Foto: Porque misturar diferentes Sistemas pode ser perigoso.
O perigo do Sincretismo Religioso (e/ou Cultural) !!!
Sincretismo é a fusão de diferentes doutrinas para a formação de uma nova, seja de caráter filosófico, cultural ou religioso de forma a ter uma melhor aceitação.
Os Sahajiyās são fruto do Sincretismo religioso. Foram os Budistas Tântricos da linha Sahajayāna que se misturaram com o Gauḍīyā Vaiṣṇavismo.
Nem mesmo o famoso mago, "Yogī" e ocultista britânico Aleister Edward Alexander Crowley seria capaz de tal mistura :D
A palavra Sahajiyā é derivada da palavra sânscrita Sahaja que significa literalmente nasce com ou natural (Saha + ja, Saha = com, ja = nascido).
A teoria Sahajiyā consiste em que o amor a Kṛṣṇa pode se manifestar de forma mais natural (Sahaja) na associação com o sexo oposto.
Houve uma linha Budista chamada Sahajayāna, além das linhas Mahāyāna e Hīnayāna, que foi popular na parte oriental da Índia antes do aparecimento de Mahāprabhu.
Eles seguiam a prática Tântrica de tentar elevar sua consciência ou elevar a Kundalini com a ajuda de uma parceira feminina.
Quando Mahāprabhu tornou-se popular na Bengala e Orissa, muitos destes Sahajayānis aderiram ao Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavismo sendo influenciados por Mahāprabhu.
Eles posteriormente misturaram a sua prática Sahajayāna na filosofia de Mahāprabhu.
Eles acreditam que Goloka Vṛndāvana existe no corpo físico e o amor a Kṛṣṇa pode se manifestar de forma mais natural (Sahaja) na associação de uma parceira feminina, especialmente uma mulher que não seja sua esposa (Parakīya) devido a mente masculina ser naturalmente atraída para outras mulheres que não sua esposa.
Os Sahajiyās consideram o Caitanya Caritāmṛta como um dos livros mais importantes de sua escola e afirmam que até mesmo Caitanya Mahāprabhu tinha uma parceira. Segundo eles, a filha de Sārvabhauma Bhattācārya, Ṣāṭhī, foi parceira de Mahāprabhu.
Da mesma forma, em seus livros, os Sahajiyās dão os nomes das parceiras de todos os Gosvāmīs de Vṛndāvana. Eles consideram este conhecimento muito esotérico.
Portanto, eles introduziram suas concepções materiais de vida no serviço devocional puro, corrompendo-o.
De salientar que os Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Bābājīs não tem nada a ver com os Sahajiyās.
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Photo: Why Mixing Belief Systems Can Be Dangerous.
The Danger of Religious (and/or Cultural) Syncretism !!!
Syncretism is the fusion of different doctrines for the formation of a new, be it philosophical, cultural or religious character.
The sahajiyās are the result of religious syncretism. It was the Sahajayāna line of Tantric Buddhists who mingled with the Gauḍīyā Vaiṣṇavism.
Not even the famous British magician, "Yogī" and occultist Aleister Edward Alexander Crowley would be capable of such a mix :D
"The word sahajiyā is derived from the Sanskrit word sahaja which literally means born with or natural (saha + ja, saha = with, ja = born). The sahajiyā theory consists in that love of Kṛṣṇa can be manifested in the most natural way (sahaja) in the association of a female.
There was a Buddhist sect called Sahajayāna, besides the Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna sects, which was popular in the Eastern part of India before the appearance of Mahāprabhu. They followed the Tantric practice of trying to elevate their consciousness or raise the Kundalini with the help of a female partner.
When Mahāprabhu became popular in Bengal and Orissa, many of these Sahajayānis took to Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism being influenced by Mahāprabhu.
They subsequently mixed their Sahajayāna practice into the philosophy of Mahāprabhu.
They believed that Goloka Vṛndāvana exists in the physical body and love of Kṛṣṇa can be manifested in the most natural way (sahaja) in the association of a female, especially a woman who is not one’s wife (parakīya) as the male mind is naturally attracted to women other than one’s wife.
Sahajiyās consider Caitanya-caritāmṛta as one of the most important books of their school and claim that even Caitanya Mahāprabhu had a female partner. According to them, the daughter of Sārvabhauma Bhattācārya, Ṣāṭhī, was Mahāprabhu’s partner.
Similarly, in their books the sahajiyās give the names of the female partners of all the Gosvāmīs of Vrindavan. They consider this knowledge to be very esoteric." (Gauḍīyā Guṭikā)
So, they introduce their material conceptions of life into pure devotional service, corrupting it.
Note that Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Bābājīs has nothing to do at all and have no relation with the sahajiyās.
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http://gaudiyadiscussions.gaudiya.com/topic_1.html
http://jagadanandadas.blogspot.pt/2012/04/sex-and-bhakti-yoga-continued.html
http://jagadanandadas.blogspot.pt/2007/02/ahangrahopasana-and-aropa-part-iv.html
medita que tua esposa é uma devota e queres dar prazer a uma devota de krsna. mas não que é radha.
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This is not the sum total of their philosophy. They believe that since the body of a devotee is spiritual, (and prema is dormant in the heart), they can use sex as a means for evoking madhurya rasa, and presumably friendship for evoking sakhya, being a parent for evoking vatsalya and serving someone for evoking dasya. Of course, mostly they focus on madhurya, and hence the issue. The problem is that the acaryas emphatically declare that no one can enter madhurya rasa with the identity of a man. - this removes the possibility of men having sex with females as a way of understanding Krsna's love affairs with the gopis.
The acaryas forbid identifying with Krsna and following His activity and compare it to following Siva's drinking of the ocean of poison. To enter rasa one must be raganuga and follow the ragatmika's, To enter madhurya, this means identfying oneself as feminine and cultivating one's inner identity (siddha deha) as a beautiful young gopi, with completely feminine mood, appearance and identity.
The material body becoming spiritualized during sadhana does not mean that it IS or BECOMES the siddha deha. Otherwise, all those verses about serving Krsna externally with the sadhaka body and internally with the siddha deha would have no meaning at all. It is spiritualized in the sense that the devotional service it performs is real and not a product of the modes of nature.
Since only Krsna is the object of madhurya rasa, it is not possible for women to have sex with men as a way to understand madhurya rasa. No body or form in this world can even slightly attract the gopis, other than Krsna. As explained by Rukmini, they find the material bodies of men repulsive in comparison. This applies to fully spiritual bodies as well. It is said that the gopis had no contact with their husbands, even though they were pure devotees with spiritual bodies. They did not even desire union with Uddhava who looks exactly like Krsna! Thus, Krsna and only Krsna is the object of madhurya rasa. No other form acts as a stimulant (called uddipana in the sastra) for that rasa.
(JAGADANANDA VAI DIZER QUE TU NÃO TENS MENTALIDADE MASCULINA E QUE DEVES MENTALIZAR QUE És UMA MANJARI VIZUALIZANDO O ACTO SEXUAL ENTRE RADHA E KRSNA (ENTRE O SADHAKA E SADHAKI))
Ou seja, uma confusão especulativa completa, sr Jagadananda.
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I like you a lot, Jagat, and have for a long time. I appreciate that you have a particular realization and vision on this topic. I can tell that my personal reaction to the post was a bit distasteful. You should know that I am in no way virginal or prudent. I am closer to a wildman than a brahmacari, and I definitely do not see sex as any sort of evil or immorality. But I think you have tread out onto EXTREMELY thin ice here.
Perhaps you have a specific audience in mind to whom this would be a beneficial article. But for myself as the audience, it is has a bitter viras. It seems you have lost sight, at least in the article, of what is vishaya and what is ashraya. Another sadhaka does not become the vishaya. Sri Krsna is the vishaya and our aim is to make love with HIM.
