For Philosophy, My Godbrother, B.R. Sridhara Maharaja of Navadwipa
BY: BRAHMA DAS
Jul 28, CALIFORNIA (SUN) — Regarding Swami Tripurari’s Sanga: Never Leave Iskcon, Mahavidya dasa cites a letter that Srila Prabhupada sent to Visvakarma dasa in 1975 that said, “I have now issued orders that all my disciples should avoid all of my godbrothers. They should not have any dealings with them nor even correspondence.” He then asks the following questions:
What was Swami B.V Tripurari doing with HH Sridhara Swami? Were the GBC at that time correct to censure him? Does a clear post-dated instruction contradicting this one (in the letter to Visvakarma) exist? Swami Tripurari answers these enquiries in this Q and A from Sanga:
Q. You were present when Srila Prabhupada directed how we should approach Srila Sridhara Maharaja and Sripad Narayana Maharaja. Some say Prabhupada meant only for some technical questions about rituals etc., not siksa in the full sense. Can you clarify?
A. “Yes, I was massaging Prabhupada's feet at the time. Tamal Krsna Maharaja asked Prabhupada the awkward question, “If you should pass from the world, how should we perform the funeral rites.” Prabhupada replied that for this we could ask Narayana Maharaja (who was residing in Mathura). He was the officiating priest for Prabhupada's sannyasa initiation, and to an extent was in the sentiment of a disciple. After Prabhupada answered, Tamal Krsna Maharaja asked, “Is there anyone else we can speak with after your departure?” To this Prabhupada replied, “For philosophy, my Godbrother, B.R. Sridhara Maharaja of Navadwipa.” Srila Prabhupada had written that he considered Sridhara Maharaja to be his siksa guru.
The leading devotees followed this instruction, asking Narayana Maharaja for advice regarding the funeral rites, and ultimately asking him to officiate over the funeral. Following this, the leading devotees all went to Mayapur for the annual ISKCON meeting in February of 1978 and consulted with Sridhara Maharaja about Gaudiya Vaisnava philosophy regarding guru tattva and disciplic succession. This resulted in a paper published by the GBC entitled “In Consultation with Higher Authorities.”
Unfortunately the GBC did not understand the council of Sridhara Maharaja, and they eventually offended him. Later passing a resolution forbidding ISKCON members from accepting a siksa guru that is not a member of ISKCON. This resolution stands to this day.
I was among those who after the departure of Srila Prabhupada approached Srila Sridhara Maharaja (for philosophy as Srila Prabhupada said that we could) and found that his siksa captured my heart. After that time, I was no longer welcome in ISKCON. When I asked Srila Sridhara Maharaja for some seva, he told me, “Swami Maharaja (Srila Prabhupada) has given you everything; go and start a preaching mission on his behalf and I will be in the background to help you.” This is what I have done, and by the grace of my gurus, I have found some success.” (Search the Sanga archives at www.swami.org for further information)
Leading members of Iskcon have corroborated the fact that Srila Prabhupada’s said that after his disappearance his disciples could go to B.R. Sridhara Maharaja for philosophy.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami said, “Just before his disappearance, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, our beloved spiritual master and the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON, said that we should go to his Godbrother Sridhara Maharaja for guidance on philosophy, after the disappearance of Srila Prabhupada. So, this talk of October certainly showed the GBC doing this, and Srila Sridhara Maharaja fulfilling this role, as Prabhupada requested he do for the disciples of Srila Prabhupada.” (Tape Recording, October 21 1980)
Giriraja Swami wrote: “According to Sridhara Swami, who Srila Prabhupada said we should consult about philosophy and practical points” (Letter to GBC, September 16, 1978.)
Bhakti Caru Swami said, “Prabhupada gave an instruction that if we have any difficulty then we should come to you.” (Room Conversation with BR Sridhara Goswami, August 19, 1980)
Furthermore, Srila Prabhupada's final instructions regarding associating with his godbrothers were entirely different from those he wrote in his letter to Visvakarma in 1975. Days before passing away, he formed the "Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust", putting two of his Godbrothers on the board. The purpose of the trust was to assist and work with Gaudiya Math and other Vaisnava groups on a co-operative basis.
