TAKING SHELTER OF SRI GURU AND VAISNAVAS.

By  Respected Srimati Uma didi

Brief Introduction:

Around 1944-1945 , Srimati Uma didi’s mother and sister were initiated  Harinam by Our Beloved Param Gurudeva, Nitya lila Pravista Om Visnupada Srila Bhakti Prajnana Keshava Goswami Maharaja ,( Our Srila Prabhupada’s Godbrother and Sannyasa Guru,and  Beloved Guruji of Our Srila Gurudeva,  His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja ).  Within 1950, they received Diksha and probably were one of His first ladies disciples. At that time Srimati Uma didi was not having much faith in Vaisnavism, her vision  was more like of Ramakrishna Mission, that whomever you worship , God , Demidods or Godesses, will bring you to the same place.

 But around 1967, Srila Param Gurudeva blessed her telling ;” One day I will put Tulasi kanti mala around your neck” meaning , that one day I will make you a devotee. By His divine blessings, Srila Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Maharaja ( Godbrother of Our Srila Gurudeva , secretary of the Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti) established in her heart a platform for Devotion, by hearing from Him all the siddhanta of the Sastras;  she is so grateful to Him, because He guided her to the Lotus Feet of Her Eternal Divine Master, His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Goswami,Maharaja,  the President Acarya of Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti, after the departure of Our Param Gurudeva to Nitya –Lila in the year 1968.., By 1970, Srimati Uma didi  was receiving Harinam and Diksha on Sri Ramnami Festival in Uddhara Gaudiya Math at Chinchura  West Bengal.  Srimati Uma didi relate that by Their conjoint Mercy, she received the Blessings of Our Srila Gurudeva  . Since 1986, She became a permanent Math resident  lady devotee, at the Sri Keshavji Gaudiya Math  under the care Of Our Srila Gurudeva His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja, whom she accepted wholeheartedly as her Shiksha Guru .   

Since all those years, she always heard the sublime Teachings of Sri Sri Rupa Raghunath, Srimad Bhagavatam and other Sastras, from the lotus mouth of her Srila Guru Maharaja , Our Srila Gurudeva, Srila Trivikrama Maharaja and other bonafide vaisnavas, always following very strictly Their Divine instructions.

Srimati Uma didi’s  own feelings and realizations are now expressed:

Having a very strong sadhana and faith in Sri guru’s words are the basis of a successful spiritual life. One has to understand that after millions animal, aquatics and vegetables  forms, one finally received this most valuable gift of a human form.

Then , coming in contact with a Pure Devotee, a Sat-Guru, which is so extremely rare, because it takes thousands life of Bhakti sukriti , to finally reach His Divine Lotus Feet, a sadhaka, should follow His Instructions, as they are Perfect and of Top Most welfare for all jivas (spiritual souls)

                               SADHU SADHU SANGA  SARVA SASTRE KAYA

                               LAVA MATRA SADHU SANGE SARVA SIDDHI HAYA

The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that through even a moment’s association ( 11th fraction of a second) with a sadhu, a pure devotee, one can attain (ultimately) complete spiritual perfection.

When a devotee start practicing, he or she should be ready to tolerate everything , coming as purification in one’s life ., always showing  respect to  all Vaisnavas and try to follow woholeheartedly, the TRNAD API SUNICENA  shloka of Mahaprabhu in true sene.

Always try to feel, how you are progressing in this way, in a real manner.

Ex:  if someone say to you : “O you are such a good devotee” , then you examine very accurately your heart to see what is your actual condition.

In praise , one should never feel proud, and in case of disrespect one should never feel disheartened , because one should always and only think, that it is good for me.

Mahajana’s like Srila Bhaktivinod  Thakur explained in a bhajan:         

                                      AMITO VAISNAVA EI BUDDHI HOILE

                                      AMANI NA HOIBO AMI

If I  think , I AM VAISNAVA . How can give honor to others? I am not amani, I cannot think that , iam fallen, so I neglect others and always want that everyone should respect me, because I AM VAISNAVA.

