{"id":4050,"date":"2012-04-20T07:38:16","date_gmt":"2012-04-20T07:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/?p=4050"},"modified":"2023-04-13T09:14:35","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T03:44:35","slug":"pandita-sri-gadadhara-gosvami","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/writings\/krishna-talk-articles\/srila-bhakti-raksaka-sridhara-deva-gosvami\/pandita-sri-gadadhara-gosvami\/","title":{"rendered":"Pa\u1e47\u1e0dita \u015ar\u012b Gad\u0101dhara Gosv\u0101m\u012b"},"content":{"rendered":"

Amongst the dear associates of \u015ar\u012b Gaur\u0101\u1e45ga, \u015ar\u012b Gad\u0101dhara Gosv\u0101m\u012b is the topmost. Just as the position of \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dhik\u0101, in comparison to others, is undisputedly the topmost in the m\u0101dhurya<\/em> pastimes of \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, similarly in the most magnanimous pastimes of Gaura-K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, in the service of aud\u0101rya-m\u0101dhurya-rasa<\/em>, the character of \u015ar\u012b Pa\u1e47\u1e0dita Gosv\u0101m\u012b, in comparison to others, is the topmost object of attraction for \u015ar\u012b Gaur\u0101\u1e45ga \u2013 the embodiment of sweetness with magnanimity. The mah\u0101janas<\/em> see r\u0101dh\u0101-tattva<\/em> within Pa\u1e47\u1e0dita Gad\u0101dhara.<\/p>\n

The appearance day of Pa\u1e47\u1e0dita Gad\u0101dhara is during the summer time, on the new moon of the month of Jye\u1e63\u1e6dha (May\/June); his disappearance is one month after on the new moon of the month of \u0100\u1e63\u0101\u1e0dha (June\/July). The specialty of the character of Pa\u1e47\u1e0dita Gosv\u0101m\u012b as an intimate companion is the offering of silent and complete self-submission. Only those that are capable of relishing within their hearts the incredible bliss of seeing the astonishing contradiction of a begging-bag upon the shoulder of Lak\u1e63m\u012b Dev\u012b, are qualified to directly experience the extraordinary glories of the personality of \u015ar\u012bmat Pa\u1e47\u1e0dita Gosv\u0101m\u012b.<\/p>\n

During his childhood he was very simple, indifferent, modest and extremely courteous, devoted to the Lord and the br\u0101hma\u1e47as<\/em> and affectionate towards his friends. He was polite, yet timid; he was surrendered to the Lord, yet he felt offensive; he was fully realized, yet he felt ignorant; he was a leader, yet considered himself an obedient servant. Though he had firm faith in his dear Lord \u015ar\u012b Gaur\u0101\u1e45ga, the sidelong glances of the ordinary followers that had taken shelter of Gaurasundara made him hesitant and timid. Being madly engrossed in thoughts of his guru, Gaura, caused him to forget His Deity mantras<\/em>. Even a little faith in \u015ar\u012b Gaur\u0101\u1e45ga attracts His heart \u2013 so much so that due to His affection towards such a person, he accepts even an insult from him as an honour. Basically, \u015ar\u012b Pa\u1e47\u1e0dita Gosv\u0101m\u012b\u2019s character is the neglected personification of one who has willingly accepted a beggar\u2019s garb after giving away all his personal wealth.<\/p>\n

\u015ar\u012b Gad\u0101dhara\u2019s wealth is not like the external wealth of Hari\u015bcandra\u2019s kingdom nor is his sacrifice like that of \u015aibi\u2019s or Dadh\u012bci\u2019s sacrifice of their material bodies. It is not like the sacrifice made by the nurse Panna of her dear son, nor like the self-immolation of Queen Padmin\u012b etc. Similarly, it is also not like Socrates\u2019 reason for propagating self-realisation or Jesus Christ\u2019s bodily sacrifice for the sake of the delivery of the world. For the knower of the self who is situated on a higher plane, bodily sacrifice is a very ordinary thing.<\/p>\n

The wealth that is derived from the svar\u016bpa<\/em> or inherent nature makes any other type of sacrifice seem futile. Even if the devotional wealth of the liberated souls or even the nature of the object of prema<\/em> is realized in our hearts \u2013 still, deeply understanding and conceiving the cordial nature of the incontestable sacrifice of the inner wealth of Pa\u1e47\u1e0dita Gosv\u0101m\u012b is only possible through his compassion and that of his intimate associates.<\/p>\n

