Gaura-Vani Pracarine

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In May of 2004, our most worshipful siksa Gurudeva, om visnupada Sri Srimad. Bhaktivedanta: Narayana Gosvami Maharaja requested that a special book be published. 'This book would consist of his various discourses on the deep meaning of the phrase 'gaura-vani pracarine, Which appears in the pranama-mantra of our most worshipful diksa Gurudeva, nitya-lila pravista om visnupada Sri Srimad. 'Bhakitivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 'These discourses were spoken on different occasions in different countries, over a period of ten years.

'By the mercy of our siksa and diksa gurus, we are delighted in taking responsibility for its publication, and we pray that you will be happy to read its contents.

For a greater appreciation and understanding of Srila: Narayana Maharaja's main points, we have included excerpts from Srila Prabhupada's book and classes. 'The design of the book was customized to highlight those excerpts. We have included Srila Prabhupada's translations wherever Srila Narayana Maharaja quotes 'Bengali and Sanskrit verses from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta ana Srimad-'Bhagavantam. We have also presented various quotes and songs by Srila Prabhupada and other Gaudiya acaryas in double-page spreads before each chapter.

Where pertinent, we have introduced Srila Narayana Maharaja's discourses with additional historical information, and these appear in italics and/or brackets there are two special sections consisting of other discourses, illuminating their respective chapters. After the back of the book you will find an excerpt from one of the many letters Srila Narayana Maharaja received from Srila Prabhupada.

In September of 1959, Srila Prabhupada accepted the sannyasa order from Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti's divine spiritual preceptor" nitya- Lila pravista om visnupada Acarya kesari Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja, and received from him the sannyasa name "Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja. Shortly after this, he became founder-acarya of the International. Society for Krsna Consciousness, and became famous throughout the world' as Srila A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami: Prabhupada or Srila Prabhupada.

In our Gaudiya'Vaisnava tradition, all acaryas and sannyasis refer to one another by their given sannyasa names. 'Because Srila Prabhupada's sannyasa name is ''Bhaktivedanta Swami," Srila Narayana Maharaja respectfully; refers to him as Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja or Srila Swami Maharaja.

Srila Narayana Maharaja has used many Sanskrit terms in his illuminations of Srila Prabhupada's pranama mantra: these terms are all explained in 'English. 'Where you find the explanation in the text insufficient, you are invited to turn to the glossary.

'We humbly beg you to forgive any mistakes made by us in compiling Srila Narayana Maharaja's presentations.

'This Book is an offering by our humble self in the service of Sri: Sri Guru and Gauranga, offered to them on Sri: Gauranga's most auspicious appearance day - :March 14, 2006.

Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja and I have so many relationships with each other. First of all he is my siksa-guru, my instructing spiritual master. He is also the god-brother of my diksa-guru, Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja. He took sannyasa, the renounced order, from my Gurudeva, as I did; so in this regard we are god-brothers. We are also very intimate friends. I have known him since 1946, and have served and obeyed him since then.

He is Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja and I am Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja. I accepted sannyasa in 1954, and he did so in 1959. Because I was already in the sannyasa order, I had the good fortune to perform the procedures for his sannyasa ceremony. By his mercy, at that time he also allowed me to show him how to make a danda (sannyasa staff) and how to wear the sannyasa cloth. He was very pleased with me, and he shared with me many truths about Krsna consciousness.

He first met his Gurudeva, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada, over eighty years ago, and at that meeting, he received the order to go to Western countries to preach in English. He was delayed, however, and he came after about forty years. At that time he wanted to take me with him, especially to New York where he first began his preaching. He ordered me to send him all the books required for his translation work, and I did that. I also sent him Radha-Krsna deities, musical instruments like mrdangas (double- headed clay drums) and karatalas (small brass hand cymbals), many kinds of sweets and other paraphernalia. He wrote me over 400 letters, and in one letter he confided that we have a transcendental relationship that can never be destroyed.

How did he travel to America? He traveled by Scindia Steam Navigation Company's freighter - by sea, not by air. He only carried with him some books, like Bhagavad-gita and his translation of the First Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam. At that time, he was penniless.

