{"id":6243,"date":"2022-09-16T10:13:18","date_gmt":"2022-09-16T04:43:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/?p=6243"},"modified":"2023-03-19T20:44:27","modified_gmt":"2023-03-19T15:14:27","slug":"chapter-16-sridhara-deva-gosvami","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/writings\/books-pdfs\/prakrta-rasa-aranya-chedini\/chapter-16-sridhara-deva-gosvami\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 16 – \u015ar\u012bdhara Deva Gosv\u0101m\u012b"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pr\u0101k\u1e5bta-rasa \u0100ra\u1e47ya Chedin\u012b \u2013 Cutting the Jungle of Misconception<\/h1><\/div>

Chapter 16 – \u015ar\u012bdhara Deva Gosv\u0101m\u012b<\/h2><\/div>

by \u015ar\u012bla Bhakti Gaurava Narasi\u1e45gha Mah\u0101r\u0101ja<\/a><\/h3><\/div>\n
\n

\u2018\u015ar\u012bdhara ‘Deva’ Gosv\u0101m\u012b\u2019 written by Swami Narasingha was in response to certain Vai\u1e63\u1e47avas who complained that it was improper to use the title \u2018Deva\u2019 in referring to \u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja. Narasingha Maharaja gives a detailed answer as to why this title is most appropriate.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Devotee:<\/strong> There has been some discussion on the use of the honorific title \u2018Deva<\/em>\u2019 as in the name of \u015ar\u012bla B. R. \u015ar\u012bdhara Deva Gosv\u0101m\u012b Mah\u0101r\u0101ja to the extent that some parties say that it is appropriate while others say that it is not. Could you please say something that would shed some light on this topic?<\/p>\n

Narasi\u1e45gha Mah\u0101r\u0101ja:<\/strong> According to the tradition of the Gau\u1e0d\u012bya samprad\u0101ya<\/em> we cannot find fault with the honorific title Deva, <\/em>as used to address an extremely advanced and revered Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava such as \u015ar\u012bla B. R. \u015ar\u012bdhara Deva Gosv\u0101m\u012b Mah\u0101r\u0101ja.<\/p>\n

The name \u015ar\u012bla Bhakti Rak\u1e63aka \u015ar\u012bdhara Deva Gosv\u0101m\u012b Mah\u0101r\u0101ja was printed on the cover of and in many books of \u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja, such as Bhagavad-g\u012bt\u0101, Bhakti-ras\u0101m\u1e5bta-sindhu, \u015ar\u012b K\u012brtana-ma\u00f1ju\u1e63a, Prema-dh\u0101ma-deva Stotram, \u015ar\u012b Guru and His Grace, Search for \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, Reality the Beautiful, The Golden Volcano of Divine Love, Loving Search for the Lost Servant, Sermons from the Guardian of Devotion<\/em>, and more. Furthermore, the name \u015ar\u012bdhara Deva Gosv\u0101m\u012b was engraved in the n\u0101tha-mandira<\/em> of \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Sarasv\u0101ta Ma\u1e6dha in 1976. All this was done in the lifetime of \u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja and was approved by him. So to say, as some persons have said, that the suffix deva<\/em> is an insult to a great \u0101c\u0101rya,<\/em> such as \u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja, has no real basis and is obviously false.<\/p>\n

The root of the word deva<\/em> is diva,<\/em> meaning lustrous or shining brightly. Another meaning is to play or to sport. The suffix deva<\/em> in fact is quite common in the Gau\u1e0d\u012bya samprad\u0101ya<\/em> and is used in such names of the Supreme Lord and His devotees as Govindadeva, Baladeva, Gaur\u0101\u1e45gadeva, Puru\u1e63ottamadeva, \u015aukadeva, and Gurudeva, etc.<\/p>\n

As a prefix, deva<\/em> has also been in use among the br\u0101hma\u1e47a<\/em> community in India for many centuries to designate a person with divine characteristics \u2014in the case of \u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja\u2014 divine characteristics and especially, divine intelligence. So either as a prefix or a suffix, the use of the title deva<\/em> may be considered appropriate.<\/p>\n

