So-called Proof of Bipin Bihari Goswami's position

[Guest guest]

> To bring up an old topic. The story of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta fasting at

> Radha-kund because of an insult to Raghunath das Goswami appears, I

> believe, in BR Sridhar Maharaja's "Sri Guru and His Grace." I also believe

> that the name of the offending person is not given as Bipin Bihari

> Goswami. This accusation against BBG may have come about by someone

> wrongly guessing.

>

> If any of the readers of this text has access to a copy of "Sri Guru and

> His Grace" they could post the relevant quote for us all to see.

 

I do not have "Sri Guru and His Grace" but here is a quote from "The Golden

Volcano of Divine Love" by B. R. Sridhara Maharaja (pp. 172-174 of a 1996

paperback edition). Here this story is narrated and it is correct that the

offending priest is not identified as Bipin Bihari Goswami. Also it is

stated that the incident took place in the 1930's--after the disappearance

of Bipin Bihari Goswami.

 

Here is the quote:

 

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When our spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, went to

Vrndavana in the early 1930's, he rode in a motorcar. In those days, this

was unheard of for a saint. One day, a priest insulted our guru by

deprecating the position of Srila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami, the preceptor of

our highest conception of spiritual achievement. He boasted, "We are not

only residents of the holy land, but members of the cast of high priests

(brahmanas). Therefore we can offer our benedictions to Dasa Goswami. He

was born in a low-class family, and he himself asked such a benediction from

us."

 

Of course, in great humility, Dasa Goswami once prayed,

 

<transliterated verse omitted>

 

"O mind-my brother! I fall at your feet and implore you: 'Give up all pride

and always taste ecstatic love while remembering the divine guide, the holy

abode of Vrndavana, the cowherds and milkmaids of Vraja, the loving devotees

of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna, the gods on earth or pure brahmanas, the

gayatri mantra, the Holy Names of Sri Krishna and the divine youthful couple

of Vraja, Sri Sri Radha-Govindasundara."

 

That priest remarked, "We are residents of the holy abode of Vrndavana, and

brahmanas as well, so we are in a position to give benedictions to

Raghunatha Dasa Goswami." Upon hearing these words, our guru maharaj, who

was at Radha-Kunda at the time, began fasting. He remarked, "I have to hear

this? This fellow is under the control of lust, anger, and greed, and he

says that he can show his grace to Dasa Goswami, the most respected

preceptor in our line! And I am to hear that?" Without retaliating against

his remarks, he decided to fast.

 

[The story continues a little further]

 

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Your servant,

Thakura-seva dasa