By Kesava Krsna Dasa – GRS
The opening salvo of the preface for The Nectar of Instruction begins thus: “The Krsna consciousness movement is conducted under the supervision of Srila Rupa Goswami.” What does it mean to have this role? How actively involved is Srila Rupa Goswami in our everyday lives? Is he literally supervising all of us?
Before understanding this supervisory function, we need to know who Srila Rupa Goswami is in relation to ourselves, our spiritual masters, and the previous acaryas going back to the time of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Each of the acaryas were unlimitedly powerful, being pure nitya-siddhas, capable of delivering the entire world, but preached in tune with Lord Chaitanya’s wishes to lesser or greater degrees.
The special significance of Srila Rupa Goswami was that not only was he a direct disciple of Lord Chaitanya, and the leader of the six Goswamis of Vrndavana, but the leader of all the acaryas and followers of Srila Prabhupada – present and future. In (Krsna Book ch.86) Srila Prabhupada writes, “The actions of the Krsna consciousness movement are directed by the previous acaryas, headed by Srila Rupa Goswami….”
How Srila Rupa Goswami is spearheading Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s campaign can be put into perspective with his relationship to Sri Sri Radha- Govinda. Sri Govindadeva is the Lord of – abhidheya. We must bear this in mind when we consider Srila Prabhupada’s contribution and his intimate kinship with Srila Rupa Goswami both in deed and empathy.
Srila Rupa Goswami and Srila Prabhupada mirrored Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s desire to spread Krsna consciousness everywhere. “The desire of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is that all over the world everyone, in every village and town, know Him and His sankirtana movement. These are the inner feelings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Rupa Goswami committed to writing all these feelings of the Lord. Now again, by the mercy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the same feelings are being spread all over the world by the servants of the Goswamis, and devotees who are pure and simple will appreciate this attempt.”(CC. Antya 1.118)
Srila Rupa Goswami’s eminent position was summed up by Srila Ramananda Raya the doyen of rasa esotericism. He told Lord Chaitanya, “I see that the truths regarding transcendental mellows that You expounded through my mouth are all explained in the writings of Srila Rupa Goswami.”(CC. Antya 1.204)
After these glowing words of praise spoken by Srila Ramananda Raya, Srila Haridasa Thakura embraced Sri Rupa who humbly said,” I do not know anything. The only transcendental words I can utter are those which Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu makes me speak.”(Cc. Antya 1.211) Such good qualities as this endeared him to the Lord who said, “I met Srila Rupa Goswami at Prayaga. He attracted and satisfied Me because of his qualities.”(CC. Antya 1.197)
Srila Narottama dasa Thakura sings: “Sei mor vedera dharana….” That Srila Rupa Goswami’s lotus feet are the law of Vedic scriptures (Sri Rupa Manjari Pada from Prarthana) In fact; his lotus feet are everything for all of us.
Srila Prabhupada equally shares his reverence, he states, “Of all the gopis, Srimate Radharani is topmost. Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami are the most exalted servitors of Srimate Radharani and Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Those who adhere to their service are known as Rupanuga devotees.”(CC. Madhya 8.246)
In Bhagavad Gita as it is, Srila Prabhupada in his mangalacarana first seeks benediction from his beloved Guru Maharaja Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura with,”Om ajnana timirandhasya….” Who does he go to next? Straight to Srila Rupa Goswami, the supervisor, with the prayer “Sri Chaitanya mano bhistam….”
In what way can we experience such supervision? One example can be found in Krsna Book, in the chapter titled – Songs by the gopis. “For vaisnavas, Your words give transcendental pleasure, and saintly persons who are engaged in distributing Your transcendental message all over the world are first class charitable persons (This was confirmed by Srila Rupa Goswami also, when he addressed Lord Chaitanya as the most munificent incarnation because Lord Chaitanya distributed the words of Krishna and love of Krishna free of charge all over the world)”
This corresponds with the Srimad Bhagavatam verse. 10.31.9; “The nectar of Your words and the descriptions of Your activities are the life and soul of those suffering in this material world. These narrations, transmitted by learned sages, eradicate one’s sinful reactions and bestow good fortune upon whoever hears them. These narrations are broadcast all over the world and are filled with spiritual power. Certainly those who spread the message of Godhead are most munificent.”
