Why Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati took diksha from the Picture of his guru Gaur Kishore Babaji?
A male devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“(1) Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj is not a Brahmin (as in photos he did not wear sacred thread), then from whom did Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur receive the Gayatri mantra?
(2) I know I have no right to ask these questions, but it will be useful while preaching. One more doubt, as I studied Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur received sannyasa initiation in front of his Gurs’s photo after Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj’s death. This is ritvik initiation. Is this the proper way of getting Initiation? Please clear my doubts prabhu ji. Hare Krishna!”
REPLY:
(1)
Brahmin status is the material status only. A Vaishnava is above all the material considerations and statuses.
A Vaishnava need not come from a brahmana family.
(Being a brahmana or Vaishnava – which is recommended for kaliyuga? READ HERE!)
Why?
After becoming a Vaishnava, one naturally possesses all the qualities a brahmana should possess.
Even in Sri Sampradhaya, there are many Vaishnavas who did not take birth in brahmana families. Eg: Tirukkachi Nambi during the period of Sri Ramanujacharya.
And wearing a Sacred thread is not compulsory for Sanyasis. They renounce all the customs and dedicate themselves to serve the Lord.
There was a popular sanyasi in Tamilnadu namely PATTINATHAR that means person who belong to city.
He deserted the material life and took sanyasa.
However, he was holding a vessel to get biksha.
One person asked him why he is holding a vessel if he has renounced everything.
Hearing this, he threw that vessel also.
Thus, he deserted everything except the dhoti.
(Is it true that Vaishnavas are equal to Brahmanas? Why? READ HERE!)
Some sanyasis like Sri Sukadeva Goswami deserted even the clothes.
So, A sanyasi need not wear any symbols or anything else. It is his choice to wear a sacred thread or clothes.
In fact, sanyasa means deserting the attachments to the materials, not the material itself. Since it is difficult to desert attachment to materials keeping the materials with us, many sanyasis desert the materials also.
So, there is a logic behind every custom. We should understand that.
Ok?
And, keep in mind that A Vaishnava should not be seen through the eyes of Varnashrama status like brahmana, kshatriya, Vaishya, etc.
A Vaishnava is beyond even a dry sanyasi who has just renounced the material things but not surrendered to Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada clearly says that a Vaishnava / a devotee who is strictly following the Krishna Conscious Principles are acting on the liberated platform and, as such is a Pure devotee though he may not yet be actually liberated.
(Why Brahmanas are given more importance than other varnas? READ HERE!)
(2)
This is possible in rare cases.
In some Sathsanghas, this is a regular practice.
For example, in Raghavendra Swamy’s mutt, the devotees take diksha in front of the Samadhi of the Swami.
In the history/ puranas, there are instances that the gurus have given diksha in dreams.
(THIS POST gives many such types of diksha. Read that.)
Some examples are given from that post below:
SHAKTIPAT DIKSHA / INITIATION IS GIVEN IN MANY FORMS:
(i) Drig diksha – Diksha / initiation through sight
(ii) Sparsha diksha – Diksha / initiation through touch
(iii) Kurma diksha – Diksha / initiation by thought
(iv) Swapna diksha – Diksha/ initiation by dream.
Only the guru will decide which type of diksha / initiation to be given to the disciple.
In older days, such rare instances of getting initiated in dreams were there.
(i) Saint ‘Tukaram’ received Gurumantra, “Ramkrishna Hari” in his dream. He recited this Mantra all the time and had the direct darshan (vision) of Lord Krishna and was taken to Vaikunta with his own material body in a vehicle (Vimana).
(ii) Eknath was initiated through a voice from the sky (Akasavani) that directed him to meet Janardan Pant at Deva Giri and he will guide him further. Eknath thus found his Guru.
(Diksha (Initiation) – Benefits! How It Works! Details with Examples! READ HERE!)
When the guru is ill and unable to travel, he personally can decide to offer diksha through letter, electronic media, etc. In these cases, the guru will personally know that he is giving diksha / initiation to this person. It happens with his consent and involvement.
But, such mysterious or SUBCONSCIOUS WAY of diksha (or) initiations in dreams existed only in rare cases in the history.
Let us now come to the main point:
In the case of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Ssrasvati, his guru Gaura Kishor Das Babaji passed away and hence he took in front of the picture of Babaji.
For the purity and the Spiritual maturity of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati, it was possible. It is said that Gaura Kishor Das Babaji indicated in subtle way to Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati to take initiation from his portrait. Hence he did so.
This should not be followed by everyone. It is rare.
And Ritvik means, someone should give diksha on behalf of a guru. Here, the diksha was taken from his guru directly by Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati without a ritvik person.
Hope you are clear about why Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati took diksha from the Picture of his guru Gaur Kishore Babaji.
(Meaning of diksha (Initiation) – Everything you should know! READ HERE!)