Hare Krishna Society

“We should always remember that Krishna is the only order giver.
His order is received through the agency of the spiritual master.
The bona fide spiritual master is the manifest representative of Krishna.
The spiritual master is described in the scriptures as good as Krishna
because he is the most confidential servitor of Krishna.
To please the spiritual master is to please Krishna.”

– Letter to: Nandarani, Krishna Devi, Subala, Uddhava, Delhi, October 3, 1967

from Damaghosa dasa, Yasoda nandana dasa, Dravinaksha dasa and other Prabhupada anugas

Srila Prabhupada re Acarya may make little changes.

They are mahājanas. So we have to follow Prahlāda Mahārāja. He is our guru, pūrva-ācārya. Nārada is pūrva-ācārya. He is disciple of Nārada. Therefore he is ācārya, and his disciplic succession… There are sampradāyas: Brahma-sampradāya, Kaumāra-sampradāya… Anyone who is bona fide ācārya, he can create his own disciplic succession, but one disciplic succession and the other disciplic—they are not different. They are of the same conclusion. The Vaiṣṇava ācāryas, just like our Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya, and Nimbārka, and who that? Rudra-sampradāya? Viṣṇu Svāmī. They are all of the same movement. Ārādhyo-bhagavān vrajeśa-tanayaḥ, kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam [SB 1.3.28]. That is their conclusion. There is no different conclusion. Although they have got varieties of methods—śuddhādvaita, dvaitādvaita, vaśiṣṭādvaita, like that—they present the same philosophy in clear way. And Caitanya Mahāprabhu presented the same philosophy, that acintya-bhedābheda. That is ācārya. Ācārya gives some way for simple understanding. The same conclusion, but according to the time, circumstances, they give a very easy method to understand.That is ācārya. Ācārya is following strictly the previous ācārya, but according to the circumstances, he may make little changes. That is… That change is not change from the original idea. No.

Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures : Canto 7: Lectures : SB 7.9: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.12 — Mayapur, February 19, 1976

Sp re the ācārya knows how to adjust things, at the same time keep pace with the spiritual interest(?)

Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures : Canto 1: Lectures : SB 1.1: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.9 — Auckland, February 20, 1973 : 730220sb.auc :

Prabhupāda: But the directions should be taken from scriptures. But there are many scriptures. So ācārya means, just like Gosvāmīs, they would read all the scriptures and take the essence of it and give it to his disciples that, “You act like this.” Because he knows what to give, how to manipulate, so that his ekāntataḥ śreyas will be achieved. Ultimate goal. That is ācārya. Therefore the ācārya knows how to adjust things, at the same time keep pace with the spiritual interest(?). It is not that the same thing to be applied everywhere. He is eager to engage actually the people in the real benefit of life, but the means may be different. Just like my Guru Mahārāja. He is the first time that he allowed thesannyāsīs to drive in a motorcar. A sannyāsī never drives in a motorcar, you see? But not for sense gratification. Suppose we are going by aeroplane. A sannyāsī should walk. The Jain sannyāsīs they never ride on a car, you know that. You know that. They will never ride on a car. But now they are also riding. But suppose we are preaching now. I came from India. If I were to say, “I am a sannyāsī, I will not ride in a car or aeroplane, I must walk.” Then what kind of preaching there would have been? You see? So therefore it depends on the ācārya how to adjust things. So, my Guru Mahārāja, “Alright go on preaching on a motorcar, it doesn’t matter.” These Gosvāmīs, they went to Vṛndāvana, severest type of austerities. They used to life underneath a tree. Now if in this age I advise you that you also live underneath a tree, then it will be difficult to preach. You see? Nobody is accustomed in that way, such severe type of austerity. They must be given, as far as possible, comfortable accommodation otherwise they will not come. They will not take. Now this…. This is adjustment. The ācārya knows how to adjust things. The real purpose is how one will take to spiritual consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Keeping one’s aim to that point some concession may be given. As far as possible, keeping pace with the time, circumstances. Then? “The sages, therefore, inquired…” Huh.

Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures : Canto 1: Lectures : SB 1.1: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.9 — Auckland, February 20, 1973 : 730220sb.auc

Srila Prabhupada re Vaiṣṇava who is preaching, it may be in a different way, according to time and place and the party—they have to change something,deśa-kāla-pātra—but we have to see the essence.

