Srila Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhara Gosvami Maharaja Appearance

Today is super auspicious as it is the appearance day of nitya-lila-pravishta om vishnupada ashtottara-shata Srila Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhara Gosvami Maharaja.

vaishnavera guna gana, korile jivera trana

In Chaitanya-bhagavata, Vrindavana dasa Thakura explains that if you glorify Vaishnavas, you will be protected from maya. When you listen to the character of a Vaishnava, your heart will be inspired to practice and perform some devotional service to the Lord. Perhaps, when you listen to krishna-katha some doubts will arise, as Krishna is Bhagavan and some of His lilas are simply beyond our material conception. However, those who are devotees of the Lord are showing us, through their life histories, how to properly practice devotional service to Him. So Krishna is Bhagavan and krishna-bhaktas are the devotees of the Lord. 

One should always try to follow the good behavior of a pure devotee of the Lord. Those who are devotees of the Lord, bhaktas, are directly showing us how to perform our sadhana-bhajana in order to properly develop our spiritual lives. However, Bhagavan is always supernatural, which may create some confusion when listening to His sweet pastimes. Svayam Bhagavan’s lilas are called svatantra, that is they are independent. And the Lord Himself, relishes these types of lila. I will provide an example which may help you understand. 

Krishna performs the rasa-lila every night, and Srila Shukadeva Gosvamipada told Parikshit Maharaja, Krishna’s rasa-lila katha—how the gopis met with Krishna and performed sweet, amorous pastimes with Him. Afterwards, Parikshit Maharaja asked Shukadeva Gosvamipada, “O Brahmana, O  Gurudeva, I don't know how to properly ask this question, please don't take any offence. Yet, some doubts remain in my heart after hearing  the rasa-lila between Krishna and the gopis. You mentioned Krishna is Bhagavan and He appears in the material world in order to re-establish varnashrama-dharma (Vedic caste system).” In Srimad Bhagavad-gita, Krishna also says:

yadā yadā hi dharmasya

glānir bhavati bhārata

abhyutthānam adharmasya

tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ

vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām

dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya

sambhavāmi yuge yuge

Bhagavad-gita (4.7-8)

[Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I descend Myself. To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.]

Parikshit Maharaja continued, “When demons contaminate the rules and regulations of society, varnashrama-dharma, the Lord appears to deliver the demons and re-establishes these rules and regulations. Except, you mentioned how Krishna performs rasa-lila with the gopis who are already the wives of other gopas (Vraja cowherd males). What kind of varnashrama-dharma did Krishna establish?” This valid question may arise. 

However, when you hear the life history and contributions of a pure devotee of the Lord, no doubts will come into your hearts. Srila Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhara Gosvami Maharaja was such a personality who always remained absorbed in gaura-nama (the name of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu) and gaura-katha (narrations of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu). He was born in a high-class brahmana family in Bengal. He was a highly educated person, and gave up a prestigious occupation as a lawyer to completely surrender at the lotus feet of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada. He composed a glorification of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada which all Gaudiya Vaishnavas recite every morning:

sujanārbuda-rādhita-pāda-yugaṁ

yuga-dharma-dhurandhara-pātra-varam

varadābhaya-dāyaka-pūjya-padaṁ

praṇamāmi sadā prabhupāda-padam

Sri Sri Prabhupada-padma-stavaka (1)

[His two lotus feet are worshiped by an unlimited number of saintly persons and he is the most competent personality to lead the process of realisation for this age, nama-sankirtana. His adorable lotus feet grant all kinds of benedictions and fearlessness. I forever offer pranama unto the feet of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada.]

Taking Shelter of Pure Devotee of Lord

It is a very nice and beautiful verse. Srila Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhara Maharaja clearly explains that those who have taken shelter of the lotus feet of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada are also great devotees of the Lord. Srila Prabhupada is just like a touchstone — when iron comes into contact with a touchstone — it automatically turns to gold. Anyone can see how those who were the direct disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada became great devotees; such as Srila Bhakti Prajnana Keshava Gosvami Maharaja, Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja, Srila Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhara Gosvami Maharaja, Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Gosvami Maharaja and Srila Bhakti Pramoda Puri Gosvami Maharaja. 

