When Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhara Maharaja, one of the disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura was being again and again requested by a Swami to join his organization, Sridhara Maharaja replied to him, “My head is sold at the feet of Mahaprabhu.” The Swami then began telling Maharaja that how Buddhistic vairagya comes first, then Sankara’s vedanta or jnana, and final is Caitanya’s prema. One must gradually take to it. Otherwise people will misunderstand.
Maharaja said, “Mahaprabhu has never told like that. Mahaprabhu has told – whatever stage you are at, just take the association of devotees and chant the Holy Names.” This was even before he met the devotees of Gaudiya Matha.
One time, Srila Jananivasa Prabhu, one of the disciples of Srila Prabhupada was asked by a lady for marriage. Jananivasa Prabhu replied, “I have already given my heart to Sri Sri Radha Madhava!”
Giving our heads and our hearts – both are important.
If we give our heads to Mahaprabhu’s mission, we will not be diverted, distracted by any propaganda that the worldly people come up with. Nor will we consider any other path to be enticing than pure bhakti what Srila Prabhupada has given us. Mahaprabhu’s siddhanta and his teachings coming through the grace of Srila Prabhupada have to be become the guiding path of our life.
Nowadays, so many new age philosophies keep on coming and hoards of people start following the same. Sticking to one path, to one process, to one guru, to one master, to one guide, to one well-wisher has become extremely difficult. Sukadeva Goswami, in the very beginning of his recitation of the epic Srimad Bhagavatam, accepts Lord Krishna as the whole and sole of his life. SB 2.4.20 states,
śriyaḥ patir yajṣa-patiḥ prajā-patir
dhiyāṁ patir loka-patir dharā-patiḥ
patir gatiś cāndhaka-vṛṣṇi-sātvatāṁ
prasīdatāṁ me bhagavān satāṁ patiḥ
“May Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is the worshipable Lord of all devotees, the protector and glory of all the kings like Andhaka and Vṛṣṇi of the Yadu dynasty, the husband of all goddesses of fortune, the director of all sacrifices and therefore the leader of all living entities, the controller of all intelligence, the proprietor of all planets, spiritual and material, and the supreme incarnation on the earth (the supreme all in all), be merciful upon me.”
Sukadeva’s head was sold at the lotus feet of Lord Krishna. Immediately after his birth, when he went to the forest, Vyasa sent a few of his disciples. And when they narrated the beauty and mercy of Krishna through two select verses from Srimad Bhagavatam, he was captivated. He gave his heart to Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada had given his head to the independence movement. But when he first met Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, he gave his head to Srila Saraswati Thakura. The remarks of Srila Prabhupada were, “Lord Caitanya’s mission is in the right hands!” He appreciated being defeated by his spiritual master. And he would be happy if we would meet the devotees of Gaudiya Matha anytime. And finally, Srila Prabhupada gave his heart to totally accept the will of Lord Krishna, and took the order of his spiritual master on his head and went to the West. Even before that, his heart was given to fulfilling the instructions of his spiritual master.
Yamuna Devi Dasi, a very exalted disciple of Srila Prabhupada would often be approached by people from other organizations to join in their ranks.
Dinatarani Devi writes, “Once, a young sannyasi disciple of Narayana Maharaja came and spoke for five hours—at one point asserting that Srila Prabhupada had only given the ABC’s of Krishna bhakti, and adding that unless we joined his guru’s mission, no advancement would be forthcoming. I will never forget Yamuna’s answer. While she remained externally very gracious, I could see that it was a struggle for her. She said, “When I feel as though I have understood one ten-thousandth of a drop in the ocean of what Srila Prabhupada gave us, in however many lifetimes that takes me, then by his grace he may then give me more.””
Yamuna’s heart and head both were sold to Srila Prabhupada.
If we give our head to Srila Prabhupada’s mission, we will remain safe. If we give our hearts to Srila Prabhupada’s mission, we will be ready to give up any reluctance that may be preventing us from giving our best. And furthermore, any temptations that may come up, we will be ready to forsake them for pleasing Srila Prabhupada.
When Srila Giriraja Maharaja was approached by a prostitute, he immediately remembered, “This will not please Srila Prabhupada.” And he got away from that dangerous situation posed by Mr. Nair on him. He had sold his heart to Srila Prabhupada.
