Glorification of Srila Narayana Maharaja from his Vyasa Puja this year

[Paramananda das]

dear devotees

Dandavat pranams

All glories to Srila Prabhupada 

All glories to the lotusfeet of my Gurudeva Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

all glories to the lotusfeet of Sri Guru and Gauranga

 

In ISKCON I went to so many Vyasapujas of my former ISKCON Guru (that fell down)  I always left with an empty feeling , I have seen many Vyasapujas in ISKCON for ISKCON Gurus and though there is lot of sentiments and devotion,I honestly speaking have never been impressed by any of them .I like Srila Prabhupadas Vyasa pujas always though the offerings sometimes are sentimental and not deeply philosophical .I found this below offering to my Gurudeva from this year I was truely amazed of the level of KC .Another thing is also in Gaudiya Math Pancamrta is never used for the Guru as he is jiva tattva or if yo uwant to call him Gurutattva is fine also .Pancamrta is only used for Gaura Nitai, Radha Krsna and Visnu Murtis .

 

 

It is kept simple and formal ,but on the Vyasapuja of Srila Narayana Maharaja he used to glorify Srila Prabhupada and his Gurudeva Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Maharaja .He would do artik to his Gurudeva and Srila Prabhupada it was all about their worship not of his own.

He was totally free from false prestige being an uttama adhikari that chant not less than 64 rounds since 1946 

 

 

 

i believe this is written by HH Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja:

Srila Gurudeva’s Vyasa-puja

Today is Mauni-amavasya, the appearance day of Sri Srila Guru-pada-padma. I will try to remember his life and glories. If the Vaisnavas bestow their causeless mercy then this is possible. His lila and character is maha-prasada. If we accept and distribute this, it will be his mano-bhista-puja, and very pleasing to God. By the order and desire of God, the guru-varga come into this world. When they come, anyone who waits to welcome them and prays to them will realize their unlimited glories and mercy.

janmady asya yato ‘nvayad itaratas carthesv abhijnah svarat
tene brahma hrda ya adi-kavaye muhyanti yat surayah
tejo-vari-mrdam yatha vinimayo yatra tri-sargo ‘mrsa
dhamna svena sada nirasta-kuhakam satyam param dhimahi
–Srimad-bhagavatam 1.1.1

The appearance place of God and His associates will be in that place free from the contaminations of material nature.

dharmah projjhita kaitavo ’tra paramo nirmatsaranam satam
–Srimad-bhagavatam 1.1.2

That place where there is no kapatata, no desire to cheat others or one’s own soul; that place that is free from dharma, artha, kama and moksa; that place that is situated in nirguna-tattva—in such a place God or God’s associates will appear.

sattvam visuddham vasudeva-sabditam
yad iyate tatra puman apavrtah
sattve ca tasmin bhagavan vasudevo
hy adhoksajo me namasa vidhiyate
Srimad-bhagavatam 4.3.23

“The state of visuddha-sattva, purely transcendental goodness, is also known as vasudeva, for in the same way that Maharaja Vasudeva gave birth to Vasudeva Krsna, practice in unadulterated, pure goodness will pull the curtain of maya away and reveal the transcendental svarupa of Sri Radha-Krsna’s amorous pastimes in one’s heart. Krsna consciousness is always pure consciousness, in which Krsna, known as Vasudeva, is revealed without any covering. I offer my obeisance to Adhoksaja Krsna. Although He is beyond the range of my imperfect senses, let Him be the object of my worship and bhajana.”

Vasudeva Maharaja’s heart was pure, and transcendental to the modes of material nature, therefore Lord Krsna Himself appeared in his heart.

nandas tv atmaja utpanne
jatahlado maha-manah
ahuya vipran veda-jnan
snatah sucir alankrtah
–Srimad-bhagavatam 10.5.1

The hearts of Nanda and Yasoda Mata were supremely pure, therefore Krsna appeared as their son.

This principle is even more applicable for the beloved associates of God. They only appear in that place, or heart, which is nirguna. Therefore, janmady asya—their birth is not possible in any ordinary place near any ordinary person.

I pray to the lotus feet of that person in whose heart Gurudeva is present. They are lucky and very qualified. From within the heart of his pure disciples, Srila Gurudeva will travel all over the world, purifying and collecting the hearts of the living entities. He will make a center in their hearts and invite the Vrajavasis, Krsna and the Vraja-devis to all come there. Therefore Vyasadeva writes janmady asya.

After appearing in any heart, the guru-varga begin their program to serve God. The guru-varga are sat-svarupa, sandhini sakti, the expansions of akhanda-guru-tattva. They endeavor to bring us to Krsna, the Vrajavasis and Vraja, where they establish us in our souls’ eternal service.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu would go to the birthplace of Isvara Puri and collect the dust at the holy site. He would eat a small part of this dust daily and smear some on His body. He revered this deeply, knowing how the appearance place of the guru-varga is more auspicious than any other location.

Srila Guru-pada-padma appeared on this dark moon night.

Scripture explains: tamaso ma jyotir gamayah, how the living entities can go from the darkness into light. God sends His own rays of light into the dense darkness of this world to help the living entities. He sends His near and dearest loveful associates to this world to save souls suffering in maya.

If God directly sent His own expansions, it would not be so helpful to the conditioned souls. Therefore He prays to svarupa-sakti, “If Your expansions go to the material world, they will liberate the entire universe. Please send them. They are very powerful and are more than capable to bring the lost souls to Me.”

Tamaso ma jyotir gamayah—how to bring the jivas out of darkness into the light? This is only possible by the power of svarupa-sakti. Hence, by the desire of Krsna, Srila Gurudeva appeared in this world today, on the dark moon night. In the month known as Magha, Kumbha Mela takes place. Millions of people come and bathe in the conjunction of Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvati at this time, hoping to receive nectar.

Narottama Thakura sings, glorifying the pure devotees:

gangara parasa hoile pascate pavana
darsane pavitra koro—ei tomara guna

“After bathing in the waters of the sacred Ganges many times, one becomes purified, but just by the sight of you, the fallen souls are purified. This is your great power.”

hari-sthane aparadhe tare hari-nama
toma sthane aparadhe nahi paritrana

“The holy name delivers one who has committed an offense to Lord Hari, but if one commits an offense to you, there is no means of deliverance.”

tomara hrdoye sada govinda-visrama
govinda kohena—mora vaisnava parana

“Your heart is always the resting place of Lord Govinda, and Lord Govinda says, “The Vaisnavas are in My heart.”

