Understanding Narayana Maharaja
BY: GADADHARA DASA
Aug 4, BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA (SUN) — I am responding to an article by Lokaguru das entitled "Not Gaudiya Math" with regard to Srila Prabhupada's relationship with Narayana Swami, and also Kesava Maharaj, being Srila Prabhupada's Sannyasa initiator. I cannot understand what the big deal is that Kesava Maharaj is Narayana Swami's guru and also performed Srila Prabhupada's Sannyasa ceremony. Who cares? What does this prove?
Another thing that Narayana's disciples like to wave around is a few letters between Srila Prabhupada and their guru. And then they proclaim, "look what a wonderful relationship they had". But they leave out a very important letter where Narayana Swami shows his true colors and severely insulted Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada writes to Narayana Swami:
"I recently received your letter dated 11 May, 1967, and have become so much upset. In your letter you say, "You have given me some advice about good behavior for living in the Matha." Also in this letter you write, "There is no need for you to give me this advice."
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"What do you think that I am criticizing you? If you think this it is like a thunderbolt striking my head. Please, I am requesting you to send a copy or quotation of that letter. Otherwise the pain in my mind will not go away."
~Srila Prabhupada
ut the most important right now is all the offensive things that this Narayana Swami says about Srila Prabhupada. He completely minimizes, insults, and slanders Srila Prabhupada and His movement. The worst part is that while he is doing this minimizing, insulting, and slandering, to get followers he praises Srila Prabhupada, knowing well Srila Prabhupada's position in the Sampradaya. Who would ever want to deal with some one who says these things about Srila Prabhupada, not to mention take shelter of him?
Understanding Narayana Maharaja:
In his own words and other primary sources:
Narayana Maharaja on A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and ISKCON -
Compiled by disciples of Srila Prabhupada
Narayana Maharaja Germany: Dec 12, 2001:
"My siksa-guru, nitya-lila-pravista Om visnupada Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja"
Narayana Maharaja Mathura, October 24, 1999:
"We can glorify Swamiji, Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja. But those who are falling down, how can they glorify him? They cannot glorify him, never; they are cutting. They are establishing that he was the founder of ISKCON, but I know that he was not founder, he was one of the members of this in guru parampara. It was founded by Krishna, and first acarya was Brahma, then Narada, then Vyasa. Only he has changed the name and he has preached these things in Western countries."
Narayana Maharaja Murwillumbah, Australia: Feb. 18, 2002 (eve):
"Your Prabhupada, Srila Swami Maharaja, only changed the name into English. He is not the founder-acarya of that eternal ISKCON... I am ISKCON. I'm not different from ISKCON. I am 'Bhaktivedanta' [Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja]. Like father, like son. I am the real successor of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, and there is no other. You should know this very openly. I am Bhaktivedanta and he is Bhaktivedanta, but he received this name after I did. I'm senior to him in this regard... I'm Bhaktivedanta, and I'm also ISKCON. Don't think that I'm out of ISKCON."
Narayana Maharaja 28th April 1999, morning, Caracas:
"Also you should know that Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the founder of ISKCON. Swamiji, AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja is one of the prominent acaryas in this line only. He is not founder; he's one of the prominent acaryas, who spread all these things [over] whole world, in a very short time. Though Prabhupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati himself could not come here, and he sent Swami Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja here. So Swamiji is one of the hands of Srila Prabhupada. It is not that Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja is also father and forefather of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Thakura. We should try to realize all these things. He was one hand, one hand, he was one hand, and that hand was so long that it traveled [over the] whole world, that long hand. But for this you should not minimize all other acaryas who have not come here, but more qualified they were. Like parama pujyapada Sridhara Maharaja, Gosvami Maharaja, my Guru Maharaja, to whom this Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja used to make, used to honor like siksa-guru."
Hari Sauri 3/31/97 7:54 AM Letter:
"He (Narayana Maharaja) shouted, 'I am not under your rules. I am not ISKCON, I am Gaudiya Math!'"
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Letter to: Dr. Bigelow: -- Allahabad 20 January, 1971:
"I am the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness."
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Letter to: Kurusrestha - Bombay 28 December, 1974:
"Also your idea of forming a trust between ISKCON and the leading men in the Indian community is approved by me. That is very nice. Let the Indians take part in our movement and help us to push on this mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In that trust you must be very careful to make sure that my name is registered there as the founder-acarya and that I am to be the ultimate authority. In other words, in any case of necessity of vetoing or canceling any decision made by the other trustees, I should be able to do like that. My decision should over-rule all the other trustees combined."
Narayana Maharaja conversation, Murwillumbah, Australia: Feb.12, 2002 (morning):
"Therefore, in his service to Radhika, for rati-keli-siddhyai, a guru cannot serve in his male form. Srila Swami Maharaja and my Gurudeva are both serving there in their female forms as gopis. In that realm my Gurudeva is Vinoda Manjari, Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Thakura is Nayana Manjari, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura is Kamala Manjari, Srila Jiva Gosvami is Vilasa Manjari, Srila Rupa Gosvami is Rupa Manjari, and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami is Rati Manjari. These manjaris can serve Radha-Krishna Conjugal."
Sripad Dhrstadyumna dasa: "And our Srila Prabhupada?"
Srila Narayana Maharaja: "If you fully surrender, by body, mind, words and ego, then I may tell you. Otherwise, I will not. I know who he is, but you do not know. None of the ISKCON leaders know. Your Prabhupada has cheated them all, in the sense that he has not revealed himself to them at all.''
Narayana Maharaja: So I want to say that your Prabhupada has given these things...only these things...and not beyond these things. Then he was only the servant of Mahavisnu, not of Krishna.
Datta dasa, Letter to Narayana Maharaja, July 19, 1998:
"I do not understand why you are again giving the Gayatri mantra to Srila Prabhupada disciples who have already heard it from him. And I do not agree with you that Srila Prabhupada did not understand that if devotees heard his chanting of the Gayatri mantra from a tape, it was not bona fide."
SB 2.9.8 purport by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:
"The potency of transcendental sound is never minimized because the vibrator is apparently absent."
Narayana Maharaja December 3, 2001 India:
"You should try to realize what instructions Srila Swami Maharaja (Srila Prabhupada) has given. He has never given anything other than the instructions of Srila Rupa Gosvami. He always followed Rupa Gosvami, and therefore he is a rupanuga-vaisnava. He wanted to very clearly give the path of rupanuga (manjari-bhava), but he first had to cut down the jungles of mayavada and atheism. Because he wanted to give this path, he requested me to help them. He could have given it then, but they were not ready at that time."
Narayana Maharaja Murwillumbah, Australia: Feb. 18, 2002 (eve):
"I am the real successor of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, and there is no other."
Narayana Maharaja, Lecture given on September 19th, 1994:
"Those who are not rasika Vaisnavas, they don't know tattva, they have not gone to association with any Vaisnava...they think that to preach whole world...the name of Krishna...and to give Gita sandesha...is the whole thing. So I want to say that your Prabhupada has given these things...only these things...and not beyond these things. Then he was only the servant of Mahavisnu, not of Krishna. A strange thing... for them who are ignorant. But those who are wise and have done initiation from any rasika vaisnava, bhava bhakta of Caitanya Mahaprabhu,... Those who have given their heart to them and have realized anything...very little...they can realize these things......At first, if any temple is going on...we'll have to clear... the ground. The thorns are there, the trees having thorns ...useless...to be cut, and to give some land... But to dig and to sweep is not everything. To dig for basement of this big temple is not everything. So Swamiji has at first cleared the atmosphere...Prepared the ground...by preaching name and the sandesh of Gita...he prepared. So very important work. Without this, without this, he could not have given these things. As Caitanya Mahaprabhu first preached the whole world Krishna name, and he wanted all Vaisnavas to understand His inner mood....Otherwise everyone cannot understand...so he has done this task and it was so necessary for that world...for all world...he has done but he has not done everything ...by that doing. It was only basement...Foundation."
