sri sri guru gauranga jayatah!

Rays of The Harmonist On-Line Centennial Edition

Year 2, Issue 3,  Amāvasyā Speical Edition
Posted: 25 March 2020


Dedicated to and Inspired by
nitya-lila pravista om visnupada

Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja


May Your Life Be Meaningful In Every Respect


A letter by
Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Māhārāja
 

Gurudeva smiling

 

Śrī Śrī Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

Śrī Keśavajī Gauḍīya Maṭha
PO: Mathurā (U.P.)
2 February 1986

 Dear recipient of my affection, daughter Madhu, 

My affectionate blessings. I became overwhelmed upon reading your moving letter full of warmth, and my eyes filled with tears. The intensity of your heartfelt pain even melted my heart.

Daughter, your dear most [Śrī Bhagavān] is always very close by, always with you. Your [true] near and dear ones are never far from you, nor can they ever be. Ever. Do not be restless. You should always remember Śrī Yugala-kiśora-kiśorī jiu, who never forget Their own dear ones. Until the time that they mold that person to become qualified to receive prīti (divine love) for Them, and remove all his anarthas, They keep Themselves hidden somewhat, making him burn in the fire of separation. 

It is solely with the objective of manifesting this highest principle of transcendental love (prīti) in this world that Śrī Kṛṣṇa left Vraja and the residents of Vraja – the cows, calves, cowherd boys and damsels of Vraja – and went to Mathurā and Dvārakā. His heart, however, was always in Vraja; it never left. Even Śrī Uddhava, a very intimate associate of Kṛṣṇa, could only partly understand the most confidential moods of this transcendental love.

As far as I am concerned, how can I ever forget you or be far from you? I always think about you. May my guru-varga, as well as Śrī Lalitā, Śrī Viśākhā, Śrī Rūpa Mañjarī and others, bestow their causeless mercy upon you. By their mercy, may you become immersed in the most confidential subject matters of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatamgopī-prema and [specifically] rādhā-dāsyam – which are extremely rare to achieve even for premī-bhaktas like Śrī Nārada.

Do not feel sad. Your willpower should be as strong as a thunderbolt. May your life not be a burden but full of happiness and meaningful in every respect. Even the demigods desire this human form of life. After attaining it, our aim should be to make it meaningful and successful. I hope this consoles you somewhat. If it does, it will be a matter of great pleasure. 

I am very glad to know that Akhila Bhāratīya Khaṇḍelwāla Mahā Sabhā(The All India Khaṇḍelwāla Society)has decided to award you an engraved copperplate and a shawl in honour of your thesis [on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam]. Secondly, it is a matter of great happiness that you have been selected as the secretary of Khaṇḍelwāla Mahilā Jāgriti (The Khaṇḍelwāla Society for the Awakening of Women). If you are able to sow the pure seed of bhagavad-bhaktikṛṣṇa-prema – in the hearts of women, then you can deliver them their true welfare. You should endeavour for this. It will be good if you try to help women overcome social superstitions and oppression and be adorned with the virtues of women in India’s ancient culture – compassion, philanthropy, truthfulness, parental affection and so forth – to become like Sītā, Sāvitrī and Draupadī. 

Nowadays, influenced by Western culture, some men and women quarrel with each other with a mood of vengeance, like bitter rivals. To endeavour to bring men and women together in a mood of respect for each other and make the mood of bhakti appear in their heart is the topmost service. 

I have written so much. By the mercy of Bhagavān, we residents of the maṭha are all well. The 500th appearance day festival of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is going to be celebrated in Mathurā on a grand scale. I shall send you the invitation when it is printed. 

Your eternal well-wisher
Vaiṣṇava dāsānudāsa
Śrī Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa


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