So misunderstanding of God… There is no misunderstanding of the authorities. The misunderstanding, the common man… Just like in Australia, when I spoke, there was no misunderstanding. There was agreement by the priests and myself. There was complete agreement. (aside:) You were with me? Or… No. You were not. They, after hearing my lecture for one hour, they agreed and clapped for ten minutes. So there cannot be any misun… Those who are actually… They questioned, “What is your opinion of Lord Jesus Christ?” and I said, “He preached God consciousness. He’s our guru. Anyone who preaches the message of God, he is guru.” So they very much appreciated, and actually it is so. Vaiṣṇava who is preaching, it may be in a different way, according to time and place and the party—they have to change something, deśa-kāla-pātra—but we have to see the essence. Wherever there is God consciousness, wherever is there understanding.

Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures : Canto 1: Lectures : SB 1.8: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.28 — Mayapura, October 8, 1974

Position of the pure devotee acarya, acarya is a good as Krsna

– One should never be envious of the acarya

– For preaching work, acarya may do something which is not consistent.

– Acarya may sometimes transgress the law

– Vaishnava acarya’s activities are not understood even by the wisest man

– Acarya has finished all business of material satisfaction

“…But in devotion, there is no karma-bandha. As Kṛṣṇa is free from all reaction, similarly Kṛṣṇa’s devotee who wants to satisfy Kṛṣṇa only, he is also free from all reaction. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān nāva-manyeta karhicit [SB 11.17.27]. “The ācārya is as good as I am,” Kṛṣṇa says. Nāva-manyeta karhicit, “Never neglect him.” Na martya-buddhyāsūyeta,“Never be envious of the ācārya, thinking him as anything of this material world.” Ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān [SB 11.17.27]. Therefore, ācārya’s position is as good as Kṛṣṇa. Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair **. Ācārya is always cautious that he may not be subject to criticism. But who criticizes ācārya, he becomes immediately offender. Because he is playing the part of ācārya, he plays as far as possible. But sometimes for preaching work, he might have to do something which is not consistent. But if he is criticized, then that man who criticizes, he becomes... Of course, he must be ācārya, not a bogus. Ordinary man cannot transgress the laws, but Kṛṣṇa and His representative, ācārya, might be sometimes seen that he has transgressed. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān [SB 11.17.27]. Vaiṣṇavera kriyā, mudrā vijñeha nā bujhaya. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Vaiṣṇava ācārya, his activities is not understood even by the wisest man. Vaiṣṇavera kriyā, mudrā vijñeha nā bujhaya. Brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam. Ācārya, guru, he is completely surrendered to Kṛṣṇa. He has taken the shelter of Kṛṣṇa, being completely freed from all material affection. Brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam. Everything… Everyone has got some material desire to fulfill, but a guru or ācārya has no such business. That is the symptom of ācārya. He has no more any material business. Brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam. He has finished all business of material satisfaction. That is the symptom of ācārya. And śābde pare ca niṣṇātam. And he has taken full bath in the ocean of transcendental (indistinct). Śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta [SB 11.3.21], one should surrender to such spiritual master. Jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam, when he is actually serious about inquiring the transcendental subject matter. Otherwise there is no need of accepting guru orācārya. He has no business. If one is not interested in the transcendental subject matter …” Conversations : 1972 Conversations : March, 1972 : Room Conversation with John Griesser (later initiated as Yadubara Dasa) — March 10, 1972, Vrndavana

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Dear Srila Prabhupada

I offer my obeisances at your lotus feet

All Glories to you and your wonderful Krishna Consciousness Movement

Nama om Vishnu Padaya Krsna presthaya bhutale

Srimate Bhaktivedanta Swamin iti namine

Namaste sarasvate deve Gauravani pracarine

Nirvisesa sunyavadi pascatya Desa tarine

Bhakti siddhanta sishyaya Bhativedanta namine

Prasannaya prasantaya tasmai Sri gurave namah

On this most auspicious day, let me repeatedly try to understand your unique position and offer my obeisances at your lotus feet.

tvam nah sandarśito dhātrā

dustaram nistitīrsatām

kalim sattva-haram puṁsām

karna-dhāra ivārnavam

TRANSLATION

We think that we have met Your Goodness by the will of providence, just so that we may accept you as captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the difficult ocean of Kali, which deteriorates all the good qualities of a human being.

Learned men, therefore, must be cautious of this age, and if they at all want to cross over the dangerous ocean of Kali, they must follow the footsteps of the sages of Naimisāranya and accept Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī or his bona fide representative as the captain of the ship. The ship is the message of Lord Śrī Krsna in the shape of Bhagavad-gītā or the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.22

You have explained that the Lord sends one of His reliable sons or a servant..

