Appearance Day of Srila Bhakti Vigyana Bharati Goswami Maharaja

“Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.”

First, I offer countless humble obeisances at the lotus feet of my most worship able Gurupada Padma Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Swami Ashtottara-shata Sri Srimad Bhakti-Vedanta Srila Vamana Goswami Maharaj, Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa Swami Ashtottara-shata Sri Srimad Bhakti-Vedanta Srila Narayana Goswami Maharaj, and the great personality whose appearance day is today: Om Vishnupad Sri Srimad Srila Bhakti-Vigyan Bharti Goswami Maharaj—along with Prabhupada Saraswati Thakur and all the Guru-varga. Thereafter, I offer my respectful obeisances and sincere greetings to Srila Govinda Maharaj, Srila Narasimha Maharaj, Sri Madhava-Priya Prabhu, and all the Vaishnavas and Vaishnavis, present and also absent.

This was written for the Guru-Smriti meeting; what has been written, I will now recite. I offered my obeisances to Maharaj Ji:

“Namo Vishnupadaya Madhava-prasthaya bhutale, Srimate Bhakti-Vigyan Bharti iti namine.”

What is the meaning of ‘Bhakti-Vigyan Bharti Namine’ and “Madhava-prasthaya”? Who is ‘Madhava’? Is this said for Madhava Prabhu or for me? No, not for both of us. Then for whom? For his Guru Deva, Sri Bhakti-Daitya Madhava Goswami Maharaj.

“Madhava-prasthaya bhutale” has another meaning: one of the names of Brajendra-Nandana Shyamasundar is ‘Madhava’. He came to this world for His dear work. In Sri Chaitanya-Charitamrita, Kaviraj Goswami says:

prema-rasa-niryāsa karite āsvādanarāga-mārga bhakti loke karite pracāraṇa

rasika-śekhara kṛṣṇa parama-karuṇaei dui hetu haite icchāra udgama

Why did Krishna come to this world? To taste the essence of prema-rasa, meaning the exalted bright rasa: the madanakkhya mahabhava, which is Radhika Ji’s wealth, and to widely preach raga-marga bhakti to others. The essence of prema-rasa is not meant for others; it is Krishna’s own. But raga-marga bhakti is for the living entities of this world.

The same Krishna descended in the form of Sriman Mahaprabhu. This proof was given by the great personality himself—“Sarvatra pramana, purana-vachana, Chaitanya,” as in,

vrajendra-nandana yei,

śacī-suta haila seibalarāma ha-ila nitāi

The son of Śacī is none other than the son of mother Yaśodā and Nanda Mahārāja, and Nityānanda Prabhu is the same Balarāma.

Someone might say that this is a Bengali prayer. Is it taken from any Veda or Purana? So, Prabhupada has quoted in his commentary on Chaitanya Charitamrita:

bhakta rupa gaur chandra yasou nandanandanah

bhata swarupa nityananda vraje yashe hala yudha

bhakta rupa gaur chandra means Sri Mahaprabhu Himself, being God, assumed the mood of a devotee; yasou nandanandanah, who was previously Nanda-Nandana; bhata swarupa nityananda, Nityananda is the embodiment of a devotee. vraje yashe hala yudha – In Vraja, whose weapon was a plow, with which fields are tilled. So Prabhupada gave scriptural proof.

Also, Parvati asks Shiva Thakur, “Prabhu, you always chanted Krishna-Krishna, Rama-Rama, but now you chant Gaura-Gaura. Who is this Gaura?” Then Shiva Thakur explains, “The one who is known as Lord Krishna, the beloved of Radhika Ji, at the beginning of creation, He was Jagannath. Who was He? Gaurasin Maheshwari, He was in the form of Gaura at the beginning of creation.

That’s why it is written: ‘Madhava-prasthaya bhutale,’ so why did Maharaj Ji come to this world? Why did Sriman Mahaprabhu come? To bestow raga-marga bhakti upon the world. Srila Bhakti Daitya Madhava Goswami Maharaj and all other associates of Prabhupada came to give this. That’s why it is said ‘Madhava-prasthaya bhutale,’ meaning very dear to Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Goswami Maharaj.

