Srīla Param Gurudeva,
nitya-līlā-praviṣṭa oṁ viṣṇupāda Śrī Śrīmad Bhakti Prajñāna Keśava Gosvāmī Mahārāja, is present in Śrī Devānanda Gauḍīya-maṭha in Navadvīpa-dhāma. With him are many of his godbrothers as well as our Śrīla Gurudeva Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja, along with his godbrothers,
sannyāsīs, and
brahmacārīs.
Everyday Śrīla Gurudeva seriously follows all classes and devotional programs and Param Gurudeva in a grave mood checks and observes his dedication. Many new devotees and senior devotees come to Param Gurudeva to a questions and many people receive his answers, but few try to follow and practice in their own life. However, Gurudeva is not like that. He seriously follows everything he hears and is told. Param Gurudeva looks at the devotees progressing in their
bhakti and sometimes he observes them more closely and sometimes he even tests them. Gurudeva at all times passes the tests given to him. Param Gurudeva maintains a daily diary, and notes down the progress of his disciples. Observing Gurudeva he writes:
“The temple is now flourishing and has many devotees. There are initiated disciples of mine as well as newly inspired bhaktas. Gaura Nārāyaṇa takes care of everyone and enthuses everyone to follow the paramārthika spiritual line by giving instruction and inspiration. He teaches how one can come near Śrī Guru, by understanding Gurudeva and following his footsteps. Furthermore, he explains how to properly respect Vaiṣṇavas. Many persons have doubts and issues, but he resolves them by giving an appropriate solution. He shows newcomers how to respect the holy dhāma, and instructs them how granthas are not fiction and novel entertainment, but books that distinguish reality from illusion.”
Param Gurudeva watches and observes, and later writes:
“Three persons are very special: Sajjana-sevaka, Rādhānātha, and Gaura Nārāyaṇa. They have heartfelt love and respect for
Śrī Guru and the holy dhāma, and they seriously follow all the limbs of bhakti. As a result, they are steadily advancing on the path of bhakti.”
One day, Param Gurudeva hears that two of his so-called disciples are fighting in front of a jackfruit tree, in the garden behind the new temple. They are trying to kill each other and are now bleeding, full of scratches. Param Gurudeva becomes silent. Gurudeva comes to Param Gurudeva saying they are like Jagai and Madhai. Param Gurudeva replies that, in Navadvīpa, Jagai and Madhai were liberated by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but these two are worse than the demon brothers Hiraṇyakaśu and Hiraṇyākṣa. They have no regard for Guru and Vaiṣṇavas. Both are big demons who have entered this Devānanda Gauḍīya Maṭha.
Gurudeva then asked Param Gurudeva, “Why don’t you help them?” Param Gurudeva replies, “They don’t want any help. They themselves have taken the situation into their own hands and are thus behaving in such a manner. They don’t care for anybody or care to come to a solution.” Gurudeva sees that Param Gurudeva remains neutral. Gurudeva became disturbed over the situation and did not go to see Param Gurudeva for three days and nights. Gurudeva chanted and fasted on behalf of his two God-brothers. After three days and nights a change took place in the heart of these two Godbrothers and they approached Param Gurudeva in a mood of regret ready to accept chastisement.
Param Gurudeva said, “Why have you come to me? Go to the police station. Go to the court and receive a judgment there. One should come to me only for the purpose of
bhakti and
bhajana.”
At that time, Śrīla Gurudeva came forward and asked, “What can I do to help them so their hearts will change?”
Param Gurudeva replied, “Why are you so compassionate to them? They have no respect for me or for the Vaiṣṇavas. They only have faith in their own strength, and thus they take matters into their own hands. Don’t help them!”
Some devotees present told Param Gurudeva that Gurudeva had been fasting and chanting for three days and nights for them. Hearing this Param Gurudeva noted it in his heart.
On another occasion, some devotees had disobeyed and displeased some of the disciples of Prabhupāda Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. Gurudeva then went to them and changed their mood, making them humble and regretful; desiring to beg for forgiveness. Gurudeva was outwardly very strong. If someone would not follow the rules and regulations then he would outwardly chastise that person. But if anybody, feeling guilty, understood their own fault, then Gurudeva, being very kind, would behave with them in a sweet and polite manner. He would be ready to give everything to that person.
Another time, Param Gurudeva was observing that, there are many old
mātājīs and Vaiṣṇava Bābājīs in need of care, but there was no one to look after them. Gurudeva then feeling sympathy for them kindly arranged for some devotees to serve them—especially, one
bhakta bābājī, who was a disciple of Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. Somebody had kicked him and he had fallen down and injured himself. His body was rotting from his sores and wounds. Gurudeva would daily come and apply disinfectants and ointments on his wounds. As he tended him he could see many worms in his body, however, not minding this, Gurudeva arranged for proper treatment and medicine, and the
bhakta soon got better.
