THE PASSING OF THE ACHARYA

FIREWORKS Newspaper – 22^nd January 1937 

It is all about the divine disappearance of Srila Prabhupada. In the year 1874, there appeared in Purushothama Kshetra an Acharya who rehabilitated Vaishnavism when it seemed to be well-nigh stamped out of Bengal. Those who passed by the name Vaishnava were generally despised by the gentry as men of the worst morals and no education at all while most of the real Vaishnavas were engaged in the intimate service of the lord in obscure corners. The non-Vaishnavas pandits threw down the gauntlet and there seemed to be unable and ready to take it up when suddenly there appeared on the scene this Acharya known in the Vaishnava world as Paramhamsa Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj, Founder and president of the Gaudiya math who turned the tables on the opponents of Vaishnavism. He devoted all his energy to the spread of the Bhakti cult and for this purpose started half a dozen purely theistic periodical in different languages, 64 maths in and out of India printing houses for the publication of Vaishnava shastra, restored to the cognizance of lovers of theism the specified but forgotten places sanctified by the activities of the supreme lord and his associate devotees, commemorated the divine footprint of the lord Gauranga who flooded the whole country of unalloyed love, interpreted the true varnashrama dharma indicating its place in the life of a real bhakta founded educational institutions for the imparting secular knowledge as an adjunct to theistic learning and sent out missionaries for the propagation of true Vaishnavism.

 

He visited all the places of pilgrimage in southern India that had been sanctified by the presence of lord Gauranga 4 centuries ago went to the places of

activities of the acharyas Sankara, Ramanuja, Madhava, gathered the hidden treasures there and broadcast them throughout the world for the benefit f mankind. The names of Ramanuja and Madhava were known to only a few in northern India and the very word Alwar was not heard at all, but this acharya published in Bengali and English the lives and teachings of all the acharyas and Alwars and installed all the Alwars in one of the well-known temples in northern India. It is Paramahamsa Bhakti SuddhantaSaraswati Goswami that repaired the broken link between northern and southern India. He was at one time known as the brilliant scholar of Calcutta university and the greatest astronomer and astrologer in Bengal, but he spurned at the worldly reputation and what we call “a career” and applied all these acquisitions wholly to this service if Radha Krishna. The acharyas are not ordinary human beings like us. They come and go of their own accord. Ata public meeting held on 8th March 1936 at Sri Mayapur the birth site of lord Gaiurang, this acharya said that he would pass away at the end f the year and he actually made his disappearance in the morning of the first day of the current year defying all human calculations and expectations.

He never ceased for a single moment from speaking of the greatness of the name of Krishna and as he ardently advocated an uncompromising truth, he was a terror to those who trade in relation and indulge licentiousness in the name of Vaishnavism. In the present century, he is the first teacher to proclaim the house-tops that neither salvation nor worldly amelioration should be the goal of life but sincere service of Radha Krishna is the highest thing to be aimed at.

 

He was a very voluminous writer his style is so clear that it is impossible to give a wring interpretation of any sentence. The most unique feature of his preaching was that he arranged exhibitions at an enormous cost for expanding the most knotty portions of the shastras. He preached Vaishnavism as interpreted by lord Gauranga according to whom the Vedas teach us the 9 principle doctrines, Viz,

 

• Hari (The Almighty) is One without a second.
• He is always vested with infinite power.
• He is an ocean of rasa.
• The soul is His Vibhinnangsha on the separated parts.
• Certain souls are engrossed by Prakriti or Hisillusiory energy.
• Certain souls are released from the grasp of Prakriti.
• All spiritual and material phenomena are bheda-abheda Prakash of Hari the Almighty.
• Jiva is simultaneously distinct from and identical to God.
• Bhakti is the only means of attaining the final object of spiritual existence.
• Prema in Krishna alone is the final object of spiritual existence.