Narayana Maharaja Bambra, a farm near Melbourne:
"Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja told me in the last days 'You should help my disciples. They are like monkeys; I could not train them so much. So always try to help them.'"
Narayana Maharaja Salt Spring Island, B.C. Canada May 2001(Morning):
"When he came to the Western countries he saw that all were taking so many drugs-- so many drugs. Almost all were mad persons, loving dog instead of God. Still he thought, "What should I do? I should give something." First he cut the jungles of all mayavada philosophy, atheism, material science propaganda, and so on. Next he explained that you should worship your own gurudeva first. It was something-- a beginning for beginners. A, B, C, D. A is for apple, B is for ball, C is for cat, and D is for dog. However, when you pass the beginning primary school and enter high school or college, you should not think, "Oh, I will only study the thing I learned at the beginning. I will not obey all these professors. I only want my gurudeva and what he has told us. A means apple, B means ball, and C means cat. Why are you telling different things?" "Narayana Maharaja comes and tells so many different things. We should not accept this. He is glorifying Rupa Gosvami, and he is teaching that we want affection for Radha-Krishna Conjugal. Why is he telling different things? Don't listen to Narayana Maharaja. It will be an offense." What is this? Ignorant persons speak like this. Don't think that I am teaching anything other than what your Srila Prabhupada wanted and wrote. His voice has been recorded on his last day. He ordered me, "Help my disciples." After that he did not speak to anyone. You can get that cassette. Why did he order me in this way? Weeping, he requested this of me. If he had already told everything, then why did he request me in that way? If anyone does not have belief in my statements, he can acquire and hear the cassette. At that time he spoke in Bengali so that others would not understand. If he were to say that all his disciples were ignorant, that they did not know very much, and that they were imperfect, they may have become upset. For this reason he spoke so many things in Bengali. He told me, "I brought them, but I could not teach them in full." If he had told them everything, and if they were so knowledgeable and expert, why have so many of the senior devotees, even those in the renounced order, fallen down? Where are they now? Where they are now is not ISKCON. They were not ISKCON, they are not ISKCON, and they will not be ISKCON. ...If there is no need for Prabhupada's disciples to continue hearing from a bona fide guru, then why are they falling? Why? I know more than you, much more than you."
The conversation to which Narayana Maharaja refers, in the May, 2001 talk:
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami and Narayana Maharaja Oct-Nov 1977, Vrindabana, as transcribed by followers of Narayana Maharaja:
Srila Prabhupada: Are any of my God-brothers in Vrindavana now?
Narayana Maharaja: Yes.
Srila Prabhupada: Who?
Narayana Maharaja: Van Maharaja might be there, as well as Indupati Prabhu
from Caitanya Gaudiya Matha.
Srila Prabhupada: Any more?
Narayana Maharaja: Only these two at the moment.
Srila Prabhupada: Who is Indupati?
Narayana Maharaja: Indupati. He comes here often.
Bhakticaru Swami: From Madhava Maharaja's matha?
Narayana Maharaja: Yes. No one else is here.
Srila Prabhupada: Please call both of them. Van Maharaja and him.
Narayana Maharaja: This is very good proposal by you.
Srila Prabhupada: Please sit down. They will call them.
Narayana Maharaja: All right.
Srila Prabhupada: This cutting of arguments happens sometimes...
Narayana Maharaja: These are insignificant matters in such a substantial worldwide mission. A little something here and there is of no consequence. You have done this wonderful preaching work for the benefit of the whole world. There was no self-interest. You did everything only in devotional service to Krsna-- for benefiting all people at large.
Srila Prabhupada: It is all by your blessings.
Narayana Maharaja: You have done a wonderful thing. It is necessary to care for and preserve this mission, and see that it is managed skillfully.
Srila Prabhupada: You kindly instruct them on this matter. I'm unable to
speak.
Satsvarupa Goswami:
"In the ultimate issue, however, what matters is not so much what Srila Prabhupada may or may not have said to Srila Narayana Maharaja, but what Srila Prabhupada said to us, his disciples. And there is no record of him ever instructing the members of ISKCON to take direction from Srila Narayana Maharaja, other than to seek his advice concerning the details of performing Srila Prabhupada's samadhi ceremony."
Hrdayananda Maharaja, letter Thursday, 7 December 2000:
"Narayana Maharaja states that he is the 'first' or maybe the 'true' disciple of Srila Prabhupada etc. Actually I have personally served Srila Prabhupada for so many years as a GBC member and he has never mentioned Narayana Maharaja, nor was Narayana Maharaja engaged in any significant service to Srila Prabhupada's Mission. Srila Prabhupada never told in any book, article interview or any other documented statements, that Narayana Maharaja should become the siksa guru of ISKCON."
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Room conversation, Bombay: August 16, 1976:
"They (Bhaktisiddhanta's disciples) never thought, 'Why Guru Maharaja gave us instruction so many things, why he did not say that this man should be acarya?' They wanted to create artificially somebody acarya and everything failed. They did not consider even with common sense that if Guru Maharaja wanted to appoint somebody as acarya, why did he not say? He said so many things, and this point he missed? The real point? ...So better remain a foolish person perpetually to be directed by Guru Maharaja. That is perfection."
Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita:
"Devotees worried, speculating on whether they could carry on without Swamiji. (When Prabhupada became very ill.) One devotee suggested that perhaps one of Swamiji's Godbrothers should come to America and fill in for Swamiji and, if the worst happened, take over the leadership of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. When the suggestion reached Prabhupada, he considered it without immediately replying.
Mukunda: I was sitting alone with Swamiji in his room, and he was very grave and silent. His eyes were closed. Then, suddenly, tears began flowing from his eyes. And he said in a choked voice, "My spiritual master was no ordinary spiritual master." Then he paused for some time, and wiping the tears from his cheeks, he said in an even more choked voice, "He saved me." At that point I began to understand the meaning of "spiritual master" and dropped all consideration of ever replacing Swamiji.
After two days Prabhupada said he would not call any of his Godbrothers to come and take care of his disciples. He said, "If this person speaks just one word different from what I am speaking, there will be great confusion among you." Actually, he said, the idea was an insult to the spiritual master."
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Letter to: Dina Dayala, Mayapur 25 February, 1976:
"I have instructed everything in my books."
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Letter to: Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 16 June, 1972:
"I have given you everything, so read and speak from the books and so many new lights will come out. We have got so many books, so if we go on preaching from them for the next 1,000 years, there is enough stock."
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Letter to: Nitai -- New York 14 July, 1976:
"I have received reports that you have been developing the habit of going outside the temple to hear lectures by others outside like Nrsimhavallabha. Strictly nobody should go outside to hear lectures by others. If you are not satisfied by the calibre of the classes at the Krishna Balarama Mandir, then you should give another class, but you cannot go outside for hearing others' lectures. Kindly stop this habit immediately."