Those personalities who took shelter at his lotus feet became great devotees. A bona fide guru does not make disciples, he makes gurus. Is this true or not? Guru makes guru. This is the process. Yet, a good heart is required, the disciple will inherently be a good person, like Srila Bhakti Prajnana Keshava Gosvami Maharaja— just look how they have completely and absolutely surrendered. If you are not completely and absolutely surrendered to guru, then how will guru’s qualifications manifest in your heart? Do you understand? First surrender, atma-nivedana, completely offer your heart to the lotus feet of guru. Do you understand the meaning of atma-nivedana? Offer your heart and offer everything to gurupada-padma (lotus feet of guru). 

mānasa, deha, geha, ĵô kichu mora

arpilũ tuwā pade, nanda-kiśora 

Manasa, Deha, Geha (1)

by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

[Mind, body, family and whatever else is mine, I have surrendered at Your lotus feet, O youthful son of Nanda!]

ātma-nivedana, tuwā pade kôri’, hôinu parama sukhī

duḥkha dūre gelô, cintā nā rahilô, caudike ānanda dekhi

Atma-nivedana (1)

by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

[Having submitted my soul at Your feet, I am supremely elated. Sorrow is banished and no anxieties remain. I see only bliss in the four directions.]

Again, what does atma-nivedana mean? Offer everything, ‘mānasa, deha, geha, ĵô kichu mora’. Manasa— my mind, my body, wealth, money and everything, offer it all to Krishna.

Krishna Can Never Repay Debt to Gopis

The topmost example of this are the gopis, they offered everything to Krishna. One should always think, “Everything belongs to Krishna, everything belongs to Guru and Krishna, these things are not mine.” Gurudeva said that bhakti (pure devotional service to Lord) is very valuable — priceless actually. And when does one attain bhakti? When you have completely and absolutely given everything to Krishna. Gopis gаve everything to Krishna, for this regard, Krishna said, “I am completely indebted to the gopis.” 

na pāraye ’haṁ niravadya-saṁyujāṁ

sva-sādhu-kṛtyaṁ vibudhāyuṣāpi vaḥ

yā mābhajan durjaya-geha-śṛṅkhalāḥ

saṁvṛścya tad vaḥ pratiyātu sādhunā

Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.32.22)

[I am not able to repay My debt for your spotless service, even within a lifetime of Brahma. Your connection with Me is beyond reproach. You have worshiped Me, cutting off all domestic ties, which are difficult to break. Therefore please let your own glorious deeds be your compensation.]

Here, Krishna clearly states, “O gopis, O Srimati Radhike, I am completely indebted as you have completely given up everything for Me.” Perfect bhakti means exactly that. Why am I saying this? Because all the disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada absolutely surrendered to his lotus feet. For this reason, they are now great acharyas (spiritual preceptors) and have preached all over the world. Always remember, if you are not completely surrendered — how will you possibly receive this type of mercy from Guru and Krishna? This is the process of how to surrender. And in the same way as the gopis surrendered to Krishna, all the disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada fully surrendered everything to him. Thus, Srila Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhara Gosvami Maharaja completely surrendered to the lotus feet of his Guru and served gurupada-padma.

Topmost Process to attain Lord

In Srimad-Bhagavatam, Prahlada Maharaja spoke an important verse, you must all learn this. There are many processes to attain the Lord, yet, the topmost process is very simple. What is the verse?

guru-śuśrūṣayā bhaktyā sarva-labdhārpaṇena ca

saṅgena sādhu-bhaktānām īśvarārādhanena ca

Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.7.30)

[One must accept the bona fide spiritual master and render service unto him with great devotion and faith. Whatever one has in one’s possession should be offered to the spiritual master and in the association of saintly persons and devotees one should worship the Lord].

Guru-śuśrūṣayā— serve gurupada-padma, guru-seva, this is topmost seva. Srila Gour Govinda Svami Maharaja would say, “When you serve maya, she will not be happy with you. Maya-devi is not pleased when you serve her. You can give all of your energy and she will still never be happy with you. However, if you just serve Guru and Krishna a little bit, they will be very happy and give everything to you”. Try to understand the philosophy of how and why we should serve.

