Question and Answer – Legacy of Srila Gurudev

Sacred Vedic Arts, Miami, USA
Question & Answer Session
June 02, 2025

Sripad Bhakti Vedanta Madhava Goswami Maharaj and Shyamarani didi

Madhava Maharaja: From Badger they informed me that this time topic will be Legacy of
Gurudev. On this topic I have to speak. So what shall I speak? Shall I explain kila kincit bhav? This
is the heart of Gurudev, this seva kunj….
Shall I tell? This is Gurudeva’s legacy. If I tell none will understand. If you go you can understand.
Mainly they’ll not understand. What shall I speak?
Shyamarani didi: I know you already know the answer. You are asking a question but you know
the answer.
MM: No, I am telling you, they are asking me. There are so many things to speak on Gurudev’s
legacy. So what shall I speak?
Suppose they’ll ask you, what will you speak?
Shyamarani didi: Well since you are mentioning kila kincit bhav and if they ask me that and I want
to discuss kila kincit bhav and Radha dasyam I would go from bottom to top so that they get
prepared on each step on the way.
MM: No, this topic they could not understand. So what topic shall I speak so that everybody can
understand? And some new impressions will be there.
Shyamarani didi: Well he wrote a letter to one of his disciples, Kanhaiya, that my legacy is in my
books.
MM: Yes.
Shyamarani didi: Books are my legacy and you should be studying in the association of advanced
devotees. That’s what he said. So you can always give this book that book, that book and
ultimately why not kila kincit bhav?
MM: I can speak but they will not understand, this is the thing.They could not follow. Ok.
Shyamarani didi: Because kila kincit bhav is basically seven contradictory moods and they work
harmoniously and conversation and relation of Radha and Krishna. And Gurudev said that Seva
kunj painting is an example and very senior devotees will go and be there and they will somehow
understand a little bit.
MM: I shall see the audience then I’ll choose the topic. Ok, what question? Who will ask?
Vasanti didi or you?
Shyamarani didi: I have one, main one and then a few others. In our Vilap Kushumanjali editing
Gurudev says in his darshan that Kubja has sambhog iccha and Jiva Goswami also confirms I
think in his commentary to Ujvala Nilamani that she has sambhog iccha. So Gurudev and Jiva
Goswami say sambhog iccha, she has a desire to enjoy Krishna just for herself not for Krishna’s
happiness. So this has nothing to do with sambhog iccha mayi, right? Are this two entirety
different things?
MM: So, anyone will be discussed by their rati. Rati is of 3 types : sadharani, samanjasa,
samartha rati.
Allready answered your question that sadharani rati, seeing Krishna their sambhog iccha came to
enjoy Krishna. After Krishna is gone then she has no description anywhere. Gurudev used to say
out of sight out of mind.
So then, when Gurudev taught us Srimad Bhagavatam, I sent you the message that Mathura
ramanis, who were sitting there, seeing Krishna’s form became very amazed and they are telling

jago dane abaha nane matura tulepa. All that ladies of Mathura are in sadharani rati category but
headed by Kubja. Gurudev told this.
Shyamarani didi: So that’s accepted but just the word?
MM: Sambhog is enough.
Shyamarani didi: Not sambhog iccha? Shall I change it into sambhog?
MM: Yes, that’s better. Ider sambhog iccha mayi or sambhog atmika both are same thing but here
better to use sambhog.
Shyamarani didi: I also used the word sambhog kamana.
MM: Yes, sambhog means kamana, desire.
Shyamarani didi: Desire to enjoy. So better to take out the word iccha and say she has sambhog?
MM: Yes.
Shyamarani didi: Why not iccha since iccha means desire?
MM: Same thing. If people can understand easily then you can use other way sambhog iccha no
harm. Who has rati they have sambhog iccha. Like queens they also have sambhog iccha.
Shyamarani didi: And then also we have Gopishvar Mahadev deity or murti. So one devotee
asked is it ok for Gopishvar Mahadev to be bathed in the same bowl at the same time?
MM: No.
Shyamarani didi: So what shall we do?
MM: Separate.
Shyamarani didi: Ok bath them separately and after?
MM: Yes.
Haridas brahmacari: But then do we offer the articles too at the same time as Krishna or do we
offer them the articles separately?
MM: You can do it at the same time or separate but bath in a separate pot not together.
Shyamarani didi: What are the articles?
MM: Like milk, yoghurt or honey or sugar and a or only water.
Haridas brahmacari: I actually meant like we do madhuparka, idam acamaniyam …
MM: First do for Them (Radha & Krishna) then Shivji. And arti you can do together with the deity
or separately to Shivji, it is also allowed. It depends on man power.
Shyamarani didi: When we are singing to Radha and Krishna and Gour Nitai so what do we sing
to him?
MM: So where is your deity here?
Shyamarani didi: It is kind of behind.
MM: Ah yes, I see. No that’s enough.