Once, during the Rathayatra in Puri, when Srila Bhakti Vigyan Bharti Maharaj was there, Narottam Prabhu complained to me. He said, “Prabhu, look at Maharaj Ji! My name was given as Narottam by Gurudev, and Maharaj Ji calls me Navin-Navin!”

I asked Maharaj, “Maharaj Ji, what is Narottam Prabhu saying?”

Then Maharaj Ji laughed and said, “The reason why I call Narottam as Navin (you), because I have never seen a servant like Navin (you). It just comes to my mouth repeatedly. That’s why I say this to remember Navin’s (your) service to Srila Narayan Goswami Maharaj”

Now, let’s talk about the glories of Srila Bharti Maharaj. Who is his Guru? Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Goswami Maharaj. Why is he called “Madhava Prishtha”? What is the meaning of Madhava? “Ma” means Lakshmi, “Dhava” means husband, i.e., Narayana, it is said,

Shaanta-akaaram Bhujaga-Shayanam Padma-Naabham Suresham

Vishva-adhaaram Gagana-Sadrsham Megha-Varnnam Shubha-Anggam |

Lakssmii-Kaantam Kamala-Nayanam Yogibhir-Dhyaana-Gamyam

Vande Vissnnum Bhava-Bhaya-Haram Sarva-Lokai[a-E]ka-Naatham ||

1: (I Meditate on Lord Vishnu) Who has a Serene Appearance (which fills our inner being with Peace); Who is Lying on (the Bed of) Serpent (Ananta or Adisesha, representing the eternal Primal Energy or Mula Prakriti); From Whose Navel is springing up a Lotus (which is the source of all Creations through Brahmadeva); and Who is (presiding over the various elements of those Creations as) the Lord of the Devas.

(Sri Vishnu Stotram)

Did Bhakti Vigyan Bharti Maharaj come to preach the glories of Narayana? No! Sriman Mahaprabhu did not come for that, nor did He send His associates to this world for that purpose. So what is the meaning of Madhava? “Ma” means Lakshmi, that’s correct. Srimati Radhika Ji is the supreme lakshmi, embodiment of all Lakshmis. What does “Ma” mean? Srimati Radhika Ji. “Dhava” means paramour – Radhika Ji means paramour, her beloved. So, why did Mahaprabhu come? For raga-marga bhakti. Srila Bharti Maharaj’s gurudeva also came to preach that raga-marga bhakti, and Srila Bharti Goswami Maharaj also came to preach raga-marga bhakti. Then comes the name – “Bhakti Vigyan Bharti”. There is “Jnana” and “Vijnana”. Jnana means knowledge, and Vijnana means realized knowledge, knowledge endowed with experience – that is called “Vijnana”. In Jnana-Vijnana, one is theoretical, the other is practical. What is the meaning of “Bharti”? Goddess of knowledge. Whoever went to him, came into his presence – just observed his knowledge of tattva – Guru tattva, Vaishnava tattva, Bhagavata tattva, ordinary bhakti tattva, sadhya bhakti tattva, rasa tattva. He spoke like the goddess of knowledge in a very beautiful way.

kṛpālu, akṛta-droha, satya-sāra samanidoṣa, vadānya, mṛdu, śuci, akiñcana

sarvopakāraka, śānta, kṛṣṇaika-śaraṇaakāma, anīha, sthira, vijita-ṣaḍ-guṇa

mita-bhuk, apramatta, mānada, amānīgambhīra, karuṇa, maitra, kavi, dakṣa, maunī

Devotees are always merciful, humble, truthful, equal to all, faultless, magnanimous, mild and clean. They are without material possessions, and they perform welfare work for everyone. They are peaceful, surrendered to Kṛṣṇa and desireless. They are indifferent to material acquisitions and are fixed in devotional service. They completely control the six bad qualities — lust, anger, greed and so forth. They eat only as much as required, and they are not inebriated. They are respectful, grave, compassionate and without false prestige. They are friendly, poetic, expert and silent.

