva' is 'diva' meaning lustrous or shining >brightly. Another meaning is 'to play or to sport.' The suffix 'deva' in >fact is quite common in the Gaudiya sampradaya and is used in such names >of the Supreme Lord and His devotees as; Govindadeva, Baladeva, >Gaurangadeva, Purusottamdeva, Sukadeva, and Gurudeva, etc. > >As a prefix 'deva' has also been in use among the brahmana community in >India for many centuries to designate a person with divine >characteristics -- in the case of Srila Sridhara Maharaja divine >characteristics and especially, divine intelligence. So either as a >prefix or a suffix the use of the title 'Deva' may be considered >appropriate. > >Both the Gaudiya tradition and the Sanskrit rules of grammar harmonize >and support the use of the word 'Deva' as an honorific title for great >Vaishnavas and saintly persons. > >Another example of the use of the word 'Deva' is found in the >guru-pranam prayer to our Guru Maharaja, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svami >Prabhupada. There it is written, namaste sarasvate deve. Here the words >'Sarasvati' and 'Deva' are joined together under the Sanskrit rule of >grammar known as 'samasa.' Thus 'Deva' becomes 'deve', 'Sarasvati' >becomes 'Sarasvate' and the first 'a' in 'Sarasvate' becomes long. Thus >the meaning of 'namaste sarasvate deve' means, 'I offer my respects unto >he who belongs to, or is a servant of 'Sarasvati Deva.' > >The pranam prayer, 'namaste sarasvate deveÉ' was written personally by >our Guru Maharaja for his disciples to chant. So at least for those who >profess to be followers of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada, >the use of the word 'Deva' in glorifying one's guru may be deemed >appropriate. > >Some persons may say that 'Deva' refers to the Demigods, but to such >persons we say, Krsna is the 'Deva' of such 'Devas,' deva-deva jagatpate >-- Krsna is the God of Gods. Indeed, even the Supreme Lord Himself is >known as 'Deva' so how can it be a demeaning title? > >In the Kama-gayatri we find, kama-devaya vidmahe. In the >Damodara-gayatri we find, 'tanno devah pracodayat' and in the >Gadadhara-gayatri we also find 'tanno devah pracodayat.' In each of >these instances 'deva' indicates the Supreme Lord or His Internal Energy >(as in the case of Gadadhara Pandita). > >In Caitanya-lila Gadadhara Pandita represents the guru-tattva for those >devotees following in the madhurya-rasa. This is another bona fide >reason why Srila B.R. Sridhara Maharaja may be addressed as 'Deva' >because he has revealed the hidden treasure of madhurya-bhava >(parakiya-rasa) in Bhagavad-gita (Chapter 10 Verses 9 & 10) and also he >has revealed Radha-dasyam (the service of Sri Radha) in the heart of >Gayatri-mantra (Gayatri Nigudhartha). > >In the Brahma-gayatri we find the words, 'bhargo devasya dhimahi'. Srila >Sridhara Maharaja has given the meaning thus, 'Bhargo represents >Mahabhava (Srimati Radharani) the predominated Moiety,and deva, Krsna, >is Rasaraja, the predominating MoietyÉÉDeva means 'who is beautiful and >playful,' that is Krsna Reality the Beautiful. He is not a >non-differentiated substance, but is full of lila, pastimes. Deva means >pastimes and beauty combined, and this means Krsna.' > >So we may also understand the word 'Deva' to mean one who reveals >wonderful pastimes of love, that is Krsna. Since Srila B.R. Sridhara >Deva Gosvami Maharaja is that divine personality who has revealed the >hidden wealth of the Brahma-gayatri, revealing that ultimately Gayatri >worships Srimati Radharani, he is therefore highly qualified to be >honored with the title 'Deva'. 'Deva' means one who manifests pastimes >of love to attract the hearts of His pure devotees. The Gayatri has >sprung from the flute song of Sri Krsna and it is attracting the pure >devotees to serve Him in various transcendental moods of loving >devotional service. > >Srila Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja is that empowered personality in >the Gaudiya sampradaya who has shown us the hidden most truth in Gayatri >and connected that to that which lies in the heart of Srimad Bhagavatam, >radha-dasyam: > >devasyamrta-rupa-lila-rasadheraradha-dhih-prerinah >devasyamrta-rupa-lila-purusasyaradha-dhih-prerinah >devasya-dyuti-sundaraika-purusas-yaradhya-dhih-presinah >gayatri-muralista-kirtana-dhanam radha-padam dhimahi >gauatri-gaditam mahaprabhu-matam radha-padam dhimahi >dhir-aradhanam-eva nanyad-iti-tad-radha-padam dhimahi > >(See Sri Gayatri Mantrartha Dipika ><http://www.gosai.com/chaitanya/saranagati/html/gayatri_nigudartha_fs.ht >ml> for translation and full explanation). > >The purport of Gayatri has never before been so clearly revealed as in >the commentary 'Sri Gayatri Nigudartha' by Srila B.R. Sridhara Deva >Gosvami Maharaja. This is the first time such has been