Shyamarani didi: What?
MM: Whan showing lamp to guru vargas, Shiv is also a guru, vaishnav ananya yata shambho so
it’s ok to offer him that time. No need to do separate arti and separate kirtan.
Shyamarani didi: Ok. Then you circumambulate Pipal tree and giving water. Is there a mantra for
watering?
MM: When I am giving water – krishna vibhuti pipal tu bham snapayami. Because in vibhuti yoga
of Gita Krishna is telling out of all trees I am Pipal. So Pipal vibhuti, opulence of Krishna. Krishna
vibhuti pipal tu bhyam snapayami, I am bathing you and doing pranam.
Krishna vibhuti pipal tubham namami or pranayami, all you can do. I used to do like this.
Shyamarani didi: Regarding chanting Hare Krishna maha mantra we hear different things. Like
think of the pastimes or prayers in the song book. Or doing parikrama in Vrindavan. And don’t
think anything, just concentrate on the sound and pray that the Name will reveal Himself. So
would you like to share anything about that?
MM: Everybody’s qualification is not the same. According to different, different adhikar. Someone
only listen the vibration because the mind is very fickle, disturbed very easily, try to focus while
hearing. Or other can do hearing our guru vargas chanting, that is more better and if you are
increasing little more towards bhakti path then you circumambulate Giriraj Govardhan or
Vrindavan and during that Gurudev used to give harikatha going there, like dhan gati, oh Gurudev
speaking this. Going there do pranam and remember that. Doing that how much you will take?
Where your mind will go? Yes, where Gurudev spoke, what pastime you have to remember. If
more advanced they can do more. Who is more advanced pastime will automatically manifest in
their heart and one more or less, less, less: ‘ Oh Naam Prabhu and Krishna is same abhinatvat
nama namino. I am so wratched and You are Savior of the fallen. You are patit pavan, You are
Savior, You delivered Jagai and Madhai and I am more wratched then them. You can not deliver
me? Then there will be black spot in Your Name that You are not patit pavan, so You have to
deliver me. Like this way. According your adhikar different, different.
Shyamarani didi: What if you don’t know your adhikar?
MM: When somebody is eating his stomach is getting full or not he’ll understand or other will tell
you your stomach is getting full. When we are little sincere then we can understand. Loyalty,
sincerity, simplicity are key to success. In a day or two you could not understand. Gradually you
will understand.
It doesn’t depend who comes first to Gurudev or later to Gurudev it depends on past birth
impression and present birth impression combined it will make. Sometimes you have seen some
persons are not so much educated and some are very well educated, very intelligent.
Gurudev gives one example that Shankaracarya – Shankara Shankaro sancat .
Shankara is who? Shiv Thakur himself became Shankaracarya. Why? Because people are
harassing Krishna,give this, give this. So you can tell them you are Brahma. Do this, do that. So
Shiv did.
He had one disciple named Govinda. He used to cook for him, giving prasad, cleaning his cloth.
So every day evening Shankaracarya would speak harikatha and in Haridwar Ganges has so
many flows so he went to the other side, washed cloth and made it dry and then will come. The
clothes were not dry, became late, he said ‘Oh my gosh, what shall I do now? Gurudev started
harikatha surely. So dry and run from there to come to listen to harikatha. He had to cross the river
to come to harikatha of Shankaracarya, which had some highly educated disciples. – Gurudev,
why are you not speaking harikatha? Shankaracarya: ‘Hmm, hmm, just now, just now.’
Like Nityananda Prabhu – ‘Sripad why are you not doing vyasa puja?’ – ‘Hmm, hmm. Yes, yes.’ –
same way. -“For whom are you waiting? – ‘ For Govinda. – What!? Govinda!? He is the foolish one,
only cleaning cloth and cooking. They are talking and Govinda came and full dandavat pranam:
Gurudev please excuse me, I became late and he is speaking so nice Sanskrit, so much prayer, all
became surprised. Later on his name became Padmapad. Shankaracarya gave this.
Same way who came before or later, je bhaje sei bhara, who is doing bhajan he is superior but he
or she is not thinking ‘ Oh I am more superior. ‘ That is not. This abhiman should not come.

