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WORLD  Supremacy of the Bhagavata Parampara BY SRILA BHAKTIVEDANTA NARAYANA MAHARAJA INDIA, Dec 5 (VNN) — (An excerpt from the forthcoming biography of nitya-lila pravista om visnupada astottara-sata Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja) In recent times newer and newer questions are being invented in regard to Sri Guru-parampara in the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya. Some people are of the opinion that Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana was initiated in the Madhva sampradaya and that he was not a Gaudiya Vaisnava. In spite of attaining the association of Gaudiya Vaisnava, the influence of the Madhva sampradaya upon him was so great that in his own literatures he has stubbornly included Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya, in the Madhva sampradaya without any reasonable justification. Thus he cannot be considered an acarya of the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya. Some ignorant persons say that jagad guru Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupadaji has created a new concept -- bhagavata-parampara. In this bhagavata-parampara he has explained that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura is a disciple of Vaisnava Sarvabhauma Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja and that Sri Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja is a disciple of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Some sahajiya Vaisnavas are also presenting the doubt that Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati accepted the renounced order, sannyasa, from himself, and consequently, his guru parampara is not bona fide. My most worshipable Srila Gurudeva has shattered all these accusations by powerful logic and solid scriptural evidence. His analysis of the subject is being presented here. The disciples and grand-disciples of Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada are currently preaching suddha krsna-bhakti and Sri Harinama as preached and practised by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu throughout the entire world. They have preached extensively in countries such as America, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia. Consequently, in every prominent city, moreover, in every town and village, the streets and avenues are resounding with the sound of the holy name and young men and women are applying themselves to the cultivation of suddha-bhakti with great enthusiasm. They are meeting Vaisnavas from India, performing harinama sankirtana together and preaching suddha-bhakti everywhere. Being agitated by this, a few ignorant, so-called Vaisnavas of the sahajiya community are trying to mislead the common man by presenting fraudulent accusations against the Sarasvata Gaudiya Vaisnava lineage. Srila Gurudeva has established the rational and perfect conclusion on this matter in his own essay entitled "Gaudiya Vedantacarya Sri Baladeva". We are extracting some lines from that essay: Guru-parampara of the Commentator (Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana) We are presenting before you the historical truth which is obtained upon considering the guru-parampara of the commentator, Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana. First of all he acquired specific expertise in the bhakti-sastra under the guidance of virakta siromani (the crest-jewel of detatched sadhus) Pitambara dasa. After that, he accepted pancaratriki diksa from a Vaisnava by the name of Sri Radha Damodara dasa, who had appeared in the seminal brahmana dynasty in Kanyakubja. Radha Damodara dasa was the grandson of Rasikananda Murari. He accepted diksa from another Kanyakubjiya brahmana, Sri Nayananandadeva Gosvami. Rasikananda Prabhu is the fourth person in the pancaratrika guru-parampara of the commentator Baladeva Vidyabhusana. Sri Rasikananda Prabhu was a disciple of Sri Syamananda Prabhu. The aforementioned Nayananandadeva Gosvami was the son of Sri Rasikananda. The guru of Sri Syamananda was Sri Hrdaya Caitanya, whose guru was Gauridasa Panita. Sriman Nityananda Prabhu had bestowed His mercy upon Gauridasa Panita. Even though Syamananda Prabhu was a disciple of Acarya Hrdaya Caitanya, afterwards he accepted discipleship under Sri Jiva Gosvami. Sri Jiva Gosvami was a disciple of Sri Rupa Gosvami, who was a disciple of Sri Sanatana Gosvami. Sri Sanatana Gosvami was a follower and associate of Sriman Mahaprabhu. Sisya-parampara of the Commentator An account of the pancaratrika parampara has been given beginning from Sriman Mahaprabhu down to Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana. Now an account of his sisya-parampara is being given: Sri Uddhara dasa, referred to in some places as Uddhava dasa, was a disciple of the commentator. Some hold the opinion that these are two different personalities. Whatever the case may be, Uddhava dasa had a disciple named Sri Madhusudana dasa. Jagannatha dasa Babaji was a disciple of this very Sri Madhusudana dasa. Previously, as sarvabhauma Vaisnava or prominent leader of the Vaisnava community in Mathura mandala, Ksetra mandala and Gaura mandala, he became famous by the name of Siddha Jagannatha dasa. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura accepted this very Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja as his bhajana siksa-guru by the system of bhagavata parampara. Under the direction of Vaisnava Sarvabhauma Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura discovered the birthplace of Sriman Mahaprabhu at Sridhama Mayapura. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura was the siksa-guru or bhajana-guru of Srila Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. Srila Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, having given diksa mantra etc, accepted my gurupadapadma, om visnupada astottarasata Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, as his own disciple. Whoever is incompetent in accepting this parampara is to be counted among one of the thirteen types of apasampradaya mentioned in writing by Sri Totarama Babaji Maharaja. Alternatively, he may be regarded as the creator of a fourteenth apasampradaya. Pancaratrika Parampara and Bhagavata-Parampara From the aforementioned guru parampara we acquire the understanding that Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana is a follower of Sriman Mahaprabhu within the spiritual family lineage (parivara) of Sri Syamananda prabhu. On account of Acarya Sri Syamananda accepting the guidance of Sri Jiva Gosvami and because Jiva Gosvami is exclusively rupanuga (a follower of Sri Rupa Gosvami), it therefore follows that Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana is also a rupanuga Vaisnava. Whoever does not acknowledge that Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana is a rupanuga Vaisnava, having said that he is in the line of Sri Syamananda, and thinks that he is not qualified for the topmost service mood of unnata ujjvala rasa, is certainly a deluded offender. Although Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana was initiated in pancaratrika diksa by Sri Radha Damodara dasa, he also accepted siksa in Srimad Bhagavata and the literatures of the Gosvamis. Bhagavata-parampara is superior to pancaratrika-parampara. It is founded on the degree of proficiency in bhajana (bhajana-nistha). The charm and superiority of bhagavata-parampara is that pancaratrika-parampara is included within it. In bhagavata-parampara there is no obstruction in regard to time. From the viewpoint of suddha-bhakti both the doctrine of pancaratrika and of bhagavata expound synonomous opinions with the same objective. In Sri Caitanya Caritamrta it is said; pancaratre bhagavate ei laksana kaya (C.c. Madhya 19.169). The prakrta sahajiya sampradaya, while introducing themselves as the followers of Sri Rupa Gosvami, accumulate offences to the lotus feet of Sri Jiva Gosvami. Similarly, nowadays the jati gosvamis and those who accept their remnants, such as several members of the sahajiya, kartabhaja, kisoribhaja, and bhajanakhaja sampradayas, while proudly conceiving themselves to be the followers of Cakravarti Thakura, employ various disrespectful explanations against the commentator Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana. In this way, they are growing excessively hateful and progressing towards hell. We are presenting herein a diagram of the pancaratrika guru-parampara and bhagavata-parampara by which readers will be able to properly appreciate the speciality of sri bhagavata-parampara and also understand how pancaratrika guru-parampara is included within the bhagavata-parampara. Through the medium of this diagram we will give an account of the pancaratrika guru-parampara and bhagavata-parampara of Sri Syamananda Prabhu, Sri Narottama Thakura, Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura etc.  Sri Syamananda Prabhu -- In pancaratrika guru-parampara Sri Nityananda Prabhu's disciple is Gauridasa Pandita, and his disciple, Hrdaya Caitanya is the diksa-guru of Sri Syamananda Prabhu. In bhagavata-parampara Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's disciple is Sri Sanatana Gosvami, his disciple is Sri Rupa Gosvami, and his disciple is Sri Jiva Gosvami. Sri Syamananda Prabhu is the siksa disciple of this very Sri Jiva Gosvami. It will not be an exaggeration to mention here that in tattva, rasa, bhajana and in all respects, Sri Jiva Gosvami was superior to Sri Hrdaya Caitanya. Therefore Sri Hrdaya Caitanya himself personally sent Sri Syamananda Prabhu to Sri Jiva Gosvami for advanced instruction in the practice of bhajana and Sri Syamananda Prabhu accepted the anugatya (guidance) of Sri Jiva Gosvami. Thus the serious matter which is deserving of our consideration here is this - which is superior, pancaratrika guru-parampara or bhagavata-parampara? Sri Narottama Thakura -- In the same way, according to pancaratrika guru-parampara, Sri Narottama Thakura's guru is Sri Lokanatha dasa Gosvami. Yet there is no record of Sri Lokanatha dasa Gosvami's pancaratrika diksa guru to be found anywhere. In such texts as Sri Gaudiya Vaisnava Abhidhana it has been stated that his guru is Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. However, it is a well known fact that Sriman Mahaprabhu did not make anyone His disciple according to the pancaratrika pranali (method). Therefore, if Sriman Mahaprabhu is the guru of Sri Lokanatha Gosvami, then it is only on the basis of bhagavat-parampara. On the other hand, although Sri Narottama Thakura is the pancaratrika disciple of Sri Lokanatha Gosvami, he is also the disciple of Sri Jiva Gosvami in bhagavata-parampara. In the anugatya of Sri Jiva Gosvami, Sri Narottama Thakura became steeped in bhajana-siksa. Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami -- In pancaratrika-parampara Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami is a disciple of Sri Yadunandanacarya, who is situated in the pancaratrika sakha (branch) of Sri Advaitacarya. On the other hand, if we deeply consider the life history of Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, then we find the indelible influence of the bhajana-siksa of Sri Svarupa Damodara and Sri Rupa Gosvami is very clear. Sri Svarupa Damodara and Sri Rupa Gosvami are his gurus in bhagavata-parampara. In this example also, if we compare pancaratrika-parampara with bhagavata-parampara then we find the superiority of bhagavata-parampara is shining as radiantly as the sun. Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana -- According to pancaratrika guru-parampara Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana is a pancaratrika disciple of Sri Radha Damodara in the parampara of Sri Syamananda Prabhu. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of bhagavata-parampara he is a disciple of Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura. Sri Radha Damodara himself had personally sent Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana to Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura to study Srimad Bhagavata and all the various Gosvami literatures and also to receive advanced instruction in bhajana. The guidance of Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura in the life of Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana is widely known. Only under the guidance of Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura did he defeat the Sri Vaisnavas in the royal court of Galta and keep intact the service and worship of Sri Sri Radha-Govindaji. Attaining the mercy of Sri Govindadeva, the worshipable deity of Sri Rupa Gosvami, he composed Sri Govinda Bhasya. There is certainly no room for any doubt about Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura being a rupanuga Vaisnava. Therefore, since Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana is under the guidance of Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura there is also no doubt about his rupanugatva, his being a rupanuga Vaisnava. Furthermore, it is a well known fact that, having attained the mercy of Sri Govindadeva, he ensured the continuing service of that very deity who was the treasured life's breath of Sri Rupa Gosvami. So from this perspective in the light of his attaining the mercy of Srila Rupa Gosvami and his aradhyadeva Sri Govindaji, what doubt could possibly remain in regard to his rupanugatva? Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura: According to the pancaratrika guru-parampara Sri Vipina Bihari Gosvami, who is situated in the pancaratrika-parampara of Sri Sri Jahnava Thakurani, is the diksa-guru of Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura. On the other hand Vaisnava Sarvabhauma Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja is his bhajana siksa-guru in bhagavata-parampara. Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja is a disciple of the famous Madhusudana dasa Babaji Maharaja in the parampara of Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana. In regard to tattva-jnana, bhajana-siksa etc it is not necessary to say that Vaisnava Sarvabhauma Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja is superior to Sri Vipina Bihari Gosvami. No-one can deny that the stamp of the guidance (anugatya) of Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja is imprinted in the life of Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura -- According to pancaratrika guru-parampara his diksa guru is Sri Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, who, by pancaratrika guru-parampara is situated in the branch of Sri Jahnava Thakurani. Srila Babaji Maharaja accepted the attire of a renunciate (vesa) from a disciple of Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, namely Sri Bhagavata dasa Babaji Maharaja. Thus by bhagavata-parampara, Sri Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja is in the branch of Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja. In this way Srila Sarasvati Thakura is in the parampara of Sri Jahnava Thakurani by pancaratrika-parampara and he has been connected with Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja in bhagavata parampara. By shedding light on his life history, it is established that he made the practices, precepts, bhajana pranali and fulfilment of the aspirations of Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura the sole aim and object of his life. Thus, in bhagavata-parampara his guru was Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura, whose guru was Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja. Therefore