Narayana Maharaja on ISKCON leaders and devotees:
Narayana Maharaja Salt Spring Island, B.C. Canada, May 2001 (Morning);
"Some of his (Srila Prabhupada's) sannyasis used to come to me, but where are they now? They were forbidden to continue hearing (from me) and properly understanding their gurudeva. If they will come again and serve their gurudeva, then they have a chance-- otherwise not."
Narayana Maharaja Salt Spring Island, B.C. Canada May 2001(Morning):
"Though one may have taken initiation from Srila Swami Maharaja 30 years before, he may still be kanistha adhikari-- not madyama. Otherwise, there would be no confusion or falling down. A pure devote can never fall down. This is the reason: they did not want to listen to anyone other than Srila Swami Maharaja, but they should listen to grow."
Sivarama Swami, Siksa booklet, page 34:
"It is paradoxical that some Vaisnavas condemn ISKCON's struggles, their own societies having transited through similar problems in the past, nay, even experiencing such problems at present. And if these same Vaisnavas, who, in Prabhupada's estimation, were responsible for chaos in their own organization are now qualified to be gurus, then why not value the devotees of ISKCON by the same standard?"
Narayana Maharaja Los Angeles, California - May 31, 2000:
"Never. Srila Swami Maharaja has not instructed like this. Has he said that we should go to the atheists' university? ... Has Srila Swami Maharaja told anywhere that you should go to this bad university or that bad university? What will be the result? Those who are going will be like historians. They will not believe in God. They will not believe in Name and harikatha. They will not believe that Caitanya Mahaprabhu came from Goloka Vrndavan (Svetedvipa). They will think, 'Krishna was not God.' Gradually this belief will come. They will compare Caitanya Mahaprabhu with Buddha. They are bound to do so. They will not be able to have faith in Caitanya Caritamrta and in Srimad Bhagavatam."
Narayana Maharaja Moscow, 30 July 2000:
"These universities are like slaughterhouses and they are full of mayavadis. Srila Swami Maharaja came and cut down all the arguments of the mayavadis and nirvesesavadis. Why should his disciples join all these things? It is because they have no faith in their Guru's words, and because they themselves are not guru at all. They are fallen from the beginning. There is no position from which they would fall down."
Narayana Maharaja December 3, 2001 India:
"So many of those who claim to be disciples of Prabhupada neither have faith in him nor in nama-bhajana. Rather, they have faith in universities and mayavada professors. Did Prabhupada tell anyone to learn from mayavadi professors? How can we accept them as ISKCON devotees? They have no faith in ISKCON and ISKCON principles."
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Letter to: Pierre Sauvageau - Honolulu 2 February 1975:
"I like the idea of yours to continue on for PHD presenting our books and philosophy in your thesis. This will be a great service for you to perform and I shall be very grateful to you if you can do it. Please therefore go ahead with obtaining PHD and become a learned scholar in the science of loving Krishna."
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada , Letter No. 33 to Ravindra-svarupa, unknown Place unknown Date:
"So far as your course at the Temple University is concerned, [Ravindra Swarupa was studying for his Ph.D. at Temple University] that is the best platform for introducing our philosophy to the serious persons. And if they become sincere to learn the highest topics of subject matter or transcendental knowledge from us, that will be the perfection of their education. If you must read some other books of philosophers, even they are Mayavadis, as a sideline we can speak about them as comparative study. Otherwise our main aim is to study and preach Bhagavad-Gita and Lord Caitanya. Our purpose is to teach our own philosophy. Do not lose sight of that purpose or become distracted by other things. I have also made one book about other philosophies of your western philosophers, but I did not make compromise."
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Letter to: Bhakta dasa - Bombay 13 April 1974:
"Regarding Srinivasa Svarupa it is very pleasing to hear that this Indian boy wants to surrender his whole life to Krishna. There is no harm if he finishes college and gets his degree. If possible, he can live in the temple and attend the university daily. At any rate, he should carefully follow all the regulative principles and associate with his fellow devotees as much as possible. The university is well known for demonic association, but if he is able to keep up his devotional practices and protect the creeper of devotional service, then he may complete his degree. I think there is more advantage in Bir Krishna remaining fully engaged in his temple duties than in going back to college. What would be the practical benefit of such degree?"
Narayana Maharaja Murwillumbah, Australia: Feb. 15, 2002 (Evening, Part 1):
"If the guru is following all the principles of bhakti, if he is in the line of his gurudeva, if he is chanting and remembering but he is not learned enough to give you Krishna-tattva, then don't give him up. With honor for him, take his permission, and go with his permission to associate with exalted Vaisnavas. And, if he does not give permission, you can consider that he is also among the kan-gurus meant for being given up."
Datta dasa Letter to Narayana Maharaja, July 19, 1998:
"I have directly heard you say, for example, (in front of others) that "Tamal Krishna Maharaja is not a follower of Swamiji." I humbly request you to tell me what is the basis for that. You also told me, and others, that "99% of the ISKCON Gurus and GBC are fallen" (room conversation 6/97; Present was: Narayan Maharaja, Datta, Gopavrindapal, Brajendranandana, and Nabine Krishna, secretary of Narayan Maharaja) and I have heard you say in a public assembly that "at any time the ISKCON gurus may fall," (public lecture Badger, CA 6/22/98) I suppose referring to the other 1%. In speaking of Giriraja Swami, Tamal Krishna Maharaja, Jayapataka Maharaja, and others, you say they have "so much false ego." You have said to at least one disciple (that I know of) of an ISKCON guru in good standing that he should take second initiation from you since it was necessary to receive the Gayatri mantra from a Maha-Bhagavat devotee; otherwise the mantra has no effect."
What follows is but a partial sampling of devotees who were initiated by ISKCON gurus in good standing but who have rejected their ISKCON guru and instead taken shelter of Srila Narayana Maharaja. Several of these devotees have personally informed their ISKCON guru that they have left him and have clearly stated that they have now taken re-initiation from Srila Narayana Maharaja:
Gopal Krishna Maharaja: Parasurama dasa, Parasara Muni dasa, Ramacandra dasa, Pavana dasa
Jayapataka Swami: Vicitra Vasini dasi
Satsvarupa Maharaja: Navadvipa dasa, Narmada dasi, Jagannatha Krishna dasa
Indradyumna Maharaja: Abhaya Mudra dasi
Tamal Krishna Maharaja: RadhasTami dasa
Krishna dasa Swami: Ayodhyapati dasa
Bir Krishna Goswami: Bhakti lata dd
Madhusevita das: Keli-parayana das, Mahalakshmi d.d., Gaura-pournima d.d.
Vipramukhya Swami: Syamananda dasa
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, March 1968, letter to Hrsikesha:
"I am greatly surprised for Bon Maharaja's initiating you in spite of his knowing that you are already initiated by me. So it is deliberate transgression of Vaisnava etiquette and otherwise a deliberate insult to me. I do not know why he has done like this but no Vaisnava will approve of this offensive action."
Narayana Maharaja Murwillumbah, Australia: Feb.12, 2002 (morning):
"I do not accept them as gurus. Actually, guru is one who can serve Radhika. If a guru has fully controlled his senses, but he is not directly serving Radhika, he is only partially guru. [quotes Upadesamrta verses 1-4] A partial guru may even follow Upadesamrta, verse 8 [quotes verse] Still, if he is not like Rupa Manjari and Rati Manjari, and if he is not serving them, he may be a guru in part, but not in full. The highest quality of the guru is service to Radhika, as I have just explained. In this way, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura is writing, vande guroh sri caranaravindam. I bow down to my Gurudeva, and all gurus in the line of Sri Rupa Gosvami."
Is a bona fide guru omniscient?
