 |
While contemplating the spread of Krishna consciousness in the Western World and the wonderful mood of the foreign devotees of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Srila Govinda Maharaj quoted this expression of Srila Sridhdar Maharaj, which he composed in Sri Sri Dayita-Dasa-Dashakam, found in the book Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrtam. Srila Govinda Maharaj declared, "Srila Guru Maharaj always made the finest points and he expressed them using the finest shlokas. Sripad Bon Maharaj told Guru Maharaj, 'Among the followers of Saraswati Thakur, you are the best!' Guru Maharaj asked, 'Why am I the best?' and Sripad Bon Maharaj replied, 'Because you are the only one of the disciples of Srila Prabhupad who has composed a Sanskrit book (Sri Sri Prapanna-jivanamrta) and nobody can compete with your conceptions.' That was Srila Guru Maharaj's ability, he always took everything to the finest point."
He inundated the whole universe of countless living beings - whether brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas, sudras, less than sudras, and even mlecchas, with the oceanic nectar of the holy name of Sri Radha- Krishna. Although unapproachable by the liberationists and yogic perfectionists, he is the friend of the fallen, the personified mercy potency of Sri Gauranga. O Dina-nayana, wherever that great soul may be, please swiftly take this servitor there.
|
|
|
 |
When Sripad Akinchan Maharaj returned to India from his recent tour in Ukraine/Russia, he brought with him a copy of the new and extremely beautiful Russian magazine, Sadhu Sanga, hot off the press. Although not able to read Russian, Srila Govinda Maharaj looked it over again and again. He wanted to know who the editor was and when it was printed. When he came to the picture of Brahmaji offering prayers to Sri Krishna he repeatedly quoted this verse.
Brahma prayed, "O lord who is worshipped by the whole world, with your beautiful form the color of dark new cloud, covered with the lightening of your yellow garments, you are the eternal son of the king of the cohwerds, Nanda. Your beautiful effulgent face is enhanced by your gunja earings and the peacock feathers in your hair. With your garland of forest flowers and a ball of food in your hand, you are equipped with your stick for controlling the cows, your buffalo horn and your flute and this has further increased your splendid beauty. Your lotus feet are extremely soft and I offer my prayers at your feet."
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
Srila Govinda Maharaj was discussing the faith of the Western devotees and he further elaborated on the succinct expressions of Srla Sridhar Maharaj. He explained how the Western devotees are not concerned about anything but Krishna consciousness. They are not worried about the future or careers, family and the various other things that plague materialists like myself. He quoted Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami from Chaitanya-Caritamrta and then he quoted Srila Sridhar Maharaj's own compositon, which made the point even clearer. His Divine Grace then remarked,"Previously some things in the books were clear and some were hazy, but now everything is clear and there is a necessity to read all the books again."
(If it is necessary for him, what to speak of us. Although everything still may not be clear to us, we have to remember that it is a living conception and not something we have memorized on understood some years ago.)
 
When one's faith becomes firm and confident that simply by serving Krishna ( and more importantly his devotees) one accomplishes everything, without the necessity of any other activities, such faith is called 'shraddha'.
 
"Serving the supreme lord, Bhagavan Sri Krishna will bring about complete perfection." Proceeding with this faith, transcending scriptural rules and in very respect finding exclusive shelter in the lotus feet of Sri Krishna, is called saranagati, full self surrender.
|
|
|
