What Gaudiya Math is doing? (Part 6)

Written by Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda - Paramahaṁsa Jagad-Guru

First published by VISHWA-VAISHNAVA-RAJA-SABHA in the 1930's

To imagine arthavād in regard to the Holy Name, or, in other words, to imagine that the glorification of the Name is mere exaggeration of praise is that godless, intellectual attitude which gives rise to our belief in other tangible forms of effort. We think that the work of glorification, preaching etc. of the Name of Hari is not conducive to the general good. Or again we may think sometimes that the glorification and preaching of the Name is on a level with other kinds of effort. The first is arthabād in regard to the Name, the second is the aparādha 'offence' of believing the Name as being equal to other good works. To have faith in the Name itself is so very rare that we may leave it out of consideration; if we had faith even in Nāmābhāsa (the most rudimentary idea of the Name) we would have never said that succouring the victims of floods is better than kīrttan and pracār (singing and preaching God)—freeing the country from famines and opening of hospitals are better than preaching devotion to God. Hundreds of famines can be got rid of, not by Nāmābhāsa, but even by Nāmāparādha (offensive taking of the Name). The mukti that is not obtained in crores of births by Brahma-jñān 'knowledge of Brahma' can be had by one single Nāmābhāsa. This is no exaggeration, this alone is the only true message. Śrī Gaurasundar, the Saviour-of-Kaliyuga-Avatārī (the source of incarnations), by means of the Nāmācāryya (the teacher of the Name by his own personal example), Śrī Ṭhākur Haridās, has borne testimony to it. Adopting the Jaina view aggravated by the bad logic of purveyors of vulgar news, neither Caitanyadeva nor any of His devotees was ever in a hurry to prevent flood or famine or to found hospitals, nor did they give any other advice to any one except telling all men at all times and places—

কলিকালে নাম বিনা নাহি আর ধর্ম্ম ।।

খাইতে শুইতে যথা তথা নাম লয় ।

দেশ কাল পাত্র নাহি,সর্ব্বসিদ্ধি হয় ।।

যারে দেখ,তারে কহ 'কৃষ্ণ' - উপদেশ ।

আমার আজ্ঞায় গুরু হঞা তার এই দেশ ।।

উচ্চ সঙ্কীর্ত্তন তাতে করিলে প্রচার ।

স্থিরচর জীবের খণ্ডাইলে সংসার ।।

ভারত -ভূমিতে হৈল মনুষ্য -জন্ম যার ।

জন্ম সার্থক করি ' কর পর -উপকার ।।

Kalikāle Nāma binā nāhi āro dharmma//

khāite śuite jathā tathā Nāma loy/

deśa-kāla-pātra nāhi, sarvva-siddhi hoy//

jāre dekho, tāre koho 'Kṛṣṇa'-upadeś/

āmāra ājñāy guru hoñā tāro' ei deś//

ucca sankīrttana tāte korile pracār/

sthira-cora jīvera khaṇḍāile saṁsār//

Bhārata-bhūmite hoila manuṣya janma jār/

janma sārthak kori' koro para-upakār//

—Cc Ā 7.74 & 3.99; A 20.18; Cc M 7.128, A 3.75, Ā 9.41

"In the Kali-yuga there is no other dharmma except uttering the Name of Kṛṣṇa."

"Taking the Name in whatever place, whether eating or sleeping, irrespective of time, place, or person — all is fulfilled."

"Whomsoever thou meet'st, instruct him about Kṛṣṇa by my command, being Guru save this land."

"Thou did'st proclaim the high Saṅkīrttana and cancel the worldly course of jīvas moving or motionless."

"Ye that are born as men in the land of Bhārata, be true to your birth and do good unto others."

(To be continued...)