 

 

 LATE FOUNDER OF GAUDIYA MATH

SANKIRTAN PROCESSION AND PUBLIC CONDOLENCE MEETING TODAY

The SUNDAY AMRITA BAZAR PATRIKA –  7^th March 1937

 

A huge Sankirtan procession composed of various Sankirtan parties of different parts of Calcutta with the portrait of Paramhamsa Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj, Founder President of Gaudiya Math will start from the Calcutta Gaudiya Math Bag Bazar at 2 pm today and will pass through Bag Bazar Cornwallis Street, CXCollege street, Bow Bazar Street, Central Avenue (South), Esplanade (North), old courthouse street, government place (North) and the Wellesley Place terminating at the DalhoushieInstitue Hall (Dalhousie square south). A public memorial meeting to pay homage to the late Saraswati Maharaj will then be held under the presidentship of Maharajandhiraj Bahadur of Burdwan at 4 pm.

All are invited to join the procession-

• Dwarka Nath Mitter(Hon justice)
• Surendra Nath Guha(Hon justice)
• Rupendra CoomarMitter(Hon justice)
• Charu Chandra Biswas (C.I.E) (Hon justice)
• Mrinal Kanti Ghosh
• Hirendra Nath Dutta
• Tushar Kanti Ghosh

 

The Late Paramhansa Saraswati Maharaj

January 1937, THE CALCUTTA MUNICIPAL GAZETTE

 

ParamhansaSaraswati Maharaj, the head of the GaudiyaMath of Calcutta, on whose death the Corporation adopted a resolution of condolence the other day, was an accomplished scholar whose erudition went far beyond the tenets and philosophy of Bengal Vaishnavism. A great leader of the Vaishnava sect and a firm believer in the cult of Sri Chaitanya, he dedicated himself to the propagation of the message of the “Mahaprabhu” with rare foresight, adopting modern methods of propaganda and publicity with great success. He not only sent out able preachers to all parts of the country and established as many as sixty-four maths or preaching centers in important cities and towns in India but organized exhibitions of a novel kind where the teachings of Vaishnavism were visualized for the masses through pictures, effigies, and models. In many of the preaching centers founded by Saraswati Maharaj free primary and in some cases secondary education also is being imparted. The revival of ancient Sanskrit learning has been one of the principal objectives aimed at by the Gaudiya Math at the instance of its distinguished leader who collected rare and original manuscripts and had them published, with authoritative annotations, from three big printing concerns established by the Math. He added half-a-dozen periodicals in different alects of India through which is pr”Tinava creed. In1933 he fook MiD8 out of a mission t6 Europe.

The Late Saraswati Goswami Maharaj

The Mayor, Sir Han Sanker Paul, paid the following tribute to the memory of SrimatVaktisidabantaSaraswati Goswami Maharaj of the Gaudiya Math of Calcutta at the special meeting of the Corporation held on the 13th January last: On behalf of the Corporation of Calcutta, I rise to condole the death of His Divine Grace Paramahansa-SrimadBhaktisiddhantaSaraswati -Goswami Maharaj, the President-Acharya of the Gaudiya Math of Calcutta and the great leader of the Gaudiva Movement throughout the world. This melancholy event happened on the first day of this New Year, Born in 1874 he dedicated his whole life to religious pursuits and dissemination of the cultural wealth of this great and ancient land of ours. An intellectual giant he elicited the admiration of all by his unique scholarship, high and varied attainments. original thinking, and wonderful exposition of many difficult branches of knowledge. With invaluable contributions, he enriched many journals. He was the author of some devotional literature of repute. He was one of the most powerful and brightest exponents of the cult of

Vaishnavism, his utterances, and his writings display a deep study of comparative philosophy and theology. The catholicity of his views, soundness of his teachings, and above all his dynamic personality and the irresistible force of the pure and simple life, had attracted thousands of followers to his Message of love and service to the absolute as propagated by Sree Krishna-Chaitanya. He was the founder and the guiding spirit of the Sree Chaitanya Math at Sree Mayapur (Nadia) and the Gaudiya Math Kolkata. The. Godiva Movement to which his contribution is no small has received a setback at the passing away of such a great soul. His death has created a void in the spiritual horizon of India which is difficult to be filled up. With these few words, I move the following resolution.

I am sure. Convert your own Sentiments-

• That the Corporation of Calcutta places on ” record its deep sense of sorrow at the sad demise of His Divine Grace Paramahansa Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur, Founder-President of the CalenttaGaudiva Math, on the 1st January last at the age of 64.

• That this House conveys its sympathy to the members of the Gaudiya Math in Calcutta. The resolution was adopted by the House with unusual honors.

 

FOUNDER OF GAUDIYA MISSION PASSES AWAY

ADVANCE, SATURDAY JANUARY 2nd, 1937

 

Life Devoted to Religion  – An Exponent of Vaishnavism – Great Loss to India

His Divine Grace Paramahamsa Sula Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur, Bounder President of the Calcutta Gaudiya Math passed away on Friday morning at 5-30 a.m, at the Math situated at Kali ProsadChakraverty Street Bagbazar.  He had been manifesting symptoms of grave indisposition for the last six months and was under the treatment of Sir NilratanSirear. Dr.Sivapada Bhattacharjee and other eminent physicians of Calcutta. He died somewhat unexpectedly when he seemed to be rallying.

CROWDS OF ADMIRERS

The sad news of his death spread throughout the city and within a short time, the spacious compound of the Gaudiya Math was crowded with a large number of his followers and admirers to pay their last respect to his sacred memory.

After usual ceremonies at the Math, his mortal remains were carried in a big procession with kirtan song to the Sealda Station, and it was taken by train to Krishnanagar, from where a kirtan procession accompanied his Divine Graces’ holy form to Sridam Mayapur for the performance of Samadhi at Sri Caitanya Math, the original Bhajan seat of the Divine Grace.

 

A LIFE SKETCH

His Divine Grace was born at Puri on February 6, 1874. In 1881, the boy Bimala Prasad (his name before Sannyas) was initiated by Thakur Bhaktivinod, his father, in the pure worship of Sri Kurmadeva, whose vigraha was discovered at the foundation of Bhakti Bhawan.

His Divine Grace, from his boyhood, helped his father in his multifarious functions as the pioneer of the new movement of Sudha Bhakti. In 1898 he obtained the title of SiddhantaSaraswati from the Tol of Mahesh Chandra Churamani for his proficiency in the knowledge of ancient Indian astronomy. In 1900, the Nabadwip Pracharini Seva offered him the title of Bhakti Siddanta Saraswati.

 

SPIRITUAL INITIATION

In 1901 he received his spiritual initiation from Srimad Gaurakisordas Goswami Babaji. Throughout 1902, he was permitted by his father to expound Sree Caitanya Caritamrta before him, at Bhakti-Kuti in Puri. After preaching the Vaishnava cult throughout southern India, in an extensive tour, also in other places in India and Bengal, he instituted Sri Caitanya Math at the house of Archya Chandrashekhar at Mayapur and also Sri Bhaktivinoda Asan in Calcutta. SreeGaudiya Math in Calcutta was established on the 6th of September 1920 at Sri Bhaktivinoda Asan. In 1922, Sri Purusottam Math was established at Bhakti-Kuti in Puri. From this year, the ‘Gaudiya’, the organ of the Gaudiya mission began to be published as a Bengali religious weekly paper.

 

ALL INDIA TOUR

After some time, his Divine Grace undertook an all-India tour to preach his message throughout the country. In 1929, the branch of the Gaudiya Math was established in Delhi, while in 1930 the worship of Sri Radha Govinda was established in Allahabad.

In 1932, His Divine Grace was honored by a public reception by a corporation of Madras City. His Divine Grace laid the foundation stone of the Madras Gaudiya Math and met his Excellency, the governor of Madras when the latter laid the foundation of Sri Krishna Hall of the Madras Gaudiya Math.

 

MATH IN LONDON

In 1933, several Gaudiya preachers were sent to Europe in March, and the London Gaudiya Math Office was established in May. The London Gaudiya Mission Society was established under the presidentship of the Marquess of Zetland. The Birth Anniversary of Sri Mahaprabhu was celebrated in London this year. The distinctive characteristic of the career and utterances of The Divine Grace has been in his, absolute concentration of service that is conducive to the all-around gratification of the senses of Sri Krishna. A secondary characteristic of His Divine Grace was his absolute aloofness from all kinds of association with whatever was unacceptable to Krishna and eschewing all kinds of hypocrisy, artificiality, deception, and anti-devotional desires.

 

EXPONENTS OF DIVINE HAVE

His Divine Grace was the most fearless and the most genuine exponent of the highest principle of Sanatana Dharma of divine love fully manifested by the career and teaching of Mahaprabhu Sri Krishna Caitanya. There is the imperative and immediate necessity of this message for the world, His Divine Grace passed away at a moment when this fact was beginning to be dimly perceived by many sincere souls in this country and abroad.

 

GAUDIYA MISSION IN LONDON

Sripad A Bhakti Saranga Goswami, a secretary of Sri Vishwa Vaishnava Raj-Sava, and a preacher of the Calcutta Gaudiya Math have been deputed to work as the missionary in charge of the Gaudiya Mission in Bengal, in place of Swami B.H. Bon is now engaged in other works in India. S.J. Goswami will start from Colombo per S.S. ’Sphinx’ for Marseilles ‘en route to London where he is expected to reach by the last week of November next and take charge of the London Gaudiya Mission.

 

S.J.Goswami belongs to a very highly respectable brahman family of Bengal and is well educated. He joined the Gaudiya Mission about 15 years back. Throughout his life in the mission, S.J.Goswami has always been found to be thoroughly sincere and as an ardent work, he honestly through himself, heart and soul, for extension of the sublime tenets of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as propounded by His Divine Grace ParamahamsaBhaktisiddhantaSaraswati Goswami Maharaj, the Acharya, and Founder of the Mission.

 

HINDU RELIGIOUS LEADER DEAD

THE STATESMAN – WEDNESDAY JANUARY 6, 1937

Loss to India

Founder of Gaudiya Movement

Paramahamsa Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj, the well-known Hindu religious leader, died in Calcutta on January 1. His remains were carried by special train to Sri Mayapur and buried there early on the following morning, close to Lord Caitanya’s temple. One of his disciples writes: – “the founder president of the great Gaudiya Math and the spiritual leader of the well knownGaudiya movement, his death will create a void in the spiritual horizon of India which can never be filled. His inspiring personality always formed the greatest asset to the world movement of which he was the fountainhead, and which within recent years succeeded in enlightening Europe regarding various aspects of the religion of love and service which was a divine dispensation of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya of Bengal. It is hardly realized that this was an organization of Bengal which within recent years succeeded in creating worldwide interest in the religious message of India.

“His Divine Grace Paramahamsa Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj was born at Puri in 1874. Born and brought up in a Vaishnava family from his very boyhood, he imbibed the highest devotional spirit which was the very life of Thakur Bhaktivinoda, the great inspiration, and pioneer of the Vaishnava movement, on the lines on which he was spreading the message of Divine Love.’’

“He got his spiritual initiation from the famous saint SrilaGaurakisoraDas Goswami Babaji. His life in the service of the Church constituted a series of bewildering happenings. His tour in Orissa and southern India created a sensation in those days where nothing serious was attempted in the propagation of his religion of love. The House of Devotion at Mayapur, the birthplace of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya, and the headquarters of the great Gaudiya movement was built in 1909. That was the modest beginning of a series of buildings and temples erected during later years that attract sightseers from every part of India.