Again, I do not think sex is bad at all, especially not with a good partner such as a loving husband or wife. But I really feel you have done something wrong here and the milk has become curdled and burnt instead of becoming kheer. In my own experience the wonderous pleasure of sexuality and the amazingly powerful attraction between genders has indeed opened my eyes to what how pleasurable madhurya-rasa must be for Krishna and the Gopis. But I would never feel comfortable thinking that such pleasure is meant for me - a fragmental soul. And certainly not that sanyassis and extreme renunciates such as the shad-goswami gana, the illustrious Prabhodananda Sarasvati, and the impeccible Sriman Mahaprabhu would EVER be able to restrain their distain over considering a mundane intercourse between two jivas to be a mirror of the intercourse between Radha and Krishna to the extent that the former is a sadhana for the later.
I hope you will rethink the conclusions you have presented here. I wish you the best wholeheartedly and of course always continue to look up to your intelligence and scholarship.
Your servant,
Vraja Kishor das
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I thoroughly disagree.
The first instruction can never be ignored...
anyabhilashita sunyam
jnana karmady anavrtam
anukulenya KRSNAnu-
silanam bhaktir uttama.
Sri Rupa spells it out that bhakti is for KRSNA.
Guru who assumes to be the vishaya is a vishayi. Sishya who treats the guru as the vishaya is a vishayi. That's my view. My view is that my Guru is Ashraya tattva.
Certainly Krsna is in all things - but this doesn't mean that sex is sadhana for madhurya-seva. It just means that sex is not without connection to Krsna.
Sex is fine. I am into it. I am not opposed to it. It is part of dharma for the grhastha, and I am more than comfortable with that. I even will go so far as to say that it reflects madhurya rasa and therefore is not without spiritual merits. But I think it's quite wrong to say that sex has any part of sadhana.
Certainly it is not sadhuvartmanuvartmana to suggest this, since the sadhu I am mainly concerned with SRI RUPA (and I assume you too?) listed a whole bunch of 64 angas of sadhana and didn't mention holding back an orgasm to please your wife among them.
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Though I am not familiar with the philosophy of Ativadi Rupa Kaviraja, I believe this was not his doctrine.
By the way, is there a standard definition of "sahajiya" found anywhere? It is often loosely attributed to one and all.
Rupa Kaviraja does not accept the interpretation which insists that the practicioner imitate Vrajaloka only in the mind and follow the injunctions of the Vaidhi Bhakti with the body.Instead,he urges the practicioner to imitate the residents of Vrajaloka with the mind ,body,and voice of BOTH bodies.
There is no direct evidence that suggests whether Rupa Kaviraja did or did not participate in such acts as dressing as a gopi,but his theories did lend themselves to the rationale,an even impetus,for such acts.However,we can conclude that if he were important enough that a council convened especially to condemn his works,
he must have offered a significantly influential interpretation of the sadhana. But,Rupa Kaviraja's interpretation of what Rupa Goswamin meant by "imitating the Vrajaloka with the sadhaka-rupa" was not accepted as authoritative by orthodox Gaudiya Vaisnavas; the honor was to go to Visvanatha Cakravarti.
The term 'sahaja' litarally means "easy" or "natural",and in this meaning the term is applied to a system of worship and belief in which the natural qualities of the senses should be used, not denied or suppressed.
The roots of Sahajiya sects/schools lie well within the ancient tradition of the Tantras.Both Tantrics and Sahajiyas believe that man is a microcosm,a miniature universe;both believe in unity as the guiding principle of this universe,that all duality,even that of the sexes,is falsehood and delusion and that cosmic unity is regained, or represented,by man and woman in sexual union;both are humanistic,and begin with the analysis of the nature of man,and see as the end of man the gaining of the "natural state",the sahaja,the state of ultimate and blissful unity.
Caitanya,who was considered even by the orthodox to contain Radha and Krsna within his own body,was a perfect illustration of the Sahajiya principle of unity in seeming duality.It must be remembered,however,that as the Sahajiyas gave doctrinal value to what the Vaisnavas meant symbolically,so in the area of theology the Sahajiyas to a certain extent took symbolically what the Vaisnavas meant doctrinally.
jiva
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According to some sahajiya texts,man and woman have in them both the divine Krsna and Radha: a woman is female because she has in her a preponderance of Radha;a man is man because he is mostly Krsna.Love between man and woman thus reduplicates in microcosm the love of Radha and Krsna, a love that had both phases,separation and union. Thus,when one realizes himself as divine,one experiences in union not the insignificant joys of human love,but the perpetual divine joys of the love of Radha and Krsna.
For even while Caitanya lived,people considered him divine. Some thought he was an avatara, an incarnation, of Krsna; some thought he was Krsna himself (C.c.,Adi 2:19). And some saw him as Radha and Krsna,the divine lovers, in the most intimate possible union-in one body. "Radha and Krsna were one soul in two bodies...then even the two bodies become one, in Caitanya." (C.c.,Adi 4:49-50)
The concept of the dual incarnation of Caitanya-that he was Radha and Krsna in one body-is central to the doctrine of the Sahajiya Vaisnavas, to the concept of the essential unity of things.
jiva
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This article is of course completely against the teachings of Rupa Goswami, whom LC entrusted to teach rasa, and whose mercy we seek. He states emphatically in UN that one cannot imitate Krsna in His dealings with the gopis. One can only follow the mood of the ragatmikas. Further, his idea that because the jiva who is your wife is also a devotee, she is a swarupa of Radharani is completely false and has no basis in sastra whatsoever. The love between spouses is not the same as for Radha and Krsna (who are not married, to begin with). Their love is devoid of lust completely, and its symptoms in sambhoga are extraordinary and peerless.
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Sannyāsīs wear saffron dress, are usually addressed as ‘Swami’, and are usually followers of impersonal philosophy. Vairāgīs, however, wear white cloth and are addressed as bābājīs.
esposo e esposa tem relacionamento, ok. para um dar afecto ao outro ,ok . mas não a viagem sahaja que tem que considerar que se é krsna e radha e que só através deste sahaja sadhana se poderá alcançar a perfeição de madhurya rasa. ora temos muitos sannyasis e babajis que alcançaram a perfeição de madhurya rasa sem o sahaja sadhana. depois disso, depois dos 50 tem que stop, for gods sake. homens e mulheres VELHAS tento relação. tem que parar e intensificar o bhajana interno. além do que, como ficam os que almejam outras RASAS ??? Hããããããããã ???
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Tantric ideas, involve the idea of Man being the microcosm corresponding to the universe as the macrocosm. Sahajiya ideas is that the union of the supreme macrocosmic Goddess and God of Radha and Krishna can be experienced in the union of microcosmic man an woman.
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1. Those filled with the desired feeling,
2. Those related to the desired feeling,
3. Those favorable to the desired feeling,
4. Those not opposed to the desired feeling
5. Those opposed to the desired feeling.
Vaisnava-Seva:
Vaisnava-seva belongs to all the different categories.
That is why we have put it on top. In other words, the service of the Vaisnavas is filled with the desired feelings, related to the desired feelings, favorable to the desired feelings and not opposed to the desired feelings – all in one.
Can there be any doubt that the sadhaka who aspires for pure devotional service should see it as his sole duty to serve the topmost Vaisnavas, without whose association and grace there is no way to attain devotion to Sri Hari?
For the sadhakas who are on the path of devotion the Vaisnavas are as worshipable as Visnu Himself – vaisnava visnuvat pujya
If the sadhaka does not develop the quality of respect for the Vaisnavas the Lord will never be pleased with him.
In the Adi Purana Sri Krisna Himself has said:
“O Partha! Those who are devoted to Me are not My devotees, while I consider those who are the devotees of My devotees to be My topmost devotees!”