Announcing the formation of the trust on November 6th, 1977, with Srila Prabhupada present, Bhavananda Swami said, “Prabhupada has formed a trust, the Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust, and its purpose is to develop Gauda-mandala-bhumi. Prabhupada's one idea is to build this darsana-mandapa at the yoga-pitha. And another is to finish Sridhara Maharaja's darsana-mandapa at his Math...., to encourage co-operation between the different Godbrothers in the temples. The members of the trust are myself and Tamala Krsna Maharaja and Giriraja, Svarupa Damodara, and (Prabhupada’s Godbrothers) Madhava Maharaja and Madhusudana Maharaja.
Contrary to his orders via the 1975 letter to Visvakarma, Srila Prabhupada then said: “We want co-operation.” (With my godbrothers.)
As per cooperation, Srila Prabhupada had already personally requested Sridhara Maharaja to help his disciples before and after his disappearance.
Srila Prabhupada said: “I do not know for how long I will be able to carry on, so I came to see Sridhara Maharaja…I very much want, (Sridhara) Maharaja, that you come and stay at Mayapura. Because (Bhaktisiddhanta) Prabhupada always desired that you preach. He told me quite a few times, "Why don't you pull him out?" [They both laugh.] You know, I also tried to some extent before, but somehow or other it did not work out. Now, why don't you come and stay at Mayapura?
He (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta) told me also, "He is such a qualified person. Sridhara Maharaja is one of the finest preachers." I want to take you everywhere. At least at the place we have in Mayapura, people are coming from all over the world. Why don't you come and stay there? What is your objection to staying in Mayapura? If you just agree, then whatever kind of building you want, I will arrange it for you. They are trying to build a house for me, so both of us will stay there.
This is my earnest desire. Since you could not go around the world and preach, at least stay there and people will come to you. I shall make that arrangement. And if you stay there, then it will be very helpful to me also. Sometimes I need to consult with someone but there is no one. There is no one with whom I can consult. I feel this deficiency very greatly.
And in that house I will make arrangements for an elevator so that you won't have to go through the difficulty of walking up and down the stairs. You won't even have to move a step yourself. I'll make arrangements for a car and a lift. Jayapataka Maharaja is telling me that he will build a house for me. So both of us will stay in that house. Most of the time I am just traveling around, so if you are there, then they can get some guidance. So Maharaja, please-give me the order and I will make all the arrangements for you.” (Room conversation between Srila Prabhupada and Sridhara Maharaja March 1977)
All considered I believe there is ample evidence to conclude that Srila Prabhupada did recede the instructions he gave to his disciples in his 1975 letter to Visvakarma. According to Webster’s dictionary the word recede means to move back, withdraw, or retreat from a previous position. In the least we can all conclude that Srila Prabhupada’s formation of the Bhaktivedanta Charity Trust with his two godbrothers on the board, his instruction to consult with Sripada Narayana Maharaja regarding his Samadhi, and his advise to go to B.R. Sridhara Maharaja for philosophy, was without doubt, a retreat from his previous instruction to not have any dealings with his godbrothers. After all, how can one avoid all contact with someone and at the same consult with them regarding charity, ritual, and philosophy?
However, the emphasis one places on association with any of Srila Prabhupada’s godbrothers, or their disciples, depends on interpretation, inspiration, and faith. In my case after hearing from Sridhara Maharaja I was inspired to continue in his association regardless of GBC resolutions and intimidation. As to whether the GBC was correct to excommunicate those who went to Sridhar Maharaja for philosophy (with Srila Prabhupada’s permission) I submit these words from a prominent leader in Iskcon.
“The GBC displayed naiveté, incompetence, crudeness, offensiveness, and gross self-interest in dealings with B.R. Sridhara Maharaja…The GBC and its members have allowed, have failed to halt, have defended, have encouraged, and have deliberately brought about mistreatment and persecution of innocent persons (who followed Sridhara Goswami).” (Jayadvaita Swami, Several Grievances Against The Members Of The GBC, 1987)
Lastly, I submit this excerpt from Srila Prabhupada’s purport in Caitanya Caritamrta. In this regard, I have yet to find any verse in scripture saying that one can only accept instruction (siksa) from a member of ones own particular religious institution. Indeed, if this were the case no one from any other Vaisnava group or institution could accept siksa from anyone in Iskcon.
"A devotee must have only one initiating spiritual master because in the scriptures acceptance of more than one is always forbidden. There is no limit, however, to the number of instructing spiritual masters one may accept. (CC 1.1.35)”
Information on the history of the relationship between Sridhara Maharaja and ISKCON after the passing of Srila Prabhupada is documented in the booklet entitled “Our Affectionate Guardians; A Historical Perspective” available at www.gosai.com.
