Pancaratrika Guru-Parampara and Bhagavata-Parampara

by

Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

An excerpt from the forthcoming biography of nitya-lila pravista
om visnupada astottara-sata ..

Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami
Maharaja

In recent times newer and newer questions are being invented in regard to
Sri Guru-parampara in the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya. Some people are of
the opinion that Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana was initiated in the Madhva
sampradaya and that he was not a Gaudiya Vaisnava. In spite of attaining
the
association of Gaudiya Vaisnava, the influence of the Madhva sampradaya
upon him was so great that in his own literatures he has stubbornly
included
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya, in the Madhva
sampradaya without any reasonable justification. Thus he cannot be
considered an acarya of the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya. Some ignorant
persons say that jagad guru Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupadaji has
created a new concept -- bhagavata-parampara. In this bhagavata-parampara
he
has explained that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura is a disciple of Vaisnava
Sarvabhauma Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja and that Sri Gaura Kisora
dasa Babaji Maharaja is a disciple of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Some
sahajiya Vaisnavas are also presenting the doubt that Sri Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati accepted the renounced order, sannyasa, from himself, and
consequently, his guru parampara is not bona fide. My most worshipable
Srila
Gurudeva has shattered all these accusations by powerful logic and solid
scriptural evidence. His analysis of the subject is being presented here.

The disciples and grand-disciples of Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Prabhupada are currently preaching suddha krsna-bhakti and Sri Harinama as
preached and practised by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu throughout the entire
world. They have preached extensively in countries such as America, Canada,
France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and
Australia. Consequently, in every prominent city, moreover, in every town
and village, the streets and avenues are resounding with the sound of the
holy name and young men and women are applying themselves to the
cultivation
of suddha-bhakti with great enthusiasm. They are meeting Vaisnavas from
India, performing harinama sankirtana together and preaching suddha-bhakti
everywhere. Being agitated by this, a few ignorant, so-called Vaisnavas of
the sahajiya community are trying to mislead the common man by presenting
fraudulent accusations against the Sarasvata Gaudiya Vaisnava lineage.
Srila
Gurudeva has established the rational and perfect conclusion on this matter
in his own essay entitled "Gaudiya Vedantacarya Sri Baladeva". We are
extracting some lines from that essay:

Guru-parampara of the Commentator
(Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana)

We are presenting before you the historical truth which is obtained upon
considering the guru-parampara of the commentator, Sri Baladeva
Vidyabhusana. First of all he acquired specific expertise in the
bhakti-sastra under the guidance of virakta siromani (the crest-jewel of
detatched sadhus) Pitambara dasa. After that, he accepted pancaratriki
diksa
from a Vaisnava by the name of Sri Radha Damodara dasa, who had appeared in
the seminal brahmana dynasty in Kanyakubja. Radha Damodara dasa was the
grandson of Rasikananda Murari. He accepted diksa from another Kanyakubjiya
brahmana, Sri Nayananandadeva Gosvami. Rasikananda Prabhu is the fourth
person in the pancaratrika guru-parampara of the commentator Baladeva
Vidyabhusana. Sri Rasikananda Prabhu was a disciple of Sri Syamananda
Prabhu. The aforementioned Nayananandadeva Gosvami was the son of Sri
Rasikananda. The guru of Sri Syamananda was Sri Hrdaya Caitanya, whose guru
was Gauridasa Panita. Sriman Nityananda Prabhu had bestowed His mercy upon
Gauridasa Panita. Even though Syamananda Prabhu was a disciple of Acarya
Hrdaya Caitanya, afterwards he accepted discipleship under Sri Jiva
Gosvami.
Sri Jiva Gosvami was a disciple of Sri Rupa Gosvami, who was a disciple of
Sri Sanatana Gosvami. Sri Sanatana Gosvami was a follower and associate of
Sriman Mahaprabhu.

Sisya-parampara of the Commentator

An account of the pancaratrika parampara has been given beginning from
Sriman Mahaprabhu down to Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana. Now an account of his
sisya-parampara is being given: Sri Uddhara dasa, referred to in some
places as Uddhava dasa, was a disciple of the commentator. Some hold the
opinion that these are two different personalities. Whatever the case may
be, Uddhava dasa had a disciple named Sri Madhusudana dasa. Jagannatha dasa
Babaji was a disciple of this very Sri Madhusudana dasa. Previously, as
sarvabhauma Vaisnava or prominent leader of the Vaisnava community in
Mathura mandala, Ksetra mandala and Gaura mandala, he became famous by the
name of Siddha Jagannatha dasa. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura accepted this
very Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja as his bhajana siksa-guru by the
system
of bhagavata parampara.

Under the direction of Vaisnava Sarvabhauma Srila
Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura discovered the
birthplace of Sriman Mahaprabhu at Sridhama Mayapura. Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura was the siksa-guru or bhajana-guru of Srila Gaura Kisora dasa
Babaji
Maharaja. Srila Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, having given diksa
mantra
etc, accepted my gurupadapadma, om visnupada astottarasata Sri Srimad
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, as his own disciple. Whoever is
incompetent in accepting this parampara is to be counted among one of the
thirteen types of apasampradaya mentioned in writing by Sri Totarama Babaji
Maharaja. Alternatively, he may be regarded as the creator of a fourteenth
apasampradaya.

Pancaratrika Parampara and Bhagavata-Parampara

From the aforementioned guru parampara we acquire the understanding that
Sri
Baladeva Vidyabhusana is a follower of Sriman Mahaprabhu within the
spiritual family lineage (parivara) of Sri Syamananda prabhu. On account of
Acarya Sri Syamananda accepting the guidance of Sri Jiva Gosvami and
because
Jiva Gosvami is exclusively rupanuga (a follower of Sri Rupa Gosvami), it
therefore follows that Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana is also a rupanuga
Vaisnava. Whoever does not acknowledge that Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana is a
rupanuga Vaisnava, having said that he is in the line of Sri Syamananda,
and
thinks that he is not qualified for the topmost service mood of unnata
ujjvala rasa, is certainly a deluded offender.

Although Sri Baladeva
Vidyabhusana was initiated in pancaratrika diksa by Sri Radha Damodara
dasa,
he also accepted siksa in Srimad Bhagavata and the literatures of the
Gosvamis. Bhagavata-parampara is superior to pancaratrika-parampara. It is
founded on the degree of proficiency in bhajana (bhajana-nistha). The charm
and superiority of bhagavata-parampara is that pancaratrika-parampara is
included within it. In bhagavata-parampara there is no obstruction in
regard
to time. From the viewpoint of suddha-bhakti both the doctrine of
pancaratrika and of bhagavata expound synonomous opinions with the same
objective. In Sri Caitanya Caritamrta it is said;

pancaratre bhagavate ei laksana kaya (C.c. Madhya 19.169).

The prakrta sahajiya sampradaya, while
introducing themselves as the followers of Sri Rupa Gosvami, accumulate
offences to the lotus feet of Sri Jiva Gosvami. Similarly, nowadays the
jati
gosvamis and those who accept their remnants, such as several members of
the
sahajiya, kartabhaja, kisoribhaja, and bhajanakhaja sampradayas, while
proudly conceiving themselves to be the followers of Cakravarti Thakura,
employ various disrespectful explanations against the commentator Sri
Baladeva Vidyabhusana. In this way, they are growing excessively hateful
and
progressing towards hell.

We are presenting herein a diagram of the pancaratrika guru-parampara and
bhagavata-parampara by which readers will be able to properly appreciate
the
speciality of sri bhagavata-parampara and also understand how pancaratrika
guru-parampara is included within the bhagavata-parampara.

Through the medium of this diagram we will give an account of the
pancaratrika guru-parampara and bhagavata-parampara of Sri Syamananda
Prabhu, Sri Narottama Thakura, Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Sri Baladeva
Vidyabhusana, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati
Thakura etc.

