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Many acaryas

Srimad-Bhagavatam

SB Canto 3

On the other hand, many ācāryas, such as Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī, used to live beneath trees every night
SB 3.29.17, Purport: It is recommended herewith that all the acaryas be given the highest respect. It is stated, gurusu nara-matih. Gurusu means "unto the acaryas," and nara-matih means "thinking like a common man." To think of the Vaisnavas, the devotees, as belonging to a particular caste or community, to think of the acaryas as ordinary men or to think of the Deity in the temple as being made of stone, wood or metal, is condemned. Niyamena: one should offer the greatest respect to the acaryas according to the standard regulations. A devotee should also be compassionate to the poor. This does not refer to those who are poverty-stricken materially. According to devotional vision, a man is poor if he is not in Krsna consciousness. A man may be very rich materially, but if he is not Krsna conscious, he is considered poor. On the other hand, many acaryas, such as Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami, used to live beneath trees every night. Superficially it appeared that they were poverty-stricken, but from their writings we can understand that in spiritual life they were the richest personalities.

SB Canto 4

A devotee is always engaged in the devotional service of the Lord. He chants the mahā-mantra as taught by many ācāryas and sometimes goes out for preaching work
SB 4.30.37, Purport: There are two kinds of devotees. One is called gosthanandi and the other bhajananandi. The word bhajananandi refers to the devotee who does not move, but remains in one place. Such a devotee is always engaged in the devotional service of the Lord. He chants the maha-mantra as taught by many acaryas and sometimes goes out for preaching work. The gosthanandi is one who desires to increase the number of devotees all over the world. He travels all over the world just to purify the world and the people residing in it.

Lectures

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

Recently, within, say, two thousand years, there have been many ācāryas like Śaṅkarācārya, Madhvācārya, Nimbārka, Rāmānujācārya. They have all accepted Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead
Lecture on BG 2.9 -- Auckland, February 21, 1973: So Krsna is accepted. So far Vedic literature is concerned, the acaryas are concerned... Recently, within, say, two thousand years, there have been many acaryas like Sankaracarya, Madhvacarya, Nimbarka, Ramanujacarya. They have all accepted Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And, say, within five hundred years, Lord Caitanya, He also accepted Krsna. By His symptoms, by the historical fact, by the evidence of the Vedas, He is accepted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, when Krsna is speaking, the very words are used, sri bhagavan uvaca. Bhagavan means the Supreme Personality of Godhead is speaking.
Many ācāryas, they have written notes on Vedānta, targeting Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead
Lecture on BG 2.13 -- Hyderabad, November 18, 1972: So ultimate knowledge is to know God. You may not accept Krsna. Although all the acaryas... I have already mentioned. Even Sankaracarya, he also accept Krsna: sa bhagavan svayam krsna. So the Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, they have all accepted Krsna: the ultimate knowledge of Vedic understanding. Many acaryas, they have written notes on Vedanta, targeting Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So we have to follow the footprints of the great stalwart acaryas. Acaryopasanam. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. If we follow the footprints of the acaryas, then we find there is no distinction between Vedanta and Bhagavad-gita. Vedanta, you might be referring to the Vedanta-sutra of Sankaracarya, but all the acaryas, the have written notes on Vedanta. Srimad-Bhagavatam is the original comment on Vedanta. Srimad-Bhagavatam begins with the Vedanta-sutra: janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. So Vedanta does not mean godlessness. Vedanta means to know God. That is real study of Vedanta.
Many ācāryas have commented on Bhagavad-gītā. There is Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya, even Śaṅkarācārya
Lecture on BG 2.33-35 -- London, September 3, 1973: So similarly on the strength of Bhagavad-gita, if one wants to prove his foolish philosophy, that is a great offense. That's a great offense. Therefore Bhagavad-gita cannot be interpreted by foolish commentators. It must be studied through the parampara system, acarya upasanam. One must worship the acarya and learn from him what is Bhagavad-gita. Acaryavan puruso veda. This is the Vedic injunction. Who knows things as they are. Acaryam mam purusa, one who is under the guidance of acarya. So you won't find this foolish nonviolence theory from any acarya. Many acaryas have commented on Bhagavad-gita. There is Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, even Sankaracarya. But never said that Bhagavad-gita is proof of nonviolence. Nonviolence is good but when there is dharma-yuddha, righteous fighting, there is no question of nonviolence. Violence is approved.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

