The Jewel of the Garland

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Sri Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, Founder Acharyya of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

"Guru Maharaj is a great devotee of Krishna, and when he leaves this mundane world, really, the jewel of the garland must fall down, like a star from the sky."

What is favourable for the practitioner's life, we shall take that happily, and what is non-favourable, we must leave that. Most favourable is: suddha-bhakata-charana-renu, bhajana-anukula.

We always try to take the dust of the lotus feet of the devotee who is a real devotee of Krishna. If we take shelter of him, and if we follow his guidances, we must be benefited. And it is said, that 'I am your servant, please give me instruction and service to Krishna under guidance of you.' Suddha-bhakata-charana-renu, bhajana-anukula. That is the most favourite of the practising devotees.

And: bhakata-seva, parama-siddhi, prema-latikara mula. That is, Krishna will be happy if we serve the devotee of Krishna. All the transcendental benefit we will get through the service of the devotee. Bhakata-seva, parama-siddhi - means extreme benefit we will get through the service of the devotee of Krishna.

And: prema-latikara mula. That means if we can satisfy the devotee, Krishna will be merciful to me and Krishna will bestow His mercy upon my head; and I will get the affectionate service of Krishna, also service mood of Krishna more exclusively, and that is Krishna- prema. That also I may get, through the service of the devotee. This is first.

Second: Madhava-tithi, bhakti-janani, jatane palana kori. Madhava tithi. "Madhava," this word. Ma means Laksmi Devi, dhava means the husband, that is Narayana. Another way that we can express it is, ma means Radharani and dhava is paramour lover: Krishna. Then what is dear to Krishna, that tithi, that lunar date, if we worship Krishna on that day, Krishna will be more happy. In this way, Ekadasi, Janmastami, Radhastami, the Appearance Day of Mahaprabhu, the Appearance Day of Nityananda Prabhu, the Appearance Day of Adwaita Prabhu, Rupa, Sanatana, Svarupa Damodar, all these tithi are called Madhava tithi, that is, dear to Krishna.

Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govindasundara, Sri Nabadwip Dham

"My heart was very sad, but looking at the form of the Deities.... I could feel some peace in my mind. Oh, Guru Maharaj was with us and the Deities were suffering because of that, and now Guru Maharaj has gone to join the Pastimes of Radha-Krishna and Mahaprabhu, and They are happy."

I can remember one thing, and that day I was very surprised. We were very sad, extremely sad that day when Guru Maharaj disappeared, 12th August 1988. But when Guru Maharaj disappeared, before that we have seen many symptoms in this Earth. An earthquake came, a very heavy earthquake, heavier than I have seen in my life of sixty years. And many other symptoms came, very suddenly! After seeing them I told my Godbrothers, "Now Guru Maharaj must leave this world, and within three to four days this will happen. And after leaving this world, also within three to four days again this type of symptom will come in this Earth."

That is, Guru Maharaj is a great devotee of Krishna, and when he leaves this mundane world, really, the jewel of the garland must fall down, like a star from the sky. Then some disturbance and symptoms must come again. And it happened.

And we were arranging the samadhi of Guru Maharaj, Sripad Sagar Maharaj was there. When I came to the Deities for paying dandavats and I stood to see the Deities' faces - very effulgent, very glorified, extremely glorified and very effulgent, and smiling like man, eyes like man's eyes especially Radharani and Krishna and Mahaprabhu. It was beyond my thinking, and I could not understand why on this day the Deities were very happy and They cannot hide Their heart's expression. And after seeing that I thought that Guru Maharaj has joined his Nitya-lila, eternal Pastimes of Krishna, Radharani and Mahaprabhu, and this symptom coming out from the form of our Deities. My heart was very sad, but looking at the form of the Deities I was stunned and I could not imagine that form, and I could feel some peace in my mind. Oh, Guru Maharaj was with us and the Deities were suffering because of that, and now Guru Maharaj has gone to join the Pastimes of Radha-Krishna and Mahaprabhu, and They are happy.

We need that and we shall try to make the Deities happy. And like a man, but it is very effulgent, I cannot speak it, never have I seen in my whole life such beauty in the Deities.

This is Madhava tithi. When Krishna, Radharani, and His associates are appearing in this mundane world, and when disappearing, all these days are very auspicious for the devotee - that is called Madhava tithi. That is, Madhava is getting the happiness. That day we must try in a more glorifying way to give our service to our Lordship and with great care we shall try to give honour to that date.

devam divya-tanum suchanda-vadanam-balarka-chelanchitam
sandrananda-puram sad-eka-varanam vairagya-vidyambudhim
sri-siddhanta-nidhim subhakti-lasitam sarasvatanam varam
vande tam subhadam mad-eka-saranam nyasisvaram sridharam
(by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj)

"I fall at the feet of Srila Sridhar-Dev,
who with charming expression sings his songs of sweet nectar.
Dressed with fine garments like sun newly-risen,
he's the true saint the devotees have chosen.
His detachment and knowledge are just like an ocean,
the treasure-house of complete, perfect conclusion.
Radiant in Pastimes of loving devotion,
the abode of pure ecstasy, bestower of good fortune;
foremost true follower of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta,
foremost great general of the whole renounced order,
my lord and my master, my only shelter, I worship his feet, Srila Sridhar-Dev."