If we nurture the – bhuri-da-janah – frame of mind in assisting Srila Prabhupada, and please Srila Rupa Goswami, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu will be thrilled to embrace us. Just as this activity is pleasing to Him, the verse itself is also dear to Him. A nervous King Prataparudra began massaging Lord Chaitanya’s lotus feet and recited this verse, which earned him a merciful and ecstatic embrace from the Lord (CC. Madhya 14.4-18)
Another example of experiencing Srila Rupa Goswami’s supervision is in our eating – our offering of food to the Lord. After Lord Chaitanya placed His lotus feet upon the head of Sri Rupa Goswami, he was moved to offer the – Namo maha vadanyaya…. prayers. It is no accident Srila Prabhupada chose this prayer for us.
What of the next prayer? Out of millions of Vedic verses comprising the scriptures, Srila Prabhupada chose – Namo brahmanya devaya…. Why? Does not – Govindaya namo namah – indicate the same Sri Govindadeva, the Lord of abhidheya? Who is Srila Rupa Goswami’s ishta-deva? This too is no arbitrary arrangement. We can be assured our eating process is guided in the most authorized manner. Such is Srila Prabhupada’s kindness.
Before setting foot on American soil in 1965, Srila Prabhupada noted in his diary, “Today the ship is plying very smoothly; I feel today better. But I am feeling separation from Sri Vrndaban, and my Lords Sri Govinda, Gopinatha, Radha Damodar.” The same consistent or eternal bond to Sri Govinda is expressed.
Onboard Jaladuta, Srila Prabhupada took solace in the Chaitanya Charitamrta, in which the author Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja prays unto the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Raghunatha – Sri Rupa and Rati Manjaris, at the end of each chapter. Srila Prabhupada was embarking on a bhuri-da-janah mission in the mood of the gopis.
If we want to understand Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, we have to broaden the scope of our prayers to include Srila Rupa Goswami who has an ever present supervisory role in our spiritual lives. “Those who are fortunate enough to understand Lord Chaitanya as well as the Vrndavana pastimes of Radha and Krishna can be able, by the mercy of Sri Rupa Goswami, know the real identity of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.”(TLC ch32)
Your servant Kesava Krsna dasa – GRS.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada left special instructions a week before he passed away that also clearly shows that we take shelter of Rupa Goswami,all our great acaryas are followers of Rupa Goswami- and as Kesava Krsna Prabhu has pointed out so wonderfully so was Srila Prabhupada- his room in Radha Damodara reminds of these facts and Srila Prabhupada has stated he lives eternally in these rooms- we take shelter of all the 6 Goswamis as by their mercy all obstacels to Bhakti is removed , in the the song Nama Sankirtana ,Narotama das Thakura sings:
(4)
sri-rupa sanatana bhatta-raghunath
sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasa-raghunath
(5)
ei chay gosai kori carana vandan
jaha hoite bighna-nas abhista-puran
(6)
ei chay gosai jar — mui tar das
ta-sabara pada-renu mora panca-gras
(7)
tadera carana-sebi-bhakta-sane bas
janame janame hoy ei abhilas
(8)
ei chay gosai jabe braje koila bas
radha-krsna-nitya-lila korila prakas
(9)
anande bolo hari bhaja brndaban
sri-guru-vaisnaba-pade majaiya man
(4) All glories to Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, and Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.
(5) I offer my obeisances to the feet of these six Gosvamis. By offering them obeisances all obstacles to devotion are destroyed and spiritual desires are fulfilled.
(6) I am the servant of that person who is a servant of these six Gosvamis. The dust of their holy feet is my five kinds of foodstuffs.
(7) This is my desire, that birth after birth I may live with those devotees who serve the lotus feet of these six Gosvamis.
(8) When these six Gosvamis lived in Vraja they revealed and explained the eternal pastimes of Radha and Krsna.
(9) Absorbing your mind in meditation upon the divine feet of the spiritual master and the holy Vaisnavas, chant the names of Lord Hari in ecstasy, and worship the transcendental realm of Vrndavana.
