Yesterday, we tried to remember the glories of Śrī Śrīla Guru-pāda-padma.
Everyone in Mahāprabhu’s line, the guru-paramparā, Prabhupāda and his disciples, Param Gurudeva and other Vaiṣṇavas—everyone came. This is not an ordinary, mundane disciplic succession or family line. This family is recommended by the eternal svarūpa-siddha Vrajavāsīs. If anyone comes in this line, they can’t go back to a mundane family. They will always be present in this spiritual family. How is this?
Every year, after Gaura Pūrṇimā, Param Gurudeva would go to his godbrothers and offer obeisance.
Param Gurudeva would especially go to Pūjyapāda Bhaktirakṣaka Śrīdhara Gosvāmī Mahārāja. Param Gurudeva would go accompanied by sannyāsīs and devotees like Śrauti Mahārāja, Bhaktisvarūpa Siddhāntī Mahārāja, and Bhakti Jīvana Janārdana Mahārāja to pay respect to great Vaiṣṇavas.
After Gaura Pūrṇimā, the Vaiṣṇavas would come together and offer praṇāma to each other. Then they discussed their realizations, the next programs of service that would be pleasing to Mahāprabhu, and how to further spread the movement of Mahāprabhu in this world.
There are many temples and groups that are separate, but don’t think this is bad. For example, there is Gaṅgā, Yamunā, Godāvarī, Tāpti, Narmadā, and so many other holy rivers. All these rivers have water. All these waters seem as if they are same, but they are not. In fact, these rivers have their own unique water. However, when all these different rivers meet and become one body of water in the ocean, they no longer have a name, position, and unique qualities. This is called an ocean, and it’s salty and useless.
Similarly, there are many temples and groups. God Himself has arranged this just as He has arranged separate holy rivers.
Separateness preserves the unique glory and quality of each fellowship.
There are many mango trees in a field. Each and every mango has a different taste. Even mangoes on the same tree have a unique color, taste, juice, and so forth.
So they met, and all were in Mahāprabhu’s family, but all had some special mood. To collect that, one Vaiṣṇava would go to another Vaiṣṇava. Like Rūpa Gosvāmī Prabhu would go to Sanātana Gosvāmī. Also Sanātana Gosvāmī would go to Rūpa, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa, and the other Gosvāmīs and ācāryas. This process is necessary, but not for complaining, blaming, insulting, or disturbing others; or after hearing something, giving a paper on the internet listing all of someone’s faults and distributing this. This is the nature of street-sweepers and low-class people, not of the Vaiṣṇavas. Vaiṣṇavas meet with each other to relish and distribute any sweetness they have collected.
What is proper Vaiṣṇava etiquette?
Every year, Param Gurudeva asked, “Which books and songs have you composed? What have you brought to distribute in this world? What nectar of God have you given?”
Param Gurudeva would go with many of his disciples to meet with Pūjyapāda Bhaktirakṣaka Śrīdhara Mahārāja. The year that Śrīla Gurudeva, Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Vāmana Gosvāmī Mahārāja and Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Trivikrama Gosvāmī Mahārāja took sannyāsa, Param Gurudeva went with them, along with many other sannyāsīs and brahmacārīs, to pay respects to his godbrother.
When in front of the guru-varga, juniors should not argue. They should hear, and pray for the guru-varga’s mercy.
Pūjyapāda Bhaktirakṣaka Śrīdhara Mahārāja often asked many questions to my Guru Mahārāja (Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Vāmana Gosvāmī Mahārāja). My Guru Mahārāja was peaceful and would humbly reply, “Please, you know the question, you know the answer.”
Pūjyapāda Śrīdhara Mahārāja responded, “No. You preach everywhere. You distribute Mahāprabhu’s nectar and the glories of Prabhupāda everywhere. If you speak something it will be good.”
“Yes, I will say something. Whether it is right or wrong, please tell me.”
Just like teachers give exams and oral tests to students and then correct them. This is good. It’s good to go every year to the guru-varga, and express your feelings, understandings, and realizations. It is necessary to renew and refresh oneself through the guru-varga. Otherwise one will harbor wrong ideas. And if it is wrong, then one will waste more and more time in the future with erroneous ideas.
My Guru Mahārāja gave some answer, and then Bhaktirakṣaka Śrīdhara Gosvāmī Mahārāja, a very qualified Ācārya, remarked, “What you spoke is a very strong and hard topic to speak about, but you have made it very normal, as if liquid, and easily digestible. How have you done this?”
Gold is very hard and strong. When heated, it melts into liquid. Soon after, it becomes solid and strong again. However, when burnt to ashes, it will not return to its former self. This ash is very helpful and can be mixed with the body’s blood. On the other hand, if you intake liquid gold, it will solidify in your blood and kill you.
Bhakti is difficult to comprehend and follow. However, if it wasn’t for expert rasika Vaiṣṇavas, the teachings of the Vedas, Vedānta, Śruti, Smṛti, and secrets for bhakti would not be able to be relished and practiced by anyone.
nigama-kalpa-taror galitaṁ phalaṁ
śuka-mukhād amṛta-drava-saṁyutam
pibata bhāgavataṁ rasam ālayaṁ
muhur aho rasikā bhuvi bhāvukāḥ
Śrīmad-bhāgavatam 1.1.3“O expert and thoughtful men, relish Śrīmad-bhāgavatam, the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī. Therefore this fruit has become even more tasteful, although its nectarful juice was already relishable for all, including liberated souls.”
Pūjyapāda Śrīdhara Mahārāja said, “Before, you were Santosh. Then Prabhupāda gave you the name Sajjana Sevaka. But now Śrīla Keśava Mahārāja has given you the name Vāmana, as if you were small, but you are in fact Trivikrama, very great. You know the process to make everyone’s hearts melt and get showered by the flow of nectar. From the beginning, you served in Caitanya Maṭha, Vraja Paṭṭana, where all the Vraja-devīs and Vrajavāsīs are present. Because of this your heart is very soft and sweet, and you have collected this rasa. With this rasa you are now showering everyone. I am very happy. I give you all my heartfelt blessings.”
Many Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sannyāsīs were present—disciples of Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura and of Param Gurudeva as well. Śrīla Śrīdhara Gosvāmī Mahārāja’s heart melted. He said, “This is the process to collect Vaiṣṇavas’ mercy. If you are humble and sweet, and have any good qualities in you, then this can be understood by your nature, behavior, character, speech and etiquette. However, if you are very rough and wrong, and full of rubbish within, then this is noticeable through your speech. The cloth, association, and everything around you reflects your nature.”
How was Guru Mahārāja? He was humble, sweet, soft, peaceful, and never spoke uselessly. He always gave everyone in Prabhupāda’s line all respect and obeisance. He did not give direct shelter to those against; instead, he arranged a program for their treatment so that they could become pure.
Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja looked at Śrīla Gurudeva and asked, “What is this Mahārāja’s name?”
Someone replied, “This Mahārāja’s name is Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja.”
Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja said, “This Sajjana is now Vāmana. You are Nārāyaṇa, but you have crossed beyond Vaikuṇṭha and have great power. Your Gurudeva has given you all responsibility, power, wealth and everything. Now, what is your feeling and understanding? Tell something.”
Śrīla Gurudeva used to tell us, “This is guru-dakṣinā.”
Śrīla Gurudeva always taught us that if Vaiṣṇavas teach you many things and later you don’t speak or repeat anything to them, they will be displeased for you have not given them guru-dakṣinā. Repeating what your Guru has taught you is proper guru-dakṣinā. The opposite is not good—like someone who learns kīrtana, but doesn’t sing; or someone who knows mṛdaṅga but won’t play. Some know how to cook nicely, but don’t cook. Some know nice hari-kathā, but don’t speak. This is not guru-dakṣinā. Anything you get from Guru, anything you collect, you should offer and distribute it everywhere, and after, when Gurudeva asks for this, you should offer everything to him. Then whether your ideas are right or wrong, good or bad, Gurudeva will check, correct and give more.
But don’t fight, wrestle, argue, or complain to your Gurudeva, saying, “You don’t like me. You don’t teach me. You don’t keep me nearby.” Or, “Everything is Gurudeva’s fault, everything is Vaiṣṇavas’ fault. You don’t like me. Earlier, you were very good, now you are very bad.”
So if Guru and Vaiṣṇavas are bad and wrong and you are good, then why are you here? Did anyone hire you to come here?
That person has envy, cruelty, jealousy; they will offer that only to Gurudeva. This is not the correct process.
Instead they should feel, “I am not qualified, therefore I am distant. My nature is not good, therefore I am distant to him and he doesn’t like me.”
All cows like their own calves. All mothers like their new born babies. Similarly, all gurus like humble disciples and sweet persons. Wherever these types of persons go, everyone will like them.
So now Pūjyapāda Śrīdhara Mahārāja asked, and Śrīla Gurudeva replied after he had offered praṇāma to his own Gurudeva, the guru-varga, and all Vaiṣṇavas. He said, “The Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava paramparā came in this world through Mahāprabhu, the Gosvāmīs, and in the modern times, through Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. In this world, many people opened centers, and āśramas of Viṣṇu and Nārāyaṇa. Also, many ācāryas opened many of their own centers, where they tell, ‘I am God, or the expansion of God.’ But no one opened svarupa-śakti’s service centers. Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura first opened this center called the Gauḍīya Maṭha.
Śrīla Gaura-kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, Rūpa and Raghunātha, all gave Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura the power and potency of svarūpa-śakti. They are gaurī’s followers, Rādhārānī’s followers. They opened this center to train the jīvas. By worshipping Brahma, or God, mood of Brahma will come, but not a service mood. Only under guidance of the Vraja-devīs is it possible to learn the process of serving God. How to serve God isn’t something that God teaches; it is something His associates teach. God’s associates have practical realization in this. They know the process to please God. Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to open and distribute this. He discussed this, and sent Nityānanda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, Haridāsa Ṭhākura, and many others to give this. But especially, He instructed the Gosvāmīs to distribute this. They wrote and distributed the glories and specialties of the Vraja-devīs, but some time later, people couldn’t understand these esoteric truths and went the wrong way. Therefore, after some time, Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, in order to keep everyone connected to the powerhouse of vraja-bhāva, opened branch offices of sevā-kuñja, giving them the title Gauḍīya Maṭha, referring to Śrīmati Rādhārānī. He then taught vraja-sevā and gave the moods of the Vrajavāsīs. He gave connection with the Vraja-devīs, and taught how to take shelter of the Vraja-devīs. He taught all things.”
Śrīla Gurudeva explained the verse—
anarpita-carīṁ cirāt karuṇayāvatīrṇaḥ kalau
samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasāṁ sva-bhakti-śriyam
hariḥ puraṭa-sundara-dyuti-kadamba sandīpitaḥ
sadā hṛdaya-kandare sphuratu vaḥ śacī-nandanaḥ
Rūpa Gosvāmī“May that Lord, who is known as the son of Śrīmatī Śacīdevī, be transcendentally situated in the innermost chambers of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has appeared in the age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what has not been given in a very long time—mañjarī-bhāva, the service of Śrīmatī Rādhikā as Her confidential maidservant.”
Unless one drinks bhakti-rasa, unnatojjvala-rasa, one won’t understand one’s own svarūpa, or God’s svarūpa. They will not realize anything. Drinking mundane rasa, they will run very far, and will not come back. They will think, ‘I will stay here floating in mundane rasa,’ like dogs and pigs. God’s holy name doesn’t enter their eyes. It is not tasteful for mundane people. When donkeys bray, they think, ‘This is good singing.’ Mundane people drink mundane rasa and think, ‘This is very good, and if more and more comes it is God’s blessing for me.’ But Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura gave this unnatojjvala-rasa, this nigama kalpa taror, that rasa.
Drink that rasa. To teach the process of attaining that rasa Prabhupāda opened these centers. He brought this flow of bhakti-rasa and distributed it.
Now, all ācāryas are present. They do not give ordinary things. If anyone comes and takes shelter near these ācāryas, they can get this bhakti-rasa without meditation or any condition. They will get liberation from all mundane things and will not feel any more tension or depression. They will cross everything.
Many ācāryas were present there. That day Pūjyapāda Śrīdhara Mahārāja told Param Gurudeva, “Śrīla Keśava Mahārāja, you have really given them sannyāsa. You have given them svarūpa-siddhi, and now they have a strong connection with, and understand Param Gurudeva, Parātpara Gurudeva, the guru-paramparā, Māyāpura and Navadvīpa-dhāma.”
Disciples come to Guru, but if they have no relation with Guru’s associates and companions, and don’t understand the Guru’s heart, and don’t have a desire to fulfill his mano ‘bhiṣṭa, innermost desire, then they are not disciples. If you don’t follow any discipline, how are you a disciple? You only come, and always keep a distance from Gurudeva, not following anything. Bogus.
How can you become qualified and humble? The first treatment is to give up all false pride and to come near Śrī Guru with a humble mood. This is the first treatment.
Bhaktirakṣaka Śrīdhara Gosvāmī Mahārāja said, “You are lucky. Prabhupāda has given you good gifts.”
This sādhu-saṅga is necessary. If there is no sādhu-saṅga, then there is no good luck. Much mundane wealth may come, but if there is no desire for hari-kathā and bhajana, then life is useless.
In America, if I sleep on a bed of gold and diamonds, will I be happy and cross māyā? Will I be free of tension? No. If God blesses us, then good help will come in the form of sādhu-saṅga. Sādhu-saṅga means we will always be present with Hari’s glories, hari-kathā, hari-prasāda, and hari-kīrtana.
In Param Gurudeva’s time so many came, but there was no room for brahmacārīs in Uddhāraṇa Gauḍīya Maṭha and Devānanda Gauḍīya Maṭha. In Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s time, there was also little room. Vraja Paṭṭana, Caitanya Maṭha, Śrīvāsa Āṅgana—there was no room, all the temples were full of brahmacārīs. So Prabhupāda started offices in Kṛṣṇa Nagar, then in Calcutta, and then all the islands of Navadvīpa-dhāma and in many places around India.
Pūjyapāda Bhaktirakṣaka Śrīdhara Gosvāmī Mahārāja said, “I am very lucky and happy. Sādhu-darśana is not so easily attained. Bad people will easily come forth without any invitation, but sādhu-darśana is very rarely achieved. Therefore I am very happy. My door is always open for you. Not only the door of my temple, but the door of my heart is open for you as well. I wish that you will all come, otherwise I shall go to meet with you. I like this sādhu-saṅga.”
But now if any sādhu comes, we tell our sevakas, “Tell him I have no time, he will only steal my time.” When sādhus come, one should hear some hari-kathā and perform kīrtana with them, but we have no desire.
Pūjyapāda Bhaktirakṣaka Śrīdhara Gosvāmī Mahārāja and other Mahārājas told, “Oh Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja, you are one special tree in Prabhupāda’s line. From that nice tree, so many fruits will grow, and tasting the sweet nectar from all these fruits, thousands of people will realize the glory of this line.”
Some time later, Śrīla Gurudeva asked Param Gurudeva, “How can I directly meet with the Gosvāmīs, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, and Śrīla Prabhupāda? Their association is necessary.”
So-called Vaiṣṇavas think, “I will have many sevakas—one to cook, one to drive, one as a pilot, one as a bodyguard, and a few to massage me.”
But Gurudeva asked, “How can I meet with all the Gosvāmīs and Ācāryas? Please arrange this program.”
Param Gurudeva smiled and said, “Yes, you have a good desire, so I will try to help you. You’ll have no problem.”
First Param Gurudeva gave him Jaiva Dharma and told, “This is Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. This book is the very embodiment of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.”
“Yes. How can he come out and meet with me?”
“Don’t worry. Dhruva chanted oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya and Lord Nārāyaṇa gave His direct darśana. This book was brought in this world by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. If you read it, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura will come and meet with you.”
So Śrīla Gurudeva read it dozens and dozens of times until one day he asked Param Gurudeva, “I have read many times. Before, I understood something, then I understood something new, and the next time also something newer came. Newer meanings come every time I read, but what is the reality? Please tell me.”
Param Gurudeva replied, “One cow gives five or ten liters one day, but if you try to collect one month’s worth of milk in one day it won’t be possible. The cow has the potency to give daily, but not all her milk in one day.Similarly, sādhus know how to feed babies. First they give something light and easy to ingest, and then when they have more digestion power, they give something stronger and harder.”
Param Gurudeva continued, “Don’t worry. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura first gave some meanings, then other meanings, and in time he will also give you more and more realizations. Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura read Prahlāda Caritra 108 times. This is one’s meditation and austerity. Going forward, becoming closer and closer, and getting a very sweet friendship, is not possible in one day. Now you are very close to this Jaiva Dharma. But to fully understand the mercy of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, you must translate it into Hindi.”
Gurudeva said, “Please teach me this.”
This is the complete humble and surrendered mood of sincere sādhakas.
Thinking that I know everything, I know perfect reading and writing, my understanding is very high, is not of the essence.
The realization of the guru-varga is different.
Param Gurudeva went every year for one month to Vraja-maṇḍala. He stayed in Śrī Keśavajī Gauḍīya Maṭha. For one continuous month Śrīla Gurudeva read Jaiva Dharma to Param Gurudeva. He read and studied the first, second and third parts and so on until completing all of the book. Param Gurudeva taught our Śrīla Gurudeva, then said, “Speak it in front of me, so I can hear and tell you the meaning as it is.”
After Gurudeva read, he understood the glory of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.
If one is faithful, offers oneself, and respects all, then whenever this type of person goes near all the principles, rules and regulations, literature, lectures, the writings of any great Vaiṣṇava personality, very quickly he will cross everything. This is not a slow process.
Śrīla Gurudeva has explained that when he started translating this into Hindi, he received the mercy of Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda, Śrīla Gaura-kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja, Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, and all the Gosvāmīs. How did they bless him?
When writing, Śrīla Gurudeva would come across uncommon ślokas, and he did not have so many books of the Gosvāmīs to further research these ślokas. Param Gurudeva said, “Don’t worry; all the Gosvāmīs will come to help you. Start your work.”
Was he cheating Śrīla Gurudeva? No. Anything Vaiṣṇavas tell is truth.
After some days, one Bābājī Mahārāja, a disciple of Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, came. He lived in Ranchi, Bihar, where he had a temple. He was old and his disciples were not qualified. He had all books of the Gosvāmīs. Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura came in his dream and instructed him to give all the books to Śrīla Gurudeva. One day, he came to Mathura with a truck full of books. In the early morning the loaded truck arrived at Śrī Keśavajī Gauḍīya Maṭha. The Bābāji Mahārāja came inside the temple, and asked, “Where is Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja?” The brahmacarīs led him to Gurudeva. He met with Gurudeva and said, “O Mahārāja, I have brought great wealth for you. I have brought you the Gosvāmīs and guru-varga in their vanī-svarūpa.”
Then he led Gurudeva outside and showed him the truck full of books. Gurudeva was overjoyed. Gurudeva respectfully offered obeisance to the scriptures, and carried them in with the brahmacārīs. He then served the Mahārāja.
Sometime later, Param Gurudeva came to Mathura. He was delighted to see all the scriptures. He respected them, offered them arati, and then said to Gurudeva, “I told you the Gosvāmīs would come. These are not just books; the Gosvāmīs are now all present with you. If anyone offers respect to the Gosvāmīs with deep faith and love, not only their blessings will come, but they themselves will also manifest as they have here.”
Param Gurudeva made wooden shelves with protective doors for the books and instructed Gurudeva to worship, study and care for them.
Before leaving Mathura, Param Gurudeva asked Śrīla Gurudeva, “Please give one or two books to study. I will return them soon.”
Gurudeva fell at Param Gurudeva’s feet, and said, “You have called and invited the Gosvāmīs. They are your close friends and relatives. I am only one servant and worker. Please give me some order and blessings for service. Everything is yours.”
Param Gurudeva stayed there and read all books day and night. If any printing fault was there, he corrected everything. The books still have his signature and handwriting marks.
After reading the books, Param Gurudeva instructed Gurudeva, “Now you should begin translating these into Hindi.”
Gurudeva promised, “The Gosvāmīs are directly here and willing to help. Now I will serve them by reprinting and translating them. Not only into Hindi, but in all the major languages of the world, and I will distribute them everywhere. Anywhere the Gosvāmīs go, all jīvas will benefit. By touching them, offering them praṇāma, reading, looking, learning and following them, without any other meditation and austerity, all will get the Gosvāmīs’ mercy.”
Gurudeva made this promise, but after sometime, he thought, “How can I do everything alone?”
Like in the time of Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, Svāmī Prabhupāda was ordered to preach to the western countries and also thought, “I am alone. How is it possible?”
Śrīla Gurudeva would often go for Govardhana Parikramā. Two or three times a week he would go, and he also would go for Vṛndāvana Parikramā.