How are the pure Vaisnavas, God’s beloved associates? By bathing in the Ganga, one will gradually be cleansed, but when? There is no guarantee. Simply by darsana of maha-bhagavata Vaisnavas, one becomes purified from the sins accumulated in millions of lives.

Millions and millions of people come to bathe in the Ganga during Kumbha Mela.
When Mahaprabhu appeared, it was the time of a lunar eclipse, and millions of people came to bathe in the Ganga being afraid of the inauspicious effects of Rahu and Ketu, who come to spread poison and destroy previous pious merit. At such times people go take shelter of Ganga Devi for protection and they chant harinama.

Similarly, when Srila Gurudeva appeared it was during the time of year of Kumbha Mela. He did not bring any mundane nectar that helps one eat, drink and be merry. He brought the nectar of vraja-rasa and bhakti-rasa.

Millions of people bathe in the Ganga during Kumbha Mela. From North, South, East and West, they come to the bank of the Ganga to bathe, and of these millions of people, many thousands would assemble in Buxar, Bihar, where the Ganga is especially revered.

Many sadhus would stay in the village of Tiwaripura, where Srila Gurudeva was born. Srila Gurudeva’s father would give charity to the poor and distribute prasadam daily. Every evening there would be a sankirtana festival and hari-katha in the Tiwari’s house.

Daily, Srila Gurudeva’s parents went to the Ganga with a sankirtana party. After bathing in Ganga, they returned home, applied tilaka on their bodies and worshipped the Lord. If any sadhus or brahmanas came to the Tiwari’s house, Srila Gurudeva’s parents gave them prasadam and lodging.

Today, on Mauni Amavasya, from morning to evening many people fast and observe a vow of silence. In the evening after performing this vrata, people break silence by speaking the names of God.

Lord Śiva cleans the living entities sins and wicked desires, but then again they do wrong. Living entities are enjoyers. They can’t stop or change their nature. Śiva’s duty is to take away the weight of the universe by purifying the living entities. This task can only be accomplished by hari-kathā and hari-kirtana.

While sankirtana was going on, Srila Gurudeva appeared in this world. How can darkness be casted off and light received, and how will this be permanent? How to get svarupa-siddhi and how to serve God eternally? Srila Gurudeva arranged this program.

At the time of his appearance, everyone was chanting “Sriman narayana hari hari! Govinda narayana hari hari! Krsna narayana hari hari!”

The Tiwaris were worshipers of Lord Narayana in the Ramanuja sampradaya. They all chanted the glories of Narayana. Sometimes they chant maha-mantra, but first “hare rama,” and then “hare krsna.”

They had no knowledge of Vraja-bhakti. Until people meet with God’s associates, they will not have idea of the highest transcendental knowledge. Anything they do will be out of their own speculation or the conceptions of worldly people.

By doing nama-kirtana for millions of lives, one does not change. Why?

hena krsna-nama yadi laya bahu-bara
tabu yadi prema nahe, nahe asrudhara
tabe jani, aparadha tahate pracura
krsna-nama-bija tahe na kare ankura
–Sri Caitanya-caritamrta 8.29-30

“If one chants the exalted holy name of the Lord again and again and yet his love for the Supreme Lord does not develop and tears do not appear in his eyes, it is evident that because of his offenses in chanting, the seed of the holy name of Krsna does not sprout.”

bahu janma kare yadi sravana, kirtana
tabu ta’ na paya krsna-pade prema-dhana
–Sri Caitanya-caritamrta 8.16

“If one is infested with the ten offenses in the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, despite his endeavor to chant the holy name for many births, he will not get the love of Godhead that is the ultimate goal of this chanting.”

A person can do nama-sankirtana and hear hari-katha for crores and crores of lives, but he will not change. Why? As long as one has relation with Maya he cannot cross beyond her.

The guru-varga comes from the spiritual world, and they make relationship with the living entities. By trickery and cheating they bring back the living entities. Where? To God’s lotus feet.

They give knowledge, and the idea that this world is not enough for us. That it is not permanent. When the jivas have this knowledge they can start to escape. But they need help, they do not have strength because they are weak from accepting the objects of maya. Therefore the guru-varga also give spiritual strength, making them connected to svarupa-sakti.

The day before Srila Gurudeva’s birth, the people of the village were very happy and they said, “We will stay here and do kirtana day and night.”

They danced and sang and forgot, “Today is Mauni Amavasya; we are not meant to speak.

The next day Gurudeva was born, and they saw him after returning from bathing in the Ganga. He was a bright golden infant and very large for a newborn.

He was given the name Sriman Narayana. “He has come to help us,” the villagers said. “Lord Narayana is certainly present within him.”

Mayavadis believe the living entity is indistinct from God. Following such a foolish conception, ignorant people see any baby and say, “This is Gopala. This is Krsna, this is Kanhaiya. This is their nature. They cannot cross this. But they don’t know that if you go near a snake, it bites you.

In this way, if anyone comes near a maha-bhagavata Vaisnava, even if they have no respect or faith, they will make sukrti unknowingly. The pure devotee captures peoples’ hearts and takes them beyond maya to the eternal holy dhama. People do not have this knowledge, but this meeting with a maha-bhagavata is very powerful and makes one’s life successful.

When Srila Gurudeva was six months old, his parents noticed that if they tried to bathe him with any ordinary water, he would be very unhappy and wish to not touch it; he would cry and cry. I met with his family members many times and they told me, “He used to become very sick and would suffer when he bathed in ordinary water. But when we brought Ganga water and bathed him, he would be very happy. He could not be pleased without Ganga water and would not bathe with any other water.”

If they tried to give him any food, he would not take it unless it was maha-prasada. He was very stubborn and would not eat or drink without maha-prasada or caranamrta. The family had salagrama and Deities of Laksmi Narayana. They worshipped Them in the morning and then give Gurudeva caranamrta. Before this he would not eat or drink anything.

From his childhood his parents thought, “He must be an associate of God.”

As time went by, more and more people were attracted to their home. They said, “This house has some mystic power. By doing kirtana here we feel such sweetness.”

Without invitation, men, women, brahmanas, government officers, and many other kinds of people would come, and when they came, they always brought gifts like rice, wheat, fruits, or flowers. They would give this feeling like they had come to the temple of God.

“We are householders,” Gurudeva’s parents said, “Taking donations from others is not good for us.”

Now Srila Gurudeva was already beginning to talk. He said to his family, “No, no. Everyone is serving Lord Narayana. This is good. Accept these things and offer bhoga to Lord Narayana. Then give everyone His maha-prasada.”

Then his father and grandfather arranged a nice daily program. Every day they offered bhoga and distributed it to many people.

