NON-SECTARIAN VAISNAVA-DHARMA (from
the Introduction to Sri Krishna-samhita)
Prayers to Sripad Madhwacharya:
Observations regarding some modern
Tattwavadis:
Sri
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Visits Udupi:
Co-operation the key to pleasing the Lord:
Leaders of Madhwa mutts come forward to
support Gaudiya heritage from Madhwa line:
We have over the years directly experienced, and are still experiencing some hostility from some sections of the Madhwa / Dwaita (Tattwavadi) community.
In most, the devotees / followers of Sripad Madhwacharya are very nice, and have treated myself and family very kindly on numerous visits to Udupi and related areas. HH the Late Palimar Swami (HH Sripad Vidyamana Tirtha Swami) on several occasions invited us to sit with him, where he gave kind words and prasadams. Similarly HH Pejawar Swami (HH Vishveshwar Tirtha Swami) on his numerous visits to Mayapur, West Bengal and Sri Vrindavana has always interacted as a saintly gentleman with the followers of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Even he has performed installations of Deities at Iskcon in Bangalore with our HH Jayapataka Swami. Others like HH Vishvapriya Tirtha (Admaru Junior Swami) gave me much time, courtesy and kind dealings during his paraya period of the late 1980s (circa 1988). We also had the great good fortune of meeting the Uttaradhi Swami HH Srila Satyapramoda Tirtha Swami in Madras, where he gave some kind words and blessings. Furthermore, the followers of Sripad Raghavendra Swami in Mantralayam, and in Madras I've always found very courteous, kind and friendly Vaishnavas. Similarly the very learned and saintly Srila Bannaje Govindacharya also gave some kind words of encouragement, and included in his book on Madhwacharya that Iskcon (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) is an authorised branch of the Madhwa line.
However, having said all of that, we still find that the presenters of the Dvaita Home page remain negative, even hostile, and openly deny the facts that the Gaudiya line coming down through Sri Tikacharya Jaya Tirtha, Srila Rajendra Tirtha, Srila Jayadharma Tirtha, Srila Vyasa Tirtha, through Srila Laxmipathi Tirtha, Srila Madhavendra Puri, to Ishwara Puri, through Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, Srila Narottam dasa Thakur, Srila Vishvanath Chakravarthi Thakur, Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana, Srila Jagannath dasa babaji maharaj, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Srila Gaura Kishora dasa babaji, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, to Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, as stated and supported by chronological history in the mutts/mathas.
Since this page was originally published, great things have come about. It began by some rather antagonistic individuals writing articles as mentioned above. However, the response when devotees approached the REAL authorities in the Madhwa mutts was overwhelming support for the Gaudiya sampradaya and for Iskcon - view the links HERE. (...and thank you)
"Srila Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thäkura points
out that the word “Tattvavädi” refers to the followers of Srila Madhväcärya.
To distinguish his disciplic succession from the Mäyävädi
followers of Shankaräcärya, Srila Madhväcärya named
his party the Tattvavädis. Impersonal monists are always attacked
by these Tattvavädis, who attempt to defeat their philosophy of impersonalism.
Generally, they establish the supremacy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Actually the disciplic succession of Madhväcärya is known as
the Brahmä Vaishnava sect; that is the sect coming down from Lord
Brahmä.
Consequently the Tattvavädis,
or followers of Madhväcärya, do not accept the incident of Lord
Brahmä’s illusion, which is recorded in the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhägavatam.
Srila Madhväcärya has purposefully avoided commenting on that
portion of Srimad-Bhägavatam in which brahma-mohana, the illusion
of Lord Brahmä, is mentioned. Srila Mädhavendra Puri was one
of the acharyas in the Tattvaväda disciplic succession, and he established
the ultimate goal of transcendentalism to be attainment of pure devotional
service, love of Godhead. Those Vaishnavas belonging to the Gaudiya-sampradäya,
the disciplic succession following Sri Chaitanya Mahäprabhu, are distinct
from the Tattvavädis, although they belong to the same Tattvaväda
- sampradäya. The followers of Sri Chaitanya Mahäprabhu are therefore
known as the Madhva - Gaudiya - sampradäya." (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada. Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya-lila 9:11. purport.)
