On the question of Initiation: in family and by disciplic succession

On the Question of Initiation in a bona fide Vaishnava Sampraday

There is an interesting question: enlightenment according to family and disciplic succession.

In Srimad Bhagavatam, Ca 5, Ch 10 Text 16,http://srimadbhagavatam.com/5/10/16/en Srila Prabhupada comments on two types of enlightements: [1] according to dynasty and [2] other according to disciplic succession :-

There are two types of families — one according to dynasty and the other according to disciplic succession. In either way, one can be enlightened. The word śuklaḥ refers to a person in the mode of goodness. If one wants to receive spiritual knowledge, he must approach a bona fide brāhmaṇa-guru, either in the disciplic succession or in a family of learned brāhmaṇas.

Being born in a pure Vaishnava family, Kanyakubja Brahmin, my initiation was conducted in a bona fide Vaishnava Sri Sampradaya at the age of 16. My deeksha Guru’s name is Pundit Lakshmi Narayan Mishra, and he explained me so much during the process of Deeksha that leads one to perfection and in today’s world almost impossible to follow.

(Virendra Kumar Misra was my karmi name- changed to spiritual name Prayag Narayan Misra- chosen by my great grand father and my mother ). “das has been added first by my aunt, and later by me while preaching in line with teachings of Lord Chaitanya MahaPrabhu:” jiver svarup hoy Krishner nitya das !”

Srila Prabhupada founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness ( ISKCON) in New York. Mostly for westerners. In India, Prabhupada had formed a similar society in Jhansi, UP, in 1952 which had only one initiated- the first disciple named Acharya Prabhakar Misra. ( I will forward a book by Acharya Prabhakar Misra, as I have met with him last year 2012 ,in Delhi).

Srila Prabhupada never re- initiated an already initiated devotee again! As such, His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami never insisted in re-initiating me again while I was in Texas. He accepted my initiation in Sri Sampradaya, and accepted my services in PUBLIC RELATIONS, accepted me as a Brahmin and emphasized that I follow four regulative principles and chant 16 rounds, observe Ekadashi and attend regularly Temple classes, such as Srimad Bhagavatam and Srimad Bhagvad-gita- besides home programs.

Further, in Srimad Bhagavatam, Ca 5, Ch 10 Text 16,http://srimadbhagavatam.com/5/10/16/en Srila Prabhupada comments on two types of enlightements: [1] according to dynasty and [2] other according to disciplic succession :-

His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami, personal secretary to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada gave me Hari Naam in 1982 in Houston Texas and acted as Shiksha Guru from then onward until 1999 when I left Dallas, Texas, for good for Arizona.

Would neo-phytes still insist on my re-initiation??

Come on!

If you are a Vaishnava, you must learn that all four bona fide Sampradayas respect and accept one another !

For the pleasure of Krishna, so many Senior Disciples of Srila Prabhupada have confirmed the same to me. I have conducted Hari Naam, Srimad Bhagavatam and Srimad Bhagvad-gita classes in past in India, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and here in USA. Most recently, ISKCON, Delhi in collaboration with the Institute for Science & Spirituality selected me as a Panel Member for an interactive discussion in the auditorium, ISKCON

सीतानाथ समारम्भां रामानन्दार्य मध्यमाम्।
अस्मदाचार्य पर्यन्तां वन्दे श्रीगुरू परम्पराम् ।।

Bhaktamal was written by Śrīmad Göswāmi NābhaDas Ji Maharaj in 1585. Bhaktmāl is the garland of 200 Bhakta Charitra which Śrī NābhaDas Ji Maharāj has write down. He was initiated in Śrī Rāmānanda Saṁpradāya & his Śrī Guru was Śrī Agar Dās swami (श्रीअग्रदास स्वामी).

चौबीस प्रथम हरि बपु धरे त्यों चतुर्व्यूह कलिजुग प्रगट॥
रामानंद उदार सुधानिधि अवनि कल्पतरु।
विष्णुस्वामी बोहित्थ सिन्धु संसार पार करु॥
मध्वाचारज मेघ भक्ति सर ऊसर भरिया।
निम्बादित्य आदित्य कुहर अज्ञान जु हरिया॥
जनम करम भागवत धरम संप्रदाय थापी अघट।
चौबीस प्रथम हरि बपु धरे त्यों चतुर्व्यूह कलिजुग प्रगट॥
Just as God assumed twenty-four incarnations in the first three yugas, in the same way, in Kaliyuga, the Chaturvyuh of Acharyas appeared. For example, Shri Ramanandacharya ji became the *pravartak ācharya *of Śrī Saṁpradāya. He was very generous, his approach was not narrow in adopting the refugees. (Jagadguru Śrīmad Rāmānandācharya ji adopted people of all castes, gender etc. he did not hesitate to adopt even Malechha, that is why the word **“Udāar"** (Generous) has been exclusively used for him. As Śrīmad Rāmanandacharya was HIMSELF Śrī Rām as said in scriptures,

रामानन्दः स्वयं रामः प्रादुर्भूतो महीतले ।
कलौ लोके मुनिर्जातः सर्वजीव दयाकरः ॥
Śrīmad Rāmānandacharya is Śrī Rāma himself who appeared on this earth in the form of a great Muni (sage) out of his causeless mercy and compassion on all Jivas
(-Nārad Panchrātra Vaishvānar Samhitā)

Śrīmad Göswāmi Tulsidās Ji has also used the word “Udāar" frequently with Śrī Rām in Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam:—

एहि महँ रघुपति नाम उदारा। अति पावन पुरान श्रुति सारा।।
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 1.10.1

अवतार उदार अपार गुनं। महि भार बिभंजन ग्यानघनं।।
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 6.111.6)

