Srila Bhakti Kumud Santa Maharaja
Sri Guru Tattva
The Impetus for Sense Gratification
A short life-sketch of Sri Srimad Bhakti Kumud Santa Goswami Maharaj
by Rames Das
The Founder - Acharya of Sri Gauranga Math (Kesiary), Sri Chaitanya Ashram (Kharagpur,
Puri, Calcutta) and Sri Gaur Saraswat Santa Gaudiya Math (Chhekati and Baradiya)
Eternally sheltered at the lotus feet of The Founder - Acharya of World wide Sri
Gaudiya Math and Jagadguru Om Vishnupad Paramhans Parivrajakacharya 108 Sri
Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Thakur Prabhupada .
The appearance of His Divine Grace Srimad Bhakti Kumud Santa Goswami Maharaja
took place in the auspicious place related to the place of appearance of Srila
Shyamananda and Srila Rasikananda, in the Medinapur district of West Bengal. He
appeared mercifully on 2nd day of Baisakh of 1921 the first month of Bengali
Calendar in the house of well-renowned astrologer, doctor and landlord, Sri
Vaikunthanath Roy in the village "Narma". His mother Srimati Ratnamayi Devi was
a devout lady absorbed in worships. He was the third and youngest son of his
father and his name given by his father was "Radharaman". Usually he used to
remain immersed in the worship of Sri Anantdeva and Sri Gopal dev, on contrary
of passing time in playing as other children used to.
By the divine planning of Lord Krishna, the stalwart disciples of Srila
Prabhupada , like Bhakti Hridoy Bon Maharaja, Bhakti Promode Puri Maharaja,
Bhakti Dayita Madhava Maharaja, could point out the para-normal attitude of the
child, Sri Radharaman and got astonished at the same. His father also Sri Radha
Madanmohanji, Sri Chaitanya Ashram, Behala Calcutta discussed with devotees
about the possibility of the study of Sri Radharaman at the Sri math. When the
devotees discussed this point with Srila Prabhupada , the latter readily allowed
for the same. To see whether the child can adjust in the math, the eleven year
child Sri Radharaman was taken to Sri math by his father. The child was
attracted by the effulgence of divine lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada and showed
his inclination to stay with him He was admitted to the New Indian School near
Scottish Church College of Calcutta. During his study, he used to participate in
the Kirtan and different programs of Sri math. His natural aptitude for
Sankirtan and his sweet voice pleased Srila Prabhupada and the then Sannyasis.
During his study he was given Sri Harinam. After the completion of the study at
the school, he was sent to study Sanskrit by Gour Das Pandit, at Sri Mayapur.
Srila Prabhupada organized a colossal spiritual exhibition from 3rd Feb to 17th
March, 1930 at Sri Mayapur and engaged Sri Radharaman in different services in
this. Pleased by serving temperament of Sri Radharaman, Srila Prabhupada gave
him saffron dress on 20th March of 1930. Srila Prabhupada organized an
unparalleled exhibition in Dacca on 6th Jan, 1933 for extending the Vedic
knowledge to the mass public. Having seen the unexpected capability of
explaining the subject matter of the exhibition on the basis of scripture to the
visitors, Srila Prabhupada was pleased at Sri Radharaman and sent him with Sri
Srimad Bhakti Hridoy Bon maharaja for preaching program at several places of
present day Bangladesh. Afterwards, Srila Prabhupada entrusted him with the
responsibility of Sri Prapanna Ashram, located at Brahmanpara in the district of
Howrah. Being satisfied by his efficient and single-handed management and
preaching he was sent to Pai-Bareili, Shikarpur, Karachi, Pune etc. for
disseminating Krishna Katha in Hindi Language.
Sri Radharaman was sent by Srila Prabhupada to Burma for preaching on 8th March
1936. When Sri Radharaman was leaving for Rangoon, Srila Prabhupada came
personally to see him off and he told him while adorning him with his prasadi
mala "Dear Radharaman! You are crossing this ocean at a very young age. May Lord
Krishna bestow His Mercy upon you". During his preaching at Mandalay, when he
read Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita and came across the verse "Jivera Svaroop hoy
Krishner nitya das", he was inspired to write an article "Guru dasatva hoy mor
parichay". He sent this article to Srila Prabhupada for its publication in
"Daily Nadia Prakash". After going through the article Srila Prabhupada was
extremely pleased at the faultless content of the article, blessed Sri
Radharaman and ordered Srila Puri Maharaja to print the same in the daily paper.