"The uncontaminated devotees who strictly depend on the Vedänta philosophy are divided into four sampradäyas, or transcendental parties. Out of the four sampradäyas, the Sri Madhväcärya-sampradäya was accepted by Mädhavendra Puri. Thus he took sannyäsa according to paramparä, the disciplic succession. Beginning from Madhväcärya down to the spiritual master of Mädhavendra Puri, the ächärya named Lakshmipati, there was no realization of devotional service in conjugal love. Sri Mädhavendra Puri introduced the conception of conjugal love for the first time in the Madhväcärya-sampradäya, and this conclusion of the Madhväcärya-sampradäya was revealed by Sri Chaitanya Mahäprabhu when He toured southern India and met the Tattvavädis, who supposedly belonged to the Madhväcärya-sampradäya." (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya-lila 4:197. purport.)
"The Tattvavädi sect belongs to Madhväcärya’s
Vaishnava community, but its behavior differs from the strict Madhväcärya
Vaishnava principles." (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Chaitanya
Charitamrita Madhya-lila 1:114. purport.)
"O my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in the spiritual science
could not fully express their indebtedness to You, even if they were endowed
with the prolonged lifetime of the creator Brahma, for You appear in two
features - externally as the acarya and internally as the caitya guru -
to deliver the embodied living being by directing him how to come to You."
(Srimad Bhagavatam 11:29:6.).
srimad visnvanghri nisthatiguna gurutama-srimad anandatirtha
trailokyacarya padojjvala jalaja lasat-pamsavo' sman punantu
vacam yatra pranetri tribhuvana mahita sarada saradendu
yotsna bhadra smitasri dhavalita kakubha premabharam babhara
"May we be sanctified and blessed by the shining dust particles coming from the lotus-like feet of Srimad Anandatirtha, the preceptor of the three worlds, who is adored for his steadfast devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, so much so that upon the Lord's order Bharati (Saraswati), The Goddess of Speech, bestowed her favourable glowing smile in Anandatirtha's direction out of great love and appreciation for his service to the Lord. That full moon smile of his, now beams in all directions."(Hari Vayu Stuti 3.).
asyaviskartukamam kalimalakaluses sminhane jnanamargam
vandyam candrendrarudra dyumaniphani-vayonayajadyairihadya
madhwakhyam mantrasiddham kimuta krtavato marutasyavataram
pataram paramesthyam padamapa vipadah prapturapanna pumsam
"It is obvious that I am incompetent in respect of glorifying Vayudeva. Sri Vayudeva, who reaches the status of four-faced Brahma, who fears no dangers, who has taken the avatar of Madhwa on this earth specifically to enlighten men that had become clouded by the poisonous philosophies of Kali Yuga. Sri Vayu is worshipped by Candra, Indra, Rudra, Surya, Garuda and other devas. He gives them shelter when they take refuge of him. His glories are celebrated in the Vedic mantras."(Hari Vayu stuti 6.)
vande tam tva supurna pramatim anudinasevitam devavrndaih
vande vandarumise sriya uta niyatam srimadandatirtham
vande mandakinisat sarid-amalajalaseka sadhikya sangam
vandesham deva bhaktya bhavabhaya-dahanam sajjanan modayantam
"I bow down to you; Sripad Purna Prajna Tirtha (Madhwa), you are always
surrounded by the devotees who constantly adorn you with praises. I bow
down to that same Anandatirtha who is himself worshipful and who engages
himself in the service of Lord Visnu and Mother Laxmi. I bow down to him
who is a walking place of pilgrimage; his association is more pure than
even the sacred Ganges which touches the lotus feet of the Lord, for Sripad
Madhwacarya's life is surrendered at those same lotus feet. Again I bow
down to that Vayudeva incarnate with devotion, who destroys fear of repeated
birth and death and confers his blessings upon the Lord's devotees."(Hari
Vayu stuti 42.).
ananda tirtha nama sukhamaya dhama yati jiyat
samsararnava taranim yamiha janah kirtanyaniti budhah
"Let Sripad Ananda Tirtha (Madhwa Muni) be glorified for he is the source and abode of happiness and knowledge. Learned personalities have glorified him especially for his commentary of Srimad Bhagavatam, saying that definitely he is a good boat in which to cross this ocean of material existence."(Prameya Ratnavali).
