Srila Prabhupada Sarasvati Thakura Tirobhava

Today is the disappearance day of Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda, our Parameṣṭhi-Gurudeva. He manifested Vraja-pattana, a branch office of Vraja-bhūmi, in this world. After Dvāpara-yuga, Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes places disappeared. Mahāprabhu sent the Six Gosvāmīs to Vṛndāvana to rediscover these pastime places:

ei chāyā gosāi jabe vraje koilā vāsa
rādhā-kṛṣṇa-nitya-līlā korilā prakāśa

The Six Gosvāmīs manifested the pastime places of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa during the time of Mahāprabhu. After Kṛṣṇa disappeared at the end of Dvāpara-yuga, even the name of Vṛndāvana was changed. Some other sampradāyas even now say that Vṛndāvana is located in Kāmyavana. The Six Gosvāmīs came and by the desire of Mahāprabhu, they manifested Vṛndāvana. They manifested Govinda, Gopinātha, Madana-mohana, Rādhā-Dāmodara, Rādhā-Śyāmasundara, Rādhā-vallabha, Rādhā-Mādhava, and Vṛndāvana-candrajiu.

The Six Gosvāmīs resided in Vṛndāvana-dhāma practicing bhajana, fulfilling the heart’s desire of Mahāprabhu, and manifesting our scriptures. Some people have some business. Why is Vṛndāvana-dhāma here—they do not know. They think this is an ordinary village and town. They turn it into a place of business and sense enjoyment. Many of these kinds of people come to Vṛndāvana.

BhaktivinodaṬhākura came here and saw that many people call themselves perfected souls. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura went and met with them, and he said, “I have not even met a kaniṣṭha-adhikārī, what to speak of a perfected soul. Everyone is engaged in nāmāparādha. They do not understand śuddha-nāma.”

kabhu nāmābhāsa haya, sadā nāma-aparādha
e saba jānibe bhāī, kṛṣṇa-bhaktir bādha

The so-called siddha-bābās take tea, and give so many mundane blessings, such as freeing one from sickness. They give mundane things, and people think that because they can do this, they are perfected. But who is free from anarthas, and who has crossed māyā and gone to Vṛndāvana? Who has made a relationship with kṛṣṇa-līlā?

We have come for bhajana. How many people sincerely want to be liberated from all their desire fires? Who follows pure bhakti-yoga? How many people desire to serve their prāṇa-nātha, in Vraja-maṇḍala, under guidance of the Vraja-devīs? It is very rare.

Prabhupāda Sarasvati Ṭhākura appeared in this world. He is Varsabhanavi Dayita dasa, he gave his own identity like this for he is the very dear maidservant of Śrīmatī Rādhārānī. He gives Kṛṣṇa sambandha-vijñāna.

mādhuryojjvala-premāḍhya-śrī-rūpānuga-bhaktida
śrī-gaura-karuṇā-śakti-vigrahāya namo ’stu te

 

[I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, the personified energy of Śrī Caitanya’s mercy, who deliver devotional service which is enriched with conjugal love of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, coming exactly in the line of revelation of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.]

How can we be the servant of Kṛṣṇa? Prabhupāda taught this process.

After the disappearance of Mahāprabhu, even His birthplace disappeared. People had doubts about where His real birthplace was. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura manifested the appearance place of Mahāprabhu, in Yoga-pīṭha. Later, Prabhupāda manifested Vraja-pattana, Rādhā-kuṇḍa, Śyāma-kuṇḍa, and Girirāja Govardhana, nearby Mahāprabhu’s birthplace. He said, “I am opening a training center. Whoever comes will first receive treatment in my Gauḍīya Hospital. I will give them training on how they can make relationship with and serve Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. I will give them siddha-praṇālī, the process of achieving perfection.”

Prabhupāda said, “I will not teach them any mundane management or business. How can the soul become related with the Supreme Soul? I will give this kṛṣṇa-sambandha-vijñāna. This is no temporary form of training.

We pray:

namaḥ oṁ viṣṇu-padāya
kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhūtale
śrīmate bhakti-siddhānta-
sarasvatīti-nāmine

śrī-vārṣabhānavī-devī-
dayitāya kṛpābdhaye
kṛsṇa-sambandha-vijñāna-
dāyine prabhave namaḥ

 

[I offer praṇāma unto oṁ viṣṇupāda Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda, who is very dear to Kṛṣṇa, who is most beloved to Śrī Vārṣabhānavī-devī Rādhikā, who is an ocean of mercy, and who is kindly bestowing realization (sambandha-vijñāna) of our eternal relationship with Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.]