Therefore it is seen in the Itihasa Samuccaya:
“Therefore, in order to please Visnu, please the Vaisnavas in all respects! When the Vaisnavas are pleased Visnu will be pleased – of this there is no doubt at all!”
portanto, eu, uma manjari, que estou neste corpo fisico masculino estou a servir minha esposa dando-lhe afeto.
que história é essa de que agora eu sou krsna e minha esposa é radha e ao mesmo tempo eu sou uma manjari a ver tudo ???!!!
ou então que história é essa de que agora eu sou krsna e minha esposa é radha e eu só vou realizar que radha krsna estão unidos quando eu me unir "obrigatoriamente" com uma sadhaki que nem é minha esposa , ou krsna que esta em mim se uniu com radha que esta na sadhaki. se não fizer isto não conseguirei unir krsna e radha. mas e o maha mantra, não é a união de radha e krsna ???!!!
o sadhaka deha nunca é krsna, ou radha ou uma manjari ... é o QUE É, O SADHAKA DEHA !!!
por exemplo, se um sadhaka masculino tem filhos. ELE É PAI. não é porque internamente é uma manjari é que externamente deixa de ser masculino. não. não é que externamente ele terá de ser feminino em ordem a perceber a mentalidade feminina. NÃO. ele serve sua esposa como marido e seus filho(a)s como pai. masculino. figura do pai. chefe de familia.
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uma outra coisa, isto em relação aos sakhi bekhis, é que estes afirmam que em ordem para compreender a mentalidade feminina, o sadhaka deve assumir uma forma feminina tanto com o siddha rupa como com o sadhaka rupa. gopis de bigode. NÃO, é só interno. toda a descrição da mentalidade das gopis esta descrito nos rasa sastras. o sadhaka masculino emula internamente estes sentimentos femininos.
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This article is of course completely against the teachings of Rupa Goswami, whom LC entrusted to teach rasa, and whose mercy we seek. He states emphatically in UN that one cannot imitate Krsna in His dealings with the gopis. One can only follow the mood of the ragatmikas. Further, his idea that because the jiva who is your wife is also a devotee, she is a swarupa of Radharani is completely false and has no basis in sastra whatsoever. The love between spouses is not the same as for Radha and Krsna (who are not married, to begin with). Their love is devoid of lust completely, and its symptoms in sambhoga are extraordinary and peerless.
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ha, mas como alguem (sadhaka masculino) que cultiva ser uma manjari vai fazer sexo com a esposa. oras, então a mesma pergunta poderiamos fazer, como um sadhaka masculino pode ser pai, por exemplo? o sadhaka rupa é uma coisa, o siddha rupa é outra. actividades que são favoráveis mas não estão directamente conectadas. serve esposa e filhos como sendo devotos. BAS !!!
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http://www.jiva.org/babajis-sahajiyas-and-apasampradayas/
Bābājīs, Sahajiyās and Apasampradāyas
POSTED BY MALATI · OCTOBER 4TH, 2013 FILE UNDER: ARTICLES BY SATYANARAYANA DASA, GAUDIYA VAISHNAVAS
This article was published a few days before Sri Haridas Shastri Maharaja attained samadhi
By Satyanarayana Dasa
Recently an article entitled “Disobedience and Deviation is More Dangerous than a Falldown!” by Mahasrnga Dasa was published on the Sampradaya Sun website and brought to my notice. This article warns ISKCON devotees against associating with the bābājīs in Vraja, specifically Vrindavan and Rādhākuṇḍa. It criticizes bābājīs in general and me specifically, which I can tolerate. However the article goes on to debase my guru and our whole lineage which makes it my duty to clarify things and explain what the word bābājī really means.
Satyanarayana Dasa and his guru
It is clear that the general understanding within the Gauḍīya Maṭha (GM) and all of its branches like ISKCON is that bābājīs are people who pose as sādhus and enjoy women, at least two or three of them, as quoted in this article, and that these bābājīs have nothing to do with spirituality or devotion to Krsna. I heard such descriptions of bābājīs hundreds of times while I was a member of ISKCON. Naively, I also used to believe that. However, the fact is that “bābājī” is a word of honor used to address a renounced sādhu in general and specifically in the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sampradāya.
Sri Caitanya
There are two types of renounced sādhus in India who are called sannyāsīs and vairāgīs. Sannyāsīs wear saffron dress, are usually addressed as ‘Swami’, and are usually followers of impersonal philosophy. Vairāgīs, however, wear white cloth and are addressed as bābājīs. The renounced Vaiṣṇavas in the line of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Rāmānanda, Nimbarka and others come within this category. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta mentions two vairāgīs who came with Mādhavendra Purī from Bengal (Madh 4.103) Haridāsa Ṭhākura is also called a vairāgī by the author Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī (Ant 3.103). Although Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself was a sannyāsī and wore saffron, He propagated the white vairāgī dress for His renounced followers.
The reason for this is that scriptures forbid a Vaiṣṇava to wear kaṣāya, (saffron), red and blue dress, especially while doing deity worship. Some of these verses are culled in Haribhakti-vilāsa by Sanātana Gosvāmī. There it is said, nagno rakta paṭaḥ (4.147) – “For a Vaiṣṇava, wearing reddish cloth is like being naked” and, śukla-vāso bhaven nityaṁ raktaṁ caiva vivarjayet (4.152) – “The Vaiṣṇava should always wear white cloth and give up red cloth.”
In Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, we find also the story of Jagadānanda Paṇḍita becoming upset with Sanātana Gosvāmī who was wearing a saffron cloth tied around his head that was not the prasad of Mahāprabhu. In humility, Sanātana Gosvāmī replied to Jagadānanda Paṇḍita saying: “This saffron cloth is unfit for a Vaiṣṇava to wear; therefore I have no use for it. I shall give it to a stranger.” (BBT CC Ant 13.60)
The ceremony of accepting the white cloth of a renunciant is generally called taking veśa (lit. dress). In Bengal it is called bheka. “Bābājī” is an honorable word for such renounced people which means grandfather in Hindi as well as in Vraja-bhasa, the language spoken in the Vraja area. It is also a general term used respectfully for sādhus all over India, e.g.: Mahāvatara Bābājī, Haidakhan Bābājī.
Rupa and Sanatana
From this it should be known that the Six Gosvāmīs of the Gauḍīya sampradāya and others such as Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana, Jagannātha dāsa Bābājī and Gaurakiśora dāsa Bābājī were all vairāgīs who wore white and were called bābājīs by the Vraja-basis. To call bābājīs in general “sahajiyās” or to categorize them as apasampradāyic is disrespectful to Mahāprabhu Himself, the propagator of bābājī veśa. There may be some bābājīs who have illicit relationship with women but that happens in all groups of spiritualists and sampradāyas. That in itself does not make them sahajiyās or their lineage an apasampradāya.
Even though the founders of GM/ISKCON forbade their followers to associate with bābājīs, still their condemnation of bābājīs did not apply to all of them because even they offer respects to some bābājīs. The guru of the Gauḍīya Maṭha’s founder was a bābājī who is worshiped on the altar of all GM and ISKCON centers. In Jaiva Dharma of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura the bābājīs are not depicted in bad light but as sādhus and ācāryas. Moreover, even if the founders condemned all bābājīs at a specific time, it would be unreasonable and inappropriate to apply that universally for all time in the future. It may be that they did not consider some of the contemporary bābājīs as worthy of association because of their connection with women. This, however, does not mean that all bābājīs were debauchees and would continue to be of such low character for all time. Nor does it mean that they all had a practice of associating with women.
In the article under discussion, the author appeals to the instruction of ācārya. We may know that the instructions of an ācārya are of two types namely,
1. Unconditional or those which are always applicable such as in ISKCON following the four rules, and
2. Conditional or those which are applicable under specific conditions.
Not associating with bābājīs comes under this second category.
It also should be noted that bābājīs are not always elder Indian gentlemen with beards as the author implies. They may also have shaven heads; it is a matter of convenience and personal preference. There is a tradition of doing Govardhana parikrama on the day of Sanātana Gosvāmī’s disappearance in his honor because he is the one who popularized parikrama. This particular day is called “Mudia Puno”. The word “mudia” is derived from the Vraja-bhasa word “moond” which means head. Sanātana Gosvāmī had a shaven head and therefore he was addressed as “Mudia Baba” by the local Vraja-basis. When he left his body, to honor him, the Vraja-basis shaved their heads and performed Govardhana parikrama. This has since become a tradition which continues till today. Although we call them Gosvāmīs, the Vraja-basis addressed them as bābājīs.
