What is the Status of Srila Prabhupada in Goloka – Manjari or Sakha?
“Supriya” asked like this:
“I have a question in my mind .Don’t know to whom to ask .What is the Eternal form of Srila Prabhupad In Goloka Vrindavan. Is it Manjari or a sakha ? Please Guide me. Thank you Hare Krishna Dandavat pranam”
REPLY:
There are different views about this.
In fact, in one angle, we should not analyse the position of our acharyas based on assumptions. The Scriptures emphatically states, “tarko pratisthat srutayo vibhina: It is improper to conjecture or apply logic and reason to transcendental subject matter. Rather, one should simply receive perfect knowledge descending from a realized authority.”
Because, the opinion made by many devotees are based on their understanding of the bhava of Srila Prabhupada.
I too have to make assumtion only in many angles.
But, honestly speaking, we can not give conclusion in this.
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When we start to read the realizations of great devotees, we can not end up in conclusion.
Let us too try to understand the views of some vaishnavas who know Srila Prabhupada well either directly or thru their writings.
(1) SRILA PRABHUPADA IS IN SAKHYA RASA:
Pujyapada Tripurari Maharaja, in which he shared his idea that Srila Prabhupada is in SAKHYA RASA as a PRIYA-NARMA SAKHA, an intimate cowherd-boy friend of Krishna.
(2) SRILA PRABHUPADA IS IN MADHURYA RASA:
Srila Prabhupada has explained the pastimes of Radharani and Krsna in his writings such as Sri Caitanya caritamrta, Krishna Book, Nectar of Devotion and Nectar of Instruction.
It is a fact that A sakha can not know all the intimate exchanges between Radharani and Krishna.
To understand the actual state of exchanges between Radharani and Krishna, one should plunge into the Lilas between Radharani and Krishna.
If Srila Prabhupada were a cowherd boy, like the most intimate cowherd boy known as the priya-narma sakha, he would not have had full access to the understanding of Radha-Krsna lila, nor would he have been able to give his followers the complete understanding in his books mentioned above.
Then, how could Srila Prabhupada explain the confidential details of the lilas between Radharani and Krishna.
Therefore, we can not easily come to the conclusion that he must be a Nitya Sakha in Goloka.
But, Srila Prabhupada’s writings show Servantile attitudes also.
He has been strongly preaching to maintain servantile attitude in Serving the Guru and Krishna. He himself said many times that his intention was to fulfil the order of his guru.
Only if he is a servant, he will give importance for fulfilling the order of his guru.
Because it is the bhawa of a servant to fulfil the orders of his master.
But, this Servantile Bhawa, ie Sakha bhawa is the catalyst or motivation to START his mission of preaching only.
During the implementation of this mission, his Sakha bhawa should be coupled with the full knowledge about the lilas of Radharani and Krishna that is possible only with Madhurya Rasa.
So, we can assume that though Srila Prabhupada internally had Madhurya Bhava that made him to know the lilas of Radharani and Krishna, but he applied Sakhya Bhava while preaching to others as a servant of his Guru Maharaja.
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The above assumption is confirmed by Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami below in Caitanya Caritamruta (Madhya 8.201-3):
“The pastimes of Radha and Krsna are very confidential. They cannot be understood through the mellows of servitude (dasya rasa), fraternity (sakhya rasa) or paternal affection (vatsalya rasa). Actually, only the gopis have the right to appreciate these transcendental pastimes, and only from them can these pastimes be expanded. Without the gopis, these pastimes between Radha and Krsna cannot be nourished. Only by their cooperation are such pastimes broadcast. It is their business to taste the mellows.”
This shows that Madhurya Bhawa is necesary to UNDERSTAND the lilas of Radharani and Krishna.
Let us review further:
Arjuna and Draupati had Sakhya Bhawa. They were very friendly to Krishna. But, they were not concerned about Krishna’s Lilas.
Bhishma deva had Santha Bhawa with Krishna. He maintained silent love without showing it outside theru dancing, singing, etc. But, he too was not concerned about Krishna’s Lilas.
Hanuman ji had Dasya Bhawa and he considered Lord Rama as his master. But, he too was not concerned about the Lord’s lilas as Krishna.
Yasodha mata had Vatsalya Bhawa and she treated Krishna with Parental love. But, she too was not concerned about Krishna’s Lilas with the gopis.
Out of these Bhawas, only in the Madhurya Bhawa is very close with Krishna in all types of Love exchanges.
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Only because Gopis, Radharani, Meera, etc had Madhurya Bhawa and treated Krishna as their Lover, they knew Krishna more than others.
Srila Prabhupada should have explained the lilas of Radharani and Krishna only because he had Madhurya Bhawa in Goloka.
But, while taking birth on earth, he had accepted a Spiritual master and obeyed his orders. Here, he expressed Sakhya Bhawa.
This is like (i) Krishna, though He is the King of Lilas, served His Guru and learnt and (ii) Arjuna by driving his cart.
Though Srila Prabhupada expressed Servantile Bhawa for his spiritual master like even Krishna did, he could explain the confidential lilas of Radharani and krishna only because he was beyond a Sakha, but in a loving mood in Madhurya rasa too, as expected by Sri Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami.
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You have asked about Manjari bhawa. Sakhis and sakhas do not take part in the Lilas of Radharani and Krishna. But Manjaris take part in the Lilas of Radharani and Krishna directly as assistants.
Therefore, we can expect that Manjaris have more chancnes to know about the Lilas of Radharani and Krishna.
Therefore, if you give choice for Srila Prabhupada between Manjari and Sakhi, he can be a Manjari as he had known the Lilas of Radharani and Krishna. He can not be a sakha alone.
Finally, another argument:
In the preface to Nectar of Devotion, Srila Prabhupada writes: “The present Krsna consciousness movement is also based on the authority of Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada. We are therefore generally known as Rupanugas, or followers in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada.”
Sri Rupa Goswami, Sri Ragunatha das Goswami and so on, are manjaris. If Srila Prabhupada were a cowherd boy (Sakha), he would not at all be in the line of Srila Rupa Goswami.
So, Srila Prabhupada can be a manjari, who acted as a sakha to preach the Vaidhi Bhakti and Loving devotiona;l Service to Krishna.
However, this analysis is not complete because Srila Prabhupada can not be understood as he is with analysis because he is the confidential associate of Krishna in Goloka.
Hope you are now clear about the Status of Srila Prabhupada in Goloka – Manjari or a Sakha.
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