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EDITORIAL August 11, 1999 VNN4475 Comment on this story Disappearance Day Of Srila Sridhar Maharaj BY MURALIDHAR DAS EDITORIAL, Aug 11 (VNN) — On the disappearance day of Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj, we remember the instructions Srila Guru Maharaj gave about how his spiritual succession was to continue after his disappearance. The transciption presented below is of a taped conversation between Srila Sridhar Maharaj, Dr Amiya Asthana and Srila Govinda Maharaj. This conversation was first published by Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in 1994, in the booklet, "Spiritual Assistance For Our Friends" . In this article Srila Sridhar Maharaj explains very clearly the position he had given to Srila Govinda Maharaj, his successor and Rtvik. Srila Sridhar Maharaj also states very strongly that if any of his disciples were to attempt to set themselves up as his successors, independent of Srila Govinda Maharaj or in competition with Srila Govinda Maharaj, then those disciples are all rejected. - Muralidhar das Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Sydney, Australia 11 August 1999 Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj Discussions about Srila Govinda Maharaj with Doctor Asthana from a tape recording on 29 April, 1987 Dr Asthana: I am a little worried about Srila Govinda Maharaj's position. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: I have given him, I have empowered him, to do all these things on my behlaf: Rtvik. I have appoited him to do all spiritual activity on my behalf. Dr Asthana: But this "Rtvik" word is misinterpreted by many people. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: They may do so. Dr Asthana: Some do not consider him as a direct successor; they consider him only as a Rtvik. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: More than Rtvik. Dr Asthana: Eh? Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: More than Rtvik. Whatever it may be, I am giving power. Just as "yauva-raja". When the King installs his son as King and retires himself, what will be the result? As Dasarath wanted to do with Ramchandra. The King gives all the authority of a king to the son and retires to go to the jungle although he is living with full power and glory. Dr Asthana: Many people I have talked to do not consider the Rtvik to be the direct Guru. They say the Rtvik is Rtvik. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: Rtvik is Rtvik, but if such transfer of power is done then what harm? For those that have got no sraddha, they may go away. They may not accept. I do not care. I don't accept them. Dr Asthana: Does Rtvik mean the direct successor? Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: Rtvik means the representative. It may be temporary or it may be permanent. It may be partial or it may be full, as empowerment is there. Dr Asthana: Is the empowerment to Govinda Maharaj now temporary or permanent? Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: Permanent. Wholesale - both property and the function - transferred. If anyone has no recognition of this opinion of mine, I do not want them to live in the Mission. I drag them out. Dr Asthana: But can they still operate from outside and still operate as part and parcel of you? Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: As a revolt. That is a revolt - without sanction - anyone can do. I have deserted them. But they may do anything and everything as they wish and reap the results far from the spiritual world, from God. Unlawful. Power may be extended and withdrawn also - I want to withdraw myself from them. Those that won't have faith in my decision. I withdraw from them. It is not a fashion but a question of faith. If they have no such faith in me, I withdraw myself from them. Dr Asthana: Some devotees may consider, "That power (of Rtvik) was given to me in 1982 or '84, and he got that power in '86 so I am more senior. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: No position of seniority. No position of senior. That only seniority will be considered as the qualification - no. Dr Asthana: I was thinking of sending all the senior devotees a letter trying to make this thing clear so that later on no complication like that comes up because at that time we will be very insecure when other types of interpretation start. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: According to their faith - what to think? What to say? Those that do not obey me after my departure means automatically they will be left by me. Only it is a transaction of faith. No right but faith. If no faith in my word, they are automatically rejected. Dr Asthana: Some people have no particular obligation of faith to anyone. They go to many persons to gather something. They are just interested in knowledge and position. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: We have no concern with them. We hate them. We hate them: we don't think that they have any religious line in life. In a very crude position maybe there will be some collecting (of knowledge) here and there when one cannot understand who is who. Dr Asthana: They are just like an encyclopaedia. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: They are not fit (to see) that God is coming to him (and) through whom. If I am sincere in my search for God then God also will come to me from His side, and where we meet, he should be considered the Guru. Guru means representative of God Himself. Dr Asthana: Yes we all agree with it. There are many traps and loopholes in these types of things, Maharaj, and some will play on this their whole life. They will think out how to manipulate the situation. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: The importance of life - life-giving and (life)-taking is not so important to them. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: Govinda Maharaj has told some of them, "No, you are a disciple of Guru Maharaj, and I am your Godbrother." Dr Asthana: He can leave that instruction and give new instruction. Or we can call the devotees here and ask you to tell them. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: You may classify them into two (my disciples and Govinda Maharaj's disciples). There are my disciples also, and if what they do Govinda Maharaj does not accept, they will be rejected. Dr Asthana: Although I have taken both initiations from you, under your instructions I am taking all instructions also from Govinda Maharaj. I am considering Govinda Maharaj as siksa-guru. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: Yes, siksa-guru. Dr Asthana: So, they (the new initiates) should all consider him as diksa-guru. But I know that some people can twist each matter to their convenience and ultimately put (down) Govinda Maharaj. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: The ambitious party and those who want name and fame rather than the substance itself. Dr Asthana: I want to make it absolutely clear once again. They will not oppose you and it will be beneficial. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: I have told on many occasions, "If you cannot take from Govinda Maharaj and accept him as Guru, you are to go away." Dr Asthana: It is advisable to write letters to all the people saying that whoever has taken initiation from Srila Govinda Maharaj will be considered as a direct disciple of Srila Govinda Maharaj. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: Not to create havoc now. What will be - after me. [Srila Govinda Maharaj arrives and joins the conversation] Srila Govinda Maharaj: They are respecting me, no doubt, but I am thinking that everyone is Srila Guru Maharaj's disciple. And that is good for me. But what you are saying, that also has some right. Dr Asthana: But Srila Guru Maharaj has made you the successor to run this Math. Srila Govinda Maharaj: Yes, that is correct - Dr Asthana: So, how will this Math run? Once Srila Guru Maharaj disappears they will go away, then what will you do alone? You will run the whole thing alone? Srila Govinda Maharaj: Not alone. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: Whoever will suppor him, he will run the Math with them. Srila Govinda Maharaj: I am with my Godbrothers. I am not alone. Dr Asthana: This is what I am saying, you have to have a certain number who you can consider now as your disciples. Srila Govinda Maharaj: If anybody wants to take initiation from me, that is another thing, but everyone is coming from outside and they are asking for initiation from Srila Guru Maharaj and I am officiating by way of giving initiation on behalf of Srila Guru Maharaj. This is the position at present. Dr Asthana: So how to stop this position? Srila Govinda Maharaj: Yes, we can stop it immediately, that is no problem. The problem is that they have some special regard and respect for Srila Guru Maharaj. Dr Asthana: I may have some special regard and respect for Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, but that does not mean that I can ask Srila Guru Maharaj to give me initiation on behalf of Bhaktivinode Thakur. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: That is not applicable in this case. Dr Asthana: Yes. I may have some special regard for Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, but it is not that I can come to Srila Guru Maharaj and say, "Give me initiation on behalf of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur." Srila Govinda Maharaj: No. You are to think this: they have a special regard for Srila Guru Maharaj therefore they are coming here. They are not coming for me. Dr Asthana: If they are not coming for you, they should not come here. Srila Govinda Maharaj: That is your desire maybe. Dr Asthana: I wish for Srila Guru Maharaj to express his desire. I feel that Srila Guru Maharaj should make this absolutely clear. Srila Govinda Maharaj: Srila Guru Maharaj said that those who cannot respect Govinda Maharaj, they cannot stay in this Math. If Srila Guru Maharaj will say, "If anyone wants to take initiation from me, then he must take initiation from Govinda Maharaj and that is enough for him (the devotee)." This statement is a correct statement as per your idea. Dr Asthana: My idea is that Srila Guru Maharaj has stopped giving initiations and anyone who wants to accept the disciplic succession of Srila Guru Maharaj should now come to Srila Govinda Maharaj. And all the grace of Srila Sridhar Dev-Gosami Maharaj will come more if you worship Srila Govinda Maharaj than if you try to worship Srila Sridhar Maharaj directly. It is like one trying to worship Krishna directly and another trying to worship Krishna through Radharani. I do not have any confusion. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: Now please stop. Dr Asthana: There may be some chaos and confusion, so, Srila Guru Maharaj, please make this clear. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: We do not want any quantity (large numbers of disciples), but quality. Dr Asthana: I am insisting upon this because I know what is going to happen later on. Srila Govinda Maharaj: The seed of initiation is only sraddha. Sraddha is the only seed of initiation. They have sraddha to Guru Maharaj - full faith - then they are coming here. Therefore it is very difficult to transfer them to another person. Later we can settle. Now Srila Guru Maharaj wants to stop. Dr Asthana: If they want to be Srila Sridhar Maharaj's direct disciple, it is not good for them. Now they should go to Srila Govinda Maharaj. Therefore they should accept this decision. Srila Govinda Maharaj: Srila Guru Maharaj told it before. Dr Asthana: I have more mercy from Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur because I am a disciple of Srila Sridhar Maharaj. I have more mercy from him than a direct connection with Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, because I have accepted his disciple as my Guru. It is the same way in your case, otherwise how will the disciplic succession run? Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: Parvati Devi asked Shiva, "Who is the highest Lord to be served" Shiva replied, "Narayana". aradhananam sarvvesam visnor aradhanam param. Then Parvati Devi was a little mortified to think, "I am not serving Narayana". tasmat parataram devi tadiyanam samarchchanam. - this next line came from Shiva, meaning, "Those who serve the servants of Narayana are greater devotees than those who serve Narayana directly." This is because they serve both of them. Do you follow? Dr Asthana: I don't understand the Sanskrit. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: If anyone loves you, and if someone loves your son, the one who loves your son will be considered to love you more than those who love you directly and not your son. Do you follow that? Dr Asthana: Yes, I follow. Srila Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj: It is like that. Shiva said, "aradhananam sarvvesam visnor aradhanam param" - Of all the worshippers, the worshippers of Vishnu are the highest." "tasmat parataram devi tadiyanam samarchchanam" - And even it is the case that those who worship the servants of Vishnu, - they are higher worshippers of Vishnu." Hearing this, Parvati Devi was very much satisfied to think, "I am serving the servant of Vishnu, my Lord, Shiva". "If you love me, love my dog." Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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