Siddha Pranali

Q. If siddha pranali is an integral part of the Gaudiya spiritual practice, and if Mahaprabhu himself instructed Gopal Guru Goswami to write about it in Arcana Paddhati, don't you think the absence of this process within the parampara of Bhaktisiddhanta and Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is a problem?

A. No I don't.The Bhaktivinoda parivara in the line of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura and Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has stressed realization of one's svarupa through offenseless chanting of the holy name of Krsna and meditation upon one's diksa mantra. This emphasis was a response to less-than-realized persons giving so-called siddha pranali to unqualified persons.

Knowledge of one's svarupa is integral to raganuga bhajana. However, in his book Bhajana Rahasya, Bhaktivinoda Thakura teaches that it is revealed by the grace of the holy name of Krsna at the stage of asakti, the last stage of sadhana bhakti.

Thakura Bhaktivinoda sings, "When the name is even slightly revealed it shows me my own spiritual form and characteristics. It steals my mind and takes it to Krsna's side. When the name is fully revealed, it takes me directly to Vraja, where it shows me my personal role in the eternal pastimes."

Comments

Anonymous said…
just asking?

what if a person receives siddha pranali but focuses on the holy naam, what is the problem with that?

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