Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti

 

THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

In 1885, in accordance with the predecessor example of Sri Jiva Gosvami, Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura founded a society called Visva-vaishnava-raja-sabha, or the Royal World Assembly of Vaishnavas, for the propagation of pure devotional service throughout the world.

In 1919, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada re-established this mission, and the organization ultimately came to be known as the Gaudiya Matha. In the able guidance of Srila Sarasvati Thakura, the mission spread like wildfire throughout the land of India, and tremendous preaching was accomplished.

After Srila Prabhupada entered aprakata lila, a governing committee was formed to oversee the Sri Gaudiya Matha and its mission. For some time, all the duties of the matha were carried out enthusiastically, and the preaching of suddha-bhakti continued everywhere.

However, after some time the chairman of the governing committee, who was also the acarya, abandoned the behaviour and ethics of the followers of Sri Rupa Gosvami. This deviation led to chaos throughout the mission. Many left Sri Gaudiya Matha to make their own asramas, mathas and so forth, and began to perform sadhana-bhajana there instead.

Under these circumstances, Sri Vinodabihari Brahmacari Kritiratna Prabhu (Srila Bhaktiprajnana Kesava Maharaja) left Mayapura for the town of Navadvipa with some of his godbrothers. There, in the neighborhood of Tegharipada, they rented a house and established Sri Devananda Gaudiya Matha. From that base, they began to preach suddha-bhakti.

FOUNDATION OF SRI GAUDIYA VEDANTA SAMITI

After establishing Sri Devananda Gaudiya Matha in Sri Navadvipa Dhama, Sri Kritiratna Prabhu began to consider what would he the best way to re-establish the mano-bhista seva (service to the innermost desire) of his most worshipful Srila Prabhupada. He reflected that the mano-bhista seva of Prabhupada is the publishing of the transcendental magazines and devotional literature which he, Srila Prabhupada, established. Without that the welfare of the world is impossible.

Sri Kritiratna Prabhu thought, "The bhaktas dependent on Srila Prabhupada's lotus feet are now roaming here and there, uncertain of what to do because they have no place in Caitanya Matha. Our sole duty is to organise them and again preach Srila Prabhupada's instructions far and wide with the same enthusiasm as before.”

With this aim in mind, he rented a house at 32/2 Bospada Lane, in Bagbazar, Calcutta, and also bought a small press. After a short time, Sri Trigunanatha Mukharji Mahodaya donated his business, Gauranga Printing Works, to him. Encouraged by this, Kritiratna Prabhu began printing devotional literature. Unfortunately, when an early publication, Siksa-dasamulam, was composed, the complete manuscript was stolen. Despite the setback, Sri Kritiratna Prabhu did not become discouraged.

Sri Kritiratna Prabhu and his associate Godbrothers established Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti in that rented house in Bagbazar on the auspicious day of Aksaya Trtiya in the month of Vaisakha (April) 1940. Amongst the Godbrothers who were present were Sri Abhayacarana Bhaktivedanta Prabhu (later Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja), Sri Nrsimhananda Brahmacari and Sri Sajjansevaka Brahmacari (Srila Gurupadapadma's diksa disciple, now Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Vamana Maharaja, the present Acarya and President of Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti).

Sri Gurupadapadma often mentioned in his lectures his internal mood when he named the Samiti. It reflected his understanding that when we develop transcendental life, it is absolutely necessary to adopt the pure teachings of the mahajanas.

This society was named 'Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti' in order that it should everywhere in the world strongly preach this deep secret regarding bhakti, for the welfare of all the jivas.

(Excerpts from the biography of Srila Bhaktiprajnana Kesava Maharaja, except the first two paragraphs)

"I have a very close connection with Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti. Yourself, and particularly Sripad Vaman Maharaja, are well aware of the fact that I am one of the three persons who founded Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti. We had conceived of the idea of the formation of Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti at Bosapada Lane, Calcutta, even before Srila (Kesava) Maharaja accepted sannyasa."

(An excerpt from a letter by
Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja to
Srila Trivikrama Maharaja, Oct. 22, 1968) 

 
 

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