(The following is a glorification by Shri Shyam Das Babaji Maharaj)
All Glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga
Gaudiya Gosthi Pati Sri Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Thakur Prabhupada said that—“ To carry out the order of my Paramahamsa Gurupadapadma, if I need to go to hell, still I am ready to go with due contract.”
This kind of strong resolution can only be possible by a genuine Guru-nistho sevaka, that is why we must remember that—
“Gurur sevaka haya mānya āpanāra – the servant of śrī guru is worthy of my respect.”
A genuine Guru-sevak is surely respectable to me, no doubt in it, because we can discover all the transcendental Qualities of Sri Gurudeva in him—all in applied form. The order of the spiritual master must be obeyed without consideration or hesitation.’
The order of Sad-Guru is final, and should be carried out without any argument or judgment. “Guru-darshan”—Is the most vital point in the way of Bhajan. Because Srila Prabhupada very often used to say that—“ Sri Gurupadapadama is the transparent (or transcendental) medium through which we can see perfectly what is what (about aprakrita Jagat) there in the aprakrita Jagat.”
Because we know very well from shastra that –
aprakrita vastu nahe prakrta gocar
veda puranete ei kahe nirantar (C.C.Madhya-9.195)
Perception of spiritual objects (apprakrita –vastu) is not within the range of the material senses and contemplating them is beyond the range of the mind. The Vedas and the Puranas proclaim this repeatedly.
Srila Srinvasa Acharya the great Gaura Parshad giving the indication about the ideal relationship between a Sad-Guru and Sad-Sisya, so we see the following Sloka:
balavan adara yasyo na syat guru padamboje
srutair api sat sastroyh krsne bhaktir na jayate
So long as the disciple has no strong affinity & love unto the Lotus Feet of Sat-Guru, till then only shastra jnana (scriptural knowledge) cannot give him Krsna bhakti at all.
My beloved siksha Guru Sri Srila Bhakti Vedanta Vaman Gosvami Maharaja used to say that–“ Guru-Vaisnava can reserve the right of not being exposed to our sense organs.”
All our material sense organs together with material brain and mind can never come out successful in the way of that Absolute Truth, because we know that—“Logical interpretation cannot stand in the way of that Absolute Truth”—This is the advice by Srila Prabhupada. From the Taittiriya Upanishad petal 7, we know that—
“yato vacho nivartante aprapya manasa saha”
In the way of that absolute truth all our material speech together with mind can come back failure.
I never wanted to apply my estimation power to understand such an exalted personality like Srila Vaman Gosvami Maharaja, rather I always tried my best to realise all his mysterious comments and activities. The mercy of Sri Guru-Vaishnava is the only way to attain the ultimate goal of our devotional life. About aprakrita Guru-Vaishnava Srila Bhakti Pragyana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja has written that—“We are devoid of service mood, so therefore we cannot comprehend this secret of recognizing a Vaishnava by his Vaishnavata. All though often we are attracted by a Vaishnavas others Qualities suitable for us, like his ample affection and kindness or his exclusive excusing mood etc. We can praise his extreme patiency, tolerance and the other external virtues, but we should bear in mind that a Vaishnavas Quality’s are not some objects of our sensual gratification. If those Qualities which all we detect in a Vaishnava, like affection and patience or his exclusive excusing mood etc. not going to inspire us to get engaged in the service of Guru-Vaishnava-Bhagavan and not going to lead us to become attracted to his Vaishnavata, then it should be understood that we have been unable to see the true aspect of the Vaishnava. On the contrary we have been trying to gratify all our senses”. Guru-seva or Guru-bhoga or Guru-tyaga—these are the three different aspects that should be taken into consideration very carefully, otherwise we will be in confusion.