From this we can understand that “bābājī” is a traditional Indian word of honor for renounced sādhus and that it has no connotation of a person having illicit relations with women. This can also be known by studying the local culture. The author blames the ISKCON Vrindavan authorities as being ignorant. If he came, lived in Vrindavan and did some research, he would realize this fact for himself.
Sri Haridasa Shastri Maharaja
The author maintains he knows the history of bābājīs and their activities with women but what research did he do on this? There are hundreds of bābājīs living in Vrindavan and Rādhākuṇḍa who all have followers. If these well-known bābājīs have been having illicit relationships all these years as proposed by the GM/ISKCON, why have the mass media not reported it? Why are people not talking about it and immediately sharing this hot information all over the internet? At least my Gurudeva and Paṇḍita Ananta Dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja have plenty of educated, learned and well-behaved disciples both from India and the West who know the proper standard. Why would they keep quiet about such illicit activities? On the contrary, these two personalities are honored all over Vraja for their pure character.
Another allegation made by the author is that bābājīs are sahajiyās. When we use a word it has a specific meaning but here it is not clear what the word sahajiyā means for the author. The word sahajiyā is derived from the Sanskrit word sahaja which literally means born with or natural (saha + ja, saha = with, ja = born). The sahajiyā theory consists of two premises namely, (1) kṛṣṇa-prema is dormant in the heart and (2) this prema can be awakened by practicing love with a female partner. It should be also noted here that a practicing sahajiyā has only one female partner, not two or three.
Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava bābājīs do not accept either of these two premises. Associating with women is not part of their practice but is instead warned against. It is considered a deviation from one’s spiritual practices and is reprehensible.
There was a Buddhist sect called Sahajayāna, besides the Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna sects, which was popular in the Eastern part of India before the appearance of Mahāprabhu. They followed the Tantric practice of trying to elevate their consciousness or raise the Kundalini with the help of a female partner. The purpose was not to enjoy sex as is misunderstood by many. Some sects of Tantra still practice this and it has unfortunately become the popular understanding of the Tantra practiced in the West.
Gaura Nitai
When Mahāprabhu became popular in Bengal and Orissa, many of these Sahajayānis took to Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism being influenced by Mahāprabhu. They subsequently mixed their Sahajayāna practice into the philosophy of Mahāprabhu. They believed that Goloka Vṛndāvana exists in the physical body and love of Kṛṣṇa is dormant within the ātmā. This love can be manifested in the most natural way (sahaja) in the association of a female, especially a woman who is not one’s wife (parakīya) as the male mind is naturally attracted to women other than one’s wife.
Sahajiyās consider Caitanya-caritāmṛta as one of the most important books of their school and claim that even Caitanya Mahāprabhu had a female partner. According to them, the daughter of Sārvabhauma Bhattācārya, Ṣāṭhī, was Mahāprabhu’s partner. This was the reason behind Ṣāṭhī’s husband, Amogha, being upset with Mahāprabhu when He came to Sārvabhauma Bhattācārya’s house to take lunch prasād. (CC Mad 15.245-248)
Similarly, in their books the sahajiyās give the names of the female partners of all the Gosvāmīs of Vrindavan. They consider this knowledge to be very esoteric. Therefore most of their literature has never been printed. I have a collection of such manuscripts in my personal library.
When the GM/ISKCON claim that bābājīs are sahajiyās, they probably have no idea that they are ultimately also calling the Gosvāmīs themselves sahajiyās as the Gosvamis were bābājīs.
Sri Gaurakishora Dasa Babaji
Another point I wish to mention is that even if the GM/ISKCON disagree that the Six Gosvāmīs and others like Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura were bābājīs, they have at least two bābājīs in their own line namely, Jagannātha dāsa Bābājī and Gaurakiśora dāsa Bābājī. Furthermore, from the biography of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, it is known that in his last stage of life he accepted bābājī veśa. From the viewpoint of the author, are we to conclude that these bābājīs were also associating with two or three women and that they belonged to an apasampradāya? Then what is the sampradāya of GM and ISKCON? By criticizing bābājīs the author is cutting off his own legs.
In his article, the author makes the following claim:
“It is well known, or at least it should be well known that Vrindavan has many different sampradāyas supposedly coming in the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava line, but they are considered apasampradays, or un-bonafide lines. The lines of Bābājīs like Bhakti Shastri of Vrindavan and Ananta Das Bābājī, the now Mahanta of Radha Kunda belong in this category.”
Here my Gurudeva’s name is mentioned incorrectly. His correct name is Nitya Smaraṇīya Śrī Śrī 108 Śrī Haridāsa Śāstrī Jī Mahārāja. The author asserts that the line of my guru and that of Śrī Paṇḍita Ananta Dāsa Bābājī of Rādhākuṇḍa fame are un-bonafide apasampradāyas. What is the basis of this? Does he have any proof? Obviously not. These two saintly people are the greatest living Vaiṣṇava scholar-saints of the Gauḍīya sampradāya. Both of them are highly renounced and impeccable in their character. I do not know anybody in the whole Gauḍīya Maṭha line who comes close to their scholarship and realization.
Sri Haridasa Shastri Maharaja
To speak a little about my Gurudeva, he lived all his life on one meal a day which he used to take in the evening. Now he is nearing hundred, bed-ridden and not in good health. On doctor’s advice he does not adhere to this practice anymore. He holds a Śāstrī (graduate) degree in all six theistic schools of India, along with degrees in Jyotiṣa, Vvyākaraṇa (Sanskrit grammar) and Navya-nyāya (the subject in which Mahāprabhu was expert before he took to bhakti). This is a rare scholarship not only in the Gauḍīya community but the whole of India. He knows the complete Bhagavad-gītā and Bhāgavata Purāṇa by heart besides many other books. Even at this age, his memory is excellent. Mahāprabhu said that Bhāgavata Purāṇa is the natural commentary of Vedānta-sūtra but he did not say which śloka of Bhāgavata Purāṇa relates to which sūtra. My Gurudeva wrote a book to point that out. Altogether he has published about 90 books in Hindi and Bengali. He also runs a gośāla bigger than the ISKCON Vrindavan Goshala.
He comes in the disciplic succession of Paṇḍita Śrī Gadādhara Gosvāmī, who was the only one among the Pañca-tattva members who stayed with Mahāprabhu in Purī, is accepted as Śrīmatī Rādhā Herself, is the one from whom Mahāprabhu used to hear Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and personally gave the deity of Ṭoṭā-gopīnātha to worship.
Sri Ananta Dasa Babaji
Similarly, read any of the books of Paṇḍita Ananta Dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja and you will be amazed at his scholarship. He spent ten years traveling to remote villages teaching the message of Mahāprabhu and giving dikṣa in the line of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrīmatī Jāhnavā Mātā through the descendants of Śrī Dhanañjaya Paṇḍita before settling in Rādhākuṇḍa. Later, recognizing his humility and purity of heart, the seniormost Vaiṣṇavas of Rādhākuṇḍa elected him as the Mahanta of Rādhākuṇḍa, the 34th representative of the seat of Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī.
He has written extensive commentaries on forty of the main books of the Gosvāmīs and their contemporaries being requested by the Vaiṣṇavas. His original works include around ten books of bhakti-related glorifications plus twelve books explaining Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sampradāya tattva in simple language out of concern for the spiritual upliftment of the general public. A number of his books have been translated into English and Russian.
It is more than likely that the author of the Sampradaya Sun article has never personally met these two personalities for if he had, he would not be able to maintain his present understanding of them. He also claims to know my history, but I wonder what he actually knows.
