Hare Krsna-
For those of you who did read my previous article (Are All Krsna Kirtans the same?) here is more proof from a devotee who personally witnessed Srila Prabhupada’s reaction to devotees going to Sridhara Maharajs matha in Navadvipa.
Dear Prabhu.
Pamho,Agtsp.
Early on in my spiritual life,I consider my self to have been very fortunate that I had been able to spend 82 days with Srila Prabhupada.
During that golden time I remember very clearly so many of Srila Prabhupas instructions.Especially his instructions about not associating with anyone from the Gaudia Math.
In 1974 ,along with Balaram and Ugrasrava,I attended the Mayapur Gaura Purnima festival.Each day Achuytananda (Maharaja) would take us out on Parikram to all the holy places.In those days we went on Pakrikram daily,not like at present where they go out,and camp out all week.
One day Achuytananda took us on Parikram over to Navadwip and after visiting a few holy places we ended up at Sridar Maharajas ashram.
We were greeted by Sridhar Maharaja ,and then he gave a talk.I couldn,t understand a word he said as his English was hard to understand.Then the Math served us lunch prasad.One thing I will never forget,because they served Bengali style HOT sweet rice. The first time I had hot sweet rice and it was so relishable.
On returning to our temple,Achuytananda reported to Srila Prabhupada about the days Parikram.
Previously Achuytananda had arranged to go to Sridars ashram,but he never told Srila Prabhupada.
When told that we had gone to Sridhars ashram,Srila Prabhupada was furious.He asked,what did Sridhar say ?
Apparently he referred to us as hippys,thus accusing Srila Prabhupada of only recruiting low class men.(I cant remember the exact words he spoke,)but whatever he said he insulted Srila Prabhupada,insinuating that we were all lowclass.All along Srila Prabhupada was so cautious about us associating with the Gaudia Math,because he knew they would try to take his disciples and thus destroy their spiritual lives.
The next morning before Srila Prabhupada came down for class,Achuytanda told all the devotees in class that Srila Prabhupada had ordered that we were to forget everything that Srihar had spoken,and that Srila Prabhupada was so disturbed by us going to Sridhars math.The tone of his apology ,showed that he had committed a serious mistake,
Srila Prabhupada came and gave class,and it was clearly evident that he was not happy.
Now I cant remember if it was in the class or in his room.Srila Prabhupada said that by associating with Sridhar and hearing from him , was very dangerous.And said that when ONE GETS BURNT,THE SCAR REMAINS FOR LIFE.AND THERE FOR THEY ARE RUINED.
Now this was a serious moment.I thought to myself,well actually I could not understand Sridhars speech,because of his accent.And had no understanding of his message.So I convinced my self that I had not been burnt !!!
But the Srila Prabhupadas message was clear,that we were never to associate with the Gaudia Math.And I have followed this order so strictly ever since.
Rupanuga prabhu was a little confused by Srila Prabhupadas order and especially confused by his denouncing Sridhars association.Because previously there had been some contact with the Gaudia Math.So he wrote a letter to Srila Prabhupada seeking clarification.
Thus Srila Prabhupada wrote to Rupanuga on April ,28th,1974, clarifying the issue.
A letter which I have always quoted for years when arguing against associating with the Gaudia Math.
YS.Sabhapati.dasa
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So what is the proper conclusion from all this? For anyone who considers him or herself a dedicated follower of Srila Prabhupada, then we should now and into the future, have absolutely NO contact whatsoever with anybody from the Gaudiya Matha ! This does not take a rocket scientist to understand, just a little sincerity.
Hare Krsna
damaghosa das
LA July 13 1971—Prabhupāda: Unless one is prepared that “I am accepting somebody as my spiritual master. I must accept whatever he says,” if there is any doubt, that “I cannot accept his words verbatim,” then one should not accept him as spiritual master. That is hypocrisy
SP Letter to Rupanuga April 28 1974–
But Sridhara Maharaja is responsible for disobeying this order of Guru Maharaja, and he and others who are already dead unnecessarily thought that there must be one acarya. If Guru Maharaja could have seen someone who was qualified at that time to be acarya he would have mentioned. Because on the night before he passed away he talked of so many things, but never mentioned an acarya. His idea was acarya was not to be nominated amongst the governing body. He said openly you make a GBC and conduct the mission. So his idea was amongst the members of GBC who would come out successful and self effulgent acarya would be automatically selected. So Sridhara Maharaja and his two associate gentlemen unauthorizedly selected one acarya and later it proved a failure. The result is now everyone is claiming to be acarya even though they may be kanistha adhikari with no ability to preach. In some of the camps the acarya is being changed three times a year.Therefore we may not commit the same mistake in our ISKCON camp. Actually amongst my Godbrothers no one is qualified to become acarya. So it is better not to mix with my Godbrothers very intimately because instead of inspiring our students and disciples they may sometimes pollute them. This attempt was made previously by them, especially Madhava Maharaja and Tirtha Maharaja and Bon Maharaja but somehow or other I saved the situation. This is going on. We shall be very careful about them and not mix with them. This is my instruction to you all. They cannot help us in our movement, but they are very competent to harm our natural progress. So we must be very careful about them.
SP letter 9th November, 1975-“All my disciples should avoid all of my God brothers. They should not have any dealings with them nor even correspondence, nor should we give them any of my books, nor should we purchase any of their books, neither should you visit any of their temples. Please avoid them.”