The Glory of Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Maharaja
A lecture given
for his divine disappearance day
by
Tridandisvami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja
Govardhana,
[
On November 15, the same day that Srila Trivikrama Maharaja
left the world two years earlier, Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami
Maharaja left at
[Srila Maharaja then called on Srila Vamana Maharaja’s
senior most disciple, Sripad Parivrajaka Maharaja, who spoke in Bengali, and
then several others, to offer their heartfelt glorification. He then offered
his own glorification:]
We have heard from many Vaisnavas, such as Sripad
Parivrajaka Maharaja and Sripada Madhava Maharaja, and especially Sripad
Bhakti-prasada Van Maharaja spoke very nicely about the principle of separation
(viraha-tattva). Separation feelings are very important in the bhajana of
Gaudiya Vaisnavas. When first entering the realm of bhajana there are feelings of
separation, in the middle there are such feelings, and when one attains Sri Sri
Radha-Krsna’s direct service, there are also such feelings. Separation is one
of the aspects of prema (pure love of God). When there is separation there must
also be meeting, and that is why Vaisnava literature gives it great importance.
The experience of meeting is more important than the feeling of being
separated.
During that time of separation we can remember all the
qualities of our object of love and worship, whereas this is not possible at
the time of meeting. In viraha there is meeting internally – you can meet
directly there. Vaisnavas never die; rather, they enter into the transcendental
world and disappear from here. They are just like Krsna. His pastimes appear
and then disappear. Similarly, Vaisnavas also appear and disappear.
Pujyapada Srila Vamana Maharaja grew up in Vaisnava
association. His mother was a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Thakura. She was very intelligent and had so much guru-nistha; she had
great faith in her guru. Srila Vamana Maharaja’s uncle’s name was Bhakti
Bhusana Nrsimha Maharaja.
Srila Vamana Maharaja was an exalted servant of my Gurudeva,
Srila Bhakti-prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja, and from his childhood he served
in a great variety of ways. When he was 10 ½ years old his mother offered him
to my Gurudeva, and from that time on he considered Gurudeva his all-in-all –
his mother, father, siksa-guru and everything else of value.
He had joined the matha during the time of Srila Prabhupada
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and took harinama initiation
from him, but he always considered my Gurudeva his guru. This is
because he was always nurtured and given shelter by him.
Srila Vamana Maharaja was called Sajjana-sevaka brahmacari
before taking sannyasa. He had such a strong memory that whatever he read
he would remember immediately. Guru Maharaja told him, “If you learn one verse,
I will give you a toffee.” Not only did he learn one verse, but in one day he
would learn many verses. In his childhood, when he was still studying in
school, he would remember the entire Bhagavad-gita, Gaudiya-kantahara and so
many books. He would see them once – and then remember them.
He was admitted in Bhaktivinoda Institute, and there he came
first in his class. Then, after school he would go to the matha and render
profuse service. At the time of honoring prasada (prasada-seva) he would
personally serve the leaf plates, salt, lemon, water and mats to sit on. After
prasada he would personally pick up all the leaf plates and throw them away,
and he would also clean the area where the devotees had honored prasadam.
Later, at night, he would clean the toilets and do other menial work; and he
did all this under the guidance of Guru Maharaja.
Srila Vamana Maharaja passed many difficult examinations,
and here is one example: After the departure of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Thakura Prabhupada, someone falsely blamed the Gaudiya Matha devotees on a
charge of murder. About 45 devotees were thus sent to jail, including my
Gurudeva, Narahari prabhu and Krsnadasa babaji Maharaja. Alone, Srila Vamana
Maharaja would go shopping in the market, prepare meals for them and take those
meals to them in jail, go to court, and call the lawyers. This was very
difficult, because he was all alone. He was being criticized that
although he didn’t have the diksa-mantras, he was cooking and offering the
bhoga to the Deities. He therefore received diksa-mantras from Guru Maharaja in the prison, because he had to cook the
offerings.
Headed by Guru Maharaja, many disciples of Srila Prabhupada
in Navadvipa established the Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti – first in
Navadvipa and then in
Once, over 150 devotees came to the temple – and there was
nobody to cook. Srila Vamana Maharaja was very expert in making vegetables and
all sorts of dishes. Though he was sick and had a temperature of 104, Guru
Maharaja told him, “Get up and serve the Vaisnavas. You can fall sick
afterwards. There is no time to fall sick now.” In that condition he got up and
prepared all the prasadam, served all the devotees, cleaned everything that
needed cleaning, and then again fell sick.
He was in charge of the printing press. Once, his fingers
were crushed in the press and began profusely bleeding. Guru Maharaja started
to cry and immediately took him personally to the hospital in
One night I left my household life and arrived at the train
station, also during the night. When I got off the train it was completely
dark. I had never told anybody I was coming to the station. I saw Sajjana-sevaka
brahmacari with another devotee, holding a lantern and searching for me. He
came to me and said, “Are you Tiwariji?” I replied, “Yes. How did you know I
was coming? I did not write.” Srila Vamana Maharaja replied, “I was sent by my
Guru Maharaja.”