If someone is miserly and crazy, and does not give God’s prasadam to anyone, then his next life will definitely be that of a stone. How cruel they are? They only take, eat, and sell prasadam but do not distribute freely. Because they are like rocks in this life, they will certainly become rocks in their next life. Gurudeva never taught us this.

I would meet with him daily from 1968 in Devananda Gaudiya Matha when I was twelve or thirteen. Every day he saved me some maha-prasada and gave this to me when I came to him. I remember those days so clearly. He would hide a little sweet rice and give it to me when I came in the evening.

Srila Gurudeva would tell me stories of his life and how on his advice his parents started daily distribute maha-prasada freely to many guests.

Srila Gurudeva was very happy. People took prasadam at his house and stayed there for a while.

At a very young age Gurudeva began to read Gita and Ramayana with his parents. In the Gita it is said:

prasade sarva-duhkhanam
hanir asyopajayate
prasanna-cetaso hy asu
buddhih paryavatisthate
–Bhagavad-gita 2.6

If anyone takes maha-prasada they will not suffer in this world. They will never be sad and crazy. The prasada offered to God is very powerful. It is very helpful. This is the mercy of God. Otherwise how can the jivas come nearby him, how can they meet with him and understand His blessings?

Srila Gurudeva would go to the Ganga every day with his grandparents and come back to sit with his father while he did arcana of their Deities. Brahmanas have a rule that without brahmana-diksa no one can worship, go in the temple for arcana, or cook for the Deity. Srila Gurudeva would sit by the temple room and watch his parents worship the Lord.

They told him, “Remember daily the advice of God. If you do so, God will be very happy and pleased.” Therefore brahmanas memorize all verses of the Gita. The advice of God is his maha-prasada. If anyone wants to make his life successful, he will read Bhagavad-gita, reserving this in their brain. They will keep this as theirs. Otherwise without this, without Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-bhagavatam’s presence in the heart, the brain will never be clean nor will the heart. The desire for maya will prevail.

To purify the self, one must collect Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-bhagavatam, Ramayana and other scriptures in the heart. Then all dirty things will flee from there. When the sun rises all darkness dissipates and the thieves, bed bugs, mosquitos, and snakes all run and hide.

The most prominent way for advancing in bhakti is to daily collect the glories of Krsna’s nama, rupa, guna and lila in the heart. If that comes in the heart, all cheaters, dacoits, anarthas, prarabdha and aprarabdha karma will all run away. They will no longer come, stay, attack, or disturb. No tension will come.

If a person is lazy, crazy, mad and completely useless, then he will not collect sastra. This collection of sastra is necessary. By this collection, people will become spiritually wealthy. Mundane wealth is transitory; it will not stay long with anyone.

Srila Gurudeva would study in the morning, but not by himself. Many of his school friends would come and Srila Gurudeva would give them advice from sastra. He would sit with his parents and grandparents and would teach the verses of Bhagavad-gita.

During Rama Navami, the villages of Tiwaripura would recite Tulasi Dasa’s account of Lord Rama all day and night without cessation while fasting.

Srila Gurudeva asked his grandfather, Dhyanacandra Tiwari, “Tell me, why do we fast and recite the entire Ramayana on Rama’s birthday?”
“If we do so,” his grandfather replied, “Rama will come and be pleased with us. This is His puja. Only physical articles of worship are not everything. If one doesn’t remember Rama’s glories and bring them in his heart, Rama will not come in the heart. And if Rama doesn’t come in the heart, all nonsense will be in the heart and one will remain useless and lost.”
“Why don’t we read this daily then? Thus Rama will always stay with us.”
“Yes, this is good. Everyday reading is good, but it is so long, there is no time.”
“Why is there no time? Isn’t all one’s time and life meant for Rama?”
“This is good. But twenty-four hours are required to recite the entire epic. You should memorize Tulasi dasa’s Sundara-kanda; this is good for you and will not take a long time.”

Srila Gurudeva very quickly memorized the Sundara-kanda and recited it along with the verses of Bhagavad-gita.

When he began going to school, boys would come from village-to-village to accompany him. The school was around eight or nine kilometers from Gurudeva’s house. There was no road. It was a forested area scattered with fields. In the rainy season, the path would be flooded and difficult to cross.

Anyhow, all the boys would meet together in Gurudeva’s house and go from there to school. But first they prayed by the verses of Bhagavad-gita and Ramayana, took caranamrta and a little prasadam, and then went.

His parents were very happy that their son organized all the village boys into a group and that he was a group leader. Many other boys came from other villages as well. All boys were his dear friends. They all went to school together. The school had no room and the boys studied outside under a tree.

The tutor used to come a little after the boys arrived. When he came he would see that Gurudeva was leading the boys in reciting scripture.

“You are not properly studying your actual lessons but are only reading Ramayana,” the tutor chastened the boys.
Rama will give us a good brain,” Gurudeva replied, “and then these lessons will be very easy to remember. How can we learn anything from you? You are forty or fifty years old, and we are mere five-year-old boys; how can we understand your lectures? We cannot be equal to you.”

“You have a very sharp brain,” the professor replied unhappily, “Yes, Rama will give you a good brain; this is the truth.”

Then the tutor told, “You all pray and I will pray as well. Then you will understand my lectures and also I will understand your desire and what you want to ask.” Then this school completely changed.

In the morning time, before lessons began, the twelfth chapter of the Bhagavad-gita, dealing with bhakti-yoga would be daily recited. When the twenty verses were finished, they chanted the names of Rama and Hari.

Wherever Ramayana was recited in any house, Srila Gurudeva would stay there day and night, not going to school, eating, or doing anything. When Ramayana was complete, then Srila Gurudeva would stay for the completing yajna and then come back.

In the school, one boy was very naughty and always disturbed the class. He did not follow instructions and would not change when the teacher tried to calm his mischievous nature. Unlike the other students who were composed in Gurudeva’s presence, this boy was always restless, and taunted the other boys while they studied or performed any religious activities.

One day, this boy caused so much mischief that the teacher locked him alone in the school shed. After sometime, the boy began to scream, “Master! Master! Open the door! There is a snake attacking me! It’s wrapping me up in its coils to suck my blood! Open the door! Save me! Help, Help!”

The other students looked up from their assignments in concern, but the teacher dismissed his cries, saying, “How could a snake have gotten in there? He’s just making it up.”

The boy continued screaming for a few minutes while the teacher ignored him and the students tried to concentrate on their work. Then he fell silent. In the afternoon when school was finished for the day, the teacher went to let the naughty boy out. The teacher opened the shed door and gasped.