Narayana Maharaja Germany: Dec 12, 2001:
"Nowadays there are so many devotees who were personally following your Prabhupada, and by that they came in contact with this transcendental life. But now they are thinking that he was not sarvajna, not all-knowing or omniscient. What was he? Foolish? Ignorant? You know in His boyhood, that Krishna performed so many pastimes in which he appeared like a totally ignorant boy. But that does not mean He is ignorant or that He is not omniscient. And, if He is omniscient, why should His associates not be so? They must be. (Jadurani devi dasi brings up the point about child abuse in the gurukula. How could it have gone on if Prabhupada was omniscient, or all knowing?) Narayana Maharaja explains about Prabhupada being omniscience and child abuse occuring in ISKCON:
"If those in the gurukula are not offensive they will get some good impressions, samskaras, in the heart--by sadhu-sanga. Srila Swami Maharaja knowingly did something like this for the gain of the whole world--the whole universe. He has given krpa, mercy, to all. Prabhupada did not do anything improper. He was sarvajna (all knowing), and he wanted to do good for all. It was not the fault of Prabhupada; it was fault of their bad karma of past births and also this birth. We should realize this.
Although some are not realizing this, still he will help them. If those who attended gurukulas, who performed bad activities in past lives, had not come in contact with Srila Swami Maharaja--and instead of going to gurukula they had gone to any other school--the same karmic reaction would have come to them because of their past impressions. In fact, much, much worse things would have happened to them, and they would not have had the good opportunity to associate with a pure devotee--to receive prasada from his hand, to receive so much mercy from him, and to have the chance to take up devotional activities later on."
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Letter to Rupanuga Dasa, 3 July 1968:
"Yes, those twelve symptoms of the spiritual soul are correct, except for "all-knowing." All-knowing it cannot be, but full of knowledge."
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Mayapur morning walk, April 8, 1975:
Jayadvaita: Because we see... For instance, sometimes the acarya may seem to forget something or not to know something, so from our point of view, if someone has forgotten, that is...
Prabhupada: No, no, no. Then...
Jayadvaita: ...an imperfection.
Prabhupada: That is not the... Then you do not understand. Acarya is not God, omniscient. He is servant of God. His business is to preach bhakti cult. That is acarya.
The process of Deity worship and names of Deities - Narayana Maharaja Murwillumbah, Australia, on January 20th , 2000:
"We see that some devotees are doing bhajana of Radha and Krishna, and also worshipping Jagannathadeva or Nrsimhadeva. Sometimes Ramacandra, Laksmana, Sita and Hanuman are also there: and Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda prabhu and Laddu Gopal are also there. Can you give them up? You can give up Jagannatha, no harm. You can give up other incarnations, but what will you do about Caitanya Mahaprabhu? What should we do? If you are serving Caitanya Mahaprabhu as well as Radha-Krishna conjugal, then it seems it will be not one-pointed. Then what should we do? Then it will not be ananya. We should try to follow ananya. We should try to be one-pointed, not having so many ista-devas. Otherwise how can you concentrate? If you are doing arcana of Radha-Krishna, and also Dvarakadhisa, Laddu Gopal, Nrsimhadeva, Mahaprabhu, Ramacandra, Laksmana and Sita, Jagganath-on the same altar-it means that you are ignorant. You have no knowledge at all.
Perhaps your guru was not so high, and he has not explained all these things. We should know all these truths. All the doubts are cleared up in our acaryas' commentaries on Manah Siksa, and they will quickly disappear when reading their explanations. We should follow Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami who was worshipping Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In what way? As guru. If you are doing arcana of gurudeva and Krishna, no harm. This is ananya."
Kamalacarana das, April 2, 2002:
"I was in Yogapit in Mayapur... Siddhanti Maharaja and gave me the following information: In 1894 Bhaktivinoda Thakura founded the Old Temple and established Radha Madhava, Gaur Visnupriya and finally Caitanya Mahaprabhu Deities on the altar. Radha Madhava he got from one brahmana few years ago. Then in 1934 the New Temple was built by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. He installed Laksmipriya, Panca-Tattva, Sri Jagannatha and Adhoksaja Visnu. This Adhoksaja Visnu Deity was the personal Deity of Jagannath Misra, found while excavating work was going on. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, in 1934, established a Laksmi Narasimha Temple there also, which is actually the puspa samadhi of Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja's mother. The Deities there are Sri Laksmi Narasimha and Gour Gadadhara."
Bhakti Vikasa Swami, March 2002:
"At the Yogapith in Mayapur Radha Madhav, Panca tattva, Gaur Visnupriya and Jagannath are on 3 separate simhasanas on one altar."
Tridandi Svami Bhaktivedanta Aranya (leading disciple of Narayana Maharaja) June 8, 2000:
"Srila Narayana Maharaja expressed his concern over the worship of some Deities of Radha-Krishna in ISKCON Who are being addressed by the names Rukmini-Dvarakadisa, Radha-Parthasarathi, Radha-Nilamadhava, Radha-Govinda Madhava etc. Srila Maharaja never criticized names that Prabhupada gave. Rather, he questioned whether Prabhupada actually gave them... The names of the above-mentioned Deities are either rasabhasa or inappropriate... Srila Narayana Maharaja has stated that the name Radha-Partha-sarathi is rasabhasa because Srimati Radhika never leaves Vrndavan...As far as the names Rukmini-Dvarakadhisa are concerned, although they are bonafide names, they are inferior in tattva to Radha-Krishna. ... Therefore to worship Dvarakadisa and Parthasarathi, Who are the vaibhava-prakasa expansions of Nandanandana Krishna, is clearly not following in the wake of Srila Prabhupada's inner moods."
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Morning Walk Madras, January 9, 1976:
Acyutananda: The name of the Delhi Deities is Radha-Parthasarathi. So how do we understand? Because Partha means Arjuna. So Radha, how does Radha get there?
Prabhupada: When Krishna is Parthasarathi, Radha is out of Him? Does it mean?
Indian man (1): What you mean, Parthasarathi is Sri Krishna.
Acyutananda: Yes.
Prabhupada: That's all. Yes. Radha-Krishna-pranaya-vikrtir ahladini-saktir. When He is fighting, the ahladini-sakti is there. It is not manifest.
Is conjugal love in separation the highest expression of bhakti? - Narayana Maharaja Sri Vraja-Mandala Parikrama, p. 45:
"Those who have not scrutinizingly studied the scripture Srimad Bhagavatam, and who have not conscientiously comprehended Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, and who have also not properly understood books like Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu, Brhad Bhagavatamrta, Ujvala Nilamani, Krishna Karnamrta and other literatures of this nature. These people consider vipralambha, the mood of separation to be the highest level of ecstasy. Our previous acaryas also considered vipralambha to be an exalted state; but after much reflection they perceived vipralambha as a prerequisite to highlight and more fully embellish and amplify the ecstasy of reunion. If there would be only vipralambha for all of eternity what would be the use? What would be its service? Vipralambha is necessary only because it intensifies the ecstatic feelings of reunion again."
Narayana Maharaja Sri Vraja-Mandala Parikrama, p.46:
"So you can see that the mood of vipralambha is much more complex than possibly the way you envisioned it to be before. And those who still persist in advocating that vipralambha is the highest, they do not yet have the spiritual maturity and understanding to realize that it is not possible for anything to be more elevated than Srimati Radharani and Krishna's ecstatic loving exchanges in reuniting again."
From Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya lila 8.191-197 in Teachings of Lord Caitanya A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:
"Upon hearing of these transcendental activities, Lord Caitanya said, "My dear Ramananda, what you have explained regarding the transcendental pastimes of Sri Radha and Krishna is perfectly correct, yet there is something more I would like to hear from you." "It is very difficult for me to express anything beyond this," Ramananda Raya replied. "I can only say that there is an emotional activity called prema-vilasa-vivarta, which I may try to explain but I do not know whether You will be happy to hear it." In prema-vilasa there are two kinds of emotional activities--separation and meeting. That transcendental separation is so acute that it is actually more ecstatic than meeting."
Dealings with sahajiya babajis
Narayana Maharaja Germany: Dec 12, 2001:
"Don't follow the sahajiyas. We should be very careful to avoid trying to become 'goopis' or to follow their ideas"
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Conversation, Vrndavana, September 6, 1976:
"Don't follow these so-called Radha-kunda babajis."
Former prominent follower of Narayana Maharaja:
"The Vilap Kusumanjali lectures Narayana Maharaja gave during 1991-1993 were more or less based on the commentaries of Sri Ananda Gopal Gosvami and Sri Ananta Dasa Babaji. Particularly some of the asta-kaliya-lilas related by the former were of his own realization. In terms of the Gaudiya Math, the former would be classified as a caste Gosvamin and the latter as a sahajiya Babaji. Nevertheless Narayana Maharaja plagiarized their works and let people believe he expressed his own realizations. And moreover, now he boycotts the very same persons', Ananta das Baba's, works directly on his lectures. The translator and publisher of Ananta das Baba's works in English, Advaitadas, is a grand-disciple of Ananda Gopal Gosvamin. For all documents I have seen, Narayana Maharaja has not directly criticized Ananda Gopal Gosvamin, but he would certainly not be accepted by the orthodox followers of the Gaudiya Math.
"One of many examples:
Vilapa Kusumanjali verse 31 -- Narayana Maharaja says on September 21, 1994:
"In the meantime the anklet of one foot came out and went away. Tulasi noticed that the sound of vamsi had also become less and Srimati Radhika stopped to dance and everything was upset. Tulasi ran towards the anklet, but in the meantime Krsna came and took it. He bound it on the feet of Srimati Radhika, and again the dancing and all things were done as before. Tulasi Manjari remembered this and began to tell to Radhika, "O You remember when Rasa was going on and this happened? Krsna took the anklet Himself and He tighten it on Your feet and again You began to dance."
Ananda Gopala Gosvami said 40 years earlier: hathat nupura khose geche. Dasi nece nece ese noto hoiya nrtya parayaa carae poraiya dilen....nupur khose geche dekhe kokhon-o syamasundara bansi gunje rekhe carana buke tule niye dui hate poran. "Suddenly an anklebell fell off; the maidservant danced and stooped down to put them back on Her dancing feet. Sometimes also Syamasundara, when seeing the anklebell falling off, tucks His flute in His sash, takes Svamini's feet to His chest and replaces the bell."
Gayatri mantra and Harinama
Narayana Maharaja Going Beyond Vaikuntha Chapter Seven:
"Without the gopala-mantra and the kama-gayatri, will our sadhana be complete with only the nama-sankirtana? No, because by nama-sankirtana alone we will not be able to chant suddha-nama, the pure name of Krishna."
Narayana Maharaja Confidential Secrets of Bhajana, page 22:
"Every-thing is there, but don't think that we can realize all this by chanting Krishna-nama alone. We must chant nama-mantra (gayatri) as well, if we want full understanding and realization of what is in the Hare Krishna mantra."
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor - August 13, 1973, Paris:
"Chanting Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Then, as he practices, becomes more purified, then second initiation. Gayatri. Gayatri-mantra. But the first initiation, according to Jiva Gosvami, that is sufficient. Chanting Hare Krishna mantra, that is sufficient. But still, to purify them more, the second initiation, Gayatri, is given."
Srila Sridhar Maharaj (Gaudiya Math) Sri Guru and His Grace:
"We accept the mantra only to help the nama-bhajan, the worship of the holy name. Otherwise it may not be necessary at all. It has been judged in such a way. The name alone can do everything for a person. It is full and complete. The (gayatri) mantra helps us to do away with the aparadhas, offenses, and the abhasa, or hazy conception. The (gayatri) mantra comes to help us only so far."
How a devotee achieves perfection
Narayana Maharaja, Bhakti-rasayana chapter six:
"If after hearing these verses (about Krishna and the gopis) one doesn't meditate on them, then at the time of taking harinama his mind will certainly be absorbed in thoughts of material enjoyment. While chanting his mind will be unsteady, and remembrance of events from the life he led before he began to follow the path of bhakti will awaken inside him. Various kinds of sankalpaand vikalpa, attraction and repulsion to material objects will come to his mind, and he won't receive the full benefit from this nectar-tonic. But if someone meditates on these verses while taking harinama, then his bhakti will surely increase. This is the method for increasing one's bhakti."
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Prabhupader Patravali, Chapter 1:
"There is no point in making a separate effort to artificially remember the Lord's form, qualities and pastimes. The Lord and His name are one and the same. This will be understood clearly when the coverings in our hearts are removed. By chanting without offenses you will personally realize that all perfections come from the Holy Name."
Kesari Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami (diksa guru of Narayana Maharaja) - His life and Teachings, Part 4, P.343:
"One day a devotee was studying the commentaries on rasa-lila, brahmara-gita and so on, and Srila Gurudeva [Bhaktisiddhanta] said, 'The qualification to hear topics such as rasa-lila will come when sri nama-kirtana has freed the heart from anarthas, and suddha-sattva has appeared there.'"
Narayana Maharaja, Venu-gita, introduction:
"Those who believe that only sadhakas who are completely free from all anarthas are eligible to hear the above-mentioned pastimes (of Krishna and the gopis), will neither become free from anarthas nor obtain eligibility to hear even after millions of births... Then how can this greed be obtained...Faithfully hearing the narrations of Sri Krishna's pastimes saturated with rasa from the lips of rasika Vaisnavas or by faithfully studying the literature related to the pastimes of Sri Krishna, composed by them, this greed may be obtained. Besides this, there is no other means."
Srila Puri Maharaja, (no longer physically present) Lecture, Vrndavana 11th Nov. 1994:
"The only thing that can give you prema is pure chanting. There is no other process which can bring you to the level of prema. You may feel that sometimes a certain attraction, but if this is not steady, you cannot interpret it as lobha, which is so rare. You cannot just find it anywhere."
Narayana Maharaja Going Beyond Vaikuntha Chapter Seven:
"Some people think that they will first become free from all offenses and anarthas, become pure by their own efforts, and then engage in bhajana, but that is absurd."
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada Prakrta-rasa-sata-dusani:
"Rasa, devotional mellow, can never be first present and then develop into rati, transcendental attachment, or sraddha, proper faith. The Srimad-Bhagavatam (or the realized devotee) never sings any opinion other than rati develops from sraddha."
Narayana Maharaja Going Beyond Vaikuntha Chapter Seven:
"If one listens with faith to narrations of Krishna's pastimes with the gopis by anusrnuyad-- accepting a pure guru, an ideal rasika Vaisnava who knows bhagavat-tattva and then constantly hearing from him-- then exclusive sentiment will come to him. This sentiment is our everything, and it will arise in us and give us great happiness."
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada, letter:
"Those who have achieved the perfection of being fixed in their spiritual identity (svarupa-siddhi) have attained such a realization through internal revelation and the spiritual master's only involvement in these matters is to help the further advancement of a disciple. As a practitioner progresses toward spiritual perfection, all these things are revealed naturally within the heart that sincerely seeks service."