Pancaratrika Guru-Parampara and Bhagavata-parampara

Sri Madhavendra puri
(siksa guru) (diksa guru)
Sriman Nityananda Prabhu Sri Isvara Puri
Sri Gauridasa Pandita Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Sri Hrdaya Caitanya (diksa guru) Sri Sanatana Gosvami
Sri Rupa Gosvami
Sri Jiva Gosvami Sri Lokanath Gosvami
(siksa guru) (diksa guru)
Sri Syamananda Prabhu
Sri Rasikananda Prabhu Sri Narottama Thakura
Sri Nayanananda Sri Ganga Narayana Cakravarti
Sri Radha Damodara dasa Sri Krsna Carana Cakravarti
(diksa guru) Sri Radharamana Cakravarti
Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti (siksa guru)
Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana
Sri Uddhara (or Uddhava dasa) Sri Jahnava Thakurani (in the line of)
Sri Madhusudana dasa
Sri Jagannatha dasa Sri Vipina Vihari Gosvami (diksa guru)
Sri Bhagavata dasa Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura (siksa guru)
Sri Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji
(diksa guru)
Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
Sri Bhaktiprajnana Kesava Gosvami


Sri Madhavendra puri
Sri Advaitacarya Sri Isvara Puri
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Yadunandanacarya Sri Svarupa Damodara, Sri Rupa Gosvami
(diksa guru) (siksa gurus)
Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami


Sri Syamananda Prabhu -- In pancaratrika guru-parampara Sri Nityananda
Prabhu's disciple is Gauridasa Pandita, and his disciple, Hrdaya Caitanya
is
the diksa-guru of Sri Syamananda Prabhu. In bhagavata-parampara Sri
Caitanya
Mahaprabhu's disciple is Sri Sanatana Gosvami, his disciple is Sri Rupa
Gosvami, and his disciple is Sri Jiva Gosvami. Sri Syamananda Prabhu is the
siksa disciple of this very Sri Jiva Gosvami. It will not be an
exaggeration
to mention here that in tattva, rasa, bhajana and in all respects, Sri Jiva
Gosvami was superior to Sri Hrdaya Caitanya. Therefore Sri Hrdaya Caitanya
himself personally sent Sri Syamananda Prabhu to Sri Jiva Gosvami for
advanced instruction in the practice of bhajana and Sri Syamananda Prabhu
accepted the anugatya (guidance) of Sri Jiva Gosvami. Thus the serious
matter which is deserving of our consideration here is this - which is
superior, pancaratrika guru-parampara or bhagavata-parampara?

Sri Narottama Thakura -- In the same way, according to pancaratrika
guru-parampara, Sri Narottama Thakura's guru is Sri Lokanatha dasa Gosvami.
Yet there is no record of Sri Lokanatha dasa Gosvami's pancaratrika diksa
guru to be found anywhere. In such texts as Sri Gaudiya Vaisnava Abhidhana
it has been stated that his guru is Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. However,
it is a well known fact that Sriman Mahaprabhu did not make anyone His
disciple according to the pancaratrika pranali (method). Therefore, if
Sriman Mahaprabhu is the guru of Sri Lokanatha Gosvami, then it is only on
the basis of bhagavat-parampara. On the other hand, although Sri Narottama
Thakura is the pancaratrika disciple of Sri Lokanatha Gosvami, he is also
the disciple of Sri Jiva Gosvami in bhagavata-parampara. In the anugatya of
Sri Jiva Gosvami, Sri Narottama Thakura became steeped in bhajana-siksa.

Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami -- In pancaratrika-parampara Sri Raghunatha
dasa Gosvami is a disciple of Sri Yadunandanacarya, who is situated in the
pancaratrika sakha (branch) of Sri Advaitacarya. On the other hand, if we
deeply consider the life history of Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, then we
find the indelible influence of the bhajana-siksa of Sri Svarupa Damodara
and Sri Rupa Gosvami is very clear. Sri Svarupa Damodara and Sri Rupa
Gosvami are his gurus in bhagavata-parampara. In this example also, if we
compare pancaratrika-parampara with bhagavata-parampara then we find the
superiority of bhagavata-parampara is shining as radiantly as the sun.

Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana -- According to pancaratrika guru-parampara Sri
Baladeva Vidyabhusana is a pancaratrika disciple of Sri Radha Damodara in
the parampara of Sri Syamananda Prabhu. On the other hand, from the
viewpoint of bhagavata-parampara he is a disciple of Sri Visvanatha
Cakravarti Thakura. Sri Radha Damodara himself had personally sent Sri
Baladeva Vidyabhusana to Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura to study Srimad
Bhagavata and all the various Gosvami literatures and also to receive
advanced instruction in bhajana. The guidance of Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti
Thakura in the life of Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana is widely known. Only
under
the guidance of Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura did he defeat the Sri
Vaisnavas in the royal court of Galta and keep intact the service and
worship of Sri Sri Radha-Govindaji. Attaining the mercy of Sri Govindadeva,
the worshipable deity of Sri Rupa Gosvami, he composed Sri Govinda Bhasya.

There is certainly no room for any doubt about Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti
Thakura being a rupanuga Vaisnava. Therefore, since Sri Baladeva
Vidyabhusana is under the guidance of Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
there is also no doubt about his rupanugatva, his being a rupanuga
Vaisnava.
Furthermore, it is a well known fact that, having attained the mercy of Sri
Govindadeva, he ensured the continuing service of that very deity who was
the treasured life's breath of Sri Rupa Gosvami. So from this perspective
in
the light of his attaining the mercy of Srila Rupa Gosvami and his
aradhyadeva Sri Govindaji, what doubt could possibly remain in regard to
his
rupanugatva?

Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura: According to the pancaratrika guru-parampara Sri
Vipina Bihari Gosvami, who is situated in the pancaratrika-parampara of Sri
Sri Jahnava Thakurani, is the diksa-guru of Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura. On
the
other hand Vaisnava Sarvabhauma Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja is
his
bhajana siksa-guru in bhagavata-parampara. Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja
is a disciple of the famous Madhusudana dasa Babaji Maharaja in the
parampara of Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana. In regard to tattva-jnana,
bhajana-siksa etc it is not necessary to say that Vaisnava Sarvabhauma
Srila
Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja is superior to Sri Vipina Bihari Gosvami.
No-one can deny that the stamp of the guidance (anugatya) of Srila
Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja is imprinted in the life of Sri
Bhaktivinoda
Thakura.

Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura -- According to pancaratrika
guru-parampara his diksa guru is Sri Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja,
who,
by pancaratrika guru-parampara is situated in the branch of Sri Jahnava
Thakurani. Srila Babaji Maharaja accepted the attire of a renunciate (vesa)
from a disciple of Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, namely Sri
Bhagavata dasa Babaji Maharaja. Thus by bhagavata-parampara, Sri Gaura
Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja is in the branch of Srila Jagannatha dasa
Babaji
Maharaja. In this way Srila Sarasvati Thakura is in the parampara of Sri
Jahnava Thakurani by pancaratrika-parampara and he has been connected with
Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja in bhagavata parampara.

By shedding light on his life history, it is established that he made the
practices, precepts, bhajana pranali and fulfilment of the aspirations of
Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura the sole aim and object of his life. Thus, in
bhagavata-parampara his guru was Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura, whose guru was
Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja. Therefore there is not even the
least
opportunity to raise a finger against the guru-parampara of Srila Sarasvati
Thakura, the founder-acarya of the Sri Gaudiya Mathas.

There are several additional facts worthy of our consideration on the
subject of pancaratrika guru-parampara and bhagavata-parampara.