Another example of the use of the word \u2018deva\u2019<\/em> is found in the guru-pra\u1e47\u0101ma <\/em>prayer to our Guru Mah\u0101r\u0101ja, \u015ar\u012bla A. C. Bhaktived\u0101nta Sv\u0101m\u012b Prabhup\u0101da. There it is written, \u2018namaste s\u0101rasvate deve.\u2019<\/em> Here the words \u2018sarasvat\u012b<\/em>\u2019 and \u2018deva<\/em>\u2019 are joined together under the Sanskrit rule of grammar known as sam\u0101sa.<\/em> Thus \u2018deva<\/em>\u2019 becomes \u2018deve,\u2019<\/em> \u2018sarasvat\u012b<\/em>\u2019 becomes \u2018s\u0101rasvate<\/em>\u2019 and the first \u2018a\u2019<\/em> in \u2018s\u0101rasvate<\/em>\u2019 becomes long. Thus the meaning of \u2018namaste s\u0101rasvate deve\u2019<\/em> means, \u2018I offer my respects unto he who belongs to, or is a servant of \u2018Sarasvat\u012b-deva.\u2019<\/p>\n

The pra\u1e47\u0101ma<\/em> prayer, \u2018namaste s\u0101rasvate deve\u2019 <\/em>was written personally by our Guru Mah\u0101r\u0101ja for his disciples to chant. So at least for those who profess to be followers of \u015ar\u012bla A. C. Bhaktived\u0101nta Sv\u0101m\u012b Prabhup\u0101da, the use of the word \u2018deva<\/em>\u2019 in glorifying one\u2019s guru<\/em> may be deemed appropriate.<\/p>\n

Both the Gau\u1e0d\u012bya tradition and the Sanskrit rules of grammar harmonize and support the use of the word deva<\/em> as an honorific title for great Vai\u1e63\u1e47avas and saintly persons. Indeed, even the Supreme Lord Himself is known as deva, <\/em>so how can it be a demeaning title?<\/p>\n

Some will say that deva<\/em> refers to the demigods, but to such persons we say, K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is the deva<\/em> of such devas<\/em> \u2014\u2018deva-deva jagatpate\u2019<\/em>\u2014 K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a is the God of Gods.<\/p>\n

In the K\u0101ma-g\u0101yatr\u012b<\/em> we find, \u2018k\u0101ma-dev\u0101ya vidmahe<\/em>.\u2019 In the D\u0101modara-g\u0101yatr\u012b<\/em> we find, \u2018tanno deva\u1e25 pracoday\u0101t\u2019<\/em> and in the Gad\u0101dhara<\/em>–g\u0101yatr\u012b<\/em> we also find \u2018tanno deva\u1e25 pracoday\u0101t\u2019<\/em>. In each of these instances deva<\/em> indicates the Supreme Lord or His Internal Energy (as in the case of Gad\u0101dhara Pa\u1e47\u1e0dita).<\/p>\n

In Caitanya<\/em>–l\u012bl\u0101<\/em> Gad\u0101dhara Pa\u1e47\u1e0dita represents the guru-tattva<\/em> for those devotees following in the m\u0101dhurya-rasa<\/em>. This is another bona-fide reason why \u015ar\u012bla B. R. \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja may be addressed as Deva<\/em> because he has revealed the hidden treasure of m\u0101dhurya-bh\u0101va<\/em> (parak\u012bya-rasa<\/em>) in Bhagavad-g\u012bt\u0101<\/em> (Chapter 10, Verses 9 & 10) and also he has revealed R\u0101dh\u0101-d\u0101syam<\/em> (the service of \u015ar\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101) in the heart of G\u0101yatr\u012b-mantra<\/em> (G\u0101yatr\u012b Nig\u016b\u1e0dh\u0101rtha<\/em>).<\/p>\n

In the Brahma-g\u0101yatr\u012b<\/em> we find the words, \u2018bhargo devasya dh\u012bmahi.\u2019<\/em> \u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja has given the meaning, \u201cBhargo<\/em> represents Mah\u0101bh\u0101va<\/em> (\u015ar\u012bmat\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101r\u0101\u1e47\u012b) the predominated Moiety, and Deva<\/em>, K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, is Rasar\u0101ja<\/em>, the predominating Moiety. Deva<\/em> means \u2018who is beautiful and playful,\u2019 that is, K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a Reality the Beautiful. He is not a non-differentiated substance, but is full of l\u012bl\u0101<\/em>, pastimes. Deva<\/em> means pastimes and beauty combined, and this means K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a.\u201d<\/p>\n

So we may understand the word deva<\/em> to mean one who reveals wonderful pastimes of love, K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a. Since \u015ar\u012bla B. R. \u015ar\u012bdhara Deva Gosv\u0101m\u012b Mah\u0101r\u0101ja is that divine personality who has disclosed the hidden wealth of the Brahma-g\u0101yatr\u012b<\/em>, revealing that ultimately G\u0101yatr\u012b<\/em> worships \u015ar\u012bmat\u012b R\u0101dh\u0101r\u0101\u1e47\u012b, he is therefore highly qualified to be honored with the title Deva<\/em>. This is most appropriate.<\/p>\n

One who is expert in revealing the inner-most plane of the domain of the Lords confidential pastimes, as is condensed in G\u0101yatr\u012b,<\/em> is certainly worthy of such a title as Deva<\/em>. Not only is his purport of G\u0101yatr\u012b<\/em> taking us to K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u2019s l\u012bl\u0101<\/em> but \u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja has also concisely manifest \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mahaprabhu\u2019s divine l\u012bl\u0101<\/em> in his Sanskrit composition, Prema-dhama-deva Stotram<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja has begun Prema-dh\u0101ma-deva Stotram<\/em> with the words, \u2018deva-siddha-mukta-yukta-bhakta-v\u1e5bnda-vandita\u1e41\u2019<\/em> and he has sung in each of the seventy verses, \u2018prema-dh\u0101ma-devam-eva-naumi gaura-sundaram<\/em>.\u2019 \u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja is therefore recognized as Deva<\/em> because he has expertly sung the glories of the Supreme Lord, the Golden avat\u0101ra<\/em>, \u015ar\u012b Caitanyadeva.<\/p>\n

These are a few of the reasons why the title Deva<\/em> is appropriate in the case of \u015ar\u012bla B. R. \u015ar\u012bdhara Deva Gosv\u0101m\u012b Mah\u0101r\u0101ja, but still some persons may not be satisfied with the above. Therefore, we requested one of our sanny\u0101s\u012bs<\/em> to go to Navadv\u012bpa-dh\u0101ma<\/em> to speak with \u015ar\u012bp\u0101da Govinda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja, the successor of \u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja and to ask him about the use of Deva<\/em> in \u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja\u2019s name. \u015ar\u012bp\u0101da Govinda Mah\u0101r\u0101ja commented that in the last years of \u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja\u2019s life that he used to sign letters and other papers as \u015ar\u012bdhara Deva Gosv\u0101m\u012b.<\/p>\n

So, either from the ontological point of view or from the practical point of view, it seems that Deva<\/em> is an appropriate title for \u015ar\u012bla \u015ar\u012bdhara Mah\u0101r\u0101ja, used and approved by him personally.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cPr\u0101k\u1e5bta-rasa \u0100ra\u1e47ya Chedin\u012b \u2013 Cutting the Jungle of Misconception\u201d is a compilation of twenty-one articles written in the later 90\u2019s and early 2000s by \u015ar\u012bla B.G. Narasi\u1e45gha Mah\u0101r\u0101ja. This book exposes various philosophical misconceptions that are prevalent within the Gau\u1e0d\u012bya Vai\u1e63\u1e47ava world at present, and establishes the proper understanding according to guru, s\u0101dhu and \u015b\u0101stra.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6169,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[216],"tags":[206,217],"krishna_talk_article":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6243"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6243"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6243\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8724,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6243\/revisions\/8724"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6243"},{"taxonomy":"krishna_talk_article","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/krishna_talk_article?post=6243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}