If we do not follow the footsteps of Rūpa and Raghunātha, we cannot have any idea about unatta-ujjvala-rasa.

Prabhupāda said, “If anyone comes to me, I will send them to Rūpa and Raghunātha and have them follow their program and conception. Rūpa and Raghunātha know the heart’s desire of Mahāprabhu, and they follow this. They inspire and instruct others to follow as well. They help souls make relationship with the rāgātmika Vrajavāsīs.”

How can we cross māyā in this world? How can we cross beyond our attachment that has been with us for millions of lives? How can we cut off our temporary relationships, naimittika-sambandha? We have a habitual practice since millions of lives with our mundane senses. How can we cross beyond this and make spiritual relationship?

Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura opened the Gauḍīya-maṭha for this purpose. Prabhupāda said, “You should come to Vraja-pattana, and there practice harināma, the names of Lord Hari.”

We have collected so many names. We have been pursuing name, fame, popularity, and all these things for so many lifetimes.

pratiṣṭhāśā dhṛṣṭā śvapaca-ramaṇī me hṛdi naṭet
kathaṁ sādhu-premā spṛśati śucir etan nanu manaḥ
sadā tvaṁ sevasva prabhu-dayita-sāmantam atulaṁ
yathā tāṁ niṣkāśya tvaritam iha taṁ veśayati saḥ
Manaḥ-śikṣā 7

 

[O mind, how can pure divine love appear in my heart as long as the shameless dog-eating, outcaste woman of the desire for prestige is audaciously dancing there? Therefore always remember and serve the immeasurably powerful commanders of the army of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the beloved devotees of the Lord. They will at once banish this outcaste woman and initiate the flow of immaculate vraja-prema in your heart.]

Prabhupāda taught that we must take shelter of Harināma Prabhu. Should we only give Him one hour a day? No. Then, two or three hours? No. Should we engage 12 hours of the day and 12 hours of the night in harināma? If you give 12 hours for harināma, this is only a half/half share. If you give 13 hours for harināma, then you have given one hour extra for harināma than you have for māyā.

Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura chanted harināma 24 hours a day. By this kind of practice, kṛṣṇa-sambandha-vijñāna is possible. If we do not chant harināma, but rather only cheat ourselves, and others, then we are called dharma-dhvajīs, false religionists. We shave our head, wear tilaka and kanṭhi-mālā, but all only to cheat people. We do not offer our life for the service of Hari, Śrī Guru, and the dhāma. We have no kṛṣṇa-sambandha-vijñāna. Therefore, we must continuously practice the service of harināma in Vraja-pattana.

We must call out, remember, and pray with the songs and prayers of the Gosvāmīs. They have given the Svaniyama-daśakam, Stavamālā, Saṅkalpa-kalpadruma, and so many granthas. We must remember and pray the way they pray while crying, weeping, rolling on the ground, and smearing the dust of the dhāma on their bodies. We must never leave the holy dhāma. Wherever we follow these rules and regulations of Vraja-bhūmi, that place will be Vraja-pattana, and the Vrajavāsīs will come there. We must make a place for the Vrajavāsīs to come in the heart. If we start some other type of business, this is not the place of the Vrajavāsīs. Opening hotels and motels, and giving them the name Vṛndāvana Garden, is not opening a center of Vṛndāvana. This is only a residential place to enjoy.

Prabhupāda said, “Those that come to Vraja-pattana should have no other intention then the undeviating practice of pure bhakti. They should come here if they desire vraja-prema. I will then help them.”

Prabhupāda started the nāma-saṅkīrtanam as we know it today. He would invite all the Vaiṣṇavas. In the morning, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, Locana dāsa Ṭhākura, Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, Sāraṅga Murāri, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Rāmānanda Rāya, the Dvādaśa Gopāla, the Cauṣatti Mahānta, the Ṣaḍ Gosvāmīs, and the Aṣṭa-kavirājas—he respected and invited them all.

