Guruparampara

Sri Guru-Paramparā

Kṛṣṇa Hôite Catur-mukha
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Prabhupāda
kṛṣṇa hôite catur-mukha, haya kṛṣṇa-sevonmukha,
brahmā hôite nāradera mati
nārada hôite vyāsa, madhva kahe vyāsa-dāsa,
pūrṇaprajña padmanābha-gati (1)

In the beginning of creation Śrī Kṛṣṇa spoke the science of devotional service to Lord Brahmā. He in turn passed these teachings on to Śrī Nārada Muni, who accepted Śrī Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsadeva as his disciple. Śrī Vyāsa transmitted this knowledge to Śrī Madhvācārya, who is also known as Pūrṇaprajña Tīrtha and who is the sole refuge for his disciple Śrī Padmanābha Tīrtha.                                                       

nṛhari-mādhava-vaṁśe, akṣobhya-paramahaṁse,
śiṣya bôli’ aṅgīkāra kare
akṣobhyera śiṣya ‘jaya- tīrtha’ nāme paricaya,
tā̃’ra dāsye jñānasindhu tare (2)

Following forth from Śrī Madhvācārya were Nṛhari Tīrtha, Śrī Mādhava Tīrtha, and then the swan-like Śrī Akṣobhya Tīrtha. The principal disciple of Śrī Akṣobhyatīrtha was known as Śrī Jayatīrtha, and Śrī Jñānasindhu was his servant.

tā̃hā hôite dayānidhi, tā̃’ra dāsa vidyānidhi, rājendra hôilôtā̃hā ha’te tā̃hāra kiṅkara ‘jaya- dharma’ nāme paricaya, paramparā jānôbhālô-mate (3)

The paramparā continued with Śrī Dayānidhi, then his disciple Śrī Vidyānidhi, and next with Śrī Rājendra Tīrtha, whose servant was Śrī Jayadharma, also known as Śrī Vijayadhvaja Tīrtha. Know well that this is the guru-paramparā.

jaya-dharma-dāsye khyāti, śrī puruṣottama-ĵati, tā̃’ha’te brahmaṇya-tīrtha-sūri vyāsa-tīrtha tā̃’ra dāsa, lakṣmīpati vyāsa-dāsa, tā̃hā ha’te mādhavendra-purī (4)

The sannyāsī Śrī Puruṣottama Tīrtha, a renowned disciple in the service of Śrī Jayadharma, was succeeded by the erudite Śrī Brahmaṇya Tīrtha. Next in succession was Śrī Vyāsa Tīrtha, who was succeeded by Śrī Lakṣmīpati, who in turn was succeeded by Śrī Mādhavendra Purī.

mādhavendra-purī-vara -śiṣya-vara śrī īśvara, nityānanda, śrī advaita vibhu īśvara purīke dhanya, kôrilena śrī caitanya, jagad-guru gaura mahāprabhu (5)

The most prominent disciples of the great Śrī Mādhavendra Purī were Śrī Īśvara Purī and the avatāras Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrī Advaita Ācārya. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Golden Lord and spiritual preceptor of all the worlds, made Īśvara Purī greatly fortunate by accepting him as His dīkṣā–guru.

mahāprabhu śrī caitanya, rādhā-kṛṣṇa nahe anya,
rūpānuga-janera jīvana
viśvambhara-priyaṅkara, śrī svarūpa-dāmodara,
śrī gosvāmī rūpa, sanātana (6)

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa combined, is the very life of the rūpānuga Vaiṣṇavas (those who follow Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī). Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, Śrī Rūpa, and Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmīs were the dearmost servants of Lord Viśvambhara (Śrī Caitanya).

rūpa-priya mahājana, jīva, raghunātha hana,
tā̃’ra priya kavi kṛṣṇadāsa
kṛṣṇadāsa-priya-vara, narottama sevā-para,
ĵā̃’ra pada viśvanātha-āśa (7)

Dear to Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī were the great saintly personalities Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī and Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, whose intimate disciple was the great poet Śrī Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja. The dearmost of Kṛṣṇadāsa was Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, who was always engaged in guru-sevā. His lotus feet were the only hope and aspiration of Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura.

viśvanātha bhakta-sātha, baladeva, jagannātha,
tā̃’ra priya śrī bhaktivinoda
mahā-bhāgavata-vara, śrī gaurakiśora-vara,
hari-bhajanete ĵā̃’ra moda (8)

Prominent among the associates of Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura was Śrī Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa. After him, the line descended to Śrīla Jagannātha dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja, who was the beloved śikṣā-guru of Śrī Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. Bhaktivinoda was the intimate friend of the great mahā-bhāgavata Śrīla Gaura-kiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja, whose sole delight was hari-bhajana.

śrī vārṣabhānavī-varā, sadā sevya-sevā-parā,
tā̃hāra ‘dayita-dāsa’ nāma (9)

Śrī Vārṣabhānavī, the daughter of Śrī Vṛṣabhānu Mahārāja, is the best of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s beloveds, as She is forever engaged in loving service to Her worshipful Lord. Śrī Vārṣabhānavī-dayita dāsa, the servant (dāsa) of Her beloved (dayita) is the name of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda.

prabhupāda-antaraṅga, śrī keśava rūpānuga,
śrī bhaktivedānta-svāmi nāma,
tār priya mahājana śrī gaura govinda nāma
śrī bhaktivedānta-nārāyana (10)

Two internal and intimate disciples of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda who are prominent Rupanuga vaisnava’s, following the footsteps of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, are Śrīla Bhakti Prajñāna Keśava Gosvāmī Mahārāja and Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Svāmī Mahārāja Prabhupāda. Most dear to Śrīla Bhakti Prajñāna Keśava Gosvāmī Mahārāja and Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Svāmī Mahārāja Prabhupāda, the great saintly personalities are śrī Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Mahārāj and Śrīla Gour Govind Gosvāmī Mahārāj.

ei saba harijana, gaurāṅgera nija-jana,
tā̃’dera ucchiṣṭe mora kāma (11)

All of these devotees are the personal associates of Śrī Gaurāṅga. I desire to honor their ucchiṣṭa [the remnants of their lips, namely their mahā-prasāda as well as their instructions].