Page 46 - SBV (English)

xliv Nomenclature

daughter of Mahäräja Våñabhänu.” At least from the late 1890s he used this
*
name in correspondence, yet was still known to most by his other two names.
Shortly after Çré Bimalä Prasäda’s spiritual initiation by Çréla Gaura Kiçora
däsa Bäbäjé in 1901, Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura added the word Bhakti to the
apparently academic title Siddhänta Sarasvaté, who thus was sometimes referred
to as Çré Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté. Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura’s conferring
the name Bhaktisiddhänta was in accord with the then in-vogue practice among
Vaiñëavas to bestow titles beginning with Bhakti. “Bhaktisiddhänta” became the
†
norm for addressing Çré Siddhänta Sarasvaté when upon taking sannyäsa at forty-
four he became Çré Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé. The title Bhaktisiddhänta
indicates that the summum bonum of all scriptural deliberations is pure devotional
service to Çré Kåñëa. Siddhänta refers to the final conclusion of a Vedic doctrine,
‡
established on the basis of çästra and in refutation of the theories of other Vedic
schools, and Çuddhä Sarasvaté is the presiding goddess of parä-vidyä (the spiritual
knowledge of çästra), whose blessing is manifest not merely in book learning but
in realization, grasp of subtleties, resolution of seeming contradictions and other
perplexing points, power of composition, ability to impart learning to others, and
all other facets of a genuinely accomplished scholar. Therefore the prefix bhakti
§
revealed the true purport of the name Siddhänta Sarasvaté, for bhakti is indeed
the ultimate doctrine of Vedic lore, as revealed through the brilliance of Çuddhä
Sarasvaté—present as Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, who was unparalleled in

* This information is based on verbal evidence gathered from disciples of Çréla
Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté and is also supported by a statement in the Gauòéya (15.23–
24.10). This contradicts the version of Prabhupäda Çréla Sarasvaté Öhäkura (p. 69) that
this name was first given upon his initiation by Çréla Gaura Kiçora däsa Bäbäjé.
† For instance, the title Bhaktivinoda had been bestowed by the much-respected Vaiñëava
community of Baghnapara.

‡ Çrémad Bhakti Pramoda Puré Mahäräja is recorded as having stated that even in
childhood Bimalä Prasäda was referred to by his spiritual preceptors as Bhaktisiddhänta
Sarasvaté. Sajjana-toñaëé 18.1.32 (1915, prior to his sannyäsa) records his name as such.
§ Çuddhä Sarasvaté is mentioned in Cb 1.1.19 and 1.9.225. In Çréla Sarasvaté Öhäkura’s
commentary on Cb 1.1.19 he has stated: “The words spoken in connection with Kåñëa’s
service by pure living entities who desire to serve Lord Kåñëa under the guidance of
Baladeva Prabhu are called Çuddhä (transcendental) Sarasvaté. The words devoid of
connection with Kåñëa’s service, spoken by those who desire to satisfy their senses and
ignore the guidance of Baladeva Prabhu, are called asati (unchaste) or duñöä (wicked)
Sarasvaté.” Çréla Sarasvaté Öhäkura further discusses çuddhä Sarasvaté and duñöä Sarasvaté
in his commentary on Cb 1.13.22. And in Çré Brahma-saàhitä (5.25) there is mention of
divyä (divine) Sarasvaté.