In this article he states a few times that many sannyāsīs and gurus visit bābājīs, including myself, to associate with them, listen to their classes and take instructions from them. On this I would ask him: If the GM and its branches are the only bonafide Gauḍīya societies, the only ones who know the proper siddhanta of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, then why do even the gurus of these societies give respect to these bābājīs? Why is it that the bābājīs who are apasampradāyic and fallen in character never go to GM and its branches to associate with them and take their instructions? Why is it that bābājīs never forbid their disciples to associate with GM/ISKCON? Why are they not afraid of losing their disciples?
Furthermore, why is it that not at least someone in the bābājī community has woken-up to the bad character and apasiddhānta of these bābājīs and taken shelter of the GM who have the right siddhānta and sampradāya? Why is it happening the other way around all the time? Why is it that many members of GM and its branches leave their respective organization and become followers of bābājīs? This began with Ananta Vāsudeva, the foremost disciple of Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī. There are hundreds of such examples, I being one of them, yet I do not know any example of a bābājī leaving his practice to join the GM.
I am not against GM/ISKCON and I have great respect for Śrīla Prabhupāda. I left ISKCON seventeen years ago and have never written anything against the GM, ISKCON or Śrīla Prabhupāda. I honor all Vaiṣṇavas although I am in knowledge of the philosophical problems of the GM and its branches. I have printed books in which I have acknowledged Śrīla Prabhupāda and in fact one of my books is dedicated to him. I also have thousands of recorded lectures which are available for anyone to verify this.
Shortly after the recent article of Mahasrnga Dasa appeared in the Sampradaya Sun, they reprinted an old article of mine as if it was written recently when in fact it was originally published some time after I had left ISKCON. My student, Malati Manjari, then sent a reply to the Sampradaya Sun with a quote from my side (given below) but it was not published. Earlier she also sent this same quote of mine directly to the author of this old article without getting any reply. I am, therefore, forced to give clarification about my position, my guru, his line and bābājīs in general. If people like Mahasrnga Dasa, who probably has never met me, want to have dialogue about sampradāyas, bābājīs and their character and lives, they are welcome to contact me. Otherwise, I have no interest in unnecessary criticism which does not help anybody but may disturb the mind of practicing devotees.
sadhus and babajis at Jiva Institute
Unpublished Reply to Sampradaya Sun:
“I never made any propaganda against Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON or Gaudiya-Math, either through internet, through writing books, articles, or by speaking. On the contrary, in my books I have honored and recognized Srila Prabhupada as a propagator of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
I left ISKCON, or rather, was forced to leave about fourteen years ago because of some philosophical differences. Having philosophical differences is common any spiritual organization, and this is certainly also the case in our Gaudiya Vaishnava history. The beauty of Vedic Culture is that one can have differences of opinion and respect simultaneously. In fact, our very philosophy is based on the principle of difference and non-difference simultaneously. For the modern mind this seems absurd, and any difference is taken as disrespect and inimical. I tried to reconcile one of the differences I had with ISKCON in my book, “In Vaikuntha not even the Leaves Fall”, so that ISKCON’s teachings could be in line with the teachings of the Gosvamis, but this was not acceptable to the ISKCON leadership. As a result I was mistreated and my book was banned. Thus I saw no possibility of reconciliation, although that was my heart’s desire.
Even though I was defamed and mistreated, I did not endeavor to harm ISKCON or the Gaudiya Math. I have never stepped into ISKCON territory after my departure from ISKCON to avoid any conflict or confrontation. At the same time, curiously many ISKCON leaders over the years approached me privately for philosophical advice and consultation and used the material they received for their own projects – often without mentioning my name which was blacklisted in ISKCON. I was and I am still open to peaceful dialogue.”
We are sad to note that Maharajji passed away on October 6th.
COMMENTS ARE CLOSED
Dear Satyanarayana Das Babaji!
My most humble dandavats to your lotus feet…THANK YOU SO MUCH for this most wonderful response. I can´t tell you how happy I am to read what you wrote.
Thank you from the core of my heart.
Tarun Govinda das
10.04.2013
BABAJI PRANAM
VERY NICE REPLY TO THE ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN SUN.
CLEARED THE CONCEPT OF BABAJI.
YOU HAVE MENTIONED YOUR GURDEV HAVE PUBLISHED MANY BOOKS (90 NOS.). CAN YOU PL TELL ME FROM WHERE TO GET THE BOOKS ?
Vikram Majumdar
10.04.2013
Haribol. Some information can be found here: http://uttama-bhakti.org/en/books.html
Please contact the administrators of Sri Haridas Niwas how to order the books: info(at)sriharidasniwas.org
malati
10.08.2013
The full book list is available at http://www.uttama-bhakti.org/booklist.pdf
Braja Bhushan das
10.09.2013
“There are two types of renounced sādhus in India who are called sannyāsīs and vairāgīs. Sannyāsīs wear saffron dress, are usually addressed as ‘Swami’, and are followers of impersonal philosophy.”
Question 1. In Ramanuja and Madhva Sampradayas all sannyasis wear saffron dress. Should we consider them following the impersonal philosophy?
Question 2. Is it mentioned in any book that Sanatana or Rupa were babajis (using that exact word)?
Vilokana
10.08.2013
It was a general statement that sannyasis are impersonalists. We have modified it.
malati
10.09.2013
I am not shy at all about the fact that I am grateful to have your guidance. I think you wrote a superexcellent article.
Vraja Kishor das
10.08.2013
Well written, informative, and dispassionate, as usual. Well done Babaji Maharaja. Your point that people can disagree philosophically yet still have mutual respect is very important and sadly not adhered to often enough.
Citta Hari dasa
10.08.2013
Satya Narayan Babaji is a person of impeccable character whom I have known for many years who has tolerated a lot of criticism both internally and externally in a exemplary manner which is a Krishna says in BG a distinguishing characteristic of a devotee. The litmus test of any organisation is the calibre of people it attracts, both our Gurudev and SND Babaji through their humbleness, simplicity, unsurpassed scholarliness have created lasting impressions on many a mind. They have been merciful and showed love towards a totally unqualified person as me which speaks volumes of their magnamity. These comments from the Sun Sampradaya article are like a toothless dog barking.
Deepak Desai
10.08.2013
I did not write this article to start a debate on dress code for renounced Vaisnavas but to clarify what the word babaji means. There have been a few comments regarding the dress of a Vaisnava sannyasi. In Haribhaktivilasa both red (rakta) and saffron (kasaya) colors are forbidden for a Vaisnava. Please see verse no 4.145 and 4.147. Sometimes kasaya and rakta have been used synonymously.
In support of Vaisnava sannyasis wearing saffron some people commented that there are many Vaisnava sannyasis who wear saffron such as Madhva, Sri and Swami Narayana Sampradaya. Yes, i know it very well. My intention is not to criticize them. Na hi ninda nidayitum pravartate api tu prkrtam stotum. This is a Purva-mimamsa principle which says that an apparent criticism is not for criticising but to establish the topic under discussion. I am only saying that babajis do not wear saffron and they have a scriptural basis for that. On the other hand i have not come across any scriptural statement which says that a Vaisnava sannyasi should wear saffron or red, rather it is forbidden. If any one knows any reference i will be glad to update my knowledge.
Another point i want to make is that the word sannyasi, although it literally means a renounced person (which is the yogic or etymological meaning), its popular use (rudhi artha) is for impersonalist sannyasis. That is how the word is used in books such as CC or Brhadbhagavatamrta (2.1.53) wherein Sri Sanatana Gosvami forbids to take sannyasa: “Lord Siva said, ‘Foolish man, don’t take sannyasa. Go at once to Mathura. There in the Vrindavan forest you will surely fulfill all your desires'”. This is how the word is used in general in India. Among the sadhus in Vrindavana etc the meaning of vairagi and sannyasi is understood as i have described in my article. Certain things are known by being a part of a culture.
Again, I have no intention to create dissension among the Gaudia Vaisnava community on the basis of dress, appellation of a Vaisnava in renounced order or some other principle. I wrote this article in response to the criticism of babajis in general and of my Gurudeva and honorable Pandit Ananata Das Babaji in specific.
snd
10.11.2013
A very competent, explicative and factual, not at all confrontational, rather exemplary humble article.