Sri
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Visits Udupi:
Madhya 9.246
nartaka gopäla dekhe parama-mohane
madhväcärye svapna diyä
äilä täìra sthäne
TRANSLATION
While at the Uòupé
monastery, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu saw “dancing Gopäla,”
a most beautiful Deity. This Deity appeared to Madhväcärya in
a dream.
Madhya 9.247
gopé-candana-tale ächila
òiìgäte
madhväcärya sei kåñëa
päilä kona-mate
TRANSLATION
Madhväcärya had somehow
or other acquired the Deity of Kåñëa from a heap of gopé-candana
that had been transported in a boat.
Madhya 9.248
madhväcärya äni’
täìre karilä sthäpana
adyävadhi sevä kare tattvavädi-gaëa
TRANSLATION
Madhväcärya brought this
dancing Gopäla Deity to Uòupé and installed Him in the
temple. To date, the followers of Madhväcärya, known as Tattvavädés,
worship this Deity.
Madhya 9.249
kåñëa-mürti
dekhi’ prabhu mahä-sukha päila
premäveçe bahu-kñaëa
nåtya-géta kaila
TRANSLATION
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu
received great pleasure in seeing this beautiful form of Gopäla. For
a long time He danced and chanted in ecstatic love.
Madhya 9.250
tattvavädi-gaëa prabhuke
‘mäyävädé’ jïäne
prathama darçane prabhuke
nä kaila sambhäñaëe
TRANSLATION
When the Tattvavädé
Vaiñëavas first saw Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu,
they considered Him a Mäyävädé sannyäsé.
Therefore they did not talk to Him.
Madhya 9.251
päche premäveça
dekhi’ haila camatkära
vaiñëava-jïäne
bahuta karila satkära
TRANSLATION
Later, after seeing Çré
Caitanya Mahäprabhu in ecstatic love, they were struck with wonder.
Then, considering Him a Vaiñëava, they gave Him a nice reception.
Madhya 9.252
‘vaiñëavatä’ sabära
antare garva jäni’
éñat häsiyä
kichu kahe gauramaëi
TRANSLATION
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu
could understand that the Tattvavädés were very proud of their
Vaiñëavism. He therefore smiled and began to speak to them.
Madhya 9.253
täì-sabära antare
garva jäni gauracandra
täì-sabä-saìge
goñöhé karilä ärambha
TRANSLATION
Considering them very proud, Caitanya
Mahäprabhu began His discussion.
Madhya 9.254
tattvavädé äcärya——saba
çästrete pravéëa
täìre praçna
kaila prabhu haïä yena déna
TRANSLATION
The chief äcärya of the
Tattvaväda community was very learned in the revealed scriptures.
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu humbly questioned him.
Madhya 9.255
sädhya-sädhana ämi
nä jäni bhäla-mate
sädhya-sädhana-çreñöha
jänäha ämäte
TRANSLATION
Caitanya Mahäprabhu said, “I
do not know very well the aim of life and how to achieve it. Please tell
Me of the best ideal for humanity and how to attain it.”
Madhya 9.256
äcärya kahe,—‘varëäçrama-dharma,
kåñëe samarpaëa’
ei haya kåñëa-bhaktera
çreñöha ‘sädhana’
TRANSLATION
The äcärya replied, “When
the activities of the four castes and the four äçramas are
dedicated to Kåñëa, they constitute the best means whereby
one can attain the highest goal of life.