“…. The Lord unwillingly creates this material world, but He descends in His personal form or sends one of His reliable sons or a servant or a reliable author like Vyāsadeva to give instruction. He Himself also instructs in His speeches of Bhagavad-gītā. This propaganda work goes on side by side with the creation to convince the misguided living entities who are rotting in this material world to come back to Him and surrender unto Him. Therefore the last instruction of Bhagavad-gītā is this: “Give up all your manufactured engagements in the material world and just surrender unto Me. I shall protect you from all sinful reactions…”Srimad-Bhagavatam “The Status Quo” Conversation between Manu and Kardama SB 3.21.20

You have revealed your unique potency and the actual power of a fully realized pure devotee.

“…Ordinary yogis can exhibit wonderful material activities, known as asta-siddhi, eight kinds of perfection, but a pure devotee of the Lord can surpass these perfections by performing activities which can make the whole universe tremble…” Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.78.

“..It is said that a single pure devotee of the Lord can deliver all the fallen souls of the world…” Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.8.5.

“…The pure devotee ignites Krishna consciousness in the hearts of the conditioned souls, and thus the blazing fire of the spiritual world becomes manifest even within this material world…” Krishna Book, Prayers of the Personified Vedas.

“…When a pure Vaishnava speaks, he speaks perfectly. How is this? His speech is managed by Krishna Himself from within the heart…” Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. 1975 Original Unrevised Undedited Edition – Madhya-lila 8.200.

“…The power of devotional service is so great that a pure devotee can electrify another person by his transcendental instruction on crossing over the ocean of nescience… “ Krishna Book, Prayers of the Personified Vedas.

Indian man (4): I know, Prabhupada, one of your Godsisters in Vrndavana. She is very old. She is staying in Tirtha Maharaja’s matha. So she told me she took her initiation when she was about sixteen year old and still she stays in the temple and she… (break) …say you’re the most pious person on this planet.

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Hare Krsna. Srila Prabhupada conversations- November 2, 1975.

“My dear Lord, You are glorified by the selected verses uttered by great personalities. Such glorification of Your lotus feet is just like saffron particles. When the transcendental vibration from the mouths of great devotees carries the aroma of the saffron dust of Your lotus feet, the forgetful living entity gradually remembers his eternal relationship with You. Devotees thus gradually come to the right conclusion about the value of life. My dear Lord, I therefore do not need any other benediction but the opportunity to hear from the mouth of Your pure devotee.”

Purport

“… A pure devotee always engages in the service of the Lord, taking shelter of His lotus feet, and therefore he has a direct connection with the saffron mercy-particles that are strewn over the lotus feet of the Lord. Although when a pure devotee speaks the articulation of his voice may resemble the sound of this material sky, the voice is spiritually very powerful because it touches the particles of saffron dust on the lotus feet of the Lord. As soon as a sleeping living entity hears the powerful voice emanating from the mouth of a pure devotee, he immediately remembers his eternal relationship with the Lord, although up until that moment he had forgotten everything…” Srimad-Bhagavatam “The Creation of the Fourth Order” Lord Visnu’s Appearance in the Sacrificial Arena of Maharaja Prthu 4.20.25.

Srila Prabhupada, you have mercifully explained the actual status of the spiritually developed person.

“…Therefore, although He is present in every atom, the Supreme Personality of Godhead may not be visible to the dry speculators; still the mystery is unfolded before the eyes of the pure devotees because their eyes are anointed with love of Godhead. And this love of Godhead can be attained only by the practice of transcendental loving service of the Lord, and nothing else. The vision of the devotees is not ordinary; it is purified by the process of devotional service. In other words, as the universal elements are both within and without, similarly the Lord’s name, form, quality, pastimes, entourage, etc., as they are described in the revealed scriptures or as performed in the Vaikuṇṭhalokas, far, far beyond the material cosmic manifestation, are factually being televised in the heart of the devotee. The man with a poor fund of knowledge cannot understand, although by material science one can see things far away by means of television. Factually, the spiritually developed person is able to have the television of the kingdom of God always reflected within his heart. That is the mystery of knowledge of the Personality of Godhead…”Srimad-Bhagavatam “The Cosmic Manifestation”Answers by Citing the Lord’s Version SB 2.9.35

I have been recently asked by some devotees why is it that some senior devotees even senior ones [in age] do not seem to understand your position and your teachings.

