Siddha Pranali- Sad Gosvamis gave to Devotees…?!?
The Tradition of bestowal of Siddha Praëälé in Gauòéya Vaiñëava Sampradäya
Introduction
The concept of Siddha Praëälé within the Gauòéya Vaiñëava Sampradäya has been a subject of confusion and denial in recent years by modern institutions. This article delves into the historical roots and significance of Siddha Praëälé, shedding light on its presence in the tradition, and dispelling certain misconceptions.
The Origin of Siddha Praëälé
The practice of giving Siddha Praëälé can be traced back to Ñaò Gosvämés, who played a pivotal role in the bestowal of Siddha Praëälé in Gauòéya Vaiñëava tradition. The process involves imparting a Siddha Praëälé, a unique spiritual identity by one’s Initiating Guru that encompasses a disciple’s eternal form, name, characteristics, and service in the Nitya Lélä of Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa.
Continuation of Tradition
For over 500 years, Bonafide Spiritual Masters within Gauòéya Vaiñëava lineage have been conferring Siddha Praëälé upon sincere disciples, who aspire to serve Rädhä-Kåñëa eternally. This tradition remains intact and unchanged even now in all the bonafide lineages in Gauòéya Vaiñëava Sampradäya situated in various holy places such as Våndävana, Rädhäkuëòa, Navadvépa, and Jagannätha Puré, etc. Siddha Praëälé is also practiced within the Nimbärka Sampradäya, where the Guru imparts details about the disciple’s eternal service to the Divine Couple,
Clarifying Misconceptions
Certain misconceptions have emerged regarding the practice of Siddha Praëälé, particularly within the saffron institutions, basically the followers of Bhakti Siddhänta Sarasvaté group… they are not giving Siddha Praëälé, by telling everyone, “we are not qualified.”
However, it is crucial to understand that Siddha Praëälé is a long standing and essential aspect of the Gauòéya Vaiñëava tradition. Historical records, scriptures, and the unbroken lineage of bestowal of Siddha Praëälé in every Bonafide Gauòéya Vaiñëava Sampradäya, even till today, validate its authenticity.
Except a small group called Iskcon and Gaudiya Maöha, everyone in Gauòéya Vaiñëava Sampradäya gets Siddha Praëälé from their followers. They all are qualified to get Siddha Praëälé from their followers. All Sampradäya devotees are qualified to get Siddha Praëälé from their followers.
Evidence from Scriptures
The Grantha known as ‘Prema Viläsa’ documents instances of Ñaò Gosvämés bestowing Siddha Praëälé to their disciples. One example is the initiation of Çréla Çréniväsa Äcärya by Çréla Gopäla Bhaööa Gosvämé. Alongside Dikñä (initiation), Siddha Praëälé was also conferred upon Çréla Çréniväsa Äcärya.
These verses very clearly mention:
rädhä-krñëa-mantra kahe kare yuga dhari
käma béja çunäilo aìguli anusäré
“He gave Käma-béja, Kåñëa mantra to Çréniväsa Äcärya and He gave Siddha Praëälé also.”
guëa-maïjarékäçraye maëi-maïjarékä tumi
“I am your eternal Guru Maïjaré, Guëa Maïjaré and you are Maëi Maïjaré. In My äçraya, in My shelter, you do sevä of Rädhä-Kåñëa eternally.”
Siddha Praëälé and its Significance
Siddha Praëälé is not a recent invention but has a profound historical basis within the Gauòéya Vaiñëava tradition. It empowers devotees to meditate on their eternal form while engaging in service to the Divine Couple, Rädhä-Kåñëa. The significance of Siddha Praëälé can be realised by what Çréman Mahäprabhu Himself is saying-
bähya, antara, – ihära dui ta’ sädhana
‘bähye’ sädhaka-dehe kare çravaëa-kértana
‘mane’ nija siddha-deha kariyä bhävana
rätri-dine kare vraje kåñëera sevana
(Caitanya Caritämåta Madhya 22.156-157)
All Gauòéya Vaiñëavas must do two- fold Sädhanä. bähya, antara, – ihära dui ta’ sädhana. Do hearing and chanting about the Lord, and
antara – ‘siddha-deha kariyä bhävana’.
One cannot follow this instruction of Çréman Mahäprabhu unless and until one has got Siddha Praëälé from one’s Guru.
Gauòéya Vaiñëavas are Rüpänugäs, followers of Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé.
And Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé says-
sevä sädhaka rüpeëa siddha rüpeëa cätra hi,
tad bhäva lipsunä käryä vraja lokänusärataù
Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé is telling sevä sädhaka rüpeëa. Externally, do hearing and chanting, and internally meditate on the Guru-given siddha deha, maïjaré deha. Only then one can be called a proper Rüpänugä.
