His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Thakura

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was born in the holy pilgrimage place 
of Jagannatha Puri to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, a great Krsna 
conscious spiritual master in the line of succession coming from Lord 
Caitanya. Although employed as a government magistrate, Srila 
Bhaktivinoda worked tirelessly to establish the teachings of Lord 
Caitanya in India, where, unfortunately, the people had come to 
neglect the principles of devotional service to the Supreme Lord, 
Krsna. He envisioned a worldwide Krsna consciousness movement and 
prayed to the Lord for a son to help him achieve his dream.

On February 6, 1874, in the sacred pilgrimage town of Jagannatha Puri, 
where Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura served as superintendent of the 
famous Jagannatha temple, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati appeared in 
this world. He was given the name Bimala Prasada. At the age of seven, 
Bimala Prasada had memorized the more than seven hundred Sanskrit 
verses of the Bhagavad-gita and could speak illuminating commentaries 
upon them. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, the author of many important 
books and other writings on the philosophy of Krsna consciousness, 
trained his son in printing and proofreading.

By the time he was twenty-five years old, Bimala Prasada had acquired 
an impressive reputation as a scholar of mathematics, and astronomy. 
His commentary on a astronomical treatise, Surya siddhanta, won him 
the title Siddhanta Sarasvati in recognition of his immense learning. 
In 1905, following the advice of his father, Siddhanta Sarasvati 
accepted spiritual initiation from Gaurakisora dasa Babaji. Although 
Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was renowned as a saintly person and great 
devotee of Lord Krsna, he was illiterate. Satisfied with the humility 
and dedication of his highly educated disciple, Srila Gaurakisora gave 
him his full blessings and requested him to "preach the Absolute Truth 
and keep aside all other work". Siddhanta Sarasvati then proved 
himself a capable assistant in the missionary work of his father.

Upon the death of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in 1914, Siddhanta 
Sarasvati became editor of his father's journal, Sajjana-tosani, and 
founded the Bhagwat Press for publication of Krsna conscious 
literature. Then in 1918 Siddhanta Sarasvati accepted the renounced 
order of spiritual life, assuming the title Srila Bhaktisiddhanta 
Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja. For the purpose of propagating Krsna 
consciousness throughout India he organized the Gaudiya Math, with 
sixty-four branches throughout the country. The headquarters of his 
mission, the Caitanya Gaudiya Math, was located in Sridhama Mayapur, 
the birthplace of Lord Caitanya. He would later send disciples to 
Europe for missionary work.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta adjusted the traditions of Krsna consciousness 
to conform with the technological and the social condition of the 
twentieth century. He considered the printing press the most effective 
means of spreading Krsna consciousness throughout the world and was 
himself the author of many important translations, commentaries, and 
philosophical essays. He was the first spiritual master to allow his 
renounced preachers (sannyasis) to wear Western clothes and travel in 
modern conveyances rather than foot.

In 1922, an intelligent young college student named Abhay Caran De 
happened to visit Srila Bhaktisiddhanta at the Gaudiya Math center in 
Calcutta. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta immediately advised the young man that 
he should preach the message of Krsna consciousness to the Western 
world in the English language. Although not able to immediately carry 
out Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's desire, Abhay became an active supporter 
of the Gaudiya Math. In 1933, Abhay formally became a disciple of 
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, who gave him the name Abhay Caranaravinda.

Throughout the 1930s Srila Bhaktisiddhanta expanded and increased his 
missionary work and succeeded in reestablishing Krsna consciousness as 
the leading force in Indian spiritual life. Anxious that his work 
continue, he urged his disciples to form a joint Governing Body 
Commission to manage the Gaudiya Math in his absence. On January 1, 
1937, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati passed from this world. 
Unfortunately his leading disciples did not heed to his instruction to 
maintain a Governing Body Commission, and as a result the Gaudiya Math 
as a united preaching missionary organization gradually disintegrated.

Abhay Caranaravinda, however, remained faithful to the vision of Srila 
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati that Krsna consciousness become a worldwide 
movement and to the order he had personally received from him. He 
accepted the renounced order of life, sannyasa, assuming the title 
Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja, and in 1965 traveled to the United 
States to preach Krsna consciousness in the English language. Srila 
Bhaktivedanta Svami founded the International Society for Krishna 
Consciousness and established a Governing Body Commission, which 
continues to direct the movement since his departure from this world 
in 1977. Thus, by the sincere efforts of His Divine Grace A.C. 
Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada and his followers, the work of Srila 
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati is continuing throughout the world.