We are really blind, so we cannot detect what is what there in the transcendental world. Who not, almost everybody try to enjoy Guru-Vaishnava-Bhagavan. Srila Prabhupada used to say that—“Bonded soul can exhibit anugatya (submission) unto the Lotus Feet of Gurupada- padma up to that point till his personal interest not going to be disturbed. The moment when personal interest going to be disturbed in the way of Guru-Vaishnava seva then and there the real naked picture of his anugatya get exposed in front of us.” This is the true nature of our false devotional life or guru–anugatya. His whole life was full of guru-seva, right from the beginning when he came unto the Lotus Feet of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Thakur Prabhupada (in Sri Chaitanya Math) in his boyhood. Luckily he got Harinam from Srila Prabhupada and he was successful to dedicate his whole life for Hari-Guru-Vaishnava seva. Sri Chaitanya Math was his complete shelter. First he came to Mayapur with all of his relatives to join Navadvip-dham Parikrama party. After the parikrama uthsava was over then huge pressure was created by father, mother and relatives to take him back at home, but he was not at all ready to go back to home. Even he was successful to get enough love and affection or kripa of Srila Vinod Bihari Prabhu (Srila Bhakti Pragyana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja) to deprive them. Srila Prabhupada allowed him to take admission at Sri Bhaktivinod Institute school to continue his further education. But it was really strange that his school lesson (task) usually would complete at the school period time itself, he was so much intelligent that we cannot even imagine. But the rest of the time of the day nonstop Guru-Vaishnava seva was his life. Which Vaishnava need what seva that was his full attention. Cleaning prasadam place or annika place of Guru-Vaishnava, or cleaning their pancapatra or arranging Ganga water for them or cleaning their cloth etc. or Bandar room management seva etc. everything were his daily duty, all square–that boy was a masterpiece. Still the educational progress of the boy was so heavy, that he used to take the toper rank of the class every year. The very special care and affection of his eternal spiritual master—then time who was known as Srila Vinod Prabhu (Srila Bhakti Pragyana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja) was the most vital nourishment factor in his life. Not only that but also he was successful to have received the full kripa of Srila Prabhupada–his Harinam Guru. Sometime Srila Prabhupada would have played a sweet joke with the small boy to test him–his seva mood. Suppose when sometimes Srila Prabhupada used to do Harinam Mala by walking around in the lawn of Sri Chaitanya Math garden, then he used to take green peas from the small boy directly collected from the field—to provide big enthusiasm to him. Harikatha & Harikirtan was his life and soul. Specially his extraordinary memory power was really spectacular. One time one thing hearing means this must have gone directly to the storage of his memory bank. Really! Later on he was well known as Gaudiya dictionary. Which book, which page, which chapter, which sloka etc. all as it is he could say very easily. Usually his relationship with his disciples were very friendly, but still his gigantic personality was always reserved by his exclusive seva mood. Even with us he was always very frank yet reserved. He was a great Acharya in our Sarasvat Gaudiya Guru Parampara, no less than our Guruvarga. Really I feel that—I am nothing in front of him. I always wanted to treat him as my Gurudeva. Because Guru-tattva as a whole is Akanda-tattva (undivided unique tattva). If I can see my Gurudeva in him then it is complete Guru darshan, which is quite natural. My Puspanjali unto the Lotus Feet of Srila Bhakti Vedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja always going to reach the Lotus Feet of my Diksha Gurudeva Sri Srila Paramahamsa Bhakti Pramode Puri Gosvami Maharaja. This is called actual Guru Puja and Puspanjali. Divisive attitude can make us a street beggar in the way of our Bhajan life. Such sadhu is really rare, who never wanted to deprive us. Though I used to stay (physically) there at Sri Vrindavan and he used to stay here at Navadvip Dham, still surely there was an internal link amoung us. From Vrindavan one day I went to Haldar Bhagan Gaudiya Math directly from Howrah station, to pay dandavat pranam unto his Lotus Feet. I requested him to bless me so that I can grow more and more patience. He said to me well—“That is the most vital factor in the way of Gaudiya Bhajan.”
One devotee came to him there to give him a new car for his preaching purpose but he simply took the key of the car from him to give him back. The devotee could not realise his mood. Srila Maharaj started speaking that—“I cannot accept that car, if I start using car, then they also can try to get habituated, which is really very dangerous for bonded souls, also too much headache can be there with the car, like where is driver! Where is petrol! Where to keep the car etc. I have my No.11 car (two legs), so I can go to station easily to catch train, which is more practical for me.”