This is particularly defined in his life story – unfeigned forgiveness. Even if someone harms him, he does not seek revenge, he has no feeling of revenge, he doesn’t care about revenge.

Just as our Guru Pada Padma Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Goswami Maharaj was the dictionary of Gaudiya Matha, similarly Srila Bhakti Vigyana Bharti Goswami Maharaj was the engineer of Gaudiya Matha. Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Goswami Maharaj’s every Gaudiya Matha has the contribution of Srila Bhakti Vigyana Bharti Goswami Maharaj, like an engineer’s plan, construction, how things would be, etc. And if other Mathas invited Srila Bharti Maharaj for some help, he would help in management, construction, etc. When our Sri Devananda Gaudiya Matha in Nabadwip was building a dharmashala, Srila Gurudev (Srila Narayan Goswami Maharaj) invited Srila Bharti Maharaj. Bharti Maharaj explained all the tips for the construction process.

Srila Bharti Maharaj asked Srila Gurudev, “Maharaj, where are you getting cement from?”

So Srila Gurudev told him.

Then Srila Bharti Maharaj said, “Why are you getting it from there? If you take cement directly from the company, you will get a lot of convenience. You will have to go to Durgapur, where the cement factory is located.”

Then Gurudev sent me and a godbrother with Srila Bharti Maharaj. One of my godbrothers told Gurudev, “Maharaj, this Navin has just come to the Math. What work will he have in Durgapur?”

So Gurudev said, “Sometimes Navin’s work also comes in handy for the experienced (pravin). Take him along with you!”

Out of fear of Gurudeva, my Godbrother took me along with Srila Bharti Goswami Maharaj.

When we reached Durgapur, Maharaj Ji said that we would have to stay there for 2 days, otherwise the work would not be done. There was no place to stay and no prasad would be available. So then I said, “Maharaj Ji, shall I take you all to a place?” I knew a disciple of Srila Bhakti Pragyana Keshava Goswami Maharaj Ji, so I took everyone to his Matha where we stayed for 2 days and after completing all the work, we returned. And if Gurudev had not sent me, the cement work would not have happened. Then after finishing the work, we returned to Guruji, and Gurudev said, “See! Navin’s work also comes in handy for the experienced! (pravin)”

Once, Maharaj Ji had a fracture in his hand. When he went to the doctor, Maharaj Ji was sitting quietly. When the doctor saw him, he said, “Maharaj Ji! Why you are not screaming from the pain? You have such a severe fractures!”

To this, Srila Bharti Maharaj answered, “Will screaming reduce my pain? Why should I scream?”

What is the meaning of this pastime? These are eternally liberated great personalities; even while residing in the body, they are separate from it.

Earlier, Maharaj Ji used to address me with ‘aap’ (a respectful ‘you’ in Hindi). So I asked, “Maharaj Ji, why do you call me ‘aap’? Earlier, when I was a Brahmachari, you never called me ‘aap’. Why are you calling me ‘aap’ now?”

To this, Maharaj Ji said, “You are doing the work of an Acharya now, that’s why I call you ‘aap’.”

So I said, “Maharaj Ji! Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but to Yashoda Maiya and Nanda Baba, He is just their child, never God. Similarly, I am also your child, right?” When I told Maharaj Ji this, from then on, he stopped calling me ‘aap’ and used ‘tum’ (an informal ‘you’).

When Maharaj Ji fell sick, I had to go to South Africa. When I heard about it, I came from Delhi to Faridabad to see him. There were two hospitals with the same name, and I didn’t know; I reached the other hospital and inquired there, but he wasn’t admitted. Then the reception told me there was another hospital with the same name, so we went there.