Stories about Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Maharaja Prabhupada

Padma Purana predicted Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati: a very 
elevated, pure and learned personality would appear in 
Purushottama-ksetra to spread the glories of Lord Jagannatha all over 
the world. His activities would be very unique.

Appeared Feb. 6 1874. Father was deputy magistrate of Puri, had been 
for three years. Bhaktivinode Thakur had been concerned that the pure 
teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would be usurped by unauthorized 
persons, who were members of 13 apasampradayas. Bhaktivinode Thakura 
had started his mission for LC late in life. He was also very busy 
with his profession. But he wrote profusely, and wanted someone to 
preach boldly to establish these pure teachings.

When he was 6 months old, the Rathayatra was held. The cart stopped in 
front of SBV's house (which was on the main road between the temple 
and the Gundica mandira. The cart stayed there for 3 days. On the 3rd 
day, Bhagavati devi (ma of SBS) brought out the child and the pujaris 
picked him up and put him on the cart. He crawled to the base of Lord 
Jagannatha, and touched His lotus feet. Simultaneously a garland fell 
from the neck of the Lord and landed around the child. The pujaris 
exclaimed that this boy is particularly blessed by Lord Jagannatha. 
Annaprasha festival (rice ceremony), first grain taken by kids, so for 
SBS the first grain was Jagannatha Prasada. Vimala devi is offered the 
prasada after Jagannatha takes; hence his name Bimala Prasada. 
Bhagavatam and gold coins - took SB.

When he was five his father had become senior deputy magistrate: only 
three of these in all of India under British Raja. Mango incident 
happened at this time. Never again took ripe mangos. But he took green 
mango chutney offered by his disciples; this was a favorite of his.

When SBS was 7, Bhaktivinode Thakura moved to Calcutta, where the 
"Bhakti Bhavan" house was build. While digging foundation they found 
Deity of Lord Kurma. SBV initiated his son into the worship of Lord 
Kurma. He was doing this every single day without missing. Admitted 
into school. Was very expert student. Studied books of SBV, but never 
fell behind in school - he remembered everything after hearing it 
once. Teachers were astonished, father pleased.

SBV had taken initiation from Bipin Bihari Goswami, who came in the 
line of Gadadhara Pandit. When BBG was visiting SBV, SBV paid 
obeisances and BBG placed his foot on SBV's head. SBS saw this and was 
surprised. He thought this was a dangerous thing for BBG to do. When 
SBV left the room, SBS asked him a question: "You are my father's 
guru. But do you know who he is?" BBG was taken aback at this 
7-year-old's question. SBS continued, "My father is a nityasiddha, an 
eternal associate of the Supreme Lord. Do you have sufficient 
spiritual potency to place your foot on his head?" SBV returned at 
this time, so the conversation was interrupted. BBG said, "Your son is 
bold to the point of being rude." Later on, SBV found this out and 
used to tell this story to his disciples.

As a boy, Bimala Prasada delivered his oldest brother Acyutananda from 
an offense he'd made in his last life. Acyutananda had a nervous 
disease, and once became very sick. Bimala Prasada took karatals and 
chanted the Hare Krishna mantra constantly for 6 days without eating. 
Then Ramanuja-sampradaya tilaka appeared on Acyutananda's forehead. He 
said, "I am a Ramanuja Vaishnava. I committed an offense to a Gaudiya 
Vaishnava in my last life and therefore had to take this birth. Now I 
am relieved." Then he left his body.

SBV is Kamala(man?)-manjari, and SBS is his eternal assistant. At age 
13 he started higher education. Once SBV returned from Puri with 
Tulasi and initiated his son into chanting HK and he also took 
Nrsingha mantra initiation.

During this time he invented a shorthand script called Vikanta.

Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati used to "install" the printing presses that 
were acquired by the Gaudiya Matha for literature publication. SBV, 
after seeing the wonderful vision of a golden mandira, began begging 
door to door for funds to establish the Yoga Pitha. At 18, SBS entered 
Capital Sanskrit College affiliated with Calcutta University. Within a 
short time mastered the 6 limbs of Sanskrit studies: shiksha, jyotish, 
chanda, alankara, etc.

