Sri Gadadhar Parivar – Sriharidasniwas

Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, during His appearance in this world, was accompanied by His intimate associate, Sri Gadadhar Pandit Goswami. The message of Vraja–bhav that the Lord relishes most is explained in the Holy Scripture, Srimad Bhagavatam. However, only those who receive the special mercy of the Lord, are capable of understanding the esoteric meaning of this scripture. Sri Gadadhar Pandit Goswami was the one who had the potency to understand and explain Srimad Bhagavatam to the world. In fact Lord Sri Chaitanya Himself used to hear the exposition of Srimad Bhagavatam only from Sri Gadadhar Pandit Goswami.

An old picture depicting Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu hearing discourses of Srimad-Bhagavatam from Sri Gadadhar Pandit Goswami, His intimate associate

Mahaprabhu had asked Sri Gadadhar Pandit to do three activities on His behalf.

Be the authoritative teacher of Srimad-Bhagavatam
Give diksha (formal initiation) on behalf of Mahaprabhu to the true seekers on the path of pure Vraja-bhakti
Worship the deity of Sri Govind ji along with His eternal consort, Sri Radha

When Lord Sri Krishna appeared in this world as Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, His eternal consort, Sri Radha appeared in this world in the form of Sri Gadadhar Pandit Goswami. He became the instrument through whom the Supreme Lord fulfilled His desire of establishing a system of propagating Uttama Bhakti in this world. Those who were inspired by the teachings of Mahaprabhu and developed an attraction for Uttama-Bhakti received diksha (initiation) from Sri Gadadhar Pandit, whom Mahaprabhu had authorized to give diksha on His behalf. They, in turn, achieving maturity on the path of Uttama-Bhakti, later initiated others. Thus were established different lineages of guru-disciple relationship starting from Sri Gadadhar Pandit Goswami. Even today, the lineage of guru-disciple system exists in Sri Haridas Niwas. The lineages starting from Sri Gadadhar Pandit Goswami are called Sri Gadadhar Parivar.

Diksha of Gadadhar Pandit Goswami:
Appearances can be deceptive – that was one of the first lessons Sri Gadadhar Pandit Goswami learnt from his Gurudev, Sri Pundarik Vidyanidhi. Seeing the material glory of Sri Vidyanidhi during their first meeting, Sri Gadadhar Pandit wrongly concluded that the person he was meeting must be steeped in sense pleasure and Bhakti was nowhere close to him. He was confused about Mahaprabhu’s edification of Sri Vidyanidhi that he had earlier heard. But soon the truth dawned upon him and he realised his mistake. Full of remorse for having harboured such thoughts about Sri Pundarik Vidyanidhi, he was wondering what to do to counteract the grave offense. Finally he decided that the only way he could repent was by being a surrendered servant of Sri Vidyanidhi throughout his life. This meant that he would accept him as his guru. Thus was the lila of receiving diksha performed by Sri Gadadhar Pandit Goswami.

Sri Pundarik Vidyanidhi was a disciple of Sri Madhavendra Puri, the param-guru of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Glorification of Sri Gadadhar Pandit Goswami:
Most of the associates and followers of Mahaprabhu have composed many verses glorifying Sri Gadadhar Pandit, since he was the guru who gave diksha. The English translation of one such short composition by Sri Lochan-das Thakur, a contemporary of Mahaprabhu, is presented below. This is in three parts.

PART 1

All glories to Sri Gadadhar and Sri Gaura-sundara. They are one soul and one mood that has appeared in two bodies. The young couple Sri Radha and Sri Krishna, who had appeared in Vrindavan, have now appeared as Sri Gadadhar and Sri Gaurachandra. The Goddess of Vrindavan, Sri Radha, is an embodiment of Mahabhav. She Herself has appeared in the world as Sri Gadadhar Pandit. Sri Vrajendranandan Krishna, Who is the king of all rasas, has appeared in His full glories as Sri Gaurachandra. One who wishes to practice bhajan on the raganuga path, follows the disciples who are initiated in the lineage of Sri Gadadhar Pandit. Without following in the footsteps of such disciples one cannot achieve the Vraja-bhav. Therefore, indeed, the Goswamis of Vraja became his disciples.