We are grateful for this detailed insight into the nuances of discrimination,
vaishnava etiquette, and specification of the immense knowledge of the foremost vaishnavas.
Sunayana d.d.
10.15.2013
Dear Babaji
PAMHO
In your response the point you made that no one has ever left the babajis of Vrindavan to join GM/ISKCON is a great point that’s gold!
Sri Guru and Sri Gouranga ki jay
Maharaji ki jay
Granthapriya das
10.17.2013
“On the other hand i have not come across any scriptural statement which says that a Vaisnava sannyasi should wear saffron or red, rather it is forbidden. If any one knows any reference i will be glad to update my knowledge.”
I came across this link which has few references wrt kashaya, http://gaudiyatouchstone.net/colour-renunciation
When it comes to dresscode within varnas and ashramas, I do not think the instructions vary wrt faith(mayavadi or vaishnava etc).
scooty ram
10.23.2013
We have the Bhakti-Vilasa from one of our acharyas and there is it very clearly mentioned that a Vaishnava should not wear it. So obviously these instructions do different according to affiliation.
7777777777777777777777777777
http://www.jiva.org/babajis-sahajiyas-and-apasampradayas/
Bābājīs, Sahajiyās and Apasampradāyas
POSTED BY MALATI · OCTOBER 4TH, 2013 FILE UNDER: ARTICLES BY SATYANARAYANA DASA, GAUDIYA VAISHNAVAS
This article was published a few days before Sri Haridas Shastri Maharaja attained samadhi
By Satyanarayana Dasa
Recently an article entitled “Disobedience and Deviation is More Dangerous than a Falldown!” by Mahasrnga Dasa was published on the Sampradaya Sun website and brought to my notice. This article warns ISKCON devotees against associating with the bābājīs in Vraja, specifically Vrindavan and Rādhākuṇḍa. It criticizes bābājīs in general and me specifically, which I can tolerate. However the article goes on to debase my guru and our whole lineage which makes it my duty to clarify things and explain what the word bābājī really means.
Satyanarayana Dasa and his guru
It is clear that the general understanding within the Gauḍīya Maṭha (GM) and all of its branches like ISKCON is that bābājīs are people who pose as sādhus and enjoy women, at least two or three of them, as quoted in this article, and that these bābājīs have nothing to do with spirituality or devotion to Krsna. I heard such descriptions of bābājīs hundreds of times while I was a member of ISKCON. Naively, I also used to believe that. However, the fact is that “bābājī” is a word of honor used to address a renounced sādhu in general and specifically in the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sampradāya.
Sri Caitanya
There are two types of renounced sādhus in India who are called sannyāsīs and vairāgīs. Sannyāsīs wear saffron dress, are usually addressed as ‘Swami’, and are usually followers of impersonal philosophy. Vairāgīs, however, wear white cloth and are addressed as bābājīs. The renounced Vaiṣṇavas in the line of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Rāmānanda, Nimbarka and others come within this category. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta mentions two vairāgīs who came with Mādhavendra Purī from Bengal (Madh 4.103) Haridāsa Ṭhākura is also called a vairāgī by the author Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī (Ant 3.103). Although Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself was a sannyāsī and wore saffron, He propagated the white vairāgī dress for His renounced followers.
The reason for this is that scriptures forbid a Vaiṣṇava to wear kaṣāya, (saffron), red and blue dress, especially while doing deity worship. Some of these verses are culled in Haribhakti-vilāsa by Sanātana Gosvāmī. There it is said, nagno rakta paṭaḥ (4.147) – “For a Vaiṣṇava, wearing reddish cloth is like being naked” and, śukla-vāso bhaven nityaṁ raktaṁ caiva vivarjayet (4.152) – “The Vaiṣṇava should always wear white cloth and give up red cloth.”
In Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, we find also the story of Jagadānanda Paṇḍita becoming upset with Sanātana Gosvāmī who was wearing a saffron cloth tied around his head that was not the prasad of Mahāprabhu. In humility, Sanātana Gosvāmī replied to Jagadānanda Paṇḍita saying: “This saffron cloth is unfit for a Vaiṣṇava to wear; therefore I have no use for it. I shall give it to a stranger.” (BBT CC Ant 13.60)
The ceremony of accepting the white cloth of a renunciant is generally called taking veśa (lit. dress). In Bengal it is called bheka. “Bābājī” is an honorable word for such renounced people which means grandfather in Hindi as well as in Vraja-bhasa, the language spoken in the Vraja area. It is also a general term used respectfully for sādhus all over India, e.g.: Mahāvatara Bābājī, Haidakhan Bābājī.
Rupa and Sanatana
From this it should be known that the Six Gosvāmīs of the Gauḍīya sampradāya and others such as Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, Baladeva Vidyābhūṣana, Jagannātha dāsa Bābājī and Gaurakiśora dāsa Bābājī were all vairāgīs who wore white and were called bābājīs by the Vraja-basis. To call bābājīs in general “sahajiyās” or to categorize them as apasampradāyic is disrespectful to Mahāprabhu Himself, the propagator of bābājī veśa. There may be some bābājīs who have illicit relationship with women but that happens in all groups of spiritualists and sampradāyas. That in itself does not make them sahajiyās or their lineage an apasampradāya.
Even though the founders of GM/ISKCON forbade their followers to associate with bābājīs, still their condemnation of bābājīs did not apply to all of them because even they offer respects to some bābājīs. The guru of the Gauḍīya Maṭha’s founder was a bābājī who is worshiped on the altar of all GM and ISKCON centers. In Jaiva Dharma of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura the bābājīs are not depicted in bad light but as sādhus and ācāryas. Moreover, even if the founders condemned all bābājīs at a specific time, it would be unreasonable and inappropriate to apply that universally for all time in the future. It may be that they did not consider some of the contemporary bābājīs as worthy of association because of their connection with women. This, however, does not mean that all bābājīs were debauchees and would continue to be of such low character for all time. Nor does it mean that they all had a practice of associating with women.
In the article under discussion, the author appeals to the instruction of ācārya. We may know that the instructions of an ācārya are of two types namely,
1. Unconditional or those which are always applicable such as in ISKCON following the four rules, and
2. Conditional or those which are applicable under specific conditions.
Not associating with bābājīs comes under this second category.
It also should be noted that bābājīs are not always elder Indian gentlemen with beards as the author implies. They may also have shaven heads; it is a matter of convenience and personal preference. There is a tradition of doing Govardhana parikrama on the day of Sanātana Gosvāmī’s disappearance in his honor because he is the one who popularized parikrama. This particular day is called “Mudia Puno”. The word “mudia” is derived from the Vraja-bhasa word “moond” which means head. Sanātana Gosvāmī had a shaven head and therefore he was addressed as “Mudia Baba” by the local Vraja-basis. When he left his body, to honor him, the Vraja-basis shaved their heads and performed Govardhana parikrama. This has since become a tradition which continues till today. Although we call them Gosvāmīs, the Vraja-basis addressed them as bābājīs.
From this we can understand that “bābājī” is a traditional Indian word of honor for renounced sādhus and that it has no connotation of a person having illicit relations with women. This can also be known by studying the local culture. The author blames the ISKCON Vrindavan authorities as being ignorant. If he came, lived in Vrindavan and did some research, he would realize this fact for himself.
Sri Haridasa Shastri Maharaja
The author maintains he knows the history of bābājīs and their activities with women but what research did he do on this? There are hundreds of bābājīs living in Vrindavan and Rādhākuṇḍa who all have followers. If these well-known bābājīs have been having illicit relationships all these years as proposed by the GM/ISKCON, why have the mass media not reported it? Why are people not talking about it and immediately sharing this hot information all over the internet? At least my Gurudeva and Paṇḍita Ananta Dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja have plenty of educated, learned and well-behaved disciples both from India and the West who know the proper standard. Why would they keep quiet about such illicit activities? On the contrary, these two personalities are honored all over Vraja for their pure character.