When SBS was 22 he left college to avoid taking householder life. He 
took up work under the king of Tripura. Tripura had been turned to a 
Vaishnava state by the king of Manipur, who was a disciple of 
Narottama dasa Thakur. So SBS became Raja Pandit there for 3 years. He 
retired with full pension, which SBS accepted for a few years and 
stopped.

Around this time he took initiation from Gour Kishore dasa Babaji. GK 
had been a grain merchant before taking babaji vow. He'd gone to 
Vrindavana and did bhajana for a long time. Then he came to Navadwipa. 
By this time SBV had retired and had built a bhajana kutir in 
Navadwipa (Godruma). He gave SB class there every day. GK used to come 
to these classes. SBV told SBS to accept GK as initiating guru. SBS 
approached GK, asking "Please give me your mercy." GK answered, "Mercy 
is not mine to give. It is the property of Lord Chaitanya Himself. 
I'll ask Him, and if He agrees, I can give you."

Second time they met, SBS inquired, "Did you ask Him?" "No, I forgot." 
Third time same thing happened. SBS said, "You worship that great 
cheat, Krishna, Who is cheating everyone. And so you are also cheating 
me. But if you continue in this way, I will simply give up my life, 
because my life is useless without receiving you mercy." Then GK gave 
initiation to SBS as Varshabhanavi-devi dasa. Then SBS gave up all 
other activities to chant 194 rounds daily for 7 years. He had a kutir 
but did not spend the time to repair the roof; he just used an 
umbrella if it rained.

One disciple of SBV who wanted to continue the mission came looking 
for SBS in Nabadwipa at this time, knowing him to be as powerful a 
personality as his father. He went around asking the locals if they 
knew of a sadhu matching SBS's desciption, but they all answered, "We 
don't know of a sadhu, we only know of one madman. We see him moving 
here and there, crying aloud and sometimes rolling on the ground." So 
he went searching for him in the jungle next to the Ganga, where they 
said he sometimes could be seen. Suddenly he heard SBS crying "Krishna 
Krishna Haribol! Nitai Gour Hari Bol!" He saw him burst out from the 
forest and plunge, fully dressed, into the Ganga. He kept on shouting 
in the water, splashing about. Then he came out. The disciple of SBV 
then approached him, requesting him to come to Calcutta to head up the 
sankirtana mission there. SBS answered, "Sankirtana? Can you not see 
the wonderful sankirtana mission of Sri Caitanya right here in the 
holy dham of Navadwipa? Is it not wonderful? Sri Pancha-tattva are 
chanting and dancing in ecstasy, surrounded by all their associates. 
Can you not see this?" Then SBS ran off, again shouting "Haribol" in 
great ecstacy. As it was sunset by this time, that man took his bath 
in the Ganga, and mentally renounced the idea of organizing the 
sankirtana mission.

But later on, in 1918, SBS appeared at his door in Calcutta, in 
sannyasi robes with danda, freshly shaven, and ordered, "Now we are 
founding a Society, the Sri Gaudiya Matha. Draw up the papers 
immediately and have it registered. Though he'd arrived at 4 p.m., the 
work was done before that same afternoon was ended.

Even before 1918 he decried the Jati Gosai/brahmana monopoly of giving 
initiation only to born brahmins. He preached very boldly against 
them. The brahmins challenged him, "where does the Gaura mantra appear 
in any authorized scripture as a Gayatri?" (Because the Gaudiya 
Vaishnavas would take this mantra as a pancharatriki mantra for 
brahminical initiation.) They said, "Sri Chaitanya claimed only to be 
a devotee. Why do you say he is the SPOG and use His name in place of 
authorized scriptural names and mantras?"

SBS cited Chaitanyopanishad from the Atharva-veda, discoverd by Srila 
Bhaktivinode, 19 verses glorifying Lord Chaitanya. In another assembly 
he directly attacked the brahmins and Jati Gosai. He initiated the 
movement to take back the teachings of Lord Caitanya from the hands of 
such unauthorized persons. Srila Visvanatha, Baladeva, his disciple 
Uddhava dasa Babaji, his disciple Madhusudana dasa Babaji, were all 
saintly renounced souls: after Baladeva there was no one to strongly 
represent the pure teaching of LC and preach them boldly. During SBV's 
time, Gaudiya Vaishnava meant Baul, Aula, Sakhi Bheki, Jati Gosai, 
etc. who were all degraded. The Vaishnavas got no respect. At this 
time the shaktas became strong from RamaKrishna-Vivekananda, and this 
put further obstructions for the establishment of pure Vaishnava 
dharma. SBS preached against all of this nonsense.