Sri Laxmi Devi, by turning all her attention inwards, is immersed in severe asceticism till today for achieving Sri Vrajendra-nandan, and yet She has been unable to do so. Such Vrajendra-nandan Krishna, is controlled by the prema of Sri Radha. Such Sri Radha is this Pandit Goswami. From him can we get the nectar-like rasa of Gaura-prem. Hence, one who is without a spontaneous attraction for him remains in utter poverty and does not get prem-bhakti.

Even after this being said, if one does not develop faith in him, he does not achieve the highest goal of life in crores of lifetimes. He is destroyed. May I not have the association of such people – this is a submission at the feet of Sri Gaura and Sri Gadadhar. It is better to have the association of impious people than to have the association of those who criticize Sri Pandit Goswami. Such association is like sharp arrows. Even if I (become so degraded as to) enjoy intoxicating drinks, I would dread the association of such people.

With the desire of achieving the lotus feet of Sri Gauranga and Sri Gadadhar, this Lochan-das asks for shelter at Your feet.

PART 2

With the desire of Gadadhar, Gadadhar and Gadadhar, may I always sing Gadadhar during my period of stay in Vraja. Having chanted the name of Gadadhar I will become indifferent to materialism. I will drink water from a karanga (a water-pot carried by renounced ascetics in India) and will wear only a kaupin (a strip of cloth worn by renounced ascetics in India to cover only the private parts). Since long have I been having this desire in mind. I will hear about Sri Gaur and Sri Gadadhar with my ears. He alone is a guru, he alone is a disciple, who knows you. Those who try to practice bhakti by neglecting you are actually blind. This is my desire at the lotus-feet of Sri Gadadhar. Lochan Das asks for shelter at Your feet.

PART 3

O mind! Worship the devotee of Madhav, whose name is Gadadhar. He who takes shelter of his feet goes to Vraja-dham. Earlier, having taken up the name Radhika in the house of Vrishabhan in Vraja, he had served and pleased Shyam by performing various lilas. This time, having appeared along with Gaura, he adopted the attire of a renounced person. Having come to Nilanchal, he, along with other devotees delivered many regions. By the power of his prem, one goes beyond the material world, and thus all distress get annihilated. Lochan Das says that a lowly person does not see the greatness of prem.

Gadadhar Parivar:

As mentioned above, Sri Gadadhar Pandit Goswami is Sri Radha Herself. Mahaprabhu had asked him to give diksha to all those who wished to cultivate Vraja-bhakti. Since Sri Radha Herself is the personification of Vraja-bhakti, diksha from him meant being initiated into Vraja-bhakti by the personification of Vraja bhakti, Sri Radha. Sri Gadadhar Pandit had initiated many seekers, the names of some of whom are mentioned by Sri Yadunath Das in his short composition, “Sri Gadadhar Pandit Goswami Shakha Nirnayamrtam”. The different lineages of disciples hailing from him belong to Gadadhar Parivar (lit. “the family of Sri Gadadhar”). Our Gurudev, Sri Haridas Shastri Maharaj ji was a glorious acharya belonging to Gadadhar Parivar. He belonged to the branch of disciples who hailed from Sri Bhugarbha Goswami, a disciple of Sri Gadadhar Pandit.

Many prominent Gaudiya Vaishnava acharyas used to worship the divine forms of Sri Gaura and Sri Gadadhar, just like we worship Sri Krishna and Sri Radha together. However, with time, this practice waned. Sri Maharaj ji revived this practice by establishing Sri Gaura-Gadadhar temple in Sri Haridas Niwas ashram. They are worshiped along with Sri Radha and Sri Govindadev ji. The worship of Sri Gaura-Gadadhar is rare even today. This is one such rare temple.

|| Sri Sri Gaura-Gadadharau Vijayetam ||