परम चतुरता श्रवन सुनि बिहँसे रामु उदार।
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 6.38)

सुनहु उदार सहज रघुनायक। सुंदर अगम सुगम बर दायक।।
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 3.42.1)

मन भावत बर मागउँ स्वामी। तुम्ह उदार उर अंतरजामी।।
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 7.84.8)

तब कि चलिहि अस गाल तुम्हारा। अस बिचारि भजु राम उदारा।।
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 6.27.7)

मैं बानर फल खात न बारा। आयसु दीन्ह न राम उदारा।।
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 6.34.4)

पुनि प्रभु कहहु राम अवतारा। बालचरित पुनि कहहु उदारा॥
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 1.110.5)

ताहि देइ गति राम उदारा। सबरी कें आश्रम पगु धारा।।
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 3.34.5)

Śrīmad Rāmānandacharya was the deep ocean of love and knowledge and was the Kalpa tree itself to fulfill the desires of the devotees on this earth. Acharya Śrī Vishnuswami, the promoter of the Rudra sect, was a ship to cross the sinking beings in the ocean of death. Shrimadhwacharyaji, the promoter of the Brahma Sampradaya, was a cloud of rain of devotion (Bhakti) to fill the hearts of people with sarovar (saras) and usar (rasa). Shree Nimbarkacharya, the promoter of the Sankadik sect, was the sun who destroyed the fog of ignorance and the lighten the devotion of knowledge. By taking birth and by performing good deeds himself, he established the sects of Vaishnava Dharma completely indestructible and strong.

You need to be a member of ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT to add comments!

Join ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT

Comments

Radha Sakhi March 13, 2023 at 2:18pm

सीतानाथ समारम्भां रामानन्दार्य मध्यमाम्।
अस्मदाचार्य पर्यन्तां वन्दे श्रीगुरू परम्पराम् ।।

Bhaktamal was written by Śrīmad Göswāmi NābhaDas Ji Maharaj in 1585. Bhaktmāl is the garland of 200 Bhakta Charitra which Śrī NābhaDas Ji Maharāj has write down. He was initiated in Śrī Rāmānanda Saṁpradāya & his Śrī Guru was Śrī Agar Dās swami (श्रीअग्रदास स्वामी).

चौबीस प्रथम हरि बपु धरे त्यों चतुर्व्यूह कलिजुग प्रगट॥
रामानंद उदार सुधानिधि अवनि कल्पतरु।
विष्णुस्वामी बोहित्थ सिन्धु संसार पार करु॥
मध्वाचारज मेघ भक्ति सर ऊसर भरिया।
निम्बादित्य आदित्य कुहर अज्ञान जु हरिया॥
जनम करम भागवत धरम संप्रदाय थापी अघट।
चौबीस प्रथम हरि बपु धरे त्यों चतुर्व्यूह कलिजुग प्रगट॥
Just as God assumed twenty-four incarnations in the first three yugas, in the same way, in Kaliyuga, the Chaturvyuh of Acharyas appeared. For example, Shri Ramanandacharya ji became the *pravartak ācharya *of Śrī Saṁpradāya. He was very generous, his approach was not narrow in adopting the refugees. (Jagadguru Śrīmad Rāmānandācharya ji adopted people of all castes, gender etc. he did not hesitate to adopt even Malechha, that is why the word **“Udāar"** (Generous) has been exclusively used for him. As Śrīmad Rāmanandacharya was HIMSELF Śrī Rām as said in scriptures,

रामानन्दः स्वयं रामः प्रादुर्भूतो महीतले ।
कलौ लोके मुनिर्जातः सर्वजीव दयाकरः ॥
Śrīmad Rāmānandacharya is Śrī Rāma himself who appeared on this earth in the form of a great Muni (sage) out of his causeless mercy and compassion on all Jivas
(-Nārad Panchrātra Vaishvānar Samhitā)

Śrīmad Göswāmi Tulsidās Ji has also used the word “Udāar" frequently with Śrī Rām in Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam:—

एहि महँ रघुपति नाम उदारा। अति पावन पुरान श्रुति सारा।।
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 1.10.1

अवतार उदार अपार गुनं। महि भार बिभंजन ग्यानघनं।।
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 6.111.6)

परम चतुरता श्रवन सुनि बिहँसे रामु उदार।
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 6.38)

सुनहु उदार सहज रघुनायक। सुंदर अगम सुगम बर दायक।।
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 3.42.1)

मन भावत बर मागउँ स्वामी। तुम्ह उदार उर अंतरजामी।।
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 7.84.8)

तब कि चलिहि अस गाल तुम्हारा। अस बिचारि भजु राम उदारा।।
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 6.27.7)

मैं बानर फल खात न बारा। आयसु दीन्ह न राम उदारा।।
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 6.34.4)

पुनि प्रभु कहहु राम अवतारा। बालचरित पुनि कहहु उदारा॥
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 1.110.5)

ताहि देइ गति राम उदारा। सबरी कें आश्रम पगु धारा।।
(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 3.34.5)

Śrīmad Rāmānandacharya was the deep ocean of love and knowledge and was the Kalpa tree itself to fulfill the desires of the devotees on this earth. Acharya Śrī Vishnuswami, the promoter of the Rudra sect, was a ship to cross the sinking beings in the ocean of death. Shrimadhwacharyaji, the promoter of the Brahma Sampradaya, was a cloud of rain of devotion (Bhakti) to fill the hearts of people with sarovar (saras) and usar (rasa). Shree Nimbarkacharya, the promoter of the Sankadik sect, was the sun who destroyed the fog of ignorance and the lighten the devotion of knowledge. By taking birth and by performing good deeds himself, he established the sects of Vaishnava Dharma completely indestructible and strong.

This reply was deleted.