Forty-six years before the beginning of Kali-yuga, Visnucittha, one of the twelve great Vaisnava saints of the Sri Sampradaya predicted: "There will come a race which will tread the Earth with raised hands and vertical tilaka on their foreheads, who will chant the names of Hari; this will destroy the influence of Kali." (Divyaprabhanda 1:10).
Sripada Ramanuja predicted: "The pure devotion to Sri Hari devoid of karma and jnana will grow and grow like a banyan tree covering the whole world, teaching everyone who takes shelter." (Prapannamrta tarpana - last chapter).
It is interesting to note in this connection how Srila Prabhupada is preaching `jnana karmady anavrtam' to `jare dekho tare' in every town and village!
Sripad Madhvacarya predicted: "The real knowledge of the difference between jiva and Sri Hari and the service of Sri Hari will spread all over the world very shortly." (Anu madhva vijaya - last chapter).
Srila Prabhupada roared, "I am not God! You are not God! We are all servants of God, Krishna!"
Srila Prabhupada is not just an acarya; not just the founder of a society; he is the Founder Acarya of the Krishna Consciousness Movement, which is a dynamic spiritual reality - the Yuga Dharma. Therefore, Srila Prabhupada is to be appreciated not merely as the acarya of a few intimate servants or even the acarya of a single generation of disciples. Rather, as the Founder Acarya of Iskcon, he established the standard of Krishna consciousness to be practiced by all sincere followers for ten thousand years to come.
The scriptures predict that although the present age is continually becoming more inauspicious, unfortunate and degraded, a `Golden Age' of Krishna consciousness will appear for a period of ten thousand years, following the advent of Sri Caitanya, despite the force of Kali Yuga.
Srila Prabhupada should not be limited by describing him as a founder within the drama or the one who started or only started the Iskcon. He was empowered by Krishna to do what no other spiritual master has ever done, or would ever do in the future - `na ca bhuto na bhavisyati sa ca pujyo Prabhupada: He is the Founder Acarya for spreading Lord Caitanya's sankirtan movement worldwide, for ten thousand years within the midst of Kali.
It is important to note that Srila Prabhupada himself, repeatedly emphasised that he was Founder Acarya. It is noted in the Lilamrta (IV-p93), that he became deeply annoyed when an Iskcon publication described him as "acarya of Iskcon", even though at that time there was no question at all of the existence of another acarya.
His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada is the sole Founder Acarya of the Golden Age.
Definition and Activities of a Great Founder Acarya.
The Founder Acarya is destinguished from all other acaryas and his qualities and activites are outlined in the sastras:
`tabhyas sarvajana trata sarvasrestatamo dhruvam
dina abhaya pradanartham visadikrtya bhutale'
"Among all acaryas, certainly he who is the deliverer of all people, who appears in this world for the purpose of removing the fears of the fallen souls (dina-abhaya) is the most perfect."
`gitacaryokta tatvartha caramartha prakasanam
rsiproktapramananam krtva vyakhyanamuttamam'
"He sheds light on the ultimate meanining of the philosophical conclusions spoken by Krishna, Who is the speaker of Bhagavad-gita. He also gives perfect purports to the evidences given by the rsis."
`divyaprabandhan lokebhya sarakopadibhi paryantam
arthopadesa paryantam vardhayaitva ca sasvatah'
"He propagates everywhere the meanings and purports of the songs of the previous acaryas."
`natharyadi gurunam ca satakopadi yoginam
ahrtya vyasa sutranam artham lokahitaya ca
sribhasyadi mahagrantham vidhaya karunarnaya
nirjitya sarvasamayan vadena sataso'subhan'
"He, the ocean of mercy, contributes great books for the welfare of the people that explain the meaning of Vedanta strictly in line with the previous vaisnava acaryas and devotees. In this way he conquers all, defeating hundreds of different kinds of inauspicious philosophies by his arguments."
`ityadibhir yatisresta karye lokahite rata
nathadidesike tebhya pradhano bhavati dhruvam'
"Because of engaging in the welfare of the people of the world, that perfect and topmost mendicant is certainly the most important Founder Acarya, (pradhana)." ...(Prapannamrta Tarpana - 62.47-53).
Srila Prabhupada exercised the basic principle of Krishna consciousness, as envisioned by Srila Rupa Goswami (somehow or other), to engage everyone in the Hare Krishna movement. The extent of his efforts are unprecidented in the history of vaisnavism. Thus he is the Founder Acarya who has accomplished the objectives of the `visva vaisnava rajya sabha', following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Goswami.
In the Sri Caitanya Mangal by Locana das Thakur, Lord Caitanya speaks of a `senapati' (great general), who will come after Him to accomplish His mission. It is clear that Lord Caitanya's teachings were a preparation made by Himself for the use of another preacher, personally empowered by Him, who would launch His Sankirtana Movement on a global scale.
Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur yearned to see the day when fortunate non-Indian vaisnavas would perform Harinama Sankirtan in different cities of the world (Sajjana tosani 4\3,`nityadharma suryodoy'). In this article he announced that Mahaprabhu's prediction would shortly be fulfilled. He foresaw that all the vaisnava sampradayas will be unified. "In a short time, there will be only one sampradaya and that will be the Brahma sampradaya. All other sampradayas will find there conclusions in this sampradaya".
"All smaller dharmas will enter like rivers into the ocean of Hari Nama and there will be only one religion - chanting the Holy Name of Krishna"; (Vani Vaibhava Ch.6).
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur spoke of the arising of a self-effulgent acarya from among his disciples who would demonstrate his prominence by preaching in a grand style. It is obvious from the predictions of the previous acaryas mentioned above that Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Praivrajakacarya astottara sata Sri Srimad Abhaya Caranaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is that self-effulgent Founder Acarya of the Golden Age.