 

UNIVERSAL RELIGION

The religion of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya was never meant for any particular sector class of people. It was a universal religion that had its reference to the weal of man in every part of the world. In fact, Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya left a message that the name of Hari might be broadcast throughout the length and breadth of the globe. Although 4 centuries have passed since the advent of this Apostle of love and fellowship, none could take up his message in a fitting way and crystalize his dream in the terms of worldwide service.

 

It was left to the master and founder of the great Gaudiya movement to achieve the translation into an actuality. Under his guidance and inspiring urge over 60 branches and Maths were formed in the course of about 12 years throughout the length and breadth of India. The missionaries of the great master lectured throughout Europe, in the cultural centers of England, Germany, and France, and secured an amount of influential support unthinkable in these days of racial strife and discord. The London headquarters of the Gaudiya movement has achieved distinction by organizing lectures and discourses on religious topics and notables like the Marquess of Zetland, Sir Samuel Hoare, Lord Lamington, Sir Francis Younghusband, Mrs. Rhys Davis, etc. have extended their sympathy for his international outlook and worldwide call. In Germany, too, the leaders of thought and culture heard with rapt attention the message of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya which has no local limitation.

 

In India, the movement created momentum, which had produced astonishment amongst all. The Mission, besides controlling its numerous centers with the help of missionaries, publishes many journals and magazines in different languages. Printing presses set up in Calcutta, Mayapur, Krishnagar, and Cuttack publish from day to day a large volume of literature on the religion of Love.

 

The annual festivities of the Gaudiya Church have already created a far-reaching interest in the whole of India. Theistic exhibitions, conferences, lectures, discourses, and music take place from day to day throughout India in the centers of the Gaudiya movement. The Mission is therefore a great spiritual force in framing the future of this country.

 

Under these circumstances, the passing of the great master of the movement has produced a shock to all. The Headquarters of the movement at Mayapur was recently visited by his excellency, Sir John Anderson, who appreciated the worth of this faith which aspires to create harmony not only between man and man but between race and race throughout the globe. His magnetic personality gathered around him a band of devoted workers who would carry on his work with increased enthusiasm.

 

“The world-Church is yet. Dream and a reshuffling of values to make room for a purer faith must yet be made. The effective solvent of worldwide ills, based on a true philosophy, had seen the light of day in India four centuries ago. It is this idea that has been put before the world in the centers of the Gaudiya movement.

“India has always sent her missionaries from the days of Buddha to heal the wounds of nations afflicted with the perplexing miseries of the world. It is met that India should do the same again and serve the world on a plane benefit of self-praise and self-esteem.

“His Divine Grace Paramahamsa Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj worked for spiritual freedom that refuses to recognize limitations of race or color in the common service of humanity. The Gaudiya movement has listed in him its spiritual prophet and India, a great personality and a spiritual master.”

 

 

GAUDIYA MATH FOUNDER – Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati

ADVANCE – WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6 1937

 

The Founder President of the great Gaudiya Math and the Spiritual Leader of the well-known Gaudiya Movement has passed away in the early hours of the New Year’s Day. His absence creates a void in the spiritual horizon of India which can never be filled up. His inspiring personality always proved the greatest asset to the world movement of which he was the fountain-source and which within recent years succeeded in enlightening Europe regarding various aspects of the Religion of Love and Service which was a Divine Disposition of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya of Bengal. It is hardly realized that this was the only Organisation of Bengal which within recent years succeeded in creating worldwide interest in the religious message of India.

 

His Divine Grace ParamhamsaSrimad Bhakti SiddhantaSaraswati was born in Puri in the year 1874. Born and brought up in a Vaishnava family, he inherited qualities of head and heart which were precious possessions to him in guiding the destinies of the far banned Church. From his very boyhood, he imbibed the highest devotional spirit which was the very life of Thakur Bhaktivinode, the great inspirator and pioneer of the Vaishnava Movement, in whose lines His Divine Grace was spreading the Message of Divine Love.

