Devotees
aspire for that same nectar (vancchitam amrtam)
aspired for by Srila Rupa Gosvami and Raghunatha Dasa
Gosvami. What is that nectar and how one should aspire
for it are questions producing diverse answers amongst
Vaisnavas, a subject of some controversy.
The truth lies deep within the line of faith which we must draw through our affectionate guardians (acaryas). Our spiritual wealth lies in strict adherence (obedience) to this line. Instructions vary according to necessity, but the essence remains the same, to follow and to propagate purely the sublime message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. For many devotees this line of faith extends only to their guru, whose instructions provide everything, as they should. Those with a deep vision see the entire line of faith represented in their guru and his instructions.
Our Guru Maharaja, Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada, showed a mood of uncompromised preaching, with strong emphasis on differentiating ourselves from and avoiding the contaminated presentations of the mayavadis, misdirected material scientists and caste brahmanism. He did not leave out the sahajiyas either, carefully instilling caution in his young disciples.
Our Affectionate Guardian Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja has been declared the Guardian of Devotion (Bhakti Raksaka) by his beloved gurudeva, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada, and continues to be held in high esteem by many senior Vaisnavas. Known for his erudite learning of the Vaisnava scriptures and profound realization, Srila Sridhara Maharaja distributed nectar freely, but with every ounce of nectar he gave a pound of caution, carefully explaining the proper approach to the highest realms of devotional service.
Of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, our parama-guru, it has been written rupanuga-virudhapasiddhanta-dhvanta-harine, that he does not tolerate any statement against the teachings of devotional service enunciated by Srila Rupa Gosvami. His bold preaching fulfilled the necessity of the time, to counter the strong sahajiya section, who had distorted the highly refined and invaluable inner wealth of the Vaisnavas, and covered it with an outer layer of immorality and inappropriate practices. Sarasvati Thakura preached boldy, pushing back the wall of illusion, touching the hearts of so many sincere Vaisnavas.
We find interwoven amongst the lives of the prominent personalities in our line of faith, a strong intolerance to apasiddhanta and a strong focus on the inner wealth distributed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s most intimate disciples. It is indeed intolerable to any sincere Vaisnava to hear a distorted expression of Mahaprabhu’s inner mood. Just as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was protected by Svarupa Damodara from hearing rasabasa, apasiddhanta and other inappropriate things, so we see the same mood in our acaryas, who protect the line of devotion from misrepresentation. If the pure line of devotion, as understood by our prominent acaryas, is not upheld and delineated carefully and strongly, then it will be diluted, distorted and confused by sahajiyas and kanisthas. Indeed, this book itself has been written due to the overwhelming philosophical confusion found amongst modern-day practitioners of Gaudiya Vaisnavism.
Even so, this mood is not appreciated by all Vaisnavas; some wish ‘controversy’ would just go away, others wish that everyone else, except those who agree with them, would go away, and a good share are hopelessly confused. Sincere Vaisnavas seek the truth and the chance to hear clear and precise explanations which dissipate the cobwebs of illusion and misdirected teachings. Those who do not look very hard for the truth will not find it.
No less, we find this mood of intolerance toward apasiddhanta, sahajiyaism, and any other teachings or activities not favorable to the inner mood of our acaryas, and the protective mood of Svarupa Damodara, personified in our dear godbrother, Sripada Bhakti Gaurava Narasingha Maharaja. It has been written of him,
vancchitam
amrtam yattu sri rupa-raghunathayoh
taddane truti lesam yah sahate no narasinghakah
“Sripada Bhakti Gaurava Narasingha Maharaja does not tolerate even the slightest deviation in the distribution of that sublime nectar which is aspired for by Srila Rupa and Raghunatha.”
The truth is not always pleasant, satyam bruyat priyam bruyat. However, it is the duty of all honest devotees to illuminate the truth, satyam, even though it may not be priyam, palatable. Indeed, it is written in sastra that a sadhu cuts away the maya with strong words. To tell the truth and expose improprieties is seen by some as disturbing and undesirable, yet they delude themselves by thinking that to proceed in illusion is better.
In Prakrta-rasa Aranya Chedini, Sripada Narasingha Maharaja presents a collection of articles carefully enunciating various Vaisnava truths, exposing improper conceptions and dissipating erronious, yet popular misconceptions. We sincerely feel that the Vaisnava community will benefit greatly from Prakrta-rasa Aranya Chedini.
Tridandi
Bhiksu
Svami Bhakti Bhavana Visnu
Rasa Purnima, Karttika Masa,
Gaurabda 516, 21 October 2002.
Introduction: Prakrta Rasa Aranya Chedini