there is not even the least opportunity to raise a finger against the guru-parampara of Srila Sarasvati Thakura, the founder-acarya of the Sri Gaudiya Mathas. There are several additional facts worthy of our consideration on the subject of pancaratrika guru-parampara and bhagavata-parampara. (1) If a pancaratrika diksa-guru in his siddha-svarupa (constitutional spiritual form) is situated in a comparatively lower rasa than his disciple, then how will he give bhajana-siksa pertaining to the more elevated rasa? In this situation, the disciple must go elsewhere and take shelter of such a Vaisnava who is qualified to administer the appropriate superior guidance. For example, Sri Hrdaya Caitanya in Krsna-lila was an associate in sakhya-rasa, whereas his disciple Sri Syamananda Prabhu (Duhkhi Krsna dasa) was an associate in madhura-rasa. Therefore Sri Hrdaya Caitanya himself had personally sent Duhkhi Krsna dasa to Srila Jiva Gosvami to receive higher bhajana-siksa pertaining to madhura-rasa. (2) The guru and disciple in pancaratrika guru-parampara may be in the same rasa, however the guru may not be so highly qualified. Under such circumstances for higher bhajana-siksa the disciple must go and take shelter of another uttama Vaisnava who will be called his guru in bhagavata-parampara. From these two considerations, we can conclude that there are some inherent defects in the pancaratrika process, whereas bhagavat-parampara, being completely free from these defects, is flawless in all respects. (3) All members of the Gaudiya sampradaya consider themselves to be the followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, accepting Him as jagadguru. However, on what basis do they consider that they are His followers and accept that He is their guru? Sriman Mahaprabhu is not anyone's guru in pancaratrika-parampara, although He Himself is a disciple of Sri Isvara Puri in pancaratrika-parampara. There is no recorded account anywhere to the effect that Sriman Mahaprabhu has given diksa-mantra to anyone. Therefore if the Gaudiya Vaisnava community accepts the anugatya and discipleship of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then that can only be on one basis, and that basis is -- bhagavata-parampara. (4) Each and every Gaudiya Vaisnava is proud to call himself rupanuga. But let us consider this point; how many people did Sri Rupa Gosvami make his disciple by the pancaratrika method? Sri Jiva Gosvami is his one and only diksa disciple. So on what basis do the Gaudiya Vaisnava community accept Sri Rupa Gosvami as their guru? Sri Rupa Gosvami himself is also not a diksa disciple of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore how is it possible to be a follower of Sri Rupa Gosvami and at the same time be a follower of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu? Even Sri Sanatana Gosvami who is the siksa-guru of Sri Rupa Gosvami has no second thoughts about calling himself rupanuga. The basis of all these examples is one -- bhagavata-parampara. Sri Rupa Gosvami is the disciple of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the Gaudiya Vaisnava community consider Sri Rupa Gosvami to be their guru only on the basis of bhagavata-parampara. Who is the pancaratrika diksa-guru of Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami? He has not mentioned the name of his pancaratrika diksa-guru in any of his literatures. He has described the names of his siksa-gurus in Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi 1.37: ei chaya guru -- siksa-guru ye amara, tan-sabara pada-padme koti namaskara And at the end of each chapter of Sri Caitanya Caritamrta it is written: sri-rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa, caitanya caritamrta kahe krsna dasa By this he has accepted Sri Rupa Gosvami and Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami as his main siksa-gurus. Thus he has also accepted them as gurus on the basis of bhagavata-parampara. From these facts it becomes thoroughly obvious that bhagavata-parampara, which includes pancaratrika parampara, always shines forth brilliantly. Therefore, whoever ignores these facts and casts aspersions upon the guru-pranali of Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura or doubts that they are rupanuga is certainly a staunch opponent of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and a secret agent of Kali. Thus whatever opinion my most worshipable Srila Gurudeva has written on the subject of the guru-pranali of Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana and also in regard to pancaratrika guru-parampara and bhagavata-parampara is both logical and fully in agreement with the established conclusions of the scriptures (sastra-siddhanta). Please send any comments, responses or further enquiries to Madan Mohan dasa at: 106650.1421@compuserve.com * * * RADHA-KRISHNA PREMA * * * A Magazine for the Worldwide Gaudiya Vaishnava Community is now online at: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/2469/RKP.htm (in association with the Temple of Understanding website) Contact VNN about this story  Send this story to a friend
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