Madhya 9.257
‘païca-vidha mukti’ päïä
vaikuëöhe gamana
‘sädhya-çreñöha’
haya,——ei çästra-nirüpaëa
TRANSLATION
“When one dedicates the duties of
varëäçrama-dharma to Kåñëa, he is eligible
for five kinds of liberation. Thus he is transferred to the spiritual world
in Vaikuëöha. This is the highest goal of life and the verdict
of all revealed scriptures.”
Madhya 9.258
prabhu kahe,—çästre
kahe çravaëa-kértana
kåñëa-prema-sevä-phalera
‘parama-sädhana’
TRANSLATION
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu
said, “According to the verdict of the çästras, the process
of hearing and chanting is the best means to attain loving service to Kåñëa.
PURPORT
According to the Tattvavädés,
the best process for achieving the highest goal of life is to execute the
duties of the four varëas and äçramas. In the material
world, unless one is situated in one of the varëas (brähmaëa,
kñatriya, vaiçya or çüdra) one cannot manage
social affairs properly to attain the ultimate goal. One also has to follow
the principles of the äçramas (brahmacarya, gåhastha,
vänaprastha and sannyäsa), since these principles are considered
essential for the attainment of the highest goal. In this way the Tattvavädés
establish that the execution of the principles of varëa and äçrama
for the sake of Kåñëa is the best way to attain the topmost
goal. The Tattvavädés thus established their principles in
terms of human society. Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, however,
differed when He said that the best process is hearing and chanting about
Lord Viñëu. According to the Tattvavädés, the highest
goal is returning home, back to Godhead, but in Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu’s opinion the highest goal is attaining love of Godhead,
in either the material world or the spiritual world. In the material world
this is practiced according to çästric injunction, and in the
spiritual world the real achievement is already there.
Madhya 9.259-260
çravaëaà kértanaà
viñëoù
smaraëaà päda-sevanam
arcanaà vandanaà däsyaà
sakhyam ätma-nivedanam
iti puàsärpitä viñëau
bhaktiç cen nava-lakñaëä
kriyeta bhagavaty addhä
tan manye ’dhétam uttamam
TRANSLATION
“‘This process entails hearing,
chanting and remembering the holy name, form, pastimes, qualities and entourage
of the Lord, offering service according to the time, place and performer,
worshiping the Deity, offering prayers, always considering oneself the
eternal servant of Kåñëa, making friends with Him and
dedicating everything unto Him. These nine items of devotional service,
when directly offered to Kåñëa, constitute the highest
attainment of life. This is the verdict of the revealed scriptures.’
PURPORT
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu
quoted these verses from Çrémad-Bhägavatam (7.5.23–24).
Madhya 9.261
çravaëa-kértana
ha-ite kåñëe haya ‘premä’
sei païcama puruñärtha—puruñärthera
sémä
TRANSLATION
“When one comes to the platform
of loving service to Lord Kåñëa by executing these nine
processes, beginning with hearing and chanting, he has attained the fifth
platform of success and the limit of life’s goals.
PURPORT
Everyone is after success in religion,
economic development, sense gratification and ultimately merging into the
existence of Brahman. These are the general practices of the common man,
but according to the strict principles of the Vedas, the highest attainment
is to rise to the platform of çravaëaà kértanam,
hearing and chanting about the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is
confirmed in Çrémad-Bhägavatam (1.1.2):
dharmaù projjhita-kaitavo
’tra paramo nirmatsaräëäà satäà
vedyaà västavam atra
vastu çiva-daà täpa-trayonmülanam
çrémad-bhägavate
mahä-muni-kåte kià vä parair éçvaraù
sadyo hådy avarudhyate ’tra
kåtibhiù çuçrüñubhis tat-kñaëät
“Completely rejecting all religious
activities which are materially motivated, this Bhägavata Puräëa
propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees
who are fully pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished
from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold
miseries. This beautiful Bhägavatam, compiled by the great sage Çré
Vyäsadeva, is sufficient in itself for God realization. What is the
need of any other scripture? As soon as one attentively and submissively
hears the message of Bhägavatam, by this culture of knowledge the
Supreme Lord is established within his heart.” This verse of Çrémad-Bhägavatam
rejects as cheating processes all religious activities that aim at achieving
materialistic goals, including dharma, artha, käma and even mokña,
or liberation.