Anytime Gurudeva would see someone disrespecting Narahari Sevā Vigraha Prabhu he would go to them and give them special advice and training in Vaiṣṇava etiquette, how to properly respect and behave with Vaiṣṇavas. Not only individuals, but Gurudeva helped and taught all of Gauḍīya Vedānta Samiti—his Godbrothers and Godsisters—how to practically follow Vaiṣṇava-dharma. He also taught ordinary people who came to the temple how they can approach Param Gurudeva and develop a relation with him.
One day, Param Gurudeva called for a meeting with his Godbrothers and disciples. He said, “This Gaura Nārāyaṇa is a friend of all the devotees. He is helping everybody, and has sympathy for all devotees; therefore, at the time of giving him
dīkṣā, I gave him the title
Bhaktabāndhava, a dear friend of the devotees. Moreover, he is
naranam-praninam-bāndhava (a friend to all people and living beings). Bhakti-devī has given her blessings to him and he distributes her qualities to everyone, allowing them entrance into the realm of pure devotion. He will create a bond between all the devotees that will last far into the future, creating a unified group and society. Therefore, I confer to him the titles
gaurajana-gauradhāma-gaurahari-priya-bāndhava (a friend of all, who is very dear to Gaurahari, Gaura-dhāma, and Gaura-jana),
bhaktanam-bhakta-śreṣṭha (a topmost devotee amongst
bhaktas),
guru-gaura-prāṇa-preṣṭha (so closely related to Guru and Gauranga, as if their life and soul), Bhaktabāndhava Gaura Nārāyaṇa (a friend of all—Gaura Nārāyaṇa).”
Everyone was very pleased and happy with these titles. From that day devotees began addressing Śrīla Gurudeva as
Bhaktabāndhava.
After some years Param Gurudeva gave Gurudeva
sannyāsa, and then Param Gurudeva began telling everyone that
Bhaktabāndhava Śrīla Gurudeva is a very important person in our Gauḍīya Vedānta society. Param Gurudeva would glorify him, saying, “The
Bhaktabāndhava Society is the same as the Gauḍīya Vedānta society.” Gurudeva would humbly say in return, “Guru-pada-padma is always engaging me in the service of the
bhaktas. They are my
bāndhava and protector. By having a relation with them I will never look and go towards Māyā-devi’s allurements.”
Param Gurudeva glorified Gurudeva, but Gurudeva always remained humble and never made a false-display of service. In a hidden fashion he would serve, unseen by others. The Gauḍīya Vedānta society is the same as the
Bhaktabāndhava society. Wherever Śrīla Gurudeva is present there is
bhakti. Bhakti-devī is always close by Gurudeva, not distant. Wherever there is
guru-bhakti, one will find
āsakti, attainment for Bhakti and Bhagavān. By this one can serve in a selfless manner.
Param Gurudeva’s dear servant was Anaṅga Mohan Brahmacārī, who always pleased him by his loving service. When Anaṅga Mohan began to show his illness pastimes, some ordinary devotees began to show contempt toward him. At that me, knowing Param Gurudeva’s
mano ’bhīṣṭa, Gurudeva understood that service to Anaṅga Mohan is not service to an ordinary person but directly
guru-sevā, non-different from serving Śrī Guru personally. Guru’s happiness is
guru-pūjā. Knowing this Gurudeva rendered selfless service to Anaṅga Mohan. By this, Param Gurudeva as well as Anaṅga Mohan Prabhu, in his last moments, gave him the blessing of unshakable guru-nistha, as he was returning to the spiritual world. Service to the near and dear servant of Śrī Gurudeva is indeed service to Gurudeva himself. Param Gurudeva gave profuse blessings to Gurudeva, who had directly manifest the proper mood and attitude of
guru-sevā. Gurudeva served all the devotees whole heartedly, whether they were
maṭha-vāsīs,
gṛhāsta-bhaktas, followers of Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, Vaiṣṇava devotees of the four Sampradāyas, or Vaiṣṇavas of other temples—knowing them to be closely related to Paramātma.
One type of
sevā is only to show the world how great a servant one is and another kind of
sevā is
antarika-
sevā, or service performed understanding the inner desire of Gurudeva. By Śrīla Gurudeva’s
sevā, all devotees and non-devotees alike became pleased. They went to Param Gurudeva and sang of his glories saying, “We are blessed that we have received
darśana of such a
sevaka. We consider our lives successful.”
Vaiṣṇava-darśana and
bhakta-darśana, their
sevā and
pratiṣṭhā, can be understood through the medium of
vāṇī, transcendental sound or the divine logos.