fully revealed >since the Gaudiya sampradaya began. Therefore 'Deva' (a saintly person) >as his title is quite appropriate. > >One who is expert in revealing the innermost plane of the domain of the >Lords' confidential pastimes as is condensed in Gayatri is certainly >worthy of such a title as 'Deva.' Not only is his purport of Gayatri >taking us to the Lord's lila, but Srila Sridhara Maharaja has also >concisely manifest Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's divine lila in his Sanskrit >composition, 'Prema-dhama-deva-stotra.' > >Srila Sridhara Maharaja has begun 'Prema-dhama-deva-stotra' with the >words, 'deva-siddha-mukta-yukta-bhakta-vrnda-vanditam' and he has sung >in each of the seventy verses, 'prema-dhama-devam-eva-naumi >gaura-sundaram'. Srila Sridhara Maharaja is therefore recognized as >'Deva' because he has expertly sung the glories of the Supreme Lord, the >Golden Avatara, Sri Caitanyadeva. > >These are a few of the reasons why the title 'Deva' is appropriate in >the case of Srila B.R. Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja. However, some >obstinate persons may not be satisfied with the above. Therefore, we >requested one of our sannyasis to go to Navadvipa Dhama last week to >speak with Sripada Govinda Maharaja, the successor of Srila Sridhara >Maharaja at Sri Caitanya Sarasvata Matha and to ask him about the use of >'Deva' in Srila Sridhara Maharaja's name. Sripada Govinda Maharaja >commented that in the last years of Srila Sridhara Maharaja's life that >he used to sign letters and other papers as Sridhara Deva Gosvami. > >So either from the ontological point of view or from the practical point >of view, it seems that 'Deva' is an appropriate title for Srila Sridhara >Maharaja, one used and approved by him personally. > >We should stop to think for a moment. Who is Srila Sridhara Maharaja? >What is his position in the Gaudiya sampradaya? According to those who >were advanced disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura such >as Srila Bhakti Pramoda Puri Gosvami, Srila Sridhara Maharaja was the >possessor of the divine grace of Paramaradhya Sri Srila Prabhupada, >Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. In the words of many of his >Godbrothers, encluding our Guru Maharaja, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svami >Prabhupada, Srila Sridhara Maharaja was their siksa-guru. In the words >of many he was the Guardian of Devotion and the keeper of life's >ultimate goal, Krsna-prema. He was considered by many to be the keeper >of the Rupanuga sampradaya, the keeper of the line of Sri Rupa Gosvami. > >In his own words Srila Sridhara Maharaja wrote as follows: > >lila-samgopa-kale nirupadhi-karuna-karina svaminaham >yat padabje 'rpito yat pada-bhajanamayam gayayitva tu gitam >yogyayogyatva-bhavam mama khalu sakalam dusta-buddher agrhnan >a sri-rupah kada mam nija-pada-rajasa bhusitam samvidhatte > > "Just prior to the withdrawal of his manifest lila, my >causelessly merciful Divine Master, Srila Sarasvati Thakura, handed me >over to the holy feet of that Divine Personality (Sri Rupa Gosvami) by >having me sing the glorious prayer unto his lotus feet (Sri >Rupa-manjari-pada). Despite my lowliness, when will Ñ disregarding all >my various qualifications and disqualifications Ñ Srimad Rupa Prabhu >grace me with the dust of his holy lotus feet?"(Sri >Prapanna-jivanamrtam, Srimad Rupa-pada-rajah Prarthana Dasakam, verse >10) > > _____ > >Krsna Talk Questions & Answers: > >SWAMI B. G. NARASINGHA ><http://www.gosai.com/chaitanya/saranagati/html/nmj_articles/indexna.htm >l> > >KRSNA TALK INDEX <http://www.gosai.com/krishnatalk_fs.html> > >SUBSCRIBE KRSNA TALK <http://www.gosai.com/krishnatalk_fs.html> > >Tape Archives: > >Audio Recordings of Swami Narasingha available here ><http://www.gosai.com/audio_fs.html> > >Tridandi Magazine: Download it here ><http://www.gosai.com/bhakti/gaura_2002.pdf> . (800K pdf) > >The topic of discussion in this issue is the Holy Name and features >articles by Srila Narasingha Maharaja, Srila Prabhupada. Srila Sridhara >Maharaja, Srila Puri Maharaja and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura as well as >various other essays by various Gaudiya acaryas. > >Ê > >Ê > > > >If you would like to change your HTML Preference or Contact Information, >please visit : >http://www.optinpro.com/scripts/i.asp?id=3107141&e=vedic108 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com ><http://www.optinpro.com/scripts/i.asp?id=3107141&e=vedic108 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com > > > >To be removed from this mailing visit: >http://www.optinpro.com/scripts/remove.asp?u=339&i=3107141 ><http://www.optinpro.com/scripts/remove.asp?u=339&i=3107141> _______________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.