According
to Çrédhara Svämé, the material conception of
success (mokña, or liberation) is desired by those in material existence.
Devotees, however, not being situated in material existence, have no desire
for liberation.
A
devotee is always liberated in all stages of life because he is always
engaged in the nine items of devotional service (çravaëam,
kértanam, etc.). Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s philosophy
holds that devotional service to Kåñëa always exists
in everyone’s heart. It simply has to be awakened by the process of çravaëaà
kértanaà viñëoù [SB 7.5.23]. Çravaëädi
çuddha-citte karaye udaya (Cc. Madhya 22.107). When a person is
actually engaged in devotional service, his eternal relationship with the
Lord, the servant-master relationship, is awakened.
Madhya 9.262
evaà-vrataù sva-priya-näma-kértyä
jätänurägo druta-citta
uccaiù
hasaty atho roditi rauti gäyaty
unmäda-van nåtyati loka-bähyaù
TRANSLATION
“‘When a person is actually advanced
and takes pleasure in chanting the holy name of the Lord, who is very dear
to him, he is agitated and loudly chants the holy name. He also laughs,
cries, becomes agitated and chants just like a madman, not caring for outsiders.’
PURPORT
This verse is a quotation from Çrémad-Bhägavatam
(11.2.40).
Madhya 9.263
karma-nindä, karma-tyäga,
sarva-çästre kahe
karma haite prema-bhakti kåñëe
kabhu nahe
TRANSLATION
“In every revealed scripture there
is condemnation of fruitive activities. It is advised everywhere to give
up engagement in fruitive activities, for no one can attain the highest
goal of life, love of Godhead, by executing them.
PURPORT
In the Vedas there are three käëòas,
or divisions: karma-käëòa, jïäna-käëòa
and upäsanä-käëòa. The karma-käëòa
portion stresses the execution of fruitive activities. But ultimately it
is advised that one abandon both karma-käëòa and jïäna-käëòa
(speculative knowledge) and accept only upäsanä-käëòa,
or bhakti-käëòa. One cannot attain love of Godhead by
executing karma-käëòa or jïäna-käëòa.
But by dedicating one’s karma, or fruitive activities, to the Supreme Lord,
one may be relieved from the polluted mind, and becoming free from mental
pollution helps elevate one to the spiritual platform. Then, however, one
needs the association of a pure devotee, for only by a pure devotee’s association
can one become a pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa.
When one comes to the stage of pure devotional service, the process of
çravaëaà kértanam is very essential. By executing
the nine items of devotional service, beginning with çravaëaà
kértanam, one is completely purified. Anyäbhiläñitä-çünyaà
jïäna-karmädy-anävåtam [Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu
1.1.11]. Only then is one able to execute Kåñëa’s orders
in the Bhagavad-gétä (18.65):
man-manä bhava mad-bhakto mad-yäjé
mäà namaskuru
mäm evaiñyasi satyam
te pratijäne priyo ’si me
sarva-dharmän parityajya mäm
ekaà çaranaà vraja
ahaà tväà sarva-päpebhyo
mokñayiñyämi mä çucaù
[Bg. 18.66]
“Always think of Me, become My devotee,
worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without
fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend. Abandon all
varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from
all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” In this way one develops his original
constitutional position of rendering loving service to the Lord.
One
cannot be elevated to the highest platform of devotional service by karma-käëòa
or jïäna-käëòa. Pure devotional service can
be understood and attained only through the association of pure devotees.
In this regard, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté
Öhäkura states that there are two types of karma-käëòa
activities—pious and impious. Pious activities are certainly better than
impious activities, but even pious activities cannot bring about ecstatic
love of God, Kåñëa. Pious and impious activities can
bring about material happiness and distress, but there is no possibility
of one’s becoming a pure devotee simply by acting piously or impiously.
Bhakti, devotional service, means satisfying Kåñëa. In
every revealed scripture, whether stressing jïäna-käëòa
or karma-käëòa, the principle of renunciation is always
praised. The ripened fruit of Vedic knowledge, Çrémad-Bhägavatam,
is the supreme Vedic evidence. In Çrémad-Bhägavatam
(1.5.12) it is said:
naiñkarmyam apy acyuta-bhäva-varjitaà
na çobhate jïänam
alaà niraïjanam
kutaù punaù çaçvad
abhadram éçvare
na cärpitaà karma yad
apy akäraëam
“Knowledge of self-realization, even
though freed from all material affinity, does not look well if devoid of
a conception of the Infallible [God]. What, then, is the use of fruitive
activities, which are naturally painful from the very beginning and transient
by nature, if they are not utilized for the devotional service of the Lord?”
This means that even knowledge, which is superior to fruitive activity,
is not successful if it is devoid of devotional service. Therefore in Çrémad-Bhägavatam—in
the beginning, middle and end—karma-käëòa and jïäna-käëòa
are condemned. For example, in Çrémad-Bhägavatam (1.1.2)
it is said, dharmaù projjhita-kaitavo ’tra.
This is explained in the following
verses taken from Çrémad-Bhägavatam (11.11.32) and the
Bhagavad-gétä (18.66).
Madhya 9.264
äjïäyaivaà
guëän doñän
mayädiñöän
api svakän
dharmän santyajya yaù
sarvän
mäà bhajet sa ca sattamaù
TRANSLATION
“‘Occupational duties are described
in the religious scriptures. If one analyzes them, he can fully understand
their qualities and faults and then give them up completely to render service
unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A person who does so is considered
a first-class man.’
Madhya 9.265
sarva-dharmän parityajya
mäm ekaà çaranaà
vraja
ahaà tväà sarva-päpebhyo
mokñayiñyämi
mä çucaù
TRANSLATION
“‘Abandon all varieties of religion
and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions.
Do not fear. [Bg. 18.66]’
Madhya 9.266
tävat karmäëi kurvéta
na nirvidyeta yävatä
mat-kathä-çravaëädau
vä
çraddhä yävan na
jäyate
TRANSLATION
“‘As long as one is not satiated
by fruitive activity and has not awakened his taste for devotional service
by çravaëaà kértanaà viñëoù
[SB 7.5.23], one has to act according to the regulative principles of the
Vedic injunctions.’
PURPORT
This is a quotation from Çrémad-Bhägavatam
(11.20.9).
Madhya 9.267
païca-vidha mukti tyäga
kare bhakta-gaëa
phalgu kari’ ‘mukti’ dekhe narakera
sama
TRANSLATION
“Pure devotees reject the five kinds
of liberation; indeed, for them liberation is very insignificant because
they see it as hellish.
Madhya 9.268
sälokya-särñöi-sämépya-
särüpyaikatvam apy uta
déyamänaà na
gåhnanti
vinä mat-sevanaà janäù
TRANSLATION
“‘Pure devotees always reject the
five kinds of liberation, which include living in the spiritual Vaikuëöha
planets, possessing the same opulences as those possessed by the Supreme
Lord, having the same bodily features as the Lord’s, associating with the
Lord and merging into the body of the Lord. The pure devotees do not accept
these benedictions without the service of the Lord.’
PURPORT
This is a verse from Çrémad-Bhägavatam
(3.29.13).
Madhya 9.269
yo dustyajän kñiti-suta-svajanärtha-därän
prärthyäà çriyaà
sura-varaiù sadayävalokäm
naicchan nåpas tad ucitaà
mahatäà madhu-dviö-
sevänurakta-manasäm abhavo
’pi phalguù
TRANSLATION
“‘It is very difficult to give up
material opulence, land, children, society, friends, riches, wife or the
blessings of the goddess of fortune, which are desired even by great demigods.
