Review: Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava
Bhakti Vikasa Swami, Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava: The Grandeur and Glory of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati. Vol I–III. Surat: Bhakti Vikas Trust, 2009.
Reviewed by Bhrigupada Dasa
How is one to describe the life of great Vaishnavas? Many Gaudiya Vaishnava devotees are upset by descriptions in Satsvarupa dasa Goswami’s Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita that seem to portray him as an ordinary man. Others relish precisely those parts, since by acknowledging the humanity of the saint, they hold out the promise that one day all of us can rise to such heights of devotion. Both sides will find backing in the scriptures: the holy writ both warns us against viewing saints as ordinary human beings and encourages us to celebrate the saintly potential of the lowliest ant.
In his book on the life and teachings of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada (1874–1937, “Saraswati Thakura” in the following), Sripad Bhakti Vikasa Maharaja (“the author”) follows the first of the two approaches mentioned above. Persons familiar with the somewhat different angles of vision on Saraswati Thakuraa presented by Srila Prabhupada and by Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Maharaja will here recognize more of Srila Prabhupada’s majestic view of Saraswati Thakura. This is of course echoed in the title of the work: Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava. The Grandeur and Glory of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati. However, readers expecting to be bored or turned off by grandiose descriptions of the pomp and glory of the uncompromising lion acarya, the majestic destroyer of illusion and false devotion, should read on. There is much more to this book.
Previous English publications on Saraswati Thakura’s life include Bhakti Pradip Tirtha Maharaja’s Srila Saraswati Thakura (1942), Bhakti Kusum Shraman Maharaja’s Prabhupada Srila Saraswati Thakura (1976), Rupa Vilas Das’ A Ray of Vishnu (1988), and Mandala Publishings’ Prabhupada Saraswati Thakura (1997). Various anecdotes can also be found in the writings of Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Maharaja and Bhakti Promode Puri Maharaja. The author has naturally utilized all of these texts for his own work. However, being fluent in Bengali, he has also been able to go back to sources from Saraswati Thakura’s own time (Saraswati Jayasree, articles in The Gaudiya and so on) as well as interviewing surviving disciples. Of particular importance here are anecdotes told by Srimad Jati Shekhara Prabhu, a lay disciple of Srila Saraswati Thakura’s, whose memories also furnished most of the material for the author’s earlier book on Srila Vamsidasa Babaji.
This wealth of material gives the author the opportunity to paint a much fuller and richer portrait of Saraswati Thakura than anyone has before. While the author does not dwell on politically controversial issues (such as the conflicts between members of the Gaudiya Math), he does mention them, and usually manages to bring out the good in both sides.
By not shying away from these topics (contrary to advice given to him), the author affords many readers a first glimpse into the dynamic spiritual reality of the Gaudiya Math during the time of Saraswati Thakura. I feel that this is extremely important. There is a tendency in some quarters today to similarly see ISKCON during the manifest presence of Srila Prabhupada as some kind of a golden age, where all movement was dance, all talk was song, and nobody knew the meaning of the word politics. Glorifying the past is natural, but it may lead to an unrealistic understanding of what spiritual life ought to be, and especially to the tendency to try to freeze the dynamism of a reformer into dead forms. I will return to this point later.
Bhakti Vikasa Swami’s book comes in three hardbound volumes of almost 1500 pages altogether. The first two volumes contain many illustrations, some of which have never been widely published before. All three volumes come in one attractive folio, but unfortunately the quality of the binding—at least of the copy I perused—is substandard. Fortunately, that is not the case with the contents.
Volume one begins with a biographical sketch of Saraswati Thakura’s life. For persons familiar with any of the biographies mentioned above, this part of the book contains the least new material. Still, in presenting a richer and more nuanced picture than earlier hagiographies, the author does yeoman service to all followers of Saraswati Thakura.
This overview is followed by a part dealing with the message, mission, and personality of Saraswati Thakura. Topics covered here include educational projects, collection and spending, Saraswati Thakura’s personal diet and preferences, and the theistic exhibitions arranged by the Gaudiya Math. This part of the book is replete with information never before printed in English and essential to understanding the sometimes paradoxical nature of Saraswati Thakura.
Volume two is divided into three parts. The first is called “The Preaching Challenge” and deals with many of the particular challenges that Saraswati Thakura’s novel style of propagating Gaudiya Vaishnavism was faced with. This includes a lengthy section on the apasampradayas that Saraswati Thakura so fiercely opposed, but also a chapter on preaching in Europe that many readers will find interesting.
The second part deals with Saraswati Thakura’s disciples and associates, offering captivating profiles of many of his most important sannyasi disciples, but also of ordinary householders. By thus recognizing the importance of Saraswati Thakura’s followers and disciples (parshads), the author avoids the politics of almost all of the earlier works, where some disciples are inordinately elevated and others belittled or even completely ignored. For an ISKCON publication, this is most welcome.