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Letter, Los Angeles, February 19, 1970:
"As soon as a devotee is regularly engaged in this way, always engaged in Krishna Consciousness, Krishna will reveal the whole spiritual science from within the heart of such sincere devotee."
Srimad Bhagavatam 3.9.33:
"When you are free from the conception of gross and subtle bodies and when your senses are free from all influences of the modes of material nature, you will realize your pure form in My association. At that time you will be situated in pure consciousness."
Narayana Maharaja, Venu-gita, text 12, page 37:
"We should always hear and chant and remember Krishna's Vrindavana pastimes. A rasika devotee will learn only enough tattva-jnana to facilitate his entrance into the bhava he is attracted to. Then everything will develop and he will be able to enter the lila. If he always thinks of Krishna as the Supreme Lord, then his attraction for Krishna will be pre-dominated by aisvarya-jnana and he will not be able to enter Krishna's madhurya-lila. Therefore a rasika Vaisnava should not focus on Krishna in the way He is presented in Bhagavad-gita, as the Supreme God."
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Caitanya Siksamrta, Chapter 7, Part 1:
"Those who have not attained pure rati and sense control make futile attempts to become qualified for rasa by practicing rasa. That taste which arises naturally in a person on the level of prema is called rasa. The discussion of rasa is only a description of how the various elements combine in the different rasas; it is not a part of sadhana. Therefore, if anyone says that he will teach you the sadhana of rasa, he is an impostor or a fool."
Narayana Maharaja, Venu-gita, text 17, page 55:
"Therefore, we should only focus our attention on those things that are helpful to our madhurya-bhava, not those things which pertain to aisvarya-bhava."
Narayana Maharaja Germany December 13, 2001, evening:
"If one wants to love Krishna in mood of a mother or father, his guru should be an ocean of that mood. If one is in the mood of Sri Rupa Manjari and thinks, "I want my siddha (perfected spiritual form) to be that of the manjari followers of Rupa Manjari," then the guru should be already perfect in that. He must already have that siddha-deha, and he should be very favorable and causelessly merciful to the disciple. Only that person can be one's siksa-guru; not others. One should think, "A person may be very learned, but if he is not especially affection towards me, and if he does not possess the mood that I want, the mood that is in my svarupa, then he cannot be my siksa-guru."
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Bhajana-rahasya, Prathama-yama Sadhana:
"(When) almost all anarthas have disappeared one therefore has the required adhikara for attaining siddha-deha. If one thinks of his siddha-deha without achieving the adhikara his intellect becomes bewildered."
Attaining Gopi or Manjari Bhava
Narayana Maharaja Los Angeles, California - May 31, 2000:
"If you are pure or impure, if you have somehow come in the line of Mahaprabhu, then in your constitutional form there must be something of gopi-bhava. Otherwise how could you have come?"
Narayana Maharaja Part Two of a Lecture Given in Los Angeles, California: May 13, 2001:
"You may have decided that your goal is gopi-prema or radha-prema, but you cannot achieve radha-prema. By your constitutional form you can only have the service of the gopis. Only the manjari mood, always serving the gopis, is possible for the jivas. [being a sakhi is not possible for a jiva]"
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Nectar of Devotion, chap 11 purport:
"Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes in this connection that Sri Radha-kunda is the most select place for those interested in advancing their devotional service in the wake of the lady friends, sakhis, and confidential serving maids, manjaris, of Srimati Radharani."
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Krishna Book chap. 29: The Rasa Dance: Introduction:
"The gopis who joined Krishna's pastimes (to dance with Him in the rasa dance) within this material world were coming from the status of ordinary human beings. If they had been bound by fruitive action, they were fully freed from the reaction of karma by constant meditation on Krishna."
Attaining Prema in this Life
Narayana Maharaja, Confidential Secrets of Bhajana, page 20:
"Next is the stage of prema. But this cannot appear in this body. It can only come in our next life, somewhere in the material world where prakata-lila is going on. Then the sadhaka will take birth in the womb of a gopi. Prema can be achieved in that body, through the association of nitya-siddha devotees. Otherwise it is not possible."
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 6.16.51:
"The science of devotional service has been instructed by Narada and Angira to Citraketu...By performing devotional service, one advances step by step, and when one is on the platform of love of Godhead (prema pumartho mahan) he sees the Supreme Lord at every moment. ...Citraketu Maharaja was first instructed by his gurus, Angira and Narada, and now, having followed their instructions, he has come to the stage of seeing the Supreme Lord face to face."
Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, in Madhurya Kadambini, gives this verse from Bhagavatam 1.6.17 as an example of the symptoms of prema--note the word "prema" in the Sanskrit--in reference to Narada in his life as a maidservant's son:
"prematibhara-nirbhinna- pulakango 'tinirvrtah ananda-samplave lino napasyam ubhayam mune
O Vyasadeva, at that time, being exceedingly overpowered by feelings of happiness, every part of my body became separately enlivened. Being absorbed in an ocean of ecstasy, I could not see both myself and the Lord."
Definition of Rupanuga
Narayana Maharaja Holland, July 4, 1997:
"When our hearts accept the same mood Srila Rupa Gosvami possesses in his heart---the mood of a palya-dasi (unpaid maidservant) of Srimati Radhika, it is called rupanuga-bhakti."
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 19.132 purport:
"According to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, distributing literature is like playing on a great mrdanga. Consequently we always request members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to publish as many books as possible and distribute them widely throughout the world. By thus following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami, one can become a rupanuga devotee."
Standards for initiation
Hari Sauri 3/31/97 7:54 AM Letter:
"Yesterday Jayapataka, B. Caru, B. Swarup Damodar, Lokanath and myself went to visit BV Puri Maharaja at his matha, just next to our land. Narayana M. arrived with three others unexpectedly. He had not been invited but showed up of his own accord. JP had already gone back to our temple but the rest of us stayed on. There were some real fireworks. Puri M. immediately told Narayana Maharaja that we were complaining about his initiating people from ISKCON. Narayana Maharaja became very hot and agitated and defensive. He vehemently denied initiating anyone from ISKCON.... Guru Kripa was there. He challenged Narayana Maharaja that Prabhupada has set the standard for preaching all around the world [16 rounds/day, six month minimum probation period before initiation, etc.] but he (Narayana Maharaja) is violating that by initiating people the very first time he sees them without knowing anything about them. Narayana Maharaja denied he was initiating anyone without recommendations etc. But GK's own stepdaughter was initiated by him after only one day. GK caught him out in a lie, and he didn't like it. He shouted, "I am not under your rules. I am not ISKCON, I am Gaudiya Math!." He repeatedly denied he was initiating any ISKCON devotees. I asked him, "Maharaja, when you initiated people in Australia, where did they come from?" He couldn't answer."
Jayapataka Maharaja, "To Hear or Not to Hear, that is the question", March 28, 2001:
"I had some disciples and I consented that they could accept siksa from Narayana Maharaja but instead of siksa Narayana Maharaja gave them re initiation."
Suhotra Swami:
" In Holland, where Brahma-rata dasa solicited many congregational members to see Narayana Maharaja, there were seventeen initiations, a number after the initiates had come for only one or two days. Some of these persons didn't realize the significance of their actions, and many don't follow the four regulative principles."