You have nicely explained the proper mentality to understand how to behave with the acarya and mercifully are giving very important warnings. Let us always be situated at your lotus feet and absorbed in following your instructions.

I may inform you that you cannot be fool as you have humbly expressed yourself. Better to remain an ever fool before the spiritual master. But if a disciple is actually fool it reflects on the spiritual master. To think of becoming a fool is the real qualification for a bona fide disciple.
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Hare Krsna

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Below is my submission into the annual vyasa puja book called Srila Prabhupada Tributes which is only written by what the editors consider “direct disciples” of Srila Prabhupada.

Ironically Jaya advaita swami is the editor of this book, but I don’t think he saw or even read my entry because as one can see below, the entire article is quotes from Srila Prabhupada where he explains who is a genuine guru and who is not a genuine guru. The quotes are very heavy and anybody with half a brain can understand the people in Iskcon pompously parading around like “Acaryas” do not in any way fit the description given by Srila Prabhupada as to who is a Guru !

Hare Krsna

Damaghosa das

Conversations –reporter (2): What will happen to the movement in the United States when you die?

Prabhupada:I will never die

devotees: Jaya! Hari bol! (laughter)

Prabhupada:I shall live for my books, and you will utilize.

(Some people think Srila Prabhupada is dead and gone, but this is not what he is saying above. He is just as available and viable as a spiritual authority now as he was 38 years ago.)

700704AR.SF Lectures

Pressman:Do you know how many followers there are in the United States now?

Prabhupada: Unlimited. (devotees roar) Some of them admit and some of them do not admit. That’s all. (laughter ) Everyone is eternally servant of God, but some of them admit and some of them do not admit… We are just eradicating this ignorance , that “You are servant, but you admit that you are servant of God. That wil make your life successful.” That’s all. Therefore I say that there are unlimited followers . Some of them admit and some of them do not admit. That is the difficulty But if anyone comes to me, I shall make him to admit.

(The quote above means there are thousands or millions who will accept Srila Prabhupada. Some will

admit, some will not or never admit. But if one is submissive, then Krsna from within the heart will

help one understand.)

It is illegal to become a spiritual master if one is unable to deliver the disciple”. [S.B. 28.7]

(I have heard various spiritual masters say it is not themselves who is delivering their disciples, but it is Srila Prabhupada, himself.)

“Unless one takes shelter of a bona fide, fully Krsna conscious spiritual master, there is no chance of understanding Krsna…. Only one who has surrendered to a pure devotee of Krsna , and has taken the dust of his lotus feet can understand Krsna….. One must take shelter of a self-realized spiritual master, that is the way to return home, back to Godhead.” [SB 7.5.32 purport]

Madhya 15.108
The Hari-bhakti-vilasa (2.6) quotes the
following injunction from the Visnu-yamala:

adiksitasya vamoru
krtam sarvam nirarthakam
pasu-yonim avapnoti
diksa-virahito janah

“Unless one is initiated by a bona fide spiritual master, all his
devotional activities are useless. A person who is not properly
initiated can descend again into the animal species.”

“Unless one is a resident of Krishna Loka, one cannot be a Spiritual Master. That is the first proposition. A layman cannot be a Spiritual Master, and if he becomes so then he will simply create disturbance […] So to summarize the whole thing, it is to be understood that a bona fide Spiritual Master is a resident of Krishna Loka.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, June 10th, 1969)

“A siksa guru [instructing guru or priest] who instructs against the instructions of the spiritual master he is not a siksa guru. He is a demon! Sometimes the diksa guru [initiating guru] is not present always. Therefor one can take learning, instructions from an advanced devotee. That is called siksa-guru. But siksa-guru does not mean he is speaking something against the teachings of the diksa-guru. He is not a siksa-guru. He is a rascal. Because that is offense. Guru avajna, defying the authority of guru. This is the first offense. So, one who is offensive, how can he make advance in chanting? He cannot make. Then everything is finished, in the beginning!” [Bg. 17:1-3, 07-4-74, Hawaii]“Guru cannot be self-made. No. There is no such single instance throughout the whole vedic literature. And nowadays, so many rascals they are becoming guru without any authority. That is not guru. You must be authorized!” [Bg. 4.2]

Below are 5 very important quotes on guru tattva:

1.accept a guru who is infallible

2.if you dont get a qualified guru, then everything is bogus.