I was wonder to see the case. Really a niskincan sadhu like him can teach us that way. Always he used to avoid taking puja from others. Then what to speak about the Vyasa puja day. Without speaking anything to anybody, only with the sevak he used to go away to some other place on that particular day, very early in the morning or even sometime previous day. Nobody could trace out about the whereabout of Srila Maharaja, who knows where he gone. One such incident I can remember, Srila Maharaja went to the house of a very very poor disciple in a village at 24 Pargyamas. Even in dream they cannot expect that Srila Gurudeva can come to our house to accept seva on this particular day. Impossible! When they could discover that Srila Gurudeva coming towards their house, then they became overflowing with joy like a mad. That was his specialty. Irrespective of cast and class, rich or poor he was always merciful to all. Another incident I can remember, he was very sick in fever at the time of his Assam preaching tour. Assamese poor village men they are very very simple-hearted by nature. Whatever simple seva were possible for them, that all were more than enough for him. This is the symptom of a genuine sadhu. Always satisfaction, no grievance at all. Watching Sri Gurudeva very sick, the mother of the house was so much anxious and nervous that she immediately started massaging the head of Srila Gurudeva Maharaja to give him some relief of his headache. In the mean time sevaka started shouting—“Don’t touch Gurudeva”. But Srila Maharaja started giving green signal, which is really impossible to understand. We can remember the case of Adi–vassya woman (one Tribal Lady), who without proper knowledge and information started climbing the shoulder of Sriman Mahaprabhu at Jagannath temple to watch Jagannath Deva properly, because there was too much rush inside the temple. Specially that time Sriman Mahaprabhu was favorable for that poor Mataji. Why? He told—“Let her see Jaganath Deva up to her full satisfaction, don’t disturb her, even I don’t have that kind of tremendous attraction for Mahaprabhu Jagannath,” whereas the sevak Govinda and other devotees they were very much upset to see the case. They wanted to make Mataji come down immediately. We know that Sriman Mahaprabhu was very very strict about woman related matters. Then why He was suddenly so soft and kind hearted. That is the main Question. Bhagavan or Guru-Vaishnava can realise our heart, so accordingly they can respond. We can see Sriman Mahaprabhu was so strict- so strict that he was not at all ready to excuse Chotta Haridas. Whereas He was very much proud of Sri Rai Ramananda, even when he was found in direct link or contact with some young girl group (Devadasi). We can realise all those siddhantas. About guru seva, about Caitanya Vani preaching or about biksha–seva always he was so energetic that even the whole group of Vaishnavas in Vedanta Samiti could not make any competition with him. Without any smell of self-interest or pratistha, his vani-seva was so much effective and heart touching that I am speechless to describe. One incident I can remember when he was busy in his preaching tour at 24 Pargyamas at some villages. Backward area, poor people, still it matters little for Srila Maharaja. Some foolish sevaka was found passing some unusual remark that –“No profit here, only wastage of time and bhajan”. Immediately Srila Maharaj started speaking in a protesting mood that—“You all cannot do preaching seva, because for preaching seva enough patience and mercy you need to have for all bonded souls.
Another such incident was in Assam, due to torrential rain, a big Dharma Sabha was totally disturbed. All his important Godbrothers were there in the preaching team, they all refused to go to attain the Dharma Sabha due to natural calamity, but Srila Maharaja with big hope and enthusiasm went alone to attain the Dharma Sabha by holding one umbrella on head. Really it was a great surprise that thousands of common people of Assam– they all went to attain the Dharma Sabha with a great hope to get Sadhu Sanga, even by ignoring that kind of unexpected natural calamity. It was really strange that the Dharma Sabha was a great success with a lengthy powerful speech delivered by Srila Maharaj out of his causeless mercy for those innocent common poor people of Assam.
Unparallel and unique Acharyaship, no doubt in it. I was really moved by his unique Guru -seva mood. So it is rightly said that –“ kesava dhrita-vamana-rupa ………”
kripasindhu susampurnah sarva satvopakarakah
nisprhah sarvatah siddhah sarva vidya visaradah
sarva samsaya sancchetta ‘nalaso gurur ahrtah(Haribhakti bilasa – 1/45/46)
Such person is called Guru who is an ocean of mercy, who feels pain on seeing the unhappiness of others, who is always satisfied (saturated) and who works for the welfare of others, who does not desire sense gratification, who is perfect in all respects, who is expert in all scriptural knowledge, who removes the doubts of his followers and who is not lazy (always busy in serving the Lord).