Sivarama Swami:
" In Leicester, I learned from the temple president that Narayana Maharaja planned to initiate two congregational members who were completely unqualified. I faxed Narayana Maharaja and asked him to desist. When the temple president delivered the letter, Narayana Maharaja replied, "We do not want to create trouble with ISKCON," from which I inferred that he would respect my request. Then he said, "But giving a name and mala I do for children," and consequently he went down and did the initiation anyway."
Advaita Acarya
Narayana Maharaja, Los Angeles, California - May 31, 2000:
"He (Caitanya) also did not come only to establish yuga-dharma. That is the job of Maha Visnu, not of Krishna. It is not Krishna's function. Who is Maha-Visnu? Sri Advaita Acarya. He is the amsa of the amsa of the amsa of the amsa of the Kala of Krishna Himself. He is a part of the part of the part of the part of Krishna. Being so far away, He can preach with kirtana, but He cannot give Vraja-bhakti. Never. He is not qualified for this. Only Krishna can do this."
Caitanya Caritamrita Adi lila 1.6.28:
"He (Advaita Acharya) delivered all living beings by offering the gift of Krishna-bhakti. He explained Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagvatam in the light of devotional service."
Padita-Pavan dasa, April 12, 2001:
"So, Krishna-bhakti is not Vraja-bhakti? When teaching Srimad Bhagvatam He was not giving Vraja-bhakti? ...Srila Narayana Maharaja also says: "Being so far away, He can preach with kirtana, but He cannot give Vraja-bhakti." So, this means that kirtan doesn't give Vraja bhakti? This means that the Nam cannot give the supreme goal? Or this means that it is the kirtan of Srila Adwaita Acarya the one that cannot deliver Vraja bhakti?"
The place of book distribution and various services - Narayana Maharaja Germany, December 13, 2001 evening:
"Some say, "My Gurudeva has told me that I should only distribute books, and by that, prema-bhakti or vraja-bhakti will at once come. So I will only distribute books for my whole life. No reading. Doing only this." What will happen? The current will stagnate. Only sukrti (pious credits that gradually accumulate to allow one to meet and/or follow a pure devotee.) can come from such activity. Their Gurudeva has spoken rightly, for by doing so, they will meet so many good associates, they will hear hari-katha, they will get a real siksa-guru, their anarthas will disappear, and thus nistha will come. After nistha, ruci will come, then asakti, and then rati (bhava) will manifest. After that, prema will manifest, and as a result, sthayi-bhava, vibhava, sattvika, vyabacari (the transcendental sentiments of the soul) will manifest. You cannot imagine what this stage will be like. It will come, after a very long time. That is the general process. However, by the mercy of Gurudeva, it can come very quickly."
Narayana Maharaja Confidential Secrets of Bhajana, page 12:
"We may think that we are engaged in so much devotional service and so much preaching work, but we must be careful. If we are not trying to do bhajana, if we are not trying to enter into the realm of real bhakti, then all of these activities are karmanga. They are actually material activities."
Dealings with other branches of the Gaudiya Math Murlidhara dasa, disciple of Govinda Maharaja (Sridhar Maharaja's disciple, Gaudiya Math) April 1999:
"For several years Narayana Maharaja heavily attacked Srila Sridhar Maharaja both verbally and in print. Before Srila Guru Maharaja's departure from this world, when we were living with Srila Guru Maharaja at Nabadwip Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in the 1980's the disciples of Srila Sridhar Maharaja who knew the facts about the relationship between our Divine Master and Narayana Maharaja would never go to the Math of Narayana Maharaja. Ultimately, however, it is not just Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja's attitude towards Srila Sridhar Maharaja but also Narayana Maharaja's philosophy that disconnects him from Srila Sridhar Maharaja, (especially), Narayana Maharaja's proposal that neophyte devotees should constantly meditate on Krishna's pastimes with the gopis."
Swami B.V. Tripurari, "Gadadhara Pandita: Harmonizing Differences", July 22, 2000:
"The closest followers of every other sect in our Gaudiya Sarasvata sampradaya that are preaching internationally, all of whom I am acquainted with, feel that many of the followers of Narayana Maharaja are full of pride... We are happy for the success of Narayana Maharaja's group for Mahaprabhu. We wish them well. My dear Godbrother, Sripada B.G. Narasingha Maharaja, and I personally welcomed Sripada B.V. Narayana Maharaja on his first world tour with open arms. Why do his leading followers now insult persons like us, and, implicit in their fanatical preaching, gurus like Pujyapada Sridhara Maharaja, Puri Goswami, B.V. Tirtha Maharaja, etc.?"
Tactics - Preaching to those who are already in ISKCON - Sivarama Swami, "Siksa booklet", page 39:
"I would like to voice a note of caution about Vaisnavas outside who pose themselves as siksa-gurus of ISKCON. Their followers contrast them to ISKCON gurus, promoting them as spiritual luminaries and panaceas for ISKCON's ills. Yet these Vaisnavas and their followers seem to do little else than canvass ISKCON's already converted members. Why do they concentrate on ISKCON alone, neglecting the unlimited conditioned souls who have not heard of Krishna? After all, Srila Prabhupada described the external sign of spiritual advancement as the ability to convert the fallen to Vaisnavism."
Prana dasa (gurukula headmaster, Aukland), March 28, 2002:
"New Zealand has unfortunately become one of Narayana Maharaja's latest quests. He doesn't do so well here but increases each visit. He sends a pretty slick advance party, a young western-bodied sannyasi with loads of knowledge and lila katha. And of course Yadurani and co. come too. Anyway, I say let them preach to their hearts' content but outside ISKCON. I recently caught Drstadyumna prabhu off side by encouraging him to join us in ISKCON because things were going so well; he didn't really know how to deal with me. He could see I was serious and that I wasn't all fried out and confused. I think this is our best defense--be positive and confident that what we got is something we are not going to give up whimsically or out of sentiment."
"You are so qualified...and here is something higher" - Narayana Maharaja10 Nov. 1991 Vrindavana:
"So you should not be satisfied what you have got from him at that time.... Without Raganuga Bhakti, Bhakti is not completed. So I think that you should try to enter in this raganuga Bhakti realm and you are so much qualified."
Influencing women and children; initiation wives without their husband's permission - Datta dasa, Letter to Narayana Maharaja July 19, 1998:
"Last year, when my former wife asked me whether my two young sons could take initiation from you, I said no. Since I wasn't in New Braj at the time, I asked first Gopavrindapal, and then my former wife (now initiated by you as Prema Mayi) to convey my wishes to you on that subject. First Gopavrindapal spoke with you, then Prema, then myself, when I arrived in Badger. In each case, you said more or less that "There is no problem. Whatever the father wants for his sons. This is Vedic." I was very satisfied with your answer, and was pleased with your cooperative and considerate mood. However, you spoke with my sons later and told them that they should "chant 5 rounds a day and accept you as their guru." To my younger son, Gaura Hari, you then said, "I will initiate you next year."
Gaurahari dasa, Open Letter to Narayana Maharaja 08 July 1999:
"Our wonderful marriage and Guru disciple relationship has been shattered by your action and my wife's naive sentimental approach to you for initiation. My wife and I are both suffering intense emotional trauma now because of your hasty inappropriate and insensitive actions. You took advantage of my wife's sentiments without carefully evaluating our situation. I have already heard that two other marriages have been destroyed because of your initiating the female spouse, one of which I know for sure was against the husband's wishes. My wife also changed from being a very close loving, friend, and wife into one of your fanatical extensions trying to help you take over the world of Srila Prabhupada's devotees. You knew if my wife came back to me I would be affected and quite possibly become your convert. One week was not enough for her who doesn't sufficiently know your philosophy and teachings, to adequately determine your actual devotional position.. .. You freely initiate so many people even after hardly knowing them or their background. I know of one person you recently initiated as a Brahmin and he has just previously been arrested as a sex ******** and smokes pot regularly."