Sripada Ramanuja predicted: "The pure devotion to Sri Hari devoid of karma and jnana will grow and grow like a banyan tree covering the whole world, teaching everyone who takes shelter." (Prapannamrta tarpana - last chapter).
It is interesting to note in this connection how Srila Prabhupada is preaching `jnana karmady anavrtam' to `jare dekho tare' in every town and village!
Sripad Madhvacarya predicted: "The real knowledge of the difference between jiva and Sri Hari and the service of Sri Hari will spread all over the world very shortly." (Anu madhva vijaya - last chapter).
Srila Prabhupada roared, "I am not God! You are not God! We are all servants of God, Krishna!"
Srila Prabhupada is not just an acarya; not just the founder of a society; he is the Founder Acarya of the Krishna Consciousness Movement, which is a dynamic spiritual reality - the Yuga Dharma. Therefore, Srila Prabhupada is to be appreciated not merely as the acarya of a few intimate servants or even the acarya of a single generation of disciples. Rather, as the Founder Acarya of Iskcon, he established the standard of Krishna consciousness to be practiced by all sincere followers for ten thousand years to come.
The scriptures predict that although the present age is continually becoming more inauspicious, unfortunate and degraded, a `Golden Age' of Krishna consciousness will appear for a period of ten thousand years, following the advent of Sri Caitanya, despite the force of Kali Yuga.
Srila Prabhupada should not be limited by describing him as a founder within the drama or the one who started or only started the Iskcon. He was empowered by Krishna to do what no other spiritual master has ever done, or would ever do in the future - `na ca bhuto na bhavisyati sa ca pujyo Prabhupada: He is the Founder Acarya for spreading Lord Caitanya's sankirtan movement worldwide, for ten thousand years within the midst of Kali.
It is important to note that Srila Prabhupada himself, repeatedly emphasised that he was Founder Acarya. It is noted in the Lilamrta (IV-p93), that he became deeply annoyed when an Iskcon publication described him as "acarya of Iskcon", even though at that time there was no question at all of the existence of another acarya.
His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada is the sole Founder Acarya of the Golden Age.
Definition and Activities of a Great Founder Acarya.
The Founder Acarya is destinguished from all other acaryas and his qualities and activites are outlined in the sastras:
`tabhyas sarvajana trata sarvasrestatamo dhruvam
dina abhaya pradanartham visadikrtya bhutale'
"Among all acaryas, certainly he who is the deliverer of all people, who appears in this world for the purpose of removing the fears of the fallen souls (dina-abhaya) is the most perfect."
`gitacaryokta tatvartha caramartha prakasanam
rsiproktapramananam krtva vyakhyanamuttamam'
"He sheds light on the ultimate meanining of the philosophical conclusions spoken by Krishna, Who is the speaker of Bhagavad-gita. He also gives perfect purports to the evidences given by the rsis."
`divyaprabandhan lokebhya sarakopadibhi paryantam
arthopadesa paryantam vardhayaitva ca sasvatah'
"He propagates everywhere the meanings and purports of the songs of the previous acaryas."
`natharyadi gurunam ca satakopadi yoginam
ahrtya vyasa sutranam artham lokahitaya ca
sribhasyadi mahagrantham vidhaya karunarnaya
nirjitya sarvasamayan vadena sataso'subhan'
"He, the ocean of mercy, contributes great books for the welfare of the people that explain the meaning of Vedanta strictly in line with the previous vaisnava acaryas and devotees. In this way he conquers all, defeating hundreds of different kinds of inauspicious philosophies by his arguments."
`ityadibhir yatisresta karye lokahite rata
nathadidesike tebhya pradhano bhavati dhruvam'
"Because of engaging in the welfare of the people of the world, that perfect and topmost mendicant is certainly the most important Founder Acarya, (pradhana)." ...(Prapannamrta Tarpana - 62.47-53).
Srila Prabhupada exercised the basic principle of Krishna consciousness, as envisioned by Srila Rupa Goswami (somehow or other), to engage everyone in the Hare Krishna movement. The extent of his efforts are unprecidented in the history of vaisnavism. Thus he is the Founder Acarya who has accomplished the objectives of the `visva vaisnava rajya sabha', following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Goswami.
In the Sri Caitanya Mangal by Locana das Thakur, Lord Caitanya speaks of a `senapati' (great general), who will come after Him to accomplish His mission. It is clear that Lord Caitanya's teachings were a preparation made by Himself for the use of another preacher, personally empowered by Him, who would launch His Sankirtana Movement on a global scale.
Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur yearned to see the day when fortunate non-Indian vaisnavas would perform Harinama Sankirtan in different cities of the world (Sajjana tosani 4\3,`nityadharma suryodoy'). In this article he announced that Mahaprabhu's prediction would shortly be fulfilled. He foresaw that all the vaisnava sampradayas will be unified. "In a short time, there will be only one sampradaya and that will be the Brahma sampradaya. All other sampradayas will find there conclusions in this sampradaya".
"All smaller dharmas will enter like rivers into the ocean of Hari Nama and there will be only one religion - chanting the Holy Name of Krishna"; (Vani Vaibhava Ch.6).
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur spoke of the arising of a self-effulgent acarya from among his disciples who would demonstrate his prominence by preaching in a grand style. It is obvious from the predictions of the previous acaryas mentioned above that Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Praivrajakacarya astottara sata Sri Srimad Abhaya Caranaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is that self-effulgent Founder Acarya of the Golden Age.
Jay Srila Prabhupada ! Ki Jay !
ReplyDeleteJay Sri Sri Nitaï-Gauranga ! Ki Jay !
Jay Sankirtan mouvement ! Ki Jay !