Srila Prabhupada's Godbrothers
(Part 2)
Srila Prabhupada's letters to Srila Narayana Maharaja
After some more searching I found many quotes from Srila Prabhupada's letters to Srila Narayana Maharaja about his relationship with him:
Srila Prabhupada wrote many more letters to Srila Narayana Maharaja but unfortunately they were lost.
Where Are Srila Prabhupada's other Letters to Srila Narayana Maharaja:
Srila Prabhupada wrote many more letters to Srila Narayana Maharaja but unfortunately they were lost.
Where Are Srila Prabhupada's other Letters to Srila Narayana Maharaja:
"As I heard it, Yadubara made films of them (the other letters) or copies.." (Baladeva Vidyabusana Prabhu, 1999)
"My Dear Narayana Maharaja/Sripada Narayana Maharaja, ...I have taken so much help from you, and I request that this time also you will help me in this preaching work. I will be so grateful to you." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1966 Correspondence, August, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 21 August, 1966)
"My Dear Narayana Maharaja/Sripada Narayana Maharaja, ...I have taken so much help from you, and I request that this time also you will help me in this preaching work. I will be so grateful to you." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1966 Correspondence, August, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 21 August, 1966)
"Sripada Narayana Maharaja, I received your letter dated 20.9.66 on time. Our relationship is certainly based on spontaneous love. That is why there is no chance of us forgetting one another. With the mercy of Guru and Gauranga may everything be auspicious for you. This is my constant prayer. From the first time I saw you I have been your constant well-wisher. At his first sight of me Srila Prabhupada (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada) also saw me with such love. It was in my very first darsana of Srila Prabhupada that I learned how to love. It is his causeless mercy to engage me in preaching the message of Sri Rupa Raghunatha."
"...You wrote to me, 'You can engage me in any preaching work in India according to my ability. I shall always be ready to do so.' So I can preach wholeheartedly by your good wishes.
"...My only concern is that due to my absence from India my printing work is held up. Regarding this, if you can supervise a little, then I will have no worry." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1966 Correspondence, September, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 28 September, 1966)
"...My only concern is that due to my absence from India my printing work is held up. Regarding this, if you can supervise a little, then I will have no worry." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1966 Correspondence, September, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 28 September, 1966)
Sripad Bhagavat Maharaja comments on the letter above, in his response to the GBC paper "The Final Conversation"
"This letter makes it clear in Srila Prabhupada’s own words that Srila Prabhupada had very intimate feelings for Srila Narayan Maharaja from the moment they met. Some devotees may say that Srila Prabhupada has expressed similar sentiments to various disciples. However the extent to which Srila Prabhupada is comparing the intimacy of his feelings for Srila Narayan Maharaja with his own spiritual master’s feelings for him has, to the best of my knowledge, never been expressed to any of his disciples quite the way he is expressing it here to Srila Narayan Maharaja."
"In your previous letter I came to know that you are willing to help me, but from your current letter I see that this is difficult for you now. At present there is no need to send anything.
"...I was very enthusiastic to learn from your previous letter that your help will always be available, but having come to learn from your present letter that you are not well, I am discouraged. Whatever happens according to Krsna’s desire is for the best. Make me happy by replying to my letter as soon as you receive mine and give me news of Vrndavana." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1966 Correspondence, November, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 19 November, 1966)
"...I came to know that my disciple Candrasekhara from Delhi wrote you a letter. Candrasekhara sent me a copy of your reply to him. In that letter I came to know that foolish Candrasekhara had blasphemed you. Fools do not know how to honour Vaisnavas. By your greatness, please excuse him. I haven’t instructed him to do such a thing. I only told him to visit you.
