Nivedana (A Submission)

The following is a letter written by Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣaka Śrīdhara Deva Gosvāmī in 1980, on the occasion of the inauguration of the temple at the birth-site of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura in Jagannātha Purī. As Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja was unable to attend the ceremony in person, he submitted this letter to be read aloud before the assembled devotees. This was published in Śrī Caitanya Vāṇī magazine (Vol.10, Issue 1).

The 106th appearance day festival of the founder of the worldwide Śrī Caitanya Maṭha and the Gauḍīya Maṭha institutions, Oṁ Viṣṇupāda Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Prabhupāda, who has entered into his eternal pastimes, was completed this year on Wednesday, February 6th (22nd of Māgha) at Śrī Puruṣottama Dhāma, at the Śrī Caitanya Gauḍīya Maṭha, the birthplace of Śrīla Prabhupāda. The celebration was held with prayers for the blessings of Oṁ Viṣṇupāda Śrīmad Bhakti Dayita Mādhava Gosvāmī Mahārāja, the beloved associate of Śrīla Prabhupāda and the founder of the all-India Śrī Caitanya Gauḍīya Maṭha institution, who has also entered into his eternal pastimes.

On this occasion, a large religious gathering was held for five days from 6th February to 10th February. The meeting was inaugurated by Parama-pūjyapāda parivrājakācārya Śrīmad Bhakti Hṛdaya Vana Gosvāmī Mahārāja, Founder and Principal of the Institute of Oriental Philosophy* in Vṛndāvana. The written offering of Parama-pūjyapāda Śrīdhara Deva Gosvāmī Mahārāja, head of Śrī Caitanya Sārasvata Maṭha in Navadvīpa, was read out there. *

An offering on the auspicious occasion of the appearance of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura at his birthplace in Śrī Puruṣottama-dhāma.

*śrī siddhānta-sarasvatīti-vidito gauḍīya-gurvanvaye bhāto bhānuriva prabhātagagane rūpānugaiḥ pūjitāḥ māyāvāda-timiṅgilodara-gatān uddhṛtya jīvaniman *kṛṣṇa-prema-sudhābdhi-gahana-sukhaṁ pradat prabhuṁ taṁ bhaje

I worship my lord, who is known as Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. Within the Gauḍīya sampradāya’s lineage of gurus, he shines like the sun in the morning sky. Through the saṅkīrtana of Śrīman Mahāprabhu he rescues the souls engulfed within the belly of the timiṅgila of illusionism and bestows upon them the ecstasy of swimming in the nectarean ocean of divine love for Kṛṣṇa.

*vāñchā-kalpa-tarubhyaś ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca ** *patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ

Obeisances unto the Vaiṣṇavas, who are like wish-fulfilling trees, who are oceans of mercy and purifiers of the fallen.

Today is the auspicious appearance day of Śrī-Guru-Pāda-Padma Oṁ Viṣṇupāda Śrī Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Prabhupāda. At this place where Śrī Gadādhara, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Rūpa Gosvāmī, Rāmānanda Rāya, Harī Dāsa Ṭhākura and other associates served Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya-candra during His divine vipralambha-līlā, and in Śrī Jagannātha-kṣetra of patita-pāvana Bhagavān Śrī Puruṣottama, Śrīla Prabhupāda appeared as Śrī Vimala Prasāda from the lap of Śrī Bhagavati Devī in the transcendentally worshippable home of the inaugurator of the new age of the current of Śrī Caitanya, the crest-jewel of Vaiṣṇavas, Paramahaṁsa Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda – this is the holy birthplace which a supremely pure tīrtha for the Rūpāgugas and Gauḍīyas.

Today, as the entire world of animate and inanimate creatures is overflowing with mahā-saṅkīrtana by his disciples, grand-disciples and loyal devotees, as prescribed by Śrī Gaura, it has been undoubtedly understood by those that are pure that Śrīla Prabhupāda Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura is the mahā-puruṣa referred to by the famous śāstrika verse, hy-utkale puruṣottamāt.* Therefore what more can I say about this topic?

*Translator’s Note: The verse that Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja is referring to is from Padma Purāṇa.

*śrī-brahma-rudra-sanakā vaiṣṇavāḥ kṣiti-pāvanāḥ

*catvāras te kalau bhāvyā hy-utkale puruṣottamāt

These four Vaiṣṇavas, Śrī, Brahmā, Rudra, and Sanaka, who sanctify the earth shall indeed appear in Puruṣottama in Utkala (Orissa) in the age of Kali.

It is understood that Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s appearance in Puruṣottama Kṣetra heralded the convergence of all these sampradāyas under the banner of Mahāprabhu’s saṅkīrtana movement.

Today, at this great sacred site, to celebrate the grand festival of the auspicious appearance of Śrīla-Guru-Pāda-Padma Sarasvatī Ṭhākura with the chanting of saṅkīrtana, His transcendental sons, grandsons, and followers have gathered and filled the three worlds with the joyful uproar of Śrī Hari’s kīrtana.

Though, due to old age, I am physically unable to participate directly, I am experiencing supreme bliss within my heart. However, at the same time, our hearts are deeply grieved by the absence of our revered godbrother and one of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s most beloved and extraordinary associates, the exalted and spiritually empowered servitor, Śrīpāda Bhakti Dayita Mādhava Mahārāja.

For a long time, with utmost grace and tireless effort, overcoming many obstacles, he has made it possible for us to witness the glorious service in this transcendental holy place. He has offered us the supreme opportunity to engage in the worship of Śrīla-Guru-Pāda-Padma on this auspicious appearance day, while himself remaining behind the scenes. Today, however, our hearts naturally ache, as we are deprived of the joy of his personal presence. Yet, in today’s auspicious ceremony, while experiencing the dedicated service efforts of his worthy and beloved disciples, I feel his presence more and more. Through this unique feeling of separation and union, I am enriched by the indescribable transcendental emotion of vipralambha-rasa.

I offer my respectful greetings and heartfelt congratulations to all the fortunate associates of Śrīla Prabhupāda and the blessed devotees who are physically present today, participating in this grand festival and providing their full support in every possible way.

Glories, glories to Oṁ Viṣṇupāda Śrī Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Prabhupāda!

amalotkala-vimalotsava puruṣottama-jananam patitoddhṛti-karuṇāstṛti-kṛtanūtana-pulinam mathurāpura-puruṣottama-sama-gaurapuraṭanam hari-kāmaka-hari-dhāmaka-hari-nāmaka-raṭanam śubhadodaya-divase vṛṣaravijā-nija-dayitam praṇamāmi ca caraṇāntika-paricāraka-sahitam

He whose birth at Puruṣottama-kṣetra was an immaculate upsurge of pure and stainless joy, who fashioned the ever-new isles as a sacred shore formed by compassion for the deliverance of the fallen, who circumambulates Gaura Dhāma in the same manner as Mathurā and Puruṣottama, constantly proclaiming the loving desire for Hari, the abode of Hari, and the name of Hari. On the auspicious day of his appearance, that beloved of Vṛṣabhānu-nandini, I offer my obeisance, together with those who serve near His lotus feet.

A semblance of a servant of the associates of Śrī Caitanya – Tridaṇḍi-bhikṣu Śrī Bhakti Rakṣaka Śrīdhara

The day of Māghī Kṛṣṇa Pañcamī February 6th, 1980

(Translated by Swami Bhaktivijñāna Giri)