Srila Prabhupada writes in the Adi lila of the CC that in our temple in ISKCON Mayapure there shall be be constant loud chanting of Hare Krsna and Hari Haraye namah Krsna
We also daily pray to Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada
krsna sambandha vijïana däyine prabhave namaù
mädhuryäjvala premadya Sri rupänuga bhaktida
Sré goura karuëa sakti vigrahäya namas tu te
namas te gauraväni sré murtaye dinatäriëe
rupänuga viruddhäpa siddhänta dhvänta hariëe
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, the personified form of Lord Caitanya’s mercy, who delivers the devotional service enriched with conjugal love of Sri Radha and Krishna in the line of Srila Rupa Goswami”.
“ I offer my obeisances unto you who are the personified teachings of Lord Caitanya the deliverer of the fallen souls. You never compromise with any teachings deviating from that as enunciated by Srila Rupa Goswami.
and to Bhaktivinoda Thakura:
namo bhaktivinodäya
saccidänanda-nämine
gaura-çakti-svarüpäya
rüpänuga-varäya te
“I offer my obeisance to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, who possesses a form of eternity, knowledge and bliss. He is the manifestation of Gauranga’s potency and is the best of the followers of Srila Rupa Goswami.”
Below are instructions Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada gave a week before here left
this world:
akale parama utsäha sahakäre
rüpa raghunätha väëé pracära sabära
All of you preach the message of Rupa and Raghunath to everyone with great enthusiasm.
rüpänuga-pada-dhuli haite sabära
(jena) carama äkäìkñä citte jäge anibära
May the ultimate desire to become a speck of dust at the lotus feet of the followers of Sri Rupa remain ever awake in our hearts.
advaya-jïäna-tattva vraje vrajendra-nandana
(müla)-viñaya-vigraha sei sarva-sevya-dhana
Vrajendranandan Krishna is the principle of non-dual consciousness. He is the root object of devotion and the treasured object of service for all.
täìra apräkåta indriya tarpaëa uddeçe
äçrayänugatye sabe thäka mile miçe
In order to satisfy the transcendental senses of the one, non-dual supreme truth, remain united in following Radha, the original reservoir of love for Him.
sabära uddeçya eka çré-hari-bhajana
tähä sädhibäre sabe karaha jatana
Everyone make the effort to perfect your worship of Sri Hari; make this the only purpose of your lives.
du’ dinera jäni ei anitya-saàsära
ihäte mamatä tyaji hao mäyä-pära
Remember that this world is temporary and lasts only a day or two. Give up your family attachment and transcend this world of illusion.
kona-rüpe jévana nirväha kari cala
nitya-tattva kåñëa-bhakti karaha sambala
Maintain your worldly obligations in whatever way you can, but make the eternal principle, devotion to Krishna, the true provision for your voyage through life.
vipad gaïjanä çata çata se läïchanä
äsuk tathäpi hari-bhajana cheåo nä
Let hundreds of dangers, insults or persecutions come, but despite them, do not give up your worship of Krishna.
sarva-vighna-vinäçana prabhu gaura-hari
avaçya çré-pade sthäna dibena dayä kari
Lord Gaura Hari destroys all obstacles on the path. He will surely be merciful and give you a place at His lotus feet.
çré-kåñëa-vimukha heri adhikäàça jana
çuddha-kåñëa-sevä-kathä nä kare grahaëa
hayo nä utsäha-héna tähäte kakhana
cheåo nä jévätu tava nijera bhajana
When you see that most people are indifferent to Sri Krishna and show no interest in the selfless service to Krishna and in talks about Him, don’t be discouraged. Most of all, never give up your bhajan, your life and soul.
nija sarvasva kåñëa-kathä çravaëa-kértana
chäåiyä däridrya kena karibe varaëa
Why would you accept the poverty of a life without hearing and chanting about Krishna, your sole wealth?
kåñëa-päda-padma mäga jévera kalyäëa
acire puräbe väïchä sarva-çaktimän
Beg for Krishna’s lotus feet, the ultimate benediction for all living beings. The Lord is all-powerful and will quickly fulfill your desire.
asamartha nahe kåñëa dhare sarva-bala
(kåñëa-)sevakera väïchä kabhu nä haya viphala
Krishna is not incapable. He is omnipotent and His servants’ desires never go in vain.
tåëäpekñä héna déna äpane mänibe
taru-sama sahya-guëa bhüñita haibe
amäné mänada haye sadä näma labe
çré-näma-bhajane sarva-pradhäna jänibe
Please always chant the name of the Lord, being humbler than a blade of grass and more tolerant than the tree. Give all respect to others and demand none for yourself. Make the worship of the Holy Name the most important aspect of your devotional life.