When I entered his room, he said to me in Bengali, “You also came to see me?” I said, “Maharaj Ji, you are admitted, and I have to go abroad. When I heard about you, how could I not see you?” Then I saw his medical reports. The cardiologist who was Guruji’s doctor in America had taught me some doctor’s course for Guruji’s treatment and also gave me a certificate to be a special assistant for Guruji’s doctor. I was trained to be able to go into the operation theater. When I saw the Maharaj’s medical reports, I understood that Maharaj Ji wouldn’t stay in this world for many days, but I didn’t understand that he would leave so soon. When I read Maharaj Ji’s report, I was sad to see that Maharaj Ji was in the final stage, but I didn’t understand that he would leave this world so quickly. It is my good fortune that I saw him for the last time before I went abroad.

Maharaj Ji used to say that after his disappearance, he wished to be given samadhi in Nabadwip Dham, Mayapur Dham. When the place in Mayapur where his samadhi is located was found, When it was found, he was very very pleased.

I don’t know, maybe I had some relation with Maharaj Ji from a previous life. When I came to the Math, he always treated me like his son, I don’t know why. Since 1980, I have seen that when we used to go to Chaitanya Gaudiya Math during the Nabadwip Parikrama, he would always put his own garland around my neck. Whenever we went anywhere, or Maharaj Ji came, or Guruji (Srila Narayan Goswami Maharaj) called him, or Guruji went to Allahabad, he would put his own garland on me with his own hands. At the last moment, some people also saw that when he put the garland down, he would say, “No! Madhava Maharaj will come so keep it for him.” I don’t know why he always kept it. There must have been some connection from a previous life, otherwise why would he do that? In front of us, there were many senior godbrothers, but he wouldn’t give his garland to them; he would only give his prasadi garland to me. I have seen since 1980 that whenever he came or went, he would put the garland on me with his own hands. After Srila Gurudev’s (Srila Narayan Goswami Maharaj) disappearance and samadhi, it was the second or third day of the Nabadwip Parikrama. Srila Bharti Maharaj came from Mayapur; the parikrama party had returned, and people were resting after having prasad. Everyone said, “Bharti Maharaj Ji, Bharti Maharaj Ji has come.” Then Madhava Priya Prabhu, Sanjay, and perhaps Krishna Prabhu and I went. We gave him flowers, and he offered flowers at Guruji’s samadhi, then came upstairs. Upstairs, where Gurudev used to give Harinam Diksha to everyone, he sat and said something. Then he went to Guruji’s bhajan kutir and said something. Then he came to my room and had some prasad. At all four places—Guruji (Srila Narayan Goswami Maharaj)’s samadhi mandir, the place where Guruji sat to give Harinam Diksha, Guruji’s bhajan kutir, and in my room he said, “Srila Narayan Goswami Maharaj Ji used to say that he would have left this world many years ago, but because of my son Navin, because of my son Madhava, I could not leave. He blocked my path.” Srila Bharti Maharaj said this four times: at Guruji’s samadhi, the place of diksha, Guruji’s bhajan kutir, and then in my room.

I asked, “Maharaj Ji, you are saying this everywhere. Who told you this?” He said, “Son, I am not repeating what I heard from others. Even when you were not a sannyasi, and after you became a sannyasi and became Madhava Maharaj, whenever Srila Narayan Maharaj met me, he would first say the same thing: that he would have left this world many years ago, but because of Navin’s seva (service), because of Madhava’s seva (service), he could not leave; he blocked my path.” These two: Srila Narayan Goswami Maharaj and Srila Bharti Goswami Maharaj, had such a close relationship that Gurudev (Srila Narayan Maharaj) shared this with him. There are many glories of Srila Bharti Maharaj, and I have some restrictions because I have a pre-fixed program to give a live class broadcast worldwide at 1 PM. Therefore, I cannot reject Madhava Prabhu’s order. We served Guruji together. I take leave from everyone. Please give me permission to depart for Mathura now. Hare Krishna

vancha-kalpatarubhyash chakripa-sindhubhya eva cha

patitanam pavanebhyo vaishnave bhyo namo namaha

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Vaishnava devotees of the Lord. They are just like desire trees and can fulfill the desires of everyone, and they are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.