First, we perform guru-vandana. Then we chant the Guru-
paramparā song. Next, we chant Vaiṣṇava-vandana. Then, we chant pañca-tattva and in this way, we invite everyone, we call everyone and pray to them. We pray for relationship with all of the Gosvāmīs. Sambandha-vijñāna—how can we have this realized knowledge of our eternal relationship? Where will this come from?

If we do not remember our Guru-varga, do not go to them, and worship them; if we do not offer puṣpāñjali to them and do not offer ourselves to them, then who will help us? From early morning, we go here and there, for our own business, but we do not go to Guru and Vaiṣṇavas, or the mahā-bhāgavatas. Who else will give us spiritual help?

Prabhupāda started his program considering the state of the conditioned souls. When we do kīrtana of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes in Vraja, we do not do it independently. We do it under guidance of the Vaiṣṇavas and followers of Mahāprabhu. This is then very sweet. This is also not only for one day or minute. We should not perform some little program, and then run away with other invitations. We must carefully accept the favorable and reject the unfavorable.

ānukūlyasya saṅkalpaḥ
prātikūlyasya varjanam
rakṣiṣyatīti viśvāso
goptṛtve varaṇaṁ tathā

ātmā-nikṣepa-kārpaṇye
ṣaḍ-vidhā śaraṇāgatiḥ

1) To accept with determination everything that is favorable for bhakti, 2) to give up everything that is unfavorable for bhakti, 3) to have the staunch faith that ‘Bhagavān will protect me’, 4) to accept Him as one’s maintainer 5) to offer oneself completely and 6) humility.

Prabhupāda very strongly showed what is favorable for bhakti, and what is unfavorable for bhakti. He always helps the devotees by making a very strong protection.

je deśe nitāi nāi se deśe nā jābo heno
nitāi nā bhajīya mukha nā heribo

Wherever we go, we must not be unknown and lordless. We must be with Nityānanda Prabhu, with Guru-pāda-padma. We must not go anywhere alone. If we go anywhere alone, māyā will catch us. She will smash us, paste us, and then throw us in the drain. Why? We are thieves, stealing from God, and from māyā, and using everything for our own enjoyment. Then certainly punishment will come to us.

Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura said, “Wherever you go, be with Nityānanda Prabhu, with Guru-pāda-padma, with the Vaiṣṇavas. Then, no tension will come in your life.”

Prabhupāda brought this Vraja-pattana in this world, in Māyāpura-dhāma. From there, he began 64 branch offices of Vraja-pattana, opening these training centers of the Gauḍīya-maṭha. Whoever came to these centers, they were only taught vraja-sevā. They were taught the process to achieve vraja-bhakti and vraja-prema. This is the desire of Mahāprabhu.

Prabhupāda then began the bṛhad-mṛdaṅga. He said, “Doing kīrtana with instruments will last for how long? How much area can it cover? But my magazines, books, and newspapers—this is the news of Vaikuṇṭha, vaikuṇṭhāya-varta. I will distribute the message of Godhead all over the world.”
¬
He began this, and every day he would send the news of Vaikuṇṭha or the spiritual world to everyone.

He began to manifest the Paramarthi Patrikā, the Bhagavat Patrikā, the Gauḍīya Patrikā, The Harmonist, and other works and periodicals in so many languages. He distributed the spiritual message of the Gauḍīya line.

He would go house to house, inviting people to come to Vraja-bhūmi, just as Śrīla Gurudeva would invite everyone to come to Vraja. When people come to Vraja, if they do not receive good training, help, and association, where will they go?

Therefore, Prabhupāda opened this center. Then, he gave these books as guardians. Wherever we go, these books will be our guardians. They are Prabhupāda’s representatives. We must seriously read Gurudeva’s books, the books of Prabhupāda Sarsvati Ṭhākura, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, and the Guru-varga. We should respectfully offer them obeisances, and then they will manifest to us in their true forms.

After explaining the Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa said, “If someone reads, hears and remembers this Bhagavad-gītā, they will understand what I want to say, and they will come to Me to reside with Me forever.”

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te
pratijāne priyo ’si me
Bhāgavad-gītā 18.65

 

[Offer your mind to Me; become My bhakta by hearing and chanting, etc. about My names, forms, qualities and pastimes; worship Me and offer obeisances to Me. In this way, you will certainly come to Me. I promise you this truthfully because you are very dear to Me.]