çré-caitanya-pravartita saìkértana-yajïa
ihäte laiyä dékñä bhajibena vijïa
A wise person will worship the Lord after taking initiation in the sacrifice of the Holy Name inaugurated by Sri Krishna Chaitanya and His associates.
sapta-çikha näma yajïänale ätmähuti
viçeñe kalite ei çästrera jukati
Offer yourself up into the seven flames of this sacrificial fire. The scriptures say that this especially is the religious principle in the Age of Kali.
karma-véra dharma-véra haye käja näi
jïäna-yoga-tapa-ädi pathe kañöa päi
We do not seek to become heroes performing great works or religious deeds. We will become distressed if we take up the paths of knowledge, works or austerities.
çré-rüpera pada-dhüli jänaha svarüpa
sei se sarvasva tähe nä hao virüpa
Know that your true identity is to be a speck of dust at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa Prabhu; don’t go against this identity, which is your treasure.
rüpänuga-varya hana çré-bhaktivinoda
se bhaktivinoda-dhäräya bahe çuddha moda
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur is the best of all the followers of Sri Rupa Goswami. The pure joy of devotional service comes in the stream that started with him.
bhakti-rasämåta-pürëa sei püta dhärä
kakhano habe nä ruddha çata-vighna dvärä
That stream is holy and full of the nectarean flavors of devotion. Even a hundred obstacles shall never obstruct it.
se dhäräya haiyä snäta buddhimän jana
bhaktivinoda-mano’bhéñöa karaha püraëa
Intelligent persons who have bathed in the waters of this stream should endeavor to fulfill the heartfelt wishes of Bhaktivinoda Thakur.
bahu yogya kåté-vyakti ächaha tomarä
hao sabe äguwän esa kari tvarä
Amongst you are many capable and worthy individuals. So all of you come forward and quickly take up this task.
dante tåëa dhari ei jäci punaù punaù
çré-rüpa-pada-dhüli jena hai janma janma
Taking grass between my teeth, I pray repeatedly that I may become a speck of dust at Sri Rupa Goswami’s lotus feet, birth after birth.
ihä vinä anyäkäìkñä nahuka hådaye
ei väïchä sarva-håde hauk udaye
Other than this, I pray that no other desire will ever manifest in my or anyone else’s heart.
e saàsäre thäkä-käle äche nänä bädhä
tähe muhyamän kabhu nahibe sarvathä
While living in the world, we encounter many difficulties; but there is no need for us to ever be bewildered by these difficulties.
bädhä mätra düra karäi nahe prayojana
ataùpara kibä labhya cinte vijïa-jana
We need make no effort to remove any of these obstacles. What is necessary for us, while we are still here, is to learn what is beyond—what will be the nature of our eternal life.
nitya-ätmä ämi mora nitya sei jévana
ekhani hauk tära tattva-nirdhäraëa
Let me realize at this very moment the nature of my eternal spiritual identity and my eternal life in the spiritual world.
äkarñaëa-vikarñaëera vastu äche jata
cähi vä nä cähi emana kahiba vä kata
There are so many things that attract and repel us. There is no end to the things that we want and don’t want.
ei duhuì mémäàsä çéghra kari matimän
nitya-tattva kåñëa-bhakti karaha sandhäna
We have to resolve exactly what we do or do not want and decide to search out devotional service to Krishna, the eternal truth.
o duwera yuddhe jadi jayé hate cäo
(tabe) apräkåta nämäkåñöa hale rakñä päo
If you wish to conquer over attractions and repulsions then you should remember that by becoming attracted to the transcendental Holy Name, you will be delivered from them.
kåñëa-sevä rasa-kathä tabe ta bujhibe
tuccha saba rasa prati ghåëä upajibe
Then you will understand the nature of service to Krishna and the taste of His divine topics. Then you will feel nothing but disgust for the other insignificant pleasures of this world.
kåñëänuçélana jata vardhita haibe
(jaåa) viñaya-pipäsä tata kamite thäkibe
As you increase cultivating your consciousness of Krishna, your thirst for material sense objects will decrease.