"Anyway, excuse his aparadha. Candrasekhara is a good man, but out of foolishness he used bad words to you. You please forgive him and me by your good qualities." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1966 Correspondence, December, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 15 December, 1966)
"I thought the Godbrothers would help me, but even that I did not get. That is why, when you wrote in your letter dated 20.9.66 'I will always be ready to serve you from India in any way I can.' And hearing this I was very hopeful. ...In my old age I have taken so much risk, but not to fulfill any of my own desires. Srila Prabhupada had desired this work, and I am trying to fulfil that desire according to my ability. Personally I have no ability. My only hope is Srila Prabhupada. So if you help me in any way, know that it will certainly be all auspicious for you." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1966 Correspondence, December, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 30 December, 1966)
"...If in this way everything is done under your supervision I shall be very glad. I hope you will ever oblige me by helping in this way. Kindly send me my mrdanga and karatalas that are in Vrndavana." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1967 Correspondence, April, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 14 April, 1967)
"Because in all the Gaudiya Maths, I think that you are the real guru-sevaka, so I always correspond with you and I always give my full love and affection to you.
"...If I was not thinking like this and putting so much trust in you, I would never have sent you my key and my money. I have so much faith and love for you." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1967 Correspondence, May, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 17 May, 1967)
"Accept my dandavats. I received your letter dated 19.5.67 and became very happy to read it. ...I always consider you as my son! ...I always have a very high opinion of you." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1967 Correspondence, May, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 24 May, 1967)
"My Dear Narayana Maharaj, Please accept my dandabats. I thank you very much for your letter dated July 3, 1967. I am very pleased that you have so kindly dispatched the books from Delhi.
"I thank you very much once more for the trouble you are taking for me. This is all for Srila Prabhupada's service. Finally do not mind all the trouble which I give you occasionally. Let us cooperate for propagating Krishna Consciousness all over the world." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1967 Correspondence, July, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 12 July, 1967)
"I am very happy to receive a letter in your own handwriting dated the 8th of July. I have received all of your letters and I have replied to each.
"At present I am anxious to return to Vrndavana. Here I stay in a palatial building. There are always four of them ready to serve me. and there is no want of prasada, lodging or any care. However, I still feel that my broken kurtira without any opulence, bathing in the Yamuna, darsana of the temples, and the ripped cotton quilt of the Gaudlya Vaisnavas are so very sweet. Being so far from Vrndavana am realizing its mahatmya (greatness). Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said. 'As Krsna is to be worshipped so is Vrndavana.' Now I am somewhat realizing that. As Krsna is sweet, Vrndavana is similarly sweet. You bless me so that I can return to Vrndavana. I am old now. l am not afraid to die, but if my life air passes away in the lotus dust of the Vaisnavas in Vrndavana then that would be very blissful. As soon as I am well I want to return to Vrndavana. Then, if I feel better I will return here and preach. The foundation of preaching has become good here. In the future, even if I do not come, any sincere Vaisnava can come and do hari-kirtana here.
"...Gradually life is coming in my dead body and there are some improvements. That is why I am writing to you in my own handwriting. You are a sincere Vaisnava. Krsna will certainly listen to you. You pray to Krsna that before dying I will be able to have darsana once more of Vrndavana." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1967 Correspondence, July, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 14 July, 1967)
"...I was very enthusiastic to learn from your previous letter that your help will always be available, but having come to learn from your present letter that you are not well, I am discouraged. Whatever happens according to Krsna’s desire is for the best. Make me happy by replying to my letter as soon as you receive mine and give me news of Vrndavana." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1966 Correspondence, November, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 19 November, 1966)
"...I came to know that my disciple Candrasekhara from Delhi wrote you a letter. Candrasekhara sent me a copy of your reply to him. In that letter I came to know that foolish Candrasekhara had blasphemed you. Fools do not know how to honour Vaisnavas. By your greatness, please excuse him. I haven’t instructed him to do such a thing. I only told him to visit you.