“What happened?” the students clustered around the shed door and screamed in horror. A huge snake was coiled around the body of the naughty boy from head to toe and was sucking blood from his neck. His lifeless eyes stared out helplessly, foam driveled from his mouth, and his skin had turned a poisonous blue color.

“Oh my God! The teacher exclaimed, “Now his family will come and dig my grave.”

News spread to nearby villages, and by twilight, a crowd of hundreds had gathered. Everyone was afraid to go near the snake.

Observing the situation, Gurudeva addressed the crowd in a loud voice, “The boy is dead, now we must get the snake to go away. Have faith in the holy names of Lord Rama. Ramayana is the supreme truth. When Rama and Laksmana were bound by the snake weapon of Ravana’s son Indrajita, Garuda appeared. Seeing him, the snakes immediately fled in fear. Therefore, let us pray to Garuda for help with verses from the Ramayana, and by his power the snake will leave.”

Although Gurudeva was only nine years old, the villagers, moved by his conviction, accepted his advice and began praying to Garuda. Gurudeva recited verses from the Ramayana and soon the snake uncoiled and slithered away. The boy’s stiff body was placed on a table. Seeing their dead son, his parents wept uncontrollably. Hearing the cause of the accident, the villagers became furious with the teacher and were ready to kill him.

Srila Gurudeva intervened, “What is the use of killing the teacher? Be peaceful and pray to God for the boy’s soul. If God desires it, the boy can come back to life. If not, at least by prayer his soul will attain a higher destination. Otherwise, a person who dies horribly may wander in the subtle body of a ghost. Therefore, we must pray for his benefit. Later we can go to the Ganga and perform his last rites. Sri Rama is non-different from His names, so if we pray to Him by calling out His names, He will surely be merciful. The personification of death himself runs in fear upon hearing the name of Rama.”

Everyone began to sing Ramayana and the recitation continued all night. In the early morning, while kirtana was being loudly sung, Sriman Narayana worshipped the salagrama form of Lord Narayana by bathing Him with Ganga water and offering Tulasi leaves dipped in sandalwood paste. Afterwards, he sprinkled the holy water in the boy’s mouth.

To the amazement of all present, the boy slowly sat up and looked around in wonder.

“Haribol! Haribol!” loud shouts of jubilation filled the countryside. By Lord Rama’s grace the boy had come back to life. The villagers picked up Sriman Narayana in joy and danced around with him on their shoulders, chanting, “Jaya ho! Jaya Sita Rama! Jaya ho!”

The villagers took Gurudeva on their shoulders and began to dance.

“Sriman Narayana is no ordinary boy,” they said to each other. “This boy is like the sun of our village.” They talked about the miracle he performed for a long time and concluded that he was a great devotee blessed by God. “

The revived boy was no longer restless or naughty. From then on he followed Gurudeva everywhere. But a short while later he went into the jungle, took initation from a yogi guru, and performed intense austerities. Twelve years later he returned to Tiwaripura and announced to the villagers, “I have mystic power. I know yoga. Without a boat or anything, I shall cross the Ganga.”

As he performed this magic of crossing the Ganga and coming back, many villagers gathered to see. But Srila Gurudeva was not interested and did not go.

After this, the boy who had now become a yogi came to see Srila Gurudeva and said, “My friend, you didn’t you come to see? I have gained yogic power from worshipping Lord Siva.”

The wise village leader, who too was not interested in the new yogis show said to him, “With only one coin I could cross the Ganga by boat and come back with another coin. But you have wasted twelve years learning a two-coin trick. This is useless. You did not learn how to cross this world and go near God. Do you have knowledge of the soul and Supreme Soul?”

“Yes,” Srila Gurudeva agreed sternly. “You are bogus. This yoga vidya is nothing.”
Then realizing his mistakes this old friend of Srila Gurudeva practiced bhakti-yoga. He studied the Ramayana, Gita, and Bhagavata under the guidance of Srila Gurudeva.

This boy-turned-yogi later took initiation from a Gaudiya Vaisnava Guru and for the rest of his life he chanted three lakhs of harinama daily, performing his bhajana in Uttara Kasi in the Himalayas. Sometimes he came to Vraja-mandala and met with Srila Gurudeva. He always chanted and preached and helped many jivas in the area that he stayed. Only a few years back he left this world, just before Srila Gurudeva entered nitya-lila.

This is a living proof that if any conditioned soul meets with a maha-bhagavata his life automatically changes and a taste for spiritual life comes.

When he graduated from high school Gurudeva became a police officer and was well loved and quickly promoted.

Once, a few years after he became an officer, Gurudeva was assigned to check the activities of a group of devotees preaching in Bihar.

Srila Gurudeva went to investigate. He used to attend the sadhus’ hari-katha and sat in front. Sripada Narottamananda Prabhu was the speaker there. Gurudeva asked him many questions and he answered them in English as he didn’t know much Hindi.

“How many days is the program?” asked Srila Gurudeva.
“Seven days.”

Srila Gurudeva then went to his headquarters.
“Give me duty there for seven days and nights,” asked Srila Gurudeva. “I will check on these sadhus. I can’t do so if I don’t have enough time.”
He was granted the permission.

He met with the sadhus and respectfully followed all Vaisnava-etiquette and humbly inquired into different subject matters.

“Did Maya create this world, or God?” Srila Gurudeva first asked Sripada Narottamananda Prabhu. “If God created the world, why do the living entities follow maya? Are the living entities parts and parcels of God, or of Maya?”

Srila Gurudeva gave classes on this topic in Mathura many times, asking great scholars this very question.

“There are three types of sakti viz. cit-sakti, jiva-sakti and tatastha-sakti,” replied Narottamananda Prabhu. “The jivas do not come directly from God.” He then gave him Jaiva-dharma. It was in Bengali.
“Can you read this?” he asked Srila Gurudeva.
“I can understand something.”
“In Jaiva-dharma, Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains all the truths of the soul.”

Their discussions continued for seven days. Narottamananda Prabhu spoke on many topics, but mostly about tatastha-sakti, cit-sakti and jiva-sakti.

If a new person joined the temple, Srila Gurudeva would first give them strong lectures. Meaning, he answered the questions: “Where did you come from?” or “What is your duty?” and “How can you cross maya and go from tatastha-sakti to God’s side?”

Sripada Narottamananda Prabhu continued¬:

sadhu-sanga, sadhu-sanga—sarva-sastre kaya
lava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya

“The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success.”