Another allegation made by the author is that bābājīs are sahajiyās. When we use a word it has a specific meaning but here it is not clear what the word sahajiyā means for the author. The word sahajiyā is derived from the Sanskrit word sahaja which literally means born with or natural (saha + ja, saha = with, ja = born). The sahajiyā theory consists of two premises namely, (1) kṛṣṇa-prema is dormant in the heart and (2) this prema can be awakened by practicing love with a female partner. It should be also noted here that a practicing sahajiyā has only one female partner, not two or three.
Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava bābājīs do not accept either of these two premises. Associating with women is not part of their practice but is instead warned against. It is considered a deviation from one’s spiritual practices and is reprehensible.
There was a Buddhist sect called Sahajayāna, besides the Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna sects, which was popular in the Eastern part of India before the appearance of Mahāprabhu. They followed the Tantric practice of trying to elevate their consciousness or raise the Kundalini with the help of a female partner. The purpose was not to enjoy sex as is misunderstood by many. Some sects of Tantra still practice this and it has unfortunately become the popular understanding of the Tantra practiced in the West.
Gaura Nitai
When Mahāprabhu became popular in Bengal and Orissa, many of these Sahajayānis took to Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism being influenced by Mahāprabhu. They subsequently mixed their Sahajayāna practice into the philosophy of Mahāprabhu. They believed that Goloka Vṛndāvana exists in the physical body and love of Kṛṣṇa is dormant within the ātmā. This love can be manifested in the most natural way (sahaja) in the association of a female, especially a woman who is not one’s wife (parakīya) as the male mind is naturally attracted to women other than one’s wife.
Sahajiyās consider Caitanya-caritāmṛta as one of the most important books of their school and claim that even Caitanya Mahāprabhu had a female partner. According to them, the daughter of Sārvabhauma Bhattācārya, Ṣāṭhī, was Mahāprabhu’s partner. This was the reason behind Ṣāṭhī’s husband, Amogha, being upset with Mahāprabhu when He came to Sārvabhauma Bhattācārya’s house to take lunch prasād. (CC Mad 15.245-248)
Similarly, in their books the sahajiyās give the names of the female partners of all the Gosvāmīs of Vrindavan. They consider this knowledge to be very esoteric. Therefore most of their literature has never been printed. I have a collection of such manuscripts in my personal library.
When the GM/ISKCON claim that bābājīs are sahajiyās, they probably have no idea that they are ultimately also calling the Gosvāmīs themselves sahajiyās as the Gosvamis were bābājīs.
Sri Gaurakishora Dasa Babaji
Another point I wish to mention is that even if the GM/ISKCON disagree that the Six Gosvāmīs and others like Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura were bābājīs, they have at least two bābājīs in their own line namely, Jagannātha dāsa Bābājī and Gaurakiśora dāsa Bābājī. Furthermore, from the biography of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, it is known that in his last stage of life he accepted bābājī veśa. From the viewpoint of the author, are we to conclude that these bābājīs were also associating with two or three women and that they belonged to an apasampradāya? Then what is the sampradāya of GM and ISKCON? By criticizing bābājīs the author is cutting off his own legs.
In his article, the author makes the following claim:
“It is well known, or at least it should be well known that Vrindavan has many different sampradāyas supposedly coming in the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava line, but they are considered apasampradays, or un-bonafide lines. The lines of Bābājīs like Bhakti Shastri of Vrindavan and Ananta Das Bābājī, the now Mahanta of Radha Kunda belong in this category.”
Here my Gurudeva’s name is mentioned incorrectly. His correct name is Nitya Smaraṇīya Śrī Śrī 108 Śrī Haridāsa Śāstrī Jī Mahārāja. The author asserts that the line of my guru and that of Śrī Paṇḍita Ananta Dāsa Bābājī of Rādhākuṇḍa fame are un-bonafide apasampradāyas. What is the basis of this? Does he have any proof? Obviously not. These two saintly people are the greatest living Vaiṣṇava scholar-saints of the Gauḍīya sampradāya. Both of them are highly renounced and impeccable in their character. I do not know anybody in the whole Gauḍīya Maṭha line who comes close to their scholarship and realization.
Sri Haridasa Shastri Maharaja
To speak a little about my Gurudeva, he lived all his life on one meal a day which he used to take in the evening. Now he is nearing hundred, bed-ridden and not in good health. On doctor’s advice he does not adhere to this practice anymore. He holds a Śāstrī (graduate) degree in all six theistic schools of India, along with degrees in Jyotiṣa, Vvyākaraṇa (Sanskrit grammar) and Navya-nyāya (the subject in which Mahāprabhu was expert before he took to bhakti). This is a rare scholarship not only in the Gauḍīya community but the whole of India. He knows the complete Bhagavad-gītā and Bhāgavata Purāṇa by heart besides many other books. Even at this age, his memory is excellent. Mahāprabhu said that Bhāgavata Purāṇa is the natural commentary of Vedānta-sūtra but he did not say which śloka of Bhāgavata Purāṇa relates to which sūtra. My Gurudeva wrote a book to point that out. Altogether he has published about 90 books in Hindi and Bengali. He also runs a gośāla bigger than the ISKCON Vrindavan Goshala.
He comes in the disciplic succession of Paṇḍita Śrī Gadādhara Gosvāmī, who was the only one among the Pañca-tattva members who stayed with Mahāprabhu in Purī, is accepted as Śrīmatī Rādhā Herself, is the one from whom Mahāprabhu used to hear Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and personally gave the deity of Ṭoṭā-gopīnātha to worship.
Sri Ananta Dasa Babaji
Similarly, read any of the books of Paṇḍita Ananta Dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja and you will be amazed at his scholarship. He spent ten years traveling to remote villages teaching the message of Mahāprabhu and giving dikṣa in the line of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrīmatī Jāhnavā Mātā through the descendants of Śrī Dhanañjaya Paṇḍita before settling in Rādhākuṇḍa. Later, recognizing his humility and purity of heart, the seniormost Vaiṣṇavas of Rādhākuṇḍa elected him as the Mahanta of Rādhākuṇḍa, the 34th representative of the seat of Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī.
He has written extensive commentaries on forty of the main books of the Gosvāmīs and their contemporaries being requested by the Vaiṣṇavas. His original works include around ten books of bhakti-related glorifications plus twelve books explaining Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sampradāya tattva in simple language out of concern for the spiritual upliftment of the general public. A number of his books have been translated into English and Russian.
It is more than likely that the author of the Sampradaya Sun article has never personally met these two personalities for if he had, he would not be able to maintain his present understanding of them. He also claims to know my history, but I wonder what he actually knows.
In this article he states a few times that many sannyāsīs and gurus visit bābājīs, including myself, to associate with them, listen to their classes and take instructions from them. On this I would ask him: If the GM and its branches are the only bonafide Gauḍīya societies, the only ones who know the proper siddhanta of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, then why do even the gurus of these societies give respect to these bābājīs? Why is it that the bābājīs who are apasampradāyic and fallen in character never go to GM and its branches to associate with them and take their instructions? Why is it that bābājīs never forbid their disciples to associate with GM/ISKCON? Why are they not afraid of losing their disciples?
Furthermore, why is it that not at least someone in the bābājī community has woken-up to the bad character and apasiddhānta of these bābājīs and taken shelter of the GM who have the right siddhānta and sampradāya? Why is it happening the other way around all the time? Why is it that many members of GM and its branches leave their respective organization and become followers of bābājīs? This began with Ananta Vāsudeva, the foremost disciple of Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī. There are hundreds of such examples, I being one of them, yet I do not know any example of a bābājī leaving his practice to join the GM.
I am not against GM/ISKCON and I have great respect for Śrīla Prabhupāda. I left ISKCON seventeen years ago and have never written anything against the GM, ISKCON or Śrīla Prabhupāda. I honor all Vaiṣṇavas although I am in knowledge of the philosophical problems of the GM and its branches. I have printed books in which I have acknowledged Śrīla Prabhupāda and in fact one of my books is dedicated to him. I also have thousands of recorded lectures which are available for anyone to verify this.
