GURUS OF MAHANAM SAMPRADAY

GURU Parampara OF MAHANAM SAMPRADAY

(Click on the buttons to know about the Gurus)

Shrimati Radha Thakurani --- Click

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Prabhu Jagadbandhu --- Click Click

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Thakur Atul Champati --- Click

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Shripad Mahendraji --- --- Click

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Dr. Mahanambrataji --- --- Click Click

[NOTE – My Gurudev Dr. Mahanambrata Brahmachariji has recorded that Shripad Mahendraji also accepted Sri JoyNitaidebji and Sri Nabadwipdasji who were contemporary to Champati Thakur and were blessed directly by Prabhu, as his gurus.]

Please read the following to understand how the parampara or the tree got formed

It was as back as early 1986, when once I asked Gurudev Mahanambrataji about the “Tree of Gurus” (or Guru Pronali/Parampara as commonly said) of our Sampraday. At that time this was not available in writing anywhere, the inscription now seen at the foot of the temple of Shripad Mahendraji at Sri Sri Mahanam Angan was made much later. After learning the Tree from him, I got it printed in a Souvenir published, to mark the celebration of 500 years of Mahaprabhu’s incarnation, by the Durgapur Branch of Mahanam Sevak Sangha, which was shown to Shri Gurudev also.

Shri Gurudev replied that our Guru Pronali begins with Radharani followed by Prabhu Jagatbandhu. Long back a devotee (Shyamdasji) had asked –“Prabhu, who is your Guru?” to which He had replied –“Your Shrimati is my Guru, She gave me diksha at Radhakunda in Vrindaban”. When asked how Radharani could be Prabhu’s Guru, particularly when we accept Prabhu as incarnation of Bhagwan SriKrishna who is the Jagatguru or the supreme guru, he explained as follows.

It is She and only She, Radharani, who could be His guru as Lord Krishna himself also accepts ShriRadha as his guru. He quoted Krishna saying –“Radhika je Premguru aami shisya nat, Sada aama naanaa nritye naachaay udbhat” (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adileela, 4^th Parichhed) & “Aama hoitey gunee baro jagatey asambhav, Ekali Radhatey taha kori anubhav” (-do-) meaning thereby that SriKrishna agrees that He has got to learn about Prem or Divine Love from Her. SriKrishna is the Loved One for everybody and being the subject or “Bishay” of love fails to own it as much as His lovers do, who are the “Ashray” of love, the greatest of them being ShriRadha. Thus the treasure of deepest love, an endless ocean of true love, an ever-increasing embodiment of profound love can only be seen in ShriRadha whom Sri Krishna accepts as His guru.

NEXT in the tree is Thakur Atul Champati. He was the husband of Kshiroda, daughter of Digambari Debi - Prabhu’s eldest cousin sister. Diksha does not necessarily mean uttering a “Mantra” into the disciple’s ear, uttering “Harinaam” or showing the path of emancipation is also diksha. As clearly stated by Prabhu himself, in a wider sense it means an endless relation between the two where the disciple will fulfill the desires of or tasks given by the guru – “Guru avipreta karjya karake diksha baley”.

Prabhu gave Sri Champati Thakur to chant “Krishna Gobinda Gopal Shyam, Radhamadhab Radhika naam”, which Gurudeb said is also Harinaam. Champati thakur did exactly whatever Prabhu wanted him to do including naam-pracharan. He proved to be a true shisya in all respects.

When Shripad Mahendraji, the fourth in the tree, was fruitlessly roaming in Vrindaban in search of Lord Krishna, he was attracted towards Champati thakur very much at the very first sight of him. Champati thakur uttered only few words in the form of a couplet close to his ears and Mahendraji got his destination clear. Influenced by Champati thakur’s devotion to Prabhu Jagadbandhu, Shripad hastily left Brindaban and ran towards Faridpur to take shelter under Prabhu’s lotus feet. However, Shripad has also mentioned Nabadwip Dasji & JoyNitai Debji to be his Guru, as, they helped him a lot in some form or other to attain the emancipation through Jagatbandhu Prabhu.

Fifth in the tree is Gurdeb Shrimat Dr. Mahanambrataji. One of the best pranam mantras for guru is “Akhanda mandalakarang byaptang jen chara-charang; Tatt padang darshitang yen tasmoi sri gurabe namah” meaning thereby that guru is one who shows the lotus feet of God/Bhagaban. Generally, all gurus show it by pointing towards a photo/murti etc of the God. Gurudeb said that for him, his guru actually showed him the lotus feet of real God – Prabhu, who was at that time lying on the bed in Sri Angan, Faridpur (now in Bangladesh) and Mahendraji, not only showed it but also made him offer tulsi-chandan on those lotus feet. Not only this, Mahendraji had been his mentor all along & took entire care of his education till post graduation. Then he sent Mahanambrataji to attend the World Conference of Faiths as one of India’s representatives at Chicago in 1933 which spread Mahanabrataji’s name and fame throughout USA and also several parts of Europe. After coming back from USA, he spent in austerity, seeking emancipation in Prabhu Jagabandhu’s lotus feet. His life sketch and work for the humanity is a very long subject matter.

Please use the links above to go to sites where more about him and others is available.