Apology

By the causeless mercy of Śrīla Gurudeva, Śrī Guru Paramparā and all the Vaiṣṇavas, I have tried my level best to present to the readers the teachings and biography of Śrīla Gurudeva. I beg forgiveness for not putting all the events in regular historical sequence. I have recorded many of these pastimes from memories that came first in my mind, in the style of Śrīla Jagadānanda Paṇḍita who wrote the pastimes of the Lord in his Premavivarta according to his loving remembrances and not according to the standard sequential order. This book is therefore by no means an attempt to narrate the pastimes of Śrīla Gurudeva in chronological sequence. By talking with Śrīla Gurudeva, researching my personal notes and hearing the tape recordings, I have, from time to time, added extra details.

This biographical style may not appeal to every reader; indeed to write a biography approved by all readers is not possible at all. Still this book may be considered as an authentic biography full of bona fide siddhānta rather than an analytical study of a great person.

Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja has written in his Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 2.85:

প্রভুর যেই আচরণ, সেই করি বর্ণন,
সর্ব-চিত্ত নারি আরাধিতে

prabhura yei ācaraṇa, sei kari varṇana,
sarva-citta nāri ārādhite

Some may complain I have been unduly harsh and perhaps others may object that I am overly mild. I am only trying to describe the true facts as they are without unduly trying to satisfy everyone.

I think the sāragrāhī Vaiṣṇavas will understand these teachings by overlooking the faults and accepting the good qualities.

সকল বৈষ্ণব গোসাই দোযা কোরো মোরে
দন্তে তৃণ ধোরি’ কহে এ দীন পামরে

sakala vaiṣṇava gosāi doyā koro more
dante tṛṇa dhori’ kahe e dīna pāmare

I offer my humble obeisances at the lotus feet of all Vaiṣṇavas and taking a blade of straw between my teeth, I humbly beg for their mercy,

Tridaṇḍī-bhikṣu Bhaktivedānta Mādhava Mahārāja, Ph.D–Philosophy, Ph.D–Vaiṣṇava Philosophy