Haridas brahmacari: What do you mean by praying to guru varga?
MM: Who is your guru varga you have to pray to them.
Devotee: not audible…
MM: Gurudev Shankaracarya, Govinda said nice prayer, all became surprised from where he
learned all this thing? This is Gurudeva’s causeless mercy.
Damodar prabhu: What is meant about our internal relationship with Sri Guru?
MM: Serving internaly then internal relationship. But then –
vishayaje pritiye acaye amar
sei mata priti hou carane tomar
bipade sampade taha thakur samabhave
dhine dhine pridhi hou namera
prabhave pritano pada yuge morni
It is told in this kirtan how much, what kind of attachment I have for material thing, same amount
or You increase towards Your Name. Or eather I am full of wealth or in danger please increase day
by day. Bhaktivinoda Thakura telling this. Same way you have to increase by service.
Once Gurudev told his own life. That param gurudev had one disciple, Ananga Mohan
brahmacari. I think you have heard about him. He was affected by tuberculosis and he is
womitimg blood this that. No one is taking care. Gurudev told param gurudev – You can go
preaching Gurudev – I took him to Madras to the tuberculosis hospital . He passed away . Could
not make him alive. When he is passing – ‘ Oh baba calling . Baba, baba he used to call Param
Gurudev baba, means father. In Bengal this is the tradition. Means so many are telling me also.
My disciples, their disciples even. I went there, my godbrother who owns the temple there
( Guayana), he is telling Madhav Maharaj is my father, infront of everyone into mike. – How come?
– Bolo you are my elder godbrother so elder brother is near to father.
So then Gurudev wrote : Gurudev you gave me this jewel I could not protect. I am so sorry.
Then writing in another letter that what I have love for my mother, for father, for wife, for children,
all relatives, collecting everything am offering your lotus feet. Make me your own. Param Gurudev
reading and weeping. Look how Vinod. Same way when we will be like this then mercy is bound
to come. Where will the mercy go? So loyalty, simplicity, sincerity is the key to success.
Other question?
Haridas brahmacari: How do we realize mercy? That mercy is coming to us?
MM: This question comming to Gurudev so many times. That am I serving Gurudev or am I doing
bhakti? Is it going properly or not? That
sabhai pumas paro dharma
jata bhaktir ata adhokshaja ahaituka yayatma su prasidati –
When you are feeling happiness by serving someone then this is increasing. If not then not proper
service. To whom you serve it must be pleased then you’ll realize in your heart. That is service.
Otherwise not. I’ll realize on your own oh Gurudev, vaishnav are happy with this service.
Other?
Vasanti didi: In Badger..
MM: Are you coming to Badger?
Vasanti didi: You have served Gurudev for so many years, from so many early years…
MM: From 1996 I am there. First time ’96. No I am telling I am starting from 1996. ( laughing)
Vasanti didi: No I mean you have served before, when you are starting?