Sometimes he’d go every day. His parikramā was continuous. One day he was doing parikramā and came nearby Uddhava-kuṇḍa on the Rādhā-kuṇḍa road. Back then the area around Govardhana was a jungle filled with wild animals and snakes. The path was muddy and slippery and flooded in the rainy season, but Gurudeva fearlessly went in any circumstance. Once he met an old Bābājī, who came out of the jungle and told, “Mahārāja, you are doing parikramā daily. I am very happy with you. And I understand your wish. You desire that the Gosvāmīs will come in this world and help everyone. Okay, Girirāja Govardhana will fulfill your desire. But how can your wish be fulfilled? You mustn’t neglect, hate or show contempt to any ladies or girls. They will come to you for advice and you should be very helpful to their bhakti. Give them service and they will quickly help you. Many other gents, boys and students will come and help, but first many ladies and girls will come and help.”
Gurudeva didn’t say anything, but after sometime, really, in Mathurā, many nice young girls and ladies came. Some of them were Sanskrit scholars who came to help on the books, and very quickly, they translated books and gave them to Gurudeva for editing. Gurudeva checked everything, correcting mistakes, editing, proofreading, and printing. Then many boys also came, who were qualified in Sanskrit and Hindi literature. All came to help. Very quickly Gurudeva printed more than 40 books. After, in English and other languages, his books were translated and printed.
Without the mercy of the guru-varga, it is not possible to accomplish anything. If you try again and again, but are proud, sensitive, and sentimental, neither the guru-varga or Gosvāmīs will accept your service. One should always be eager to give happiness and pleasure to the guru-varga—this should be our desire and action.
While in Delhi and Purī in his later days, Śrīla Gurudeva called his close followers working on publications, and requested them, “Bring my books to me. My publications won’t stop; they will run on. Then your relation will be permanent with the Gosvāmīs and guru-varga. Otherwise you will lose your life and everything. Serving this literature means you are connected with the Gosvāmīs and their flow of mercy. If you lose this connection, you lose everything. Publication of these scriptures is my heart and soul.”
From the time of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, down through Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, Param Gurudeva, Śrīla Svāmī Mahārāja, and Śrīla Gurudeva, this flow of mercy has been running on. Other Gauḍīya Maṭhas also have books, but they do not touch the heart in the same way.
If you read Śrīla Svāmī Mahārāja’s books and Śrīla Gurudeva’s books, they affect the heart and bestow tendency to engage in bhakti. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s language was also like this. The guru-varga is connected with each other, therefore their service is perfect.
In Jagannātha Purī, on the 29th of December, 2010, Śrīla Gurudeva departed to the spiritual world. But do not think he has left us forsaken. Śrīla Gurudeva, Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Trivikrama Gosvāmī Mahārāja and Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Vāmana Gosvāmī Mahārāja were very close to each other. They continuously served Param Gurudeva, Prabhupāda and the entire guru-varga. This service will never cease. Therefore yesterday I told that Śrī Guru’s disappearance day and appearance day are both very special. Vyāsa-pūjā and viraha mahotsava are both sweet and powerful. But viraha mahotsava is even sweeter and more powerful. On the viraha mahotsava of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura arranged festivals everywhere. Anywhere these viraha mahotsavas are going on, the separation and power of the Vraja-devīs is present there. Deep separation is actually deep meeting. This viraha mahotsava means one good process to come near the guru-varga.
Now we are going back to our own places after these two-three days of programs. You should all go and arrange some feast and program, but not merely for your mind and senses. This feast must be nāma-saṅkīrtana and Śrīla Gurudeva’s book distribution. Then the whole world can be benefited.
Soon millions of people are coming to Kumbha Melā, and the brahmacārīs are going there to distribute this guru-prasādam—this is helpful for all. Anywhere there are book fairs and programs, go to help the jīvas with these books and harināma-saṅkīrtana. If possible, you can give grains or any other holy things. But Mahāprabhu’s movement doesn’t only distribute food and cloth; it distributes this nectar of God through harināma-saṅkīrtana and the mahā-prasāda of the Gosvāmīs, in the form of their books. This is the most important prasādam. By taking this prasādam, all hunger, thirst and lust fire from millions of lives would be cooled and one will be fully satisfied. One will no longer be hungry or thirsty for māyā, the only thirst and hunger will be for the pure love of the Vrajavāsīs and Vraja-devīs.
I am not requesting you. How can I follow and practice this in my own life? Therefore I am praying to you. I am not requesting others, “Follow, you follow.” This is not my instruction. This is the desire of the guru-varga. Please give me some blessings so that I can also follow. Then I can serve them. I am praying for this today.
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In remembrance of Bhakta-bāndhav Śrīla Gurudeva,
Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja