Versión en inglés…

     Queridos devotos y amigos:

Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj y Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj

Todas las glorias a Sri Guru y Sri Gauranga. Todas las glorias a nuestro Divino Maestro, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda-Dev Goswami Maharaj.

Deseo ofrecer mis reverencias a Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj quien fue nombrado por Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda-Dev Goswami Maharaj como su sucesor y Presidente Sevaite Acharya del Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. Deseo también ofrecer mis respetuosas reverencias a Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj a quien Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda-Dev Goswami Maharaj nombró como el Acharya de México.

Deseo también aprovechar esta oportunidad para ofrecer mis respetos a todos los devotos quienes por muchos años, desde la partida de Srila Govinda Maharaj, han tratado y continúan tratando de asistir a Srila Acharya Maharaj en su servicio a nuestro Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

Muchos devotos sinceros de alrededor del mundo han preguntado acerca de la situación actual de nuestro Math en Sri Nabadwip Dham. Srila Ashram Maharaj se encuentra ahora en Kolkata y he hablado varias veces con él, y bajo su guía he preparado este breve reporte acerca de la situación actual.

Srila Acharya Maharaj salió del Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math de Sri Nabadwip Dham debido a que el grupo opositor se apoderó de las instalaciones de nuestro Sri Nabadwip Mula Math. En ese entonces, estuvieron presentes 5 ó 6 policías de Nabadwip, y ellos no se opusieron a la acción del grupo opositor.

El grupo opositor rompió los candados del Salón Centenario (Centennial Hall) y los reemplazaron con sus propios candados. Ellos cerraron el portón de entrada al Math y pusieron candados de manera que nadie pueda entrar o salir sin su aprobación. Debido a esta situación, este año no se llevó a cabo la celebración del Sri Janmastami.

El Centennial Hall fue el lugar donde Srila Acharya Maharaj conducía todos los programas mientras el grupo opositor conducía sus programas en el Nath Mandir. Para proveerle de alguna armonía al Math, este acuerdo había estado funcionando por muchos años. Ahora, el grupo opositor ha declarado que ya no habrá dos grupos dirigiendo los programas en nuestro Math. En vez de eso, ellos insistieron que desde ahora dirigirán los programas y que ambos grupos asistirán a esas funciones bajo su dirección. La policía le permitió a esta gente imponer esos términos y se rehusó a intervenir.

Después de que Srila Acharya Maharaj salió de Nabadwip, recibió noticias de que el grupo opositor había entrado por la fuerza a su residencia. No sabemos en que condiciones se encuentren ahora esas instalaciones.

La policía local es corrupta y ha apoyado y permitido que esto suceda a pesar de que en el pasado Srila Acharya Maharaj ha estado presentando numerosos documentos legales para acreditar su posición como el guardián legal de las propiedades del Math.

Recientemente, Srila Acharya Maharaj se entrevistó en Kolkata con un importante funcionario del Servicio Administrativo de la India (IAS) y por medio de él, se hicieron arreglos para una reunión con el Sr. Sumit Gupta, el Magistrado del Distrito de Nadia. En India, el magistrado de distrito (DM) se encuentra en la posición administrativa más alta en el distrito. Esa así que el jefe de policía de poblaciones como Nabadwip tienen que darle reportes a él. De modo que Srila Acharya Maharaj y Srila Ashram Maharaj se reunieron con el Magistrado de Distrito en Krishnanagar. La reunión fue breve pero Srila Acharya Maharaj presentó una carta con la lista de las personas opositoras, claramente explicando la situación. Él también explicó que la policía de Nabadwip no hizo nada para prevenir los actos del grupo opositor, y también explicó que cuando él mismo habló con la policía, ellos le explicaron que él necesitaba hablar con el patrón, el jefe de la policía de Nabadwip, y convencerlo. Ellos solo estaban siguiendo sus órdenes.

Srila Acharya Maharaj le dijo al DM que debido a esos actos, él y los devotos no pudieron hacer los arreglos necesarios para celebrar el festival de Janmastami.

Tras leer la carta el DM expresó su enojo de que la policía de Nabadwip estuviera actuando de esa manera. Dijo que tomaría algunas acciones. A pedido del DM, Srila Acharya Maharaj envió entonces esa misma carta al jefe de policía de Nabadwip. A partir de entonces, el DM ha estado en comunicación con Srila Acharya Maharaj para ver si el jefe de policía ha tomado alguna acción, lo cual no ha hecho.

La corrupción no tiene freno en la policía local. Sin embargo, hay una esperanza de que el DM impida a la policía de continuar apoyando a la oposición.

El grupo opositor está ahora dividido en dos grupos que están peleando el uno con el otro. El primer grupo está dirigido por Ranjit, Nandan Swami (cuyo nombre de brahmachari en la época de Srila Sridhar Maharaj fue Nimai Sundar) y Giri Maharaj (cuyo nombre de brahmachari fue Gaur Krisna). El segundo grupo está dirigido por Mahadev y Paramahamsa, con devotos como Bipul, Vishvarup, Bhudev y Yadu Gopal. Srila Acharya Maharaj y Srila Ashram Maharaj recientemente se reunieron con algunos del segundo grupo de la oposición en la oficina del Sr. Sawo, en Kolkata. En el encuentro, el segundo grupo se quejó duramente en contra del primer grupo y le aseguró a Srila Acharya Maharaj que a partir de ahora se unirán a él para luchar en contra de Ranjit y Nandan Swami.

A pesar de todo lo sucedido, con la asistencia de devotos de todo el mundo, Srila Acharya Maharaj continúa el financiamiento para sostener y mantener las instalaciones en Sri Nabadwip Dham y los otros centros en India. Srila Acharya Maharaj reiteradamente ha mostrado su dedicación al servicio que le encargó Srila Govinda Maharaj, y a pesar de los muchísimos problemas que ha tenido, está determinado a nunca abandonar ese servicio.

El método de hacer donaciones en línea por medio de PayPal y tarjetas de crédito es seguro y funciona. Esos fondos son depositados en la cuenta de banco del Sevashram de Soquel y luego enviados a Srila Acharya Maharaj con un método seguro. Aquí esta el link para el sitio de donaciones:

 http://scsmathinternational.com/donate.php

Oramos a Srila Govinda Maharaj para poder ser de ayuda de alguna manera, aunque nos sentimos impotentes, aparte de ofrecer nuestro apoyo moral y económico a Srila Acharya Maharaj.

Trataré de continuar escribiendo acerca de cómo se desarrolla la situación y conforme tengamos más noticias.

Sinceramente,

Hasyapriya das,

Administrador del Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram, Soquel, California

Many thanks to Jai Balai Prabhu for his translation assistance.

Versión en español…

      Dear Devotees and Friends,

All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga. All glories to our Divine Master, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda-Dev Goswami Maharaj.

I would like to offer my respectful obeisances to Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya who was named by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda-Dev Goswami Maharaj as his successor as the President Sevaite Acharya of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. I would also like to offer my respectful obeisances to Srila Bhakti Kusam Ashram Maharaj who Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda-Dev Goswami Maharaj named as the Acharya of Mexico.

I would also like to take this opportunity to offer my respects to all the devotees who over the many years since Srila Govinda Maharaj’s departure, have tried and continue to try to assist Srila Acharya Maharaj in his service to our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

Many sincere devotees from around the world have inquired about the current situation at our Math in Sri Nabadwip Dham. Srila Ashram Maharaj is in Kolkata now and I have spoken to him several times and under his guidance have prepared this brief report on the current situation.

Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj and Srila Bhakti Kusam Ashram Maharaj

Srila Acharya Maharaj left the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Sri Nabadwip Dham because the opposition group took over most of the facilities of our Sri Nabadwip Mula Math. At that time, there were 5 or 6 Nabadwip policemen present and they did not oppose the actions of the opposition group.

The opposition group broke the locks on the Centennial Hall and replaced them with their own locks. They closed the entrance gate to the Math and locked it so no one could enter or exit without their approval. Because of this situation, this year the Sri Janmastami celebration was not held.

Previously the Centennial Hall was where Srila Acharya Maharaj would conduct all the programs while the opposition group would conduct their programs in the Nath mandir. To provide some harmony at the Math, this compromise had been going on for many years. Now, the opposition group stated that there would no longer be two groups having separate programs at our Math. Instead they insisted that for now on, they would lead the programs and both groups should attend these functions under their direction. The police allowed these people to dictate these terms and refused to intervene.

After Srila Acharya Maharaj left Nabadwip, he received news that the opposition group had forced themselves into his quarters. We do not know what the condition of those facilities are at this time.

The local police are corrupt and have stood by and allowed this to happen in spite of Srila Acharya Maharaj presenting in the past numerous legal documents substantiating his position as the legal guardian to all the Math properties.

Recently, Srila Acharya Maharaj met with an important IAS officer in Kolkata and through him a meeting was arranged with Mr. Sumit Gupta the District Magistrate of Nadia. In India, the district magistrate (DM) is the highest administrative position in the district. As such, the chief of police for the towns like Nabadwip report to him. Srila Acharya Maharaj and Srila Ashram Maharaj then met with the DM in Krishnanagar. The meeting was short but Srila Acharya Maharaj had brought a letter listing the opposition persons and clearly explaining the situation. He also explained that the Nabadwip police did not do anything to prevent the actions of the opposition group. Srila Acharya Maharaj also explained that when he himself spoke with the police they explained that he would need to speak with their boss, the chief of police of Nabadwip and convince him. They were just following his orders.
Srila Acharya Maharaj told the DM that because of these actions, Srila Acharya Maharaj and the devotees could not make the necessary preparations and arrangements to celebrate the Janmastami festival.

After reading the letter, the DM expressed his anger that the Nabadwip police were acting in this way. He said he would take some action. At the request of the DM, Srila Acharya Maharaj then sent the same letter to the chief of police of Nabadwip. Since then, the DM has been in communication with Srila Acharya Maharaj to see if the chief of police has taken any action, which he has not.

Corruption is rampant among the local police. However, there is some hope that the DM will stop the police from continuing to support the opposition.

The opposition group is now divided into two groups and they are fighting with each other. The first group is led by Ranjit, Nandan Swami (who’s brahmacari name at the time of Srila Sridhar Maharaj was Nimai Sundar) and Giri Maharaj (who’s brahmacari name was Gaur Krishna). The second group is led by Mahadev and Parmahamsa with devotees like Bipul, Vishvarup, Bhudev and Yadu Gopal. Srila Acharya Maharaj and Srila Ashram Maharaj recently met with some of the second opposition group at the office of Mr. Sawo in Kolkata. In the meeting, this second group complained bitterly against the first group and assured Srila Acharya Maharaj that from now on they will join him to fight against Ranjit & Nandan Swami.

In spite of everything that has happened, with the assistance of devotees all over the world, Srila Acharya Maharaj continues to financially support and maintain the facilities in Sri Nabadwip Dham and the other centers all over India. Srila Acharya Maharaj has repeatedly demonstrated his dedication to the service given to him by Srila Govinda Maharaj and in spite of so much trouble that has come to him, he is determined to never give up that service.

The method of making online donations through PayPal and credits cards are secure and functioning. Those funds are deposited into the Soquel Seva Ashram’s bank account and then sent to Srila Acharya Maharaj in a secure method.

Here is a link to the donation web site: http://scsmathinternational.com/donate.php
We are praying to Srila Govinda Maharaj that we may assist in some way although we feel helpless besides our offering of moral and financial support to Srila Acharya Maharaj.

I will try to write more as the situation develops and more news becomes available.

Sincerely,
Hasyapriya das,
Manager of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram, Soquel, California

All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga!

The following is an interview with Hasyapriya Prabhu, who just spent three weeks in India visiting some of our centers there:

Which centers did you visit in India?

By the mercy of Srila Gurudev and the devotees I was able to be in Govardhan for the annual Govardhan puja festival. Uma Devi and the local devotees hosted a very wonderful festival that was attended by many vaishnavas, both from around the world and from India. Then we spend some time in Vrindavan visiting some of the temples there, under the guidance of Sripad Madhusudan Maharaj, Sripad Mangal Maharaj and many other senior devotees of our mission. Next I went to Nabadwip and with Srila Acharya Maharaj’s association, we visited some of the holy places around Nabadwip. At the end of my visit, we spent several days at the Sevak Bhavan in Kolkata, where Srila Acharya Maharaj took some time to rest and take care of his health.

How is Srila Acharya Maharaj’s health?

I am always amazed at how much energy and dedication Srila Acharya Maharaj has! When he is operating on less than 100% good health, still he is functioning many, many times more than I am, even if my health is great! But his health has definitely improved and continues to improve more day by day.

What is the current situation in Nabadwip?

The opposition group leads the kirtans during the arotiks at the samadhis and the nath mandir. They are visible, but not prominent. There are morning and evening programs in the Centenary building daily and when his health and schedule allow, Srila Acharya Maharaj, leads those programs. If a senior devotee is there, then he will give a class to the other western devotees. For me there was no problem moving around the Math premises and paying obeisances to Srila Govinda Maharaj, Srila Srila Maharaj or Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govinda Sundar. Also walking around Sri Govinda Kund was both beautiful and peaceful.

Is it safe for devotees to travel there?

Is it safe anywhere in this material world? I was more concerned with being involved in a traffic accident or just walking across the road while I was in India, than I was concerned for my safety at the Math. I have heard some devotees warn that it is not safe to go to Nabadwip and therefore they recommend not going there. I cannot agree with this position. When Srila Janardan Maharaj recently visited Nabadwip, I asked him if he felt “safe” there. His answer was since when did we concern ourselves with “safety” when it came to executing the order of our Gurudev?

Around the world we hear of many devotees who are arrested, physically threatened and sometimes assaulted, and experience many other difficulties while they are trying to execute their service. Russia, China, Venezuela, to name just a few of those places.

Since the disappearance of Srila Govinda Maharaj, some devotees are thinking “why should I go to India?”

I can only answer this question for myself – why do I go to India? When Srila Govinda Maharaj was physically present, we went to India regularly for his holy association and felt so enlivened to sit in his darshans and hear whatever subject he spoke about. We couldn’t think of anywhere else we wanted to be, except with him.

Sometimes I think that there are many people in opposition to Srila Acharya Maharaj. So I hope that when I go there, I can just be one person in the crowd that is giving him my affectionate support, offering an affectionate smile.

Srila Govinda Maharaj made his desire very clear to us as evidenced by this statement in his last will and testament: “I hereby direct all to assist Sripad Bhakti Nirmal Acharyya Maharaj with love and affection.” This is our chance to follow that order. Whatever we can do to help, in any small way, it is our duty to try and execute the order of Srila Govinda Maharaj.

There are devotees who unlike me, actually do some significant service when they go to the Math in India. There is such a need for assistance there. When Srila Ashram Maharaj visited, they would see him every day in the goshala, cleaning and caring for the cows. Others have a similar mood and Krishna is fulfilling their desire for service.

What are Srila Govinda Maharaj’s instructions for us regarding India?

Srila Govinda Maharaj clearly instructed the Western devotees to not get involved in the politics of the Indian devotees. Everything in India operates in a way that is completely foreign and mostly not understandable by us. So we should stay out of those dealings and not become concerned with gossiping and hearing the latest dirty things that are being said. We should only associate with those devotees who are supporting Srila Acharya Maharaj. Also we should try to be respectful to everyone. What is the harm in offering even the most fallen devotee our respects from a distance?

What is the mood of the devotees who are in the Math now?

The devotees I spoke to expressed their gratitude for the Western devotees who have come there. Even though the local servitors know that the devotees around the world support Srila Acharya Maharaj, still by seeing them come and join in with a humble service mood, they are reminded of this support and affection and it gives them renewed energy.

The local devotees all are stalwart devotees who feel the responsibility to serve all the Vaishnavas who are coming to India for pilgrimage. Their dedication and steadiness is inspiring.

Would you recommend others to visit Nabadwip?

For the senior devotees in our mission, it would be good if they can go to India now to give their association to the younger devotees who may be there. A few kind words of encouragement does not take much effort on our part, but may be very meaningful and enlivening to those devotees who we express that to. Srila Govinda Maharaj gave us so many treasures in his association and teachings. We can pray that Srila Gurudev may allow us to share a little of those treasures with those devotees who have come to Sri Nabadwip Dham.

For the younger devotees in our mission, here is your opportunity to serve when service is most needed.

We can never forget that even though we may only see it through our material eyes, the holy Dham is of the highest spiritual nature. We are the beneficiaries of some special mercy when we visit Sri Nabadwip Dham, or the other holy places, and take the dust of Sri Nabadwip on our heads. This can give us the highest mercy in our spiritual lives.

Why is the situation so disturbing now?

I think this a misconception. Disturbances have always been attacking our mission. Even in the very early days of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, several brahmacharies tried to oust Srila Sridhar Maharaj from his own Math! They tried unsuccessfully and then with some assistance from Sripad Madhav Maharaj, the brahmacharies were paid to leave the Math. Then later the government tried to take the Math. It was a very heavy situation, but finally it was resolved. Srila Govinda Maharaj recalled that many difficulties came to him in his life, but these two incidents were the most difficult.

We also saw that when Srila Sridhar Maharaj appointed Srila Govinda Maharaj as his successor, there were devotees who vehemently rejected Srila Sridhar Maharaj’s desire. They were finally told by Srila Sridhar Maharaj to leave the Math. Now some of those same persons are coming back today to Nabadwip to claim that even Srila Govinda Maharaj was not the authorized successor to Srila Sridhar Maharaj!

I do not wish to minimize the extent of the difficulties that exist today, but we should remember that difficulties have come to each of our illustrious acharyas. They continued their service and demonstrated their faith by never giving up that service that had come to them by the mercy of their Gurudev!

Dear devotees,

I had a little bit of health problems but a couple of days ago I was released from the hospital. My health is OK now by the mercy of our Srila Gurudev, Srila Govinda Maharaj, and all of the devotees. I went to rest to Dum Dum Park for a couple of days and now I am going to Nabadwip.

This is the news! Even though my health was very bad for a while, now it’s OK.

If some devotees will come it will be very good! Everybody can come and join the festival! This is the main thing!

Jaya Srila Gurudev Ki Jay!

Jaya Srila Guru Maharaj Ki Jay!

Srimati Sudevi didi

Dear Devotees:

Save