Shortly after the recent article of Mahasrnga Dasa appeared in the Sampradaya Sun, they reprinted an old article of mine as if it was written recently when in fact it was originally published some time after I had left ISKCON. My student, Malati Manjari, then sent a reply to the Sampradaya Sun with a quote from my side (given below) but it was not published. Earlier she also sent this same quote of mine directly to the author of this old article without getting any reply. I am, therefore, forced to give clarification about my position, my guru, his line and bābājīs in general. If people like Mahasrnga Dasa, who probably has never met me, want to have dialogue about sampradāyas, bābājīs and their character and lives, they are welcome to contact me. Otherwise, I have no interest in unnecessary criticism which does not help anybody but may disturb the mind of practicing devotees.
sadhus and babajis at Jiva Institute
Unpublished Reply to Sampradaya Sun:
“I never made any propaganda against Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON or Gaudiya-Math, either through internet, through writing books, articles, or by speaking. On the contrary, in my books I have honored and recognized Srila Prabhupada as a propagator of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
I left ISKCON, or rather, was forced to leave about fourteen years ago because of some philosophical differences. Having philosophical differences is common any spiritual organization, and this is certainly also the case in our Gaudiya Vaishnava history. The beauty of Vedic Culture is that one can have differences of opinion and respect simultaneously. In fact, our very philosophy is based on the principle of difference and non-difference simultaneously. For the modern mind this seems absurd, and any difference is taken as disrespect and inimical. I tried to reconcile one of the differences I had with ISKCON in my book, “In Vaikuntha not even the Leaves Fall”, so that ISKCON’s teachings could be in line with the teachings of the Gosvamis, but this was not acceptable to the ISKCON leadership. As a result I was mistreated and my book was banned. Thus I saw no possibility of reconciliation, although that was my heart’s desire.
Even though I was defamed and mistreated, I did not endeavor to harm ISKCON or the Gaudiya Math. I have never stepped into ISKCON territory after my departure from ISKCON to avoid any conflict or confrontation. At the same time, curiously many ISKCON leaders over the years approached me privately for philosophical advice and consultation and used the material they received for their own projects – often without mentioning my name which was blacklisted in ISKCON. I was and I am still open to peaceful dialogue.”
We are sad to note that Maharajji passed away on October 6th.
COMMENTS ARE CLOSED
Dear Satyanarayana Das Babaji!
My most humble dandavats to your lotus feet…THANK YOU SO MUCH for this most wonderful response. I can´t tell you how happy I am to read what you wrote.
Thank you from the core of my heart.
Tarun Govinda das
10.04.2013
BABAJI PRANAM
VERY NICE REPLY TO THE ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN SUN.
CLEARED THE CONCEPT OF BABAJI.
YOU HAVE MENTIONED YOUR GURDEV HAVE PUBLISHED MANY BOOKS (90 NOS.). CAN YOU PL TELL ME FROM WHERE TO GET THE BOOKS ?
Vikram Majumdar
10.04.2013
Haribol. Some information can be found here: http://uttama-bhakti.org/en/books.html
Please contact the administrators of Sri Haridas Niwas how to order the books: info(at)sriharidasniwas.org
malati
10.08.2013
The full book list is available at http://www.uttama-bhakti.org/booklist.pdf
Braja Bhushan das
10.09.2013
“There are two types of renounced sādhus in India who are called sannyāsīs and vairāgīs. Sannyāsīs wear saffron dress, are usually addressed as ‘Swami’, and are followers of impersonal philosophy.”
Question 1. In Ramanuja and Madhva Sampradayas all sannyasis wear saffron dress. Should we consider them following the impersonal philosophy?
Question 2. Is it mentioned in any book that Sanatana or Rupa were babajis (using that exact word)?
Vilokana
10.08.2013
It was a general statement that sannyasis are impersonalists. We have modified it.
malati
10.09.2013
I am not shy at all about the fact that I am grateful to have your guidance. I think you wrote a superexcellent article.
Vraja Kishor das
10.08.2013
Well written, informative, and dispassionate, as usual. Well done Babaji Maharaja. Your point that people can disagree philosophically yet still have mutual respect is very important and sadly not adhered to often enough.
Citta Hari dasa
10.08.2013
Satya Narayan Babaji is a person of impeccable character whom I have known for many years who has tolerated a lot of criticism both internally and externally in a exemplary manner which is a Krishna says in BG a distinguishing characteristic of a devotee. The litmus test of any organisation is the calibre of people it attracts, both our Gurudev and SND Babaji through their humbleness, simplicity, unsurpassed scholarliness have created lasting impressions on many a mind. They have been merciful and showed love towards a totally unqualified person as me which speaks volumes of their magnamity. These comments from the Sun Sampradaya article are like a toothless dog barking.
Deepak Desai
10.08.2013
I did not write this article to start a debate on dress code for renounced Vaisnavas but to clarify what the word babaji means. There have been a few comments regarding the dress of a Vaisnava sannyasi. In Haribhaktivilasa both red (rakta) and saffron (kasaya) colors are forbidden for a Vaisnava. Please see verse no 4.145 and 4.147. Sometimes kasaya and rakta have been used synonymously.
In support of Vaisnava sannyasis wearing saffron some people commented that there are many Vaisnava sannyasis who wear saffron such as Madhva, Sri and Swami Narayana Sampradaya. Yes, i know it very well. My intention is not to criticize them. Na hi ninda nidayitum pravartate api tu prkrtam stotum. This is a Purva-mimamsa principle which says that an apparent criticism is not for criticising but to establish the topic under discussion. I am only saying that babajis do not wear saffron and they have a scriptural basis for that. On the other hand i have not come across any scriptural statement which says that a Vaisnava sannyasi should wear saffron or red, rather it is forbidden. If any one knows any reference i will be glad to update my knowledge.
Another point i want to make is that the word sannyasi, although it literally means a renounced person (which is the yogic or etymological meaning), its popular use (rudhi artha) is for impersonalist sannyasis. That is how the word is used in books such as CC or Brhadbhagavatamrta (2.1.53) wherein Sri Sanatana Gosvami forbids to take sannyasa: “Lord Siva said, ‘Foolish man, don’t take sannyasa. Go at once to Mathura. There in the Vrindavan forest you will surely fulfill all your desires'”. This is how the word is used in general in India. Among the sadhus in Vrindavana etc the meaning of vairagi and sannyasi is understood as i have described in my article. Certain things are known by being a part of a culture.
Again, I have no intention to create dissension among the Gaudia Vaisnava community on the basis of dress, appellation of a Vaisnava in renounced order or some other principle. I wrote this article in response to the criticism of babajis in general and of my Gurudeva and honorable Pandit Ananata Das Babaji in specific.
snd
10.11.2013
A very competent, explicative and factual, not at all confrontational, rather exemplary humble article.
We are grateful for this detailed insight into the nuances of discrimination,
vaishnava etiquette, and specification of the immense knowledge of the foremost vaishnavas.
Sunayana d.d.
10.15.2013
Dear Babaji
PAMHO
In your response the point you made that no one has ever left the babajis of Vrindavan to join GM/ISKCON is a great point that’s gold!
Sri Guru and Sri Gouranga ki jay
Maharaji ki jay
Granthapriya das
10.17.2013
“On the other hand i have not come across any scriptural statement which says that a Vaisnava sannyasi should wear saffron or red, rather it is forbidden. If any one knows any reference i will be glad to update my knowledge.”
I came across this link which has few references wrt kashaya, http://gaudiyatouchstone.net/colour-renunciation
When it comes to dresscode within varnas and ashramas, I do not think the instructions vary wrt faith(mayavadi or vaishnava etc).
scooty ram
10.23.2013
We have the Bhakti-Vilasa from one of our acharyas and there is it very clearly mentioned that a Vaishnava should not wear it. So obviously these instructions do different according to affiliation.