People are like elephants. They take so much water in their trunks, and shower their body with water. The next moment, they go take so much sand in their trunk and cover their entire bodies with sand and dirt. Otherwise they roll about in the mud and become dirty head to feet.

Our reading of Scripture is like an elephant bath. We memorize some verses, and then afterwards we cannot follow them in our life, what to speak of remember them. We know that we are supposed to chant harināma, respect the Vaiṣṇavas, and remember the Guru-varga, but, we do not follow it. Then how can we ever progress?

Prabhupāda taught how to practically follow bhakti, and develop spiritual relationship.

Prabhupāda gave many devotees sannyāsa, giving them the mood of the gopīs. He gave them great strength. He gave his power, saying:

mahānta-svabhāva ei tārite pāmara
nija kārya nāhi tabu yāna tāra ghara
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya 8.39

 

[It is the general practice of all saintly people to deliver the fallen. Therefore they go to people’s houses, although they have no personal business there.]

Those who are great personalities, do not simply sit and eat, like elephants and buffaloes. Prabhupāda these persons house to house, door to door. This is vraja-sevā.

He said, “Give everyone news about Vraja-bhūmi. Bring them to Vraja-bhūmi and teach them how to do vraja-sevā. Teach them who they really are.”

Very strongly, Prabhupāda taught like this. He gave the method of how we can have sukṛti, and good memory.

Prabhupāda met people, gave them Tulasī beads, and instructed everyone how to follow pure Ekādaśī. The smarta line, and the paramārtha line, is completely different. Smārta followers write many glories of Ekādaśī, but they glorify only the mundane results. Pure Ekādaśī is followed by the Vrajavāsīs. How can we follow pure Ekādaśī? Prabhupāda instructed us how we can receive help from this Ekādaśī-devī.

Prabhupāda arranged all these programs. He opened these centers, which are like call-centers, where people can come and receive answers to their questions.

When Prabhupāda sees that someone desires to help the jīvas, he gave him special power, śakti, and thus empowers him they would go out and preach. Brahmāṇḍa tare tare jare śakti…***

brahmaṇḍa tārite śakti dhare jane jane
e veda purāṇe guṇa gāya jebā śune

 

[I have heard their glorification in the Vedas and Purāṇas, which proclaim that each one of His devotees has the śakti to deliver an entire universe.]

Prabhupāda brought the śakti of Vraja-bhūmi, and sent them out to deliver the universe, just as a government sends out the army to engage in war. Prabhupāda is the ācārya that brought this power from the spiritual world, to deliver the entire universe. Prabhupāda gives this śakti to even the smallest sevaka that desires to follow Prabhupāda’s order. Any family man, any renunciant, anyone who wanted to follow Prabhupāda—he would give them this power to change others. Without guru-śakti, no one can help or change the jīvas.

Prabhupāda started this movement in this world. The jīvas are unconscious. They are completely absorbed in material nature. But Prabhupāda gave everyone pure consciousness. Prabhupāda opened centers of Vraja everywhere. His Guru Mahārāja, Gaura-kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja, and BhaktivinodaṬhākura, both told Prabhupāda to preach, to help all the jīvas and give them shelter.

Why did Prabhupāda not send people to Gaura-kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja, and have him accept and help everyone?

Gaura-kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja performed ekāntika-bhajana. He was very busy in his sādhana. He had no time. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura told Prabhupāda to accept all the jīvas. He said, “Whoever comes to you, you should change their material nature, and give them mādhurya-ujjvala-prema-bhakti. You should give them śakti, so that they can give up their sinful nature.”

On the order of his Gurudeva and Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, Prabhupāda began Gauḍīya-maṭha, and his worldwide preaching. Whoever came to him, was offered to his Gurudeva, to his Param Gurudeva, to his Parmeṣṭhi Gurudeva, and to his Parātpara Gurudeva.

How would he offer them? When Param Gurudeva came, Prabhupāda sent him to have darśana of Bābājī Mahārāja. Bābājī Mahārāja had locked himself in a latrine at that time. He opened the door, and give darśana to Param Gurudeva. He said, “Oh, you have come from Bimala Prasāda? You are very lucky. You have desire for bhajana. I will help you. I will always help you. I will remove all obstacles. You will be free from all impediments. Go and perform bhajana.”

Guru-pāda-padma and the Guru-varga have this power. They can remove all obstacles.