From the time I moved into the matha, Srila Vamana Maharaja
would supply everything I needed, like clothes and bedding. This is why, from
the beginning, I considered him my siksa-guru. I considered him in that way,
and also Srila Trivikrama Maharaja. Srila Trivikrama Maharaja came later on,
but Srila Vamana Maharaja had come at a young age. After I joined, we three
were together always.
Whatever was happening at the matha or with the institution,
Srila Vamana Maharaja acted as though he did not know all the
details. He would say to the devotees, “Go and ask Srila Narayana
Maharaja.” He used to have so much trust in me.
Srila Vamana Maharaja was not at all interested in his own
name and fame. He would never speak about himself. He would never speak about
what he accomplished. Even at the time of his Vyasa Puja ceremony, he used to
keep a place for me to sit. He had so much respect for me. I am so junior to
him; I am his siksa-disciple. Yet, he always gave me so much respect.
Regarding his expertise in writing, he would not commit any
mistakes while writing, so there was no need to edit or correct his work.
Whatever he would write was like perfect,
golden words. Guru Maharja would say, “You can take it and get it printed.” As
he wrote beautifully, he also spoke beautifully. He sometimes gave lectures for
three hours, and he would speak very softly. If he would be defeating
somebody’s argument, he would do so in sweet words. In fact, only that person
whose misconception was being defeated would understand what was going on.
During harikatha he would ask me to speak first. I
would say, “No, you speak first.” He would reply, “No, you speak first.” I was
defeated by him, so I would have to speak first. He had such an ideal Vaisnava
behavior.
He was the “right hand” of Srila Gurudeva. We three –
Pujyapada Srila Vamana Maharaja, Pujyapada Srila Trivikrama Maharaja and myself
were the leaders from the beginning. Whatever we had to do, the three of us
would do together. For 65 years – while Gurudeva was present and also after his
disappearance – Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti was running smoothly. Srila Trivikrama
Maharaja was the first pillar who left. Then Srila Vamana Maharaja became sick.
If he would have remained healthy, nobody would have dared to break-up the
Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti, but it happened like this.
I have just gone to Navadvipa, at the time of his
disappearance. They had called and told me that Srila Vamana Maharaja
wanted me to give him samadhi. They requested me with great appeal,
“Please come, please come. When you arrive you will give him samadhi.” I left
all of you – one thousand devotees. Though not feeling very well, I went there;
but I did not have to do anything. During the night the leaders there arranged
everything. I do not know what was on their minds. They are young boys, without
proper brains and still with their baby teeth. I don’t know what politics they
are doing at present. They played politics with Srila Vamana Maharaja also, and
they thought that whatever they did was for Gurudeva.
So I did not give Srila Vamana Maharaja Samadhi, but I
performed whatever other functions were required by me. I offered puspanjali,
arati, and parikrama of his samadhi. Thousands of people in Navadvipa – his
disciples and other people of Navadvipa – were crying loudly and bitterly. They
were begging me, “Don’t go. Gurudeva has left us. Please, don’t you leave us.”
I replied, “I can never leave you; but I am insulted here, so I cannot remain
here. Wherever I will live, my door is always open. Let there be mutual
understanding. Whatever has happened has happened. If they call me I will come.
Everybody began to cry even more. They stood in front of my
car – and fell in front of my car – and said, “We will not let you go from here.”
Somehow I pacified them. A few foolish “young boys” in the
Matha, whom I personally took care of for many years, have
created this situation. These guru-drohis [drohi means those inimical to] are
running this matha. And after a few days they will destroy themselves and this
matha.
They have no faith in Guru and they are committing offenses
to Vaisnavas. What good can come out of this? Srila Vamana Maharajaji has not
taught them to act like this. I heard that he was not even speaking in his last
days. I have never heard him say anything bad about anybody.
We will consider Srila Vamana Maharaja’s instructions only.
We will serve him. In Navadvipa, so many of my god-brothers have left and they
want to come to us. They tell us, “We will come and stay with you.” So
many of the boys left that place in Navadvipa; I only saw a few remaining.
Wherever one receives love and affection, that is where one will be
attracted.
Let us save ourselves from criticizing others. We will serve
Srila Vamana Maharaja wherever he is. May he be merciful to us. With this
prayer I offer my puspanjali at his lotus feet.
Editorial
advisors: Sripad Madhava Maharaja and Sripad Brajanatha dasa
Translator:
Sripad Damodara Maharaja and Akhilesh dasa Adhikari
Transcriber:
Vasanti dasi
Typist:
Anita dasi
Editor:
Syamarani dasi
HTML:
Bhutabhavana dasa
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