Glorification of Srimad Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj.

By Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj

In remembrance of the auspicious
appearance day of
Parivrajakacharya Tridandi Swami
Sripad Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj

Excerpted and translated from a Bengali article
originally published in Sri Gaudiya Darsan,
Volume 1, Issue 10, Thursday, 10 May 1956.

Amongst the renunciants who received Srila Saraswati Thakur’s mercy directly, Sripad Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj was the last sannyasi.

Although discussion of a renunciant’s previous history is generally forbidden, in special cases discussing their holy life benefits the world; such discussion is always appropriate for this noble purpose. We also desire to purify ourselves by briefly discussing the most holy life of Sripad Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj. We have faith that the readers of Sri Gaudiya Darsan will also be greatly benefitted by this.

Almost forty-eight years ago, Gaudiya Acharya Srimad Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj appeared on the second tithi of the waxing fortnight in the month of Vaisakh (the day before Aksaya Trtiya) in the pious home of the virtuous brahman Sriyukta Padmalochan Sarma Mahoday in the town of Durmuth within Kathi Mahakumar in the district of Medinipur. His name, given by his father, was Sri Sarvesvar Sarma. His father Sri Padmalochan Sarma was indifferent to worldly matters and enthusiastic about discussion of scripture. He would often strongly encourage his son and other family members to engage in meditation on higher truths and thought of the self. Personally he engaged in the Lord’s service at almost every moment. Sri Sarvesvar’s mother was naturally simple, pious, and dedicated to pure devotion. She later, following her sadhu son, accepted initiation into the line of Srila Saraswati Thakur.

From childhood, Sarvesvar was simple, enthusiastic, and hardworking, yet he was also detached from worldly matters. He was strongly attracted to the life of a renunciant. Although everyone in his home looked at him with eyes of affection, as he grew and matured, he gradually became anxious to associate with sadhus, and during his early youth, when he was about sixteen years old, he left his family, unbeknownst to anyone, and travelled to Sri Purusottam Ksetra with the hope of associating with sadhus. Fortunately, at that time, with the help of some of Sri Gaudiya Math’s preachers, he attained the association and shelter of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj’s holy lotus feet.

From then on, he became known as Sri Sarvesvar Brahmachari and sincerely served Sri Guru-pada-padma in various ways for twelve years. Thereafter, when an institute for higher learning was established at the birthplace of Sri Gaura in Sri Dham Mayapur, he spent his time there in the holy Dham on Sri Guru-pada-padma’s order studying the scriptures, worshipping the Deity, reciting Srimad Bhagavatam, and performing kirtan with devotees. Later he succeeded greatly in managing many of the newly established Maths (of Sri Gaudiya Math) in numerous places throughout Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.

His ability to realise the scriptures’ esoteric conclusions and present them to common people in very clear language was his most extraordinary capability. He had a very sweet voice, and his chanting of the songs of the great souls was very sweet, heart-touching, and enlivening to the mood of the devotion of everyone who heard it. Many times Srila Guru-pada-padma was pleased to hear kirtan from his holy mouth. Just prior to the revelation of his unmanifest Pastimes, Srila Prabhupad drew him from the Gaya Math to Sri Purusottam to hear his kirtan and a few days later, being extremely pleased with him, mercifully gave him tridandi-sannyas, which was very rare to attain. Thereafter, he became known in the world as Srimat Bhakti Vichar Jajavar Maharaj and devoted himself with great zeal to the service of preaching Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga’s glory.

Eventually, while preaching in various places after the disappearance of Sri Guru-pada-padma, he founded a grand establishment with the help of his godbrothers known as Sri Syamananda Gaudiya Math. Later, he established preaching centres in Kathi, Chandrakona, Sri Mayapur, and other places, and engaged himself with intense enthusiasm in widely preaching Sri Bhagavat-dharma. He became the subject of all the sadhus’ unreserved praise by publishing in book form the important chapter in Srimad Bhagavatam known as The Sruti’s Prayers (10.87), ornamenting it with commentary, translation, exposition, and so on, and making its complex conclusions readily understandable.

Srila Jajavar Maharaj, adorned with unlimited qualities befitting an Acharya, is the embodiment of tranquility. Pure simplicity and goodheartedness are fully manifest in his serene form. His adherence to truth, courageousness in performing good works, fearlessness in dispelling evil, great enthusiasm for genuine preaching, even greater eagerness for pure devotion, heartfelt intimacy amongst friends, natural love for the Lord and His servants, and host of other good qualities, combined together, always attract the sadhus’ hearts. Although he is not so advanced in terms of age, very advanced, highly educated, virtuous, and honourable gentlemen and ladies are becoming attracted by his exemplary life of  devotional practice, taking shelter at his feet, and attaining the fortune of devotion themselves.

For the good of the world, we are praying at the holy feet of Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga on the birthday of this great Acharya and preacher of pure devotion for the long continuation of his auspicious life of preaching  devotion.