Page 88 - SBV (English)

28 Çré Bhaktisiddhänta Vaibhava

of Bäbäjé Mahäräja, who arrived there wearing a tiger-skin cap and carrying a
basket containing püjä paraphernalia, both of which had been given to him by
the famed Çré Bhagavän däsa Bäbäjé of Kalna. Çré Siddhänta Sarasvaté became
deeply struck upon hearing Bäbäjé Mahäräja recite a song articulating Çréla
Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé’s feelings for Çrématé Rädhäräëé. He wrote down those
esoteric verses and ensouled them as the essence of his own internal bhajana.
1 *
Some time later, Bäbäjé Mahäräja presented Çré Siddhänta Sarasvaté with that
hat and basket of paraphernalia, as well as four or five pieces of knotted string
for counting japa, and a tilaka stamp with the initials ha and kå (meaning Hare
Kåñëa). Although practically worthless materially, these gifts were spiritually
invaluable, having been given by a paramahaàsa.
Although many reputed gurus were desirous to count Çré Siddhänta
Sarasvaté as their own, he detected their insincerity, spurned their wooing, and
stood opposed to them. Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura had been his çikñä-guru from
birth, and had given him harinäma and mantras for worshiping Çré Nåsiàha-deva
and Çré Kürmadeva. Yet, so that Çré Siddhänta Sarasvaté could attain additional
spiritual shelter, guidance, and inspiration for his future colossal service, Çréla
Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura sent him to Çréla Gaura Kiçora däsa Bäbäjé for further
initiation. Çré Siddhänta Sarasvaté was decidedly aristocratic, intellectual, and
of exemplary virtuous deportment, whereas by external consideration Bäbäjé
Mahäräja was illiterate, cranky, and crude. Indeed, he was reputed to vehemently
†
refuse persons who approached him for dékñä, even sometimes beating them with
an umbrella. Predictably, he also declined to induct this would-be disciple, caring
not a whit for his apparent good qualities—which shook Çré Siddhänta Sarasvaté,
accustomed as he was to being respected.
Bäbäjé Mahäräja told him, “I once accepted a disciple, but he cheated
me and went away. I will not make any further disciples.” But Çré Siddhänta
2
Sarasvaté was not easily discouraged and again begged for mercy. Bäbäjé Mahäräja

* That song, beginning kothäy go premamayé rädhe, was later revealed by Çré Siddhänta
Sarasvaté to Ananta Väsudeva Prabhu and possibly a few others. It was sung only on Bäbäjé
Mahäräja’s tirobhäva-tithi at his samädhi, yet not until after Çréla Sarasvaté Öhäkura’s
passing was it published, by Ananta Väsudeva Prabhu. It seems inconsistent with Çréla
Sarasvaté Öhäkura’s policy that this highly confidential text be widely distributed or
recited.
† It is generally accepted that Bäbäjé Mahäräja could not even sign his own name
(which was not uncommon—most of India’s population was illiterate). Yet he would
offer verbal commentary during readings of Çrémad-Bhägavatam, possessed some books
and sometimes wrote letters (dictated to and sent by Nafar Candra Pal Chaudhuri) to
apparent disciples; hence he was not wholly unscholarly.