So if you are scientist, if you say that "First of all I shall test whether it is gold and chemical composition and other ingredients. Then I will accept you" ...And somebody says, "No, my father says it is gold. My Guru Mahārāja says it is gold. Well, so many ācāryas says it is gold," then you accept it, gold
Lecture on SB 1.1.1 -- Caracas, February 20, 1975: If you say, "I can't believe it, Krsna, Krsna is the origin of everything," that is of course your business, your independence. Then you wait for many, many births, bahunam janmanam ante [Bg. 7.19]. You come to the same conclusion. But because you have denied, you have to wait for many, many births. You have to come to this conclusion because He is the origin of everything, sarva-karana-karanam [Bs. 5.1]. So there is no other second or alternative. You have (to) come to that conclusion. But if you don't accept now, you will have to wait for many, many births. But even that, if you are intelligent enough and if you have to accept because Krsna says blindly, that is also good. Just like gold. Gold, you accept blindly or by chemical examination, the gold is the same. So if you are scientist, if you say that "First of all I shall test whether it is gold and chemical composition and other ingredients. Then I will accept you" ...And somebody says, "No, my father says it is gold. My Guru Maharaja says it is gold. Well, so many acaryas says it is gold," then you accept it, gold. So one accepts gold by the authoritative statement of the superiors, and one accepts gold by chemical analysis. So one who accepts by the authority's statement, he is more advanced. He immediately gets the gold immediately. And those who are awaiting for chemical examination, they will get it. They will also know, but it will take time.
Kṛṣṇa is personally acting as ācārya. He's coming again as ācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He has got so many representatives ācārya: Śrī Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya, Nimbārka, Viṣṇu Svāmī, so many ācāryas
Lecture on SB 1.7.8 -- Vrndavana, September 7, 1976: So Kali-yuga is a very precarious condition: no knowledge, ignorance, and no nirvrtti. Everyone is in pravrtti. So whatever their condition may be, but if you want actually freedom from this material conditional life, then you should follow acarya. Acaryavan purusah. Acaryopasanam. Krsna is personally acting as acarya. He's coming again as acarya, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He has got so many representatives acarya: Sri Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Nimbarka, Visnu Svami, so many acaryas. Evam parampara-praptam [Bg. 4.2]. So take lesson from the acaryas. Sukadeva Gosvami is acarya. Vyasadeva is acarya. He's making the next acarya by teaching him-adhyapayam asa, sukam adhyapayam asa -- so that he is becoming acarya. So we have to go the acarya and take lesson.
We do not manufacture anything by mental concoction. We do not approve that method. We receive knowledge from the authorities
Lecture on SB 7.6.1 -- New York, April 9, 1969: Boys and girls, today I shall explain to you the importance of Krsna consciousness as it was conceived by one of the greatest devotees in this disciplic succession. You know we are under disciplic succession. We do not manufacture anything by mental concoction. We do not approve that method. We receive knowledge from the authorities and out of such many acaryas, or authorities, who have appeared and disappeared... We don't say born and died, no. (laughter) Appear and disappear. This is the actual explanation. None of us, either Krsna or we or all living entities, they appear and disappear. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krsna says in the battlefield, "My dear Arjuna, either you or Me or all the kings and soldiers who have assembled in this battlefield, don't think that they did not exist in the past and they'll not exist in the future." That means they existed in the past and they're existing at present and they would exist also in the future. That means eternal. Eternal, we are all eternal.
Therefore, following the footprints of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and before that, Prahlāda Mahārāja, Nārada Muni, many, many ācāryas... So Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself
Lecture on SB 7.9.43 -- Calcutta, March 23, 1976: So Prahlada Maharaja is lamenting for these rascals, the ordinary common man and their so-called rascal guidance, because they cannot guide. They are misguided because they do not believe in God. They themselves put themselves as God, although he is kicked by the laws of material nature. Even there is pain on the tooth, he immediately goes to the doctor, and he is God. This is going on. And Prahlada Maharaja is lamenting for these rascals, vimudhan. Vimudha means... Vi means visesa purvaka, particularly. And mudha means rascal. Not only rascal -- "particularly rascal." That is the problem for the Vaisnava. Therefore, following the footprints of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and before that, Prahlada Maharaja, Narada Muni, many, many acaryas... So Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He is Krsna Himself. He also, He is thinking of these fallen souls. He has come again. First of all He came as Krsna.

