Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja

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Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja
Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Deva GosvamiMaharaja
Born October 10, 1895
Sripat Hapaniya, West Bengal, India
Died August 12, 1988
Sri Chaitanya Saraswata Matha, Navadvipa, West Bengal

Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja (October 10, 1895 - August 12, 1988) was born Sri Ramendra Chandra Deva Sharma Bhattacharya, as the first child of Sri Upendra Chandra Deva Sharma Bhattacharya-Vidyaratna and Srimati Gauri Bala Devi. Both his parents hailed from the Brahminical lineage known as Rajarsi Vaisya Gotra. The town of his birth was Sripat Hapaniya, District Burdwan, West Bengal, India. Maharaja was a Sanskrit scholar, author and Gaudiya Vaishnava Acharya.

Contents

[edit] Studies and Youth

Sridhara Maharaja was educated under the British Raj system in India. In his primary and secondary studies he excelled in all subjects. By the age of 15 he was already able to compose Sanskrit verse. Later he attended Krishnanath College in Baharampur [District Mushirabad]. In his advanced studies Sridhara Maharaja received a Bachelors of Arts degree in philosophy. Although well read in Hegel and the writings of other western scholars and philosophers Sridhara Maharaja’s main interest was in the traditional literature and philosophical systems of India, such as Ramayana, Mahabharata, Vedas, Upanishads, etc.

[edit] Spiritual Life

Strong faith in God was a natural quality in Sridhara Maharaja from his earliest childhood. As an adult he yearned to meet a personality that he might accept as his guru or spiritual preceptor. In 1926 while living in Calcutta, Sridhara Maharaja met his guru, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada (Saraswati Thakura) for the first time.

In April of 1927 Sridhara Maharaja became a formally initiated disciple of Saraswati Thakura and a full time member of the Gaudiya Matha Institute, a mission for the propagation of the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

In 1930 Sridhara Maharaja entered the renounced order of life (tridandi-sannyasa) and received the honorific title and name Sri Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Maharaja, thus he was to be known as Sri Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja. The meaning of his title ‘Bhakti Raksaka’ means one who gives protection to the concepts of pure spiritual devotion.

As a member of the Gaudiya Matha, Sridhara Maharaja excelled as a preacher of the devotional teachings of Sri Chaitanya. He was further awarded the title ‘Sastra-nipuna’ meaning one who has a natural genius for understanding the inner meaning of the sastra (revealed scriptures).

Just before the passing away of Saraswati Thakura [in 1937], Sridhara Maharaja was admitted by his guru to the exalted spiritual position of ‘the Protector of the Rupanuga-varga’ [Rupa-manjari rasa].

Sridhara Maharaja was widely respected in India and many lay and professional people sought his association for spiritual knowledge and spiritual guidance.

In 1942 Sridhara Maharaja established his mission and place of bhajana [worship], ‘Sri Chaitanya Saraswata Matha’ at Navadvipa, Bengal on the banks of the sacred Ganges River.

By 1982 the spiritual teachings of Sridhara Maharaja had spread throughout the world and many western men and women came to Sri Chaitanya Saraswata Matha to seek his guidance, many of which became his initiated disciples. He was widely regarded as a suddha-bhakta (pure devotee) and a paramahamsa (liberated soul).

[edit] Books and Sanskrit Writings

Sridhara Maharaja was not a mundane welfare worker that sought to uplift the bodily condition of a fallen man or that of many fallen and diseased men. Quite to the contrary — the contribution of Sridhara Maharaja was to uplift all of humanity to the spiritual platform of Krishna consciousness, a rare contribution indeed.

The words of Sridhara Maharaja, both on audio and in book format (Sanskrit and English), are perhaps one of the greatest theological treasures of the 20th century.

[edit] Sri Sri Prabhupada-padma Stavaka

Sri Sri Prabhupada-padma Stavaka is a song of eleven Sanskrit verses composed by Sridhara Maharaja that eulogizes the transcendental personality of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada. This song is so revered and appreciated by the disciples and grand disciples of Saraswati Thakura that it is virtually sung as a daily sadhana [regulated spiritual practices] in all the Gaudiya Matha temples.