baåa-i kaöhina tattva kåñëa-kathä haya
äpäta camaka-prada jaöilärtha-maya
The philosophy of Krishna consciousness is very perplexing. At first it seems startling and full of complex details.
nâmé hate täìra näma adhika karuëa
äçraya laile tattva karena jïäpana
The Holy Name is more compassionate than the Lord of the Name Himself. If one takes shelter of the Name, then it unravels all these philosophical complexities.
nitya-prayojana modera kåñëa-prema-dhana
tähä anubhave käma bädhe sarva-kñaëa
The treasure of love for Krishna is the eternal goal of our lives. At every moment, personal desires interfere with our realizing it.
nämäçraye sei bädhä haya apanéta
kåñëa-prema-räjye väsa haya abhépsita
By taking shelter of the Holy Name, all these obstacles are removed and we can obtain the fulfillment of our true desire, to dwell in the realm of pure love of Krishna.
e jagate keha nahe anuräga-pätra
athavä viräga-pätra nahe aëumätra
In this world no one is the special object of my affection, nor do I have the slightest hostility toward anyone.
sakala vyavasthä ethä kñaëa-sthäyé haya
ethä-kära läbhäläbha vicärärha naya
Whatever arrangements we make here in this world are momentary. There is no need to waste time thinking about gain or loss here.
sabäkära labhya sei eka prayojana
çré-kåñëa-padäravinde prema mahädhana
The only thing anyone should strive for is the one supreme goal of life. That is the great treasure of love for Krishna’s lotus feet.
tad-uddeçya sabe mili hao yatnavän
eka-dhyäna eka-jïäna hao eka-täna
So, join together all of you and strive for this goal. Work together harmoniously, with a single thing in mind and a single understanding.
ekoddeçya aikatäne avasthita hao
müläçraya-vigraha-seväya adhikära lao
Working together with the same purpose, you will become qualified for the service of Radharani, the original reservoir of love for Krishna.
rüpänuga-cintä-srota hok pravähita
tä hate svätantrya kabhu nahe saméhita
May the stream of ideas promoted by Rupa Goswami and his followers ever flow. We must never try to be independent of his doctrine.
sapta-jihva näma-saìkértana-yajïa prati
kakhano viräga jena nä haya arati
May we never become indifferent or disinterested in the sacrifice of the Holy Name with its fire of seven flames.
ekäntänuräga tähe thäke vardhamäna
tabe ta sarvärtha-siddhi pürëa manaskäma
In the performance of sankirtan, if your single-minded devotion goes on increasing, then all your desires will be fulfilled and all your goals achieved.
çré-rüpänuga janera päda-padma dhara
ekänta bhävete täìdera änugatya kara
Take hold of the feet of the followers of Sri Rupa Goswami and follow them with exclusive commitment.
(çré)-rüpa-raghunätha-kathä parama-utsähe
nirbhaye pracära kara sarva-siddhi jähe
Preach the message of Sri Rupa and Raghunath fearlessly and with great enthusiasm. Through this preaching, you will attain all perfection.
Our Srila Prabhupada had a very special relationship to Rupa Goswami as he is the Senapati devotee predicted to spread KC all over the world, and Srila Prabhupada once told some devotees in confidence that Rupa Goswami appeared to him at his rooms at Radha Damodara and told Srila Prabhupada he should simply write transcendental books and have them distributed widely all over the world and KC will spread in all directions and benedict the world with KC
your servant
Payonidhi das
Very beautiful and moving message – well thought out and presented.
“Narottama dasa says further, ‘rupa-raghunatha-pade hoibe akuti: When shall I be very much eager to study the books left by the six Goswamis?’ Akuti means eagerness. Because Rupa Goswami is the father of devotional service, he has written a book called Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, in which there are nice directions on devotional service. These topics are also dealt with in the Caitanya-caritamrta and other books, and we have given the summary of those directions in our book Teachings of Lord Caitanya. One has to learn of the conjugal affairs of Radha-Krsna through the teachings of the six Goswamis. Narottama das Thakur directs us not to try to understand the conjugal love of Radha-Krsna by our own endeavor. We should try to understand this yugala-piriti, conjugal love, under the direction of the Goswamis.”
–Excerpted from Srila Prabhupada’s Purport to “Lalasamayi Prarthana” (gauranga bolite habe) as printed in the BBT’s “Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas”