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The following article, written by Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja before his acceptance of sannyāsa, was published in the Dainik Nadīyā Prakāśa (Wednesday, 25th December 1929). Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja had started the Delhi Gauḍīya Maṭha and in this article, he writes about the importance of New Delhi and some of the preaching going on there by the Gauḍīya Maṭha.

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Delhi is a world-famous, ancient city. Here, since antiquity, there has been the rise and fall of many royal dynasties. The present government is located in a newly constructed metropolis. This place is known by the name ‘New Delhi.’ Here, highly educated persons from many countries, various communities, and different races have recently began to reside in this seat of governance. With millions and millions of coins spent, a string of stone monuments dedicated to British rule stand high and in a well-formed manner, battling against time. Seeing these, learned observers especially derive pleasure here, by conducting comparative research on all the famous architectural feats of the ancient and renowned Mughal emperors. Almost all distinguished persons from Bhārata and abroad regularly meet here concerning political matters. Delhi is like the heart of today’s Bhārata.

Seeing that in the near future, Delhi will be the foremost centre for all affairs in Bhārata, those persons who are expert in economics are endeavouring to establish a venue there to achieve their goals.

Śrī Gauḍīya Maṭha – which has undertaken the great vow of propagating the mahā-mantra of Śrī Caitanya, and endeavours to bring about the cultivation of devotion to Śrī Kṛṣṇa amongst all living beings throughout the entire world – is also not absent here today.

The enlightened mahā–ācārya of the Śrī Gauḍīya Maṭha established his temple of spiritual science in New Delhi long ago, in an attempt to awaken the people of the world to engage in bhagavat-bhajana. For two years, the words of Śrīman Mahāprabhu have been spreading from door to door. From time to time, revered tridaṇḍis are appearing and profusely showering the nectar of hari-kathā. The servants of the maṭha have made provision for the propagation of bhāgavat-kathā in various places. In every village, arrangements for classes and kīrtana, as well as organising lectures in schools and clubs, are being made by the servants of the Gauḍīyas, who are today indomitably committed and enthused to preach śrī-gaura-kathā. The Gauḍīya ācārya’s potency to stimulate one’s consciousness is amazing the people of the world today. Today, the eyes of both friends and foes alike are wide open in amazement. Today, the siddhānta of Śrī Caitanya, having rendered all the philosophies of the entire religious world as worthless, stands as the crest-jewel of all conclusions. The teachings of the ācārya are stunning the various kinds of intellectuals in the world. Being strong in their faith, those that carry those teachings defeat all other philosophies. Those who receive it are reassured of attaining a glimpse of the vāstava-vastu (the Absolute Truth who is the substantial objective). The supreme excellence of kṛṣṇa-kathā is being preached, emphasised and established everywhere.

Recently, the first annual grand festival was completed at the offices of the Delhi Gauḍīya Maṭha, primarily consisting of saṅkīrtana. Notable persons from various regions residing in Delhi blissfully gathered at the premises of the maṭha to participate in śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana and to sing the praises of the Gauḍīya Maṭha. Various kinds of fruits, sweets etc. were distributed to the public in large quantities as mahā-prasāda, has brought about an unparalleled new feeling and a hope for peace.

– Śrīpāda Rāmendra Sundara Bhaṭṭācārya B.A.

(Translated by Swami Bhaktivijñāna Giri)

About the Author: Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣaka Śrīdhara Deva Gosvāmī

Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣaka Śrīdhara Mahārāja appeared in this world in the village of Hapaniya, West Bengal, in 1895 within a high class Bhaṭṭācārya brāhmaṇa family. After studying philosophy at Krishnanath College in Berhampore, he met his guru, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, and accepted initiation from him in 1926 and sannyāsa in 1930. In 1942 Śrīla B.R. Śrīdhara Mahārāja founded the Śrī Caitanya Sārasvata Maṭha and remained there until his departure from this world in 1988. He was recognised by his godbrothers for his dispassionate nature and common sense, as well as for his superlative Sanskrit compositions and profound philosophical insights.