A few days back, as I was driving, I came across a massive poster of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. It was highlighted with many grand titles like Vishwaguru, Maha Maanav, and Jagat Vandaniya. The poster also highlighted how he made no distinctions based on caste or creed.
I began thinking, “Does any mortal being of this world truly deserve such titles and glorification?”
I was reminded of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Maharaja. He once picked up a magazine listing the hundred most influential personalities of India. He eagerly searched for the name of Śrīla Prabhupāda, but did not find it. That incident moved him so deeply that he resolved, “I will do something that will make the whole world know who Śrīla Prabhupāda is.” That resolve gave birth to the celebrated video series of ‘Abhay Charan.’
Who is Jagat Vandaniya?
How can the so-called politicians and reformers of this world, engrossed in their personal and party agendas, be worshipped by the entire world? Can they really work for the welfare of all living beings without discrimination and expectation?
If we reflect, it is only the followers of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who have worked selflessly, even to the point of risking their lives by entering communist nations to share love of God. Therefore, Srila Saraswati Thakura eulogizes the followers of Mahaprabhu as the greatest benefactors that the world has ever known.
Srila Prabhupada spread Krishna Consciousness across the whole world. Today, he is glorified daily in thousands of ISKCON temples and centers worldwide. Is there any other individual who is worshipped so extra-ordinarily across the globe? If anyone else is addressed as Jagat Vandaniya, it becomes a misapplied and disgraced title.
What about Vishwaguru?
Who can be adored as a world acarya? First, let us see who is called as a guru.
gu śabdas tv andhakārasya
ru śabdas tan-nirodhakaḥ
andhakāra-nirodhitvāt
guru ity abhidhīyate
The syllable “gu” signifies darkness, The syllable “ru” signifies the remover of that. Because he removes darkness, he is called “guru.”
Can the politicians and reformers, who only increase people’s bondage to this world by giving them various titles and put them in further darkness, be ever called as vishwaguru? According to Srimad Bhagavatam, they are definitely fit be given the title of ‘blind’ leaders.(SB 7.5.31) Isopanisad further states that such people are destined to enter the regions of darker ignorance due to their ignorant acts.
In actuality, Śrīla Prabhupāda rescued the conditioned souls drowning in the ocean of samsara and maya, and gave them the shelter of Krishna’s lotus feet.
Prabhupada made disciples all over the world; not ‘followers’ or ‘subscribers’ who simply add to your count, and are ready to eulogize you when things are good, and ready to burn effigies when you don’t work their way.
Prabhupada was different. He inspired voluntary dedication. His disciples didn’t just follow; they were ready to do anything and everything just to receive his one smiling glance.
The True Maha-Maanav
Such power to inspire surrender and transformation cannot come from an ordinary person.
CC Antya 7.11 states,
kali-kālera dharma—kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtana
kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nahe tāra pravartana
The fundamental religious system in the Age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Unless empowered by Kṛṣṇa, one cannot propagate the saṅkīrtana movement.
In praise of Srila Prabhupada, HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja beautifully writes,
yadi prabhupāda na hoito, tabe ki hoito,
ei jīvana bahita kiṣe?
nitai-gaurera apāra karuṇā,
ke dita sakala deśe?
If Śrīla Prabhupāda had not come, what would have happened?
How could we have passed our lives?
Who else would have distributed the unlimited mercy of Lord Nityānanda and Lord Gaurāṅga all over the world?
pāścātyera yata pāpī durācārī,
śūnyavādī māyāvādī,
tādera uddhāra karibāre mana,
hena kon dayānidhi?
Which other compassionate person would have endeavoured to deliver the miscreants, sinful, impersonalistic, and voidistic people in the West?
What Śrīla Prabhupāda gave to the world is unparalleled.
Therefore, with our body, mind, and heart, we must take full shelter at the divine lotus feet of Śrīla Prabhupāda. Therein lies the greatest treasure and the fulfillment of our soul’s deepest longing.
HG Radheshyam Prabhu mentions in his 10 instructions, “Everyday, secretly remember Srila Prabhupada and his mercy and his great sacrifice for you and me and cry tears of gratitude, for a few minutes.”