Sadhu-sanga and hari-katha. Hari-katha and maha-prasada, then, maha-prasada and hari-katha. This is very important— listen to hari-katha every day. Except, we do not want to listen to hari-katha. Maya-devi, she is very clever, she gives us two ears. Sound comes in one way and goes out the other. Do you understand? But hari-katha should enter into the ear and be kept in your heart to be practiced. So, how to serve and get seva-vritti (serving propensity)? If you listen to the life history of devotees of the Lord and how they served their gurupada-padma, then so much inspiration to serve will come into your heart.

Follow Footsteps of Previous Acharyas

Srila Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhara Gosvami Maharaja wrote many granthas and if you read them, then much inspiration will come. One of his grantha’s is especially beautiful, The Golden Volcano of Divine Love. There, he glorifies Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and so many kathas can be found there. Try to remember, we must always follow in the footsteps of our previous acharyas, recall their life histories and how they purely performed their bhajana and sadhana. Especially observe how they surrendered to the lotus feet of gurupada-padma. In Kali-yuga, it is very difficult to find a perfect sevaka. 

There are some disciples who falsely claim, “Gurudeva, everything belongs to you — everything — atma-nivedana.” You should never say this. You have to actually always offer everything to Guru and Krishna. Just think, ‘Everything belongs to Guru and Krishna.’ Dedicate one life towards the service of Guru and Krishna and then your life will be successful! Try to understand these things. You must realise that everything belongs to gurupada-padma, Guru and Krishna. Always remember, ‘I have to do everything under the guidance of gurupada-padma.’ 

Sometimes, an example from the Ramayana is given. Gurudeva, Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja, would speak on the katha of Lord Ramachandra. The Lord asked His Guru, Vasishthadeva, “Gurudeva, how can I serve you?”  

“Give everything to me,” answered Vasishthadeva. 

Then, Lord Rama offered everything to the lotus feet of Guru Vasishthadeva. But then Vasishthadeva said, “Ramachandra, I will now give everything  back to You. This property is mine, but I am giving it to You. Remember, this is my property, not Yours. You must first ask me what You want to do with it.” What is the meaning behind this? Everything belongs to Guru and Krishna. Just consider, ‘I am simply a caretaker.’ 

Actually, this is the process, everyone must think ‘Everything belongs to my Gurudeva and Krishna.’ Be like Yudhishthira Maharaja; before he did anything he would first ask Krishna. Without Krishna's desire, Yudhishthira Maharaja did not perform anything. This is what you must also do. Always remember that everything belongs to Guru. 

īśāvāsyam idaḿ sarvaṁ

yat kiñca jagatyāṁ jagat

tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā

mā gṛdhaḥ kasya svid dhanam

Sri Ishopanishad (1)

[Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.]

Everything belongs to Krishna, this is the teaching. Why am I saying this? Because if you follow the footsteps of all our previous acharyas, guru-varga — how they served their gurupada-padma, then, Guru and Krishna’s mercy will automatically manifest in your heart. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gifted all the treasures of His heart to Srila Rupa Gosvami. Why? Because Rupa Gosvami was absolutely surrendered to the lotus feet of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu— this is the teaching. 

Thus, today is a very super excellent auspicious day and we should take the opportunity to recall how Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhara Gosvami Maharaja, Bhakti Prajnana Keshava Gosvami Maharaja, Bhakti Pramoda Puri Gosvami Maharaja, Bhakti Dayita Madhava Maharaja and all of our acharyas served. Seva-vritti— when our seva-vritti manifests, krishna-bhakti (pure love for Krishna) will automatically manifest in our heart.

Jaya Srila Gurudeva ki jaya!

[Jaya Srila Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhara Gosvami Maharaja ki jaya!]

[Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!]

Date: 1 August 2019 Location: Ukraine

Link: https://gurudevtv.com/2019/08/01/disappearance-of-shrila-bhakti-rakshak-shridhar-maharaj/

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Transcriber: Shyamapriya dasi (Holland) Editor: Chandrika dasi (UK), Sanatana dasa (USA) Integrity check: Divya-premamayi dasi (Slovakia) Proofreader: Damodara dasa (UK) Image: Ananda-svarupini dasi (Poland)