 

He got his spiritual initiation from the famous saint SrilaGaurakishoredas Goswami Babaji. His life in the service of the Church constitutes a series of happening bewildering in the extreme. His tour of Orissa and Southern India created a sensation in those days where nothing serious was attempted in the propagation of his Religion of Love. The House of Devotion at Mayapur, the birth play of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya and the headquarter of the great Gaudiya Movement, was built in the year 1900. That was the modest beginning of a series of buildings and temples erected during later years that attract sightseers from every part of India. The Religion of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya was never meant for any particular sector class of people. It was a Universal Religion and its reference to the weal of man in every part of the globe. In fact, Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya left a Message that the name of Hari might be broadcast throughout the length and breadth of the globe. Although four centuries have passed away since the Advent of this Apostle of love and fellowship, none could take up His Message in a fitting way and crystalize his dream in the terms of worldwide service. It was left to the master and founder of the great Gaudiya movement to achieve the translation into an actuality. Under his guidance and inspiring urge over 60 branches and Maths were formed in the course of about 12 years throughout the length and breadth of India. The missionaries of the great master lectured throughout Europe, in the cultural centers of England, Germany, and France, and secured an amount of influential support unthinkable in these days of racial strife and discord. The London headquarters of the Gaudiya movement has achieved distinction by organizing lectures and discourses on religious topics and notables like the Marquess of Zetland, Sir Samuel Hoare, Lord Lamington, Sir Francis Younghusband, Mrs. Rhys Davis, etc. have extended their sympathy for his international outlook and worldwide call. In Germany, too, the leaders of thought and culture heard with rapt attention the message of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya which has no local limitations but which is absolutely universal in its settings. In India, the movement created momentum, which had produced astonishment amongst all. The Mission, besides controlling its numerous centers with the help of missionaries, publishes many journals and magazines in different languages. Printing presses set up in Calcutta, Mayapur, Krishnagar, and Cuttack publish from day to day a large volume of literature on the religion of Love. The publications of the Mission are too numerous to be mentioned.

Under these circumstances, the passing of the great master of the movement has produced a shock to all. The Headquarters of the movement at Mayapur was recently visited by his excellency, Sir John Anderson, who appreciated the worth of this faith which aspires to create harmony not only between man and man but between race and race throughout the globe. His magnetic personality gathered around him a band of devoted workers who would carry on his work with increased enthusiasm.

 

“The world-Church is yet. Dream and a reshuffling of values to make room for a purer faith must yet be made. The effective solvent of worldwide ills, based on a true philosophy, had seen the light of day in India four centuries ago. It is this idea that has been put before the world in the centers of the Gaudiya movement.

“India has always sent her missionaries from the days of Buddha to heal the wounds of nations afflicted with the perplexing miseries of the world. It is met that India should do the same again and serve the world on a plane benefit of self-praise and self-esteem.

“His Divine Grace ParamahamsaSrimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj worked for spiritual freedom that refuses to recognize limitations of race or color in the common service of humanity. The Gaudiya movement has listed in him its spiritual prophet and India, a great personality and a spiritual master whole parallel could hardly be met.”

 

PASSING OF A HINDU RELIGIOUS LEADER President Archarya of Gaudiya Math

STAR OF INDIA – FRIDAY, JANUARY 8^th, 1937

On the passing away of the great leader of the Gaudiya Movement and President Archaya of the Gaudiya Math, the leading personalities of India and abroad have expressed their deepest regret and sympathy to the member of the Gaudiya Mission appreciating that the world has lost in him a real religious pioneer of true devotion, a competent interpreter and exponent of the genuine Hindu Philosophy and Religion. The purely spiritual activities of the Gaudiya Math under his guidance have won the sympathy and admiration as the most important work for the spiritual understanding between the East and West and for the revival of Hindu culture on the basis of the common devotional service of God. These activities received the appreciation of all interested in the matter.

 

Letters and telegrams of condolence were received from the Assistant Private Secretary to the Viceroy and the Private Secretary to the Governor of Bengal.