When GK left the planet, the babajis wanted to do the samadhi rites. 
He'd said he wanted to have his body dragged through the streets by 
his "disciples." Babajis had gathered to do that, they'd tied a rope 
around the neck. SBS crossed over to Navadwipa from Mayapura and 
stopped them, saying "None of you are his disciples." GK had only 2 
disciples, one SBS, the other was Vamsivata dasa Babaji Maharaja, who 
was an avadhuta. "I am the right claimant to perform these last 
rites." They said, "But he was a babaji, and you are not." SBS 
answered, "GK does not come in babaji line. He was initiated by Nimai 
Chand Goswami, who was a Nityananda Parivat, coming in the line of 
Lord Nityananda. He received his Vesha (babaji dress) from Bhagavata 
dasa Babaji Maharaja, who is an initiated disciple of Jagannatha dasa 
Babaji." Before SBS, from time of LC, param-bhakta Vaishnavas would 
get Vesha (white knee length cloth, kaupin, waterpot and bead-bag) 
initiation, not tridandi sannyasa. "Bhaktivinode Thakur also took 
Vesha from Jagannatha dasa Babaji. SBV, though diksha initiated of 
BBG, received siksha and vesha from JDB. And GK got siksha from SBV. 
Mahaprabhu's line is Bhagavata Parampara, not seminal line." So he 
challenged them to show that any such line came from Rupa or Sanatana 
Goswami. Rupanuga means coming in Bhagavata Sampradaya. Rupa told of 
Advaita's rejecting His own son Madhusudana because he accepted LC 
only, but not LN.

"If you are Babajis, then you are fully sense controlled. So the one 
of you who has not engaged in any illicit activities in the past 1 
year, come and do the last rites." No one stood up. "One month? One 
week? 24 hours?" No one stood up. SBS then placed GK's body in 
samadhi.

So after finishing with the smartas, Jati Gosais, he took on Babas. 
Then in 1918 he opened his first center in Ultadanga Road in Calcutta. 
He was then 44. Kunjabihari Vidyabhusana (Bhakti Vilasa Tirtha 
Maharaja) was his main manager and a prominent devotee in the Matha. 
SBS had made a vow after taking sannyasa that he would never touch 
money. Everything was arranged by his disciples. Many of them took up 
jobs, e.g. Kunja Babu became a postmaster. SBS did nagara kirtana with 
disciples and was invited to programs by the King of Burdwan or the 
King of Kooch Bihar; everywhere he established Lord Caitanya's 
teachings as the most excellent spiritual philosophy.

He knew all Vaishnava philosophies most expertly. He brought out books 
on their darshans, e.g. Madhvacharya's arguments against Mayavadis. 
And Ramanuja. In the temple he established in Mayapur he built 4 small 
temples in honor of the 4 sampradayas. He put the deities of the 4 
founders.

He started the Gaudiya Mission in the midst of war and national 
liberation agitation. He was uncompromising in his disregard of such 
mundane concerns. "The most important thing is to invoke the spirit of 
devotion to the Supreme Lord; this concern lies far above any material 
consideration." Many leaders objected, but he continued. In this 
period SP visited SBS on the rooftop at Ultadanga Road; SP was 
adherent of the national liberation movement, but SBS convinced him in 
one sitting of the vital necessity of Lord Caitanya's mission over 
everything else.

SBS's sannyasa: happened in 1918. He could have taken babaji. Many 
babajis wanted to initiate him, as he'd shown himself to be such a 
powerful exponent of Vaishnavism (e.g. his 3-day debate with caste 
brahmins attended by Vaishnava scholars, in which he resoundingly 
defeated caste pretensions and established the Vaishnava view of 
brahminical status by quality of work, not birth). When he gave 
himself tridandi sannyasa (or had taken sannyasa from a picture of 
GK), this was a shock to even his supporters, including disciples of 
SBV. The controversy was over varnashrama; they thought he was 
returning to the VAD that LC had rejected in his talks with Srila 
Ramananda Raya. But he was establishing Daivi-varnashrama. 
Prabhodananda, Lokanatha Goswamis were great Gaudiya sannyasis of the 
past. Prabhodananda Saraswati converted a great smriti acharya, Gopal 
Bhatta Ghosh, and gave him tridandi sannyasa. Gadadhara Pandita was 
also tridandi sannyasi. Without establishment of DVAD, babaji 
(supposedly paramhamsa) will become a farce. Order of LC to Nityananda 
to take up grhastha.

