Disappearance Pastimes of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami

July 11, 2003

In Celebration of the Disappearance Pastimes of HDG Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja Prabhupada

December 6,1998

In celebration of the disappearance pastimes of HDG Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja Prabhupada I had the desire to describe in prose his manifest activities and accomplishments. Such a desire is admirable on anyone's part. The ability to do so within the limits of conditioned intelligence and impure cravings for praise and fame is questionable to say the least. None the less bhakti means effort and so we should try no matter what impediments block our path.

I have thought it best to write briefly of the impressions left with me from the readings of his biography entitled " A Ray of Vishnu" written by H.G. Rupa Vilasa Dasa. After that presentation the Avatara's own words will portray precisely the meaning and mood of his earthly appearance.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja Prabhupada appeared at Jagannatha Puri, India, on February 6 ,1874. He was the fourth son of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura Maharaja who, in his own right, was an empowered devotee and modern day initiator of the cult of bhakti in the mood of Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

At the age of seven years Srila Bhaktisiddhanta had committed to memory the complete Bhagavad Gita and could explain the verses. During his schooling he was awarded the title of Siddhanta Saraswati due to his extraordinary scholarship in the subjects of mathematics and astronomy.

He was offered a chair at the University of Calcutta for the teachings of Astronomy and Astrology. The post was not accepted by him with the quote:

"My life is for the single-minded cultivation of the teachings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu" In lieu of the University of Calcutta position he embarked upon the instruction of the children of Indian Royalty on the subjects of Bengali and Sanskrit. Soon afterward the path of bhakti extended itself before His Holiness and in the year 1900 he was accepted by Sri Srimad Gaura Kishora das Babaji for spiritual initiation in the line of the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya. He was the only disciple accepted by that great Vaisnava Acharya.

Arm in arm with his cultivation of devotional service to the Lord was the recurring theme of his continuous battle with the caste gosvamis of India , who held considerable power within society. His Holiness was not named the " simha guru" or lion guru without reason. The year 1911 marked two great victories over the caste gosvamis. The caste gosvamis held a great conference wherein they wished to re-assert their views that only by birth could a person be a Brahmana and a Vaisnava, a view that was contrary to the teachings of Lord Caitanya. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was the hero of the conference soundly defeating the caste gosvamis with quotes from sadhu, sastra and guru.

Those same gosvamis later challenged that Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was not an incarnation of Godhead. Again they went down in humiliating defeat. >>At a later period His Holiness was challenged for his bestowing the order of sannyasa and the tri dandi. Traditionally they had not been accepted by the followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; accepting the dress and title of Babaji instead. Once again His Holiness prevailed and firmly established Daivi Varnasrama, the practice of executing the principles of varnasrama dharma by those who simultaneously practice and preach sadhana bhakti.

His Holiness firmly established the practice of yukta vairagya , the utilization of the material energy for Krsna's purposes. The prohibitions of a sannyasi crossing the ocean, wearing sewn cloth and using machinery etc.,etc., were over thrown by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati in order to fulfill the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. His Holiness used every available method of the modern age to spread the chanting of the Holy Name of Lord Hari in every town and village of the world.

To all he taught the importance of hearing the Transcendental Sound from a Transcendental Agent.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta dispatched his disciples to England, where they were received by King George the Fifth and Queen Mary. To Germany, France and Burma his disciples were dispatched. The Holy Names were on the move! In full bloom in 1930 His Holiness was traveling, preaching, sending out teams of preachers, canvassing door to door, selling subscriptions, starting centers, making devotees, talking with intellectuals, installing Deities, presiding over initiations, festivals and prasadam distribution and all the while the printing presses were rolling.

Do these activities sound like someone you know? Yes indeed, if one wanted an historically nearer study of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati then one could study the life of the Founder Acharya of ISKCON, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977). There is complete and exact continuity in every respect.

There is not enough space in this News Letter to do justice to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja Prabhupada. The above are extracts from the book " A Ray of Vishnu" by His Grace Rupa Vilasa Dasa. >>In further celebration of the disappearance pastimes are the following quotations and/or songs of a Saktyavesa Avatara, His Divine Grace Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja Prabhupada.

Quotations

"Let us roll in the dust and forget everything in the ecstasy of intoxication by excessive drinking of this strong and tasty wine of the Love of Lord Hari."

"Life is for the glorification of topics on Hari. If that is stopped, then what need is there to carry on life."

"We are put to test and trial in this world. Only those who attend the kirtana of the devotees can succeed."

"Possession of objects not related to Krsna is our malady."

"Those favored by God find their paths set by thorns."

"Chant the Maha mantra loudly and with attachment. This will drive away inertia, worldly evils and pests."

"To recite the name of Krsna is bhakti."

"Look within. Amend yourself, rather than pry into the frailties of others."

"We are all sojourners on the path of death. Everyone has to die; therefore, in this state of life whether one is male or female,high or low,king or subject, rich or poor, learned or foolish-everyone can make this very rare human form of life successful by becoming a servant of the servant of the eternally pure, completely blissful Sri Hari. Even in this conditioned life one can become liberated. Therefore, it is overwhelmingly necessary to try."

" Your gold is the progenitor of enjoyment-serve Madhava with gold. The desire in your heart for beautiful women is not for you-their only proprietor is Yadava. The tree of desire for fame is the desert of the illusory energy. Ravana did not get it by struggling against Raghava. Be dedicated to the fame of a Vaisnava. If you do not worship that, you will go to hell."

Yours in service

Ramacandra das