The
bhaktas’ hearts have
bhakti, and with this they bind everybody to them. Then it is not possible to leave the
bhaktas. Why? It is because the
jīvas then drink
bhakti-rasa. One who distributes this
rasa is very rare and not attainable through one’s own endeavor. Kṛṣṇa is
raso vai saḥ.
Only Śrīla Gurudeva distributes this
rasa to all the
jīvas. He is not
bandhu, like a singular noun. He is
bāndhava—the friend of all. He helps all souls.
yaṁ pravrajantam anupetam apeta-kṛtyaṁ
dvaipāyano viraha-kātara ājuhāva
putreti tan-mayatayā taravo 'bhinedus
taṁ sarva-bhūta-hṛdayaṁ munim ānato 'smi
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.2
Vyāsadeva offers
praṇāma to Śukadeva Gosvāmī, “O Śuka, you are present in the hearts of all
jīvas.” Why does he offer
praṇāma to his son and disciple? Kṛṣṇa is located in the hearts of all the
jīvas in the form of Paramātma. Śrī Guru is present wherever God is worshiped and there he distributes the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic scriptures.
nigama-kalpa-taror galitaṁ phalaṁ
śuka-mukhād amṛta-drava-saṁyutam
pibata bhāgavatam rasam ālayaṁ
muhur aho rasikā bhuvi bhāvukāḥ
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.3
Rasam-ālayaṁ—Gurudeva distributes this
rasa. One who drinks this
rasa forgets all the worldly happiness found in sleeping, eating, drinking, and merrymaking. Therefore Vyāsadeva glorified Śukadeva Gosvāmī like Param Gurudeva glorified Śrīla Gurudeva. Param Gurudeva said, “You are Bhaktabāndhava. You distribute
bhakti-rasa and by this bind all the
jīvas, from Earth up to Brahma-loka and Vaikuṇṭha. Whoever comes to you, whether they were
māyāvādīs,
karmīs,
jñānīs,
yogīs, or
bhogīs, you only give them
bhakti-rasa.” Wherever Śrīla Gurudeva went he glorified the Vraja-devīs. Before glorifying Vraja-mandala, his
kathā never came to an end. The association of such a distributor of
vraja-rasa cannot be attained in the present or future. Whoever remembers Bhaktabāndhava
Śrīla Gurudeva in the future will also attain this
bhakti-rasa. Those who meet with
Bhaktabāndhava, remember him, look at him, or hear about his glories, will become bound by
bhakti-rasa.
Yaśodā Mātā tried to bind Kṛṣṇa in Damodara-līlā. Śrīla Gurudeva oke about this Damodara-līlā in Param Gurudeva’s
bhajana-kuṭīra in the Mathurā temple. Param Gurudeva was sitting on his bed and listened to Śrīla Gurudeva who was sitting on the floor. He said, “Yaśodā Mātā tried to tie Kṛṣṇa from morning to evening, but the rope was always two fingers short. She prayed to Lord Nārāyaṇa. Yaśodā Mātā was trying so hard to tie Kṛṣṇa to the grinding mortar until
yogamāyā-śakti allowed her to tie Him. In the evening Rohiṇī Mātā came and called Kṛṣṇa, and Dāū Bhaiyā came but Kṛṣṇa kicked Him and said, ‘Where were you all? Mother tied Me to the grinding mortal for the whole day. I did not eat and was crying all the time. Nobody came to help Me. Why are you coming now? When I needed you nobody came, but now everybody comes and calls Me. I will not come with you.’
Rohiṇī Mātā was worried and asked Kṛṣṇa, “What will You eat?”
“Nanda Bābā will give Me some
laḍḍūs.”
“What will You drink?”
“Cow milk.”
“Where will You sleep?”
“I will sleep with Nanda Bābā.”
“Are You sure You do not want to come?”
“Yes. I won’t come.”
Rohiṇī Mātā said, “Do You know that Your mother is about to leave her body because You are not going to her?”
Kṛṣṇa could not tolerate hearing this. He started crying and ran in to the arms of Rohiṇī, who picked Him up and placed Him in the lap of Yaśodā Mātā. Yaśodā Mātā embraced Him, showered Kṛṣṇa with her tears, and milk flowed from her breasts.
Hearing this Param Gurudeva started weeping. He fell down on his bed and manifested the ecstatic symptoms of
bhāva. Śrīla Gurudeva fanned Param Gurudeva and tried to bring him back to external consciousness. Some time later, Param Gurudeva came back to his senses and then said, “I am fortunate to have met a Vrajavāsī. You will distribute this pure
vraja-rasa all over the world. You are
Bhaktabāndhava. You make friend with everyone and bind them with the rope of
bhakti-rasa.”