It is not possible for all these esoteric subjects to be immediately understood as if they were ordinary mundane topics. Nevertheless, considering the necessity, we are giving a general overview. Moreover, just as it is a responsibility to ascertain particular limits while considering what substance is worth giving, similarly it is certainly wise to ascertain the specialty of a gift while considering the qualification of its recipient.<\/p>\n

As much as the recipient of the gift is highly qualified, that much is the glory and the result of giving the gift. In the same line of thought there is no comparison of objective and subjective excellence of Pa\u1e47\u1e0dita Gosv\u0101m\u012b\u2019s self-surrender. After all, the wealth of \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101\u2019s love is the topmost substance and \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47acandra, the son of a br\u0101hma\u1e47a<\/em> (as \u015ar\u012b Caitanya), is the topmost recipient.<\/p>\n

While reflecting on this subject, we are reminded of the tale of \u015ar\u012b Y\u0101j\u00f1avalkya. Having studied the highest knowledge of the self and after reaching the final stage of questioning, in answer to the curiousness of the curious of even higher truths, Y\u0101j\u00f1avalkya \u1e5a\u1e63i, in a serious way, declares it as being the limit of curiosity.<\/p>\n

We are incapable to fully comprehend the glories of \u015ar\u012b Pa\u1e47\u1e0dita Gosv\u0101m\u012b, therefore the mah\u0101janas<\/em> have left us that divine knowledge concerning the true identity of Gad\u0101dhara. Yet due to our misfortune, we are unable to establish our faith in this matter. We commit offences due to our lack of faith and become absorbed in our own selfish pursuits.<\/p>\n

Moreover, some claim that Gad\u0101dhara, the very wealth of \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101\u2019s form, is a part of Nity\u0101nanda-Baladeva, while others say that he is concealed within a part of Gad\u0101dhara Dasa. But by flying one\u2019s own flag of mental speculation one will become an offender to sambandha-tattva<\/em> and one\u2019s attainment of svar\u016bpa-siddhi<\/em> will be obstructed. Some people are unable to understand the method of Gad\u0101dhara\u2019s worship of Gaura-K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, and consider the Lord of Vi\u1e63\u1e47upriya, Gaura-N\u0101r\u0101ya\u1e47a, as being influenced by a mood of enjoyment and sambhoga<\/em>, addressing Narayana as one who takes the role of a n\u0101gara<\/em>. \u015ar\u012b Gaura is \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a with the mood of R\u0101dh\u0101, and Gaura without R\u0101dh\u0101 is \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is the object of worship for all rasas<\/em> beginning with madhura<\/em>. He is not in the same category of bhagavat-tattva<\/em> as \u015ar\u012b R\u0101ma etc. \u015ar\u012b Gaurasundara, as the son of a br\u0101hma\u1e47a<\/em> or as the best of sanny\u0101s\u012bs<\/em>, \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a Caitanya, never accepted the mood of a n\u0101gara<\/em>, nor did He ever enter into discussions and the like with the wives of other men at any time. The notion that He was an example of parak\u012bya-sambhoga<\/em> is ras\u0101bh\u0101sa<\/em>, it is an offence, it is against the conclusions of the mah\u0101janas<\/em> and is an atheistic misconception.<\/p>\n

In \u015ar\u012b Caitanya-bh\u0101gavata, \u015ar\u012b Caitanya-carit\u0101m\u1e5bta<\/em> and other authorised works of the mah\u0101janas<\/em> there is absolutely no example of gaura-n\u0101gara<\/em> philosophy. This ideology is not mentioned and does not exist therein.<\/p>\n

A husband engages in Deity worship and his dutiful wife serves him by trying to help him in his worship. But at that time, she will not think of conjugality and engage in amorous talks with him, as this will impede his worship of the Deity. Similarly, when He is in the bh\u0101va<\/em> of \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101, the only concern of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47acandra is selfless service to \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a \u2013 in other words, \u015ar\u012b Gaur\u0101\u1e45ga\u2019s nature is to worship \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a through His own l\u012bl\u0101<\/em>, and \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dhik\u0101\u2019s form as \u015ar\u012b Gad\u0101dhara devotedly worships His adorable Lord accordingly throughout his whole life. Thus, Gad\u0101dhara\u2019s form is an eternal manifestation.<\/p>\n