“You are meeting with sadhus,” he said. “If you stay with a maha-bhagavata Guru, he will give you spiritual strength. Living entities have no taste, energy or power; they are very small and weak. When sadhus give energy, then the jivas become strong, get willpower and go towards God. Otherwise, looking at maya, who is nearby, the living entities become greedy and run towards it, thinking that this is very good and tasteful. Actually, it is very dangerous. Crossing maya is not so easy. People have no desire to cross it. They cry and weep, ‘How can I leave my family? How can I leave my wife and children?’ It is best for the jiva to be in sadhu-sanga before strong attachment to things in this world swallows him.

“You have good knowledge. You know Ramayana, Gita, the Upanisads, Veda, Vedanta, Bhagavatam and everything. Know that you are of tatastha-sakti, the middle plain. Now will you go to maya’s side or God’s?”

“Yes,” thought Srila Gurudeva. “This is my chance. If I don’t come to the side of sadhus, I will be arrested by maya and will lose everything.”

Narottamananda Prabhu and the devotees with him were very happy. “Today we have caught a nice one,” they agreed silently.

They were all attracted to him. Why? This is the nature of Srila Gurudeva’s heart. In the police station everyone was also happy with him. Anywhere he went people were attracted to him.

Once, a very long time before, while I was massaging him in the afternoon, he told me how he found the file lost in the police headquarters and received a promotion. Then he was given a promotion making him one of the chief officers in Odisha, Bengal, Bihar and so forth.

“I could not forget thinking about that,” Srila Gurudeva told me. “Day and night it was pinching my heart: Which way to go? On one side are sadhus and one side family.”

That time he was already married and had two children. He was the most beloved in his family. He thought, “What to do?” He could not forget the sadhus. Sadhus have mystic power. They are the authorities of God; not ordinary personalities. Real sadhus do not go around begging and cheating people, taking their blood and saving it in a bank. Anything they collect they offer to God as it is. Thus Narottamananda Prabhu offered Srila Gurudeva to Param Gurudeva.

How did Param Gurudeva serve Prabhupada? Now people only make jokes and perform dramas. Their lives are like a joke. They do not want to follow anything as it is. Guru-mantra, harinama, guru-seva and vaisnava-seva are not any joke or drama.

“Maharaja served his Gurudeva without any duplicity, Pujypada Srila Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Gosvami Maharaja would always say, “giving his life. Therefore the entire world is following his footsteps.”

Kapata haile dura pravesera premera pura, if one is a hypocrite, he can never enter the path of bhakti, nor can he ever understand anything. When one gives up all duplicity, he can enter Vraja, the abode of prema. Because of duplicity the heart is not clear and open; it is like something is hidden in a corner of the heart, locked away in a chest we don’t want to open.

Srila Gurudeva’s heart is not like this. He resigned his government service, rejecting the promotion that came, and surrendered his life to Param Gurudeva.

He said, “I will not stay here one day longer. I do not like anything without sadhu-sanga. I asked the Vaisnavas so many questions and everything they answered is present in my heart. I will not leave them for one moment.”

The Vaisnavas had told him the glories of Param Gurudeva, Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja. They said, “He was of a landlord family and has served Prabhupada with his life and soul. And he continues to serve him now.”

Without telling anything to his family, Gurudeva took a train from Gaya to Howrah connecting to Navadvipa.

He had previously sent a letter to Acarya Kesari Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja, saying, “I heard your glories and desire to come and meet with you in the holy dhama of Navadvipa.”

But he did not tell when he would come.

Param Gurudeva heard about him from Narottamananda Prabhu and was very pleased. But when? They did not know.

When Srila Gurudeva came from his house to Navadvipa on a train, Param Gurudeva was very happy on that day.

“Today you are very pleased,” My Guru Maharaja asked him.
“Yes, someone is coming. Save some prasadam.”

Param Gurudeva knew in his heart that Srila Gurudeva was on his way.

But no one came in the evening. At night, Sajjana asked, “What to do with this prasadam?”
“No, save this. Also, go to the railway station, someone is coming.”
“Who is coming?”
“Don’t you know? One letter came from Buxar. An officer is coming from Tiwaripura on the train from Gaya.”

How did Param Gurudeva know? This is called eternal relation. There were no phones or way to call at that time. But if sadhus remember any person, they can understand his whereabouts and activities. Why? Their hearts are pure, devoid of any darkness or spot. If anyone remembers the sadhus and offers them anything in their heart, the sadhus will accept that and offer it to God.

Many times in my life, Srila Gurudeva would tell me, “Today someone is coming. Save this prasadam.” And indeed, someone would come. But Gurudeva would always know beforehand.

Param Gurudeva sent my Guru Maharaja with a kerosene lamp. The path to the station from Devananda Gaudiya Matha was through a thick jungle. The town was far away. There were no houses or rooms near Devananda Gaudiya Matha then. The municipality used that area to throw the town’s rubbish.

Sajjana Sevaka went to the station and waited for the train to arrive. When it reached the station, he called out through the big crowd of people, “Who is Tiwariji, who is Tiwariji?”

Hearing his name being called, Srila Gurudeva came out of the station office and saw Sajjana Sevaka.

“I am Tiwariji,” he replied. “How do you know my name?”

Sajjana Sevaka looked at him with wonder. Srila Gurudeva was tall and had a golden complexion. He had beautiful blue eyes, a large moustache, and was wearing a spotless white suit.

“My Guru Maharaja sent me to bring you to our temple,” Sajjana Sevaka explained.
“Who is your Guru Maharaja?”
“Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja.”
“How did he know I was coming?” Gurudeva was amazed. “I sent no letter announcing my arrival.”
“Guru Maharaja knows past, present, and future. He told me you were coming and to bring you to the temple since Navadvipa is a big town and it is late now.”

Sajjana Sevaka then led Srila Gurudeva to Devananda Gaudiya Matha.

Param Gurudeva was pacing outside his room, waiting to meet Gurudeva. Upon arriving, Srila Gurudeva offered prostrated obeisance to Param Gurudeva, who lifted him up and embraced him. Param Gurudeva was tall, with a grave temperament. His body was golden and soft like butter. Srila Gurudeva was also strong and grave, but upon seeing each other their hearts melted with affection and both began weeping profusely, as if they were meeting their own family member after thousands of years.

Param Gurudeva took Gurudeva in his lap and wept, as if he had been missing someone for a very long time.

“How much are the guru-varga kind for us? Srila Gurudeva was surprised. “He is crying for me?”

