About altar

About altar

His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj and His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad sharing the same Vyasasana at the opening ceremony of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj’s Sri Mayapur Chandrodoy Mandir. At the lower left is His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, who is now the President Acharya of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

Altar pictures of Sri Guru Parampara With the question often being asked about which Parampara pictures should be on the altar of devotees in the line of Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj recently referred to a letter he wrote a little while ago.

His Divine Grace Srila Govinda Maharaj wrote: My dear Prabhu, Please accept my humble dandavat pranams in remembrance of Srila Guru Maharaj and Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad. I have received your letter and, as you know, I am pleased that the service activities are continuing there with enthusiasm. I have read your question about the altar in our Temples. First, I want to give a little history.

After the disappearance of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur, the worldwide Gaudiya Mission became disturbed and in a difficult position. At that time so many exalted personalities [left] that institution. By the will of Sri Krishna many of them started individually to preach Krishna consciousness in the line of Srila Saraswati Thakur, according to their capacity.

A little earlier they had tried to make a separate institution headed by Srila Guru Maharaj, similar to the Gaudiya Mission, but Srila Guru Maharaj was not enthusiastic. He tactfully avoided that, but his divine pastimes showed he did not stop his preaching and practicing life. On a very small scale he started Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math for his exclusive practicing and preaching life. All Srila Guru Maharaj’s Godbrothers know that before his disappearance Srila Prabhupad Saraswati Thakur transmitted his Divine Power to Srila Guru Maharaj, therefore all his Godbrothers have much faith to him as an exclusive Rupanuga Sampradaya Acharya.

From time to time they all came to him for their spiritual benefit and loving relationship. In addition, many of his exalted Godbrothers served his Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in several ways, along with their disciples. But Srila Guru Maharaj continued his Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math as an extraordinary preaching and practicing center. Many of his Godbrothers also sent their disciples to serve Srila Guru Maharaj’s Mission in many ways, including the worship of the Deities.

The worshipping procedure followed by them was to first mentally offer to their own Gurudev and take their Gurudev’s permission for them to worship Mahaprabhu, Radha-Krishna and Guru Parampara, but they did not change the pictures of the formal Guru Parampara for their own selves. Similarly, when we went to the ashrams of other Maharajs for engaging in worshipping, we followed this same procedure of not disturbing their formal Guru Parampara on the altar.

In order to help to differentiate his own Mission, Srila Guru Maharaj did not use the name “Gaudiya” for his Ashram. From that time up to the present, his exclusive line of Guru Parampara is continuing in his own Ashram. Here the fundamental point is that we, as his loving servitors, are making a specific mission in honor of Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj’s name. After the disappearance of Srila Prabhupad, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, those who were instructed by His Divine Grace to follow Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj and who were unsatisfied with the Iskcon management, they

sought Srila Guru Maharaj’s guidance. Many joined his exclusive Mission for the satisfaction of Srila Prabhupad and Srila Guru Maharaj as well as for continuing their spiritual life under the banner and guidance of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. They knew that Srila Prabhupad always honors Srila Guru Maharaj as a Siksa Guru and as living in the top position of the Rupanuga Sampradaya.

They also knew that Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math was established long ago in 1941, and the Guru Parampara will run there through Srila Guru Maharaj’s preceptorial line, and that this was honored by Srila Prabhupad also. Therefore we do not want to change this Guru Parampara line in Srila Guru Maharaj’s Missions. So, in answering your question we must first see from the desire of Srila Guru Maharaj, then from the side of Srila Swami Maharaj Prabhupad, then from our side.

We want to see a spiritual organization particularly in honor of Srila Guru Maharaj in the West. We think Srila Prabhupad would also be very happy to see it. Actually he has hundreds of preaching centres around the world, and he would never want to digest the honor of Srila Guru Maharaj. In another way also it is necessary to differentiate between our society and other Gaudiya Missions, as well as Iskcon, therefore we are still not even using the word “Gaudiya” in the names of our Temples.

As established by Srila Guru Maharaj, for his spiritual honor we will follow his Guru Parampara as it is in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. Srila Prabhupad is Jagat-Guru. His position is unique and universal, then his photo can be honorably kept nearby the simhasan, but, due to respect for Srila Guru Maharaj’s exclusive disciplic line, Srila Prabhupad’s photo will not be on the altar. In Santa Cruz the murti of Srila Prabhupad is Ramai Prabhu’s own.

Ramai Prabhu has been the head pujari there for many years and is doing the puja constantly, therefore we have no difficulty. But Srila Prabhupad’s photo is not included there in the line of the Guru Parampara. We are all the loving, respectful students of Srila Guru Maharaj and Srila Swami Maharaj, and we will expect from others that honor for Srila Guru Maharaj’s Mission. This will be very beneficial for all practitioners.

The spiritual, honorable formality must be maintained, and Srila Prabhupad will certainly be happy if we will give honor in this way to Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Srila Prabhupad has no hankering to cross over Srila Guru Maharaj’s position or disturb his desire. I think you can understand my explanation, and that the other devotees there will receive clarification due to this sincere enquiry. As appropriate my dandavat pranams or well-wishes to all the devotees and friends participating there. Yours affectionately, Swami B.S. Govinda

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