10/18/1998 - 2380

Recognizing Srila Prabhupada

Editorial (VNN) - by Narasimha das

In his Srimad-Bhagavatam purports, Srila Prabhupada describes the meaning of the word Prabhupada. The word prabhu indicates the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Ekala isvara krsna, ara sabya bhrtya. Only Sri Krsna Himself is ultimately controller, or master. The word pada means position. Thus, according to Srila Prabhupada, the title of Prabhupada is accepted by the spiritual master, because he holds the position of the Supreme Lord. For the purpose of establishing the Lord's mission, the spiritual master assumes the authority of Supreme Personality of Godhead and accepts the highest worship reserved only for the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna.

The position of Vaisnava acarya goes far beyond formality or etiquette. Indeed, an empowered Vaisnava embodies the same infallible perfection as the Supreme Lord Himself. His every word, cough, or apparent stumble is complete perfection. By faithful following, we may gradually realize the truth of guru-tattva.

As indicated in the story of Romaharsan (in Krsna Book), it is essential that one who sits on the vyasasana recognize the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His various forms. One of the expansions of the Supreme Lord is the saktyavesa-avatar acarya, the jagat guru, who is a direct manifestation of Lord Balarama or Lord Nityananda. Romaharsan was not a self-realized soul. Rather, he was elected to the post of spiritual master by an assembly of sages. Srila Prabhupada explains that one may be given an opportunity in this way to rise to the actual realization of a brahmana or Vaisnava, but if he fails to become self-realized by this opportunity and thus offends the Supreme Personality Godhead or His expansion, he's liable to be punished. In the case of Romaharsan, Sri Baladeva remembered Romaharsan's less than exalted background and decided to punish him with death.

Why this extreme measure? Because although Romaharsan had been elected as leader of the sages, he failed to properly recognize and honor the Supreme Lord's expansion. (All great sages of the time understood to some extent Sri Krsna's divinity, but Sri Baladeva was less famous, mysterious, and even controversial, as was Lord Nityananda.)

By chanting Hare Krsna and serving the mission of Srila Prabhupada or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, even ordinary persons may obtain great power. Generally, by Sri Krsna's merciful arrangement, this spiritual power is not immediately manifest in the lives of mixed devotees. Neither do advanced devotees manifest this power, generally, because they depend completely on the mystic power of Yogesvara Krsna. Yet occasionally mixed devotees and even exalted sadhus manifest their power in moments of intense anxiety, desperation, or rage. This was seen in the story of Maharaj Nimi and Vasistha Rishi.

Maharaj Nimi was a pure devotee eager to perform a special yajna for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord. He asked Vasitha Rishi to preside over this function as chief priest, or ritvik. Vasitha Rishi, however, eager to gain wealth and prestige, asked Maharaj Nimi to postpone the yajna until he could return from an engagement he had made with Lord Indra. Against the advice of Visistha Rishi, Maharaj Nimi decided to go ahead and perform the yajna without the auspices of Vasistha as ritvik. Srila Prabhupada explains that Nimi Maharaj was very eager for devotional service, and thus decided not to postpone the yajna, even for the sake of honoring the request of Vasistha Rishi, who was his guru.

When Vasistha Rishi returned, he angrily cursed his disciple Maharaj Nimi to drop dead. In response to this curse, Maharaj Nimi cursed Visistha, and they both immediately dropped dead. Aghast at this tragic turn of events, the great sages prayed to the demigods present at the sacrifice to revive Maharaj Nimi, and they agreed. But Maharaj Nimi refused to accept another material body and was liberated to become a personal associate of the Supreme Lord. Vasistha Rishi, on the other hand, although a great sage and the guru of Maharaj Nimi, had to take birth again in the material world due to his anger and greed.

This story has many layers of deep meaning. The most obvious and immediate meaning is that when Vaisnavas or great sages curse, it can get very deadly. Another meaning is that no one needs to wait, even for their so-called guru, to perform devotional service. The story also illustrates that mixed devotees will need to take birth again in material existence, but pure devotees like Maharaj Pariksit and Maharaj Nimi will accept even a curse of death as an auspicious opportunity to go back to Godhead.

To avoid epidemics of cursing and counter cursing, and to avoid the displeasure of Lord Balarama and the devotees, all Vaisnavas should recognize the supreme authority of Srila Prabhupada and agree to remain humble representatives of His mission. This is the safest path for complete perfection. Another meaning of the title Prabhupada is master whose lotus feet many masters serve. Therefore, even if one has been elected by great sages to the post of guru or ritvik, he still must recognize and accept the order of the Jagat Guru, who is the direct manifestation of Lord Balarama. Otherwise, according to Srimad- Bhagavatam, such offensive persons may take birth again as sudras or less. Not even great rishis and demigods are immune from the curse of sadhus or the offense of not recognizing the Supreme Lord or His direct manifestation in the form of the Spiritual Master or the Deity. Many stories from Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Puranas illustrate this fact.