In the morning he went to bathe in the Ganga with Param Gurudeva. Soon after, he prayed to Param Gurudeva to accept him.
“You are mine,” Param Gurudeva replied, “How can I accept or reject you? You are not the property of any other. The property of sadhus will come to sadhus, the property of God will come to God. It is not possible that it stays away.”
“Then will you give me harinama?”
“Yes, but the condition is you must shave your head?”
“Okay, but I won’t cut my moustache.”
Why? His brahmana family had a rule that if you cut your moustache it means your father and mother is dead. If anyone dies in the family, the man would cut his moustache.

“Then you cannot take harinama,” intervened Narottamananda Prabhu.
“I shall consider this.”
Later, he talked with the other Vaisnavas.
“Is this moustache very dear to you?” they asked. “More than your Gurudeva?”
“No, this is not dear to me. I don’t like it but this is the custom of my family.”
“Which family are you in? Our family or another family?” asked Narottamananda Prabhu.
“No, I am in your family.”
“Then what is the problem? Follow the rules of our family.”
The next day Srila Gurudeva shaved and Param Gurudeva gave him harinama.

From that day Gurudeva took responsibility for maintaining Devananda Gaudiya Matha. There was no need to order him, “Do this, do that.” No. How did the devotees work in those days? Now no one can even imagine that.

Oh! How did Ananga Mohana Prabhu serve? He would go for bhiksa with a Babaji Maharaja every day, sometimes in Calcutta, Barampura, Kalna, or Vardhamana. They would leave in the morning and return in the evening. If the brahmacaris did not collect any bhiksa, then they would go and collect cow dung or dry wood for cooking in the Matha.

Srila Gurudeva had such strong vairagya. He neglected his body, not taking water or eating properly. One day, feeling intense pain in his stomach, Srila Gurudeva consulted Param Gurudeva.

“Don’t worry.” Param Gurudeva assured him. “God is protecting you. You won’t be disturbed in this life. God has accepted you. Therefore He has given you some trouble. Otherwise the body will disturb. The body is a network of nonsense, and when strong and healthy it will give bad instructions. Don’t be worried. This will not be painful for you.”

Srila Gurudeva tolerated everything and continued chanting, reading, writing and serving Param Gurudeva.

Srila Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Gosvami Maharaja, who was then Radhanatha Brahmacari, and Srila Gurudeva, Gaura Narayana Brahmacari, would go with Param Gurudeva preaching throughout most of the year. Param Gurudeva left my Guru Maharaja, whose name was then Sajjana Sevaka Brahmacari, to manage the temple.

Srila Gurudeva would cook and personally serve Param Gurudeva, while Srila Trivikrama Maharaja arranged programs, collected and so forth.

Param Gurudeva had given an order that no brahmacaris go alone for bhiksa; at least two brahmacaris must go. If there is one old Babaji or a senior brahmacari with a young brahmacari, Param Gurudeva said it would be best.

Srila Gurudeva traveled from village to village with Mukunda Vinoda Babaji, a disciple of Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. Once while preaching in the Vardhamana district, they came to the village of Kurmona. Upon seeing Srila Gurudeva, the local villagers gossiped amongst themselves, “This young sadhu is very strong and healthy; it is doubtful that he is an honest renunciate. These sadhus are probably thieves who have come in the guise of monks. They must be a scouting party. Let’s catch these bogus sadhus and have them arrested.”

Dacoits had recently visited this village and thus many of the locals were suspicious of every stranger. Surrounding Srila Gurudeva and Mukunda dasa Babaji they shouted, “Dacoits! Thieves! Catch them!”

“We are not thieves!” Mukunda dasa Babaji replied. “Please let us go in peace.”
Gurudeva and the Babaji were locked in a room.
Babaji Maharaja worried, “They are going to beat us! What should we do? Oh Kṛṣṇa, hey Gauranga! Please save us!”
“Don’t worry so much, everything will be fine,” Gurudeva said.

Many people from neighboring villages gathered to see the two dacoits dressed as sadhus.

Babaji Maharaja begged, “Please let us go. We came from Navadvipa Dhama and mean no harm.”

A police van soon arrived. Moving the crowds aside, the officers entered the room where Srila Gurudeva and the elderly sadhu were waiting. The villagers pressed against the windows to see what was happening.

Gurudeva spoke to the officers in English, “We have only come to invite people to our annual Navadvipa Dhama parikrama.”

The officers were surprised, “You know English?”
“Yes.”
The head officer said, “What is your name?”
“My name is Narayana Tiwari.”
“Narayana Tiwari!?!” The officers said in amazement, “The Narayana Tiwari?”
“Yes.”

Having heard the glories of Narayana Tiwari, the officers gave him a respectful salute. They spoke with him in English for sometime, and then chastised the villagers, “Do you know who this is? He is not an ordinary man. Respect him properly. He used to be a high ranking officer in Bengal and Bihar. Now has given up his prestigious position to beg door to door. He is a great soul like Svami Vivekananda. It is your good fortune to serve these exalted devotees. They have left their families and all material possessions, and came here to spread the message of God. If you make any offense to them, your life will be ruined.”

The villagers begged forgiveness and requested Srila Gurudeva and the babaji to stay in their village and speak hari-katha. In the evening the whole village gathered to hear Srila Gurudeva speak. After inspiring them to follow bhakti in their homes, Srila Gurudeva invited them to the annual pilgrimage of Navadvipa Dhama.

Many of the villagers gave generous donations of rice, dahl and various ingredients for temple. Back in Navadvipa as night settled in, Param Gurudeva was worried because Gurudeva and the babaji had still not returned. Gurudeva and the babaji returned late at night, having collected the most of anyone. The babaji happily told Param Gurudeva, “Today we have brought back so much! I will take this Gaura Narayana with me on bhiksa every day. When he speaks in English everyone offers him respect.”

Param Gurudeva asked, “Gaura Narayana, what happened, how did you collect so much?”

Gurudeva told, “When we went to Kurmona, the villagers thought that we were thieves and locked us in a room. When the police found out I was previously an officer, they let us go, chastising the villagers for disturbing us. The villagers then gave us all of this.”

Param Gurudeva said, “This has happened by God’s desire. If you wanted to speak to that many people, you would have had to move through many towns and villages. But by God’s will, so many villagers came automatically and gave bhiksa to you, thus making a relationship with you and God’s temple. Now they will come to Navadvipa-dhama parikrama.”

“Yes, I invited everyone.”

“You have great faith in the guru-varga. I see that you are strong and never defeated or disturbed by anyone. A disciple must never become hopeless or leave his service. Sense enjoyers run from the field of duty as soon as any small disturbance arises. Because you tolerate everything for the service of Mahāprabhu and the Vaisnavas, myself and the guru-varga will always protect you.”

That year the parikrama was very large.

Hundreds of people came from the towns and villages in the area where Gurudeva had been, and they became attracted to Param Gurudeva and the parikrama.

The householders who had accosted Srila Gurudeva and the Babaji Maharaja also came to Param Gurudeva. They were very rich and gave so much bhiksa and naturally changed.

From then on, whenever there was an important or difficult task to perform, Param Gurudeva would call upon Srila Gurudeva.

If Gurudeva had preached without any obstacle, preaching would have been less. Similarly, Haridas Thakura became widely known after the beating incident, and was able to preach extensively.

Now, everyone knows how Srila Gurudeva served Ananga Mohana. But there is something secret here. Ananga Mohan was the nearest and dearest sevaka of Param Gurudeva. He was continuously with Param Gurudeva. He sang very nicely. His color was enchantingly fair. He was a beautiful young boy, and cooked very well. His character and behavior was very nice, but his vairagya was very strong. He did not have any attraction to food, lodge, or any comfortable facilities.

Gradually so many brahmacaris came to the temple, but there were no rooms to stay in. They had enormous woks to cook with for Navadvipa-dhama parikrama, and when these were not in use, the woks would be turned upside down, and the brahmacaris slept underneath them at night. There were no rooms.

Do you know how was Devananda Gaudiya Matha built? The brahmacaris built the temple with bricks that came from far away by boat and were delivered onto the bank of the Ganga.

All the brahmacaris and sannyasis carried the bricks on their heads from the Ganga to the temple. After, they carried sand from the Ganga and arranged clay. They carried this all on their heads as they worked all day long.

They made the building with clay, not cement. When you first enter Devananda Gaudiya Matha, on the left side there is a building. It is the first constructed building of the matha. Srila Gurudeva would stay there. When it was first built, Param Gurudeva stayed there with the brahmacaris.

After years of continuous hard work, Ananga Mohana became very sick. He had tuberculosis and was vomiting blood.

Param Gurudeva asked, “Someone must take care of him constantly, who will help?”
But no one was ready to help. Only Srila Gurudeva said, “Gurudeva, whether you give me order or not, I will serve him, for I know this is your desire.”

All were reluctant to take care of Ananga Mohana. Why? He was terminally ill. He was very contagious and repeatedly vomiting blood. If anyone got infected, they would also die because there was no medicine for tuberculosis in India at that time.

Param Gurudeva took Ananga Mohana to Madras accompanied by Srila Gurudeva. Param Gurudeva left Ananga Mohana in Srila Gurudeva’s care and came back Navadvipa.

Ananga Mohana continued to vomit blood and was unable to eat. He was very thin and had an extremely high fever. Srila Gurudeva cleaned body and serve him. He would be senseless most of the time.

After the doctor gave medicine and some sense came back to him, Ananga Mohana asked, “Where is my Baba?” He called Param Gurudeva Baba, father. “Where is he? Who brought me here? Why have I been taken away from him?” He was crying and shouting.

Srila Gurudeva tried to console him. “When you are a little better I will take you to him.”

“No! I must go now.’

Srila Gurudeva gave Ananga Mohana a picture of Param Gurudeva and put it on his chest, saying, “He is here.”
Ananga Mohana said, “He is calling me. I am going.”

Ananga Mohana was very restless and cried even more. He said, “If you don’t send me to Baba, then I will go to Vrndavana. I am going to Vrndavana, Radharani and Krsna are calling me. I am going there. How will you stop me?”

Then Srila Gurudeva caught his feet and said, “Yes. If you are going, how can I stop you? But please pray for me also, I also want to go to Vrndavana.”

“Yes, Baba is there in Vrndavana, I am going to him.”

Ananga Mohana was shouting very loud. Srila Gurudeva held his feet and prayed to him.

“I can’t stay here, I am running now,” Ananga Mohana repeated. Then he left.

Srila Gurudeva sent a letter to Param Gurudeva, “You gave me your property to care for,” he wrote. “But I could not protect him. He has left. I lost him. He is gone.”

Param Gurudeva responded with a letter that read, “Yes, but don’t worry. I am with you. You are with me and he whom you speak of is also with me. There is a special relationship between Guru and disciple. This relationship is permanent. He is not distance to me. He is here.”

Caitanya Mahaprabhu left Chota Haridasa. But once, after one year, Mahaprabhu was on the bank of the ocean and said to Svarupa Damodara, “I can hear the singing of Haridasa. O Svarupa Damodara can you hear it?”
“Yes, yes. It is the melody of Haridasa?”
“Where is Haridasa?”
“Prabhu, you left him one year before. He went to Prayaga and gave up his life. Some say he has become a brahma-raksasa.”
Mahaprabhu became very angry and shouted, “Brahma-raksasa? This is not possible! He stayed with the Vaisnavas, lived in Jagannatha Puri, and accepted Jagannatha’s maha-prasada. How can he be a Brahma-raksasa? He left this body, but with his spiritual body he is with us.”

Param Gurudeva told Srila Gurudeva, “Ananga Mohana has not left us. He is with me in Devananda Gaudiya Matha, continuing his service. Come here and you will be able to meet with him. Learn everything from him, he will teach you how to serve Guru and Vaisnavas.”

The sevaka has love. Gurudeva accepts this love. Where does this love come from?
Param Gurudeva explained:

suddha-sattva-visesatma
prema-suryamsu-samya-bhak
rucibhis citta-masrnya-
krd asau bhava ucyate
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.3.1

When the Vrajavasis’ hearts melt, then suddha-sattva comes to the hearts of the living entities, then eternal service can be attained, otherwise it is not possible.

Srila Gurudeva told us, “After Ananga Mohana’s departure, when I returned to Devananda Gaudiya Matha, I felt a great potency come inside me. From that day I served my Gurudeva continuously.”

Gurudeva was always with Param Gurudeva and performed all services, such as cooking, cleaning, washing cloth, and writing down Param Gurudeva’s articles for publishing. When Param Gurudeva laid down to rest, he would tell Srila Gurudeva, “Read to me, I will listen.” Then Srila Gurudeva would read to Param Gurudeva. Param Gurudeva was very happy with him.

Once, my Guru Maharaja became very sick. He also got tuberculosis, and there was a hole as big as a finger’s width in his chest. He became very skinny and weak.

Then Param Gurudeva showed us his love for his sevaka. He went to Sidhavadi Gaudiya Matha with my Guru Maharaja, who was Sajjana Sevaka Brahmacari, Gurudeva, who was Gaura Narayana Brahmacari at the time, and Trigunatita Babaji Maharaja.