(1) If a pancaratrika diksa-guru in his siddha-svarupa (constitutional
spiritual form) is situated in a comparatively lower rasa than his
disciple,
then how will he give bhajana-siksa pertaining to the more elevated rasa?
In
this situation, the disciple must go elsewhere and take shelter of such a
Vaisnava who is qualified to administer the appropriate superior guidance.
For example, Sri Hrdaya Caitanya in Krsna-lila was an associate in
sakhya-rasa, whereas his disciple Sri Syamananda Prabhu (Duhkhi Krsna dasa)
was an associate in madhura-rasa. Therefore Sri Hrdaya Caitanya himself had
personally sent Duhkhi Krsna dasa to Srila Jiva Gosvami to receive higher
bhajana-siksa pertaining to madhura-rasa.

(2) The guru and disciple in pancaratrika guru-parampara may be in the same
rasa, however the guru may not be so highly qualified. Under such
circumstances for higher bhajana-siksa the disciple must go and take
shelter
of another uttama Vaisnava who will be called his guru in
bhagavata-parampara.

From these two considerations, we can conclude that there are some
inherent
defects in the pancaratrika process, whereas bhagavat-parampara, being
completely free from these defects, is flawless in all respects.

(3) All members of the Gaudiya sampradaya consider themselves to be the
followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, accepting Him as jagadguru. However,
on what basis do they consider that they are His followers and accept that
He is their guru? Sriman Mahaprabhu is not anyone's guru in
pancaratrika-parampara, although He Himself is a disciple of Sri Isvara
Puri
in pancaratrika-parampara. There is no recorded account anywhere to the
effect that Sriman Mahaprabhu has given diksa-mantra to anyone. Therefore
if
the Gaudiya Vaisnava community accepts the anugatya and discipleship of
Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu then that can only be on one basis, and that basis is
--
bhagavata-parampara.

(4) Each and every Gaudiya Vaisnava is proud to call himself rupanuga. But
let us consider this point; how many people did Sri Rupa Gosvami make his
disciple by the pancaratrika method? Sri Jiva Gosvami is his one and only
diksa disciple. So on what basis do the Gaudiya Vaisnava community accept
Sri Rupa Gosvami as their guru? Sri Rupa Gosvami himself is also not a
diksa
disciple of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore how is it possible to be a
follower of Sri Rupa Gosvami and at the same time be a follower of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu? Even Sri Sanatana Gosvami who is the siksa-guru of Sri
Rupa Gosvami has no second thoughts about calling himself rupanuga. The
basis of all these examples is one -- bhagavata-parampara. Sri Rupa Gosvami
is the disciple of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the Gaudiya Vaisnava
community consider Sri Rupa Gosvami to be their guru only on the basis of
bhagavata-parampara.

Who is the pancaratrika diksa-guru of Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami? He
has not mentioned the name of his pancaratrika diksa-guru in any of his
literatures. He has described the names of his siksa-gurus in Sri Caitanya
Caritamrta, Adi 1.37:

ei chaya guru -- siksa-guru ye amara,
tan-sabara pada-padme koti namaskara

And at the end of each chapter of Sri Caitanya Caritamrta it is written:

sri-rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa,
caitanya caritamrta kahe krsna dasa

By this he has accepted Sri Rupa Gosvami and Sri Raghunatha
dasa Gosvami as his main siksa-gurus. Thus he has also accepted them as
gurus on the basis of bhagavata-parampara.

From these facts it becomes thoroughly obvious that bhagavata-parampara,
which includes pancaratrika parampara, always shines forth brilliantly.
Therefore, whoever ignores these facts and casts aspersions upon the
guru-pranali of Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and
Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura or doubts that they are rupanuga is
certainly a staunch opponent of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and a secret agent
of Kali.

Thus whatever opinion my most worshipable Srila Gurudeva has written on the
subject of the guru-pranali of Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana and also in regard
to pancaratrika guru-parampara and bhagavata-parampara is both logical and
fully in agreement with the established conclusions of the scriptures
(sastra-siddhanta).

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