Page 48 - SBV (English)
P. 48
xlvi Nomenclature
Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté substantiated his name by working
intensely to establish unalloyed bhakti-siddhänta, countering on multiple fronts
innumerable ill-conceived theories of humanity, to confirm the supremacy of
actual devotional service as opposed to pseudo-devotional and overtly anti-
devotional fallacies and malpractices. This was an important service to Çré
Caitanya Mahäprabhu, who felt pain to hear anything against bhakti-siddhänta:
bhaktisiddhänta-viruddha, ära rasäbhäsa
çunite nä haya prabhura cittera ulläsa
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu was never pleased to hear either statements
contradicting bhakti-siddhänta, or rasäbhäsa. (Cc 2.10.113)
And not only was this remarkable devotee known by the name
Bhaktisiddhänta, but his form, qualities, activities, mission, genuine associates,
and indeed his very being were all fully permeated by and nondifferent from
bhakti-siddhänta. His sole purpose was to live by and propagate bhakti-siddhänta,
the ultimate degree of which is comprehendible only to a devotee whose inner
identity is Värñabhänavé-dayita däsa.
Upon being decorated with the title Prabhupäda in 1924, he was thereafter
known as Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Prabhupäda. His disciples
usually referred to him as Çréla Prabhupäda, or less formally simply as Prabhupäda.
They also called him Çréla Sarasvaté Öhäkura, and chiefly in writing, Çréla
Paramahaàsa Öhäkura. In English, both in speech and writing, his name was
sometimes preceded by the honorific “His Divine Grace,” which also was used
alone to refer to him. Throughout his life he mostly signed his name
(“Çré Siddhänta Sarasvaté” in Bengali script); when writing in English after
having taken sannyäsa, he would sign “Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati.”
Although according to former Gauòéya usage the title Prabhupäda could
be used for any äcärya, and was commonly attributed to caste Goswamis and
others in the role of guru by their respective followers, within the Gauòéya
Maöha nearly all disciples of Çréla Sarasvaté Öhäkura considered that this
term should be solemnly reserved for him alone. Notwithstanding, today his
most famous disciple, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, is also
known worldwide as Çréla Prabhupäda. To avoid confusion, in this book Çréla
Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura in his pre-sannyäsa period is referred to
as Siddhänta Sarasvaté, and in his post-sannyäsa pastimes as either Çréla
Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté or Çréla Sarasvaté Öhäkura. Only in direct quotations
of persons speaking or writing about him is he referred to as Çréla Prabhupäda.
