Topic: Parampara

We have heard it said that Srila Prabhupada (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja) received the name "Bhaktivedanta" from his guru, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Others have said that he received the name "Bhaktivedanta" from Srila Sridhara Maharaja and yet others are saying that he received the name "Bhaktivedanta" from Srila Kesava Maharaja. Can you please say something to clarify this issue?

This emphasis on youthful renunciation finds clear precedent in the life and mission of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, who instituted the tridaṇḍi-sannyāsa order not as a retirement plan, but as a dynamic vehicle for preaching to facilitate widespread distribution of our Gauranga's Saṅkīrtan.

The Vaiṣṇavas think as follows— tvad-bhṛtya-bhṛtya-paricāraka-bhṛtya-bhṛtya-bhṛtyasya bhṛtya iti māṁ smara loka-nātha —‘O Lord of the world, please remember me as the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of Your servant.’ The Vaiṣṇava’s perspective is—through the line of servants of the guru, let me have many masters. Let them serve Kṛṣṇa and Guru, and let me remain eternally as their servant of the servant.

By the mercy of the sādhus, it is possible to instantly absorb their inner mood and character, which purifies our prior understanding putting it in proper perspective in relation to Kṛṣṇa. The devotional mood of the sādhu is a storehouse of perfect philosophical conclusions that anyone can benefit from.

The scripture reflects the heart of the pure devotee, and the heart of the pure devotee reveals the essence of the scripture. Together, they are the twin pramāṇas of the Bhāgavat Paramparā, the dual authority of śāstra and realized śikṣā through which transcendental truth is transmitted.

Śrī Rūpa-mañjarī-pada is the favourite song of all the disciples of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. It is their favourite song, firstly because it is this song that offers one the connection of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and is therefore of great importance to all Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas. It is also important to the disciples of Sarasvatī Ṭhākura because it was sung at the time of his departure from this world.

Śrīla Prabhupāda has written that, “Satisfaction of the self realized spiritual master is the secret of success in spiritual life.” In essence, this refers to service that is known to be what the spiritual master desires, wherever and whenever it is performed.

We present another recent letter from a Vaisnavi who has also written to an ISCON guru about the inspiration that she has felt reading the words of Srila Sridhara Maharaja.

Let us always remember our Divine Master, His Divine Grace, as an eternal servant and resident of the eternal pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda.

Contrary to the beliefs and speculations of some narrow-minded and unrealized persons, these statements are true to the smallest detail.

The following is a lecture given by Srila Sridhara Maharaja on Srila Sarasvati Thakura’s appearance day on 24th February 1981

The following is a lecture by Srila Narasingha Maharaja on the disappearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.