Śrīla Gurudeva didn’t announce everywhere that Param Gurudeva gave him this name. He did not want people to insult him like they insulted Śrīla Svami Mahārāja for accepting the name Prabhupāda.
Śrīla Gurudeva told me, “Don’t tell anybody about this name while I am physically present. Otherwise many
sannyāsīs and
ācāryas will be envious and say, ‘Oh, only he is Bhaktabāndhava. Nobody else is Bhaktabāndhava! Nobody else helps the
bhaktas.’ ”
Param Gurudeva gave this name to Śrīla Gurudeva because he knew that without
bhakti-rasa it is not possible to bind anybody with love and affection. Yaśodā Mātā first tried to tie Kṛṣṇa but without success.
When she surrendered, Kṛṣṇa’s heart melted and He allowed her to tie Him. But because of this Kṛṣṇa did not want to go to her again.
Rohiṇī Mātā brought Him to Yaśodā Mātā with her love and affection. God is only controlled by this love. Whoever has this love can distribute it and by this can liberate the
jīvas from material bondage. Otherwise the
jīvas will not come. Companies try to tie the
jīvas by offering them bribes and bonuses, but nobody wants to stay, and when they are sixty years old, they retire and never return there. But no one who received
bhakti-rasa from Śrīla Gurudeva’s company will ever retire from
vraja-rasa and the service of Kṛṣṇa and the Vrajavāsīs.
Param Gurudeva announced this name of
Bhaktabāndhava in front of everyone during the Navadvīpa-parikramā and explained its meaning. From time to time Param Gurudeva would go to Mathurā for one or two months and discuss
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,
Nārada-bhakti-sūtra,
Śāṇḍilya-sūtra,
Pañcarātras, and all the books of the Gosvāmīs such as
Haṁsadūta,
Lalita-mādhava,
Vidagdha-mādhava,
Dāna-keli-kaumudī with Śrīla Gurudeva. Therefore by Param Gurudeva’s order Śrīla Gurudeva first started to publish the
granthas of the Gosvāmīs.
Once during Navadvīpa-dhāma
parikramā, many
ācāryas of the Gauḍīya Maṭha were assembled in Prabhupāda’s
samādhi temple in Caitanya Maṭha. Param Gurudeva, Bhakti Vilāsa Tīrtha Mahārāja, Bhakti Rakṣaka Śrīdhara Mahārāja, and other
sannyāsīs were present when Śrīla Gurudeva was requested to speak
hari-kathā as a representative of the Gauḍīya Vedānta Samiti. Śrīla Gurudeva explained the greatness of
vraja-bhakti. When one drinks
bhakti-rasa, one will lose the taste for
māyā-rasa. Dasa Gosvāmī called this
māyā-rasa donkey urine—
bhara-khara-kṣaran-mūtre snātvā dahasi katham ātmānam api mām. The
jīvas of this world shower with this urine but they are burning and suffering by contact with it. When they shower with
bhakti-rasa, they will attain
vraja-bhakti and
vraja-vāsā immediately.
Everybody was glorifying Gurudeva after this speech. I almost never went to Navadvīpa for
parikramā. One year Śrīla Gurudeva came back to Mathurā and told this story. When he went to the West, Gurudeva told me about the different devotees he met and who heard
hari-kathā. The members of the Gauḍīya Maṭhas were very happy to hear Gurudeva’s
hari-kathā and said that he would continue Prabhupāda’s line.
They blessed him so much. Bhakti Kumuda Santa Mahārāja, Bhakti Jīvana Janārdana Mahārāja, Bhakti Bhūdeva Śrautī Mahārāja, and Bhakti Āloka Paramahaṁsa Mahārāja were all present.
Soon the whole world will realize Śrīla Gurudeva’s glories. Then they will understand his specialties. Now devotees run here and there, but they do not know that without
bhakti-rasa nothing in this world is of any value. The Vrajavāsīs have pure love for Kṛṣṇa. Thus they do not run here and there to Dvārakā or Mathurā, they never leave Vraja. Dvarakavāsīs and Mathurāvāsīs have no such love. Śrīla Gurudeva is an eternal Vrajavāsī.
We are taking shelter of Bhaktabāndhava Śrīla Gurudeva. May he be pleased and give us a place at his lotus feet. This is our humble prayer.
gaurahari parama-preṣṭha
nityānanda abhinnaka
śrī-gaura-nārāyaṇa bhakta-
bāndhava priya-sevaka
“Śrī Gaura Nārāyaṇa (Śrīla Gurudeva) is very dear to Gaurahari, and is a non-different manifestation of Nityānanda Prabhu. He is the best friend of the devotees and the best of
sevakas.”
Srila Gurudeva ki Jaya! (excerpted from "Sri Guru Darsana"; available from:
dasrasikmohan@gmail.com )