Later on, Sri Radharaman went for circumambulation of Sri Mayapur, following the
order of Srila Prabhupada. Pleased by his selfless service, Srila Prabhupada
bestowed his blessing to him giving him the title of "RAGA KUMUD". In the
appreciation of Sri Radha Raman he wrote:
geetsevanuraktaya vipulotsahasamyuje
drahmachari padanka SRI radharaman sangyine
dhan pracharinisamsat satyaistasmai pradiyate
rag kumud ityaitadupanamadya sadaram
sunishuvasushuvhramshu shake mayapure vare
phalgun purnimayat sri gauravirvhava vasare
Therefore, the word "Kumud" was latter on used in the sannyas name of Sri Srimad
Bhakti Kumud Santa Goswarni Maharaja.
Srila Prabhupada installed the Sri Vigraha in Gaudiya Math., Madras on 23rd Jan,
1932. After the completion of Sri Navadwip Dham Parikrama, Srila Prabhupada sent
Sri Radha Raman Das to Madras for preaching, with Sannyasis. But, on 1st Jan
1937, at 5.00 a.m., Srila Prabhupada left his disciples drowned in the ocean of
separation and distress at Sri Gaudiya math. Baghbazar, Calcutta. This news
aggrieved Sri Radharaman, he left Madras at once and returned to Calcutta with
Srila Bhakti Dayit Madhav Maharaja and from there went to Sri Chaitanya Math
Mayapur.
After the demise of Srila Prabhupada , Sri Radharaman travelled extensively and
had darshan of different pilgrimage with Srila Bhakti Bhudeva Srauti Maharaja.
After the completion of Tirthatan, he went to his native place and started
austerity and bhajan near the temple of Sri Sri Radha Kishori Mohan Jiu. During
this time Srila Prabhupada appeared in his dream and ordered him to accept the
renounced order of life and preach the teachings of Lord Chaitanya. Following
the order of his spiritual master, Sri Radharaman Das took Sannyas from Srila
Bhakti Vichar Yayabar Maharaj at the auspicious premises of Lordship Sri Sri
Kshira Chora Gopinathji, at Remuna on 12th Feb, 1942. He was named as Srimad
Bhakti Kumud Santa. For continuous 32 years, he preached throughout India and
directed the Mayapur Navadwip Dham Parikrama along with Bhakti Vilas Tirtha
Maharaj. He rendered the service of offering melodious bhajans and eloquent
lectures for the pleasure of Vaishnavas which is still remembered by the senior
Vaishnavas.
His Divine Grace inspired the souls to take darshan of Holy places by organising
spiritual tour programs, in which he used to outline the importance of such
places elaborately. He went abroad in 1975 for propagating the timeless
teachings of Srila Prabhupada and inundated the countries like Great Britain,
West Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, Belgium with the same.
He installed his loving Deities Sri Radha Gopinath, Sri Sri Radha Govindji and
Sri Radha Madanmohanji resp. at Sri Gauranga Math. Kesiary, Sri Chaitanya Ashram
Kharagpur and Sri Chaitanya Ashram Behala, Calcutta. They are being served with
utmost devotion by him and his disciples. Later on, due to the repeated loving
insistence of his disciples, he started Sri Chaitanya Ashram Puri where the
deity is called Sri Radha Raman after his Brahmachari name. At Chheketi, located
in uttar 24 parganas, Sri Sri Radha Madhav Ji is served with love in Sri Gaur
Saraswat Sant Gaudiya Math.
His service to the Vaishnava literature is also worth - appreciating
contribution for the vaishnava as well as entire humanity. His books like "Samlape
Shiksha", "Patre Upadesh", "Geeta Siddhant Sar", "Sant Vani", "Sri Gauranga
Mahaprabhur Jiveni", "Sadhan Kan", "Damodar Vrat Mahatmya", "Bhakti Geeti", "Diksha"
have been casting divine light on the royal path of pure devotion. Besides these
books, he translated into Bengali a few books which "Moh mudgar" and "Moh Kuthar"
are important.
Starting from the tender age of 11 years, he has now completed his 87 years at
the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada , serving incessantly Sri Guru and Gauranga,
Vaishanvas and entire world.
Therefore, on this auspicious occasion of the appearance day of our most
reverened Srila Guru Maharaja, we pray at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada
that he please keep his glittering lamp burning for a long long time, so that
souls like ourselves, engrossed in darkness, may get light for proceeding in the
ultimate path of devotion.
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