The concluding line to each of the eleven stanzas, pranamami sada prabhupada-padam (I eternally offer my obeisances to that wonderful effulgence that emanates from the radiant lotus toe-tips of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada) is so sweet that it has become the hallmark of remembering that great acarya (spiritual preceptor) of the Gaudiya firmament.

[edit] Srimad Bhaktivinoda-viraha Dasakam

The ten Sanskrit verses of Bhaktivinoda-viraha Dasakam (expressing deep separation from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura) were greatly appreciated by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada who commented that, “Sridhara Maharaja has caused Thakura Bhaktivinoda to appear in those verses.”

One of the favorites of the Bhaktivinoda-viraha Dasakam is the ninth verse that represents the ontological line of the inner substance of Krishna consciousness.

“What was sanctioned by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by His descent, was intimately known only to Sri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami. Sanatana Gosvami, the elder brother of Sri Rupa Gosvami, was attentive to that divine truth, and Rupa Gosvami himself served that very thing with his own hands to the devotees. Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami tasted its sweetness and also added something of his own to its flavor. (He was assisted in doing so by Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami and Gopala Bhatta Gosvami.) That which was distributed and tasted by Raghunatha Dasa was protected by Sri Jiva Gosvami, who lent support to its divinity with scriptural evidence. The taste of that divine truth is aspired after by Sri Sukadeva Gosvami, Lord Siva, and Lord Brahma who regard it from a little distance with the highest respect. What is that inconceivable ambrosia? The sublime sweet nectar of mellows relished in the service of Srimati Radharani’s holy lotus feet. O Bhaktivinoda Thakura, within this world, you fully possess the ability to give us that extraordinary nectar.”

[edit] Sri Sri Premadhama-deva Stotram

Sri Sri Premadhama-deva Stotram is a concise description of the lila (pastimes) of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu composed in the Sanskrit tunaka meter that represents the dancing rhythm of spiritual delight. The verses of Premadhama-deva Stotram are based on Caitanya-caritamrta and other authorized writings about Sri Caitanya. It describes Sri Caitanya as Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Divine Truth, permeated with the mood (bhava) and complexion (kanti) of His supreme pleasure potency, Srimati Radharani. Sri Caitanya is portrayed as the unlimited ocean of ecstatic love of Krishna.

This stotra describes (in Sanskrit terms) some of the most predominant aspects of Sri Caitanya’s divine personality — His transcendental characteristics (aprakrta-vaisista), qualities (guna), beauty (rupa), charm (akarsana), compassion (karuna), generosity (audarya), power (tejas), forgiving nature (ksama-silata), magnanimity (mahattva), wisdom (prajnana), conviction (visvasa), determination (drdha-sankalpata), self-contentment in ecstatic love for Krishna(svanu-bhavananda), all-encompassing kind love for others (sarva-jive daya), limitless ecstatic love for Krishna(krsna-prema-dhama-rupa), and His compassionate sharing of that divine love ecstasy with others (maha-vadanya-krsna-prema-pradatrtva).

Premadhama-deva Stotram is highly regarded for its siddhantika [philosophical] content and especially for its mellow sweetness that transports the listener to the realm of loving devotional service of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Paramahamsa Sri Niskincana Krishna Dasa Babaji Maharaja, a dear friend and God-brother of Sridhara Maharaja, used to say of this stotra that he found in it the very presence of Sri Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada, the leader of our sampradaya.

[edit] Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam

Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam is, as the title indicates, the life nectar of the surrendered souls and leads its readers to positive and progressive immortality. Sridhara Maharaja’s introduction reads as follows: “The substance expressed within the ten chapters of this holy book called Prapanna-jivanamrtam gives life to the surrendered souls, effecting their eternal growth and nourishment. It is the panacea of the heart and spiritual senses, bestowing those dedicated devotees with mutual happiness by the ever-increasingly newer and newer play of supra-mundane joy (aprakrta-rasa). Lord Krishna and His associates are portrayed in their natural pastimes of separation and union, and the line of unconditional surrender as established by scriptures and saints has been elucidated.”