In the lifetime of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, many disciples of Prabhupāda went to Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, and Bhaktivinoda would advise them. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura would also send his disciples to Prabhupāda. He said, “Go to Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī, and take sannyāsa from him. Follow his footsteps, and do bhajana under his guidance.”

Prabhupāda would give sannyāsa to disciples of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura as well. Prabhupāda began this process of sannyāsa, after Mahāprabhu.

Mahāprabhu said:

prabhu kahe—sādhu ei bhikṣura vacana
mukunda sevana-vrata kaila nirdhāraṇa
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya 3.7

 

[Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu approved the purport of this verse on account of the determination of the mendicant devotee to engage in the service of Lord Mukunda. He gave His approval of this verse, indicating that it was very good.]

parātma-niṣṭhā-mātra veṣa-dhāraṇa
mukunda-sevāya haya saṁsāra-tāraṇa
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya 3.8

 

[The real purpose of accepting sannyāsa is to dedicate oneself to the service of Mukunda. By serving Mukunda, one can actually be liberated from the bondage of material existence.]

sei veṣa kaila, ebe vṛndāvana giyā
kṛṣṇa-niṣevaṇa kari nibhṛte vasiyā
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya 3.9

 

[After accepting the sannyāsa order, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu decided to go to Vṛndāvana and engage Himself wholly and solely in the service of Mukunda in a solitary place.]

We have attachment. If we try to serve Kṛṣṇa, but simultaneously remain materially attached, our time and our love will be shared with others. We give a little to Kṛṣṇa, but mostly everything we have is for others. Kṛṣṇa will not take remnants. Prabhupāda therefore said, first take sannyāsa.

One of Prabhupāda’s sannyāsīs was only 24 years of age. Prabhupāda had told him to take sannyāsa, and asked his godbrothers.

Many said, “You are only 24 years old. You are too young for sannyāsa.”

He went to Prabhupāda and said, “Prabhupāda, I am too young. Everyone is so senior. There is Nemi Mahārāja, Bhāratī Mahārāja, Śrīdhara Mahārāja, Vaikhanas Mahārāja, Vāna Mahārāja, and so many other senior sannyāsīs. I’m only a small servant of yours and do not understand anything.”

Prabhupāda said, “If you do not take sannyāsa, how will you serve the Vrajavāsīs? How will you become a Vrajavāsī? The vraja-gopīs are all sannyāsīs. How can you follow their footsteps? Who will take care of you? Who will protect you?” “If you do not take sannyāsa, and instead remain in māyā, who will help you? Will we receive help from Māyā-devī? What do you want?”

Prabhupāda gave him śakti through his hari-kathā, and then gave him sannyāsa. His name became Bhaktivicāra Yāyāvara Mahārāja and he served Prabhupāda very nicely till his last day. Yāyāvara Mahārāja served Prabhupāda with his life and soul. His mind was never restless. He renounced everything worldly, for the service of the Vraja-devīs. He took this vow, this vrata to serve the gopīs.

sei vrata, sei tapa, sei mora mantra japa,
sei mora dharama karama

 

[Her lotus feet fulfill the goal of my vows and austerities, my harināma-japa, my actions, and my spiritual practices—all performed with the aim to please Śrī Rūpa Mañjarī.]

In his time, Prabhupāda gave everyone qualification to serve in Vraja. He said, “My sannyāsīs are not ordinary. They are the footstep followers of the Vraja-devīs. If you do bhajana under guidance of the Vraja-devīs, then this bhajana will be perfect. How can you understand if you are doing so? Vrajavāsīs are serving from morning to evening. Yaśodā Mātā’s service is incessant. While chanting nāma, one should always be serving.

Yaśodā Mātā would chant, “Gopāla, Murāri, Madhusūdana,” while serving. On one side there is service, and on the other side, the chanting of the holy names. This is our process.

Prabhupāda gave special instruction and qualification to perform this service of the nāma and the dhāma. Prabhupāda taught nāma-sevā and dhāma-sevā wherever he went.

When Prabhupāda began printing the Gosvāmīs’ books, many helpers came. They were sent by Mahāprabhu. He gave them all śakti, and began printing books and distributing them. Before, Caitanya-caritāmṛta was not available. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura collected Caitanya-caritāmṛta and distributed it. Also, before, they were two Caitanya Maṅgalas, one by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura and one by Locana dāsa Ṭhākura. Prabhupdā changed the name of Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura’s Caitanya Maṅgala to Caitanya Bhāgavata, and the other one remained the Caitanya Maṅgala. He also collected all the Gosvāmīs’ literature, and distributed those books.