MM: ( laughing)
I am giving from Badger. You know in Badger prominent was Nirgun Prabhu, Govinda Vrinda pal,
Mula Didi and Nanda Gopal. More are there, I forgot their names but main are Nirgun Prabhu and
Gopal Vrinda pal and especially Mula Didi. Isckon told Narayan maharaj dead against Prabhupad.
He is a sahajiya. Don’t invite him! They are telling again and again. They are sending messenger.
Phone calling them. They heald a meeting. Gopa Vrinda Pal,Mula Didi, Nirgun Prabhu and Nilacal
didi, his wife, all. When we promised to bring him let them bring him, sadhu is coming, we’ll see.
When we landed there, came from the car, Nirgun Prabhu was watching and somebody told us
you’ll stay with him. He is Nirgun Prabhu. He’ll host you.
So Gurudev said – Nirgun Prabhu, why are you watching me? – Bolo, Isckon told me you are
sahajiya, you are wearing a nose ring, bangles, sari. I don’t see any of this.
– No I am Narayan maharaj. And look sanyasi dress, danda ( laughing). And then when harikatha
started all became surprised, one day later. – Bolo so many preachers come here then at harikatha
5 to 6 persons come and maximum 10 at the weekend. And at the prasadam time maybe 20, 25.
And here 100 came only to harikatha what to speak for prasadam how many will come. What shall
we do? Then next year when Gurudev came they have to increase the capacity. Again increased.
There is no more to increase and still till this day is going on.
One day Gurudev is chanting in his room, chanting, sometimes opening his eyes, some time
reciting shlok and chanting. Nirgun Prabhu sneak inside. No body knows. So he is there, not
disturbing, very simply sitting there. I was in kitchen, cooking for Gurudev. So Gurudev after some
time – Nirgun Prabhu you are here? – Yes Gurudev. Gurudev I have one question first, how long
are you in samadhi? – Why? I am always in samadhi. – Bolo I came almost one hour before. –
When you came I have no idea. I am always in samadhi. It is called sahaj samadhi. Gopis what are
they doing? They are always in sahaj samadhi.
Later Nirgun Prabhu told us. Gurudev not telling us. Nirgun Prabhu told us.
Shyamarani didi: Can you tell devotees what sahaj means?
MM: Sahaj means sahaj jaya te, when you take birth, from that time this tendency is there. Like
Braj Gopis, sahaj samadhi. They have always inclination towards Krishna by birth.
Shyamarani didi: So they were calling him sahajiya without knowing what the word really means.
MM: They want to misguide them, to defame Gurudev, to call Gurudev bad name. So they, are
telling, Isckon, don’t host him.
Tirthapada brahmacari: Really sahajiy is a good and fake sahajiya.
MM: Yes, it means this, by birth this tendency is there to serve Krishna. Fake sahajiya, they are
decorating themselves like externally.
Tirthapada brahmacari: Sakhi beki.
MM: Yes sakhi beki, that is the word. You can go in Vrindavan, still we have sean, you can see
completely shaved, very nice way, big nose ring, bangles, putting forehead decoration, anklebells,
sari and telling I am Lalita Sakhi, Vishaka Sakhi, like that. This is fake sahajiya.
Other question please. Yes.
Campakalata Didi: What was your relationship with Gurudev when you first started serving him?
MM: Because my memory is not so strong I forgot completely (laughing).
What relation is not to speak infront of others. What relation you have to realize it by your own, by
heart.
Gurudev gave one example – When British ruled India before 200 years . So at that time you had
to go only by the ocean., by river no airplane, nothing. So when they came to India it was mango
season. They like so much indian mango. In India there are so many varieties of mango. Especially
in North India like dashari, cosa, lambrat. In cosa there is some string but it is very tasty and the
British like it so much. Some time later he came back and brought tamarind to England. You have
tamarind tree here. And some jaggery molasses. And he is saying in India mango, this, jack fruit,

this that so many. – How is the taste? So can you explain how ras gula is sweet? If you don’t eat it
you can not understand. What he did? – Bolo, I can explain to you tomorrow. Overnight he soked
some tamarinde and took that juice, made it tick and mixed it with juggery and smeared it all over
his beard. – Now you can suck, this is mango taste.
So same way is your question – What is your relation. I can tell like this. ( laughing)
You know he is my shiksha guru, he is my shiksha disciple, bas that is enough.
Later on Gurudev told, you are my mother, my father, my nurse, my doctor, my minister, my
adviser, my everything. One Gurudeva ‘s godbrother telling – It is mentioned for Udhav: vrishni
nam pravaro mantri, krishna sa dayita sakha sisha brihaspati sakshat udavo budhi sattama. Bolo
there are six qualities there (for Udhav) and you are telling about Navin so many, is he greater than
Udhav?
Gurudev told even in million years you could not understand why I am telling this about Navin,
butl you are telling like this.
Still this godbrother is there. Now he is a sanyasi.
Any other question please.
Gadagraj brahmacari: Maharaj we are told to carefully guard against offences while chanting the
Holly Name.
MM: Yes.
Gadagraj brahmacari:Can you give some advice on this?
MM: Yes of course. First you have to know offence. It came from Sanskrit aparadha. Apa means
durham – go far away, radha means priti (affection). By which action love and affection will go far
away from Hari, Guru, Vaishnav that is called aparadha.
Same way in chanting the Holly Name there are 3 types of offenses:
Nama aparadh – 10 types
Dhama aparadh – 10 types
Seva aparadh – 32 types
all together 52 types. Out of all 52 types most, most dangerous is vaishnav aparadh.
Vaishnav aparadh is also devided into six:
hanti nindati vaideshi vaishnava abinandati urdhate jatino harsha darshane patatani sat .
Hanti – to kill a vaishnav
Nindati – to criticize vaishnav
Vaidesthi – envious towards vaishnav
Vaishnav abhinandati – you know that vaishnav is coming, ‘Oh I am not less then him.’ – means
not wellcoming him or her. Or
Urdhate – why is he comming to my territory? I am the owner, why coming here?
Jatino harsha – not becoming happy.
This six, this is most, most supermost dangerous. You have to be careful about all this. If
vaishnav aparad
ute hati mata
upare vacinde ta
sukhi jaye pata.
This is like mad elephant, vaishnav aparadh.
Other, an animal is grasing some vegetables or grains it will grow again but if ubrooth it never
grows and dies. So vaishnav aparadh is like mad elephant, it uproots the bhakti creeper. Bas. Very
dangerous. So be careful.
Shall I request Vasanti didi one thing?
Please don’t honor me so much. I am requesting Shyamarani didi and you because all they are
my son and daughter. I am telling both of you. Otherwise due to me two boys became homeless.
Tirthapada & Madhusudan (laughing). If you want to allow me then I will come again and stay then
both are homeless again. Then I can make it my home. I can go from here to South America, then
come again. I can come again and again and harass the boys.
Damodar prabhu:…?..how can we protect them, like telling stories ?