3.if you dont find such a guru, that means Krsna is not pleased with you

or you are not serious enough.

4. guru must be accepted from highest order-paramahamsa order

5. who has been cheated by bogus gurus? He says “practically everyone”

The next section deals with these points:

1. if one receives a mantra from a bogus guru-it has no effect

2.not only is this mantra useless, but your deity worship is the same

3.series of quotes which explain how the illegal guru and his disciples go to hell

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Hare Krsna to all and Happy Janmastami !!!

Yesterday at Krsna Kunja Sila Puri in Snohomish Wash we celebrated Sri Krsna Janmastami and Srila
Prabhupada’s vyas puja.

It was a joyous event for all, with much Krsna Kirtan, a class from Krsna book, abhisek of Krsna Deities,, bhajans,
Vyasa puja ceremony with devotees speaking from the heart and finally guru puja, with Makhancora das leading and at the very end we all offered obeisances three times with flower offerings, called pushpa puja.

And of course there was feasting on Krsna prasadam……lest I forget to mention that one important item !

Hare Krsna
All glories to Srila Prabhupada !!!

damaghosa das
———————————–

1) https://youtu.be/pMqULZkrO4s

2) https://youtu.be/vC88QQR-8Vc

3) https://youtu.be/cjglqaeY5AU

4)https://youtu.be/vszhdZyVwZ0

5) https://youtu.be/0JLarkKnEfw

6) https://youtu.be/nuBVSg6E9vs

7) https://youtu.be/9Z5mBJDUIK8

8) https://youtu.be/s7Vg-Rn09gY

SP re praise and insult

Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 4: “The Creation of the Fourth Order” : SB 4.15: King Prthu’s Appearance and Coronation : SB 4.15.23 : PURPORT :

Gentle devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead know perfectly well who is God and who is not. Nondevotee impersonalists, however, who have no idea what God is and who never offer prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are always interested in accepting a human being as God and offering such prayers to him. This is the difference between a devotee and a demon. Demons manufacture their own gods, or a demon himself claims to be God, following in the footsteps of Rāvaṇa and Hiraṇyakaśipu. Although Pṛthu Mahārāja was factually an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he rejected those praises because the qualities of the Supreme Person were not yet manifest in him. He wanted to stress that one who does not actually possess these qualities should not try to engage his followers and devotees in offering him glory for them, even though these qualities might be manifest in the future. If a man who does not factually possess the attributes of a great personality engages his followers in praising him with the expectation that such attributes will develop in the future, that sort of praise is actually an insult.

Dear _______ Prabhu,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

The following will establish the truth based on what Prabhupada said.

Letters : 1969 Correspondence : September : Letter to: Jayapataka — London 26 September, 1969 : 69-09-26 :

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 11th, and I have noted the contents. Enclosed please find one photograph of the Radha-Krishna throne, so you may begin constructing it as soon as possible. When the Radha-Krishna Deities are installed, you may turn your main attention to Them, rather than to the Lord Jagannatha Deities. You continue to keep Jagannatha nicely though, and sometimes change His dress. So far as your having already ordered instruments from India, that is all right. Regarding your question about the verse in the prayers to the Spiritual Master, the Spiritual Master is one of the associates of Krishna. The prayers offered by VisvanathaCakravarti to his Spiritual Master have a special significance. His Spiritual Master was one of the assistant gopis, so the prayer was offered like that. On the whole, the Spiritual Master is an agent of Krishna. But either He is assistant to the gopis or assistant to the cowherds boys, He is on the level of Krishna. That is the verdict of all scriptures. Krishna is worshipable God and the Spiritual Master is worshipper God. The exact words are sebya (worshipable) and sebak (worshipper)

And who is his spiritual master?

Bombay, April 17, 1976 : 760417SB.BOM :

Dakṣa śraddadhānaḥ: faithful. Faithful to whom? To the spiritual master. Whatever he says, the brahmacārī should take it: “Yes, it is my life and soul.” That is the explanation given by Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura. He is explaining with reference to the verse vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana [Bg. 2.41]. He very nicely explains. You have perhaps read it, Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura’s… Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has taught very, very nicely about guru. Therefore he has written in Gurvaṣṭaka, yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ **. He is example, practical example of guru-bhakti,Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura. He accepted his guru, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura. So he said that “I am not interested for my salvation or going back to Godhead. I am not interested.” Interested means it may come; it may not come. “That I don’t mind. But I am interested only with the words of my guru.” Viśvanātha Cakravartī said. “That is my life. Whether I will be successful or not successful, it doesn’t matter. I must take the words of my Guru Mahārāja as my life and soul.”

