On the auspicious occasion of 150th appearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, let us meditate upon his contributions in spreading the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu all over the world.
He destroyed goswami by birth logic
After the disappearance of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and prominent vaishnava acharyas, many apa-smpradays sprung up. They claimed to follow the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu but in reality, they were deviants.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura identified 13 apa-smpradays. One of them was jata goswami. jata goswamis laid claim to the title of goswami just because they were born in the family of goswamis. According to them those born in the family of goswami can be goswami and no one else.
Just like caste by birth was propagated by some so called brahmanas who had no brahminical qualities, similarly certain descendants of vaishnava acharyas started claiming the position of goswami just because they took birth in the family of a goswami.
But this is not supported by scriptures.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu did not approve caste by birth logic
For example, when Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu started propagating Krishna Consciousness then he appointed many devotees as leaders who did not fit in the caste hierarchy.
For example, Sri Rupa Goswami and Sri Sanatana Goswami had adopted Muslim names and had started working under Muslim ruler to save the Hindu community. They had even been given Muslim names.
Although externally they were working under a Muslim king but internally they were always absorbed in chanting the names of Lord and were always desirous to associate with Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu made them leaders of all the vaishnavas. Similarly, Haridas Thakura who was born in a Muslim family was designated as namacharya, the acharya of holy name by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Follows the footsteps of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Following the footsteps of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura similarly disapproved goswami by birth logic and spoke strongly against it.
He preached that by sincerely following the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the vaishnava acharyas one can become perfect and can become goswami. He further said that those born in the family of goswamis should first qualify themselves and then they can be given the title of a goswami.
Just like by taking birth in the family of a doctor one does not become a doctor. Similarly, by taking birth in the family of a goswami one does not automatically becomes a goswami. These irked many who were enjoying the privilege of goswami title. They vehemently opposed him and some even conspired to kill him.
But Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura did not give up. And because of his relentless effort we see that the goswami by birth monopoly is completely smashed. Today many devotees who have been sincerely practicing devotion to Krishna since several years are awarded the title of Goswami or Swami.
Today, we also see devotees irrespective of caste, creed, religion and nationality are happily practicing Krishna Consciousness. The credit goes to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura.
Srila Prabhupada speaks how Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura defeated cast gosvāmī
Srila Prabhupada talks about this contribution of his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura. He says,
“So my Guru Mahārāja’s contribution is that he defeated these caste gosvāmī. He defeated this brahmanism. He created that the same way as Caitanya Mahāprabhu did, that, as Caitanya Mahāprabhu said,
kibā śūdra kibā vipra nyāsi kene naya
yei kṛṣṇa tattva vetta sei guru haya
[Cc. Madhya 8.128]
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Madhya 8.128
[“Whether one is a brāhmaṇa, a sannyāsī or a śūdra—regardless of what he is—he can become a spiritual master if he knows the science of Kṛṣṇa.”]
There is no consideration whether a man is a sannyāsī, a brāhmaṇa or a śūdra or a this or a gṛhastha, householder, or… No. Anyone who knows the science of Kṛṣṇa, he is all right. He is gosvāmī. He is brāhmaṇa.” That is the contribution, say, within hundred years. That is the contribution. And for this reason he had to face so many vehement protests from this brāhmaṇa-class gosvāmīns.”
2. Established Gaudiya Maths to preach the teachings of Lord Chaitanya.
In his lifetime, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura established 64 Gaudiya Maths and these Maths became centres for spreading Krishna Conscious philosophy. He was also pioneer in starting preaching in the western world. For that, he sent devotees to preach in the west. He inspired Srila Prabhupada to start preaching in the western world.
When Srila Prabhupada met him for the first time then Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura advised Srila Prabhupada to use his English speaking skill in preaching to the western people.
In one of the lectures Srila Prabhupada speaks about his first interaction with Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura,
“And, I think, in 1922, when I was young man, one of my friends, he took me to Guru Mahārāja. That was my first meeting. And, of course, he was speaking to everyone, but he found me as something. So immediately after my meeting, he said this, that “Why don’t you preach this Caitanya’s cult in the Western countries?” That is a memorable day.” His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Prabhupāda’s Appearance Day Lecture (prabhupadavani.org)
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura sowed the seed of preaching in the western world and Srila Prabhupada took it forward and preached to thousands of people all over the world.
3. Publishing literatures
He gave great emphasis on writing books and publishing devotional literatures. And so, he established printing press and called it bṛhad-mṛdaṅga.
He would say that the sound of mṛdaṅga can reach a certain distance, but Krishna Conscious literatures can reach to every nook and corner of the world and can transform the hearts of people.
He instructed Srila Prabhupada to print books and distribute it widely which Srila Prabhupada did.
We should be grateful to this great acharya
Let us meditate upon these contributions of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura and thank him from the core of our heart for playing such an important role in disseminating the teachings of Lord Chaitanya.
Anyone in any corner of the world, today practicing Krishna Consciousess should be grateful to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura. Let us pray at this lotus feet and beg for his mercy.