Unfortunately, the profiles deal only with the lives of these people during the manifest presence of Saraswati Thakura, generally only mentioning if they later accepted sannyasa initiation. That the author chose to focus on this time is both natural and understandable, given his desire to avoid dealing with the schismatic feuds that broke out after Saraswati Thakura’s passing. However, by neglecting the later lives of these disciples, he misses the opportunity to show how the breakup of the Gaudiya Math was not only a traumatic event that shattered the unified preaching effort of Saraswati Thakura, it also gave individual devotees a chance to stand up and take responsibility. Today, there are far more Gaudiya Math temples—even not counting ISKCON and its offshoots—than there were during Saraswati Thakura’s presence.
The third part of volume two deals with Saraswati Thakura’s contributions in hindsight. While containing many important points, this is in my opinion the most problematic part of the book as a whole. In the name of upholding the dignity of Saraswati Thakura, the author belittles all other forms of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Even the most casual student of Gaudiya Vaishnavism will realize that while Saraswati Thakura’s and his disciple’s achievements are amazing—particularly in how they have spread Gaudiya Vaishnavism into the Western world—they form a small minority among the millions of Gaudiya Vaishnavas in India and Bangladesh. Calling Saraswati Thakura’s modern critics “quibbling pedants”, “foolish ingrates”, “blinkered pedagogues”, “spiteful pettifoggers”, “myopically traditional”, or “the most condemned within the universe” does evince some linguistic creativity, but it has little other use. Better to let the arguments and results of Saraswati Thakura’s preaching speak for themselves.
Volume three is of a supplementary nature. It begins with a collection of short writings, lectures, verses, and songs by or about Saraswati Thakura, many of which have not been published before. This is followed by series of appendices, the first being an analysis of Saraswati Thakura’s horoscope by Iskcon astrologer Syamasundara Dasa. While reading a horoscope correctly posthumously may not be that difficult, adding a section on astrology is well in keeping with Saraswati Thakura’s interests. The other appendices list disciples, publications, and established temples of Saraswati Thakura.
Jati Shekhara Prabhu told the author: “My guru was a lion, your guru was a lion, may you also be a lion.” No doubt this has inspired the author, but while repeatedly stressing how Saraswati Thakura was correct in modifying the presentation of Gaudiya Vaishnavism to suit his particular time, place, and circumstances, the author seems to forget that such changes must continue. The author’s use of obscure English words such a saliferous, philanderer, and appetency in his own text may likewise be seen as sweetly following Saraswati Thakura—or alternatively, as simply copying an outdated form. Similarly, Saraswati Thakura needed to be hard and uncompromising towards what he called prakrita-sahajiyas, but are they really the main enemies of true Gaudiya Vaishnavism today?
Bhakti Vikasa Swami’s work is an extremely valuable addition to a growing collection of texts glorifying the founder of the Saraswata family of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. While carefully researched, it is not free of errors and omissions. Many of the mistakes are the result of politically colored descriptions. The statement that Srila Bon Maharaja did not dress in traditional sannyasi clothing in the West, for example, is inconsistent both with his own diary notes and pictorial evidence. But such mistakes are minor.
This is a book that deserves to be carefully studied by all Saraswata Gaudiya Vaishnavas, however, it will not be the last word said on Saraswati Thakura. Of special note here is Dr. Ferdinando Sardella’s recent doctoral thesis Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, The Context and Significance of a Modern Hindu Personalist (available as an e-text online), which scholarly devotees may find of great interest.
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Very balanced review. I look forward to reading the book one day.
Brighupada Das says that the book is political at times and arrogant in other places, but says everyone should read the book.
For me, if I know that the author is being political at times and arrogant in other places why would I want to read his book that has a fly in the ointment?
After reading this review I don’t think I want to read the book.
Thanks for the nice review!
I don’t recall the author being called arrogant at any point. I think Brighu makes it pretty clear why he recommends the book. It’s not spotless but does offer something.
I can’t find the book for purchase. Anyone know where?
Kamalini dasi sells them in the states – kamalinidasi@yahoo.com
Kamalini sells the set for $90
I don’t know Brighupada das but I must compliment him on such an objective review.
Such honesty impels me to read this work.
I found the book to be politically motivated to slam all the other godbrothers of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It made me upset how three beautiful volumes of books in a gift box with plenty of good information could still have such poison inside. And not in a hidden form. Writing has degraded to politics of ego. On the internet even worse. Writing has become to vomit on top of others whatever comes to the contaminated minds. What to do. Good that there are some writers who really keep the interest of the readers in their mind like Tripurari Swami.
I read all three books from cover to cover and didn’t get that impression.
Could you give some examples where the author injected some poison? I think it would be beneficial for all readers (especially me) if you could cite some examples so that we can recognise where BVS has slammed Prabhupada’s godbrothers.
Respected Maharaj,
Dandavats
I recently purchased this book. If you could please let me know the portions which contain poison, may be I would avoid reading it. Above review by a disciple of Tripurari Maharaj and opinion of many devotees around the world directly contradics your view. So I’m confused.