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Srila Prabhupada stotram recited by Yasoda nandana dasa

Vancouver, BC August 29, 2015 Krishna Balarama temple

krsnaika-ceta mada-moha-vinasa-karin
mad-drsti-gocara prabho prabhupada-svamin
dosabhivrtti-paridusita-manda-buddhe
sancintayami caranau tava bhakti-heto

“O Lord, O Prabhupada, may you always be the object of my vision. Only the name of Krsna can destroy my pride and illusion. Although my mind and intelligence are contaminated by wicked inclinations, I nevertheless take shelter of Your Divine Grace by constant meditation upon your lotus feet in causeless devotion.”

vrndavane ramana-reti-prasiddha-bhumau
tatrapi krsna-balarama-supada-mule
jnanam param parama-krsna-sudharmity uktam
dantas tu deva prabhupada namo namaste

“In the most holy land of Vrndavana, in Ramana Reti, at the lotus feet of Sri Krsna-Balarama, you are preaching the topmost knowledge of Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is the fountainhead of religion. O master of the senses, O my Lord, Srila Prabhupada, let me offer my obeisances unto you.”

namaste namaste krpa-purna-drsti
namaste namaste mahananda-dhatri
namamo namama punar raksa raksa
prasiddha-prabho pahi mam daksa daksa

“I offer my obeisances unto the spiritual master of the entire world, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, whose glances are full of mercy and who is the bestower of transcendental bliss. O renowned lord, protect me and kindly shower your compassion on me again and again.”

bhaktisiddhanta-sisyaya
bhaktivedanta-swami-namine
prasannaya prasantaya
tasmai sri-gurave nama

“Let me offer my obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master, who is a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, who is always calm and joyful, and who in known by the name of Bhaktivedanta Swami.”

sri-vanga-bhumi-jana-bhusana gaura-lila
gauranga-bhava parisarana-matra-sila
radha-madhava-pada-padma-mano-vilasin
ananda-rasi prabhupada namo namas te

“The land of Bengal is worshipable by the whole world because Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu performed His pastimes there. I offer my obeisances unto my divine master, who is full of bliss. He is always in the ecstasy of Lord Gauranga and is therefore immersed in the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava.”

Some questions for the New Dwarka assembly of devotees

by Vidura Mahatma dasa

What about the actual meaning of the song…does it only apply to a particular type of devotee or spiritual master?

A good question but not the kind of questions we are seeing from the New Dwarka community or any other ISKCON center for that matter.

Yes, the samsara-dava prayers definitely do apply to a very particular type of devotee or spiritual master:

“This song is offering obeisances particularly to the spiritual master, and the symptoms of the spiritual master are described in this prayer. The spiritual master has two kind of symptoms in his activities. One kind is called constant, and other kind is called temporary. So the first verse says that the constant symptom of the spiritual master is that he can deliver his disciples from the blazing fire of this material existence. That is the eternal qualification of spiritual master. Trāṇāya means for deliverance, andkāruṇya means compassionate, very merciful. The spiritual master comes to the deliverance of the fallen souls out of his causeless mercy. Nobody has any business for the sufferings of others. The best example is Lord Jesus Christ, that he suffered for others. And it is the principle in the Bible that he accepted all the sins of others. This is the sign of spiritual master, that he voluntarily accepts the sinful activities of others and delivers them. That is the qualification of spiritual master. How it is? Just like ghanāghanatvam. Ghanāghanatvam means dense cloud in the sky. The first example has been said, that this material existence is just like forest blazing fire. Now, to extinguish the forest blazing fire, there is no use of sending fire brigade. The firebrigade cannot approach the forest fire; neither any man can go there to extinguish the fire. One has to depend completely on the mercy of nature. That means one has to completely depend on the cloud in the sky. Otherwise, there is no question of pouring water on that blazing fire. So the example is very appropriate. As man-made engine or fire brigade is unable to extinguish the forest blazing fire, similarly, the material existentional blazing fire cannot be extinguished by any man-made method.”