Vedavyasa prabhu, disciple of Gopal Krishna Maharaja, as told to Ravindra Svarupa prabhu, Prithu prabhu, and Gopal Krishna Maharaja:
"You know, Narayana Maharaja has been trying to initiate me since a long time... I kept avoiding him. When I went away on business at one stage Narayana Maharaja had somebody call my wife to tell her that "Narayana Maharaja wants to see her. She went and he instantly initiated her. When I came back I was most upset and in fact infuriated. So I told my wife: "Since you did this without asking me I can take sannyasa now at any time without asking you as well."
"My wife was crying and crying and Narayana Maharaja heard about it. He passed the message that we both should see him so he would fix this problem. When we went Narayana Maharaja offered instantly that the whole situation could be resolved if I were just to take initiation from him as well. I declined his repeated coaxing, saying ultimately: "Maharaja, you should know that every hair on my body belongs to ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada"
Instantly Narayana Maharaja took my arm and said: "Do you know that he (Srila Prabhupada) was selling liquor?" My blood was boiling that he would go so far to get me to take initiation from him that he would try to break my faith in Srila Prabhupada. I instantly said to my wife: "Give him the beads back" which she did. And we rushed out of his room." (Note: It seems that Narayana Maharaja must have been referring to the fact that in his householder days Srila Prabhupada's pharmacy sold 100% alcohol for medical use.)"
Reinitiating disciples of "fallen" gurus who are defined as fallen if they don't want disciples to hear from Narayana Maharaja
Narayana Maharaja Murwillumbah, Australia: Feb. 15, 2002 (Evening, Part 1):
"If the guru is following all the principles of bhakti, if he is in the line of his gurudeva, if he is chanting and remembering but he is not learned enough to give you Krishna-tattva, then don't give him up. With honor for him, take his permission, and go with his permission to associate with exalted Vaisnavas. And, if he does not give permission, you can consider that he is also among the kan-gurus meant for being given up."
Speaking about himself
Narayana Maharaja, 15 January 2001 (am) house darsana Auckland, NZ:
"Krishna can never control me, because I am already under the control of Srimati Radhika. Radhika is so powerful. If Krishna will be angry upon me, I will say, 'Why are You angry? You should not be angry. My Swamini is Radhika, you know.' Then Krishna will say, 'Oh, your Swamini is Radhika. Then, namaskara to you.'"
Narayana Maharaja: So I want to say that your Prabhupada has given these things...only these things...and not beyond these things. Then he was only the servant of Mahavisnu, not of Krishna.
Bhakta George: In Sri Krsna-Sanhita Bhaktivinode Thakur gives a listing of the types of devotees who are asslike. Among those devotees are the servants of Vishnu so SNM is saying that Srila Prabhupada is an asslike devotee. The fact of the matter is that SNM is a liar when he says that he considers Srila Prabhupada to be his siska guru and that he is envious of Srila Prabhupada.
Devotee: The way ISKCON has presented that "Mahavishnu" quote is disingenuous, to say the least. There are good reasons to be worried about Narayana Maharaja's sangha... but to use that (mis)quoted conversation only undermines ISKCON's credibility. There are a couple of "if" statements missing from the ISKCON transcription in this deceitful paper. If you look at an accurate transcript of that full conversation, you can see plainly that SNM was saying that because Srila Prabhupada is a rasika-bhakta, absorbed in conjugal mellows and able to distribute that, then he was no mere servant of Mahavishnu, and that those who deny his rasika status are the ones who are insulting their gurudeva by implicitly calling him a servant of Mahavishnu.
Frankly, both "sides" in this dispute have shown themselves quite willing to lie, cheat, mislead and generally act in a profoundly non-Vaishnava manner. These deceitful papers, back and forth, will surely drive sincere devotees away from BOTH camps.
Devotees inclined toward rasa-katha will go to the "orthodox" Gaudiya sects (the caste Goswamis and the babajis)
Devotees exclusively inclined toward Srila Prabhupada will be tempted to flirt with the Ritvik conception.
And devotees supportive of Prabhupada but in a traditional Gaudiya Matha context will be pushed toward such GM acharyas as Govinda Maharaja and Puri Maharaja.
This "fratricidal war" between ISKCON and Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti will surely damage both institutions involved in the fight. I hope they see the error of their ways before it is too late for the many innocent devotees who will be hurt.
Bhakta George: Dear 'Stop the Madness' Iskcon did not draw the conclusion that SNM was calling Srila Prabhupada as 'asslike' devotee, I did, based upon my reading of his paper, not ISKCON's quotes from it. Possibly I had missed something. I no longer have the paper, do you have it? If so could you post it or refer me to the cite so that I can see if I erred through lack of attentivness?
Ys, Bhakta George
Devotee An ass-like devotee is still a devotee, however he/she is not an essence follower, as recommended by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur and exemplified in Srila Rupa Goswami. Vaidhi without Raganuga eventually becomes religiousity without self-realization.
ISKCON represents a perfect example, though that never stops them from criticizing what they don't understand, possibly because they perceive actual Rupanugas as a threat to their system of institutional control.
While Srila Prabhupada appeared to emhasize Vaidhi, he also criticized religiousity. The real question is, of course, who are you to judge him or anyone else? I suggest you apply than `attentiveness` towards your own devotional practices, if any.
Bhakta George: I judge Srila Prabhupada 'not' to be an asslike devotee. It was SNM's comment that passed judgement upon Srila Prabhupada as being an ass like devotee. So when someone passes a negative judgment on someone who I have some appreciation of I may object to such an assesment. This is what we are told to do, is it not? To be ourselves more tolerant that a tree and devoid of all self prestiege but when we see a devotte attacked we are supposed to come to their defense.
Anyone relegating Srila Prabhupada to the status of an ass-like devotee is attacking not only Srila Prabhupada but all of his devotees. Who am I that I should tolerate this? So I hope you understand now a little better but as far as my devotional practices are concerned, I question my sincerity every day and luckily I find that there is something there inside of me that actually cares about the welfare of others. Acting out of this is what devotion is all about isn't it?
As far as SNM is concerned I do not pass judgement I simply listen to him, like Srila Prabhupada said that we should do. He did not say that we should obey him, just that we should listen. So it is not passing judgement when you hear a jackass braying and comment "that jackass is braying." It is simply putting forth an observation. Of course if you have accepted the jackass as something other than a jackass due to some desire to fulfill an emotional need you may be unable to hear. Submissive hearing means to hear 'everything' not just the parts that fit into your preconcieved estimate.
From Naranarayan Visvakarma Dasa:
... my having publicly humiliated Narayan Maharaja by proving him to be a cheat and a liar concerning his denial of having organized a boycott of Srila Prabhupada's 1972 very first mayapur festival. (which i had the honor of arranging and managing.) Narayan Maharaja organized a protest of fifty members of the gaudiya matha in Nabadwip and tried to get Puri maharaja and others loyal to srila prabhupada to join them. Narayan maharaja lied and said that he was not in Nabadwip that year, but in Mathura. I exposed his bald lie so clearly, that even his own followers and disciples were laughing at the fool he ended up making of himself by lying. NNV das
Gadadhara das (Berkeley, gurukuli)