\u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101-K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a eternally personify the divine pastimes of Vraja, and \u015ar\u012b Gad\u0101i-Gaur\u0101\u1e45ga, eternally residing in Navadv\u012bpa, personify the mood of audarya<\/em> (magnanimity). When there is the sweetness of Vraja, that is \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101-K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a \u2013 when there is the aud\u0101rya<\/em> of Navadv\u012bpa, that is \u015ar\u012b Gad\u0101dhara-Gaur\u0101\u1e45ga. By being fully absorbed in one or the other, all other conceptions are eliminated. S\u0101dhakas<\/em> reject all types of common ideologies and should accept that revered path prescribed by the mah\u0101janas<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u015ar\u012b Gaur\u0101\u1e45ga is the Lord of love divine. \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is also the Lord of love divine, but because His predominant rasa<\/em> is sambhoga<\/em> not everyone has the qualification to fully understand Him as such. However, \u015ar\u012b Gaur\u0101\u1e45ga, who is the shelter of the rasas<\/em> of vipralambha<\/em> and aud\u0101rya<\/em>, is the Lord of love divine even for the ordinary fallen souls who have cultivated faith in Him.<\/p>\n

\u015ar\u012b Nity\u0101nanda Prabhu distributes that Lord of love to even the lowest of mankind and in the form of \u015ar\u012b Guru, he wanders door to door for the sake of the living entities.<\/p>\n

Also \u015ar\u012b Advaita Prabhu invoked the prema-avat\u0101ra<\/em>, \u015ar\u012b Caitanya-candra, and brought Him down to earth, showing the path to that supremely benevolent Lord.<\/p>\n

\u015ar\u012bv\u0101sa Pa\u1e47\u1e0dita and others participated in the sa\u1e45k\u012brtana<\/em> pastimes of the Lord of Love, \u015ar\u012b Gaur\u0101\u1e45ga, and were valuable assistants that served the Golden Lord in His pastimes.<\/p>\n

\u015ar\u012b Svar\u016bpa, R\u016bpa, San\u0101tana, Raghun\u0101tha. J\u012bva etc. were the currents springing from the fountain of ambrosial prema<\/em> who enlivened the entire world (this fallen and most hopeless soul begs and yearns for just a single drop of that ambrosia. His one and only hope is the mercy of \u015ar\u012b Guru and the Vai\u1e63\u1e47avas).<\/p>\n

\u015ar\u012b Gaur\u0101\u1e45ga, the Lord of Love Divine, accepted that form in order to sing the glories of the topics of divine love of \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. Amongst all the treasures of prema<\/em>, the dearest to Him is the bh\u0101va<\/em> of His most beloved, which He fully accepts. When this realisation dawns on Him and \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101 is in His proximity then He plunders Her bh\u0101va<\/em>. \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a does this in order to worship Himself in the same mood as \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101.<\/p>\n

But even when \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is amongst the devotees in gaura-l\u012bl\u0101<\/em>, He is the same \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. This means that the subordinate gop\u012b-pr\u012bti<\/em> of \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101\u2019s must also fully manifests there. Gad\u0101dhara\u2019s love for Gaura is extraordinary. But the form of his love is the opposite. When K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a adorned Himself with the garment of R\u0101dh\u0101\u2019s bh\u0101va<\/em>, \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101 became bereft of Her bh\u0101va<\/em>. That is the form of Gad\u0101dhara.<\/p>\n

Hidden behind Gaura\u2019s worship of K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a in the bh\u0101va<\/em> of R\u0101dh\u0101 is the beloved of \u015ar\u012b Gad\u0101dhara \u2013 the One for whom everything is dedicated, whose direct and most glorious form the eyes hanker to see, in whom is reflected the look of the most close associate \u2013 an exceedingly eager and thirsty look hankering for prema<\/em>. The One who is worshipped accepted the role of a worshipper. The worshipper offers to the Worshipped (who has taken the role of a worshipper) everything up to the very award of worship and appears as the personification of the greatest fortune of sarv\u0101tm\u0101rpana<\/em> \u2013 completely offering the self to Godhead.<\/p>\n

Therefore, one who has attraction or love towards the worshippable Worshiper and strongly desires to attain the invaluable wealth of the shelter of Gaura\u2019s associate, \u015ar\u012b Gad\u0101dhara, should follow his type of bhajana<\/em> for \u015ar\u012b Gaur\u0101\u1e45ga and thus they will discover the results of such bhajana<\/em>. The followers of \u015ar\u012b Gad\u0101dhara becomes the relishers of \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101\u2019s vipralambha-rasa<\/em> which is greater than the highest form of bh\u0101va<\/em>.<\/p>\n

gad\u0101i-gaur\u0101\u1e45ga jaya j\u0101hnav\u012b-jivana
\ns\u012bt\u0101-pati jaya \u015br\u012bv\u0101s\u0101di-bhakta-gana<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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