Song Purports : Purport to Sri-Sri-Gurv-astakam — Los Angeles, January 2, 1969

“So guru means spiritual master means who can deliver one from this forest fire. Just like when there is forest fire, the animals are very much disturbed, and they die mostly. The snakes, they die immediately. So this forest fire, saṁsāra-dāvānala,is going on perpetually, and the person or the authorized person who can deliver you from this forest fire of material existence, he’s called guru, or the spiritual master. Saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam. […] Just like cloud takes the water from the sea-cloud hasn’t got its own water; cloud takes water from the sea—similarly, a spiritual master brings mercy from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just see the comparison. He has no own mercy, but he carries the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the qualification of spiritual master.”

Lecture on Gurvastakam at Upsala University — Stockholm, September 9, 1973

The Gurvastakam is meant for:

Spiritual master who can actually deliver his disciples
Spiritual master who is directly receiving the mercy of Lord Krishna
Spiritual master who is authorized
Spiritual master in the same category of Lord Jesus Christ (a śaktyāveśa avatāra)

If there should be no change from the standard that Srila Prabhupada set, why are there even other initiating gurus to begin with?

This is the real question which nobody wants to ask. It had always only been Srila Prabhupada as the initiating guru in ISKCON. Upon his disappearance this changed and many gurus sprouted and began initiating their own disciples, splitting the world into zones and having their disciples in those zones chant their own names in the temple instead of Srila Prabhupada’s name. New Dwarka leaders acknowledge this history and assure us that the GBC, however, “outlawed” this practice. So the GBC has a record of changing the standard that Srila Prabhupada set but for some reason all of them still rely on the conclusions of the same GBC instead of what Srila Prabhupada actually says.

Now for some reason the devotees in New Dwarka insist that Srila Prabhupada is only the siksa guru of new devotees in ISKCON today. This is a huge change in the standard Srila Prabhupada set. Srila Prabhupada established himself as the spiritual master and initiating guru for all members of the institution:

“I am the Spiritual Master of this institution, and all the members of the Society, they’re supposed to be my disciples. They follow the rules and regulations which I ask them to follow, and they are initiated by me spiritually” (Srila Prabhupada Radio Interview, 12 March 1968, San Francisco)
Srila Prabhupada never said that his status as spiritual master of the institution depended on his physical presence, just as he never said that the morning prayers being dedicated to him depended on his physical presence. Srila Prabhupada simply set a certain standard and practice for the society to follow and that’s that. There should have never been any change to that standard. But while the devotees of New Dwarka take shelter of the principle of no change to support one aspect of the established standard in ISKCON (mangala-aratik), they reject the very same principle when applied to an even bigger established standard – initiations!

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Saṁsāra-dāvānala PRABHUPADA´S SONG.

Saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka,THIS IS THE EXCLUSIVE SONG OF SRILA PRABHUPADA,IN HIS HONOR AND WITH ALL THE GRATITUDE OF ALL THE CONDITIONED SOULS IN THIS KALI-YUGA,NOW AND FOREVER.

PRAYERS TO THE REAL GURU by Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, Guruv-aṣṭaka prayers.

When we hear this song, wherever we are and we hear this melody, we automatically associate it with Srila Prabhupada and we meditate on it.

And that should be like that for ISKCON as long as ISKCON EXISTS.

This is the true glorification ceremony for Srila Prabhupada, Jaladuta ceremony, … etc.

Great sports stars when they retire, their shirts, their numbers are removed from the team in his honor.

As each nation has its national song and when this sound all are filled with respect and pride,in the same way this song Saṁsāra-dāvānala should be the hymn of ISKCON dedicated exclusively in honor to Srila Prabhupada.

The GBC should show their love and gratitude to Srila Prabhupada legislating unequivocally that in ISKCON the gurv-aṣṭaka song, the Saṁsāra song is sung and it will be sung forever,only and exclusively in honor of Srila Prabhupada, the savior of all the suffering souls of this Kali-yuga.

This should be a clear RECLAIM of any devotee in gratitude to whom all of us we owe our lives.

Therefore this Gurvaṣṭaka, saṁsāra-dāvānala, we have to sing. (SB 1.3.26 — Los Angeles, October 1, 1972)

If any authority doubt about this then he is not an authority.

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“ONE WHO DOES NOT ACTUALLY POSSESS THESE QUALITIES SHOULD NOT TRY TO ENGAGE HIS FOLLOWERS AND DEVOTEES IN OFFERING HIM GLORY FOR THEM,” (SB 4.15.23)

“TO BE INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN…”(Upadesamrta five)

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1.“SO, IT´S NOT A PRABHUPADA´S SONG.”,
“it´s NOT ONLY a Prabhupada´s song”
————–
2.BUT,FOR US IT´S A PRABHUPADA´S SONG.
————–
3.BUT IT´S NOT ISKCON SO-CALLED “GURUS” SONG .
————–

Upadesamrta five:

-“INTELLIGENTLY, ONE MUST SELECT PROPER PERSONS WITH CAREFUL DISCRIMINATION.”