I’m also confused – I didn’t find anything objectionable in the book whatsoever (except for some of the obscure English words that the author used). Perhaps Maharaja could enlighten us.
There are two problems with this book, the way I see it.
Swami B.A Paramadvaiti writes: “I found the book to be politically motivated to slam all the other godbrothers of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.” That is something seen throughout the book.
Bhrigupada Dasa gives the second clue here: “The third part of volume two deals with Saraswati Thakura’s contributions in hindsight. While containing many important points, this is in my opinion the most problematic part of the book as a whole. In the name of upholding the dignity of Saraswati Thakura, the author belittles all other forms of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
However, in order to be fair to the author, these two problems are not quite of his own making. He simply follows SP on the first one, and BSST on the second.
“That is something seen throughout the book.”
Prabhu, can you cite some good examples where SP’s godbrothers are criticized due to political motivation?
I read the complete book. The content is good. But I found some portions of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvathi’s pastimes to be incomplete. The binding of the book is sub-standard no doubt, but that is only external. The disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvathi were never criticised, but their misbehaviour (wrong means engaged to collect funds) was highlighted.
As always, I would suggest one and all to study Krishna or His devotees in the light of Srimad Bhagavatham. By this method we would always be free from mistaking the Spiritual Master as being an ordinary human being.
I am about halfway through volume two and I realize this is a very important book.
I have not noticed any significant “politics” other than mainly describing Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s own work in reforming Gaudiya Vaisnavism, but maybe I am not sensitive to these things because I have pretty much stayed within ISKCON.
At least to me, Bhakti Vikas Maharaja does not seem keen on criticizing A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s god-brothers, and has generally painted a grateful and respectful portrait of them, in comparison to which many of Maharaja’s own leading ISKCON god-brothers would not fare well. It only seems natural that he criticized mayavadis and prakrta sahajiyas and jata goswami-ism and smarta-ism and so on, because so much of the career of his subject was spent in polemics against these forces that an explanation of those controversies should be essential to any biography of SBSSTP.
Maharaja is writing history, not hagiography, though he clearly and justifiably identifies his subject Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada as a flawless, perfect (siddha) Vaisnava saint, as he also does Gauarakisor Das Babaji, Bhaktivinode Thakur and Jagannatha Das Babaji.
Or maybe I just have not reached the political part yet, which the reviewer says is in the end of Volume Two. So far I am finding the book to be amazing, momentous, even a masterpiece, actually. I would recommend every devotee to read it. It really provides a lot of context to the modern Sankirtan movement that probably is not generally known by ISKCON devotees, at least, but which provides for a broader, historical understanding of ISKCON and its Founder-Acarya, and the whole modern, international sankirtan movement.
The use of obscure English words I find charming rather than annoying (good for building the vocabulary, and there is even a handy list of such words and their definitions in the back of each volume). I particularly picked up on the word “triumphalism” as quite useful.
Yes, some of the adjectives are a little over the top, but it does add to the style of the book and is reminiscent of the style of prose in Gaudiya Math publications. (I was interested to read about Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s humble comments about his own writing style — he acknowledged it was difficult and unusual, yet technically precise, and more or less apologized that he could not write in a more “normal” way.)
I have not read the book, but this alone is of great value. Iskcon tends to be overly insular and uniformed about the history of Gaudiya Vaisnavim. This lends to the possibility of understanding its founder, the most venerable Srila A.C. Bhaktivednata Swami Prabhupada, out of context, and thus misunderstanding him—his siksa—in some respects.
I have finished reading the book, and I have to say that I do not understand why Paramadvaiti Maharaja and Kulapavana are saying that the author slams other godbrothers of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
I can only think that Paramadvaiti Maharaja and Kulapavana have not actually read the book.
The author only “slams” those who criticize Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Swarasvati Thakur. Even doing that, he does so without naming them personally, so I found myself scratching my head a little trying to figure out who Bhakti Vikas Maharaja was talking about, in one of the final chapters, but he was clearly “slamming” people who had come to openly reject and criticize Srila Bhaktisiddhanta and oppose his teachings.
The book is actually full of glorification of Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada’s many illustrious disciples. It studiously avoids taking any sides in intra-Gaudiya Math politics and focuses on the good qualities of the Gaudiya Math devotees. There are several chapters toward the end of volume two presenting favorable portraits of numerous sannyasi disciples, other disciples and other associates of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada, glorifying their qualities and their service.
There is one story of a disciple who kept for himself some money he had collected, but in a footnote it is explained that this disciple had personally told this story to the author Bhakti Vikas Swami to be included in the book. The story goes on to show how he was later persuaded to give the money back by the mercy of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.
But really, no one should fear that by reading this great book you will encounter any anti-Gaudiya Math politics, or any criticism of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s disciples. It is not that kind of a book. It is a very important historical and literary accomplishment.
Tripurari Maharaja, I hope you do get a chance to read it some time. I think you will be very favorably impressed.
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