Advaita Acharya

[Guest guest]

> In his introduction to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Srila Bhaktisiddhanta

> mentions a few books which he says contain, "siddhanta-viparya" (wrong or

> contrary conclusions), he calls these books "apagranthas" and in general

> dismisses them. He mentions a few including: Jayananda's Caitanya-mangala,

> Govinda Das's Kadaca, Vamsi-siksha, Advaita-prakash and

> Nityananda-vamsa-vistar.

 

Now that we have received conclusive evidence from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

in regards to Advaita Prakash, and since we are also uncertain about the

last four chapters of Prema Vilasa, we are back to point zero in regards to

the diksa-disciple-hood of Haridas Thakura. Two questions:

 

1. Could anyone check the Prema Vilasa issue, whether the verses repeated at

the end of the letter, stated to be in the 24th vilasa of the same, appear

anywhere in the later chapters of the 20-chapter edition?

 

2. Caitanya Mahaprabhu entitled Haridas Thakura the nama-acarya, and told

him (CC Antya 4.102) that he was perfect both in acara and in pracara, or in

other words, in practice and preaching. Consequently, we could expect that

he would have accepted diksa from someone at least for the sake of setting

the proper example, for even Bhagavan does so upon His descent.

 

A bhajananandi may not adjust himself to the world out there, but a

gosthyanandi will set a proper example. Whereas Haridas is sometimes taken

to be a person absorbed in solitary bhajana, on the other hand we know how

he would go and preach with Nityananda Prabhu to redeem the fallen souls

(after chanting three lakhs harinama).

 

Any advice from the learned assembly of devotees in this regard?

 

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

advaita prabhur pade loila sarana

tar thai bhakti sastre koilo adhyayana

advaitera sthane tinho hoila diksiti

tin lakho harinama jape diva rati

lakho harinama mane lakho kane sune

lakho nama ucca kori kore sankirtane'

 

"Haridasa took shelter of Advaita Prabhu's lotus feet and studied the bhakti

sastras under Him. He became initiated by Advaita (diksita) and was chanting

three lakhs of harinama day and night. One lakh was in the mind, one softly

and one loudly."

 

(Prema Vilasa, chapter 24)