Letter by Srila B.B. Bodhayan Maharaj to the GBC of ISKCON, written on 27th day of September 2004, Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math. Sridam Mayapur

ALL GLORIES TO Śrī GURU. Śrī SARASWATA Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas and Śrī Gaurāṅga.

To

The GBC of ISKCON.

Śrī-Mayapur.

Nadia -741313.  Date.:    27th      day         of           September 2004.

Dear Mahārājas and Prabhus,

Please accept my respectful Praṇāma’s.

I am an aspiring servant of Śrī Brahma Madhva Gauḍīya Sarasvata sampradāya. Five days ago, I returned to Mayapur from overseas preaching trip. Like last few years, yesterday, on the occasion of Holy appearance day of Śrīla Sacchidananda Bhakti Vinode Ṭhākura, a glorious program was arranged in Godruma as usual by Śrī Sarasvata Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas Association. But this year, due to some problems between Gauḍīya Maṭhas and ISKCON, I saw ISKCON not attending the program and also Gauḍīya Maṭhas did not officially allow the ISKON on devotees to attend the same. This present situation is not healthy for spreading the message of Divine Love. All we are belonging to Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda-tree. I am sure that Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda will not be happy to see the present mood in regard to each other.

As per my observation. I discovered that, recently, due to the influence of ISKCON. PWD, a government department for constructing and maintaining roads etc. is progressing to widen the Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Road. Because of that, many shops and Maṭha- buildings on both sides of the said road are going to be partially demolished. As we know most of the Gauḍīya Maṭhas are economically poor—this type of action of PWD is breaking their hearts.

Besides such unpleasant incident, another old saddening matter has also been hurting them for long. Certain comments made by our Śikṣā-Gurudeva. His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupāda in his purports of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta  (Ādi-līlā, twelfth chapter, verse 8th) as well as his different letters to the disciples, are obviously against some of the Gauḍīya Maṭha-ācāryas. I am sure that all of you know about the relevant matter. Those contents may give you some satisfaction, but, according to my sense of Vaiṣṇava etiquette and culture, I can clearly see that the whole Vaiṣṇava community is taking such stuff very badly in relation to Śrīla Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupāda. He and his Godbrothers are all considered to be my Śikṣā Gurudevas. So, as soon as I hear any unpleasant comments about anyone of them, I feel as like a thunderbolt is breaking my heart.

I understand that all of you are trying to follow the instructions as well as the wishes or mood of your Gurudeva--His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupāda.

I have heard that at the end of his manifest life-pastimes, once he sincerely begged forgiveness from all his Godbrothers for saying anything unpleasant. So, now this is my humble request to you that please think about the pastime of my Śikṣā-Gurudeva, wherein he begged pardon for his past activities, trying to cooperate with the Gauḍīya Maṭhas. So please give full consideration to such his feelings and remove all his unpleasant comments from his purports and letters in order to save us i.e.the Sarasvata Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Society. Because those purports do not represent the proper respect or honour in relation to the other Vaiṣṇavas and the Vaiṣṇavism on the whole. So as his Śikṣā disciple, I am feeling very uncomfortable when I see one of Śrīla Bhakti Vinoda Ṭhākura's songs as follows:

“vaiṣṇava-charitra sarvada pavitra

yei ninde hiṁsā kari'

bhaktivinoda na sambhase tan're

thāke  sadā mauna dhari'

(Kalyāṇa-Kalpa-Taru)

"The Vaiṣṇava's character is always pure. Bhaktivinoda vows as never to speak or relate to any envious person who criticizes such a Vaiṣṇava: instead, he will always stay aloof from him by maintaining an appropriate silence.”

After reading the above song I felt like writing this letter for an amicable solution between each other, so we can preach together the messages of Divine Love among the general people as per our aims and objectives. According to my experience in the preaching field, it is always very difficult for all of us to give a truthful explanation about our own sporadic relationship between each other in the name of Divine Love. Also, in the age of quarrel, if we do so, then how we will be ideally preaching to others with a view: to establish (assert) Śrīmān Mahāprabhu's message of Divine Love?

He is not only the Gurudeva of ISKCON our Gurudeva too. If anybody thinks of anything negative about him that is also so painful to my heart. Therefore, it is my humble request to all GBC members of ISKCON to please remove the painful stuffs from our hearts. As per my experience for last few years, the ISKCON members headed by Śrīpad Jaypataka Swami Mahārāja and others and the members of Gauḍīya Maṭhas were trying to unite under the banner of Śrī Saraswata Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Society. But due to the above- mentioned problems our entire endeavour throughout the last few years is going to be nept in the bud. Please think affirmatively and do needful to fulfil the desire of Śrīmān Mahāprabhu.

suno suno Nityānanda; suno Haridāsa

sarvatra āmāra  ājñā  koroha prakāśa ,

prati ghare ghare giya koro ei bhikṣā ,

bolo Kṛṣṇa, bhaja Kṛṣṇa, koro Kṛṣṇa śikṣā

"0 Nityānanda, 0 Haridāsa! Please listen carefully about preaching this following instruction of mine everywhere. Go door to door and beg everybody to chant Kṛṣṇa’s Holy-Name, serve Kṛṣṇa and take education in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness.”

Now-a-days, your preaching group is really big around the world and doing lots of Mahāprabhu's services. As per my nature. I would like to keep their feet on my head, who are doing such type of Mahāprabhu’s real services by spreading His messages of chanting Kṛṣṇa’s Holy-Name, serving Kṛṣṇa and taking education in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness." All of us are actually doing the same devotional preaching, just in different ways.

Therefore, please excuse me, if I commit any inadvertent mistake in this letter while trying to follow the last wish of Śrīla Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupāda. Religion is proper adjustment and Swami Prabhupāda did show us that example at the end of his manifest life-pastime. All we are practicing Vaiṣṇava religion which is endowed with high-class humility and tolerance. Also, as we know under any situation that last will should be valid forever. Therefore, please do this favour to Śrīla Swami Prabhupāda by eliminating from his writings all his unpleasant comments regarding his own Godbrothers and Gurudeva's society, Śrī Gauḍīya Maṭhas. This will definitely bring happiness to His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda as well as all the members of Śrī Brahma Madhva Gauḍīya Sarasvata sampradāya.

In conclusion. I would like to request you and all that please allow us to chant harinām together giving all due respects to each other.

Yours in the service of

Śrīla Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupāda.

B. B. Bodhayan

Śrī Gopinath Gauḍīya Maṭha. Śrīdham Mayapur.

Special note: The letter by Srila B.B. Bodhayan Maharaj to the GBC of ISKCON, written on 27th day of September 2004, Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math, Sridam Mayapur was published in the book “Shatruta noie — samadhan” in the year 2010.