-“TO BE INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN…”

-In order to INTELLIGENTLY apply the sixfold loving reciprocations mentioned in the previous verse,
ONE MUST SELECT PROPER PERSONS WITH CAREFUL DISCRIMINATION.

-In this verse Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī advises the devotee
TO BE INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN
the kaniṣṭha-adhikārī, madhyama-adhikārī and uttama-adhikārī.(Upadesamrta five)
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SB 4.15.23 :Srila Prabhupada’s PURPORT

ONE WHO DOES NOT ACTUALLY POSSESS THESE QUALITIES
SHOULD NOT TRY TO ENGAGE HIS FOLLOWERS AND DEVOTEES IN OFFERING HIM GLORY FOR THEM,

EVEN THOUGH THESE QUALITIES MIGHT BE MANIFEST IN THE FUTURE.

IF A MAN WHO DOES NOT FACTUALLY POSSESS THE ATTRIBUTES OF A GREAT PERSONALITY
ENGAGES HIS FOLLOWERS IN PRAISING HIM
with the expectation that
SUCH ATTRIBUTES WILL DEVELOP IN THE FUTURE,

THAT SORT OF PRAISE IS ACTUALLY AN INSULT.”

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1.FIRST:

.Someone as Jayadvaita Swami, and anyone closely related to him,says about the gurv-aṣṭaka song:

“SO, IT´S NOT A PRABHUPADA´S SONG.”

.An immediate answer of any devotee:

“Of course,Prabhú, I know that this song was not specifically written TO Srila Prabhupada FOUR HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

Prabhu I understand so far,but thanks for the help.”

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Also they say THIS SONG IS FOR ALL THE PARAMPARA NOT ONLY FOR SRILA PRABHUPADA.

Answer:

Of course for all the great acharyas, liberated souls, “the parampara system of pure devotees”, “a devotee on the topmost platform, the mahā-bhāgavata stage, and a paramahaṁsa-ṭhākura, a spiritual form only fit to be addressed as paramahaṁsa or ṭhākura.”.(CC Madhya 25.9)

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This song gurv-aṣṭaka prayers ,according to Srila Prabhupada,was written, was composed and dedicated by Srila Viśvanātha Cakravartī THAKURA, a great liberated devotee, to his guru Srila Narottama dasa THAKURA,and describes the qualities of a devotee of the highest degree, paramahamsa-thakura, as Srila Narottama dasa Thakura.
————–
“Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has taught very, very nicely about guru.

He is example, practical example of guru-bhakti, Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura.

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura accepted his guru, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura.”

Arrival Address — Los Angeles, June 20, 1975:.
————–
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura describes THE REAL GURU in this way. SB 5.14.13, Purport
————–
Prabhupāda:
“This song is offering obeisances PARTICULARLY to the spiritual master, and
THE SYMPTOMS of the spiritual master are described in this prayer.”
————–
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Hare Krsna to all
Pranams
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Yesterday on Lord Balaram’s Appearance day at the Sri Sri Krsna Balarama Temple in New Westminster BC Canada, three new bhaktas took first initiation from Srila Prabhupada via his officiating acarya system of ritvik priests.Not less than 30 devotees were present, and everyone had a great time-even thru the smoke filled
temple room. His Grace Yasoda Nandan Prabhu presided over the fire sacrifice.The new devotees names are Vidura Mahatma dasa, Ananta Vijaya dasa, and Ananda devi dasi. It is said that after this ceremony all ones past sins are lifted, and anyone could see how happy each of the new bhaktas looked.

We put these announcements out to the devotee world at large so that they can see– that Srila Prabhupada’s original Hare Krsna movement is STILL going on and– increasing daily.

Param Vijayte Sri Krsna Sankirtan
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

damaghosa das
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#3) https://youtu.be/71z-dHv3Izg

#4) https://youtu.be/UkkvLqBenTM

#5) https://youtu.be/b806ZwKDu-I

#8) https://youtu.be/um5jYPq30C0

#9) https://youtu.be/UOJDfA7Q9Io

#11) https://youtu.be/sUDyfowl3F8

#12) https://youtu.be/zOyI800OMRQ