Then he went to Vrndavana and challenged the authority of the babajis. 
He sent 3 disciples to west, and he gave 10 westerner initiation. They 
protested that this was unauthorized. He said, "Everything I am doing 
can be supported by scriptural reference, but nothing you do can be. 
You take young boys who don't even know how to clean themselves after 
passing stool and giving them 'sakhi rupa.' I am giving samskara to 
reform the fallen souls, and this samskar is the Hari Nama, which Lord 
Chaitanya gave as the siddha pranali. No rules of caste or creed bind 
this Harer Nama diksha."

They said SBS was not properly initiated in an established line. He 
disproved this. GK was initiated in line of Nityananda, but he did not 
accept that line. But SBS rejected that line from Nimai Jati Goswami 
(line of Nityananda, Jahnavi, Bir Chandra Prabhu. SBS stressed 
Bhagavata Sampradaya, and didn't care for seminal line. "Rupanuga 
virrudhapa siddhanta": any conclusion against the precepts of Rupa 
Goswami is to be rejected immediately.

He gave a heavy class on detachment from material life. Later, while 
writing, he observed a monkey stealing bananas from the godown, which 
was just next to his study. He ran out with a stick to chase the 
monkey away, overturning his writing table and spilling ink on the 
pages of his manuscript. When the cook saw this, he inquired, "Today 
you told that one must be detached. How to understand your behavior 
just now - for two bananas you jumped from your writing to chase a 
monkey, and even ruined your work in the process?" Bhaktisiddhanta 
Saraswati answered, "These bananas belong to Srimati Radharani, 
because they are to be used in Krishna's service."

He went to take a bath in a pukkur, and when he was seven steps above 
the surface of the water, the water rose seven steps and touched his 
lotus feet. Then all the brahmacaries jumped in, to bath in the 
carinamrta.

At the Yoga Pith temple was a cook who was very passionate. He fought 
with every devotee there except for Srila Bhaktisiddhanta himself. 
Then he died. After the funeral ceremony was completed, the Gaudiya 
Matha brahmacharies were sitting together and talking about how much 
trouble they'd had with the cook - each was telling stories about the 
fights he'd had with him. Suddenly Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati 
appeared at the doorway and said, "He always washed his dhoti nicely 
and was very clean." From then on nobody dared say anything negative 
about that cook.

When one mayavadi sadhu was preaching his oneness philosophy in the 
presence of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati and his disciples while 
they were riding on a train from Calcutta to Puri. Bhaktisiddhanta 
ordered his brahmacaries to feed the sadhu some rotten mangos which 
had been donated to his party earlier (they were ripe when donated, 
but got rotten because Bhaktisiddhanta would not take them due to his 
vow, and therefore no disciple would take either). After being obliged 
to eat four mangos, that sadhu fell at Bhaktisiddhanta's feet and 
swore he'd never preach oneness again.

His kirtana procession (with him personally at the head) would stop 
all traffic wherever it went in Calcutta; in Puri even the brahmins 
accepted his nam-sankirtana as fully authorized.

He would raise his danda to strike his opponent if he didn't accept 
his preaching.

He stayed in Puri in his last days. He lectured for some days at the 
place known as "Govardhana" in Puri, and before and after his talk he 
would recite prayers praising Govardhana Hill and requesting shelter 
in some corner there. He would sometimes comment to his disciples, 
there's not much time left. They could see something was going to 
happen soon, but weren't sure what.

He got very sick ten days before he left his body. Two days later he 
wrote his last instruction: "Somehow we must become qualified to 
attain the shelter of Rupa and Raghunatha. Always chant Hare Krishna, 
always preach Krishna consciousness, and stay away from 
Vaishnava-aparadha. In this way become qualified to get the shelter of 
the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Raghunatha." Two days after that he 
wrote his letter to Srila Prabhupada (Abhaya Charanaravinda).

All the big intellectuals of Calcutta had a memorial gathering upon 
hearing word of his death. One (an atheist), in eulogy, said: "Who 
will we argue with now?"