This is a very dangereous position. Always be very careful about this matter and try to always be very humble in any High class  Vaisnava’s  Association so that even upon receiving their chastisement one should feel very peaceful and happy  without challenging their behaviour, and accepting  everything, as in Pralhad Maharaja’s character. Pralhad accepted without any complain , and  tolerated all the miseries sent by his father, He also never questioned him; “ What am I doing wrong that you are torturing me in this way? Very peacefully and happily , he accepted all those things.

THIS IS THE FOREMOST PRINCIPLE OF OUR SRILA GURUDEVA,

A  neophyte devotee should make a strong platform in his heart like  Pralhad Maharaja’s character, if he wants to advance and gradually become a real Vaisnava.

Also, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur told that in this life you can remain in Vaisnava Association, this will increase your sukriti in the stronger way, but without committing any offence to anyone , especially to any Vaisnava, because when one becomes offensisve  he looses, his sukriti which is so rare and difficult to obtain..

By the Divine Grace of Vaisnavas and Sri Guru, one will be situated one day on the path of  Pure Devotion and gradually reach to the level of Uttama Bhakti.

Always remember that by past impressions et Bhakti sukrti, one receives the Association of Rasika Siddhantic Mahabhagavatas. Hearing from them, with great eagerness their transcendental Harikatha will develop more and more greed and taste for for this Rupanuga Bhajan.

Causeless Mercy is extremely rare, so we must do sadhana performing this sadhana very seriously, Sri Guru’s heart will melt and in this way one will progress .

                                YASYA PRASADAD BHAGAVAT  PRASAD

                                YASYAPRASADAN NA GATIH KUTO PI

Only by the mercy of Sri Gurudeva can one receive the mercy of  Krishna. Without his grace the living entities cannot make any advancement nor be delivered.

What is the meaning of sadhana:  Only what Srila Gurudeva instructs us , this is what we must follow fully. This is truely sadhana.

One should think in a neophyte stage and Srimati Uma didi, says like this, that Sri Sri Radha  Krishna and Manjari bhava is very far from me, I,ve no relation with Them yet. But in presence of my Gurudeva, He is the One I want to please. His happiness and satisfaction is my sadhya (my goal) . If Sri Guru is pleased with me, automatically from his melted heart , Mercy and Divine blessings will flow in my heart.

Ex: Mother Yasoda’s effort to bind Krishna, the rope was always 2 fingers too short. Meaning, 1 finger is one’s own endeavor, effort, the 2nd finger is the Mercy of the Lord. The combined effort of the sadhaka and the Mercy of Hari,Guru and Vaisnava, will produce the beautiful fruit of Prema Bhakti.

SO SADHAKAS, PLEASE ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT YOU PLEASE YOUR GURUDEVA AND BONAFIDE VAISNAVAS, WITHOUT COMITTING ANY OFFENCES!

For this reason our Mahajanas are singing:

 ASRAYA LAIYA BHAJE, TARE KRSNA NAHI TYAJE, ARA SABA MARA AKARANA                 

One who performs bhajan under the shelter of saintly devotees, who are the abode of love for Sri Krishna, is never neglected by Krishna, everyone else lives in vain. One must be in anugatya, under guidance of Sri Guru, in order to do bhajan.

ASRAYA KORIYA BANDHA SRI GURU CARANE

JANHA HOITE MILE KRSNA PREMA DHAN.

One who take shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Guru , Krishna will look after him, otherwise not and Krishna prema will manifest in his heart.

Taking shelter of Sri Guru and Vaisnavas is the foremost  principle of Sastras, by wich you will receive Sri Sri Radha Krishna’s Mercy, otherwise your independant attempt is all in vain.

By taking shelter of Sri Gurudeva’s Lotus Feet in the true sense, from wherever my Guurdeva is, even busy with His Nitya –Seva , to conjugal Yugal Kishor , still Sri Gurudeva will always make arrangements for his disciple to reach his goal

This is Srimati Uma didi’s heart and deepest feelings! 

                            GAURA PREMANDE HARI  HARIBOL!