But King Bharata did not desire such things, and this was quite befitting
his position, because for a pure devotee whose mind is always engaged in
the service of the Lord, even liberation, or merging into the existence
of the Lord, is insignificant. And what to speak of material opportunities?’
PURPORT
This is a verse from Çrémad-Bhägavatam
(5.14.44) concerning the glorification of King Bharata, whom Çukadeva
Gosvämé was describing to King Parékñit.
Madhya 9.270
näräyaëa-paräù
sarve
na kutaçcana bibhyati
svargäpavarga-narakeñv
api tulyärtha-darçinaù
TRANSLATION
“‘A person who is a devotee of Lord
Näräyaëa is not afraid of a hellish condition, because he
considers it the same as elevation to the heavenly planets or liberation.
The devotees of Lord Näräyaëa are accustomed to seeing all
these things on the same level.’
PURPORT
This is a verse from Çrémad-Bhägavatam
(6.17.28) regarding the personality Citraketu. Once when Citraketu saw
the goddess Pärvaté sitting on the lap of Lord Çambhu
(Çiva), he criticized Lord Çiva for being shameless and sitting
just like an ordinary man with his wife on his lap. For this reason Citraketu
was cursed by Pärvaté. Later he became a demon named Våträsura.
Citraketu was a very powerful king and a devotee, and he could certainly
retaliate even against Lord Çiva, but when Pärvaté cursed
him, he immediately accepted the curse with a bowed head. When he agreed
to accept this curse, Lord Çiva praised him and told Pärvaté
that a devotee of Lord Näräyaëa is never afraid of accepting
any position provided there is a chance to serve the Supreme Personality
of Godhead. This is the purport of näräyaëa-paräù
sarve na kutaçcana bibhyati.
Madhya 9.271
mukti, karma——dui vastu tyaje bhakta-gaëa
sei dui sthäpa’ tumi ‘sädhya’,
‘sädhana’
TRANSLATION
“Both liberation and fruitive activity
are rejected by devotees. You are trying to establish these things as life’s
goal and the process for attaining it.”
Madhya 9.272
sannyäsé dekhiyä
more karaha vaïcana
nä kahilä teïi sädhya-sädhana-lakñaëa
TRANSLATION
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu
continued speaking to the Tattvavädé äcärya: “Seeing
that I am a mendicant in the renounced order of life, you have been playing
with Me in a duplicitous way. You have not actually described the process
and ultimate objective.”
Madhya 9.273
çuni’ tattväcärya
hailä antare lajjita
prabhura vaiñëavatä
dekhi, ha-ilä vismita
TRANSLATION
After hearing Çré
Caitanya Mahäprabhu, the äcärya of the Tattvaväda sampradäya
became very much ashamed. Upon observing Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s
rigid faith in Vaiñëavism, he was struck with wonder.
Madhya 9.274
äcärya kahe,——tumi yei
kaha, sei satya haya
sarva-çästre vaiñëavera
ei suniçcaya
TRANSLATION
The Tattvavädé äcärya
replied, “What You have said is certainly factual. It is the conclusion
of all the revealed scriptures of the Vaiñëavas.
Madhya 9.275
tathäpi madhväcärya
ye kariyäche nirbandha
sei äcariye sabe sampradäya-sambandha
TRANSLATION
“Still, whatever Madhväcärya
has established as the formula for our party we practice as a party policy.”
Madhya 9.276
prabhu kahe,—karmé, jïäné,——dui
bhakti-héna
tomära sampradäye dekhi
sei dui cihna
TRANSLATION
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu
said, “Both the fruitive worker and the speculative philosopher are considered
nondevotees. We see both elements present in your sampradäya.
Madhya 9.277
sabe, eka guëa dekhi tomära
sampradäye
satya-vigraha kari’ éçvare
karaha niçcaye
TRANSLATION
“The only qualification that I see
in your sampradäya is that you accept the form of the Lord as truth.”
