Topic: Parampara

This article is continuation of "Saraswati Prabhupada Parampara I" article that has been written to counteract the accusation that Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada and his disciples and grand disciples are not in the Parampara of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura.

This time the attack against our parampara was coming from a young Indian scholar (once a member of ISKCON) who was representing the arguments and objections of the anti-party guru - an elderly Hindu scholar. As it turned out, in their opinion, not even Bhaktivinode Thakur is bona-fide, what then to speak of Saraswati Thakur and his followers

The most auspicious event of the 124th Birthday Anniversary of my spiritual master (now in his eternal pastimes), Om Visnupada 108 Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakura, will be on Sri Krsna Pancami, the month of Magha (Jan-Feb). This festival will be celebrated by all the Mathas in a grand way. The advent of my spiritual master is called Vyasa Puja.

"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."

We avail of the opportunity offered by the Anniversary Celebrations of the advent of Thakura Bhaktivinoda to reflect on the right method of obtaining those benefits that have been made accessible to humanity by the grace of this great devotee of Krsna. Thakura Bhaktivinoda has been specifically kind to those unfortunate persons who are engrossed in mental speculation of all kinds.

So a few words to all the Vaishnavas. I would like to say something about Srila Prabhupada, His Divine Grace. I thought of three particular things regarding His Divine Grace. I thought about his mission, I thought about his highest ideal and I thought about his achievements.

Study, learning, discourse on philosophy so many things are possible prior to initiation (diksha), but unless one gets this ashraya one does not gain admission to the descending flow of bhakti-rasa. To remain in that flow there are requirements also, not that just because I have taken shelter by initiation that I am always connected.

Srila Prabhupada Samadhi Aratika composed by Swami B G Narasingha & Swami B V Giri (Sung daily at 5:30 am at Govindaji Gardens)

Srila Prabhupada's faith in the instruction of his Guru Maharaja, his faith in Krsna was so absolute that he had no fear-- there was no question of success or failure. His success was that he endeavored, that he did it and there was no demand. This is the nature of pure devotion, that it is rendered without any desire of compensation.

Srila Prabhupada Lila-Smarana-Mangala-Stotram composed by Swami B.G. Narasingha Maharaja

Srila Prabhupada came to America in 1965 as "an aggressor." Aggression against illusion is the highest service to humanity. The cost of this war is absolute humility, for souls in this world are often less than thankful, unaware as they are of their own self-interest. The reward, however, is great. It is the dignity of the soul.

In many places in Srimad-Bhagavatam,we find Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, being tested by Krsna. And still, Brahma is our gurudeva.He is the original guruof our line. That he could become bewildered is so perplexing and difficult to understand that Madhvacarya eliminated that section from the Srimad-Bhagavatam.He could not accept those two chapters of Srimad-Bhagavatamwhere Brahma was under illusion, where he had some misunderstanding about Krsna. But Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu accepted everything in toto.