"Anyway, excuse his aparadha. Candrasekhara is a good man, but out of foolishness he used bad words to you. You please forgive him and me by your good qualities." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1966 Correspondence, December, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 15 December, 1966)
"I thought the Godbrothers would help me, but even that I did not get. That is why, when you wrote in your letter dated 20.9.66 'I will always be ready to serve you from India in any way I can.' And hearing this I was very hopeful. ...In my old age I have taken so much risk, but not to fulfill any of my own desires. Srila Prabhupada had desired this work, and I am trying to fulfil that desire according to my ability. Personally I have no ability. My only hope is Srila Prabhupada. So if you help me in any way, know that it will certainly be all auspicious for you." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1966 Correspondence, December, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 30 December, 1966)
"...If in this way everything is done under your supervision I shall be very glad. I hope you will ever oblige me by helping in this way. Kindly send me my mrdanga and karatalas that are in Vrndavana." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1967 Correspondence, April, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 14 April, 1967)
"Because in all the Gaudiya Maths, I think that you are the real guru-sevaka, so I always correspond with you and I always give my full love and affection to you.
"...If I was not thinking like this and putting so much trust in you, I would never have sent you my key and my money. I have so much faith and love for you." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1967 Correspondence, May, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 17 May, 1967)
"Accept my dandavats. I received your letter dated 19.5.67 and became very happy to read it. ...I always consider you as my son! ...I always have a very high opinion of you." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1967 Correspondence, May, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 24 May, 1967)
"My Dear Narayana Maharaj, Please accept my dandabats. I thank you very much for your letter dated July 3, 1967. I am very pleased that you have so kindly dispatched the books from Delhi.
"I thank you very much once more for the trouble you are taking for me. This is all for Srila Prabhupada's service. Finally do not mind all the trouble which I give you occasionally. Let us cooperate for propagating Krishna Consciousness all over the world." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1967 Correspondence, July, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 12 July, 1967)
"I am very happy to receive a letter in your own handwriting dated the 8th of July. I have received all of your letters and I have replied to each.
"At present I am anxious to return to Vrndavana. Here I stay in a palatial building. There are always four of them ready to serve me. and there is no want of prasada, lodging or any care. However, I still feel that my broken kurtira without any opulence, bathing in the Yamuna, darsana of the temples, and the ripped cotton quilt of the Gaudlya Vaisnavas are so very sweet. Being so far from Vrndavana am realizing its mahatmya (greatness). Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said. 'As Krsna is to be worshipped so is Vrndavana.' Now I am somewhat realizing that. As Krsna is sweet, Vrndavana is similarly sweet. You bless me so that I can return to Vrndavana. I am old now. l am not afraid to die, but if my life air passes away in the lotus dust of the Vaisnavas in Vrndavana then that would be very blissful. As soon as I am well I want to return to Vrndavana. Then, if I feel better I will return here and preach. The foundation of preaching has become good here. In the future, even if I do not come, any sincere Vaisnava can come and do hari-kirtana here.
"...Gradually life is coming in my dead body and there are some improvements. That is why I am writing to you in my own handwriting. You are a sincere Vaisnava. Krsna will certainly listen to you. You pray to Krsna that before dying I will be able to have darsana once more of Vrndavana." (Vedabase 2012.1, 1967 Correspondence, July, Letter to: Sripad Narayana Maharaja, 14 July, 1967)
Letter from the last disciple of
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada
to Srila Narayana Maharaja
- Srila Bhakti Kumuda Santa Goswami Maharaja
"I became extremely happy upon receiving your letter and learning that you are again going abroad to preach. Your sri gurudeva, my elder Godbrother [Sri Srila Bhakti Prajsana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja] was especially affectionate to me. You are enhancing the splendour of the institution founded by him, as well as of the entire Gaudiya world. This is a cause of immense joy. I am praying that Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga bestow upon you profuse potency for this great preaching work." (1997)
"The krpa-sakti (mercy potency) of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Thakura Prabhupada and of your gurudeva, Srila Bhakti Prajsana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja, has been profusely transmitted to you; there is not even a scent of doubt about this. This is obvious from seeing the way large numbers of people outside of India are becoming attracted by your hari-katha. The way they are following you as well as assembling wherever you go is not ordinary.
"...It is greatly inspiring to witness how you are preaching the message of Srila Prabhupada. May your success ever increase – this is my heartfelt prayer at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada." (2001)
"...The unlimited mercy of Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga as well as the mercy of your sri gurudeva is certainly upon you. There is no doubt in this regard. May the supremely merciful Srila Prabhupada bestow even more sakti upon you, so that you are crowned with success in progressively preaching the message of Sriman Mahaprabhu throughout the entire earth." (2004)
Srila Sridhara Maharaja on Disciplic Succession
And finally, here is a very nice article by Srila Sridhara Maharaja, whom Srila Prabhupada referred to as his siska-guru, where he discusses the meaning of our spiritual line.
This was taken from Srila Sridhara Maharaja's book, "Sri Guru and His Grace".
This was taken from Srila Sridhara Maharaja's book, "Sri Guru and His Grace".
In that article he says:
"We are not interested in fashion or form; if we want the real truth, then wherever it will be found, we must accept it. Mahaprabhu says, 'Kiba vipra, kiba nyasi sudra kene naya, yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya : Anyone, regardless of caste or social position, may become guru if he knows the science of Krsna.' Sometimes the father may not be our guardian. Our uncle may be our guide, and not the father. It is possible. The line of interest is to be considered the most important. So, our line is the siksa guru parampara.
"I am thankful to those that are helping my spiritual understanding not only in a formal way, but in the real sense. Whoever is untying the knots of our entanglement in this material world, giving us light, and quenching our thirst for inner understanding and satisfaction is our guru. In this way, we live on the contribution of all these spiritual masters. They are all our siksa gurus."
"We are not interested in fashion or form; if we want the real truth, then wherever it will be found, we must accept it. Mahaprabhu says, 'Kiba vipra, kiba nyasi sudra kene naya, yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya : Anyone, regardless of caste or social position, may become guru if he knows the science of Krsna.' Sometimes the father may not be our guardian. Our uncle may be our guide, and not the father. It is possible. The line of interest is to be considered the most important. So, our line is the siksa guru parampara.
"I am thankful to those that are helping my spiritual understanding not only in a formal way, but in the real sense. Whoever is untying the knots of our entanglement in this material world, giving us light, and quenching our thirst for inner understanding and satisfaction is our guru. In this way, we live on the contribution of all these spiritual masters. They are all our siksa gurus."
Srila Prabhupada Praises Srila Sridhara Maharaja
Sridhara Maharaja lived in my house for many years, so naturally we had very intimate talks. He has such high realizations of Krishna that one would faint to hear them. He was always my good advisor, and I took his advice very seriously because from the very beginning I knew that he was a pure devotee of Krishna. So, I wanted to associate with him. Krishna and Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, liked him to prepare me. Our relationship is very intimate.
After the breakdown of our spiritual master’s institution I wanted to organize another institution making Sridhara Maharaja the head. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura told me that Sridhara Maharaja is one of the finest preachers of Krishna consciousness in the world, so I wanted to take him everywhere. This was my earnest desire. But since he could not go around the world and preach, at least the people of the world should come to hear from him.
For spiritual advancement of life we must go to someone who is actually practicing spiritual life. So if one is actually serious to take instructions from a siksa guru, or instructing spiritual master, I can refer him to one who is the most competent of all my Godbrothers. This is B.R. Sridhara Maharaja. I consider Sridhara Maharaja to be even my siksa guru, so what to speak of the benefit that others can have from his association.
After the breakdown of our spiritual master’s institution I wanted to organize another institution making Sridhara Maharaja the head. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura told me that Sridhara Maharaja is one of the finest preachers of Krishna consciousness in the world, so I wanted to take him everywhere. This was my earnest desire. But since he could not go around the world and preach, at least the people of the world should come to hear from him.
For spiritual advancement of life we must go to someone who is actually practicing spiritual life. So if one is actually serious to take instructions from a siksa guru, or instructing spiritual master, I can refer him to one who is the most competent of all my Godbrothers. This is B.R. Sridhara Maharaja. I consider Sridhara Maharaja to be even my siksa guru, so what to speak of the benefit that others can have from his association.
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