The All-Auspicious Name of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

Transcribed from an informal conversation at Nabadwip Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math on 27 January, 1983

by Ananta-Sri-vibhusita Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj)

Question: You have given the name of your Mission as 'Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.' What is the meaning of 'Chaitanya Saraswat'?

Srila Guru Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj: First there was 'Chaitanya Math', and 'Saraswati' is our Gurudev. So Chaitanya-Saraswat—this name indicates the line from Chaitanya to Saraswati, our Gurudev—the knowledge that has come from Sri Chaitanyadev up to Prabhupada Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Within that Divine Dispensation we are to revere, accept and preach. It is indicating the angle of vision of our Guru Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, about Sri Chaitanyadev; the way he saw it with his divine eyes. It is available here, and we are concerned with that. From Chaitanya to Saraswati, the whole of our Guru Parampara is covered, considered, cultured and being preached and spread. This is Chaitanya Saraswat.

Also, Chaitanyanuga Saraswati. Saraswati means vani, vakya: the words or expressions of Chaitanya. Chaitanya-vani is the real preaching and instructions of Sri Chaitanyadev.

So the substantial meaning is 'from Chaitanya to Saraswati'. It is the culture of Srimad-Bhagavatam as viewed by Sri Chaitanyadev and His followers up to Saraswati. This is the object, theme and purpose of our life. Our nature and acquaintance is there. They are our masters, and we are the servants of that group. We want to revere them, to propagate knowledge about them, and to ask people to accept them. Our whole concern is there.

SARASWATA BHARAHMANAS

There is a class of Saraswata Brahmanas in the Maharastra area of India who say they are Gauda Brahmanas or Saraswata Brahmanas. Saraswat are a particular group who are under Sri Chaitanyadev. This may be another meaning.

Additionally, in Manu-samhita it is mentioned:

sarasvati-drsadvatyor

deva-nadyor yad antaram

tam deva-nirmmitam desam

brahmavarttam prachaksate

The Aryan civilisation came from upcountry. First it was between the two rivers Saraswati and Drsadvati. Vyasadev and other authorities all belonged to Badarikasram, in that quarter.

Badarikasram is just on the banks of the River Saraswati. Vyasadev used to live there, and Narada Muni came to give dictation about the principles of Bhagavatam there at Badarikasram on the banks of the Saraswati. Vyasadev also taught the principles of Bhagavatam to Sukadev at Badarikasram on the the banks of the Saraswati.

Ambarisa Maharaj also lives in that area. It is mentioned that he used to live by the Saraswati River which joins the Ganges near Badarikasram. It is mentioned in Bhagavatam that he performed hundreds of sacrifices on the two banks of the Saraswati River. These took place in very ancient times. At that time the Himalayas were considered as the most recently formed mountains. Though the Himalayas were the highest mountains, they were also considered to be the youngest. Where the Himalayas rose became very cold, and the people came down to inhabit the plains.

With the rising up of the Himalayas the plains also rose up out of the sea, thus increasing the land mass of India. The seat of ancient civilisation was there, but, as it rose in height, the people came down to the warmer coastal regions. The original seat of Vedic or Aryan civilisation was on that side, and gradually it spread itself towards the coast. It is from the banks of the Saraswati that the Vedic culture began. Gradually it has been extended towards this side.

East Bengal and this area by the Ganges is ancient, but many other areas have sprung up from the sea. In the south of India some areas are also ancient.

So, the Saraswata Brahmanas are a particular group of Brahmanas who uphold the Vedic culture. They are supposed to have their residence now in the Upper Himalayas, and they are gradually coming this side.

HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT

Our Temple is 'Chaitanya-Saraswata', distinct from the Saraswata Brahmanas. So, Chaitanya-Saraswata is the line of Bhagavatam as enhanced by Sri Chaitanyadev. Of all the Acharyyas, Chaitanyadev preached about Love Divine. Clearly and in a developed, scientific way, only Chaitanyadev preached the fifth end of life: Bhagavat-Prema. The end of life is to acquire Love, affection and attraction for Godhead, for Krishna. Krishna is the Lord of Love and He is the innermost conception of Godhead. The highest conception of Godhead is in Krishna. The jiva can have a relationship with Him—the relationship of Love—and that is the highest achievement for all souls, ever known to have come down to the world.

Thus Chaitanya-Saraswata is exclusively Chaitanyanuga Saraswata—Saraswata that belongs to the School of Sri Krishna Chaitanyadev. They are believers in Krishna consciousness and Chaitanyadev's instructions.

Saraswat means that the communication is with sound or words—a Treasure of words. Here, sound refers to the Holy Names. Their business is with Divine Sound. Their duty is with the transaction of Divine Sound. And what sort of Divinity? Krishna consciousness sound business. That is their trade. They are engaged in the transaction of the Divine Sound of Krishna: Krishna consciousness.

NAME PERSONIFIED

Krishna consciousness is a philosophical, ontological expression, but Krishna Chaitanya consciousness means that Chaitanya is there. His name is Krishna Chaitanya. Srila Swami Maharaj called his society Iskcon, but the public has given it a very warm welcome by calling it 'the Hare Krishna Movement.' But 'Krishna consciousness' is an ontological expression that can be realised by the philosophically-minded. In the Name 'Krishna Chaitanya'—'Chaitanya' means 'consciousness'—so 'Krishna consciousness' means 'Krishna Chaitanya'. The Name is there personified.

When I asked Sripad Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj why he was fond of the name 'Iskcon' he had given for his society, he replied, "'Isa-con'—isavasyam idam sarvvam!"