Our Most Revered ParamGurudev Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Maharaja used to say that, Every word of Srila Sridhara Maharaja is a sutra. He has packed so much meaning in each and every of the few words that he has given. If Sridhara Maharaja is reading the newspaper that is the same as his studying the Vedas. In my asrama, if I see you reading the newspaper, I will say, Why are you wasting your time reading the newspaper? This type of comment Madhava Maharaja gave - even his reading the newspaper is as good as his studying the Vedas. Srila Puri Maharaja has said here in regard to Srila Sridhara Maharaja: The explanation of Sri Brahma Gayatri, the mother of all Vedas, signifying devotional worship unto Srimati Radharani (radhanudhyana-para) explanation which was revealed in the depth of realization of Pujyapada Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja, possessed with the divine grace of paramaradhya Sri Srila Prabhupada upon his head, is deeply appreciated by those fortunate intelligent devotees who are aware of the relishable beauty of pure devotional service. Without submission to the lotus feet of pujapada Sridhara Deva Gosvami Maharaja, whom Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura has directly absorbed in the divine rupanuga flow, we cannot have access to that confidential realm. Even Srila Bhakti Vedanta Swami Maharaj once told his disciples that if you want to learn philosophy then go to Srila Sridhar Maharaj. Few Years back, Pujyapad Srila Narayan Maharaj spoke the following on Srila Sridhar Maharajs Appearance day: Srila Sridhar Maharaja was a great bhakta-vatsala, that is, he was so generous and kind. Though this is something that should not be told I am bound to tell it ø otherwise you will not be able to realize his kindness. Even if one of his disciples did wrong, even if he was lusty and after having spent many years in the matha he married, even if a disciple was a great thief and stole vast amounts of money, still Sridhar Maharaja was very polite, generous, and merciful towards him. He even dragged a disciple from his household life and again established him in sannyasa. I have seen so many such incidences. He was truly bhakta vatsalya. He composed this Prabhupada-astakam at the beginning of his life in the matha, and it still is sung in all branches of the Gaudiya Matha. This kirtana is extremely beautiful and ornamental: Sujanarbuda radhita pada yugam, yuga dharma dhurandhara patra varam. It contains many alankara (ornaments of language) Besides this astakam he has composed many Sanskrit kirtanas and verses. More on Srila Sridhar Maharaj: Recognizing him as a faithful stalwart preacher of the perfect precepts of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada conferred upon him the name Sri Bhakti Rakshak, which means Guardian of Devotion. And further echoing the statement of the great Vaishnava Preceptor, Srila Jiva Goswami - who referred in his Sanskrit writings to the renowned Srimad Bhagavatam commentator, Sri Sridhara Swami, as bhakti-eka-raksaka [Supreme Guardian of Devotion] - Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada gave him the Tridandi-Sannyasa title of Sridhara. Thus, he became Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhara Maharaja. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada also expressed high appreciation of Srila Sridhara Maharajas Sanskrit composition, Sri Bhaktivinoda Viraha Dasakam, considering it an omen of assurance that the grand ideals and dignity of the Sri GaudiyaSampradaya would be perfectly upheld and preached by such a learned and sensitive devotee as Srila Sridhara Maharaja. As a testimony to this fact, just prior to Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupadas departure from this mortal world, Srila Prabhupada had Srila Sridhara Maharaja sing, in his presence, the holy prayer most venerated by the entire Sri Gaudiya Vaishnava community, Sri Rupa Manjari Pada. Srila Sridhara Maharaja is the composer of numerous classical prayers and commentaries in Sanskrit and Bengali. His works are hailed as gems of pure Vaishnavism by scholars, philosophers, and devotees worldwide. He authored Sri Sri Prapanna Jivanamrtam, a Sanskrit devotional treatise on the subject of divine surrender, which has become a standard text-book for devotees everywhere. He was known as a pure saint of the most simple living habits. He was respected and loved for his saintly simplicity, and his affectionate nature and dealings. He was revered by his Godbrothers, disciples, other devotees, and the general public, and was unanimously venerated for his formidable encyclopedic command of the revealed scriptures, and his unique and unprecedented style of casting newer and newer light upon the most internal philosophical and revelatory purports of pure Sri Gaudiya Vaishnava Siddhanta.
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 09:55:03 +0000
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