He first went to Boston and then to New York. In New York, at Tompkins Square Park, he used to sing with his eyes closed as he played his karatalas. Tears flowed from his eyes and his heart melted as he sang:

sri knrsna caitanya

prabhu nityananda

sri-advaita gadadhara

srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda

hare krsna hare krsna

krsna krsna hare hare

hare rama hare rama

rama rama hare hare

Tompkins Square Park was frequented by many hippies who were drinking alcohol and engaging in other illicit activities. They came and surrounded him. When he sang, they danced and sang along, and sometimes they offered him their bottles of wine. After some time, he turned all those hippies into "happies" and their lives changed.

Eventually, thousands of people began to follow him. They began to worship and meditate on the Supreme Lord, and thus they became very happy. He used to write me from all the places of his preaching activities.

In just a few years he translated and wrote commentaries on many Vedic scriptures, and his books have been translated into all the prominent languages of the world.

Most of the major cities of this Earth were blessed by his presence, where he established Sri: Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. He preached in the mountains, on islands like Hawaii, in forests like New Vrndavana, in the desert and in so many other remote places throughout the world. He established numerous temples, preaching centers, schools and farms for cow protection. His voice has extended to practically every part of the globe, and his books have helped so many to realize the truths of Krsna consciousness.

No one called Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja to the West; his Gurudeva sent him. He mercifully came to this land, where only wine, wealth, and immoral association with the opposite sex are prominent, where no one knows his own identity, why he has come to this world, what is his duty, and what is his aim of life. Everyone here was sinking in darkness. Srila Swami Maharaja mercifully came to this land, and in a very short time thousands became his followers. Those who were hippies became "happies" - all who were touched by his words became happy.

Srila Swami Maharaja gave everything in his books, yet he knew that a child (new devotee) of one year, two years, or even five years could not comprehend all his teachings. A father and mother save money for their child, keeping it in a locked box. When the child is mature, he will be qualified to properly utilize the treasures inside. Before maturity, however, the child would waste that treasure. Similarly, Srila Swami Maharaja kept all his treasures in his books. If you want to open them, you must know that the key is in the hands of the bhakta-bhagavata.

There are two bhagavatas: the grantha-bhagavata (Vedic scriptures) and the bhakta-bhagavata (pure devotee)' The bhakta-bhagavata is superior in the sense that the key to the treasury of the Vedic scriptures is with that bonafide self realized devotee who has prema, pure love for Sri Krsna. He can open the lock.

Within all of his books Srila Swami Maharaja has preserved the treasure left by Srila Rupa Gosvami. In his purports we see all the teachings of Srila Rupa Gosvami. In The Nectar of Instruction, for example, he gives the process by which we can follow Srila Rupa Gosvami and thus enter Vrndavana, the abode of Sri Krsna.

Some persons say, "We are not qualified, and we will never be qualified to hear about Goloka." I think this is not correct, because Srila Swami Maharaja has written about it all in his books. When we become mature and qualified, we will be able to actually taste that nectar. Then we can go to the place that Srila Rupa Gosvami, Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, Srila Vyasadeva and Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja have written about.

Contents

 

PREFACE: An Editorial Note ......	15
FOREWORD: Our Relationship.....	16
INTRODUCTION	18
CHAPTER 1: Over The Ocean....... - September 13, 2000/ Mathura, India - [Spoken on the anniversary of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's Sannyasa Initiation]	22
CHAPTER 2: The Meaning of His Pranama Mantra ...... - May 28, 2001/ Alachua,	26
Florida Special Section: Realizing the Mantra.....	42
CHAPTER 3: One Drop of Nectar .....	50
CHAPTER 4: His Master: Gaura - vani Personified ..... [Spoken on the appearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada]	56
CHAPTERS 5: Sri Gaura's Gift ..... - Murwillumbah, Australia	64
CHAPTER 6: The School of Rupa Gosvami ..... Murwillumbah, Australia	72
CHAPTER 7: Rupanuga and Raganuga ..... - October 12, 1996 / Varsana, India - [Spoken on the disappearance day of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada]	84
Special Section: His Rupanuga Sannyasa .....	92
CHAPTER 8: Truly Rupanuga .....	98
CHAPTER 9: Cherished Service ...... - [Spoken at the Juhu Beach ISKCON temple]	104
Glorssary .....	114
Bibliography ......	122
Worldwide Contacts ......	124

 

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