General Lectures

And the sādhu, saintly person, beginning from Vyāsadeva, Nārada, down to many ācāryas, Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya, Viṣṇu Svāmī, and latest, Lord Caitanya, in this way, they have accepted: "Yes. It is spoken by Kṛṣṇa." So this is the proof
Lecture -- Seattle, October 18, 1968:: So here in the Bhagavad-gita, the Supreme Personality of Godhead explaining Himself, Krsna. So if you say, "How can I believe that Krsna said? Somebody has written in the name of Krsna that 'Krsna said,' 'God said.' " No. This is called disciplic succession. You will see in this book, Bhagavad-gita, Krsna, what Krsna said, and how Arjuna understood. These things are described there. And the sadhu, saintly person, beginning from Vyasadeva, Narada, down to many acaryas, Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Visnu Svami, and latest, Lord Caitanya, in this way, they have accepted: "Yes. It is spoken by Krsna." So this is the proof. If saintly persons have accepted... They have not denied. Authorities, they have accepted, "Yes." This is called sadhu.

Correspondence

1976 Correspondence

According to our authorities who have achieved this goal, there are many, many acaryas
Letter to Mr. Dhawan -- Vrindaban 2 April, 1976: Question #3: How many leaders have actually achieved this aim? Answer: This aim is a fact, and the path is a fact, and anyone who takes this path, he can achieve the goal. According to our authorities who have achieved this goal, there are many, many acaryas. In the recent years, within 1500 years, the following acaryas are actually leaders of this goal of life. They are Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Visnu svami, and Nimbarka, and latest within the last 500 years is Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There are many such leaders who have achieved the goal of life and if you want to follow them, the path is very clearly mentioned.

Conversations and Morning Walks

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

But there are many ācāryas. Maybe somewhere I might have mentioned. It is not that woman cannot be ācārya
Room Conversation -- June 29, 1972, San Diego:

Prabhupada: If a woman is perfect in Krsna consciousness... Just like Jahnava-devi, Lord Nityananda's wife, she was acarya. She was acarya. She was controlling the whole Vaisnava community.

Atreya Rsi: Lord Nityananda?

Prabhupada: Wife. Jahnava-devi. She was controlling the whole Gaudiya Vaisnava community.

Atreya Rsi: Do you have references about that in any of your books, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: I don't think. But there are many acaryas. Maybe somewhere I might have mentioned. It is not that woman cannot be acarya. Generally, they do not become. In very special case. But Jahnava-devi was accepted as, but she did not declare.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Many ācāryas like Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya, Viṣṇu Svāmī, and within five hundred years Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. They have also given us many literatures about this spiritual knowledge
Press Interview -- October 16, 1976, Chandigarh: Prabhupada: So in India we have got immense Vedic literature for understanding this business of the soul. And in human form of body, if we do not take care of the spiritual portion of our life, then we are making suicide. That is the proposal of all great personalities born in India, acaryas like.... Recent.... Formerly, there were big, big acaryas like Vyasadeva and others. Devala. Many, many acaryas. And the recent, within, say, one thousand five hundred years there are, there were many acaryas like Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Visnu Svami, and within five hundred years Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They have also given us many literatures about this spiritual knowledge. But at the present moment this spiritual knowledge is neglected.
We have to follow the ācāryas. The ācāryas never said. There are so many ācāryas. They never say. So, we have to follow, ācāryopāsanam, not the rascal
Press Interview -- December 31, 1976, Bombay: Prabhupada: He is not a scholar. He's a rascal. We have to follow the acaryas. The acaryas never said. There are so many acaryas. They never say. So, we have to follow, acaryopasanam, not the rascals. We cannot worship the rascals. Worship acaryas. They are guide. So sastra says... Find out sa evayam maya te 'dya yogah proktah puratanah. Puratanah, Krsna says that imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam [Bg. 4.1], "I spoke this science to Vivasvan, the sun-god." So if you calculate sun, this sun, Vivasvan, is the father of Manu, Vaivasvata Manu. And if you take, calculate, it becomes forty millions of years. So this Bhagavad-gita is spoken, according to the Bhagavad-gita, according to the version of Krsna, forty millions of years ago. Now He says that science was known to the people by parampara. And that parampara is lost somehow or other.
Page Title:Many acaryas
Compiler:Syamananda, Visnu Murti
Created:24 of jan, 2008
No. of Quotes:13
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=2, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=8, Con=2, Let=1