Prabhupāda would read over everything, and edit when necessary, for many things had becomes mixed or altered over time. Not everything is not helpful for Vraja bhakti. Things presented from the conception of mundane people, are very tasteful at first, but your mind will not be inclined to perform bhakti. You will not be filled with that energy.

People read so many books, but after reading, they have no power to enter the meaning and follow bhakti. The quality of the book is very important. When reading some books, like the works of Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Svāmī Mahārāja, like his Bhagavad-gītā, one receives so much power. Anyone who reads this changes and begins to follow bhakti. Why? Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Svāmī Mahārāja wrote his purports in Rādhā Dāmodara. Whatever he wrote, he would read before the samādhi and bhajana-kuṭīra of Rūpa Gosvāmī, and the Gosvāmīs. He would pray to them, and say, “Please hear what I write, and correct me.” He was there for many years, and he would read his purports to them.

Then, everything became ‘as it is.’ He therefore named His Gītā, Bhagavad-gītā As It Is.

What does it mean? As it is. “Come here. Then, you will be His follower. You will not go here and there. You will have no taste for other things.”

Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura took all the scriptures, that were scattered here and there—all the books of the Gosvāmīs, that had been partially or seriously changed by bogus commentators. He re-manifested them in their full purity.

Unfortunately, sometime after the disappearance of Prabhupāda, his books, works, and property, were taken by bogus people, out of their envy and jealousy, and thrown into the Gaṅgā. Gaṅgā-devī however, is very clever. Some of the books that were tossed into the wide and deep waters made their way to the banks at various places. These scriptures were found and protected. They were found over time, and people would take them respectfully.

Later, Param Gurudeva reprinted many books. Param Gurudeva was so pleased with Śrīla Gurudeva because he received the favor of a disciple of Prabhupāda that had a huge collection of Vaiṣṇava literature, printed by Prabhupāda.

Prabhupāda used to personally give him one copy of anything he printed. All these books were present in Bihar. He was a very dear disciple of Prabhupāda.

One time, he came to Keśavajī Gauḍīya-maṭha, and told Gurudeva, “O Mahārāja, I am very happy with you. You give such beautiful classes to the brahmcārīs every morning and evening. You help everyone. Whenever Vaiṣṇavas come, you serve them so nicely. By coming to this place, my desire for bhakti has increased. I feel that Prabhupāda is present here, and that the whole Guru-varga is also present. I have disciples, but they are not qualified. I will give all my books to you.” Soon after, he brought a truck full of books to Mathurā, and gave them all to Gurudeva. All the Gosvāmīs’ books and all Prabhupāda’s works were there.

When Param Gurudeva came to Mathurā, he saw this and said, “Yes, Prabhupāda has given you many blessings. All the Gosvāmīs have come to you directly. Please give me some books to read from time to time.”

“What are you saying Gurudeva?” Śrīla Gurudava asked. “Everything is yours.”

Then Param Gurudeva had big wooden cupboards made and put all the books inside them. Param Gurudeva would read, and correct any mistakes in the books. He ordered Gurudeva, “You should copy, print, publish, and translate these books.”

Therefore, Gurudeva was always publishing in Hindi, English, and so many languages, and these books are being distributed all over the world.

The line of Prabhupāda is present in his transcendental books.

In Vraja-pattana, Māyāpura, Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura began to collect. He told his sevakas, “Stay in Māyāpura. Anything that is grown in Māyāpura should be what you maintain your body with. You should not take things from outside of Māyāpura.

vraje kori vāsa rāgānugā hoiyā
smaraṇa kīrtana koro
e nikhila kāla koraho jāpana
upadeśa-sāra dharo

 

[Always dwelling in the holy land of Vraja, become a practitioner of rāgānugā-bhakti while engaging in smaraṇa and kīrtana. Spend every moment of your time in these ways. Accept this to be the essence of all instructions.]

You should stay in Vraja-maṇḍala. How? You stay in Vraja-maṇḍala or Gaura-maṇḍala, taking the air, water, fruits, and vegetables, which are grown in the holy dhāma. You should maintain your life like this, without taking anything from outside.

