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EDITORIAL June 22, 1999 VNN4143 Comment on this story The Authorized Sri Caitanya Saraswata Parampara BY SWAMI B.G. NARASINGHA EDITORIAL, Jun 22 (VNN) — In a recent editoral, (Bhaktivinode Thakura's Relationship With Bipin Bihari Goswami, by Bhakta Rupa Prabhu) the author attempts to vindicate the position of Bipin Bihari Goswami. The author also attempts to discredit numerous statements in the book 'The Authorized Sri Caitanya Saraswata Parampara' indicating that Bipin Bihari Goswami was a caste-conscious Goswami and that Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura took initiation from the Goswami only for decorum's sake. It is stated in 'The Authorized Sri Caitanya Saraswata Parampara' that Bipin Bihari Goswami was in the sahajiya community that is known as 'Jati-gosani.' In other words, Bipin Bihari Goswami was a sahajiya. Bhakta Rupa Prabhu certainly disagrees with our conclusions. In email correspondence to which he makes reference, Bhakta Rupa Prabhu states that in his opinion Bipin Bihari Goswami was the 'Vanguard' of Vaishnavism at the turn of the century. I could not disagree more with his conclusion. Bhakta Rupa Prabhu suggests that the author of 'The Authorized Sri Caitanya Saraswata Parampara', my insignificant self, is not a bona fide source of information because I have a siksa-guru from Gaudiya Matha -thus I am an unreliable reference source. This seems quite ironic, since Bhakta Rupa Prabhu himself is a siksa disciple of someone outside of ISKCON, namely Fakir Mohan, a disciple of Ananta Vasudeva, who caused an epidemic of sahajiyasim in the early 1940's, thus reducing the sincere followers of Saraswati Thakura to tears (see page 82 of The Authorized Sri Caitanya Saraswata Parampara). But then that might explain Bhakta Rupa Prabhu's affinity for Bipin Bihari Goswami. Bhakta Rupa Prabhu and I have discussed this matter by email and I am surprised that he continues to insist that I was wrong about Bipin Bihari Goswami or that I have no valid reference source. Although I have no intention here to 'beat the dead horse,' I am nonetheless compelled to say a few words supporting the validity of 'The Authorized Sri Caitanya Saraswata Parampara.' Bhakta Rupa Prabhu doubts that Srila Sridhar Maharaja ever said anything about Bipin Bihari Goswami being a sahajiya, because I have not given him proof 'in writing'. Possibly he thinks I would invent such statements or that I have a poor memory, as he has stated in his article. In both cases he is sadly mistaken. At this time we are pleased to announce that the Srila Sridhar Maharaja Folio, consisting of six hundred transcribed lectures, darshans, and numerous books by Srila Sridhar Deva Goswami Maharaja, is now completed and available to a limited audience on CD ROM. In this folio there are literally mountains of the sweetest devotional nectar and even a few verifications of my statements concerning Bipin Bihari Goswami being a sahajiya! A sample from the folio verification is quoted here 'in writing', from a darshan with Srila Sridhar Maharaja, given on Febuary 4, 1982, in Navadwip. "Bipin Bihari Goswami, he was the formal guru, diksa guru, of Bhaktivinode Thakura. His son Bhagavata Goswami, he was a good scholar and was principal of sanskrit college. And his father was Bipin Goswami. Bhaktivinode Thakura took his initiation from him. But later on Jati Goswami (Bipin Bihari), he was overconfident of his fresh brahmanism and he spoke out that Raghunatha Dasa Goswami he is a sudra, born of a sudra family so I can bless him. That excited very much our Guru Maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura. "Prabhupada. Bhaktivinode Thakura was living, he put this to Bhaktivinode Thakura -that Bipin Goswami says so and he is very proud that you are his disciple. And by his ill advice he is doing disservice to the sampradaya. Bhaktivinode Thakura did not do much but only very mildly protested. That this does not view well. Then Bhaktivinode Thakura connected with Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja and took his babaji dress from him and accepted him as guru. "Then one incident happened. Bhaktivinode Thakura passed away and our Prabhupada began to make disciples. In the district of Jashore, in a particular locality, there were some disciples of Prabhupada, who took initiation from Prabhupada, our Guru Maharaja Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati. Then one man in competition with the disciples of Prabhupada, he came direct to Bipin Goswami, the guru of Bhaktivinode Thakura, and he took initiation from Bipin Goswami and he showed that his position was higher because Bhaktivinode Thakura is his guru-bhai, God-brother. So he must be given respect. "But followers of Prabhupada did not care for him. That you have gone to that sahajiya guru Bipin Goswami, Jati Goswami, you took initiation, we don't care for you! Then that man was lost. He does not get any recognition amongst the disciples of Prabhupada. And they very forcibly, they are preaching their cult in a novel way as Prabhupada wanted to do. Then again he (that man) left Bipin Goswami and took initiation from Prabhupada and afterwards took sannyasa also from our Prabhupada and was a good preacher. That also we found that Bhaktivinode Thakura's guru, Bipin Goswami, from him that gentleman, that was Bharati Maharaja, he took initiation first from Bipin Goswami and then when he found that he is not getting any place in the sampradaya, he left him and again took initiation from Guru Maharaja. And Guru Maharaja gave him initiation, though already initiated, taken initiation from Bhaktivinode Thakura's gurudeva. That also we know. So absolute consideration and relative as I told, I am telling always." - Srila Sridhar Maharaja, Febuary 4, 1982 Sri Caitanya Saraswata Matha, Sri Navadwip Dham, West Bengal, India The faulty position of Bipin Bihari Goswami is clearly known among the bona fide followers of Srila Saraswati Thakura, although Bhakta Rupa Prabhu suggests that their authority is no authority whatsoever. Actually it is only those who have leant their ear to the anti-party and other sahajiya sections, avoiding the association of the successor Acharyas of Srila Saraswati Thakura, that are not clear on this matter. We do not like to write articles simply criticizing devotees, even the fallen ones. What has been said about Bipin Bihari Goswami in 'The Authorized Sri Caitanya Saraswata Parampara' was said only out of necessity to counter the line of argument presented by the anti-party. Bhakta Rupa Prabhu does not grasp this point very well. Had I intended to simply throw mud for the sake of mud slinging, I could have easily presented other historical facts about certain anti-party members that would have been better suited for the pages of PADA. The verification of the contents of the book 'The Authorized Sri Caitanya Saraswata Parampara' rests on the tradition of hearing from a bona fide spiritual master. Bhakta Rupa Prabhu demands written evidence about the histories of Gaudiya-sampradaya at the beginning of this century but the fact is that such 'written evidence', if any, is scarce. Therefore we must naturally rely upon the divine relationship which exists between guru and disciple. We should remember that sravanam, or hearing from the pure devotees, is not only valid but it is the most authorized way to obtain spiritual enlightenment and accurate information. tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya upadeksyanti te jnanam jnaninas tattva-darsinah "Just try to learn the truth by approaching a bona fide spiritual master. Surrender to him and inquire from him and render service at his lotus feet. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you, for he has seen the truth." (Gita 4.34) In the future, the book 'The Authorized Sri Caitanya Saraswata Parampara' may itself be a source of 'written evidence' for future generations of devotees in the matter of defending the Saraswata Parampara against the anti-party propaganda. Indeed, it already is. About the Author | Other Stories by this Author Comment on this story | Contact VNN about this story | Send this story to a friend
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