This is the topmost (perfect) definition of Guru-tattva shown by Srila Sanatan Gosvamipad in Hari Bhakti Vilas, which is properly applicable in the case of the Acharyaship of Srila Bhakti Vedanta Vaman Gosvami Maharaja. This much I can say safely.
I like to draw the final touch of my writing with a sensitive feeling he developed before leaving his transcendental body which is just matching with my painful experience in my life.
“To tell the truth, seeing the present state [of the world] I do not have the desire to go anywhere anymore. Man’s heart is extremely polluted. No one is accustomed to seeing the good in others. Hatred, violence, envy, blasphemy, flattery, and hopes of profit, worship, and prestige have turned the life of the people upside down. There is at present a dearth of love, affection, and goodness amidst mankind. Self-absorption and bravado have gained solid establishment in every field. If there is no patience, tolerance, and simplicity among mankind, then what is sādhana-bhajana for? Seeing all of this, I have personally become very reserved. I am just trying to go forward with what little humanity I have. After a great deal, by the blessings of Guru and Vaiṣṇavas, I have become human. Therefore, I do not wish to waste time with inimical people. Hence, my sole aspiration is to lead a solitary life. I am accustomed to leading a solitary existence even in the midst of many people.” (Patrāmṛta, Letter 48)
[Herein is proven his limitless ability to remain unaffected. He would say, “I am in the middle of everything, but also not in the middle of anything—without adopting this sort of attitude, it is not possible to perform hari-bhajana.” He was the embodiment of this statement.]
When he was almost going to express sick lila during his staying at Haldar Bhagan, one day I saw him paying dandavat pranam to Sri Sri Radha- Vinod Bihari Vigraha. I was really moved to see his heavy loveful emotional exchange of views with those vigrahas. As if he was talking with them very freely just like my Paramahamsa Gurudeva Sri Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Gosvami Maharaja.
Almost last stage –in his old age while he was at Seurapuli-Nimai-Tirtha Gath—Sri Nimai-tirtha Gaudiya Math, then one day one of his aged famous godbrother come to meet him there at his bhajan kutir. That Maharaj asked him—“Maharaja! Can you identify me?”
Srila Vamana Gosvami Maharaja replayed him very gently that—“Yes I can identify you. You are Krsna das.” Then that Maharaj again asked him that –“ If I am Krsna das then what is your identity? Then Srila Vaman Gosvami Maharaj replayed that—“I am Guru das”. This way he wanted to indicate us his Radha dasya.
Due to my continuous publication seva, very often I was bound to go to Kolkata press, so naturally Haldar Bhagan Math darshan was a frequent event for me. Later on when he took decision to stay at Seurapuli Nimai Tirtha Gaudiya Math at the bank of Ganga Ji—the place which I too like very much was my pilgrimage. My late night return journey from Kolkata press was not at all approved by devotees, so naturally I was bound to stay at Nimai Tirtha Gaudiya Math to take darshan of Srila Maharaj there. Very often he was found speaking with somebody invisible at the night time when he was supposed to go sleep. When he was asked politely by the sevak about this matter, then he started giving answer that—“My master coming to advice me. I am always controlled by my Guruvarga, I am never independent.” Really he was a very orthodox Gaudiya Sadhu.
He never used to maintain any Bank account. Once being asked by one of his Godbrother about his bank deposit amount. The question was–“How much amount you have in your Bank account?” Srila Maharaja straightway pointed out his own pocket Bank only. This way he used to maintain the whole Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti. “Krsnaika sharan” is the most vital and central point of all the Qualities that a Vaishnava can have, he was totally established in this Quality –“krsnaika sharan.” I am also trying my best to follow the same principle in my Bhajan life. Srila Vaman Deva Gosvami is the complete embodiment of the “trinad api sunich bhava”
Truly yours in the service of Guru-Gauranaga and Go-Mata
All your beloved Shyam Baba
Gaura Hari Hari Bol