In the time of Prabhupāda, and even now, Vaiṣṇavas do not take anything from outside that is not grown in Māyāpura. They have very deep faith in this way. This is the nature of the Vrajavāsīs. The Vrajavāsīs have one-pointed faith and relationship with Vraja-dhāma. They do not like things from Mathurā or anywhere else.

The Guru-varga tells us, “If you want to stay with us, do not look at things outside.”

Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura preached powerfully for so many years. A few days before today, he called all of his disciples to Kolkata, and gave 108 instructions, just as Ramānujācārya did. He told them how to do bhajana; how to stay in the temples; and how to follow proper household life.

Prabhupāda gave these 108 instructions. The next morning, during hari-saṅkīrtana, and at the completion of maṅgala-ārati, as Kṛṣṇa was preparing to go to gocārana, Śrīmatī Rādhārānī was starting to cook, when She looked back and said, “Where is my Nayaṇa Mañjarī?” Thus, Prabhupāda went to serve with Rādhārānī at Nanda-bhavan in his eternal form.

He had many disciples in different social castes, and with varying ideas. When he entered nitya-līlā, some people said, “We will arrange a fire ceremony and cremate him.” But Param Gurudeva was very strong. He forbade this, saying, “Prabhupāda came from the eternal abode of Vraja and Gaura-bhūmi. He will be present here for all time, so that everyone can be inspired by his instructions, and follow bhakti in their life. How can we offer him to fire? We must keep him with us. Those who have no love and relationship will throw the ācārya in water or fire. But how can we do this? He is our dear most beloved.”

Param Gurudeva spoke very strongly, and changed everyone’s mood. He brought Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura to Vraja-pattana, Māyāpura-dhāma, by a reserved train. There, he performed his abhiṣeka and gave him samādhi in the midst of a beautiful garden.

Śrīla Gurudeva placed Śrīla Svāmī Mahārāja in samādhi, also in a large flower and Tulasī garden, in front of the Deities.

Prabhupāda then stayed in his samādhi temple to help all jīvas. When people come to Māyāpura, they can meet with Prabhupāda and take shelter of him.

After Ācārya Rāmānuja left this world, his disciples could go to his deity. Before Rāmānuja left he made this deity of himself for his disciples. When Mahāprabhu was present, he gave his Mūrti to Gauridāsa Paṇdita and Sūryadāsa Paṇdita.

prabhu kahe vaiṣṇava-deha prākṛta kabhu naya
aprākṛta deha bhaktera cid-ānanda-maya

The body of the Vaiṣṇavas is transcendental.

When the samādhi ceremony was complete, Param Gurudeva went everywhere for the service of Prabhupāda. He wanted people to remember Prabhupāda. He went house-to-house, connecting people again to Prabhupāda, and revived the preaching and distribution of spiritual literature.

Now, how can we be the followers of Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura and the Guru-varga? After the departure of the Guru-varga, all the godbrothers, godsisters, and God’s family members, who are here and there and losing inspiration, must be brought back and given help. All programs of bhakti must continue or recommence if they have stopped. We must pray to the Guru-varga, and continue our practice of bhakti, as well as encouraging others, and bringing them to the path of bhakti as well. Then the Guru-varga will be very pleased with us.

We must be together as the footstep followers of Śrīla Gurudeva. Our family is very large. We are in the shelter of the Rūpānuga-Gauḍīya-Guru-Paramparā.

Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura showed us our connection to the Brahma-Mādhva-Gauḍīya-Sampradāya. People did not understand the meaning of the Gauḍīya’s before. But Prabhupāda explained this very clearly. He said:

madana-mohana govinda gopinātha
ei tina ṭhākura gauḍīyāke kariyāchena ātmasāt
e tinera caraṇa vandoṅ, tine mora nātha

 

[These three Deities of Vṛndāvana have absorbed the heart and soul of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas. I worship Their lotus feet, for They are the Lords of my heart.]

Madana-mohana, Govinda, and Gopinātha, are the worshipful Deities of the Gauḍīya’s. Only the Gauḍīya’s accept them.

Who are the Gauḍīya’s? Prabhupāda said, “Whoever follows the footsteps of Gaurī, Śrīmatī Rādhikā—they are the Gauḍīyas.”

[CC-by-NDNC Bhakta Bandhav]