MM: I have told in South America think before you speak. When you are going to speak before
that you think. If you are using sarcastic word for others, if it pinched your heart it will pinch their
heart too, so before you speak anything you have to think twice. This is vaco vegam.
Other question please.
Haridas brahmacari: Maharaj what does it mean to pray?
MM: To pray means partana. From the core of your heart to ask for something. Like vaishnava
thakura doyara sagara…
It is a prayer. I am praying to him
caya vega domi, caya dosha shodi…
caya veg, 6 urges… you pray from the core of your heart to give me something, this is called
prayer.
Tirthapada brahmacari: On the topic of vaishnav aparadh and how do we treat each other.
Sometimes we are coming or we have been in the temple a little longer than others and then new
people are coming and we have to tell them or correct them.
MM: This is not called aparadh. This is called teaching. Like even Madhusudan and him pulling
leg to each other, this that. This is not aparadh. This is joke or when there is intimacy it happens
like this.
In our math in Mathura two boys are quarreling and one is always telling he did like this. He is
doing it himself but telling like this. But they are never fighting.
Tirthapad brahmacari: Like we don’t want to find fault but sometimes the kitchen is like this then I
have to tell.
MM: You can tell prabhu or didi please you do like this. And who is junior you have to teach them,
not like this, you have to do like that.
Tirthapad brahmacari:..then it comes to the point of someone’s qualification.
MM: When somebody is kanistha adhikari he thinks he is a topmost vaishnav and he finds folt
everywhere. Then gradually he sees quality in others and ‘Oh I have some folt. It will come. Then
when more increase he’ll see all are serving except me. Gradually it will come.
Harimohini dasi: Do we offer Tulsi leaves only to the lotus feet of Sri Krishna?
MM: Why only Krishna? Why not Lord Narasimhadev? Raam? Only Vishnu Tattva.
Harimohini dasi: Tulsi garland also?
MM: Even to Gurudev, you offer first to Thakurji then you can give it to Gurudev.
Premamayi didi: If we got maha garland from a vaishnav can we keep them or we must discharge
them after some time?
MM: If it is not catching small flies, fruit flies you can keep them. If fragrance is gone and faul
smell coming it is not good. Have to judge it by your own. How long it is good condition and smell
is good, not catching fruit flies it is ok otherwise discard .
Shyamarani didi: Discard where?
MM: River, ocean, rooth of a tree, like this.
Devotee: Is there any special mantra for that?
MM: No.

Haridas brahmacari: When we offer the ghee lamp to Thakurji, is there any order after that to
whom to offer it afterwards?
MM: Radha Krishna, all the small daities, shalahram, Giriraj, all together then to guru varga.
Haridas brahmacari: What about Tulsi?
MM: All Thakurji, Narasimhadev, Tulsi then guru varga.
Gor prema nande hari hari bool.
Shyamarani didi: Why we offer fire?
MM: For fundamental things mentioned in the vedas we don’t question why is this like that. We
have to accept that.
Shyamarani didi: You said that after we offered it to Thakurji we offer the article to Shalahram and
Giriraj, then Narasimhadev, then Tulsi. So where does Gopishvar Mahadev fit into that?
MM: Do it same time with Gurudev and guru vargas, nothing to worry.
And I am seeing in Caitanya Math they are doing arti different way…….
Ok Gor prema nande hari hari bool
Shyamarani didi: Srila Bhaktivedanta Madhava Goswami Maharaj ki jaya!
MM: Shyamarani didi ki jaya!
Sama bhakta vrinda ki jaya!