PURPORT
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu
wanted to point out to the Tattvavädé äcärya, who
belonged to the Madhväcärya-sampradäya, that the general
behavior of the Tattvavädés did not favor pure devotional service,
which must be devoid of the taints of fruitive activity and speculative
knowledge. As far as fruitive activity is concerned, the contamination
is the desire for elevation to a higher standard of life, and for speculative
knowledge the contamination is the desire to merge into the existence of
the Absolute Truth. The Tattvaväda sampradäya of the Madhväcärya
school sticks to the principle of varëäçrama-dharma, which
involves fruitive activity. Their ultimate goal (mukti) is simply a form
of material desire. A pure devotee should be free from all kinds of material
desire. He simply engages in the service of the Lord. Nonetheless, Caitanya
Mahäprabhu was pleased that the Madhväcärya-sampradäya,
or the Tattvaväda sampradäya, accepted the transcendental form
of the Lord. This is the great qualification of the Vaiñëava
sampradäyas.
It
is the Mäyäväda sampradäya that does not accept the
transcendental form of the Lord. If a Vaiñëava sampradäya
is also carried away by that impersonal attitude, that sampradäya
has no position at all. It is a fact that there are many so-called Vaiñëavas
whose ultimate aim is to merge into the existence of the Lord. For example,
the sahajiyäs’ Vaiñëava philosophy is to become one with
the Supreme. Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu points out that
Çré Mädhavendra Puré accepted Madhväcärya
only because his sampradäya accepted the transcendental form of the
Lord.
Madhya 9.278
ei-mata täìra ghare
garva cürëa kari’
phalgu-térthe tabe cali äilä
gaurahari
TRANSLATION
Thus Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu broke the pride of the Tattvavädés to pieces.
He then went to the holy place known as Phalgu-tértha.
From
the Bhaktivedanta Vedabase
Co-operation the key to pleasing the
Lord:
Ideally we would like it that as sons, brothers, cousins,
etc., of Sri Krishna's family, that rather than spend our time bad-mouthing,
criticizing, and in general wasting time in such negative interactions.
It would benefit the world more, if we each recognise the common attributes
that we're all aspiring Vaishnavas and come together for the common good
of glorifying the Lord, for whom we're all dependent, and co-operating
with each other to satisfy His needs instead of ours.
"Just as a king gives protection to his citizens, these devotees, following the principles of devotional service, will give protection to all the people of the world. The people of the world are very much harassed by so-called religious-principled svämés, yogés, karmés and jïänés, but none of these can show the right way to become elevated to the spiritual platform. There are primarily four parties spreading devotional service all over the universe. These are the Rämänuja-sampradäya, the Madhva-sampradäya, the Viñëusvämi-sampradäya and the Nimbärka-sampradäya. The Madhva-Gauòéya-sampradäya in particular comes from Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu. All these devotees are spreading this Kåñëa consciousness movement very widely and giving protection to innocent people who are being so much embarrassed by pseudo-avatäras, -svämés, -yogés and others." (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad Bhagavatam 4:28:31. purport.)
An analogy may be given of a pool with the central focal point being the Lord. Now if we each and every one of us keep that focus and make our gesticular offering to the centri-focal point - Sri Krishna, what will happen is that throughout the world we will get nice concentric ripples that give the above protection and satisfaction to the peoples. However, when we become only interested in proving points, serving our own self interested natures, rather than serving the Lord - instead of nice concentric ripples we get ego-centric clashes.
In the world today, so many people are turning away from the service of the Lord, or from religion in general. Much of it has to do with the inner dealings, lack of integrity, even corruption, of various institutions - and NONE go without some skeleton in the closet somewhere.
Often we are finding that the one's who jump up and down, scream and shout the most, the indignant finger pointers, are those who neglect to notice the three fingers pointing back in their direction, and for some that's a pretty bitter pill to swallow, but a necessary one to improve the spiritual health.
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