Not Gaudiya Math
BY: LOKAGURU DAS
Aug 3, USA (SUN) — There is a widespread misconception that needs to be corrected. Srila Narayana Maharaja is not nor has he ever been a member of the Gaudiya Math. The actual facts are these. In April of 1940 our Srila Prabhupada and Srila Bhaktiprajnana Kesava Maharaja along with Srila Vamana Maharaja and one other prabhu officially left the Gaudiya Math and formed their own society. That society was called the Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti. In 1941,
Srila Kesava Maharaja was called to accept sannyasa and make disciples by Our Param Gurudeva, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, exactly in the same way our Srila Prabhupada was called. Srila Bhaktiprajnana Kesava was the only prabhu accepting disciples within the Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti up until his departure in late 1968. Because our Srila Prabhupada was his "bosom friend" and a co-founder of Gaudiya Vedanta Samhiti he was always accorded honor and treated like a great sadhu by Srila Bhaktiprajnana Kesava even while in the grhasta asrama. Of the qualified disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, our Srila Prabhupada could have chosen to accept sannyasa from any of them, but he ultimately chose only Srila Bhaktiprajnana Kesava in 1959.
Srila Narayana left his family life and joined this Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti in early 1947. In 1952, on Gaura Purnima, Srila Narayana accepted sannyasa from Srila Bhaktiprajnana Kesava. In late 1948 Srila Narayana met our Srila Prabhupada and started to offer him service at various times like a siksa disciple. And our Srila Prabhupada accepted this service personally up to and including being placed into samadhi in 1977 by Srila Narayana's own hand. Since that time Srila Narayana has continued to serve our Srila Prabhupada by testifying and proving to an Indian court that Srila Prabhupada was a bonafide Gaudiya Vaisnava Acarya and thus saving our Iskcon from our Srila Prabhupada's own son and the smarta brahmana class lawsuit. And Srila Narayana further continues to serve Srila Prabhupada by helping to bring many of our Srila Prabhupada's lost (lost not just to Iskcon) disciples back to active devotional service (an order Srila Prabhupada gave to all his GBC men and sannyasis in the Mayapura Resolutions of 1977, where each GBC man was told it was his responsibility to reclaim each disciple within his zone that had left Iskcon).
A little known fact is that according to a GBC commissioned study in the late 1990's, there were only 500 of our Srila Prabhupada's disciples actively serving within Iskcon temples. But by the end of 2006 there were 1500 of our Srila Prabhupada's disciples actively serving Srila Prabhupada under the guidance of Srila Narayana. Another little known fact is that before 1997, Srila Narayana personally requested that if the GBC would allow him to Preach within the Iskcon society temples and give personal instruction to the GBC, sannyasis, and gurus; He would not make or accept any disciples in the west (outside of India). The GBC refused Srila Narayana Maharaja's request and the rest is history. Another even more obscure fact is that when Srila Narayana lectures from Srimad Bhagavatam or Chaitanya Caritamrta, He uses our Srila Prabhupada's original books (pre-1978 unedited books). If you don't believe this go to www.purebhakti.tv for the film evidence.
So to sum up the facts, Srila Narayana Maharaja joined a society co-founded by our Srila Prabhupada, the Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti. Srila Narayana accepted sannyasa from the same sannyasa guru as our Srila Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktiprajnana Kesava Maharaja (which makes them sannyasa godbrothers). And Srila Narayana has served our Srila Prabhupada and his 2 missions (Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti and Iskcon) since 1947. Srila Narayana is not Gaudiya Math. He is actually one of us and next to Srila Prabhupada, our best well wisher.
Please excuse me if I have made any offenses.
Sincerely,
Your fallen servant,
Lokaguru das
PS. You may or may not agree with my last sentence. All I am requesting is please Don't criticize any devotees, especially Pure Uttama Adhikari devotees who have and who are dedicating their lives to propagating the holy Names of God. If we disagree with some philosophical points, lets discuss like the Vaisnavas we are trying to become, not like materialistic crows who serve demonic culture.