Çréla Prabodhänanda Sarasvaté also tells in Çré Çré Rädhärasa Sudhänidhi Verse 267–
tejo rüpa nikuïja eva kalayan neträdi piëòe sthitaà
tädåk svocita divya komala vapuù svéyaà samälokaye
“When will I get the eyes, the form, the skin by which I will be able to see Rädhä and Kåñëa, by which I will be able to serve Rädhä and Kåñëa?”
Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé, Çréla Prabodhanand Sarasvaté, Çréla Raghunätha Däsa Gosvämé… all are telling the same thing. Meditate serving the Divine Couple by your Guru-given Siddha deha during sädhanä, and achieve that in Siddhi as well.
Moreover, it is very important that along with the details of one’s own svarüpa, one must also know the details of one’s Guru Maïjaré as well… how one’s Guru Maïjaré looks like, what is one’s Guru Maïjaré’s sevä etc., because under her äçraya, one does sevä every day. For example, when one gets up, after washing one’s hands and rinsing mouth in Nitya Lélä in the Spiritual World, the very first thing we do is we give water to one’s Guru Maïjaré, and she rinses her mouth, then again, we give water and wash her lotusfeet as well.
‘prathamaà tu guruà püjya’
First, one has to serve Guru, then one approaches Rädhä and Kåñëa. Guru Maïjaré gives sevä, instructions. No one can do any service whimsically. These things don’t happen in the Spiritual World.
Çréniväsa Äcärya is himself the äveça avatära of Lord Caitanya. Despite being an avesh avatära of Lord Caitanya, he was being given Siddha Praëälé. Therefore, no matter how big a personality one is, one’s Guru only will give Siddha Praëälé. And by that Siddha Praëälé only, one will serve.
From morning to night, we do all seväs under the änugatya of our Guru Maïjaré… morning to night! And at night also, we sleep at the lotus feet of our Guru Maïjaré…! For dual Sädhanä, one needs to know who one’s Guru Maïjaré is.
Thus, the significance lies in the deep personal and eternal connection it establishes between the disciple, his Guru Maïjaré, and their worshippable Deity- Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa, and not the increase in lust, as is being propagated by Saffron clad institutions, Iskcon and gaudiya math.
Forget lust, Aäraté is being done of Rädhä-Kåñëa in Nikuïja in Eternal Vrindavan by Maïjarés and Sakhis. One has to be in maïjaré svarüpa and do the äraté, see the äraté. This is called dual Sädhanä. A male or a female cannot attend Maìgala Äraté. Only after getting Guru given Siddha deha, one can attend Maìgala Äraté. How can lust will increase by attending Maìgala Äraté in the temple in one’s Guru Given Maïjaré svarüpa ?!?
Similarly, we are sitting on a mat, stringing garland, doing candana, plucking flowers, making äraté plate or making our Guru Maïjaré wash her hands. Is lust going to increase in this?? No…!!
Siddha Praëälé : An imagination or A reality?
This can be answered by understanding about-
- Who is a Samañöi Guru, and
- What is the role of Samañöi Guru in Gauòéya Vaiñëava
Samañöi Guru is a form of Lord Kåñëa only. He is the Lord… Samañöi Guru Himself is the Lord. He is the aggregate of all Gurus and is called Samañöi Guru. He wears Pétämbara. He is bluish like Kåñëa. And He oversees the functions of all the Gurus in this material world. He stands on the left side of the Lord Kåñëa in the Spiritual World.
Samañöi Guru tells all the details of the svarüpa in the heart of the Dékñä Guru here, and Dékñä Guru reveals all the details to disciple by which one can serve Rädhä-Kåñëa eternally… one can meditate on one’s svarüpa and achieve the same upon Siddhi. This is the channel made by the Lord Himself.
Externally, it may seem that Guru is giving, but actually, only the Lord is doing everything. The Lord is giving svarüpa, telling everything in the form of Samañöi Guru. And the Lord Himself is present in the form of Dékñä Guru too. The Lord is revealing svarüpa to the Lord only, and giving to the conditioned soul. This is a channel. This is actually an example of extreme mercy of Mahaprabhu.! One is getting to know one’s eternal svarupa even before Siddhi…! Only the most unfortunate souls can term Siddha Praëälé as imagination.
Conclusion
Siddha Praëälé Initiation, rooted in the teachings of the Ñaò Gosvämés, forms an integral part of the Gauòéya Vaiñëava tradition. This unique spiritual identity, imparted by the Guru to the disciple, serves as a transformative tool for deepening one’s devotion and connection to Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa. The practice of Siddha Praëälé has persisted for centuries, passed down through the authentic lineages, and continues to empower devotees in their pursuit of eternal service to the Divine Couple.
