Sheltered at the feet of the Nitya Siddhas, like a wave propelling us forward. Happy Vyasa Puja 2024.
Hare Krishna, Beloved Gurudeva,
Please accept our humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Dear Gurudeva,
We feel immensely fortunate to remain part of the glorious sankirtan movement, even after 20 years of discovering this transcendental mission.
Each year, on the auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja, we find an invaluable opportunity to glorify the Guru Parampara and reflect on the immense spiritual legacy that guides us.
Krishna gave us the Bhagavad Gita in 700 verses—not as weapons to destroy, but as tools to forge a proper bhava, sambandha that deeply connects us to Him.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, through His Siksastakam, established the power and glories of the sankirtan movement:
“Sarvatma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam.”
Rupa Goswami and the associates of Vrindavan revealed to us the blessings of the Golden Lord, Sri Gauranga, and the depth of parakīya-rasa in Vraja:
“Namo maha-vadanyaya krishna-prema-pradaya te…”
Krishna das Kaviraj Goswami, empowered to narrate the Caitanya-caritamrta, expressed:
“By remembering the lotus feet of the Pañca-tattva, a dumb man can become a poet, a lame man can cross mountains, and a blind man can see the stars in the sky” (Adi-lila 8.5).
In his purport, he emphasizes the concept of kṛpā-siddha, perfection attained through the mercy of higher authorities, regardless of one’s personal qualifications.
Narottama das Thakur sings:
“Rūpa-raghunātha-pade ha-ibe ākuti kabe hāma bujhaba se yugala-pīriti.”
When I develop the desire to understand the literature written by the Goswamis, I will be able to comprehend the transcendental pastimes of Radha and Krishna. This reflects the importance of surrendering to the spiritual master to attain perfection in pure devotional service.
Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakur, in his Madhurya Kadambini, elaborates on the creeper of Bhakti, from śraddhā to prema, based on the teachings of Rupa Goswami. The guidance is there; we only need to summon the courage to follow it.
Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana defended our siddhanta and lineage against those who questioned the legitimacy of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas. Drawing strength from the scriptures and the wisdom of the six Goswamis, he left his mark as a distinguished protector of our tradition.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur revitalized the tradition and envisioned a global sankirtan movement. He taught us to take shelter of the Vaisnavas to attain Krishna:
“Krishna se tomāra, Krishna dīte pāro…”
Gaurakishora das Babaji, although withdrawn from society, possessed the most precious jewel: Krishna-prema. He tested the sincerity of those who approached him, transferring his spiritual potency to his prominent disciple, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.
HpS - Maybe better than transferring is to say conducting???? Like the unseen motor that drives the visible boat?
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati laid the foundations through his Gaudiya Math, empowering his Senapati Bhakta, Srila Prabhupada, to expand Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission throughout the western world.
Srila Prabhupada accomplished the impossible, delivering the highest gift to the West:
“Sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine…”
As a servant of Sarasvati Goswami, he liberated fallen souls in the West from impersonalism and nihilism, guiding us toward Krishna.
And then, you, dear Gurudeva, empowered by that instruction in your heart, remind us:
“Get up early and chant your rounds. You can make plans to serve Krishna, but it is better to chant Hare Krishna and let the Mahamantra take care of everything.”
Attempting to serve you through your divine instructions, we wish you a joyous Vyasa Puja, Gurudeva.
Your foolish servant,
Nikunja Bihari das.
HpS/ASA - ... in your other letter you mention how you want to serve by establishing the gurukula. from our experiences in your university there are people who would join you but the institution itself is strangely crazy! is it that mar de plata is just not the place for a north american style university?
Hare Krishna, Amado Gurudeva,
Por favor, acepte nuestras humildes reverencias.
Todas las glorias a Srila Prabhupada.
Querido Gurudeva,
Nos sentimos inmensamente afortunados de seguir formando parte del glorioso movimiento de sankirtan, incluso después de 20 años de haber conocido esta misión trascendental. Cada año, en la auspiciosa ocasión de su Vyasa Puja, encontramos una oportunidad invaluable para glorificar al Guru Parampara y reflexionar sobre el inmenso legado espiritual que nos guía.
Krishna nos entregó el Bhagavad Gita en 700 versos, no como armas para destruir, sino para forjar un bhava apropiado, sambandha que nos conecta profundamente con Él.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a través de su Siksastakam, estableció la potencia y las glorias del movimiento de sankirtan:
“Sarvatma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam.”
Rupa Goswami y los asociados de Vrindavan nos revelaron las bendiciones del Señor Dorado, Sri Gauranga, y la profundidad del parakīya-rasa en Vraja:
“Namo maha-vadanyaya krishna-prema-pradaya te…”
Krishna das Kaviraj Goswami, empoderado para narrarnos el Caitanya-caritamrta, expresó:
“Al recordar los pies de loto del Pañca-tattva, un mudo puede volverse poeta, un cojo cruzar montañas y un ciego ver las estrellas del cielo” (Adi-lila 8.5). En su significado, enfatiza el concepto de kṛpā-siddha, la perfección alcanzada por la misericordia de autoridades superiores, independientemente de las cualidades personales.
Narottama das Thakur canta:
“Rūpa-raghunātha-pade ha-ibe ākuti kabe hāma bujhaba se yugala-pīriti.” Cuando yo anhele comprender la literatura escrita por los Gosvāmīs, entonces podré comprender los amoríos trascendentales Rādhā y Kṛṣṇa.
Reflejando la importancia de rendirnos al maestro espiritual para alcanzar la perfección en el servicio devocional puro.
Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakur, en su Madhurya Kadambini, detalla la enredadera del Bhakti, desde śraddhā hasta prema, basándose en las enseñanzas de Rupa Goswami. La guía está ahí; solo debemos atrevernos a seguirla.
Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana defendió nuestro siddhanta y linaje, enfrentando a quienes cuestionaban la legitimidad de los Gaudiya Vaisnavas. Con el respaldo de las escrituras y la sabiduría de los seis Goswamis, dejó su huella como un protector insigne de nuestra tradición.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur revitalizó la tradición y tuvo la visión de un movimiento de sankirtan global. Nos enseñó a refugiarnos en los vaisnavas para alcanzar a Krishna:
“Krishna se tomāra, Krishna dīte pāro…”
Gaurakishora das Babaji, aunque apartado de la sociedad, poseía la joya más preciada: Krishna-prema. Probaba la sinceridad de quienes se acercaban a él, transfiriendo su potencia espiritual a su destacado discípulo, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati estableció las bases con su Gaudiya Math, empoderando a su Senapati Bhakta, Srila Prabhupada, para expandir la misión de Chaitanya Mahaprabhu por todo el mundo.
Srila Prabhupada logró lo imposible, entregando el regalo más elevado a Occidente:
“Sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine…”
Como servidor de Sarasvati Goswami, liberó a las almas caidas de occidente del impersonalismo y el nihilismo, guiándonos hacia Krishna.
Y luego, usted, querido Gurudeva, apoderado con esa instrucción en su corazón, nos recuerda:
“Levántate temprano y canta tus rondas. Puedes hacer planes para servir a Krishna, pero es mejor cantar Hare Krishna y dejar que el Mahamantra se encargue de todo.”
Intentando servirlo a través de sus divinas instrucciones, le deseamos una feliz Vyasa Puja, Gurudeva.
Su tonto sirviente,
Nikunja Bihari das.
