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WORLD April 7, 1999 VNN3535 Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja Visits Murwillimbah (4) BY SRIDAM SAKHA DASA  AUSTRALIA, Apr 7 (VNN) — Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja Visits Murwillimbah, Part 4On Saturday 2nd January, a drama was performed by the male devotees for Srila Maharaja about the deliverance of Jagai and Madhai which ran for nearly an hour and a half. It was frantically produced and written by Radhanath and Lalita mohan prabhus in the space of a few days, who also played the parts of Jagai (Radhanath) and Madhai (Lalita mohan). We were all charmed to see Nabin Krsna prabhu make his acting debut as he played the part of Citragupta, the secretary of Yamaraja. On the following day, Srila Maharaja told Lalita mohan: "I liked your drama, but there were some defects." In one scene of the play, on the bank of the Ganges Jagai and Madhai had drunkenly danced and sung the Lord's names in mocking imitation of the strains of kirtan coming from Srivasangam. However, Srila Maharaja pointed out, Jagai and Madhai had only danced at that time, but not sung as well. The only time that they sang the Lord's names was after they had achieved liberation. On seeing Radhanath and Lalita mohan prabhus some time later that day he asked them who had written the drama. "Candramukhi didi it" Radhanath prabhu answered. However, knowing that by this question Srila Maharaja was referring to the part of the play which had some fault, Lalita mohan volunteered Radhanath prabhu as the playwrite. Seizing him by the ear and giving it a good twist, Srila Maharaja declared in mock seriousness: "You have murdered this drama!" Sunday, January 3rd, 1999 In the months before Srila Maharaja arrived in Australia, some of his disciples had managed to secure a building in Murwillumbah town as a preaching centre, "Sri Giriraja Gaudiya Matha". Caitanya candra prabhu had put up most of the money for it, and his two brahmacari god-brothers Radhanath and Premananda prabhus had provided the remainder, and stayed there. Today was its official opening by Srila Maharaja. About seventy devotees were present when he arrived, and the temple filled up as he walked in. From the rudraksa tree growing in front of the building, a small spray of beautiful blue Rudraksa berries were presented to Srila Maharaja. After a foot bathing ceremony accompanied by guru vandana prayers and kirtan, Srila Maharaja spoke a little and asked various devotees to say some words. His first request was to HH Hrsikesa Maharaja, who was huddled behind a video camera. "He should speak something to inspire us". As HH Hrsikesa Maharaja stood up, Brajanath prabhu suggested: "You should be on the video Maharaja" whereupon Prema prayojana prabhu immediately stood up and began to turn the mounted camera around on its swivel till it was pointing straight at Hrsikesa Maharaja. "There's nothing worse than seeing one's own self on video" were Maharaja's opening words. After a little hesitation, he continued: "I came only because Srila Maharaja asked me to, and it hasn't been a wasted journey. If I was going to say anything then it would have to be that I have never seen such strength in the followers of the groups which I've travelled with as this one, and I've travelled with many. Although there are a number of very qualified vaisnava gurus preaching around the world today, from what I've seen they just don't seem to have the same number of qualified disciples and followers with them as does Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja. If he wants someone to stand up and explain a point of tattva, then he has a number of disciples with him upon whom he can rely to do just that, and most competently. And how much more true is this of his Indian brahmacari disciples in Keshavjee Gaudiya math, Mathura, how qualified they are. "I see that in this group husbands and wives are feeling so much taste in serving their gurudeva that they have made it their priority, even if it means that they may be on opposite sides of the world from each other. It is very impressive. They understand that by doing this they are accruing sukrti by which one day they will be able to fully engage in bhajan." Srila Maharaja also asked Jagadisa pandit prabhu to speak. Voicing his hopes and confidence for the future success of the centre, Jagadisa pandit prabhu in particular spoke very strongly against corruption and maltreatment of devotees. After describing the fearless and uncompromising preaching style of his spiritual master Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja, he quoted him, shouting: "Create a revolution! Expose the cheaters!" He went on to describe how he had been thrown out of every temple he'd ever lived in, saying how he hoped that he had now found a place which he could really call "home." Chuckling at his gung-ho spirit, Srila Maharaja now spoke himself. "I want speakers like this. We don't want to cheat anyone. No-one in our sampradaya, from Isvara puripada up to Srila Prabhupada and my guru have come to make money. I want that there should be revolution, certainly. He cut so many branches like sahajiya, sakhi bekhi and mayavada and we are also in his line. We should never cheat anyone but should be very bold, depending on Krsna. "I'm very happy to come here to Murwillumbah, to this place Giriraja Goudiya math. I wanted that a real centre should be here to help devotees. We should make this centre very ideal not so many high, high buildings and opulence, but an ideal preaching centre like our other gaudiya maths. We are nothing else other than gaudiya math, and we are also ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta sarasvati Thakura) established gaudiya maths, and Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja established ISKCON. Although some of the followers of ISKCON may be falling down, we can't say that ISKCON is bogus. ISKCON and gaudiya mathas will always be. The aim and objective of all our acaryas was the same, following Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Krsna. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the jagad guru, and we should try to follow His teachings in the real sense. Make this centre authentic in the real sense. Don't try to make so many high, high buildings. Try to really follow Srila Rupa gosvami, Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja, try to preach. If there are one or two very bold, enthusiastic devotees, then they can preach with so much effect. Not for money, opulence or making so many disciples. If so many are coming at one time, then they may also go very quickly as well. If you give the real teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then you'll see that Lord Nityananda will help you, that Srila Prabhupada will help you, that the whole disciplic order will help you. When I started to preach I saw that Govardhana, Krsna, Srimati Radharani and our acaryas all started to help me. I am more wretched than a dry straw but so many are now coming to hear. "In Srimad Bhagavatam it is stated: aradhananam sarvesam visnor aradhanam param tasmat parataram devi tadiyanam samarcanam "What is the meaning? If one is worshiping Krsna but not His devotees or associates, then that worship is like zero. Krsna will not be happy. In the same way, if one is worshiping guru but not guru's near and dear then it is also zero. If one is saying: "I will only recognize my guru's words, no-one else's" then it is bogus. If you are not recognizing the near and dear of guru then it is ardha-kukkuti-nyaya, half-hen logic. I want to request you to be careful. To please Krsna you must honour and give proper respect to all devotees: Gopi-bhartur pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasa. Try to understand this thing. You must serve not only the das, servant of Krsna, but dasanudasanudas, the servant of the servant of the servant, and then Krsna and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will be pleased. If you will only recognize and serve your guru, then he will not accept it. I want that this preaching be the basis of this math. All should be served here without restriction, caste or creed. Vaisnavas should honour the near and dear of devotees to be dear to guru. Try to forget false ego. 'I'm so learned, respected, wealthy and beautiful.' Try to give up all these things, be a simple vaisnava, as humble as grass. Don't have this ego that: 'We are only worshiping Krsna and Thakurji, and have only come for raganuga.' vidhi marga rata jane svadhinata ratna dane raga marge karana prabesh We should honour vaidhi until greed comes from upper side, ragatmika bhakti, then very easily we'll enter it. So try to preach properly, not that we'll only preach raganuga. The process of raganuga and vaidhi is the same, it is only the internal mood which is different. If you're not realizing it, then you can only honour outwardly." --end-- All of the tours completed to date are archived at the following site: http://www.igvp.com/tours Comment on this Story This story URL: http://vaishnava-news-network.org/world/WD9904/WD07-3535.html
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