Srila Gurudeva cooked, went to the market, cleaned everything and did all the service. Babaji Maharaja was old, and my Guru Maharaja was sick. So Srila Gurudeva did all service alone.

One night Srila Gurudeva saw in a dream that Ananga Mohana was with Param Gurudeva. Srila Gurudeva asked, “Gurudeva, Ananga Mohana is with you? He is massaging and serving you?”
“Yes, I never left him. This relation is eternal.”

Don’t think Gurudeva is far away to us. This is never possible. If anyone has a little love for Gurudeva, he will never leave. He accepts our service. He is with us.

Param Gurudeva said, “Ananga Mohana has not left me. He is with you. He helps you while you cook and serve me. How can you do everything alone? Therefore he does everything with you.”

One time, in 1976, when the Nilacala Gaudiya Matha was being opened in Puri, my Guru Maharaja, Srila Trivikrama Maharaja and Srila Gurudeva all went to make arrangements. After some time, Srila Trivikrama Maharaja and Srila Gurudeva came back, and my Guru Maharaja was there working very hard. After a while however, my Guru Maharaja became very sick with bronchitis. But he would never spend one coin of temple money for his sickness.

His sevaka was named Sundarananda and was illiterate. He could not write, and everyone there from Odisha origin. Somehow he wrote a small note on a postcard and sent it to Mathura. This letter came to Mathura and as soon as Srila Gurudeva saw it he boarded a train without any reserved ticket, without delaying in the slightest, and without telling anyone.

Srila Gurudeva went on a general class to Jagannatha Puri. When he arrived he saw that my Guru Maharaja’s condition was not good. It was like he was ready to leave his body and having a hard time breathing.

Srila Gurudeva sat nearby his head and fanned him in the small room.

“Why didn’t you spend any money for your treatment?” Gurudeva asked.
“This money is Gurudeva’s money, God’s money, how can I use it for myself?” replied my Guru Maharaja.

Srila Gurudeva called Banaharlal Sinhaniya who made all arrangements for my Guru Maharaja’s treatment.

One night, Srila Gurudeva was sitting by the bed where my Guru Maharaja lay ill. Neither were sleeping. Just then Param Gurudeva came into the room with a walking stick, just as Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja would walk with a cane. What did he say?

“Hey Narayana Maharaja, don’t be worried. Vamana Maharaja will be well soon. There is a doctor Pallik in Calcutta. Go to him. After sometime he will become his follower. I will go ahead to tell him. He will give treatment to Vamana Maharaja. There is no need for any other doctor.”

Don’t think that Guru-pada-padma doesn’t consider the welfare of his disciples.
He is always with his own disciples.

Srila Gurudeva called Sinhaniya in the morning and he arranged a ticket for Calcutta. For six months Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Maharaja took treatment from doctor Pallik.

Srila Gurudeva sent me for a week and I met with Guru Maharaja. He was cured and after his sickness was gone, doctor Pallik took diksa from him.

Anywhere Vaisnavas go, they change the hearts of all. Guru Maharaja then told how Param Gurudeva had come and helped.

Once, when Navadvipa-dhama Parikrama was beginning in the new temple, Srila Gurudeva woke at midnight, and called, “Hey Madhava Maharaja, your Guru Maharaja has come and said, ‘you have opened this new temple and I have left for two years, but no one gives me any prasadama, and you also don’t care for me now. Before you were my beloved friend and my all and all, and now you have also left me.”
Srila Gurudeva told Madhava Maharaja, “Go cook immediately and offer it to your Guru Maharaja.”

Madhava Maharaja cooked and offered. From that time, whenever they cooked for Srila Gurudeva, they made two plates and offered one to Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja.

Don’t think the guru-varga is mundane. This is not a joke and drama. Spiritual life and spiritual relation is permanent. We are not orphans. We have not lost Srila Gurudeva. Srila Gurudeva comes and looks, he watches everything, and checks, “Are they following all rules and regulations of bhakti or not?” If we follow everything, then he will certainly help us. He is with us. He is not far from us. Therefore on his appearance day, may he appear in all our hearts.

I said earlier, janmady asya yatah. How will our heart be Srila Gurudeva’s birthplace? How will he be present in our heart? Janma, birth, adi asya, always he will be present.

He only come to distribute adi rasa, madhurya-rasa, srngara-rasa. Adi rasa gives potency to the soul. Only this rasa is helpful to nourish the soul and develop the soul’s eternal form in Vraja. Mundane rasa, or vaidhi marga does not help. Therefore Srila Gurudeva came and distributed—

prema-rasa-niryasa karite asvadana
raga-marga bhakti loke karite pracarana
rasika-sekhara krsna parama-karuna
ei dui hetu haite icchara udgama
Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 4.15-16

“The Lord’s desire to appear was born from two reasons: He wanted to taste the sweet essence of the mellows of love of God, and He wanted to propagate devotional service in the world on the platform of spontaneous attraction. Thus He is known as supremely jubilant and as the most merciful of all.”

Those who do not follow this raga-marga are not in our Gaudiya-parampara. If they teach anything else they are cheaters and destroyers in this world. They are not followers of Mahaprabhu’s movement! Those in Mahaprabhu’s movement follow and preach: raga-marga bhakti loke karite pracarana.

Srila Gurudeva came in this world to spread this raga-marga bhakti-yoga. He is glorified on this day, and he will always be glorified. He has saved all the gosvamis’ granthas for us. If we don’t look at these, don’t touch them and read them with reverence, then we will be akrtajna, ungrateful. This property of the gosvamis’ has been reserved for us by Srila Gurudeva. Therefore I request you all, “Don’t go one minute here and there from our Guru-pada-padma.” Cheaters are everywhere, trying to check, stroke, hold and kill us! What are these?

asac-cesta-kasta-prada-vikata-pasalibhir iha
prakamam kamadi-prakata-pathapati-vyatikaraih
gale baddhva hanye ’ham iti bakabhid vartmapa-gane
kuru tvam phutkaran avati sa yatha tvam mana itah
–Manah-siksa 5
“Lust, anger and so on are a band of dacoits who assail one suddenly on the open road of material life. They have bound my neck licentiously with the torturous, dreadful ropes of wicked deeds and are thus killing me.” O mind, speaking in this way, you must grievously cry out to the powerful and merciful devotees who are the protectors of the path of devotion leading to Sri Krsna, the killer of Bakasura. Hearing your piteous cry, they will surely protect you from such a condition.”

Loudly cry out, “Where is Rupa-Sanatana! Where is my Guru-pada-padma? May they come and save me!”

Then our life will be protected. Otherwise we will lose everything.