In2-MeC

Helsinki, Finland
11 October 2004

Srila Prabhodhananda Sarasvati

In this connection it may be mentioned that sometimes the sahajiya class of devotees opine that Prakasananda Sarasvati and Prabodhananda Sarasvati are the same man. Prabodhananda Sarasvati was a great Vaisnava devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but Prakasananda Sarasvati, the head of the Mayavadi sannyasis in Benares, was a different person. Prabodhananda Sarasvati belonged to the Ramanuja-sampradaya, whereas Prakasananda Sarasvati belonged to the Sankaracarya-sampradaya. Prabodhananda Sarasvati wrote a number of books, among which are Caitanya-candramrta, Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi, Sangita-madhava, Vrndavana-sataka and Navadvipa-sataka. While traveling in Southern India, Caitanya Mahaprabhu met Prabodhananda Sarasvati, who had two brothers, Vyenkata Bhatta and Tirumalaya Bhatta, who were Vaisnavas of the Ramanuja-sampradaya. Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was the nephew of Prabodhananda Sarasvati. From historical records it is found that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu traveled in South India in the year 1433 Sakabda (A.D. 1511) during the Caturmasya period, and it was at that time that He met Prabodhananda, who belonged to the Ramanuja-sampradaya. How then could the same person meet Him as a member of the Sankara-sampradaya in 1435 Sakabda, two years later? It is to be concluded that the guess of the sahijiya-sampradaya that Prabodhananda Sarasvati and Prakasananda Sarasvati were the same man is a mistaken idea.

--His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

A few nectarean verses from
Sri Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi
by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati

 

Yasyah kadapi vasanancala-khelanottha
Dhanyati dhanya pavanena krtartha-mani
Yogindra-durgama-gatir madhusudano�pi
Tasya namo�stu vrsabhanu-bhuvo dise�pi

Obeisances to the direction that faces Sri Vrsabhanu's daughter. When the breeze coming from that direction playfully moves the edge of His garment, Lord Krsna, who cannot be attained by even the kings of the yogis, thinks that His life has now become a great success.

Brahmesvaradi-su-duraha-padaravinda
Srimat-paraga-paramadbhuta-vaibhavayah
Sarvartha-sara-rasa-varsi-krpadra-drstes
Tasya namo�stu vrsabhanu-bhuvo mahimne

Obeisances to the glory of Sri Vrsabhanu's daughter. Even Brahma, Siva and all the demigods cannot attain the pollen of Her lotus feet. Her merciful glance showers the best of all nectars.

Yo brahma-rudra-suka-narada-bhisma-mukhyair
Alaksito na sahasa purusasya tasya
Sadyo-vasi-karana-curnam ananta saktim
Tam radhika-carana-renum anusmarami

I meditate on the dust of Sri Radha's feet, dust that even Brahma, Siva, Sukadeva, Narada, Bhisma and a host of great saints cannot see, dust that has limitless power, dust that at once transforms the Supreme Personality of Godhead into Sri Radha's submissive servant.

Yat-pada-padma-nakha-candra-mani-cchataya
Visphur jitam kim api gopa-vadhusv adarsi
Purnanuraga-rasa-sagara-sara-murtih
Sa radhika mayi kadapi krpam parotu

May Sri Radha, who is the personified nectar ocean of perfect spiritual love, and the splendour of whose candrakanta-jewel toenails glistens amongst the gopis, be merciful to me.

Sat-prema-sindhu-makaranda-rasaugha-dhara
Saran ajasran abhitah sravad-asritesu
Sri-radhike tava kada caranaravindam
Govinda-jivana dhanam sirasa vahami

O Sri Radha, when will I place on my head Your lotus feet, which are a flood of the nectar of spiritual love, a flood that always flows among Your devotees, and are the treasure more dear than life for Lord Krsna?

Sunday in Helsinki:
Thundering Kirtan, Thumbling Hurt-on

 

 

 

 

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