The doctrine of saranagati (surrender) is at the heart of Gaudiya Vaishnavism — indeed, it is the indispensable necessity in the life of a devotee. In Prapanna-jivanamrtam, Sridhara Maharaja has complied an anthology of verses in the chapter Words of Nectar from the Devotees, delineating the six processes of surrender. Here the processes of anukulyasya sankalpah (acceptance of the favorable), pratikula-vivarjjanam (rejection of the unfavorable), raksisyatiti visvasah (confidence in the Lord’s protection), goptrtve-varanam (embracing the Lord’s guardianship), atma-niksepah ( full surrender), and karpanyam (surrender in humility) are illuminated.

Prapanna-jivanamrtam also includes the chapter Words of Nectar from the Supreme Lord. Sridhara Maharaja says, “Herein, collected from the holy scriptures headed by Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, are words of nectar directly from the lotus mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the nectar to vanquish all sorrow and darkness for the souls surrendered to the lotus feet of Sri Krishna, and also for those aspiring for exclusive love for Krishna. It nourishes the lives of the devotees, pleasing their hearts by fulfilling all their cherished desires for devotional service.”

Concluding Prapanna-jivanamrtam, Sridhara Maharaja writes, “Comprised of five nectars (pancamrtam) respectively entitled Upakramamrtam, Sri Sastra-vacanamrtam, Sri Bhakta-vacanamrtam, Sri Bhagavad-vacanamrtam, and Avasesamrtam (Prelude to Approaching Nectar, the Nectar of Scriptural Words, Words of Nectar from the Devotees, Words of Nectar from the Supreme Lord, and the Remnants of Nectar), the supreme fruit that gives life to the devotees and delights their hearts has been served in this book.”

[edit] Sri Sri Gayatri-nigudartha

Garuda Purana states:

artho ‘yam brahma-sutranam bharatartha-vinirnaya˙ gayatri-bhasya-rupo’ sau vedartha-paribrmhita˙

“The meaning of the Vedanta-sutra is present in Srimad Bhagavatam. The full purport of the Mahabharata is also there. The commentary of the brahma-gayatri is also there and fully expanded with all Vedic knowledge.”

In his Sanskrit commentary on brahma-gayatri (Sri Gayatri-nigudartha), Sridhara Maharaja has uncovered the steps leading the gayatri-mantra to the Srimad Bhagavatam. The conclusion is:

gayatri-muralista-kirtana-dhanam radha-padam dhimahi

“The gayatri, that has sprung from the flute sound of Sri Krishna, only sings the glories of Srimati Radharani.”

gayatri-gaditam mahaprabhu-matam radha-padam dhimahi

“The highest and innermost instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is to engage yourself in the service of the lotus feet of Srimatî Radharani through sankirtana [congregational chanting]. Her lotus feet are to be your constant meditation.”

Regarding the Gayatri-nigudartha of Sridhara Maharaja, Bhakti Pramoda Puri Gosvami has said, “The explanation of brahma-gayatri, the mother of all Vedas, signifying devotional worship unto Srimati Radharani Sri radhanudhyana-para explanation, which was revealed in the depth of realization of Pujyapada Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja, possessed with the divine grace of Paramaradhya Sri Srila Prabhupada (Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura) upon his head—is deeply appreciated by those fortunate, intelligent devotees who are aware of the relishable beauty of pure devotional service.”

Upon the transcendental appearance of Sri Gayatri-nigudartha from the pure heart of Sridhara Maharaja the Vaishnava world of pure devotees rejoiced and danced in great ecstasy.

[edit] Srimad Rupa-pada-rajah Prarthana-dasakam

Just prior to the withdrawal of his manifest lila, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada handed Sridhara Maharaja over to the holy lotus feet of Sri Rupa Gosvami by having him sing the prayer Sri Rupa-manjari-pada. The ontological position of Sridhara Maharaja became that of the storehouse keeper of life’s greatest gift, that of the position of the servant, of the servant’s servant, servant in the camp of Sri Rupa-manjari (Sri-rupanuga-varga). His intense desire for the dust of the lotus feet of Sri Rupa Gosvami is beautifully expressed in his Sanskrit prayer, Srimad Rupa-pada-rajah Prarthana-dasakam.

Sridhara Maharaja humbly considered himself as a gatekeeper of the highest conception of Sri Rupanuga-bhajana and endeavored unwaveringly throughout his life to be faithful to the ideal and teachings of his Divine Master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada.

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[edit] References

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